Latest news with #Ex-Blues
Ammon
a day ago
- Sport
- Ammon
Mohamed Salah 'broke down crying' in dressing room after harsh double punishment
Ammon News - John Obi Mikel has spoken out about the time Jose Mourinho brought Mohamed Salah to tears. The former Chelsea star defended his former manager's tough approach as a means of challenging his squad. 'The Special One' is known for his stringent methods and high expectations, which have frequently led to success. However, for Salah, his Stamford Bridge stay ended in disappointment, only to later achieve stardom at Liverpool. Ex-Blues midfielder Mikel recounted a poignant moment from a 2014 clash against Norwich City when Mourinho's harsh words during a half-time substitution caused Salah to cry, signalling a turning point in their rapport. Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast, Mikel began by praising Mourinho, saying: "Fantastic guy, amazing. Not just [as] a coach, but a human being as well. "He's someone you can speak to, someone you can connect with. But [he] obviously has his ways of trying to get the best out of players. "He did that with Mo Salah when he had a go at him in the dressing room, and Mo Salah started crying, and he took him off," said Mikel. "Sometimes when you have a go at players, you just have a go and take them off! Or you have a go and let them go back into the game and try to correct whatever mistake it was. But sometimes he does that and tells you, 'You're not going back in.' It's a double whammy, isn't it?" Salah's less-than-stellar performance that day was partly attributed to being played out of position in midfield. Following his substitution, Eden Hazard, his replacement, failed to make a significant impact as the match ended in a goalless draw. The Egyptian winger's time at Chelsea was short-lived. After making only a handful of appearances, he was loaned out to Fiorentina in February 2015. This marked the beginning of the end of his first stint in English football. The Mirror
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Mohamed Salah 'broke down crying' in dressing room after harsh double punishment
John Obi Mikel has lifted the lid on the infamous incident in which Jose Mourinho made Mohamed Salah cry, and suggested the Portuguese's tough love at Chelsea was a test for his players John Obi Mikel has spoken out about the time Jose Mourinho brought Mohamed Salah to tears. The former Chelsea star defended his former manager's tough approach as a means of challenging his squad. 'The Special One' is known for his stringent methods and high expectations, which have frequently led to success. However, for Salah, his Stamford Bridge stay ended in disappointment, only to later achieve stardom at Liverpool. Ex-Blues midfielder Mikel recounted a poignant moment from a 2014 clash against Norwich City when Mourinho's harsh words during a half-time substitution caused Salah to cry, signalling a turning point in their rapport. Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast, Mikel began by praising Mourinho, saying: "Fantastic guy, amazing. Not just [as] a coach, but a human being as well. "He's someone you can speak to, someone you can connect with. But [he] obviously has his ways of trying to get the best out of players. "Sometimes did he cross the line? Of course he did. Of course, he did cross the line sometimes, the way he spoke to players. Especially younger players. But it was just that era of him trying to get the best out of players." The method in question is one that saw the former Chelsea boss deliver a dressing-room tongue-lashing to Egyptian star Salah, who responded by bursting into tears and subsequently being substituted. "He did that with Mo Salah when he had a go at him in the dressing room, and Mo Salah started crying, and he took him off," said Mikel. "Sometimes when you have a go at players, you just have a go and take them off! Or you have a go and let them go back into the game and try to correct whatever mistake it was. But sometimes he does that and tells you, 'You're not going back in.' It's a double whammy, isn't it?" Salah's less-than-stellar performance that day was partly attributed to being played out of position in midfield. Following his substitution, Eden Hazard, his replacement, failed to make a significant impact as the match ended in a goalless draw. The Egyptian winger's time at Chelsea was short-lived. After making only a handful of appearances, he was loaned out to Fiorentina in February 2015. This marked the beginning of the end of his first stint in English football. Although an uptick in form sparked interest from Roma and later Liverpool, his Chelsea statistics remained unimpressive, tallying just two goals and three assists in 19 outings. A stark contrast to his Chelsea stint, Salah's time at Liverpool has been spectacular, yielding 245 goals and 113 assists in 401 appearances. It is also telling that it was under Jurgen Klopp's more empathetic management that Salah blossomed, indicating a clear correlation between the manager's approach and the player's revitalised form. In hindsight, Mourinho might regret not being more lenient with the player, who was only 22 when he arrived in west London.
