More stories

  • in

    Chelsea sign 15-year-old son of Arsenal cult hero with teenager playing at age groups well above his own

    CHELSEA have landed one of the country’s top 15-year-olds.And if he goes on to emulate his dad – a true cult hero for Arsenal – then luring him from Watford will have been worth it.Mathis Eboue joins Chelsea after a rapid rise at WatfordCredit: InstagramDad Emmanuel Eboue, bottom left, was with Arsenal for seven yearsCredit: GettyMathis Eboue, an attacking midfielder, shone for the Hornets all the way up to under-21 level.And his move across London is another example of how Chelsea are looking to recruit so many of the nation’s leading starlets for their academy.Eboue Junior has also played three times of England U-16s.In fact, he hit the only goal as the Lion cubs beat France to win the U16 Challenge Trophy in Spain two months ago.READ MORE ON CHELSEABut of course whatever he’s achieved at such a young age can’t compare with what his father did over a 15-year career.Emmanuel Eboue, now 41, earned 79 caps for Ivory Coast, mainly at right-back.But his peak fame came with Arsenal from 2004-2011.Legendary then-boss Arsene Wenger recruited the pacy ace from Belgians Bevern.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnd although Eboue took two seasons to become something like a regular, his bubbly nature and bursting runs made him a talk of the terraces.However, at one stage he was booed by Gunners’ supporters.I was sacked as a factory worker, the next day I had trials at Arsenal – I was gobsmackedAnd just last month he recalled: “I got back home and I was crying. “But the same week some of the fans came to the club to say sorry to me about that. That was very nice. It meant a lot.”‘Eboue, don’t listen,’ they said. ‘You know we love you’.”He finally left Arsenal – accompanied by a runners-up medal in the Champions League and two in the League Cup – for four years at Galatasaray.Then came an ill-fated short spell with Sunderland.Eboue Senior was banned for a year in 2016 after refusing to pay an agent, leading to the “lowest time” of his playing days.But eight years on from that, he surely can’t help but be cheered by his son’s big step-up.The Premier League applied their rigorous process to protect players so young before Eboue Junior’s switch to Chelsea could go through.READ MORE SUN STORIESCompensation to Watford also had to be agreed.But on Friday night transfer guru Fabrizio Romano insisted all the paperwork had been done to make it a “completed deal”. More

  • in

    Postecoglou’s Tottenham were clapped off the pitch after 4-1 loss to Chelsea – if it happens again he’ll be in crisis

