Stamford Bridge thread: BLUE is the Colour

[David Luiz]

David Luiz signs new five-year Chelsea deal

The Brazil international has extended his stay at Stamford Bridge until 2017 after a fine start to the season and being linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer

Sep 22, 2012 6:02:00 PM

By Chris Davie



David Luiz has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea which will keep him at the club until 2017.

The Brazil international moved to Stamford Bridge in January 2011 in a £21 million deal from Portuguese side Benfica.

Having been linked with a switch to Barcelona in the summer, the 25-year-old, who won both the Champions League and the FA Cup with Chelsea last season, has ended speculation regarding his future by committing his long-term future with Roberto Di Matteo's side.

"I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea," Luiz told the club's official website.

"It is a great club and I look forward to winning more trophies here. I want to play for a long time at the top level - which is what playing for Chelsea means.

"I love everything about the club and especially the fans, who have made me very welcome and given me great support."

[David Luiz]

Former FA chairman Triesman: Terry has damaged Chelsea's international reputation

The former England captain has been accused of tarnishing the image of the Blues since the FA charged the defender with racially abusing an opponent and banned him for four games

Oct 14, 2012 6:52:00 AM

By Matt Davis



John Terry has been accused of tarnishing Chelsea's international reputation after the Englishman was found guilty of racism by the FA.

The defender has also been fined £220,000, and is yet to be disciplined by Chelsea following the outcome of the FA charge after he was found guilty of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

Lord Triesman, the former FA chairman, has lashed out at Chelsea and is far from impressed by their handling of the situation.

He told The Mirror: “Large numbers of *people around the world, especially black people, will read about what has happened. And they will wonder how on earth did Chelsea allow that?“The club’s international reputation has suffered. Its brand has been damaged.

“They should be saying it isn’t *acceptable as a standard of behaviour.

“If I was a Chelsea fan I wouldn’t be happy that my club was getting this kind of negative coverage.

“If it happened with any other business corporation, like Coca-Cola say, an *employee would have been in serious trouble with that organisation.”

Triesman was in charge of the FA between 2008 and 2010 but is now urging clubs to introduce their own policies to discipline behaviour such as racial abuse by using harsher punishments to send out a message to their young fans.

He continued: “Footballers are role models.

“When I was a referee in the 1970s the kids would copy the actions of their heroes they’d seen on televison the night before.

“So it’s not true to say that what stars do on the pitch won’t influence youngsters. I think clubs like Chelsea – and Liverpool during the Luis Suarez saga – have responsibilities to the next generation.
Clubs should tell their very highly-paid employees what standards are expected of them.

“I think Terry should apologise and accept it’s not a good *standard. I just don’t believe in this day and age that anybody can think that it’s OK, and that you don’t owe an *apology for something like that.”

[Donor]

Chelsea seek advice over formal complaint

ESPN can reveal that Chelsea are conducting an internal enquiry, led by independent legal counsel, to determine whether the club should go ahead with a formal complaint to the FA regarding the conduct of referee Mark Clattenburg.

Chelsea are eager to satisfy themselves that they have a legally enforceable case before carrying on their formal complaint. The club have so far only complained to the match observer, and not, as yet, formally to the FA.

ESPN understands that owner Roman Abramovich and the club's hierarchy have given this internal enquiry high priority to establish firm ground for a complaint, given that Clattenburg is mounting a strong defence of his own, and that allegations now exist over a confrontation with the referee after the match in the changing rooms.

Key to the club's next step will be the delivery of the assessment of how strong their case is against Clattenburg. The legal team are conducting vigorous interviews and assessing written evidence from the players involved.

John Obi Mikel, Juan Mata, Ramieres and David Luiz are the players at the centre of the alleged "inappropriate language" used on the pitch. The two Brazilians told Mikel of the comment made to him by the referee, while Mata was also allegedly singled out for a verbal abuse.

Regardless of whether Chelsea feel they are on firm ground to persue a formal complaint, the Football Association will not be deflected in their own enquiries. The FA are moving at rapid speed in gathering the evidence on the Clattenburg case, and have not been delayed by the police investigation into the incident.

