Antonio Conte says it is no coincidence that Chelsea s recent defensive troubles have come when Andreas Christensen has been out injured.
After spending two seasons out on loan with Borussia Monchengladbach, Christensen has forced his way into the first team under Conte in 2017-18 in place of David Luiz.
Christensen s most recent start came in the 3-0 reverse to Bournemouth, but the Dane was replaced after 28 minutes due to a hamstring injury.
The score at that point was 0-0 but Chelsea went on the suffer a heavy loss, and followed that up with a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Watford on Monday.
His absence has not gone unnoticed at Stamford Bridge, Conte admitting Christensen has become a vital member of his backline.
For sure, he s an importan…
Competition: La Liga
Market: Celta Vigo to beat Eibar
Odds:
La Liga continues this weekend for another round of games that will surely only bring more goals and excitement as the competition continues to heat up. A single win can quite often see a side rise up a number of places in the league and, with this in mind, Celta Vigo host Eibar on Saturday.
Celta Vigo have been in fairly good form this campaign but they are in danger of losing a lot of ground on those above them. After 24 games they have won nine, drawn five and lost 10, scoring 41 goals and conceding 37 times. In their last five they have won twice, lost twice and drawn once, seeing them onto 32 points. Celta are 14 points clear of the relegation zone, meaning they will feel they are …
Realistically, Queens Park Rangers must beat Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday if they hope to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Harry Redknapp s side have spent the season near the foot of the table and are in 19th position, a worrying seven points from safety with just six games left to be played.
Their recent form has been up and down, with crucial lapses badly affecting their results, such as the first-half performance in a 3-2 loss to Fulham and conceding a late equaliser against Wigan after battling hard to retain their lead despite being reduced to 10 men.
Everton by contrast have won three of their past four league games, with an outstanding 2-0 victory against Manchester City last month the pick of those results.
David Moyes men are in…
Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber is relishing his return to the pitch after 19 months on the sidelines with injury.
Badstuber, 25, has not made an appearance for Bayern since rupturing his cruciate ligament against rivals Borussia Dortmund at Allianz Arena in December 2012.
In that time, Badstuber suffered a setback in his recovery, with the Germany international reinjuring his knee in May last year, as Bayern have gone on to win seven trophies in his absence.
However, the forgotten man in Bavaria is finally ready to make his comeback against amateur team Red Baroons in Bayern s first friendly of their pre-season campaign on Friday.
Obviously I m massively looking forward to it, Badstuber told Bayern s official website.
It s the kind of g…
Schalke are on the lookout for their third head coach of the season after announcing the sacking of Manuel Baum.
Baum was only appointed by Schalke on September 30 following the departure of David Wagner, who lost his job two games into the Bundesliga campaign.
Former Augsburg boss Baum was unable to turn around the club s terrible form, however, overseeing six defeats and four draws in his 10 league matches in charge.
And on the back of Wednesday s 2-0 home loss to Freiburg, which leaves Schalke bottom of the table with four points from a possible 36, the German side have taken action.
Schalke confirmed the news on their official website on Friday and added that board member Huub Stevens will take temporary charge for the remaining two games of 2020, wit…
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed Arsenal s Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday after sustaining a calf injury.
The 31-year-old Gabon international had started all of Arsenal s first 13 top-flight games this season, but he missed the game at Goodison Park with what the north London club described as a tight calf .
Aubameyang has struggled for the Gunners this campaign, although he did end a run of 11 league games without an open-play goal with the equaliser in Wednesday s 1-1 draw against Southampton.
Willian replaced Aubameyang in the starting XI after the Brazil international had been dropped against the Saints.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang misses tonight s match with a tight calf
— Arsenal (@Arsenal)
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Eden Hazard says Chelsea played like tigers to earn victory against West Ham in Antonio Conte s first match in charge of the club.
The Belgium international was named man-of-the-match after his penalty and Diego Costa s dramatic late winner either side of James Collins strike secured a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
Hazard endured a miserable 2015-16 season, scoring only four goals in 31 Premier League games – but he was glad start afresh and play a key role in the morale-boosting derby victory.
It is good to be back on the pitch and winning in front of our supporters, the 25-year-old said to Sky Sports.
The first game in the season is always important. We did very well and played like tigers for 90 minutes.
It is not every year …
Lionel Messi has decided to retire from international duty following Argentina s Copa America final defeat by Chile
Argentina suffered yet another final defeat on Sunday night, suffering a Copa America final defeat against Chile on penalties following a 0-0 draw in normal and extra-time.
The failure was one too many for star player Lionel Messi, who revealed after the game that he has decided to retire from international football.
The defeat was compounded by the fact that the Barcelona star missed a penalty kick in the 4-2 spot-kick defeat.
Decided to retire after the defeat
Talking after the game Messi told the media: “It’s tough, it’s not the time for analysis,”
“In the dressing room I thought that this is the end for me with…
Roma have secured the sought-after signature of Greece defender Kostas Manolas on a five-year deal from Olympiacos.
Last season s Serie A runners-up have parted with €13million to sign Manolas, with a further €2m to follow if he reaches certain milestones.
Manolas had been a reported target for Arsenal who recently sold Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona but Arsene Wenger has been pipped to the post by countryman Rudi Garcia.
The 23-year-old began his career at Thrasyvoulos and moved to Olympiacos in 2012 after three seasons with AEK Athens.
Two Greek Super League titles followed and Manolas was part of the Greece squad that made the last 16 of this year s World Cup in Brazil.
He played every minute in a defence that conceded just …
Hull City have secured the services of Southampton playmaker Gaston Ramirez on a season-long loan.
Uruguay international Ramirez joined Southampton for an undisclosed fee from Bologna in August 2012, widely reported to be a club-record £12million.
But the 23-year-old has struggled for consistent form and fitness on England s south cost, with 22 of his 45 Premier League appearances coming as a substitute.
Hull boss Steve Bruce commented: Gaston significantly improves our attacking options and I m delighted to welcome him to the club.
He is yet another quality addition as we look to build on what we achieved last season.
Ramirez s arrival at the KC Stadium comes amid a busy transfer deadline day for Hull.
West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame…