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      in Soccer

      Two Chelsea bidders ‘closely monitoring’ Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell to finally succeed Michael Emenalo

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      TWO Chelsea bidders are “closely monitoring” Paul Mitchell as they prepare to hire a new sporting director, according to reports.The post at Stamford Bridge has been vacant since Michael Emenalo left the club in 2017.
      Two Chelsea bidders are believed to be keen on Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell, who previously worked with Ralf Rangnick at RB LeipzigCredit: Alamy
      And Mancunian Mitchell, 40, is being chased by at least two of the three parties left in the running to buy the Blues, say The Athletic.
      The shortlist to take over from Roman Abramovich at Chelsea had been cut to four parties.
      But after the group led by the Ricketts family withdrew their proposal, the race is now between groups led by Todd Boehly, Stephen Pagliuca and Sir Martin Broughton.
      All parties are keen on keeping transfer supremo Marina Granovskaia.
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      And reports claim two of the original bidding groups want to fill the role of technical director.
      Both potential Chelsea owners are closely monitoring the situation surrounding Monaco sporting director Mitchell.
      Several other names are believed to be in the running.
      But Mitchell – who succeeded Emenalo at Monaco – is considered to be the No1 target.
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      He has held senior roles at MK Dons, Southampton, Tottenham and RB Leipzig already during his career.
      In March, it was claimed Mitchell was considering quitting Monaco due to a “change in the political climate”.
      But after Monaco’s superb run of form – and talks with president Dmitry Rybolovlev – Mitchell could now stay put.
      The sporting director has been credited with the Ligue 1 side’s turnaround from relegation scraps to pushing for Champions League places, all with one of the youngest squads in the league.
      Mitchell is credited with integrating more youth products into the senior squad, helping the club’s woeful injury record and transforming the atmosphere for the better.
      He still has two years left on his contract having taken the Monaco job in the summer of 2020.
      And given the club’s revival, Mitchell may be more difficult to coax away from France.
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      Mitchell had been linked with the job at Newcastle, before their new owners opted for Brighton’s Dan Ashworth.
      But both Mitchell and Monaco’s mettle is set to be tested in the coming weeks with Chelsea’s takeover edging closer. More

    • 225 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Real Madrid plot Reece James transfer after Chelsea and England star impresses both Bernabeu scouts and Karim Benzema

      by

      REAL MADRID are plotting a sensational swoop for Chelsea star Reece James this summer, according to reports.The Blues right-back, 22, has been in superb form this season – excelling in attack as well as defensively.
      Real Madrid have scouted Reece James at least nine times ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop, according to reportsCredit: Alamy
      James is quickly establishing himself as England’s No1 man in that position despite Gareth Southgate’s plethora of options.
      And Real Madrid are hoping to lure him away from Old Trafford in the summer, according to The Mirror.
      Los Blancos recently got a close look at James during their Champions League quarter-final tie against Chelsea.
      James was in scintillating form as the Blues came within touching distance of a stunning second-leg comeback at the Bernabeu.
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      The defender even earned the respect of superstar striker Karim Benzema.
      The France veteran – the leading contender for the 2022 Ballon d’Or – even chased after James to swap shirts after the Blues’ 3-2 win last week.
      Real Madrid are believed to have scouted the Three Lions star at least NINE TIMES this season alone.
      And while the LaLiga champions-elect will need to sell a host of first-team fringe players before they can buy, it’s claimed they are confident of securing funds for a raid on Chelsea.
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      Carlo Ancelotti is keen to reshape his Real Madrid squad over the summer in a desperate bid to get back to the top of the European game.
      His side are already near-certainties to win the league but have failed to clinch the Champions League since beating Liverpool in 2018.
      Los Blancos are chasing Kylian Mbappe as their No1 priority this summer, with Erling Haaland also on their radar.
      Real chiefs are hoping Haaland will stay at Borussia Dortmund for another season to allow them to go all in on Mbappe before stealing the Norwegian away in a £64million deal in 2023.
      But the club will first have to sell to raise funds.
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      Gareth Bale will leave the club in the summer – and potentially retire – opening up £650,000 a week in ages.
      The likes of Eden Hazard and Isco are also likely to be sold as part of the Ancelotti revolution. More

