Matches between Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea have been defined by the story of an underdog challenging one of English football’s powerhouses. In this article, we explore the Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. vs Chelsea F.C. timeline, turning the spotlight on their head-to-head record, significant moments, notable matches, and the evolution of this growing footballing rivalry.
West Ham United and Chelsea’s rivalry has provided decades of intense football matches, local pride, and fierce competition between two London football clubs. In this article, we journey back in time by looking back through time highlighting key moments, memorable matches that have defined this captivating rivalry. Join us on our complete West Ham vs Chelsea F.C. timeline.
Manchester City and Chelsea’s rivalry symbolises English football’s battle for supremacy at its summit. Both clubs have emerged as powerhouses in recent times, competing for domestic and European honours alike. Today, we examine their history – their head-to-head records and notable encounters are chronicled in our Man City vs Chelsea F.C. stats guide.
Liverpool and Chelsea share one of the fiercest rivalries in English football, producing some truly unforgettable encounters and showcasing some of the greatest football talent ever seen on a pitch. Here we examine their statistical history by looking at head-to-head records, notable matches, and key player performances over time in our our Liverpool F.C. vs Chelsea F.C. stats guide.
Chelsea season tickets are currently affordable but are expected to rise in the near future due to stadium upgrades and club expenditure.
Since Chelsea’s ascension into becoming one of the most-followed and successful English clubs of the modern generation, their local North West London derbies against two clubs in particular have become even more intense. These teams are Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, who are Chelsea’s rivals in the Premier League. Even if the Blues have a bad season, a manager can potentially still become a hero in the eyes of fans if they succeed in winning the derbies against the two main rivals.
This is undoubtedly Chelsea’s most fierce and intense rival. It dates back to 1909 when the clubs were known as West London Chelsea and North London Tottenham Hotspur respectively. Since then, the clubs have gone on to play each other more than 160 times.
Dating back to the 1967 FA Cup final which Spurs won 2-1, the clashes between the teams have been attracting massive audiences. The 1967 FA Cup final has since become known more well as the “Cockney Cup final” and more than 100 000 people were in attendance.
As a result of the intensity of the rivalry, violence among fans was never rare.
A poll conducted in 2012 suggested that fans of Chelsea considered Tottenham to be their most bitter rival.
An important match between the rivals also took place in the 1974/75 season. Both clubs were battling relegation from the old First Division. Spurs won the game 2-0. Chelsea were subsequently relegated from the First Division while Chelsea stayed up, with a single point saving them. The win over Spurs helped the Blues stay up that season.
This rivalry become especially intense since Roman Abramovich acquired ownership of Chelsea in 2003 and transformed it into being one of the best teams in English football. Overall, Arsenal have dominated the rivalry though they have become more evenly matched over the last 20-years which coincided with Chelsea’s rice to prominence.
After Abramovich’s Chelsea revolution, Arsenal had to wait almost 20-years (until the 2020-21 season) in order to record their first league double over Chelsea.
Interestingly, Blues club legend Didier Drogba holds the record for the most goals in this derby as he found the back of the net 13 times in all competitions. The Ivorian’s first goal against Arsenal came in a 1-0 home league win during the 2005/06 season.
His last was in a 2-0 win over the Gunners, also in the league back in October 2010. There is data to prove that hatred between the clubs has grown significantly higher over the past two decades.
The clubs had never really considered each other as primary rivals. According to a 2003 internet survey, Arsenal fans had considered Chelsea as their third rival behind Manchester United and Tottenham.
Chelsea fans who responded to the same survey said that they never considered Arsenal as their main rival. By 2008, a survey done by Football Fans Census revealed that Arsenal fans hated Chelsea fans the most, even ahead of arch-rivals Tottenham.
Chelsea fans named Arsenal as their second most hated team, behind Liverpool, who are Chelsea’s rivals up north.
Chelsea has a longstanding tradition of producing talented players from different countries – and the Netherlands is no exception. Over the years, the Blues have seen several exemplary Dutch players who have left an indelible mark on both the club and its supporters. Let us take a closer look at some of Chelsea’s greatest ever Dutch stars.
