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    Sunderland 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0 LIVE REACTION: Stewart’s first half strike gives Black Cats lead for second leg

    SUNDERLAND have planted one foot in the League One Play-Off final courtesy of Ross Stewart’s first half strike.The Black Cats flexed their muscles without allowing Sheffield Wednesday to conjure up many clear cut chances.
    But they still have a mission to complete when they meet the Owls again in THREE days time.

    RESULT: Sunderland 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
    TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
    Sunderland XI: Patterson, Wright, Batth, Cirkin, Gooch, Evans, O’Nien, Clarke, Roberts, Pritchard, Stewart
    Sheffield Wednesday XI: Peacock-Farrell, Palmer, Storey, Dean, Hutchinson, Johnson, Byers, Luongo, Bannan, Berahino, Gregory

    Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
    That is all!
    That’s all from us on SunSport tonight, and sees the end of our coverage of Sunderland vs Sheffield Wednesday.
    It was an action packed game that saw Sunderland take a 1-0 lead in the first leg of this one.
    Join us again for the second leg on Monday night at Hillsborough.
    Goodnight!
    Sunderland manager Alex Neil applauds the fansCredit: PA
    Darren Moore reacts
    On the goal:
    “It was avoidable… Maybe Sam was going to play it back but he opened his body too much and Ross took the goal very very well.
    “I think the pleasing thing tonight was I didn’t think we were that good in possession, I didn’t think we used it as well as what we can do.
    “But it has to be credited to the boys, they were spirited, they were dogged and coming here we knew it was going to be a very, very difficult game when the crowd gets up like this.
    “I thought the game lived up to what we though it was going to do, two teams in form, they have gone head to head and credit to Sunderland tonight, they played very well.”
    “Only half the job done”
    Alex Pritchard stated it was “Only half the job done” post-match when looking forward to Monday’s return fixture.
    It is set to be an absolute cracker at Hillsborough, you cannot call it.
    Ross Stewart reflects
    On his goal:
    “I was just chasing it down… it’s part of the job and I was able to get in there and nick it off the defender and run in and put it away so it was good to get the goal just before half time.”
    On being worried if he had missed:
    “I think the keeper made a good stop on the first one”
    On the atmosphere:
    “The noise in here tonight was spectacular… The players really thrived off it… It was great to give them something to get excited about.”
    Alex Pritchard speaks
    On the game and the win:
    “It’s only half the job done
    “The atmosphere at their place is going to be electric as well, so I think we have just got to stand up to it, it’s massive. It’s going to be big.”
    What a crowd!
    It was an immense showing from the crowd tonight at the Stadium of Light.
    There was a record attendance for a play-off game with 44,742 people.
    Fans form the eyes of a black cat, Sunderland’s nickname.Credit: Getty
    Far from finished!
    This one is far from over we can tell you that!
    It will be settled at Hillsborough on Monday, and Barry Bannan clearly believes that as he gees up the away fans.
    A gentle reminder that Wednesday won 3-0 at Hillsborough earlier this season.
    Sunderland’s Ross Stewart misses a late chanceCredit: PA
    Full Time. Sunderland 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday!
    Whipped in by Bannan
    94. And cleared by Batth.
    Sunderland have a free kick that is set to be retaken due to the ball still moving.
    Wednesday corner.
    93. It is a late corner for Sheffield Wednesday.
    The most prolific corner scorers in the league remember…
    Another change.
    92. Callum Doyle is coming on for Jack Clarke, for real this time.
    FOUR added minutes
    There are four minutes added on in this one.
    Mistake falls to Stewart!
    89. Peacock-Farrell tries to header the ball down to Hutchinson, and it is picked up by Ross Stewart.
    He calms things down and perhaps should have looked for goal at the first sight.
    Change for Wednesday.
    87. It is a straight swap.
    George Byers night is over, and on comes Dele-Bashiru, the brother of Tom Dele-Bashiru.
    Sunderland holding the ball
    86. They are going to look to see this one out Sunderland.
    They surge forward and win a corner with a fast break.
    Anxious times
    84. Sunderland are pretty packed in here, and Wednesday are patiently building up play around the box.
    Palmer is finding some good areas in the right wing back position.
    Ten to go.
    82. There are around ten minutes left here at The Stadium of Light.
    Can Sunderland add another?
    Or will we witness a crazy last gasp equaliser from Wednesday?
    We shall see.
    A Delay
    82. There was a delay over the substitution as Jack Clarke was mistakenly taken off for Patrick Roberts.
    It is over now, and Jack Clarke remains in the action.
    Double change
    79. It is a Sunderland double change.
    Patrick Roberts and Alex Pritchard are leaving the field.
    Alex Embleton and Jay Matete are coming on.
    Both of the players coming off have been sublime today, they can hold their heads high.
    So close Wednesday!
    77. That is such a good chance! The ball is whipped in from the left side and it is misjudged by the Sunderland keeper, it is really fortunate to fall to a Sunderland defender and subsequently cleared.
    Palmer misses!
    76. It is a great ball from Massimo Luongo, the Australian whips a ball towards Palmer at the back post, but his free header is over the bar.
    Goal kick.
    23 Touches.
    73. We highlighted before the second half how Wednesday need to get Bannan on the ball if they are to do something here.
    He has had the third fewest touches this match, only Berahino who was subbed off and Josh Windass who was subbed on have had less.
    Perhaps that is why they are still behind, he is their best player.
    Corner Sheffield Wednesday
    71. They have the most goals in League One from corners with 17, but this one comes to nothing.
    The ball is cleared later for another Wednesday corner.
    This one is whipped deep and wasted, again.
    Hit and hope
    70. It is another wasted cross from Sunderland, this time it is Alex Pritchard.
    He does really well to get in a good position but the cross is again, not his finest.
    Good effort!
    69. It is a good effort from Roberts from the right hand side, but it is just wide of the far post. Goal kick.
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    Abramovich DENIES loan repayment request, Boehly closes in on Chelsea deal, Ratcliffe still wants to buy Blues – latest

    ROMAN ABRAMOVICH has reiterated that he is NOT demanding the repayment of his £1.6bn loan to Chelsea.And the sanctioned Blues owner insisted he has engaged with the Government to discuss how the promised charity donation from the sale should be carried out.
    Government sources hinted that Abramovich had made a U-turn on his initial pledged and demanded the money that had kept the Blues going for the past 19 years was paid to a Jersey-based company as part of the sale deal.
    Meanwhile, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not giving up on his Chelsea bid without a fight and has begged the club to consider his offer.
    The British petrochemicals mogul, 69, has vowed to improve Stamford Bridge as it exists rather than build a new stadium as Roman Abramovich had planned to.
    Boehly has reportedly been named as the preferred bidder for Chelsea despite a last-gasp £4billion bid from Ratcliffe.
    And Boehly’s team were told they had been granted a “period of exclusivity” to discuss the final terms and conditions of a takeover package.
    SUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAY
    Keep up to date with all of the latest gossip from the takeover in our live blog…
    Rice faces three-match European ban
    Declan Rice faces a three-match European ban after his X-rated tunnel rant at a referee.
    And that spells bad news for Chelsea and Manchester United, who are both chasing the England midfielder this summer.
    West Ham star Rice, 23, blasted Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzan after last night’s Europa League semi-final defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.
    Sensational footage captured Rice losing his head in the tunnel after a game which saw Aaron Cresswell and David Moyes receive red cards.
    Rice shouted at the official: “Ref! Ref! it is so poor. All night, it is so bad. How can you be that bad? Honestly.
    “You’ve probably been f***ing paid. F***ing corruption.”
    How Chelsea could line up against Wolves
    Recent results for Chelsea mean the Blues are starting to look over their shoulders a tad nervously.
    Thomas Tuchel’s side have just a five point cushion over fifth-placed Tottenham after two wins in their last six Premier League games.
    A win on Saturday against Wolves though would help settle some nerves.
    Bruno Lage’s side are the visitors to Stamford Bridge on a torrid run of form of their own – losing four out of their last five games.
    Chelsea though are set to be without two key midfielders for the 3pm kick-off.
    Tuchel confirmed today that both N’Golo Kante and Jorginho are sidelined for the clash through injury.

