Chelsea

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

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Chelsea may be fighting just to secure a top-five spot in the Premier League this season, but there is one table they are topping.

Having previously struggled to bring players through from a silverware-laden academy, the Blues have become almost synonymous with youth and young players over the past few seasons - particularly under the new ownership.

Snapping up the brightest young talents from around the world while also providing opportunities for academy players, Chelsea have the youngest squad in the Premier League by average age, and have fielded nine of the 10 youngest XIs in the division this season.

By bringing through more academy products into the first team while also sending some of those players out on loan, Chelsea have been adept at raising the value of players before selling them on.

Given large outlays in transfer fees following Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital's takeover in 2022, being able to sell homegrown players for 'pure profit' has helped keep Chelsea within profit and sustainability rules.

With regards to total profit made from selling academy products and homegrown players over the past four seasons, the Blues have made more than any other team at £315m, according to FootballTransfers.com.

That is £100m more than the next highest Premier League academy of Manchester City, who have made £215m from academy sales.

The player who brought in the most profit for the club in that time was midfielder Mason Mount, who was sold for £52.5m to Manchester United.

There is often a special relationship between players referred to as 'one of our own' and supporters, and the sale of them often causes a disconnect between fans and ownership.

However, with transfer fees continually rising, the need to generate income from the sale of successful academy products seems to be increasingly important.

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Chelsea forward Pedro Neto has played down the significance of facing Djugarden on an artificial pitch in their Conference League semi-final.

Some of the Swedish side's own players have voiced their frustration about the surface, as well as Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, but Neto is prepared for the conditions.

"To be honest, when I was younger in Portugal I used to play on these pitches. I even played on the sand sometimes!" he said.

"Of course I haven't played on one in a long time, but we will train on it tonight and be prepared for tomorrow."

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist

Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League game at Djurgarden (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca was asked whether it is a "failure" if Chelsea do not go on to win the Conference League: "For sure. I don't know if it's a failure or disappointed - I don't know the right words in English. For sure, now that we are in the semi-finals and the next target is the final. If we are able to reach the final, we go for the title."

• He sees the chance of adding a Conference League trophy to their Champions League and Europa League successes as a mark of prestige: For me, it's a huge title because it's a European competition and we can give this club the opportunity to be the only club in the world to win all the European competitions."

• He said one of Nicolas Jackson, Tyrique George or Pedro Neto will start up front for Chelsea.

• Maresca said Djurgarden's artificial pitch is "completely different" and that he is aware of some of the home side's players complaining about the pitch in recent weeks.

• However, he insisted Chelsea "don't have an excuse or reasons" why they could not compete, adding: "It can be a concern [injuries because of an artificial pitch]. I am a little bit worried about that but we are not in a moment where we can decide to save players for Sunday. This is a semi-final - a European competition - and we want to be in the final."

• Maresca added: "The most important thing tomorrow is how we adapt immediately to the environment and especially to the pitch."

• He was asked about the difference in cost of the two squads: "You don't win games and titles with money and we know that very well. It's not about how much you spend in the transfer market. You are not going to win games or titles just because you spend big money. You have to spend in the right way."

• On how Thursday's game will affect preparations for Sunday's Premier League match against Liverpool: "I think we are trying to build a winners' mentality. You build that by trying to win every game, no matter who the other team is."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Christopher Nkunku and Robert Sanchez are both missing from Chelsea's squad for Djurgarden.

France striker Nkunku picked up a small knock in training while goalkeeper Sanchez received a bang on the leg against Everton.

Both have been left at home and are being assessed.

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"Probably the best signing Chelsea ever made."

That was the view as journalist Rory Smith and former Chelsea defender Robert Huth discussed the former Blues boss' time in charge, 20 years on from winning Chelsea's first Premier League title after securing a 2-0 victory at Bolton.

