Tuchel needs to unleash ‘fantastic’ £120k-a-week Chelsea player in best position tonight - TCC View

Chelsea play tonight at home to Aston Villa in the third round of the Carabao Cup, which is the perfect opportunity for the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi to get minutes in their legs. 

This midweek cup fixture is sandwiched in-between two gigantic Premier League games.

First of all, the Blues dispatched of Tottenham on Sunday in impressive fashion to earn three points in a 3-0 away win. Secondly, they welcome reigning league champions Manchester City to Stamford Bridge this Saturday. 

Blues manager Thomas Tuchel should have one eye on the Man City game when selecting his cup team on Wednesday night. Also, he’s got one of the strongest squads in Europe, so he can rotate freely but still name a formidable XI. 

One man that needs to come into the frame is Hudson-Odoi. 

The 20-year-old has featured in just one of the opening five Premier League games this season, which was a start in a victory against tonight’s opponents Villa

Read More

Chelsea icon Claude Makelele has delivered Thomas Tuchel the perfect secret weapon

Claude Makelele has helped Trevoh Chalobah develop an impressive trait.

Chelsea technical mentor Claude Makelele has played a significant role in developing Trevoh Chalobah at Stamford Bridge. Manager Thomas Tuchel now has an impressive young defender with a rare trait, adding another dimension to his prospering defence.

Chalobah has broken into the first team this season, starting the UEFA Super Cup victory over Villarreal and featuring in three of Chelsea's five Premier League games.

He joined Chelsea at the age of eight and rose through the ranks alongside the likes of Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham.

The 22-year-old thrived on loan at Ipswich Town, Huddersfield Town, before spending last season at Ligue 1 outfit Lorient, racking up 112 appearances across the three moves.

Now part of Tuchel's senior squad, Chalobah has earned plaudits over his ability to quickly turn defence into attack with pinpoint passing and darting runs into midfield.

Chalobah first showed signs of confidence bringing the ball out from the defence at Lorient, which Spiro claims made him popular at the French club.

He told the : "It took him a good few weeks to adapt to his surroundings, but as the season went on, he became increasingly more important to the team.

"What was impressive was his ability to stride forward either from that starting position in defence or from midfield.

"He could break through the lines and start counter-attacks. It was something he worked on with [Chelsea's technical mentor] Claude Makelele.

"He didn't get talked about in the [French] national press, to be honest. But he was absolutely seen as a success at Lorient and, by the second half of the season, became a really important part of their rearguard to help them stay up.

"There was plenty of recognition of him from the fans and local press in Lorient."

Read More

Chelsea news and transfers live: Hudson-Odoi urged to leave, Mendy update, Marquinhos revelation

Hello and welcome to Soccernews217 live Chelse blog Wednesday

It's matchday in west London! Thomas Tuchel welcomes Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge in the third round of the Carabao Cup and he will be hoping for a repeat of the league match of two weekends ago.

Romelu Lukaku was at the double that night with Mateo Kovacic adding another in between. However, it remains to be seen whether or not either will play.

Tuchel has a large squad at his disposal and this clash may be seen as an opportunity to give fringe players such as Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek a chance to impress their boss.

With Manchester City waiting around the corner in the league too, everyone at the club will be eager to avoid any high profile injuries.

But just because events are unfolding on the pitch does not mean they stop away from it. We will have all the latest on contract negotiations and any transfer rumours happening around the Bridge.

With that being said, make sure you keep the blog locked throughout the day so that you don't miss a single thing.

The Carabao Cup presents Thomas Tuchel with an excellent opportunity to give his fringe players a chance so it has been somewhat tricky to predict his starting line-up for tonight's clash against Aston Villa.

Regardless, we have had a go with the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Saul Noguez and Timo Werner all afforded an opportunity

Read More

Thomas Tuchel names defender who’s one of the most ‘intensive’ in Chelsea training

Thomas Tuchel has revealed that defender Thiago Silva is one of the most “intensive” players in Chelsea training. 

Silva, who turns 37 tomorrow, is a senior member of the Blues squad that continues to deliver top-class performances at his age. 

The Brazilian centre-back picked up the man of the match award for his weekend display against Tottenham, scoring a header and defending superbly in a 3-0 away win.

He’s clearly the ultimate professional to still be doing what he’s doing in the latter stages of his career. The ex-Paris Saint-Germain man has taken English football in his stride since his switch to Stamford Bridge last summer.

Tuchel has given an insight into what the £105,000 a week South American is like behind closed doors at Chelsea’s training ground Cobham. 

“When he’s on the pitch he trains full on, there is no training session where he is trying to hold back. He is one of the most intensive guys in training physically,” Tuchel said.

Fortunately, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has several quality centre-backs in his squad that it allows him to rotate in certain fixtures. 

Read More

Pep Guardiola confirms Manchester City squad decision ahead of Chelsea clash this weekend

Chelsea will be looking to pick up another big three points in the Premier League when Manchester City visit on Saturday.

Chelsea have enjoyed an excellent start to the season and sit joint top of the Premier League with five games played, boasting an identical record to Liverpool.

Thomas Tuchel's men have already played three of the so-called big six, convincingly beating Arsenal and Tottenham and drawing with the Reds at Anfield.

Another big test follows their midweek Carabao Cup clash with Aston Villa. Manchester City were convincing winners of the Premier League last season and Pep Guardiola and co. will visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunch-time.

However, City have a number of problems stacking up. Not only has Guardiola continued to rile his own fanbase with comments on the Etihad attendanc.

“I don’t have any alternative (but to play youngsters). We are going to play a few young players," the Spaniard said, reported by the club's official website.

“Some players might rest for the games we have coming up ahead of us and yeah a few players from the Academy are going to play.

