
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will ‘talk loudly’ about VAR until situation improves
Mikel Arteta has stood by his VAR outburst following Arsenal’s loss at Newcastle on Saturday and insists he will continue to “talk loudly” until he believes the situation improves. The Gunners lost 1-0 at St James’ Park on Saturday – their first Premier League defeat of the campaign – as Anthony Gordon scored a controversial winner for the hosts. The second-half goal was checked for three separate VAR offences – the ball going out of play, a foul by Joelinton on Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes and a potential offside – but survived them all to ultimately earn Newcastle the three points. Speaking after the defeat, Arteta said it was “embarrassing” and a “disgrace” that the goal stood – while Arsenal issued a statement on Sunday in support of their manager’s forthright views. Asked on Tuesday if he would have done anything differently, the Spaniard replied: “It is my duty to stand in front of you, to stand in front of the cameras, and give a very clear and honest assessment of what happened in the game. “And this is what I did, reflect very openly on how I felt that the team played and how the game was conditioned by this results with the decisions that were made. It is the duty. “My duty is to be defending my players, supporting my players, supporting my club, defending my people in the best possibly way and this is what I am going to time after time. We have to talk loudly. If you have a problem and you put it in your draw, the problem is in the draw and it’s going to stink at some point Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta “I do it, not the way I feel, (but) with the evidence and being as clear as possible. And I always do it, when we play real I need to say it, when we have lost, to take my responsibility, the first one is me to do it. It is the way that I am and I have to defend my club.” Arteta suggested it is the duty of managers to discuss VAR and the issues it is currently presenting within the game. “If you guys and everyone watching football are there, we have to give our opinion in an honest way and clear,” he added. “Don’t talk about other things. Be very clear and respectful, but clear and honest and value what we have. “Errors are part of evolution. The trajectory is never going to be like this (gestures straight up), there are always going to bumps in the road and these things are necessary to improve the game in the right way. “But we have to talk loudly. If you have a problem and you put it in your draw, the problem is in the draw and it’s going to stink at some point. If you have a problem, let’s talk about it, try to improve it. That’s what we are trying to do. Nothing else.” Arsenal’s statement claimed “yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors” occurred during the loss at Newcastle as the club “wholeheartedly supports” Arteta’s comments, stating players, coaches and supporters “deserve better”. The statement has been criticised in some quarters with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville labelling it “dangerous”. Arteta, though, believes it does not legitimise those who abuse referees for perceived poor decision-making against the club. “No, the support we have given to everybody is not going to change. I will be in meetings trying to reinforce that,” he said. “This is not the topic. Everyone wants the same thing, but we have to understand that we (managers) have to be there. “We have a duty to express how we feel with all the evidence we have and the history of what happened. “We have to stand for our people, our values and who we are. When the club has done it, it’s been in very specific moments for the right reasons. “It shows the unity and understanding that is within the club to position ourselves in a really clear and honest way. That’s our duty as a club.” Arteta was speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Sevilla, where victory on Wednesday night could see his side qualify for the knockout stages with two Group B games to go. “The moment you have a chance in football to put it to bed, do it,” he said of wrapping up qualification early. “We have to do a lot of things right tomorrow to earn the right to win it and against a really good team with enormous experience in this competition. “We have to prove it tomorrow in front of our people how excited we are to play that game and what it means for us.” Read More Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: Spurs went down with flag held high but loss hurts a lot From Aguero winner to Keegan dismay, Spurs-Chelsea joins Premier League classics England assistant Carl Hopkinson insists Netherlands clash is no ‘dead rubber’ Always need to improve – Nicolas Jackson keen to push on after hat-trick heroics On this day in 2009: David Haye becomes a heavyweight world champion Los Angeles Chargers demolish New York Jets 27-6
2023-11-07 20:45

