Former Aston Villa star, Gabriel Agbonlahor has asked Chelsea to sack Graham Potter over his post-match comment after Chelsea’s shock 1-0 defeat to Southampton on Saturday, February 18.
Chelsea’s inability to get a win in the match has left them languishing in 10th place, with 10 points adrift from the Premier League top four.
Potter who spoke to reporters after the match, said they were forced to make changes after their 1-0 Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
He said;
“You have to see it for what it is. We had to make some changes because of the Champions League.
“We’ve had to make some changes because of the situation we’re in and boys coming back from injury. When you make those changes, it can be difficult against a team that is well prepared.”
Agbonlahor however accused Potter of only “complaining.” He told talkSPORT;
“He should be sacked for that post-match interview.
“What are you talking about? They haven’t got a manager, you’re playing a team in disarray who can’t get back-to-back wins together.
“You’re complaining that you’ve had to bring Mykhailo Mudryk off the bench and start Joao Felix? Are you joking me?
“Poor Graham! Poor you, Graham… Wow… I think as well… There is an English bias.”
Following high-profile VAR errors in the Premier League over the weekend, Premier League chief referee Howard Webb has summoned all officials to an emergency meeting on Tuesday, February 14.
There’s been so much criticism directed at VAR since its introduction into the Premier League in 2019, and it had one of its most controversial days yet on February 11, 2023. The technology was at the centre of attention during Chelsea’s visit to West Ham, Arsenal’s clash with Brentford, and Crystal Palace’s draw with Brighton.
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Daily Mail reported that the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Webb has summoned all officials to Stockley Park for an emergency summit after Arsenal, Brighton and Chelsea were denied crucial decisions.
VAR official Lee Mason reportedly forgot to draw the lines that would have deemed Christian Norgaard offside before he set up Ivan Toney’s equalizer as the Gunners dropped two crucial points in their title race during the 1-1 draw with Brentford.
Brighton’s Pervis Estupinan had his goal ruled out through another error when John Brooks drew the offside line from the wrong defender.
An apparent handball by Tomas Soucek was also not given for Chelsea in the dying minutes against West Ham, a decision that left former referee Peter Walton stunned.
The report claims that Webb, who was recently appointed chief of the PGMOL, may sack some officials involved in the decision after ordering an urgent review with all options on the table.
The meeting has been deemed compulsory by Webb as every referee, assistant referee, and VAR official is expected to attend after Webb was forced to apologize to both Arsenal and Brighton for Saturday’s blunders.
Pep Guardiola has spoken out about Manchester City’s recent attacks, following reports that the club has been charged by the Premier League for financial irregularities.
Pep Guardiola
It was reported earlier that the English club has been charged with 101 breaches of financial regulations since the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, with the punishment a long way from being decided.
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Reacting to questions on the development from reporters on Friday, February 10, Guardiola stated that while he feels they’ve already been condemned even though prosecutors are yet to prove the charges, he still believes they are “innocent until proven guilty”.
The club’s coach said;
“My thought is that we have already been condemned. Since Monday it is like what happened with UEFA. The club proved that they were completely innocent, why should I think right now, with just charges of suggestions… You have to understand that the 19 teams of the Premier League are accusing us without opportunity to defend ourselves. You know exactly on what side I am.
“We are lucky we live in a society where everybody is innocent until proven guilty. We didn’t have this opportunity. (People say) we are already guilty. I think we have good lawyers but the Premier League – supported by 19 teams – are going to take good lawyers too. If we are not innocent we will accept what the judge or Premier League decide, but what happens if it’s the same as UEFA and we are innocent? What happens to restore our damage?”
Thiago Silva, a veteran Brazilian defender, has signed a new contract with Chelsea that will last until 2024.
Thiago Silva
The 38-year-old defender who has become a key player in the team since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2020, has shown himself to be evergreen and has arguably been the Blues’ most consistent performer throughout the tenures of both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.
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Speaking to Chelsea’s website after signing the new contract, Silva said:
“I am honestly so happy to continue my career with the Blues.
“When I signed my first contract here, it was to just do one year. Now it is already the fourth! I could not have imagined that, but really it is a very special moment for me to sign and stay at Chelsea.”
Graham Potter, who was handed a war chest worth over £300 million ($362 million) in his first full transfer window as Chelsea manager, has stated that he expects to be fired by the club’s owners if results do not improve soon.
Graham Potter
Chelsea currently sits at the ninth spot on the Premier League table and has recorded just one win in all competitions since the turn of the year.
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Speaking ahead of a match with West Ham this afternoon, Potter said;
“My relationship has been consistent with [the owners]. We understand where we both are, where we see the team. We are working really well to keep improving.