ESPN can disclose that the Metropolitan Police have been in touch with the FA, but did not request the governing body halt their own investigation and possible disciplinary action.

After discussions between the FA and the police, the FA are continuing to collate all relevant evidence before deciding whether to bring any disrepute charges, not only against Clattenburg, but also Chelsea players for the alleged incident in the referees' changing rooms after the game.

The FA were universally pilloried for being forced to put their enquiries into the John Terry/Anton Ferdinand disciplinary issue when the police brought charges that were dealt with in the Magistrates court.

That caused a delay that lasted virtually a year before Terry was banned for four games. This time, the FA are keen to press ahead as quickly as possible with their own investigation ahead of any police action.

If the police brought charges, it would then become a legal issue for the FA to decide what action to take, if any, or allow the police to persue the case, as happened with Terry.

Players union leader Gordon Taylor has already voiced his concerns over any similar delay in dealing with allegations of a racial nature involving Clattenburg, which the referee strongly denies.

The FA have received reports from Clattenburg's two assistants, and are now taking a personal statement from Clattenburg himself. However, they are refusing to confirm the format of their enquiries or just how quickly they plan to make a full statement on the issue.

[Donor]

Chelsea urge fans to get 'freaky'

With their Capital One Cup game taking place against Manchester United on Halloween, October 31, the club have encouraged fans to turn up in fancy dress - preferably of the frightening kind.

"Wednesday night sees Chelsea take on Manchester United in the League Cup and it's sure to be a brilliant match, but it also happens to be Halloween - the spookiest night of the year!" the club's website read.

"We want all bridgekids who have tickets for the game to come along early and wear their best Halloween outfits so that we can help scare the United players and help the Blues get a win.

"Get yourself dressed up - it's going to be FREAKY!" Not to mention, of course, potentially furious.

The club's latest game against Manchester United comes only three days after the controversial match on Sunday which resulted in FA and police investigations into alleged "inappropriate language" by referee Mark Clattenburg.

[Donor]

Warnock 'disgusted' by Chelsea complaint

Leeds United manager Neil Warnock has criticised Chelsea's decision to file a complaint against referee Mark Clattenburg by accusing the club of "disgusting" behaviour and "trying to kill" the official.

Clattenburg is being investigated by both the Football Association and police after Chelsea alleged that he used "inappropriate language" with reference to two of their players in Sunday's match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

But Warnock, who was manager of Queens Park Rangers at the time of the incident involving John Terry and Anton Ferdinand at Loftus Road last year, has defended the referee.

Clattenburg's most high-profile decision was to dismiss Fernando Torres for diving, with replays suggesting he was fouled by Jonny Evans, and Warnock doubts whether a complaint would have been made had Chelsea won the game.

He told talkSPORT: "You know my relationship with referees but I have got to say I am disgusted with what's gone on. I'm on Mark Clattenburg's side.

"We ask referees to man-manage and that's what he does. I'm sure he might have said a few things but are you telling me if Chelsea had won that game that there would have been one iota of a complaint?

"He's not had the best of games but the Torres one was the one decision he got slightly wrong. I think he has made a mistake but they are trying to kill him and I don't agree with that at all."

[Donor]

Met Police launch Clattenburg probe

The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into allegations made by Chelsea of "inappropriate language" from referee Mark Clattenburg directed at two of their players.

The police investigation follows an announcement from the FA on Monday that it has launched its own probe into the events which are alleged to have taken place during Sunday's 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

A police statement read: "An investigation has been launched into alleged comments made during a football match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC at Stamford Bridge on 28 October 2012.

"This follows on from a complaint received by the Metropolitan Police Service on 29 October. Officers from Hammersmith & Fulham borough are in liaison with Chelsea Football Club and the Football Association. "At this time, the MPS has not received any complaint from either Chelsea Football Club, or the Football Association."

