Chelsea manager Calum McFarlane has firmly rejected Jamie Carragher’s claims that his squad is broken as they prepare for Saturday’s crucial Premier League trip to Liverpool.
The west London club are currently enduring a miserable six-game losing streak in the top flight.
They have struggled immensely in front of goal, with Joao Pedro’s injury-time consolation their only strike during that barren run.
That dismal spell culminated in a surprise home defeat by a heavily rotated Nottingham Forest side last weekend.
Following that match, former defender Carragher drew parallels between the Stamford Bridge outfit and the behind-the-scenes turmoil currently engulfing Real Madrid.
No crisis at Cobham
However, the Blues boss insists there is no internal division taking place away from the cameras at their training base.
“The group are disappointed with the performance against Forest. They are elite players who have got to this level by having the talent, and the mentality, and drive.”
The head coach emphasised that his staff are fully committed to supporting the players through this difficult period.
“You don’t get to play for this level of club or countries these guys play for if you don’t have that.”
Sanchez ruled out
The visitors will travel to Merseyside without first-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
The Spaniard suffered a head injury following a heavy collision with Morgan Gibbs-White during the recent loss to Forest.
Filip Jorgensen is now set to deputise between the posts at Anfield.
Jorgensen retains support
The Danish shot-stopper has endured a challenging campaign since arriving in the capital.
He noticeably struggled during an error-strewn spell in a 5-2 Champions League drubbing by Paris Saint-Germain earlier this season.
Despite those previous high-profile mistakes, his manager remains steadfast in his backing.
“I still have faith in Filip.”
Mikel Arteta has credited midfielder Declan Rice for sparking a remarkable Arsenal resurgence following last month’s devastating defeat to Manchester City.
The Gunners have managed to revive their campaign and remain in contention for both domestic and European honours.
The England international was caught on television mouthing “it’s not done” in the immediate aftermath of the crushing loss at the Etihad Stadium.
Dressing room defiance
This defiant message resonated deeply with the squad and established the psychological foundation for a renewed title charge.
The north London club have since secured consecutive victories over Newcastle United and Fulham to keep the pressure on the reigning champions.
Furthermore, the Spanish manager guided his team to the Champions League final after overcoming Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening.
Focus turns to West Ham
The 42-year-old tactician revealed that the squad’s inherent determination was immediately palpable even without players needing to vocalise it.
“I think that was the start of the sentence, I think it’s not done and we’re more confident that we’re going to do it,” stated Arteta.
Arsenal now face a crucial domestic fixture against West Ham United this Sunday as they pursue an unforgettable double.
“We have shown throughout the last three or four seasons what we are capable of in terms of performances and consistency, and now it’s about delivering when the moment matters the most,” added the manager.
Harnessing positive energy
The former Everton midfielder noted that the emotional high following their European triumph is actively driving the group forward.
“I see every single day here how much we want it, and those are elements that are very positive, and we have to use them to go there on Sunday and win the game,” he explained.
Despite the buoyant mood at the training ground, the coaching staff remain adamant that the players will not get carried away before finishing the job.
Borussia Dortmund have secured second place in the Bundesliga after surviving a late scare to defeat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 at Signal Iduna Park with one match of the 2025-26 season remaining.
The hosts managed to hold off a spirited comeback from their opponents in a thrilling five-goal encounter in front of an expectant home crowd.
This crucial victory guarantees the 1997 European champions will finish as runners-up in the German top flight.
Sule announces imminent retirement
Amidst the post-match celebrations, it was confirmed that Germany international Niklas Sule will retire from professional football this summer at the age of 30.
The towering centre-back has been a prominent fixture in domestic football, having previously won numerous honours during his storied career.
His impending departure will leave a significant void in the defensive line ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Focus turns to the season finale
The Black and Yellows must now navigate the final fixture of their domestic schedule before embarking on a rigorous summer rebuilding process.
Securing the runners-up spot ensures a strong foundation and guaranteed elite European competition for the next term.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has been cleared to play in Ecuador’s opening World Cup match against Ivory Coast after Fifa lifted his pending one-match suspension.
The talented midfielder faced a nervous wait to discover his tournament fate after receiving a red card during his nation’s final qualifying fixture against Argentina last September.
However, world football’s governing body has now confirmed that any sanctions picked up during the qualification phase will be deferred to subsequent international competitions.
Ensuring the strongest possible squads
A special bureau, consisting of Fifa president Gianni Infantino and six continental chiefs, decided that carrying over minor suspensions would unnecessarily weaken teams on the global stage.
An official statement confirmed that single yellow cards and pending one or two-match suspensions will not apply at the final tournament.
The ruling ensures the South American nation can call upon their midfield anchor when they face Ivory Coast, Cape Verde and Germany in the group stages.
Other international stars, including Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi and Qatar’s Tarek Salman, will also benefit from the amnesty and be available for their respective countries.
A badge of pride for Ecuador
The decision follows a similar reprieve for Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who had his own three-match ban deferred to ensure his participation at the tournament.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming finals, the former Brighton player expressed his determination to help his country succeed on the biggest stage.
“It’s a badge of pride. Not everyone gets to play in the World Cup, so we’ve got to take pride in having qualified.”
The combative midfielder added that the squad is eager to prove they are capable of advancing deep into the knockout rounds.
“We’re well aware of the quality in our ranks, and we’re raring to take that next step so that the days when simply qualifying was the be-all and end-all are confined to the past.”
The New York Jets have signed running back Breece Hall to a three-year contract extension worth $45.75m, securing one of their key offensive players.
The lucrative agreement includes $29m in guaranteed money for the standout offensive weapon.
With an average annual salary of $15.25m, the 25-year-old now ranks as the NFL’s third-highest-paid player at his position behind Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey.
