Inside Xabi Alonso’s appointment as #CFC manager: ▪️ building a team of ‘mentality monsters’ ▪️ minimum two first-team ready signings this summer ▪️ Front-runner throughout, but Iraola impressed ▪️ Liverpool did not come in for Alonso as they still believe in Slot www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

Former #CFC coach Carlo Ancelotti had some bad news for Joao Pedro on Monday night after leaving him out of the Brazil squad but Chelsea, Alonso and the striker himself stand to benefit. My column here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 Plenty on the agenda for @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social & @liamtwomey.bsky.social... 🖊️ Alonso in! 🏆 More Wembley woes 👊 Battle of the Bridge 2.0? 💙 Sam Kerr signs off in style #CFC pod.fo/e/418b02

Calum McFarlane will remain at #CFC as part of Xabi Alonso’s backroom staff. Alonso’s trusted quartet Sebastian Parrilla, Alberto Encinas and Benat Labaien & Ismael Camenforte Lopez coming with him. More here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

Results this season say otherwise but incoming manager Xabi Alonso does have the nucleus of a good side to work with at #CFC. A narrow Cup Final defeat will have assured him of that. He would not have taken the job otherwise. My column here (free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

#CFC defender Levi Colwill has been included in England's provisional World Cup squad. Full story here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

"Would that (winning the FA Cup) make it a good season? You can argue that all day. We want to win every competition so obviously we are disappointed. We have to make the most of what’s left." A piece on #CFC's quest for redemption at Wembley with Romeo Lavia: www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

“He is not fazed. Playing in big games for Chelsea or leading the line for Brazil…it’s his natural habitat.” Big read on #CFC’s Joao Pedro as he prepares to play in his first #FACup Final. Those that knew him best as a youngster knew he’d go to the top: www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

Shumaira Mheuka has been named the PL2 Player of the Season for his fine goal-scoring form for #CFC. Talks over new contract are expected to take place soon, possibly as early as this summer. Free to read piece here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

In light of @David_Ornstein’s story about #CFC exploring a deal for Xabi Alonso, here’s my column explaining why the appointment makes so much sense. He would command instant respect in the dressing room: www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social & Sam Parkin back with your first dose of SOC for the week... 🤝 A positive Anfield point? 🏆 What does it mean for the FA Cup final? 😩 AET despair for CFCW w/ @reallycerys.bsky.social #CFC pod.fo/e/412c8a

#CFC are still heavy underdogs for the #FACup Final but the display at #LFC has provided some hope at least. Here are my five reasons to be optimistic following their draw at Anfield (read for free): www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

As part of the live briefing piece from #CFC’s draw at #LFC, I focused on Levi Colwill playing his way into FA Cup Final contention and how this display will give some hope for an upset at Wembley: www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...

Shumaira Mheuka has had another great season with #CFC’s academy but has played fewer minutes for the first team than the previous campaign. Will he get a chance in the PL before it ends and what does the future hold? My piece here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

𝗣𝗥𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social & @liamtwomey.bsky.social together again... 🔴 Saturday at Anfield 🎫 'Tone deaf' ticketing? 🏆 Another Wembley date for #CFCW? 🎙️ @tburrows16.bsky.social speaks to Super Frank! #CFC pod.fo/e/41023d

#CFC face one of the most important summers in their modern history to put a project that is clearly going wrong, right. Here are some of the issues the club need to address. Piece with @liamtwomey.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...

𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗦𝗢𝗖! 🚨 We can't deliver happiness, rainbows & positivity... But we can certainly bring you collective misery and doom 💙 @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social & @liamtwomey.bsky.social assemble for the post-Forest podcast 👇 #CFC pod.fo/e/40e3c3

Good news for #CFC. Reece James and Levi Colwill are closing in on a return to the #CFC senior squad after injury. More here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...

Piece on Nicolas Jackson. Bayern Munich have decided not to buy him so what next? Does he have a future at #CFC or will the club still look to loan/sell? More here with @sebsb.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...

#CFC are one of many clubs interested in signing Anthony Gordon this summer. Here’s an explainer from @theathleticfc.bsky.social on his situation at #NUFC and what competition Chelsea face: www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...

𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social & @lukebosher.bsky.social talking... 🏆 Some redemption in the FA Cup? 🤨 Iraola? Cesc? Alonso? Who next?! 👏 Levi's return to action! 📈 CFCW finishing strong #CFC pod.fo/e/407bd1

Winning the #FACup semi-final v #LUFC should not be seen as job done as far as the #CFC players are concerned. They have a lot more making up to do…to the fans, the club and themselves. My column here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...

