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      Chelsea face missing out on two top manager targets as PSG’s five-man shortlist to replace Galtier is revealed

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      CHELSEA may miss out on their top targets to replace Graham Potter with PSG also ready to bring in a new manager. According to RMC Sport the Parisians are looking to replace Christophe Galtier after what has been a disappointing season for the club.
      Jose Mourinho is one of the shortlisted managers who PSG have their eyes on
      Despite being top of Ligue 1, PSG were comfortably knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the last 16.
      As a result the French side are looking to replace their current manager and are rumoured to have a five-man shortlist of targets.
      The list features a host of star managers from all across Europe.
      PSG are reported to be interested in attracting one of Julian Nagelsmann, Zinedine Zidane, Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho and Luis Enrique to the Parc des Princes.
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      The impressive list will come as a hammer blow to Chelsea who themselves are said to be prioritising a move for Julian Nagelsmann or Luis Enrique.
      After Potter was sacked by the Blues on Sunday, owner Todd Boehly could now face stiff competition to land his first choice coach.
      The London club have had a torrid season as they sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table with only ten games remaining.
      Despite their shocking league form they’re still in the Champions League and will face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals in the coming weeks.
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      However, they want to make sure the next man in is the right one so may rely on caretaker boss Bruno Saltor until the end of the season.
      Nagelsmann was sacked as Bayern Munich boss recently and was replaced by former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.
      Luis Enrique was let go from his position as Spain’s national team manager in December following a disappointing World Cup campaign. More

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      Uefa chief drops huge hint Barcelona WILL face Champions League ban as he calls ref-fixing scandal ‘extremely serious’

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      UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin hinted that Uefa is ready to ban Barcelona over the ref-fixing scandal.The Catalan giants are under criminal investigation following claims they paid the country’s referees’ chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira more than £6.5m over a 17-YEAR period.
      Aleksander Ceferin has hinted Uefa are ready to punish Barcelona
      Barcelona are flying high at the top of La Liga, but the investigation will be an unwelcome distraction
      Uefa last month launched an investigation that could lead to a one season Champions League ban.
      And while angry Barca chiefs have accused La Liga boss Javier Tebas of giving “false” evidence against them – and demanded his resignation – Slovenian Ceferin weighed in by making it clear he was ready to demand tough action.
      Ceferin, who will today be re-elected “by acclamation” to a second four-year term as the head of European football, said: “From what I have been told happened, the situation is extremely serious. 
      “So serious that in my estimation it is one of the most serious in football since I have been involved in it.
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      “We have an independent disciplinary committee. I cannot comment on what it might decide.
      “Naturally, for La Liga, the matter is out of date and cannot have competitive consequences.
      “But proceedings are going on at the level of the Spanish civil prosecutor’s office. 
      “And the same applies with Uefa action, because we have no time limit on alleged offences like this.”
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      Ceferin also appeared to further open the door to multi-club ownership of side in European competition – good news for the proposed Qatari owners of Manchester United.
      He added: “We don’t have a solution yet, but we have started talking about it.
      “There is interest from a large number of those investors who are already present in European football to take over another club.
      “I agree that if two such clubs compete in the same competition, they could in principle agree results.
      “But can you tell a coach to lose a game so that another club wins? I doubt it, even if it’s possible in theory. 
      “Football is extremely interesting for investors. 
      “We are now faced with a dilemma: to remain conservative and see these investors go elsewhere with their money or to allow the ownership of several clubs with safeguards. 
      “While we think football should remain as it is, we should not be too conservative. 
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      “Some rules come from the time when there were no such investors in football, or when the owners financed football from their business. 
      “Now they tell me that they finance their business from football. That’s a huge difference.” More

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      What happened to Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o and where is he now?

