PFA Team of the year

Its been a fairly adequate evening as a Chelsea fan after the release of the PFA Team of the year. The team of the year is as follows;

De Gea (Manchester United)

Zabeleta (Manchester City) Vertonghen (Tottenham) Ferdinand (Manchester United) Baines (Everton)

Carrick (Manchester United) Mata (Chelsea) Bale (Tottenham)  Hazard (Chelsea)

Van Persie (Manchester United) Suarez (Liverpool)

Last season Chelsea had 0 players in the team of the year, and the season before Chelsea had 1 player in the team of the year, that was Ashley Cole. This is excellent news for Chelsea, more progress in becoming a stronger club in England, and also Hazard and Mata both were nominations for Young Player of the year awards. 

Suarez banned for 10 matches

After Sunday's disappointing actions given off by Luiz Suarez, today it has been announced that Suarez has been banned for 10 games, earlier in the week he was given a fine by Liverpool football club.  

A dramatic game, not for the right reasons!

Today's game against Liverpool are sparked so much controversy. The media are strongly focusing on the problems facing Liverpool as a result of today's game, but the real consequence of today's game on a Chelsea point of view is the fact Chelsea lost out on 3 valuable points.

Chelsea lead with a goal from Oscar in the 26th minute, but ex-Chelsea player Daniel Sturridge equalised for the home team in the 50th minute. But in the 57th minute Chelsea were given a penalty. Frank Lampard didn't score his 201st goal because he wasn't on the pitch, but Eden Hazard scored Chelsea's 2nd of the match. All seemed fine, but then Suarez bit Ivanovic, but he didn't get a red card, or a yellow, and Chelsea didn't even get a free kick. The referee added 5 minutes of added time, but in the 7th Liverpool equalised through Suarez, the man who shouldn't be on the pitch. The referee ended the game in the 99th minute of play.

There will be more on the Suarez bite to follow.

Chelsea travel to Liverpool

Tomorrow, Chelsea play Liverpool at Anfield, last season Chelsea played Liverpool 4 times, losing 3. The one Chelsea won was the most important on the 5th May 2012 at Wembley beating Liverpool 2-1 with goals from Drogba and Ramires, but Cech had to keep out a great shot from Caroll with an even better save. Chelsea lost in the league on the 8th May 2012 4-1 at Anfield, Chelsea will go into tomorrow's game hoping for better, much much better. 

Earlier this season Chelsea drew 1-1 at Anfield with goals from Terry and Suarez. The battle for the Champions League places could rest on tomorrows game. Liverpool are out of the running, but Tottenham and Arsenal are both equally still in a big shout. 

Fulham 0-3 Chelsea

It's another West London derby, the last game between Chelsea and Fulham was at Stamford Bridge ended in a 0-0 draw in Rafa Benitez's first game in charge of Chelsea. This time it was at Craven Cottage. Back in 1905, when Chelsea was founded, Stamford Bridge was offered to Fulham, but they couldn't afford the stadium and Chelsea was set up, intially Chelsea was going to be called Kensignton Football Club due to the location, however thankfully our team was called Chelsea Football Club, so there is history between the two sides. 

Chelsea started off better against Fulham, and then after the half an hour mark, David Luiz scored from over 30 yards out, in what must of been Chelsea goal of the season, another great goal in the month of April. Terry scored a further 2 goals for a comfortable win for Chelsea, and the blues leap frog fellow London side Arsenal into 3rd. The race is on between the 3 London elite, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea. 

Chelsea V Manchester City FA Cup Semi-final

Earlier today Chelsea traveled the short distance to North London to face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. In the previous semi-final, which was yesterday, Wigan beat fellow London side Milwall 2-0. So which shade of blue would win the battle, light blue or proper blue? 

The stage was set. It was a typical day out for Chelsea and Manchester City fans, both have been to the new stadium many times, but Chelsea have had the best success, since 2007 Chelsea have won 4 FA Cups and since 2008 Chelsea haven't lost a single FA Cup game in 90 minutes in a record run of 29 games, could Chelsea extend the lead to 30 games?

Well Chelsea had two major injuries, Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill. The first half started off really in Manchester City's favour, but towards the end Mata, Oscar and Hazard found rythem, but just before the break Nasri gave Manchester City the lead, delight to the 30,000+ plus fans occupying the West End of Wembley. 

