England
If Chelsea need a new man in the dugout, they could give one Champions League-winning manager some thought.
The Blues are still led by Mauricio Pochettino, who appears to be under less pressure now.
After the Premier League club defeated Leicester City 4-2 over the weekend in the FA Cup quarterfinals, the Argentine is leading the team back to Wembley.
After losing by a slim margin to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, this will be their second trip to Wembley this season.
Pochettino’s job is still not safe at Chelsea
But Pochettino’s job does not appear to be completely safe, with Chelsea still in the bottom half of the standings and him about to enter the last year of his contract at the end of the season.
Journalist Ben Jacobs claims that Chelsea are not holding discussions to replace Pochettino right now or in any other way.
But he did say to GiveMeSport that the Blues do want to have a long-term succession plan in place, and Hansi Flick, the former manager of Bayern Munich, is a part of it.
He said: “When we hear a lot of these names linked with Chelsea, it doesn’t mean they’re going behind Pochettino’s back and offering somebody a job, which would suggest that they’re done with him. It means that Chelsea are forging relationships, they’re tracking people, and they’re aware of who is out there in the market.
“So if they have to make a change, whether that’s this summer, or whether that’s in years to come, they have the right relationships, they have the right Intel, they have the right data, and the people that they might bring on board are well aware of the Chelsea project as well.
“That’s just smart. Within that context, Hansi Flick is one name that could come under consideration, and has been spoken about internally as part of normal succession planning. There are several others that Chelsea are discussing, but not in the sense of an emergency meeting to find a replacement for Pochettino, more in case they have to make a change and to ensure that there’s no managerial limbo, whilst at the same time hoping it can still work with Pochettino.”
Chelsea could make some big decision if they don’t qualify for Europe
This season, Pochettino’s youthful and inconsistent team has been a mystery, and their underwhelming performance in the league has increased the pressure on the coach.
The 52-year-old may be doomed if Chelsea are unable to qualify for Europe for the second straight season due to worries over Financial Fair Play.
Chelsea are rumored to be discussing the German as a possible replacement for Pochettino, despite the fact that Flick has apparently been studying Spanish because he is particularly interested in the soon-to-be-vacant Barcelona head coaching role.
The post Chelsea had internal discussions to appoint Champions League winning manager appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/03/19/chelsea-internal-discussions-champions-league-winner/
If Chelsea need a new man in the dugout, they could give one Champions League-winning manager some thought.
The Blues are still led by Mauricio Pochettino, who appears to be under less pressure now.
After the Premier League club defeated Leicester City 4-2 over the weekend in the FA Cup quarterfinals, the Argentine is leading the team back to Wembley.
After losing by a slim margin to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, this will be their second trip to Wembley this season.
Pochettino’s job is still not safe at Chelsea
But Pochettino’s job does not appear to be completely safe, with Chelsea still in the bottom half of the standings and him about to enter the last year of his contract at the end of the season.
Journalist Ben Jacobs claims that Chelsea are not holding discussions to replace Pochettino right now or in any other way.
But he did say to GiveMeSport that the Blues do want to have a long-term succession plan in place, and Hansi Flick, the former manager of Bayern Munich, is a part of it.
He said: “When we hear a lot of these names linked with Chelsea, it doesn’t mean they’re going behind Pochettino’s back and offering somebody a job, which would suggest that they’re done with him. It means that Chelsea are forging relationships, they’re tracking people, and they’re aware of who is out there in the market.
“So if they have to make a change, whether that’s this summer, or whether that’s in years to come, they have the right relationships, they have the right Intel, they have the right data, and the people that they might bring on board are well aware of the Chelsea project as well.
“That’s just smart. Within that context, Hansi Flick is one name that could come under consideration, and has been spoken about internally as part of normal succession planning. There are several others that Chelsea are discussing, but not in the sense of an emergency meeting to find a replacement for Pochettino, more in case they have to make a change and to ensure that there’s no managerial limbo, whilst at the same time hoping it can still work with Pochettino.”