Enzo Fernandez leading by example, a hair-pull, a missed opportunity for Leeds, Tuchel sitting close to one of the men who fired him and Farke’s tactics…all covered in @theathleticfc.bsky.social’s briefing from #CFC’s win over Leeds at Wembley: www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

Kick-off is 25 minutes away. This is the #CHELEE team sheet:

Watched Levi Colwill play his first competitive game for nine months today. Wasn’t quite as big as the Club World Cup Final but was a very important day for him as he works on match fitness. Even two #CFC sporting directors came to watch. My piece here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

Interim #CFC head coach Calum McFarlane reveals there’s been no meeting with the players to discuss what went wrong under Liam Rosenior but says they have to take their share of the responsibility for his departure. More here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

Here’s the big read on Liam Rosenior’s departure from #CFC. There were many things that led to his sacking and issues he had to deal with, including a divided dressing room. More from @theathleticfc.bsky.social here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @lukebosher.bsky.social, @liamtwomey.bsky.social, @reallycerys.bsky.social AND @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social all aboard for immediate reaction to Liam Rosenior's departure. Was it inevitable? What next? Who'd take on this 'project'? #CFC pod.fo/e/4046f3

Liam Rosenior feels ‘100 per cent’ support from Chelsea hierarchy despite plummeting form www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior insists he feels the “100 per cent” backing from the club’s hierarchy despite the team winning just one of their last eight league games. More from @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social

#CFC have nine fewer points than at the same stage last season (33 games). They were in fifth spot with 57 points, which would be enough to be in fifth now - a point behind Man Utd and Aston Villa.

Liam Delap has scored the same amount of PL goals as Josh Acheampong. Regarded widely in the game as a good buy by #CFC last summer, the forward has really struggled. What does the future hold for him with Emegha joining in the summer? More here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Chelsea’s Estevao in tears after hamstring injury, Enzo Fernandez to be assessed – Liam Rosenior www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1 – Fernandes assists Cunha and eyes record, Rosenior Euro hopes fade www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Am told Colwill played around 60 minutes in a behind closed doors friendly for u-21s today. All went well. More good news for #CFC. But as Rosenior makes clear, his return to the first team won’t be rushed…understandably everyone wants to make sure he’s fully good to go.

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior says Enzo Fernandez’s fall out with the club has not divided the dressing room and the midfielder is ready to face Manchester United on Saturday. More from @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social bit.ly/4szAtOj

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo is set to sign a new contract at the club. The 24-year-old has five years remaining on his existing deal but is set to sign fresh terms at Stamford Bridge. More from @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social & Cerys Jones

Is Liam Rosenior under any pressure at Chelsea – and should he be? www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 Come and get your dose of post Man City misery right here... @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social & Sam Parkin talking through the 3-0 defeat + the thoughts of @liamtwomey.bsky.social from the press box after another sorry defeat for #CFC pod.fo/e/3fd231

As part of this on the whistle piece from @theathleticfc.bsky.social, I focused on #CFC paying the price for Fernandez absence and how they are in serious danger of missing out on qualifying for Europe next season. #CHEMCI www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

The true test over whether #CFC have moved on from their poor form pre-int break and Fernandez/Cucurella comments starts today. Sources close to players say int. break has helped everyone reset & renewed focus in the camp on 2 remaining targets: www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

#CFC currently go into their match against #MCFC closer to Bournemouth in 10th (three points ahead) than Liverpool in fifth (four points behind). And if Newcastle and Sunderland win their matches on Sunday, Bournemouth will be 12th when Chelsea’s game kicks off. Queuing up.

Mystery re. Fernandez & #CFC continues. From this piece before Rosenior’s pc comments: Fernandez is not causing a problem behind the scenes despite his suspension and things have very much returned to normal. More here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

Liam Rosenior says there are still issues with #CFC midfielder Enzo Fernandez that need to be resolved despite the player apologising to him and the club. More here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

#CFC will play Leeds Utd in the #FACup semi-final.

“Lifting the FA Cup would mean more than both the Conference League & Club World Cup. What they did last season was an achievement & the players should be proud of it. But the FA Cup stands above them.” Exc interview with Joe Cole on #CFC, his beloved former club: www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

“I may shed a tear if he gets on the pitch. It is not the end goal, but it is another step to where he wants to be. He has worked hard for it.” A piece on #CFC’s exciting academy talent Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, who could make debut in #FACup v Port Vale: www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Are Chelsea edging towards a crisis? www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

On the whistle piece from me covering #CFC’s latest defeat…how the pressure is mounting on Rosenior with no European football a possibility next season, poor defensive record costing them and Lavia’s need for minutes causing issues: www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Some pre-match listening perhaps ahead of #CFC’s game at #EFC. I joined a debate with @mjslater.bsky.social and host @aakinwo.bsky.social over the club only getting a PL fine for rule breaches under Abramovich. Was it a fair punishment? pod.fo/e/3b2669