Pedro is in the process of cementing his legacy at Chelsea

Chelsea were not at their best on Saturday, but they did manage to come from behind to take all three points against Watford. Pedro was one of their key players last season and he showed why he should be a regular starter with an impressive attacking performance at Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard was started alongside Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata in a front three after an encouraging display against AS Roma during the week.
It didn’t take long for the 30-year-old to make his mark on the game as he scored the opening goal with a superb finish at the beginning of the first half. The reason why Pedro has become a prominent figure under Antonio Conte is his movement and quality in the final third. There are few better finishers at the club and his ability to make the most of his opportunities makes him a good player to have alongside the two higher-profile attacking options.
During the match, he attempted three shots and offered good support to Morata and Hazard. Opposition defenders are often focused on those two, which means that there is space for the third attacker to exploit if he is on his game. Pedro is excellent at making intelligent runs to threaten the opposition defence.
Aside from his direct goal threat, Pedro made three key passes during the match against Watford and contributed the assist for the equalising goal. It was a good cross in to find Michy Batshuayi and the former Barcelona man displayed a calmness that was alluding many other at the time. Chelsea were up against it and the pressure was on to avoid a third successive Premier League defeat. This is why his assist was so impressive and serves as another indication that he is a player for the big occasion.

Work rate isn’t a trait often linked to players that have come up through La Masia and broken through at Barcelona, but Pedro possesses it in spades. For this system to work, Conte needs every player to run himself into the ground for the team and Pedro did that on Saturday. His effort and commitment didn’t drop, even when the team went 2-1 down and he should be commended for that. His defensive contribution can be shown by the two ball recoveries that he completed during the match.
Has he cemented his legacy at Chelsea?
The 30-year-old is often forgotten about in discussions of Chelsea’s most important players. There are a lot of good players in the Blues’ squad and their first eleven is filled with talent. However, there is nobody that possesses the winning mentality that Pedro has. The only other player that rivals him in this area is compatriot Cesc Fabregas.
During his career, Pedro has won 14 major trophies, including five La Ligas, three Champions Leagues, a World Cup and a European Championships. The attacker has been to the very top of the European game and established himself as a key player at two of the continent’s best clubs. At Barcelona, he was a vital part of the team built by Pep Guardiola and it was the legendary Spanish manager that brought him into senior football.
His time at the Nou Camp was filled with trophies and he showed his attacking quality by contributing goals and assists to a star-studded Barcelona team. However, there were always doubts regarding his ability, as he had only played for dominant Barcelona and Spain teams. His critics argued that it was an easy environment to star in and that Pedro had yet to prove he was a top European player in his own right.

Although he had been excellent for Barcelona since breaking through from the academy, there was no longer a guaranteed place for him in 2015. Los Cules had a world-class front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. Pedro’s opportunities were limited and at the age of 28, it was important that he was playing regularly. Chelsea, who were champions of England at the time, came in for him and signed the attacker for £21 million.
BBC Sport reported the following quotes when the deal was announced:
“I am very happy to be here. I am very excited to start my adventure at Chelsea and I am here to keep winning titles,”
He saw it as a chance to keep winning titles, but there will have been a private motivation to prove his ability outside of the Barcelona bubble. It wasn’t an easy first campaign as Chelsea were in a state of civil war as the players took on Jose Mourinho. Despite winning the Premier League in the previous season, the Blues were a shadow of their former selves and finished in a lowly 10th position. Pedro arrived at a poor time, but seven goals and two assists with a goal involvement every 227.1 offered a little encouragement.
This wasn’t an elite level of attacking contribution, but given the circumstances, it showed that Pedro could be a success in England. After Antonio Conte arrived in the summer of 2016, the Spaniard was forgotten and few expected him to play a prominent role under the Italian, but he has become an important player during the last 12 months.
Since the appointment of Conte, Pedro has featured in 43 of the 47 Premier League matches, starting the majority of them. He has contributed 11 goals and 11 assists, with a goal involvement every 116 minutes. This is excellent and underlines the quality that Pedro does possess in the final third. He isn’t the star of the current Chelsea team, but he is a reliable supporting actor.

The move to Stamford Bridge was a huge risk for Pedro as he was leaving Barcelona for the first time in his career and there were no guarantees that he would find success. Although the struggles that Chelsea were going through at the time weren’t helpful to him making the transition, the fact that he made it through those underlines his ability and character.
His publicly-stated goal was to win more trophies and he has added the Premier League to his vast array of honours. Pedro played a huge role in that success and operated in a similar spot to the one he had at Barcelona. He operates out of the spotlight and quietly goes about providing goals and assists on a consistent basis. At Barcelona, Lionel Messi was the star and at Chelsea, Eden Hazard is the centre of attention.
That won’t bother Pedro. Now at 30-years-old, he is approaching an interesting time in his career. His performance against Watford showed that he can still make a difference for Chelsea and consolidated his position as a first-team regular. The Spaniard has achieved nearly everything there is to do in European football, but he remains hungry and that is what makes him a great player. His spell at Barcelona brought him to the world’s attention, but it will be his time with Chelsea that brings him respect.

