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      Man Utd can ‘totally rely’ on Edinson Cavani says former boss at PSG Tuchel as striker misses out on facing old club

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      MANCHESTER UNITED can “totally rely” on Edinson Cavani – according to his former boss at PSG Thomas Tuchel.
      The striker will miss out on making his Red Devils debut against his former side after revealing to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he didn’t feel ready to play.

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      Tuchel enjoyed multiple seasons of Cavani’s goalscoring prowess while PSG bossCredit: AP:Associated Press

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      Cavani will continue to train and gain fitness while his team-mates head to ParisCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But Tuchel did not know that when he spoke highly of his former hitman, who left the club in the summer after seven successful years.
      The Uruguayan joined United on deadline day but was unable to make his debut against Newcastle as he was quarantining for 14 days under coronavirus guidelines.
      And due to a lack of readiness, he will also not feature against Paris Saint-Germain either.
      Nonetheless, Tuchel rates the 33-year-old highly and believes he will bring tenacity and dependability to the Manchester side.

      He said in a pre-match press conference: “He is a polite person. Hard, hard worker. He will be there for every training [session], first minute until last minute.
      “Every game, first second until last second. You can totally rely on him.
      “If you played for so long in a club like ours and if you have such a connection with the fans, it’s clear that you have character and deserve all this appreciation.

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      Cavani was pictured joking around with Paul Pogba and other United players during his first first-team training sessionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “Hopefully he will show – not tomorrow, but from Wednesday on – he can convince all of you, I have nothing against that.

      “But tomorrow it is not necessary to prove me right.”
      Tuchel will no longer need to fear Cavani’s presence with the player not travelling with the rest of the United squad.
      Boss Solskjaer told RMC Sport: “We wanted him to be there too, but he went without playing for a long time.
      “We thought it was better for him to continue training. To better prepare.
      “Edi knows what he wants and what he needs. He didn’t feel ready enough.”
      Captain Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood, Jesse Lingard and Eric Bailly will also not feature against PSG.
      French fans will miss an opportunity to welcome a club icon back to the Parc des Princes.

      In his long spell there, he notched up a tremendous scoring record which endeared him to supporters.
      In 200 appearances, he netted 138 goals.
      This includes an extraordinary 35 goals in 36 Ligue 1 appearances in the 16/17 season, and then 28 in 32 in the following campaign.

      Edinson Cavani joins Man Utd in training for the first time More

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      Chelsea vs Sevilla FREE: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and team news for Champions League match

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      CHELSEA host Sevilla as Frank Lampard’s men look to put their domestic troubles behind them and take the scalp of the Europa League champions.
      The Blues have won just two of their first five Premier League games and threw away a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Southampton on Saturday.

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      Timo Werner’s goal was not enough to earn Chelsea victory over SouthamptonCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Visitors Sevilla had put themselves among the early LaLiga frontrunners but will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 loss at Granada over the weekend.
      What time does Chelsea vs Sevilla kick off?
      Chelsea take on Sevilla on Tuesday, October 20.
      The match kicks off at 8pm UK time.
      While some European ties will be played with fans, this game at Stamford Bridge will be behind closed doors in accordance with current UK law.
      What TV channel is Chelsea vs Sevilla on and can I live stream it?
      Chelsea vs Sevilla is live on BT Sport 3.
      Coverage commences at 7.15pm – 45 minutes before kick-off.
      To stream the game live, head to the BT Sport website or app.

      Can I watch Chelsea vs Sevilla for free?
      Team news

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      How Chelsea will likely line-up to take on Sevilla
      With Edouard Mendy still injured, Kepa should get the chance to make amends for his horror show against Southampton as he takes on the club he could have been playing for this season.
      Sevilla were interested in taking the Blues’ goalkeeper on loan but couldn’t reach an agreement over the player’s £150,000-a-week wages.
      Thiago Silva is available after missing the Southampton game with jet lag while Hakim Ziyech could get his opportunity to impress after coming off the bench against the Saints.

      For the visitors, Luuk de Jong and Lucas Ocampos will be expected to return after being left out for the game against Granada.
      Karim Rekik could make his Sevilla debut following a summer transfer from Hertha Berlin.
      Latest odds
      Chelsea – Evens
      Draw – 5/2

      Sevilla – 13/5 More

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      Barcelona vs Ferencvaros FREE: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and team news for Champions League group game

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      BARCELONA begin their Champions League group stage campaign with a home clash against Hungarian side Ferencvaros.
      Lionel Messi and Co are looking to put a dismal European showing last season behind them but have started the new La Liga seasons lowly.

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      Messi drew a blank as Barcelona crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Getafe last time outCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

      The visitors meanwhile were unbeaten in the qualifying stages and are appearing at this stage of the tournament for the first time since 1995/96.
      When is Barcelona vs Ferencvaros?
      This Champions League group stage clash will be held on Tuesday, October 20.
      Kick-off at the Nou Camp is at 8pm BST.
      Sadly no fans will be in attendance.
      Which TV channel and live stream can I watch it on?
      You can catch this game live on BT Sport ESPN.
      Coverage begins at 7.30pm.
      If you’re a BT Sport customer, download the BT Sport app to stream wherever you are.

      EE phone subscribers can also get a FREE three-month trial to BT Sport mobile, allowing them to watch all of the group stages without paying a penny.
      Simply test SPORT to 150 – you can cancel at any time.

      What is the team news?
      Both Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Jordi Alba are out for the hosts as they look to get back to winning ways.
      Samuel Umtiti has an ongoing knee issue and is a huge doubt, while Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho could come back into the starting XI.

      Despite El Clasico later in the week, Ronald Koeman is expected to field a strong side including Messi.
      Former Liverpool goalkeeper Adam Bogdan looks set to be in the visitors squad, but Denes Dibusz will likely get the nod between the sticks.
      Match odds
      Barcelona to win – 1/14
      Draw – 10/1
      Ferencvaros victory – 40/1
      Both teams to score – 6/4
      *All odds from Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication. More

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      Why is Cristiano Ronaldo not playing for Juventus against Dynamo Kiev, and when will he return to action?

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      JUVENTUS begin their Champions League campaign with a difficult trip to Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev.
      The Old Lady are desperate to end their long wait for a European trophy, which their last triumph coming way back in 1996.

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      Juventus are without Ronaldo for their trip to UkraineCredit: Reuters

      But they will have to find a way past the Ukrainian champions without Cristiano Ronaldo who sits this Champions League opener out.
      Why isn’t Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Juventus?
      Ronaldo will hope this is finally the year he can inspire the Turin-based side to end their long wait to lift Big Ears again.
      Juventus have been runners-up in the Champions League three times since the turn of the century.
      And this year they’ve been put in a group with Barcelona, Ferencvaros and Dynamo.

      Ronaldo played for Portugal in their draw with France during the international break and was expected to feature against Sweden.
      But the former Man Utd and Real Madrid star returned a positive test for Covid-19 and left Portugal’s training camp.
      He is currently self isolating and has reportedly displayed no symptoms.

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      The superstar posted a picture on Instagram of him relaxing by his pool during isolationCredit: instagram.com/cristiano
      Ronaldo travelled from Portugal to Turin on a private air ambulance – but hit back at suggestions he’s broken protocol in the process.

      CR7 said: “I did not break any protocol.
      “They’re saying that I broke Italian laws but it’s all a lie.
      “I spoke with my team and we have the responsibility to do things right.
      “Everything was done with authorisation. Principally for the Italian man (Italian sports minister Vincenzo Spadaforo) whose name I’m not going to say, it’s a lie, I abided by all the protocols.”

      When will he return to action?
      Ronaldo is definitely out for the game against Dynamo Kiev after returning a positive test on Tuesday, October 13.
      It looks likely that he will also miss the Serie A clash against Verona on October 25.
      And his long-awaited meeting with Barcelona and Lionel Messi could also be in doubt, as Uefa protocol requires a player to test negative seven days before a game. 
      To therefore play in the clash with the Catalan giants, Ronaldo will need to test negative for coronavirus by Wednesday, October 21.
      If he doesn’t, he’s likely to make his Juventus return at Spezia on November 1. More

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      Man Utd boss Solskjaer reveals Cavani ‘didn’t feel ready to play’ as he misses emotional return to PSG

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      MANCHESTER UNITED manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed Edinson Cavani ‘didn’t feel ready to play’ against Paris Saint-Germain and will miss out on an emotional return.
      The Uruguayan striker left Ligue 1 champions PSG this summer after seven years in the French capital.

