Tag Archives: werder

Is this what Chelsea fans have been waiting for? 7m flop Marin launches into horror challenge 4 minutes into first league start

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Is this what Chelsea fans have been waiting for Marin launches into horror challenge… just four minutes into his first league start, and SIX MONTHS after joining for 7m

By
Frank Foster

PUBLISHED:

21:40 GMT, 2 January 2013

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UPDATED:

22:14 GMT, 2 January 2013

Chelsea winger Marko Marin was lucky to escape a red card in the
opening stages of his first Premier League start against QPR on Wednesday night.

The former Werder Bremen man has struggled to break into
the first team at Stamford Bridge since his 7m move to the European
champions in the summer.

And he was fortunate not to heading back to the dressing room after only four minutes against relegation strugglers QPR.

Lucky boy: Marin was only cautioned after flying into a studs up challenge on Stephane Mbia

Lucky boy: Marin was only cautioned after flying into a studs up challenge on Stephane Mbia


Fringe player: The German international has struggled to make an impact for his new side since his 7m move in the summer

Fringe player: The German international has struggled to make an impact for his new side since his 7m move in the summer

Having lost control of the ball on the right hand side, the German lunged at Stephane Mbia with all studs showing.

Despite the severity of the challenge referee Lee Mason opted to only produce a yellow card, a decision that would surely have angered QPR boss Harry Redknapp as his side looked to enhance their chances of survival with a victory at Stamford Bridge.

For all the world though it looked like Mbia was lucky to
escape a serious injury and the commentary team on 5 live were convinced
that the tackle deserved a sending off.

Referee Lee Mason decided only to show Marin a yellow card for the challenge

Referee Lee Mason decided only to show Marin a yellow card for the challenge

Robbie Savage said the player should certainly have been sent off. And former Tottenham boss David Pleat said: ‘It’s reckless, he’s
lucky.'

Having not appeared in the league since Chelsea's goalless draw with
Fulham on November 28, Marin has been rumoured to be close to
loan switch back to the Bundesliga with Beyer Levekusen.

The presence of fellow new boys Eden Hazard, Oscar and Victor Moses
have limited the opportunities for Marin to make an impact for Rafa Benitez' side.

It has been reported in recent weeks that the 23-year-old is set to join Beyer Levekusen on loan this month

It has been reported in recent weeks that the 23-year-old is set to join Beyer Levekusen on loan this month

Injuries have also played a part in the 23-year-old's lack of playing
time and while stressing he sees his future as a Chelsea player, the
German did not entirely rule out a loan move in the January transfer
window.

'I could imagine a loan deal,' he said. 'It could be
an ideal option to get me playing more regularly and help me with my
general development.

'But I think at this time it is out of the question
and I won’t be heading back to the Bundesliga.'

Marin's miserable start to life at Chelsea continued when he was substituted for Hazard after a n hour of the match, which QPR surprisingly won 1-0.

Bayer Leverkusen keen to take Chelsea winger Marko Marin on loan

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Leverkusen keen to take Chelsea winger Marin on loan for rest of the season

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UPDATED:

22:45 GMT, 30 December 2012

Bayer Leverkusen are showing interest in Chelsea winger Marko Marin.

The Germany player is keen to go out on loan after a disappointing debut season at Stamford Bridge which has been dogged by injury.

The 23-year-old former Werder Bremen star has held talks with interim manager Rafa Benitez.

On the move: Chelsea winger Marko Marin is wanted by Bayer Leverkusen

On the move: Chelsea winger Marko Marin is wanted by Bayer Leverkusen

Mesut Ozil happy at Real Madrid despite Manchester United and Liverpool interest

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Ozil not interested in United or Liverpool as German wants to stay at Real

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UPDATED:

06:36 GMT, 10 October 2012

Mesut Ozil insists he will fight for his future at Real Madrid despite interest from Manchester United and Liverpool.

The Germany international was handed a recall to Jose Mourinho's starting line-up last weekend in the 2-2 El Clasico draw with Barcelona.

But prior to that the 23-year-old had been dropped for the Champions League win at Ajax after the former Chelsea boss suggested Ozil 'lacks quality' in a dig at his dip in form.

