BREAKING NEWS : Falcao can leave Monaco this summer !

The colombian can leave after just one game

AS Monaco have reportedly had to transfer list Falcao after only buying the Columbian this summer, reports suggest Real Madrid and Chelsea are the top two favourites to sign him.

Reports also suggest that Monaco have to sell due to a problem with taxation, meaning all players must be taxed whilst playing on French soil.

Manchester United are also eyeing him as a Rooney replacement if the Englishmen should move this summer.

JOSE MOURINHO NEWS CONFERENCE

On the future of David Luiz:

"This club did fantastic work and got in a position where they found a fantastic balance and in perfect conditions not to sell this player or that player and David is one of the players the club made a huge investment and he hasn't been here six or seven years, he's been here two or three years. He's a young player that signed a new contract last year and when he did that he was very happy to do it so we want to keep him. "A big club like Barcelona
wants the best but we are being honest by saying there is no chance David is leaving."

Top 20 Players in FIFA 14...

20. Thomas Muller
19. Xavi Hernandez
18. Edinson Cavani
17. Mario Gotze
16. Luis Suarez
15. Robert Lewandowski
14. Fernando Torres
13. Marco Reus
12. Juan Mata
11. Bastian Schweinsteiger
10. Eden Hazard
9. Franck Ribery
8. El Shaarawy
7. Radamel Falcao
6. Robin Van Persie
5. Wayne Rooney
4. Gareth Bale
3. Neymar
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
1. Lionel Messi

4 Days Remaining !

Chelsea target open to summer switch

Brazilian forward Hulk would be interested in a switch to Chelsea this summer after the Confederations Cup has finished, according to the Daily Mail.

The 26 year old is in his native country on international duty as the Confederations Cup kicked off last night.

Chelsea have lodged a reported £34.9million bid to Zenit St Petersburg but the Russian club want to receive nearer the £51million that they paid Porto for his services this time last year.

Hulk has not enjoyed his first season in Russia and is hoping to make a summer switch with London the target.

Mega rich French club Monaco are keen on signing the forward and can match or beat Chelsea’s financial offer in order to partner Hulk with new signing Radamel Falcao.

Hulk will wait until the Confederations Cup is over before he pushes through a move but Chelsea could have their bid accepted before that.

‘Seven days’ and Chelsea will find out sensational wonderkids destination!

Isco intends to make a decision on his future in the next ‘seven days’, amid speculation he could be snapped up by new Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Isco is giving little away when it comes to his next move, with his focus locked on the pursuit of international glory – with Spain having booked a final date with Italy in Israel.

He is, however, ready to bring an end to months of speculation by revealing the identity of his preferred transfer destination.

Isco said: “In seven days I will decide my future.

“After the U21 Euros I will analyse my situation and make the best choice for my future.

“At the moment I am calm and focused on my work with the national team.” (Sky Sports)

The blues do have strong competition from Manchester City and Real Madrid for his signature, but Mourinho can be very persuasive and Isco could decide that his next destination is Stamford Bridge.

Welcome to Chelsea Football Club, André Schürrle!!

Official Statement:

"Chelsea Football Club and Bayer 04 Leverkusen have reached an agreement for the transfer of André Schürrle, subject to the completion of legal documentation and related matters, including personal terms and passing a medical."

Edinson Cavani 'talking to Real Madrid and Manchester City'

Napoli's star striker Edinson Cavani is in talks with Real Madrid and Manchester City, according to his mother.

The Uruguay international is one of the most sought-after forwards in the world and is also thought to be wanted by Chelsea.

But it would appear Real and City are leading the race for Cavani as they aim to activate his reported £53million buyout clause.

She added: "In two or three weeks, we will know their fate and be able to say more.

"In any case, I assure you Edinson loves Naples and, if he goes, he will never forget the love and affection of the people."

Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala shrugs off links with Chelsea

Reported Chelsea target Eliaquim Mangala is focusing on his career at Porto despite talk linking him with Stamford Bridge.

Jose Mourinho looked at the French defender while in charge of Real Madrid and is still thought to be interested following his return to Stamford Bridge.

Mangala helped Porto clinch their third Portuguese title in row by one point from rivals Benfica, and has subsequently made his debut for France.

The 22-year-old, who joined Porto from Standard Liege in 2012, has also been linked with Paris St-German and Manchester City,

"I not am preoccupied about my future," said Mangala. "There have been many rumours in the papers in the last few days, but I am very calm.

"My objective is to work each day and to progress in my club. I am only thinking about to follow up for Porto the next season.

"I was also very happy with my debut for France, my dream is to play in the World Cup 2014."

Chelsea agree on £7.5m fee for Dutch sensation

Jose Mourinho is keen to start things afresh at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese is giving serious consideration to building a strong team at Chelsea which could turn out to be a formidable force in Europe in the coming years. Merely hours after reports of the Blues’ signing ‘Super Serb’ Lazar Markovic, The Daily Star has reported that the West London is closing in on a deal for Vitesse Arnhem midfielder Marco Van Ginkel.

The Blues are reported to have left Ajax behind in the bid to acquire the signature of Van Ginkel after it was revealed that the club would not be willing to even consider a deal with their Dutch Eredivisie rivals. The player’s agent Karl Jansen was quoted saying: "Chelsea are interested, we don't deny it. But there are more clubs. Ajax had made official contact with Vitesse, but they don't want to talk with them. The situation is that we wait until after the European Championships and then will look for the best step. Marco still has two years under contract, so we don't know if he will leave Arnhem but there isn't an agreement right now."

Van Ginkel made 41 appearances for his side last season, scoring a noteworthy 12 goals whilst providing the same number of assists. The 20 year old made his senior team debut for the Netherlands National Team in November last year, coming on as a late substitute in their friendly against Germany. He is currently in Israel for the Under-21 European Championships, where he is an important part of the Dutch youth squad.

