All Activity

Seydou Dembélé 17 years old, JMG Académié Bamako & Mali Go find clips of Seydou Dembélé and you’ll be thoroughly entertained. He plays like a kid on a school playground: uninhibited, imaginative, brimming with skill and personality. He does things that genuinely take your breath away. His highlight reel from the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar is jam-packed with such moments. Mali rock up to every edition with another exciting bunch of players, and Dembélé was the pick of the bunch for me. The 17-year-old notched two goals and four assists in five games before Mali were knocked out by Morocco. It was an impressive follow up tournament to his outstanding showing at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations earlier in the year. Just look at this… The imagination and execution on that pass is ridiculous. He sees the picture quickly, and the decision to chop down on the ball – generating a spin that zips it on the slick turf but holds it in the path of the striker’s run – is inspired. That’s the type of thing that will stick in my head for a worryingly long time. He loves to get on the ball between lines, drifting off the right wing to open up angles on his left foot. His heat map from the FIFA U-17 World Cup exemplifies the in-between spaces he takes up. He buzzes between lines, always demanding the ball, and causes damage as a shooter, crosser and passer. He has a canny knack of slipping past defenders with the ball at his feet, bending his dribbles and finding zippy combinations that cut through blocks. The obvious concern with him is his size: short, slight, flimsy, he appears some way off being able to handle the rigours of senior football at a high level – but he is remarkably good at avoiding contact altogether. What comes next? Well, Dembélé is a graduate of the prestigious JMG Académié in Bamako, a system that has developed countless top-flight players and senior internationals. Many of them transferred through Red Bull Salzburg, and that move makes plenty of sense for Dembélé. They have proven time and time again to be the perfect entry point to European football for African talent. But he may skip that step entirely, such is his profile, particularly with Chelsea and now Manchester United credited with a credible interest. He will make the leap to Europe when he turns 18 years old next February.

https://football-observatory.com/WeeklyPost524 Thanks to data meticulously collected by our partner Impect, this Weekly Post presents the U23 players from 52 leagues around the world who are most skilled at advancing their team's play with passes towards the opposition's goal*. The study reveals the extraordinary abilities of Belgium’s Jorne Spileers, who completes an average of 11.8 ‘progressive’ passes per 90 minutes, with a record success rate of 84% and a progression index of 100. Two other centre backs complete the podium: Spain’s Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid) and Portugal’s António Silva (Benfica). Fourth, Norway's Häkon Volden (Rosenborg) is the youngest player in the top 10 (18.5 years). Two other players under the age of 20 feature in the overall top 10: Gambia's Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh (Tromsø) and France's full international Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain). Among wide backs, the top three are Álvaro Carreras (Real Madrid), Michal Gurgul (Lech Poznań) and Joaquin Seys (Club Bruges), with Luca Bombino (San Diego) being the youngest in the top 50. For midfielders, Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo) leads the way ahead of Warren Zäire-Emery (PSG) and Amadou Koné (Neom SC). The youngest midfielder in the top 50 is Argentina's Álvaro Montoro (Botafogo). * At least 30 meters if starting and finishing position in own half, 15 meters if in different halves and 10 meters if in opponent half. Best U23 players, progression index Domestic league matches, current or last completed season until 01/12/2025. Data: Impect.

"Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha, who has a deal lined up to join Chelsea next summer, has been suspended for their game against Toulouse this week by his club after giving an international break interview where he jokes that he had signed for them thinking they were based in Germany." 😂 They suspend him because of this? Strasbourg is on the German border, perhaps he pulled a sensitive string with this one? I don't really get it..

Add two or three top elite players like GK , CB and ST to the squads and attack the title next year .

Would be surprised if Maresca doesn’t make a load of changes. Can see him resting Neto, Fofana, Reece, and perhaps even Cucu. Delap up front, Gittens left, Estevão right, and Palmer to finally make his return.

I want to add one thing about this, I totally agree with you on this. But you know why it's missing? First the atheist, they don't believe in God so morality comes from a moral giver. That doesn't compete with them Second evolution, morality holds no reality here, because morality is information, and nothing can come from evolution less am intelligent being inbeds morality as a programmer does to it's systems. And third Christianity as a fad then something real in one life. Example my mom was a Christian therefore I'm a Christian, it's my family religion. Wrong, that is tradition for this person but holds little value or practice what it means to be Christian. That is some of the view of why morals it's missing. Which I agree with you.

🔵Emanuel Emegha's official statement I accept and understand the club's decision to suspend me for this weekend. 'm 22 vears old, I've made mistakes and I know I still have a lot to learn. And I have to learn from that. I know I have to do better, and I will do better, on and off the field to represent the club. It's important to me. I want to make it clear that I never wanted to hurt anyone. Ever since I arrived here at the age of 19, I have always given everything for Strasbourg. I'm proud to play for Racing and I'm proud to wear the captain's armband. Everyone knows that it was not easy for me here at the beginning It was a big challenge for me to succeed in Strasbourg. But I kept working harc every day to get there. Last weekend when I entered the field, it was the biggest emotion I had as a Strasbourg player. The applause when I entered, the children cheering me during the warm-up... it really touched me Thank vou from the bottom of my heart. I had a long conversation with President Marc Keller. I thank him for his advice. He knows how much 1 love this club and how much I work everv day. I also want to thank all my teammates and staff, coach Liam Rosenior, sporting director David Weir, and everyone around the team. They see me every day, they know how I am and how I work. Sometimes my words can be misunderstood, especially if people don't know me. But one thing is certain, have maximum respect for Strasbourg, for Alsace, for Meinau, for our supporters, for my teammates and for the whole club.

will be last years ipswich

People have no idea of the rivalry in the 70s and 80s. Always known as 'Dirty Leeds'

🥶😇

Like most of you right now, I am buzzing. I am soaking up this form and these moments…View the full article

Crystal Palace Good — ninth in the table, enjoying their first European campaign. Bad — Oliver Glasner unhappy with no investment in the summer, his contract expires in a few months, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future possibly in doubt, Marc Guehi on his way out before long and basically a growing sense of ‘enjoy it while it lasts’.

