Chelsea star Marcos Alonso earns Premier League respect

 

By David Lee Wheatley (@davewh1980)

 

Marcos Alonso was dismissed by some observers as a journeyman incapable of improving big-spending Chelsea, but he has spectacularly confounded his critics this season.

Alonso’s stunning showings for the Blues since a reported £23 million move back to the Premier League may have come as a surprise to many, but not to followers of previous clubs Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and Fiorentina.

The exorbitant fee involved – within this vulgar period of outlandish sums being thrown around for even the most average of footballers – was viewed as a feat of wild opportunism on the part of La Viola.

However, those appraisals were surely concluded without looking deeper at the impact made by the player during time spent with his former employers.

Alonso made his way through the ranks at star-studded Real Madrid to post a solitary first-team appearance as a late substitute at Racing Santander in April 2010.

He was allowed to leave the Bernabeu that summer despite undoubted promise and subsequently embarked upon a journey to north-west England – not along the usual route to one of the big guns based within that region, but on the less-trodden path to Bolton.

Burden of expectation as he tried to emulate his footballing father and granddad perhaps put undue pressure on the young man’s shoulders, especially as both relatives in question featured on the highest stage domestically and were capped internationally.

His recovery from that setback was a slow-burner, as he played a bit-part throughout two Premier League campaigns which eventually led to relegation. He later found form at Championship level, where the Trotters missed out on a play-off spot by a whisker and Alonso claimed a worthy Player of the Year accolade.

Wanderers offered a new contract, but he opted for an intriguing switch to Serie A with Fiorentina instead. Again, scant progress was made, as he struggled to hold down a regular slot in the team aside from the odd European run-out. As a result, he returned to England quicker than expected by way of a short-term loan with Premier League side Sunderland a few months later.

Alonso’s influence on the top-flight strugglers was instant, with his boundless energy and marauding runs along the left flank improving Gus Poyet’s side both defensively and in attack.

His displays were a revelation, as the Black Cats reached Wembley for a cherished League Cup final appearance and came back from the dead to stave off the dreaded drop.

He swiftly became a fans’ favourite, and it was evident that both the club’s adoring support and then-boss Poyet wanted to complete a permanent deal for the likeable Spaniard.

Drawn-out talks took place between Sunderland and their Italian counterparts, who were said to be holding out for £5 million, but an agreement could not be reached. The rest, as they say, is history.

Alonso returned to Italy unsure of his future, but revelled in a similar advanced position to the one he currently occupies for Chelsea, as La Viola reached the Europa League and Coppa Italia semi-finals in his first term back in purple.

After two barnstorming years, the Gigliati were reluctant to sell, hence the transfer-fee inflation rate. But, the Madrid-born star represented the exact prototype required to click seamlessly into Antonio Conte’s tactical framework and they simply had to snare his services, regardless of cost.    

Now a key factor in an expansive 3-4-3 formation, which has helped the west Londoners to the top of the league, Alonso looks every inch the top-class player that those who saw him at close quarters in the past believed he could become.

Four goals, two assists and 18 chances created from 20 outings thus far offer a clear indication of his attacking prowess, whilst he has made an average of 1.7 interceptions and 3.4 clearances per game when undertaking defensive duties.

Those who scoffed at Chelsea’s pursuit of a man who has since become a starting line-up fixture have fallen strangely silent, now that everyone has finally woken up to the assured 26-year-old’s true quality.

Entering into the prime of his career, an international cap to proudly place alongside his dad and grandfather’s cherished honours shouldn’t be too far away.

 



Chelsea look to keep PSG in their place

 

 



 



By David Lee Wheatley    @davewh1980

Paris Saint-Germain have another opportunity to glimpse into their potential future when taking on Chelsea for the second year running, a club who represent the blueprint for their own long-term plans.

Chelsea were purchased by Russian Roman Abramovich from long-time owner Ken Bates almost 12 years ago in a deal reportedly worth £140million.

At the time, the Blues had mounting debts of around £80million to contend with and still no Premier League title to show for consistently heavy investment in the playing staff.

That all changed under Abramovich, with Italian manager Claudio Ranieri jettisoned in favour of bright young FC Porto head coach Jose Mourinho after he’d just delivered the UEFA Champions League trophy to the Portuguese giants in 2004 against all odds.

A first top-flight championship in 50 years was secured a year after his arrival at Stamford Bridge, as local mainstays Frank Lampard and John Terry led the Blues to new heights alongside an array of foreign stars.

Mourinho and co defended their title, while two League Cups and an FA Cup were secured before the headstrong boss left amid great acrimony between him and his paymaster.

Even after the Portuguese moved on to Inter, the honours cabinet continued to fill up in the shape of three more FA Cups and a league crown, which completed a celebrated double under Carlo Ancelotti in 2010.

They’d agonisingly missed out on the holy grail of the Champions League under much-maligned Avram Grant in 2008 on penalties under the rainy skies of Moscow, but didn’t deviate from that stated aim and finally became kings of the continent under Roberto Di Matteo in 2012.

A Europa League followed under Rafa Benitez, whose lifting of that cup occurred in spite of public opinion railing against him due to his once-searing rivalry with the west London outfit when in charge of Liverpool.

Up to the present day - with Mourinho back in harness - it appears another Premier League title could be on the horizon, plus a realistic tilt at a second Champions League success should they swipe pretenders PSG aside.

The French capital club wish to emulate those illustrious achievements which define Chelsea’s recent history, while they often cast a keen eye over a selection of the Blues’ best talent including Eden Hazard to go along with their purchase of Brazilian David Luiz last summer.

In fact, they offered the head coaching role at Parc des Princes to current Chelsea supremo Mourinho on two separate occasions in the past, while they have been repeatedly linked to skilful Belgian Hazard and several others in the Chelsea ranks.

They aspire to be just like Abramovich’s beloved Chelsea, but this tie may prove a tad too soon for their burgeoning ambitions to flourish, which is a myth they will do their damnedest to dispel.

Should they falter this time around, they will undoubtedly continue recruiting a plethora of the greatest players on the planet, meaning it won’t be too long before they finally grab glory at the top table of European football to go with a solitary Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996 - won only two years before London upstarts Chelsea emerged victorious in the very same competition.

