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Graham Potter explains why he subbed Cucurella before halftime

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Graham Potter explains why he subbed Cucurella before halftime
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Graham Potter needed to win some control in the Chelsea midfield.

Chelsea drew 1-1 against Manchester United last night and Marc Cucurella was selected to replace the injured Kalidou Koulibaly last night.

But his night lasted only 36 minutes as he was replaced by Mateo Kovacic just before the half-time whistle.

The former Brighton defender has played only one full game under new manager Graham Potter this season.

Both Cesar Azpilicueta and Ben Chilwell operated as wing-backs against Manchester United last night.

Potter explained his decision to take off Marc Cucurella before half-time.

“The sense in the game was that we were getting a little bit overrun in midfield and we needed an extra player in there to create a bit more pressure and stop them building their attacks, and therefore making it harder for us to build ours,” said Potter of his decision.

“It’s just a feeling I had. It wasn’t an easy decision to make at all but the boys responded really well and gave everything.”

 

See More: Top 5 fastest Chelsea players 2022: current fastest player this season!

Graham Potter gives his verdict on draw with Manchester United

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Graham Potter gives his verdict on draw with Manchester United
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Chelsea remains unbeaten under Graham Potter in all competitions since his appointment in September.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter admits his side’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United at home was a fair result. Speaking to Sky Sports (h/t BBC) after the game, the manager had his say.

“A really fighting performance from us, we improved a lot after 30 minutes so we will take what we get. I thought the players’ attitude on the pitch was great, the boys gave everything in a hard, intense match in the middle of a really busy period. The boys left everything out there. I thought we could’ve attacked a bit better at times. We had chances, they had chances so a point is about right.”

Jorginho gave Chelsea the lead from the spot-kick in the 87th minute after Scott McTominay bought down Armando Broja in the box during the corner kick. The West London club thought they would walk out with all three points, but Casemiro spoiled the party with an injury-time strike.

The Brazilian equalised for the Red Devils during injury time. Kepa Arrizabalaga got his hand to the header, but could not keep it from crossing the line. The referee awarded the goal after looking at his watch for confirmation.

Erik ten Hag’s side enjoyed most of the possession and shots on goals. Chelsea lacked in the midfield as they failed to hold the ball for much longer in the middle of the park.

This result means that Chelsea remains unbeaten under Potter in all competitions since his appointment in September. Chelsea will now move their attention to the Champions League as they will travel to face RB Salzburg this Tuesday. A win there could seal our qualification to the next round.

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Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku to rejoin Inter Milan permanently in 2024

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Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku to rejoin Inter Milan permanently in 2024

Inter Milan’s financial difficulties made it impossible for Lukaku to return permanently.

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly set to stay at Inter Milan on loan next season before completing a permanent return in 2024.

The Belgium star was lured back to Chelsea for a £97.5m fee in the summer of 2021, but he made a rod for his own back within a few months of rejoining.

Lukaku admitted his frustrations with Thomas Tuchel’s system to Italian media and claimed that he was pining for a return to Italy, which saw Tuchel cut him from the first XI.

The former United player ended the 2021-22 campaign with 15 goals and two assists from 44 outings in all competitions.

He only started 16 Premier League games and returned to Inter on loan over the summer.

The Nerazzurri’s financial difficulties made it impossible for Lukaku to return permanently, and he only scored one goal in three appearances before suffering a serious muscular injury.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 29-year-old is poised to remain on loan at Simone Inzaghi’s side for the 2023-24 season, and the two clubs have also agreed an unspecified transfer fee.

The report also adds that rapper Jay-Z has been heavily involved in the saga surrounding Lukaku, as the 52-year-old has a close relationship with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly.

Lukaku has netted 65 goals and provided 17 assists in 98 appearances for Inter across all competitions. He played important role in Inter’s Serie A triumph in 2020/21.

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Graham Potter addresses the contract situation of N’Golo Kante

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Graham Potter addresses the contract situation of N’Golo Kante
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Chelsea manager Graham Potter addresses the contract situation of midfielder N’Golo Kante

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has addressed midfielder N’Golo Kante’s contract predicament, emphasising his priority of getting the player fit.

