Premier League

PEP GUARDIOLA’S wife has broken her silence following her split from the Manchester City manager to insist she’s “feeling great”.Cristina Serra looked a picture of happiness as she shopped alone in Barcelona a week after news of the couple’s shock break-up emerged.Cristina Serra has broken her silence on her split from Man City boss Pep GuardiolaCredit: GettyShe smiled as she was approached by a Spanish reporter in the city centre showing off a stylish look of white trainers and loose-fitting grey trousers with a designer handbag slung over the left shoulder of her cream-coloured coat.Asked how she was doing, the mum-of-three replied: ‘Perfecta, gracias’ – ‘Perfect, thanks’ in English.She added: “Everything’s fine” when quizzed again about her frame of mind.But the pretty brunette opted for silence when she was asked about speculation the cause of their breakup had been Guardiola’s decision to stay at Manchester City and sign a two-year contract extension with his club.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLorena Vazquez and fellow Spanish journalist Laura Fa, who make up a duo of well-respected showbiz reporters called the Mamarazzis, broke the story of the couple’s split at the start of last week.Days later they claimed in a Podcast fashion entrepreneur Cristina had decided “enough was enough” after learning Pep had U-turned on a decision to quit Britain and was going to stay in his current job until 2027.The 52-year-old, who was still visiting her husband in his adopted city until last summer despite returning to Barcelona in 2019 with their youngest daughter Valentina, now 17, to focus on her business interests, looked straight ahead as she was asked to comment on the claims and carried on walking.She finished the brief exchange with a polite ‘Thank you’ as she entered a clothes store she had been heading towards.Most read in FootballCristina’s first words about her feelings following the break-up showed her apparent determination to continue with her life as normal instead of holing up in the £8.4million home in the upmarket Barcelona neighbourhood of Pedralbes the couple purchased in 2021.She moved into the property two years after leaving Manchester and Catalan press initially seized on the house purchase, made public in June 2021, as a sign 54-year-old Guardiola could be planning a return to Barcelona following Joan Laporta’s election as its president.Man City boss Pep Guardiola’s recen struggles could be a response to the end of his marriage to teenage sweetheart  Cristina SerraLorena Vazquez said last week after breaking news of the split: “After Cristina returned to Barcelona from Manchester in 2019 to focus on her business interests, it’s true that the first rumours about her marriage to Pep surfaced, but no-one dared talking about there being a relationship crisis and much less so a split.“That was until last September which is when those in Pep’s professional circle in Manchester first became surprised at not seeing Cristina in the city following the summer holidays and they began to wonder why she was not in Manchester with him.“It was normal up until then to see Cristina in Manchester from time to time despite the fact she’d stopped living there on a full-time basis in 2019 and was mainly dividing her time between Barcelona and London.“They’d carried on seeing each other and engaging in family activities and they were continuing to be a couple whenever they met up.“Last September Cristina stopped appearing in Manchester.”Colleague Laura Fa added of the break-up: “She takes the decision when he decides to extend his contract with Manchester City because in the previous months Pep had been preparing his departure from the club.“We know one of his objectives was to leave and move to the United Arab Emirates.“People around him were beginning to say goodbye to him because he wasn’t going to renew his contact.“That decision not to renew was helping bring him closer to his wife but when he decided to stay and extend his contract Cristina decided enough was enough and it was her that decided to end the marriage that had lasted so many years.”The pair had been together for 30 years before their splitCredit: RexCristina is back in Barcelona while Guardiola continues to manage CityCredit: Getty – ContributorAt the weekend the Sun reported Guardiola held crisis talks last October with his partner of 30 years at his favourite Barcelona restaurant Bodega Sepulveda before signing the contract extension.A waiter told the paper things “looked a little tense between them.”The couple met in 1994 and married in 2014.Spanish media have insisted Pep and Cristina continue to have a cordial and affectionate relationship and they have not split because of a third person.Their eldest daughter Maria opened up on her parents’ lessons about love after becoming the first family member to speak since the shock news of their split.The pretty influencer and fashionista said in a Spanish magazine interview published around the same time her dad’s break-up with wife of 30 years Cristina Serra emerged: “My parents have always advised me to find what I am passionate about.“They encourage me to try new things, to accept failure and to keep searching until I find my calling, because when I do, full dedication will come naturally.“They also remind me that the most important thing in life is to love and be loved.”READ MORE SUN STORIESThe 24-year-old London-based beauty went on to tell Vanity Fair Spain: “In the end it all comes down to feeling loved.“Even in situations where we feel out of place, they tell me to listen carefully to others, there is always something valuable to learn from each person we meet.” More

BAD news for all the conspiracy theorists out there.Lee Harvey Oswald did kill JFK.Kai Havertz handled against Aston Villa on SaturdayCredit: Sky SportsArsenal fans have been compared with moon-landing deniersCredit: GettyThe moon landings were not faked.And Arsenal’s late ‘winner’ against Aston Villa on Saturday was rightly chalked off.More than 48 hours after it was made abundantly clear to anyone with a working set of eyes that Kai Havertz’s forearm had diverted Mikel Merino’s bouncing strike past Emi Martinez, there were still Arsenal fans swearing that black was white.That’s what happens when you live in an echo chamber — your critical faculties go missing.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRather than questioning how the Gunners threw away a two-goal lead in the space of eight minutes, it had to be about bias, cheating, robbery.To be fair, without VAR, Arsenal might now be top of the table, rather than six points adrift of Liverpool,  who also have a game in hand.Saturday was the third time this season that the Gunners have had a ‘winning goal’ disallowed after the intervention of Stockley Park.Yet Havertz was clearly offside when he netted  against Chelsea.Gabriel Martinelli went too early before supplying Bukayo Saka in the last few minutes at Fulham.Most read in FootballSUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAYAnd on Saturday, the verdict from the video booth was equally clear-cut. Not for everyone, though. The ball “hit his abdomen”. It was “nowhere near his arm”. And best of all, “What else could he do?”Some, it would seem, have still not recognised that ANY attacking handball that leads directly to the ball going into the net means it is automatically wiped out.Arsenal ratings: Trossard turns creator to put Gunners in driving seat but Merino and Partey lapses cost Arteta’s sideArsenal supporters are not alone in concocting a story that fits their ‘Us against the world’ narrative.Indeed, you get the same moans from an awful lot of fans of an awful lot of clubs. Last year, in particular, it was Nottingham Forest.The Gunners, also, have been on the wrong end of some contentious  calls over the past two campaigns.There were a myriad of reasons to rule out Newcastle’s winner at St James’ Park last term, while Bruno Guimaraes was more than lucky to stay on the pitch.The second yellow cards for Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard kicking the ball away against Brighton and Manchester City respectively have not been universally followed by all refs.And the Brighton penalty award at the Amex earlier this month was odd.But, equally, Havertz should have been dismissed in that tempestuous Tyneside clash, Martin Odegaard’s handball in his own box at Liverpool last term was beyond blatant, while Arsenal’s equaliser against Tottenham last week came from a corner that clearly should have been a goal-kick.Arsenal ratings vs Aston VillaArsenal’s title hopes took a huge hit as they threw away a two-goal lead against Aston VillaLeandro Trossard turned provider for the Gunners to set up both goals as it looked like they would cruise to three points.But defensive lapses from two stars cost Arteta’s side dearly.Here is how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the players…DAVID RAYA – 6/10Let down by those in front of him for both goals, a duo of close range efforts he had no chance with.MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 8With performances like this, he is suddenly the first name on the team sheet for Arteta. So calm and composed for someone so young, and his strength against bigger opposition is scary at times.GABRIEL – 7Made a crucial tackle one-on-one with Watkins and another block from a speedy counterJURRIEN TIMBER – 7Alert to foil counters against the pace of Watkins and coped well in general. It is not his fault that he doesn’t have the defensive presence of Saliba.THOMAS PARTEY – 6A great stint at right back but one lapse in concentration cost Arsenal the lead, losing track of Watkins in the box before he volleyed in.MIKEL MERINO – 6A workman-like performance – won his duels and worked his socks off, but the small details were missing, shanking a good chance well wide in the first half.He then lost his marker to allow Tielemans to head in and make it 2-1. Could have won it at the end with a scuffed effort in off Havertz that VAR chalked off and smacked the post too.DECLAN RICE – 7Integral to everything good about Arsenal and came close with a long-range punt in the second half.MARTIN ODEGAARD – 6A solid display but he is really missing his partner in crime in Saka. He created as much as he could but sometimes needs to be more selfish to drag his team over the line.LEANDRO TROSSARD – 8Deflected effort was comfortable for Martinez but his superb cross made life much harder for the Villa keeper to tee up Martinelli for the opener before blazing over himself.The Belgian racked up his fifth Prem assist of the season in the second half for Havertz.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 8Threatened at the far post early on, but got his rewards from the same position in the 35th minute with a stabbed effort ahead of Maatsen.KAI HAVERTZ – 8Again, lack of decent service left him living off scraps, but when he got a scrap he fired an effort straight at Martinez from close range.The German more than made up for it after the break with a clinical finish, even if Martinez should have done better. That will do wonders for his confidence.SUBS:RAHEEM STERLING (MARTINELLI, 82) – 6A few darting runs, but added virtually nothing, other than a needless yellow card. A cameo that screamed “lacking confidence”.Seeking to pin the blame on outside factors, rather than the real ones, is creating an excuse culture.Interestingly, Mikel Arteta chose not to go down the rabbit hole.Instead, the Arsenal manager criticised his side’s defending and made clear to the Emirates board that they have to bring in some proper recruits now if they want to keep the season alive.Realistically, Arsenal’s best chance of silverware is by doing what Jurgen Klopp did in 2019 — lifting the Champions League.Arsenal can change three of their European squad for the knockout phase, including stars who have already played for another side in the competition — like Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres,  Jonathan David of Lille or Juventus ace Dusan Vlahovic.They might also want to get a proper centre-back in to cover for William Saliba as Riccardo Calafiori looks to be made of tissue paper.READ MORE SUN STORIESSometimes you have to speculate to accumulate. This is one of those times for Arsenal. And a time for the supporters to stop trying to see things that simply are not there.By the way, 9/11 was not an inside job. And as for Roswell and Area 51 . . . More

NONI MADUEKE sent his popularity in Wolverhampton plummeting even further with his latest strike against the club.The Chelsea winger branded the Midlands city “s***” before bagging a hat-trick at Molineux last August.Noni Madueke enjoyed piling more misery on WolvesCredit: GettyThe winger headed in from on the goalline to put Chelsea 3-1 upCredit: GettyRobert Sanchez dropped a clanger to allow Wolves to levelCredit: RexHe was booed by the visiting fans all night in the return at Stamford Bridge but shrugged it off to score the crucial second-half goal that condemned them to a third straight Premier League defeat.His close-range header is also his fourth goal against them this season. For someone who dislikes the place so much he sure likes playing against them.Madueke’s 65th-minute goal added to earlier strikes by defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Cucurella on what looks a convincing win for Chelsea but took far too long to get over the line.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLIt’s a first home win for them since mid-December even if it does take Enzo Maresca’s team back into the top four. They are four points off second place but still ten off the top.Although head coach Maresca will be relieved that his rejigged team managed to end a run of five games without a win in the league.With such a top-quality and expensive squad it is surprising how Chelsea are struggling to put a team together at the moment.But key injuries count. They haven’t looked the same since unlucky centre-back Wesley Fofana was effectively ruled out for the season.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSTrevoh Chalobah was forced into an emergency recall from loan at Crystal Palace late last week and immediately handed a start.Maresca also can’t make up his mind about experienced Tosin, who scored twice in the FA Cup against Morecambe only to be dropped for the next game.Jack Grealish’s reaction to Cole Palmer becoming a manager says it all as he and Maguire apologise to Chelsea starHe was back in the fold last night and repaid the decision by putting Chelsea ahead with a scrappy goal in a scrappy first half.An outswinging corner in the 24th minute eventually found Reece James waiting on the edge of the Wolves box. His low drive into the mix hit Tosin, who showed cool control then prodded the ball in from around eight yards out. It was initially ruled out for offside but the defender was convinced not as he wagged his finger towards the linesman and his raised flag.VAR made sure justice was served and Maresca’s team were ahead for the fourth match in a row. But it never looked solid. Chelsea’s manager insists he is happy with the amount of chances his team is creating and they did that but even when clear-cut opportunities came their way, the clinical touch is missing.Never more so than two minutes before the home side went ahead.Nicolas Jackson pickpocketed Matt Doherty in his own half and was clear through for a run at goal.But Chelsea’s striker who has a habit of missing almost as many as he scores, could not maintain the pace and was easily caught and stopped in his tracks by a muscly challenge from Emmanuel Agbadou.Had he followed through it could easily have been game over inside half an hour. But this is the story of Chelsea lately. A whole chapter could be devoted to the issue of the keepers. If it wasn’t Sanchez dropping a clanger it could just as easily have been his sidekick Filip Jorgensen. Neither of them make for the most reassuring night at Stamford Bridge although Sanchez’s latest clanger was a belter.Matheus Cunha’s corner swung into the box and Sanchez looked to have the danger covered only to lose control and lob it downwards towards the advancing Doherty.The Wolves defender bulldozed in and bundled a shot over the line in front of the away end.It goes down as Sanchez’s fourth mistake of the season, leaving him second only to struggling Ipswich’s Arijanet Muric for errors. Chelsea’s second goal was key and turned the tide bang on the hour mark. Cucurella started the move with a sideways pass to Cole Palmer, who then fed Madueke on the wing. His cross, flicked on by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, found the Spanish left-back arriving just in time to slot the ball home with his second touch.Cucurella’s goal celebration was the most significant aspect. READ MORE SUN STORIESAs he raced to the touchline he put one finger to his temple as a gesture to urge his team-mates to keep their heads from now on.Wolves were wilting having fought to get back in and their hopes of an unexpected point away from home were over when Madueke nodded in from close range when Chalobah’s header was already going in.Tosin Adarabioyo put Chelsea in frontCredit: GettyThe defender had to wait for VAR to award his goalCredit: GettyThe explanation for the decision was explained on the big screenCredit: GettyMatt Doherty pounced on Sanchez’s mistakeCredit: ReutersMarc Cucurella got in to restore the Blues’ advantageCredit: GettyThe left-back could not hide his delightCredit: GettyReece James lasted 77 minutes at right-backCredit: GettyEnzo Maresca saw his side leapfrog Manchester City into fourthCredit: ReutersWolves remain outside of the relegation zone on goal differenceCredit: ReutersChelsea ratings vs Wolves: Chalobah back with a bang but Sanchez drops 2/10 horror showBy Lloyd CanfielCHELSEA made sure to send their fans home happy on Blue Monday thanks to inspired performances from their defenders.Goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella and then a Noni Madueke finish created by the returning Trevoh Chalobah covered up a pretty quiet attacking display and a mistake from their goalkeeper.Lloyd Canfield rates how Blues’ stars got on against Wolves…Robert Sanchez – 2Up to his usual tricks when passing out from the back, gifting it to the Wolves attack waiting to pounce on a mistake.That was before he dropped an in-swinging corner, gifting Wolves an equaliser before half-time.Reece James – 9Was tasked with arguably the hardest job of the night, stopping Wolves’ threatening left side of Ait-Nouri and Cunha, the latter of whom he dominated throughout the game.Was strong defensively, always stepping in with a tackle at the crucial moment and drove the team forwards well too, always offering a shot with his lethal long-range efforts.Tosin Adarabioyo – 8Continued his impressive hot-streak in front of goal of late as he reacted first to a loose ball in the box and finished like a striker.The ‘Uncle’ of the Chelsea side at just 28-years-old had another game to be proud of.Trevoh Chalobah – 9His first game back in a Chelsea shirt after being recalled from his loan at Crystal Palace couldn’t have gone much better.The fans chanted his name throughout as he proved strong in the air and imperial across the ground.Slide tackles, blocks, headed assists, the lot. Trev had it all but a clean sheet tonight and a goal to his name tonight (Which he could’ve had as well).Marc Cucurella – 8Solid defensively and came up with a crucial goal to restore Chelsea’s lead.A great right-footed finish as he was falling to the floor saw the Spaniard prove why he is so good inverting from fullback.Moises Caicedo – 7Started brightly, putting a bad game last time out behind him and was back to the Caicedo that Chelsea fans have loved this season.Recovered well from what looked like a nasty tackle to put in a good a strong second-half performance too.Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 6A rare Premier League start offered KDH to show what he can do, and maybe put himself in the shop window for a January move.Was combative in midfield, and his flick for Marc Cucurella’s goal proved why he can be a threat in the Premier League as he was in a great position.Noni Madueke – 8A quiet first half was met by a wicked second half in which we saw the same Noni Madueke we saw in the reverse fixture after his infamous Instagram mistake.He was Chelsea’s most dangerous attacker on the night, with a great cross leading to Marc Cucurella’s goal, before stealing in to head home Chelsea’s third of the night.Cole Palmer – 4The ice cold superstar we’ve become accustomed to seeing seemed a bit off the boil tonight.He came under a few more nasty tackles and seemed a bit put off by that after carrying an injury in the week.Pedro Neto – 4Was jeered and booed by the visiting fans of his former club throughout the game.Despite some dangerous running, he failed to really create anything meaningful and looks better on the right-hand side.Nicolas Jackson – 5Had one good run in the first half, but was otherwise pretty quiet.He did improve in the second half, as his hard work won the free-kick which Chelsea added their third goal from and he did put the ball in the back of the net, only for the linesman to rule it out as offside.SUBSJadon Sancho (Pedro Neto, 62) – 6Chelsea instantly looked better when he came on.Just seems to add a layer of control to the Blues on the wing, and showed more of the flair and good feet we’ve been getting used to from him here.Axel Disasi (Reece James, 78) – 5Fans weren’t best pleased with him simply coming on, and would’ve preferred to see Josh Acheampong.That said, he did nothing wrong.Malo Gusto (Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, 78) – 6Did well in the few minutes he had to play, nothing spectacular but was solid on the left side.Tyrique George (Noni Madueke, 83) – 5Wasn’t given enough time to make a meaningful impact on the game.Joao Felix (Cole Palmer, 83) – 5Wasn’t given enough time to make a meaningful impact on the game. More