    Abramovich transfer history
    As Todd Boehly closes in on a Chelsea takeover, let’s look at Abramovich’s spending numbers.

    Tuchel on Chelsea new owners
    Thomas Tuchel has given his opinion on the Chelsea ownership situation.
    He said: “I’ve been told last week that we have a preferred bidder and things are going forward.
    “It’s a pretty important week for the club, but I was fully focused on the pitch. But after what I heard last week, I’m confident.
    “Clearance is always the best, because when the situation is clear you can take actions, make judgements, take actions.
    “Otherwise you’re in a passive role, and this is what we are right now.”
    Tuchel on Pulisic drama
    Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he and Christian Pusilic have no problems after the star’s dad make cryptic comments about his future.
    Tuchel said in response: “I am not concerned if the player’s father says he does not love me [on Twitter].
    “As ever, we have our reasons to choose our line up and at this level you will never see happy faces when not selected.
    “Between me & Christian, we have zero problems.”
    Tuchel’s Rudiger problem
    Thomas Tuchel has revealed that it’s going to be difficult to replace Antonio Rudiger.
    That’s because of the sanctions imposed on Chelsea, Tuchel moaned.
    But he also admitted that finding Rudiger’s replacement will be difficult even when the ban is lifted.
    He said: “”At the moment, it is not possible [to replace him] because of the sanctions.
    “And even when the sanctions are in the past, it will still be incredibly difficult to do so.”
    Declan Rice tipped for transfer
    Declan Rice will leave West Ham for Chelsea or Man United this summer.
    That’s the view of Stan Collymore who told CaughtOffside: “West Ham, unfortunately, crashed out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage on Thursday evening after losing 3-1 on aggregate to Eintracht Frankfurt over two legs.
    “Should the club fail to qualify for either of Europe’s two biggest competitions next season, I wonder what this could mean for their best players. Could the Hammers lose significant first-team players this summer?
    “Well, Declan Rice is the obvious one. Manchester United and Chelsea and I think even the Spanish giants have been talked about in the press, so the clear answer is yes.”
    It Kan happen
    Paul Merson thinks Chelsea might cash in on N’Golo Kante if they can get up to £80m for the midfielder.
    He said: “Kante’s situation is an interesting one, and I think Chelsea might cash in on him if they get a sizable bid of around £70-80 million for him this summer.
    “With the way he plays, it’s hard to hit the heights every year in the Premier League, but it goes without saying that he has been a bit underwhelming this season.”
    Chelsea get Wolves boost
    Chelsea have been given a huge boost ahead of their game against Wolves this weekend.
    That’s because Wolves boss Bruno Lage will be missing from the club’s dugout.
    It’s been reported that Lage has been struck with Covid.
    Rice’s ref rant
    Chelsea transfer target Declan Rice is facing a three-game Uefa ban after he explosively accused officials of taking bribes after West Ham’s defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.
    Aaron Cresswell was sent off and boss David Moyes dismissed to the stands as their European dreams came to an end.
    And afterwards their star midfielder exploded at the match official inside the tunnel and now looks set to face Uefa action.
    Tunnel cam footage has now emerged from after the clash, and it shows the furious Rice confronting the Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzan outside the changing-rooms.
    The England ace blasts: “Ref! Ref! it is so poor. All night, it is so bad. How can you be that bad? Honestly.
    He then turned to walk away and added: “You’ve probably been f***ing paid. F***ing corruption.”
    Merson fears for Chelsea
    Paul Merson fears for Chelsea’s defence when Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leave this summer.
    He told Sky Sports: “Chelsea need bodies at the back.
    “Antonio Rudiger’s gone on a free, Andreas Christensen’s going to go too, they’ve got Thiago Silva who’s outstanding, and they’ve got two kids in Malang Sarr and Trevoh Chalobah who are very talented, but it’s going to be hard to play them week-in, week-out.
    “Rudiger will be a massive loss, I can’t express how big that’s going to be. If they played a four at the back, he wouldn’t be missed.”
    Abramovich’s ‘anti-Glazer’ request
    Roman Abramovich is demanding Chelsea’s new owners commit to not copying the Glazer Manchester United model, MARTIN LIPTON WRITES.
    As part of the detailed discussions with the “preferred bidder” consortium headed by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, Abramovich is insisting on stringent conditions.
    The Russian’s appointed brokers, the US-based Raine Group, have told Boehly that he must promise not to pay out dividends or take any management fees for a decade after the completion of the deal.
    That would prevent Boehly from echoing the approach of the Glazers since their 2005 United takeover – and which has sparked consistent and growing protests from fans.
    Boehly, backed by US venture capital investors Clearlake, is closing in on his £4bn takeover despite the late bid by Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group.
    But Boehly will have to agree to Abramovich’s conditions before final approval – including limits on future debt levels and a commitment to spending £1bn on Stamford Bridge, the academy and the club’s highly-successful women’s team.
    On your Marc
    Marcos Alonso reportedly wants to quit Chelsea this summer and return to Spain.
    The Blues are already set to lose defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen in June.
    The duo have both snubbed new deals and will depart Stamford Bridge for nothing, with both Barcelona and Real Madrid keen on the pair.
    Now left wing-back Alonso, 31, allegedly wants to leave West London also.
    That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims the veteran has made securing an exit from Chelsea a priority.
    He states that Barcelona are keen on Alonso, despite the fact that he came through the ranks at their fierce rivals Madrid, and that the star has his heart set on a return to his homeland.
    Back in the Blues’ Palm
    Chelsea will welcome Emerson Palmieri back from Lyon this summer.
    Palmieri’s been on loan with the French side this season, but will head back to Stamford Bridge when the season ends, according to Fabrizio Romano.
    But several clubs including Juventus are keeping tabs on the defender, it’s also claimed.
    Declan Rice on future goals
    Declan Rice has dropped a huge hint about his future after West Ham were dumped out of Europe.
    Rice couldn’t help the Hammers get into the Europa League final.
    But the England ace admitted that he still wants more in his career.
    He said: “I am young, I want more. The lads want more. This club deserves more.
    “We have shown as a club we can do these big European nights.”
    Cesc pays Raiola respects
    Ex-Chelsea star Cesc Fabregras was among the host of stars who came out to pay respects at Mino Raiola’s funeral.
    Raiola, who had lived in the Principality for a number of years, died on Saturday following a battle with illness aged 54.
    He initially spent time in hospital at the beginning of the year and underwent very delicate surgery in January.
    His passing shocked the football world, and many of the players that he represented throughout his career travelled to Monaco to honour him at a private ceremony held for family and close friends at the Saint-Charles church.

    Transfer restrictions frustrate Chelsea
    Chelsea bigwigs were reportedly frustrated by the restrictions that have ruled them out of the race to sign Erling Haaland.
    The Blues were said to be keen on signing the Borussia Dortmund star last summer but opted for Romelu Lukakau when the German side revealed they would be hanging on to Haaland for another season.
    Chelsea hoped to swoop for the Norwegian again this time around but their plans have been halted by the restrictions, much to the club’s dismay, according to ESPN.
    Chelsea deal nears completion
    Todd Boehly could become Chelsea’s new owner TODAY, according to reports.
    The Telegraph reported that Boehly hopes to sign the first contract worth £4 billion on Friday.
    As Roman Abramovich preparing to seek formal approval from Government for the deal.
    After that, it should be all-clear for the deal to be conducted swiftly and smoothly, it’s been claimed.
    Mour tears from Jose
    Jose Mourinho shed tears after leading Roma to their first European final for 31 years and confessed: “This club has made me feel special again.”
    The Portuguese legend created history by becoming the first boss to make it to five major European finals with four different clubs.
    And after Tammy Abraham’s header in the win over Leicester booked Roma’s place in the Europa Conference League Final in Tirana, an emotional Mourinho confessed:  “I shed a tear at the end, yes, because I feel what they all feel.
    “My emotion was for everyone who loves this club. The fans, the players, the owners.
    “This team spirit, we started building it in our summer camp in Portugal on the first day, and it’s built up since then, day after day – this game is icing on cake.
    “This victory belongs to everyone – it’s a family win. Everyone played their part.”
    Chelsea eye Rudiger/Christensen replacement
    Chelsea are plotting a transfer move for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol to help fill the void left by departing duo Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
    The Premier League giants are desperate for reinforcements and have identified several targets.
    And Goal claims that they have earmarked Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.
    The Croatian international, 20, is reportedly “seen as a good option to play on the left side of a back three” for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
    Good morning Chelsea fans
    Departing Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has maintained he is NOT demanding the repayment of his £1.6billion loan to the club.
    Abramovich insisted he has engaged with the UK government to discuss how the promised charity donation from the sale should be carried out.
    Government sources hinted that the Russian oligarch had made a U-turn on his initial pledge and demanded the money that had kept the West Londoners going for the past 19 years was paid to a Jersey-based company as part of the sale deal.
    The consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly is understood to be close to completing the final details of the package, despite the last-gasp bid by Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
    But the entire process was seemingly imperilled by the claims that Abramovich was now demanding some financial compensation for being effectively forced to sell up after being branded an acolyte and supporter of Vladimir Putin and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
    Meanwhile, Boehly is “very close” to taking over at Chelsea with Ratcliffe’s late rival bid allegedly “not under consideration”.
    That is according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs, who claims the US-based bank Raine, who are handling the takeover process for Abramovich, are not exploring any other “alternative options”.
    Jacobs tweeted: “Boehly-Clearlake takeover of Chelsea is now very close to completion. Raine sources tell me Wednesday talks were ‘highly productive and no alternative options are being explored’.
    “Sources within Boehly-Clearlake say they’ve remained ‘calm’ and are confident they will own”
    But Sir Jim has told the Raine Group not to brush off his offer to buy the club.
    Ratcliffe wants the group to factor in that his company is British and want the best for the club.
    Sir Jim said, reported by the BBC: “My message to Raine is don’t discount our offer.
    “We are British and have great intentions for Chelsea. If I was Raine I wouldn’t close any door.”
    Finally, West Ham are planning a move for Chelsea wonderkid Armando Broja this summer following his loan spell at Southampton, reports SunSport’s Jack Rosser.
    No transfers can happen before the Blues’ ownership crisis is solved but, once resolved, SunSport understands that Saints could quickly try to tie up a deal with Broja.
    That is if they are willing to offer the forward similar wages to team-mates Che Adams and Adam Armstrong.
    But the Hammers are set to rival Southampton and could win the transfer war with the offer of European football.
    Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have also registered an interest in the Albania international.
    West Ham boss David Moyes has made it clear he wants to add quality to his squad this summer as he is short of options in attack
    Good morning Chelsea fans
    Departing Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has maintained he is NOT demanding the repayment of his £1.6billion loan to the club.
    Abramovich insisted he has engaged with the UK government to discuss how the promised charity donation from the sale should be carried out.
    Government sources hinted that the Russian oligarch had made a U-turn on his initial pledge and demanded the money that had kept the West Londoners going for the past 19 years was paid to a Jersey-based company as part of the sale deal.
    The consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly is understood to be close to completing the final details of the package, despite the last-gasp bid by Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
    But the entire process was seemingly imperilled by the claims that Abramovich was now demanding some financial compensation for being effectively forced to sell up after being branded an acolyte and supporter of Vladimir Putin and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
    Meanwhile, Boehly is “very close” to taking over at Chelsea with Ratcliffe’s late rival bid allegedly “not under consideration”.
    That is according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs, who claims the US-based bank Raine, who are handling the takeover process for Abramovich, are not exploring any other “alternative options”.
    Jacobs tweeted: “Boehly-Clearlake takeover of Chelsea is now very close to completion. Raine sources tell me Wednesday talks were ‘highly productive and no alternative options are being explored’.
    “Sources within Boehly-Clearlake say they’ve remained ‘calm’ and are confident they will own”
    But Sir Jim has told the Raine Group not to brush off his offer to buy the club.
    Ratcliffe wants the group to factor in that his company is British and want the best for the club.
    Sir Jim said, reported by the BBC: “My message to Raine is don’t discount our offer.
    “We are British and have great intentions for Chelsea. If I was Raine I wouldn’t close any door.”
    Finally, West Ham are planning a move for Chelsea wonderkid Armando Broja this summer following his loan spell at Southampton, reports SunSport’s Jack Rosser.
    No transfers can happen before the Blues’ ownership crisis is solved but, once resolved, SunSport understands that Saints could quickly try to tie up a deal with Broja.
    That is if they are willing to offer the forward similar wages to team-mates Che Adams and Adam Armstrong.
    But the Hammers are set to rival Southampton and could win the transfer war with the offer of European football.
    Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have also registered an interest in the Albania international.
    West Ham boss David Moyes has made it clear he wants to add quality to his squad this summer as he is short of options in attack
    Push and Pul
    Juventus are targeting Chelsea star Christian Pulisic ahead of the summer transfer window.
    Pulisic has found game time difficult to come by this season, starting just ten league matches.
    That means the forward may be open to moving with Juve keen to strike a deal, according to Tuttosport.
    The Bianconeri reportedly view the USA international as a potential replacement for Paulo Dybala, who is set to leave on a free in the summer
    Still a Lott to give
    Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed that he will “probably retire” after his second spell at the Santiago Bernabeu ends.
    But former Chelsea boss Ancelotti then immediately threw a curveball by saying he would happily spend another ten years at Real if the newly-crowned LaLiga champions want him to.
    Ancelotti told Amazon Prime: “After this Real Madrid chapter, I will probably retire.
    “But if Real wants me to stay here for 10 years, I’ll stay another 10 years.
    “I would like to be with my grandchildren, to go on holiday with my wife. There are so many things to do that I’ve had to put aside.
    “The national team in the future can be an option. Canada? Why not? I’d like it.
    “There’s a lot of places I’ve never been to. I’ve never been to Australia. I’ve never been to Rio de Janeiro. I want to go visit my sister more often.
    “Unfortunately you can’t do everything, so the day I retire, I’ll have all these things to do”
    Chelsea Blue-min’ hell
    Chelsea stars N’Golo Kante and Jorginho are about to enter the final year of their contracts.
    SunSport’s Andy Dillon reports that the Blues are worried midfield pair will quit as the club’s takeover reaches crisis point.
    Jorginho especially has voiced a desire to return to his homeland before retiring and team-mates fear he may go this summer to add to the domino effect in the dressing room.
    Antonio Rudiger is set to join Real Madrid, while Andreas Christensen and captain Cesar Azpilicueta are likely to join Barcelona as their deals are expiring in June
    Credit: GETTY IMAGES
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    Tchouameni on Man Utd’s radar, Forlan URGES Nunez to join Red Devils, Cristiano Ronaldo EXCLUSIVE – latest updates

    FORMER Manchester United forward Diego Forlan has urged fellow compatriot Darwin Nunez to join the Red Devils this summer.Nunez, 22, has been in red hot form for Benfica all season with a lot of the top European clubs chasing his signature.
    Meanwhile, United are reportedly still interested in Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni.
    And Cristiano Ronaldo has added to the speculation of his time at Old Trafford coming to an end.
    The Portuguese icon appeared to mouth the words “I’m not finished yet” during a post-lap of honour on the weekend.
    But the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has claimed that this was not what he said.
    Ronaldo signed for two years when he returned this season with the option of a further year.
    Much will come down to what incoming boss Erik Ten Hag’s plans are but he has yet to communicate what he wants to do about the Portuguese ace.
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    Rice faces three-match European ban
    Declan Rice faces a three-match European ban after his X-rated tunnel rant at a referee.
    And that spells bad news for Chelsea and Manchester United, who are both chasing the England midfielder this summer.
    West Ham star Rice, 23, blasted Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzan after last night’s Europa League semi-final defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.
    Sensational footage captured Rice losing his head in the tunnel after a game which saw Aaron Cresswell and David Moyes receive red cards.
    Rice shouted at the official: “Ref! Ref! it is so poor. All night, it is so bad. How can you be that bad? Honestly.
    “You’ve probably been f***ing paid. F***ing corruption.”
    Ward-Prowse next club odds
    Tottenham are currently the favourites to sign Southampton’s free-kick king James Ward-Prowse.
    Sky Bet are currently offering 4/1 odds for the midfielder to sign for Antonio Conte’s men, with Manchester United and Newcastle among the other sides linked.
    Ward-Prowse has spent his entire career playing for Southampton, having signed for them initially as an 8-year-old in 2003.
    Since then he has amassed 360 appearances for the club and was made club captain in 2020.
    The 27-year-old holds the record for the second most goals scored direct from free-kicks in the Premier League, behind only David Beckham.
    United’s next fixture
    Man Utd will be taking on Brighton next.

    Man United make transfer enquiry
    Man United have reportedly made an enquiry for Reims striker Hugo Ekitike and have joined the long list of clubs fighting for his signature.
    According to ESPN the Red Devil’s incoming manager Erik ten Hag wants to secure the 19 year-old-striker to bolster his side’s attack.
    Ekitike has been compared to his fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe and is the highest scoring teen in Europe.
    Declan Rice tipped for transfer
    Declan Rice will leave West Ham for Chelsea or Man United this summer.
    That’s the view of Stan Collymore who told CaughtOffside: “West Ham, unfortunately, crashed out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage on Thursday evening after losing 3-1 on aggregate to Eintracht Frankfurt over two legs.
    “Should the club fail to qualify for either of Europe’s two biggest competitions next season, I wonder what this could mean for their best players. Could the Hammers lose significant first-team players this summer?
    “Well, Declan Rice is the obvious one. Manchester United and Chelsea and I think even the Spanish giants have been talked about in the press, so the clear answer is yes.”
    Maguire in line for selection
    Harry Maguire is in line for a return against Brighton but Marcus Rashford will miss the Prem clash, Ralf Rangnick has revealed.
    Rangnick said: “Harry is back in training, he trained the whole week since the second day after the Brentford game so he will be available for tomorrow and part of the group.
    “Edinson is training, he came on as a substitute (against Brentford). Marcus Rashford will be missing, he’s got bronchitis with a high temperature so he won’t be able to be part of the group.
    “We have a question mark over Eric Bailly, he called the doctor this morning and has some problems with his back.”
    Man United transfer target
    Manchester United are poised to battle Newcastle for Sporting Lisbon wonderkid Goncalo Inacio, according to reports.
    The Portugal Under-21 defender helped his club win the Primeira Liga title last season.
    Newcastle had a £25million bid for the centre-back rejected in January, but Toon scouts have continued to monitor his progress.
    And Lisbon media have now claimed that incoming Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag has targeted the 20-year-old as part of his rebuilding plans.
    Rangnick on Lingard
    Ralf Rangnick has revealed why Jesse Lingard missed Man United’s last home game this season.
    He said: “To start with, in the last couple of weeks under my tenure, Jesse has played far more games than he used to.
    “Secondly, on game day against Chelsea, he asked me to release him from the game and training the following day for personal family reasons.
    “With only three subs against Brentford, I had to make a decision between Edinson Cavani and Jesse, or the young Alejandro Garnacho, who I would have loved to have brought on and given a chance to play.
    “I took the decision to bring on Edinson. Had I not brought on him, someone might have asked if it was classless not to bring on Cavani or Garnahco.
    “After two subs, you have to make a decision, and this will not be to the liking of everybody, but this is part of the game.”
    Declan Rice’s ref rant
    Man United transfer target Declan Rice is facing a three-game Uefa ban after he explosively accused officials of taking bribes after West Ham’s defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.
    Aaron Cresswell was sent off and boss David Moyes dismissed to the stands as their European dreams came to an end.
    And afterwards their star midfielder exploded at the match official inside the tunnel and now looks set to face Uefa action.
    Tunnel cam footage has now emerged from after the clash, and it shows the furious Rice confronting the Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzan outside the changing-rooms.
    The England ace blasts: “Ref! Ref! it is so poor. All night, it is so bad. How can you be that bad? Honestly.
    He then turned to walk away and added: “You’ve probably been f***ing paid. F***ing corruption.”

    I don’t Wan-t to go
    Aaron Wan-Bissaka has no intentions of leaving Man United this summer, according to reports.
    The defender wants to sit down with new boss Erik ten Hag and see where he fits into the team.
    That’s the claims made by football journalist Jonathan Shrager.
    Evra shocking claims
    Man United ace Patrice Evra has made shocking claims that he witnessed homophobia when at West Ham.
    Evra alleged to Gabby Logan on the Mid Point podcast, reported by The Metro: It’s like you can’t be a gay football player, people will go mad
    “I give the example, when I was playing for West Ham, someone from the English federation came and he said “we need to accept everyone” and the amount of players that were like “no, if some of my team mates are gay they have to leave now. I won’t do any shower [with them]”
    “I stand up and I say “shut up, shut up everyone, can you hear yourselves?” We still don’t accept everyone. In the football world they are not open minded enough and it’s a shame.”
    Made a Mej of things
    Hannibal Mejbri was “reprimended” by interim boss Ralf Rangnick following his chaotic six-minute appearance against Liverpool.
    Hannibal managed to pick up a booking in his short time on the field after a number of reckless challenges.
    And while Manchester United legend Gary Neville admitted he was “proud” of the performance, one man who wasn’t was Rangnick.
    The 19-year-old was demoted back to the U23s following the game on Rangnick’s orders.
    That’s according to ESPN, who claim the interim gaffer had words with Hannibal following the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.
    Being dropped back down to the youth side reportedly came as a punishment for his on-field antics.
    Abramovich’s ‘anti-Glazer’ request
    Roman Abramovich is demanding Chelsea’s new owners commit to not copying the Glazer Manchester United model, MARTIN LIPTON WRITES.
    As part of the detailed discussions with the “preferred bidder” consortium headed by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, Abramovich is insisting on stringent conditions.
    The Russian’s appointed brokers, the US-based Raine Group, have told Boehly that he must promise not to pay out dividends or take any management fees for a decade after the completion of the deal.
    That would prevent Boehly from echoing the approach of the Glazers since their 2005 United takeover – and which has sparked consistent and growing protests from fans.
    Boehly, backed by US venture capital investors Clearlake, is closing in on his £4bn takeover despite the late bid by Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group.
    But Boehly will have to agree to Abramovich’s conditions before final approval – including limits on future debt levels and a commitment to spending £1bn on Stamford Bridge, the academy and the club’s highly-successful women’s team.
    Elanga’s wishes for next season
    Anthony Elanga is keen to take his game to the next level in the forthcoming season.
    He said to Sky Sports: “Despite what’s happened this season, I still feel I’ve learnt a lot and I’m ready to take my game to the next level next season.
    “I feel like I’m ready to go to the next level. I aim to get better every single day because that’s my mindset.
    “I know I can always get better and I’ve got wonderful players, good staff and good people around me to help me reach that next level.”
    Eyes on the prize
    Ex-Man United star Quinton Fortune claims he was watching Liverpool signing Luis Diaz’s progress for years.
    He told The Athletic: “As much as we don’t want to say it, Liverpool – every time they sign a player, you are thinking.
    “Wow, they look like they have done their homework.
    “Take Luis Diaz. I had been watching him for the last few months and years, thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, this is the player United need to sign’.
    “Then Liverpool sign him and you are just thinking, ‘Nooo! How are we missing these players? Come on! Help me out here!”
    Declan Rice on future goals
    Declan Rice has dropped a huge hint about his future after West Ham were dumped out of Europe.
    Rice couldn’t help the Hammers get into the Europa League final.
    But the England ace admitted that he still wants more in his career.
    He said: “I am young, I want more. The lads want more. This club deserves more.
    “We have shown as a club we can do these big European nights.”
    Paying respects to Raiola
    A host of star-studded names were in attendance to pay their respects at the funeral of super agent Mino Raiola in Monte Carlo.
    Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, who is set to join Manchester City this summer, joined the likes of AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma at yesterday’s service for the man who represented them.
    His passing shocked the football world, and many of the players that he represented throughout his career travelled to Monaco to honour him at a private ceremony held for family and close friends at the Saint-Charles church.
    Ex-PSG, Manchester United and Sweden striker Ibrahimovic, 40, was one of Raiola’s longest and closest clients.
    The agent, who represents Paul Pogba, was involved in some of the most historic transfers in history, known for his shrewd bargaining skills with the world’s biggest teams.

    Rooney and Ronaldo get praised
    Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney have been named as some of Anthony Elanga’s idols.
    striker Anthony Elanga’s idols.
    The United attacker told Sky Sports: “Thierry Henry is someone who I liked watching when I grew up as well.
    “He could play left wing, right-wing, as a striker. He was strong, quick and could finish.
    “I still look at his clips today and try to learn something from the way he used to play and try to add it to my game.
    “I grew up watching United as well, so the likes of Wayne Rooney and obviously Cristiano Ronaldo.”
    Cavani explains Ronaldo admission
    Cavani went onto explain why he would’ve left Man United if he knew Ronaldo was going to re-join the club.
    He added: ”
    “But not because I didn’t want to play with Cristiano Ronaldo. No.
    “Because I had the opportunity to meet him, and he’s a great professional, with his objectives, and that’s perfect for sportsmen.
    “But as I know, after years in football, how things are these days… That’s why I was talking to my brother.
    “It was more about understanding the situation. Not because I couldn’t play in my place at Manchester, but because there are a lot of things in football today that are different from how they were with other coaches, how it was before, years ago.
    “But how it happened suddenly, at no time did I have any sensation. I thought: ‘Let’s play, do the best we can’.”
    Edinson Cavani’s shock Ronaldo revelation
    Edinson Cavani revealed he wouldn’t have agreed a contract extension with Man United had he known they would land Cristiano Ronaldo.
    Cavani, 35, had his No7 shirt taken from him when the Portuguese captain joined last summer.
    Cavani, who was speaking to ESPN Brazil said: “Speaking the truth, for I always tell the truth, as it should be.
    “At the moment it happened, I thought it was good that Manchester signed Cristiano.
    “Knowing a little about the world of football today, the first thing I did was call my brother and I said: ‘Fernando, if this had happened a week ago, I would have asked you to sign with another club’.”
    Mour tears from Jose
    Jose Mourinho shed tears after leading Roma to their first European final for 31 years and confessed: “This club has made me feel special again.”
    The Portuguese legend created history by becoming the first boss to make it to five major European finals with four different clubs.
    And after Tammy Abraham‘s header in the win over Leicester booked Roma‘s place in the Europa Conference League Final in Tirana, an emotional Mourinho confessed:  “I shed a tear at the end, yes, because I feel what they all feel.
    “My emotion was for everyone who loves this club. The fans, the players, the owners.
    “This team spirit, we started building it in our summer camp in Portugal on the first day, and it’s built up since then, day after day – this game is icing on cake.
    “This victory belongs to everyone – it’s a family win. Everyone played their part.”
    Pot of luck
    Graham Potter knows form goes out the window when you face Cristiano Ronaldo.
    Brighton welcome Manchester United on Saturday on a run of three wins in five games — including beating Tottenham and Arsenal away and demolishing Wolves at Molineux last weekend.
    “He is not getting any younger but you retain your brain and understanding and his finishing is as clinical as you will get.
    “Whatever you say about United’s season, they have still got some fantastic players who can hurt you in a second.
    “That is going be our challenge.
    “We have to play well again, we have to do everything close to perfect, and then survive the moments that you need to survive against top teams.”

