Chelsea move seven points ahead of City

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><h2 style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"><br /></h2><h2 style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"><img src="http://soccerblitz.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/hazard-620x400.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" />Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points after seeing off an Aston Villa team who finally ended their Premier League goal drought after 11 hours.</h2><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With nearest rivals Manchester City held at home by Hull, Branislav Ivanovic’s winner secured a vital victory for the leaders.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Villa, who had not scored in the league since 20 December, responded well after falling behind to Eden Hazard’s early goal and levelled through Jores Okore’s header at the start of the second half.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But Ivanovic restored the Blues’ advantage after 66 minutes and they went on to secure Jose Mourinho’s first win at Villa Park at the sixth attempt.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The spirit Villa showed in defeat will be scant consolation for Paul Lambert’s struggling side, whose winless run now stands at nine league games, but it appeared they were heading for a far worse defeat when Hazard opened the scoring after eight minutes.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That goal was scored far too easily from Villa’s point of view, with their defence being carved apart as Oscar escaped down the right and fed Willian, who found Hazard running into the area to slot home.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Villa’s main tactic in Lambert’s 100th league game in charge seemed to be to fire a succession of crosses into the box, despite that fact their out-of-form target man Christian Benteke was dropped to the bench and Gabriel Agbonlahor did not offer much of an aerial threat in his place.<br />Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois gave them hope when he flapped at a couple of deliveries but Chelsea remained comfortable and even created further chances to extend their lead.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That all changed after half-time, when Villa finally found a way to hurt Mourinho’s men.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carles Gil had already shown some neat touches before slipping past Oscar on the by-line and lifting in a perfect pass for Okore to power home a downward header.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The goal brought wild celebrations from Villa’s players and fans – with Okore booked for running into a crowd, who had not seen a league goal from their side since 20 December.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ironic chants of “we score when we want” followed from the home supporters and with Chelsea pegged back in their own half, for a few minutes it least, it appeared more might follow.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Not for the first time this season, the Blues found themselves in a battle, but they responded in perfect fashion.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mourinho’s men held firm at the back and began to build their own spell of pressure. Willian sent two shots skidding narrowly wide but the waves of Chelsea attacks were becoming relentless.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Villa cracked after 66 minutes, when they failed to deal with Cesar Azpilicueta’s run and cross into the area.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ball broke for Ivanovic on the edge of the box, who fizzed an unstoppable first-time shot into the top corner.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tweet</div><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=173511999379139&xfbml=1"></script><fb:like expr:share_url="data:post.url" font="" send="false" show_faces="true" width="450"></fb:like>

Chelsea move seven points ahead of City

Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points after seeing off an Aston Villa team who finally ended their Premier Lea...

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Aston Villa v Chelsea Lineups

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><img src="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/homepage/news/boilerplate-config/blogs/boilerplate---guest-fan-blog/guest-fan-blog/excitement-building/_jcr_content.autoteaser.jpeg" /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="summary-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Juan Cuadrado is named among the substitutes for the first time with <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/gary-cahill.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Gary Cahill</a> and <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/didier-drogba.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Didier Drogba</a> returning to the starting line-up.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Kurt Zouma</a> and Loic Remy make way in an otherwise unchanged side.<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a> has recovered from the injury that forced him off against Man City and takes his place in a familiar attacking midfield trio.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Ramires CONTINUES in central midfield in the absence of <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesc-fabregas.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Cesc Fabregas</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">For Villa, there is one change in each of the defence, midfield and attack, with Aly Cissokho, Ashley Westwood and Gabby Agbonlahor coming in. Former Chelsea pair Joe Cole and Scott Sinclair are on the bench.  </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Courtois;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/gary-cahill.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Cahill</a>, Terry (c),<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesar-azpilicueta.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Azpilicueta</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ramires</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Matic</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a>, Oscar, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/didier-drogba.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Drogba</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Subs:<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/petr-cech.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Cech</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Zouma</a>, Ake,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-mikel-obi.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Mikel</a>, Loftus-Cheek, Cuadrado, Remy.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Villa are expected to line up in the following 4-3-3 formation:</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Guzan: Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho; Westwood, Delph, Cleverley; Gil, Agbonlahor (c). Weimann.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Subs: Given, Vlaar, Bacuna, Sinclair, Cole, Sanchez, Benteke.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The referee is Neil Swarbrick. </div><br />Chelseafc.com<br /><a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><a class="wa_btn wa_btn_s" data-href="" data-text="Take a look at this awesome website:" href="whatsapp://send" style="display: none;">Share</a><br /><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=173511999379139&xfbml=1"></script><fb:like expr:share_url="data:post.url" font="" send="false" show_faces="true" width="450"></fb:like>

Aston Villa v Chelsea Lineups

Juan Cuadrado is named among the substitutes for the first time with  Gary Cahill  and  Didier Drogba  returning to the starting line-up. Ku...

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Vote for Goal of the Month (Chelsea)

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Eden Hazard</a>’s strike at Tottenham starts the selection, while <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/diego-costa.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Diego Costa</a>’s goal against Newcastle also makes the cut.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">The second of Oscar’s brace in our 5-0 win at Swansea completes the first team nominations, and youngster Kasey Palmer has two goals available for selection.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Full list of goals:</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">A: <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Eden Hazard</a> v Tottenham Hotspur<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />B: <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/diego-costa.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Diego Costa</a> v Newcastle<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />C: Kasey Palmer v Porto Under-21s<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />D: Oscar v Swansea City<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />E: Kasey Palmer v West Ham United Under-21s</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Entry is open until the end of this month and the prize is a Chelsea shirt signed by the first team player of your choice.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">The goal that won last month's vote was <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Eden Hazard</a>'s away at Southampton. The prize winner was Callum Greenslade. </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a adhocenable="false" href="http://www.chelseafc.com/videos/goal-of-the-month.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click to register your vote for Goal of the Month</a></div>

Vote for Goal of the Month (Chelsea)

Eden Hazard ’s strike at Tottenham starts the selection, while  Diego Costa ’s goal against Newcastle also makes the cut. The second of Osca...

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Chelsea Squad lists announced

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="summary-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Following the closing of the mid-season transfer window yesterday, fresh squad lists have been submitted for the Barclays Premier League and Champions League.</span></div><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><b style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box;">THE PREMIER LEAGUE SQUAD NUMBER LIST IS</b></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">1.            Petr Cech</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">2.            Branislav Ivanovic</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">3.            Filipe Luis</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">4.            Cesc Fabregas</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">7.            Ramires</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">8.            Oscar      </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">10.          Eden Hazard</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">11.          Didier Drogba</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">12.          John Mikel Obi</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">13.          Thibaut Courtois                                              </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">18.          Loic Remy           </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">19.          Diego Costa</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">21.          Nemanja Matic</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">22.          Willian</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">23.          Juan Cuadrado</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">24.          Gary Cahill</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">26.          John Terry</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">28.          Cesar Azpilicueta                                                             </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Under-21 Players                                            </b></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">5.            Kurt Zouma</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">6.            Nathan Ake</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">31.          Andreas Christensen</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">32.          Jeremie Boga</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">33.          Mitchell Beeney</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">35.          Dominic Solanke</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">36.          Ruben Loftus-Cheek</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">37.          Isaiah Brown</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">46.          Jamal Blackman</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /></div><h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0e1e7d; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-transform: uppercase;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SQUAD NUMBERS LIST</b></h3><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">1.            Petr Cech</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">2.            Branislav Ivanovic</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">3.            Filipe Luis</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">4.            Cesc Fabregas</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">5.            Kurt Zouma</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">7.            Ramires</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">8.            Oscar</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">10.          Eden Hazard</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">11.          Didier Drogba</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">12.          John Mikel Obi</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">13.          Thibaut Courtois              </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">18.          Loic Remy           </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">19.          Diego Costa</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">21.          Nemanja Matic</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">22.          Willian</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">23.          Juan Cuadrado</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">24.          Gary Cahill</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">26.          John Terry</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">28.          Cesar Azpilicueta</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">37.          Isaiah Brown</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">B List</b></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">6.       Nathan Ake</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">31.     Andreas Christensen</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">32.     Jeremie Boga</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">33.     Mitchell Beeney</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">35.     Dominic Solanke</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">36.     Ruben Loftus-Cheek</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">47.     Jamal Blackman</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /></div>

Chelsea Squad lists announced

Following the closing of the mid-season transfer window yesterday, fresh squad lists have been submitted for the Barclays Premier League and...

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Bertrand makes Southampton switch permanent

<img src="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/homepage/news/boilerplate-config/latest-news/2015/02/bertrand-makes-southampton-switch-permanent.img.png" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Ryan Bertrand has today completed a permanent transfer to Southampton.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The 25-year-old full-back initially joined the Saints on loan last summer, and has played regularly with the south coast club, where he has made 27 appearances so far.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Bertrand, a Chelsea Academy product, made his debut in April 2011 and just over a year later lifted the Champions League on his first European outing for the club. He remains the only player ever to make his European bow in the final of the competition.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">In total, Bertrand made 57 Chelsea appearances, scoring two goals.</span>

Bertrand makes Southampton switch permanent

Ryan Bertrand has today completed a permanent transfer to Southampton. The 25-year-old full-back initially joined the Saints on loan last su...

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Salah completes Fiorentina loan

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="summary-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="summary-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><img src="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/homepage/news/boilerplate-config/latest-news/2015/02/salah-completed-fiorentina-loan.img.png" style="background-color: transparent;" /><span style="color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px;">Mohamed Salah has today joined Fiorentina on loan until the end of the season.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">The 22-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from FC Basel last January, making his debut a month later and going on to open his goalscoring account in the 6-0 win over Arsenal in March.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">His involvement has been limited this season and largely from the substitutes’ bench.</div>

Salah completes Fiorentina loan

Mohamed Salah has today joined Fiorentina on loan until the end of the season. The 22-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from FC Basel last J...

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Official: Wolfsburg signs Schurrle from Chelsea

<div class="leading" style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: RobotoMedium, Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-stretch: normal; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-top: 0.6em;"></div><div style="float: left; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 22px; max-width: 100%; width: 628px;"><a href="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i/?img=/media/motion/ESPNi/2015/0202/int_150202_INET_Janusz_on_Schurrle/int_150202_INET_Janusz_on_Schurrle.jpg&w=738&site=espnfc" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i/?img=/media/motion/ESPNi/2015/0202/int_150202_INET_Janusz_on_Schurrle/int_150202_INET_Janusz_on_Schurrle.jpg&w=738&site=espnfc" style="font-size: 16px;" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7841646797722552770" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7841646797722552770" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b></b><br /><h2><b>Wolfsburg - VfL Wolfsburg have completed the signing of 2014 World Cup winner Andre Schürrle from English Premier League giants Chelsea FC.<a name="more"></a></b></h2></div><div style="float: left; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 22px; max-width: 100%; width: 628px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7841646797722552770" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7841646797722552770" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The 24-year-old former Bayer 04 Leverkusen forward, who was part of Joachim Löw's squad at last summer's tournament in Brazil, put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half year contract on Monday afternoon, tying him to the club until June 2019.</div><h2 class="afterP" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, verdana; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7841646797722552770" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7841646797722552770" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></h2><div style="float: left; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 22px; max-width: 100%; width: 628px;"><br />Schürrle started his career at 1. FSV Mainz 05 and made his Bundesliga debut for the Carnival Club against future employers Leverkusen on the opening day of the 2009/10 campaign. He joined <i>die Werkself</i> in 2011, going on to score 18 goals in 65 league appearances for the BayArena club before signing for Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in June 2013. Despite netting 14 times in 65 outings for the west London side, Schürrle has struggled to nail down a first-team berth at Stamford Bridge.<br /><br />After making his Germany debut in a friendly against Sweden in 2010, Schürrle has gone on to score 17 goals in 45 international appearances, including the seventh in <i>die Nationalmannschaft</i>'s 7-1 humbling of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semi-final. He also set up Mario Götze's 113th-minute winner in the final against Argentina at Rio de Janeiro's Estadio de Maracana.<br /><br />Schürrle becomes Dieter Hecking's <a class="normalred" href="http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/news/2014/0000309986.php" style="color: #c80000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="new"><b>third signing</b></a> this winter, following the acquisitions of China international Xizhe Zhang and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim keeper Koen Casteels.</div>

Official: Wolfsburg signs Schurrle from Chelsea

Wolfsburg - VfL Wolfsburg have completed the signing of 2014 World Cup winner Andre Schürrle from English Premier League giants Chelsea FC. ...