    REWIND the clock just over a year and Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs were being applauded off the pitch by supporters, despite losing 4-1 at home to Chelsea.This Sunday, Tottenham host the Blues again and if it goes badly for the North Londoners, you fear for the Aussie boss and the reception he might get from the terraces.Ange Postecoglou must be as frustrated as any Tottenham fanCredit: GettySon Heung-min and Co were outplayed in losing 1-0 at BournemouthCredit: ReutersIt has been a marked turnaround in 13 months.From fans serenading Postecoglou with their twist on Robbie Williams’ classic ‘Angels’ of “I’m loving Big Ange instead”.To many of them falling out of love with the 59-year-old due to the wild inconsistency of his approach and some even wanting him gone.The fact that Spurs pulled off one of their greatest Premier League results ever with the 4-0 win at Manchester City just 13 days ago but now we are in this situation is remarkable.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut in a way that landmark victory at the Etihad only heightened the frustration felt by fans because it showed just what this team is capable of… yet are regularly failing to reproduce against so-called smaller teams like Crystal Palace, Ipswich and last night, Bournemouth.Andoni Iraola’s Cherries completely outclassed Spurs and were it not for some horrendously wasteful finishing from their forwards, it would have been 3-0 or 4-0 rather than 1-0.So what has sparked this reversal in fortunes for Postecoglou’s Spurs?There is an argument to say it all began with that Chelsea game in November last year.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSSpurs had made an electric start to his tenure, going unbeaten in their first ten league games and flying high at the top of the league.Things were going so well that Postecoglou had won a hat-trick of manager-of-the-month awards for the first three months of the campaign.Ange Postecoglou ‘determined to get it right’ after Tottenham lose at Bournemouth But then disaster struck against the Blues.Spurs went down to nine men due after Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie were sent off, but more significantly they lost James Maddison and Micky van de Ven to long-term injuries.Amazingly, Postecoglou persevered with a high line and an attacking approach which led to Son Heung-min coming very close to a 90th-minute leveller for 2-2.He missed, and after that Nicolas Jackson went on to complete a hat-trick.The scenes afterwards were unforgettable though as fans belted out songs of praise for their brave team and their fearless manager for continuing to take the fight to the opposition despite their two-man disadvantage.But since then, that passion has dwindled due to how enormously patchy Postecoglou’s side have been.Their league record since Chelsea has read 17 wins, six draws and 18 defeats.The collapse towards the end of last season cost them a Champions League spot.While this term the dismal nature of displays at Selhurst Park, the second half at Brighton and the Vitality on Thursday night has irked supporters no end.Swedish attacker Dejan Kulusevski played the whole game at the Vitality Stadium but couldn’t inspire an equaliser from misfiring TottenhamCredit: RexSon shows his anguish after the sub had a goal ruled out at BournemouthCredit: GettyAt Bournemouth, Postecoglou even exchanged words with angry supporters seemingly calling him names and shouting expletives from the stands at full-time.Just over 12 hours on at Friday morning’s press conference back in Enfield, Postecoglou said he had no issue with the fans’ venting their fury.That what matters is that they are behind the team – not him.He said: “They’re not behind me, they’re behind the club. I’ve got no interest in who’s behind me.“You got to figure the ones who travel to Bournemouth are pretty hardcore supporters.“They weren’t happy with what they saw, they felt like they needed to give me some feedback, I took the feedback on board and we move on.”Injuries have been killing Postecoglou’s side over the last year.Maddison and Van de Ven getting crocked in the 4-1 against Chelsea last term derailed their progress completely.While right now he is without his first-choice centre-back pairing of Romero and Van de Ven, his No1 goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and is light up top with Richarlison and Wilson Odobert out injured. Ben Davies also injured his hamstring against Bournemouth.Barring the £65million purchase of Dominic Solanke – the most a Premier League club spent on a player this summer – Spurs opted for youth in the last window.The decisions we made around signing young players are the right decisions for where we are at right now and will bear fruitAnge PostecoglouArchie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, both 18, 19-year-old Odobert and Yang Min-Hyeok, also 18 and who will join next month, were all brought in.While experienced pros like Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg and Giovani Lo Celso were let go.The injury to Odobert in particular has hit hard because Spurs looked in desperate need for more strength in the attacking areas.But the teenage kicks approach has left some fans thinking the club were too focused on building for the future, rather than the here and now.Yet Postecoglou defended the transfer policy today, commenting: “It is still the right decision and I own them [transfers] because I believe they are the right decisions for this club.“I have said numerous times, I make these decisions with the kind of background that I’m going to be here for a while to see this through.“To be honest, if I was worried about my own existence I would have fought tooth and nail to block Harry Kane leaving but it wasn’t the right decision for the club because he was in the last year of his contract. That is not what drives me.“The decisions we made around signing young players are the right decisions for this club for where we are at right now and they will bear fruit.”That may be the case further down the line, but whether Postecoglou will still be at the club in time to see it seems in jeopardy right now.READ MORE SUN STORIESHis Spurs are capable of beating the best, as they have proven in the past, so seeing off Enzo Maresca’s in-form Chelsea is doable.Lose, though, and the ex-Celtic boss could have a crisis on his hands – with a hostile trip Rangers in Glasgow coming just days after. More

  • in

    Tyler Dibling quit Southampton academy for Chelsea but left after two games… Saints nearly refused to welcome him back

