Tag: champions league

Which academy players could be involved against Zagreb?

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Chelsea’s fixture against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday is pretty much a dead rubber – the Blues have their first position in the Champions League Group Stage already confirmed. It’ll be a chance to rest the important players ahead of the massive game against Arsenal on the weekend. More importantly though, it’s the perfect opportunity to give a few academy players some very valuable minutes.

In our 2020/2021 Champions League success, Frank Lampard gave Tino Anjorin and Billy Gilmour their European debuts in the last game of the group stages – the exact same situation as we are in now. Graham Potter is known to rotate more, and he has an even busier schedule with the World Cup looming, so there really isn’t much excuse for the former Brighton manager.

Both Tino Anjorin and Billy Gilmour impressed on their Champions League debuts a few years ago…

Rules and Context

There’s a few rules and context points which I may as well go over to clear things up.

There is a List B for UEFA competitions, which can be updated by clubs throughout the season at any point. If they want to feature in the game on Wednesday, they need to be registered by midnight tomorrow (01/11/2022):

Clubs are entitled to register an unlimited number of players on List B during the season, but the list needs to be submitted no later than 24:00 CET the day before a match.

Lewis Hall and Charlie Webster (as well as Armando Broja) have already been registered on this list, so any other academy players who are set to be involved will need to be added to this list. However, it’s important to note that Omari Hutchinson CANNOT be added to this list and therefore won’t be able to feature on Wednesday for Chelsea. The reasoning is due to the following:

A player may be registered on List B if he is born on, or after, 1 January 2001 and has been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday by the time he is registered with UEFA – or for a total of three consecutive years with a maximum of one loan period to a club from the same association for a period not longer than one year. Players aged 16 may be submitted if they have been registered with the club for the previous two years without interruption.

The man in form Omari Hutchinson is ineligible to play on Wednesday sadly…

It’s a massive shame since he’s been by far the standout player in the academy this season, but unlike Carney Chukwuemeka he wasn’t registered on List A and won’t be able to play in the competition until the knockout stages (where the registration window opens once again for List A).

Some other general academy context is that the U21s had a game on Sunday evening, hence there was very little involvement in the first team training session today (Monday). The two pictured to have been involved were Silko Thomas (RWB/Winger) who didn’t play last night and Zak Sturge (LWB) who only got a few minutes from the bench. I suspect that tomorrow’s session will consist of more academy players, or at least I hope so.

It’s also important to note that the U19s will have a game on the same day in the UEFA Youth League, but with Chelsea already being out of the competition it’s not like they will need the experience of Webster or Hall for example, and may want to give opportunities to some of the younger players. Some of them have been on international duty with England over the last few days, so it’s going to be fascinating as to how the club manage each of the squads on Wednesday.

So…who could be involved?

I’d be pretty gutted if one of Bashir Humphreys or Alfie Gilchrist (both CBs) didn’t start for Chelsea. Assuming Azpilicueta is guaranteed to start, in either a four or five at the back formation, there’s still two CB options open. Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah absolutely need a rest as any injury to them could destroy the whole season. If it’s a 5 at the back, he could play Cucurella and Koulibaly next to Azpi but the Senegalese’s defender fitness is still unknown and I think it’d be a massive risk to start him. If it’s a 4 at the back, I can’t see Cucurella playing at CB so that opens up a slot for one of Bashir or Alfie – as well as 4atb utilising the midfield and attack better where we are much more stacked. Josh Brooking is one who has trained with the first team a few times under Graham, but I have a feeling he’s got a small knock as he would’ve been in training today.

One of Bashir Humphreys or Alfie Gilchrist should be starting…

Reece James’ injury has pretty much reduced any quality on the right-hand side in both attacking and defensive sense. Azpilicueta clearly isn’t too favoured by Potter and we all know he’s a bit past it, and the Loftus-Cheek/Pulisic shifts at wing-back haven’t been too successfull either. If he does decide to go with a 5, Dion Rankine (RWB) simply has to play. He’s been excellent at wingback this season under Mark Robinson, and has really matured as a player in the last few years. It’s an easy comparison to make, but his blistering pace and some of the tricks he likes to pull out really does remind you of some of the things Tariq Lamptey was doing in our academy.

Is Dion Rankine our solution to our struggles at RB/RWB?

I don’t think we can expect many other players in the starting lineup. As much as I’d like to see more than one or two, Potter does also have to keep his squad players happy and I suspect the likes of Zakaria, Ziyech, Chukwuemeka, Aubameyang/Broja and Chilwell are all guaranteed to start while we could still easily see the likes of Gallagher, Pulisic, Jorginho and even Mount play for confidence.

There still should be some more on the bench though with a view of coming on as a substitute. Lewis Hall (midfielder) has had first team experience before under Thomas Tuchel, and his versatility (has played at LCB and LWB before) may give him the nudge over someone like Charlie Webster (midfielder), who still very much should be getting some minutes with the quality he has. Ben Elliott is a midfielder/forward who would fit Potter’s system really well in my opinion, and he’s really thrived in the 21s so far. Not being able to play for the U19s may actually be an advantage in that sense for him.

Some talented midfielers in this picture…

Predicted Lineups

Here’s just a couple of lineups that I think Potter could go ahead with. I’m going to assume Koulibaly and Chukwuemeka are both fit enough to start, and that there are no other issues:

I also very much realise Potter could do the second lineup with Loftus-Cheek or a winger instead of Rankine… :/

I don’t think there are any other academy players who I’m missing. Let me know if I am on any of our social platforms and make sure to follow us for more academy related content! I should be getting an update tomorrow on the squad for Wednesday so stay tuned…

Written by Paree

Podcast: AC Milan 0-2 Chelsea | Life under Graham Potter!

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NOW WE ARE TALKING! | Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund Review – The Chelsea Spot Podcast

  1. NOW WE ARE TALKING! | Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund Review
  2. Scared, Potter?

In our latest episode of The Chelsea Spot Podcast, Paree (Owner – @CFCParee) was joined by Tom (Writer – @tmdftbl) to discuss our impressive 2-0 victory at the San Siro! It’s also been over a month since our last episode (apologies…), so the boys discussed life under Potter as well as why most of our players have massively improved in the new system.

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Add Aubameyang or stick with Havertz and Broja? The big question facing Tuchel and Boehly

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And then there were two. After Timo Werner followed Romelu Lukaku out of the departure lounge at Heathrow Airport, Chelsea were left with two genuine options to lead the line next season – and even that might be generous. Kai Havertz comes into this season with an underwhelming 12 goals in his 57 Premier League appearances to date, and this term is joined by 20-year-old Albania International Armando Broja. Of the two, only Broja can claim to be an archetypal number 9, with Havertz’s strongest position a mystery to all, and questions are being raised about the German’s capabilities as a centre forward after an anonymous showing at Goodison Park to begin the 2022/23 season. So, can Chelsea realistically secure another season of Champions League football with a roster of centre forwards with a combined 18 goals in their fledgling Premier League careers, or do the Londoner’s need further additions?

Broja caught a lot of attention from fans of his parent club when he bagged the sixth league goal of his debut season (on loan at Southampton) against Spurs in February. The academy graduate had been one of the revelations of the season, and his physical performance against Manchester United in his next outing – notable for bullying Maguire with his strength and movement – only added to the hype. However, the rest of the campaign passed without a goal for the Slough born forward, with many Chelsea fans wondering whether the club would decide to cash in on a young asset following a promising breakout season in order to help fund another summer spending spree. However, interest from West Ham and Everton never materialised into a bid and so the youngster was given his big break: starting a season for Chelsea with a realistic expectation of bagging 1500 or more minutes of competitive football.

Havertz’s fine form mid-season fizzled out, leaving fans questioning his ability to lead the line. Photo credit: Premier League

Kai Havertz is in many ways the opposite of Broja. The German was bought in for a then club record fee, as opposed to being nurtured in Cobham from an early age, he was slight and technical, not physical and fast and he had the biggest clubs in Europe jostling for his signature when he touched down in London. Landing Havertz was seen as a major coup – many wondering if pandemic affected finances had enabled Chelsea to beat off the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to his signature – however Havertz has never really settled. A long-COVID affected first season finished in the most memorable fashion possible: scoring the winning goal in a Champions League final. Whilst that strike has written his name into the club’s history, the former Bayer Leverkusen man has yet to justify his fee. 5 goals in a 5-game stretch in the league in March and April seemed to be a turning point for Havertz, however six blanks and a series of costly misses against the likes of Manchester United and Everton to cap off the campaign left an underwhelming feeling lingering.

The departure of Timo Werner could result in this becoming a make-or-break campaign for his compatriot. No longer will Werner’s hapless finishing take the majority of the headlines, with the spotlight now shining on the under-performing Havertz. Ever since breaking through as the youngest ever debutant in Bundesliga history, Havertz’s talent has been abundantly clear. However, he is yet to prove to the Stamford Bridge faithful that he has what it takes to cut it as a centre forward at the top level. His frustrating propensity to drift through games without making any noticeable impact has also become a bone of contention with fans. Now the undisputed starting number 9 following Lukaku’s departure, it is up to Havertz to take his chance.

Early whispers suggested that Raheem Sterling could fill in as a false nine in Tuchel’s favoured 3-4-2-1 system, flanked by Mason Mount and Havertz. The season opener seemed to provide weight to this argument, as first Havertz and then substitute Broja often drifted left to create space for Sterling in the middle. While Sterling threatened for the first hour of play, and had a goal ruled out as well as a goal-bound effort brilliantly blocked, Havertz was anonymous. Although his movement may have assisted Sterling, it was not a style of performance fitting his enormous potential and price tag. His languid style is often mistaken for a lack of passion but here he did himself no favours with a mere 23 passes attempted the lowest of any of Chelsea’s outfield starters, illustrating his struggles at getting a foothold in proceedings. His most notable moment was a weak header into Pickford’s gloves from a first-half freekick. Broja was a bundle of energy when he came on, but bar one lovely turn he was unable to really affect the game, often left alone out on the left-hand flank.