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      Joe Cole reckons Romelu Lukaku has six weeks to save his Chelsea career after £97m striker’s miss in FA Cup semi-final

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      JOE COLE has warned Romelu Lukaku he has just SIX WEEKS to save his Chelsea career.That’s after the club-record £97million striker missed a point-blank chance in the Blues’ 2-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Crystal Palace.
      Romelu Lukaku has been warned he has just six weeks to save his Chelsea careerCredit: Getty
      Joe Cole believes Lukaku must improve quickly after squandering an easy chance against Crystal PalaceCredit: BT Sport
      Lukaku, 28, was named on the bench for Sunday’s clash at Wembley after recovering from an Achilles injury.
      The Belgian has failed to impress since his return to Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan last summer, managing just five league goals.
      And Lukaku fluffed his lines once again after coming off the bench late on against Palace.
      With Chelsea already 2-0 up thanks to goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount, Lukaku was played through on goal by strike partner Timo Werner.
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      But despite being presented with a point-blank opportunity at an almost-open goal, Lukaku managed to scuff his shot and hit the post.
      His effort was met by groans from the Chelsea faithful, whose patience has already been tested several times this season.
      And Cole believes Lukaku has from now until the end of the season – six weeks away – to rectify the situation and show he deserves to remain a Chelsea player.
      Former Blue Cole told ITV: “Lukaku has six weeks to save his Chelsea career.
      .css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Football.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
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      “You look at Werner and he doesn’t give up. Lukaku wants to be that focal point but he missed a chance.
      “When it’s not going for you, it’s not going for you.
      “People saw Lukaku as the missing piece of the jigsaw, it didn’t happen.
      “But it can come back as quickly as it goes. Football can change in one game.”
      Meanwhile, Tuchel revealed before kick-off that Lukaku’s match fitness remains some way off the standard required to match Chelsea’s tactical intensity.
      The German noted: “He is not fit enough for the intensity of our game in an FA Cup semi-final.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}WEDDING BELLS? .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Daisy May Cooper ‘shops for engagement ring’ – 9 months after marriage split
      “It’s not easy to come into a game such as this with so much riding on it after a spell out with injury.
      “It’s just a case of him not having as much minutes recently as the other players, his match fitness is not quite there otherwise there’s a big chance that he would have started today.” More

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      Blues land FA Cup final spot, Haaland transfer BOOST, Terry key to Chelsea Pagliuca bid – takeover latest