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: Spurs went down with flag held high but loss hurts a lot
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg said Tottenham went down with “the flag held high” in their 4-1 loss to Chelsea and has backed the squad to cope with the absence of key personnel. Spurs lost their unbeaten start to the Premier League season in a pulsating London derby in which five goals were disallowed and the hosts played the final 35 minutes with nine men. To add salt into fresh Tottenham wounds, Micky van de Ven was forced off with a hamstring injury and James Maddison had to be withdrawn due to an ankle knock, while Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie, who were both sent off, will sit out this weekend’s trip to Wolves. Ange Postecoglou’s side battled admirably, first with 10 men from the 35th minute and then when down to nine early in the second half, but Nicolas Jackson grabbed the first of his three goals with quarter of an hour left to finally break the hosts’ resolve. Hojbjerg said: “I think we went down with the flag held high. We gave it our all but the result hurts a lot. “We showed what we had in our hearts but the result hurts. “Tuesday we have a day off and when we see each other on Wednesday, we’ll gather the pieces and focus on the next game, as we have to. “Everyone has to show their availability and show they are prepared to do what it takes. We lost the game, we hate to lose, it was the first of the season, but we have to make sure this doesn't happen again and play 11 v 11 because then it is much harder to beat us. Tottenham attacker Dejan Kulusevski “A good squad is not 11 players. It is 18 or 25 players and this is what we have to show. The result hurts a lot but we have to keep going.” Mauricio Pochettino’s first return to Tottenham had initially started in the worst possible fashion when Dejan Kulusevski’s curled effort deflected off Levi Colwill and beyond the helpless Robert Sanchez after six minutes. The wheels started to fall off during a 57-minute first half where four goals were chalked off by video assistant referee John Brooks at Stockley Park, who decided that Romero’s tackle on Enzo Fernandez was worthy of a red card and a penalty in the 33rd minute. Spurs’ uphill task increased further when Udogie was shown a second yellow after 10 minutes of the second period, but Postecoglou deployed a high line and Guglielmo Vicario starred in the sweeper-keeper role before Jackson made it 2-1. Tottenham remained resolute and started to create chances with substitute Eric Dier marginally offside when he volleyed home soon after Jackson’s first goal before Rodrigo Bentancur and Son Heung-min squandered opportunities. Jackson made the points safe in stoppage time when he lashed in from Conor Gallagher’s pass, but Spurs supporters greeted the goal with a standing ovation for their crestfallen players. Kulusevski said: “It was unbelievable, honestly. Some things are bigger than life, bigger than football, bigger than the wins. “Honestly I was really proud of that moment and the fans. I was grateful and it makes me want to give more back. “It has to give us fuel. We lost the game, we hate to lose, it was the first of the season, but we have to make sure this doesn’t happen again and play 11 v 11 because then it is much harder to beat us.” The consequences of this defeat could be long-lasting with Romero set for a three-match ban, which will rule him out of matches with Wolves, Aston Villa and Manchester City. Of bigger concern is centre-back partner Van de Ven after he pulled up at the end of the first half in a sprint with Jackson, which saw him helped off the pitch and he was later seen on crutches. Udogie will also miss Saturday’s clash at Wolves and with Ben Davies nursing an ankle knock, Postecoglou could use Under-21 defenders Ash Phillips or Alfie Dorrington this weekend. “It will be a test for sure. They (Van de Ven and Maddison) are amazing players and I hope they are back very, very soon, but as you saw the players that came in were amazing,” Kulusevski said. “We train really hard every day and everybody is ready. You saw Eric Dier, he came in, did his first appearance and was unbelievable. The guys are ready. “Everybody wants to play and it is so high level the training. So, if (Phillips) will be called, he will be ready.” Read More From Aguero winner to Keegan dismay, Spurs-Chelsea joins Premier League classics England assistant Carl Hopkinson insists Netherlands clash is no ‘dead rubber’ Always need to improve – Nicolas Jackson keen to push on after hat-trick heroics On this day in 2009: David Haye becomes a heavyweight world champion Los Angeles Chargers demolish New York Jets 27-6 Injury blow for New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones
2023-11-07 20:29

Roundup: Gigi Hadid, Bradley Cooper Are Dating; Michigan State Loses Opener; Update on Bronny James' Status
Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper are getting serious, Michigan State lost to James Madison, latest update on Bronny James' health and more in the Roundup.
2023-11-07 20:17

