CHELSEA FANSZONE

Arguably Chelsea's mive reliable defender, Cesar Azpilicueta has refused to be charmed by the news of potential interest from Barcelona. The versatile defender is enjoying yet another fine campaign in Chelsea's shirt and feels that their is no reason to move to another club, even to one as big as attractive like Barcelona. He told The Guardian: “The truth is right now I am only thinking about Chelsea and I feel loved here. I’ve been here five years now and I extended my contract not long ago. “Of course it’s flattering to be linked to Barcelona: it means you’re playing well. I wasn’t hearing those sort of stories last season. That’s a consequence of us being top of the Premier League, things are going well. “My objective since I arrived was to grow as a player and a person. I’ve adapted to the city, to the country. I feel settled, I’m comfortable with the language, my family is very happy. Right now my only objective is to continue with Chelsea.” Azpilicueta is also...

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was inevitably going to face a barrage of questions concerning the future of Chelsea star player, Eden Hazard during his press conference this afternoon. Unsurprisingly the Italian was calm in answering the questions, even went on to describe Hazard's stay at Chelsea as 'just the beginning' Antonio Conte said: “It is positive because when top teams want your players it means you are doing a great job. “We must be proud about this, it means they are doing a great job. “Now we stay already in a great club, ambition and we want to win something important in the present and the future. “I think we have just started our path.”

One of the most promising young defenders in world football, Andreas Christensen who has been on a 2-year loan at Borussia Monchengladbach from Chelsea has been confirmed to return to his parents club, Chelsea by Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl. Monchengladbach had in the past tried to buy the full right of the 20-year old Denmark full international but was turned down by Chelsea in numerous occasions. Borussia Monchengladbach's sporting director Max Eberl told Kicker that Andreas Christensen is ready to return to Chelsea. "He must go back to Chelsea FC," Eberl was quoted as saying by kicker. "Those are the two players [Dahoud and Christensen] that we have to replace in the summer. "There are no others. And we don't want any others [to leave us]." Christensen has made 53 Bundesliga appearances for Gladbach since arriving on loan from Chelsea in the summer of 2015, scoring five goals.

Alexis Sanchez has all but confirmed Arsenal fans worst fear of losing their best player to a direct rival Chelsea. The Chilean maintained that he would like to continue living in London but has ambitions of playing in a team capable of winning trophies and Chelsea fit all that. The only problem could be Arsenal’s willingness to sell him to Chelsea which means Sanchez could decide to run down his Chelsea contract and move to Chelsea as a free agent but the player is keeping his options open. ‘I am happy in London and I hope to finish my contract at Arsenal,’ Sanchez said at a press event in Santiago. ‘I want to stay in a winning team and keep playing in the same city. I want to play in a team that has aspirations ‘I’m 28 years old, I still have a lot ahead of me. I am a player who takes great care of himself.’ Sanchez said

Chelsea captain, Gary Cahill said Chelsea can not be intimidated by opponents who wish to knock them off their game. Chelsea have been a victim of rough and over aggressive treatment in recent matches, notably against Manchester United in the quarter final of the FA Cup and against Stoke City in the English Premier League. Cahill believes that adaption to different conditions is the key to finishing the season as champions of England He said: “It’s a case of adapting to different situations. Sometimes we have played our football and everything goes nicely but it’s not always going to be like that. Teams won’t always let you do that and they shouldn’t, either. "For example, there was a lot of stop and start in the first half in our win at Stoke, fouls and heated situations which could have boiled over. "We could have got into a scrap with them but they would have been the ones to benefit. It’s just about managing the situations and still playing o...

Arsenal forward, Alexis Sanchez is now top of Chelsea Boss, Antonio Conte's summer shopping list, according to popular Italian journalist,  Fabrizio Romano. Writing for the British Guardian, Fabrizio believes that Antonio Conte has earmarked Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez as one of his summer transfer targets even if it will be a difficult transfer deal to compete. Arsenal are reportedly looking to recoup at least £50m from the sale of the Chilean who has mare 16 months or so left on his existing contract at Arsenal. He is reported to have told the club that only a pay rise from £130m per week to £250m per week could persuade him to sign a new deal. Arsenal’s  refusal to agree to his terms, and also the recent bad behavior of the player, it has opened the door for potential suitors to try their luck and Chelsea happen to be one of them. PSG of France are also rumoured to be interested in the player. One thing it's sure, Sanchez won't come c...