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Official: Chelsea signs Cuadrado from Fiorentina

<img alt="Juan Cuadrado" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80739000/jpg/_80739845_cuadrado.jpg" /><br /><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="summary-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></span><br /><h2><span class="summary-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina.</span></h2></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">The 26-year-old has joined on a four-and-a-half-year contract.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Upon signing, he said: ‘I am very happy and thankful for this opportunity I’ve been given.  This is a great club and honestly it is like a dream to join the Chelsea family and to know that the manager believes in me. I’m happy.’</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">The attacking midfielder arrives at Stamford Bridge after five-and-a-half years in Italy, first with Udinese before switching to Fiorentina in 2012 after a loan spell at Lecce.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Cuadrado plays predominantly behind a striker, but he is also comfortable on either flank. Pacy and agile, he is a purposeful attacking threat with an eye for the spectacular.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The Colombian, who has 37 international caps and five goals, was a key figure in his country’s impressive 2014 World Cup campaign. He scored in a group-stage victory against Japan before ending the tournament at the quarter-final stage with four assists, a record equalled only by World Cup winner Toni Kroos.</div>

Official: Chelsea signs Cuadrado from Fiorentina

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina. The 26-year-old has joined on a four-and-a-half...

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COSTA: I’VE DONE NOTHING WRONG

<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; line-height: 25.602560043335px;"><br /></span><img src="http://chelseaseason.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/diego-costa.jpg" /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; line-height: 25.602560043335px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; line-height: 25.602560043335px;">Chelsea striker Diego Costa insists there was no malicious intent behind the stamp on Emre Can which earned him a three-match ban from the Football Association.</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 25.602560043335px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The 26-year-old was suspended for three games for violent conduct by the FA after an independent regulatory commission on Friday ruled he deliberately stamped on the ankle of the Liverpool midfielder in Tuesday’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 25.602560043335px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Costa says he accepts and respects the punishment, but stresses he did not set out to hurt his opponent.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 25.602560043335px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“As far as what happened on Tuesday, the main thing is when I get home I can go home and I can go to sleep knowing that I’ve not done anything wrong, because I never meant to do that and it was not on purpose,” he told the Daily Telegraph.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 25.602560043335px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“And you can clearly see that on the video. But it is a suspension. I have to accept that, I have to take it. Obviously I feel sad because I’m not going to be able to help the team, to play. But I have accept it and respect it.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 25.602560043335px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m not saying I’m an angel. I’m no angel. You can see that. But every time I play I will play the same way because that’s the way I am. That’s what I need to do in order to support my family. That’s my bread and butter. Also, that’s what I need to do for this club and for the fans of this club, for the supporters and for all the people involved in this club.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 25.602560043335px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“On the pitch I will always be like that. That’s my character and I will always compete and compete – always. I’m a different guy off the pitch, as you can see, but on the pitch I will not change. And I want to say this again: you can look at the video and interpret it however you want, but I know when I get home I can sleep in peace because I know I didn’t mean to do it.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 25.602560043335px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Costa and Chelsea have no right to appeal, with the immediate ban meaning the forward missed Saturday evening’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City and will also sit out matches against Aston Villa and Everton.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 25.602560043335px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former Atletico Madrid hitman believes the game has changed – not for the better – meaning less contact is allowed these days, but vowed not to change his style of play.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 25.602560043335px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m always loyal, I always go 100 per cent, I always go on the limit but I think the people that think that I am a violent player, it’s because they interpret football a different way; they see it in a different way,” he said. “Back in the old days there used to be way more contact and a lot of things that were permitted. These days everyone is looking at it and I don’t think that is good for the game.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16.0016002655029px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 25.602560043335px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I have a go at defenders and they have a go at me. We argue. Whatever happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. After the game I shake hands with the defender. Job done, I go home, he goes home. We’re all mates. It’s all good. That’s how I see football. That’s how I play football. I’m not going to change it – football is a contact sport.”</div>

COSTA: I’VE DONE NOTHING WRONG

Chelsea striker Diego Costa insists there was no malicious intent behind the stamp on Emre Can which earned him a three-match ban from the F...

