Latest news with #JoséMourinho
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Levi Colwill takes on central role as Chelsea seek ‘winners only' mentality
Chelsea never won any popularity contests during the Roman Abramovich era. Calling them obnoxious is intended as a compliment. Infused with a champion spirit after appointing José Mourinho in 2004, Chelsea were renowned for their resilience and snarl, impossible to intimidate and more concerned with winning trophies than whether outsiders thought they were a great bunch of lads or liked their style of play. Their mentality was unrivalled and lasted even after Mourinho left. Since Abramovich's sale in 2022, though, Chelsea have gone down a very different road when it comes to building a dressing room culture. There are no ready-made talents arriving at Stamford Bridge and there have been plenty of times during the past three years when supporters have been left wondering why a team once marshalled by Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba were so lacking in character. Abramovich's successors are done listening to their critics, though. Pilloried for embarking on a strategy of targeting young players on long contracts, the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership sense vindication is coming. The argument that leaders can be developed is starting to hold water, even if it remains valid to argue that bringing in an established star or two in key positions could help Chelsea get over the line in the big competitions. Paris Saint-Germain did not win the Champions League with a team of kids; they also had Marquinhos (31) in defence, Fabián Ruiz (29) playing brilliantly in midfield and Ousmane Dembélé (28) scoring for fun up front. Even so, there is a growing feeling Chelsea will emerge from the adversity and upheaval that followed the change of ownership with a stronger mentality and greater togetherness. There was particular satisfaction at how they fared against Benfica in the last 16 of the Club World Cup last Saturday. An implosion would not have been surprising after a weather delay lasting close to two hours was followed by Benfica forcing extra time after a controversial 95th-minute penalty. Chelsea responded, winning 4-1 to set up a quarter-final with Palmeiras on Saturday, and much was made internally of Levi Colwill's performance after normal time. True, it was risky when the centre-back wagged a finger at the referee, Slavko Vincic, and appeared to swear at the Slovenian after Benfica were awarded their spot-kick. There are usually ramifications for behaving like that and Colwill was lucky not to receive at least a yellow card. Chelsea will expect the 22-year-old to channel his emotions better. Equally, though, they like Colwill is showing fight and desire. He has stepped up and taken on more responsibility in recent months. Colwill scored the winner when Chelsea clinched Champions League qualification by beating Nottingham Forest at the end of last season and his aggression proved vital against Benfica. He refused to be bullied and was involved in the game's turning point, pressing high to win possession and drawing Gianluca Prestianni into a foul that led to the 19-year-old forward being sent off with the game locked at 1-1. There is room for improvement. As an academy product, Colwill is under more pressure than most to show leadership in central defence. Fans demand a lot from one of their own. Proving that you can be the next Terry is not easy. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Colwill knows that he is not the finished article. He has toughened up during the past 12 months, but Chelsea want him to bulk up even more and become more dominant in the air. 'We could be here for ages,' he says after being asked what part of his game needs to be better. 'I am nowhere near where I would like to be. Defending one-v-one has been tough, but I think I've proved that I'm getting a bit better. I'm good at times when I'm trying to make passes and there are other times where I've been a bit lazy.' The England international is hard on himself. 'You've got to be if you want to be the best and strive for the best things possible,' he says. 'You might think a pass is easy – you can take your mind off it. You take your mind off something for half a second and that can make a big, big difference. 'We all know how big this club is and how the culture of the club has always been to win. We're just trying to reinforce that to the young boys, to the boys coming in, that this club is for winners only. That's what we need to strive towards. That's what we want to do together.' Colwill echoed what Chelsea are saying internally. They see a group of kids growing together. There was amusement at the otherwise languid Cole Palmer losing his cool and picking up a booking for getting involved in a shoving match after Prestianni's red card. Perhaps some of the old snarl is returning.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fenerbahçe submit €15m offer to PSG for Marco Asensio
According to L'Équipe, Turkish giants Fenerbahçe have submitted a €15m bid to Paris Saint-Germain in an attempt to sign Marco Asensio (29) on a permanent deal this summer. The Spanish international has one year remaining on his contract at the Parc des Princes. Asensio, who joined PSG on a free transfer from Real Madrid last summer, spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Aston Villa, where he impressed with 8 goals and 1 assist in 21 appearances. Despite that successful spell in the Premier League, he does not feature in Luis Enrique's plans for the upcoming season. Advertisement With PSG open to letting him go, the decision now rests with Asensio. Fenerbahçe manager José Mourinho is actively trying to convince the winger to make the move to Istanbul. The Turkish club are also in talks with the Ligue 1 champions regarding a potential permanent transfer for Milan Škriniar, who is under contract in Paris until 2028. GFFN | George Boxall
