Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson has signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2033, the club confirmed on Friday.
The 23-year-old initially made the move to Chelsea from Villareal in June 2023 on an eight-year deal. Jackson made an impact by netting 17 goals across all competitions in his first season.
This year, he has already scored twice in four matches.
“I am feeling very good and am very happy to sign a new contract and stay at the club,” Jackson said in a statement.
“It feels great the club has confidence in me. I am working very hard. I am very happy to extend my contract and stay here for many years.”
The Italian, who guided Leicester to the Championship title, takes over from Mauricio Pochettino, who mutually parted ways with the club after one season.
Maresca’s arrival is part of Chelsea’s strategic restructuring, marking the sixth managerial change under the ownership of Todd Boehly, Behdad Eghbali, and Jose Feliciano.
Maresca brings with him an experienced six-strong backroom staff, including former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero as his assistant.
Stay tuned for the official unveiling later this week as Maresca gears up to lead the Blues into the future.
In a statement, he said: “To join Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream for any coach. It is why I am so excited by this opportunity.
I look forward to working with a very talented group of players and staff to develop a team that continues the club’s tradition of success and makes our fans proud.”
Chelsea’s ownership group added: “We are thrilled to welcome Enzo into the Chelsea family. We look forward to supporting him and the rest of the sporting team in fulfilling their potential and our expectations over the years to come.
Highly regarded for his coaching prowess and leadership abilities, Maresca’s track record speaks volumes.
Previously managing Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, he clinched the Premier League 2 title with promising talents like Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia.
However, his senior management debut with Parma in Italy was short-lived, marred by a string of unfavorable results.
Despite this setback, he returned to Manchester City as one of Pep Guardiola’s trusted assistants.
Last summer, Maresca took on the challenge of leading Leicester City following their Premier League relegation.
Despite facing late-season challenges amidst financial distractions, he steered the Foxes back to the top flight, securing promotion with an impressive record of 31 wins out of 46 matches.
A Leicester statement read: “Given the promising foundations established during his single season in charge, the club is disappointed that Enzo has decided at thisstage that he no longer wants to be part of our vision.
Thepopular Ugandan dance group, Ghetto Kids, made an appearance at Stamford Bridge during Chelsea’s Premier League match against Newcastle on Monday, March 11, 2024.
As part of their tour of the United Kingdom, the renowned dance troupe showcased their talents, grooving to a rendition of Chelsea’s anthem.
Chelsea shared a video on their social media platforms capturing the energetic performance of the group, as they showcased both their collective and individual dance moves while the club’s anthem echoed through the stadium.
In the match itself, Chelsea clinched a 3-2 victory over Newcastle, maintaining their position at 11th on the league table.
Nicholas Jackson opened the scoring for Chelsea, deftly redirecting a low-driven pass from Cole Palmer in the first half.
Alexander Isak equalised for Newcastle with a skillful curling shot from the edge of the box, but Cole Palmer swiftly responded with an impressive goal of his own.
Chelsea seemed to seal the win when Ukrainian forward Mykhailo Mudryk scored a well-executed goal after coming off the bench, making it 3-1.
However, a goal from Jacob Murphy in the 90th minute set up a tense finish, with six minutes of injury time added. Nevertheless, Chelsea managed to hold on and secure their11th win of the season.
Despite Chelsea grappling with a season marred by injuries, the club’s medical director, Dimitrios Kalogiannidis, is poised to depart, as reported by The Athletic.
The timing of his exit remains unspecified, adding an unexpected element to the Blues’ ongoing injury woes.
Kalogiannidis, who assumed the role of medical director in October 2022, is set to leave the club for family reasons after a 13-year tenure.
This news comes amidst a series of changes in Chelsea’s medical staff, including the departures of Paco Bicosa and Thierry Laurent, who held significant positions in the medical department, back in September 2022.
The injury crisis at Chelsea is palpable, with nine players currently sidelined.
Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Nicolas Jackson are all unavailable.
The team, under Mauricio Pochettino, faces Middlesbrough in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, trailing 1-0 on aggregate.
