Category: Football

Chelsea academy graduates usually have a couple of well-trodden pathways – breakthrough, loan, first team; or breakthrough, loan, sale.

The Blues have sold on more than 40 homegrown players in the past decade, and have made £315m from selling academy-developed talent in the last four seasons alone – £100m more than Manchester City.

But their latest high-profile prospect Tyrique George has bucked that trend so far and can look at Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James showing the way to first-team success.

George’s strike against Fulham on 20 April, aged 19 years and 75 days, saw him become Chelsea’s youngest goalscorer in the Premier League since Callum Hudson-Odoi netted against Burnley in January 2020.

The winger’s breakthrough season has included Carabao Cup games against Barrow and Morecambe, substitute league appearances against Arsenal and Brighton, and almost 600 minutes in 10 Conference League games, including a goal in the quarter-final first leg win at Legia Warsaw.

He looks well placed to start away at Djurgarden in the Conference League semi-final on Thursday – and could add to his growing reputation.

George, who turned 19 in February, is disrupting that typical ‘Chelsea’ narrative thanks to a level of dedication unusual even in this era of academised youth development.

In fact, the last Chelsea player to come through the youth system into the first team without a loan was Hudson-Odoi, in January 2018 – a player George grew up idolising.

A personal coach aged 10 and playing men at Power League

Tyrique George pictured with private coach David ‘Guru’ Sobers

George was promoted from the academy team to the first team on 19 December, six months after he and defender Josh Acheampong signed new deals in June 2024.

That decision to sign a three-year contract, plus an optional fourth year, raised eyebrows among multiple academy sources at Chelsea.

Internal talk was that he might get lost among £1bn of talent – including another summer influx of talented young forwards – signed since the change of ownership in 2022.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca gave George a chance in pre-season and sources say the Italian’s backing helped keep him at Stamford Bridge.

And FootballTransfers.com says George’s rapid progress has seen his estimated transfer value increase from £2m in December to more than £10m now.

George was first spotted by Chelsea playing for TFA Totteridge FC in Whetstone.

He signed up through their development centre programme before becoming a fully fledged academy player at the age of eight – taking a picture with then-first team breakthrough stars Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lewis Baker on his signing day.

However, a source told BBC Sport that in those early years, George was a ‘middling’ player in his age group until around the age of 10.

It was at that point George’s dad hired a goalkeeper as well as a personal coach, David ‘Guru’ Sobers, to raise his game alongside his work at Chelsea.

In midweek, George would train with Chelsea and then from the age of 13 on Fridays, he would play against men in nine-a-side matches at either Vauxhall or Nine Elms Power League in South London.

On Saturdays, he would train again and go through post-match analysis with Sobers from his Power League matches the evening before, before going back to Chelsea on Sunday to play.

“I used to spend hours travelling on public transport to do two-hour sessions, or longer, with Tyrique as I thought I could help him,” Sobers told BBC Sport.

“We would spend hours doing one-versus-one, technical work, shooting drills, and I enjoyed the fact that he would push himself so much. I’d be a ‘bad’ referee when he played against 18 year olds, so he would get kicked – but have to get up and win the ball back.

“We did tactics on his Friday session during these matches. I think it helped our young players, we also had guys now at Manchester City, West Ham and Reading, become fearless, especially when coming back to their own age group.”

George also trained for several years with Unique FA, an elite academy, but under the proviso that he would play with players a few years older than himself.

Sobers still works with George and added: “Ty became unfazed by anything but it was on him how relentless he was at repetition and doing the fundamentals.

“He was non-stop and we pushed him but he always wanted to work hard and we didn’t force him, it was all him wanting to be exceptional while staying humble.

“He already showed he had the mentality by facing men even when small for his age group. A late growth spurt was the missing piece of the puzzle.”

Sancho met George in 2017 at Goals five-a-side pitches in South London

During one of those South London games, George had a chance meeting with current Chelsea on loan winger Jadon Sancho, who was on the verge of joining Dortmund from Manchester City, in 2017.

