Timeloaded

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has backed forward Alvaro Morata to "restart" his season after the Spaniard scored in the 1-0 Europa League victory over Hungarian champions Vidi on Thursday. The goal was Morata's second in 10 appearances this season but the striker also had a glaring miss in the first half, shooting wide when one-on-one with the goalkeeper to underline his continuing crisis of confidence. Morata missed several other chances before scoring 20 minutes from time and Sarri is hopeful the striker will gain enough confidence from the goal to kickstart his season. "It's very important for him to score," the Italian said. "He played a very good match. I think Alvaro can restart from this performance." Morata became Chelsea's record signing when he joined the club under Sarri's predecessor Antonio Conte last year, but the forward has struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the English game. Sarri is short of at...

Manchester United set for UEFA charge? UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Manchester United following their Champions League clash with Valencia on Tuesday. The Red Devils were due to kick off their game at 8pm but the clash had to be delayed by five minutes. That was  supposedly  due to Jose Mourinho’s side arriving to the game late. Jose Mourinho claimed after the game that it was down the refusal of a police escort. “We left the hotel at six o’clock, hoping that 30 minutes would be enough,”   Mourinho explained before the game. “Which normally is but this time the police refused to do an escort so we come by ourselves. And we took from the Lowry Hotel, 75 minutes. “And UEFA were nice, the referee was nice to allow us to start the game five minutes later because we at least need half an hour to be prepared but was not a problem with the club organisation. “We anticipate everything that it could be dangerous, in the sense of arrivi...

Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel described Neymar as "sensational" after the world's most expensive player scored a hat-trick in a sublime display to lead Paris Saint-Germain to a 6-1 rout of Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Brazilian admitted before this game that he still did not feel back to 100 percent after the foot injury which required surgery and saw him miss the last three months of last season. But he tore Red Star apart with two goals in the space of two first-half minutes at the Parc des Princes, the first a delightful curling free-kick, before completing his hat-trick from another stunning free-kick late on. "I really liked the effort made by the whole team, but Neymar was sensational," said Tuchel. "You can feel that he is hungry in every match, that he wants to be decisive, win the ball back, be at the heart of the play. "He is one of the best players in Europe and that is very, very importa...

Inter Milan recovered from a goal down for the second Champions League game in succession as a 2-1 win at PSV Eindhoven kept them on course for the last 16 on Wednesday. Inter, the last Italian side to win the Champions League in 2010, fell behind to a spectacular strike from Pablo Rosario before Radja Nainggolan levelled on the stroke of halftime. The impressive Mauro Icardi grabbed the winner on the hour mark as the Italians, who beat Tottenham 2-1 in their opening fixture, maintained their 100 percent record in Group B alongside Barcelona. PSV are pointless after two games having lost 4-0 to Barcelona last month. "We do everything to win," Inter's Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic told Sky Sport Italia. "Even when we went behind, we kept believing." Rosario stunned Inter with the opener after 27 minutes when he unleashed a 25-yard screamer into the top corner. The velocity and accuracy left Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic rooted to the spo...

Lionel Messi lifted Barcelona out of their recent slump with a magical display as his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in a thrilling Champions League Group B clash on Wednesday. The Argentine maestro scored two goals to take his Champions League haul to 105, was the instigator in two others and was twice denied by the woodwork as he lit up Wembley Stadium. Messi, 31, was applauded off by both sets of fans at the end of an absorbing contest that kept Barca at the top of the group and Tottenham in trouble after two defeats. Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic scored in clinical fashion as Barcelona went in 2-0 ahead at halftime. But Barcelona needed Messi at his best to repel a tenacious Spurs fightback as Harry Kane and Erik Lamela gave the hosts hope. Only when Messi struck his second in stoppage-time could Barca coach Ernesto Valverde breathe a little easier. Barcelona, without a win in their last three La Liga games, were supposed to be vulnerable but on a pitch baring ...