When discussing Chelsea’s Dutch legends, one name that comes to mind immediately is that of Ruud Gullit. Joining Chelsea in 1995, this football icon from the Netherlands made an immediate impact with his skillset and creative play style; plus he had great leadership qualities both on and off the field. Versatility allowed Gullit to play as either midfielder or forward, while his elegant style of play captured hearts across London. During his tenure with Chelsea, Gullit played a crucial role in helping Chelsea win both FA Cups (1997) and League Cup (1998) respectively), earning him a special place in club history.
Another Dutch player that made an impact at Chelsea was Arjen Robben. Since joining the Blues in 2004, Robben quickly established himself as one of the greatest wingers in history with his impressive dribbling ability, speed and left foot precision. Throughout Robben’s time at Chelsea he won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup; earning him widespread acclaim as one of English football’s most exciting players. Chelsea fans still remember his electrifying runs down the wing and ability to create scoring chances with ease.
Ed de Goey was an important goalkeeper for Chelsea throughout the 1990s. Joining the club in 1997, he quickly established himself as their go-to choice due to his commanding presence in the penalty area, shot-stopping ability, and excellent distribution. De Goey played an integral role in helping Chelsea win both UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup 1998 and FA Cup 2000; earning him a reputation as one of Chelsea’s greatest ever goalkeepers.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was another Dutch star who enjoyed a storied career at Chelsea during the early 2000s. As an accomplished striker, Hasselbaink joined the club in 2000 and quickly earned himself fans’ affection. His powerful shots and goal-scoring prowess made him a constant threat to opposing defenses; ultimately leading him to score 69 goals in 136 appearances for Chelsea – making him one of their all-time leading goal scorers. His performances helped Chelsea qualify for UEFA Champions League competition while earning him the Premier League Golden Boot award during 2001-2002 season for his outstanding contributions.
Dennis Wise, though not originally from the Netherlands, had a remarkable career at Chelsea during the 1990s. A dynamic midfielder who joined Chelsea in 1990 and went on to captain them for several seasons, Wise earned praise for his tenacity, leadership abilities and goal-scoring prowess from midfield. His contributions in helping Chelsea win three FA Cups (1997), 2000 and 1998 were highly acclaimed by fans as well as football enthusiasts alike for his contributions and leadership on and off the field.
Chelsea’s greatest Dutch players have left an indelible mark on the club’s history. Their skill, talent, and dedication have earned them widespread admiration from fans around the world and helped shape Chelsea into what it is today – a force to be reckoned with. Their contributions are undeniable; their accomplishments will be remembered for years to come.
These Dutch players have distinguished themselves with their versatility and adaptability, excelling in various positions on the field to show off their football intelligence and versatility. From midfield maestros to lethal strikers and commanding goalkeepers, these individuals have proven they can adapt to different roles with ease – making them invaluable assets to the team.
These Dutch players have not only achieved individual greatness, but they have been part of Chelsea’s most illustrious periods. They were instrumental in the club numerous trophies like Premier League titles, FA Cups and League Cups for the club; their performances have helped shape the Blues’ success both domestically and abroad, cementing their names in club history.
Chelsea has had a long and storied relationship with Dutch footballers. Their style of play, with a focus on technical ability, flair and attacking prowess, has often aligned with the Blues’ brand of attacking football. This has made Dutch players an ideal fit for the club and led to an impressive Dutch presence throughout Chelsea’s history.
Like any club, these Dutch players at Chelsea have faced challenges and obstacles along the way. Injury, form dips, and fierce competition for starting spots have been part of life but their resilience and determination never wavered. Through it all they have made significant contributions to Chelsea’s success; earning themselves a special place in its legacy.
Chelsea Football Club has been blessed with some outstanding Dutch players who have left a lasting legacy. Ruud Gullit, Arjen Robben, Ed de Goey, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Dennis Wise are just a few who have shown their skill, talent and dedication on the pitch to help Chelsea win numerous trophies and achieve success. Their versatility, adaptability and leadership qualities have made them invaluable assets to the team; their contributions extend far beyond their performances on the pitch; they serve as role models and inspirations to fans and teammates alike; their legacy at Chelsea will be remembered for generations to come.
Chelsea have had their fair share of German players in the Premier League era. We look at the greatest Blues from the four-time world champion nation to have played at Stamford Bridge, in our rundown of Chelsea’s best German players ever.
Graham Potter was recently sacked as Chelsea boss. This was hardly surprising considering the club’s performances this season.
