Analysis, feature pieces

Graham Potter was doomed at Chelsea from Day 1, but poisoned chalice moves on

Graham Potter, Manager of Chelsea, reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on April 01, 2023 in...

Graham Potter was always going to find himself under intense scrutiny after succeeding Thomas Tuchel last September, and has barely lasted seven months in charge. The managerial merry-go-round has returned once more in west London, where club legend Frank Lampard will this week take interim charge while a host of free agent big names are linked for the summer months. Continue reading “Graham Potter was doomed at Chelsea from Day 1, but poisoned chalice moves on”

Match coverage

Borussia Dortmund 2-1 RB Leipzig: Goals from Reus, Can see BVB back top of the Bundesliga

Dortmund's German forward Marco Reus celebrates with Dortmund's Turkish midfielder Salih Ozcan and Dortmund's German midfielder Emre Can scoring a...

First-half goals from Emre Can and a Marco Reus penalty saw an in-form Borussia Dortmund side extend their winning run to ten games across all competitions, returning top of the Bundesliga after a hard-fought 2-1 home victory against rivals RB Leipzig. Emil Forsberg pulled one back for Marco Rose’s side, before they almost snatched a point at the death in stoppage-time. Continue reading “Borussia Dortmund 2-1 RB Leipzig: Goals from Reus, Can see BVB back top of the Bundesliga”

Match coverage

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham: Ream rescues Cottagers as £106m man Enzo Fernandez makes Blues debut

Chelseas Enzo Fernandez shoots at goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on February 03, 2023 in...

World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, signed in the dying hours on deadline day this past Tuesday, made his Premier League debut for Graham Potter’s Chelsea side but the midfielder couldn’t inspire his new teammates to produce more than a frustrating goalless draw with west London rivals Fulham, who defended valiantly with centre-back and captain Tim Ream in particular. Continue reading “Chelsea 0-0 Fulham: Ream rescues Cottagers as £106m man Enzo Fernandez makes Blues debut”

Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Pulisic excited, determined to change the way the world sees US soccer

Christian Pulisic of United States poses during the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 portrait session at on November 15, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Although he’s struggled for regular minutes and consistency at club level with Chelsea, Christian Pulisic still represents the US’ big hope – alongside Gio Reyna and Brenden Aaronson – to surprise their critics and exceed expectations in Qatar, having failed to qualify altogether four years ago. Will they progress from a tough Group B which features England and Wales? Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Pulisic excited, determined to change the way the world sees US soccer”

Match coverage

U21s: Chelsea’s Gallagher produces integral display against Germany, before October’s big month

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Conor Gallagher of England celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly match between England Under 21 and Germany Under 21 at Bramall Lane on September 27, 2022 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Conor Gallagher’s start to the Premier League season has been a forgettable one for the Chelsea midfielder, yet the 22-year-old talent – already capped by England’s senior side – certainly picked the right moment to produce his best performance of 2022 thus far in Sheffield overnight against Germany under-21s ahead of a big month under new boss Graham Potter. Continue reading “U21s: Chelsea’s Gallagher produces integral display against Germany, before October’s big month”

Analysis, feature pieces

Jorginho: Chelsea players to blame for Tuchel’s sacking; Campos linked with sporting director role

Jorginho of Chelsea during a press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League group E match against FC Salzburg at Stamford Bridge on September...

As they prepare to host Red Bull Salzburg in their first game of the post-Thomas Tuchel era tonight in Champions League action, Chelsea vice-captain and Italy international midfielder Jorginho told reporters in the pre-match press conference while the 47-year-old’s dismissal was a surprise last week, the players were ultimately responsible for the German’s abrupt sacking. Continue reading “Jorginho: Chelsea players to blame for Tuchel’s sacking; Campos linked with sporting director role”

Analysis, feature pieces

Conor Gallagher and the task of emulating talented academy products before him

Thomas Tuchel and Conor Gallagher of Chelsea during a training session at Drake Stadium UCLA Campus on July 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

After forcing his way into the England squad by shining on-loan at Crystal Palace last term, Conor Gallagher wants to make Chelsea an undisputed home once and for all. As the Blues’ pre-season campaign gets underway Stateside, now the 22-year-old has the licence to do it.
Continue reading “Conor Gallagher and the task of emulating talented academy products before him”

Archives

Reports: Declan Rice has ‘gentleman’s agreement’ to leave West Ham in summer of 2023

Declan Rice of England controls the ball during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 3 match between England and Italy at Molineux on June 11, 2022...

Per reports, West Ham’s talismanic midfielder Declan Rice has a gentleman’s agreement with the club to stay for the 22-23 season before leaving next summer – where he’ll have 12 months remaining on his contract and more of Europe’s suitors will undoubtedly circle for his signature. Continue reading “Reports: Declan Rice has ‘gentleman’s agreement’ to leave West Ham in summer of 2023”

Analysis, feature pieces

Courtois’ inspired display – once again – proves a fitting end as Real clinch 14th CL title

Courtois Thibaut of Real Madrid elected man of the match kissing the cup during the UEFA champions league final match between Real Madrid and...

It felt fitting that, eight years after suffering stoppage-time heartbreak against Real with Atletico Madrid in Lisbon, Thibaut Courtois was Los Blancos’ impenetrable wall here, defiantly stifling Liverpool throughout – breaking the record for most saves in a Champions League Final with nine, producing greatness with the lights shining brightest on a career-defining night. Continue reading “Courtois’ inspired display – once again – proves a fitting end as Real clinch 14th CL title”

Archives

Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid: Benzema hat-trick leaves UCL holders with mountain to climb

Karim Benzema,, player of Real Madrid, is celebrating the goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and...

After conjuring up magic to save Real Madrid from the brink of elimination against PSG in the previous round, it was again Karim Benzema’s night – this time in west London – as two first-half headers and pouncing on Edouard Mendy’s early second-half mistake has now confined Champions League holders Chelsea to an unenviable second leg recovery mission on April 13. Continue reading “Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid: Benzema hat-trick leaves UCL holders with mountain to climb”

Archives

Report: Timo Werner working with agent to engineer summer departure from Chelsea

Timo Werner of Germany during the international friendly match between Netherlands and Germany at Johan Cruijff Arena on March 29, 2022 in Amsterdam,...

According to recent reports, which have only intensified over this ongoing international break, the 25-year-old – a £49m signing in 2020 – could be set to depart on a permanent basis once the current campaign is concluded at a cut-price fee after a disappointing stint in west London. Continue reading “Report: Timo Werner working with agent to engineer summer departure from Chelsea”

Archives

Carabao Cup Final: Liverpool’s fullback duo show their mettle against wasteful Chelsea

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson of Liverpool sit and look on after the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley...

After riding their luck at times against another wasteful Chelsea showing, Liverpool emerged victorious in yesterday’s action-packed Carabao Cup Final – winning 11-10 on penalties. However, it was again the individual displays of Jurgen Klopp’s formidable fullback pairing which stand them in good stead for the rest of the season with more silverware up for grabs. Continue reading “Carabao Cup Final: Liverpool’s fullback duo show their mettle against wasteful Chelsea”