Chelsea fans not impressed with Willian performance after Man City loss

Chelsea were outclassed and comfortably defeated by title rivals Manchester City on Saturday, suffering a 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.

Kevin De Bruyne was Manchester City’s hero, netting superbly midway through the second half.

The Blues never really threatened Pep Guardiola’s side across the 90 minutes and now find themselves six points adrift of both Manchester clubs in the English Premier League table.

Their cause was not helped by an injury to Alvaro Morata, who had to be substituted in the 35th minute due to an apparent hamstring injury. His replacement was Willian and the Brazilian was largely ineffective for the rest of the match.

He was the man Chelsea fans were least impressed with and they’re growing increasingly frustrated with the 28-year-old’s performances after a series of poor displays. The attacker hasn’t scored once this season.

Antonio Conte blamed for Chelsea’s loss to Manchester City

Chelsea 0 – Manchester City 1

Manchester City picked up a huge win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side continued their impressive form this season with a fine attacking display against the Premier League champions.

Kevin De Bruyne bagged the only goal of the game in the second half with a fine left footed strike past international team mate Thibaut Courtois.

It was a slick goal deserving of winning any game.

And, Chelsea could have few complaints, since Manchester City looked threatening up until scoring the winner.

Was Antonio Conte to blame for Chelsea’s loss to Manchester City?
Despite winning the Premier League in his first season in charge, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is taking quite a lot of flack for losing to Manchester City.

Whilst some have criticised the fact Michy Batshuayi was not introduced for the injured Alvaro Morata, many others felt Conte prepared for a defeat long before kick off.

Conte was unhappy that the game was scheduled on Saturday with his side playing at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

At least one more day’s rest for Manchester City

In comparison, Manchester City played at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
By constantly banging on about the lack of rest his players were afforded, Conte ensured his players had a ready made excuse.

And, as is pointed out on the video below from Sunday Supplement, Conte was complaining about the September schedule ever since the fixtures were released in the summer.

Antonio Conte usually bounces back in style…

This criticism comes as rumours emerge that Antonio Conte will leave Chelsea at the end of the 2017/2018 season.

Critics of Conte would do well to remember that Chelsea suffered at this time last season, losing in successive games to Arsenal and Liverpool.

The Blues then bounced back with a 13-game winning run that eventually propelled them to win the Premier League.

“We needed to take this risk” – Conte defends tactical gamble

Alvaro Morata had to come off in the first half yesterday, with the Spanish forward feeling his hamstring.
There was a suspicion around the ground that the striker had known about this problem, and his coach had gambled on his fitness.

When Morata came off it was clear that it was not a new problem. He knew that was hurting and so did the physios. Willian was warmed up and ready to come on and knew his role. The departing Morata didn’t even speak to Conte, who clearly had been braced for this eventuality.

The gamble on Morata’s fitness had failed, but when asked about playing the forward in three consecutive games the manager defended his decision:

b:1/twitter-widget-0FollowNizaar Kinsella✔‎@NizaarKinsellaConte on Morata fitness: "It is normal when you play three games in only seven days to consider this aspect but we needed to take this risk"8:18 PM - Sep 30, 201711 Reply1919 Retweets4242 likesTwitter Ads info and privacy

Hindsight is always 20-20, but in the end it was a call that really backfired. Without Morata Chelsea had no shape and they rarely threatened after his first half departure. Conte has got most of his calls right since joining Chelsea, he can’t get them all right.

The Stats Don't Lie: Chelsea Have Lost All EPL Games Moses Didn't Feature This Season

Whilst Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr and the Super Eagles faithful would have been delighted that Antonio Conte benched Victor Moses in the Premier League match of the weekend between Chelsea and Manchester City, it appears a negative trend has started for the champions.

The 1-0 loss suffered at Stamford Bridge against the Citizens meant Chelsea have lost both of the Premier League games the Nigerian didn't figure in the current campaign.

Moses had to sit out their opening day 3-2 loss to Burnley because he was ineligible due to the red card he received in the final of the Emirates FA Cup in the last competitive game of the 2016-2017 season.

Conte stuck to a 3-5-2 formation against Man City, bringing in Rudiger and Christensen while Spanish defender Azpilicueta replaced the Nigerian at right wing-back.

Chelsea were outplayed and constantly being out-possessed by Manchester City, with Moses's replacement Azpilicueta offering nothing offensively.

The last time Chelsea lost a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge which Moses started was back in the 2012-2013 season when they were beaten 1-0 by Queens Park Rangers on January 2, 2013.

CONTE REPORTEDLY SET TO LEAVE… 

Antonio Conte will reportedly leave Chelsea at the end of the season, according to Duncan Castles, writing in the Sunday Times .

The report suggests the relationship between Conte and the board is disintegrating as he fails to connect with Roman Abramovich.

Conte is said to be unhappy about the level of control he has at the club, a problem that has been cited by several managers over the years.
It is believed that Conte is favouring a return to Serie A with AC Milan touted as one of the clubs that could tempt him back to his home country.

Conte was linked with an exit from Chelsea over the summer after lifting the Premier League title at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian head coach did not sign a contract extension over the summer, but instead signing an improved deal, putting further doubts over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

The news surfaces just hours after Chelsea fell to another home defeat against Manchester City, leaving them six points behind the league leaders.