Chelsea will have already been in confident mood heading in to this clash before Guardiola announced his injury list.

Not only are the Blues currently in a rich vein of form but Tuchel also has an outstanding record against his opposite number since taking his position in the Chelsea dugout.

The two sides have met three times since his appointment and on all three occasions the west Londoners have come out on top, including in the Champions League final back in May.

A few injury problems persist for Tuchel, however, with first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy facing a race to be fit for Saturday while Christian Pulisic also remains sidelined.

Read More

Thomas Tuchel confirms £22m Chelsea man won’t play tomorrow v Aston Villa

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed in his Tuesday press conference that Edouard Mendy won’t be playing tomorrow against Aston Villa.

The Blues are preparing to host Premier League rivals Villa on Wednesday night in the third round of the Carabao Cup. 

Chelsea beat Villa 3-0 earlier in September at Stamford Bridge in the league meeting, but the clubs will now lock horns again in a domestic cup competition.

Tuchel has given the update that number one goalkeeper Mendy will be unavailable. He confirmed that he will not be fit against Villa, but he should be returning to individual training this week. 

In addition, he explained it’s “possible” he’s back in time for the league showdown with Manchester City this Saturday. But, it’s considered a “race against time”. 

The goalkeeper was absent at the weekend because of a hip problem, but understudy Kepa Arrizabalaga stepped in without any fuss in the 3-0 win against Tottenham.

Kepa, 26, is fighting back from adversity to show he’s part of a strong goalkeeping unit currently working together at Stamford Bridge. 

For Chelsea fans, most were unaware of Mendy when he was signed from French club Rennes last summer for £22 million.

However, fast forward to now and he’s regarded as one of Europe’s best goalkeepers.

The 29-year-old colossus is such a commanding figure in net that breathes confidence to the defence in front of him. He’s a great shot-stopper with real agility, plus he continues to get better with the ball at his feet with more work in training. 

His record of 29 clean sheets in 50 Chelsea appearances is staggering

Read More

‘I WAS CONFUSED’: BBC PUNDIT STUNNED AT WHAT CHELSEA STAR WAS DOING V SPURS

Micah Richards has said on BBC Radio 5 Live  (7:23 pm September 20 2021) that he was stunned at how Chelsea central defender Thiago Silva got the better of Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min this past weekend.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

Chelsea won 3:0against Tottenham away from home at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League this past Sunday.

All three goals in the London derby came in the second half.

Brazilian defender Thiago scored the opening goal with a brilliant header.

The 36-year-old was also a rock at the back and kept Spurs attackers Harry Kane and Son at bay.

MICAH RICHARDS’S VERDICT

Former Manchester City defender and BBC Sport pundit Richards was impressed by how Silva coped with Son.

The Englishman did not think that Silva would be able to stop the South Korea international forward because of his pace.

Richards said about Silva on BBC Radio 5 Live  (7:23pmSeptember 20 2021): “It was so easy for him. I was confused at times. I was thinking, ‘Well, with Son with his pace, intelligent runs, how is Thiago Silva going to deal with him?’

“Son and Spurs pressed really high in the first half, didn’t give Chelsea the opportunity to play like the way they wanted to do.

“But every time Thiago Silva came up against Son, he just out-strengthed him, he stepped inside and nicked to him, he dropped off when he needed to.”

THIAGO SILVA MASTERCLASS

Silva is one of the best central defenders in the world and reads the game extremely well.

Yes, the Brazilian is 36 now, but his positioning sense and ability to read danger is as good as ever.

Silva showed against Spurs how to defend, and perhaps the Tottenham players will have learned a thing or two.

The former Paris Saint-Germain central defender had two efforts on goal, played one key pass, had a pass accuracy of 85.5%, won four headers, took 76 touches, and made one tackle, three interceptions and six clearances

Read More

Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction vs Aston Villa (EFL Cup)

Chelsea currently sit top of the table in the Premier League, having taken 13 points from a possible 15. With a major, and I mean MAJOR league clash coming next weekend against Manchester City, they’ll definitely use their Wednesday night EFL Cup clash against Aston Villa as a chance to do some squad rotation.

The Blues commence their League Cup campaign with this clash, in the third round. Let’s take a look at who manager Thomas Tuchel might select for his first team

Chelsea vs Aston Villa FYIs

Kickoff: Wed. Sept 21, 7:45pm, Stamford Bridge

Chelsea FC Team News: go here

Head to Head: Chelsea wins 65, Draws 35, Aston Villa 58

Odds: Chelsea to win: 2/5, Draw: 18/5, Aston Villa to win: 13/2

Kepa will get another start, due to the “painful” injury to No. 1 Edouard Mendy. Saul Niguez, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech are almost certain to get the nod here as well.

Read More

Arsenal transfer news: Gunners have been "openly shopping" £50m attacker

Journalist,Paul Brown has revealed that Arsenal have been openly looking to sell striker Alexandre Lacazette in recent windows.

What's the situation with Lacazette?

The Frenchman was Arsenal's top goalscorer in all competitions last season, netting 17 times.

However, he looks to have fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta during the early parts of this campaign.

Lacazette missed the first few weeks through illness but has played just 31 minutes in the league since returning and was an unused substitute for the victories over Norwich and Burnley.

He did get on the scoresheet against West Brom in the Carabao Cup, but Lacazette looks likely to play nothing more than a bit-part role in the coming weeks.

The 30-year-old might be handed his first start against AFC Wimbledon in the same competition, but Arsenal's failure to qualify for Europe means that his chances are going to be few and far between providing Arteta continues to favour Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Despite his second-best goalscoring return last term, Brown reckons that the north London giants have been openly looking to sell the French striker in recent windows.

