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Replace Me If I Don’t Deliver The Goals –Haaland Tells Man City
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has told the club to replace him if he fails to deliver the goals for the team.
Haaland has been in explosive form this season and leads the way with 15 goals in the Premier League already this term.
In an interview with Shearer and Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football podcast, Norway’s all-time record goal-scorer has candidly admitted that City must move on from him and sign a replacement as soon as the goals begin to dry up.
Read Also:West Ham Preparing To Launch January Bid For Nigerian Midfielder
“But again, as I said before, I’m the striker of City. I have to score goals. If not, they have to replace me.
“Because if I’m not delivering the goals and the things they need, they have to replace me. So there is a lot of pressure on me to deliver, you know, and to do the job.”
“It’s injuries, first of all,” Haaland says, when asked why City dropped off last season.
“I look at one time at our defence. I don’t want to blame injuries and I’m not doing it. I’m just saying it was a part of it. I think it’s just so difficult to maintain and to keep it up after winning.”
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Chelsea 6-0 Roma: Sonia Bompastor’s side silence ‘crisis’ talk with ruthless rout – as one Blues star gives a timely reminder of her quality, writes TARA ANSON-WALSH
Sonia Bompastor’s side bounced back from their weekend league defeat in style, cruising into the knockout stages of the Women’s Champions League with a game to spare.
Chelsea’s opener came courtesy of a Roma own goal, and from there the English champions eased into cruise control. Wieke Kaptein and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd added to the tally before Sjoeke Nusken converted from the penalty spot. Late goals from Maika Hamano and Lucy Bronze sealed th victory – and extinguished Roma’s European hopes for the season.
The result leaves Chelsea third in the table with a comfortable chance of securing a top-four finish in the final game – enough to book their place directly in the quarter-finals.
Daily Mail Sport’s women’s football reporter Tara Anson-Walsh was at Stamford Bridge to take in all the action…
The win leaves Chelsea third in the Champions League table with a comfortable chance of securing a top-four finish in the last game and to book their place directly in the quarter-finals
After suffering her first top-flight defeat as Chelsea manager – a shock loss to Everton at the weekend to end a 34-game unbeaten league run – this was the ideal evening for Bompastor
Just the tonic Bompastor ordered…
After suffering her first top-flight defeat as Chelsea manager – a shock loss to relegation-battling Everton that ended a 34-game unbeaten league run – Bompastor needed a stroke of fortune to calm any nerves ahead of another potentially banana-skin evening.
For the opening 20 minutes, Roma suggested they might trouble the hosts, but the circumstances of the opener quickly unravelled this suggestion.
Sandy Baltimore burst down the wing and curled a dangerous cross into the box. Roma right-back Valentina Bergamaschi, attempting to deal with the delivery, inadvertently powered a header past her own goalkeeper – a finish most strikers would have been proud of.
From there, any wind in the sails of the Serie A leaders was firmly popped, and Chelsea turned the screw.
This will be exactly the kind of result Bompastor needs to pause any talks of a mini crisis following two draws and defeat coming into this game – regardless of the quality of the opposition.
This will be exactly the kind of result Bompastor needs to pause any talks of a mini crisis following two draws and defeat coming into this game – regardless of the quality of opposition
Millie looking Brighter than ever
Millie Bright has long been a cornerstone of Chelsea’s success. The defensive rock at the heart of the Blues defence, a commanding presence and one of the dressing room’s most influential voices.
Before Wednesday night, however, Bright had been an unused substitute in consecutive matches for the first time under Bompastor – a sign of both the fierce competition within Chelsea’s squad and the manager’s increasing desire to look to the future.
Chelsea currently have four fit centre-backs competing for two positions, with the potential for that number to rise to seven once injured players return and with Lucy Bronze also having been deployed at centre-half under Bompastor. At 32, Bright now finds herself slipping down the pecking order.
Bright was outstanding against Roma. Defensively solid and constantly communicating with her centre-back partner 19-year-old Veerle Buurman.
‘I really liked her performance and I’m really pleased for Millie,’ Bompastor said. ‘That’s never easy the position she has been put in by myself – and the choices I make are never easy.
