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      in Soccer

      Chelsea files: Blues caught in furious ‘s***ty pitch’ row as Maresca’s seven-goalkeeper dilemma sees him target Trafford

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      CHELSEA head to Sweden this week and straight into a bizarre ‘s****y’ pitch battle involving European opponents Djurgarden.Their hosts for the Conference League semi-final first leg are furious with the state of their OWN surface as they prepare for their biggest game in years. Chelsea take on Swedish side Djurgardens in the Conference League semi-finalCredit: EPADjurgardens striker August Priske admitted their pitch is ‘s****y’Credit: GettyThe pitch is an artificial one and the Djurgardens players and coaches are not happy with it. Usually it is the visiting opposition that kick up a fuss when they arrive and find it uncomfortable on an alien surface. Djurgardens overcame Austrians Rapid Vienna in the previous round but they lost the home leg and then came back in the away game to secure a dream date with Chelsea on Thursday. Striker August Priske said: “I don’t want to blame the pitch of course, but it’s a s****y pitch.”Djurgardens play at the multi-use 3Arena in Stockholm and share the multi-use stadium with rivals Hammerby.The Rolling Stones, Harry Styles and Celine Dion have all played there.Djurgardens’ coach Jani Honkavaara says: “Our training pitch is so different to the one at the stadium, it’s like night and day. The stadium pitches feel different from day to day.“It’s really tough for both us and our opponents. We get nothing extra from it.“The pitch is horrible. I have thought of letting us train more on the stadium pitch to get used to it.”Modern pitches often contain part man-made materials combined with grass. But there are fears that certain artificial surfaces can raise the risk of injuries to players.The stadium is owned by the authorities in the Swedish capital and it’s believed cost issues prevent the surface being changed.Cole Palmer spotted running away from Stamford Bridge as baffled Chelsea fans ask ‘where is he going’Win a trip to the UEFA Conference League Final in Wroclaw with HankookChelsea are fifth in the Premier League as they prepare for Thursday’s game and boss Enzo Maresca needs everyone fit for the run to have their best shot at qualifying for next season’s Champions League.Winger Tokmak Nguen said: “The ball just slides away from your foot all the time. In deciding situations when you have decided what to do suddenly the ball has moved for no reason. We have told the club that something has to be done.”Better late than neverLATE KICK-OFFS have always been part of football – but never like this.Chelsea’s Conference League clash with Djurgardens is the first meeting between the two sides and has finally arrived 70 years late.In 1955 The Blues were celebrating winning the old First Division and as such were invited to compete in the newly formed European Champions’ Clubs Cup.They were drawn against Djurgardens and then Chelsea manager Ted Drake was hugely interested.However, in order to play, competing teams needed the permission of their respective national associations and at the time, Football League assistant secretary Alan Hardaker allegedly asked Chelsea to ‘reconsider’ because of the crowded domestic season.How times have changed – European football now rules the roost and the domestic calendar is taking a battering to make way for it.Chelsea are playing in the semi-finals of a competition in only its fourth year of existence as Uefa’s third-tier competition behind the 36-team Champions League and Europa League.KEEPING UP APPEARANCESCHELSEA’S goalkeeper dilemma shows no sign of slowing.The Blues have asked about Burnley keeper James Trafford, who is expected to leave Turf Moor this summer – despite their promotion back to the Premier League.Newcastle look likely to beat the west Londoners to his signing, having failed in a move for the England Under-21 international last summer.But Chelsea have asked the question in the hope they may be able to pull something off.Maresca is in a bind over what to do between the posts, with EIGHT stoppers on the club’s books.Borussia Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel is also being eyed.Swiss star Kobel, 27, has established himself as first choice over his four years since arriving from Stuttgart in a £13m move.But Kobel, who has just one year left on his Dortmund contract, is ready for a change of scenery.Dortmund are steeling themselves for his departure, having already signed Diant Ramaj, currently on loan at Copenhagen from Ajax, on a four-year deal that starts this summer.That indicates Dortmund, who took midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka on loan from Chelsea in January, will be willing to do a £15m-plus deal.Robert Sanchez has spent most of this season as first choice at the Bridge and pulled off two vital stops in the weekend win over Everton.The former Brighton man has still to convince the Blues faithful, who are equally uncertain about Filip Jorgensen, who has made six Prem starts.Former Spain keeper Kepa is due to return from his loan spell at Bournemouth, Marcus Bettinelli has been the unused third choice this term.Another loanee due back is Djordje Petrovic, who has impressed at Strasbourg, while the Blues also have