Mauricio Pochettino has told Chelsea’s players they need to be more naughty if they are to reach the level required to move on from an indifferent start to the season.
The team have dominated for long periods in all four Premier League games so far but defensive errors and a continued lack of penetration in attack have meant they have picked up just four points and sit 12th.
Defeat at home to Nottingham Forest before the international break was a microcosm of the side’s early struggles under Pochettino, with the visitors’ Anthony Elanga allowed to run freely through the heart of Chelsea’s defence to score the game’s only goal before striker Nicolas Jackson skied a gilt-edged chance to rescue a point.
The following injury update has been provided ahead o…
Dick Advocaat has been appointed manager of Eredivisie side AZ until the end of the season.
It marks the second time the former Netherlands boss has taken control at the club, having previously had a five-month stint in charge during the 2009-10 season after the club parted company with Ronald Koeman.
During that spell at the AFAS Stadion, Advocaat guided the club to a fifth-place finish in the league.
He replaces Gertjan Verbeek, who lost his job just a day after his side had beaten PSV 2-1 in September.
Advocaat has been without a club since ending his second spell in charge of PSV at the end of last season.
The 66-year-old has had a distinguished managerial career, taking charge of the likes of Rangers, Borussia Monchengladbach and Zenit St Petersburg, a…
Pep Guardiola has challenged his Manchester City side to achieve something special and win back-to-back Champions League titles.
The treble winners begin the defence of their European crown as they host Red Star Belgrade at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
City finally put years of near-misses behind them to win the competition for the first time last season but, while Guardiola is proud of their achievements, he feels their mission is not yet over.
The City manager said at a press conference: “I’d like to say that for our club to win the Champions League is incredible – the first time in our history – but, in perspective, how many teams have won the Champions League once?
Getting back into action!
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
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Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has signed a four-year contract extension, which will keep him tied to Camp Nou until 2019.
The news comes a day after Lionel Messi signed an improved deal with the Catalan giants who also hired former midfielder Luis Enrique as their new coach on Monday.
Pique s previous contract had been due to expire at the end of next season but is now under contract for the next five years.
The 27-year-old has spent the vast majority of his career at Camp Nou, having initially spent time in the club s youth setup.
He was signed by Manchester United as a teenager but failed to establish himself in the first team and spent a year on loan at Zaragoza.
However, he returned to Barca in 2008 and has been a key figure in the club s success in t…
Victor Osimhen has ruled out leaving Napoli before the end of the season, outlining his determination to see out their Scudetto bid before considering a move.
Manchester United have been touted as contenders for Osimhen s signature after terminating the contract of Cristiano Ronaldo, while Tottenham have previously been linked with the Nigeria international.
Osimhen leads Serie A s scoring charts with nine goals this season, and his superb form helped Napoli move eight points clear at the summit before the World Cup break.
Napoli have not won the Scudetto since Diego Maradona inspired them to glory in the 1989-90 campaign, and Osimhen is determined to end that drought before moving on.
The future is this moment, it is winning something important in Italy…
Real Madrid s trip to Borussia Dortmund takes centre stage in Tuesday s Champions League matchday two action, while Monaco and Leicester City attempt to build on potentially crucial away victories last time out.
Defending champions Madrid left it late to beat Sporting CP in their opening Group F fixture and will be looking to alter some unwanted history at Signal Iduna Park.
Leicester, having so convincingly beaten Club Brugge last time out, host a Champions League game for the first time at the King Power Stadium, while fellow Premier League side Tottenham are aiming to kick-start their European campaign.
Using Opta data, we take a look at the best stats ahead of Tuesday s eight group-stage matches.
MONACO v BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Monaco a…
Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes that Cristiano Ronaldo could be tempted back to Manchester United in the future.
The Portugal forward has cemented his place as one of the world s best players since leaving Old Trafford for the Bernabeu in 2009, winning the FIFA Ballon d Or in January this year.
Ronaldo has netted 41 goals in all competitions this season and Calderon refused to rule out the possibility of him returning to Old Trafford at some stage.
You never know, he told talkSPORT. I know when I signed him, he was saying that Manchester for him has been like his house, he was quite happy there with the fans, with the club.
At the time with (Alex) Ferguson, he considered him like a father, and everything for him in Manchester was perfect.
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Want to impress your mates with must-have trivia ahead of this weekend s Premier League action?
Well, fear not, we have it covered.
See how many of these they can guess correctly, safe in the knowledge you have all the answers (at the bottom of the page)!
1. Liverpool have won five consecutive Premier League games heading into their Wembley date with Tottenham. Who was their manager the last time they claimed six straight victories?
International break
Back @ Melwood ahead of .
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
2. Leicester City travel to Bournemouth, having last beaten the Cherries when the teams met in a Championship fixture in February 2014. But which former England international scored the only goal?
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Lucas Perez marked his first Champions League start for Arsenal with a hat-trick as the Gunners swept aside Basel 4-1 on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old struck twice in the first half from close range to put Arsene Wenger s side in control against the Swiss champions, before he fired in a clinical third just two minutes after half-time.
Alex Iwobi added a fourth before the hour mark to cap a ruthless performance from A
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rsenal, who claimed top spot in Group A in the process thanks to Paris Saint-Germain s 2-2 home draw with Ludogorets.
Basel had won their last three Champions League games against English clubs at home and had only lost twice in 11 encounters with Premier League sides in the competition, but Lucas two goals after only 16 minutes effectively put…
Ghana head coach Avram Grant faces a selection headache ahead of his side s Africa Cup of Nations clash with Mali on Saturday.
The Black Stars triumphed 1-0 over Uganda thanks to an Andre Ayew penalty in their opening Group D fixture, leaving them two points clear at the summit following a goalless draw between Mali and Egypt.
That joy was tempered by an injury to left-back Baba Rahman, who is currently on loan at Schalke from Chelsea.
Rahman left the field with a knee injury after Ayew had fired Ghana in front and has since returned to Gelsenkirchen for further treatment.
And Grant is unsure who will step in for Rahman at Stade de Port-Gentil.
I am still thinking about who will replace Baba, Grant said. He is a wonderful player and it is sad…