David Luiz out to halt Chelsea's Champions League charge

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley  @davewh1980

 

 

Brazilian defender David Luiz will line up against former club Chelsea for Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16 determined to knock his old club out of the competition.

 

27-year-old Luiz won the trophy with Chelsea in 2012 by virtue of victory over Bayern Munich in the final, and would love to add another winners’ medal to his collection with the French big-spenders.

The South American has experienced a turbulent few months having suffered the embarrassment of a 7-1 loss to Germany at the World Cup in his homeland before moving to the French capital in a £50 million deal.

 

He was also named in the best XI at the World Cup, while topping off his first six months at the Parc des Princes with a nomination for FIFPro Team of the Year announced at the Ballon d’Or awards evening in January.

 

 

Luiz’s performances have largely been very good, as PSG strive to retain the French title they claimed last term. However, they sit in third place as part of a titanic three-way tussle for the championship along with leaders Lyon and Marseille after 25 matches.

He’s featured in 19 of those league outings so far, while starting every one of PSG’s Champions League group F games, as they advanced in second spot behind Barcelona.

 

“I hope this is the year we win it,” said a typically jovial Luiz at the pre-match media conference alongside boss Laurent Blanc.
 

“We have an amazing team, but it is not easy to win the Champions League.

 

“We need to be strong and play an amazing first leg because it will be decided there.
 

“I want to qualify, like I did last year but now I want to qualify for PSG.”

 

Of his former colleagues, Luiz rates them highly.
 

“They are stronger this year,” he explained.

 

“They understand more the philosophy of Jose Mourinho and in his second year it is easier to pass the message.
 

“And they have players joining with amazing quality like Diego [Costa] and [Cesc] Fabregas.”

 

Two late goals from struggling visitors Caen surprisingly hauled the scores level on Saturday in the Parisians’ latest domestic outing after the fancied hosts streaked into what appeared to be an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Injuries are piling up for manager Blanc heading into Tuesday’s game, who will certainly have to do without the services of Yohan Cabaye, Marquinhos, Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura.

Meanwhile, doubts remain over the availability of Blaise Matuidi, Javier Pastore and Maxwell, who will all be evaluated during training on Monday.

 

Could Milan move reignite Torres' stalling career?

By David Lee Wheatley (Twitter: @davewh1980)

Fernando Torres said he knew the writing was on the wall the very minute that Diego Costa pitched up at Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid in a multi-million pound deal. Despite initial denials to the contrary from Blues boss Jose Mourinho, the Spaniard was on his way out of the door.

The £50million man has suffered one setback after another at Chelsea since his astonishing move from Liverpool in 2011, with his personal form contrasting sharply with that of his time at Anfield.

Torres’ fall from grace has been both spectacular and well-documented, with many an observer proclaiming the end of the Spaniards’ career at the top-level for at least the last couple of seasons. A knee operation while still on Merseyside in January 2010 was widely pinpointed as the moment everything went wrong for the once-prolific forward.

In spite of all the criticism, the Madrid-born striker managed to collect a significant amount of silverware during his stay in west London, playing a major part as Chelsea claimed the UEFA Champions’ League crown in 2012. However, he has been subjected to the usual ‘what a waste of money’ chants right across the country, while also looking a yard off the pace on many occasions. Additionally, his inexplicable loss of goal-scoring prowess has seen him spiral downwards from being classed as one of the deadliest strikers on the planet to becoming a ridiculed figure in some quarters due to several glaring misses in front of goal.

A new dawn is upon him with a two-year loan switch to Serie A and Milan having been completed shortly before the summer transfer window closed. The Rossoneri have been in the market for a new no. 9 since Mario Balotelli jumped ship to join Torres’ former club Liverpool in August and they earmarked El Nino as the perfect person to replace Super Mario at the San Siro. They appear determined to help rekindle the Spain international’s appetite for the game following his hugely frustrating descent from greatness over the last few years.

Whether Torres can return to his sparkling form of pre-2010 at the age of 30 is highly debatable and, quite frankly, unlikely. It seems his best days are firmly behind him and certainly there has been very little evidence to suggest otherwise within the previous four years or so.

Italian football remains notoriously difficult for attacking players to score an abundance of goals due to the defensive nature of the game in the Calcio-mad country. It isn’t quite as hard as perhaps it was in the 80s for example, when it was unusual to see anybody hitting 20-plus strikes in the top-flight, but it’s still hard going for forwards.

Last season’s top-scorer was Ciro Immobile, then of Torino, with 22 league strikes. A total anywhere close to that from Torres in a Milan shirt would represent a very fine campaign for the one-time World Cup winner, especially when considering his meagre contribution of five goals for Chelsea in the Premier League during 2013/14.

It’s been a rough ride since that 2010 surgery took place, which seemingly robbed Torres of his pace and a fair dose of confidence, just when he should have been enjoying the absolute prime of his footballing life. A new beginning at the San Siro will undoubtedly do the player good, with the opportunity to start afresh in a new league, in front of excited fans desperate to witness the return of the real Fernando Torres.  

However, if this latest adventure in northern Italy doesn’t work out well for Torres, then we can surely kiss goodbye to the old Fernando forever.  

Follow me on Twitter @davewh1980

The Great Porto Gravy Train

By David Lee Wheatley

Portuguese giants FC Porto could well be the most economical club in the whole of Europe having raked in approximately £614m through transfer fees over the course of the last ten years, yet still continue producing teams capable of competing at the highest level.

A largely unknown Jose Mourinho led a vibrant young squad to UEFA Cup glory in 2003 when defeating Martin O'Neill's Celtic 3-2 after extra-time in the final, which took place in the Spanish city of Seville.

He managed to keep the bulk of his burgeoning side together and out of the clutches of interested clubs who had begun to circle over Mourinho's stars like vultures searching for prey. That ability to fend off bids for his best players paid handsome dividends twelve months on when the Oporto-based outfit defied all the odds to win the Champions' League 17 seasons after their last taste of glory in the competition.