The departure of Kalogiannidis adds another layer of uncertainty toChelsea’s medical and injury management at a crucial juncture in the season.
Axel Disasi is eagerly anticipating showcasing his skills at Stamford Bridge following his transfer from Monaco for an undisclosed sum.
Despite having two years left on his contract with Ligue 1 side, the 25-year-old has chosen to depart from Monaco to join Mauricio Pochettino’s team at Chelsea.
After signing a six-year agreement, Disasi expressed his admiration for the vibrant ambiance at his new club’s stadium.
He told Chelsea’s website: “I can’t wait to feel the energy of the fans.
“This is a very good stadium, one where you have a beautiful proximity to the fans. A typical English stadium, I think.
“The fervour of the fans in the Premier League, the atmosphere, the intensity of the games — it is something that excites me.
“I am so happy to be here, at this big club. I am really proud to be able to be a part of this great family and I hope to achieve very big things here, to win titles.
“I will do everything I can to achieve those objectives. I am very ambitious.”
His addition is expected to provide some solace amid Wesley Fofana’s ACL injury setback, which might keep the promising Chelsea player sidelined for a significant portion of the 2023-24 season.
Disasi made the move to Monaco from Reims in August 2020, and his impressive performances at the Stade Louis II led to his selection as Presnel Kimpembe’s replacement in France’s 2022 World Cup squad.
Playing as a right-sided center-back, he participated in three matches in Qatar, including one appearance off the bench in the final against Argentina. This made him the first French player to debut at a World Cup since 1966.
Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: “Axel has showcased his quality over several seasons in France and that has deservedly led to recognition on the international stage.
“He is ready to take the next step in his career and we are delighted that will be with Chelsea. We welcome him to the club and look forward to him joining up with Mauricio Pochettino and his new team-mates in the days ahead.”
Disasi will play alongside a familiar face at the Blues in Benoit Badisahile, who joined the West London outfit from Monaco last January.
Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged the need to deliver immediate results as Chelsea’s new manager, emphasizing his determination to earn the trust of the club’s demanding owners.
In his first press conference since taking charge in May, Pochettino made it clear that he comprehends the magnitude of the challenge that awaits him at Stamford Bridge.
Arriving at the troubled club, the Argentine coach finds Chelsea in a state of crisis following their disappointing 12th-place finish in the Premier League last season, their first bottom-half placement since 1996.
Despite a significant expenditure of £550 million on new players, Chelsea went through four different managers last season and failed to secure any silverware, adding to the club’s concerns.
Pochettino is aware of the immense task ahead and is determined to turn the club’s fortunes around, aiming to restore Chelsea’s former glory and satisfy the expectations of the demanding ownership.
Pochettino faces a tough job to restore the club to its former glory and the former Tottenham boss knows he has to hit the ground running to avoid coming under fire.
“In football, there is no patience. It is difficult to wait. If you are at Chelsea it is not about asking for time, you need to deliver from day one,” Pochettino told reporters.
“Football is about today or yesterday, you can’t talk long term, you cannot tell the people we need six months. That is not good.
“We have a squad that can deliver. From day one we need to think about winning.”
The key to Pochettino’s success could lie in his ability to handle owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali and the club’s sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.
Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter were both sacked by Chelsea after losing the owners’ trust last season, with Bruno Saltor and then Frank Lampard picking up the pieces on an interim basis.
Pochettino reportedly endured a rocky relationship with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy in the final months before his sacking in 2019, while the 51-year-old’s spell at Paris Saint-Germain also ended in his dismissal last year.
‘I trust in the owner’
Adamant that he had no problems with a collaborative relationship with his employers, Pochettino said: “They were very honest with me. They showed the plan, all the good and not so good things that need to happen.
“I trust in the owner that they are going to provide the tools to be competitive.
“I’m not a coach that needs to ask for power. I need to show they can trust me. They need to really believe in my judgement and that is my job. That is the biggest power you can have.”
Handed a bloated squad after 12 months of lavish spending under the new ownership, Pochettino has quickly rubber-stamped a host of departures.
Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kai Havertz, Cesar Azpilicueta and Mateo Kovacic have all left, with Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku and Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson the only new recruits so far.
“The most important priority is to finish the squad, to have a very balanced squad. In the plan, the club also wanted to reduce the numbers,” he said.
The Senegalese defender is part of a group of Chelsea players who have been transferred to Middle Eastern clubs this summer.
According to The Sun, Koulibaly finalized his £17 million move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, where he will be joining former Wolverhampton Wanderers player Ruben Neves.
This exit from the west London club comes just a year after Koulibaly joined Chelsea from Napoli for a fee of £30 million.
Koulibaly, who was once rated among the top defenders in Europe, failed to adapt at Stamford Bridge, as he managed just 23 Premier League appearances while being sent off only in his third match.
The 32-year-old has now fired a parting shot at Chelsea following his exit from the club.
Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the Senegalese criticised Chelsea’s management and leadership, pointing out that he expected to be given more importance in the team.
“I had no guarantees to get regular playing time [at Chelsea].
I was always professional but I don’t like to sit on the bench doing nothing,” he explained.
“I prefer a place where I am wanted and at the centre of the project and can be an example for young players.
The Premier League is fantastic and there are great players.
I needed time and in one year I couldn’t prove what I wanted because of the coach’s and club’s choices,” he added.
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Mateo Kovacic has opened up on his decision to dump Chelsea to seal a sensational summer transfer move to Manchester City.
The Croatian midfielder became City’s first signing of the summer after the Premier League champions agreed to pay Chelsea £25m plus £5m in add-ons for his signature.
Chelsea is firm in its stance and will not be swayed by any pressure exerted by RomeluLukaku and Inter Milan to facilitate another loan move, as it would have significant financial repercussions.
Lukaku, who rejoined Chelsea for a fee of £97.5 million from Inter Milan in the summer of 2021, previously had an unsuccessful stint with the club as a teenager when he joined from Anderlecht in 2011.
However, he played a crucial role in Inter Milan’s triumphant 2020-21 season, contributing to their first Scudetto win in ten years and being recognized as the league’s Most Valuable Player before transferring to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea remains unwavering in its determination to retain Lukaku’s services and is not open to the possibility of another loan arrangement.
Chelsea is resolute in retaining Lukaku and is not willing to entertain the idea of another loan arrangement.
A fallout with former boss, Thomas Tuchel after an interview flirting with the Nerazzurri spelled the end for him in London.
The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino has not changed the striker’s mind about a return, as reported by Football Italia.
Chelsea set Lukaku’s asking price
The Blues loaned Lukaku to Inter for less than £7m last season, despite paying almost 100 million for his signature a year earlier. The Italians want the same route for next season.
Mirror UK reports that the two-time UEFA Champions League winners have rebuffed any loan attempt, even with an obligation to buy, and have made a demand of £34m for the former Everton striker.
They want to put a stop to his endless charade but are standing firm; their hands will not be forced. Reports in the Italian media claim that AC Milan are willing to pay the asking price.
The Athletic reports that Villarreal striker, Nicholas Jackson has completed a medical ahead of a switch to the Premier League as Pochettino hopes to get his squad sorted, with a move for another striker not ruled out.
Sports Brief analysed five reasons Lukaku’s return to Chelsea makes sense for both parties as the tussle continues for the future of the former West Brom striker.
He is yet to fulfil his initial ambition of beingDidier Drogba’s heir in West London, while the club need not spend heavily on another number 9 if they keep him.
Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has been released following the expiry of his contract, the club has confirmed.
The 28-year-old was signed by formermanager Antonio Conte shortly after the team’s last Premier League title triumph in 2017 but had not played for the club since the end of his first season.
He has since spent time on loan at AC Milan – with whom he won the Serie A title in 2022 – Napoli and former club Monaco.
He arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £40million deal after helping Monaco to a surprise Ligue 1 title success, having been part of the team that also featured Kylian Mbappe and Bernardo Silva.