‘But I think the perfect answer you can given to a manager is the performance she had tonight on the pitch and it shows how much of a professional she is, how good she is and how much she cares about the team and the club.
‘I know it’s been tough for her on the bench and that’s what happens when you have high competition in the squad, but the answer she gave tonight was the perfect one.’
While one positive evening will do little to quell speculation about a long-term changing of the guard, she certainly has given her manager something to think about.
While Bright’s return to the starting XI will do little to quell speculation about a changing of the guard, a positive display will have been what she hoped for – and it was what she delivered
Sam Kerr searches for her shooting boots
Sam Kerr’s work rate remains unquestionable, but the Australian striker was left hunting for the clinical edge that has made her one of Europe’s most feared finisher on this chilly evening in west London.
While she contributed well to the hosts’ build-up play, the decisive touch in front of goal seemed to elude Chelsea’s record-goalscorer tonight.
In a rout such as this with five different goalscorers, it would not have escaped Kerr that her name should have been on the scoresheet following four shots and two on target.
‘I think it’s always better for her confidence and for the team if she’s able to score but I know enough about football to realise that it will take time for her to return to her best level,’ Bompastor said.
‘You can see she is getting closer to her best level. Her movements and contribution to the team is better than when she just came back. She has the right mentality and she is making all the efforts to get to a point where she will contribute again to score goals. It takes time and I’m hoping for her and her confidence for that to happen soon.’
She was hooked in the 70th minute for Guro Reiten – another player desperate to impress her manager amid a congested attacking line.
Sam Kerr’s work rate remains unquestionable, but the Australian striker was left hunting for the clinical edge that has made her one of Europe’s most feared finisher on this evening in London
Keira Walsh shows her class
The first 20 minutes were uncharacteristically sloppy from England’s most reliable holding midfielder. Keira Walsh lost possession four times – once in a position that could have proved costly had Roma shown more quality in the final third.
Besides her undeniable quality on the ball, Walsh’s class lies in her level-headedness. Even when tightly man-marked, as she is almost every match, she rarely allows mistakes to dictate her emotions or performance.
Once Chelsea settled, so did she, dictating play with her usual authority. Her ball up the pitch which resulted in Chelsea’s second firmly applying the WD-40 to her opening rust.
Noni Madueke scored twice as Arsenal beat Club Brugge to maintain their 100% record in the Champions League and all but secure their place in the knockout phase.
Mikel Arteta made five changes to the side that lost to Aston Villa on Saturday and it was one of those players, Noni Madueke, who opened the scoring with an excellent strike.
The England winger shrugged off one defender before smashing a shot from 20 yards which went in off the crossbar.
Club Brugge did threaten Arsenal’s much-changed backline just before the break but David Raya made smart saves from Christos Tzolis and Aleksandar Stankovic to keep the Gunners in the lead.
Madueke got his second goal of the evening just two minutes into the second half when he nodded in Martin Zubimendi’s excellent cross, and Gabriel Martinelli ensured it would be a comfortable end to the game when he curled in a superb strike in the 56th minute for Arsenal’s third.
There were also other positives for the Gunners as Gabriel Jesus made his first appearance for 342 days, after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and 16-year-old Marli Salmon was brought on for his first-team debut.
And Jesus almost made it the perfect comeback but his strike from the edge of the area late on hit the bar.
The win leaves Arsenal on 18 points, two more than was required for a top-eight finish last season, meaning they are likely to avoid the play-offs in February and can prepare for the last 16.
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Fulham are reportedly happy with the performances of Samuel Chukwueze and are considering making his loan move from AC Milan permanent.
According to top Italian transfer expert Matteo Moretto, the Premier League club have so far been impressed by the winger.
However, he stressed that no final decisions have been made yet and that the player’s personal circumstances will play a key role in the decision.
Per Moretto, “Fulham are considering making Chukwueze’s move permanent, but I want to point out that no final decisions have been made yet, and the player’s own will must also be taken into account.
“He is happy at Fulham, but due to a delicate personal matter, he remains very attached to Italy and to Milan.”
Chukwueze joined Fulham on a season-long loan from AC Milan on September 1, 2025.