Van Ginkel was also awarded with the Dutch Football Talent of the Year award for his stellar performances for Vitesse this season which saw the side finishing 4th – their highest league finish since 1998. He has a contract with the Vitas till June 2015, but it is unlikely that he would stay at the club for long especially given all the hype surrounding him courtesy of his exceptional performances. Chelsea are being reported to have agreed on a £7.5m transfer fee for the Dutchman and there is every chance that we might see Van Ginkel in a Blues shirt next season.

Mourinho's first press conference

As he spoke to the media for the first time since being appointed Chelsea manager for a second time, Jose Mourinho expressed his delight at returning to Stamford Bridge, and his hope that it is the start of a long period in charge.

Seldom has an introductory press conference been greeted with such interest, with supporters outside in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Blues boss, camera crews reporting in the area since the early hours and the attendance inside as large as anyone could remember.

Mourinho cut a calm, composed figure as he discussed his appointment at length, and having been nicknamed 'The Special One' following a comment made at his first Chelsea press conference, he had an updated suggestion for those eager for a quick headline.

'I'm the happy one,' he said. 'Time flies, it looks like it was a couple of days ago but it was nine years ago and since then a lot has happened in my professional life.

'I have the same nature, I am the same person, I have the same heart and the same kind of emotions related to my passion for football and my job. In this moment I would describe myself as a very happy person. It's the first time I've arrived at a club where I already love the club.'

The Portuguese delivered our first title for 50 years in his debut season at the club, following it a year later with another Premier League triumph. He also won the 2007 FA Cup and two League Cups, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League on two occasions before his departure in the September of his fourth season. He is confident of more achievement at Stamford Bridge.

'I always trust my work, I know many of the people that belong to the club and I know the ambition and mentality that people have.

'My career was built and based on success, and in every club I was able to reach success, win trophies and leave a different kind of legacy, so I have to believe in that.

'The normal message to my players is to work hard, with quality, and that the club is much more important than ourselves. Normally, with hard work success arrives.

'I read and keep hearing I was fired, sacked and that we had a complete breakdown in our relationship, which isn't true,' he said of his departure in 2007.

'It was a mutual agreement at the time and we felt it was best for me and the club. It was a sad moment but I don't regret the decision because after I went to Inter where I had probably the best moment of my career.

'After that I went to Madrid where we have the record for the best team in Spanish history. For Chelsea things went well too, they were European champions for the first time.

'It was only because of the fact it was a mutual agreement and that there was no break in the relationship that I'm here today, it wouldn't have been possible if there was a complete break in the relationship.

'I'm back because we feel we are in a moment where we are ready to work together again, and in better conditions to work together, succeed and achieve what this club wants, which is stability.'

Mourinho was clearly more eager to look forward rather than dwelling on past achievements.

'We all want the same, we are heading in the same direction and it is a moment when there is maturity, a very good feeling and we have the same perspective for the future,' he said.

'My area is the sports area, but more now in the world of football you have to be deeply connected with other areas in the club, and I think we have the same kind of vision.

'I want to be respected for what I did in the past, of course, but I want to be loved for what I can do in the future, and the fans can know that I come here to do my best.'

Today marks a national day of celebration in Mourinho's native Portugal, with the country celebrating their rich history and culture.

Since leaving his homeland in 2004, his career has spanned three different countries, but after an exciting period, which has seen him lead his respective sides to countless trophies, the time has come, as he explained, to lay down some firm roots.

'I am Portuguese and I always love adventure like the Portuguese ones in the past,' he said. 'I am a bit of a navigator and I did what I wanted to do. I needed a special family, which I have, and they gave me the chance to move around.

'I wanted to do it, I wanted to win the three most important leagues and cups and I did it. People have other good things but the culture in football is something very important for the manager, and six or seven months ago I wanted to go to somewhere I enjoy it very much.

'It is up to me to show the club that I deserve to be here a long time, I hope I can go to the last day of this contract and if the club want for me to be here longer I will be very happy.

'You have to learn with experience. Sometimes people speak about older people in a negative way and I think experience in life is very important, especially if you use it in the right way.

'I analyse myself every day and I try to improve. I am the same but nine years is a big difference and when I arrived in 2004 I was pushed a lot in that first press conference to have a strong approach.

'Now you know me and my history and now I don't need that approach, I want to be calm and work the best I can and I think I am in the best moment in my career. I am so sorry the pre-season does not start tomorrow.'

Mourinho: Lukaku, De Bruyne ready for Chelsea

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are likely to feature in next season's first-team squad.

Lukaku joined the London club from Anderlecht in 2011 for a reported fee of 10 million pounds, but, after failing to gain regular action, spent the 2012-13 campaign on loan at West Brom.

De Bruyne has also been loaned out from Stamford Bridge since joining in January 2012, spending time with Genk and Werder Bremen over the past one-and-a-half seasons.

However, Mourinho has now hinted that the Belgian duo have earned a place in his reckoning as he prepares for a second stint in charge at Chelsea.

"First of all, I want to meet them," he said. "I think it's fair that the players are the first ones to know about their future and to know about their future by their manager and their club ??? not by the media.

"So I'm not just speaking in relation to Kevin or Romelu. I???m speaking generally. I've had the chance to speak to some of them and some others I didn't.

"I need to take my time and meet them and we need to make a decision which is best for me, the players and especially for Chelsea. The club is more important than me ??? than the players.

"(De Bruyne and Lukaku) are the profile of players who Chelsea invested a lot in the past. It is my job to extract the best out of them. I think both of them are ready to come and be part of our squad."

Lukaku scored 17 goals in 35 appearances at the Hawthorns last term, helping Steve Clarke's side to a best-ever Premier League finish of eighth.

De Bruyne, meanwhile, netted on 10 occasions in 33 outings for Bremen, despite the German club narrowly avoiding relegation from the Bundesliga.

Chelsea agree €8.5m deal for first Mourinho signing

Chelsea are reported to have agreed a deal for the first signing of Jose Mourinho's second spell at the club, with Vitesse midfielder Marco van Ginkel set to complete a transfer to Stamford Bridge.

According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Vitesse have accepted an offer of €8.5 million from Chelsea for the highly-rated Netherlands under-21 star with the transfer set to be finalised when the window opens next month.

