Anthony Rizzo Nearly Caught Cubs Player's First MLB Home Run

Baseball has a funny way of bringing things full circle.

Cubs legend Anthony Rizzo was in attendance Saturday as he was honored in a ceremony at Wrigley Field Saturday and retired a Cub as he's set to become an ambassador for the team. He decided to take in some of the game against the Rays from the Wrigley Field bleachers. Unbeknownst to him, he picked the perfect spot.

Moisés Ballesteros, the 21-year-old Cubs designated hitter, smacked the first home run of his young MLB career on Rizzo's special day. In incredibly miraculous fashion, he hit the ball directly to the heart and soul of Chicago's 2016 World Series championship team.

Ballesteros took an inside fastball to the opposite field up and over the left-field wall. Rizzo saw the ball coming his way and stepped on top of the bleacher where he was sitting to try and make the play. The home-run ball hit him directly in the right hand and bounced two rows above where Rizzo was sitting.

He celebrated with the fan who ended up with the ball after the play as he appeared unable to believe what just happened, similar to the rest of us. Check out one of the most improbable baseball moments you'll ever see below:

"That's why I'm retired," he hilariously mouthed in the crowd after the play.

Maybe Rizzo can make an easy trade with the fan for Ballesteros to get the ball back.

Morkel: Gill is recovering well, Iyer has started rehab

Morkel also said it was good to have Kohli and Rohit in the ODI team as India look to move on from the Test series loss against South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Nov-2025Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer are well on the road to recovery, with India bowling coach Morne Morkel looking forward to both players rejoining the team soon.Gill suffered a neck injury two weeks ago during the Kolkata Test, and Iyer has been missing since he lacerated his spleen on the tour to Australia last month.”I think the best is for the medical [team] to give that [update],” Morkel said in Ranchi on Friday. “I spoke to Shubman two days ago just to check in with him and he is recovering well. So, that is pleasing to hear.Related

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Gill hospitalised after suffering neck spasm

“Shreyas has also started his rehab, which is great. So, we are looking forward to welcoming them back into the squad. The good thing is that they are healthy and they are starting their preparation on their way back into the team.”Gill’s place in the ODI side will likely go to Yashasvi Jaiswal, but the identity of who might replace Iyer at No. 4 remains unclear, with Rishabh Pant and Tilak Varma in contention.India are under severe pressure, having relinquished their air of invincibility at home. They come into this ODI series having lost five of the last seven Tests. Morkel said the team has had time to reflect on what went wrong and insisted that a switch to the white-ball format will help the team refocus.”Look, it’s a change of colour by clothing and it’s a change of ball which always brings a different energy,” Morkel said. “But I feel you know the South African team, they have that momentum with them and a confident Protea team is a dangerous team. It will be important to start well, for us to play good cricket over the next week or two, because they’re here to win.”Luckily, we have got some good experience ahead now in the team. For us, it is now focus for the next two days. Give ourselves the best opportunity to prepare well and go out there and put the last couple of weeks behind us and really focus on playing solid cricket.”Virat Kohli gets ready for a net session•PTI The good experience that Morkel mentioned comes from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will play international cricket in India for the first time since they retired from Tests earlier this year. Their goal now appears to be making the 2027 ODI World Cup”I feel that their bodies can do that. It is still a long way away. The World Cup, by all means,” Morkel said. “I have played many games against them. I have had sleepless nights bowling to them. So, I know as a bowler what goes through your preparation playing against them. So, for me, definitely on board with that.”India’s training on Friday took place either side of two covered pitches at the centre of the ground. One of them will be used on match day. The practice wickets offered good pace and bounce, with the ball coming on nicely to the bat. So there may be a toss-up between fast bowling allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and spin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar.”I think we will have to look at the wicket,” Morkel said. “Honestly, I just walked past it now and it looked like a very good surface. Almost South African-like. So, I think the discussions will happen tonight in terms of what combination they look to start off with. So, we will have to wait and see after training.”

