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      Jose Mourinho claims Tottenham have no chance of beating Chelsea in Carabao Cup with bigger game just 48 hours later

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      JOSE MOURINHO says Tottenham have no chance of beating Chelsea.
      The Spurs boss hinted he will have to rest some of his top stars for their Carabao Cup fourth round clash against his former club.

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      Jose Mourinho says Tottenham have no chance of beating ChelseaCredit: AFP

      The North Londoners face Maccabi Haifa at home in a Europa League play-off just 48 hours later.
      And Mourinho blames the EFL for his club’s punishing fixture schedule.
      Mourinho said: “I would like to fight for the Carabao but I don’t think I can.

      “We have a game on Thursday that gives us not as much money as the Champions League but the group phase of the Europa League gives us a certain amount that for a club like us is very important. 
      “It’s a competition with a possible group phase that gives us a good chance to go through to the next knockout stage so this game on Thursday is very important for us.”
      After a journalist pointed out that Chelsea have not made a great start to the campaign and Spurs still have a chance of beating them, Mourinho scoffed: “You’re joking or you’re serious?”
      When the journalist said she was serious and asked to know why he thought Spurs could not win, he replied: “Because Chelsea played Saturday, they have Sunday and Monday then they play Tuesday and then they play again on the weekend.

      “So their fantastic squad, if the manager decides not to rotate he can perfectly play with the players that he wants.
      “As you know and forget the past Thursday, we played on the Sunday, now we play on the Tuesday, we play on the Thursday, we play on the Sunday again. 
      “And I think Sonny was just the first injury. More will come. So was the first, but more will come.”
      Son Heung-min could be sidelined for at least a month after going at half-time of yesterday’s 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle with a hamstring injury. 

      Dele Alli is likely to return to the Tottenham team after being axed for the Toon draw.
      Mourinho insisted: “Everybody is in contention. Apart from Sonny, everybody is in contention but I think you can imagine that with a game on Thursday that decides a very important thing for us. I think the EFL made a decision for us.
      “They didn’t even create a problem – they made a decision for us. So that’s the decision.”
      Tottenham received a third-round bye after opponents Leyton Orient had a large number of players test positive for Covid-19 – ironically after Spurs paid for them to be tested.
      The League Two club are furious at missing out on a lucrative live TV clash.
      Mourinho admitted: “I have total sympathy for them. I don’t think they did anything wrong.
      “They were tested. I think they deserved to play against us, no doubts about it.”

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      Government demands for Premier League to hand EFL £250m bail-out slammed by MPs and two ex-FA chairman

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      GOVERNMENT demands for Premier League clubs to pay the £250million EFL bail-out have been criticised by MPs and two former FA chairmen.
      Lord Triesman and Greg Dyke are among the signatories to the letter, written by Tory MP Damian Collins.

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      The Premier League are being called on by the Government to provide the £250m bail-out the EFL needsCredit: AP:Associated Press

      And in a stinging rebuke of Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, the group says it is the Government, and not Premier League clubs, who must be responsible for keeping the lower tiers of English football alive.
      They say: “We understand that you had hoped that the Premier League clubs might make a significant additional contribution to support the EFL.
      “Whilst this would be welcome, those clubs too face swingeing losses from lost ticketing receipts and falling revenues from broadcasting matches.
      “However, it cannot be the Premier League’s sole responsibility to sort out issues arising from Government policy.

      “The Government itself needs to take responsibility or many already-embattled towns – often in areas of the country which have suffered many hardships in recent decades – will lose their last focal point.”
      Triesman – Wembley head from 2008 to 2010 – and Dyke, who ran the FA between 2013 and 2016, are powerful voices with strong political connections.
      Along with Collins, recently deposed as chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, the other Westminster signatories featured four Tory MPs including former Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green as well as Labour’s Kevin Brennan and Clive Betts.
      Others signing the letter included National League vice-president Lord Faulkner, Malcolm Clarke of the Football Supporters Association and Robbie Savage.

