Olivier Giroud admits his lack of playing time at Chelsea is “frustrating” and has hinted that he is prepared to return to France in search of more football.
The 32-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, has made just six Premier League starts this season.
Giroud, who won the World Cup with France last summer, was also part of the Chelsea side which lifted the FA Cup last season, but is firmly behind the on-loan Gonzalo Higuain in the current pecking order.
Chelsea billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich, is resigned to losing Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer, AS reports.
Hazard has developed into one of the finest players in Europe, since he joined the Blues from Lille in 2012.
The Belgium captain has gone on to win two Premier League titles, the Europa League and the FA Cup with the Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich, is resigned to losing Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer, AS reports.
Hazard has developed into one of the finest players in Europe, since he joined the Blues from Lille in 2012.
The Belgium captain has gone on to win two Premier League titles, the Europa League and the FA Cup with the Stamford Bridge.
Real have held interest in Hazard for a number of years and returning manager Zinedine Zidane is a huge admirer.
On Monday, it was reported that Chelsea had rejected an opening offer from Real Madrid to sign Hazard. But AS claims the Premier League club are preparing for Hazard’s departure, knowing they will be unable to resist Real’s approaches at the end of the season.
It is claimed owner Abramovich and transfer chief and Marina Granovskaia have both accepted Hazard is leaving Stamford Bridge for his dream club.
Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has been called up to the England squad for the first time for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro.
The 18-year-old was due to be part of the England Under-21 squad.
Hudson-Odoi played 19 games for Chelsea this season, scoring five times, but is yet to start a Premier League match.
Luke Shaw has joined John Stones, Fabian Delph and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in withdrawing from the squad.
Earlier on Monday, Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse was called up as a replacement.
Hudson-Odoi’s Under-21 call-up was his first at that level but the winger has previously represented England from Under-16 to Under-19 level, winning the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
“It’s been a crazy experience but I’m delighted to get the call and it’s a nice feeling to be here as well,” Hudson-Odoi said.
“I thought the manager [Under-21 manager Aidy Boothroyd] was joking.
“I was shocked and then when I heard that I actually had to go over [to England’s training base at St George’s Park], I couldn’t believe it. I was delighted.
Real Madrid have made contact with Chelsea about a summer deal for Eden Hazard, the UK Telegraph reports.
The LaLiga club is already planning Zinedine Zidane’s first big transfer, after his return was confirmed on Monday.
It is believed Real made contact with Chelsea about Hazard, shortly before they announced Zidane would be their new head coach on Monday.
Hazard is a huge admirer of Zidane as a coach and named the French legend as his idol growing up.
Chelsea’s transfer ban could block Hazard from joining Real, as Chelsea would be unable to sign a replacement. However, the club is hopeful the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will overrule FIFA’s decision to snub a request to freeze the suspension during the appeal process.
The Blues value Hazard at £100million, even though his current deal expires next summer.
Zidane has reportedly been handed a £300m transfer kitty.
Chelsea have appealed against Fifa’s decision to ban them from signing players in the next two transfer windows.
It follows the world governing body’s investigation into Chelsea’s signing of foreign under-18 players.
Fifa says it found breaches in 29 cases out of 92 investigated, including striker Bertrand Traore, now at Lyon.
The governing body says it has received an appeal but could not confirm when this would be heard.
Chelsea have also been fined £460,000, while the Football Association has been fined £390,000.
The ban, which runs until the end of January 2020, does not prevent the release of players and will not apply to their women’s and futsal teams.
Under-fire Chelsea midfielder Jorginho believes that he can change the minds of fans who boo him.
Despite impressing whilst at the Serie A runners-up last season, Jorginho has struggled to earn similar plaudits at Stamford Bridge.
However, with Chelsea floundering in sixth place, the midfielder has become a scapegoat for the west London side’s current direction.
The midfielder has responded to the criticism and recognised the fans right to voice their opinion.
He said: “The important thing is to know how to deal with the situation.
“And the fan has the right to charge.
“I was calm and I’m sure I can show my value and make them change their minds.”
Jorginho has yet to register an assist this season – a stat that is held against him given his creative role within the team.
The Italian became the first player in Premier League history to make 2,300 passes without assisting a goal.
Jorginho also missed the opening penalty in his side’s shoot-out loss to City in the Carabao Cup final last weekend.
They travel to local rivals Fulham on Sunday afternoon and will look to close the gap on the top four.
Jorginho is widely expected to retain his role in the middle of the pitch – only Kante and captain Cesar Azpilicueta have more league appearances this season.
Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, has insisted Kepa Arrizabalaga remains his number one goalkeeper, after dropping the Spaniard for Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham on Wednesday.
Sarri drafted Willy Caballero into his starting XI, after Kepa refused to be substituted in the closing stages of their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
The Italian explained he was trying to send a message to his squad by dropping Kepa.
However, asked whether Kepa was still his number one, the Italian told a news conference: “Of course.
“I think it was the right decision [to drop him]. Kepa made a big mistake. He paid [a fine] with the club and then he paid [with his position] with the team.
“Now I think we have to stop. Kepa will be from tomorrow with us.
“I don’t know in the next match if he will be on the pitch or not. But in the next one or two, of course.
“We cannot kill him. When you are young you can make mistakes.
“[But] you need to understand very well after every mistake. For me the question is closed.”
Chelsea travel to Craven Cottage to take on west London rivals Fulham on Sunday.
Manchester City won the Carabao Cup in a penalty-shoot out at Wembley after Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga defied manager Maurizio Sarri’s attempt to substitute him.
City claimed the first major trophy in their four-pronged assault on silverware but this stale final, which was goalless after extra-time, will be remembered for an almost unprecedented challenge to Sarri’s authority by Arrizabalaga.
The £71m Spanish keeper, Chelsea’s club record signing, had been struggling with cramp in the closing stages of extra-time and Sarri decided to send on substitute Willy Caballero, who saved three penalties in a shootout to help Manchester City win this trophy against Liverpool in 2016.
Arrizabalaga refused to come off and Sarri backed down in a rage, looking as if he would walk down the tunnel and then having to be restrained by Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger at the final whistle.
Sarri’s position was utterly undermined and the Italian’s misery was complete when City won the shootout, with Raheem Sterling scoring the winning penalty.
Ilkay Gundogan, Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva scored from the spot for City and even though Arrizabalaga saved from Leroy Sane it was to no avail.
Jorginho’s spot kick was saved by Ederson and David Luiz hit the post as Chelsea were sunk, despite Cesar Azplicueta, Emerson and Eden Hazard converting their kicks.
Manchester City retained the trophy but Arrizabalaga’s insubordination will be the headline story.
BBC
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said he would not be leaving for Roma, after speculation in the media on Thursday.
The Italian was speaking after the Blues defeated Malmo 3-0 at Stamford Bridge to win 5-1 on aggregate and move into the Europa League last 16.
Sarri has been under pressure recently following a mixed run of results.
Asked if he had been in contact with Roma, the 60-year-old said: “Of course no, I have a contract with Chelsea for next season so it is impossible.”
Chelsea went into Thursday’s game on the back of three defeats in their previous five matches – a 4-0 loss at Bournemouth, a 6-0 thrashing at Manchester City and an FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United on Monday.
His side face City again in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, and then meet Tottenham in the Premier League.
Sarri added: “It’s very easy that City is in our minds. We played two weeks ago and now we can try to solve this problem.”
All of Chelsea’s goals against Malmo came in the second half.
Olivier Giroud scored the first from close range before Ross Barkley made it 2-0 with a free-kick from the edge of the box and teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi added a fine third in the 84th minute.
Chelsea have been banned from signing players in the next two transfer windows for breaching rules in relation to youth players, Fifa has announced.
The ban, until the end of January 2020, does not prevent the release of players and will not apply to their women’s and futsal teams.
The Premier League club have said they will appeal against the decision.
Chelsea have also been fined £460,000, while the Football Association (FA) has been fined £390,000.
It comes following a Fifa investigation into Chelsea’s signing of foreign under-18 players, including former striker Bertrand Traore.
The world governing body says it found breaches in 29 cases out of 92 investigated.
“We welcome the fact Fifa has accepted that there was no breach in relation to 63 of these players, but the club is extremely disappointed that Fifa has not accepted the club’s submissions in relation to the remaining 29 players,” said a statement from the Stamford Bridge club.
“Chelsea acted in accordance with the relevant regulations and will shortly be submitting its appeal to Fifa.”
The FA has been told by Fifa that it must “address the situation” regarding the international transfer and registration of minors.
A spokesperson for English football’s governing body said it had “co-operated fully” with the investigations and had “raised some concerns” regarding Fifa’s disciplinary processes.
A statement said: “The FA intends to appeal against the decision. We will, however, continue to work with Fifa and Chelsea in a constructive manner to address the issues which are raised by this case.”