Why do Leeds and Chelsea hate each other? https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6855235/2025/12/03/leeds-Chelsea-rivalry-hatred/ Leeds United host Chelsea in the Premier League on Wednesday night — marking a return of one of the most historic rivalries for both teams. The Elland Road side have spent the last two seasons in the Championship following relegation. While Leeds and Chelsea shared the same division between 2020 and 2023, the former also spent the previous 16 years outside of the top flight. They even fell as low as League One at one stage. During that time, they only played once in any competition. But it is fair to say that the fans of these two clubs seriously dislike each other. At times, it strays into hatred. Why? The answer goes back nearly 60 years. The Athletic’s Beren Cross — with help from Leeds fan Gareth Senior — and Simon Johnson explain below. Where did the rivalry begin for Leeds fans? Beren Cross: The misconception for some, at least from the Leeds perspective, is that this rivalry began with the 1970 FA Cup final, but it started before then in West Yorkshire eyes. Chelsea beat Leeds 1-0 in the 1967 FA Cup semi-final played at Villa Park in controversial circumstances. United were twice denied an equaliser in the final seven minutes by referee Ken Burns, but it was the second from substitute Peter Lorimer which was too much for the Leeds fans. Terry Cooper’s strike was ruled offside, but a free kick passed to Lorimer was lashed home, only to be ruled out because the Chelsea wall had not been 10 yards back. The 1970 final only added to the growing bitterness. There was the dreadful pitch at Wembley, Gary Sprake’s struggles in goal, Eddie Gray’s wizardry, but then, in the replay at Old Trafford, the early injury to Gray and a tussle which Michael Oliver, the Premier League’s leading referee, told The Telegraph would have resulted in 11 red cards under today’s rules. Gareth Senior, a Leeds season-ticket holder since 1987, told The Athletic: “There was always that, through the late 1960s into the early 1970s, King’s Road vs the grim north. “There was the money, the lights, but (all the newspapers were based on) Fleet Street in the 1970s, so it was all London-centric. Arsenal, West Ham, Chelsea, Tottenham got all the headlines.” A tackle during the tense 1970 FA Cup finalPeter Robinson/EMPICS via Getty Images Was it the same for Chelsea fans? Simon Johnson: Yes. Older supporters still talk about the intensity of these fixtures between the supporters as well as the players. Like any rivalry, playing high-profile fixtures where trophies were at stake helped increase the animosity. The 1970 FA Cup final just brought things to a head. But this was more than just football. This encapsulated the north-south divide in England, with Chelsea being seen as flashy and glamorous given their proximity to the King’s Road in London, whereas Leeds matched their quality with a lot of determination and fight, quite literally at times. How did it develop after the Cup final? Cross: Senior said it spilt onto the terraces in the late 1970s and early 1980s. There was hostility and violence between the two fanbases as hooliganism exploded across English football. The two clubs only met six times across the 1980s, and all meetings were in the second tier as they struggled to establish themselves at the top of the domestic game. In October 1982, for example, with Leeds in the capital to play at Stamford Bridge, there was what Senior says is known as the ‘Battle of Piccadilly’. The police made 153 arrests that day away from Stamford Bridge, as supporters from both clubs clashed in and around Piccadilly Circus. They clashed underground on the Tube network, too. A further 60 arrests were made at the game itself. In 1984, Chelsea owner Ken Bates said one of his most infamous quotes. After Leeds fans damaged his new scoreboard at Stamford Bridge, the future Elland Road owner said: “I shall not rest until Leeds United are kicked out of the Football League. Their fans are the scum of the Earth, absolute animals and a disgrace. I will do everything in my power to make this happen.” Bates would go on to buy a 50 per cent share of Leeds in 2005. Johnson: Chelsea won just two more fixtures against in the decade after the 1970 cup final, a reflection of their decline. But high-profile incidents in games during the 1980s (see below) and 1990s sparked things up again. Becoming rivals for a Champions League place in the late 1990s led to some really lively affairs. In December 1997, there were eight bookings, and Leeds had two players sent off in a goalless draw. The following year, there were 12 bookings and this time a red card for Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf in another 0-0. The same player was sent off when Leeds won 2-0 at Chelsea in 1999, with the home fans making their displeasure known throughout. In a first cup meeting since 1970, Chelsea won a 2001 League Cup tie in controversial circumstances as Eidur Gudjohnsen scored one of their two goals while Stephen McPhail was on the ground, injured. Graeme Le Saux was carried off on a stretcher in that match after a collision with Alan Smith. Were there any flashpoints for Leeds fans in subsequent years? Cross: In 2001, Senior recalls a lunging, two-footed challenge by Graeme Le Saux on Danny Mills at Elland Road, which saw him get a yellow, but he says it would get “two red cards” nowadays. And how about for Chelsea fans? Simon Johnson: One of the reasons Chelsea erected wire fences around Stamford Bridge in the 1970s came after a lot of crowd trouble and pitch invasions following a game between the sides in 1972. A decade later, having had a four-year gap between matches, clashes between the fans led to a total of 213 arrests around the fixture. When Chelsea beat Leeds 5-0 to secure promotion from the old Division Two (now the Championship) in 1984, there were more pitch invasions, and Leeds damaged the Chelsea scoreboard, attracting Bates’ fury. How was the rivalry perceived by Leeds fans while they were outside of the Premier League? Cross: Senior believes the rivalry is driven more by the Leeds side now. “For people my age, a little bit younger and a bit older, that sort of thing never disappears because it’s ingrained during your days as a younger lad, growing up,” he said. “You’ve got Chelsea, Millwall, Man United, a little bit of West Ham, but there’s also a bit of begrudging respect there. “You’ve got those sort of main rivalries, but it doesn’t go away from you, and you still see it as a rivalry because you always think you’re on a little vacation away from the top flight.” Chelsea were very successful after Leeds were relegated. Did it diminish as a rivalry? Johnson: To a degree. It helped the rivalry that there was a League Cup tie in 2012 to refresh everybody’s memories. Even though the unpopular Rafa Benitez was Chelsea’s head coach back then, the away support enjoyed a 5-1 victory at Elland Road. In contrast, one of Thomas Tuchel’s last games in charge was a 3-0 league defeat at Elland Road in 2022, which stung a fanbase that expected an easy three points. The question is whether the younger supporter, unaccustomed to this fixture being played on a regular basis, sees Leeds in the same way the older generation does. Chelsea have two traditional rivalries that are regardless of league standing or position. One is Tottenham, the other is Leeds. But while anti-Tottenham songs are regularly sung by fans, you hardly ever hear anti-Leeds chants anymore. This might be a sign that the baton has not really been passed on to the younger generation, and also a reflection that a lack of games between each other over the last 20 years has had an impact. The pitch invasion during the 1984 matchSapiano/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images How do Leeds fans view this game ahead of Wednesday’s match? Cross: “If you’d have asked me at half-time on Saturday, I’d have said we’re in for the biggest loss at home for a long time, and we get done by four or five,” said Senior. “If Farke sticks to the formation they finished the game with and sticks to pretty much the same personnel, I’d like to see a different player rather than two big No 9s playing, a (Wilfried) Gnonto or an (Noah) Okafor in a front two with one of the others, a point would be brilliant.” And what about Chelsea fans? Johnson: There is a lot of optimism given how Chelsea have performed against Barcelona and Arsenal in the past week. Things do seem to be progressing well under Enzo Maresca, but this is an important game for Chelsea to win to keep in touch with Arsenal at the top of the table and also cement their standing inside the top four. Losing this match would probably bring back a lot of the negativity we saw earlier in the campaign following defeats by Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Sunderland. What You Should Read Next Why Chelsea hate Leeds. And does it matter any more? An old rivalry remains for many Chelsea fans. But after so many years of not playing Leeds, does it matter to a young fans? By Beren Cross and Simon Johnson

