‘If you don’t prepare right, you will pay’ – fears rise over Chelsea form

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Chelsea may have reached the Europa Conference League semifinals, but the cheers that followed Legia Warsaw’s surprise defeat summed up the current dissension at Stamford Bridge.

The tie’s outcome was largely determined by the Polish side’s 2-1 defeat at home, which gave the Blues a 4-2 aggregate victory over Djurgarden.

The faithful in the stands were enraged by the players’ failure to rise up in response to manager Enzo Maresca’s pre-game challenge to “engage” the fans, but how they succumbed to defeat, despite a formidable starting lineup.

Reece James appeared to question the team’s preparation for a match that was settled by Steve Kapuadi’s 53rd-minute winner after Tomas Pekhart’s penalty opener was cancelled out by Blues left-back Marc Cucurella, prompting him to address the incident and admit it was a “poor performance.”

We had a 3-0 lead, James, 25, James, 25; perhaps that contributed to that. “We are making progress, but that is not progress,” the statement read. It was a step back, in my opinion.

Maybe we harmed the competition. You will pay if you don’t prepare properly.

“The mindset will be affected by it. It will remain hidden in people’s minds forever. I get it, but I’m frustrated. Fans can see the excitement, but we were irritable to watch it.

Boss Maresca felt that Chelsea, as they attempted to deal with increased pressure in the climax of the season, “probably” did not respect Legia enough rather than the competition.

In their quest for a top-five Premier League spot on Sunday, the Italian’s side face a west London derby at Fulham. “I didn’t see any bad moments from the fans,” said the Italian. After the final game, I already said that we needed to engage them, so that’s what we needed to do.

Chelsea should be so concerned?

Chelsea has eight league games to go without worryingly winning, which comes back to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham on December 8th.

Although they were unbeaten in eight home games before being defeated by Legia, the performances have not been enough to acquaint supporters who demanded and demanded better from their expensively assembled squad and raft of internationals.

They are now sixth in the table, meaning they have a difficult task of reaching the Champions League next season, after recent results, including a goalless draw at Brentford and a 2-2 home draw against relegation-threatened Ipswich.

Newcastle are now in third place, while Manchester City are one point clear of Chelsea in fifth and Aston Villa in seventh, but Maresca’s men share 54 points.

Attack is affected by Palmer & Jackson goal droughts.

The various goal droughts occurring simultaneously among the attacking players in all competitions are another cause of concern for Chelsea:

Before scoring against Ipswich last Sunday, Jadon Sancho was also having a four-game goal drought.

Palmer and Jackson, who have both had injuries, were initially given the idea to improve their physical condition, but Maresca said he wanted to give them a “boost” if they could score.

Chelsea struggled up front, highlighting the fact that Spanish left-back Cucurella has scored six goals since December 15.

We are missing very simple objectives, Maresca remarked. We only had two chances in the opening five minutes, but it is possible. Because they are so crucial to us, we can hopefully start to score goals very soon.

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‘More than a miracle’ – how Man Utd won in remarkable extra time

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When Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette put an end to Manchester United’s season, Old Trafford had 109 minutes left.

With 11 minutes left, United was 4-2 down overall and 4-4 overall. Finished the game.

Rio Ferdinand stated on the TNT Sports commentary that “united needs more than a miracle.”

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Man Utd will never pass away, as the song’s famous lyrics suggest.

Bruno FernandesImages courtesy of Getty

Kobbie Mainoo’s 120th-minute substitution tapped into the bottom corner with a stunning, curling strike.

After reaching stardom last season, the young England midfielder’s campaign has been difficult, but this was a moment appropriate for his level.

Kobbie MainooImages courtesy of Getty

Harry Maguire, the ultimate scapegoat for United’s constant decline and one who steps up in significant ways, is not to be sung today.

After heading in the winner less than a minute after Mainoo struck, Maguire was wheeling away in agonizing celebration. . Bedlam .

As a spectator, I’ve never seen anything like that. It was incredible. Rio Ferdinand, a former United defender, said on TNT Sports, “We saw so many fans leaving when it was 4-2 and you thought that was over.”

Maguire scores at Old TraffordImages courtesy of Getty
Harry Maguire celebrates scoring for United against LyonImages courtesy of Getty

I have never seen anything quite like it.

Paul Robinson, a former England goalkeeper, received a similar amount of abuse on BBC Radio 5 Live.

He claimed that “Old Trafford’s scenes are something else.”

Nothing can compare to it, I said. . Bedlam . The staff, fans, and stewards are all on the pitch. André Onana holds back celebrations. This kind of scene hasn’t been seen in Old Trafford in a while.