George explained: “It was me and my dad going to training. We saw Sancho with his friends and, with Sancho back then, I used to watch his highlights.

“My dad told me to get a picture, I was all nervous, but got the picture.”

Sancho said earlier in the season: “Tyrique George has the world at his feet, top guy and such a humble human being. He deserves every bit of success coming his way.”

People close to George cite Sancho, Noni Madueke, Marc Cucurella and Tosin Adarabioyo as key influences over his early career at Stamford Bridge.

How does the future look for George?

Europe’s third-tier competition and domestic cup games helped George build experience before his Premier League debut in January.

He has now scored two goals, got four assists and made a total of 21 appearances across all competitions this season.

Speaking in December, George said: “The trust Enzo has in me gives me a great feeling. He knows me from training with him all season.”

Maresca had studied Chelsea, including the academy before joining, impressing in his interviews with the club of his knowledge of players. He will have known George racked up a combined 33 goals and assists last season while being nominated for goal of the season for a strike against Crystal Palace.

Those with knowledge of George’s journey say he has received additional encouragement behind the scenes since the change of ownership to the Boehly-Clearlake regime – with director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields cited as a key advocate behind-the-scenes.

George has also no doubt benefited from Mykhailo Mudryk’s absence – as he remains provisionally suspended – after allegedly failing a drugs test.

Fellow academy graduate Colwill said of George this month: “We know how good a player he is so to come in and score hopefully gives him that confidence boost and hopefully he keeps pushing to try to get into our side.

“He’s here because he is an amazing player, he is not here to sit on the bench, he is here to play.”

bbc.co.uk

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has diluted his control of the club in preparation for Champions League qualification.

Uefa, European football’s governing body, has strict rules regarding multi-club ownership models such as the one Marinakis heads up.

In addition to owning Forest, the Greek businessman also controls Greek team Olympiakos, as well as Portuguese side Rio Ave.

Forest and Olympiakos are both on course to qualify for next season’s Champions League, a prospect that would contravene Uefa’s rules that state clubs under the same ownership cannot compete in the same European competition.

Documents filed at Companies House show that Marinakis has ceased to become a “person with significant control” of NF Football Investments Limited, the vehicle that owns the City Ground club.

While Marinakis has placed his shares in a blind trust, a Forest source confirmed to the BBC that he remains the club’s owner and is still committed to the club.

The development is among a number of changes filed with Companies House in light of Uefa’s rules.

Sources have confirmed the move is designed to ensure the ownership model is positioned to ensure Forest comply with Uefa’s rules.

The alterations in ownership structure had to be completed by the end of April, a rule Forest have complied with.

With Marinakis stepping back, Forest’s co-owner Sokratis Kominakis returns to the club’s board.

Forest are sixth in the Premier League, level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot. Forest have a game in hand over Chelsea.

Olympiakos are top of the Greek top flight and are set to qualify for the Champions League.

Manchester City and Girona, who are both owned by City Football Group, were cleared to compete in this season’s Champions League after changes to its control arrangements at the Spanish club.

Meanwhile, former Arsenal sporting director Edu is expected to be confirmed in a new global role within Marinakis’ multi-club model in the coming weeks.

Edu left Emirates Stadium last November and has completed a period of notice with the north London club.

BBC Sport understands the Brazilian executive has been working on an informal basis since leaving Arsenal, but his appointment is yet to be concluded.

That process is ongoing amid an expectancy that his formal appointment is completed and announced later this summer.

bbc.co.uk

Chloe Kelly has been called into the England squad to replace the injured Beth Mead for their Women’s Nations League matches this month.

The 27-year-old joined Arsenal on loan from Manchester City on deadline day in January after saying she “wanted to be happy again” in a social media post.

The forward has made just one Women’s Super League start this season and was not named in the original Lionesses squad by Sarina Wiegman last week.

However, Kelly made her return to action in Sunday’s 5-0 win over Tottenham at Emirates Stadium and hit the crossbar in a bright appearance as a substitute.

