The Sun Newspaper

THOMAS TUCHEL does not care if he wrecks the Euro dreams of his Chelsea stars.
England star Tammy Abraham became the latest to fall foul of the Blues’ new hardline coach, who axed him from the squad last weekend.

Thomas Tuchel is only focused on Chelsea’s success rather than his players’Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Tammy Abraham has fallen foul of Thomas TuchelCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Tuchel knows that could cause him problems with the delayed Euro 2020 barely three months away.
But the tough-talking German said: “I don’t want to be influenced by that. I know well that the players have personal interests and this is OK.
“I hope they fight for their personal interests. I really hope they give out their very best.
“Their personal interest is to be on the pitch for Chelsea and hopefully be on the pitch for their national team. That shows their ambition and quality.

“In my job as manager of Chelsea I cannot be influenced by a decision that has an impact on the national coach’s decision or a player’s future with his national team.
“To be honest, I’d like to play them here, then they can all stay with me during the summer. Relax on their vacations and then come for pre-season.
“That would be my personal choice but this will not happen. I am aware of it, but not in the way that can influence my choice.
“My choices are made to win games with Chelsea and nothing else.”

A number of Cobham graduates have become first-teamers in the last 18 monthsCredit: PA:Press Association
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Abraham is one of four England hopefuls who play regularly for Chelsea.
Apart from the Euro finals, there are three World Cup qualifying games later this month.
Chelsea also have Spaniards, Frenchmen, Italians, Germans and a Croatian midfielder in the ranks.
The team sit fifth in the Premier League, a point and a place above Thursday night’s opponents Liverpool.
Tuchel is still without defender Thiago Silva but is looking forward to the trip to Anfield.
He added: “These are the fixtures that make me feel alive.
“This is what normally you do not dare to dream of when you are a player like me and not at the highest level.
“The normal thing is to watch these games on TV and be excited.”

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AS 21st celebrations go this was hardly a walk on the wild side.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw his side stretch their unbeaten Prem away run to 21 matches.

Man Utd drew another blank as they played out a dire 0-0 against Crystal PalaceCredit: EPA

The Red Devils have now gone three games without scoring a single goalCredit: Rex Features

But the only thing worth toasting at a freezing Selhurst Park after this would have been his tootsies.
There was certainly not much on the pitch entertainment-wise to warm the heart – especially in a second half that matched anything in terms of tedium seen at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Dressed like a dazzle of zebras, a far from dazzling United once again looked anything but big-game hunters.
After their stalemate at Chelsea, Solskjaer admitted he was miffed and mystified by his stars’ inability to find the net against their top-six rivals.

Well, they showed here they are just struggling to score against the big-boys – as their frontmen found it tough going against a unspectacular Palace side
United had so much of the ball at times it resembled a training session – only with less intensity.
Solskjaer’s sloppy side were misplacing passes and failing to create chances long before the miss started to descend on Selhurst Park in the second half.
Not even the fog could hide the Red Devils attacking ineptitude as fired blanks in the capital for the second time in a little over 72 hours.

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Visibility was poor at a foggy Selhurst ParkCredit: Reuters

Edinson Cavani barely had a sniff in front of goalCredit: Getty – Pool

Solskjaer was dealt a blow before kick-off when keeper David de Gea was ruled out due to “personal reasons”.
The Spaniard’s replacement Dean Henderson had to be alert to avoid being embarrassed by a sixth-minute Andros Townsend free-kick which evaded everyone after it was whipped into the box from the touchline.
Christian Benteke then volleyed over for the Eagles as the visitors started slowly.
But Nemanja Matic’s deflected volley – superbly tipped over the bar by Palace keeper Vicente Guaita – sparked United into life.
And after Edinson Cavani had sidefooted over from the resulting corner, United began to assert control.

Marcus Rashford was unable to get through Palace’s stubborn defenceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood both fired shots wide of the target as the hosts dropped deeper and deeper.
But the lack of cutting edge that has blighted United in their clashes with the rest of the top six was all-too evident again here as they failed to find a breakthrough before the break.
Palace probably could not believe their luck to face a United side so blunt in attack.
The Eagles are hardly razor-sharp in that department themselves having failed to register a shot on target in their goalless draw at home to Fulham on Sunday.
They at least ended that damning statistic when Jordan Ayew’s goalbound shot was comfortably saved by Henderson in the 50th minute.

