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      Antony bursts into tears after Conference League final loss to Chelsea as Man Utd flop is comforted by Jadon Sancho

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      ANTONY burst into tears after Real Betis suffered defeat in the Conference League final.The Spanish side were ahead at half-time but Chelsea fought back to win 4-1 in Wroclaw, Poland.Antony was in tears at full-timeCredit: Shutterstock EditorialDejected Antony failed to make an impact on the gameCredit: TNT SPORTSAntony and Jadon Sancho shared a hug at full-timeCredit: TNT SPORTSAntony, who is on loan from Manchester United, was seen sobbing at full-time.He sat on the pitch heartbroken only for goalscorer Jadon Sancho to rush over and console him.The two ex-United team-mates embraced in touching scenes.Several Betis stars were also seen crying, including former West Ham duo Adrian and Pablo Fornals.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAntony joined the club in January and has become a fans’ favourite in Seville, scoring nine goals in 26 games.But he could not replicate his good form in the final against Chelsea and he lost his temper late in the game.The Brazilian winger picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge on Enzo Fernandez as the pair then squared up to each other and clashed heads.Antony has made it clear he wants to stay at Betis but it is unclear if they can afford to keep him.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSMan Utd will reportedly not accept a cut-price deal and they have been paying 16 per cent of his £200,000-a-week salary.After beating Fiorentina in the Conference League semi-final, Betis fans chanted “Antony stay”.’Leaving Man Utd works wonders’ – Fans love Antony’s wild Real Betis celebrations as he goes topless and waves huge flagAnd club legend Joaquin even joked he would help his kidnapping to ensure he does not return to Old Trafford.He said: “I’ll provide the car if he has to be kidnapped, but let him stay no matter what.”Jadon Sancho scored Chelsea’s third of the nightCredit: AFPAntony lost his temper and clashed with Enzo Fernandez at the end of the finalCredit: TNT Sports More

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      Antony in moment of madness as Man Utd flop appears to HEADBUTT Enzo Fernandez in Chelsea Conference League final clash

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      ANTONY appeared to get away with a headbutt on Enzo Fernandez as Real Betis folded in the Conference League Final.The on-loan Manchester United winger clashed with the Chelsea star in the closing stages of the Blues’ 4-1 win. Antony appeared to throw his head towards Enzo Fernandez in the Conference League FinalCredit: TNT SportThe incident occurred late in Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Real BetisCredit: Shutterstock EditorialAntony was booked but appeared lucky to escape a possible red cardCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThe feuding pair went head-to-head in the final stages in PolandCredit: Shutterstock EditorialAntony cut a frustrated figure after the LaLiga side threw away a one-goal advantage in Poland.Fernandez was left on the deck after late challenge as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, with Antony seen offering him a hand up.The help was rejected, with the Betis winger then leaning down and appearing to throw his head in the direction of the Argentine.Antony was given a yellow card for his part in the fracas that followed. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLBut VAR did not follow up on the incident, with the 25-year-old escaping further punishment.One fan gasped on X: “Antony headbutting Enzo while his down huh.”Another said: “Antony doesn’t even get a yellow for headbutting Enzo????”While a third added: “That scuffle between Enzo and Antony? I think Antony should have been carded a second yellow for his headbutt.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKAntony was sent out on loan to Betis in January after infamously accumulating more yellow cards than goals for United.The Brazilian has found form in Spain, with seven goal contributions in 17 LaLiga games.Real Betis come up with new name for Antony as chant begs Man Utd loanee to stayBut he couldn’t inspire Betis to victory in Poland, where Chelsea turned on the style in the second half. Abde Ezzalzouli had given Betis a deserved half-time lead as the Blues looked sluggish and uninterested.A visibly fuming Enzo Maresca ran the changes at half time, dragging off Malo Gusto. His team took 20 minutes to break Betis down, with Fernandez heading in the equaliser. Nicolas Jackson gave Chelsea the lead with a close-range header minutes later.Sublime late strikes from Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo secured the silverware.Read More on The SunAnd Antony cut a disconsolate figure at the final whistle, bursting into tears on the pitch.Several Betis stars were also seen crying, including former West Ham duo Adrian and Pablo Fornals. More