Samuel Chukwueze (R) vies with Nathaniel Clyne. (Photo | Getty Images)
The deal includes an option for Fulham to make the transfer permanent at the end of the 2025-2026 season.
Since his arrival, the Nigeria international has made a significant impact, scoring two goals and providing three assists in 305 minutes of Premier League action.
In addition to his goal contributions, Chukwueze’s overall gameplay has been impressive.
He has completed 95 passes with a 73.6% pass accuracy, created 10 chances, and successfully dribbled 13 times.
Also read: Victor Osimhen’s European Streak Ends in Monaco
Chukwueze has also been solid defensively, helping Fulham regain possession with 21 duels won, 19 ball recoveries, and he has only been dribbled past once this season.
For Fulham to make Chukwueze’s loan move permanent, they will have to pay a fee of £24.5 million.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether Fulham will go ahead and trigger the permanent transfer, decide against signing the player, or negotiate with AC Milan for a lower fee.
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Club Brugge vs Arsenal – Champions League LIVE: Noni Madueke scores second for much-changed Gunners with Newcastle losing at Bayer Leverkusen
Follow Daily Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest score, team news and updates from the Champions League featuring Club Brugge vs Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle.
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Club Brugge vs Arsenal – Champions League LIVE: Noni Madueke scores second for much-changed Gunners with Newcastle losing at Bayer Leverkusen
Remo Stars head coach, Sulaiman Folarin, says they are determined to get their confidence back in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.
The Sky Blue Stars have struggled to replicate the form that helped them win the NPFL title last season.
Remo Stars have managed only one win from their last three league games.
They currently occupy ninth position on the NPFL table with 22 points.
Folarin said that the position is not befitting for a defending champion.
“This period what matters to us is to get our confidence back as the defending champion, that position isn’t where we belong,” Folarin told Remo Stars media.
“We want to continue to win games so our confidence can be restored, so that we can go back to where we belong on the league table.”
West Ham are preparing to launch a January bid for SV Zulte Waregem’s talented Nigerian midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi, though TEAMtalk understands they face growing competition from four Premier League sides for his signature.
Nnadi, 22, is turning heads at the highest level. The tenacious defensive midfielder has become one of the most talked-about January targets in European football, with West Ham leading a growing pack of English admirers.
Standing at 5ft7in and built like a coiled spring, Nnadi arrived from Botev Plovdiv only in January 2024 and but has since established himself as the heartbeat of Waregem’s side.
This season, he has started every league game he’s been available, winning duels, breaking up play and driving his team forward with simple, progressive passes. Scouts describe him as “relentless”, “explosive in recovery”, and “Premier League-ready physically.”
West Ham, languishing in the relegation zone, have watched him live on multiple occasions.
Sources in Belgium say the Hammers are preparing a €4m (£3.5m, $4.6m) bid – five times his current market value – and are ready to offer a five-year contract.
The Hammers recruiters sees Nnadi as the exact type of energetic, ball-winning midfielder Graham Potter’s side desperately lacks, but other sides are ready to move for the youngster.
Brighton and Hove Albion, renowned for unearthing gems from lesser leagues, have sent representatives to watch Nnadi on several occasions and view his profile as ideal for their high-pressing system.
Also Read: Rangers Line Up January Move For Aribo
Leeds United, pushing hard for survival, have also registered firm interest, while Newcastle and Crystal Palace are monitoring developments closely.
Born in Ihiagwa, in the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria,Nnadi played football as a youngster with Campos FC in Owerri.
In 2019, he began to train with Madenat Alamal Football Academy in Dubai. After a successful trial, he joined Botev Plovdiv in August 2021.
He agreed a contract with the Bulgarian side until 2025. He made his league debut in the Bulgarian First League on 3 April 2022, away at Ludogorets.
In his first season in Europe he made 19 league appearances for Botev Plovdiv, with 29 appearances coming in all competitions.
On 19 January 2024, he joined Belgian Challenger Pro League side Zulte Waregem.
Nnadi was part of the Flying Eagles squad that represented Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, appearing in all five of their matches including wins over Italy U-20 and Argentina U-20.
Victor Osimhen’s eight game goal run in Europe came to an end as Galatasaray fell to a 1-0 loss to Monaco in the UEFA Champions League.
The match was decided by a goal from Folarin Balogun, the United States international of Nigerian descent, who found the net to secure the win for Monaco.
It was a night to forget for Osimhen, who failed to register a single shot on target.
He completed just seven passes, with only one of those into the final third, and managed to complete only one dribble.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk expressed his disappointment after the match.
“When the match ended, we experienced a night of disappointment, one where we said, ‘how can we not beat this team?’ The game we played in the first half, the dominance we established over the opponent… We couldn’t see it through to the end.”
Buruk also criticized Monaco’s defensive performance: “Monaco was perhaps one of the worst teams we’ve played in terms of defense.”
He then blamed time-wasting for his side’s inability to secure the win.
“In the last part, we switched back to two strikers, the opponent pulled back, and the match ended somewhat due to the opposing players lying on the ground and the referee allowing it.”
In addition, Buruk highlighted the impact of Galatasaray’s injury and suspension issues, which had a major effect on their performance.
Victor Osimhen. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
“There are such misfortunes in football. They all happened to us at the same time. It’s not just injuries; two of our defenders received suspensions.
“In recent weeks, we’ve had to play with the same players all the time. When you look at the bench today, we didn’t have a single defender.
“We’ve been through a tough period, and it’s very hard to calculate this.”
Buruk also emphasized the importance of proper planning and transfers:
“You need to have a budget for transfers. It’s not just TFF, there’s also UEFA. As you know, we transferred Osimhen. We’ve brought in very important players like Sane, like Uğurcan, like Singo, like İlkay, but we can’t know this scenario.
“Whatever happened, everything piled up all at once due to injuries. If there’s anyone responsible, of course it’s me.”
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Galatasaray now have three losses and three wins from their six Champions League games this season.
They will turn their attention to domestic action, where they face Antalyaspor in the Super Lig on December 13.
Buruk will be hoping for a return to form, with Osimhen expected to play a key role in helping the team get back to winning ways.
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Laura Woods makes TV return a week after live on-screen collapse: Presenter, 38, fronts coverage of Real Madrid’s clash with Man City
Laura Woods has returned to TV screens for the first time since her shocking collapse live on air – fronting TNT Sports’ coverage of Manchester City’s clash with Real Madrid this evening.
The popular presenter, 38, was hosting ITV4’s broadcast of the Lionesses’ clash against Ghana on December 2 at St Mary’s Stadium when she suddenly took ill and collapsed forward.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright and fellow pundit Anita Asante reacted swiftly to catch her before cameras cut away in a worrying ordeal that sparked concern among viewers.
Woods, who was replaced on the night by stand-in presenter Katie Shanahan, delivered a positive update after the incident – revealing she was in good health after being treated.
‘Gosh that was a bit weird. Sorry to worry everyone, I’m OK. The wonderful paramedics at Saints have said it’s probably a virus, just need a bit of rest and hydration,’ she wrote.
And it appears that those remedies were just the tonic for Woods, who is pitch-side at the Santiago Bernabeu alongside pundits Steven Gerrard, Joleon Lescott and Steve McManaman for City’s blockbuster Champions League clash.
Laura Woods has returned to TV screens for the first time since her shocking on-air collapse
Woods is presenting TNT Sports’ coverage of Manchester City’s clash against Real Madrid
Woods worryingly fell unwell while fronting ITV4’s coverage of the Lionesses vs Ghana
She is joined on air by commentators Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist and reporter Jules Breach.
Woods said in the aftermath of the collapse that she was ‘really embarrassed that [the collapse] happened on TV’ but offered a ‘big thank you to my colleagues at ITV who have really looked after me tonight’.
‘And to Wrighty and Neets for catching me. And sorry again,’ she added.
Wright, who ensured Woods didn’t hit the ground when she fell at St Mary’s Stadium, opened up on the ‘worrying’ incident while speaking to Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher and Jill Scott on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘She’s fine. I got a message from her this morning. It was worrying at the time but she’s fine. People have been really nice about it. I’m glad she’s okay,’ the Gunners hero said.