The captures of Sterling and Koulibaly point to a win-now strategy being employed by Boehly and co. Photo credit: Football.london

All of these questions over the two youngsters prompt the question: are they good enough centre forward options to secure a top-four berth? The answer to this is hard to ascertain currently. Although neither has had a long career, both seem to score goals in spurts before going on a drought and Havertz famously is unable to hit top-form until after Christmas.

However, what is certain is that early investment from Boehly and co. suggests that Chelsea are building a side to be successful right now. The purchases of 27-year-old Sterling and 31-year-old Koulibaly are two examples of large sums being spent on players in their primes. Havertz and Broja could potentially need another season or two to acclimatise to the demands of leading the line for a top-6 side in the league, and even then they might not be of a title-winning level (think of the influence Drogba and Costa had on successful Blue’s sides of old). Sterling and Koulibaly are two extremely ambitious players who will have been promised a push for silverware from day-one, and so it is likely that the new ownership group will look to supplement the youthful attack with a sure-fire goal scorer at centre forward.

Can Broja fire Chelsea to a top-four finish? Photo credit: Chelsea News

Herein lies another problem: there is a startling lack of talent on the market in this position. Clubs are having to take risks to secure players in the number 9 role. Think of West Ham’s £30.5 million purchase of Gianluca Scamacca. The Italian was initially wanted by top sides including PSG, however he seemed to be running extremely hot in Serie A, scoring his 16 league goals from an expected goals (xG) rating of 11.13. West Ham were willing to bet on the 6’5 striker carrying on his lethal finishing touch in a new, faster-paced league, but had to part with a considerable chunk of change to secure their man. Tried-and-trusted marksmen are in such short supply that Barcelona plunged themselves into further financial peril with the €45 million acquisition of soon-to-be 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski.

This all suggests that Chelsea find themselves looking for a proven scorer at just the wrong time. Two names heavily linked have been out of favour Barca duo; Memphis Depay and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. These two names understandably won’t have Chelsea fans salivating the way Lukaku and Erling Haaland did last summer. The former is a Premier League flop who has always been injury-prone and the latter captained hated London rivals Arsenal, and is 33 years old, a player very much entering his twilight years. Juventus have moved for Depay in the past day, leaving just Aubameyang as a rumoured target for Chelsea.

Boehly and Tuchel face a busy end to the summer window. Photo credit: Football.london

Gabonese forward Aubameyang actually hit the floor running in La Liga last season. Joining in January – after being sounded out as a disruptive presence in a young and impressionable Arsenal dressing room – he hit 11 goals and laid on an assist in just 17 league appearances, working out as a very impressive 91 minutes per goal contribution. This compares favourably to Chelsea’s current options: Havertz contributing a goal every 165 minutes of league action last term, Broja every 330 minutes. Interestingly, a lot of Aubameyang’s best work comes from drifting towards the left-hand flank, potentially dove-tailing nicely with Sterling in Tuchel’s system. Although the years will begin to catch up with him, much like Jamie Vardy, Aubameyang has maintained his blistering pace into his thirties, which will be another weapon for Chelsea as well as replacing a loss in explosive speed in the squad following the sale of Werner.

Although this paints a rosy picture of what Aubameyang could bring to Chelsea, it is worth pointing out the glaring drawbacks to such a deal. Disciplinary actions have plagued the forward’s career, which could cause issues in a youthful squad where he will be one of the senior heads. Chelsea also traditionally avoid signing players with no sell-on value and although that approach seems to have been eschewed with Sterling and Koulibaly, signing a 33-year-old forward with a patchy injury record would definitely be a risk. Large wages may also be an issue, with contract talks already beginning with Mount, Reece James and Edouard Mendy, and the new board won’t want to risk alienating these players waiting to sign on the dotted line.

Tuchel has known Aubameyang since his Dortmund days and got more out of him than any other manager in his career to date; impressively helping him to the top-scorer award in Germany ahead of the previously unstoppable Lewandowski in 2016/17. The German manager is playing a big part in Boehly’s recruitment drive and has previously stated multiple times that the focus is on winning now rather than building for the future (hence his stance on Colwill departing on loan). The pair of them will have to decide what is best for Chelsea, whether that means compromising long-term success for the short-term or not. In Havertz and Broja, Tuchel has two of the most talented forwards in England. However, Havertz may not be suited to a centre forward role and might benefit from dropping into a deeper role, whilst Broja needs a season or two of regular playing time before he can be viewed as a title-winning forward. Bringing in a win-now replacement in Aubameyang may hinder the development of the aforementioned pair, and there is no guarantee that it will end in success. But these are the tough decisions that Boehly will have to get used to if he is to fill the hefty boots of his predecessor.

By Daniel New

Ecstasy to Agony in Madrid – but Blues can be Prouder than Ever

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Football, bloody hell.

These were the thoughts of legendary Manchester United custodian Alex Ferguson, following his side’s dramatic injury time triumph over Bayern Munich in the 1999 European Cup final. The same sentiment could be used to describe Chelsea’s trip to Madrid last night, but perhaps from a place of slightly less jubilation.

It’s not often that a side comes to the home of the 13-time European Cup winners and comprehensively outplay them, but that is exactly what Chelsea managed to do. Aiming to maintain their 100% record against Real Madrid in knockout ties, the Blues were 11 minutes from securing the most unlikely of comebacks. It seemed for all the world that London’s finest had booked their place in the semi-finals of Europe’s elite competition when Timo Werner calmly slotted home late on – something in itself that seemed a minor miracle. We all know what happened next: the timeless Modric curling a peach of a ball into the box with his other-worldly right boot, which was dutifully finished by the young Rodrygo, followed by a stooping Benzema header in extra time to consign Chelsea to a gut-wrenching exit. This game went beyond score lines and stats though, and in these most uncertain of times for the Blues, this was a reminder of exactly what it is to be a part of the Chelsea family.

The first half went exactly to plan for Tuchel’s charges. Back in a more familiar 3-4-3 formation following the ill-advised switch to a back four for the Brentford game and parts of the first leg of this quarter-final tie, there were a couple of surprising inclusions for Chelsea. Timo Werner kept his place on the left side of the front line following his impressive performance against Southampton at the weekend, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek did the same, putting in an incredible shift at right wing-back, with Reece James monstrous yet again in his role as the right-sided centre back in a back three. The Blues choked the home side with their aggressive pressing patterns, so often forcing the ball back to Courtois, who in turn would hurriedly clear and present possession back to the away side. It took only until the 15th minute for Chelsea to capitalise on their over-whelming dominance. Following good build-up play by Kovacic and Loftus-Cheek, the ball fortuitously dropped to Mount off Werner’s thigh. The Cobham academy graduate needed no second invitation, exquisitely bending a bouncing ball first-time past the helpless dive of Courtois. It was the perfect start.

Tuchel got his tactics spot on as his side dominated throughout. Photo credit: The Telegraph

Chelsea continued to dominate proceedings without carving too many clear-cut chances for themselves, as the Londoner’s exited the pitch for half-time with their aggregate deficit halved to just the one goal. The second period got off to the perfect start with a towering Rudiger header from a delightful Mount corner evening the scores. The equaliser temporarily sparked Madrid into life, satisfying the baying home crowd with a couple of opportunities, first for Benzema then for Kroos from a free-kick. However, it looked as though Chelsea had completed a memorable comeback when flying left wing-back Marcos Alonso rocketed a dropping ball into the top right of Courtois’ goal with his weaker right foot, only for VAR to chalk off the effort due to the tiniest contact between ball and the Spaniard’s tucked-in hand. 5 minutes later it looked like that decision could have haunted Chelsea as Benzema had yet another free header, however this time the 2022 Balon d’Or favourite could only guide his effort onto Mendy’s upright.

Cut to the 75th minute and the most unlikely of heroes for Chelsea. A perfectly weighted through-ball from the imperious Kovacic (96 passes at a 96% accuracy to go with his two darting dribbles) slipped Timo Werner past Casemiro and Carvajal. Now to the tricky part. The German is infamous for slapping any chance he gets wide of the mark, or for being offside, or a combination of the two. However, on the grandest of occasions he was able to maintain the clarity of thought to cut past a sliding Casemiro, and then a well-placed David Alaba, before firing beyond Courtois. It looked as though the much-maligned forward had finally come good with a winner, following his impressive brace at the weekend. Much like the rest of the German’s Chelsea career however, upset was soon to follow. Five minutes later Modric picked out the perfect pass and that was the beginning of the end for an inspired Chelsea. Substitute Pulisic spurned two huge opportunities from perfect knockdowns from teammates and so this epic was to go to an additional half an hour of extra time.

Werner stepped up on the biggest occasion with a calmly-taken goal. Photo credit: The Telegraph

96 minutes in, Chelsea had made only one change (Pulisic for Werner) and the fatigue from battling for every ball for an hour and a half was beginning to set in. Vinicius Junior was away on the left-hand side, possibly the only time he had been free of a relentless Reece James since the early minutes of the game. The Brazilian once again demonstrated his almost telepathic relationship with Benzema, hanging a perfect ball into the box for the French forward to convert, with Rudiger slipping at the vital moment. The game was far from over. Havertz had bustled with industry and intensity from the very first whistle, and almost caught out former Chelsea man Courtois (which would have delighted his numerous detractors in the fan-base), sprinting and straining to block what he thought would be an up-field punt from the goalkeeper following a heavy touch. However, the Belgian proved his class with a calm Cruyff turn to get himself out of what could have been a very high-profile blunder. Havertz had a much better chance to earn his side a deserved equaliser just minutes later, failing to bury a free header from a magnificent Reece James delivery from the right flank. Finally, it was Jorginho’s turn to snatch at a guild-edged chance at the death, failing to finish a ball from Ziyech from all of ten yards out and under little pressure. The final whistle went, with La Liga leaders Real Madrid clinching a place in the semi-finals.

