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      Cole Palmer set for shock position change as Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca hints a new tactic for FA Cup tie at Brighton

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      ENZO MARESCA warned Cole Palmer could be forced into a change of position to help solve Chelsea’s injury crisis. The Blues travel to Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round tonight – but do so with attackers sidelined. Enzo Maresca warned Cole Palmer could be forced into a change of positionCredit: ReutersStrike pair Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu were both forced off in Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge against West Ham on Monday. It leaves Christopher Nkunku and Palmer – who played through the middle for Maresca at Manchester City’s academy – as options to lead the line. Maresca said: “We have players. Christo has played already as a nine. I had Cole playing as a nine in the past. We can find some different solutions. “At the moment, we didn’t decide anything because we are still waiting for Nico and from there, we will see different options.”READ MORE IN footballPalmer is Chelsea’s top scorer this season with 14 – playing almost all of his football in the No10 role. He started on the right in the 2-0 opening day defeat against Premier League champions City – before remaning in the middle. Nkunku is behind Palmer with 13 goals this season but only two of those have come in the league. He has provided back up to Jackson – on nine goals – but Maresca says the Frenchman is best in the No10. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSNkunku – who came on against West Ham on the left – was linked with a move to Bayern Munich the January transfer window. But he stayed in West London and Maresca hinted at giving the former RB Leipzig star more minutes. Cole Palmer shows off his goal scoring skills at Chelsea Training He said: “I spoke last week already about Christo. “Probably against West Ham, he played more or less half an hour and hopefully from now on he can get more minutes and help us.” The Blues boss named Nkunku as one of the players who can help ease pressure off Palmer’s scoring shoulders.He said: “We have just 14 [league] games to go. It’s just 14 games, not a big number.“Since we started, Cole plays always, so I don’t think it is something that is going to make a difference for Cole. “Also we have Christo in that position. We can have different players who play there.”Christopher Nkunku is set for more game time at ChelseaCredit: Getty More

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      Beth Merrick says Wolves will not be counting themselves out in Women’s FA Cup clash with Manchester United

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      BETH MERRICK loves juggling her passion for education with playing for Wolves Women’s Championship promotion chasers. Tonight, the lifelong Wolves fan and secondary school PE teacher, 29, hopes to inspire the next generation in the Women’s FA Cup fifth round. Beth Merrick and her Wolverhampton team-mates are set for a huge test in the Women’s FA Cup fifth round against Man UnitedCredit: GettyPE teacher Merrick says pupils at the Staffordshire secondary school she works at are relishing seeing her in action against United’s starsCredit: GettyLifelong Wolves fan Merrick hopes to see a record turnout for their FA Cup game at SEAH Stadium in TelfordAnd that is by knocking out holders Manchester United in what would be a huge giant-killing. Merrick and her hungry third-tier Wolves pals will go for the jugular when they face a United side, whose stars include England Euros winner Ella Toone. Meanwhile her students are relishing the prospect of watching their teacher take on the Red Devils. Midfielder Merrick, who works in the Staffordshire city of Lichfield, said:Read More Football Stories”I’ve got girls who will be going to a match for the first time “Students that have never been really interested in football that are just excited to come and watch me share a pitch with people who they’ve heard are good at football. “I’ve had so much excitement (from my pupils) and Ella Toone has been the big one in terms (of the players) on everyone’s minds. “There are going to be some really happy children from my school who will be watching their football heroes and watching their teacher share a pitch with these heroes.”Most read in FootballLast year’s FA Cup final decider between United and Tottenham at Wembley, which ended as a 4-0 triumph for the Red Devils attracted a crowd of 76,082. This was just 1,302 shy of the record-breaking number of spectators that watched Chelsea beat the holders 1-0 in the final the year before. And Wolves, who are coached by RAF aircraft technician Dan McNamara, hope to see a record turnout at their 6,300-capacity SEAH Stadium in Telford at 5:15pm this evening. Merrick adds: “Our club has grown so much and women’s football has been growing anyway. “It’s an emerging sport in its own right compared to men’s football.”The way that it’s gone and the way that it’s been has changed dramatically. “At the school I work at I’ve been hearing comments in the last couple of weeks where girls are mentioning the fact of, ‘oh my God, you’ll be playing against Ella Toone!’ “Just that in itself and the fact they can name a Man United Women’s player is a really big opportunity to showcase that.”Merrick’s journey as a footballer began at the age of seven when she entered Wolves’ Centre of Excellence. After six years in their youth system she would spend a decade at Aston Villa before spells with Sheffield United and Coventry before returning to Wolverhampton. The former England Under-23 international had a chance to become a full-time player during her Villa days. She was also part of the side that competed in the Women’s Championship in 2015. But for Merrick being able to balance her teaching career with her job on the pitch is important. Man United boss Marc Skinner hopes to guide his side to back-to-back Women’s FA Cup trophy winsCredit: PAShe said: “At Villa the opportunity was there to be full-time, but I turned it down so that I could do bothREAD MORE SUN STORIES”Having students that I’ve managed to inspire and the comments I have had (from them) over the last few weeks on this game alone has been amazing. “That’s all from the growth of women’s football and the hard work that people have put in and others that have paved the way for us.” More