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      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed Edinson Cavani ‘didn’t feel ready to play’ against PSGCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      He signed for United on a free during transfer deadline day, but will not play against his former club in the Champions League opener.
      Manager Solskjaer told RMC Sport: “We wanted him to be there too, but he went without playing for a long time.
      “We thought it was better for him to continue training. To better prepare.
      “Edi knows what he wants and what he needs. He didn’t feel ready enough.”

      Captain Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood, Jesse Lingard and Eric Bailly will also not feature against PSG.
      With Maguire out, Bruno Fernandes will inherit the armband for the game.
      And Fernandes praised Cavani for his opening impression at the club.
      He said: “It’s normal that he isn’t here, with only two days of training he needs to feel better.

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      United signed Cavani on a free transfer this season Credit: PA:Press Association

      “He’s settled down well. We did only one training session together. He likes to train hard.
      “He has qualities to be a leader for us, the way he trains. He’s going to be important to us.”
      In the pre-match press conference, Fernandes appeared surprised when finding out the news he would captain United.
      He said: “I was not expecting this, for me it’s an honour to be captain of Manchester United.
      “It is an important achievement for me but I think everyone is the captain, everyone needs to help and be a leader in their own way, leadership is different in every player.
      “The game will not be about me but the team but leading is every day on the training ground, every game and everyone is doing their job to lead the team in the way they think is best.”

      Edinson Cavani joins Man Utd in training for the first time
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      Solskjaer insists Greenwood has not been left home for disciplinary reasons as striker misses Man Utd’s clash with PSG

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      OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has denied that Mason Greenwood was left at home when Manchester United travelled to Paris because of disciplinary issues.
      Rumours circulated over the weekend regarding the reason for his omission from the squad that faced Newcastle on Saturday.

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      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would not disclose the ‘niggle’ behind Mason Greenwood’s absenceCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      The Manchester United youngster has struggled for form this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      While he has been training, Greenwood did not travel with the team for the Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
      Solskjaer gave a flat ‘no’ when the notion of a disciplinary issue was put to him.
      But he would not say what injury the striker was suffering from to keep him out the squad.
      Solskjaer said: “I can’t declare medical stuff, can I?

      “We hope it’s just a niggle and we don’t want to take any chances with him, and hopefully at the weekend it’ll be fine again.”
      It is not clear when and how he got this ‘niggle’ given that he did not go away on international duty with England, having been expelled from the camp for disciplinary reasons following his debut against Iceland.

      The 19-year-old has been hailed by Solskjaer as the best finisher in the club but has had to be reminded of his responsibilities as a United player following that incident.
      After the match in Reykjavik, Greenwood and Manchester City’s Phil Foden met up with two girls at the team hotel and were subsequently kicked out the squad.

      Greenwood has struggled with his form since that moment and scored just once, in a Carabao Cup game away to Luton.

      Ray Parlour says the Mason Greenwood mistake has been dealt with at Man Utd More

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      Chelsea in massive injury boost with keeper Edouard Mendy ‘set for shock return vs Sevilla’

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      EDOUARD MENDY could be about to hand Frank Lampard a massive boost by returning to fitness for Chelsea’s game with Sevilla.
      The Blues kick off their Champions League campaign at home to the Europa League champions on Tuesday night.

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      Edouard Mendy was unavailable for Saturday’s Premier League encounterCredit: Reuters

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      Kepa Arrizabalaga deputised against Southampton as Chelsea surrendered a 3-1 lead to draw at Stamford BridgeCredit: AFP or llicensors AFP or Licensors

      A thigh injury suffered by Mendy, 28, on international duty kept him out of the weekend draw with Southampton.
      It was thought the Sevilla clash would come too soon for the Senegal shot-stopper, but reports suggest he could return.
      The Telegraph detail how Mendy trained without issue on both Sunday and Monday.