The side managed by Leonardo Jardin knocked out Manchester City in the last-16 of the Champions League en route to a semi-final exit to Juventus.
But the midfielder, who won one cap for France in 2017, failed to live up to the expectation that accompanied his arrival.
His most memorable moment in blue came during the 2018 FA Cup final when he played the full 90 minutes as Conte’s side ran out 1-0 winners against Manchester United to lift the trophy.
Another 12 players to have come through Chelsea’s academy have also left the club according to a list released by the Premier League, including goalkeeper Nathan Baxter who played 12 times in the Championship on loan at Hull last season.
Manchester United is said to be the top candidate for Mount’s services, and he has been linked to a potential exit this summer.
The Blues midfielder is destined to quit his childhood club after failing to reach a new contract agreement, according to The Guardian, who claims that United have already started negotiations with Chelsea regarding a deal for Mount.
The publication claimed the Red Devils have already agreed on personal terms with the Englishman ahead of a possible Old Trafford switch.
Be that as it may, the Manchester club will have to contend with competition from Arsenal and Liverpool in their pursuit of the Chelsea academy graduate.
Chilwell sends message to Mount
Chilwell, who is understood to be close pals with Mount, has now urged the midfielder to reject a move to Manchester United and stay at Chelsea.
The former Leicester City ace made the plea when he was asked about his friend’s future while at the Spanish Grand Prix.
“It’s none of my business personally, but he is my best mate so I would love him to stay,” Chilwell told Sky Sports, via The Mirror.
“If he goes, everyone will be sad to see him go,” the left-back added.
Mount has just a year left on his Chelsea contract, with the Blues keen to cash in on him rather than lose him on a free transfer after next season.
Chelsea fans taunt Mount
Sports Brief also reported that Mason Mount was targeted by fans for his dip in form this season amid rumours he is leaving the club.
In a video uploaded on Tiktok by journalist Amelia Dimoldenberg, he was spotted dancing with fans taunting him via social media.
ThatGuyLeee uploaded the video on Twitter and captioned it as the midfielder’s ‘highlights of the season’, sparking many reactions.
Mount, meanwhile, is wanted by a string of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
Elsewhere, Ruben Loftus-Cheek appeared to say his final goodbyes to fans during Chelsea’s final game of the season against Newcastle ahead of a proposed move to the Serie A.
Pochettino approves first Chelsea signing
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Mauricio Pochettino has okayed Chelsea’s pursuit of Sporting Lisbon star Manuel Ugarte.
Ugarte is wanted at Stamford Bridge to partner with Enzo Fernandez in the central midfield department.
Mauricio Pochettino has been named the new permanent manager of Chelsea, taking charge after a turbulent campaign that saw the club finish 12th in the Premier League standings. Pochettino, formerly the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, has been entrusted with the task of rejuvenating the Blues.
In light of this appointment, it is worth examining Pochettino’s managerial record.
Espanyol (32.9% win rate)
Having finished his playing career with Espanyol, Pochettino was pressed into service to lead a struggling team in January 2009 and lifted them from the relegation zone to a mid-table finish – drawing with local rivals Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and beating them in LaLiga.
After retiring as a player, Pochettino began his managerial career at Espanyol in 2009.
Espanyol finished 11th, eighth and 14th in his three full seasons in charge, though the former Argentina defender left with them bottom of the table in November 2012 after a poor run of form and a dispute over financial restrictions.
Southampton (38.3% win rate)
Taking over mid-season from the popular Nigel Adkins, Pochettino led Southampton to a 14th-placed finish in 2012-13 and an impressive eighth the following campaign.
Conducting press conferences via an interpreter throughout his spell on the south coast, Pochettino was nevertheless clearly able to get his message across to an over-achieving squad and position himself for higher-profile roles to come.
Tottenham (54.3% win rate)
Pochettino’s five-year reign at Tottenham marked the most prolonged period of success and stability in their recent history, with the club finishing fifth, third, second, third and fourth and reaching finals of the Champions League and the League Cup.
Pochettino celebrates with players after victory
The Argentinian nurtured a Spurs squad that was the youngest in the Premier League when they ended as runners-up in 2016-17, containing a mix of domestic talents such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Eric Dier, and overseas players including Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-min and Toby Alderweireld.
A club that had had 10 coaches in 12 years before Pochettino’s arrival in 2014 have cycled through Jose Mourinho, interim boss Ryan Mason (twice), Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte and caretaker Cristian Stellini in short order since his departure in November 2019.
Paris Saint-Germain (65.5% win rate)
Won 55, drew 15, lost 14;
Paris Saint-Germain, where Pochettino spent time as a player, brought him the first major trophies of his managerial career by winning the Coupe de France in 2020-21 and Ligue 1 in 2021-22.
However, his tenure was not deemed successful as a runners-up finish to Lille in 2020-21 meant PSG missed out on the Ligue 1 title for only the second time in nine seasons, and he failed to guide the capital club to the Champions League final.
Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel
Pochettino was sacked last summer having won less than 66 per cent of matches in all competitions, whereas his predecessor Thomas Tuchel – who started this season as Chelsea boss – had a 75 per cent win rate across his two-and-a-half years in charge.
Before the final whistle of Chelsea’s Wednesday night Premier League match against Brentford, several Chelsea supporters were seen departing Stamford Bridge.
Having lost four straight games under Frank Lampard, the Blues were eager to pick up their first win of the season when they played the Bees.
However, the 2021 Champions League winners went on to put on another terrible display at home as Lampard earned his fifth straight loss since he returned as caretaker manager.
The hosts appeared to be in control of the early exchanges before Brentford took the lead in the 37th-minute, courtesy of Cesar Azpilicueta’s own goal.
According to the Evening Standard, the visitors dented Chelsea’s hopes of a comeback after Bryan Mbeumo doubled the advantage with 12 minutes left on the clock.
Chelsea fans spotted leaving stadium
Unsurprisingly, a number ofChelsea fans were unable to watch the remainder of the match and were spotted leaving Stamford Bridge before the full-time whistle.
The Sun reports the Blues faithful vacated the stadium with 13 minutes left, a clear indication of their disappointment following a disastrous campaign this season across all competitions.
Their defeat at the hands of Brentford leaves Chelsea occupying 11th place, with little to no hope of playing in Europe next season.
Lampard’s men will be hoping to make amends next Tuesday when they take on London rivals, Arsenal, who have also hit a rough patch in recent days.
Lampard defenders infuriated Chelsea fans
Sports Brief also reported on club legend and caretaker manager, Lampard defending fans booing players after a fifth successive loss to Brentford on Wednesday.
Azpilicueta’s own-goal and Mbeumo’s late strike condemned the Blues to their latest demoralising loss since the sacking of Graham Potter earlier in the year.
Despite giving it their all at Stamford Bridge, the Blues were defeated by Rodrygo’s second-half double as Real Madrid advanced to the semifinals with a 4-0 overall victory.
Gallagher thinks the Blues showed enough in the second leg to suggest they can end their Premier League campaign with a flourish under Frank Lamaprd, even though it is difficult to accept twice losing 2-0 to the European champions.
He said: “I feel like we played well, we had a lot of chances.
“I think we definitely had more and better chances than they did but football is all about taking your chances and we didn’t do that, which was disappointing.
“Of course, we’re going to be gutted but we played some good stuff.
“The cutting edge in front of goal is basically what wins you games and we haven’t got that at the minute.
“It’s definitely a big improvement over our recent performances but you need to score goals to win games. They did that and we didn’t.
“We pushed players forward and they were able to catch us on the counter a couple of times, which was the risk.
“Everybody will be very disappointed but I think there was a lot of improvement in our football over recent performances. I hope the fans can take that away.”
With Chelsea languishing 11th in the league, Lampard will attempt to lift his troops before they return to action against Brentford next Wednesday.
England international Gallagher, 23, added: “There’s always things to chase. We take one game at a time and we just want to improve as a whole team and win as many games as we can for the rest of the season.
“We’ll take it game by game and hopefully we can build on this performance because I feel like it was positive in a way.”