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      SAMUEL Eto’o was widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football, playing for a number of Europe’s biggest clubs.Here, we take a look at his illustrious career and where he is now.
      Samuel Eto’o won the Champions League on three occasions, scoring in the final twice
      Who is Samuel Eto’o?
      Samuel Eto’o is a Cameroonian former footballer who played as a striker.
      Eto’o began his career at Real Madrid, who he joined when he was 16.
      He was loaned out to Mallorca initially in 2000, but signed for them permanently the same year after a successful spell.
      He helped the side win the 2003 Copa Del Rey, beating Huelva 3-0 in the final, with Eto’o bagging two of the goals.
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      Eto’o spent four years there before attracting the attention of La Liga giants Barcelona.
      This is where Eto’o came to international prominence, scoring 108 goals in 144 league games for the Catalonian club.
      He helped them win three La Liga titles in 2005, 2006 and 2009, and also led the side to two UEFA Champions League titles.
      Eto’o scored the equaliser in the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal, with Barca eventually winning the game 2-1, giving them their first European cup since 1992.
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      He then scored the opener in the 2009 final against Manchester United, with the team winning 2-0 in Rome. This also secured the club the treble, in their first season under Pep Guardiola.
      He transferred to Inter Milan in the summer of 2009, in a player plus cash deal with Barcelona for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
      Under the management of Jose Mourinho, Eto’o became the first player to win the treble in two consecutive seasons with two different teams.
      He set up the second goal for Diego Milito as Inter won the 2010 Champions League Final 2-0 against Bayern Munich, the third European cup of his career.
      The following season was less successful for the club, but Eto’o still managed 37 goals in all competitions as Inter won the FIFA Club World Cup and finished second in Serie A behind AC Milan.
      Eto’o moved to Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in 2011 which made him the world’s highest paid player at the time.
      A scaling back project at the Russian club in 2013 saw Eto’o and a number of other star players sold, including Willian.
      He moved to the Premier League for the first time, reuniting with former manager Mourinho at Chelsea.
      Eto’o scored 12 goals in his only season with the club, including strikes against Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and a hat-trick against Manchester United.
      Despite this, a falling out with Mourinho saw the player leave the club at the end of the season.
      Eto’o joined Everton in the 2014/15 season, scoring on his debut against Chelsea in a 6-3 loss at Goodison Park.
      He scored four goals during his short stay in Merseyside, leaving in January of that season to join Sampdoria.
      What happened to Samuel Eto’o?
      Eto’o’s return to Italian football was short lived however, scoring just two goals in 18 appearances for Sampdoria.
      He rediscovered his goalscoring form following a move to Turkish Super Lig side Antalyaspor, scoring 44 times in 77 appearances across his three seasons at the club.
      He then joined Konyaspor in the same league for the 2017/18 season, before retiring after a spell with Qatar SC of the Qatar Stars League in 2019.
      Eto’o is the all-time leading goal scorer for the Cameroon national team, scoring 56 goals in 118 appearances, which also puts him second in terms of caps won for his country.
      He helped his country to major honours as well, winning the Africa Cup Of Nations in 2000 and 2002, and the 2000 Olympic gold medal.
      Eto’o scored in the 2000 African Cup of Nations final against Nigeria in a game they won 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
      He also scored in the Olympic final in 2000, in a 2-2 draw against Spain on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
      Where is Samuel Eto’o now?
      Eto’o has been head of the Cameroonian Football Federation since December 2021.
      He’s widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of his era, and won the African Player Of The Year award a record four times.
      Eto’o was involved in an altercation with an Algeria fan at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, whilst he was working as an ambassador at the tournament.
      He later apologised for the incident.
      He has been married to Georgette Eto’o since 2016, at a ceremony in northern Italy.
      He has five children with Georgette, named Lynn, Etienne, Siena, Annie and Maelle.
      He was declared the biological father of Erika in 2022 after a court case in Madrid.
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      His son Etienne is also a footballer, aiming to follow in his father’s footsteps.
      Eto’o donated 10 ambulances to the Cameroon health service in 2021 in order to aid their fight against Covid-19. More

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      Lionel Messi sensationally BOOED by own PSG fans before AND after shock home defeat to Lyon

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      LIONEL MESSI was booed by his own fans as his name was read out ahead of the game against Lyon.Some Paris Saint-Germain fans are upset with the superstar and voiced their displeasure on Sunday, before and after the game.
      Lionel Messi was booed by PSG fans against LyonCredit: Getty
      Some booing from the Parc des Princes crowd as Lionel Messi is named in the starting eleven – but mainly cheers. Kylian Mbappé with the warmest reception.— Get French Football News (@GFFN) April 2, 2023