Lucas Bergstrom and Eddie Beach and have signed Genk teenager Mike Penders for next season.Chelsea want to sign Burnley goalkeeper James TraffordRobert Sanchez is still yet to win over the Blues faithfulTHE U-turn over Trevoh Chalobah has been completed – without even a flush of embarrassment.Central defender Chalobah was told he was surplus to requirements in August after being put in the Blues’ “bomb squad”.The home-grown 25-year-old had his preferred No 14 shirt stripped and handed to Portuguese flop Joao Felix before he was snapped up on loan by Crystal Palace.An injury crisis at the Bridge saw Maresca exercise a break clause in the deal to bring the defender back to SW6 in January, handing him the No 23 shirt.But Chalobah has now made himself first choice alongside Levi Colwill, despite the return to fitness of Benoit Badiashile.Maresca said: “Since Trev came back to us in January he’s done very, very well.“He’s playing games and helping us, defending when he needs to defend and also building from the back when we need him.“We’re very happy with Trev. Honestly, he hasn’t played a bigger role than I expected.“I knew he could help us. We never had any doubts about that.”Trevoh Chalobah has impressed Enzo Maresca since returning from loanCredit: GettyTROPHY HUNTERChelsea face the toughest run-in of the top five contenders, with clashes against champions Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.Maresca, whose decision to field a strong side for the home second leg of the Conference League quarter-final with Legia Warsaw backfired with a dreadful display in the 2-1 defeat, put Reece James on the bench against Everton.But some feel the Blues boss, aware of Mauricio Pochettino’s fate last summer, may value winning a trophy over qualifying for Europe’s main competition to secure his own managerial reputation.That could see him prioritising the two semi-final games against Djurgarden and then the potential final against Fiorentina or Real Betis in Wroclaw three days after the Prem finale.Moving the goalpostsChelsea fans may have to steel themselves for a FIVE-YEAR absence from Stamford Bridge if the club’s alternative stadium options fall through.Their neighbours in nearby Twickenham are on the front foot trying to lure the Premier League club to the newly renamed Allianz Stadium HQ of England’s rugby union team.RFU boss Bill Sweeney declared: “If Chelsea came, it would be a big financial number.”The 82,000 capacity is almost double that of Stamford Bridge currently and geographically is a much better fit than Wembley.The national stadium in North West London is regarded as an atmospheric graveyard for club games – as Tottenham found to their cost when they occupied the place for almost three years on a part-time and permanent basis while their new ground was built.There has been no update on the potential move to Earls Court with local Hammersmith and Fulham Council chiefs due to rule soon on a stadium-free mixed use plan by developers that could effectively determine the site’s future.If so, then a rebuild of Chelsea’s home since 1905 – which would likely be the fans’ preferred choice – might be left as the only option to expand the current 44,000 capacity.But complications caused by the Tube line running beside the ground and the nearby Brompton Cemetery mean club insiders fear a stand-by-stand rebuild is unlikely to be feasible.That would leave the Blues looking for a short-term let for between four and five seasons while the club’s new home was constructed.Twickenham’s restrictive Covenant agreement on staging events suggests the home of English rugby would be a non-runner even though the RFU seem interested in an arrangement, while Craven Cottage, Loftus Road and Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium would all be too small.That appears to leave Wembley as the best, if probably unpopular option, as the gate attendances would help make up a financial shortfall from the limits on other stadium income.Chelsea could play at Twickenham if Stamford Bridge is rebuiltCredit: AlamyO Romeo O RomeoCHELSEA fans were delighted to see Romeo Lavia back in action at the weekend.But the Belgian midfielder’s return left Maresca pondering what might have been.Lavia, 21, has made just NINE Prem starts, all this season, since his £58m move from Southampton in 2023, after a seemingly endless series of ankle, thigh and hamstring problems.When Lavia looked to be limping towards the end of the first half of the win over Everton, there were fears of another issue, although he was able to play until mid-way through the second period before being rested.Maresca said: “You could see the difference he made, particularly playing through the lines.“I spent one entire season with Romeo at City, actually, so I know him very well.“Like with James, he is a top player. The only shame for us is that unfortunately we need to manage and protect them.“There’s no doubt that with Reece and Romeo, Chelsea are a better team. He is a unique player.“When he is fit he’s one of the best midfielders around because he can defend very well and attack as well and his passes between the lines are unbelievable.”Injury-hit Romeo Lavia returned against EvertonCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Why Gabriel Martinelli is crucial vs PSG in semi-final as Arsenal star continues his amazing goalscoring record

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      ASK Paris Saint-Germain stars which Arsenal player they most fear and they are unlikely to come up with the name Gabriel Martinelli.After knocking out 15-time winners Real Madrid, Mikel Arteta’s men host PSG in a blockbuster semi-final first leg tonight.Gabriel Martinelli smiles as he speaks to the mediaMartinelli was a key man for Arsenal in the win over Real MadridCredit: EPAMartinelli scored a memorable goal in the BernabeuCredit: GettyAnd if Martinelli gets on the scoresheet, history suggests the Gunners will have one foot in the final next month in Munich.The Brazilian winger has hardly been in scintillating form this season, with just nine goals — and only two in his last 15 games heading into a mammoth Champions League semi-final first-leg tie against PSG.But beneath that patchy form lies a remarkable record.In the club’s 139-year history, Martinelli has the record for most games scored in without being on the losing side.READ MORE ON ARSENALIn the 44 games he has found the net, across his six years in North London, the Gunners have NEVER been beaten.Fifty goals – the last in the 4-0 Premier League win at Ipswich earlier this month – with 37 wins and seven draws.It must be pointed out that in one of those draws – a 5-5 Anfield thriller in the Carabao Cup in October 2019 – Martinelli netted twice but Arsenal lost on penalties — a result that is conveniently not included in his incredible perfect run.Martinelli is happy for that to be the case too. Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The EmiratesWhen reminded of the record, he gave a cheeky smile and said: “Yeah I’ve heard that.”So, how do you explain it? He shrugged: “It’s what we do, you know? We try to score and assist to help the team win games.”But, if I need to run 15 kilometres and win games when I’m not scoring goals and win the Champions League, I’m going to be the happiest man in the world.Gabriel Martinelli’s amazing run of not losing a game when he scoresMikel Arteta accidentally photobombs Sky Sports report as he takes Arsenal dog Win for a walk”It’s really good to have these stats next to me but I try to give my best as I can for the team with goals or just doing the work in defensive work as well.”You would not blame Martinelli for already dreaming of the Champions League final in Munich on May 31 if he does find the net at some point over the two legs of this semi.He laughed: “No, I don’t think that, I just try to play and win the game.”Whether it is from the footballing gods or a sprinkling of pixie dust that does the trick, what the statistic does show is Martinelli has become an essential and game-changing cog in Mikel Arteta’s machine that is now competing for major titles at home and abroad.It is important to remember that Martinelli is still just 23, having joined from Brazilian side Ituano in July 2019 for around £6million under ex-boss Unai Emery.Back then, he was a fresh-faced 18-year-old with a slight, child-like frame, but his talent was on show from the very beginning, netting ten times in his debut campaign.Martinelli has become a key player in Europe this seasonIt led to then-Kop boss Jurgen Klopp – following that 5-5 draw – describing the teenager as the “talent of the century”.Six years later and Martinelli is a senior figure of this side in everything but age, having come through the dark times of Arteta’s early reign.He survived mass squad upheavals to become an Emirates favourite and a reliable grafter as one of the club’s longest-serving players, even if his numbers – 17 goals in his last 89 appearances – are not exactly eye-catching.But when he does score, it always seems to matter, a prime example being his stunning solo goal – running from the halfway line – to beat Real Madrid in the quarter-final second-leg 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu.Martinelli reminded reporters “I’m not that old”, before explaining: “We have improved a lot. It’s been an amazing journey for me. I was just an 18-year-old boy.”When I got here we were playing in the Europa League, now we are in the semi-final of the Champions League.The past is irrelevant. We can learn things from that but live the now, the present. It’s a beautiful moment. Let’s live it and let’s enjoy it. We want to do something specialMikel Arteta”Since I started to play football, I had this dream to play in the Champions League and to be in a semi-final, it’s amazing.”It is the biggest game of my life. I’m really happy to be here and to have lived these moments. Everyone that loves football would love to be playing these kinds of games.”I’m really proud of the team, of the club, we deserve to be playing in this competition and win it. It’s a dream and we are ready.”This could also be a chance for Martinelli to cement himself into the thoughts of Arteta, with the club looking to strengthen his position on the left wing this off-season, while his contract is also up in the summer of 2027.Leading Arsenal to a Champions League final would confirm the ink on that contract. He said: “I have always said I am really happy here. This is my home – I love the club.”But we play for Arsenal, it’s a competition every day. The club wants to have the best players in the world, because it is one of the biggest in the world as well.Brazil star Martinelli put in a remarkable shift in the away leg against Real Madrid”We need to have the best players. I will be really happy when we have big players coming to the team.”Arsenal’s last European triumph came in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994 with George Graham – when they also beat the French champions at this stage.But their Champions League record is dire, reaching the final just once in 2006 under Arsene Wenger before losing 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris.Asked if he feels the weight of expectation to finally win the trophy, Arteta said: “You feel it. We have a lot of people that have worked here for many years and never been in this position.”That tells you how unique and beautiful it is. We’ve never done it so we need to earn the right to be in that final ? and everything is going to start against PSG.”I look at the players in the eyes and they can’t wait to play. That’s the feeling.”Arteta added: “The past is irrelevant. We can learn things from that but live the now, the present. It’s a beautiful moment.”Let’s live it and let’s enjoy it. We want to do something special.”The Emirates has to be something special, something that we haven’t seen before.”Asked if Arsenal were favourites with PSG, Inter Milan and Barca left, he added: “No, as we have never done it, so there is so much to do.”Thomas Partey is banned after a yellow card against Real at the Bernabeu, meaning makeshift striker Mikel Merino will be in midfield and Leandro Trossard likely up front.But Arteta can take positives from beating Luis Enrique’s PSG this term – winning 2-0 at the Emirates in the league phase back in October.Arteta added: “I loved our presence, how we went out there, our body language, the intensity, how aggressive we were.Read More on The SunBukayo Saka is Arsenal’s top scorer in the Champions League this season”It was good preparation for what is now coming.”The way we approached the game against Real and way we approached the game when we played them before, the way we approach every week … that won’t change.”Arsenal ratings v Real MadridARSENAL’S heroes dumped the Kings of Europe out of the Champions League in dramatic fashion. More