Chelsea considering shock swoop for 30-year-old Europe’s deadly No.9

As per the French media outlets, Chelsea are among the clubs considering a surprise January swoop for unsettled Paris Saint-Germain centre-forward Edinson Cavani.
The future of Uruguay international at the Parc des Princes is in serious doubt after a high-profile row with his new teammate Neymar on the pitch during the win over Lyon.
The reports have suggested that Neymar wants the former Napoli man sold after the dispute, which saw them come to blows on more than one occasion over who should be on set-piece duty.
Paris Saint-Germain have spent £199m on Neymar in the summer and the Brazilian striker is now their undisputed star, with speculation growing that 30-year-old Cavani could be offloaded as soon as the transfer window re-opens in the winter.
The Daily Mail reported that Chelsea are believed to be one of the most realistic suitors, but Everton, Inter Milan, Juventus, Napoli and Borussia Dortmund are also interested.
There are various complications over the Uruguayan’s exit, however, with Cavani looking to maintain a decent pay packet, play in the Champions League and continue to be the first choice up front.
PSG are looking to sell players this January, however, as they are under pressure to adhere to Uefa’s Financial Fair Play regulations after a summer of heavy spending.

THE MOST HATED PLAYER IN ENGLAND, DIEGO COSTA LEAVES CHELSEA AS AN ANTI-HERO

The controversial striker will return to Atletico Madrid but he should be remembered fondly by all Chelsea fans for everything he did for the club
Hey, Premier League, who is going to be your pantomime villain now?! Diego Costa is returning to Atletico Madrid, meaning English football needs a new Public Enemy No.1.

The striker's exit from Chelsea has somewhat damaged his reputation amongst the fans, but when the dust has settled, he should be remembered as the truly fantastic player who made huge contributions to two league titles.

Costa won't go down as a true Blues legend like Didier Drogba but he nonetheless made a massive impact at Stamford Bridge, with 58 goals in 120 games in all competitions.
He could have been as good as the Ivorian but the Spain international was involved in dust-ups throughout his time in England - his most recent leading to his departure.
A training-ground dispute with Antonio Conte ultimately prompted the Blues boss to inform Costa that his services were no longer required via text message, an ignominious end for such a passionate servant of the club.
Costa undoubtedly always gave 100 per cent. He struggled to get to grips with the English language but he had no issue getting his vibrant personality across to the fans with his fiery performances on the pitch.

On the pitch, his commitment to the Chelsea cause was total, his intensity immense. He was willing to do whatever it took - even fight dirty - in order to win silverware for all three of the coaches he played under.

Premier League defenders feared Costa. He not only scored goals but also had the physique to bully defenders and the technique to link up to deadly effect with the likes of Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian.
Despite struggling to adapt to English culture, he adapted easily to the English style of football. Indeed, he was an old-school No.9, a throwback to a bygone era.
Bobby Tambling - Chelsea's all-time top scorer for 47 years before Frank Lampard overtook his tally of 202 goals - is in no doubt that Costa would have also thrived in the more aggressive age in which he played.

"A player like Costa would be on every manager's wish-list," Tambling told Goal . "He scores goals anywhere he goes.
"He's not a Luis Suarez [in terms of skill] or anything like that, but his desire is so great.

"He is a wonderful player. He would have been a good player in any era of football."
Costa also brought smiles to the Chelsea dressing room. He was the joker in the pack, a prankster none of his team-mates could afford to turn their back on.
He was good with the young fans but he had no interest in dealing with English journalists, whom he believed had it in for him.

Costa took the mantle on from Luis Suarez as the most hated player in England, after the former Liverpool player left to add some bite to Barcelona's attack in 2014.
Just like Liverpool fans, Chelsea supporters always defended their anti-hero, who they felt was unfairly treated by both the Football Association (FA) and the media. The hashtag #CostaCrimes emerged as violent conduct charges were handed out.

Costa will sadly not play football for a further three months because of Atletico's inability to register players until January on account of their transfer ban, but the Rojiblancos know that he will prove worth the wait.

Indeed, Diego Simeone is Costa's friend and a manager who understands him, having chased his signature for over year .

Chelsea's sixth title wouldn't have been achievable had they sold him last summer, or even in January when Tianjin Quanjian were willing to pay more than the £58 million Atletico shelled out.
Blues fans will miss his fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude but the purists will certainly not be sorry to see him go.

However, it is Premier League defenders who will be most delighted to see the back of him - and that is the biggest compliment one can pay to the inimitable Diego Costa.

Chelsea won't appeal David Luiz red card, Conte confirms

Chelsea defender David Luiz

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has confirmed they will not appeal David Luiz's red card against Arsenal.

The Brazil centre-back was sent off for a crude lunge on Sead Kolasinac during the closing stages of the 0-0 Premier League draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Conte had suggested an appeal could be lodged, having felt David Luiz was fouled by Alexis Sanchez in the build-up to the incident.

However, speaking ahead of Wednesday's EFL Cup clash with Nottingham Forest, he confirmed no further action would be taken.

"No, I think the situation was very clear," he told a news conference when asked if they would be appealing. 

"It was a fall before the tackle but now it's important to move on and to look at the next game."

