Chelsea have a terrible record against their ‘Big Six’ rivals. It needs to improve Liam Rosenior has plenty on his to-do list, but reversing the downturn against Arsenal and Man City should be considered a top priority

Bit of a reality check from me about #CFC performing in big games…they have not beaten #AFC or #MCFC in their last 22 games. Their record against #MUFC & #LFC makes grim reading too. It’s a stat that has to improve this season and beyond. My column here:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Chelsea held squad meeting to support players after Wesley Fofana abuse – Liam Rosenior Head coach Liam Rosenior also revealed the club brought in Dr Michael Bennett from the PFA as head of performance wellbeing last June.

Chelsea held squad meeting to support players after Wesley Fofana abuse – Liam Rosenior www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

#CFC keeper Rob Sanchez before the Champions League group phase draw. Referring to the Club World Cup win over PSG last July, Sanchez said: “Give us PSG man so we can get them out and they will have no excuse this time as well.”

#CFC have been drawn against #PSG in the last 16 of the #ChampionsLeaguedraw. Written in the stars since July 13, 2025.

Straight Outta Cobham: A show about Chelsea: Will the Arsenal hoodoo end?! Can Chelsea rise to the challenge against the league leaders? Ninth time lucky in the Premier League against Arsenal?!Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Sam Parkin for company as we look ahead to the trip across London to take on the league leaders of ...

𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗦𝗢𝗖! 🚨

@mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @lukebosher.bsky.social & Sam Parkin look ahead to Arsenal (A)...

🤞 Better vs the big sides?
🔙 Who comes into defence?
🤔 Lessons from the League Cup?
🗣️ @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social speaks to Omari Kellyman
🟨 Yellow cards galore

pod.fo/e/397b75

There has been a bit of noise lately that Marc Guiu has handed in a transfer request because he wants to leave #CFC. I am told this is not the case. The striker still loves being at the club and is focused on doing whatever he can to help the team this season.

Caicedo is walking a disciplinary tightrope. If he falls off, Chelsea’s season could go with him The midfielder is a vital cog in Liam Rosenior's side but is perilously close to a two-game ban that would come at a highly inopportune time

Caicedo is walking a disciplinary tightrope. If he falls off, Chelsea’s season could go with him: www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Caicedo is walking a disciplinary tightrope. If he falls off, Chelsea’s season could go with him The midfielder is a vital cog in Liam Rosenior's side but is perilously close to a two-game ban that would come at a highly inopportune time

A read looking at Moises Caicedo’s disciplinary issues at #CFC. For the third straight season he is struggling to avoid a two-game ban for getting 10 yellow cards by the end of the club’s 32nd PL game. More here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Chelsea’s Omari Kellyman interview: ‘I didn’t feel like I was a player anymore’ Omari Kellyman has been on loan at Cardiff from Chelsea for six months, and his depth of gratitude towards the Welsh club is crystal clear

Sat down with Omari Kellyman to talk about how his loan at #CCFC has made him feel like a footballer again after a season of injury at #CFC. Heartfelt insight from a talented young man trying to make his mark after a big transfer from #AVFC in 2024. Piece here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Straight Outta Cobham: A show about Chelsea: Yet more dropped points (and red cards) in calamitous Burnley draw 19 points dropped... NINETEEN POINTS!Matt Davies-Adams is joined by two of The Athletic's finest - Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey - to look back on the shocker of a 1-1 draw with Burnley at Stamford...

𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨

Dear me, #CFC 🫣

@mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @liamtwomey.bsky.social & @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social get together to look back on the Burnley draw...

🙄 More dropped points
😡 Another red card
😩 Set piece fragility strikes again
🇧🇷 Silver lining = João Pedro

pod.fo/e/3951b0

Chelsea and Burnley condemn racist abuse of Wesley Fofana and Hannibal Mejbri Wesley Fofana and Hannibal Mejbri shared images of racist abuse they had received

A grim day as both #CFC and Burnley issue statements condemning racist abuse toward Fofana and Hannibal. Fofana posted screengrabs of terrible messages he received…it’s not the first time he’s been on the receiving end. More here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Chelsea 1 Burnley 1 — How costly was Fofana’s red card? Is Joao Pedro league’s form striker? Chelsea took their tally of points dropped from winning positions in the Premier League this season to a staggering 19.

On the whistle piece from #CFC’s poor draw v Burnley…my focus was on their ill discipline costing them yet again, a lack of wide options is a concern and one positive - how Joao Pedro continues to thrive under Rosenior: www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Chelsea agree deal with Industrial AI company IFS to be new front-of-shirt sponsor Chelsea have remained confident on having a deal in place before the end of the campaign.

So IFS are #CFC’s front-of-shirt sponsor for rest of the season. So what happens now? Talks with multiple companies continue but as explained here (and in a piece last month), the club have a different approach to the norm: www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Chelsea’s new contract reality: Players have long deals, but some want improved terms Chelsea introduced a policy of long-term contracts, but they will still have to be tackled in the near future

Sources told @theathleticfc.bsky.social that one player turned down proposed terms. Chelsea sources deny this is the case, reiterating the club’s stance that all contract negotiations are addressed in the summer.

Piece with
@sjohnsonsport.bsky.social

👇

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Romeo Lavia played 45 minutes for #CFC Under-21s against Leeds. Came off at half-time as planned. A nasty challenge by Ollie Pickle on him caused a bit of concern for a few seconds but finished the half fine. Lots of first team players watching to support him/them. Rosenior too. Game ended 2-2.

