Respect, respect, respect was the call from Jose Mourinho that echoed through football the last time he was involved in a Manchester United versus Tottenham clash at Old Trafford.
Here was a manager on the cusp of a crisis, in full confrontational mode at a post-match news conference that passed boiling point riled when it was pointed out many home supporters had walked out before the final whistle.
Here was Mourinho defending his patch ferociously, standing up for his players, for the supporters and, lastly, for himself. Showing three fingers, and pointing to how he has won three Premier League trophies.
United s 3-0 home defeat to Spurs in August 2018 was a result that demanded answers and Mourinho had plenty.
Conspiracy theorists might contend otherwi…
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Liverpool and Chelsea face off for the second time this week on Saturday evening following the Blues success in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
The two teams clash this time at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea progressed to the next round of the cup with a 2-1 comeback victory at Anfield. The game will also be remembered for a stunning goal from Eden Hazard that secured their progression.
Chelsea
Despite Chelsea s perfect start to the season having ended with a 0-0 draw against West Ham United last time out, the win on Merseyside extended their impressive unbeaten record under Maurizio Sarri. The Blues lost the Community Shield to Manchester City but since then, they have gone eight gam…
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku became the latest player to score 100 goals in the Premier League by finding the net against Swansea City on Saturday.
Lukaku struck just five minutes into the contest at Old Trafford, sending a deflected effort into the top corner after being set up by Alexis Sanchez.
The strike was the Belgium star s 15th in the top flight since joining United from Everton last July in a deal believed to be worth an initial £75million.
Using Opta data, we analyse Lukaku s goalscoring record in England s top flight.
THE BREAKDOWN
As you would expect with a central striker, the vast majority of Lukaku s efforts have come from inside the box. His head is almost as potent as his weaker right foot, while his one g…
Chelsea defender Reece James has been fined £90,000 and banned for one game after admitting to abusing a match official after last month’s defeat to Aston Villa.
England wing-back James, 23, who was not in the matchday squad due to injury when Villa secured a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge, was reported for his behaviour towards the official in the tunnel after the match.
The FA said on its Spokesperson Twitter account: “Reece James has been given a one-match suspension and £90,000 fine for breaching FA Rule E3 at Chelsea’s Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday September 24.
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson)
“The defender admitted that he used improper, insulting and/or abusive words and behaviour towards a match official …
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti was livid with his side after they gave away two points in Sunday s 3-3 LaLiga draw with Levante.
Madrid seemed in control leading 1-0 at the break following Gareth Bale s first LaLiga goal since 2019 but conceded two goals within 12 minutes of the restart to trail 2-1.
Vinicius Junior pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute before Rober restored Levante s lead with the Brazilian finding a leveler with five minutes to go.
It was crazy, after controlling the first half well, Ancelotti told Marca. We have given away two points after a very good first half.
It is difficult to explain, we had to pay attention to any detail. We leave with a bad taste in our mouths. We have to be more attentive.
Los Blancos had st…
Ousmane Dembele has suffered a setback in his attempt to return from a thigh injury for Barcelona.
Barca confirmed the 22-year-old felt discomfort in his right leg as a consequence of muscle fatigue in a training session on Monday.
The club added he would continue with his rehabilitation and did not provide a specific timeline for his return.
Dembele has not played since coming off in the first half of Barca s 3-1 home win over former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League group stage on November 27.
LATEST NEWS | During this morning’s training session, Ousmane Dembélé felt some discomfort in his right leg as a consequence of muscle fatigue. He will continue with his rehabilitation.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
He was init…
Stoke City winger Peter Odemwingie is revelling in the club s record-breaking season and believes it will lay the groundwork for silverware in the future.
Mark Hughes side played out a goalless draw at relegated Burnley last week as Stoke collected their 51st point of the 2014-15 campaign the first time the club have broken the 50-point barrier since earning promotion to the Premier League in 2008.
Stoke s stalemate was also enough to secure back-to-back ninth-place finishes in England s top flight, with one match remaining, something Odemwingie is proud of.
The most important thing is always the group, said the Nigerian. And I m very happy I could make it back and that the gaffer welcomed me back.
Two seasons with back-to-back top-10 finishes is fantas…
Romelu Lukaku scored his first Champions League goal for Chelsea as the holders started their title defence with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Zenit.
In Champions League history, the trophy holders have only lost their first game of the subsequent campaign on two of 27 previous occasions. Although Chelsea limited Zenit to little going the other way in this tussle, it looked as though Thomas Tuchel s side would be frustrated at Stamford Bridge.
Yet club-record signing Lukaku followed up his double against Aston Villa with a towering 69th-minute header to get the Blues up and running in Group H.
It proved decisive, but Zenit should have levelled – substitute Artem Dzyuba unable to convert from five yards out as Chelsea s profligacy went unpunished.
14 Only…
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri admits Gonzalo Higuain has found it difficult to adapt to life in the Premier League.
The striker has made seven appearances in England s top flight since joining on loan from Juventus in January, scoring three goals in matches against strugglers Huddersfield Town and Fulham.
Higuain, who hit 36 Serie A goals in 35 games under Sarri at Napoli in 2015-16, was substituted after 66 minutes of Chelsea s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Everton before the international break.
Sarri s side head into Sunday s game at Cardiff City trailing fourth-place Manchester United by four points after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s men beat Watford on Saturday, meaning anything less than a victory could prove costly in their top-four chase.
And Sarri is eager…
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni says Italy did not deserve to miss out on the World Cup, while he cannot see Paulo Dybala being distracted by speculation over his future.
Euro 2020 winners Italy and Copa America champions Argentina meet in the Finalissima at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.
But there is no chance of the pair meeting in Qatar next November after Italy failed to make a second straight World Cup following play-off defeat against North Macedonia in March.
That led to questions over Roberto Mancini s future and the Italian system for failing to produce young players, with the Azzurri reliant on experienced campaigners such as Giorgio Chiellini and Ciro Immobile.
Scaloni was quick to back his opposite number Mancini as he expressed his dismay a…