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      Erling Haaland names his ultimate 5-a-side team as fans say Man City star ‘actually knows ball’

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      MANCHESTER CITY star Erling Haaland delighted fans as he named his ultimate five-a-side team.The prolific striker, 23, has 71 goals in 77 games under Pep Guardiola.
      Erling Haaland was praised by fans for selecting an incredible five-a-side teamCredit: Getty
      And he helped City win a historic Treble during his debut season last year.
      As a result, most people would rush to pick Haaland in their own five-a-side team.
      But the humble hitman opted to leave himself out as he chose some legendary names.
      Haaland decided to go for a very attacking side, choosing three forwards, one defender and one goalkeeper.
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      Real Madrid icon Iker Casillas was chosen between the sticks.
      And Haaland chose Italian hero Paolo Maldini to help out at the back.
      Further up the pitch, he selected the king of flair in Ronaldinho.
      Arguably the greatest player in history, Lionel Messi was also given the nod as a playmaker.
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      Haaland opted for AC Milan legend Paolo MaldiniCredit: Reuters
      Former Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Iker Casillas were involvedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And Haaland completed his incredible strike force by handing the No9 role to record international goal scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.
      But the Norwegian admits he was eager to sneak Man City teammate Ederson into the side as well.
      Watch moment cheeky Tottenham ace sets Erling Haaland off as Man City star goes ballistic in astonishing bust-up
      Haaland told Goal: “I would like to see Ronaldinho, Messi, Cristiano.
      “Maldini to be back there just to (defend). Then I need a keeper, no?
      “I would love Ederson because in these five-a-side games, if he is able to shoot he would score 15 goals.
      “A keeper, I would take Casillas.”
      Fans were certainly impressed by Haaland’s selection.
      One said: “Nah Erling actually knows ball.”
      Another declared: “That’s why he will dominate the Prem for another 10 years.”
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      One noted: “Haaland cooked here.”
      Another added: “Nah, that’s a W team.”
      Haaland also chose Ronaldinho and Lionel MessiCredit: AFP – Getty More

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      Chelsea fans turn on each other as Mauricio Pochettino is booed while arriving at Villa Park

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      CHELSEA fans were divided as footage revealed Mauricio Pochettino being booed while arriving at Villa Park.The Blues boss headed into the FA Cup clash with pressure mounting following a dismal 4-2 home defeat to Wolves on Sunday.
      Mauricio Pochettino was booed while arriving at Villa ParkCredit: ITV
      But Pochettino’s struggling side bounced back to beat Aston Villa 3-1 away from home and progress into the fifth round.
      It was before the match that footage showed the Argentine arriving at the ground to a chorus of boos.
      And while is it unclear whether they came from Chelsea or Villa supporters, the Blues fan base had a lot to say.
      One reacted: “He’s been poor. But does Mauricio Pochettino deserve this reaction from our fans?”
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      Another said: “That’s poor if it’s from our own fans.”
      One agreed: “That’s poor from our fans.”
      But another argued: “Those probably aren’t our fans considering we are playing away from home.”
      One claimed: “How do you know this is from Chelsea fans?”
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      Chelsea came into the clash 11th in the Premier League but with a Carabao Cup final against Liverpool to look forward to on February 25th.
      And their cup form continued as goals from Conor Gallagher, Nicolas Jackson and an Enzo Fernandez stunner sealed the deal against Villa.
      Chelsea’s 3-1 FA Cup win at Aston Villa was the team’s best performance of the season, says Mauricio Pochettino
      Pochettino spoke out after the game and urged fans to lower the high expectations set out by Chelsea teams of the past.
      He said: “We need to stop this thing that we are Chelsea from 20 years ago. We are not this type of Chelsea any more. Now we need to move on and we need to create this project.
      “We need to move on, I don’t care if people are happy or not happy with my speech. I care for the club, I care for my players, I want to help the players.
      “We are going to fight, I don’t care what the people say. I’m not more sad or happy today after a win because we have experience, this type of project needs time and trust.
      “We cannot build a team to challenge because you need to fix too many things, you need to observe, analyse and compete.
      “We are building a project which may be one year, two years, three years. Today you can see we were ready to fight.
      “We fight for the fans, the badge, the coaching staff. Now the challenge is to be consistent.”
      Mauricio Pochettino celebrates with his Chelsea playersCredit: Getty More

