Chelsea vs West Ham: Pre-match briefing

Chelsea have played 20 games more than West ham this season and prior to the most recent history had lost five in a row away from home. Tomorrow’s game is a must win situation as the three points could prove vital for a top four finish. It could be a tricky assignment for Benitez who will have to overcome physical and mental fatigue pestering the squad during this busy period. Chelsea is currently two points behind their neighbours Spurs, who have now become a mild irritation, with a game in hand and five ahead of Arsenal in fifth.
The victory over Steaua earlier the week included Chelsea’s 300th goal in UEFA matches, excluding the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a tournament outside the organization’s jurisdiction, scored by Juan Mata. His impressive stats now read as 18 goals this season and 30th overall.

David Luiz maintains positive attitude during busy period

Chelsea’s progression into the Europa league quarter finals means that the club could play another energy sapping 18 games this season. In fact, it is a new club record as the minimum amount of games is 66. David Luiz expressed his confidence that the club can cope with this demanding schedule which commences tomorrow in a League game against Allardyce’s West Ham.
Chelsea will be facing a team rested since March 2 and have played just four times since the beginning of February whereas the Blues have played 11 during the same period. Luiz wishes, however, to end this week with a great result on Sunday.
Considering squad limitations such as fatigue and amount of players available to Benitez he wants to stay on the pitch for his beloved Chelsea. With the international break ahead, Luiz will be facing Italy in Geneva and returning to Stamford Bridge as Brazil meet Russia. Good Luck!

Is Falcao on his way to Chelsea?

The Spanish TV show Punto Pelota has claimed that Falcao will join Chelsea this summer with a suspected fee of 40 million. The exact phrase used by Spanish press is “now negotiating with Chelsea” which should lift supporters spirits amidst this season’s quagmire. The arrival of “The Tiger” will naturally end Torres’ career, who has blatantly become an embarrassment to club and supporter alike. Forgive me for being sentimental but I think all we need now is “The Special One”.

The Brentford assignment was a success – we need more!

The old guard, Frank Lampard and John Terry, as holders dispatched of a resilient Brentford in FA cup replay at the Bridge. After an opener from the talented Mata he provided Lampard’s 199th goal before Terry headed in an 81st minute fourth goal to conjure some cheerless euphoria for the home crowd. With three wins in ten games Benitez has yet to silence the doubtful Chelsea supporters. Benitez will have to improve this ratio in order to fully banish the tag of ‘interim’ manager. This will surely be an insurmountable project with the brooding Chelsea support and the seemingly “toxic” environment at the Bridge left by a smoking gun. The exchanges of the twitter universe suggests an equal, or thereabouts, support for the beleaguered manager but what we need is a total Phoenix resurrection to restore us after the distressing Champions League exit.

Keep The Blue Flag Flying High!

The history of Chelsea FC is indeed the richest and most colourful in the league. The club has turned heads ever since its debut season in 1905 – 06. A northern newspaper placed an excited note in its stop press section: “The Chelsea team are now enjoying a luncheon of roast mutton and dry toast”. Since then the cuisine has become appreciably sophisticated and abundant as well as the additional silverware. It is a tale of glory, highs and lows, the heroes and zeroes, on the pitch and off the terraces:
“They don’t need to be helped, they settled in quite well. Their English is getting very good. I’ve taught Luca a few phrases – they’re all fluent cockneys now, which is good.”
Skipper Dennis Wise on the continental influx (1996)
“I gave Chelsea Fans what they wanted, a dream. And they gave me what I was dreaming of, too. It was a complete relationship, where I was giving and I was receiving. And I think for them it was the same. It was like the best marriage you can have.”
Gianfranco Zola (2003)
“I was in America on holiday, in LA, in a shoe shop. My dad rang me and told me. It’s funny, I remember, it exactly: it was a big thing, a billionaire taking over. But you didn’t know how free-spending he would turn out. I just remember being in a cab with my missus after, and discussing it, a mixture of amazement, happiness and a bit of worry.”
Frank Lampard on the moment Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea (2005)
“I think Chelsea in the last two years have proved that history is to changed, and because of the second title, we are not a Blackburn that was champion once, isolated, and after that is miles and miles away from it. Chelsea is not any more an isolated situation. It’s back to back. And if, in the next five years, we can be a total of three or four times champions, definitely it’s an era where Chelsea becomes powerful.”
Jose Mourinho (2006)