LONDON: Mauricio Pochettino has urged his struggling Chelsea team to keep believing in themselves but admitted they had to “fix” their crippling goalscoring problem.
The Blues, European champions just two years ago, are a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, just four points above the relegation zone, after one win in their first six matches.
Big-spending Chelsea have mustered just five goals in the league — and three of those came in the 3-0 win against newly-promoted Luton.
But new manager Pochettino, speaking on the eve of their League Cup third-round match against Brighton, struck a positive note, saying his team were still a work in progress.
“(It is) a very short time that we are together,” said the Argentine. “Realistically, we only started after the transfer window closed. Before, it was a little bit of an unstable situation.”
He said injury-hit Chelsea were full of ideas and dominating games but struggling to find the net — Raheem Sterling is the top-scorer with just two goals.
“Every single football person in this country sees Chelsea deserve more but we have missed (scoring) goals, the most important thing in football — we cannot forget that,” said the former Tottenham boss.
“We need to get criticized, of course, because we are not winning games but we need to keep being strong in the belief.
“The team is very well-organized, the effort is massive. You can see against Aston Villa (a match Chelsea lost 1-0) how the players fight with 10 men.”
He added: “We are playing well, it’s only we are not clinical in front of the goal. That is what we need to fix and try to give more confidence to our offensive players.”
Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’
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Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’
- The Blues, European champions just two years ago, are a lowly 14th in the Premier League table
- But new manager Pochettino, speaking on the eve of their League Cup third-round match against Brighton, struck a positive note, saying his team were still a work in progress
Omar Marmoush scores stunning goal as Kevin De Bruyne says goodbye to Man City
- The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left Champions League qualification in their own hands
- De Bruyne was fighting back tears as he addressed the crowd after the match and watched a video montage of tributes from club greats on the stadium’s big screen
MANCHESTER, England: Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike upstaged Kevin De Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell.
Marmoush let fly from around 30 yards (meters) to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Tuesday.
The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left Champions League qualification in their own hands heading into the last round of the season.
“It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened (this season) will be really nice,” the City manager said.
De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before leaving the club as a free agent at the end of the season.
After a trophy-laden 10 years, the Belgium international was greeted with a huge banner declaring him “King Kev” and given a standing ovation when he was substituted off in the second half.
But it was Marmoush’s goal after 14 minutes that lit up the match as his dipping shot clipped the post before crashing into the top corner.
It was the type of goal that De Bruyne would have been proud of in a career that has seen him score numerous spectacular strikes of his own.
De Bruyne missed a glorious chance to cap his farewell with a goal when missing an open net from close range — shooting against the bar.
“Terrible, terrible,” De Bruyne said of his miss. “There’s no excuses. My son is going to be very tough on me today.”
Bernardo Silva doubled City’s lead in the 38th and substitute Nico Gonzalez added a third in the 89th. Deniel Jebbison pulled one back for Bournemouth in added time in a game that saw both teams reduced to 10 men.
The win saw City bounce back from its FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday. It also means City needs a point in its final game against Fulham on Sunday to all but guarantee Champions League soccer next season, given its superior goal difference to top-five rivals Chelsea and Aston Villa.
After ending the season trophyless for the first time in eight years, City can at least secure the consolation of a place in European club soccer’s top competition.
The loss, however, ended Bournemouth’s slim hopes of qualifying for Europe.
De Bruyne tribute
De Bruyne was fighting back tears as he addressed the crowd after the match and watched a video montage of tributes from club greats on the stadium’s big screen.
He was given a guard of honor by his teammates as he walked to the middle of the field with his wife and three children.
City said it would erect a statue in his honor outside the stadium.
“It means I will always be part of this club,” De Bruyne said. “Whenever I come back with family and friends, I will be able to see myself so I will always be here.”
City also unveiled a mosaic of De Bruyne at the club’s academy and named a road on its campus after him.
The 33-year-old De Bruyne was part of a period of unprecedented success for City, which saw it win 16 major trophies including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
He waved to the crowd and City fans serenaded him as he left the field in the second half before embracing Guardiola on the touchline.
“There are players that are unique,” Guardiola said. “In 10 years there are a lot of games, a lot of titles, a lot of moments. Today summarized how much love was there (for him).”
