Chelsea will certainly not be underestimating their opponents in the semi-final of the League cup according to the Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez. The European champions will be coming up against the Welsh club in the first leg of the semi-final.

Chelsea have the experience of playing in numerous semifinals and finals over the last decade, while it is not the same with Swansea. Despite this, Chelsea will be paying complete respect to the opposition and the manager Laudrup. Benitez has praised the way Laudrup has seamlessly adapt to the club after the impressive reign of Brendan Rodgers.

The new Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez was left to still search for his first win as the Chelsea manager, as Chelsea were defeated 3-1 by West Ham at Upton Park during the weekend.

After managing to score three goals already this term, Fernando Torres finally seems to be turning into the player that the Blues shelled £50m for in 2011. Following this start, the former Liverpool striker claims that he feels more responsibility this term and wants to fill the gap left by the popular Didier Drogba.

The agent of the Brazilian defender Maicon has revealed to Chelsea Football News that his client did not choose the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea and decided to join Manchester city due to the presence of the manager Roberto Mancini.

Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo has said that the star midfielder Eden Hazard can become the next Gianfranco Zola. The Italian is regarded as one of the greatest players to have played for the club. However, Roberto di Matteo believes that the club might have found the next Gianfranco Zola in the form of the 21-year-old Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard. The former Lille playmaker began life in English football with a 2-0 win over Wigan during the weekend. The midfielder was at his best in the match, as he set up both the goals for Chelsea in the match.

Having already secured the £32 million signing of highly-rated playmaker Eden Hazard, Chelsea look set to make another big money signing with Internacional’s Brazilian midfielder Oscar reportedly close to completing his move to Stamford Bridge.

The 20 year old, who is currently training with the Brazilian national side ahead of their opening Olympic game against Egypt in Cardiff on Thursday, has said a move to the Champions League winners would be “a dream come true”.

Former England manager Fabio Capello has stunned the football world by saying that he would be interested in taking over the Chelsea managerial post in the summer.

Chelsea’s injury crisis has deepened after the club confirmed defender Ricardo Carvalho is expected to be out of action for at least a month.

But the centre-half could be out for longer, possibly the rest of the season, if he requires corrective surgery on the ankle ligament injury he sustained in the first-half of Wednesday night’s 5-0 victory over Portsmouth.

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic will be out for a month after injuring his knee in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers, meaning another game in the Chelsea Hospitality seats.

The 26-year-old has torn his medial knee ligament and was replaced by Yuri Zhirkov during the game at Ewood Park.

The injury to the Serb will be a blow to Carlo Ancelotti’s Premier League title contenders, who are four points behind leaders Manchester United.