Chelsea fans turn on Pochettino during draw at Brentford. The Argentine says he doesn’t feel loved

Chelsea fans turn on Pochettino during draw at Brentford. The Argentine says he doesn’t feel loved
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino and Axel Disasi after their Premier League match against Brentford at Brentford Community Stadium, London, on Mar. 2, 2024. (Reuters)
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Updated 02 March 2024
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Chelsea fans turn on Pochettino during draw at Brentford. The Argentine says he doesn’t feel loved

Chelsea fans turn on Pochettino during draw at Brentford. The Argentine says he doesn’t feel loved
  • “I’ve been told — I didn’t hear, to be honest. It’s difficult for me to understand,” the Argentine coach said
  • Chelsea rescued a point on Pochettino’s 52nd birthday when Axel Disasi headed home Cole Palmer’s cross

LONDON: Chelsea fans turned on Mauricio Pochettino as they watched their team labor to draw at west London rival Brentford 2-2 in the English Premier League on Saturday.
The Blues were leading through Nicolas Jackson’s 35th-minute header but were pegged back by Mads Roerslev’s close-range strike in the 50th.
When Yoane Wissa put Brentford ahead with a spectacular overhead kick in the 69th, the away fans began singing the name of former manager Jose Mourinho as well as calling for Pochettino to go.
“I’ve been told — I didn’t hear, to be honest. It’s difficult for me to understand,” the Argentine coach said.
“But it’s normal, we were losing the game 2-1 and they expressed their frustration. I am one of the ones responsible, I’m the coach.”
Chelsea rescued a point on Pochettino’s 52nd birthday when Axel Disasi headed home Cole Palmer’s cross.
The point left Chelsea languishing in 11th place in another dismal league campaign and the first season under Pochettino.
“I was asked before if I feel the love from the fans — no,” Pochettino said. “I’m not worried — we need to accept this relationship. You win your relationship through winning games.
“I will continue to work and try to change this perception. We need to manage some reality. We are working really hard to try to win games, the team is fighting. If it doesn’t work and the fans are disappointed, I need to respect their opinion.”


Al-Hilal held at Damac to stay second

Al-Hilal held at Damac to stay second
Updated 08 February 2025
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Al-Hilal held at Damac to stay second

Al-Hilal held at Damac to stay second
  • It was an exciting game but in the end, the champions had to settle for a point
  • The Riyadh giants had their chances and hit the woodwork early in the game

RIYADH: Al-Hilal drew 2-2 at Damac on Saturday to stay in second place in the Saudi Pro League, two points behind leaders Al-Ittihad.
It was an exciting game but in the end, the champions had to settle for a point after their Jeddah rivals won 2-1 at Al-Taawoun on Thursday thanks to a last-minute winner from Karim Benzema.
The Riyadh giants had their chances and hit the woodwork early in the game. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic thought he had opened the scoring on the half hour, nodding home at the far post after a fine sweeping cross from Malcom. The Serbian was, however, caught offside.
No matter, as just two minutes later, the visitors were ahead. Ruben Neves swung over a cross from the right and there was Marcos Leonardo, on red-hot scoring form, to send a diving header into the net.


It was a beautiful goal. Al-Hilal had more chances to extend their lead but were left to regret their wastefulness as five minutes after the restart, Damac were back on level terms.
Georges-Kevin N’Koudou intercepted Kalidou Koulibaly’s clearance and the ball bounced into the path of Habib Diallo and the Senegalese striker made no mistake in stroking the ball home.
It was a shock for Al-Hilal but then they were given a penalty just before the hour as Kaio Cesar was brought down in the area. Up stepped Neves but his shot was well saved by Florin Nita.
Neves was kicking himself with 17 minutes remaining as Damac took the lead thanks to a second goal from Diallo who swept home a first-time shot after good work from Francois Kamano.
Four minutes later and Hilal drew level. The ball dropped nicely for the Milinkovic-Savic at the edge of the area and then the midfielder fired a low shot into the net.
Al-Hilal continued to push forward but could not get the all-important winning goal and had to settle for a point. Al-Ittihad will be happy but there is, however, still a long way to go.
Earlier, Ettifaq won 2-0 at Al-Okhdood to go ninth in the table.