Scottish Sun
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea files: Mike Maignan transfer not completely dead in the water as Graham Potter keeps keen eye on Blues' dealings
Stamford Bridge will be the best stadium for a pint of beer next season MIKE DROP Chelsea files: Mike Maignan transfer not completely dead in the water as Graham Potter keeps keen eye on Blues' dealings Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA'S goalkeeping department has attracted plenty of attention in recent years. Three new keepers have been signed for the first team in the past two years, with Djordje Petrovic and Robert Sanchez arriving in 2023 before Filip Jorgensen joined last summer. 7 Chelsea have walked away from a deal to sign AC Milan Mike Maignan Credit: Getty But not one of them has proved capable of being a clear first choice in goal at Stamford Bridge and so there could be more movement this summer. Chelsea had not initially planned to add a goalkeeper before next season but were attracted by the chance to land Mike Maignan. Talks with AC Milan have been halted this week with the two clubs a long way apart in their valuation - though there remains a chance a deal could be revisited later this summer. But that does not mean numbers are continuing to swell. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS MIC SWAP Carrick takes up new offer alongside Man Utd icon O'Shea just days after Boro axe Chelsea could have had nine keepers on their books at one point this summer, but steps are being made to cut the group down to a sensible size. Eddie Beach and Lucas Bergstrom have both been released at the end of their respective deals while Marcus Bettinelli has completed a move to Manchester City. Kepa Arrizabalaga is off to Arsenal in a £5million deal which will finally bring his Chelsea saga to an end - the Spaniard has been on the books for a staggering seven years. So that is four of the nine dealt with, but the Blues could go further should they revive a deal for Maignan. Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford Bridge 7 Petrovic, who spent last season on loan with sister club Strasbourg, had been considered potential pawn in the Maignan deal with Milan. The Serbian keeper is understood to be interested in moving to San Siro should the opportunity arise later in the window. Moment Chelsea ace Marc Cucurella uses mobile while driving Mercedes G-wagon as he's seen 'veering across road' Furthermore, there is speculation Sanchez could be on the move. Chelsea insist they would be happy to continue with Sanchez and Jorgensen next season, but a number of clubs feel the former Brighton goalkeeper could be an option this month. Ex-Blues boss Graham Potter, now at West Ham, is one keeping a keen eye on proceedings. CLUB WORLD CUP AFTER a draining season which saw the race for the Champions League places go down to the wire and ended with a final in Poland - it's Club World Cup time! Chelsea's players heading for the United States are back at Cobham this week as they prepare to jet off to Atlanta this weekend. But there is some better news for those who will not be included in the squad. The likes of Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell, not part of Enzo Maresca's long term plans, will not have to report back for training until early July - that is if they are still at the club. 7 Chelsea still have an awful lot of players to move on this summer and the wages for Sterling and Chilwell could prove a problem. Both went out on loan last season, to Arsenal and Crystal Palace, but are not going to be heading back to either club. They will now at least have some time for a holiday and to get their ducks in a row over a move. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BOOST QUALIFYING for the Champions League has transformed the year ahead for Chelsea. Not only will they bank far more cash, attract better players and have a more confident coach and squad - but a tricky administrative mess has also been avoided. For some time it looked as if Chelsea and Strasbourg - both owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital under the BlueCo umbrella - were going to end up in the Europa League together. While Chelsea reached the Champions League, Strasbourg missed out on a Europa League spot on goal difference. As Palace have shown, had things been different there could have been all sorts of problems. That sort of issue would have been avoided as shares had already been moved into the required blind trusts. However, as a further measure, the two clubs would not have been allowed to trade. Chelsea have sold players to Strasbourg and seen Petrovic and Andrey Santos enjoy successful loans in France. They have also confirmed their first signing from the Ligue 1 side this week with the £12million arrival of Mamadou Sarr. CHEERS FOR BEERS INCOMINGS and outgoings have become a regular theme at Stamford Bridge in recent years, but what if we told you there will be a whole new line-up at the ground next season? It's not the players that are changing, though; it's arguably more important, the alcohol. The new offerings available are as follows, and fans will wave goodbye to Singha being available at home matches. Carling, Coors, Madrí Excepcional, Madri 0.0%, Staropramen, Pravha, Aspall, Rekorderlig, Doom Bar, Sharp's Atlantic, and SALT Alpacalypse will all be options. 