EXCL: Chelsea confident in transfer policy as they eye two more elite-level wonderkid signings Chelsea have their next two superstars in their sights... https://thedailybriefing.io/p/Chelsea-wonderkid-transfers Chelsea are increasingly confident that their transfer policy of the last few years is proving fruitful as Enzo Maresca’s side challenge for the Premier League title. The Blues are just six points behind league leaders Arsenal and were unlucky not to win against the Gunners despite being down to ten men for much of Sunday’s game at Stamford Bridge. Players like Estevao Willian have been a huge success for Chelsea, while Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez also continue to improve all the time, justifying the big investment made in them when they were still relatively unproven youngsters. I can also reveal two exciting new names on Chelsea’s list of targets as they look to continue recruiting wonderkids for their long-term project. Two players of strong interest to Chelsea at the moment are Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Metz striker Brian Madjo. Who are Chelsea’s new transfer targets Ayyoub Bouaddi and Brian Madjo? Bouaddi is not exactly an unearthed gem at this point, with the 18-year-old French midfielder already making 72 appearances for Lille’s senior side since making his debut in the 2023/24 season. As I’ve previously reported here, Bouaddi is also highly regarded by Manchester United and will be one to watch on their list of transfer targets in the near future, while others around Europe are also well aware of him now. Sources in the industry are now increasingly talking up Chelsea, particularly with BlueCo also having Strasbourg as an ideal next stepping stone for him in Ligue 1. “Bouaddi has attracted interest from several European clubs, and Chelsea are one of them,” one source with knowledge of the club’s plans told me. “Chelsea’s interest is strengthened by their ownership link with Strasbourg, which could allow the player to continue his development in France while staying under close watch. This pathway is seen as an ideal plan to make the transition to the Premier League smoother.” Sources were keen to stress, however, that there have not yet been any concrete negotiations over Bouaddi, or any offers made to Lille. As for Madjo, the 16-year-old Metz forward who has represented England and Luxembourg at youth level, Chelsea figures supposedly see him as “a project worth investing in”, with the talented teenager already a tall and imposing central striker who could have a big future in the Premier League due to his characteristics. “As usual, Chelsea will feel confident they can lure talents like Bouaddi and Madjo in with the promise of long-term contracts, as we’ve seen become the norm under this ownership,” my source added.

Send Guiu there on loan.

🔵Official Emegha will not be Strasbourg’s match day squad to face Toulouse in their next game. They state that it is because the player failed to respect the club’s values, expectations and rules. He will definitely be moving to Chelsea in January. He won't be able to stick it out until the summer. He gets booed by the Strasbourg ultras at every game!

