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      Hidden message on Cucurella’s new £220 boots as Puma’s cheeky marketing campaign backfires after Chelsea star’s slips

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      MARC CUCURELLA’S infamous Puma boots featured a cheeky marketing slogan.The Chelsea full-back, 26, ditched his footwear for a different pair after slipping in the build-up to Tottenham’s first two goals last Sunday.Marc Cucurella twice slipped the build-up to Tottenham goalsCredit: APCucurella, 26, decided to change his boots during the first halfCredit: GettyThe full-back switched back to an older pair of Puma bootsCredit: GettyFollowing his side’s 4-3 comeback win, the Spaniard posted a picture of his original boots in a bin with the caption “Sorry Blues”.Having risked Puma’s wrath, Cucurella swiftly deleted the image from his Instagram Story – but not before it had swept across social media.The Chelsea ace had been wearing a studded pair of Puma’s new Future 8 boots.When he shuffled over to the bench to change them following Dejan Kulusevski’s goal, Cucurella switched into Puma’s previous Future 7 edition.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Future 8 boots are on sale at £220 per pair, with Puma having claimed that they boost “Ultimate Precision, Adaptability and Performance”.During Sunday’s game, Cucurella’s pair also featured a message on its heel.Alongside an exclamation mark, it read: “This boot might be leaked. We’re used to it. Don’t worry. Stay tuned.”It was then followed by the date “03/03”.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSCucurella’s boots featured a cheeky marketing sloganCredit: GettyThe Future 8s ended up in the bin after Sunday’s matchCredit: instagramCucurella has not worn the Future 8s in training this week, ahead of the Blues’ Europa Conference League clash with Astana tomorrow.He has instead stuck with the Future 7s for sessions at Cobham.Moment Cole Palmer stops interview to quiz Chelsea team-mate Marc Cucurella on his boots after Tottenham clash After Sunday’s game, Cole Palmer stopped mid-interview to ask Cucurella about his boots.The England star, 22, cheekily asked: “Yo Marc, the boots, where are they?”Cucurella replied: “They are in the bin.”In a further Instagram post, the full-back joked: “It almost slipped away… but proud of the amazing team effort to turn things around.”Cucurella has not worn the Future 8s in training this weekCredit: Reuters More

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      The state-of-the-art stadium with special features that will host Chelsea’s clash vs Astana in extreme -13C temperatures

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      CHELSEA will battle the elements when they face Astana in the Conference League.The Blues will be hoping to pull of a rapid raid when playing in Kazakhstan.Chelsea take on Astana in the Conference League on Thursday eveningCredit: Getty – ContributorThe temperature could drop as low as -13CCredit: Getty – ContributorEnxo Maresca has inisted he will take extra layersCredit: GettyEnzo Maresca’s side will undergo a 16-hour and 7,000-mile round trip to the Chinese border to face Astana in subzero conditions.The temperature could drop as low as -13C during the Chelsea match.The Premier League giants will be aided by Astana’s special stadium.The Astana Arena has a capacity of 30,000 and a retractable roof to help protect those inside.READ MORE ON CHELSEAThe stadium and pitch can also be heated in order to add some warmth when the temperature drops.It cost £145million to construct and was completed in 2009.Chelsea have won every single game in this group stage so far and should not be concerned about Astana, who finished second in the Kazakhstan Premier League this year.Maresca said: “I will take many layers.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”It’s a big difference. But we have to go, we have to play, we have to try to do our best and to try to adapt to the conditions that we’re going to face there.”I played in something similar, it was the worst in Ukraine. We played with more or less the same temperature.”Enzo Maresca confirms forgotten Chelsea wonderkid Josh Acheampong will start against Astana after contract stand-off Axel Disasi is ready for the trip to KhazakstanCredit: GettyOn top of their usual preparations, Chelsea’s players were also having to pack extra gloves for the game and download hours of movies for the flight.Axel Disasi, who has the Netflix series Senna ready to watch, added: “We just have to put on gloves and be ready to compete in these conditions.”We all know the conditions of these games, its eight hour flight and -13 so download some movies to watch on the plane, be ready, put on two pairs of gloves and compete in the game because at the end we just have to fight and keep this first-place.”Instead of travelling and training at their opponents facilities, as the Blues have done for previous Conference League trips, the squad prepared at their Cobham base yesterday.The group boarded the eight-hour flight, which takes them across Europe, between Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East, at Gatwick yesterday afternoon.They will be back home at 6am on Friday morning, when preparations for Brentford will already have begun.Maresca and his staff will try to keep the players on English time given the quick turnaround, with everyone eating before bed despite the fact they landed at 3am local time in Almaty.While they are doing everything to keep the squad fresh, the Italian hopes no one who travels to Kazakhstan will have to be involved against the Bees.He added: “You never know because the ones that are not involved, first of all, they’re going to be training.”They have to train well.”You never know if we need one of the guys that are going to play Astana on Sunday again.”Ideally, we prefer not because we’re going to land at six o’clock in the morning on Friday and it’s not normal for one of them to land at six o’clock in the morning and then play again on Sunday.”So hopefully not, but in case we need to, they’re going to make the effort.”Disasi added: “As a player we like to play every game but at the same time you have to be clever.”With a lot of games like we have, you can’t play every game. We have a big squad and everyone has to take his chances.”That’s why when you have the opportunity to play you have to perform and show you have quality.”At this moment we did well even if sometimes you can feel as a player you want to play every game but it’s not possible.”We fly eight hours and then play Sunday so we have to be clever and think of things like this.”The trip to Astana will also see the return of youngster Josh Acheampong to the squad.Acheampong, an 18-year-old defender, was frozen out of the Chelsea squad until he agreed a new contract earlier this season.A deal is yet to be fully completed, but Maresca suggested an agreement is close – meaning the academy graduate is in line to start.Maresca said: “He’s in the squad and probably he’s going to play from the start.READ MORE SUN STORIES”With Josh it’s quite clear. We all love Josh. The club loves Josh. I love Josh.”We are trying to find an agreement with the players. We are close. We are almost there.”Josh Acheampong will be back in the Chelsea squadCredit: GettyWho are these famous footballers? More