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      in Boxing

      Moment Daniel Dubois FLINCHES after tiny feint from Oleksandr Usyk has fans convinced they already know who wins

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      DANIEL DUBOIS shoved Oleksandr Usyk in an early effort to get inside the brain of the unbeaten mastermind.The 27-year-old IBF heavyweight champion again came face to face with Ukraine’s WBC, WBO and WBA boss on the Wembley turf yesterday ahead of their July 19 rematch at the national football stadium.Daniel Dubois shoved Oleksandr Usyk on the Wembley pitchCredit: QueensberryIt led to an awkward momentCredit: QueensberryAnd, after posing for photos and staring into each other’s eyes, Dubois lashed out, forcing Usyk to step backwards into his boxing stance and security to rush in to split them up.Usyk even faked a punch of his own, forcing Dubois to flinch and convincing fans the fight has already been decided.One said: “See how Dubois flinches straight after pushing him , Usyk inside 8.”Another added: “That flinch after the push from Dubois is everything you need to know about the mental state of Dubois leading into this. Usyk late stoppage.”READ MORE IN BOXINGBut ice-cool 38-year-old Usyk — who has beaten both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury twice and is now preparing for a Dynamite Dan rerun — said the barge was all for the cameras.He said: “It was all for show. It doesn’t matter. I’ve prepared 22 years for this business. I love life, and boxing is part of my life.”DDD made a great start to their first meeting in Poland in 2023 but was undone in the ninth round by one too many of Usyk’s pinpoint jabs. The most controversial moment was a fifth-round beltline blow that floored Usyk but was ruled an illegal punch.Most read in BoxingUsyk found Tyson Fury was his toughest opponentCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSUsyk was given four minutes to recover and the break cost Dubois his focus and self-belief.But he has rebuilt his career with a hat-trick of stunning wins, the most recent and sensational being the September knockout of Joshua at London’s Wembley Stadium in front of a record crowd of 96,000.Daniel Dubois gatecrashes Usyk’s post-fight celebrations to call on their own rematch And deadeye Dubois warned his Ukrainian rival that fireworks can be expected every time they cross paths.The Londoner said: “It’s a fight. So anytime we’re in each other’s faces, it could kick off.“This is the fight I wanted and demanded, and now I get my chance for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk.“I should have won the first fight and was denied by the judgment of the referee, so I will make no mistake this time around in front of my people at the national stadium in my home city.“I am a superior and more dangerous fighter now and Usyk will find this out for himself on July 19.“I would like to thank my promoter, Frank Warren, for making this happen for me and I intend to repay him by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.”Usyk became the four-belt undisputed heavyweight ruler when he toppled Fury for the first time in May.But infuriating boxing bureaucracy meant he lost the red IBF belt without ever having tasted defeat.Read More on The SunAnd he warned red-hot Dubois that he has just been babysitting his baby and keeping it warm for him.The Ukrainian added: “Thank you, Daniel, for taking care of my IBF belt — but now I want it back.”Usyk and Dubois face off ahead of their July 19 rematchCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

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      in Boxing

      Spurs fan Riley bags North London bragging rights & Brit title by beating Arsenal rival Clarke on Eubank-Benn undercard

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      SPURS fan Viddal Riley took home North London bragging rights and the British title after beating Arsenal rival Chev Clarke.Riley – who wore the white and navy of Tottenham on his shorts – outboxed and outfoxed his way past Gooner Clarke over 12 rounds.Viddal Riley fought his way to victory over Chev Clarke in North LondonCredit: ReutersThe bout had extra spice with Viddal being a Spurs fan and Clarke a supporter of arch rivals ArsenalCredit: GettyCHRIS EUBANK JR VS CONOR BENN LIVE: ALL THE LATEST FROM HUGE GRUDGE MATCHThe scorecards read 116-112, 117-111 and 115-113 to earn the 27-year-old the prestigious Lonsdale cruiserweight belt.As is the case with most bouts between two seasoned and well-schooled amateurs, it was an early battle of the jabs.Riley, swaying from left to right, pumped out his lead hand with the odd right hand following behind.Clarke – who bravely walked into Spurs’ stadium to North London Forever – stood his ground and attempted to attack the body.READ MORE ON BOXINGAnd one left hook missed the mark by mere inches for the man donning the Gunners’ famous red and white. Riley too was a whisker away from a counter right uppercut in the second as Clarke again went looking for the lead hook – before almost tumbling into the ropes. The action picked up in the third and both traded in the pocket with Clarke ending the round hammering in a combination.BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKIn the fourth, Riley landed a body shot and walked into a subsequent right hand – but still got the first and last say in the exchanges.Most read in BoxingThe action momentarily kicked into life in the fifth as Riley landed a lead left but was stopped in his tracks by a body shot.Boxer Viddal Riley works out hard in the gymRiley – who shot to fame as the trainer of YouTube star KSI – was beginning to settle into a nice rhythm. And Clarke had just as much trouble keeping his balance as he did putting a dent in his rival.Riley – unlike under-fire Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou – neglected all-out attack and boxed with smart tactics using his jab and lateral movement.In round seven, Clarke again slipped on the canvas and found a body shot sinking into his midriff soon after.The 2020 Olympian – who unveiled veteran coach Virgil Hunter as his new cornerman on fight night – showed his frustration in the eighth after again losing his footing.He looked to the crowd – shaking his head – maybe realising his title was quite literally slipping away from him.  Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor BennTHE countdown is ON to one of the biggest boxing events of the 21st CenturyFamilial tension and a rivalry that has been brewing for years will finally be resolved when Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.There has been huge drama in the build-up with the pair engaged in a war of words and multiple clashes in person.SunSport will have full coverage of the blockbuster clash all week and LIVE round-by-round coverage of every fight on a stacked undercard.Latest NewsAll the infoIn round nine, the referee eventually intervened and wiped down the greasy surface and huge advertising sticker which was causing the mayhem.Riley kept up his fleet feet and piston-like jab to keep Clarke – now chasing the fight – at bay.Clarke did his best to close the range in the final three rounds, charging at Riley to the point they both hit the deck after a tussle.But Riley was able to see out the rounds and snatch away the British belt – improving to 13-0 in the process.Read More on The SunGlory, glory Tottenham Hotspur rang out around the £1billion stadium as Riley was announced the winner. It gave the long-suffering Spurs fans inside the ground something to finally cheer about.The referee had to wipe down the canvasCredit: ReutersRiley celebrates with his dad and coach DerrickCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      I’ve been relegated and promoted from the Premier League – here’s how Leeds and Burnley can escape ‘yo-yo’ curse

