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      Jadon Sancho will only get in Chelsea team ‘if football becomes 24-a-side’, ex-Man Utd star fears

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Andy Cole has warned Jadon Sancho he will struggle at Chelsea “unless football becomes 24-a-side”.The English forward, 24, joined the Blues on Deadline Day on a loan deal with an obligation to buy for around £23million.Jadon Sancho joined Chelsea on loan with an obligation buy at the end of the seasonCredit: GettyManchester United legend Andy Cole has issued a warning to SanchoCredit: PAHe is yet to make his debut for the Blues, but could feature in their trip to Bournemouth on Saturday night.However, Man Utd Treble winner Cole, 52, feels Sancho will struggle to establish a run in Enzo Maresca’s team due to Chelsea’s inflated squad.Speaking to Betfred, he said: “Manchester United paid over £70million for Jadon three years ago, so it’s a lot of money lost isn’t it?”Jadon’s a very talented kid and he’s still only 24 years old, so if Chelsea can get the best out of him, like Borussia Dortmund did last season, then it would be a steal.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”There’s so much talent and so much unlocked potential there, so if Chelsea can unlock it and get him to the peak of his powers, then it would ultimately be a very, very good deal for them.”However, you can flip it on its head and ask where he’s going to play?”Unless football becomes 24-a-side, he’s going to struggle like everybody else is at Chelsea because nobody knows what’s going on there.”They’ve got loads of big names but they can only choose 11 players to start, so it will be interesting to see how he does at Chelsea.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSSancho scored two and assisted two in the Bundesliga at Dortmund last seasonMaresca has a host of options in the wide attacking positions including Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke.Sancho scored two goals and provided two assists in 14 Bundesliga games while on loan at Dortmund during the second half of last season.Erik ten Hag loses again in new role as head of Dutch giants after Man Utd’s horror start to Premier League seasonAside from that short stint back in Germany, he has not played any football since the 2022/23 campaign due to a spat with Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag.Sancho, who has featured 23 times for England, has also not received a cap for his country in three years. More

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      Victor Osimhen is ‘a few little details’ away from joining Chelsea, claims Mikel as he hints at January transfer

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      CHELSEA legend John Obi Mikel claims Victor Osimhen remains “very, very close” to joining the club.The 25-year-old was heavily linked with a move from Napoli to Stamford Bridge over the summer.Victor Osimhen nearly joined Chelsea and talks are set to resume in the futureCredit: GettyChelsea legend John Obi Mikel lifted the lid on negotiationsBut the switch failed to materialise and after he was left out of the Italian side’s squad, he joined Galatasaray on loan until the end of the season.However, the transfer saga is not over yet as Mikel hinted that Osimhen could still join Chelsea.The retired icon, who knows the striker from their days together in the Nigeria team and was involved in talks, told his podcast: “We were very, very close to getting this deal done.”But it was just slight issues, slight little problems that we just couldn’t get over the line. READ MORE ON CHELSEA”I know what Victor wanted, I know what the club offered him, I know where we got to.”We finally got to a compromise. Both sides had to compromise – paperwork, medical and a few issues that we just couldn’t get over the line and then we didn’t have much time.”I think both sides really played their part in terms of getting the deal done and I commend Chelsea for that because I could see the ambition of where they can take this club.”Also on Victor’s side, I think we have to pick this up again. Whatever it is, January or next summer. Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”We know where we are, we know where we’ve stopped and it’s just little details that need to be finalised and the deal will be done.”So for me, the club is in a very happy place with Victor and he is in a very happy place.”Chaos as Victor Osimhen is greeted by flare-wielding Galatasaray fans as he leads them in chant at 4am after transferMikel said playing in the Premier League is Osimhen’s dream.But SunSport revealed that the player’s astonishing £500,000-a-week wage demands held up the deal.It would make Osimhen, who has a £110million release clause in his Napoli contract, the highest paid player in the Prem.Mikel said: “Victor is not a greedy boy. He’s not a greedy guy.”He just wants to play football and get what he deserves and that’s not a problem. “A player knowing what he’s worth and demanding to be paid what he what he’s worth, that’s not a problem.” More

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      Todd Boehly will try to take full control of Chelsea as breakdown with co-owner threatening to throw club into crisis

