Chelsea FC - Keep calm and move on to Wembley
Article by Robert Wake
Racism, reckless challenges, retaliation, referees and rants. Another dull week for Chelsea Football Club.
Though I do not want to go into depth about the racist incident on the Paris Metro, it would be remiss of me not to have some comment. I, like most people found the behaviour of those ‘fans’ absolutely abhorrent. Their actions were disgraceful, and deeply embarrassing to the club and those of us who are associated with it. I applaud the Club for their prompt and decisive response to the incident, and if the evidence is sufficient to ban these individuals for life, then it will send the strongest possible message to others who hold similar views, not just at Chelsea, but in society in general. It is not a Chelsea problem or a football problem; it is a social problem that has cast its ugly shadow over the game we love.
The above incident, and subsequent media reaction, meant the game itself passed almost unnoticed. The result was better than the performance. A vital away goal, by Branislav Ivanovic, a regular scorer of vital goals gave Chelsea the lead at the break, before Edinson Cavani headed beyond Thibaut Courtois early in the second period. In truth, Courtois had to be at his best to prevent a similar scoreline to last year’s 3-1 reverse in the French capital, as the home side laid siege to the visitor’s goal after the break. It is a result that gives The Blues a slight advantage going into next month’s second leg at Stamford Bridge, but the tie is far from over.
Chelsea returned to Premier League action at the weekend with the visit of relegation threatened Burnley to Stamford Bridge in what on paper should have been a regulation three points for the league leaders. The beauty of the Premier League is that very few fixtures are ever that straightforward. The game appeared to following a predictable script when that man Ivanovic bundled home from close range after good work by Eden Hazard. Chelsea were then denied two very plausible penalty claims. Firstly, another Ivanovic shot struck the out stretched arm of Michael Kightly inside the area, and then Diego Costa was clearly pushed to the floor by Burnley Captain Jason Shackell. Both claims were waved away by Martin Atkinson to the surprise and annoyance of most inside Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea started the second half brightly, and pressed hard for the cushion of a second goal, but a combination of over-elaboration around the penalty area, and some uncharacteristically wayward finishing, kept the visitors in the game. The turning point in the game arrived on 69 minutes. From my vantage point in the Matthew Harding Upper, there initially appeared no particular reason for Nemanja Matic to run over to Ashley Barnes and shoulder-barge him to the floor. It was a clear red card for Matic who was clearly incensed, and had to be restrained by Kurt Zouma and John Terry. Having viewed Barnes’ challenge numerous times since, Matic’s reaction though ultimately costly, was also perfectly understandable. In Matic’s absence Burnley found an unlikely equaliser when Ben Mee headed home ten minutes from time. Though Chelsea have appealed Matic’s red card, it seems likely he will serve a 3 match ban, while Ashley Barnes gets away scot free as Martin Atkinson apparently saw the challenge that could easily have sidelined Matic for many months. If Atkinson saw the challenge and took no action, he should be having an enforced holiday away from the Premier League on the grounds of utter incompetence.
Though I prefer not to believe the calls of conspiracy and a campaign against Chelsea, it is becoming increasingly difficult to put a series of questionable decisions down to honest mistakes by officials. It is hard to know whether Mourinho’s high profile observations and condemnations are helping or hindering the cause. Perhaps it is classic Mourinho – covering up the fact that his charges are currently not firing on all cylinders. Since the 5-0 clipping of Swansea wings a month ago, The Blues have laboured to victories over Aston Villa, Everton and Liverpool, have been second best in draws with Liverpool, Manchester City and PSG, and were famously dumped out of the FA Cup by Bradford City before Saturday’s draw with Burnley. If this is indeed a mid-season blip, then the results are hardly catastrophic, but the performances need to improve starting at Wembley on Sunday.
Fortunately for Mourinho, Chelsea have a happy knack of producing performances at Wembley, though not always against Tottenham. The modern day rivalry between the clubs dates back to the 1967 FA Cup Final when Tottenham triumphed 2-1 with goals from Jimmy Robertson and Frank Saul, with Bobby Tambling replying late on for The Blues. The two clubs also met in the 2008 League Cup Final at Wembley, with Tottenham again emerging victorious by the same 2-1 scoreline. Didier Drogba had given Chelsea the lead, with Dimitar Berbatov’s penalty forcing extra-time. Jonathan Woodgate won it for Spurs four minutes into the extra period. The most recent meeting at Wembley was in the 2012 FA Cup Semi-Final with Chelsea winning 5-1 with goals from Drogba, Juan Mata, Frank Lampard, Ramires and Florent Malouda; Gareth Bale scored Spurs consolation. This season we have met twice, sharing eleven goals and one win a piece. I’m hoping for a great occasion, an entertaining encounter, and obviously a Chelsea win.
© e-Football 2014 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be
reproduced without consent of e-Football
Racism, reckless challenges, retaliation, referees and rants. Another dull week for Chelsea Football Club.
Though I do not want to go into depth about the racist incident on the Paris Metro, it would be remiss of me not to have some comment. I, like most people found the behaviour of those ‘fans’ absolutely abhorrent. Their actions were disgraceful, and deeply embarrassing to the club and those of us who are associated with it. I applaud the Club for their prompt and decisive response to the incident, and if the evidence is sufficient to ban these individuals for life, then it will send the strongest possible message to others who hold similar views, not just at Chelsea, but in society in general. It is not a Chelsea problem or a football problem; it is a social problem that has cast its ugly shadow over the game we love.
The above incident, and subsequent media reaction, meant the game itself passed almost unnoticed. The result was better than the performance. A vital away goal, by Branislav Ivanovic, a regular scorer of vital goals gave Chelsea the lead at the break, before Edinson Cavani headed beyond Thibaut Courtois early in the second period. In truth, Courtois had to be at his best to prevent a similar scoreline to last year’s 3-1 reverse in the French capital, as the home side laid siege to the visitor’s goal after the break. It is a result that gives The Blues a slight advantage going into next month’s second leg at Stamford Bridge, but the tie is far from over.
Chelsea returned to Premier League action at the weekend with the visit of relegation threatened Burnley to Stamford Bridge in what on paper should have been a regulation three points for the league leaders. The beauty of the Premier League is that very few fixtures are ever that straightforward. The game appeared to following a predictable script when that man Ivanovic bundled home from close range after good work by Eden Hazard. Chelsea were then denied two very plausible penalty claims. Firstly, another Ivanovic shot struck the out stretched arm of Michael Kightly inside the area, and then Diego Costa was clearly pushed to the floor by Burnley Captain Jason Shackell. Both claims were waved away by Martin Atkinson to the surprise and annoyance of most inside Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea started the second half brightly, and pressed hard for the cushion of a second goal, but a combination of over-elaboration around the penalty area, and some uncharacteristically wayward finishing, kept the visitors in the game. The turning point in the game arrived on 69 minutes. From my vantage point in the Matthew Harding Upper, there initially appeared no particular reason for Nemanja Matic to run over to Ashley Barnes and shoulder-barge him to the floor. It was a clear red card for Matic who was clearly incensed, and had to be restrained by Kurt Zouma and John Terry. Having viewed Barnes’ challenge numerous times since, Matic’s reaction though ultimately costly, was also perfectly understandable. In Matic’s absence Burnley found an unlikely equaliser when Ben Mee headed home ten minutes from time. Though Chelsea have appealed Matic’s red card, it seems likely he will serve a 3 match ban, while Ashley Barnes gets away scot free as Martin Atkinson apparently saw the challenge that could easily have sidelined Matic for many months. If Atkinson saw the challenge and took no action, he should be having an enforced holiday away from the Premier League on the grounds of utter incompetence.
Though I prefer not to believe the calls of conspiracy and a campaign against Chelsea, it is becoming increasingly difficult to put a series of questionable decisions down to honest mistakes by officials. It is hard to know whether Mourinho’s high profile observations and condemnations are helping or hindering the cause. Perhaps it is classic Mourinho – covering up the fact that his charges are currently not firing on all cylinders. Since the 5-0 clipping of Swansea wings a month ago, The Blues have laboured to victories over Aston Villa, Everton and Liverpool, have been second best in draws with Liverpool, Manchester City and PSG, and were famously dumped out of the FA Cup by Bradford City before Saturday’s draw with Burnley. If this is indeed a mid-season blip, then the results are hardly catastrophic, but the performances need to improve starting at Wembley on Sunday.
Fortunately for Mourinho, Chelsea have a happy knack of producing performances at Wembley, though not always against Tottenham. The modern day rivalry between the clubs dates back to the 1967 FA Cup Final when Tottenham triumphed 2-1 with goals from Jimmy Robertson and Frank Saul, with Bobby Tambling replying late on for The Blues. The two clubs also met in the 2008 League Cup Final at Wembley, with Tottenham again emerging victorious by the same 2-1 scoreline. Didier Drogba had given Chelsea the lead, with Dimitar Berbatov’s penalty forcing extra-time. Jonathan Woodgate won it for Spurs four minutes into the extra period. The most recent meeting at Wembley was in the 2012 FA Cup Semi-Final with Chelsea winning 5-1 with goals from Drogba, Juan Mata, Frank Lampard, Ramires and Florent Malouda; Gareth Bale scored Spurs consolation. This season we have met twice, sharing eleven goals and one win a piece. I’m hoping for a great occasion, an entertaining encounter, and obviously a Chelsea win.
© e-Football 2014 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be
reproduced without consent of e-Football
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