      by

      CHELSEA have booked their spot in the FA Cup final having comfortably dealt with Crystal Palace at Wembley.The Blues will be participating in their third consecutive FA Cup final where Liverpool awaits.
      Meanwhile, Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn has admitted that the German giants cannot afford Erling Haaland.
      Which paves the way for Chelsea to bolster their striking options with Romelu Lukaku’s exit looming.
      And the new ownership team are set to be revealed next week.
      Stephen Pagliuca has announced NBA chairman Larry Tanenbaum as co-managing partner in his bid, with John Terry also part of the takeover attempt.
      Also on his team are ex-Disney CEO Bob Iger & journalist Willow Bay, Facebook Co-Founder Eduardo Saverin & businesswoman Elaine Saverin; B Capital co-founder Raj Ganguly.
      Keep up to date with all of the latest updates from the takeover in our live blog…
      Prem date moved
      Chelsea’s Premier League match with Manchester United has been moved after the Blues reached the FA Cup Final.
      The West Londoners will return to Wembley stadium on May 14 to face Liverpool.
      But the game means Chelsea will be unable to fulfil their original league date against United.
      The two teams were due to play at Old Trafford on Sunday May 15, which is the day after the final.
      But it has now been confirmed the ficture will be moved and thus the Red Devils will host Thomas Tuchel’s men on Thursday April 28.
      And the match will kick off at 7.45pm, with live TV coverage remaining on Sky Sports
      Tuchel on Loftus-Cheek
      Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel reiterated his instruction to Ruben Loftus-Cheek insisting he needs to show more.
      Tuchel said: “Hopefully a big moment because it was a big moment.
      “He’s normally a clam and quiet guy, but to see him like this – jumping and celebrating – is good.
      “As I’ve said, we need to install this confidence into his body and game and these are the next steps for him.
      “He needs to feel how much influence he can have, show everybody in the stadium the potential he has and not just to us on the training pitches”
      Credit: GETTY IMAGES
      Tuchel on Kovacic injury
      Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel announced that Mateo Kovacic suffered an ankle injury and “it does not look so good”.
      Tuchel said: “We went for Jorgi [Jorginho] in the mix as he was hungry to play this match.
      “The season is not finished and we wanted to reward Jorgi and Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta] to stay part.
      “Kova goes out. He is in pain and the ankle is swollen. It’s a huge ankle right now. It does not look so good but let’s wait for the examination.
      More from Tuchel
      Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel added: “We can’t promise. All we can do now is to be well prepared because it will be another hard fight given their quality and run of form.
      “It’s difficult to beat them but this is what the cup final is about, it’s about winning.
      “It makes the season so much sweeter if you have a final you can win, but in a final two compete against each other and you can sometimes give your everything and it’s sometimes not enough”
      Tuchel on Liverpool final
      Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel addressed the upcoming FA Cup Final against Liverpool, just a few months after an unsuccessful Carabao Cup Final.
      Tuchel said: “We lost a final and we gave everything in that final. It was a big match that went until the last penalty.
      “We were unlucky to lose it and of course, we want to turn things around.
      “It will not give us the Carabao title back but it’s the FA Cup, it’s the most prestigious and traditional cup in the world. There are not a lot of bigger games to be part of”
      More from Tuchel
      Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel opened up on the way he approached the FA Cup semi-final tactically.
      Tuchel added: “Very solid, very serious. We had to take care of some things to control the counter-attacks before they even started. For that, we had to be disciplined and we had to close the spaces.
      “We did not expect them to change their formation so there were not the spaces we thought we could explore. It was not maybe the most exciting game to watch but it was important to keep the discipline up.
      “We did not lose the focus for a second. We tried to find different spaces in the second half to overload the middle and accelerate the game more and then it became more fluid. Then you have to covert the half chance or the chance to win it”
      Credit: GETTY IMAGES
      Chelsea given Haaland boost
      Bayern Munich have ruled out a move for Borussia Dortmund superstar and Chelsea transfer target Erling Haaland.
      Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn admitted the German champions would love to sign Haaland.
      But he admitted the Bavarians can’t afford Dortmund’s release clause for the star striker.
      Kahn said: “Haaland? I don’t think we would be doing our job properly if we didn’t consider such a young striker.
      “He’s an excellent striker and a very interesting player for the future. But financial dimensions [of a deal] are beyond our imagination”
      Loftus-Cheek reacts
      Chelsea ace Ruben Loftus-Cheek looked back at his “tough road” to full fitness.
      Loftus-Cheek told ITV: “Way overdue [the goal]! It has been a tough road with injuries and going on loan to find my form again but I always believed in myself and I always wanted to play for Chelsea. I have played quite a lot this season, I am happy.
      “I was just thinking hit it, I think it took a little deflection but I’ll take it! I had to be ready to step in. It looked a bit slow in the first half so I just wanted to bring some energy.
      “The reason I am still here is my mentality through all the injuries. I still believed in myself and I said for many years my time will come.
      “We want to get them back, simple as that. It was a fantastic game in the League Cup final and could have gone either way”
      Thomas Tuchel reacts
      Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel praised Ruben Loftus Cheek’s performance against Crystal Palace.
      Tuchel told ITV: “It was not easy because we played three games in three different competitions. It is not always easy, very challenging physically, we are the team with the most minutes in Europe I think, it is also challenging mentally.
      “I thought the performance was very controlled and very serious, we took care of their counterattacks. It was hard, the opponent changed system twice, you cannot lose focus for a minute.
      “He [Ruben Loftus-Cheek] was very, very strong in matches against Southampton and Real Madrid, he would have deserved to start but we expected a back four. We knew Ruben would have a big impact off the bench. I am very happy.
      “He hid his talent and potential for a long time in his career. He is capable of producing performances that everyone sees on the pitch. For him it is step by step that he continues to grow in his confidence”
      Back at it
      Chelsea and Liverpool are set to face off in the FA Cup Final on May 14 at Wembley.
      The Blues and the Reds will be the second pair to meet in both the FA Cup and League Cup finals in the same season.
      That is after Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday in the 1992-1993 campaign.
      More below:

