Lampard delighted with “first step” after Chelsea end winless run

Published

2 years ago

May 7, 2023

Chelsea’s interim manager Frank Lampard on Saturday expressed his happiness to see his side finally playing like a team.

The former English Premier League (EPL) champions snapped a nine-match winless run in all competitions with a 3-1 victory at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Chelsea have looked a fractured outfit after a number of arrivals in the last two transfer windows and three different managers this season.

But they showed glimpses of finally gelling together as a unit to end a six-match losing run.

Chelsea are still 11th in the Premier League with four games left.

But Lampard said the win would be a boost as they look to end the season on a high after just their second away victory of the year.

“I’m happy. We came in off the back of a tough run. It’s been a tough year and there is a lot work to do,” he told reporters.

“But the performance and the result in isolation are really good, we deserved to win the game.

“It’s a nice step forward for the lads. To work hard and come to a place that has been very hard for a lot of teams this year… I’m very happy.

“In the modern game, those changes are huge. It’s important with the squad that we have that people feel like they can come in and affect the game.

“We’ve worked towards that and I think every one of them did.”

Lampard said there were still a lot of players finding their feet, especially youngsters, and urged them to “grasp” confidence from the performance.

“Typically at Chelsea, one or two have fed into the group and now we have more. It’s understandable that as a group finding rhythm and confidence can be difficult,” the former Chelsea player added.

“This is a first step. It won’t be plain sailing, but there is talent there and the players need to come together to get us to where we want to be.”

Chelsea’s next game is at home against relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest next weekend.

But tougher tests await with their last three games of the season against top-four sides Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United.(Reuters/NAN)

UEFA adds two Arsenal, Barcelona players to Champions League team [Full list]

Published

1 week ago

March 7, 2025

Seyi Babalola

UEFA on Thursday revealed the Champions League Team of the Week following the conclusion of the Round of 16 first-leg fixtures on Wednesday.

In a post via their official website on Thursday, UEFA included the likes of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Arsenal’s Jurriën Timber, and Inter Milan’s Benjamin Pavard, among others, in the team.

All the aforementioned players were impressive for their respective clubs in the first-leg ties of the last 16 in midweek.

Meanwhile, the Champions League Round of 16 second-leg fixtures will take place next week.

Here is the list of players in the Team of the Week after the Champions League Round of 16 first-leg ties:

Alisson Becker (Liverpool)

Jurriën Timber (Arsenal)

Benjamin Pavard (Inter)

Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund)

Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge)

Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal)

Pedri (Barcelona)

Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

Harry Kane (Bayern München)

Raphinha (Barcelona)

Following the Round of 16 second-leg matches next week, only eight teams will advance to the Champions League quarter-final stage.

Sports

Ratcliffe invited me to his house – Mourinho on relationship with Man Utd owner, Amorim

Published

1 week ago

March 6, 2025

Seyi Babalola

Fenerbahçe manager, José Mourinho, has spoken about his relationship with Manchester United co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and their manager, Rúben Amorim.

Mourinho, who won three trophies while at Old Trafford between 2016 and 2018, revealed he has a “good relationship” with Ratcliffe.

In 2018, Amorim visited United for a week-long internship under Mourinho.

Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in November and has won just 11 of his 24 matches with the Red Devils.

“He’s a good kid,” Mourinho told Sky Sports about Amorim.

“Always very respectful to me. We had a good relationship for a few years. He knows I wish him well.”

Mourinho also spoke about Ratcliffe, who is overseeing a cost-cutting exercise that has led to 250 job losses, including some long-serving members of staff.

United recently revealed that up to 200 more jobs are at risk in a fresh round of cuts.

“To be honest, I don’t know much about what’s happening,” Mourinho said.

“I know Sir Jim Ratcliffe. I’m not saying we are big friends, but we have a good relationship.

“I know him well. He invited me to his house a couple of times. I see him as a good person and a great businessman. Of course, I feel for some of the people that I know [losing their jobs], but hopefully, it goes in the right direction.”

Sports

Great loss – FG reacts to death of striker, Lawal in Uganda

Published

2 weeks ago

February 26, 2025

Seyi Babalola

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep sorrow on Tuesday over the tragic death of Abubakar Lawal, a Nigerian professional footballer in Uganda.

Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the sudden passing of Lawal in a statement in Abuja.

Tuggar, in the statement issued by Kimiebi Ebienfa, Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry, described the former Nigerian Under-20 international footballer’s death as a ‘great loss’ to Nigeria.

“In this moment of grief, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, teammates, and the entire Nigerian football community during this difficult time,” Tuggar said.

Lawal was playing for Vipers Football Club in Uganda and was also a final-year Business Administration student at Cavendish University at the time of his death.

“The ministry has been in contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Kampala, Uganda, which is collaborating with local authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.

“We are committed to ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation, including an autopsy to verify the cause of death.

“The ministry has also directed the High Commission in Kampala to provide all necessary consular support to the family and ensure that justice is served,” Tuggar stated.

Tuggar urged Nigerians to remain calm while investigation was ongoing and to refrain from speculation that could hinder the process.

“The ministry will continue to monitor the situation closely, while we remain resolute in protecting the welfare and rights of all Nigerian citizens abroad.

“May the soul of Abubakar Lawal rest in perfect peace,” he prayed.