What did Brown say?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "How involved is Lacazette going to be this season? Arsenal have been openly shopping him for the last couple of windows."

What does the future hold for Lacazette at Arsenal?

Unless Arsenal have a dramatic u-turn, this is likely to be Lacazette's last season at the club.

Read More

Tuchel's army marches on

Tuchel is working his magic at Chelsea

Another stern test and another positive result. Tuchel's Chelsea just keep impressing the footballing world with their consistency and solid performances. The London club continued their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign and go level on points with Liverpool at the top of the table.

Defense has been Chelsea's strong point since the German's arrival and they somehow keep getting better at it. Interestingly, Chelsea have kept more clean sheets than they have conceded goals in the Premier League under Thomas Tuchel. They were without their star keeper Edouard Mendy today but that didn't affect them as Kepa played his role perfectly.

Goals coming from unlikely sources would please Tuchel as well, with Thiago Silva, Kante and Rudiger finding the net. Another thing to note is that the depth of this Chelsea side is rather astonishing as Ziyech, Chilwell, Reece and Saul didn't even take the field and Pulisic is ready to join the squad soon.

Chelsea look like a strong side this season and could be the team to beat. Next up for Tuchel and his army is a Carabao Cup clash at home against Villa before hosting the Premier League Champions.

Read More

Chelsea at Tottenham: Tuchel should play these two stars together

Chelsea versus Tottenham Hotspur will be a fierce match which all Blues fans will be watching from around the globe. This heated derby will show us whether Thomas Tuchel’s men are serious about the title fight or not after a lot of talk around the subject early in the campaign. The only difficult opponent Chelsea has faced so far is Liverpool, and it only managed to come out with a draw in that contest. During the midweek Champions League bout, the Blues welcomed Zenit and honestly, they struggled to get the win. The London side dominated all night long, but it was just not good enough in the third to convincingly earn the victory as many thought it would.

In the end, a moment of brilliance from Romelu Lukaku sealed the win against the Russian Champion. In this contest though, Tuchel may need some reinforcements up top to finish the moves in the biggest moments. For that, it is about time that the manager plays Lukaku and Timo Werner together up top in a 3-5-2

Chelsea Vs Spurs is the perfect time for Tuchel to test out the two strikers upfront strategy.

Back at RB Leipzig, Werner always used to play as a secondary striker and that is the role where he thrived in under Julian Nagelsmann. Playing alongside Yussuf Poulsen, the German became one of the best strikers of the Bundesliga and earned his big money move to the Premier League for his incredible goalscoring record. However, ever since his move to west London, he had to assume the role of the sole striker and all the responsibility fell on him. Once his confidence went down, he was never the same, and supporters are still looking to bring back the form he displayed during the 2019/20 season. Now that the Blues have signed another striker, it is the perfect time to test both of them together in a massive match.

Werner—even in one of the worst seasons of his career—did not play particularly badly. Even though he was not scoring a lot of goals, he was providing a lot of assists and more importantly, making a lot of dangerous runs which often drew the centerbacks toward him. This left the goal exposed, most notably in the Champions League final when Kai Havertz was played through on goal for the winner. Playing alongside Lukaku, the German can try to find the form that he left behind in the German top flight. The pressure will not be on his shoulders and he will finally be able to play more freely.

Given the fact that Mason Mount and Hakim Ziyech had pretty poor games against Zenit, it would be a good chance for Tuchel to experiment Werner alongside Lukaku. Not only will it give the Chelsea side a new dynamic, but it will also induce a bit of confidence within the German striker. Playing Werner against a derby opponent might be a big risk but it could also result in big rewards.

Read More

Thomas Tuchel explains why Mason Mount is ‘very hard’ to leave out of Chelsea team

Thomas Tuchel has explained why it is ‘very hard’ to leave Mason Mount out of his Chelsea team.

England international Mount has been a mainstay in Chelsea’s side over the past two seasons, establishing himself as a key player under Frank Lampard and continuing to impress under Tuchel.

There were some concerns over Mount’s workload after he arrived late for pre-season after helping England reach the Euro 2020 final, but they have so far proven unfounded with the 22-year-old featuring in all but one of Chelsea’s fixtures so far this season.

Tuchel insists Chelsea are monitoring Mount’s physical levels but says he is a ‘very hard’ player to leave out.

Sometimes we are a bit worried but on the other side he seems to deal so good with all the minutes and all the load that he has that it’s sometimes very hard to leave him out because he looks fresh, he comes with a smile.

‘I would be more concerned if his face was straight and you feel some fatigue also mentally, but I don’t feel it. We are happy that he’s here and we will be careful like always with him.’

The former Paris St Germain and Borussia Dortmund boss added: ‘Once we decide to let him play, we have to not already have the reason maybe why he does not play so good.

‘If we have this reason before, because he’s maybe overloaded or played too many games, we should not make him play.

‘If we make him play, everybody – himself, me, the staff – is convinced that he’s perfectly fit and he’s ready to play, and then we judge him on the same level like always.

‘That’s life at a top club. You can never rest, you can never look back and you have to deliver. It’s a good life, actually, and the guys are used to it.’

Chelsea are currently fourth in the Premier League and travel across London to face Tottenham on Sunday.

Read More

Tottenham could be without three key players vs Chelsea, but Nuno confirms six could return

Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo confirms several key players are doubtful for Sunday’s game against Chelsea due to injuries, but three South American players could return.

The Spurs were without six players in their 2-2 Europa Conference League draw with Rennes on Wednesday, including the three South American trio; Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero, and Davinson Sanchez.

They have been isolating after their involvement in the World Cup qualifiers for Argentina and Colombia, respectively, during the international break.

