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      Neville tells Carragher ‘you were a horrible player’ in hilarious argument over Kane as ex-Liverpool star blasts him

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      GARY NEVILLE labelled Jamie Carragher a “horrible defender” as the pair argued about Harry Kane’s scrap with Abdoulaye Doucoure.The Everton midfielder was shown a straight red card in Monday night’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Goodison Park after clawing at Kane’s face.
      Jamie Carragher was used as a dummy as Gary Neville showed what happened in the incident between Abdoulaye Doucoure and Harry Kane
      Doucoure was sent off for pushing Kane in the faceCredit: Getty
      Kane drew criticism from many pundits, including Carragher and Piers Morgan, for going to ground theatrically after Doucoure made contact.
      And Carragher’s stance sparked a row in the Sky Sport’s studio as fellow pundit Neville tried to defend the England captain.
      Manchester United legend Neville demonstrated how he saw the flare-up by putting his own hand in his old Liverpool rival’s face – insisting Kane could have gone down after feeling Doucoure’s fingernails in his eye.
      But Carra was having none of it, adamant it only looked that way in slow-motion.
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      A baffled Neville replied: “Oh my god, how can that not be in his eye? You can see one finger in one eye and one’s in the other.”
      But Carragher added: “Harry Kane shouldn’t be going down for that. It can still be a red card for putting your hand in someone’s face, Doucoure is wrong. But I wouldn’t go down there as a player, there’s nowhere near enough to make you go down.
      “The thing I really don’t like is players trying to get fellow professionals booked or sent off. I’ve got no problem with someone going down, winning a free-kick, jumping back up and getting on their feet.”
      But Neville refused to let Carragher’s point lie and responded by referencing his character as a player.
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      He said: “I feel like you’re re-writing history here. You were a horrible defender who used every single dark art that was available, you appealed for every decision more than anybody else that ever played, and if you’re strikers went down you’d want him sent off [Doucoure].
      “Now you’re talking as a pundit with a suit on.”
      Neville then finished by adding: “On a serious note, as a player, if we’re going in our dressing room’s we’re going ‘Harry, well done’.”
      Kane went on to score a second-half penalty to give Spurs the lead over 10-man Everton.
      But Lucas Moura then saw red for Tottenham, before Michael Keane scored a sensational equaliser in the 90th minute.
      And other famous faces piled into Kane after the game.
      Chris Sutton tweeted: “Harry Kane staying down like that is embarrassing.”
      While Piers Morgan joked: “Thoughts and prayers for Harry Kane tonight – hope this savage blow isn’t career-ending.” More

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      Chelsea interim manager Bruno Saltor has NEVER picked a starting XI in his football career as he steps in for Potter