    TYLER DIBLING left Southampton for Chelsea and was almost refused a return to the South Coast.The Saints winger, 18, has broken through into Russell Martin’s first-team this season and been a bright spark for the struggling Premier League side.Tyler Dibling is starting to make a name for himself at SouthamptonCredit: GettyHe spent a few months at Chelsea in 2022 but played just twice for their academyCredit: Instagram @TylerdiblingHe has started eight of their 14 matches, scoring in their 1-1 draw with Ipswich back in September.Dibling also assisted twice in a 5-3 win over Cardiff in the Carabao Cup.He has spent the last decade of his life as a Southampton academy prospect – but for a few months in 2022.Dibling, who was suspended for Saints’ 5-1 defeat to Chelsea on Wednesday, joined the Blues shortly after going viral for scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle in a Premier League 2 match.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe was offered around £3,000 a week to stay at St Mary’s but Chelsea offered more to snatch him away.However, the Exeter-born attacker struggled to fit in at the West London club as he suffered a lack of confidence in the more ruthless environment.And following just TWO appearances for Chelsea’s youth side, talks got underway to bring him back to Southampton.According to The Athletic, some Saints chiefs were concerned about the “message it would send to other academy players who leave Southampton and then decide they prefer their old surroundings” if they were to take him back.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBut Matt Hale, Southampton’s academy director at the time, wanted the best players at the club and could see Dibling was one of them.So they offered him a contract on much reduced wages from the offer they submitted prior to joining Chelsea – and he signed it.Southampton manager bust upAnd Dave Horseman, an academy coach at the club at the time of Dibling’s return, praised the teenager’s attitude.He said: “When I knew he was coming back, I sat all the U21s and U18s down and explained what was happening.”When he came back from Chelsea, he went to the U18s. He had to earn the right to come back.”He never moaned, at least not to us, and looking back, when you put the pieces together, he showed he is a strong character.”He had to suck it up and go again, and I am sure Tyler felt awkward as anything when he came back.”Dibling penned a new deal in February 2023 to keep him at the club until 2027.But SunSport has revealed Manchester United and Aston Villa have already sent scouts to watch his last three games.Clubs in Germany and Italy are also understood to be interested.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd he will almost certainly leave if Southampton are relegated this season.Martin’s men sit bottom of the Premier League, seven points adrift of safety after winning just one of their opening 14 matches. More

  • in

    Fifa Club World Cup draw simulated with Chelsea landing horror group and Man City facing Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami

    THE REVAMPED Fifa Club World Cup increases to 32 teams in 2025 with Manchester City and Chelsea among those in action. It will now be contested with a similar format to the World Cup, staged next year in America from June 15-July 13.Erling Haaland’s Manchester City are a top seed in the groupCredit: RexCole Palmer’s Chelsea face a horror drawCredit: RexTeams will be divided into eight groups of four and play each other once, with the top two teams in each group progressing to the knockout stage.The last 16 is the first single knockout round – followed by the quarter-final, semi-final and then final.But it all kicks off with the group-stage draw, staged in Miami, where the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich find out their fate.Certain teams cannot draw each other, for example sides from the same league such as Chelsea and City or Flamengo and Fluminense.READ MORE IN football Fifa split the top seeding pot by handing four slots to Europe and four to South America, based on their continental coefficient ranking.So City, Madrid, Bayern and PSG are joined by Brazilians Flamengo, Palmeiras and Fluminense and Argentina’s River Plate.The other eight European sides, including Chelsea, are in pot two.Pot three is made up of the remaining South American teams – Boca Juniors and Botafogo – and the two highest ranked sides from the other three major confederations.Most read in FootballPot four will see the remaining sides, although Inter Miami are already confirmed as playing in Group A and Seattle Sounders will play all their games at home.SunSport simulated the draw and it would be exciting news for City fans but not so much for Chelsea.Fifa confirm 12 stadiums for new-look Club World Cup including TWO £1.2BILLION NFL grounds and 88,500-seat Olympic venueThe Premier League champions drew Inter Milan, Botafogo and Inter Miami – meaning they would come up against Lionel Messi. But Chelsea suffered a horror draw alongside Real Madrid, Monterrey of Mexico and South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns FC.There were also glamour ties including Flamengo vs Port and Palmeiras vs Juventus. Boca Juniors vs Bayern Munich also looks particularly exciting.Details on how footy fans can watch the Club World Cup emerged earlier this week, with DAZN snapping up the rights. More