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      SO now we know four  of the six clubs who will be promoted to or relegated from the Premier League.And we need to make sure this magnificent competition remains a meritocracy.Burnley have bounced back to the Prem under Scott ParkerCredit: RexLeeds are also returning to the top flight with two games to spareCredit: RexKarren Brady has seen relegation and promotion during her time as West Ham vice-chairmanCredit: GettyI’ve heard some supporters say: “It’s the same clubs going up and down” — but that’s  just not true. While this season the ‘three-up, three down’ did happen — or is about to — over the years that has not been a regular trend.There have been some yo-yo clubs, but remember in 2021-22 all the promoted clubs stayed in the Premier League and flourished.Just look where they are now. Fulham, Bournemouth and Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest are all in the top half.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSo, it can be done and we want to make sure that remains the case, in order to uphold the Prem as world football’s most vibrant and exciting domestic competition.Heck, we must be doing something right as the average top-flight  attendance this season is more than 40,000 and the full-house signs are up everywhere. A decade ago that figure was 36,000 and 20 years ago it was 33,000.If you analyse the stats, relegated clubs from the Prem finish on average ninth in their first  season in the Championship, then 12th in their second season.Most read in FootballThriving Nottingham Forest are fourth in the Prem after beating SpursCredit: RexBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKThat does not suggest there is a long-term trend for teams  bouncing between the two leagues but it does mean we must keep a very close eye on the situation as the Prem should reward success, as well as punish failure.What we have to ensure is that on any given day any side can beat anyone else in the Prem.Scott Parker sheds tears in emotional celebration with family as Burnley boss retains hundred per cent promotion recordForest won at Liverpool in  September, just as Fulham beat the champions-elect this month.Ditto Arsenal, who lost at home to West Ham in February.Also, Forest, Bournemouth,  Fulham and Brighton are all in the top half, with Brentford 11th and Crystal Palace 12th. That suggests merit is alive and kicking.To those clubs chasing the Prem dream . . . good luck.So far Sheffield United and Sunderland have booked themselves two of the four play-off  places and both clubs will know that promotion to the top flight will bring unbridled joy to fans.It is the Willy Wonka golden ticket and the financial windfall can change the future.You are then in the big league, performing in front of a global audience of billions.There is increased revenue from TV money, sponsorships, attendances and countless other commercial opportunities which come knocking, whereas for those clubs who get relegated from the Prem it is a tough world out there.Cost-cutting is the name of the game as revenue drops by millions in one hit. I know, I’ve been there.Without parachute payments, the tough task of remaining in the Prem gets even tougher and relegation is ArmageddonI’ve lived with the pain of relegation and  joy of promotion and, believe me, you never forget either.The challenge for whichever club joins Burnley and Leeds in the Prem next season is sustainability.Spend wisely and don’t go overboard in the transfer market.There are examples of clubs who have managed the leap into the Prem after showing resilience and building strong foundations.They have spent on the right players, appointed the right manager and have treated survival as a starting point, not the finishing line.Promotion to the Prem can make or break you and if the powers-that-be abolish parachute payments — which they have threatened to — I predict a very bleak future for some clubs.Without parachute payments, the tough task of remaining in the Prem gets even tougher and relegation is Armageddon.Read More on The SunAs we near the last few hurdles in the campaign, some will dream and some will turn to despair.And that’s why it remains the game we all love. More

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      in Motorsport

      Watch pimped-out white van break THREE speed records to become world’s fastest front-wheel drive Ford