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      TODD BOEHLY has entrusted Chelsea’s crumbling season and £600 million worth of new players to a man who has never picked a team before.First-team coach Bruno Saltor has been catapulted into the managerial hot seat in the wake of Graham Potter’s sacking and faces dugout titan Jurgen Klopp on his debut tomorrow night.
      Bruno Saltor has taken charge of Chelsea following Graham Potter’s sackingCredit: Getty
      Potter was axed after the defeat to Aston VillaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Blues chairman Boehly placed backroom man Saltor in temporary charge and the Spanish rookie admits he is yet to face the challenge of selecting a starting XI.
      Saltor, 42, said: “Tomorrow is going to be the first time. 
      “I have been coaching for four years and have been coaching under Graham.
      “Obviously, he has been the manager and he always had the last word. It’s quite clear that it’s not been the case.
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      “I feel good. It is my duty. A duty and a responsibility. I am at a really important club and I want to try my best.”
      Potter was axed on Sunday evening, barely six months into a five-year contract following a run of just four wins from 16 games and with Chelsea sinking into the bottom half of the Premier League table at the weekend.
      Right-hand man Billy Reid followed Potter out of the door but the rest of the staff are staying on.
      Chelsea are starting the search for a replacement but have yet to make contact with any candidates who include former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann and Fulham boss Marco Silva.
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      Saltor followed Potter to Chelsea from Brighton when he quit last September to head up a supposed new era under new American owners. 
      The one-time Brighton defender could fill in until the end of the season with Chelsea falling away in the league, out of both domestic cups yet in the last eight of the Champions League.
      Saltor insists his working relationship and friendship with Potter is intact despite the upheaval of the last 36 hours. 
      He also admits the seismic decision to step in and replace his sacked pal wrecked his Sunday.
      Saltor said: “I didn’t sleep a lot because it is a new situation trying to think. With a lot of things to consider, but I will sleep tonight.
      “It has been really difficult, really difficult at every single level, especially emotional. You have to deal with the players and it is hard. The relationship with Graham and Billy, it is difficult to deal with that and how it affects the families. A really difficult 24 hours.
      “The players will be sad because they know the level of human being that Graham is. They will take responsibility as they have done since day one. I just expect them to be next to us and supportive.
      “I spoke to the owners. They’ve been very supportive. What I’m focused on is tomorrow, training today, tomorrow’s game then after that, step by step.
      “It is a massive challenge. I have been coaching for just four years but I have been involved in football for 20 years. I started really early and have a lot of experience in the changing room. 
      “What I will try to do is help the players, guide the players because I have been in this situation before. Then I think I have got that feeling that I can help, especially young players.
      “Pure admiration towards Jurgen. I cannot say anything that everyone doesn’t know. Obviously they are going through a tough season as well but they’ve got top players and we’re expecting a really aggressive game, high intensity and we need to be ready.
      “I’ve got an amazing relationship and pure admiration towards Graham. 
      “The job of the players is to perform well and try their best in every single training session, in every single game. Tomorrow they are going to try their best and that’s what we expect of them. 
      Oddly, Chelsea revealed that axed Potter will ‘collaborate to facilitate a smooth transition’.
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      Saltor said: “I am here because Graham and the club thought it was the right step and I’m trying to help the club and trying to be the most professional I can.
      “The responsibility is all of us. We are responsible and we have to keep it positive, try to focus on the next game.” More

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      Man Utd’s lack of desire in dour defeat to Newcastle isn’t a surprise – this spineless bunch have gone missing for years