Since its founding by businessman Gus Mears in 1905, Chelsea Football Club has had a number of owners. Today, we take an extensive look at who owns Chelsea today, and explore the full history of the Blues’ ownership.
Tammy Abraham was a hit for Chelsea in the 2019/20 season as he went on to score 15 goals in the Premier League from 34 appearances, helping the club to attain a top four finish under Frank Lampard.
The 23-year-old’s second season with the Blues has not exactly gone to plan as he has struggled to score goals on a regular basis.
There is speculation that Abraham may be sold this summer in order to raise funds to invest in two new strikers.
Should Abraham leave, the following are some potential destinations.
West Ham sold Sebastien Haller in the January transfer window and did not bring in a replacement, meaning that Michail Antonio has essentially been their only recognized striker since then.
David Moyes has developed a reputation for getting the most out of his players, as he did with Jesse Lingard and with majority of the players in the Hammers setup.
Given that Antonio is injury-prone and now over 30, Abraham is almost definite to get regular game time if he moves to the Hammers.
With Roy Hodgson set to turn 74 this year and nearing the end of his contract, the Eagles will be expected to appoint a new manager soon with ex Chelsea boss Frank Lampard being tipped to potentially succeed Hodgson.
Abraham played brilliantly under Lampard last season and so could be tempted by a move to Selhurst Park if the latter ends up becoming Eagles manager.
Palace will also be expected to offload Christian Benteke in the near future and so may consider Abraham as a potential replacement.
Newcastle’s entire forward options have struggled to score regularly this season and Steve Bruce’s side must look to sign a new striker as a matter of priority next summer.
St James Park may offer Abraham a good opportunity to rebuild his career but the question is whether it will be a good environment for him to be in?
Chelsea will probably have to look at bringing in a new striker ahead of next season. The trio of Olivier Giroud, Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner have struggled to find the net on a regular basis in the league this season.
For a club to challenge for the league title, they should have a striker who is capable of scoring 25 goals per season. Whilst there are good arguments to keep Abraham and Werner in the future first-team plans, the same cannot be said for Giroud.
The 34-year-old has done his but for the Blues over the past three-and-a-half years but the reality is that it is now the time for Chelsea to cut their ties with him and let him spend the twilight of his career elsewhere.
The following are three strikers that the Blues can look at:
Since joining Inter Milan in 2019, Lukaku has firmly established himself as one of the top strikers in the world under former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
Now in the prime of his career, Lukaku may fancy a return to Stamford Bridge in order to prove that he has what it takes to be one of the best strikers in English football after all.
He was previously on the books of the Blues between 2011-2014 but failed to find the back of the net in 10 Premier League appearances for the club.
Manchester City announced recently that the 32-year-old will be leaving the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season. The Argentine club legend is past his prime and has since been usurped by Gabriel Jesus as City’s main striker.
Though past his prime, Aguero is still a clinical goal scorer and could have a few more years left at the highest level.
There is a good argument that the Borussia Dortmund striker is currently the best in the world. He would easily walk into the starting xi of any side in the world.
The question is whether Chelsea will have the funds to sign him because he will not be cheap.
Chelsea has had the opportunity to have some of the generational greats in their team over their years. Some have risen above expectations whilst others flopped.
This article will look at three generational greats who did not exactly captivate audiences regularly whilst playing for Chelsea.
The current President of Liberia, Weah remains the only African footballer to have won the Ballon d’Or award, having done so in 1995 when he played for AC Milan.
In 2000, Weah joined Chelsea when he was 34-years-old on loan from Milan. He scored three goals for the Blues from 11 appearances but the club opted not to sign him permanently. He went on to join Manchester City permanently the following season and was last on the books of Al Jazira before hanging up his boots in 2003.
The Ukraine football legend and 2004 Ballon d’Or winner joined the Blues in 2006 after ending a successful seven-year spell with AC Milan.
He was one of the most feared strikers in the world when he arrived at Stamford Bridge and so there was a lot that was expected from him. He went on to yield a poor return of nine goals from 48 Premier League appearances for Chelsea.
Chelsea subsequently sent Shevchenko on loan to AC Milan in 2008 but he failed to find his feet there as well. He eventually returned to his homeland with Dynamo Kyiv in 2009 where he started scoring goals again before ending his professional career in 2012.
Prior to the emergence of Lionel Messi in the mid-2000s, it was Verón who was the most feared Argentinian footballer. Verón’s journey in England started in 2001 when Manchester United signed him from Lazio.
After failing to impress at United,he joined Chelsea in 2003. He failed again to impress with the Blues, scoring just one Premier League goal from seven appearances.
It’s well known that Nathan Ake and Declan Rice were two players who didn’t quite cut it with the Chelsea first-team from the youth ranks but have since gone on to have successful careers elsewhere.
This list will look at three former Chelsea players who have gone on to have successful careers but whom the club won’t really lose sleep over losing.
The Birmingham City goalkeeper joined the Blues in 2003 when he was a center-forward before being asked to slot into goals. After spending three years with the Blues, Etheridge went on to play for Fulham in 2006 and launched his professional career at Craven Cottage two years later.
Though he has spent most of his career playing in League One and Championship, Etheridge did get his chance in the Premier League in 2018/19 with Cardiff City. He was unable to save the Bluebirds from relegation but was one of their best players as he went on to play in all 38 of their Premier League games.
King who was part of the Leicester City side that won the Premier League in the 2015/16 season joined Chelsea in 1998 when he was just nine. He left for Leicester City in 2004 and went on to remain with the Foxes until the summer of 2020.
Interestingly, King was part of the Leicester City side as they navigated through League One, the Championship, and Premier League. Not many players can say that they played for one club in three different divisions.
All in all, he made 379 senior competitive appearances for Leicester, chipping in with 62 goals.
Guðmundsson trained with Chelsea for a short time in 2006 but could not adapt to life at the club. He ended up joining Fulham that same year and remained with them for two years before moving to his native Iceland to launch his professional career with Breiðablik.
The winger earned a move to Burnley in 2016 after an impressive showing with Iceland in the European Championships held that summer and has never looked back as he has gone on to become a key player for the Clarets.
John Terry is perhaps the greatest product of the Chelsea youth development system.
After joining the Blues as a 14-year-old from West Ham in 1995, Terry never looked back and ended up graduating to the first team in 1998.
After spending some time finding himself which included a loan spell with Nottingham Forest in 2000, he found himself involved in the first-team plans from 2001 and the rest was history.
Terry was a first-team regular for the Blues from the 2000-01 season and that remained the case until the 2016/17 season which was his final with the club where he was more or less a squad rotation option.
Terry is regarded as being one of the best and most successful captains in the Premier League era. During his time at Stamford Bridge as a player, Chelsea won five Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, the Champions League and Europa League.
He saw many players come and leave Chelsea. Some such as Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba turned out to become club legends whilst others such as Hernan Crespo and Fernando Torres came with heavy expectations before ultimately flopping.
Terry was one of the very few successful youth products of the club in the modern era. After Roman Abramovich took ownership of the club in 2003, the club underwent massive structural changes in order to transform itself from Premier League also-rans into league giants.
As a result of this, many of the club’s youth players were deemed not good enough and were offloaded to make way for more high-profile players with the exception of Terry.
Asked about club youngsters who never reached their full potential, Terry said as quoted by The Star:
“Probably a boy called Rob Woollaston at Chelsea.
“He was like a midfielder/winger, had so much ability.
”He got chose to train with the first team at a really young age, 17 or 18, did really well and Gullit told him he was going to play in the first team in a cup game.
“He then phoned up on the day of the game and said he was sick.
“All of us, if we were sick or felt like we were at the end of the world, we would have still gone and played the game, we wouldn’t have given up that opportunity.
“He actually done it two or three times and he was just not mentally ready for the game, but ability-wise, incredible.”
The United States men’s national team may be a sleeping giant. After having struggled to exert itself on the international scene, the “land of opportunity” is currently churning out players who are not only capable of but also playing for Europe’s biggest players.
During the days of Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, American players playing for elite clubs were a dime a dozen.
Christian Pulisic has been the most high-profile American to have played for the Blues and many will be mistaken to think that he is the only American to have played at Stamford Bridge.
However there have been two others and in all probability, more will come in the future.
Here are the two other Americans apart from Pulisic who have called Stamford Bridge home.
