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Chelsea mistake ruined my career: PL winner

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Chelsea mistake ruined my career PL winner
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Many a footballer has come to Chelsea and been unable to cut it. 

Here is a story of one such footballer who joined Chelsea in 2001 from Hertha as a 16 year old and almost gave up on life in England.

However, 15 years later, he is now a Premier League champion – Welcoming Robert Huth of Leicester City and formerly and rather sadly of Chelsea.

He said of his sad Chelsea career: “I was young and stupid. There was actually no one particular reason. It was more like: why not? Money definitely didn’t matter. It wasn’t lucrative at all in the first few years. You don’t know how it goes. I didn’t think much about it either. Chelsea FC. That sounded good.

“They’d won the European Cup shortly before, Marcel Desailly played there, the 1998 World Champion. I just wanted to try it out. I think that was also the good thing: that I didn’t have any negative thoughts. Otherwise, I probably would have gone wrong”.

Huth said: “No, not without training, not without help. If my boy had an offer from, say, Spain, I would sit down with him first and explain to him how it really works. The reality looks like this: in the end, 1% of all youth players in the big academies can make a living from football.

“Nobody tells you that, of course. Nobody goes through the negative scenarios with you. It would be normal if you think about children”.

See More: Chelsea FC Players Wages 2020: Salaries Per Week List!

Chelsea Eye Samuel Chukwueze As Their Next Big Transfer Target

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Chelsea Eye Samuel Chukwueze As Their Next Big Transfer Target

Chelsea are reportedly targetting Samuel Chukwueze as a replacement for both Willian and Pedro.

Both veteran wingers are on expiring contracts and could be let go to make way for younger talents.

Chukwueze has caught the eyes of Premier League clubs, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea after his exploits in the La Liga. The 20-year-old has been involved in 8 goals this season in 26 appearances. He can play on either wing and has proven to be a real threat back in Spain. He has also collected 2 goals in his 12 caps for Nigeria.

The Daily Mail claim that Cukwueze is ready to take the next step of his career as he is valued at £60m by Valencia. He is the kind of raw talent that a side like Chelsea have recently been scouting out under Frank Lampard. We are all aware of the new regime that has been set at the Stamford Bridge, the one that has given wings to Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic.

Willian has proven to be an integral part of this Chelsea team and many believe he could end up staying through a last minute agreement. With or without the Brazilian, bringing Chukwueze in would only give the wide position a bit of healthy competition.

READ MORE: Top 5 Players Chelsea Could Sign in January 2020

Chelsea monitor Porto defender Alex Telles

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Chelsea monitor Porto defender Alex Telles
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The Brazilian left-back is a long-time target for the Blues.

And they have recently sent scouts to monitor him.

According to Portuguese publication O JogoChelsea sent their scouts to keep an eye on left-back Alex Telles during Porto‘s 3-2 victory over Benfica on Sunday. The 27-year-old was on target from the penalty spot in the first half as Porto closed the gap on Benfica to just four points atop the Primeira Liga standings, and Telles’ display reportedly caught the eye of the Blues’ scouts.

Telles has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge over the past 12 months and it is understood that the Blues are scouting him in detail with a view to a potential transfer in the summer. Lampard was left frustrated after the Blues failed to get deals over the line for any of their rumoured targets in the January window.

However, reports have emerged in the press claiming that the board is planning to appease him with a £150 million budget to allow him to reshape the squad in the summer. A reliable back-up to Tammy Abraham remains a top priority for Chelsea but the Blues will most definitely be in the market for a new left-back in the summer.

Neither Marcos Alonso nor Emerson has managed to cement a regular starting role in Lampard’s playing eleven, with the manager often preferring right-footed Cesar Azpilicueta to plug the hole on the left.

Chelsea race to the lead in the chase for Coutinho!

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Chelsea race to the lead in the chase for Coutinho!
Bildbyran

Chelsea have been made favorites to land Barcelona’s outcasted midfielder Philippe Coutinho!

The Barcelona star joined the Catalan club from Liverpool for a record fee of £142 million. However, he never quite got used to the pace of life at Barcelona.

