Football-Sportclub: Chelsea

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Chelsea kick-start season with big win over Maccabi Tel Aviv

Diego Costa scored his first Champions League goal for Chelsea as the beleaguered Barclays Premier League champions claimed a much-needed fillip by thrashing Maccabi Tel Aviv at Stamford Bridge.

Willian, Oscar, with a penalty, Costa – on as a substitute after being omitted as one of six changes following the loss at Everton – and Cesc Fabregas scored as the Blues opened Group G with a 4-0 victory.

It was their their first home win of the season and second in all after a miserable start to the campaign which has sparked suggestions of a crisis.

Problems remain as Eden Hazard blazed a sixth-minute penalty over, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek was among those who impressed after recovering from a yellow card in the opening minute.

Mourinho was infuriated Predrag Rajkovic was not sent off for bringing down Willian for the first spot-kick, but luck was on the Blues' side as the Brazilian curled in a free-kick which evaded everyone.

He later went off with a hamstring problem, with Costa coming on, while goalkeeper Rajkovic might have conceded another penalty when Loftus-Cheek was brought down two minutes before the interval.

Then the visitors' two Tal Ben Haims failed to get a grip of Costa, who was felled by the former Chelsea defender, with Oscar converting from the spot.

Costa, who failed to net in Europe for the Blues last term, emphatically volleyed in a cross from Fabregas – a combination which worked wonders for Chelsea in the first half of last season but has stuttered since – before the Spain playmaker struck the fourth on the counter-attack.

Hazard burst down the centre, played it right for Loic Remy, whose shot was palmed by Rajkovic into the path of Fabregas to score.

Eran Zahavi missed a free header and Nosakhare Igiebor somehow failed to convert after 88 minutes as Chelsea kept a clean sheet for the first time this season.

Jose Mourinho dismisses talk of rift with John Terry after Maccabi Tel Aviv rout

Jose Mourinho rounded on his critics and Steven Gerrard after Chelsea's first home win of a season which has had a miserable opening.

The Barclays Premier League champions began their Champions League Group G campaign with a 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv at Stamford Bridge, with goals from Willian, Oscar, Diego Costa – his first for Chelsea in the Champions League - and Cesc Fabregas.

"I forgot the feeling. For so long we don't win a game, so good, a good feeling. I am a fantastic manager when I win matches and I am a fantastic manager when I lose matches," Mourinho said.

The Chelsea boss received the acclaim of the home faithful and, while he prefers it when they support the players and team, he welcomed the adulation.

"I prefer that than they say 'Mourinho out' and they boo me and so on," he said. "It shows they don't read papers or they don't have short memories. If they don't read papers they support me. If they don't have short memories, they support me. We won four Premier Leagues, three with him and one with his team. This guy is not bad. Let's support the guy. We have a chance to win the fifth."

Mourinho also dismissed former Liverpool captain Gerrard's suggestion that there must have been a rift with skipper John Terry - one of six changes from the loss at Everton and an unused substitute against the Israeli side.

"Steven is wrong," the Blues boss said. "I have a very good relationship with him. Sometimes we contact by SMS (text message). But he's wrong, because we have no problems."

Speaking during his work as a BT Sport pundit, the former Liverpool captain had said: "There's certainly a bit of friction behind the scenes because for me, you play John Terry week in, week out, he's your captain.

"He's such an important figure in the dressing room and if Chelsea want to be successful this season, they need him in there. Chelsea were champions three months ago, they were the best team in the league, the PFA player of the year in Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas was on fire.

"Something's clearly happening behind the scene that we're not clued up on. You can't have that many problems in an 11 so quickly."

Despite all Chelsea's domestic troubles, they were the only English team to begin the Champions League with a win after Arsenal joined Manchester United and City in making a losing start.

"It's bad news for English football," the Portuguese said. "I'm not happy with that. I want Man City, Man United and Arsenal to lose in the Premier League - not in the Champions League."

The Gunners visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday in the Premier League and Mourinho will be happier to prepare after a win.

"For all of us to wake up (on Thursday) after a defeat, to go to Cobham again, to train again after a defeat, two days before a derby against Arsenal, I could imagine how difficult it would be for everyone," he added.

