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      Most transferred-out player this week a strong option for Gameweek 26 — transfers can be reversed!

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      CONSIDER this a timely reminder that Dream Team managers can reverse their transfers any time before the deadline.Morgan Rogers (£3.8m) is currently the most transferred-out player this week despite the fact he appears to be a strong option for Gameweek 26.Rogers is not injured, far from it…Credit: Dream TeamThe Aston Villa midfielder picked up a minor injury against Chelsea last weekend and was considered a doubt for his side’s trip to Crystal Palace on Tuesday night.However, not only was Rogers named in the starting line-up at Selhurst Park, he scored a classy goal as part of a 10-point return.It was a sobering night for the Villains as they succumbed to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Oliver Glasner’s side but a 12th goal of the season for their skilful No27 should prompt thousands of overzealous Dream Team bosses to rethink their strategy for the upcoming Gameweek.There’s no doubt Rogers’ availability question mark was a significant factor in his popularity drop but Tuesday night’s events have changed the outlook dramatically.Rogers is in line to start against Club BruggeCredit: GettyFar from a player to ditch ahead of Gameweek 26, the 22-year-old appears to be an easy hold.Unai Emery’s side are one of only two teams (Manchester United being the other) set to play twice this coming Gameweek, although rotation is to be expected against Cardiff in Friday night’s FA Cup fifth round fixture.Even if Rogers doesn’t feature at all against the Bluebirds, he is virtually guaranteed to start against Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday night.And given five teams will blank in Gameweek 26 around some unpredictable fixtures in the FA Cup, keeping hold of Dream Team’s sixth-best midfielder seems sensible.Most read in FootballLooking further ahead, Villa are one of just six teams with two fixtures in Gameweek 27: Brentford (a) and Club Brugge (h).Villa have two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 26Credit: RexHaving been a bit-part player in the second half of 2023/24 following his arrival from Middlesbrough, Rogers has become one of Emery’s most trusted regulars this season.Among outfield players, only Youri Tielemans (£4m) has played more minutes for Villa in the Premier League at this stage of the campaign.Rogers has amassed 215 points via 19 goal involvements.He’s also registered more successful dribbles (83) than any other player in the game, his main source of bonus points.His disciplinary record is a worry as only Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes (£3m) has received more yellow cards this season but his strengths far outweigh his weaknesses.Rogers shouldn’t even be among the top five most transferred-out players for Gameweek 26, let alone number one. More

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      Embarrassed Kate Abdo covers face on live TV as she says Arsenal legend was her celebrity crush

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      KATE ABDO was left red faced after revealing her childhood celebrity crush as none other than Arsenal legend Ian Wright.The presenter was hosting the broadcaster’s Champions League coverage alongside Micah Richards, Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher.Kate Abdo was left red faced after revealing her childhood celebrity crushCredit: CBSCarragher, Henry and Richards were all left shocked with Abdo’s revelationCredit: CBSThe latest clip to come off the CBS production line shows the pundits each discussing their old celebrity crushes.As ever, the much-loved quartet had provided some unexpected, but hilarious, answers.Carragher, Henry and Richards pressed Abdo for her puppy love, before she blurted: “I already said, Ian Wright!”The trio of former footballers were left genuinely shocked, causing Abdo to squirm in her chair and hide away behind her cards in embarrassment.READ MORE ON ARSENALAn animated Richards kept repeating: “You didn’t say that! Hold on.”Carragher added: “Wait. I thought he was your favourite pundit.”While Henry – who fans have long joked has a crush on Abdo – simply gasped: “Wow. Now we know”.The pick of the bunch from the three pundits came from Carragher.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe Liverpool legend’s answer of Sheila Grant from 80s TV show Brookside was met with a fit of laughter from others in the studio.Richards went with American actress Jessica Alba and said he might dive into her DMs now that she’s split from husband Cash Warren.Watch Arsenal legend Thierry Henry’s hilarious reaction after being called out by boxing champ Oleksandr UsykArsenal legend Ian Wright was Abdo’s celebrity crushCredit: GettyHenry picked Daisy Duke, who is a fictional character, played by Catherine Bach, from the US series The Dukes of Hazzard.Abdo tied the knot with former pro US boxer Malik Scott in an intimate wedding ceremony last September.Last year, Carragher’s awkward “loyalty” joke caused carnage.The incident occurred during coverage of Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Porto at the Emirates in March 2024.In a skit involving a Gunners shirt, Abdo stated that she wouldn’t wear it because she is “loyal” to Manchester United.Carragher then made a quip about her Scott, saying “not to Malik”, prompting her to ask: “Why would you even ask that?”Fans cringed and hit out at the former Liverpool defender for his ‘unfunny’ comment which uncomfortably missed the mark.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut Abdo patched things up soon after and accepted Carragher’s apology after initially “feeling hurt” by it.Abdo subsequently addressed the incident live on TV 24 hours later, delivering an hilarious ‘brotherly’ put-down to Carragher.Sheila Corkhill (second right) is a fictional character from British soap opera Brookside, played by Sue Johnston More

