Vesper

2020-21 UEFA Europa League, Round of 16 Arsenal Olympiakos http://www.sportnews.to/mysports/2021/europa-league-arsenal-vs-olympiakos-piraeus-s1/ https://www.totalsportek.com/page-3/

no player or manager is bigger than the club, not even Fergie

they can go fuck themselves I want to WIN

Chelsea, Atlético and a kind of avant garde jazz football Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! Numbers, with El Cholo. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images Barry Glendenning @bglendenning ‘BECAUSE IT’S WEDNESDAY …’ Much like the idiot scorpion who fatally stung the generous but gullible frog with whom he’d hitched a ride across the river, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that Atlético Madrid set up so defensively in the opening leg of their Big Cup last-16 tie because they just couldn’t help it; it’s in their nature. For most of this season in La Liga, a division they currently top, Diego Simeone’s team have removed the braces, loosened the belt and played the kind of avant garde jazz football that would have John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman toe-tapping with approval. But upon finding themselves at the business end of Big Cup against Chelsea, the handbrake was abruptly pulled and they went about their business with uncharacteristic timidity; almost as if they considered themselves to be the vastly inferior side. Desperate not to concede, they would have got away with it if it weren’t for that pesky Olivier Giroud bicycle kick, which leaves them with not so much a mountain but a hefty speed-bump to climb at Stamford Bridge. Behind they may be, but there’s only the kick of a ball between the sides and this tie is nicely poised. Diego Simeone backs 'rebel' João Félix to help Atlético overcome Chelsea Read more Asked in the first leg’s immediate aftermath why his side had approached it so cautiously, Simeone went all scorpion and responded by asking his inquisitor what on earth else he expected. While it would have taken a brave reporter to suggest “at least one shot on goal” to a volatile, nails-hard Argentinian in bad form, his players will have to come up with such efforts if they are to have any chance of turning this tie around. “We have to take the match where we want so we can win,” said Simeone. “You can start winning in the 84th minute or the 10th minute because they are all possible results. The aim is to take the match to them. We don’t know how they will think about the match, but I know what we want and that’s to win it.” While unbeaten under Tommy T, Chelsea have been less than prolific in front of goal on his watch, scoring just 13 in his 12 games in charge. What’s more, the German is becoming impatient with his goal-shy strikers, warning them they’re running out of time to start troubling the scoreboard operator. “The time simply doesn’t exist,” he declared, tapping his watch. “There is no time to get four or five matches in a row to score regularly. That simply does not exist.” Spotting a sheepish-looking Timo Werner welling up nearby, he went on to insist “we are not pointing fingers” and that “inside Cobham we blame nobody”. Outside of Cobham, Chelsea fans are less forgiving and a Big Cup exit is unlikely to be greeted so magnanimously. LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE Join Simon Burnton from 7pm GMT for WSL MBM coverage of Everton 1-3 Chelsea, before Barry Glendenning guides you through Chelsea 0-2 Atlético Madrid (agg: 1-2) in Big Cup at 8pm, with Paul Doyle on hand for Bayern 3-1 Lazio (agg: 7-2). QUOTE OF THE DAY “The FA acted far too slowly to introduce appropriate ... child protection measures [from 1995]. These are significant institutional failings for which there is no excuse. During this period, the FA did not do enough to keep children safe” – Clive Sheldon QC’s independent review finds that generations of