Willian picked up a hamstring injury and joins Pedro in missing the Arsenal game, while Radamel Falcao missed the Maccabi contest injured and Oscar may also be absent after recently returning from a knee problem. Mourinho praised Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was among those to come into the starting XI and might have had a penalty towards the end of the first half before Oscar converted from the spot.

"He's potentially a very good player, but we have to feed these young players and choose the right moment," Mourinho added.

Chelsea had already missed from the spot by then as Eden Hazard blazed a sixth-minute penalty over the bar. Mourinho praised the response of his side and says Hazard can continue taking spot-kicks if he wishes – as it is unlikely his side will be awarded one in the Premier League.

"It's up to him. If he wants, yes. If he doesn't, no," Mourinho said. "How many times we have a penalty in the Premier League? I don't think it's a problem, to be fair. You start a game that you have to win and after five minutes you miss a penalty, it's a great test of the character of the team."

Maccabi Tel Aviv boss Slavisa Jokanovic was not too downbeat with his side's loss.

"Welcome to Champions League. This is a different level," the former Chelsea midfielder and ex-Watford boss said. "We've been waiting 11 years to arrive here. First game we play away against one of the most important teams in the world. They dominated us, they deserved to win the game. We must learn, we must be more solid. I expect in the next five games we can show better face."

Chelsea seek to end winless home run as European football returns

Chelsea go in search of a first home win of the season at the third attempt when Jose Mourinho's side open their Champions League Group G campaign against Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Wednesday night.

The Premier League champions, who lost to Crystal Palace after a draw with Swansea in their two Stamford Bridge contests to date, face the Israeli double winners seeking a strong start in a group which includes Mourinho's former club Porto and Dynamo Kiev.

Chelsea would usually be expected to brush aside a team managed by their former midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic, but Maccabi Tel-Aviv advanced to the group stages at the expense of Basle, the Swiss side who in 2013/14 twice beat the Blues.

Jokanovic also guided Watford into the Premier League last term.

Chelsea's stuttering start to the domestic season could receive a much-needed fillip with victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv, who include former Blues defender Tal Ben Haim in their ranks.

The sides have never met competitively and Chelsea's only experience of Israeli opposition – in 2001/02 against Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the UEFA Cup – ended in defeat.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv lost twice to Stoke in the 2011/12 Europa League in their only contests with an English side and are in Europe's elite club competition for the first time in 11 seasons.

Attacking midfielder Eran Zahavi scored seven goals in the qualifying rounds and could be one to watch.

Chelsea exited the tournament to Paris St Germain at the first knockout stage last term and are keen to go further this season, although the priority will be to ensure at least a top-four finish in the Premier League and qualification for next season's competition.

Mourinho has not selected Papy Djilabodji, the Senegal defender signed from Nantes, in his Champions League squad in order to give exposure to promising attackers Bertrand Traore and Kenedy.

The Portuguese says he has plenty of central defensive cover, with Branislav Ivanovic among those able to operate there if needed as a fourth option.

“If he's in the Champions League squad Traore or Kenedy are not on the list,” Mourinho said.

“If Traore and Kenedy are not on the list in this moment you ask me why Traore and Kenedy are not on the list.

“Champions League can be a fantastic opportunity if they can play some minutes.

“We made that decision and because the group phase is six matches and we need to be very unlucky if in these six matches we need Djilabodji in the team, when we have John (Terry), (Gary) Cahill, (Kurt) Zouma and eventually Ivanovic.

“One thing is a short competition with six matches like Champions League, another thing is a domestic season with the Premier League and two cups.”

Papy Djilobodji left out of Chelsea's Champions League squad

Papy Djilobodji has been given his Chelsea squad number – but the transfer deadline day recruit is not in Jose Mourinho's Champions League squad.

The Senegal defender, signed from Nantes on Tuesday after the Premier League champions were repeatedly turned down by Everton in their pursuit of John Stones, will wear Chelsea's number 15 shirt.

But he has been omitted from the squad submitted to UEFA for Europe's premier club tournament.

Eight locally-trained players must be submitted in the 25-man A List squad, or the squad size be reduced.

Chelsea have a Champions League A List squad of 22 players, which includes summer signings Asmir Begovic, Radamel Falcao, Pedro, Baba Rahman and Kenedy.

Bertrand Traore, the Burkina Faso international, has also been included.

The Blues play Maccabi Tel-Aviv, managed by former Chelsea player and Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic, in their opening Group G game on September 16.

Former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim also plays for the Israeli side.

Chelsea next play on September 29 at Mourinho's former club Porto, with whom he won the 2004 Champions League.

The Blues' third game is at Dynamo Kiev on October 20.

Chelsea to decide whether to appeal Diego Costa violent conduct charge

Chelsea must decide quickly whether to appeal against Diego Costa's violent conduct charge after the Football Association began disciplinary proceedings following an ill-tempered clash with Arsenal.

Costa has been cited for an incident involving Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny in his side's 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues given until 6pm on Tuesday to respond.

The case for the defence became a little murkier on Monday when Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma was forced to explain comments in a television interview that the Spain striker "likes to cheat a lot".

Arsenal have already signalled their intent to appeal against Gabriel's sending-off in the match, but he has also been handed a separate charge of improper conduct.

Both London clubs face charges of failing to control their players, with a reply deadline of 6pm on Thursday.

The FA said in a statement: "Diego Costa has been charged for an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.

"The Chelsea forward was involved in an incident with Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny in the 43rd minute of the game. He has until 6pm (on Tuesday) to reply.

"Off-the-ball incidents which are not seen at the time by the match officials are referred to a panel of three former elite referees."

Costa's behaviour was the subject of a post-match television interview with Zouma, during which the French defender made potentially inflammatory comments that both he and the club attempted to clarify on Monday.

The 20-year-old told beIN Sports: "Everyone knows Diego and this guy likes to cheat a lot and put the opponents out of his game, and that happened in the game. He's a real nice guy in the life and we are very proud to have him."

Zouma posted an explanation on Twitter saying: "Sorry for any confusion, English is not my first language & I did not mean to accuse anyone of cheating. Simply to say Diego is a player who puts pressure on his opponents & who I have huge respect for."

A Chelsea spokesman said it was unfair to take Zouma's words at face value.

"It's a bit harsh to take literally the words of a young player speaking in his second language immediately after a game," the Chelsea spokesman said. "Kurt is deeply upset that his words have been used to attack a team-mate and a friend."

Regarding Gabriel, the FA statement continued: "Arsenal defender Gabriel has been charged with improper conduct for his behaviour following his dismissal, whilst team-mate Santi Cazorla has been warned for his behaviour following his sending-off.

"Both clubs have been charged for failing to control their players under FA Rule E20."

Arsenal said they would appeal for both wrongful dismissal in relation to Gabriel and the length of his ban.

A statement read: "The club can confirm that it is appealing wrongful dismissal and the three-match ban given to Gabriel."

Chelsea striker Diego Costa awaiting possible sanction from Football Association

Diego Costa and Chelsea can today expect to discover from the Football Association if the striker has a case to answer for his role in Saturday's feisty victory over Arsenal.

Jose Mourinho was seething when Costa was retrospectively sanctioned in February for treading on Liverpool's Emre Can, part of a perceived "campaign" against his side which included a Sky Sports montage entitled 'Costa's Crimes'.

The Chelsea boss would be expected to be similarly unhappy if Costa is charged for a series of incidents involving Arsenal defenders Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel, after labelling the striker "fantastic" and his man of the match following the 2-0 win.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had a contrasting view and hopes referee Mike Dean will look again at Costa's actions after filing his match report by today.

The match officials should have been aware of Costa's reputation during his first 14 months in the Barclays Premier League, says Wenger, but statistics show the striker did not commit a foul in the match.

The Gunners boss rebuked Dean for allowing the running feud between Costa and Gabriel to continue before the Arsenal defender saw red.

"He (Dean) let it go and I don't know why," Wenger said.

"I would like Mike Dean to look at the whole action that happened during the game and see if he stands for his decision.

"You have a fourth official, you have a linesman, the referee and they talk all the game. They can tell you and they know Diego Costa. He is not a newcomer.

"It is surprising. If I am a referee and I referee Diego Costa, I do not send somebody off quickly if he responds to it because you know he has been well provoked."

Wenger, though, did not condone Gabriel, who was sent off for reacting to Costa's taunts, insisting that even if a player is spat at he must keep his cool.

Gabriel became involved after Costa grappled with Koscielny, pushing the defender in the face with his hands before catching him with a flailing arm.

"You have to be above that," Wenger added. "To be professional, to me, is to deal with that. You can spit in my face and if it's in a game then I will not respond. I do not guarantee that outside of the game.