Mead was on the bench for that game but has withdrawn from the England squad with an injury, as has defender Lotte Wubben-Moy, who missed Sunday’s north London derby victory.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has been given a two-match touchline ban and fined £10,000 by the Football Association for angrily confronting referee Mike Dean after his side’s 2-1 defeat at Burnley.

Pochettino admitted he “crossed the line” with the official and later made a public apology to Dean.

The 46-year-old accepted an FA charge of improper conduct.

“It is not the way to behave,” he said following the incident.

Dean was later moved from his fourth official duties for Spurs’ game at Chelsea the following week.

Pochettino will serve his ban in the Premier League games against former club Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on 9 March and at Liverpool on 31 March.

The Argentine did not reveal what was he said to Dean at Turf Moor, or the reason for his strong reaction, although he had complained about a corner awarded in the build-up to Burnley’s opening goal.

Pochettino had said he was not anticipating a ban.

“A ban, why? I don’t believe that it’s going to happen. I don’t think that’s going to be fair,” he said.

“For what? It was a conversation, no? Maybe it was close but it was a conversation.

“I don’t believe it’s fair. But I’m going to accept if they ban me and I can’t be in the dugout against Southampton.”

It is fair to say Tottenham are pretty unhappy at the severity of this punishment.

Given Pochettino apologised at the time and has an unblemished record in six years as a Premier League manager, first at Southampton, and now Spurs, the feeling was a fine and a warning would be the likely outcome.

Yet, speaking after Tuesday’s Champions League victory in Dortmund, Pochettino hinted there was bad news on the way. So it has proved, meaning Tottenham’s manager will be absent from the dugout for both his return to Southampton and the key Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield.

The irony of Jurgen Klopp being on the opposition bench on 31 March has not been lost on Tottenham.

They have noted that Klopp has twice been fined this season – £8,000 in December for running onto the pitch after Divock Origi’s injury-time winner against Everton and £45,000 for comments about referee Kevin Friend following the 1-1 draw at West Ham last month.

Tottenham simply do not feel the punishment handed out to Pochettino is in line with these.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Kevin de Bruyne needs to win “lots of titles, especially the Champions League” to win the Ballon d’Or, says his Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

However, when asked if the midfielder was playing at a level that made him a contender to be named the world’s best, Guardiola said: “I have no doubt.”

“To be a contender, you have to win [the Champions League], and be there in the latter stages,” added Guardiola.

“But how he played against Leicester it is hard to find better in Europe.”

De Bruyne made three assists in Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Leicester to take his total in the league this season to 14, four more than the next best player.

Guardiola continued: “It is not just one game, it is all season and every three days that he is playing that way.”

De Bruyne, 26, said: “I do everything to win titles with the team. What happens after is an extra.

“I am very pleased with the way everything is going for me. The way the team is playing makes it easier for me and for them. At the end, if you get an individual honour it is beautiful.”

Speaking on Match of the Day on Saturday, BBC pundit Danny Murphy said De Bruyne was “probably the best passer of the ball I have seen in the Premier League”.

De Bruyne was 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings in 2017, when Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo won the award for a fifth time.

Ronaldo and Barcelona star Lionel Messi, also a five-time winner, have been the only players to take the honour since Kaka won it in 2007.

In eight of the past 11 seasons, the winner has been part of the Champions League-winning side.

City, who are chasing an unprecedented quadruple (they play in the League Cup final against Arsenal on 25 February and visit Wigan in the fifth round of the FA Cup on 19 February), resume their Champions League campaign on Tuesday with the first leg of their last-16 tie against FC Basel in Switzerland.

They were knocked out by Monaco at this stage last season in Guardiola’s first season in charge, after reaching the semi-finals under Manuel Pellegrini in 2016.

What is the Ballon d’Or?

The Ballon d’Or has been awarded 62 times and is voted for by 173 journalists from around the world.

It has been awarded by France Football every year since 1956, but for six years it became the Fifa Ballon d’Or in association with world football’s governing body and was awarded to the world’s best player.

However, Fifa ended its association with the award in September 2016.

source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte admits that he is "a bit of a disaster" when it comes to convincing the club’s board to sign new players.