Mourinho was hot property and he duly switched to west London club Chelsea that summer, therefore placing a huge amount of uncertainty over the futures of his players. That's where the great sell-off truly began, with the prudent directors at the club able to identify targets to bring in who could replace any of the outgoing stars sufficiently.

Internationals Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho had been integral cogs in the defensive wheel for Porto during that historic period under Mourinho and they followed their mentor to Stamford Bridge in 2004 for a combined total of £34m. The exodus had begun in earnest, with midfield magician Deco also leaving for a lucrative £18.5m move to European giants Barcelona.

Fast-forward to 2007 and the biggest incoming money involved Pepe heading to Real Madrid for a remarkable £26.4m and promising midfielder Anderson signing up with Manchester United in a deal worth around £20m. Those two agreements highlighted FC Porto's extraordinary ability to locate talent from across the globe and develop them into world-class footballers over a relatively short space of time.

Pepe had joined the Dragons for a paltry sum of £1.7m from the Madeira-based Maritimo in 2004 and spent three years honing his game before netting Porto a whopping £24.7m profit. Meanwhile, Anderson left his Brazilian homeland and Gremio for just £4.4m in 2006 and was on the way to Old Trafford 18 league appearances later for almost five times that amount.

Jose Bosingwa and Ricardo Quaresma were the stand-out sales in 2008, moving to Chelsea and Internazionale respectively for large fees. French clubs then came in for Lucho Gonzalez and Lisandro Lopez a year later, while Bruno Alves left for Zenit St. Petersburg in a £19.4m switch in 2010.

One of the most successful Porto buys of recent times has to be deadly Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, who cost only £5m from River Plate in 2009 and scored better than a goal per game in helping the blue-and-whites to Europa League glory in 2011. That outstanding form prompted Atletico Madrid to part with £41.4m for his services to hand the Portuguese giants yet another massive injection of cash.

And, it goes on, with the wonderfully-named Hulk joining big-spending Zenit for over £48m in 2012 and the impressive creative pairing Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez exiting for the bright lights of Monte Carlo in a reported £62m double-deal.

The latest on this long list of top names to have left the Estadio do Dragao continued earlier this transfer window with Manchester City's capture of Fernando and Eliaquim Mangala in two separate moves which totalled a mind-blowing £45.2m. Mangala set Porto back just £6m when swapping Belgium for Portugal in a 2011 when sold by Standard Liege - yet another supreme piece of business from the boys in blue.

In summary, an unbelievable 15 players have been sold for more than £15m each over the last ten years and no doubt more will follow with the likes of Jackson Martinez and Juan Quintero next on the radar of several renowned sides around the continent.

Porto's scouting network must take the majority of the credit for the conveyor belt of talent that keeps coming through the door at the Dragao. Their work in South America especially must be commended as that has proved a particularly happy hunting ground for the club on so many occasions in the past.

All of this upheaval would cause problems for most teams, but seemingly not Porto. They've claimed their domestic league title on seven occasions throughout the decade since Mourinho departed, as well the Portuguese Cup four times and a solitary UEFA Europa League crown.

It's even more surprising that Porto have enjoyed such ongoing success when taking into account the relatively meagre outlay of £293m has been utilised in the ten-year period between 2004-2014 while the incredible income of £614m has been rolling in.

To keep such a tight hold of their budget without compromising the quality on the pitch is simply remarkable and who would bet against FC Porto continuing that trend while battling for further honours at the top table of European football for many years to come?

As long as they maintain this philosophy which has served them so well, there'll be no stopping them as they attempt to fight off rivals Benfica and Sporting at home, while aiming for a repeat of that golden day in 2004 when they held aloft the most sought-after trophy in European football.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Diego Costa: Chelsea find the perfect striking solution

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

Atletico Madrid star Diego Costa passed a medical yesterday in preparation for an imminent transfer to Chelsea in a mega-money deal which is expected to reach the £32million buy-out clause stipulated in the Brazilian-born forward’s contract.

The west London club were alerted to the talents of 25-year-old Costa following an outstanding return of 36 goals from 52 games during the course of Atletico’s hugely successful campaign and promptly pounced ahead of a long line of other potential suitors in order to nab the bustling striker’s prized signature before the start of the World Cup due to take place in his homeland. While Costa readies himself to represent adopted nation Spain in the country of his birth at this summer’s tournament, those in control within the corridors of Stamford Bridge can rest easy in the knowledge that they’ve secured the signing of a natural goalscorer who is absolutely ready-made for them and the Premier League in general.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho publicly bemoaned the dearth of firepower at his disposal last term, with the misfiring Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o struggling to find the net on a regular basis. That inconsistency from his forwards led to calls for the club to bring in a proven striker who could handle the rough-and-tumble world of English football and in the shape of Diego Costa they have snared a top performer who is feisty, tough and extremely strong, thus causing abundant nightmares for opposition defenders. Whatever his marker tries to mete out during the heat of battle, they will get it back two-fold due to the highly physical approach that Costa prefers. Defenders will not get a moment’s peace from the significant attacking threat posed by the Spanish international and will find it incredibly difficult to keep the 6ft 2in powerhouse quiet.

Costa began his professional career with Portuguese side Braga after leaving Brazil at the age of 18, as he set out on a European adventure encompassing seven different teams across Spain and Portugal, thanks to numerous loan spells away from his parent clubs. He took in stints with Penafiel, Atletico Madrid (once before his latest stay at the Vicente Calderon), back to Braga, Celta Vigo, Albacete, Real Valladolid, Atletico again and then another short-term loan across to Rayo Vallecano. At no point from the start of his journey had the forward managed to showcase his true promise until that loan switch in January 2012 to Rayo, the relatively poor relations of football-mad Madrid. A serious knee injury in pre-season had limited Costa’s ability to cement a place in the starting line-up during his second coming at Atleti, so he was farmed to their lesser neighbours in the hope of finding form with a club that could offer him a platform to regain full fitness by featuring week-in, week-out at La Liga level. Indeed, that opportunity to play allowed the rangy centre-forward to hit the goal trail immediately when plundering an impressive ten goals in just 16 appearances during the five months spent in Vallecas.

