chelsea news

Subterms

    Latest story

    200 Shares99 Views

    Former Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink believed 2009 Champions League semi-final vs Barcelona could have been ‘fixed’

    by

    GUUS HIDDINK thought Chelsea’s 2009 Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona might have been fixed – even though the referee owned up to making mistakes.The Blues were denied a spot in the final after the official Tom Henning Ovrebo made a series of blunders.
    Guus Hiddink had to hold back a furious Didier Drogba after the 2009 tieCredit: AP:Associated Press
    Hiddink, manager of Chelsea at the time, branded the officiating as ‘the worst refereeing I have ever seen’.
    He told Ziggo Sport in 2020: “The referee performance surprised me, because in the past he’d had perfect performances.
    “Is it the worst refereeing I’ve ever seen? I think so.”
    The Dutchman alleged: “This is the only time I thought a match could’ve been fixed.”
    Barca went on to beat Manchester United in the final with the Blues waiting until 2012 to claim their maiden crown – a tally they doubled in 2021.
    Hiddink claims football chiefs would not have wanted a repeat of the all-English final between Chelsea and United the year before, won by the Red Devils on spot-kicks.
    But in an interview with SunSport in February 2018, Norwegian whistler Ovrebo admitted to making genuine mistakes during the match.
    Ovrebo, who works as a psychologist in Oslo now, turned down FOUR Blues’ penalty claims before Chelsea were cruelly eliminated by Andres Iniesta’s 94th-minute strike for Barca which put them through on away goals.
    MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
    Death threats were made after the game, while straight after the match Blues striker Didier Drogba verbally attacked the ref, and later received a five-match ban.
    Ovrebo said: “I was happy with 95 per cent of my decisions. But there were some decisions that were not dealt with in the correct manner.
    “One handball earlier in the game should have been a penalty. People will always have different opinions about the game.
    “But everyone agrees the refereeing that night was not optimal. And I am the first to agree with them.”
    At the time Uefa dismissed the conspiracy theories around the game.
    Uefa general secretary David Taylor said: “If anything it’s a media conspiracy against Uefa.
    “It does make me angry. It really annoys me because it’s a load of rubbish.” More

    More stories

    • 238 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Real Madrid flop Eden Hazard is keen to play for Fenerbahce before retiring, claims former chief of Turkish giants

      by

      EDEN HAZARD has vowed to play for Turkish giants Fenerbahce before he retires, according to former club chief Hasan Cetinkaya.The Belgium talisman, who moved to Real Madrid from Chelsea in a £150million deal in 2019, has told Cetinkaya he will play for the Turkish Super Lig side one day.
      Eden Hazard has vowed to play for Fenerbahce before his career ends, claims the club’s former chief
      Cetinkaya revealed last year: “Eden Hazard is an old friend of mine, I’ve known him since he was 15 or 16 years old and still played for Lille.
      “He had incredible sympathy for Fenerbahce and gave me his word: ‘Hasan, one day I’ll play for Fenerbahce, I just do not know when that will be.'”
      Cetinkaya, who is now vice-president of Belgian club Westerlo, revealed that Fenerbahce were interested in Hazard, 32, at the start of his career.
      He also revealed that Fenerbahce were interested in Hazard at the start of his career.
      Cetinkaya said: “He was 16 when he played for Lille, they had him, Gervinho and Sow, but we could only attract Sow to us.
      “And then Hazard reached a different dimension, he was one of the greatest talents in Europe, and I wish he had, time will tell, Eden Hazard will one day play for Fenerbahce.”
      Most Read in Football
      Hazard has endured a frustrating time at Real after being hit by countless injuries.
      He even APOLOGISED for his flop spell at the Santiago Bernabeu last year.
      And he also admitted he could seek a transfer exit next summer – which could be Fenerbahce on red alert.
      Hazard told Marca: “I’m sorry. I’m trying, but … I’m sorry.
      “I have one more year and I have to show [what I can do] but it isn’t easy. I’m not playing, I want to play more. I’m really sorry about what has happened.
      “In January it’s impossible (to leave, because I have my family and I like the city)
      “But in the summer it’s possible that I leave. I have a year left on my contract and it’s a decision for the club.
      “If the club says ‘Eden, thanks for these four years, but you have to go’ I’ll have to accept it.

