Manager says late surge in 2020-21 can serve as inspiration
‘If there is a club that can do it I really think it is us’
Jürgen Klopp believes Liverpool are the one club capable of producing the late-season flourish needed to break into the top four.
Liverpool trail fourth-placed Tottenham by nine points in the race for Champions League qualification but have two games in hand, the first at home against Wolves on Wednesday. Since losing 3-0 at Molineux in February, Klopp’s team have taken seven points from three Premier League matches. The Liverpool manager insists recent history, notably the 10-game unbeaten run that secured Champions League football in 2020-21, should convince his players they can end a trying campaign on a similar high.
Fifa’s glittering ceremony at the Salle Pleyel was one more step in its relentless quest for power under the emperor Infantino
An hour or so – or it may have been two hours or 12 hours or seven minutes – into the brain-clogging fug of sound and light and sullen football legend applause (a thing about football legends: they don’t really like clapping other people) that was the The Best Fifa Awards 2022, Jermaine Jenas made a mistake.
You had to watch carefully to catch it. And it should be said Jenas did pretty well overall in his role as co-host, alongside the agreeably brusque Samantha Johnson. True, Jenas did insist on calling Gianni Infantino “Mr President” and “President Infantino”, coming on like a lovelorn Marilyn Monroe in a chiffon gown under aggressively paranoid surveillance by the CIA. But he was genial and slick and essentially always the same substance, an unwavering stream of homogenised Jenas, the TV presenting equivalent of supermarket brioche.
The fifth round of the FA Cup is a weekday thing now, for some reason, causing the more small ‘c’ conservative and superannuated among us to feel mild pangs of discombobulation, bordering on unease that occasionally segues into the sort of impotent rage that leads to high blood pressure, piles and Brexit. But there’s really no need to fret. Let’s be honest, most of the best FA Cup moments in history occurred under lights in the middle of the week anyway. Ricky Villa! Ryan Giggs! The great Chelsea-Leeds donnybrook! Bryan Robson scoring against Oldham from a yard out with his front tail! The list is endless, even if ours clearly ran out of steam after entry No 3.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed sympathy with the Chelsea manager Graham Potter and warned managers can't let fan criticism 'destroy your life'. A section of the Chelsea fanbase has turned against the English head coach, who revealed last week that his family had received death threats from supporters. Potter has mentioned Arteta as an example of how managers can turn things around if given time, with Arsenal now two points clear of defending champions Manchester City in the Premier League.
Arsenal hero Merson believes Potter’s limited use of Mudryk at a time when the team are struggling for goals proves the former Brighton boss had little say on his move to west London.
Chelsea have scored just 23 goals in 24 Premier League games this season, with Sunday’s defeat leaving the Blues 14 points outside the Champions League places with 14 games to go.
‘At Tottenham, Chelsea did not look like scoring a goal in a year of Sundays,’ Merson told Sky Sports.
Chelsea beat Arsenal to the signing of Mudryk (Picture: Getty)
‘Mykhailo Mudryk is an £88m signing sitting on the bench, it tells you he’s not Potter’s player.
‘If he was his player and if Potter would have gone to the board and said he needed Mudryk, he would have to play him.’
Merson says Chelsea’s recent record – they have only won two of their last 16 games – is ‘extraordinary’, but says the club’s owners should stick by Potter for the time being.
He added: ‘When Chelsea lost 1-0 at Dortmund, I thought they would definitely beat them in the second leg. Since then, I do not see how they will score two goals in a match.
‘They never looked like scoring at Spurs. I could have played for Chelsea on Sunday when they had the ball because it was so slow – and I’m 54!
‘I can’t run around anymore but I can pass the ball, and I could have played in the team. It was slow, sideways, backwards, I can play like that at my age.
‘Chelsea’s biggest game is Tottenham and it was lacklustre. They could still be playing now and they would not have scored. I cannot remember getting excited once in the game by them.
‘Chelsea beat Tottenham four out of four times last season, twice in the cups, twice in the league and that was when they had Heung-Min Son playing on fire. Now he’s coming off the bench and they still cannot get a result.