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      Luke Littler and AngryGinge lose their heads on live stream after predicting Harry Maguire would score Man Utd winner

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      LUKE LITTLER and pal AngryGinge incredibly predicted Manchester United’s last-gasp winner over Leicester.The Red Devils beat the Foxes 2-1 last night to book their spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup.AngryGine and Luke Littler correctly predicted a Harry Maguire winnerCredit: @GingeUpdatesThey belted out a chant in celebrationCredit: @GingeUpdatesMaguire’s header came in the 93rd minuteCredit: AFPThe goal stood with VAR not in useCredit: RexMaguire appeared to be offside when he headed into the back of net in the 93rd minute.But the linesman did not flag and with VAR not used in this round of the FA Cup, the goal was controversially given.United supporters Littler and AngryGinge were doing a watch-along stream with fellow fans last night.The darts world champion and the internet star both predicted a Maguire goal as Bruno Fernandes stood over the set-piece.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAngryGinge, wearing a rare United away shirt from the 1994/95 season, said: “A Maguire header off this and it is on. It could be. You said Maguire winner as well.”The pair then celebrated jubilantly, with the streamer shouting: “F***ing get in. Get in Maguire.”Littler hilariously screamed: “Show me the money.”They then begun singing the chant: “We’ve seen it all, we’ve won the lot, we’re Man Utd and we’re never going to stop, ole ole, ole ola, ole ole ole ole ola.”Most read in FA CupJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSEarlier in their live stream, Littler and AngryGinge played a game of darts.They went into a deciding leg at 2-2 and the YouTuber with 746,000 subscribers had a match dart to win it.Man Utd player ratings vs LeicesterBut his throw was centimetres away from the double 18 he was aiming for.Littler then stepped up to the oche and checked out on tops.AngryGinge lived up to his nickname, reacting: “I can’t believe it. Oh my God. F***. F***ing cheating b******. F*** sake.Maguire looked clearly offside but the linesman did not spot itCredit: ITV More

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      Super Caley go ballistic 25 years on – Inside the Celtic shock which spawned famous Sun headline and where they are now

