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    Chelsea files: Enzo Maresca and Cole Palmer’s bonus woes and fans’ Conference League final travel chaos

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    ENZO MARESCA will not get a bonus if he wins Chelsea the Conference League tonight.The Blues boss is looking to cap Champions League qualification by lifting a European trophy in Poland – but it will not earn him any extra cash.Enzo Maresca will not get a bonus if Chelsea win the Conference LeagueCredit: GettyWhen Maresca agreed to take over at Stamford Bridge last summer, the bonuses included in his five-year deal showed the real ambitions at Chelsea.The Italian will only be rewarded personally for success in the Premier League and Champions League during his time in west London.While everyone at Chelsea will have wanted to win the Conference League this season – having started as clear favourites – a top five finish was far more important for the club’s long-term future.And Maresca has argued that he is ahead of schedule in delivering it, stating the owners wanted to qualify for Europe’s top competition within two years of his arrival from Leicester.Player bonuses, however, are negotiated on a season-by-season basis and the Blues squad are in for a reward if they triumph over Real Betis in Wroclaw.The size of the bonus for each player will depend on how many appearances have been made throughout the competition.So if Cole Palmer – who was not even in the squad for the group stage – starts against Betis he will still earn less than some of those fringe players who did all the hard work early on.Chelsea would become the first ever club to win all three of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League should they get past Manuel Pellegrini’s men.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSPLAYING FOR KEEPSCHELSEA are confident they will not have to fight off West Ham for goalkeeping chief Ben Roberts this summer.Former Blues boss Graham Potter is making his mark in East London and has decided to move goalkeeper coach Xavi Valero on.Potter has already hired close pal Kyle Macaulay from his role at Stamford Bridge and appointed him as head of recruitment at the London Stadium.Roberts followed Potter from Brighton to Chelsea as one of his coaching staff but has since been given a role as global head of goalkeeping across both of BlueCo’s clubs.While West Ham are in the market for a new coach, there is no concern at Chelsea over losing Roberts this summer.Chelsea’s goalkeeping chief Ben RobertsCredit: Chelsea AN GUARD TODD BOEHLY has personally stamped on the fingers of any team trying to swoop for Andrey Santos in the summer transfer market, with PSG, Arsenal and Crystal Palace all reportedly keen. The Chelsea midfielder, who spent this season on loan at BlueCo-owned RC Strasbourg, helped the French side secure Conference League football for next year with 10 goals and 3 assists in Ligue 1. The Stamford Bridge outfit picked up Santos for just £18m two years ago. Still, with Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez all looking to be starters for Enzo Maresca next season, the Brazilian has been linked with a big-money move away. Having watched him closely this season, and in person, that would be a big mistake.London rivals Arsenal and Champions League finalists PSG were two teams circling the midfielder, but Todd Boehly seems to have warned them away as he spoke at the Qatar Economic Forum last week. He said “We are laser-focused on the Club World Cup. We have some players that are joining us, [like] Andrey Santos. We are really excited about him and what he can add to the squad.”A personal name-dropping of the midfielder speaks volumes of the value he presents to the Blues, and he should expect to be a part of Enzo Maresca’s plans beyond the summer tournament.Andrey Santos is due to return to Chelsea next seasonCredit: GettyWHEN THERE’S A WILLLAMINE YAMAL has set the footballing world alight this season. A left-footed, right-wing Barcelona prodigy who just happened to be bathed by Lionel Messi in a kind of ‘footballing baptism’ and has already helped carry his side to a league title at the age of 17 – it’s easy to see why he’s viewed by many