Emma Hayes insists Chelsea have not overanalysed “world-class” Barcelona ahead of their Champions League clash on Saturday.
Chelsea have travelled to Catalonia for the first leg of their semi-final 12 months on from the two clubs meeting at the same stage of the competition.
Barcelona prevailed 2-1 on aggregate on that occasion before overcoming Wolfsburg in Eindhoven to lift the trophy for the second time in three years.
Chelsea boss Hayes, speaking ahead ahead of this weekend’s first leg at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, said: “Barcelona have been the top team in Europe in recent years.
“Results have suggested that, they are world champions and European champions, but this is a football match and there’s two legs.
“Our job is to ge…
Florian Wirtz is set for a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a capsular injury to his right ankle while on international duty with Germany.
The midfielder suffered the injury during Germany s 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the Nations League on Monday, being replaced at half-time by Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Robert Andrich.
Leverkusen confirmed the 21-year-old underwent an MRI scan on Tuesday and is receiving treatment. However, the club also confirmed it is unclear when Wirtz will return to training.
He is a doubt for their return to Bundesliga action against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, with a Champions League meeting with Brest following that next week.
Wirtz, who was named the Bundesliga Player of the Season last campaign, has been an …
Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, according to . The report has claimed that PSG were looking at a deal for Rashford in the summer of 2024 when they were on the hunt for a replacement for Kylian Mbappe after he moved to Real Madrid and are now eyeing a move for the England international forward.
Rashford has not been at his best for a while now. With United themselves not having the best of times, the 26-year-old forward’s form has dipped. Rashford has struggled to maintain consistency in his game and is not scoring enough goals or providing enough assists.
The England international has scored one goal in six starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for United so far this season. Rashford has also s…
Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Switzerland to qualify
Odds:
Switzerland haven’t had the best international week, suffering defeats to the Republic of Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina in friendlies, but are still looking forward to this summer’s European Championships after a promising qualifying campaign.
The prestigious international tournament doesn’t kick off until June, and the Swiss outfit still have a handful of friendlies to come to build up some momentum ahead of the Championship. A lack of goals in their last two games is somewhat of a worry, so they’re likely to use their remaining friendlies as an indicator of their performance levels.
Switzerland were drawn in Group A along with France, Romania and Albania, and stand a good chance …
Cristiano Ronaldo s Portugal hiatus has come to an end after he was included in a 25-man squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Ukraine and Serbia.
Ronaldo, 34, has not played for his country since their disappointing World Cup campaign which saw them eliminated by Uruguay in the last 16.
The Juventus forward was allowed to miss the international get-together in September, and that extended to matches in October and November, as he settled into life at his new club.
Portugal did not suffer without him, however, going undefeated as they recorded three wins in six matches, qualifying for the Nations League Finals in the process.
But, with Euro 2020 qualifying set to start, Ronaldo is back involved with the national team.
Coach Fernando Santos has al…
Best odds: 173/100
Bookmaker:
The Championship s opening weekend features a Midlands showdown as Stoke City host Coventry City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Stoke aim to break free from their run of midtable finishes, while Coventry will have their sights set on a long-awaited promotion to the Premier League after several near misses in recent years.
Stoke City
Since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018, Stoke City have experienced six consecutive seasons of bottom-half finishes in the Championship, leaving fans at the bet365 Stadium with little to cheer about. Facing a potential relegation battle early last season under Alex Neil, the club made a decisive managerial change in December by appointing Steven Schumacher, who had …
England boss Sarina Wiegman felt the Lionesses exhausted every effort to win their first Women’s World Cup final despite coming up just short with a 1-0 loss to Spain in Sydney.
The Dutch boss, who led England to their first major trophy at last summer’s European Championship, finds herself with a silver medal in two consecutive attempts after steering 2019 runners-up the Netherlands to the title-decider four years ago in France.
Second place is still a best-ever finish for the Lionesses in a global showpiece, beating their bronze medal from 2015, but the three-time FIFA Best winning coach knows from experience it may take some time before the sting subsides.
Sarina Wiegman gives us her reaction to our defeat…
— Lionesses (@Lionesses)
Wi…
Dani Carvajal will miss Euro 2016 after sustaining an injury in Saturday s Champions League final.
Madrid revealed on Monday that Carvajal, 24, suffered a grade two muscle injury at San Siro, opening the door for Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin to take his place in Spain s squad.
Bellerin made his international debut in Sunday s 3-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina and will face competition from Cesar Azpilicueta and Juanfran for a starting spot in Vicente del Bosque s side.
Very proud day for me my family! Unbelievable feeling to get my first cap for ! Boyhood dream come true
— Héctor Bellerín (@HectorBellerin)
I m available to the coach for whatever is needed I m delighted with the experience, Bellerin, 21, told a news conference.
I…
Mick McCarthy remains confident his Republic of Ireland squad can book a place at Euro 2020 despite missing out on automatic qualification.
Ireland were held to a 1-1 draw in Monday s must-win qualifier against Denmark at the Aviva Stadium to finish third in Group D, three points behind their opponents.
Matt Doherty headed home five minutes from time to cancel out Martin Braithwaite s 73rd-minute opener, but McCarthy s men must settle for a play-off spot.
A one-legged semi-final and final will be played in March and McCarthy believes his side are in with a shot, provided they replicate their performance against Denmark.
FULL TIME | It ends in a draw, as Ireland move into March s Play-Offs
— FAIreland (@FAIreland)
We can bea…
Mark Robins made a Premier League vow just hours after guiding Coventry out of League Two, former captain Michael Doyle has revealed.
The ex-Sky Blues midfielder skippered the club to their first promotion in 51 years in 2018 to kick-start their journey to the brink of a top-flight return.
Coventry beat Exeter 3-1 in the play-off final with Doyle lifting the trophy at Wembley and the Sky Blues are now dreaming of a repeat in Saturday’s Championship play-off final against Luton.
Robins, who signed a new four-year deal this month, took them out of the fourth tier at the first attempt after returning 14 months earlier for a second spell and, even then, outlined his vision to Doyle.
He told the PA news agency: “The night we got promoted from League Two we…