Chelsea have not made any complaint to police at this stage, and Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said: "Involving police or waiting causes a massive festering of the issue, which has continued to cause problems and is not good for the image of the game.

"Football has got to be confident enough to deal with it. I have said that to the House of Commons, the FA Council. We need to grasp the nettle and show we are more than capable of dealing with it."

He added: "I'm quite concerned that when this happened with the John Terry and Anton Ferdinand incident, the process got elongated. This time, I want football to learn from it and deal with it as transparently as possible.

"In football, the penalties can be severe. In a court of law, the penalty for racial abuse would be a small amount in comparison to what the FA could fine."

Chelsea lodged a complaint with the match observer following the game over what they claim were racist and xenophobic comments made by Clattenburg towards midfielders John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata.

Chelsea's complaint is that Mikel was the victim of a racist comment, while Spain midfielder Mata was allegedly called a "Spanish t**t" by Clattenburg.

The 37-year-old official will strongly plead his innocence when the FA interviews him over the alleged incidents, ESPN has learned.

Clattenburg has vowed to co-operate fully with their inquiries and is understood to be determined to clear his name. He has been offered the backing of the referees' union, although he has been removed from the list of referees for this weekend's fixtures in light of the allegations made against him.

The FA is yet to interview Clattenburg but is expected to do so, possibly after requesting a written account from him about what took place. He has already filed what is known as an 'extraordinary incident report', which is understood to mainly deal with a meeting which is alleged to have taken place in the referees' room after the match.

[Donor]

Romeu: Mata heard nothing from ref

Chelsea's Juan Mata was not aware of any comments referee Mark Clattenburg is alleged to have directed at him during Sunday's defeat to Manchester United, according to his Spanish team-mate Oriol Romeu.

The European champions and Premier League leaders lodged an official complaint against Clattenburg following the weekend's controversial clash at Stamford Bridge by what they claim were racist and xenophobic comments made by the official towards two of their players, Mata and John Obi Mikel.

Chelsea's complaint is that Mikel was the victim of a racist comment, while Spain midfielder Mata was allegedly called a "Spanish t**t" by Clattenburg.

The FA announced on Monday that it would be conducting an official investigation, while the Metropolitan Police also confirmed they have received a complaint.

The Professional Game Match Officials organisation has confirmed that Clattenburg will not officiate a match this weekend stating, "that with any football match the focus should not be on the officials but on the players and the game itself"

But Romeu, one of four Spanish players in the Chelsea squad along with Mata, Fernando Torres and Cesar Azpilicueta, said that neither he nor any of his compatriots heard Clattenburg say anything untoward.

The Sun quoted the former Barcelona midfielder as telling Spanish radio station Cadena Cope: "Neither Juan nor Fernando told me they heard it because from what I have understood they didn't hear anything.

"It was someone else who heard it, but not directly at them. It was another player who heard it and that is what they told me.

"I didn't hear anything as I left quickly to go home but after talking to Juan he told me there was some problem and he had to stay.

"I only know Chelsea made a complaint and I think there could really be a problem if what Chelsea players say happened really happened."

Oriol, who was an unused substitute for the match in which Chelsea had Torres and Branislav Ivanovic sent off and lost to a controversial goal from Javier Hernandez, added: "If there was really a racist comment or something said against a Spanish player this will be serious.

"We know in this country people are very vigilant about these issues."

[David Luiz]

Chelsea announce annual profit for first time since 2003

The Blues have released details of their €1.75m profit for the previous financial year, thanks to the fifth-largest revenue in Europe and a €36m profit from transfer activity

Nov 9, 2012 4:45:00 PM
By Tim Poole



Chelsea have announced an annual profit of €1.75m for the year ending 30th June 2012.

The declaration marks the first time the Blues have made a profit since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

And the club also announced a record group turnover of €319.8m, putting the Stamford Bridge outfit into fifth in Europe in terms of generated revenue.

Chelsea’s profits in 2011/12 are a significant improvement on their €84.9m loss for the previous financial year, while they also made a €36m profit in the transfer market.

