Here are your Chelsea evening headlines for Wednesday, December 9.
Frank Leboeuf says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should leave
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf says that Manchester United should sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after his team crashed out of the Champions League.
Leboeuf says that United should show greater ambition and move on from the Norwegian.
“I think Ole should leave,” Leboeuf told ESPN. “There is a time now where you have to go back to what Manchester United used to be: an ambitious club with somebody with real experience and players really willing to wear the shirt.
“As we say in France, 'Really, to die for the club'. I don’t see that right now and for a long time.”
Patrick Bamford makes strong Chelsea statement
Patrick Bamford has said that Chelsea are the best team that he and his Leeds United team have faced so far this season.
Bamford scored the opening goal in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to the Blues, and he came away extremely impressed by Frank Lampard’s team.
“We nit-pick everything really. Our physical stats weren't bad but Chelsea really outperformed what they've done the rest of the season, in terms of physically,” Bamford told The Athletic's Ornstein & Chapman Podcast.
“Then obviously we know about Chelsea how good they are. I think that's probably the best team we've played this year.”
Joe Cole hits back at Kai Havertz criticism
Joe Cole has described criticism of Kai Havertz as unfair with the Germany international suffering an inconsistent start to his Chelsea career.
The Bayer Leverkusen star cost north of £60million and hasn’t quite hit the same heights he achieved at the German club. But Cole jumped to the midfielder’s defence, who he says has been unfairly criticised.
“No, it’s [the criticism] not been fair because when you do go into a different culture, with different team-mates, different style of play and different training, it can be tough,” he told BT Sport .
“But the talent is unquestionable. He’s widely regarded as one of the best young players in Europe. He’s had his injury difficulties, he had the virus that set him back, but my feeling is that the cream will always rise to the top and he’s a top, top player.
“We’ve seen it in flashes and as the season moves on, that will get more and more consistent. I think he’s struggled a little bit with how well Werner has settled in. Two German lads coming in, obviously it helps, but he’s (Werner) settled in.
“They’ve come from different clubs, different environments and different demands in training, so Werner has settled in quicker, but Havertz will be a big player, I’m convinced of that. As the season goes on, he will impact games.”
