Ruben Loftus-Cheek says making his senior Chelsea debut has given him a thirst for more first-team playing time.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who has been with the Blues since the age of eight, made his first appearance in Wednesday’s Champions League Group G 3-1 defeat of Sporting Lisbon.
Loftus-Cheek, who came on for the final seven minutes, told Chelsea TV: “I wanted it to last longer. It was a bit weird when I came on, a bit surreal, it took a while to sink in.
“Just to come on is all I can ask for. To play at a full Stamford Bridge is amazing.”
Cellino ready to stand down
Leeds president Massimo Cellino has confirmed he will comply with the Football League’s ruling to disqualify him as owner of the club.
Cellino is to appeal against the League’s decision to ban him after it ruled he had failed its ‘owners’ and directors’ test’, but the 58-year-old Italian has told his fellow directors he will stand down from the board to safeguard the club against possible further sanctions.
“I’m prepared to resign if it’s what I have to do,” Cellino told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“I said to the other directors that I don’t want to bring any problems on the club so if I have to resign in 28 days and then wait to finish my appeal, I will.”
Fans stabbed after Nou Camp clash
Two Paris St Germain fans were taken to hospital after being stabbed following Wednesday night’s Champions League match against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, Catalan police have announced.
According to a statement by the Mossos d’Esquadra police force yesterday morning, one of the fans remains in hospital after being attacked by two people wearing balaclavas while, soon after, another visiting supporter also suffered stab wounds but has already been discharged from hospital.
According to reports in Spain, the injuries suffered by the fan who is still in hospital are serious but not life threatening.
No QPR action against Caulker
QPR have announced they will not be taking disciplinary action against Steven Caulker over the incident that left the defender requiring hospital treatment.
Caulker suffered a cut to his head amid reports he was involved in a brawl at a London pub on Sunday afternoon with players from Crystal Palace also present at the social event.
QPR say Caulker, who is available for Monday night’s Premier League trip to Everton, was wounded after falling over and have opted against punishing the 22-year-old.
I’m not done yet, says Bayern’s Mueller
Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller said more is to come after he became the club’s all-time top-scorer in the Champions League on Wednesday.
His goal in Bayern’s 3-0 win over CSKA Moscow took him to 24 strikes in Europe’s elite club competition, one more than Mario Gomez’s previous record.
“That was my task today,” the World Cup winner told Sport1 television. “But I’ve still got plenty of years to improve it.”
Mueller scored five goals in Brazil last summer to help Germany lift the World Cup.
“He’s a very important player for us,” said team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger.
“Particularly at the very highest level, where he can decide games for us.”
Schurrle laughs off departure talk
Andre Schurrle has dismissed suggestions he could leave Chelsea next month.
The 24-year-old has been a peripheral figure this season, starting for the first time in five weeks against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.
“I can just laugh all the talk of leaving off. I am not going to change the club in the transfer window,” Schurrle told the London Evening Standard.
“I am happy where I am, I am happy in London. I love the city, I love the fans. We have a great team and want to win something this season. This is where I belong and where I want to help.
“I know what the manager wants from me and he likes me.”
Dortmund: Reus would love to stay
Borussia Dortmund’s general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke is optimistic Marco Reus will still be at the club next season.
Reus is the focus of interest from Bayern Munich and reportedly from clubs in England and Spain, with a clause in his contract permitting him to leave for a set fee at the end of the current campaign.
Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed several months ago that he knows the value of that clause to be €25 million.
“I believe that fundamentally Marco would love to stay here because he loves the city and he loves Borussia Dortmund,” Watzke told Stern magazine.
“But I’m sure the people who are interested in him moving will provide him with other arguments.”