TheNewsGuru

Tag: Chelsea

  • Mauricio Pochettino reacts to Newcastle heavy defeat

    Mauricio Pochettino reacts to Newcastle heavy defeat

    Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino says defeat at Newcastle United was their worst for the season.

    Chelsea were thumped 4-1, with skipper Reece James sent off. Alexander Isak had Newcastle ahead before Raheem Sterling equalised. But then Jamaal Lascelles, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon all struck.

    Pochettino said: “It was our worst game of the season. It was tough to be in the stands. We cannot complain about the result, we did not read the game from the beginning. We did not play how we should play, we showed a lack of intensity and energy. Even after we scored, at 1-1, it was a chance for us to force them to play deep, but it was so easy for Newcastle. That is why I am so upset with the performance.

    “It is a young team, they need this type of situation to realise. We will go to the hotel, then train early tomorrow, no time off. We cannot blame the players, it is the team together. We need to understand the level we need to compete, and learn about this situation.

    “There are many details, many things that build confidence and strength. We already know what is going on, and we will try to change the dynamic.”

  • Thiago Silva sends ‘Isaiah 41:10’ Bible verse to Neymar

    Thiago Silva sends ‘Isaiah 41:10’ Bible verse to Neymar

    Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has sent a supportive message to Brazil star Neymar.

    The Al Hilal ace’s season is over after he suffered a knee injury with Brazil last month.

    Thiago Silva posted a picture of himself with Neymar and friends with a message on social media.

    It read: “Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, help you and uphold you with my strong hand. Isaiah 41:10.”

    Neymar has just undergone surgerý to correct his ACL and damaged meniscus.

  • Why Gerrard was the best I faced in EPL – Mike Obi

    Why Gerrard was the best I faced in EPL – Mike Obi

    Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel rates Steven Gerrard as the best player he faced in the Premier League.

    The Nigerian concedes a clash with the Liverpool legend was always a battle.

    “I’ve always said my toughest opponent in the Premier League was Stevie G,” he told Rio Ferdinand’s Five podcast. “You remember when he started playing as a No.10 for Liverpool, with Fernando Torres up front? Oh my God!”

    The former Nigeria international continued: “Quick, technically very good, strong, powerful, he could tackle as well. You’re looking at a No.10 who could tackle! I know he didn’t play in that position for very long, but he was the guy who was very, very difficult to play against. He knew how to find the space in between you and the defenders.

    “Yeah, for me, Stevie G was the guy, he was that good.”

  • Relegation threat: Chelsea facing heavy points deduction

    Relegation threat: Chelsea facing heavy points deduction

    Legal experts say Chelsea are in real danger of a heavy points deduction after the Everton ruling on Friday.

    Everton have been hit with a 10-point deduction after being found to have breached ‘profit and sustainability’ rules by the Premier League. Everton intend to appeal the decision.

    Lawyer Stefan Borson, who advised Manchester City on their Financial Fair Play case, posted to social media: “Without seeing the judgement/award -10 points for Everton feels harsh for a straightforward FFP [Financial Fair Play] breach to me.

    “But reinforces that sanctions against City [if proven] and now Chelsea [if charged and admitted on the off-books payments] will be potentially relegation inducing.

    “One thing is for sure, given the scale of this sporting sanction, Chelsea’s calculus [in my opinion] that they could breach PL P&S [Profit and Sustainability] and just take a fine as a cost of doing business, must be in urgent and immediate reconsideration.

    “The January window may be interesting. Even in the best case, they can no longer rely on being able to convince an Independent Commission to accept their Covid and Sanctions allowances as exceptional adjustments [to the extent that was the plan.”

  • How 5 Chelsea players convinced Abramovich to sack managers – Mikel

    How 5 Chelsea players convinced Abramovich to sack managers – Mikel

    Former Super Eagles John Obi Mikel has opened up on players’ influence on Roman Abramovich to sack managers during his time at Chelsea.

    Ex-Chelsea owner Abramovich hired 12 managers in the 20 years he was the club’s supremo.

    Asked what happens when the players want to get a manager sacked, Mikel told Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five show: “The chat happens between the big guys: JT, Frank, Didier and Petr Cech and a little bit of Ashley [Cole].

    “It’s not like a chat where they go ‘we’re going to go at you’, but the one person we really didn’t like was Rafa [Benitez], because he wasn’t a Chelsea kind of manager, and AVB [Andre Villas Boas].

    “AVB was younger than most of the players, younger than Frank, younger than JT, and for some reason, he stopped playing Frank and Frank didn’t take that well so there was a little bit of a rift.

    “When that happens and you get bad results, players who have been playing but are no longer start talking and the atmosphere was a little bit down, it cycles around and before you know it there is a little bit of talk.

    “They stop talking to the manager, not saying ‘good morning’ and just walk past. That’s how they get their message across. Then Roman comes in, as Roman only speaks to those guys, and once their story has been told to Roman, then Roman makes the decisions which favors the players.”

  • I benefited from Guardiola’s idea at Barca – Cucurella

    I benefited from Guardiola’s idea at Barca – Cucurella

    Chelsea fullback Marc Cucurella has revealed he learnt a lot from Pep Guardiola’s philosophy during his time at FC Barcelona.

    The Manchester City manager, Guardiola, and Cucurella came through the La Masia system at the Spanish club.

    “He changed the mentality at Barcelona,” Cucurella told Sky Sports.

    “Before Guardiola, Barcelona were a good team and when he came, they changed the philosophy, they played amazing football – I think one of the best teams in the history of football. They played at another level.