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      TODD BOEHLY is confident he has a £2.5billion fund to end Chelsea’s civil war with a takeover bid.The Blues co-owner has fallen out with majority owners Clearlake Capital, fronted by Behdad Eghbali.Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly appear at loggerheadsCredit: GettyJadon Sancho was the last of Chelsea’s 13 transfer window signingsCredit: InstagramIt looks likely that a takeover from either side will be the only way to solve the boardroom breakdown, but Clearlake are adamant they will not sell and have no need to.Despite that, Boehly is preparing to test their resolve with a takeover attempt by raising £2.5bn through other investors.On the other side, Clearlake are open to having a conversation with Boehly over buying his stake and consider there to be only two routes out of the situation – they either make up or increase their majority shareholding with a takeover.Private equity firm Clearlake, run by Eghbali and co-founder Jose E Feliciano, own a controlling 61.5 per cent stake while the remaining 38.5 per cent is split equally between Boehly and businessmen Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss.READ MORE TOP STORIESBoehly has no interest in selling his individual stake meaning any takeover offer from Clearlake would have to encompass the full 38.5 per cent stake.Billionaire Boehly was the face of the Chelsea takeover in 2022 and led sporting decisions during the ownership’s first transfer window.However, Eghbali has now taken a far more hands-on role in the running of the club.The Californian businessman works closely with sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart and was heavily involved in the summer window which saw 13 new players arrive at Chelsea – while Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah and Raheem Sterling all left.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBoth owners have attended games at Stamford Bridge this season and were reported to be in the same box ahead of the Premier League opener against Manchester City.However, the two were both on the club’s pre-season tour of America and were not seen together.Chelsea fans can’t name their OWN PLAYERS after another wild transfer window under owner Todd BoehlyAll decisions made at the club currently have to be signed off by Eghbali, Feliciano and Boehly and there has been huge change on the pitch and behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge since the trio took control.Work on a new stadium, however, has stalled with there thought to have been clashes between the owners over proposals for a new home.All parties are keen to find a resolution to the current situation in the boardroom, which is threatening to only add to the on-pitch chaos Chelsea have suffered under their American owners.Boehly and Clearlake arrived at the club following Roman Abramovich’s forced sale promising a change from the hire-and-fire culture but are onto their fifth different manager with a spend of over £1.2bn and are yet to deliver a trophy.The American ownership have taken a radical approach to ownership, stockpiling expensive young talent on contracts as long as nine years while also sailing close to the wind on the Premier League’s financial rules.Meanwhile, Chelsea fans on social media appear to be backing Boehly over Eghbali – albeit grudgingly – in any power struggle.One said: “Boehly because he has a sporting background and is not rigid with his policy. Not afraid to make (a) big signing.”Another argued that the American was aiming to “be successful, to win everything and sign star players in the process” – whereas “Eghbali / Clearlake took over Chelsea FC to make money, buying young players on low wages, success is secondary”.But supporters are still unhappy at the club’s spending spree under new manager Enzo Maresca reaping mixed rewards so far with the Blues just 11th.READ MORE SUN STORIESThey did win 6-2 at Wolves last time out in the Prem but some fans reckon Chelsea still need “up to three more attackers”.It came after the Blues splashed out more than £220million on their 13 summer newcomers, although Jadon Sancho’s deadline arrival from Manchester United was on loan. More

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      Chelsea fans say ‘the world is not ready’ as incoming newboys Estevao and Paez join up in Brazil vs Ecuador clash

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      CHELSEA fans believe the club could be successful again after seeing Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez face off in South America.The two young stars are set to join Chelsea in the summer of 2025 but are already representing their nations.Willian Estevao and Kendry Paez faced each other in a World Cup qualifierEstevao put in a disciplined display for Brazil as they won 1-0Credit: RexPaez came on for the second half for EcuadorCredit: RexBrazil won the World Cup qualifier 1-0 thanks to a goal from Real Madrid’s Rodrygo in the 30th minute.Estevao and Paez both saw plenty of action as they came on in the second half.Paez, 17, replaced Jeremy Sarmiento in the 46th minute and saw plenty of the ball with 41 touches.He completed 83 per cent of his 35 passes but lost possession eight times.READ MORE CHELSEA NEWSEstevao, 17, entered the fray in the 62nd minute and put in a composed performance.He completed all 12 of his passes in Brazil’s midfield, one of which created a big chance that was not converted.The pair were seen chatting after the game, leading Chelsea fans to get excited about their impending arrivals, claiming “the world is not ready”.One posted: “The future of Chelsea is bright.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSA second wrote: “Big talents of the future. Excited to see their development.”A third commented: “Chelsea is the home of talent.” Man Utd flop Jadon Sancho makes bizarre claim about Enzo Maresca being reason he joined Chelsea but it doesn’t add upA fourth said: “We’re blessed. Two of the world’s best young players will soon play for us.”Another added: “Chelsea’s future is looking bright.”Estevao is believed to have cost the Blues an eye-watering £55million to sign him from Brazilian outfit Palmeiras.The midfielder will join up with the squad next summer and be contracted to the Stamford Bridge side until 2032.Paez, on the other hand, cost the club a more modest £17m from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle.He has already been hailed by the likes of compatriot and soon to be team-mate Moises Caicedo.The former Brighton and Hove Albion star has raved about Paez’s talents.He told La Cancha Con Majo: “He’s a crack.READ MORE SUN STORIES”The truth is there are times where I watch Independiente games. It’s good to see those talents in Ecuador because we know we have very good youth.”All I can tell him is keep on the right track, doing things really well, and he’s going to go really far because the talent he has is incredible.” More