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      Chelsea owner Todd Boehly in talks to buy 169-year-old UK newspaper in £550m deal

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      TODD BOEHLY is in talks to buy The Daily Telegraph.The Chelsea co-owner, 51, could help to fund Dovid Efune’s bid to acquire the UK Newspaper.Todd Boehly is interested in acquiring the TelegraphCredit: AlamyDovid Efune has been trying to strike a deal to buy the UK newspaperCredit: GettyEfune, 39, already owns The New York Sun and is looking to add the Telegraph to his portfolio.He has been in exclusive talks for nearly two months to buy the newspaper, but this period of exclusivity is set to end in the coming days.The Telegraph’s current ownership group, headed by Jeff Zucker, is said to be coveting at least £550million ($700m).According to the Financial Times, Boehly could step in to help fund Efune’s bid.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLShould Efune drop out of the running, however, it’s said that Boehly could try to buy the Telegraph outright.The American is already a familiar name in the UK having completed a £4.25bn ($5.4bn) deal to buy Chelsea alongside Behdad Eghbali in 2022.As of the end of 2023, the Telegraph possessed more than one million subscribers.Zucker is chief executive of the RedBird IMI group, which took control of the Telegraph, as well as sister publication The Spectator, last December having paid off debts of its previous owners the Barclay family.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSRedBird IMI were quickly then forced to take bids for both titles by the UK government, however, due to their Abu Dhabi-backing.They have agreed a £100m ($127m) deal with British billionaire Paul Marshall to sell The Spectator.Angry Chelsea fan slams Todd Boehly’s transfer policy and claims no Blues supporters are happy with his running of the ‘unrecognisable’ clubWhile Efune and now Boehly are exploring a deal to acquire The Telegraph.Boehly has several other business interests in sport aside from Chelsea.He owns 20 per cent of MLB franchise the Los Angeles Dodgers, while he and Mark Walter acquired 27 per cent of NBA giants the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021.The businessman also possesses a stake in the Los Angeles Sparks WNBA franchise, while in June 2023 Boehly’s BlueCo bought Ligue 1 side Strasbourg for around £65m ($83m).In the summer it was reported that Boehly and Eghbali were at loggerheads and wanted to buy each other out at Chelsea.But since then it has been claimed that the rift between the two has healed somewhat.Boehly co-owns Chelsea alongside Behdad EghbaliCredit: Getty More