However, as I wrote at the start of this article: this game was about so much more than the result – despite the fact that the Blues did actually win this match 3-1 after 90 minutes! The perfect story to sum up this game was embodied by Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Forever the nearly-man, talked up by a seemingly endless procession of Chelsea managers as the future of their midfield (despite never being given a consistent run outside of the Europa League), the Englishman put in an incredible performance, little over 12 months since being relegated as part of a poor Fulham side – offering a single goal contribution over his season there. Throw in the horrific ACL injury sustained in a charity match at the end of his first season of regular minutes at Chelsea, which forced him to miss out on a Europa League final as well as the academy revolution of the Frank Lampard era, it looked as though the Englishman was finished at Stamford Bridge, another sad story of wasted potential at the London side. However, given a run of games over winter following injuries to Kovacic and Jorginho, Ruben grew into his role as a deep-lying playmaker and excelled there for a month. His resultant downturn in form coincided with the general December malaise at the club and gametime has been hard to come by since. But following a majestic performance in an unusual right wing-back position on the South Coast on Saturday, Tuchel put his faith in him to thrive in the most intimidating of atmospheres. Seemingly assured by the immense defensive presence of Reece James on his inside, Loftus-Cheek ruled the right-flank with 4 crosses and 2 key passes, as well as playing a key part in Chelsea’s first goal and performing to a high level throughout both on and off the ball, his driving runs from deep a reminder of the dynamic presence he can be.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was a dynamic presence down Chelsea’s right. Photo credit: football.london

 Mason Mount again silenced his doubters, with his 23rd and 24th goal contributions of the season (far and away the side’s most prolific player in this regard). The tireless midfielder put in a pressing performance for the ages, whilst finding the time to lay on a match-high 4 key passes and continued his impressive record against Spain’s most successful side, following on from his semi-final goal at the Bridge against the same opposition last year – so much for flat track bully! Reece James completed the triumvirate of academy players starting on such a huge stage. Following a yellow card for a professional foul on Vinicius Junior after getting beaten far too easily, the 22-year-old prevented the in-form winger from creating anything of note until extra time. This was summed up by his astonishing 8 tackles, three more than the next best on the pitch. Once again the Cobham graduate proved his world-class ability at right centre back, as well as bombing forwards to provide precise crosses and a thunderbolt effort which led to the corner from which Rudiger bagged Chelsea’s second.

Finally, there were a couple of stories of redemption on an extraordinary night for Chelsea. Coming into April it seemed as though Timo Werner’s head was fixed solely on his new club (thought to be Borussia Dortmund), as he shirked challenges all over the field and failed to impress during a six-month league goal-drought. However, the German seemed a man reborn following his confidence boosting double against the Saints, and he made threatening runs all night. Loftus-Cheek failed to release Werner on a couple of occasions, but when he was finally given his chance by Kovacic, he took it with both hands, briefly becoming a Chelsea cult-hero. There could yet be time for Werner to save his Chelsea career! Marcos Alonso is another potential summer departure for the Blues, following many questions over his pace and defensive abilities. The Spaniard was even dropped from his left wing-back berth for countryman Azpilicueta for the first leg against Madrid, despite it being the captain’s weaker flank. Alonso was back with a point to prove, and on top of his harshly disallowed goal he was a calming figure for the away side throughout. His joint match-leading 4 key passes illustrated his offensive contribution, as well as his 9 crosses, and he was switched on defensively, helping Rudiger shore up the left flank and preventing Carvajal and Llorente overloading that side.

If there are any Chelsea fans out there feeling awful today I can more than understand why: we were 11 minutes from a well-deserved Champions League semi-final spot and who knows what could have happened from there. But hopefully with a bit of perspective we can all see a bright future for Chelsea, regardless of who takes over. In Thomas Tuchel we have a tactical genius who once again proved he is one of the best coaches in the world. We have a young and hungry squad: Chilwell, Mount, Havertz, Chalobah, James and Hudson-Odoi are all 25 and under. And on top of these crucial factors, we have an innate fighting spirit and a passionate fanbase who will stick by the side through thick and thin.

The away fans at the Santiago Bernabeu put it best as they serenaded their heroes after the full-time whistle: ‘Champions of Europe, we’ll sing that ‘till May’.

One more thing to add: imagine not being Chelsea!

By Daniel New

Podcast: Knocked out of FAYC & Real Madrid Preview!

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NOW WE ARE TALKING! | Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund Review – The Chelsea Spot Podcast

  1. NOW WE ARE TALKING! | Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund Review
  2. Scared, Potter?

In our latest episode of The Chelsea Spot Podcast, Paree (Owner – @CFCParee) was joined by Dan (Admin – @danbarkzr) to discuss last night’s disappointing 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, the prospect of moving away from Stamford Bridge, Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi’s performance against Arsenal and finally tomorrow’s Champions League Quarter Final first leg against Real Madrid!

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Champions of Europe vs National League leaders: Chelsea vs Chesterfield FA Cup Preview

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By Luke Feather

Every season, the FA Cup conjures up some of the biggest mismatches possible within the English football pyramid. Last season’s campaign saw Chelsea defeat lower league opposition three times on route to the final, before being stopped by Leicester City in the final. The third round of this season’s competition provides a totally different match up for the champions of Europe, as they host National League leaders Chesterfield at Stamford Bridge.  

Chesterfield primarily operate in different variants of a 3-4-3 formation, with manager James Rowe switching between two number 10’s behind top scorer Kabongo Tshimanga, or just one, with another striker in the side. Tshimanga has lit up the National League this season, scoring 18 goals in 20 league matches this season. The 24-year-old has been the subject of interest for Football League clubs, after joining Chesterfield for a reported record transfer fee in the summer. 

Wing backs Jeff King and Calvin Miller will look to provide attacking threat for the Spireites, with the pair impressing since signing in the summer. With Chelsea stretched in the wide areas due to injuries to Ben Chilwell and Reece James, this may be Chesterfield’s biggest opportunity to cause a major FA Cup shock. Youngsters Xavier Simons and Lewis Hall are in line for a start, so will be given the task of dealing with two of the National League outfit’s biggest weapons. 

After returning to the team against Tottenham on Wednesday, striker Romelu Lukaku may keep his place in the side, with Thomas Tuchel looking to get his £100m man firing again. If so, he will likely be in a direct battle with Gavin Gunning, who captains the side and is a guaranteed starter when fit. Gunning spent a period side-lined due to injury, with Jamie Grimes coming in in his place. A more likely starter for Chelsea would be Jude Soonsup-Bell, who has recently started in attack in the League Cup game against Brentford, with the 17-year-old shining for the Blues’ youth sides.  

I expect Chelsea to start with Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in midfield, with Barkley in particular struggling for game time in bigger fixtures. Loftus-Cheek made a cameo appearance against Tottenham, as he continues to build back up to full fitness, so may be given a start against Chesterfield. The away side have a few options in the centre of the pitch, but veteran Curtis Weston and Manny Oyeleke are probably the most likely to start at the Bridge. Weston remains the youngest player to appear in an FA Cup final, for Millwall in 2004, and Oyeleke is a former Chelsea academy player, being released at 14.  

Image: Sky Sports

As the champions of Europe, currently sitting second in the Premier League, Chelsea will go into this match as massive favourites, but whoever Tuchel picks for in his starting 11 will not have a comfortable game on their hands. Chesterfield will be chomping at the bit from minute one, as for many of the players, this will be the biggest match of their careers. Chelsea will have a technical advantage, as well as superior fitness levels, but the club from Derbyshire will look to frustrate and disrupt the rhythm of Chelsea, with strong challenges and intense pressing. All the signs point towards a home win, but Chesterfield will not lie down for the Champions League winners, making this one of the most intriguing ties of the FA Cup third round.  

Predicted Chelsea line up: 
Marcus Bettinelli; Cesar Azpilicueta, Xavier Mbuyamba, Malang Sarr; Xavier Simons, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Lewis Hall; Harvey Vale, Jude Soonsup-Bell, Callum Hudson-Odoi (3-4-3) 

Predicted Chesterfield line up: 
Scott Loach; Fraser Kerr, Gavin Gunning, Alex Whittle; Jeff King, Manny Oyeleke, Curtis Weston, Calvin Miller; Saidou Khan, Liam Mandeville; Kabongo Tshimanga (3-4-2-1) 

Featured image: The FA

Chelsea V FF Malmo: UCL Match Preview:

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Chelsea are back under the Stamford Bridge lights for their 3rd Champions League night of the season. Mixed fortunes have come to the Blues with one win and one loss in the campaign thus far. A 1-0 victory over Zenit, and a 1-0 defeat to Juventus leave Chelsea currently 2nd in Group H. The reigning champions need to secure three points tonight to boost their chances of topping the group. Eyes will also be fixated on the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg with group toppers Juventus away to the Russian giants.

Swedish side Malmo stand in Chelsea’s way this evening, with the visitors looking to secure not only their first points of the campaign, but also their first goal. Malmo have the joint worst goal difference with -7, level with Besiktas who have played one more game than the Allsvenskan league leaders. Chelsea last faced Malmo in their 2018/19 Europa League winning season, breezing past the Swedish side 5-1 across both legs. Thomas Tuchel will look to ensure theses fortunes can be repeated this evening.

The current holders are back to winning ways, securing victory in their last two games. Before that, however, Chelsea lost two consecutive games for just the second time under Tuchel, but the Blues will put that deep in their rear view mirrors, and look ahead to tonight’s game. Despite the pride of London being clear favourites, there is still a vastly important task ahead, and Chelsea need a convincing victory to pressurise the group leaders.

Team news and updates:

Chelsea team news is pretty straight forward for this evening, with Tuchel revealing that Christian Pulisic is the only absentee from the squad. As frustrating as it is to see Pulisic still not back to fitness, it is however a refreshing sight to see everyone else available for the clash.

Reece James was the media man ahead of the Champions League fixture, with the right back claiming tonight is a good opportunity to start rebuilding some momentum.