Van Ginkel scored 12 goals and contributed 12 assists last season as Vitesse finished in an impressive fourth place in Eredivisie, and the youngster now appears set to be rewarded with a move to west London.

All that remains for is for Chelsea and the player to agree personal terms - something that is not expected to be an issue - with Van Ginkel set to become the club's first acquisition of the imminent transfer period.

The influence of Mourinho on the deal is likely to have been minimal with Chelsea reported to have been tracking the 20-year-old for a number of months, but will be the first player to arrive during the new tenure of the Portuguese.

Mourinho was officially unveiled as Chelsea manager on Monday afternoon, with the former Real Madrid boss giving a press conference to around 250 accredited members of the media.

The 50-year-old was required to field a number of questions about his current playing staff, and insisted that he intends to keep club captain John Terry - who has been linked with a summer exit - at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea plotting move for teenage sensation

New Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has made Schalke starlet Julian Draxler one of his top summer transfer targets, according to reports from the Daily Star.

The ‘Special One’ is believed to be in the market for a number of new players following his return to Stamford Bridge, as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging for thePremier League title.

19-year-old Draxler is thought to be a player the Portuguese coach is looking at closely, after being impressed by his performances in the Bundesliga.

The teenager only penned a new contract that runs until 2018 recently, but rumours suggest that a £38million release clause was written into the deal.

Mourinho is no stranger to spending big, and could offer that figure in order to force through a move for the starlet.

The sum would be extremely high for such a young player, but Draxler is widely regarded as the best rising star in his position in Germany, and somebody who could eventually develop into a world-class player.

Chelsea may even offer Kevin De Bruyne as part of any deal, with the Belgian – who spent last season on loan with Schalke’s domestic rivals Werder Bremen – having been impressive in German football.

Mourinho is believed to see Draxler as a potential long-term successor to Frank Lampard.

Could Julian Draxler be Chelsea’s next big star? Or should the Blues focus on producing their own talented youngsters?

Chelsea own £25 million wonderkid claims President !

There has been a report on the Sky Sports website which have revealed Chelsea own Partizan Belgrade youngster Lazar Markovic, despite him heading to Benfica for a medical.

Chelsea have long been linked with the Serbia international midfielder, and the teenager enjoyed a tour of Stamford Bridge earlier this year when he held talks, although he insisted at the time he had not agreed a deal with the Blues.

Then a few weeks ago it emerged that Benfica were favourites for his signature and he looked set to seal a switch to the Estadio da Luz.

And while Markovic does appear set to sign for Benfica, according to Partizan president Dragan Djuric it will actually be via Chelsea.

Djuric says the Premier League club plan on loaning Markovic – who he says they already own – to Benfica for two seasons, but he hopes that Partizan may get him back at some point.

“It is true, Chelsea will send Markovic out on a loan for two years,” Djuric told Sportski Zurnal. (Sky Sports)

The lad is rated as one of the best talents in Europe and it is no surprise to see Chelsea buy a youngster and then loan him out for the next two years.

Chelsea released and retained list

Yossi Benayoun and Florent Malouda are among eight players Chelsea have released following the end of last season.

The Blues were asked, like every club, to submit a list of players they are releasing and retaining to the Premier League on the third Saturday of May.

Published today, the list shows that Ross Turnbull and Paulo Ferreira have also been let go by the Stamford Bridge club while 55 have been kept.

Jose Mourinho will be looking to add to his squad over the next couple of months, with Hulk the latest to speak about a move to the club.

And Edinson Cavani is also thought to be high on his list after Napoli's president Aurelio De Laurentiis said the Blues were looking to get in contact with the club.

Released players
Affane Amin
Benayoun Yossi
Deen-Conteh Abdul Aziz
Ferreira Paulo Renato Rebocho
Hilario Meireles Alves Sampaio Henrique
Malouda Florent Johan
Nkumu Archange
Turnbull Ross
Retained players

Retained:

Ake, Nathan Benjamin - Retained
Azpilicueta, Tanco Cesar - Retained
Ba, Demba - Retained
Baker, Lewis Renard - Retained
Bamford, Patrick James - Retained
Bertrand, Ryan - Retained
Blackman, Jamal Clint-Ross - Retained
Cahill, Gary James - Retained
Cech, Petr - Retained
Chalobah, Nathaniel Nyakie - Retained
Clifford, Billy - Retained
Cole, Ashley - Retained
Courtois, Thibaut - Retained
Davey, Alex James - Retained
Davila, Plascencia Ulises Alejandro - Retained
De Bruyne, Kevin - Retained
Delac, Matej - Extended
Dos Santos Emboaba Junior Oscar - Retained
Essien, Michael - Retained
Feruz, Islam - Retained
Hazard, Eden - Retained
Hazard, Thorgen Ganael Francis - Retained
Hutchinson, Samuel Edward - Retained
Ivanovic, Branislav - Retained
Kakuta, Gael - Retained
Kalas, Tomas - Retained
Kane, Todd Arthur Lucien - Retained
Lalkovic, Milan - Offer
Lampard, Frank James - Retained
Loftus, Cheek Ruben - Retained
Luiz, Moreira Marinho David - Retained
Lukaku, Romelu Menama - Retained
Marin, Marko - Retained
Mata, Garcia Juan Manuel - Retained
McEachran, Joshua Mark - Retained
Mikel, John Obi - Retained
Moses, Victor - Retained
Musonda, Lamisha Chashi - Retained
Musonda, Tika Kafusha - Retained
Nditi, Adam Eric Richard - Retained
Oliveira, Dos Santos Wallace - Retained
Omeruo, Kenneth - Retained
Osmanovic, Anjur - Retained
Pappoe, Daniel Mills - Retained
Piazon, Lucas Domingues - Retained
Pirez, Araujo Jhon Alexander - Retained
Santos, Do Nascimento Ramires - Retained
Saville, George Alan - Retained
Swift, John David - Retained
Terry, John George - Retained
Torres, Sanz Fernando Jose - Retained
Van Aanholt, Patrick John Miguel - Retained
Van Homoet, Bruma Jeffrey Kevin - Retained
Vidal, Oriol Romeu - Retained
Walker, Samuel Colin - Retained

Scholars

Beeney, Mitchell Ryan - Retained
Christensen, Andreas Bodtker - Retained
Cole, George - Retained
Conroy, Dion John - Retained
Dabo, Fankaty Sheikam - Retained
Gnahore, Ambrose Gnahoua - Retained
Houghton, Jordan - Retained
Kandi, Chike - Retained
Killip, Ben - Retained
Kiwomya, Andrew Alexander - Retained
Mitchell, Reece Steven - Retained
Muleba, Jonathan - Retained
Ssewankambo, Isak Ssali - Retained
Starkey, Jesse Aaron - Retained
Wright, Kevin - Retained

Chelsea ‘make bid’ to land Brazilian sensation ?

