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Mauricio Pochettino says it's like going "home" ahead of Chelsea's Carabao Cup final with Liverpool at Wembley – where he has a special "bond".

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Chelsea take on Liverpool at WembleyCarabao Cup trophy up for grabsPochettino relishing clash at old "home"(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Blues are preparing for a trip to Wembley on Sunday, as Pochettino eyes his first trophy as Chelsea manager. The Argentine returns to a ground he knows very well after his old side Tottenham played home matches there between 2017 and 2019, while the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was being built. Despite not having a particularly strong record at Wembley, the former Southampton boss says he cannot wait to go back.

AdvertisementWHAT MAURICIO POCHETTINO SAID

He said in his pre-match press conference on Friday: "It means a lot for us, me and my coaching staff, to have the possibility to arrive in a final and to challenge a team like Liverpool to win our first title here, 11 years after we arrived at Southampton. It’s a dream for us and we have the possibility. We have 90 minutes to achieve that and we are going to fight. I think the team is ready, we are going to be very competitive and it is an amazing chance for us.

"Wembley is like home, because we played a lot there with Tottenham. It feels like going back to your home, because after one-and-a-half years competing there we created a very good bond between Wembley, the team and everyone there. For sure it is going to be special to play there and special if we win. We are going to give our best to compete, be better than Liverpool and deserve to lift the trophy."

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After spending more than £1 billion ($1.27m) on transfers since Todd Boehly's infamous takeover in 2022, the Blues have a chance to win some much-needed silverware this weekend. This could kickstart an upturn in fortunes after a torrid couple of years by their standards and, if successful, this would be Pochettino's first trophy in English football.

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WHAT NEXT?

After Chelsea's cup final clash against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, the west London outfit take on old rivals Leeds United in round five of the FA Cup next Wednesday at Stamford Bridge. They return to Premier League action away at Brentford on March 2.

Progression has been the game for Arsenal since the departure of Arsene Wenger. Following the arrival, Unai Emery has had a number of jobs to do, and so far, he’d done them well.

First and foremost, he’s had to take Arsenal into a new era, away from the manager that had overseen one of the most successful eras in their history. That’s no mean feat on its own, yet the transition has been smoother than anyone could have expected.

He’s also had to clear out a lot of the talent that was previously performing regularly under Wenger. This, inevitably, led to a few departures, but it also led to a few arrivals. This ties into Arsenal’s biggest quest, which was to help reinvigorate the team with fresh legs and youth.

That’s been achieved by buying young players like Lucas Torreira and Mateo Guendouzi, whilst also moving players like Per Mertesacker and Lucas Perez on.

It makes you wonder, then, why Arsenal reportedly want to bring in Ivan Perisic, at least according to the Evening Standard. Arsenal are apparently keen to bring in the Croatian, who has handed in a transfer request at Inter Milan, with Emery clearly viewing him as an impressive target.

Certainly, Perisic is a good player, but he would represent a big step back for the club, at least with regards to the above criteria. At 29-years-old, he’s a player that is coming towards the end of his peak, and that’s the opposite of what Arsenal have been looking to target lately. He’s very much representative of the sort of player that Arsenal would have targeted under Wenger, and he’s exactly the sort of player that Arsenal would have avoided over the summer. They’ve got enough experience in the team now, and so Perisic would simply be a waste.

Beyond all that, though, Perisic’s recent form begs the question: is he still good enough? He’s bagged just 3 goals and 2 assists this season, which is a marked step down from the 11 goals and 9 assists tally that he managed to achieve last season. Furthermore, his overall game seems to be a level below where it was 12 months ago, and whether that’s down to tiredness or another issue; his fall has been evident.

He’s still a good player, but he’s certainly not in the tier of a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and the Gabonese attacker is exactly who Perisic would compete with on the flanks, given that Alexandre Lacazette largely dominates the number 9 slot.

A move for Perisic, then, would be a step back for Arsenal. Unai Emery hasn’t made many mistakes at the helm in London, yet, but bringing him in would certainly be a major one.

Thoughts?

Jamie Carragher believes Lionel Messi is miles ahead of long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming the Al-Nassr star is "nowhere near his level".

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Carragher hails Messi as the GOATClaims Ronaldo is "nowhere near" his levelClashes with fellow CBS Sports punditsWHAT HAPPENED?

