“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don’t like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.” – Bill Shankly
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has announced the departure of Antonio Conte as the manager of the team. This comes after Conte’s angry outburst towards the club’s owner, Daniel Levy, and their poor trophy record. Despite being appointed as Spurs’ boss in November 2021, Conte’s contract was due to expire at the end of the current season. However, the decision has been taken to part ways before the 2022-23 campaign comes to a close.
Conte expressed his frustrations after a 3-3 draw with Southampton on March 18, claiming that the team lacked cohesion and was not working together. He criticized the players for being selfish and not putting their hearts into the game. He also suggested that the club’s trophy drought was not the fault of any particular manager, but rather a club-wide issue.
Tottenham released an official statement on Sunday, stating that Conte had left the club by mutual agreement. The statement acknowledged the team’s achievement of Champions League qualification in Conte’s first season, thanking him for his contribution and wishing him well for the future. Cristian Stellini will take over as Acting Head Coach for the remainder of the season, with Ryan Mason serving as Assistant Head Coach.
Conte managed Spurs for a total of 76 games, securing 41 victories and suffering 23 defeats along the way. He was able to guide the team to a top-four finish last season, securing qualification for the Champions League. However, he was not able to bring the team’s 15-year wait for major silverware to a close.
Stellini, who previously served as an assistant coach under Conte, will take over as Acting Head Coach. He will be back on the touchline when Spurs resume their season away at Everton on April 3. Tottenham will be hoping that the change in leadership will help the team regain its focus and finish the season strongly.
Barcelona’s hopes for a successful season have taken another hit as it was revealed that midfielder Frenkie de Jong will be sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The Dutch international sustained the injury during his country’s World Cup qualifying match and was subsequently withdrawn from the squad.
Initially, the injury was thought to be minor, but after further tests, it was confirmed that the midfielder has a right hamstring injury. The club has not provided a timeline for his return, leaving fans and team members alike uncertain about when he will be back in action.
De Jong’s absence will be sorely felt by the Blaugrana, who are set to face off against bitter rivals Real Madrid on April 5th in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie. With his injury, he is now considered a doubt for the game.
In a statement, the club confirmed the news, saying, “Tests carried out on the first team player Frenkie de Jong have revealed that the first team player has a hamstring injury in his right thigh. He is unavailable for selection and his recovery will determine his return.”
Barcelona is no stranger to injury woes this season, as several key players have suffered from various ailments. Alongside De Jong, young star Pedri, Ousmane Dembele, and Andreas Christensen are also expected to miss the Clasico in less than two weeks.
The absence of these players will put additional pressure on Barcelona’s remaining squad members, who will need to step up their game to compensate for the loss. It will also be a significant blow to the team’s morale as they try to maintain their position in the league and continue to compete in the Copa del Rey.
Only time will tell when De Jong will be back in action, but until then, Barcelona will have to make do without their influential midfielder.
It was a thrilling encounter between Chelsea and Everton, which ended in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Joao Felix opened the scoring for Chelsea early in the second half with a powerful left-footed drive that clipped the post on its way in.
However, Everton refused to give up and responded with a goal of their own on the 69th minute. Abdoulaye Doucoure scored from a set-piece, flicking the ball over Kepa after Tarkowski won the initial header at the back post. Despite Havertz’s valiant effort to clear the ball off the line, the referee deemed it a goal.
Chelsea regained the lead in the 75th minute, after Tarkowski gifted them a penalty. James was clipped by Godfrey and Tarkowski in the box, and after a long wait for Pickford to slow things down, Havertz stepped up and dispatched the penalty perfectly.
Everton refused to go down without a fight, and Ellis Simms equalized for them on the 89th minute. He was too strong for Koulibaly, into the box, and squirmed a finish under Kepa.
Both teams continued to battle until the final whistle, but ultimately, neither could find a winning goal. The result means that Chelsea missed a chance to go top of the table, while Everton continue to hover around the middle of the table.
Goal! Chelsea 2-2 Everton
Simms is too strong for Koulibaly, into the box and he squirms a finish under Kepa!