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      Watch moment Raheem Sterling demolishes three Arsenal team-mates with outrageous skill as fans say ‘have some mercy’

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      RAHEEM STERLING showed Chelsea what they will have to miss out on this season after an outrageous piece of skill in Arsenal training.The 82-time England winger demolished three of his new North London team-mates in Mikel Arteta’s session at London Colney this week.Raheem Sterling impressed Arsenal fans in his first training sessionsThe winger found his way round three Arsenal players with easeHe also looked sharp with one-touch passesThe 29-year-old joined the Gunners on a season-long loan on deadline day, but it did not take long for him to find his feet.The former Manchester City forward took care of three Arsenal players with one flash of brilliance on Thursday.Jorginho and youth stars Harrison Dudziak and Ife Ibrahim were left chasing shadows, as Sterling flip flapped the ball between the trio, changing direction each time.Leandro Trossard, who failed to make Belgium’s Nations League squad, then came rushing in behind to collect a pass but Sterling was already away.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSIn another clip, the four-time Premier League champ could be seen hitting the back of the net with strike after strike, finding the bottom corner with ease.His one-touch passing looked crisp too with one fan writing: “Have some mercy, Raheem.”Another wrote on X: “Defenders will sleep sound at nights when Sterling is finish with them.”A third said: “I’m so happy to see him play 😊🤏.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS A fourth added: “Raheem is on fire right now.”Sterling has been keeping fit away from Cobham over the last two weeks with England’s former lead physical performance coach Ben Rosenblatt – who stepped down from his role in June 2023 after seven years.Jadon Sancho compared to Brazil football legend by excited Chelsea fans as ex-Man Utd star has first training session, ChelseaFC.mp4He was frozen out of Enzo Maresca’s 46-man Chelsea squad, after the Italian insisted he does not fit his style of play.He was in the stands at the Emirates for their 1-1 clash with Brighton – hours after joining the Gunners on a temporary basis.It was a game that saw Arsenal drop points after Declan Rice’s controversial sending off for two yellow cards in either half.He was given a great reception from the Arsenal fans just before kick-off with his name read out over the tannoy system.Meanwhile, Chelsea will pay the majority of his £325,000-per-week wages, approximately forking out around £10m over the course of the season.Arsenal did not pay a loan fee either. More

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      Marc Cucurella reveals ‘difficult’ Chelsea dressing room and pleads with Todd Boehly to give boss Enzo Maresca time