Nuno said these three should be back in London on Saturday, and he expects them to be available for the derby.

Meanwhile, Nuno also added that the other three midweek absentees; Eric Dier, Heung Min-Son, and Ryan Sessegnon, have all shown positive progress in terms of their injury recoveries.

“They are improving, day by day they are better, but alongside the South American players, we still have to assess them,” said the Spurs boss (via the club’s official website).

Unfortunately for the north London side, two more players; Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura, picked up injuries during the Rennes draw.

whether they would be available for the Chelsea game.

So including Japhet Tanganga who will serve a suspension after his sending off against Crystal Palace, Spurs could likely be without three or more players this weekend.

Read More

Chelsea has moved mountains to get Ross Barkley to work

There has been a lot of talk about Ross Barkley’s place in the Chelsea team lately. The Blues were unable to move the veteran midfielder before the August 31 transfer deadline and he’s wiggled his way back into the squad. Barkley recently returned from a relatively poor stint at Aston Villa that included a plethora of injury problems. Those have been the story of 27-year-old’s career thus far, but if anybody can get the best out of him, it’s Thomas Tuchel.

Barkley joined Chelsea from Everton for £15 million back in January of 2018. It was seen as a low risk, high reward move for a former phenom who had his struggles with injuries. The Blues have done a lot to accommodate Barkley since he arrived in SW6. Antonio Conte, Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard have all attempted to revamp his career by playing him in different areas. However, Chelsea has now gone above and beyond and broken its transfer record to bring in Romelu Lukaku. The two formed one of the Premier League’s most lethal duos in the mid-2010s, so the acquisition of Lukaku can be seen as an attempt to get the best out of Barkley this season.

If you’ve made it this far, I appreciate you and your sense of humor as you’ve likely realized the satire present in this piece’s opening paragraphs. It’s apparent—or at least it should be—that this is not the case as it relates to Lukaku’s transfer. A quick glance at my biography page will tell you everything you need to know about my feelings toward Barkley. My love for Barkley is often the subject of conversation for those too mature to take the easy route and make jokes about me still using AOL as my email provider. I admittedly own the amazing 2017/18 Chelsea third kit with “Barkley 8” printed on the back—I won’t apologize for it either. I wanted him to succeed more than just about anyone else when he made the switch to SW6, so forgive me for still dreaming.

All of that said, the Barkley-Lukaku duo dreams are not unwarranted. The two terrorized defenses in the English top flight during their time together with the Toffees. They combined for 26 goals and 15 assists in the 2015/16 Premier League season. That marked Barkley’s most successful campaign on Merseyside, whereas it was Lukaku’s best up to that point in time. The duo simply works together as they are the perfect combination of pace, power and lethal finishing. Unfortunately, they have gone in opposite directions in terms of their development since then.

As I touched on earlier, Barkley did manage to find his way into the current team by way of not finding himself a suitable move away. The No. 8 was stripped from him and given to Mateo Kovacic, but the English midfielder was eventually named to the Blues’ squad and given the No. 18 shirt. Although the opening paragraphs were satirical, there was still some truth deeply rooted in them. If there is a manager that’ll get the best out of Barkley, it’s Tuchel

Read More

Thomas Tuchel 'paid for his Paris housekeeper's son to have heart surgery

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel bought his housekeeper a villa and paid for her son to have a heart operation during his time at Paris Saint-Germain. 

Tuchel spent two years at the helm of the Ligue 1 club - having joined Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund - and lived in the Hauts-de-Seine district of France's capital city.  

Upon his arrival in France, Tuchel hired a Filipino housekeeper and opted to pay for the child's hospital treatment when he heard that she was working overtime to fund the surgery.

According to Canal Sport, Tuchel made the decision to hire a housekeeper shortly after he arrived at the Parc Des Princes in May 2018

Tuchel was instantly impressed with his employees work ethic but later found out that she was working around the clock to fund a major heart operation for her son. 

Once Tuchel heard the news, he quickly reached into his own pocket to pay for the child's hospital treatment.

It is believed the operation went will and the housekeeper's son was able to make a full recovery.   

Read More

'I’ve watched this 100 times': Some Chelsea fans love what Kai Havertz did in training yesterday

Chelsea supporters on social media were treated to a Kai Havertz mini masterclass in close control and speedy footwork on Thursday.

Havertz was captured by the club cameras pulling off a delightful piece of skill that deserved slow motion to appreciate its complete beauty.

The German has been graced by the footballing gods with an elegance that contradicts his 6ft2in frame.

For a large lad, he conducts the ball brilliantly, even if it takes longer for the brainwaves to travel south.

Blues fans simply sat back and watched the artist at work.

Teasing a teammate in training is one thing, but translating that into a competitive game takes confidence. Something that Havertz has only just begun to discover since signing for Chelsea last summer.

Understandably, the self-assured super kid from Bayer Leverkusen lost some of his sparkle upon landing in South West London.

A whole new way of life, on and off the pitch, disrupted the 22-year-old’s opening months as a Blue.

Being knocked down by pandemic didn’t help matters either.

But as he grew into the shirt, assisted by the arrival of Thomas Tuchel, the Havertz of not-that-old returned to the stage.

His swagger reclaimed; comfort restored.

Scoring in the Champions League final wasn’t a bad ego boost at all.

He is already off the mark this season, heading home against Liverpool before the international break.

Read More

The next Frank Lampard is emerging and he is not even playing for Chelsea

Conor Gallagher impressed on loan with West Bromwich Albion last season and he is doing the same in south London with Crystal Palace so far this year.

Chelsea's youth academy has produced a series of top prospects over the years, including a number of players who currently represent the first team at Stamford Bridge.

