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☆ Brentford stun Chelsea in 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The frustration is so massive," Pochettino told talkSPORT radio, saying a strong first-half performance gave way to a lack of calm after the break. Defender Marc Cucurella shot straight at Mark Flekken after a lofted pass by playmaker Cole Palmer. But Brentford soaked up everything Chelsea could throw at them with centre forward Nicolas Jackson, back in the starting 11 after an injury, unable to provide much of a threat. Brentford's third league win at Stamford Bridge in as many seasons meant that they leap-frogged their neighbours into 10th spot, while Chelsea dropped to 11th ahead of the rest of the weekend's fixtures. One name linked to the club is Brentford and England centre forward Ivan Toney who scored 20 times in the league last season but who is currently serving an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules.

Persons: Ethan Pinnock, Bryan Mbeumo, Mauricio Pochettino, Pochettino, Chelsea, Pinnock, Robert Sanchez, Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Noni Madueke, Marc Cucurella, Mark Flekken, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Ivan Toney, William Schomberg, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Brentford, Chelsea, Arsenal, Blues, Stamford, Thomson Locations: London, Argentine, U.S, England

☆ Good for Chelsea owners to enter dressing room after games, says Pochettino
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 26 (Reuters) - Co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly are welcome in Chelsea's dressing room after matches, manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Tuesday ahead of their League Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion. Following their 1-0 home defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday, British media reported that co-controlling owner Eghbali had entered the club's dressing room. Last season, co-owner Boehly also attracted criticism for entering the dressing room after a Chelsea loss. "I like when the owner comes (into the dressing room). I think it is good that the owner comes into the dressing room.

Persons: Behdad Eghbali, Todd Boehly, Mauricio Pochettino, Eghbali, Boehly, Pochettino, Bruno Saltor, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard, Bruno, Aadi Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: League, Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier League, Aston Villa, Sunday, Chelsea, Stamford, Thomson Locations: Chelsea, Argentine, Bengaluru

☆ Mauricio Pochettino named as next Chelsea head coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino is set to join Chelsea ahead of next season, the club announced on Monday. Pochettino, who left PSG last year, has signed an initial two-year contract at Chelsea and begins the new role on July 1. Pochettino gives instructions to PSG forward Kylian Mbappé during last season's Champions League game against Real Madrid. David Ramos/Getty ImagesThe Argentine joins a Chelsea team short on form but with plenty of star power in its ranks after the club spent liberally on signings over the past year. “We are delighted that Mauricio will be joining Chelsea.

☆ Arsenal return to top of the league with 3-1 win over sorry Chelsea
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, May 2 (Reuters) - Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over a woeful Chelsea, set on their way by two goals from Martin Odegaard, but the title is still Manchester City's to lose having played two games less than the leaders. After losing to City 4-1 last week, Mikel Arteta made three changes, including giving striker Leandro Trossard a start in the place of Gabriel Martinelli and handing Jakub Kiwior his first league start in midfield. His side dominated their slumping London rivals straight from the kick-off as they sought to shake off last week's potentially title-deciding setback. "Everyone was so hurt after the game (against City)," Odegaard said after taking his league goal tally for the season to 14. ($1 = 0.8024 pounds)Reporting by William Schomberg Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brentford deepen Chelsea's slump with 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The loss left toothless Chelsea 11th in the Premier League table, stumbling towards possibly their worst campaign since the 1993/94 season - when they finished 14th under Glenn Hoddle - despite their new U.S. owners' huge outlay on players. The three points pushed Brentford up a spot to ninth in the league, eight points ahead of their big-spending west London neighbours for whom this season cannot finish quickly enough. Media reports said Chelsea were close to hiring former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino as coach from next season. It doesn’t come in football because the Premier League moves so fast, it’s competitive," the former midfielder who is Chelsea's all-time top scorer, said. Brentford coach Thomas Frank was able to celebrate surpassing his side's points tally for all of last season - their first in the Premier League - with Wednesday's win.