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      Crystal Palace in talks to complete Atletico Madrid star transfer with Ben Chilwell set for Chelsea return

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      CRYSTAL PALACE are in talks to sign defender Reinildo Mandava.The Atletico Madrid left-back will be a free agent this summer and is being eyed by Premier League clubs.Reinildo Mandava is in talks over a move to Crystal PalaceCredit: GettyBen Chilwell is unlikely to stay at Selhurst ParkCredit: PAPalace want the Mozambique star as competition for Tyrick Mitchell.Ben Chilwell joined on loan from Chelsea in January but is not expected to stay. Yet Everton and Fulham are also fans of Reinildo.The 31-year-old, previously linked to Barcelona and Manchester United, joined Atletico from Lille in 2022.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe has since played 102 times for the club, scoring once and assisting two goals.Reinildo started ten LaLiga and three Champions League matches this season.Palace boss Oliver Glasner wants to wrap up transfer business quickly  having moaned about the time it took to do deals last year.And it is set to be a busy summer at Selhurst Park with them keen to bolster their squad ahead of their first ever Europa League campaign.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSBut Palace risk losing key players like Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze.Guehi’s contract expires in a year’s time and Newcastle could reignite their interest after seeing a £70million bid rejected last summer.How Crystal Palace outsmarted Man City in FA Cup finalAs for Eze, he is believed to have a release clause of around £65m and reports have linked him with the likes of Aston Villa and Man Utd. More

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      Real Betis 1 Chelsea 4: Cole Palmer masterclass sees Blues come from behind to win Conference League final

