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Chelsea confirm Axel Disasi signing to cure defensive woes
Chelsea confirm Axel Disasi signing to cure defensive woes
Chelsea have signed France defender Axel Disasi from Monaco. The 25-year-old has signed a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge as the Blues moved quickly to cover the injury to Wesley Fofana. Disasi has played 130 times in Ligue 1 and was part of the France squad that were runners-up in last year’s World Cup. The centre-back told the club’s official website: “I am so happy to be here, at this big club. I am really proud to be able to be a part of this great family, and I hope to achieve very big things here. To win titles. “I will do everything I can to achieve those objectives. I am very ambitious. “It’s a club that has been very popular for French players because they have all done well here – (Frank) Leboeuf, (Marcel) Desailly, (Nicolas) Anelka, (N’Golo) Kante, (Olivier) Giroud. And the colour is blue like the national team! It’s good. “It’s a familiar club for French people, and I hope all the French players here now can join that line of great players.” Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley added: “Axel has showcased his quality over several seasons in France and that has deservedly led to recognition on the international stage. “He is ready to take the next step in his career and we are delighted that will be with Chelsea. We welcome him to the club and look forward to him joining up with Mauricio Pochettino and his new team-mates in the days ahead.”
2023-08-04 17:47
Second-half Alessia Russo strike sends England into World Cup semi-final
Second-half Alessia Russo strike sends England into World Cup semi-final
Alessia Russo fired England through to their third World Cup semi-final with a second-half strike to complete a 2-1 comeback over Colombia at a sold-out Stadium Australia. Leicy Santos gave Colombia the lead when she looped an effort over Mary Earps after 44 minutes, but saw her opener cancelled out after Lauren Hemp pounced on an error by Colombian keeper Catalina Perez six minutes into first half stoppage time. Georgia Stanway set up Russo’s low finish to hand the Lionesses the lead after 63 minutes, and while Colombia pushed forward against the European champions an equaliser ultimately proved just out of reach. England will next face tournament co-hosts Australia, who beat France 7-6 on penalties in the early kick-off. Colombia, who had eliminated world number two side Germany with a 2-1 victory in the group stage, looked to complete another giant-killing here. The Lionesses, meanwhile, were without the services of Lauren James, with Ella Toone coming into Sarina Wiegman’s side while the Chelsea forward served the first game of her two-match suspension.
2023-08-12 20:52
Why do top clubs want to sign Levi Colwill?
Why do top clubs want to sign Levi Colwill?
As Levi Colwill continues to attract attention at Chelsea, 90min looks at why he interests so many other top clubs and which teams are looking to sign him.
2023-07-13 03:46
Key talking points as Scotland seek qualifying win over Erling Haaland’s Norway
Key talking points as Scotland seek qualifying win over Erling Haaland’s Norway
Scotland aim to build on their flying start to their European Championship qualifying group when they face Norway in Oslo on Saturday. Steve Clarke’s side made a perfect start in March against Cyprus and Spain with five goals and two clean sheets, while Norway only collected one point. Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the major talking points ahead of the encounter. How do you stop Haaland? With 21 goals in 23 internationals, Erling Haaland’s goalscoring rate for his country is similar to the records he has set at Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and now Manchester City. Steve Clarke has decisions to make over who goes up against a striker who netted 52 goals for treble winning City this season. The player who started in the heart of the back three in victory over Spain, Grant Hanley, is missing for Scotland through injury. The likes of Jack Hendry, John Souttar and Liam Cooper are vying for his place. Can Scotland’s forwards overshadow Haaland? The visitors have plenty of goal threats from midfield with Scott McTominay already on four goals in the campaign and John McGinn taking his international tally to 16 in the opening victory over Cyprus. With Che Adams injured, Lyndon Dykes is likely to lead the line with eight Scotland goals to his name. Lawrence Shankland and Kevin Nisbet are both off the mark for their country and go into the game in good form. A big chance for Scotland already An away win would put Scotland eight points clear of their opponents and put them in a strong position to seal a top-two position and automatic qualification for Germany. A draw would also keep Scotland on course provided they follow it up with a home win against Georgia. Norway have the chance to kick-start their campaign and ensure all three top seeds have beaten each other at home. Learning the lessons Scotland embarked on a training camp in Spain before their normal week’s preparation, after suffering defeats against Ukraine and Republic of Ireland last June on the back of varied workloads and season finishes for their players. Clarke hopes the extra preparation will lead to a stronger post-season performance this year. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Matt Fitzpatrick makes latest hole-in-one at US Open as Wyndham Clark takes lead Zane Tetevano reflects on ‘scary episode’ after suffering a stroke Cycling remembers ‘exceptional’ Gino Mader after death at the Tour de Suisse
2023-06-17 01:47
Red Sox RHP Brayan Bello has no-hitter through 7 innings vs. Arraez, Marlins
Red Sox RHP Brayan Bello has no-hitter through 7 innings vs. Arraez, Marlins
Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello has pitched seven innings of no-hit ball to open Boston's game against the Miami Marlins
2023-06-30 07:51
NBA Draft rumors: Pelicans, Jazz, Pacers looking to trade up for Scoot, Whitmore
NBA Draft rumors: Pelicans, Jazz, Pacers looking to trade up for Scoot, Whitmore
NBA Draft rumors: Pelicans looking to trade up for Scoot HendersonThe 2023 NBA Draft takes place on Thursday, June 22. The first-overall pick is a foregone conclusion, as Victor Wembanyama is expected to be selected by the San Antonio Spurs. The NBA Draft will officially begin with the second-over...