Goal! Chelsea 2-1 Everton
Pickford doing his best to slow things down and put Havertz off. Will it work? Nope. Havertz stutters his way to the ball and dispatches the penalty perfectly!
Goal! Chelsea 1-1 Everton
And it’s come from a set-piece. Of course. Tarkowski wins the initial header at the back post, Doucoure flicks it over Kepa and Havertz can’t clear it off the line in time.
Referee looks at his watch… goal given.
Goal! Chelsea 1-0 Everton
Chelsea ahead early in the second half as Felix’s left-footed drive from the edge of the box clips the post on its way in
Second half
Up and running again at Stamford Bridge!
Half-time
And that’s half-time. Chelsea started to click into gear again towards the end of the half, but Everton hold on. Halfway to the point they’ve come here for. The Blues have had chances, haven’t been clinical at all though.
Kante is indeed back in the Chelsea squad, with the Frenchman named on the bench this afternoon. Kovacic and Fernandez once again the starting midfield pairing.
Pulisic gets the nod over Mudryk in the front three, while James is fit to start at wing-back and Badiashile comes into the back three. For Everton, it’s the same side that beat Brentford. That means now out-and-out striker, plenty of pressure to deliver that creativity. Really strong Toffees side in midfield though.
Arsenal are out of the Europa League! Sporting come out victorious by winning 3-5 on penalties.
Granit Xhaka put the Gunners in front in the 19th minute with a brilliant goal. But Sporting’s Pedro Goncalves pulled a suprise by catching Aaron Ramsdale off his lines with a worldy.
Goncalves goal forced the tie to extra time where both team slugged it out. It came to penalties to decide who will move to the next round. Gabriel Martinelli could not bury his penalty and Santos scored the winning penalty for Sporting!
🔴 Live Blog
2nd Extra time
105 minutes played, 15 to go. Feels like the momentum is with Arsenal
1st Extra time
Here we go, first-half of extra time is up and running.
Full time
End of 90 mins. 1-1, 3-3 on aggregate. Win or lose, you suspect the last thing Arteta wanted tonight was extra-time. But in truth, Arsenal are a little lucky to get that far. Sporting were superb in that second half.
Goncalves from pretty much the halfway line has spotted Ramsdale off his line and launched an effort at goal that has floated perfectly over the goalkeeper!
Second half
Up and running again at the Emirates. A change for Arsenal, with Jesus brought off and Trossard coming on. Got to imagine that was always the plan.
Half-time
Arsenal really need half-time. Ugarte now brings the ball forward, fires at goal and it flicks just wide. Corner.
Swung in to the near post, headed wide by Trincao. And that’s half-time in north London.
Goal!Arsenal 1-0 Sporting
Their first good spell of the match and it’s brought the opening goal. Martinelli played in on the left, his shot is saved but the rebound falls for Xhaka and he slams it into the back of the net.
Kick Off!
And so it begins!
Starting XI
A first start back for Gabriel Jesus, big news for Arsenal ahead of a crucial final two months of the season.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard get a rest as they drop to the bench, with Reiss Nelson starting out wide and Fabio Vieira coming into the midfield. Jorginho replaces Thomas Partey.
Mikel Arteta has opted against sticking with Matt Turner in goal in Europe, with Aaron Ramsdale starting.
Manchester United ensured their qualification to the quarter-finals of the Europa League by defeating Real Betis at home to make the aggregate score 5-1. The in-form Marcus Rashford sealed the victory with a brilliant goal putting all hopes for Real Betis away!
🔴 Live Blog
Goal! Real Betis 0-1 Manchester United
Minutes after missing from six yards, Rashford fires in from 20 with a powerful shot from outside the box.
Manchester City secured a place in the Champions League quarterfinals with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Leipzig, thanks to an outstanding performance by Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker scored five goals to take his tally for the season to an incredible 40 goals in all competitions.
City started the game on the front foot and took the lead in the 22nd minute when Haaland buried a penalty into the bottom corner after a foul in the box. Two minutes later, Haaland scored his second of the game with a powerful header after Kevin De Bruyne’s shot rebounded off the crossbar.
