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      ‘They don’t want us to win’ – Wolves’ Neves in astonishing attack on English refs after Liverpool & Forest controversies

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      RUBEN NEVES has launched a blistering attack on the shocking state of English refereeing.And demanded to know why Wolves were prevented from progressing in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup by a series of controversial match-changing blunders.
      Wolves have been on the end of some dodgy decisions latelyCredit: Getty
      And Ruben Neves launched an astonishing rant about itCredit: Rex
      “I’m not sure what is going on,” raged the Portuguese World Cup star. It feels like they don’t want us to win.”
      Wolves’ fury erupted after they crashed out of the Carabao Cup following a dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat at Nottingham Forest in midweek.
      Neves believes the tie should never have made it that far after his team-mate Matheus Nunes was denied a late penalty when Emmanuel Dennis’s studs caught Nunes’ heel, ripping the midfielder’s boot off in the process.
      That controversy came hard on the heels of an equally contentious FA Cup decision at Anfield on Saturday when Toti’s late ‘winner,’ was disallowed despite the fact there was no VAR camera angle to support the onfield decision.
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      Wolves also believe they suffered from a flawed offside call which allowed Mo Salah to score Liverpool’s second goal from a blatantly offside position.
      Their simmering frustration boiled over at the City Ground and rival players clashed after Forest’s dramatic shoot-out win set up a semi-final showdown with Manchester United at Wolves’ expense.
      In an astonishing post-match tirade, Neves:

      Accused referee Graham Scott of going AWOL while a post-match free-for-all broke out on his watch.
      Speculated it would require a broken leg for Wolves to be awarded a penalty.
      Claimed the image of English football has been tarnished by recent controversies.
      And challenged referees to have the courage of their convictions to explain their decisions in post-match interviews.

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      Wolves players feel they haven’t only been battling relegation this season, they have also been battling against officialdom.
      With no VAR in operation during League Cup ties, Neves presented Scott with Nunes’ ripped boot as evidence – only to be told he could only award the foul if the offence had occurred OUTSIDE the box!
      Nunes rapped: “What happened last week was a shame for English football and what happened here is really bad for English football as well.
      “The referee said to me the contact was not enough for him to give a penalty.
      “Maybe it was not enough for him, but how can a referee decide if the contact is enough or not?
      “Maybe if I stepped on his foot, like their player stepped on Matheus, he’d ask for a foul.
      “He told us if the foul was in the middle of the pitch he would give it to us but that the criteria in the box is different and the contact was not deemed to be enough.
      “Do we need to start breaking legs to have penalties in football?
      To compound his frustration Neves also saw his penalty in shootout savedCredit: Getty
      “I showed him Matheus’ boot, it was completely ripped!
      “There’s no excuses. He didn’t give the penalty because he didn’t want to give it, that’s it.”
      Neves’ mood darkened even further when his penalty was one of the two saved by Dean Henderson in the resulting shoot-out as Forest set up a glamour semi-final showdown with Man United.
      Afterwards, the Portuguese ace spoke from the heart and took full responsibility for his costly miss, claiming referees should also be accountable for their actions.
      Wolves are due to meet with new referees chief Howard Webb this week to flag up their concerns.
      But Neves would prefer referee Graham Scott to explain his decision-making process to the public – rather than disappearing up the tunnel, to be protected by a wall of silence.
      “At the end of the game everyone was fighting on the pitch and the referee was in the dressing room. That’s not normal,” said Neves.
      “He should be outside seeing what is happening and which players need to have a red card. Instead he was inside while everyone was fighting.
      Players erupted in a melee at the end of the Carabao Cup clashCredit: Getty
      “Now I’m here talking about my s**t penalty, and he’s going home and he will not talk to anyone. It’s too easy for them.
      “For me, I’m really sad because I really wanted to help my team win but I missed my penalty, and now I’m here talking to you.
      “I really wanted him to say to the public what he said to me on the pitch. He said to me that the contact is not enough.
      “How can a referee see the boot coming off the foot of a player and say the contact is not enough?
      “If a boot comes off, you cannot play. He would stop the game.
      “I cannot shoot the ball without the boot on my foot.
      “Imagine, Matheus wanted to shoot with the ball and he had no boot on his foot. How can that happen?
      “That’s not normal. There’s no excuse for it.
      Julen Lopetegui spoke with the ref after the game against LiverpoolCredit: PA
      Wolves asked for an explanation from the FA over the Liverpool decision
      “Even the small details. I did a foul on Aurier, I stopped in front of him and he kicked my leg, then he screamed. I got a yellow card.
      “I was asking why he gave me a yellow card and he said to me ‘no worries, if they do the same it will be a yellow card as well’.
      “Morgan (Gibbs-White) kicked Max (Kilman) in exactly the same way and he said it wasn’t the same.
      “We saw everything on the pitch and it’s really sad. I’m going home thinking about that really poor penalty, and he’s going home and doesn’t need to talk to anybody.”
      Asked for his opinion on the post-match bust-up Neves replied: “Ask the referee!
      “That’s why he’s here – to see what happened – ask him if he saw something.
      “I was with our fans thanking them for their support. When I turned around everyone was fighting and the referee was not on the pitch.
      “He was inside and that’s a mistake. I’m sure someone would have taken a red card, and that can change the next game.
      Read More on The Sun
      “We should have won the game in the 90 minutes, but again it’s a big decision against Wolves.
      “I’m not sure what is going on, because it feels like they don’t want us to win.” More

