Goal king Cole is a merry Blues soul
Liam Rosenior has insisted Cole Palmer is unsellable and said there is no chance of the Chelsea attacker joining Manchester United this summer.
Responding to claims that Palmer is unhappy in London and wants to return to Manchester, Rosenior insisted he has no concerns over his star player’s future. Chelsea’s head coach has not felt the need to seek assurances from the club’s hierarchy about the England international’s future and he could not have been firmer when asked if the 23-year-old is untouchable.
“Yes,” Rosenior said. “It’s simple, Cole’s an incredible player. I’m not surprised at the timing. A new manager comes in and all of a sudden there’s people unsettled. It’s not true. Cole’s here, he’s very happy and I can’t wait to see him back on the pitch.
“There’s no reason for assurance. It’s so unrealistic. It’s come from nowhere. There’s nothing in it. There’s no reason to have the conversation. That’s where I’m at. Cole is very happy. I’ve had numerous conversations with him. Our thoughts are on how we can make this team better, how he can improve and how I can help him. He loves being here and he wants to be a Chelsea player. You can’t stop speculation, but some speculation is so far from the truth. There’s no point in having a discussion about it.”
Injuries have disrupted Palmer’s season but he has returned to the squad for Wednesday night’s Champions League game against Napoli. Chelsea head to Naples needing a win in the final round of the group phase to give themselves a realistic chance of a top-eight finish and direct qualification into the last 16. There is more pressure on Antonio Conte’s injury-hit Napoli, who are at risk of a humiliating early exit from the competition.
However, while the Italian champions are missing up to 11 players, Rosenior knows that Chelsea will have to be at their best if they are to secure their first away win in the Champions League in over three years. “Napoli are a great team,” Rosenior said. “They proved that last year with a fantastic title. They have outstanding individual players, they have a world-class coach. They’re still in the position where they can get through.”
Chelsea are edging towards an agreement for Raheem Sterling to leave the club before the transfer window shuts. Sterling has 18 months left on a contract worth £325,000 a week and has not played this season. He has interest from Fulham and Crystal Palace. Jacob Steinberg
Howe hopes ‘warrior’ will return for PSG
A groin injury dictates that Newcastle will be without Joelinton for the next few weeks but Eddie Howe is hoping Bruno Guimarães passes a late fitness test before Wednesday night’s pivotal Champions League match at Paris Saint-Germain.
“Joe’s had a scan,” said Newcastle’s manager after finally arriving in Paris following a three-hour delay to his flight caused by adverse weather. “He’ll possibly be out for a few weeks. He’s going to get a second opinion just to make sure we’re on the right lines with that. He’ll miss quite a few games just because we’ve got so many fixtures.”
Win in Paris and Howe’s team will finish in the top eight of the European showpiece’s league stage and proceed straight to March’s round of 16, thereby avoiding the strain of a two-legged playoff next month.
Their cause will be helped should the injured ankle that kept Guimarães out of the 2-0 Premier League defeat at home by Aston Villa last Sunday be judged to have healed sufficiently. “Bruno’s a very rare player these days, in the respect that he wants to play every minute of every game,” said a manager well aware that his side have won none of the 11 Premier League games Guimarães has missed through injury. “He’s got that warrior attitude.
“Bruno’s biggest quality for me is that he wants the ball in every moment. He will go hunting the ball because he’s brave enough to take responsibility. But I think we do have to learn to play if he’s not available.”
Howe could also do with Anthony Gordon adding to his tally of six Champions League goals this season when Newcastle face Luis Enrique’s holders. The England winger has struggled domestically and failed to score from open play for a year in the Premier League but tends to shine in European matches.
“I don’t care for people’s opinion, whether they love or they don’t like me, it doesn’t bother me either way,” said Gordon. Asked why he tends to come alive in the Champions League, he said: “I just think it’s the biggest, it’s the best.”
He also had a riposte for his domestic critics. “I know I’m doing the right things every day. I’m always playing against elite right-backs so I know people expect a lot from me, but they’re also quite good players and they get paid well to stop me. It [criticism] is part of trying to be great at something. If you can’t take people’s opinions you’re not meant to be great. I think I take it quite well. I don’t take it personal. I’m not a very sensitive person.” Louise Taylor
Guardiola denies having dinner with Haaland
Pep Guardiola has claimed he does not know if Erling Haaland will be fresh for Manchester City’s final Champions League group game against Galatasaray on Wednesday because they “did not have dinner last night”.
