Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been given plenty to smile about – but he has warned his stars not to get complacent ahead of their clash with Manchester United.
The Blues put in an impressive display as Olivier Giroud’s overhead kick handed them a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in their Champions League last-16 first leg.
They will return to Premier League action at Stamford Bridge having gone eight games unbeaten so far under their new manager.
But Tuchel says they “cannot get comfortable or get lazy” ahead of a crucial four-game stretch in their top four ambitions. Tuchel said: “Honestly, we now play Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Leeds but this is good. We cannot get comfortable or get lazy.”
Erling Haaland has emerged as Chelsea’s number one transfer priority this summer.
The striker has been a revelation for both Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian League and now with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and at the age of 20 has the footballing world at his feet.
Haaland has 27 goals in 25 appearances for the German side this season, scoring at least once in 16 of those matches.
According to KPMG, who do yearly valuations of players based on the previous eight years’ transfer prices and looking at individual players’ position, age, nationality, contract length, performance, discipline, importance to the team and media and commercial potential, Haaland is worth more.
The KPMG Football Benchmark have Haaland at being worth 110million euros, around £94.6million now and the 11th most valuable player in the world.
Shola Shoretire has opened up about what it was like to make his Manchester United debut against Newcastle on Sunday. The 17-year-old winger became United’s seventh-youngest player ever when he came off the bench in the 89th minute for Marcus Rashford in the 3-1 win. Shoretire said it was a moment that he’ll never forget – and one that could only have been improved by United fans and friends and family being there to witness it.
Manchester United are interested in Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde but aren’t willing to pay his release clause, according to reports. Kounde is one of the names on United’s wishlist for the summer transfer window, but The Daily Mail report that the 22-year-old Frenchman’s £68million release clause could prove a barrier to a move. Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool are all also interested in Kounde, who is impressing scouts this season.
Manchester United are reportedly one of the clubs interested in Leeds winger Raphinha. Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari says United and Liverpool are among a number of clubs looking at signing Raphinha this summer. Leeds signed the Brazilian winger for £17million at the start of the season and understandably won’t want to lose a player that has contributed five goals and five assists in 20 Premier League games so far this season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Paul Pogba is “stepping up his recovery” as he nears his return to action for Manchester United. The French midfielder has not played since limping off with a thigh injury in United’s 3-3 draw with Everton on 6 February, but is getting closer to a return to action ahead of Thursday’s Europa League game against Real Sociedad.
Edinson Cavani, Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek will all miss Thursday’s Europa League game against Real Sociedad. United take a 4-0 advantage into the round-of-32 second leg and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may well rotate his squad for the tie. Solskjaer will be without Cavani, McTominay and Van de Beek, who all missed the 3-1 win over Newcastle on Sunday. “No. They are still out,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “Still not trained enough, more or less the same squad vs Newcastle.”
Inter Milan, Juventus and Roma are all interested in signing Juan Mata this summer, according to a report. Mata has only made 12 appearances this season for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side and his future is uncertain, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. The Sun are reporting that there is interest from Serie A for the 32-year-old if United choose not to activate the extension clause in his contract.