The figures do not include the lavish investment spent on the likes of new recruits Eden Hazard and Oscar, as the money was spent in the new financial year.

However, Chelsea’s successful financial year will still not go unnoticed and was hugely attributable to the increased revenue gained from their Champions League win in May – which rose from €278.4m this previous year.

In addition, the club were able to secure numerous commercial deals off the pitch and the overall impact has delighted chief executive Ron Gourlay.

He said: “'Our club philosophy is built on success. We had that success on the field this year, as we were the first London team to win the Champions League, and we enjoyed it off the field as well and this helps us inject financial investment into the team.

“The big challenge is always to have a successful team on the field that wins trophies and to make a profit at the same time.

“The objectives have been set across the whole business, from the academy to under-21s and all the way through to the first team.”

The figures place Chelsea in a much healthier position to deal with Uefa’s upcoming Financial Fair Play regulations and chairman Bruce Buck was similarly pleased by the announcements.

He said: “We will never forget that night in Munich and now we are celebrating serious progress off the field too.

“While we draw huge satisfaction from the achievements of the past 12 months we are more than ever focused on continuing the story of on-field success supported by improving financial performance off the pitch.”

[David Luiz]

Chelsea sack Di Matteo

Posted on 21/11/2012 at 17:02, updated on 21/11/2012 at 17:18

Chelsea have announced the departure of manager Roberto Di Matteo following a Champions League defeat to Juventus.



Di Matteo was given the job on a permanent basis in the summer after leading Chelsea to an unexpected first Champions League triumph but a 3-0 loss in Turin, following a run of only two wins in seven games in all competitions, has brought a swift end to his reign.

A club statement read: "Chelsea Football Club has parted company this morning with manager Roberto Di Matteo.

"The team's recent performances and results have not been good enough and the owner and the Board felt that a change was necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important part of the season.

"The club faces a difficult task ahead in qualifying for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League as well as maintaining a strong challenge for the top of the Premier League while competing in three other cup competitions. Our aim is to remain as competitive as possible and challenge strongly on all fronts.

"The owner and the board would like to thank Roberto for all he has done for the club since taking over in March. Roberto helped guide us to an historic Champions League victory and a seventh FA Cup. We will never forget the huge contribution he has made to this club's history and he will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge.

"The club will be making an announcement shortly regarding a new first team manager."

Di Matteo hinted after the loss to Juve that any questions over his future should be put to Abramovich, not him.

"At the moment, I think, with the team, we are all in it together," he said. "I'm responsible for the results and at the moment I am here and I think I will be for the future.

"But that question [about my future] is probably not one you should ask me. As far as I'm concerned, I'll keep working. But I'm responsible for the result. I'm responsible for the performance.

"It's a negative evening for us – a big disappointment for us, for the team, for the club. If anyone has to take the blame, it's me. I selected a team I was convinced was the right team to win against Juventus, or get at least a draw, so the blame belongs to me."

Abramovich is reportedly willing to offer Spaniard Rafa Benitez - who has been out of work since leaving Internazionale in 2010 - a deal until the end of the season. Benitez won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and reached the final in 2007.

Abramovich is believed to want to install former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola as permanent boss when his year-long sabbatical in New York comes to an end in the summer, and Benitez would appear to be the perfect stop-gap.

Di Matteo had overseen a change in playing style this season, with three attacking midfielders - usually summer signings Eden Hazard and Oscar, plus Spain star Juan Mata - employed behind a striker, with £50 million Fernando Torres finally the undisputed first choice following the exit of Didier Drogba.

However the Italian, a former playing star at Stamford Bridge, left out Torres on Tuesday, effectively playing without a front man - a bold move that backfired.

Abramovich has a trigger-happy reputation. He sacked Avram Grant after the Israeli led Chelsea to the 2008 Champions League final then disposed of his replacement Luiz Felipe Scolari after less than a season in charge following public criticism from the players.

Guus Hiddink came in on a temporary basis - alongside his duties as Russia coach - and won the Double before returning to his national job full-time.