Spanish news outlet Marca recently started spreading the news about Real Madrid's interest in signing Chelsea star Eden Hazard. They went as far as claiming that the player has agreed to the transfer which may not be the case as far as we are concerned. Now former Real Madrid President, Ramon Calderon has added his views on the potential transfer deal while is likely to be the biggest transfer deal ever if it happens in the summer as Chelsea will not accept anything less than Manchester United paid for Pogba from Juventus. Talking to TalkSport, he said: "Chelsea aren't a selling club, so it wouldn't be easy, but as always it would depend on the wishes of the player," Calderon said. "If he wants to leave, he will leave -- that's always the point. "It's all about the player. The player must say, 'I want to leave and go to Real Madrid,' and that will be the moment they start negotiating. "Chelsea will ask for a lot of money, I...

Beautiful Chelsea kit designs courtesy of  @settpace. Of course they are not official kits but they look cool. 

Chelsea have agreed a 5-year deal with Monaco to sign their midfielder, Tiemoue Bakayoko according to reports. The 22 year old France International has been in fantastic form this season, help Monaco progress to the Champions League quarter finals and top of French Ligue 1. Chelsea have been linked with many first team players of Monaco, with the likes of Kirian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva topping the clubs transfer list but now, TuttoMercatoWeb says Bakayoko is the first Monaco player to head to Stamford Bridge after agreeing a five-year deal with Antonio Conte's side and will cost the Premier League leaders around £35m.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa is no stranger to transfer rumours. Last summer Diego Costa forced Chelsea to sell him to Atletico Madrid but the club stood firm and refused to sell him. In January, it happened again as Chelsea refused to sell him off to China despite the striker making it clear that he wanted to go and was eventually dropped for one game as a result. It was also claimed he had exchange of words with manager Antonio Conte. Costa has come out one again to claim he could make a move to one of the top clubs in France Ligue 1. "Marseille have constructed a nice project," Costa told Telefoot. "PSG, we know, are respected in Europe. Monaco also have a wonderful project and have some great players. "Ligue 1 is developing. I am very happy at Chelsea but anything can happen in football. "If I need to make a change, France is a country where I have never played. So why not?”

Liverpool Legend and Sky Sports pundit, Graeme Souness admitted that only a serious dip in form and injuries to keys players could potentially stop Chelsea from winning the English Premier League title. ‘Chelsea will be champions unless they have a collective, catastrophic dip in form,’ he wrote in his column for The Times. ‘If Eden Hazard or Diego Costa is out, they would still have enough. If both were out at the same time, it might be touch and go. Barring that, they are home and dry. ‘They showed again at Stoke that they can win playing all types of football and that is why they will be champions. They were not at their best, but were never going to lose the game and nicked it at the end.’ Chelsea resume their Premier League campaign after the international break with a London derby against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

AS Roma's Greek defender, Kostas Manolas has urged his Roma's team mate, Radja Nianggolan to consider joining a bigger club if he is to be considered as one of the best midfielders in world football. Nianggolan has had offers in the past from Chelsea but he refused to leave Roma and the City of Rome for London. Manolas thinks he should overcome his fear of bad weather in England if he wants to play for one of the best clubs in European football. “Nainggolan doesn’t like the rain, but he is among the best midfielders in the world and has to get accustomed to that too if he wants to play in the best teams,” the Greek central defender told Mediaset Premium, as reported by Football Italia. “He can do it, because he’s a phenomenon. “Let’s be honest, we’re not up to the standard of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.”

Rio Ferdinand has revealed inside information on how Chelsea players were left unimpressed by manager, Antonio Conte's training style at the start of the season. Antonio Conte came to Chelsea with a totally different approach and style of training which involves a lot of physical training, a lot of running, watching videos and repetition of drills. Of course it's common knowledge that players always want to train with the ball which Chelsea players weren't getting from the former Juventus coach but the former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand said the players had to believe when they saw it was all working well. He told the Sunday Times: “The key to sticking with 3-4-3 will be repetition, repetition, repetition. Chelsea play it so well because Antonio Conte lives and breathes repetition of phases of play, of game management, of team shape. “From people at Chelsea I know his sessions are mundane. Players think initially: "What's this?" They wa...