The retired Liverpool defender-turned pundit was explosive in his backing of Messi's ability when speaking to host Kate Abdo on CBS Sports, saying there was "never a debate" between the two star forwards. The Inter Miami and Al-Nassr players have consistently been pitted against each other over their two decades at the top of the global game, but for pundits such as Carragher, Messi's superiority has never been in doubt.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT CARRAGHER SAID

"It was never a debate," said Carragher. "Ronaldo's nowhere near the level of Messi." Arguing with fellow pundit and ex-USMNT player Charlie Davis, the former Premier League defender added: "Ronaldo is one of the greatest goalscorers of all time, Messi is the greatest player of all time, it's not even close. Ronaldo scored goals, Messi scored goals and was an unbelievable player."

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Messi's historic 2022 World Cup win with Argentina — and his dazzling performances throughout the tournament — were enough to push the balance toward the Barca legend for many people, as debates rage on about who has been the better player over the years. Since joining Inter Miami in July, Messi has continued fuelling that reputation, impressing so much that tickets to see him in action are now more in-demand "than any NFL game".

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WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

It's unlikely that this debate will phase Messi at all, now that he's won everything there is to win in football. Besides, he's still got plenty of games coming up for club and country, the most pressing concern right now being to ensure his country qualify for the 2026 World Cup. And despite the fact that Messi will be pushing 40 when the competition rolls around, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has even backed his "unstoppable" captain to play at the tournament in North America.

Lionel Messi believes his Argentina team are "close to being the best in the history" after they beat Peru 2-0 in 2026 World Cup qualifying.

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Messi scored twice against PeruSet World Cup qualifying recordSays team could be best ever

WHAT HAPPENED?

Messi scored both goals as his side preserved their perfect record in qualifying. He fired in the opening goal with a fine finish after Nico Gonzalez found him inside the Peru box and then fired low into the net to double their lead.

The Argentine's scoring record in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying now stands at a record-breaking 31, as he moves ahead of Barcelona co-star Luis Suarez, who has scored 29 for Uruguay.

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Lionel Scaloni's side have won all four of their matches and now sit five points above Uruguay, Brazil and Venezuela.

Messi believes the reigning world champions proved yet again that they are the best in the world and arguably close to becoming one of the greatest the game has ever seen.

WHAT THEY SAID

"This team is incredible, every time they play they are very close to being the best in history," Messi said. "On a game level I think we have grown. After winning the World Cup we are confident, very loose, more united and firm. Hopefully we can continue to grow."

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Messi's return to Inter Miami will come too late for him to feature in the first part of the MLS double-header against Charlotte, but the 36-year-old may make the team for the return fixture on Saturday.

Emma Hayes has revealed the heart-warming response from her son that helped her decide to take the United States women's national team job.

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Hayes to leave Chelsea at end of seasonWill take charge of USWNT ahead of OlympicsReveals how son helped her make tough decisionWHAT HAPPENED?

Hayes will leave Chelsea at the end of the current season, bringing 12 incredible and illustrious years at the club to a close. She has helped turn the Blues into the dominant force in English women's football but is now set to take on a new challenge in international football, with the USWNT.

AdvertisementWHAT HAYES SAID

Speaking to about the decision to make the switch, Hayes recalled the moment she spoke to Harry, her five-year-old son, about the possibility of going to the United States. "I asked him, ‘Mummy’s got the chance to go and coach the USA team or we can stay here?’ and his reaction really helped me," she said. "I didn’t know what he was going to say, but he smiled, he hugged me, he kissed me and he said, ‘Let’s go to the USA, mummy, I’m really excited, I want to go to the USA!’ and I almost couldn’t believe it. That was it, that was the endorsement I needed."

Hayes was in a difficult moment at the time U.S. Soccer's interest became known as she had just lost her father. However, she praised the federation for its "support" and said that the role was "impossible to turn down" once they had spoken about how best to make it work.

"Truthfully, I was grieving, and I couldn’t think of anything else. I didn’t have any feeling at that point,” Hayes recalled. "So, I just felt like it was hard to make a life-changing decision, at a time that just didn’t feel right, so reaching that decision with almost a compromise to start at the end of this season was, I think, the only way I could have done it. I really can’t say enough good things about US Soccer and the way they’ve supported that decision and made me feel wanted. They’ve made me feel valued enough that they supported it. Once they agreed to all the things that really mattered to me, it was impossible to turn down."

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Hayes will certainly not be eased into the USWNT role as her first few weeks in the job will be focused on the upcoming Olympic women's football tournament, with the nation aiming to win a record-extending fifth gold medal. With four World Cup titles also to its name, the U.S. has been the biggest side in international women's soccer for a long time now.

"Without doubt, it is a major reason I accepted the job, to go to an Olympics, a World Cup, and be leading out the most established women’s football nation,” Hayes added. "When the time comes, I will give it absolutely everything I’ve got. I know what the Olympics means to America and I’ve been made aware of that from my time living out there."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Hayes has won 15 major honours in her time in charge of Chelsea. This season, the Blues are still alive in all four of the competitions they compete in, too, so could well add plenty to that total before the manager departs.

