SPORTS
Fulham’s manager, Marco Silva, has argued that his team deserved to beat Manchester United in their Premier League opener on Thursday, August 16, as he blamed a lack of emotional control for the defeat.
Fulham started their 2024-2025 Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford after putting up a brilliant display, especially in the first half of the encounter.
New Manchester United signing Joshua Zirkzee came from the bench and scored the match-winner for the Premier League giants in the 87th minute.
After the game, Fulham coach Marco Silva explained that his team made adjustments at half-time, improving performance in the second half.
He, however, expressed disappointment that they lost their composure in crucial moments, allowing Manchester United to score.
Silva said: “We started well and had good counter-attacks to score. We adjusted things at half-time and the second half was much better.
“We had good moments, two against one, we should have done better.
“The main thing for us was to keep the emotional control. When the game becomes open we should have kept the balance and kept compact. But in those moments, we lost emotional control, and that allowed them to score.
“The game was open and broken, we tried to rush our decisions. Many times we started to lose the ball too quickly. We let the game go too emotional and we didn’t want that.”
On the other hand, Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, explained why Jadon Sancho was not included in the squad to face Fulham.
Ten Hag emphasized the necessity for squad depth in a demanding season and clarified that Sancho was not fully fit due to an ear infection.
“First of all, we need squad depth. There will be a long season, and it will be survival of the fittest, but I can only put 20 players in the squad, and Jadon in the week had an ear infection. He was not 100 percent fit,” Ten Hag said.
Cacophony fills the Nigerian sports space.
From the ashes of the country’s participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games springs the shrill of anger and condemnation. In the past one week, Nigerians have collectively vented their anger and frustration at those they perceive to have caused the country’s failure to return from Paris with a single medal. They are baying for the blood of sports officials, especially that of the Sports Minister, because the buck of the calamitous ‘failure’ of the athletes stops at his desk. They ask: How can a country of over 200 million people that expended N12 Billion Naira fail to win a single medal?
Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Movement, will be quivering in his grave: since when has winning medals become a matter of size of a country, or population, or amount of money spent on the eve of the event, or wishful thinking, or unearned expectations?
Fundamentally, every country goes to the Olympics with all the athletes that achieve the qualifying standards through pre-Olympic competitions, and not on their likelihood to win medals. That’s why Nigeria went with 82 qualified athletes. Of this number, how many, realistically, were expected to win any medal?
In Paris there were 10,500 athletes from 205 countries. How many can win the 329 medals at stake? Are the other over 10,000 athletes failures?
To win any medal is not a stroll in the park. It is earned on the fields of competition. To even get to the Olympics is a painstaking ‘journey’. The 100 metres finals will last only 10 seconds. What is required to get to that point is training hard for 6 to 9 hours every day for several years; surviving health, fitness and unforeseen challenges; competing against hundreds of the best athletes around the world for those many years; securing funds to train, hire personnel and compete in high level events; securing the services of experts to successfully navigate the athlete through the treacherous terrain leading to ultimate success; to be self-motivated and to be favoured by the elements. Which of these did Nigeria do to prepare its sprinters and earn the right of expectation to win a medal?
At the end of all the above, those that successfully navigate the minefields and win medals, hardly ever do so coming from the blues, or by accident. They pass through the crucible of fire.
Sentiments aside, in all facets of life, including sports, Nigeria should be one of the leading lights of Africa, providing leadership that will steer away from under-development into the bright light of success. The evidence of this possibility has always been there, a musical tune that has been played for decades in the corridors of international sports. It is only unfortunate that successive Nigerian governments have been deaf to the lyrics of the song.
Meanwhile, we must not confuse the little incidents that happen during every Olympic Games to all teams as any measure of their success or failure. Administrative lapses will always occur. Without accepting or embracing them as normal, what we should never do is use them as a basis to throw away the baby with the bath water, or to smear the performance of the athletes with that tar. These issues must be separated, each bearing its own responsibility. We have history to take lessons from.
In attending the 1980 Olympics, Nigeria went with the best set of sports administrators in the history of the country – a Sports Ministry and an NSC complete with Isaac Akioye and that whole generation of stakeholders and seasoned administrators.
The world was embroiled in a crisis that rendered the Moscow Olympics one of the worst in history. Nigeria did not even qualify in many sports but were invited to take part at the last minute.
