Tag: Chelsea FC

A Fatigued City Squeeze Past Chelsea in FA Cup Semi-Final

Only 2 full days after being knocked out of the Champions League in added time, Manchester City travelled to London to try and defend their title in the FA Cup against Chelsea who have been rested since last weekend.

Despite the 120 minutes in the midweek, Guardiola only made 4 changes to the side with one of them being the goalkeeper, with Pep’s reasoning being that they did it years ago against Liverpool (made changes after midweek game) and they got destroyed 3-0 so he learnt not to do that and stuck with the team that he knew would win.

You could tell from the get-go that the Manchester City players that played over 90 minutes in the midweek were very fatigued and were not playing to the standard that was expected from their side especially Rodri, who made several sloppy plays which is unusual for the superstar midfielder. Kyle Walker is another player who only just coming back from injury has played 210 minutes of football in one week. It can be shown that the fact Champions League and FA Cup being played in one week is a major flaw of the formatting.

With Bernardo Silva to be one of the players to miss a penalty in the shootout in midweek, he made redemption for himself by scoring what proved to be the only goal of the game against Chelsea to send them into the FA Cup Final where they will look to defend their title once again.

This win also makes City’s first win against Chelsea this season with the London side being able to keep the Champions to a draw both at Stamford Bridge and the Etihad Stadium.

Bernardo Silva celebrated clutching the City badge on his shirt showing his loyalty and love towards the club that has brought him so much success and the club he has given his heart to since signing in 2017.

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Despite being by far the superior team in creating clear chances and counter-attacking off of City’s mistakes, Chelsea just were not clinical enough in front of the goal with their striker, Nicholas Jackson squandering a hat-trick of clear cut opportunities for Chelsea to take the lead in the tie against a fatigued Manchester City.

After the game concluded, Thiago Silva was seen on camera shedding tears for this loss at Wembley with the 39-year-old set to hold talks with the club over his contract and whether or not he will extend with the likely possibility being that this was his last chance at a trophy in his final year at the club.

Chelsea now put their efforts towards the Premier League where they can still fight for a spot in the Europa League against Tottenham, Manchester United and West Ham.

Manchester City turn their efforts onto the Premier League title race, with the FA Cup final not taking place until the 25th of May 2024.

Chelsea Beat Leicester 4-2 in The FA Cup To Advance To The Semi-Finals

Two extra-time goals confirm Chelsea’s place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup after a gruelling game against Championship side Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.

The final games of the FA Cup quarter finals were played yesterday with Chelsea facing Leicester and Manchester United welcoming Liverpool to Old Trafford. Chelsea set out this game as a very important, must win game.

The game started with Chelsea taking an early lead through Cucurella and then Cole Palmer doubled the lead before the half time break to give Chelsea fans something to be happy about with their Premier League title shot long out of the picture.

They were in complete control and it looked like a ‘close-out’ game for the blues until pressure from Mavididi forced Alex Disasi to put a hazardous pass back to the Chelsea keeper who made a complete blunder and Disasi put the ball straight into his own net in the 51st minute of the game.

After the blunder of an own goal, Leicester seemed raring to go and were pushing for the equaliser and it came in the form of a beautiful goal from Mavididi from the left-wing where he cut in and placed the ball in the top right of the net putting the game equal.

As the game reached 90 minutes, the referee announced that there would be 9 added minutes where Chukuwuemeka and Madueke sealed the deal with two great goals putting all worries and stress of Chelsea fans to rest ending the game 4-2 with an incredible back and forth game until the final 10 minutes where the Chelsea side seemed to go into flow state.

In the end, it was comfortable for Chelsea to beat the Championship side, as expected and they drew the holders, Manchester City, in their next game for the semi-finals of the FA Cup. They will travel to Wembley to try and de-throne the kings of England.

OPINION: Pochettino has to adapt or face the sack!

In the distinguished past of Chelsea Football Club, May 29th is a memorable date that conjures up images of either Kai Havertz or Porto. Since then, the supporters have witnessed one of the largest team changes in Premier League history, along with the departure of three managers.

With the new leadership spending almost a billion pounds, has there been much improvement? What is the current Chelsea success metric? I discuss why I think he needs to adapt or be prepared for the sack…

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Theme of poor management with Mykhaylo Mudryk & Noni Madueke

7 months into the 23/24 season and let’s be honest; Pochettino’s development of a number of young players has been poor. Mudryk and Madueke in particular who were signed with huge expectations to be the future of the club, but have they really improved since arriving?