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a game that way. They appeared to be buried and dead. That character from them hasn’t been in the entire season.

You run out of adjectives, superlatives.

In a European knockout game, five goals have never been scored in extra time.

Although United’s comeback was improbable and absurd, strange things have happened in the Theatre of Dreams.

“You’ve witnessed some extraordinary things at this club,” he said. I recall Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s game against Liverpool in 1999. Former United midfielder Paul Scholes told TNT Sports, “I know that’s only 2-1 and this was 5-4”.

“I always believe you have a chance when you get one here,” he said.

Leny Yoro, the United defender, might have done the best to sum up the situation.

“To be honest, I have no idea what has occurred. It was insane! Fans assisted us in doing it. Even at 4-2, he told TNT Sports, “When you hear the fans, you know we can do it.”

“We had to believe, and you can’t win if you don’t believe,” he said. Fans deserve this because they give everything at every game.

United will finish the season with their lowest-ever Premier League points total, 14th place, and finish the season with that statistic.

But they now have a competitive advantage. Next month’s semi-finals of Athletic Bilbao will feature them in the final at San Mames in Bilbao.

If they win, they’ll next year play in the Champions League.

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‘You’re going to have to put up with me for a bit longer’

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You’ll have to endure this for a while.

Ange Postecoglou admitted on Wednesday that he had no idea if he would still be employed following their Europa League quarter-final second leg trip to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Tottenham are now in the hunt for a trophy after winning it 1-0 in Germany against Bodo/Glimt, Norway, and have secured their first trophy in 17 years.

“Our fans have been through a difficult time,” said the manager. With Spurs’ 15th-placed Premier League team, Postecoglou expressed hope that this will give them something to look forward to.

“I’m the same coach I was yesterday. Never have the players lost faith. I won’t make anyone laugh at my accomplishments and make them lessenough, though.

I don’t care, it’s not bothering me, and what I do is unaffected by it. It’s always about the dressing room, in my opinion. The players’ beliefs are they true? The staff seems to believe it.

That is much more important than what other people might think of me.

You’re going to have to put up with me for a little while, sadly for many of you.

Postecoglou claimed he never lost faith in his players and feels that his players have continued to do so despite their lowest Premier League finish since 1994, despite the fact that they were on the verge of reaching their lowest finish.

The Australian manager said, “They’ve been so united in believing in what we’re trying to achieve here. And that is what made me feel so strongly that if we had a chance to recover some players from injury, we could accomplish something. That’s what keeps me going.

Ange lives to fight another day analysis of “Ange lives to fight another day.”

Postecoglou lives to fight another day when his back is against the wall.

If Tottenham had left the Europa League on Thursday, we’ll never know whether they would have let him off of his duties, but he was certainly under enormous pressure heading into a match that was probably his biggest so far.

You can’t see a scenario where Tottenham would fire the Australian before the semi-final because Victory buys him some time.

He is still in the woods at this point, though, despite it keeping the wolves out of the way for the time being.

Spurs will take into account whether Postecoglou becomes their head coach next season, despite their success in the Europa League.

Both Postecoglou’s and their Premier League form, which has been incredibly subpar, will be taken into account.

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Amorim ‘inspired’ by 1999 for United comeback

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Few other famous comeback victories in Manchester United’s history surpass their Champions League triumph in 1999.

Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjr scored the most coveted trophy in European club football that night at the Nou Camp, turning Bayern Munich’s early 1-0 lead into the winning goal.

Although the dramatic and unexpected comeback victory against Lyon on Thursday night did not inspire Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim to go back in time like it did 26 years ago, Amorim was inspired by the experience.

After the 5-4 victory over 10-man Lyon, in which United scored three goals in the final six minutes of extra time to seal a 7-6 overall victory, Amorim revealed to TNT Sports that he had been “watching again the 1999 documentary to have some inspiration for these moments.”

You think the night was over because you thought it was over because it was 4-2, but it never is. I believed that anything is possible here.

The stadium’s sound is “the best ever”

Harry Maguire celebrates his dramatic winnerImages courtesy of Getty

After Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot scored decisive goals in the opening half, United had the idea of moving on.

However, they continued to lose the two-goal lead when Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico scored the winning goal in extra time to bring the tie level.

Rayan Cherki put the French side ahead before Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty appeared to have blocked them, prompting some United fans to leave and stop the flow of traffic. Tolisso was sent off in the final minute of normal time.

Then, with seconds left, Bruno Fernandes’ penalty and Kobbie Mainoo’s cool finish levelled the playing field, and Old Trafford erupted when Harry Maguire headed in the winner.

Amorim continued, “The stadium’s sounds were the best ever.”