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      Tottenham legend Hugo Lloris ‘bagged £2m golden handshake from Daniel Levy’ before MLS free transfer

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      HUGO LLORIS was reportedly handed a settlement worth up to £2million after leaving Tottenham last year.The goalkeeper, 37, joined MLS side Los Angeles FC on a free transfer in December after falling out of favour in North London.
      Hugo Lloris agreed a £2million settlement with Tottenham before leavingCredit: Getty
      However, he secured a “golden handshake” just before making the switch.
      According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy negotiated a settlement for the remaining six months of his £100,000-per-week contract.
      Lloris had been at Tottenham for over 11 years before moving to the MLS.
      He made 444 appearances for the Lilywhites during his time in North London and kept 151 clean sheets.
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      After announcing his departure, Lloris told Spurs fans: “I just wanted to say thank you for all your support since day one.
      “It has been a great privilege to be one of you and one of your captains for many years.
      “I think it’s the end of the chapter, but you will always be in my heart.
      “Spurs will always be a special place for me and all of my family and on behalf of them as well I would like to say thank you for all the memories that we had together, all the emotions that we went through and I just want to wish you the best.”
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      Lloris made his final Tottenham appearance during the club’s 6-1 defeat to Newcastle last April.
      He was exiled by Ange Postecoglou following the manager’s arrival last summer and failed to break back into the starting line-up.
      Ange Postecoglou has press conference in stitches as he claims Spurs wanted to sign Lewis Hamilton on Deadline Day before Ferrari move More

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      Man Utd’s 2024-25 home shirt ‘leaked’ as fans praise retro design and say ‘it’s giving me Vodafone vibes’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S home kit for next season has allegedly been leaked online.The shirt looks to be a retro design reminiscent of their 2003 kit.
      Fans compared it to a shirt from 2003Credit: TikTok / mufchants
      United’s away shirt features a blue designCredit: TikTok / mufchants
      That kit was adorned by the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, a young Cristiano Ronaldo and Roy Keane.
      The new kit features the Adidas three stripes in white on the sleeve but a similar black trim to the 2003 number.
      The shirt also features a new sponsor adorning the front of the shirt.
      United will be sponsored by technology company Snapdragon for the first time next season.
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      They are currently sponsored by software company Team Viewer.
      Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) seemed to rate the potential new shirt – with many liking the retro feel of the design.
      One fan wrote: “That home kit is fire.
      “Vodafone vibes.”
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      Another said: “Gives me retro vibes. I like it.”
      Some disagreed with the feel of the kit, with one saying it looked more like their AON kit from 2010.
      Fans praise ‘gentleman’ Kobbie Mainoo, 18, for heartwarming gesture to grief-stricken Man Utd fan’s emotional story
      Another X user wrote: “Same vibes” alongside a picture of Van Nistelrooy wearing the 2003 kit.
      Another gave a more mixed review, saying: “Seems like one of those kits that might look ugly in pictures but incredible in real life.”
      A video also emerged of the new away shirt, which is a dark blue with red detailing on the sleeves.
      Cristiano Ronaldo shows off the Vodafone kit of 2003Credit: Getty
      Javier Hernandez in the 2010 Aon number More

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      Ivan Toney hit with vile racist abuse as England and Brentford condemn harassment just weeks after similar incident