7 Stamford Bridge will have the best selection of beers in the Prem Chelsea director Daniel Finkelstein was pleased with the change, stating on X: "Something fans have been talking about in almost every meeting since the new ownership. And the word 'every' is only a tiny exaggeration, I promise." Fans too rejoiced at the announcement, with one claiming "Madri, staropramen and Pravha front 3 would hurt any defence" while another laughably claimed "could've done more alcohol options when we were s***" GO AND GITT THEM LAST week it was Liam Delap, now it could be Jamie Gittens - although he's Chelsea's second bid for him has just been rejected. Who's next, James McAtee? Felix Nmecha? Morgan Rogers? One thing is clear, Manchester City's football academy is a serious point of interest for Chelsea's scouts and Joe Shields as the club look to add another ex-City youngster to their ranks. A left-wing signing is the top priority, with Jadon Sancho returning to Man Utd and Mykhailo Mudryk's future looking ominous as his number 10 shirt was re-distributed to Cole Palmer. Noni Madueke and Tyrique George would be the Blues' options for that spot should they not buy anyone, but Gittens seems to be the solution to that particular problem. It's another clever move from those with the cash to splash - as they can capitalise on a 'poor' season from a player who doesn't fit his current manager's system, but will fit Chelsea's a treat. 7 In Gittens' first season at Dortmund he excelled by all accounts, with the goal and assist numbers to back up this argument. The key point being that Gittens was playing in a system that worked for him, as a touchline winger where he could get down the byline and either take on his man to create a crossing opportunity or cut inside and get a shot off on goal - much how Maresca likes his wingers to play, high and wide. Last season however, under the current Dortmund management, Gittens' role was adjusted to something more reminiscent of a left-sided attacking midfielder - a role in which he needed to receive the ball in similar spaces to what Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez do at Chelsea, where he's much less impactful. However, Gittens comes with the added perk in this Chelsea side that he will have a lot of the same teachings that ex-City players Palmer, Lavia, Delap and Tosin Adarabioyo had developed before joining the Blues, helping his transition into the team. CHELSEA RED SOX The new away kit, set to be launched soon but already leaked, is based on Chelsea's white, red and green kit from 1974 - but there is one KEY difference... Fans are excited about the return of what is an iconic strip, but some were left confused by the major change from the original, as the re-make includes bright red socks. Red incorporated into a Chelsea kit isn't unusual, and has been frequently included down the years, but fans were still left bemused by such a striking change. Some fans claimed it looks more like a Portugal kit than a Chelsea one, while others enjoyed the colour palette being reminiscent of designer staple Gucci. The club have teased an official announcement, with fans eagerly awaiting the official launch of the new strip. 7 The 2025-26 Chelsea away kit
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Latest National League opponent for Carlisle United confirmed
Carlisle United will face FC Halifax Town in the league for the first time after the Yorkshire club's defeat in the play-offs. The Shaymen lost 4-0 at Oldham Athletic in the National League eliminator on Wednesday night. The end of Halifax's promotion hopes confirms their place in the fifth tier in 2025/26. Carlisle have not faced Halifax in league football since the 2004/05 season, but that was against the previous incarnation of Halifax Town. FC Halifax formed in 2008 after Town went into administration. After working their way up the non-league pyramid, they have spent the last eight seasons in the fifth tier. United have faced them in pre-season friendlies over the years, in 2017 and 2021. Ex-Blues striker Joe Garner got Oldham's opening goal in the eliminator as the Latics progressed to a play-off semi-final at York City next Tuesday. Oldham Athletic ahead! ⚽️ Joe Garner gives the Latics lift-off! @OfficialOAFC | #TheVanarama — The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) May 14, 2025 The other eliminator sees Rochdale host Southend United tonight with the winners away to Forest Green Rovers in the other semi. In the EFL, meanwhile, there was play-off agony for former Carlisle trio Owen Moxon, Jack Diamond and Oliver Norwood with Stockport County. The Hatters lost their League One play-off semi-final second leg to Leyton Orient on penalties. After a 2-2 first leg draw, Stockport - with Carlisle-born Moxon and former Blues loanee Norwood in their XI, and Diamond a substitute - drew 1-1 at Edgeley Park and the sides could not be separated in extra-time. There'll be no third straight promotion for Owen Moxon (Image: PA) Orient then had the better of the shoot-out, winning 4-1. Among those to fail from the spot for the Hatters was former United loan man Diamond, as well as Ryan Rydel, who had previously suffered penalty heartbreak when his kick was saved by Carlisle's Tomas Holy in 2023's League Two play-off final. The outcome cost Moxon the chance of three consecutive promotions, following his previous successes with Carlisle and Portsmouth in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Orient will face either Wycombe Wanderers or Charlton Athletic in the final, with those sides set to meet at The Valley tonight after a 0-0 first-leg draw. Ex-Blues defender Macaulay Gillesphey is in the Charlton ranks.