      “[I’d give myself] a zero in terms of playing, because I haven’t played,” he said, when asked to grade his time at Madrid. “But a 10 in terms of how I feel in this moment with the team. I’m not playing, but being a Real Madrid player was my dream as a kid. I want to play for this club.” More

    • 238 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea star Jorginho confronted Italy legend Antonio Cassano on the beach after being snubbed for Messi in Ballon d’Or

      by

      ANTONIO CASSANO was confronted by Jorginho while on holiday after claiming the Italy hero should NOT win the Ballon d’Or.A number of football figures had chosen the now-Arsenal midfielder as their pick for the 2021 crown after winning the Champions League and Euro 2020.
      Jorginho helped Italy to Euro 2020 success after Chelsea’s European gloryCredit: Getty
      But Cassano laughed off the suggestion – before bumping into Jorginho in hilarious circumstances on the beach.
      For from being annoyed, Jorginho agreed with Cassano, now 40, that Lionel Messi was a better bet for the Ballon d’Or.
      The ex-striker revealed on the Twitch channel of Christian Vieri: “Remember when I said any journalist who voted for Jorginho as Ballon d’Or should have his licence taken away?
      “Well, I was in Formentera with my family and just as I sat down, I felt a touch.
      “‘Antonio, you’re great!’ the voice says.
      “I turn around to ask who he was, he took off his glasses and mask, and it was Jorginho.
      “I told him, Jorgi, can you believe the scandal if they should give you the Ballon d’Or and not to Messi?
      “He replied that he absolutely agreed with me, Messi should always win it.”
      Most read in Football
      Jorginho was pictured enjoying a post-season break on the Balearic island of Formentera with girlfriend Catherine Harding.
      The couple also soaked up the sun in Mykonos just days after he lifted the Euros trophy.
      Former Chelsea great Gianfranco Zola is one of the game’s respected voices who had tipped Jorginho to win the Ballon d’Or.
      The honour would be “deserved”, said the Italian, after surprise triumphs for Chelsea and Italy.
      And Jorginho has since added to his trophy collection yet again, with a goal in the penalty shootout win over Villarreal that earned the Uefa Super Cup.
      Last month, the Italian made a shock £12million move to Arsenal after slipping down the Stamford Bridge pecking order under Graham Potter. More

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea keeper Kepa’s World Cup dreams all but over with £71.6m Spaniard ruled out of action with foot injury

      by

      KEPA has become the latest Premier League star to fall foul of the World Cup injury curse.The Chelsea and Spain keeper will not play again before the tournament later this month due to a foot problem.
      Chelsea star Kepa Arrizabalaga looks set to miss out on Spain’s World Cup squadCredit: Alamy
      Chelsea boss Graham Potter confirmed the grim news for the £71.6 million Spaniard who had only just worked his way back into contention after a year in the international wilderness.
      Potter said:  “It’s his plantar fascia, the bottom of his foot. I don’t think he’ll play before the World Cup.”
      Kepa joins English club mates Reece James and Ben Chilwell in the treatment room with more Premier League stars  getting injured due to the congested fixture list accommodating the rescheduled World Cup.
      Chilwell is braced for bad news after suffering a suspected torn hamstring in Wednesday’s Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      Potter said: “He’s going to go for a scan later on this afternoon so we’ll find out how he is then, update tomorrow. He feels okay but obviously aware of the injury. We need to let the swelling settle down, hence the delay with the scan. But we’ll know more after that.”
      “I wouldn’t say we fear the worst. It’s just we all saw the nature of the injury. I can’t say it looks positive. But until we get the scan, it’s difficult to say.
      “He’s okay, but I suppose until you get the diagnosis. At the moment we’re just hopeful and fingers crossed. From there we’ll get him back fit and strong. It’s disappointing, of course.”
      THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY…The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
      Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
      Most read in Football More

    • 238 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Brighton 4 Chelsea 1: Graham Potter tastes first defeat as Blues boss as stunning Seagulls go on first-half rampage