United struggled to create attacking opportunitiesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have been disappointed to take just one pointCredit: Reuters
Townsend then bounced one just wide of the far post – with Henderson rooted to the spot – after Luka Milivojevic’s free kick had been blocked by the United wall.
Sub Daniel James fluffed a close-range header and Greenwood blazed a shot over the bar as United pressed for a late winner.
But they would have lost had Henderson not produced a fabulous last-gasp block to deny Patrick van Aanholt.
That really would have been the icing on a crappy cake for United.
For them, the key to the door of the Premier League trophy cabinet feels light years away.

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ASTON VILLA’S Wednesday curse struck again to leave a season that promised so much in danger of falling flat.
And if you’re losing to a 10-man Sheffield United side, then maybe Europe is just not for you.

David McGoldrick scored a crucial winner as Sheffield United beat Aston VillaCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Phil Jagielka was sent off just before the hour mark but the Blades still wonCredit: AFP

David McGoldrick’s first-half strike gave the rock bottom Blades hope of a fourth win.
But when Phil Jagielka was sent off on the hour, even Chris Wilder must have doubted their chances.
It was hardly like United were indebted to keeper Aaron Ramsdale either, who barely had to lift a finger.
Stretching back to mid-January, Dean Smith’s side have now lost their last four games on a Wednesday.

And those defeats, to Manchester City, Burnley and West Ham before this one, leave the Villans off the pace in ninth.
In normal circumstances there would be nothing wrong with that having scraped to survival last season.
But having taken the league by storm early on, to not finish with European football must go down as a disappointment.
They are still in the hunt, but they’ve got no hope if they play like this.

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The striker scored from a tight angle against the VillansCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Jagielka brought down Anwar El Ghazi and was sent offCredit: AFP

Without talisman Jack Grealish again, Smith’s side were toothless and, if anything, were closer to scoring before Jagielka’s dismissal.
For Sheffield United, it was heroic stuff to keep a clean sheet given their nightmare year.
Still 12 points off safety it is surely too little, too late.
But for simply not throwing in the towel given they have looked doomed for months, they deserved this one.
Smith named the same side that beat Leeds last Saturday, with Ross Barkley again missing out to youngster Jacob Ramsey.
Having not started the previous five, Chris Wilder gave Rhian Brewster another chance to break his duck having gone more than 12 hours without a goal since signing from Liverpool.
Cut adrift at the bottom, the Blades refused to feel sorry for themselves and started well, despite the first big chance going Villa’s way.
Bertrand Traore’s 20-yard shot was deflected and ballooned up in the air.
As panic engulfed the home defence, Ollie Watkins nodded it into John McGinn’s path, but the Scot fired just wide of the far post.
Watkins was up next, forcing Aaron Ramsdale into a smart save down to his left.

The referee deemed Jagielka to have been the last man after checking the VAR monitorCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
But for all Villa’s early dominance, McGoldrick put the hosts ahead in the 31st minute with their first shot on target.
The striker started the move with a classy raking ball out to right wing-back George Baldock from the halfway line.
Baldock drove to the edge of the box and cut inside before shooting towards the far post.
And there was McGoldrick, having followed his pass and somehow ghosting in undetected, to bundle it in off the crossbar.
His sixth of the season, this was the 33-year-old’s first ever Prem strike against a side not from the ‘big six’.
Traore almost equalised with a stunning solo-effort but, after doing the hard work dancing effortlessly past four defenders, he fired just wide on his trusty left peg.
Wilder’s side were in unfamiliar territory, with this the first time this season they have led at the break.
But they had a mountain to climb after Phil Jagielka was sent off – after a VAR intervention – for denying Anwar El Ghazi a clear scoring opportunity.

The VAR replays made the ref decide to give a red
Played into space down the left, the veteran defender wiped out the Dutch speedster around 35 yards from goal and was shown a yellow by Robert Jones.
But with no covering defenders in immediate proximity, VAR Graham Scott saw it differently and told Jones to look at the monitor.
And we all know what happens next, with Jagielka’s yellow upgraded to red – leaving him the second oldest player to be sent off in the Prem, behind Stuart Pearce.
With Baldock five yards behind and Kean Bryan charging across the pitch to cover, it was far from clear-cut.
But despite the protestations, United had to get their head around trying to hold out for the last 30 minutes.
Smith brought on creative duo Barkley and Trezeguet for Marvelous Nakamba and Jacob Ramsey.
But the Blades looked comfortable for the most part, with Villa barely threatening any more than they did before.
Ethan Ampadu got a good block in to deny Traore’s scuffed shot – but that was about it until the dying moments.
The chance fell to Ezri Konsa from a corner and his shot was spilled by Ramsdale before it was frantically hacked away.
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Chris Wilder nervously watched his team try to hold on to their leadCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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LEICESTER managed to avoid crashing to a hat-trick of defeats for the first time under Brendan Rodgers thanks to a spectacular goal from, Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Nigerian striker cancelled out Matej Vydra’s early strike for Burnley with a glorious volley 11 minutes before half time, judging his effort perfectly as the ball flew over his shoulder.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored as Leicester drew 1-1 at BurnleyCredit: AP:Associated Press