His situation worsened for him as he was constantly played out of position by Ernesto Valverde. The central attacking midfielder who flourishes best when playing as a number 10, was shunned to the left wing match after match.

After the departure of Andres Iniesta, he was given the huge responsibility of filling in those shoes and with Coutinho already in bad form, the player’s career at Nou Camp collapsed.

He was subsequently loaned out to Bayern Munich where he got back to form and was in red hot touch until Hansi Flick took over.

Bayern had him on loan and despite Coutinho’s good form found it too much to pay £120 million plus for an attacking midfielder given their shortage of players in the wings. Hence Coutinho was once again shunned out to the bench.

This has now worked well for other clubs including Chelsea who have seen Coutinho’s price slash down to £77 million. 

Chelsea are in need of quality up front and in Coutinho, they will have a proven player in the Premier League!

See More: Chelsea FC Players Wages 2020: Salaries Per Week List!

Jose Mourinho is why Chelsea will get Champions League this season!

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Jose Mourinho is why Chelsea will get Champions League this season!
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Paul Merson has backed Chelsea to finish ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in the top four, thanks to Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea are ahead of Spurs in the race for top four and Merson expect the standings to not change much. 

Merson said: “I said when he went there it would give them a lift and there would be a charm offensive – and he was all smiles for a while.

“But everyone knew it wouldn’t last, didn’t they? He’s gone back to being Grumpy Mourinho again. And I don’t see how he’s improved them at all. Not one bit.

“He looks like he’s thinking: ‘What have I done coming here?’ You don’t see him high-fiving ball boys now do you?

“Mourinho is only there to get them into the top four. I can’t see Daniel Levy wanting to win the FA Cup but not get back into the Champions League.

“But it’s not really working, is it? Chelsea are in the driving seat to finish fourth and I can’t see Spurs catching them right now.

“They are a very lucky football team at the moment because they’ve been ripped to shreds in their last two matches but still managed to win.”

See More: Chelsea FC Players Wages 2020: Salaries Per Week List!

Azpilicueta On Why Terry And Lampard Were Such Extraordinary Captains

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Azpilicueta On Why Terry And Lampard Were Such Extraordinary Captains

Cesar Azpilicueta believes it was Frank Lampard and John Terry’s winning mentality that made them such good captains at Chelsea.

Lampard, now heading the Blues from the coaching booth, has really impacted Azpilicueta’s game both as a teammate and as a boss.

“The first day I arrived he was ready to help me if I needed anything,” Azpilicueta said while discussing about the two Stamford Bridge legends. “I could see every day in training sessions his mentality, his way of competing. When I arrived Chelsea had just won the Champions League and all the trophies before that, but he still had this ambition and this hunger.

“It was the same with Frank when he captained. It’s something that tells you a lot. They were winners. They wanted to win in every training session and every game.”

Chelsea are still fourth in the Premier League table with Sheffield United only two points behind now. The Blades got to catch up this weekend while everybody else is on a winter break. While they did have a promising period early on, Chelsea have really been struggling for consistency of late. And that is where leadership and character comes in, especially in a squad this young and inexperienced.

Lampard has stressed on this issue time and again in his press conferences. It is clear how much the Blues boss is trying to instill his winning ideologies into the players. Azpilicueta could not have asked for a better mentor to learn from.

READ MORE: Top 5 best Chelsea players of decade (2010-2019)

Chelsea agree deal with Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana

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Chelsea agree deal with Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana
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Current No. 1 Kepa has been struggling this season.

And the Blues seem to have found the perfect replacement.

Chelsea have reportedly won the race for Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana as he looks set for a €40 million summer transfer away from the Dutch giants. This is according to Voetbal Nieuws, who claim the Cameroon international has chosen a move to Chelsea despite also being a target for big names like Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham.

Chelsea could definitely do with a signing like Onana for next season after the poor form of Kepa Arrizabalaga this term, with the Spaniard recently axed by manager Frank Lampard. Willy Caballero was preferred over Kepa in the recent 2-2 draw with Leicester City, but is clearly not a long-term option at his age and after years of being a backup.

