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    Fans brand Declan Rice ‘man of the people’ as Arsenal star reveals ‘hilarious’ amount he pays for a haircut

    HUMBLE Declan Rice stunned football fans and pundits alike by revealing how much he pays for a haircut. The Arsenal and England midfielder, 25, chatted to CBS Sports ahead of the Gunners’ memorable Champions League shootout win at home against Porto.
    Declan Rice discussed his haircuts with the CBS teamCredit: CBS Sports
    The Arsenal man pays £24 for his trim compared to Micah Richards’ £200Credit: CBS Sports
    And ahead of the interview with Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards, the ex-Liverpool defender drew attention to Rice’s fresh trim.
    Carragher joked: “Before we start, he’s had a haircut for the game.”
    Rice confirmed: “Little one last night. I’m ready.”
    Abdo added: “Can we ask what yours cost? It’s a running subject of conversation for us on this show.”
    READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
    That is because Richards famously revealed on CBS he spends a whopping £600 per week on haircuts – three times at £200 a visit.
    That works out as approximately £24,000 across the whole year.
    But Rice clarified: “I think I paid like £24.”
    Carragher could not resist a comical “oooh” in the direction of Richards, who asked: “Why you lying for?”
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    But Rice was adamant: “I do. In the shop. I don’t have it in my house like you.”
    Abdo then revealed Richards arrived in London early to get his barnet done the night before the live CBS show from the Emirates.
    Will Pugh and Rob Maul discuss Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool’s chances in the Premier League title race
    And fans piled in with comments hailing “man of the people” Rice.
    One said: “I love how down to earth Declan Rice is!”
    Another wrote: “That’s genuinely less than I pay for like the cheapest haircut in San Francisco. Hilarious.”
    And a third added: “Not so bad for a celebrity.”
    Richards and Rice also enjoyed some pre-match fun as they agreed on a brilliant wager.
    The former Manchester City man convinced the Arsenal star to do an M sign for Micah should he score in the game – after Jude Bellingham failed to come good on the deal.
    Rice’s trim looked very fresh on the side of the Emirates pitchCredit: Getty More

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    Kate Abdo reveals that Micah Richards flew in a day early for ‘special treatment’ ahead of Arsenal vs Porto clash

    KATE ABDO lifted the lid on Micah Richards’ pre-punditry routine ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Porto. The CBS Sports duo were joined by Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher for a chat with Declan Rice at the Emirates Stadium. Micah Richards came to London early to get a haircutCredit: CBS SportsThe pundit was left red-facedThe conversation quickly turned from football to haircuts.Presenter Abdo hilariously gave fans a glimpse into Richards’ hair dressing routine, saying: “Actually, I can tell you a little story about Micah.”Somebody had to go to the Waldorf Hotel last night so they could get their trim fresh.”They had to come in a day early, is that right?”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRice then chimed in and said: “Special treatment. It’s decent.”He also revealed that he got ready for the crucial Champions League game by getting a haircut last night.Arsenal’s star midfielder admitted that his trim set him back £24.Richards, who previously confessed to getting his hair done three times per week at a cost of £600, jumped in and said: “Why are you lying for?”Most read in Champions LeagueCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL But Rice was having none of it, responding: “Not too bad, I do it in the shop. I don’t have it in my house like you.”By the end, Richards brilliantly pleaded for them get back to talking about football.Kate Abdo leaves Thierry Henry in shock as she pays cheeky compliment to Micah RichardsDiscussing barnets is a reoccurring theme on CBS’ banter-filled Champions League coverage after Richards’ incredible haircut revelation.He admitted last season that his barber charges him £200 every cut and he always likes to get his hair neatened up before appearing on TV.The former Manchester City star’s claim left Henry astonished. Meanwhile, Rice was dubbed a “man of the people” by fans due to his more affordable haircut. More

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    Micah Richards reveals CBS Sports chiefs allow Kate Abdo and Co to ‘do things other companies wouldn’t allow’ on live TV

