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      Neymar and Steven Gerrard form incredible Chelsea XI almost signed by the Blues before transfers fell through

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      SINCE the arrival of Roman Abramovich in 2003, Chelsea have hardly struggled to attract big name stars.The Russian has poured millions into his beloved Blues, particularly in his earlier years with the club.
      Chelsea could have signed a whole host of superstars
      He quickly set his stall out in his first few seasons at the helm by bringing the likes of Arjen Robben, Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba to West London, not to mention highly-rated young Porto coach Jose Mourinho.
      And while Chelsea have hardly struggled for trophies in the following years, scooping five league titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League triumphs, it is astonishing to think that they could have had even more.
      Yes, the Blues were within touching distance of signing a whole host of other superstars, and here is an XI of those that could have brought yet more silverware to the already overflowing Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet.
      GK – Alisson
      The Brazilian stopper briefly became the most expensive goalkeeper in history when he signed for Liverpool in July 2018 for £66.8million, but things could have been oh so different.
      In Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea thought that they had secured a long-term replacement to their legendary, Champions League winning goalkeeper Petr Cech.
      But that summer, the Blues became resigned to losing the lanky Belgian to Real Madrid, and Roma keeper Alisson shot to the top of their wishlist.
      As Brazil’s incumbent No1, coming off the back of an extremely impressive year with the Italians in which he helped his team to the Champions League semi-finals, Alisson was hot property.
      Chelsea were changing their manager and not playing in the Champions League.Alisson on not signing for the Blues
      But despite Chelsea’s best efforts, he opted to move to Anfield instead, later explaining his decision to FourFourTwo magazine.
      He said: “I chose Liverpool for the same reasons I went to Roma when I first left Brazil—I thought this would be the best move for my career. Chelsea were changing their manager and not playing in the Champions League.
      “I’ve also always admired Liverpool’s history. This is a club with five European Cups in their trophy cabinet. I really wanted to be part of that history.”
      As it turned out, Alisson didn’t hold the title of world’s most expensive goalkeeper for very long, with Chelsea scrambling around the very next month to splash £71million on Kepa…
      Alisson and Van Dijk could have had a massive impact at Stamford BridgeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      RB – Dani Alves
      Barcelona and Chelsea formed an intense rivalry after a number of heated Champions League battles between the pair throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
      And after joining the Catalan giants in the summer of 2008, Alves became a key cog in these matches, rampaging down the right flank in what has become trademark fashion down the years.
      The Brazilian won an astonishing 23 trophies in his time at the Nou Camp, but again things could have been very different, had he gone to Stamford Bridge instead.
      I was convinced that I was going to work with him [Mourinho] and form part of his team.Dani Alves
      More than a decade later, the now 38-year-old revealed that he had given a move to West London from Sevilla in 2007 the green light.
      He told Sky Sports: “I didn’t go to Chelsea because of the club, not because of me.
      “I thought it was done, that I was going there to work with him [Mourinho]. I don’t know if he got different information, that I didn’t want to go or whatever, because since then our relationship hasn’t been so good, but it wasn’t my fault.
      “I was convinced that I was going to work with him and form part of his team.”CB – John Stones
      “Money can’t buy you Stones,” Everton supporters gleefully sang.
      It was August 2015, and having just won his third Premier League title, Mourinho was desperate to land the highly-rated 21-year-old defender from the Toffees, to bolster his ageing defence.
      Everton held firm over the confident centre-back, however, much to the increasingly moody Portuguese’s ire.