Chelsea legend Michael Ballack has attributed Chelsea magnificent form in the English Premier League to the way Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has settled down to his new job and how he has been able to transfer his idea to his players. Chelsea are currently leading the English Premier League table with 10 points ahead of closest challengers, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City and Ballack thinks that it's all down to Antonio Conte. "I've been really impressed so far," Ballack said. "Since [Antonio] Conte came in, he brought the team back in line and they're leading the table comfortably in front of Tottenham and Man City. All teams have high expectations but he seems to be able to have good access to the players and built up a quick new relationship which is always important after a disappointing season last season. "He changed his system very early so it was really interesting to see how he could adapt to a new group and have such a huge impac...

Arsenal Legend Robert Pires has admitted that Chelsea legend and his former Leu Blue team mate Claude Makelele and N'Golo Kante are similar players with similar style of football and characteristics. Pires attributed the form of Leicester City's Premier League champion and form of current Premier League leaders Chelsea to how important N'Golo Kante actually is to both teams. He told Sky Sports: "They play in the same position, both small but with great intensity. "They both are very good in the tackle and cut out a lot of balls. "I think Chelsea have been so good this season because Kante is so good. "Of course the team is not only one or two players but Kante is doing well and he gives very good balance to Chelsea. With Leicester last season, they played very good because Kante was in the middle and now at Chelsea it's the same. "Kante is very, very important for Chelsea and for Conte."

Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny believes Chelsea's midfield star N'Golo Kante is the best player in the Premier League ahead of his teammates Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. He said: "For me he is the best player of the championship," Koscielny told a news conference ahead of Les Bleus' World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg."He had the aptitude to adapt in his new club, he had a difficult first month but since the loss to Arsenal, he has progressed enormously. "When you have a player like that in midfield, who gets a lot of balls back... "He knows what he can and cannot do. He harasses his opponents and gives the ball to his offensive players."

The agent of Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi has told football.london his client will assess his future at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season. Batchuayi has been restricted to FA Cup actions and few cameos in the Premier League so far since his £33m transfer to Stamford Bridge from Olympic Marseille. It seems the player and his agent are not satisfied as they plan to assess his future by the end of the season. Batshuayi's agent told football.london: "For now we intend to focus on the club's and player's objectives at the end of the season." West Ham and few other clubs in England are said to be interested in his services.

Monaco's sporting director Antonio Cordon has insisted that Monaco will not sell rave of the moment and Chelsea target Killian Mbappe. Despite admitting that the player's transfer value is very high at the moment, he still maintained that the club have no intention whatsoever to sell the player. He said: ‘He is a great player and he is very young. But I also tell him that his growth is due to his colleagues and the technicians he has here. He knows. ‘Monaco has the capacity to keep him. There are no economic problems. It is a large and historic club. ‘He will do as he sees fit. Not every player for whom an offer arrives has to be sold. ‘In Spain, in France, Italy, England, in all the great leagues his name sounds like a possible reinforcement. ‘I cannot value the economic figures. They pay big amounts for great players and each club decides how much to give for a player. ‘He has his feet on the ground, he is very quiet. He is a humble and hardworking boy.’

According to many reports, some conflicting reports for that matter, Chelsea have agreed personal terms and made official bid for Monaco in demand central midfielder, Tiemoué Bakayoko. According to Sky Sports Journalist, Guillem Balague, Chelsea have agreed personal terms with the player who has been called up to replace injured Paul Pogba in the Leu Blue of France squad. Also yesterday L'Equipe journalist, Bertrand Latour, Chelsea have offered €38 million (+5 bonus) to Monaco for Tiemoué Bakayoko, defensive midfielder. Who is right between Mr. Balague and Mr. Latour is not yet clear but it all means that Chelsea are working seriously to push Monaco part with on of their most prized assets.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has confirmed that he had requested to return to Atletico Madrid last summer after a troublesome campaign which saw him fall out with Jose Mourinho, even though the Brazilian-born Spaniard finished last season on a high he still pushed for a return to his daring club Atletico Madrid where he shone like a million stars before he was snapped up by Chelsea in a deal worth £32m. Costa told  El Larguero : "Atletico knows I have a special feeling for the team, I lived the best moment of my career there. El Cholo [Diego Simeone] knows it wasn't impossible for me to come back to Atletico.  The relationship with Conte didn't start well because when he arrived I told him I wanted to go to Atletico. Chelsea's fans love me a lot, even more than in Atletico, figure that! "When Atletico had to wait for me they didn't, there was still a month to go in the transfer market. "I've done everything to come back to Atletico Madrid but...