Kante’s contract at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end. Earlier this season, he declined a verbal offer of an extension, citing reasons for preferring a longer term in the contract.

The Frenchman suffered a hamstring injury against Tottenham Hotspur in the second game of the season and has been out since. The latest information concerning his injuries has been scathing. The 31-year-old is expected to miss many months of activity, which means he will miss France’s World Cup defence in Qatar.

Kante’s injury problems have persisted for the past few seasons. Despite his undeniable talent on the field, the Frenchman’s availability is quickly becoming a stumbling block for the team.

Right now, the focus is on his health, but beginning January 1, the 31-year-old may negotiate with international teams about signing a pre-contract deal.

Should Chelsea take a gamble and provide him the contract he desires? The solution is not based on evidence from the present or recent past. As excellent as he has been over the previous six years, the Frenchman’s age and lack of availability cannot be overlooked.

The greatest answer would be to let the player get in shape, hope that he has a strong second half of the season, and then give him a send-off that everyone will remember. He earns it after helping Chelsea win the Premier League in 2017 and the Champions League in 2021.

 

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Chelsea keeping tabs on Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie

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Chelsea keeping tabs on Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie
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McKennie is a central midfielder who can offer his services in both boxes.

Chelsea are keeping tabs on Juventus and USA international midfielder Weston McKennie.

According to a Substack column from journalist Simon Phillips (h/t Football.London), the Blues are keeping close tabs on Juventus and USA men’s national team midfielder Weston McKennie.

McKennie arrived at Juventus from Bundesliga side Schalke in the summer of 2020. The 24-year-old has been one of the prominent figures in the team. Despite the team’s lack of form, the midfielder has had a decent campaign so far, which has attracted interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.

McKennie is a central midfielder who can offer his services in both boxes. But, he has played in a double pivot, as a wide midfielder in a 4-4-2 formation and also as a wing-back.

Chelsea could do with fresh and young additions to the midfield department sooner rather than later. Jorginho (30) and N’Golo Kante (31) have their contracts expiring at the end of this season. Kante is injured too and he is out from the World Cup as well. Although there are talks ongoing with the Italian international for a contract extension, he is asking for a pay rise.

Chelsea join Newcastle and AC Milan in race to sign Arnaut Danjuma

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Chelsea join Newcastle and AC Milan in race to sign Arnaut Danjuma
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Chelsea join Newcastle United and AC Milan in race to sign Arnaut Danjuma

Chelsea are competing with Newcastle United and Serie A winners AC Milan for Villarreal attacker Arnaut Danjuma.

Danjuma, who spent the previous season at Bournemouth in the Championship before joining Villarreal in 2021, had a fantastic debut season with the Yellow Submarine.

In 34 league and Champions League matches, he scored 16 goals and assisted four others. He was a vital part in Unai Emery’s side reaching the Champions League semi-finals last season, upsetting German champions Bayern Munich and going close to doing so against Liverpool.

The Dutch international can play everywhere in the attacking line, but he is most at ease on the left flank or as a number nine – as a lone striker or in a two-man front line.

Chelsea signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the summer deadline day to fill the vacant number nine spot after Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku left. The former Arsenal striker, though, is 33 years old and is not a long-term answer for that position. As a result, manager Graham Potter would be looking to add to that department.

Furthermore, with Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech’s futures at the club unknown, there might be a position to fill in the wide attacking areas as well. Signing Danjuma might help the team.

 

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Boehly advised to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford

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Boehly advised to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford
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Ivan Toney has the ability to score goals on a weekly basis.

Chelsea have been advised to consider snapping up “different level” Ivan Toney from Brentford.

Toney is heavily linked with Chelsea and the Blues are monitoring him. Under Graham Potter, they are doing great in Premier League and Champions League.

Potter needs a striker who has the ability to score goals on a weekly basis. Now, the club have been told that they should try and snap up Brentford hitman Toney.

