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      ‘My daughter thought I was a referee’ says England legend Ashley Cole as he’s inducted into football Hall of Fame

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      ASHLEY COLE was an Arsenal Invincible, a European champion at Chelsea, a record seven-time FA Cup winner and a member of England’s exclusive 100 Club, once recognised as the best left-back on the planet. But ask him to reflect on that glorious career, after being inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame, and Cole highlights his regret at the “silly bitterness” which overshadowed a large part of his career.Ashley Cole was inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of FameCredit: PAEngland Under-21 assistant boss Cole won major awards with Arsenal and ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – GettyCole, now a well-respected assistant to England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley, insists he is a very different person now to the hot-headed player who left Arsenal under a cloud after being tapped up by Chelsea.Back then he infamously wrote in his autobiography that he “almost swerved off the road” when being informed that Arsenal were offering “only £55,000 a week”.And Cole, 44, admits: “I’ve grown up since then, from making silly mistakes, silly words, bitter words, feuds – I’m so grown and so over that now.“I respect the both clubs I was at, they gave me a lot, they gave me opportunities.Read More on Arsenal “There isn’t one memory that sticks out, I’ve won Premier Leagues, Champions League, created history in the FA Cup, I look back and say, ‘Yeah you’ve done well and they were your rewards’.“And competing for my country at World Cups and Euros was really important to me.”Cole’s career was one of English football’s finest but after his tumultuous high-profile marriage to pop star Cheryl Tweedy and the controversy over his move to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, he shied away from speaking to the media.As a result he is often under-appreciated and it turns out that even extends to his own home.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeCole, who won 107 England caps, said: “I’ve got two young kids who are always asking me, ‘Was I a good player?’ My daughter thought I was a referee!“Getting this award did open my eyes as to what an achievement it was to get to the level I got to.Ashley Cole picks his all-time team-mates XI… but does it boast more Arsenal or Chelsea stars?“Working with these young [England Under-21] lads, I can see a lot of me in them. They are a very humble, hard-working group. It’s inspirational for me to watch these players grow and hopefully get into the senior team.“I look back at the journey from where I was as a 14, 15, 16-year-old, all the hard work and sacrifice. Then to make my debut for my boyhood club [Arsenal] and to win trophies and to grow as a player is something I won’t take lightly.“I really enjoyed the journey. There’s a message for the kids – keep working hard on the training pitch, keep persevering and hopefully you have a career like me.”Cole has urged patience with Arsenal’s teenage duo, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.I’ve grown up since then, from making silly mistakes, silly words, bitter words, feuds – I’m so grown and so over that now.Ashley ColeLeft-back MLS has gone straight into the England senior squad, while Nwaneri will make his Under-21 debut away to France under Carsley and Cole on his 18th birthday on Friday.Cole said: “I’ve seen Myles in the last year and a half. I’ve seen it with Ethan too. When you have so much talent, there is sometimes an urge to play them and do they sometimes fall short? These two haven’t.“Now he [Lewis-Skelly] is in the seniors, he has just got to continue to play well for Arsenal and continue to get himself in the senior squad.“But you’ve got to be careful with these young players. They are special and precious so you have to take your time sometimes.”After winning the last Under-21 Euros two years ago, Cole believes England are capable of retaining their crown in Slovakia this summer.Cole said: “That group two years ago, they had real pride in playing for the Three Lions, working for the badge.I’ve got two young kids who are always asking me, ‘Was I a good player?’ My daughter thought I was a referee!Ashley Cole“They were a great bunch and what they did in the last Euros showed a great team spirit and belief.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We’ve told this group that they have left a legacy for you and we want to continue that and hopefully do well in the Euros and leave a legacy for the next generation.“Every day I watch them train, I see the hunger and desire and if we don’t win the Euros, I know they will have given everything.” More

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      Newcastle settle kit war with controversial ex-owner Mike Ashley after Sports Direct BANNED from selling Toon shirts