‘Tomorrow is a Champions League game, and the Champions League is a tough competition in football. Anything can happen, so we still need to prepare right. It’s not going to be an easy game, they’re a good side. Hopefully we can get the win and start building momentum.’

Reece James via chelseafc.com

It is also great news to know that Antonio Rudiger is back from injury, as the German centre half has proved to be pivotal for Chelsea since Thomas Tuchel’s arrival at Stamford Bridge.

Predicted Lineup:

Mendy

James, Christensen, Rudiger, Chilwell

Loftus-Cheek, Kante, Jorginho

Hudson-Odoi, Lukaku, Werner

I’ve gone for a four at the back for this tie as I expect Tuchel will want to give players like Chalobah, Sarr and Azpilicueta a rest after a stellar job against Brentford on Saturday. Loftus Cheek keeps his place as I believe he has been the standout of the last few weeks, with electric performances every time he has been called upon. Hudson Odoi gets in the side for me as I think this is the perfect game to put him in and try and improve his confidence. This also goes for Werner, who has been in good form recently.

Players to watch:

Ruben Loftus Cheek: As aforementioned, RLC has been nothing short of phenomenal since his return to the Bridge this season. Ruben is showing glimpses of his sheer quality that us Chelsea fans know he possesses, and is showing no signs of slowing down. A start against Malmo tonight could be perfect for the Englishman who could seriously run the show tonight.

Antonio Colak: Malmo’s number 9 has put up some serious numbers in his respective league this season, with 11 goals and four assists to his name. Malmo will hope that Colak can provide a threat to Chelsea’s defence this evening, but the Croatian will have to produce something special to beat the inform Edouard Mendy, who put up a display for the ages on Saturday against Brentford.

Score Prediction:

Chelsea 3-0 Malmo

Lukaku, Hudson Odoi, Werner

Written by @mashgreaves

Juventus V Chelsea: Champions League Match Preview

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The reigning Champions of Europe are back in action in Europe’s biggest competition. Off-pace Juventus stand in their way, as an away night in Turin awaits the Blues. Chelsea’s last UCL outing saw the defending champions see off a fierce Zenit side who were unbeaten since March. Zenit’s press was no match for a solid defence, and Romelu Lukaku’s 69th minute header gave the Blues the all important three points. Tonight’s opponents rattled Malmo FF by three goals to nil, with ex-Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata on the score sheet.

Chelsea’s former number 9 will be unavailable for tonight’s fixture due to a muscle injury. Juve’s other main threat Paulo Dybala will also miss the fixture, suffering a thigh injury after putting his side 1-0 up against Sampdoria. This will limit Juve’s attacking threat, with the side already struggling in the league since losing Cristiano Ronaldo this summer. The Italian side currently sit 8th in Serie A, despite winning their last two games.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are sitting pretty in 3rd in the Premier League, despite their first loss of the season on Saturday against Manchester City. Thomas Tuchel will hope his side can bounce back from a lacklustre showing at the weekend. Chelsea were dramatically off the pace against City, with little to no attacking threat which gave Ederson the day off. Chelsea’s last outing against Juventus saw the Italian side run out 3-0 victors in November of 2012. Hopefully Chelsea can provide a better defence of their trophy this time around.

Team news and updates:

Chelsea’s squad is being struck with injuries and illnesses across the board, with Reece James, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and N’Golo Kante all ruled out of action for this evening. Reece was substituted in the first half against City, with Tuchel stating “[It] will come down to pain management”, revealing we could miss James for another week. Last year’s Player of the Season Mason Mount is still nursing the knock he suffered against Villa in the Carabao Cup.

N’Golo has tested positive for Covid, which will impact the squad heavily, as we saw just how pivotal NG was in the UCL last season. Kante’s absence could provide a huge opportunity for Ruben Loftus Cheek, who’s cameo on Saturday was 76 minutes too short, with the Englishman giving Chelsea the bright spark they were seeking against City.

‘Obviously, tactically they are really strong. They know how to defend their box because they are very organised, Juventus is a big club and they’ve been there for many years.

‘We need to try to break them with speed, energy, and we know it’s going to be difficult. We respect them, but we’re going there to win.’

Jorginho on how to approach the game against Juventus via Chelseafc.com

Confirmed Lineup:

Mendy

Christensen, Silva, Rudiger

Azpilicueta (C), Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso

Ziyech, Lukaku, Havertz

Lukaku will be required to force Juventus mistakes, and will hopefully provide more of an attacking threat, as Chelsea failed to register a shot on target on Saturday for the first time since 2019. RL worked well with Werner, but City’s defence had everything covered. This time around we see the big man alongside Havertz and Ziyech so it will be interesting to see how that pans out.

Players to watch:

Ruben Loftus Cheek: Even though Ruben doesn’t make start, I do still think he will see a cameo from him in some shape or form, and I for one am extremely excited about that. RLC completely upped our tempo on Saturday, and despite the loss, looked like he improved the side drastically. With Kante being unavailable and Saul struggling to take off in blue, I think this could be Ruben’s time to shine.

Manuel Locatelli: Locatelli scored against Sampdoria at the weekend, and will be looking to continue this form against Chelsea. Since his move to Turin, the World Cup winner has looked impressive in parts, but can still go up a level. He will be hoping he can do it this evening against the reigning European Champions.

Score Prediction:

Juventus 0-2 Chelsea

Lukaku, Jorginho

Written by @mashgreaves

Podcast: RLC is BACK and Juventus Preview!

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NOW WE ARE TALKING! | Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund Review – The Chelsea Spot Podcast

  1. NOW WE ARE TALKING! | Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund Review
  2. Scared, Potter?


In another episode of The Chelsea Spot Podcast, Orlando (Host – @0rland1nho) is joined by his fellow admins Paree (Owner – @CFCParee) & Rob (Admin – @CFCRobL) where they discussed the terrible but expected performance against Manchester City in the League, the rise of Ruben Loftus-Cheek once again. They also look ahead to Wednesday’s Champions League and UEFA Youth League game against Juventus!

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Chelsea v Zenit St Petersburg – Match Preview:

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The reigning Champions of Europe are set to embark on their new Champions League campaign with a group stage fixture against Zenit St Petersburg. A stat which surprised me was that Chelsea have never faced Zenit in competitive action, but the last time Chelsea faced a Russian opponent in the Champions League, we went on to win the whole thing (I can’t rinse that enough).

Chelsea head into the game with serious momentum after four league games, sitting pretty in 2nd, level on points with Manchester United. Our opponents, however, happen to be on a 20 game unbeaten streak, dating back to March. Despite being the favourites for the game, Chelsea have a huge task at hand to put this tremendous run to a stop.

The opening game of the Champions League group stage can always be tricky, and it is vital that Chelsea get off to a winning start, given our second game being Juventus away on the 29th.

Player news and updates:

Nothing changes from the Villa game, with Tuchel confirming that just N’Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic will miss the game against Zenit, with Kante still nursing an ankle injury, and Puli still recovering from Covid.

‘We said that we were looking for him [Pulisic] to return after the international break and for him to have that period of 10 days of training and recovery before returning to the pitch. He’s still in a state of recovery and individual training, so he is not ready just yet.’

Thomas Tuchel via Chelseafc.com

As for NG, it looks as if Tuchel is saving him for the London Derby this coming weekend.

‘N’Golo had two training sessions yesterday and trained again today, but the Champions League game comes a bit too early for him. We won’t take the risk with him now at this moment of the season.

‘We have decided to give him another load in training tomorrow, then he will have the day off with the rest of the group and then train with us all on Friday to be ready totally for Tottenham on Sunday.’

Thomas Tuchel via Chelseafc.com

As for the rest of the squad, Tuchel revealed that Loftus-Cheek, Barkley and Maalang Sarr have all travelled and may be seen from the bench.

Predicted Lineup:

Arrizabalaga

Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger

James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Chilwell

Ziyech, Lukaku, Werner

I struggled to leave Mount out of the side, given he was fully rested on Saturday against Villa, however, I can see Hakim and Timo both starting, and I dont expect to see him in the pivot. I do however, expect to see Lukaku keep his place, but I would only give him 60 or so minutes to ensure he stays fit for Tottenham on Sunday. Kepa also makes the cut in place of Mendy.

Players to watch:

Timo Werner: Timo hasn’t featured much this season, and I think this game could suit him very well. Timo has the ability to run in behind defences, and given the lack of pace that Zenit have at the back, this could work very well for Chelsea’s number 11. Timo also has a point to prove to Thomas Tuchel, and will be keen on grabbing a goal or two to increase his chances of starting against Spurs.

Dejan Lovren: Lovren knows what it takes to win the Champions League, as the Croatian secured the big one with Liverpool in 2019. Lovren will have a key battle on his hands with Lukaku, Werner, or whoever starts in the three for Chelsea, so it will be interesting to see how he matches up against the in-form Blues.

Score Prediction:

Chelsea 3-0 Zenit

Werner, Lukaku, Chilwell

Written by @mashgreaves

The Chelsea Spot 2021/22 Season Predictions!

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The season has begun and we’re two games in, with victories in both the Super Cup Final on penalties and against Crystal Palace on the opening gameweek of the Premier League season. Before the game against the Eagles, I asked our writers to give their season predictions, so let’s have a look at what they said…

Paree

Premier League Position – 2nd
POTS – N’Golo Kante
Academy POTS – Harvey Vale
Loan Army POTS – Conor Gallagher
Surprise Player – Hakim Ziyech
Top Scorer – Romelu Lukaku
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (FA Cup)

Orlando

Premier League Position – 3rd
POTS – Kante
Academy POTS – Xavier Simons
Loan Army POTS – Billy Gilmour
Surprise Player – Timo Werner
Top Scorer – Kai Havertz
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (FA Cup)

Dan

Premier League Position – 2nd
POTS – Kante
Academy POTS – Xavier Mbuyamba
Loan Army POTS – Levi Colwill
Surprise Player – Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Top Scorer – Lukaku
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (Carabao Cup)

Paree, Orlando & Dan discussed their predictions in much more depth here!