‘I like Graham Potter, they should give him a chance, but one goal in six games, one win in 11, two wins in 16. That is absolutely a no-go. It’s extraordinary.
‘It’s the worst I have seen at Chelsea in over 20 years.’
Virgil van Dijk has said that Liverpool have been 'spoilt' with success over the past five years and that the disappointing nature of this term has come as a 'shock' to everyone.
Erik ten Hag has got off to a trophy-winning start at Manchester United (Picture: Getty Images)
Erik ten Hag has sent a message of thanks and promises more success to Manchester United supporters in an open letter to fans after Sunday’s Carabao Cup triumph.
The Red Devils won the first trophy of the Ten Hag era thanks to a 2-0 win over Newcastle United at Wembley.
It was a pretty comfortably afternoon for the Dutchman’s team as they took the two-goal lead in the first half and then held the Magpies at arm’s length after the break.
The Manchester United boss got rid of his usual calm and cool demeanour after the win, enjoying the celebrations with his players on the pitch and he has been gushing about the support from the fans in north London.
He has thanked the travelling supporters for their impact at Wembley and promises that this will just be the start of the journey, with plenty more hard work and success to come.
‘I wanted to take the time to address you directly this morning.
‘When I arrived at the club, we spoke about the challenge and importance of reuniting this group of players with our amazing fans.
‘Believe me, this squad knows exactly how important you are. The bond between the supporters and the team is there for everyone to see and what we experienced together yesterday will only further strengthen that bond.
‘The atmosphere generated by those of you at Wembley was incredible. From the first minute until the last you were there with us, driving the team on, supporting and encouraging them to get over the line to bring the trophy back to Manchester.
‘For those of you who couldn’t be there, we felt your support before, during and after the game. Know that each and every one of you will always play your part in this team being successful.
‘I am proud of my players and staff for their preparation and performances. Yesterday, we saw the required desire, spirit and determination that we must demand of everyone who represents Manchester United.
‘We set ourselves high standards every day. At Wembley we met those demands and got the reward of our first trophy together.
‘We know the importance of silverware throughout the history of this great club. We are so happy to bring the trophy back to Old Trafford but we are by no means satisfied and we will not stop here.
The Red Devils stars enjoyed their pretty comfortable 2-0 win at Wembley (Picture: PA)
‘Together we have experienced the feeling of what it means to win together for Manchester United. It is truly magnificent and will only make each of us hungrier for more success.
‘This group has made great strides in the last few months but there is still a lot more to come. I can assure you that everyone at Carrington will be working constantly because we know that this club and you, our supporters, deserve more great days like this.
‘We will go back to work today, with full focus now on preparing to face West Ham in the FA Cup on Wednesday evening.
‘There will be no complacency in our desire to return this club back to where we want to be.
‘Please know that you are vital to what we want to achieve and take yesterday as proof of what can happen when we are all United together.
Sixty-eight years and counting. Despite the high hopes of the tens of thousands of optimistic Geordies who converged on London over the weekend, Newcastle’s long wait to win a major domestic trophy goes on. And while that Inter-Cities Fairs Cup triumph in 1969 helped take the bare look off the trophy cabinet in the interim, the second leg of that particular final was played in Budapest at a time when even the most devoted of Mags would have struggled to get a peek behind the iron curtain to see and celebrate the trophy-lift.
Barcelona fell to their second defeat in as many games away at Almeria, with Xavi now under pressure to ensure the small blip does not become a full-blown crisis in the weeks ahead.
Mason Mount has been heavily linked with a move away from Chelsea this summer (Picture: Getty Images)
Mason Mount is yet to sign a new Chelsea contract and is being linked with a move to either Manchester United or Liverpool, but former Blues star Emmanuel Petit says it would be ‘stupid’ to sell him.
The England midfielder’s contract at Stamford Bridge expires in 2024 and has not accepted the offer he has been made by Chelsea.
The 24-year-old will enter the final year of his current contract in the summer and it is thought the Blues would be open to selling him rather than let him leave on a free the following year.
Mount would not be short of options, with Manchester United and Liverpool both thought to be keen, while he would also have suitors abroad.
