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  Mendy, Kante, Kovacic - Chelsea team news and injury updates ahead of Man City showdown With Chelsea having wrapped up a top four finish on the final day of the Premier League campaign on Sunday afternoon, attention now switches to Saturday's UEFA Champions League final against Manchester City. The two clubs will fly out to Portugal later this week ahead of the clash in Porto, with Chelsea looking to earn their first trophy of the Thomas Tuchel era, whilst City will be looking to lay their hands on the Champions League crown for the first time in their history. Whilst City will enter the contest brimming with confidence after hammering Everton 5-0 on Sunday afternoon, ensuring they completed their Premier League title-winning season with a bang, Chelsea limped home in fourth, suffering a final day defeat to Aston Villa. However, Chelsea did just enough over the course of the season to bag a top four finish, meaning they will compete in the Champions League next season re...

  Cristiano Ronaldo said he has realized one of the goals he set for himself when he joined Juventus in 2018 and valued everything the club had achieved this season despite their run of nine straight Serie A title coming to an end. Ronaldo, 36, has one year remaining on his contract at Juventus but there has been a flurry of media speculation that the Portuguese forward could be leaving in the summer. Juventus were deposed as champions by Inter Milan and only climbed into the top four on the final day of the campaign on Sunday to secure Champions League qualification. "This year we couldn't win Serie A, congratulations to Inter for the well deserved title. However, I have to value everything that we achieved this season at Juventus, both in collective and individual terms," Ronaldo wrote in an Instagram post. "The Italian Super Cup, Italian Cup and Serie A top scorer trophy fill me with happiness, mainly due to the difficulty they carry with them, in a c...

  Kai Havertz's Chelsea career has been a slow-burner but the gifted young German has demonstrated impeccable timing to ignite just as their season reaches a peak of possibilities. Havertz arrived at Chelsea last summer from Bayer Leverkusen, in a club record deal that could be worth around £71m, amid the sort of fanfare befitting one of the most coveted young forwards in Europe. The 21-year-old's languid style meant that for much of his time under Frank Lampard - the man in charge when he was signed - he looked ill-at-ease, off the pace and marginalised. And Havertz's hopes of making an instant impact were further hampered when he contracted Covid-19 in November, recounting later that he spent "seven to 10 days just in my bed and everything was hurting". Tuchel joy as Chelsea reach final against 'benchmark' Man City Listen: Reaction on the Football Daily podcast Chelsea beat Real Madrid to set up final with Man City 'Two months ago I'd...

  Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he would do everything in his power to try and convince striker Edinson Cavani to stay at the club for another season. The Uruguay international scored twice, assisted two more and earned a penalty to help United fight back from 2-1 down to defeat AS Roma 6-2 in their Europa League semifinal first leg at Old Trafford on Thursday. Cavani arrived at United on a one-year contract in October with an option of another 12 months, but remains undecided about whether to remain at Old Trafford after a difficult season which included a social media faux pas that resulted in a three-game ban. "I'm delighted with him," Solskjaer said. "You can see the difference in him when he's worked on his fitness. He's making up for lost time, it looks like. "He's more than just a goal poacher and good goalscorer. He's played for so long that he has that calmness and composure about him. He's showi...

  Premier League   News Tuchel feels for Lampard, but says not my fault 28 January 2021  |  16:18 Thomas Tuchel © Getty Images Chelsea's new manager Thomas Tuchel has paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor Frank Lampard and said he understands why the club's fans will be hurting at the sacking of the club icon. In a whirlwind week for the 47-year-old German, he replaced Lampard on Tuesday and took charge of his first Premier League game 24 hours later, a 0-0 home draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Lampard's sacking on Monday, 18 months after the club's record scorer was appointed, came as a shock for fans even if they are well-used to managerial changes at Stamford Bridge. Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's clash with Burnley at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel was asked whether he thought there might be a supporter backlash against Lampard's sacking. "I hope not because that would be hard on the team. The fans are so close (to the pitch when they are in the...

    Premier League   News Inconsistency may cost Man Utd the title - Ferdinand 28 January 2021  |  05:29 Rio Ferdinand and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer © Gallo Images Manchester United are being held back by inconsistent performances from their top players, former defender Rio Ferdinand said after their shock 2-1 defeat by bottom side Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday. United, who would have replaced Manchester City at the top of the table with a win, have been on a good run in recent weeks and delivered an inspired performance to knock bitter rivals Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Sunday. "Last week (against) Liverpool, tremendous performance," Ferdinand told BT Sport. "(Against) Bottom of the league Sheffield United dour, lifeless at times. The inconsistencies don't win you the league. "It's what we said about Manchester United for many, many months that the inconsistencies of individuals on this team is what's holding them back." United...