Chelsea

Sport Chelsea's defensive depth is "in trouble" ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final at Eintracht Frankfurt after Gary Cahill sustained an Achilles tendon injury, manager Maurizio Sarri said. 02 May 2019 12:35PM Bookmark REUTERS: Chelsea's defensive depth is "in trouble" ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final at Eintracht Frankfurt after Gary Cahill sustained an Achilles tendon injury, manager Maurizio Sarri said.England international Cahill did not travel to Germany with the squad and joins Antonio Rudiger on the sidelines, leaving the London club with only two fit senior central defenders."We're in trouble with the centre backs," Sarri told a news conference ahead of the first leg. "Cahill is out due to a problem with his Achilles tendon."I hope to have him recovered in a week but I don't know, I have to speak to the doctor. He's been out for four or five days."Spain international Cesar Azpilicueta could provide cover in case of injuries to David Luiz and … [Read more...] about Chelsea defence stretched for Europa League after Cahill injury

FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Maurizio Sarri has warned his Chelsea team they should be wary of Eintracht Frankfurt ahead of Thursday’s first leg of their Europa League semi-final in Germany. Sarri is coming into the final weeks of an eventful season with a European trophy and Champions League qualification in his hands, but knows that the Bundesliga outfit will be the sternest test they will face in what has been a straight-forward run to the last four. Eintracht have impressed on the continent as they chase their first European final since winning the UEFA Cup – the forerunner to the current Europa League – in 1980, seeing off highly-fancied Benfica in the previous round despite having to play with 10 men for 70 minutes of the first leg. “They have a very dynamic team with great intensity,“ said Sarri. “They are very dangerous at home and away. It will be difficult for us to get to the final.” Sarri said centre-back Andrea Christensen is “ready to … [Read more...] about Sarri warns Chelsea of Eintracht threat

FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Maurizio Sarri has warned his Chelsea team they should be wary of Eintracht Frankfurt ahead of Thursday's (May 2) first leg of their Europa League semi-final in Germany.Sarri is coming into the final weeks of an eventful season with a European trophy and Champions League qualification in his hands, but knows that the Bundesliga outfit will be the sternest test they will face in what has been a straight-forward run to the last four.Eintracht have impressed on the continent as they chase their first European final since winning the UEFA Cup - the forerunner to the current Europa League - in 1980, seeing off highly-fancied Benfica in the previous round despite having to play with 10 men for 70 minutes of the first leg."They have a very dynamic team with great intensity," said Sarri."They are very dangerous at home and away. It will be difficult for us to get to the final."Sarri said centre-back Andrea Christensen is "ready to play" as the Blues struggling with … [Read more...] about Football: Sarri warns Chelsea of Eintracht threat

LONDON: Britain's richest man Jim Ratcliffe refused to rule out on Tuesday, an attempt to buy Premier League club Chelsea from Roman Abramovich.Ratcliffe is already involved in football after purchasing Swiss side Lausanne in 2017, while his company has also expressed an interest in French outfit Nice.The 66-year-old Manchester United fan has been linked with a bid to take over from Abramovich at Chelsea after the Russian reportedly took a more hands-off role in Stamford Bridge business this season.Speaking at the launch of cycling's Team Ineos, the rebranded Team Sky taken over by Ratcliffe, the billionaire founder of chemicals giant Ineos said he would not shut the door on a potential approach for Chelsea."You never say no, but I don't know where those conversations will finish," Ratcliffe told BBC Sport."I think we've dipped our toe in the water with football. It's a complicated sport, it's a complicated world."We've bought this club in Switzerland and it's been really educational. … [Read more...] about Football: Ratcliffe refuses to rule out Chelsea bid

MANCHESTER: Another costly error from David de Gea dealt Manchester United's chances of Champions League football a potentially fatal blow as Chelsea consolidated their place in the Premier League top four with a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.De Gea spilled Antonio Rudiger's long-range effort to allow Marcos Alonso to equalise just before half-time and cancel out Juan Mata's early opener.A point halts a run of seven defeats in nine games for United, but does little for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men's chances of overhauling Chelsea, who remain three points ahead of the Red Devils and with a superior goal difference.Arsenal's defeat by Leicester earlier on Sunday means Maurizio Sarri's men move two points ahead of the Gunners with two games of the campaign to go.Solskjaer made five changes from the side beaten comfortably by Manchester City in midweek.However, it was the one the Norwegian did not make, and insisted he would not countenance, in dropping De Gea that came back to haunt him after a … [Read more...] about Football: De Gea blunder costs Manchester United again in Chelsea draw