Top-four place would be biggest Chelsea achievement – Hiddink

Guus Hiddink feels leading Chelsea to Champions League qualification would outstrip his initial FA Cup-winning spell at Stamford Bridge.

Veteran Dutch coach Hiddink was called upon for a second mid-season salvage job at Stamford Bridge after Jose Mourinho s title defence veered hugely off course.

Chelsea were two places and a point above above the relegation zone following Mourinho s final defeat at Leicester City, with the top four 14 points away.

But the reigning champions are yet to lose a domestic match under Hiddink and the eight-point gap to Manchester City and Manchester United in fourth and fifth appears bridgeable, particularly in light of City s floundering league form.

A repeat of the FA Cup success from when Hiddink replaced Luiz Felipe Scola…

Iniesta tips Guardiola´s City for Champions League tilt

Andres Iniesta expects Manchester City to be challenging for Champions League glory under Pep Guardiola.

Iniesta remains a fulcrum of the era of success Guardiola set in motion in 2008-09 at Barcelona, where the Catalan giants beat Manchester United in the Champions League final to complete a sensational treble.

Guardiola had the better of his latest clash with United in the Premier League on Saturday, as City made it six wins from as many competitive fixtures under his stewardship in a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.

Next up are Borussia Monchengladbach in Champions League Group C – a section City also share with Barca and Celtic

When the group was drawn it was inevitable that much would be made about Pep returning to Barcelona again but that is not what…

Barcelona want to bring back Lionel Messi from PSG

Barcelona are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected journalist has claimed that La Liga giants Barcelona are dreaming of bringing Messi back next summer, but he has added that the Argentina international forward has not made a decision on his future yet and is fully focused on PSG for the time being.

Messi joined PSG on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 after leaving Barcelona. The Argentine did not have the best of seasons in 2021-22, but he is on fire at the moment. Messi has scored four goals and given seven assists in eight Ligue 1 matches and has scored one goal and provided one assist in two UFA Champions League games for PSG so far this s…

Neven Subotic set to quit Dortmund

Serbian defender Neven Subotic is nearing a move away from Signal-Iduna Park, according to La Capitale.

The 27-year-old has endured a tough time over the last few years and he is widely expected to end an eight-and-a-half-year spell with the Millionaires in January.

Subotic has successfully returned from a lengthy stint on the sidelines, and he has now been offered an escape route from Borussia Dortmund.

Belgian giants Anderlecht are keen on bringing the experienced defender to Stade Constant Vanden Stock at the earliest opportunity.

Subotic desperately need regular playing time if he is to get his career back on track and a season or two at Anderlecht could benefit him greatly.

The former Serbia international had performed at a very high level e…

Chelsea boss Tuchel urges Lukaku to seize his chance like team-mate Werner

Romelu Lukaku should look at Timo Werner for inspiration if he plays any part in Chelsea s FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace on Sunday, according to Blues boss Thomas Tuchel.

Werner has endured a largely difficult time at Stamford Bridge since arriving from RB Leipzig in June 2020, but he has shone in the past week.

He followed up a brace in the 6-0 Premier League win over Southampton last weekend with another goal in the Champions League quarter-final second-leg win at Real Madrid in midweek.

Like Werner, Lukaku has had difficulties since joining the club from Inter ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.

He has scored just five goals and registered zero assists in his 12 Premier League starts, while he has created only 16 opportunities and converted 17.…

“There was no contact between us” – Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel on Barcelona rebel Ousmane Dembele (Video)

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says he s happy with what his club have done during the January transfer window and that he had no contact with Barcelona outcast Ousmane Dembele.

Tuchel worked with Dembele at Borussia Dortmund in 2016-17.

There was no contact between us

Thomas Tuchel is satisfied with a calm window and says he did not have contact with Ousmane Dembele over a potential move to Chelsea during January.

— Football Daily (@footballdaily)

Mikel Arteta hails Aaron Ramsdale despite errors in Arsenal’s win over Brentford

Mikel Arteta defended Aaron Ramsdale after the Arsenal goalkeeper’s error-strewn display in the 1-0 win at Brentford.

Not even Kai Havertz’s late winner, which sent the Gunners to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season, could mask a horror show from Ramsdale.

The 25-year-old was back in the spotlight on his first league appearance since September 3 with David Raya, now seemingly the club’s undisputed number one, still on loan from Brentford and ineligible to face his parent club.

But the England international made a horribly nervous start which almost gifted the Bees an early goal.

Having exchanged passes with Gabriel from a goal kick, Ramsdale suddenly developed a bout of the yips, hesitating with his clearance and allowing Yo…

Tottenham Hotspur linked with Bayern Munich’s Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting from Bayern Munich in the January transfer window, . The report has claimed that Tottenham are considering bringing in a new attacking player in the middle of the season, and that former Paris Saint-Germain star Choupo Moting is on their radar.

Choupo Moting has been on the books of Bayern since October 2020 when he joined on a free transfer after leaving PSG. During his time at PSG, the 33-year-old won the Ligue 1 title twice. The former Stoke City forward has won the Bundesliga title twice with Bayern so far.

Tottenham are fourth in the Premier League table at the moment with 26 points from 14 matches, eight points behind leaders and North London rivals Arsenal. Meanwhile, Bayern currently find thems…

Icardi happy at Inter ahead of Barca return

Inter captain Mauro Icardi reiterated his happiness at the club as the former Barcelona youth product prepares to return to Camp Nou.

Icardi s future has dominated headlines amid links with Champions League holders Real Madrid, Premier League giants Chelsea and ex-team Barca.

The 25-year-old forward is out of contract in 2021, a deal which reportedly includes a €110million release clause for foreign clubs.

However, Icardi said he is settled when speaking ahead of Wednesday s Champions League clash in Barcelona, where the Argentina international spent three years before joining Sampdoria in 2011.

As I have said so many times, I am very well in Milano, I feel very good at Inter, my family is very good in Milano and right now I don t have any intention t…

Bruce aiming to add a striker in January to bolster goal-shy Newcastle

Steve Bruce has confirmed Newcastle United are working away to sign a striker during the January transfer window.

United have scored 20 goals in 21 Premier League games this season, while their profligacy in the final third forced them to settle for a 1-1 draw away at Rochdale in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Club-record signing Joelinton has certainly found the transition tough since arriving from Hoffenheim in July, finding the net only once.

Bruce revealed he has already had a couple of knock-backs  in his attempts to add attacking reinforcements, though he will not be making any panic buys before the end of the month.

We ve had a couple of knock-backs already, so we ll keep working away,  the Newcastle boss said after the game with …