Ange Postecoglou’s high line epitomised Tottenham’s optimism - and their downfall
When Mauricio Pochettino was asked about Ange Postecoglou’s surprisingly high line at nine, he wasn’t too willing to get into it. The Chelsea manager instead pointed to his side’s own impact on proceedings, how proud he was. He probably wasn’t the only one unwilling to indulge too much praise of Tottenham Hotspur, after a 4-1 defeat Postecoglou’s side unnecessarily lost control of. There is already that sense of rival fans, if for rather obvious tribal reasons, bristling at the regular appeals to “mate”. The explanation of that high line was probably extreme Postecoglou, the Australian in his ultimate form. “It is just who we are, mate, it is who we will be for as long as I am here,” the Spurs manager said on TV. “If we go down to five men, we will still have a go.” And yet the last six words are why there was a sense of pride around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, almost because of a 4-1 defeat where they went against the grain to their own cost. Postecoglou was willing to abandon himself to the “purity of the game”, as he actually said later about VAR. It is so different to what Spurs fans feel they have had to put up with over the past four years. As incredible as the sight of eight outfield players at the halfway line was, going against most football convention, it’s obviously more invigorating than just keeping 11 back as both Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte did. It wasn’t all self-defeating purism, either. There was some pragmatic logic to it, in the calculation that an inexperienced Chelsea weren’t guaranteed to take advantage. This wasn’t Manchester City, for all the post-game discussion of how Pep Guardiola’s side might have scored around nine in that situation. That appreciation could be sensed in the loud applause that went around the stadium after Nicholas Jackson’s first goal, and Chelsea’s eventual second. There was the feeling they’d made the best of a bad situation, and given themselves the best chance of victory. Spurs did waste one big chance at just 2-1, and it could have been very different had Eric Dier delayed his run for that offside goal by a millisecond. That doesn’t mean discussion should stray too far into describing this as a moral victory. It was a largely self-inflicted defeat. There’s even an argument that is Postecoglou’s very excitable approach with a young team maybe played into a certain recklessness. Spurs were in complete control at 1-0, only for an inexplicable series of rash challenges to see them lose the lead, two players and - eventually - the game. Through that, they have also lost crucial momentum, that had felt like it had been elevating what would still have been an encouraging start to the season even without the winning run. It’s difficult to argue Spurs haven’t been overperforming now. Within that applause was also the awareness this was also about to get a lot more difficult. As well as that emotional momentum, they won’t have Cristian Romero, Micky van der Ven, Destiny Udogie or James Maddison for a time. That is going to take some adjustment. It might represent the start of a period where things start going the other way. That doesn’t mean discussion should go too far the other way, mind. One temptation from Postecoglou’s line was to dismiss it as typical Spurs, all talk about romance and no victories. It’s abundantly clear that the Australian is changing things here. They have just been markedly overperforming, and ahead of schedule. They shouldn’t now be overly criticised for that, as they probably face up to a trickier period that was always going to come. Postecoglou’s approach will bring more wins than they would otherwise achieve. His willingness for adventure shouldn’t be confused with tactical naivety. There is a serious coaching mind underneath. That is something that has also become clear to everyone at the club. It was why the players, after the game, were only too content with the approach. They weren’t questioning it. Postecoglou, after all, has far more answers than just that high line. Read More Ange Postecoglou laments ‘theatre’ of VAR checks after Chelsea defeat Ange Postecoglou appears to aim barb at Arsenal and Mikel Arteta over VAR controversy Ange Postecoglou reacts to VAR calls as Spurs earn two red cards in defeat to Chelsea Chelsea triumph over Tottenham in Premier League clash that had everything and more Tottenham vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and reaction Ange Postecoglou happy with Daniel Levy relationship but rules out rafting trip
2023-11-07 18:57