    Good morning Man Utd fans
    RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku wants to leave the Bundesliga giants this summer amid interest from the Premier League.
    That is according to L’Equipe, who claim that Nkunku believes the time is now to quit Leipzig with Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle all keeping tabs.
    But the Prem giants are not the only ones after the attacking midfielder as AC Milan, Bayern Munich and former club Paris Saint-Germain are also eyeing him.
    The France international has stood out this season with a staggering 32 goals and 20 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.
    Transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio recently stated a Premier League move is likelier for the 24-year-old ace.
    However, Leipzig are not keen to sell Nkunku ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
    Meanwhile, United are facing a battle to keep Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford, reports SunSport’s Neil Custis.
    Ronaldo is considering a move away after just a year back at the club with the Red Devils’ Champions League qualification hopes over.
    Much will come down to what incoming manager Erik Ten Hag’s plans are, but he has yet to decide what he wants to do about the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
    Ten Hag does not want to discuss any player matters with the Manchester giants until he has concluded the Eredivisie title race with Ajax.
    And Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has dealt United a huge blow by saying captain James Ward-Prowse is not for sale.
    SunSport exclusively revealed that Ward-Prowse is Ten Hag’s top target to boss his midfield.
    Hasenhuttl said: “He has another four years on his contract, he’s our captain and he’s happy here.
    “Fans love him and we know how important he is to our team. The development of his game is why he’s a true winner.
    “I think he’s very exceptional. I haven’t seen any players similar.”
    Finally, Monaco star and United target Aurelien Tchouameni prefers a move to the Premier League.
    According to Di Marzio, Tchouameni’s priority is to play in England.
    He told wettfreunde: “A lot of clubs in the Premier League are following him. Arsenal, Manchester United to name a few. He prefers to play in the Premier League.
    “Nowadays the players want to play in the Premier League. He stayed another year in Monaco because he was waiting for the possibility of going to the Premier League.
    “I think this could be the summer for him to go”
    Good morning Man Utd fans
    RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku wants to leave the Bundesliga giants this summer amid interest from the Premier League.
    That is according to L’Equipe, who claim that Nkunku believes the time is now to quit Leipzig with Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle all keeping tabs.
    But the Prem giants are not the only ones after the attacking midfielder as AC Milan, Bayern Munich and former club Paris Saint-Germain are also eyeing him.
    The France international has stood out this season with a staggering 32 goals and 20 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.
    Transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio recently stated a Premier League move is likelier for the 24-year-old ace.
    However, Leipzig are not keen to sell Nkunku ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
    Meanwhile, United are facing a battle to keep Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford, reports SunSport’s Neil Custis.
    Ronaldo is considering a move away after just a year back at the club with the Red Devils’ Champions League qualification hopes over.
    Much will come down to what incoming manager Erik Ten Hag’s plans are, but he has yet to decide what he wants to do about the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
    Ten Hag does not want to discuss any player matters with the Manchester giants until he has concluded the Eredivisie title race with Ajax.
    And Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has dealt United a huge blow by saying captain James Ward-Prowse is not for sale.
    SunSport exclusively revealed that Ward-Prowse is Ten Hag’s top target to boss his midfield.
    Hasenhuttl said: “He has another four years on his contract, he’s our captain and he’s happy here.
    “Fans love him and we know how important he is to our team. The development of his game is why he’s a true winner.
    “I think he’s very exceptional. I haven’t seen any players similar.”
    Finally, Monaco star and United target Aurelien Tchouameni prefers a move to the Premier League.
    According to Di Marzio, Tchouameni’s priority is to play in England.
    He told wettfreunde: “A lot of clubs in the Premier League are following him. Arsenal, Manchester United to name a few. He prefers to play in the Premier League.
    “Nowadays the players want to play in the Premier League. He stayed another year in Monaco because he was waiting for the possibility of going to the Premier League.
    “I think this could be the summer for him to go”
    Tchou and go
    Monaco star and Manchester United target Aurelien Tchouameni prefers a move to the Premier League.
    According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Tchouameni’s priority is to play in England.
    Di Marzio told wettfreunde: “A lot of clubs in the Premier League are following him. Arsenal, Manchester United to name a few.
    “He prefers to play in the Premier League.
    “Nowadays the players want to play in the Premier League. He stayed another year in Monaco because he was waiting for the possibility of going to the Premier League.
    “I think this could be the summer for him to go”
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    Frankfurt 1 West Ham 0 (agg 3-1) LIVE RESULT: Cresswell and Moyes dismissal’s add to Irons Europa League hammer blow

    WEST HAM’S European dreams have been shattered as they were comfortably beaten by German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.Aaron Cresswell’s 19th minute sending off made the Hammer’s task incredibly difficult.
    And Rafael Borre was on the end of a beautiful team goal which ultimately knocked the wind out of West Ham’s sails.
    Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…

    RESULT: Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (3-1 on agg)
    TV/Live stream: BT Sport 1 HD and BT Sport Ultimate
    Frankfurt XI: Trapp; Tuta, Hunteregger, N’Dicka, Knauff, Sow, Rode, Kostic; Hauge, Borre, Kamada
    West Ham XI: Areola; Coufal, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals; Antonio

    That’s all from Frankfurt
    The bubble has burst. The dream has died.
    West Ham United’s memorable Europa League cup run has come to a disappointing end at the penultimate hurdle after they were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-final.
    The Hammers arrived in Germany needing to win, but that difficult task was made almost impossible by Aaron Cresswell’s early red card.
    The Londoners scrapped right to the end, but didn’t have enough to overcome their Bundesliga opponents, and have instead been left to rue what might have been.
    That, as it turns out, is a place in the final against Glasgow Rangers that will take place in the Spanish city of Seville on May 18.
    And while West Ham won’t be there, we will be to ensure that you don’t miss a kick of the action.
    Until then, thanks for joining us, and goodnight.
    Extra! Read all about it!
    It’s almost time to bid auf wiedersehen to Frankfurt, but before we go let’s recap on this ultimately disappointing evening when West Ham have been knocked out of the Europa League.
    Here’s Jordan Davies’ match report of Eintracht Frankfurt’s 3-1 aggregate win in the semi-final.
    With a mountain already to climb after a first leg 2-1 loss at the London Stadium, a grip on a first major European final for 46 years was lost after Aaron Cresswell’s 19th-minute red card.
    Moyes rues the small things
    West Ham manager David Moyes had nothing but praise for his players following their Europa League semi-final exit in Frankfurt.
    The Hammers boss felt his side did not get the rub of some refereeing decisions on the night, and it was the minor details that ultimately cost them.
    I’m really disappointed. Things didn’t go for us on the night, small things didn’t happen, but I am really proud of the players. How they played with ten men was fantastic. They stayed in it when other teams would have folded. These boys are great.
    I thought we tried and created chances. I actually thought we had better chances than Frankfurt, but we congratulate them. They go through, we don’t, and we give them our best wishes.
    I don’t feel any [pride] at the moment. I just feel disappointment as I felt this was our chance. We have played better teams probably than Frankfurt. Let’s be honest, we probably lost the game in the first 30 seconds at the London Stadium when we conceded. We were chasing the game since then.
    We have enjoyed being in the competition, but I’m not sure we have enjoyed the officiating. We have a pretty good team so I think we can try again. We will try to be a bit wiser and can hopefully do it more often.David MoyesBT Sport

    Frankfurt ready to repeat history
    Eintracht Frankfurt’s last European honour was the 1980 UEFA Cup, and the German side now have the opportunity to claim the competition that that tournament became.
    Now the Europa League, the Eagles are back in the final and will be hoping to repeat the success that saw them beat Borussia Monchengladbach on away goals 42 years ago.
    Credit: @Squawka Twitter
    Gutted Rice: we gave everything
    West Ham captain Declan Rice was a disappointed figure as he faced up to the cameras at the final whistle, but insisted he and his teammates did all they could in testing conditions.
    We’re gutted in there. We’ve come so far as a group, and have given everything this year. We’re not the biggest of squads, and to keep playing week in, week out over 50 games a season after last year is hard.
    I’m proud as well. To go down to ten men, and put in that shift. Many teams would have lost three and four, but the way we still tried to defend and get forward with a man less emphasised everything that West Ham is about. We’ll fight to the end. I’m gutted but proud of everyone.Declan RiceBT Sport

    One may night in Seville
    Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany will play Glasgow Rangers of Scotland in the final of the Europa League.
    The Scottish Premiership side overcame a 1-0 first leg deficit to beat RB Leipzig 3-1 at Ibrox, and progress 3-2 on aggregate.
    The final will now take place in Seville on the evening of Wednesday, May 18.
    Match stats from Deutsche Bank Park
    The ten men of West Ham huffed and puffed in Frankfurt, but their six attempts on target barely stung the gloves of Kevin Trapp in the home side’s goal.

