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Mepham feared his career was over after Chelsea

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Mepham feared his career was over after Chelsea
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Chris Mepham has said he was scared that his career was over after Chelsea.

“I sort of felt like my time in football was done,” he told Sky Sports. “As I would do, obviously, getting released from Chelsea. Going on trial at QPR, Watford and getting turned away – you question your own belief and where you want to be. At that time I didn’t feel confident in football. I just felt like carrying on trying would be a waste of time.

“Luckily, I had a change of heart and went for that Brentford trial and I’d like to think it has paid off. When I joined North Greenford, in my head I knew that was it really for me. I had the opportunities and was turned away, so where do you go next? Little did I know it would take me here.”

He is now ready to take on the national team journey forward. “The Nations League game was probably the biggest in my career to date,” he added. “Obviously now, a qualifying game, that’s completely different.”

“It’s a different type of test against a very good Slovakia team. We’ve got to prepare in the right way and hopefully we come out on top. I think every game (in our group) is a must win really. It’s important in front of a home crowd.”

SEE MORE: Didier Deschamps Insists Olivier Giroud Is Keen To Be Heavily Involved A Chelsea

Didier Deschamps Insists Olivier Giroud Is Keen To Be Heavily Involved A Chelsea

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Didier Deschamps Insists Olivier Giroud Is Keen To Be Heavily Involved At Chelsea

Didier Deschamps has insisted Olivier Giroud is eyeing more playing time at Chelsea.

The French international has started just six games so far as Maurizio Sarri doesn’t seem to prefer him in the Premier League. However, Giroud has been in red hot form in the Europa League netting nine goals in nine matches.

The centre forward didn’t score a single goal in France’s triumphant World Cup campaign last year but was heavily involved as he played each and every match in the competition.

The former Arsenal forward has been linked with a number of clubs and recently admitted he needs to have regular game time otherwise he would be forced to seek a move elsewhere in the summer.

The French manager said, “Giroud is there, he scores goals. He does so too with his club.

“He’d like to play more and when he plays in the Europa League, he also scores goals. In a match like tonight’s, against a low-ranked opponent, his presence as a pivot is very useful.

“He’s quite complementary with the other players because of his role that is different and this allows our team to have a varied offensive play.”

Eden Hazard denies that he has signed a 5-year deal at Real Madrid

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Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard has rubbished reports claiming that he has signed a 5-year contract with Real Madrid. Yesterday, several reports surfaced that claimed Hazard had signed a 5-year contract at Real Madrid after talking to Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane.

Eden Hazard’s future at Chelsea has been a highly talked-about topic for several months now. Hazard has never shied away from expressing his desire to move to Real Madrid. However, he also stated on many occasions that he was happy at Chelsea.

Hazard’s current contract at Chelsea expires in 2020 and he is yet to sign a new contract with the club. Not long back, the 28-year old said that he has taken a decision on his future and will reveal it at the right time.

Hazard who is currently with Belgium for the international break, dismissed the reports that claimed he signed a contract at Real Madrid. The Belgium captain said, “There’s nothing in the reports. I’m only focused on tomorrow’s game against Cyprus. That’s all I’m thinking about.”

Hazard’s international break has gone pretty well so far. The 28-year old netted twice as Belgium began their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with a 3-1 win over Russia at Brussels. Belgium play their second qualifier against Cyprus at Nicosia today. Provided Hazard scores today, he will be the joint second-highest scorer for the national team, equaling the tally of Paul van Himst and the late Bernard Voorhoof. If he scores more than one tonight, then he will overtake van Himst and Voorhoof to become Belgium’s second highest scorer of all-time.

Also Read: Hazard coy on his future and Zidane

Hudson-Odoi eyeing more international appearances

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Hudson-Odoi eyeing more international appearances

Chelsea teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi has said that he is eager to make more appearances for the national team. The 18-year old winger made his first appearance for England in last night’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Czech Republic.

Hudson-Odoi came on as a substitute in the 70th minute, replacing Raheem Sterling who completed his maiden international hat-trick just two minutes before. The winger had a scoring opportunity but Czech goalie Jiri Pavlenka saved his shot.

England eventually won the match 5-0 with a goal from Harry Kane and an own goal from Tomas Kalas.

Following the match, the Hudson-Odoi said, “I’m definitely delighted. I want to thank everybody for helping me get here, and to get the opportunity to play today is a massive feeling in front of the home crowd as well. Hopefully there’s many more to come.

I couldn’t believe it (when I was told to get ready). I didn’t think it was real. I was looking around the crowd and everybody looked happy – I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know what to do, but I was delighted, and hopefully there’ll be many more to come.”

After starting their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign in remarkable fashion, England travel to Podgorica to play their next qualifier against Montenegro. This will be England’s first meeting against Montenegro since a World Cup qualifier at Wembley in 2013. Montenegro began their qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw against Bulgaria at Sofia earlier yesterday.

 

Hazard coy on his future and Zidane

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Hazard coy on his future and Zidane
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Eden Hazard has opened up on a few of his favourite managers and how he sees his current bosses.