young people suffered horrific sexual abuse at many of England’s professional and amateur football clubs due to a wholesale absence of child protection policies, ignorance and naivety. FIVER LETTERS “Re: ‘Congratulations to far more talented colleagues of The Fiver’ (yesterday’s last line). Talk about setting a low bar” – Stuart McLagan. “In yesterday’s Quote of the Day you suggested that the punctuality-challenged Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should give Swiss watchmaking trainee and former Gunner Stephan Lichtsteiner a call. Seeing as how Lichtsteiner’s favourite watch is a ‘Seesred’, I reckon it’s actually Granit Xhaka or David Luiz who should be getting in touch” – Peter Oh. “In the hope of being constructive and in light of several recent VAR controversies where the referee, on checking the pitchside monitor, has stuck with his original decision, why can’t we, on close offside incidents, have a system of linesman’s call (like the umpire’s call used in cricket)? As it is widely recognised that the technology isn’t accurate to within a foot or so, surely the adoption of such an approach would get us back to the original ‘clear and obvious’ intention of VAR” – Geoff Spinner. Send your letters to [email protected]. And you can always tweet The Fiver via @guardian_sport. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’the day is … Stuart McLagan. RECOMMENDED LISTENING It’s the latest Football Weekly podcast. RECOMMENDED VIEWING The absolute business, Cremonese’s Michele Castagnetti scoring an utterly ridiculous goal from his own half in Serie B. NEWS, BITS AND BOBS The Netherlands will allow 5,000 fans who have tested negative for Covid-19 to attend their Ethics World Cup qualifier against Latvia this month, as part of a government study that could help get supporters back into games quicker. Meanwhile, the 18 Belgian Pro League clubs have voted to back the possibility of a joint competition with their Dutch neighbours. “There is unanimous support to realise the possibility of the BeNeLiga and give it every opportunity,” cheered a statement. “The management of the Pro League will now take an active role in this.” Reports in Spain suggest spectators will be able to attend both Copa del Rey finals in Seville next month, although travel restrictions mean fans of Athletic Bilbao (who play in both), Real Sociedad and Barcelona may be unable to travel. Police in Scotland have charged a 22-year-old man in connection with an allegation of racially aggravated online abuse aimed at Middlesbrough’s Yannick Bolasie. The Italian FA will investigate a post on Social Media Disgrace Instagram by Milan’s Theo Hernández after their 1-0 defeat to Napoli. The defender posted a photo of match referee Fabrizio Pasqua alongside several ‘vomiting’ emojis, in the modern style. Gareth Southgate could be forced to leave Dortmund tyro Jude Bellingham out of his next England squad due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Southgate is also without Jordan Pickford, and is pondering call-ups for Patrick Bamford and Jesse Lingard. And former Oldham and Lincoln forward Maheta Molango will become Gordon Taylor’s successor as PFA chief suit at the end of this season. STILL WANT MORE? Birmingham City have finished 19th, 19th, 17th and 20th in the Championship over the last four seasons. Can Lee Bowyer keep them afloat this term, asks Ben Fisher. That’s possibly your answer. Photograph: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images What do Michael Ricketts and Mario Balotelli have in common? The answer to this question, and much more, in this week’s Knowledge. Which centre-backs should be in the England squad for Euro Not 2020? Martin Laurence marks your card. Oh, and if it’s your thing … you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. And INSTACHAT, TOO! DARREN DRYSDALE WOULD NOT HAVE STOOD FOR THIS

