TIG Post

Tag: Chelsea

  • Football FA Cup holders Man City go to Newcastle in QFs

    Holders Manchester City have been drawn away to Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-final draw.

    City are aiming to win back-to-back FA Cup trophies for the first time in their history, while Newcastle are into the last eight of the competition for the first time since 2006.

    Leicester’s reward for beating Birmingham is a visit from Chelsea as third in the Premier League take on fourth.

    Arsenal go to Sheffield United in what was the first tie pulled out of the hat.

    Norwich will play the winners of Thursday night’s remaining fifth round tie between Derby County and Manchester United.

    Full FA Cup quarter-final draw

    Sheffield United vs Arsenal

    Newcastle vs Manchester City

    Norwich vs Derby County or Manchester United

    Source: skysports.com

  • Klopp not worried by Liverpool form after Chelsea loss

    Jurgen Klopp played down concerns over Liverpool’s form after they were knocked out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

    Goals from Willian and Ross Barkley consigned Liverpool – unbeaten in the Premier League until Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Watford – to a third defeat in four games in all competitions.

    It represents a significant dip for a side who had only failed to win one of their previous 12 games, but Klopp insisted he is not worried about their loss of momentum in his post-match press conference, adding that he was pleased by his side’s overall performance.

    “Losing 2-0 is not good, but in this case it’s relatively easy to explain,” he said. “We made two massive mistakes around the goals.

    “The performance tonight was completely different to the performance against Watford. Against Watford, it was really bad. Tonight, it was not bad.

    “I liked the reaction. I liked the way we played. There was some good stuff.

    “It was a super intense game. We made seven changes because we knew it would be intense. But I’m not concerned about momentum. It’s football.

    “We never thought that it would be an easy season, that it would be an easy period, that it would be an easy game tonight. Nothing. It was always difficult, but we did very well. We were just not good enough in decisive moments, and that’s what we have to accept.”

    The questions over their form are unlikely to go away, however.

    Liverpool retain a 22-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, but their FA Cup hopes are over and next week they must overturn a one-goal deficit against Atletico Madrid in order to keep their Champions League challenge alive.

    Klopp accepts that defensive improvement is required if they are to turn the recent results around.

    “It went our way for so long because we defended outstanding,” he said of Liverpool’s season. “Usually, you don’t get a lot of chances against us. Now, we have to admit that in the last three or four games we have conceded too many goals.”

    Frank Lampard, meanwhile, felt Chelsea’s performance showed their potential to compete with the top sides.

    “It was an impressive performance,” he said. “It is hard to be comprehensive against Liverpool because of the team that they are, but I couldn’t have asked for any more with the spirit, the work ethic and the quality.

    “You’ve got to defend well to keep a clean sheet against them because of the team that they are, but we deserved to win the game.

    “I think we may have played some better football in the two previous games against Liverpool, but today we had an extra spirit about us and we need to take the positives from that. We can compete against the big teams.

    “Wins or losses can come down to what you do in both boxes, and we got a slice of luck today. We took two chances that won us the game. We are still in transition and working towards closing the gap on [Liverpool], and to do that we have to find consistency.”

    “We are not the Chelsea of different ers gone by with Hazards, Costas and Terrys. We are in a different place with young players, and some older players, and we are trying to bridge the gap upwards,” he added.

    “It is important to know that unless we work hard every day in training and unless we go home and all we think about is how we improve then we can’t make that jump up.”

    Source: skysports.com

  • Chelsea humbled by Gnabry-inspired Bayern

    Serge Gnabry’s double inspired Bayern Munich as 10-man Chelsea were humbled 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at Stamford Bridge.

    Gnabry, who scored four goals against Spurs in a 7-2 group-stage win in October, netted an exquisite quick double (51, 54) to put Bayern in control before Robert Lewandowski added a third (76) as the Bundesliga champions outclassed Frank Lampard’s team.

    Marcos Alonso was sent off seven minutes from time for a flailing arm to complete a miserable evening for the hosts.

    The result leaves Chelsea with a monumental task in the second leg on March 18, with Jorginho also set to miss out after picking up a second-half booking.