However, Petit, who played for Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League, says it would be a foolish thing for the Blues to let him go, urging them to keep hold of him.
‘Chelsea should try their best to keep Mount. I know he’s been linked with some big clubs, but taking away this season, he has been remarkable and he’s grown up with the club,’ Petit told Premier League Odds.
‘He was developing into a brilliant midfield player, with goals and assists, and I think this year has been a transition year for Chelsea – so don’t put everything in a rubbish bin.
‘He’s one of the last English players in the dressing room, too, which is very important for the fans.
‘Chelsea should not make a stupid decision to sell Mount, he should stay at Chelsea.’
There is certain to be a lot of outgoings from Chelsea this summer after their string of signings over the last year and competition for places too extreme now.
The club do not want Mount to be one of those heading out of the door, but as they look to balance the books and the squad, they will listen to offers for him if he doesn’t agree a new contract.
Reece James has backed Graham Potter to get Chelsea out of their rut (Getty)
Reece James insists Graham Potter’s ability is ‘definitely not questionable’ following Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday.
Chelsea’s woeful form continues as second-half goals from Oliver Skipp and Harry Kane sealed the win for Spurs.
The result leaves Chelsea without a win in their last six matches and is their third consecutive defeat in all competitions.
Pressure will also grow on Potter’s position at Stamford Bridge but James is adamant that the former Brighton manager is the right man to improve Chelsea’s situation.
‘Nothing happens overnight,’ James told beIN Sport after Chelsea’s defeat to Spurs.
‘We don’t just wake up tomorrow and we’re out of the situation we’re in, it’s going to take weeks and months to get to where we’re meant to be.
‘But we’re all on the same page, we’re sticking together and that’s a big positive.’
Graham Potter’s Chelsea are now without a win in six games (Getty)
Asked if Potter is as good as previous Chelsea managers he’s played under, James replied: ‘Yeah, for sure.
‘Everyone has seen how good of a manager he is. That showed when he was at Brighton and they were in and around top four.
‘His ability is definitely not questionable.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly was in the stands for Chelsea’s defeat to Spurs (PA)
‘He’s in a similar position to us players – we’re the ones out there on the pitch performing – so just as much stick he gets the players are playing as well, we’re in it together.
‘I think it’s hard to say, it’s not like we’re not trying, we’re giving it our all but results are simply not going our way at the moment.
‘It’s not like the players are sacking it, or anything like this, we’re working hard, it’s just results are not falling our way at the moment.’
A familiar voice who will forever be associated with football, there will never be anyone quite like John Motson
The loss of John Motson will be felt deeply in commentary boxes and directors’ boxes at football stadiums across the country this weekend.
Motson knew everyone in football, and everyone knew him. He made it his mission to be on good terms with stewards, strikers and chief executives – any one of whom might pass on that nugget of information that could raise his commentary above the ordinary. Meticulous doesn’t do it justice.
HENRY CLARK AT KINGSMEADOW: Having contested three finals, two semi-finals and a quarter-final in the FA Cup in the last decade, Chelsea and Arsenal have developed quite the rivalry.
Angel Di Maria is being touted for a move from Juventus to the States (Picture: Getty Images)
Inter Miami are targeting a number of the biggest names in world football, with Juventus forward Angel Di Maria the latest to appear on their radar.
Manager of the MLS side, Phil Neville, admitted earlier this week that Inter Miami are keen on Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi and Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets.
Reports in Italy now state that Di Maria is a target for the club co-owned by David Beckham, with the veteran forward’s contract expiring in the summer.
Di Maria only moved to Turin from PSG last year, but he signed just a one-year contract and will be available on a free transfer unless a new deal is agreed.
The 35-year-old has made 14 Serie A appearances so far this season and Juve are reportedly keen to extend his stay with them, but La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Inter Miami are hoping to tempt him Stateside.
Inter Miami tempted a big name Argentinian from Juventus in the past, signing Gonzalo Higuain to Florida in 2020, who went on to score 29 MLS goals in 67 games before leaving last year.
Phil Neville would love to have the World Cup winner at his disposal (Picture: Getty Images)
Speaking earlier this week, Neville made it clear that his club are aiming to bring in the biggest names around, including arguably the very biggest.