Real deal: Mesut Ozil insists he is happy at Madrid despite interest from Liverpool and Manchester United

Real deal: Mesut Ozil insists he is happy at Madrid despite interest from Liverpool and Manchester United

Ozil has long-term admirers at both Old Trafford and Anfield, however he is happy to stay put at the Bernabeu for now.

'When you play for Real Madrid you can not think of anything else,' he said.

'I know nothing and I have no reason to leave.'

Despite Mourinho's apparent criticism last month, Ozil was lauded for his display at the Camp Nou last Sunday.

Missing out: Ozil was dropped to the bench for Real's Champions League win over Ajax

Missing out: Ozil was dropped to the bench for Real's Champions League win over Ajax

Yet the former Werder Bremen star, who will take on the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Friday with Germany, insists he has nothing to prove to anyone.

'I do not play football to prove something to someone, but because I enjoy football.

'I don't have to prove anything to anyone.'

Mikael Silvestre back training with Manchester United

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Silvestre back training with Manchester United… and will Fergie fancy a return amid his defensive crisis

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UPDATED:

11:02 GMT, 1 October 2012

Mikael Silvestre is back training with Manchester United – over four years after quitting the club.

The veteran Frenchman was put through his paces on Monday morning at Carrington before the squad jetted out to Romania for their Champions League game with Cluj.

Old face: Mikael Silvestre takes part in training drills at Carrington on Monday morning

Old face: Mikael Silvestre takes part in training drills at Carrington on Monday morning

Remember me Silvestre battles with Wayne Rooney for the ball during their session

Remember me Silvestre battles with Wayne Rooney for the ball during their session

With captain Nemanja Vidic, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling all out injured – and United conceding three goals in the home defeat to Tottenham on Saturday – boss Sir Alex Ferguson could be tempted with a surprise swoop.

Silvestre, 35, is available on a free transfer after being released by Werder Bremen at the end of the season.

He spent almost 10 years at United after signing from Inter Milan in 1999 and was always regarded highly by Ferguson.

Keeping pace: Silvestre is on the lookout for a new club after leaving Germany

Keeping pace: Silvestre is on the lookout for a new club after leaving Germany

First time around: Silvestre in action for United during his playing days with them

First time around: Silvestre in action for United during his playing days with them

He eventually lost his place to Patrice Evra and eventually joined rivals Arsenal on a free transfer.

West Ham recently considered signing Silvestre but boss Sam Allardyce eventually declined the chance to bring him in.

Vidic is ruled out until the end of November with a knee injury, while Smalling and Jones are yet to appear this season.

However, there is some good news with Jonny Evans able to train on Monday morning after being helped off at the end of United's 3-2 defeat to Tottenham.

Ferguson claimed the Northern Ireland international was only suffering from a dead leg.

Marko Marin says Chelsea should be able to stop Lukas Podolski

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Marin believes Blues can keep Germany team-mate Podolski at bay on derby day

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UPDATED:

08:51 GMT, 27 September 2012

Marko Marin has claimed the Chelsea defence should be able to prevent his German compatriot Lukas Podolski from running riot when they face Arsenal on Saturday.

The Gunners' striker has hit three in his last four games for the club but Marin is confident his team-mates can stifle the threat.

The 23-year-old midfielder told The Star: 'At the beginning it was a bit new for him, but now he is doing very well.

Belief: Marko Marin thinks Arsenal will come a cropper on the banks of the Chelsea defence

Belief: Marko Marin thinks Arsenal will come a cropper on the banks of the Chelsea defence

'He has scored a few goals and he is playing well.

'Will Lukas be a threat I think we have a very good defence. Our right-back Branislav Ivanovic will do very well.

'It will be very hard for Lukas to play against him. I am not sure that Arsenal have played against a good team like us.

'I am confident that we can keep Podolski quiet.

'There are two German players that we will be playing against, with Per Mertesacker also playing for Arsenal.

'I have not spoken to Lukas. We know each other from the national team, of course, but we are not really friends.

'I talk more with Per. We played together at Werder Bremen.

'I hope I’m in the team, but the important thing is that we win and keep our position in the Premier League.'

