Chelsea news LIVE: All the latest from Stamford Bridge following last night’s Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest
Thursday September 21
Musonda in tears
05:00: Charly Musonda admits he was in tears after netting his first goal for Chelsea in tonight’s 5-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup.
Antonio Conte entrusted the winger with his full debut for the Blues tonight and Musonda admits he was overcome with emotion after scoring the third goal of the evening.
“It was an emotional moment, I can’t even remember it,” Musonda said.
“I was very happy and you can see that.
“I was in tears to be honest. If the lads didn’t come and get me I don’t know what would have happened.”
Kenedy challenged
04:00: Antonio Conte has warned Kenedy to make the most of his chances when he is involved in Chelsea’s first team.
Kenedy hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the summer when Chelsea were forced to issue an apology after the Brazilian posted an insulting video on Instagram and was subsequently sent home from the Asian tour.
And he made his first appearance since that incident in last night’s Carabao Cup tie against Nottingham Forest, in which he scored the opening goal.
But Conte has told Kenedy he must continue to work hard if he wants more first team opportunities.
“I am pleased with his performance and it is important to continue this way,” Conte said.
“We have started to work with him in the last season and in January Kenedy he started to work with us after Watford.
“He is working very well, a lot and he is improving. He has to continue and when there will be the opportunity and a new chance he must exploit it.”
Conte has lost authority
03:00: Chelsea’s 0-0 draw against Arsenal at the weekend exposed some hard truths for Antonio Conte.
That’s according to John Giles, who won the First Division title twice with Leeds United in 1969 and 1974.
Giles pinpointed the performances of David Luiz and Cesc Fabregas as proof Conte has not been able to get over Chelsea’s lack of activity in the summer transfer window.
“Luiz lost his discipline against Arsenal and as he has so often done in the past but the great achievement for Conte last season was to somehow contain his wilder side within a defensive set-up which won them the title while rivals leaked goals.
“Fabregas has always been fond of a moan but he was in overdrive against Arsenal. He looked much as he did during the months when Jose Mourinho’s second spell at Stamford Bridge was coming to an ignominious close and that surprised me.
“There is no way to know for certain but it looks to me as if Conte’s authority has perhaps been diminished by his experience during the summer and that could be what we are seeing in Chelsea’s performances.”