as the heir to Messi’s throne. Part of what made football so incredibly good for the past 20 years, was that we had an individual rivalry in Ronaldo vs Messi that provided constant debate and discussion as for who was the best in the world.Many thought that kind of rivalry that might be revived with Erling Haaland vs Kylian Mbappe, but it may actually be Lamine Yamal vs a Chelsea starlet waiting to explode – Estevao Willian. Both seem to have been crafted by the footballing gods in the mould of Lionel Messi, but idolise and bring all the flair and skill which Neymar did in his time at Barcelona. Estevao was signed for £28million by Chelsea last summer, with the move set to be finalised this summer ahead of a transition into the Blues’ first team next campaign. The wonderkid has played predominantly on the right in Brazil, but can also play through the middle and on the left – the kind of versatility Enzo Maresca will adore. Coincidentally nicknamed ‘Messinho’, he has broken all sorts of records set by Neymar in Brazil, and is more than ready to step up and take some pressure off of the shoulders of Cole Palmer. Be patient Chelsea fans, your Lamine Yamal awaits…Estevao Willian is a superstar in the makingCredit: AlamyMARESCA’S YOUNG GUNSAFTER Chelsea’s lineup vs Nottingham Forest was announced, it was official… The class of 24/25 became the youngest team in Premier League history. The average age of Enzo Maresca’s starting eleven’s over the course of the season was 24 years and 36 days – beating the previous record of Leeds United by 136 days.Inexperience has been richly discussed among Blues’ fans since Todd Boehly and his BlueCo consortium took control of the club, with the general consensus being that the team needs some sort of leadership outside of 27-year-old Tosin Adarabioyo, who has been nicknamed the ‘Uncle’ of the dressing room. It remains to be seen if BlueCo’s risky strategy of buying almost exclusively young talents will pay dividends in terms of trophies and on-pitch success, or if the Blues will splash some cash on an experienced defender and forward in a bid to bring a Premier League title back to Stamford Bridge – but if they don’t it may be a long wait until they see it. Chelsea’s class of 24/25 became the youngest team in Premier League historyCredit: GettyFIGHT OR FLIGHTMORE THAN 100 fans were set to board the 07:40am flight from Luton to Poznan this morning in the hope of arriving in Poland and exploring Wroclaw before Chelsea play the Conference League Final tomorrow. However, the WizzAir flight has left fans stranded in Luton with the flight has been delayed until 4pm UK time.A six-hour delay means that passengers will now arrive in Poznan around 7pm, before still needing to travel to Wroclaw where the final takes place – another 113 miles away. For fans who would’ve arrived at Luton airport around 5am, they now face a nightmare day of travel which could be as long as 17 hours. Not to mention fans will also face expenses such as missed trains, taxis, buses, late check-in fees, and paying ridiculous prices for airport meals with such a lengthy delay.It comes on the back of our story that hotels in Wroclaw have been finding crafty ways to suddenly and inexplicably increase their room rates for Chelsea fans who booked months ago in anticipation of their team reaching the final.Blues fans face travel chaos ahead of the Conference League finalCredit: GettyCUP FOR IT ENZO MARESCA will finally discover this weekend who he faces in the opening game of the new and expanded Club World Cup this summer.Club America play off against Los Angeles for the right to face Chelsea on June 16 in the first Group D fixture.The two teams have a chance to join the cream of Europe and South America after Club Leon were banned over multi-club ownership rules. They are stablemates with CF Pachuca and teams in the same groups cannot compete in the same tournament.The game takes place this Saturday – the same day as the Champions League Final – but Blues supporters can watch both with the CWC play off not starting until 7.30pm and that’s in California which is 3.30AM the following morning in London.Enzo Maresca discovers who he faces in the opening game of the Club World CupCredit: Getty More