2023-06-13 08:16
West Ham, Fiorentina Fans Brawl in Streets Before Conference League Final
West Ham, Fiorentina Fans Brawl in Streets Before Conference League Final
A wild street brawl in Prague.
2023-06-08 00:45
AI scouting app gives players chance to be noticed in the professional game
AI scouting app gives players chance to be noticed in the professional game
Artificial Intelligence can help talented players who might never normally be noticed get a chance in the professional game. Premier League clubs Chelsea and Burnley – as well as a host of MLS teams – are using an app, created by ai.io, that allows footballers around the world to complete specifically-designed drills and upload match footage of themselves. Using computer vision and deep-learning machinery, which can recognise and evaluate a player’s movement, each user receives a score and then scouts are alerted to anyone that matches set criteria. The aiSCOUT platform is the only digital scouting product invited into the FIFA Innovation Programme and already has several success stories, with Burnley signing Jez Davies and Chelsea handing a 10-week trial to Ben Greenwood, having discovered them on the app. Not every budding footballer will be visited by a scout, but almost everyone will have access to a smartphone and that provides the player with a unique opportunity. “It gives the power to the player,” ai.io COO and director of sports science Richard Felton-Thomas told the PA news agency. “You are always waiting for a scout to come and watch you, you can’t just ring them up and ask them to come. “This just puts power into the players’ hands. “We are really democratising that scouting process. Normally you go and watch and then go and collect more information afterwards, which is just inefficient. “You can’t replace the fundamentals a scout brings of going to a game, seeing how a player deals with adversity, how they transfer those raw skill sets to a match and taking instructions from a coach. “Our tech is there to do the early talent detection but then scouts have to ID that talent with the traditional method. “We give them the efficiency of enough information to say, ‘Don’t wait until the weekend to watch them’, because someone else might be doing that already. “We don’t make the future decision of the player. The scout and the recruitment do that. I don’t think anyone wants AI to decide their fate. We are there to say on certain metrics, players are worth a look.” Davies joined the Clarets when he was spotted on the aiSCOUT app shortly after being released by Tottenham and they quickly signed him up. This just puts power into the players' hands ai.io COO Richard Felton-Thomas Greenwood had a 10-week trial at Chelsea before earning a permanent deal at Bournemouth, going on to feature in the Carabao Cup and represent Republic of Ireland at under-19 level. There has also been huge success in India as players using a shared community phone have been scouted. “We have had players trial and sign for Chelsea and Burnley and in India players who have downloaded our app from a shared community phone are now in football programmes,” Felton-Thomas added. “If it wasn’t for a mobile phone they would never have the exposure. They were not playing registered football so a scout would never have found them but we are changing those lives through those opportunities with a phone. “Jez Davies signed at Burnley. He was released at Tottenham. We didn’t know about him but he entered our app uploaded his reels and you can imagine being 18 and just coming out of Tottenham, his drills were incredible. Burnley saw that and within two weeks he was signed. “The first player we trialled was a player called Ben Greenwood. He had brilliant stats, he was at a football college and had never been scouted by any team, he lived two miles away from Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham and they thought if he was that good, how come our scouts had missed him. “They brought him in for a day, just to validate our data, but he ended up staying for 10 weeks. He scored on his under-19s debut but he didn’t get a contract. “He was signed by Bournemouth and is on his second contract and played in the Carabao Cup for them. This is a player who had never once been scouted, so that was a huge success story.” Read More Josh Magennis determined to keep giving his all for Northern Ireland Andy Farrell feels Ireland are becoming better at handling pressure Charlie Savage impresses Rob Page during his Wales debut Harry Maguire supported by ‘role model’ David Beckham after Hampden experience I want to play – Harry Maguire admits lack of matches will become an issue Conor McGregor closes in on UFC return by re-entering anti-doping test programme
2023-10-12 16:18
Bayern Munich looking for consistency before visit to Copenhagen in Champions League
Bayern Munich looking for consistency before visit to Copenhagen in Champions League
Bayern Munich is still looking for consistency as it prepares to visit Copenhagen for its second group game in the Champions League on Tuesday
2023-10-02 18:58
Bellingham a doubt for Braga clash: Madrid coach Ancelotti
Bellingham a doubt for Braga clash: Madrid coach Ancelotti
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Jude Bellingham was a doubt for his team's clash with Braga in the Champions League on Wednesday after the midfielder...
2023-11-07 21:52
Former Chiefs teammate recruiting Chris Jones to the Browns?
Former Chiefs teammate recruiting Chris Jones to the Browns?
Could All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones leave the reigning Super Bowl champions for a team that finished last in its division in 2022?
2023-09-04 09:50
Hope Powell joins England backroom staff for men’s Under-20 World Cup
Hope Powell joins England backroom staff for men’s Under-20 World Cup
Hope Powell has joined the England backroom staff for the men’s Under-20 World Cup in Argentina, the Football Association has announced. Powell, who was head coach of the senior England women’s team between 1998 and 2013 and was more recently in charge at Brighton, will serve as a technical advisor to Ian Foster and his coaching team. The 56-year-old also coached the Great Britain women’s team at the London 2012 Olympic Games. She led the Lionesses to the 2009 European Championship final and coached the team at two World Cups. Powell’s appointment is supported by the England Elite Coach Programme, a partnership between the FA and the players’ union, the Professional Footballers’ Association. The aim of the programme is to support individuals from under-represented groups to work with the England national teams. Young Lions head coach Foster said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to bring Hope on board for our FIFA Men’s U20 World Cup as technical advisor. “I’ve known Hope since 2014 when we completed our LMA Diploma together. Her vast experience of international football and the knowledge she has from working with FIFA will be invaluable to us.” England open their World Cup campaign against Tunisia on Monday. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-05-19 17:22