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      Ben Chilwell reveals candid shower conversation with Thiago Silva as Chelsea star vows to end Blues’ Wembley hoodoo

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      BEN CHILWELL says Chelsea have “unfinished business” at Wembley after losing FIVE domestic cup finals in a row.Chilwell skippered Mauricio Pochettino’s side to a Carabao Cup semi-final thrashing of Middlesbrough on Tuesday to book a place in the February 25 showpiece.
      Ben Chilwell opened up about Chelsea’s poor record at Wembley after losing five domestic cup finals in a rowCredit: Alamy
      Chillwell told Thiago Silva the Blues have ‘unfinished business’ at WembleyCredit: Rex

      But the England left-back is adamant his club “demands trophies” and they must end their Wembley hoodoo after three straight FA Cup final losses between 2020 and 2022 and two League Cup defeats in 2019 and 2022.
      Chilwell said: “It’s three finals we’ve lost since I’ve been at the club, so 100 per cent there is unfinished business.
      “I was talking to Thiago Silva in the shower (after the semi-final) and saying how we’ve got unfinished business at Wembley.
      “We’ve both been there three times and lost three times, so, for sure, we want to go and win.”
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      Chilwell only played in one of those finals, against his former club Leicester in the 2021 FA Cup final.
      Despite winning the Champions League that same year, Chelsea’s record at Wembley is dismal.
      They suffered penalty shoot-out defeats against Liverpool in both major finals in 2022.
      Chilwell, who made his first start for three months in the 6-1 second-leg trouncing of Boro, added: “We need to make sure that we really enjoy the experience and soak it in.
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      “There’s only a few of us who have won a trophy at Chelsea and it’s a club that demands trophies, so we need to make sure we win.”
      Boss Pochettino might have a £1billion squad at his disposal but the Chelsea manager’s route to Wembley has been rocky.
      A demanding set of fans, an inexperienced bunch of players and long-term injuries to senior pros have hampered his efforts.
      Poch has a proud history of developing young English talent but they say ‘you don’t win anything with kids’ as the Argentine aims to lift his first trophy in English football with a youthful squad.
      At 27, and with a Chelsea career ravaged by injuries, Chilwell finds himself as one of Pochettino’s few senior players.
      Appointed vice-captain behind fellow full-back Reece James — another frequent injury absentee — Chilwell has revealed some of the new boys have struggled to cope with the demands of playing at a club which hoovered up trophies in the Roman Abramovich era.
      But Pochettino ensured Chilwell was kept busy in a leadership role during his lay-off with a hamstring injury.
      Chilwell said: “I had a conversation with the manager a few days after I got injured and said ‘now I can’t help on the pitch, how do you want me to help away from it?’
      “It was that leadership role, making sure that I’m helping the young boys. Because, for a few of them it’s a big step to come to Chelsea and play in front of demanding fans that want us to win because they are so used to that.”
      While their away form has been poor, with five defeats in six on the road, Stamford Bridge is becoming a fortress again — with Aston Villa the visitors in the FA Cup fourth round tomorrow.
      Chilwell said: “We’re fighting for two domestic cups. We’re not happy getting to one final, we want to get to the FA Cup final as well.
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      “It’s eight wins out of nine at the Bridge, so it’s really becoming a good place for us to play and we’re really enjoying playing here.
      “The connection between the fans and the players is starting to come back. I’m buzzing to be back. I love playing here, the fans are always so good to me.” More

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      I won the Euros with Man Utd hero but then suffered depression before finding spiritual guru

