LONDON: Chelsea coach Frank Lampard is under pressure to deliver a serious Premier League title challenge after a spending spree fueled by his desire to catch champions Liverpool.
Lampard showed promise in his first season by steering the Blues into the Champions League with a fourth-place domestic finish.
But Arsenal exposed the flaws that were visible in Lampard’s side all season with a 2-1 win against their London rivals in the FA Cup final.
Having finished 33 points behind the Reds and 15 adrift of second-placed Manchester City last term, the response from the Stamford Bridge hierarchy has been emphatic.
City set the record for the biggest total spend by a Premier League club when Pep Guardiola splashed out £223.8 million ($295 million) ahead of the 2017-18 season.
But Chelsea are on course to shatter that mark.
After enduring a transfer ban in the 2019 summer window before failing to sign a single player during the 2020 January market, owner Roman Abramovich sanctioned the kind of money-is-no-object recruitment drive that was commonplace when he first bought the club.
After relying on a cadre of promising youngsters to kick-start his reign, Lampard has prioritized proven talents in the transfer market.
He paid a combined £141 million for Leipzig striker Timo Werner, Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech and Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell.
The west Londoners are expected to wrap up their £90 million swoop for Bayer Leverkusen forward Kai Havertz this week, which would take them past City’s record spree.
Malang Sarr has also arrived on a free transfer after the 21-year-old center-back left Nice, but he is seen as one for the future and will be sent on loan.
On Friday, Brazilian center-back Thiago Silva joined Chelsea for free after leaving Paris Saint-Germain following their Champions League final defeat.
Lampard will hope the lavish investment reaps the same rewards for his club as City enjoyed in 2018, when they were crowned champions.
Chelsea have not won the Premier League since 2017, failing to finish in the top two since then as City and Liverpool established a formidable duopoly.
Klopp’s side will be the team to beat when the new campaign kicks off on Sept. 12 and City can never be discounted while Guardiola is in charge.
But Chelsea are in the title conversation after bringing in so many quality additions.
Now it is up to Lampard to ensure his team fulfil those burgeoning expectations.
Often frustrated by Chelsea’s failure to break down stubborn, defensive opponents last season, Lampard must find a way to harness the talents of Christian Pulisic, Werner and Ziyech in what should be a vibrant front three.
Together with Havertz and Chilwell, those five were involved in a mammoth 131 goals in all competitions for their respective teams last season.
Lampard must deliver after Chelsea spending spree
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Lampard must deliver after Chelsea spending spree
- Lampard will hope the lavish investment reaps the same rewards for his club as City enjoyed in 2018, when they were crowned champions
‘Zero communication’: Gillespie opens up on Pakistan exit
- Jason Gillespie was appointed Pakistan’s Test coach in April for two years but differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board took their toll
- The 49-year-old former Australian pacer said he was not informed of decision to remove performance coach Tim Nielsen, also an Australian
BRISBANE: Jason Gillespie said Monday he felt no longer wanted as Pakistan’s Test coach and was left out of major decisions, having quit the post last week.
The 49-year-old Australian former fast bowler was appointed in April for two years but differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took their toll.
Gillespie said he was not informed of the decision to remove performance coach Tim Nielsen, also an Australian.
“Nielsen was told his services were no longer required and I had zero communication from anyone and that was the moment I thought: well, I’m not really sure they actually want me to do this job,” Gillespie told Australian broadcaster ABC in Brisbane.
He added: “For a decision to then be made (about Nielsen) and the head coach doesn’t get a text message, phone call or email about a decision that’s a pretty big decision.
“It just left me thinking well I’m really not sure if the PCB wants me.”
The PCB accepted Gillespie’s resignation, the second in two months after former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten quit as white-ball coach over differences with selectors.
Gillespie had the worst possible start to his coaching stint when Pakistan were whitewashed 2-0 by Bangladesh.
That was followed by an innings defeat against England in the first Test in Multan.