Conte refused to comment on rumours of a new bid from Atletico Madrid for Diego Costa.

The striker failed to secure a return to the Spanish capital before the transfer window closed but Atleti are reported to have tabled an offer of £57milion to sign him in January.

However, when asked about the reports, Conte refused to respond, prompting Chelsea's press officer to state: "We never respond to transfer speculation."

Sunday's draw has left the champions three points behind Manchester City and Manchester United after five matches, but Conte says he is not concerned by the form of Chelsea's title rivals.

"The best way is to look at ourselves," he said. "We need to work together and continue to improve.

"You know very well the difficulty to win this league. For sure, we want to try to fight until the end and I think we are a good team and we want to try to do this in the league, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

"Only one team will win but it is important to try your best. 

"You know very well, in England, there are six top teams. The Manchester teams are in these six teams. It is normal for United and City to be competitive and fight for the title."

‘I improved after a week with Conte at Chelsea’ – Chelsea star: A sly dig at Jose Mourinho?

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard has said that Antonio Conte makes everyone work extra hard in the training grounds but he has personally improved a lot since the Italian’s arrival at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard said , “Even after a week I think I had progressed with him.

“But I think he’s shown not just at Chelsea but also at Juve that he’s a good coach and I think he has some good years ahead of him.”

Hazard, who is set to make his first club start of the campaign against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup Wednesday following an injury-interrupted pre-season, added: “There’s a lot of tactics. It’s not always nice as a forward as you have to run, defend and everything, but at least at the weekend, you know exactly what to do, you can even close your eyes and play. That’s good.

“We work a lot. It’s not always easy in training, there are a lot of hours of training, but it bears fruit on the pitch. We play well, we won last year. You can see that that’s the key to success: work.”
Hazard spent two years under the managerial regim of Jose Mourinho where he won the Premier League, Europa League and the EFL Cup.

Chelsea boss Conte says Kenedy will face Forest: He deserves second chance here

C helsea boss Antonio Conte is ready to hand Kenedy a new chance for their Carabao Cup tie with Nottingham Forest.
Kenedy is also set to make his first appearance since being sent from the club's pre-season tour of China.

The Brazilian was not played since making inappropriate social media posts, which Chelsea were forced to apologise for and saw the player given a formal warning by the FA.

"I think he knows very well what happened in China. For sure, he made a mistake," said Conte.

"But I think that everyone in their life can make a mistake. Now he's focused, he's working very well, he understood his mistake.

"Now he's ready. He's ready to play and to show he deserves a space for the future."

Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest: Antonio Conte name three starters ahead of Carabao clash

Two former European Champions in Chelsea and Nottingham Forest clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup.

The fixture looks like a mere formality for the Premier League Champions, even if manager Antonio Conte makes significant changes to his lineup.
Chelsea are currently lying third in the Premier League table, and they once again look like serious title challengers.
The Blues seem to be in a three-way battle with Manchester United and Manchester City for the Premier League title.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest currently occupies the 10th position on the Championship log and struggling to be consistent in the league.

The Championship side has lost three matches and won two of their last five fixtures. But those victories were impressive wins; away at Premier League side Newcastle United in the last round of the League cup, and away at Sunderland in a Championship match.

Italian tactician Antonio Conte on Tuesday faced the media before the Forest Carabao Cup game.

The former Juventus head coach confirmed that Belgium international attacker Eden Hazard will start for the Blues on Wednesday night against Forest.

Eden Hazard has been steadily recuperating from injury which made him miss the entire pre-season program of the West London club.

Conte also hinted that youngsters Charly Musonda and Kenedy will be picked for the Forest match.

Elsewhere, Spain international Pedro is out of the game, while England international Danny Drinkwater is also out with an injury.

Brazil international defender David Luiz is suspended for this tie after being red carded against Arsenal.

Chelsea fans unhappy about Conte’s bizarre idea

One of the things most commonly highlighted by football fans as an example of Antonio Conte’s genius as a coach was his reinvention of Victor Moses as a right wing back.

The Italian spotted that the Nigerian had the tools to become a successful player in that position, and then coached him into one of the most threatening players at that position in the league.
The side that went on to win the title last year featured Moses – a former winger – as a key component.

But following today’s press conference, when the Italian manager suggested he thought skinny trickster Charly Musonda might be a player who could play in the notoriously physically demanding wing back role, Chelsea fans have not reacted well to the idea.

Goal.com journalist Nizaar Kinsella asked about the Belgian’s future, and the responses to his tweet about Conte’s reply tell you everything you need to know about how that suggestion went down with the fans…

Belgian star wants to play alongside key Chelsea man

Paris Saint-Germain full-back Thomas Meunier would back any move the team made for Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois.
There has been a dispute over whether Kevin Trapp or Alphonse Areola should be between the sticks for the Ligue 1 leaders, especially after a blunder from the latter in Metz last week should have cost his side a goal.
Despite an assured display from the ex France Under-21 keeper in the 5-0 win at Celtic Park on Tuesday, it is a problem that is likely to rumble on, with Courtois, 25, one of the players touted as a possible replacement.
Meunier would be an admirer of such a trade.
“He’s very strong, Courtois. He wouldn’t be bad at PSG,”
“We’ve already got two good goalkeepers, but Thibaut also has the profile, I think. He’s very big – nearly two metres tall.” – the Belgium international told Le Parisien.
The duo teamed up on international duty most earlier at the star of the month when Meunier netted a remarkable hat-trick in a 9-0 victory over Gibraltar before Belgium defeated Greece 2-1 in Athens in which the PSG man built Romelu Lukaku’s winner.

