Chelsea Football Update: May 2014

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Deschamps has restored confidence, unity to France

As a combative midfielder, Didier Deschamps won just about everything in a playing career that saw him captain France to the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship titles, and lead Marseille to Champions League victory in 1993. He took to club management with equal success, guiding Monaco to the European Cup final in 2004 - eliminating Real Madrid and Chelsea along the way - and in his first season as Marseille coach he won the league title in 2009-10, ending the club's 18-year wait. The 45-year-old Deschamps, who made 103 international appearances, took charge of the national team after Euro 2012, replacing former France teammate Laurent Blanc. With France struggling for form, he needed to wake the team up.

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Wednesday make Hutchinson bid

Sheffield Wednesday manager Stuart Gray has confirmed making an offer to sign Sam Hutchinson after his release by Chelsea.

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Cesc Fabregas can leave for £30m, Barcelona tell Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City

Exclusive: Arsenal have first option on Cesc Fabregas but could face competition from Chelsea and both Manchester clubs

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Cesc Fabregas can leave for £30m, Barcelona tell Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City

Exclusive: Arsenal have first option on Cesc Fabregas but could face competition from Chelsea and both Manchester clubs

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Spain include Diego Costa and Fernando Torres in World Cup 2014 squad

Chelsea's out-of-form striker Fernando Torres is included in Spain's 23-man World Cup squad along with Juan Mata and Diego Costa

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Soccer-Spain name 23-man World Cup squad

MADRID, May 31 (Reuters) - Spain coach Vicente del Bosque on Saturday named the following 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Brazil: Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Napoli), David De Gea (Manchester United) Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barcelona) Midfielders: Xavi (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Javi ...

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World Cup 2014: Brazil tactics and key questions the experts view

Luiz Felipe Scolari has made the hosts harder to beat, but they will rely heavily on the creativity of Oscar and Neymar, and the solidity of Thiago Silva and Chelseas David Luiz at the back Continue reading...

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Friday, May 30, 2014

Soccer-Del Bosque hints goalscorer Torres will make Spain squad

SEVILLE, Spain, May 31 (Reuters) - Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has hinted that Fernando Torres may have done enough to make his final World Cup squad after the striker's fine performance in Friday's 2-0 friendly win over Bolivia. Torres blew hot and cold with his club Chelsea last season but looked lively for the world and European champions against the South Americans in Seville. He capped his evening's work with a well-taken penalty six minutes into the second half before making way for Cesc Fabregas on the hour. "We have a lot of confidence in him and that's why he is here," Del Bosque, who is due to announce his final squad for the tournament in Brazil on Saturday, told a news conference.

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Del Bosque hints goalscorer Torres will make Spain squad

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has hinted that Fernando Torres may have done enough to make his final World Cup squad after the striker's fine performance in Friday's 2-0 friendly win over Bolivia. Torres blew hot and cold with his club Chelsea last season but looked lively for the world and European champions against the South Americans in Seville. He capped his evening's work with a well-taken penalty six minutes into the second half before making way for Cesc Fabregas on the hour. "We have a lot of confidence in him and that's why he is here," Del Bosque, who is due to announce his final squad for the tournament in Brazil on Saturday, told a news conference.

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Costa Rica hopes defense can hold up in World Cup

Despite qualifying for the World Cup with the best defensive record in CONCACAF, Costa Rica is still a heavy underdog to get out of a group containing England, Italy and Uruguay. Costa Rica will be appearing in its fourth World Cup, but merely picking up a point or two will be difficult against three teams near the top of the FIFA rankings with seven World Cup titles combined. Knocking one of the European giants out of the World Cup and matching its achievement of reaching the round of 16, which happened in 1990, would be a major accomplishment. Innovative Colombian coach Jorge Luis Pinto, who admires the meticulous planning of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, may have a tough job but's he's happy to match himself against some of the bigger nations.

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Atletico keen to keep star men

Filipe Luis' agent says Chelsea will struggle to prise the defender from Atletico Madrid in this summer's transfer window.

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