• 9 June 2010: Chelsea announce that they are to release
Joe Cole,
Michael Ballack and
Juliano Belletti, whose contracts run out at the end of the month. • 17 June 2010:
Premier League fixtures for the 2010–11 season are announced. Chelsea are to open their defence of the Premier League crown at home to
West Bromwich Albion, managed by former Blues midfielder
Roberto Di Matteo. • 2 July 2010: Chelsea make their first signing of the summer as Israel national team captain
Yossi Benayoun joins from
Liverpool for £5.5 million on a three-year deal. • 7 July 2010: Chelsea sign 17-year-old Czech defender
Tomáš Kalas from
Sigma Olomouc in a deal worth £5.2 million, though he is immediately loaned back to Sigma Olomouc. • 7 August 2010:
Deco is allowed to leave Chelsea on compassionate grounds. He joins Brazilian club
Fluminense for an undisclosed fee, linking up with former Chelsea teammate
Juliano Belletti, who was released earlier in the summer. After
Sandro gives Tottenham the lead with a shot from 30 yards, Chelsea equalise before half time when
Heurelho Gomes lets Frank Lampard's long range effort through his body and over the line. Replays later appear to indicate that all of the ball had not crossed the line, but the goal is given. Then substitute
Salomon Kalou, with minutes to go, stabs in Didier Drogba's fluffed shot from close range. Replays later show that Kalou was offside when the shot was taken, but again the goal is given. The result brought Chelsea only three points behind league leaders Manchester United, following their 0–1 defeat to
Arsenal – with Man United the next side for Chelsea to play. A victory would take Chelsea top of the league with only two games left to play. • 8 May 2011:
Manchester United beat Chelsea 2–1 to inch closer to the record 19th title. Javier Hernández and
Nemanja Vidić put United 2–0 up in the first half.
Frank Lampard pulled one back in the second half, but it wasn't enough, as Manchester United kept their defense tight and held on to win the match. • 22 May 2011:
Carlo Ancelotti is sacked after the last match of the season. ==Club==