6 h. ago Burnley close on promotion with comeback win at Watford amid EFL drama: football

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekendHave any thoughts? Send them over to Niall via emailIt was an interesting night for Chelsea. They are through to a European semi-final but they got booed off the pitch as it happened. From west London, Jacob Steinberg wrote:Losing 2-1 to Legia Warsaw on the night was embarrassing. Chelsea, who seemed intent on giving the fifth-best side in Poland hope of pulling off a comeback for the ages at a disgruntled Stamford Bridge, were shambolic and easily could have crashed out.No wonder Maresca is not feeling the love from the crowd. Nobody celebrated Chelsea squeezing into a Conference League semi-final against Djurgården after winning 4-2 on aggregate. The defending was miserable and the attack was poor. Filip Jörgensen, Robert Sánchez’s understudy, was jittery in goal and the worries around Cole Palmer’s slump are not going away.It was a poor performance. We had a 3-0 lead – maybe that played a part in taking our foot off the gas. M...

Events

8 h. ago Championship updates; Holland sacked; Slot’s ‘big summer’: football – live

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekendHave any thoughts? Send them over to Niall via emailIt was an interesting night for Chelsea. They are through to a European semi-final but they got booed off the pitch as it happened. From west London, Jacob Steinberg wrote:Losing 2-1 to Legia Warsaw on the night was embarrassing. Chelsea, who seemed intent on giving the fifth-best side in Poland hope of pulling off a comeback for the ages at a disgruntled Stamford Bridge, were shambolic and easily could have crashed out.No wonder Maresca is not feeling the love from the crowd. Nobody celebrated Chelsea squeezing into a Conference League semi-final against Djurgården after winning 4-2 on aggregate. The defending was miserable and the attack was poor. Filip Jörgensen, Robert Sánchez’s understudy, was jittery in goal and the worries around Cole Palmer’s slump are not going away.It was a poor performance. We had a 3-0 lead – maybe that played a part in taking our foot off the gas. M...

Sport

9 h. ago Derby v Luton on a big day in EFL; Holland sacked and Slot’s ‘big summer’: football – live

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekendHave any thoughts? Send them over to Dave via emailIt was an interesting night for Chelsea. They are through to a European semi-final but they got booed off the pitch as it happened. From west London, Jacob Steinberg wrote:Losing 2-1 to Legia Warsaw on the night was embarrassing. Chelsea, who seemed intent on giving the fifth-best side in Poland hope of pulling off a comeback for the ages at a disgruntled Stamford Bridge, were shambolic and easily could have crashed out.No wonder Maresca is not feeling the love from the crowd. Nobody celebrated Chelsea squeezing into a Conference League semi-final against Djurgården after winning 4-2 on aggregate. The defending was miserable and the attack was poor. Filip Jörgensen, Robert Sánchez’s understudy, was jittery in goal and the worries around Cole Palmer’s slump are not going away.It was a poor performance. We had a 3-0 lead – maybe that played a part in taking our foot off the gas. Ma...

Politics

10 h. ago Derby v Luton kicks off a big day in EFL; European reaction and more: football – live

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekendHave any thoughts? Send them over to Yara via emailIt was an interesting night for Chelsea. They are through to a European semi-final but they got booed off the pitch as it happened. From west London, Jacob Steinberg wrote:Losing 2-1 to Legia Warsaw on the night was embarrassing. Chelsea, who seemed intent on giving the fifth-best side in Poland hope of pulling off a comeback for the ages at a disgruntled Stamford Bridge, were shambolic and easily could have crashed out.No wonder Maresca is not feeling the love from the crowd. Nobody celebrated Chelsea squeezing into a Conference League semi-final against Djurgården after winning 4-2 on aggregate. The defending was miserable and the attack was poor. Filip Jörgensen, Robert Sánchez’s understudy, was jittery in goal and the worries around Cole Palmer’s slump are not going away.It was a poor performance. We had a 3-0 lead – maybe that played a part in taking our foot off the gas. Ma...

Politics

2 w. ago Ear and loathing: Ange Postecoglou’s bond with Spurs fans is finally broken | Jacob Steinberg

Tottenham manager chiding his own fans during defeat at Chelsea was an act of self-indulgence that backfiredIn fairness to Ange Postecoglou it will go down as one of the great managerial ear-cuppings. It was bitter, it was undignified and, rather than an act of defiance, it is probably going to be remembered as the moment of high farce that finally broke Postecoglou’s relationship with Tottenham’s fans.Here was a man on the edge, the list of grievances piling high, the emotion impossible to contain as he watched his side somehow cancel out Chelsea’s 1-0 lead at Stamford Bridge. Postecoglou had heard the chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” from the travelling supporters when he brought Pape Sarr on for Lucas Bergvall in the 64th minute. Now came vindication. On 66 minutes: a first shot on target. This was progress. Three minutes later, Sarr charging into midfield, knocked Moisés Caicedo over and unleashed a shot that went in thanks to more dreadful goalkeeping from Robert Sá...

Sport

3 w. ago Time is not on Tuchel’s side to raise England’s tempo before the World Cup | Jacob Steinberg

New head coach must find a way to focus Jude Bellingham and bring Premier League style to international stageThomas Tuchel does not have time on his side after opting not to oversee England’s Nations League games in November. He has looked to hit the ground running, just as he did when he won the Champions League four months after joining Chelsea, but building rhythm in international football is not easy. The players are not around for long and some games drift into irrelevance. Tuchel has started with two straightforward wins but neither set the pulse racing. The awkward reality is that qualification lacks jeopardy these days. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Tuchel still searches for England’s conductor as Bellingham boils over | Jacob Steinberg

Substitution of Real Madrid star against Latvia shows head coach does not prioritise individuals over the teamEveryone wants to have the ball when Latvia come to town. Everyone fancies the chance to take an extra touch. Everyone wants to be the star. Nobody seems to realise that slowing the play down is exactly what Latvia want as they settle into their rearguard action and focus on little more than keeping England out.It is a familiar problem for England. Thomas Tuchel has spoken about playing with intensity, about tapping into the aggression of the Premier League, about his team imposing their will on opponents. The challenge did not lie in defeating Latvia, but rather in how victory was achieved. Standards had to go up after a solid but unremarkable opening World Cup qualifying win against Albania. Tuchel is demanding. Tuchel will ask for more. Tuchel will not shy away from trying to rein in Jude Bellingham when the midfielder allows the unfocused, petulant version of himself to ...

Politics