"The moment that [Roman] Abramovich arrived is always presented as this great watershed for English football, which is definitely true, but for Chelsea I don't think it is quite right because it did feel like the decade building up to Abramovich's arrival, Chelsea's transformation had already started," The Athletic's Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"You could say Chelsea made the most of that sudden influx of players from abroad in the mid-90s, selling being in London, being Chelsea, having that slight historic reputation for being the 'Kings of the Kings Road'. You understood when Abramovich was looking for a club, it made sense and fitted that he went for Chelsea.

"You knew he wasn't messing around, you knew he wasn't likely to stick with the manager he inherited when you knew there was someone younger, sexier, and more 'his guy' out there and Mourinho fitted the bill perfectly for that.

"The thing that is most lasting about Mourinho probably isn't tactical, I don't think Mourinho's legacy in England is because of anything tactical – I think it is his character.

"English football thrives on character and personality, it is a character-led soap opera and Mourinho understood that."

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Huth, who was part of Mourinho's 2004-05 title-winning side, agreed and added: "He was a dictator, in the nicest possible way. Win at all costs is the best way to describe it.

"He didn't care how we won. That message of winning at all costs - we felt it every training session. We won 13 of the first 15 games. These messages are easier when you're winning.

"He put himself in front of the team or before the team, but when you see him as a team laughing about someone else's comments [Arsene Wenger's), as a group it just takes the edge off it. He never took time out to talk about any of that, he would just laugh.

"Jose was probably the best signing Chelsea ever made. He changed the attitude of Chelsea to push forward and challenge for Premier League titles."

Find more Mourinho chat in the last hour of the show on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your memories of Chelsea's Premier League title win in 2005.

Here are some of your comments:

Tom: The 2005 league title was won up at Bolton on my 21st birthday. I've been told it was quite the party to celebrate after but for some reason my own memories are a little hazy!

Jeremy: I was travelling on a coach when Chelsea played Bolton. Listened to the whole game on the radio and got some very weird looks when I jumped off my seat celebrating! An unbelievable season that will forever live in my memory. As a 16-year-old at the time, all my memories were of Chelsea being a top-six side, but to see the tears in my dad's eyes when we finally won the league meant so much to me. He's been a fan since the late 1960s and only really knew Chelsea struggling to keep their head above water. The memories of that day will live forever.

Chris: I was there - what an unbelievable day it was. Super Frank won us this game but the whole team were fantastic all season and must rank as one of the best Premier League teams so far.

Paul: I was 16 and working in a video shop at the time. I listened to it on the radio and when Lampard scored the second goal I gave everyone free rentals for the next hour. Lost the job not long after that, but it was worth it.

Gary: I was having lunch in the ESPN Sports bar, Times Square NYC watching the Yankees play the Blue Jays when the messages started coming through the phone that we had won the league. I remember buying every newspaper from WH Smith's at LHR when I landed.

Scott: Memories of that day/season? Great manager, great players, direct attacking football, rock solid defence. Oh how times have changed.

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Chelsea will have a sponsor on their shirts until the end of the season after announcing a deal with Dubai-based property firm Damac.

Damac has become Chelsea's official property development partner.

Its logo will feature for the first time on Chelsea's shirts in their Conference League semi-final fixture at Djurgarden on Thursday.

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Jose Mourinho had an "aura" that you just "had to follow", says former Chelsea defender Robert Huth.

Wednesday, 30 April marks the 20th anniversary of Mourinho's first Premier League title win and the Blues' first league success for 50 years.

Announcing his arrival to English football by calling himself "The Special One" in his first news conference, it made onlookers, including his new players, sit up and take notice.

"I was watching it [the first news conference] and I'd never seen someone with so much confidence, self-belief and it all transferred into the first meeting," Huth told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Everyone just bought into it straight away. You could see the confidence straight away and it just got better and better. The standard got higher and higher.

"Success gives you the power to walk into a room with Roman Abramovich and be so demanding, and only he had the charisma to do it. He wanted 11 players that worked, he didn't want anyone to just drag along in a game. He wanted 11 workhorses and that's exactly what he signed."

While not a regular starter, centre-back Huth was part of the team that won the league in Mourinho's first season in charge having conceded just 15 goals.