He is the latest City great to have a mural made in his honor, joining Yaya Toure, Joe Hart, David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan.
Rodri returns
Rodri returned to action eight months after having surgery on an ACL injury that ruled him out for the majority of the season.
The Ballon d’Or winner came on as a second-half substitute to make his first appearance since being injured against Arsenal on Sept. 22.
His return means he is likely to be available for the Club World Cup in the United States in June and July.
Palace party
There was no hangover for Crystal Palace after Saturday’s FA Cup victory over City.
Eddie Nketiah scored twice in a 4-2 win against Wolves.
Just days after Palace’s win at Wembley secured their first major trophy, the team kept the party going in front of its home fans at Selhurst Park.
Wolves went ahead through Emmanuel Agbadou, but two goals from Nketiah in the space of five minutes in the first half put the home side in front.
Eberechi Eze — who scored the winning goal in the final — was on target again late on.
Man United gets boost ahead of Europa League final against Tottenham as 3 players return
- All three players took part in training on Tuesday and could play at least a few minutes
- Amorim said: “Of course, they are limited in the minutes for the game but they can help us win the game”
BILBAO, Spain: Manchester United will have a trio of players back from injury for the Europa League final against Tottenham, coach Ruben Amorim said Tuesday, with Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee all available to come off the bench.
All three players took part in training on Tuesday and could play at least a few minutes if needed.
“Very good for us,” Amorim said. “Of course, they are limited in the minutes for the game but they can help us win the game.”
Matthijs de Ligt will not be available but traveled to Bilbao to support his teammates. Lisandro Martinez is the only other first-team player not available as he remains out with a serious knee injury.
The return of Zirkzee was the biggest surprise as he had initially been ruled out for the season because of a hamstring injury he picked up in April.
“Me neither,” Amorim said when told nobody expected the forward’s return. “They recover quite well. They push, of course, and we have to respect the feeling of the player but we push a little bit, as they wanted to be part of the team. That is a very good sign.”
Dalot was nursing a calf injury since April, and Yoro had been out since earlier this month.
United have had a dismal season but are hoping to finish it with a European title. The club are in 16th place in the league standings after 18 defeats, their most in a single campaign since the Premier League began in 1992. They are also certain to register their worst-ever points total in that era, as well as their lowest finish.
Tottenham injuries
Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou said midfielder Lucas Bergvall has not recovered from an ankle injury in time for the final. He was with the squad in Bilbao but won’t play.
Midfielder Pape Sarr will be available despite not finishing the league match against Aston Villa on Friday because of a back issue.
Tottenham are in 17th place in the Premier League, having lost 21 times — also a club record in the modern era. The Champions League runner-up in 2019, Tottenham are seeking their first trophy since the 2008 English League Cup.
Klopp to Roma could be a rumor created by amateur sleuths
- The rumor of his imminent arrival stems from a social media post
- Roma owner the Friedkin Group posted a video on Friday celebrating the capital club and its legacy
ROME: Roma fans have been driven into a frenzy by Italian media reports that Jürgen Klopp has agreed to be the team coach from next season.
However, the rumor of his imminent arrival stems from a social media post that some may be reading far too much into.
Roma owner the Friedkin Group posted a video on Friday celebrating the capital club and their legacy.
The video included images of iconic Rome sites: Colosseum (Kolosseum in German), Lupa Capitolina, Olimpico, (St.) Peter’s and Pantheon in that order.
Someone pointed out the starting letters of those words — some in Italian, some in German, some omitting part of the name — spell Klopp. And it spiralled from there.
In the past two days, people on social media have been saying they have spotted former Liverpool coach Klopp, his agent and even his dog in Rome.
Italian newspaper La Stampa proclaimed that Klopp accepted Roma’s offer shortly after the Giallorossi’s final home match of the season on Sunday, when a packed Stadio Olimpico paid tribute to current coach Claudio Ranieri, who is set to depart at the end of the season.
Other media outlets picked up La Stampa’s story, but the same newspaper said on Tuesday that Roma have “categorically denied” the news.
Klopp, who is Red Bull’s head of global soccer, left Liverpool in 2024 after steering the team to seven major trophies over nearly nine years.