here are the non-Chels CMFs and/or DMFs valued higher on T-Markt than Mainoo (no AMFs included) the ones in bold have been linked with Chels within the last year (some of those links are to players who are not going to leave their club, those I will make red) Pedri Federico Valverde Declan Rice Alexis Mac Allister João Neves Vitinha Ryan Gravenberch Rodri Bruno Guimarães Aurélien Tchouaméni Sandro Tonali Tijjani Reijnders (plays a lot at AMF) Martín Zubimendi Nicolò Barella Carlos Baleba (Man United-bound) Adam Wharton (will skyrocket the next update) Aleksandar Pavlovic Pablo Barrios Warren Zaïre-Emery Eduardo Camavinga Manu Koné (Roma stole him for only £15.5m in summer 2024, now he is worth at least 3 and half times that) Morten Hjulmand Scott McTominay and here are the ones valued the same as Mainoo is now: Éderson Elliot Anderson (will skyrocket the next update) Angelo Stiller Curtis Jones Frenkie de Jong Joshua Kimmich who would I take over Mainoo? these 4 (and they have to be the type who will leave their club for us, which rules out a lot) none of these will be cheap Bruno Guimarães Sandro Tonali Adam Wharton Elliot Anderson

This is one of the typical fixtures where the atmosphere can kill us off and where I find us struggling to manage games like this, such as Newcastle, Leeds etc and how naive we are at times. Get on the ball, take the sting out of the atmosphere hopefully grab a goal to mute the noise even more and take the game to them

I imagine he will look for a (loan)move to a smaller PL club so he can have a chance for WC.. Many player will push for this in January.

🔵According to journalist Achille Ash Mykhailo Mudryk could return to the pitch as early as January 17, 2026. On that date, his provisional doping ban could be lifted. Chelsea's management is then considering loaning him to RC Strasbourg.

Manchester United will reportedly listen to offers in January for a number of players: 🔸 Kobbie Mainoo 🔸 Joshua Zirkzee 🔸 Manuel Ugarte (@ESPN) This could mean that K. Mainoo could end up at Chelsea, as our scouts have been admiring him for quite some time!

Enzo Maresca on lack of minutes for Josh Acheampong https://Chelsea.news/2025/12/enzo-maresca-josh-acheampong-lack-of-minutes/ Enzo Maresca has explained the lack of minutes for Josh Acheampong ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Leeds on Wednesday evening. The Blues kick off a busy December with a tough game at Elland Road, a ground they lost 3-0 at on their last visit under Thomas Tuchel. If Chelsea want to be considered title contenders then these are the games they have to be winning, something Maresca will be more than aware of. Maresca only made one change to the team for the Barcelona and Arsenal games, but will likely make a number of changes on Wednesday, especially with another game against Bournemouth on Saturday. Acheampong has put in some impressive performances this season, and Chelsea fans would like to see more minutes for the 19-year-old. Acheampong scored his first Chelsea goal against Nottingham Forest, but hasn’t featured in the league since the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland in October. The teenager came on as a late substitute against Barcelona last week, and Maresca has now explained his lack of minutes. “He’s very good,” he said as quoted on X.com by journalist Lloyd Canfield. “The only thing, I mean, it’s something nice for me, and it’s something nice for the club, is that at the moment our central defenders are doing very well. “Wes is doing well, Trev is doing well. Josh is doing well. “This is what we need in terms of central defenders. It’s just a matter to find the right moment when we give him the chance.” Chelsea looking much better defensively Having struggled at the start of season from a defensive stand point, with a number of mistakes being made, the Blues have made real improvements. Chelsea conceded just once in the Premier League in November, and that in part is down to Maresca having settled on a consistent pairing. Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana started three of those four games, and the duo are showing signs of being a very good partnership. Maresca will likely change that partnership against Leeds, and it will be interesting to see who comes in, with a number of options available.

Rather than rotate the first XI I would take some of the starters off in the 2nd half. Santos and Enzo - a new midfield is certain. Wouldn't want to change up too much from the main team