Manchester United will be without centre-back Harry Maguire for their FA Cup fifth-round tie against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

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Maguire unavailable for FA Cup tieVarane & Fernandes also doubtsUnited face Nottingham ForestWHAT HAPPENED?

The defender has been ruled out of the midweek trip to Nottingham, joining Rasmus Hojlund and Luke Shaw on the sidelines, manager Erik ten Hag confirmed on Wednesday. Fellow central defender Raphael Varane and midfielder Bruno Fernandes are also in danger of missing out.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT TEN HAG SAID

Ten Hag told club media: "We have some question marks in our squad. Harry Maguire will not be available. Bruno is doubtful. Also Rapha Varane is doubtful. We have to watch and see what we will have and then pick a team, with the aim of course [of winning]. It's an FA Cup game, so it's about win or lose. Black or white. We have to win and that should be our approach."

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With Maguire out and Varane possibly following, United have only Jonny Evans, Willy Kambwala and Victor Lindelof available to play at centre-back. Lindelof played on the left side of the defence in Shaw's absence against Fulham last week, meaning all three could start.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

The FA Cup represents United's only realistic hope of winning silverware this season. They sit sixth in the Premier League after 26 matches and have already crashed out of Europe, so Ten Hag will hope to have his team fired up despite their fitness issues.

Real Salt Lake's Andrew Brody has laughed off his moment with Lionel Messi Wednesday evening, where the Argentine chipped his body on the ground.

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Messi audaciously chips RSL's BrodyDefender was lying on the ground28-year-old laughs off incidentWHAT HAPPENED?

The 28-year-old defender joked off being embarrassed by the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner on the pitch in their 2-0 loss to Inter Miami. The Argentine didn't comment on the moment himself, but he will have surely seen the discourse surrounding his stunning move on social media since.

AdvertisementWHAT BRODY SAID

The defender posted on Instagram, laughing off the incident, saying: "For those asking, yes, I was the cone on the ground there."

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The viral video clip, that saw the Argentine genuinely chip a then-injured Brody on the ground and shoot the ball after, has garnered views and impressions from across the world. It was a brief moment on the pitch, but it was a genuine display of how absurdly talented Messi is.

For Brody, though, it might not be the best look in the moment – but it's a story he will be able to tell friends and family for years to come.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR REAL SALT LAKE AND INTER MIAMI?

The Herons and Messi are back in action Sunday evening against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, take on St. Louis CITY SC Saturday evening as they look to get their first result of the season.

Declan Rice has admitted that David Beckham was the inspiration behind his long-range goal that started Arsenal's comeback against Chelsea on Satuday.

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Rice scored from distanceWas inspired by Beckham documentaryGoal sparked Arsenal comebackWHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal trailed 2-0 at Stamford Bridge before Rice capitalised on a mistake from Robert Sanchez. The Blues goalkeeper's wayward pass went straight to the midfielder and he smashed it first time into the net from outside the box. A few minutes later, Leandro Trossard went on to score another for the Gunners, securing a 2-2 draw.

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The England star says he had legendary midfielder Beckham's famous goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon on his mind after he saw the recent Netflix documentary on him.

WHAT THEY SAID

"Everyone’s been talking about this Beckham documentary, and I watched it for the first time last night," Rice said to club media. "The first couple of clips are the game against Wimbledon where he scored from the halfway line and I took a lot of belief from that.

"I was just thinking that it was bizarre that I watched it last night, and then obviously today taking that shot first time and scoring. It was a special goal to kickstart our comeback, you’ve got to keep shooting – if you shoot, you score!

"In a player’s mind, you get a split second to make a decision. It’s the quickest thing that you have to do; you've got to think whether you pass the ball, Leo was free in front of me, or you go for goal yourself. I’ve just watched it back, it was a great finish so I was happy with that."

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Arsenal hope to make it three games without defeat when they meet Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Ticket deals for 2024 are being put in place by MLS outfits, but watching Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will come at a serious cost to supporters.

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Argentine icon remains a star attractionPulls in audiences wherever he goesEntrance passes do not come cheapWHAT HAPPENED?

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner completed a stunning move to the United States in the summer of 2023. He made an immediate impact in new surroundings, with a historic Leagues Cup title delivered at DRV PNK Stadium – allowing Messi to become the most-decorated player of all-time.

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Unsurprisingly, the Argentine icon has become a star attraction in America – with A-list guests flocking to catch a glimpse of him in action. Clubs have also taken advantage of his global appeal by hiking their prices whenever the 2022 World Cup winner is in town.