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      Only three midfielders average more points-per-game than Eberechi Eze in 2024/25 – Crystal Palace star viable this month

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      DREAM TEAM managers are spoiled for choice at this time of year.Come Friday morning, there will only be one relevant European fixture (Chelsea v Shamrock Rovers in Gameweek 15) to consider until mid-January.A pause to the continental competitions evens out Dream Team’s fixture list, boosting the viability of dozens of players from clubs not active in Europe this season.Take Eberechi Eze (£5m) for example.Eze does itCredit: Dream TeamIt’s difficult for gaffers to justify selecting Crystal Palace’s No10 when he’s got just one game a week in which to strut his stuff while midfielders from Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester United are regularly in action twice because of European commitments.We haven’t included Chelsea in that list because Enzo Maresca has tended to rotate almost his entire team for Conference League match-ups, minimising double headers for his players.However, no team has more fixtures to fulfil than the Eagles between Gameweeks 15 and 19 as it stands.For that to still be the case after Gameweek 15, Oliver Glasner will have to mastermind an unlikely upset against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals but the point is that Eze is not hindered by the same fixture deficit as he has been lately.Player like Eze increase in popularity when the European competitions are put on holdCredit: GettyThe England international’s return of four goals and four assists might look modest compared to the numbers posted by the likes of Cole Palmer (£6m) and Bukayo Saka (£6.7m) but the key stat to focus on is his average of 7.6 points-per-game.Only three midfielders boast superior averages at the time of writing and the long list of those below Eze in the metric includes Bruno Fernandes (£6.2m), Brennan Johnson (£3.9m), Luis Diaz (£4.1m) and many other popular selections.Most read in FootballDespite being limited to 15 appearances in 2024/25, Eze has earned 19 bonus points, a tally bettered by only seven other players in his position – he racked up plenty last season too.His play style virtually guarantees successful dribbles, accurate crosses and fouls won, a reliable recipe for bonus points.Average points-per-game is an important statistic in Dream TeamCredit: RexThe 26-year-old mustered just two points against Manchester City last time out but he notched 13 points in Gameweek 13 upon his return from injury.Looking ahead, it would be a stretch to say Palace’s fixtures are favourable, especially with a double header against the Gunners coming up, but Eze should at least be considered among the potential options for the next month or so.CRYSTAL PALACE FIXTURES FROM GAMEWEEK 15 TO GAMEWEEK 19:Brighton (a) – Premier LeagueArsenal (a) – Carabao CupArsenal (h) – Premier LeagueBournemouth (a) – Premier LeagueSouthampton (h) – Premier LeagueChelsea (h) – Premier LeagueStoke (h) – FA CupLeicester (a) – Premier LeaguePalace have become harder to beat in recent weeksCredit: REXEncouragingly, Glasner has started his star man in the domestic cup competitions this season, whereas many of the top-tier midfielders are rested, so minutes should not be an issue.Even if Eze doesn’t appeal, Dream Team bosses should note the schedule pivot and how it opens up other avenues to points across the festive period.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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      Enzo Maresca confirms forgotten Chelsea wonderkid, 18, will start against Astana after contract stand-off

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      CHELSEA boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Josh Acheampong is set to start against Astana.The Blues will take on the Kazakh side tomorrow in difficult -13C conditions.Enzo Maresca has discussed Josh Acheampong’s futureCredit: GettyAcheampong, 18, is highly-rated at Stamford BridgeCredit: GettyMaresca is set to make several changes to the side that beat Tottenham 4-3 last Sunday, with 11 academy starlets having been added to his Europa Conference League squad.Full-back Acheampong, 18, is set to come in for his first Chelsea start.The England youth international is highly-rated at Stamford Bridge and has made two cameos from the bench for the Blues.But in October it was reported that he had been “frozen out” amid a contract stand off.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe was recently seen having returned to first team training, however.And asked about Acheampong ahead of tomorrow’s match, Maresca confirmed that a contract agreement is close.The Italian, 44, said: “He’s in the squad and is probably going to play from the start.”With Josh, it’s quite clear, we all love Josh, the club love Josh and I love Josh.Most read in Europa LeagueBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”We are trying to find an agreement with the player. It’s close, we are almost there.”Chelsea will embark on a 7,000-mile round trip to face Astana, with stars such as Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke among those that will be left at home.How Chelsea embarrassed Spurs with Enzo Fernandez leading genius in-game tactical shake-upOn their travel arrangements, Maresca added this morning: “We have a session now, then we fly there, eight hours.”We arrive, have dinner, bed. Fortunately they are five hours ahead of us. We are going to be there for 24 hours.”Friday morning, we are going to arrive around 6am in London.”Following Chelsea’s arduous trip, their West London derby against Brentford this weekend has been pushed back to an unusual kick-off time.The match will get underway at 7pm this Sunday, and it’s likely that Maresca could make as many as 11 changes from the side that will face Astana tomorrow.Acheampong has made one brief first team cameo under MarescaCredit: Getty More