After impressing in Major League Soccer for the New York Red Bulls, the United States defender earned a move to Stamford Bridge in January 2016.
Chelsea had to make do without the services of Gary Cahill and John Terry for a Premier League game against Aston Villa in April 2016 which resulted in Miazga being handed his English top-flight debut. The West London club went on to win that match 4-0.
After looking solid on debut, Miazga was selected for the Blues following league clash against Swansea City but ended up being substituted at half-time.
Now on loan with Anderlecht in Belgium, Miazga has since made no Premier League appearances for Chelsea. His contract with the club ends next summer and he will likely be released.
A youth product of the Chelsea development system, Scott spent ten years with the club though he went on to make just one first-team appearance-making his debut in a 4-0 FA Cup triumph over Hull City in February 2018.
After joining Newcastle, Scott has failed to make the Magpies first-team and been used in their reserve games.
The 23-year-old has had an interesting youth international career. He represented England at U16 level, Republic of Ireland at U17 level and the United States at U18 and U20 level.
Frank Lampard’s tenure as Chelsea boss ended in January 2021 on less than ideal terms. The Blues club legend showed much promise in his first season at the helm of the club in his first season as he led it to a top-four finish.
However, his lack of experience started to show in the 2020/21 season as his lack of experience and man-management skills became apparent.
There were some positive developments in Lampard’s reign as manager of the club.
The following are three players that he transformed for the better.
Prior to the start of the 2019/20 season, there were doubts over whether Abraham was good enough to play in the Premier League. Whilst, the striker had shone in the Championship in two different stints with Bristol City and Aston Villa, his only prior experience in the Premier League was a failed spell with Swansea City which yielded just five goals from 31 league appearances.
Abraham went on to score 15 league goals last season from 34 appearances. Whilst he has struggled to score regularly this season, he did prove under Lampard that he is more than good enough to play in the English top-flight.
Even if Abraham ends up leaving Stamford Bridge, it’s unlikely that he will return to the Championship.
Mount had no English Premier League experience prior to last season, however he did work under Lampard as the two worked together at Derby County in the 2018/19 season.
Lampard took a big decision by including the youngster in his Premier League plans for last season and moreover, playing him regularly.
Mount held his own in the top-flight and even went on to become a key part of the England team. After Lampard’s sacking, some suggested that Mount was a favourite of the former Chelsea manager.
However, he has held his own under Thomas Tuchel, proving the naysayers wrong.
Jorginho was cited as being a problem when Maurizio Sarri was manager of the Blues and the club struggled to achieve consistency.
Under Lampard, he became more than a one-dimensional figure and became a key part of the club’s midfield.
Chelsea is one of the greatest football clubs in history. Although the team has had many ups and downs throughout the years, it has been a top contender for as long as we can remember. Currently, Chelsea is undergoing a period of transition after Frank Lampard was sacked and Thomas Tuchel was brought as his replacement.
The second season for Frank Lampard was very rocky and the club decided not to give him any more time, which is why he was sacked. This is exactly the topic that we wanted to discuss in this article. We are going to try and pinpoint the cause which led to Lampard’s failure. But first, let’s see how influential Chelsea as a football club is.
Chelsea’s Influence
Chelsea influence reaches numerous industries in every corner of the planet. The club has millions of supporters and young kids look up to the players as role models and use them as motivation to succeed in life.
One of the most interesting industries that are influenced by this club is the online casino industry, which is why we wanted to mention it. Research showed that Chelsea fans and football fans, in general, are fond of the idea of playing casino games online. Online casinos have had a massive surge in popularity recently due to the unique gaming experience that they provide the registered players with.
So, some of the most reputable game providers in the world started supplying online casinos with various Chelsea-themed games. Virtual sports, live dealer games, and slot games are the most commonly Chelsea-themed games. Online casinos such as www.casimba.com/en-gb/ feature these games and they are extremely entertaining.
Now, let’s check out what was the cause for Lampard’s failure.
Too Many New Players is The Main Reason
Many so-called experts will name tons of reasons as to why he failed. Ne was new to the game, lacked the experience, was too emotional, he is not fit to be a manager, etc., but these are false claims. Why? Because Lampard proved that he is worthy to be a Chelsea manager after the massive success he had with the club in his first year there.
