Milan (AFP) – Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed his relief on Wednesday after the collapse of the European Super League and thanked managers at clubs involved for speaking out against the project. Twelve major European clubs, including Italian sides Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan, announced the launch of the breakaway tournament, which would…
Fans take Super League protests to Stamford Bridge
London (AFP) – Furious fans gathered outside Stamford Bridge to protest against the proposed European Super League ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Brighton on Tuesday. Chelsea are one of 12 leading European clubs to have signed up to an incendiary scheme that has plunged football into civil war. Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal,…
Man Utd’s Fernandes joins debate on European Super League
London (AFP) – Bruno Fernandes joined the heated debate on the European Super League as the Manchester United midfielder appeared to question the controversial plan on Monday. United are one of 12 clubs to have agreed to join the breakaway league, which aims to replace the Champions League with a more lucrative invitation-only competition. Manchester…
Juve miss Ronaldo’s ‘killer instinct’ in first league loss to Atalanta since 2001
Milan (AFP) – Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus missed Cristiano Ronaldo’s “killer instinct” as the Italian champions fell to their first league defeat in two decades to Atalanta on Sunday. Ruslan Malinovskyi struck late as Atalanta won 1-0 to move third in Serie A with the Portugal attacker injured. Atalanta are two points behind second-placed AC Milan…
Lirola double gives Marseille late win over Lorient
Paris (AFP) – Pol Lirola scored his first two goals for Marseille and hit an injury-time winner as Jorge Sampaoli’s side claimed a 3-2 home victory over Lorient in Ligue 1 on Saturday. Nigerian striker Terem Moffi struck twice for the visitors but hobbled off with an injury before Lirola won the game in added…
Prolific: All of Sergio Aguero’s goals against Chelsea
Manchester City meet Chelsea in a hugely anticipated FA Cup semi-final showdown this weekend, the two favourites for the competition meeting in the last four at Wembley. Both sides have been in impressive form in recent weeks with City on course for a third Premier League crown in just four seasons under Pep Guardiola, whilst…
Spurs ‘gloss over’ incident after online mockery from paint supplier
London (AFP) – Tottenham joked they would “gloss over” an embarrassing incident after paint supplier Dulux was forced to apologise for mocking the Premier League club on Twitter. Spurs announced on Thursday that Dulux, whose brand mascot is an old English sheepdog, had become their official paint supplier, with the dog getting a tour of…
Kamara ‘vindicated’ after Slavia’s Kudela handed 10-match ban for racism
Paris (AFP) – Rangers said Glen Kamara had been vindicated after UEFA banned Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela for 10 European matches on Wednesday for racially abusing the Finnish midfielder in a Europa League match. Kamara has been suspended for three matches in UEFA club competitions for an “assault” on Kudela that reportedly took place…
Screamers: Chelsea’s best ever Champions League goals
Chelsea have been perennial contenders for the Champions League for much of the past two decades, the club’s billionaire investment designed to take the west Londoners to the summit of club football. Roman Abramovich’s lavish spending has seen several huge names arrive at Stamford Bridge, the transformative takeover seeing the Blues regularly feature in the…
Tuchel to make a late call over Kante fitness as he explains the ‘downside’ of his early return
Thomas Tuchel is set to make a late call over the fitness of N’Golo Kante ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg against Porto. The midfield dynamo picked up a hamstring complaint while on international duty with France, forcing him to miss Chelsea‘s shock 5-2 defeat to West Brom, with him not being expected to…