The country did not win a single medal despite having a crack number of great athletes in several sports that were to blossom in latter years.
Yet, what dominated the media on return to the country was a ‘sex scandal’ that never happened, an imaginary relationship between an athlete and an official of the National Sports Commission created by a journalist gathering information from the Olympic Village through the telephone from his hotel room in Moscow.
That report fuelled the anger of Nigerians and was attributed for the country’s failure to win any medal. The country went into a frenzy, calling for heads to roll.
Heads eventually did roll. A judicial panel of enquiry was set up headed by a respected legal luminary. Many innocent administrators were fired and the whole sports architecture of Nigeria, well-founded and running well, were dismantled and destroyed.
Till date, Nigeria has not found its feet again in sports administration for proper sports development.
Since then, Nigeria has been groping, unable to pick the pieces of that moment of madness, seeking answers to the perennial failure, since then, of the sports sector.
Forget 1996, the glorious year of Nigeria at the Olympics. The victory of that campaign was not deliberate or earned by any deliberate policies, or program. People forget easily that even the ‘Dream Team’ that mesmerised the world and created Olympic history went to the Games in administrative shambles. That team was the assembly of some of the most gifted footballers in Nigeria’s history. That’s why they eventually won.
Nigeria’s first ever individual Gold medallist came from the blue, in a totally independent pursuit by a lady wronged and condemned by the system and the country. Chioma Ajunwa was not a product of Nigeria’s successful program.
Nigeria’s sprinters of that generation, both male and female, had for years been demonstrating individual capability on the international circuit prior to the Olympics – Onyali, Ogunkoya, Olopade, Alozie, Egbunike, Ezinwa Brothers, Sunday Uti, and several others, talented athletes that came through the web of Nigeria’s limited development programmes, hinged mostly to training in America, through self-help or federal government scholarships.
Nothing was properly structured before and after 1980 to produce a steady stream of the best sprinters embedded in our genes. That’s why 2012 in London was another perceived ‘failure’. Nothing had changed.
That’s why, as a bona fide member of Nigeria’s pool of Olympians, over 700 strong throughout the country’s history, I appreciate how only a handful have Olympic medals around their necks to show for their place in history. Yet, we all lay claim to being ‘successful’ Olympians.
We must be humble and appreciate all Olympic athletes. Even on the Nigerian Olympians platform, I read strident condemnation of officials and athletes considered ‘failures’ as a result of administrative lapses. These are distractions from the main issue, clouds that hide the real culprit of Nigeria’s failure – a country that does not take sports as seriously as it should. Throwing money at the last minute without a solid development program, not making sports a priority area for the government’s attention, and just hoping that medals will be won, are wishful and unproductive.
Lets step back from what happened at Paris 2024, look again at where the country stands in the area of producing a rich and consistent line of world class athletes, encourage the great performances (even without medals) that some of the athletes put up in some of the sports (recognised by the rest of the world but not Nigeria), do the things we should have done that we know but lack the courage to confront, stop the lamentation and move on to the next steps along the path to deserved success.
The Nigerian government must wake up and take sports very seriously.
The country must demonstrate this by declaring a State of Emergency in the sector.
The President should sign the bill that brings back the National Sports Commission immediately, separating the Ministry of Sports Development from the Commission with clearly defined roles.
A board of the Commission should be constituted comprising tested, experienced and qualified stakeholders, technocrats and private sector players.
Amongst other things, the National Sports Lottery initiative should be re-jigged as a major means of raising funds for Nigeria’s sports development.
The constitution of Sports Federations should be amended under the supervision of the Sports Development Ministry to reflect Nigeria’s best sports interest and needs, with a clear and achievable development agenda.
Nigerians are angry. They have a right and justification to be, but they should not vent their angst against the wrong persons, or for the wrong reasons.
Quote: Forget 1996, the glorious year of Nigeria at the Olympics. The victory of that campaign was not deliberate or earned by dint of any deliberate policies, or program
Chelsea’s new coach Enzo Maresca has a Premier League baptism of fire when champions Manchester City visit on Sunday as the Italian scrambles to form a cohesive team from another chaotic transfer window for the Blues.
In keeping with Chelsea’s transfer policy since a takeover two years ago, fronted by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, the London club have embarked on a spending spree focusing on promising young talent.