From the archive: The smile on Michael Essien’s face https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/from-the-archive-the-smile-on-michael-essiens-face Twenty years ago, Chelsea completed the signing of midfielder Michael Essien, who today celebrates his 43rd birthday. The Ghanaian would go on to become a Blues great, and here he reflects on his trophy-laden spell at Stamford Bridge... In the summer of 2005, Chelsea had just lifted the Premier League title for the first time, and in dominant fashion, but it wasn’t going to be a case of one and done for the Blues. Hernan Crespo returned from a loan spell with AC Milan, fresh from scoring twice in the Rossoneri’s epic Champions League final against Liverpool, and Shaun Wright-Phillips, the hottest young prospect in England, had also been brought in from Manchester City. But with the new season fast approaching, the club were set on bringing in a new midfielder, and there was only one name on the shortlist: Michael Essien. Not much was known about the Ghana international on these shores, other than he played for Lyon which, at that time, meant he was part of one of the most dominant domestic club sides in European football. Over the previous two seasons he had helped OL win back-to-back Ligue 1 titles, midway through a run of seven straight triumphs, and in the second of those campaigns he was chosen as the best player in the French top flight. Understandably, Lyon didn’t want to part with their prized asset. 'It was 20 years ago,' begins Essien, 'and Didier [Drogba] called Florent [Malouda] to say that Jose [Mourinho] wanted to talk to me. I happened to be at a barbecue with Malouda, who was my team-mate at Lyon, and that’s how it all started with me finding out that Chelsea wanted me. 'However, the owner of Lyon had his own valuation and was not willing to budge, so that led to a long, drawnout transfer. I stayed professional throughout without wanting to force the move but eventually the clubs agreed the transfer and it happened. Of all the moves I made throughout my career this was certainly the longest, with the most drama.' A summer-long transfer pursuit finally reached its conclusion, for what was then a club-record fee, on the eve of the new season, and with it began a nine-year love affair for a player who would go on to play a big role in one of the most beloved periods in Chelsea’s history. 'I had a good time with the club,' he adds. 'I won a lot of trophies and so I can’t ask for much to be honest. I had a good relationship with the owners, management, staff and fans, and that’s what matters the most for me. 'The relationship with the supporters was very good. I have no idea what they would say about my time with the club, but hopefully it will be something positive! I always did my best and I am sure they would say something along those lines. They supported me through thick and thin and they appreciated all my hard work, so I have a lot of time and respect for the Chelsea fans all over the world. Even now we still maintain a good relationship, which is very pleasing.' Essien felt like a good fit for Chelsea from the word go, slotting in alongside Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele to fill the role previously held by Tiago, who went in the opposite direction to the Ghanaian shortly after his move. English football was the perfect environment for a player with his attributes – strong, athletic, with an incredible engine and underrated technical qualities. 'Looking back, yes, I think it was a very good fit,' he says. 'Although I think I surprised a few people with my qualities. Very few supporters outside France knew me so when they started seeing me play, they took to me very well. My versatility was also another attribute that suited Chelsea. I could play in a lot of positions which suited most of the managers I had in my career.' At that time, he was also coming into a dressing room with so many big personalities, some of the biggest names in world football. Anyone who has come across Essien off the pitch will know that compared to the ferocious competitor on the field, he is calm and considered, and very softly spoken. So, how did he find that environment? 'It wasn’t too much of a big deal, to be honest, and it was more about getting to know them. Because I had played in the Champions League and in France for a while, I knew a lot of them and had also played against some big names at the time in Europe, so it wasn’t too much of an issue. Also, knowing Didier helped ease me into the dressing room. 'The Ivorians were probably my best friends when I was at Chelsea – Drogba and [Salomon] Kalou – and also Malouda. Three of us were from west Africa and had the same journeys to Europe so we probably had a lot in common. For Malouda, I knew him from his days in France with Lyon. I also got to know Ashley [Cole] when we went to France for rehab at one point so we became close. As a group we all got on really well, in fairness.' At the end of his first season, we retained the Premier League title, and in some style, clinching the championship with a thumping 3-0 win over our closest challengers, Manchester United. We remind Essien of an incredible picture that was taken shortly after that triumph by our club photographer, which you can see below. He’s sat on the pitch in front of the trophy, staring at this piece of silverware with a mixture of love and disbelief written across his face. 'I remember that very well,' he says. 