Here Is The Player To Replace David Luiz In His Absence

It appears Chelsea boss Antonio Conte isn’t feeling disturbed over the red card received by David Luiz during the London Derby against Arsenal on Sunday, and he is indicating that Andreas Christensen won’t make him miss his Brazilian defender during his suspension.
David won’t be featuring for his side in their next three domestic fixtures after being shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Sead Kolasinac at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
Luiz won’t be available for the League Cup game against Nottingham Forest this week, and will also miss the English top flight games against Stoke and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

And Christensen, who came on in the 89th minute against the gunners, will be the one to take the place of Luiz while he’s away.
Andreas has only started just one premier league game for the premier league champions this season so far (the 2-1 win over Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur), but he has made few other appearances.
The Dane came on late in a couple of Chelsea games and was the one Conte sent to fill in for Gary Cahill’s suspension during the opening game of the season.
And speaking after the 0-0 tie with Arsenal, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte showed great confidence in Christensen.

“[Andreas] is a good player and I trust him” the Italian boss said.
Christensen was also given a start in the Champions League group game with FK Qarabag which his side won 6-0, and he will look forward to impressing his manager in their next three games.

Eden Hazard could start against Nottingham Forest - Antonio Conte

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has confirmed that star playmaker Eden Hazard could make his first Blues start of the season when they host Nottingham Forest in the third round of the League Cup On Wednesday.

The 26-year-old missed the first few weeks of the campaign with an ankle injury, but he has since played cameo roles in the games against Leicester City, Qarabag and Arsenal.

Conte has been cautious about Hazard's situation of late, but he is now prepared to play him from the off during the midweek clash against Nottingham Forest.

"The last 20 minutes [against Arsenal], Hazard played very well," he is quoted as saying by Evening Standard after his side's goalless draw against Arsenal on Sunday.

"Now, on Wednesday, he will have the possibility to start the game against Nottingham Forest and complete his recovery. We hope that everything is okay after this game."

Hazard has previously featured for 74 minutes in Belgium's 9-0 triumph over Gibraltar during a recent World Cup qualifier, but Conte has decided to stay patient in order to avoid any injury setback for the attacker.

The 26-year-old was a key contributor towards Chelsea's Premier League triumph last season as he provided 16 goals and a further five assists in 36 appearances.

Cahill's Views on 0-0 Draw with Arsenal

Gary Cahill returned to the starting eleven this afternoon, having missed the last three Premier League games courtesy of the red card he received on the opening day of the season, against Burnley.
When the team-sheet was announced, some of the Vital Chelsea membership thought it wasn`t the right move, a little disappointed that Antonio Rudiger had been benched.

Cahill, at times, looked a little rusty but, on the whole, did okay.
After the game, Cahill gave his thoughts to the media about the Chelsea performance, remarking,

'It is frustrating, a good, competitive London derby. There wasn't much in the game, played in the right manner.
'We had a lot of possession in the first half and tried to create but it felt frustrating. They defended well, we couldn't open them up."

And with regards to the red-card David Luiz received, Cahill further remarked,
'I didn't see the red card properly but David Luiz thought he was fouled beforehand."

And on getting back on track after that opening day defeat at the hands of Burnley, Cahill further added,
"We have responded well to losing on the opening day and got some strong results. We take the point and we move on.'
Next up for Chelsea is a League Cup game, at Stamford Bridge, against Nottingham Forest, followed by a trip to take on Stoke City at the BET365 Stadium.

'Luiz should have seen red sooner'

David Luiz should have been sent off sooner, says Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness says David Luiz should have seen red sooner against Arsenal because of a high boot on Laurent Koscielny.

The Chelsea defender was given a yellow card in the 52nd minute as he attempted an overhead kick in a packed box, catching Arsenal captain Koscielny in the face and sending him to the floor.

Following similar tackles from Sadio Mane and Matt Ritchie last weekend - the Liverpool man was sent off while the Newcastle winger only received a yellow - Souness believes Luiz should have been given his marching orders.

"I'm struggling to understand why this is seen differently to Sadio Mane's one," Souness told
Sky Sports.

"He's gone for the ball, he's endangering an opposition player and I think that's a red. The fact he's in the six-yard box, he'll be aware that he's around bodies.

"He's upset with Alexis Sanchez, he barges him out of the way and forgets to play football. Because he's upset with Sanchez, he takes his frustration out on Kolasinac. It's a red, no doubt."
There was a final thought for Souness on the red card, who said: "It's reckless. The game is 0-0, he's frustrated, he hasn't had a good day but that is a leg breaker. It's a red card plus."

Antonio Conte confirms Chelsea superstar on the verge of fully recovering from injury

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has revealed that Eden Hazard is “close to being fully fit”, as the winger prepares to rotate his side for the Premier League clash against Arsenal.

