Also, as stated above, a foreign player coming into the English leagues may need time to adapt his game, making the expensive deal seem even more of a gamble.
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On 19th August, 2005, Michael Essien finally completed a £24.4m move from French club Lyon to Premiership champions Chelsea. We don’t think Mourinho was amused, but most neutrals (us included) were in splits. As for West Ham, they had goalkeeper Adrian sent off for a late lunge on Jamie Vardy and the subsequent suspension will now see the Spaniard’s current record run of 58 consecutive Premier League starts finally come to an end.
Chelsea vice-captain Branislav Ivanovic could be on his way out of the club in the near future, after the Daily Express suggested that talks over a new contract have yet to take place. You would not have bet on him getting past them all.
“We haven’t done well in the first two games, but there are another 36 to go and we know we have to improve ourselves”. “We have a good squad at this moment but if we can improve it in a couple of positions it is better”.
But Chelsea were unable to find a way back into the game as Ramires had a goal disallowed for offside and Eden Hazard was denied by Joe Hart in the second half.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old added: “I wanted to come to the Premiership and now I am very happy“. Liverpool might not have the funds to compete with the likes of Manchester City for the signing of Nicolas Otamendi, but there are still a number of options that could provide the solution to their defensive inadequacy (Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte, for one). Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho made the points safe in the last 11 minutes.
Many expected manager Manuel Pellegrini to get the sack.
OPTA REVIEW By Matt Furniss Two games into a season is hardly sufficient time for any serious judgements to me made but, with only one point from their first two fixtures and unrest off the pitch at Stamford Bridge, it is fair to say that Chelsea are looking somewhat ruffled.
Strikers are at a premium across Europe and with Spurs down to just Harry Kane and new signing Clinton N’Jie as their only senior strikers in the first team squad, recruiting Berahino has become a priority.
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And at Manchester United too, Louis Van Gaal’s players have kept two successive clean sheets, despite pressing questions over the resolution of their defence. Speaking of Sunderland, they are propping up the bottom of the league and have leaked seven goals in two matches, and that too against the likes of Leicester and Norwich.