      They feel Messi has not lived up to expectations with PSG being knocked out in the Champions League second round in both of the forward’s seasons at the club.
      Loud boos greeted the announcement of Messi’s game following PSG’s 2-0 loss in their previous game to Rennes.
      And Messi could receive a similar reception at the next home game since Lyon beat PSG 1-0 on Sunday.
      Kylian Mbappe escaped condemnation as his name was greeted with a warm reception.
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      Messi has scored 18 goals in 33 games this season but could be let go when his contract expires in the summer.
      He is believed to earn £740,000 a week and PSG are reportedly looking to cut costs amid FFP concerns.
      PSG were hit with FFP sanctions last year and were fined £8.6million, while £56.3m is on the line depending on the club’s future compliance with the rules.
      Barcelona are interested in bringing Messi back to the Nou Camp when his contract expires at the end of the season.
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      And according to club chiefs they have been in contact with the 35-year-old over a move.
      Vice president Rafa Yuste said: “We’ve been in contact with Leo Messi’s camp. Leo knows how much we appreciate him and I’d love for him to come back.
      “For sure Messi loves Barça and the city, so we hope to find the right conditions to continue his history here.” More

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      Chelsea ‘can only appoint Julian Nagelsmann if Bayern Munich AGREE’… and clubs could face off in Champions League semi

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      CHELSEA have begun their hunt for a new manager after sacking Graham Potter. However, if they are to appoint Julian Nagelsmann they may be forced to wait until the summer.
      Chelsea must agree with Bayern Munich if they are to appoint Julian NagelsmannCredit: EPA
      Chelsea could face Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern in the Champions League later this seasonCredit: Alamy
      That is because Bayern Munich has a sensational clause in Nagelsmann’s contract which means any club wanting to hire him before the summer needs to speak to them despite them sacking him.
      Speaking on Sky Sports, Kaveh Solhekol revealed: “The information we got from Sky Germany is that there has been no contact between Chelsea and Nagelsmann or his representatives.
      “Another obstacle is Chelsea would have to speak and negotiate with Bayern Munich if they wanted Nagelsmann.
      “There is still a clause in his contract which means Bayern Munich would have to agree to him moving to another club before the summer.”
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      The two sides remain in the Champions League, and could face one another in the semi-finals if they both progress past their quarter-final opponents.
      Should this occur, it will see Thomas Tuchel return to Stamford Bride for the first time since being sacked earlier in the season.
      However, both teams face a very difficult task in doing so.
      Chelsea face reigning champions Real Madrid, while Bayern face English champions Manchester City.
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      On the clause, Solhekol added: “I think Bayern have been very clever [and] very cute in protecting their interests.
      “Obviously they don’t want Nagelsmann going to Chelsea and revealing all the secrets of the way they operate.
      “So [there are] obstacles, but I don’t think the obstacles are insurmountable.
      “If Chelsea want him they need to contact his representatives, they need to contact him and speak to him and they also need to speak to Bayern Munich.”
      As many as SEVEN bosses have been earmarked for the Chelsea job.
      In the meantime, Ex-Brighton star and Potter assistant Bruno Saltor has been handed the reins until a successor is appointed. More

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      Fans joke that ‘cup final was last month’ after Newcastle players celebrate wildly in dressing room after Man Utd win

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      FOOTIE fans mocked Newcastle’s wild celebrations after being Manchester United – reminding them they lost the League Cup final against the Red Devils.Eddie Howe’s troops ran out 2-0 winners over a lacklustre United to further strengthen their pursuit of Champions League football.
      🔊 SOUND ON! 🔊Eddie Howe address his Newcastle players in the dressing room after their win against Man Utd! ⬇️👂 pic.twitter.com/Oca1P1X1Um— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2023

      There were jubilant scenes in the Newcastle dressing room after the win
      Fans mocked the Magpies for overcelebratingCredit: Getty
      There were joyous scenes in the Magpies’ changing room after the monumental result – which the club shared on its official Twitter account.
      Manager Eddie Howe was mobbed by his troops after congratulating them on their performance and they posed for photos inside the dressing room shortly after.
      But they were promptly trolled for excessively celebrating the win, with one person tweeting: “Congratulations on winning the World Cup.”
      Another said: “Enjoy the 3 pts, Newcastle. We’ll enjoy the trophy!”
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      And another said: “They win a game not a trophy FFS.”
      One chimed in: “The cup final was last month.”
      Ironically Newcastle lost the Carabao Cup final in February after barely laying a glove on United.
      But Toon had a lot to celebrate after the win at St James’ Park, which sees them leapfrog United into third place in the Premier League.
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      They schooled Erik ten Hag’s side with 22 shots compared to six.
      Goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson sealed the three points and put Newcastle in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League. More