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      NEWCASTLE UNITED have settled a kit war with former owner Mike Ashley.The Sports Direct chief took his former club to court after his shops were banned from selling official Toon kit.Newcastle’s kit war with Mike Ashley has been sealed in courtCredit: AlamyThe Toon ended their 70-year wait for silverware on SundayCredit: RexHe also lodged a £1.5million claim against the St James’ Park side.Ashley’s store has been unable to flog this season’s kit – with fans only able to snap them up from the club’s official store, adidas and JD Sports.His losses from the ban are likely to have increased after the club lifted the Carabao Cup at the weekend.Newcastle’s win ended their 70-year trophy drought – and fans will be eager to snap up the historic kits.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRecent club accounts revealed the club was “confident of success in the case.”However, Newcastle, adidas and JD Sports have now reached a confidential agreement with Ashley and Sports Direct.The agreement – called a ‘Tomlin Order’ – is legally binding and enforceable if either side doesn’t stick to it.Sports Direct lawyers had previously said preventing the “home of football supplies” from selling cheaper shirts would harm fans.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThe Sports Direct boss sold the club to a Saudi-led consortium in 2021.Newcastle were approached for comment.Fans think the Wealdstone Raider is a time traveller after his incredible Newcastle Carabao Cup prediction goes viral More

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      ‘I think it’s very different’ – John Terry reveals how Cole Palmer is ‘leading’ Chelsea in unorthodox way

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      COLE PALMER is leading Chelsea by example, according to the club’s greatest ever captain.John Terry has been blown away by Palmer’s performances – even though the forward has not scored in two months.Chelsea star Cole Palmer is leading by example, says John TerryCredit: GettyTerry has been blown away by Palmer’s performances despite his recent strugglesCredit: PATerry, 44, works as a coach at his beloved Blues’ academy and witnessed first hand how deceptively strong wispish-looking Palmer is with the way he outstripped his team-mates in a recent bleep test at the training ground.Terry, speaking in a tell-all interview with SunSport, said: “He probably doesn’t think, ‘I’m a leader here’, but he’s leading the group and going, again, there’s my standards.”This is the standard you probably need to get up to. You need to get as fit as me to stay longer in the game and all of that. So it’s those bits.“He’s probably leading the way he likes to lead. A lot of players do that.Read More on Chelsea”From afar people look at captains and leadership as if you’ve got to be that big vocal guy, screaming, shouting, barking orders. “I think it’s very different. A lot of players now do it in the way they’re playing. He certainly falls under that category.”He’s been incredible for us. He’s taken a lot of the heat in terms of our dip, but also in terms of our first part of the season. “It was probably all him, with his goals, with his contribution, with the work rate, with everything Chelsea were doing well. It revolved around him.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford Bridge”Teams have obviously identified that he’s the big threat and there needs to be a real focus. So that’s come into play. Chelsea have had a dip also.”Palmer was threatening to take the Premier League Golden Boot award at his height this season after scoring 14 goals but has fallen away in recent weeks – like the whole Chelsea team who were once considered title contenders.Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace opens up on their relationship for the first time in new documentary He missed his first penalty in 15 for club and country in the 1-0 win over struggling Leicester earlier this month but it was then revealed he had insisted on playing despite suffering with stomach problems.Terry said: “He’s personally not in his best form, but in terms of the quality that he brings to us, he’s just a fantastic player to have.”Do I think he’ll come back to his best? Of course he will. He’s an incredible talent and he’ll continue to show those signs as well.”John Terry was speaking on Chelsea and the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. Watch every game from the FIFA Club World Cup on DAZN for free. Sign up today:  https://www.dazn.com/competition/Competition:dc4k1xh2984zbypbnunk7ncic More

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      John Terry warns Chelsea fans it could be FIVE YEARS before club compete for a title and urges them to be ‘very patient’

