Marnus Labuschagne survived on the opening day at the SCG when he edged to slip

AAP05-Jan-2023Cricket Australia will consider changing the way broadcast vision is supplied to third umpires after a contentious not-out decision on day one of the third Test against South Africa in Sydney.Simon Harmer looked to have dismissed Marnus Labuschagne on 70 with a low catch in the slips. However, despite the umpire’s soft signal of out, third umpire Richard Kettleborough ruled that the ball had bounced before it entered Harmer’s hands.Kettleborough primarily reviewed side-on replays of the catch, but a front-on angle from the Seven Network threw the third umpire’s ruling into question when posted to social media on Wednesday.Related

Bad light and rain ends day with Australia two down

The Labuschagne non-catch – South Africa 'convinced it was out' but replays show otherwise

With Labuschagne as third seamer, there's a very un-Australian Australia at the SCG

However, Kettleborough did not have access to the angle, because the third umpire is currently only provided with vision from the host broadcaster, Fox Sports.Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley defended the match officials’ ruling, but said CA was committed to conducting a review that would determine whether to provide the third umpire with footage from both television rights holders.”The broadcasting of cricket is probably the most complicated of any of the major sports,” he told . “We have a huge number of cameras. Yesterday was really, really fine margins.  The match referees and umpires are making the best calls they can with the information they have available.”It’s something we will think about and have a look at and review. We’ll have a look at it after the end of the Test match.”Low light and wet weather scuppered day one of the Test, most notably when play was brought to a halt for two-and-a-half hours in the afternoon.”It was extremely frustrating, particularly the combination of light and rain,” Hockley said.But neither playing through low light nor switching to a pink ball is the answer, according to Hockley, who is holding out for upgrades to the SCG’s lights.”Clearly the rules [about low light] are there with safety in mind,” he said.  “I think changing of the ball during play is really problematic. I think that introduces a little bit too much variability into the game.”I’m hopeful that with lighting upgrades, there’s a big move to LEDs from the traditional bulbs, that we’ll see fewer and fewer of these types of delays.”

It might be a tired cliché, but last night felt like a game of two halves for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s side played host to Manchester City, and set out to pick up their fourth Premier League win on the bounce.

Unfortunately, a goal from the recently returned Erling Haaland made sure that didn’t happen, and while the visitors could have been three or four up in the first half, the Lilywhites had bountiful chances of their own in the second 45.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City

Spurs

Stats

City

0

Goals

1

1.12

Expected Goals

2.09

55%

Possession

45%

2

Big Chances

4

11

Total Shots

12

8

Corners

3

512

Passes

412

All Stats via Sofascore

However, while there were several players who put in solid shifts for the North Londoners, there were still some who let themselves down, such as Pedro Porro, who the manager should never have started.’

Why Postecoglou shouldn't have started Porro

After starting the game against Ipswich Town over the weekend on the bench, there would’ve been hope among some of the Spurs faithful that Postecoglou would keep Porro there for last night’s game.

Unfortunately, the Australian decided to start him at right-back, and to the surprise of very few, it turned out to be a sizeable mistake, as even while he might have a great pass on him, time after time this season, he has proven himself incapable of defending.

It might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by journalist Mitch Fretton, who described him as a “familiar” problem while football.london’s Alasdair Gold gave him a 5/10 match rating at full-time, writing that he ‘had a tough night’ against Jeremy Doku, which is quite the understatement.

The Belgian turned the former Sporting CP ace inside out all night, and if it wasn’t the tricky winger giving him problems, he was creating them himself.

For example, in his 90-plus minutes of action, the 25-year-old endeavoured to give the ball away 12 times and did so for Haaland’s disallowed goal at the end of the game.

Overall, it was another horror show for the error-prone full-back, and it’s clear that Postecoglou made a massive mistake in starting him over the player who started there on the weekend.

The Spurs star who should've started against City

With Archie Gray starting at centre-back alongside Kevin Danso and the lack of other defensive options, it will come as no surprise that the player Postecoglou should have started over Porro last night was Djed Spence.

The former Middlesbrough full-back has been a revelation since breaking into the first team this season – as evidenced by the crowd’s roar upon his arrival last night – and considering how dismal the Spaniard has been for much of the campaign, he should have been in from the first whistle.

