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Antonio Conte: Chelsea boss questions Tottenham's ambitions

Chelsea beat Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-finals and gained seven points more than them in the Premier League last season Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has questioned Tottenham's ambition, suggesting they have lower expectations than their Premier League title rivals. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy this week defended a lack of signings and  railed against "unsustainable" spending. They were runners up to Chelsea in the Premier League last term,  faltered in the Champions League group stages, and again in the  Europa League last 32. "If [Spurs] don't win the title, it's not a tragedy," said Conte. "If they don't arrive in the Champions League, it's not a tragedy. If they go out in the first round of the Champions League, it's not a tragedy. If they go out after the first game that they play in the Europa League, it's not a tragedy. "Maybe for Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and - I don't know - Liverpo...

Manchester City thrash Real Madrid 4-1 in Los Angeles

Danilo (left) can play in both full-back roles as well as in midfield Manager Pep Guardiola said £52m signing Benjamin Mendy will be missing for "two or three weeks" after Manchester City beat Real Madrid 4-1 in Los Angeles. Mendy, who joined from Monaco, was not involved and will miss the start of the season with a muscle problem. "We don't want to take a risk because he is so explosive," said Guardiola. A crowd of 93,000 saw City earn their first win of pre-season with goals by Nicolas Otamendi, Raheem Sterling, John Stones and 17-year-old Brahim Diaz. In Mendy's absence, Danilo made his debut at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the 26-year-old Brazilian starting at left-back against his former club, having signed for £26.5m. "Today we saw how good he can play," Guardiola said. "He is a competitor. Him and Kyle helped organise our back four. They communicated with each other. We are very pleased about that side." City have spent i...

Newcastle United back in English Premier League

Newcastle United have secured their return to the English Premier League after a season in the Championship. Nearly a year after being relegated, Newcastle earned a convincing 4-1 home victory over 10-man Preston North End on Monday to spark a noisy promotion party at St James' Park. Ayoze Perez put the Magpies ahead with a tap-in early on but the visitors responded in a matter of minutes.  Newcastle took the lead once again at half-time when Christian Atsu finished off a fine counter attack. Preston's Paul Gallagher was shown a red card for handling on the line and Matt Ritchie scored the resulting penalty before Perez got his second of the night from close range to guarantee his side’s promotion from the Championship

Arsene Wenger: Arsenal boss says he will manage next season

Arsene Wenger has been in charge at Arsenal since 1996, but last won the Premier League in 2004 Arsene Wenger says he will definitely be managing next season, whether at Arsenal "or somewhere else". Wenger, 67, was speaking at the end of one of the most turbulent weeks of his two-decade tenure as Gunners boss. After Wednesday's  5-1 Champions League defeat  by Bayern Munich, several ex-players said they believed  his time in charge was coming to an end. The Frenchman's contract expires at the end of this season and he said he would decide on a new deal in March or April. "No matter what happens I will manage for another season. Whether it's here or somewhere else, that is for sure," Wenger said on Friday. "If I said March or April it is because I didn't know. I do not want to come back on that. "I am used to the criticism. I think in life it's important to do what you think is right and all the rest is judgement. I am in a publ...

Arsène Wenger to decide his Arsenal future

 Arsenal manager must choose whether to leave or sign new contract   Arsène Wenger’s contract as Arsenal’s manager expires at the end of the season but he has been offered an extension. Photograph: Sven Hoppe/AP Arsène Wenger  has said his future will probably be decided in March or April” as he ponders whether to take up the offer of a contract extension or leave Arsenal at the end of the season. Wenger was speaking to the German television station ZDF before  Arsenal’s 5-1 Champions League humiliation by Bayern Munich  on Wednesday, but details of the interview emerged only on Thursday. Asked when he would decide whether to continue next season, he said: “March, April probably.” The 67-year-old was stunned almost into silence after Wednesday’s game, answering only three questions in a press conference that lasted under three minutes. The manager is due to speak publicly again on Friday. Arsenal’s next match is in the FA Cup at non-league Sutton Unit...

'I'd quit football for him if it meant him staying alive'

Brighton's Connor Goldson wants to return after heart surgery Connor Goldson has made eight first-team appearances for Brighton this season Brighton defender Connor Goldson is determined to return to playing after being diagnosed with a heart issue. The 24-year-old  requires preventative surgery after the problem was discovered in routine cardiac screening by the Championship club. "Football has always been my life but at 24 this has put my life into perspective," he posted on Twitter. "I know I'm strong enough to recover and determined to be back on a football pitch where I'm happiest." Goldson has been ruled out for the rest of the season by the Seagulls, and a precise timescale for his recovery has not been given. Heart defects previously forced former Bolton midfielder  Fabrice Muamba  and ex-England and Nottinghamshire cricketer  James Taylor  to retire. Goldson thanked his team-mates, Albion staff, girlfriend and family for their support ...

UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw 2016/2017

Craig Burley and Mark Donaldson dissect the winners and losers of the UCL round of 16 draw. Arsenal have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the Champions League's round of 16, while Barcelona will take on Paris Saint-Germain. Defending champions Real Madrid will play Napoli and Manchester City face Ligue 1 side Monaco. Arsenal, who won their group this season for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign, will be aiming to reach the quarterfinals of the competition for the first time since 2009-10. The Gunners meet Bayern again after facing them in the group stage last year and being dumped out at the round-of-16 stage by the Germans in 2012-13 and 2013-14. PSG, meanwhile, won their first meeting against Barca in the quarterfinals of the 1994-95 competition, but the Catalan club won the quarterfinal meetings in 2012-13 and 2014-15. The two clubs also met in the group stage in 2014, when PSG won at the Parc des Princes and Barca won at the Camp Nou. PSG director of football...