Chelsea clinched the FA Youth Cup for the third straight year with a 3-1 win over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Goals from Dujon Sterling, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori saw the Blues ease to a 4-2 aggregate victory after their 1-1 draw at City last week.
Sterling capitalised on a blunder by City keeper Daniel Grimshaw to prod home the opening goal on the stroke of half-time.
And watched by John Terry in the stands, Chelsea sealed their win with powerful headers from both Abraham and Tomori.
Embattled Martinez asks fans for unity
Manager Roberto Martinez said he understands why his future as Everton manager is under scrutiny and asked disgruntled fans to stay behind the team despite their disappointing campaign.
The pressure on the Spaniard is arguably at its highest since he took charge of the club in 2013, with British media reporting that Everton’s board would meet to discuss his future following their exit on Saturday from the FA Cup.
“I understand it completely because I never felt that being Everton manager is a manager to be judged by being in an average position,” Martinez said.
“As a club we have to drive to challenge for silverware and the top four, and when you aren’t there the scrutiny needs to be there.”
Kompany anticipates ‘career-defining’ game
Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany is looking forward to a “career-defining” clash against Real Madrid in next week’s Champions League semi-final, second leg and has backed his team to pick off their more illustrious rivals.
Madrid take on a City side bidding to reach their first final after securing a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Manchester on Tuesday.
“It’s a career-defining game,” Kompany told British media.
“For us, we will just need to stick to the gameplan. It’s going to be very clear. They are going to try and put us under pressure early, try and get that goal, and the longer we are in the game, the more we get a chance.”
$1bln plan to attract pro soccer to Detroit
Two professional basketball team owners announced a $1 billion investment plan to attract a Major League Soccer franchise to downtown Detroit in a move they said would help revitalise the city.
Dan Gilbert, the owner of the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers, and Tom Gores, who owns the Detroit Pistons, proposed a 20,000-seat stadium on 15-acres that includes the site of the halted Wayne County jail, according to a spokeswoman for Gilbert and a statement.
The proposal includes plans for fitness facilities, an office tower, covered parking, a residential tower, open and covered plazas, a hotel, restaurants and retail.
Sakho provisionally suspended by UEFA
Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has been provisionally suspended for 30 days after failing an anti-doping test, UEFA said yesterday.
The 26-year-old France international failed a dope test following his side’s Europa League round of 16, second leg tie against Manchester United last month, a statement said.
“(Sakho) did not request the analysis of the B sample. UEFA has now suspended the player provisionally for 30 days until a final decision is taken by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body,” UEFA said.
France’s RMC radio reported this week that Sakho’s failed test followed the use of a fat-burning drug.
Real Madrid confirm Benzema injury
Real Madrid have confirmed Karim Benzema has suffered a right hamstring injury but have given no estimation on how long the France striker might be sidelined for.
Madrid said in a statement that Benzema’s recovery “will continue to be assessed”, and it now remains to be seen if the 28-year-old will be fit for next week’s Champions League semi-final second leg with Manchester City.
Benzema played the first half of Tuesday’s goalless first leg at the Etihad but was withdrawn at half-time. Benzema’s injury is another blow to Real boss Zinedine Zidane, who is also sweating on Cristiano Ronaldo’s thigh injury.
Clattenburg to referee FA Cup final
Mark Clattenburg will referee this year’s FA Cup final between Manchester United and Crystal Palace, the Football Association announced yesterday.
The 41-year-old has been officiating in the Premier League for over a decade but this will be his first time in charge of the Wembley showpiece event.
Clattenburg, who was in charge of Atletico Madrid’s Champions League semi-final first-leg victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday, has previously refereed at Wembley.
He took charge of the 2012 League Cup final and men’s Olympic final as well as the 2013 Community Shield – in which Man. United beat Wigan 2-0 in David Moyes’ first game in charge.