    MICAH RICHARDS has revealed the magic behind CBS Sports’ “Despite being broadcast in America, the show’s clips regularly go viral – with fans loving the interaction between host Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Richards.Micah Richards has lifted the lid on what makes the show specialCredit: GettyKate Abdo said the ability to go off script on American television was keyCredit: GettyThe show has led to many iconic moments, including the presenters’ reaction to finding out Kate Abdo used to work at Greggs and a hilarious festive feature which saw Richards dress as Santa.The Athletic today interviewed Richards, Abdo and Henry to find out why it has become so loved – despite many in the UK not being able to watch it.For all of them, they said it is because they have the freedom to say things unscripted – and draw comparisons between the show and Inside the NBA, which features Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.The show’s supremo, Kate Abdo, said the show differs massively to doing UK television when asked why it works.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLShe said: “The freedom to be off-script [is why it works], the freedom to be our authentic selves. We’re all very different personalities and bring different assets to the table. But I think as a whole, we all complete each other in some way.”Working in television, it’s such a source of frustration to me because so often you go into a show and have every single minute accounted for, knowing exactly what’s going to happen over the next hour. “It takes all the air out of the room for anything to happen spontaneously. We go into segments knowing that we have an overall vision for each segment, but if we go totally off that vision, that’s OK.”Everyone wants to look polished and clean and glossy, and there’s something to that. But you have to find that balance with also just being real and living in a moment.”Most read in FootballThe cast addressed the rumours that Thiery Henry may leave the showCredit: GettyCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL Richards said: “Trust is the key for me. I think we’re comfortable in our own skin. Take Thierry Henry. He’s a legend of the game and he loves football. You got Carragher, the No1 pundit in England. But he has to sort of be a different Jamie on our show to make the show work. “We have producers who allow us to do things that other companies probably wouldn’t allow. We trust and respect each other.Fans in stitches at Thierry’s reaction to 2007 throwback clips of CBS host Kate AbdoArsenal legend Henry also agreed the show is what it is because of its authenticity, saying: “They [The viewers] see that you are real. People respond to that. It is a fun show to watch, but I also think we are good at what we do when we analyse the game.”We can switch from Micah or me or Kate or Jamie saying something funny to talking about the war in Ukraine. There is something for everybody in the show, and we are real.”One question that has been on the mind of viewers, and the presenters it seems, is the future of Henry.His legendary status within the game allows him to play the straight man role incredibly well, but viewers have loved seeing him joke around too.His status as coach of the France U-21s and occasionally U-23s has seen his future at CBS thrown into doubt however.Henry said: “Obviously, having the opportunity to coach the Under-21 and the Under-23 for the big games, I made sure that I could do both. So that tells you something because I would have stopped CBS if I didn’t see a value of it.Fans will be hoping the show’ will stay together’s cast will be staying togetherCredit: Twitter / @CBSSportsGolazo”What’s going to happen after my two years with the Under-21 (which ends in summer 2025)? I don’t know what’s going to happen. “All I know is right now I’m happy to be here and don’t want to miss anything. I don’t know where my mind is going to be in two years. Do I still want to coach? I don’t know.”Abdo said she could understand if Henry left, but insisted the show would not be the same without him.She added: “I think you can’t help but think about [how] it could end. The nature of television is short-term contracts. We want to keep the family together.”I think that we’re all looking at Thierry. I think for Micah and Jamie, TV is the chosen career. It’s the one they’re really pursuing. The same for me. “But in Thierry’s position, there’s another passion that he has that burns just as strong if not stronger. I mean, essentially, he’s already proven what he can do in TV. READ MORE SUN STORIES”We all know how good he is. So there’s still that area where he still wants to be able to prove that he was not only a great football player but how well he can lead other men to play football.” More

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    Champions League draw set for major overhaul after chiefs realise it would take FOUR HOURS and 900 balls to complete

    THE Champions League draw is set for a new look after chiefs realised it could take four hours to complete using the current method.Uefa draws are currently done manually with pots used to separate teams.Uefa draws are set for a revamp ahead of the new look competitionsCredit: AFPBut the Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues will see their formats revamped ahead of next season.The 32-team group stage will go in favour of a 36-team mega league.Sides will play eight different opponents before going into the knockout rounds. Each club will be seeded in one of four pots and they must play two opponents from each pot.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLUefa deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti has revealed a fully manual draw is no longer possible in the new format as it could take three to four hours to complete and 900 balls would be needed.Therefore, a “hybrid” draw will be used that incorporates manually pulling teams out the hat and automated elements to speed up the process.Uefa insist any sections that are computerised will be independently monitored to ensure draws are not rigged.The exact system that will be used has not yet been revealed.Most read in FootballCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL In the new look European competitions, the top eight teams in the 36-team league phase quality for the Last 16.They will also be seeded from one to eight in the knockout rounds in a tennis-style draw.Europa Conference League blunder as ex-Turkey keeper Demirel can’t open draw ball before being shown up by host And those that finished between 9th and 24th go into a play-off round to determine who progresses, with clubs placed 9th to 16th seeded so they can’t face each other.The bottom 12 sides are eliminated and there will be no dropping down competitions.From the Last 16 onwards, the current format of home and away legs will remain in place. More