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      Many EFL and non-league clubs are at risk of going out of business as a result of the coronavirus pandemic with no fans in groundsCredit: PA:Press Association

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      Former FA chairman Greg Dyke was among the signatories on a letter criticising the Government’s treatment of the EFL Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Dowden further infuriated League chiefs by his weekend assertion that top-flight clubs should “help poorer clubs rather than spend huge amounts of money hiring a new striker”.
      Now, though, he has been put on the back foot by the letter, which will be welcomed by League bosses.
      The group added that it had previously advised the Government of the issues faced by the EFL as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
      They added: “Clubs have been able to sustain themselves through advance season ticket sales, solidarity payments from the Premier League, and had agreed to start playing the new season in the belief that fans would be allowed to return to stadiums this autumn.
      “It’s now clear that spectators will not be back in EFL grounds, even in limited numbers, for the foreseeable future.
      “As a consequence clubs will not only lose this budgeted for income, but will also have to refund season tickets to fans who will now be prevented from attending matches.
      “It’s clear that the Government has no current proposals to provide financial support, and nor is it prepared to offer any guarantees for the future.
      “Without any plans being made to rescue football clubs, many in the EFL and others in the National League as well, are now actively preparing to make all but essential staff redundant, cease playing, close down their youth academies and community foundations, and put their business into administration.

      “This could lead not only to the failure of many historic community clubs, but the collapse of the national league structure that we have known for over one hundred years.
      “There is still time to act, but not long left.
      “The Government made £1.5billion available to rescue arts and cultural organisations across the country that faced closure because of the coronavirus.
      “We believe that football, like other well-loved professional sports in this country, is also a cultural activity.
      “We would ask that the government now make clear what financial support it’s prepared to give before it is too late.
      “In order for clubs to sustain themselves over the winter and keep playing, they would need to be compensated for the loss of match ticket sales.
      “The absence of this income is not a result of their actions, but the policies that have been put in place by the government in response to a public health emergency.”

      Ex-England star David James fronts campaign to reduce power usage in non-league football as income plummets due to Covid More

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      Premier League clubs ordered to stop splashing millions on players and help save struggling EFL sides

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      PREM clubs have been ordered by the Government to stop splashing millions on new players and bail out their skint EFL counterparts instead.
      Culture secretary Oliver Dowden yesterday demanded England’s top division “step up to the plate” and “start looking after the football family as a whole.”

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      Oliver Dowden has urged the Premier League to step up and help struggling EFL clubsCredit: Rex Features

      Dowden wants a deal agreed this week for Prem sides to cough up the £250million EFL chief Rick Parry says his clubs stand to lose due to the coronavirus pandemic.
      Asked by the  BBC’s Andrew Marr if he was going to insist Prem clubs “help poorer clubs, rather than spend huge amounts of money hiring a new striker,” Dowden replied: “That’s exactly what we’re saying to them.”
      Chelsea have spent a staggering £222m on Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech and Eduoard Mendy for this season.

      Manchester City’s imminent £50m capture of Ruben Dias will take their spending to nearly £130m, while Manchester United are still chasing England’s £100m-rated Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.
      Prem clubs shared a whopping £2.5BILLION in prize money and “central funds” payments last season, with champions Liverpool bagging £158m, United £154m and Chelsea £153m.
      Parry has warned struggling EFL clubs will go bust without financial support and Dowden wants a deal agreed this week to bail them out.
      He declared: “The Prime Minister and I have been clear: the Premier League needs to start looking after the football family as a whole, and  they are having productive conversations, working closely with the EFL to see how they can support them.”

      Dowden revealed the Prem and EFL will meet on Tuesday for crunch talks on the crisis now  the Government has effectively ruled out any fans attending matches until March, adding: “I am hopeful they will reach a deal this week.”

      In a separate Sky News interview, Dowden declared: “The Premier League needs to step up to the plate. It needs to play its part.
      “I have been in  consultation with them this week and was very clear we expect them to support the EFL and provide that level of support.
      “These clubs are such an important part of our local community.”
      Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week announced  the planned reintroduction of fans to stadiums from October 1 had been scrapped due to fears of a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
      Asked if crowds would return by the end of the season, Dowden replied: “I would desperately love that to happen but in this rapidly moving situation with the virus, we  need to exercise caution.
      “Most people would agree, with rapidly rising cases, now is not the time to bring back crowds.”

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      Chelsea have spent £222m on stars including new club record signing Kai HavertzCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Dowden also hinted the Government would look to Germany, where the  Bundesliga have allowed their  stadiums  to be filled up to 20 per cent of capacity, providing the local area has an infection rate lower than 35 people per 100,000.
      Dowden later told Times Radio: “Let’s look to the Premier League first. We don’t want any club to go bust because of Covid and because of the inability to get fans into stadiums.”
      His comments came as the Prem giants were also urged to bail out grass roots football clubs.
      Ray Fiveash, chairman of Southern League side Welwyn Garden City, said: “We are worried about losing our very club.
      “We are looking for funding. The Premier League has had too much money and we haven’t had enough, it is dreadful.
      “The Premier League should move more money about.
      “Jamie Vardy and Stuart Pearce both played grassroots football and both went on to play for England.”

