Revealed: The best and worst-case scenarios for Irish League quartet in European draws
The Blues will be first to discover their opponents in the Champions League first qualifying round with that draw taking place on Tuesday, before the Invermen, Reds and Swifts enter Wednesday's Conference League draw – with the latter in the second qualifying round.
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Scottish Sun
13 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Chelsea's ‘very awkward' trophy lift event with empty seats and fans saying ‘players couldn't care less'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TROPHY parades in recent seasons have become a chance for thousands of fans to get together, line the streets and celebrate their team holding silverware aloft on an open top bus. But for Chelsea, after their Conference League and Club World Cup victories, it seems becoming Champions of the World wasn't enough to justify that level of chaos. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Chelsea paraded their Club World Cup trophy at Stamford Bridge Credit: Getty 6 Some fans turned up to see the silverware Credit: Getty 6 However, the stadium was mostly empty Credit: Getty 6 Chelsea won the tournament earlier this summer Credit: Getty Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw Play via Dream Team's app or website today! Instead, the Blues opted for an hour-long in-house trophy celebration with a fairly drab atmosphere, leaving the players unenthused and some fans disappointed. Almost immediately after the 'ceremony' one Chelsea fan took to X to vent his frustration, claiming 'The players couldn't care less about this event lmao, very awkward.' It was a statement that was tough to disagree with. Another added: "This Chelsea trophy event, looks like the men's players don't want to be there! Show a little enthusiasm or smile for the fans that showed up! So awkward!" The Stamford Bridge west stand was far from full, with fans who bought tickets to the far right or left of the stand being instructed to move to the empty seats in the centre for a better view early on. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL 'Sell him at half time' Arsenal fans demand struggling star be AXED after shocking display Despite this, with a ticket costing just £5, less than a beer at the ground, fans were perhaps given fair value. Members of the Treble-winning women's team, including captain Millie Bright, were out first with the WSL title, league cup and FA Cup, before being joined by the entire men's team with the Club World Cup and Conference League trophies. Chelsea heroes Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo were given huge ovations by the supporters in attendance, before all of the announced new signings were given an official introduction to Blues' supporters - unsurprisingly it was Estevao Willian who got the biggest cheer. The new Brazilian was officially announced as a Chelsea player yesterday, a year after agreeing a deal to join Enzo Maresca's side, and was comically forced by Malo Gusto to watch the French fullback's goal against Estevao's Palmeiras side at the Club World Cup on the big screen. SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN The idea was for the players to stroll down a blue carpet onto a plinth, before joining their team-mates to one side - though it seemed only Tosin Adarabioyo was fussed about trying to get his team-mates to avoid just walking to the side to join their pals, rather than take to the stage. The players were also given a chance to do a 'Donald Trump-less' lift of the Club World Cup trophy, but again, looked less than thrilled with captain Reece James not even holding the trophy aloft his head. Drake hints Cole Palmer is inspiration behind his new album name as he shares brilliant video of Chelsea star Though in fairness to James, it may be difficult to get ramped up and celebrate a trophy won over a month ago with few fans in attendance - or a US President looking on. Before they were allowed to head home, James and Maresca were asked for their message to the fans before their 25/26 campaign gets going with a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night. It was the manager who raised a few eyebrows in the ground with his 'rallying cry', after women's manager Sonia Bompastor had vowed for the team to target all FOUR trophies next campaign. Instead of instilling the fans with hope, and daring them to dream that the team will compete for major honours this season, Maresca instead pleaded for the fans to get behind the team. 6 Chelsea Women's showed off their successes from last term Credit: Getty 6 The players did not look overly enthused by the celebrations Credit: Getty He said: 'The message from me is quite clear. The players need the fans, so it's important that they're always behind them. This is my main message.' This comes against a backdrop of Maresca last season asking for a more energetic and encouraging atmosphere at home games for the Blues - something that he feels is essential in the team's quest for Champions League and Premier League glory. Perhaps we're old fashioned, but a traditional trophy parade might be a better idea the next time this team do pick up silverware.
