Tuesday 5 March
Real Madrid had their arses handed to them tonight as Ajax thrashed them on their own patch 1-4. The filthy, fascist, cheating scum have finally received a measure of justice for all the fixing, swindling, money laundering, backhanders, government favouritism, nepotism and corruption that have seen them steal 13 European Cups from honest clubs.
The traffic in Madrid must be shocking at that time of night because so many home fans left early to avoid the rush.
Ajax progress to the next round with a story for the ages, Madrid slope off to drink cold urine for the rest of their careers.
Wednesday 6 March
Proof that Manchester United pay more to referees than any other club came tonight when they were awarded a late VAR penalty to beat PGS 1-3 and so progress under the away goals rule.
The penalty was given against a player who had his back to the ball as it was driven against his arm. That the decision was made not by a near-sighted referee wearing red spectacles but by paid stooges in a video truck makes it even more absurd.
If this is the benchmark then every single contact between ball and hand in the box is a penalty. Which is completely at odds with the laws of the game. Whoever is enforcing this is making a mockery of the game.
Thursday 7 March
Chelsea 3:0 Dynamo Kiev
Callum Hudson-Odoi just goes from strength to strength as his goal wrapped up the night and relieved the growing pressure Kiev were applying. That it was Ruben Loftus-Cheek that supplied the pass made half the stadium agree that a two-window transfer ban is just what we need.
The reason Callum is not in the starting XI was clear in the first phase of the game as Pedro, who scored only one but could have filled his boots, and Willian handed us a commanding lead on the night.
When our youngsters come on there is a reaction around the ground that is more profound than the usual admiration for a footballer playing well. Having produced exciting young prospects of our own it is thrilling to see them driving the paly forward. And it helped that the goal, almost, settles the tie.
If we are banned from signing players it could finally give the academy to show us just how special a football club we could become.
News that Manchester City are finally being investigated for lying about where their sponsorship was coming from and therefore cheating the FFP rules is a welcome distraction from our own troubles. They paid the agent of a 14-year-old as well, so we will expect a transfer ban for them too soon. Don’t hold your breath, City are significantly richer than Fifa.
Friday 8 March
Chelsea U23 2:0 Manchester City U23
The academy finally got a result at home, only our second home win of the season, as Luke McCormick, back from injury, gave us the lead before City started losing players left right and centre finishing the match with eight-men on the field. Daishawn Redan scored our second.
The transfer ban will not be lifted during our appeal against Fifa sanctions. So, uniquely in the history of sporting sanctions, we will serve the punishment before guilt has been established.
The corruption within Fifa has been going on so long and runs so deep it is difficult to know what this latest scam is designed to do. Obviously, Fifa are in breach of president, as all of the Spanish clubs charge with similar offences have had the sanction lifted while they appealed.
To deny us the same privilege is against the law. As the club statement makes clear: “as a matter of procedural fairness and equality of treatment, and Swiss law, the Club’s right to an appeal process must be afforded, before any irremediable sanction takes effect.”
When you next tell them down the pub that Chelsea are treated differently you can chuck this decision into the mix of proofs.
Sunday 10 March
Chelsea 1:1 Wolves
Struggling to a home draw against a side on whom we should have been itching to take revenge was a huge anti-climax. This recent poor period of results and struggle really started with the defeat at Molineaux but today we looked tired and out of ideas. One problem of the system is the lack of width and with Willian and Hazard tucking in to try again to drive through the middle we never stretched Wolves.
Their goal was well taken on the break but they never really threatened another and we relied again on Eden Hazard to work wonders deep into injury time.
With Tottenham losing yesterday and Manchester United folding at Arsenal this was two points needlessly surrendered in our attempt to at least finish in the top four.