The Friedkin Group also owns Liverpool’s city rival, Everton.
‘I’m not a clown’: Spurs boss Postecoglou hits out ahead of Europa League final
- Postecoglou said he had not addressed his future with his players because it would not be “helpful“
- “I’ve said to the lads from day one, nothing is guaranteed in life, nothing is guaranteed in sport”
BILBAO, Spain: Ange Postecoglou angrily defended his managerial record ahead of Tottenham’s Europa League final against Manchester United after a disastrous Premier League season, stating: “I’m not a clown.”
Spurs face United in Bilbao on Wednesday with a chance to win their first trophy for 17 years, which would mean qualification for next season’s Champions League.
Postecoglou, whose side are 17th in the Premier League — a place below United — has been under mounting pressure over recent months as results have nosedived.
Many observers believe the Spurs manager could be out of a job regardless of the result at the San Mames stadium in northern Spain against Ruben Amorim’s fellow strugglers.
Postecoglou was asked at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday whether he was aware he was walking a fine line between infamy and history ahead of the match.
“That depends on your outlook but I’ll tell you one thing — irrespective of tomorrow, I’m not a clown, I never will be mate,” he said, directly addressing a reporter who had used the word in an article.
“It’s really disappointing that you use such terminology about a person who for 26 years, without any favors from anyone, who’s worked his way to being in a position where he’s leading out a club in a European major competition, for you to suggest that somehow us not being successful means that I’m a clown.”
The former Australia and Celtic boss said he had worked tirelessly to turn things around at Spurs, who have not won a trophy since 2008 and have not tasted European success since 1984.
“I’ve tried as hard as I can to stick to that process in getting the club to a position where they can challenge for trophies and at the same time, rejuvenate the squad and change the playing style,” he said.
“It has been a fair assignment with plenty of challenges along the way.
“With such a big game tomorrow, there is an opportunity to fulfil at least the main task I was given which was to bring trophies to the club.”
Postecoglou said he had not addressed his future with his players because it would not be “helpful.”
“I’ve said to the lads from day one, nothing is guaranteed in life, nothing is guaranteed in sport. You’ve just got to try and make sure you take every opportunity before you and that’s what I’ve done my whole career,” he added.
“I’ve been in this position before, where the big game was the last game I managed. It’s not unusual territory for me.”
He said: “My future is assured. I wouldn’t be the first person who changes jobs. We all change jobs. I’m sure you’ve had more than one job. My future is assured. I’ve got a beautiful family, I’ve got a great life.
“I’ll keep on winning trophies until I finish, wherever that is. Don’t worry about my future mate.”
But the 59-year-old feels he still has a job to do at Spurs, who finished fifth in the Premier League in his first season in charge, in 2023/24.
“I really feel like we’re building something and what a trophy does is hopefully accelerates that,” he said.
“So I still think there’s a lot of work to be done. That’s quite obvious with the challenges we’ve had this year, but also there’s been some growth that I’d like to see through.”
Postecoglou confirmed that Lucas Bergvall would not be fit to face United. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are also out.
But Pape Matar Sarr is available after he was taken off in the 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa on Friday.
Barcelona set August target for matchday return to Camp Nou stadium
- Barcelona have played in the city’s Olympic Stadium for two years
- The original target was a November 2024 return to a partially finished venue
BARCELONA: Barcelona aim to return belatedly to their Camp Nou stadium after two years of reconstruction work for a preseason friendly on Aug. 10.
Club president Joan Laporta set the date for the traditional season-opening Joan Gamper Trophy game when he spoke in a television interview late Monday.
Barcelona have played in the city’s Olympic Stadium for two years — and won La Liga this season — during the massive overhaul to create a 105,000-capacity home that would be the biggest soccer stadium in Europe.
The original target was a November 2024 return to a partially finished venue, then Barcelona said in February they hoped to play games in Camp Nou before the end of this season with 60,000 spectators.
The February update also detailed plans to complete the project by adding a roof at the end of the 2025-26 season.
The Camp Nou is a potential candidate to stage the 2030 World Cup final which Spain will co-host with Portugal and Morocco. The more likely options are Real Madrid’s renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and a 115,000-seat venue planned in Casablanca, Morocco.