DID YOU KNOW?

That will remain the case next season, with plans being put in place for the 2024 MLS campaign. Columbus Crew are said to have standard entrance passes available for $40, but will charge between $382 and $679 for a home date with Messi and Miami. The New York Red Bulls have also revealed that they will offering fans a deal that includes merchandise and a ticket to their first home fixture – unless of course that game is against Inter Miami, in which case the offer will roll over to the second home match.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

American supporters should get used to such an approach, with interest in Messi showing no sign of subsiding, and Inter Miami have already announced a price rise of between 46 and 82 percent when it comes to season tickets in Florida – with the cost of said passes now ranging from $800 to $10,000.

The INEOS boss is set to overhaul the Red Devils' board when he seals his stake in the club but who will he place in charge of recruitment?

Sir Jim Ratcliffe still hasn't officially completed his minority takeover of Manchester United but the INEOS chief is already moving pieces on the chessboard and plotting how to return his beloved club to their former glories.

Chief executive Richard Arnold has already left and INEOS Sport CEO Jean-Claude Blanc, who has been dubbed 'the Lionel Messi of sport business' is expected to take his place and lead the club's revamp. But Ratcliffe is not about to stop there and a new sporting director is on the cards.

Ratcliffe has been scathing of United's recruitment strategy in the past, describing it as ''shockingly poor" and labelling the Red Devils as 'the dumb money". And, looking at the club's steep decline since Sir Alex Ferguson left, who could disagree?

Despite spending around £400m ($497m) in the last two years United have endured a horrendous start to the Premier League season and are on the brink of exiting the Champions League, a damning indictment of current sporting director John Murtough's time in charge.

Here are the candidates Ratcliffe and INEOS colleague Sir Dave Brailsford are looking at to lead United's reboot…

Dougie Freedman

The former striker has helped Crystal Palace become Premier League mainstays in the last decade thanks to some highly astute moves ever since becoming sporting director in 2017.

Freedman specialises in bringing in talented but underrated youngsters, signing Eberechi Eze from Queens Park Rangers for £17m ($21m), Marc Guehi from Chelsea for £18m ($22m) and Michael Olise from Reading for £8m, turning all three players into highly valuable assets now worth more than £60m ($74m) each.

He also oversaw the construction of Palace's new academy, which opened in 2021. Given United's rich history of bringing through young players and his relationship with Ferguson, a former neighbour, it is easy to see why he is being touted to lead the Red Devils' recruitment.

AdvertisementGetty Andrea Berta

Diego Simeone has been the clear architect of Atletico Madrid's stunning success over the last decade but Berta has been working in the shadows for almost as long, making sure the Argentine has been fully equipped to maintain the club's status as Spain's third superpower.

A former banker, Berta grew his reputation by working with Parma and Genoa, and was hired as Atletico's technical director in 2013 after striking up a relationship with president Enrique Cerezo. He was promoted to sporting director in 2017 at the expense of club legend Jose Luis Caminero. Under his watch, Atletico have won two La Liga titles and never finished below third in the table, as well as reaching two Champions League finals.

Berta has been credited with making hugely successful signings such as Jan Oblak and Antoine Griezmann and profitable transfers such as selling Lucas Hernandez and Rodri for large fees. It hasn't all been plain sailing though: Joao Felix proved a bad fit with Simeone, while Diego Costa's return also turned sour.

GettyPaul Mitchell

Mitchell is hugely admired by Ratcliffe, who he came to know while working for Monaco, where the INEOS chief resides. Mitchell built his reputation for his work at Southampton while working alongside Mauricio Pochettino and then followed the Argentine to Tottenham.

He was responsible for signing Son Heung-min, Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier, who all fuelled Spurs' rise as one of the top teams in the Premier League. Mitchell left Spurs in 2016 and went on to work for RB Leipzig and then Monaco.

He is currently without a club after leaving the Ligue 1 side in March.

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Lee Congerton

The Welshman has had a long and varied career in football, first working with the youth team of Liverpool in 2002 and then being head-hunted by Jose Mourinho to do the same role at Chelsea. Congerton was then promoted to chief scout at Stamford Bridge, bringing through players including Daniel Sturridge.

He was later hired by Hamburg but returned to English football to work for Sunderland, before reuniting with former colleague Brendan Rodgers at Celtic. He followed Rodgers to Leicester and last year moved abroad again to become head of recruitment at Atalanta.

One of his first acts with the Serie A club was to sign Rasmus Hojlund, leading to a huge windfall a year later when the Danish striker was sold to United for £72m.