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Tag: Chelsea

  • Chelsea playmaker agrees personal terms with Madrid

    Chelsea playmaker agrees personal terms with Madrid

    Chelsea playmaker, Eden Hazard has agreed personal terms with Real Madrid over a potential move, according to Telefoot.

    Hazard has long been linked with Real Madrid, with manager Zinedine Zidane being an admirer.

    The Belgian will enter the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge this summer.

    That means it will be the last transfer window the Blues can ask for a big transfer fee for the winger.

    Fred Calenge, Telefoot journalist, claimed that the winger has agreed personal terms with Real Madrid.

    The 28-year-old has made no secret of his desire to one day play for Real Madrid.

     

  • Chelsea beat to book Europa League last-four place

    Chelsea beat to book Europa League last-four place

    Chelsea reached the UEFA Europa League semi-finals by beating Slavia Prague 4-3, helped by a Pedro double on Thursday.

    Pedro led Chlesea’s first half onslaught before withstanding the Czech’s comeback bid after the break in a pulsating game.

    The London side were cruising 4-1 at half-time but Slavia Prague added two goals early in the second period.

    Two powerful strikes by Petr Sevcik, narrowed the aggregate score to 5-3.

    The London side had won the first leg 1-0.

    Sevcik spurned a chance to cut the deficit further before Chelsea held on to see out the win and set up a semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

    The German side won 2-0 against Benfica to go through on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

    Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead within 17 minutes, starting with Pedro chipping goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar.

    The Spain winger hit the post four minutes later only for the ball to rebound into the face of Simon Deli and into the net for an own goal.

    Pedro carved out Chelsea’s third when he squared for a simple finish by Olivier Giroud and the scurrying Spaniard claimed Chelsea’s fourth goal in the 27th minute.

    A minute earlier, Slavia’s captain Tomas Soucek had given the boisterous Czech fans something to cheer at Stamford Bridge when he powered in a header from a corner kick.

    A Chelsea triumph in the UEFA Europa League, a trophy they won in 2013, would provide a way back into the UEFA Champions League.

    This will be if they finish outside the English Premier League (EPL) top four this season.

    They currently sit fifth on the league table.

  • Giroud demands important role at Chelsea next season

    Striker Olivier Giroud said on Wednesday he has been approached by other clubs to play for them next season, but he added he wanted to extend his stay Chelsea.

    The Frenchman however pointed out that staying at Stamford Bridge would depend on if manager Maurizio Sarri could offer him regular first team opportunities.

    Giroud, who is the top scorer in the UEFA Europa League with nine goals, is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

    Chelsea however have an option to extend it for another 12 months.

    The 32-year-old Frenchman has started just seven English Premier League games this season.

    He has seen limited opportunities since the arrival of Argentina international striker Gonzalo Higuain in January.

    “Trust me (to agree that) I’m very frustrated when I’m not on the pitch, but I just don’t want to show it,” Giroud told a news conference in London ahead of Chelsea’s UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg against Slavia Prague on Thursday.

    “You need to keep that frustration for you, and transform that into positive energy on the pitch.

    “I’m not happy to play the second role. That’s why I said next year I will need to have a more important role to play in the team.”

    When asked whether he has already had offers to go elsewhere, Giroud added: “Yes but I won’t reveal that now. The priority is Chelsea.

    “With what I’ve achieved here, there is no reason they won’t give me one more year. But I need to be happy, also.”

    Chelsea hold a 1-0 advantage over Slavia Prague from the away leg, courtesy of a late headed goal by defender Marcos Alonso.

    They will be without defender Antonio Rudiger, who limped out of Sunday’s 2-0 league defeat against Liverpool at Anfield with a knee injury.

    However, Chelsea’s assistant coach Gianfranco Zola expects the German international to return for the league trip to top-four rivals Manchester United on April 28.

    “It looks not as bad as we thought, luckily. When he came off limping, we were worried,” Zola said.

    “Yes, there is a strong possibility that we see him (against Manchester United). He’s a warrior and won’t want to miss a game like that.

    “The next few days will be very important to see if he can continue recovering.”

  • EPL: I only spoke to Mourinho twice at Chelsea – De Bruyne

    EPL: I only spoke to Mourinho twice at Chelsea – De Bruyne

    Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne says he only spoke to former manager Jose Mourinho twice during his time at Chelsea.

    De Bruyne, now at Manchester City, made only three Premier League appearances in two years at Chelsea, spending a season on loan at Werder Bremen.

    He left for Wolfsburg in January 2014 before moving to City in 2015.

    “There was so much in the press about my relationship with Jose Mourinho,” De Bruyne, 27, told the Players’ Tribune.

    “But the truth is that I only ever spoke to him twice. The plan was always for me to go on loan for a bit.”

    De Bruyne scored 10 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances for Werder Bremen before returning to Stamford Bridge, when the then Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp – now in charge of City’s title rivals Liverpool – wanted to sign him.

    De Bruyne said: “Mourinho texted me, ‘You are staying. I want you to be part of this team’.

    “So I thought, OK, great. I’m in his plans.”

  • Chelsea ban 3 fans, ‘hunt’ 3 more for abusive Salah chants

    Chelsea ban 3 fans, ‘hunt’ 3 more for abusive Salah chants

    Chelsea say they have banned three fans for their part in an abusive video directed at striker Mohamed Salah from Premier League rivals Liverpool, local media reported on Friday.

    Six men were seen on a video posted on social media on Thursday abusing Salah, calling the Egypt international a “bomber”.