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      I woke up in hospital after gruesome injury… and phone call from Sir Alex Ferguson speaks volumes about the man he is

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      A FORMER Manchester United ace opened up about an incredible gesture Sir Alex Ferguson made at a dark time when he thought his career was over.Ferguson, 83, is considered by many as the greatest manager of all time having won 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League trophies during his 17-year reign at Old Trafford.Sir Alex Ferguson was praised by one of his former Manchester United hopefulsCredit: GettyPhilip Mulryne revealed an amazing gesture he received from Ferguson after he left Man UtdCredit: PA:Empics SportSir Alex also gets credit for turning some of United’s greatest young prospects into legends, including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and the famed Class of 92.One of Man Utd’s lesser-known academy graduates who got an opportunity to shine under Fergie is Philip Mulryne.Mulryne, 47, joined the Red Devils’ academy at the age of 14 and made his senior debut under the Scottish great on the final day of the 1997-98 campaign.The former midfielder, though, never managed to earn a permanent spot in the first team and that led to a mere five appearances until his move to Norwich a year later.Read More on Man UtdBut a year after joining the Canaries, the ex-Northern Ireland international suffered a devastating leg break which put his career at serious risk.As he was lying on a hospital bed agonising about his future, the phone rang, and it was Ferguson reaching out to him and offering him the opportunity to rehabilitate at Old Trafford.The footballer – who has since become a priest – returned to Old Trafford for a celebration of the club’s academy and shared his incredible story to an audience of current United hopefuls.Mulryne said: “I just want to say, as a testament to the club and what he [Ferguson] did, first of all he gave me my debut.Most read in Football“But a year after I signed for Norwich, I broke my leg. It nearly ended my career.“I woke up in hospital that night and the first phone call I got was the gaffer, offering that I could come back to the club for all my rehabilitation, and I had left the club a year.Ruben Amorim blames results on the pitch for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s brutal Man Utd cuts “That was unbelievable for me and that was testament to the personal element to the club, not just the on-the-field, off-the-field attention to the person. “That’s a wonderful testament to the club and the people in it.” More

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      Dream Team managers must be aware of double headers and blanks ahead of Gameweek 26