Saturday's game will be the toughest Premier League test Chelsea have faced this season – and might also be Marin's first.

Threat: Lukas Podolski is in fine fettle

Threat: Lukas Podolski is in fine fettle

The wide man only made his Blues debut on Tuesday during his side's 6-0 mauling of Wolves in the Capital One Cup because of a hamstring injury.

Marin explained: 'I did it in a training session, but I feel good now and I can forget all that and look to the future.

'I just want to play for as long as possible, for as many games as I can. I am nearly 100 per cent fit again, so I hope to play.'

West Ham ponder John Mensah deal after rebuffing Anthony Vanden Borre and Mikael Silvestre

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West Ham ponder Mensah deal after rebuffing free agents Vanden Borre and Silvestre

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UPDATED:

06:27 GMT, 18 September 2012

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce could hand a contract to John Mensah after deciding not to pursue his interest in free agents Mikael Silvestre and Anthony Vanden Borre, according to talkSPORT.

Allardyce had been running the rule over the trio as he looks to bolster his defensive options outside the transfer window.

John Mensah

Trial: John Mensah

Allardyce enjoyed a fruitful transfer window, bringing in the attacking options of Andy Carroll, Matt Jarvis and Yossi Benayoun amongst others, but he finds himself light on cover at the back.

Silvestre, who is without a club
since leaving Werder Bremen in the summer, was hoping to make West Ham
his third Premier League club after stints at Manchester United and
Arsenal.

Belgian international Vanden Borre, who spent the 2009-10 season on at Pompey, was released by Racing Genk this summer.

Ghanaian Mensah, 29, was released by Lyon this summer.

Michael Ngoo booked for Hillsborough tribute as Liverpool U21 thrash Chelsea

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Liverpool youngster Ngoo booked for Hillsborough tribute as Chelsea U21s thrashed

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UPDATED:

23:16 GMT, 14 September 2012

Liverpool U21 striker Michael Ngoo was booked in his side's demolition of Chelsea's youth team for removing his shirt to reveal a Hillsborough tribute.

After Ngoo scored the fourth goal in Liverpool's rout he displayed a message on his undershirt which read '96 reasons 4 justice'.

Tribute: Michael Ngoo showed this message after he scored

Tribute: Michael Ngoo showed this message after he scored

Official guidelines indicate that
referees should produce the yellow card when football shirts are taken
off but most would have preferred it not to happen on this occasion.

The crowd, at Brentford's Griffin Park, booed the referee and cheered Ngoo for his tribute, which came in the week the Hillsborough Independent Panel released their report into what had really happened in the disaster.

It showed shocking evidence of a police cover-up as to the real reasons 96 fans died on April 15, 1989.

Another notable feature of the match was Marko Marin's return to action for Chelsea.

Marin, a 7million acquisition from Werder Bremen, was the club's first signing of the summer but a hamstring injury has kept him from Roberto Di Matteo's first-team plans.

On the move: Marko Marin made his first appearance since pre-season

On the move: Marko Marin made his first appearance since pre-season

While Oscar and, more dramatically, Eden Hazard have begun to make their mark in English football, Marin has been left frustrated.

But more frustration was the order of the day for the 23-year-old German left winger as Dermot Drummy's youth team were comfortably seen off by Liverpool's.

Marin was withdrawn at half-time for Adam Phillip with the game goalless, but the Reds ran amok in the second half.

No way through: Chelsea youngster George Saville on the ball

No way through: Chelsea youngster George Saville on the ball

Goals from Jack Robinson, Conor Coady, Krisztian Adorjan and Ngoo were only answered with one from Patrick Bamford.

Liverpool played a young, promising German of their own in Samed Yesil. The 18-year-old couldn't find the net but he caused concern in the Chelsea defence, with one shot cleared off the line.

MATCH FACTS

Chelsea (4-3-3): Jamal Blackman; Todd Kane, Alex Davey, Nathan Ake, Aziz Deen-Conteh; Billy Clifford, George Saville, Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Jeremie Boga 43); Islam Feruz, Patrick Bamford, Marko Marin (Adam Phillip 45).