      by

      IT had to happen, didn’t it? Graham Potter suffered his first defeat as Chelsea boss back at the Amex.“Potter, what’s the score,” chanted the home fans as Brighton closed out their first win under his replacement, Roberto De Zerbi.
      Graham Potter suffered defeat on his return to Brighton as Chelsea lost 4-1 at the AmexCredit: Alamy
      Potter was booed and trolled by fans as Brighton raced into an early leadCredit: Getty
      And how the Seagulls De Zerbi’d it, after a stunning first-half performance.
      They were 3-0 up at half time after Leandro Trossard scored early and both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah put through their own net.
      But the the biggest own goal came from Potter.
      For the second weekend in a row, he sent out the Blues with the wrong formation and system.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      Leandro Trossard fired the hosts ahead after just five minutesCredit: Reuters
      The Belgian rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga, having already had an effort cleared by Thiago SilvaCredit: Reuters
      Against Manchester United, the changes Potter made brought his side back into the game and they were good value for a point.
      This time, there was no rescuing the situation.
      After the Seagulls had flocked all over his team in first half, Potter was given hope by a goal from Kai Havertz in the second half.
      But Brighton rallied and completed a fabulous afternoon when Pascal Gross added a fourth in stoppage time.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Brighton found themselves 2-0 up 10 minutes laterCredit: Alamy
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a nightmare as he turned the ball into his own netCredit: Reuters
      The home fans reserved most of their hostility for Marc Cucurella after the defender followed Potter to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
      But they spent most of the afternoon cheering their own side.
      Brighton were two up inside 14 minutes and very good value for it.
      Chelsea captain Thiago Silva had already headed off the line from Trossard and Pervis Estupinan before his attempted pass was cut out by Trossard.
      Kaoru Mitoma returned the ball and the twinkle-toed Belgian danced around Kepa Arrizabalaga before finding a precise finish into the side netting.
      Brighton went 3-0 up just moments before the breakCredit: Reuters
      This time it was an own-goal from Chelsea defender Trevoh ChalobahCredit: AFP
      The home side kept up the pressure and the latest in a series of corners resulted in Solly March’s delivery being kneed into his own net by Loftus-Cheek.
      The Brighton faithful told Potter: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”
      Chelsea finally came to life, and Robert Sanchez made a trio of good saves. First the home goalkeeper kept out Conor Gallagher’s shot and Christian Pulisic fluffed the follow-up.
      Then the Spaniard acrobatically tipped away a Gallagher header, before a more routine near-post stop from Kai Havertz.
      It was breathless, entertaining stuff.
      Goalie Kepa was hooked at the break after a disastrous 45 minutesCredit: Reuters
      Kai Havertz pulled one back for the Blues with a header in the 48th minuteCredit: Reuters
      Brighton regained the ascendancy, with Moises Caicedo firing into the side-netting after a fine move.
      Chelsea’s desperation and frustration were summed up by Raheem Sterling taking a tumble in the box and Cucurella body-checking March.
      And the Seagull’s supremacy was epitomised by a wonderful third goal. Yes, Chalobah had the final touch but the move that started deep in the home team’s half and ended with Estupinan’s cross was sublime.
      Potter rang the changes at half time. The reason for Arrizabalaga’s withdrawal was unclear, but on came Edouard Mendy to play behind a back four in a 4-3-3.
      The tide turned inside three minutes of the restart when Gallagher swung in a superb cross that Havertz headed firmly past Sanchez.
      Brighton made sure of the result with a fourth goal in the dying momentsCredit: Reuters
      Pascal Gross leaped onto a rebound to fire past sub goalie Edouard MendyCredit: Reuters
      The Brighton goalkeeper then stopped Pascal Gross joining the list of own-goalscorers after a Mason Mount cross.
      The Chelsea boss tried to build on the momentum with two more substitutions.
      Sterling was put out of his misery after a very poor afternoon, in favour of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Cucurella was showered with abuse as he trudged around the pitch perimeter after being replaced by Chilwell.
      Sanchez kept out an Aubameyang shot pretty comfortably but the visitors did not make many clear-cut chances.
      Home substitute Julio Enciso could have killed the game when he broke with 13 minutes left, but he failed to pass to the unmarked Trossard and saw his shot blocked by Silva.
      Read More on The Sun
      Potter’s final throw of the dice was to put on Hakim Ziyech and Armando Broja for the final 11 minutes.
      But in stoppage time, Mendy saved twice from Enciso, only to be unable to stop Gross’ follow-up. More