Joking, Keane said: ‘I’m guessing she’s not the first woman to fall into your arms Ian. That’s just your knack.
‘She’s okay and that’s all that matters, that’s the most important thing, obviously. You’ll get a knighthood or an award for that, Wrighty.’
Woods’s fiancé and former Love Island star Adam Collard, 30, said on X after the incident: ‘Laura is all ok and with the right people. Thank you for all of your kind messages.’
Woods’s fiancé and former Love Island star Adam Collard let everyone know she was ‘OK’
The presenter said she was recovering well but was ‘really embarrassed’ by the collapse
TNT Sports wrote: ‘Everyone at TNT Sports would like to send Laura Woods our very best wishes. Get well soon, Woodsy.’
Woods is a regular on ITV and TNT Sports, where she presents coverage of the men’s Champions League.
The presenter gave birth to a baby boy, Leo, with Collard in January and took a break from presenting before returning in April.
Collard, known for his controversial stints on Love Island and then Celebrity SAS, and Woods went public with their relationship after they began dating October 2023.
They got engaged in September 2024 after the 30-year-old proposed on a beach in St Ives, Cornwall.
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Laura Woods makes TV return a week after live on-screen collapse: Presenter, 38, fronts coverage of Real Madrid’s clash with Man City
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has acknowledged that the arrival of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has placed a heavy strain on the club’s finances, admitting the record-breaking deal has affected their transfer plans and overall budget.
Osimhen completed his switch from Napoli in the summer after months of negotiations, and the move instantly became the most expensive in Turkish football.
No club in the country had ever gone beyond the thirty-million-euro mark for a single player, yet Galatasaray invested far more to convince Napoli and the player. With his salary included, the total cost of the transfer is expected to reach around one hundred and fifty million euros.
The ambition behind the deal was clear. Galatasaray saw Osimhen as a marquee signing who could lift the team at home and in Europe. However, the financial commitment has been enormous for a club operating in a league that does not generate the same revenue as Europe’s biggest competitions.
The pressure has grown in recent weeks, with Galatasaray suffering a dip in form. The champions have lost three of their last six matches in all competitions, including a Champions League defeat away to Monaco on Tuesday.
Injuries have added to the challenge, with Wilfried Singo, Mario Lemina and Kaan Ayhan all unavailable. The problems have been severe enough that Buruk has had to rely on academy players to fill the squad.
Asked after the Monaco match about plans for reinforcements, Buruk admitted that the Osimhen deal has left little room to manoeuvre in the market, although he still believes the club will find solutions in January.
“There are no defenders left on the reserve bench. If someone got injured, there would be no solution,” Buruk said, per Sport News.
“We are going through a difficult period, and we have not been able to get the desired results from some players. There are salary budget restrictions from both the TFF and UEFA for transfers. We bought Osimhen for 75 million euros, and his salary is also a huge burden.”
He added that the club did not anticipate the situation would become so challenging. “We brought in important players like Sane, İlkay, and Singo, but no one could have foreseen this scenario. After the November break, it became difficult to fill the reserve bench. The responsibility is mine. We will make a correct plan in the winter transfer window. If we continue in the Champions League, we will prepare accordingly,” he said.
Despite the financial weight of the transfer, Galatasaray remain confident in Osimhen’s ability to influence their season. Injuries have slowed his start, but he has shown flashes of the quality that made him one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards.
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Marseille legend, Mamadou Niang has identified defender Calvin Bassey as the Super Eagles player that should replace William Troost-Ekong at the heart of Nigeria’s defence.
Recall that Troost-Ekong recently shocked football fans when he announced his retirement from international football last week.
The former Watford defender ended a decade-long Super Eagles career after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“With what I see at Fulham, the impact he has in Premier League matches, he is a talented, tough defender who has very good distribution with his left foot, and athletic quality which is above average,” Niang said via Canal+.
“He is a player I think is a leader of the Nigeria defence, who can replace Troost-Ekong, who took this Nigerian team to the AFCON final.
“Calvin Bassey is more than capable of succeeding him in that position.”