Labuschange raises another ton but Ward's hundred the match-winner

Tasmania chased down their target with 10 balls to spare after the home side had suffered a 7 for 70 collapse following Labuschagne’s dismissal

AAP09-Oct-2025Marnus Labuschagne’s case for an Ashes call-up continues to grow after scoring his second century in the space of a week in Queensland’s five-wicket One-Day Cup loss to Tasmania.Labuschagne cracked 105 off 91 balls to lead Queensland to 311 of 45.3 overs at Allan Border Field on Thursday.Related

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In reply, Tasmania reached the victory target with 10 balls to spare courtesy of big knocks from Tim Ward, who made his first one-day century from 88 balls, Jordan Silk and Caleb Jewell.Tasmania (3-0) remain unbeaten on top of the table, while Queensland slipped to a 2-1 record.Labuschagne’s hundred came just days after he scored 160 off 206 balls in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield draw with Tasmania, following on from his 130 off 118 balls in the Bulls’ One-Day Cup opener against Victoria last month.The hot run of form comes at the perfect time for Labuschagne, who is in the midst of a huge bat-off for an Ashes spot at the top of the order.Tim Ward drives during his maiden one-day century•Getty ImagesLabuschagne is competing with the likes of Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Nathan McSweeney, Jake Weatherald and Matt Renshaw to partner Usman Khawaja as opener for the five-Test series against England.There is also the option of Labuschagne returning to his preferred No. 3 position if selectors opt not to pick allrounder Beau Webster, who is battling an ankle injury.Labuschagne cracked eight fours and two sixes in his sparkling knock on Thursday. He was dropped on 91 when spinner Nikhil Chaudhary couldn’t hold on to a sizzling return chance.Labuschagne punched Chaudhary for four behind point to bring up his ton off 89 balls, but he was out a short time later when he edged the spinner behind.The exit of Labuschagne sparked a collapse of 7 for 70 as Queensland failed to capitalise on a strong start. Renshaw, who was called up ahead of Labuschagne for the upcoming ODI series against India, scored 38 off 35 balls.Labuschagne’s most recent Test century came against England in 2023, with his lean run of form since then resulting in his axing for the 3-0 series win over the West Indies.His ODI snub this week added further salt to the wound, but Labuschagne replied in perfect style with his ton on Thursday.

Konstas' Test hopes fade with a duck on 13-wicket day

Boland removed Konstas for a duck after Victoria posted 240 on a difficult batting pitch where Handscomb and Perry had stood tall

Alex Malcolm15-Oct-2025Sam Konstas’ hopes of playing in the first Ashes Test are fading fast after he fell for a duck to Scott Boland at the Junction Oval on a day when Sean Abbott became the first player to be subbed out of a Sheffield Shield game through injury under Cricket Australia’s new trial rule.Konstas’ tough start to the Shield season continued as he was trapped lbw for a fourth-ball duck by Boland in the first over of New South Wales’ reply after Victoria had been bowled out for 240 on a very seam-friendly surface.Related