The Belgian superstar missed the start of the new campaign because of a broken ankle sustained while on international duty back in June.

Hazard featured twice for his national side during the recent international break and he was brought off the bench for the Blues versus both Leicester City and Qarabag in the last week.

Antonio Conte did not confirm whether he intends to start the 26-year-old attacker when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but he hinted that captain Gary Cahill may return to the fold following his domestic suspension.

During his interview, Conte said: “For sure Eden is improving and is very close to being fully fit. I think he’s improving a lot. Gary came back against Qarabag and played very well, a good performance. I am pleased for him. I have another day to reflect and then make the best decision for Sunday.

“The best target is to try to make the best decision for every game and to try to win. Winning is very important and the answer from all my players in the last game was positive. I was pleased with their commitment. Now there is another tough game and I have another day to check the physical condition of my players.”

PERSONALITY CLASH Chelsea vs Arsenal: Antonio Conte brilliantly nails the 3-4-3 formation but Arsene Wenger’s team lack the discipline required to make it work

Chelsea’s Antonio Conte is a stickler for a plan, for organisation, for rigid structure. Everyone knows their role.

Arsene Wenger will need to make sure his team show more discipline when they take on the ultra-organised Chelsea side that Antonio Conte has put together
They are drilled, drilled and drilled again. I bet it can almost become boring during training — but it works.

Arsene Wenger , on the other hand, gives
Arsenal’s players freedom to express themselves. The team is more fluid, less governed, more impulsive.

You could argue Conte is more successful with Juventus and Chelsea .
But Wenger has the edge in their last few meetings, particularly winning the FA Cup final last season.

For my money though, Conte is the man with the plan.

Look at Chelsea’s average player position map for last weekend’s 2-1 win at Leicester . It is incredible.

Chelsea VS Arsenal, The Game That Can Make Or Break A Season

Chelsea will face Arsenal in their 5th round of match of Premier League on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are currently in electrifying form with consecutive 4 wins in all competitions. They will surely wish to extend their winning streak on Sunday but the task will not be very easy against the Gunners.
The North London Derby took place in the Community Shield this season one month back and Arsenal had won the Shield with a 2-1 win. In the FA Cup Final also Arsenal were emerged victorious against Chelsea with the same scoreline. These two defeats in recent times will surely haunt Antonio Conte and Chelsea players ahead of this clash.
Chelsea thrashed Qarabag FK with an emphatic margin of 6-0 on Tuesday. Davide Zappacosta was sensational for them in that match. He has scored one and provided one assist. They were also victorious against Leicester City in the weekend in the Premier League with a scoreline of 2-1. They have earned 9 points in their 4 outings so far in the Premier League.
Arsenal had also won their back to back two matches and came back strongly after their shock defeat against Stoke City. They had defeated Bournemouth in the previous weekend with a decent margin of 3-0 and emerged victorious against the German side FC Koln with a scoreline of 3-1 in their opening match of Europa League. Though their performance were not up to the satisfactory mark on Thursday but at the end they had managed to sneak a win from trailing by one goal in the first half.
Team News :
Chelsea :
Many players were rested in the midweek clash against Qarabag in the Champions League. David Luiz will surely make a comeback in the starting line up in place of Christensen and Gary Cahill is expected to retain his place ahead of Antonio Rudiger after coming back from a three match ban.
Kante and Bakayoko are expected to start against Arsenal on Sunday and Danny Drinkwater is unavailable due to a sustained calf muscle injury. Eden Hazard may be in the starting line up if Conte thinks that the player is in fully fit condition. Alvaro Morata will surely start in the upfront after getting rest against Qarabag few days back.
Arsenal :
Arsene Wenger had also rotated his starting line up heavily against FC Koln in the Europa League match on Thursday. Petr Cech is expected to start at goal after being rested in the midweek match. Koscielny and Mustafi will make a comeback in the defense of the Gunners. Kolasniac and Bellerin will start at both the flanks . Xhaka and Ramsey are expected to take the heart of the midfield. Alexis may also start in the upfront along with Ozil and Lacazette. Welbeck will come in his place if Wenger thinks that Sanchez is fully exhausted after the match against FC Koln just three days ago.
Predicted First Eleven :
Chelsea :(3-4-3)
Goalkeeper : Thibaut Courtois.
Defenders : Gary Cahill, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta.
Midfielders : Marcos Alonso, N Golo Kante, Timoue Bakayoko, Davide Zappacosta.
Attackers : Pedro, Morata, Hazard.
Arsenal : (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper : Petr Cech.
Defenders : Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal.
Midfielders : Kolasniac, Xhaka, Ramsey, Bellerin.
Attackers : Sanchez, Ozil, Lacazette.
My Prediction :
Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal

Antonio Conte reveals great news for fans ahead of Arsenal clash

Antonio Conte has announced that Chelsea winger Eden Hazard is “close to being fully fit”, as he plans to rotate his team for the Premier League meeting against Arsenal.

The Belgian missed the start of the new campaign because of a damaged ankle suffered while on international duty with Belgium in June.

The attacker played twice for his national team during the last international break, however, and he was taken off the bench for Chelsea against both Leicester City and Qarabag in the last week.

