Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca insisted he was not under any extra pressure ahead of a decisive three days as the Blues aim to secure a place in the UEFA Champions League next season by finishing in the Premier League’s top five, and then battling Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final. Five clubs in the English top flight will battle for three available Champions League slots on the last day of the Premier League season, with fifth-placed Chelsea making the trip to Nottingham Forest, who sit seventh and are a point behind. Maresca’s side will then travel to…
Author: Somto Isaac
Barcelona attacker Raphinha penned a new contract extension until 2028 following a spectacular season. The 28-year-old, whose previous contract was to expire in 2027, has played a crucial role in Barca’s victorious domestic treble. “Barcelona and Raphinha have reached an agreement for the renewal of his contract, which will link him to the club until June 30, 2028,” said the Catalan giants in a statement. The Brazilian who is a candidate to win the Ballon d’Or, has scored 34 goals and provided 25 assists in 56 matches across all competitions. Raphinha is the joint top goalscorer in the Champions League…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta congratulated North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur after they lifted the Europa League trophy on Wednesday, but insisted that a team’s success in a season should not be measured by their trophy count. Arteta’s side currently sit second in the Premier League behind champions Liverpool and will finish without any silverware this season – but Spurs who have had a dreadful domestic campaign and sit 17th, have ended their season on a high after winning a European trophy. “They are [Europa League] champions and when you get to that you have to do a lot of things…
Bruno Fernandes has offered to head for the exit door at Manchester United if the club enters a financial situation needing a cash in following their Europa League final defeat by Tottenham. The Red Devils lost 1-0 to Spurs in Bilbao on Wednesday after Brennan Johnson’s goal in the first half. Manager Ruben Amorim also said after the defeat that if the club no longer wanted him, he would quit “without any conversion about compensation”. Now, his skipper has toed the line, citing United’s need for an overhaul of players despite financial restrictions. “I have always been honest. I’ve always…
Tottenham Hotspur gaffer Ange Postecoglou has revealed he remains “very” hungry to build on his success after leading the club to the Europa League trophy, despite doubts about his future. The Australian’s job still looks to be on the line as the club sit 17th on the Premier League table after a horrible domestic campaign. Spurs brought an end to their 17-year trophy drought after defeating Manchester United 1-0 on Bilbao to win their first European trophy since 1984. “Very [hungry to build on it], we’ve got a really young group of players and you can talk to them about…
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was critical of the “harsh” Liverpool fans who booed Trent Alexander-Arnold in the wake of his announced exit at the end of the season. The defender is expected to join Real Madrid upon the expiration of his contract in June. The Englishman, who revealed his decision to leave his boyhood club was jeered by Liverpool fans when he came on as a substitute in the second half of the 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield. Salah admitted that he was downcast by the taunts aimed at Alexander-Arnold, who faces his last game as a Liverpool player…
Outgoing Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for his young charges who helped the injury-stricken team grab a 2-1 win against Mallorca, thanks to academy centre-back Jacobo Ramon’s late winner in the fifth minute of added time. The win meant a delay for Barcelona’s hopes of sealing the title and kept hopes for Los Blancos’ alive – but with two games left, they are four points adrift of their rivals who have a game in hand and will win their 28th LaLiga crown on Thursday if they beat city rivals Espanyol. “We didn’t give up despite having…
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim explained why playing Champions League football is “more important” than the opportunity of winning his maiden trophy with the club when they battle Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final. A triumph in Bilbao on May 21 will give a lifeline to the struggling Red Devils as direct qualification to the lucrative league phase of next season’s UEFA Champions League is also on the line. United and Spurs are placed just outside the relegation spots in the Premier League, as the losing team in next Wednesday’s contest will miss out on playing in any European…
Tottenham Hotspur have received yet another negative news ahead of their Europa League final against Manchester United as injury continues to hamper Ange Postecoglou’s plans to end the season on a high. Sweden international Dejan Kulusevski has undergone knee surgery, as announced by the Premier League club. The 25-year-old picked up the injury in the 2-0 league loss at home against Crystal Palace last Wednesday and Spurs have not provided a time frame on Kulusevski’s return. “We can confirm that Dejan Kulusevski suffered an injury to his right patella in our Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace last weekend,” Spurs…
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has described the season as a catastrophic one for the club. City failed to defend their Premier League title but still remain on course to qualify for the UEFA Champions League as they sit third on the log with 65 points from 36 games. The 24-year-old believes the Manchester outfit have not had enough hunger throughout the campaign but aims to change that ahead of the 2025-26 season. “You can find excuses in all of this – injuries, many injuries and at bad times – but in the end we haven’t been performing well enough,”…