Create the Space – Ben Chilwell and Beth Mead front mental health initiative
England internationals Ben Chilwell and Beth Mead are fronting a new player-led initiative to better deal with mental health issues within football. The pair are among several top-level footballers to back ‘Create the Space’, a long-term movement working alongside Common Goal aimed at training individuals – either externally or within clubs – on how to help those with mental ill health. The goal is to eventually have such volunteers available to players throughout the whole football pyramid, helping to provide a safe space for conversations around mental health and well-being. Chelsea full-back Chilwell has openly spoken about his own battles in the past and wants ‘Create the Space’ to normalise conversations around the subject. “I have had my own mental health journey and I felt unsure about where to turn to for support,” he said. “It’s down to our generation to change this and ensure that throughout football, all the way from the elite level to young people in community organisations, we have each other’s backs and we’re equipped with the tools to help ourselves and those around us. “We need to move from talking about mental health to taking action, and ‘Create the Space’ provides the platform for everyone wishing to take action to play a role in tackling mental health issues, whether they are playing in the Premier League, in the playground, or in the park.” Mead won the Golden Boot and was named Player of the Tournament as she helped the Lionesses win the Women’s Euros last year but has since suffered setbacks on and off the pitch that have tested the 28-year-old. “In January I lost my Mum and because of the injury I couldn’t play football, which was always my escape, my happy place,” the Arsenal forward said. “Moments when people thought I was fine because of my outgoing personality, were very dark. It’s been a tough process to understand. Team-mates, people at the club, family and friends that supported me were so important, without them I could have been in a far darker place. “I want to help create an environment in which it’s totally normal to address mental health. There’s not a perfect way of dealing with it, but if you feel you’re not alone it helps so much. “We need to normalise mental health and in doing so that would go a long way.” Other names to back the initiative include Mead’s Arsenal team-mate Vivianne Miedema as well as Tottenham captain Molly Bartrip and former England Under-21 international and mental health advocate Marvin Sordell. Bartrip, in particular, recalled a moment in her own life where she needed help. We need to normalise mental health and in doing so that would go a long way Beth Mead “Some years ago I was in a position where I wanted to commit suicide,” she said. “You feel like you’re a burden, but it’s the strongest thing to ask for help. Mental health shouldn’t be a forbidden subject, it should be as open as having an injury. “I want football to become a safe space and hope that from the top level down to grassroots that’s what we can achieve with ‘Create the Space’.” Launched in 2017, Common Goal is a collective movement in global football and now 250 players and managers contribute a minimum of one per-cent of their football earnings to take action against challenges such as gender equity, racial justice, LGBT+ inclusion and mental health. Former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata was a trailblazer for the scheme, which is now also backed by household names across the men’s and women’s game. Read More Joe Truman has ‘point to prove’ in pursuit of Paris Olympics place Football rumours: Chelsea and Arsenal leading the race for Ivan Toney Iga Swiatek beats Coco Gauff in fault-filled match at WTA Finals Rodrigo Muniz gives Marco Silva a selection headache with Fulham cup display Mauricio Pochettino will not take risks with Chelsea captain Reece James Sean Dyche wants Everton squad to be happy playing three times a week
2023-11-02 17:29

Kevin de Bruyne reveals extent of horror hamstring injury – ‘like a wet kitchen towel’
Kevin de Bruyne has admitted that his hamstring was so flimsy it was like a wet kitchen towel before he was injured. The Manchester City midfielder played with a hamstring problem for the final two months of last season before being injured in the first half of the Champions League final win over Internazionale. And after making a comeback, he was hurt again in the Premier League opener against Burnley, lasting just 23 minutes before undergoing surgery. The Belgium captain could be back in December and is confident this time he will last longer on his comeback. He said: “It was a serious operation. It’s actually going very well. There will be a major scan next week and then we will know how the injury is progressing. In the end, everything is going according to schedule. I have not been given a time when I could play football again. “It is important that I get this injury 100 per cent right. There were a lot of cracks. Those hamstrings could have torn at any time. It was - on paper - a wet kitchen towel. Ultimately, I had a major maintenance carried out after 700 matches, a bit like you do with your car. “I had been struggling for two months, but I was able to hold on well and with the club we were able to manage everything. I was able to arrange to be there at the right time. During the week when I felt at my best, but my body said that it was enough. I still had a lot of stress in that final. Because of all those movements I may have made the crack a little bigger. But it was worth it. “This has never happened to me before. It is a serious surgery and something like that doesn’t happen very often with a hamstring injury. But all the surgeons said an intervention was necessary.” Read More Pep Guardiola responds to concerns over artificial pitch ahead of Young Boys clash Watch: Jurgen Klopp’s amusing reaction to Man United being thrashed at home ‘I am a fighter’ insists Erik ten Hag after chastening Manchester United defeat
2023-11-02 16:53