The Italian did not prove whether he plans to start the ex Lille ace when the North Londoners visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday. However, he hinted that captain Gary Cahill might return to the fold after his domestic ban.

“For sure Eden is improving and is very close to being fully fit. I think he’s improving a lot, Gary came back against Qarabag and played very well a good performance. I am pleased for him. I have another day to reflect and then make the best decision for Sunday.

“The best target is to try to make the best decision for every game and to try to win. Winning is very important, and the answer from all my players in the last game was positive. I was pleased with their commitment. Now there is another tough game, and I have another day to check the physical condition of my players.” – Conte, who delivered five changes in midweek, told journalists.

Fabregas: Wenger like a father to me

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has described Arsene Wenger as a father figure and insists he still has a lot of affection for Arsenal.

The Spain international spent eight years under Wenger in north London before being sold back to Barcelona in 2011.

Fabregas became a leading figure at the Gunners but they declined to take up the option to sign him back in 2014, allowing him to move to rivals Chelsea, where he has since won two Premier League titles in three seasons.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's derby clash between the sides at Stamford Bridge, the 30-year-old says Arsenal still hold a special place in his heart despite his decision to sign for Jose Mourinho three years ago.

Asked if Arsenal were like an "old girlfriend", he told Sky Sports: "I wouldn't call it that. It's much more than that, because sometimes an old girlfriend you lose connection with, you don't feel anything for after years.

"I feel very attached, even now, to Arsenal. My feelings for the club, well I don't have to repeat myself, every single time we play against them, because it's known. Whoever doesn't believe me, or doesn't feel it is this way, is not right. I know how I feel, my family does, and that's all that matters to me.

"Once I made the decision to leave Barcelona, Arsenal had the first option, and Barcelona had the obligation to contact Arsenal first. Then they had a week to basically respond yes or no to the buy-out clause.

Chelsea And United Have The Will To Win

DeeIt`s interesting how the Premier League is panning out, now the season is up and running and the transfer window signing have all settled in.With Chelsea`s transfer dealings appearing to the leave the current champions short on squad numbers, as ever, they were written off as possible contenders for the title this time round.

At the start the season the two teams considered most likely to finish top of the table were the two Manchester clubs. Four games in an that`s how it`s still looking. City have got off to a flier, but let`s not forget, they did last year. United, under Jose Mourinho, look to have a team more than capable of competing on all fronts. Add to that Mourinho`s second season syndrome, where he generally wins whatever league he`s competing in, and for United the signs are good.

Meanwhile, down in that London, Arsenal are continuing where they left off last season, in some respects. The 'Wenger Out` cries are still there, despite a couple of decent results. The recent capitulation to Liverpool, shows they still have a weak underbelly. Something Chelsea should look to exploit this lunchtime.

Over at Wembley, Tottenham have still not conquered their problems, being away from White Hart Lane. With the old ground, now in ruins, Mauricio Pochettino's side have to try and get used to playing at the National Stadium. To be fair it`s not a place they`ve, historically, visited much, so maybe it does take some getting used to. That aside, they are a good team, maybe they`re just finding out what it`s like to be considered good and to have every other club trying to beat you. Inevitably, the smaller Premier League teams will relish a trip to Wembley, and as such raise their game.
Back up to the North-West and the two 'media darling` clubs from Liverpool.
Everton sold Romelu Lukaku and spent big, bringing in a number of new signings, in an effort to push for a top four spot. With Ronald Koeman being tipped as a future Barcelona manager, the Toffees, ought to be on the way up. Sadly for them, they are discovering, that, unlike Chelsea you can`t just snap your fingers, buy some new players and win the title. There`s more to it than that, there has to be a cohesion that runs throughout the club. Despite Chelsea`s, at times dysfunctional behaviour as a club, there is a winning mentality.

Jurgen Klopp`s Liverpool are once again flattering to deceive. At times they are unstoppable, they attack with pace, as Arsenal found out but are still vulnerable in defence. The potential ruination of their season, will surely come as a result of screwing up the Virgil Van Dijk transfer. Not only did they fail to sign the Dutchman but they didn`t have an alternative, it was a case of win or bust. With Klopp now in his third season at Liverpool, he ought to be under pressure to win a trophy.

The problem for all these potential wannabe league champions, they don`t have the will to win ingrained in their clubs. Liverpool did back in the eighties, undoubtedly, but somewhere in amongst their takeover by foreign investment, it has disappeared. Everton and Tottenham have never really reached the heights of success in the modern era of football. They have not been able to compete with the, so called, bigger teams in terms of the pay structure amongst their squads.
Although, hated by most, Chelsea do have a will to win, and that`s why there is such a dislike for Chelsea Football Club.

Manchester United have it as well, With Mourinho in charge success will return to Old Trafford, for a time anyway. The nouveau riche, at City are not there yet but with Pep Guardiola in charge, expect it. Then there`s Arsene Wenger`s Arsenal side. Unfortunately for those who support the Gunner`s, outstanding as Wenger was when he first arrived, the will to win has gone, he`s lost it, and with it, he lost the players and the fans as well. Until he sees it and goes, it won`t be back.