The likes of Mason Mount, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek are products of the academy ranks having spent years at the club as teenagers, with Trevoh Chalobah also impressing Thomas Tuchel of late.

Even players such as Tammy Abraham and Fiyako Tomori reached a high level, although those were sold over the course of the summer rather than remaining with the squad, fetching a combined total of around £62million in transfer fees.

Chelsea are constantly developing top players, but it can be difficult for certain prospects to emerge due to the general strength of the squad.

Conor Gallagher could be the next figure to establish himself at the Bridge. The Blues youngster is currently on loan at Crystal Palace, and he's making quite an impression.

Still just 21 years-old, Gallagher is a central midfielder who has attacking qualities, and those are being harnessed by Patrick Vieira at Selhurst Park.

PROMOTED STORIES

The Englishman has primarily been deployed on the right of a central midfield trio, and he's been given enough freedom to get forward from deeper areas to join attacks, as shown below.

Read More

Mark Lawrenson states his prediction for Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea

BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson has stated his prediction for Sunday’s London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the Premier League.

Spurs have had a difficult run after the international break. They were beaten 3-0 at Crystal Palace last weekend after going a man down in the 58th minute.

On Thursday night, they played out a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Rennes in their opening game of the Europa Conference League group stage.

They were missing as many as six players for the clash including Heung-min Son, and it is unclear whether they will be fit for the weekend’s derby.

On the contrary, the Blues have continued their fine start to the campaign. They returned to winning ways last weekend with a 3-0 triumph over Aston Villa.

Romelu Lukaku stood out with a brace. The Belgian then scored the only goal in the club’s 1-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League opener.

The Blues have the momentum on their side ahead of Sunday’s meeting. Lawrenson has backed them to secure a 2-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He told BBC Sport: “Tottenham were so disappointing in their defeat to Crystal Palace last week, and I can’t look past Chelsea here.”

“They are solid enough to keep Spurs out, and obviously carry a massive threat at the other end of the pitch.”

our view

Spurs are currently without Son, Eric Dier and Ryan Sessegnon with injuries. Japhet Tanganga will be serving a one-match domestic suspension this weekend.

Davinson Sanchez, Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso have been quarantining in Croatia for 10 days after returning from international duty in South America.

Spurs could find themselves in a situation where they could have just one specialist central defender in Joe Rodon.

Sanchez and Romero could be cleared for the derby, but their match fitness will be tested after training away from the main group due to the quarantine protocols.

The Blues appear favourites for the game at the moment with Lukaku having made a terrific start on his homecoming with four goals from as many appearances.

Read More

Chelsea injury latest as Thomas Tuchel could be without two players for Tottenham clash

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will be looking to build on his side's unbreaten start to the season at Tottenham.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will be sweating on the fitness of two players when his side return to Premier League action this weekend. The Blues travel to Tottenham on Sunday afternoon as they look to build on their unbeaten start to the new Premier League campaign.

Chelsea have been in sensational form during the early part of the season as Tuchel continues to work his magic in west London.

humbling of Crystal Palace last month, before seeing off Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

Tuchel’s team then took a point away from Anfield after battling to a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, despite going down to 10 men on the stroke of half time.

And last Saturday, Chelsea got three more points on the board after dispatching Aston Villa 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Read More

Jorginho mocks Rio Ferdinand after Manchester United legend claims Chelsea ace ‘can’t run’

Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has mocked Riov Ferdinand's criticism of him after the Manchester United legend accused the Italian of being unable to run.

Jorginho enjoyed the finest season of his career last term, winning the Champions League with the Blues before lifting the European Championship with Italy.

That’s put the midfielder in the running to win the Ballon d’Or and it comes after Jorginho’s difficult start to life in England following his £52m arrival from Napoli in 2018.

The 29-year-old came in for fierce criticism during his first 18 months in the Premier League and a clip of Ferdinand criticisng the Italian in 2019 has recently gone viral on social media.

Jorginho has since put those criticisms to bed by becoming a mainstay for the Champions League holders and the Italian couldn’t resist a dig at Ferdinand by sharing the clip on his Instagram to mock the former England captain’s critique.

Speaking after his first season in west London, Jorginho admitted he takes time to settle at new clubs and is used to being written off.

‘My start at Chelsea made me miss it [Napoli] even more,’ said Jorginho.

‘We all remember what they were saying, right? I was too slow. I was too weak. I was Sarri’s son. Man, it made me so angry. 

‘But listen, they underestimated me. You see, I’ve had a turbulent start at every club I’ve been with. Every club. It’s incredible.

‘When I came to Verona, nobody wanted me. They sent me on loan to the fourth division. Nobody wanted me there either. But I kept working and I won respect. I went back to Verona and we went up to Serie A.

‘I had a hard year at Napoli, too, and then Sarri came and changed everything.

‘So the Chelsea stuff? Puh! I just used the criticism as fuel. I was thinking, ‘These people are going to be embarrassed.’

Read More

Chelsea star Reece James has precious medals robbed by heartless thieves during Zenit win

Reece James' house was broken into on Tuesday night and valuable items are now missing.

Chelsea defender Reece James has revealed that robbers broke into his house and stole valuable possessions while playing in the Champions League on Tuesday night. His Champions League and UEFA Super Cup winner's medals and his Euro 2020 runner-up medal were among the items taken.

On Thursday afternoon, James shared videos of the robbers in action on Instagram, accompanied by a lengthy, heartbreaking statement.

It read: "On the evening of the 14th of September 2021, when I was playing for my club in the return of the Champions League, a group of cowardly robbers broke into my house.

"They managed to collectively lift a heavy safe containing some personal items of mine into their car.

"I never keep any jewellery of mine in my house, so all that was contained in the safe were my Champions League winners medal and Super Cup winners medal and the runners up medal for the Euro 2020.

"These medals were won representing Chelsea and England - honours that can never be taken away from me whether or not I have the physical medals to prove it.

Nevertheless, I am appealing to all my Chelsea and England fans to help identify and turn in these low life individuals who will never be able to rest easy as the evidence is mounting against them.

"The police, my advisers and Chelsea FC (and many others) are all behind me as we have firm leads on who the perpetrators are.

"I really do appreciate having the platform to tell you all about my misfortune and I hope together we can catch these individuals and deliver justice where it is due."

Read More

Romelu Lukaku a ‘super communicator,’ says Thomas Tuchel

Romelu Lukaku is the best Premier League player, making the biggest splash right now, this side of Cristiano Ronaldo. He is exactly what Chelsea needed/needs, at this exact moment, to give them a very realistic shot of retaining the Champions League crown.

And of course to mount a real Premier League title challenge too. Everyone has been singing the praises of Big Rom lately, from Peter Schmeichel to Jamie Carragher and many more; including his manager Thomas Tuchel too.

The performance from Romelu was not easy,” Tuchel said after Lukaku scored the only goal in Chelsea’s 1-0 UCL opening win over Zenit St. Petersburg last night.

“We didn’t create many chances for him but he’s the type of guy who doesn’t lose confidence and belief. And that is why he is a world-class striker.

“He was the type of profile we were missing, not just because of the talent but because of the personality.

Romelu Lukaku has now scored four goals in four appearances for Chelsea this season. What he’s been doing on the pitch this season is phenomenal, of course, but he also makes a major positive impact off the pitch too.

The Blues boss pointed out the character traits that Romelu Lukaku possesses, which elevates the team even more.

“He is such a humble guy, a super communicator in the dressing room, and that creates a certain energy around him in the team that we are proud of and want to have,” the German added.

Up next for Chelsea is a London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, in what is this Premier League weekend’s headliner fixture.

Read More

Man Utd or Man City signing Erling Haaland could be good news for Chelsea's transfer kitty

Erling Haaland has been linked with a move away from Borussia Dortmund over the summer months and it could benefit Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea.

Erling Haaland is supposedly nailed on to leave the Signal Iduna Park next summer if reports are to be believed, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid just three of the clubs in the running for the Norwegian.

The prodigy has established himself as a superstar at Borussia Dortmund - signing for the club aged just 19, going on to score 65 goals in 65 games to stake his claim as one of the best talents in world football.

Every club in the world would love his signature although there are only a select few who could realistically afford him.

Although no matter where he ends up, Dortmund would have to fund a replacement for him - and that replacement could come in the form of Timo Werner, which would benefit Chelsea.

Werner, 25, has endured a rough start to life in west London by scoring just 12 goals in 56 appearances.

Read More

How Frank Lampard and Jurgen Klopp helped Chelsea's 'Messi' become Thomas Tuchel's key man

Antonio Rudiger has become one of the Premier League's best defenders under Thomas Tuchel and shone again in the Champions League.

Antonio Rudiger has not always had the easiest time of it at Chelsea.

Signed by Antonio Conte in the summer of 2018, he would go on to fall out with the Italian after publicly criticising the Blues' tactics and he would do similar with Frank Lampard, the club legend refusing to pick Rudiger for a lengthy period.

But under compatriot Thomas Tuchel, the 28-year-old has found his feet. In the eight months of the current Chelsea regime, he has rocketed from fringe defender to undroppable fan-favourite.

Cries off "Ruud!" can be heard echoing around the ground every time he makes a tackle or goes on an entertaining foray forward. One such incident came on Tuesday night against Zenit St. Petersburg in the Champions League.

Despite never being a favourite of Lampard's, however, the Blues do have a lot to thank their ex-manager for.

After appearing in just one of Chelsea's first 15 Premier League games during the 2020/21 campaign, Rudiger admits that he was close to seeking a move away

Read More

Kaka believes best striker in the world is in Premier League - and reminds him of Adriano

Romelu Lukaku has hit the ground running since rejoining Chelsea from Inter Milan, scoring four goals in as many matches, earning the tag of best striker in the world from AC Milan great Kaka.

Romelu Lukaku is the best striker in the world and has parallels with former Inter Milan great Adriano, according to ex-Brazil ace Kaka.

Kaka is a man who knows a thing or two about elite centre-forwards, having played alongside the likes of Andriy Shevchenko, Filippo Inzaghi, Ronaldo and Raul during his time at AC Milan and Real Madrid.

And the 2007 Ballon d'Or winner, 39, believes Lukaku is the pick of the bunch when it comes to ranking the best finishers in the game.

The Belgium hitman netted 24 goals for Inter last season as they won their first Serie A title in over a decade, finishing 12 points clear of fierce rivals and Kaka's former side AC Milan..

Lukaku has continued that fine form following his £98million move back to Chelsea, scoring the opener on his debut against Arsenal, hitting a brace at home to Aston Villa and finding the winner against Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League.

Kaka has been impressed with the form shown by Lukaku this season and believes the 28-year-old boasts similar characteristics to his former international team-mate Adriano.

Read More

Romelu Lukaku reveals what Thomas Tuchel told Chelsea players at half-time vs Zenit

Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea began their Champions League defence with a win against Zenit St Petersburg.

Romelu Lukaku has revealed what manager Thomas Tuchel said to Chelsea at half-time in their 1-0 victory over Zenit St Petersburg.

Lukaku scored the only goal of the game in the second half of a tight contest at Stamford Bridge as the Blues began their Champions League defence with a win.

The home side made life difficult for Tuchel's team in the opening 45 minutes, leading to the game being tied at the break.

