Chelsea will sign at least one new midfielder in 2026 to help cover for injuries to Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo. (via Matt_Law_DT)

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is high among the candidates Manchester City are considering in case Pep Guardiola exits the Etihad Stadium next summer.

According to numerous well-placed sources outside the club, there is a growing anticipation of this being Guardiola's last season at City. A firm decision will likely be made closer to the campaign finishing.

In the meantime, City are advancing contingency planning for the possibility of that outcome materialising.

Having previously worked there at youth and senior levels, Maresca retains admirers in the hierarchy and is expected to figure prominently if a vacancy arises, although he would not be the only contender.

[davidornstein - The Athletic]

#CFC

Happy birthday to our legendary former defender - Gary Cahill. 🔵🎉

🗣️ Enzo Maresca ahead of Newcastle United [A] in the Premier League:

🏥 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬:

“We are good.

“The ones that we left out against Cardiff are all okay [for Newcastle]. Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill are still out, but everyone else is okay.

“Liam Delap and Estevao are both doing well and we think they could probably both be back for the next game against Aston Villa.

“With Liam, we said that since his [hamstring] injury we didn’t know exactly for how long [he’d be out] but he’s progressing very well.”

⚫️⚪️ On Newcastle:

“For me, playing at Newcastle is always difficult. Night or day, they are a very good team.

“Their manager is fantastic and has done a superb job for many years. They have a very strong side, especially in midfield.

“Sandro Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, [Lewis] Miley also, they are all fantastic players, all international players and they complete each other.

“They are physically strong and very good on the ball. It’s difficult for any team to face them.”

(Via Chelsea FC)

#CFC #Chelsea #ChelseaFC

Happy birthday, Fikayo Tomori. 🥳

Trevoh Chalobah is the highest-rated Centre back (7.20) in the Premier League this season (Min. 12 apps). 🔵🌟

#CFC

🔗 WhoScored

𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: Academy forward Chizaram Ezenwata has signed his first professional contract with Chelsea. ✍️

Ezenwata joined Chelsea from Charlton Athletic during his Under-15s season and has since progressed through the ranks at Cobham.

After signing his scholarship contract in July 2025, the striker began the 2025/26 campaign as a regular for the Under-18s. He currently leads the scoring charts across all competitions at that level, with 11 goals so far.

The forward made his Under-21s debut against Manchester City last season and has featured twice in the EFL Trophy during the current campaign. On the European stage, he has been part of Calum McFarlane’s UEFA Youth League squad, making his competition debut in the 3-1 win over Atalanta.

Ezenwata also found the back of the net in the opening FA Youth Cup fixture, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Brentford to send the young Blues through to the fourth round.

Internationally, Ezenwata scored twice in his first three appearances for England Under-18s in September, before representing his country at the Under-17 World Cup.

Congratulations, chizzy ezenwata! 👏

[chelseafcacademy]

#CFC #Chelsea #ChelseaFC

🚨🤕 @Newcastle_United injury list ahead of Chelsea game:

OUT: Tino Livramento, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles & Will Osula

DOUBT: Nick Pope & Lewis Hall

(CraigHope_DM) #CFC

🗣️ Enzo Maresca:

🤔 𝐎𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚:

“It was not an emotional reaction, I said what I said, full stop.”

🤝 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦:

“Absolutely not.”

👀 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫:

“It’s a question for them, not for me.

“What I said, it was not an emotional reaction. It was not an emotional reaction. I said what I said. Full stop.”

🤐 𝐎𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛’𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐲:

“I already said what I said.”

👎 𝐎𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:

“No, no, absolutely not. No, no, no. I’m happy with the squad.

“The reason why I signed with this club, if you remember I have said many times, is because I think the squad is very good. I’m completely OK.”

🤷‍♂️ 𝐎𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐨:

“I always answer this question [the same way], from day one. The recruitment team are the ones who decide on that.”

(Via Dom Smith - The Standard)

#CFC #Chelsea #ChelseaFC #NEWCHE

Our final away match this year! 😤