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      NEVER mind a game of two halves, for 60-year-old former Denmark striker Lars Elstrup it’s been a life of two halves.For the first 30 years his passion was playing football and living out his dream by becoming a professional.
      Lars Elstrup for Denmark in the 1992 EurosCredit: Rex
      Elstrup believes he reached his utopia by helping his country win Euro 92, playing a major part by scoring the decisive goal in their 2-1   victory over France — their must-win final group game.
      But after quitting the game aged just 30, the last three decades have seen him battling depression and subsequently being diagnosed as bipolar.
      But through the darkness he has discovered spirituality and is smiling again thanks to his Indian guru, His Holiness Parama Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji.
      Elstrup said: “It’s true that since retiring from football I’ve been looking for this place in my mind where I am without anxiety and fear.
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      “I believe I have now found it with my Indian guru. I stopped playing when I was 30. I was worn out, my body and mind was damaged.
      “What I have learned in the last 30 years is to look elsewhere to find myself again.
      “My Indian guru has a higher consciousness and helps me escape from a busy world. Somewhere I can enjoy a happy and joyful life.
      “When I quit football I looked at all different ways of getting my mental strength in a spiritual  world with exercise from yoga and meditation.
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      “I keep my body and mind right. My last depression ended on  January 1, 2022.”
      As kids growing up, Elstrup and his older brother, Peter, would be forever playing football.
      Elstrup followed his sibling from their local team Randers Freja to Brondby, before being quickly  spotted by Dutch club Feyenoord.
      He spent two seasons at the Dutch club before moving back home to Odense, where he scored 17 goals in 28 league games in the 1988-89  season.
      His impressive scoring abilities caught the attention of Ray Harford at Luton, who were in England’s top flight the old Division One back then, and they signed him for £850,000 in 1989.
      Elstrup said: “When I joined Luton it was for a club-record fee.
      Elstrup playing for Luton against Crystal Palace in 1990Credit: Rex
      “When I look back to my time at Luton, I cannot convey my thanks to the players and management enough.
      “It took me ten games before I scored my first goal at Millwall but the camaraderie and team spirit and help they gave me was unbelievable.
      “I knew very little about the Hatters when I joined, apart from the fact they won the Littlewoods Cup in 1988.
      “The club was in transformation with players when I joined.
      “We had to win the last game of the season at Derby to stay up, which we did.
      “The following season, I scored 19 goals — 15 in the league, including three hat-tricks — the highest  number of goals in a single season by a Danish player in the English top flight, a record that still stands to this day.
      “In an identical twist, we also had to beat Derby to stay up at home that season. It was my last game for the club at Kenilworth Road.
      The Dane retired from football at 30Credit: Alamy
      “I scored the second goal to win the match. I left at the end of the 1990-91 season.
      “I was homesick and wanted to go back to Odense in 1991, which I did.”
      But Elstrup was about to experience a footballing fairytale as Denmark were given a late call-up to Euro 92 in Sweden.
      He said: “I was on holiday, staying at my parents’ summer house.
      “It was two or three days before the Euros when I was contacted and asked to be part of the squad.
      “Yugoslavia had qualified ahead of us but a civil war had caused them to pull out of the tournament. We had to beat France in our final group game.
      “They were unbeaten in 22 games. I came on in the 68th minute and scored the winner ten minutes later. We qualified to the semi-finals. It was quite unbelievable.
      ‘It was very emotional for me’
      “Peter Schmeichel then saved a penalty from Marco van Basten in the semi-final shootout with Holland.
      “I converted one of the penalties and we beat Germany in the final. It was an absolute fairytale.
      “The day after we went to Denmark to an unbelievable reception.”
      On  April 24, last year, the former Hatters favourite made a surprise appearance at Kenilworth Road for the first time in 32 years.
      Elstrup was the Hatters’ guest  of honour for their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.
      He added: “It was very emotional for me — to be welcomed back with such warmth by the management and fans.
      “I was met in reception with great smiles and chief executive Gary Sweet cancelled a meeting to  see me.
      “I had never met him before. I wanted to shake his hand but he said, ‘Come here, Lars, that is not enough’ and gave me a big hug. I felt very humbled.
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      “Being back at Kenilworth Road brought back so many fond memories.”

       The Unhappy Hero is published by Pitch, priced £25. More

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      Angry Arsenal fans say ‘please shut up and leave us alone’ after Premier League ‘leak’ Mikel Arteta tactics

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      ARSENAL fans hit back at the Premier League after they revealed Mikel Arteta’s corner tactics.The Gunners got back onto their winning streak after securing a 5-0 victory against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
      Arsenal fans are fuming after the Premier League leaked their corner tacticsCredit: Getty
      The league analysed Gabriel’s opening goal against Crystal Palace on SaturdayCredit: X @PREMIERLEAGUE

      Mikel Arteta’s masterpiece of a game on Saturday was not forgotten especially after Gabriel’s standout performance.
      Amazing fans and pundits, the centre-back headed in a corner in the 11th minute to open up the scoreline.
      It even had the Premier League analyse the stunning strike seeing Leandro Trossard created a space inside the box to allow Gabriel to head in Declan Rice’s corner.
      And the Gunners fans were fuming as they felt the league had “exposed” Arteta’s wizardry tactics.
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      One fan said on Twitter: “I’m sorry but no other club gets analysed like this. Please shut up and leave us alone.”
      While another added: “Wait, isn’t this against the rules. You can’t expose a team’s tactics.”
      A third then angrily put: “Shame on you Premier League! Exposing our secrets that set-piece dedicated analysts who get paid 50k a year can’t spot!”
      The clip shows how Trossard drags Andersen from Palace out of his spot before Gabriel appears to nod the ball into the goal.
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      And even BBC’s Match of the Day cracked another trick by Martin Odegaard whose secret sock code was another reason for the Gunner’s sensational set-pieces.
      The Norwegian skipper was spotted signalling the Arsenal’s corner taker via his socks allowing Gabriel to score.
      Arsenal went on to chip in another four goals including Gabriel’s assists that saw Palace keeper Dean Henderson net an own goal following another corner. More