    “The philosophy in the Barcelona academy changed because all the time, they play the same style, the same formation with the same mentality and I think this is very good. We can see they do the same here at Manchester City.

    “The team plays really well and they have good things to show; every year they change some things to try to improve on this.

    “I don’t have a relationship with him, I’ve seen him at some events and I can speak a little bit with him. He’s a very good person.

    “Not for me personally but in my academy stage, they showed me a lot because they changed their mentality and a lot of things I can learn are from his ideas that he brought to Barcelona,” Cucurella added.

  • Chelsea are really good, no doubt – Guardiola

    Chelsea are really good, no doubt – Guardiola

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits his side struggled at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

    The Premier League champions were unable to win against the Blues on Sunday.

    Despite leading 4-3, a late Cole Palmer penalty earned a point for Chelsea, with Guardiola telling reporters:

    “They are a really good team so there’s no doubt,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.

    “Liverpool couldn’t win. They were much, much better than Arsenal and in the end, Arsenal drew. So you know, it’s Chelsea, they won’t go away.”

    He added: “I always have to think about what we can do to get better. It’s not going to happen that we come here and win 7-0. They are trying to rebuild. We have no complaints.”

  • Very strange playing against Man City – Palmer

    Very strange playing against Man City – Palmer

    Chelsea midfielder, Cole Palmer has said it was very strange for the first time playing against his former club Manchester City in Sunday’s 4-4 thriller.

    City were leading 4-3 into injury-time but were pegged back after their former player Palmer converted from the spot.

    He said, “Very strange the first time I have played against City – I have the utmost respect for the club I spent 15 years at and it is nice to see some friends.

    “Unlucky to not get the win. I have many City fans I know but it is the game.

    “It was amazing I was excited before the game to show what I can do and we went behind a few times and bounced back.”

    Palmer added on his penalty: “Long time waiting but I felt confident and I have had a few now. Kept calm and focused.

    “Not going to say I work on them because I trust my natural ability.”

  • EPL: Pochettino reacts over Chelsea draw with City

    EPL: Pochettino reacts over Chelsea draw with City

    Mauricio Pochettino has said his “project from zero” with Chelsea’s newly and expensively rebuilt squad was progressing.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Pochettino said this in reaction to his side’s 4:4 draw against Manchester City on Sunday.

    Chelsea’s rip-roaring 4-4 draw with the Premier League champions sent a resounding signal that Pochettino’s new-look side are finally finding their feet.

    This was after a faltering start to the season for the Blues.

    The hosts came from behind three times at Stamford Bridge and their never-say-die spirit was rewarded.

    This was when Ruben Dias slid into substitute Armando Broja and former City striker Cole Palmer thumped home the penalty in the 94th minute.

    That last-gasp leveller was nothing less than the hosts deserved.

    It was a game which saw City take the lead via an Erling Haaland penalty before Chelsea went 2-1 up with goals from Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling.

    Only for Manuel Akanji to make it 2-2, all before halftime.

    Haaland restored City’s lead a minute into the second half but 20 minutes later Nicolas Jackson pounced to make it 3-3.

    Rodri seemed to have won all three points for City with a deflected 86th-minute shot, before Palmer’s late penalty.

    Stamford Bridge erupted in celebration under a downpour at the final whistle, even if the point left the Londoners in 10th place in the table.

    They have now only won once in their last 14 home league games, a run stretching back into their disastrous 2022/2023 campaign.

    But those statistics speak of the Blues recent past – which has included home defeats to Nottingham Forest and Brentford.

    Whereas the talk on Sunday was of what might lie ahead, coming on the heels of Monday’s 4-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur, albeit against a nine-man Spurs.

    Pochettino said he hoped the draw against City represented two steps forward after more hesitant progress earlier in the season.

    “This type of performance I think we need to use for the future,” the Argentine said.

    City coach Pep Guardiola was effusive in his praise of his opponents who had failed to even score against City in their previous six league and cup encounters.

    All of the six previous encounters were won by the Sky Blues.

    The last time Chelsea beat City was in Champions League final in 2021.

    Their fortunes have diverged sharply since then with City winning the Premier League twice and the Champions League this year.

    While Chelsea’s form was so bad last campaign they fired coaches Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.

    “They are a fantastic team with an experienced manager with a traditional club with a lot of titles in the last 20 years.

    “They are starting to build something new from now on,” City coach Pep Guardiola told reporters.

  • BREAKING: Chelsea draw Man City in 8 goals thriller

    BREAKING: Chelsea draw Man City in 8 goals thriller

    Chelsea football club played a thrilling 8 goals draw with Manchester City on Sunday at Old Trafford.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the encounter saw Erling Haaland score a brace which were not enough for City to triumph over Chelsea.

    Both sides got their penalty calls awarded which were converted but were not enough to decide the game in favour of either side.

    It was Pep Guardiola’s men who first pulled the trigger through a penalty goal scored by Haaland with a quick response from the Blues.

    A well-deserved double from Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling put the Blues 2-1 up before Manuel Akanji tied things up on the stroke of half time.

    Haaland then doubled his tally early in the second period, but Nicolas Jackson added another tap in to his collection not long after to make it 3-3.

    TNG reports Blues looked impressive going forward throughout with Sterling marshaling the pack for Chelsea.

    City thought they had won in the 86th minute when Rodri’s shot ricocheted off Thiago Silva and into the net, only for Armando Broja to be crunched in the area by Ruben Dias.

    Broja came off the bench to win a penalty after being brought down by Dias before Cole Palmer, against the club whose academy he grew up in, stepped up to fire home from the spot and earn Mauricio Pochettino’s men a point.