      The decision over whether to risk the £22million keeper will rest with Lampard.

      The Blues boss will be keen to have his first-choice shot-stopper back in between the posts after identifying goalkeeper issues as the key source of his defensive woes.
      Kepa Arrizabalaga returned to the side on Saturday after Mendy’s convincing displays against Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
      It didn’t take long for the Spaniard to remind his manager why he was replaced.
      An underhit back pass from Kurt Zouma was compounded by Kepa’s weak reaction to Che Adams bearing down on goal, the striker netting to make it 3-2.

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      After the Southampton draw, Lampard pointed out that Chelsea are conceding fewer shots than most of their rivals – yet somehow failing to keep them out.
      He told reporters: “In terms of the goals conceded, yes I am aware of the stats.
      “The other stat is, since we have been here, we have conceded the second least shots in the Premier League behind Manchester City, so sometimes it helps you to narrow down some of the issues.
      “And the issues are that we don’t concede too many shots on goal, but when we do we concede goals.

      “It’s something we are aware of, we were aware of when you look at our recruitment.
      “More important than that, we work everyday with the players on the pitch to make sure we set up well to not concede many chances, but the chances we do concede we let in too many [goals] and that is something we work on specifically.
      “Of course, we want to concede less goals, as all teams do at the moment.
      “There are teams that are conceding lots of goals in the Premier League, we are all in a similar position in that at the moment. It will always be something we work on as well as our attacking play.”

      Frank Lampard says he is frustrated in Chelsea vs Southampton post-match press conference More

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      Watch Bruno Fernandes shout at Alex Telles for not passing ball quick enough as Man Utd fans call him ‘captain material’

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      BRUNO FERNANDES has been hailed as ‘captain material’ after footage emerged of him shouting at Alex Telles for not passing fast enough.
      The midfielder, 26, transformed United’s midfielder after signing from Sporting Lisbon last January and is set to skipper Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side for the first time against Paris Saint-Germain this week.

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      Bruno Fernandes has been hailed as ‘captain material’ after footage emerged of him shouting at Alex Telles for not passing quick enoughCredit: Manchester United FC

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      Fernandes appeared frustrated with Telles in training Credit: Manchester United FC

      And fans reckon he is the perfect man for the job after a clip showed Fernandes criticising new left-back Telles, 27, in training.
      It came after Telles – who arrived from Porto this summer – was intercepted in a passing drill, which Fernandes took exception to.
      The pair were former league rivals in Portugal.
      But United fans were full of praise for Fernandes as he took leadership on the training ground.

      One said: “Bruno Fernandes is 100% captain material. Losing his cool with Alex Telles for not moving the ball on quickly enough.
      “These are the levels we need!”
      Another said: “Doesn’t matter if he gets the armband. Guys influence is visible.
      “He has a winner mentality and anyone that fails to get on the level will just be dropped.”

      Tbh, you actually need players like this in the team. Especially if the players are good enough to hold others to higher standards. https://t.co/ic5buMVUJs
      — wolf in cheap clothing (@wxlfpvp) October 19, 2020

      He was a brilliant captain for Sporting..
      — scott laird (@kisscheeks) October 19, 2020

      He is a winner and on a different level to anybody at the club and is apart from Cavani, enjoy him while we can can’t see him being at club long far too good for us.
      — Andrew J. Naismith (@Gonk83) October 19, 2020

      Doesnt matter if he gets the armband. Guys influence is visible. He has a winner mentality and anyone that fails to get on the level will just be dropped. Love ir
      — theARTofBokkaBoom (@BokkaBoom) October 19, 2020

      The team-mates were training ahead of United’s opening Champions League group stage qualifier.
      But they will face French champions PSG without new striker Cavani and regular captain Harry Maguire.
      Cavani has only just become available to play following his two-week self-isolation period after travelling to England and has been left behind to work on his fitness.
      Solskjaer started Maguire for the game at Newcastle – with the England defender even getting on the scoresheet.
      But with the ex-Leicester ace clearly desperate for a breather, he has been left at home for the PSG game.

      Edinson Cavani joins Man Utd in training for the first time More