CHELSEA FC – Football Flame

5Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC

Conor Gallagher to leave Chelsea to join Atletico Madrid

After several days of intense speculation over his future, Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has accepted a proposal from Atletico Madrid. He is due to fly to the Spanish capital to complete his move on Monday. The 24-year-old England international has rejected multiple contract offers from Chelsea to extend his deal beyond next summer, while the Blues have encouraged him to take the €40m deal on the table from Atletico. Their motive was to avoid him leaving either on a free, or joining Premier League rivals to Aston Villa or Tottenham Hotspur. Gallagher had been given until the end of the week to make his decision, and Atletico had even worked out a deal for Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra in case their move for the Chelsea midfielder collapsed. It seems Guerra will now be back on ...

26Apr

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, NEWS, Romelu Lukaku, UCL

Romelu Lukaku “will be given the opportunity to stay at Chelsea”

Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between US Salernitana and FC Internazionale at Stadio Arechi on April 7, 2023 in Salerno, Italy. Romelu Lukaku will reportedly be offered the opportunity to remain at Chelsea during the summer transfer window. Despite scoring 15 goals from 44 appearances during his first year back at Stamford Bridge, it was widely perceived that his £97.5m return to the club had been a failure. As a result, the Belgium international was allowed to immediately reunite with Inter, where he struggled to make an impact during the first half of 2022-23. Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta even hinted that Lukaku would definitely return to Chelsea on the back of his poor form, but the 29-year-old has since improved in recent weeks. Backing up h...

19Apr

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Real Madrid, UCL

Chelsea exit Champions League as Real finish job

Toni Kroos of Real Madrid holds off the challenge from N'Golo Kante of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Chelsea’s hopes of salvaging success from a season of abject mediocrity were ended ruthlessly by Real Madrid as the holders advanced into the Champions League semi-final at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were always battling against the odds to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in the Bernabeu and their cause was not helped by a familiar failing as a battling performance was undermined by missing a succession of clear chances. N’Golo Kante missed a glorious first-half opening while Marc Cucurella was blocked by former Chelsea keeper Thibau...

18Apr

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Julian Nagelsmann, PREMIER LEAGUE, UCL

Chelsea hold talks with ex-Bayern boss Nagelsmann

Former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann arrives in his car at the headquarters of German first division Bundesliga football club FC Bayern Munich in Munich, southern Germany, on March 24, 2023. Chelsea have held talks with Julian Nagelsmann as part of their search for a new manager. The German was sacked by Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in March after less than two years in charge. Football Flame understands Chelsea do not yet have a preferred option to replace Graham Potter, who was sacked in April. Despite holding talks with Nagelsmann, 35, the process to find a new manager is ongoing – with Luis Enrique also reportedly of interest to Chelsea. Potter left Stamford Bridge less than seven months after leaving Brighton & Hove Albion to replace Thomas Tuchel. Nagelsm...

13Apr

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League, CHELSEA FC, Karim Benzema, Real Madrid

Ten-man Chelsea lose first leg away to Real Madrid

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid competes with Thiago Silva of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal first leg match between Real Madrid and Chelsea FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 12, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. Chelsea have it all to do if they are to advance to the Champions League semi-finals after losing to holders Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Karim Benzema’s tap-in – his 90th goal in the competition – gave Real boss Carlo Ancelotti the perfect start against his former club. Real Madrid struggled to add to their lead before Ben Chilwell was shown a straight red card in the 59th minute for fouling Rodrygo as the Brazil forward threatened to go clean through on goal. Chelsea produced a battling performance but Real scored what could be a decisive second goal when s...

6Apr

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Frank Lampard, PREMIER LEAGUE

Frank Lampard named Chelsea manager for rest of season

Caretaker Manager Frank Lampard of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on April 6, 2023 in Cobham, England. Frank Lampard says he will "focus on the job in hand" after being named Chelsea's caretaker manager, rather than trying to land the role full-time. Lampard has completed a surprise return to Chelsea for the rest of the season, replacing the sacked Graham Potter. The club say Lampard will take charge while they carry out an "exhaustive process" to find a permanent boss. "I want to do the best possible role I can and after that we will see what happens," the 44-year-old said."I am not getting anywhere ahead of myself." Lampard, who has been out of a job since he was dismissed by Everton in January, previously managed Chelsea from Jul...

23Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Romelu Lukaku, TRANSFERS

Chelsea ‘resigned to losing Romelu Lukaku for cut-price fee’

Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 19, 2023 in Milan, Italy.Chelsea are reportedly resigned to having to sell Romelu Lukaku for a cut-price fee in one of the future transfer windows. In August 2021, the Blues completed the club-record addition of Lukaku from Inter Milan fee in a £97.5m deal, the belief being that they had found a long-term solution down the middle of their attack. However, despite scoring 15 goals from 44 appearances in all competitions, the Belgium international never settled under Thomas Tuchel and was allowed to return to Inter on a loan deal. At the time of his return, it was anticipated that a second temporary spell or permanent switch would follow,...

11Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Kai Havertz, PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea win again as Leicester concerns increase

Havertz of Chelsea celebrates after scoring to make it 1-2 during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Chelsea FC at King Power Stadium on March 11, 2023 in Leicester, United Kingdom.Chelsea’s mini-revival continued with a third victory in a row as they consigned struggling Leicester City to a fifth consecutive defeat. Buoyed by their Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea started brightly and Ben Chilwell volleyed in from a tight angle against his old club. Chelsea’s Joao Felix and Leicester’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall hit the woodwork in the space of two minutes, then Felix had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee for offside. Patson Daka rifled home an excellent equaliser after Ricardo Pereira won the ball off the dawdling Felix outside the box....

7Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League, CHELSEA FC

Chelsea reach Champions League quarter-finals

Raheem Sterling of Chelsea FC celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Chelsea FC and Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge on March 7, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Graham Potter enjoyed his finest night as Chelsea manager as they overcame a first-leg deficit against Borussia Dortmund to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Potter was under huge pressure after a dismal run of results following Chelsea’s huge outlay in the transfer market, but he will hope the manner of this performance and the advance into the latter stages of Europe’s elite competition will deliver a measure of calm and stability to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea fully deserved their win, although they squandered several big opportuni...

4Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, Welsey Fofana

Chelsea beat Leeds to ease pressure on Potter

Wesley Fofana of Chelsea celebrates his goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on March 4, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Welsey Fofana scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea as the Blues beat Leeds to ease the pressure on manager Graham Potter. After a run of just one win in their past 15 games, there was a sense that three points were a must for Potter, despite insisting he retained the support of the club’s owners before the game. The Blues made a blistering start and could have been 3-0 up inside 30 minutes. Kai Havertz was one-on-one with Leeds keeper Illan Meslier, while Joao Felix smashed a shot from distance against the crossbar before Ben Chilwell prodded wide from an excellent position. After tha...

28Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, Thiago Silva

Chelsea defender Thiago Silva suffers knee ligament damage

Thiago Silva of Chelsea receives treatment shortly before he has to go off injured to be replaced during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 26, 2023 in London, England.Chelsea have confirmed that Thiago Silva has suffered damage to his knee ligaments following the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Silva, 38, was forced off during Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League loss to their London rivals in the first half and underwent a scan to assess the extent of his injury on Monday. The west London club have not yet given any indication as to how long Silva faces on the sidelines with games against Leeds and Borussia Dortmund coming up. They said in a statement: “Having sustained a knee injury during the first half of Sunday’s ...

27Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, N’Golo Kante, TRANSFERS

Liverpool, PSG keen on 31-year-old Chelsea star

N'Golo Kante of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on August 14, 2022 in London, England. Liverpool and PSG have been linked with a move for Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante at the end of the season. According to Football Insider, Liverpool are hoping to sign French international midfielder N’Golo Kante on a free transfer. And the Reds will face competition from Paris Saint-Germain for the Chelsea veteran. Kante will be out of contract at the end of the season and might leave the club as a free agent. There have been rumours of a potential contract extension. But the two parties have not managed to reach an agreement yet. However, the report adds that talks between Chelsea and Kante are advanced. It has been a diff...

16Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Borussia Dortmund, CHELSEA FC, UCL

Dortmund sink wasteful Chelsea, Benfica put one foot in quarterfinals

Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg one match between Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea FC at Signal Iduna Park on February 15, 2023 in Dortmund, Germany. A superb length-of-the-field goal from Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi helped his side to a 1-0 win over Chelsea on Wednesday, putting them in the box seat to qualify for the Champions League quarterfinals. Adeyemi’s goal came during a period of sustained dominance from the visitors early in the second half, with the Germany forward pouncing on a clearance from a Chelsea corner. Adeyemi sensed the opportunity and ran the length of the field, rounding both Enzo Fernandez and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to give Dortmund the lead in the first leg t...

11Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, David Moyes, Emerson Palmieri

Chelsea held by West Ham as Emerson Palmieri scores against his former club

Noni Madueke of Chelsea battles for possession with Emerson Palmieri of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea FC at London Stadium on February 11, 2023 in London, England.Chelsea are still searching for a winning formula after they were held to a 1-1 draw at London rivals West Ham. The Blues, boosted by a £300million spending spree last month, took the lead through one of their seven January buys, Joao Felix. But West Ham equalised thanks to Chelsea old boy Emerson Palmieri and, once again, Graham Potter’s expensively-assembled side were unable to find a winner. It is now just one win in seven since the turn of the year for Chelsea, while Potter’s record reads five wins, six draws and five defeats from his 16 Premier League games in charge. Inj...

9Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Malo Gusto

Chelsea loanee Malo Gusto suffers hamstring injury

Chelsea Unveil New Signing Malo Gusto at Chelsea Training Ground on January 27, 2023 in Cobham, England.Malo Gusto has yet to kick a ball in anger for Chelsea, but he’s quite clearly Proper Chels already! The 19-year-old picked up a hamstring injury last night while playing for Olympique Lyonnais, proving that he’d fit right in at Stamford Bridge. Gusto got the start in what was a Round of 16 matchup between Lyon and Lille in the French Cup, but was forced to depart after just 30 minutes, with “huge disappointment in his eyes” and holding the back of his left hamstring. Despite that dramatic line from L’Equipe, Lyon head coach Laurent Blanc doesn’t believe the injury is too severe — but apparently it’s not exactly new either, so hopefully they’ll get him fixed up properly this time. “It’s ...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Enzo Fernandez, PREMIER LEAGUE

Fernandez makes debut as Chelsea held by Fulham

Thiago Silva and Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea embrace after the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on February 03, 2023 in London, England.British record signing Enzo Fernandez made his Chelsea debut but could not help his new side claim only their second win of 2023 as they were held by Fulham at Stamford Bridge. Argentina midfielder Fernandez completed a £107m move to the Blues from Benfica three days ago and Graham Potter opted to hand him an immediate start. He made a solid impression and almost enjoyed a dream debut when his curled effort flew just wide of the post in the second half. Kai Havertz also went close before the break when his lobbed effort from Hakim Ziyech’s superb pass clipped the woodwork before the ball was cleared off the line, while...

29Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Malo Gusto, TRANSFERS

Chelsea sign Gusto from Lyon in £31m deal

27 Malo GUSTO (ol) during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Olympique Lyonnais and Racing Club de Strasbourg at Groupama Stadium on January 14, 2023 in Lyon, France.Chelsea have signed 19-year-old French right-back Malo Gusto from Lyon for 35m euro (£30.7m). Gusto has signed a deal with the Blues until summer 2030 but will complete the current season at Lyon. Lyon said the deal includes 5m euro (£4.4m) in add-ons. “The defender will now continue his impressive progress on loan [at Lyon] before joining up with the Blues in the summer ahead of the new campaign,” Chelsea said in a statement. Gusto came through the ranks at Lyon before making his first team debut in January 2021. He has made 15 appearances this season for the French club, who are ninth in Ligue 1. Lyon said the club “regrets...

21Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Liverpool FC, Mykhailo Mudryk, PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool and Chelsea struggle to goalless draw

Mykhailo Mudryk of Chelsea slides fro the ball from James Milner of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on January 21, 2023 in Liverpool, England.Liverpool and Chelsea laid their respective Premier League struggles bare for all to see in a bitterly disappointing stalemate at Anfield.The two giants, who have been in constant pursuit of major prizes in recent seasons, are currently locked well outside the top four – and how it showed in a dismal game almost devoid of entertainment and quality.Chelsea had an early Kai Havertz strike ruled out for offside by VAR and there was also a lively debut as a second-half substitute for £89m new boy Mykhailo Mudryk, while Liverpool keeper Alisson saved well from another new Chelsea signing, defender B...

15Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Kai Havertz, PREMIER LEAGUE

Havertz earns narrow win for Chelsea against Palace

Kai Havertz of Chelsea shoots as Vicente Guaita of Crystal Palace looks on during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on January 15, 2023 in London, England. A thumping header from Kai Havertz earned Chelsea a narrow victory over Crystal Palace to ease the pressure on manager Graham Potter. Havertz met Hakim Ziyech’s cross shortly after an hour as the Blues ended a run of three successive defeats in all competitions. The Germany striker should have doubled Chelsea’s advantage but could only flash a header wide from close range from Mason Mount’s cross. Palace came close to equalising late on when Cheick Doucoure’s long-range volley was spectacularly tipped over by Kepa Arrizabalaga. Chelsea stay 10th despite the win, just their second in 1...

13Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Fulham FC, Joao Felix, Marco Silva, PREMIER LEAGUE

Joao Felix sent off on debut as Chelsea lose at Fulham

David Coote shows a red card to Joao Felix of Chelsea (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Chelsea FC at Craven Cottage on January 12, 2023 in London, England.Fulham manager Marco Silva hailed “a great night for the club and the fans” as his side beat 10-man Chelsea in a fiery west London derby at Craven Cottage. Carlos Vinicius headed in a 72nd-minute winner after Portugal winger Joao Felix had been sent off on his Chelsea debut when the score was 1-1. Willian put the hosts ahead against his former side in the first half, before Kalidou Koulibaly equalised early in the second, but Vinicius’ winner saw Fulham move up to sixth in the Premier League. “Chelsea is a super team, they are a massive club and their budget is completely different to ours, you can’t c...