A double from Antoine Griezmann helped lift Atletico Madrid to a 3-1 win over Club Bruges in the Champions League on Wednesday, earning them a second consecutive victory in the competition and a commanding position in Group A. France striker Griezmann gave the home side the lead shortly before the half-hour mark after seeing an earlier strike ruled out for narrowly straying offside, although Atletico's seemingly comfortable advantage was soon shot down from out of nowhere. Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma appeared to pose little threat as he hovered on the left hand side of the penalty area but surprised everyone in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium with a perfectly struck shot into the far top corner to equalise in the 39th minute. Atletico might have felt a sense of deja vu from their disastrous 1-1 draw at home to Qarabag last year which led to them being knocked out in the group stages, and after the interval put all their efforts into regaining the lead. Spain midfielder ...

The Spanish champions equalised late on through Munir Barca's decision to rest players backfired ( REUTERS ) FC Barcelona  salvaged a late point at home to Athletic Club as Ernesto Valverde's decision to rotate players backfired.  Lionel Messi  was rested but came off the bench to help inspire the comeback, setting up Munir's 84th-minute equaliser, but couldn't find a winner in stoppage time.  "It can't be that we keep conceding goals every game like this," said Messi post-match, though Barca's attention must now fully turn to Wembley, where they will play  Tottenham Hotspur  in the  Champions League . But in truth they had half an eye on that game already, with key duo Sergio Busquets and Messi both omitted from the starting line-up.  Oscar De Marcos turned home a cross from wide smartly to put Athletic ahead in the first half - one of just two shots on target all day - but it took just ten minutes after the ...

MANCHESTER UNITED could be stuck with Paul Pogba until the end of the season if he sets his heart on a move to Barcelona. Man Utd stuck with Paul Pogba until next summer as Barcelona wait to make move - EXCLUSIVE (Image: GETTY) The Frenchman has an unhappy relationship with Jose Mourinho who last week said that he would never captain the side again. Paul Pogba  wants to leave Manchester United when the transfer window opens in January and would like to switch to the Catalan giants. But  Express Sport  understands Barcelona would rather wait until next summer to make a proper attempt to sign him as they feel a deal would be do expensive this season in terms of a fee and wages. Pogba’s former club Juventus are also keen on resigning him but don’t want to strain their good relationship with Old Trafford to do so. And they may decide to only make a move if United openly put the World Cup winner on the transfer list which seems unlikely at this stage. Pogba’s...

Manchester United are not in the process of hiring Zinedine Zidane as their next manager, despite mounting pressure on current boss Jose Mourinho, club sources have told ESPN FC. United were beaten 3-1 by West Ham on Saturday, to extend their winless run to three games. This has led to a renewed speculation that Zidane who was in London this week, is in the frame to take over at Old Trafford. However, the club has dismissed talk of an approach to Zidane, as “nonsense.” Mourinho’s position is under the spotlight, after a draw with Wolves and the Carabao Cup exit to Championship side Derby County, was followed up with a dire defeat at the London Stadium. The result leaves United nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and Manchester City after just seven games.

Man United react to Zinedine Zidane rumours The Telegraph have reported on Saturday night that Man United have reacted to rumours linking Zinedine Zidane with Old Trafford. Many people are wondering how much longer Jose Mourinho will remain at the club. Mourinho may have signed a new deal recently, but Man United are struggling in the league. Man United are 10th following Saturday’s defeat to West Ham. So could Zidane replace Mourinho? The Telegraph  report : Senior sources at Manchester United have dismissed as “nonsense” claims the club have approached Zinedine Zidane over the prospect of replacing Jose Mourinho as the pressure intensifies on the manager. Zidane is interested in the United job and is a free agent after leaving Real Madrid in May after delivering a third successive Champions League crown but United have rubbished reports that they have approached the Frenchman. Perhaps the most interesting note is that Man United felt the need to react t...

The church has more than its share of stern critics these days. Sometimes the criticism is unwarranted. People project their issues onto a congregation or onto the church, which is never healthy. And, as a matter of course, the church will inevitably run into criticism as it has always been ever since. What the church is doing is counter-cultural and will never be met with universal applause. The Gospel, even when powerfully shared, got John the Baptist, the Apostle Paul, Jesus and the prophets killed, just to name a few. While it seems strange to say it, even love, when seen fully and magnificently, gets rejected. Yet, other times the church absolutely deserve the criticism that comes its way. Often these days, it seems, the church is not ridiculed or persecuted because they are fighting so nobly. Nay, sometimes they just shoot themselves in the foot. Viz, most of the unpleasant things said about some churches are verifiable and they are cal...