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      Hilarious moment goalscorer runs full length of pitch to celebrate with a TREE… before opponents brand him ‘stupid’

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      ROCHDALE star Tobi Adebayo-Rowling baffled his opponents last night with an unusual goal celebration.The 28-year-old was in action as his side travelled to Leamington for an FA Trophy tie.Tobi Adebayo-Rowling ran the length of the pitch after scoringCredit: XHe then vaulted the railing at the side of the pitchCredit: XNext he ducked under a wooden fenceCredit: XThe Rochdale wing-back then performed his ‘tree hug’ celebrationCredit: XThe Dale wing-back gave his side the lead on the stroke of half-time, prodding home from close range following Ryan East’s corner.After his goal, Adebayo-Rowling ran the full length of the pitch.He then jumped over the railing at the side of the field, before ducking under a wooden fence.Adebayo-Rowling then stood with his arms outstretched by a tree.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe turned around to find that his team-mates hadn’t followed him.Instead he was met by his goalkeeper, who simply offered him a drink of water.Leamington were left baffled by the incident, with their social media account posting: “Rochdale take the lead and celebrate by running the length of the pitch, jumping the barrier and hugging a tree. Bizarre.”The commentator also labelled it “one of the strangest celebrations” that he’d ever seen.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSFans online were also left puzzled.One wrote: “Pretty disrespectful if you ask me.”‘Non-league at its best’, joke fans after goalkeeper gets stuck in his own NET..While a second moaned: “What the hell is the point of this except stupid disrespect to the opponent?”Although another joked: “Glad to see he’s doing tree-mendously.”Following Adebayo-Rowling’s first goal for the club, Rochdale went in at the break leading 1-0.Matthew Dennis added to their advantage in the 84th minute, sealing a 2-0 win and progression to the fourth round. More

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      Man Utd playing bizarre fixture against Fulham after objecting to proposed kick-off time

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      MANCHESTER UNITED will take on Fulham at a bizarre fixture time in the Premier League.The Red Devils will have to play against the Cottagers at a new time after objecting to one proposed kick-off time.Manchester United will play Fulham in a bizarre TV slot timeCredit: RexChelsea faced Tottenham on a Sunday eveningCredit: GettyManchester United will travel to Craven Cottage for their Premier League on January 26.The match comes just days after their Europa League clash against Rangers at Old Trafford.The club have rejected a proposed kick-off time of 12pm due to wanting more recovery time for players.TNT Sports will televise the noon slot on Sundays, but it would have been only 62 hours after the match against the Scottish giants.READ MORE ON MAN UTDHowever, the 2pm and 4.30pm slots are already reserved for Sky Sports, leading to the bizarre kick-off time.Manchester United will now take on Fulham at 7pm on the Sunday evening.Chelsea’s visit to Tottenham this weekend was played in the 4.30pm slot due to their away matches in Europe on Thursday.The Premier League has told clubs that the slot is supposed to only be a contingency option and not a regular one.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has hit out at the Sunday evening fixtures and claimed it is “really unpopular” for fans.This is due to the limitations on transport, which can make it unsuitable for families.’Sit down.. childish,’ Roy Keane fumes at Ian Wright and slams ‘fing rubbish’ Man Utd star in Arsenal game watchalongIt is expected that Manchester United will offer travelling fans subsidised travel to Craven Cottage.A FSA spokesman said: “The Sunday evening kick-off slot is really unpopular with match-goers as public transport options are limited and it’s no good for families with young kids.“When the general slot was announced the Premier League told us it was a ‘contingency’ — but it seems to be getting used an awful lot for such a provision.“A big part of the problem is allowing broadcasters to choose ‘conditional’ picks which are then moved when a team progresses in Europe.“The Premier League puts broadcasters first by allowing them to select such games knowing full well conditional picks are very likely to be rescheduled again.”The slot will be used for Chelsea vs Brentford on Sunday but only due to them playing away in Kazakhstan on Thursday.The Blues face Astana away in the Conference League while Spurs will also have the slot to play Southampton due to their Europa League to Rangers. More

