Chelsea Archives ⋆ Page 125 of 143 ⋆ LSU

Mar32019 by JBNo Comments

Mourinho reveals the one problem Chelsea have with Higuain

Premier League

Jose Mourinho believes Gonzalo Higuain is not fully fit but has backed the Argentina international to excel at Chelsea. Higuain has been reunited with his former manager Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge, although he has endured a mixed start to life at the club. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); But the 31-year-old scored his third Premier League goal of the campaign on Sunday as his quick movement and finish opened the scoring in Chelsea’s win over Fulham. And while Mourinho has praised Higuain’s natural ability, But he believes the forward still needs to improve his physical condition. ‘Higuain just arrived at the club,’ Mourinho told beIN Sports. ‘The only thing I can say about Higuain because he was my player at Real Madrid, is that he knows h...

Feb262019 by JBNo Comments

REVEALED: The time Messi did a Kepa for Barcelona and refused to be substituted in 2014

Premier League, La Liga

Kepa Arrizabalaga grabbed the headlines from the Carabao Cup final after refusing to be substituted - but he is not the first player to disobey his manager. The Chelsea goalkeeper was in fact following the lead of one of the greatest players of all time, in Barcelona's (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In October 2014, Messi refused to come off during a 3-0 La Liga victory over Eibar, despite his manager, Luis Enrique, wanting to take him off. With the victory secure, Enrique wanted to bring off the Argentina international for the final 15 minutes in order to help him stay fresh. However his gesticulations to Messi to come over to the touchline were met by a thumbs up from him, clearly indicating he felt good to continue. After some shouting and ple...

Feb252019 by JBNo Comments

Kepa: It wasn’t my intention to disobey Sarri

Premier League

Kepa Arrizabalaga has come out to explain his on-pitch row with Maurizio Sarri in the final against Manchester City, which threatened to overshadow Chelsea's penalty shootout defeat to Guardiola's side. The £71m signing was involved in the incident at the end of extra time, where Willy Caballero was set to come on after Arrizabalaga went down injured. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sarri has described the incident as a "misunderstanding" in his post-match press conference but he had to be held back Antonio Rudiger, when confronting his goalkeeper. Arrizabalaga moved to assure fans that he maintains a good relationship with his head coach and addressed the incident after the game. "I don’t know how it went out, it is not the best image," Arrizabalag...

Feb232019 by JBNo Comments

Exclusive: Chelsea to move for Steve Holland if they sack Maurizio Sarri next week

Premier League, Transfer Info

Chelsea will consider making a move for England assistant manager Steve Holland if they sack manager Maurizio Sarri next week. Despite progression into the next stage of the Europa League, Sarri is on the brink of being sacked ahead of Sunday’s final against Manchester City and Wednesday's Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Holland is seen as the top choice to help his old club through the rest of the campaign if he and the Football Association can be convinced to combine his England duties with being manager at Stamford Bridge. Holland was at Chelsea’s FA Cup loss by Manchester United and the Europa League win over Malmo, as well as attending the Uefa Youth League win over Monaco at Cobham this week. That ...

Feb222019 by JBNo Comments

Sarri takes bizarre swipe at Arsenal after Chelsea’s victory over Malmo

Premier League

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has taken a swipe at Arsenal as he defended his record with Chelsea and believes he is being unfairly criticised compared to Unai Emery. The Italian oversaw a 3-0 victory against Malmo in the Europa League last 32 to progress to the next round, though his side have struggled domestically, knocked out of the FA Cup and thrashed 6-0 at the Etihad. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sarri faces pressure at Stamford Bridge amid speculation he could be sacked, but he is surprised by why he faces so much more criticism than Arsenal. Asked by Sky Sport Italia if he was one defeat away from being sacked, Sarri replied: ‘I am not interested, to be honest. ‘I have to think of my work as a big picture issue, otherwise I’d do my work ...

Feb212019 by JBNo Comments

Sarri-ball could force Eden Hazard & Kante towards Chelsea exit

Premier League

Chelsea have been warned that Sarri-ball may be pushing Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante towards leaving the club, with Mario Melchiot claiming that tactical tweaks could lead to high-profile exits. Two key players at Stamford Bridge have often been asked to play out of position this campaign under Sarri. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eden Hazard was used as a ‘false nine’ before the January arrival of Gonzalo Higuain, while Kante has been moved out of a holding midfield position. Questions continue to be asked of Maurizio Sarri’s selection policy, with the Italian refusing to change his pattern, and it could be that Chelsea pay the price for the stubbornness of their head coach. Former Blues defender Melchiot has told talkSPORT : “If you play playe...

Feb212019 by JBNo Comments

Real Madrid to use Gareth Bale in deal to sign Eden Hazard or Eriksen

Premier League

Real Madrid are reportedly considering selling Gareth Bale in the summer after the winger failed to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo's exit to Juventus. Bale has had just two goals in his last seven games for Real and is no longer guaranteed a place in the starting XI for the team. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); According to Marca, Bale could leave Real at the end of the campaign as the club consider using him as a bargaining chip to sign either Eden Hazard or Tottenham's Christian Eriksen. 18-year-old Vinicius Junior has jumped ahead of Bale in the pecking order at the club, and Real have been left frustrated that the 29-year-old has been unable to take his game to the next level. Despite being in his sixth season at Real Madrid, Bale still ...

Feb192019 by JBNo Comments

Chelsea hold talks over Maurizio Sarri’s future

Premier League

Senior figures at Chelsea have held talks over Maurizio Sarri's future as head coach, Sky Sports News reports. Chelsea are understood to be very concerned about the team's recent poor performances and results - the most recent of which was a home defeat to Manchester United that eliminated them out of the FA Cup. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The board are aware of the problems at the club, especially after the reaction of fans at Stamford Bridge on Monday, who booed the team off and slated his 'Sarri-ball' style. Sarri was put under increasing pressure after a 6-0 hammering at Manchester City this month - their third Premier League loss in four matches - saw them drop out of the top four to sixth. The Blues had conceded four away at Bournemouth i...

Feb192019 by JBNo Comments

Maurizio Sarri: I don’t know if the players are still with me

Premier League

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has said that he is not sure whether his players are still with him after his side's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup. The Blues have now lost three of their last five matches in all competitions without scoring, with Bournemouth and Manchester City inflicting 4-0 and 6-0 defeats, respectively. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sarri has just six days to try and motivate his players before their Carabao Cup final against City, a game which could prove decisive in whether or not he stays at Chelsea. And the Italian conceded he was not entirely sure if his players still backed him after the recent run of poor results. “I think [the players are still with me]. Of course, I am not sure, but I think so," Sarri said ...

Feb182019 by JBNo Comments

Sarri made ‘stupid’ decision in United FA Cup loss, says Martin Keown

Premier League

Martin Keown called Maurizio Sarri ‘stupid’ for keeping Callum Hudson-Odoi on the bench as the FA Cup holders crashed out of the competition at the hands of Manchester United. First half headers from Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba was enough to give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side a commanding advantage and one they never looked like giving away. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Despite his team’s failure to threaten Sergio Romero, Sarri refused to introduce the teenager who the club fought so hard to keep in January amid interest from Bayern Munich. The Stamford Bridge faithful had already made their feelings known before Sarri made the shocking decision to bring on defender Davide Zappacosta in place of Azpilicueta. Responding to the change, BBC co-commen...