    Both clubs roundly condemned the video, each issuing a statement in which they pledged to work together to find the people responsible.

    Chelsea said that they had stopped three fans at the gates for their Europa League clash with Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic.

    Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud said the whole Chelsea sides were disgusted at the video.

    “I think these people shouldn’t belong to Chelsea.

    “I think the club and everybody condemns these kinds of things, and we are 100 per cent behind Mo Salah. I think nowadays it shouldn’t happen,’’ Giroud said.

    Salah played 13 times for Chelsea before joining Roma, and eventually signing for Liverpool in the summer of 2017.

    Leaders Liverpool hosts Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

  • Europa: Late Alonso header gives Chelsea win in Prague

    Europa: Late Alonso header gives Chelsea win in Prague

    Chelsea struck late with a header by defender Marcos Alonso to beat a stubborn Slavia Prague side 1-0 in their Europa League quarter-final, first leg on Thursday.

    Spaniard Alonso broke the deadlock for the west London side in the 86th minute when he sneaked behind two defenders to connect with Willian’s cross.

    Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri made seven changes to his lineup from the team that beat West Ham United 2-0 in the Premier League on Monday.

    Belgian talisman Eden Hazard had to come off the bench for the last half an hour.

    Alonso’s goal gave the Blues a vital away goal as they put behind them bitter memories of the stadium where they lost the 2013 Super Cup to Bayern Munich in a penalty shootout.

  • Europa: Tired Hazard may be rested, says Sarri

    Europa: Tired Hazard may be rested, says Sarri

    Eden Hazard is “tired” and could be rested for Chelsea’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Slavia Prague, manager Maurizio Sarri says.

    The Belgian forward has scored three goals in the past two games but the manager expects to make “five or six changes” in Prague on Thursday.

    “I want to wait until tomorrow and then I will decide [on his availability],” said Sarri.

    “Of course, we have to play in Liverpool three days after.”

  • No decision until end of season, says Hazard over Chelsea exit

    No decision until end of season, says Hazard over Chelsea exit

    Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard has said he will make a decision on his Chelsea future at the end of the season — and that it would be “hard” for the club to miss out on Champions League football for a second year running.

     

    Hazard has been linked with a summer transfer to Real Madrid, with his Chelsea teammate Gonzalo Higuain citing that it would be hard to stop the Belgian from leaving Stamford Bridge if he has his mind set on a move to the Spanish giants.

    Chelsea have reportedly set a price of £100 million for the forward, although manager Maurizio Sarri said following Hazard’s sensational performance against West Ham United on Monday that £100m would be “too cheap” for the 28-year-old.

    “I’m just focused on Chelsea,” Hazard told ESPN.

    “One month to play, top four, try to win the Europa League. For the fans I think the most important thing is when they see me on the pitch they just think that my head is with Chelsea.

    “So we’ll see after.”

    Chelsea face a battle to get back into the Champions League ahead of next season.

    Hazard’s two goals against West Ham sent Chelsea third in the Premier League table and back above Tottenham and Arsenal in the race for the top four but the side have a difficult run in with trips to Liverpool and Manchester United to come.

    The club could also qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, where they face Slavia Prague in their quarterfinal first leg on Thursday.

    If Chelsea miss out it would be the second year in a row that had failed to qualify for the competition — after they finished 5th under Antonio Conte last season.

    And with the club unable to sign any players until July 2020 due to a two-window FIFA transfer ban, Hazard said Chelsea would be at a disadvantage if they are left playing in the Europa League again next season.

    “Two years in a row not playing Champions League is hard for the players but also for the club,” Hazard said.

    “Chelsea has to play in Champions League every year, but it’s hard because we are not the only team that is trying to play Champions League.

    “But that’s why we are doing everything at the moment to try and stay in the top four.”

  • Chelsea’s Drinkwater charged with drink driving

    Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater has been charged with drink driving after being involved in an accident near Manchester, British police said on Tuesday.

    “A 29-year-old from Nether Alderley has been charged with drink driving following an incident in Cheshire,” Cheshire police said in a statement.

    “Danny Drinkwater, of Bollington Lane, was arrested shortly after 12.30 a.m. on Monday 8 April following a one-vehicle collision on Ashley Road in Mere.

    “He has been released on unconditional bail and is set to appear at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on Monday, May 13.”

    Drinkwater joined Chelsea from Leicester City in 2017 and has made 12 league appearances in total for the London club. His last appearance was in the Community Shield in August.

  • EPL: Higuain insists on Chelsea stay, says I’m happy here

    Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain says it is his “intention” to be at Stamford Bridge next season.

    The Argentina international, 31, joined the Blues on loan until the end of the season from Italian giants Juventus in January.

    Last week, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said Higuain – who has scored three goals in eight Premier League appearances – needs “time to improve”.

    “I want to do as well as I can so I can be here for next season,” Higuain said.

    “I came here and I wanted to stay. It’s a good city, you live well and you can be relaxed but also enjoy yourself – so my intention is to stay here.”

    Higuain scored twice on his home debut against Huddersfield in February, but has not netted since the Blues’ 2-1 win over Fulham in March.

    Chelsea have the option to buy him for 36m euros (£31.3m), or to extend his loan deal until June 2020 for 18m euros (£15.6m).

    “I’m happy here,” Higuain told the Chelsea website. “It’s always nice to try a new league and it’s my first taste of the Premier League.

    “Obviously it’s a period where I’m adapting but I’m hoping that, although I’ve only got a short time, I can finish well.

    “The best thing we can do is qualify for the Champions League and hopefully win the Europa League too.”