Chelsea could make some big decision if they don’t qualify for Europe
This season, Pochettino’s youthful and inconsistent team has been a mystery, and their underwhelming performance in the league has increased the pressure on the coach.
The 52-year-old may be doomed if Chelsea are unable to qualify for Europe for the second straight season due to worries over Financial Fair Play.
Chelsea are rumored to be discussing the German as a possible replacement for Pochettino, despite the fact that Flick has apparently been studying Spanish because he is particularly interested in the soon-to-be-vacant Barcelona head coaching role.
The post Chelsea had internal discussions to appoint Champions League winning manager appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/03/19/chelsea-internal-discussions-champions-league-winner/
Manchester United may have eased the pressure on their manager Erik ten Hag with a memorable 4-3 win over Liverpool at the weekend, but it still looks like it’s going to be a major uphill struggle for the Dutchman to save his job at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag won silverware with Man Utd in his first season in charge, guiding them to a Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle last term, while his side also reached the FA Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to eventual treble winners Manchester City.
The former Ajax manager is now enjoying a positive moment with the Red Devils as they enjoyed a thrilling comeback over rivals Liverpool at the weekend, beating them 4-3 to make it into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
United will now face Coventry City in the next round, meaning they’ll be big favourites to make it to the final again, but it seems not everyone is convinced that lifting the trophy would be enough to keep Ten Hag in the job for next season.
Ten Hag still likely to lose his job, says senior Dutch journalist
Discussing Ten Hag’s situation and comparing it to when Louis van Gaal was shown the door shortly after that 2016 FA Cup final victory, Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen stated his view that he couldn’t see the 54-year-old being kept on, even with a trophy by the end of this campaign.
“Of course it remains his end. Even if he wins the FA Cup. Louis van Gaal also went out after winning the FA Cup, but of course he had a very easy route,” Driessen said on the Kick-Off podcast, as quoted by Sport Witness.
“With Coventry huh, and then also on neutral ground. After the final he will hopefully be back in front of him with a prize, and then he will have won two for Manchester United, but I don’t think this will save his job.”
The post Even Man United FA Cup win wouldn’t save Erik ten Hag’s job, says Dutch journalist appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/03/19/ten-hag-man-utd-to-sack-him-even-with-cup-win/
Manchester United may have eased the pressure on their manager Erik ten Hag with a memorable 4-3 win over Liverpool at the weekend, but it still looks like it’s going to be a major uphill struggle for the Dutchman to save his job at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag won silverware with Man Utd in his first season in charge, guiding them to a Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle last term, while his side also reached the FA Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to eventual treble winners Manchester City.
The former Ajax manager is now enjoying a positive moment with the Red Devils as they enjoyed a thrilling comeback over rivals Liverpool at the weekend, beating them 4-3 to make it into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
United will now face Coventry City in the next round, meaning they’ll be big favourites to make it to the final again, but it seems not everyone is convinced that lifting the trophy would be enough to keep Ten Hag in the job for next season.
Ten Hag still likely to lose his job, says senior Dutch journalist
Discussing Ten Hag’s situation and comparing it to when Louis van Gaal was shown the door shortly after that 2016 FA Cup final victory, Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen stated his view that he couldn’t see the 54-year-old being kept on, even with a trophy by the end of this campaign.
“Of course it remains his end. Even if he wins the FA Cup. Louis van Gaal also went out after winning the FA Cup, but of course he had a very easy route,” Driessen said on the Kick-Off podcast, as quoted by Sport Witness.
“With Coventry huh, and then also on neutral ground. After the final he will hopefully be back in front of him with a prize, and then he will have won two for Manchester United, but I don’t think this will save his job.”
The post Even Man United FA Cup win wouldn’t save Erik ten Hag’s job, says Dutch journalist appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/03/19/ten-hag-man-utd-to-sack-him-even-with-cup-win/
Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior reportedly remains a priority for AC Milan ahead of the summer transfer window after they showed an interest in him in January.