‘I am a fighter’ insists Erik ten Hag after chastening Manchester United defeat
Erik ten Hag promised he was a “fighter” after Manchester United slumped to a 3-0 Carabao Cup home defeat to Newcastle United to pile more pressure on him. Defeat in the rematch of last season’s final – which United won to highlight a promising first season in charge for the Dutchman – meant United have lost eight of their opening 15 fixtures in all competitions this term, their worst start since the 1962-63 campaign. Goals from Miguel Almiron, Lewis Hall and Joe Willock ensured a second consecutive 3-0 home defeat for United, comfortably beaten by rivals Manchester City on Sunday, and they were booed off at both half-time and full-time as Ten Hag was left facing some serious questions. “I am a fighter and I know it is not always going up,” he said. “We have a lot of setbacks this season so far, but also you have to deal with it and that is never an excuse. “I have said that before I know when there are setbacks the routines are not the same, but even then you have to get results in. Obviously, Sunday and tonight were far from that so we have to do things right and at a certain level, at the minimum level to win games.” Questions of Ten Hag were already being asked after Sunday’s derby defeat left United 11 points from the top of the Premier League table after 10 games. The former Ajax boss said he accepted that, but insisted he had no doubts about his own abilities. “I understand it when the results are not there,” he said. “It is also a logical process that they are questioning that. But I am confident I can do it. At all my clubs I have done it and also last year here I did it as well, but at this moment we are in a bad place. “I take responsibility for it. I see it as a challenge. I am a fighter and I am in that fight and I have to make sure that I share the responsibility with my players and that we stick together and fight together, and get better results.” Both sides made several changes from the weekend, but even with Newcastle’s resources stretched by injuries they looked by far the sharper of the two sides, winning the midfield battles and finding space going forward, often far too easily down United’s right-hand side in the first half. “It is below the standards everyone expect from Manchester United,” Ten Hag said. “It is not good enough by far. We have to put it right. I take responsibility for it. It is my team and they are not performing. I have to share it with my players, but I am responsible.” Defeat was not the only blow for United with Casemiro, back after a three-game absence, withdrawn at half-time with an unspecified injury which Ten Hag said would rule the Brazilian out of Saturday’s trip to Fulham. While United assessed the damage, Newcastle enjoyed lengthy celebrations with their loud travelling support after their first Old Trafford victory since December 2013. “It was a massive performance from the players and I can’t credit them enough,” said Eddie Howe. “Some great stories, only (an injury to) Matt Targett the negative, but even more credit to the players and some giant performances. “I personally have always found it a difficult ground and Newcastle the same so another thing to be really proud of the commitment showed by everyone. I thought we showed some great goals, the quality was a real highlight. “We are determined to try and do well in every game. We picked a team we felt could win and now we will do the same for Arsenal (on Saturday).” Read More Football rumours: Chelsea and Arsenal leading the race for Ivan Toney Manchester United and Arsenal knocked out of the Carabao Cup Man United given look at how far they’ve fallen as Newcastle win at Old Trafford Football fan convicted of racially abusing Rio Ferdinand Sir Bobby Charlton died after fall at care home, inquest hears Manchester United kit ‘too tight’ as players forced to wear replicas
2023-11-02 16:19

Football rumours: Chelsea and Arsenal leading the race for Ivan Toney
What the papers say Arsenal and Chelsea are among the Premier League clubs making a beeline for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, according to the Daily Express, despite the 27-year-old’s ban from football not lifting until next year. French right-back Sacha Boey, 23, is interesting Manchester United according to the Daily Mail. Arsenal, Brighton and Burnley have also been linked with the Galatasaray defender. The Daily Mirror reports Graham Potter looks poised to take on a new role as boss of the Sweden national team after his sacking from Chelsea in April. Social media round-up Players to watch Alphonso Davies: Real Madrid are keen on Bayern Munich’s Canadian international, 23. Jack Harrison: Everton are keen on making their loan signing of the Leeds United winger, 26, permanent. Read More Iga Swiatek beats Coco Gauff in fault-filled match at WTA Finals Texas Rangers win their first World Series crown I am a fighter – Erik ten Hag determined to improve Manchester United’s form
2023-11-02 15:56

CFB chairman completely ignores Michigan cheating scandal: ‘An NCAA issue’
CFP chairman Boo Corrigan is turning a blind eye to what's going on in Michigan right now.
2023-11-02 11:17

When does the College Football Playoff expand to 12 teams?
The College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams shortly. Here's when the expansion will begin.
2023-11-02 07:50