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      Sir Jim Ratcliffe slammed over ‘laughable’ start to Man Utd reign as Gary Lineker reveals ‘the worst thing of all’

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      SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has been slammed over his “laughable” start at Manchester United. The British billionaire completed a 25 per cent takeover at Old Trafford in December and assumed control of football operations.Sir Jim Ratcliffehas been slammed over his ‘laughable’ start at Manchester UnitedCredit: GettyDan Ashworth left his role as sporting directorCredit: PAErik ten Hag was sacked as Utd bossCredit: GettyBut things have gone from bad to worse with sporting director Dan Ashworth’s exit the latest to cause controversy in the red half of Manchester. It followed less than two months after Erik ten Hag was sacked with Premier League legend Alan Shearer full of criticism. He said on The Rest is Football podcast: “It’s not a good look at all for them is it?”It’s pretty bloody embarrassing what’s gone on with Dan Ashworth leaving and the decisions that since they’ve been in there in terms of the money that they’ve spent.READ MORE ON MAN UTD”The decisions that they’ve made with Ten Hag extending his contract, sacking him, paying him off, giving him the players that they have in the summer, then getting rid of him.”Then putting Dan Ashworth on gardening leave, getting him out of Newcastle, paying compensation for him, then getting rid of him after five months.”It is laughable really, it’s such a terrible look. So yeah, I dunno, it’s not a good look.”Ratcliffe sanctioned five big signings since his arrival last year. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSInside Man Utd chaos with Dan Ashworth axed just five months into jobBy Neil Custis The blame game has another victim as things go from bad to worse at Old Trafford.Manchester United’s first sporting director, Dan Ashworth, arrived in the summer and is gone before Christmas.SunSport exclusively revealed in November that there was trouble at mill.That the new senior management team were already blaming each other for the mess the club were in.Chief executive Omar Berrada and Ashworth were trying to wash their hands of it all, claiming they had arrived too late after serving their gardening leave.New part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said making decisions was all down to them.Meanwhile, Jason Wilcox thought it was all a mess under previous boss Erik ten Hag but was part of the team that encouraged him to stay after every other candidate ran for cover.Defeat Nottingham Forest in December, after their second-half capitulation at Arsenal a few days previously, proved too much.READ MORE ON MAN UTD’S CHAOS Man Utd signings under Sir Jim Ratcliffe Leny Yoro: £52mManuel Ugarte: £42mMatthijs de Ligt: £45m Noussair Mazraoui: £15m Joshua Zirkzee: £36.5m.Leny Yoro cost £52million, Manuel Ugarte was signed for £42m, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui both joined from Bayern Munich for £60m and Joshua Zirkzee was £36.5m. And Gary Lineker believes the wasteful spending is among United’s biggest sins under Ratcliffe – who hired Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag’s successor.Sir Alex Ferguson saved my Man Utd career with 10-word comment after I started going out every night, says Rio Ferdinand He said: “Ultimately, the worst thing of all is the recruitment and the amount of money that they’ve paid out for players that have not realised what they obviously thought was good potential.”So it just shows you down to football, whoever comes in you’ve got to get that side of it right. “Whatever your budget and it’s not easy because you can never be sure how a player’s going to perform at a football club till he gets there.”But Micah Richards argued: “The only thing I would say on that one, in their defence the players that they’ve bought at the time were playing really well.”Where I think they’ve got it wrong is they’ve not bought players for a system, they’ve just bought individuals who have not performed which has just made them look ridiculous.”If you look at someone like Antony, when he was at Ajax he was on fire but where was he playing? READ MORE SUN STORIES”And the new manager now, he likes to play three at the back, four in midfield and three up front, what is his strategy going forward now?”That is what we have to see because you’re right Gary, there’s been a lot of big decisions that have just been awful.”Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Micah Richards criticised Man UtdCredit: The Rest Is Football More