The main reason as to why he failed is much simpler than that – too many new signings in the summer. Since Chelsea had a lot of money to spare, the board just decided to go all-in and buy every prospect. Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, and Thiago Silva were just a few players that Chelsea brought.
While this may sound like a good thing because most of them are already proven players, the fact is that no club will ever succeed in creating a perfect harmony in which the players will know how to work as a collective if they are just getting to know each other. Their skills and talents don’t mean a lot if they cannot work together.
Creating the perfect team harmony takes time, patience, and steady development. That was the main problem that Frank faced and failed to overcome and that led to his demise and failure. Now, we only hope that Tuchel can fix this error.
Achieving legendary status at a club is an honour bestowed on few players, ordinarily requiring a long and successful tenure in which they capture the imagination of the team’s faithful. While Chelsea’s roll of honours is full of more recognisable names, there are two players who stand out when it comes to having legendary status at Chelsea but who were admittedly mainly used as squad rotation players.
The former Portugal international was one of the players that followed Jose Mourinho from FC Porto to Chelsea in 2004 after the self-proclaimed “Special One” started his first stint with the Blues. Ferreira went on to spend nine years at Chelsea as mainly a squad rotation player. Ferriera served as cover for players including Juliano Belletti, Michael Essien, Jose Bosingwa, Ashley Cole, and Branislav Ivanovic during his time with Chelsea. In retirement, Ferreira serves as trade as loan player technical coach at Stamford Bridge, and he could even be an outsider to take the Blues hot seat one day; calculate your bet on bonuscodebets.co.uk to work out the next manager odds.
The former full-back was a regular during his first season with the West London club as he went on to play 29 Premier League games during the 2004/05 season which the Blues won. Ferreira helped the Blues to win three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, one Champions League and one Europa League. Indeed, despite not being one of the most memorable stars, he is one of the most decorated Blues players in history.
Cudicini was perhaps one of the most unlucky players in Europe during the mid-2000s. The Italian was Chelsea’s undisputed number one goalkeeper between 2000-2004 and what many people forget is that he was actually Chelsea’s Player of the Year in 2002. However, Cudicini went on to spend the last five years of his stint with Chelsea as the club’s second-choice goalkeeper after Petr Cech joined the club in 2004.
Cech went on to establish himself as one of the greatest Premier League goalkeepers in history and Cudicini never really threatened the legendary goalkeeper’s position. Not only was Cudicini unlucky at club level but he also had bad luck at international level. After turning out for Italy in U-18 and U-21 football, he never made a single appearance for the senior Italy team. Had Gianluigi Buffon maintained a stronghold of the Italian first-choice goalkeeping position for nearly two decades, Cudicini may have played international football as well.
The 2019/20 season presented Chelsea with the opportunity to show the world of football their ambitions. It was manager Frank Lampard’s first attempt on the European front, but, honestly, not much was expected from the rookie manager and his young team. Coming only a year after the previously-installed sanctions had been lifted, any new signing would mean Chelsea needed a little time to gel.
Rookies Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Reece James, Christian Pulisic, and co, were pooled in the same group as the ultimate champions Bayern Munich. The first leg was a home tie for the prodigies, but again, nothing much was expected. Expecting the boys to pick a point off the German heavyweights, let alone beat them was a big ask. The Bavarians visited London and beat the home side 3 goals to nil – just what many punters with Betway sports betting had predicted.
After a busy transfer window that saw major signings join Lampard, hopes are high. Chelsea fans will be forgiven for not believing too much, yet. But one of Chelsea’s new boys thinks otherwise.
Former RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner moved to the Bridge only this season, and is optimistic this could be their year. Chelsea has 7 points from their opening three fixtures, the latest being a 3-0 win at home against French minnows Rennes.
“Every team, not only us, that plays Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday – it’s difficult.” Werner said.
“But we have a big squad of good players. We have so many players and so many good players and I think with this we have to have the goal to come very far in this competition. We are not here to say ‘we will get in the next round and we will see’ we are here to win the Champions League in the next years.”
Frank Lampard already boasts a lot of experience in his ranks. He has ramped up his defence with the experience of Brazilian and former PSG stalwart Thiago Silva. Silva was a losing finalist in the August final in the hands of Bayern Munich, but his experience and his backline command should be massive for the Blues.
