Soccerglee's Team of the Week

<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/soccerglee1">Follow @soccerglee1</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAUtCU8DxxA6xMbQiTaIdm2pjm0F5Dpv7v-8vV_8gSLxf5u8CyQxnorN2gzH_m5xItklVe2_sW-nK5pcYHHm7aUQDyvrEcaWD9BVK5lRQWuh3LLEIIs9Epv2-HyvSBetMFlNKsj1YZl5Q/s1600/Screenshot_2015-02-01-18-49-51~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAUtCU8DxxA6xMbQiTaIdm2pjm0F5Dpv7v-8vV_8gSLxf5u8CyQxnorN2gzH_m5xItklVe2_sW-nK5pcYHHm7aUQDyvrEcaWD9BVK5lRQWuh3LLEIIs9Epv2-HyvSBetMFlNKsj1YZl5Q/s1600/Screenshot_2015-02-01-18-49-51~2.jpg" /></a></div><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><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/share_button.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fsoccerglee.blogspot.com%2F&layout=button" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;"></iframe>

Soccerglee's Team of the Week

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Southampton vs Swansea Report

<div class="info_heading" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><h2><img alt="Southampton 0-1 Swansea City: Shelvey scorcher downs 10-man Saints" src="http://static.goal.com/432800/432897_heroa.jpg" /><a name="more"></a>Jonjo Shelvey’s 83rd minute wonder strike gave </h2><h2>Swansea all three points in a game Southampton </h2><h2>dominated at St Mary’s.</h2></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><div id="articleContentWrapper" style="line-height: 1.6; position: relative;"><div>Saints – who ended the match with ten men after the late dismissal of Ryan Bertrand – will come away from the CONTEST <span style="line-height: 1.6;">probably unsure of how they came away without at least a point to show for their efforts in an encounter that they were in control of for large periods.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>A lack of cutting edge COSTS<span style="line-height: 1.6;">Ronald Koeman’s team dear, though it wasn’t for the lack of trying as the visitors carried out a smash and grab exercise thanks to Shelvey’s late strike which came as a bolt from the blue.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Saints substitute Sadio Mané went closest thereafter to finding a leveller, but was twice denied by clearances off the line from Ashley Williams, leaving the hosts to taste defeat in the league for the first time in the new year. </div><div><br /></div><div>Swansea meanwhile celebrated their first win since Boxing Day and their first success in Southampton for 62 years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maya Yoshida returned from Asia Cup duty and came back into the starting eleven in place of fellow defender Florin Gardos, who dropped to the bench. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sadio Mané was also back from representing Senegal at the African Cup of Nations, and was named among the substitutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Saints were dominant from the initial exchanges, with much of the half’s action played out in front of the Northam stand which the hosts were attacking in the opening 45 minutes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps the best of those opportunities arrived in the seventh minute when Dušan Tadić and Nathaniel Clyne combined well down the right flank where the latter crossed low for James Ward-Prowse, whose controlled shot was flicked away by the legs of Lukasz Fabianski from close range.</div><div><br /></div><div>Swansea were in coming forward by their normal high standards and suffered a further blow when forward Marvin Emnes went off injured after quarter of an hour, and he was replaced by Modou Barrow.</div><div><br /></div><div>That had come shortly after the visitors’ best chance when Jonjo Shelvey played the ball into Bafetimbi Gomis on the edge of the area, and the striker hit a rising shot just wide of the left post.</div><div><br /></div><div>From then on in the half though, Saints were in control of possession, without creating too many clear chances, though Harrison Reed fired wide as the hosts began to dominate down the flanks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Both full-backs Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand each got further forward with the latter hooking over from Eljero Elia’s knockdown inside the area, with Elia also on hand to assist for Tadić inside the middle of the box, where the ball was knocked wide under pressure from Swansea defender Neil Taylor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Taylor went into the book before the end of the half for a foul on Elia, who was CONTINUING<br /> to make a good impression on the game, but despite Saints’ best efforts the game remained scoreless heading into half-time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Both teams kept it tight at the start of the new half, though Saints remained the more likely looking team to threaten.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, as the game opened out just before the hour mark, Swansea almost snatched the lead when Jonjo Shelvey struck the base of the post with a low strike which came on the back of a counter-attack forward.