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      THE biggest shock in Scottish Cup history.The greatest-ever headline on the nation’s sports pages.The crazy Celtic Park upset took place 25 years ago on February 8Credit: Times Newspapers LtdIt was a game which led to the famous Scottish Sun headlineCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdThe headline is still remembered to this dayCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdCharlie Christie will never forget the game – or the iconic headline!Credit: Ken Macpherson – Commissioned by The Sun GlasgowTwenty-five years ago today, Super Caley went ballistic — and Celtic were atrocious.And Highland great Charlie Christie, the ex-Celt who was man of the match in the 3-1 win, admits the legendary headline in The Scottish Sun has become just as famous as the game itself.Christie, now 58, told SunSport: “The headline is synonymous with the game. I use the word ‘ballistic’ all the time now and it’s not a word I’d ever used before then.“Sky Sports showed the headline the next day when we were celebrating, our fans have used it in chants — it summed it up at the time, and it still does.”Ryan Christie’s first-ever trip to Celtic Park revolved around tantrums and tears.For dad Charlie, it was all about souvenirs.The one he kept, the one he lost and the one he missed out on.Twenty-five years ago today — long before he would star for Inverness Caley Thistle or Celts — four-year-old Ryan cheered his father on the Highlanders’ greatest night.Most read in FootballA club just two years older than the little boy stunned John Barnes’ all-stars in one of the most famous giantkillings in Scottish Cup history.Super Caley did, indeed, go ballistic — and so did Ryan when the original tie was called off due to storm damage at Parkhead.Celtic board is getting pelters from fans but that’s NOT where blame lies for transfer flopCharlie recalled: “Ryan threw a bit of a tantrum when the game was called off ten days earlier.“To calm him down, his mum Sharon promised him that when the game was rescheduled he would definitely get to it.“Little did we know it would be a rain-soaked Tuesday night. He was delighted.“You see how his career has panned out with his time at Celtic, it was quite fitting he was there that night.“He remembers the celebration. He doesn’t remember much of the game — typical for a four-year-old.“But he remembers the feeling of euphoria with the 4500 fans that something special had occurred.”Caley Thistle’s celebrations peaked when Steve Paterson’s heroes linked hands and charged towards their jubilant fans.But Christie was absent from the iconic image.Caley Thistle players celebrateCredit: Times Newspapers LtdHe explained: “I missed out on the most famous photograph in the club’s history.“Some idiot took me to the sidelines and grabbed me and gave me the man of the match award.“I think Ryan and Sharon were down there, too, and I sort of lost what was happening behind me.“I ran over to them after they’d finished and said, ‘Thanks a lot lads, you could have waited!’“I was a bit disappointed I’m not in the photo but it was great the fans stayed behind. It was another layer on that night. That picture, like the Scottish Sun’s famous headline, is quite synonymous with the game — the lads with their arms out-stretched going over to the fans.”Along with his man of the match award, Christie kept the No 10 shirt he wore in the great giantkilling.But it was then LOST on the night of the club’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 2019 — and he’s never been reunited with it.The Highland great revealed: “It was the 25-year anniversary dinner at the Kingsmills Hotel.“We selected a few strips which meant something and that, of course, was one of them.“Some of the young lads were wearing them around the room.“I took my shirt down and I was on the microphone that night.Paul Sheerin scores penalty.Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd“When we collected all the strips at the end of the night, it was gone.“Dan Mackay, who was an academy player I had coached and later went to Hibs, wore it and laid it out with the rest at the end of the night.“But it disappeared and I’ve never got it back.”And twenty-five years on from their greatest night, Christie has revealed boss Steve Paterson had to change his team at the last moment.He said: “Davide Xausa was unavailable for the game because there was a late problem with his registration.“He was Canadian and I don’t know if it was something to do with his international clearance.“It led to Barry Wilson playing in the No 10 role behind Dennis Wyness, which would never otherwise have happened.“Barry scored one and won the penalty and I’ve often thought it was another little thing, like the first game being postponed, which worked in our favour.“Steve was at our game last week and we were speaking about the Celtic game.“He said that was the game that planted Inverness football on the map. Those were his words.“He’s right. It laid the foundations. It gave a six-year-old club the belief that it could really go places.“We were sixth in the First Division at the time. And coming through the divisions, we always felt we could make it to the First Division but we weren’t sure about making the final step.