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Chelsea vs Man City Report

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><h2><img alt="PA-22102671_remy" src="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/homepage/news/boilerplate-config/latest-news/2015/01/match-report--chelsea-v-manchester-city/_jcr_content/main/image_0.img.jpg/1422734264064.jpg" style="font-size: 13px;" />Today’s goals came in a short burst before half-time – Loic Remy on his second Premier League start for Chelsea netting his fifth goal of the season to put the Blues ahead following a well-worked attack, but David Silva equalised a minute before the interval.<h></h></h2></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">In the second half <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/management-team/jose-mourinho.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Jose Mourinho</a>’s men were called upon to show steel, good defending and resilience as Manchester City, who had a free midweek while Chelsea  were playing energy-sapping extra time in a keenly <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/01/match-report--chelsea-v-manchester-city.html#" id="_GPLITA_1" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzk4Nzg6MzI4NTpjb250ZXN0czplMjlmNjRjMThiNDgxMDYzOGExMTJmMzQ5ZTZiODBhZjp6LTIyNDctMTYzODk3NTQ6d3d3LmNoZWxzZWFmYy5jb206MjM1ODQzOjU2NzUxYmMyNjg4NGJjYWM1M2MzZGJlYjk3MTc1ZDJkOjZiZTg2MDBiZTBhYzQxYmZiNjdkOGJhMjgwNzc2NTNjOjE6ZGF0YV9zcyw3Mjh4MTM2NjtkYXRhX2ZiLG5vOzo0NDA0MzI3&subid=g-16389754-54920e175bbe4d78b859a297411a5bb2-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">CONTEST<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a> cup semi-final, had the territorial advantage, but it was a sign of how well Chelsea stuck to the task that the visitors had better chances before half-time.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/thibaut-courtois.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Thibaut Courtois</a> was called upon to make a couple of saves in the second half but the points were shared.     </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /></div><h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0e1e7d; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-transform: uppercase;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">TEAM NEWS</b></h3><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></b>It was Remy who was given the nod to take over centre-forward duties from suspended <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/diego-costa.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Diego Costa</a> in front of a familiar attacking midfield trio. With <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesc-fabregas.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Cesc Fabregas</a> and <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-mikel-obi.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">John Mikel Obi</a> unavailable,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ramires</a>played with <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Nemanja Matic</a> in the centre ground with <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Kurt Zouma</a> <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/01/match-report--chelsea-v-manchester-city.html#" id="_GPLITA_2" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzg0NTc6NDpjb250aW51ZTphOWE2ZmFkNzdlZmZlMDNhNGNjZjNjYWNkOTE1MzA1Yzp6LTIyNDctMTYzODk3NTQ6d3d3LmNoZWxzZWFmYy5jb206MjMyMzI2OjFiZmM0MjM4YTA5Mjk4Y2Y3ODRhNmUzN2Y1NTFlY2JlOjAxMDk1OTY5MmRlMDRjODNiY2NhOWVmZjE4OWI5ZGFmOjE6ZGF0YV9zcyw3Mjh4MTM2NjtkYXRhX2ZiLG5vOzo0NDIwNzgw&subid=g-16389754-54920e175bbe4d78b859a297411a5bb2-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">CONTINUING<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a> in central defence alongside the skipper. <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Branislav Ivanovic</a> and <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesar-azpilicueta.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Cesar Azpilicueta</a> were the full-backs.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Having suffered defeat at home to Arsenal in their last league outing, the Man City line-up showed only one change from that game – former Gunner Bacary Sagna the preferred right-back with Pablo Zabaleta making way. Frank Lampard was on the bench.</div><h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0e1e7d; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-transform: uppercase;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />FIRST HALF</b></h3><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></b>Worldwide viewing for this encounter between the top two is believed to have hit new heights for a league match and there was certainly a big buzz around the Bridge as the floodlights dimmed and the teams walked out, with the Matthew Harding End proudly displaying our four European trophies banners.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Courtois was instantly called upon to save a straight shot from Jesus Navas and his counterpart Joe Hart was pressured into punt upfield inside the first minute.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">The crowd, as they had before kick-off, burst into a chorus of ‘Diego, Diego,’ to show what they thought of the FA’s actions this week that meant this game was without the top-flight’s topscorer.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">The match settled down into some good Chelsea pressing and winning of possession. There was a brief scare when<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>, making his 300<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> Blues appearance, lost the ball bringing it out of defence but City made little of the opportunity.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a> skipped around Gael Clichy with 13 minutes gone and won a corner but both sides were looking solid without the ball. When City did get away with Chelsea a little stretched for numbers at the back,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Zouma</a> made an excellent tackle on Aguero inside our penalty area.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Remy was halted in his tracks by the offside flag when a well-flighted<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a> pass over the defence looked to have played in the France international.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Courtois made his second save of the game, this time from Aguero after Milner won the ball off<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>in the Chelsea half.  </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Our best chance so far came with 29 minutes on the clock. Vincent Kompany dawdled and Remy was away. He crossed in low towards <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a> who dummied but Oscar couldn’t get enough bend on his shot and Hart saved.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Two minutes later City missed with their best opening to date. Chelsea had just had a handball appeal on the edge of the City area turned down and the ball was quickly up the other end. When Terry couldn’t clear it, Aguero was onto it but with plenty of goal to aim at, the Argentinean drove wide, much to his manager’s frustration.