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BBC News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Chelsea deserve a lot more credit'
Chelsea gaining "momentum" at this stage of the season is "impressive" as "every game is a final" now, says fan and YouTuber Nina Blues took three crucial points in their 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge over newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool on leaves Enzo Maresca's side sitting fifth in the table, on the same points as Newcastle and three ahead of Nottingham Forest - both teams they face in the final three games of the campaign."When we have been so up and down, so inconsistent this season, to gain this momentum at this point has been so impressive. Credit to Maresca for setting us up the way he did," Hristova told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast."Yes, some might say it wasn't very 'Premier League champions' of Liverpool the way they played but, ultimately, I think Chelsea deserve a lot more credit. From defence, to midfield, to attack, we were very, very impressive."Cole Palmer was exceptional. It was the Palmer we have been missing in the last 18, 19 games of his goal drought. Palmer brings so much more than goals and assists in this team and he showed that yesterday."Even if he hadn't scored that penalty, I think we still would have all walked away and said Cole Palmer was perhaps the deserved player of the match because he was so crucial in the build-up. His through-balls, his vision, he is really, really like no other. A great boost of confidence for him."St James' Park anytime of the year is a difficult place to go, but every game is a final. We are competing with Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, so we can definitely go there with a bit of confidence."Listen back on BBC Sounds
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Everybody now sees what Slot is capable of'
Former Liverpool midfielder Bolo Zenden says Arne Slot turned around criticism with "beautiful football" and "charisma". He is delighted that everybody now sees what the boss can achieve. "I think no one expected him to actually do what he did with his staff and his players," Zenden told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast."In the beginning people were thinking someone's coming in from the Mickey Mouse league and what's he going to do at Liverpool? Very soon he turned around the criticism with beautiful football, with charisma and I think everybody now sees what he's capable of doing. The most interesting thing is probably still to come."I'm sure he's not going to sit still. It's strange to talk about when you've just won the league but I'm sure that in the back of his mind he's already planning for next season."
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'The timing was poor' - Bothroyd on Cunha comments
The timing of Matheus Cunha's comments implying he wants to leave Wolves "doesn't make sense", says former Wanderers striker Jay Cunha said in an interview with the Observer that he has told the club he needs to "take the next step" and fight for titles in his in a social media video on Monday, the 25-year-old said people did not have the "correct interpretation"."The timing was poor," Bothroyd told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast."Everyone knows he wants to leave - he's a quality player who is going to go to a bigger club."But when you've signed a new deal and they've paid you more money - and they've given you a new contract so they can demand more money for you - why would you say this now?"This should be a period where he gets his head down and tries to contribute to the team getting results, and then at the end of the season look at the scenario which comes around then."Right now, it just doesn't make sense."It doesn't affect the way you treat them, because obviously they're still your team-mate, but some players might go to him and say: 'Why did you do that?'"I had a situation at Cardiff in the last year of my contract where every weekend I was being asked if I was leaving and why I hadn't signed a new deal My answer was simple and what it should be: 'I'm focusing on my football, I haven't got time for anything else.'"That is what Cunha should have said to whoever interviewed him about Wolves because it is a big part of the season, there are some big games coming up and he needs to be on form."The manager won't be happy he spoke like that either. It's a strange one."Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds from 08:21
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'We need to protect Saka... Real Madrid game is more important'
Former Wolves striker and Arsenal academy product Jay Bothroyd says he does not want Bukayo Saka to "come back too soon", with the Gunners winger set to return from injury in Tuesday's visit of Fulham. Mikel Arteta said in his pre-match news conference that Saka was "ready to go" and in contention to start for the first time since limping off against Crystal Palace on 21 December."Obviously there has been a lot of talk about Saka coming back but, if I'm honest, I'm going against the grain," Bothroyd told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast."I don't really want to see Saka for a while because the hamstring can be a funny injury and it was a rupture - he did have it reattached."I don't want him to come back too soon. There is the big Real Madrid game coming up, which is more important. Maybe give him a few minutes but if Arteta is thinking about starting him then I'm not on the side of that."We need to protect Saka. He's been playing since such a young age week in, week out. It's caught up with him and that's why he's got that type of injury now."But, it's great that he could potentially be back soon."Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds from 08:24
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Connor declines race for GB after UKA ask him to pay
Distance runner Ben Connor says he has declined to race for Great Britain at the European Road Running Championships after being asked to pay to - who was part of Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics - had been selected to run the half marathon in Leuven, Belgium in its selection policy, UK Athletics asks athletes for a fee of up to £1,100 to cover things like travel, accommodation, food, kit and wrote in a post on Instagram that England athletics have offered to subsidise the cost, "to which I'm sure many are grateful".Bu the 32-year-old added that he felt "representing GB shouldn't come down to who can or cannot afford to pay for it". "Representing your country is a privilege, and in athletics is earned via a qualifying process, which while not always perfect, gives everyone the same chances to gain selection," Connor wrote."Coming from a working class background I don't like the potential precedent being set where people, especially junior athletes of the future, don't have the same development or competition opportunities because of finances."I wish there was more transparency and honesty regarding the state of our governing bodies finances and about how our sport is being managed for this to be the position."In a statement, UK Athletics (UKA) said the fee is likely to be under £500 and that athletes were aware of the cost when expressing an interest in added that as more competitions get added to the calendar it is "impossible" to fund all teams."Upon selection athletes were also advised that the earlier 'maximum contribution amount' of £1,100, was likely to be under £500 and in some cases around the £2-250 mark with a further contribution from their home country athletics organisation," the statement read."UKA feels it is better to give athletes opportunity to compete than opt not to send teams at all."World 1500m silver medallist and now commentator Hannah England says the idea of athletes being priced out of competing is "really worrying and sad" but there is just not enough money to go around."£20m of UK Sport funding goes to UK Athletics and it then asks athletes to pay to compete. That does not look like a good narrative," England told BBC 5 Live Breakfast."But that funding is audited and has to go towards producing Olympic medals. This is a new championship so there is no precedent for Olympians coming from that event."So it is either ask people to contribute or they don't send a team. And that is really hard for people to stomach."The Championships are one of a number of events in which UK Athletics is asking for a contribution, with up to £200 listed for July's European Under-23 Championships in the policy for that event, UK Athletics says: "We recognise that the financial commitment associated can present challenges for some athletes. To address this, the UKA Performance Pathway team is committed to working closely with athletes facing financial hardship to explore solutions that enable their involvement."
