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      Thiago Silva watches Chelsea beat Krasnodar from home in leg recovery trousers… after family bowling trip on day off

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      THIAGO SILVA watched on from home as Chelsea beat Krasnodar after enjoying an extra day off with his family.
      Frank Lampard rested the Brazilian, 36, for the 3,500-mile round-trip having only just introduced the defender to his squad.

      Thiago Silva watched Chelsea’s win while wearing a high-tech recovery deviceCredit: Instagram

      The Brazilian rested up after a family bowling tripCredit: Instagram / @bellesilva

      While Chelsea dispatched their Russian opponents, Silva sat in a hotel room back in the UK whilst wearing a leg recovery device.
      The high-tech trousers are designed to massage muscles in a variety of settings, reducing soreness and improving circulation.
      Silva captioned the picture, ‘Post training recovery’, while using the device designed by Italian company Globus.

      The trousers have become commonplace in top-level sport, across football, cricket, boxing and MMA with the likes of Anthony Joshua and Gareth Bale previously pictured in them.

      Silva impressed fans with his performance in the 0-0 draw against Manchester United on the weekend, with Chelsea now keeping three consecutive clean sheets.
      Earlier in the day, the centre-back was pictured enjoying a spot of bowling in central London with his wife and two kids.
      Isabelle Silva posted a video of their day out, including a pair of strikes from the Chelsea star’s first two attempts.
      During the game, Isabelle and the kids had a swim in the hotel pool while Silva watched from their room.

      Silva’s scoreboard showed his impressive bowling talentCredit: Instagram / @bellesilva

      The family also enjoyed a meal out on the player’s day offCredit: Instagram / @bellesilva

      Chelsea made short work of Krasnodar, aided by a goalkeeping error to go ahead via Callum Hudson-Odoi.
      Timo Werner slammed home a second from the spot after Jorginho’s earlier penalty miss.
      Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic scored late to earn a 4-0 win, Chelsea’s first victory of their Champions League campaign.
      And the Blues sit top of Group E on goal difference after Sevilla edged Rennes.

      Thiago Silva and wife Isabelle toast to Chelsea transfer in swanky hotel after landing in London from Sardinia holiday More

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      Mendy’s incredible impact at Chelsea revealed as stats show massive improvement on blunder keeper Kepa

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      EDOUARD MENDY has enjoyed a fine start to life at Chelsea – with the stats showing just how much of an improvement he is on Kepa Arrizabalaga.
      Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Manchester United counted as a third clean sheet for the Senegal shot-stopper.

      And he showed his reflexes with a few vital saves to earn a point for his side.
      Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata were both denied by athletic parries from Mendy, who also saved a one-on-one chance with the striker early on.
      It meant Chelsea have kept three clean sheets in the four games he has played since a £22million switch from Rennes.

      Sevilla, United and Crystal Palace have all been held off by the 28-year-old, with Tottenham the only side to score in their Carabao Cup encounter.

      The stats show that both Kepa and Mendy have averaged two saves per game for Chelsea.
      But the new signing is making stops at a much higher rate.
      Mendy boasts a save percentage of 88.9 per cent, while Kepa kept out just 63.4 per cent of the shots he faced.
      Although there does appear to be a trade-off in Frank Lampard’s decision to swap the keepers.

      Edouard Mendy produced a stunning stop from Marcus Rashford in the dying moments of Saturday’s drawCredit: Reuters
      Kepa’s passing accuracy of 81.8 per cent was far from perfect – as witnessed when he gifted Sadio Mane a goal for Liverpool earlier in the campaign.
      But Mendy has only clocked a rate of 74.3 per cent thus far, with a dodgy pass across his own goalline going out for a corner at Old Trafford on Saturday.
      That said, perhaps the most pleasing statistic for Lampard at this point is how Mendy has committed zero errors leading to goals, with Kepa’s official Chelsea tally at three.
      After the draw with United, the Blues boss heaped praise on his new custodian.

      How the goalkeepers compared last season

      Lampard said: “His performance was very good.
      “You rely on your goalkeepers in those moments in a tight game, not full of many chances.
      “Rashford’s first chance was a mistake from us, the one at the end was a moment of quality from him. He showed us what he is there for.
      “We brought him in for his quality. He showed great composure in the games he’s played already and with the saves today in a tight you rely on them moments.”

      Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy reveals he nearly quit football while on dole and living with pregnant girlfriend More

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      Lampard insists Chelsea are focused on Premier League amid European Super League plans to poach up to five English clubs

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      FRANK LAMPARD has distanced Chelsea from talk of a European Super League.
      Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester United are at the forefront of plans to replace the Champions League with an even more lucrative alternative.

