EPL

Chelsea still miss killer instincts but at least have a blueprint for second half of season

Published

3 months ago

December 27, 2022

Chelsea have been one of the Premier League’s biggest underachievers so far this season, a team that does not deserve the ‘world champions’ tag which they technically still retain.

The Blues looked stale in the last weeks of Thomas Tuchel’s tenure, and after enjoying Graham Potter’s new manager bounce, they quickly reverted to their 2022 type – a stale squad that looked sick to the back teeth of each other.

Heading into the World Cup break, their bloated roster was seen as a strange amalgamation of Roman Abramovich’s win-now regime and the scattergun approach overseen in Todd Boehly’s first summer. The hope was that a reshaped recruitment team would lead a rebuild moving forward and that this season would be about treading water ahead of a new era.

On Chelsea’s return to Premier League action on Tuesday though, they showed real signs of life and gave fans optimism that they are still contenders in the top-four race.

Goals from Kai Havertz and Mason Mount saw the Blues go into half-time with their biggest lead all year. From the off, the hosts showed both a capability and desire to play through Bournemouth like they were slicing butter.

Potter’s sides usually change formations throughout matches fluidly and require players to be versatile, but this was a more rigid system which instead empowered individuals in these more-defined roles. Raheem Sterling and Reece James dominated the right flank in willing tandem, Denis Zakaria’s stay-and-go midfield partnership worked perfectly, the aforementioned Mount and Havertz complimented each other superbly.

Chelsea are a team known for winning at all costs rather than free-flowing style, but the appointment of Potter was a sign that this board want a long-term plan, a sustainable way of playing to match off-field ingenuity.

The changing of the guard from Frank Lampard to Tuchel almost definitively proved that players at this level are not un-coachable, but are rather poorly coached or in the wrong situation. Chelsea’s current cohort is in need of surgery but it’s hardly an unfixable squad.

In fact, their biggest problem on Tuesday was that they didn’t completely kill the game off, that they started so brightly but opened the door for Bournemouth to fight back.

They were a little fortunate that the Cherries’ territorial gains were only in midfield, with their lack of attacking quality giving the illusion that Chelsea managed to keep them at arm’s length. This wasn’t exactly the case with the final 20 minutes or so feeling a tad uncomfortable inside Stamford Bridge.

But if the first 60 minutes or so is how Chelsea plan on playing for the rest of the season – with an effective mix of directness and control, pace and possession – then they might just salvage a tangible reward.

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EPL

Harry Maguire suggests he isn’t ‘properly appreciated’ at Man Utd

Published

3 hours ago

March 25, 2023

Sean Walsh

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has suggested that he is not as appreciated at club level as he is for England.

Maguire made the switch to the Red Devils for £80m back in 2019 and has since divided opinion after being named the skipper less than a year later. This season, he was quickly dropped by incoming United manager Erik ten Hag in favour of Raphael Varane and summer signing Lisandro Martinez.

At international level however, the centre-back has been one of England’s most dependable performers under Gareth Southgate, playing a major role in the Three Lions’ deep tournament runs over the last five years.

Maguire started for England in Thursday’s 2-1 win at Italy in Euro 2024 qualifying. He didn’t cover himself in glory for the Azzurri’s goal but stood tall late on to help grind out the victory.

Speaking to the media post-match, Maguire was asked if he feels ‘properly appreciated’.

“For England, yes, I do,” he replied. “Obviously, last season was difficult for the club, but, listen, I’ve proven myself to Gareth, who works with a wide range of centre backs. He has the choice of all the English centre-backs in the country and I play, every time I’m available, I’ve been in the team.

“I’m sure if you ask the rest of the lads they know what I bring to the team. I’m 30 years old but I shouldn’t really need to prove myself at this level. I’ve over 50 caps. I’m England’s top-scoring defender.

“I’ve played nearly 200 times for Manchester United, I’ve captained the club for three years now, but I do also understand that when you’re the captain of Manchester United you do come under the most amount of scrutiny. Last season at club level, my performance wasn’t good enough, alongside everybody else at club level, not just myself struggled. Everyone else struggled.”

Maguire recognises that he has not always been at his best while wearing a United shirt.

He was an easy scapegoat during their dreadful 2021/22 season in which they recorded their lowest ever points tally in the Premier League era.

That said, Maguire has also failed to kick on and if anything has taken several steps backwards after what was a promising first half to 2021, emerging as one of the league’s leading centre-backs and playing out of his skin while unfit in England’s run to the Euro 2020 final.

His case hasn’t been helped by his outward need silence critics, notably scoring for England and sticking his fingers in his ears as a celebration amid his decline for United.

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EPL

Arsenal lead Rice race; Man Utd eye Ferguson

Published

3 hours ago

March 25, 2023

90min

90min rounds up the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip circulating around the world…

Arsenal remain ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Declan Rice from West Ham this summer. The midfielder’s preference is to stay in London amid previous links to Manchester City and Manchester United. (Football Insider)

New Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel will look to reunite with Chelsea duo Mateo Kovacic and Edouard Mendy when the summer window rolls around. (Calciomercato)

Manchester United are ready to send Amad Diallo back to Sassuolo as part of a bid to sign Italy midfielder Davide Frattesi. (CMW)

Another player on Manchester United‘s radar is Brighton striker Evan Ferguson. The 18-year-old scored on his debut for the Republic of Ireland earlier this week. (Football Insider)

Liverpool will look to strengthen their defensive ranks with the signing of Dutch defender Perr Schuurs, with current club Torino ready to sell for a fee of €50m. (Tuttosport)

Ilkay Gundogan is likely to leave Manchester City for Barcelona on a free transfer this summer. His contract expires at the end of the season. (The Athletic)

Real Madrid have joined Barcelona and Liverpool in the race to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. (Fabrizio Romano)

Meanwhile, Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga would prefer to join Real Madrid over the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United this summer. (Cadena SER)

After failing with a bid last summer, Chelsea are working on another offer to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton. (Football Insider)

Arsenal and Newcastle are monitoring Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojland, who grabbed a hat-trick on his international debut for Denmark this week. (Tutto Atalanta)

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EPL

Arsenal pre-season 2023/24: Fixtures and schedule

Published

13 hours ago

March 24, 2023

Euan Burns

Having reached new heights in the Premier League in 2022/23, Arsenal will soon be beginning their preparations for the new campaign with a pre-season tour to get ready for 2023/24.

Preparations for last season took place in Germany for Arsenal but with the Covid-19 pandemic a bit more of a distant memory for many, it is expected that more teams will be heading further afield again to either the United States of America or Asia.

Arsenal are yet to announce a full training camp location for their pre-season but they do have one fixture already confirmed which drops a big clue.

The Gunners are going to be coming up against an MLS All-Star team in Washington D.C. which will be coached by Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney. That takes place on July 19 and it is hard to imagine that Arsenal will only play one game in America.

A semi-regular fixture of Arsenal’s pre-seasons in recent years has been the Emirates Cup, but there has not been any word on whether an edition of that will be taking place or not this summer. If there is, then Arsenal could be splitting their time between America and London.

All times BST.

As is the case for almost every big club in football now, all of Arsenal’s pre-season friendlies are expected to be televised live on Arsenal.com and their official app with a subscription.

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