Explaining how he convinced players to buy into his style and mentality, the 40-year-old said: "He was a dad kind of figure - he'd treat you harshly if you made a mistake, but if you did well he'd hug you and made sure you do it again. He had that aura about him where you knew you had to follow him.

"We had 25 players competing for a spot. The competition in the whole squad was unbelievable and every training session was like a fight.

"If someone had a bit of an injury and it was two weeks out, he'd go, 'can you make it four weeks?' Just so other players in the squad could play minutes. All these psychology things that he worked on, worked.

"He was hands on with his players and staff, and if they weren't performing to the level he wanted them to be, he'd have a go. He set the standards - first in the training ground, first on the pitch, last to leave.

"When you have a manager like that, you just buy into it and love it."

Listen to more Mourinho chat in the final hour of Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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It was 20 years ago today that Chelsea beat Bolton 2-0 to win their first league title in half a century.

The culmination of years of steady progress in the 1990s, taken to a new level two years before by the arrival of Roman Abramovich, was a season of total domination from the Blues under Jose Mourinho.

While the victory over Bolton will be remembered as the game that sealed it, it was more a day of celebration than anything else. Fans who had been watching Mourinho's winning machine sweep aside all in their path since August were not in any doubt at this point that the title was theirs. It was a question of when, not if.

In a season when the Blues kept an incredible 25 clean sheets and went more than 1,000 minutes without conceding at one point, they only needed a single goal in most games to get the job done. When Frank Lampard battled through the Bolton defence and drove the ball in after an hour, even the most pessimistic supporters were already celebrating.

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Lampard's second goal was the perfect way to seal it. The midfielder carried the ball from the halfway line with a clear run on goal, giving supporters around the world 10 exquisite, unforgettable seconds to watch their dreams coming true, moments that were burned into their memories forever.

There is no player in the club's 120 year history who they would have trusted more in that situation to calmly round the goalkeeper and put the ball into the net.

The contrast between that team and the current squad couldn't be greater. The defence and goalkeeper were rock solid, the midfield and attack full of quality and experience, and there was an iron bond already forged between Mourinho and the fans - one that persists to this day.

Each of those elements feel very distant now, and the combination of all of them almost unreachable.

But if that season taught us anything, it is that a winning team can come together very quickly - if you have the right ingredients.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

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It is a moment that will live long in the memories of so many Chelsea fans.

Frank Lampard running through on goal to slot in his second of the day against Bolton and securing the Blues their first English top-flight title in 50 years.

Wednesday, 30 April marks 20-years since that historic moment for the club - in Jose Mourinho's first season as manager.

The west London side would go on to win another four Premier League trophies in the two decades that have followed, but there is nothing quite like the first.

So, what are your memories of that day? Where were you when the final whistle blew? Was it cheers or maybe tears?

Let us know

It is 20 years to the day since Chelsea won their first Premier League title - and first league title for 50 years - secured by a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers.

Frank Lampard struck twice in the second half as manager Jose Mourinho added the championship to the League Cup in his first season in charge.

Geremi started at right-back so William Gallas could play at left-back in the absence of the injured Wayne Bridge, while Jiri Jarosik played his only 90 minutes in the league for Chelsea before departing for Birmingham City on loan at the end of the season.

Arjen Robben and Damian Duff were both out, while Joe Cole came on as a late substitute for Eidur Gudjohnsen.

The spine of the team, however, of John Terry and Riccardo Carvalho in central defence, Lampard, Tiago and Claude Makelele in midfield and Gudjohnsen and Didier Drogba up front remained the same.

Sam Allardyce's Bolton offered an aerial assault on the Blues' record-breaking defence - notably the partnership of Terry and Carvalho - that conceded just 15 goals all season, but a fine goalkeeping performance from Petr Cech kept them at bay.

Lampard's opener on the hour mark - a trademark effort fired into the bottom corner - was controversial with Bolton claiming Jarosik had fouled Fernando Hierro in the build-up and Allardyce said post-match "the referee won them this game".