  • in

    ‘I got it wrong’: Paul Merson calls out Mike Dean live on Sky Sports after Jack Stephens’ red card for Southampton

    PAUL MERSON forced Mike Dean to admit live on air that he made a MASSIVE BLUNDER in Tottenham’s clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge two years ago.Spurs defender Cristian Romero somehow managed to escape a red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair in the 2-2 draw at the Bridge.Cristian Romero yanked Marc Cucurella’s hair in Tottenham’s clash with Chelsea over two years agoCredit: SKY SPORTSRomero somehow wasn’t punished for the foul, which moments before Spurs equalisedCredit: REUTERSCucurella had his hair tugged by Jack Stephens in Chelsea’s 5-1 win over SouthamptonCredit: AMAZON PRIMERetired ref Mike Dean admits he should have sent off RomeroCredit: SKY SPORTSIncredibly, neither Dean nor the video assistant referee deemed the hair pull worthy of sending the Argentine defender for an early bathBut on Tuesday night Dean was forced to admit he made a mistake after seeing Cucurella being tugged to the floor by Jack Stephens in Chelsea’s demolition of Southampton.During an appearance on Sky Sports’ Soccer Special, the retired ref said: “Unfortunately, I was involved in one of these incidents about three years ago.”I think someone pulled, I think Romero pulled Cucurella’s hair. I didn’t do it (send him off).”READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSDean then said of Stephen’s dismissal: “But he’s clearly done it, he’s got to be sent off. It’s his second red card of the season.”It has to be a sending off, it can’t not be.”His assessment of Stephens’ moment of madness prompted a bold question from Chelsea fan Merson.He bluntly asked: “But how come the Cucurella one wasn’t?”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSChelsea player ratings vs SouthamptonCHELSEA continued their run of fine form with a huge 5-1 win over Southampton under the lights at St Mary’s.Here’s how the players rated…FILIP JORGENSEN – 8Made a fantastic save within the opening two minutes to keep Joe Aribo’s close-range shot out.Also made a great stop in the second half. Many Chelsea fans are now calling for him to become the club’s No1.MALO GUSTO – 7Won more duels and made more tackles than any other Chelsea player in the first half. Provided a great assist for Sancho’s goal.AXEL DISASI – 7Scored Chelsea’s opener with a fairly simple header at the front post following Fernandez’s delivery from a corner.TOSIN ADARABIOYO – 5Appeared to switch off when Southampton scored, almost leaving Aribo on his own in front of goal. Rattled the post with a rocket of a shot in the second half.MARC CUCURELLA – 6Left Southampton fans furious after going down following a hair pull from Jack Stephens which resulted in a red card. A solid performance, both acting and playing-wise.MOISES CAICEDO – 7Made some great forward passes at times, including one outstanding trivela through to Felix in the box which almost resulted in what would’ve been an impressive team goal.ENZO FERNANDEZ – 6Assisted Disasi’s opening goal with an inch-perfect corner kick but got absolutely humiliated by Kyle Walker-Peters in the build-up to Aribo’s equaliser.NONI MADUEKE – 7Did well to capitalise on a howler from Joe Lumley before assisting Nkunku. Scored Chelsea’s third with a composed strike into the bottom-left corner. Had a few chances in the second half but was fairly wasteful with those.COLE PALMER – 7Had a a quiet game until he latched onto Nkunku’s attempted pass/shot to fire home Chelsea’s fourth. He was hooked immediately after getting on the scoresheet.JOAO FELIX – 6Looked lively throughout but missed a great opportunity late in the first half. Also missed an open header just seconds after the break.CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU – 7The Frenchman put Chelsea 2-1 up with a relatively easy shot in the opening 20 minutes. Aside from that he was fairly quiet.SUBSTITUTESJADON SANCHO (FOR MADUEKE, 72)Scored his first Chelsea goal shortly after coming on for Madueke.RENATO VEIGA (FOR CUCURELLA, 79)Didn’t have too much time to make an impact, especially with Chelsea so in control of the match.KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL (FOR PALMER, 79)Didn’t have too much time to make an impact.Dean quickly fronted up to the retired midfielder, saying: “Because I got it wrong. And he’s (Stephens) been sent off.”The exchange went viral and drew the ire of Chelsea fans.Fans baffled as Paul Merson ‘dresses like a lemon’ for Sky Sports Soccer Saturday return… but there’s a reason for itOne wrote on X: “You can’t make this up.”Another said: “You can’t write this s**t.”And another said: “He really has no shame.”One remarked: “Shameless, Mike Dean.”Another chimed in: “So glad Paul Merson was there to put him in his place.”Chelsea thumped struggling Saint 5-1 to narrow the gap between themselves at table-toppers Liverpool to seven points.The Blues will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, travelling across London to take on Spurs. More