Winger Pedro Neto’s £54 million ($65 million) move from Wolves is the standout from nine new arrivals for an estimated £160 million.
But after splashing well over £1 billion on signings over the past two years, Chelsea’s website lists 43 first-team players and over 50 are still contracted to the club when those on loan are included.
Many have been sidelined from Maresca’s pre-season training to focus on finding moves before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
“At the moment if I start to think I have 43 players it is not a good thing,” Maresca said on Friday.
“(Co-sporting directors) Paul (Winstanley) and Laurence (Stewart) they are there in charge of finding solutions for these kind of players. I’m not the guy in charge of finding solutions for loan players, otherwise they have to pay me double!”
To add to Maresca’s task he has to win over a discontented fan base.
Many in the Chelsea support were craving some stability as Mauricio Pochettino turned around a poor start to finish strongly and climb up to sixth in the Premier League.
Instead, the club’s hierarchy had more change in mind as Pochettino departed after just one season in charge.
Supporters are also unhappy at seeing players that have come through the club’s youth system sacrificed to balance the books.
Conor Gallagher is not available for selection on Sunday despite the collapse of his move to Atletico Madrid.
Maresca has been handed a five-year contract following his success in leading Leicester back to the Premier League in his only season at the King Power.
– A ‘double squad’ –
The 44-year-old’s only other senior managerial role was a short-lived stint at Parma in 2021, but his time working alongside City boss Pep Guardiola was also crucial in helping him land the Chelsea job.
“All the managers need time,” said Guardiola on Friday.
“I don’t know if Chelsea is the place to do this but give him time and it will work.”
Despite working at some of the world’s richest clubs, Guardiola’s preference has always been to work with a smaller squad to maintain harmony among his players.
And he has sympathy with the situation Maresca inherits.
“When you see a double squad, yeah it’s a lot!” Guardiola added. “But the reason why they do it is not my business.”
The last time Chelsea beat City was in the 2021 Champions League final.
Just over three years on and only Reece James and Ben Chilwell remain from the Chelsea team that night in Porto.
Maresca believes the Blues are now on the right track to eventually get back to challenging City for the Premier League title.
“The big difference in this moment between us and other teams that are dominating English football, is just a matter of time,” he said.
“Clubs that have worked with the same manager nine years, eight years. We’re working with the same manager for one month.
“For sure with time, we are going to close the gap. Hopefully it can happen very soon.”
The question looming over Chelsea’s season, though, is whether Maresca will get that time to come good given the club’s history of trigger-happy owners.
[Vanguard]
Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has categorically stated that he will do his utmost to see compatriot Victor Osimhen sign for the London club, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The former Super Eagles captain, in a video posted on X, added that another club legend, Didier Drogba, was also in contact with the Napoli striker, as they hoped to convince him to make a switch to Stamford Bridge.
Osimhen’s future remains the subject of intense viral speculations ahead of the final weeks of the summer transfer window. The striker has asked to leave Napoli and has been linked with a transfer to Chelsea in a deal that would see Romelu Lukaku move the other way.
Chelsea have already signed a host of players this summer, including Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, and Filip Jorgensen, but appear ready to continue their spending spree, with the 25-year-old ranking prominently on their wish list to lead their line during the 2024/25 season.
Just a few weeks before the close of the transfer window, Mikel revealed that he would try and help the club land their primary target, whom he believed would be an instant hit in the English Premier League.
“We want somebody who can finish, score goals, the tap-ins. Someone like Erling Haaland,” Mikel said.
“That’s something Victor Osimhen will bring to Chelsea. I hope that Chelsea fans will finally see him come to the club. I’ll make sure I send him those text messages and calls, making sure Chelsea is his top priority! But it seems like he loves the club and wants to come to Chelsea.
“I’m sure he has all the big clubs wanting to sign him. I think if we can secure his signature, it would be fantastic for the club. He’s somebody who will get us goals, and that’s something that we need right now.
“A fantastic guy, a fantastic human being, and I really do hope he comes to the club, and I’ll try my best to make sure that happens. Didier is also speaking to him, sharing his own ideas and what the club means to us. We all want to see Victor come to the club.”
Osimhen has emerged as one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe, having been linked with moves to Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Liverpool, among others, following impressive seasons with Napoli.