</div><div><br /></div><div>Saints quickly retaliated when Ward-Prowse headed an effort down at the far post which was held by Fabianski, and then the Swansea goalkeeper was called upon again to deny the same man from the edge of the area.</div><div><br /></div><div>That led to the introduction of Sadio Mané for Reed on 63 minutes as the hosts pressed on in search of a breakthrough goal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mané certainly added an extra spring into the home team’s step moving forward, with the Swansea rearguard being tested by the pace of the Senegalese, who alongside Elia were each pushing the visiting defence to defend deeper.</div><div><br /></div><div>On 78 Mané tested Fabianski again, and after another missed opportunity, Swansea punished the hosts five minutes later when Shelvey collected the ball on the edge of the area and smashed a stunning drive into the top corner past Fraser Forster for 0-1.</div><div><br /></div><div>Saints tried to hit back immediately, with Steven Davis seeing a strike blocked inside the area, and then they were denied twice in quick succession when Mané twice beat Fabianski, only for skipper Ashley Williams to be on hand to clear from the line on each occasion.</div><div><br /></div><div>The hosts were dealt a hammer blow when Ryan Bertrand was sent off late on for a challenge on Barrow prior to four minutes of additional time for stoppages incurred by Barrow’s need of treatment.</div><div><br /></div><div>As Saints gave one last push, they still couldn’t find a way through with Pellè blazing over and a queue of red and white shirts tried to force their way through late on, but frustratingly to no avail.</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Southampton team:</strong> Fraser Forster, Nathaniel Clyne, Jose Fonte (c), Maya Yoshida, Ryan Bertrand, Harrison Reed (Sadio Mané 63), Steven Davis, James Ward-Prowse, Dušan Tadić, Eljero Elia (Ryan Seager 89), Graziano Pellè</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Unused substitutes:</strong> Kelvin Davis, Florin Gardos, Matt Targett, Dominic Gape</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Booked:</strong> Yoshida (64)</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Sent off:</strong> Bertrand (89)</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Swansea City team:</strong> Lukasz Fabianski, Neil Taylor, Ashley Williams (c), Federico Fernandez, Kyle Naughton (Angel Rangel 81), Jonjo Shelvey, Tom Carroll, Jay Fulton, Nathan Dyer, Marvin Emnes (Modou Barrow 15) (Jordi Amat 90), Bafetimbi Gomis</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Unused substitutes:</strong> Gerhard Tremmel, Nelson Oliveira, Dwight Tiendalli, Matt Grimes</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Booked:</strong> Taylor (44)</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Goal:</strong> Shelvey (83)</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Referee:</strong> Michael Oliver</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Attendance:</strong> 30,943 (including 1,458 away)</div></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><i><u>www.saintsfc.co.uk</u></i></span></span><br /><div class="fb-share-button" data-layout="button"></div>

Southampton vs Swansea Report

Jonjo Shelvey’s 83rd minute wonder strike gave  Swansea all three points in a game Southampton  dominated at St Mary’s. Saints – who ended t...

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Arsenal outclass Villa

<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;"><img src="http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/scaled/696x392/feb_15/gun__1422804705_ozil-2.jpg" /></div><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;">Arsenal outclassed Aston Villa to extend their winning run to five matches at Emirates Stadium on Sunday</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;">Olivier Giroud ran onto Mesut Ozil's sumptuous flick to open the scoring in the eighth minute - his fifth goal in six Premier League games.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;">Santi Cazorla hit the post and, although Villa rallied, two goals in seven second-half minutes ended their resistance.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;">Giroud returned the favour to Ozil for the first of those, picking out the German for a precise finish. And Theo Walcott put the result beyond doubt at the end of another slick counter-attack.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;">Cazorla added a fourth from the penalty spot, Hector Bellerin fired a fantastic first goal for the club, and the vast majority of the Emirates crowd went home very happy.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;">Quite right too. Arsenal look in fine fettle - even without their talisman Alexis - and the consistency Arsène Wenger has craved all season has finally come.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;">This result sees Arsenal climb back above Tottenham into fifth place - perfect preparation for next week's north London derby.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;">Arsenal Fc.com</div>