Just before halftime, Haaland completed his hat-trick with a fortunate goal, as the ball appeared to cross the line after Ruben Dias’ header hit the post and rebounded off Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara into Haaland’s path.
City continued their dominance in the second half and added to their lead in the 49th minute with a stunning team goal finished by Ilkay Gundogan. But it was Haaland who stole the show once again, scoring his fourth and fifth goals of the game in the 53rd and 57th minutes respectively, with two close-range finishes following rebounds from saves by Leipzig goalkeeper Alexander Blaswich.
Pep Guardiola decided to take Haaland off in the 63rd minute to give him a well-deserved rest after a stunning individual display. With this result, Manchester City marched on to the quarterfinals of the Champions League in style, while Leipzig were left to rue a nightmarish evening.
Goal! Manchester City 7-0 Leipzig
Kevin De Bruyne grabs a deserved goal just before the full-time whistle to secure a 7-0 win for Pep Guardiola’s side
Goal! Manchester City 6-0 Leipzig
Okay, this is getting silly now. FIVE for Haaland, who has now broken that City single-season scoring record. Blaswich denies Akanji but again Haaland reacts fastest to turn home another rebound.
Pep Guardiola has coached the only two players to ever score five goals in a UCL KO stage match 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DeAn1BH9Lx
Four for Haaland, who with 38 goals has just matched City’s all-time single-season scoring record!
A corner is headed back across goal to the Norwegian, who rises like a salmon to head on target. Blaswich makes an initial save and then also denies Akanji, but Haaland is there to blast in his fourth.
A frankly ridiculous team goal from City that starts from Ederson and is eventually arrowed into the bottom corner by Gundogan, via several players including De Bruyne, Haaland and Grealish.
Second half
Here we go again!
Half-time
And breathe! Leipzig have a huge mountain to climb, do they have what it takes?
Goal! Manchester City 3-0 Leipzig
More brilliant play from De Bruyne earns a City corner, which Dias heads onto the post. The ball rolls across the line before Haidara tries to clear but fires straight into Haaland.
Had the ball already crossed from the Dias header? I don’t think so! City are in absolute cruise control, leading 4-1 on aggregate now.
Goal! Manchester City 2-0 Leipzig
Two goals in 78 seconds for Haaland and City! They quickly win the ball back with that suffocating high press and De Bruyne rattles the crossbar with a terrific strike.
Haaaland then reacts fastest, rising high to steer home the rebound. City have started like a train here and look to be cruising through to the Champions League quarter-finals. Leipzig have an absolute mountain to climb now.
Goal! Manchester City 1-0 Leipzig
A short run-up from Haaland, who buries his penalty into the bottom corner. Blaswich went the right way, but no chance he was keeping that out. Haaland’s 35th goal of the season. City up 2-1 on aggregate
Kick off!
Here we go!
Starting XI
So Pep Guardiola shows just the one change from the side that beat Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
Phil Foden is the man that drops to the bench to accomodate Kevin De Bruyne’s return to the starting XI, with first-leg scorer Riyad Mahrez also staying among the substitutes. That is also the case for Kyle Walker. Walker and Mahrez are the two to drop out from the first leg, replaced by John Stones and De Bruyne.
TEAM NEWS ✨
XI | Ederson, Stones, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland
Manchester City edge closer to Arsenal in the title race with a 0-1 win at Crystal Palace. It appeared the Cityzens would be made to regret several spurned chances until Ilkay Gundogan was fouled by Michael Olise in the 75th minute.
Haaland coolly slotted the resulting spot kick home for his 28th Premier League goal and to make it five wins from City’s last six league games. Although Crystal Palace pushed hard in the closing stages, Ederson remained untested at the final whistle as Palace registered a third consecutive match without a shot on target – an unprecedented stat in the Premier League since records began.
The victory extends Pep Guardiola’s excellent record at Selhurst Park and moves City to within two points of leaders Arsenal. Pep has now won five of his seven trips to Crystal Palace, drawing the other two.
Chelsea have now gone on a 3-game winning streak after a decisive win at the Kings Power Stadium.
