The Chelsea Chronicle
Player ratings27 Nov 2034
A brace, and Viktor Gyökeres takes the afternoon — 8.92
There is a particular kind of quiet from an away end watching one man score twice. Viktor Gyökeres provided it, and the 8.92 beside his name is if anything generous to everybody else.
The dugout27 Nov 2034
The manager makes an example of Gianluigi Donnarumma
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad27 Nov 2034
Words exchanged at Chelsea
Wilfried Gnonto and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad27 Nov 2034
Benjamin Shaw stays put
“The easiest signature of my career.” Benjamin Shaw and Chelsea agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Match25 Nov 2034
Honours even between Chelsea and Manchester United
2‑2, and both dressing rooms will call it two points lost. A draw that asked plenty of questions and answered none of them.
The dugout27 Nov 2034
Yeremy Pino gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Yeremy Pino is on it.
The dugout27 Nov 2034
Somebody else is better right now than Charles De Ketelaere
The team sheet says it in public every week until it changes. The only version of being dropped a footballer cannot argue with, and the one he takes hardest.
The dugout27 Nov 2034
The manager’s verdict
“I am frustrated, honestly. We did enough to win and we did not win.” the manager was not hiding it after 2‑2, and nobody in the Chelsea dressing room was either.
Market27 Nov 2034
The Radu Drăguşin question follows Chelsea around
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Radu Drăguşin’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
In brief
- Looking ahead Chelsea take on the side everybody is chasing
- Looking ahead Gianluigi Donnarumma faces his old club
- Player ratings The afternoon ran through Jamie Gittens