"Fucking hard work" - Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel's impact on players assessed Thomas Tuchel has made an instant impact at Chelsea as they push for the top four and a former player has discussed his incredibly intense methods https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/Chelsea-thomas-tuchel-impact-methods-23743857 Thomas Tuchel's methods will lead to success, but playing under him is "f***ing hard work" claims former player Andreas Beck. The German international played under the now Chelsea boss back in his youth career. He has waxed lyrical about the 47-year-old, who has made an instant impact at Stamford Bridge, and never doubted that he would eventually get to the top. Tuchel is yet to lose since taking over from Frank Lampard, but Beck knows that he will be demanding everything from his players. "I really admire his brain. Thomas was one of the best coaches I had," he told Goal. snip

first time ever Atletico Madrid has lost both legs in a CL/European Cup knock out

Kante MOTM (insane all game, just insane) Rudiger a close 2nd (best game as a Chels CB I think for him) I am starting to believe in Tuchel

loving Thiago in the stands all night

lol EMERSON of all people boom

great save Mendy

Pulisic is dross

Alonso has been superb defensively how often do we say that?

weak shot CHO just had come on seconds before though

harsh red on review ref has been strange on a couple calls

delete

suarez is rinsed no clue why barca all whingeing about he being let go

Kante is a a fucking machine

diving cunts

we so got away with tht pen, wtf was Azpi thinking with that weak AF back pass_

need that 2nd

we miss the hell out of Mount

fucking corner! gave a goal kick wtf

2020-21 UEFA Champions League, Round of 16 Chelsea Atletico Madrid http://www.sportnews.to/mysports/2021/champions-league-Chelsea-vs-atletico-madrid-s1/ https://www.totalsportek.com/page-4/

Wednesday March 17 2021 Matt Law's Chelsea briefing Loan spell at Fulham has worked out well — now midfielder must convince Tuchel of his merits By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent Ruben Loftus-Cheek this month made his 100th first-team appearance — while on loan at Fulham. For now, his only interest is keeping Scott Parker's team in the Premier League. But what next for the 25-year-old? Will Chelsea give him a proper chance to fight for a first-team place before next season, or will he be stuck in the same situation he found himself in last summer: not getting enough games and forced to try to find a way out? It was striking that in the same month Loftus-Cheek finally completed his century of first-team games, so too did 21-year-old Trevoh Chalobah, who is on loan in France at Lorient. Loftus-Cheek’s appearances, which stand at 101 at the time of writing, have all come in the Premier League, for Chelsea, Crystal Palace and now Fulham. Chalobah is yet to make a Premier League appearance, but has already stacked up 100 first-team games on loan at Ipswich Town, Huddersfield Town and Lorient. Of course, Loftus-Cheek’s progress has been delayed by a terrible run of luck with injuries and, for so long, he was the academy graduate who was deemed too good to go on loan. Indeed, in a recent interview with the Sunday Times, Loftus-Cheek admitted that, if he had his time again, he would have followed the route of Chalobah and so many other Chelsea’s youngsters. “If I could go back, I would try and go on loan earlier," said Loftus-Cheek. "I did try but certain things don't happen. If the club wants you to stay, sometimes you can't do anything about it. I went on loan as early as I could. I was 21. It was a bit late in terms of how much football I played, but that was the earliest I could have gone. "A player with my ability should have played more, but because of injury I haven't. I feel like 25 to 30 is going to be my 18-year-old to 23, 24. I'm doing it a little later than everybody else." The loan to Fulham has worked out perfectly so far for Loftus-Cheek and Chelsea, even though it had to be rushed through towards the end of the summer transfer window when options were in short supply. Under Parker, Fulham’s excellent manager, and at a club where he knew he would get opportunities, Loftus-Cheek has rebuilt his confidence in his own body and, most crucially so far, he has played a full part in the club’s survival bid with no major injury setbacks. Loftus-Cheek’s 23 league appearances for Fulham are six more than Ross Barkley has managed while on loan from Chelsea at Aston Villa during the same period. The next challenge for Loftus-Cheek will be to try to convince Thomas Tuchel that he can be part of his first-team squad next season. It will not be easy, but the former England international won over Maurizio Sarri and will believe he can impress the German. It is hard not to imagine at what stage Loftus-Cheek would currently be if he had not suffered the ruptured Achilles tendon that kept him out for more than a year in a post-season charity friendly on a terrible pitch against New England Revolution almost two years ago. At that point, Loftus-Cheek was enjoying his best-ever spell at Chelsea, having gone to the World Cup with England a year earlier, and it is not outlandish to predict that, without the setback, he would now be playing alongside Mason Mount for club and country. There remains a strong belief he can get back to that level, as demonstrated by Chelsea’s decision to award Loftus-Cheek a new five-year contract and healthy pay rise just a couple of months into his rehabilitation back in 2019. One hopes that the next demonstration of faith will be to give Loftus-Cheek a real opportunity to show Tuchel what he can do, no matter how many players he might have to compete with. The sense remains that he has not given up on Chelsea and neither should the club on him. The Chelsea Briefing newsletter will return on April 6, after the international break. Get in touch on Twitter @Matt_Law_DT or by emailing [email protected] Chelsea's boost for London businesses Chelsea are helping small London businesses get back on their feet by offering free advertising space across the club’s social media channels for the remainder of the season. In a bid to help give small businesses a boost as coronavirus restrictions in the UK are gradually lifted, Chelsea have launched the ‘Proud of London’ initiative. Businesses with a London postcode can apply for free advertising space on matchdays, including a branded Instagram story that will be shared among Chelsea’s millions of followers around the world. Details of how to apply can be found on Chelsea’s official website. A Telegraph Sport subscription gives you unlimited access to our exclusive inside stories, live match updates, expert analysis and dedicated newsletters – sign up today for £39 for a full year. Get unlimited access The week at Chelsea Tightening up: How Thomas Tuchel made Chelsea the Premier League's meanest defence Ken Bates interview: 'Foreign owners should never have been allowed in English football' Antonio Rudiger: Jose Mourinho tried to sign me at Tottenham, Chelsea defender says The best type of goal: Thom Gibbs ranks the ten most spectacular styles