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      JOHN TERRY believes it could be “three to five years” before Chelsea celebrate another Premier League title.But despite spending more than £1billion on new players he has also called for patience from fans desperate to see the Blues dominating English football again.John Terry warned Chelsea fans it could be a long wait for another Premier League titleCredit: Getty Images – GettyThe Blues are in a transition period this season after massive spending on transfersCredit: GettyTerry embodies the most successful period in Chelsea history with his immense haul of trophies from a glittering 19-year career as captain, leader and legend as the supporters say.In a wide-ranging interview in which he also hailed Cole Palmer’s leadership, Dan Burn’s heroics and gave his view on Thomas Tuchel as England boss, five-time Prem champion Terry said: “In terms of where we were 20 years ago, we’re not there. But we’re in a transition period. “As ex-players and fans we need to be very patient with that. And I say that with a ‘very’ in front of it because I think we’re three to five years off competing for the Premier League in my opinion.“But it was always going to be a process. When you sign young players – and we lost a bit of experience with Thiago Silva and those guys last year – there was going to be a process. “Even at the start of the season when things were going well, I expected a little drop from the players just because of that lack of experience and the game time. “So I’m comfortable with the direction we’re going in.”Man City have been off it this year but they’re still a top side. “As long as we keep seeing progression and closing the gap towards Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, because they’ve got to be the targets for everyone.”Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeThe only trophy Terry, 44, failed to collect during his time at Stamford Bridge – which spanned three decades – was Fifa’s Club World Cup.Chelsea and Manchester City are the two English representatives at the revamped 32-team tournament in the USA this summer. ‘Reminded me of Gerrard at Liverpool’ – Cole Palmer told he needs to LEAVE Chelsea and has outgrown the club alreadyWhere once it was seen as a two-week exhibition event in the Middle East, the best sides in Europe and the rest of the world will be on display.Terry works two days a week at the renowned Chelsea academy which launched him on the road to stardom.He believes the Club World Cup can be a springboard for the youngest squad in the top flight this season aged 23 ½ to gain valuable experience in the hunt for future glory.The former centre-back said: “If there’s one thing in the group you miss, it’s probably a bit of experience. As ex-players and fans we need to be very patient. And I say that with a ‘very’ in front of it because I think we’re three to five years off competing for the Premier League in my opinion.John Terry“So adding that on with competing and adding better players to the squad every year, playing in this Club World Cup is going to give the club £52million. That helps towards buying another player, another striker maybe, or defender, goalkeeper, midfielder, whatever that looks like.“We’re a big club, that’s what we’ve represented over the last 20 years. We want to be part of that.“We want to be competing against the best sides. It goes back to this, the Fifa Club World Cup. You want to be competing against the best sides, the best teams, the best players and testing yourself. And Chelsea are used to that.“It’s the trophy that passed me by. One I didn’t win. As players, you want to win all the trophies possible and test yourself against the best players and best teams. “This gives you the opportunity to do that.  People’s perception of it is new and people don’t like change. It’s going to take time.”Cole Palmer is a ‘leader’ in the Chelsea teamCredit: GettyThe forward sets the example – and not just with his goalscoringCredit: GettyIf Chelsea are to get their hands on the Club World Cup – and more importantly the Premier League trophy in years to come – JT knows Palmer will play a key role.But while many will immediately think of Palmer’s goals and assists, even amid a two-month goal drought and first missed penalty, Chelsea’s greatest-ever captain is impressed by his leadership. Terry witnessed first hand how deceptively strong wispish-looking Palmer is with the way he outstripped his team-mates in a recent bleep test at the training ground.JT added: “He probably doesn’t think, ‘I’m a leader here’, but he’s leading the group with his standards – ‘This is the standard you probably need to get up to. You need to get as fit as me.'”From afar people look at captains and leadership as if you’ve got to be that big vocal guy, screaming, shouting, barking orders. I think it’s very different now. “A lot of players now do it in the way they’re playing. He certainly falls under that category. Cole’s probably leading the way he likes to lead. “He’s been incredible for us. He’s taken a lot of the heat in terms of our dip, but also in terms of our first part of the season.From afar people look at captains and leadership as if you’ve got to be that big vocal guy, screaming, shouting, barking orders. I think it’s very different now.John Terry”It was probably all him, with his goals, contributions, work rate. Everything Chelsea were doing well revolved around him.”Teams have obviously identified that he’s the big threat and there needs to be a real focus.” Another man who is proving to be a big threat is Newcastle’s Burn, who opened the scoring in the Carabao Cup final win just days after receiving his maiden England call-up.And Chelsea-mad Terry reckons Blyth-born Burn’s love for the Toon is a brilliant advert for football. Terry, who played 717 times for the Blues after joining the club aged 14, said: “I know Dan and see him every now and then. I am just delighted for him because obviously Newcastle means to him what Chelsea means to me.”When you’re that player and it’s your club growing up that you’ve loved and everything it means the world to you.”All of us at the weekend were Newcastle supporters. It’s great to see. “Newcastle are probably Premier League supporters’ second team everyone loves. I think they’re really exciting to watch.”Big Dan’s been brilliant as well. I’m delighted for him to get called up to the England side as well. “He obviously has a real threat at set plays. “He’s done great and been really consistent over the last couple of years with Newcastle. Being part of that journey back to where they want to be, I am so delighted for him.”Dan Burn’s love for Newcastle is brilliant for footballCredit: AFPBurn received his first England call-up from new manager Thomas TuchelCredit: GettyBurn is part of Tuchel’s first squad since replacing Gareth Southgate as Three Lions boss.The former Chelsea boss was a controversial selection as the German got the nod over English candidates, including Burn’s club boss Eddie Howe, but has been brought in with the sole goal of winning the World Cup next year.Terry crossed paths with Tuchel during his 18-month stint as Chelsea boss from January 2021 to September 2022 – which included lifting the Champions League. Patriotic JT admits it is an adjustment having an England manager who hails from one of our great sporting rivals. But he believes the next generation of England coaches could mature while Tuchel is in charge.Terry said: “It wouldn’t be top of my list, but we’ve had foreign managers before, not German, but being England we have to get the best.ENGLISH WINNERS OF THE CLUB WORLD CUPFOUR English sides have won the Fifa Club World Cup – including Chelsea2008 – Manchester United (beat LDU Quito 1-0)2019 – Liverpool (beat Flamengo 1-0)2021 – Chelsea (beat Palmeiras 2-1 aet)2023 – Manchester City (beat Fluminense 4-0)”If the FA identify him as being the best, whether he’s from Brazil or Germany or wherever, let’s get him. “Have we got the level of coaches at that top, top level that have won major trophies and Champions Leagues? No, we haven’t. “We saw Eddie Howe winning the other day, which is really refreshing.”We see Frank Lampard doing well, so really setting the tone for the next generation of managers and young English managers need to be encouraged by that.”Hopefully one day we can have the best English manager as the England manager. “As a country, we need to be getting the best. Tuchel falls in that category, so absolutely why not? He’s a very good coach as well.” Terry is enjoying seeing pal Frank Lampard succeed at CoventryCredit: AFP – GettyThe former England skipper will keep a close eye on how Tuchel gets on with the Three LionsCredit: PA More