Not only can he help out in the final third – he already has four goal involvements in 20 appearances this year – but he’s also far more secure and reliable when it comes to the defensive side of the game, which, even in the modern game, is incredibly important for a full-back.

Spence vs Porro

Statistics per 90

Spence

Porro

Tackles

3.02

2.31

Tackles Won

2.50

1.67

Tackles + Interceptions

4.06

3.50

All Blocks

1.77

1.62

Shots Blocked

0.73

0.60

Passes Blocked

1.04

1.03

Aerial Duels Won

1.15

0.43

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 PL Season

For example, when we compare their underlying numbers, the “unbelievable” Englishman, as dubbed by Ian Wright, comes out ahead in the majority of relevant defensive metrics, including but not limited to tackles, tackles won, all blocks, shots blocked, passes blocked, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Lastly, on top of having the better defensive numbers on paper, the £20m titan also appears to be far better at anticipating the movements of opposition wingers, as unlike Porro, he rarely seems to find himself on the floor after mistiming a tackle.

Ultimately, while the team certainly weren’t dreadful last night, Postecoglou got it very wrong not starting Spence, and we can’t see him making the same decision in the Europa League next week.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 25, 2025

Chelsea are set to include a new teenager in Enzo Maresca’s first team squad, with the player even drawing comparisons to Moises Caicedo.

Chelsea prepare for FA Cup fourth round tie with Brighton

Fresh off the back of an important win over West Ham in the Premier League on deadline day, Maresca’s side travel to Brighton and take on Fabian Hurzeler’s side in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday evening.

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Emilio Galantini

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Having crashed out of the Carabao Cup to Newcastle United, whilst sitting 13 points behind league leaders Liverpool, the FA Cup represents Maresca’s golden opportunity to win a domestic trophy and their first since 2018.

After a tough start to life at Stamford Bridge, club-record signing Caicedo has become a pivotal player for Chelsea, and he’ll undoubtedly play another important role against his former club this weekend.

Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures	Date
Brighton (away)	February 14th
Aston Villa (away)	February 22nd
Southampton (home)	February 25th
Leicester City (home)	March 9th
Arsenal (away)	March 16th

“I knew him at Brighton as well, as we were team-mates there,” said left-back Marc Cucurella on Caicedo’s importance.

“He is very important, he is very relaxed. He shows everything on the pitch, he’s very hard-working and he’s a very important piece for us. I think he’s one of the main talents of the team, and he shows every game what he can give to us. We’re really happy for him and I’m really happy because I know his first games here were tough as well, but he worked really hard and now he deserves all these moments.”

The Ecuadorian has started all 24 of Chelsea’s Premier League matches this season, earning mainstay status and standing out as the club’s third-best performer overall according to WhoScored.

He also averages more tackles per 90 than any other Chelsea player (WhoScored), which highlights his crucial role breaking up play in Maresca’s midfield.

Luckily for the Blues, Chelsea have sealed the signing of Mathis Amougou in a £12 million deadline day deal from Saint-Étienne, and the 19-year-old has drawn comparisons to Maresca’s star man.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, an expert on world football’s brightest young talents, called Amougou “similar” to Caicedo – with the teenager possessing great passing ability, mobility, ball carrying, tackling, work rate, athleticism and bravery.

Mathis Amougou set for Chelsea first-team role under Maresca

There were suggestions that the midfielder was set for Strasbourg, and he’s more a signing for the future.

However, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano says that Amougou will be heading straight into Chelsea’s first-team fold – sharing the exact plan for him from now until the end of the season and onwars.

In the meantime, before his loan back to Ligue 1 in the summer, Maresca will be hoping that the France Under-19 international can indeed come as a young, exciting alternative to Caicedo in the engine room.

Didier Drogba’s legacy at Chelsea is the stuff of legend.

The Ivorian striker was the beating heart of the Blues’ golden era, a colossus who combined power, skill and an unparalleled ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most, most notably in the 2012 Champions League final, where his unforgettable performance helped the Blues lift the trophy for the first time.

A decade after his departure, Chelsea are still yearning for a successor capable of replicating his impact on and off the pitch.

