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Chelsea Not In Premier League Title Race, Says Maresca

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Enzo Maresca does not believe his Chelsea side are in the Premier League title race despite an impressive start to the season in his first campaign at Stamford Bridge.

Victory over Aston Villa on Sunday would be a seventh in 13 league games under the Italian, who was appointed as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor in June.

Ahead of the weekend action, Chelsea were third in the table, level on 22 points with Arsenal and Brighton, a point behind Manchester City and nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

Chelsea are in the hunt to return to the Champions League after two seasons away and Maresca has fashioned an effective team from a bloated squad.

But the Italian, 44, was keen to play down suggestions that the Blues could be the team to end Manchester City’s four-year title streak this season.

“No,” he said when asked whether they were in the title race. “I said many times I didn’t like the pressure. I didn’t like to say ‘Yes we are there’, but we are not there.

“Arsenal are ahead of us, City is ahead of us, Liverpool showing they are ahead of us. The important thing is we improve game after game and then we will see.

“For me, it is not about points or the table, it is about the process and the programme. Five years together (Arsenal), nine together (City). Liverpool is different but they didn’t make too many changes from before. It’s not about the points difference on the table, it is about the time together.”

Liverpool and City are meeting on Sunday, giving Chelsea the chance to make up ground on the teams above them but Maresca urged caution.

“You have to be realistic,” said Maresca. “You can see the difference between us and the rest in this moment. It doesn’t mean we are not going to compete and win games. We will do that to the end. The main focus has to be the feeling we are improving game after game.”

AFP

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West Brom, Watford in race to sign Iheanacho on loan

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Kelechi Iheanacho could be set for a quick return to England with West Bromwich Albion and Watford keen to sign the forward on loan in January.

Iheanacho joined LaLiga club, Sevilla on a free transfer in the summer after severing ties with Leicester City.

The 28-year-old has however failed to make much impact with the Rojiblancos.


The Nigerian has made seven league appearances for Garcia Pimienta’s side without a goal to his name.

Iheanacho however scored twice in the Copa del Rey win over Las Rozas last month.

West Brom and Watford are closely monitoring his situation ahead of the winter transfer window, according to El Sevillista.

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LaLiga: Why I snubbed Odegaard at Real Madrid – Rafa Benitez

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Former Real Madrid manager, Rafa Benitez, has revealed why he did not afford Martin Odegaard much game time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Norwegian midfielder failed to breakthrough at the LaLiga outfit when the Spanish manager was in charge of Los Blancos for a seven-month period between 2015 and 2016.

Los Blancos had signed Odegaard for a reported €4 million from Norwegian outfit Stromsgodset in 2015, aged just 16, and he trained with the first team and Castilla.


The Norwegian youngster’s career never took off under Benitez or his successor at the club, Carlo Ancelotti, despite being highly regarded.

Speaking with VG, Benitez revealed that the midfielder had come into a very good Madrid team at a very young age and could not break in.

“I’d say he’s been very matured. I like the way he behaves. He has personality and is a real leader.

“In Real Madrid, he was too young in a team of big names. But I’m not surprised, but very happy that he has taken those steps,” Benitez said.

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No need to apologize For Error Against Athletic Bilbao– Real Madrid midfielder tells Valverde

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Real Madrid attacking midfielder, Jude Bellingham, has told teammate Fede Valverde that there is no need for him to apologize after making an error against Athletic Club in the LaLiga on Wednesday.

Recall that Valverde made an error on the ball that led to Gorka Guruzeta scoring the winner.

The match ended 2-1 in favour of Athletic Club as Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty.

After the game, Valverde apologized for his error.

But Bellingham, who Real Madrid’s only goal against Athletic, has now defended the Uruguay international, insisting that the team ‘win together and lose together.’

“No need to apologize, brother. We win together, we lose together,” Bellingham was quoted by Fabrizio Romano as saying.

The result leaves Real Madrid in second position with 33 points from 15 games.

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