“The expectations have always remained the same, a team that ultimately wins. We know there is opportunities to make changes to the team when the window is open. I’m not stupid. If the results aren’t what this club should get, then I understand, if I’m the reason for it then that’s the job.”
Mason Greenwood’s reintegration into the club’s men’s team is reportedly being resisted by Manchester United Women’s team players.
Mason Greenwood
This is coming after all charges relating to allegations of attempted rape, assault, and coercive and controlling behaviour, which were filed against Mason Greenwood were dropped.
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The Manchester United forward who was suspended indefinitely by the Premier League club after the accusations came to light, was initially arrested in January 2022 before being released on bail.
He was subsequently arrested again for breaching his bail conditions and charged by prosecutors. It has now been confirmed all charges filed against him have been dropped.
The Athletic reported that Manchester United Women’s team is “deeply uncomfortable” about the prospect of Mason Greenwood returning to first-team action at Old Trafford, and the men’s team is also reportedly ready to move on from him.
Players in the women’s team who expressed concern about the prospect of Greenwood returning after hearing an audio that was released on social media before his arrest, said it is “not something that can be easily erased from memory”.
Daily Mail had also reported that the men’s team led by Erik ten Hag want to move on from Greenwood and believe his return could disrupt their progress this season.
On the other hand, the staff at Manchester United are said to be split on Greenwood’s future. Some feel the Red Devils own a duty of care to the 21-year-old, while others believe he should not wear the famous red shirt again.
The club’s management has already said it would “conduct its own process” before determining the next step to be taken.
America’s LeBron James has surpassed Kareem Abdul-34-year Jabbar’s record to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
LeBron James
The 38-year-old passed Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 38,387 points with a step-back fadeaway jumper from the foul line over the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kenrich Williams with 10.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter on Tuesday night, February 7, 2023.
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While Abdul-Jabbar took 1,560 games to record his total, James set his record in just over 1,400 appearances.
James went into the game against OKC needing 36 points to overtake the record of 38,387 – which was set by Abdul-Jabbar in 1989.
He claimed the record with 10.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter and finished with 38 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Gilles Grimandi, a former Arsenal scout, recalled how the Gunners missed out on signing French football star Kylian Mbappe in 2013.
Kylian Mbappe.
Grimandi who worked as an Arsenal scout for 13 years, said they held talks with Mbappe before losing him to Monaco.
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He told The Sun;
“The job of scouting is about finding but also missing players. For me, it is Kylian Mbappe. We just could not convince him.
“He was out of contract in June 2013 and we met him in February. If we could have convinced him to join, he would have changed the club. But he then decided on Monaco.
“Arsenal were not always playing their best so it was quite complicated. At first it was easy, as soon as we talked to a player he wanted to sign it. However, if you are not getting results it is difficult to bring top players to help the team. That’s why it is important to stay at the top for as long as possible. It is so much easier. Yet the likes of Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah, who I watched develop, prove you should never forget the talent you have inside your club, even in difficult times.”
The Premier League has referred Manchester City to an independent commission for alleged financial rule violations.
The alleged breaches span a period from the 2009-10 season to the 2017-18 Premier League campaign.
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The charges relate to financial information regarding revenue, details of manager and player remuneration, UEFA regulations, profitability, and sustainability and cooperation on with Premier League investigations.
The Premier League said in a statement;
“In accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1, the Premier League confirms that it has today [February 6 2023] referred a number of alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules by Manchester City Football Club (Club) to a commission under Premier League Rule W.3.4.
“Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The members of the commission will be appointed by the independent chair of the Premier League judicial panel, in accordance with Premier League rules W.19, W.20 and W.26.
“The proceedings before the commission will, in accordance with Premier League rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private. Under Premier League rule W.82.2, the commission’s final award will be published on the Premier League’s website.
“This confirmation is made in accordance with Premier League rule W.82.1. The Premier League will be making no further comment in respect of this matter until further notice.”
BREAKING: Man City charged by Premier Leaue with numerous breaches of financial rules following a four-year investigation. This is unprecedented: pic.twitter.com/ZGzdX210qP
Since being taken over by the Abu Dhabi group in 2008, Manchester City have become one of football’s powerhouses thanks to considerable financial investment.
The arrival of the Gulf based owners heralded a new era of unprecedented success with the club winning six Premier League titles since the takeover.
Under the guidance of former Barcelona and Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, City won the Premier League in the 2017-18 season, becoming the only team in the competition history to attain 100 points in a single season. In 2018–19, they won four trophies, completing an unprecedented sweep of all domestic titles in England and becoming the first English men’s team to win the domestic treble.
The Champions League title remains ‘unfinished business’ for the Sky Blues after the 2021 final defeat to Chelsea in Porto.