Matej Vydra gave the hosts an early lead at Turf MoorCredit: AP:Associated Press

It is certain to emerge as a leading contender for goal of the season – and Vydra’s finish was not too shabby either.
The Czech international sent a shot rocketing past Leicester goalie Kasper Schmeichel after just four minutes for his first Premier League goal since last February.
It took something special to beat Schmeichel, who produced world class saves from James Tarkowski and Chris Wood to ensure Rodgers team did not leave empty handed again, after losing to Arsenal and Slavia Prague in their last two matches.
With Jonny Evans still missing with a calf injury, there was always a danger that Leicester would struggle against the Clarets from set pieces.

That impression was confirmed in the opening minute, after Ricardo Pereira carelessly lost possession straight from the kick off, and had to bring down Charlie Taylor to stop the Burnley full back galloping clear.
Dwight McNeil picked out Ben Mee with the free kick, and the Burnley skipper’s header was not far wide of the target.
But when the early goal came, it had nothing to do with the home team’s obvious aerial threat.
Hamza Choudury sold team-mate Wilfred Ndidi hopelessly short with an attempted back pass, and Vydra pounced.

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Iheanacho pulled back a goal for Leicester before the breakCredit: PA:Press Association

Both sides played with high energy but couldn’t find a second goalCredit: AP:Associated Press

He ghosted past the wrong-footed Ndidi and slammed an unstoppable shot past Schmeichel for his first Premier League goal in 375 days.
Choudury had a chance to make amends a few minutes later after a great cross on the run from wing back Timothy Castagne picked him out six yards from goal.
But the midfielder failed to keep his show down, and Nick Pope was able to push it over the bar at full stretch.

Jamie Vardy was unable to hit the target as Iheanacho came to Leicester’s rescueCredit: AP:Associated Press

Burnley will have been pleased to get a pointCredit: AFP
The Foxes had already had a penalty appeal waved away when Youri Tielemans went down under a clumsy challenge from Taylor, and Iheanacho gave a hint of things to come as they continued to pour forward.
The lively Leicester striker controlled the ball cleverly on his chest from another Ndidi through ball, and his shot on the turn flashed uncomfortably just past the near post.
The home team were also in adventurous mood, with Schmeichel doing well to smother Wood’s dipping volley, and Tarkowski forcing an even better save from the Foxes keeper with a powerful downward header.
But Leicester just about deserved an equaliser on the balance of an entertaining first half, and it arrived in sensational style.

Brendan Rodgers will want his side to get back to winning ways immediatelyCredit: Reuters

It was a big point for Sean Dyche in Burnley’s relegation battleCredit: Reuters
Makeshift central defender Ndidi showed his usual midfield skills as he brought the ball out of defence and spotted Iheanacho’s run between the two Burnley centre backs.
He delivered a superb ball over the top, but the finish was even better.
Iheanacho watched the ball carefully as it came over his shoulder, before meeting it with an unstoppable volley.
That was the end of the scoring, although both sides hit the woodwork in an entertaining second half.

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HEATING up football boots is becoming a big business.
As SunSport revealed on Saturday, Chelsea are using a microwave to warm footwear before games.

Getting your boots the right temperature is paramount and while Chelsea use microwaves, other teams are using more hi-tech methods

Yet despite the Blues’ low-budget approach, rivals are splashing out on more advanced methods.
Wolves, Arsenal, Manchester United and Southampton are just some of the clubs using cleatPRO. 
It is a steam box for boots, while there is also a ‘light’ version for away games.
But one coach told me: “When I was a player, if I’d put my boots into a little box with boiling water to warm them up in the dressing room before a game, I’d have had my head kicked in!”

Another Prem club has trialled a product called FORMBASE that the players call ‘The Boot Oven’ and have placed an order.
Apparently, it looks like the ovens you see in a Greggs and, like their sausage rolls, you put them in for ten minutes and they come out ready.
However, Manchester City are the envy of all the other kitmen who are now urging their clubs to buy the latest must-have piece of machinery.

Chelsea stars have their boots microwaved before gamesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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They have the ultimate dryer made by Austrian firm Wintersteiger — ski-boot specialists.
Drytech is a wall-mounted system with lots of little dryers poking out which you hang the boots upon.
And in these Covid times, it also includes a sterilising system.
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