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      WHERE’s the hairdryer when you need it?In the week that Sir Alex Ferguson was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, Manchester United were again betraying the values of football’s greatest manager.
      Erik ten Hag slammed his players after the defeat to NewcastleCredit: Getty
      He was ‘shocked’ by the lack of desireCredit: Getty
      Erik Ten Hag claimed he was shocked by the lack of desire and hunger from his players during Sunday’s tame surrender at Newcastle.
      But he really shouldn’t be surprised because this spineless bunch have been going missing for years.
      It’s a curious anomaly that six of this season’s seven League defeats have been suffered on a Sunday as Ten Hag has become more accustomed to Black Sabbath than Ozzy Osbourne.
      And while everyone is entitled to an occasional off day, it’s becoming a habit for the workshy Reds.
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      That’s a serious concern for Ten Hag, because the lack of characters in this team of underachievers is threatening to sabotage all his hard work to make United a real force again.
      When the Dutchman ordered his players on a 14k run after August’s humiliating 4-0 defeat by Brentford, fans dared to hope that they had finally found a manager who meant business.
      And when he benched Cristiano Ronaldo before showing him the door, it was regarded as further evidence of his ruthless streak.
      But the message is clearly not getting through because too many players still refuse to put in the hard yards which is the minimum requirement for any ambitious team.
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      They weren’t just beaten by upwardly mobile Newcastle at the weekend, they were outrun, outfought and outclassed.
      It was exactly the same story during last month’s 7-0 massacre by Liverpool, the 6-3 humiliation at Manchester City, the 3-1 shellacking at Aston Villa and that early season embarrassment at Brentford.
      Players refusing to run back after losing the ball, chucking in the towel, gesticulating at underperforming team-mates, failing to defend set-pieces, leaving the dirty work to others and spending more energy challenging the referee than the opposition.
      And, yes, Bruno Fernandes, we do mean you.
      Handing the captain’s armband to the petulant Portuguese sends out all the wrong messages to a weak-willed dressing-room never slow to seize on an excuse.
      Imagine Roy Keane’s reaction if any of his team-mates ever confessed on live TV: “We didn’t have the right hunger or attitude.”
      His feet wouldn’t have touched the ground.
      But that is exactly what Luke Shaw admitted after the latest no-show which allowed upwardly mobile Newcastle to leapfrog United into third place in the table.
      It’s a good job that Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs have all been so hopeless this season which means United should still be able to hang on for a top four finish and Champions League qualification.
      Yet it was only a month ago that fans were seriously talking up a potential quadruple bid even though their team was eight points behind leaders Arsenal.
      Well now that gap has stretched to 22 and though United have a couple of games in hand they are still destined to finish a country mile behind the eventual Champions.
      Of course, that is nothing new for a club which has failed to challenge for the title since Ferguson left the dug-out in 2013.
      They still like to think of themselves as the biggest club in the world but that bold claim only holds water if we’re talking about commercial revenue and social media followers.
      On the pitch, where it really matters, they’re not even the biggest club in Manchester.
      Maybe this is all part of a cunning plan to crash the share price and force the Glazers to lower their asking price.
      Because anyone who thinks this lot is worth £6billion needs their head examining.
      RING ROO
      Wayne Rooney wants to try his hands at boxingCredit: Reuters
      WAYNE ROONEY has apparently been texting Eddie Hearn asking the promoter to set up fights for him against various celebrity influencers and YouTubers.
      Watching Anthony Joshua’s laboured victory over Jermaine Franklin at the weekend, Wazza now probably fancies a crack at the former heavyweight champ.
      It would certainly generate more interest than Saturday’s snooze-fest.
      BACH UP
      Thomas Bach has hit back at his criticsCredit: AP
      OLYMPIC president Thomas Bach has called critics of his proposal to include Russian athletes at next year’s Paris games “deplorable.”
      Presumably he’s referring to the outraged Ukrainians, who are ready to boycott the event if any of Putin’s people participate.
      Under Bach’s preposterous plans, Russian and Belarussian athletes will be allowed to compete as independent Olympians as long as they have not publicly supported Russia’s illegal invasion of a sovereign nation.
      And he doesn’t understand how abhorrent that would be to all the Ukrainians whose heroic resistance has inspired the whole world.
      If Britain, the USA and all our western allies are serious in their support for Volodomyr Zelensky, we must make it crystal clear that we will not be part of the IOC’s sportswashing charade.
      But don’t hold your breath on that happening because Wimbledon has already been forced to lift their ban on Russian and Belarussian players under the threat of sanctions from the tennis authorities.
      And while Russian football teams are banned from international competitions for now, it’s understood that ridiculous FIFA president Gianni Infantino is lobbying for their return.
      Don’t forget that Russia has been suspended from all major sporting events since 2019 due to constant breaches of anti-doping regulations.
      But now we’re being asked to forget about all the cheating and murdering because international rules are apparently made to be broken.
      RAF SERVICE
      Rafa Benitez has been linked with the Leicester City jobCredit: Getty
      THERE have been 13 managerial vacancies in the Premier League this season yet Rafa Benitez still remains out of a job. 
      It makes you wonder if he’s quite the football visionary he would have us all believe.
      AUS GOING ON?
      Max Verstappen won the Australian GPCredit: The Mega Agency
      DOES anyone know what happened at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix because I’m f***ed if I could understand how the race was won?
      Even world champion Max Verstappen could barely raise a smile when he took his place at the top of the podium after three hours of organised chaos.
      With more flags than the world semaphore championships and a restart every couple of laps, it was obvious that no-one had a clue what was going on.
      The FIA seemed to be making up the rules as they went along and showed absolutely no consideration for the bewildered spectators at Albert Park.
      Maybe it will all make sense when Netflix launches its next series but will anyone bother to wait that long?
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      EVERTON have warned that they might not be able to compete as a going concern if they are relegated this season.
      How will we be able to tell? More

