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Tag: Chelsea FC

  • EPL: Chelsea versus Tottenham clash will be an acid test – Antonio Conte

    EPL: Chelsea versus Tottenham clash will be an acid test – Antonio Conte

    The coach of Tottenham Hotspur,  Antonio Conte has revealed that Sunday’s encounter with Chelsea will be a great test for his team.

    Recall that Chelsea made Tottenham kiss the canvass four times when they met last season, two in the League Cup semi-final followed by one in the league, in January when Conte was still relatively new at Tottenham.

    There has a been a measure of stability and consistency with the London club as their fine form towards the end of last season earned them a fourth place finish in the English Premier League and a slot in the UEFA Champions League.

    But they make the journey from north to west London this weekend knowing they have won just once at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era.

    “The story is this but we want to try,” former Chelsea manager Conte said Friday. “When I arrived in Tottenham, I say we want to try to write a good story for this club.

    “I know very well it will be more difficult than other clubs for many reasons but I think we have started to go in the right path.

    “This game will be important to make the right evaluation about our improvement.

    “You can win the game and be lucky or lose the game and be unlucky so we have to make the right evaluation after the game with the performance, with the way we played and to feel our improvement.”

    Meanwhile, tottenham  will be without Clement Lenglet and Oliver Skipp this weekend but Richarlison will return after suspension and be available to make his debut.

    Temperatures could hit 35 degrees Celsius in London on Sunday with drinks breaks agreed for all 10 Premier League games this weekend.

    “The weather is the same for them and for us,” added Conte.

    “In Italy we have 40 or 42 degrees, especially where I was born in Lecce we sometimes touch 45 and we are used to this temperature, but I understand for London it is unusual.”

    Tottenham presently leads the premier league table after defeating Southampton by 4-1 in their first match of the 2022/2023 season.

  • Arsenal thrash Chelsea 4-0, Arteta says players are fired up

    Arsenal thrash Chelsea 4-0, Arteta says players are fired up

    Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta is full of praises for his team for defeating Chelsea football club 4-0 in a pre-season friendly on Sunday in Florida, saying that his boys are fired up ahead of next season’s campaign beginning on August 6.

    In his post-match interview, Arteta said Arsenal defeated Chelsea because his players showed intensity and played well against the Blues.

    The Spaniard watched as Arsenal humbled Chelsea at the Camping World Stadium in the USA.

    Goals from Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Albert Sambi Lokonga gave the Gunners the win over Thomas Tuchel’s side.

    “The way we played, the intensity we showed, the way we were trying to show who we are as a team. But at the same time, it’s just a test match,” Arteta said at his post-match press conference.

    “Don’t get carried away. There are still a lot of things that we have to get better at and do better.

    “But I think it’s good to get some momentum, finish the tour in the right way, give some enjoyment to our fans and everybody that’s been contributing to make this tour happen. Now it’s time to go back to London, to focus and keep making improvements and steps forward.”

  • Chelsea forward, Timo Werner hints at exiting Stamford Bridge

    Chelsea forward, Timo Werner hints at exiting Stamford Bridge

    Germany and Chelsea forward, Timo Werner has hinted at leaving Stamford Bridge this summer for a side that guarantees him regular football.

    Werner said he wants to play constantly and have a chance of making the German team to the 2022 World Cup.

    The 26-year-old is not happy that he was only able to make 15 Premier League starts last season, managing just 4 goals.

    Werner said playing as a substitute in virtually all the games is very painful.

    He believes such a situation where he had to watch from the bench as Thomas Tuchel settled for Kai Havertz, could kill his World Cup dreams.

    Meanwhile one of Chelsea’s forwards Lukaku left Stamford Bridge for Inter Milan on loan this summer, but the acquisition of  Raheem Sterling has made the competition in the team stiffer.

    Asked whether he can be happy at Chelsea next season, Werner said: “I could be happy everywhere,” providing a hint he could leave the Blues this summer.

    “It is clear I want to play more and I should play more to first be in good shape for the World Cup and also to have a chance to play at the World Cup,” he told talkSPORT.

    “It doesn’t change anything whether it is a winter World Cup or in the summer. I think if I play half of the season or the whole season, I should play. It doesn’t change anything in my mind.

    “The manager always has different ideas, different thoughts, and what you need in different games.

    “In many games, I was not in his thoughts so I try to change that. It is not different from last season, it was the same when Romelu came. We had a big, big competition. It’s still the same.”

  • EPL: Chelsea eye Koulibaly as Rudiger’s replacement

    EPL: Chelsea eye Koulibaly as Rudiger’s replacement

    Chelsea football club are interested in signing Senegal’s Napoli’s central defender, Kalidou Koulibaly.

    Reports from Italian media, Corriere Dello Sport, say the defender has made a decision not to return to Napoli for next season’s games.

    His contract with Napoli expires next summer, but he is not looking to sign a new deal with the Kalidou Koulibaly side.

    Meanwhile, Chelsea’s coach Thomas Tuchel is interested in bringing the Senegal international to Stamford Bridge to replace Anthony Rudiger who left for Real Madrid.

    However, the Blues will have to battle Juventus, who are also keeping a close eye on Koulibaly’s situation and are offering him the chance to stay in Italy.

    But the 31-year-old wants to leave Italy this summer and experience a new league.

    Chelsea FC have agreed a £50m for  Raheem Sterling from rival Manchester City, the winger would be officially announced soon.

  • EPL: I will not spend big like my predecessor-Chelsea owner, Boehly

    Chelsea owner, Todd Boehly, has informed his club management that he will not spend as much as his predecessor Abramovich did.

    He warned that clubs will no longer be able to sign players “at any price” due to the risks of sanctions from breaching UEFA’s financial fair play rules.

    Recall that Boehly led an investment group to take over the Blues last month.

    The American bought the Premier League side after Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    Chelsea have been the most successful team in England since Abramovich bought the club in 2003, mostly due to the Russian’s investment.

    “UEFA takes it seriously and will continue to take it seriously. [More teeth] means financial penalties and disqualification from sporting competitions.”

  • Raheem Sterling set to join Chelsea FC, gives conditions

    England and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling  has given Chelsea Coach Thomas Tuchel a condition if the Blues want him to cross to the London side.

    The 27-year-old wants to get assurance for play time  from Tuchel before pitching his tent with the London club.

    Chelsea want to make Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling their headline signing this summer and are prepared to pay up £60million, the UK Sun reports.

    Chelsea’s new owners are ready to back Thomas Tuchel with a £200m warchest and make significant additions to a squad, as they seek to keep pace with City and Liverpool next season.

    Sterling has just a year left on his contract and most likely to become a free agent next year.

    City boss, Pep Guardiola, would prefer to keep Sterling, but the club don’t want to lose one of their prize assets on a free transfer next summer.

    Sterling is keen on a return to his London roots, but will seek assurances from Tuchel over the role his likely to play in his plans.

     

    Tuchel already has an abundance of attacking options in his squad, but with doubts over the futures of Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic, he is likely to be able to offer Sterling the guarantee of first team football he craves.

  • EPL: Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa set to leave Stamford Bridge

    EPL: Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa set to leave Stamford Bridge

    Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel, has revealed that second choice goal keeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga will leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

    The German tactician further explained that the Spanish goalkeeper is ‘not happy’ with his role at the west London club and ‘deserves to play more’.

    Kepa was acquired from Spanish giant Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for a record fee of 72 Million pounds.

    The 24 year-old goalie went down the pecking order when Chelsea acquired Athletic Bilbao who instanly became Chelsea’s number 1

    Asked about Arrizabalaga’s future during his last pre-match press conference of the season Tuchel said: “It depends what he wants and it depends what his plans are, but I know that we are very privileged to have Edou [Mendy] and Kepa in our squad.

    “I know for sure that Kepa is not happy about the situation and he deserves to play more and he can be a strong number one.

    “He arrived as a number one goalkeeper so the situation is not easy. I can tell you that he has been a fantastic team player since day one and always was and never let anybody down,” he added.

    Having admitted that the Spain International is unhappy at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel said he hopes to talk to the 23-year-old to find a way to convince to stay longer at the club.

    However, despite speculations linking the Spanish goalkeeper out of Stamford, Tuchel said he would like to have both strong goalkeepers, Mendy and Kepa at Chelsea next season, adding “Let’s see.”

  • Klopp reveals how Liverpool will celebrate if they win FA cup

    Klopp reveals how Liverpool will celebrate if they win FA cup

    Liverpool manager, the German tactician , coach Jurgen Klopp, has said they will not celebrate massively if they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final, because of their bid to win a historic Quadruple this season.

    Recall that Liverpool defeated Chelsea 11-10 on penalties to win the first major trophy of the season at the Wembley stadium in February.

    Liverpool will be praying that Manchester City faulters in their two remaining matches for the hopes of winning the historic quadruple.

    Klopp’s men are still on the quest to win all four trophies, as they chase Manchester City in the Premier League title race and face Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

    “When you go for three or four trophies, it’s clear you get it or you don’t,” Klopp told a news conference on Friday.

  • Chelsea football club hit with injury blow ahead FA Cup final

    Chelsea football club hit with injury blow ahead FA Cup final

    Chelsea football club may be without the services of Mateo Kovacic for this weekend’s FA Cup final against Liverpool.

    Kovacic was substituted in the first half of their 3-0 win at Leeds united on Wednesday night.

    The Croatian midfielder was roughlu tackled by Leeds United player Dan James in the fiesty encounter that got him sent off.

    Speaking after the massive 3-0 win Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, was asked about Kovacic at the end of the match at Elland Road.

    He said he didn’t see the tackle when it was made, but the replay on his Ipad showed the Leeds Unted palyer deserves to be sent off.

    “I only saw [the tackle] from a distance on the iPad because I was not watching the match at that very second, but if I see Kova’s foot right now, then there is no doubt it should be a red card,” he said.

    “It’s the same ankle again. It’s very, very painful and it’s very bad news on a nice evening.

    Liverpool and Chelsea will slug it out in the FA Cup on Saturday at 4.45pm Nigerian time.

  • Boehly’s group of investors to acquire Chelsea at £4.25 billion

    Boehly’s group of investors to acquire Chelsea at £4.25 billion

    Chelsea FC has said Boehly’s group of investors, led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner, Todd Boehly, would acquire the London club after agreeing to terms in a deal worth £4.25 billion ($5.2 billion).

     

    “The sale is expected to complete in late May subject to all necessary regulatory approvals,” the football club said in a statement late Friday.

     

    “More details will be provided at that time,” it added.

     

    Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich put the Premier League club on the market in March, just days before he was sanctioned by the British government following the invasion of Ukraine.

     

    After a lengthy bidding process involving several groups, Boehly and his fellow investors were picked by Raine Group, the New York bank overseeing the Blues’ sale.

     

    Boehly’s group of investors includes fellow Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter, Swiss billionaire Hansjoerg Wyss and US investment firm Clearlake Capital.

     

    “Chelsea Football Club can confirm that terms have been agreed for a new ownership group, led by Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjoerg Wyss, to acquire the Club,” the Chelsea statement said.

     

    “Of the total investment being made, £2.5bn will be applied to purchase the shares in the Club and such proceeds will be deposited into a frozen UK bank account with the intention to donate 100 percent to charitable causes as confirmed by Roman Abramovich,” it said.

     

    “UK government approval will be required for the proceeds to be transferred from the frozen UK bank account.”

     

    In addition, the new owners would commit £1.75 billion in further investment for the benefit of the club, Chelsea said.

     

    Chelsea was forced to operate under a special license from the government after Abramovich was sanctioned by Britain and the European Union for his links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

     

    Abramovich cannot profit from Chelsea’s sale, but had already vowed to write off the club’s £1.5 billion debt and that all proceeds from the sale would go to victims of the war in Ukraine.

     

    There had been fears over the future of the club if a sale was not finalized before the license runs out on May 31.

     

    Under the terms of the license, Chelsea was unable to offer new contracts to existing players or sign players from other clubs.

     

    The sale of the European champions brings the curtain down on 19 years of nearly unbroken success under the 55-year-old Abramovich, who has overseen five Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs.

     

    After initially embarking on a long winning run following Abramovich’s decision to sell the club, Chelsea have struggled to find their best form recently.

     

    They suffered a painful Champions League quarter-final defeat at Real Madrid after nearly pulling off an epic comeback from a 3-1 first-leg deficit.

     

    Chelsea’s place in the Premier League’s top four is also far from guaranteed.