    Bayern had the better of the opening chances, with Kingsley Coman hammering an effort into the side of the net before Willy Caballero made the first of three superb first-half saves from Lewandowski, the first seeing the ball away from close range. In the 25th minute, Chelsea also had their first chance, but Ross Barkley’s fizzing cross just missed the incoming Mason Mount at the far post.

    Bayern had the better of the opening chances, with Kingsley Coman hammering an effort into the side of the net before Willy Caballero made the first of three superb first-half saves from Lewandowski, the first seeing the ball away from close range. In the 25th minute, Chelsea also had their first chance, but Ross Barkley’s fizzing cross just missed the incoming Mason Mount at the far post.

    Caballero’s next two saves came in quick succession just before the half-hour mark. The first saw the Chelsea goalkeeper get down low to save a weak Lewandowski shot before throwing his body in front of another effort from the Poland international as Bayern increased the heat on their hosts.

    Player ratings
    Chelsea: Caballero (7), Azpilicueta (6), Christensen (6), Rudiger (7), James (6), Jorginho (6), Kovacic (7), Alonso (5), Barkley (6), Mount (7), Giroud (6).

    Subs used: Abraham (5), Willian (4), Pedro (4).

    Bayern Munich: Neuer (7), Pavard (7), Boateng (7), Alaba (7), Davies (7), Kimmich (7), Thiago (7), Gnabry (8), Muller (8), Coman (7), Lewandowski (8).

    Subs used: Coutinho (6), Tolisso (n/a), Goretzka (n/a).

    Man of the match: Robert Lewandowski.

    Source: skysports.com

  • Man Utd beat Chelsea to close gap on top four

    Manchester United moved to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea with a smash and grab 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire on Monday.

    Chelsea had two goals disallowed by VAR reviews and were furious Maguire was not sent-off early on for an off-the-ball kick out at Michy Batshuayi.

    However, Blues boss Frank Lampard cut a frustrated figure as the flaws in both boxes which have seen his side win just four of their last 14 league games were exposed once more against ordinary opposition.

    Victory lifts United up to seventh and within two points of Tottenham in fifth, which could be good enough to qualify for the Champions League next season pending Manchester City’s appeal again a two-season ban from European competition.

    Lampard made a bold call before kick-off by again dropping the most expensive goalkeeper in football history, Kepa Arrizabalaga, to the bench in favour of the 38-year-old Willy Caballero.

    Batshuayi also started with Tammy Abraham ruled out by injury and Lampard’s anger at missing out on a striker in the January window was borne out by a poor night for the misfiring Belgium forward.

    Chelsea suffered another injury blow early on when N’Golo Kante hobbled off and the France World Cup winner is now a doubt to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League next week.

    The loss of Kante did not disrupt the home side’s early rhythm as Reece James and Willian fired just wide.

    Chelsea were then furious Maguire somehow escaped without being sent-off for kicking Batshuayi after the two collided in front of the dugouts.

    The former Marseille attacker then squandered the first of a host of chances by firing wide from Mason Mount’s cut-back.

    – One-way traffic –

    Chelsea’s sense of injustice increased when Willian was harshly booked for diving as he went down under a challenge from Bruno Fernandes looking for a penalty.

    United had not made Caballero make a single save before going in front a minute before the break when Martial planted a brilliant header into the far corner from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross.

    There was still time for Batshuayi to miss another chance before half-time when he skewed wide from a narrow angle.

    The one-way traffic continued at the start of the second period as Mount hit the post and a brave block from Wan-Bissaka deflected Pedro’s goal-bound effort behind.

    But even when Chelsea did get the ball in the net through substitute Kurt Zouma, the goal was ruled out by VAR for a push on Brandon Williams by Cesar Azpilicueta.

    Fernandes was unable to make much of an impact from open play in his second United appearance since a £47 million ($62 million) move from Sporting Lisbon.

    However, the Portuguese international is a huge threat from set-pieces and nearly caught Caballero out with a free-kick that crashed back off the post.

    Moments later, Fernandes provided his first assist for the Red Devils with a corner which Maguire powered home.