Leverkusen lose ground on Bayern with Wolfsburg stalemate

Leverkusen lose ground on Bayern with Wolfsburg stalemate
Updated 08 February 2025
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Leverkusen lose ground on Bayern with Wolfsburg stalemate

Leverkusen lose ground on Bayern with Wolfsburg stalemate
  • Without their star trio, Leverkusen lacked fluency
  • Wirtz and Frimpong came on after 60 minutes but the visitors had few chances despite dominating possession

WOLFSBURG, Germany: Bayer Leverkusen dropped eight points behind league leaders Bayern Munich after a scoreless draw at Wolfsburg on Saturday, setting up a potentially season-defining duel between the top two next weekend.
Bayern’s 3-0 win over Werder Bremen on Friday, their seventh straight league win, increased the pressure on Xabi Alonso’s defending champions, who host the leaders next Saturday.
Alonso named a weakened starting lineup with Florian Wirtz, Patrik Schick and Jeremie Frimpong all left on the bench after playing 120 minutes in Tuesday’s extra-time German Cup win over Cologne.
Without their star trio, Leverkusen lacked fluency. Nordi Mukiele had a golden chance to put Leverkusen in front after 22 minutes, but headed over the bar while unmarked from point-blank range.
Wirtz and Frimpong came on after 60 minutes but the visitors had few chances despite dominating possession.
Wirtz went down in the box with 13 minutes remaining after some light contact prompting a VAR check, but the referee waved it away.
The 21-year-old had a chance to snatch his side the win in stoppage time, but blasted just wide.
Leverkusen have dropped four points in their past three league games, leaving their bid to defend their debut title on a knife-edge.
Conceding the eight-point gap to the league leaders was “much bigger than it should be,” Leverkusen captain Lukas Hradecky said “this weekend hasn’t made it easier for us to achieve our dream.
“With the way Bayern are at the moment, we can’t have anything but a home win,” Hradecky said of Bayern’s visit next week.
His manager struck a different tone, saying he was “not overly worried” about the widening gap.
“We’ll have a bit of a break and start preparing on Tuesday. We’re playing Bayern at home — top game, top atmosphere — we’re still focused on us, and what we can achieve.”
In Saturday’s late game, Eintracht Frankfurt drew 1-1 away at Borussia Moenchengladbach, continuing their struggles since the loss of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City in January.
Hugo Ekitike’s 31st-minute goal — his fifth in his past five games — canceled out a 26th-minute Tim Kleindienst header.
Frankfurt have won just two of six since Marmoush’s last game, but they still sit third, four points clear of fourth-placed Stuttgart.
Stuttgart won 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund to go fourth, spoiling Niko Kovac’s debut in the home dugout.
Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav and Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi had chances in the opening half before center-back Waldemar Anton, who left Stuttgart for the Westfalenstadion in the summer, put the visitors in front in the 50th minute.
Stuttgart’s Jeff Chabot put the visitors two goals up on the 61st-minute mark, knocking in a superb volley for his first Bundesliga goal.
Julian Brandt scored late but it was not enough, as Stuttgart beat Dortmund for a fifth straight time.
Kovac, named coach this week after Nuri Sahin was fired in January, has his work cut out for him, with Dortmund mired in 11th spot.
“The boys gave it their all — we shouldn’t have left the field as losers,” said Kovac.
Freiburg climbed to sixth with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Heidenheim, with a first-half header from Vincenzo Grifo the difference.
Italy winger Grifo, known for his set-piece prowess, headed in a Ritsu Doan cross to keep his side on track for a third European qualification in four seasons.
Union Berlin chalked up a statement victory in their battle to avoid the drop, winning 4-0 at struggling Hoffenheim.
Union, who were in the Champions League last season but started Saturday’s game in 14th, won thanks to a brace from Benedict Hollerbach and goals from Marin Ljubicic and Andrej Ilic.
The win took Union 10 points clear of Heidenheim, who sit in the relegation playoff spot.
Also on Saturday, Mainz and Augsburg played out a scoreless draw.


Kane hits brace as Bayern beat Bremen to move nine clear

Kane hits brace as Bayern beat Bremen to move nine clear
Updated 08 February 2025
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Kane hits brace as Bayern beat Bremen to move nine clear

Kane hits brace as Bayern beat Bremen to move nine clear
  • Kane was key in winning Bayern’s first penalty and breaking down Bremen’s stubborn resistance
  • Leroy Sane tapped in a Konrad Laimer cross from close range for Bayern’s second in the 82nd minute