There has been some reports on the Daily Star website which have claimed Chelsea have made a bid to land highly-rated Roma and Brazil sensation Marquinhos in the summer window, but he has stated he is leaving everything upto his agent.

“I still have four years on my contract and I don’t think about the market.

“It is normal that offers and rumours come in for me.

“But I leave it to my agents. I think only to play.”

The talented defender is tipped for big things and will be seen as John Terry’s replacement in the long-run. But it will take a massive bid to persuade Roma to let him leave and it will be very interesting to see just what happens in the coming months.

Chelsea in battle with Barcelona to land £30 million powerhouse !

Chelsea and Barcelona are in a battle with each other to try and land highly-rated Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala in this coming transfer window.

Chelsea have been extensively linked with the Frenchman, who is highly-rated by new manager Jose Mourinho and wants to strengthen his defence this summer.

But the Special One does not appear willing to pay Mangala’s £30m release clause to land him, which could let in Barca.

According to reports in Spain, the Catalan side have now earmarked him as a summer priority, with their defensive unit in desperate need of reinforcements.

There are so many reports about the young man and it will be very interesting to see just where he ends up in the coming months.

Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois to return to Atletico Madrid on loan

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has claimed he has been given permission to spend a third season on loan at Atletico Madrid.

Courtois signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2011 from Genk, but the Belgium international has yet to make a first-team appearance for the Premier League club.

He has enjoyed two successful seasons with Atletico after replacing David de Gea and has previously expressed a wish to extend his time at the Vicente Calderon.

Neither Chelsea nor Atletico have confirmed a deal has been struck but the 21-year-old said on Saturday he will be heading back to Spain.

He was quoted by media in Spain and Belgium as saying at a national team press conference in Kortrijk: "I've chosen to stay at Atletico.

"I have to continue playing and at Chelsea there's (Petr) Cech who has always been a great goalkeeper.

"At Atletico I'm sure I can play and I can continue to be the first-choice keeper of the Red Devils (Belgium).

"In the course of the season, we will see if I return to London."

Courtois started for Belgium on Friday night as they beat Serbia 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Brussels and claims to have the blessing of incoming Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to remain in Spain.

"I spoke with Mourinho and he told me the best thing is to continue maturing," he added.

In 2012 Courtois helped the Rojiblancos win the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup, while last season he won the Zamora Trophy as the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-to-game ratio in the Primera Division after conceding 29 goals in 37 appearances.

OFFICIAL: MOURINHO APPOINTED

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Jose Mourinho as First Team Manager.
Mourinho has signed a four-year contract and will return to the club where he won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups between 2004 and 2007.

Ron Gourlay, Chelsea FC Chief Executive, said: 'I am delighted to welcome Jose back to Chelsea. His continued success, drive and ambition made him the outstanding candidate.

'It is our aim to keep the club moving forward to achieve greater success in the future and Jose is our number one choice as we believe he is the right manager to do just that.

'He was and remains a hugely popular figure at the club and everyone here looks forward to working with him again.'

Since leaving Chelsea in 2007, the 50-year-old Portuguese has worked in Italy with Inter and Spain with Real Madrid, lifting three league championships, two domestic cups and the Champions League.

Originally appointed at Stamford Bridge in 2004, immediately after winning Europe's top competition with Porto, he quickly achieved success securing his first trophy for the club as early as February 2005, when we beat Liverpool 3-2 after extra-time in Cardiff to win the Carling Cup. We went on to win the league that season with a record 95 points and a record low of just 15 goals conceded in 38 games.

The club celebrated consecutive championships in our centenary 2005/06 season, secured with a 3-0 win over Manchester United in late April, and the next campaign we were able to add the Carling Cup with victory over Arsenal in Cardiff, and the FA Cup when United were beaten again in the first senior game at the new Wembley.

Mourinho departed by mutual consent in September 2007, going on to develop his already impressive CV by winning the Serie A twice in two years and the Champions League with Inter, before joining Real Madrid in 2010, where he lifted both La Liga and the Copa Del Rey, ending his stay in Spain yesteday.

He brings three coaching staff with him in Rui Faria, Silvino Louro and Jose Morais. Each carries the title of Assistant First Team Coach and will work alongside current first team staff Steve Holland, Christophe Lollichon and Chris Jones.

The new manager will be officially presented in a press conference at Stamford Bridge on Monday 10 June, further details of which will follow in due course.

Player ratings 2012/13

 

This season was definitely one of the most turbulent ever seen at SW6.

Sixty-nine games, eight competitions, two managers, superstar signings, memorable wins, shock defeats, highly significant poor refereeing decisions, a season-long contract drama with a club legend, and scandal. This season had it all.

There was never a dull moment for a Chelsea fan. Despite all the drama, the club managed to qualify, albeit not comfortably, for the Champions League and notched up a second successive European trophy with their success in the Europa League.

Amongst the players, there were plenty of heroes, but also plenty of players who didn't quite perform up to their full potential.

Here we take a look at the entire squad's performance over the course of the campaign:

1. Petr Cech: 8.5

The Czech stopper was at his reliable best throughout the season and rarely put a foot wrong. The 31-year-old managed to rack up 20 clean sheets in 63 games and made some brilliant saves in the campaign, the most memorable being from Javier Hernandez's point-blank header in the FA Cup.