    Lampard had seen enough from Batshuayi and handed Olivier Giroud a rare appearance off the bench for the final quarter.

    The French striker thought he had given Chelsea a lifeline with a near post header, but was ruled offside after a VAR review.

    Source: France24

  • Hakim Ziyech: Chelsea in advanced talks to sign Ajax winger for £38m

    Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech this summer in a £38m deal that is likely to be announced in the coming days.

    The 26-year-old was a January transfer target for Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.

    But the Dutch club were unwilling to sell in the transfer window as they chase the Eredevisie title.

    The signing of the Morocco international would be the first by Lampard following Chelsea’s transfer window ban.

    Chelsea were linked with a number of signings in the January window including Paris St-Germain forward Edinson Cavani and Napoli striker Dries Mertens.

    But Lampard’s apparent frustration with a lack of new arrivals is understood to have stemmed from clubs refusing to sell rather than any problems with Chelsea’s recruitment strategy.

    Ziyech contributed to a memorable Ajax goal against Chelsea in the 4-4 draw in their Champions League group game in November.

    The winger’s free-kick from near the corner flag, curled over Kepa Arrizabalaga’s head and hit the far post before rebounding in off the Chelsea goalkeeper for an own goal.

    Source: bbc.com

  • John Mikel Obi: Trabzonspor condemn racial abuse of Nigeria midfielder

    Turkish side Trabzonspor have condemned racial abuse aimed at former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi following their win over Fenerbahce on Saturday.

    The Nigeria international, 32, was targeted on social media after a 2-1 victory that moved Trabzonspor above their opponents into third place.

    The club say they have filed “criminal complaints” against those responsible.

    “Racism is a shelter for [the] helpless and ignorant,” Trabzonspor said in a statement on Twitter.

    Mikel’s Trabzonspor team-mate Joao Pereira said it was “sad and unacceptable”.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Lampard says Chelsea have striking options if Abraham ruled out

    Frank Lampard says Chelsea can cope without leading scorer Tammy Abraham after the England striker suffered an ankle injury scare in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with 10-man Arsenal.

    Abraham hobbled off the Stamford Bridge turf at full-time as Chelsea failed to capitalise on old boy David Luiz’s red card, thwarted by Hector Bellerin’s late equaliser.

    Cesar Azpilicueta thought he had scrambled Chelsea to victory with a neat finish only to see Bellerin steal a share of the spoils, after Gabriel Martinelli’s breakaway goal had cancelled out Jorginho’s penalty.

    Read:Mourinho taught me how to bond with young players Lampard

    Abraham has 13 Premier League goals for Chelsea in his breakthrough top-flight campaign with the Blues but boss Lampard was adamant his side could cope even if the England star faces a spell on the sidelines.

    Lampard said after the match that Abraham had had ice on his ankle but he was unaware of the severity of the injury.

    When asked if Chelsea could cope without Abraham, Lampard said: “Yes, yes, and we have the players there to do that.

    “I hope he’s not (out for several weeks) but then if he is, then yes we do have the players.”

    Chelsea boss Lampard refused to dampen down links with Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani on Monday, and injury to Abraham could increase the Blues’ need to recruit a striker in the January transfer window.

    Read:Chelsea must be at their best at the Mestalla against Valencia Tammy Abraham

    Olivier Giroud reportedly wants to join Inter Milan to link back up with ex-Blues boss Antonio Conte, while Chelsea also have Michy Batshuayi as their other frontline striker.

    Lampard reiterated that the club are more likely to look at loan deals than permanent transfers this month, as he plots his long-term strategy.

    “I know and I feel where we need strengthening,” he said. “It’s not going to be just January, this is more of a short-term window for us.

    “This season has given us some answers on the pitch in where we need to improve. But that’s not so much for this window.”

    Source: France24

  • Chelsea drop interest in Ake and Wilson

    Chelsea are unlikely to exercise their £40m buy-back option for Nathan Ake and will not be bidding for Bournemouth team-mate Callum Wilson.

    The Blues have been scouting former defender Ake and watching striker Wilson but are now focusing their attention on other targets during the January transfer window.