The club has seen a revolving door of strikers in the post-Drogba era, and while some such as Diego Costa enjoyed solid careers at Stamford Bridge, no one has been able to fully step into the legendary striker’s shoes.

From young prodigies already making their mark in west London to established European stars, we look at five players we think have the potential to take up Drogba’s mantle at Stamford Bridge.

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ByBarney Lane Feb 4, 2025 1 Nicolas Jackson Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson, who Chelsea signed from Villarreal in the summer of 2023, has plenty in common with Drogba. His physical presence and work rate mirror that of Drogba’s, while his ability to link up the play is perhaps even better than the Ivorian’s. He also has great pace and clever movement.

However, where he comes up short when compared to Drogba is his finishing. Though he’s far improved this term under Enzo Maresca, he still wastes too many big chances, often needing two or three clear opportunities to get his name on the scoresheet.

Since moving to Chelsea, Jackson has scored 23 Premier League goals, but also missed a whopping 39 big chances in his short Blues career so far – exactly triple the amount Drogba missed since this was recorded by the Premier League.

That being said, Jackson is still just 23 years old, and minus his hit-and-miss finishing, his impressive performances at his peak suggest he’s capable of leading the line at Stamford Bridge for years to come. However, consistency and improved displays in front of goal will determine if he reaches Drogba’s heights.

2 Shim Mheuka Chelsea

Shim Mheuka has rapidly ascended through Chelsea’s academy ranks since joining the club from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.

During the 2023/24 season, he regularly featured for the Under-18s despite still being a schoolboy, netting an impressive 12 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions, including a memorable outing at Stamford Bridge in the Under-18 Premier League national final against Manchester United.

Mheuka also played a pivotal role for England in the European Under-17 Championship last summer, scoring in their opening match against Spain. More recently, he marked his first call-up to the Under-19s in style, scoring against France and the Netherlands.

Now 17, Mheuka’s powerful frame, intelligent movement, and superb finishing abilities – all qualities Drogba showcased – have already caught the attention of Maresca, with the Italian handing him his first-team debut in a 3-1 win over Astana in the Conference League back in December.

There is no doubting that he has a bright future in west London, and given Drogba was 26 when he signed for Chelsea, there is plenty of time for Mheuka to prove he has what it takes to grow into a Drogba-esque talent.

3 Liam Delap Ipswich Town

Liam Delap has been one of the Premier League’s best strikers this season. Big, strong and with a lethal eye for goal, the forward has scored 10 goals in the top flight for newly promoted Ipswich Town and has proven to be a real handful for some of the top flight’s best defenders.

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Already linked with a move to Chelsea, Maresca, who coached him as a youngster during his time in Manchester City’s youth ranks, is a big admirer.

“Liam is a fantastic player, and also for his age,” said Maresca back in December before Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Ipswich, a game in which Delap scored the opening goal. “I think we spent one year together, and he scored 22 to 24 goals. He is a very good striker.

“England have many good players, many good strikers,” he added. “He’s working hard off the ball and on the ball, understands the game and can score goals. I think he can be an important player for England.” For Chelsea too, maybe?

4 Victor Osimhen Galatasaray/Napoli

Victor Osimhen is perhaps the closest current player to Drogba in terms of style and impact.

The Nigerian forward’s scoring record at Napoli is certainly reminiscent of Drogba, not to mention continuing his streak in front of goal in a Galatasaray shirt, which is something the Ivorian did himself in between his Chelsea spells.

Osimhen came close to joining Chelsea in the summer, but the deal fell through prior to his loan switch to Istanbul.

Whilst there, he has again shown why he’s one of the deadliest strikers in world football, scoring 20 goals in 27 games, including two against Tottenham in the Europa League, which would already make him something of a Chelsea hero to some.

5 Benjamin Sesko RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is one of Europe’s most exciting young strikers and has often been compared to Erling Haaland due to his physical attributes and playing style. Rather crucially, he has also been mentioned in the same breath as Chelsea star Drogba.

The Slovenian forward stands at 6 foot 4, making him a real handful for defenders when the ball is crossed into the box. Not only is he big, but he’s also a terrific header of the ball. Since moving to Leipzig in 2023, the 21-year-old has scored seven headed goals.

Drogba, meanwhile, found the net with his noggin 17 times for Chelsea in the Premier League.