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      ENGLAND and Brentford have condemned the “vile harassment” of Ivan Toney after he received more racist online abuse.And Toney’s representatives have called for football’s authorities and social media platforms to crackdown on the “widespread” problem within the game.
      Ivan Toney suffered racism on social mediaCredit: Alamy
      The furious Bees also slammed the response of social media companies to abuse as “underwhelming”.
      A Brentford statement read: “We are angered and frustrated to report Ivan has been subjected to racist abuse on Instagram once more.
      “We have initiated investigations into this vile harassment which we condemn in the strongest terms.
      “Sadly, this isn’t the first time Ivan has had to deal with this. A similar incident occurred just four weeks ago, leading us to identify an alleged perpetrator whom we reported to the authorities. To date, we have yet to see any action taken against that individual.”
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      A Three Lions statement added: “It is incredibly disappointing that Ivan Toney has been subject to racial abuse on social media again.
      “This behaviour must have consequences, and we support strong action by the authorities and social media companies.”
      Toney, 27, has previously received racist comments on Instagram and Brentford want anyone found guilty of posting racist comments to be prosecuted.
      In March 2023, a 24-year-old man was banned from every football ground in the UK for three years after racially abusing Toney, who had scored the Bees’ equaliser at Arsenal, on social media.
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      The man also received a four-month sentence suspended for two years.
      Brentford’s statement added: “In general, the response from social media platforms to these ongoing issues has been underwhelming.
      Ivan Toney casts doubt upon his Brentford future with Prem giants linked and Barcelona want to bring Kalvin Phillips to La Liga
      “Their solutions, such as filters to simply hide the abuse, may safeguard the players but miss the mark entirely and do not discourage the offenders. Without real consequences for those responsible, the cycle is doomed to repeat.
      “We do have faith that things can change. We appreciate the dialogue that we have with the likes of Meta but we call for more decisive and urgent action to combat online hate.
      “We call for prompt investigations, and importantly, we call for criminal prosecutions. We will continue to work with the authorities and the Premier League and to support our players as we tackle this awful online abuse.”
      I would prefer to keep Toney but one day it could be fun to see him on a top team.Thomas Frank
      Luton striker Elijah Adebayo was also targeted in October when the Hatters branded it “vile and a cowardly act of online abuse”.
      And Toney’s agent Jonathan Barnett, of ICM Stellar, said: “I unequivocally condemn the racist abuse our player Ivan Toney has been subjected to on social media.
      “Everyone at ICM Stellar is shocked that these types of unconscionable and vile behaviours are still prevalent in society today.
      “Social media can no longer ignore a widespread and recurring problem across its platforms. We call on all forms of social media to do more to prevent, address and combat unacceptable and distressing incidents of discrimination such as this.
      “My team will conduct an investigation and pass on any findings to the appropriate authorities — we will not just be bystanders.
      “I personally stand with Ivan, his family and friends, as well as anyone else who has been subjected to discrimination. We implore the football world to kick it out — once and for all.”
      Toney’s Brentford boss Thomas Frank has stated the club are set to sell their prized asset this summer.
      Toney, valued at £80m-plus and linked with January moves to Arsenal and Chelsea, has just returned from an eight-month betting ban, scoring two goals in three Prem games so far on his return.
      Frank said: “It is relatively obvious that Ivan will probably be sold this summer. We also know what he is worth. I don’t think there are many strikers in the world who are better than him right now.
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      “Personally, as a coach, I would prefer to keep Toney but one day it could be fun to see him on a top team.
      “This winter we actually had no offers for him, but it will surprise me if there aren’t a lot of clubs that will be interested in him.” More

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      Chelsea ratings: Enzo and Caicedo answer critics in the best way as midfield duo spur Blues to FA Cup fifth round

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      CHELSEA went some way to answering their critics as they swept Aston Villa aside 3-1 tonight.The Blues came into the game at Villa Park off the back of consecutive convincing defeats to Liverpool and Wolves.
      Enzo Fernandez flashed the back of his shirt to the crowd in reponse to the online abuse he had been receivingCredit: Getty
      His team-mates joined in with supporting the midfielderCredit: Getty
      Conor Gallagher had opened the scoring in the first-halfCredit: Getty
      But Mauricio Pochettino will have bought himself more time after they beat the Premier League’s 4th placed side convincingly to move into the FA Cup’s fifth round.
      Chelsea were dominant from the start against the Villains as they ripped the form back up.
      It was Conor Gallagher who opened the scoring in the 11th minute, which was soon followed up with a goal from Nicolas Jackson ten minutes later.
      Enzo Fernandez put the tie beyond doubt in the 54th minute with a brilliant curled free-kick past his compatriot Emi Martinez.
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      The goal was clearly a significant one for Enzo, who removed his shirt and held it up to the away fans to show he was a player that is here to stay.
      Both he and Moises Caicedo were forced to delete their social media accounts earlier this week but responded emphatically and both put in excellent performances.
      Here’s how the Chelsea players rated…
      Credit: The Sun