      FT: Chelsea 2 Crystal Palace 0
      Chelsea punched their ticket to the FA Cup Final after beating Crystal Palace 2-0 at Wembley Stadium.
      The Blues opened the scoring on 65 minutes with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who came on for the injured Mateo Kovacic in the first half.
      The West Londoners sealed qualification with Mason Mount after 76 minutes.
      Thomas Tuchel’s men are now set to face Liverpool in the final
      Chelsea 2 Crystal Palace 0
      Chelsea are close to the FA Cup Final as they are leading 2-0 against Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium.
      The Blues opened the scoring on 65 minutes with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who came on for the injured Mateo Kovacic in the first half.
      And the West Londoners doubled their lead with Mason Mount after 76 minutes.
      If Chelsea maintain their lead they will face Liverpool in the final
      Chelsea 0 Crystal Palace 0
      We’ve reached the hour-mark at Wembley and both Chelsea as well as Crystal Palace are still goalless.
      Reminding you all you can follow the live action in SunSport’s live blog here
      Credit: GETTY IMAGES
      HT: Chelsea 0 Crystal Palace 0
      It’s half-time at Wembley and Chelsea are still goalless with Crystal Palace.
      The Blues lost Matteo Kovacic to an injury and Thomas Tuchel had to take him off on 26 minutes.
      Kovacic was replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
      The winner will go on to face Liverpool in the FA Cup Final
      Chelsea 0 Crystal Palace 0
      And here’s how the benches look like:
      Chelsea: Kepa, Silva, Kante, Lukaku, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Saul, Ziyech, Sarr.
      Crystal Palace: Guaita, Milivojevic, Tomkins, Olise, Ayew, Clyne, Benteke, Edouard, Kelly.
      Chelsea 0 Crystal Palace 0
      It’s still goalless at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
      Here’s a little reminder of the two teams’ starting line-ups:
      Chelsea: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Havertz, Werner.
      Crystal Palace: Butland, Ward, Guehi, Anderson, Mitchell, Kouyate, McArthur, Schlupp, Zaha, Eze, Mateta.
      John Terry takeover reminder
      Chelsea legend John Terry will play a key role in Boston Celtics and Atalanta co-owner Steve Pagliuca’s bid to become the club’s next owner, according to SunSport’s Andy Dillon.
      Pagliuca won Terry’s backing just 24 hours before final bids were submitted on Thursday.
      And the Celtics chief will now tap into the former Blues captain’s expertise to help win the race to take over from Roman Abramovich.
      A preferred bidder could be announced by the middle of next week and a deal completed by the end of the month.
      The former England international is part of the True Blues group, which has now aligned itself to Pagliuca’s bid to buy the £3billion-rated club
      Credit: GETTY IMAGES
      Chelsea Women reach FA Cup final
      Chelsea’s women’s side have cruised into the FA Cup final.
      The Blues secured their place in the finale with a 2-0 win over Arsenal’s ladies in the semi-finals.
      Goals from Guro Reiten and Ji So-yun gave Emma Hayes’ side the win.
      Chelsea’s men’s side will be hoping they can also get into the competition’s final when they face Crystal Palace today.
      Chelsea given Haaland boost
      Bayern Munich have ruled out a move for Chelsea transfer target Erling Haaland.
