Emerson hands Chelsea fans good news over injury

Blues star Emerson Palmieri has assured Chelsea fans that the injury he suffered on international duty is “nothing serious” amid reports he may be consigned to the sideline some weeks.

The 25-year-old joined Chelsea in January 2018 from AS Roma, but struggled for game time until recently.

The Italy international has now become Chelsea’s first-choice left-back under new coach Frank Lampard, supplanting Marcos Alonso to play every minute of the new Premier League season.

Chelsea fans feared the worst when Emerson was substituted just eight minutes into Italy’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Finland, with the wing-back looking downcast as he limped off the pitch, report the Evening Standard.

However, Emerson allayed fears that he had suffered a potentially serious hamstring injury with a tweet in the early hours of Monday morning.

Emerson wrote: “Very important win today guys. Unfortunately I had a small injury, but nothing serious. Let’s go on like this!”

He pulled up when chasing down Teemu Pukki on the counter-attack during the match and immediately asked to be substituted.

Italy coach Roberto Mancini also gave an assurance that the Chelsea defender’s injury while on international duty with Italy was “nothing serious.”

Former Man Utd star Nemanja Vidic reveals day Chelsea legend Didier Drogba almost punched him but got slapped instead

Nemanja Vidic has spoken has revealed the time he nearly came to blows with Didier Drogba in one of his many on-pitch battles with the ex-Chelsea striker.

The Serb’s physical duels with Drogba were one of the hallmarks of the matches between the two teams, though Vidic admits things nearly spilled over in the Champions League final in Moscow in 2008, report the Metro.

Speaking to The Athletic, the former centre-back recalled: ‘Drogba wanted to punch me during the game. At first I was thinking: “What is he doing?”

Then I went towards him. I was stupid, so was he. He was sent off.’

Drogba was given his marching orders for slapping Vidic and United went on to win the title via a tense penalty shoot-out, though there were no hard feelings when they were reunited in the same venue a decade later.

Vidic continued: ‘I saw him again in Moscow 10 years later during the World Cup. We shook hands and said hello. I respect him as a footballer and man.

‘We pushed each other as players. United and Chelsea were the best two teams in the world — and not just for one year. We reached three Champions League finals in four years. That’s not easy.’

On Drogba’s strengths, he added: ‘He was a very clever player who would get into the brain of the defenders. He was strong, but he was always thinking ahead.

‘He would think, “If the defender pushes me now I will go down” or “Next time I will go strong”.

He used his strength well; he was really good in the box at Stamford Bridge, a close, tight stadium. Drogba was on you for the full game.

‘Drogba would be even better if he didn’t get so many injuries. He was always around the box and very difficult to stop from scoring. He scored so many important goals, he was very consistent. I played against him when we were both at the peak of our careers.’

Photo Credit: uefa.com & Sky Sports

Jorginho’s agent reveals exact years Blues star wants to spend at Chelsea, sheds light on Sarri’s call from Juventus

Jorginho’s agent has disclosed that the Italy international intends to stay at Chelsea “for at least another four years.”

Agent Joao Santo also denied any Maurizio Sarri call from Juventus as there was speculation that the former Chelsea manager was desperate to bring the Chelsea to Turin.

The midfielder followed Sarri to Stamford Bridge from Napoli last year and won the Europa League, so there were naturally reports the pair would be reunited again at Juve.

“No, nothing of the sort happened,” agent Joao Santos told Radio Kiss Kiss as cited by Football Italia.

“We have mid-to-long-term project with Chelsea, similar to when he joined Hellas Verona and then Napoli. There are five years left on his contract and let’s say he’d like to stay for at least another four years.”

The Italy international converted the winning penalty against Finland last night and is still keeping a close eye on his former teammates.

“On August 31, I was in London with him and we watched Juventus 4-3 Napoli together. It’s tough to lose like that, but I can see a more competitive Napoli side this season.”

Former Chelsea manager joins race to become Guinea manager

There are reports Claudio Ranieri has indicated his desire to step into the vacant post of manager Guinea.

The 67-year-old is one of the coaches jostling to succeed Paul Put who was sacked after Guinea exited the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in the round of 16 stage.

Put was subsequently banned for life from all football related activities in Guinea by Feguifoot after he was found guilty of allegedly breaching the institution’s code of ethics and its code of discipline, report BBC.

Ranieri is the most high profile coach among those that have applied for the job.

According to Feguifoot, the 2016 Fifa coach of the year is scheduled to be interviewed in Conakry on Thursday.

Other notable names on the shortlist are the former Belgium, Tunisia and Algeria coach Georges Leekens and the former DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge.

Former Burkina Faso and Gabon coach Paulo Duarte, ex-Togo coach Didier Six and Francois Zahoui who has coached both Ivory Coast and Niger will also be interviewed.

Jorginho scores as Italy beat Finland in Euro 2020 qualifier (Match Report)

Italy dominated for long periods in Tampere, but were only able to beat Finland 2-1 thanks to a controversial Jorginho penalty after Ciro Immobile broke his drought.