☆ Chelsea: How American billionaire owner blew over $600 million but ended up with nothing this season
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —“We’re all in – 100%,” US billionaire businessman Todd Boehly told Chelsea fans upon his arrival at the club in May 2022. Chelsea crashed out of the Champions League after losing to Real Madrid 4-0 on aggregate. Following the loss against Real Madrid, Chelsea captain Thiago Silva spoke candidly to reporters on the issues that come with this kind of spending. Besides Kai Havertz and Marc Cucurella, no Chelsea outfield player has started more than 20 games in the Premier League this season. The Blues are on course to have their lowest scoring season in Premier League history with their current total of 30 goals.

☆ Haaland at it again as Manchester City cut gap to Arsenal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, April 15 (Reuters) - Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland reached yet another milestone in his incredible debut season in the Premier League when his two goals helped his side to beat Leicester City 3-1 and move to within three points of leaders Arsenal on Saturday. With Arsenal in action at West Ham United on Sunday, Manchester City seized their chance to apply more pressure by dismantling 19th-placed Leicester before halftime. City now have 70 points from 30 games with Arsenal on 73. Villa have 50 points, with Tottenham on 53 and fourth-placed Manchester United and Newcastle United both on 56. Newcastle and Manchester United, who face Nottingham Forest on Sunday, have played fewer games than Villa and Tottenham.

☆ Man City cruise to win over Saints, Newcastle maintain top-four push
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

loadingLeaders Arsenal play Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday where the London side seek a first league win since 2012. Manchester United maintained their top-four pursuit while at the bottom there were vital victories for Bournemouth and West Ham United. Leicester City's plight worsened as the 2015-16 Premier League champions suffered a seventh defeat in eight league games as they lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth to stay 19th. Newcastle's fifth consecutive win moved them up to 56 points from 29 games -- the same as Manchester United who beat Everton 2-0 in Saturday's early kickoff. SON MILESTONETottenham's Son Heung-min scored his 100th Premier League goal with a sublime 10th-minute curler -- the first Asian player to reach that milestone.

☆ Chelsea’s New American Owner Inherited One Old Habit: Firing Managers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

On the day Chelsea unveiled Graham Potter as its new head coach last September, the club went to great lengths to show it was heading in a new direction. The days of short-term spending and disposable managers were gone, along with Chelsea’s former owner, the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich . Under its new ownership group, led by the American investor and Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, the club was going to build something for the future with what it called “one of the most exciting coaches in the game.” At 47, Potter was young, proven in the Premier League, and above all, the club said, “an innovator.”

☆ Chelsea sack Potter with club 11th in Premier League
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 2 (Reuters) - Chelsea have sacked manager Graham Potter, the London club said on Sunday after a string of poor results left the team 11th in the Premier League. "Graham has agreed to collaborate with the club to facilitate a smooth transition," Chelsea said in a statement. "In his time with the club, Graham has taken us to the quarter final of the Champions League, where we will face Real Madrid. "We have 10 Premier League games remaining and a Champions League quarter final ahead. Potter is the 12th manager to be sacked in the Premier League this season and the announcement came hours after relegation-threatened Leicester City parted ways with Brendan Rodgers by mutual agreement.

☆ Watkins and McGinn earn Villa 2-0 win Chelsea
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, April 1(Reuters) - Goals from prolific striker Ollie Watkins and captain John McGinn earned Aston Villa all three points in a pulsating 2-0 Premier League mid-table win at Chelsea on Saturday. Watkins took his chance in the 18th minute after a mistake from retreating defender Marc Cucurella, who headed a long ball into his path and he calmly lobbed his shot over advancing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Chelsea, who enjoyed some 69% possession and 26 shots but as so often this season proved toothless in front of goal, came out guns blazing in the second half only to concede a corner from a Villa break. The ball came out to McGinn and he sent a searing shot from 20 metres past the diving Kepa and into the bottom corner in the 56th minute. Reporting by Clare Lovell, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Arsenal seal thrilling comeback win, Man City maintain chase
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

City's 2-0 win sliced Arsenal's advantage to two points and when leaders Arsenal trailed 2-0 with an hour gone in north London it appeared their hold on top spot was weakening. Fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur's top-four ambitions suffered a dent as they went down 1-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers who are gradually pulling clear of the relegation zone. Arsenal had not won a Premier League game in which they had trailed by at least two goals since 2012 so the omens looked bad for the Gunners as they were stunned by Bournemouth. 'TRICKY GAME'There was no such drama at Manchester City with Phil Foden scoring an early beauty before substitute Bernardo Silva wrapped up the points in the second half. "We won the game, we didn't suffer much at the end -- an incredible result for us because it was a tricky game," City manager Pep Guardiola said.

