Chelsea FC News

Gary Cahill expressed his delight at returning to action after playing the full 90 minutes against Swansea City and coming through the game unscathed.

The Blues defender hadn’t featured since being forced out of our 2-0 win against West Ham United in March with a knee problem, but after being an unused substitute in last week’s win in Basel, he was handed a start against Michael Laudrup’s side.

‘Obviously it’s good to be back,’ he said. ‘I watched a few games from the sidelines and it’s never great, so it’s good to be back and it was a good result which is the main thing.

‘I had a little operation, had the problem removed and then had some rehab, so it feels good, I’m happy with it and it’s great to be involved again.

‘I didn’t expect there to be too much wrong with the knee, but when I tried to make a comeback in training it kept breaking down and obviously there was a problem.

‘From when I had surgery to when I came back I think it was about three weeks, so it was a great turnaround.

‘When the surgeon saw me he said it would take around three weeks, give or take a few days, so he was bang on.’

Cahill couldn’t have timed his return any better, as the Blues attempt to secure automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League, while also chasing Europa League glory.

It’s a similar situation to the one the 27-year-old found himself in a year ago, when after sustaining an injury away in Barcelona he was forced to miss an important run of fixtures – including the FA Cup final – before returning to play in the Champions League final.

The win against Swansea, coupled with weekend draws for both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, leaves us occupying third place in the Premier League table, but with a tough run-in, Cahill admitted there is little margin for error.

‘Last season was a strong finish and I hope we can do the same this year,’ he said. ‘We know what we have to do between now and the end of the season and we have to start by putting in performances like we did against Swansea and getting the wins.

‘We’re in a good position but it’s dangerous because we’ve got some great teams coming up in Spurs, Manchester United and Everton, who people tend to forget about but they’re not far away.

‘It’s what we need to do. That’s our target between now and the end of the season. Obviously we’ve got the cup as well so it needs a big push from the players over an important few games.

‘It’s what the lads have come to expect at this club, it’s nothing different to what we’re used to and the demands that are on us. It is in our hands, it will be difficult because we’re up against some good teams but we’re in a good position at this moment in time.’

Rafael Benitez’s decision to deploy Cahill alongside John Terry on Sunday allowed David Luiz to play, like he did in Basel, in a more advanced position.

It’s a role the Brazilian has carried out at times this season, and one which Cahill believes he has performed admirably.

‘He’s great in that position because mentally he’s defensive, even though he has attributes to go forward. It’s great for us because he sniffs out a bit of danger and never strays too far, so it works well and it’s good we can use him there if need be.

‘He’s played enough there this year so he’s really learning the position.’

Next up for the Blues in the Premier League is a trip to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford, but Cahill feels the fact our opponents have already been crowned champions will only serve to make the game a tougher test.

‘They’ll play without any pressure on them and sometimes that’s dangerous, especially with very good players,’ he explained.

‘They’ve worked hard this year and got their rewards already, but for us, we’ve got a lot of work to do and it’s another game that’s going to be very tough.’

As he considers this week’s Europa League return leg in his latest column, former Chelsea star Pat Nevin discusses the mentality of top-level players…

No let up again for yet another week. With Chelsea likely to play 69 games this season, a record for any Premier League club, it just never seems to stop.

This was however a great week with an away victory at Basel to set us up for the second leg rather nicely; a comfortable win against Swansea in the league while Spurs and Arsenal both slipped up in the race for the top four; and of course Frank scoring yet again as he edges towards the historic scoring record.

Football is all about timing and I think we all hope that Lamps’ timing is as good as ever, in that he will equal and then beat the scoring record in an important game. Actually if and when it does happen this season it will be an important game because every single one is crucial from here on in.

The focus is however back on to the Europa League this week and the visit of Basel, which although not easy should be doable for the team if the attitude is right. Sometimes when you support a team it isn’t easy to get a clear perspective, so now and again it is worth viewing it from the oppositions’ point of view.

For Basel they know they need to come to Stamford Bridge and score at least two goals. It should clear their minds and simplify their manager’s tactics, but if they are too gung-ho they could easily get torn apart on the break. They also have the not so minor problem that their main centre back Dragovic is now suspended. Once again Chelsea’s chief enemy is complacency and maybe a little tiredness thrown in. A professional job should do the trick and we can look forward to yet another jaunt over the channel for a major European final.

As I type the phrase ‘major European final’, I can sense the odd groan from some, but I have never changed my thought on this. England is the only country in Europe that can sometimes be sniffy, bordering on arrogant, about the second European trophy. No it isn’t the Champions League but then again it is hardly the Sherpa Van Trophy either.