‘I’m not going to deny [it and say] there isn’t truth in the speculation that we’re interested in Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets,’ Neville told The Times.
‘We want to bring the best players in the world to this football club. Messi and Busquets are the two that stand out more in recent years. They’re great players who would still be a massive benefit to this organization. For MLS, it would be a game-changer.’
The England forward was an injury doubt for today’s game at Wembley after he came off in United’s 2-1 win against Barcelona on Thursday.
Rashford removed his left boot after he was substituted and he appeared in a fair amount of discomfort as Erik ten Hag’s side came from behind to beat the Catalans.
That was the only sour point of an otherwise fantastic night for United and Ten Hag admitted on Friday that Rashford could miss the Wembley showpiece.
🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨
Here it is: your United XI for the #CarabaoCup final… 🔴🔥#MUFC
The 23-year-old Portugal international has featured four times for Chelsea thus far and registered his first goal in the 1-1 draw with West Ham earlier this month.
Chelsea do not have a buy option included in the loan but Felix has hinted he may be willing to join Graham Potter’s side on a permanent basis.
‘The position I play, and the way we play at Chelsea is different to Atletico,’ Felix told Eleven Portugal.
‘Clearly I have more freedom to put my football into practice, to be at my best to help the team.
‘I feel good playing here. It’s just a matter of getting results and it will be perfect.’
It’s not about how it starts , it’s about how it ends.
Back soon, blues 💙ðŸ¤
Thanks for the support pic.twitter.com/K1fRQm7kN1
The Blues are keen to sign Felix in the summer and he will likely cost around £80m, according to the Evening Standard.
Chelsea have already spent over £600m on players since Todd Boehly replaced Roman Abramovich as owner ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
Despite their huge spending it has been a difficult season for the club, who are 10th in the Premier League table and suffered early exits in the domestic cups.
‘As much as I’ve had support, I’ve had some not particularly nice emails come through that want me to die and want my kids to die,’ Potter, who is being backed by the Chelsea hierarchy over the club’s dip in form, said.
Unai Emery had never lost four successive games in his top flight managerial career and an incisive second-half display from Aston Villa, ignited by the Spaniard’s introduction of Emi Buendía, ensured that unwanted blemish was avoided at Goodison Park. The contrast in front of goal was stark as Everton, toothless yet again, returned to the relegation zone.
Sean Dyche’s side improved on their previous outing at home to Leeds but without the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin or the reinforcements they so desperately needed in January, they lacked the quality to turn pressure and promise into genuine threat. Neal Maupay and Everton’s supporting cast toiled whereas Ollie Watkins was menacing throughout and broke the deadlock from the penalty spot. Substitute Buendía sealed the win with a fine individual strike as Villa ended their own worrying sequence of defeats.
ALVISE CAGNAZZO: In front of the club's base, in Corte Lambruschini, a cardboard box was found, but rather than the expected food package, the club shockingly found a severed pig's head.
Erik ten Hag’s side beat Barcelona in the previous round (Picture: Getty)
Erik ten Hag has shared his thoughts on Real Betis as Manchester United prepare to face them in the Europa League last 16.
United beat Barcelona on Thursday night to set up the clash against another La Liga side as they attempt to seal a place in the quarter-finals.
The Red Devils faced Real Betis in a friendly during the Qatar World Cup, which the Spanish club won 1-0 against an experimental United team.
But Ten Hag’s side – who have looked impressive since the domestic season restarted – will head into the meeting as strong favourites.
‘I just heard and we played them in the pre-season after the winter break, and you know what you get from Spanish football,’ Ten Hag told the United website.
‘We faced it yesterday. It is a playing team, a skilful team, so we will have to play our best.
‘We also played Real Sociedad [in the group stages] this season and so we know, only when you play your best, you have a chance to survive and to get into the next round.
ðŸ—£ï¸ â€œYou have to work really hard for it. When you are really proud is when you are winning trophies and you are doing it in a way that people like.â€
Erik ten Hag says he will only be really proud when Manchester United win trophies whilst playing attractive football. 🆠pic.twitter.com/UnykIexI77
‘So, we will go deeper when we face them. First we have to put the energy and the focus into the next games, and games [after that].