☆ Chelsea coach Potter calls for patience after fresh defeat
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Speaking after a 2-0 defeat at the home of arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur - the 13th time in 15 games in all competitions that Chelsea have failed to win - Potter said he was frustrated and disappointed by the latest setback. Potter also highlighted Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp's inability to halt the slide in form of his side after winning the Champions League and the Premier League in recent years. Potter also faced questions from reporters about his side's inability to score, having found the net only once in their last five league games. The loss of several players through injury and easing them back into action, plus integrating a host of new signings, represented challenges, Potter added. "So as a team, we're just not quite there in terms of how we want it to look and how we want to really function in a good way.

☆ WRAPUP Soccer-Title race swings again as Arsenal win, Man City slip up
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Arsenal reinvigorated their push for a first Premier League title in two decades with two stoppage-time goals giving them a thrilling win at Villa Park. It was Arsenal's first win in four Premier League games and followed a dispiriting Wednesday night loss at home to City, who had closed an eight-point gap from a month ago. "If you want to be at the top, you are going to have to win games in many different ways," coach Mikel Arteta said. It was a big effort to play less than 72 hours ago after the (City) game that we had, and after the result that we had which obviously morally was touching." Chelsea had 17 attempts at goal, five on target, their highest shot tally without scoring at home in the Premier League since May 2021.

☆ Struggling Southampton grab vital 1-0 win at goal-shy Chelsea
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Clare Lovell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - A trademark James Ward-Prowse free kick earned basement club Southampton a precious three points at Chelsea in a scrappy 1-0 Premier League win on Saturday and piled more pressure on home coach Graham Potter. Azpilicueta needed nearly 10 minutes of treatment on the pitch in the second half after he received a kick to the head in a goalmouth clash. Chelsea are languishing in 10th place on 31 points from 23 games and are 10 points adrift of the top four. Southampton have now done the double over Chelsea this season after beating them 2-1 in August, a month before Potter took over from the sacked Thomas Tuchel. ($1 = 0.8309 pounds)Reporting by Clare Lovell; Editing by Ken Ferris and Clare FallonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chelsea's new signings starting to settle despite poor results - Havertz
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 16 (Reuters) - Chelsea forward Kai Havertz said he was encouraged by the way the club's new signings are gelling with the team despite the side recording only one win in 2023. Since manager Graham Potter took over in September Chelsea have scored only 25 goals in 24 games and managed only three in their last eight. Last month's 1-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace remains their only victory in nine games this year. "I don't think we should be too unhappy with our performance because we created the opportunities, but it's just frustrating that we couldn't take any of them," Havertz said. Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Momentum with Man City as Arsenal seek to regain winning touch
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Had Arsenal beaten City in the top-of-the-table clash they could have been heading into Saturday's lunchtime kickoff at Aston Villa with the chance to move nine points clear. Arsenal's lunchtime kickoff at Villa gives them the opportunity to lay down a marker and move three points clear again. Villa have suffered back-to-back defeats under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery for the first time since he took charge, but the Spaniard would take satisfaction from getting one over Arteta, the man who replaced him at Arsenal. With so much of the focus on Arsenal and City, Manchester United have quietly moved themselves to within touching distance of the top two. Bournemouth, in 19th place, travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers while third-from-bottom Everton host Leeds United who are just one point above them in 17th.

☆ Navas steals limelight on mixed weekend for January signings
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

January signings can be hit and miss and it was a mixed weekend for new recruits. "But I loved his composure and game management and decision making, I really enjoyed that part of his performance. He came close to a debut goal too, but ultimately it was a frustrating debut as Chelsea's attack misfired yet again. Leicester's Souttar, signed from Stoke City, enjoyed a winning debut as his side overcame Aston Villa 4-2, although scoring an own goal was hardly ideal. But Souttar, along with fellow new signing Victor Kristiansen, impressed, although not as much as another new recruit Tete, who marked his debut with a goal.

