It’s another international break and thus, kind of a slow time when it comes to big headlines, but there’s still a whole lot of important Chelsea FC news items out there. Here are links to some of the more relevant United news stories currently circulating on the internet.
In an interview with L’Equipe, Olivier Giroud says he’s happily settled in at Stamford Bridge, having had to make the unusual January switch over from Arsenal, but also admits that he has been substandard in the scoring department.
In eight appearances with the club, Giroud has one goal and three assists. He has yet to score for the Blues in Premier League competition though and knows he needs to step it up.
“I’m happy with my adaptation, with the welcome I’ve had, and with my relationship on the pitch with my teammates,” he said.
“Now, it could have, should have, led to more goals. In terms of statistics — something I put a lot of emphasis on — I’m stuck on a goal and three assists in five starts.
“It’s certain that’s not enough. But in any case, in terms of how I’m playing, it’s very encouraging. It’ll come with time.
“You have to be demanding with yourself. If I signed at Chelsea, it was to have a new challenge. I knew there was going to be expectation.
“When you sign somewhere like that in January it’s never easy, because you have to get used to your team. But I really wanted to be ready, even if I was coming back after six weeks out with injury. It was a little bit paradoxical.”
“The coach put me in from the second match, and that put me at ease. It went very well. After that, it’s true that I haven’t had the best of luck in certain matches, but in terms of the content, the play, I repeat, it’s very encouraging.”
-Eden Hazard should not be playing as a false nine, says his national team manager, Roberto Martinez. Blues boss Antonio Conte has often played Hazard as a false #9 this season, and Hazard has spoken up and said that’s out of position for him. The Belgian says he’ll do whatever is right for the team, but that his natural position is out wide.
Martinez has said that he believes Hazard is a number ten, and that Belgium have more than enough to keep them covered up top.
“Eden is not a false nine, for me,” the Belgium boss and former Everton manager said. (quotes via 101 Great Goals)
“At Chelsea, that can work with guys like Pedro around him, but with us we still have Romelu [Lukaku], Michy [Batshuayi], even Dries [Mertens] can play there.
“I’m not going to put Hazard there. Lukaku’s form is very good. He was impressive against Liverpool. He is showing maturity. It’s good to see him perform at such a high level.”
-Midfielder Marcos Alonso said a couple days ago that striker Alvaro Morata was very disappointed to be left out of the Spanish national team side for their friendlies this international break.
Via ESPN FC: “Spain coach Julen Lopetegui understands Alvaro Morata’s frustration over being left out of his latest squad but maintains the World Cup door has not been shut on the Chelsea striker or any other player.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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