Sports

Chelsea agree on terms with ex-PSG boss as next manager – Reports

Published

12 months ago

May 14, 2023

Mauricio Pochettino

Chelsea agree on terms with ex-PSG boss as next manager – Reports

Chelsea are on the verge of hiring former Paris Saint Germain (PSG) boss, Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager after agreeing terms with him, reports say on Sunday.

Pochettino is reportedly set to join Chelsea at the end of this season as he returns to the Premier League four years after his sacking by Tottenham.

The Argentine will replace interim manager Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly bids to get his troubled club back on track after a dismal season.

Pochettino will be Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in five years after Boehly sacked Thomas Tuchel in September and then axed Graham Potter in April.

Pochettino, who has also managed in the Premier League with Southampton, left Paris Saint Germain in July 2022 and was replaced by Christophe Galtier.

Pochettino guided Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2019 when they finished as runners-up to Liverpool.

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He also led the north Londoners a second place finish in the Premier League in 2017 and the League Cup final in 2015, missing out on the silverware to Chelsea on both occasions.

Despite failing to end a Tottenham trophy drought that stretches back to 2008, Pochettino was widely admired by his players.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane recently bemoaned the change in the club’s culture since the Argentine’s exit.

Following his Tottenham stint, the 51-year-old took over at French side Paris Saint Germain in January 2021.

They finished second in Ligue 1 in 2022, winning the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions, which were the first trophies of Pochettino’s managerial career.

Pochettino led PSG to the French title in his second season but departed after failing to make an impact in the Champions League, with a last-16 capitulation against Real Madrid especially damaging to his reign.

Considered for the Manchester United job before Erik ten Hag’s appointment last year, Pochettino will arrive in west London to find a club in crisis.

Chelsea, who last won the title in 2017, are currently 11th in the Premier League.

They have won just one of their past 11 games and look set to miss out on European competition next season.

With three games left, the Blues are in danger of finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since 1996.

Boehly’s spending spree on over £550 million ($685 million) of new signings since buying the club from Roman Abramovich last year has failed to have the desired effect.

Chelsea crashed out of both domestic cups and lost limply against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Boehly reportedly telling the players their season was “embarrassing” during a dressing room speech immediately after a home defeat against Brighton.

Lampard lost the first six matches of his second spell as Chelsea boss before a victory against Bournemouth and then a draw with lowly Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Chelsea agree on terms with ex-PSG boss as next manager – Reports

Sports

Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo

Published

7 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Trends Admin

Cristiano Ronaldo and Odion Ighalo

Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo

Ex-Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has disclosed that the decision of Cristiano Ronaldo and other top footballers to ply their trade in Saudi Arabia was informed by pecuniary motives.

Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr last year in a stunning three-year deal that would see him earn €210.704 million in total.

Other top footballers, who have made names for themselves in Europe, have also moved to Saudi Arabia as the the oil-rich middle east nation injected massive cash into league in order to make it a football powerhouse.

Reacting to the move of Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia and the influx of big players to the Saudi league, Ighalo said the motivation behind these moves was money and not passion.

Ighalo made this known during an interview with sport journalist, Oma Akatugba.

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He said. “See people that are going to Saudi Arabia, big players. Is Ronaldo still playing for passion? He has made more than 100 times what I have in my life, but he still went to Saudi. You want to tell me that is passion? No, it’s for money.

“It’s only when we Africans say it they will say we like money. But these people don’t care, some of them want to be highest paid and all that,”

Ighalo left mainstream Europe for Chang Chung Yatai in 2017 after playing for Lyn, Udinese, Granada, Cesena, and Watford.

At Yatai, he earned a reported €200,000 weekly salary, before moving to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua where he also commanded a similar wage.

Ighalo spent one year in Shanghai before moving to Manchester United on a six-month loan deal.

After that, the 34-year-old joined Al Shabbab, where he started earning €170,000.

Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo

Sports

MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Lionel Messi

MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table

Lionel Messi showcased his brilliance with a double and an assist for Sergio Busquets as Inter Miami secured a 3-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday, keeping them at the summit of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference.

Despite a shaky start that saw Franco Negri inadvertently deflect a corner into Miami’s net within two minutes, Messi swiftly equalized in the 11th minute after Luis Suarez redirected a rebounded shot from the Argentine.

Messi continued to menace Nashville’s defense, narrowly missing another goal before providing an exquisite cross for Diego Gomez, whose header was denied by Nashville keeper Elliot Panicco.

Miami capitalized on their momentum as Busquets, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, nodded in a corner just before halftime, giving Miami a well-deserved lead.

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However, Miami suffered a setback as Gomez was stretchered off with an ankle injury, adding to their injury woes.

Although Nashville dominated possession in the second half, Miami remained resolute defensively. In the 81st minute, Messi sealed the win by converting a penalty after Leonardo Afonso was fouled in the box.

With this victory, Messi extended his impressive goal-scoring record to nine goals in as many games across all competitions for Miami.

Reflecting on Miami’s performance, manager Gerardo Martino praised his team’s resilience, particularly considering their depleted squad due to injuries.

Despite Miami’s success, Columbus Crew faced a tough battle, twice coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati clinched a 2-1 win over Atlanta United, with Luciano Acosta playing a pivotal role in their comeback victory. This highlights an eventful day in Major League Soccer.

MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table

Sports

Arsenal beat Wolves to return to top spot

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Arsenal beat Wolves to return to top spot

Arsenal put their Champions League disappointment firmly in the past by beating Wolves at Molineux and moving back to the top of the Premier League.

Having blown their chance to leapfrog Pep Guardiola’s side six days ago by losing at home to Aston Villa and then being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich on Wednesday, it was a welcome triumph for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Leandro Trossard’s strike in the last minute of the opening period may not have been the most eye-catching of the Belgian’s career, but it was perfectly timed.

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It came at the end of a half where Arsenal seemed to have gotten stuck after a bright start and nearly fell behind to Gary O’Neil’s injury-ravaged side.

The visitors dominated the second half too, but were unable to carve out the clear chances that would have allowed them to take the game out of reach.

Captain Martin Odegaard added the second deep into stoppage time at the end of the game, turning in from a tight angle after his initial cross had been blocked.

The result means Arsenal are now a point clear of City, with a better goal difference but having played a game more.

They have the chance to apply some significant pressure to the defending champions when they entertain beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Chelsea on Tuesday.