    Chelsea have been heavily linked with Ake, who played at Stamford Bridge from 2011 to 2017, with the Blues having a £40m buy-back option on the Netherlands centre-back.

    Read:Chelsea accuse Fifa of double standards over transfer ban

    The west London club inserted the buy-back clause into the centre-back’s £20m deal to Bournemouth in 2017, and were thought to want Ake back after their FIFA transfer ban was lifted.

    Ake came through the same Chelsea youth academy that developed players now thriving under Frank Lampard including striker Tammy Abraham, centre-back Fikayo Tomori and midfielder Mason Mount.

    Wilson has been on Chelsea’s radar for the past 12 months but they are now unlikely to move for a player who has not scored a league goal since September 28.

    Read:Man City keen to rival Chelsea for Ake

    The latest developments gives boss Eddie Howe the re-assurance he can count on two of his best players for the run-in.

    Sky Sports News have been told Howe has the full support of everyone at the club.

    Source: skysports.com

  • CL: Chelsea qualify as Ajax and Inter Milan fall to Europa League

    Chelsea narrowly defeated Lille 2-1 at the Stamford Bridge courtesy first half goals from Abraham and Azpilicueta. Ajax needed to draw or win against Valencia to qualify to the knockout round but a goal from Rodrigo was enough to sink the Amsterdammers.

    Inter Milan also lost to a weakened Barcelona side at the San Siro after Ansu Fati scored a late winner to give the La Liga leaders a 2-1 win.

    Chelsea vs Lille

    Chelsea survived a late scare to move into the Champions League knockout stages with victory over Lille at Stamford Bridge.

    Frank Lampard’s side were in complete control for the most part and set up the victory they required with first-half goals from Tammy Abraham and Cesar Azpilicueta.

    Read:UCL: Chelsea made to wait after dramatic draw

    Chelsea’s nerves were frayed when former striker Loic Remy pulled one back for Lille late on but they were able to close out victory to reach the last 16 after finishing a tough group in second place behind Valencia but ahead of last season’s semi-finalists Ajax.

    Abraham scored his 13th goal of the season after 19 minutes when he turned in Willian’s cross from close range while Azpilicueta headed in from Emerson’s corner 10 minutes before the break.

    Lille, with nothing but pride to play for and with a much-changed team, barely threatened until Remy’s late strike but Chelsea saw out the win to complete the first phase of their Champions League assignment.

    Ajax vs Valencia

    Last season’s Champions League semi-finalists Ajax were knocked out in the group stages as Valencia progressed instead with victory at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

    Read:Chelsea accuse Fifa of double standards over transfer ban

    Rodrigo scored the only goal midway through the first half as he blasted into the roof of the net from Ferran Torres’ clever pass.

    Ajax desperately pushed for the equaliser they needed with Lisandro Martinez and Hakim Ziyech forcing late saves from Valencia keeper Jaume Domenech.

    Valencia had defender Gabriel sent off in injury time for clashing heads with Dusan Tadic in a very tense finale in Amsterdam.

    Ajax were seconds away from reaching last year’s final before Lucas Moura’s injury-time strike sent Tottenham to the final instead.

    Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt were among the stars of that team to leave last summer and they have not been the same since.

    Read:Chelsea go second on Premier League table after sixth straight win

    Two defeats at home – by Chelsea and Valencia – and a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge have ultimately cost them.

    Valencia go through as group winners, with Chelsea in second after their 2-1 win over Lille.

    Source: wires

  • Man City keen to rival Chelsea for Ake

    Manchester City are interested in a January deal for Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake – despite a contract clause seemingly putting Chelsea in pole position to bring him back to Stamford Bridge.

    The West London club inserted a £40m buy-back clause into the centre-back’s £20m deal to Bournemouth in 2017, and they are now understood to want Ake back after their FIFA transfer ban was lifted.

    But City are also understood to want to sign Ake if they can next month, having failed to replace Vincent Kompany in the summer and suffered as a result of the long-term injury to Aymeric Laporte.

    Read:OFFICIAL: Man City loan out Ghana winger Thomas Agyepong to Belgian side Waasland Beveren

    Manager Pep Guardiola recently insisted they “cannot” sign anyone due to the difficulties of the winter window, and that he “does not want” anyone either, having adapted Fernandinho to centre-back.

