Newcastle Interested in Kepa
Newcastle are eyeing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Daily Star says Newcastle and a host of LaLiga clubs are eyeing Chelsea ace Kepa. The 27-year-old cost the Blues £72 million from Athletic Bilbao in 2018, and the fee remains the highest amount ever paid for a goalkeeper. However, his career has stalled badly and the Spain international is effectively an expensive understudy to Edouard […]
Tuchel insists ‘no worries and regrets’ over Liverpool loss and speaks on Abramovich
Thomas Tuchel says he has ‘no worries and no regrets’ after Chelsea’s loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. The German made the decision to swap goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for Kepa Arrizabalaga as the game went to penalties. Kepa ended up missing a penalty as Liverpool took out the shootout 11-10. “Football can be a brilliant game and it was a brilliant […]
Roman Abramovich takes a step back from Chelsea
Roman Abramovich is taking a step back from Chelsea, handing temporary responsibility to the Chelsea foundation trustees which include Emma Hayes and Bruce Buck. Why is there Uncertainty around Abramovich? The current war between Russia and Ukraine has led UK MP’s and Boris Johnson to propose and deliver out sanctions to Russian Oligarchs who have […]
Tuchel welcomes James return as Liverpool confirm Firmino out
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says the medical room is clearing. Tuchel has confirmed everyone bar Ben Chilwell had taken part in training today. That includes Reece James, who hasn’t played since late December, as well as Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech, who limped off in the second half of Tuesday’s win over Lille. They both trained fully today. “It’s brilliant news,” […]
Jody Morris: Thiago Silva looks like future manager
Former Chelsea assistant coach Jody Morris says that Brazilian centre-half Thiago Silva is a future manager. The defender, who spent his career at clubs including AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, has won nearly everything at club and international level. He helped the team lift the Champions League trophy last season, and Morris is so impressed by Silva’s footballing knowledge. “The reason he is […]
Azonto Epistle 38: The Romelu Lukaku Conundrum
When it rains, they say it pours. It was coming, the signs were clear, Thomas Tuchel had seen it, everyone including my little boy and his dog had seen it; Romelu Lukaku’s continuous presence in the Chelsea starting lineup had become too costly for the team. Of course a £100M signing will not cost any less […]
Premier League ALLOW Chelsea to wear CWC badge for remainder of the season
Chelsea have received permission to wear their Club World Cup on their Premier League shirts for the remainder of the season. The Champions League holders won the competition for the first time this month after beating Palmeiras 2-1 in the final in Abu Dhabi. They then wore the badge celebrating their success in Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace in the Premier League, […]
Thierry Henry questions Chelsea: Why sign Lukaku in the first place?
Belgium assistant Thierry Henry has questioned why Chelsea broke their transfer record to sign Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan this summer. The 28-year-old has struggled to meet expectations since arriving from Inter Milan for £98m, and produced a performance with just seven touches in 90 minutes against Crystal Palace last weekend which raised many eyebrows. Henry was worked closely with Lukaku with Chelsea and […]
Tactical Takeaways: Chelsea vs Lille
How Chelsea beat Lille’s high press. The importance of the “free man” in Kai Havertz. Why Chelsea defended in a mid-low block. How Chelsea counteracted Lille’s high press Versus Chelsea, Lille implemented an aggressive high press using a 4-2-1-3 shape as such (A). Here, they hunted the ball as a pack, making them easily manipulated […]
Capello: Why Lukaku struggling at Chelsea
Former Italy coach Fabio Capello says Chelsea’s style of play doesn’t suit Romelu Lukaku. Capello compared Lukaku’s time with Inter Milan to now with Chelsea ahead of last night’s Champions League win against Lille. He said, “Lukaku fit perfectly into Conte’s counter-attacking style at Inter, because there were lots of spaces, he had this physical strength and pace that allowed him to […]