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The game had the hallmarks of one heading into the interval scoreless, but suddenly in the five minutes before the break the story took two twists. Chelsea grabbed the lead through a simple but very well-executed move.<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a> clipped a lofted pass over to <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a> who was in space on the left of the City area and vitally, the Belgian volleyed his cross over first-time. Remy had read it and was there for his own volley into the net from only five yards out.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></div><div class="parbase image section" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><br /><div class="text parbase section" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0e1e7d; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-transform: uppercase;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">SECOND HALF</b></h3><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></b>There were no changes to the 22 players on the pitch for the restart, which soon had the game’s first caution, Silva booked for a trip inside the centre-circle on<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;"> Matic</a> who was starting to charge.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Courtois made the first save of the second half, tipping over a bouncing header from Fernandinho after Navas escaped behind the right-hand side of the Chelsea defence to cross.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">City had enjoyed a good 10 minutes when Navas again found space to cross but Milner looped a header on to the top of the Shed End net. The question now was would the Chelsea players who went through extra time four days ago feel the effects.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Ramires certainly wasn’t as he skipped over the turf to bring the ball away from our area to safety before he was fouled, although not according to the ref. Fortunately<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/thibaut-courtois.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;"> Courtois</a> was equal to Fernando’s shot as play was waved on.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The card came out for Fernando for a crude foul on <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a> with the game now inside the final 20 minutes. Chelsea were improving and giving Man City some defending to do again. Pellegrini introduced Lampard with 76 minutes on the clock. Our all-time topscorer would get a warm reception walking around the pitch after the final whistle. </div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Ramires slightly overhit a long ball into the area for Remy to chase before Chelsea were forced into a substitution due to an injury to<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a>. The Brazilian, who must have run as much as anyone this week, walked off down the tunnel.<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/didier-drogba.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;"> Drogba</a> came on, as did <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/gary-cahill.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: initial; text-decoration: none;">Gary Cahill</a> and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the closing stages during which Chelsea stayed firm at the back.  </div><div class="parsys main" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;"><div class="text parbase section" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 10px;">Milner, striking a shot across the six-yard box but wide, was as close as the visitors came to grabbing the win they needed, and when a stoppage-time corner, taken short, was repelled by the boys in royal blue, the final whistle instantly followed and it is as Chelsea were at the summit of the <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/01/match-report--chelsea-v-manchester-city.html#" id="_GPLITA_5" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6NzcwOTg6MTQ0NDpsZWFndWUgdGFibGU6ZjE0OTNjY2YxMzdmMjY4NzJhY2IxN2I2NzViYmFmY2M6ei0yMjQ3LTE2Mzg5NzU0Ond3dy5jaGVsc2VhZmMuY29tOjIyODk2MDoxMzBmODE3Y2M2NGM2ZTRkNDYwMTgxODJkNDI1ZWE5Njo4NDdmYmJlOWNjMzA0NDUwOWU0ZWJkYzQwMmNjZTNjYjowOmRhdGFfc3MsNzI4eDEzNjY7ZGF0YV9mYixubzs6MTg5ODE0MDg&subid=g-16389754-54920e175bbe4d78b859a297411a5bb2-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">LEAGUE TABLE<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a>.  </div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 10px;">A midweek without a game now follows before our title quest <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/01/match-report--chelsea-v-manchester-city.html#" id="_GPLITA_6" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzg0NTc6NDpjb250aW51ZTphYmU5ZDRhMGY1YjZhMjVjNWM5NGNkNzYwN2I3ODE4MDp6LTIyNDctMTYzODk3NTQ6d3d3LmNoZWxzZWFmYy5jb206MjMyMzI2OjFiZmM0MjM4YTA5Mjk4Y2Y3ODRhNmUzN2Y1NTFlY2JlOmNmZWU3ZWFiZDhjYTQyOGM5MjA1YTU4YWE3YjY0Mjk2OjA6ZGF0YV9zcyw3Mjh4MTM2NjtkYXRhX2ZiLG5vOzo0NDIwNzgw&subid=g-16389754-54920e175bbe4d78b859a297411a5bb2-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">CONTINUES<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a> at Villa Park next Saturday. </div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Chelsea</b> (4-2-3-1):<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/thibaut-courtois.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Courtois</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Zouma</a>, Terry (c),<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesar-azpilicueta.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Azpilicueta</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ramires</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Matic</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a> (Drogba 80), Oscar (Loftus-Cheek 92), <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a>; Remy (Cahill 86).<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unused subs</b> Cech, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/andreas-christensen.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Christensen</a>, Ake, Brown.<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Scorer</b> Remy 42</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Man City </b>(4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany (c), Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando (Lampard 77); Navas, Silva (Jovetic 89), Milner; Aguero (Dzeko 83).<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unused subs</b> Caballero, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Boyata.<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Scorer </b>Silva 45<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Booked </b>Silva 50, Fernando 72.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Referee </b>Mark Clattenburg<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Crowd </b>41,620.<br />Chelseafc.com</div></div></div><div class="sharebar parbase" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;"><div class="social clearfix" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="gigyaSocialListContainer" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="gigyaSocialList" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="tagcloud" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div></div>