City are 11th with 13 points before hosting the Turkish champions, one of eight teams with the total. These include Chelsea, who are eighth, the last position that secures automatic qualification to the last-16, the goal difference of Rosenior’s side being superior by two.
This means victory by a wide margin would give City the best chance of avoiding a two-legged playoff for a second successive season, so a return to goalscoring form by Haaland would be welcome. City’s top scorer was dropped for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Wolves and did not register after coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute, meaning he has not scored from open play in his last seven appearances.
Guardiola was asked if Haaland will be fresh after only featuring as a substitute at the weekend. “I didn’t have dinner with him last night so I don’t know. We will see,” said the manager. “It’s the team. We have to play better: create more chances and he will score. Never underestimate the goalscorers because they will always make you silent.”
Asked if he would speak to Haaland about his comparative goal drought, Guardiola said: “I’m an overthinking manager, I’m not a man manager. The new generation of managers are just videos. I haven’t talked with the players for the last three years. Less problems.”
Guardiola apologised for his criticism of referee Farai Hallam after he did not award City a penalty against Wolves. Hallam, on his Premier League debut, was sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR after deeming Yerson Mosquera had not illegally handled the ball after it struck his outstretched arm as Omar Marmoush tried to scoop it behind the defender. Hallam stuck with his on-field decision.
“I’m so sorry,” Guardiola said. “If he feels offended, I’m so sorry. I know it’s not easy on debut. And it’s happened. Everyone is so sensitive, I know that.”
Guardiola insisted that he rarely criticises officials and never after losing. “Take a look when we have had defeats over the last 10 years,” the manager said. “When we lose in the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup – the first statement is to congratulate the opponent all the time. But when you say one or two times over 10 years that I am the type [to complain] then OK, it’s fine, everyone defends his position.”
Jérémy Doku returned from a leg injury to play the last 18 minutes of the Wolves win. He sustained the problem when Diogo Dalot fouled him in the 2-0 defeat at Manchester United the previous Saturday, the right-back receiving a yellow card when, by common consensus, he should have seen red. “You guys know my feelings about it,” said Doku. “I could have [been out for a long time]. Thanks to the Lord I didn’t get injured badly.”
Nico González will have a late fitness test regarding his availability for the visit of Galatasaray. Jamie Jackson
Conte faces crunch in midst of injury crisis
Napoli are on the brink of being eliminated from the Champions League as the troubled Italian club face Chelsea on Wednesday, racked by a deep injury crisis and a faltering Serie A title defence. Sat just inside the elimination zone on only eight points from seven matches after last week’s miserable 1-1 draw at Copenhagen, Napoli must beat Chelsea to scrape a place in next month’s playoffs.
“For us [injuries are] something that we have to accept, it’s a difficult situation which is not easy to manage,” said Scott McTominay. “It’s difficult for the staff and the players to continue with that rhythm.”
Conte has lost the first-choice goalkeeper, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, to a hamstring injury while the winger David Neres flew to London for ankle surgery on Monday which could keep him out until April. Kevin De Bruyne has been out since October and won’t be back until the spring after surgery on his right hamstring, while another key midfielder in Frank Anguissa was supposed to be back on Sunday from another hamstring injury but was left out due to back problems. Reuters
Flick targets top-eight spot for Barça
Barcelona welcome Copenhagen, knowing a top-eight finish and direct ticket to the last 16 are on the line in their final group fixture. Hansi Flick’s side moved up to ninth on 13 points after last week’s dramatic comeback win at Slavia Prague, leaving them level with seven other sides battling for a top-eight finish, suggesting goal difference is likely to be a major factor in deciding the final placings.
Their Danish visitors, who are 26th and currently in the elimination zone on eight points, will hope to secure a playoff spot, being tied with four other teams targeting a top-24 finish. Barça’s task has grown in difficulty as they prepare to navigate the match without two key midfielders. Creative linchpin Pedri is sidelined with a muscle injury sustained against Slavia, which will keep him out for several weeks, while Frenkie de Jong is suspended.
Flick acknowledged the challenge of the crucial fixture, but expressed optimism about his squad’s depth and determination. “I hope the team is feeling good and confident,” said Flick. “We have to respect Copenhagen. The most important thing is that we do our job and play at our best. It won’t be an easy match. The goal is to finish in the top eight.” Reuters