The hosts had a strong start, Lassi Lappalainen – who is on loan to Montreal Impact from Bologna – cut off on a through ball by Leonardo Bonucci, and on the resulting corner Toivio couldn’t keep his finish on target.

Emerson Palmieri sprinted the length of the field to contain a dangerous Teemu Pukki counter and it proved costly, as the Chelsea man limped off with a muscular strain, introducing Alessandro Florenzi as a makeshift left-back adding to the injury crisis.

Florenzi’s low volley was smothered, Immobile tested the goalkeeper from a tight angle and Acerbi’s strike was deflected for a corner.

Sensi was on splendid form and his scorcher from the edge of the box whistled inches past the far post, then Hradecky again used his legs to deny Chiesa from a tight angle.

The deadlock was finally broken by an unexpected source, as Immobile nodded a Chiesa cross in off the underside of the bar at the back stick, his first Italy goal in two years. He hadn’t found the net for his country since September 5, 2017 against Israel, firing blanks for 10 games.

Finland had kept four consecutive clean sheets, not conceding since the 2-0 opening defeat to Italy in March, while they hadn’t conceded in six matches played in Tampere.

However, Sensi blighted what had been an excellent performance by giving the ball away and then tripping Pukki as he attempted to make up for it. Pukki converted the penalty with a powerful yet central strike to equalise, his .

This was the first goal Italy had conceded against Finland since 1976 and their first ever conceded on Finnish soil.

Moments later, the Azzurri were awarded an extremely harsh penalty, as Barella’s shot was charged down by Sauli Vaisanen, but the Chievo defender’s arm was across his chest. Jorginho converted into the near bottom corner, although Hradecky almost got his fingertips to it.

Andrea Belotti came off the bench and immediately stung Hradecky’s gloves from a tight angle, but it was a frantic finale with Finland throwing everything forward.

Finland: Hradecky; Granlund (Soiri 82), Toivio, Arajuuri, S Vaisanen, Uronan; Lod, Schuller (Kauko 87), Kamara, Lappalainen (Tuominen 75); Pukki

Italy: G Donnarumma; Izzo, Bonucci, Acerbi, Emerson (Florenzi 8); Sensi, Jorginho, Barella; Chiesa (Bernardeschi 72), Immobile (Belotti 76), Lo Pellegrini

Photo Credit: Twitter@Vivo_Azzurro

Manchester United stars take swipe at Alexis Sanchez

Manchester United’s stars have expressed their delight at the departure of Alexis Sanchez on a season-long loan to Inter Milan.

The Chilean endured a miserable spell at Old Trafford after joining from Arsenal in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan in Juanuary 2018.

Despite much fanfare upon his arrival for a salary worth around £500,000 a week, the winger scored just five goals in 45 games.

His team-mates have, according to The Sun, been angered by his mammoth salary and disappointing contributions on the pitch.

One player reportedly said: ‘He was no Messi so why pay him all that dough.’

Manchester United are also reportedly subsidising around £400,00-a-week of his salary to ensure he left the club.

The former Barcelona man will spend the upcoming season at the San Siro, reuniting with former Old Trafford striker Romelu Lukaku.

Italy manager clears air on Emerson injury scare

Italy boss Roberto Mancini assures Emerson Palmieri’s injury while on international duty with Italy was “nothing serious.”

The Chelsea left-back started tonight’s 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifier in Finland, but lasted only eight minutes before limping off.

He pulled up when chasing down Teemu Pukki on the counter-attack and immediately asked to be substituted, Football Italia report.

“It was nothing serious, he stopped to ensure it didn’t get any worse,” said the Coach in his Press conference.

“The defence did well, as Armando Izzo and Francesco Acerbi were playing together for the first time, but Alessandro Florenzi also impressed on the left, considering he was the only option we had remaining.”

Italy have now won all six of their Euro 2020 qualifiers and are six points clear of Finland at the top of Group J.

The goals were scored by Ciro Immobile and Emerson’s Chelsea teammate Jorginho.

Chelsea injury woes intensify as in-form Blues star limps off in Euro 2020 qualifier

Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri limped off just eight minutes into Italy’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Finland.

The Brazil-born player sprinted half the length of the field to chase down Teemu Pukki and limit a dangerous counter-attack.

He pulled up at the end of the run and immediately asked to come off, report Football Italia.

Alessandro Florenzi replaced Emerson as a makeshift left-back, as the Italy injury crisis intensifies.

The Brazilian-born Emerson now looks a major doubt for the Premier League trip to Wolves on Saturday.

And Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will also be very concerned about the home Champions League game against Valencia, and then a trip to Liverpool.

The Azzurri were already missing the likes of Leonardo Spinazzola, Mattia De Sciglio, Lorenzo Insigne, Giorgio Chiellini and Bryan Cristante.

Photo Credit: Twitter