11 red cards: a record you never wanted
Chelsea have now been shown 11 red cards across all competitions this season, more than any Premier League side in a single campaign in the competition's history (1).
It's an unwanted record that sums up the lack of control that has plagued this season. Discipline has been absent, and the numbers now make it official.
Maresca to City, not Chelsea
Enzo Maresca is set to sign a three-year deal with Manchester City, according to reports in Portugal (2). Despite previous speculation linking him to Chelsea, the Italian looks destined for the Etihad instead.
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Fans hoping for a Maresca reunion with Pep Guardiola's setup won't be surprised, but it does close one door.
Real Madrid circling two Chelsea players
Real Madrid have reportedly reached an agreement and Florentino Perez has opened talks to sign two Chelsea players this summer (3). No names confirmed yet, but the Spanish giants are wasting no time after Xabi Alonso committed his future elsewhere.
This one has the feel of a saga developing fast.
Putellas to London, but not to Chelsea
Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas is being linked with a move to London City Lionesses, not Chelsea or Arsenal (4). For Chelsea Women, the story is more about what it signals: the WSL landscape is shifting, and both Chelsea and Arsenal are expected to make significant squad changes in response.
Scholes to Alonso: dump the liability
Paul Scholes has urged incoming manager Xabi Alonso to replace a Chelsea player he calls a 'liability' and bring back a £70m-rated former star (5). Scholes didn't name names in the snippet, but the message is blunt: Alonso has big calls to make the moment he walks through the door.
Enzo: 'I'm taking this World Cup differently'
Enzo Fernandez has joined up with the Argentina squad and spoke about his mindset heading into the tournament: 'Tomo este Mundial de otra manera', I'm taking this World Cup differently (6). After a turbulent season at Chelsea, a strong international campaign would do wonders for his confidence.
Fan reactions
The mood is grim after the 2–1 defeat at Sunderland. The post-match survey thread is flooded with low ratings and frustration at another disjointed performance. Away from the misery, some fans are already looking ahead to Alonso's arrival, with one post celebrating Omari Kellyman's elegance and the prospect of him thriving under the new manager. See the full survey results