    Full time – Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    The final whistle goes and the fans stream on to the pitch to celebrate that Eintracht Frankfurt are in the Europa League final!
    The Germans were the better side over both legs of this semi-final, but were undoubtedly helped by the early red card shown to West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell.
    An uphill task for the Hammers became that much harder at that point, and their dream of European glory now lies in tatters in Germany.
    David Moyes will have to pick his players up, and doo all he can to ensure that days like these become more frequent in years to come.

    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    90+3. Inside five minutes of stoppage time, and Bowen curls in one final effort straight at the the home goalkeeper.
    Meanwhile, the Frankfurt fans are congregating around the advertising hoardings. Are we going to see a celebratory pitch invasion at full time?
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    90. So close!
    West Ham’s best chance of the night comes from a set-piece as Soucek gets up highest to meet Bowen’s corner.
    The Czech powers his header goalwards, but it drops the wrong side of Trapp’s right-hand post. He really should have scored!

    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    88. A chance for Antonio to set up a grandstand finish!
    The forward gets on the end of Rice’s ball over the top, does well to bring it down, and then fires straight at Trapp.
    What a moment that could have been!
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1) – West Ham substitution
    86. Time is running out for the Hammers, who throw on Andriy Yarmolenko in place of Vladimir Coufal.
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    84. Soucek tries to help Tuta on his way by dragging the defender off the pitch after he had gone down with cramp.
    The Brazilian isn’t having it, and uses his remaining strength to remain just inside the touchline.
    What’s the German for game management?
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    81. It’s all kicking off again! Benrahma dribbles into the area – and ultimately out of play – but the home players aren’t happy because they were expecting West Ham to return the ball.
    Frankfurt had put the ball out so one of their injured players could receive treatment.

    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    80. That red card will mean a suspension for David Moyes the next time West Ham make it into Europe – whenever that may be.
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1) – David Moyes red card
    78. West Ham’s frustrating night goes from bad to worse as their manager is shown a red card by referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
    A melee ensues on the touchline as a Frankfurt substitute fails to return the ball, and leads to the Hammers bossing booting it in the direction of the home dugout.
    As well as the red card for Moyes, there are yellows shown to another member of the Hammers’ coaching team and to one of the home side’s reserves.

    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    76. The Hammers are having a go without throwing the kitchen sink at Frankfurt.
    A couple of corners come and go on the left, and all they have to show for them is the sight of Craig Dawson trying to bundle his way through a packed penalty area.
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1) – West Ham substitution
    74. Finally, a second change for the Hammers.
    Said Benrehma is on for Pablo Fornals.
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    72. Kostic drifts in off the left, and catches everyone out by going for goal with an audacious effort from 30 yards.
    As Areola scampers back in the direction of his right-hand post, the ball whistles a yard wide.
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    70. Another corker of an Antonio cross has the home side worried, but it’s expertly dealt with by Trapp, who dives off his line to push off the toes of Bowen.

    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    69. As we approach the final stages, Frankfurt appear to have actually dropped a little deep, and are presenting West Ham with plenty of possession.
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    67. The travelling West Ham fans appear to be growing increasingly frustrated.
    Whether that’s to do with the situation that they’re in, or their manager’s seeming inactivity to change it, who knows?
    Actually, we all know. It’s both.
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1) – Rode yellow card
    65. The Frankfurt captain goes into the referee’s book with a cynical late slide on Bowen.
    The midfielder accepts the yellow, but will be careful not to do anything that will threaten his place in the final.
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    63. The home fans continue to raise the roof inside Deutsche Bank Park.
    They know they’re just 27 minutes away from a European final.
    Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (agg 3-1)
    62. Antonio now goes chasing a long ball down the right flank.
    The forward has done some running tonight, and must be exhausted.
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    Rangers 3 Leipzig 1 (agg 3-2) LIVE RESULT: Late Lundstram strike FIRES Gers into Europa League final – updates

    RANGERS have landed themselves a Europa League final spot having beat RB Leipzig in a thrilling encounter at Ibrox.The Gers got off to an incredible start when James Tavernier and Glen Kamara put them 2-0 up in under 25 minutes.
    But Christopher Nkunku’s sensational volley unsettled a few nerves in the stadium.
    However John Lundstram was on hand to thump home the winner sending Rangers to Seville on Wednesday, May 18.
    Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…

    RESULT: Rangers 3-1 RB Leipzig (3-2 on agg)
    TV/ live stream: BT Sport 2
    Rangers XI: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic, Jack, Lundstram, Kamara, Wright, Aribo, Kent
    RB Leipzig XI: Gulacsi, Angelino, Orban, Klostermann, Gvardiol, Henrichs, Kampl, Laimer, Olmo, Poulsen, Nkunku

    SUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAY
    That is all!
    That’s all from us on SunSport tonight, and sees the end of our coverage of Rangers vs Leipzig.
    It was an action packed game that saw Rangers progress to a European final against Frankfurt.
    Join us again for the final in Seville on Saturday 18th May.
    Goodnight!
    Ryan Kent applauds the excellent Rangers fans at Ibrox.Credit: Getty
    The Finale!

    Goalscorer Lundstram speaks out!
    Former Premier League star John Lundstram says tonight is the best moment in his career.
    He told BT Sport: !I came in with a good feeling about tonight. But to actually do it is huge.
    “What an achievement.
    “I didn’t realise we had played 60 games! We go out to give everything every time.
    “They are a phenomenal team and we knew they’d put pressure on us.
    “This is the biggest height in my career. Playing in the Premier League was big for me but this is bigger.”
    Tavernier Interview!
    On his goal:
    “I didn’t know if it was gonna be offside, but I got the goal, and helped the boys!”
    On the final:
    “We will go into it full of confidence, but Frankfurt got into the final for a reason, you know it’s one game and we fully back ourselves. We will give everything like we gave tonight… We are in this competition to win.”
    Savour every second!
    The Rangers players are not going into the dressing room, and why would they?
    They are savouring every moment of these celebrations.
    Ally McCoist dancing!
    Ally McCoist is dancing with Rangers fans in the BT Sport studio, the stadium is absolutely bouncing.
    It is a beautiful sight to see everyone enjoying the experience so much.
    James Tavernier top scorer.
    James Tavernier (A RIGHT BACK) is the Europa League top scorer this season so far.
    He is a seriously quality player, and deserves all the praise he is getting at the moment.
    Rangers captain James Tavernier is a sensation.Credit: Reuters
    What a story for Rangers
    What a story. Rangers are in the Europa League final.
    Some really big performances in there, Ryan Kent, John Lundstram, James Tavernier, Connor Goldson.
    Rangers should be so proud of themselves, nine years ago they were playing in the Scottish third division.
    Beaten Dortmund, Red Star, Braga and now Leipzig.
    What a journey.
    Kent was sublime, as were the Rangers fans.Credit: Reuters
    Pack your bags!
    Pack your bags Rangers fans! You are off to sunny Spain!
    It is Rangers vs Frankfurt in the Europa League Final.
    With the spirit of Jimmy Bell in their hearts, they say goodbye to one legend, and welcome 11 new ones!
    What. A. Game.
    Full Time! Rangers vs Frankfurt final!
    3-2 to Rangers, Full Time.
    Gulacsi is up! Corner!
    The keeper is up for a Leipzig corner!
    Sakala through! Offside.
    92. Lundstram bursts down the left hand side, and feeds Fashion Sakala.
    He misses but is offside anyway.
    Three minutes added time
    91. There will be three added minutes as Leipzig surge forward with numbers.
    Rangers are holding on here! Stand your ground!
    Kamara is down
    89. There is a clash involving Glen Kamara who stays down, Leipzig take the free kick and he is quickly back on his feet. Suspect.
    He’s not playing!
    87. The ball bounces around in the Rangers penalty area and hits the referee, it will be a free kick to the Gers.
    Rampant celebrations
    86. The celebrations inside Ibrox were rampant after that third goal.
    What absolute scenes we are witnessing here, sheer euphoria.
    One eye on the clock, the other on the team.
    It is not over till it is over.
    Rangers players celebrate their third goal. Absolute limbs.Credit: AP
    Leipzig substitutions
    85. Poulsen and Angelino are off late for Leipzig
    They are being replaced by Andre Silva and Marcel Halstenburg.
    Leipzig are now desperate for a goal.
    John Lundstram!
    82. A VAR check is complete! It stands!
    The ball is lofted in by Ryan Kent, it is cleared by Gvardiol but only as far as Lundstram who strokes it home from 8 yards out on the volley.
    Good finish! Scenes!
    Goal Rangers! 3-2 Rangers!
    John Lundstram!
    Nkunku chance
    78. He should have a shot there but instead looks for Poulsen in the box, he does not find him and Rangers clear once more.
    The side in blue are clinging on now.
    Rangers corner.
    76. Whipped in by Tavernier, comes to nothing.
    The ball comes back in from Tavernier again, and Gulacsi is fouled when he goes to win it in the air, free kick Leipzig.
    Great play Leipzig
    74. Wing play on the right hand side leads to a flashed cross in the box which is missed by all those in white.
    Lucky for Rangers.
    The pressure is on.
    74. Rangers are under the kosh now.
    We have seen one big comeback already, and we could have another one on here.
    The stocks go up!
    71. Nkunku has done so well there, what a goal.
    His stock has just increased a little bit more there, a cross comes in from the left side, and he calmly volleys home into the top right corner.
    That is why the big clubs are after him. Great finish, great player.
    Goal Leipzig! Nkunku! 2-2 on aggregate!
    Leipzig have pulled one back and it is 2-2 on aggregate!
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    Roma 1 Leicester 0 (agg 2-1) LIVE RESULT: Abraham’s stunning header sends Foxes crashing out of Conference League