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘Getting sacked in the morning’ – Brighton fans hilariously troll ex-boss Graham Potter after Chelsea’s nightmare start

      by

      GRAHAM POTTER was hilariously trolled with a cheeky song by Brighton fans on his return to the Amex Stadium.That’s after Chelsea went 2-0 down to the Seagulls in the first 14 minutes before conceding another at half-time.
      Brighton fans sang ‘sacked in the morning’ at former boss Graham PotterCredit: Getty
      Former fan favourite Potter ditched Brighton for the Blues in September after Todd Boehly sacked Thomas Tuchel.
      Supporters did not take the news well, with Brighton cruising high in the table at the time.
      They first made their displeasure known by booing Potter and former left-back Marc Cucurella early in the Premier League clash.
      And after soaring into a 2-0 lead through Leandro Trossard and a Ruben Loftus-Cheek own-goal, the home supporters treated Potter to a rendition of “sacked in the morning.”
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      It was the second time in the game Brighton fans aimed a song at Potter.
      After Trossard’s first goal, they sang heartily: “Potter, what’s the score?”
      But things were only going to get worse for Chelsea and their English boss.
      That’s because with just minutes left in the half, Trevoh Chalobah became the latest Blue to put the ball in his own net.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Football fans all around certainly found the incident amusing.
      One tweeted: “Potter created a team he can’t play against.”
      Another wrote: “He’s lucky Roman’s gone otherwise he would be sacked.”
      One declared: “Brighton gave Chelsea Cucurella and their manager, and are beating them on top of it.”
      Another added: “Todd won’t put up with this for long.”
      Chelsea attempted to push back in the second half after subbing on Edouard Mendy for Kepa Arrizabalaga.
      They pulled one back after just several minutes when Kai Havertz headed home from a Conor Gallagher cross. More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea stars give clear answer to Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi goat debate with only Armando Broja disagreeing

      by

      CHELSEA stars were asked by a cheeky child whether they preferred Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.And the answers were very clear, with just one player disagreeing with the majority’s verdict.
      Chelsea stars gave their answer on the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi debateCredit: Twitter@ESPNFC
      Armando Broja was the only Blue to go against the grainCredit: Twitter@ESPNFC
      The Halls family went to Cobham this week to see if they could meet some of Chelsea’s top players on their way to training.
      One kid wore a Blues shirt as he greeted various aces on the side of the road.
      Each player stopped for an autograph and picture with the delighted fan.
      But before they drove off, he asked every single one to settle the biggest debate in football: Messi vs Ronaldo.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      Out of six players, five voted in favour of Paris Saint-Germain star Messi.
      Surprisingly, there was just one in Ronaldo’s corner – fellow striker Armando Broja.
      Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher, Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella all threw their weight behind Messi without a second thought.
      But Broja was equally forthright with his response, backing Man Utd renegade Ronaldo to the hilt.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      The Messi vs Ronaldo debate is sure to rumble onCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Footy fans were delighted to see some honest answers though.
      One said: “Every footballer outside United and Madrid, even coaches choose Messi.”
      Another declared: “They set this up, Ronaldo is clear.”
      One laughed: “That settles it, that handful of Chelsea players has it decided for the history books.”
      Another added: “Chelsea deserves to win the league then.” More

    • 250 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Antonio Rudiger shows off gruesome red eye and 20 stitches in head after Real Madrid star’s injury vs Shakhtar Donetsk

      by

      REAL MADRID star Antonio Rudiger has shown off his gruesome battle scars following his nasty Champions League knock.The ex-Chelsea ace, 29, sustained a scary head and eye injury during Real’s 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk two weeks ago.
      Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger revealed his gruesome injuriesCredit: Pacific Coast News
      Antonio Rudiger hurt his eye and head in the Champions League
      The centre-back was busted open after he heroically netted a last-gasp equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time to cancel out Oleksandr Zubkov’s opener.
      The Germany international required a whopping 20 stitches to heal his wound after the match.
      Rudiger flew back to Madrid covered in bandages but appeared to be in good spirits, based on a selfie he shared on the plane.
      But the former Chelsea star showed the same toughness he brought to Stamford Bridge as he came off the bench in the El Clasico just five days later against Barcelona.
      Read More on Football
      The defender also competed against Elche with a face mask and Sevilla with a headband.
      He is now gearing up for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash at RB Leipzig.
      Even now, Rudiger’s injury hasn’t completely healed.
      During the pre-match press conference, the defender’s eye was still blood-red with the stitches still visible.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      However, the German looked keen to start for Carlo Ancelotti’s side after admitting he is loving life at Real.
      Rudiger said: “I’m satisfied with my performances.
      “I feel I’m on a good run, I don’t have to play every game because we have a large squad with a lot of quality.
      “I feel I’m a 10 out of 10. I’m surprised at how quickly I’ve adapted. I had the help of [Toni] Kroos and [David] Alaba.
      “I’m very happy. As I said in my presentation, I’m going to give 100 per cent for this club”. More