This past weekend saw the summer transfer window close in Europe. The first four games of the Premier League season are now in the books, and only Chelsea, Liverpool and Watford have taken all three points from their first quartet of matches. The Blues head into the international break in second place, due to being one goal behind the Reds in the goal differential tie-breaker.
So let’s take a spin through the latest news items and notes making the rounds on the internet today.
FIFA announced the finalists for their most prestigious awards #TheBest on Monday, with world football’s governing body hosting the ceremony in London on Sept. 24.
Thibaut Courtois is now with Real Madrid, but he is up for the best goalkeeper award, due to all that he accomplished with Chelsea (and Belgium) last season. His teammate and direct competition Keylor Navas (also the Costa Rica No. 1) and Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City, Denmark).
Chelsea isn’t considered a favorite to win the Premier League, and that’s just fine with Blues forward Eden Hazard. He says he relishes the sleeper role
This past weekend, Hazard also said that he enjoys the style of football being played under new manager Maurizio Sarri. He is having with this new aggressive, attacking style at Stamford Bridge. Sarri expressed how happy he is to have so many options in attack, with Hazard, Willian and Pedro.
“Pedro played the first three games in the starting XI but today I thought it was better to play with Willian,” Sarri told reporters at Stamford Bridge.
“I am lucky because any coach who can choose between Pedro and Willian is a lucky coach.”
“Pedro is a great player. I think in every season he has scored about 15 goals, so it is normal for him to score. Hazard, Pedro, [Victor] Moses, Willian, all in the same position – I am very lucky and I don’t want to forget [Callum] Hudson-Odoi.”
Finally, Chelsea FC wonderkid Denim Nnamudi is turning heads everywhere within the football world. FFD.TV, who specialize in showcasing the best young footballing talent, posted this follow-up on YouTube of their earlier video spotlighting his dribbling skills. Have a watch:
The YouTube offering highlights the progress of the highly rated youngster and demonstrates his incredible foot speed, ball control and skill.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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