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      MARC CUCURELLA has pleaded with the Chelsea hierarchy to be patient with new manager Enzo Maresca.Having been signed by Thomas Tuchel and seen Graham Potter, Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino come and go in the Stamford Bridge hotseat — Cucurella has called for patience and stability to make things work.Chelsea ace Marc Cucurella discussed the ‘difficult’ situation in the dressing roomCredit: GettyCucurella pleaded for more faith in new Chelsea boss Enzo MarescaCredit: RexChelsea chief Todd Boehly has signed and sacked many players during his reignCredit: AlamyThe Spain left-back — who helped his nation to their Euros triumph in the summer —  insisted Chelsea’s squad is packed with talent but they need “calm” to allow the coaching staff and players to succeed.Maresca is the fifth Blues manager under the ownership of Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly, who took over in May 2022 promising a new long-term strategy after years of hire-and-fire under Roman Abramovich.Cucurella, 26,  said: “I’m happy, the coach we have is very good, he has very clear ideas.“We come from years of changing coaches, let’s see if we can gain stability without many changes and that the coach can transmit his ideas.Read More on Football“We need stability, we have high-level players, and I hope we can have the patience that is needed, that calm, so that everything goes well.“We have the level, we just need stability and letting the coaches and players work to do something important.”The former Brighton defender also admitted it has been “difficult” to create a positive atmosphere in the Blues’ changing room due to the amount of chopping and changing.A total of 11 new players were signed over the summer with some big departures in Conor Gallagher, Raheem Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSItalian Maresca still has to deal with a bloated squad, with some players still training separately from a first-team group of around 28 — including FOUR goalkeepers.Speaking while on international duty, Cucurella added: “It is true that it is difficult, here everything is much easier to generate a good atmosphere.Angry Chelsea fan slams Todd Boehly’s transfer policy and claims no Blues supporters are happy with his running of the ‘unrecognisable’ club“At Chelsea I try, but it is a time of change in which many players leave and others come. I try to give my best.“One of the keys to success in the Euros was the good group we had.“In these tournaments you’re together all day, we have to put up with each other and if we hadn’t got along, it would’ve been complicated. I try there, it comes naturally to me to create a good environment.”Chelsea are a circus – it will be TERRIBLE for football if they win anything, says Troy DeeneyCHELSEA are a circus — aren’t they?, writes Troy Deeney.But the bigger concern should be if somehow, some way, Todd Boehly’s insane master-plan brings about success this season.Finish in the top four. Win a trophy like the FA Cup.He will then turn around and say: “See, it works” and all of a sudden, other clubs will begin considering copying this mad model to try and compete in the Premier League.Before you know it, there will be a bigger divide between the top clubs and the rest and this country’s top flight will become something we have been fighting against — a Super League.The smaller sides and promoted teams will be wiped out by the elite and will end up saying, ‘What’s the point?’Football as we know it will change, and there will be no going back.As a neutral, you don’t want to wish failure on a club or a regime, but it’s depressing to think about.We should almost be looking at it in amazement — the owners have come in with this model and they’ve treated it as if they are buying stocks and shares, not players or human beings.Boehly has wiped away any sense of sentiment or old-school values from that club and the worrying thing is that he doesn’t seem to care.Does he even like football?Read Troy Deeney’s hard-hitting opinion on Boehly’s Chelsea shambles in full.Or check out all of Troy’s columns on SunSport. More

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      Conor Gallagher not sure who Wag will support in Ireland v England – and explains reason behind Chelsea exit