MUNICH: Harry Kane scored two penalties as Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 3-0 on Friday to go nine points clear of Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
There were few chances in the first half but Kane signalled his intent 30 seconds after the break, rattling the crossbar with a shot from outside the box.
Kane was key in winning Bayern’s first penalty and breaking down Bremen’s stubborn resistance.
The England captain tussled with defender Anthony Young and headed a chipped cross against the Bremen man’s arm, which was slightly extended.
The England captain stepped up and converted the spot kick, sending goalkeeper Michael Zetterer the wrong way.
Leroy Sane tapped in a Konrad Laimer cross from close range for Bayern’s second in the 82nd minute.
In stoppage time, Young was again deemed guilty of a foul in the box, this time on Jamal Musiala.
Kane stepped up and converted, bringing his penalty streak to 29 in a row for club and country.
The former Spurs striker now has 21 goals in 19 league games for Bayern this season, including nine penalties.
Defending champions Leverkusen travel to Wolfsburg on Saturday and can cut Bayern’s lead back to six points with a win.
Bayern play away at Leverkusen next week in a match bookended by a two-legged Champions League knockout tie against Celtic.
Bremen fought hard but were undermanned, on and off the field.
Coach Ole Werner along with defenders Niklas Stark and Marco Friedl were all missing due to red cards in the 1-0 home win against in-form Mainz last time out, while attackers Leonardo Bittencourt and Romano Schmid were sidelined with muscle strains.
Despite the loss, Bremen sit eighth, one point behind the European placings, as they bid for a return to continental competition for the first time since 2010-11.


Duran, Ronaldo star as Al-Nassr win again

Duran, Ronaldo star as Al-Nassr win again
Updated 07 February 2025
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Duran, Ronaldo star as Al-Nassr win again

Duran, Ronaldo star as Al-Nassr win again
  • Duran scores twice, Ronaldo adds third
  • Al-Nassr back in third place in table after victory

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo and Jhon Duran were on target on Friday as Al-Nassr beat Al-Fayha 3-0 to go back into third place in the Saudi Pro League.
Duran, who signed from Aston Villa from the English Premier League at the end of the January transfer window, put the Yellows ahead midway through the first half. The Colombian, who picked up possession just outside the area, turned inside and then shot home into the bottom corner to score his first goal in his first SPL game.


It was a great start but the Yellows had to wait until the 72nd minute to extend their lead. Duran got his, and the team’s, second as he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper from the edge of the six-yard box.
It sealed the win for the hosts, but there was still time for another goal, and two minutes later it was 3-0. Nawaf Boushal ran down the right and then pulled the ball back into the area for Ronaldo to sweep home from just inside the box. It was the 16th league goal of the season for the Portuguese star, who stays on top of the scoring rankings. It also secured another win for Al-Nassr, their fourth in succession.
“It was a good match and we played well against a solid opponent who did not make it easy for us,” said Al-Nassr’s coach Stefano Pioli. “We were patient and, at the end, we got what we wanted.”
The win means that Al-Nassr are in third place, five points behind Al-Hilal in second and eight behind leaders Al-Ittihad.
Earlier, Al-Ahli beat Al-Fateh 2-0 with both goals coming from England striker Ivan Toney from the penalty spot.


Man City hope for Rodri return this season by listing Ballon d’Or winner in Champions League squad

Man City hope for Rodri return this season by listing Ballon d’Or winner in Champions League squad
Updated 07 February 2025
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Man City hope for Rodri return this season by listing Ballon d’Or winner in Champions League squad

Man City hope for Rodri return this season by listing Ballon d’Or winner in Champions League squad
  • Rodri has set a target of about April to return to play
  • The Champions League quarterfinals start April 8

MANCHESTER: Manchester City showed faith in Rodri potentially returning to action this season by registering the injured Ballon d’Or winner on Friday in their Champions League squad for the knockout phase.
UEFA set a midnight Thursday deadline to submit updated squad lists for European competitions. With a limit of three new signings in the midseason transfer window allowed, City left out teenage defender Vitor Reis who joined from Palmeiras last month.


Rodri has set a target of about April – “six to seven months” after tearing the ACL in his right knee against Arsenal on Sept. 22 – to return to play. The Champions League quarterfinals start April 8.
The English champion have a daunting task to stay in the competition until then without star midfielder Rodri, who scored the winning goal in the 2023 final against Inter Milan.
Man City face Real Madrid in a two-leg knockout playoff, next Tuesday and on Feb. 19. The winner will play either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.
New signings who are included in coach Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Champions League are midfielder Nico Gonzalez — who can stand in for Rodri — forward Omar Marmoush, and defender Abdukodir Khusanov.