Arsenal outclass Villa

Arsenal outclassed Aston Villa to extend their winning run to five matches at Emirates Stadium on Sunday Olivier Giroud ran onto Mesut Ozil...

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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 Mancity Ratings

<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: MirrorExtraCondBold, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1; margin: 0.65217391em 0px 0.32608696em; padding: 0px 0.65217391em;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chelsea</span></h3><ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; list-style: circle; margin: 0px 1.15384615em; padding: 0px 1.15384615em;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Courtois. </strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5</strong> </li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><b>Ivanovic </b> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong> </li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Terry</strong>       <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong> </li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Zouma.  </strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong> </li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Azpilicueta</strong>  <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><b>Ramires. </b> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5</strong>  </li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Matic</strong>     <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">7</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">MOTM</strong> </li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Willian</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5</strong> </li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Oscar</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5</strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hazard</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Remy 6 </strong></span></strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.30769231em; padding: 0px 1.15384615em;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Subs</strong></div><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.30769231em; margin: 0px 1.15384615em; padding: 0px 1.15384615em;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Drogba (</strong>for Willian, 80<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">)</strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cahill (</strong>for Remy, 86<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">)</strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: normal;">Loftus-Cheek (</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">for Oscar, 90</span>)</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="color: black; font-family: MirrorExtraCondBold, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1;"><br /></span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1;">Manchester City</span></li></ul></strong></strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="line-height: 63.375px;"><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.30769231em; margin: 0px 1.15384615em; padding: 0px 1.15384615em;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hart</strong>   <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong> </span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sagna</strong>   <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong> </span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kompany    6</strong> </span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Demichelis</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong> </span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Clichy</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong> </span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Fernando</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">7</strong> </span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 39px;">Fernandinho</strong><span style="line-height: 39px;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 39px;">6</strong></span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 39px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Navas</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong></span></strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 39px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Milner</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">7</strong></span></strong></strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 39px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Silva</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">7</strong></span></strong></strong></strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 39px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Aguero</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 39px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.30769231em; padding: 0px 1.15384615em;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Subs</span></strong></div><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.30769231em; list-style: circle; margin: 0px 1.15384615em; padding: 0px 1.15384615em;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Lampard 5 </strong>(for Fernandinho, 76) - The stage was set on his return but little impact</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Dzeko</strong> (for Aguero, 82)</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jovetic</strong> (for Silva, 89)</span></li></ul></span></strong></strong></strong></strong></li></ul></span></li></ul>

Chelsea Vs Mancity Ratings

Chelsea Courtois.    5   Ivanovic    6   Terry         6   Zouma.     6   Azpilicueta    6 Ramires.    5    Matic       7   MOTM   Willian  ...

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The Week in "Quotes"