      Bayern chief Oliver Kahn admitted the German side would love to sign the Borussia Dortmund striker.
      But he admitted Bayern can’t afford Dortmund’s release clause for Haaland.
      Kahn said: “Haaland? I don’t think we would be doing our job properly if we didn’t consider such a young striker.
      “He’s an excellent striker and a very interesting player for the future. But financial dimensions [of a deal] are beyond our imagination.”
      Tuchel issues Loftus-Cheek warning
      Thomas Tuchel has told Ruben Loftus-Cheek to believe in himself more.
      Tuchel said: “He has everything, but he has heard it for so many years, he has heard it too much.
      “He needs to trust himself. It is not a matter of over-confidence. It is the opposite.
      “He needs to feel the confidence in his body and in his ability to do this not once, twice but three, four, ten, 20 times in a row.”
      Eden Hazard is staying put
      Eden Hazard has no intentions of leaving Real Madrid despite interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.
      That’s according to the winger’s brother, Kylian who claims his sibling still has a point to prove with Los Blancos.
      Kylian told RTL Sport: “He’s not going to let Real go until he’s proven he’s the strongest there.
      “He’s proven himself at every club he’s been to, and for me, he doesn’t want to leave.
      “I don’t think he’s going to leave. If the president wants him to leave, and he knows he has no chance to play, then I don’t think that he will stay. But I can assure you, he will do everything to prove he is the best player at Real Madrid.”
      Tuchel on Real Madrid loss
      Thomas Tuchel thinks like Chelsea still won against Real Madrid despite crashing out the Champions League at the hands of the Spanish giants.
      He said: “We won. We won with an excellent performance and the attitude, investment, mentality, everything was on top level, what we needed.
      “We got the result that was even enough to go through and we didn’t make it so it is disappointing and sad. It still needs a bit of time to digest.”
      Vieira talks Chelsea game
      Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has told his stars that they’re in for a shock if they think Chelsea are mentally damaged after losing to Real Madrid.
      He said: “If we are thinking that mentally they will be disappointed about the Madrid game, or the Madrid game having an impact on them, that is the biggest mistake we can make.
      “Those clubs, those players they aim to win something every year and of course the FA Cup is what’s left on the table and they will do the maximum to try to win it.”
      Tuchel on Crystal Palace threat
      Thomas Tuchel has admitted Crystal Palace will give his Chelsea side a challenge when they meet in the FA Cup.
      He said: “The constant level on which they are playing, high level of energy, commitment.
      “They are playing throughout the season in the same way. It is a big belief, a real team effort, very close to the coach.”
      It’s not Wright
      Shaun Wright-Phillips has blasted his former club Chelsea for not allowing loanee Conor Gallagher to play in today’s FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.
      Speaking to Metro he said: “I don’t agree with the fact that loan players can’t play against their parent team. I’ve never agreed with it.
      “For me, if you think he’s that good then play him in your team, give him his shot to show what he’s capable of.”
      Load more entries… More