    But the Spaniard also conceded that “when an incredible opportunity comes in January for the next four or five or six years, maybe we can think about it”.

    At 24, the already established Netherlands international Ake is seen as a future star by a host of top clubs, including Tottenham and Everton, having developed well under Eddie Howe on the south coast.

    Read:Chelsea and Arsenal keeping tabs on Anderlecht Ghanaian kid Jeremy Doku

    But City and Chelea could find themselves in the running for an injured player, with Ake soon set to find out the results of a scan on a hamstring problem picked up at the weekend.

    Earlier this season, Chelsea scout Piet de Visser urged the club to re-sign Ake in an interview with a Dutch newspaper, stating “I hope they buy him back. That boy is perfect for them and he has played with (manager Frank) Lampard.”

    Ake came through the same Chelsea youth academy that developed players now thriving under Lampard including the Premier League’s second-highest scorer Tammy Abraham, centre-back Fikayo Tomori and midfielder Mason Mount.

    Read:Bayern Munich target Hudson-Odoi set to ink five year deal with Chelsea

    But despite their growth under Lampard, Chelsea are still keen to sign new players in January, having been banned from doing so in the summer, and Sky Sports News has already reported they have been tracking the CSKA Moscow striker Fedor Chalov, of whom owner Roman Abramovich is a big fan.

    City, meanwhile, have also been considering the two centre-backs starring in Leicester’s resurgence this season – Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans, whom they previously tried to sign from West Brom in 2017.

    Source: skysports.com

  • PL: Abraham leads Chelsea to Villa win

    Tammy Abraham reinforced his importance to Chelsea by scoring the opener and setting up the second on his return from injury as the Blues returned to winning ways against Aston Villa.

    Abraham missed the Blues’ home defeat by West Ham with a hip injury and put them ahead against Villa with a firm header from Reece James’ cross.

    Read:UCL: Chelsea made to wait after dramatic draw

    After Villa equalised against the run of play when Trezeguet bundled in, Chelsea regained the lead shortly after the restart when Abraham neatly chested Willian’s cross into the path of Mason Mount who thumped in a volley.

    Chelsea, like they did in the first half before Trezeguet’s leveller, dominated possession and territory as they looked to increase their advantage.

    Read:Chelsea must be at their best at the Mestalla against Valencia Tammy Abraham

    Abraham twice came close to adding a third against the club he helped fire to promotion last season, while Willian – one of Chelsea’s other star performers – hit the post with an exquisite free-kick.

    The Blues ended a run of back-to-back defeats with a victory which helps them consolidate fourth place, moving them six points clear of nearest rivals Wolves, while narrowing the gap on third-placed Manchester City to three points.

    Villa, who have won just once on the road this season, remain in 15th place, a point above the relegation zone after Southampton’s win.

    Source: bbc.com

  • UCL: Chelsea made to wait after dramatic draw

    Chelsea’s qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League will go to the final game after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Valencia.

    A win for either side at the Mestalla would have sent them into the knockout stages, and Valencia broke the deadlock in the 40th minute as Carlos Soler slotted home. Mateo Kovacic levelled for Chelsea straight after, but the half ended on a sour note when Tammy Abraham was stretchered off on the stroke of half-time.

    Five minutes after the break, Christian Pulisic (50) had a goal ruled out for offside, but the decision was overturned after a lengthy VAR review. Just after the hour mark, confusion reigned when Valencia were awarded a penalty, but Dani Parejo’s effort was well saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    Read:UCL: Lewandowski hits four as Bayern top group

    Chelsea looked to be heading into the last 16, but there was another late twist when Daniel Wass’ cross (82) pinged into the back of the net via the crossbar to send qualification from Group H into the final game-week in a fortnight’s time, with Chelsea, Valencia and Ajax all in contention for two spots in the knockout stages.

    Knowing a win would see them through, Chelsea began the game well and should have scored inside three minutes. Reece James put a sensational cross into the area and picked out an unmarked Willian inside the six-yard box. However, from close range, he could only send his header over the crossbar.

