Chelsea - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Chelsea coach fumes over African star’s penalty row

CHELSEA coach Mauricio Pochettino should have been beaming after his team destroyed Everton 6-0 but rather than celebrating Cole Palmer’s remarkable four-goal display he instead fumed about his players arguing on the pitch. Chelsea were leading 4-0 after Palmer's first-half hat-trick and a goal for Nicolas Jackson when they were awarded a penalty after Noni Madueke was tripped in the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. Madueke and Jackson then wrestled each other for the ball as the referee awaited a VAR confirmation, with regular taker Palmer standing bemused alongside them. Eventually, captain Conor Gallagher had to intervene to shove the…

Feb

2024

By The African Mirror

Liverpool move five points clear at the top after 4-1 rout of Chelsea

FOOTBALL

TWENTY-YEAR-OLD Conor Bradley scored his first goal for Liverpool and then set up one for Dominik Szoboszlai as Juergen Klopp's team moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 4-1 thrashing of Chelsea. Liverpool, who are unbeaten at Anfield this season in all competitions, have 51 points after 22 games. Manchester City, who have a game in hand, are second and level on points with third-place Arsenal with 46. Chelsea are 10th with 31. Liverpool played with such intensity from the opening whistle, their stifling press had Chelsea struggling to get out of their…

Nov

2023

By MARTYN HERMAN

Nine-man Spurs miss out on top spot in chaotic 4-1 loss to Chelsea

FOOTBALL

TOTTENHAM Hotspur's hopes of returning to the top of the Premier League were dashed in extraordinary fashion as they lost 4-1 at home to Chelsea after a Nicolas Jackson hat-trick in a chaotic London derby that they finished with nine men. It was a triumphant return to Spurs for Mauricio Pochettino who got the biggest win of his short Chelsea tenure, though few could have imagined how it would be achieved on a mind-boggling night of VAR calls, hot tempers, disallowed goals and injuries. Previously unbeaten Tottenham went ahead after six minutes thanks to Dejan Kulusevski's deflected shot and minutes…

Oct

2023

By PETER HALL

Sterling stars as Chelsea secure back-to-back league wins

FOOTBALL

CHELSEA secured back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since March after coming from behind to thrash Burnley 4-1. Looking to end a run of four successive home defeats on their return to the top flight this season, promoted Burnley raced into a 15th-minute lead, Wilson Odobert scoring his first goal in English football to stun the visitors. Chelsea offered little in response until Ameen Al Dakhil put through his own net in the most unfortunate circumstances three minutes before the break to get Mauricio Pochettino's team back level. Having failed to win in their last 19 matches when…

Jul

2023

By The African Mirror

Senegal forward Jackson joins Chelsea from Villarreal

FOOTBALL

SENEGAL striker Nicolas Jackson has joined Chelsea from Villarreal on an eight-year contract, the Premier League club announced. The 22-year-old played a vital role for Villarreal last season, scoring nine goals in the final eight matches and winning the LaLiga Player of the Month award for May. Jackson scored 12 goals in 26 league matches last term. He also made his debut for Senegal at the World Cup in Qatar, playing for 16 minutes in the 2-0 defeat by the Netherlands. Chelsea did not give any financial details but British media said they will pay 37 million euros ($40.38 million)…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Arsenal sign Germany forward Havertz from Chelsea

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ARSENAL have signed Germany forward Kai Havertz from Chelsea on a long-term contract, the Premier League club said. The transfer fee has not been disclosed but British media reported Arsenal will pay Chelsea 65 million pounds ($82.63 million) with an additional 5 million pounds in add-ons. "It's super exciting for me to be joining this amazing club and to be part of the Arsenal family. This club has such a big history, and I hope we can achieve lots of things," the 24-year-old told the club website. Havertz joined Chelsea in September 2020 from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, where he…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Mendy joins Saudi’s Al-Ahli from Chelsea

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SENEGAL goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has left Chelsea to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, the two clubs announced. "The Lion of Teranga protects our goal," Al-Ahli said in a Twitter post. Al-Ahli, who are making their return to the top-flight Pro League next season after a year in the second division, said Mendy's contract would run until 2026, without giving any financial details. British media reported that the Saudi club would pay around 16 million pounds ($20.24 million) for the goalkeeper. Mendy joined Premier League Chelsea from Stade Rennais in 2020 and the 31-year-old played a pivotal role as the London…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Lampard says Chelsea need to learn to fight, and quickly

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WILLIAM SCHOMBERG CHELSEA interim coach Frank Lampard said he has to turn around the club's slump urgently before Tuesday's visit by Real Madrid in a Champions League quarter-final second leg, following the Blues' latest limp defeat. Lampard, speaking after a 2-1 home Premier League loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, said Chelsea - the 2021 European champions who are now stuck in 11th place in the Premier League - were displaying a worrying lack of desire and competitiveness. "At the minute, we are falling short on that and we need to turn it around quickly," said the former Chelsea midfielder…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

‘Tough decision’ to leave Aubameyang out of Champions League squad, Potter says

SPORT

CHELSEA manager Graham Potter said it was a "tough decision" to leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of their Champions League squad for the knockout stages but said the Gabon striker still has a role to play at the London club. Aubameyang was absent from the 25-player list named on Friday and there was no place for 35-million-pound ($42-million) January signing Benoit Badiashile, but British record transfer Enzo Fernandez was included. Mykhailo Mudryk, who joined for an initial fee of 70 million euros ($76 million) from Shakhtar Donetsk, and loan signing Joao Felix were also included in the list. "Pierre's a professional…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

Chelsea FC’s Ziyech ousted from Morocco team

SPORT

Chelsea star winger Hakim Ziyech has been omitted from the Morocco national team due to ‘unacceptable behaviour’, confirmed Morocco head coach Vahid Halilhodzic. Morocco competed in a game against Ghana, a 1-0 victory in which Ziyech featured from the bench, prior to the team announcement for the World Cup qualifiers. Head coach Vahid Halilhodzic subsequently left Ziyech off the team list for the qualifiers against Sudan and Guinea. “For the first time in my coaching career, I have seen behaviour that disappoints me.” Halilhodzic said,” A player who refuses to play a game, Admittedly a friendly, on the pretext that…