Chelsea Squad For Club World Cup Announced.

Chelsea football club today announced the squad that would prosecute the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Chelsea qualified for the competition because of the UEFA Champions League they won in May. They will start the competition on the 13th of December playing either Ulsan Hyundai or Monterrey.


The Full Chelsea Squad


GOALKEEPERS

1. Petr CECH
22 Ross TURNBULL
40 HILARIO

DEFENDERS

2 Branislav IVANOVIC
3 Ashley COLE
4 DAVID LUIZ
19 Paulo FERREIRA
24 Gary CAHILL
26 John TERRY
28 Cesar AZPILICUETA
34 Ryan BERTRAND

MIDFIELDERS

6 Oriol ROMEU
7 RAMIRES
8 Frank LAMPARD
11 OSCAR
12 John MIKEL Obi
17 Eden HAZARD
21 Marko MARIN
35 Lucas PIAZON

FORWARDS

9 Fernando TORRES
10 Juan MATA
13 Victor MOSES
23 Daniel STURRIDGE

Pictures From The Fulham Game

Meet Chelsea's Backroom Staff. (Part 1)



Rafael Benitez - Interim first team manager

Rafael Benitez was appointed interim first team manager until the end of the season on November 21, 2012.

The 52-year-old two-time UEFA Manager of the Year arrived with outstanding pedigree.

He began his managerial career in his homeland, most notably at Valencia where he built a reputation as one of Europe's top coaches by winning the Spanish League twice and the UEFA Cup. He then spent six years at Liverpool and led them to their fifth European Cup and an FA Cup, before a short spell at Inter in Italy.

Benitez started his coaching career on the staff at Real Madrid and enjoyed notable success in charge of the equivalent of youth and reserve teams. He also worked as assistant to Vicente Del Bosque.



Steve Holland - Assistant first team coach

Following the success of his reserve side, who became national champions in 2011, reserve coach Steve Holland stepped up to work with the senior squad that summer, becoming an assistant first team coach.

First as a member of Andre Villas-Boas's backroom staff, and then under Roberto Di Matteo, Steve is an important link between the first team and Academy, as well as playing a key role on the training field. His work was rewarded at the end of the 2011/12 as the players lifted the FA Cup and European Cup. 



Eddie Newton - Assistant first team coach

Eddie Newton returned to Chelsea in March 2012 to support the backroom staff under Roberto Di Matteo.

He had previously worked as a coach with Di Matteo at MK Dons and West Bromwich Albion, and helped us recover our form in the season's closing stages, culminating in FA Cup success he had sampled 15 years earlier as a player, and the club's first ever Champions League success.

Newton first joined Chelsea as a 13-year-old and came through the ranks to make 214 appearances for the club. His debut came in 1992, scoring on what was the last game of the season.


Michael Emenalo - Technical director

Michael Emenalo previously worked in both the scouting and coaching departments before being promoted to his current role in July 2011.

He has been an important part of the first team management structure since his arrival in October 2007, and now supports the work of the first team manager, leading the club's international and domestic scouting network, and assists in driving the technical programmes of our Academy and international youth network.

He previously worked as both head of opposition scouting and assistant first team coach under Carlo Ancelotti, arriving at Chelsea when former manager Avram Grant called upon a trusted ex-player from his Maccabi Tel Aviv days.

Chelsea Announces Official European Hotel Partner

Chelsea football club today announced the signing of a deal with Azimut Hotels as their official European hotel partners.


The deal which will last for 3 years is the latest in the series of sponsorships and endorsements that has flooded the club since they won the UEFA Champions League in May.

Azimut hotels was founded in Russia in 2004 and has since spread its tentacles to Germany and Austria with plans to extend to other parts of Europe and take its chains of hotels to 50 by 2014.

Chelsea Chief Executive,Ron Gourlay expressed his delight with the new partnership. 'We are pleased to align ourselves with Azimut Hotels, whose growth in the past eight years has mirrored our own, making them a natural fit for Chelsea Football Club.

'Chelsea is of course already a popular and high-profile club throughout Russia and eastern Europe, and we hope working alongside Azimut will only further our presence in the region.'

Azimut hotel's CEO, Remco Gerritsen also expressed his delight. 'We pride ourselves on our excellent service to our customers, and are delighted to be partnered with Chelsea, the European champions.

'Like Azimut, Chelsea has achieved fantastic growth in recent years and we look forward to working together and joining forces as a winning team.'