The Daily Mirror recently claimed Lampard was planning to replace Kepa this summer, so it makes sense that Onana might now be looking increasingly likely to be the man for the job. The talented 23-year-old has shone at Ajax and surely has a big future in the game, even if it’s big pressure to come in and be number one at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have a proud recent history of having truly great ‘keepers between the sticks, with Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech likely to be tough acts for anyone to follow. Kepa has certainly struggled, but the Blues will hope Onana can do better if, as Voetbal Nieuws claim, he makes his way to west London for around €40m this summer.

Chelsea mascot reveals the funniest Steven Gerrard story!

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Chelsea mascot reveals the funniest Steven Gerrard story!
Bildbyran

Chelsea’s mascot Jake Nickless shares the funniest encounter with Chelsea legend Steven Gerrard.

He pulled off the classic handshake trick with Gerrard by offering a handshake to Gerrard but pulled back at the last moment. Now the 19-year old semi-professional football player recalls that moment sheepishly.

“The week before, my dad found out that I was going to be mascot — he got it for me as a birthday present — and said you have to stand out. First of all they died my hair blue. It wasn’t my idea. Then that thing with the handshake was his plan.

”I said: ‘No, I’m not doing it. I’m too shy.’ When I saw him [Gerrard] in the tunnel, it was just instinct. I just shouted his name. All my friends take the mick as I sounded so young. He wasn’t embarrassed. He was just surprised because he probably thought I was going to shake his hand.

”My dad actually didn’t think I was going to do it. He said: ‘If you do it, we’ll go out the day after and buy you five PlayStation 2 games.’ And I got the games,” said now 19-year old Jake Nickless.

“Me and Gerrard actually didn’t speak at all, All I said was “Gerrard!” to get his attention.

”I remember Claude Makélélé and Michael Essien laughing as it happened, and John Terry gave me a pat on the head afterwards, when I walked back to hold his hand.

”I think everyone found it funny, apart from Stevie G,” he said.

Sorry, Stevie G, but we also think it’s hilarious!

See More: Top 5 Most capped Chelsea players

Azpilicueta spills beans on Chelsea’s future strategy

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Azpilicueta spills beans on Chelsea's future strategy
Bildbyran

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta talks about what the Blues need to do in the next months after the winter break – which will be crucial for Chelsea.

He especially feels that Chelsea must make their form much better if they want to finish at least in the top four in the Premier League. 

Chelsea started off anew with Frank Lampard, with stellar performances by young starlets Tammy Abraham, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic. However, with Pulisic out injured and Ruben Loftus-Cheek having also suffered an injury, Tammy Abraham is now pressurised to be the main goalscorer for Chelsea. No wonder Azipilicueta is worried.

According to his interview on the Chelsea FC’s website, Azpilicueta said: “We haven’t made Stamford Bridge as solid as we would like this year.

“This is the best time to recover this solidity, with three big games in a row at home where we can show we are ready and able to make Stamford Bridge a tough place to come.

“With the fans we have had some disappointments at home altogether. When these three opportunities come we have to take them one by one, and hopefully we can build up on this.

“It’s key for the success of the season.”

See More: Top 5 Most overrated Chelsea players

 

Chelsea to battle with Premier League rivals for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly

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Chelsea to battle with Premier League rivals for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly
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The Senegal international has been a long-time target for Lapmard’s side.

And he could make a switch to the Stamford Bridge in the summer.

According to the Daily Express, Chelsea aim to lure a  world-class defender at the end of the current season as they prepare to launch a bid for Koulibaly. The Blues are set to sign the 28-year-old center half in the summer as they look to add to their depth at the backline. Chelsea boast of Antonio Rudiger, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori in their ranks but none is the clash of Khalidou Koulibaly.

Koulibaly has only made 14 appearances for Napoli this season, he missed some of the matches due to injuries and he remain a subject of transfer throughout the entire season following his clash with club owner Aurelio de Laurentiis.

Napoli could cash in on the Senegalese international and his transfer fee depends on where the team finish on the Serie A table. Napoli is currently 10th on the table and to finish in the slot where the Europa League or the Champions League is feasible is a herculean task for Gennaro Gattuso’s men.

Their demands, at that point, would probably be lower than if they finished in the top four, meaning the interested clubs will be hoping Gattuso’s side continue to struggle here and there between now and June.

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