We were gutted by losing out in the Capital One Cup, but I would definitely choose the second European trophy over the second domestic one every time. On top of all that I bet the players, Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres in particular with their hunt for specific goal tallies, are desperate to do as well as possible.

Try remembering how some of the players, David Luiz in particular I recall, were devastated after losing the World Club final against Corinthians. Players like to win things and they have their own personal reasons for bagging particular pots. In South America they put huge importance on the one that got away over in Japan, hence David Luiz’s dejection. There are another couple of reasons that are important. First, great and even good players are winners through and through. It doesn’t matter that anyone else might not have the same level of desire, they just get addicted to winning and celebrating, it really is one of the addictions worth having.

The other important point is that come the end of your career those winners’ medals are remembered acutely and even the financial bonus, however large it might be, fades in the memory.

So expect another committed performance and hopefully this time we will not have to deal with some more rather questionable refereeing decisions. Cesar Azpilicueta must feel as if he is being targeted after the Europa League officials have twice now given ridiculous penalties against him. You can’t help casting your mind back to other semi-finals that have been similarly blighted; Barcelona at the Bridge still grates with most of us I suspect.

I just hope there aren’t quite as many crucial last minute/last second twists and turns from here on in. The late goal from Suarez last week was torture. Then David Luiz hammering in a late one in Basel was followed this week by Spurs sneaking a lucky late one at Wigan. It is not good for the heart, but then again it has added to the excitement I suppose.

While talking about so many things going on I forgot to congratulate the two Chelsea players who managed to get voted into the running for the PFA Player of the Year awards.

Juan Mata and Eden Hazard have been phenomenal in bursts and at various points both have looked like the best in the league, but generally it was simply a huge honour for these two young men even to get a mention in what has been a difficult season. They certainly deserved to be considered as did Eden for the Young Player award obviously. I am not forgetting the other Chelsea Belgian, Romelu Lukaku, who rightly got plenty of votes as well.

All three are just at the start of what will hopefully be long careers associated with Chelsea and I will not be surprised if one or more eventually gets the top prize one day.

I personally would have been considering another Chelsea player in the voting, David Luiz. I think he has been a revelation wherever he has played, which is a pretty good link because he was the answer to last week’s quiz question. Yes it was the becurled one who was born in Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil, but then again most of you knew that, as for the first time ever I think in one of my quizzes, every single entry was correct. I am beginning to suspect that some of you might actually be googling the answers instead of guessing! As ever there is only one winner and this week it is Björn Larski from Berlin.

So a bit tougher this week I reckon, it could hardly be any easier I suppose. To stand a chance of being the lucky, randomly drawn winner of a Champions League DVD signed by one of the players, could you tell me what the score will be against Manchester United on Sunday and who you think will be first goal scorer? I bet not everyone gets that right this week!! Answers as ever to me at pat.nevin@chelseafc.com

– Some tickets for Thursday’s home game v Basel are still on general sale.

Summary
The FA Youth Cup-holders were beaten by a last-minute penalty at Carrow Road in the first leg of this season’s final. Alex Davey was ruled to have bundled over Joshua Murphy as the game ticked towards its conclusion and Norwich City skipper Cameron McGeehan slammed the penalty home, giving the hosts a lead heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had chances to score – especially in the first half with ball cleared off the line twice – and manager Adi Viveash will be looking for his team to be more ruthless in front of goal in a fortnight’s time.

Team news
Viveash made one change from the side that beat Liverpool 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the semi-finals, with Charlie Colkett replacing John Swift in midfield. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and captain Lewis Baker continued in the middle, while Islam Feruz led the line up front supported by Alex Kiwomya and Jeremie Boga from the flanks.

The back five remained unchanged with Nathan Aké and Alex Davey partnering one another at centre back, Ola Aina and Kevin Wright starting at full back and Mitchell Beeney between the sticks.

Norwich made one change from the side that defeated Nottingham Forest on penalties in their semi-final, with Henry Randall coming into the starting 11.

First half
In front of 21,995 fans in attendance at Carrow Road it was the Cup holders who started in the ascendancy in the Norfolk evening sunshine. Boga found an opening down the left channel inside the first minute after a neat ball through by Colkett, though the hosts’ Kyle McFadden read the threat and intercepted well.

Islam Feruz then had his first sight at goal after getting in behind, though the Scotland Under-21 international was eventually adjudged offside by the linesman and his effort went just the wrong side of William Britt’s near post.