He returned to Atletico brimming with renewed confidence and saw his name on the team-sheet more often than not under inspirational manager Diego Simeone. Costa grabbed 20 in all competitions amid a startling run which culminated in the claiming of the Copa del Rey crown – he’d finally arrived on the big stage. The 2013 summer transfer window saw furious speculation surrounding the then-Brazilian national squad member’s future, with Liverpool mooted to be ready with an attractive offer in the region of £21million. However, Los Rojiblancos held firm and refused to buckle under the immense pressure placed upon them to sell a player who had swiftly become a key cog in Simeone’s well-oiled machine.

Sticking with the Spanish giants proved to be a superb decision when considering his considerable contribution to a wildly successful 2013-14 campaign at the Calderon, as Atleti took La Liga by storm in winning their first title since 1996. Not only that, but they shocked the entire continent by advancing all the way to a Champions’ League final date with local rivals Real Madrid in Lisbon, a unique occurrence in that two sides from the same city had come face-to-face in a European final on the only occasion in history to date. Alas, the fairytale stopped there, with Diego Costa limping off injured after only nine minutes at the Estadio da Luz and Atletico eventually surrendering a 1-0 lead with seconds left at the end of proceedings to force an extra 30 minutes of action. Real followed up their cruel equaliser right at the death by firing a further three goals home in extra-time to rubber-stamp their feted tenth Champions’ Cup success. Despite the utter deflation of defeat, Atletico could look back proudly on an astonishing season full of great highs and fantastic memories, with Costa an integral protagonist of their first championship-winning season for 18 years.

Now, having controversially switched allegiance following two friendly-match caps for Brazil, Costa hopes to play an important part in the upcoming World Cup for holders Spain in spite of the thigh problem which has been troubling him for some time. The imposing front-man is back in training and raring to go for his opening attempt at excelling in an international competition of this magnitude and he can go into the group games without external worries now that his situation at club level is settled, having done all he could for the Atletico Madrid cause prior to moving on to pastures new.

Chelsea can be assured they are set to welcome the ideal footballer to robustly lead the line at Stamford Bridge next season. They spent the whole year desperately seeking a solution to their distinct lack of attacking prowess without any luck; the ruthless and ultra-aggressive Atletico marksman represents precisely what Mourinho’s men were crying out for all season-long.          

Twitter: @davewh1980



Madrid masters to meet in Lisbon final

By David Lee Wheatley

Atletico Madrid swept Chelsea aside last night with an abundant display of power, pace and control which left Mourinho's men trailing in their wake.

It was yet another fabulous performance from the Spanish league leaders that confirmed their position as one of the leading teams in European football and further enhanced the growing reputation of Argentine head coach Diego Simeone.

The last occasion when these two sides met at Stamford Bridge resulted in the Blues easing past their rivals with an emphatic 4-0 victory during the 2009/10 group stages, but Chelsea faced a very different beast this time and they simply couldn't cope with the relentless pressure placed upon them in the second half of the match.

Fernando Torres, a former Atletico star and still an ardent fan, handed the lead to his current club after 36 minutes with a smart 15-yard finish - aided by a slight Miranda deflection - following a neat cross from the right by Azpilicueta. The Madrid native refused to celebrate out of respect, but his precious goal gave Chelsea something tangible to defend after a tedious 0-0 draw in the Spanish capital last week.

At that stage, the 2012 Champions of Europe were shading affairs with two-thirds of possession in their favour and appeared to be in the ascendancy. However, sloppy defending a minute prior to half-time completely altered the complexion of the tie when Adrian hit his close-range strike into the deck before it looped up into the roof of the net. It could've all been avoided had Eden Hazard switched on when tracking back, but his lack of focus allowed easy passage for wing-back Juanfran to send the ball across the box and with three other statuesque Chelsea defenders unable to clear, Adrian was left with a relatively straightforward finish.

John Terry came close to restoring the hosts advantage with a towering header eight minutes after the restart, but Chelsea employee Thibaut Courtois got down quickly to complete a crucial save for Atletico. It must have been a sickening blow for Mourinho knowing that a decision made last summer to leave the Belgian on loan in Spain for a third term on the trot has backfired so spectacularly, with the 21-year-old proving a key component of this wildly successful Atletico campaign.

Sub Samuel Eto'o made his way on to the field shortly afterwards and his opening contribution was to clumsily fell prolific forward Diego Costa in the penalty area. The same player jumped up to take the kick after a lengthy delay, during which the fearsome striker scuffed and scraped the penalty spot substantially with his studs due to the slight movement of the ball each time he placed it on the pitch, and then proceeded to vanquish any jitters he may have suffered to bury it into the top left-hand corner.

Chelsea were frustrated moments later when David Luiz's effort came back off the post with keeper Courtois beaten all ends up and they were made to rue that miss when conceding again at the other end.

Hazard was caught sleeping at the back once more on 72 minutes when Juanfran ghosted in at the far post unopposed before floating in a superb cross for the unmarked Arda Turan to attack. His splendid onrushing header cannoned off the crossbar, but a slice of luck saw the rebound fall kindly to the feet of Turan and he tucked it away smartly to seal the deal for the impressive visitors.

Simeone's team took total charge thereafter, with Chelsea chasing shadows for the most part. It showed great intelligence from a side brimming with confidence to protect and care for the ball in such a competent manner, as they now approach the zenith of their most remarkable season in decades.

A long 40-year wait for Atletico to reach a Champions' Cup final is over, while the upcoming clash also represents the very first same-city derby to take place in any European final. Meanwhile, they remain just two wins away from La Liga glory domestically above their celebrated Madrid neighbours.

History beckons for the Rojiblancos and their highly-rated leader Simeone, who has transformed the fortunes of a squad that were languishing within mid-table obscurity when he arrived in December 2011. They couldn't have believed such a remarkable renaissance was possible when he came on board initially, but the former defensive midfielder has far exceeded expectations thus leaving the club teetering on the brink of their most successful period ever.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Champions' League club focus: Chelsea

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

It was a tale of two highly contrasting legs at the last-eight stage for Chelsea when coming up against the new-found riches and limitless ambition of Paris Saint-Germain. The French side ran the Blues ragged in their first meeting, with a 3-1 victory scant reward for their endeavour. However, Chelsea turned the tables on their confident opponents when recording a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge with a late strike from forgotten man Demba Ba, which secured an away goal triumph few would have predicted on the evidence of the Parc des Princes clash six days earlier.

