Cesar Azpilicueta has hailed N'Golo Kante as a potential Chelsea star following the midfielder's impressive debut against West Ham on Monday night. Kante, who joined Chelsea from Leicester for £32million this summer, was in fine form to help secure a 2-1 win in Antonio Conte's first Premier League game in charge at Stamford Bridge. The France international was an integral part of Leicester's title-winning team last season, and full-back Azpilicueta thinks that the 25-year-old - who was booked after just three minutes against the Hammers - … [Read more...]

Antonio Conte said he was “delighted” with his players after they started his Chelsea tenure with a hard-fought 2-1 win over West Ham United. Chelsea won the game thanks to Diego Costa’s last minute winner, and Conte was thrilled after with the physical effort they had put into the match. Athleticism has always been so important to Conte teams and having worked the players hard in pre-season the Italian coach was pleased with the results on the pitch. “I am delighted for the performance because I saw a lot of good things, a lot of things … [Read more...]

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic felt Diego Costa was lucky to still be on the pitch to score the late winner as West Ham lost 2-1 at Chelsea in the Premier League. Costa, who drilled home from 20 yards in the 89th minute, escaped punishment for a late tackle on Hammers goalkeeper Adrian having already been booked for dissent. Bilic told Sky Sports that the striker should have been sent off for the 67th-minute challenge, even if he did not mean to connect with Adrian's leg. "He had already been booked and it wasn't reckless and I don't … [Read more...]

Diego Costa scored a dramatic 89th minute winner to give Antonio Conte a winning start to his Chelsea career against West Ham. Chelsea’s first goal under the Italian came just after half time as Eden Hazard smashed his penalty into the roof of the net. However, despite being under the cosh for most of the second half, the Hammers equalised through James Collins . But Costa popped up to give Conte a dream start to life in the Premier League. Summer signing N’Golo Kante marked his first competitive Chelsea game with a third minute … [Read more...]

Eden Hazard hopes Chelsea's players can rediscover the form that won them the Premier League title two years ago. Hazard was named Player of the Year as the Blues won the championship in 2014-15, but they suffered in defending their crown and could only finish 10th last season. The Belgium international knows he must find the performances that won him so many plaudits, and is targetting a strong start at home to West Ham United on Monday. "Everybody needs to be the same player as two years ago," Hazard told Sky Sports. "We tried to find … [Read more...]