Brandon

Premier League Position – 2nd
POTS – Lukaku
Academy POTS – Vale
Loan Army POTS – Armando Broja
Surprise Player – Werner
Top Scorer – Romelu Lukaku
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (Champions League)

Mash

Premier League Position – 2nd
POTS – Lukaku
Academy POTS – Jude Soonsup-Bell
Loan Army POTS – Armando Broja
Surprise Player – Trevoh Chalobah
Top Scorer – Lukaku
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (FA Cup)

Following an incredible past 3 months for Chelsea, I can see us really pushing on this season. 2 major European trophies will have had a crazy boost on our morale, and as many of the boys have said, we have a real family at the Bridge again. And just to clarify, Trev will be surprising because I feel he will have a much bigger role to play than people may think this season, and I think Tuchel believes in Trev just as much as we do. UTC.

Michael

Premier League Position – 2nd
POTS – Havertz
Academy POTS – Thierno Ballo
Loan Army POTS – Levi Colwill
Surprise Player – Timo Werner/Kai Havertz
Top Scorer – Lukaku
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (1 of the cups)

I think this next season is going to be interesting in terms of how we preform throughout the entirety of a season under Tuchel. I have faith in the squad to really be strong this year even before Lukaku, however he obviously improves us. A few things I’d like to see this season is a fair amount of minutes for Cal, and real development opportunities for our academy players. While it’s great to have these world class stars in our team and compete on all fronts, I do really hope we don’t overindulge and cast aside the potential we could sustain with guys on loan and in the dev squad right now.

Jon

Premier League Position – 1st
POTS – Havertz
Academy POTS – Soonsup-Bell
Loan Army POTS – Gilmour
Surprise Player – Hakim Ziyech/Trevoh Chalobah
Top Scorer – Timo Werner
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (Premier League)

Luke

Premier League Position – 1st
POTS – Havertz
Academy POTS – Tino Anjorin
Loan Army POTS – Broja
Surprise Player – Werner
Top Scorer – Romelu Lukaku
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (FA Cup + Premier League)

I think with Lukaku coming in now, that’s the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle. We saw how defensively sound and snappy our build up play was towards the back end of last season, but now we have one of the best strikers in the world, there’s no excuse to not seriously challenge Man City.

Rob

Premier League Position – 2nd
POTS – Kante
Academy POTS – Charlie Webster
Loan Army POTS – Gilmour
Surprise Player – Hakim Ziyech/Trevoh Chalobah
Top Scorer – Romelu Lukaku
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (FA Cup)

16 points is a substantial gap to close to a team that have just purchased Jack Grealish (and potentially Harry Kane) which may be a step too far for this young Chelsea team. The arrival of Lukaku has undoubtedly made us contenders but without a DM profile that will enable some more tactical flexibility for Tuchel, I think there will be a number of frustrating games that will cost Chelsea necessary points. The biggest test will be whether the likes of Rudiger and Christensen are able to retain their impressive form under Tuchel.

Sairam

Premier League Position – 2nd
POTS – Lukaku
Academy POTS – Charlie Webster
Loan Army POTS – Billy Gilmour
Surprise Player – Kepa *surname*
Top Scorer – Romelu Lukaku
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (FA Cup + Club World Cup)

Frankie

Premier League Position – 2nd
POTS – Havertz
Academy POTS – Vale
Loan Army POTS – Conor Gallagher
Surprise Player – Mason Mount
Top Scorer – Lukaku
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (Club World Cup + Carabao Cup)

It will be a grueling season that will need a lot of rotation to survive the 50+ games we will play this year. Coming off a Champions League triumph, the expectations are high for Chelsea and many people see Chelsea as favourites to win the League. This will be a new challenge for Tuchel and the players as I feel our current squad thrives on being the underdog.

Danny

Premier League Position – 1st
POTS – Mount
Academy POTS – Soonsup-Bell
Loan Army POTS – Gilmour
Surprise Player – Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Top Scorer – Lukaku
Will we win a trophy? – Yes (FA Cup)

We have the clinical number 9 we were crying out for, now it’s time to challenge City. Chelsea are going to need a fourth midfield option (Kante can’t play every week!) and Rubes could grab his chance in cup competitions and matches against lower table opposition. The King Romelu has returned and I expect him to feast on the countless chances he’ll be provided. We needed a clinical striker last season and now we have one capable of surpassing 20 league goals per season. Failing that, Jorginho to top score with 5 hop-skip-jump penalties.

Do you agree with our predictions? Make sure to let us know on our social media platforms or replying in the comment section below!


Podcast: 2021/22 Season Predictions!

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NOW WE ARE TALKING! | Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund Review – The Chelsea Spot Podcast

  1. NOW WE ARE TALKING! | Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund Review
  2. Scared, Potter?

In another episode of The Chelsea Spot Podcast, Orlando (Host – @0rland1nho), Paree (Owner – @CFCParee) & Dan (Admin- @danbarkzr) discuss the season ahead. Talking about where Chelsea are going to finish and who could be our best player throughout the season, to a possible training ground bustup…

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Giroud: Farewell to a Legend

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When Olivier Giroud inevitably calls time on his glorious three-and-a-half-year spell at Chelsea this summer, he will do so as a club legend. Having signed in January 2018 as part of the bizarre three-way striker swap that saw Arsenal break the bank for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Borussia Dortmund compensated with the loan signing of Michy Batshuayi, Giroud had to win over a sceptical fanbase. It was a move that did little to inspire Chelsea fans, who were beginning to worry about a lack of end-product from big money summer signing Alvaro Morata, whom after a red-hot start had netted just once in his last 6 appearances before Giroud had arrived and succumbed to two different injuries. His Arsenal connection and age (he was already 31) did nothing to ease doubts. However, the Frenchman went on to become the Blues’ top scorer in successful Champions League and Europa League campaigns in 2020/21 and 2018/19 respectively, as well as being a crucial component to the sides’ 2018 FA Cup win and strong finish to the 2019/20 season post-lockdown. Scorer of goals you and I could only dream of bagging, a dedicated servant who stayed even when more gametime was available elsewhere, we should always remain indebted to one of the league’s most underrated strikers.

A beautiful photo for all Chelsea fans: Giroud has passed on his experience to the youngsters. Photo credit: A Stamford Bridge Too Far

Looking at Giroud’s Chelsea career from the viewpoint of cold, hard numbers, the Frenchman netted 17 times from just 33 starts in the league (one every 187 minutes) and an astonishing 17 goals from only 15 starts in Europe – an absurd record of a goal every 86 minutes! –  for the Blues. His sensational European goalscoring record actually makes him the club’s third top scorer in continental competitions of all time behind only the mythical duo of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard. However, there is so much more to Giroud and his legend than just goalscoring figures and there are many more reasons that he will stay in the hearts and minds of Chelsea fans for a very long time.

Giroud has now won more-or-less everything there is to win: a World Cup with France, the continental club double and a domestic cup with Chelsea as well as one of the most unexpected Ligue 1 triumphs ever with Montpellier which prompted his move to Arsenal in 2012. As well as being a prolific winner he has also made a name for himself as the man who scores crucial goals for his side (very much in the ilk of Drogba). The Frenchman has netted in a Europa league final, secured the Blue’s a place in the FA Cup final in 2018 with his incredible dribble and poked finish against Southampton and bagged an incredible bicycle kick to break the deadlock in a tight last-16 away leg against Atletico Madrid this season. The period that will surely pop to mind when Chelsea fans reminisce about the bearded genius is his remarkable form post-lockdown last season which lead to Chelsea securing Champions League football this year (and we all know how that turned out!). He scored 6 goals in 8 starts post-lockdown, with the Blues losing feebly against West Ham and Sheffield United on the only occasions that he did not begin the game on the field.

Giroud’s stunning bicycle kick against Atletico Madrid will long live in the memory of Chelsea fans. Photo credit: ESPN

Stop-start would be a good way to describe Giroud’s time in West London. The Frenchman has often been left on the bench behind Tammy Abraham or sometime even left out of the squad entirely due to the presence of Michy Batshuayi and yet when called upon he has always delivered. To keep that match sharpness and concentration despite missing months of football at a time is an incredible asset that Giroud has honed (beginning with his time at the Emirates) but even more impressive still is his temperament. There are not many World Cup winners who would take being deputy to a 22-year-old with limited game time well (let alone when they are the second top scorer ever for the French national team) but that is exactly what Giroud did. Instead of causing drama and angling for a move away to a club where he would get more gametime and earn a last big contract, Giroud stayed and helped the youngsters – including his direct competition in Tammy Abraham – in training, with his wealth of experience. Despite dragging Chelsea to a top 4 finish last season Giroud returned to the familiar surroundings of the bench at the start of this campaign as Timo Werner became additional competition for a starting berth up front. However, Giroud did what he does best, waiting patiently for his opportunity to shine, and when it came he took it: 4 goals in a single game against Sevilla, the winner in a crunch tie with Rennes and the aforementioned stunning bicycle kick in Bucharest.

The bearded Frenchman was the Blues top scorer as they clinched a historic second European Cup. Photo credit: We Ain’t Got No History

The Frenchman will leave a cult hero thanks to the many crucial moments he has starred in as well as the memories he has provided. Who could forget the famous ‘thankyou Arsenal’ message on an Instagram livestream after he netted the opener against his former club in the Europa League final? There is nothing better than beating your rivals in a cup final with a goal from their former striker! Then there are the poetic finishes: the rifled shot against Spurs, the turn and finish against Villa and the dink against Sevilla. And that bicycle kick – who could forget that bicycle kick? If you ever get a free 10 minutes, do yourself a favour and watch a compilation of the Frenchman’s best moments: he really is a beautiful footballer (and man!) and he will be sorely missed.

To Olivier Giroud: thank you for everything and we wish you the best of luck in Italy, fans of Milan are in for a treat!