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      ‘I’ll never speak to them again’ – Phil Jones opens up on emotional moment he quit Man Utd WhatsApp group after retiring

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      PHIL JONES says leaving the England and Manchester United WhatsApp groups were some of the most difficult moments of retirement.The 33-year-old left boyhood club Blackburn Rovers to sign for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and won the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.Phil Jones retired from professional football in AugustCredit: ReutersThe defender has recalled leaving the Man Utd WhatsApp groupCredit: GettyJones spent 12 years at Old Trafford and also won 27 caps for the Three Lions, but after a number of injury struggles he called time on his playing career last summer.Discussing the hardest parts of retirement, he revealed that departing the WhatsApp groups was one of the toughest.Jones said: “Believe it or not, it was quite emotional. I’d been on the WhatsApp for years and banter and you’re sending people pictures and all sorts.“I remember sitting in the bedroom going like, ‘Lads, it’s been a pleasure and blah blah blah. Some I’ve played with a lot, some I’ve only just met, but it’s been an absolute pleasure. I wish you all the best and I’ll be your biggest supporters.’ It was a tough moment actually.Read More in Football“Do you know what I gave it a minute and there was no response. I was like ‘gone, gone, gone, I’m gone!’ No-one cares. But that’s it. It’s football. “Things move so quickly and people come in. I played with people for six years. I will never see them again. I’ll never speak to them again.”Jones admitted he could not watch football for the first six months, saying: “I found myself getting really bitter towards the game and that’s not who I was, but I needed that time to reflect and come to terms with what happened and how it happened. “I look back now and I’m in a great place.”Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordJones then embarked on a return to the game, doing a football directorship course and then completing his Uefa coaching A Licence while working with United’s U18 squad.He sat down with SunSport while doing his FA Pro licence badge at St George’s Park last week and said: “It was nice for the first few weeks, but then after that I was getting itchy feet and ready to embark on something, which is why I went down the director’s route just to give me a different sort of focus to football. Phil Jones reveals how Sir Alex Ferguson convinced him to sign for Man Utd “But my bread and butter is on the grass and it’s what I really enjoy doing. I know exactly what I want to do, where I want to be.“I’m ambitious as I was as a player. I wanted to play at the highest level, compete against the best players in the world.“I love being out on the grass, working with kids, watching players develop. Whether that’s at United, or that’s elsewhere, I love watching new players come through. “I’ve been lucky enough to help out with U18s at United, which has given me a different perspective on the game now.“I don’t watch a game any more, you’re analysing it a little bit differently. I love the game. I love everything about it. I love being involved in it.”It’s given me a purpose and I’m really ambitious and it’s something that I really want to go into.”Jones has seen the likes of Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard both endure difficulties in the dug-out but is still determined to do it rather than earn an easier living as a pundit.He added: “I just feel that I’ve got too much to offer with the managers I played under and the players I played with just to go, you know what, I’ll leave it there.I found myself getting really bitter towards the game and that’s not who I was“I want to be involved. I love being involved. The media work I’ve enjoyed. I’ve enjoyed it more than I actually thought I would but my bread and butter is certainly on the grass and coaching and going into that.“Listen, I’m not naive enough to think that I’m going to become a head coach or a manager in the next two or three years. “I understand that now I’m on the other side of the ladder where I’ve got to work myself up and build myself up. But I’m absolutely ready to do that and my family knows that.“When I visualise and try to manifest where I want to be in five years time, absolutely, I want to be the guy taking the team. “I want to be the guy making the decisions and having support and backing from the club and the owners and choosing that right moment to step in at that time.“I want to win games of football and I win at all costs. Whether that means I have to change personnel, whether that means I have to go down a different route to get results. It’s a results business game. Of course we all want to play expansive, attractive football but it doesn’t always work like that.”Jones, who had awful luck with injuries in his career, also backed Luke Shaw to bounce back from his “terrible” spell on the sidelines.Jones coached United’s Under-18 team for a seasonCredit: GettyHe said: “I feel so sorry for Mason (Mount) and Luke. The feeling for me was almost an embarrassed feeling.“You’re at Man United, the biggest club in the world and all you want to do is play football. “I love playing football, I just loved playing football like a little kid, and when you can’t do something, you have something taken away from you, it’s difficult to deal with.“You have the fans, you have social media. I can absolutely sympathise with them.“What I would say is they’ve got to come back to a state where they feel comfortable playing. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Medical staff these days will always try and promote you to come back sooner, but they’ve got to feel right in themselves, feel confident that they’re ready to come back and play and compete at a high level.“I absolutely sympathise with them. It’s a really, really terrible and tough place to be.”Man Utd ratings vs LeicesterMANCHESTER UNITED leapfrogged Tottenham into 13th in the Premier League by beating Leicester.Rasmus Hojlund was left to run in behind and shoot low into the bottom corner from an angle to open the scoring on 28 minutes.The Danish striker had not found the net since December 12 – a run of 21 matches.Alejandro Garnacho saw a goal chalked off for offside but there was no taking his snap-shot finish off him on 67 minutes.And skipper Bruno Fernandes rounded off the comfortable 3-0 win in style in the closing stages.Here’s how SunSport’s Graham Hill rated the Man Utd stars. More

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      Arsenal ‘considering shock swoop for Everton flop Moise Kean’ to solve striker woes but face fight with three Prem foes

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      ARSENAL are keeping tabs on Everton flop Moise Kean in their battle to finally add some firepower up front.The Gunners have been unable to sign a centre-forward in the last few transfer windows, leaving manager Mikel Arteta with a lack of options to spearhead his attack.Arsenal have been linked with Fiorentina star Moise KeanCredit: GettyEverton flop Kean is also wanted by three other Prem sidesCredit: RexArteta has used Gabriel Jesus up front – and the likes of midfielders Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino as false nines.Many Arsenal fans have blamed missing out on the Premier League title on the lack of a natural striker.According to Tuttomercatoweb, however, the Gunners are finally looking to splash the cash for a No9 in this summer transfer window.And Arsenal have been linked with Kean, 25, who is thriving this season with Fiorentina as he has already registered 20 goals and three assists in 34 appearances across all competitions.Read More on ArsenalThat is a far cry from the £44million-rated forward’s Goodison Park days, in which he scored just four goals in 39 matches following his move from Juventus in 2019.The Italy international was loaned out to Paris Saint-Germain and former club Juve where he made a permanent return in 2023.Kean regained his former goalscoring prowess with Fiorentina following his move to the Artemio Franchi in the summer.Although last month he collapsed on the pitch against Verona – but he has now recovered.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The EmiratesArsenal are facing competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham, West Ham and Newcastle.Toon see him as a potential replacement for Alexander Isak if he decides to leaveMoise Kean shows off his super skill with training at PSGIsak has taken the Premier League by storm since his arrival at St James’ Park in 2022 and has even been linked with a move to the Emirates this summer.The Gunners have also been linked with other European strikers, shich as RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Juventus sharpshooter Dusan Vlahovic and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen – who is currently on loan at Galatasaray.Arsenal ratings vs ChelseaARSENAL collected three points at the Emirates with a comfortable display as they fight to keep their fading title hopes alive. More