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      A TRADESMAN’S van has made history by smashing three speed records to become the fastest front wheel drive Ford on the planet.The souped up 2001 Escort sped down a quarter mile drag strip in just 8.72 seconds at Santa Pod Raceway in Podington, Beds.Terry and his fizzingly fast FordCredit: Callum PudgeCheeky tweaks to the engine made it the fastest front-wheel drive Ford on the planetCredit: Callum PudgeTerry’s Ford Escort during its record-breaking runCredit: Youtube/santapodtvDriver and owner Terry Newton, 41, hit a top speed of 168.4mph during his second qualifying pass at last weekend’s Festival of Power event.It beat the previous fastest FWD Ford driven in 8.76 seconds at 152mph by a Focus over 20 years ago – and became the fastest FWD Zetec and Zetec stock block.After obliterating the record on Good Friday, Terry said: “I never dreamed of getting it to go that fast. I didn’t think it was possible.“I hadn’t driven since October and we were only going out to check if the van still worked.Most read in Motors“You set off and you just change gears before pulling a parachute but I knew it must have been a decent time as I could feel it dragging the van into the other lane.“When I found out we’d beaten the record, I instantly cried remembering my seven-year-old daughter Elektra said to go win it when I saw her on Wednesday.“We matched the record last year but to beat it is unbelievable as it takes so much work just to shave off those milliseconds when you reach these high speeds.”Terry, of Fat Pig Racing, swapped the van with a mate for a Mk4 Escort six years ago – and didn’t have high hopes after blowing the head gasket driving it home to Preston, Lancs.Most read in MotorsThe mechanic reckons he’s spent more than £100,000 on modifications to make it reach 60mph in just 1.8 seconds, 100mph in 3.9 seconds and 135mph in 5.9 seconds.The two-litre turbo engine, which makes it quicker than a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, burns seven litres of methanol per quarter mile.It provides around 1,100 brake horsepower and could do 230mph but is too powerful to accurately measure without wheel spinning.Terry, who usually drives a Volkswagen Touareg, credits sponsors and mechanics Chris Eade, dubbed the Turbo Doctor, and Graeme Cook for turning the tradie’s van into a world beater.He added: “There’s still work to do. I’m hoping to win an event next month against racers from all across Europe with a £100,000 prize pot.“I got a phone call from world-famous DJ Carl Cox congratulating me as he’s a lovely guy who also races in our class with his own team.“To be the proud owner of the world’s fastest FWD Ford is a really special moment. The sky’s the limit for this old van.”Sun readers wanting to watch Terry in the Doorslammers event at Santa Pod Raceway on May 16-18 can save 20 per cent on tickets by using code SUN20 at checkout.The tradesmen hit a whopping 168.4mph, beating the previous Ford record of 152mph over twenty years agoCredit: Callum Pudge More

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      in Boxing

      Chris Eubank Jr’s torment over painful 6-year rift with idol dad… and how legend’s ‘crazy’ demands ‘cost his son £3m’

