Author: Gabby

Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has recommended that the club appoint Cesc Fabregas, currently in charge of Como, as their next permanent head coach. Johnson believes Fabregas would command immediate respect from the Chelsea dressing room due to his previous stint as a player at Stamford Bridge.

Johnson, who played alongside Fabregas at Chelsea, stated that the Spaniard’s history with the club would give him an edge over other candidates. He pointed out that while both Andoni Iraola and Fabregas have solid credentials, Fabregas’s familiarity with Chelsea could be a decisive factor. ‘Chelsea have tried experienced managers who have won everything, as well as young, promising ones, and they’ve all been let go,’ Johnson told Metro. ‘Iraola and Fabregas both have what it takes, but Fabregas knows the club inside out and, as a former player, he would earn the players’ respect straight away.’

The Blues have been on the lookout for a full-time manager since parting ways with Liam Rosenior last month. Fabregas, who has been doing well at Como, is seen as a strong contender to take over at Chelsea.

Bayern Munich’s manager, Vincent Kompany, has shed light on the reasons behind his team’s Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The Bundesliga side faced a 1-1 draw in the second leg of the semifinal on Wednesday at the Allianz Arena, which sealed their defeat with a 6-5 aggregate score after a 5-4 loss in the first leg in Paris.

During his post-match interview, Kompany admitted that PSG’s defensive solidity was a major hurdle. He pointed out that Luis Enrique’s squad effectively stifled Bayern’s attacking efforts, keeping them from converting scoring opportunities. The Belgian tactician emphasized that while his team created dangerous moments, PSG’s active defending prevented them from getting clear shots.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow; we fell short by a small margin. We matched PSG’s level, but such matches are decided by fine details,” Kompany stated. “Our first-half performance was strong, and I believed we controlled the game and frequently entered dangerous zones. However, PSG did an excellent job of blocking our crosses. They stayed alert and ensured we couldn’t get the final touch. Our Champions League journey has ended for now.”

Ejike Uzoenyi, a former winger for Rangers, has expressed confidence that his previous team will emerge victorious in the 2025-26 NPFL season. According to Uzoenyi, if match officials maintain impartiality, the Flying Antelopes are poised to secure their ninth league championship. The Enugu-based club currently leads the standings with 62 points, leaving only two fixtures remaining in the campaign. Although Rangers hold a slender one-point advantage over Rivers United at the top, Uzoenyi remains unwavering in his belief. “Let both teams compete without interference, and let the refereeing be transparent and equitable,” the ex-Rangers star remarked in an interview with Completesports. “Whether they are at home or away, or whoever their opponents are, it doesn’t matter. The crucial factor is unbiased officiating, and with that, Rangers will claim the title.” In their concluding matches, Rangers will face Bendel Insurance and Ikorodu City, while Rivers United is set to confront Wikki Tourists and Katsina United.

English broadcaster Piers Morgan has made a bold claim regarding this year’s top individual honors in football. He believes Arsenal’s Declan Rice is the standout performer in Europe and should sweep both the Ballon d’Or and the PFA Player of the Year award. Morgan dismissed the idea that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is a more deserving candidate for the PFA prize.

According to Morgan, Rice’s performances for Arsenal this season have been unmatched, making him the finest player on the continent. The midfielder has been instrumental for the Gunners, scoring five goals and providing 11 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions. His influence has been crucial in Arsenal’s pursuit of the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League, positioning the 27-year-old as a strong contender for the prestigious Ballon d’Or.

Rice recently delivered a standout performance in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals on May 5. That result secured a 2-1 aggregate win for Mikel Arteta’s side, propelling them to the final.

In contrast, Bruno Fernandes has also impressed this season, racking up eight goals and 21 assists in 34 matches for Manchester United. However, the Portuguese international is unlikely to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or due to United’s lack of silverware, though he remains a strong candidate for the PFA Player of the Year award.

Morgan took to X to voice his opinion, stating: ‘The notion that Bruno Fernandes could win the PFA Player of the Year over @_DeclanRice is absurd. Rice ought to win the Ballon d’Or as well; he has been the finest player in Europe.’

In a candid revelation, Thierry Henry, the iconic former Arsenal captain, has confessed that the 2006 UEFA Champions League final defeat continues to haunt him. The match, which saw Arsenal fall 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris, remains a painful memory for the French striker.

Henry was a key figure for the Gunners that evening, but despite his efforts, he couldn’t find the target as Arsenal squandered a 1-0 advantage. The turning point came when goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off in the first half for a professional foul, reducing Arsenal to ten men. Nevertheless, Sol Campbell’s header put them ahead, but Barcelona struck back with late goals from Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti.

