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      Tottenham facing battle to persuade Thomas Tuchel to become new manager – despite ex-Chelsea boss being Spurs fan

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      TOTTENHAM are facing a battle to persuade Thomas Tuchel to be their new manager.Ex-Chelsea boss Tuchel and former Spurs chief Mauricio Pochettino are the top candidates to succeed Antonio Conte.
      Ex-PSG and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says he was a Tottenham Hotspur fan as a kid because of their ‘adventurous’ nameCredit: Getty
      Mauricio Pochettino is rated the main rival to Tuchel for the Spurs job and his return wold be popular with supportersCredit: Getty
      It is now a matter of when, not if, Conte departs after a week from hell in which  the club crashed out of both the FA Cup and Champions League.
      His deal expires in the summer and Spurs will NOT extend it.
      Chairman Daniel Levy is understood to have reservations about bringing back fans’ favourite Pochettino.
      But if he plumps for Tuchel, he needs to convince the German coach he can give him the tools to make Tottenham serious trophy challengers.
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      Conte, 53, admitted he feared the sack after Wednesday’s Champions League KO to AC Milan.
      Spurs have no immediate plans to get rid of the Italian, who has just recovered from emergency gallbladder surgery.
      But the board could change tack if they feel Tottenham’s chances of finishing in the top four are under threat.
      Tuchel, 49, has been a free agent since his shock Stamford Bridge axing by Chelsea’s billionaire owner Todd Boehly in September.
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      The ex-Borussia Dortmund boss insists he was a Spurs fan growing up and was fascinated by their “adventurous” Tottenham Hotspur name.
      He is thought to be keen on a return to England.
      But having managed Paris Saint-Germain to a Champions League final in 2020, before winning the competition a year later with Chelsea, Tuchel has been waiting for a vacancy at an elite club.
      However, some fans may object to the prospect of a FIFTH ex-Blues boss being hired by Levy, who has previously appointed Glenn Hoddle, Andre Villas-Boas, Jose Mourinho and Conte.
      A return for Poch would be a crowd-pleaser, given how loved he was   in five years in charge of Spurs.
      The Argentine took them to the 2019 Champions League final and his name was chanted by supporters during Wednesday’s 0-0 last-16 second leg draw with Milan, which sent the Italian giants through 1-0 on aggregate.
      Others in the frame for Conte’s job include ex- Spain and Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, Brighton chief Roberto De Zerbi  and Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner.
      The situation is further complicated by the club awaiting the fate of director of football Fabio Paratici, who has a big say  on managerial appointments.
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      Paratici is set to discover within a month if his appeal against  a 2½-year ban from Italian  football is successful.
      If not, the suspension for his part in alleged financial irregularities at former club Juventus could be extended worldwide, in which case his role at Spurs would surely become untenable.
      Even if Antonio Conte survives until the summer, Spurs will not extend his dealCredit: Rex More

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      ‘This relationship isn’t working’ – Glamorous BBC and BT Sport presenter ‘breaks up’ with ‘toxic’ Tottenham