Chelsea number 1 goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois has reiterated once again his commitment to Chelsea Football Club amidst rumors that he could be on his was to Real Madrid. Courtois  told Cadena Ser radio : "I don't see myself at Real Madrid. "I see myself at Chelsea, the club that six years ago saw me playing in Belgium and gave me the opportunity to sign for them. "They also allowed me to be three years at Atletico, which helped me to be the keeper that I am now. "I feel that I'm key to the team, I'm very happy at Chelsea, and I don't see myself anywhere else." Asked whether he would play for Real next season, the 24-year-old answered: "No." Courtois said he would like to extend his deal with Chelsea, which expires in June 2019, but has yet to be offered a contract extension. He added: "But for the time being, we have not spoken about a contract extension. We are focusing on the league. "We will see at the en...

It has been a reoccurring theme song this season with Journalists, coaches and fans singing the praise of Chelsea midfielder, Ngolo Kante. Some put it this way 'buy Kante and win the English Premier League'. After winning the league with unfancied Leicester City last season and almost certain to win it again with Chelsea, the truth may be hidden in between. One man who certainly thinks Ngolo Kante is ranked among the best in the world in his position is former Juventus and Chelsea Player who also played in the position as Ngolo Kante is the current France Leu Blues coach, Didier Deschamps. He said:  "He's been with us a while. He didn't play all the matches either. It all depends on the system I choose," Deschamps told a news conference. "N'Golo was performing well with us. He was with Leicester. He's doing it this year in Chelsea. He will certainly win a second consecutive title in England. "In his position, he's one of the bes...

I was during the quarter final of the FA Cup between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, a match which Chelsea backup goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was expecting to start but was disappointed when Chelsea manager Antonio Conte decided to leave him on the bench. Begovic didn't feel bored staying on the bench afterall, as he found himself in an amazing position to watch the drama that unfolded later in the match between Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte and his Manchester United counterpart Jose Mourinho. Begovic said:  "It was a huge occasion, a huge game at the Bridge. As disappointed as I was at not playing in the game, what I did have was first row seats to what was some amusing sideline antics," Begovic said on his new podcast SeasonofSports.  "The two managers going at it, yelling at each other, it was a very intense match. "It was really unnecessary, but it was so funny, because I was trying so hard not to laugh. Every time the camera was on...

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has admitted that Chelsea players are now getting used to his idea of football and will continue to go from strength to strength. Conte, whose Chelsea side beat Stoke 2-1 in a brutal English Premier League clash at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday said that Chelsea players will continue to adapt to his football philosophy. "This season is very important because my players are understanding my idea of football," Conte said. "They are adapting to my system, to my philosophy of football. We are building something important. "I think my players are fully in my idea of football, fully in the method. When I arrived as a new coach in a new team, you must know your players and have a bit of time to understand the habits, and then to bring them to your idea - but also to show them that your idea is a positive." "We have to always think positive and go game by game," said Conte. "Now there is an international break. The...

It's no longer news that Chelsea have been looking for a way to bring back Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge. Last summer Chelsea refused to agree a fee with his club Everton who paid £28m to Chelsea for the Belgian services fees years ago but were asking for £70m to sell him. The Striker recently declared his intention to leave Goodison Park this summer because of the club's small ambition and his big ambition to be at a top club winning leagues and playing in UEFA Champions League. That of course did not go down well with the club owners, coaches and fans but Everton Coach, Ronald Koeman admitted yesterday after Everton's 4-0 thrashing of Hull City with Lukaku scoring the last 2 goals, that leaving the club is ultimately in Lukaku's hands, that he has the final say. With Chelsea definitely interested in the striker who they bought from Anderlecht as a teenager, it's no brainer that they'll use a club legend, a player Lukaku models his game to, a gu...