Written by Daniel New

2021, Not 2012

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With $250 mil spent in the summer Chelsea went into the season looking to close the gap between themselves and Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool. In a global pandemic which forced many clubs to remain cautious in their transfer approach, Abramovich chose to compete or die with various marquee signings for his West London club. Adding onto the youthful arsenal established in a transfer ban season under Frank Lampard, top 4 was the minimum with little room for error. Inevitably, the Chelsea nature of unyielding expectations had it’s way and Frank Lampard was axed after his first poor run of form leaving the squad unsettled with a lack of identity, direction, and passion. Thomas Tuchel was the man appointed by the board to replace Lampard. On one hand it was a questionable decision, with his often described spiky personality seemingly a poor fit for a controlling board like Chelsea, while on the other a sensible appointment to instill a tactical identity for a squad devoid of one.

Compete in all remaining competitions and achieve top 4 – this was the expectation for the ex-PSG manager. With only an 18 month deal offered, Tuchel had little time to prove his worth and acumen to the club, and he seemed to recognize that. He wasted no time and transitioned to the squad into a true defensive stronghold, but in a rather unique way. The concept of “defensive possession” seemed to best describe the system, with a focus on being possession dominant, combined with an emphasis on structure and balance in the team to nullify the attacking prowess of their opponents. Tuchel’s reign started extremely strong, winning many games by starving opponents of not only goals, but opportunities against the defense. Often winning games 1-0 or 2-0, Chelsea slowly became the team no side wanted to face. Ultimately, this became most true in Chelsea’s Champions League cup run.

Having won their group with Frank Lampard at the helm, Chelsea’s first opponent in the round of 16 was Atletico Madrid. The Spanish side were sitting comfortably atop of La Liga at the time of Tuchel’s appointment, and were one of the most in-form teams. With a scheduled date in late February, it seemed highly likely the Blues would have an early exit in the competition in a similar fashion to how things ended in the previous year. In the build-up to the game Chelsea had a favorable run of fixtures – Premier League teams which allowed the squad to get a rhythm in the new system without risking too many points being dropped. The true test came in these later February fixtures, with the matchup against Atletico being immediately followed by Manchester United and Liverpool in the league. Tuchel’s Chelsea passed and performed quite well in these fixtures, with the first game against Atletico relying on a wonder goal by Olivier Giroud, but earning a draw against 2nd place Manchester United, and a dominant performance against Klopp’s Liverpool. This truly kicked off the confidence in the squad and some of the revived players. The belief in the system was clearly present, with players such as Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Jorginho playing what had likely been their best performances for the club. The strength of the squad and its confidence continued to grow and with forcing Atletico to play on the back foot in the 2nd leg, Chelsea were able to capitalize in yet another dominant performance and knockout the Spanish champions in a 2-0 victory. The result was a massive morale booster which showed glimpses of resilience in a youthful and largely inexperienced squad in the distinguished competition.

While taking down Atletico was an exceptional feat, the path forward also provided glimmers of hope to truly go far with PSG, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, the top 3 favorites, all being drawn on the opposite end of the bracket. This left Chelsea to face Porto in the quarter finals, with potential opponents of either Real Madrid or Liverpool in the semi-final. Once again, overcoming the unexpected obstacles Chelsea faced against Porto, the result was as expected with Chelsea progressing from their 2-0 win in the first leg, being enough after their 1-0 loss in the second on aggregate. Real Madrid was the victor in the other matchup and they were an opponent unlike no other. Filled with world class individual talent, as well as loads of experience and success in this competition, there began to be doubt if Chelsea could truly reach the final. A team composed of many players which had only 1 season of top flight football under their belt, along with numerous big money signings which had been struggling to adapt and stay in-form in their performances. This truly was a different side to the one that had done the unthinkable and taken down one of the strongest sides in Spain, if not all of Europe in 2012 after their struggles throughout the season. There were no established characters, legacies, and accomplishments like in 2012. Characters, leaders, as well as many of the established top players in all of Europe existed in the team. Drogba, Terry, Lampard, Mata, Cole, Cech, Torres, all coexisting in the same squad, many of which are now established legends of the game. Although a similar context and narrative with a midseason change in manager, the chemistry and experience throughout this squad lacked to that of the 2012 team. It seemed like a resilient nature and compete or die attitude was not present in this group of individuals…Or so we thought? 

Instantly in the first match Chelsea looked the more obviously dominant team, showing that a well refined system and unit of role players who worked hard could outperform the individual talent. However, the theme which perpetuated under Tuchel’s reign throughout had been the wasteful nature of the team’s ability to put away the chances they created. Going 1-1 into the second leg, the Blues had a point to prove, and repeated their dominance against this Real Madrid this time winning 2-0 while still being wasteful in their opportunities. This meant Chelsea were in the UCL final for the first time since 2012, and the magical run with it’s overlapping characteristics continued to be likened in nature. 

Throughout Tuchel’s half-season campaign he bested multiple top managers including the likes of Mourinho, Klopp, Simeone, Zidane, and Guardiola. Although his path to accomplishing top 4 was unconventional and reliant on results elsewhere, he did also reach both the FA Cup final and the UCL final. After the loss of the FA cup to Leicester City, the only remaining cup was the most prestigious award in all of European football. Tuchel faced Pep for the 3rd time this season and although having got the better of him on 2 occasions previously, Pep had won this cup before, and the timing and preparation of his Manchester City side seemed inevitably in their favor.

However, leading up to this point and having discussed the squad composition during the magical 2012 UCL victory, it’s important to discuss the composition of the current victors of the UCL. Our goalie Edouard Mendy was brought in from Rennes for $25 million to take over the below-par record signing Kepa and resulted in a fantastic acquisition. Our back line which rotated due to fitness and availability either consisted of fringe players in Christensen and Rudiger, likely on their way out under Lampard, and put in their best performances in a Chelsea shirt in this system in a dramatic turnaround of form. An ageing legend still at the top of the game in Thiago Silva as well as Azpilicueta who although traditionally a RB, remains at the top of his game in a 3 back at RCB. At wingbacks we have two youngsters in Reece James playing his first full season in top-flight football, and newly acquired $50 million Ben Chilwell who’s highest level before this was his experience in the EPL with Leicester. Our midfield consisted of a combo of any 3 of these players; N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, and Mateo Kovacic who was largely injured leading up to the final. Kante is the most obvious player of quality in the team, however Jorginho is an extremely divisive player for the fanbase, with limitations that need to be protected, but similar to others, played excellently when called on. Kovacic, although a player with an excellent technical skill set, seems to have grown stagnant in his development and production towards the team and as a result has not established himself as a top midfielder in Europe thus far. The front 3 selection being the most varied based on opponent and form is even more interesting in this context. Having acquired Werner, Havertz, and Ziyech, all 3 seemed to have had their struggles in consistency throughout the season. While certain opponents and tactical setups have played to the strengths and driven the line-up decisions of Thomas Tuchel, none have cemented themselves to be the top European attacking threat they were purchased to be, as of yet. On top of this Werner is still only 24 and Havertz 21 with both having limited experience in the competition which rings even more true with the remaining 2 attackers. Christian Pulisic, and Mason Mount are the 2 other regular first choice players under Tuchel, and although Pulisic showed consistent high-level form during the project restart, he failed to carry the consistency into this season. Mason Mount remains the sole reliable attacker/creator in the team to drive Chelsea forward and carry a consistent, tangible threat. While Pulisic has played top-flight football for quite a few years, his injury record and inconsistent output never placed him in elite company. Mason Mount on the other hand is traditionally disliked by the side of the fanbase which seems to favor Jorginho. For all of Mount’s inconsistency and usage in a multitude of positions in his first season for Chelsea, it seemed he really hit his stride this year and is our most probable player of the season at just the age of 22. With this in mind, Chelsea relative to City were nowhere near in contention for such an accomplishment, especially taking into consideration previous outputs of players and the position they entire squad was in when Lampard was sacked. As a result, this spotlights not only the drastic reversal of the squad attaining this level of performance to be reaching such heights. 

However, for all their differences, this team entered the final with the same mindset as the 2012, all odds against them and playing their hearts out until the final whistle. Against very likely the strongest team in Europe, Chelsea did not just win the UCL final, they earned it. A dominant performance with excellent tactical execution and willingness and grit from the players to win this cup is what made the difference. Many pivotal moments from key players never in this position before completely changed the game, while a baseline quality performance was upheld by the entire squad. From Reece nullifying any threat Sterling created down his flank, to Rudiger saving what was quite literally a goal in a last ditch block against Foden in the box, to Werner’s excellent decoy run with Kai’s composure 1v1 after receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Mount to score the only goal. Tuchel had earned his 3rd win in a row over Pep. However, this time it came with the UCL Cup, and the implications for the future are greater than ever.

For a squad this inexperienced, to showcase the character and ability to come away with the title for the most prestigious competition in Europe cannot be understated. Additionally, it highlights the opportunity for a reign of dominance, which Chelsea could establish by building on the foundations present. This side is different from 2012 – while 2012 seemed to be a last shot at glory for those maturing further into the game and nearing the ends of their careers, 2021 is the inverse of that as the final 2 digits of the year suggest. However this does not mean the task at hand is complete, rather it confirms and sheds light on the priorities and needs of the club for the future to sustain this. 

Chelsea had won the UCL, so where do they go from here to increase the chances of repeatability and nurture consistent progression? Firstly, instilling trust in our youth academy talents and utilizing the pipeline with first team involvement with coordinated efforts for development and adaptation. Secondly, a similar transfer approach we exhibited the summer leading up to this, pursuing top-level talents and targets without settling for 3rd or 4th choice options. This second choice comes with a caveat of remaining sensible in our approach, addressing areas of need rather than pursuing the best available players in each window leaving us with a bloated squad and positions still to be addressed with heavy investments that are near impossible to recoup. With these principles, the foundation of the team at hand, and the tactically adept manager Chelsea have in Thomas Tuchel, all the pieces exist to reassert dominance of the West London club throughout Europe for years to come. The outlook, although not guaranteed, is promising, and while 2012 signified the beauty of the game, 2021 could represent the dream of the game.