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Konstas left the first three length balls wide of off stump but then missed a full, straight delivery that would have crashed into middle and leg. It was the fifth time that Boland has dismissed Konstas in Shield cricket and the third time in the last three innings he has faced him.”It’s amazing just watching Scotty doing his thing and just going about his process each time he bowls, he’s better and better and better,” Victoria batter Peter Handscomb said after play. “He just peaks nicely come summer time for the Australian summer. So I’ve got no doubt in my mind that if selected [for the Ashes] which hopefully he is, he’ll do a great job.”It leaves Konstas with scores of 4, 14 and 0 to start the Shield season, although he has batted on some very difficult surfaces, and he has potentially three innings remaining before the Test squad his named.Victoria’s top three had also crumbled in the morning while NSW’s did likewise in the final hour on a day when 13 wickets fell overall for just 279. The home side’s new ball pairing of Boland and Fergus O’Neill relished the friendly conditions in the evening sunlight, just as NSW’s seamers had earlier in the day.Following Boland’s breakthrough, O’Neill had Kurtis Patterson caught behind for 5. Blake Nikitaras fought his way to 20 before O’Neill breached his defence from around the wicket to disturb his off stump. Matthew Gilkes and nightwatcher Ryan Hadley fought hard to get to stumps at 39 for 3 without further loss.Earlier, Handscomb continued his sparkling form making a superb 85 while Mitchell Perry made his fifth first-class half-century to rescue Victoria from a perilous position while Liam Hatcher taking his first five-wicket haul in Shield cricket.Handscomb and Perry came together at 66 for 5 after Abbott and Jack Edwards torn through the top-order following NSW’s decision to bowl on a lively Junction Oval pitch that was firm underneath with a thick coverage of green grass.Peter Handscomb continued his excellent form•Getty ImagesHandscomb looked a class above, navigating some hostile bowling from Abbott and Hatcher in particular. He had some luck, playing and missing several times, while a gloved ball cleared the keeper and two other top edges yielded boundaries.But his calmness shone as he sat deep in the crease and used the pace with some deft cut shots and controlled drives down the ground. Perry also batted impressively having been elevated above skipper Will Sutherland to No. 7. He played some outstanding drives through the off side to several over-pitched deliveries.Both played the ball much later than others in Victoria’s top order. Campbell Kellaway dragged on for 3 trying to drive a full ball wide of off stump. Another Test aspirant Marcus Harris also fell playing an expansive cover drive, edging Edwards behind. In between those dismissals, Abbott nicked off Harry Dixon with a beauty that nipped across the left-hander from back of a length.Victoria were 13 for 3 and then 38 for 4 when Edwards scratched the outside edge of Ollie Peake with another delivery that angled across the 19-year-old left-hander. Sam Harper was Hatcher’s first victim, edging a good length delivery to gully for a brisk 20 that included four boundaries.Handscomb and Perry then combined for a 130-run stand which was a complete outlier among the flurry of wickets that fell at either end of the day. Nathan Lyon bowled 13 overs but did not get any purchase on a surface where the seamers dominated.Abbott’s injury changed the course of Victoria’s innings. With the first ball of the 43rd over, Abbott’s ninth, Handscomb struck a firm drive back at him and the ball split the webbing between the second and third fingers on his right hand. Abbott walked straight off for treatment and never returned.Shortly after it was announced that he had been subbed out of the game under CA’s new injury replacement rule given he could not bowl again due to the injury. Charlie Stobo replaced him and bowled his first over of the match straight after the tea break. He struck in his third, luring Handscomb to drive a delivery that shaped away late with Edwards pouching the catch at a floating slip.Hatcher then cleaned up the tail with pace. Edwards took another sharp chance at first slip to remove Perry after dropping a tough one-hander moments before.Todd Murphy provided some excellent late hitting against a barrage of short balls. He clubbed 31 off 25 deliveries, including five boundaries before holing out to cover to end the innings.

فيديو | شد وجذب.. ريال مدريد يفقد نقطتين ويكتفي بتعادل مثير مع إلتشي في الدوري الإسباني

خاض فريق ريال مدريد، بقيادة المدرب تشابي ألونسو، مباراته في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم موسم 2025/26، ضد نظيره فريق إلتشي.

وحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على إلتشي، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من الدوري الإسباني لذلك الموسم، حيث تعادلا بهدفين لمثليهما.

وكاد ريال مدريد أن يسجل الهدف الأول في الدقيقة الرابعة من عمر الشوط الأول، بعدما سدد رودريجو كرة قوية من داخل منطقة الجزاء، ومرت أعلى المرمى.

وفي الدقيقة 11، تلقى كيليان مبابي الكرة بعد تمريرة عرضية وسددها بطريقة قوية من على حدود منطقة الجزاء، ومرت بجوار القائم، في حين تصدى الحارس تيبو كورتوا لتسديدة من لاعب إلتشي في الدقيقة 18، في دقائق سجال بين الطرفين.

ونفذ ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد ركلة ركنية في الدقيقة 21، ووصلت الكرة إلى راؤول أسينسيو الذي سددها برأسه تجاه المرمى، ولكنها مرت بجوار القائم.

وأهدر إلتشي فرصة مثالية للتسجيل في الدقيقة 28، بعدما انفرد لاعب الفريق بالحارس تيبو كورتوا، وبدلًا من التسديد، فضّل تمريرها إلى زميله ولكنها لم تكن متقنة واقتطعها دفاع الملكي، لتضيع الفرصة على أصحاب الأرض.