Manchester United has most sustainable squad in the big-5 Major teams are built up over a period of years. The 63rd CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report presents an innovative approach to comparatively assess the sustainability of squads based on three elements: players’ age, the length of their stay in the employer club and the duration of their contracts. According to these criteria, Manchester United currently has the most sustainable squad among the 98 big-5 league clubs. Manchester United fans can thus be confident in the ability of their team to qualify without too much difficulty for the group stage of the Champions League over the next seasons, and eventually lift again the Premier League trophy. Ranked just behind Manchester United despite having far fewer financial resources, the Basque clubs Real Sociedad and Athletic Club constitute perfect examples of sustainable squad management. Conversely, Genoa is a perfect example of short-term planning. While football is not an exact science, data analysis can be an important tool with which to optimise performance. The sustainable squad management rating is not just a descriptive tool allowing the comparison of strategies pursued by teams in the past, which is interesting in itself, but also an instrument to steer future policies so as to increase the chances of success. For more information, please contact us. 1. Introduction Major teams are built up over a period of years. While the recruitment of new players is important, the overactivity on the transfer market often reflects a lack of strategic planning. Maintaining a sufficient level of squad stability is indeed a key criterion to sustainably managing a team and optimising its performance. This report presents the approach developed by the CIES Football Observatory to comparatively assess the sustainability of squads based on three elements: players’ age, the length of their stay in the employer club and the duration of their contracts. The study covers the squads of the 98 teams from the five major European championships: the English Premier League, the Spanish Liga, the Italian Serie A, the German Bundesliga and the French Ligue 1. 2. Age structure A first aspect to be considered when building a sustainable squad is the players’ age structure. Although the decline in performance does not occur at the same time for everybody, going beyond a certain age inevitably brings mental and physical fatigue. Having experienced players is certainly useful, and even necessary, but too high a dependence on older players can prove to be deleterious. Reliance on players at the end of their career can be measured by the percentage of minutes played by footballers over a certain age. As defensive players generally maintain their performance for longer than offensive footballers, we have applied here a threshold of 33 years of age for goalkeepers, 32 for defenders, 31 for midfielders and 30 for forwards. The data below refer to the 2020/21 season up until the end of February. The highest percentage was recorded for the newly promoted Spaniards of Huesca (39.6%), followed by two teams who played each other in the last sixteen of the Champions League: Lazio (38.7%) and title holders Bayern Munich (36.4%). Five Italian clubs are ranked in the top ten, while there are only German and English teams in the bottom ten positions. Among the squads best built to last from the point of view of age are notably Manchester City and Liverpool. 3. Group stability In a collective sport like football, where the sum is much greater than the parts, cohesion between teammates is of key importance. Insofar as it facilitates the development of team routines, squad stability is generally positively correlated to results. The indicator below ranks teams from the five major European championships according to the the amount of domestic league minutes played by footballers recruited after July 2020. At one extreme, 65.2% of Fulham’s minutes were played by new recruits. Similar to the London team, the three other most unstable clubs have had quite poor results up until now: Elche, OGC Nice and Crotone. While cases such as those of RC Lens and Union Berlin show that it is possible to perform well with a fair number of new players, the lack of stability stemming from a short-term squad management strategy usually has a negative impact on the pitch. At the other extreme, among clubs where new recruits played the lowest amount of minutes, we mainly find teams in the top half of the rankings in their respective championships. Among these notably