2. Branislav Ivanovic: 8

Ivanovic had an excellent season for Chelsea. The centre-back was solid at the back and also a big goal-threat, amassing eight goals in all competitions, including the last-minute winner in the Europa League final. The odd mistake aside, the big Serb was a rock at the back for the Blues.

3. Ashley Cole: 7.5

Though still one of the best left-backs in the world, Cole didn't have an outstanding season by his standards. Despite his five assists this year, he wasn't as much of a threat going forward as he has been in earlier seasons. Defensively, though, Cole was still one of the most reliable players in the league, especially in one-on-one situations

4. David Luiz: 8.5

They may not like him, but the Chelsea fans must be grateful to Rafael Benitez for finally taming David Luiz. Shifting into a holding-midfield position in the second half of the season brought out the best in Luiz, especially when he was paired with Frank Lampard. He was able to utilise both his attacking and defensive abilities to the full and he showed his eye for the spectacular with some mind-blowing goals against Fulham and Basel.

6. Oriol Romeu: 5.5

Romeu missed almost the entire season through injury but when he did play, his performances were unspectacular. He is yet to show why Barcelona valued him so highly but he still has age on his side and should blossom into a decent holding midfielder once he gets more acquainted with the English game

7. Ramires: 8

The tough-tackling Brazilian had yet another impressive season in the Chelsea midfield. His boundless energy and lung-busting runs were vital to the Blues in their marathon campaign. He popped up with important goals again this year including three against Manchester United.

8. Frank Lampard: 9

The Chelsea vice-captain continued to roll back the years as he spent the entire season in pursuit of Bobby Tambling's record. In a season that looked like it would be his last at Chelsea, Lampard put injuries behind him to manage an astounding 17 goals from just 38 starts from a holding midfield role. For the second season running, he captained the Blues to a European trophy. He became Chelsea's all-time highest scorer in a match-winning performance against Aston Villa and truly deserved his contract extension.

9. Fernando Torres: 7

This season Torres finally started to show a few glimpses of his former self, but his strike-rate still doesn't justify his price tag. He was Chelsea's leading scorer this season but most of his goals came against lowly opposition. That being said, without him, Chelsea would have been nowhere in the Europa League. Torres' main problem is that he tends to disappear in games and unlike Demba Ba, he doesn't bully defenders. If he improves his work-rate, El Nino could still be fondly remembered by Chelsea fans.

10. Juan Mata: 10

There are few words that can truly describe Juan Mata. The little Spaniard has been at the heart of all things good for Chelsea, carrying on where he left off last season, and in some style too. 20 goals and 35 assists in all competitions pretty much sum up how important he has been to the club this season. His touch, vision, dribbling pin-point passing and eye for goal make him a fearsome opponent for any team. Few could stop him this season and he fully deserved his second consecutive Chelsea Player of the Year award as well as his nominations for the PFA and FWA awards.

11. Oscar: 7.5

The young Brazilian started life at Stamford Bridge in brilliant fashion. He announced himself on the European stage with a superb performance against Italian Champions Juventus, leaving Andrea Pirlo looking like a toddler who was playing football for the first time. Unfortunately, Oscar never quite transferred his European form to the Premier League. Still, he had a good debut season with double figures in goals and assists. He will only get better in the years to come.

12. John Obi Mikel: 6

John Obi Mikel made it another year without scoring a goal this season, and with no assists either, he is the new Stewart Downing. Apart from an impressive performance against Manchester United, Mikel didn't do much this season. He slows down the game and almost all his passes are sideways or backwards. Chelsea need holding midfielders who can feed the attackers and Mikel just doesn't fit the bill.

13. Victor Moses: 5.5

The statistics lie with regard to Moses. He may have scored 10 goals in 43 games this season but his overall play has been very poor. Often guilty of conceding possession cheaply, the Nigerian winger was regularly a source of frustration for the fans and was never quite convincing after the departure of Roberto di Matteo

16. Raul Meireles: 5

Many Chelsea fans will be forgiven for forgetting that Meireles played this season. The Portuguese midfielder only made three appearances before his switch to Fenerbahce, with nothing noteworthy in his performances.

17. Eden Hazard: 9.5

The young Belgian winger came with a massive reputation and an  equally massive transfer fee. Hazard terrorised defences from the word go this season, notching up 13 goals and 24 assists in all competitions. Many of his goals were utterly spectacular, including a 35-yard thunderbolt against Stoke and a sumptuous curler against Manchester United. His understanding with Juan Mata seemed telepathic at times and there is no doubt that their partnership will be vital for the Blues in the years to come.

19. Paulo Ferreira: 5.5

Another player who was nearly invisible this season. Ferreira featured in less than ten games and gave average performances.

21. Marko Marin: 4.5

The German winger had a season to forget. Injuries plagued his first year in English football and he hardly had an impact when called upon. Managed just one goal, which came in a 4-1 rout of Wigan.

22. Ross Turnbull: 5

Turnbull showed again this season that he is not a goalkeeper of Premier League quality. A truly awful performance in the draw with Brentford will not be easily forgotten by Chelsea fans.

23. Daniel Sturridge: 6

Sturridge barely got a chance this season, mainly due to injuries. He wasn't anywhere near as impressive as last season though and scored just twice before a move to Merseyside that has seen him fluorish.

24. Gary Cahill: 8

Cahill firmly established himself as a first-choice centre-back this season and has turned in consistently good performances. The first half of the season brought a barrage of goals for the England international, who finished with six for the season. He showed that he can be a good successor to John Terry with his ability to marshal the back-line. 

26. John Terry: 6

The Chelsea captain's powers are on the wane and he struggled more than ever to remain injury free this season. He is no longer a first-choice, even when fit, largely due to a complete lack of pace. While he has become something of a liability at the back, he is still a brilliant leader as well as one of the biggest aerial threats in the league. Six goals in 27 games is no mean feat for a centre-back.

28. Cesar Azpilicueta: 7.5

The young Spanish right-back had an impressive debut season in England, establishing himself in the Chelsea starting line-up. Although he did have a few moments this year where his inexperience was exposed, the majority of his performances were good. He was always willing to go forward and is a good crosser of the ball. He managed to notch up six assists in the Premier League.