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      GAMEWEEK 25 is not done yet with a full round of Premier League fixtures still to come but Dream Team managers should already have one eye on Gameweek 26.That’s because the upcoming Gameweek features both double headers and blanks, creating an imbalance that can be worked to one’s advantage.Fernandes will be busy while Mbeumo restsCredit: Dream TeamGameweek 26 features seven FA Cup games and six European fixtures spread across the three Uefa competitions.The two teams still active in the cup and Europe are Aston Villa and Manchester United.Therefore, the Villains and the Red Devils are the only two sides with TWO fixtures in Gameweek 26.Unai Emery’s side will host Cardiff on Friday night before flying to Belgium to face Club Brugge in the Champions League round of 16.Amid a busy spell for Villa, extensive rotation is probably to be expected against Championship opposition in the fifth round of the FA Cup.It would be a surprise if popular assets such as Morgan Rogers (£3.8m), Ollie Watkins (£5.2m) Youri Tielemans (£4m) and Lucas Digne (£3m) were given substantial minutes against the Bluebirds.Will Watkins feature against Cardiff on Friday night?Credit: GettyEven so, Villa’s relatively favourable European match-up means their best performers are certainly viable.As for Man United, their double header comes in the form of Fulham (h) and Real Sociedad (a).Most read in FootballNot even the most partisan members of the Old Trafford faithful will be feeling particularly confident during this increasingly disappointing campaign but Bruno Fernandes (£6.2m) continues to thrive in Dream Team nonetheless.The Portuguese playmaker earned 16 points against Everton at the weekend to take his overall total for the season to 260.At the time of writing, only Mohamed Salah (£8.3m) and Erling Haaland (£8.1m) are above him in the rankings.Fernandes banked 16 points at Goodison ParkCredit: PASuch is Fernandes’ importance to Ruben Amorim’s side, he will surely be required to start both fixtures in Gameweek 26.Dream Team’s leading midfielder is therefore an excellent option at this point in time, despite his team’s broader struggles.Some gaffers might be able to identify another Man United player with the potential to cash in against Fulham and Real Sociedad but we certainly wouldn’t feel confident putting any other names forward at this stage.In contrast to the double headers, the following teams will all BLANK in Gameweek 26: Brentford, West Ham, Everton, Southampton and Leicester.Mbeumo is the fourth-most selected midfielder in Dream TeamCredit: RexFirst and foremost, this should prompt Bryan Mbeumo’s (£4.7m) owners to take action.The Bees’ talisman has scored 15 goals on his way to 243 points in what has been a sensational campaign to date but he’ll be watching the cup action from his sofa this weekend.Jordan Pickford (£4.1m) ranks fourth among Dream Team goalkeepers at present but he too is without a fixture in Gameweek 26.As are in-form forwards Beto (£2.7m) and Jarrod Bowen (£5.4m) – Dream Team bosses keen on these tempting differentials should keep their powder dry for now.The other 13 teams have one fixture each, split between the FA Cup and the European competitions.Liverpool travel to PSG in Gameweek 26Credit: GettyGAMEWEEK 26 FIXTURES:FRIDAYAston Villa v CardiffSATURDAYCrystal Palace v MillwallBournemouth v WolvesManchester City v PlymouthSUNDAYNewcastle v BrightonManchester United v FulhamMONDAYNottingham Forest v IpswichTUESDAYClub Brugge v Aston VillaPSV v ArsenalWEDNESDAYPSG v LiverpoolTHURSDAYAZ Alkmaar v TottenhamReal Sociedad v Manchester UnitedCopenhagen v ChelseaREAD MORE SUN STORIESMake sure you take the schedule into consideration when making your transfers for Gameweek 26.The fact Fernandes plays twice while Mbeumo is without a fixture could result in some decisive swings in Mini Leagues worldwide. More

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      ‘Over my dead body’ – Mikel Arteta bizarrely hints Arsenal should be MID-TABLE but still won’t give up on title