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      Frank Lampard says he is not keen on the idea of a European Super LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But Lampard, 42, believes the Blues are not interested in formulating a new league.
      He told reporters after Tuesday’s draw with Sevilla: “I don’t know enough about it.
      “I love the Premier League. I love the product that it is, as we all do in England.

      “I wouldn’t be a huge fan reading the headlines as I have today.

      “Chelsea, as far as I am concerned, are focused on the Premier League.”
      Controversial plans for Europe’s top teams to strike out from the Champions League have surfaced again.
      Following the failed floating of Project Big Picture, the latest proposals would also see heaps of cash thrown the way of the big clubs.
      Chelsea would likely be offered a spot inside the competition, which is said to consist of 18 teams from Europe’s big five divisions.

      The scheme is backed by Fifa with a £4.6billion financial packcage being put together by Wall Street bank JP Morgan.
      Uefa are strongly against the plans, which would also lead to a major fixture pile-up for those involved.
      A statement from the governing body read: “The Uefa president has made it clear on many occasions that Uefa strongly opposes a Super League.

      “The principles of solidarity, of promotion, relegation and open leagues are non-negotiable.
      “It is what makes European football work and the Champions League the best sports competition in the world.
      “Uefa and the clubs are committed to build on such strength, not to destroy it to create a Super League of 10, 12, even 24 clubs, which would inevitably become boring.”

      Chelsea name legend Petr Cech in Premier League squad with 38-year-old set for stunning comeback amid keeper woes More

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      Chelsea name retired Petr Cech in Prem squad with 38-year-old available for sensational comeback amid keeper woes

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      CHELSEA have sensationally named 38-year-old club legend and technical director Petr Cech in their 25-man Premier League squad list.
      Although Chelsea have well-documented keeper issues, naming Cech, who played 494 times for Chelsea between 2004 and 2015, will raise many eyebrows.

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      Petr Cech has been working with new keeper Edouard Mendy in training but he could now rival himCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Cech is also trying to restore Kepa’s confidenceCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Czech star retired at the end of the 2018-19 season after a four-year spell with Chelsea rivals Arsenal.
      But Cech was revered around Stamford Bridge and was brought back as technical director by chief exec Marina Granovskaia.
      A statement on the Chelsea website attempted to explain why the goalkeeping great had been brought out of retirement.

      It read: “Petr Cech has been included in the squad as emergency goalkeeper cover.

      “This is a precautionary step due to the unprecedented conditions currently caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
      “He takes up a position as a non-contract player.”
      Speaking after Chelsea’s 0-0 Champions League draw with Sevilla, boss Frank Lampard insisted he would be happy to use his former team-mate if required.
      He said: “It’s definitely not for the romance.

      “Pete’s been training with the keepers for a little while. He’s very fit and still relatively young.
      “Pete finished playing when he could have probably carried on and taken on his role at Chelsea, which he does very well.
      “We had a space in the squad and this year is like no other because of Covid and what it might do to selection and isolation. So it was an easy one.
      “Pete will still do his day job but he’s there if we need him.
      “Whether we see him or not I’m not so sure. It depends how the season goes with Covid and isolations.

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      Cech won four Premier League titles and a Champions League as Frank Lampard’s team-mate at ChelseaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “I certainly felt it was a no brainer to have Pete in the squad for that reason and he can only help the goalkeepers we have. He’s one of the best in the world in the modern era.
      If we’re in crisis we couldn’t ask for anything much better than having Petr Cech around.
      “I don’t expect it but nobody expected what we’ve seen in the last six or seven months around the world.”
      Seeing his name on the squad list will only increase pressure on under-fire Kepa after the latest in a long line of errors.
      He deputised for new signing Edouard Mendy in the 3-3 draw with Southampton at the weekend but combining with Kurt Zouma allowed Che Adams to finish.

      Last season the £72 million club-record signing was replaced numerous times in the starting XI by now-third choice Willy Caballero, who is eight-months OLDER than Cech.
      And boss Frank Lampard had seemingly seen enough and raided Rennes for £22m Mendy this summer.
      All three keepers are on the squad list, along with elder statesman Cech.
      Unsurprisingly after his showing at the weekend, Kepa was dropped for the Blues’ Champions League game against Sevilla, with Mendy rushed back from injury and takes his place between the sticks.

      Chelsea’s Premier League squad

      Full squad, in number order…

      Kepa ArrizabalagaAntonio RudigerMarcos AlonsoAndreas Christensen – homegrownJorginhoThiago SilvaN’Golo KanteTammy Abraham – homegrownChristian PulisicTimo WernerWilly CaballeroFikayo Tomori – homegrownKurt ZoumaEdouard MendyMateo KovacicOlivier GiroudMason Mount – under-21Callum Hudson-Odoi – under-21Ben Chilwell – homegrownHakim ZiyechBilly Gilmour – under-21Reece James – under-21Cesar AzpilicuetaKai Havertz – under-21Emerson PalmieriPetr Cech

      Cech is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League era – where he has kept a record 202 clean sheets – and among Chelsea’s greatest ever players.
      His 494 appearances in all competitions for the Blues is beaten by only six other players and he holds numerous goalkeeping records at Stamford Bridge.
      During his first spell with the club he won four Premier League titles, three League Cups, four FA Cups, the Europa League and the Champions League.

