Paulo Ferreira

Chelsea Reveals Preseason Fixtures

Chelsea has unveiled their pre-season fixtures which includes matches against: Wycombe Wanderers, AFC Wimbledon, RZ Pellets, Vitesse Arhnhem, Werder Bremen and Ferencvaros all of which will take place during the months of: July and August.

One of the latest additions of the Premier League club Chelsea, Diego Costa has been urged to score early in the season as a way to kick-off his debut season with the club at Stamford Bridge. Fans and supporters of Chelsea are hoping that Costa will not experience the same destiny that Fernando Torres experienced after he was transferred from Liverpool to Stamford Bridge with a price tag of €50 million.

Shevchenko advised Diego Costa by telling the Spanish attacker: “The best thing for Costa is to score and score early. That will be important to him. The expectations from the fans and the club are very big so he needs to score and get going. I’m sure he will do well. I think he is a good striker and I like him.”

Jose Mourinho will have to make tough decisions not only during the upcoming season but even prior to it as well. The Portuguese manager has to decide on who will he be utilizing as his main goalkeeper throughout the next campaign as Thibaut Courtois is going to be making his return to Stamford Bridge but Petr Cech is expected to remain being a Chelsea player at least for another season.

Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech are world class goalkeeper and Mourinho has to make up his mind as to which one is going to be his starting shot-stopper. Some months ago it was rumored that Courtois was going to be used as bait in order to lure Diego Costa from Athletic Madrid but it never happened as Chelsea managed on signing the Spanish attacker without having to offload Courtois and now both goalkeepers remain at the disposal of Jose Mourinho who has a couple of difficult selections to make.

Lampard Announces Retirement

A few weeks ago Chelsea released a list of players that are going to be released and Frank Lampard was one of the high profile figures which were named as the veteran midfielder has already announced to the public that his time at Stamford Bridge is over.

“It was very difficult. After 13 years, the club was part of my life. It is difficult but you have to move on, the club will move on. I’ll probably address it more to the Chelsea fans at a better time. I am here to concentrate on England. It was almost a relief to say it so I can move forward. I am really happy to be among an exciting England squad, full of skill, speed and exuberance.” Lampard announced.

Even at his age Lampard played an influential role in the squad not only in the previous campaign but throughout the entire of his career playing at Stamford Bridge.

One of the ways that Jose Mourinho is working to improve the squad and especially now with the departure of Lampard is with the arrival of Diego Costa as he is on the verge of making a move from Athletic Madrid to Chelsea with a price tag of €35 million. If the transfer does complete as expected then Costa will be earning more than triple the wages that he is earning at the Spanish club.

According to all rumors and reports involving Diego Costa and Chelsea, the Brazilian attacker will earn around £150,000 a week with the Premier League club with a 5 year long contract which is just about to be completed.

Cesc Fabregas is another viable option for Jose Mourinho as the Spanish midfielder is viewed as a long term successor for Frank Lampard.

Ferreira Awarded Special Recognition

Former Chelsea defender Paulo Ferreira was named as the recipient of the special recognition award for this campaign from the club. At the end of the season awards from Chelsea, Ferreira received the award after having represented the club from 2004 to 2013. During this time, he won several trophies including Premier League and Champions League titles. After having retired 12 months ago, he has been working with the club in an ambassadorial role. He was brought to the club by Jose Mourinho in 2004 for a hefty fee of £ 13 million.

However, he has gone on to set new standards when it comes to professionalism during the latter stages of his career with the London outfit. Even though he was not one of the regular first-team players, Ferreira always kept himself fit and in the best condition possible. He was often demanded to play in a number of roles across the back four. During his time at the club, he made more than 200 appearances in all competitions. After receiving the award, Ferreira thanked his former teammates and the club for this award. He also said that he never thought of achieving so much with Chelsea when he joined the club.

Eden Hazard was announced that the club’s Player of the Year on the same night. “I feel so humbled. I can’t believe I have won this award. I spent nine great years at this club and I feel really happy. For me it was like a second home here, it was a big family. That’s why I am still living in London and I hope to be here for a long time,” said the former defender.

Meanwhile, Azpilicueta received the player’s player of the year award. The right back played in an unusual position – left back – for most of the season.