Mourinho’s men must now overcome La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, who saw off the mighty challenge of compatriots Barcelona in the quarter-finals and head into the European Cup semi-finals for the first time in 43 years. Despite the Spanish capital club’s lack of experience at the very highest level of European football, they do have two Europa League trophy wins in their locker over the last four years and appear ready for the next step on to the biggest stage of all.

The west London side sit second in the Premier League going into this weekend’s round of domestic fixtures and have suffered from several inconsistencies in their performances throughout the campaign. Atletico represent a formidable obstacle to their chances of replicating the glorious Champions’ League success of 2012 and the underdogs tag could well be bestowed upon the Blues in anticipation of this titanic tie.

Possessing arguably the strongest central defensive pairing in Europe gives Chelsea great strength within their back-line, but it is often undermined and put under unnecessary pressure by the antics of the erratic David Luiz in the defensive midfield role. The Brazilian is undoubtedly a talented footballer, but he suffers from a lack of discipline and focus, which is essential in that holding role protecting Gary Cahill and John Terry. Luckily for Luiz, that all-English partnership has been largely solid as a rock and has bailed the team out of a hole on numerous occasions this season.

Atletico will pinpoint Luiz as the Blues’ main weakness, but will also welcome the news that combative full-back Ivanovic is suspended and chief attacking threat Eden Hazard is doubtful with a calf injury. With the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Demba Ba and particularly Fernando Torres failing to find any level of goalscoring form, Mourinho will be desperate for the Belgian to feature. The Portuguese has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout the majority of his first season back in English football, with Hazard crucial on the left-hand side of the three men deployed behind a main striker. Andre Schurrle would likely deputise in his absence, but it would be a bitter blow to Chelsea’s hopes of progressing to lose the majestic former Lille man from the line-up.

Demba Ba has scored two goals in two consecutive games heading into the weekend and has possibly done enough to keep his place up-front. However, powerful centre-backs Godin and Miranda won’t exactly spend sleepless nights worrying about facing the physical ex-Newcastle forward ahead of Tuesday’s home leg. It will be interesting to see if Mourinho plumps for former Atletico icon Torres in the hope that playing against his old club could reignite the fire within the striker’s belly in order to finally get the best out of the fading star. Despite his troubles in a Chelsea shirt, he is still revered at the Vicente Calderon and would cause more concern to the Madrid defence than anyone else in terms of their mental approach to the match.   

Suspension to Branislav Ivanovic should mean Cesar Azpilicueta returns to right-back from the left where he has been impressive, while Ashley Cole will probably come back into the fold. Ramires and David Luiz would be expected to begin in the defensive section of the midfield, but there are whispers of Luiz being deployed at right-back, thus leaving Cole out in the cold and forcing the surprise inclusion of Mikel. Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Lampard and Schurrle will battle it out for the three berths behind a lone frontman and then Ba, Eto’o and Torres will look to secure that one available position up top. It’s doubtful that Mourinho would experiment again with Schurrle in that striker role, as it failed to work out to any satisfactory degree when attempted in the first leg against PSG.

 

Chelsea’s backs are against the wall and they will thoroughly deserve a spot in the Lisbon final should they dispose of the Spaniards over what promises to be two hard-fought meetings. A lack of goals from recognised strikers and the liability of Luiz could well prove to be the downfall of this solid, if unspectacular outfit.

 

Twitter: @davewh1980

 



Champions' League club focus: Atlético Madrid

By David Lee Wheatley

Outsiders Atlético Madrid have forged a reputation for upsetting the odds in recent years under highly-rated head coach Diego Simeone and they will aim to do just that once again when facing Chelsea over two legs in the Champions' League semi-finals which commence next week.

Since Simeone's arrival in December 2011, Atlético have won three trophies of great significance (Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and Copa del Rey) while firmly establishing themselves within La Liga's top three. A 3rd-place finish last season has been followed by a league-leading performance this campaign which threatens to knock more illustrious rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid off their domestic perch. Should Atléti keep up their current league form, then a first Spanish championship since 1996 could well be on the cards.

In staying atop the standings in Spain and putting Barcelona to the sword at the last-eight stage of the Champions' League, the lesser fancied Madrid side have proved they have the quality to claim at least one major trophy this season and could arguably be considered slight favourites against a Chelsea team that often appear strong defensively but toothless in attack. Just to spice matters up even further, Atlético's star striker Diego Costa is said to be on Mourinho's wish-list as part of a projected summer spending spree.

Favouring a solid 4-4-2 formation, Simeone has set about constructing a well-organised and efficient side during just over two years at the helm. On-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been in sterling form throughout three consecutive seasons at the Vicente Calderón and is eligible to face his parent club, according to UEFA sources.

Full-back Juanfran provides a threat going forward, while the dependable Godin has struck up a very strong partnership in the centre with the vastly improved Miranda. Turkish international Arda Turan is a hard-working wide midfielder who pops up with the occasional goal at opportune moments, with Tiago and Gabi performing heroics alongside him in the middle of the park. The versatile Koke knows his way to goal, usually from a left-sided role, and has been receiving admiring glances from the Premier League thanks to his displays.

Simeone has plentiful options, too, with the returning Diego back at the club from Wolfsburg and forward Raúl García able to slot in up-front or as an attacking midfielder. The Argentine even shrugged off the sizeable loss of superstar Radamel Falcao to Monaco last summer by handing top-billing to Diego Costa and also drafting in experienced forward David Villa. The combative Costa has plundered 26 league strikes this term, with another seven so far in European competition; little wonder that Chelsea have their eyes on a £50m deal at the end of the campaign. For now though, the naturalised Spaniard originally hailing from Lagarto near the east coast of Brazil shall continue to lead the line as the destructive driving force of this impressive outfit. Their chief dangerman did suffer a nasty cut to his leg after colliding with a post when scoring against Getafe recently, but is certain to start on Tuesday according to his manager.