“I just feel that night gave everyone around the club that extra bit of belief.“John Barnes was a fantastic player but it just hadn’t worked for him at the club.The monumental shock defeat led to John Barnes’ exitCredit: PA:Press Association“Things weren’t great at the time because they were trailing Rangers by quite a bit, which is never a good thing.“You could actually feel that the tide was turning and the fans were getting fed up with the way the club was run.”Christie recalls the wild celebrations on the way home to the Highlands — and for a few days afterwards.He said: “You can imagine the journey home from Glasgow.“Celtic were good enough to put some beers on the bus.“We stopped on the way up the road at Pitlochry, a usual haunt after away games.“The next day — and it was said as an off-the-cuff comment — ‘let’s meet for a bit of lunch at the golf club’.“It was Fairways Golf Club, who were a sponsor of the club at the time, and a wee bit out of the centre.“What you thought might be three or four turned into 12 or 13.“It was just a great day.“We had Sky Sports on the telly and we were all over the headlines.“It was a Caley Thistle stronghold and a lot of the fans were coming in.“Word got out we were in there and it was a special feeling where you know you’ve done something special.”THEY returned up the A9 as Highland heroes after the greatest win in the club’s history.But Charlie Christie feared Inverness Caley Thistle would have been on the road to ruin if they had not won at Celtic Park.Life-saving cash from one of Scottish football’s biggest shocks allowed them to pay for the tarmac outside their own ground.And 25 years on — with the club now in the grip of administration — Christie has told the current squad to summon the spirit of 2000 to get on the road to recovery.He revealed: “People forget we were really struggling financially, mainly because of the road which we had to put money towards when the stadium was built.“It was a legacy of debt we had.“Dougie McGilvray, the chairman, did a great job and his successor David Sutherland, too.”Duncan Ferguson left his role as manager after Inverness were plunged into administrationCredit: Kenny RamsayMcGilvray and Sutherland were on the pitch at the end and Christie added: “It was quite a turnaround at the club. We restructured the debt and we were able to step on.“I spoke to the boys when we went into administration. I brought up 2000.“These are young guys of 20 or 21 years of age.“They probably didn’t know me but I speak to them intermittently to update them on where we are as a club.“I said to them, ‘Guys, we can come out the other end. We did it in 2000’.“A lot of it in 2000 was down to that one result.“The boys in that team, the majority of them were pals.“After the win, we had contact from ex-pats in Australia and South Africa to congratulate us.“But people don’t realise — and we kept it undercover to a degree at the time — how bad the financial problems at the club were.“I told the players we can bounce on again. Make no mistake, there’s no reason that we can’t.“Whether we go back to Parkhead and beat Celtic again, I’m not so sure. But we can certainly get back to the Premiership again.“It’s good for the young lads to hear because a lot of them weren’t born when the game took place. It’s good for them to see where the club has been in the past.”Head coach Scott Kellacher takes his young squad to Arbroath today as they look to recover the 15-point penalty for plummeting into administration last autumn.Scott Kellacher and assistant manager Gary BollanCredit: SNSThey lie in ninth place, two points from potential safety, after back-to-back wins over Queen of the South and Alloa.Most of Kellacher’s players weren’t even born when the club went ballistic in 2000.But walking through the corridors at the Caledonian Stadium, they are given reminders of some of the heroics of previous teams.Dennis Wyness, one of the stars at Celtic Park, scored the only goal to eliminate Seville-bound Celts from the Scottish Cup in 2003 under boss John Robertson.Greg Tansey, Edward Ofere and David Raven scored in the 2015 Hampden semi-final win over the Hoops — one remembered for a handball on the Caley Jags goal-line which the officials amazingly missed.Virgil van Dijk and John Guidetti scored for Celtic but John Hughes’ Caley Thistle reached the final with Marley Watkins and James Vincent netting against the Bairns and captain Graeme Shinnie lifting the trophy.Highland legend Christie added: “The 2000 game was, for many years, our best result.“But I do think we usurped it in 2015 when we beat Celtic in the semi-final at Hampden.“I know we beat Celtic in 2003 with John, and I played in that game too.“But to go to Hampden to play a Celtic team that was going for the Double — and, yes, we got all the breaks that were going with the handball — it usurped us.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We won the Cup in 2015 against Falkirk at Hampden but that semi-final was special.”Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      Amorim reveals why he played new Man Utd signing Dorgu out of position on debut… before hauling him off at half-time