Unused subs: Mitchell Beeney, Andreas Christensen, John Swift.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Peter Gulacsi; Brad Smith, Stephen Sama, Andre Wisdom, Jack Robinson; Conor Coady, Craig Roddan; Adam Morgan, Krisztian Adorjan, Dani Pacheco; Samed Yesil (Michael Ngoo 56).

Unused subs: Joao Teixeira, Jamie Stephens, Marc Pelosi, Jordan Ibe.

Torquay 1 Stoke 1: Boenisch plays at left-back as Potters held in Devon

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Torquay 1 Stoke 1: Boenisch plays at left back as Potters held in Devon

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UPDATED:

22:22 GMT, 6 August 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Stoke continued their preparations for the forthcoming Barclays Premier League season with a 1-1 draw at Torquay.

The Potters took the lead in their first pre-season warm-up in this country two minutes before the break, when Gulls centre-half Aaron Downes turned a Matthew Etherington shot into his own goal.

Peter Crouch and Ryan Shotton went close for Stoke, before Cameron Jerome saw a second half header ruled out for offside.

On hand: Torquay keeper Michael Poke denies Dean Whitehead

On hand: Torquay keeper Michael Poke denies Dean Whitehead

However, the npower League Two side finished strongly and were rewarded 12 minutes from time when Billy Bodin beat substitute goalkeeper Carlo Nash with a powerful strike.

Poland international Sebastian Boenisch, available on a free transfer after leaving Werder Bremen, played 67 minutes at left-back for Tony Pulis' side.

Kevin de Bruyne joins Werder Bremen on season-long loan

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Chelsea send youngster De Bruyne to Werder Bremen on season-long loan

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UPDATED:

13:37 GMT, 2 August 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Chelsea winger Kevin de Bruyne has agreed to join German side Werder Bremen on a season-long loan.

The 21-year-old Belgian arrived at Stamford Bridge during the January transfer window and was immediately loaned back to former club Genk.

He made his Chelsea debut in the 4-2 friendly victory over Seattle Sounders during the recent tour to America, but Chelsea confirmed he is to continue his development at Werder Bremen.

Temporary home: Kevin de Bruyne is unveiled at Werder Bremen after completing a season-long loan from Chelsea

Temporary home: Kevin de Bruyne is unveiled at Werder Bremen after completing a season-long loan from Chelsea

Chance to shine: De Bruyne featured during Chelsea's tour of the US but manager Roberto Di Matteo wants him to continue his education in Germany

Chance to shine: De Bruyne featured during Chelsea's tour of the US but manager Roberto Di Matteo wants him to continue his education in Germany

Chelsea to loan Kevin de Bruyne to Werder Bremen

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Leaving so soon Chelsea to send De Bruyne on season-long loan to Bremen

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UPDATED:

08:43 GMT, 25 July 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Kevin de Bruyne is heading to the Bundesliga to continue his development after agreeing to join Werder Bremen on loan.

Chelsea’s former Genk winger, signed on a five-and-a-half year deal for 7million in January, admitted earlier this week he was ready to consider a temporary move in his quest for first-team football.

Sportsmail understands that has led to an agreement being struck with Werder Bremen and that he will join them on a season-long loan on his return from Chelsea’s current tour of the United States.

Short stay: Kevin De Bruyne (right) is to join Werder Bremen on loan

Short stay: Kevin De Bruyne (right) is to join Werder Bremen on loan

Speaking after playing in the first half of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Paris St Germain in New York’s Yankee Stadium, the 21-year old said: ‘For me, it is important to be playing. If that is not going to happen at Chelsea, perhaps it is better to go to another club and get some games.

‘I am pleased with how I have adapted so far, and I know I will continue to grow as a player. We will sort something out one way or another after we get back to London.’

Next to go Romelu Lukaku (centre) has been linked with a move to Fulham

Next to go Romelu Lukaku (centre) has been linked with a move to Fulham

After seeing Eden Hazard’s brother Thorgan join him at Stamford Bridge from Lens, de Bruyne sensed starting opportunities would be scarce this season. With a World Cup qualifying campaign looming, he needed little persuasion to accept the opportunity of switching to the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen.

His compatriot Romelu Lukaku could also be on the move, in his search for more first-team appearances, with Fulham keen to take him on loan next season.