  • in

    Southampton 1 Chelsea 5: Blues’ second string XI inflict further misery on seemingly doomed Saints

    CHELSEA not in this title race? It is getting harder to believe Enzo Maresca when he says so.Just like no one took his claim that this would be the Blues’ toughest test of the season seriously.Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho rounded out a stunning 5-1 victory for Chelsea over SouthamptonCredit: AFPIt piled more pressure on to Saints’ boss Russell MartinCredit: AlamyIt is getting harder to discount Enzo Maresca’s side from being in the title raceCredit: GettyAxel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho were the latest to tear through Southampton, who remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.The Blues, meanwhile, continue to keep the pressure firmly on Liverpool as there fans sing about having “their Chelsea back”.Maresca sent out a much changed side and offered a reminder of the depth he has on offer. Enzo Fernandez, Joao Felix and Nkunku all impressed yet may still be dropped at Tottenham on Sunday.Southampton have been in the festive spirit since late August, handing out points to almost everyone they’ve encountered.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Saints’ generosity has come in the form of continuous cock-ups and their catalogue of calamities continued here.Fourth-choice keeper Joe Lumley gifted one goal before skipper Jack Stephens was shown a first half red card for a daft pull on Marc Cucurella’s hair.There was hope when Joe Aribo managed an early leveller, but it quickly evaporated.Maresca described the visit to rock bottom Southampton, without a total of 11 players out through injury and suspension, as Chelsea’s “worst” game of the season.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut the Italian still decided to make seven changes, the most notable being a Premier League debut in goal for Filip Jorgensen, with Robert Sanchez dropped.Though having to name a patched together side, Russell Martin’s men gave Chelsea a couple of early scares on the ball, but were quickly undone by a set piece.Cole Palmer reveals he failed PE in hilarious interview as fans tell Chelsea star to consider going into comedyFernandez dipped a corner to the near post where Disasi was free to nod in after Lumley had been crowded out and could not leap to punch clear.Too often this season Southampton have crumbled at the first sign of adversity, but here they responded superbly – which made the later collapse all the more frustrating for Martin.Walker-Peters fed Cameron Archer before charging in behind himself.The former Spurs man was playing in a back three but found himself on the Chelsea byline, where he back-heeled the ball through the legs of Fernandez before squaring for Aribo to tap in.While they were showing flashes of endeavour going forwards, Southampton were left in tatters at the back trying to cope with Chelsea’s array of attacking talent.Felix and Madueke were offering a direct threat which stretched the hosts extremely thin, with Fernandez dictating behind.Though Chelsea did not need anything special to grab their second from the ever obliging Saints defence.Lumley played a foolish ball to Walker-Peters, who was robbed by Madueke before he knew what was happening.The England winger squared for Nkunku who had so much time to finish into an open net he would have been able to blow up his trademark balloon before even scoring.Lumley responded well to his error, denying one strike from Madueke and two from Palmer – the second a brilliant save.But the Saints keeper, who only made his Premier League debut last week, could do nothing to stop the Blues’ third.Fernandez found Felix who quickly turned and played forwards for