      Most expensive flop XI in Premier League history – including Sanchez, Kepa and Torres More

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      Chelsea legend Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink writes off club’s title chances and slams Lampard’s ‘leaking’ defence

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      FORMER Chelsea star Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink has written off his old club’s title chances due to their ‘leaking defence’.
      Frank Lampard’s side looked on course for three points in their Premier League clash against Southampton at the weekend.

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      Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink believes Chelsea’s weak defending will cost them any chance at winning the titleCredit: Sky Sports

      But Saints defender Jannik Vestergaard pinged home a 92nd-minute equaliser for a 3-3 draw and a point apiece.
      The game also included yet another howler for Blues keeper Kepa, who was in for the injured Edouard Mendy.
      And Hasselbaink, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, thinks defensive weaknesses will put paid to any title challenge.

      He said: “No, Chelsea are not contenders [for the title].

      “They are leaking too many goals. It is a breath of fresh air to see them going forward with the likes of Mason Mount and Werner.
      “But the defence is a worry, if they cannot improve the centre-backs and goalkeeper it is a concern.
      “Alisson wins Liverpool points, but that doesn’t happen with Kepa. Chelsea need to improve in that area.”
      Mendy is likely to be rushed back from injury to replace Kepa, with the Senegal international in line to play against Sevilla in the Champions League.

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      Chelsea threw away the chance to bag three points against Southampton at the weekendCredit: PA:Press Association

      While Hasselbaink was scathing of the Blues’ woes at the back, he was full of praise for the attacking players.
      And one in particular got the 48-year-old raving.
      Timo Werner scored twice in the Southampton draw, his first two Premier League goals since joining from RB Leipzig for £53m this summer.
      Hasselbaink, who knows a thing or two about scoring with 88 goals in 177 appearances for Chelsea, added: “He is the real deal.

      “He is very sharp, he turns the centre-back quickly, and there is only one thing in his mind.
      “He is not somebody who likes to play with back to goal, he likes to see it and make the run on the shoulder of the centre-backs.
      “I like him when he plays through the middle, he does drift to the left, and then comes back to the middle, he is a top striker.
      “His runs are limited if he plays on the left as he can only cut back in, he is more restricted and he likes to be free and make runs off the shoulder.
      “I didn’t like to play with my back to goal, I couldn’t do it. For me what I have seen of him, he is the real deal, he doesn’t care how they go in.”
      Hasselbaink was the special studio guest as he watched his old club Leeds lose 1-0 to Wolves at Elland Road.

      Frank Lampard says he is frustrated in Chelsea vs Southampton post-match press conference More

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      Chelsea’s £5MILLION loan fee demand priced Antonio Rudiger out of transfer with Blues also entire £150,000 wage paid

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      CHELSEA wanted a £5million loan fee and Antonio Rudiger’s entire £150,000-a-week wages to be paid during the summer window, reports say.
      The German centre-back was desperate for a late move away from Stamford Bridge having been frozen out of Frank Lampard’s squad this season.

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      Chelsea wanted a £5m loan fee and Antonio Rudiger entire £150,000 wages to be paid during the summer windowCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But according to The Athletic, clubs were put off by the cost of taking Rudiger on loan.
      With Chelsea not offering to pay any of the 27-year-old’s wages combined with the loan fee, it would have cost £12.5m to take the defender for a season.
      Rudiger did attract interest from London rivals Tottenham and West Ham as well as AC Milan, Inter Milan, Roma and Barcelona.
      But he will instead stay a fight for his place, despite so far managing to even make the bench on just one occasion this season.

      Chelsea signed Thiago Silva, 36, this summer on a free transfer after the Brazilian left PSG.
      Kurt Zouma, 25, Andreas Christensen, 24 and Fikayo Tomori, 22, are also competing for a space next in the Blues’ backline.
      Tomori was close to joining Everton on loan, but for the second summer running the deal collapsed.
      He too pulled out of joining the Hammers to instead compete for his spot in the squad.