    Player ratings

    Read:PL: Chelsea record sixth straight win, Leicester beat Arsenal

    Valencia: Cillessen (7), Costa (6), Garay (6), Gabriel (6), Gaya (7), Torres (6), Parejo (6), Wass (7), Soler (7), Rodrigo (6), Gomez (5).

    Subs used: Gameiro (4), Lee (6), Coquelin (5).

    Chelsea: Kepa (6), Azpilicueta (6), Christensen (5), Zouma (6), James (8), Kante (7), Jorginho (5), Kovacic (8), Willian (6), Abraham (7), Pulisic (7).

    Subs used: Batshuayi (6), Emerson (5), Mount (5).

    Man of the match: Mateo Kovacic.

    Read:Chelsea must be at their best at the Mestalla against Valencia Tammy Abraham

    Source: skysports.com

  • Chelsea must be at their best at the Mestalla against Valencia – Tammy Abraham

    Tammy Abraham says Chelsea’s Champions League duel with Valencia on Wednesday is their biggest game of the season so far.

    Frank Lampard’s side are locked in a three-way tie with the Spanish side and Ajax on seven points in Group H heading into matchday five.

    The Blues sit second and, despite a 1-0 defeat to Valencia at Stamford Bridge in their opening game, a win would see them qualify for the knockout stages due to their head-to-head record against their two pool rivals.

    Chelsea dropped to fourth in the Premier League after a loss at champions Manchester City on Saturday, yet striker Abraham ranks the Valencia trip as their most crucial of the campaign to date.

    Read:PL: Chelsea record sixth straight win, Leicester beat Arsenal

    “We know this is our biggest game of the season so far,” the England international told a news conference. “Training hasn’t been different, we have all been enjoying it, we have been focused.

    “We have to pick ourselves up after the Manchester City defeat and we know we have to give our best performance to win.”

    Abraham, who was on loan at Aston Villa in the Championship last season, has 11 goals for Chelsea this term, excelling among a number of academy graduates.

    The 22-year-old and his team-mates are determined to keep impressing at the highest level, and fully focused on beating Valencia to extend their Champions League journey.

    Read:Chelsea go second on Premier League table after sixth straight win

    Abraham added: “Before Valencia, some of us were warming up together and it didn’t feel real. We were in the Championship before.

    “The little details need to be there, and Wednesday is a massive game. Leave it all on the pitch.

    “For many of us, [playing in the Champions League] is a dream come true. We don’t want to stop now. We have to keep pushing. You have to improve.”

    After their latest European outing, Lampard will prepare his side for West Ham’s arrival at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

    Chelsea will then look ahead to another home fixture against Aston Villa the following Wednesday, before taking in a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on December 7.

    Source: Goal.com

  • Pulisics hat-trick fires Chelsea to seventh consecutive victory

    Chelsea’s American forward Christian Pulisic scored his first Premier League goals for the club with a hat-trick and Willian added another in an entertaining 4-2 win at Burnley on Saturday.

    Pulisic, who made his first league start since Aug. 31, was on target twice in the first half and made it 3-0 with a sublime header after the break before Willian got the fourth, stretching Chelsea’s streak to seven successive wins in all competitions.

    Read:Christian Pulisic joins Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund for £58m

    The win left Chelsea fourth on 20 points from 10 games while Burnley are 11th on 12 points after a tepid performance in their 200th Premier League fixture and 100th at Turf Moor.

    The 21-year-old Pulisic, who became the youngest Chelsea player to score a hat-trick, fired the visitors ahead in the 21st minute after shaking off two defenders and doubled their advantage with a deflected shot on the stroke of halftime.

    Read:Callum Hudson-Odoi: Who is the Chelsea youngster and how good can he be?

    The U.S. international capped a stellar performance in the 56th before the lively Willian fired an arrowed shot into the far corner from 12 metres after neat footwork in the area.

    Chelsea then had a penalty rescinded after a VAR check before Burnley scored two late goals, as Jay Rodriguez rifled in a piledriver from 25 metres in the 86th minute and Dwight McNeil drove home a deflected effort three minutes later.

    Source: Wires