This is according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, as cited and translated by Sport Witness, who state that Kiwior remains firmly in Milan’s sights for the summer.
The Poland international impressed during a previous spell in Serie A with Spezia, and although he didn’t play straight away at Arsenal, he’s now more of a regular and has impressed with his recent performances for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Kiwior joined as more of a centre-back, but he’s now looking very solid at left-back for the Gunners, and it remains to be seen if they’ll be prepared to let him go after his impressive run in their first-team.
Still, it makes sense that someone like Milan might be interested, especially if they feel they can tempt the 24-year-old with more guaranteed playing time.
Kiwior transfer remains a priority for AC Milan
Kiwior is surely now at the stage of his career where he’ll want to be sure of his role for his club, and even if he’s done well for Arsenal recently, the presence of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu, as well as Jurrien Timber as he nears a return from injury, could mean he’s going to lose his place in the not-too-distant future.
It may also be that Kiwior could be tempted to return to Italy after doing well with Spezia in the past, but AFC fans will surely hope he can be persuaded to stay at the Emirates Stadium, whether that’s as a starter or as a useful, versatile squad player.
Arsenal might also need to sell before they can buy this summer, and it might be that that area of their squad will be considered one where they can afford to lose one or two players.
The post Euro giants haven’t given up hope of signing in-form Arsenal star appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/03/19/kiwior-transfer-arsenal-ace-wanted-by-milan/
Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior reportedly remains a priority for AC Milan ahead of the summer transfer window after they showed an interest in him in January.
This is according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, as cited and translated by Sport Witness, who state that Kiwior remains firmly in Milan’s sights for the summer.
The Poland international impressed during a previous spell in Serie A with Spezia, and although he didn’t play straight away at Arsenal, he’s now more of a regular and has impressed with his recent performances for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Kiwior joined as more of a centre-back, but he’s now looking very solid at left-back for the Gunners, and it remains to be seen if they’ll be prepared to let him go after his impressive run in their first-team.
Still, it makes sense that someone like Milan might be interested, especially if they feel they can tempt the 24-year-old with more guaranteed playing time.
Kiwior transfer remains a priority for AC Milan
Kiwior is surely now at the stage of his career where he’ll want to be sure of his role for his club, and even if he’s done well for Arsenal recently, the presence of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu, as well as Jurrien Timber as he nears a return from injury, could mean he’s going to lose his place in the not-too-distant future.
It may also be that Kiwior could be tempted to return to Italy after doing well with Spezia in the past, but AFC fans will surely hope he can be persuaded to stay at the Emirates Stadium, whether that’s as a starter or as a useful, versatile squad player.
Arsenal might also need to sell before they can buy this summer, and it might be that that area of their squad will be considered one where they can afford to lose one or two players.
The post Euro giants haven’t given up hope of signing in-form Arsenal star appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/03/19/kiwior-transfer-arsenal-ace-wanted-by-milan/
Joao Neves is prepared to play for Manchester United, according to Bruno Fernandes.
The 19-year-old, who plays with Portugal’s captain Fernandes, has lately been linked to Man United.
Rumours from last week stated that the young player from Benfica is expected to sign this summer in a record-breaking deal.
The Mirror, which was cited earlier this month by the Daily Mail, claims that Sir Jim Ratcliffe could sanction a £100 million bid for Neves this summer.
Man United have followed Neves for more than a year
In the last 12 months, the Benfica wonderkid has been well-known following Enzo Fernandez’s then-record-breaking move to Chelsea. Coach Roger Schmidt threw the young Portuguese player into the deep end to replace the Argentine World Cup winner, and Neves hasn’t looked back.
A question concerning United’s interest in Neves has been posed to Fernandes, who is getting ready to join the Portugal team as the domestic season approaches an international break.
During an interview with Sport TV, a Portuguese television channel, Fernandes was questioned about Neves’ growth.