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      Rio Ferdinand no longer watches Man Utd through his fingers as he praises turnaround under Erik ten Hag

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      RIO FERDINAND no longer has to watch Manchester United through his fingers fearing “crazy s***.”The Red Devils legend has watched the demise of his former club in recent years in his role as a TV pundit.
      Rio Ferdinand used to watch Manchester United through his handsCredit: Getty
      The club have been on the end of a number of embarrassing resultsCredit: Reuters
      But Ferdinand has praised the work of Erik ten HagCredit: PA
      But the six-time title winner now believes there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel under Erik ten Hag.
      The United boss is on an eight-game winning run going into tomorrow’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
      And Ferdinand said: “I’m going into this derby thinking, ‘We can give them a game’.
      “You can see players gaining in confidence. For far too long we were going into games thinking, ‘Obviously, we are going to get beat here today but I don’t know how many’.
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      “Or we were going to the likes of Brentford and concede one and it could be three or four.
      “When we have been feeling that as Man United fans, it is now nice going to games not feeling like that.
      “I am now going to a game not looking through my fingers, expecting crazy s going on. I am going there now with a bit of, ‘I fancy us today. I fancy us to beat them and dominate the ball’, because you can see something tactically that has been consistently coming out every week now.
      “We have got to play at our best and hope that they drop a little bit off it to win the game — but that is better than how I’ve gone into games in recent seasons.”
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      Ferdinand believes Ten Hag has done a lot more than just get a team up and running again.
      He feels the situation was so bad at the end of last season, with confidence at rock bottom throughout the club, that the Dutchman had to rebuild individuals as people as well as footballers.
      The former United defender added: “There were some really good quotes from him after the game the other day about the team spirit and how the ambience at the place was not right.
      “He would have seen that in half the results and in games and in training, that the mentality at the place was not right.
      “These were a bunch of players that were quite low, they were shot to pieces.
      “He has had to build not only footballers but men back up again because they have been through a lot of negativity.
      “Obviously, part of that is their own fault and the regime before.
      “But he had to build a lot of human beings back up and that takes time.
      Man Utd players have had many reasons to celebrate since Ten Hag took over compared to last seasonCredit: AFP
      “The fact he is now talking about qualifying for the Champions League so positively, and putting markers down, he can sense a confidence coming back into this team.
      “There is a consistency of performance from the team and individuals, that wasn’t there before, that he now believes and fills him with the confidence to speak about.
      “There isn’t that panic there was before or the complete capitulation that we’ve been seeing for a while. There is a much more calm edge around the team.
      “All the signs are very positive. I just feel like there is a jigsaw puzzle that needs putting together at this football club and there are some good pieces being put in place, whether it be the manager, coaching staff, the tactical element he is trying to implement, or recruitment.”
      One of the big pieces of the puzzle that needed putting back in place at United, according to Ferdinand, was the discipline.
      He said: “When people have asked me about Man United and what I want to see, one of them definitely is to have discipline running through the veins of the club.
      “Any team that is successful has an element of discipline. That is a real bedrock of any good football club, that discipline runs through, and the players are very aware of where they are standing in that, so that is pleasing to see. The fanbase will be looking at that and going, ‘I like that’.
      “Players are being made accountable for their actions, whether it is during 90 minutes or off the pitch and at the training ground. I think that is a key part of any success.”
      Fans always try to put together their best-combined team from both sides whenever a derby game approaches. In recent years few, if any, United players would get into City’s side.
      Marcus Rashford has been leading the club’s rise up the tableCredit: AFP
      But Ferdinand claims that is not the case any more — even if he believes Pep Guardiola’s side are still well ahead of United as it stands.
      He said: “On form, Marcus Rashford would have to be in the team.
      “Christian Eriksen would be in with a shout, Bruno Fernandes would be in with a shout. Casemiro or Rodri is a massive one in terms of form, the two best holding midfielders in the league.
      “Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane would have an argument to get in the team as well, so you could put a good case forward.
      “Definitely, the distance is a bit closer but it’s still not anywhere near where we want it to be. There is still work to be done.
      “The fact you can have an argument over four or five players getting into the team, or to have a conversation about it at least, is a step in the right direction.
      “But, let’s not get it twisted. City are way ahead of where Man United are.”
      Way ahead — but no longer over the hill and far away.Ferdinand, like many United fans, can see that bright new dawn on the horizon.
      Read More on The Sun
      And he no longer has to look through his fingers and go searching for it.
      RIO FERDINAND is an ambassador for BT Sport.
      It is set to be a hotly contested derby More