29. Demba Ba: 7

The Senegalese striker was bought to remove the burden of scoring from Fernando Torres' shoulders, but didn't quite deliver as many goals as expected. However, his work rate cannot be called into question. He was always willing to impose himself upon defenders, something that was sorely missing in Torres' game. The alternate game rotation probably didn't suit him either. He did, however, give Chelsea fans some goals to remember with stunning acrobatic efforts against both Manchester clubs in the FA Cup

30. Yossi Benayoun: 4.5

Benayoun never had a chance of getting regular first team action this season with the likes of Mata, Hazard and Oscar in the attacking midfield positions. Chelsea fans are proably glad he didn't because he was ineffective whenever he did play.

34. Ryan Bertrand: 6

Bertrand was never quite convincing as an adequate deputy for Ashley Cole, and he didn't do much to change that this season. He was prone to giving the ball away a tad too often and also wasn't always reliable defensively.

35. Lucas Piazon: 6.5

The highly-rated Brazilian teenager got a few chances in the senior team before being sent on loan to Malaga and he put in some decent performances, notching up assists against Aston Villa and Wolves

57. Nathan Ake: 7

The young Dutch defender got his chance with the senior team this season and justified it with his performances both at the back and in midfield. Composed on the ball and mature beyond his years, Ake showed why he is so highly rated, and should be an important player for Chelsea in the future

Chelsea Now Ready To Do Deal For Hulk?

Even though media reports are flooding in about the impending arrival of Jose Mourinho, reports from Russia suggest offers have been made for Zenit St. Petersburg striker Hulk by two Premier League clubs, one of whom is reportedly Chelsea.

Mourinho’s arrival is set to be confirmed by the club this week but transfers are happening even without the new boss in place officially. Metro is reporting that though Chelsea’s interest in Hulk is well known his agent, Teodoro Fonseca is currently suggesting that he has conducted serious discussions with a couple of English teams.

‘There are two great teams of the Premier League to have made their interest known,’ said Fonseca.

Seemingly Hulk will cost a pretty penny with Zenit only willing to consider bids north of £40million which does seem a little steep for a guy who has only scored 7 goals in 18 matches so far.

As the Blues are ready to confirm the highly awaited signing of Andre Schurrle from Bayer Leverkusen, Abramovich is keen on building a side which will challenge for the world’s top honors, including the UEFA Champions League. The Blues were knocked out in this year’s competition early in the group stages, but went on to win the UEFA Europa League, thanks to the efforts of interim boss Rafael Benitez.

Despite signing Eden Hazard, who was wanted by both Manchester clubs and Chelsea, the club’s transformation is still in motion, with young stars being tipped to arrive at the club. With fan favorite Mourinho arriving this year, Abramovich wants to leave no stone unturned. A similar buying spree was seen at Mourinho’s first spell at the club, when the club spent handsomely on stars from around Europe.

Hulk has had a controversial year at Zenit, with reports of players being unhappy about his high wages and he himself feeling out of sorts with life in Russia. The striker also had a reported rift with the club’s coach Luciano Spalletti, and is keen on leaving the club in this window. Manchester City, Real Madrid and a reunion with AVB at Tottenham have all also been mentioned as possible destinations for the Brazilian forward. Hulk would certainly be a big name signing but is he what Chelsea really need?

Ashley Cole Captains England Vs Ireland

 

Ashley Cole will captain England against the Republic of Ireland in celebration of his 100th cap.
With regular skipper Steven Gerrard missing, Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard was expected to walk the players out at Wembley.

In a confusing original announcement, Roy Hodgson seemed to suggest that Cole would lead the team out on his 102nd appearance before Lampard would take over the leader’s duties.

However, after further questioning, the former Fulham boss stated that Cole would captain the team throughout.

Initially, Hodgson said: “Frank’s always been the captain in Steve’s absence. I appointed him when I started over a year ago.

“But in actual fact tomorrow, Frank and I have discussed this and Frank’s happy for Ashley to lead the team onto the field in celebration of his 100th cap, which he’ll receive tomorrow.

“It’s actually his 102nd appearance. Frank and I are happy that he will lead the team out there but Frank still remains the captain of the team.”

But he later explained: “No. He is captain as well.

"The fact is that he, as you well know, does not enjoy the responsibility of talking publicly and that is why maybe in the past when the England captaincy has come up in the past I am sure his name will have been considered.

“But he shied away from that and he will have been happy to play under others.

“But on this occasion we all think this is the right thing to do, and he is happy to accept that.

“He was also maybe satisfied with our compromise, that with the press conference today, Frank Lampard would be the one coming in and speaking for the team here, whereas he will be doing his talking with his feet tomorrow evening on the pitch.”

After the farce had been cleared up, Lampard offered his take on why his long-time Chelsea colleague had been honoured with the armband.

He said: “Not only getting 100 caps, but the way he has performed over those 100 caps as the most consistent left-back probably in world football over such a long period of time, it’s the perfect gesture and very much deserved.”

First International Champions Cup fixture confirmed

Chelsea's participation in the Guinness International Champions Cup in America will begin when we meet Inter at Indianapolis's Lucas Oil Stadium on August 1.
We announced our involvement in the summer tournament last weekend, and after the draw we now know we will visit Indianapolis for the first time, in an 8pm kick-off against our Italian opposition.

The eight teams are split into two groups, with AC Milan and Valencia the other teams on our East side of the draw, and Real Madrid, Juventus, LA Galaxy and Everton making up the West side.

On August 4, we will travel to the MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants, and the complex we used for training on the New York leg of our summer tour in 2012, to meet either AC Milan or Valencia.

All eight teams then descend on Miami, Florida, and the Sun Life Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, for a two-day final festival. From August 6-7, four matches will be played where each first, second, third and fourth-placed team meet their corresponding opponents from the opposite group, with the finalists meeting at 9pm on Wednesday, August 7.