Chelsea’s new contract reality: Players have long deals, but some want improved terms Chelsea introduced a policy of long-term contracts, but they will still have to be tackled in the near future

A piece with @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social looking at what Chelsea might consider one of those good problems: some of their best players on ultra-long, incentive-laden contracts want to negotiate improved terms. Fernandez and Caicedo are among them.

👇

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Jesse Derry: Chelsea’s latest debutant on the pitch — and as Stamford the Lion Jesse Derry made his Chelsea debut against Hull City on Friday, having joined the club from Crystal Palace last summer

Wrote about #CFC’s latest debutant Jesse Derry…how much it cost to leave #CPFC, why Grealish & Ferdinand are among his admirers and his turn as Stamford the Lion. More here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Jesse Derry: Chelsea’s latest debutant on the pitch — and as Stamford the Lion Jesse Derry made his Chelsea debut against Hull City on Friday, having joined the club from Crystal Palace last summer

Wrote about #CFC’s latest debutant Jesse Derry…how much it cost to leave #CPFC, why Grealish & Ferdinand are among his admirers and his turn as Stamford the Lion. More here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

#CFC will play Wrexham away in the #FACup Fifth Round.

Straight Outta Cobham: A show about Chelsea: Neto's hat-trick of goals, Delap's hat-trick of assists - and a whole week off! Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher for a look back on the 4-0 victory at Hull on Friday night to safely book their place in the 5th round of the FA Cup.We discuss why Pedr...

𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨

@sjohnsonsport.bsky.social & @lukebosher.bsky.social join @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social for your first SOC of the week:

🏆 FA Cup progress after Hull victory
3⃣ Neto's hat-trick
3⃣ Delap's assists (and miss!)
😮‍💨 Mamadou Sarr impresses
🏖️ No midweek game!

#CFC
pod.fo/e/3906f8

For Chelsea to succeed this season, Pedro Neto will have a big role to play Pedro Neto has come under more criticism from supporters than most - but has a key role to play for Chelsea in this campaign

“I don’t know why that (getting criticised by fans) would be the case because Pedro Neto brings us so many different qualities that you need. For me, he’s a world-class player.” 👇
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

For Chelsea to succeed this season, Pedro Neto will have a big role to play Pedro Neto has come under more criticism from supporters than most - but has a key role to play for Chelsea in this campaign

Pedro Neto divides opinion among #CFC fans but he is the best of the wide options they have right now. My column here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Hull City announce arrests made over discriminatory chants at FA Cup tie vs. Chelsea "Rent boy" chants were heard in the first half and the term was deemed a homophobic slur by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2022.

Hull City have announced that arrests have been made over discriminatory chanting during their fourth-round FA Cup tie against Chelsea on Friday.

More from Philip Buckingham and @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social

Raheem Sterling joins Dutch club Feyenoord after Chelsea exit Sterling, 31, left Chelsea at the end of January after a mutual agreement to terminate his contract 18 months early.

After agreeing terms with #CFC to cancel his contract, free agent Raheem Sterling has decided to join Feyenoord until the end of the season…bit of a surprise move this one: www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Don’t chalk up Chelsea’s Leeds collapse to inexperience. They’re better than this Liam Rosenior's side are young by Premier League standards, but that was not the reason for their errors against Leeds

More often than not, when #CFC drop points as they did v Leeds last night and/or play badly, it is blamed in many quarters as due to a 'lack of experience'. My column below on why this should not be used as an excuse. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Don’t chalk up Chelsea’s Leeds collapse to inexperience. They’re better than this Liam Rosenior's side are young by Premier League standards, but that was not the reason for their errors against Leeds

More often than not, when #CFC drop points as they did v Leeds last night and/or play badly, it is blamed in many quarters as due to a 'lack of experience'. My column below on why this should not be used as an excuse. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Straight Outta Cobham: A show about Chelsea: Why can't Chelsea put together a complete performance? And what's going on at CFCW? Oh Cole, it was harder to miss... Matt Davies-Adams has Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey for company to look back on Tuesday night's 2-2 draw with Leeds and Stamford Bridge.The scoreline certainly doesn...

𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗢𝗗!🚨

@mattdaviesadams.bsky.social has got @lukebosher.bsky.social and @liamtwomey.bsky.social alongside him:

🙃 Dropped Points FC w/ @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social
🤯 How did Palmer miss that?!
🏆 Rosenior's Hull City reunion
😳 Unrest at #CFCW w/ @meganferinga.bsky.social

#CFC pod.fo/e/38d9c4

Straight Outta Cobham: A show about Chelsea: Palmer gets some of his swagger back with Molineux hat-trick We've missed singing 'Palmer again ole, ole'...Matt Davies-Adams is joined by two of The Athletic's finest - Cerys Jones and Simon Johnson - for a Monday dose of SOC off the back of Chelsea's 3-1 w...

𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨

@mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @reallycerys.bsky.social & @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social talking...

🥶 Palmer shows glimpses of magic with hat-trick
⚪️ Can #CFC avenge Elland Road horror show?
🖊️ Sonia signs a new contract!
🏆 FA Youth Cup & more Cobham kids

pod.fo/e/38bdb4

because of the number of games that we've got. Hopefully, he comes back fully fit and fully rested for Tuesday.”

My bad, I didn’t phrase the above post as well as I should have but this was what I was getting at from what I was told. Rosenior: “There’s no major problem at all – it’s a pain management issue. We’re in the midst of a really, really difficult period of games…