The Premier League champions failed to make any big signings in the January transfer window.

And the 48-year-old Italian says he needs to be more persuasive.

"I have to speak more with the managers who are very, very good at persuading their clubs to spend money to buy top players," he said.

"I think I’m a bit of a disaster to convince the club to buy players. I think in this aspect I can improve a lot.

"I have to learn a lot from the other coaches, the other managers, in that aspect."

Conte said in January that he was "happy" at Chelsea, playing down reports that his relationship with owner Roman Abramovich had become strained.

Abramovich was reportedly angry that the Italian had said he did not choose the club’s signings this season.

Chelsea are facing a fight to qualify for next season’s Champions League after winning one of their past five Premier League matches.

They go into Monday’s game against West Brom in fifth place, two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and 22 adrift of leaders Manchester City.

Striker Alexis Sanchez and defender Virgin van Dijk were both linked with the club recently before going to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.

But Conte said he can still get the best out of his squad.

"My task is to try and improve every single player, in every aspect – in terms of their mentality also. For this, I’m very good," he said.

source: www.bbc.co.uk

Everton winger Aaron Lennon is not suffering from a long-standing mental health issue and is expected to make a full recovery in the short term, BBC Sport understands.

The 30-year-old was detained under the Mental Health Act by police over concerns for his welfare.

He was taken to hospital “for assessment” after police were called to Salford on Sunday.

It is understood his condition is a recent occurrence.

Lennon is now “receiving care and treatment for a stress-related illness”, his club has said.

The England international, who joined Everton from Tottenham in 2015, has not played for the first team since February.

Greater Manchester Police said: “Police were called at around 4.35pm to reports of a concern for the welfare of a man on Eccles Old Road.

“Officers attended and a 30-year-old man was detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act and was taken to hospital for assessment.”

News of Lennon’s admission has led to an outpouring of support on social media from those involved in the game, as well as fans of his current and former clubs.

Everton tweeted on Wednesday: “Thank you for all the kind messages for Aaron. We are supporting him through this and his family has appealed for privacy at this time.”

Lennon’s representative, Base Soccer Agency, tweeted: “Everyone at Base Soccer sends their support to @AaronLennon12 – get well soon and stay strong.”

Sport shows support for Lennon

Ex-Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore, who has been affected by depression: Thoughts and love with Aaron Lennon and his family right now. I know that place, and I know he’ll be fine with good support from us all.

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno, who has battled depression: Thoughts are with Aaron Lennon today, stay strong & as positive as possible, there is light at the end of tunnel. You will get through this boss.

Lennon’s former club Tottenham Hotspur: Get well soon @AaronLennon12, we’re all thinking of you.

The Professional Footballers’ Association: Get well soon Aaron, we are all thinking of you and here to offer our full support.

Former Queens Park Rangers and Burnley defender Clarke Carlisle, who played with Lennon at Leeds United: Love and blessings to my old teammate @AaronLennon12. Nail this now and there’s plenty more left in the tank my friend.

Ex-Manchester City and England midfielder Trevor Sinclair: Thoughts with Aaron Lennon right now.

Former Aston Villa forward Darren Byfield: Hope Aaron Lennon will be OK and gets the help he needs.

Former Watford and Sheffield United striker Danny Webber: Get well soon Aaron Lennon.

England cricketer Kate Cross, an ambassador for Opening Up Cricket which promotes mental wellbeing: Fingers crossed Aaron Lennon is OK. Another reminder that mental health affects us all. Be kind.

source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jose Mourinho says he does not know about becoming the next Manchester United manager, but is hoping to be back in football this summer.

Earlier this month, BBC Sport reported that United had held talks with representatives of the Portuguese.

Mourinho, 53, was sacked by Chelsea in December, seven months after winning the Premier League title.

Asked if he will replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, Mourinho said: “That’s the one million dollar question.”

Speaking at a school in Singapore, he added: “Nobody knows and I am the first one not to know. I read so many different things.”