Podcast: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2021 WINNERS!

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EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!

NOW WE ARE TALKING! | Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund Review – The Chelsea Spot Podcast

  1. NOW WE ARE TALKING! | Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund Review
  2. Scared, Potter?

GET IN THERE! In another episode of The Chelsea Spot Podcast, Orlando (Host – @0rland1nho), Dan (Admin – @DanBarkerCoach) and Danny (Writer – @danny_new_) discuss last night’s incredible victory against Manchester City in the Champions League final. Talking about our instant reactions to the game, Thomas Tuchel propaganda, THAT Mason Mount pass to Kai Havertz and so much more!

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Champions League Final: Match Preview:

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As the 2020/21 season reaches finally it’s crescendo, Thomas Tuchel’s Blue army face one last hurdle. And this isn’t any old hurdle. It just happens to be the biggest game in almost a decade for the SW6. If you’d have told me in August that I’d be writing the Chelsea preview for the Champions League final, I’d have thought you were insane. But here we are. It’s really happening. Chelsea. Manchester City. There can only be one winner. 

The stature of this game is extraordinary, so the boys at The Chelsea Spot have decided to try something different for this preview. Myself, and some of the lads will give our own thoughts on the game, as well as some key information that will tell you all you need to know about the final. 

Mash Greaves: 

Chelsea have suffered a troublesome run of form as of late, which already sprinkles some doubt on our chances. A poor result against Arsenal, followed by a heart breaking loss against Leicester in the FA Cup final really stumbled the Blues. Two days later, we defeated Leicester in the league, only to lose once more against Aston Villa on the final day of the season. This has really come at the worst possible time for Chelsea, as the momentum is running thin, and we need an extreme amount of focus for Saturday evening. It could be argued that guaranteeing top four last Sunday took the pressure off for this weekend, but for me, we have to ignore everything that has happened thus far this season. Saturday is a completely different game. 

In absolute fairness, Man City aren’t in the best position form wise as they could be, either. Pep Guardiola’s side have conceded eight in their last four games, but managed to demolish Everton 5-0 on the last day of the season. Saturday’s result is definitely up in the air, and it will only come down to who has the most bottle. 

Player news and updates:

Thomas Tuchel has revealed his 25 man squad who have travelled to Porto, and Blues fans will be ecstatic to hear that both N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy have travelled. The aforementioned players suffered injuries in the last two league games, but Tuchel has seen improvement in both players since then, and is hopeful the duo can start. 

Mendy will be vital in Chelsea’s chances to secure the victory, with the Senegal international being one of the signings of the season this year. And as for NG, well, you know the story. 

Predicted Lineup:

Mendy, James, Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Pulisic, Werner

Players to watch:

Mason Mount: Mason has been a standout this season, not just for Chelsea, but in the Premier League in general. Mase has shown signs of leadership, quality and sheer talent, you would think he’s 28. The Englishman has shown up on the big stage already this season, with pivotal goals at Porto and Real Madrid, that got us to the final. Mount will be sure to have all eyes on him.

Phil Foden: Foden is another player much like Mount, with absolutely no ceiling, and talent in abundance. The show-down between the two Englishmen will be sure to light sparks on the pitch, and with Foden being instrumental in City’s Premier League triumph, be sure to keep your eyes on the ‘Stockport Iniesta’.

Paree:

Predicted Lineup: 

Mendy, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell, Mount, Havertz, Werner 

The player to look out for City is Dias in my opinion. If we can manage to trouble him and get him showing his weaknesses which he does have despite an incredible season, we have a real chance. The key player for Chelsea is actually….Jorginho. I genuinely think the game will be won in the midfield, and he’s going to need to turn up if he does play after some pretty poor performances (same applies for Kovacic too). 

The thoughts of Mason Mount, Reece James, Thiago Silva, and a whole bunch of others lifting the Champions League trophy is just too much for me right now. I am desperate for this trophy. It’s going to hurt big time if we lose, especially after the FA Cup Final, but I have faith in the boys and Tuchel to come up with something special, just like 2012. 

Dan Barker:

Predicted Lineup: 

Mendy, James, Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Werner, Havertz

Chelsea have done incredibly well to reach the final of this season’s UCL, however I think they will fall just short at the final hurdle. Tuchel’s side have had stuttering form in the league over recent weeks, as well as the FA cup disappointment against Leicester and I just can’t see them out-scoring Man City. Hopefully I’m proven wrong!

Players to watch:

Mason Mount and Phil Foden take this one again. 

Rob Lawman:

Well, who’d have thought we’d end up here when Lampard was sacked in January?

As is often the way with Chelsea, despite the chaos of a season filled with change and drama, we find ourselves in a position where we could end up with the most coveted prize in Europe. Despite the ups and downs of our domestic form, it’s very difficult to say we don’t deserve to be here. Having topped an all be it, comfortable group, remaining unbeaten and only conceding two goals, we’ve gone on to comfortably beat both Madrid side over two legs and successfully navigate an intense Porto side, flying high after knocking out Juventus.

This isn’t a run like 2012, this wasn’t a back against the wall underdog story, but rather the story of a side that met some of European’s elite head-on and passed by them with relative ease. It’s of course then rather fitting that we come up against the side that is arguably the best in Europe right now. A side that has walked the Premier League and taken some big scalps of their own on the way to Portugal, but having beaten them twice this season, there’s no reason to think we’re in for a hiding.

Tuchel’s side seems tailor-made for these top-level knockout affairs, despite inconsistent league form, the German’s 3-4-2-1 has looked impenetrable in defence and created chances aplenty, even if the conversion rate leaves a lot to be desired. This has also been the case in the most recent meetings of the two sides where Chelsea have been able to limit City’s attacks to scraps, with the exception of a Christensen howler, whilst also looking to get in behind City’s high line at every opportunity.

I don’t see a reason why Tuchel would go into this game any differently. Having beaten Pep’s side twice, it’s on the Spaniard to decide on whether to stick with a formula that has proven so successful, yet not against Chelsea, or risk overthinking with tactical tweaks.

With that said, I think at this point the back 6 pick themselves with Mendy in goal, Chilwell at LWB, Rudi at LCB, Silva in the middle with Reece at RCB and Azpi at RWB, the latter two switching depending on the state of the game. Christensen would be unlucky to miss out, however, the injury and slight dip in form have come at the worst possible time and I wouldn’t risk him in the final.

Given the 5 subs, I think it’s a no brainer that Kante starts this game despite the injury concerns. Tuchel’s comments seem to imply that he’s fit however the extra subs remove the risk that may have previously existed. Partnering with him I’d go for Jorginho. Despite my frustrations in his limitations, he’s stepped up in the big European games and Kovacic‘s recent injury and defensive lapses make him too much of a risk to start this game. As for the front 3, I think pace in behind and in transition will be pivotal to any success we have so I would go with a front 3 of Timo – Havertz – Mount. Mount has proven to be one of Europe’s best at taking the ball in between the lines on the turn converting defence instantly into attack which will be crucial in playing in the two Germans who, despite inconsistent finishing, pose our best goal threats. The intensity and mobility of Mount will also be crucial in shutting down Rodri at the heart of the City midfield. As for Werner, despite his finishing leaving a lot to be desired, it’s impossible to argue that he’s been at the heart of everything we do and poses a unique threat, especially in the channels where City’s full-backs and centre backs are at their weakest.

Michael Nazarian:

Predicted Lineup: 

Mendy, Rudiger, Silva, Azpi, Reece, Chilwell, Kante, Jorginho, Werner, Havertz, Mount

Players to watch: 

City – Foden
Chelsea – Werner 

Expectations: 

A tight game played by Chelsea allowing city to be more aggressive and hold possession, while we try and hit on the break. Chelsea will look to press City’s back line at times to suffocate them in the wide areas or win the ball in the midfield when they look to progress. City won’t be afraid to play balls over the top to someone like Foden, Sterling, Mahrez, etc, but they’ll mix it up with Gundogan and/or Bernardo dropping and drifting. Jorginho and Kante will be key in this regard both to break down City’s progression and be sharp in the build up to evade City’s press. Kova may start. Werner will definitely be used to try and get in behind, Ziyech could definitely start as a result to supply these balls, but I believe Havertz and Mount would be better in transition overall and add more in possession against pressing teams. Finally, Reece could be key here as he was matched up against Ben Mendy in the last matchup and proved to be a menace 1v1 constantly beating his man and providing a threat.

Frankie:

Predicted Lineup:

Mendy, Rudiger, Silva, James, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell, Mount, Werner, Havertz.

I believe Azpilicueta will start as having your captain on the pitch is essential for a game of this magnitude and throwing Christensen straight into a Champions League final as his first game back from injury seems unlikely to me. Whether it is Azpi or Reece James at RCB, they will have an essential job to keeping the abundance of tricky wingers Pep has at his disposal quiet and prevent crosses from coming in. Havertz and Werner have been exceptional as a pair when played together. Having performed outstanding together in the 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge against Real Madrid, they are obviously trusted by Tuchel on the big stage. The German connection between the two could be crucial in this game to get an early lead and not let Man City rest at the back. Ziyech is unlucky to not make the cut for my starting eleven, however bringing such a dangerous asset off the bench could be used to our advantage later on in the game. Ziyech and Pulisic for that matter, could be perfect for a scenario where it is a tight scoreline heading into extra time or the later portion of the match. 

My Key Players: 

Edouard Mendy for me has one of the biggest tasks ahead of him and I’m certain he knows it. His incredible story to success and superb first season in West London culminates in the biggest game in world football. Man City have an unholy amount of shots per game, in just their last game against Everton in the Premier League, they had 21 shots and 11 of those shots were on target. Mendy will have to be on top of his game on Saturday night and a good performance from him in goal could be crucial to securing a second Champions League trophy. 