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      F1 hit by travel chaos with teams left without CARS days before Chinese Grand Prix as FIA release statement

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      FORMULA ONE teams have been hit by travel chaos days before the Chinese Grand Prix after technical issues in Melbourne.Several teams including McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes, Aston Martin and Williams have been hit by the problem, leaving them without their cars for the second race of the season, according to F1 insider Kym Illman.Teams have been hit by travel chaos before the Chinese Grand PrixCredit: SplashTeams affected include Williams, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Aston MartinCredit: AFPWith the quick turnaround between the Australian and Chinese Grand Prix, teams would have expected car parts to arrive on Monday evening or Tuesday morning after being shipped out on Sunday.However, technical issues have delayed the arrival of some car parts.Illman reports the teams were told their parts would arrive at 10am on Wednesday morning, but have now been told they will not receive them until 4 or 5pm.This means that teams have seen around 30 hours of their preparation time to get the cars ready for the first session of the weekend wiped out.READ MORE IN F1The freight transport issues have also hit the sport’s tyre supplier, Pirelli.The FIA released a statement ahead of the weekend – which will see the season’s first Sprint Race – providing a one-time-only concession on the curfew of the fitting schedule of cars.It said: “Due to the logistical challenges for the official tyre supplier resulting from delays in freight arrival, specially the requirement to revise the fitting schedule for Wednesday, the following concessions will be made.”On the Wednesday, and for this event only, the curfew period will be reduced by a period of five and a half (5.5) hours for a maximum of six (6) operational personnel for the sole purpose of tyre preparations post tyre fitting from the tyre supplier.”Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSIllman reports that members of the crew have been waiting around in hotels away from the track, effectively with the days off, as they wait for the parts to arrive.Delays in car parts arriving are not uncommon in F1 but, with a tight schedule to fit into, time is of the essence if the issue is not to impact heavily on the likes of Lando Norris or Max Verstappen.Behind the scenes in Australia GP paddock including F1 star Lewis Hamilton’s new Ferrari baseLewis Hamilton’s Ferrari team were not mentioned in the report but could have still seen parts delayed. Hamilton was set for a meeting with his engineer this week to better understand each other after the Brit had an X-rated blast down his radio following a Ferrari strategy blunder.Free Practice 1 for the race weekend will commence at 3:30am UK time on Friday.Sprint qualifying will then start at 7:30am.Saturday will see the Sprint Race start at 3am before qualifying for the feature race begins at 7am.The lights then go out for Sunday’s feature race at 7am.Norris took the chequered flag in Melbourne with Verstappen second and George Russell third as six cars crashed out of a chaotic wet race. More

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      Man Utd in travel chaos as train cancellations force squad to take bus and DOUBLE length of journey to Tottenham

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      MANCHESTER UNITED were hit with travel chaos ahead of their trip to play Tottenham. United planned on taking a train to the capital on Saturday but were forced into travelling on a coach instead. Ruben Amorim boarding the coach to LondonCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeNoussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee stepping onCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeAlejandro Garnacho heads to LondonCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeMatthijs de Ligt had a coffee in handCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeMan Utd had planned to travel by trainCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeAccording to the Daily Mail, the train lines were affected by a fault with the signalling system between Rugby and Milton Keynes.Multiple services were either cancelled or severely delayed – meaning United instead took the coach. A train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston usually takes around two and a half hours if running on time. But the same journey by coach can take over four hours. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRuben Amorim and his side were pictured boarding a coach ahead of the team’s overnight stay down south.Matthijs de Ligt had a coffee in hand while Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee were also pictured.United travel to North London – sitting 14th in the league with Spurs one place below – with injury problems too.Amad Diallo could be out for the season with ankle ligament problems. Most read in FootballLisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Jonny Evans, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer are all ruled out.Midfielder trio Mainoo, Ugarte and Collyer all suffered knocks in training this week – leaving Amorim short of options.So Casemiro and Christian Eriksen – formerly of Tottenham – could be brought back into the squad. That is despite the pair only playing a combined 176 minutes since starting alongside each other in the 2-0 loss to Newcastle on December 30.United opted for a coach trip insteadCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeTrain cancellations scuppered their travel plansCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeTheir trip to London doubled in durationCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeBruno Fernandes steps out in his carCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke More

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      Why Man Utd were forced into nightmare journey back from Fulham with miserable stars arriving in Manchester at 1.30am