      With John Terry’s once imperious powers on the wane, and having seemingly lost the dressing room, Mourinho was sacked four months later – while it turned out money could in fact buy Stones the year after, just not Chelsea’s.
      The Yorkshireman joined Manchester City for £47.5m in 2016, and while still much-maligned for his defensive lapses years later, has won three Premier League titles under Pep Guardiola.
      And on his reasons for ultimately joining City, he told Soccer AM: “Guardiola was 100 per cent a major factor, if not the main reason for me coming.
      “There’s a lot of factors when you’re thinking about moving clubs but in my eyes he’s the best manager in the world to work with.
      “To be given that opportunity to work with him, I couldn’t say no.”
      John Stones went on to sign for rivals Man City insteadCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      CB – Virgil van Dijk
      Of all the names on this teamsheet, Van Dijk’s may sting Chelsea fans the most.
      The Dutch defender was highly sought after during his time at Southampton, but it was Liverpool, rather than Chelsea that opted to splash what had seemed an extraordinary £75m to prise him away from St Mary’s.
      But he has gone on to be worth every penny.
      Helping Liverpool to Champions League glory, and a key cog in their title win in 19-20, van Dijk’s incredible performances even saw him come second in the 2019 Ballon d’Or.
      This is football. This is life. For sure he was our target, but as you know this is football.Antonio Conte on failing to land van Dijk
      Then Chelsea boss Antonio Conte had been desperate to land him, but revealed his side were priced out of the move.
      The surly Italian huffed back in 2018: “This is football. This is life. For sure he was our target, but as you know this is football.
      “We can have a lot of targets, but you must be able to reach those targets. The transfer market is not simple for any club.”
      LB – Roberto Carlos
      Legendary left-back Roberto Carlos was a key figure in Real Madrid’s ‘Galacticos’ side of the early noughties, wowing fans with his astonishing left foot.
      His 11 years at the Bernabeu came to an end in 2007, when he surprisingly moved to Turkey – signing for Istanbul giants Fenerbahce.
      But the Brazilian revealed a decade on that he had come close to joining Chelsea instead.
      The Blues had arguably the best left-back of his generation in Ashley Cole, but few would have said no to a 34-year-old Carlos as back-up – even just to take free-kicks.
      The man himself told Sky Sports: “I spoke to Roman Abramovich about it. We had a meeting in Paris but it didn’t happen due to a few small factors.”
      Carlos claimed to have had a meeting with Roman AbramovichCredit: Reuters
      CM – Steven Gerrard
      In July 2005, just weeks after lifting the Champions League trophy with the club he had played for since the age of eight, Steven Gerrard shocked the world by handing in a transfer request.
      He wanted to join up with Mourinho at Chelsea.
      The Liverpool captain had grown tired of his contract stand-off with Anfield chiefs, and when the Blues made a £32m bid, Gerrard’s head was well and truly turned.
      Mourinho was a huge fan of the player, and perhaps was the man to solve the infamous Gerrard-Frank Lampard England dilemma – particularly with Claude Makelele available to field them with in a midfield trio.
      But the move failed to materialise and within a matter of days the darling of the Kop had signed a bumper new £100k-a-week contract.
      All was forgiven, all was forgotten, and Gerrard played another ten seasons at Anfield.
      But having never won a Premier League title, you could forgive the 41-year-old for occasionally wistfully looking back and wondering what might have been…
      Steven Gerrard nearly joined up with England team-mate Lampard at ChelseaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      CM – Paul Pogba
      Paul Pogba has divided football fans since his then world-record £89m return to Manchester United in 2016.
      But what few can dispute is the Frenchman’s outrageous talent when fit and on his game.
      His relationship with Mourinho famously broke down at Old Trafford, but that does not mean that the 58-year-old was never a fan of his.
      In fact, in the same summer that Chelsea had courted Stones, having won the league in 2015, Mourinho wanted Pogba to spearhead the Blues’ title defence the following year.