Speaking on CBS Sports, Henry opened up about the lasting impact of that loss. ‘Being in the final was incredible, but losing it is something I can’t shake off. It still gives me nightmares. It’s a difficult memory to process,’ he said. He added, ‘I constantly replay it in my mind, and it’s not easy to accept.’

Henry’s admission sheds light on the emotional scars carried by players long after such a high-stakes encounter. The 2006 final remains a defining moment in Arsenal’s history, one that continues to evoke a mix of pride and regret.

Two Lagos-based clubs, Sporting Lagos and Inter Lagos, are set to clash in a high-stakes encounter this Friday in Ikenne, with the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Four championship on the line. The local derby promises to be a thrilling affair as both teams vie for the coveted title.

Sporting Lagos currently sit atop the Super Four playoff standings with six points from two matches, following a dominant 4-0 win over Duma United on Wednesday. Earlier, they edged past Ranchers Bees 1-0 in their tournament opener. Under the guidance of Jeffrey Buter, Sporting Lagos need just one point from Friday’s match to be crowned champions.

Inter Lagos, on the other hand, rekindled their title ambitions with a 2-0 victory over Ranchers Bees on Wednesday. They currently share three points with Duma United, while Ranchers Bees are yet to register a point. A win for Inter Lagos in this crunch fixture would significantly boost their chances of claiming the championship.

The stage is set for an intense battle as both teams seek to assert local supremacy and secure promotion to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL). Football fans eagerly anticipate the outcome of this decisive match in the Super Four series.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has shared his prediction for the Champions League final, naming Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain as the two teams set to clash. Kane, whose own hopes of reaching the final were dashed after Bayern’s semi-final exit, believes PSG will hold a slight edge in the showdown.

The England international scored a dramatic equalizer in the second leg against PSG, but it wasn’t enough to overturn a 5-4 first-leg deficit. Now, with Bayern out of the competition, Kane has turned his attention to domestic success, aiming for a domestic double after securing the Bundesliga title.

Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Kane said: ‘We can win the double. In my opinion, PSG are slight favorites in the final.’ The match is set to take place in Budapest on May 30, with Arsenal and PSG battling for European glory.

Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, have arrived in Lilongwe ahead of the pivotal second-leg encounter against Malawi in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. The team landed on Thursday, settling in for Saturday’s showdown at the Bingu National Stadium.

Coach Moses Aduku’s side carries a comfortable 2-0 advantage from the first leg, played last weekend at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne. The win puts Nigeria in a strong position to secure a spot in the World Cup, scheduled for Poland in September.

The Falconets have shown impressive form away from home throughout the qualifying campaign. They secured a 1-0 victory over Rwanda in the first round and followed that with a 2-1 win against Senegal in the second round, both on the road.

Malawi, known as the Young Scorchers, will be eager to overturn the deficit in front of their home fans. The winners of this two-legged tie will book their ticket to the global tournament in Poland.

Roy Keane has reiterated his opposition to Michael Carrick being handed the Manchester United manager’s job on a full-time basis. The former Red Devils captain believes that appointing Carrick would not strike fear into rival Premier League managers.

Carrick took over as interim manager in January following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. Since then, he has guided United back into the Champions League, with the team on course to finish third in the league. Despite this turnaround, Keane remains unconvinced that Carrick is the right man to lead the club forward.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane questioned whether top managers like Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta would be worried if Carrick were appointed permanently. He imagined them relaxing on their yachts during the off-season and seeing the news of Carrick’s appointment, asking: “Do you think they will become fearful of him?”

Keane’s comments suggest that he believes United need a more high-profile manager to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal.

Nigerian music star David Adeleke, widely recognized as Davido, has declared that he is stepping away from music for an undetermined period. During a live interaction with Davrel, the award-winning artist made it clear that fans should not anticipate any new releases in the near future, emphasizing that he is on a sabbatical.

Davido stated that he does not feel compelled to drop new tracks to maintain his relevance in the industry, pointing out that his existing catalog continues to dominate club playlists across the nation. “Stop asking me when I am dropping new music. I am on a musical break. If you go to the club right now, 10 out of 20 songs are mine. So I am on a musical break,” he explained.

The singer also shared his thoughts on Nigeria’s emerging celebrity boxing scene, calling it a positive and exciting trend. “I am actually impressed by the celebrity boxing tournament. It is a welcome development,” he remarked.

Notably, the recent boxing event saw popular streamer Carter Efe dethrone controversial singer Portable as the reigning champion. Following his loss, Portable voiced frustration about a lack of support from fellow musicians, claiming that many in the industry harbor negative feelings toward him.