He said: “I don’t know if United rumours are true, but I know he is ready for that big jump.
“He is an excellent player, he’s with the national team… that’s also why the big clubs are after him.”
The Portugal international has impressed Man United
Neves, whose contract expires in 2028, has made 26 appearances in Primeira Liga this season, contributing to 13 clean sheets for Roger Schmidt’s team.
The Portugal international has played a pivotal part in Benfica’s title fight against Sporting CP by effectively handling the midfield.
Due to his outstanding club football performance, he was called up to the national team squad for the first time in October 2023, making his debut against Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The post ‘He is an excellent player’ – Bruno Fernandes wants Man United to sign £100m star appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/03/19/bruno-fernandes-wants-man-united-100m-star/
Joao Neves is prepared to play for Manchester United, according to Bruno Fernandes.
The 19-year-old, who plays with Portugal’s captain Fernandes, has lately been linked to Man United.
Rumours from last week stated that the young player from Benfica is expected to sign this summer in a record-breaking deal.
The Mirror, which was cited earlier this month by the Daily Mail, claims that Sir Jim Ratcliffe could sanction a £100 million bid for Neves this summer.
Man United have followed Neves for more than a year
In the last 12 months, the Benfica wonderkid has been well-known following Enzo Fernandez’s then-record-breaking move to Chelsea. Coach Roger Schmidt threw the young Portuguese player into the deep end to replace the Argentine World Cup winner, and Neves hasn’t looked back.
A question concerning United’s interest in Neves has been posed to Fernandes, who is getting ready to join the Portugal team as the domestic season approaches an international break.
During an interview with Sport TV, a Portuguese television channel, Fernandes was questioned about Neves’ growth.
He said: “I don’t know if United rumours are true, but I know he is ready for that big jump.
“He is an excellent player, he’s with the national team… that’s also why the big clubs are after him.”
The Portugal international has impressed Man United
Neves, whose contract expires in 2028, has made 26 appearances in Primeira Liga this season, contributing to 13 clean sheets for Roger Schmidt’s team.
The Portugal international has played a pivotal part in Benfica’s title fight against Sporting CP by effectively handling the midfield.
Due to his outstanding club football performance, he was called up to the national team squad for the first time in October 2023, making his debut against Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The post ‘He is an excellent player’ – Bruno Fernandes wants Man United to sign £100m star appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/03/19/bruno-fernandes-wants-man-united-100m-star/
Snooker's World Open takes place in China this week with Ronnie O'Sullivan among the players in action. Express Sport provides the latest scores and results.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/1879041/Snooker-scores-LIVE-Ronnie-OSullivan-World-Open
Although it’s far from confirmed at this stage, it would be the biggest of surprises if Jadon Sancho has a future at Man United beyond this season.
The winger has slotted in well back at Borussia Dortmund, and whether or not Erik ten Hag is still United’s manager next season, it’s unlikely that the club will find a space for the 23-year-old.
It’s clear that the youngster has a bit of a chip on his shoulder concerning the way he’s been treated and a change of scenery makes sense for everyone.
Man United’s move for Serge Gnabry depends on Jadon Sancho
Fichajes suggest that the Red Devils are already actively looking for his replacement too, with Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry a player of interest.
The former Arsenal man has not long returned from a muscle injury that kept him out of 11 matches (transfermarkt), so the 28-year-old needs to get back to full fitness before even thinking about whether a move back to the Premier League is one that appeals.
If he’s unable to get the appropriate amount of minutes during this final part of the Bundesliga season, regardless of whether Thomas Tuchel is going, Gnabry may decide that his future is away from Bavaria.
Any decision isn’t likely to be made until the end of the season, however, when Bayern’s own plans will be known and therefore Gnabry can make a more considered and informed decision on his future.
The post Sancho departure could pave the way for Bayern Munich ace to land at Old Trafford appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/03/19/sancho-bayern-munich-old-trafford/