We’re now well into the home straight of the 2013/2014 football season. With three Premier League games remaining, at the time of writing we still have a chance of winning the League, and next week we face Athletico Madrid in the Champions League Semi-Final second leg at Stamford Bridge. The season hasn’t all been plain sailing. Refereeing fiascos at Villa Park and at home to Sunderland last week have cost…
Spring brings a feeling of renewal; a fresh start. Supermarkets are advertising product discounts for a “spring clean”. The crocuses and daffodils are out – Hyde Park was looking stunning, albeit somewhat overcast today. For those of us of the Christian faith, the great season of Lent is upon us. And at the risk of being accused of attempting to steal the thunder of my dear friend, Driver on The…
“We are delighted to agree this deal to acquire what is already one of the top clubs in Europe. We have the resources and ambition to achieve even more given the huge potential of this great club.” (Roman Abramovich, 1st July 2003) “I want to know whether this individual is a fit and proper person to be taking over a club like Chelsea. Until that question is answered, then I’m…
The Church of SS Giovanni e Paolo in Venice was founded in 1246 when Doge Jacopo Tiepolo donated some swamp land to the Dominican Brothers after dreaming of a flock of white doves flying over it. The first church was demolished in 1333, when construction on the current church began. It was not completed until 1430. One of the largest churches in the city, it has the status of a…
“They seek him here/they seek him there/those Frenchies seek him everywhere/Is he in heaven?/Or is he in hell?/The demn’d elusive Pimpernel” The Scarlet Pimpernel – Baroness Emma Orczy The arrival of The Special One in London this week on a not so secret visit has sparked a frenzy of speculation amongst the media, who are linking him with not only every post at the top end of English club management…
There has been a lot of speculation (mainly in the press, although it hasn’t been exclusively limited to them) about the future of Carlo Ancelotti, and whether he is likely to see out the remaining year of his contract at Chelsea. I’ll put my hands up here and say I’m ambivalent. One on the one hand, I like Carletto very much as a person. On the other hand, however, I…
So the special one returns to Stamford Bridge this evening, with fresh digs at Chelsea about how he wins the important games and Chelsea [since his departure] wins something. Nice, okay, but not everybody has been upended by the bluster and forgotten that we didn’t actually win the Champions League under Jose. We often played appallingly in the group stages, particularly away from home, and came closer under the match…
Internazionale will travel to Stamford Bridge in just under three weeks with a 2-1 lead to preserve, having defeated Chelsea at the San Siro. Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasso scored for Jose Mourinho’s side, whilst Salomon Kalou scored for Chelsea. The Blues also lost Petr Cech to a serious looking injury in the second half. Florent Malouda was preferred to Juliano Belletti at left back for Chelsea, which mean that…
The last 16 of the UEFA Champions League has thrown up an all star clash with Chelsea drawn against Italian giants Internazionale. More obviously, Carlo Ancelotti, formerly of AC Milan, clashes with former Chelsea coach and favourite, Jose Mourinho in one of the most eagerly anticipated matches in years. The San Siro is the venue for the first leg. The war of words has started, with Mourinho commenting that the…