The Rojiblancos are three points clear in the race for the Spanish title and have proved more than a match for both Milan and Barcelona in the Champions' League, so won't be afraid of an inconsistent Chelsea side still searching for their best forward line this late in proceedings. Cahill and Terry will have to be at their best to keep Costa quiet, while the Spaniards will be hoping David Luiz plays in front of them due to his penchant for coming a cropper. Meanwhile, Demba Ba or the fading Samuel Eto'o will need to be at their absolute best to unlock the opposition rearguard whomever gets the nod, with former Atléti terrace hero Fernando Torres still unable to reach his peak of years past.

Atlético's players will cover every blade of grass for one another, closing down space, putting their foot into tackles and harassing Chelsea off the ball. Once they gain possession, they like to get it wide and utilise the whole width of the pitch. Chelsea's defenders should expect a tough night in the air from Costa, while also having to be alert when the ball breaks to any Madrid star around the edge of the box, as they will happily shoot from distance at any given opportunity.

It all points to a fascinating contest given additional zest by the various links between the clubs, with transfer rumours surrounding Costa and Courtois swirling around alongside José Mourinho's prior allegiance to Atlético's local rivals Real for a turbulent three-year period.

If the west Londoners thought they got the easiest draw in comparison with possibly meeting mighty contenders Real or Bayern at this final four stage of the tournament, they should think again.

Twitter: @davewh1980

PSG project scales new heights

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

Relentless pre-match talk surrounding the danger posed by Paris Saint-Germain superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic characterised the build-up to the Champions’ League quarter-final tie with Chelsea, yet it was an inspired performance by less-heralded fellow forward Ezequiel Lavezzi – aided by some extremely poor Chelsea defending it must be said - that eventually led to the Blues’ downfall in the French capital last night.

The home side took the game to their illustrious opponents from the off and duly grabbed a fourth-minute lead through an exquisite finish by Lavezzi. He chested down a poor headed clearance from John Terry which then fell slightly behind him, but somehow managed to lift off his right foot in a backward motion shortly before striking the ball unerringly with his left in one fell swoop. It was a sublime goal from a man who has endured a torrent of criticism from certain quarters since joining the PSG revolution in 2012. However, it was his time to shine yesterday with an energetic showing which forced more feted team-mates into the shade.

Chelsea were struggling to impose themselves on the game until they were gifted a penalty on 26 minutes by the usually reliable centre-back Thiago Silva. Hazard scored with ease and brought the visitors back into the reckoning for the remainder of the half, with the Parisians losing focus and concentration on several occasions.

Half-time allowed the hosts an opportunity to regroup and they set about taking Chelsea apart on the resumption of the action in the second half. It was a dominant display which showed true mettle and resolve from a side whose collective heart for the fight had been questioned in the run-up to the quarter-final clash. Could the silky-skilled artisans who have led PSG to the top of Ligue 1 largely unopposed cope with the rugged, physical, counter-attacking approach of their experienced rivals? The answer was an emphatic ‘yes’ when it mattered most out there on the Parc des Princes turf in front of their adoring fans.

Jose Mourinho gambled by selecting Andre Schurrle as a lone striker ahead of more recognised protagonists of the role, even though he is a winger by trade, and placing David Luiz in a defensive midfield position supposedly protecting the back-four. Those decisions proved costly, with the former stifled by a well-organised PSG outfit and the latter appearing totally lost as he failed miserably to provide a launching pad for attacks or the requisite shield for centre-back pairing Cahill and Terry.

Just beyond the hour-mark, a wicked in-swinging free-kick from the influential Lavezzi brought about PSG’s second goal when the ineffectual David Luiz put the ball into his own net under little pressure, possibly put off by the presence of Ibrahimovic to his left.

Meanwhile, Zlatan went off with a muscle injury on 68 minutes having only affected the game fleetingly in one of his least impressive club appearances of a wildly successful season thus far.   

Ibrahimovic’s premature departure from proceedings failed to halt the Paris freight train running amok over a beleaguered Chelsea rearguard when piling further misery on to the away side in injury-time; sub Javier Pastore firstly left Azpilicueta on his backside, before stylishly dribbling past Lampard and firing low and hard past Cech at his near post to round off a remarkable night.

This convincing statement sent out by the galaxy of Paris Saint-Germain stars cannot be underestimated; those who doubted their credentials to lift the Champions’ League trophy this campaign have been made to eat their words to an extent, while putting 2012 European champions Chelsea to the sword much like sacrificial lambs to the slaughter will undoubtedly encourage burgeoning fear inside the hearts of PSG’s potential final-four opponents should they complete the job at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Report: Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea

By David Lee Wheatley

Jose Mourinho sprang a surprise in his team selection by choosing winger-cum-forward Andre Schurrle as a lone striker at the Parc des Princes, as his Chelsea side travelled to Paris looking for a vital away goal to take back to Stamford Bridge.

Hosts PSG began the game with gusto and their early pressure told when Argentine live-wire Ezequiel Lavezzi pounced on a weak defensive header by Chelsea captain John Terry to send a half-volley into the roof of the net in only the fourth minute. It required fantastic technique from the former Napoli man to chest the ball down and drag it from slightly behind him to then finish sweetly past Petr Cech.

Ramires received a cheap yellow card after 12 minutes when he fouled the goalscorer Lavezzi, who made the most of a poor challenge by rolling over-and-over in order to catch the referee's eye. Unfortunately for the feisty midfielder, the booking means he will miss the return leg in London next week.

The Parisians desire to extend their lead showed no sign of abating with a great run along the left-hand side of the penalty area from danger-man Lavezzi, only for his low shot to harmlessly hit the side-netting.

However, Thiago Silva threw all of the home side's good work out of the window when felling international team-mate Oscar in the box to give away a penalty in the 26th minute. Former Lille star Eden Hazard, marked out as the player to watch from the very start by the opposition defence, slotted the ball away into the bottom left of the goal with great aplomb to level matters.

