Maurizio Sarri admitted tired Chelsea got “lucky” as they moved to the brink of Champions League qualification with a 3-0 win over Watford, yesterday.
Sarri’s side was booed off after a sloppy first half, but two goals in three minutes from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and David Luiz lifted the mood at Stamford Bridge.
Gonzalo Higuain sealed the victory and third-placed Chelsea are now one point clear of fourth-placed Tottenham after their first win in four games in all competitions.
If the Blues win their last league game of the season at Leicester next Sunday they will be certain to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish.
Sarri conceded he was relieved to survive such a poor opening.
“In the first half we were in trouble because we were tired physically and mentally. But Watford lowered their level after that. We were lucky of course,” Sarri said.
“After the first goal probably we improved mentally and were able to play very well for 35 minutes. It’s not easy to play again after a Europa League away match.
“We were not able to think in a simple way. When you are tired you have to move the ball quickly, the ball is not tired, the man is!”
Before heading to Leicester, Chelsea host Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semifinals on Thursday, with the tie poised at 1-1 after the first leg.
Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted some his squads have made their last appearance for Manchester United while insisting the Europa League is the “right place” for his team after a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield ended any hope of a top-four finish.
The result at the John Smith’s Stadium means United will not play in the Champions League next season and could even have a Europa League second qualifying round first leg on July 25 if they finish sixth and Watford beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
“There is the chance you have seen the last of players but I wouldn’t say that about any individual,” Solskjaer, who is set to embark on an overhaul of his squad in the summer.
“We gave ourselves a chance to be in the Champions League, something we didn’t think was possible.
“We had so many opportunities to grab third or fourth. We didn’t and it is probably the right place for us to be next year, the Europa League.”
United are scheduled to play a pre-season friendly against Tottenham in Shanghai on July 25 but there remains a possibility their Europa League campaign could now start on the same date.
It would complicate Solskjaer’s summer plans and the Norwegian admitted he will cheering on City at Wembley if they finish sixth.
“It is not what we want,” said Solskjaer. “Let’s see what happens next week and with Arsenal and in the final with City. That is the reality. The kids will get chances to play games.”
Kenneth Omeruo joined the Blues in January 2012 as a teenager and was loaned out to Dutch Eredivisie side ADO Den Haag immediately. He has been out for four further loan spells since then, the last ending this month in Turkey.
The player's hopes of a permanent stay at Chelsea appear to have been dashed after he was left out of their latest official squad list by manager Antonio Conte.
Omeruo’s name has not been added to the Blues’s first-team squad and he is set to be shipped out on loan again before the window shuts.
Before a move materializes, however, the Super Eagles defender will train with Chelsea loan players when he arrives for pre-season.
The player may now be forced to seal talks with KAA Gent of Belgium, who are said to have contacted his agent over a transfer this summer.
Derby County has appointed ex-Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard as their new manager on a three-year deal. Lampard, taking on his first managerial role, was one of 20 applicants for the job and becomes Derby’s seventh appointment in just over three years.
He replaces Gary Rowett as boss of the Championship club after he left to take charge at Stoke City.
The 39-year-old, capped 106 times by England, made 649 appearances for Chelsea and is their record goalscorer.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11453113/Degg52zXcAA1sXd.jpg)
Derby finished sixth in the second tier last season but lost in the play-off semi-finals to Fulham and have been without a manager since Rowett’s departure on 22 May.
“I’ve always wanted to manage a club with a big tradition and history like Derby County, so this is a huge opportunity,” said Lampard.
“I have spent considerable time discussing the role and the club’s objectives with the chairman and board members.
“This is my first job as a manager, but I’ve worked closely with some of the best coaches in the game and I’m confident in my own abilities and those of the team around me, including the board.
“I know it won’t be easy – managing a football team never is – but I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
CHERYL'S BEDDING We deal on quality bedspreads and Duvet - Nationwide Delivery
Thibaut Courtois, recalled by Conte to play in goal after Willy Caballero had played the other games in the cup run, kept United at bay with a string of fine saves, the best from an attempted chip from Marcus Rashford as he rushed through on goal.
Alexis Sanchez had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for offside under the VAR system, while United's record signing Paul Pogba had the best chance to level eight minutes from time, but headed wide from a corner.
Mourinho, who had never lost an English domestic final, was in typically defiant mood after the defeat.
"We were the second best team in the Premier League and we were the best team in the FA Cup and didn't deserve to officially be second best," he told BBC Sport.
Conte, who was adding the FA Cup to the Premier League title Chelsea won in his first season in charge, was equally defiant despite reports he will be leaving after his side finished a disappointing fifth in the Premier League in this campaign.
"You can tell what you want, but I'm a serial winner," he said.
"I think after two years the club knows me well. I they want to continue to work with me they know me, I can't change," he added.
It was the eighth FA Cup trophy for Chelsea, United had been bidding for a record-equaling 13th, and its first since 2012.
Prince William, who is president of the FA, normally hands out the cup at the final, but with his brother Harry getting married to Meghan Markle earlier Saturday, could not attend.
Instead, the honor was given to the Jackie Wilkins, the wife of former Chelsea and Manchester United great Ray Wilkins, who passed away earlier this year.
While the eyes of the world may have been on events at Windsor about 20 miles away from Wembley, it provided a fitting finale to a match that while not reaching the heights has handed Conte and Chelsea some consolation for an otherwise disappointing season.
Chelsea edged Liverpool on Sunday at Stamford Bridge by a goal to nil, and things are looking pretty tight now for third and fourth positions in the Premier League.
The game was by no means a classic, but here are a few things to be taken away from the encounter.
1. Olivier Giroud Deserves to Start
Olivier Giroud scored his fifth goal for the Blues in his last six starts, a run of form that Alvaro Morata can only dream of right now.