The full schedule for the Guinness International Champions Cup can be seen below :

July 27 - Valencia v AC Milan - Mestalla Stadium, Valencia

July 31 - Everton v Juventus - AT&T Park, San Francisco

August 1 - Chelsea v Inter - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

August 1 - Real Madrid v LA Galaxy, University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix

August 3 - West side semis - Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

August 4 - East side semis - MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

August 6 - 7th placeand 5th place matches - Sun Life Stadium, Miami

August 7 - 3rd place and 1st place matches - Sun Life Stadium, Miami

Mourinho targets six players ahead of Chelsea return

 

Jose Mourinho has drawn up a shortlist of six signings for Chelsea this summer, the Daily Mirror has reported, with three defenders, two midfielders and a striker wanted by the soon-to-be-former Real Madrid Coach.

Mourinho leaves Madrid on June 2 and is expected to be named as Chelsea’s next permanent manager shortly after, with Rafael Benitez still in interim control at Stamford Bridge. But Mourinho has already started laying the groundwork for his second spell at the helm of the Europa League winners, naming the half-a-dozen positions he wishes to improve and suggesting the players for the club to sign.

They include Atletico Madrid forward Radamel Falcao, Malaga midfielder Isco, Everton’s Marouane Fellaini and Porto’s highly-rated young defender Eliquim Mangala. Chelsea are also close to wrapping up the purchase of Bayer Leverkusen attacker Andre Schurrle, while Mourinho is said to have advised bringing back goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from his long-term loan with Atletico.

Mourinho, who first managed Chelsea between 2004 and 2007, winning the Premier League title twice, has to wait until the end of the Spanish league campaign before he can return to west London. The Mirror claims he has a contract with owner Roman Abramovich already agreed, and that Chelsea are willing to sell Fernando Torres to help fund Mourinho’s desired transfer moves.

Mourinho Agrees 4-year £250,000-a-week Chelsea deal

 

Jose Mourinho will move to Chelsea on a four-year contract.

Mourinho's split from Real Madrid was confirmed this week.

The Daily Star says he will fly to London on June 2 – and sign a four-year contract at Chelsea worth £250,000 a week.

Mourinho will jet in the day after his final game in charge of Real Madrid to seal his mega deal.

That is a commitment of around £50m from owner Roman Abramovich for the second coming of The Special One.

Mourinho wants to take Malaga player to Chelsea

Spanish newspaper AS claims today that a three way battle is emerging for Malaga’s young playmaker Isco Alarcon with Chelsea now joining the race along with Real Madrid and Manchester City.

The 21-year-old midfielder can leave Malaga for €35 million, his release clause, according to AS today.

Isco is believed to be Real Madrid’s primary target this summer after a fine campaign for Malaga but Jose Mourinho has already told Chelsea to make a bid for the player.

Manuel Pellegrini has also worked with Isco at Malaga and it is thought that he will be advising Manchester City to bid big for Isco.

AS also added that Jose Mourinho has told his Chelsea bosses that he wants to bring Fabio Coentrao from Real Madrid with the Portuguese left-sided player seen as a back up to Ashley Cole.

Chelsea in pole position to land £80m Ronaldo

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has raised the prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo following Jose Mourinho to Chelsea... after dismissing Manchester United's chances of re-signing the Portuguese star.
Ronaldo, aged 27, is at the centre of a £80m bidding war after growing disillusioned with life in the Spanish capital.

When asked whether the Portugal flyer was happy at Real Madrid, Calderon told talkSPORT: 'Ronaldo said he was sad at the beginning of the season. I think the relationship with the current president is not a good one, maybe because the president doesn’t like the players he inherited.

There are not many teams that could afford to pay him what he deserves and who can pay Real Madrid what they are asking for. There are three clubs - Manchester City, PSG and Chelsea. I don’t think any other club is going to pay that amount of money for a player.

'They [Real] are going to negotiate the contract now and they will make a decision. It’s something we will know in a few weeks

United have first option to sign Ronaldo if Real decide to sell and the Portugal star favours a return to Old Trafford.

But Mourinho, with whom he has worked at the Bernabeu for the past three years, has added him to his list of premium targets.

Wayne Rooney, who would prefer to move to Chelsea, and Napoli striker Edinson Cavani are also wanted by Mourinho.

Ronaldo has spent four seasons at Real Madrid but has become frustrated by the lack of harmony at the club.

Although Mourinho is unlikely to be able to persuade all three forwards to move to Chelsea, the club intend to move swiftly this summer.

Mourinho’s relationship with Ronaldo was under scrutiny last weekend when the forward appeared to shout ‘**** you’ at his coach after scoring his 200th goal for Real.

Ronaldo spoke in Portuguese when he pointed to the Real club badge and shouted ‘I’m here, I’m here’ in front of Mourinho as the coach prepares to quit Spain after three years in charge of the world’s biggest football club.

Chelsea are favourites to win Premier League in 2013/14

Football fans have voted for Chelsea as favourites to win the Premier League next season, in an online poll conducted by Goal.com.

The Europa League winners, who finished third behind both Manchester clubs this campaign, are aiming to recapture the league success of Jose Mourinho's spell at Stamford Bridge, as he looks set for a return to the Blues.

Chelsea received approximately one-third of all votes cast, marginally ahead of reigning champions Manchester United, with Mourinho regarded as the league's best manager following Sir Alex Ferguson's Old Trafford farewell.

Spaniards Juan Mata and Fernando Torres are among those to have won both major European trophies at Chelsea without Premier League glory, while the Blues squad will be bolstered by a £100 million summer transfer spree.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are considered more likely to triumph than Manchester City - in what would be their first domestic title since 2004 - after manager Arsene Wenger promised to make significant signings to improve the current squad.

However, it could be down to the club's stability that the Gunners are so highly rated, since all three rivals have undergone managerial mayhem once again.

Chelsea 's New Training Kit

Mata and Hazard with their FIFA TOTS cards !

Romelu Lukaku: I’m Dreaming Of Playing For Jose Mourinho At Chelsea

On-loan Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku admits he had been dreaming of a chance to play under ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho for years.
The Portugese’s reign at Real Madrid ended on mutual terms on Monday, but not without a parting shot from Barcelona vice-president Carles Villarubi who labelled his tenure a "scourge".