'It was the joy of the moment that got us all doing crazy things with the trophy. The club photographers are always in and amongst us so that captured some amazing memories. At that time I probably didn’t realise what it all meant, but I look back and have a smile on my face any time I see some of those images and videos we took together.' While dominant midfield displays characterised his early years at the club, winning duels for fun and running just as hard in the 90th minute as the ninth, we later discovered that these skills were transferrable to other areas of the pitch. He was key to not only Plan A, but also B and C, the man for every occasion. He was imperious as a stand-in centre-half for the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium in 2007, producing an outrageous tackle on Ryan Giggs to deny the Welshman a certain goal. Later on, he starred at right-back in our run to the Champions League final in 2008, having previously been utilised in that position a year earlier as a Plan B whenever things weren’t going well, and it was his deflected shot against Manchester United which fell into the path of Frank Lampard, who slotted home our first-ever goal in a Champions League final. 'It wasn’t too bad [playing at right-back] because I was a very quick learner and understood how to play a number of positions,' he says. 'As long as I was playing, I didn’t really mind about my position. I wanted to help the team all the time. 'I also started my career as a centre-back and most of my youth football games, even for Ghana, were at the back, so playing in defence came to me naturally. Of course, I faced tougher opponents but I think I adapted well and tried to always give my best.' We ask him if he listens to all the chat nowadays about inverted full-backs and thinks to himself, ‘Hey – I was playing that way almost 20 years ago!’ 'Definitely, and they have just changed the names,' is his response. 'I was actually talking about this recently, that as a right-back I used to wander into midfield. The goal I scored against Arsenal is a good example of that. The game has changed, of course, but there are so many similarities. I look back sometimes and think I used to do that and it just has a different name now.' That brings us on nicely to another subject we wanted to tackle – namely the spectacular goals that became his calling card. He scored 25 times from 256 appearances, and two of them were breathtaking strikes that won him the Goal of the Season award at Chelsea, against Arsenal and Barcelona. But the big question, and one we cannot answer, is: which was the better of the two? 'I get asked this a lot and I will say the Arsenal one, purely because it preserved our unbeaten home run and it was an incredible strike,' he says. 'I also love the Barcelona goal, but due to the outcome at the end, I have to say the Arsenal one. 'Both of them were purely instinctive, without having to think about them. Just a natural reaction of ‘hit it’ when the balls were available – and thankfully they both went in. The fans still talk about them and the Premier League and UEFA post them every year, which is really pleasing for me.' As well as those two Goal of the Season awards, he was chosen by the supporters as their Player of the Year in 2007, becoming the first African to claim that prize for the club. 'That was very special because Chelsea had some of the best players in the world, let alone in England, and to be selected as the best meant a lot to me. At one point we had lots of national team captains in our dressing room so if you are selected as one of the best, it should mean a lot – and certainly it did for me at the time.' Unfortunately, the latter part of Essien’s time as a Chelsea player was dogged by fitness issues. Two major knee injuries meant that he was never truly the same player, although he was briefly back to his best after the first of them, during the period when he scored the aforementioned blockbuster volley against Barcelona at the end of the 2008/09 campaign. He says that there are no regrets, nor frustration, at how things panned out, insisting that injuries are part and parcel of football. And he was also still at the club during the legendary 2011/12 season, when we upset the odds to get our hands on the Champions League trophy for the first time. 'It was great to finally win that trophy after years of trying and failing,' he adds. 'I remember we had a good run, especially games with all the drama like the ones against Napoli and Barcelona, and the way those games played out we felt it was going to happen. 'Being able to finally win it was great for the whole club. It also meant some of us who missed out on winning the Moscow final eventually got a chance to lift the biggest trophy of them all in club football.' Essien spent the next season on loan to Real Madrid, where he was reunited with Mourinho, and then departed Stamford Bridge for good midway through the following campaign to join AC Milan. He continued playing for another six years, on and off, before hanging up his boots and starting a coaching role with Nordsjaelland in Denmark, which he still holds to this day. 'When I decided to stop playing, which was around the Covid time, I was approached by the owner of Nordsjaelland, Tom Vernon, to join them to further my coaching career, which I had just started. So I am working as an assistant coach and supporting the U19s, and also the club academies in Ghana and Egypt. I am enjoying it a lot. It’s totally different to my playing days but I am used to it now, having been doing it for the last four or five years.' Will we ever see him back on these shores, working in the Premier League? 'I have learned to never say never, so who knows about coaching in England? At the right time and with the right opportunity it is possible.' - This interview was first published as part of the Unscripted series in last season's matchday programme

We just had two big games and Garnacho - Pedro was the only change. 10 other players started both games. So, because of this I definitely expect rotation. Guys like Delap, Palmer, Gittens, Santos, Tosin, Acheampong can easily start here. Btw completely forgot about Buonanotte. Didn't play in a month, usually not even on the bench. And this was with Palmer out who is back now.