UEFA Champions league: Mourinho Set To Axe, Terry, Ivanovic, Costa & Matic

John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Diego Costa are facing the axe for Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Manager Jose Mourinho is making sweeping changes to his team for their opening group game after their 3-1 defeat by Everton. Midfielder Nemanja Matic is also expected to be dropped in favour of Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Chelsea defender John Terry keeps his eye on the ball as team-mate Gary Cahill watches on in training.

Chelsea Must Win - Nemanja Matic

Matic has come out to charge his team mates to win their next match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The blues have been disappointing in the beginning of the league has they have only picked up 4 points in 5 matches.

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has insisted that the club "have to win" against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League, following the 3-1 Premier League defeat to Everton on Saturday.

The Serbia player scored what turned out to be a consolation goal at Goodison Park, as a Steven Naismith hat-trick gave Everton all three points and left Chelsea 16th in the Premier League table.

Chelsea Hungry For Liverpool Win - Nemanja Matic

Despite having already sealed the Premier League title, Nemanja Matic says Chelsea are as hungry as ever for a win against Liverpool. Nemanja Matic insists Chelsea remaing hungry for victory at home to Liverpool this weekend, despite having wrapped up the Premier League on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho's men made sure of their first league crown since 2010 with a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace - PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard netting the winner on the stroke of half-time.
However, with matches against Liverpool, West Brom and Sunderland still to come, Matic says Chelsea will not be taking their foot of the gas.

EPL: No FA Action Against Ashley Barnes' Tackle Against Matic

Burnley player Ashley Barnes will face no action for his challenge on Nemanja Matic, the Football Association have announced. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho branded Barnes's tackle on Matic "criminal" in a lengthy attack on refereeing standards and media coverage while appearing on Sky Sports.

Matic was sent off in the 70th minute at Stamford Bridge for his violent reaction to a studs-up challenge from Burnley's Barnes.

Ashley Barnes Made A "Criminal" tackle On Nemanja Matic - Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho accused Burnley's Ashley Barnes of making a "criminal" tackle on Chelsea's Nemanja Matic as the Blues' boss let rip at refereeing standards and media coverage of his team. Matic was sent off for his angry reaction to Barnes' tackle in the 70th minute of Chelsea's 1-1 draw against struggling Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

While Serbian midfielder Matic was dismissed, Burnley forward Barnes went unpunished by referee Martin Atkinson and the Clarets took advantage of their numerical advantage to snatch a late equaliser.

SPORTING LISBON 0 CHELSEA 1: Watch The Goals & Highlights

            

CHELSEA: What The Arrival Of Matic Means To Mikel

With a brace this weekend, Argentine ace Lionel Messi became the third-highest goal-scorer in the history of Spanish League football. Before his career is done, he will almost certainly eclipse the record. La Pulga is adored in Catalonia, and in all of Spain, idolized. Many observers across the globe believe him to be, already, the greatest player of all time.

In his homeland of Argentina, the perception is not quite the same, however. He remains in the shadow of Diego Maradona, El Pibe de Oro, the enigmatic wizard who almost single-handedly dragged his team-mates and a football crazy nation to World Cup glory in 1986. Having grown up and developed as a footballer at the famed La Masia, Messi is often regarded as more Catalan than Argentine by his own countrymen, a view buttressed by the allegation that he doesn’t bring the same level of performance to the Albiceleste.

MAN CITY 0 CHELSEA 1: Jose Mourinho Slams Negredo Over Play Acting To Send Matic Off

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has accused Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo of play-acting in an attempt to get Nemanja Matic sent off and believes simulation should be retrospectively punished. The Portuguese had a brief touchline argument with the Spain international during Monday night's 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium and felt the City frontman, aware that Matic had already been booked, hit the deck clutching his face after an innocuous collision in an attempt to earn the Serb a second yellow card

And Mourinho, who chose not to comment on the FA's decision to uphold Andy Carroll's ban following his clash with Chico Flores – despite uproar regarding the Swansea defender's histrionics – believes play-acting should be dealt with more severely.

CHELSEA: Nemanja Matic Set To Sack Mikel

Just when it seemed like things were finally beginning to work out again for John Obi Mikel at Chelsea, the signing of Nemanja Matic places another immense barrier in his way. This one might be particularly difficult to overcome.

It had appeared that the Nigerian midfielder’s stay in West London was coming to an end in the summer. Despite spending eight years at Stamford Bridge and accruing a medal collection that would be the envy of almost any other professional in the game, Mikel was heavily linked with a move away.

Jose Mourinho, the returning Chelsea boss, wasn’t convinced by Mikel’s progression and thus not confident that the Super Eagle would be able to contribute to the side’s title push. The Portuguese boss was also blessed with a roster packed with midfielders of all shapes and sizes, capable of fulfilling all manner of different roles and potentially flourishing in a range of different formulations.

CHELSEA: Nemanja Matic completes £21m Chelsea return

Chelsea have completed the £21m signing of Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic on a five-and-a-half-year deal. The 25-year-old left Stamford Bridge for Portugal three years ago.

"I am very happy for this opportunity. I just want to say I will give my best to help the team and make the Chelsea fans happy," said Matic

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said: "He has grown as a player in Portugal and has become a fantastic all-round midfielder."