Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

Surely they have to beat *this* Man United team?!

Matt Davies-Adams, Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin assemble to look ahead to a huge Friday night and Sunday afternoon for Chelsea Football Club.

We begin under the lights at Stamford Bridge, where at 20:15 on Friday evening the Blues host a Manchester United side who sit 16th in the table, haven't won a game in the Premier League since the 16th March, haven’t won back-to-back league games all season AND are averaging less than a point a game under manager Ruben Amorim.

So - why are we still not 100% sure that Enzo Maresca's side will be able to come away with the win? And who's going to fill the void left behind by Nicholas Jackson? The Athletic's United writer Carl Anka is on hand to give us the inside scoop on the opponents and their struggles.

Then it's all about CFCW - looking to wrap up the domestic treble on Sunday afternoon when they take on Manchester United at Wembley. Carl sticks around to help us preview that one too as Sonia Bompastor's side look to sign off from this season in style.

And - of course - we finish with a fiendishly tricky quiz...

We'll be back on Monday to run the rule over the Manchester United double header in the Premier League and Women's FA Cup Final!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Liam Twomey, Sam Parkin and Carl Anka

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oh, Nicolas...

Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to run the rule over Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Newcastle.

There's only one place to start (unfortunately) - we get the post-match thoughts of Simon Johnson from the St. James' Park press box and hear him in conversation with Enzo Maresca following the 36th-minute red card handed out to Nicolas Jackson after his senseless forearm smash on Sven Botman.

We touch on the lack of intensity from the very first minute, the tactical naivety of the side which seemed to have been found out by Eddie Howe - and what this means for hopes of securing a top five finish with just Manchester United and Nottingham Forest to come in the Premier League.

As is almost always the case, CFCW provided some joy as they wrapped up a historic unbeaten WSL season in their last-gasp 1-0 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge!

We'll be back at the slightly earlier time of Wednesday to look ahead to Friday night's really, really must-win game against hapless Manchester United at the Bridge - and we'll preview Sunday's Women's FA Cup Final at Wembley.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most low-key semi-final second leg ever?!

Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to run the rule over Thursday night's 1-0 victory over Djurgården.

It's a result that sealed a 5-1 aggregate victory as the Blues cruised into the Conference League final - where they'll face Real Betis in what's surely going to be a far more competitive contest on the 28th of May.

We round up events at Stamford Bridge - and the shocking number of away fans in the home stands - before looking ahead to Sunday afternoon's top five showdown at Newcastle United.

Plus, Chelsea Women look go complete an undefeated WSL season when they host Liverpool at the Bridge on the final day of the campaign!

We'll be back on Monday to look back on all the action across the weekend - with CFCW looking to go unbeaten and CFC looking to take a huge step towards locking in a top five finish.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where would Chelsea be in the table if Romeo Lavia had been fit all season?!

Matt Davies-Adams has The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to look back on the huge 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

We talk Cole Palmer's masterful performance, Romeo Lavia's pivotal role which as been sorely missed too often in this campaign - and the tireless work of Moises Caicedo as the three points helped Enzo Maresca's side move a step closer to Champions League football next season.

We celebrate the winners at the end of season awards, look ahead to Thursday night's second leg against Djurgården which the Blues take a commanding lead into - and shoutout CFCW who got a guard of honour AND a win at Tottenham for good measure.

We'll be back on Friday to hope that the men have put in a better performance than the last Conference League return leg... and look ahead to another massive game with the trip to Brentford on the horizon!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First came Didier, then came Romelu, then came...
Matt Davies-Adams has got Dom Fifield and the returning Super Sammy Parkin alongside him to look back on the comprehensive 4-1 Conference League semi-final first leg victory over Djurgården. Simon Johnson spoke to us at full-time to give a flavour of events on the ground in Sweden.
Then our focus shifts back to the Premier League and the visit of Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. We might be subjected to a guard of honour - but can Chelsea get the better of the champions and take another huge step towards securing Champions League football next season?
There's jubilation for CFCW who wrapped up their sixth straight WSL title on Wednesday night with the 1-0 victory at Manchester United. The Athletic's Megan Feringa is back with her assessment of how big an achievement it is in Sonia Bompastor's first season in charge.

