Photos: See Images Of Chelsea - Manchester United Draw Game

The biggest English Premier League game of the weekend between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge lived up to its full billing. Diego Costa equalised for Chelsea in injury time after young English midfielder, Jesse Lingard had scored a spectacular to give Manchester united the lead.

 

sportscrusader.com share with readers some action pictures from the game at the Stamford Bridge during the tie that used to be a title decider but was of little importance with both sides labouring to finish in the top 4 with United in 5th place and Chelsea in 13th position.

 

Photos: See Images Of Chelsea - Manchester United Draw Game

Smoked The Peace Pipe: Chelsea Duo Settle Their Differences

Chelsea Pair ‘Bury The Hatchet’ – Hiddink

The premier league defending champions can’t seem to get out of the news after a poor defense to the title they won convincingly sweeping away opponents with easy during the 2014/15 season. Chelsea have struggled to replicate that form and it cost manager, Jose Mourinho his job and also lost the backing of the board who have been supportive all season.

 

Chelsea duo, Diego Costa and Oscar were yesterday reported to be in each others throat during a training bust up and two had to be separated by team mates.

It is understood the clash occurred when Oscar rattled Costa with a hefty tackle before the former Atletico Madrid hit man responded with hard-hitting tackle of his own. The second clash is understood to have sparked the heated confrontation between the pair, who had to be pulled apart.

Oscar embrace Costa after the Spansh striker assist gave him an easy tap in to give Chelsea the lead during the 3-0 victory at Crystal Palace

During interim boss Guus Hiddink’s pree conference today, the Dutch manager said, “He took a charge from behind and it was overdone and especially when you know it is Oscar – he got Diego and of course they scrambled and stood up which is a normal reaction and then chested a bit without the threat of punching. It was the two bulls – I don’t like when they hit but with the intensity of the training session, we had a very sharp training session and it was on the edge.

Costa and Oscar walk out together to train at Cobham on Friday

“After that Oscar apologised in front of the group and he apologised for over reacting and then they looked at each other and started laughing. Jokes were made afterwards and it was a battle that happened afterwards. It is solved. If they have solved it in the way it has been done then there is no need for discipline. It was solved within seconds,” he added.

 

Chelsea’s next premier league game is at home to West Brom on Wednesday, 13 January but will meet league one side, Scunthorpe United in the Emirate FA cup on Sunday.

Smoked The Peace Pipe: Chelsea Duo Settle Their Differences

Atsu"s Return To Chelsea Excites Sam Johnson

Former Black Stars defender Sam Johnson is confident that Christian Atsu’s return to parent Club Chelsea, will see him start playing once again.

Atsu has endured a very difficult season in the English League so far making only a handful of appearances for AFC Bournemouth, a team he was loaned to at the beginning of the 2015/16 football season.

Though he has featured in a couple of FA Cup and Capital One Cup matches, Atsu did not play a single match for AFC Bournemouth in the Barclays Premier League, and in most times fails to make even the substitutes bench during matches.

Sam Johnson

However following the sacking of Coach Jose Mourinho last month, Chelsea under the leadership of stopgap coach Guus Hiddink, has recalled the player who has started training with his colleagues.

“For me, I always said that he should send in a request to return to Chelsea because AFC Bournemouth don’t really know how best to use him to their advantage.”

“I am particularly happy that the new coach has recalled him and I hope it will commence something good for him”, am Johnson told footballcrusader.com.

Atsu"s Return To Chelsea Excites Sam Johnson

VIDEO: Christian Atsu contracts personal trainer as he aims to impress Guud Hiddink at Chelsea

Ghana winger Christian Atsu has been putting in extra work on the side in the gym as he looks to impress Guus Hiddink on his return to Chelsea.

The 23-year-old has been recalled from his disastrous loan spell at Bournemouth to rejoin the Blues.

Atsu is however likely to be shipped off on loan once more again having failed to overly convince many of his first team potential at Stamford Bridge.

The former FC Porto man has been working with the famous physical instructor Jamie Lawrence at an unknown gym in London.

Lawrence struck a solid bond with several of the Black Stars players during his working stint with Ghana at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

He has served as a personal trainer to the likes of Jonathan Mensah, John Boye and several other Premier League stars.

The ex Leicester City player now turned physical instructor is now looking to whip Atsu in peak physical condition for him to impress new Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink into retaining him at the club.

Watch video of Christian Atsu’s gym workout with Jamie Lawrence below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAILhBBracf/

VIDEO: Christian Atsu contracts personal trainer as he aims to impress Guud Hiddink at Chelsea

Jordan Ayew Likely To Partner Chelsea"s Loic Remy In Attack For Aston Villa

Ghanaian international Jordan Ayew is likely to have Chelsea’s Loic Remy as his new strike partner at Aston Villa.

This was after head coach of Aston Villa, Remi Garde said he will try to sign him on loan in the January transfer window.

Garde wants the 28-year-old Frenchman to strengthen a Villa side four points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League – and 11 from safety.

“Loic is special. He knows the country and league, and would be an interesting player for the team,” Garde said.

But Chelsea caretaker boss Guus Hiddink is unimpressed with Garde making his interest in the player public.

Remy, who joined Chelsea in a £10.5m move from QPR last year, has started only one Premier League game this season after suffering several injuries, scoring twice in the League Cup and once in the league.

“You have to respect where the players are,” Hiddink said. “If you are interested, talk first to the people with whom they are contracted. You cannot go into details.

“The player has signed a contract here and must be fit for us. He’s having a difficult time regarding his injuries. He has to prove first of all that he’s a good Chelsea player. He has had a calf problem for several days.”