وفي الدقيقة 30، تصدى حارس مرمى إلتشي، إيناكي بينيا، لفرصة هدف من كيليان مبابي بعدما سدد الأخير الكرة، ولكن بينيا تصدى لها ببراعة.

وتمكن إلتشي من تسجيل هدف أول في شباك ريال مدريد، في الدقيقة 53، حيث جاء الهدف عن طريق اللاعب أليكس فيباس، بعد تمريرة بالكعب من زميله فاليرا، ووصلت الكرة إلى فيباس الذي سددها لتمر من تحت يد تيبو كورتوا، بطريقة رائعة.

وفي الدقيقة 78، أحرز ريال مدريد هدف التعادل بعد ركلة ركنية حيث وصلت الكرة إلى جود بيلينجهام، الذي سددها برأسه ووصلت إلى دين هويسن، وسددها الأخير في الشباك.

ونجح إلتشي في تسجيل هدف التقدم من جديد بعدما سدد ألفارو رودريجيز الكرة بطريقة رائعة من خارج المنطقة، وهزت شباك تيبو كورتوا.

واشتعلت المباراة بعدما سجل جود بيلينجهام هدف التعادل في الدقيقة 88، حيث مرر دين هويسن الكرة ناحية بيلينجهام الذي سددها ناحية المرمى، وتصدى لها الحارس، ووصلت إلى مبابي، الذي مررها من جديد ووصلت إلى الإنجليزي الذي سددها في الشباك.

واعترض لاعبو إلتشي على احتساب هدف بيلينجهام، وجود تدخل ضد حارس إلتشي، بينيا، من قِبل فينيسيوس جونيور قبل اهتزاز شباكه، ولكن تم احتسابه في النهاية.

وطُرد لاعب إلتشي، فيكتور تشوست في الدقيقة السابعة من الوقت المحتسب بدلًا من الضائع للشوط الثاني، لحصوله على بطاقة صفراء ثانية. 

بتلك النتيجة، حصل كل فريق على نقطة، حيث أصبح رصيد ريال مدريد 32 نقطة في المركز الأول، بينما أصبح رصيد إلتشي 16 نقطة في المركز الحادي عشر.

MLB Request Could Lead to Odd Celebrations for Mets, Braves After Doubleheader

Monday's doubleheader between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, makeup games as a result of a poorly-handled situation that now determines the playoff fates of the two squads—and the Arizona Diamondbacks—was already a strange situation.

But, thanks to a request from MLB, the ending of the second game of the twin bill could look even stranger.

Speaking to reporters on Monday ahead of the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that MLB requested the club that wins the first game of the doubleheader hold off on any celebrations until after the second game.

"No, we won't," Mendoza said when asked if the Mets would celebrate after the first game if they win—and thus clinch a playoff berth.

"This is more from MLB, so celebrations will take part after Game 2."

As ESPN's Buster Olney noted, Mendoza even went on to joke that the teams should give each other one "giant hug" on the field.

If one of the Mets or Braves wins both games of the doubleheader, then the victorious club will head to the postseason along with the Diamondbacks, and the loser will head home for the winter. Should the Mets and Braves split the twin bill, they will both be postseason-bound.

In that second scenario, a real possibility because the team that wins the first game has little incentive to win the second with the playoffs beginning Tuesday, both teams could technically celebrate on the field at the same time.

Should that happen, it will undoubtedly be one of the most bizarre things any baseball fan has ever seen.