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      MIKEL ARTETA says Arsenal will give up on the Prem title “over my dead body”.And the Gunners boss admits this gruelling season of injuries and suspensions is one of his “proudest moments” at the club – because it could have left them in MID-TABLE.Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will not give up on the Premier League titleCredit: GettyPrem leaders Liverpool have one hand on the title with an 11-point gap on second-placed Arsenal after Arteta’s men slumped to a 1-0 home defeat to West Ham last weekend.Barring an unprecedented collapse from Arne Slot’s Reds with 12 games left, Arsenal are on course for a THIRD successive year as the top flight nearly boys.Yet ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Nottingham Forest, asked if the title race is over, Arteta said: “Over my dead body.“You cannot control [Liverpool’s lead]. At the end, you’re going to have to set a certain number of points to win in this league.Read More in Football“And we’re going to have to hit that number if we’re going to have any chance of doing that. But we’re certainly going to continue to try.“If not, I’ll go home. Mathematically, it’s possible. You are there, you have to play every game. Suddenly, three days ago, we could close the gap and you are one and a half games away.“It doesn’t matter. We have to continue to go. The players know, especially because we’ve been in the other position recently and we know how quickly things can change.“You have to be there and we all deserve to continue in that fight.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe Gunners have suffered several injury setbacks this season, with star man Bukayo Saka a key absenteeCredit: Getty“The thing is that when you are there, you want more and you want more and you want more. And I’m not going to stop. Over my dead body.“We’ll put everything that we possibly can to increase the probability of us winning and being better than the opponent and hitting that performance and those standards constantly, regardless of what happens.Mikel Arteta lays into Arsenal flops after defeat to West Ham derails Premier League title bid“The difficulty is higher than three days ago. But if you want to win the Premier League, you’re going to have to do something special.“You’re going to have to win with the circumstances that we have. You’re probably going to have to do something that nobody else has done in the history of the Premier League.”Despite their drop-off in the title race, Arteta insists he remains proud of what his team have achieved so far this campaign – in the Prem and in Europe.The Spaniard cited the fact that from November 9, 2024 to February 16, 2025, Arsenal matched Liverpool with 10 wins and five draws, with an identical goal difference of +23.And that run included injuries to the key figures like Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli, as well as two red cards to Myles Lewis-Skelly, alongside the reds also picked up by Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba earlier in the season.They are also in the Champions League last 16 – facing PSV next week – having finished third in the brand new league phase format, just two points behind winners Liverpool.Arteta continued: “It’s been extremely consistent for the last three and a half months, considering everything that we’ve been through.“So, if somebody tells you at the start of the season, by this time, you have played five times with a red card over half an hour in each of those games, and you have lost this amount of players, what’s the bet?READ MORE SUN STORIES“You are in the middle of the table, at least, you know, and you are out of the Champions League.“That’s not the situation. So that tells you the resilience, the resources, the ambition that the team has, every individual has and that has been probably one of my proudest moments, in that sense.”Arsenal player ratings vs West HamMYLES Lewis-Skelly’s second red card of 2025 appeared to put the final nail in Arsenal’s title dreams and any chances of them catching Liverpool.The Gunners lost 1-0 to West Ham and failed to respond to Jarrod Bowen’s opener on the brink of half-time.The Hammers’ wall stood firm as Arsenal registered just two shots on target before Lewis-Skelly’s last-man foul on Mohammed Kudus was upgraded to a red after ref Craig Pawson went to the monitor.And Liverpool fans will breathe a sigh of relief given their recent dip in form as Arsenal remain EIGHT points behind Arne Slot’s men.Here SunSport’s Charlie Wyett rates every Arsenal player from the Emirates Stadium.DAVID RAYA – 5Declan Rice indicated to Raya that he expected him to come off his line to deal with the cross for the goal.Maybe he had a point but ultimately, Raya was let down by his defenders.JURRIEN TIMBER – 6West Ham did not offer much of a threat down their left so Timber had a reasonably comfortable game while he did try and get forward. WILLIAM SALIBA – 6Was ordered by Mikel Arteta to push forward more in the second half when Arsenal had possession and in the closing stages, seemed to spend more of his time in West Ham’s area.GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 5Switched off for the Bowen goal but he was not the only one. Also found the impressive Kudus tough to handle when he cut inside.Guilty of delivering an abysmal cross late in the game when Arsenal needed a bit of quality.RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 4A poor performance. Given the nod ahead of Lewis-Skelly but badly at fault for the opening goal as he did not get close enough to Aaron Wan-Bissaka who delivered the cross to Bowen.Was replaced after he kept losing the ball.DECLAN RICE – 5Not a day he will want to remember against his former club and he got plenty of stick from West Ham’s fans, as you would expect.Wasted one chance before the break and failed to track Bowen for the goal. Substituted shortly into the second half which was a surprise.THOMAS PARTEY – 5A sluggish performance from Partey whose passing was also poor. Lucky not to be replaced.ETHAN NWANERI – 6Had a fascinating battle with West Ham teenager Ollie Scaries, who  was making his first Premier League start.Nwaneri was excellent at Leicester but had less success against his fellow youngster although still had some bright moments.But, at least he has a bit of a spark unlike some of his more experienced team-mates. The 17-year-old sparked concern when he came off injured in the final 10.MARTIN ODEGAARD – 5Not having his best season at Arsenal. This was the sort of game Arsenal needed their captain to deliver a moment of inspiration but he failed to do so. LEANDRO TROSSARD – 5Not a surprise that he was not used as a false nine like that disastrous experiment against Leicester.But he had no joy against the impressive Wan-Bissaka.MIKEL MERINO – 5Was the two-goal hero in his first ever appearance as a substitute striker at Leicester but had no success against West Ham’s well-drilled defence.He looked lost out there as the makeshift No 9.SUBS:Myles Lewis-Skelly (for Calafiori 56 minutes) – 4Got a red card – Arsenal’s fifth of the campaign – and although he was a long way out could have no complaints.Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Rice 56 minutes) – 6Raheem Sterling (for Nwaneri 81 minutes) – N/ABen White (for Saliba 87 minutes) – 5Was handed his first Premier League minutes since returning to the squad for last week’s Leicester win. Subs not used: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji. More