‘First we have the Carabao Cup [final], the FA Cup and then the Premier League.’
Speaking after the 2-1 win over Barcelona in the previous round at Old Trafford on Thursday, Ten Hag added: ‘The Europa League? We don’t dream about European trophies. That’s far ahead.
‘On Sunday, we have a great opportunity to win a trophy [against Newcastle United].
‘We will give everything to win that trophy. From now on, our focus is on that game.
‘It doesn’t matter to me [about the draw]. I focus on Newcastle United, it is the only thing that counts.’
Graham Potter has revealed that his family life, personality and mental health have suffered because of the criticism he has received since becoming Chelsea’s head coach. “Pressure is a two way thing, isn’t it?” Potter said. "That’s just part of life at Chelsea. And then you have to accept the fact that when the results are like they are, you have to accept criticism. That should come and that’s fair."
Newcastle have signed Miguel Almiron on a new three-and-a-half year deal, the club confirmed on Friday ahead of their crucial Carabao Cup final against Manchester United this weekend.
Once the trendy London hangout for what seemed like every pigeon on the planet until some spoilsport introduced a breadcrumb ban, Trafalgar Square is bracing itself for an influx of Magpies. Travelling to that there London for their first cup final since 1999, tens of thousands of Newcastle United fans are expected to congregate around and – depending on how much Newkie Broon they’ve necked and the police presence – possibly in the famous fountain, before their big day out in Wembley on Sunday. It is at this point the previous incarnation of this daily email would make a predictable joke about fans of their opponents Manchester United sitting indoors in the surrounding London suburbs watching Casualty or Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, but we’re all grown up these days and much better than that.
Re: the late John Motson (yesterday’s Football Daily). At Bisham Abbey, then the headquarters of the England national squad, my team of jobbing journalists played a charity match against the show ponies that were the television commentators, including Alan Parry, Martin Tyler and the man himself. Motty was hilarious, charging around without his spectacles, head down and throwing himself into tackles. Unlike the broadcast version, this Motty cussed and swore, not at the opposition but at what he saw as his own ineptitude. The commentators won comfortably, with the lanky goal-hanger Tyler scoring a hat-trick. Afterwards, Motty was the first to the bar, wallet in hand, buying all us lesser mortals a drink. Top gentleman” – Jon Buss.
Re: delivering the post to footballers (yesterday’s Football Daily letters). My son Harry was a postman in Bournemouth a few years ago and one of the homes in his round was that of then-manager Eddie Howe. He regularly delivered what he took to be coaching videos and when the team first won promotion to the Premier League, he popped a card congratulating Eddie on the achievement through his letterbox. Gentleman Eddie very kindly responded with a handwritten note” – Andy Sherwood.
I only lasted a week as a postman, but I did deliver milk to John Aldridge on many occasions during his Oxford United days. I never met him, but I guess 6am is a bit early for a casual chat with most people (including me)” – Richard O’Hagan.
I didn’t deliver post, but I did deliver loads of papers, and clean a lot of cars. Growing up in classic Birds-of-a-Feather Chigwell, our garden backed on to Geoff Hurst’s post-hat-trick gaff. Not only did this make it prime ‘please mister, can we have our ball back’ territory (we always could), it also put him in the centre of my Cub Scout bob-a-job empire. A public-spirited Mrs Hurst had me cleaning the Escort Mexico in the drive (reg plate GWC 10, apparently for ‘Grand World Cup’) and an abundant selection of boots in the garage, donating at least a shilling and sixpence to the cause. I delivered their morning paper on my regular round and, as an occasional extra, often to the Moores too (GWC 6). Bobby’s order was the classic ‘broadsheet outside, tabloid within’ affair, but seeing as both the M*il and Expr*ss came in huge spyhole-friendly format back then, it was an unusually ineffective defensive tactic” – Tim Lawler.