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      DJORDJE PETROVIC – 6
      Well positioned for routine stops from Leon Bailey, Ollie Watkins and John McGinn in first half. Didn’t have a save to make in second before late Villa consolation. 
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      MALO GUSTO – 8
      Recovered well from shaky start in defence to become one of stars of first half. Full of running, his superb cross created second goal.  
      AXEL DISASI – 8
      After the early scares, didn’t have a lot to do in the first half. Or in the second until excellent block on McGinn shot and tackle on Jacob Ramsey.
      BENOIT BADIASHILE – 7
      Gave Mrs Silva no reason to complain that her husband had been dropped, handling Watkins well and avoiding repeat of recent gaffes.
      Credit: The Sun
      Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal since returning from AfconCredit: Getty

      BEN CHILWELL – 7
      A bit disappointing going forward but solid at the back as Leon Bailey and the rest of the Villa attack barely got a look in. 
      MOISES CAICEDO – 9
      This was more like it from the £1billion man, or whatever he cost. Brave, strong, clever. You never know, It could catch on.
      ENZO FERNANDEZ – 9
      Less eye-catching than Caicedo until his brilliant free kick made it three, but also played a big role in nullifying Villa’s much-heralded midfield.
      NONI MADUEKE – 7
      Teed up Gallagher well for opening goal and posed a threat with direct running. Final pass or shot often lacking, though.
      Credit: The Sun
      Chelsea’s young stars looked like much more of a team todayCredit: Getty
      NICOLAS JACKSON – 7
      His run and deflected pass led to opener. Touch of fortune about his header for the second, too, Ran out of steam second half. 
      COLE PALMER – 6
      Worked hard and tried to make things happen, but still not quite the player who forced his way into the England reckoning. 
      CONOR GALLAGHER – 8
      Played as striker for much of game and took his goal like one. Still popped up all over pitch. Homegrown heartbeat of the team.
      SUBSTITUTES
      RAHEEM STERLING (for Madueke, 75mins) – 6
      Had little time or need to make an impact but kept Villa honest with energy.

      THIAGO SILVA (for Palmer, 81) – 6 
      Brought on to see the game out in a back five and made late headed clearance.
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      ALFIE GILCHRIST (for Badiashile, 88) – 5
      Frenchman took a knock so Academy product filled in.
      CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU (for Jackson, 88) – 5
      Token appearance for the forward as the game petered out. More

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      Managers tell Premier League chiefs they have ‘absolutely no idea’ what the handball Law is as they’re asked for help

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      PREMIER LEAGUE managers have told league chiefs they have “absolutely no idea” what the handball Law is supposed to be.And now top flight leaders are asking managers and players to help them determine where referees should draw a line on handball and other incidents.
      Premier League managers have ‘absolutely no idea’ what the handball rule isCredit: Rex
      Now refs and league chiefs are asking players and bosses for helpCredit: Getty
      League leaders also concede that VAR delays are making the match-going experience “poor” for supporters.
      Despite that, they insist that Prem referees are “as good if not better than they have ever been”.
      And while there was a vow to speed up decision making, the league cannot promise that Uefa-style limb-tracking technology will be introduced next season.
      The concerns of top flight managers emerged at a meeting with the Prem earlier this season – following a number of contentious calls
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      Tony Scholes, the former Stoke executive who is now the Prem’s Chief Football Officer, said: “One manager made the comment, which was supported by a number of the others, that he had ‘absolutely no idea’ where the handball law was.
      “Then they commented on where they thought it should be..
      “We believe we have to serve the game and how football feels the Laws should be interpreted.
      “So we are now talking to captains, managers, club executives and consulting the PFA, LMA and Football Supporters Association to try to find agreement going forward.”
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      Howard Webb and his team at PGMOL have come under fire over a series of calls this term, with Arsenal, Wolves and Nottingham Forest among clubs who have written official letters of complaint.
      Scholes suggested that was a “disappointing” stance and said the rulings by the league’s Key Match Incident panel, made up of former players, managers and referees, indicated officials were “as good or even better than they have ever been”.
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      Prem figures said that of the 57 decisions changed by VAR so far this term, only THREE – Luiz Diaz’ wrongly disallowed goal for Liverpool at Spurs, a “handball” goal by Burnley’s Sander Berge that was ruled out at Nottingham Forest and the Kai Havertz penalty that was overturned in Arsenal’s win over Manchester United were mistakes.
      In addition, there were a further 17 incidents where VAR officials should have intervened, but Scholes pointed out: “Last year there had been 25 such errors by this point in the season and now we are getting 96 per cent of decisions right.”
      The time it is taking to come to some decisions is making the experience for the fan in the stadium a poor one, nowhere near good enoughPrem’s chief football officer
      Scholes, though, did accept that some VAR calls were taking too long, with officials wary of making mistakes and over-compensating.
      He said: “If the object was to improve the accuracy of decision-making VAR has been a significant success.
      “Any mistake can have an incredible effect on a club or individual and we know we can always improve. It is not perfect.
      “The time it is taking to come to some decisions is making the experience for the fan in the stadium a poor one, nowhere near good enough and we have to address that.”
      Scholes though, was unable to confirm that limb-tracking technology, already used by Fifa and Uefa, would be deployed in the Prem next season.
      He dismissed the idea that “issues” that have emerged are because of the Prem’s contract with Nike with the two governing bodies use adidas balls.