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      ENZO MARESCA emerged triumphant from football’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.Chelsea’s boss will enjoy winning the Conference League, his first trophy at the end of his first season in charge and making history.Chelsea have won the Conference LeagueCredit: GettyAbde Ezzalzouli scored the opening goal for Betis within 10 minutesCredit: GettyEnzo Fernandez headed home the equaliser from close rangeCredit: ReutersBut he now wants nothing to do with this tinpot competition ever again as he sets his and the club’s sights on much loftier ambitions in the Champions League next season.It’s a notable achievement to become the first club to win all four existing European competitions as Chelsea have now done.Maresca also believes that however minor this third-tier tournament is, he hopes it will ignite the fires for long term success within his youthful squad.But in five years’ time it’s highly unlikely many people will remember the heady night in Poland when the youngest squad in the Premier League this season came of age by coming from behind to see off Real Betis.READ MORE ON CHELSEAThe trophy itself will easily masquerade as a waste-paper bin in the manager’s office and time will move on for a club convinced it is on the way back to greatness as it should be after more than £1billion of investment in the squad.Yet it almost wasn’t so. Maresca had to make drastic changes to his team and to the mentality in order to get over the line.His young team was a bag of nerves in the first half and as such went behind inside ten minutes to a team comprised of veterans and cast offs, managed by a bloke exactly the same age as Maresca’s dad.They were run ragged by the sublime skills of Isco, a former Real Madrid great who showed Chelsea what it is to stay cool and calm on a big night.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeThey shot themselves in the foot with nervy, slack passing as they struggled to get to grips with the occasion and could have been more than the one goal down they were at half time.But when you play with kids you can win things and they learn quickly.Moment Chelsea & Real Betis fans CLASH in Poland launching bottles & smoke grenades hours before Europa Conference finalNicolas Jackson scored the second for ChelseaCredit: APJadon Sancho fired the third into the top-right cornerCredit: GettyMaresca pulled the plug on right back Malo Gusto at half time, the architect of destruction for the first goal and it brought certainty and surety. He surgically removed Benoit Badiashile and Pedro Neto and Chelsea grew into the game.To the extent that Cole Palmer, who had been taught a lesson in dribbling and poise by the elder statesman of Isco suddenly sprang to life with vigour and confidence instead of being an interested spectator.Two goals in five minutes, the 65th and 70th, saw Chelsea come roaring back and both were teed up by Palmer from the right hand side.The first was a delicately floated cross that found the head of midfielder Enzo Fernandez who nipped in ahead of defender Marc Bartra and glanced the ball into the back of the net.The Argentinian World Cup winner has been at this club for more than two years and is part of the furniture now. Despite scoring he knew the nerves had been there for all to see and immediately called for calm among the delirious celebrations.But he needn’t have worried because Palmer, who had mustered the only shot on target for Chelsea in a dreadful first half, was in full flow now.A roll of a defender on the edge of the box and he dashed in a cross for Nicolas Jackson to divert the ball past ex-West Ham and Liverpool keeper Adrian.It was a sweet moment for the striker who was drafted back in to the team to redeem himself after getting sent off in a crucial Premier League match at Newcastle earlier this month.He’ll tell you he headed it but it came off his left breast but it counted and from then on it was Betis trying to stem the tide of a rampant Chelsea side suddenly believing in themselves.Sub Jadon Sancho came on to make it 3-1 with seven to go before Moises Caicedo added a fourth for good measure on the stroke of 90.Chelsea have now officially won it, or bought it all depending on your viewpoint. But their squad is priced at around £750 million, more than five times that of their opponents here.Next season instead of Betis it will be Barcelona or Bayern Munich at the other end of the pitch which means it will be considerably harderNot that they didn’t struggle when faced with the first decent team to confront them the entire time. It shows there is still a lot to do.Read More on The SunBut goodbye to Shamrock Rovers, Noah of Armenia and Astana of Kazakhstan, the 15 game, 9,800 mile odyssey to win a competition Chelsea never wanted to be in in the first place has come to a successful conclusion.Oh and good riddance.Reece James lifted the trophyCredit: GettyThe players will be celebrating long into the nightCredit: AFPChelsea have become the first team to win every European trophyCredit: GettyIt was heartbreak for Real BetisCredit: EPAMoises Caicedo sealed the win in added timeCredit: AP More

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      ‘Honour and a privilege’ – Arsenal cult hero, 36, announces retirement after record-breaking career

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      CARLOS VELA has announced he is retiring from football aged 36.The Mexican striker spent the first seven years of his two-decade career at Arsenal. Carlos Vela has announced his retirement from footballCredit: GettyThe former Arsenal striker was a cult hero at the EmiratesCredit: AFPVela scored a hat-trick on debut after being made to wait three years for his debutCredit: PA:Press AssociationVela was signed by the Gunners from Mexican side Guadalajara’s youth team in 2003. It took THREE years for the club to get the forward a work permit, resulting in several loans to Spain. Vela would become a cult hero at the Emirates, appearing in 62 games and scoring 11 goals. He began his Arsenal career in stunning fashion, netting a hat-trick on his debut in a 6-0 win over Sheffield United in 2008. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLVela was dubbed a “world class striker” by then boss Arsene Wenger – only for his Gunners career to stall in spectacular fashion.He made just three starts over the next three seasons. And it wasn’t until a move to Real Sociedad in 2012 that Vela rediscovered his scoring touch. The 36-year-old netted 73 times in 250 games for the Spanish club.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKAnd he became Los Angeles FC’s first-ever signing in 2017, becoming even more prolific over the pond.Vela’s time in the MLS has seen him become the face of LAFC.Ex-Arsenal star Carlos Vela’s Malibu home destroyed in LA wildfires as his stunned wife shares emotional messageIn 2019, he netted 34 goals in 31 games, by far the best return of his pro career.After seven years in California, he has decided to call it quits after failing to find a new club as a free agent. Vela said in a statement: “Throughout my career, I have experienced very special moments, but the time has come to officially retire from professional soccer. “There are not enough words to express my gratitude to my family, all the clubs that gave me a chance, and the fans for their support and affection. “It has been an honour and a privilege to share my career with all of you.”Antoine Griezmann, who played with Vela at Real Sociedad, responded: “I love you very much, Carlitos, thank you for your friendship.”Mexican stopper Guillermo Ochoa added: “An honour to share the field with you, always a legend! You’ll be missed on the pitch.” More