Mourinho, who managed Chelsea to arguably their most successful period in the Premier League from 2004 to 2007, has long been backed for a return to Stamford Bridge.

Lukaku’s dream could yet be realised, with his loan spell at West Brom ending following 17 goals in 35 appearances, and a return to Chelsea on the cards.
The striker told RTBF’s Tribune show: "When Mourinho led Chelsea, I thought all the time that it would be a dream to be coached by him.

"I should talk to him now and know what his thoughts are about me."

His personal desires aside, Lukaku’s immediate future could yet be questioned, especially under new Chelsea management.

Just eight appearances in his debut season for Chelsea in 2011/12, means a transfer may not prove a raw deal, especially with Belgium’s World Cup qualifiers looming.

However, the 20-year-old insisted he was putting his overall development at the fore, adding: "I have to be smart in my choice. The bottom line is that I’m progressing and I confirmed my progress this year.

"Of course the World Cup will play an important role. After the pre-season with Chelsea, we have the World Cup qualifiers and I have to be ready for them."

The qualifiers themselves have not proven a happy hunting ground for Lukaku, having primarily been an unused substitute as Belgium rose to the top of their group.

But he remains positive about a future role with his national side, for who he has made 19 appearances scoring three goals.

He said: "The team wins and that’s the point. I should think about the team.

"It’s for me to show the coach that I deserve better. I should control my emotions and wait to speak with him, as it is all very direct."

Schurrle confident of Chelsea move

Chelsea target Andre Schurrle is convinced that he'll be wearing the Stamford Bridge club's blue strip next season. Although the deal seemed on the verge of completion a few weeks ago, of late both Chelsea and Leverkusen have been reticent about its completion. Apparently however, the player harbours no similar doubts, and Sky are reporting that he feels that he has completed his last game for the German club.

The 22 year old player has been very much on Chelsea's radar for a couple of seasons and with the apparently imminent arrival of Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea summer plans appear to be taking shape. With Schurrle able to play either in a wide position or as a striker, the acquisition will give much needed flexibility to Chelsea's attacking options. With the striker options currently hamstrung between the terminally out of touch Torres and the workmanlike, but largely uninspiring Demba Ba, the Blues' illustrious midfield trio of Mata, Hazard and Oscar have had to bear a lot of the burden for goal-scoring responsibilities. Addressing this will be one of Mourinho's prime concerns for the new season.

Rumours persist that the club's patience with the errant El Nino has finally worn too thin to support his status at the club any further, so even assuming that the bustling young Belgian Romelu Lukaku returns to his parent club for the new term, Schurrle's acquisition will probably only be the first move in a plan to bolster Chelsea's firepower. It could be an interesting summer for Chelsea fans ' and an expensive one for Roman Abramovich.

UEFA TOP 20 CLUB RANK : ( May 20 / 05 /13 )

1. FC Barcelona
2. FC Bayern München
3. Chelsea FC
4. Real Madrid CF
5. Manchester United FC
6. Arsenal FC
7. FC Internazionale Milano
8. FC Porto
9. SL Benfica
10. Valencia CF
11. Club Atlético de Madrid
12. Olympique Lyonnais
13. FC Shakhtar Donetsk
14. AC Milan
15. FC Schalke 04
16. Olympique de Marseille
17. Liverpool FC
18. PFC CSKA Moskva
19. Paris Saint- Germain FC
20. Juventus

 

Frank Lampard: Special Recognition Award
Juan Mata: Player's Player of the Year Award
Oscar dos Santos: Goal of the Season
Natan Ake: Young Player of the Year Award

Chelsea agree deal to buy £42 million Cavani ?

Chelsea will reportedly finalise a move for Napoli striker Edinson Cavani in the summer, according to reports on the TalkSport website.
The Napoli striker has been heavily linked with Manchester City and Real Madrid in the last few months, and it seemed that they were winning the race for his signature.

However, it is Chelsea who have reportedly won the race and it has been claimed that Cavani will be plying his trade in a blues shirt from next season onwards in a deal that will cost around £42.5 million.

He will also be on a massive £145,000-per-week, which will make him one of the highest paid players at the club.

Chelsea have been eyeing up a striker for a while and many believed that it would be Radamel Falcao who arrives and not Cavani, but that doesn’t matter as he is still one of the world’s best forwards and will be a great addition to an already impressive blues squad.

What We Learned: Aston Villa

1. Frank Lampard – Chelsea legend
2. Lee Mason – questionable officiating
3. Demba Ba in horrible form
4. Aston Villa fans with some disgusting stuff
5. Top 4 secured
6.Terry and Hazard hurt – missing EL final?
7. Does Lampard breaking record change his contract status?

Chelsea to give star brand new deal!

 

There has been some reports on the Daily Mirror website which have claimed Chelsea will offer Frank Lampard a new deal, after potential new boss Jose Mourinho pleaded with them.
Frank Lampard is set to be offered a one year deal to stay at Chelsea.

Mirror Sport revealed on April 5 that Jose Mourinho is desperate for Lampard to be part of his set-up when he takes over at Stamford Bridge this summer.

And Mourinho appears to have been granted his wish as the London club prepare to offer a new deal to the midfielder to try to stop him leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season. (Daily Mirror)

Lampard has been in brilliant form once again this season and it is obvious that he deserved a new deal, so many will be surely happy if and when he signs a new contract

Chelsea’s £60 million target reveals ‘I’m leaving’?

There has been some rumours emerge from abroad which had claimed that Chelsea and Barcelona will be on full alert, as Neymar has reportedly come out and revealed his intentions on his future.

Mundo Deportivo reports some phrases that the attacker would confide to his companions: “I’m leaving”, specifically the farewell will not be until the end In the Confederations Cup. (TuttoMercatoWeb, translated from Italian)

Chelsea would love to add his quality, ability and flair to an already impressive squad and although Barca are seemingly leading the chase, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic can be very persuasive and may nail down the Brazilians signature when he comes onto the market.