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      Everton 1 Spurs 1: Keane nets thunderbolt to earn Toffees crucial point after giving away penalty for Kane opener

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      PERHAPS Antonio Conte had a point.The fiery Italian torched Spurs in what turned out to be his first press conference just before the international break, branding his players as “selfish” and “lacking heart”.
      Michael Keane struck a superb equaliser as the clock hit 90Credit: Getty
      The defender let fly and found the top corner from rangeCredit: Reuters

      It had come after he had witnessed his side somehow surrender a 3-1 lead at basement-boys Southampton, drawing 3-3 thanks to an injury-time leveller.
      Conte left nine days later and his assistant Cristian Stellini was put in charge until the end of the season.
      But the swap did not stop the bad habits repeating themselves here as Tottenham once again conspired to drop points in the final moments thanks to Michael Keane’s thunderbolt.
      It was nothing more than Spurs deserved, who looked very similar under Stellini as they did playing for Conte for most of the season.
      They had been handed a massive slice of luck just before the hour when Abdoulaye Doucoure was sent off for crazily lashing out at Harry Kane.
      Kane then looked to have sealed the points when he dispatched a penalty, awarded when Keane chopped down Cristian Romero in the box.
      But instead of pressing home their man and goal advantage, spineless Spurs went into their shells, giving Sean Dyche’s side confidence of an unlikely fightback.
      The team numbers were levelled up when sub Lucas Moura’s awful tackle on Keane earned him a straight red.
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      Then the Toffees defender was invited to shoot in the 90th minute – and promptly found the corner with a 25-yard stunner.
      It sustained the Dyche revival, with the Toffees’ unbeaten run now extended to four games.
      Though such is the ludicrously-congested nature of the relegation fight, they remain in the bottom three with nine games to play.
      The next three of those will also be without the influential Doucoure and you wonder how much his loss will be felt in their fight for survival.
      But there is no doubting the scrap in this Dyche team – nor its organisation, as the ex-Burnley boss named the same side that secured a last-gasp draw at Chelsea last time out.
      Kane loves playing against Everton, having hit 14 goals in his last 11 games against them prior to this clash.
      He came close with an early swivel-and-shot which was denied by Keane’s goal-saving intervention.
      Keane was then afforded an even better opportunity in the air with 16 minutes played.
      The 29-year-old has nine Premier League headed goals this term, equalling the record the towering Duncan Ferguson set while playing for Everton in 1997-98.
      Yet when Ivan Perisic found Kane with a pinpoint delivery, Tottenham’s No10 could only flick the ball wide of the goal.

