Chelsea Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Southampton
The Blues are preparing for their first game of 2019 against a resurgent Saints side aiming to avoid relegation in the new year Chelsea made amends for a 1-0 defeat in their last home match against Leicester City with consecutive away wins in the Premier League, leaving them in fourth place going into their tie with…
Alonso urges Hudson-Odoi to stay at Chelsea: I don't know why he'd go to Bayern
A Stamford Bridge team-mate of the teenage winger sees no reason why he would want to swap a leading Premier League side for one in the Bundesliga Marcos Alonso has queried why Callum Hudson-Odoi would want to go to Bayern Munich after seeing Chelsea receive an improved £35 million ($45m) bid for the teenage winger.…
'Incredible' Dembele 'a little crazy', says Tuchel
The Paris Saint-Germain boss believes there is no limit to the young forward’s potential Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel praised the “incredible” Ousmane Dembele, but added the Barcelona star was “a little crazy”. Dembele has faced criticism over his discipline this season, but has also found form for the La Liga giants. The 21-year-old has…
Nottingham Forest appoint club legend O'Neill as new manager
The former Republic of Ireland manager has returned to the City Ground to take over the club he won two European Cups with as a player Nottingham Forest have appointed club legend Martin O’Neill as their new manager. O’Neill replaces Aitor Karanka, who left the club last Friday, and will be tasked with leading Forest…
Isco is the best player in the world, says Rafael van der Vaart
The former Los Blancos midfielder – who retired in November – has been left baffled by the Spaniard’s snub. Rafael van der Vaart claims out-of-favour Real Madrid midfielder Isco is the “best player in the world” as he struggles for game time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Isco’s future in Madrid is uncertain, with head coach…
Rathbone: Dos, one of rugby's greatest gifts
There are many household names in Australian Rugby – Wallaby number 791, Nic Henderson, isn’t one of them. Henderson holds the Super Rugby record for playing the most matches without scoring a try (119). It’s this kind of anti-fanfare that I suspect he’s secretly rather proud of. Nic, or Hendo (or Hendos,…
Messi, Mourinho, Madrid and the winners and losers of the Champions League knockout draw
The draw for the second round of the Champions League, the last 16 phase, has been completed with ties kicking off during the second week of February Leroy Sane started the season in indifferent form, still suffering the effects of his World Cup rejection by Germany coach Joachim Low. But the winger got his head…
Fourth title beyond mediocre Madrid and five things we learned from the Champions League group stage
The crisis-hit Blancos are into the last 16 but are not impressing, while there is also work to do for the likes of Juventus and Manchester City Another Champions League group stage has come and gone, with 64 teams whittled down to 16 going into the knockout phase. There have been a few surprises, and…
Replays scrapped for FA Cup fifth round
Last-16 ties in the Football Association’s flagship competition will be decided with extra-time and penalties if games finish all square FA Cup fifth round ties will not go to replays if they finish all square in this season’s competition. The Football Association has brought forward the change to its flagship knockout competition a year earlier than…
'Immensely proud' Mourinho releases statement following Manchester United departure
The Portuguese has thanked his colleagues at while asking the media to let him live a ‘normal life’ Jose Mourinho has released a statement in the aftermath of his Manchester United departure, praising the people around the club while asking the media to give him space until his return to football. Mourinho was dismissed by…