Peter Rutzler

Levi Colwill: How Lego helped me get through difficult time at Chelsea England defender on hobby that helped to relax him last season, securing Champions League football and the importance of Conference League final

Levi Colwill on leadership, using Lego to help him through challenging moments and the importance of winning the Conference League: "If we win that, it will give us the confidence and belief to hopefully win more trophies for the club.”
www.thetimes.com/article/8bd8...

Unai Emery, PSG and lessons from the worst night of his career In 2017 the now Aston Villa head coach’s PSG went to Barcelona in command of a Champions League tie, only to blow it in a 6-1 loss to the man in the opposite dugout on Wednesday

Unai Emery returns to Paris, for a Champions League tie that means a little more than just passage to the next round.

On La Remontada, Neymar and a uniquely Parisian education:

www.thetimes.com/article/4bf2...

Cole Palmer is staying with Chelsea for further assessment on muscle injury picked up in training last week. Told he's not officially withdrawn yet, slim chance he could link up with England depending on how the assessment goes, although felt to be unlikely. #cfc

How Chelsea slumped from league’s best attacking team to most boring Absences of key players have been keenly felt, especially in loss to Arsenal, but form of Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke declined before injuries

Arteta's post-match comments on Sunday, stating Chelsea are the best attacking team in the league, was a sharp reminder of what's been lost in recent weeks.

Are injuries just to blame for this slump, or is it about style? This int'l break may answer that:
www.thetimes.com/article/f957...

Sanchez remains just so impulsive across his game, pre-empting things, almost like he's in a permanent state of panic. I got the logic of taking him out, but seems already like it needed to be longer, and even just to properly assess Jorgensen and give him a proper run.

Comedic start to this game defensively from Chelsea. Nine minutes for the first Sanchez error, and then a haphazard scramble to clear after Cucurella went down too easily -- and possibly handball? (Good block in the chaos from Fofana mind). #cfc

At the Emirates. No Cole Palmer for Chelsea, who picked up an injury in training yesterday. Maresca says he's hopeful he'll be back after the international break. Not clear what that means RE England. Martinelli, meanwhile, starts for Arsenal for first time since Feb 5.

Half an hour gone at Stamford Bridge, and no shot yet for Chelsea. Not a thrilling watch but Copenhagen playing with more purpose in these early stages. It is only a one-goal advantage...

Stronger Chelsea lineup than the first leg. Sanchez seems to be first choice again, Jorgensen returns to Thursday night duty. Palmer/James on bench.

#cfc XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile; Caicedo, Fernandez; George, Dewsbury-Hall, Sancho; Neto

Another Chelsea win dug out of a performance that was, again, pretty unconvincing. Winning more games 1-0 is a target for Maresca, and Leicester were more competitive here, but team still lacking their early-season spark. #cfc

Enzo Maresca gestures to the home crowd by the dugout after Marc Cucurella opens the scoring. Was becoming a little tense. A lovely finish from Cucurella, helping dig his side out of a potential hole here. 1-0. #cfc

Looks like RVN has though mixed up the set-up today. Seems to be a back five, which is off the back of Maresca being surprised by Copenhagen's Jacob Neestrup setting up in the same way. Led to drab first half on Thursday, but Leicester would take that... #CHELEI

Leicester's form has been so bleak. Longest run without a goal since 2017, losing 11 of their last 12, kept one clean sheet in 27 games. No bounce under van Nistelrooy, who has fewer points than Cooper despite coaching two more games. Sorry season, built on bad decisions.

Interesting that Sanchez gets a recall. Maresca spoke of "resting" him but it's not the longest stint out the side and felt like Jorgensen had survived the murmurs post Villa. But potentially good way to pick up a clean sheet, Leicester have failed to score in their last four...

Wesley Fofana starts for Chelsea against Leicester, first start since December 1.

Robert Sanchez also back in goal, Jorgensen dropped.

Also no Reece James this afternoon -- he's out with illness, reported a fever yesterday. Romeo Lavia is back in the squad. #cfc

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile, Gusto; James, Caicedo; Dewsbury Hall, Palmer, George Mhueka.

Subs: Jorgensen, Bergstrom, Acheampong, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernandez, Amougou, Neto, Sancho, Nkunku.

A mixed strength lineup from Maresca in Copenhagen. Cole Palmer's first start in the Conference League, Reece James starts in midfield, Badiashile's first start since 8 December, while 17yo Shim Mheuka makes his full debut up front. #cfc

Ousmane Dembele: £97m Barcelona flop now Europe’s most prolific Dembele was shy and injury-prone in Spain but at PSG Luis Enrique has played him in a central role to devastating effect — as Liverpool may find out on Wednesday

Goalscoring used to be Ousmane Dembele's biggest weakness.

Not any more.

How a sit down with Luis Enrique last summer and a new position transformed Dembele into Europe's most prolific forward, and Liverpool's main concern. #PSGLIV
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Iraola was particularly unhappy that Kerkez was booked in that incident and will now miss the quarter final: “They should reward him,” he said. “He punched him, kicked him on the floor, headbutted him, but he did not react.”

Cunha headbutt, offside farce and penalties: Bournemouth beat Wolves Bournemouth 1 Wolves 1 (Bournemouth win 5-4 on penalties): Matheus Cunha sent off in game that also featured lengthy delay due to semi-automated offside failure

Offside farce, penalties, and two sides to Cunha. So important for Wolves this season, shown by his sublime equaliser, but he cost his team with a shocking red card, which may have lasting damage for Wolves.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, were deserved winners:
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Cunha struts around the field, with a supreme confidence, and that's because he can pull off moments of brilliance just like that. Stunning 25-yard equaliser for Wolves. 1-1.

An utterly farcical use of VAR here, that has lasted more than eight minutes concludes with Bournemouth's second goal ruled out for offside. Handball also checked. It looked complex but a check cannot be this long.

"This is embarrassing" sing home and away fans

At the Vitality for #afcb vs Wolves. Evanilson makes his first start since picking up a foot injury in January. One of three changes, with Kluivert and Ouattara on the bench. Wolves make four changes, but both teams have gone pretty strong and will fancy a cup run:

Four goals, none for Palmer, is unusual and this was a game where his struggles felt evident. But he’s due a night where others shoulder the burden and that they did, against hopeless Southampton. #CFC eased back into the top four.
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Colwill makes it 3-0. Southampton's set-piece defending has been abysmal.

An important goal. Some shock after Palmer misses a one on one, a change he doesn't usually miss, but Nkunku heads in from the ensuing corner. 1-0.

Southampton have probably made the better start here, and it's become a little edgy at Stamford Bridge. Onuachu with the first good opening, blazing over. Howls at Jorgensen as he tried to bait a press. Uneasy.

Villa's January signings combine to make the difference, double-edged sucker-punch there for Chelsea, who had otherwise put in an improved showing. But they make errors, too many of them (not just the keeper). Winless run on the road goes on. #cfc

At Villa Park. Just the one change for Chelsea, James starts for Madueke. But Maresca names three full backs (plus Cucurella and Gusto) and just the one winger (Neto). Curious set up expected...?

Four changes for Villa. Konsa fit to start, Rashford on the bench. #AVLCHE

Cole Palmer: Why frustrated star man has gone off the boil at Chelsea England attacker’s struggles highlight a deeper malaise at the west London club, where a lack of goals has left the team flailing in search of a Champions League spot

Cole Palmer is at his best when he plays the game with a nonchalant shrug but at the moment he cuts a frustrated figure. Chelsea aren't as carefree, and he's struggling with that. A look at how #cfc's drop off is impacting his recent form:
www.thetimes.com/article/bb8f...