Adam Zampa joins Surrey for T20 Blast

Adam Zampa has signed to play for Surrey in their next four Vitality Blast matches.Legspinner Zampa will arrive ahead of the double-header featuring Surrey’s women’s and men’s teams against Essex at the Kia Oval on July 6.The highest wicket-taker for Australia in T20I cricket with 117 wickets, Zampa became the first Australian to pass the 100-wickets mark in the format and was part of the teams that won the T20 World Cup in 2021 and the 50-over World Cup in 2024.His 363 T20 wickets include appearances at the IPL, Big Bash and the Hundred, where he was part of the Oval Invincibles teams which won consecutive titles in 2023 and 2024.His IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad this year was cut short in mid-April when he suffered a recurrence of a shoulder injury. He played the first two games of the tournament as the Impact Sub, taking 1 for 48 and 1 for 46 but missed the next four games with soreness in his bowling arm and ultimately flew home to Australia.”I can’t wait to get going for Surrey and to play in front of the Kia Oval crowd once again,” Zampa told Surrey’s website. “It’s one of the great grounds in the world to play the game and I know how much playing for Surrey means to the lads so I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s all about.”Zampa will also play for Surrey against Gloucestershire in Bristol, then at home against Glamorgan on July 11 and Somerset two days later.Australia are in the Caribbean playing the first of three Tests against West Indies, which will be followed by a five-game T20I series starting in Kingtston on July 21.Should Surrey reach the knockout stages of the Blast, Zampa will be available for the quarter-finals and Finals Day in September.Alec Stewart, High Performance Cricket Advisor at Surrey CCC, said: “Adam Zampa is one of the finest T20 spinners in world cricket and I’m excited to welcome him to Surrey for the Vitality Blast. He brings a wealth of experience and technical skills on the pitch and great character off it.”

Vaughan 'staggered' by England's bowl-first decision as India dominate at Headingley

India piled on 359 for 3 on the opening day after being handed first use of the pitch by Ben Stokes

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jun-20251:45

Manjrekar: Rahul, Jaiswal made England bowling look ‘insipid’

England were left to rue their “staggering” decision to bowl first as India piled on 359 for 3 on the opening day at Headingley. The past six Leeds Tests have been won by the team bowling first, but former England captain Michael Vaughan said he was shocked to learn that Ben Stokes had chosen to field under clear skies on a dry, hard pitch.Stokes said after winning the toss that his side would “look to use the early conditions”, and England’s bowling consultant Tim Southee said at the close that they had seen enough in the pitch – “a little bit of moisture” – to think that the new ball would move around. Instead, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill both hit fluent hundreds to put India in control.England have pulled off fourth-innings run-chases against Australia (2019 and 2023) and New Zealand (2022) at Headingley in recent years, and were on the wrong end of one by West Indies in 2017. But Vaughan suggested that Stokes had paid insufficient attention to the conditions, with Leeds enjoying unusually warm weather so far this summer.Related

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“I’m a bit of an old-school traditionalist here at Leeds that, when the sun shines, it’s quite an easy decision, particularly with the build-up to the Test match and it being so dry and so nice,” Vaughan said on the BBC’s . “I was staggered… when I heard he was going to bowl first. I thought, traditions have gone out the window.”I know England have won chasing here quite a number of times over the recent times, but you always have to pick your decisions on that moment: just because you’ve won a year ago, two years ago, or three years ago, it can’t really affect what the decision is today. And they’ve allowed India with a youngish batting line-up and a new captain to just go and play.”Vaughan said that he was particularly surprised, given the inexperience of England’s attack, with two of their seamers – Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse – sharing only ten caps between them. “You look at the suits of the England side and their strength, really, is in the batting,” he added. “Ben just had a gut feeling, I guess, and in recent times it’s worked.”Southee defended the decision, and gave credit to India’s openers – Jaiswal and KL Rahul – for making conditions look easier than they were. “With the colour of the wicket yesterday and a little bit of moisture left in it, we thought there’d be a little bit left in it this morning,” he said. “There was a little bit of assistance there, but for the rest of the day, it was a pretty good surface.”

Rogério Ceni deve ser anunciado como novo técnico do Bahia

MatériaMais Notícias

Rogério Ceni deve ser anunciado como técnico do Bahia nas próximas horas. O treinador estava sem clube desde que deixou o São Paulo, em abril deste ano. O ex-goleiro e ídolo do Tricolor vai assumir o lugar deixado por Renato Paiva, que pediu demissão após muitas críticas pelo desempenho ruim no Brasileirão.

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+ Qual é a ligação da SAF do Bahia com o grupo City?