We've got a pretty mouthwatering quiz with Sam looking to reclaim his old crown as the most fearsome competitor of all.
Plus, we pay our tributes to a man who was the definition of 'Proper Chels' following the incredibly sad news of Paul Lagan's passing.

We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the visit of Liverpool and look ahead to the second leg against Djurgården on Thursday night.
HOST: Matt Davies-Adams
WITH: Dom Fifield, Simon Johnson, Megan Feringa and Sam Parkin
PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does your Djurgården need watering?

Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher for your Monday dose of Chelsea chat.

We begin with a look back on the 1-0 victory over Everton on Saturday - with Jackson back amongst the goals, Lavia back in the starting line up - and Chelsea looking like they're back in with a realistic chance of a top five finish.

Then, it's all eyes on the Conference League semi-final first leg, with the Blues on their way out to Djurgården.

And finally, there was disappointment at Stamford Bridge as CFCW suffered another battering at the hands of a relentless Barcelona, beaten 4-1 on the day and 8-2 (yikes) on aggregate. The Athletic's Megan Feringa helps us look ahead to what this means for the rest of the season for Sonia Bompastor's side and how they recover.

We'll be back on Friday to reflect on the trip to Sweden and look ahead to the visit of champions Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now is not the time to get stuck in a spot of bother...

Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to look ahead to Saturday's visit of the Toffees at Stamford Bridge.

On Sunday Chelsea Women try and pull off the unthinkable and overturn a three-goal deficit against Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final second leg. Megan Feringa gives us her take on their chances of turning the tie on its head.

Plus, what's being done to create a fiercer and more lively atmosphere at Stamford Bridge? Richard and Alex from We Are The Shed join us to explain the steps being put in place to try and make the Bridge a fortress and bring more colour and noise to the Shed End.

We'll be back on Monday to look back on the early kick-off against Everton, hope for a CFCW miracle against Barca and look ahead to Thursday's trip to Djurgården in the Conference League.!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just returning the favour after Boxing Day...

Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to reflect on the unlikely Easter Sunday comeback which saw Chelsea score two late goals to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.

We talk half-time tweaks, the outpouring of emotion at full-time from the players and fans - and what this means for the chances of Champions League football next season.

Not such good news for CFCW though - who were humbled in a 4-1 defeat at a dominant and ruthless Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final first leg encounter. Plenty of work for Sonia Bompastor's side to do if they're to keep their quadruple hopes alive when they face off again at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.

We'll be back on Thursday to look ahead to that game and Saturday's early kick-off against Everton in the Premier League.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has a team ever reached a European semi-final but been booed off the pitch? Asking for a friend...

Matt Davies-Adams, Luke Bosher and Dom Fifield unite BEFORE the Legia game to look ahead to Sunday's visit to Fulham in the Premier League.

But don't worry - thanks to the magic of editing we also hear from Simon Johnson in the press box after the hugely demoralising 2-1 defeat by Legia Warsaw in the Conference League which threw up more questions than answers.

We look ahead to the small matter of a Champions League semi-final first leg over in Barcelona for CFCW, talk agents fees and veteran strikers and hear from Pat Harding - son of Matthew - who's following in his father's footsteps after becoming chairman of Hassocks FC.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher, Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is it about Ipswich?!

Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson alongside him to mull over the pretty disastrous 2-2 draw with the Tractor Boys at Stamford Bridge.

We touch on the fractious relationship between Enzo Maresca and the fans after his pointed post-match comments, the lack of leadership amongst the squad and the costliness of the back-to-back draws with a pretty treacherous run-in to come.

Then it's onto Thursday's visit of Legia in the Conference League quarter-final second leg. The Blues take a 3-0 advantage into the tie... surely they can't mess that up!?

Plus, there was late drama for CFCW as Aggie Beever-Jones scored a 94th minute winner as Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 to book their place in the FA Cup final!

We'll be back on Friday to round up the Thursday night's European escapades and look ahead to the tricky trip just down the road to take on Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.