Chelsea vs Man City Report

Today’s goals came in a short burst before half-time – Loic Remy on his second Premier League start for Chelsea netting his fifth goal of th...

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Team news: Chelsea v Manchester City

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="summary-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><img src="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/homepage/news/boilerplate-config/latest-news/2015/01/team-news--chelsea-v-manchester-city.img.png" style="background-color: transparent;" /><span style="color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px;">Loic</span></div><a name="more"></a> Remy is the striker chosen to replace the suspended <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/diego-costa.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none;">Diego Costa</a><span style="color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px;">.</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesc-fabregas.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Cesc Fabregas</a> has not recovered from the problem that forced him off against Liverpool so<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Ramires</a> comes into an otherwise unchanged midfield.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Kurt Zouma</a> continues as <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-terry.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">John Terry</a>’s partner in central defence. <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Branislav Ivanovic</a> is fit and at right-back so makes his 300<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 9.75px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> Chelsea appearance, 200 of those Premier League games. He is the fifth overseas player to reach the triple century mark for Chelsea.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">There is a young look to the Chelsea bench with Academy products <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/andreas-christensen.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Andreas Christensen</a> and Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined by 18-year-old striker Izzy Brown. He was previously among the subs for the Capital One Cup tie at Shrewsbury.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">For Man City, there is one change from their defeat against Arsenal. Bacary Sagna replaces Pablo Zabaleta at right-back.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Courtois;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Zouma</a>, Terry (c),<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesar-azpilicueta.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Azpilicueta</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Ramires</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Matic</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a>, Oscar, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a>; Remy.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Subs:<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/petr-cech.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Cech</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/gary-cahill.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Cahill</a>, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/andreas-christensen.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Christensen</a>, Ake, Loftus-Cheek, Brown,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/didier-drogba.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Drogba</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Man City are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Hart; Sagna, Kompany (c), Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando; Navas, Silva, Milner; Aguero.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Subs: Caballero, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Boyata, Lampard, Jovetic, Dzeko. </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The referee is Mark Clattenburg.  </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Chelseafc.com</div>

Team news: Chelsea v Manchester City

Loic Remy is the striker chosen to replace the suspended  Diego Costa . Cesc Fabregas  has not recovered from the problem that forced him o...