      Boris Johnson reveals new restrictions on sporting events More

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      Man Utd fear Victor Lindelof is ‘burned out’ and fatigued… despite playing just two games this season

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       MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly worried Victor Lindelof could be battling with fatigue – despite playing just two games so far this term. 
      The Swedish centre-back struggled during his team’s shock loss to Crystal Palace last weekend and was not involved in their midweek League Cup tie at Luton. 

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      Reports claim United officials are concerned Victor Lindelof could be struggling with fatigueCredit: Getty – Pool

      And while the ex-Benfica player, 26, made a comeback in United’s 3-2 away win against Brighton, the Daily Star claims the club fears the defender could be burdened by exhaustion. 
      Lindelof made 47 appearances for United last term, but was left out of Sweden’s Nations League game against Spain following team medics’ concerns over his physical condition. 
      And the 26-year-old’s recent performances have come in for criticism, with Red Devils icon Rio Ferdinand urging his old side to consider buying a new defender. 
      Ahead of the 3-2 win at Brighton, Ferdinand told BT Sport: “I want Jadon Sancho, he’s a generational talent, but the centre-back position should be a priority over anywhere else in the transfer window.

      “This was an area I’ve been mentioning for many months. It’s still not been addressed.”
      This month SunSport exclusively revealed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were on the hunt for at least two more signings ahead of transfer deadline day. 
      The Manchester giants have strengthened their midfield with a £39million swoop for Donny van der Beek this summer

      But it is unclear whether a new centre-half is a priority for the club who finished third in the Premier League last term. 

      However the Daily Star claims the club’s interest in bringing in a defender is intensifying, despite the recent return to fitness of Eric Bailly. 
      The Ivory Coast international, who spent most of last season sidelined by injury, made an appearance in United’s win against Brighton and in their 3-0 EFL Cup tie victory against Luton Town. 

      Mason Greenwood says, ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ to play for Man Utd More

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      Oxford bus stalls for SIX HOURS en route to game as coronavirus-tackling alcohol spray sets off anti-drink-drive system

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      OXFORD UNITED had to abandon their team bus after an alcohol spray used to combat coronavirus set off the anti-drink-drive system.
      The bus stalled for six hours – meaning the squad had to use cars and taxis to reach Accrington’s ground in time for kick-off.

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      Oxford United went on to win the match 4-1Credit: Pro Sports Images

      Oxford’s coach sprayed sterilising alcohol gel around the cabin to make sure everyone on board is Covid-19 secure.
      But some of the spray was picked up by a sensor that stops the coach driver starting the vehicle if they have drunk alcohol.
      The League One stars had to find an alternative way of getting to the Wham Stadium.
      After the disastrous journey, manager Karl Robinson said: “Our coaches broke down.

      “We had to get changed in a hotel and make our way in staff cars, get taxis, you name it.
      “We also had four players test positive for Covid-19 on Thursday but it’s not Covid, there’s a flu going around.
      “But you can’t change it. Things aren’t falling in our favour but it’s not going to change our mentality.
      ” The players are motivated by what’s gone wrong.”

      Despite arriving later than planned, Oxford United managed to pick up three points with a 4-1 win.
      James Henry opened the scoring before Ryan Cassidy bagged the equaliser in the 72nd minute.
      An own-goal by Joe Pritchard gave them the lead before Matt Taylor found the net twice in two minutes.

      Michael Gove says govt is postponing return of fans to stadiums as he suggests it may have been wrong to stage events in early days of coronavirus More

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      Bowyer confirms Charlton plan THREE signings with Watson already in as embargo is lifted after Sandgaard takeover

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      LEE BOWYER hopes to make THREE signings before Sunday’s game against Lincoln City.
      And the first of them has already arrived with former Crystal Palace and Wigan midfielder Ben Watson arriving from Nottingham Forest.

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      Lee Bowyer is determined to strengthen his Charlton squad – and Ben Watson has already arrivedCredit: PA:Press Association

      Chartlon’s transfer embargo has been lifted following the arrival of new owner Thomas Sandgaard.
      The Danish businessman, 62, has insisted he wants to see his side “going for trophies”.
      And Bowyer, 43, faces a race against time to bolster his squad ahead of this weekend’s match.