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      MANCHESTER UNITED stars had to be driven back home by coach after their Premier League match at Fulham.United defeated the Cottagers 1-0 on Sunday thanks to Lisandro Martinez’s winner at Craven Cottage.Manuel Ugarte was visibily upset after Manchester United’s hellacious trip backCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeAlejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo had to endure a three-and-a-half-hour coach trip back to ManchesterCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeRasmus Hojlund saw Man Utd’s flight back from London getting cancelledCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeMatthijs de Ligt and co couldn’t board the plane due to problems with the airlineCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeThe Red Devils were scheduled to fly back to Manchester Airport but the flight was cancelled.Problems with the airline meant going back home by plane was no longer an option.And so Man Utd had to endure a THREE-AND-A-HALF-HOUR coach journey to Manchester.Ruben Amorim’s men faced Fulham at 7pm and the manager finished his post-match press conference at about 9.40pm.Read More on Man UtdThe team arrived back at Manchester Airport at about 1.30AM to get on their cars that they had parked nearby anticipating a flight back.Some players, such as Manuel Ugarte, seemed visibly frustrated after the horrendous ordeal.United are training on Monday despite the horrible journey, but have Tuesday off.Amorim will hold practice again on Wednesday morning before the three-hour flight to Romania.Most read in FootballBest new sign-up offersSunSport exclusivesThat is where they will take on FCSB on Thursday’s crunch Europa League clash as they look to seal a place in the top eight.That leads straight to the Last 16, which is quite important for United amid their ongoing woes in the Premier League.Gary Neville tells Match of the Day legend ‘please stop putting me forward as Man Utd manager’The Red Devils have plunged down to 12th place in the table, which means winning the Europa League poses as their best chance of gaining Champions League qualification next season.The club has dealt with off-field woes as well with fans furious following the rise in ticket prices.That led to the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust issuing an open letter to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe warning him about the negative effects of that decision.MAN UTD PLAYER RATINGS: Maguire puts in superb defensive display but Garnacho caught running into blind alleysMANCHESTER UNITED secured a hard-fought three points against Fulham.Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike proved to be the difference in what was the Red Devils’ only shot on target all game.Harry Maguire impressed but Alejandro Garnacho once again failed to impress in what could have been his Man Utd farewell amid rumours linking him with Napoli and Chelsea.Here is how SunSport rated the individual performances.Andre Onana – 7Good save low down to his left to keep out an Alex Iwobi shot early doors.Other than that he was barely tested but no glaring errors mean it is a step in the right direction for the Red Devils No1.Diogo Dalot – 6Had a difficult time in the first half up against Iwobi who was Fulham’s main attacking threat.Switched to the left flank in the second half and supported Garnacho without posing much of a threat.Matthijs de Ligt – 8Another strong showing at the back from the Dutchman. Without his support for Dalot, Fulham may have created a goal down United’s right-hand side.Harry Maguire – 9A superb defensive display from the England star who has been one of United’s best players since Amorim took charge.Pulled off a brilliant header at the back post to deny Rodrigo Muniz a certain goal.Lisandro Martinez – 8Superb last-ditch tackle to prevent Emile Smith Rowe from shooting as he burst through on goal.His goal had a big slice of luck as it was deflected past Bernd Leno but credit to him for having the audacity to shoot.Noussair Mazraoui – 7Solid at the back and tried to get forward when he could. United looked more balance with him on the left and Dalot on the right, although the pair swapped at half-time.Manuel Ugarte – 6Showed some nice touches and was a bit of a menace in the middle – in a positive and negative sense. Kept a close eye on Smith Rowe and allowed him no time on the ball.Booked for a foul on Adama Traore and was taken off shortly afterwards with an injury.Bruno Fernandes – 5Not at his best. Barely saw the ball in the first half and was not very effective when he did get it.Amad Diallo – 6Looked bright on the ball and United’s only real outlet going forward.He worked tirelessly and pressed really well – his hard work paid off when he found the back of the net in stoppage time but his effort was chalked off.Alejandro Garnacho – 3Was cautious on the ball and ran into blind alleys too often. Final ball let him down on the rare occasion he did manage to beat a defender.Rasmus Hojlund – 4His hold up play is nowhere near good enough for this system or for a club like United.He was too gung-ho at times and his erratic nature meant linking up with Amad and Garnacho proved difficult.Hauled off before the hour mark which says it all about his performance.Subs:Leny Yoro (for De Ligt, 58mins) – 6A more assured display given his shaky start to life in the Premier League.Joshua Zirkzee (for Hojlund, 58mins) – 5Like Hojlund he had a difficult time holding the ball up but United improved with him on the pitch.Toby Collyer (for Ugarte, 76mins ) – 6Solid display again from the youngster who was often in the right position to clear, including one on the line to stop a Joachim Andersen header from going in.Kobbie Mainoo (for Garnacho, 80mins) – 6Provided energy in midfield and shored things up alongside Collyer.A brilliant one-two with Amad set up the winger to score before VAR ruled Amad offside.Tyrell Malacia (for Mazraoui, 80mins) – 6Brought on in an unfamiliar right wing-back role but did what was needed to see out the clean sheet. More