Ceni assume o Bahia na 16ª posição do Campeonato Brasileiro, logo acima da zona de rebaixamento. O time briga diretamente com Vasco e Santos na luta contra a degola. A informação sobre o acerto de Ceni com o time baiano foi divulgada inicialmente pelo jornalista Yuri Santana, no X, antigo Twitter.

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Em sua carreira como treinador, Ceni tem um título do Campeonato Brasileiro no currículo pelo Flamengo. O treinador também teve sucesso no Fortaleza, onde fez ótima campanha e se destacou no cenário nacional. Enquanto Ceni não chega, Rogério Ferreira, auxiliar técnico, segue treinando a equipe.

+ Confira a classificação atualizada do Brasileirão e veja os próximos jogos

Cole Palmer urged to jump at 'incredible and unique experience' with Real Madrid or Barcelona should Spanish giants move for Chelsea talisman

Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer has, in an exclusive chat with GOAL, been urged to jump at the chance of moving to Barcelona or Real Madrid if the giants from La Liga ever come calling. The England international has become one of the Premier League’s brightest lights, while also impressing with the Three Lions, and is likely to register on the recruitment radar of leading sides around the world in upcoming transfer windows.

  • Getty Images / GOAL

    Palmer's Chelsea record: England star shining for Blues

    Palmer moved to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City for £40 million ($54m) in 2023. He enjoyed a memorable debut campaign in west London, registering 25 goals and being named PFA Young Player of the Year. His output dipped slightly in 2024-25, finding the target on 18 occasions, but was still able to help the Blues to Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup honours.

    Chelsea have moved to tie Palmer down on a contract through to 2033, as they seek to ensure that they are the ones to benefit from his current ability and future potential, but there are no guarantees that said terms will be honoured. Any player in world football would find it difficult to shun interest from the likes of Barca and Real if they were to put a formal bid on the table.

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  • Barcelona or Real Madrid: Interest difficult to shun

    Quizzed on whether he would like to see Palmer embrace a challenge outside of the Premier League, former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet – speaking via Casino.org, known for helping Brits find reliable online casinos – told GOAL: "I always encourage the English players to go abroad. One thing that they miss is to see something different. I always said when we played in England, as soon as a foreign player started playing the football you play anywhere else in the world, it’s ‘that one cheats, that one goes down’. Okay, the word cheat probably was right, but we play like that all over the world. I want to say to the English players ‘go to Spain, you wouldn’t last five minutes because they go down every 20 seconds’. You need to learn that game as well and another country. I think it is always a good learning situation.

    "It’s individual, though, because the Premier League is the best – that is non-negotiable. I don’t care what anyone says. Spain had a moment when it was close to the Premier League, only because [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo were there. Now, there is no comparison. You are in the best league in the world, so I imagine that for players to go from the best to somewhere else is difficult. I would say if it is a top team, a Real Madrid, then you must. You will have an incredible and unique experience, not only in football but also in life. You will learn from that for the future, forever. I would like to see those quality players go to other places and enjoy that."

  • Getty

    Chelsea need to match Palmer's ambition

    Poyet previously told GOAL of Chelsea needing to remain fiercely competitive on multiple fronts in order to match Palmer’s ambition: "Sometimes players go to a club, they perform, show what they can do and become really big. I like him because I didn’t know and when I saw him at Chelsea I went ‘wow’. Now, after two years being there, if he sees he isn’t going to get the Chelsea he thought was coming, maybe he will think about moving on as well.

    "It’s an issue. Not for the fans, I know them well and from when the team was just starting to win and a cup was magic for them – an FA Cup, a Carling Cup, the Cup Winners’ Cup, those situations were incredible. Then it was [Jose] Mourinho and [Roman] Abramovich and they wanted to win the league. Then you don’t want to lose that status. Now it is ‘where are we going?’ I understand the Chelsea fans. The most important thing is the top message to the fans, so you know the aim and what is realistic for Chelsea. They should be aiming for the top four, and that’s it."

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  • Palmer injury: Will Chelsea star require surgery?

    Chelsea are currently having to cope without Palmer as he is nursing a groin injury. He has sat out the Blues’ last two fixtures – with Enzo Maresca’s side on a run of two wins in six across all competitions – with questions being asked of whether he will be forced to undergo surgery.

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