Nice win at Wembley, felt almost routine. Giroud's goal was lovely.
Chelsea thread
Yea really nice win.
Giroud goal was very easy on the eye.
Thought Hazard was absolutely outstanding.
Morata's 10 minutes really summed up his season, finished well when Azpi put the ball straight on his head, missed 2 sitters when the ball was at his feet.
Please win the final. I'd love to see that big handsome man Giroud get a 4th winners medal.
Right so we beat a tired Liverpool at Stamford Bridge this weekend, win our game in hand at home to Huddersfield next week. Then Beat Newcastle up north on the last day of the season whilst a distracted Liverpool drop points to Brighton on the last day of the season, giving us a top 4 finish.
Easy.
Wish I shared your optimism. I can see the beating Liverpool bit, but even then top four seems beyond us.
Won against Liverpool 1-0 this morning to keep our top 4 chances alive, Giroud the goal scorer.
Massive couple of games tomorrow with us playing Huddersfield and Tottenham playing Newcastle.
Madness going with that XI against Huddersfield, what good are a load of rested players for Newc now?
Yea, great day to see Hazard on the bench. FFS. Need Liverpool to lose at Anfield now.
Limp finish to a limp limp campaign.
Last 4 seasons. 1st, 10th, 1st, 5th. Kind of a boom or bust cycle.
Limp finish to a limp limp campaign.
Last 4 seasons. 1st, 10th, 1st, 5th. Kind of a boom or bust cycle.
Two EPL titles out of four better than the rest.
Mason Mount having a really fine end to the season in The Netherlands. Scored a hattrick in their European playoff semi final and has scored 5 in 3 games. Vitesse beat Utrecht 3-2 in first leg of Europa League final play off spot.
We have just beaten United in the FA cup by a pen from Hazard.
Well done lads
AWESOME result.
So stoked to win another Cup. Those who have read me harp on in this thread will know I absolutely love the FA Cup!!
A few years ago Jones would've been sent off. But i see the idea behind just a yellow if there's a genuine attempt to play the ball.
Didn't think wed keep united out during that second half. Though for all their attack i thought we had the best chance of the second half with Alonsos miss. Thought it could very easily have been a penalty in the follow up when Ashley Young hand balled. To me it looked like he leaned his arm into the ball so seemed strange that they looked at it on VAR but still no penalty. Maybe it's like the DRS in cricket where there needs to be enough evidence to overturn the refs decision? Though in this case i thought there was.
I liked seeing Hazard play a bit more selfishly. Too often in the past he's passed the ball when maybe he should back himself to take someone on and go for goal. Really hope its not the last time he plays for us.
As he has in the past, i thought Ashley Young went down way too easily a number times.
Anyone watch the game? Didn't sound very exciting. I watched the first half of Celtic V Motherwell and realised Scottish football is on par with the A League. Congrats Chelski. Win the FA Cup and sack the manager.
Watched the game, United dominated mostly although we had a few chances we should have scored. Defence was amazing especially Rudiger, great player for us hopefully for he will be here for many years.
I was happy and relieved at the end of the match, good defensive display and even Bakayoko had a decent game! Conte wants to honour his contract I just hope the Club see sense and don't show him the door :)
We had the better of the first half, United had the better of the second (though tactically Conte clearly invited the pressure). Neither team really shone in attack but we were excellent defensively. Hazard looked lively throughout.
Not a classic Cup final by any means, but I won't complain.
I'm hoping we don't get rid of Conte. Id really like to see what he can do with squad and signings he wants.
I kinda feel like we need to make a few statement kind of signings. big names that shows the like of Hazard, Courtois that we're still an attractive team to play for.
We've been overtaken in terms of spending by a few clubs now, even behind Everton on net spend.
What about Abramovich having his visa revoked? Very interesting. Wasn't able to attend the FA Cup final apparently?
If he can't even come to England anymore, will he sell up?
From what i read yesterday it wasn't so much that it was revoked, but that it hadn't been renewed just yet. its been applied for all in time. There are just delays in the processing. Whether tat is something to do with the increasing tensions between the UK and Russia, who knows.
Will be intersting to see how this story unfolds though.
My understanding is that it hasn't been revoked, it's a special investor category visa which has to be periodically renewed.
Sarri's seemingly pending exit from Napoli is interesting as it relates to Conte. Club have been very quiet and the first we'll know of any departure is when it happens, not beforehand. If Sarri does end up in charge it makes sense to ensure he has a strong number 2 fully up to speed with the inner working of the club, in the same mould as Clement or Clarke or Wilkins or Holland. Jody Morris and Joe Edwards seem the most obvious candidates.