If Christian Pulisic can pull through his injuries, Lampard has someone to take him forward. The young American struggled with injuries towards the end of last season, but he showed what he’s made of in his limited appearances. Bet on the remaining fixtures with Betway, plus other sporting events taking place around the world.
Former Bayer Leverkusen forward Khai Havertz is slowly finding his feet in English soil, and so is Hakim Ziyech who swapped Ajax Amsterdam for the Stamford Bridge outfit. There are glimpses of promise already for the two new signings. But it could be too early to expect too much for the young boys.
So far, Chelsea is in a good place. They lead Group E, which consists of Sevilla from Spain, Krasnodar from Russia, and Rennes from France. They have a tricky tie away to Sevilla, who held them to a goalless draw at the Bridge.
As it stands, Lampard will be expected to steer the Blues through the next round, but that is where the real challenge begins. Getting to the semifinals of this year’s Champions League would be massive for Chelsea. It is a good bet to make with Betway – the earlier, the better.
The Chinese Super League is an interesting space. Whilst some view it as a great retirement village once they have passed their prime, others go in the prime of their careers in order to ensure that they can have a financially well-off future. The following are three players who were loved at Stamford Bridge who opted to experience football in China.
For many years, Carvalho was regarded as being one of the best defenders in the world. He was on the books of Chelsea between 2004-2010 and helped the team to win three Premier League titles and two League Cups. Carvalho had great longevity as a player and even was part of the Portugal Euro 2016 winning team at the age of 38. Carvalho spent the final season of his professional career with Shanghai SIPG in China. He is currently the assistant manager of French Ligue 1 club Marseille, tipped by the Olybet Website as 33/1 outsiders to win the title this year.
Though many will view him as being a squad rotation player, Obi Mikel was one of the longest-serving players for Chelsea in the Roman Abramovich era. He played for the Blues between 2006-17. During the Nigerian’s time at Stamford Bridge, he went on to make 349 appearances in all competitions, winning two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup, the Champions League, and the Europa League. Obi Mikel can rightfully take his place as a Chelsea legend. After leaving Chelsea, he went on to play for Tianjin TEDA in China for one season. Since then, Obi Mikel has had spells with Middlesbrough and Trabzonspor in Turkey. He is currently without a club but at 33-years-old, could still have a move or two left in him.
Oscar shocked the world of football by signing for Shanghai SIPG at the age of 26 in 2017. Most footballers only remain in China for a year or two but the Brazilian has remained in the Far-East ever since. He sacrificed his international career for the riches of the Chinese Super League. Some will consider him to be a mercenary but from another perspective, he may be a genius as he may be securing the financial well-being of himself as well as his family for the long-term.
At 28-years-old, Oscar could have at least another four good years of football remaining in him. It remains to be seen if he will join another elite club in Europe.
After months of being away due to COVID-19, the Premier League’s return came and went in a flash.
However, it won’t be long until the division is back on the market so you can enjoy betting on Premier League games alongside playing at an Indonesia casino online.
One of the title contenders in the Premier League next year is likely to be Chelsea. The 2019/2020 Premier League season was a successful one for the club. The Blues eventually finished in third place and they also reached an FA Cup final.
However, this does not tell the whole story. In the Champions League Round of 16, Frank Lampard’s side were outclassed by a rampant Bayern Munich 7-1 on aggregate and their FA Cup final defeat to London rivals Arsenal was also massively disappointing. It is clear that things are not perfect at Stamford Bridge, but where exactly should Lampard be looking to strengthen in the transfer market?
To be fair to the Blues, they haven’t messed about getting in some new recruits with deals for Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech already being completed. Werner arrives from RB Leipzig where he finished just shy of the free-scoring Robert Lewandowski in the Bundesliga Golden Boot race. The 24-year-old is a lethal striker who is capable of moving out wide if required. He also possesses a tireless work rate.
Ziyech, meanwhile, signs from Ajax. The left footed winger is an assist king, setting up 18 goals in all competitions last season. His dead ball delivery is to die for and he will also excite fans with his dribbling skills. These two new arrivals should fill the void left by Willian and Pedro’s departures nicely.