Chelsea visibly grew in confidence following Hazard's strike and PSG were panicking in possession, thus giving the visitors abundant opportunities to attack.

Belgian Hazard was becoming more effective on the left of Chelsea's forward line, culminating in a fabulous volley which beat keeper Sirigu all ends up, but bounced back out off the far post to safety. It was oh-so-unlucky for the Blues, as they strove desperately to get their noses in front.

With seconds left in the first-half, Cavani tangled with Cahill in the box only to have his vociferous penalty appeals turned down by the Serbian official. Replays suggested there was in fact a case to answer and the Uruguayan can count himself unfortunate not to have gotten the call in his favour.

There commenced a rather frantic start to the second period and the best chance of the opening exchanges arrived when Lavezzi headed just over from a Matuidi cross on 52 minutes.

Six minutes later, the hard-working Schurrle was replaced by Fernando Torres for the first substitution of the evening. It seemed to upset Chelsea's rhythm somewhat, as PSG began putting their guests under the cosh substantially more than they'd done since Hazard's equaliser.

Just after the hour-mark, PSG broke through the opposition rearguard with an inswinging free-kick which was turned in for an own goal by utility man David Luiz. His running pattern meant he met the ball full-on and was unable to adjust his feet in order to clear the ball to safety.

It was all PSG following their scrappy second, with Ibrahimovic seeing a powerful attempt blocked by John Terry and then Cavani burst through only to find the considerable obstacle of Gary Cahill standing strong in his path. 

In the midst of the fast-paced action, both Ibrahimovic and Verratti had to go off the field with injuries which plunges their chances of participation at Stamford Bridge into severe doubt.

Meanwhile, Mourinho's men managed to break out on the counter-attack twice through firstly Eden Hazard and then Torres, only for both moves to break down at the crucial moment. The final pass was missing in each case when Chelsea held the numerical advantage against opponents who'd sent too many players forward into the attacking third.

Javier Pastore came on for 'Man-of-the-Match' Lavezzi, as Paris Saint-Germain made their final change of the night. He jogged off to a standing ovation from the appreciative capacity crowd in attendance.

Edinson Cavani came close to scoring once again in the 84th minute when curling a low effort just past Cech's left-hand upright. A mêlée ensued shortly afterwards between the frustrated striker and David Luiz, which saw PSG head coach Laurent Blanc lead the frizzy-haired Brazilian away from the epicentre of the argument to avoid further tension between the pair. Thanks largely to the actions of World Cup winner Blanc, both got away with a stern word from the sensible referee.

Matters appeared to be drawing to a close at 2-1, with Chelsea seemingly happy to take their away goal and run. However, sub Pastore had other ideas deep into injury-time, as he stepped past the prone Azpilicueta on the right near the byline and then dribbled skilfully beyond Lampard before firing a stinger underneath Cech at his near post for PSG's third.

Going into the highly anticipated return in six days time, Pastore's late intervention hands the French league leaders a comfortable two-goal cushion to fall back on in the face of the expected onslaught to come. The final scoreline also suggests the wealthy Parisian outfit are serious contenders for the trophy this time around after dropping out at the quarter-final stage last season.

As for Chelsea, they're left with a mountain to climb if they're to rekindle faint hopes of achieving Champions' League glory for the second time in three years.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Mata the man for Moyes

By David Lee Wheatley

Juan Mata completed his surprise move to Manchester United from Chelsea yesterday for a club-record fee of £37.1 million, despite prevailing concerns over the recent decline in form at Old Trafford without Sir Alex Ferguson's leadership. Yet, the Spaniards' switch from Stamford Bridge can be interpreted as a stark message from under pressure new boss David Moyes that he means business in his pursuit of a swift return to former glories.

Two-time Blues' Player of the Year Mata fell foul of Jose Mourinho's tactical thoughts on how he sees his dynamic Chelsea team functioning during this second tenure at the west London outfit, with the Portuguese preferring Oscar, Eden Hazard and Willian across the midfield, while consistently dragging the very best out of the trio.

This meant a stop-start campaign for the frustrated playmaker, with just 13 league appearances coming his way from 22 matches played so far this season. His form suffered dramatically, forcing Mata to leave a club he loves in search of regular time on the pitch. That yearning led the former Valencia attacking midfielder to join reigning Premier League champions United, a team undergoing a dramatic and painful transition following the stuttering to a halt of a hugely successful period.

A transfer of this magnitude will reassure many United fans that the Moyes era has strong potential to be just as enjoyable as the past two decades and also signifies a steely determination from the club's hierarchy to reach the pinnacle of domestic and European football once again.

While Mata's assists and goals will undoubtedly improve the current Manchester United side substantially, the requirement for further reinforcement remains obvious. With many of United's stars aging and past their best, plus no emerging clutch of young stars a la 'The Class of '92' coming over the horizon, the Red Devils must continue to scour Europe for the very best talent available. Not only will Mata's arrival spruce up the squad, it should also convince other big names to commit to deals with United in the summer.

It appears the incoming signing has signalled transfers out of peripheral players such as Fabio and Zaha, with the pair set to leave for Cardiff City, albeit only temporarily in Zaha's case. More departures are expected both this month and during the close season, as Moyes goes about reconstructing the team to suit his own vision.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will no doubt miss the skill and poise of the little Spaniard and Mourinho will desperately hope the risky decision to let him go doesn't come back to haunt him.

Are the wheels coming off for Wenger?

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

With Arsenal losing key home contests twice in the space of a week, could it be that the red-and-white juggernaut has ground to a shuddering halt?

The Gunners went an impressive 12 matches unbeaten across all competitions, sitting pretty at the top of their tough Champions League group and the Premier League table to boot, when met by the prospect of facing last season’s European surprise package Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates.

A pivotal match-up that could have all but confirmed Arsenal’s spot in the knockout phase of the tournament turned sour when Dortmund deservedly took home the spoils thanks to a late Lewandowski winner.

Fast forward seven days and the League Cup clash between the Premier League’s top two teams took place at the Gunners’ north London residence, with a resumption of the intriguing battle of wills between Arsene Wenger and his arch-nemesis Jose Mourinho.