It's probably already been mentioned but I thought it was a nice touch to have Ray Wilkins wife present the FA Cup last weekend. Especially as Butch played for the two teams in the final.
From what i read yesterday it wasn't so much that it was revoked, but that it hadn't been renewed just yet. its been applied for all in time. There are just delays in the processing. Whether tat is something to do with the increasing tensions between the UK and Russia, who knows.
Will be intersting to see how this story unfolds though.
More posturing and sabre rattling from the UK Government. Russia is evil and don't you forget it. This of course is the same UK government that is selling billions of dollars of arms to Saudi Arabia who in turn are using them to kill civilians in Yemen.
The UK Government has no moral high ground. Theresa Mays husband even has shares in one of the companies selling the weapons to Saudi Arabia. Quite how these people sleep at night is beyond me.
It's probably already been mentioned but I thought it was a nice touch to have Ray Wilkins wife present the FA Cup last weekend. Especially as Butch played for the two teams in the final.
Very nice banners as well pre-match, one for each end of the ground. Shame the Wembley lot had to blast music over our fans chanting Ray's name when the team were going up to collect the Cup.
Carlo in at Napoli now, but Sarri very much still under contract there so ADL holds all of the cards. Release clause for him is either about to expire or has already expired. We have talked to Sarri's representatives in London but not to Sarri directly yet. Club reportedly impressed by him but have reservations over some of his behavior whilst at Napoli.
Looks like your club is owned by an Israeli now :D
Lampard taking the managerial role at Derby County. Looking forward to seeing how he goes.
Courtois leaving?
New stadium project cancelled?
Geez things are not looking rosy at the moment.
Has Conte gone or is he still under contract?
Looks like Blanc to Chelsea is on.
We've reportedly lodged a €60m bid for Roma's Alisson Becker, though they're likely holding out for something closer to €80m. Pretty serious signal of intent given the Courtois situation, if he's not going to extend we clearly won't be letting him leave on a Bosman.
Sarri appointment edging closer according to reports out of Italy. Possibly finalised this week, possibly not. Also word that we'll be bringing in Giovanni Martusciello who was Sarri's assitant at Empoli and currently works as a 'technical collaborator' with Spalletti at Inter.
Lampard taking the managerial role at Derby County. Looking forward to seeing how he goes.
I heard that Uncle 'Arry is DOF and John Terry going there. Could be wrong but who knows.
A lot of talk about Roman leaving and such given his visa issues but apparently hes rejected an offer from the UK's richest man to buy the club of him.
Lampard taking the managerial role at Derby County. Looking forward to seeing how he goes.
I heard that Uncle 'Arry is DOF and John Terry going there. Could be wrong but who knows.
Not sure about Terry, but getting Jody Morris to join his coaching staff is a great coup for Frank.
Some interesting quotes from one of Sarri's friends, Italian lower league manager Marco Brachi.
“He was wanted in Russia, but for an aesthete like him, it’s unlikely he’d have adapted to that type of football. It’s true, he is 59 years old, but money isn’t everything in life.
“Maurizio has always been fascinated by the Chelsea option, as he’d really love to work in England. Let’s be clear, it is the ideal team for his type of football.
"They’ve got players like Willian and Eden Hazard who run hard.
“The last time I saw him, he said that Paris Saint-Germain were after him, but the club is not suited to him.
"He said: ‘How can I train a team that has Adrien Rabiot, Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta in midfield?’ They are players who don’t run, aren’t helpful to his idea of football, which is very draining.
“We’re talking about great players, but they don’t attack the space and don’t run off the ball, unlike Napoli with Allan, Piotr Zielinski, Marek Hamsik, Jorginho and the rest.
“Sarri is not a Coach suited to everyone. Not every club will let you smoke during training, in the locker room or even on the plane.
"He is the last bastion of a romantic style of football that has fallen to money and multinational corporations.
“I am certain, Sarri won’t change for anyone.”
“Sarri is not a Coach suited to everyone. Not every club will let you smoke during training, in the locker room or even on the plane.
"He is the last bastion of a romantic style of football that has fallen to money and multinational corporations.
“I am certain, Sarri won’t change for anyone.”
This. Is. Awesome.
I for one can't wait to see this animal in the Premier League!
“Sarri is not a Coach suited to everyone. Not every club will let you smoke during training, in the locker room or even on the plane.
"He is the last bastion of a romantic style of football that has fallen to money and multinational corporations.
“I am certain, Sarri won’t change for anyone.”
This. Is. Awesome.
I for one can't wait to see this animal in the Premier League!
Yeah, I love his homophobic views too. What a romantic
Can't say I've heard about that!