      There was a drinks break just before the half-hour so Everton’s Muslim midfield trio of Doucoure, Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye could break their fast.
      Moments later, Doucoure had the hosts’ best opportunity of the first 45 but aimed his free header well over the bar.
      There was plenty of endeavour from Spurs but a familiar lack of cutting edge and quality.
      Their fans have regularly shown this season who they think is the most to blame by taking aim at Daniel Levy.
      Here the travelling support continued that with chants demanding the chairman “get out of our club”, as well as songs of praise for former boss Mauricio Pochettino, whom they would love to return.
      Everton really should have broken the deadlock minutes into the second half.
      Onana brilliantly nicked the ball off Eric Dier, allowing Gueye to drive towards the box.
      He had Doucoure to his right, Gray to his left, but instead ballooned a shot high above Hugo Lloris’ goal much to Dyche’s frustration.
      Harry Kane put Tottenham in front midway through the second halfCredit: Reuters
      The striker blasted into the bottom corner from the penalty spotCredit: Reuters
      Abdoulaye Doucoure slapped Kane in the faceCredit: Reuters
      David Coote had no choice but to show the red cardCredit: AP
      Then, just before the hour, came Doucoure’s moment of madness.
      The ex-Watford man had gone in for a 50-50 with Kane, who had just bundled over Gray, and then reacted angrily by at first shoving the Spurs man in chest, then, unforgivably, pushing his hand into his face.
      Kane hit the deck and though Doucoure and Dyche tried to claim England’s record-scorer had milked it, there was no way referee David Coote was going to do anything else other than issue a red card.
      Kane was also booked for his role in the altercation, which really seemed to come out of nothing.
      Ten minutes later came the spot-kick, which also came out of the blue.
      Keane brought Romero to the ground in the area and Kane made it 15 Premier League goals against Everton by sending his England colleague Pickford the wrong way.
      Spurs should have had it in the bag then but were timid.
      Moura’s cowardly foul on Keane saw Spurs reduced to ten with two minutes to go.
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      And there was still time for the Toffees defender to pick his spot from 25 yards.
      It gave Everton renewed hope and Tottenham that familiar sinking feeling that Conte could no longer tolerate.
      Lucas Moura went in hard on Keane’s ankleCredit: Sky Sports
      Moura was red-carded for his nasty stampCredit: Getty
      The pressure is mounting on Sean Dyche’s Toffees but the point will helpCredit: Reuters
      Tottenham blew another lead in the closing minutesCredit: Reuters More

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      Rafa Benitez linked with shock Premier League return at Leicester after axed Chelsea boss Graham Potter turned down job

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      RAFA BENITEZ has been linked with the vacant managerial position at Leicester.The Foxes are on the hunt for their next boss after sacking Brendan Rodgers.
      Rafa Benitez has been out of work since leaving Everton in 2022Credit: Getty
      The Northern Irishman’s fate was sealed following the club’s defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
      Rodgers was the 11th manager to be axed this season and was closely followed by Graham Potter, who left Chelsea.
      The East Midlands side approached the former Blues boss but were rejected as Potter wants to wait until the summer before making a decision.
      The relegation-threatened side are now said to have switched their attention to former Newcastle, Everton and Liverpool boss Benitez, according to Marca.
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      Reports in Spain claim an offer has been made to the Spaniard, with no answer received as of yet.
      Benitez revealed in February he had turned down a number of offers to return to management since his sacking from Everton.
      He told the Daily Mail: “The good thing I have is that because I have managed so many years and because I was successful, I can decide.
      “I have had around 20 offers since I left Everton.
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      “National teams, different teams in Asia, in the Emirates, in Mexico. National teams everywhere.
      “Some teams in England, some teams in Spain.
      “The reality is you need to find the right one, the team that will allow you to build.”
      Leicester, who host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Tuesday evening, also have Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou on their radar. More

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      ‘Hope it isn’t career-ending’ – Piers Morgan and Carragher rip into Harry Kane for ’embarrassing’ dive in Doucoure scrap

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      ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE was sent off for hitting Harry Kane in the FACE during Everton’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham.But pundits including Piers Morgan and Jamie Carragher were not impressed with the England captain’s theatrics.
      Abdolulaye Doucoure challenged Harry Kane after the Spurs man had already fouled Demarai GrayCredit: AFP