Juventus 3 – Napoli 1 Can anyone stop Juventus from winning an eighth consecutive Scudetto title? Juventus took another huge step towards that goal on Saturday night in Serie A against closest rivals Napoli. Last season Napoli pushed Juve hard in the title race. This season, however, Juve are already 6 points clear of Napoli after seven rounds of the campaign. Napoli took the lead through Dries Mertens after 10 minutes. Mario Mandzukic levelled for Juventus in the 26th, and the Old Lady took the lead at the start of the second half when Mandzukic scored again. Leonardo Bonucci slid home a third in the 76th after Napoli had Mario Rui sent off for two bookable offences. Cristiano Ronaldo bags a hat-trick of assists He didn’t find the target, but Cristiano Ronaldo had an excellent match against Napoli. Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick of assists in the game. Ronaldo set up Mandzukic for the opener after he delivered a cross into the box from the left...

PDP: Lagos State arrest chieftains over killing of member Five chieftains of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have been arrested in Lagos for alleged killing. The Lagos State Police Command, on Sunday said the suspected have been taken in for interrogation over the killing of one Mr Borishade Adeniyi, Chairman , PDP Apapa Chapter. The arrest was confirmed by the command’s spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, in a statement. He stressed that what was supposed to be a peaceful political meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members ended in unnecessary bloodletting. “In a swift reaction, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Imohimi Edgal, directed the Area Commander in-charge of Area ‘J’ Elemoro, to ensure the arrests of all those involved in the crime. “ Pursuant to the directive, five of the principal suspects were arrested; viz: Engr Kehinde Fasasi, chapter chairman, Eti-Osa LG; Mr Rotimi Kujore, PDP chapter chairman, Lagos Islan...

Former Head of state General Yakubu Gowon has called for the arrest of leadership of Miyeitti Allah Kautal Hore, over the senseless killings in Benue. Gowon, who spoke on the terrible security situation in the country, also admonished the federal government on the need to arrest the situation before it resulted into religious war, the end of which no one could predict. The former head of state expressed disappointment with failure of the security agencies to invite and question the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, which had threatened to unleash violence on Benue State and later justified the killings and their role in them, during his visit to Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday, to commiserate with government and Benue people over the wanton killings  and destruction of properties in the state. Gowon, who said he was out of the country when two priests and 17 worshipers were killed in a church in the state during morning mass, expressed the condolences of ...

Ademola Adeleke, the senator representing Osun West District, has been elected candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the September 22 governorship election. The result of the primary, which was announced late Saturday night, saw Mr Adeleke scoring 1, 569, beating his closest rival, Akin Ogunbiyi, by only seven votes. Mr Ogunbiyi polled 1, 562 votes, Fatai Akinbade, 52 votes and Nathaniel Oke, three votes, just as a total of 56 votes were voided. A demand for a recount was turned down by the chairman of the election and Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, saying there was no need for a recount since he had announced the results. Mr Adeleke only defected to the party from the All Progressives Congress only last year when he sought the south west senatorial seat occupied by his late brother, Isiaka Adeleke.

Senate President: no juicy offers We’ll leave APC, says Baraje The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got yesterday a reply to its threat to boycott next year’s elections. You are being hunted by your past, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole told the main opposition party. The PDP fired back, saying APC was jittery over coalition between PDP and 38 others. Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara and others are believed to be on their way to the PDP, but the APC is urging them to stay. Also yesterday, Reformed APC chief Kawu Baraje said the group had decided to leave APC. Oshiomhole said the PDP was being haunted by its past treatment of electoral contests as a do-or-die affair, adding that the APC will not be intimidated by any threat of the PDP or any other party as it was committed to the sustenance of democracy and the sanctity of one man, one vote. The APC Chairman, who spoke when he received the report of the O...