Scottish Sun
13 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Club Brugge copy Rangers blueprint as they take huge step to facing Ibrox side in Champions League play-offs
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CLUB BRUGGE must have been watching Rangers in action before they took to the field for their own Champions League qualifier this evening. The Belgian side rode their luck and had goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to thank before a goal midway through the second half gave them a huge advantage going into the second leg. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 1 Romeo Vermant of Club Brugge celebrates his crucial goal Credit: Getty Remind you of anything? ...Sounds a lot like when Rangers faced Panathinaikos at Ibrox in the second qualifying round. The Light Blues withstood some heavy pressure from the Greeks and had to call upon the best of Jack Butland to keep them in the match. But then up stepped Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama in the second half to give them a 2-0 lead that ultimately proved pivotal in their quest to reach the third qualifying round. Russell Martin's Gers swept Viktoria Plzen aside by three goals to nil last night and have one foot in the play-off round already. They have been drawn to face either Brugge or Red Bull Salzburg at that stage and after tonight's game between those sides, it's the Belgian giants who are in pole position. Brugge, runners-up in last season's Belgian Pro League, won 1-0 in Salzburg thanks to a 74th minute strike from Romeo Vermant. The striker nipped in front of his marker to steer home a teasing cross from Bjorn Meijer and with the return leg back at their home ground, they will fancy their chances of progression. Former Sunderland keeper Mignolet made some fine stops early on but his highlight moment came in the 82nd minute when he made a superb double-save to deny Petar Ratkov and then Dorgeles Nene. If Gers finish the job against Plzen, they will be at home in the first leg of the play-off, which is scheduled for August 19. Rangers boss Russell Martin's big Tavernier and Raskin calls vs Plzen as he opens up on John Souttar contract Brugge edged the possession stats and played more passes but it was Salzburg who created more chances, with 20 shots in total. Earlier on, Chelsea-bound wonderkid Dastan Satpayev smashed in a nerveless 90th minute penalty against Slovan Bratislava to leave Celtic staring at a gruelling visit to take on Kairat Almaty in the play-offs. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
43 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Slovan Bratislava boss suffers touchline meltdown as hopes of landing jackpot Celtic clash left looking bleak
Vladimir Weiss is in hot water with UEFA after a furious outburst with the officials Slovan Bratislava's chances of setting up a Champions League play-off showdown with Celtic are already looking bleak after their third round first leg qualifying defeat to Kairat Almaty. And the Slovakian league champions will now have to try and overturn the deficit next week without their manager on the touchline after he saw red for berating the match officials. Despite playing the final 25 minutes with 10 men after Rahim Ibrahim was sent off, Slovan looked set to claim a valuable 0-0 draw in Kazakhstan until the last minute of the game, where Dastan Satpaev stepped up to bag the winner from 12 yards after Kairat were awarded a penalty kick. And boss Vladimir Weiss Snr - who's son and former Rangers midfielder Vladimir Weiss Jr captains his team - couldn't hide his fury at the performance of the officials. The livid Czech coach stormed onto the pitch to give match referee Serdar Gozubuyuk a mouthful, to which the Turkish whistler quickly responded by giving Weiss a second yellow card. The veteran boss reacted by marching towards the fourth official on the touchline to let rip with another tirade before he was ushered away by a member of his coaching team. UEFA regulations dictate that Weiss will now serve a one-game touchline ban in the return fixture in Bratislava next Tuesday, with his side needing to score at least once without reply to force extra-time. However, the severity of his dismissal could see the Champions League' s governing body hand out further punishment which could prevent Weiss leading his team from the side-line if they were to overturn the deficit and progress to the play-off round. Brendan Rodgers' Hoops await the winners of the tie later this month for a place in the money-spinning league phase of Europe's most prestigious competition. The Hoops will play host at Parkhead in the first leg on August 19/20 with the the return fixture away from home then comes six days later. The side that loses over two legs will drop into the revamped group section of the Europa League, giving them a guarantee of continental football until next January at the earliest. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. here.