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      Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2: Hayes not interested in revenge on Man City as WSL leaders defeat Gunners to reach FA Cup final

      by

      EMMA HAYES insists payback will not be on the agenda when Chelsea face Manchester City after crushing Arsenal’s FA Cup final hopes.A Ji So-yun stunner – scored seven years after her Cup final winner against Notts County– helped the Blues seal a 2-0 victory.
      Ji So-yun struck to give Chelsea a 2-0 advantage in their FA Cup semis duel with ArsenalCredit: Getty
      Guro Reiten’s thumping second-half strike gave Chelsea the lead against ArsenalCredit: Getty
      The result paved the way for Chelsea’s May 8th Wembley date with City despite the Gunners’ spirited efforts.
      It also saw the Gunners’ trophy double chase ended with their rivals facing off in their second cup decider clash this term.
      Hayes said: “I’m never preoccupied with revenge type things. I don’t think about that.
      “I just know (in the Conti Cup final) we were our most vulnerable back then when we had a lot of players out.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The 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      “We’re in a really good space really in a good space, we’ve got players coming back into the group. This is a team in form, but so are City.”
      Chelsea came into the game without the mercurial skills of Fran Kirby with the forward ruled out for the rest of the season.
      But the Blues’ ace’s midfield colleagues ensured their side came out on top winning the battle in the centre of the park.
      Hayes added: “Midfield is where we won the game. In the game where we drew they beat us in this area.
      “But in this match, Erin (Cuthbert), Sophie (Ingle) and Ji So-yun were so dominant. That was also helped with our back three being superb.”
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      At a packed Borehamwood, Arsenal began the brighter of the sides with Mead looking to shoot around the fifth minute.
      And the Gunners forward took a hefty whack to the face from a ball with play stopped momentarily before she continued after treatment.
      Stina Blackstenius fluffed a cutback for Miedema after evading Aniek Nouwen on the left in the 13th minute.
      This was moments before Leah Williamson cleared Ji’s lofted cross into the cross.
      At the other end, Miedema fired narrowly over the bar from just outside the 18-yard box after a purposeful charge into the area around the 20th -minute.
      Later Cuthbert saw her shot from distance saved by Manuela Zinsberger.
      Vivianne Miedema sent a shot over the bar in the first halfCredit: Getty
      And Ingle’s long-range effort was cleared out of danger by Williamson shortly after the half-hour mark, before Niamh Charles prompted a stop from Zinsberger near halftime.
      The second spell saw Arsenal take things up a notch with Mead firing inches wide after deftly sitting Aniek Nouwen down with a pirouette.
      But Chelsea dealt a sucker punch seconds later with Guro Reiten walloping a classy left-footed opener past a full-stretched Zinsberger in the 48th minute.
      The hosts looked to hit back swiftly with Miedema releasing Caitlin Foord before the Australia ace was flagged offside near the 50th minute
      And England came close to scoring after receiving a long ball forcing Zinsberger to parry the ball wide of her post.
      Hayes’ aces doubled the lead with around half an hour remaining with Ji whipping in a top corner past the Gunners keeper.
      And the Austria number one was forced to intercept a pass intended for England with 16 minutes of normal time remaining
      Arsenal came close to nabbing a consolation at the death with Ann-Katrin Berger saving with her feet to keep a cleansheet.
      And Chelsea closed out the game to reach their fifth FA Cup final in eight years.
      Jonas Eidevall wants Arsenal to focus on a strong league finish this season with the WSL title still in contentionCredit: Getty
      The result leaves Jonas Eidevall’s aces’ chances of silverware resting with their chase for the title.
      The Gunners boss said: “I’m very disappointed in the match (result) but I’m very motivated in doing everything to finish off the season as strongly as possible.
      “That’s what we need to do and that’s most the important thing.” More

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      in Soccer

      Chelsea clash with Man Utd in Premier League date and time moved after reaching FA Cup final against Liverpool

      by

      CHELSEA’S Premier League clash with Manchester United has been moved after they reached the FA Cup final.Goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount sealed a 2-0 semi-final win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
      Chelsea’s trip to Man Utd has been moved after they reached the FA Cup finalCredit: Getty
      And Chelsea will return to the home of English football on May 14 to face Liverpool.
      It will be the Blues’ fourth FA Cup final in five years, and their third in a row.
      But the clash means Chelsea will be unable to fulfil their original league date against Man United.
      The rivals were due to play at Old Trafford on Sunday May 15 – the day after the FA Cup final – at 4.30pm.
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      But it has now been confirmed the game will be moved forward by over two weeks.
      United will instead host Chelsea on Thursday April 28.
      And the weekday battle will kick off at 7.45pm, with live TV coverage remaining on Sky Sports.
      The match was due to be United’s last home league game of the season.
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      However, that will now be Monday May 2’s visit of Brentford, which takes place just days after the Chelsea game.
      United will face Arsenal shortly before the Blues, and before that play Liverpool in an extraordinary run of season-defining matches.
      As for Chelsea, they will sandwich their trip to United in between tough clashes against West Ham and Everton.
      Thomas Tuchel’s men will also take on Leeds before their FA Cup final against Liverpool.
      And they will follow that game up by hosting Leicester at Stamford Bridge. More