Some people collect shirts and scarves, but I want to preserve the world’s best sound, which is a tee-shirt.

“I feel bad for the people who had to leave at 4-2 because of the traffic,” he says.

We are aware of our underperformance and merit criticism, but we still have time to create something special for this season.

The players put together one of the most memorable comebacks, according to Maguire and his manager, because of the Old Trafford atmosphere.

He claimed that opening ourselves up to 10 men in extra time was too much for us to lose 4-2.

A night of history: the facts that led to the comeback

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Man Utd reach Europa League last four with Maguire’s 121st minute winner

With a sensational 7-6 aggregate victory over Olympique Lyonnais in their quarterfinal, Harry Maguire scored in the final seconds of extra time to earn Manchester United a spot in the Europa League semifinals.

After United threw away a two-goal lead on the night, the match was rearranged in extra time with goals from Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette, who put Lyon on the verge of the semifinals at a stunned Old Trafford on Thursday.

United, however, made their numerical advantage counted after Corentin Tolisso’s late red card in normal time. With his 121st-minute header that earned Old Trafford a 5-4 victory in the second leg, Maguire sent Old Trafford into delirium.

The hosts took a 10 minute lead into the game with Manuel Ugarte scoring the winning goal after a successful teamwork, before Diogo Dalot added two more minutes just before the break to double the hosts’ lead.

However, as the minutes progressed, the nerves started to wane, and Tolisso and Tagliafico both scored twice in six second-half goals to tie the game up in a sensational way.

United’s momentum was turned back to them after Tolisso’s late sending off, but the coolly-taken penalty and Cherki’s excellent strike seemed to have settled the thrilling game.

The home supporters were hoping for a dramatic finale with Fernandes’ spot kick straight down the other end, with Maguire having the final say when United advanced to face Athletic Bilbao in the final four.

[Carl Recine/Getty Images] Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United beat Lucas Perri of Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Europa League game at Old Trafford on April 17, 2025.

Frankfurt wins at Tottenham.

Tottenham also put its domestic issues behind them by placing them in the top four.

With a first-half penalty, Dominic Solanke’s victory over Eintracht Frankfurt earned a 1-0 victory on aggregate.

Spurs’ hopes of salvaging a desperate campaign that have left them languishing in 15th place in the Premier League are kept alive by the victory. A triumph would not only guarantee a first trophy since 2008, but also ensure qualification for the Champions League next year. The long run in the second-tier competition has provided rare moments of optimism.

Athletic Bilbao also advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 victory over Rangers following a goalless draw in the first leg.

Bodo and Glimt also had extra time on the game. Lazio leveled the tie at 2-2 on aggregate after winning with a 2-0 on the night.

When James Maddison was given a penalty by Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos, Spurs erred, and they needed VAR’s assistance.

In the 43rd minute, Solanke scored the winning goal down the middle.

Man kills two with police mother’s gun at Florida State University

According to investigators, the son of a sheriff’s deputy, age 20, opened fire on Florida State University with his mother’s former service weapon, killing two people and injuring at least six others.

The student union at the Tallahassee school was attacked on Friday at around 11:50 a.m. Eastern Time (15:50 GMT).

The university quickly issued an active shooter alert, with Florida State’s alert system reporting that law enforcement had soon “neutralized the threat.”

The two people killed, according to Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower, were not students, according to the police chief.

He claimed that the attacker was also receiving treatment at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital after being taken into custody, along with five other people.

Evacuees watch law enforcement at Florida State University following a shooting [Alicia Devine/USA TODAY via Reuters]

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, stated in a statement from the Oval Office that he had been “fully briefed.”

It’s a terrible thing, they say. Trump called it “cruel” that things like this happen.

He quickly jumped on the gun and said, “These things are terrible, but the gun doesn’t do the shooting. The people actually do.

The suspect, Phoenix Ikner, 20, the son of a sheriff’s deputy within his own department, was later identified by Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil.

He claimed that Ikner had used his mother’s former service weapon in the attack. He added that the attacker had long been a youth advisory council member and had collaborated with the sheriff’s office on a number of training programs.

According to McNeil, “We will make sure that we do everything in our power to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to people that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say, across the state and across this country,”

Florida shooting
Following a shooting, law enforcement personnel at Florida State University [Alicia Devine/USA TODAY via Reuters]

Ikner is reportedly a student at the university, according to police, but it was not immediately known what led to the attack. According to authorities, Ikner made use of his right to silence while being detained.

In the US, there are a lot of school shootings, and this one was not the first.

In the middle of the university campus, three people were shot inside the Strozier Library entrance in 2014.

The 31-year-old man who arrived within two minutes of the first call was shot and killed.