Everyone knows Zidane has a soft spot for Hazard but the love story is a two way street. “He was my idol. For sure, to play under Zidane would be a dream.”

However, when it came to choosing a coach for the national team, he said, he loves having Martinez. He declared to Belgian radio station RTBF: “As a player there’s no comparison, I have so much respect for Zidane, he’s my idol. It’s thanks to him I started playing. But for the victories we’ve achieved with Martinez I’d go with Martinez.”

When quizzed about his future, he said: “I’m not working on that right now. I want to shine with Chelsea for a few months and try to win the Europa League. This week I think about the Red Devils [Belgium] and then back to Chelsea. Then we’ll see. I’m not thinking about what can happen in two, three, four or five months. My future? I don’t know, we’ll see.”

Many have tipped Hazard to join the Galacticos this summer. Time will tell.

SEE MORE: Chelsea Fans Protest Against Maurizio Sarri By Boycotting Home Games

Hazard praises Tielemans

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Hazard praises Tielemans
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Eden Hazard has said he enjoyed leading Belgium to the victory last night. He scored two goals and has played really well.

His excellent performance dragged the attention away from a howler by Courtois. However, the captain was quick to praise the young midfielder of Leicester City, Tielemans for his smart goal.

“I am enjoying this victory in which I scored two goals,” Hazard said. “It went well. After our last match, the one against Switzerland [a 5-2 Nations League defeat], we had to answer our critics. We were not always as good today, but we have created opportunities and done our job. Compliments to him [Tielemans]. He will become a major player.”

Tielemans added: “I am very happy with that goal. Lots of pride. I am happy with the victory. It was a difficult game, but we did well. With our qualities, we must and want to win every game. For that we have to play full of concentration and we have done that.”

Hazard is the highlight of the media in the upcoming days as he is tipped to join Real Madrid in the summer.

SEE MORE: The One Player Who Is Better Than Eden Hazard In The Premier League

The One Player Who Is Better Than Eden Hazard In The Premier League

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The One Player Who Is Better Than Eden Hazard In The Premier League

Eden Hazard has admitted to Mohamed Salah being the only player who might be better than him in the Premier League.

The latter won the PFA Player Of The Season last year and is second in the top scorer’s list this term. He is leading Liverpool’s push for the league title this season even with his recent goal-tally hitting a small bump.

Hazard is considered as one of the top-five players in the world and the very best in the English top-flight. However, the Belgian is aware of the competition he currently has to beat to avail that title.

He said, “I like Modric he’s more of a midfielder than me but, of course, I like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.”

“Mo Salah is one of my good friends and he is doing something incredible. I try to look at this player and I try to reach that level.”

Hazard is not that far off in terms of being impactful for his team. The 28-year-old has racked up 13 goals and 11 assists this season which is his best with Blues.

His future at Stamford Bridge is being heavily speculated upon but the winger is invested in seeing out the remainder of the 2018/19 campaign.

See Also: Chelsea Loanee Is Determined To Make His Mark Next Season

Chelsea Fans Protest Against Maurizio Sarri By Boycotting Home Games

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Chelsea Fans Protest Against Maurizio Sarri By Boycotting Home Games

Maurizio Sarri’s claim to the Chelsea throne continues to fall under further scrutiny every day.

The latest reports claim that hundreds of season-ticket holders are looking to protest against the Italian manager by selling their match tickets for the upcoming home games against Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United and Burnley.

Thousands of seats were already empty during the 1-1 draw against Wolves last week and it is expected to continue for the next few fixtures at the Stamford Bridge. According to Sportsmail, the fans reaction might buoy the Chelsea board towards sacking the 60-year-old for good.

The report claims that over 400 supporters were looking to sell their tickets for the Hammers game, despite it being a highly crucial London derby. Close to 700 listed their tickets for the Burnley game on sale as well.

The game against Brighton which got rescheduled to 3 April is already due to not see of 150 of their most-seen fans. Tickets went up for sale within the first 12 hours of the game’s announcement.

Chelsea’s loss to Everton last week pushed them further down the top-four race with Arsenal currently 3 points ahead. Sarri is not expected to continue unless he finds he way up to the Champions League qualification spots or manages to win the UEFA Europa League.

Fans have already turned against the former Napoli head coach. Unless a massive change is noticed in the remaining few games of the 2018/19 campaign, it seems highly unlikely that Sarri will necessarily win the support of the club’s fans.

See Also: Eden Hazard Focused On Chelsea Despite Real Madrid Interest

Top Five players Chelsea should sign this summer

Is Chelsea about to lose another forward?

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Giroud frustrated by lack of game time
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Olivier Giroud has expressed his frustration at being given so few chances in the first time.

He has been on fire in the Europa League this season and is looking to cement a first team spot ahead of Gonzalo Higuain. However, like all his decisions Sarri has been stubborn with his choices and Higuain gets the nod ahead.

Giroud has now expressed his anger at it and has told that he might look at other options. The former Arsenal star joined the Blues last year and has done a good job for the national team as well by winning the World Cup.

“Of course it’s frustrating,” Giroud told French radio station RTL. “Today, I have the impression there is clearly no competition [for places in attack] since January.