Jordan Ayew Likely To Partner Chelsea"s Loic Remy In Attack For Aston Villa

Match Report: What We Learnt From Manchester United - Chelsea Game

5 Things We Learnt From Manchester United’s Goalless Draw Against Chelsea

 

Manchester United put in an improved performance against Chelsea but like what has become the niche for the home side in recent times, goal was hard to come by.

Matches between Chelsea and Manchester United in the past have been title decoders but this season both clubs are struggling to still find their feet this season after 19 – games played.

 

Footballcrusader.com highlights 5 Things learnt from the game

 

Matić Miss

Ander Herrera missed a header, Chelsea burst forward on the counter-attack, Pedro found Matic, who had only De Gea to beat.

Nemanja Matić misses a glorious opportunity to give Chelsea the lead

The United keeper came out and spread himself well, but Matić saw his scooped effort go high and wide. The Serbian midfielder blunder was truly woeful and received its rightful dose of jeers from the united supporters.

 

Van Gaal’s Substitution Tactics

Van Gaal in this game simply had to win, but his changes once again proved curious.

 

He substituted Matteo Darmian for Cameron Borthwick Jackson, given this was the latter’s first game since suffering a hamstring injury in the Champions League exit to Wolfsburg three weeks ago.

Louis Van Gaal watches on from the bench during his sides goalless drawn game against Chelsea

The baffling decisions of all was bringing on Phil Jones for Daley Blind, a straight defensive swap, when United needed to score a goal if not goals. The former Barcelona and Bayern München coach was rather been negative with his decision –  of protecting a game rather than going for it, came to the fore.

 

De Gea Remains United’s Priced Asset

De Gea’s heroics in the game proved once again why Spanish giants Real Madrid, were willing to pay almost 30 million pounds plus Keylor Navas and many football pundits won’t be surprise if the rumours of Real Madrid having reviving  their interest in De Gea rises again.

De Gea spreads himself to make a save

United’s goalkeeper remarkable fingertip saved to keep out a John Terry header after four minutes. He produced further heroics with a second-half double save fom Pedro and Cesas Azpilicueta.

 

Given United’s current predicaments, the Spanish goal keeper is one player they cannot afford to lose.

 

Manchester United’s Impotence Upfront

United may have played with more purpose and energy in the first-half, but they still lacked the necessary killer instinct where it mattered the most. 

 

The Chelsea scoreless game was United’s seventh goalless draw this season; fifth in their last eight games at home in all competitions. United have now scored just 10 goals in their last 14 games in all competitions

 

Anthony Martial Remains United’s Golden Boy

Martial continues to shine even though he has have failed to maintain his impressive start to his United career that saw him score four goals in as many games.

Martial, a £36million summer signing from Monaco, has continued to look the Red devil’s most dangerous man, even when Louis van Gaal’s side have been struggling.

The 20 – year old French international forward gave Branislav Ivanovic a torrid time, cutting in from the left and hitting the near post with a low effort.

Throughout the game he caused Chelsea problems with his pace, quick feet and direct running.

Match Report: What We Learnt From Manchester United - Chelsea Game

Gossip: Chelsea Interested In Colombian Striker

Chelsea Interested In Colombian Striker Not Falcao

 

Chelsea are interested in signing Atletico Madrid striker Jackson Martinez, the player’s agent has confirmed. The Colombian has struggled to make an impact at the Vicente Calderon since a £29m switch from Porto in the summer, scoring just three goals in 12 matches.

 

The 29-year-old could be set for a January loan move to the Premier League with both Chelsea and Tottenham interested.

And his agent, Henrique Pompeo, admitted there was interest in the Colombia international but that he wanted to remain at Atletico.

“I cannot say it’s a lie,” Pompeo said when asked if there was interest from Chelsea. This is football and no-one knows what will happen in the future. What I want to say is that Jackson is not one of those who goes to a place if it is not through the front door.”

 

He added: “Jackson wants to succeed at Atletico, [and] he’s going to do it, but it’s the club who decides his future.”

New manager Guus Hiddink is desperate to strengthen Chelsea’s attack next month as he looks to revive the defending champions’ disastrous season.

Diego Costa has failed to reach the heights of last season, although he scored twice against Watford in the Blues boxing day match, while Loic Remy is yet to secure a regular starting spot.

 

Radamel Falcao is also likely to bring his torrid loan spell to an end and return to Monaco.

Gossip: Chelsea Interested In Colombian Striker

New Manager, Same Old: Guus Hiddink First Chelsea Game End In A Draw

Chelsea Continue Poor Run With Home Draw

 

Chelsea’s inconsistent form in the 2015/16 season continued with a home draw against high flying Watford.

 

Chelsea had previously won convincingly the first game of the post Mourinho era against Sunderland. The game against Watford was interim manager, Guus Hiddinks first game in – charge and the results proved a same but with new manager – justifying Jose Mourinho was not the problem.

Diego Costa Thanks the Heavens for gifting him a goal

A revitalied Diego Costa scored two goals to begi the new era n the Dutch manager’s second coming as Chelsea boss. Costa gave Chelsea the lead in the 32nd minute, but the Hornets cancelled with Troy Deeney scoring from the penalty spot. Watford’s top goal scorer and Troy Deeney’s partner in crime, Odion Ighalo gave the visitors the lead early in the second half.

Nigerian forward, Odion Ighalo celebrates scoring Watford’s second goal

Spanish forward, Diego Costa scored twice in a game for the first time this season when he coolly guided in a through ball to level for the blues. Oscar’s missed Chelsea’s penalty kick and Ighalo also missed Watford’s clear chance to give his side the lead again meant both London sides share the spoils.

Oscar misses his penalty

Chelsea’s interim manager was happy with his players performance despite the dropping points. Ghanaian international and Chelsea left back, Baba Rahman was an unused substitute in his new boss’s first game.

New Manager, Same Old: Guus Hiddink First Chelsea Game End In A Draw