Carlo Ancelotti was the oligarch's next victim before Andre Villas-Boas - who had enjoyed a sensational debut season with Porto, romping to the league title and winning the Portuguese Cup and Europa League - came in to instigate a change to the more fluent style that Abramovich craved.

However he also fell out with the veteran players at Chelsea, lasting only nine months before the axe fell - and Di Matteo steadied the ship, taking a more pragmatic Chelsea to that famous European triumph in Munich against Bayern.

Benitez was approached about taking over from Villas-Boas, but was unwilling to do so at that time.

[David Luiz]

Gullit: If you win something at Chelsea you get sacked

The Dutchman has hit out at his former club for dismissing Roberto Di Matteo and suggests that the west London outfit have Jose Mourinho lined up for a return

Nov 21, 2012 2:37:00 PM
By Tom J Doyle



Former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit has expressed his dismay at the dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo.

The 42-year-old was given his marching orders on Wednesday morning after a 3-0 defeat to Juventus left the Blues' European hopes hanging by a thread.

But the Dutchman believes Roman Abramovich was wrong to sack the former Italy international, due to his FA Cup and Champions League successes last term.

"If you win something at Chelsea you get sacked. If you don't win you can stay for a long time," he told Sky Sports News.

"It's sad for Robbie. He hasn't even been there a year in charge. It's unbelievable, but it's part of being a coach.

"I already had a very good feeling when he won the Champions League maybe they had somebody else in the frame, but I don't think they took any notice of the fact that Robbie could win it."

Gullit went on to claim that the Chelsea hierarchy may have already lined up a return to Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho.

He continued: "I always had the feeling Mourinho was in the frame because he signed his contract with Real Madrid just after Chelsea won the Champions League.

"His record says everything - a lot of people would love to see him in England."

The former Netherlands international also criticised the club's board for attempting to emulate Barcelona, insisting the Catalan giants are unique in football.

"We thought the main thing for Chelsea was to win the Champions League, but they still sacked the manager," he added.

"The board wants to play the same sort of football as Barcelona, but Barcelona is Barcelona.

"They want to copy something that you can't - and Barcelona have Messi. Don't put away your own identity, because sometimes you can't copy something."

Gullit also dismissed any potential return to Stamford Bridge for himself, saying: "I'm busy with my own things. I wouldn't feel comfortable to come after Robbie because he's a very good friend of mine.".

[David Luiz]

Benitez confirmed as new Chelsea boss

The 52-year-old former Liverpool and Inter manager takes charge of the Blues until the end of the season following the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo on Wednesday morning

Nov 21, 2012 7:32:00 PM
By Jay Jaffa



Rafael Benitez has been confirmed as Chelsea's new manager, after the club sacked Roberto Di Matteo in the aftermath of Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League defeat to Juventus.

The 52-year-old takes charge of the European champions on an interim basis until the end of the current campaign after spending almost two years out of work following his dismissal at Inter.

A statement on the club's official website read: "The owner and the Board believe that in Benitez we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives.

"The 52-year-old Spaniard is due to meet the players at the training ground in Cobham tomorrow [Thursday]."

Benitez will take charge of his second Premier League club after a successful six-year spell at Liverpool between 2004 and 2010.

His time on Merseyside led to success in Europe as he won the club's fifth European Cup in his second season in 2005, while he also secured the FA Cup a year later.

Roman Abramovich relieved Di Matteo of his duties on Wednesday morning despite the Italian guiding the club to their maiden Champions League trophy and a seventh FA Cup last season.

Di Matteo signed a two-year deal in the summer, but has seen his position questioned almost continually since with Pep Guardiola thought to wanted by the Russian oligarch to lead the club.

Benitez becomes the ninth Blues manager in nine years in the Abramovich era.

[David Luiz]

Benitez appointment leaves Chelsea fans furious with out-of-touch club

The former Liverpool boss is the antithesis of what Blues followers want from a manager, while supporters remain furious over the treatment of club legend Roberto Di Matteo

Nov 21, 2012 8:00:00 PM



COMMENT
By Dan Levene | Blues Chronicle

Chelsea fans were already in uproar at the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo, just six months after winning the Champions League. Now the focus of their frustration has switched to the man who is next in the hot-seat.