When I was a kid, in the early-1970s, I had an evening paper round for the evening Liverpool Echo. I was lucky that I had about half of the Liverpool team on my round, including Emlyn Hughes and John Toshack. They were nearly all waiting anxiously to read their ‘school report’ from 48 hours previous: no internet in them days. Confidentiality forbids me from revealing who the worst Christmas tippers were. On a similar note, my mum’s car broke down outside the newsagents in Formby. Howard Kendall lifted the bonnet and had it all sorted in a minute” – Mark Gillett.
ROB DRAPER: On Thursday, the Government announced its White Paper for sorting out football's governance mess and a new regulator is coming, probably in time for the 2025-26 season.
‘If votes were being cast this week, the Manchester United attacker would surely command most support from his peers.
‘Haaland hit the ground running after joining Manchester City and remains on course for the golden boot.
‘Rashford’s form under Erik ten Hag is taking his game to that next level.
ðŸ—£ï¸ â€œIt’s our fault. Not Erling’s. Erling has been impressive all season.â€
Pep Guardiola says it’s an issue for the team collectively to solve the problem of Erling Haaland’s lack of touches in games. 📉 pic.twitter.com/yYa7blvzbw
‘His all-round displays this season are superior to Haaland’s because United are set-up to get the most from him.
‘Haaland is a prolific scorer of goals in a team which benefits from his considerable finishing skills, but has yet to work out how to maximise every facet of his game such as his pace and physicality outside of the penalty area.
‘When Haaland has not scored – and fortunately for City he generally has – he has struggled to offer anything else over 90 minutes. He is a great goalscorer who needs to evolve into a great player who scores goals.
‘If you stop the service to Haaland, which is admittedly easier said than done, you de-weaponise him. The on-field relationship needs work at City.
‘The same cannot be said of Rashford, whose speed and movement is the focal point of United’s attack. He is currently a great player who is scoring goals.
‘Rashford has made over 200 more passes over the course of 24 Premier League appearances than Haaland in his 23, highlighting the difference in how they connect with their teammates.’
BBC’s voice of football for nearly half a century with an encyclopedic knowledge of the game
John Motson, who has died aged 77, was BBC television’s “voice” of football for almost half a century, commentating for Match of the Day from 1971 until his retirement in 2018 and becoming affectionately known as “Motty”.
“I remember my first game, Liverpool against Chelsea,” he recalled. “They kicked off and my heart sank because I thought, ‘What do I say now?’ I still remember the feeling. I realised I had a lot of work to do.”
In an open letter to fans, Lovren described his announcement as 'somber news', and spoke of the emotion he had gone through in deciding to hang up his boots for his country.
This season’s Europa League is packed full of big names (Picture: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
The Europa League has reached the business end of the tournament with the knockout phase now underway.
There is plenty of Premier League interest in this season’s Europa League, with Arsenal and Manchester United amongst the favourites to lift the trophy in the final later this year.
Chelsea manager’s measured response to his team’s poor form has sparked an oddly outraged reaction from press and public
Just how angry do we want Graham Potter to be? Stepped on an upturned plug angry? Just missed a train angry? Had his Subaru nicked and getting ghosted by his insurance company angry?
Potter’s tenure at Chelsea is a fascinating study in our expectations of managers and how much importance – if any – we place on honesty and integrity.
James Maddison has scored nine goals for Leicester this season (Photo: Getty)
Leicester City could be without star player James Maddison for the big Premier League clash against Arsenal on Saturday.
The Gunners travel to the King Power with the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points before Manchester City play Bournemouth in the evening kick-off.
Though Arsenal beat Leicester 4-2 in the reverse fixture back in August, this encounter should be a lot closer given the Foxes recent good form that has seen them win three of their last four matches.
Mikel Arteta’s men have won just one of their last five but showed great spirit in their most recent game when they came from behind to beat Aston Villa.
However, Leicester have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the game, with Brendan Rodgers revealing that attacking midfielder Maddison is now an injury doubt.
‘We’re starting to get a lot of players back,’ the Foxes manager said in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, as he also confirmed that Jonny Evans and Ryan Bertrand will miss out.
‘We have to see how James Maddison is though. He’s still nursing a knee issue, so we’ll have to assess that tomorrow after training.’