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      Dominik Szoboszlai six times less popular than Luis Diaz in Dream Team despite superior form for champions elect

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      LIVERPOOL have become Premier League champions elect after victory over Manchester City on Sunday.The Reds’ 2-0 win at the Etihad, coupled with Arsenal’s defeat to West Ham, has made them overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy come May.One hand on the trophyCredit: GETTYMohamed Salah (£8.3m) was once again the star of the show against Pep Guardiola’s side as he scored one goal and assisted another for a 16-point return – only Alexander Isak (£6m) earned more points over the weekend among all Dream Team assets.But Dominik Szoboszlai (£4.3m) deserves his time in the spotlight too having also scored and assisted in Manchester.The Hungary international banked 13 points for his efforts to continue his fine form of late.He has notched 59 points in his last seven outings via three goals and two assists.What’s interesting is that Szoboszlai features in just 6.2% of teams at the time of writing, a relatively low ownership for an in-form starter for the best team in the land.Salah and Szoboszlai combined twice against Man CityCredit: GettyFor comparison, Luis Diaz (£3.5m) appears in 38.8% of teams, making him the fourth-most popular player in the game, despite his dwindling returns since the turn of the year.The Colombian winger has mustered just 26 points from his last seven appearances, 33 fewer than Szoboszlai.Widening the lens, Diaz has produced 44 points in 13 games this calendar year, which works out at an average of 3.4 per fixture.Most read in FootballThese stats are not befitting a player who features in well over a third of all teams.Dream Team bosses who want a Liverpool midfielder, an understandable inclination, should certainly consider pivoting from Diaz to Szoboszlai.Diaz’s points-per-game average has dropped since the turn of the yearCredit: GettyArne Slot’s side are due to host Newcastle at Anfield on Wednesday night and the outlook would change again if the Reds’ No8 picked up an injury or Diaz produced a decisive performance – both feasible possibilities.Either way, any transfers made this week wouldn’t come into effect until Gameweek 26, when Liverpool’s only fixture is a trip to PSG in the Champions League round of 16.The Ligue 1 leaders have won 13 of their 14 games in all competitions and made a statement in their European play-off with a 10-0 aggregate triumph over Brest.Gameweek 26 represents a tough test for Salah and company but, looking further ahead, Gameweek 27 could yield lorry-loads of points.Szoboszlai and friends are due to play PSG in the last 16 of the Champions LeagueCredit: GETTYLiverpool will be one of just six teams to pull double duty in Gameweek 27 and they have the luxury of back-to-back home games against relegation-bound Southampton and PSG.Previous comments about the Parisians’ form remain pertinent but that match-up becomes more appealing when the venue shifts to Merseyside.READ MORE SUN STORIESBarring a disaster in the French capital, Dream Team managers should aim to be well stocked with Liverpool players come Gameweek 27.It wouldn’t be overkill to have five, six or even seven of Slot’s favourites in the ranks for that double header and Szoboszlai’s recent returns suggest he’s worthy of selection. More

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      Inside football’s greatest cup competition where upsets are encouraged with minnows set to take on £3.5bn giants

