Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
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”
Bruno Genesio is attracting interest across Europe – three Premier League sides, two in La Liga and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal too. Although his current Rennes deal expires in June 2023, could speculation around his future speed up an exit or extension, having just been appointed their head coach last year? With managerial movement aplenty expected this summer, we’ll see. Continue reading “Report: Tottenham, Sociedad among clubs monitoring Rennes manager Bruno Genesio”
The 24-year-old produced his best individual display of the season and needed to, in helping ten-man Arsenal squeeze past an increasingly frustrated Wolves showing. But while Mikel Arteta’s men revelled at full-time after ending a five-game winless run, this determined away display just reiterated how unpredictable they have proven under the Spaniard’s guidance. Continue reading “Gabriel’s gritty all-round display against Wolves shines a light on volatile Arsenal”
A lot has changed for both sides in the four months since their last meeting, a 2-0 Leicester win propelling them top of the Premier League while confining the Blues to their fifth league defeat in a month under Frank Lampard. Under new management and with a Champions League Final to come on May 29, will Thomas Tuchel’s men prove a step too far for the bullish Foxes here?
Continue reading “FA Cup Final Preview: Chelsea vs Leicester – Time to step up”
Considering what has proved an arduous campaign for all involved this term, it feels fitting two big-money summer signings – Manchester City centre-back Rúben Dias and Chelsea forward Timo Werner – helped their respective sides to earn a Champions League Final berth on May 29.
Continue reading “Rúben Dias and Timo Werner, the tale of contrasting summer signings”
Every cloud has a silver lining, or so the saying goes. Frank Lampard’s 18-month stint as Chelsea manager was ruthlessly ended by lunchtime on Monday, but with the new man replacing him at the helm in west London, winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has an opportunity to replicate Christian Pulisic’s success under the German succeeding their club legend. Continue reading “Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea appointment a silver lining for Callum Hudson-Odoi”
After his loan deal from Chelsea was complete, centre-back Fikayo Tomori was named in Milan’s matchday squad but didn’t feature during their 3-0 home defeat by Atalanta over the weekend. His new head coach, Stefano Pioli, praised his intelligence and said the 23-year-old has interesting qualities, though a lack of training with them means he’ll need time to settle in Italy. Continue reading “Stefano Pioli: Fikayo Tomori has interesting qualities, but needs time to settle”
Chelsea ended their Champions League group unbeaten, one point above Sevilla and will go into Monday’s last-16 draw as Group E winners after their 1-1 draw with Krasnodar. Frank Lampard made multiple changes to the side that overcame an early deficit to beat Leeds three days prior, but is expected to make more ahead of their tricky Merseyside trip this weekend. Continue reading “Preview: Everton vs Chelsea – Tricky away trip awaits Lampard’s men on Merseyside”
Read on for two Champions League MD6 match previews ahead of a pivotal Group G clash between Spanish giants Barcelona and Serie A champions Juventus with top spot not yet confirmed, while Frank Lampard’s unbeaten Chelsea side expect to finish with a flourish when entertaining Russian side Krasnodar elsewhere tonight in Group E. Are we in for some surprises? Continue reading “UCL MD6 Previews: Barcelona and Juventus clash, while unbeaten Chelsea host Krasnodar”
Neither side was particularly convincing during their season-opening Premier League fixtures, but Chelsea and defending champions Liverpool clash at Stamford Bridge this Sunday. The Blues have a golden opportunity to lay down an early marker in the 2020-21 campaign against the Reds, who conceded three against newcomers Leeds last weekend. Will either side prevail? Continue reading “Chelsea vs Liverpool Preview: An early litmus test for Lampard’s Blues”
Chelsea’s Premier League campaign gets underway with a tricky away trip to the south Coast, as Brighton await on Monday evening. Two weeks after a 1-1 draw at the Amex, the Blues return in a competitive capacity and target a statement win away to last season’s strugglers. Can Graham Potter’s men surprise the side who narrowly secured a top-four finish last term? Continue reading “Brighton vs Chelsea Preview: Lampard’s men target winning start in tough test”
A repeat showing of Bayern-Chelsea feels like an unnecessary formality. Alongside their three-goal cushion from the first leg victory, the Bundesliga champions host a depleted Blues side this weekend. Will they finish what they started with ruthless aplomb, or can Frank Lampard’s men complete mission impossible in Munich?
Continue reading “Champions League last-16 preview: Bayern vs Chelsea – Blues playing for pride”
Mo and Sports 