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Tag: Chelsea

  • Tottenham face Chelsea in Carabao Cup semi-finals

    Tottenham face Chelsea in Carabao Cup semi-finals

    Tottenham Hotspur must overcome another London rival to reach the Carabao Cup final match after being drawn against Chelsea in the last four on Wednesday.

    Third tier Burton Albion will take on holders Manchester City however, in a pairing which comparatively looks like a mismatch.

    Tottenham, who beat fierce local foes Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium to reach the semis, have also met London clubs Watford and West Ham in this year’s competition.

    “A very difficult draw, another London derby,” Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino told Sky Sports.

    “We shall see. Chelsea are a great team but we are excited. To be in the semi-final is fantastic for us.”

    Chelsea booked their spot in the last four with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, thanks to Eden Hazard’s deflected winner.

    Burton reached the semi-finals for the first time in their history after Nigel Clough’s side beat Middlesbrough 1-0 on Tuesday.

    They face the daunting prospect of trying to stop English Premier League champions Manchester City, who beat Leicester City on penalty kicks to reach the last four.

    The two-legged ties will be played in the weeks of Jan. 7 and Jan. 21.

     

  • Antonio Rudiger not in Chelsea contract talks

    Antonio Rudiger not in Chelsea contract talks

    Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger has revealed he is not in talks with the Blues over a new contract, Sky Sports report.

    The German had been reported to be thrashing out a new deal with the Blues, but the German insists he is happy with his current terms.

    The 25-year-old has almost four years to run on his existing Stamford Bridge contract and maintained he is very happy with that status quo.

    When asked if he is discussing new terms with Chelsea, Rudiger replied: “That’s not the case to be honest.

    “There’s no need, because I still have three-and-a-half years to go.

    “There’s no speaking between me and the club. It’s also not necessary at the moment either with three-and-a-half years to go.”
  • Hazard shines as Chelsea defeat Brighton to remain in top-four

    Hazard shines as Chelsea defeat Brighton to remain in top-four

    Eden Hazard scored one and assisted another as Chelsea held on to beat Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Sunday to remain in Premier League top-four.

    The Belgium forward set up the Blues’ opener with a wonderful pass across the face of goal for the arriving Pedro to tap in on 17 minutes.

    Willian then pounced on a loose pass from Leon Balogun and played in Hazard, who ran from just over the halfway line, outpacing the Brighton defence, before slotting past Mat Ryan just after the half hour mark.

    Brighton, who welcomed back Glenn Murray to the starting XI after a shoulder injury, barely threatened in the first hour.

    But they improved following Murray’s substitution for Romanian striker Florin Andone and pulled a goal back in the 66th minute.

    Bernardo headed a cross back across goal and Solly March was unopposed as he hooked his shot past Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga

    Seagulls fans felt Marcos Alonso should have been sent off as last man after fouling March late on, but the Spaniard was shown a yellow card instead.

    Chelsea withstood the hosts’ late attacks to record their first away win in three games to stay in fourth in the Premier League, two points behind Tottenham.

  • Chelsea: I respect Cahill but I need technical defenders – Sarri

    Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has admitted that while he respects long-serving defender Gary Cahill, that the 32-year-old’s future may lie away from Stamford Bridge as he needs ‘technical defenders’.

    Cahill has been with Chelsea since arriving from Bolton in 2012, but has struggled for opportunities this season and having entered the final year of his contract has been linked with a January move away.

    “I respect him very much. He has won everything with this club. I have to respect him, then I have to do my job. For every match I have to choose, and for me it’s not easy to put him on the bench,” Sarri said before Chelsea’s Europa League game against Vidi.

    “Maybe he is the best of our defenders inside the box, but I have to think our centre-backs usually play about 100 or 110 balls in a match, so I need very technical defenders.

    “It’s not my decision. It is up to him and the club, because he is in his last year of contract so he has to decide for a new contract here or with another club.

    “You know for over-30s the club usually offers only one-year contracts. If he has an offer of three years [from elsewhere] he can decide on something else. It doesn’t depend on whether I am sentimental or not!”

  • Europa: Sloppy Chelsea held by MOL Vidi despite Giroud stunner

    Europa: Sloppy Chelsea held by MOL Vidi despite Giroud stunner

    A sloppy Chelsea team were held to a 2-2 draw by MOL Vidi on Thursday night in Hungary despite stunning goals from Olivier Giroud and Willian.

    Blues boss Maurizio Sarri, as he has done throughout this season’s Europa League, rotated his team with youngsters Ethan Ampadu, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all starting.

    The Blues took the lead thanks to a fine free-kick from Willian, finding the top corner of the Hungarians’ net from the edge of the box, but were pegged back when Ampadu headed into his own net from a corner.

    Vidi then went ahead after the break when Loic Nego thundered in a volley, giving them a chance of qualifying for the last 32, but a stunning free-kick from substitute Olivier Giroud denied them victory.

