Following their individual roles in the row that occurred during Tuesday’s Coppa Italia derby, both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku have received a one-match ban.
The strikers were involved in a scuffle in the first half of the Coppa Italia derby and were both booked by the referee Paolo Valeri.
Lukaku was on a yellow card and, therefore, will be suspended against Juventus in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals next week.
Ibra picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Aleksandr Kolarov in the second half of the game and has also received a one-match ban that is valid for Coppa Italia games.
According to Sky Sport, via Foootball Italia, the Federal Prosecutor can still open an investigation to assess any possible discrimination as he hasn’t yet received the referee’s report with the contents of the statements of both players.
Joe Cole slammed the player power that exists at Stamford Bridge in the wake of his pal Frank Lampard’s brutal sacking.
Speaking on the latest edition of the All To Play For podcast put together by bookmaker Coral and Joe, Cole said: “It is a difficult one for me to comment on as I know everybody involved. I know Frank, Jody Morris, Petr Cech and the owner.
“The people who made the decision will argue it isn’t a problem. There does seem to be an issue at the club though, in that certain players have too much of an influence over what goes on.
“They have a direct line up to those making the decisions over who is in charge – that needs to stop if Thomas Tuchel is to be a success.
“In six months, there will be 11 players out of the team and not in form.
“They cannot go to their agents or however they go about it and start bringing discontent to the club. Imagine if that went on at Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge?”
Thiago Silva has opened up on his desire to one day return to his former club Fluminense, where he made 143 appearances as a young defender.
Before moving to Europe with AC Milan in 2009, Silva played at the top-tier Brazilian club for three years, making 143 appearances and winning the Copa do Brasil.
As the former Brazil captain comes up to 12 years of playing in Europe, first with Milan, then with PSG and now with Chelsea, the 36-year-old did not sugarcoat the fact that he is keen on a return to his homeland – his contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of this season, though he does a one-year option to extend.
He told TNT Sports: “I do have this dream of returning to wearing the shirt of Fluminense, everyone knows my desire, it was expressed by [manager] Marcao recently also in an interview.
“But it’s something I prefer to leave ahead to see how things are going to happen, right. It’s a difficult decision to be made, but I’m really thinking with great affection and suddenly have this Libertadores mission again.”
When Silva moved to Milan in 2009, he was coming in to act as a replacement of sorts for club legend Paolo Maldini, who was retiring that year at the age of 40 following a trophy-laden 25-year career at the San Siro.
Though the pair never played together, Silva admits to being inspired by Maldini to play as long as he can, with the age of 40 a milestone he wants to reach.
“Those last six months of his career were the six months when I had arrived at Milan and couldn’t play,” Silva recalled.
“I identified a lot with Paulo and in this little interaction that I had with him, I could see that suddenly I was preparing well and could reach 40 years of age playing wherever I wanted, you know.
“And Paulo, for sure, he’s certainly somebody that I greatly admired, a mirror so that I can reach these 40 years, which is the age I have in my head that maybe I could end my career.”
Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi revealed he had never played wing-back before being asked to by new Blues boss Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday evening.
The 20-year-old, who ordinarily occupies a more attacking role, was told to play as part of a back five in the German’s first game in charge – which ended in a goalless draw with Wolves at Stamford Bridge.
He told the Chelsea website: “It was something new for me.
“It was my first time trying it yesterday [in training] and I felt alright playing in it, it wasn’t a problem for me.
“It was good trying to play that position and no matter where the manager asks me to play I will try to do my best.
“He wants me to be as direct and to keep getting at full-backs and defenders as much as possible.”
Cesar Azpilicueta has quashed talk of a rift caused by Antonio Rudiger at Chelsea.
The Blues captain said: “With Toni, we didn’t have an issue and we have been working together for a few years,” said the Blues captain.
“That news from outside, we’re not sure so that’s why Tammy and myself we both tweeted.
“Everything is fine and I can say that didn’t happen. We didn’t have any issues and we don’t have. We always work together.
“As other players, we have sometimes our discussions, normal in football.
“When results are not going well, everybody has more tension around but nothing further than this.
“Normal footballers like normal workers in their offices or with other jobs with pressure who have to deliver and nothing further than this. There is not an issue, we are so committed.”
Former Chelsea youngster Jamal Musiala is set to be handed a full Germany call-up – dashing Gareth Southgate’s hopes of picking the Bayern Munich wonderkid.
The 17-year-old, who left Chelsea for Bayern in 2019, has been in stunning form for the German champions.
Having become their youngest ever player last season, Musiala is now a regular – having appeared 20 times this term for Hansi Flick’s side.
Born in Stuttgart, but having gone to school in Croydon between the ages of seven and 16, and with a Nigerian father and German mother – Musiala is eligible for all three countries.
He has featured for both at youth level, but most recently turned out for England’s Under-21 side last November.
According to The Times, however, Musiala is leaning towards choosing Germany and Joachim Low is set to give him a debut in the World Cup qualifiers in March.