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    Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draw 2024: UK start time, teams, TV channel, stream as Man City learn fate

    ATTENTION has now turned to the Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draw – and teams will want to avoid holders Manchester City.Pep Guardiola’s side humiliated Danis giants Copenhagen 6-2 on aggregate in the last-16 stage.Man City cruised into the quarter-final stageCredit: GettyHarry Kane inspired Bayern to book their last-8 spotCredit: RexAnd the Treble winners will be one of the favourites to reclaim their crown having won every match this campaign so far.However, Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid and Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich are also in the run-in for club football’s biggest cup competition.While Arsenal still have work to do against Porto if they are to put their name in the hat.When is the Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draw?
    The Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draw will take place on Friday, March 15.
    It is scheduled to get underway at 11am GMT – 12pm local time.
    House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland is the chosen venue for this exciting draw.
    Unlike previous rounds, teams from the same nation are eligible to face each other.
    Read more on Champions LeagueHow can I watch it for FREE?
    Fans can watch the Champions League last-16 draw for FREE on UEFA.com.
    It will also be available to watch on TNT Sports in the UK.
    Alternatively, tune into SunSport’s live blog which will have the latest updates as the draw is announced.
    What teams have qualified?Teams will find out their pathway to the final once the draw has concluded.Here are the sides who have qualified:Most read in Champions LeagueWhat are the remaining last-16 fixtures?When will the Champions League quarter-final and semi-final ties be played?The quarter-final first legs are scheduled to take place across Tuesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 10.While the return legs will be contested a week later on Tuesday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 17.As for the semi-final ties, the first legs will be played on Tuesday, April 30 and Wedensday, May 1 – with the reverse legs scheduled for Tuesday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 8. More

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    Arsenal vs Porto – Champions League last 16: Gunners look to flip tie on its head in huge second leg – stream, TV, teams

    ARSENAL return to Champions League action for their last-16 second leg against Porto in phenomenal form – but they find themselves behind in the tie.The Gunners had been blowing teams away in 2024 which includes scoring more than five goals in three consecutive matches.Kai Havertz scored the winner in Arsenal’s 2-1 win against BrentfordCredit: GettyBut Mikel Arteta’s men were forced to dig deep against Brentford in their most recent Premier League encounter as they didn’t have it all their own way.However, a late header from £65million summer signing Kai Havertz helped Arsenal get over the line with a 2-1 win which propelled them to the top of the table making it EIGHT wins in a row.And the north London outfit will need a minimum of two goals again to progress when they face Porto as they currently lead the tie 1-0 courtesy of a Galeno stoppage-time strike in the first leg.When is Arsenal vs Porto?
    Arsenal’s mouthwatering Champions League match against Porto will take place on Tuesday, March 12.
    The last-16 second leg is scheduled to get underway at 8pm GMT.
    Emirates Stadium is the allocated arena for this huge encounter and it can host approximately 60,704 roaring fans.
    Galeno’s sensational strike helped Porto win the first leg.
    Read more on ArsenalHow can I watch Arsenal vs Porto?
    Arsenal vs Porto will be broadcast LIVE on TNT Sport 1 in the UK.
    The build-up is expected to commence from 7pm – a whole hour before kick-off.
    Fans can stream the entire action through discovery+
    Alternatively, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the whole match.
    What is the team news?Mikel Arteta would have been delighted to escape the Brentford triumph with no fresh injury concerns.David Raya is expected to reclaim his place from Aaron Ramsdale in between the sticks. Aaron Ramsdale made up for his huge error during the Brentford winCredit: GettyOleksandr Zinchenko could be handed his first start in weeks having returned on the weekend.Most read in Champions LeagueWhile Gabriel Martinelli will need to be assessed after missing out on Saturday’s win due to a foot injury.Jurrien Timber (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (muscle) look likely to stay on the sidelines.Elsewhere, Porto stars Zaidu and Ivan Marcano are out for the remainder of the season with Cruciate Ligament injuries.But Mehdi Taremi has a chance of being in the squad despite his thigh strain.What are the odds?
    Arsenal to qualify 4/11
    Porto to qualify 2/1
    *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes are correct at time of publishing  More