Kevin De Bruyne could be used in a false nine role or in the attacking midfield role on Saturday night. Guessing a Pep Guardiola lineup is basically pointless as he shifts and changes his teams so frequently. Whoever is set on the task of marking the former Chelsea man will have one of the hardest jobs in world football for possibly 120 minutes. De Bruyne has not played a full ninety minutes in the last two meetings between City and Chelsea. Having a fully fit Kevin De Bruyne could change the game in its entirety and the midfield pairing of Chelsea will have to be ready for a tough night of stopping the Belgian international. 

Predictions For The Game: 

In my opinion, the game will be a tight and cagey affair with both teams attempting to get the tactical edge in the opening stages of the game. Whoever gets the first goal will be in a supreme position for the remainder of the match. In recent matches, we have had trouble breaking down a low block and I really can’t see this being an issue against an attacking side like Manchester City. Also, in a Champions League final with fans from both teams shouting at the top of their lungs, a boring game is out of the question. Their playing style suits us perfectly as we can exploit them on the counter attack with the pace of Werner. Therefore, I am going with 1-0 to the mighty Chelsea and hopefully the team will bring back a second Champions League to West London.

And finally, Danny New:

Predicted Lineup: 

Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kanté, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Werner; Havertz

Players to watch:

Mason Mount and Phil Foden. Thats a hat trick for the England duo. All eyes on them…

A huge game between the two nouveau-riche of the English game. I hope more than anything that Mason makes his mark on this final in a positive way and leads us to a first UCL since 2012 in Drogba-esque fashion. It’ll need to be a dogged performance like against Bayern 9 years ago, Man City have more quality in their line up so it’ll be up to Tuchel to squeeze every drop of talent from the boys in order to help us win. Watch out for Callum Hudson-Odoi from the bench, there’s a general trend when he’s on the pitch for Chelsea: the attack looks much more cohesive and dangerous!

And that’s it from us boys. We’ve done all we can, now, its time for the Blues to do all they can. We’re on our knees boys. Up the Chels.

Written by @mashgreaves and the Chelsea Spot boys. 

Looking back nine years ago – Chelsea’s first Champions League Trophy

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A trophy that few have won, yet many wish to attain is the Champions League trophy. Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Robert Lewandowski have played in this tournament, however, several clubs have yet to hoist it for the first time.

For each club that has achieved this great triumph, there was a long and difficult path to win the Champions League. One such club is Chelsea FC. Prior to Roman Abramovic’s purchase of the club back in June 2003, Chelsea managed to win trophies such as the FA Cup, Football League Cup and UEFA Winners Cup, though they weren’t successful in winning Champions League.

A new journey began when Abramovic officially became the new owner of Chelsea Football Club. It gave the team a new identity, philosophy and path moving forward. More importantly, it gave fans hope, that not only that they could compete against the bigger teams in the Champions League, but that Chelsea could finally contend to win this prestigious tournament.

During the Abramovich era, Chelsea has managed to have plenty of success come their way. He’s instilled a winning mentality which has brought triumph to this club. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the Blue, where players such as Andriy Shevchenko, Adrian Mutu and Juan Sebastián Verón, failed to meet expectations. However, the likes of of Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard and Claude Makélélé have been able to leave their mark and help this club become successful.

In May 2008, nearly five years since Abramovic purchased the club, Chelsea were in a situation that no one had imagined in their history. The club, managed by Avraham Grant, had made it to finals of Champions League, which was to be played in Moscow at Luzhniki Stadium after they defeated Liverpool 4-3 on aggregates in the semi-finals. An English club was standing in their path as their bitter rivals, Manchester United, had advanced to the finals after their win against Barcelona.

Heartbreak.

Unfortunately, the match ended 1-1 after extra time and Chelsea lost 6-5 in a shoutout.

Four years later in May 2012, the club found themselves in a similar position. They were, once again, in the midst of trying to win their first Champions League trophy. This time their opponent was the German powerhouse club, Bayern Munich. Unlike their meeting against Manchester United, their match against Munich needed guts, determination and the will to never give up.

Chelsea was managed by Roberto Di Matteo and had players such as Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole. They were a part of the team when they lost in 2008 and were hoping to not follow the same path.  With the score 0-0 and nearly tens minutes remaining, Chelsea conceded the first goal as Thomas Müller scored at the 83rd minute to give Munich the first lead of the match. Chelsea seemed destined to follow a similar path.

Five minutes later, with Chelsea fans nervous and frantic for that needed goal, they redeemed themselves. Drogba rose to the challenge, as he had done on multiple occasions throughout his career with the club. The striker scored one of the biggest goals in his career, as he found the back of the net at the 88th minute to tie the game at 1-1.

The match headed into extra time, which didn’t solve anything for either side and they needed penalty kicks to decide their fate. With their backs against the wall and Munich leading 3-1 in the shootout, the improbable happened for Chelsea. The Blues changed the script, as they won 4-3 in penalties and won their first Champions League trophy.

King.

The wait was over and fans were out of their seats cheering in a frenzy as Chelsea also became the first and only club from London to win Champions League.

Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer, Lampard, will always look back on this moment.

In a UEFA Q&A, Lampard said, “I had lots of ups and downs. We tried and fought to get to [Champions League] finals, we lost one, and then the culmination of that, to win at Munich, and to win in the circumstances we did – as underdogs in their home stadium. The ride we’d had to get there was crazy; it was the stuff of movies.”

“When anyone asks me about my career, I cannot help but have that as the moment that jumps out at me; that’s what the Champions League is.

“If I’d have finished my career without that on my CV, I would have certainly felt incomplete, and I think this club would be incomplete.

“To win the Champions League as Chelsea, the first London club to do so, is something we’re all proud of.”

The long wait for a Champions League trophy ended and there were celebrations all over London. For certain players such as Lampard, Drogba, Cole and Petr Čech, the feelings were much greater as they developed a relationship with the club. More importantly, they had a connection with the fans after being with the club for several years.

Now we look back to eight years ago and relish the moment which became a reality for all Chelsea fans, the night when Chelsea hoisted the Champions League trophy. For the players, it will be a game that they will never forget as their comeback and the events which occurred throughout the match, will go down as one of the best in the history of football.

Time to win the trophy.

Chelsea V Real Madrid: UCL SF Match Preview

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The time has come for Thomas Tuchel’s army to potentially book their ticket to Istanbul, with a chance of facing Manchester City in the Champions League final. All that stands in their way is a fierce Real Madrid side who will not go down without a fight. Chelsea are on the brink of their first Champions League final since 2012, and we all know how that one went… (Cue my tears every time I hear the words “they’ve beaten Bayern in their own backyard”).

But the final is a maximum of 120 minutes away, and before we gasp at the thought of reaching the final, we must not look past tonight’s opponents who will do everything in their power to get back in the final after two years without a sniff. Chelsea’s season has almost reached it’s crescendo, and the opportunity to tip Thomas Tuchel’s first six months in charge off with a bang awaits. Chelsea. Real Madrid. The main event.

Last week in Madrid, Chelsea’s fortunes split the fanbase in half. Some were over the moon with a draw. Others felt like we deserved a lot more from the game. I, myself, felt both, along with every other emotion under the sun, and I’m not sure I’m physically or mentally prepared for this evening, but I will certainly be watching through the gaps in my fingers. Chelsea took the lead thanks to a wonderful goal from Christian Pulisic, who’s close control left Thibaut Courtois scrambling (thanks Christian), but multiple missed chances may have cost us coming out of Madrid in a much better position. Nonetheless, we managed to secure an away goal, meaning if the Blue’s can keep a clean sheet tonight, then we are headed to Istanbul to face a spectacular Manchester City side (who we have beaten once this season).

But as I said, we must not get ahead of ourselves. Karim Benzema’s wonderful effort last week has brought the tie back to square one. Chelsea can’t just play for a 0-0 draw, as the Galacticos will be on the accelerator from the blow of the first whistle. We know what we’re capable of, we know we can do it, but focus must remain on tonight’s game, and tonight’s game only.

Player news and updates:

Thomas Tuchel has revealed that just one Blue will be unavailable for the game, and a bitter sweet one at that, as Mateo Kovacic has been ruled out, following his thigh injury in the game against Porto. Tuchel has stated that the game has come too soon to be able to feature Mateo, which may be a blow to the Pride of London.

Tuchel has, however, announced that Antonio Rudiger should be available to play in a protective mask should he require it, as he nurses a facial injury. This is huge for Chelsea, as Tuchel has completely revived Rudiger’s Chelsea career, and has got the German international playing the football us fans desire from him. Everyone else is available for selection, which could provide Chelsea a huge boost.

In the white corner, Raphael Varane, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vasquez are expected to be out, but Marcelo’s recent call up for poll duty in Madrid may leave Los Blanco’s thin on the ground. That is, however, if Ferland Mendy is not at 100%, but the full back is expected to return. Sergio Ramos may also make the side, as his injury is looking to be cleared for the second leg.

Predicted Lineup:

Mendy, Christensen, Silva, Rudiger, James, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Pulisic, Havertz.

Kovacic’s absence means the possibility of a Kante and Jorginho midfield two is on the cards. Azpilicueta may start ahead of Reece, but I’m hopeful to see James start, as I believe he can make more of an impact as a wing back. Mount suffered a scare when he left the pitch against Fulham following a harsh landing on his back, but the Player of the Season favourite should be well enough to start the match. I’ve gone with Havertz over Werner as the 21-year-old netted twice against Fulham, which surely puts him in the running for a start.

Players to watch:

N’Golo Kante: NG has time and time again proved the doubters wrong, as the Frenchman continues to improve tirelessly. Kante won the Man of the Match award in the first leg, following an exceptional performance in the middle of the park. I really don’t think there was a blade of grass that man didn’t touch last week. More of that please NG.

Karim Benzema: I couldn’t really go with anyone else, as the Frenchman has been admirable this season. Benzema is quietly going under the radar, which I myself think is absolutely mad, but after his equaliser last week, Benzema will be hungry to grab another this evening.

One more step boys, that’s all it is. A jaw dropping fixture awaits us this evening, lets hope our Blues can get the job done.

Written by @mashgreaves