      But Raiola and Juventus blocked the transfer after agreeing the Frenchman would stay put in order to try and win the Champions League instead.
      Raiola said: “Paul could have left [Juventus] last year because Mourinho – then at Chelsea – really wanted him.
      “But Juventus and I had an agreement: win the league title and the Champions League, then he can go.”
      Paul Pogba nearly joined up with Mourinho at Chelsea in 2015Credit: Alamy
      RW – Robinho
      The disgraced former star didn’t live up to expectations on the pitch.
      A once outrageously talented trickster known for dazzling defenders with his trademark stepovers in the white of Madrid, however, the Brazilian was courted by his compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2008.
      It had seemed a foregone conclusion that he would end up at Stamford Bridge… but then he didn’t.
      He instead shocked the world, by signing for Manchester City in Deadline Day’s dying embers.
      Real Madrid ended up badly with them, they didn’t like the way that Chelsea sold shirts with my name on them before the deal was done.Robinho
      Back in 2018, he lifted the lid on the surprise transfer, telling FourFourTwo: “I wanted to go to Chelsea.
      “Scolari told me that I could make the difference for him in the team.
      “However, Real Madrid ended up badly with them, they didn’t like the way that Chelsea sold shirts with my name on them before the deal was done.
      “I am sure it was this that led to the negotiations to fail and it was a case of pride for Real Madrid.
      “They were also reluctant to let me move to a club that was playing in the Champions League that season. Chelsea were, but City weren’t.”
      CAM – Ronaldinho
      The Brazilian hit headlines last year for surprising reasons, but here we’re going to focus on his football.
      For in the mid-2000s, Ronaldinho felt untouchable.
      He was the planet’s most exciting player, dazzling defenders with his outrageous tricks, and winning fans around the globe with the immense swagger and charm that he played with
      It is well-known that he nearly signed for Manchester United in 2003, before instead leaving Paris Saint-Germain for Barcelona.
      But it is lesser known that Chelsea were also in for him.
      The man himself later revealed: “Chelsea tried to take me there once, and some other teams were interested in signing me, too.
      “The league there is so fast and so intense all of the time – it’s great to watch and not boring at all.
      “I don’t tend to watch all 90 minutes of Premier League games, but I will see more of the highlights and the goals in the Premier League than I see of other leagues around the world.”
      Ronaldinho and Neymar both could have ended up at Stamford BridgeCredit: AFP or licensors
      LW – Neymar
      Another major star that just got away from the Blues.
      The year was 2010 and an 18-year-old sensation by the name of Neymar was leaving jaws on the floor with his array of tricks and flicks while wearing the colours of Santos in his native Brazil.
      West Ham had surprisingly been the first Premier League side to dip their toe into the market for the wonderkid [Now that would have been something], but had been rejected out of hand.
      Champions Chelsea were to be next, even tabling a £27m bid for the player.
      Like the Hammers, they were turned down, but kept trying, even reportedly setting up secret meetings with the player’s father in order to convince him that his son’s future lay in West London.
      The deal failed to materialise, however, with Santos amazingly being able to keep him for another three years before finally selling him to Barcelona.
      After much success in Spain, PSG made him the world’s most expensive player in 2017 when they splashed out £200m for his services.
      Wazza became Man Utd’s all-time leading goalscorer in 2017Credit: Reuters
      ST – Wayne Rooney
      Wayne Rooney, possibly the most gifted English footballer of his generation, became Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer after netting a free-kick against Stoke in January 2017.
      But four years prior to that, it looked as if the explosive striker wanted to leave Old Trafford for good.
      The fiery character had his run-ins with Sir Alex Ferguson, but it was when his former Everton boss David Moyes arrived in the summer of 2013, that Chelsea went all out to sign him.
      Rooney later denied handing in a transfer request in Sir Alex’s final season, but admitted considering his options.

