Asia News TheFoxPosts.com

Mauricio Pochettino says Christopher Nkunku needs to become more involved after starting his first game for Chelsea, but admits more adaptation is required. Nkunku joined Chelsea on a six-year deal earlier this summer, but had to wait until Christmas Eve to make his Premier League debut after sustaining a serious knee injury in pre-season. The 26-year-old marked that first Premier League outing with a goal, scoring a stoppage-time header as Chelsea slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Wolves, and was handed his first start by Pochettino in Wednesday's much-needed 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. Nkunku got 70 valuable minutes under his belt before being replaced by eventual match winner Noni Madueke, and Pochettino was pleased with his efforts while recognising that more is needed from the Frenchman as he acclimatises to his new surroundings. "He needs to adapt to the team and the Premier League, but he played more than 60 minutes and it was an important step for him," Pochettino remar...

The Sir Jim Ratcliffe era at Old Trafford got off to the perfect start as Manchester United roared to a 3-2 comeback victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day. United were comically poor in defence as they conceded from two set-pieces in the first half, but from that point onwards, the Red Devils were the better team and they put on a show for INEOS representative Sir Dave Brailsford, who was watching on from the stands. Alejandro Garnacho netted twice after the break, having already seen a goal ruled out for offside, before Rasmus Hojlund netted his long-awaited first league goal late on to seal a dramatic victory. How the game unfolded Villa marginally had the better of the opening stages, although it was Christian Eriksen who had the first real sight of goal ten minutes in as he sent a long-range strike fizzing straight into the gloves of Emiliano Martinez. 22 minutes in, Villa took the lead in bizarre circumstances. McGinn floated in a free kick which bounced through a crowded six-...

Lionel Messi will start on the bench for Argentina against Paraguay on Thursday as he continues to step up his return from a recent injury. The 36-year-old was forced off in the first of La Albiceleste’s opening two FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier s, scoring the winning goal against Ecuador before being replaced due to “tiredness”. Argentina vs Paraguay FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier: live What injury has Messi been struggling with? That initial diagnosis proved to be somewhat misleading, with Messi reportedly aggravating an old scar tissue injury, which forced him to sit out four of Inter Miami’s six matches after the September international break. 🚨 Lionel Messi on the bench. Argentina start ing XI: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Nicolás González; Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/DiSOZ2rCIG — Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) October 12, 2023 After n...