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      ‘It needs to be ours’ – Joao Felix says Chelsea must WIN Champions League ahead of crunch game with Borussia Dortmund

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      JOAO FELIX has insisted that Chelsea must win the Champions League this season despite the club’s poor form in the Premier League.The 23-year-old scored his first goal for the Blues during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham.
      Felix has insisted that Chelsea must win the Champions LeagueCredit: YouTube / Chelsea Football Club
      The midfielder scored his first Chelsea goal on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      But after the game he insisted that he is hungry for more success.
      In a post-match interview with Chelsea media, he said: “We have to focus on the next game. The most important game is next, always.
      “It’s the Champions League, that’s the competition we want to win so it starts on Wednesday and it needs to be ours.”
      Chelsea are set to face Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League round-of-16 next week.
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      But while Graham Potter and his team already have their eyes on the prize, the Blues will have to bounce back from a poor run of form if they want to stand any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.
      Chelsea currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, 10 points adrift of Newcastle in fourth.
      They have also been knocked out of both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, meaning that the Champions League is the only competition of which they could realistically win.
      Blues boss Potter currently has the most expensive squad in Europe at his disposal.
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      Chelsea chief Todd Boehly spent almost £300million during the January transfer window alone on key signings such as Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and Benoit Badiashile.
      Felix, who joined the club on loan from Atletico Madrid last month, has said that the team has already established a positive connection.
      He added: “Playing in this team with such good quality, that is immense. It’s easy, we all connect well and when that happens things go well.” More

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      Guardiola names nine teams who wanted Man City kicked out of Champions League as club charged with financial breaches

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has revealed NINE Premier League teams wanted Manchester City booted out of the Champions League.The Etihad boss gave a defiant press conference as he spoke for the first time since the club were charged with 115 breaches of financial regulations by the Premier League.
      Pep Guardiola claimed NINE teams wanted Manchester City kicked out of the Champions LeagueCredit: @footballdaily
      Guardiola, 52, recalled when City were found guilty of breaching Uefa’s FFP regulations and banned from competing in Europe for two years in 2020.
      That ban was successfully overturned after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
      But Guardiola sensationally revealed NINE Prem teams wanted City booted out of the Champions League at the time.
      Comparing the 2020 case to now, Guardiola said: “When Uefa make a sentence against us, nine teams – Burnley, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle, Spurs, Arsenal, United, Liverpool, Chelsea – [wanted City] out of the Champions League when they wanted that position.
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      “There are no enemies or friends, just interests. They wanted to take our position [in the Champions League]. This situation is absolutely zero difference.
      “It’s the same articles, same accusations. You have to go to League One, League Two, no not enough, maybe Conference. We have been in lower divisions.”

      Guardiola joked he’d bring back club legends Paul Dickov and Mike Summerbee if the club were relegated, as he continued to refer to the 2020 case.
      He said: “If we go back there it’s not a problem for us, we will call Paul Dickov and Mike Summerbee… and we will be back I’m pretty sure, if we go there.
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      “But they should wait because [only] in the end is it decided what happens, and they didn’t wait in the UEFA situation.”
      Guardiola suggested on Friday that City are “already being condemned”, despite not being found guilty of breaching financial regulations.
      Speaking on the charges, which were announced on Monday, he declared: “My first thought is we are already being condemned.
      “What has happened after Monday is the same as happened with Uefa [in 2020]. We were condemned. 
      “We have just a charge. Why should when they told me before they defend the accusation from UEFA, the club proved we were completely innocent, why should now be condemned? 
      “19 teams of the Premier League is accusing us without the chance to defend and the words of my chairman my CEO my owner explain everything, you know what side I am on.”
      A breakdown of the financial charges against Man City More

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      Chelsea ‘to listen to offers for Christian Pulisic this summer’ with £58m winger expected to lead Stamford Bridge exodus

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      CHRISTIAN PULISIC is reportedly “set to lead a summer clearout” at Chelsea.The American winger, 24, joined the Blues from Borussia Dortmund back in 2019.
      Christian Pulisic looks to be heading out of the Chelsea exitCredit: Getty
      The star has tasted Champions League success in West London but he has struggled for regular action.
      And this term he has been restricted to 21 outings, most from the bench, and just one goal.
      Chelsea’s record January transfer outlay led to them bringing in EIGHT new players in.
      They include a whopping £107m upfront with a potential further £4m to follow in add-ons to Benfica for Enzo Fernandez.
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      And the arrival of Ukrainian Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk has only added more competition for minutes on the pitch. 
      Pulisic has entered the final 18 months of his Stamford Bridge contract and has several PremIer League clubs chasing his signature.
      One of those is Manchester United, while Arsenal and Newcastle are also keen.
      And now a bidding war could be about to begin as ESPN claims Pulisic is “expected to be made available” at the end of the season as the Blues look to trim their bloated squad.
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      However, Chelsea know that they stand to make a “significant loss” on the man they spent £58m on.
      Following his participation with USA at the World Cup, Pulisic refused to rule out an exit when quizzed on his future.
      Speaking on the Indirect Podcast, he said: “I mean, right now I’m absolutely back at Chelsea and focused and ready to finish the season.