The clinching goal was a classic counter-attack with Lampard rounding Jussi Jaaskelainen to send the away fans in the Reebok Stadium into delirium.

Chelsea are interested in a summer move for Aston Villa and England forward Morgan Rogers, 22.

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Does Chelsea's Europa Conference League tie against Djurgardens represent the dysfunctional nature of European football?

Journalist Noa Bachner tells The Football News Show the Blues are "the complete opposite" of what Djurgardens represent.

Watch The Football News Show

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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Another weekend brought another narrow victory for Enzo Maresca and Chelsea, who kept their Champions League hopes alive by squeezing past Everton 1-0.

It wasn't the sort of performance which will convince anyone that the Blues are about to sweep aside Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest to power back into the Champions League, but it means three more points on the board and another chance to try and go up a gear before they take on Arne Slot's newly-crowned Premier League champions next weekend.

It was certainly a better performance than some others seen at Stamford Bridge recently, with more control and a better tempo from a team who have tended to start games agonisingly slowly. The latter stages saw Maresca's team sitting deep and holding on, however, something the manager blamed on the warm weather.

As well as the improved performance, there were individual positives to be pleased about too - Nicolas Jackson scored at last, potentially sparking him into some form, and Romeo Lavia returned from his latest injury to play well in midfield.

It still looks a tall order to get enough points from the remaining games to finish in the top five, but the combination of these two crucial wins in a row with the potential improvements brought by the return of important players certainly keeps hope alive - and keeps these final weeks intense and exciting.

The way that Liverpool swatted aside Tottenham on Sunday doesn't inspire confidence that Chelsea can do anything at Anfield - but playing them the week after they confirmed their title win can only be seen as a good thing, whether or not it does actually end up having an effect on their performance or commitment.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

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Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino has not played a single minute since joining the club in a £15.6m deal from Boca Juniors.

The 19-year-old's absence was explained as injury-related by manager Enzo Maresca in the build up to the 1-0 win at home to Everton.

However, sources with knowledge of the situation have elaborated that Chelsea are being cautious over a minor muscle issue, in the knowledge the Argentine youngster needs to build up his physicality for Premier League football.

Anselmino, who joined in January, has put on an extra few kilograms of muscle as he looks to adapt to English football.

Chelsea have always been calm about introducing Anselmino in his first six months, especially as he arrived with a significant hamstring problem.

They declined a deadline day offer from Marseille after deciding his development is better served training with high class players and acclimatising while learning English.

Anselmino could still make his debut for the club this season but has only twice been named on Maresca's bench and he has just a single appearance for the under-21s so far, away at Liverpool in February.

As for the summer, those close to him expect him to join partner club Strasbourg but no final decision has been made by Chelsea and he could yet feature in the Club World Cup in the United States in the summer.

Arsenal are considering a move for Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku, as Mikel Arteta looks to add more attacking options this summer. (Teamtalk), external

Chelsea are planning a move for 20-year-old Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens before the Club World Cup - and it is possible they could sell Jadon Sancho to the German club as part of the deal. Sancho is on loan at Stamford Bridge from Manchester United, but the Blues have an obligation to make the deal permanent. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge.

Here are some of your replies:

Chelsea fans

Baz: That was a more determined performance from the Blues. To hold on to a 1-0 lead for that long, and then fight through a determined last 20 minutes from Everton, was surprising. It has left me delighted. We look so much better when we thrust at opponents, rather than this slow build-up and possession style that is one poor pass and counter-attack away from catastrophe. The Premier League has few easy games but a win was a must. We need to show the same doggedness against better opposition and further raise our game. The Champions League remains a possibility.

Gary: Poor performance from Chelsea. They got a win but their ability in front of goal is appalling! We need a striker who can control the ball and bring other players into the game. Nicolas Jackson is not that player.

Paul: Like petulant children, Madueke and Jackson were an embarrassment to Chelsea football club in the second half. Sad days indeed.

