They made very hard work of it... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Dom Fifield to look back on their slightly perilous progress in the Conference League despite the 2-1 defeat by Servette out in Geneva. Liam Twomey was there and sent us an on the whistle report. Our slightly dicey time of recording - Friday morning - means there may have been *plenty* of Deadline Day fun in the meantime - BUT we discuss the latest ins and outs anyway! Then - it's all eyes on the Dom Derby as we preview the visit of Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Plus - a round up of the latest Blues news elsewhere and an alternative quiz... We'll be back on Monday to reflect on events against the Eagles ahead of the first international break of the season. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson, Dom Fifield & Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That's one way to end the Molineux hoodoo! It's a jubilant Bank Holiday pod record as Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to look back on the 6-2 thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers. We salute Noni and his Instagram antics, laud goal and assist machine Cole Palmer - and wonder whether the signs are there that this team could be gelling after a long and tumultuous summer. There's the latest transfer gossip with less than a week to go until the window *slams* shut - including the latest on Armando Broja's departure - and rumours of an approach for Jadon Sancho?! The Blues are back in action on Thursday night as they head out to Switzerland to take on Servette - with a two-goal advantage in their UEFA Conference League play-off tie. Plus - CFCW continued their winning start under Sonia Bompastor with a 1-0 win over Arsenal Stateside. We'll be back on Friday to hopefully report on a smooth-sailing victory in Geneva AND a serene transfer deadline day... HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher & Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A win's a win... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him as we reflect on the first competitive victory of the Enzo Maresca reign in their 2-0 win over Servette on Thursday night. We take a closer look at some of the explosive comments in Enzo's pre-match press conference regarding the size of the squad and futures of Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell. Simon was in the room to witness the spiciness. Then - it's all eyes on Sunday afternoon's trip to Wolves - a place that has NOT been a happy hunting ground for the Blues in recent years. The Athletic's Wolves expert Steve Madeley joins us to shine the spotlight on Gary O'Neil's side. Oh - and it wouldn't be a Thursday (or Friday!) pod without a quiz... We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the trip to Molineux and look ahead to the Conference League second leg out in Geneva. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson, Luke Bosher & Steve Madeley PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well... it could have been worse?! Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson to look back on the 2-0 opening day defeat by Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. We try and take the positives - including the performance of Romeo Lavia, discuss the Enzo Fernández conundrum after he was handed the armband - and shine the spotlight on the debutants thrown on to try and make their mark. Build-up to the game was somewhat overshadowed by a bombshell statement released by Raheem Sterling's camp after he was left out of the matchday squad. We ponder what the wider ramifications could be going forward.... Then, it's all eyes on Thursday night - as the Blues begin their voyage to officially 'win it all' in their first appearance in the UEFA Conference League. We'll be back on Friday to reflect on the play-off first leg against Servette - and look ahead to the tricky trip to Molineux! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here we go again! Matt Davies-Adams has got two of The Athletic's finest - Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey alongside him to build-up to the first game of the 2024-25 Premier League season. We begin with the latest on the Conor Gallagher/ João Félix saga - and the news that Mauricio Pochettino is in line to become the new USMNT boss! Then it's onto some brief predictions for the campaign ahead - before we turn out attention to Sunday's visitors Manchester City with the help of City correspondent Sam Lee. Plus - after a big win in pre-season, can Liam carry that confidence into the first quiz of the new campaign? We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the opening day shenanigans and look forward to midweek UEFA Conference League fun... HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey & Sam Lee PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's nearly here... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher alongside him as the final preparations for the 2024-25 Premier League season begin. We start with the latest transfer news - including the surprise signing of Pedro Neto and potential shock return of João Félix - which could have a big knock on effect for Conor Gallagher's departure... There are brief reflections from Sunday's 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in the final pre-season fixture of the summer. Then - we've got the unenviable task of trying to audit the entire extraordinarily large squad. Plus - your questions and thoughts as Enzo Maresca's side prepare to get their campaign underway! We'll be back on Thursday with comprehensive build-up to Sunday's Premier League opener against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey & Luke Bosher PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have Chelsea ever heard of a quiet week? Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Blues expert Liam Twomey alongside him to reflect on another chaotic week for CFC. We begin with the Conference League draw - with Enzo Maresca's side set to face Braga or Servette in their play-off tie towards the end of the month. Then - the Conor Gallagher transfer chaos continues - with a move to Atlético de Madrid potentially hanging in the balance... We touch base with the latest developments and the unsavouriness that could follow if the deal doesn't go through. There's a look at the latest pre-season exploits over in the USA - including the humbling at the hands of Manchester City which followed signs of improvement against Club América. We'll be back on Monday to begin the build-up to the 2024-25 season in earnest! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey & Adam Crafton PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you miss us?! Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to recap all the latest in the world of CFC after almost two months away... Plus, Simon Johnson drops by from Stateside to bring us up to speed with the pre-season tour - which hasn't *exactly* gone to plan so far results wise against Wrexham and Celtic. Plus - a chance to hear from summer signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall about life under Enzo Maresca and why when the Blues came knocking there was no turning them down! There's an update on the fallout from the Enzo Fernandez incident, transfer ins and outs (including a certain Napoli striker!), all change at the academy and a big departure for CFCW. We'll be back next week with the latest from pre-season and any other Blues news which develops. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey, Luke Bosher & Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello... again... A new Chelsea manager calls for yet another emergency podcast - which rather conveniently we were able to record at our end of season knees up! Matt Davies-Adams has got *literally* the whole gang alongside him to bring you reaction to the appointment of Enzo Maresca as the new Blues boss. So, what kind of manager is he? The Athletic's Leicester reporter Rob Tanner stops by to give us the lowdown on his time with the Foxes - and a word of warning if the owners are expecting a 'yes man'... Plus - the worst kept secret in women's football is finally out there - following the appointment of Sonia Bompastor as the new CFCW boss! Jessy Parker Humphreys is on hand to give us a bit of an insight into what Chelsea fans can expect from Emma Hayes' successor. Now that really is it until the start of the new season! No! More! Bonus! Pods! Or! Crazy! Chelsea! Announcements! (We hope!) Have a lovely, restful summer and we'll see you in August... HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson, Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey, Dom Fifield, Rob Tanner & Jessy Parker Humphreys PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our summer break lasted a whole 36 hours... Matt Davies-Adams parachutes in The Athletic's Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey for an emergency pod following the departure of manager Mauricio Pochettino by mutual consent. We bring you the inside story of how events transpired and led to the parting of ways - while taking your reaction and questions. Why now? Who's in the frame to take over? What does it mean for the future of the club and players going forward? It's just another day in the life of Chelsea Football Club. We'll see you again... soon?! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson & Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And just like that, another rollercoaster, topsy turvy season is over... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey, Simon Johnson, Dom Fifield, Jessy Parker Humphreys AND Luke Bosher on his holidays to look back on another remarkable campaign at Chelsea Football Club. We begin with events at an emotional Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon as the club said goodbye to Thiago Silva AND the 2023-24 season with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth to secure 6th spot and European football. Then up to Old Trafford, and CFCW heroics as Emma Hayes signed off in style after overseeing a fifth straight WSL title following their 6-0 demolition of Manchester United. There's reflections on the wider season as a whole and what the future could hold for the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Conor Gallagher - before our customary end of season quiz with a difference... We'll be back ~rejuvenated~ ahead of the 2024-25 campaign a little later in the summer - unless an emergency podcast is required in the meantime! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey, Simon Johnson, Dom Fifield & Jessy Parker Humphreys PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four wins a row to put Chelsea in pole position for a European spot?! Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's CFC experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to look back on the 2-1 victory at Brighton which moved the Blues up to sixth in the Premier League table. Elsewhere there was a narrow but huge victory for CFCW - beating Tottenham 1-0 at Brisbane Road to go into the last day of the season top of the WSL table on goal difference! Jessy Parker Humphrey's sends us their thoughts. And just like that we've reached the last game of the season - with the Cherries in town on Sunday afternoon as Mauricio Pochettino's men look to close out the 2023-24 season on a high... We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the games against Bournemouth and Manchester United AND round up another crazy season in the life of Chelsea Football Club. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson & Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just imagine if we hadn't had all those injuries... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by two of The Athletic's finest - Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey - to revel in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. We lavish yet more praise on Cole Palmer, herald the return and impact of Reece James - and question where this leaves Chelsea's European hopes going into the final week of the season. There's then a look ahead to Wednesday night's trip to Brighton - and a huge clash in the WSL as CFCW face Tottenham in their penultimate game of the season. We'll be back on Thursday for our penultimate podcast of the season - reflecting on events at Brighton and Brisbane Road - AND looking ahead to Sunday's visit of Bournemouth. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey & Luke Bosher PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keep, sell or loan out? Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Dom Fifield and Luke Bosher to take a deep dive into the Chelsea squad as we discuss the future of the current crop of players and their places at Stamford Bridge or elsewhere going forward. It's the small matter of the MDA derby on Saturday teatime as Mauricio Pochettino's side make the trip to Nottingham to face Forest! We look ahead to that one and ponder the motivation for both sides with Europe and Premier League safety potentially on the line. Then - Dom takes matters into his own hands with the quiz - and the shoe is on the other foot as Matt becomes a contestant... We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the trip to the City Ground - and look ahead to the penultimate game of the season at Brighton. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Dom Fifield & Luke Bosher PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Goals, goals, goals and more goals! Matt Davies-Adams has The Athletic's Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to reflect on a fantastic Sunday of action for CFC & CFCW. We begin with a round up of the 5-0 thrashing of West Ham at Stamford Bridge - as Chalobah and Gallagher shone once more, Cucurella got his fans singing and European football suddenly started to look like a very real possibility... Then, remarkable scenes at Kingsmeadow for Emma Hayes' last home game in charge as they put EIGHT past Bristol City to take advantage of Man City's defeat by Arsenal earlier in the day. Jessy Parker Humphrey's captures the mood on a bonkers day in the WSL title race. We'll be back on Wednesday to look ahead to Saturday's trip to the City Ground in the MDA derby (coming a day early because a certain producer is off to Paris to see Taylor Swift...) HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson & Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can we play you every week? Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Dom Fifield in tow to look back on the thoroughly satisfying 2-0 win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge ft a Liam voicenote and some singing... We round up the performance and give some love to Chalobah, Gallagher and Cucurella - before taking a closer look at the rather pointed post-match comments from Pochettino. Next up - West Ham come west in the final London derby of the season - we preview that game before reflecting on the shock defeat for Chelsea Women at Liverpool which all but ends their hopes of a fifth consecutive WSL title. And finally - a quiz to impress the lovely lady or man in your life this weekend... We'll be back on Monday to reflect on Sunday's latest London derby - and see whether CFCW have got back on track against Bristol City. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Dom Fifield & Luke Bosher PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Refereeing and VAR controversy, you say? How original... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him to look back on Saturday night's dramatic 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. But we begin with our tributes to the great Thiago Silva - who's announced he'll be leaving the club at the end of the season after four hugely influential years in West London. Then there's the small matter of a London/ Pochettino derby to look forward to on Thursday evening - with Tottenham making the short trip to SW6. Plus, our friend JPH drops by to reflect on the heartbreaking and highly controversial defeat by Barcelona at a sold out Stamford Bridge. We'll be back on Friday to bring you reaction to the visit of Spurs AND look ahead to Sunday's latest London derby against West Ham. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey, Simon Johnson & Jessy Parker Humphreys PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A horrible, horrible, horrible night... Two of The Athletic's finest - Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson - are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to look back on the hugely demoralising 5-0 thrashing by Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday night. Next up - another tricky away trip - this time to Villa Park to take on Unai Emery's Champions League chasing Aston Villa. There's some light at the end of the tunnel as Chelsea Women welcome Barcelona to Stamford Bridge with a slender 1-0 lead going into their semi-final second leg. Plus hot garden waste chat, Shaggy - and a quiz! We'll be back on Monday where we'll reflect on the trip to Aston Villa and hopefully be toasting a glorious UWCL victory for CFCW. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson & Dom Fifield PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva *** • This is a paid ad from BetterHelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/COBHAM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They really, really, really, really, really don't like winning at Wembley... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher along for the ride as we reflect on the latest cup disappointment following the narrow 1-0 defeat by Man City on Saturday. There's a mega full-time voice note from Liam and Simon Johnson live from the ground - before our more considered reflections and thoughts on where the Blues managed to fall just short once again... There's no time to dwell with a big trip to Arsenal on Tuesday night. We preview that game and ponder how Mauricio Pochettino will be able to get a tune out of the squad with a run of tricky fixtures to come before the end of this topsy turvy campaign. We repeat - thank goodness for CFCW! Jessy Parker Humphrey's sends us a dispatch after their glorious 1-0 UWCL semi-final first leg victory out in Barcelona. We'll be back on Thursday to look back on events at the Emirates and look ahead to the women's HUGE Champions League second leg at the Bridge and the trip to Villa Park in the Premier League. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher & Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Double trouble semi-final Saturday... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson to tease ahead to Saturday evening's FA Cup semi-final showdown with Manchester City at Wembley. We ponder whether now's the perfect time to play Pep's side after their dramatic UCL defeat by Real Madrid, how we see the team lining up - and the realistic chances of progressing to another final. There's also a potentially season defining semi-final for CFCW to look forward to - heading out to Barcelona on Saturday afternoon in the first leg of their Champions League tie. The Athletic's women's football writer Charlotte Harpur joins us to look back on the important 3-0 win over Aston Villa in the WSL on Wednesday night and how that sets things up for this unenviably tricky tie against the Spanish giants. There's our obligatory Thursday quiz - and a bonus bit of audio as we hear a snippet from Simon's interview with Chelsea loanee Alex Matos - currently plying his trade at Huddersfield and relishing the challenge of keeping Town in the Championship amid a feisty relegation battle. We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the weekend's SF showdowns AND look ahead to Tuesday night's trip to The Emirates... HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey & Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices