Everton manager Roberto Martinez does not believe Chelsea needed any extra motivation from their Champions League exit ahead of Saturday s FA Cup quarter-final at Goodison Park.
The FA Cup is Chelsea s only remaining chance of silverware this season after Paris Saint-Germain left Stamford Bridge on Wednesday with a 2-1 win and 4-2 aggregate triumph to deny Guus Hiddink s men a place in the quarter-finals of Europe s premier competition.
Everton are also attempting to garnish a frustrating campaign by booking a Wembley visit, but Martinez feels Chelsea would have made for formidable opponents irrespective of their fortunes in midweek.
He told a pre-match news conference: It depends what way you want to look at it. If you are pessimistic, you ll say that Chelsea wi…
The Football Association (FA) is investigating allegations that England manager Sam Allardyce used his position to negotiate a £400,000 deal and offer advice on how to circumvent rules on transfers.
The Daily Telegraph has footage claiming to be from a meeting in August between Allardyce and two undercover reporters purporting to be from a Far East firm.
In the video, Allardyce explains to the two men how they might get round rules regarding third-party ownership of players, which was banned by FIFA last year and has been outlawed in England s top flight since 2008.
Allardyce used the example of Enner Valencia, a player he claims was owned by a third-party when he brought him to West Ham from Mexican club Pachuca in 2014.
It s not a problem we got Valen…
Erling Haaland became the first player to score in each of his opening four Premier League away games after finding the net in Manchester City s match at Wolves.
The striker continued his blistering start to life in England, taking his goal tally in all competitions to 14 already as he doubled City s lead to 2-0 at Molineux on Saturday.
After Jack Grealish opened the scoring in just 55 seconds, Haaland struck in the 16th minute as he received Bernardo Silva s pass before drilling a 20-yard shot beyond Jose Sa s reach.
That was also the Norway international s 100th goal in 99 games across all competitions since leaving Salzburg for Borussia Dortmund in January 2020.
4 Erling Haaland has become the first player in Premier League history to score in each …
Dominik Szoboszlai s goal was the difference as Arne Slot s first game in charge of Liverpool with spectators present ended in a 1-0 win over Real Betis in Pittsburgh.
Liverpool lost 1-0 in a behind-closed-doors meeting with Preston North End last week, but they were victors in sweltering conditions when their pre-season tour of the United States got under way on Friday.
Szoboszlai scored the only goal after 34 minutes, stroking his finish past Adrian after Mohamed Salah slipped a pass through to the Hungary international.
That goal came four minutes after Curtis Jones was forced off through injury, being replaced by 17-year-old Trey Nyoni.
Former Reds goalkeeper Adrian denied Conor Bradley as a strong Liverpool side chased a second, while Harvey Elliott …
The Football Association has denied reports that it plans to replace Three Lions as England s official World Cup anthem for Qatar 2022.
British newspaper The Sun claimed on Thursday that the FA is reviewing other options over concerns the song, which has been a fans favourite since Euro 96, offends other nations.
Luka Modric said after Croatia s win over England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final that his side were additionally motivated to win due to the song s lyrics.
It had been suggested that Sweet Caroline , which became synonymous with England s run to last year s Euro 2020 final, would replace the Baddiel and Skinner hit.
However, the FA has released a statement denying that is the case.
Update from The FA:
— FA Spokesperson (@FAsp…
Manchester United face the prospect of losing key midfielder Paul Pogba on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.
The France international is into the final four months of his existing deal and there are few indications that he is prepared to extend his terms at Old Trafford.
And in a further blow for United, they could see Pogba head to one of their domestic top-flight rivals.
TOP STORY – POGBA OPEN TO PREMIER LEAGUE STAY
The Telegraph reports that Pogba, who rejoined United from Juventus in a big-money deal in 2016, is prepared to wait until the end of the season before deciding on his future.
Signing a new deal with United is said to remain an option, but Pogba will not be short of options should he become available to sign on a free – a…
Sheffield United have launched an investigation into an alleged racist incident in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth at Bramall Lane.
United will now work with South Yorkshire Police to identify the culprit and are threatening “the strongest possible action”.
Details of the incident have not yet been released but a statement from the Blades read: “Sheffield United is disappointed to learn of an alleged racist incident in Saturday’s Premier League fixture against AFC Bournemouth.
Sheffield United is disappointed to learn of an alleged racist incident in Saturday’s Premier League fixture against AFC Bournemouth. The Club take a zero-tolerance approach to racism and stands firmly against all forms of discrimination. An investigation is now underway, i…
Cesc Fabregas has confirmed he will leave Monaco when his contract expires at the end of the season, but the midfielder has no intentions to retire just yet.
Former Arsenal and Barcelona star Fabregas has been hampered by injuries during the 2021-22 season, in which Monaco are three points behind second-placed Marseille with two games to play.
The Spain international signed on a free transfer in January 2019, and racked up over 800 Ligue 1 minutes a season in his first three campaigns at Monaco.
However, he has appeared just twice in the league this term for his measly 36 minutes and Fabregas has revealed this season will be his last with Monaco.
It s sure that it s over between Monaco and me, Fabregas told French outlet So Foot. My contract expires next…
AC Milan director Leonardo said Zlatan Ibrahimovic returning is not possible, though he admitted the LA Galaxy striker was more than a thought for the Italian side.
Ibrahimovic scored 42 Serie A goals for Milan between 2010 and 2012, before leaving to join Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.
The former Sweden star has netted 20 times for MLS side the Galaxy so far in 2018, and Milan reportedly made contact with the 37-year-old striker over a possible transfer.
Milan director Leonardo, however, cast doubt over the rumours prior to Thursday s 3-1 win over Olympiacos in the Europa League.
Ibra has very close ties to Milan, everyone knows this, Leonardo told Sky Sport Italia.
We cannot deny it was more than a brief thought going through our minds w…
Bayern Munich have tied 19-year-old goalkeeper Christian Fruchtl to a new contract that keeps him in Bavaria until 2022.
The Germany Under-20 international s deal with the Bundesliga champions had been set to expire at the end of the season.
Fruchtl, who joined the club in 2014, is yet to feature for the Bayern first team but has been named on the bench 12 times since the start of 2017-18.
It’s a great feeling that the best club in Germany has put its faith in me, he said. I want to continue making a name for myself this season in the third division [with the reserve team] and push for the first team.
Christian extends his contract until 2022
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN)
When you train with world-class players on a daily ba…