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      ‘If you lose your speed, you’re dead’ – Why Arsenal flogged Thierry Henry and broke up Invincibles

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      ARSENAL remain the only team to go an entire Premier League season undefeated when they won the title in 2003-04.But within a few years of that historic triumph, the Invincibles squad was broken up.Arsenal’s Invincibles won the Premier League in 2003-04Credit: GettyThierry Henry is the club’s top goalscorer and arguably greatest playerCredit: GettyHe left for Barcelona in a £16m transfer in 2007Credit: GettyAnd that included flogging superstar forward Thierry Henry.Talisman Henry – Arsenal captain at the time – left North London for Barcelona aged 29 in the summer of 2007.The Gunners received just £16million for their record goalscorer. But in a bombshell exclusive interview with SunSport, in which he slams the board for “failing” Mikel Arteta, former Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman revealed why they were prepared to sell Henry.READ MORE ON ARSENALEdelman said: “The reason Thierry moved on was because he was losing his speed. “His game was basically all about speed. “And if you lose your speed, then you’re dead. “So, we got money for him despite the fact that he was on the downward trap. Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates”It’s like Kevin De Bruyne. Would you have been better to sell him for more money at the end of last year? “Or keep him and risk that he’d keep going this season?”I trained with Thierry Henry and he ruined my Arsenal career and it took me two years to go back over to the first team Henry – who scored 228 times for Arsenal – had three seasons at the Nou Camp, winning two LaLiga titles, the Copa del Rey, Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup.As for the team he left, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal went nine years without a major trophy between their FA Cup triumphs in 2005 and 2014. Part of the reason for the lack of success was because many of the 2004 Invincibles departed the club – including heroes Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires – to make way for cheaper, younger players with potential. The transfer strategy, though, was down to the financial mire Arsenal found themselves in.Edelman explained: “Building a team goes in waves. “If you’ve got endless amounts of money, as Manchester City had, you could keep a team going longer.”I’d argue there’s probably only 20 world-class players in the whole Premier League, which is a very small number. “Therefore, replacing world-class players is very difficult.”And therefore, if you win things, you have a lot of world-class players because that’s how you win things. But when they get older, it’s very difficult to replace them.”You’ve got to look at how many world-class players you’ve got in your team, and they won’t be world-class forever, they get older and tend to dip. “This is what I mean about looking at things strategically. “You’ve got to ask the right questions. You’ve got to be probing. I don’t think a lot of people do that.”Arsenal were, in the Invincible years, were really lucky because, they had Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Sol Campbell and Gilberto Silva, there’s five world-class players.”READ MORE SUN STORIESRead our full interview with EdelmanEdelman has landed a new role away from football. He has taken up a position with the country’s leading keynote speakers’ agency, Champions Speakers, to deliver speeches in the business worldHenry had three seasons with Barcelona, winning the Champions LeagueCredit: ReutersRobert Pires, Gilberto and Patrick Vieira were all deemed ‘world-class’ playersCredit: GettyFormer Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman, right, lifted the lid on the Arsene Wenger eraCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      Man Utd and Man City caught in age fraud scandal over six academy stars with fears some could be ADULTS

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Manchester City have allegedly been caught up in an age fraud scandal over six academy stars.The Telegraph reports there are fears that some of the foreign-born youngsters may actually have been adults.Man Utd and Man City have been caught up in an age fraud scandalCredit: RexThe outlet claims to have seen evidence, including photos, potentially implicating the six as having played in older age groups back in their homelands.None of the players have been named.Neither United or City are suggested to have known they were not the age they were said to be.But both clubs are aware of the evidence that has emerged.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThree of the six players have gone on to play for England youth teams.Parents of other children at United and City’s academy previously raised concerns with staff about the six players in question.United and City, as well as the Premier League and Home Office, declined to comment on whether they have taken, or will take, any action.But City insist they have not strayed from all the required and relevant legal and regulatory obligations.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordThey added that it’s not uncommon for star youth players to compete in older age groups.A statement from Manchester United added: “We are committed to operating all aspects of our academy within the rules and regulations laid down by our governing bodies, including the recruitment and registration of players.Inside Man City’s £300MILLION new stadium upgrade with futuristic Etihad project to rival Anfield“We take our responsibilities for player wellbeing and safeguarding very seriously.“Indeed, we take pride in the reputation we have developed for considering the participants in our programmes as first and foremost children, rather than players.“Our recruitment process is focused firmly on future potential rather than current performance or physical development.” More