      It was clear Doucoure had caught Kane in the face as he lashed outCredit: Reuters
      Kane initially fouled Demarai Gray early on in the second half, before Doucoure launched into a challenge with the Spurs man after play had been stopped.
      Kane immediately tussled with the Everton midfielder, grabbing his shirt.
      But it was Doucoure who lost his cool, pushing his hand into the Tottenham man’s in the face.
      Kane instantly put his hands to his head and dropped to the floor. And he stayed there as a melee erupted around him.
      Toffees boss Sean Dyche was seething on the touchline, as he urged his players to keep their heads.
      And referee David Coote showed Doucoure the inevitable red card.
      But, while pundits accepted Doucoure was in the wrong for lashing out, many slammed Kane for his role in the incident.
      Arsenal fan, and Sun columnist, Piers joked: “Thoughts and prayers for Harry Kane tonight – hope this savage blow isn’t career-ending.”
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      Doucoure was sent off for hitting Kane in the faceCredit: Reuters
      Kane hit the deck after being struck by DoucoureCredit: Reuters
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      While former Spurs midfielder Danny Murphy called the incident “embarrassing” for Kane.
      Murphy said on talkSPORT: “Not enough to send him on the floor, he’s embarrassing himself.
      “Why’s he gone over like that stitching someone up? Doucoure would’ve been sent off anyway.
      “A little flick to the face does not send you the ground like you’ve just been punched.
      “But Doucoure’s an idiot. He knows the rules, he’s let his team down.”
      Speaking after the game on Sky Sports, Carragher echoed Murphy’s sentiments.
      The Liverpool icon said: “Harry Kane shouldn’t be going down for that.
      “It can still be a red card for putting your hand in someone’s face, Doucoure is wrong.
      He stays down rolling around when there’s nothing wrong with him.Carragher on Kane
      “But I wouldn’t go down there as a player, there’s nowhere near enough to make you go down. If my son did that I’d be embarrassed.
      “The thing I really don’t like is players trying to get fellow professionals booked or sent off.
      “I’ve got no problem with someone going down, winning a free-kick and jumping back up on their feet.
      “He stays down rolling around when there’s nothing wrong with him. Is that enough to make him go down?”
      But Carra’s Sky colleague Gary Neville defended Kane’s actions.
      He said: Neville: “If we’re in our dressing rooms, we’re going ‘well done Harry, you got him sent off’.
      “I wouldn’t do it, but I wouldn’t mind my striker doing it.
      “I’m giving Harry the benefit of the doubt. He does dive, he does go to ground, but when those fingernails go in your eye, that can shock you.”
      The red card rules Doucoure out of Everton’s next three games against Manchester United, Fulham and Crystal Palace.
      And less than 10 minutes later things went from bad to worse for the relegation-threatened Toffees.
      Ivan Perisic knocked the ball back for Cristian Romero who was upended by Michael Keane inside the area and referee David Coote pointed to the spot.
      Kane stepped up to send his England team-mate Jordan Pickford the wrong way to give the visitors the lead.
      But Spurs failed to hold onto the three points despite their numerical advantage.
      Substitute Lucas Moura came on and was shown a red card just five minutes later as he launched into Keane with a horrific challenge.
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      Keane then made Spurs pay in the 90th minute, firing a superb effort into the top corner from 25 yards out.
      The result lifts Everton out of the relegation zone, while Spurs moved above Manchester United and into fourth place on goal difference – albeit having played two games more. More

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      Gary Neville suggests Graham Potter ASKED to be sacked and reckons boss will be ‘relieved’ hellish Chelsea reign is over

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      GARY NEVILLE reckons Graham Potter might have ASKED for the sack at Chelsea.And the Manchester United legend believes Potter will be “relieved” his hellish seven months at Stamford Bridge are over.
      Gary Neville had his say on Graham Potter’s sacking
      Potter was dismissed on Sunday after seven months in chargeCredit: Reuters
      🗣️ “I don’t think he was enjoying it, bet he thought it was mad.” 😅@GNev2 feels Graham Potter may have a sense of relief being sacked by Chelsea pic.twitter.com/6fEdmIpdoq— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 3, 2023