However, his hefty €130m remains the stumbling block, with PSG, among other suitors, backing off, leaving Chelsea as the only European club still keen on signing him.
[Punch]
As the abysmal performance of Team Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympics continues to raise dust, Minister of Sports Development John Enoh says the different sporting federations in the country need comprehensive reforms for efficient sports development.
The minister, who apologised to Nigerians over the poor outing in Paris, indicted the leadership of sporting federations for the lacklustre performance, emphasising the need for systems and structures at the federations to get the best athletes to represent Nigeria and get the desired medals in the next games.
“I’ve always stated that we need to reform our federations,” he said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday.
“I am also glad that these discussions are going on now. And I need this discussion to continue. Let it not be limited to the reaction because we didn’t get a medal.
“Let it go further in terms of finding out which of those federations is holding the country to ransom when the ministry starts its move to want to reform, which of those federations wants to become an obstacle to that reform?”
He said the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) was dead when he assumed office in August 2023, and that none of the sporting federations have well-equipped training centres.
He agreed that a state of emergency should be declared for sports development.
The minister admitted his limitation and that he had no powers to change weak ones among the federation leaders because they were elected by congresses.
“The leadership of these federations are elected in congresses, and they hold office for four years. Those four years coincide with the four-year Olympic circle,” he said.
Interference?
The minister said any attempt by him to make input into the activities of the federations is perceived as interference.
“It is the federations that pick the athletes that they think are competitive enough for any game.
“The federations are very strong in their defence of what decisions they make…these federations guard what they do so jealously that any attempt by any minister to reach out in things like this is considered interference.
“My responsibility is to prosecute the games at international competitions.
“I have avoided in my leadership most of the pitfalls that have bedevilled our sporting competitions and engagement internationally for the last several years.”
Enoh described Nigeria’s pathetic fate at the Olympics as a “very sad” one because Africa’s most populous nation couldn’t clinch a single medal despite that the country registered for 12 events at the global games.
Admits Poor Preparation
The minister expressed utter disappointment, saying that he didn’t expect that Team Nigeria would come back from the Olympics without a medal.
He said the medal-less outing should be blamed on a lack of motivation as all Nigerian athletes who participated in the games were well-paid, while some of them were paid in advance before the games.
He said over N8bn was spent on the competition, adding that Nigeria funds competitions and not training for the competitions. “We spent more funds qualifying for the Olympics than actual preparation for the real games,” he said.
The minister said there would have been backlash if he had ruled out Nigeria’s participation in the games because of poor preparation.
Enoh said heads would roll if findings establish that some persons sabotaged Nigeria’s chances at the games.
Decries Limited Powers
Asked whether he has the powers to sack or discipline any erring heads of federations, he said, “I don’t have such powers.”
The sports minister said he does not have the luxury to replace or work towards the replacement of those who can’t contribute enough to the development of sports at federations.
He said many of the federation presidents are in their third or fourth Olympics and they are holding the country to ransom with their lack of their ability to bring home medals from games after games.
Real Madrid’s new signing, Kylian Mbappe, scored a goal in his debut game for the Spanish giants and won his first-ever European club title.
Earlier today, Real Madrid clashed with Italian side Atalanta at the Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw, Poland, for the 2024 UEFA Super Cup title.
Ahead of the tie, most football enthusiasts predicted that the Italian side who defeated unbeaten German Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen to win the Europa League could do the same against the Spanish giants. However, coach Carlo Ancelotti and his star-studded side proved too good for Atalanta.
The spot-light was on Kylian Mbappe who completed his free transfer to his dream club this summer from Paris Saint Germain. The 25-year-old French striker shared the spot-light with Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick to win the Europa League for Atalanta last season.
As expected, Mbappe shone brighter by playing a vital role in ensuring that Champions League-winning teams extend their superiority over Europa League-winning teams in the UEFA Super Cup to 29 wins, a nine-win difference.
After both sides played a goalless draw in the first half, Federico Valverde scored the match opener in the 59th-minute courtesy of Vinicius Junior’s assist. Nine minutes later, Kylian Mbappe took full advantage of Jude Bellingham’s assist to seal a 2-0 victory for Real Madrid.
That won Mbappe his first UEFA Super Cup and kick-started his reign at Real Madrid on a very high note.
Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has revealed that he and Didier Drogba are actively involved in persuading Victor Osimhen to consider a move to Chelsea from Napoli.
Victor Osimhen currently has a €130 million release clause in his contract with Napoli and it is highly anticipated that he will depart from the Italian club this summer.
Reports suggest that the 25-year-old has attracted interest from Chelsea, with a potential deal involving Romelu Lukaku moving to Napoli.
Mikel Obi has expressed his belief that Osimhen’s playing style, characterized by his goal-scoring abilities, would greatly benefit Chelsea.
He mentioned that Osimhen possesses the qualities of a prolific goal scorer like Erling Haaland, emphasizing that the Nigerian striker could bring a lot to the Chelsea team.
In addition to Mikel Obi’s efforts, Didier Drogba has also been actively engaging with Osimhen, sharing his perspective and the significance of joining Chelsea, according to the former Blues midfielder.
“We want somebody who can finish, score goals, the tap-ins. Someone like Erling Haaland. That’s something Victor Osimhen will bring to Chelsea”, Mikel Obi said according to Goal.
“I hope that Chelsea fans will finally see him come to the club. I’ll make sure I send him those text messages and calls, making sure Chelsea is his top priority!
“Didier is also speaking to him, sharing his ideas and what the club means to us. We all want to see Victor come to the club.”
Renowned prophet and founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has urged Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen to snub a move to Chelsea, claiming that the striker will not have the best of time should he join the London club.
The cleric made this statement in a 44-second video on social media.
“I want to quickly advise as directly that Osimhen should not go to Chelsea because if he goes there, he will not shine and it will kill his career,” Ayodele said.
“NFF, if Osimhen should go to Chelsea, don’t call him again, and also calling him to the Super Eagles still needs to be previewed properly because we have what it takes to the World Cup and Nations Cup.”
It is not the first time that the primate has prophesied about the London club. In 2023, he equally claimed that the English Premier League club were cursed and needed cleansing.
“Chelsea are a finished club. If they are not careful, they will not function again. The people who bought Chelsea should go back to the owner and get his blessings,” he said.
“Otherwise, if they put 10, 20 strikers, defenders, and the best goalkeeper in the world, there is a curse troubling Chelsea at the moment. I have told you to take these words very seriously if you want to progress; otherwise, Chelsea can go to relegation.
“Any team that now faces Chelsea can beat them; they need spiritual cleansing for them to wake up to the challenge that is ahead of them.”
The Blues need a striker capable of guaranteeing them goals and are eager to sign the Nigeria international after a deal for Atletico Madrid’s Samuel Omorodion collapsed.
Osimhen, 25, is said to be ranking prominently on their wish list to lead their line during the 2024/25 season.
The Lagos-born has emerged as one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe, having been linked with moves to Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Liverpool, among others, following impressive seasons with Napoli.
However, his hefty €130m remains the stumbling block, with PSG, among other suitors backing off, leaving Chelsea as the only European club still keen on signing him.
With just a few weeks left before the transfer window shuts down, Napoli is working tirelessly to get the Nigerian striker off their hook, and with Chelsea still interested in him, Osimhen seems to be edging to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are looking to ramp up interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen after the Nigeria international handed in a transfer request over the weekend.
The Nigerian international has long been linked with a move away from the club, having joined them from Lille in the summer of 2020.
Chelsea have held a long-standing interest in Osimhen and have previously held talks with the Italian side over a potential swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku.
New Napoli manager Antonio Conte is keen to reunite with Lukaku after the pair won Serie A together at Inter Milan in 2021, with the Belgian striker having struggled since returning to Stamford Bridge later that year.
Paris Saint-Germain were previously thought to have been leading the race for Osimhen but their talks are believed to have stalled over a fee.
It remains to be seen whether or not Chelsea do eventually make a move, with the Blues having previously been unwilling to pay his release clause, believed to be worth over £100m.
Still, Osimhen is determined to leave Naples this summer and sporting director Giovanni Manna confirmed over the weekend: “Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club. He wants to go.
“The situation is clear, there were already chances for his exit last summer. Victor wants to leave. We will see in the next 20 days.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, is looking to trim down his bloated squad as the new season approaches.
Maresca is preparing for his first season at Stamford Bridge, after replacing Mauricio Pochettino this summer.