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      TV presenter Reshmin Chowdhury has announced she’s broken up with “toxic lover” Tottenham.Sympathy and advice poured in from fans when the glamorous BBC and BT Sport broadcaster decided “the relationship isn’t working” following Spurs’ Champions League exit.
      Reshmin Chowdhury gave Spurs another chance but reckons they let her down as the exited the Champions League with barely a fightCredit: Twitter
      Harry Kane and Co were booted out of Europe and then dumped by ReshminCredit: Alamy
      Rueful Reshmin untied the Tott after Antonio Conte’s men made little effort to impress her in Wednesday’s 0-0 home stalemate with AC Milan.
      Shakespeare would surely have argued: “Better to have loved and drawn than never to have loved at all.”
      But the result sent Harry Kane and Co crashing out at the last-16 stage 1-0 on aggregate.
      Londoner Reshmin, 45, even revealed she had briefly dumped Spurs over the weekend when they lost 1-0 in the Premier League at Wolves.
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      But early in Wednesday’s woeful display she posted optimistically from the stands: “Tottenham – the toxic lover I took a break from last Saturday.
      “I needed space. But he’s already pulled me back in. Can he keep me after tonight?”
      However, after seeing her hopes of being charmed back wither and die, she wrote: “Spurs and I are taking an extended break.
      “This relationship isn’t working. Nothing is working. At least your comments kept me entertained! Thank you and goodnight.”
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      One fed-up fan responded: “I think I’ll join you too. Spurs are hazardous to your health.”
      Another added: “I’ve had to go for a drink on my own to calm down. I know we don’t win stuff but not giving it a go is unacceptable in my book.”
      A third moaned: “It’s so depressing watching us at the moment.”
      But a few supporters reckon Reshmin still has the hots for the Totts.
      One wrote: “Extended break…until the weekend?”
      And if she does keep a fire burning for Tottenham, some supporters suggested she should look on the bright side.
      One fan said: “Try supporting a team that is not 4th or in the Champions League. It’s not the end of the world. There’s still football on a weekend/Monday.”
      But if Reshmin does try to go cold turkey, another supporter had a helpful tip.
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      They suggested: “If there’s ever a Spurs game on TV find a movie that’s 90-95 minutes. My go-to will be American Pie, more entertaining and will have a better time.”
      Antonio Conte’s men slumped out of Europe with a drab draw vs AC MilanCredit: Alamy More

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      Tottenham draw up four-man managerial shortlist to replace Antonio Conte… so is Mauricio Pochettino returning?

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      TOTTENHAM are reportedly drawing up a managerial shortlist as they consider life after Antonio Conte. The under-fire Spurs boss has grown increasingly unpopular among fans with boos meeting last night’s toothless Champions League exit.
      Things seem to be reaching their natural conclusion for Tottenham and Antonio ConteCredit: Rex
      But Conte has also had problems of his own to deal with, including health struggles and grief.
      His contract is up at the end of the season and the 53-year-old looks unlikely to sign a new one.
      Some names are already emerging in director of football Fabio Paratici’s search for a new manager, according to the Athletic.
      But former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is not believed to be among an initial four-man shortlist drawn up, with reports suggesting there is tension between himself and Paratici.
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      This is despite many Tottenham fans keen for a return of the Argentine coach, who was in charge for five years and took the Londoners to the Champions League final in 2019.
      With Pochettino seemingly not in the running for now, former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is believed to be among the favourites for the role.
      The 52-year-old has been out of a job since leaving his role as Spain manager following their disappointing World Cup.
      Enrique’s previous club job was Barcelona between 2014 and 2017, with the Spaniard winning the treble in his first season.
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      Also on the list is Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner.
      The Austrian won the 2021-22 Europa League with the German side and is highly-rated on the continent.
      Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim is also reported as being among the early frontrunners.
      Spurs fans have already come across the 38-year-old coach twice this season, with Sporting recording a win and a draw over Tottenham in the Champions League group stages.
      Former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is believed to be in the running for the roleCredit: EPA
      The often-animated Luciano Spalletti is the mastermind behind Napoli’s incredible seasonCredit: Getty
      Paratici is also a big admirer of Amorim’s work, which includes leading Sporting to their first Portuguese title in 19 years two seasons ago.
      The last name of the initial shortlist is believed to be Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti.
      The experienced Italian has been a manager since 1994 and spent most of his career in Italy, managing huge clubs like Roma and Inter Milan.
      But his stock has never been higher with Napoli storming towards their first league title since 1990 in stunning fashion. More

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      Chelsea fan group warns Todd Boehly he risks ‘irreversible toxicity’ if he goes through with controversial plan