After the break Aguero scored, but for the entire second half Chelsea were by far the better side. Having chances, possession ans skill. Benitez brought on Torres for Mikel and then Demba Ba scored an amazing goal, you could wisper Chelsea's goal of the season. However after this there were issues with the referee Chris Foy. Vicnent Kompany pulled off the shirt of Fernando Torres in the penalty box to which the referee waved play on. Then Aguero tackled David Luiz and then double footed him in the backside, to which the referee waved play on again, at times it looked like Manchester City's defense had been practicing with the England Rugby team. Sadly the game finished 2-1 to Manchester City, Chelsea's long run in the FA Cup ended at 29 games unbeaten, but still the record. 

Extensive preview of Chelsea V Manchester City

Tomorrow afternoon at 4pm (uk time) Chelsea will be playing at Wembley Stadium against Manchester City in the FA Cup Semi-final. Wembley Stadium has a capacity of 90,000 spectators, and is the second largest football stadium in Europe behind Camp Nou in Barcelona which has a capacity of 98,787. Wembley is famous for its "Wembley roar" and the Arch that goes over the stadium. The stadium includes 2,618 toilets, 35 miles of power cables are used inside Wembley and there is 400m's of escalators. 

Chelsea will be going to Wembley for the 2nd year in a row after playing twice last season in the FA Cup. Chelsea were due to play at Wembley in the community shield in August against Manchester City, but due to the Olympics the game was played at Villa Park. In that game Manchester City won 3-2. Chelsea scored first with a goal from Torres in the 40th minute, but just before half time, Ivanovic was sent off with a controversial red card. After the break Toure, Tevez and Nasri scored for Manchester City, Chelsea pulled one back with a goal from Bertrand, however it was to little to late, and Manchester City won. 

Chelsea have faced Manchester City twice this season in the Premier League. At Stamford Bridge the game finished 0-0 in Benitez's first game in charge of Chelsea. At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City won 2-0.

Chelsea have played in 43 semi-finals in the past, and tomorrow's game will be Chelsea's 44th. Last season, Chelsea played in 2 semi-finals, one in the Champions League and one in the FA Cup. In the FA Cup, Chelsea beat Tottenham 5-1 in a fantastic game of football, Chelsea kicked off the scoring in that game with a great goal from Drogba. Juan Mata then scored for Chelsea after half time, then Gareth Bale got a goal back for Tottenham, but Ramires then scored, Lampard scored from a fantastic free kick, and then Malouda finished the scoring and Chelsea won 5-1.

In the Champions League last season, Chelsea were drawn against Barcelona. Over 2 leg's, Chelsea had a big task. In the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea won 1-0 with a goal from Didier Drogba, Chelsea took that lead to Camp Nou and boy what a game. Busquets scored first for Barcelona, and then John Terry got a red card for a reckless challenge. Iniesta then scored for Barcelona and it looked over, but Ramires scored Chelsea's goal of the season to keep Chelsea in the battle. Late in the second half, Barcelona got a penalty and Messi stepped up, and Petr Cech saved the ball. Messi has never scored against Chelsea. Torres scored the final goal in the final moments of the game and sent Chelsea through to the final winning 3-2 on aggregate. 

Chelsea have played Manchester City just 3 times in the FA Cup, once in 1915, once in 1948 and once in 1971, Chelsea have only won one of those ties, and that was in 1915. Chelsea have played 146 games against Manchester City, Chelsea have won 61, Manchester City have won 48, and there have been 37 draws. 

In the other FA Cup semi-final, Wigan are facing Milwall. There is some injury news for Chelsea, Romeu is still injured, as is Ahsley Cole and Gary Cahill. Ryan Bertrand, who was ill for the Rubin Kazan game, trained yesterday and expected to be well for Tomorrow. Demba Ba, who wasn't available for the Rubin Kazan game due to being cup tied, trained well yesterday. 

Route to Wembley (Manchester City):

3rd round - Manchester City 3-0 Watford

4th round - Stoke City 0-1 Manchester City

5th round - Manchester City 4-0 Leeds United

6th round - Manchester City 5-0 Barnsley

Route to Wembley (Chelsea):

3rd round - Southampton 1-5 Chelsea

4th round - Brentford 2-2 Chelsea

4th round - Chelsea 4-0 Brentford (replay)

5th round - Middlesbrough 0-2 Chelsea

6th round - Manchester United 2-2 Chelsea

6th round - Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United (replay)