The defeat prompted the PCB to make sweeping changes, removing Gillespie from the selection panel and dropping star players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.
Pakistan won the remaining two Tests to seal the series 2-1.
Gillespie refused to join the team for the two-Test series in South Africa starting in Centurion from December 26.
Gillespie said he was upset over the reduction of his role.
“In essence I was basically hitting catches and that was about it on the morning of a game,” he told ABC.
“You want to be able to have clear communication with all stakeholders, including selectors and knowing what the team is as head coach at least a day before the game so you can help plan and prepare the players.”
The exits of Gillespie and Kirsten means Pakistan have now had seven different coaches across formats in the last three years.
How Saudi Arabia’s World Cup will reverberate across Asian football
- The 2034 edition will the third time that football’s global showpiece will be held by Asia, after Japan-Korea 2002 and Qatar 2022
AUSTRALIA: As the party continues across Saudi Arabia after last week’s historic awarding of the FIFA World Cup 2034 to the Kingdom, the win is also being felt across the wider Asian Football Confederation.
The event in 2034 will mark just the third time football’s global showpiece will be held on Asian shores, after Japan-Korea 2002 and Qatar 2022, and will again focus the world’s attention on the best that Asian football has to offer.
The AFC’s president, Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, was the first to congratulate the new hosts. “This is a momentous occasion for Saudi Arabia, the AFC, and the whole of Asia,” he said.
“Saudi Arabia’s successful bid is a testament to the Kingdom’s vision, commitment, and passion for football. We have full confidence in their ability to host an extraordinary FIFA World Cup that will leave a lasting legacy for the sport in Asia and beyond.
“The AFC is committed to working closely with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and FIFA to ensure the successful delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2034. Together, we will create an unforgettable experience for football fans around the globe.
“This historic achievement marks a new chapter for Asian football. With Saudi Arabia hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2034, we are confident that Asia will continue to play a leading role on the global stage.”
Rhysh Roshan Rai, a former Singapore footballer and now commentator, having covered some of Asian football’s biggest moments, including the AFC Asian Cup, AFC Champions League and Asian Qualifiers, is excited about the possible developmental benefits for the region.
“Asia is huge and diverse, so it’s hard to speak for everyone, but I’m sure it’s exciting for fans in that part of the continent,” he told Arab News.
“Being given the opportunity to host a massive event like that. They’re big football fans in Saudi Arabia and very passionate about the game.
“Speaking for myself, as a fan of Asian football, I’m looking forward to it and hopefully it’ll be something that can benefit the game in Asia.”
These comments are echoed by Dejan Damjanovic, the all-time leading scorer in the AFC Champions League.
The 43-year-old, who retired from football last year after a glittering 25-year career, is best known for his time in Korea with FC Seoul.
He holds the record for the most goals in the AFC Champions League with 42, five more than Korea’s Lee Dong-gook and 10 more than Saudi Arabia’s Nasser Al-Shamrani.
“I think it’s going to be amazing,” said Damjanovic, who enjoyed a six-month loan spell with Al-Ahli in 2006.
“Everyone knows how much Saudi invested in the last couple of years and how much they will invest in the coming years. I am sure they will make it an unbelievable World Cup.
“I think this is going to be (an) amazing promotion of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in general.”
It may only have been six months that Damjanovic spent in Saudi Arabia, at a different time in the Kingdom’s football development, but it clearly left an impact on him and the fans.
“I was just on loan there, and now when I look back I am really sorry that I didn’t stay longer,” he said.
“When I came back in 2013 (for the AFC Champions League quarterfinal) after six or seven years, still the fans welcomed me really nicely and the game was unbelievable.
“It’s really nice memories, and when I am with friends I am always speaking about (it). It’s really nice to have so many nice memories from ACL.”
Meanwhile, Roshan Rai was in the Kingdom in October to commentate on Saudi Arabia’s 0-0 draw with Bahrain, in what proved to be the last game of the Roberto Mancini era.