Mudryk in particular who has completed less than 5 full 90′ which isn’t really ideal at all considering price tag and need to develop such a talent.

When you look at Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka few years ago, they were seen as young, raw and promising wingers. Both who have since been developed with consistent game time and top tactical direction, which is exactly what is needed in contrast with Chelsea’s young wingers.

Frustration amongst majority of Chelsea fans this season is vented at the fact that he continues to remain with Raheem Sterling on the left flank due to his experience in the Premier League, yet the Englishman has failed to deliver this season consistently.

Just a reminder that Sterling is rumored to be on around Ā£325k p/w at Chelsea. Pressure will always be on Pochettino to start him but the irony is laughable, yet concerning when the manager speaks about starting players on merit.

Mudryk played centrally behind the striker last night against Leeds United in the FA Cup and produced a refreshing performance. One which has impressed the fanbase but where’s the hope when Pochettino will most likely not start him in the next league game?

Of course the balance is always needed for young players in keeping them sharp, concentrated away from complacency. But now is the time, Mauricio. Chelsea at this stage of the season, only really have the FA Cup to play for.

So surely, we see Mudryk given way more opportunities in the league? The Ukrainian has produced good moments whenever he’s been on the pitch. It’s now time we see him given consistent chances.

Mis-profiling of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo

This is an issue that has been ever-present since the start of the season and a hot topic amongst Premier League fans, let alone just the Chelsea fanbase. The lack of structure and emphasis on the Ā£200m pivot this season has been alarming.

You watch Chelsea play and you’d expect to see Enzo at the forefront of build-up with hundreds of touches on the ball. Key to the build-up phase in bringing the ball out the back, yet that is a theme that has been missed all throughout the season.

Countless times this season, we’ve seen Enzo push high up into the half-spaces leaving Caicedo isolated in the middle of park with a lack of passing options and movement around him on the ball.

The term ‘rest-defence’ is growing in midfield football and this is essentially where players are positioned in close spaces together so that if the ball is lost, the team can quickly counter-press in order to win the ball back. This is a theme you see with top footballing sides such as Manchester City, Liverpool, Brighton and even Spurs ever since the arrival of AngeBall.

Yet it’s never seen within Pochettino’s side this season. It’s mind-boggling considering the Argentinian made his mark at Spurs through the team’s blueprint of pressing high up the pitch and winning the ball back.

Don’t get me wrong, statistically we have been one of the best pressing sides in the league this season, but much of that is done to one man and that is Conor Gallagher. Even when the Englishman is playing, you never see the team hunt in packs, knowing when and when not to press. It’s all over the place.

The need to get the best out of Enzo and Caicedo is MASSIVE considering the amount of money spent and Pochettino can’t afford to continue getting it wrong. The conclusion so far from the manager this season to majority of the fanbase is that he hasn’t adapted his tactics and methodologies since 2018/19.

Football evolves. The longer Pochettino continues to play the double pivot, the longer it will continue to suffer. We’ve seen how brilliant they can be.

Enzo at Benfica in a team that played to his strengths. High volume passer/creator, much similar to the style of Toni Kroos.

Caicedo at Brighton in a side that possesses huge emphasis on positional play. He thrived as a box-to-box midfielder and at Chelsea he’s asked to play a isolated role in midfield as the defensive-midfielder where he’ll always get exposed.

It must change or we all know what will happen soon…

Palmer Penalty Seals 3 Points At Stamford Bridge

Yet another Cole Palmer goal gives Chelsea an important win at home to put them into 8th in the Premier League on equal points with Manchester United.

This goal marks his 9th Premier League goal of the season for the Manchester City Academy graduate after a stellar start to his Chelsea career grabbing himself 13 G/A in 17 appearances in the Premier League this season.

Despite the experience of Sterling and the speed of Mudryk, Cole Palmer is headlining the Chelsea attack this season leading in goals, assists and chances created for the London side.

They manage a 1-0 win over Fulham in this London derby with a 49th minute penalty from the youngster allowing Chelsea to remain in control of the game up until the final whistle was blown at Stamford Bridge.

Since the start of December, Chelsea have picked up 15 points in games leaving them the second most points in this time space other than Liverpool (17). This credit belongs to Cole Palmer and how dangerous he is in possession and on the attack for the Blues.

Their next game is against Middlesborough in the EFL Cup where they are currently 1-0 down on aggregate hoping to bring it back and advance into the Final to face off against either Liverpool or Fulham.