These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Crooks outlines what he believes Chelsea have been missing since Frank Lampard

Garth Crooks has claimed that Chelsea star Jorginho is the best penalty taker the Blues have had since the days of Frank Lampard.

Jorginho has scored 21 out of 24 Chelsea penalties since arriving from Napoli in 2018, whilst he has only netted two non-penalty goals. He also has a 100 per cent success rate under Thomas Tuchel.

Speaking in his weekly BBC column, Crooks mentioned how having a player with expertise from 12-yards is a vital part of any top team, and also made a bold claim that Jorginho is the first since Frank Lampard to have such success from the spot.

‘Last week his backpass put Chelsea on skid row at West Ham,' wrote Crooks. 'However, against Leeds his two expertly-executed penalties provided the Blues with three very important points in a title race that is so unpredictable and so tight it's impossible to call.

‘Taking spot-kicks can be a nerve-wracking experience and only those who have ever taken one in such circumstances can appreciate the moment.

‘Jorginho has become a safe pair of hands when it comes to taking penalties and so valuable in a team that has desperately struggled to find a competent taker since the days of Frank Lampard.’

Chelsea have also had club legend Eden Hazard as a consistent penalty taker in between the days of Lampard and now Jorginho, with the Belgian scoring 20 of his 25 Chelsea penalties, an 80 per cent conversion rate.

AFCON in danger of third consecutive postponement

French media outlet RMC Sport are suggesting that next month’s African Cup of Nations, set to take place in Cameroon, may be postponed.

Two Blues stars, Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech, are eligible for selection from Senegal and Morocco respectively and would be missing for several matches if the tournament goes ahead.

‘According to our information, the African Football Confederation (CAF) could announce a cancellation of the 2022 edition in Cameroon. The reflection is in any case engaged,’ the RMC report states.

‘Several national coaches have echoed this possibility without an official decision being announced to them for the moment.’

The competition has already been postponed twice due to climate problems in host country Cameroon and then Covid-19.

‘Beyond the organizational difficulties linked to Covid-19 and its new variant Omicron, CAF is faced with the discontent of certain clubs, mainly English, who would like to be able to keep the players on British soil in the coming weeks,' the report adds.

‘The African players called up by their selection should thus undergo a quarantine on their return to the United Kingdom, which would therefore deprive the clubs of their players for a longer period. And the country is currently affected by a significant wave of Covid cases.’

Chilwell marks momentous night with new tattoo

Ben Chilwell has joined Chelsea team-mates Reece James and Mason Mount in getting a tattoo to mark our Champions League triumph in May.

Chilwell remains side-lined with a knee injury which he sustained in last month’s victory over Juventus at the Bridge, but that hasn’t stopped him marking the momentous occasion.

Using the same tattoo artist as Mount, Chilwell was pictured receiving his new tattoo on Instagram yesterday.

The artwork shows the Champions League trophy which Chilly got his own hands on in Porto last season, and is on his right arm, which is different to James who has it on his calf and Mount who has it on his stomach.

It was the first time any of the English trio have won UEFA’s most coveted prize and they will face Lille in this season’s Round of 16 as they look to retain the trophy.