RUBEN AMORIM reckons his side are the “worst Manchester United team in history” – and he might be right.The Red Devils slumped to a woeful 3-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday to leave them 13th in the table.Ruben Amorim says his team are the worst in Man Utd historyCredit: APThey broke an unwanted club record in the 3-1 loss to BrightonCredit: APUnited honoured Newton Heath by wearing their green and gold kit in 1993, seen here on Bryan Robson, 100 years after they wore itCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdIt was United’s fifth defeat – three of which were at home – in just eight games.And winning at Old Trafford is proving a huge problem.In 12 league matches, they have been beaten six times in front of their own fans.And that horror run has matched an unwanted club record set 131 years ago for most home league games lost after 12 outings.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBack then, in the 1893/94 season, United went by the name of Newton Heath.In their green and gold shirts, they ended up losing seven at home that year and got relegated.United were known as Newton Heath when they were founded in 1878 by the carriage and wagon department of the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway depot.They were re-branded as Manchester United in 1902 after the club ran into debts and changed ownership.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThis season is set to go down in history for all the wrong reasons and the defeat to Brighton set further shocking records.It was the Seagulls’ third straight win at Old Trafford to hand United their tenth Premier League loss in 22 games this season.Reasons to be positive under Ruben AmorimIt it the earliest they have hit double figures for defeats since 1989/90.Yankuba Minteh got the scoring underway for Brighton after just five minutes and it was the fifth time in a row they conceded the first goal at Old Trafford, their joint-longest ever run.These damming stats come after a woeful December that saw United lose three consecutive domestic games at home for the first time since 1979.And Amorim’s men suffered defeat on six occasions last month in all competitions, which was the most amount of losses in a single month since September 1930.United were last relegated at the end of the 1973/74 campaign and despite Amorim claiming going down is a “possibility”, they sit ten points above the drop zone.Man Utd ratings vs BrightonBy Ken LawrenceANDRE ONANA 4 – No chance with either of the Seagulls’ first two goals. But an awful howler to gift them their third.MATTHIJS DE LIGT 5 – Certainly doesn’t look like he likes players running at him as Kaoru Mitoma constantly did. Looked unsure of himself throughout.HARRY MAGUIRE 6 – The one member of United’s three-man central defence who looked like he knew what he was doing. Beginning to believe in himself again.LENY YORO 5 – The £52M youngster is still settling into the Premier League to be fair to him. But he is certainly taking his time about it.NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI 4 – Has been one of the few consistent successes of Ruben Amorim’s tactical revolution. Yet he had a real shocker this time around.MANUEL UGARTE 5 – Supposedly “tired” in the 3 – 1 win over Southampton the midfielder looked brighter here. Yet he still doesn’t look that switched-onKOBBIE MAINOO 4 – Where is last season’s Kobbie? Looks nothing like the buzzing homegrown midfielder who burst on the scene last season.DIOGO DALOT 5 – Did his duties as a left wing-back to the best of his abilities. Another United player, however, who looked nothing like sharp enough.AMAD DIALLO 7 – Thursday night’s 12-minute treble hero on a high again – unlike, again, so many team-mates. Sometimes his footwork is just dazzling.BRUNO FERNANDES 6 – Ultra-cool from the spot but that goal didn’t do much to raise his performance level. Had one of those days where nothing really clicked.JOSHUA ZIRKZEE 5 – “Won” the penalty after being brought down although Carlos Baleba’s challenge would have looked good in a wrestling ring. There’s a footballer in there somewhere…SUBSALEJANDRO GARNACHO (for Mainoo 64) 5 – Struggled to make an impact in a team that was being taken apart.TOBY COLLYER (for Ugarte 64) 5 – Plenty of youthful commitment but still too inexperienced to lift a side as poor as Amorim’s.ANTONY (for Mazraoui 84) 4 – Talk about a last throw of the dice by Amorim???RASMUS HOIJLUND (for Zirkzee 84) 4: Given a thankless task in the closing moments of another depressing display. More