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      EVERY year debates rage over whether the FA Cup can ever regain its “magic”.But over in France, their domestic competition is going from strength-to-strength.Stade Briochin produced a sensational upset in the last roundCredit: AFPThe lower-league side are set to take on PSGCredit: AFPUpon first inspection, you might wonder what the big deal is: after all, Paris Saint-Germain have won it 15 times, Marseille on 10 occasions.But look a little closer, and you’ll see a competition that consistently delivers drama, upsets and “magic”, every single season.This season’s quarter-finals feature just four teams from Ligue 1, with some of the top-flight’s biggest clubs having been humbled along the way.And with fourth-tier Cannes hosting Ligue 2 Guingamp, at least one team from outside the top flight is guaranteed to reach the semi-finals.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLyon were astonishingly beaten on penalties by fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu, who hail from a town of just 28,000 people barely 20 miles away.And the minnows very nearly backed up their incredible win, only falling to top-flight Reims on penalties in the last round.Lille, who have defeated Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus on the way to the Champions League round of 16, were also defeated via spot kicks by second-tier Dunkerque – despite stars such as Jonathan David being in action.Montpellier, Ligue 1 champions in 2012, finished their Coupe de France campaign in disgrace this season.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAlready bottom of the table, they received no respite in the Coupe as they were astonishingly trounced 4-0 by fourth-tier Le Puy Foot 43 Auvergne.During the match, experienced captain Teji Savanier was asked “Last in Ligue 1 – does that hurt?” – to which he brashly replied: “When you’re being paid €210,000 (£175k) a month, no.”Inside PSG’s £250m lavish new training complex with luxury pools as fans joke ‘players will spend half the time lost’Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Nice, meanwhile, were beaten 2-1 by fourth-tier Stade Briochin courtesy of Hugo Boudin’s late double.Their reward? The opportunity to face Ligue 1 champions PSG in the quarter-finals.Such has been the interest in the fixture, set to take place tomorrow, that the match has been moved from Stade Briochin’s charming Stade Fred-Aubert home to Rennes’ Roazhon Park.Luis Enrique’s star-studded side will of course be huge favourites, but their lowly opponents will relish the opportunity to test themselves against one of Europe’s most in-form teams.Part of what sets the Coupe de France apart is its format.Ditching two-legged ties in 1999, the competition now automatically makes the underdog in each game the home side, provided that they are two divisions or more below their opponents.Third-tier US Quevilly subsequently reached the final in 2012, while Les Herbiers from the same level finished as runners-up in 2018.Coupe de France fixturesQuarter-FinalsAngers vs ReimsCannes vs GuingampBrest vs DunkerqueStade Briochin vs Paris Saint-GermainIn 2020, the Coupe de France also scrapped extra time, meaning underdogs just have to last 90 minutes before reaching the lottery of penalties.With the Coupe de la Ligue having also been axed that year, the competition also has maximum prestige as France’s only domestic tournament.Another fun wrinkle of the competition is that it allows clubs from semi-autonomous French regions around the world to participate.Earlier this season, AS Venus made the 30-hour trip from Tahiti to face fourth-tier ASM Belfort in round seven.While last season, Golden Lion made the 8,000 mile round trip from Martinique to face the stars of Lille, although the ruthless Ligue 1 side played their full-strength side and won 12-0.It may well be that PSG go on to beat Stade Briochin before marching to a 16th Coupe de France triumph.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut that wouldn’t change the fact that this season’s competition has been full of shocks, upsets and incredible stories.And perhaps it still has another fairytale or two left to tell.The stars of PSG will be in action against Stade-BriochinCredit: GettyLille took on Golden Lion last seasonCredit: AFP More

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      ‘I didn’t say that you clown’ – Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand locked in row over Sky Sports pundit’s Salah comments