Having inherited a large squad, Maresca now wants to cut it down to a manageable size.
It is believed Chelsea are hoping to have a first-team squad of around 23 or 24 outfield players.
The Blues have welcomed six new faces to Stamford Bridge under Enzo Maresca’s leadership, as the club continues its rapid evolution under BlueCo’s ownership. The new signings are getting acquainted during a pre-season tour of the United States, with a significant number of players left behind in London.
There are several players that Chelsea hopes to offload, some of whom were also on the selling block last summer. Malang Sarr has already had his contract terminated to facilitate his move to RC Lens.
Sarr, who arrived on a free transfer, was part of Thomas Tuchel’s Club World Cup-winning squad. Unable to secure a move last year, the Frenchman trained separately from the first team throughout the season. Both parties were keen to avoid a repeat of the 2023/24 situation, and Sarr agreed to forgo any compensation.
Sarr wasn’t the only player Chelsea struggled to sell last summer. Romelu Lukaku remained separate from the squad as he sought a move, but only managed to secure a loan to Roma.
The Belgian striker is once again hoping for a transfer, with Napoli potential suitors. This could lead to a reunion with former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was loaned to Real Madrid on the eve of last season, is likely to leave Chelsea in the coming weeks as his contract in west London winds down.
Chelsea have also made their intentions clear regarding Trevoh Chalobah. The defender, who was notably absent from Maresca’s squad that travelled to the US, is expected to be sold for a tidy profit.
Conor Gallagher, whose current deal expires in less than a year, was up for sale last summer and remains available. Despite being admired by Mauricio Pochettino, the England international is yet to join Chelsea’s squad following his Euro 2024 exploits but has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid.
[Leadership]
The stage is set for Wednesday night, as winners of the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid, will meet UEFA Europa League winners, Atalanta, in Warsaw in the latest edition of the UEFA Super Cup final.
Both teams will aim to see who comes out on top as the King of Europe.
Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League trophy last season after beating Borussia Dortmund in the final, thanks to goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior.
Atalanta, on the other hand, won the UEFA Europa League trophy after beating Bayer Leverkusen in the final, thanks to Ademola Lookman’s hat-trick.
Ahead of Wednesday’s showdown, both teams look quite different compared to last season.
Real Madrid have already lost two key players, Toni Kroos and Nacho Fernandez this summer. Kroos retired from football following the conclusion of Euro 2024 in Germany, while Nacho left Santiago Bernabeu for Saudi Pro League.
Real Madrid’s experienced defender, David Alaba is expected to miss the game as he is currently recovering from a lengthy ACL injury.
However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have strengthened their squad with new arrivals like Kylian Mbappe and Endrick as they will hope to lead the LaLiga champions for an unprecedented sixth UEFA Super Cup honour on Wednesday in Poland.
Real Madrid head to the game after losing two out of their last three matches against AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea.
For Atalanta, Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup final will be their first in the history of the club.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men finished fourth-place in the Serie A last season.
They currently have an injury blow in their attack line as striker, Gianluca Scamacca tore his ACL during a preseason friendly.
Scamacca will miss at least six months with the injury now putting more pressure on Lookman leading the attack for the Serie A side.
Atalanta have made some marquee attacking signings like Charles De Ketelaere, Mateo Retegui, Ben Godfrey, Nicolo Zaniolo and Ibrahim Sulemana.
However, they head to the game after losing three out of their last four matches against AZ Alkmaar, Fiorentina, Parma and FC St. Pauli.
Speaking with DAILY POST on Monday, Stanley Smart, a Sports Analyst, gave his view on the UEFA Super Cup final.
He also singled out four players to shine during the encounter.
“Well, I expect a tough and a close match in Warsaw because it is a final,” Smart told DAILY POST.
“Both teams did not really impress in their pre-season matches but I think if you compare the performances of the two teams during pre-season, you would agree with me that Madrid were quite better in terms of their display.
“Having said that, I expect to see an attacking football with high intensity from both teams.
“Both teams have sharp forwards with pace. I expect the likes of Ademola Lookman, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo to shine. It would be a proper final match,” he added.
When asked to give his prediction, Smart simply said, “2-1” in favour of Madrid.
DAILY POST reports that the kick-off time for the UEFA Super Cup final is 8 pm.