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      RUBEN AMORIM has defended his decision to play Patrick Dorgu out of position on his debut.Manchester United’s new signing made his first appearance for the club in their controversial 2-1 win over Leicester in the FA Cup.Patrick Dorgu was taken off at half-time against LeicesterCredit: PARuben Amorim has defended his decision to play him on the rightCredit: GettyDorgu is most comfortable on the left flank and Diogo Dalot prefers to be on the right.But Amorim surprised fans by playing them on the opposite sides last night.Dorgu had a mixed first 45 minutes and was hooked off at half-time for Alejandro Garnacho.Amorim was asked why he played the Danish wing-back on the right and revealed the 20-year-old will have to continue to show versatility.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe boss said: “He played a lot of time at Lecce on the right and the left. That is one of the characteristics we pay attention to a lot, to have a player like him.”The position, you can see in WyScout he can play both sides.”If you see the history of Dorgu in the last team he played a lot of games on the right.”We have to have wingers who can play both sides like Dalot. It’s a really important thing.Most read in FA CupCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”Sometimes you need a left foot on the right side to come inside and connect in a different way, and sometimes you need a right-footer to connect and cross more balls.”WyScout is an in-depth database used by top clubs that contains reports, videos and stats on players.Luke Littler and AngryGinge lose their heads on live stream after predicting Harry Maguire would score Man Utd winnerLooking at Dorgu’s profile in all competitions this season, he has played 13 times on the right and 11 times on the left.But due to being a left footer and playing as a wing-back in Amorim’s system, fans expected him to replace left-back Tyrell Malacia in the squad, who has joined PSV on loan.Fans accused Amorim of “unnecessarily over-complicating things” in his line-ups.But on £29m signing Dorgu’s debut, the manager added: “He was a little bit anxious with first touch of the ball. It’s a different league for him, different speed of the game, but he did well. “He had pace, strength, he will improve a lot and we as a team need to play better to help these new guys to perform at the right level.” More