The home fans finally had something to shout about as Jacob Murphy raced Aké and went down in the box under the Dutch defender’s soft challenge, however referee Neil Swarbrick wasn’t interested in the appeals from Murphy or the Carrow Road crowd.

The visitors were enjoying a good spell of possession as the half reached its midway point and Feruz was providing the biggest threat, firing off-target twice from Kiwomya deliveries from the right after the speedy wideman had beaten Wyatt, before Baker managed to find some space just outside the penalty area and shot over the bar.

However the hosts were still proving a threat themselves and Josh Murphy was causing Aina problems down the Norwich left, outmuscling the full-back and finding a delivery that just evaded the lurking Carlton Morris in the six-yard box.

Down the opposite flank Norman beat Kevin Wright for pace before sending a dangerous cross towards Morris, though Aina did well in the air to avert the danger and clear to safety.

A great opportunity then fell to Aké after Boga had won a free-kick on the break for the visitors. Baker provided the delivery and found the centre-back at the far post, whose first effort was saved well by Britt before Norman hacked the rebound effort off the line.

The influential Colkett then fashioned a chance for himself that he dragged just wide, before the Murphy twins were involved for Norwich, with Morris forcing Aké into a smart block after a neat touch by Josh Murphy and then Jacob Murphy firing just past Beeney’s far post.

The game petered into a midfield battle as the half ticked towards its end, though there was time in the final minute for a golden chance for the visitors. Feruz met Colkett’s driven corner with a far-post header that he saw nodded off the line by King, before the striker then prodded wide from close range.

Second half
There were no changes from either side at the interval and the second half began much as the first had played out, with the visitors largely in control of possession and probing in attack, while Norwich continued to threaten on the break. Baker saw an inswinging free-kick palmed over by Britt in the early minutes of the half before Harry Toffolo was penalised while trying to engineer an acrobatic overhead kick inside the box.

Feruz and Loftus-Cheek then had efforts from the edge of the box well blocked by City skipper McGeehan and Toffolo respectively, before at the other end Morris sent a curling shot just over the bar when positioned promisingly.

Viveash made his first change of the evening just before the hour mark, replacing Colkett with John Swift, scorer of the Blues’ opening goal in the semi-final second-leg win over Liverpool, in a like-for-like midfield swap.

There was a chance for Jacob Murphy down the right as the tricky winger worked some space before skewing his shot just wide, an outcome that was becoming a regular occurrence for both sides with their final product. As the half progressed chances were becoming more scarce as nerves played their part, though both teams were undoubtedly pushing for a first-leg advantage.

Kiwomya embarked on a bursting run from deep, skipping past a few challenges as he moved towards goal, though another good block prevented him threatening Britt’s goal. Shortly afterwards Viveash made his second change, replacing Feruz with Under-18 debutant Charly Musonda.

The younger brother of Under-21 regulars Tika and Lamisha was playing his first competitive game for the club and joined the swelling ranks of schoolboys in Viveash’s squad. He started from the left flank, with Kiwomya moving infield as the central striker and Boga supporting from the right, and saw an early tame effort drag just past the far post.

Norwich’s late opportunities were mainly created on the break and Jacob Murphy just overhit a through pass towards Young as the hosts broke forward on the counter-attack. Boga then went on a mazy run inside the Norwich box but his delivery was headed to safety as Kiwomya and Musonda waited.

That looked to have settled the game as a draw, however there was still time for some late drama as the hosts were awarded a penalty in stoppage time. Davey was adjudged to have brought down Josh Murphy as the winger skipped past him and the referee pointed to the spot. Captain McGeehan stepped up under the pressure and slammed the spot-kick into the roof of Beeney’s net to give Norwich a dramatic late winner.

The second leg takes place at Stamford Bridge on Monday 13 May, kick-off 7.45pm.

Tickets must be bought in advance.

Chelsea: Mitchell Beeney; Ola Aina, Alex Davey, Nathan Aké, Kevin Wright; Lewis Baker (c), Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Charlie Colkett (John Swift 57); Alex Kiwomya, Jeremie Boga, Islam Feruz (Charly Musonda 72)
Unused substitutes: Ben Killip, Dion Conroy, Fankaty Dabo.

Norwich: William Britt; Cameron Norman, Ben Wyatt, Cameron McGeehan (c), Kyle McFadden; Harry Toffolo, Henry Randall, Cameron King (Rod Young 75); Jacob Murphy, Joshua Murphy, Carlton Morris.
Unused substitutes: Tyler Reading, Kevin Lokko, Harvey Hodd, Reece Brown.