The Blues were firing from all cylinders from the first kick of the game. A brilliant strike from Ben Chilwell gave Chelsea the lead. Daka equalised but Havertz put the Blues back in the lead on the stroke of halftime. Captain Kovacic guaranteed all 3 points with a wonderful strike in the 77th minute.
🔴 Live Blog
Goal! Leicester 1-3 Chelsea
Mateo Kovacic extends the lead for the blues via an assist by Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Second half
We are back for the second 45 minutes for what is a closely contested game between Leicester City and Chelsea.
A brilliant scoop pass from Enzo Fernandez to Kai Havertz who cooly dinks Danny Ward
Goal! Leicester 1-1 Chelsea
Patson Daka scores a stunner from outside the box to equalise for the Foxes
Goal! Leicester 0-1 Chelsea
Kalidou Koulibaly crosses the ball to Ben Chilwell who volleys it past Danny Ward
Starting XI
No James as expected for Chelsea, so it’s Loftus-Cheek getting the nod at right wing-back. Otherwise largely as expected, though Mudryk’s inclusion is a slight surprise in the absence of Sterling.
The big-money January signing starts over Ziyech and Pulisic.
Leicester match up Chelsea’s back-three system, with Amartey alongside Faes and Souttar. Daka comes into the side, while Iheanacho keeps his place despite his poor form.
Bayern Munich secured their spot in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League after a hard-fought victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie. The Bavarians came into the match with a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg in Paris, and they knew that they had to be at their best to see off the threat of the star-studded PSG side.
As the game wore on, Bayern began to take control, and they eventually broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. Marco Verratti made a costly mistake, losing the ball on the edge of his own box, and Bayern pounced on the opportunity. Leon Goretzka showed great composure to square the ball to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who had a simple tap-in to give the Bavarians a crucial 2-0 aggregate lead.
Bayern made it 2-0 in the 89th minute via a counter attack that ended with Gnabry putting the ball at the back of the net. The final whistle blew, and Bayern celebrated a hard-fought victory that saw them eliminate two of the world’s best players, Mbappe and Messi.
It was a disappointing night for PSG, who failed to live up to their billing as one of the favourites to win the competition. For Bayern, however, it was a job well done, as they advanced to the quarterfinals .
🔴 Live Blog
Goal! Bayern Munich 2-0 PSG
Verratti loses it deep in the Bayern half, and the hosts are straight on the counter. Cancelo drives forward, too quick for Zaire-Emery, slides the pass through to Gnabry and he seals the victory.
Goal! Bayern Munich 1-0 PSG
Verratti has had an absolute nightmare. Edge of his own box, caught on the ball and Bayern are in. Goretzka so calm, squares it for Choupo-Moting and he has a tap-in.
Second half
We are back for a decisive second 45!
Half-time
Goalless after 45 minutes of the second leg. That suits Bayern. PSG have been the better side and had the better chances, but nothing to show for it. Mbappe and Messi not quite as involved as the visitors would like.
It’s still right in the balance though.
Kick Off!
And s it begins!
Starting XI
Joao Cancelo has to settle for a place on the bench tonight, even with Benjamin Pavard being out suspended.
The full-back joined Bayern in January on loan from Manchester City having struggled for minutes under Pep Guardiola since the World Cup, so swapping one bench for another certainly wasn’t the plan.
It seems that the Brazilian forward’s season is over, as he could be out of action for up to four months due to an ankle injury. Neymar was carried off during a match against Lille on February 19, and although the club initially reported no fracture, it was announced on Tuesday that he requires surgery to repair ligament damage.
This setback marks the fourth time in four years that Neymar has suffered an ankle injury, and he has only managed to make over 20 league appearances in a single season once since 2017. With 18 goals and 14 assists in all competitions this campaign, Neymar was enjoying one of his best seasons at PSG, but the injury could mean that he has played his final game for the club.
PSG released a statement announcing the injury and confirming that surgery will be performed in Doha, with a 3-4 month recovery period expected. With Neymar’s contract set to expire in 2025, a summer transfer may be on the cards if PSG wish to cash in on the player.
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