      “But you know how things work in football. Things change quickly and anything can happen.
      “At the moment I am just pushing myself in training and working at Chelsea because that’s where I am right now.” More

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      Lionel Messi could MISS PSG’s huge Champions League clash with Bayern Munich with hamstring injury

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      LIONEL MESSI could miss PSG’s huge Champions League tie with Bayern Munich due to a hamstring injury, according to reports in France. Messi went off injured as PSG lost 2-1 to Marseille at the Stade Velodrome in the Coupe de France on Wednesday night.
      Lionel Messi warming up before PSG’s Coupe de France match against Marseille.Credit: EPA
      French outlet L’Equipe have reported that the seven time Ballon d’Or winner will miss Saturday’s trip to Monaco in Ligue 1.
      The report goes on to say that the hamstring injury could even rule him out of the blockbuster Champions League tie with Bayern.
      The Parisian’s remain confident that Messi will be fit for the first leg at the Parc de Princes on Tuesday night.
      The French giants will be desperate for Messi to feature as they are already without Kylian Mbappe for the first leg.
      To potentially be without their two star strikers would make life very difficult for Christophe Galtier’s men against the Bundesliga leaders.
      The Argentine has been in great form for PSG this season registering 10 goals and 10 assists in Ligue 1.
      In the Champions League he has four goals in five matches.
      PSG face Monaco in Ligue 1 this weekend whilst Bayern take on VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga.
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      Hated European Super League is BACK as it sets out new plans to replace Champions League with 80-team format

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      THE European Super League has set out new plans to replace the Champions League with a 60 to 80-team competition.The latest idea would see each club involved play a minimum of 14 games per season, with no permanent members.
      Protests across England led to the downfall of the European Super LeagueCredit: Getty
      Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has been one of the leading voices behind the idea for a European Super LeagueCredit: EPA
      The announcement was made by European sports development company A22 – a Madrid-based sister company of the European Super League.
      It comes amid an ongoing legal dispute between Uefa and the three remaining teams in the ESL – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus – an idea which was quashed within three days by fan protests in April 2021.
      A22 claim the idea for the formation of the new competition comes after discussions with clubs around Europe about their economic difficulties.
      However, it is not yet known how Real, Barca or Juventus would make way for new teams within the structure, or even who would run the league.
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      A22 have slammed Uefa and outlined the basis for their “10 principles for a European football league”.
      They said: “A European football league should be an open, multi-divisional competition with 60 to 80 teams, allowing for sustainable distribution of revenues across the pyramid.
      “Participation should be based on annual sporting merit and there should be no permanent members. 
      “Open qualification based on domestic performance would grant rising clubs access to the competition while maintaining competitive dynamics at domestic level.”
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      It is a huge U-turn from the original principles which would have seen the “Founding Partners” sharing a £3bn windfall for being in at the start of the breakaway and guaranteed £130m minimum each season.
      The original Super League members were Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Man Utd, Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.

      A22 went on to add: “Clubs also need greater stability and predictability in annual revenues so they can make sensible, long-term commitments to player and infrastructure expenditures. 
      “Substantial improvements in the format and attractiveness of the current European competitions would generate additional resources. 
      “Stability and predictability in revenues would be dramatically improved by offering clubs a minimum of 14 guaranteed European matches each season.”
      Reichart went on to claim a new format would also support domestic leagues, women’s football, the fans, financial sustainability, and the health of the players.
      And Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has claimed previously that there would be greater solidarity payments for clubs not competing in Europe.
      The publication of the “principles” brought scoffing and dismissal from Spain’s La Liga.
      La Liga chief executive Javier Tebas published a cartoon picturing Super League as the Big Bad Wolf and European football as Little Red Riding Hood.
      Tebas said: “Super League is the wolf, who disguises himself as a granny to try to fool European football.
      “But his nose and his teeth are very big.
      “Four divisions in Europe? Of course the first is just for them, as in the 2019 plan.
      “Government by the clubs? Yes, of course – but only by the big ones.”
      It is understood the ESL is keen to address the dominance of the Premier League given its power when it comes to television rights and activity in the transfer market.
      Last year, Uefa revealed plans for a new Champions League structure which will consist of 36 teams in a single division playing ten group-stage matches – a format that will come into force at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
      But the European organisation’s dispute with the Super League is continuing to rumble on.
      In December, Uefa were handed a boost by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg when advocate-general Athanasios Rantos’ advice sided with the European body.
      Rantos found that EU competition law was in line with the restrictions Uefa and Fifa possess over football.
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      He went on to state the governing body’s power was “proportionate” for achieving Uefa’s “legitimate objectives” in accordance with EU policy.
      Rantos’ advice is not binding to ECJ judges but is often followed. More