Joint statement by PGMOL, Premier League and Chelsea FC



A meeting took place on Monday afternoon at St George's Park between Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the Premier League and Chelsea Football Club.

PGMOL were represented by General Manager Mike Riley and all 16 Select Group referees, the Premier League by Chief Executive Richard Scudamore and Chelsea FC by Chairman Bruce Buck.

This is a joint statement from all parties:

"Following the completion of the investigation by The FA into the case involving Chelsea FC and Mark Clattenburg, the Premier League and Chelsea FC requested, and PGMOL agreed, to meet in order to discuss the issues surrounding the reporting of the allegation.

"The Select Group appreciated the opportunity to speak to Bruce Buck personally. His willingness to engage and answer all the questions put to him was welcomed.

"There was a constructive and open discussion. The club regrets not having given more consideration before issuing a statement on the evening of Sunday 28th October. The club also regrets the subsequent impact the intense media scrutiny had on Mark Clattenburg and his family.

"The referees accept that, given Chelsea FC had received a good faith claim from one of their employees, the club had an obligation under FA rules to report the allegation. 

"There was recognition by all parties that the impartiality and integrity of refereeing in this country remains paramount. Chelsea FC made it clear they would welcome Mark Clattenburg back to Stamford Bridge in the future and PGMOL would have no issue in appointing him to a Chelsea FC match going forward.  

"It was a thoroughly professional meeting. All parties now believe it is time to draw a line under this incident, learn from it and move on for the good of all Premier League clubs, players and match officials."

Chelsea Midfielder To Evict 100-Year Old Woman.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has reportedly asked an 100-year old tennant to vavate his flat in Spain.

The aged woman is said to be the great-grandmother of his ex-fiancee ,Elen Rivas. Elen and Frank who had two children together have parted ways since 2008.
While the two were together,the Chelsea midfielder rented his flat out to Elen's great-grandmother Teresa Canete in the Spanish city of Barcelona.
However, Frank has sent an eviction letter through his lawyers asking the old woman to vacate the flat because a new owner is about buying the property.
This news has got Elen's mother,Elena devastated. "Her health is frail, like most 100-year-old people's would be. I find it degrading and consider Frank to be acting totally unscrupulously.

"He'd lose money on the flat because property prices in Spain have plummeted. But even if he were to earn anything it would be small change for a man like him. He's a multi-millionaire Premiership footballer for God's sake. Why does he need the money?"

Frank is currently engaged to television presenter,Christine Bleakley and they live in their London home.

Pictures From The Man City Game

A Raf Zen.jpg

Rafael Benitez In Chelsea

Boudewijn Zenden To Be Appointed As Rafael Benitez's Assistant.

Former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder, Boudewijn Zenden is to be appointed as assistant to Rafael Benitez.

The 36-year old former Dutch international played for Chelsea from 2001-2004 before moving over to Liverpool in 2005.

This will be Zenden's first coaching role. His agent and father, Piere Zenden confirmed that Chelsea's interim boss approached his son after his appointment.

"He was approached on Wednesday by Benitez and is now on a flight [to London]," says Zenden's agent and father Pierre Zenden to VI.nl"

" Since yesterday he phoned Benitez many times. I assume that he will be on the pitch this afternoon, together with the manager. I assume he will finish the season, just like Benitez."

52-year old Rafael Benitez was appointed as Chelsea's interim manager after the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo following poor run of results.

How Di Matteo Was Sacked.

Reports have emerged about how Chelsea's immediate past manager,Roberto Di Matteo was sacked.

It was learnt that Di Matteo took at least one hour before attending the post-match press conference. He was reportedly talking to his family and agent. He saw the sack coming and expressed his willingness to face whatever happened. He clearly expressed this during his post-match briefing.

Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck and Chief Executive Ron Gourlay were made aware of Roman Abrahamovich intention to sack the coach immediately the team arrived London's Gatwick airport from Turin.

The two Chelsea chiefs thereafter met with Di Matteo at his Cobham training ground office at about 4am. They broke the news to him and they left the training ground immediately. Di Matteo's agent is expected to fly to London to discuss his severance package with the club. However, Chelsea will continue to pay the former manager till he gets a new job. This is lieu of lump sum of money that is supposed to be paid as severance package.

Roberto Di Matteo took over the reigns of Chelsea in March from Andres Villas Boas who was also sacked for poor run of results. He went on to win the FA cup and the Champions League for the first time in the club's 108-year history.