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      AS Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr face up in the ring tomorrow at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, not even the screaming crowds and bright lights will be able to hide a very conspicuous absence.While Benn will have his dad Nigel backing him up in his corner, Chris Eubank Sr will be nowhere to be seen – despite this fight opening another chapter in a more than three-decade-old Eubank-Benn rivalry.Chris Eubank Jr and his father have been caught up in an ever-deepening rift since 2019Credit: Getty Images – GettyThe legendary boxer has called Saturday’s fight, between his son and Conor Benn, a “disgrace”Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdTheir relationship has been damaged by the passing of Chris Eubank Jr’s brother, Sebastian, in 2021Credit: Instagram @chriseubankjrChris Eubank Sr has branded the fight a “disgrace” and accused his son of “making a mockery” of the family legacy – even calling for his boxing licence to be revoked after the younger Eubank cracked an egg over Benn’s face in a February press conference.But while the build-up to Saturday’s fight has exacerbated the rift, the fallout is nothing new – dating back to 2019.In recent years their fractured relationship has been overshadowed by the tragic death of two members of the family, while promoter Eddie Hearn even claimed Eubank Sr cost his son millions.Ahead of the showdown, 35-year-old Eubank Jr has faced an uphill battle to shed enough weight, with Benn poking fun at the “pain” his rival had been experiencing at a press conference on Thursday.Read More Boxing“What is pain, though?” Eubank Jr hit back.“I have a 31-year old brother who is buried in the desert in Dubai, that is pain. I have a son, three years old, he asks why can’t I see my daddy? Why can’t he take me to school? That is pain.“My own father, a man I idolised for my entire life, and he doesn’t speak to me. We haven’t spoken in years and he thinks I’m a disgrace. “These things are what pain is to me.” Most read in BoxingFor years, Chris Eubank Jr. could count on his dad’s support as he rose up to establish himself as a fighter in his own right. The father and son pair would often be sat side by side at press conferences, with Eubank Sr. helping to coach and manage his son’s career, and providing Eubank Jr. with critical feedback in between rounds.Driven by Rejection, Defined by Greatness | Behind the Gloves: Chris Eubank SnBut this close relationship would eventually come to an end, with a professional – and personal – break-up that left the younger Eubank heartbroken.“We don’t talk, he has shown no interest in my career for a long period of time now. He’s shown no interest in me in a long period of time,” he said in October.“As somebody who’s lost a son, I think that’s a pretty insane thing [for my dad] to be doing, an insane way to be acting – to kind of not be speaking to your remaining kids.”Fighting demonsEubank Jr added that he still wishes his father will have a change of heart and be there the night of the fight.“I would love for him to be involved. The fact that I even have to say that is insane. How is that even a thing?” he says.“His son is gonna fight the son of his arch-nemesis, [from] all those years ago when he was a world champion. How is it a thing that he may not be there?”The build-up to Eubank Jr vs Benn has reheated the rivalry between the boxing familiesCredit: GettyChris Eubank Jr’s dad was constantly by his side as he established himself as a boxerCredit: GettyEubank Jr says their rift began when he chose to forge his own careerCredit: GettyDoubling down on these feelings in March, he told Piers Morgan: “I still hope he’s there on the night, just like [Benn’s] old man will be. I honestly don’t know. I hope and I pray that he is, and I will do things to try and get him there.“He needs to be able to get over whatever demons he’s fighting. Now, this fight is either gonna enable him to get over those demons or unfortunately it’s gonna make those demons grow. I don’t know.”Conor’s father Nigel also urged Eubank Sr to attend, telling the BBC: “I don’t want him having a disagreement with his son.”We all want you there, so we can see each other after the fight and hug each other and say it is all over – so be there my friend.”Eubank Sr. hasn’t been seen in his son’s corner since 2019, and given their recent comments, it doesn’t seem like their relationship will be healing any time soon.By this time, Eubank Jr felt ready to start taking more control over his career – rather than simply becoming another version of his dad. But his father did not take this move well.“My old man was always next to me, and it got to a stage where I decided that I needed to walk my own path. He was not happy with that decision. That’s the start of it,” Eubank Jr told Morgan.I think it’s going to take me being out of boxing for him to come back into my lifeEubank Jr“I had to step out of that cycle because I felt it wasn’t working, and as my own man, I had learned enough and had done enough in the game to do my own thing, to walk my own path and not follow someone else,” he told the Mirror.Tragically, Eubank Jr added that he’d have to ditch his love of boxing to rebuild any relationship with the man who had given him so much.“At this moment in time, he’s having trouble separating the business and the boxing and the coaching from being just my dad.“I think it’s going to take me being out of boxing for him to come back into my life. I hope that’s not the case, but that’s how I see it.”I’m very appreciative of everything he did and everything he taught me throughout my life and my career, but I want to be my own man, and that’s what I’m doing now.”Family painHowever, their gap only widened after a pair of tragic deaths within the family. Much of Eubank Sr’s fury has been directed at the fact that his son is having to shed so much weight, fearing that boiling down to the 160lb needed will risk needless damage – akin to what left Eubank Sr’s own brother paying the ultimate price.Eubank Sr still mourns the death of his brother Simon, who faced a debilitating battle with dementia caused by boxing injuriesCredit: Instagram @harlemeubankThe older Eubank and his nephew Harlem lost Simon in 2023Credit: Louis WoodEubank Jr has had to drastically cut down his weight in order to make the cut for SaturdayCredit: https://www.instagram.com/chriseubankjr/“I don’t want my son getting down to 160lb. And that is why I have spoken about people trying to murder my boy by boiling him down to 157lb,” Eubank Sr told The Sun while choking back tears.“Trying to boil my son down to 157lb a few years ago, would have killed him. You might think the word ‘killed’ is a bit strong but my brother is dead from boxing. He lost his life from boxing, with frontal lobe dementia. “In the end, Harlem was feeding him with a baby bottle, he had to feed his own father. I didn’t have the strength to go and see my brother in the last six months of his life because he was locked in spasm all of the time he was awake,” he added.“That is boxing and 20 losses at the hands of the promoters. It’s a business and a racket and when you keep bringing the same guy in to lose, he ends up being killed.“He was my brother. It is real for us.”Chris Eubank Jr hasn’t made one decision, he doesn’t breathe without his dad’s say soEddie HearnEubank Sr’s brother, Simon, passed away aged 61 in September 2023 after a harrowing battle with dementia, believed to have been brought on by injuries sustained in the ring.In response, Eubank Jr’s promoter Ben Shalon agreed that trying to reach 157lb was “crazy”.“It was irresponsible for everyone involved that we asked Chris Eubank Jr to get 157. [It was] absolutely crazy that that was ever agreed to but we’re here now. He’ll make the weight and he’ll be ready to go,” he added, in reference to Saturday’s fight.Tragically, Eubank Jr also lost his brother, Sebastian, after the 29-year old passed away from a heart attack in Dubai in 2021.“That affected [my dad] in a deep way – it affected all of us,” he told Piers Morgan.“Mental health is a real thing. “That incident, coupled with the fact that we were already not seeing eye to eye, destroyed a large part of the relationship.”‘Crazy’ demandsBut the cost of the animosity has been financial as well as emotion, according to promoter Eddie Hearn, which may have driven the younger Eubank’s decision to step out of his dad’s shadow.In 2016, Eubank Jr was being lined up for a £3million bout against WBC, IBF, and WBA belt-holder Gennady Golovkin. Promoter Eddie Hearn blames Eubank Sr’s “crazy” demands for Eubank Jr missing out on a £3million bout in 2016Credit: GettyEubank Sr and his lawyers never ended up signing the contract for the fight against Gennady GolovkinCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      Heartbreaking story behind Chris Eubank Sr’s journey to world champion as he admits ‘my brothers despised me’

