Any manager who Chelsea hire now will be a downgrade on Thomas Tuchel, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Former Manchester United and England star Ferdinand insists Chelsea’s decision to sack Tuchel, which was announced on Wednesday, does not make sense.
The German was appointed as the successor to club legend Frank Lampard in January 2021 and promptly led Chelsea to Champions League glory in his first season.
More success followed in the form of trophies in the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, but Tuchel also lost two FA Cup finals and an EFL Cup showpiece during his tenure.
A slow start to this season continued on Tuesday with a shock 1-0 Champions League defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb.
But Ferdinand feels new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly – who was …
Manuel Neuer believes Germany are certainly on the right track as they look to prepare for the 2022 World Cup.
Germany drew 1-1 with the Netherlands on Tuesday, with Thomas Muller breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time.
However, they were forced to settle for a draw after Steven Bergwijn equalised in the 68th minute.
Germany finished the game with 62 per cent possession, and forced Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken into four saves, two more than Neuer had to make at the other end.
Speaking to reporters, Neuer said this game was an important step on their road to the World Cup, with Germany having failed to impress at Euro 2020, while they crashed out in the group stages in Russia in 2018.
On the way to Qatar we have to use every test and…
Diego Simeone has expressed gratitude to Antoine Griezmann for gracing Atletico Madrid with five faultless seasons.
Griezmann left the club for Barcelona just over a week ago, a move that upset many at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atletico claim the LaLiga champions still owe an additional €80million, believing Barca to have privately agreed terms with the France international before his release clause dropped from €200m to €120m on July 1.
The sense of resentment is not shared by Rojiblancos boss Simeone, who holds no ill will towards the player he signed from Real Sociedad in 2014.
I talked with him a lot, Simeone told TyC Sports. It s an important moment in his career in which he decided to move to an extraordinary team like Barcelona.
I am…
With Europe s elite making their return from the international break this weekend, we have a host of noteworthy meetings from across the continent. So, for those of you looking to stick on a Saturday acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Saturday April 2nd
BST 15:00 Chelsea vs Brentford
Starting with Saturday s hosts, last seen heading into the international break with a 2-0 win away at Championship outfit Middlesbrough on FA Cup duties, Chelsea will simply be looking to carry on from where they left off. While the Blues might be dealing with some very public issues behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge, Thomas Tuchel has been filled with praise for his side s performances on the pitch. Managing to extend on their …
Newcastle United have confirmed the arrival of Netherlands international Jetro Willems on loan from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
Willems has joined Newcastle on a season-long loan deal, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.
The defender predominantly made his name at PSV and became the youngest player to appear in the European Championships when he featured for the Netherlands at Euro 2012.
Frankfurt signed the left-back in 2017 and he was a regular in his first season at the club, but Willems managed just seven Bundesliga starts under Adi Hutter last term.
Hello, !
The Netherlands international left-back has arrived on loan from .
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC)
The 25-year-old has now be…
Alisson s rein as the world s most expensive goalkeeper is over after less than three weeks.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, a 23-year-old with just one international cap to his credit, has usurped Liverpool s star Brazilian with an €80million move to Chelsea on the eve of the Premier League s transfer deadline day.
The talented Spain prospect has been hurried to Stamford Bridge as a long-term replacement for Thibaut Courtois – who hours earlier entered the top 10 of football s priciest shot-stoppers by agreeing a long-awaited move to Real Madrid.
But, with only a year to run on his Chelsea contract, the Belgium international has failed to crack the top three for big-money moves in his position, the transfer fee valued at less than half that of his successor.
H…
Best Odds: 11/8
Bookmaker:
Looking to pick up an early advantage on Thursday night, Arsenal will make the trip to the Stadio Olimpico when they face off against Portuguese outfit Benfica.
Benfica
Starting with the temporary hosts, throwing away the lead away at Moreirense last weekend and having to settle for a 1-1 draw on their travels, Benfica have only continued to show a host of inconsistencies this season. Despite grabbing a silver medal finish in the Primeira Liga last year, the Reds already find themselves sat 13 points adrift of league leaders Sporting Lisbon. Now in a real battle to secure themselves another European finish this season, Jorge Jesus side have managed to win just one of their last six top-flight contests, a run that stems back to January…
Bastian Schweinsteiger will go down in history as one of Germany s all-time greats, says head coach Joachim Low.
The 2014 World Cup winner announced his retirement on Monday after Chicago Fire failed to reach the MLS playoffs.
Schweinsteiger was an influential part of Low s side that triumphed in Brazil five years ago, when Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final at the Maracana.
The former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder accumulated 121 caps and captained the national team for two years after Philipp Lahm s retirement.
Today we talked about Argentina, when Basti finished his career, a player with such a class, Low said when addressing the media prior to Schweinsteiger s announcement.
He was certainly one of the greatest pl…
Middlesbrough have signed striker Britt Assombalonga from Championship counterparts Nottingham Forest in a club-record deal reported to be worth in the region of £14million.
Forest announced Boro outbid various other clubs to meet a release clause in the 24-year-old s contract.
The fee for Assombalonga outstrips the £12.7m Boro paid for Brazilian striker Afonso Alves in 2008.
He also becomes the second most expensive player in Championship history, following Wolves £15.8m capture of Ruben Neves from Porto earlier this month.
Assombalonga scored 14 goals in 33 games for Forest last season having spent most of the previous campaign sidelined with a career-threatening knee injury.
Looks like is happy to be here!
Take a look at Britt s …
Barcelona will be hoping that Luis Suarez can fill the sizeable goalscoring boots of the injured Lionel Messi when Inter visit Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Buoyed by their last-gasp derby win over AC Milan at the weekend, Luciano Spalletti s side will need to reverse recent history if they are to leave Spain triumphant with Barca unbeaten in 13 games at home against Italian opposition.
Edinson Cavani faces off against his old side Napoli for the first time as Paris Saint-Germain look to beat an Italian side in the Champions League for the first time, while Tottenham are aiming to get their European campaign back on track against PSV.
Here, with the help of Opta data, we take a look at some of the key numbers ahead of Wednesday s Champions League fixtures.