🎙 Micah Richards: "In football, you need moments of magic and the fact that someone like Cole Palmer is not there, it infuriates me."
~ @RestIsFootball
Joe Cole on Enzo Fernandez and Cucurella:
🗣 "If I'm Xabi Alonso, I want to keep both of them. I'd rather sell four or five other players to get that money in. But that's if you're using a model where you're trying to win trophies."
Joe Cole on Alonso getting the title of manager:
🗣 "As long as it's not a PR move. I'm really happy with everything the club have been saying. But I'm also aware of how businesses work.
When Xabi Alonso walks through the door at Cobham, and there’s the first incident where he needs something which is against what the club need, then we'll see if he's a manager or a head coach. I'm happy it's been said. Let's see it in action."
~ @MailSport
Ashley Cole tells Chelsea to keep Cucurella:
🗣 "Cucurella is someone you should keep. He’s a top performer. I'm not in the dressing room. I don't know the noise. But if the club want to go forward, you have to keep your top players.
(Jorrel) Hato has performed well when he's had the opportunity. But why not keep a top competitive squad to compete?
You’re going to be constantly chasing the next one. You sell Cucurella, Hato plays, but then you need a solution as a back-up to him, so who will that be?"
Ashley Cole on Jose Mourinho's untouchables:
🗣 "You're only untouchable until you're not, if that makes sense. With that label, you still have to keep the standards high, perform and train at an elite level and have that mindset. Jose said I was an untouchable. Fast forward when he came back, I wasn't! That's football."
Olivier Giroud on Pulisic:
🗣 "Christian reminded me of Eden Hazard, with the way he took on opponents and found it easy to dribble past people.
I played as a target man and I needed some pace and movement around me -- someone like [Pulisic] playing in the pocket between the lines and getting on the ball, looking for me and feeding off my flick-ons.
I was not surprised at how well he played against Paraguay because I think that he has got what it takes to take the U.S. team to the next level over the next few weeks."
~ @BBCSport
Yan Diomande dismisses comparisons to Drogba:
🗣 "I don’t model myself after anyone... Drogba is a good player, but he is not the player I model myself after because we have a different way of playing, so... I wouldn’t say Drogba, but he is a great legend, yes.
You can also see it this way: He is a role model — not for me, but for every player in my country, and I think also for this generation of Africans, for young players."
Jorrel Hato reveals how he regained his best form after Maresca's departure:
🗣 "The first few months were tough. I wasn't feeling comfortable either and wasn't playing much. And when I did play, it wasn't the level I should be reaching, like I did at Ajax.
That [Maresca’s departure] is when I got the chance. And I seized it. I gained more confidence. Eventually, I got back into that flow that I also showed at Ajax. And now I'm really in it."
~ @VoetbalPrimeur
🗣 Reece James: "I’ve always wanted to play in a World Cup. The last one I didn’t make, it wasn’t meant to be that year, and I’m excited for what’s to come in the future.
It’s always a better vibe when there’s big stakes on the line and you’re playing against the best teams in the world."
Cucurella sounds like Alonso is in charge and driving the project himself and he finds the project interesting.
Well, Cucurella isn't one that pretends, so this is encouraging.
Marc Cucurella on Xabi Alonso’s project at Chelsea:
🗣 “Yes. I’ve spoken with him and he inspired a lot of confidence in me. I’ve also spoken with Grimaldo and Borja, who have worked with him, and they spoke very highly of him. The project seems very interesting.”
‼️ Xabi Alonso will be happy if Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella are wearing Chelsea blue by the time he kicks off his tenure at the club in August.
~ @BobbyVincentFL
‼️If Enzo Fernandez is to have a good World Cup, helping Argentina defend their 2022 crown, that £120m could look very different come next month.
Chelsea will be hoping that is the case and surely their valuation of the Argentine would therefore skyrocket.
~ @BobbyVincentFL
‼️Tyrique George has impressed Moyes on loan but his option to buy from Chelsea may be considered too rich at £25m and the romantics would love a return for Jack Grealish.
~ @MailSport
‼️Strikers such as Chelsea’s Liam Delap or Newcastle’s William Osula are admired by Everton but, if you enquire, their clubs say the price is £40m plus.
~ @MailSport
Marcel Desailly tells Chelsea to sign Darwin Nunez:
🗣 “At Chelsea, I’m sure he would express himself and perform. They need a striker but I’m not sure exactly who it will be or where they will get him.
Unless they find one in Germany who we don’t know much about yet, but they have to match the profile of what Chelsea is looking for.”