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      CONOR GALLAGHER has already been to Dublin once this summer – to watch HURLING.And he revealed he is not sure who his Irish girlfriend will support on Saturday.Conor Gallagher’s girlfriend is Aine May KennedyCredit: Instagram @ainemaykennedyHe has been included in England’s squad for their upcoming Nations League fixturesCredit: GettyAtletico Madrid midfielder Gallagher and the rest of the England team take on Ireland on Saturday in the Uefa Nations league at the Aviva Stadium.The 24-year-old and partner Aine May Kennedy watched Clare face Cork in the All-Ireland hurling final at Croke Park.He said: “My girlfriend is from Cork and we went to Dublin to support them with some of the family and had a great time. I really enjoyed it and it was great to see her family out there as well.”It was really interesting to go and see the match. It’s a really exciting sport. And tough to be fair. I’d never watched a live game before of hurling and yes, it’s very intense.”READ MORE IN SPORTAsked who his girlfriend will be supporting on Saturday, Gallagher added: “I don’t know actually. She always supports me but obviously she’s an Irish girl and I’m sure she doesn’t mind.”The midfielder suffered a torrid Euros and was effectively kicked out by Chelsea.But he refused to criticise the Blues, the club he joined at the age of six.Gallagher was offered only a two-year contract to remain when others were given seven, eight and or nine-year deals and he ended up being forced to train with the U21s.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAine May is Irish and could opt to go against her boyfriend on SaturdayCredit: Instagram @ainemaykennedyGallagher has admitted he is unsure who she will supportCredit: Instagram @ainemaykennedyThe couple recently watched hurling in DublinCredit: Instagram @ainemaykennedyAine May was in Germany to support Gallagher at the EurosCredit: InstagramHe also found himself stuck in limbo, in a Madrid hotel, as both Chelsea and Atletico struggled to agree on the deal before the £34million transfer was completed.On not being good enough for Chelsea, Gallagher said: “I don’t think that’s true. I think last season I had a good season with Chelsea and you could see that by Pochettino playing me every game and showing his trust in me.Ex-Chelsea star Conor Gallagher already has his own song at Atletico Madrid as he’s serenaded by packed stadium on debut“And the fans appreciated what I did on the pitch. I’m very grateful for all of that and very thankful to the fans and very thankful to Pochettino for giving me that platform to go and express myself and show the best version of myself at Chelsea.“With Chelsea, I have only got good things to say. Amazing football club, my boyhood club where I grew up through the academy.“As for the fans, last season especially, they really warmed to me which made me feel confident and good and very happy so I leave Chelsea with really special memories.“The dream came true. I’m very lucky.“Chelsea make their own decisions and they’ve brought in some top players on long contracts. That wasn’t the situation with me but, in the end, what happened is good for everyone, so everyone is happy.”During the Euros, Gallagher got some inside info on Atletico from former defender Kieran Trippier.He also featured in a spectacular unveiling at the stadium alongside fellow new arrival Julian Alvarez and the other summer signings.Gallagher added: “It was amazing. A really good experience. It is not a thing they do in England is it? It was a bit of a surprise to me and made me feel really excited.“Me and Tripps spoke a lot at the Euros and he gave me some really good advice and helped me a lot with my decision so I am very grateful to Tripps for that.”Gallagher has played twice in LaLiga, starting Saturday’s 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao and is taking regular Spanish lessons.As for another Englishman in Madrid, Gallagher added: “I will see Jude out and about.”While Bellingham is missing the squad for the first internationals under Lee Carsley – in Ireland on Saturday and at home to Finland on Tuesday – Gallagher believes the interim manager is a great fit for the job.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe said: “Gareth was brilliant for me and he did an amazing job with England. I wish him all the very best but it’s Lee Carsley now and I know him really well from the Under-21s and am excited to work with him.“He makes the players feel at ease when they’re speaking to him, which is a great way to be. I’m really excited to work with Cars. He’s a top manager.”It is unclear whether Gallagher will feature for England against IrelandCredit: Dan Charity / Commissioned by the SunAine May has nearly 70,000 followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram More

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      Man City and Chelsea stars to be asked about BOYCOTTING Club World Cup with players facing ‘tipping point’