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      Man Utd fans face travel chaos as Storm Bert threatens to ruin chance of seeing Amorim’s first game in charge vs Ipswich

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans are facing a travel nightmare as the country continues to feel the full force of Storm Bert.New manager Ruben Amorim takes charge of his first game this afternoon against Ipswich.Ruben Amorim takes charge of his first game as United bossCredit: GettyFans are facing travel chaos getting to IpswichCredit: PABut some away supporters are having difficulty getting to Portman Road for the 4:30pm kick-off.Train lines between Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent have been flooded, causing cancellations and huge delays.There are also several road closures and lengthy detours in place in the North West.For United fans living in the capital, there is disruption on trains from London to Ipswich.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning as torrential rain, heavy snow and strong winds continue to batter the UK.These conditions are set to continue into the evening, giving United fans potential difficulty getting home from Ipswich too.Liverpool supporters are facing similar challenges as they travel down to face Southampton this afternoon.The police are advising against non-essential travel due to the dangerous weather in some areas.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSStorm Bert has already caused chaos in the EFL after several matches were postponed yesterday. In the Championship, Blackburn vs Portsmouth was called off due to flooding and League Two games Bradford vs Accrington Stanley and Fleetwood vs MK Dons also got axed.’Thunder and hail’ on route amid flooding & second overnight Storm Bert warningAll Premier League games are set to go ahead this weekend, including tomorrow’s clash between Newcastle and West Ham.The North East has been hit with 70mph winds and the storm could wreak havoc for the Hammers’ travel plans. More

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      Chelsea fans hit by travel chaos for Conference League clash against Noah as club release statement