PROMOTED STORIES

Chelsea stepped up their intensity and pace in the second half and Lukaku, speaking after the match, opened up as to what the manager’s message was to the players in the dressing room.

When asked what he said, the Belgian striker replied: "You know a little bit of movement in the middle of the pitch, have an extra man, then we tried to create chances maybe through balls or me holding the ball or with crosses and that’s where we eventually scored the goal from there.”

Lukaku’s goal came from a Cesar Azpilicueta cross, proving Tuchel's astute observations at the interval worked.

PROMOTED STORIES

The £97.5million summer signing was seen by many as the missing piece to this Chelsea side, someone who would provide a clinical edge up top and has shown that with four goals already this season.

The Belgian added that his understanding with the Spanish defender meant that he only had to worry about being in the right place at the right time in order to score the game’s only goal.

Lukaku said: “Yeah a little bit [knew where the ball was going]. Me and Cesar, we agree on certain types of movements on the pitch and it was a beautiful ball, I just had to get my timings right and place the ball on the corner.”

Read More

Thomas Tuchel sends frank message to Ben Chilwell about his situation at Chelsea FC

 

Thomas Tuchel has told Ben Chilwell that he will need to be patient and keep working hard if he wants to win back his place in the Chelsea FC starting line-up.

The England international is yet to feature in the Premier League for the Blues this season despite having been a regular player for the south west London side last term.

Chilwell scored three goals and made five assists in 27 Premier League games for Chelsea FC last term and also made 10 appearances in the Champions League for the Blues.

However, he has recently fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and as well for the national team.

Marcos Alonso has been starting for the Blues at left-back lately and Tuchel says that Chilwell will need to work hard and prove himself of worthy of a return to the team if he wants to start featuring regularly again

Speaking in an interview quoted by Metro, Tuchel said: “He came from a Champions League win, and from 90 minutes and a strong performance, and had a good end of the season in general.

“Then it was individually for him a tough Euros, because there were chances I think where he thought he could have played, and he did not.

“It was hard for him to totally relax and to get this personal disappointment, that he would never put out on the team, off his shoulders.

“And when he arrived here I felt him a bit mentally tired, a bit still worrying about the situation. Marcos was here the whole pre-season, he did every single training session and he took this opportunity and was so, so great, with such huge quality and attitude.’

“So Marcos was crucial for us from the first day in training, and then he delivered in Chilly’s position. And these are our two specialists for the same position, so this is a tough competition for both of them.

“But he’s in the race now, the situation has changed for him. He’s in a good mental shape and attitude, and a good shape on the pitch. So he can play any minutes. Because you feel he did everything to push the team, you feel part of the team but you don’t feel it really if you don’t sweat it out sometimes on the pitch and you never wear the shirt.

“And if you’re never really involved, it is a strange feeling. Then of course it was necessary to keep training and training for five weeks, continuously, and then he had a break, a personal break.

“We had talks with Chilly about the situation. There are no further worries for Chilly He has to be patient and keep on training.”

Chelsea FC will travel to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Read More

Champions League: 'World class' Romelu Lukaku what Chelsea were missing, admits Thomas Tuchel

The Belgian striker now has four goals in as many games since returning to the club for a club record £97 million ($134 million) last month.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said Romelu Lukaku's knack of scoring decisive goals is what the Blues were missing despite winning the Champions League last season.

Lukaku enlivened an otherwise flat performance with the only goal to beat Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 on Tuesday to get the Blues' defence of their European crown off to a winning start.

The Belgian striker now has four goals in as many games since returning to the club for a club record £97 million ($134 million) last month.

And his predatory instincts 21 minutes from time papered over the cracks of a disappointing display from Tuchel's men.

"He was the type of guy we were missing," said Tuchel. "It is super hard and super important. You don't find many strikers of that quality.

"The guys who are there to score regularly for their teams are so important because one goal changes the whole momentum of the match.

"The performance for Romelu was not easy. We did not create many chances for him, but he does not lose confidence and belief. That's why he's here and why he's a world class striker."

Tuchel urged his players not to rest on their laurels after their surprise run to become European champions last season.

The first half came and went without the home side even registering a shot on target.

Lukaku showcased his mix of pace, power and precision in front of goal to score his first Stamford Bridge goals for Chelsea against Villa at the weekend.

Zenit had kept the former Inter Milan striker quiet for nearly 70 minutes, but all he needed was one teasing cross from Cesar Azpilicueta to get off the mark in the Champions League for his new club by planting a header past Stanislav Kritsyuk.

Zenit boss Sergei Semak threw on the towering presence of Artem Dzyuba in search of an equaliser and it nearly paid off.

But even the six-foot six-inch (1.97 metre) Russian international couldn't stretch to get a clean enough contact on Sardar Azmoun's cross 10 minutes from time and the ball dribbled wide

Read More

Chelsea 1-0 Zenit St Petersburg, Champions League: Post-match reaction, ratings

Chelsea started brightly but then had to settle into a bit of a slog after the first ten minutes failed to produce a goal. Zenit spent the vast majority of the half defending with all eleven players in their defensive third, with a line of five at the back intercepting every through ball and a line of four ahead of them putting on the pressure in midfield.

Zenit’s defensive intentions didn’t change after the break, but Chelsea slowly improved in our ability to break them down. Half-chances for Ziyech, Lukaku, and James followed before Azpilicueta put a perfect ball in from his typical crossing position deep in the right channel, finding Lukaku on the far post, who beat the goalkeeper with a downwards header. Simple, yet effective!

Chelsea pressed for a quick second, but were not able to make things safe and comfortable. Zenit missed one great chance to equalize through Artem Dzyuba, but Chelsea were able to see out the result in the end without too much trouble.