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      in Soccer

      Chelsea verdict: Reece James shows class as a centre-back again to open up box of opportunities for Tuchel and Southgate

      by

      REECE JAMES proved his quality as a centre-back yet again with a flawless display in Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final win over Crystal Palace.The England defender, 22, was brilliant against Real Madrid on Tuesday in an unfamiliar centre-back role.
      Reece James showed his quality as a centre-back again as Chelsea beat Crystal PalaceCredit: Alamy
      James and Timo Werner linked up effectively in the semi-finalCredit: Getty
      He kept Real dangerman Vinicius Jr. quiet for the most part and did the same to Wilfried Zaha at Wembley.
      It was an interesting decision from Thomas Tuchel to start James in the heart of defence with Cesar Azpilicueta instead given the right wing-back role.
      But when James showed the strength and composure to keep the ball off Jean-Philippe Mateta in a dangerous position, Tuchel likely felt vindicated in his decision.
      Patrick Vieira later moved Eberechi Eze to Palace’s left with Zaha operating through the middle – but whatever changes he made James was undeterred.
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      Importantly, James’ attacking threat was not nullified in his new found role with plenty of space ahead of him to run into when required.
      He exploited that space too, either by carrying the ball forward or playing passes in behind the Palace defence to the pacy Timo Werner.
      Twice in the first half James almost found a defence-splitting pass into the German’s path – it twice took last-ditch tackles to put a stop to the danger.
      One of James’ biggest strengths is his crossing ability so with more time and space on the ball in this role he should be able to pick out the likes of Werner and Kai Havertz and add more assists to his game.
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      He can also provide runs on the underlap and perhaps would have been more adventurous against Real and Palace if the two games not been so vital to Chelsea’s season.
      But James’ two classy performances in the space of six days – and the magnitude of the two games – suggests he could occupy a centre-back role for Chelsea long-term.
      In doing so he would alleviate the pressure currently on the Blues to find one or more world-class centre-backs, having been linked with Jules Kounde and Matthijs de Ligt.
      It also softens the blow of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Azpilicueta potentially leaving in summer.
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      Tuchel and Chelsea’s transfer chiefs could even decide to focus on signing a right wing-back instead when the transfer window opens, having been keen on Barcelona star Sergino Dest for some time.
      Before that the Blues now have the small task of the FA Cup final to deal with, and James is almost guaranteed to play centrally once again to deal with the danger of Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz.
      James’ display also gives Gareth Southgate plenty to think about and the England manager was in attendance at Wembley.
      Southgate has previously deployed Kyle Walker in the same right-sided centre-back role, and with success, as the Manchester City star helped the Three Lions reach the 2018 World Cup semi-final.
      James is now another option, and it could allow England to fit the Chelsea man in the same team as Trent Alexander-Arnold – a thought that should fill England fans with glee. More

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      in Soccer

      Chelsea ratings: Mount continues hot streak but Havertz dip in form gives Tuchel worries as Blues reach FA Cup final

      by

      CHELSEA booked their place in the FA Cup final with Mason Mount and Timo Werner impressing again.It was a tense affair at Wembley with neither the Blues nor Crystal Palace creating many openings.
      Mason Mount scored his fourth goal in three games to help Chelsea into the FA Cup finalCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
      Timo Werner continued his good form with a clever assist for Mount’s goalCredit: Reuters
      Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 2-0 to book their place in a fifth cup final under Thomas TuchelCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek powered home a loose ball to break the deadlockCredit: Reuters
      So when the ball fell kindly for Ruben Loftus-Cheek to smash in on the half-volley he had to take his chance, and did.
      Loftus-Cheek was quiet after coming on as a first-half substitute for the injured Mateo Kovacic, with his midfield partner Jorginho the more efficient out of the two.
      The Brazilian was one of Chelsea’s better players alongside Reece James, Andreas Christensen and Mason Mount, who added a second for Thomas Tuchel’s side 11 minutes after the opener.
      However, Kai Havertz was disappointing again after missing a hatful of chances against Real Madrid in mid-week.