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      Sky Sports viewers ask ‘did that just happen or am I hearing things?’ after commentary gaffe during Fulham vs Liverpool

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      SKY SPORTS viewers were quick to pick up on a commentary gaffe in Liverpool’s semi-final with Fulham. Jurgen Klopp’s were on the way to reaching the Carabao Cup final following their two-legged tie against Fulham when fans noticed the mistake.
      Alexis Mac Allister playing against FulhamCredit: EPA
      Sky commentator Daniel Mann accidentally confused Alexis Mac Allister for his dad and former footballer Carlos.
      One said: “‘Carlos Mac Allister’, this commentator just called Alexis by his dad’s name.”
      Another added: “Did the @SkySports commentator just say Carlos Mac Allister or am I hearing things?”
      One joked: “Who’s Carlos Mac Allister?”
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      Another asked: “Did the commentator call him Carlos Mac Allister?”
      Mac Allister’s dad Carlos played alongside Diego Maradona, although missed out on the 1994 World Cup squad.
      At club level, he played for Boca Juniors and Racing Club before taking on a role in politics following retirement.
      Mac Allister’s older brothers Francis, 27, and Kevin, 25, also turn out in the Argentine top flight for Rosario Central and Argentinos Juniors respectively.
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      While uncle Patricio too enjoyed a successful career most notably with Estudiantes.
      World Cup winner Mac Allister joined Liverpool from Brighton in the summer for £55million.
      And he will celebrate his first cup final with the club having seen off Fulham 3-2 over two legs to book their place against Chelsea.
      Goals from Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo cancelled out Willian’s opener in the first leg at Anfield.
      In the return, it ended all square as Luis Diaz struck first before Issa Diop equalised but Liverpool held out. More

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      I won three Premier Leagues and Champions League with Chelsea… my daughter still sends me loads of memes mocking me

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      FRANK LAMPARD has revealed his daughter still sends him the ‘no but seriously’ memes.The Chelsea legend opened up that he can’t help his dramatic change from joking to being serious in interviews that made him an internet sensation.
      Frank Lampard has revealed his daughter sends him memes of his change in facial expressions in interviewsCredit: YouTube @The Overlap
      Lampard has become an internet sensation for his quick switch between joking and being seriousCredit: Getty

      Lampard, 45, has in the past gone viral for his post-match interviews, for being seen laughing then quickly going back to a stern look.
      And the former Everton boss has subsequently become the subject of memes on social media.
      On the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Jamie Carragher questioned Lampard if he knew he was making the facial expressions.
      The Liverpool legend said: “Can I ask you one thing?
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      “You must be aware when you’re managing and when you do your interviews and you do that thing where you’re laughing and then you go serious?
      “Do you know when you’re doing it? Or are you thinking about it?”
      Lampard then replied: “Yeah, I’ve seen. My daughter sent it to me loads.”
      “It was a meme, or whatever they call it. But now I’ve seen it I can’t unsee it.
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      “But I’ve done a few press conferences where I’ve done it and then you think “oh s*** I’ve just done that.”
      “You know what I mean, I can’t help it.” 
      After he retired in 2016 having won three Premier Leagues and a Champions League with the Blues, Lampard began his managerial career at Derby in 2018.
      He was then handed the leading role of his old club Chelsea a year later.
      The Englishman was then sacked at Stamford Bridge and then returned to the dugout 12 months after at Everton.
      He then returned to West London in 2023 as caretaker manager after Grahem Potter’s exit from Chelsea. More

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      New Man Utd chief Sir Dave Brailsford to juggle second job alongside Old Trafford role after Sir Jim Ratcliffe backing

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      SIR DAVE BRAILSFORD will not stop his work with Ineos Grenadiers – despite joining the Manchester United board.Brailsford will continue as the sporting director of the cycling team alongside assisting Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment at Old Trafford.
      Sir David John Brailsford will continue with his role at Ineos Grenadiers alongside his new job at Man UtdCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Brailsford, 59, is set to be Ratcliffe’s right-hand man and will sit on the board.
      But since December 2021 Brailsford was appointed Director of Sport at Ineos, overseeing a growing range of teams and disciplines sponsored by the group.
      And John Allert, the chief executive of the Grenadiers, has assured the Brit will have no problem handling his roles in both cycling and football.
      He said: “Dave’s the Godfather of this team.
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      “He’s the founder of this team. It’s actually a privilege that we will still have him accessible to the team.
      “Dave probably has greater bandwidth than anybody I’ve ever worked with.
      “His primary focus is on the performance of a variety of different sports teams.
      “Clearly he has a passion for and a proven track record in cycling, so don’t ever be surprised to see Dave come on race.
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      “But he won’t be coming on race to mark our homework. He’ll be there to support the team, as he does all the teams.”
      Brailsford has had a huge amount of success over the years during his time at British Cycling before he stepped down in 2014.
      He then took charge of Team Sky in 2010 and helped Bradley Wiggins become Britain’s first winner of the Tour de France.
      The team went on to win the race in seven of the next eight years.
      Then since 2019, Brailsford has led the sports teams in Ratcliffe’s Ineos and has spent the last few years working with Ligue 1 club Nice – who sit second in the French top tier.
      Ratcliffe has now a 25% stake in United for £1.3billion and has asked Brailsford to help him run the behind-the-scenes at Man Utd.
      This will involve Brailsford being tasked to oversee the club’s scouting and recruitment process as a vast amount of change is expected at Old Trafford in the coming months.
      The pair have already brought Omar Berrada as the Red Devils’ new chief executive.
      Berrada spent the last 12 years at league rivals and neighbours Manchester City, and then the previous eight spent at Barcelona. More