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Diego Costa Hammered with 3 match Ban

<img src="http://static.goal.com/876700/876712_heroa.jpg" /><br />Chelsea<br /><a name="more"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> striker </span>Diego Costa<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> has been banned for three matches by the Football Association after failing with his appeal against a violent conduct charge for a stamp on </span><span style="background-color: white;">Liverpool's</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> </span>Emre Can<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> on Tuesday.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Spain international Costa was challenging for the ball by the touchline in the first half of the second-leg League Cup semi-final tie at Stamford Bridge when he forcefully stood on Can's shin.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The incident went unpunished during the match, which Chelsea won 1-0 to progress 2-1 on aggregate, as referee Michael Oliver did not see the challenge. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The FA subsequently charged Costa with violent conduct, a decision the player contested.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">However, an FA Independent Regulatory Commission has now chosen to uphold the original ruling and handed out a three-match ban.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"Diego Costa will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after a charge of violent conduct against him was found proven by an Independent Regulatory Commission on Friday 30 January 2015," an FA statement read.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"The Chelsea forward had denied the charge in relation to an on-field incident involving Liverpool's Emre Can which occurred in the 12th minute of the League Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday 27 January 2015.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"The incident was not seen by the match officials but caught on video."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The news is a huge blow to Chelsea ahead of Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Costa is also set to miss out on the trip to Aston Villa on February 7 and the home match with Everton four days later.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho defended Costa after the game and the ban is sure to irk the Portuguese, who stated the coming together with Can was "accidental".</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Mourinho said: "Maybe you [the media] are already influenced by the campaign on the television with certain pundits saying that Costa has crimes - they must be nuts, the guy who says that.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"I have to say that he goes for the ball, he chases it, the opponent [Can] goes to the floor and he puts his foot there when he is looking at the ball... What you call stamps, and Sky calls crimes, I have to say accidental."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers took a different view of the incident, and called for the FA to take action.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"These things happen in the game but I think anyone watching it would not like to see what we've seen Diego Costa do," Rodgers told Sky Sports.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"Not just on Martin Skrtel but on Emre Can, a young player who was clearly stamped on. You don't want to see that. There's no need for it."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Costa has proven an instant hit at Stamford Bridge, scoring 17 Premier League goals since joining in a big-money move from Atletico Madrid in the close-season.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">However, his on-field behaviour has come under the spotlight due to Costa picking up eight bookings in all competitions, including a caution in a 6-3 win at Everton in August where he squared up to goalkeeper Tim Howard.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Goal.com</span>

Diego Costa Hammered with 3 match Ban

Chelsea  striker  Diego Costa  has been banned for three matches by the Football Association after failing with his appeal against a violent...

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Chelsea striker charged for alleged stamp by FA

<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" itemprop="description" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.462em; line-height: 1.11; margin-top: 20px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80588000/jpg/_80588219_diego_costa_emre_can_epa.jpg" /></div><a name="more"></a><br /><div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" itemprop="description" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.462em; line-height: 1.11; margin-top: 20px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">Diego Costa has been charged for violent conduct after an alleged stamp following the Capital One Cup semi-final with Liverpool on Tuesday.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">The Chelsea striker, 26, faces a three-match ban for his challenge on defender Emre Can during the 1-0 victory.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">The Spaniard could miss Saturday's league match with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge if he is found guilty.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">He has until 18:00 GMT on Thursday to respond to the Football Association's charge.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">He is being charged for the first of two alleged stamps that were not seen by referee Michael Oliver.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">He also appeared to stand on central defender Martin Skrtel in the Liverpool penalty box in the second half.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">The first-half incident involving Can took place close to the technical area and prompted an angry response from the Liverpool player.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">Reds manager Brendan Rodgers said at his post-match press conference:"He could easily hurdle over the young player and he directs his studs right on to his ankle, which could've been nasty."</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said after the game that he feels the Brazil-born Spain international is being targeted unfairly.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">The Blues, who won 2-1 on aggregate, will face the winners of Wednesday's second semi-final involving Tottenham or Sheffield United, in the final at Wembley on Sunday, 1 March.</div>

Chelsea striker charged for alleged stamp by FA

Diego Costa has been charged for violent conduct after an alleged stamp following the Capital One Cup semi-final with Liverpool on Tuesday. ...

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