He scored 31 goals for Brentford when they won promotion out of the Championship in 2020-21. He has scored 20 goals in the top flight so far during his time in the Premier League.

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has told The Hard Truth podcast: “I’ll say this. Is there a better number nine at Chelsea? Is there a better number nine at Man United? Then let me ask you the question.

“If you were Man United and Chelsea and you can go and write a cheque for £100million and buy a player from Holland or a player from France and Italy and give them a year-and-a-half to acclimatise, are you going to write a cheque and buy one of the top three number nines in the Premier League, who is not even in the prime of his career?

“If Liverpool had owners who would write that cheque, I would happily have him in Liverpool’s team, like that.

“The proof is in the pudding, he’s promoted to the Premier League with a team that’s not fancied to stay up, he’s one of the top three goalscorers in the Premier League in a team that, again, is not a favourite to be top-10, top-12 in the Premier League.”

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Hakim Ziyech set for Chelsea exit as AC Milan plans move for him

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Hakim Ziyech set for Chelsea exit as AC Milan plans move for him

Hakim Ziyech has slipped down the pecking order at Chelsea.

Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech may depart from Stamford Bridge as soon as the January transfer window reopens. The former Ajax attacker is linked with Serie A champions AC Milan as the San Siro club prepares an offer for the player.

It is understood that the Serie A giants are ready to pay around 25 million euros for Ziyech, and are confident that an agreement can be reached for the player.

The 29-year-old has slipped down the pecking order at Chelsea, and there is no indication that new manager Graham Potter sees the Moroccan international as a part of his long-term plans at the club.

He has been overlooked since arriving from Ajax in 2020, Ziyech has only scored six goals in a total of 49 games for Chelsea, and this season the player has been restricted to just three Premier League starts.

Ziyech is expected to be a regular at the upcoming World Cup tournament, and that will be a perfect opportunity for the player to showcase his obvious talent on the global stage. AC Milan are also set to do battle with a few other teams interested, as PSV Eindhoven have emerged as another potential destination for the versatile midfielder.

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Chelsea has been told to replace Kante with Declan Rice

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Chelsea has been told to replace Kante with Declan Rice
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N’Golo Kante is expected to leave Chelsea by the end of this season.

The French midfielder will be out of contract in July next year and recently rejected a two-year contract deal from Chelsea.

Kante, 31, underwent a surgery for his hamstring problem and will be ruled out for fourth months.

He will miss the World Cup and a significant portion of Chelsea’s campaign this year.

His injury troubles are something Chelsea needs to worry about and should soon look for a replacement.

The Blues are expected to sign former academy player Declan Rice this summer who is currently valued at £120m by West Ham.

‘There’s a simple solution for Chelsea moving forward, looking to the future, which is you’ve got one of the best holding players in Declan Rice,’ Murphy told White and Jordan on talkSPORT.

‘He loves Chelsea. He’s the one to take his role, he’s capable and would be there for the rest of his career.

‘They’ll have to bite the bullet and pay whatever it is. That’s the solution to replace Kante.’

 

See More: Top five highest paid Chelsea players

Chelsea have significantly improved under Graham Potter

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Chelsea have significantly improved under Graham Potter
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Chelsea have won five games in a row under Graham Potter.

The former Brighton manager is yet to lose a game with Chelsea after being named as the club’s manager last month.

Unfortunately, the Blues drew their last game against Brentford and have some serious injuries in the squad.

Former Blues defender William Gallas has lauded Potter for the incredible job he has done at Chelsea.

He told Football.London: “I’m seeing an improvement at Chelsea under Graham Potter. They look stronger, teams have to be careful about them because now they have new defenders and Aubameyang. In the middle, they look strong, and unfortunately, right now they have injuries.

“But I think the manager has done a good job since he has arrived. It’s never easy to train one club at the beginning of the season because you need time to know your players, you need time to explain to them what you want from them.

“So it was difficult but he looks like he knows the system he wants to play, they look good and he’s had a good impact.”

 

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