Mourinho has been linked with a return to Serie A side Inter Milan and Spanish giants Real Madrid.

But he said: “Starting next season with a new club and project is probably the best for me.”

The future of Dutchman Van Gaal, 64, has been an almost constant source of speculation in recent weeks.

His contract ends at the end of next season but the former Netherlands boss has been involved in a number of testy exchanges with reporters whenever his position is discussed.

United lie fifth in the Premier League, six points off fourth-placed Manchester City, and went out of the Champions League at the group stages.

They are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and face Danish side FC Midtjylland in last 32 of the Europa League on Thursday, trailing 2-1 from the first leg.

source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola swore in his post-match media briefing after watching his side throw away a two-goal lead against Juventus in the Champions League.

The Bavarian giants stormed ahead through goals from Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben but appeared tired in the second half and allowed Paulo Dybala and substitute Stefano Sturaro to level the arrears in Turin.

Bayern still have an away-goal advantage ahead of the round-of-16 second-leg in Munich, but Guardiola was clearly frustrated despite staunchly defending his players during his post-match media commitments. 

“The result is what it is,” said Guardiola, who has agreed to replace Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City in the summer. “I know that in Italy you are about physical condition. I don’t give a f*** for the physical condition. It’s the mental question that I care about.

“I didn’t expect to come here and expect Juve not to shoot on target, or that we would play 90 fantastic minutes. They have players like [Mario] Mandzukic, [Paul] Pogba and [Leonardo] Bonucci, one of my all-time favourite players. And we showed character.”

The Spaniard, who still awaits his first European triumph with Bayern, also suggested he may one day manage in Italy if one of the country’s leading clubs show an interest.

“Will it be enough to go through? I don’t know. I would like to sit here after a win but the result is what it is. I am very happy with how I did. It is probably the evening that I am the most pleased as coach in my career. Maybe one day I will work in Italy. If they want me.”

source: www.independent.co.uk

Antonio Conte is closing in on becoming Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor at Chelsea, with the Italy coach confident that he has seen off rivals Diego Simeone and Massimiliano Allegri to take charge at Stamford Bridge.

Although reports in Italy on Monday which suggested that the 46-year-old had agreed a deal in principle to become Chelsea manager are understood to be premature, the former Juventus coach is now the favoured candidate in the eyes of owner Roman Abramovich.

The Independent revealed last December that Conte had become the leading candidate to replace Mourinho in the event of the Portuguese being sacked by the club as a result of this season’s disastrous first half of the campaign. And although Guus Hiddink returned to Stamford Bridge as interim manager in the wake of Mourinho’s dismissal two months ago, the Dutchman is not a contender to take the job permanently, despite his success in reviving the team’s fortunes since his appointment.

Conte’s success with Juventus, who he guided to three successive Serie A titles before becoming Italy coach following the 2014 World Cup, has convinced Abramovich that the Italian is capable of restoring Chelsea to the top four next season and overseeing a title challenge.

With his contract with Italy due to expire at the end of Euro 2016, Conte has made no secret of his desire to work in the Premier League and he has already started to learn English in order to enhance his prospects of achieving success in this country.

Abramovich had been prepared to mount a charm offensive to lure Pep Guardiola from Bayern Munich following Mourinho’s departure, but with the former Barcelona coach now committed to a three-year contract at Manchester City from this summer, the Russian has turned to Conte ahead of Simeone, Allegri and former Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli.

Atletico Madrid coach Simeone had been the long-term frontrunner, but the Argentine is likely to remain in Spain for another year at least, while Sampaoli’s lack of top-level experience in Europe has counted against his prospects.

And although Allegri has become a sought-after coach with him having extended the success started by Conte at Juventus, the Italian champions are confident that the former Milan coach will commit to a new deal  in Turin.

Giuseppe Marotta, the Juventus sporting director, said: “The conditions for Allegri’s contract renewal are all there. The cycle has just started with him and I believe we can continue with him. On top of that, finding a club better than Juventus isn’t easy. I think that he can still get great pleasure from this team, thus there is no Allegri problem.”

source: www.independent.co.uk