Chelsea under scrutiny as Mikel questions Maresca exit, Fofana opens up
A PSG player risks a Champions League ban ahead of a potential last-16 tie with Chelsea or Barcelona due to yellow cards carrying over until later rounds.
Micah Richards says Chelsea’s centre-backs are ‘really, really poor’ defending crosses after Zian Flemming’s header for Burnley. Rosenior blamed a missed marking assignment on the equaliser.
Dortmund will consider offers from €70m for Felix Nmecha. The 25-year-old, keen on the Premier League, is monitored by Chelsea and Manchester United, with BVB also seeking a contract extension.
Rio Ferdinand hails Jesse Derry as a ‘ridiculous’ talent alongside Max Dowman, Rio Ngumoha and JJ Gabriel. Derry cost £1m from Crystal Palace, debuted in the FA Cup and is earning chances under Liam Rosenior.
Omari Kellyman scores seven on loan at Cardiff and says his ‘end goal’ is Chelsea. The £19m signing outlines his No 10-from-right role and credits Reece James’ rehab support after hamstring issues.
Chelsea have six Premier League reds but rank fourth for yellows (62) and fifth for fouls per game (11.1). The article argues the issue is ill-discipline and decision-making, with dissent cited. Eight reds in all competitions.
Chelsea face a tough run in the top‑five race: Arsenal and Aston Villa away, Newcastle home, Everton away, Man City home. United moved three points clear after beating Everton.
Chelsea monitor Benfica’s Antonio Silva, who has an £84m clause and has 18 caps for Portugal. Jan Vertonghen called him ‘one of the best in the world’. Kim Min-jae and Murillo are also being tracked.
UEFA fines hit Aston Villa and Chelsea last year for financial breaches, and further Premier League punishments may follow after the amortisation ‘loophole’ was closed.
With Wesley Fofana banned, the piece urges a back five at Arsenal featuring Josh Acheampong as right centre-back, alongside Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile, citing his displays vs Manchester City and Liverpool.
Barcelona rejected a ‘very important’ Chelsea bid for Fermin Lopez, while also turning down a €250m agent-led offer for Lamine Yamal to keep homegrown players.
The piece says Liam Delap must improve hold‑up play and should study Nicolas Jackson’s link work with Cole Palmer. Jackson’s Bayern loan may not become permanent, so a summer return could aid Delap.
Ex-Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek confirms surgery after a serious injury for AC Milan, leaving his England hopes in doubt.
John Obi Mikel says replacing Enzo Maresca with Liam Rosenior was a ‘massive mistake’, arguing Chelsea lost identity and ‘went five steps backwards’ despite Rosenior’s 8-2-2 start and late collapses.
IFS take short‑term shirt space, but Simon Phillips says Red Bull and Oracle talks were advanced and could resume if Chelsea reach the Champions League, with a new front‑of‑shirt deal needed in summer.
Pundits praised Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, with Micah Richards touting him as England’s starting left‑back. The piece argues Chelsea erred agreeing a £35m obligation, with Hall now worth far more.
Chelsea loanee Kendry Paez suffers a ‘serious’ shoulder injury at River Plate, exiting in a sling and potentially risking Ecuador World Cup hopes. The youngster, who worked with Liam Rosenior at Strasbourg, faces a spell out.
John Terry says Reece James and Thiago Silva would ‘have been in with a shout’ to start over Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho in Chelsea’s 2004-05 backline, praising Silva’s longevity and James.
Ahead of Arsenal vs Chelsea, Bukayo Saka hobbled off vs Spurs, Ben White has a niggle, Kai Havertz remains out with a hamstring issue, while Max Dowman edges closer to a return.
Wesley Fofana admits his €80m fee weighed on him, says injuries shattered confidence. Sent off with Chelsea 1-0 up vs Burnley before a 1-1 draw, he accepts scrutiny and vows to ‘get back to form’.
WhoScored rate Joao Pedro the league’s most in‑form player over six games. He has five goals in that run and won penalties, though Chelsea drew 1-1 with Burnley despite his opener.