“It’s like that, I know that I will only play in the Europa League. I try to do what it takes to be as effective and as important as I can for the team.”

“The future may be hectic this summer,” he said. “I’m not afraid to go down a level to have more playing time. It could be I end my career in France.”

Is Chelsea about to lose yet another forward? The club seriously needs to sort out their options up front. The last non controversial good striker they had who played more than 150 games was way back in 2012.

SEE MORE: Chelsea Loanee Is Determined To Make His Mark Next Season

Petr Cech training video: watch Petr Cech in training!

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Petr Cech training videos

Petr Cech videos? Do you want to see the Petr Cech best goal saves videos? Petr Cech is not one of Chelsea FC current goalkeepers, but Petr Cech is considered to be one of the best Chelsea goalkeepers ever.

The former Chelsea goalkeeper spent 13 years at Chelsea and won multiple titles. He even came back from a horrific head injury just three months later. Cech is now at Arsenal but his legend lives on at Stamford Bridge. Here we will look at the best Petr cech videos.

Petr Cech training video: watch Petr Cech in traning!

Chelsea FC Petr Cech training video

Petr Cech shows off some amazing reactions in bizarre training drill:

Best Chelsea Goalkeepers with most clean sheets

Petr Cech has had a great career at Chelsea. He played for Chelsea from 2004 to 2015 as part of the new Abramovich era. He kept an amazing 228 clean sheets in 494 games (46%). Cech is number one on our Chelsea goalkeepers most clean sheets of all time list.

Cech also holds a number of other records. He holds the record for most consecutive league clean sheets with ten clean sheets in 2004/05. Cech played an amazing 1024 minutes without conceding a goal (top-flight record at that time).

Cech has the most clean sheets in a season record with 28 clean sheets in 48 games 2004/05.

Petr Cech speaks about head injury and why he wears headgear!

Petr Cech spoke about the incident to SkySports after his life threatening injury.
Cech said: “Things could have been different.

“The doctors tried not to scare me too much and I never asked too much.

“But if you ask my wife, even now, she does not look too well. For her, the experience was a thousand times worse than it was for me.

“It was a very close call.”

“I lost consciousness, then I came round again. Some people, they did not like me too much because I was confused and sometimes when you’re confused you try to fight!”

Cech also attributed his life to the doctors and the nearby facilities as the reason he survived.

“The decisions of Bryan and the medical staff and the proximity of Oxford – that’s the combination that gave me a chance.

“I had a depressed skull fracture. A few pieces of bone went in quite deep, that was the biggest danger.

“The more they go in, the left side of the brain (where Cech was injured) is quite an important centre of movement. Anything could happen.”

Cech described intense headaches waking him up at night after the accident.

He told Chelsea TV: “Sometimes it is difficult because you wake up and you have a horrible headache so you have to take your medication.

“I just try to live with that and every day it is going to get better.”

Return to football

Cech said he couldn’t remember anything for three days after the injury. Doctors had to insert metal plates in his head after the surgery. But remarkably, Cech returned to playing football just three months after the injury.

Most people can’t even go back to their normal careers after a serious head injury so it’s miraculous that he was able to play again.

Cech said: “I have to say a lot of people did not want me to return a quickly as I did. It was my decision and my will to come back to what I was used to doing and what I love.

“Once the surgeon said the skull is strong enough with the helmet on, I decided to return to training with the team.

“Two days later, we traveled to Liverpool – which I did not tell my wife at the start, I told her I’m just travelling with the team.”
“But the manager said to me, ‘You want to go to watch or you want to play? You tell me.’

“I said, ‘OK, we’re already here. Let’s try’.”

Petr Cech retirement

The Chelsea legend has decided to retire from football at the end of this season. He has served English league football like a legend and holds most of the records in the Premier League era. He is a Chelsea legend and a leader in that Arsenal dressing room.

Arsenal will want to see him sign off Cech by gifting him the Europa League, which ironically could be a killer blow for his former club Chelsea. Regarded as a champion on and off the pitch, the gentle giant will be missed in football after this season.

This was Cech’s retirement statement:

“Having played 15 years in the Premier League and won every single trophy possible, I feel like I have achieved everything I set out to achieve,” said the ex-Czech Republic international.

“I will continue to work hard at Arsenal to hopefully win one more trophy this season.”

“This is my 20th season as a professional player and it has been 20 years since I signed my first professional contract, so it feels like the right time to announce that I will retire.

“I am looking forward to seeing what life holds for me off the pitch.”

“For your consummate professionalism, for being the perfect role model, for the 50 clean sheets, for your honesty, your integrity and for your inspiring work with the Arsenal Foundation, we want to say – thank you Petr Cech,” tweeted Arsenal.

In a statement on their website, the club added: “Petr recently informed us of his decision. Like all football fans, we are sad about this, but completely understand and support Petr.”

“A champion on and off the pitch,” said a message from Chelsea. “Enjoy your retirement.”

See also: 
Best Chelsea Goalkeepers ever
Chelsea FC Goalkeepers 2018