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      CHRIS EUBANK SR has opened up on the heartbreaking reason behind his rise to the very top of boxing.Senior, 58, is vehemently against son Chris Junior’s showdown with Conor Benn on Saturday night.Chris Eubank Sr outlined his heartbreaking journey to becoming world championEubank Sr wanted to become world champion to gain his elder brothers’ respectEubank Jr and Benn face off at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s fightCredit: GettyEubank’s brother Simon, with his boxer son Harlem as a toddlerEubank started boxing to get the respect of his brothersThe British boxing legend maintains the fight should not happen, insisting his son dropping down to 160lbs is “dangerous”.The former two-weight world champion fears his 35-year-old lad’s weight drop risks the same damage that left his older brother Simon paying the ultimate price for a career in boxing.Simon lost 20 brutal fights, 11 of them by stoppage, before his tragic death in September 2023.In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Senior has now told the heartbreaking story behind his own journey into boxing.Read More on BoxingHe reveals the sole reason he took up the sport in the first place was to gain respect from his elder brothers Peter and Simon.He says: “Boxing became important to me because it was the way in which I was going to win the respect of my brothers.”That’s the reason why it was important to me. Because I could do everything else.”My brothers used to give me a really hard time, beyond what I can actually express to you. And they were doing this because I was intelligent.Most read in Boxing”And this is why I got my bottom roasted by them all the time.”He added: “I loved my brothers, and they despised me. I couldn’t work it out then. Why?Chris Eubank Sr astonishingly says his son’s boxing licence should be ‘REVOKED’ after slapping Conor Benn with an egg”To one I was a fool, to the other I was an idiot, and to one, he didn’t even speak to me.”That was the most brutal of psychological beatings, when someone ignores you.”I’m talking about you’re in the room and never spoke to me. Never spoke to me.”One day I’m going to cry about that, because I’m getting close to that.”Both Peter and Simon were boxers, and it was aged 14 that Senior decided he would follow suit.He had endured a tough upbringing, and was suspended 18 times in one year from his secondary school in Peckham, claiming he was trying to protect his classmates from bullies.Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor BennTHE countdown is ON to one of the biggest boxing events of the 21st CenturyFamilial tension and a rivalry that has been brewing for years will finally be resolved when Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.There has been huge drama in the build-up with the pair engaged in a war of words and multiple clashes in person.SunSport will have full coverage of the blockbuster clash all week and LIVE round-by-round coverage of every fight on a stacked undercard.Latest NewsAll the infoEarning respectAt 14, Senior decided he would step into the ring and give boxing his best shot – whether he was any good or not.He recalls: “At 14, I’m saying to myself, even if I’m no good at boxing, they’re going to respect me because it takes so much courage to get into the ring and box.”I was standing on a table in a home in North Wales in a place called Llangollen, and I was dancing in the mirror.”At 14 years old, you know, you’ve got all that energy, and I was looking in the mirror like, you know what, I’m going to be a fighter.”He decided he would be world champion. And he stuck to his word.Ten years later, 24-year-old Senior beat Nigel Benn to win the WBO Middleweight Championship.Reaching the topSenior continues: “When I fought Benn on the 18th of November, 1990, I won their respect that particular night.”He admits his brothers were “never” kind to him, but ultimately it acted as the driving force behind his rise to boxing royalty.He recalls: “Brother, you are a really serious tosspot. That’s what I got from them.”But all of this has done nothing but drive me to be better and better and better.”Despite the complex relationship he had with the pair, Senior still holds an enormous place in his heart for his two brothers.Speaking at the time of Simon’s death, Senior told SunSport: “Simon saved my life once. He is the one who truly loved me and that is why I recited Corinthians 1:13 at his funeral.’Love is most powerful’“It talks about how love is the most powerful of all things, and I recited that for him and for what he did for me.“In many respects, it is mercy that he has left us. He is truly at rest now.”Senior blames boxing for Simon’s tragic death, choking back tears as he reveals his brother battled frontal lobe dementia, and had son Harlem feeding him with a baby bottle in his final days.He tells SunSport: “My son probably walks around at around 180lbs and he has to boil himself down to 160lbs.“People don’t understand what it means for Junior to get down to 160lbs, at his age. They don’t understand the drying out.“Junior is now 35 and trying to get down to 160lbs and I know what that feels like. I know about the dehydration and the damage it does to fighters.’It will be a car crash'”I am more concerned about that than anything else. I don’t want my son getting down to 160lbs. And that is why I have spoken about people trying to murder my boy by boiling him down to 157 lbs.”He adds: “I would be in my son’s corner if he was fighting at the right weight. But it mocks everything I stand for and fought for.”I am his dad and the fact he has chosen not to listen means all I can do is step back and watch the car crash – because it will be a car crash.“He doesn’t understand that this is boxing and you lose your faculties, this is dangerous.”Eubank Jr’s promoter Ben Shalom also reiterated to SunSport that the original fight scheduled for 2022 “should never” have been at 157, though he maintains his fighter will make weight at 160lbs on Friday’s weigh-in.Read More on The SunCourtesy of a rehydration clause in the fight deal, Eubank Jr can only weigh in at a maximum of 170lbs at a 10am weigh-in on Saturday morning, hours before he takes to the ring in one of the most fiercely anticipated British fights in years.Watch Sun Sport’s full preview of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn – with former world champion George Groves, Chris Eubank Sr and Harlem Eubank – on our YouTube channel. More