[DailyPost]
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![Haaland, Palmer, Foden nominated for PFA Players’ Player of the Year award [Full List]](/media/k2/items/cache/3000dd2a8501fd0a46f93b089aa88981_XS.jpg?t=20240813_105531)
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has unveiled its nominees for the Players’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, with Manchester City’s trio of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Rodri on the list.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who joined the club from Manchester City at the start of last season, makes the list.
The Young Player of the Year nominees were also released, with Palmer also making the list once again, alongside Bukayo Saka and United’s Kobbie Mainoo.
The Women’s PFA Player’s Player of the Year was dominated by Chelsea and Manchester City players, with both clubs having three nominees each.
SEE FULL LIST
Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year nominees
Phil Foden (Manchester City), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Rodri (Manchester City), and Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Men’s PFA Young Players’ Player of the Year nominees
Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Michael Olise (Crystal Palace), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), and João Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Women’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year nominees
Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), and Khadija Shaw (Manchester City).
Women’s PFA Young Players’ Player of the Year nominees
Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur), Lauren James (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), and Jess Park (Manchester City).
[Vanguard]
Chelsea FC currently holds the largest squad in the English Premier League, boasting a total of 55 players.
Chelsea signed Wolves forward Neto for £54m on Sunday, taking them to 11 summer signings with an average age of under 21.
Since June 14, the club has spent £185 million, bringing their squad to over 50 senior players. While the London club is actively trying to offload some players, the approaching transfer window deadline leaves the team’s future composition uncertain.
Here’s a full list of all 55 players in Chelsea’s squad:
Goalkeepers (8)
Filip Jorgensen, 22, signed for £21m; Robert Sanchez, 26, £25m; Djordje Petrovic, 24, £14m (available on loan); Kepa Arrizabalaga, 29, £72m* (for sale); Marcus Bettinelli, 32, free*; Mike Penders, 19, £17m (on loan) not yet confirmed; Gabriel Slonina, 20, £9m (available on loan); Lucas Bergstrom, 21, undisclosed* (for sale/loan).
Full-backs (7)
Reece James, right, 24, academy; Marc Cucurella, left, 26, £62m; Ben Chilwell, left, 27, £45m*; Renato Veiga, left, 12, £12m; Malo Gusto, 21, right, £30m; Josh Acheampong, right, 18, academy; Caleb Wiley, left, 19, £9m (on loan).
Centre-backs (9)
Axel Disasi, 26, £39m; Wesley Fofana, 23, £75m; Levi Colwill, 21, academy; Tosin Adarabioyo, 26, free; Benoit Badiashile, 23, £33m; Trevoh Chalobah, 25, academy (for sale); Aaron Anselmino, 19, £16 (on loan); Alfie Gilchrist, 20, academy (on loan); Bashir Humphreys, 21, academy (for sale/loan).
Midfielders (15)
Enzo Fernandez, 23, £107m; Moises Caicedo, 22, £115m; Christopher Nkunku, 26, £52m; Omari Kellyman, 19, £19m; Cesare Casadei, 21, £17m; Lesley Ugochukwu, 20, £23m; Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, 25, £30m; Romeo Lavia, 20, £53m; Carney Chukwuemeka, 20, £20m; Tino Anjorin, 22, academy (available for sale/loan); Andrey Santos, 20, £18m (on loan); Kendry Paez, 17, £17m (on loan); Alex Matos, 19, free; Jimi Tauriainen, 20, undisclosed* (available on loan); Leo Castledine, 18, academy (available on loan).
Wingers (9)
Mykhailo Mudryk, left, 23, £89m; Raheem Sterling, left, 29, £48m; Pedro Neto, left, 24, £54m; Cole Palmer, right, 22, £43m; Noni Madueke, right, 22, £29m; Estaevo Willian, right, 17, £51m (on loan); Angelo Gabriel, right, 19, £13m (available on loan); Harvey Vale, 20, academy (for sale/loan); Diego Moreira, 20, free.
Strikers (7)
Romelu Lukaku, 31, £100m*; Nicolas Jackson, 23, £32m; David Datro Fofana, 21, £11m (for sale); Deivid Washington, 19, £17m; Marc Guiu, 18, £5m; Mason Burstow, 21, £1.5m* (for sale/loan); Armando Broja, 22, academy (for sale).
