Toni Kroos has revealed how he turned to alcohol immediately after Bayern Munich’s defeat to Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final.

The midfielder, who now plays for Real Madrid, was attempting to numb the pain of the defeat to the Premier League side, who triumphed on penalties in the final at Bayern’s own Allianz Arena.

The Bavarians, who were red-hot favourites going into the match, were ahead in the match with just a few minutes remaining after Thomas Muller netted the opener after 83 minutes.

Didier Drogba dragged the London club into the match at the death heading home from a corner kick, with the former Ivory Coast international scoring the last penalty kick after the extra-time to hand Chelsea their first-ever Champions League trophy.

Speaking on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast, Kroos’s brother Felix recalled: “The Champions League final against Chelsea in 2012 – that was us drinking out of frustration. We were close to needing an emergency doctor!”

To which the Madrid star replied: “It was not a good thing but at least there was a reason for it. I remember that Jessi (Kroos’s wife Jessica) then said: ‘We can’t do that (call a doctor) now. Imagine if it came out that I called an emergency doctor for having too much to drink!’

“There was no other way [to ease the pain of defeat]. In the end I had to call the emergency doctor myself because I thought: ‘It can’t be allowed to get worse than this.’”

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Christian Pulisic has been commended by his manager Frank Lampard for his impressive display in the Chelsea victory over Manchester City on Thursday night, even scoring the opening goal.

According to Lampard, the United States international can get “better and better” as part of an exciting young Chelsea side.

The Blues boss stated that the 21-year-old is imbued with “so much talent”, and that “he needs to keep working”.

Pulisic had seen his debut season in England disrupted by untimely injuries heading into a coronavirus-enforced break.

He has, however, been among those to benefit from a period of lockdown, with a three-month hiatus allowing him to work on his fitness.

Lampard said: “Christian came in last summer. Lot of talk about it. He didn’t really get a break when he got in the team. He was playing really well and gets a really tough injury.

“I wanted to protect him a bit against Villa, see that he could make an impact. He did that.

“I always planned to start him against Man City because I know what he can bring in these sort of games and he brought it. He did really well.

“He needs to keep working, he’s a young player but he’s got so much talent and he can get better and better.”

Recordings from pitchside mics have revealed what Chelsea manager Frank Lampard told his players to take the advantage of Manchester City during their match on Thursday night.

Lampard’s side were under the cosh after half-time and Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick equaliser had made City the favourites to go on and win at Stamford Bridge.

But Lampard – in conjunction with his captain Cesar Azpilicueta – took full advantage of the mid-half drinks, according to the Sportsmail, break to urge one final effort from his team.

In a video clip from BT Sport, who turned their pitchside microphones up fully in the absence of crowd noise, Lampard can be seen striding purposefully from the dug-out.

As his players take on some much-needed liquid on a stiflingly hot night in London, Lampard tries to restore confidence with a quick pep talk.

He says: ‘come on lads, come on. Same story, same story, get confident in ourselves.’

Azpilicueta then intervenes, telling his team-mates: ‘If we have to play long, we play long. Then we go second balls. We get confidence from there.’

The team talk seemed to work. Not only did the break interrupt City’s momentum but Chelsea went on to win the game.

About 10 minutes later, Fernandinho was sent off for handling Tammy Abraham’s goalbound effort on the line and Willian converted the subsequent penalty to grab all three points.

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Manchester United have confirmed that NINE players will leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is the biggest name amongst the departures revealed on Thursday afternoon.

But all nine, report The Sun, will be able to return to Carrington for pre-season training in order to build their fitness up and help find new clubs.

Joining Borthwick-Jackson out of the door are Aidan Barlow, Alex Fojticek, Ethan Hamilton, Dion McGhee, Demetri Mitchell, Kieran O’Hara, Largie Ramazani and George Tanner.

United said: “We would like to thank the departing players for their contributions during their time at the club and wish them the very best of luck for the future.”

However, the nine players leaving have all been offered a “support package” which includes a return to Carrington for pre-season training.

This will let them maintain their fitness levels and help secure moves to new clubs.

United also revealed every player under 18 years old will remain with them for next season.

The oldest members of the Academy group are also moving up into the Under-23s.

And the top first-year scholars will replace them in the Under-18s.