Basically every member of the current Monaco team that just brushed aside Manchester City to reach the quarter final of the UEFA Champions League is linked with a summer move to another club and Chelsea are not left out. According to the  Mirror , Chelsea are lining up a £40 million double swoop for  Benjamin Mendy  and  Bernardo Silva . Both 22 years old, Mendy, a left-back, and Silva, a midfielder, have caught Antonio Conte's eye as they have helped Monaco storm to the top of Ligue 1 and into the Champions League quarterfinals. It is widely reported that Conte is keen to add depth to his Chelsea squad ahead of a return to European football next season, but Monaco will be keen to avoid too much upheaval.

Chelsea U18 were in an unforgiving mood Saturday evening at Stamford Bridge,  reaching  the FA Youth Cup final yet again by destroying Tottenham 7-1 , winning 9-2 on aggregate after winning 2-1 at White Hart Lane.  Striker Ike Ugbo netted a hat-trick and there were also goals for Trevoh Chalobah, Dujon Sterling, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Juan Castillo in a one-sided semi-final second leg.  Chelsea will not meet Manchester City in the final, the third time in a row. Chelsea are making their 6th consecutive Youth FA Cup finals. 

Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte said he's satisfied with the performance of his players in their hard-fought 2-1 victory against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon. It was a physical match that saw a lot of yellow cards and one red card for Stoke's defender Phil Bardsley in the closing moments of the game but it was Players' resilience that impressed Conte most. "For sure this is an important win. Against a strong team, it is not easy in this point in the season to come here and to play in Stoke against a strong team with a good quality and tactical organisation. We showed from the start a great will to win, from the start to the end. I am very pleased with this, as they showed me a good will to win but that they were prepared to fight to win this game, because it wasn't easy." Diego Costa was a target of Stoke City's defender, who kicked and harassed him all through the match. Costa was so angry with the Referee for failing to protect...

Chelsea forward Pedro has acknowledged that confidence and change in mentality are key to Chelsea's form this season but mentained that the title race is still far from over despite the ten points gap between Chelsea and rivals Tottenham and Manchester City. He said: "This is a team with good confidence. Now it's a very good distance from Tottenham and [Manchester] City, but there's a long way to go, more points to play. "For me it is good to win, to win the Premier League is a dream for me. I hope to win it, but there is a long way to go. It is difficult, Stoke are a strong team with good players and it's always very difficult to win this game." "The mentality has changed, we're more confident on the pitch, and that confidence is probably the secret as to why we are top of the league.  Conte speaks a lot with the players, also on the pitch and on the training ground, preparing very well for the games. It's important for us, when not...

Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte has urged the Referees to pay great attention to players who only wish to hurt Chelsea's most gifted player, Eden Hazard. Conte who faced the media earlier this afternoon, who not impressed by how Jose Mourinho's Manchester United players targeted Eden Hazard during the FA Cup quarter final between Chelsea and Manchester United on Monday at Stamford Bridge. "It is important to underline that I spoke about it when you asked me if the double yellow card was right. I replied that in the first 25 minutes I see only this type of situation and it's impossible to play football. I understand that in footnall there is this type of situation. I don't like, I want to face a team to try to beat us playing football." "Eden is showing a great character and personality in every game. He is growing a lot in this aspect. For him it is fantastic, and for the team to see this.  He is a type of player that is very difficult to stop. Sometime...

Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte has refused to smash his Chelsea's predecessor, Jose Mourinho for selling players that are considered today as world class. Jose Mourinho famously sold Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne to Wolfsburg who later sold him to Manchester City for £50m where he has become one of the best midfielders in the English Premier League. But it's not De Bruyne who is hurting Chelsea most. His Belgium National Team teammate Romelu Lukaku is the one Chelsea are trying so much to put right. Chelsea were reportedly ready to sign the striker last season at the cost of £50m but the current owner, Everton FC were asking for £70m for the powerful striker who has two years left on his contract and has refused to renew it which is likely to prompt Chelsea back in action this summer. The cost of buying the player, Chelsea sold under Mourinho for £28m is yet unknown even though Everton are rumored to want around £80m for him. That price tag necessitated the question...