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      Fans concerned as BT Sport coverage of Fulham vs Chelsea cuts out and shows repeated adverts

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      FANS viewing BT Sport’s coverage of Fulham’s clash against Chelsea were left concerned after it cut out and repeatedly showed adverts. Fans took to Twitter to voice their concerns.
      BT Sport’s coverage suddenly cut outCredit: Rex
      One wrote: “Hope it’s just a technical fault and not an issue with a person as the BT Sport coverage cut off all of a sudden.”
      A second said: “The more adverts they play BT Sport the more you worry something has just happened off camera…”
      A third commented: “Seems like something serious might have happened live on BT Sport, I hope not 😳”
      Fortunately, the outage was caused by a faulty generator, as confirmed by presenter Jake Humphrey.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      He said: “There is a generator that lost power.
      “This doesn’t normally happen, Peter Crouch was running around with a wire.”
      Other fans joked about the situation, with one quipping: “No way BT Sports did a Joao Felix😭😭😭,” in reference to his sending off for a horrific challenge on his Blues debut.
      A second user joked: ” (Graham) Potter didn’t want to be interviewed by BT Sport, so he got Joao Felix to pull the plug 🔌 out of the wall.”
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      “@btsport just spared the Chelsea fans the embarrassment of listening to the analysis… or did they pull the plug on Boehly sacking Potter live on air,” wrote another.
      Chelsea’s result against their local rivals will be a painful one considering a number of factors which it exacerbates.
      Their injury list has been added to by Denis Zakaria going off injured; Felix is set to cost them roughly £2.3m just by being suspended following his straight red card, it is the first time they have lost to Fulham in the Prem for 17 years, and it is now one win in nine games.
      Potter has previously spoken about how tough the job is at Stamford Bridge.
      And it doesn’t appear to be helping that his reign at the club is, for now at least, cursed.
      Owner Todd Boehly has kept faith so far, but if results do not pick up soon he could be forced to make a big decision. More

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      Ex-Man City star Lescott says Akanji was a ‘ridiculous’ bit of transfer business as he compares defender to Thiago Silva

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      MANCHESTER CITY’S capture of Erling Haaland was the story of the summer at The Etihad, but the champions also pulled off a “ridiculous” bit of business in landing Manuel Akanji.That’s according to former City defender Joleon Lescott, who has been blown away by the impact the Swiss international has had on Pep Guardiola’s side.
      Manuel Akanji joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund last summerCredit: GETTY
      The Switzerland ace has been a rock at the back for Pep Guardiola’s troopsCredit: GETTY
      Akanjai has blown away former City defender Joleon LescottCredit: BT SPORT
      The defender, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a bargain £15million on deadline day in September, has started all but two of City’s Prem games since he arrived.
      Ahead of the Manchester derby on Saturday, Lescott said: “It was a ridiculous bit of business.
      “The business Manchester City have done over recent years hasn’t surprised me but in terms of him there will be so many teams looking at him and thinking: ‘Why didn’t we see that and do that and take that opportunity?'”
      After sitting out the first Premier League game just days after his arrival, Akanji has taken to English football superbly and cemented his place in Guardiola’s side in a quiet, assured fashion.
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      It is that ease of transition which has most impressed Lescott, who compared the former Basel man to Chelsea’s veteran master, Thiago Silva.
      He added: “It has been a seamless impact. As a defender that is where I rate the level.
      “It is similar to Thiago Silva, when it came it was like he’d been there forever.
      “He isn’t being noticed for any particular thing. As a defender, I always thought that if no one is mentioning your name you’re doing okay because you haven’t made a mistake.
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      “You aren’t going to consistently score goals as a defender so if you’re being mentioned it’s either for a goal or a mistake.
      “I always thought that if no one is mentioning me you’re doing okay.
      “That’s the case with Akanji, he has come in and is playing numerous positions and looks so comfortable.
      “It is just the level he is at.
      “Maintaining the level he is playing at is progress, he is playing to his maximum every week.”
      Akanji was sent on as a half-time substitute to try and save City during their shock Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Southampton on Wednesday night.
      While he couldn’t inspire a comeback at St. Mary’s, City didn’t concede again once he was on the pitch and he will be key as they look to bounce back against bitter rivals Manchester United tomorrow.
      Turn Manchester red or blue by voting below…— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 10, 2023

      At the other end of the pitch, Haaland, who bagged his third Prem hat-trick of the season in the return fixture, will also prove vital.
      Though after the mauling at The Etihad, Lescott suspects United will go about trying to stop the powerhouse in a different manner.
      Lescott said: “Martinez and Varane tried to get physical with him and Haaland just manhandled them, he enjoys that.
      “There has to be a different approach because the outcome wasn’t positive for them.
      “Your thought process would be to nullify the supply because if enough chances fall to him he’s going to execute, and that’s why he’s regarded as world-class.
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      “If he gets two or three chances he’s going to score. So it will be a case of nullifying those chances.”
      Watch Man Utd v Man City exclusively live on BT Sport 1 this Saturday from 11:30am. BT Sport Monthly Pass is the flexible, contract free way to watch, for more info visit bt.com/sport More

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      Fulham troll Chelsea with hilarious ‘Adios Joao’ tweet after Felix red card as they mock rivals for deleting post

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      FULHAM’s social media team brutally trolled Chelsea new-boy Joao Felix after he was given his marching orders.Portugal international Felix – who arrived on loan from Atletico Madrid this week – was shown a straight red card in the second half of the Craven Cottage clash for a reckless challenge on Kenny Tete.
      Joao Felix saw red in his Chelsea debut on Thursday nightCredit: JAMIE MCPHILIMEY
      The Portugal star was dismissed for a reckless tackle on Fulham’s Kenny TeteCredit: GETTY
      The forward was brutally trolled by Fulham’s official Twitter account
      The dismissal marked the worst possible debut for the forward, who was the subject of a quick-witted jibe from Fulham’s official Twitter account.
      Shortly after he was sent off, Fulham’s admin tweeted: #AdiosJoao.”
      Footy fans couldn’t help but comment on the trolling, with one tweeting: “Love this.”
      Another said: “Fulham tweeted this then deleted it immediately. Brutal.”
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      And another said: “Only 1 thing to say: #AdiosJoao.”
      Another chimed in: “Tell me I’m not the only one who saw that “#AdiosJoao” tweet from the Fulham admin.”
      The tweet, however, didn’t stay up for long as it was deleted by the admin.
      It could’ve been deleted as adios is the Spanish for goodbye and Felix is Portuguese.
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      Felix’s red card added to the headache being experienced by under-fire Chelsea boss Graham Potter, but not as much as his team’s display.
      The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat in the west London derby, with goals from former star Willian and Carlos Vinicius condemning the visitors to their SEVENTH defeat of the season.
      Potter’s troops are still toiling in TENTH place in the Premier League table and are a whopping ten points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
      Chelsea will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, welcoming Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge in what could be a pivotal game for Potter’s future. More

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      Chelsea player ratings: Havertz worked his socks off, Chalobah low on confidence and Joao Felix costs his club dearly

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      CHELSEA suffered their third defeat on the bounce with familiar faces failing to turn up once again.Graham Potter’s side have now picked up just one win in ten games and were second best for large parts against Fulham.
      Joao Felix was red-carded for a reckless lunge on Kenny TeteCredit: Reuters
      Kai Havert’s improve performance could not prevent Chelsea’s defeatCredit: Reuters
      It is back to the drawing board once again for BluesCredit: Reuters
      To make matters worse new loan signing Joao Felix was sent off just before the hour mark for a high tackle on Kenny Tete.
      The Portugal international did show some positive signs however, as did strike partner Kai Havertz.
      But there were problems at the back with Trevoh Chalobah looking shakey in defence and it was his deflection that took Willian’s opener past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
      Kalidou Koulibaly equalised for Chelsea and Felix came close to scoring before his red, but it was Fulham who grabbed the winner when Carlos Vinicius headed in at the far post.
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      Here is how SunSport’s Andy Dillon rated the Chelsea display.
      Kepa Arrizabalaga – 5
      Has had a run in the team with Edouard Mendy’s injury and has improved – yet prone to mistakes and dithered for Fulham’s second.
      Cesar Azpilicueta – 5
      A warrior in the past but now pushing hard into his 30s and despite being a supreme athlete is he getting overrun by younger players now with the exception of Willian.
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      Trevoh Chalobah – 4
      A miserable night. Booked early on in the first half and then stuck out a leg to deflect Willian’s shot past his own keeper. Looks low on confidence.
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      Thiago Silva – 6
      The only defender worthy of the name. But at 38 how long can he keep pushing himself and acting as leader for a back line which has kept only one clean sheet in the last 12 games.
      Kalidou Koulibaly – 6
      A lion for Senegal at the World Cup but wobbly for Chelsea.
      Does not seem comfortable in any position along the back line. Fair play for standing tall to poke home an equaliser.
      Lewis Hall – 5
      A brave call to put him in ahead of first-choice left-back Cucurella. Although decent, the inexperience made him vulnerable and a chief target for Fulham’s wide men.
      Dennis Zakaria – 7
      Has been something of a revelation. Was overlooked after signing in the summer and now starts regularly. A blow when forced off.
      Mateo Kovacic – 5
      Consistent work rate but not able to impose himself on the midfield and thread those paseses through or make those darting runs.
      Mason Mount – 6
      Cut a frustrated figure. Provided a tidy assist for Felix to volley just wide in the first half. Always tenacious and carved out the chance for the equaliser but visibly frustrated.
      Joao Felix – 4
      What a turnaround on his debut. The best player on the pitch until a clumsy studs up lunge on Tete. No dispute about the red card. Rash is an understatement.
      Kai Havertz – 7
      A vastly improved attitude and work rate from the Cup exit at City. Worked his socks off at both ends. Often Chelsea’s last line of defence too.
      Subs
      Jorginho (55 for Zakaria) – 5
      Not a favourite of the Chelsea fans and looks to be leaving at the end of the season. Was up against it with a spare man for Fulham.
      Conor Gallagher (for Kovacic, 79 mins) – 6
      Facing an uncertain time with the influx of new signings.
      Marc Cucurella (for Hall, 79 mins) – 6
      At least he added experience in a tactical reshuffle.
      Read More on The Sun
      Carney Chukwuemeka (for Chalobah, 79 mins) – 6
      Has waited a while to start getting games.
      Hakim Ziyech (for Mount, 79 mins) – 5
      Seems to enjoy playing for Morocco far more than for Chelsea. More

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      I forgot I owned house & spent £25k on bar bill – now I know reason why, says bankrupt footie star Jermaine Pennant

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      BANKRUPT ex-footie star Jermaine Pennant has told how he lost his career earnings of more than £10million — and got in such a mess he even forgot he owned a house.The former Liverpool winger splashed out on a fleet of supercars, homes, five-star holidays abroad and once paid a £25,000 bar bill on a lads’ break in Las Vegas. 
      Bankrupt ex-footie star Jermaine Pennant, with girlfriend Jess Impiazzi, has told how he lost his career earnings of more than £10millionCredit: Simon Jones
      Wonderkid Jermaine was at Arsenal at 15 – but says he was left without any real educationCredit: Getty
      While playing for Birmingham, Jermaine was jailed for drink-driving after crashing a Mercedes — when already banned for the same offenceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      But the 39-year-old, who describes himself as “financially illiterate”, also blew a fortune on bad investments and fell prey to hangers-on he says targeted him.
      And he went on to lose three houses and more money through a divorce and bankruptcy,
      He said: “In all honesty, I could have been a billionaire and still f***ed it up.
      “I have made so many mistakes but I did not know how to deal with things and would not think of the consequences of my actions.
      READ MORE ON JERMAINE PENNANT
      “I have been labelled a bad-boy but, in reality, I was just an insecure kid who did not know what he was doing.”
      Pennant revealed he was diagnosed last year with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and PTSD linked to childhood trauma.
      His ADHD meant he once forgot he owned a house in Cheshire after moving from Liverpool to Spanish side Real Zaragoza — although he was still paying the interest-only mortgage on it.
      He bought the six-bedroom home in Hale for £1.2million on the advice of a fixer.
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      When he moved to Spain he left it empty — but it was later occupied by a drugs gang who caused a fire at the property.
      Pennant — now a footie pundit on talkSPORT — admitted: ☻“I bought houses but never spoke to an estate agent and had mortgages that I did not know about.
      “I took bad advice from bad people and just lived day to day.
      “There was a fixer who arranged things for me — but now I realise he swindled me out of money.
      “He advised me to buy the house in Hale for well over the odds and then to do a load of building work on it. But I wasn’t paying the builders, I was paying him.
      “That sort of thing happened to me wherever I went.
      “I would also go out and spend money on tables at nightclubs and not worry about it.
      “We did two trips to Las Vegas; and on the first one I picked up a bar bill of $30,000 (£25,000) for my mates — I did not even know what was being ordered.
      “I invested in horses and properties and have lost all the money.
      “I dread to think what the total would be but I guess it would be more than £10million.”
      Years of financial misjudgments and mistakes eventually caught up with the ex-Premier League star.
      The tipping point came when the taxman hit him with a bill for more than £1million in 2018.
      He was declared bankrupt at the start of this year with debts of more than £1million.
      Pennant, who starred on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, said: “The bankruptcy did not happen overnight. It came from years of bad decisions and ignoring things.
      “We disputed the tax bill and I still do not know what it is for.
      “But that is the thing that led to the bankruptcy more than anything else. I had no idea what I was earning and what was coming out of my account.
      “Because of my ADHD, I would just ignore things and bury my head in the sand, even forgetting I owned a house.”
       But Pennant, who lives with actress girlfriend Jess Impiazzi, 33, in Surrey, insisted he was “happier than ever” after his bankruptcy and looking to the future.
      He continued: “It is not an ideal situation being made bankrupt — but it means I can rebuild my life and make a fresh start.”
      He said he regretted his past behaviour and urged young players not to make the same mistakes as he did, but to take sound advice and avoid the pitfalls of fame.
      Pennant, who has a 12-year-old son by an ex and was married to model Alice Goodwin from 2014 to 2020, once owned motors including a Ferrari F430, an Aston Martin DB9, a Lamborghini, a Porsche GTS and several Range Rovers. 
      He enjoyed luxury holidays at destinations including the Maldives, Bahamas, Seychelles and Dubai.
      The Nottingham-born ace’s career took off when Arsenal signed him from Notts County when he was 15. 
      He scored a hat-trick on his full Premier League debut for the Gunners aged 20 — but he later admitted he was hungover after going out the night before the match as he did not expect to be picked.
      But despite a promising start, he was shipped out on loan to various clubs before joining Birmingham City in 2005.
      While at the Blues, he was jailed for drink-driving after crashing a Mercedes into a lamppost — when he was already banned from the road for the same offence. But Birmingham stuck by him, and Pennant revealed manager Steve Bruce, whom team-mates dubbed his “stepdad”, visited him in category A Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes as he served his sentence.
      After his release, he played with an electronic tag fitted to his ankle.
      He earned a big-money move to Liverpool where he played a key role in their run to the 2007 Champions League final, which they lost to AC Milan.
      After falling foul of boss Rafa Benitez, he joined Real Zaragoza on wages of £80,000 a week but only stayed at the club for a year.
      Pennant, who earned £30,000 a week at Liverpool, again hit headlines when he left his Porsche at a rail station in Spain for a month because he forgot about it.
      The England under-21 star then joined Stoke City. Spells at Wolves, FC Pune City in India, Wigan Athletic, Singapore side Tampines Rovers and Bury followed — before he ended his career at non-league Billericay Town in 2017.
      Pennant, who starred on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, said: ‘The bankruptcy did not happen overnight. It came from years of bad decisions and ignoring things’Credit: Rex Features
      Despite a promising start with Arsenal, Jermaine was shipped out on loan to various clubs before joining Birmingham City in 2005Credit: Jamie McPhilimey
      The former Premier League ace ended his career at non-league Billericay Town in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      He explained: “I came from a rough council estate and became a ‘wonderkid’ when I was 15. I had no education really and knew nothing about finances and money.
      “No one at Arsenal helped me — they just stuck me in digs with a family. I would go training, go home and then be left to my own devices and hangers-on.
      “I developed an ego and had no self-worth so tried to gain it by showing I had money.”
      He admitted his biggest regret was his drink-driving conviction, which led to him being locked up alongside murderers and terrorists.
      Pennant also said he regrets revealing in his 2018 autobiography that he and former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole, 42, had threesomes with girls.
      He said: “The thing I am most ashamed of is the drink-driving.
      “I also regret what I said in the book — and regret writing it. It was another case of taking bad advice, and of not thinking of the consequences because of ADHD.
      “My agent Sky Andrew suffered during these periods because he was trying to make me listen to good advice but I was on the fast train to destruction”.
      “I thought everything would be OK but Ashley was not happy although we are still friends now.
      “I also regret going on Big Brother and don’t think that was a great decision for me.”
      He added: “I would do things without discussing it with anyone, I would hide stuff from my agent who was constantly getting me out of trouble.
      “Maybe the fact that Sky kept finding a way sort things out helped me think I was invincible.”
      Read More on The Sun
      However, Pennant will this year be seen on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins alongside ex-Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
      He concluded: “If I could say one thing to young players, it would be: Make sure you get help, good advice and are surrounded by decent people.” More