☆ Rule-bending Chelsea take transfer gamble to give Potter ultimate selection headache
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Premier League soccer clubs spent a record 815 million pounds ($1.00 billion) in the January transfer window, an analysis from Deloitte's Sports Business Group said on Wednesday. It has, however, angered those who claim the Premier League is becoming a de facto European Super League due to its spending power. "What I'm worried about is the Premier League, and I've been worried for many years now," Spain's La Liga president Javier Tebas told a new conference this month. There is no sustainability in the Premier League. The Premier League is not a financially sustainable model."

☆ Chelsea smash British transfer record to sign Benfica's Fernandez
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Chelsea announced the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica on Wednesday after days of complex negotiations between the clubs to secure the Argentina midfielder for a British transfer record 106.8 million pounds ($131.46 million). Premier League club Chelsea announced the signing on Wednesday 1000 GMT via a video on Twitter, which showed a clip of a clock ticking down, making a reference to race against time to sign the World Cup winner. It takes Chelsea's transfer spending in January alone to close to 300 million pounds and to more than 500 million pounds since last May's takeover by an investment group led by American Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. His fee eclipses the 100 million pounds Manchester City paid Aston Villa for England midfielder Jack Grealish in 2021. On Tuesday, Chelsea sold experienced midfielder Jorginho to Premier League leaders Arsenal for 12 million pounds.

☆ Chelsea earn scrappy 1-0 win over Palace to ease pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Clare Lovell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It was only the second league win in 10 matches for the home side who remain in an unaccustomed 10th place half-way through the season. Today we had five young players in the starting 11, they are doing a really good job at the moment." "Today we are happy for the three points," said Potter, who took over from Thomas Tuchel in September. Palace are in 12th place, six points behind Chelsea. Before kickoff, former Chelsea players who had been coached by or appeared alongside Gianluca Vialli joined the teams to pay tribute to the former Italy international and Chelsea player-manager who died 10 days ago.

☆ Felix red mist another blow for Chelsea and Potter
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Chelsea manager Graham Potter said "the hits keep coming" after his new signing Joao Felix was sent off on his Premier League debut as the Blues lost 2-1 at Fulham on Thursday. Felix, whose loan signing cost Chelsea a reported nine million pounds, is now set to miss the next three league matches against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Fulham. "It was another blow, the hits keep coming, I thought he (Felix) was very good up until then," Potter told BT Sport. Carlos Vinicius scored the decisive goal in the second half after Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly had cancelled out Willian's opening strike. There's no other solution, keep focused go to the next match and try to get three points," Potter said.

☆ Potter says managing Chelsea is the hardest job in football
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

I think it is probably the hardest job in football because of that leadership change and the expectations because of, rightly, where people see Chelsea," Potter said before Chelsea's trip to Fulham on Thursday. "The reality of where the club is in terms of establishing itself as a well-run football club that functions well in a really competitive environment, maybe we're not there yet. "I'm not after pity, I'm really grateful and privileged to be here," Potter said. "This club was run a certain way for 20 years and run really well. ($1=0.82 pounds)Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Neil FullickOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Felix sees red on debut as Chelsea slump at Fulham
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The win lifted Fulham above Liverpool and up to sixth in the Premier League standings on 31 points after 19 games. Potter had no complaints about the red card, describing Felix's challenge on Tete as a "forward's tackle". The second half wasn't at our best level," he said. They lost midfielder Denis Zakaria to injury, however, and Felix to a red card, the 23-year-old wildly lunging at Tete after losing the ball. Felix, whose loan signing cost Chelsea a reported 9 million pounds ($11 million), will miss the next three league matches against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Fulham due to suspension.

☆ Man City crush Chelsea in FA Cup, Stevenage stun Villa
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Richard Martin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Elsewhere, League Two (fourth tier) side Stevenage pulled off the shock of the weekend by winning 2-1 at Premier League Aston Villa, scoring two goals in the final few minutes. City will play at home in the fourth round against either Premier League leaders Arsenal or League One side Oxford United, who meet on Monday. Potter said City were the last team he could wish to face during the team's difficult run of form. Walsall beat Stockport County 2-1, Stoke City won 3-0 at Hartlepool, Blackburn Rovers beat Norwich City 1-0 and Derby County beat Barnsley 3-0 to also make it to the fourth round. Bristol City and Swansea City will meet again in a replay after drawing 1-1.

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