Madueke, who stood up Ryan Manning, shifted onto his left and found the far corner.Southampton’s admirable dedication to shooting themselves in the foot continued – this time from their own corner.Captain Jack Stephens, the only remaining senior central defender, decided to yank a strand of Cucurella’s hair at the far post.The Spaniard swiftly hit the deck and VAR wasted no time pointing out that the Saints skipper should walk.It may feel jarring that a tug on someone’s barnet is considered violent conduct, but Stephens was unbelievably daft to let his teammates down in that manner.The night was already over for the hosts, but losing a defender allowed their visitors to stroll through the rest of the evening.Chelsea, usually so keen to embrace chaos, kept a tight grip on the rest of the evening.They continued to find space and were edging ever closer to a fourth – which was duly delivered by Palmer, who was never going to miss out on a night like this.READ MORE SUN STORIESThere was no flash of brilliance from the wonder boy this time, just a poacher’s instinct as he tapped in after Nkunku had been felled yards from goal.Maresca’s night could not have got much better, but then summer signing Sancho added a final flourish by thumping in his first goal for the club.Chelsea player ratings vs SouthamptonCHELSEA continued their run of fine form with a huge 5-1 win over Southampton under the lights at St Mary’s.Here’s how the players rated…FILIP JORGENSEN – 8Made a fantastic save within the opening two minutes to keep Joe Aribo’s close-range shot out.Also made a great stop in the second half. Many Chelsea fans are now calling for him to become the club’s No1.MALO GUSTO – 7Won more duels and made more tackles than any other Chelsea player in the first half. Provided a great assist for Sancho’s goal.AXEL DISASI – 7Scored Chelsea’s opener with a fairly simple header at the front post following Fernandez’s delivery from a corner.TOSIN ADARABIOYO – 5Appeared to switch off when Southampton scored, almost leaving Aribo on his own in front of goal. Rattled the post with a rocket of a shot in the second half.MARC CUCURELLA – 6Left Southampton fans furious after going down following a hair pull from Jack Stephens which resulted in a red card. A solid performance, both acting and playing-wise.MOISES CAICEDO – 7Made some great forward passes at times, including one outstanding trivela through to Felix in the box which almost resulted in what would’ve been an impressive team goal.ENZO FERNANDEZ – 6Assisted Disasi’s opening goal with an inch-perfect corner kick but got absolutely humiliated by Kyle Walker-Peters in the build-up to Aribo’s equaliser.NONI MADUEKE – 7Did well to capitalise on a howler from Joe Lumley before assisting Nkunku. Scored Chelsea’s third with a composed strike into the bottom-left corner. Had a few chances in the second half but was fairly wasteful with those.COLE PALMER – 7Had a a quiet game until he latched onto Nkunku’s attempted pass/shot to fire home Chelsea’s fourth. He was hooked immediately after getting on the scoresheet.JOAO FELIX – 6Looked lively throughout but missed a great opportunity late in the first half. Also missed an open header just seconds after the break.CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU – 7The Frenchman put Chelsea 2-1 up with a relatively easy shot in the opening 20 minutes. Aside from that he was fairly quiet.SUBSTITUTESJADON SANCHO (FOR MADUEKE, 72)Scored his first Chelsea goal shortly after coming on for Madueke.RENATO VEIGA (FOR CUCURELLA, 79)Didn’t have too much time to make an impact, especially with Chelsea so in control of the match.KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL (FOR PALMER, 79)Didn’t have too much time to make an impact. More