British left-back Last night, just before the hour, Chilwell was handed his marching orders for hauling back Rodrygo as he was running through on goal.
At the Bernabeu, the Blues were already down a goal as a result of Karim Benzema’s first-half tap-in.
And Chilwell’s dismissal was followed by sub Marco Asensio’s 74th-minute drive to leave Frank Lampard’s men with an uphill task going into the second leg of their quarter-final clash on Tuesday.
Writing on Instagram, the 26-year-old defender said: “Slept on it and just want to apologise to my team-mates and the fans.
“I made a decision in a split second last night and it was a mistake.
“I always give everything for the team and I will continue to do so. Thank you for the support.”
Ben Chilwell was red-carded for tugging back Rodrygo
With Chilwell ruled out of the return match at Stamford Bridge, Lampard is likely to deploy Marc Cucurella at left-back or left wing-back, depending on the formation he opts for.
Thiago Alcantara and Luis Diaz will soon be able to play again forLiverpool, but manager Jurgen Klopp will choose his team with “calm” despite their impending return from injury.
Following three games with just one point earned, the Reds welcome Premier League leaders Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday in a last-ditch effort to save their season.
Even though Liverpool’s two-game losing streak on Tuesday at Chelsea stopped in a 0-0 draw, it still puts them 10 points behind Manchester United and Newcastle United, who are currently in third and fourth, respectively.
Klopp surprisingly made six changes for the trip to Stamford Bridge, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk dropping out.
Van Dijk’s absence was put down to illness, which Klopp confirmed at Friday’s press conference he has now recovered from, while two other key men are now back in training.
Diaz has not played for Liverpool since the reverse fixture with Arsenal in October, while Thiago is further ahead in his recovery after spending two months out with a hip injury.
“Virgil is back in training. Luis and Thiago are training,” Klopp told reporters. “The plan with Luis is he will be available 100 per cent for Leeds [a week on Monday].
“It was a long injury,so we will have to be careful. We will probably not involve him on Sunday. Thiago is slightly different. He’s trained three times and might be available.”
Asked if those left out against Chelsea are in contention to start against Arsenal, Klopp said: “We’ve had one proper [training] session since then.
“The boys haven’t shown me they don’t want to play. This is not the situation we are in. I have to make decisions about the team based on what I have seen in training.
“That opens the door for everybody. I cannot constantly ask for something I didn’t get. I am always really calm in this moment. In the end, we will see what the outcome is.”
While Liverpool have struggled for consistency, they have won five of their past six matches at Anfield, drawing the other, including the last three by an 11-0 aggregate scoreline.
Indeed, the Reds have not conceded a goal on home soil in seven hours and 26 minutes of league football stretching back to December.
“Anfield is not the only thing we should rely on, but it is no secret that the combination of our people, the ground and the boys is pretty good,” Klopp said.
“That is what we have to throw in, but not rely on it. I have a very good feeling we can [beat Arsenal].”
Arsenal are 29 points better off than Liverpool, having played a game more, and are seeking their first league double in this fixture since the 2009-10 campaign.
However, Liverpool have won their past six home Premier League games against Arsenal, scoring at least three times in each game (22 goals in total).
Klopp has been impressed by the work of opposite number Mikel Arteta, but he remains hopeful his side can put on a show for their supporters at Anfield on Sunday.
“I know people ask for more time for managers, and I think Mikel deserved every minute when it wasn’t going well, because they are there now,” Klopp said.
“Arsenal made good transfers and are now pretty stable. They brought in super important players but not too many.
“Mikel has been building for a few years now and the outcome is pretty impressive. I don’t know exactly what you can say about us at the moment, so that shows the situation.
“It’s still Anfield, we’re at home, and we must show a reaction, an improvement. We have to help the boys with different things. In a home game, the crowd can be a massive boost.”
Klopp is looking to win seven home leaguegames in a row against an opponent for the first time since doing so against Werder Bremen with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
The sixth consecutive draw between Chelsea and Liverpool was much more entertaining than the first leg, which was a very dull game.
