(Video): Chelsea player fighting for his first team place shows impressive long ball skill
All the talk around Chelsea and their goalkeeper situation in the last week has been about one man – Mike Maignan.
The Frenchman is pushing for a move to Stamford Bridge, and it seems like it's all about to come down to a final hectic 48 hours before the Club World Cup window closes.
Petrovic signs off season with another great showing
Djordje Petrovic playing for Chelsea. (Photo by)
If we don't sign him, the shirt will be battled for between Robert Sanchez, who had it this season, and Djordje Petrovic, who had it the season before. The Serb has put himself in a strong position to come back to Chelsea and start after a brilliant season on loan at Strasbourg, and he helped his chances further with a great showing in the fiery Albania – Serbia game of Saturday night.
Advertisement
Petrovic made some great saves, some important high claims under immense pressure from the crowd in Tirana, and then saved a crucial penalty with a superb leap and strong right hand.
You can see his highlights from the game in the clip embedded here:
Petrovic happy to go long when situation calls for it
One thing we note from this compilation is how often Petrovic is going long. Now this is nothing to do with him, of course, this is clearly what he's been told to do by his national team coach.
It's hard enough for a club team manager to teach his team to play out from the back, one can only imagine how tricky it is for an international coach,
Advertisement
Still, we saw plenty of evidence from Strasbourg that Petrovic has levelled up that part of his game compared to when he was last at Chelsea.
Impressively, he actually completed 11 of the 13 long balls he played in the game.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
European football revenue hit record €38bn in 2023-24 season
The growth of the European football industry continues to show little sign of slowing after collective revenues for the 2023-24 season climbed to a record €38billion (£32.2bn, $43.6bn). Deloitte, the leading accounting firm, has published its 34th Annual Review of Football Finance today and reported an eight per cent increase in turnover across the continent. Advertisement The so-called big five leagues — the top divisions from England, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France — still contribute the greatest figures, with their aggregate revenues found to have topped €20bn for the first time last season. Over a third of that sum continues to come from the Premier League's 20 clubs, who reported growth of four per cent on the previous campaign. Germany's Bundesliga was the only major European league to see a downturn in revenues, falling one per cent year on year to €3.8bn. That allowed La Liga's combined wealth to almost draw level as the closest competitor to the Premier League, with aggregate revenues enjoying a six per cent uplift in 2023-24. European football's aggregate revenues, with figures including domestic leagues and national associations, have grown consistently since the turn of the century and are forecast by Deloitte to continue in the next two years. They estimate revenues will have climbed to €39.3bn in the season that is just finishing, before heading north again to €43.1bn in 2025-26. Amid those positive projections, though, are warning signs. Deloitte's report sees small growth for the big five leagues in 2024-25, before revenues then plateau next season. That is predominantly down to the deep uncertainty over Ligue 1's broadcast rights, but projects largely flatlining numbers for Serie A and Bundesliga. Those forecasts suggest that the Premier League's place as market leader will only grow. Last season saw commercial revenues of the top 20 English clubs go beyond the £2bn mark for the first time, with matchday revenues climbing to £909m. Broadcast revenues (coming in at £3.3bn with earnings from European competitions) alone are more than any other top European league turns over in total. Premier League clubs are assured of that figure growing again next season as a new and improved domestic broadcast cycle begins in 2025-26. Deloitte forecasts the Premier League's aggregate revenues to touch almost £7bn next season. Advertisement Other patterns point to a more pragmatic approach on the continent. Clubs in the big five leagues were found to have reported an operating profit of €600m in 2023-24. Wages as a percentage of revenue also fell from 66 to 64, suggesting that lavish spending has been tempered. 'The pressure is mounting for more clubs to drive additional revenue at the same time as managing rising costs,' Tim Bridge, lead partner in the Deloitte Sports Business Group, said in a statement accompanying the report. 