Like Drogba, Sesko has the ability to score from long range, best showcased by his stunning strike against Werder Bremen in January, where he unleashed a powerful drive that nearly shattered the net from 25 yards out.

Reportedly already on Chelsea’s radar, a move to Stamford Bridge could give him the chance to develop into Chelsea’s next dominant striker, potentially following in Drogba’s footsteps.

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1 ByBarney Lane Jan 27, 2025

Speaking ahead of his 100th Test, Warner said that the issue affected his mental health ahead of the first test of the Australian summer

Andrew McGlashan24-Dec-2022

‘Leading into the Perth Test, my mental health probably wasn’t where I needed it to be at to be 100 percent.’•Associated Press

Ahead of his 100th Test, David Warner has taken another swipe at Cricket Australia for their handling of his leadership ban appeal and detailed how the process affected him.Warner said the drawn out saga, which began in February, left him struggling mentally ahead of the opening Test of the summer against West Indies in Perth and it came to an abrupt end on the eve of the Adelaide encounter.Related

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Both Warner and CA had wanted the hearing behind closed doors, but the independent commissioners – put in place by the board’s own rewriting of its code of conduct – insisted on it being open. Warner issued a strong statement saying he would not put his family or team-mates through a retelling of the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering controversy and withdrew from the appeal.”We reached out in February. So we have no idea how it went on this far and only CA can answer that and they’ll probably give you the same thing that they always give everyone else, they don’t really give an answer,” Warner said at the MCG on Saturday.”Leading into the Perth Test, my mental health probably wasn’t where I needed it to be at to be 100 percent. And that was challenging at the time. If I had it my way we would have had it all sorted. From the CA point of view, I didn’t really have any support. My team-mates and the staff in our team were absolutely amazing, and my family and friends – they really got me through that period.”Though Warner admitted he was struggling ahead of the West Indies he never considered stepping aside while the off-field issues were unravelling.”I’ve never had that in me to quit or to back down,” he said. “I feel like I can get through anything. At the time I was focused on scoring runs and [doing] the best job I could for the team. I’d still do the same thing again because that’s what I’m about, I’m about going out there and doing the best I can for the team. It is what it is now – I’ve moved on and I’m in a great positive mindset now.”Warner added that he and CA would probably talk again after the South Africa series has finished. He has a small window where he will play in the BBL for Sydney Thunder, which came about through a mega-money deal from CA to boost the competition, and it was the possibility of a leadership role in that team that had initially led the push to have the ban overturned.”I’ll have that conversation once that series is done,” he said. “For me it’s about staying in the right frame of mind to take on the South Africans. I’m pumped to play another Boxing Day test and more importantly we’ve got a series that’s on the line.”Speaking the day before, CA chair Lachlan Henderson did not want to go back over how the situation played out.”The process has been well publicised, and I won’t go through that again,” Henderson said. “But it’s just a terrific time this Test match that we’re celebrating Dave Warner’s 100th Test. We should be focusing on his achievements on the field.”However, Warner stressed that any ill-feeling between him and CA does not extend more broadly with the team. “I don’t think so at all,” he said.Warner also reiterated his hunger to continue playing Test cricket beyond this summer with his form over the last two years, where he hasn’t scored a century and has averaged 26.07, in the spotlight. He made 102 runs in four innings against West Indies then scores of 0 and 3 against South Africa at the Gabba. Next year there are tours to India and England were Warner’s record is underwhelming but he insisted his ambition remains undimmed.”It was my childhood dream,” he said. “I’m not out here to not play. I love it. I wake up every day, I get out of bed knowing I’ve got a game the next day with the same smile on my face the same energy and enthusiasm. You ask any of the players in the changerooms who is the loudest, it’s me. I love it. That’s what I live for.”My back is up against the wall but it’s in my DNA to keep being competitive and come out here and put a smile on my face and take on whatever opposition I’m going to face. I’m here today about to play my 100th Test match – I couldn’t be prouder of me, my family for getting me here and my closest friends.”