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      CHELSEA fans have warned the club they risk a fan revolt if they put up ticket prices.Tuesday night’s Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund eased the pressure on boss Graham Potter and his expensively-assembled squad – for now at least.
      Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has come under fire for plans to raise pricesCredit: Getty
      But the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust has told chairman Todd Boehly in an open letter: “The men’s 1st team is currently having one of the worst seasons since the 1990s.
      “We strongly urge the board to read the sentiment of supporters. 
      “The current disconnect between the team and supporters would only be amplified by increased prices – this could lead to irreversible toxicity.”
      The CST also argues that increasing season ticket prices during a cost of living crisis is “unconscionable and in direct contradiction to CFC’s efforts to strengthen community ties and strengthen supporter relations”.
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      The letter adds that a rise in the cost of attending home games would have a negative impact on the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge by pricing out some of the most passionate fans.
      It concludes: “The cost-of-living crisis, ambitious commercial targets, increased expenditure on players & management, alongside a ticket price increase during poor performances could cause the ‘perfect storm’ and force many Chelsea supporters away from Stamford Bridge.”
      The new Chelsea regime froze most ticket prices days after their takeover, but imposed steep hikes in the cost of watching games from the poshest seats in the West Stand.
      A season ticket for seats near the halfway line on that side of the ground is now an eye-watering £3,900, with less impressive views coming at £2,900 and £2,250.
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      The most expensive season ticket elsewhere at Stamford Bridge for individual adults is £940 in the West Upper, while the cheapest, in Matthew Harding Lower and The Shed Lower, is £750.
      Those prices have not changed for the best part of a decade.
      But the CST says it has “already been approached by a large number of members expressing their concerns over ticket prices and their anxieties over funding”. More

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      We live near Premier League ground & it’s awful… rowdy fans use our gardens as toilets but it’s not the biggest problem

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      IT’S been a fixture in Chelsea for almost 200 years, but the future of Stamford Bridge has been thrown into doubt. Club co-owner Todd Boehly wants to ditch the old arena and move the team to a new state-of-the-art ground – possibly in a different location.
      Stamford Bridge is slap-bang in the middle of a residential areaCredit: Getty
      Stamford Bridge can hold around 40,000 fansCredit: Olivia West
      The current venue can hold around 40,000 fans – far less capacity than other top Premier League clubs, but still enough to cause chaos on game days in the affluent south west London neighbourhood.
      And the thought of double the amount of supporters traipsing along the streets of Fulham fills residents with dread.
      Following the Blues’ Tuesday night victory against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, The Sun headed down the next morning to chat to locals about the realities of living next to the famous ground.
      Liz Miller, 66, has been a resident there for decades and revealed her surprising bugbear on match days.
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      “When Chelsea are playing at home you can’t buy a bottle of wine in any of the shops around here,” she tells us.
      “It’s really irritating, especially if you don’t follow football.”
      She adds: “The fans are a lot better behaved than they used to be.”
      Liz, who walks her dog Sherlock every day near the ground, says she loves the crowds the stadium draws – but isn’t thrilled when the roads end up gridlocked.
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      Resident Liz Miller says it drives her nuts on match days because she can’t buy a bottle of wine anywhereCredit: Olivia West
      A large canister of hippy crack had been dumped on a wall near the stadiumCredit: Olivia West
      “They’re hot on clearing the rubbish from fans, but it’s not the same when it comes to the poo from police horses,” she adds.
      “That’s always left all over the place. It’s a bit grim.”