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      Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans for Old Trafford revealed as Man Utd part-owner ‘meets with Manchester mayor’

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      SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has unveiled his plans for Old Trafford, with a renovation in the works.The billionaire businessman’s 25 per cent takeover of Manchester United was announced last month on Christmas Eve.
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe has unveiled his plans for Old TraffordCredit: PA
      The new shareholder wants to renovate the stadium and redevelop the area around itCredit: EPA
      He purchased a £1.3billion stake in the Red Devils from the Glazer family despite initially wanting to become the majority owner.
      Ratcliffe is set to inject £237million into the club, with significant changes already being made.
      And one of his priorities is understood to be the renovation of Old Trafford.
      During a meeting with Man Utd fan representatives last week, Ratcliffe announced that he intends to maximise the space around the stadium.
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      The new minority owner believes there is untapped potential in the land surrounding Old Trafford.
      He is also confident that by developing improved links with local authorities and civic leaders, the regeneration and redevelopment of the ground could be completed quicker than initially expected.
      Ratcliffe is set to remain in regular contact with Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham and senior executives from Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority while pushing for planning permission.
      Man Utd fans have expressed concern about the state of Old Trafford in recent years.
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      The roof of the stadium has been damaged, leading to it leaking on more than one occasion.
      One fan even captured photographs of the ceiling appearing to crumble during a derby game.
      United legend Gary Neville has criticised the infrastructure, telling the Diary of a CEO podcast: “I used to laugh when I went to Anfield and compared it to Old Trafford. I’d always think: ‘They can never catch up, they’re too far behind’.
      “They’re building that second stand now behind the goal where the away fans sit. The main stand now is towering up. Anfield will be a more modern ground than Manchester United and Old Trafford in 12 months. That is unforgivable.” More

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      Frank Lampard reveals Everton star told team-mates ‘don’t accept that’ after Carragher’s Monday Night Football rant

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      FRANK LAMPARD singled out one Everton star for praise following his brief spell at Goodison Park.Lampard, 45, was appointed as manager by the Toffees on January 2022 but only lasted a year after 12 wins and 24 losses in 44 matches.
      Frank Lampard looked back at his time as Everton managerCredit: YouTube @The Overlap
      Chelsea legend Lampard had ‘amazing’ help from Everton captain Seamus ColemanCredit: Getty
      Jamie Carragher issued some scathing criticism towards Everton playersCredit: Rex
      Coleman issued a rallying cry to his Everton team-mates that led to a turning pointCredit: Alamy
      The Chelsea legend had to steer the ship during a challenging time for the Merseysiders both on and off the pitch but had help from an “amazing” veteran.
      And that was none other than Everton captain Seamus Coleman, 35, who always stood up for the club to motivate his players.
      Lampard specifically remembered how Coleman reacted after some scathing criticism from Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, 45, during Monday Night Football.
      Carragher, who is a famous Everton fan despite spending his entire career playing for rivals Liverpool, said the players were “not good enough”.
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      But the Republic of Ireland international would have none of it and issued a passionate rallying cry to urge his team-mates to not accept that which ultimately led to a major turning point.
      Lampard told The Overlap via Sky Bet: “Seamus is amazing.
      “What a player, I remember playing against him and I didn’t really appreciate it until I worked with him – at that point he was 33.
      “It wasn’t just what he did on the pitch it was what he did off the pitch – his standards, his humility, everything about him.
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      “There’s not a bit of him that is not genuine, and he wore it on his face when we were struggling. He’d say, ‘I care’. He’d speak in front of the players on his own.
      “We spoke about you [Carragher] once at one point because you had a dig on Monday Night Football and said we’re not good enough – he used you as a reference point.
      “He was going, ‘Don’t accept that’. As players and managers we have to take some stick – but the only way to deal with it was to react to it.
      “It was a bit of a turning point for us – he was always the man to do that.” More