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      Tottenham hope Antonio Conte will return from gallbladder surgery THIS WEEK in time for Premier League trip to Leicester

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      TOTTENHAM are hoping Antonio Conte will be back in the dugout for Saturday’s trip to Leicester after his successful gallbladder surgery.Boss Conte missed the 1-0 win over Manchester City last Sunday as he recuperated in his native Italy having been treated for cholecystitis.
      Antonio Conte has been battling with illness in recent daysCredit: Reuters
      But on the day Spurs were rocked by the news keeper Hugo Lloris is set to miss the next two months with a knee injury, Conte flew back to London and hopes to be at the King Power Stadium.
      Assistant Cristian Stellini took charge against City with first-team coach Ryan Mason, as Harry Kane scored his 267th Spurs goal to break Jimmy Greaves’ all-time club record.
      Stellini said: “We lost Antonio. Hopefully he’ll be back next week. He’ll be back happy now.”
      Conte, 53, posted on Instagram last week: “Thank you for your lovely messages. My surgery has gone well and I’m already feeling better.
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      “Now time to recover. Can’t wait to get back on the field with the team.”
      Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Tottenham captain Lloris suffered a knee-ligament injury late on in the win over City.
      The Frenchman, 36, had a scan but will not need an operation.
      However, he will miss the Champions League last-16 clashes with AC Milan, along with potentially eight league games.
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      Spurs’ back-up keeper Fraser Forster will step in.
      Lloris has played in all but one Premier League match this season and all of their Champions League ties. More

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      Qatar group confident Man Utd WILL be able to play in Champions League with takeover bid separate from PSG owners QSI

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S Qatari bidders are confident the club would be allowed in the Champions League.The group of investors say they are separate from PSG’s Qatar owners QSI.
      Man Utd could soon be celebrating having mega-rich new ownersCredit: The Times
      Old Trafford manager Erik ten Hag could look forward to a huge transfer spree in the summer if a Qatari group buy out the GlazersCredit: Getty
      And an important difference is that the huge injection of money into United would come from an individual fund – not from a sovereign wealth.
      The Red Devils’ would-be buyers plan on giving manager Erik ten Hag the resources to quickly return to the world elite.
      A bid could be made in the next week, with United valued at £6billion-plus by current owners the Glazers.
      Offers are tipped to come from the Far East, Middle East and the USA.
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      British billionaire and United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe has confirmed he’s interested too.
      Merchant Bank Raines Group will oversee any sale negotiations.
      The Mail say the issue of Qatar Sports Investment Group owning PSG will be looked at.
      But it’s expected United’s possible new owners from the same country believe they can show they have no connection.
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      The club’s next chiefs face a huge bill on top of the £6bn buy-out sum.
      That’s because Old Trafford needs redeveloping or totally rebuilding – possibly costing £2bn or more. 
      The Qataris are also expected to ask fans their views over any takeover. More

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      What happens if Qatar group own Man Utd and PSG at the same time and can both play in Champions League?

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      MANCHESTER UNITED could be joining Paris Saint-Germain under the umbrella of a Qatari investment group – but that could result in some unintended consequences.The Glazers announced in November that they are willing to listen to suitable offers for a stake in the Premier League giants.
      Qatar, ruled by Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (above), has owned PSG since 2011Credit: AP
      But since then, reports suggest that the United owners are now more interested in a FULL takeover bid.
      And it seems as if the most recent interest is coming from a Qatari group who could lodge a tantalising offer within the next few days.
      However, the same group owning two clubs in European competition may cause a slight problem.
      What happens if Qatar own Man Utd and PSG at the same time?
      There are no restrictions on an owner acquiring multiple clubs at the same time in different countries.
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      That means the reported Qatari group who are readying a bid for Manchester United, would have no problems doing so even if they are indistinguishable from the one in charge of Paris Saint-Germain.
      However, other rules apply to certain leagues where potential buyers of clubs do have restrictions.
      An example of this is the Premier Leaguem, which has restricted shareholding in a second club in the division to 10%.
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      Can both teams play in Champions League?
      UEFA implemented a ‘Integrity of the UEFA Club competitions: Independence of clubs’ rule in 1998 which states that no two clubs participating in a UEFA competition may be directly or indirectly controlled by the same ownership group.
      This is defined by:

      The majority of the shareholders’ voting rights in another club in the same UEFA club competition;
      Or, another right to appoint or remove a majority of the directors in another club in the same UEFA club competition;
      As well as, majority of the shareholders’ voting rights (through a shareholders’ agreement) in another club in the same UEFA club competition.

      Therefore, if a Qatari group owned United while they and PSG qualify for the Champions League, the ownership group would more than likely have to choose who plays in it.
      These rules have been put in to place to protect the integrity of the competition. More