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      Chelsea star Malo Gusto hauled off at HALF TIME of Conference League final after ‘generational disasterclass’

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      CHELSEA star Malo Gusto was hooked at half-time following a horror performance in tonight’s Conference League final.The Frenchman, 22, had been selected ahead of Reece James for the clash with Real Betis.Malo Gusto endured a difficult evening in PolandCredit: APGusto was guilty of giving the ball away in the build-up to Abde Ezzalzouli’s ninth minute opener.The former Lyon ace then failed to atone for his error, with Ezzalzouli running him ragged.Travelling Chelsea supporters sang James’ name ahead of half-time.And they were granted their wish after the interval, with boss Enzo Maresca turning to his skipper.READ MORE CHELSEA NEWSSupporters watching on at home were also relieved to see Gusto hooked.One wrote on X: “This is a generational disasterclass from Malo Gusto, my eyes are literally hurting, Enzo Maresca this is 100% on you especially when Reece James has been on insane form. Ridiculous.”While a second huffed: “Sell him this summer.”And another added: “That’s why you don’t play Malo Gusto over your captain.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKAhead of the final, Gusto admitted that he has endured a difficult season.The France Under-21 international told L’Equipe: “There is competition, you can’t hide behind that. But on my season… there were events that meant that I played a lot and then less. Fuming Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca delivers two-word X-rated response to critics in fiery press conference”Those are the risks of playing at a big club. The objective is now to remain well established. I have confidence in myself.”I haven’t always shown it, and I haven’t always had the attitude to reflect that. You have to first convince yourself before convincing others.””Doubts? Never. I know that, if I am here, it is because I deserve to be. You have to make steps to be even better.”In the first season, everything was beautiful and rosy, everything went well.”This year has been a lot more difficult, especially from a personal point of view, for different reasons.”It has allowed me to learn, especially to understand what my priorities should be. I am very far away from where I should be. It is my responsibility.”Read More on The SunJames’ introduction helped Chelsea turn the contest around.Goals by Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo saw the Blues run out 4-1 winners to lift the Conference League. More

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      Plymouth in furious statement as manager Miron Muslic, 42, ‘breaks promise’ to join ex-Champions League semi-finalists