Total, including loanees: 55
[TheNation]
Napoli’s director, Giovanni Manna, has confirmed that Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Victor Osimhen has expressed his desire to leave the Italian club, which could be a major boost for Chelsea and his other suitors.
Despite already securing a deal to sign Atletico Madrid’s Samuel Omorodion, Chelsea are still in need of a prolific goal scorer and has maintained their interest in Osimhen. The 25-year-old Nigerian striker is reportedly a top priority for Chelsea as they look to strengthen their forward line for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
Osimhen’s impressive performances have garnered attention from several top clubs in Europe, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Liverpool. However, his €130 million release clause has deterred many suitors, leaving Chelsea as the primary European club interested in signing him.
Note that Osimhen has been absent from Napoli’s pre-season fixtures and was also missing from their Coppa Italia first-round match against Modena.
Last weekend, Napoli’s director confirmed Osimhen’s desire to leave the club, stating that the striker wants to depart and that the club is prepared for his potential exit.
“Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club,” the club’s director told reporters in Italy.
“He wants to go. The situation is clear; there were already chances for his exit last summer. Victor wants to leave. We will see in the next 20 days.
“Victor is a player who wants to leave, and last year there was already a situation in place. We are calm because we have players in the squad ready to replace him.
“Osimhen is a strong player, but we want to protect the integrity of the group, and we prefer to protect the harmony of the group. But we will see what happens over the next 20 days.”
This development could lead to negotiations between Napoli and Chelsea, especially considering Napoli’s interest in signing Romelu Lukaku from Stamford Bridge.
Although Osimhen’s agent has initially rejected the idea of a swap or loan deal, the player’s eagerness to move away from Napoli may force a reconsideration.
Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has stressed that the ministry has started reviewing Nigeria’s poor performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Recall that Nigeria sent 88 athletes to compete in 12 sports at the 2024 Olympics, and all of them failed to win a medal for the country. This marks one of the country’s worst showings in Olympic history.
Enoh acknowledged the disappointment and emphasized the need for reflection as the country prepares for the upcoming Paralympics, scheduled to commence on August 28 in Paris.
The minister expressed regret over the subpar performance of Team Nigeria and extended his apologies to Nigerians.
He highlighted the provision of necessary funding, early payment of allowances, and timely disbursement of training grants, indicating that financial constraints were not a factor in Nigeria’s Olympic campaign.
However, he admitted that the outcomes did not meet the nation’s expectations and emphasized the need to provide a comprehensive explanation to the public.
The Sports Minister’s statement reads: “The Olympic Games, Paris 2024, has ended, and I accept that our performance should have been a lot better. It fell short of our objectives, expectations, and hopes of Nigerians. I must apologize to our compatriots and reflect on what went wrong while looking forward to the Paralympic Games, Paris 2024 (August 28- September 8).
“In all these, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federation, HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ensured that funds were not a limiting factor. Athletes’ competition requirements were provided, allowances were paid early, and training grants were disbursed to all athletes. I made myself readily available to deal with any issue throughout the competition. Therefore, the underwhelming performance of our team is puzzling. We owe Nigerians an explanation.
“As a responsible organization, we have swung into a review process. We shall evaluate the competition readiness of every athlete comprehensively, including their injury and medical history within the limits of patient confidentiality. The role of coaches and administrative staff will also be examined.”
Enoh also discussed the challenges faced by the Ministry of Sports Development in preparing for the Olympics within a limited timeframe. He revealed that when he assumed office in August 2023, the ministry had to oversee four major international competitions, including the AFCON, the African Games, and the Olympics and Paralympic Games, all within a short period.
He explained: “When I assumed office as the Minister of Sports Development in August 2023, I was confronted with the task of executing four international competitions namely the AFCON, the African Games, and the Olympics and Paralympic Games in a matter of a few months. I was also reminded that the Olympic Games is the world’s supreme sports competition, and countries require at least four years to prepare for it. I held extensive discussions with the management staff of the ministry and got to know that preparations for the Olympics, which was less than a year away, had not started.
“After the African Games, subsequent meetings were limited to the federations that had bright chances of qualifying for the Olympics. Medal projections were made by all the federations, although their athletes were still trying to qualify; which lasted until about June 2024. The concerned federations prioritized qualification over preparations for the Games. This seems to have always been the case. This has to change.”