Portuguese tactician Mourinho hadn’t lost against his French counterpart during eight previous games and therefore the first meeting between the pair since his much-hyped return to Stamford Bridge was viewed as a prime opportunity for the Arsenal boss to begin setting that particular record straight.

However, the Blues had other ideas and took the lead midway through the first-half through Azpilicueta following an awful headed back-pass from right-back Carl Jenkinson under little pressure.

Matters worsened in the second period when stylish Spanish playmaker Juan Mata sealed Chelsea’s progression into the last eight with a swerving shot from distance that gave Fabianski no chance. It was a sweet strike to settle a tie that was reasonably even in terms of possession and shots at goal, but with the hosts severely lacking a cutting edge.

Star man Mesut Ozil and striker Giroud sat on the bench for three-quarters of the clash, as Wenger’s hopes of ending a long-running trophy drought were dealt a mighty blow. Even though the long-serving Arsenal supremo insists confidence within his squad remains firmly intact, his claims cannot disguise the fact his line-up looked fragile and thin on the ground without the likes of the missing Arteta, Walcott and Flamini, plus subs for the night Ozil and Giroud.

When all Wenger’s top men are fit and in place, they are an awesome side capable of defeating any foe; however, shorn of stellar names it’s a whole different story.

Twitter: @davewh1980  







 



Bayern v Chelsea: The Report

By David Lee Wheatley

Fresh from the disappointment of losing his place in the Spanish national squad alongside Blues team-mate Juan Mata for their country's forthcoming World Cup preparations, striker Fernando Torres made a magnificent impact only eight minutes into UEFA's showpiece Super Cup clash involving Chelsea and Bayern Munich in Prague.

The match had been billed all week as a needle-filled head-to-head between trainers Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, but having each played down their supposed rivalry, it was finally down to business on the field of play.

Belgian ace Eden Hazard displayed grace and skill when firstly turning smartly and then running with absolute gusto from his own half, before playing the ball wide for Andre Schurrle on the right. The German sent in a pinpoint low cross for Torres, who was deadly from inside the box with an emphatic finish on the half-volley, leaving Manuel Neuer no chance.

Bayern were almost totally in control of possession after falling behind, which led to a fine save from hometown boy Petr Cech down low to his left following a good effort from French danger-man Franck Ribery on 16 minutes. Muller then got free on the right side of the penalty area only to see his shot blocked into the side-netting by Cole.

Goalscorer Torres blazed a shot over the bar as the half neared an end, as Europa League holders Chelsea attempted to put a golden seal on a first-half full of counter-attacking menace from Mourinho's men.

Reigning European champions Bayern bit back spectacularly two minutes after the restart when the inspirational Ribery collected the ball 30 yards from goal, advanced and unleashed a powerful right-footed drive past the despairing reach of Cech. He almost struck again immediately after, but the finish was tame in comparison with the equalising effort.

Fans of the Bavarian giants were in full voice as their heroes became increasingly threatening in their forays forward, with a 55th-minute free-kick from the left by Ribery finding Robben in space amongst a snoozing Chelsea rearguard, but he ballooned high and wide when in position to do much better.

Guardiola was getting animated on the touchline, as Bayern's undoubted dominance failed to translate into a second goal; it was all German pressure by the hour mark and the Blues were struggling to cope.

Brazilian defender Dante almost undid Bayern's hard work when inexplicably losing possession on the edge of his own area to Schurrle, his cross finding Oscar who's straight shot was met by the onrushing Neuer's legs. The resultant loose ball pinged out to Lampard 20 yards out, but he fired way over.

What a contest it was turning out to be; especially in comparison with several Super Cups of the past that've largely flattered to deceive, eventually lulling most observers into a peaceful sleep through utter boredom. In contrast, both sides on view tonight desperately wanted to win and were putting up a great fight to claim the honours, while fans inside the stadium were creating a cacophony of noise.

With 12 minutes remaining, captain Frank Lampard sent in a tempting corner from the right which was met by a David Luiz flick-on in the direction of Ivanovic behind him. The Serbian reacted quickly to head agonisingly against the crossbar, while keeper Neuer flapped at thin air.

Chelsea were coming on strong and Neuer was forced to pull off a smart point-blank save from a Luiz leaping header shortly before a savage blow was dealt to the west Londoners' hopes of victory with a red card for the over-zealous Ramires with only four minutes left on the clock.

The two sides couldn't be separated and so matters moved on to extra-time; a daunting prospect for a tiring 10-man Chelsea team, or so it initially appeared.

However, two minutes into the first-half of added time, Hazard received the ball on the left before cutting in menacingly and hitting a 15-yard thunderbolt under a slow-motion Neuer to defy the odds. They then retreated ever deeper into their defensive third to see out the rest of the opening extra-time period, while blocking everything Bayern threw at them.

Bayern were back in the hunt after the resumption of play and Mandzukic was denied an equaliser by an incredible Cech save when it seemed a certain goal.

Mourinho waved his arms furiously to get the Chelsea fans and players rallied for one last Herculean effort, as Ribery lined up a free-kick with time ticking away. The Man-of-the-Match curled a delightful effort towards the top corner, only for the defiant Cech to palm it away to his right.

It looked for all the world that Chelsea were going to hold on, but injury-time saviour Javi Martinez shattered their dreams with a neat finish from inside the area to take the tie to penalties.

In a tense atmosphere, the first three kicks from each side were beautifully executed and then star man Ribery made it 4-3. Afterwards, Ashley Cole got lucky when his attempt hit the inside of the post before trickling in and it was still all to play for. Bayern then made it 5-4, leaving sub Romelu Lukaku with the task of keeping his side in the contest. His penalty was far too soft and much too close to Neuer, who made the short leap to his left to gather the ball easily and hand the prestigious trophy to the Munich outfit.

If this evening's show is a sign of things to come when the world's premier club competition gets underway in earnest, then we can look forward to a compelling list of fixtures throughout the campaign as the continent's greatest clubs do battle for right to call themselves Europe's best.

Twitter: @davewh1980

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