      Here is how SunSport’s Kealan Hughes rated Chelsea’s semi-final winning display.
      Edouard Mendy – 7
      An amazing save down low to his left to stop Cheikhou Kouyate’s strike which kept things level going into half-time.
      Was mostly untroubled after that point but did show a good command of his area at Palace set-pieces.
      Cesar Azpilicueta – 6
      Got forward when he could be lacked a bit of quality in the final third, although it was his tenacity winning the ball back that led to the opening goal.
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      Did well defensively in supporting James against Zaha and kept Eberechi Eze quiet when he moved over to Palace’s left wing.
      Reece James – 8
      Was deployed as a right-sided centre-back again after impressing in that role against Real Madrid in mid-week.
      He was given the responsibility of keeping Wilfried Zaha quiet which he did well and also kept possession effectively throughout.
      Andreas Christensen – 7
      Played the Thiago Silva role in the Brazilian’s absence and was effective in preventing Crystal Palace counter attacks.
      He also kept a tight lid on Zaha after he moved into a central role in the second half – Chelsea’s chiefs will be hoping the Dane signs a new deal with his contract up in the summer.

      Antonio Rudiger – 7
      Says a lot about his performance that Jean-Philippe Mateta tried to keep away from him and instead tried to get the better of Christensen.
      Confident on the ball too with one brilliant pass to set Werner away late on in the game.
      Marcos Alonso – 5
      Solid if unspectacular as has been the case for much of the season.
      He needed to get into the box more with Crystal Palace penned in for large spells.
      Mateo Kovacic – 5
      Some tidy touches and kept possession well but was forced off with injury after 25 minutes.
      Jorginho – 8
      The midfielder was a lot better than he has been recently with all of Chelsea’s play going through him.
      Looked fresher than his team-mates after only coming on as a substitute at the Bernabeu and tried to make things happening by finding the killer pass to Timo Werner or Kai Havertz.
      Mason Mount – 7
      Snatched at a half-volley chance in the first half and was generally in and out of the game.
      But his class showed as he played a superb one-two with Timo Werner before slotting the ball into the bottom corner to double Chelsea’s lead – his fourth goal in three games.
      Timo Werner – 7
      His runs in behind the Palace defence were Chelsea’s main threat and he really came alive as Patrick Vieira’s side tired late on.
      But he did not get the clear sight of goal he was looking for thanks to some good defending from Joachim Anderson in particular.
      The German did not give up though and he played a wonderful pass into Mount to set-up his goal. Should have had a second assist but Romelu Lukaku somehow hit the post when it was easier to score.
      Kai Havertz – 5
      Quiet until he was booked for a dive in an attempt to win a penalty.
      Similarly to Werner he was crowded out by Palace’s five-man defence but moved around the pitch in search of the ball so the effort was there.
      Subs
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek (for Kovacic, 26′) – 7
      Struggled to get into the game after coming on but made the decisive impact when he smashed Chelsea in front mid-way through the second half.
      Made a couple of his trademark powerful runs too to help pile the pressure on the Eagles.
      N’Golo Kante (for Jorginho, 78′) – 5
      Broke up play well which was all that was needed after coming on with his side already 2-0 up.
      Hakim Ziyech (for Mount, 77′) – 5
      Did not influence much and should have scored when he followed up Lukaku’s embarrassing miss – his effort was cleared off the line.
      Romelu Lukaku (for Havertz, 77′) – 4
      Made a good impact after Havertz struggled to get anything out of the Palace backline – one good cutback in particular that Ziyech could have scored from.
      But his woes in front of goal continued as he somehow hit the post from five yards out with the goal gaping.
      Thiago Silva (for Christensen, 82′) – 6
      Did not have much to do with Palace losing belief in the last ten minutes. More