Tag: blue’s
Beat The January Blues With Some New Ghostly TV
Chelsea boss Hayes says draw with Real Madrid is a ‘fair result’ after Blues drop points in the Champions League
EMMA HAYES says ‘bumps in the road’ are to be expected after Chelsea shared the spoils of a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid.
Christmas looked to have come early for the Spanish side in the Champions League group stage clash after Caroline Weir pounced on a clearance error.
Caroline Weir gave Real Madrid a first-half lead in their second group stage duel with Chelsea –[/caption]
A Madrid own goal after Guro Reiten’s spot-kick saw the WSL champions secure a draw[/caption]
But Guro Reiten’s spot-kick saw Hayes’ aces maintain their unbeaten group phase run before their clash with Reading in the WSL this Sunday.
Prior to their Madrid visit Chelsea have been in clinical winning form in Europe keeping six clean sheets in their last seven European games.
The clash at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium saw them concede for the first time in Group A following their 2-0 home defeat of their opponents last time out.
Hayes said: “Technically, I’ve never seen us give the ball away so cheaply. All parts of our play in-possession struggled.
“That’s something we’ll work at. We’ve been playing really well, so we’re disappointed.
“It’s the first time in a while we’ve conceded such a poor goal.
“Credit to the team for the way they responded. Everybody raised their levels.”
Chelsea have notched up ten points from the four group stage games they have played to date with the club currently top of the table.
On qualification for the knockout phase remaining in their hands, Hayes added: “We’re in a good place and we know this is a tough group.
“We have to respect that we’re coming to Madrid, we’re away from home and this is a big pitch.
“They are an improving team who drew with Paris Saint-Germain and beat Manchester City and we have to pay respect to them.
“I thought it was a good game and probably a draw was a fair result.”
The Blues came close to netting in the opening five minutes with Sam Kerr cracking the crossbar after a Reiten corner and hitting the post later on.
But Weir ensured the hosts took a first-half lead against her old WSL foes as the Spanish side began to put pressure on their opponents.
Ann-Katrin Berger’s clearance paved the way for the forward to stroke the ball home in the 36th-minute bagging her first goal against the Blues in a Madrid shirt.
However Ivana Andres’ clumsy challenge on Reiten saw the visitors get back on level terms in the second period through a penalty
And they did so after Madrid goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez scored an own goal after pushing Reiten’s spot-kick off the post into the net.
At the other end Berger pulled off a classy close range stop to deny Olga Carmona a goal in the 79th minute before Weir sent a long range effort over the bar.
And Rodriguez pulled off a stunning stop parrying Kerr’s thumped shot out of danger with both sides sharing the spoils.
Chelsea’s Thursday night draw saw them open up a three-point gap on Paris Saint-Germain at the top of their group before their December 16 clash with Vllaznia.
A win against the Albanian side will see the Blues reach the knockout stage ahead of their December 23 duel with PSG – their last game in the group stage.
Before then the WSL leaders face Reading at Kingsmeadow with the aim of picking up a tenth win in the top tier this term.
The match comes in a week that saw Hayes and her assistant Denise Reddy win November’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League Manager of the Month prize.
The Chelsea boss said: “It’s a tight turnaround so we have got to rest really quickly with Friday off then back in on Saturday and playing again on Sunday, but we’re used to doing it.
“It doesn’t make it easier but I always think playing away from home on a Thursday and then playing at home on Sunday at least makes it a little more palatable.
“But we’ve got the experience of doing that and I think everybody in the squad trains at a really good level that we have such great players that we can cope with this type of game.”
Chelsea news: Blues make unwanted history as Graham Potter handed top four warning
Chelsea news: Blues v Arsenal prediction made as questions asked about Raheem Sterling
Paris Saint-Germain 0 Chelsea 1: Green hails might of Bright and the WSL after Blues beat PSG
PAUL GREEN praised Millie Bright for volleying Chelsea to victory as they got their Champions League trophy chase off to a flier.
Her effort helped the Blues seal a gritty 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain with another French giant beaten by an English side.
Blues general manager Green, who was Doncaster Rovers Belles director during Bright’s 2009 to 2014 spell at the club, said: “Millie used to be a striker when we were together at Doncaster.
“She must have been remembering that time when the ball came to her at the back-post.
“It was a fantastic finish, and I thought her overall performance as part of that defensive unit was really solid.
“She’s a top player and she certainly put in a top performance.”
The WSL title-holders’ Group A opening victory comes a day after Arsenal fired five goals past Lyon on Wednesday night.
The French champions were run ragged as the Gunners turned on the style to claim a memorable win.
Read More Sports Stories
Goals in both spells saw Jonas Eidevall’s side dispatch the 15-time French champions.
The club currently have several senior stars injured including Ada Hegerberg, Catarina Macario and Greidge Mbock.
Green believes wins for the Gunners and the Blues show the strength of the Women’s Super League with both sides laying down markers for their European rivals.
He added: “It shows how far the English league has come that ourselves and Arsenal have come to the top two teams in France and got two victories.
“Lyon have a lot of injuries at the moment so I’m sure they’ll be back.
“PSG are still a very strong team and they’re both very respected in Europe.
Most read in Champions League
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
“Yes, the English teams have won over the last couple of evenings but there’s a long way to go in the group and a long way to go in the competition.
“It’s a really positive thing for the English league and does show how far it’s come.
“In years gone by it was probably unthinkable that teams would come to France and win games like this.
“Maybe five or six years ago the English teams wouldn’t have been in that position.
“It’s full credit to ourselves and Arsenal for the two performances.”
Emma Hayes, who is recovering from a hysterectomy, may not have been present on the touchline for her side’s first Champions League fixture this term.
But it was business as usual for her aces whose efforts were watched by Neymar at the Stade Jean Bouin.
Bright got the ball rolling in the first-half firing Chelsea ahead in the 27th minute after Sam Kerr tested Sarah Bouhaddi with a close-range effort in the first quarter.
The hosts were missing the services of star striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto who is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
They looked to hit back in the second spell with Laurine Fazer firing a volley over the bar.
They began to pressure Chelsea in the final third with former Lyon defender Kadeisha Buchanan intercepting a 65th-minute cross from Kadidiatou Diani.
But the visitors held out to claim a gritty win and second spot in Group A.
Chelsea news: Blues rebuked for Reece James injury amid Aubameyang warning
Chelsea news: Blues duo face injury setbacks that leaves World Cup dreams in tatters
PATRICK MARMION reviews Blues For An Alabama Sky
Exclusive: Tyler Perry Talks 27-Year Journey Bringing ‘A Jazzman’s Blues’ to Screens
The multi-talented Tyler Perry returns to Netflix for another original movie titled ‘A Jazzman’s Blues,’ written, directed, and produced by the Academy Award honoree.
A tale of forbidden love, ‘A Jazzman’ stars Joshua Boone and Solea Pfeiffer who play magnetized lovers Bayou Boyd and Leanne Jean Harper. Forty years of secrets and lies come to light to the tune of juke joint blues in this movie,
The post Exclusive: Tyler Perry Talks 27-Year Journey Bringing ‘A Jazzman’s Blues’ to Screens appeared first on ..::That Grape Juice.net::.. – Thirsty?.