    LEICESTER missed out on the chance to fight for European glory as they were marginally beat by Jose Mourinho’s men in the Conference League semi-final.The Foxes fell behind to a stunning header from former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham early on in the game.
    And they were unable to break down Roma’s resilient defending all night.

    RESULT: Roma 1-0 Leicester (Roma 2-1 on agg)
    TV/Live stream: BT Sport 3 and BT Sport Ultimate
    Roma XI: Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Karsdorp, Cristante, Oliveira, Pellegrini, Zalewski; Zaniolo, Abraham
    Leicester XI: Schemichel; Perreira, Fofana, Evans, Justin; Maddison, Tielemans, Drewsbury-Hall; Lookman, Vardy, Barnes

    Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
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    European finals inspire passion
    The much-lamented third-tier European competition has given us a semi-final this evening to be proud of.
    At the final whistle the Roma players showed how much it meant to them to make it to the final this evening.

    First final awaits in Albania

    Rome is where the heart is
    Tammy Abraham adds to the list of Chelsea players who have not had successful careers at Stamford Bridge but then blossom in Italy’s capital city.
    His move in the summer has reignited his career.
    Abraham’s performance this evening had everything….confidence, talent, composure and passion.
    Who has two hands and was man of the match tonight?

    All roads lead to…….Albania
    Roma will play Feyenoord in the final on May 25.
    Jose Mourinho will be looking to add another trophy to his impressive resume in Tirana.
    Disappointing night for Leicester fans.
    No doubt we will hear from Brendan Rodgers soon on how he has a ‘wonderful group of players who are fantastic human beings’.
    FT: Roma 1-0 Leicester (Agg: 2-1)
    The referee blows his whistle.
    Jose Mourinho’s Roma will go to the final in Albania.
    It is all over for Leicester.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester – Oliveira chance!
    90+4. Oliveira has a shot from distance into the bottom corner.
    Schmeichel saves but cannot prevent the corner.
    That is probably it now for Leicester.

    Roma 1-0 Leicester – Maddison chance!
    90+3. Maddison has the ball outside the box and tries to stab a shot towards goal as he is closed down.
    The ball squirms wide in the wrong direction.
    Leicester will be hoping they can create one more chance.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    90+2. Some of the decision here have been terribly harsh on Leicester.
    Perez backheels the ball on the byline to win a corner.
    The referee gives a goal kick.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    90. Maddison whips the corner in right along the six-yard box.
    Smalling does brilliantly to head clear.
    We are going to have five added minutes.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    88. Time is running out.
    If Leicester are owed a favour by any genies, now is the time to call in such a favour.
    Two minutes remaining and added time.
    Abraham comes off for Shomurodov.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    86. Leicester win a corner and send everyone bar Schmeichel up.
    Smalling heads it clear.
    Justin is tackled and Roma given the decision for the throw-in.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    84. Abraham is feeling the fatigue also now.
    He is attacking and defending like a basketball game from end to end.
    You can see how much this win would mean to the striker.
    Zalewski comes off for Viña.

    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    82. Not much time left for The Foxes.
    Mourinho is well-versed in the dark arts of defending.
    He can set sides out to prevent the opposition from having shots on goal despite dominating the game.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    80. The ball comes out to Maddison some distance out.
    He manages to bend the ball around a wall of players.
    The shot is straight at Patricio.
    Leicester register their first shot on target in the 80th minute.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    78. Perez brings some urgency to Leicester’s play.
    They can’t keep faltering in the final third.
    If they do, their season ends today.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    76. Both sides seem to want to play their final hands.
    Dewsbury-Hall comes off for Perez.
    Zaniolo comes off for Veretout.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    74. Some of the Roma players are starting to feel the fatigue.
    Ibañez gives the signal that he needs to come off.
    He falls to the floor holding his hamstring.

    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    72. Tammy Abraham is giving it all he can defend when needed.
    If Roma win this game you would struggle not to find him getting man of the match.
    The Foxes are struggling for ideas.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    70. Dewsbury-Hall gets the ball around 25 yards out again.
    He must have some premonition that he nets from that distance in a dream last night in the team hotel.
    It troubles ball boys more than goalkeepers again.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    68. Maddison is try to find something on the edge of the box.
    There is no movement offering options.
    Roma are just blocking off any run.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    66. Dewsbury-Hall is keen the get the ball going forward.
    Leicester are still lacking that final pass.
    Abraham wins a free kick on halfway from Fofana.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    64. Roma are knocking the ball around now.
    With no urgency to attack they are happy to use the space of the pitch to frustrate their opponents.
    Always looking to slow play down is there is nothing in front of them.

    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    62. What a ball by Pellegrini out to the right.
    He finds Karsdorp who looks to cut it back to Abraham.
    Justin manages to block for a corner.
    The resulting corner is headed over by Chris Smalling.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    60. Roma are posing more of an attacking threat now.
    For a split second before they realise they have not given the ball away needlessly for some time so gladly oblige.
    Leicester are playing the ball around like a side 1-0 up in a second leg of a semi-final.
    They may know something we don’t.
    Roma 1-0 Leicester
    58. Mourinho must be content at the moment.
    He looks slightly less dour than normal.
    Should they win the tournament, rumour has it he will break into a wry smile.
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