The Spaniard has found life difficult in his debut season in English football, and for the final couple of games Conte should probably go with the experienced Frenchman from the outset.
2. Salah Not So Squeaky Clean
Liverpool talisman Mo Salah had little influence on the game on Sunday, for which he can probably forgiven given the amount of amazing games he's had this season.
What he cannot really be forgiven for, is diving. Salah rightly saw yellow for his act of simulation in the first half, and his card could now be marked subconsciously by referees going forward.
3. Sadio Mane Is Looking Dangerous Again
Most of the attention has gone the way of Salah this season at Liverpool, and rightly so. The next lot has gone the way of Roberto Firmino who has also been excellent.
Sadio Mane has arguably lagged behind the pair this season but in recent weeks he has looked like the player he was last season, and was Liverpool's bright spark against the Blues.
He is in a rich vein of form right now, which is going to be important in the run up to the Champions League final.
4. Chelsea Are Not Finished Yet
Chelsea's win means they are now just two points behind Tottenham after they slipped up against West Brom on Saturday, and three behind Liverpool.
They looked dead and buried at one point but the Blues can absolutely still qualify for the Champions League, with games against Huddersfield and Newcastle to finish up with.
They haven't looked anywhere near the side that stormed to the Premier League title last term, but their squad is still packed with quality and there could yet be a twist in the tale.
Liverpool and Spurs' bottling ability isn't exactly non-existent.
Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has claimed he took Eden Hazard off during their 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday, because “he was losing energy”.
Conte also told the club’s official website, that it was important for the team “to continue with the same performance level for 90 minutes”.
The Premier League champions took the lead after Willian exchanged passes with Hazard, before crashing the ball past David De Gea.
Lukaku equalized before the interval, finishing off a fine move that involved Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial.
The Belgium striker, who has been criticized roundly for not having an impact in big games, then crossed for substitute Jesse Lingard to head in the winner.
Chelsea FC have released a new Champions League squad. Manager Antonio Conte included new signings, Emerson Palmieri, Ross Barkley and Olivier GIroud in Chelsea’s updated squad.
The Blues will be up against Barcelona in a last-16 tie this month.
The Italian added several new players to the squad in the January transfer window, with Michy Batshuayi, Kenedy and Charly Musonda among those heading out the exit door.
See Squad:
Goalkeepers: Willy Caballero, Thibaut Courtois, Eduardo
Defenders: Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso, Davide Zappacosta, Gary Cahill, Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Victor Moses, Dujon Sterling, Emerson Palmieri
Midfielders: Cesc Fabregas, Danny Drinkwater, N’Golo Kante, Ross Barkley, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Kyle Scott, Callum Hudson-Odoi
Attackers: Eden Hazard, Pedro, Olivier Giroud, Alvaro Morata, Willian.
Manchester City and Chelsea cruised to easy wins in their respective fourth round fixtures of the English FA Cup against Cardiff and Newcastle respectively on Sunday.
De Bruyne starred as Manchester City stayed on course for an unprecedented quadruple as a 2-0 win at Cardiff put the runaway Premier League leaders into the FA Cup last 16.
Manchester City, 12 points clear at the summit of English football, are bidding to bring the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League titles to the Etihad.
They made short work of second-tier Cardiff, with Belgian star De Bruyne putting them ahead in just eight minutes.
This was after he deceived the home side with a brilliant free-kick that he struck under, rather than over, the defensive wall.
Bernardo Silva appeared to have doubled the visitors’ lead with a thunderous 26th-minute shot.
But his goal was ruled out because the officials deemed Leroy Sane to be off-side and interfering with play.
It appeared a harsh call, but there was no way of reviewing the decision.
The controversial video assistant referee system that is being tried in some English Cup ties this season was not in use for this match.
But the second goal Pep Guardiola’s men had threatened arrived in the 37th minute when Silva’s superb curling cross from the left was glanced in by Raheem Sterling.
Sane was the victim of a bad tackle by Joe Bennett in first-half stoppage time and was replaced at the break by Sergio Aguero.
Cardiff defender Bennett was sent off in injury time at the end of the match when he received a second yellow card for another poor challenge, on Brahim Diaz.
Bruyne said there had been nothing complicated regarding his goal: “The wall was not nine metres away from me and so they were very close and it was easy to put it under.”
But he was slightly bemused by the tactics employed by a Cardiff side pushing for promotion to the Premier League.
“They played man against man all over the pitch — it was a little bit weird,” De Bruyne said. “It left a lot of space.”
Earlier, Michy Batshuayi scored twice as Chelsea beat English Premier League rivals Newcastle United 3-0 to also advance into the fifth round.
Batshuayi’s goals in the 31st and 44th minutes and a Marcos Alonso free-kick 18 minutes from time were enough for Premier League champions Chelsea to see off Rafael Benitez’s struggling side.
The Belgian’s striker’s first goal was the result of a neat team move in the 31st minute.
Pedro’s superb through ball split the Newcastle defence and led to Eden Hazard slipping a pass inside to Alonso, who set up Batshuayi for a finish from eight yards out.
The Belgian forward scored his second goal shortly before half-time when his shot took a huge deflection off Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles.
Alonso sealed victory with a well-struck free-kick.
“When I have a chance I take the chance and I work every day to be here,” Batshuayi, who has been linked with a move away from Chelsea during the transfer window, told reporters.
Following their League Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal, the FA Cup offers Chelsea their best chance of a domestic trophy this season.
By contrast, Premier League survival is the priority for a Newcastle side that are currently just one point above the relegation zone.
Newcastle manager Benitez, asked if he would be able to bring in a new striker before the transfer window shuts on Wednesday, replied: “I don’t think so but we will see. We will try to do something.”
Source
(NAN)
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