      He told the BBC: “I went in to see him [Ferguson] and just said if you’re not going to play me it might be better if I moved on – then all of a sudden it’s all over the press I put in a transfer request, which I never did.”
      That summer, Mourinho, having just returned to Stamford Bridge, boldly claimed that Rooney was his ‘only transfer target’.
      Chelsea had a flurry of bids rejected, and Rooney ultimately stayed at Old Trafford.
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      Inside Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel’s unique coaching methods that have led Blues to FA Cup and Champions League finals

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      FORGET ground control, Major Thom is more interested in ball control.Chelsea’s militant boss Thomas Tuchel, 47, has only been with the Blues since late January, but already he’s got his players marching to the sound of his beat.
      Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has transformed the Blues with his unique training methodsCredit: Getty
      The German has led the Premier League giants to both FA Cup and Champions League finals, and the club sit pretty in the top four.
      Tuchel’s coaching methods that showcase his forward-thinking talents have improved his charges physically, technically and mentally.
      And even a Carlsberg ad has aided Chelsea’s season.
      BALL CONTROL
      In his early training sessions, the ex-PSG manager was keen to see his new players’ technique and control of the ball.
      Something he implemented from his early days in the Bundesliga, Tuchel had Mason Mount and Co playing with a size 1 Nike ball during a drill.
      Tuchel’s reasoning behind it is that playing with a smaller ball improves a players’ first touch and makes passing more accurate.
      Later on in those sessions, the regular size 5 ball was reintroduced – but coaches brought in smaller goals to make finishing harder.
      Under Tuchel, Chelsea have moved the ball much faster in the final third – which can be credited to this coaching drill.
      Chelsea’s stars get to grips with size 1 footballsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The idea is to try and improve players’ control and accuracy with the ballCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      When the size 5 footballs were reintroduced, the goals were shrunk for the Blues playersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      GOALKEEPER TRAINING
      While many goalkeeping coaches around the world insist on sharpening reflexes or improving footwork, at Chelsea things are a little different.
      Tuchel wants his goalies to be dominant in his box and demands they are a physical presence.
      Luckily for him, Edouard Mendy stands at 6ft 6in and is already an intimidating sight for opposition forwards.
      But, to bulk him and Kepa Arrizabalaga up, a rucking shield as used by rugby stars has been introduced.
      As the keepers jump in the air to claim catches, coach Petr Cech is on hand to shove a rucking shield into their bodies.
      There is method in the madness with the goalkeepers improving their physicality and becoming able to deal with obstacles, especially from set pieces, in congested penalty areas.
      Coach Petr Cech shoves a rucking shield into Edouard Mendy’s body as he catches the ballCredit: Getty
      Kepa Arrizabalaga is put through his paces on the training ground in CobhamCredit: Getty
      MIND GAMES
      While Tuchel wants his players to be perfect technically and physically, psychology has also played a part in Chelsea’s astonishing run.
      They’ve become harder to beat and are much more resilient than under previous coach Frank Lampard.
      In the 30 games before his arrival this season, Chelsea conceded 27 goals. In the 24 games since, they’ve conceded just 11 – and the stat would be much better if it wasn’t for their freak 5-2 loss to West Brom.
      He’s also installed a mentality in his players that they shouldn’t fear anyone. How has he done it? With the help of a Carlsberg ad.
      Recently, Tuchel brought his players into Cobham for, what they thought, was a video analysis talk.
      Instead, they were surprised to see an advert featuring a cinema packed full of Hell’s Angels made ten years ago by the Danish beer giants.
      Chelsea stars exchanged quizzical looks as they watched a series of couples enter the cinema to be confronted by the unsettling audience, with only two seats available right in the middle of the bikers.
      Some turned away immediately, visibly put off from taking a seat in among the 148-strong menacing audience, who were all staring at them as they walked into the auditorium.
      A Carlsberg ad featuring intimidating Hell’s Angels bikers has inspired Chelsea’s stars mentally
      In the ad, a fearless couple sit next to the bikers and are cheered by them

      But those who did take their seats were greeted with cheers, applause and a bottle of the drink – as the advert-makers proved a point of showing how people should not be frightened of situations.
      Tuchel also made a point of telling his players they needed to be brave – and not scared of any situation or team who confronts them.
      OPPOSITION TRICKS
      Even mathematical genius Alan Turing wouldn’t be able to crack this German’s code.
      As we reported, Tuchel has come up with a clever ‘secret’ trick to fool Chelsea’s opponents during games.
      He tells players to use code words when they attack, so that his men know where to run when they are going forward — and who to aim for.
      It is a system that includes a group of these key ‘triggers’ to let Blues stars know what side they will go down, whether the ball is put in high or low and even if it is long or short.
      One baffled rival told SunSport: “You have no idea what’s going on but they know exactly what they are doing.
      Tuchel has taught his players a special code to communicate with each other on the pitchCredit: Getty
      Chelsea’s stars can baffle the opposition when they talk with one another on the pitchCredit: Rex