A new manager is expected to be announced soon. Former Liverpool boss,Rafael Benitez is tipped to take over from Di Matteo.However,it is an open secret that Abrahamovic wants former Barcelona manager,Pep Guardiola to take over on long term basis. Guardiola is observing a 12-month break from football in New York,United States of America after his trophy-laden exploits with the Spanish giants.

Pictures From Training Session In Juventus

Japanese Aren't Happy With Chelsea.

Feelers from Japan indicate that the Asian super powers are not happy with Chelsea football club. The reason is not far-fetched,they are not happy because the European champions are not paying full attention to the FIFA World Club Cup holding next month in that country.

The tournament which is played by winners of various continental football championships in each continent of the world is held in December annually.

However,the Japanese media are disappointed in the European champions,because unlike their South American they are handling the competition with levity. Their grievances were aired by Japanese journalists who were interviewed by Brazilian media outfit,Globo Esporte.

"We were in Brazil and did interviews with players, with Paulinho, Emerson and Danilo, they are players we like very much and would be happy to see them again in our country."

"There was excitement for the Japanese competition; however, we found no response at Chelsea."

The Japanese however did not consider the differences in season fixtures. South American representatives, Corinthians can afford to focus fully on the Intercontinental championship because the season is over in Brazil. The Europeans however have just started theirs and are in a critical stage of cementing the place in Europe.

Ex-Lawmaker Rents Lampard's Flat

A Conservative ex-minister, Sir Peter Luff is currently renting Chelsea's midfielder Frank Lampard's flat.


The former Defence minister had to rent the £1,600-a-month flat because he could no longer afford the mortgage payment on his house in London. However,his new apartment is at tax-payer's expense.

"IPSA specified that when MPs are away from home they must live in rented property or stay in a hotel," Luff said on his website. "When I am in London, I now therefore live in a rented flat.

"This is not my preference. I would have preferred to continue to live in the flat I own, but IPSA's well-meaning rules designed to safeguard the taxpayers' interests and promote transparency oblige me to do [this]."

Lampard's flat is situated in Old Brompton Road, West London.

Turkish Referee For Juventus Tie

Turkish referee, Cuneyt Cakir has been given the nod by UEFA to officiate the all-important Juventus versus Chelsea match.


Cakir has only officiated a Juventus game once in August 2010 in a Europa League match against Austrian side, Sturm Graz.

Juventus must win the match to keep their hopes of qualification to the next round alive. They are currently in third position in the group led by Chelsea.

Terry Sidelined For Three Weeks

Chelsea Captain John Terry will be sidelined for three weeks because of injury he sustained during the match against Liverpool.

The skipper had a collision with Luis Suarez and had to be substituted immediately. It was initially speculated that he would be out for a long time but club boss,Roberto Di Matteo dispelled such rumours.

"With Terry, we're looking at approximately three weeks out; fortunately it's not as bad as we first thought," Di Matteo said at his news conference ahead of their Saturday trip to his former club West Bromwich Albion.

"On one hand we are pleased but on the other we are disappointed that he was just back and we lose him again.

"He was looking sharp and it gave the team a lot of confidence so it was unfortunate for us to lose him in his first game back."

"He is an important player for us and it is a crucial time of the season so that is a shame," added the Italian.

Terry, who has a ligament strain, was playing in his first league game since completing a four-match FA ban for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

Chelsea are also without fellow centre back David Luiz who has tonsillitis and midfielder Frank Lampard as he continues his recovery from a calf strain.

Pictures From The Liverpool Game

Player Of The Week: Juan Mata & John Terry

Our Player of the week award will be given to two players. Yea,two. It is jointly awarded to Juan Mata and John Terry.


The two players were outstanding in the outgoing week. Mata continues to impress by providing the assist that led to the only goal in the rather boring draw at home against Liverpool. He has continued to provide inch-perfect final passes and score on a regular basis. He is paying back every penny shelled on him last summer.


Our joint awardee is John Terry. The club captain left behind him the controversies during the past weeks to score the all important goal. The Liverpool game was his first League match after completing his suspension for racist slur against QPR defender,Anton Ferdinand. Unfortunately,he was substituted early after his collision with Luis Suarez.

You will agree with me that these duo deserve the awards. What do you think? Do you think someone else deserves the award? Why not let us hear your view through the 'comments' section.