'More than ever, leaders and owners must recognise the great responsibility they have of managing these businesses, capturing the historic essence of a football club while honouring its unrivalled role as a community asset for generations to come.' Deloitte's report found Championship clubs had recorded revenues just shy of £1bn, but found wages had climbed significantly to £892m. That ensured 93 per cent of turnover from the 24 Championship clubs in 2023-24 was spent on wages, with 11 of the 24 clubs committing more on salaries than they generated. League Two's aggregate revenues climbed significantly to £160m, but 17 per cent of that inflated sum came from Wrexham, as they passed through the division in 2023-24 en route to League One. The greatest growth witnessed, though, came in the Women's Super League. Deloitte's report found that £65m had been generated, 34 per cent up on the previous season. All 12 WSL clubs reported income of over £1m for the first time, and forecasts estimate that total revenues for the top-flight of the English women's game will reach £100m in 2025-26.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Newcastle, Spurs & Villa eye Sancho - Thursday's gossip
Premier League trio interested in Jadon Sancho, Everton and Newcastle lead Jack Grealish race, Bayer Leverkusen considering Jarell Quansah move. Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham are monitoring developments with Jadon Sancho, 25, after the England winger's return to Manchester United following his loan spell at Chelsea. (Sun) Advertisement Everton and Newcastle are leading the race to sign England forward Jack Grealish, 29, from Manchester City this summer. (Football Insider) Bayer Leverkusen are considering a move for Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, 22. (Athletic - subscription required) Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez is likely to leave Liverpool this summer, with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal making contact about the 25-year-old this week. (Talksport) Nunez, though, is understood to favour staying in Europe, with a move to Spain or Italy his preference. (Mirror) Athletic Bilbao hope to agree a pay rise and contract extension with 22-year-old Spain winger Nico Williams, to stave off interest from Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Chelsea. (Marca - in Spanish) Advertisement Williams has told Bayern he is open to a move to Germany and his management is in talks with the Bundesliga champions. (Sky Sports Germany) Germany winger Leroy Sane, 29, has rejected an offer from Al-Hilal and agreed to join Galatasaray after talks over a new contract with Bayern Munich failed. (Sky Sport Germany) Everton, Wolves and Fulham are eyeing a move for 32-year-old Czech Republic right-back Vladimir Coufal, who is a free agent after leaving West Ham. (Football Insider) Nottingham Forest are rivalling Leeds and Sunderland for 31-year-old Mozambique left-back Reinildo Mandava, who is out of contract with Atletico Madrid this summer. (Teamtalk) Advertisement Real Betis have offered a three-year deal to Dominican Republic left-back Junior Firpo, whose Leeds contract is set to expire, although the 28-year-old is also considering an offer to stay at Elland Road and another from Lyon. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish) Chelsea have put Serbia goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic up for sale, with Leeds among the clubs interested in signing the 25-year-old. (Teamtalk) Petrovic asked to be left out of Chelsea's Club World Cup squad so he can focus on securing a move. (Telegraph - subscription required) Manchester City are close to reaching an agreement to sign Rosenborg's 18-year-old Norwegian midfielder Sverre Halseth Nypan. (Athletic - subscription required) Advertisement River Plate's Argentina midfielder Franco Mastantuono, 17, has agreed to join Real Madrid in August. (AS - in Spanish) Brazil forward Rodrygo, 24, wants to stay at Real Madrid and establish himself under new coach Xabi Alonso. (Marca - in Spanish)
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Chelsea player ratings as Palmer and Sancho star in Conference League final triumph over Real Betis
Chelsea completed an impressive 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the Conference League final to claim a first trophy of the Enzo Maresca era. The Blues were pretty dismal in the first half in Wroclaw and deservedly trailed 1-0 but were a side transformed after the break. Cole Palmer's creativity created goals for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson before the impressive Jadon Sancho came off the bench to add a third and Moises Caicedo completed the victory with a fourth in injury time. Advertisement It means the Blues become the first team in history to have won every single major European trophy, as the Conference League crown was added to previous successes in the Champions League, Europa League and European Cup Winners' Cup. Having already secured Champions League qualification for next season by coming fourth in the Premier League, this win completes a pretty impressive first campaign for Maresca and a young squad may well be able to use this as a springboard moving forward. Here's how the Chelsea players rated as they completed the European trophy set with Conference League victory over Betis: Filip Jorgensen – 6 Couldn't do anything about Betis's goal and then made a good save during the Spanish side's dominant start to the match. Looked comfortable