<div class="ieFloat x123" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="credits nofloat" style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: 0px; color: white; height: 20px; margin: -34px auto 0px; opacity: 0.6; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; width: 642px;"><br /></div></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“I </div><a name="more"></a>have played against both Madrid and Barca, and you can’t compare Cristiano to <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Barça’s </em>Messi. Messi alone is more dangerous than Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema put together."<br /><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Diego Simeone </em></strong><br /><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“It was a long through-ball I ran on to, after which I managed to round the last defender with a feint and dink it over the keeper. Of all the goals I scored at the World Cup, that was the one I liked best."<br /><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">James Rodriguez</em></strong><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> telling <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">FIFA.com</strong> he actually preferred his goal for Colombia against Japan at Brazil 2014, rather than his FIFA Puskas Award-winning strike versus Uruguay - which recieved a massive 1.38 million votes from fans</em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"He is without a doubt the best coach I have ever had. I have never met a trainer who knows so much about the game. The level of detail he can go into... We learned a lot in his first season here and things are going even better now we fully understand him."<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />Franck Ribery</em></strong><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> on Pep Guardiola</em><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></em></strong></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Guardiola has definitely not reinvented football. He clearly has two major qualities. For starters, he can analyse a game incredibly well. Plus he is capable of making changes during a game that can be decisive. However, coaches should also praise their players every now and then. You cannot be critical of your players all the time after a successful game. At some stage, the players will not take it seriously any more."<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Oliver Kahn</strong> is less complimentary of the Bayern coach</em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I have children and this is not the sort of example that a father should set."<br /><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Philippe Mexes</em></strong><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> on his violent reaction and subsequent red card against Lazio</em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“Women’s hockey will never be men’s hockey and we will never be the NHL. Neither do I think that women’s football has to be the same as men’s. For me it’s a more entertaining game. I find female football players are tougher. They seem to battle on the field. They play with a lot of passion and there’s a lot more room out there when you are not as big as the men.”<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Four-time Olympic gold medal-winning Canadian hockey star <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hayley Wickenheiser </strong>comparing the difference between the men and women's games in both football and her own sport with <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">FIFA.com</strong></em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"To finish the first half of the season in 17th place felt like going on holiday on a bed of nails.”<br /><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Jurgen Klopp </em></strong><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">reflects on a winter break mulling over Borussia Dortmund's poor performances so far in the German Bundesliga</em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I forgive Cristiano Ronaldo. I hold no grudge. He hit my legs and my mouth, nothing more. I don’t want to hurt him and I hope that he remains the best player in the world."<br />Cordoba's <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Edimar</strong>, whom Cristiano Ronaldo struck to earn a red car</div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“I started putting weight on a few years ago and I wear black clothes to cover it up. It’s as simple as that. I think I wear them pretty well, don’t I?”<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Congo coach <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Claude Le Roy</strong> reveals to <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">FIFA.com </strong>why he always wears black on the touchline</em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“Three years ago, no. It just shows you how you can never tell in life, and even more so in football. We (Barcelona) had a very intense rivalry with Mourinho. It never reached the level of hatred, not even close, but there were disagreements with him and [John] Terry too. Chelsea were always the team that I most wanted to beat."<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cesc Fabregas</strong> on whether he ever saw himself signing for Chelsea and playing under Jose Mourinho</em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“He’s got an odd way of playing, particularly when he’s winning. He’s always making gestures on the field, especially when he’s in front. Nobody likes to lose and these things irritate you.”<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Atletico Madrid's <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Gabi</strong> on Neymar</em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"People don't know him but the truth is that Mario is an insecure boy, and it's down to his insecurity that maybe he does stupid things."<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli's agent <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mino Raiola</strong></em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Sunday used to be the most beautiful day of the week, I went on the pitch and did what I liked best.”<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Argentine playmaker <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Juan Roman Riquelme</strong> on deciding to hang up his boots at the age of 36</em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“[My grandfather] used to wake me up when I was due to play football saying ‘Come on little boy, it’s Sunday and you have to play the most beautiful sport in the world.’ Those things stick with you, I adapted it slightly and I’ve used it ever since.”<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Chilean commentator <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Luis Omar Tapia</strong>, reveals the origin of his famous cathphrase 'It’s the beginning of 90 minutes of the world’s most beautiful sport' to <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">FIFA.com</strong> - which he has used for two decades.</em></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4980010986328px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Quotes credit to FIFA</em></div>

The Week in "Quotes"

“I have played against both Madrid and Barca, and you can’t compare Cristiano to  Barça’s  Messi. Messi alone is more dangerous than Ronaldo...

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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; 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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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