  • in

    Former Premier League star, 33, leaves China in tears after earning £175m in seven years as ‘bubble’ era comes to an end

    FORMER Chelsea star Oscar has left the Chinese Super League after earning £175MILLION in seven years. The Brazilian joined Shanghai Port in 2017 for £60m and went on to win three league titles in the Far East. Chelsea star Oscar has left Chinese Super League Shanghai PortCredit: https://www.instagram.com/oscar_emboaba/Oscar was left in tears as he bid goodbyeHe leaves with three league titles in ChinaBut now his contract, worth around £25m a year, has expired leaving him a free agent aged 33 meaning he is the last of the Chinese Super League “bubble” to leave.And the midfielder was left in tears after his last game for Shanghai as he waved goodbye to fans. Oscar was recently linked with a move back to Europe while Internacional in his homeland Brazil are also monitoring his situation. Inter manager Eduardo Coudet said: “Our only goal, the player we are going to try moving forward, is Oscar. I want to bring in Oscar.READ MORE IN football”I’ve already spoken to his manager, he can’t stand me anymore. I want Oscar.”The board ask me not to talk, but sometimes I talk too much.”Oscar left Internacional in 2012 when Chelsea landed the exciting star.He spent four-and-a-half seasons at Stamford Bridge where he racked up 38 goals in 203 appearances for the Blues.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSDuring that time, the 48-cap Brazil international won two Premier Leagues, the League Cup and the Europa League as well as the club’s Goal of the Season award twice.But he stunned fans when he became one of the highest-profile footballers to leave for the Chinese Super League.The ex-Sao Paulo star surpassed 200 games for Shanghai Port and captained the side. Oscar guided the Red Eagles to the Chinese Super League title in both 2018, 2023 and 2024 – as well as the FA Super Cup in 2019.How Ruben Amorim unleashed Rashford with game-changing Zirkzee role ahead of Man Utd v Arsenal More

  • in

    Chelsea fans say ‘how is this allowed?’ as referee for huge Tottenham clash is decided

    CHELSEA fans were left furious after finding out Anthony Taylor will referee their derby against Tottenham, just two years after officiating a highly controversial clash.The Blues and Spurs will lock horns in the Premier League on Sunday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.Chelsea fans are furious after finding out Anthony Taylor will be the referee against TottenhamCredit: RexTaylor oversaw a controversial 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham in 2022Credit: GettyChelsea were angry with Taylor’s officiating against Tottenham two years agoCredit: GettyAnd Taylor, 46, will be in charge after overseeing a dramatic 2-2 draw in August 2022 at Stamford Bridge.Chelsea were left incensed at full-time as they claimed both of the North Londoners’ goals should have been disallowed.Tottenham ace Rodrigo Bentancur appeared to have fouled Kai Havertz in the build-up to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s goal.And Cristian Romero then appeared to pull Marc Cucurella by the hair as they contested a corner-kick moments before Harry Kane scored as a result of that set-piece.Read More on ChelseaThe West Londoners’ manager at the time Thomas Tuchel even suggested Taylor should NEVER officiate another Chelsea game.Nevertheless, the Mancunian ref will referee the London clash once more despite a negative reaction from a section of Blues fans.One fan tweeted: “I sound like a broken record but how is he still allowed to referee our games? Especially what happened couple years ago.”Another commented: “Why does he get all of our big games? It’s every season.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSA third wrote: “It was fun while it lasted…”This fan gushed: “FFS!”Cole Palmer scowls at reporter’s question as fans hail Chelsea star’s interviews as ‘one of a kind’ And that one said: “Drama loading.”Taylor is among the Premier League’s most experienced and respected refs having been officiating in the Premier League since 2010. More