"The desire to win has to be above all of that."

Mourinho chastised Gabriel for losing "emotional control", insisting Costa kept his.

He said: "Of course. That's (the opinion of) people that don't have the same opinion as I have.

"When you work the way he did, his movement, his creation. He was fantastic.

"The opponents have to keep emotional control, because to play against an attacking player that is aggressive, that goes to every ball, that fights for every ball, that is physical, it's difficult."

Arsenal win appeal against Gabriel red card at Chelsea

Arsenal have won an appeal against Gabriel's sending-off at Chelsea.

The centre-back was dismissed for kicking out at Chelsea forward Diego Costa during Saturday's ill-tempered clash at Stamford Bridge.

However, the Football Association announced in a statement on Tuesday it has accepted Arsenal's challenge to the decision and withdrawn the three-match suspension.

Gabriel still faces a separate charge of improper conduct for his reaction after being shown the red card by referee Mike Dean.

The swift decision means Gabriel becomes available for selection in Wednesday night's Capital One Cup tie at Tottenham.

The FA statement read: "Arsenal's claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Gabriel has been upheld following an independent regulatory commission hearing.

"The player's three-match suspension has, therefore, been withdrawn with immediate effect.

"Gabriel was dismissed for violent conduct during the game against Chelsea on Saturday [19 September 2015].

"The player is currently subject to a separate FA charge of improper conduct in relation to Saturday's game and has until 6pm on Thursday [24 September 2015] to reply."

Gabriel lost his cool following a confrontation with Costa, who had earlier pushed Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny in the face and then barged him to the ground.

There was a precedent for the suspension being overturned.

Last season, Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic saw his ban reduced after reacting to a dangerous tackle by Burnley's Ashley Barnes, with the governing body accepting he had used a moderate "level of force" when pushing his opponent.

Gabriel, however, could still be sanctioned for failing to immediately leave the pitch following his red card, as the player tried to then confront Costa before being restrained by his team-mates.

The FA also charged both Chelsea and Arsenal for failing to control their players.

Mike Calvin: Newcastle never learn from their mistakes

Early signs suggest it will be the same old story for Newcastle under Steve McClaren this season, writes Mike Calvin.

They say those who fail to pay heed to history are doomed to make the same mistakes.

Newcastle United, it seems, are one of those clubs who never learn.

The season is only just starting to settle down, but the view from the relegation places in the Premier League is familiarly bleak.

Already Steve McClaren complains he has a team without a discernible identity. It lacks leadership, quality and cohesion.

Results have been poor and with matches against Chelsea and Manchester City to come, they are extremely unlikely to improve.

If they do not take subsequent advantage of theoretically easier fixtures against Norwich, Sunderland and Stoke, they will arrive at Bournemouth on November 7, for a BT Sport live game, in full blown crisis.

The mood has been set. Little things which would evoke a wry smile in easier times, like Newcastle players turning up for matches in tuxedos, are now branded a “disgrace.”

The fundamental problem, a system which cedes too much power to head of recruitment Graham Carr and managing director Lee Charnley, has not been addressed.

Far too few of the 14 players signed in the last three transfer windows have made an appreciable impact. Important policy decisions, like giving Fabricio Coloccini a new contract, have been flawed.

Coloccini’s desire to leave, despite the responsibilities of captaincy, was an open secret. It was also hardly uncommon.

Cheick Tiote, invisible where he was once influential, does not bother to disguise his alienation. Moussa Sissoko gives every impression of still pining for the big money move to Arsenal which might have been best for all parties.

Pappis Cisse, nominally second striker in a team which has scored only 14 goals in its last 21 Premier League games, may very well be past his sell-by date.

The bolder decision, to allow McClaren to oversee the cleansing of a notoriously difficult dressing room over the summer, has been shirked because it didn’t fit the strategy.

He is an accomplished training ground coach, hamstrung by his inability to influence a transfer policy which insists on the recruitment of young foreign players with appreciable sell-on potential.

Newcastle were warned about the febrile temperament of striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has announced himself as a red card waiting to happen.

Even Georginio Wijnaldum, by common consent one of the best of a new generation of technically adept Dutch players, is showing signs of succumbing quickly to the mood of doubt and discord.

McClaren admits the mental scars of last season, when Newcastle survived on the last day following a club record run of eight straight defeats, are still vivid.