Claude Makelele has revealed John Terry changed Chelsea's penalty order in the 2008 final 'to be a hero', but his miss cost his club the trophy.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

Terry infamously slipped when he missed penalty Nicolas Anelka then had effort savedMakelele criticises former captain Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After a 1-1 draw in Moscow, the 2008 Champions League final went to penalties. Petr Cech's save from Cristiano Ronaldo had put Chelsea in the driving seat and Terry had the chance to seal the win with the Blues' fifth spot-kick, but the former captain slipped and his shot smashed the post. The shootout went to sudden death and Nicolas Anelka's effort was saved by Edwin van der Sar, ensuring the Red Devils lifted the trophy.

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Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole had all netted before Terry stepped up. Both Salomon Kalou and Anelka, forwards by trade, were yet to shoot when Terry made the walk from the halfway line to the penalty area, and Makelele has claimed the legendary centre-back's desire to be in the spotlight ultimately cost Chelsea what would have been their first ever Champions League trophy.

WHAT MAKELELE SAID

Speaking on talkSPORT's The LineUp show, in association with BetMGM, Makelele said: "The dressing room after the game was like fire. There was no happiness whatsoever – it was a sad place to be.

"We made a big mistake ahead of the penalties. We had an order which was agreed with the players and the manager, but it changed at the last minute.

"It was supposed to be Salomon Kalou taking the last penalty but John [Terry] took the opportunity off him.

"I think we lost this competition because football is very harsh sometimes and, if you don't do things the right way, you get punished.

"I was very angry when he missed the penalty because it was a chance that I knew a lot of the young players wouldn't get.

"I'd won the Champions League before but, in this moment, John had to be the leader and do what was best for the team.

"He didn't make sure we won the trophy, he tried to be a hero. If he knew this, he would have been a hero because he would have lifted the trophy."

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DID YOU KNOW?

While the slip cost Terry in 2008, he would eventually get his hands on the Champions League trophy when the Blues miraculously beat Bayern Munich on penalties four years later, though the defender didn't play in the final due to suspension. Chelsea then won the competition again in 2021, while United last reached the final in 2011, losing to Pep Guardiola's Barcelona.

The second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand is likely to be moved out of Multan because of the severe fog and smog expected in the area in early January. ESPNcricinfo understands that formal talks are on between the two boards on the matter. The game is scheduled to begin on January 3.While it is not yet clear what the new venue will be, Karachi could be the easiest to switch to, since it is the venue for the first Test between the sides, which begins on December 26, and conditions there are expected to be better.Multan hosted the second Test between Pakistan and England in early December, and while there were no visibility-related interruptions then, air quality was notably worse than it was in Rawalpindi, where the first Test was played. The flight to Multan was, in fact, delayed by almost four hours because of fog, and visibility early in the morning was significantly lower than normal.However, the sun did burn away most of the fog by the time play started, at 10am local time, and there were no delays on that front. Since then, though, Multan has been overcast and that is expected to continue. On several occasions over the past week, the motorway from Lahore to Multan has been closed to traffic for several hours due to foggy conditionsLahore cannot be an alternative venue for the same reason, with visibility even lower and air quality levels comparable to the worst in the world. On Friday, Lahore’s AQI read 500, according to IQAir. That’s around 25 times above the acceptable level. Forget visibility, playing cricket there could be a health hazard too.That effectively leaves Karachi and Rawalpindi as the only realistic options, with facilities in the rest of the country not equipped to host Test cricket at such short notice.The three-match ODI series that follows the Tests will also take place in Karachi, so shifting the second Test there would mean that the entire tour is held in one city.

MatériaMais Notícias

Bahia e Grêmio se enfrentaram pela 16ª rodada da Série B, em um ‘duelo de seis pontos’ visando se consolidação no G4 e aproximação aos líderes. Mas, após um primeiro tempo um pouco melhor dos gaúchos e um segundo dominado pelos baianos, o goleiro do Tricolor Gaúcho, Gabriel Grando, foi destaque e garantiu o empate sem gols na Arena Fonte Nova: 0 a 0.

Com o resultado, o Bahia continua na terceira colocação, com 29 pontos conquistados, e viaja para duelar com o Vila Nova na sexta-feira, 19h. Enquanto isso, o Grêmio está logo atrás, com 26, e, também na sexta-feira, enfrenta o Náutico em Porto Alegre, às 21h30.