Having experienced firsthand the passion of the Saudi fans, not to mention the hospitality of the locals, the 39-year-old was left in no doubt about Saudi Arabia’s capacity to host the world’s biggest sporting event.
“They will be great hosts,” he said. “They’ve already been moving towards opening up the country for a while now and hosting big sporting and other events.
“They have the infrastructure in place and certainly have the resources to build on and improve on anything required to ensure that they can be the best host possible.
“From my own experiences there, the people have been warm, friendly and welcoming. I believe that will be the case as well once the World Cup comes around.”
He also spoke about the impact of hosting the World Cup. “Obviously in a football sense there are benefits … businesswise and so on there will be benefits.
“But from a human perspective there will also be a benefit to this. People might sometimes perceive things about certain places around the world. Stereotypes help us make sense of our world so it’s normal but it helps to challenge those stereotypes at times.
“I’ve been lucky enough to travel across the continent and world and have met with people from different cultures and backgrounds. There are many things in common that we have and also differences to celebrate, respect, discuss.
“There will be analysis and coverage of this event for a long time to come and that will put things under the spotlight and on the table for discussion, to work on things that need to be worked on by all parties.
“There is no perfect place on this planet, but an open mind and a willingness to learn about each other will go a long way towards our development as a species.”
Green Falcons continue training camp for Arabian Gulf Cup
- National team will have a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national football team continued their training camp on Sunday here in preparation for the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3.
The Green Falcons had an evening training session at Al-Shabab Club Stadium under the supervision of head coach Herve Renard. The session began with warm-up exercises, followed by possession training.
Renard introduced various tactical exercises before organizing a full-pitch match divided into two groups. The training session concluded with recovery exercises. Another session was held later in the evening.
Meanwhile, player Firas Al-Buraikan continued his individual training with the medical staff, while duo Abdullah Al-Khaibari and Abdulelah Al-Amari were limited to special exercises alongside the medical team.
The Green Falcons will conclude their preparations on Monday with a training session at 4 p.m. at Al-Shabab Club Stadium, ahead of their friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday. The first 15 minutes of the session will be open to the media.
Renard will hold a press conference on Monday at 3 p.m. at Al-Shabab Club Stadium to discuss the team’s preparations.
Al-Ain and Sharjah Self-Defence crowned champions of inaugural Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- Fifth and final round of event was held at Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Arena over the weekend
ABU DHABI: The inaugural edition of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship ended at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club crowned champions in the Gi division, while Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club won the No-Gi division.
The championship featured five rounds from Dec. 13 to 15 held across various locations in the UAE this year. This includes three rounds for the Gi category and two for the No-Gi category in several age groups.
The Kids and Under-16 categories took place on the final day, with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club continuing their earlier dominance to emerge victorious. Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club secured second in the overall Gi ranking, while Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club earned third.
In the No-Gi division, Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club took the title, MOD Academy second, and Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club third.
Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “We are proud of the tremendous success achieved by the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship over its five rounds.
“It has become a leading platform showcasing the growth of jiu-jitsu in the UAE. This championship reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, developing local talent, and providing a high-level competitive environment that unites athletes and clubs nationwide.”
“On this final day, we celebrate our champions, who have embodied the values of the sport,” he added. “Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to elevate jiu-jitsu and support our athletes in reaching greater heights.”
Ahmed Saeed Ali Jarwan, president of Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club’s board of directors, commended the team’s athletes for securing the No-Gi category and dedicated the achievement to the Ruler of Sharjah Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi.
“This milestone reflects the insightful vision and unwavering support of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, which has been pivotal in shaping the club’s legacy of sustainable achievements.
“The players’ technical excellence and the dedication of their coaches have been instrumental in this accomplishment,” Jarwan said.
Mansour Al-Hashemi, chairman of the Sports Games Co. at Al-Ain Club, said: “We are incredibly proud to claim the Gi championship title in a competition that carries a name close (to) our hearts.”
He added: “This achievement is the result of rigorous training and commitment, supported by the wise leadership’s vision to empower jiu-jitsu athletes to excel locally and internationally.”