      Potter was given the boot by owner Todd Boehly on Sunday night after a dismal seven months in charge, winning just three of his 13 Premier League games in 2023.
      But the ex-Manchester United defender could envisage a scenario where Potter could actually have asked to be put out of his misery.
      Neville told Sky Sports: “It just didn’t look right, no one is surprised. His record wasn’t great.
      “Chelsea are a bit all over the shop, they are chaotic, it’s a bit like Football Manager or kids in a sweet shop – they’ve got lots of sweets and don’t know which to pick.
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      “Graham Potter is a good man. I think he’ll have gone home after being sacked and there is an element of relief. I don’t think he was enjoying it, he’ll have thought it was mad.
      “They lost Petr Cech and Marina Granovskaia, that wasn’t planned. They lost Thomas Tuchel, that wasn’t planned.
      “[Boehly] has come into a club in massive transition, paid billions and they don’t know what they are doing.
      “The co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley made the decision to let Potter go.
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      “I suspect Potter actually went to Winstanley, knowing him from Brighton, and said, ‘Get me out of here. It doesn’t suit me.’
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      “I don’t think Chelsea were enjoying Potter and Potter wasn’t enjoying Chelsea.
      “He should treat it like a nightmare like this season never happened, put it to bed, wake up and come back.”
      Potter left Stamford Bridge with the worst record of any Blues boss in the Premier League era.
      And as well as struggling to get a song out of the host of new multi-million-pound signings, he also spoke out openly about the horrific abuse he received, including death threats for him and his family.
      The ex-Brighton chief was offered an immediate return to a Premier League dugout with Leicester.
      But he rejected the Foxes’ offer to replace Brendan Rodgers in order to take a break until the summer.
      POCH THE PICK?
      As for Chelsea, the club are beginning their search for a new boss while Bruno Saltor prepares to take charge for the Liverpool clash.
      Julian Nagelsmann was the early favourite with the bookies but SunSport revealed Luis Enrique is a shock frontrunner.
      But whoever comes in, Neville quipped the Blues could go and somehow produce another miracle in Europe.
      He added: “It would be very Chelsea to go and win the Champions League.
      “Todd Boehly might say that’s the end of the big spending for a while.
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      “But if they get Zinedine Zidane, Diego Simeone or whoever, they get a manager who wants another £300m because he doesn’t like some of the players.
      “They need a manager who likes this squad and I think that’s Mauricio Pochettino.” More

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      Thomas Tuchel breaks silence on Chelsea sacking his replacement Graham Potter as he aims subtle dig at new owners

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      THOMAS TUCHEL broke his silence on Chelsea sacking his replacement Graham Potter – and admitted it didn’t bring about “huge emotions”.The German, 49, was surprisingly axed by new Blues owner Todd Boehly in September.
      Thomas Tuchel has had his say on Graham Potter’s sackingCredit: Rex
      The ex-Brighton boss was axed on Sunday after seven months in chargeCredit: PA
      But, just seven months later, the man brought in to replace him also got the boot after a horror run of results.
      Tuchel was quizzed about it when he faced the press on Monday.
      But the new Bayern Munich boss appeared to have mixed emotions about Potter’s exit and the state of his former employers at Chelsea.
      Tuchel was shocked when he got the boot and revealed his “devastation” at being forced to leave despite winning the Champions League little more than a year earlier.
      READ MORE ON GRAHAM POTTER
      And there appeared to possibly be a subtle hint he might have been open to returning to Stamford Bridge if he hadn’t just replaced Julian Nagelsmann in Bavaria.
      Speaking in German, Tuchel said: “I saw the news very late last night on my phone as a push notification.
      “In the end it was pretty tough timing because it was right after I took over here and now the next Chelsea coach position is vacant.
      “I needed quite a bit of time to distance myself from Chelsea.
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      “I really enjoyed working there and I formed friendships for life.
      “It was a very intense time.
      “But the club has changed massively so it was easier for me to get a bit of distance between myself and the club, so it didn’t really trigger big emotions in me.”
      Tuchel replaced Julian Nagelsmann at Bayern last week – with his fellow German boss now heavily linked with Chelsea.
      But Tuchel won’t be giving his compatriot any tips if he does become the latest boss to sit on the Stamford Bridge hotseat.
      He added: “He doesn’t need my advice, that won’t happen.
      “I don’t need to give any advice because the club is different now, not the same as when I was there.” More