      “It just makes the attacks quicker and more deadly because sometimes a guy passing does not even have to look up to know where the runner will be.
      “They use different words all the time too, so you can’t even work it out during the game.”
      AN INNOVATOR
      In the past, Tuchel has continued to invigorate his stars with innovative training methods designed to improve them as players.
      In Germany, his unique approach was famous among those who worked under him.
      At Borussia Dortmund, he would get his side to play on pitches with no width or no depth.
      Tuchel’s unique methods on the training pitch are famousCredit: Getty
      At Borussia Dortmund, Tuchel would get his side to play on pitches with no width or no depth.Credit: Rex Features

      Often, he forced players to take extra touches with their knees or made defenders carry tennis balls to stop them grabbing other players’ shirts.
      And when he wanted more centralised attacks, he cut the corners off the training pitch to make the final third into a triangle.
      You might call his methods bizarre, but they’re certainly getting results. And you won’t see any Chelsea fans complaining if they end the season victorious.
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      Ex-Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink thought 2009 Champions League semi-final vs Barcelona could have been ‘fixed’

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      GUUS HIDDINK thought Chelsea’s 2009 Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona might have been fixed – even though the referee owned up to making mistakes.The Blues were denied a spot in the final after the official Tom Henning Ovrebo made a series of blunders.
      Dider Drogba verbally abuses ref Tom Henning Ovrebo back in 2009 while (inset) boss Guus Hiddink pulls his furious striker away
      Hiddink, manager of Chelsea at the time, branded the officialdom as ‘the worst refereeing I have ever seen’.
      He told Ziggo Sport in 2020: “The referee performance surprised me, because in the past he’d had perfect performances.
      “Is it the worst refereeing I’ve ever seen? I think so.”
      The Dutchman alleged: “This is the only time I thought a match could’ve been fixed.”
      Barca went on to beat Manchester United in the final.
      Hiddink claims football chiefs would not have wanted a repeat of the all-English final between Chelsea and United the year before, won by the Red Devils on spot-kicks.
      But in an interview with SunSport in February 2018, Norwegian whistler Ovrebo admitted to making genuine mistakes during the match.
      Ovrebo, who works as a psychologist in Oslo now, turned down FOUR Blues’ penalty claims before Chelsea were cruelly eliminated by Andres Iniesta’s 94th-minute goal for Barca which put them through on away goals.

      Death threats were made after the game by people claiming to be Chelsea fans, while straight after the match Blues striker Didier Drogba verbally attacked the ref, and later received a five-match ban.
      Ovrebo said: “I was happy with 95 per cent of my decisions. But there were some decisions that were not dealt with in the correct manner.
      “One handball earlier in the game should have been a penalty. People will always have different opinions about the game.
      “But everyone agrees the refereeing that night was not optimal. And I am the first to agree with them.”
      At the time Uefa dismissed the conspiracy theories around the game.
      Uefa general secretary David Taylor said: “If anything it’s a media conspiracy against Uefa.
      “It does make me angry. It really annoys me because it’s a load of rubbish.”
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      Chelsea star Reece and Man Utd’s Lauren James become first brother and sister to play for England and are ‘living dream’

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      IN the case of the James clan, it’s very much about keeping it in the family.Last year, Reece and Lauren James made history when they became the first brother and sister to play for England.
      Reece and Lauren James have become professional footballers with the help of dad NigelCredit: Instagram / @rjames
      Lauren James followed in her brother’s footsteps when she was selected for EnglandCredit: Getty
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      It’s astounding that two talented footballers of the men’s and women’s game are even playing professionally, not to mention pulling on a Three Lions shirt and representing their country.
      But the London-born pair are living the dream. Part of their success is due to their incredible father, Nigel.
      A motorbike accident halted his promising career, after spells at Luton Town and Southampton.
      Nigel found his true calling through mentoring youngsters and later set up Nigel James Elite Coaching programme.
      It’s testament to him, his son and his daughter would eventually become pros.
      PARKLIFE
      Reece, 21, and Lauren, 19, grew up in London with football an ongoing backdrop in their lives.
      As well as a father with footballing aspirations, their elder brother Joshua was on the books of Fulham and Reading. Their mother Emma worked admirably for the NHS.
      If the three siblings weren’t kicking a ball against a wall, they would be down the park honing their skills.
      Often, their dad who would pass on his knowledge and put the three through training drills and exercises.
      Lauren and Reece have always shared a tight bond together
      The siblings grew up in London with football as their backdrop
      Dad Nigel coached Reece, Lauren and their brother Joshua in the local park
      “We grew up as a three,” Reece of Chelsea proudly told the Blues official website.
      “Obviously, Josh learned from my dad and then it just passed its way down. I started playing because my brother played, and my sister played because I played.
      “We all used to play every day together at the park and over time we all gradually got better. There was a field behind my house, with two pitches, and every day I’d be playing football, either in the field or in the street.”
      Lauren, a striker for Manchester United, echoes the sentiment that the beautiful game dominated their lives.
      “All I ever knew was football, football and football,” she told The Telegraph.
      “My brothers got me into football. Whether it was when Josh was at Fulham or when Reece was at the Chelsea academy, I was there kicking the ball against the fence.
      “I’ve always had a football and it has just taken me to where I am now.”
      PATHWAY TO SUCCESS
      Reece was an early bloomer when it came to his footballing talent.
      By the age of six he joined Chelsea’s impressive development academy, where he progressed through the ranks.
      James joined Chelsea’s youth set-up aged six
      James progressed through Chelsea’s youth teams and won a FA Youth CupCredit: Getty – Contributor
      However, it took him some time to find his best position. He started off as a striker, moved into midfield and then had to learn the art of defending.
      Once he cemented the right-back as his own, there was no stopping him. In the 2017-18 season, he appeared for England at U18, U19 and U20 level.
      A loan at Wigan Athletic the following campaign saw Reece named as their Player of the Year.
      Once he made his debut against Grimsby in the EFL Cup in 2019, scoring one and assisting two, he could no longer be ignored for a first team spot.
      Lauren might be slightly younger than Reece, but her achievements are just as impressive.
      At 13 she joined Arsenal, and because of her experience with playing with her brothers was encouraged to train with the boys’ team.
      Two years later, the prolific forward made her first team debut for the Gunners women’s team – beating Reece to the punch there.
      She created history in the process becoming the youngest player in Arsenal’s history male or female to make their bow for the club.
      In 2017, she moved to the newly reformed Manchester United women’s team to take on a new challenge in a city she never knew.
      In 2017, Lauren James joined Manchester United’s newly formed women’s teamCredit: Getty
      Since joining the Red Devils, James has thrived scoring 27 goals in 54 gamesCredit: Getty
      But that didn’t deter the brave teen, who scored 14 goals in 18 league games as the Red Devils won promotion from the Championship at the first time of asking to the Women’s Super League.
      BATTLING RACISM TOGETHER
      As is a sad indictment of our times, both Reece and Lauren have been targeted with online racist abuse.
      They are united in their efforts to encourage social media companies to do more with their platforms in stopping racism.
      “When we both get messages like that, we turn to each other and discuss it,” Reece said.
      “I think everyone agrees and knows that what’s happening with social media and racism is wrong. Everyone says they want to change, but not many things are changing.”
      MUTUAL RESPECT
      Although they share a competitive nature on the pitch, Reece and Lauren only have a mutual respect for each other’s achievements.
      But Lauren knew she had to emulate her brother by following his footsteps into the England squad.
      “We are not usually competitive,” she revealed.
      “When he got his senior England call-up, it was like, “Right, he got his, I’ve got to get mine now. That’s probably the only time and I laugh about it now.”
      Reece earned his first cap against Wales last October, while a month later Lauren received a senior national team call-up as part of a 29-player training camp at St George’s Park.
      Despite their careers mirroring one another, Reece is adamant they can’t be compared.
      Reece James has become a regular in the England squad since his first call-up last OctoberCredit: Marc Aspland – The Times
      His sister Lauren James celebrated an England call-up last NovemberCredit: Getty