Arsenal beat Leicester 4-2 back in August (Photo: Getty)
Maddison picked up a knee injury shortly before the season resumed in December which ruled him out for nearly a month.
He returned to take part in Leicester’s recent run of form, scoring in the impressive wins over Villa and Tottenham and playing the full 90minutes in the 3-0 loss at Manchester United last Sunday.
The 26-year-old has arguably been his club’s best player this season, having scored nine goals and made five assists in the league.
Arsenal have been linked with signing him the past before opting to go for Martin Odegaard, but with his contract up in just 18 months time he has been linked with a move away again, this time to Newcastle.
One such comment: “England women’s no 9 vacancy? Really? Ought surely to be Alessia Russo’s, who improved the team in every game in the Euros when she came on as a sub for Ellen White.|
That’s a strong selection by Sarina Wiegman with the headline news being Alessia Russo in at No 9, and Rachel Daly not starting at striker or left-back. Does that signify Wiegman sees Russo as the heiress to Ellen White? Very possibly, and Russo has a lot of advocates. Suggesting that Daly had a chance of being the Lionesses’ striker at the World Cup saw a response I wasn’t quite expecting when I covered Sunday’s game.
CRAIG HOPE: Ritchie's advice was just the start. It still needed a change of manager. Like others, Longstaff's progress had stalled under Bruce and he found himself in a mental and physical rut.
Mykhailo Mudryk has not made an immediate impact since joining Chelsea (Getty)
Shakhtar Donetsk’s director of football Darijo Srna is adamant that Mykhailo Mudryk will be a success at Chelsea following the winger’s subdued start at Stamford Bridge.
Before his move to Chelsea, Mudryk had given strong indications that his preference was to join Arsenal from the Ukrainian club.
However, Srna insists the final decision was left for the player to make.
‘Everything is so simple – the market decides the price, not me and, of course, our president,’ Srna told the Football Ramble podcast.
‘Mykhailo Mudryk is, for me, one of the best three players in Europe in his position after Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, the next one is Mykhailo Mudryuk.
Mykhailo Mudryk cannot turn Chelsea around on his own, insists Shakhtar’s director of football (Getty)
‘If somebody wants to buy a player from Shakhtar they must respect the club, the player and the president because we know how to sell players and we know how to buy players.
‘Mykhailo Mudryk is from our academy, amazing kid, amazing boy, amazing player, unfortunately at Chelsea now it’s not a good mood, and Mykhailo as well, but Mykhailo has all the qualities to be one of the best players in the Premier League in the next couple of months, in the next couple of years.
‘Regarding the transfer, firstly the price was €100 million, €70m plus €30m. Arsenal also was fully in love with Mudryk but Chelsea showed that they are more concrete and more ready to buy him.
‘With respect to Arsenal, in the end it was the decision of Mykhailo Mudryk because Chelsea paid what we want, we made an agreement with Chelsea and he said, ‘yes I want to go to Chelsea’.’
Mudryk has already faced criticism over his recent performances since joining Chelsea, with former Arsenal forward Paul Merson claiming that the winger has ‘shown nothing’ during his first few weeks under Graham Potter.
But Srna believes Chelsea’s poor run of form has not helped Mudryk following his arrival.
‘Don’t worry about Mykhailo Mudryk, you will enjoy watching him. Like in the first game he played against Liverpool where he came into the side, this is 35 per cent of Mykhailo Mudryk,’ Srna said.
‘Mykhailo cannot play alone, the whole of Chelsea is not in a good mood, they are not playing amazing football, they don’t have good results but they have a lot of new players and they need time. Sometimes you don’t have time, that’s the problem, but Mykhailo, don’t worry, Chelsea fans. Mykhailo will bring a lot of happiness to Chelsea fans.
‘Mykhailo is a person who thinks just about football. He thinks just about football, he goes to sleep with the ball and wakes up with the ball, this is the key to his success.
‘I was so sad when he decided to go to Chelsea. I said to him, ‘Mykhailo, can you say with us a bit more, we need you’, but he said, ‘no, Darijo, it’s time to go’. We respect that.’