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      JAMIE Carragher branded Rio Ferdinand a “clown” amid a heated row over the Liverpool legend’s comments about the Africa Cup of Nations.Carragher, 47, spoke on Sky Sports after his former team’s 2-0 win at Manchester City and appeared to suggest that playing at Afcon worked against Mo Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher landed in hot water over comments regarding the Africa Cup of NationsCarragher suggested Afcon doesn’t help Liverpool star Mohamed Salah’s claim for the Ballon d’OrCredit: GettyCarragher branded Rio Ferdinand a ‘clown’ after he criticised his Afcon commentsCredit: RexThe legendary centre-back hinted that the Egypt international is at a disadvantage compared to Real Madrid superstars Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.Carragher said on Sky Sports: “I think the problem [is] the fact he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in the major tournament as such or maybe got a great chance of winning, I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament [that influences who wins the Ballon d’Or].”Normally, the player who excels in that, like Vini Jr and Mbappe right now, Real Madrid looking really good going for the Champions League. “Liverpool will be in that conversation, but right now [Real] is certainly the front runner.”Read More on FootballBut fellow pundits Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge chimed in to correct Carragher by insisting Afcon is a major tournament.Richards said: “Just to say, AFCON is a major tournament because a lot of people are at home saying, ‘They aren’t taking it seriously’. AFCON is a major tournament, just so you know.”Carragher asked the Man City hero if he thought Egypt had a chance of winning the World Cup. Richards replied: “No, but AFCON is big, isn’t it? You remember when he and [Sadio] Mane were going for it and…”Most read in FootballAnd Carragher interrupted the former defender by complaining:”Oh God.”Sturridge jumped in by stating it’s a “fact” that Afcon is at the same level as the Euros or Copa America. ‘Oh, God… did he say that?’ – Pep Guardiola left in disbelief at Jamie Carragher’s ‘not nice and not true’ claimThe ex-Liverpool star said: “It’s a fact. It’s a fact. It’s a fact. If you win the Euros or if you win Copa America it’s deemed to be big so the AFCON is at the same level.”Ferdinand, 46, caught wind of Carragher’s statement and argued that sort of thought process is “ignorant”.The Man Utd legend claimed he understood what his ex-England team-mate was trying to say but insists Fifa needs to work on promoting Afcon exactly like the Euros and Copa America.Ferdinand said on his Rio Presents podcast: “I think that comment is representative of the majority of the people out there. But I don’t think that’s right. It’s an ignorant thought process. “If you go to Didier Drogba, Abedi Pele, Samuel Eto’o, Riyad Mahrez, Mo Salah or Sadio Mane, they’ll tell you, ‘We have to win this’ – it’s a demand in their countries to win this.”Yes, it doesn’t get backed resources wise like the Euros etc, but that doesn’t mean you have to devalue it. It’s a continent of huge power. A continent that contributes to European football through players massively. It should be respected more than it is.Carragher slams Ferdinand”I understand what Jamie’s saying but I don’t agree with it. That’s the majority’s fault, if we’re honest, and its not right. “I think the federations like FIFA need to make sure they implement a way of thinking and language around Afcon so it equals the Euros and the Copa America.”Jamie is right in what he is saying because that is what happens. If Mo Salah won Afcon that would have no bearing on anyone when they vote for the Ballon d’Or, which is absolutely wrong.”Carragher heard what Ferdinand had to say on Instagram and hit back with a fiery response on the comments’ section.The Liverpool great branded his fellow Premier League hero a “clown” as he insisted his words were taken out of context.Carragher responded: “I didn’t say that you clown. Stop playing to the gallery like you always do.”Setting the record straightThe former centre-back tried to set the record straight with a lengthy post on Twitter.Carragher tweeted: “The point I was trying to make yesterday was that Mo Salah is at a disadvantage playing for Egypt in terms of him winning the Balon D’or.”If Salah had an average season at LFC but won the AFCON & was MVP I don’t think he would win the Ballon d’Or. Because I don’t think AFCON carries the weight of other tournaments.”But if Mbappe had an average season at Real Madrid but won the World Cup/Euros he would still have a great opportunity.”It’s not just about certain tournaments, [Andriy] Shevchenko (Ukraine), [Robert] Lewandowski (Poland) were never going to win the WC/Euros to help their case for the prize. I don’t think it’s controversial at all really it’s just a fact.”I know Mane came 2nd a few years back after winning the tournament but that alone wouldn’t have got him to that position, it was LFC being two games away from a quadruple that played a big role also.”It’s not disrespectful if I feel the WC/Euros/CP are better tournaments it’s just my opinion when I watch them. Saying it wasn’t a major competition was clumsy but I think most people watching could understand the point I was trying to make.READ MORE SUN STORIES”The face I pulled when Micah interjected was nothing to do with the merits of the tournament, I just knew as soon as he did what the reaction was going to be! I get a lot people didn’t like what I said & that’s fine.”I don’t normally respond to things on here with posts like this butI decided to tweet in the end after seeing so many phoneys jumping on the bandwagon & playing to the gallery when they knew what I meant. Good luck MO you little dancer.” More