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      CHELSEA fans have been hit by travel chaos ahead of the Conference League clash against FC Noah.The Blues continue their European campaign by welcoming the Armenian outfit to Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening.Chelsea fans will face travel disruption on ThursdayCredit: AlamyHowever, fans planning to travel to the match via the London Underground will now have to make different arrangements.Tube services will be severely impacted by strike action as there are not expected to be any trains running.Chelsea has warned supporters and notified them of the inconvenience.A statement read: “Supporters coming to Stamford Bridge for this week’s game against Noah are notified in advance that London Underground services are set to be affected by industrial action.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”Chelsea play our next Uefa Conference League fixture against the Armenian side on Thursday (7 November) and currently no tube trains are expected to run that day.”Alternative services are likely to be busier than normal so it is important to plan ahead and check before you travel.”On Sunday (10 November), when we host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, London Underground is expected to run as normal apart from some services which may be affected by planned works.”The Blues have won both of their Conference League fixtures this season.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSEnzo Maresca’s side began the league phase with a victory over Gent before dispatching Greek side Panathinaikos.This has left Chelsea at the top of the qualifying league while Noah is in 18th place, having won one and lost one.Shocking moment woman appears to make racial slur live on TV leaving presenter stunned after Man Utd vs ChelseaChelsea player ratings vs Man UtdCHELSEA came from a goal down to rescue a point at Old Trafford.Robert Sanchez brought down Rasmus Hojlund with 20 minutes remaining and Bruno Fernandes rolled in what looked to be a decisive spot kick.But Chelsea hit back swiftly as Moises Caicedo’s sweet strike flew into the bottom corner.Here is how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield saw the performances of the Chelsea players in the 1-1 draw…Robert Sanchez – 3Made a few really good saves in the first half, and was much improved after a poor performance last time out against Newcastle.That was until he gave away a reckless penalty on Rasmus Hojlund, which was easily dispatched by Bruno Fernandes.His mistakes are starting to cost Chelsea time after time.Malo Gusto – 2Got in good positions in the first half, but was often wasteful when he got there.Was booked for a late challenge on Manuel Ugarte, before being hooked for Cucurella at half-time after an awful overall showing.Wesley Fofana – 6A strong performance at the back was marred only by the Frenchman letting Rasmus Hojlund escape him before winning a penalty for his side.Showed brilliant recovery pace throughout the game, and made some crucial challenges too.Levi Colwill – 6That was a strong defensive showing from the Chelsea number 6.For a player with a passing range as impressive as his is, it would’ve been nice to see him use it more as Chelsea looked for a goal.Reece James – 5Improved this week, but still showed signs of rustiness as he gave the ball away in dangerous positions a few times.More effective on the right side in Malo Gusto’s position, and more comfortable there as expected with Marc Cucurella on the left.Another 90 minutes in the tank is fantastic news for Chelsea fans.Moises Caicedo – 9Scored a certain contender for goal of the month with a sensational volley from the edge of the box to level the scoring for his side.Effective in breaking up play for the Blues once more, and showed why he is worthy of the £100m price tag Chelsea paid for him.Romeo Lavia – 8Another impressive midfield performance from the Belgian, who shows prowess beyond his years on and off the ball.Seems the perfect pivot partner for Moises Caicedo, and people need to start talking about how Manchester City let him go for peanuts.Noni Madueke – 6Unfortunate to hit the post in the 13th minute with a header following a corner.Worked hard defensively throughout the game too, but was unable to really put his creative abilities to the test.Cole Palmer – 7In the first half, his signature ‘Palmer touch’ got the away supporters off their feet, and he was Chelsea’s most creative outlet on the day.Unable to add another goal or assist to his impressive tally this season, but still had a solid showing.Pedro Neto – 5Showed flashes of brilliance on the left-hand side, and came close with a shot across goal in the second half.Was moved to the right-hand side in the second half, but it was much of the same from there.Nicolas Jackson – 5Pretty invisible up front for Chelsea today.Worked hard and tracked back well when required to, but fans were left confused as to why Christopher Nkunku was left on the bench.In fairness to him, could’ve had an assist if Enzo Fernandez could finish his dinner.SubsMarc Cucurella (for Gusto, 46 mins) – 5A solid showing on the left-hand side. Chelsea look a better team with him in the 11.Mykhailo Mudryk (for Madueke, 70 mins) – 4Tried to light things up on the left hand side, but his spark wasn’t enough to win the game for his side.Enzo Fernandez (for Lavia, 70 mins) – 2Missed an absolute sitter which would have won his team the game after coming on. Looks very short on confidence.Click here to read more Chelsea stories.Chelsea are hoping to return to winning ways after their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United.Moises Caicedo’s superb strike cancelled out Bruno Fernandes’ second-half penalty to earn a point.Levi Colwill hailed his goalscoring team-mate after the match.The defender said: “It was definitely huge. You’ve got two ways to react, you either put your head down or you get on with it and try to get the equalising goal, which obviously we did.”Moi is an amazing player and we’ve got so many of them that, when you’re struggling in a game or when you’re not scoring, they pull out that magic.”We’ve been behind already this season and we know you’ve got to react fast.”We know we’re a good team, we believe we’re going to create more chances to score no matter the time in the game.” More

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      Man Utd fans in travel CHAOS and risk missing Porto game as flight hit by huge delay.. but compensated with a free beer