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      in Soccer

      Fulham 2 Chelsea 1: Vinicius winner and debutant Joao Felix’s red card down Blues as they suffer worst run in 12 YEARS

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      JUST how bad can it possibly get for Graham Potter?A debut red card for his shiny new signing Joao Felix, Chelsea’s first defeat by Fulham in 17 years and now just one win in nine Premier League games – their worst run in 12 years.
      Joao Felix was sent off for a reckless lunge on Kenny TeteCredit: Reuters
      Graham Potter has overseen Chelsea’s worst run for 12 yearsCredit: Getty
      Carlos Vinicius headed home the winner for FulhamCredit: Reuters
      Willian refused to celebrate scoring against his former clubCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
      It is starting to feel as though his Stamford Bridge reign is cursed.
      Chelsea’s new owners are determined to stand by their man but we are surely coming close to the point beyond which no elite club can fall before the manager gets the bullet.
      Potter’s side had dragged themselves back into this west London derby before Felix’s moment of lunacy – a horrible late challenge on Kenny Tete – earned a straight red.
      Portuguese World Cup star Felix, borrowed from Atletico Madrid on a staggering £10million loan fee, had been the best player on the pitch until that moment yet he will now be banned for three matches.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      How’s your luck, Potter?
      He would surely have demanded more fighting spirit from his players after Sunday’s FA Cup surrender at Manchester City – but not that much fight.
      Carlos Vinicus – understudy for Fulham’s goal machine Aleksandar Mitrovic – then headed the winner to send Marco Silva’s side soaring into sixth place in the Premier League.
      They are six points and four places clear of their neighbours now, a situation unheard of in decades.
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      Kalidou Koulibaly had cancelled out an opener from former Chelsea winger Willian – who, at 34, could surely still get into this Blues team.
      As the Fulham fans gleefully told Potter he was ‘getting sacked in the morning’, the patience of owner Todd Boehly cannot have too far left to stretch.
      While Chelsea still had nine senior players out injured, they have now signed four new recruits during this window, and there was still plenty of quality on Potter’s bench.
      Felix had only received his work permit earlier in the day but he’d enjoyed an excellent World Cup with Portugal and had been desperate to get away from his hardline boss Diego Simeone with whom he had endured something of a hate/hate relationship.
      And the new boy’s first contribution was an excellent one as toasted Tim Ream with a turn and fed Kai Havertz, whose shot was blocked before Lewis Hall’s follow-up was saved by the legs of Bernd Leno.
      Felix one a couple of free-kicks early on too – earning bookings for Antonee Robinson and Andreas Pereira – and the Chelsea fans were singing the Portuguese’s name inside ten minutes of his debut.
      The debutant dragged one shot wide but he had clearly added a new dimension to a Chelsea attack which been lacking a cutting edge all season.
      Fulham were without their suspended leading scorer Mitrovic but they had won four successive games since the World Cup break.
      They had some promising early moments too – a saucy Pereira backheel for Robinson, who teed up Vinicius to turn and shoot wide.
      Chelsea survived a VAR review for a penalty when Vinicius fell under a challenge from Denis Zakaria.
      And Potter’s boys were served a major warning when Trevoh Chalobah’s slip let in Vincius who fed Bobby De Cordova-Reid to crack a shot against the bar.
      Soon after, the roof was wobbling on the old Cottage as Fulham seized the lead – De Cordova-Reid robbed teenager Hall and his low centre found Willian, who cut in from the left and drilled a right-footed which deflected off Chalobah, fooling Kepa Arrizabalaga.
      The Brazilian veteran tried not to celebrate but eventually he couldn’t help himself.
      It had been a big shout from Potter to choose Hall in front of Marc Cucurella and it wasn’t paying off.
      Hall soon had another shot deflected wide but the Blues, who’d started so well, were starting to look ragged.
      Yet an error from Tosin Adarabioyo let in Havertz who slipped a pass to Felix for a shot smartly saved by Leno.
      Kepa spilled a weak Vinicius header, causing another moment of panic in the Blues defence.
      Yet Chelsea had managed 14 shots in the first period so there had been no lack of attacking intent, in what had been a frenetic end-to-end half.
      And within two minutes of the restart Chelsea were level.
      Marco Silva has taken Fulham up to sixth, four points off the top fourCredit: EPA
      Kalidou Koulibaly equalised for Chelsea shortly after half-timeCredit: Reuters
      Willian’s strike deflected off Trevoh Chalobah on its way inCredit: Getty
      Chelsea have one win in ten gamesCredit: Reuters
      Kenny Tete fouled Hall on the left-hand edge of the area, Mount attempted to catch Leno out at his near-post with the dead ball and struck the upright, Koulibaly reacted fastest to stab itr over the line.
      “We are staying up!” sang the Blues fans as the rest of the Cottage crowd was silenced.
      Zakaria was forced off with an injury and replaced by Jorginho – and then the major flashpoint as Felix flew in late on Tete with a potential leg-breaker.
      Ref David Coote thought long and hard before he showed the red card but there was no doubt.
      Fulham failed to grab any immediate initiative, though, and Havertz was soon bearing down on goal, Leno out already to block the German’s shot.
      So Fulham’s winner was somewhat out of the blue as Pereira delivered a deep cross, Kepa only came out halfway and Vinicius went beyond Chalobah to head home at the back stick.
      Read More on The Sun
      After the match goalscorer Willian said: “It was a special night for us. We deserved the win. We know how difficult it is to play Chelsea, they are in a difficult situation but they have a good team. It was a special night for me playing against them.
      “I had an amazing seven years there. I have big respect for the fans, club and the people who work there. But I play for Fulham and I have to do my best for them. It was a special night.” More