Europe increasingly Chelsea's priority
PARIS • The Europa League might not be top of Chelsea's priorities this season but, in current circumstances, today's last-32, first-leg clash at Malmo takes on extra importance for Maurizio Sarri's side.
The Italian's days in charge at Stamford Bridge could be numbered after Sunday's humiliating 6-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester City, their heaviest loss in 28 years and also their fourth consecutive away defeat.
But Sarri is still there for now as the London club continue a gruelling run of fixtures - the two legs of the tie against Malmo come either side of the FA Cup fifth-round clash with Manchester United. Another meeting with City in the League Cup final follows.
"It's difficult to accept such a heavy defeat, but we have a lot of matches coming up to lift our heads and give us hope for good results at the end of this season," N'Golo Kante said on the Chelsea website.
The Blues breezed through their group despite Sarri regularly leaving out his leading players, and he is likely to rotate again in Sweden.
With this being the close season in Sweden, Malmo have not played a competitive game since the end of the group stage in December.
For Chelsea and their London rivals Arsenal, United's recent resurgence in the league increases the need to keep going in the Europa League - winning the final in May could be the London sides' best chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Unai Emery's Arsenal are in Barysaw to play Bate Borisov. The Belarusian champions, who won the last 13 league titles but lost home and away to Chelsea in the group phase, should not be a match for the Gunners.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MALMO V CHELSEA
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 4am
London (AFP) - Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has been given a one-match ban by the Football Association for improper conduct after sarcastically applauding referee Andre Marriner. Zaha was punished following his antics in Palace's Premier League draw at Southampton on January 30.
Palace's Zaha banned for referee sarcastic clap | Sport24
Manchester United have sacked Jose Mourinho with immediate effect. The club will appoint an external caretaker manager in the next 48 hours, before appointing a new full-time manager next summer. "Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect," a club statement read.
EPL, news: Manchester United sack Jose Mourinho, $700 million
FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis receives a Barcelona soccer jersey of player Lionel Messi during the weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican April 17, 2013. REUTERS/Osservatore
'He's great to watch, but he's not God' - Pope sets fans
Football: Home United claim Community Shield in 5-4 shoot-out win over Albirex Niigata SINGAPORE -Home United have started the 2019 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season on a positive note after beating defending champions Albirex Niigata 5-4 on penalties in the Community Shield on Saturday (Feb 23) evening .
Home United clinch Community Shield after shoot-out victory
Valencia coach Marcelino insists the pressure will be on Arsenal when his side take on the Gunners in the Europa League semi-finals. Toni Lato and Dani Parejo were on target for Los Che as they
Arsenal favourites for Europa League - Marcelino - msn.com
Football: Sarri fears Chelsea ban will ruin title hopes. Chelsea's success next season hinges on transfer ban being lifted, says former striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
More racial abuse cases heighten calls for action
Reserves deliver as Spurs eye City clash - straitstimes.com
Bayern Munich won a record-extending seventh consecutive Bundesliga title on Saturday after crushing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to finish two points ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern Munich win Bundesliga title for seventh successive
Feb 24, 2019 · Leicester have sacked Claude Puel as their manager after the 4-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday and want to appoint Brendan Rodgers as his successor. Rodgers their top target after
Leicester City Target Celtic's Rodgers To Replace Puel
Poch Tells Tottenham To Purchase Players More Spurs are guaranteed their best finish of the Premier League era and will be runners-up to Leicester if they avoid defeat at relegated Newcastle on Sunday.
Pochettino tells Levy what Spurs must do after completing new
Guardiola stays cool despite shock Man City defeat 23 December 2018, MVT 20:44 Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola arrives for the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 22, 2018.
Football: Guardiola stays cool despite shock Man City defeat
Gymkhana FC's president Patrick Francis has lashed out against the decision of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to expel his club from the National Football League (NFL) for its failure to send down the full set of 11 players at the start of three matches this year. Speaking to The
U.S. businesses optimistic on China growth, bemoan unfair
Read more about Pele 'recovering well' after kidney stones surgery on Business Standard. A Brazilian hospital says Pele is "recovering well" after undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones. The Albert Einstein hospital said in a statement Friday that the 74-year-old Pele remains in good condition a day after the procedure in Sao
Pele 'recovering well' after kidney stones surgery
Iwobi, Lacazette lead Arsenal to win at Huddersfield : The
Langganan:
Posting Komentar (Atom)
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar