Mauricio Pochettino defended Nicolas Jackson after the misfiring Chelsea striker was criticised by supporters during the Blues’ 2-0 home defeat to Brentford.
Jackson has scored two Premier League goals since his summer move from Villarreal.
Pochettino clarified that a fan had told the striker to “wake up” after a poor first-half display.
Team!
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
Ahead of their last-16 Carabao Cup clash against Blackburn, the Chelsea boss supported his player.
“We cannot abuse, even if you say ‘wake up’, because I think it’s not right,” Pochettino told a press conference on Tuesday.
“He suffered an injury (to his hand during the last international break), it’s difficult to train, to keep fit and to sco…
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has started 2020-21 in outstanding form for Everton, leading to the possibility of an England debut in the coming days.
Having managed nine goals in six appearances across all competitions this season, Calvert-Lewin is the leading scorer in Europe s top five leagues.
He leads a list which also includes Tottenham pair Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland, Bayern Munich great Robert Lewandowski and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
Calvert-Lewin s reward is a first call up to the England senior squad ahead of the friendly with Wales, which is followed by Nations League clashes with Belgium and Denmark.
But just how does Calvert-Lewin compare to his England team-mates, and what are t…
The outcome of the Serie A title race is completely down to Napoli following Monday s 5-0 demolition of Cagliari, according to Lorenzo Insigne.
Napoli have been in fine form this season, winning 22 and losing just one of their 26 top-flight matches to take them top of the table.
The weather-enforced postponement of Juventus clash with Atalanta on Sunday meant Napoli had the opportunity to open up a four-point cushion at the summit, and they did so with little fuss, winning away from home in comprehensive fashion.
Jose Callejon, Dries Mertens, Marek Hamsik, Mario Rui and Insigne scored the goals for Maurizio Sarri s swashbuckling side.
And Insigne thinks the title is Napoli s to lose, with Juventus potentially set to miss out for the first time since the …
Trent Alexander-Arnold is feeling pain-free and is eager to make his return for Liverpool this week after recovering from a thigh problem.
The right-back sustained the injury during England s 1-0 win over Austria in a friendly on June 2 and was subsequently ruled out of the Three Lions Euro 2020 campaign.
He has taken part in full training during the Reds pre-season training camp in Austria, however, and may feature in Tuesday s 30-minute friendlies against Wacker Innsbruck and Stuttgart.
I m fully pain-free. I ve been doing a lot of rehab when we were off over the summer with the physios and the medical staff, which was good, he told Liverpool s official website.
I feel fit, I feel healthy and I m back in full training now, so it s good. It s good for …
Best Odds: 7/10
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With an Olympic gold medal up for grabs this weekend, Brazil and Spain will face-off at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama on Saturday lunchtime.
Brazil U23
Starting with Brazil, while The Yellows might not have been at their best earlier in the week, André Jardine s side did manage to extend on their Olympic adventure from the penalty spot. Eventually coming past what was a sluggish Mexico outfit in the semi-finals, the Seleção have largely impressed many this summer. Looking to make even more history after Neymar s heroics in Rio five years ago, the South American giants know that they re now just one win away from making it back-to-back gold medals. Opening up their Group D run a fortnight ago with a thumping 4-2 victory against 201…
Jose Mourinho says he has fantastic memories of his time at Real Madrid and believes the club made him a better manager and person.
Mourinho – who was dismissed by Manchester United in December – spent three years in charge of Los Blancos until 2013, winning LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana.
The Portuguese has been linked with a return to the club at the end of the season to replace Santiago Solari, who has struggled since taking over from Julen Lopetegui in October last year.
Mourinho appears to be keen on a reunion at the Santiago Bernabeu and was fulsome in his praise of the club when asked about his time there.
I have fantastic memories, he told Deportes Cuatro.
Working at Real Madrid is a unique experience and dif…
Sampdoria director Carlo Osti has confirmed the club are set to sign Harry Winks on loan from Tottenham.
The Spurs academy graduate has fallen down the pecking order under Antonio Conte, leading the 26-year-old to seek further playing opportunities.
Capped 10 times by England, most recently in 2020, Winks started only nine Premier League matches last season and the signing of Yves Bissouma from Brighton and Hove Albion has provided further competition in midfield.
Winks was reportedly holding out for a loan move to a Premier League side but suitors had not come forward, which appears to have resulted in him taking the opportunity to move to Italy.
Speaking following Sampdoria s 4-0 defeat to Salernitana, which left the side with just one point from thei…
Pele congratulated Lionel Messi on equalling his one-club goals haul and said he admired the Barcelona star.
Messi scored his 643rd goal for Barca during Saturday s 2-2 draw at home to Valencia in LaLiga.
The six-time Ballon d Or winner matched Pele s haul of 643 goals in just 656 matches for Santos between 1956 and 1974.
Pele, regarded by many as the best to ever play the game, posted a tribute to Messi on Instagram.
When your heart overflows with love, it is difficult to change your path, the Brazil great wrote.
Like you, I know what it s like to love wearing the same shirt every day. Like you, I know that there is nothing better than the place we feel at home.
Congratulations on your historic record, Lionel. But above all, congratula…
Verdict: Manchester City win and over 1.5 goals
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Manchester City can take a major step towards securing Premier League title glory if they can inflict more misery on Manchester United in Wednesday’s pivotal derby.
Manchester United
Starting with the hosts, coming off the back of a humiliating 4-0 hammering away at Goodison Park on Sunday, Manchester United have very publically started to stall following Ole Gunnar Solskaer s permanent arrival last month. Losing four of their last five matches across all competitions and also crashing out of the Champions League at the Nou Camp last week, the Red Devils have some serious ground to make up if they intend to secure another top four finish. Now sat down in sixth and three points …
Ajax are attempting everything in their power to keep Manchester United target Erik ten Hag, according to the club s technical manager Gerry Hamstra.
Ten Hag has been repeatedly linked with the permanent United job, which will become available at the end of the season when Ralf Rangnick moves into a consultancy role.
The Dutchman and Mauricio Pochettino appeared among the favourites for the Old Trafford role, though reports in the last week suggested Ten Hag has all but agreed on a deal.
Hamstra, who is the highest technical director at the Eredivisie champions after Marc Overmars departed earlier in the year, insists Ajax have left no stone unturned in their attempts to retain Ten Hag.
We have done everything we can and are doing everything we can to…