Tag Archives: Chelsea

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⚽️ Two Spaniards (no Barcelona), one German and one English side into the last four of the Champions League 🥅 🏟

10 Thursday Apr 2014

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ANALYSIS 

We are now into the semi finals of the Champions League and apart from Barcelona being ousted by Atletico, it’s the usual suspects – Bayern, Real Madrid and José Mourinho (this time with Chelsea).
European football, and probably the World game, is currently dominated by German and Spanish teams, something that will no doubt be reflected in this summer’s World Cup also.
For the Champions League, Atletico look the sharpest, their attacking style that is conducted at a lightning speed will take some beating – even for a team like Bayern. Of the remaining sides, Chelsea are clearly the weakest, although they have a manager who is used to winning at this level with Real and of course Porto. And as a consequence this ageing Blues side can never really be discounted, although the semi final stage may prove to be a step too far for them.
And what to make of Ronaldo’s Real who are also challenging for the La Liga title with Barcelona and Atletico – well, they like Bayern are in transition and as a result, they can be beaten, as can their Spanish rivals and pretenders Atletico who despite all their energy and pace often miss in front of goal.
So, all bets are off for one of the most open Champions League tournaments in years and the good news for the impartial observer is that the same can be said for Brazil 2014.

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Roberto Di Matteo is fired

21 Wednesday Nov 2012

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TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

Chelsea were simply outclassed last night against a Juventus team that was sharper and far more creative than the Champion League Cup holders.

And their slide from the top of the Premier League was a clear indication that they had come off the boil, and would struggle to get back there even against two Manchester teams that are still not firing on all cylinders.

Even at the beginning of the season there were worrying signs – remember that 4-1 drubbing by Atletico Madrid at Monaco?

So, it should not be a surprise that owner Roman Abramovich was not happy.

However, the speed and ruthlessness of the sacking of the former head coach has taken everyone by surprise.

Di Matteo of course is in good company – even the special one himself suffered the indignity of the axe from an owner who wants to see his team play like Barcelona, and blood players of the calibre of Lionel Messi from its own ranks.

Truth is English clubs look out of their league when they play in Europe and even when they win the trophy there’s always that feeling that they were lucky – that the performance did not merit the outcome.

That a man like Abramovich is losing patience is a good thing for English football – our national side needs to shaken at its core, we need men like Abramovich to remind our underperforming  multi-millionaire Premiership players that a fat pay cheque does not mean that you have made it, only that you are lucky.

CHELSEA’S FALLEN MANAGERS

Claudio Ranieri: Sep 2000 to May 2004

Jose Mourinho: Jun 2004 to Sep 2007

Avram Grant: Sep 2007 to May 2008

Luiz Felipe Scolari: Jul 2008 to Feb 2009

Guus Hiddink: Feb 2009 to May 2009

Carlo Ancelotti: Jun 2009 to May 2011

Andre Villas-Boas: Jun 2011 to Mar 2012 (Click here for Template Report)

Roberto Di Matteo: Mar 2012 to Nov 2012

 Click here and here for Template Commentary about Chelsea Champions League win.

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BREAKING NEWS – Chelsea are European Champions

19 Saturday May 2012

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Penalties –  3 – 4

FT Bayern Munich 1 – 1 Chelsea

       Muller 83                    Drogba 88

Bayern dominated the first half, but did not make it count squandering a hatful of chances, with Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller missing the mark far too often.

The pattern continued in the second.

When Thomas Muller finally made it count eight minutes before time, it looked like it was all over for Roberto di Matteo’s men. However, Drogba appeared out of nowhere two minutes before time to head in an equaliser and it was game on.

Chelsea got back in for the next five mnutes, which included three minutes of extra time, and when Drogba sent a free kick into the crowd the game finished 1-1 after normal time.

Three minutes into extra time though, a Drogba foul on Franck Ribery opened the way for a Arjen Robben penalty which was sensationally saved by Petr Cech.

From now onwards, it appeared that the omens were good for Chelsea and that Bayern would rue all those squandered chances, which included that miss by Robben, as well a great one early in the second half of extra time.

Bayern continued to attack, but they just couldn’t get the ball into the back of the net as the game went into a penalty shoot out with that man Drogba sealing the deal.

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This is Chelsea’s Moment

19 Saturday May 2012

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TEMPLATE COMMENTARY

Nothing about Roberto Di Matteo’s side and how it has managed to get into the Champions League final to meet Bayern Munich has been convincing.

Not the performances, which include a very fortunate defeat of a Barcelona side whose manager was clearly tired of looking at the endless stream of silverware coming his way.

Nor the appearance of his players whose best days are clearly behind them –  that includes the once great Drogba as well those players that have for some reason made it into the England squad for the summer’s European Championships.

So, it would take a brave man to bet against a German side that boasts  amongst others, the latest Dutch superstar, one Arjen Robben in its ranks.

But Chelsea, have got a momentum, similar to the way Liverpool and Manchester United before them had going for them.

Call it the ‘It’ factor, call it what you like – they have team spirit that will mean they will overcome this Bayern Munich side in Munich to become European Club Champions.

The performance will not please their billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, however that will be an argument for another day – for this is Chelsea’s moment.

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AVB – What Roman Abramovich Is Looking For

05 Monday Mar 2012

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http://soundcloud.com/nayabchohan/avb-what-roman-abramovich-is

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John Terry

21 Wednesday Dec 2011

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ANALYSIS

This country has drawn a line in the sand when it comes to dealing with racism, namely that it is never acceptable.

The case of John Terry who denies the allegations is the third incident to emerge recently.

Yesterday, Liverpool’s Luis Suarez was handed an eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra and of course that there is that trial of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, the young man whose vicious killing had started the whole process and the closing of arguments for which are currently being heard.

We are not there yet, however, people are disgusted by racism – and perhaps one day that will be this country’s greatest gift to the world.

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