He had previously received the franchise tag in February, which would have forced him to play the 2026 campaign on a $14.3m one-year deal had a long-term agreement not been reached.
Surviving the trade deadline
The significant financial commitment represents a dramatic shift in direction after the former second-round draft pick was heavily linked with a trade away from Florham Park last autumn.
General manager Darren Mougey opted to retain the prolific rusher to build around him, despite offloading star defenders Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at the November deadline.
Negotiations were temporarily paused in March to accommodate draft preparations before concluding successfully this week with his representatives at Klutch Sports.
“Cried for the first time since I tore my ACL. This day really hit different for me man.”
The emotional reaction was shared by the player on the social media platform X shortly after the agreement became public.
A rare bright spark for a struggling franchise
The dynamic ball-carrier amassed a career-best 1,065 rushing yards during the 2025 season despite operating within a struggling team that finished with a dismal 3-14 record.
His production through the air was less impactful, yielding just 36 receptions, though new offensive coordinator Frank Reich will be tasked with better utilising those receiving skills.
Since entering the professional ranks, the explosive runner has accumulated 5,040 total scrimmage yards over four seasons.
He will now serve as a primary building block alongside wide receiver Garrett Wilson and newly drafted rookies Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr as the franchise attempts to rebuild.
Novak Djokovic has suffered a shock second-round defeat to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic at the Italian Open in Rome.
The six-time tournament champion was competing in his first event since losing at Indian Wells in March.
However, the tennis icon looked physically hampered as he was beaten in three sets by the world number 79 on Campo Centrale.
Injury woes hamper French Open preparations
This surprise exit represents the Serbian’s first ever defeat in an opening match in the Italian capital.
It leaves the current world number four critically short of match fitness ahead of the French Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner has completed just one clay-court match before the second major of the year begins on 24 May.
Speaking to the ATP before taking to the court, he admitted he was struggling with his overall physical condition.
“I am not the happiest with the level of tennis or the movement or the physical state, but it is getting there,” he said.
“I wanted to be back on the Tour earlier but couldn’t. I was injured, so I had to deal with it progressively.”
Prizmic claims biggest career victory
The tournament favourite cruised through the opening set before his movement became noticeably laboured.
Prizmic played with relentless aggression to take control of the contest and secure a stunning two-hour victory over his childhood idol.
The Croatian teenager previously took a set off the former world number one at the Australian Open earlier this year.
He is currently enjoying a highly positive clay-court season, having recently defeated Ben Shelton at the Madrid Open for his first top-10 victory.
The rising star will now face either Vit Kopriva or Ugo Humbert in the third round.
Former Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has named Paris St-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele as the best player in the world, while appearing to take a thinly veiled swipe at his old club.
The retired 34-year-old made the comments on his podcast following a recent Champions League clash between the French champions and Bayern Munich.
Praising the collective spirit fostered by manager Luis Enrique in the French capital, the five-time Champions League winner singled out the exemplary attitude of their marquee winger.
The 2014 World Cup winner was particularly impressed by how the forward reacted to being substituted after 65 minutes of a crucial European tie.
Praise for collective spirit
“Enrique takes off the best player in the world after 65 minutes, and Dembele shakes his hand and encourages his team-mates,” Kroos said.
“You see how he shouts to his team-mates from the bench, unlike the other players who think they are the stars of their teams.”
The ex-midfielder explained that Enrique felt comfortable replacing his star attacker because attacking colleagues Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were performing better on the night.
The former Bayern prodigy noted that the 27-year-old actively encouraged his team to move forward rather than pouting on the sidelines.
“And not like 90 percent of the others who think they are the stars of their teams: starting to make gestures on the field and then sitting on the bench like a sulking sausage,” he added.
A pointed message to Madrid
These blunt remarks come amid mounting speculation regarding disharmony within the dressing room at the Bernabeu.
Reports from the Spanish capital suggest tensions are rising following a spectacular falling out between Madrid midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Further rumours indicate growing unrest surrounding Kylian Mbappe, with the France captain allegedly displaying a self-centred attitude both on and off the pitch.
By contrasting the harmonious environment at the Parc des Princes with the ego-driven behaviour of other top stars, Kroos appears to be sending a clear message to his former employers.
Former British world champion sprinter CJ Ujah has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged cryptocurrency fraud.
The 32-year-old is one of 10 individuals facing charges of conspiracy to defraud following an investigation spanning Kent, Essex and London.
The Regional Organised Crime Unit Network (ROCU) confirmed the arrests stem from a suspected organised crime group scam.
Elaborate scam targets crypto wallets
Suspects allegedly posed as police officers and cryptocurrency representatives during phone calls to multiple victims.
The perpetrators tricked individuals into sharing vital security details, including seed phrases, before draining their digital wallets.
One victim is reported to have lost more than £300,000 in the sophisticated operation.
“Victims are reported to have been tricked into sharing important security details, including seed phrases, before discovering funds stored in their crypto wallets had been stolen.”
Court dates and fellow athletes involved
The former world relay champion appeared before Margate Magistrates’ Court on 30 April.
He is currently one of seven people released on bail and will attend a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on 28 May.
Fellow British sprinter Brandon Mingeli, who represented Great Britain at the 2021 Under-23 European Championships, was also arrested and remanded in custody.
Previous controversies and career suspension
The two-time British 100m champion previously served a 22-month ban for a doping violation at the delayed Tokyo Olympics.
That infraction resulted in the British men’s relay team being stripped of their silver medals, though he was later cleared of intentional doping.
Having returned to competition and reached the 100m semi-finals at the 2024 European Championships, the former Olympian has not raced competitively since last April.
Governing body British Athletics has declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.