The first Loan Report of 2018 covers a congested schedule in England, where there have been few headline-makers, but there is plenty of scope for situations to change in the coming month with the opening of the winter transfer window. England Premier League With some teams facing as many as three matches in the space of six days, the action came thick and fast for some of Chelsea’s loanees, although…
It’s been another remarkable, record-breaking year for the Chelsea academy. From silverware to debuts and the breakthrough of Andreas Christensen into the first-team squad, there has been much to celebrate and enjoy. As 2017 draws to an end, let’s take a look at some of the significant moments from each month of the year. January The year got off to a strong start as Jody Morris’ Under-18s geared up for…
A festive Loan Report covers the busy schedule from the past seven days, with plenty more football in store yet before 2017 is out. We start, as we have done so often recently, in the Netherlands. Headliners Marco van Ginkel finds Eredivisie football too easy. That much is patently clear, and was emphasised again in midweek when he scored for PSV at home to VVV in the Dutch Cup, his…
Chelsea’s Development Squad signed off for 2017 with a remarkable 3-2 win against Manchester City at Aldershot’s EBB Stadium, having trailed until the last fifteen minutes of a match they rarely looked like taking anything from. Goals from Lorenzo Gonzalez and Benjamin Garré book-ended a first half where City were extremely comfortable, and they looked both measured and composed in building an advantage that scarcely looked in doubt until late…
Our loan attentions turn towards the Netherlands this week, where Marco van Ginkel and Mason Mount continue to earn positive reviews. Headliners Van Ginkel was, once again, front and centre for PSV as he struck twice away to Groningen (where Todd Kane played the last fifteen minutes) in midweek, and added another at home to ADO Den Haag on Saturday night. Two of his three tallies were penalties, but he’s…
Chelsea’s quest for a fifth successive FA Youth Cup is off and running after they beat Scunthorpe United 4-0 in the Third Round at Aldershot’s EBB Stadium on Friday night. The Blues were dominant from start to finish, but all too often found their finishing letting them down, only giving the scoreline the emphasis it deserved late in the day. Callum Hudson-Odoi led the way with another virtuoso display, whilst…
Manchester United are the only club to have won the FA Cup on five successive occasions, dominating the competition during its infancy in the 1950s, and the success cemented a philosophy that has seen the club feature at least one academy graduate in every single senior fixture for more than 80 years. As Chelsea embark upon a campaign in which they hope to join the Busby Babes in the history…
Much like last week, it was a frustrating seven days for a number of Chelsea’s loan army, whilst Mario Pašalić scored again to keep his good form going for Spartak Moscow. Headliners Pašalić came off the bench midway through the second half of Spartak’s Moscow derby at home to CSKA on Sunday, and took his season’s tally up to five with a stoppage-time goal to seal a 3-0 win. It…
Chelsea’s Under-18s recovered from three two-goal deficits to claim a point in a remarkable 4-4 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in Enfield on Saturday morning. The Blues trailed 2-0 to early goals from Reo Griffiths and Timothy Eyoma and, although Daishawn Redan reduced the arrears, an unfortunate own goal by Marc Guehi sent them in for half time with work still to do. A Conor Gallagher penalty gave them hope; hope…
Chelsea’s Development squad booked their place in the last sixteen of the Checkatrade Trophy with a resounding 4-0 victory at Milton Keynes on Wednesday evening. With manager Joe Edwards fielding a team including first-team squad players Michy Batshuayi, Eduardo, Kenedy, Kyle Scott, Ethan Ampadu and Charly Musonda against a makeshift home team, the match was never likely to be much of a contest, and so it proved. Batshuayi netted a…