      Pee patrol
      By 7am the majority of the rubbish dropped on the route to the London Underground station by drunken fans had been cleared up – but some remained scattered down side roads.
      We saw half-empty beer cans, bottles and food wrappers, and even a large canister of laughing gas, dubbed Hippy Crack, dumped on a resident’s garden wall.
      While residents we spoke to praised the authorities for keeping litter dumped by fans to a minimum, some highlighted other problems that need attention.
      Council worker Tajudeen Afolabi says many residents are upset by the behaviour of football hooligans.
      While most rubbish had been cleared away, some lingered on the streetCredit: Olivia West
      We saw half-empty beer cans, bottles and food wrappersCredit: Olivia West
      “Residents often get in touch with us to report bad behaviour after a match has been played at the stadium,” he says.
      “After the latest one, one resident got in touch to say someone had defecated in their garden.
      “Almost all want solutions to public urination as it is really dirty and gets on people’s nerves.”
      One man, who asked not to be named, tells us: “It’s great that they clear up the rubbish, but the more important thing to deal with is people weeing all over the place.
      “Sometimes if you’ve got to go, you just have to go, but why aren’t there more toilets for fans to use outside the stadium?”
      Sometimes if you’ve got to go, you just have to go, but why aren’t there more toilets for fans to use outside the stadium?Chelsea resident
      Another points out: “I don’t see why we can’t have those standing urinals put in. That would solve a big part of the problem with people weeing anywhere they can find.”
      Residents showed us a popular corner next to Waterford Road, near Fulham Broadway station, where fans regularly stop to urinate before the long journey home.
      Chelsea fan Wayne says: “They used to go there all the time but I think residents complained.
      “Now they have a police officer there on match days to stop it from happening.
      “It’s just one of those things. If there were proper places to go, people would use them.
      “Other than that, I love living here and hearing the crowd go wild at matches. It’s a big part of the atmosphere of the area.”
      Gridlocked traffic
      Taxi driver Tesfayi says he often gets stuck in long queues of traffic on match daysCredit: Olivia West
      The future of Chelsea’s stadium has been thrown into doubtCredit: Getty
      Almost all the residents we spoke to highlighted the impact match days have on traffic in the area, with which often bring roads to a standstill.
      Someone who knows only too well how bad it can get is taxi driver Tesfayi, 51.
      “I love the club, but on match days it is hard to get back home after my shift,” he says.
      “The traffic around the stadium is problematic… but it’s only ever on match days so I don’t mind it too much.
      “I’m a big Chelsea fan so I like living near the stadium. It’s worth it.”
      Mining engineer Alex says his only frustration with the stadium is the bad trafficCredit: Olivia West
      This was highlighted as a residential area where fans have defecated after a gameCredit: Olivia West
      Alex, a mining engineer, admits the traffic is “annoying”, but he likes the “buzz” the stadium brings to the area.
      He adds: “It’s only for one evening so I don’t mind it really. Plus we get more regular Tubes which is great.”
      In an attempt to make things easier for fans travelling to and from Stamford Bridge, TFL put on extra services.
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      But one dad we spoke to says he avoids the packed Tubes like the plague.
      The parent, who asked not to be named, tells us: “Extra Tubes are great, but when I have to take my 12-year-old on the Underground she often ends up in tears thanks to rowdy football fans hitting everything. It’s not great.”
      Discarded packaging from a Chelsea supporters’ scarfCredit: Olivia West
      An old pizza box is found strewn on someone’s doorstepCredit: Olivia West More

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      Fuming ex-PSG star urges Lionel Messi to quit club as he ‘disappears in big games’ and ‘doesn’t help in the slightest’

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      A FUMING former Paris Saint-Germain player has told Lionel Messi to quit the club.And he launched a scathing, personal attack on the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner following the Champions League exit.
      Lionel Messi struggled to have any impact as PSG lost to Bayern MunichCredit: Rex
      Messi, 35, struggled to make his mark in the must-win second leg away at Bayern Munich.
      Goals from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry sealed a 2-0 win for the Germans to send PSG crashing out.
      And former winger Jerome Rothen went on a blistering rage against the World Cup winner – despite the team’s collective poor performance.
      Rothen, who made 180 appearances between 2004 and 2009, said on RMC Sport: “Messi, we don’t want him.
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      “He doesn’t want to get involved in this club. He says he’s ‘acclimatised’ now, but what are you acclimatised to?
      “You scored 18 goals or 16 assists this year against Angers and Clermont? But in the matches that matter, you disappear.
      “The joke is that we saw his matches at the World Cup, I saw his movements, how he invested himself.
      “I don’t mind it, considering it’s the national team jersey, a separate thing, but hey, respect the club in the capital a little, which allows you to maintain a status and salary.
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      “Only PSG could give him that and, obviously, PSG fell at his feet because they thought Messi was going to make us win [the Champions League]. But he doesn’t win us anything.”
      The monologue comes a month after another personal attack by Rothen on Messi, slamming him for not “investing in the project” and refusing to acknowledge the fans’ support.
      Messi was handed a three in L’Equipe’s traditionally-harsh player ratings, the same as Kylian Mbappe and one more than Marco Veratti.