Jamie Redknapp states his prediction for Chelsea v Arsenal

Jamie Redknapp believes Chelsea will be too strong for Arsenal when the title rivals meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners will make the short trip across London hoping to re-establish their title credentials following an uninspiring start to the Premier League campaign.

Arsenal were unconvincing 4-3 winners against Leicester City in their season opener at The Emirates before a narrow 1-0 loss to Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium.

The north London side endured a difficult afternoon at Anfield as Liverpool eased to resounding 4-0 in the final round of Premier League fixtures before last month’s international break.

Arsenal did ease to a 3-0 win against Bournemouth last time out but questions marks remain about the Gunners’ midfield and defence following their shaky start to the campaign.

Chelsea, on the other hand, have won their last three Premier League games since bouncing back from a shock 3-2 loss to Burnley on the opening day of the campaign.

However, Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Community Shield and the FA Cup at Wembley in their last two competitive meetings.

Former Liverpool and Spurs midfielder Redknapp believes Chelsea will have too much power for Arsene Wenger’s team in their Premier League meeting at Stamford Bridge this Sunday.

“Arsenal players will have a good feeling against Chelsea after beating them in their last two matches. Can they do it again?” Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“I personally don’t think they can. I think Chelsea will be too powerful for them again, which is a major problem for Arsenal.
“If Arsenal are to have a chance they have to be as close and compact as they can.”

Did Manchester United Really Try To Sign Willian?

There was not much to expect from the end of the transfer window when it came to Manchester United. Their summer looked very well planned-out meaning that they signed all they needed days before the final day transactions could be made.
Everyone thought the same as there were no problems nor any shortcomings regarding the way the squad looked for the beginning of this Premier League season.
According to Soccernews , there was one last day attempt to bring in a right winger just an hour before the summer transfer window deadline.
Willian was apparently targeted by Mourinho who is known for being a believer in the destabilization of rivals through market moves and has worked successfully with the Samba star in his second time at Chelsea. Even though the Brazilian winger is world-class, United didn’t really need him right now.
Jose Mourinho can use formations that allow several different players to work both within wide and narrow formations, while still feeling comfortable on the pitch. The squad have the speed, the skill and the stamina to do whatever Willian could have done if he joined the Red-Devils.
Honestly, it is hard to believe this bid was really made as Willian has become a first team regular at Chelsea this season under Antonio Conte and possibly would have had more serious competition at Old Trafford than at Stamford Bridge.
As long as Luke Shaw returns to form United do not seem to lack depth in any of the key positions.

£40m star rejected Chelsea because of Antonio Conte

ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN’S decision to turn down a move to Chelsea was due to Antonio Conte’s plan to play him at right wing-back.
Chelsea agreed a £40million deal with Arsenal for Oxlade-Chamberlain and held talks with the player about a move to Stamford Bridge.
But the 24-year-old ended negotiations as he wanted to join Liverpool and the Anfield club obliged by also reaching an agreement with Arsenal.
On Thursday, the England international completed his move to Merseyside and became Liverpool’s fourth signing of the summer.
However his rejection of a move to Chelsea will have added to the transfer window frustration felt by Conte.
And the Telegraph say, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s reluctance stemmed from Conte’s plans to play him at right wing-back and compete with Victor Moses.
The report then says Oxlade-Chamberlain felt his new manager Jurgen Klopp would be better for his development.
Chelsea were able to bring Danny Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta to the club on deadline day.
And Drinkwater is already looking forward to reuniting with old Leicester team-mate N’Golo Kante.
He said: “I played with N’Golo for a season and there was not really a game I didn’t enjoy playing next to him.
“I think we hit it off from the first game and after that we did not really lose. I am looking forward hopefully to carrying on where we left off.”

Costa inclusion, a punishment?

Following the inclusion of the controversial Chelsea striker, Diego Costa to the 30 man squad to represent the English champions in the 2017 /2018 season sparks soccer fans in the world.
Costa, the Spanish Brazilian who has been on exile following his fall out with the Chelsea coach, Antonio Conte, has continued to air his opinion on the way he was treated at the Bridge and wanted a transfer back to Atletico Madrid.
Costa never hid his opinion on how desperate he would like to return to the Spanish capital and align with his former team, but trying too hard to force his way out and not minding his contract terms with his current employer, CFC.
Atletico Madrid has been banned by FIFA from signing player until January before they can do any addition and that makes Costa situation dicey. Costa has refused to honour his contract by returning to the club for training instead he has hung out somewhere in his native town in Brazil.
The Chelsea board made effort to call him back to come and use the club training facilities to keep him fit but rather he stayed away. He has been claiming to be the innocent victim through his consistent media approach but never speaks of his own actions.
Chelsea submitted a 30 man list to represent them in the Premier League and Costa is included. Now I think Chelsea refused to grant Costa's wish by allowing him to link up with Diego Simone`s Atletico.
Chelsea may not be ready to play him (Costa) in the league but just to show him who is who. His inclusion might just mean to add numbers except if he is ready to apologise and settle a score with the Blues hierarchy.
Costa wanted to do this on his own by not submitting to his employers but his inclusion now into the squad might mean to punish him and deprive him of going to his preferred destinations so far he is under contract.
Your opinion my blue family.