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      MANCHESTER City and Chelsea stars will be asked if they want to BOYCOTT next summer’s Club World Cup unless Fifa strike a deal with players’ leaders.Less than 24 hours after world chiefs unveiled the new brand logo for the 32-team tournament due to be held in the USA next summer, the international players’ union Fifpro published statistics showing how top stars are ALREADY overplayed.Fifa’s Club World Cup will take place next summer in the USACredit: GettyBut Manchester City and Chelsea will potentially be given the opportunity to boycott the tournamentCredit: RexPFA supremo Maheta Molango will see if the clubs are serious about not playing in the tournamentCredit: PASunSport revealed the potential strike threat, which would be backed by the PFA, earlier this year, despite both Chelsea and City in line for huge shares of a potential £600m prize pot.And with legal action against Fifa having already been launched with the European courts, PFA boss Maheta Molango suggested he may have to go to the Stamford Bridge and Etihad dressing rooms to see if the players are serious about following through.Molango said: “This is not an attack on Fifa or the Club World Cup but we have reached a tipping point.“This will be the defining season for football. The calendar doesn’t make any sense.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS“We have been warning for a long time but this season we will have a very telling example of what is happening.“Our legal case questions if there were potential breaches of the right to enjoy a holiday and if Fifa is abusing a dominant position.“The players are conscious, across the pyramid, about the calendar.”When people try to portray this as just about the elite players it’s just not true. It is massive and goes beyond that.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWhat will happen to Man City?MAN CITY are favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?Lipton: Yes…. probably! We know the case will start to be dealt with in October or November.It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.Custis: Why is that?Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future.“But if Fifa are not prepared to talk, we will go back to the players and say to them ‘we have done our bit; we are going to fight as hard as we can but ultimately this may require more from you’.Former West Ham and Newcastle defender David Terrier, vice-president of the French players’ union, added: “We brought the case to find out what the players want us to do. This is our work.Scott Carson’s glittering trophy cabinet“After that we will come back to them and say, ‘We’ve tried to fight and put on the table a solution for bargaining – but nobody wants to answer us.’“So then the possibility we have is to decide together that we won’t play – do you agree with that or not?“We are not the players. We support them, fight for them and explain the situation to them.”That is the last solution and not the one we want, but we do want to protect football.”The benefit of players having increased rest is no more clear and evident than with City hitman Erling Haaland, who has already hit two hat-tricks and scored seven goals so far this season.And Molango believes City’s striker, along with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, have done more for the future of every player than any lawyer in a suit could.As he helped launch the international players’ union FifPro’s latest “Player Workload Monitoring Report”, Molango was clear in his thinking.Haaland’s brilliant start to the new campaign, along with the blistering form of Liverpool’s Egyptian king, is down to him not being as burned out as many of the Prem’s other biggest names.The subdued force who ended last season as a mere mortal has returned as football’s version of RoboCop, an ice-cold penalty box killer.Molango has not a shadow of a doubt as to why – his pre-season trips around Prem dressing rooms making it abundantly clear.The PFA boss said: “What I found astonishing this summer was the difference in terms of the feedback from the people who had a proper holiday and those who did not.We have reached a tipping pointMaheta Molango, CEO of the PFA“The body language and the words they chose in talking to us was so different.“In England, we have a very clear example, with Haaland.“It’s very nice to go to a dressing room and hear someone say to you, ‘I was missing being back.”I was missing being able to train again. And I’m pumped up, I’m motivated. I’m here’. And that was in the preseason.“Now you see the result. He is back to being the machine that we saw when he first joined us in England.“It’s probably something very similar to Mo Salah. He had a proper rest and you can see it’s the best version of Mo.“That’s what the fans want to see and what we as a union want to see as well.“But the people who have not had that rest, you can see they look shattered. They look tired before even starting the season, which for us is very worrying.”The “workload” on top players is the key finding of FifPro’s document.A survey of 1500 players across Europe, mainly in the leading divisions, found more than half are already playing 50-plus games in a season.Julian Alvarez, who left Manchester City for Atletico Madrid in the summer’s biggest transfer, played in a staggering 75 games for club and country last term, with Phil Foden featuring 72 times, as did Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunes, while club-mate Cody Gakpo, Aston Villa’s John McGinn and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz walked onto the pitch at least 70 times each.And that was before this season’s expansion of the Champions League, potentially adding four more games, the Club World Cup that is due to feature up to seven games for City and Chelsea next summer and the 48-team 2026 World Cup.FifPro previously pointed out that Jude Bellingham has played twice as many senior minutes as David Beckham had at the same age, while Spurs defender Cristian Romero travelled 105,000 miles – two and a half times round the earth – even though Tottenham were not in Europe.Fifa are in FifPro’s sights, the Club World Cup seen as a competition too far – especially as the union accuses world chiefs of “refusing” to even discuss the issue.Legal action that has been launched in the European Court of Justice could end in the likes of Foden, Bellingham and Harry Kane being asked if they are prepared to take strike action rather than fly out to the USA next June.Erling Haaland has benefitted immensely from having the summer offCredit: GETTYAs has Liverpool forward Mohamed SalahCredit: REXFormer Arsenal and Liverpool performance coach Darren Burgess explained: “Young players are still growing into their mid-20s.“We know that putting them through this stress is placing them at increased risks but the levels of games have so startlingly increased over the past 20 years that we don’t know what this might do to our young stars.“That’s the scariest part – that there are no safeguards. The science tells us that they are still growing and putting them under more load generally leads to injury.”Molango, though, believes there is a wider problem that MUST be addressed.He added: “The domestic calendar hasn’t changed over the last 20 years. It is not the issue because it is the bread and butter for players.“A big proportion of their money comes from domestic TV contracts and it is important to protect the domestic pyramid.”That’s something they strongly feel about. We need to protect the players from themselves.”They love playing, they are committed to playing and they don’t want to lose their starting spot.“But the fans are paying 100 per cent prices and not seeing 100 per cent of the show.“We think there should be a maximum number of games, between 50 and 60 per season, which can vary depending on your age.“But players must not play more than five or six games back to back and they must be allowed a minimum three weeks of complete rest in the summer.“In the past, when we talked about this, it was us saying how it ‘feels’.READ MORE SUN STORIES“But this is science talking, a report from people – players and coaches – who have first-hand experience.“Players are at the ‘red limit’. If we want to protect the show, we must protect the players.” More