      However, Scholes said: “Semi-automated offsides will speed up the time to make decisions but I can’t say it will definitely come in next season.
      “We want to be certain it will improve the situation but in testing there have been issues on what we call the ‘edge’ cases, where many things are occurring at once.
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      “You might have a lot of bodies in one place and it is the ability of the system to identify different parts of the body.
      “For the vast majority of cases there won’t be an issue but in our competition we want to be clear before we introduce anything that we are not introducing something that will give us unintended or unanticipated problems in other areas.”
      So… what is the handball rule then?Apparently it’s a handball in the Premier League if:
      The hand/arm is clearly away from the body and outside the “body line”.The player clearly leans into the path of the ball.The ball travels some distance.The ball touches a hand/arm that is clearly raised above the shoulder.The player falls and the hand/arm is extended laterally or vertically away from the body.A deflection clearly makes no difference to the ball touching a hand/arm that is clearly extended away from the body and/or above the shoulder.Immediately after touching the ball with the arm, even accidentally, the player scores a goal or creates a goal-scoring opportunity
      (According to BBC Football) More

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      Chelsea flops tipped to become ‘the best team Blues have ever had’ as club legend gives verdict

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      DIDIER DROGBA has backed Chelsea’s faltering young crop of players in an interview with Sky Sports.And he even went as far as saying the Blues youngsters have the potential to be “the best team Chelsea have ever had”.
      Chelsea icon Didier Drogba insists Mauricio Pochettino needs timeCredit: AFP
      He says Chelsea’s current young crop of talent can be the team’s best everCredit: Alamy
      The Blues have been woeful in the league again this season under Mauricio Pochettino, sitting in 11th after successive heavy defeats to Liverpool and Wolves.
      Pochettino’s role has come under increased scrutiny, although the fact he’s in the final of the Carabao Cup appears to be giving him time.
      The Blues did beat Aston Villa 3-1 in their fourth round replay tonight – opening the prospect that Chelsea could go on concurrent domestic cup runs.
      Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Villa, Drogba said: “I think they’ve got good strikers. I think it’s not an easy moment for the club, but they have my support and my trust because Chelsea is still Chelsea.
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      “Those kids, those young players, they came to Chelsea because we created a legacy and they want to be part of this legacy.
      “Unfortunately there’s no time in football, but they will need time to adjust. You have to remember that when I joined Chelsea, this group of players were 24-27, we’re already there, ready for the game, they’re still learning, still young, they’re 22-24.
      “Give them time and when they reach their peak, people will be like, ‘wow, this is the new generation, the best team Chelsea ever had!’
      “It’s just a matter of time. I hope the vision will be quite similar as what we had when Roman Abramovich took the club.”
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      The Chelsea legend played in the Blues’ most iconic team in their history alongside Frank Lampard and John Terry – winning four Premier Leagues and a Champions League as well as numerous other trophies during his time in West London.
      Todd Boehly’s strategy since taking over Chelsea has been to invest heavily in young talent, but the plan has yet to come to fruition.
      Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino APOLOGISES to fuming fans after watching his side thumped by Wolves
      The club broke the British transfer record last January to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for £107million when he was 22.
      They repeated the trick last summer when they signed Moises Caicedo for £115million at the age of 21.
      Mykhailo Mudryk also cost the Blues £97m and he is yet to make a considerable impact for the Blues.
      In total, Boehly has spent over £1billlion on transfers since taking over the club – with it looking unlikely that they will turn their form around anytime soon.
      According to Drogba though, it’s time to trust the process. More