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32+ min ago (466+ words) Enzo Maresca declared himself "happy" after being serenaded by Chelsea fans following their Carabao Cup quarterfinal victory at Cardiff City. The Chelsea boss made headlines after Saturday's win over Everton saying that the 48 hours leading up to that game had been his worst at Stamford Bridge. Maresca shut down multiple questions at his prematch news conference Monday about whom he was targeting, and said after Chelsea's 3-1 win over Cardiff that he had not spoken to the club's hierarchy following his weekend comments. "I'm just happy, we're going to play another semifinal and I think it's what the fans deserve," Maresca said after celebrating with Chelsea fans at the final whistle and having his name sung by them. "It was a great moment, I appreciate, always thankful. In some moments when you don't win games, they have been not happy, but…...

2+ hour, 43+ min ago (605+ words) Nigeria are hoping to revive their hopes of appearing at the 2026 World Cup with complaint to FIFA over the use of up to nine ineligible players by Congo DR in their qualifying playoff last month. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) join Cameroon, who had initially filed a similar complaint to FIFA about the eligibility of some of the players who were born in Europe but switched nationalities to represent Congo internationally. - Nigeria's 'voodoo' accusations were 'nonsense' - Ex-DRC coach - What's next for the DRC's Leopards after bewitching their way past Nigeria? The Super Eagles lost 4-3 on penalties to Congo DR in the final of the CAF Playoffs on Nov. 16, which meant the Congolese advanced to the FIFA intercontinental playoffs. Congo DR have been drawn to play the winners of the semifinal between New Caledonia and Jamaica, with the victors in the…...

4+ hour, 3+ min ago (375+ words) DOHA, Qatar -- After finally ending its wait for a Champions League title, Paris Saint-Germain can finish the year by adding a first Intercontinental Cup trophy as well. PSG takes on Brazilian club Flamengo, the South American champion, in the final of the year-end international tournament on Wednesday. No French team has won the Intercontinental Cup, which was played for more than 40 years until 2004 before it was rebranded as the Club World Cup. FIFA brought back the Intercontinental Cup last year after revamping the Club World Cup as a 32-team summer tournament. PSG lost to Chelsea in the final of the Club World Cup in the United States in July, having won its first Champions League title in May. "I'm focused on building on what we saw last season," PSG coach Luis Enrique said on the eve of the game in…...

6+ hour, 42+ min ago (339+ words) Barcelona needed late goals by Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford to defeat third-division club Guadalajara 2-0 on Tuesday in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey in a game delayed because of problems with the stadium's temporary grandstand. Kickoff was delayed by half an hour because local authorities did not initially allow fans access to the newly built grandstand at the Pedro Escart'n stadium in the city of Guadalajara near Madrid. There were long lines outside the stadium until police finally permitted fans inside. The stadium's capacity increased from nearly 6,000 to about 8,000 with the new stand. Barcelona were in control from the start but the home side decided to test Marc-Andr" ter Stegen with an effort from the halfway line which he needed to scramble back to his goal line and stop from going into the net. It was Bar'a's…...

7+ hour, 15+ min ago (403+ words) Manchester United remain firmly in the race to sign Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, despite Liverpool and Manchester City both pushing hard for his signature. That is according to the latest from Sky Sports" Lyall Thomas and Rob Dorsett who share the latest on the much talked about transfer saga. Several Premier League clubs are interested in signing Semenyo in the January transfer window. Liverpool have previously been currently considered favourites, with reports suggesting the Reds have already opened official talks with Bournemouth. It has also been claimed that Liverpool have agreed personal terms with Semenyo, matching an offer already put forward by Manchester City, who are also said to have terms in place. Arsenal have also been linked with the Ghana international, although reports indicate the Gunners may need to offload players before making a formal move. Manchester United"s…...

7+ hour, 18+ min ago (504+ words) Alejandro Garnacho scored twice as Chelsea reached the semifinals of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 victory at Cardiff City. Substitutes Garnacho and Pedro Neto struck second-half goals as Chelsea unleashed the power of their bench against their Welsh hosts. David Turnbull had equalised after 75 minutes -- his first goal for 13 months -- to give renewed hope to the last EFL team in the competition. But Neto spared Chelsea's blushes eight minutes from time with a low drive and Garnacho put the seal on victory for the five-time winners in stoppage time. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca changed the entire line-up from the team that had started Saturday's home victory over Everton. Mois's Caicedo returned after serving a three-game domestic ban, and Enzo Fern'ndez, Jo'o Pedro, Neto and Garnacho were among those on a bench that cost nearly "400million and considerably more than the starting…...

7+ hour, 22+ min ago (332+ words) 11 matches into Gio Reyna's season-long loan spell with Borussia Moenchengladbach has started to bring out the best in the attacking midfielder once again. Reyna may still be seeking his first goal and assist for the Bundesliga club, but it hasn't stopped Eugen Polanski's belief in the young attacker. Polanski has rewarded Reyna with three-consecutive starts in recent weeks, a major improvement to the 23-year-old's previous role as a substitute off of the bench. Despite Reyna having a short fitness issue prior to his club debut, the U.S. men's national team midfielder has started racking up the playing time, something that he desperately needed this fall. Polanski has continued to trust Reyna during Gladbach's shift up the league table, praising his growth and willingness to improve on the field. "We wanted to gradually integrate him more and generate more playing time," Polanski…...

7+ hour, 22+ min ago (708+ words) As Facundo Buonanotte saddled up beside Alejandro Garnacho on the advertising hoardings in front of the pocket of away supporters after the latter opened the scoring at a jam-packed Cardiff City Stadium, for a moment or two everything seemed all right in the often chaotic world of Chelsea. Then, with 15 minutes remaining, the hosts equalised through David Turnbull's sublime diving header and another awkward 48 hours were on the cards for Enzo Maresca.Questions would surely have been asked of him by the Chelsea hierarchy had the League One leaders reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals at their expense. Fortunately for Maresca and Chelsea, the substitute Pedro Neto struck a late goal, his low shot sparing the Premier League side any embarrassment. Garnacho's second in stoppage time sealed the result. Continue reading... Neto and Garnacho edge Chelsea past Cardiff to reach Carabao…...

7+ hour, 26+ min ago (347+ words) West Ham United have had a season to forget so far. They are fighting for survival in the Premier League and Richard Keys believes that their decision to get rid of David Moyes has cost them dearly. In his blog, Keys'wrote: "How'West Ham'must be missing the Moyes days " top half finishes and trophies. As we often say " be careful what you wish for." The Scottish manager helped West Ham United win the UEFA Europa Conference League and he helped them secure a top half finish as well. However, he was shown the door and none of the West Ham managers have managed to do a decent job since his departure. Keys believes that West Ham should have stuck with Moyes and allowed him to build a team for the long term. West Ham have spent a lot of money in…...

7+ hour, 42+ min ago (605+ words) The Crystal Palace boss is out of contract in the summer but Clinton Morrison believes keeping him is vital Crystal Palace legend Clinton Morrison believes keeping Oliver Glasner is the key to the club's future amid reports of the Austrian manager departing at the end of the season. The Crystal Palace boss is out of contract in the summer and has said there has barely been time to think about signing a new deal due to the relentless schedule that sees the club competing in the Premier League, Europa Conference League and League Cup. Getafe boss Jose Bordalas has been linked as a replacement in recent days but chairman Steve Parish is likely to do everything he can to keep Glasner, with Morrison echoing the sentiment of the vast majority of the fanbase. It will be a summer of upheaval…...