If they don’t heal soon, he is in a heap of trouble.

Chelsea owe Mourinho a big performance

Chelsea must return to top form in their Champions League opener against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

There is little point in being coy. A lot of people in football are enjoying Chelsea’s discomfort.

The sight of the champions languishing in the bottom four of the Premier League has provoked an outpouring of malicious glee.

That may be a reflection of resentment at the glass ceiling which separates England’s elite clubs from the rest, but it does have wider implications.

Another setback at Stamford Bridge tonight, when Maccabi Tel Aviv’s visit promises to be a highlight of BT Sport’s Champions League coverage, borders on the unthinkable.

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Jose Mourinho is in predictably combative mood, but it is impossible to put a gloss on Chelsea’s worst start to a season for 29 years

Coming so soon after last night’s defeats for Manchester City and United, it would impact on the co-efficient which dictates how many English clubs qualify for European competition.

Jose Mourinho is in predictably combative mood, but it is impossible to put a gloss on Chelsea’s worst start to a season for 29 years.

They have already lost the same number of league games, three, as they did in the whole of the last campaign. Mourinho has promised change, to influence the dynamic of his squad.

Inevitably, the manager has been the lightning rod for criticism. He is used to such exposure, and habitually turns negativity to his advantage.

But this time he needs a response from his players, who have got off lightly for their indifferent form and dubious body language. They owe Mourinho, and themselves, a big performance.

Attention has, understandably, focused on the defence, where Branislav Ivanovic has been woefully out of form, John Terry has lost his natural authority and Gary Cahill appears to have regressed.

Yet the probable promotion of Reuben Loftus-Cheek highlights the breadth of current issues which need to be addressed. Mourinho admits he needs to provide a better pathway for such Academy products if he is to fulfil his dynastic ambitions.

Reuben-Cheek, who started two league games towards the end of last season but has played only 17 minutes so far this season, has his attention. Now he must earn his trust.

The youngster will feature tonight alongside Nemanja Matic or Cesc Fabregas, each of whom has fallen way below their usual standards at the base of midfield.

Diego Costa, another recent underachiever, is likely to be saved for Saturday’s key home game against Arsenal, which will also be live on BT Sport.

The naturalised Spanish striker is an emotionally-driven, potentially self-destructive player. His fitness is suspect, following a series of hamstring injuries, and his inclination to wage war on all and sundry is becoming an unnecessary distraction.

Perhaps the biggest challenge tonight faces Chelsea’s biggest player, Eden Hazard. He has failed conspicuously to sustain the form which made him Footballer of the Year.

At his best, he is Chelsea’s ultimate ambassador, a player of such subtlety and skill it is impossible to resent his success. He, above all, needs to give the critics a reason to believe.

Midfielder Nemanja Matic believes Chelsea's poor start is behind them

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic is confident the Blues' shaky start to the season is over.

Three defeats from their opening five matches left Chelsea on the edge of the relegation zone in the Barclays Premier League but back-to-back wins over Maccabi Tel Aviv and Arsenal have steadied the ship.

Jose Mourinho's side begin the defence of their Capital One Cup crown when they travel to Walsall on Wednesday and Matic believes Saturday's victory over the Gunners has transformed the mood in the camp.

"The game was important to win to get some more confidence - I can say for myself I'm feeling better, when you win the feeling is always better," Matic told chelseafc.com.

"We looked better on the pitch. Maybe mentally we are stronger. We had more pressure than normal before the game because we only had four points.

"We recognised the situation. It was time to win. We played like one on the pitch and we fought for every ball. This is just the beginning."

Walsall have enjoyed a strong start to the season in League One, where they sit second in the table after losing only one of their eight games so far.

Mourinho is likely to field a weakened side against the Saddlers, with a visit to Newcastle to come on Saturday before another trip to Porto three days later in the Champions League.

"In two games we have scored six and not conceded. It's important for confidence and team spirit, and now we have to continue in this way," Matic said.

"We have games every three days and I think our team is ready for that. It's going to be interesting. We will see what we can do.

"I am sure we can win all the games. We have quality for that and every game you play for Chelsea you have to want to win."

Diego Costa is set to miss the tie against Walsall after the striker was charged with violent conduct for his altercation with Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny at Stamford Bridge.

Thibaut Courtois remains absent with a knee problem while Willian has a muscle injury and is also out.