CNN
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Build-up to the Champions League final: PSG vs Inter Milan
Update: Date: 7 min ago Title: Why the Champions League final is the "biggest trophy in the world" Content: There are only a few games in soccer that transcend the sport, and the Champions League final is certainly one. It's the pinnacle for European clubs; full of emotion, magical moments and home to the best players on the planet. To put it in context, many fans prefer that their club win the Champions League than their nation win the World Cup. 'The Champions League is the biggest trophy in European club football and I have to say it's the biggest trophy in the world because you play against the best.' José Mourinho, two-time Champions League winner No one understands the importance of the competition more than two-time winner José Mourinho. The legendary coach won it first with Porto in 2004 before repeating the feat with Inter in 2010. 'To win the Champions League is like to be immortal. The winners are legends, you are always going to be a legend at that club,' he recently said in a BBC Sport documentary about his two wins. Update: Date: 9 min ago Title: Where is this year's final? Content: Munich's Allianz Arena is the host venue for this year's final. The usual home for German powerhouse Bayern Munich, the 70,000-seat stadium has hosted a Champions League final before. The biggest match in European club soccer was last held at the stadium in 2012, when Chelsea beat Bayern on penalties. The game will be most remembered for Blues star Didier Drogba's heroics, after the striker scored an 88th-minute equalizer and then the deciding penalty to win the club its first Champions League crown. All of tomorrow's finalists will be hoping to write themselves into the history books and follow in the steps of the Ivorian striker. Update: Date: 9 min ago Title: Stick with CNN Sports as we warm-up for this year's Champions League final Content: We are now just a day away from the final of this year's Champions League which will see Paris Saint-Germain take on Inter Milan inside Munich's Allianz Arena. CNN Sports is on the ground previewing the two teams and providing a taste of the atmosphere in Germany ahead of European soccer's biggest club game. With the help of some expert analysis, including former players, CNN Sports has your back! Things to look out for today:
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
💬 Mourinho's cheeky quip ahead of the Champions League final 😅
This Saturday night, Paris Saint-Germain faces Inter Milan in the Champions League final, in a duel that promises to be electric. But a few days before the big event, an old legend emerged from the shadows to drop a little comment that caused a reaction. José Mourinho, also known as The Special One, has not lost his sense of the punchline. "I'm going to be very naughty, but very honest... I was afraid that Inter would win the treble. I didn't want them to win it. The treble is mine.", he said on Sky Sport. A nod to his incredible 2009-2010 season, when he led Inter to a historic treble: Serie A, Italian Cup, and Champions League. Since then, no Italian club has repeated this feat. If Inter's fans can see this as a touch of ego (well balanced), no one doubts the love that Mourinho has for Inter. 🇵🇹🗣️ José Mourinho :« Je vais être très vilain, mais très honnête… J'avais peur que l'Inter remporte le triplé. Je ne voulais pas qu'ils le remportent. Le triplé est à moi. » 😂🏆Le Special One …#Mourinho #Inter #Triplé #Légende — La Minute Foot (@La_Minute_Foot) May 29, 2025 This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here. 📸 Justin Setterfield - 2025 Getty Images
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
📺 Champions League winner: This pro kickstarted his career on TV
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. From dishwasher to millionaire? Anyone can do that. From substitute player to regular team member? Many can do that. Advertisement But from TV show participant to Champions League winner? Only one person has achieved that so far – Ben Greenhalgh. The following story is something nobody will believe you when you tell it at the next pub evening. The Brit Ben Greenhalgh already knew in 2009 that he was quite good at playing football, when he applied for the TV show Football's Next Star. And yet, the then 17-year-old had never managed to get into a youth academy of a professional club. So why not go on the show – if the winner would get a six-month contract with a Champions League club? Easy decision. Ben Greenhalgh came, saw, and conquered. Eight episodes after his first appearance, the left winger had actually made it through. Against 20,000 other applicants. We repeat: 20,000. In the end, he held a contract for Inter Milan's youth department in his hands. The logical consequence? Advertisement Just half a year later, the Englishman actually won the Champions League with the Nerazzurri. Before that, he had convinced coaching legend José Mourinho so much that he included him in the Champions League squad. At the age of 18, Greenhalgh was thus at the very top of the football world – and the fairy tale continued. Without having played a single game for the professionals, Inter gave the TV star a one-year contract and then loaned him to Como. With the lakeside team, he mainly played in the youth team, before returning to England. Was that it? Not quite: until 2025, the current manager of non-league club Margate FC still played for several semi-professional clubs – mostly in the fifth tier of English football. And because a sports career rarely comes alone, Greenhalgh suddenly made a name for himself in another discipline in 2015. Advertisement He joined the PGA Tour and became a professional golfer for several months. A man who has convinced José Mourinho of his abilities can apparently do anything. 🤯 📸 CHRISTOPHE SIMON