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      PLYMOUTH ARGYLE launched a furious statement after their manager “broke promises” to walk out for former Champions League semi-finalists. Miron Muslic, 42, only took over at Home Park in January, replacing Wayne Rooney in the dugout.Miron Muslic infuriated Plymouth Argyle by walking out on the club to join SchalkeCredit: RexHe masterminded the famous FA Cup victory over Liverpool before a valiant defeat against Manchester City in the fifth round.But the Bosnian was unable to avoid relegation from the Championship as Argyle finished 23rd – three points from safety. However, the club were willing to stick by Muslic and had already began making plans to back him in League One and push for promotion next season.That was until he suddenly told the Pilgrims he wanted to leave for FC Schalke in Germany’s second tier.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd Argyle “reluctantly” gave him permission to enter negotiations with Schalke.But their statement blasted Muslic for seemingly betraying his word months into his contract which ran until 2028.Plymouth fumed: “Argyle can confirm that we have reluctantly allowed Head Coach Miron Muslic to open talks with a 2. Bundesliga side after he expressed his desire to speak with the German team and not return to England.”Despite regular communication since the end of the season, and no mention of any issues, Miron has now made it clear that, after extended periods away from his family, this opportunity provides him the chance to be closer to them after four years on the road.Most read in EFLCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”We are frustrated by this decision, having implemented clear structures, processes and personnel to aid Miron and his coaching staff as we look to return to the Sky Bet Championship at the earliest opportunity.”Not only that, the club have also moved quickly to bring in new signings and received repeated verbal promises from Miron that he was committed to Argyle and would do everything to help the club bounce back to the second tier.’When we go down…oh God’ – Red-faced Plymouth owner accidentally admits club are getting relegated with 15 games left”Muslic joined the Greens in January 2025, on a three-and-a-half-year contract, after a period out of the game having departed Cercle Brugge. “He will now leave Argyle just four months into that long-term commitment.”We wish him the best for his future career.”We will be making no further comment at this stage.”In Muslic’s press conference after the final game of the season, he openly said he needed backing.The club responded by appointing David Fox as head of football operations and Tom Randle – who Muslic had worked with previously – as head of recruitment.Jamie Paterson and Caleb Watts signed last week – the former citing his conversations with Muslic as a major reason behind joining. One fan took to Wikipedia to edit his page name to “Plymouth Snake” in response to the shock bombshell news, which will reportedly see Argyle receive £1million in compensation. Seven-time top-flight runners-up Schalke suffered two relegations from the Bundesliga in three years from 2022 to 2024. Read More on The SunThey finished 14th in the 2 Bundesliga this term – with the likes of ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius and Rasmus Hojlund’s brother Emil in the squad.Die Konigsblauen are six-time German Cup winners, won the Uefa Cup in 1997 and reached the Champions League semis in 2011, losing 6-1 on aggregate to Manchester United. Muslic was in charge when Argyle beat Liverpool in the FA CupCredit: Getty More

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      Melissa Reddy breaks silence on Sky Sports exit as she blasts ‘the abuse never ceases’ and reveals new career path

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      MELISSA REDDY has broken her silence after leaving Sky Sports.SunSport exclusively revealed earlier today that the broadcaster has left the company in major shake-up alongside five colleagues.Melissa Reddy has opened up on her decision to leave Sky SportsCredit: INSTAGRAM @melissa_reddyReddy lifted the lid on the challenges she has facedCredit: INSTAGRAM @melissa_reddyReddy has been working as Sky Sports’ senior football reporter in recent years, regularly covering Manchester United and Liverpool.In a lengthy statement, she wrote on Instagram: “ELEVENTH!!! season of Premier League coverage done and I’ve called time on three years at Sky.”I’ll still be doing bits and bobs for them but I’m genuinely soooo excited to share all the things I’ll be working on soon, which will allow me to focus on my strengths and passions 🥰”For those that have BEEN asking for the past five years (😅) YES – that will include new books 🤓.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLReddy also opened up about the abuse and challenges she has faced in the industry.She continued: “After the first press conference I covered in England all those years back, a journalist turned to the press officer and said “why are you letting them come over here and take our jobs. You just want a little lick 👅 don’t you?!””I would love to be able to say that things have changed in that regard, but alas… the abuse as a foreign woman of colour in this sphere never ceases. “I will always be stronger than the hate; I know who I am, I know the substance of my work.Most read in Football”You can’t dim the light of someone who learned how to shine in the dark.”The messages I’ve received from managers, players, club staff, my Sky and wider industry colleagues – people who know me, my journey and sacrifices over the past decade – carry more weight than any of the nasty noise. Let’s cook.”Presenter Natalie Pike commented: “Thank you for always shining a light for the women in our industry.”Commentator Pien Meulensteen said: “Good luck looking forward to seeing what you get up to next.”Fellow host Reshmin Chowdhury wrote: “Keep shining, my lovely! Can’t wait to see what’s cooking.”Reddy is hoping to write a new bookCredit: INSTAGRAM @melissa_reddy More