      He said: “The embargo has been lifted, yeah.
      “We’re moving straight away to get people signed for the weekend.
      “We play Lincoln on Sunday and having a Sunday fixture has probably done us a favour because we’ve got that extra 24 hours to be able to bring players in who can then be available for the squad.
      “A minimum of two [signings before the match] and hopefully – I don’t think it’s the right thing to do [name the players] at the moment. ”

      Charlton confirmed the arrival of Ben Watson, 35, later on Friday evening.
      Bowyer said: “To bring in someone like Ben, with the experience that he has, is brilliant.
      “We have a few younger players with us at the moment, so having someone with his experience this season is going to be so important. I’m delighted that he’s chosen us.”

      Bowyer’s side have rejected offers for Alfie Doughty, Dillon Phillips and Macauley Bonne – and the new owner is not expected to sell any of his players anytime soon.
      Former Leeds star Bowyer continued: “We have to do it the right way in case things don’t go the way we want them to go.
      “Clubs will still make offers – I have no doubt in that.
      “We were never going to accept an offer that we didn’t see the value of the player.
      “So nothing has changed on those lines.
      “Obviously if the right offer came in and financially it would be good business for the football club then it doesn’t matter what player, you have to look at the situation and see if it the right deal for the club.

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      Thomas Sandgaard plays in a rock band and is recording their debut albumCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “Thomas is here now and he has said ‘no one is for sale’. But we were saying that before.
      “The most important thing is we’ve got financial stability and we don’t have to sell.
      “Whereas people before, I believe, were trying to take advantage of how weak we were.
      “Now they realise we’re not so weak anymore, so the price will definitely be right.”

      Thomas Sandgaard announces to Jim White that he is the new owner of Charlton Athletic More

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      Grimsby Town announce clash vs Cheltenham postponed after unnamed player tests positive for coronavirus

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      GRIMSBY TOWN have postponed their game against Cheltenham after one of their players tested positive for coronavirus.
      The League Two clash has been called off less than 24 hours before kick-off.

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      One member of Grimsby Town’s squad has contracted coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Grimsby confirmed all of their players will now have to self-isolate.
      A statement posted to the club website read: “As a result of one of our first team squad players contracting Covid-19, our fixture away at Cheltenham Town, scheduled for Saturday 26th September, has been postponed.
      “In line with medical advice received from the EFL, our own medical team and in line with Government guidelines, all players will now face a period of self-isolation at home.
      “The club did consider testing the squad today however, the medical advice received was that such testing would be of no effect as the incubation period of the virus being a minimum of five days, with the squad last being in contact with the player three days ago.”

      The League Two side confirmed a date for the rescheduled match will be revealed in “due course”.
      Grimsby’s statement continued: “In addition, we have received confirmation from the EFL that match passes purchased for tomorrow’s fixture will be valid for the fixture when it is rearranged.
      “A revised date for the rearranged fixture will be confirmed in due course.”
      Cheltenham’s statment read: “Everyone at Cheltenham Town wishes the player involved a speedy recovery and we look forward to welcoming the Mariners later on in the season.”

      Leyton Orient’s game against Walsall on Saturday has also been suspended due to the club’s coronavirus crisis.
      Some 18 O’s players or staff tested positive for Covid-19 on the same day they were supposed to play Spurs in the Carabao Cup.
      Orient’s Carabao Cup clash against Tottenham also had to be called off.

      Michael Gove says govt is postponing return of fans to stadiums as he suggests it may have been wrong to stage events in early days of coronavirus More

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      Thomas Sandgaard is new Charlton owner, loves rock music, plays guitar in his own band, and is worth £400m

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      THOMAS SANDGAARD has two loves – rock music and football.
      And while most people are thinking towards their retirement at the age of 62, the US-based Danish businessman has decided to pursue new careers involving his biggest passions.

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      Rock ‘n’ roll businessman Thomas Sandgaard has bought CharltonCredit: Instagram / @sandgaardfnd

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      Sandgaard has acquired the club from ESICredit: Twitter

      Having acquired a personal wealth believed to be in excess of £400million supplying medical devices, Sandgaard is recording a debut rock album as lead guitarist of his newly-formed band The Guardian Angel.
      Alongside that, he has just completed a takeover of the Addicks from East Street Investments.
      And the musician has a Eurovision dream – to rock The Valley with European football.
      He told SunSport: “I’m competitive so want Charlton going for trophies.

      “The more important ones are when you’re in the Premier League – but to do that you need infrastructure supporting it.
      “Then we can be playing for silverware on a European level and I mean the Europa League and Champions League.”
      That is some claim for a club that has been out of the top flight for 13 seasons and had THREE different chairmen in the last year.