In total, 202 young players have been retained by United for the 2020/21 season.

Borthwick-Jackson, 23, started his career at United in 2003 and made his first-team debut in November 2015 against West Brom.

He ended up making ten Premier League appearances that term, and was crowned U21 Player of the Year in 2016.

However, Borthwick-Jackson was loaned to Wolves the following season, making just six Championship appearances.

Arsenal have reportedly reconsidered their £250,000-a-week contract offer to sign Willian from Chelsea.

The 31-year-old signed a short-term agreement with Chelsea this week to remain at Stamford Bridge for the season.

But the Brazilian is still set to leave Chelsea on a free transfer this summer.

According to the Daily Mirror, Willian received a £250,000-a-week offer from Arsenal before the coronavirus outbreak.

But the report claims that the Gunners are now deciding whether to follow through on that contract or attempt to reduce their package following recent financial troubles.

Chelsea have announced that three players will leave the club at the end of the month.

Pedro is also set to leave west London at the end of the season, the Spaniard having agreed a two-year deal with Roma.

The former Barcelona winger will see out the rest of this campaign as Frank Lampard’s squad battle to finish in the top four.

Willian’s future remains a huge question mark, with the Brazilian having previously rejected Chelsea’s offers of a contract extension.

He is still a target for Arsenal, although the two parties are not believed to be close on the winger’s salary.

Youth products Josh Grant, Richard Nartey and Marcel Lavinier, according to The Sun, have all been released.

None of the trio have made a senior appearance at the club, but all have been crucial parts of Chelsea’s success at youth level in recent seasons.

Grant, 21, has previously had loan spells with Yeovil Town and had spent this season on loan at Plymouth Argyle.

The former England Under-18 and U20 defender has already been snapped up by Bristol Rovers.

Nartey, who also plays at centre-back, has impressed on loan at League One Burton Albion this season, but the Londoner is yet to find a new club.

Lavinier, who holds dual citizenship and has played at U18 level for Portugal, is the youngest of the three at 19.

He has not played any senior football and is also yet to find a new club.

Willian’s second-half penalty helped Chelsea beat 10-man Manchester City 2-1 to confirm Liverpool as Premier League champions.

Chelsea took the lead after 36 minutes following a mix-up between Benjamin Mendy and Ilkay Gundogan, allowing Christian Pulisic to advance from inside his own half and slot past Ederson.

City continued from where they’d left off against Burnley for the first half-an-hour, dominating possession and pinning Chelsea in their own half.

The hosts were happy to camp on the edge of their own box with every man back, hoping to catch City on the counter-attack.

The best opportunity in that period of ascendancy was Fernadinho’s glancing header from Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick that was tipped over by Kepa.

But Chelsea began to look a threat when they did venture forward and Ederson was forced into a fine reflex save from Christensen’s header on 33.

Indeed, there were one or two shaky moments at the back for City, but on 36 minutes, a terrible mix-up led to Chelsea taking the lead.

As a City free-kick was cleared to the centre circle, Benjamin Mendy played a loose pass towards Ilkay Gundogan allowing Pulisic to race forward towards goal.

Mendy then attempted to make amends by challenging the Chelsea striker as he raced clear, but he skipped past the tackle before placing a low shot past Ederson.

It was harsh on City, but a clever free-kick two minutes later came close to finding a quick equaliser when De Bruyne fed Mahrez on the corner of the box and the Algerian’s shot curled inches over.

But this City team always believes and when Kante fouled Mahrez 25-yards out, De Bruyne struck a wonderful free-kick into the top left-hand corner to level the scores just before the hour-mark.

And City continued to pummel Chelsea with a wave of attacks, knowing the price of dropped points, but the hosts then broke with purpose and as Pulisic went around Ederson, only a magnificent goal-line clearance by Kyle Walker prevented a goal.

It was becoming an enthralling contest with an air of ‘next goals wins’ drama thrown in for good measure.

The decisive moment came when Fernandinho was shown a red card following a VAR review for a deliberate handball to deny Chelsea substitute Tammy Abraham on the goalline.

Willian fired in the resulting penalty to put Chelsea back in front with 12 minutes remaining.

City were unable to respond, leaving them 23 points behind champions Liverpool with seven matches left to play.

Photo Credit: Premierleague.com