enough on the ball and wasn't hugely tested beyond those early moments. Advertisement Malo Gusto – 3 Constantly inverted into central midfield alongside Caicedo and Enzo, leaving Chelsea exposed with a three at the back, and the impressive Ezzalzouli subsequently made hay down Chelsea's right early on. That included scoring the opening after Gusto gave the ball away and he was subbed off at half-time for Reece James. A largely dismal day. Malo Gusto struggled in Wroclaw (AP) Trevoh Chalobah – 6 Part of the defence run ragged in the first half and caught out by Betis's lively forwards on a couple of occasions. Was tested less in the second half as Chelsea were largely on top and that was probably a good thing. Looked decent enough on the ball. Advertisement Benoit Badiashile – 4 Like Chalobah, gets pinged for being part of the defence that were given the runaround early on and then got himself booked on 55 minutes before being subbed off on the hour mark. Marc Cucurella – 7 On the left side of the three created by Gusto inverting into the midfield, he looked as uncomfortable as his defensive partners when Ezzalzouli, Isco and Antony were causing havoc. Showed ambition when playing the ball forward though, especially in the second half, and helped keep Antony quiet after the early issues. Enzo Fernandez –8 Wanted to drive Chelsea forward from a central role and although he was quiet in the first half, popped up with the vital equaliser as he drifted between two defenders and headed home Palmer's sumptuous cross. Finals are about moments and he produced a key one. Enzo Fernandez scored the vital equaliser for Chelsea (Getty) Moises Caicedo – 8 The be-masked midfielder has quietly had a good season for Chelsea and performed his traditional role of tidying up/doing the dirty work here. Gave away free-kicks in key positions on a couple of occasions in the first half but helped steady the ship after the break as the Blues began to thrive. Got himself on the scoresheet with a superb injury-time strike, starting the move, continuing his run forward and thumping home. Advertisement Pedro Neto – 4 Largely quiet although did fire a 35th-minute shot well over the bar. Showed flickers of life early in the second half but subbed off on 60 minutes with Jadon Sancho coming on as Maresca sought a spark and the Man United loanee completely outshone him. Needs more end product next season. Cole Palmer – 9 Easily the man of the match. More capable of a defining moment of quality than anyone else in the squad and produced it for the equaliser as he floated a stunning cross on to Enzo's head. Looked dangerous every time he touched the ball in the second half and brilliantly created the second goal as well, turning his man inside out before dinking another glorious cross for Jackson to force home. The creative heart who won the Blues this final before receiving a standing ovation when subbed off with a couple of minutes remaining. Cole Palmer inspired Chelsea's comeback (AP) Noni Madueke – 7 Keen to run at opposite number Sabaly whenever he got on the ball and won a couple of corners in the first half before showing more verve and spark after the break. The goals came from Palmer's creativity and Sancho's quality finish but Madueke also looked threatening. Advertisement Nicolas Jackson – 7 Led the press effectively enough early on but was starved of service in the first half and did little with what he did get. Livelier after the break as Chelsea improved and was in the right place at the right time to score the goal that put them 2-1 up, using his shoulder/chest to force Palmer's pinpoint cross home. Not pretty but he'd made the perfect run to be there. Then made a complete hash of a one on one, with the heaviest touch you will ever see to highlight the frustration Chelsea fans have with him. Hobbled off with 10 minutes left Substitutes Reece James for Gusto, 45 – 8 Answered the half-time SOS to replace the struggling Gusto and Chelsea immediately looked more fluent. He put a good cross into the box straight away, saw a shot deflected wide and generally seemed to spark his side into life. Reece James's introduction helped turn things round for Chelsea (PA) Jadon Sancho for Neto, 61 – 8 Brought on for Neto to try and make an impact and did exactly that. Constantly ran at the Betis defence and curled in a superb third goal after shifting it on to his right foot that sealed victory for Maresca's men. Assisted Caicedo for the cherry-on-top fourth for good measure. Advertisement Levi Colwill for Badiashile, 61 – 7 Chelsea's best passer in defence and brought on for the yellow-carded Badiashile as much for that attacking ability as for as his defensive prowess. Did exactly what was asked. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for Jackson, 80 – 7 Got the assist for Sancho's goal after he aggressively drove forward. Perhaps a bit lucky that his pass made it to Sancho but deserved that fortune because of the ambition of the run. Marc Guiu for Palmer, 87 – N/A Simply brought on to waste time and so that Palmer could receive a standing ovation from Chelsea fans. Not enough time to make an impact.