Sports
N’Golo Kante stalling on Chelsea contract amid Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang double standards
N’Golo Kante and Chelsea are yet to agree terms on a new contract, with fears growing that the France midfielder leaves the club as a free agent at the end of the season.
The 31-year-old has asked for a three-year deal with the option to extend by a further 12 months but, as first reported by The Athletic, the club’s new decision-makers have recently offered two years with a one-year option.
Chelsea have long had a policy of not offering long deals to players over the age of 30 and winger Willian left two years ago following a similar standoff. However 33-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was given a three-year deal when he was signed from Barcelona on deadline day and centre half Kalidou Koulibaly, 31, signed a four-year deal when joining from Napoli.
Thomas Tuchel, who was last week sacked as head coach, said that Kante’s injury issues had become a hurdle. He has been plagued by niggles since the 2019-20 season, with 18 different issues keeping him out for short periods.
Kante missed 16 games last season owing to issues to a groin, knee and two separate bouts of coronavirus. (He missed the club’s pre-season tour of the United States because he has not been vaccinated.)
He has been sidelined with a muscle problem since coming off late in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on August 14.
“No, you cannot [disregard Kante’s injury record],” Tuchel said when asked about the midfielder’s new contract last month. “You have to consider everything that is on the table — his potential, his influence and his quality.
“But [also] on the table of course is his age, his salary and his injury rate. From there you build a whole picture and try to find a solution.”
Tuchel added that the midfielder’s regular absences made their attempts to win a Premier League title significantly harder.
“This is a key question and the answer is maybe no [we can’t win the title],” he added. “But we try to. It’s much more difficult because you see the impact that he has, you see the impact in the goals that we concede, the amount of goals, the amount of points that we have, the amount of goals that we concede, the amount of goals he makes.”
Chelsea’s new head coach Graham Potter will take charge of his first game, against Salzburg in the Champions League, on Wednesday night but Sunday’s Premier League game against Liverpool is in doubt owing to police resource concerns ahead of the Queen’s funeral next Monday.
Source : Mirror
Sports
Harry Maguire accepts Isaac Adongo’s apologies
Harry Maguire, a Manchester United defender, has accepted Hon. Isaac Adongo’s apologies for dragging him through the dirt.
The Ghanaian politician previously rated the former Leicester City captain as the worst player recruited by the Red Devils.
Adongo was discussing the budget when he likened Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s economic management to Maguire’s on-field performances.
Mr Adongo, however, apologised to Maguire in Parliament on Tuesday, saying the Manchester United defender now performed better for his club than Dr Bawumia, whom he said had repeatedly supervised the country’s economic incompetence and had subsequently gone to the (IMF) for a bailout.
“I was very quick to compare my big brother Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to Harry Maguire. Mr. Speaker, I now apologize to Harry Maguire…Today Maguire has turned the corner; he is a transformational footballer. Maguire is now scoring goals for Manchester United.”
“Mr Speaker, Harry Maguire is now a key player for Manchester United. As for our Maguire, he is now roaming at the IMF with a cup in hand,” he stated.
Following the apology, Maguire stated on social media, “MP Issac Adongo apology accepted.” “Hope to see you at Old Trafford soon.”
Meanwhile, Everton will play Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday at Goodison Park.
Sports
Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach, Lionel Scaloni, has hinted that he may resign
Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach, Lionel Scaloni, has indicated that he is considering stepping down after five years in charge.
Scaloni made the stunning statement following Argentina’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying win against Brazil on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.
Before winning the World Cup in Qatar last year, the 45-year-old guided Argentina to the Copa America in 2021.
“Argentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well,” said Scaloni.
“I need to stop the ball and start thinking, I have a lot of things to think about during this time.
“It’s not goodbye or anything, but I need to think because the bar is very high and it’s complicated to keep going and it’s complicated to keep winning.
“These guys are making it difficult, so I need to think about it for a while. I will talk to the FA president and the players afterwards.”
Messi on fan-police clashes: “There could have been a tragedy.”
After a brief stint in command of Argentina’s under-20 team, Scaloni took over as manager in August 2018.
Argentina’s 2021 Copa America victory was their first major championship in 28 years, and it qualified them for the Finalissima against European champions Italy in June 2022, which they won 3-0 at Wembley.
Later that year, they won their third World Cup in Qatar, and first since 1986.
“We are sure and hope that Scaloni will continue,” said Argentina and Tottenham defender Cristian Romero.
“Let’s see now he will have time to think, he didn’t say anything in the dressing room about it. We will try to convince him.”
Argentina’s victory against Brazil on Tuesday was their first-ever away win over their rivals in World Cup qualification, and it took them two points clear at the top of the table.
The game at Rio’s Maracana stadium was delayed for 30 minutes due to a scuffle during the national anthems.
Sports
2026WCQ: Chris Hughton under pressure after Black Stars defeat in Comoros
Chris Hughton’s Black Stars suffered their first competitive loss as head coach, falling 1-0 to Comoros in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Myziane Maolida’s first-half goal was enough to give the hosts their second straight victory over the Black Stars.
Ghana is now in fourth position, three points behind early group leaders Comoros, who have won both of their initial qualification games.
Following a tense, late win against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi last Friday, there was some hope that the Black Stars may capitalise on Mali’s slip-up against the Central African Republic to grab the group lead.
Ghana could have grabbed an early lead in Tuesday’s encounter when Inaki Williams set up Antoine Semenyo for a goal, but the Bournemouth striker hit the crossbar.