are three clubs in the top three places in their league: Real Madrid, Manchester United and RB Leipzig. Mainz is the only team among the 10 most stable clubs to be, at the time of writing, in the relegation zone. 4. Contractual policy As well as the players’ age and their length of stay in the employer club, contractual policy is of fundamental importance from a perspective of sustainable squad management. Indeed, too great a reliance on players whose contract is almost up, or on loan from other clubs, even more so without an option to buy, often constitute an insurmountable obstacle when it comes to maintaining a desirable level of stability from season to season. Figure 3 ranks teams from the five major European leagues according to the percentage of domestic league minutes played by footballers whose contract expires by June 2022 at the latest or on loan from other clubs. The highest value was measured for the Spaniards from Eibar, where almost nine-tenths of minutes were played by players with short-term contracts. Conversely, the five teams least dependent on players whose contract is almost at an end are English. The lowest percentage overall was measured for Aston Villa (6.9%). Similar to the Birmingham team, the other clubs with the contractual policy most orientated to the long term are among the best (and wealthiest) in England: the two Manchester clubs, City and United, as well as the two from Liverpool, Liverpool FC and Everton. 5. Sustainable Squad Management rating (SSM) Based on the criteria of age, length of stay and remaining contract duration, we have conceived a Sustainable Squad Management rating (SSM). For each player present in the squad, we have multiplied the number of years spent in the first team of the employer club (limited to eight) with the number of years under contract remaining (limited to five), and have divided the total by the age. The result thus obtained for each player was multiplied by the percentage of domestic league minutes played. By adding the values for each player of a team, we end up with an indicator reflecting the level of sustainability for a squad. Although it varies with each match and transfer, this indicator allows us to compare strategies pursued by teams to build up their squads. It also gives a foretaste of the results that clubs can hope to obtain in the future without major changes in their policies. From this point of view, Manchester United fans can be relatively confident in the ability of their team to qualify without too much difficulty for the group stage of the Champions League over the next seasons, and eventually lift again the Premier League trophy. Ranked just behind Manchester United despite having far fewer financial resources, the Basque clubs Real Sociedad and Athletic Club constitute perfect examples of sustainable squad management. Conversely, Genoa is an excellent example of a policy geared towards the short-term. Under the leadership of the club owner Enrico Preziosi, Genoa's squad is constantly disrupted, and the team has had trouble staying in Serie A. The current season will probably not be an exception. If some of the poorly rated teams are obtaining good results, their low squad sustainibility value shows a need for a change in policy, without which it will be difficult to maintain a satisfactory performance level. 6. Conclusion Football is not an exact science, indeed, far from it. However, data analysis can be an important tool with which to optimise performance. With this in mind, the sustainable squad management rating is not just a descriptive tool allowing the comparison of strategies pursued by teams in the past, which is interesting in itself, but also an instrument to steer future policies so as to optimise the chances of success. Due to the very large gap in their financial means, performance is measured very differently according to the club. In the same vein, a wealthy team can more easily obtain a higher sustainability rating than a team with fewer resources. The former, for example, can more easily recruit the best young talents, while being able to keep them over the long term if they perform as hoped. Nevertheless, for all clubs, intelligent planning for the squad in terms of age, stability and contracts will lead to a sustainable optimisation of performance, or at least avoid major upsets. A strategic reflection on squad composition is, in this sense, useful regardless of if the ambition is to win a title, obtaining a European qualification, remaining in the top division, or, if relegation occurs, returning quickly to the top level.