      Now Rudiger will be hoping to be given a lifeline after Chelsea’s defensive errors saw them twice throw a lead to draw 3-3 against Southampton on Saturday.
      It came before the he opened up about opting to stay in West London despite facing an uncertain future.
      Rudiger told The Athletic: “Naturally, I looked at a couple of options in the two weeks before the end of the transfer window.
      “There was a possibility of a loan deal, in order for me to get more game time. 
      “Due to many different reasons and the shortage of time, nothing materialised in the end. 
      “The club didn’t tell me that it was absolutely necessary for me to find a new club and that they definitely didn’t have me in their plans for the next few months.
      “I also turned down one or two options myself. I wasn’t prepared to pack it all in simply because I had been left out a few times. 
      “I enjoy living in London and like being at Chelsea.”

      Frank Lampard says he is frustrated in Chelsea vs Southampton post-match press conference More

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      Chelsea in massive injury boost with keeper Edouard Mendy ‘set for shock return vs Sevilla’

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      EDOUARD MENDY could be about to hand Frank Lampard a massive boost by returning to fitness for Chelsea’s game with Sevilla.
      The Blues kick off their Champions League campaign at home to the Europa League champions on Tuesday night.

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      Edouard Mendy was unavailable for Saturday’s Premier League encounterCredit: Reuters

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      Kepa Arrizabalaga deputised against Southampton as Chelsea surrendered a 3-1 lead to draw at Stamford BridgeCredit: AFP or llicensors AFP or Licensors

      A thigh injury suffered by Mendy, 28, on international duty kept him out of the weekend draw with Southampton.
      It was thought the Sevilla clash would come too soon for the Senegal shot-stopper, but reports suggest he could return.
      The Telegraph detail how Mendy trained without issue on both Sunday and Monday.

      The decision over whether to risk the £22million keeper will rest with Lampard.

      The Blues boss will be keen to have his first-choice shot-stopper back in between the posts after identifying goalkeeper issues as the key source of his defensive woes.
      Kepa Arrizabalaga returned to the side on Saturday after Mendy’s convincing displays against Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
      It didn’t take long for the Spaniard to remind his manager why he was replaced.
      An underhit back pass from Kurt Zouma was compounded by Kepa’s weak reaction to Che Adams bearing down on goal, the striker netting to make it 3-2.

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      After the Southampton draw, Lampard pointed out that Chelsea are conceding fewer shots than most of their rivals – yet somehow failing to keep them out.
      He told reporters: “In terms of the goals conceded, yes I am aware of the stats.
      “The other stat is, since we have been here, we have conceded the second least shots in the Premier League behind Manchester City, so sometimes it helps you to narrow down some of the issues.
      “And the issues are that we don’t concede too many shots on goal, but when we do we concede goals.

      “It’s something we are aware of, we were aware of when you look at our recruitment.
      “More important than that, we work everyday with the players on the pitch to make sure we set up well to not concede many chances, but the chances we do concede we let in too many [goals] and that is something we work on specifically.
      “Of course, we want to concede less goals, as all teams do at the moment.
      “There are teams that are conceding lots of goals in the Premier League, we are all in a similar position in that at the moment. It will always be something we work on as well as our attacking play.”

      Frank Lampard says he is frustrated in Chelsea vs Southampton post-match press conference More

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      Wenger hits back at Mourinho saying their relationship is ‘like Kindergarten’ as fallout over book omission continues

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      ARSENE WENGER said his relationship with Joe Mourinho is ‘like Kindergarten’ as their fallout continues.
      Wenger’s autobiography, My Life in Red and White, was released this month, a little over two years since the 70-year-old left Arsenal after 22 years in charge.

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      Arsene Wenger said his relationship with Joe Mourinho is ‘like Kindergarten’Credit: REUTERS

      But the Gunners legend left out any inclusion of rival Mourinho because he wanted it to be a ‘positive book’.
      The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager responded by insisting his omission in Wenger’s memoirs was ‘because he never beat me’.
      But Wenger hit back, as he told Canal+: “It doesn’t bother me. It is permanent provocation.
      “I feel like I’m in kindergarten with him. But, that’s part of his personality.

      “It’s wrong, we beat him twice. We won, and there were also a lot of draws. And it is not ‘you’ who wins, you only participate in the victory.
      “It is ‘us’ who win. The manager is there to get the most out of a team.”
      Sir Alex Ferguson, Mesut Ozil and Ashley Cole, among others, are discussed in Wenger’s book, as he reflects on his long and successful life in football.
      But Mourinho, his great adversary, does not warrant even a passing mention.

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      Wenger and Mourinho built up a rivalry in the Premier LeagueCredit: PA:Press Association

      When asked about his absence in the autobiography, the Tottenham boss said: “[It’s] because he never beat me.
      “You are not going to do a chapter about 14 matches that you never win so why should he speak about me in a book.
      “A book is a thing to make you happy, make you proud.
      “So I understand perfectly the situation.”

      Arsenal icon Arsene Wenger mocked by Jose Mourinho as Tottenham boss says he wasn’t in rivals book ‘as he never beat me’ More