Benoit Badiashile returns in style as Chelsea reach Carabao Cup quarter-finals with victory over Blackburn
Benoit Badiashile scored the opening goal as he made his first appearance of the season in Chelsea’s 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn at Stamford Bridge. The France defender had not started a Blues match since he was injured in their draw with Nottingham Forest in May and got himself involved at both ends of the pitch in a game that also saw Reece James return to the starting XI. Raheem Sterling fired home after the break, and while the visitors had defended well, they never looked close to coming back into the contest. Chelsea have now reached their 24th quarter-final in 33 attempts, and are one step closer to lifting a first League Cup since 2015, when Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino was in charge of runners-up Tottenham. Backburn had not played a League Cup contest at Stamford Bridge in 26 years and over 3,000 supporters made the trip, hoping to do one better than they did in 1997 when Rovers were knocked out after a penalty shootout. There was little excitement inside the opening exchanges, which, save for two wasted corners for the hosts and Dilan Markanday’s left-footed effort running wide, was largely characterised by two sides simply trying find an early footing. It took just over 15 minutes for Chelsea to finally test Leopold Wahlstedt through a drilled effort from James which the Swedish goalkeeper just managed to get enough of his body in the way to make the stop. Badiashile did well to clear away a Blackburn chance before James tried again, this time with a low effort from distance before Enzo Fernandez forced Wahlstedt into a low save at the right post. Blackburn continued to frustrate the Blues, winning back possession inside the penalty area, while Wahlstedt was able to palm away Conor Gallagher’s dangerous cross, but the rebound somehow sailed between a sea of bodies. It eventually landed at the feet of the fortunate Badiashile, who dutifully finished to open the scoring after 30 minutes of a half that also saw penalty shouts from both sides brushed aside by referee Tim Robinson. Harry Leonard fired inches wide of the right post to start off the second half, while Fernandez could only send his next effort straight into the arms of Wahlstedt, who would soon have no chance of stopping Chelsea’s second. After some good work by Cole Palmer to win the ball deep inside Blackburn’s half, Sterling latched on to the ball at the edge of the area and powered a shot into the top right. Both managers took the opportunity to make changes, and the visitors were prevented from conceding a quick third when Palmer’s effort took a dangerous deflection off James Hill and whizzed toward the goal before Blackburn were saved by the left post. Chelsea pushed for a third with both Gallagher and Sterling sending efforts across the face of goal as the clock wound down on Blackburn’s cup campaign, though not before substitute Arnor Sigurdsson came close to firing in a stoppage-time consolation. Read More Manchester United and Arsenal knocked out of the Carabao Cup Sean Dyche wants Everton squad to be happy playing three times a week Mauricio Pochettino will not take risks with Chelsea captain Reece James Sean Dyche wants Everton squad to be happy playing three times a week Mauricio Pochettino will not take risks with Chelsea captain Reece James Carabao Cup draw: Liverpool, Newcastle and more discover fate
2023-11-02 07:29

Mauricio Pochettino will not take risks with Chelsea captain Reece James
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is taking a “careful” approach with captain Reece James, who started a match for just the second time this season in the Blues’ 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn. James, who has been making his way back to full fitness after sustaining a hamstring issue in August, played 61 minutes of Wednesday’s tie before he was swapped for Malo Gusto. Benoit Badiashile netted the opener in his first appearance this season, while Raheem Sterling added a second after the break to book the Blues a quarter-final clash with Newcastle. Pochettino said: “The plan was to check at half-time how (James) was feeling, and after 15 minutes he starts to feel tired and we’re checking from the second half, and we need to be careful how we manage him. “We decide to make the change because I think it is important now, the progression, and being careful about not going back, sometimes (you) play 90 minutes and maybe take some risks, but we need to avoid this. “It’s true that we cannot 100 per cent avoid risk, but the plan is to go little by little.” Badiashile, who had not appeared for Chelsea since May, broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark after Leopold Wahlstedt’s save deflected favourably into his path. Both sides had penalty shouts go unanswered by referee Tim Robinson before the break, including a potential handball on Conor Gallagher that could have swung momentum in the visitors’ favour, but Sterling’s top-corner strike made it a comfortable second half for the hosts. Blackburn had their chances – Harry Leonard firing just wide moments after the interval and substitute Arnor Sigurdsson coming close in stoppage time – but never looked close to a comeback in front of the 3,000 fans who had made the trip south. Jon Dahl Tomasson was convinced his Rovers side should have been awarded a spot-kick, but was pleased by how well his youthful side responded to their top-flight opposition. The Danish boss, who believes cup football is “extremely important” said: “It was a great challenge, and I think our fans will be proud of this young Rovers team playing against a top team in Europe. “The millionaires from the Premier League against the young guns from the Championship and do a challenge and an effort like this, I think the boys will learn a lot from this game. “When you play at this level you need to make a decision quite quick, the intensity is high, the decision-making needs to be right and I thought actually we had some great attacks on the ball as well. “I’m sure this young group will take a lot from this game.” Read More Sean Dyche wants Everton squad to be happy playing three times a week Jurgen Klopp thrilled as Liverpool weather storm at Bournemouth Manchester United and Arsenal knocked out of the Carabao Cup I’m responsible – Mikel Arteta accepts blame for Arsenal loss at West Ham Darwin Nunez comes off the bench to fire Liverpool into Carabao Cup quarter-finals James Harden joins LA Clippers from Philadelphia 76ers
2023-11-02 07:25