Despite this good business, Chelsea cannot afford to rest on their laurels. A far more pressing concern than increasing their fire power is tightening things up at the back. All in all, the Blues conceded 54 goals in the Premier League last season – the worst record of any side that finished in the top half of the table. One of the main reasons for their defensive fragility has been their lack of a reliable centre-back pairing. This makes recruiting an experienced player for the heart of their defence an absolute priority.
They could also do with some reinforcements down the left-hand side. Current left- backs Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri have been bypassed too easily and finding a player who can add defensive steel, without sacrificing attacking intent, is important.
Lastly, the Blues should consider adding some defensive discipline in midfield. It’s all well and good having one of the best forward lines in world football but if you are constantly hit on the counter, you are unlikely to win many matches. While N’Golo Kante is a brilliant defensive midfielder he has struggled with injuries and greater depth is required in this area.
If Lampard strengthens in these key areas then Chelsea will be ones to watch in the Premier League title race next season.
Former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri’s unusual habit of chewing on an unlit cigarette butt on the touchline was widely reported during his tenure at Stamford Bridge. However, fans have spotted that he’s not the only Blues staff member to favour nicotine products.
The centre-back position is one that serves as the backbone of any football team, yet one which does not get the credit that it deserves. The following are arguably the best three Chelsea centre-backs since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
Not many will argue against the fact that John Terry was one of the greatest English defenders of the modern generation. JT is truly a Blues legend and spent 19 years on the Blues first-team roster.
Terry helped the Blues to defy the odds to win five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, one Champions League and one Europa League. At the twilight of his career, Terry joined Aston Villa, where he is now assistant manager to Dean Smith. JT’s influence is such that those reading betting guides on how-to.bet know that although they lie 19th in the Premier League table, Villa still represent good value to avoid relegation this term.
These leadership qualities make Terry a shoo-in for a future Premier League manager, and in the eyes of the vast majority of Chelsea fans, Terry will always be “the captain, the leader and the legend”.
Having to succeed John Terry as captain of the Blues was never going to be an easy task, but Cahill did it well. Even though Terry was officially club captain during the 2016/17 season, Cahill was the captain for the majority of the campaign as JT was a bit-part player at that stage of his career. Cahill captained the club to the Premier League during that season and helped them to win the FA Cup the following season.
Cahill arrived at the Blues from Bolton Wanderers in 2012 and he helped the club to win two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one League Cup, one Champions League as well as two Europa League titles. Terry left the Blues last summer and linked up with Crystal Palace after he fell down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge. Some will argue that his departure from the Bridge could have been better.
During his heyday, Carvalho was regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. Always reliable on the ball, he helped Chelsea to win three Premier League titles and two FA Cups before leaving the team to join Real Madrid in 2010.
The Portuguese had spells at Monaco and the Chinese Super League before calling time on his career in 2018, and he is now the assistant manager at Marseille.
The following players were signed by Chelsea and had been expected to hit the ground running. Unfortunately, all failed to contribute much at all to the club and did not even show glimpses of good form over a sustained period of time, unlike other signings considered flops on the whole, such as Fernando Torres.
Drinkwater is probably the worst Chelsea signing in the modern era. His career peaked during the 2015/16 season when he helped Leicester City to win the Premier League title. Drinkwater moved to the Blues during the summer of 2017 for a fee of £35 million. He was quickly deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and has made just 12 Premier League appearances for the club, which he is unlikely to add to. Drinkwater had an unsuccessful spell with Burnley in an attempt to revitalize his career and is currently on the books of Aston Villa on loan. He has yet to sparkle for the Villans, who are considered a safe option for relegation for those creating football accumulators.
Marin caught the world’s attention during the 2010 World Cup as he delivered some promising displays for Germany in South Africa. Marin earned a move to Chelsea in 2012 from Werder Bremen and was dubbed as the next Arjen Robben. During his first season with the Blues, he made just six Premier League appearances for the club and it became evident that he was not a fit at Stamford Bridge. He then had four unsuccessful loans and his career never really took off. The 31-year-old is currently playing for Al Ahly in Saudi Arabia.
The DR Congo international joined Chelsea as a teenager in a controversial transfer from Lens in 2007. Kakuta was impressive for the Blues reserve team and the club’s former midfielder Michael Ballack heralded him as a future star. Kakuta never quite progressed and had six unsuccessful loan spells during his time with the Blues. He has turned out to be a journeyman footballer.