Doncic triple-double leads Mavs over Warriors in record-shattering duel
- The Mavericks and Warriors combined for an NBA single-game record of 48 made three-pointers, breaking the old mark by four
- Jayson Tatum scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics over league-worst Washington 112-98
SAN FRANCISCO: Luka Doncic reeled off a triple-double with 45 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to spark the Dallas Mavericks over Golden State 143-133 in a record-shattering NBA matchup on Sunday.
The Mavericks and Warriors combined for an NBA single-game record of 48 made three-pointers, breaking the old mark by four, with Golden State sinking 27-of-54 shots from beyond the arc and Dallas hitting 21-of-41 three-point attempts.
“No team could miss. They had 18 threes at halftime and we were still up, which is insane,” Doncic said. “Felt like nobody could miss. It was a fun game. Lot of makes. But it was a physical game too.”
Doncic made 16-of-23 shots from the floor, including 6-of-11 three-pointers, and the 25-year-old Slovenian guard added three steals and two blocked shots to his ninth career 40-point triple-double.
“The guy never ceases to amaze me,” said teammate Klay Thompson. “He never rushes, plays at his own pace. Had 45 points easy as pie he made it look like.”
It was the three-point sharpshooting that made the contest historic, crushing the old mark for combined three-pointers in an NBA game of 44 set in February 2023 by Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers, and matched two nights ago by Phoenix and Utah.
The Mavericks, who won for the eighth time in nine starts, and Warriors combined for a one-half NBA record of 30 three-pointers in the first half, which ended with Dallas ahead 81-74.
Dallas made 12-of-25 from three-point range in the first two quarters while the Warriors matched another NBA record with 18 three-pointers in a half, making them on 32 attempts.
That set the stage for ex-Warrior Thompson to sink the record-breaking 45th combined three-pointer with 4:32 remaining in the fourth quarter off an assist from Doncic.
“I’ve had a great history of shooting the ball well here so I try to tap into that every time I come back,” Thompson said.
Thompson had a season-high 29 points, 12 in the last quarter, and sank 9-of-14 shots from the floor and 7-of-11 from three-point range against a club with which he won four NBA titles.
“Legendary stuff. Now it’s time to do some legendary stuff in Dallas,” he said. “I truly believe in this team. We have all the ingredients to do something special.”
The NBA record for three-pointers by one team in a game is 29, set by Milwaukee in December of 2020 and matched by Boston two months ago.
Jayson Tatum scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics over league-worst Washington 112-98, but an injury to Kristaps Porzingis dimmed the joy of a road victory.
Porzingis, a 29-year-old Latvian center who missed the first month of the season following left ankle surgery, played only 11 minutes before leaving for good with right heel pain in the second quarter.
Porzingis has played in only seven games this season, averaging 20.3 points and 7.8 rebounds.
The Wizards fell to 3-21 while Boston improved to 21-5, second-best in the NBA to Cleveland (22-4).
At Orlando, the New York Knicks delivered the first home loss of the season to the Magic as Jalen Brunson scored 31 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 22 rebounds in a 100-91 victory.
Mikal Bridges had 17 points for the Knicks, who improved to 16-10, while reserve Mo Wagner had 32 to lead Orlando (17-11), which fell to 10-1 at home.
At San Antonio, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards scored 26 points to lead the Timberwolves over the host Spurs 106-92.
French star Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 20 points and added 12 rebounds and five assists.
Host Phoenix got 28 points from Devin Booker plus 20 from Kevin Durant to power the Suns over Portland 116-109.
At Indianapolis, Pascal Siakam scored 22 points to lead the Indiana Pacers over New Orleans 119-104.
The Pacers obtained reserve center Thomas Bryant from Miami earlier Sunday in a deal that sent the Heat the rights to swap second-round picks in the 2031 NBA Draft.
Another deal Sunday sent German guard Dennis Schroder from Brooklyn to the Golden State Warriors for forward De’Anthony Melton.
