Far too much happens in a week, so come and join us as we recount and recap the major Chelsea FC stories that have occurred in the last seven days.
Week to week this post will be to try and condense the massive news machine that Chelsea FC has become. With weekly transfer rumors, players on loan and match reaction, the intent will be to recap the main headlines you need to know.
1. Chelsea FC fall 1-0 to Swansea City
Chelsea turned in another forgettable performance at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday. The game saw Chelsea control sixty-one percent of the possession, win nine corners, but only muster a mere two shots on goal. Guus Hiddink started a somewhat experimental lineup again giving Matt Miazga his second straight start; Alexandre Pato also got his first start in a Blues shirt. Ultimately Chelsea gave up a goal to Gylfi Sigurdsson in a 25th minute-strike after a poor clearance. For more on the game you can read game reactions here, and why Hiddink decided to go with Asmir Begovic here.
2. Conte’s appointment bring transfer rumors galore
Antonio Conte was finally announced as Chelsea’s new manager this past week. With his appointment transfer rumors are now flying. Reports have gone in both directions with players rumored to be on the way out, along with those coming in.
Sergio Ramos is the most recent of the rumors to surface, with the defender pegged as Branislav Ivanovic’s replacement. Where is Ivanovic going you ask? Well he would currently be headed to Roma. Chelsea and the Italian club have been in talks recently in attempts to secure the transfers of Radja Nainggolan and Greek defender Kostas Manolas.
The catch with the current Roma talks is that Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks to be heading to Italy along with Ivanovic. With the asking price being steep for both Nainggolan and Manolas, the Englishman could be used as a paperweight to push the transfer through.
Two Belgian internationals also seem to be out the door with Eden Hazard reportedly being granted his transfer and shockingly Thibaut Courtois having a £60 million fee placed on his head.
(Other players going in and out are Ivan Perisic, Miralem Pjanic, Fraser Forester and Romelu Lukaku.)
3. What is Antonio Conte facing taking the reins at Stamford Bridge?
With the not so shocking news of Antonio Conte’s next destination being London, the speculation begins on how will he revitalize the 2014/2015 champions. There is no European competition to attract transfer targets this summer, and numerous players wanting out the task looms large for the Italian. Here at the Pride of London our staff writer Ejoh Celestine is chronicling what Conte has inherited in Part 1 and Part 2 of Chelsea FC and Antonio Conte: The Way Forward so go check out the detailed report on the club’s current state.
4. Loan Watch
- Jamal Blackman (GK)- Played 90′ for Ostersunds FK in Sweden winning 2:1
- Andreas Christensen (CB)- Played 90′ for Gladbach in Germany losing 0:1
- Papy Djilobodji (CB)- Suspended due by league this week
- Michael Hector (CB)- On the bench for Reading in the Championship in 0:2 loss
- Kenneth Omeruo (CB)- Played 90′ for Kasimpasa in Turkey winning 1:0
- Nathan Ake (LB)- Not in squad vs. Everton
- Tomas Kalas (RB)- On the bench for Middlesbrough in the Championship
- Todd Kane (RB) – Scored and played 90′ for NEC Nijmegen against FC Utrecht
- Nathaniel Chalobah (CDM)- Played 11′ for Napoli in Italy winning 3:0
- Mario Pasalic (CDM)- Injured for AS Monaco in France
- Marco van Ginkel (CM)- Played 90′ for PSV in Holland scoring a goal in a 2:0 win
- Marko Marin (RW)- Played 28′ for Trabzonspor in Turkey drawing 1:1
- Lucas Piazon (RW)- Played 45′ for Reading in a 0:2 loss
- Victor Moses (Winger)- On the bench for West Ham United in 3:3 draw
- Christian Atsu (Winger)- Played 23′ for Malaga CF in Spain drawing 0:0
- Izzy Brown (LW)- Injured for Vitesse Arnhem in Holland
- Juan Cuadrado (RM)- Played 9′ for Juventus in Italy winning 2:1
- Patrick Bamford (CF)- Played 24′ for Norwich City in 0:1 loss
- Dominic Solanke (CF)- Played 90′ for Vitesse Arnhem in Holland drawing 2:2
- Lewis Baker (AM)- Played 90′ for Vitesse Arnhem in Holland assisting on 1 goal in a 2:2 draw
- Charly Musonda (LW)- Played 90′ for Real Betis in Spain winning 1:0
Next: Antonio Conte to be faced with Chelsea FC goalkeeping crisis
That’s was your weekly fix! The first-team face Manchester City this Saturday as they look to throw a spanner in the works of City’s Champions League qualification push. As always, check in with the Pride of London as we will keep you abreast of all things CFC.