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans are having a nightmare trying to get to Porto for tonight’s huge European clash.The Europa League match at the Estadio do Dragao kicks-off at 8pm.United fans have been hit by travel chaosCredit: Getty – ContributorMan Utd fans should make the match just in timeCredit: RexBut several United fans remain stuck at Manchester Airport as their flight has been severely delayed.The AlbaStar plane was set to leave at 7.50am this morning and land in northern Portugal two hours and 25 minutes later.But a technical issue meant the flight was stuck 1,344 miles away in Rome.It finally departed Manchester Airport at 3.20pm, meaning fans are now in a mad dash to make it to the game on time.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAs compensation for their travel nightmare, the delayed passengers were reportedly given a £6 drink voucher while they waited in the departure lounge.That would have covered the cost of a bottle of Corona from Bar MCR – but not a Budweiser or Peroni which cost more than £6.It comes after the United players also had a disastrous journey to Porto and were delayed by three hours due to the weather.They were due to take off at 3pm yesterday but the rain meant they were not in the air until 6.10pm.Most read in Europa LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe delay saw Erik ten Hag’s press conference pushed back by an hour-and-a-half to 8.30pm.He reportedly has two games to save his job after a disastrous start to the season, with the likes of Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel linked with replacing him. ‘He’s done!’ | How woeful tactics & Dalot shocker saw Spurs smash Man Utd to spell end for Ten HagAnd ahead of facing Porto, Ten Hag said: “As always when we are not winning, we are very disappointed and we are also mad, mad with ourselves and especially when you lose a game like Sunday.”We are mad and from the madness we have to get motivation and go on to the next game.”Everyone has to take responsibility and that starts with me as the manager. But on the pitch we have leadership skills and they have to stand up. “Every game for us is important and every opponent is 100 per cent motivated. We have to be ready to compete and fight.”Why NOBODY is the right man to replace Erik ten Hag at Man UtdSunSport’s DAVE KIDD says Erik ten Hag’s time at Man Utd is up… and explains what’s wrong with all the potential candidates to replace him.THIS is a mid-table squad at an underachieving club, with a lot of unwanted players on big money.And Ratcliffe is an instinctive cost-cutter who may not pay top dollar to the next manager.If this club wasn’t called ‘Manchester United’, it wouldn’t be an especially desirable job.The good news for United is that their new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is a very decent judge of a manager.He has been instrumental in three previous managerial appointments — Gareth Southgate for England, Graham Potter for Brighton and Eddie Howe for Newcastle.None were wildly popular at the time, all were conspicuous successes.Interestingly, Ashworth’s No 1 choice for the Newcastle job was Unai Emery, who turned him down to stay at Villarreal but has since proved that judgment right by excelling at Aston Villa.Emery may well deliver the coup de grace to Ten Hag on Sunday — especially with Bruno Fernandes suspended and Kobbie Mainoo an injury doubt.And the Spaniard would be an excellent fit for United — yet there is next to no chance that he would abandon Villa’s Champions League campaign to take the Old Trafford job, not least because he isn’t a stark raving madman.Howe would be another good candidate to succeed Ten Hag but, although he has become frustrated on Tyneside, the Saudis would surely not allow Ratcliffe to poach Howe, as they reluctantly did with Ashworth.Potter is available but his Chelsea experience and lack of charisma would make him a tough sell.Which brings us to Southgate, who remains close with Ashworth and is an excellent man-manager who was seriously considered by United last spring.Yet, despite having led England to two of their three major finals, Southgate’s reputation for over-caution was only enhanced during the Euros.Mauricio Pochettino, passed over twice by United, is out of the equation having taken the United States job.Thomas Tuchel would be a popular and gettable option but, despite being a fine coach and a very engaging man, he is considered something of a loose cannon.Likewise, Roberto De Zerbi, now at Marseille after his brief Brighton stint sparkled then fizzled out.Kieran McKenna — a gifted former United coach who has won back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town — is an intriguing candidate but the imminent vacancy may come a year or so too soon.Marco Silva, the extremely under-rated Fulham boss, has been on United’s radar and should not be discounted.Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, last season’s ‘next big thing’, was passed over by West Ham as well as Liverpool this summer and is not an easy man to pin down.Zinedine Zidane, who has taken over from Alan Curbishley as a 20-1 shot for every Premier League job, is a ‘figurehead’ manager and not an Ashworth type.Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United goal machine who joined Ten Hag’s coaching team in the summer is the bookies’ favourite. Simply because he’s in the building and he’s Dutch.So, yes, getting rid of Ten Hag is the easy part. More

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      Man Utd chaos just 24 hours before Porto clash as flight to Portugal is delayed by THREE HOURS due to severe weather

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S flight to Porto has been delayed by three hours due to severe weather.Erik ten Hag’s men have come under fire for their dismal performance on Sunday as they lost 3-0 to Tottenham at Old Trafford.Manchester United’s journey to Portugal has been disruptedCredit: GettyThe travel difficulties come just 24 hours before their Europa League clashCredit: GettyIt is a crunch game for Man Utd as they eye a first European win of the campaignCredit: GettyCaptain Bruno Fernandes was spotted boarding the flight on WednesdayCredit: GettyAnd things are not getting much better off the field as the Red Devils were hit with delays to their journey to Portugal.Man Utd are set to kick off their second Europa League game of the season against Porto at 8pm BST on Thursday evening.They were due to take off for Portugal around 3pm on Wednesday, but did not leave until 6.10pm due to foggy and rainy conditions.Ten Hag’s press conference was due to take place at 7pm but has now been pushed back to 8.30pm.READ MORE ON MAN UTDFans have also suffered delays to their journeys.It is the latest inconvenience for manager Ten Hag – who is understood to have been given two games to save his job.Man Utd’s trip to Porto will be followed up by an away game in the Premier League against Aston Villa on Sunday.They failed to win their opening Europa League match as FC Twente held them to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.Most read in Europa LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnd the defeat to Spurs extended their winless streak to three matches – a run which started with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace.But captain Bruno Fernandes will be available for the trip to Villa despite being shown a red card against Tottenham.Patrice Evra is confident Erik ten Hag can turn it around at Man UtdMan Utd were successful in appealing the decision, meaning the Portuguese playmaker escapes a three-match ban.On the pressure he is under, Ten Hag said: “I’m not thinking about it, I’m not anxious.”We created a togetherness in the summer with the ownership and the leadership.”We made this agreement, and we were all behind it. We know the strategy [is to bring in] young players in a transition period.”They also know in May in all my last six seasons there were always trophies and that is what we are aiming for.” More

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      Tottenham’s Europa League clash with Qarabag DELAYED as fans face frantic rush to get to stadium amid travel chaos

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      TOTTENHAM’S Europa League opener against Qarabag was severely delayed due to travel chaos.The Azerbaijani side were staying in Stratford but did not turn up to Spurs’ stadium until 7.45pm due to serious traffic.Spurs’ Europa League clash against Qarabag FK has been delayedCredit: PAThat was only 15 minutes before the planned kick-off – which was then pushed back to 8.35pm.Qarabag’s coach ended up having a police escort for the last mile of their 12-mile journey.While their late arrival could land them in hot water with Uefa, whose regulations state that both teams must be at the stadium at least 75 minutes before kick-off, as per article 54.01.But because this is their first offence this season, the club and their coach Gurban Gurbanov will likely only get a warning from European football’s governing body.READ MORE IN football Travel to Spurs was a nightmare due to a multitude of reasons.Part of the A10, the major road in the area, was closed, while for supporters coming from the south there were major delays on the M25.A person hit by train at Tottenham Hale train station meant many Greater Anglia trains were cancelled between there and Broxbourne.And there were severely limited trains coming in from the Hertfordshire direction.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSGurbanov’s reigning Azerbaijani champions were not the only ones to get caught out by the issues.TNT Sports pundits Peter Crouch and Glenn Hoddle abandoned their car and legged it down the street to make it in time for the start of their coverage.Ex-Spurs striker Crouch, 43, said: “Hopefully (the Qarabag team) ran down the High Road like me and Glenn! We gave up wit the car.”Tottenham legend Hoddle, 66, added: “Peter and I limped.”Qarabag are not the first to be caught out by the congested roads in N17.Spurs’ last European fixture – the last-16 Champions League tie against AC Milan in March 2022 – kicked off ten minutes later than planned due to both sides being held up in traffic.It made Spurs’ fans wait an extra 35 minutes for their first European game in 18 months, who named a strong line-up.Captain Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson all started up top, the latter two having netted in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Brentford.There were still six changes though, which saw 18-year-old pair Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall make their first European starts of their respective careers.Boss Ange Postecoglou, managing his first Spurs game in Europe, said: “It is going to be a great experience for our young players. It is different to domestic competition and they will learn a lot.”Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have shown great energy. They want to make a career for themselves and my responsibility is to give them opportunity.READ MORE SUN STORIES”For a club like us, all these competitions are important. We have not had success for a very long time.“For a club our size, not winning becomes a millstone around your neck and you have to win something to release that.”SunSport’s Jordan Davies reacts to Europa League draw as Man Utd face Mourinho More