At home, the Chelsea Blues quietly won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League on February 22, 2022 against the Dogues de Lille. A very special match to follow for Salomon Kalou. The former Ivorian international, who is one of 10 players to have won the CAN and the Champions League in his career, has evolved in both clubs. And had chosen not to choose who to support by following the meeting.
Between the Chelsea Blues and the Lille Dogues, the heart of Salomon Kalou swings: “ Pff… I can’t choose! he smiled. These are two teams that I know very well. With Chelsea I won the Champions League, with Lille I spent two very good seasons. May the best win, and this Tuesday night the best was Chelsea “.
Once a blues, always a blues… Thanks to Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic, magnificently launched by the Frenchman Ngolo Kanté, the Londoners scored twice. And impressed the club’s former winger, winner of the 2012 Champions League with Chelsea. ” They never stop! he wonders. ” Their pressing is incessant, and they maintained this pace until the end of the match, by multiplying the races. It was a very intense match, and I would like to salute the two teams who played very well. »
Currently without a club since the end of his contract with the Brazilians of Botafogo last year, the 36-year-old former Ivorian international, who won the CAN 2015 with the Elephants, played for Chelsea from 2006 to 2012, before swap his blue tunic for the bright red LOSC one for two seasons. A time of which he keeps good memories, and strong ties: “ Lille had a great game, really. LOSC was well into the start of the match, they had prepared well for this meeting and were very well in place. But unfortunately they conceded a goal very early in the match and discovered themselves. Chelsea, with all their experience, took the opportunity to score a second time. »
Salomon Kalou is one of the ten players in history to have won the CAN and the Champions League, like a certain Edouard Mendy, the current Chelsea goalkeeper, reigning European champion with the Blues and recent winner of the CAN with Senegal. The Ivorian prefers to warn the Senegalese goalkeeper and his teammates: they can live the hell of the North, in the return match.
” I who played in the great Stade de Lille, I can tell you what the atmosphere reigns there! “. An enclosure inaugurated in 2012, the year of arrival of Salomon Kalou in the North of France. ” Lille are going to be supported by 50,000 supporters, who will push like the 12th man, and that can make the difference. LOSC still has its chances, there is a second game to play, which must be played thoroughly to have no regrets. There is still hope! »
A return leg which will be played on Wednesday March 16 in France. There is no doubt that Salomon Kalou will be there to support his two favorite teams.