      “I wouldn’t say there’s competition,” he said.
      “You know, she is my sister. Our games are the same, our professions are the same, but it’s still different. I play men’s football when she plays women’s football, you can’t compare them.”
      No. But you can applaud their success. They are, after all, living the dream.
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      Jamal Musiala, 18, signs first pro contract with Bayern Munich until 2026 after incredible breakthrough season

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      JAMAL MUSIALA has put pen to paper on his first ever professional contract with Bayern Munich.
      Musiala has been enjoying an impressive breakthrough season that has seen him net four goals in 28 appearances across all competitions with Bayern.

      Bayern Munich ace Jamal Musiala signed his first ever professional contractCredit: FC Bayern Munich / Instagram / @jamalmusiala10

      The attacking midfielder, who spent most of his childhood in England, became the club’s youngest ever footballer to play in the Bundesliga after featuring in June’s 3-1 win over Freiburg.
      The 18-year-old also made history recently by establishing himself as Bayern’s youngest ever goalscorer in the Champions League after his stunning finish in last week’s 4-1 thrashing of Lazio.
      Musiala told the club’s official website after signing a lucrative five-year contract: ” I’m really pleased to have signed my first professional contract at FC Bayern.
      “I just feel very good at the club and in the team, I’m playing with the best players in the world and I can learn from them every day in training.

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      “[Manager] Hansi Flick, [sporting director] Hasan Salihamidzic and [chief scout] Marco Neppe along with the whole club have believed in me and given me the chance very early on.
      “I just want to repay that faith with good performances, keep getting better and win a lot more titles with FC Bayern. My aim is to become an important player for this club.”
      Musiala was born in Stuttgart to a German mother and British-Nigerian father with whom he moved to the UK when he was a child.

      The youngster joined Chelsea’s academy and was soon called up to England’s youth teams.

      Just seven players have managed to score a hat-tricks of CL hat-tricks
      Bayern bought him from the Blues in 2019 and have since seen him climbing up the ranks thanks to a string of impressive performances that made him subject to an international tug-of-war between England and Germany.
      After careful consideration, Musiala chose to represent Germany at international level but insists that there will always be room for both countries in his heart.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Watch ex-Chelsea wonderkid Jamal Musiala become second youngest goalscorer in Germany’s third tier with brace for Bayern Munich II vs FSV Zwickau More

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      Chelsea call for NINE subs in matchday squad as Lampard faces restarting Premier League with midfield dilemma

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      CHELSEA have formally asked to have the maximum number of substitutes on the bench increased from seven to nine for the rest of this season. The proposal, submitted to the Premier League, will be on the agenda for clubs due to attend a shareholders’ meeting on Thursday. Frank Lampard’s Chelsea colleagues have formally asked the […] More

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      Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi arrested after 4am row with glamour model while breaking lockdown with ambulance called

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      ENGLAND forward Callum Hudson-Odoi was arrested on Sunday while breaching lockdown at 4am with a model he had met online. Officers went to the 19-year-old Chelsea star’s West London penthouse after a woman rang police and an ambulance. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus in sport live blog for the latest news & updates England ace Callum […] More

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      Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi arrested after 4am row with glamour model while breaking lockdown as ambulance called

      by

      ENGLAND forward Callum Hudson-Odoi was arrested on Sunday while breaching lockdown at 4am with a model he had met online. Officers went to the 19-year-old Chelsea star’s West London penthouse after a woman rang police and an ambulance. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates England ace Callum Hudson-Odoi spent […] More