>>> Veja a tabela da Série B do Brasileirão

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JOGO DE GIGANTES
A partida começou bem truncada, com as equipes mostrando muita força no meio-campo. A primeira finalização surgiu aos 12 minutos, com chute de Elias, para o Grêmio. Em seguida, Lucas Mugni cobrou escanteio e Rodallega testou com perigo ao gol gremista.

Na reta final, Elias aproveitou cobrança de Campaz e quase encobriu Danilo Fernandes. O Bahia achava espaços pelos lados e jogada individual de Matheus Bahia, Rodallega levou perigo novamente pelo alto.

​GRANDO SALVA

O Bahia começou o segundo tempo em cima do adversário e quase abriu o placar. Após bela trama, Mugni fez cruzamento rasteiro, Rodallega mandou para o gol, mas Gabriel Grando fez ótima defesa. Em seguida, o meia arriscou chute de fora da área, mas mandou para pelo lado.

Os mandantes continuaram em cima e quase marcaram com Rodallega, mas Grando foi mais uma vez feliz na intervenção. No fim, Matheus Davó ainda acertou a trave, mas o empate sem gol persistiu.

FICHA TÉCNICA DA PARTIDA
Bahia x Grêmio
Local: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador-BA
Data/horário: 03/07/2022 – 16h (de Brasília)
​Árbitro: Raphael Claus (Fifa-SP)
Assistente 1: Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis (Fifa-SP)
Assistente 2: Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa (Fifa-RJ)
Quarto Árbitro: Ricarle Gustavo Gonçalves Batista (BA)
Árbitro de vídeo: Rodrigo Nunes de Sá (RJ)
Cartões amarelos:Raí Nascimento, Matheus Bahia (Bahia), Pedro Geromel, Janderson (Grêmio)
​
Bahia – Técnico: Enderson Moreira
Danilo Fernandes; André, Ignácio, Luiz Otávio e Matheus Bahia; Patrick (Miqueias 41’/2T), Mugni (Davó 36’/2T) e Daniel; Raí (Victor Jacaré 26’/2T), Emerson Santos (Lucas Falcão 41’/2T) e Rodallega (Marcelo Rayan 41’/2T).

Grêmio – Técnico: Roger Machado
Gabriel Grando; Rodrigo Ferreira, Geromel, Bruno Alves e Nicolas; Thiago Santos (Sarará 39’/2T), Bitello, Janderson (Emerson 28’/2T), Campaz (Pedro Lucas 28’/2T) e Elias (Ferreira 14’/2T); Diego Souza (Ricardinho 39’/2T).

Chelsea’s revival under Enzo Maresca continued on Thursday evening as they secured an important 2-1 victory over FC Copenhagen in their last-16 Conference League tie.

Given the strength of their squad, plus the nature of the teams left in the competition, if the Blues don’t claim the trophy, it will be a major disappointment indeed.

If they do, they will become the first team to win the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup and now Conference League, placing them in their own unique bubble.

Winning trophies is what the supporters are desperate for, especially after a tough few years.

Maresca certainly looks as though he is at Stamford Bridge for the long haul. If he does win the Conference League, it should give him and the club a major boost heading into the 2025/26 season.

They have come a long way since being managed by Frank Lampard, that’s for sure…

Frank Lampard’s time in charge of Chelsea

When Lampard took his first managerial position at Derby County ahead of the 2018/19 season, eventually taking the reins at Chelsea was something which could happen at some point in the future, depending on how well his career in the dugout panned out.

After leading the Rams to the Championship playoff final, he managed to secure a return to the Blues in the summer of 2019, taking over from Italian, Maurizio Sarri.

It was the biggest gamble in Roman Abramovich’s tenure so far, especially considering the calibre of manager he could have lured to London.

Lampard led the club to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League during his maiden season, despite the season being interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

It was a decent showing, especially with a transfer embargo placed upon the club, meaning the former Blues midfielder had to field several young talents.

Unfortunately, despite the presence of youngsters such as Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham, Lampard was sacked in January 2021 with Chelsea sitting ninth in the table, after spending nearly £200m in the transfer window.

His replacement, Thomas Tuchel, ended up leading the club to Champions League success, with both Mount and Abraham playing key roles in the club’s success.

The duo looked like they could be the future of the Stamford Bridge side heading into a new era under the German coach.