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      Graham Potter had WORST record of any Chelsea boss in Premier League era and leaves club in bottom half of division

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      GRAHAM POTTER leaves Chelsea with the joint-worst record of any manager in the club’s history during the Premier League era. Potter lasted just six months in charge having replaced Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel last September.
      Graham Potter has Chelsea’s joint-worst Premier League record
      But after a dismal runs of performances, Blues owner Todd Boehly has axed the ex-Brighton manager with the side sitting in 11th.
      Potter departs having won just SEVEN of his 22 league games in charge, drawing the same amount of times while losing eight.
      His last came on Saturday at home to Aston Villa, with the 2-0 defeat enough to seal his fait.
      With a 1.27 points per game rate, only Glenn Hoddle fared as badly as Potter, leaving with the same PPG.
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      Hoddle won just 38 of his 122 games in charge, losing 43 and drawing 41.
      Tuchel, who was fired four months after Boehly took over the club from Roman Abramovich, left with a 1.94 PPG rate.
      In that period, he managed 63 league matches, winning 35, drawing 17 and losing 11.
      But after replacing Frank Lampard in January 2021, just five months later Tuchel lifted the Champions League.
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      Lampard was slightly worse off than the German in his 57 Premier League matches.
      The Chelsea legend won just 28, drawing 11 and losing 18, which saw him sacked after 18 months.
      Surprisingly, Avram Grant has the best PPG ratio at Chelsea when he replaced Jose Mourinho in 2007.
      He managed 32 games, winning 22, drawing eight and only losing twice, reaching the Champions League final that season too.
      Mourinho is behind Grant, taking charge of 212 league matches during his two stints, winning 140, drawing 44 and losing 28.
      Chelsea now look to hire their 19th manager during the Prem era, with Julian Nagelsmann among the favourites to take over.
      But ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is also in the mix with the club set to take their time, with Bruno Saltor taking up an interim role.
      Chelsea sacked manager Graham PotterCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Jamie Carragher trolls Todd Boehly over Graham Potter sacking as fans slam Chelsea as ‘worst run club in world football’

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      JAMIE CARRAGHER joined fans in trolling Todd Boehly after Graham Potter was sacked – with Chelsea called “the worst-run club in world football.” Potter was only hired in September in replace of Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel.
      Jamie Carragher joined fans in trolling Todd Boehly after Graham Potter was sackedCredit: Alamy
      Roman Abramovich sold Chelsea to Todd BoehlyCredit: Getty
      But the ex-Brighton boss lasted just six months, leaving the Blues languishing 11th in the Premier League and on a dismal run.
      Potter’s departure was announced by the club – to much mockery from rival fans online.
      And the comparisons between ex-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Todd Boehly were quickly made.
      One said: “Chelsea = Worst Run Club in the World.”
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      Another added: “Todd Boehly said he will be different to Roman Abramovich..”
      One said: “Todd Boehly is just an American Roman Abramovich.”
      Liverpool legend Carragher tweeted: “Todd said he would be different to Roman.
      “I feel for Graham Potter, but it was inevitable. You don’t change Tuchel for Potter. Ridiculous decision to start with.”
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      Gary Lineker commented: “Another one bites the dust. Graham Potter the latest to be fired.”
      Chelsea sunk to a 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa on Saturday, their TENTH loss of the season.
      And despite the Stamford Bridge board showing faith to Potter and his project in the past, enough proved enough.
      Julian Nagelsmann – sacked by Bayern Munich and replaced by Tuchel – is an early frontrunner to take over despite interest from Tottenham.
      Meanwhile former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is another alternative alongside Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane.
      I feel for Graham Potter, but it was inevitable. You don’t change Tuchel for Potter. Ridiculous decision to start with.Jamie Carragher
      Potter’s departure was announced by the club in a statement with Bruno Saltor to take charge in an interim role.
      Co-owners Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said: “On behalf of everyone at the club, we want to thank Graham sincerely for his contribution to Chelsea.
      “We have the highest degree of respect for Graham as a coach and as a person.
      “He has always conducted himself with professionalism and integrity and we are all disappointed in this outcome.
      “Along with our incredible fans, we will all be getting behind Bruno and the team as we focus on the rest of the season.
      “We have 10 Premier League games remaining and a Champions League quarter final ahead.
      “We will put every effort and commitment into every one of those games so that we can end the season on a high.”
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      Todd Boehly sacked Graham PotterCredit: Getty More