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    ‘Make it make sense’, rant fans after realising Liverpool and Arsenal WON’T be at 2025 Club World Cup.. but Chelsea will

    CHELSEA and Manchester City have earned a spot at the 2025 Club World Cup.However, Premier League title-chasers Liverpool and Arsenal are yet to feature on the line-up.Chelsea will feature at the 2025 Club World CupCredit: GettyThe Blues won the competition in 2021Credit: GettyThe Club World Cup will be expanded to 32 teams for the first time in the competition’s history next year.Teams are selected from six confederations across the world including AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North and Central America and Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America), OFC (Oceania) and Uefa (Europe).The competition’s four previous winners have also been invited to take part.That means Chelsea, who were crowned champions in 2021, will feature.Read More in FootballThe Blues have struggled to compete in the Premier League over the last two years despite spending over £1billion on player transfers.They finished 12th in the table last season and currently sit 11th with 12 games left to play.As a result of last season’s poor results Chelsea also failed to qualify for Europe, leaving many fans baffled as to why they will be allowed to take part in the Club World Cup.One football fan took to X to write: “Liverpool & Arsenal not playing but Chelsea playing.. the 32 teams Club World Cup is outlandishly embarrassing. Chelsea isn’t even in Europe.Most read in FootballCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL “How tf does it make sense?”Another questioned: “This is f***ing stupid, why is Chelsea playing?”Who could be Chelsea’s next manager after Pochettino?While a third wrote: “Snuck in Chelsea like we won’t notice 😂.”Man City have also qualified for the Club World Cup next year.Pep Guardiola’s side won the competition at the end of 2023 after clinching the Treble.Among the other clubs that have already qualified are Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter Milan, Auckland City, Palmeiras and Seattle Sounders.The Club World Cup will be expanded to 32 teams next yearCredit: AFP More

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    Aston Villa fans ‘attacked by Ajax hooligans’ at train station before Europa Conference League clash in Amsterdam

    SHOCKING footage has emerged appearing to show Aston Villa fans being attacked by Ajax hooligans at a train station.A small group of Brit supporters were reportedly set upon ahead of their Europa Conference League match in Amsterdam on Thursday night.The footage shows one fan struggling to stand up after seemingly having been knocked to the groundCredit: X/@VoetbalUltrasA group of men can then be seen swarming another fan and throwing punchesCredit: X/@VoetbalUltrasAfter they knock the second fan to the ground the hooligans begin kicking himCredit: X/@VoetbalUltrasThe footage shows one fan struggling to stand up after appearing to have been knocked to the floor – while several other men can be seen swarming another Villa supporter.After suffering multiple blows to the head the defenceless fan falls to the ground, while the hooligans continue to kick him.One of the men then turns around and throws a flying punch at the fan who had only just found his feet.The footage then ends abruptly and it is currently unclear what ensued afterwards.read more football hooligansThis is not the first time Ajax hooligans have wreaked chaos ahead of a game.In June 2019, four Ajax thugs were jailed for attacking cops before a Champions League semi-final with Spurs.The four Dutchmen were caught acting violently on CCTV – in a rampage which left one fan with “life threatening” injuries.The Dutch gang-of-four were also banned from every UK football ground for six years.Most read in FootballShocking moment riot police dodge EXPLOSION as Ajax and Marseille fans clash before Europa League matchIn September 2023, riot police were met with multiple explosions as they attempted to disperse clashing Ajax and Marseille fans ahead of their Europa League tie.Riot police got involved in an attempt to separate the two groups, which resulted in them being the target of violence.Police were forced to dodge an explosion that appeared to be a firework, next to a van they had used to create a barrier between fans.And, in October, cops were forced to brandish batons in a bid to stop the violent scenes after Brighton and Ajax played a Europa League match.Shocking video footage emerged showing supporters throwing a mat over a barrier as police shout at them to ‘get back’.As the crowd got larger, the officers were forced to whip out their batons and one ended up on the ground after being pushed over.New rules were introduced by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) earlier last year to tackle the problem of hooliganism.Stadium bans have become part of the Dutch Association’s methods, and as is the suspension of games – which Ajax fans have forced twice since the new rules came in.However, football experts have said that there is now a type of anarchy in place, that requires the adoption of more stringent measures.One Ajax hooligan then throws a flying punch at the fan who just stumbled up from the groundCredit: X/@VoetbalUltras More