First Impressions

Lampard gave them their chance in the first team, and it was Abraham who looked like he could lead the line for the Blues over the coming years.

Tammy Abraham’s Chelsea record

After an impressive start to the 2019/20 season, Lampard lauded praise on the striker that October after a goal against Southampton, saying:

“Tammy’s goal was incredible. It’s confidence. When people are in good form, things happen for them. And that comes from how Tammy has handled himself all season form the early moments when people were questioning him.

“The work ethic behind the scenes that gets him in such good nick. He’s not just a handful for defenders, he has good feet, holds up the ball well. He is also getting goals which is brilliant for him.”

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2023/24

12

1

0

2022/23

54

9

6

2021/22

53

27

5

2020/21

32

12

5

2019/20

47

18

4

2018/19

42

26

3

2017/18

39

8

4

2016/17

48

26

4

That campaign ended with the Englishman scoring 18 goals in all competitions, including 15 in the Premier League, setting him up nicely for the following campaign.

He was even hailed by former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, who dubbed Abraham as “Didier Drogba-esque” after a goal during the 2019/20 season. High praise indeed.

His development continued despite managerial changes at the club, netting 12 goals for the Blues as they claimed their second Champions League trophy courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.

It looked as though he was going to be the main man under Tuchel, but during the final few weeks of the summer transfer window, he was sold to AS Roma.

Why Chelsea struck gold selling Tammy Abraham

Overall, his spell at Chelsea yielded a total of 30 goals in 82 appearances for the club, but when Roma came in with an offer of £34m, it was clear that Tuchel was ready to cash in and use the money elsewhere.

Perhaps a fresh start would work out well for the English striker, as plenty of players from these shores have shone upon moving to continental Europe.

Indeed, 27 goals and five assists for the Italian side in all competitions proved why Mourinho spent that sort of fee in bringing him to the club. He added the Conference League trophy to his collection in the process.

The following two seasons weren’t quite as productive, with injuries during the 2023/24 campaign meaning the 27-year-old played just 13 times for the Serie A side.

With just days left of the 2024 summer transfer window, AC Milan announced that they had signed Abraham on a season-long loan deal from Roma. This gave him a chance of a fresh start in Milan after a year of hell.

Across 34 matches for the club, he has managed to score just eight goals, with only two coming in Serie A. Hardly the most productive of loan spells.

In the Italian top flight, the striker averages only one shot per game while missing ten big chances. Furthermore, he has completed just 5.1 passes per game along with taking 13.2 touches each match for Milan.

If he continues this sort of form, there is only one way the player will go, and this could see his value decrease significantly. At present, he is valued at just £17m, as per Transfermarkt, half of what Chelsea originally sold him for.

Aside from his debut season for Roma, Abraham’s spell in Italy hasn’t quite produced the goods. While injury issues can be blamed on his poor form last term, since joining Milan, he has struggled under the weight of expectation.

This certainly suggests that Chelsea hit the jackpot in selling him way back in the summer of 2021, no doubt about that.

He wants to leave: Chelsea must finally sell dud who cost £680k per game

Chelsea desperately need to sell one player to avoid losing more money after his big-money move.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 8, 2025

Pep Guardiola explained why he handed Claudio Echeverri his Manchester City debut in the Fa Cup final in a quirky response.

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Echeverri made his City debut in the FA Cup finalGuardiola explained why he brought in the young ArgentineCrystal Palace beat Man City 1-0Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

City's miseries continued in the 2024-25 campaign as they went down 1-0 against Crystal Palace in their second FA Cup final in a row on Saturday. Eberechi Eze scored the only goal of the match to hand the Eagles their first-ever major trophy.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In the 76th minute of the match, as the Cityzens were still trailing, Guardiola brought in 19-year-old Argentine sensation Echeverri in place of Omar Marmoush. This was the first time that the teenager appeared for City since formally joining the club in January this year.

WHAT PEP GUARDIOLA SAID

When asked in the post-match press conference why Guardiola brought in a rookie player in an important final, the City boss said: "My inspiration? I'm a talented manager. I want to be honest, it was not a bad decision."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

The former English champions will now aim to finish among the top five teams in the Premier League and secure a Champions League slot. They will next face Bournemouth on Tuesday before meeting Fulham on the final matchday on May 25.