Benitez: Ugly scenes won't ruin Lampard's milestone
The nasty sights sparked by Frank Lampard's 200th goal for Chelsea should not overshadow the midfielder's landmark achievement, says Rafael Benitez.
The nasty sights sparked by Frank Lampard's 200th goal for Chelsea should not overshadow the midfielder's landmark achievement, says Rafael Benitez.
Jon Walters scored two headed own goals and missed a late penalty as Chelsea won 4-0 at Stoke City to reclaim third place in the Premier League.
Hawk-Eye and Goalref execs are hoping for a Frank Lampard-like "ghost goal" at the Club World Cup, where the goal-line technologies are debuting.
André Villas-Boas has never convinced at Chelsea, but the bigger mistakes have been made by an owner who has made the next manager's job even harder.
David Luiz's apparent criticism of teammate Frank Lampard this week has done nothing to dispel the view that Chelsea are currently a club in turmoil.
Frank Lampard's penalty secured a victory for Chelsea over Premier League leaders Manchester City, which has now blown open the title race.
Frank Lampard scored a hat-trick as Chelsea reminded their Manchester title rivals that they too could score for fun with a 5-1 thumping.
Frank Lampard refuses to concede the title race but Chelsea's more realistic target against Birmingham on Tuesday is to finish in second spot.
Two goals from Frank Lampard and another from John Terry gave Chelsea a 3-1 win at Blackpool on Monday.
Fabio Capello was back in charge of England's Soccer World Cup campaign on Monday after a player revolt launched by John Terry fizzled out.
Chelsea leapfrogged champions Manchester United into top spot in the English Premiership with a 5-0 rout of Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Manchester United were crowned kings of Europe for the third time on Wednesday when they beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a breathless all-English Champions League final had finished 1-1 after extra time. United's 37-year-old goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar, saved the decisive spot kick from substitute Nicolas Anelka.
Manchester United has another English title and Cristiano Ronaldo. Chelsea has a huge, talented squad and the wealth of owner Roman Abramovich. There is no underdog in this Champions League final as two English clubs make history by going head to head in Moscow.
Didier Drogba sent Chelsea to their first Champions League final and got revenge on Rafa Benitez as his double strike clinched a 3-2 win against Liverpool in Wednesday's semifinal second leg. Drogba had given Chelsea the lead in the first half at Stamford Bridge before Fernando Torres sent the tie into extra-time.
Fernando Torres has been living a dream in the Champions League this season but the Liverpool striker wants one more fairy tale in his side's semifinal second leg against Chelsea on Wednesday. Torres has made a big impact in his first Champions League campaign and his goals have been instrumental in Liverpool's march to the brink of a third final in four seasons.
Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-1 in a dramatic match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to pull level at the top of the Premier League and keep alive their hopes of snatching the title from United's grasp. Michael Ballack was Chelsea's scoring hero, deciding the game with an 86th-minute penalty after heading the home side ahead at the end of the first half.
Saturday's showdown between Chelsea and Manchester United could well decide who wins the English Premiership title. It could also be a rehearsal for the Champions League final. United hold a three-point lead over the Blues in the league title race with two more matches to follow.
Avram Grant believes Chelsea are in pole position to reach their first Champions League final after his side escaped with a fortunate 1-1 draw in the semifinal first leg against Liverpool. All his team have to do is maintain their impressive record at Stamford Bridge, where they are unbeaten for over two years, in next Wednesday's second leg to reach May's Moscow showpiece.
The latest chapter in Liverpool and Chelsea's seemingly never-ending European saga will be written on Tuesday when hostilities resume in the Champions League for the fourth successive season. Including domestic matches, it will be the 19th time the two clubs have faced each other in the last four seasons.
Chelsea boss Avram Grant refused to concede defeat to Manchester United in the English Premier League title race, insisting his players still believed they could win it. He admitted the Blues simply had to win Thursday's clash at fifth-placed Everton, otherwise United could seal the title.