Jak: Papering over the cracks - we just about saw off a strangely passive Everton team. Enzo Maresca is a fraud who is way out of his depth and is squandering the talent at his disposal. In a poor Premier League season, we should have coasted to at least fourth place, but we will ultimately miss out on Champions League qualification due to his ineptitude.

Everton fans

Dave: Unfortunately we are too slow in midfield to compete with the top teams. We employ wide men yet we continue to pass through the midfield and get pickpocketed every time. A major clearout is needed to begin the 2025-26 season at our new ground.

Chris: Sadly yet another mistake cost us the game. A draw would have been a fairer result, although that would have been our 15th of the season. They won the first half but we won the second half, even though we failed to score. Moyes has done well but we need to convert draws to wins and 1-0 losses to draws. We lack quality, and fighting spirit is not always enough. Let's go for maximum points from our last games.

Peter: Everton are on the beach, just as Moyes feared. The creativity, work rate, control and finishing have all gone on holiday. It was like an old Sean Dyche set-up.

Greg: Moyes persists with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Jack Harrison but neither give us anything. Carlos Alcaraz has to start and Dwight McNeil. Surely Moyes knows what he needs and, with the exception of Idrissa Gueye and Alcaraz, the rest of the out-of-contract or loan players can go.

Chelsea are pushing hard to seal the signing of Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, 19, but face competition from Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City for the Turkey international. (Caught Offside, external)

Meanwhile Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle United, West Ham, Liverpool and Manchester United are all interested in signing Canada striker Jonathan David, 25, when his Lille contract expires in the summer - but Marseille are hoping to persuade the player to stay in France. (RMC Sport, via Get Football News France, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Mark Chapman presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, which saw Ipswich Town's relegation from the top-flight confirmed.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentary from Newcastle United 3-0 Ipswich Town on BBC Sounds.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea may have stumbled upon their best starting XI in their 1-0 win at home to Everton.

The crucial change was the addition of midfielder Romeo Lavia, as captain Reece James dropped to the bench, with Moises Caicedo moving to right-back but still stepping into the middle when Chelsea had possession.

Lavia was making his first start in over a month but he was excellent until he had to come off in the 67th minute, which seemed to coincide with a late push from David Moyes' side for an equaliser.

After the match, Enzo Maresca praised the midfielder: "When he is fit, he is one of the best midfielders. He can defend very well, he can attack, he can break the line and pass between the lines.

"I spent one entire season with Romeo when I was Under-23 coach at Manchester City, so I know him very well. For us, it was like Reece James. They are both top players.

"The only shame for us is that unfortunately we need to manage them. We need to protect them, but there is no doubt that Chelsea with Reece and Romeo is a better team."

Striker Nicolas Jackson's ended a 13-game goal drought with a powerful shot from the edge of the box in the 27th minute, which also seemed to lift his performance level.

However, Cole Palmer's similar goalless run now stands at 17 matches and his performance declined.

When asked about the pair after the match, Maresca defended Palmer by adding: "We said many times that we don't have doubt with the ones that, for part of the season, have struggled a little bit, like Nico and Cole and Robert [Sanchez].

"Nico finally found the goal today, hopefully Cole can score goals soon but I think his performance was very good."

But Palmer's statistics will be a cause for concern because he was involved in no attacking actions, apart from three crosses, two successful dribbles and a single touch in the opposition box.

Maresca had said before kick-off that the issue with Palmer was a "mental thing" rather than "tactical or technical".

Chelsea jumped up to fourth in the Premier League table and have Champions League qualification in their hands - albeit with a difficult run of fixtures against Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest to end the season.

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day about the vital win: "It is important to take things game-by-game and control the emotions. At the end of the season, we will see."

On not getting the second goal: "It has happened a lot this season, where we have not scored goals to kill the game. In the second half, we dropped a little bit but overall we deserved to win."

On Nicolas Jackson scoring his first goal since December: "He needs that. Cole [Palmer] needs that too - and I have no doubt Cole will do the same soon."

On goalkeeper Robert Sanchez: "He made big saves. He deserves the support from us and the club. We are here for Robert."