After Graham Potter was fired as manager, Bruno Saltor took over as team leader for the first time. The team struggled with many of the same issues, including failing to convert chances.
As the hunt for a new manager heats up, it’s unclear if Saltor will be in charge for the weekend match against Wolves at the Molineux Stadium.
Club legend and former manager, Frank Lampard was in attendance at Stamford Bridge last night, the first time since his departure from the club in 2021, as reported by Football London.
This comes amid news, as reported by Telegraph UK, that the club have officially made contact with axed Bayern Munich boss, Julian Nagelsmann and former Spain manager, Luis Enrique.
Fans react to Lampard’s attendance
Lampard was beloved at Stamford Bridge during his playing days. He finished his career at the club being the all-time top scorer with 211 goals, but his managerial stint did not end well.
However, fans were happy to see their legend, with many insinuating he could return to the post he left in 2021.
@FPLPhilly wrote: ”He’s surely not going to luck himself into another Premier League team is he???”
@timzim9 wrote: ”Haha trying to get back into the bosses good books” @mayor_n tweeted: ”Aah incoming manager assessing the team”.
The Sun UK exclusively reports that the club are considering hiring Lampard as a caretaker manager until the end of the season, to allow for more time in their managerial search.
Why Havertz’s goal was disallowed
Kai Havertz was one of Lampard’s signings. He had a goal disallowed against Liverpool due to a contentious rule, Sports Brief has also reported.
The Blues forward received a pass from the returning N’Golo Kante, before chipping the ball over the head of the Reds goalkeeper, Alisson Becker.
However, despite the ball finding the back of the net, Havertz’s goal was ultimately disallowed after the referee consulted with the VAR official.
Chelsea and Liverpool played out their fourth goalless draw in as many head-to-head matches as the Blues missed numerous opportunities to win their first game following the firing of Graham Potter.
Some home fans disrupted the game by chanting about the 1989 FA Cup semi-final disaster at Hillsborough, which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans.
Tuesday’s match was not the first to be overshadowed by such songs this season, with Manchester City expressing regret after similar chants were heard at their 4-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.
A statement released by Chelsea shortly after full-time read: “Chelsea FC condemns the inappropriate chants heard from some home fans during this evening’s game.
“Hateful chanting has no place in football and we apologise to anyone who has been offended by them.”
Liverpool subsequently responded to Chelsea’s apology on Twitter, calling for supporters to stop partaking in the grim chants.
“We know the impact these vile chants have on those who continue to suffer as a result of football tragedies,” read a Tweet from the club’s account. “For their sake, this has to stop.”
The Premier League, meanwhile, addressed the situation in another Tweet, which read: “The Premier League condemns the tragedy chanting heard at tonight’s match between Chelsea and Liverpool.
“We continue to treat this as an unacceptable issue and are seeking to address it as a priority.”
We know the impact these vile chants have on those who continue to suffer as a result of football tragedies. For their sake, this has to stop. https://t.co/5dLLAl4Ptu
After Graham Potter was fired as the club manager, Chelsea supporters expressed their happiness on social media. On Sunday, April 2, just one day after the Blues were humiliated 2-0 by Aston Villa, Potter was fired from Stamford Bridge.
The 2021 Champions League champions have endured a frustrating run of results under the Englishman, and they are almost certainly going to miss out on a top-four spot at the end of the season.
Potter, who took over as manager only in September 2021, has presided over a dismal run of results, with Chelsea managing just 10 victories in their last 28 games.
The woeful run of form saw a section of fans call on the club to sack Potter, with their 2-0 defeat against Villa leaving the club with no choice but to get rid of the former Brighton boss.
“Chelsea FC has announced that Graham Potter has departed the club. Graham has agreed to collaborate with the Club to facilitate a smooth transition,”
Chelsea fans react to Potter’s sacking The news of Potter’s sacking sent fans into a wild meltdown, with many welcoming the drastic move.
One posted: “It’s the right move. He’ll go down in history as Chelsea’s worst-ever manager.”
