logo
'Maresca's side on track to finish higher than last season's fourth place'

'Maresca's side on track to finish higher than last season's fourth place'

BBC News4 days ago
It seemed like a seminal moment as Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino presented the Chelsea players with the Club World Cup.The tournament finished with a shock result as the underdogs claimed the prize against Champions League winners Paris St-Germain - though considering the money spent by the Blues, the 'underdog' term would not go down that well outside the European elites.Chelsea fans will, of course, be able to claim they are world champions for the next four years, even if this title will be laughed at by the majority of football supporters who have been following the game for longer than the past month.Try telling a Liverpool fan Chelsea are currently the best on this planet and stand back for the reaction after you have lit the blue touch paper.There were a few good games in the tournament and Chelsea were exceptional in their destruction of the previously unstoppable PSG.Enzo Maresca's side are progressing and on track to finish higher than the fourth place they managed in the Premier League last season.Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton 'makes key decision on Liverpool transfer' with Tottenham also interested in move
Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton 'makes key decision on Liverpool transfer' with Tottenham also interested in move

Daily Mail​

time27 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton 'makes key decision on Liverpool transfer' with Tottenham also interested in move

Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton has reportedly made a key decision regarding a potential move to Liverpool. The midfielder has been heavily linked with a switch to Anfield, while Tottenham are also interested in signing him. Palace are eager not to lose Wharton this summer, especially given that Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze could depart before the closure of the transfer window. As reported by The Sun, Wharton is willing to stay at Palace this season, which would mean that Liverpool would be the favourites to sign him. Wharton joined Palace in February 2024 from Blackburn, who would be entitled to 15 per cent of the fee from his next move. Since signing for Palace Wharton has made 43 appearances, although he missed a significant part of last season due to groin surgery. The 21-year-old is known for his excellent passing and technical ability. Wharton made his senior England debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2024 and was subsequently named in the Three Lions' Euro 2024 squad. However, he didn't feature at the tournament. Liverpool have been heavily active in the transfer market this summer, securing deals for Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. The Reds would be willing to wait until next year if it means that they can secure a deal for Wharton. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have also monitored Wharton's progress. However, his struggles with injury last season mean they haven't pursued a move for him.

Shane Lowry offers hope to chasing pack at Open with final-round 66
Shane Lowry offers hope to chasing pack at Open with final-round 66

The Independent

time28 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Shane Lowry offers hope to chasing pack at Open with final-round 66

Shane Lowry offered hope to Rory McIlroy and the rest of the chasing pack praying for an uncharacteristic Scottie Scheffler slip by shooting a final-round 66 at The Open. The best conditions of the week, sustained sunshine and very little wind, left Royal Portrush vulnerable to some low scoring and the 2019 champion here made the most of it with a 66. In reality Scheffler's rivals are going to have to shoot lower than that if they are to challenge the world number one, who did not have a bogey on Saturday in extending his lead to four strokes. Matt Fitzpatrick, five back, and McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton, six behind, represent the biggest threat, albeit a small one. Lowry recovered from a bogey at the par-five second to dial in his seven-iron with a birdie at the short next and a hole-out from the fairway at the fourth. Four more birdies followed and he almost finished in style but his attempted chip-in did not drop. 'The course is gettable today – but then that gives Scottie the chance to shoot three or four under and if he shoots three of four under he won't be caught I don't think,' said the Irishman. England's Justin Rose was two under through three holes despite missing a seven-footer for birdie at the first but his move up to seven under still left him seven off the top.

Revealed: Oleksandr Usyk's insane payday for 14 minutes of work after Ukrainian beat Daniel Dubois
Revealed: Oleksandr Usyk's insane payday for 14 minutes of work after Ukrainian beat Daniel Dubois

Daily Mail​

time29 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Revealed: Oleksandr Usyk's insane payday for 14 minutes of work after Ukrainian beat Daniel Dubois

Oleksandr Usyk made relatively quick work of Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday and Ukrainian was more than well paid for the minutes that he spent in the ring. Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion again with an excellent performance which saw him stop Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley. The 38-year-old preserved his unbeaten record and once again crushed Dubois' hopes of claiming boxing's biggest prize. The victory saw him reclaim the IBF title, adding it to his WBA (Super), WBO and WBC belts. Usyk will reportedly earn £97.5m for his evening's work while Dubois is expected to take home £52.5m. The fight was brought to an end with 1.09 minutes left in fifth round, meaning the bout lasted 13.51 minutes in total. Usyk exploded in the fifth, sending the 27-year-old to the deck with a slick left hand. The Brit managed to get back his feet but he was clearly in massive trouble and Usyk took advantage. Another brutal left hook followed moments later and Dubois' corner had seen enough as the referee's count neared 10. They threw in the towel to bring an end to the punishment and it was the right thing to do. Speaking after the fight, Usyk said: '38 is a young guy, remember! 38 is only (the) start! 'I want to say thank you to Jesus Christ. I want to say thank you to my team and Wembley, thank you so much! It's for the people. 'Nothing is next. It's enough, next, I don't know. I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest.' Meanwhile, Dubois to return after suffering the first defeat of his career. 'I gave everything I had,' He said. 'I take no credit away from the man. But I'll be back.' The win ensures Usyk reclaims the IBF belt he vacated last year, before a December rematch with Tyson Fury, with Dubois upgraded to champion and then defending the title against compatriot Anthony Joshua last September. The unification fight was a rematch of one that Dubois lost by a controversial ninth-round knockout in Wroclaw, Poland, in 2023, after Usyk was given time to recover from what the referee ruled was a low blow.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store