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      What I saw in the tunnel at Anfield proves Tottenham have no leaders, I’d take a sledgehammer to the Spurs dressing room

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      ON Thursday night, after covering Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Tottenham, I pulled into a service station on my way home and bumped into a big group of Spurs fans.It was nice of them to say, but to me, that is embarrassing.Troy Deeney has slammed Tottenham’s stars for going softCredit: The SunSon Heung-min was anonymous in their Anfield humiliationCredit: GettyAnge Postecoglou is under increasing pressure following the Carabao Cup embarrassmentCredit: GettyFans of a club like Spurs think a retired 36-year-old – who has never played at a club at that level – is what is needed.I was briefly linked with a move there in 2020 when Jose Mourinho was boss. It never materialised.But do I think I could have made a mark on that club, those players? Yes, because I don’t pussyfoot around. It doesn’t matter if it is Jose at Spurs or Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.I know I wouldn’t be a starter, but I could impact a culture, by training to the best of my ability, calling out people who are late to meetings or not pulling their weight.I would get in that dressing room, shut the door, and take a sledgehammer to it – metaphorically, of course – to show them what we need to do.Losing a Carabao Cup semi-final – one that was so important to the club – in that manner is entirely on the players.In games gone by with Spurs, you can blame the boss Ange Postecoglou, his tactics, the set-up is too gung-ho. But at least then they have had a bit about them.At Anfield, I was speaking to a few ex-Spurs players – proper legends. I asked them: Are you seeing what I am seeing? I thought I was being too harsh in my analysis.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSOne of them turned to me and simply said: No character, no fight, no chance.As captain, Son Heung-min was null and void. At 0-0 – and 1-0 up on aggregate – the team looked nervous but there was no belief they were ever going to win.’I just cannot get my head round it’ – Jamie Redknapp baffled by embarrassing Tottenham stat in Liverpool humiliationWhen it goes to 1-1 on aggregate, the same thing. No reaction, gone into hiding, doing the opposite of everything you should do in that moment.After Cody Gakpo’s goal in the 34th minute, while all the Liverpool players were celebrating, I would have got everyone in and told them: The next 10 minutes, we kick it into the corner and solidify until we get to half-time.Instead they self-imploded. They played quickly from kick-off before everyone was set. They conceded a stupid corner. No one took responsibility.I would get in that dressing room, shut the door, and take a sledgehammer to it – metaphorically, of course – to show them what we need to do.That midfield of Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr is meant to be a decent trio, but not one of them put their foot on the ball and said: Don’t worry, I’ll keep things ticking over.It was left to the kids to show a bit of leadership in Djed Spence and Archie Gray – a bit of quality, fight, determination. They weren’t great, but at least they didn’t quit.Anyone who has played the game will tell you most of those Spurs players quit, gave up. Not on each other or themselves, but quit on the manager, the fan base, everything.I made headlines by once saying Arsenal lacked ‘cojones’, but just look at this Tottenham team. They bottled it. They collapsed through fear.Even Richarlison appears to have become softer as a result of Spurs’ luxury digsCredit: GettyIf that group look at themselves in the mirror and say: ‘We gave it everything’, then they’re liars. They’re lying to themselves and they’re lying to the fans.And that’s why they are where they are.How many of those players will admit any of that performance was their fault? I’ll tell you: zero.Where are the leaders? I was in the tunnel at full-time around all the post-match interviews. I only saw one player do one, and that was Son. Other than that, Ange did all of them.That to me says it all. One of the experienced lads should have taken a few of those off the manager’s hands. Take ownership.If you’re an average player and get the chance to move to Spurs, you would be buzzing. You get paid extremely well, really nice stadium, good fans and there’s no pressure to win anything. Perfect, right?They beat Brentford last week and celebrated like they had won the FA Cup. They beat Swedish minnows Elfsborg in the Europa League and were posting on social media about ‘togetherness’.Where are all those posts now? You know what they do? They run, they’re scared. This is the problem, not just with Spurs, but with the new footballer.They only want to hear the good stuff. They want to be pally-pally.When people talk about Tottenham now, what do they say? Oh what a lovely set-up. The training ground, the facilities, the stadium is world class.In other words: Weakness. Softness. Comfort.I played with Richarlison at Watford. He is naturally a rough and ready bloke. A ‘you’re going to get it’ player. He would run over you to get the ball. A scrapper. The same when he left for Everton.Tottenham’s top 10 biggest signings: Hit or miss?1) Tanguy Ndombele – £52.7mNdombele joined from Lyon in 2019 with huge expectations after shattering Tottenham’s transfer record.But he would go on to play just 91 times for the club, scoring 10 goals and is now set to leave one year before the end of his contract.2) Richarlison – £49.3mRicharlison almost broke the £50m mark when he arrived from Everton in 2022 as Harry Kane’s back-up.And while his tally of 12 goals this season was a significant increase on the three from his opening Spurs campaign, he is being linked with a departure this summer.3) Brennan Johnson – £46.8mJohnson was signed by Ange Postecoglou last summer and has impressed in patches during his first season in North London.He scored five goals and 10 assists in 38 games and will look to build on that in the 2024/25 campaign.4) Cristian Romero – £44.2mRomero initially joined on loan from Atalanta in 2021, before his impressive displays saw him secure a permanent deal the following year.He is two games shy of 100 for Spurs and, while he can be reckless with his tackling at times, is beginning to form a promising partnership with Micky van de Ven.5) James Maddison – £39.4mMaddison was handed Kane’s No10 shirt after arriving at Spurs and hit the ground running with three goals and five assists in his opening 11 matches.But after getting injured against Chelsea in October, he failed to return with the same sharpness – managing just five goal contributions in 15 league matches as he missed out on England’s final 26-man squad for the Euros.6) Davinson Sanchez – £35.7mSanchez joined Spurs from Ajax in 2017 and played more than 200 games across a six-year spell.But he was always considered a somewhat erratic defender who did not play more than 20 games in a Premier League season from 2020 onwards.7) Pedro Porro – £34mPorro was another signing who originally arrived on loan in January 2023, before he signed permanently last summer.He has 54 appearances for Spurs under his belt, scoring seven goals and impressing under Postecoglou this season.8) Micky van de Ven – £34mRapid Dutch centre-back Van de Ven was named Spurs Player of the Season in his first campaign at the club.His pace, athleticism, and technical ability on the ball have made him arguably Postecoglou’s best signing to date.9) Moussa Sissoko – £29.8mSissoko came to North London for a substantial fee after being relegated with Newcastle and went on to enjoy five years at Tottenham, playing more than 200 games.Unfortunately for the French midfielder, he is best-known for giving away a controversial penalty for handball in the first minute of Spurs’ 2-0 Champions League final defeat to Liverpool in 2019.10) Giovani Lo Celso – £27.2mLo Celso joined on loan from Real Betis in 2019 – a deal that was made permanent the following season.He has 10 goals and eight assists in 108 games, with some Spurs fans still unsure about the Argentine.Spurs then bought him for £50m to change their culture, but because everything is so nice and laid on, you subconsciously become that type of person. It creates weakness.I remember talking to a rugby friend of mine at Saracens. He said when they went away with England, they would stay in a four star, not a five, purposely to make them a little bit uncomfortable.That will make you strive for more. What are you striving for at Spurs?If you’re an average player and get the chance to move to Spurs, you would be buzzing.It’s the best place to be. You get paid extremely well, really nice stadium, good fans and there’s no pressure to win anything. Perfect, right? More