      SANDGAARD ON LEE BOWYER

      LEE has done a superb job and plays a positive high-energy game that you need to be successful.

      It’s the football I like to watch as a fan. He clearly has all the players playing for him and my first aim if I take over will be to make him my best friend.

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      Sandgaard plays in a rock band and is recording their debut albumCredit: Instagram / @sandgaardfnd

      Now, he’s the owner he can look forward.

      But the big question is why would a Dane living in the US want to buy a League One club in turmoil?
      Especially a man with experience in medical supplies.
      In 1996, he founded Zynex a company that markets electrotherapy devices for use in pain management, physical rehabilitation, neurological diagnosis and cardiac monitoring.
      He said: “I’ve two passions – rock music and football.
      “I was a bit of a nerd when I was 13 so decided to go out and buy a guitar because I wanted to be one of the cool kids and be a rock musician. 

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      Sandgaard made his £400m fortune supplying medical devicesCredit: Instagram @sandgaardfnd
      “But I also played football at amateur level in Denmark and started to love the English game when I watched Chelsea on TV winning the FA Cup in 1970.
      “I moved to the States more than 20 years ago to start my own business out of a one-bedroom flat and spent years personally bankrupting myself to make sure wages and bills were paid. 
      “But in the last few years I’ve reached a point financially where I can do something like this.
      “Three months ago, a friend asked, ‘Have you thought about owning an English football club?’
      “And I thought, ‘Wow, that could be one of the more positive things I could do in my life.’”

      Sandgaard on relationship with Charlton fans

      I WENT on social media mainly to try to get communicating with Roland Duchatelet and ESI, who were hesitant on picking up the phone at the start.

      But the happy side effect of that was I’ve started having great dialogue with the fans. I’ve learned so much from them and they’ve actually helped me a lot in my negotiations to buy the club.

      So Sandgaard networked with various clubs as well as coaching staff at several teams.
      He held talks with QPR but “they wanted a couple of hundred million” then looked at Sunderland before settling for Charlton.
      The Dane explained: “They stood out. Take the ownership drama and relegation out of the equation and everything is good.
      “The foundations are right, they’ve an amazing history and had a lot of Danish players over the years like Allan Simonsen, Dennis Rommedahl and Claus Jensen.”

      Sandgaard on immediate plans

      THE club needs stability.

      I am not going to make a wild claim that we will be in the Premier League in x-amount of years. No, we will focus on getting this club stable for the next two years and build from there.

      Sandgaard’s first concern is to keep Lee Bowyer as manager and vowed not to make sweeping changes to the long-suffering staff who have been trying to run the club in difficult circumstances.
      However, he will recruit experienced football executives to provide leadership.
      One person he will offer a role to is Peter Varney, who not only is a lifelong fan but was CEO when the club were in the Premier League.
      And he also has pledged to make sure the club remain at The Valley and their training ground with fears among fans that both could be sold for housing.
      And – although Sandgaard acknowledges there is a need for clubs to operate within their financial means – he has vowed to give Bowyer funds to strengthen.

      Sandgaard on his favourite player

      ALAN SIMONSEN – who joined Charlton from Barcelona – was one of the best Danish players ever.

      He had great vision and, like a chess player, could see four or five plays ahead. I
      He signed for Charlton after scoring the deciding goal for Barcelona in the European Cup Winners Cup final in 1982.

      He said: “I want to strike a balance between investing to be successful and sticking to within the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules. It’s about being smart and the best in the environment you’re in.
      “Fans were unhappy with Roland’s vision for the club and his investment. It’s maybe not how I’d have done things because we have different philosophies.
      “I’d focus more on football than just looking at Charlton as a capital investment.”
      So when will Sandgaard have time to finish this album? He has been working with Danish drummer Kenny Aranoff, who played with greats such as Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, BB King, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Bon Jovi and Meat Loaf.
      And he in turn roped in Bon Jovi lead guitarist Phil X and Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney.
      Sandgaard – who has Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water as his personal mobile dialling tone – said: “We got together for five days straight in a studio for 12 hours solid and recorded nine tracks.

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      Now a takeover is done, Sandgaard can concentrate on recording his rock albumCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “Covid-19 – and now Charlton – have delayed things but I’ve been buying up all the domain names for when we finally launch.”
      And he might do a gig at The Valley and invite assistant-manager and guitar-playing singer Johnnie Jackson to join him.
      He laughed: “I never knew about Johnnie but been checking him out online. He’s really good. If we get promoted, we’ll have to do a gig.”

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