      The French newspaper said of Messi’s performance: “It was too small and is very disappointing in a match of this importance. He was very disappointing.”
      Messi’s night in Munich almost went from bad to worse as a pitch invader almost wiped him out after the full-time whistle.
      Jamie Carragher now fears that was the Argentine great’s final Champions League appearance, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
      SunSport, though, understands talks are still ongoing regarding an extension.
      Jerome Rothen launched the blistering attack on MessiCredit: Alamy More

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      Thomas Muller incredibly trolls Lionel Messi with Cristiano Ronaldo taunt after Bayern’s Champions League win over PSG

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      THOMAS MULLER cheekily trolled Lionel Messi after Bayern Munich’s Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain.The German giants went into last night’s second leg in Munich leading 1-0 from the first clash in Paris three weeks ago.
      Thomas Muller helped Bayern knock PSG out of Europe last nightCredit: Rex
      Lionel Messi’s PSG lost 3-0 on aggregateCredit: Getty
      Julian Nagelsmann’s men cruised into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 triumph on home soil, courtesy of goals by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry.
      Bayern stalwart Muller started the match, skippering his side before being replaced by Joao Cancelo on 86 minutes.
      Speaking after the game, the 33-year-old suggested that Messi doesn’t tend to pose much of a threat to Bayern.
      And he even went as far as to suggest that the Argentine’s old rival was a more scary proposition.
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      He said: “Against Messi, things always go well at all levels in terms of results.
      “At club level, Cristiano Ronaldo was our problem when he was at Real Madrid.”
      Muller wasn’t totally disparaging of Messi, however, adding: “I have the greatest respect for Messi’s World Cup performance.”
      The German forward twice helped Bayern knock Messi out of the Champions League during his Barcelona days.
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      Muller helps a dejected Messi up last nightCredit: Alamy
      They humiliated Barca 7-0 on aggregate during the 2012-13 season on their way to winning the competition – with Muller scoring three times across the tie.
      Muller also bagged a double during their 2019-20 semi-final – as Bayern drubbed Barcelona 8-2.
      Messi has twice knocked Bayern out during his career, however, in the 2008-09 and 2014-15 seasons – both campaigns that culminated in Barcelona going all the way.
      Real Madrid, meanwhile, won three ties out of four contested against Bayern during Cristiano Ronaldo’s time in Spain.
      Even in Bayern’s sole victory over Ronaldo’s Madrid in 2012, the Portuguese managed to score twice in the tie.
      Cristiano Ronaldo has scored plenty of goals against BayernCredit: EPA More

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      I played with Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd.. Lionel Messi would have 15 Ballons d’Or if he had my old mate’s work ethic

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      PATRICE EVRA has claimed Lionel Messi would have 15 Ballon d’Or titles to his name if he had the work ethic of Cristiano Ronaldo.The ex-Manchester United star played alongside Ronaldo between 2006 and 2009, winning the Champions League and three Premier League titles.
      It has been claimed Lionel Messi would have 15 ballon d’Or titles with Cristiano Ronaldo’s work ethicCredit: Getty
      The claim comes from Patrice Evra, who said Messi’s ability was gifted by ‘god’Credit: AFP
      Whereas Ronaldo ‘had to work for it’Credit: AFP
      Evra, Ronaldo and Rio Ferdinand played as a trio for three yearsCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Evra has consistently sided with Ronaldo in the GOAT debate.
      However, he believes the source of their talent is different.
      Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel FIVE, Evra said: “I want to explain why I say Ronaldo every time. It’s not because he’s our brother, it’s because I’m in love with work ethic.
      “I feel like [with] Messi, God just gave him a talent and Cristiano had to work for it. He had the talent but he had to work for it.
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      “If Messi had the same work ethic as Cristiano Ronaldo, he would probably have like 15 Ballon d’Ors today.
      “I’m just in love with people working hard so that’s why I pick Ronaldo over Messi.”
      This work ethic previously led to Evra joking: “don’t ever go for lunch” to Ronaldo’s house.
      He explained: “You are going to have one of the most boring lunches at Cristiano’s – it is salad, plain chicken and water. There isn’t even fizzy water.
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      “After that, we went into the garden, trained for a little bit, went swimming, went to the sauna and at one point I looked at him and said: ‘Bro, we have just finished a training session, why do we have to a second training session?'”
      For many punters the debate ended in Qatar with Messi lifting the World Cup.
      However, many, including Evra, continue to back the corner of Ronaldo.
      As it stands Ronaldo has five ballon d’Or titles to his name, while Messi has seven and has been tipped to add an eighth after being crowned Fifa The Best Men’s Player for 2022. More