Frank Lampard reflected on a potentially huge win after coming off the bench against Swansea City to play a pivotal role in our 2-0 victory.

The Stamford Bridge favourite was given a wonderful ovation from the home supporters when he was introduced to the action in the 24^th minute, replacing the injured Ramires, and two minutes before half-time he supplied the pass from which Oscar opened the scoring.

A minute later it was Lampard himself who doubled our lead, converting from the penalty spot after Juan Mata had been brought down, and he was delighted to pick up all three points.

‘Swansea are a good team but they haven’t got as much to play for as we have,’ he said. ‘Our attitude before the game was very determined, we were a little bit slow at the start of the game, but there was a feeling within the squad that we needed to win, especially with the games we have coming up, and we did the job.

‘I was quite cold coming on, I didn’t expect to come on so early, but the manager wanted to up the tempo and I thought all the players did that.

‘We played a bit higher up the pitch, had a bit more energy about us and started winning the ball back from Swansea. We stopped them playing out from the back casually, got on top of them and the goals came.’

Lampard’s 44^th-minute penalty was his 201^st goal for the club, leaving him only one away from equalling Bobby Tambling’s club record.

Tambling watched the game from the directors’ box before being introduced to the crowd at half-time, and Lampard was delighted to see his strike hit the back of the net in front of the man whose record he is closing in on.

‘I missed the last one against Manchester City, so you think about it a bit more, but I felt I’d score because of the momentum of coming on when the game started to change,’ said the Blues midfielder.

‘Bobby’s a gentleman. I saw him before and after the game, and you couldn’t meet a nicer person in football.

‘He’s been in poor health recently but it was great he could come across from Ireland for the game and I’m just very proud to be alongside a name like his in football terms, but also as a bloke.

‘He’s been supporting me since I got in the 100s, never mind the 200-mark, but they’re a great family, and as an ex-player there’s been no bad feeling at all. He’s been behind me to do it and he’s a pleasure to be around.’

It was a day of landmarks for Lampard, with the game his 400th Premier League appearance, while his goal ensured he becomes only the second player – alongside Andy Cole – to score against 38 different teams in the Premier League.

The 34-year-old was understandably delighted to reach two personal milestones, but his sole aim remains firmly fixed on ensuring we are playing against Europe’s best next season.

‘What’s more important is for the club to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and we’ve also got a Europa League final to try to get to and win,’ explained Lampard.

‘That’s why today was crucial, and so is Manchester United next week. If we can keep our rhythm with the way we’re playing and stay positive, the big games that are coming we need to try and win.

‘If we don’t it will go to the wire, but I believe we’ve got the strong-minded players to go and do it.’

– Watch Chelsea TV for an exclusive interview with Frank Lampard, Bobby Tambling and Kerry Dixon together.

Three points achieved in stylish fashion ensured a pleasant Sunday afternoon for Rafael Benitez.

The manager saw his side record an important victory at home to Swansea courtesy of goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard, with some excellent attacking play leaving a smile across the Spaniard’s face.

On the result and performance

‘Always to win is good,’ he said. ‘To score two goals and a clean sheet at this stage of the season with so many games and to play very good football in attack with our combinations, I am really pleased.

‘We could have scored a third and finished the game but we didn’t. You could see sometimes Swansea had a threat between the lines but to get three points and do it in this way we have to be really pleased.

‘We have to go to the last game, so we have to do our job, win our games, manage the squad and if we can play the attacking football we did especially in the second half I think we will score goals and be okay.

‘The team has to defend as a unit. We have to be compact, protect each other and then we are defending well. Sometimes when they go forward it’s not easy for them to stay together but if we create chances teams will be scared of us.’

On Lampard, who by scoring his 201st Chelsea goal, moves one behind record goalscorer Bobby Tambling

‘Frank is a great player. I’m really pleased because he scored another goal. Hopefully he can score five before the end of the season and he will be much happier. He was important for us; he is a good player and has quality when you control possession.

‘I was talking with him before the game. He is a great professional and really focused. He would like to play more games but understands the main thing is the team.’

On Ramires, who left the game injured on 24 minutes

‘Ramires has a dead leg but I think he will be fine for Thursday.’

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup felt his side had played well, but lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

‘In five crazy minutes two goals changed completely the game,’ said the Dane. ‘We played well until the last third. The last pass, the last finish needs a little more quality. Sometimes that’s the difference against teams like Chelsea.

‘Against Chelsea we have to be at our best and they need some not at their best. Otherwise you don’t have a chance. For the first goal we lost the ball and five seconds later it was in.’