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      Former Premier League wonderkid makes emotional return to club 13 years after leaving as fans joke ‘I feel old’

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      FORMER wonderkid Freddie Sears has made an emotional return to West Ham.The striker burst onto the scene aged 18, scoring a late winner against Blackburn just five minutes into his debut in 2008.Freddie Sears has returned to West Ham to coach the club’s Under-12sCredit: PA:Press AssociationSears has not yet hung up his bootsCredit: GettyOver 500 appearances later, Sears has returned to his boyhood club to manage West Ham’s Under-12s.The 35-year-old has completed a Uefa B licence course to get his coaching career started.On his return to the Hammers, an emotional Sears said: “I hadn’t been back since I left in 2012. It was surreal being back in the building. Everyone’s made me so welcome. “I’ve loved being in the building. Being back at the club where I started has been fantastic.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“The first day I came back for coaching, I saw Kevin Keen, one of my coaches here. Mark Phillips too, I’ve known him all my life.”Zavon [Hines], who was in the scholarship year above me, is now coaching the Under-18s. I saw Nobes [Mark Noble] and Anton [Ferdinand] too. “It’s a really familiar club. When you come back, you feel like you’ve never been away.“For me, this is just the start. This year is about experience on and off the pitch.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”One of the boys I coach, his granddad used to coach me at West Ham. I’ve got a picture of it. It’s quite mad to have a full circle moment like that. “He coached me at Under-12s, and now I’m coaching his grandson at Under-12s. It’s a pinch yourself moment.”Graham Potter makes five-word comment the moment he entered press conference after West Ham clashSears, who was capped three times by England’s Under-21s, had spells at Crystal Palace, Coventry and Colchester in his career.After loans away from Upton Park, he established himself at Ipswich, where he played 218 times.Sears has not hung up his boots just yet, however, and he balances his new coaching role with playing for non-league Chatham Town.West Ham fans can not believe the once teenage sensation is now back to help the nurture the next star to come through the club’s famous academy.One said: “Time flies, I remember his debut. I’m feeling old again.”Another added: “Good to see you back Freddie, once a Hammer, always a Hammer.” More

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      Under-fire Tottenham boss Postecoglou finally breaks silence on EFL boss’ injury jibe with brutal 10-word response

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      ANGE POSTECOGLOU hit back at Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens after his tongue-in-cheek comment about Tottenham’s injury crisis.Spurs have tumbled down to 14th place in the Premier League table amid a turbulent campaign that has seen manager Postecoglou losing a raft of key players to injury.Ange Postecoglou addressed Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens’ comments about Tottenham’s injury crisisCredit: GettyTottenham boss Postecoglou stated Wellens had his ‘five minutes’Credit: GettyDominic Solanke, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Fraser Forster Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin are all sidelined.The Aussie tactician has often pointed to that continuous problem after a series of poor results, and management appear to agree with him as he still has their support.But Wellens, 44, decided to poke some fun on Postecoglou after his team’s 1-0 defeat to Stockport last week at Brisbane Road after their own injury crisis got worse.Asked if injuries were to blame for the defeat, Wellens responded: “I’m not Ange Postecoglou and keep using it as an excuse.”Read More on FootballPostecoglou caught wind of that jibe and addressed it after Tottenham saw their Carabao Cup hopes go up in flames by Liverpool who beat them 4-0 at Anfield on Thursday in the semi-finals.The ex-Celtic boss was very brief but extremely direct when he stated Wellens had his “five minutes”.Postecoglou said: “I don’t know how it’s a narrative when you are just stating facts.”If people don’t see a situation where you are missing something significant there is nothing I can say to that. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”If they say, ‘Well, that shouldn’t really make a difference’ I don’t know how to answer that. “I get that people’s senses get dulled or people get bored – everyone wants a bit of drama. But that’s not drama, that’s just stating facts.Postecoglou bemoans Tottenham’s lacklustre effort against Liverpool “We have been missing some really key players for a long time and have had to deal with that. Whether people see that as significant or not… “If people think I’m trying to create a story out of nothing I don’t know what to say about that. And as for other managers, mate, he’s had his five minutes so lets move on.”Asked if Wellens had contacted him to apologise personally, Postecoglou responded: “He’s had his five minutes, that’s good enough for me.”Wellens, though, did apologise for his “stupid comment” soon after with a long statement.Wellens apologisesTottenham and Orient have had a close relationship in recent years with Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley on loan at the east London club from the Premier League giants this season and performing well.Tottenham Women also regularly play their home games at the O’s Brisbane Road, while the League One side borrowed a heated dome for their pitch from Spurs in 2022.In an official statement on the club’s website, Wellens said: “After today’s game, I was asked about the injuries within our squad and, without thinking, I made a stupid comment about Tottenham Hotspur.“That comment was brought to my attention later in the evening and having watched my interview back I am deeply embarrassed and regret what I said.READ MORE SUN STORIES“At Leyton Orient, we have a strong relationship with Tottenham Hotspur and it was never my intention to say anything that would jeopardise that.“Their manager, Ange Postecoglou, is a world-class coach and I want to apologise for my comments and wish Spurs all the very best for the second half of the season.” More