    Chelsea still qualify as group winners but this was a disappointing performance.

  • I don’t want any regrets, says Hazard as he considers Chelsea future

    I don’t want any regrets, says Hazard as he considers Chelsea future

    Eden Hazard says he does not “want to have any regrets” as he considers whether to sign a new contract with Chelsea or leave Stamford Bridge.

    The Belgian forward has 18 months remaining on his Chelsea deal, and has openly questioned whether he is willing to extend his stay with the Blues.

    Hazard has also made no secret of his desire to play for Real Madrid, and when discussing his future with French-Monegasque radio station RMC, said: “The new (Chelsea) coach (Maurizio Sarri) thinks football like me, so we’ll see.

    “The family is in London, I’m also going to be 28. I do not want to have any regrets at the end of my career.

    “It’s a decision I’m going to make, I do not know when, but I’ll take it.

    “You know me, I’ve always loved Real, even before (Zinedine) Zidane. We’ll see what happens.

    “As I said, I’m already finishing this year with Chelsea, I still have a year of contract after this year.”

     

     

  • Chelsea suspends fans for alleged racial abuse of Sterling

    Chelsea suspends fans for alleged racial abuse of Sterling

    Chelsea have suspended four people from attending matches while an investigation into the alleged racial abuse of Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling takes place.

    The incident involving the 24-year-old occurred during City’s 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

    Chelsea are “fully supporting” an ongoing police investigation.

    A club statement said evidence of racist behaviour will result in “severe sanctions, including bans”.

    “Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour abhorrent,” the statement continued, adding that the club “will also fully support any criminal prosecutions”.

    Manchester City welcomed Chelsea’s decision to issue suspensions.

    A club statement said: “The club and Raheem are fully engaged with Chelsea FC and the investigating authorities as they continue to examine the events in question.

    “Manchester City and Raheem are committed to working with all relevant parties and organisations to support the objective of eradicating racism from the game.”

    Social media users posted a video of an incident during which Sterling was shouted at as he collected the ball from behind the goal.

    Sterling said he “had to laugh” when he heard the remarks because he expects “no better”.

    A subsequent Instagram post from the England international saw him question the way the media portrays black players and has prompted debate between stakeholders in the game.

    The Professional Footballers’ Association has said negative press coverage of Sterling “emboldens racist rhetoric”, adding the former Liverpool player is “often singled out”.

  • Chelsea, police to investigate alleged racist abuse against Sterling

    Chelsea, police to investigate alleged racist abuse against Sterling

    An incident of alleged racist abuse against Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling during Saturday’s Premier League match at Stamford Bridge is being investigated by Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police.

    Twitter users highlighted a first-half incident when a Chelsea supporter appeared to abuse Sterling while he attempted to retrieve the ball from behind the goal line.

    A Chelsea spokesman said: “We’re aware of reports and video footage. We will investigate the matter and take the strongest possible action where necessary.”

    The Met Police said: “We are aware of a video circulating online in which it is claimed racial abuse was allegedly directed at a player at a Chelsea v Manchester City game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, December 8.

    “We will review the footage to determine whether any offences have been committed.”

    No arrests have been made, the Met added.

    Chelsea won the match 2-0 to hand Manchester City their first defeat in the Premier League this season.

  • BREAKING: Chelsea inflict first league defeat on Man City

    BREAKING: Chelsea inflict first league defeat on Man City

    N’Golo Kante and David Luiz scored Chelsea’s two goals that ended Manchester City’s victorious run in the Premier League.

    Maurizio Sarri’s side bounced back from the disappointment of losing at Wolves in midweek to end City’s 21-game unbeaten league run stretching back to April, and a sequence of 14 unbeaten games away from home.

    City paid for a lack of ruthlessness as they dominated the first half completely, only to be struck by a Chelsea smash-and-grab right on half-time as N’Golo Kante fired high past Ederson from Eden Hazard’s pass.

    Chelsea gained confidence and momentum and improved after the break, securing the win with 12 minutes left when David Luiz’s glancing header following a corner bounced in off the far post.

    They closed out the win to give Sarri his first triumph over Pep Guardiola and leave Liverpool top by one point following their convincing 4-0 win at Bournemouth earlier.

  • Chelsea are suffering from blackouts, says Maurizio Sarri

    Chelsea are suffering from blackouts, says Maurizio Sarri

    Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea’s downturn in form can be attributed to “blackouts”, and admits he does not know how to beat a team coached by Pep Guardiola.

    The Blues take on Manchester City this weekend at Stamford Bridge, and know that a defeat would leave them 13 points behind the reigning champions and all but out of the title race.

    Chelsea go into the match having lost two of their last three Premier League matches and Sarri acknowledges his side are facing “big problems”.

    He said: “We have a problem to manage the match at the moment. In the last two matches we played well for 60 minutes, then in the first difficult moment we had a blackout.