Job done.

Carefree.

• Five changes from the weekend, with Christensen, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, James, and Mount replacing Silva, Chalobah, Saul, Hudson-Odoi, and Havertz, respectively.
• Havertz for Ziyech for the last 30 minutes. Last 7-10 minutes with Silva and Chilwell on for Azpi and Alonso. Christensen shifting right for Silva. RLC with a last minute cameo.
• Just one shot on target in the first half, and that from Zenit.
• Lukaku’s first Champions League start and first Champions League goal for Chelsea. That’s four in four for the big man.
• Juventus take care of business in Malmo, 3-0.
• Next up: Spurs away, on Sunday
• KTBFFH

Read More

PSG's Mauricio Pochettino: Chelsea are 'team to beat' in Champions League

Paris  Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has said holders Chelsea are the "team to beat" in the Champions League this season.

Thomas Tuchel's side start their Champions League Group H campaign at home to Zenit St Petersburg on Tuesday, while PSG face a trip to Club Brugge in Group A on Wednesday.

PSG are tipped as one of the favourites to win the competition after the arrival of Lionel Messi but Pochettino said Chelsea's spending makes them the most dangerous team.

"It's possible that Chelsea and ourselves are the two teams to beat on paper, looking at our squads, but Chelsea are the holders so they're the team to beat especially after strengthening their squad," Pochettino told a news conference on Tuesday.

"We're not a team yet. We are a club that has recruited many players this summer. There are some big names but we have to turn into a team. We know that we'll be judged at the end of the season on our results. The pressure is there for all the clubs and we know that for a number of years, the Champions League is PSG's main objective."

Chelsea re-signed Romelu Lukaku for a club record fee of £97.5 million and Saul Niguez on loan from Atletico Madrid, while PSG signed Messi, Georginio Wijnaldum, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos on free transfers.

The Ligue 1 giants also signed Achraf Hakimi this summer and also rebuffed interest from Real Madrid for striker Kylian Mbappe.

Pochettino also added that it is "possible" that Messi, Neymar and Mbappe could start together for the first time on Wednesday.

PSG captain Marquinhos also said that if three forwards do play, the team need to perform as a defensive unit.

"If the three of them are up front, they're experienced players, they know we have to be compact and defend together, and we know the defence has to play high to put them in the best conditions," he said.

"If there's anything to be said I'll certainly say it."

Read More

Thomas Tuchel may have to take major gamble with Chelsea undroppable for Champions League clash

The Blues begin their defence of the UEFA Champions League this evening but it is unclear whether Romelu Lukaku will start his fourth game in a row.

Since arriving at Chelsea last month for £97.5million, Romelu Lukaku has started every single game for his new club.

The 28-year-old has been on since the first whistle in all three games since returning to the Blues and has found the net three times - making him almost undroppable for Thomas Tuchel already.

That's what the general consensus was among Chelsea supporters when Lukaku was confirmed as a Blues player last month, they knew their club was signing someone to call upon that can score a goal even if they are not playing well - something that the likes of Mohamed Salah does for Liverpool and what Cristiano Ronaldo will do for Manchester United.

It makes them undroppable, these world-class superstars, the reason some supporters pay the money to enter football stadiums. Pure entertainers.

However, if the unthinkable does happen - Lukaku picks up an injury in a game where Chelsea really should be winning with or without the Belgium international, then it really is a disaster for Tuchel.

It is of course a huge game for the Blues. This is their first match in the Champions League since lifting the trophy back in May. It's imperative that the west Londoners get off to a perfect start.

PROMOTED STORIES

So, will Tuchel risk playing Lukaku? This is of course someone who recently picked up a knock while playing for Belgium in the international break.

Some Chelsea supporters would argue that the German coach should take Lukaku out of the side for the clash with Zenit, but some would claim that the side need to continue their momentum after their fine start to the season with the Belgian striker in the side undoubtedly making them a stronger team.

Lukaku has a fine record in the opening game of a Champions League group stage. For Inter Milan last season, the former Manchester United forward netted twice against Borussia Monchengladbach, and then went on to score another two goals in the group, before Inter eventually fell short

Read More

It is no secret’ – Player wants to sign for Chelsea, now down to Abramovich

Antonio Rüdiger’s future at Chelsea beyond this season remains uncertain as his contract at Stamford Bridge expires in 2022.

On September 9th, Sport1 said ‘everything is open’ as the defender’s camp continue to negotiate with the Blues over a new contract.

These claims are relayed by La Colina de Nervión, and they add Jules Koundé is always in the spotlight for the west London club.

Chelsea wanted the Sevilla star in the summer, but failed to agree a deal with the La Liga side to conclude the transfer.

It’s said that if Rüdiger leaves his current employer in January, the Champions League winners ‘could accelerate a new attack’ for the 22-year-old.

There’s a possibility Thomas Tuchel’s side may cash in from the German’s sale in the winter market rather than letting him leave for free next summer. Should this happen, Chelsea will then look for an immediate replacement, and this is where Koundé fits in.

La Colina de Nervión claim ‘it is no secret’ the France international wants to join the English club, with whom he had already reached an agreement in the summer.

Sevilla will need an important offer to let the player leave and it’ll be now down to Chelsea

owner Roman Abramovich to sanction the big investment needed to sign Koundé. That didn’t happen in the last window and only time will tell whether the Blues will change their stance in the future.

Over at AS, they compare Koundé’s failed move to Chelsea with the Premier League side’s failed efforts to sign Dani Alves in 2007, a year before his then club-record sale to Barcelona.

The newspaper suggests the defender, ‘at the moment, is imitating almost all the steps’ of Alves

Read More