Rafael Benitez, identified almost entirely with his time at Liverpool, has been confirmed as the man to replace Di Matteo. He is the antithesis of what Chelsea fans want from a manager.

A man without the charisma of Mourinho, the credibility of Ancelotti, or the homeliness of Di Matteo - there is already talk of a harsh fan reaction to his appointment.

The belief among those I have spoken to is that Benitez has always benefited from the squads built by others: Hector Cuper at Valencia, Gerard Houllier at Liverpool.

His transfer record at Anfield includes a litany of £8m-£10m footballers, who ended up playing like £1m-£2m cloggers. They say his football is turgid, his identity forever Scouse. He simply is not who the Chelsea supporters want to lead the club.

If the club did not already know that, then they are even more out of touch with Chelsea fans than had previously been thought. Even more out of touch than a club that has just sacked one of the greatest heroes its fans have ever worshipped.

Chelsea knew when they appointed Di Matteo as assistant manager to Andre Villas-Boas back in summer 2011 that they were getting two things: a coach, and a legend.

The latter was the reason he was able to stabilise the club in the aftermath of Villas-Boas' sacking in March: fans, people around the club, players all trusted his knowledge, experience and passion in a time of trouble.

Now, as he is sacked for being apparently lacking in the coaching department, the club has difficulty in ridding itself of a legendary status that has only grown in his second period at Stamford Bridge.

In the hours since news broke, Chelsea supporters have clamoured to social media to reveal the scale of their discontent.

People have talked of their shame at the club's actions, and their sense of loss arising from the dismissal of someone they coinsidered one of their own. A common theme is that Chelsea's hierarchy have reduced the club to the status of a laughing stock.

Di Matteo 'got' Chelsea. He understood the fans. He knew that there was no greater victory than one over Tottenham (he managed two: 5-1 at Wembley, and 4-2 at White Hart Lane).

He knew that this is a club for whom hard-times meant something other than the potential failure to qualify from a Champions League group.

But he also knew that times and expectations had moved on: and that he was partly responsible for that.

No true match-going Chelsea fan I know likes managers being sacked. We cherish loyalty, and to abandon or abuse one of our own is most definitely not 'proper Chels'.

This sacking hurts. The sackings of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti hurt too, but this seems to have hurt more. Because he was a link with the old Chelsea; because of what we went through together.

And ultimately because of success: Di Matteo is the only manager in Chelsea history to have out-specialed The Special One. The fact he has now been replaced by Benitez will be a bitter pill for the fans to swallow.

[David Luiz]

Di Matteo 'honoured' to manage Chelsea after sacking

The Italian has issued a statement through the League Managers' Association and lists last season's Champions League win with the club as the finest achievement of his career

Nov 21, 2012 11:50:00 PM
By Jordan Halford



Roberto Di Matteo has insisted it was "an honour" to have managed Chelsea, following his sacking on Wednesday morning.

The Italian was shown the door by Roman Abramovich just hours after the Blues were beaten 3-0 by Juventus to leave their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.

Rafael Benitez has been hired as the 42-year-old's replacement, while the former midfielder has hailed last season's European triumph with the Blues as the greatest achievement of his entire career.

In a statement released via the League Managers Association, Di Matteo said: "It was an honour for me to be appointed manager of a club that I loved playing for and one that is so close to my heart.

"I am extremely proud of the successes and trophies that we were able to bring to the club in recent months.

"Lifting Chelsea's first Champions League trophy, in Munich, was the best achievement in club history and without doubt the highlight of my career to date, both as a player and manager.

"It is a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life.

"I have a deep and unreserved passion for Chelsea Football Club and I would like to sincerely thank all of the staff, my players and of course the Chelsea fans, for their tremendous and unconditioned support in the intense time I have been the manager at the Bridge.

"I wish all of them every success for the rest of the season and beyond."