A second added: “Thank you @ChelseaFC @todd_boehly @Dannythefink and all the others. It was the right thing to do.”
A third continued: “Imperium curse broken.Hard luck Mr Potter, but this was a long time coming.” Another posted: “I’ve waited for this day my whole life.” However, there are those who commiserated with Potter, with one tweeting: “All the very best to Potter, we all are sorry that it didn’t work out….
He needs more time and experience to reach Chelsea level.”
Potter praises Enzo and Mudryk
As reported earlier Potter praised two January signings, Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk, after their performances against Leicester City. The duo contributed an assist each after costing Chelsea a combined €221m in the winter transfer window contributing to more than 60% of the window’s spending.
The Blues have not triumphed since defeating Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on January 15 and are currently on a terrible run.
Only three points have been earned by Graham Potter’s struggling team in their last five Premier League games, and they lost 1-0 to Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League matchup.
The pressure on Potter increased after Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Tottenham, but James insists that everyone at the team is working hard to turn things around.
The England ace, who took the captain’s armband against Spurs when Thiago Silva was forced off by injury, said: “The media and everyone on the outside make a lot of noise about the form we’re in.
“We know where we are in the table, and we know the results haven’t been up to standard.”
“It’s something we are working on as a team and as a group. And as I said earlier, we’re sticking together to put this right.
“A lot has happened this season. We’ve had the change of ownership, new coaching staff come in and we’ve got a lot of new players and it’s not always easy to adapt straight away.
“We have to buy into what we stand for. We’re all working hard and hopefully better times are around the corner.”
Goals from Oliver Skipp and Harry Kane saw 10th-placed Chelsea leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium empty-handed.
And James was quick to admit that Skipp’s 46th-minute stunner was a bitter body blow.
He added: “We knew coming to Tottenham would be a tough game and our aim coming into the game was to win.
“Conceding so early in the second half didn’t help with our confidence but all we can do is work through this.
“We’re sticking together, we’re working hard and hopefully with time we can get to where we need to be.”
Chelsea host relegation-haunted Leeds in a must-win contest on Saturday before taking on Dortmund in the return leg of their knockout tie at the Bridge next Tuesday.
Graham Potter was under even more pressure after Saturday’s shocking 1-0 home loss to Southampton, and some Stamford Bridge supporters heckled the team at the end of the game.
Chilwell, who came out following the game to thank the fans who remained until the final whistle with fellow England international Mason Mount, believes the team is to blame.
The left-back said, “It is easy to say, but we really do have to work hard and turn this around.” James Ward-Prowse’s free kick did us in. We are the only ones who are capable of doing that.
“It is never nice for a very competitive group that wants to win stuff. Some of us a few years ago tasted winning a major trophy [the Champions League] and to be in this situation now does not feel good at all.
“It is understandable the fans are not happy. They expect Chelsea to win matches, which we also expect.
“I can stand here and say we created chances but it doesn’t really mean anything. We need to win these games.
“We need to work hard. It is a pretty flat dressing room at the moment.
“It is hard to get into it, in terms of what we did right and wrong, but we have time now until our next game to work hard.”
To compound matters for Potter’s struggling side, who currently sit 10th in the Premier League, skipper Cesar Azpilicueta was rushed to hospital after being kicked in the head by Saints sub Sekou Mara.
The Spaniard received lengthy treatment on the pitch but was able to clap the home support as he was given a standing ovation while being carried off on a stretcher.
And Chilwell, 26, was delighted to learn his team-mate was in good spirits after the worrying incident.
He added: “I was one of the closest players to it and I saw it in real time, it definitely was not a nice situation.
“Thankfully us as players, and then the staff that came on, acted very quickly and tried to give him the best help we could.
“We found out he went off to hospital to do the necessary procedures in this situation.
“He is also in contact with his wife and is stable, which is a positive to take. We are all thinking of him and it is one of those things bigger than football. We are all here for him.”
Hi everyone! Thank you all for your love and messages of support! My family and I would like to thank everyone who has been looking after me since yesterday’s incident… pic.twitter.com/suBCdIQbj6
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