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Pochettino begs for patience after 3-1 loss to West Ham

Chelsea suffered a 3-1 loss to West Ham on Sunday as its new-look team continues to adapt to the start of the Premier League season.

Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino has supervised an overhaul of the squad since taking charge this year, but after two games, he is still searching for the first league win of his tenure.

Eight new players – for a fee of $414 million, according to Reuters – have been signed by the club since Pochettino’s arrival, with American owner Todd Boehly continuing to invest heavily.

However, despite splashing the cash, creating an identity in soccer takes time and Pochettino urged fans to stick with the team.

“Disappointed, but this is only the beginning. We need to believe in the process. I think we are going to be stronger and, for sure, be really competitive,” he told Sky Sports after the game.

Chelsea’s day got off to a bad start after West Ham took the early lead courtesy of Nayef Aguerd’s header, a goal which sent the London Stadium into a frenzy after just seven minutes.

Teenager Carney Chukwuemeka then equalized for Chelsea in the 28th minute with a fine goal, but the visitors trailed again after Hammers forward Michail Antonio fired his side ahead with a powerful strike after the break.

West Ham then found itself a man down after Aguerd was sent off for a second bookable offense after 67 minutes.

Despite the one-man advantage, Chelsea couldn’t find the equalizer. Star midfielder Enzo Fernández had the best chance but saw his poor penalty attempt saved by Alphonse Areola.
One of Chelsea’s recent marquee signings, Moisés Caicedo, was given his debut for the club after coming on as a second-half substitute.

The midfielder signed for the London club for $146 million – a record-breaking transfer for a British club – but he will hope for better performances in the future.

With Chelsea struggling to find another goal, Caicedo’s clumsy challenge gave away a penalty which Lucas Paquetá scored in added time to wrap up the win.

“That’s football. Teams like us, we need to get the right balance. I think today there were a few actions we didn’t manage well and we concede,” Pochettino added.

“Overall, it is this type of game that is difficult to explain. You had the possession, you create and maybe you were the better side, but in the end, you lose.”

Chelsea heads home to face newly-promoted Luton Town in its next league match at Stamford Bridge on Friday.

Pochettino will hope it’s the perfect fixture to jump-start his tenure at the club, which is in desperate need of some stability.

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Postecoglou dismisses claims that Mathys Tel rejected Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has denied reports suggesting that 19-year-old forward Mathys Tel initially refused to join the club before his deadline-day transfer from Bayern Munich.

Reports emerged last week claiming that Tel had declined a move to Spurs despite meeting chairman Daniel Levy in Germany. However, the forward was later pictured en route to London and officially completed his move on transfer deadline day, joining on loan with a £47.5 million purchase option for the summer.

Addressing the speculation, Postecoglou clarified the situation: “I think people need to understand that you are talking about a 19-year-old who has to make a major decision for his career. It’s not that he rejected us or anyone else. He just wanted to be comfortable with his decision, and credit to him for that.”

Postecoglou also praised Tel’s diligence during the transfer process: “He took so much time and was very diligent about finding out everything. He had other options, which gives me even more confidence that we are getting the right mentality and player. He is ambitious and confident, and it’s great that he chose us.”

Tel may make his debut as Spurs travel to Anfield for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Liverpool on Thursday.

New defensive signing Kevin Danso is also available for selection, but key defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero remain sidelined. Spurs are defending a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg.

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Galatasaray open talks with Wolves for midfielder Mario Lemina

Galatasaray has confirmed negotiations with Wolves over the transfer of Gabonese midfielder Mario Lemina.

Lemina, who joined Wolves from Nice in January 2023, has been sidelined since January 6 following a fallout with manager Vitor Pereira. The midfielder initially refused to make himself available for selection, only to reverse his stance later. Pereira, however, insisted Lemina would remain out until the transfer window closed.

On Wednesday, Galatasaray announced they had entered discussions with both Lemina and Wolves, with Turkey’s transfer window remaining open until February 11.

Lemina, 31, previously played for Galatasaray on loan during the 2019-20 season, making 28 appearances.

His time at Wolves saw challenges, including losing the captaincy to Nelson Semedo after a clash with West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen. Wolves, currently sitting 17th in the Premier League, are just two points above the relegation zone after a difficult season.

Galatasaray, on the other hand, lead the Turkish Super Lig and have advanced to the knockout play-off stage of the Europa League.

Lemina’s career began at Lorient, followed by stints at Marseille and Juventus. Southampton signed him for a then club-record £18.1 million in 2017, where he made 52 appearances.

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Tsimikas urges aggression as Liverpool aim to overcome Spurs in Carabao Cup Semi-Final

Liverpool fullback Kostas Tsimikas has called on his teammates to adopt an aggressive approach as they prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at Anfield.

Trailing by a one-goal deficit from the first leg, Tsimikas expressed confidence in Liverpool’s ability to secure victory on home turf.

“Everybody is really ready for this game. It will be tough, but we are prepared for every challenge,” Tsimikas told the club’s website.

He emphasized the team’s determination to win every trophy this season, highlighting the importance of the Anfield crowd.

“The fans always give us extra power and confidence. With Anfield at our backs, we are stronger, and we have to show that again.”

Discussing the game plan, Tsimikas stressed the importance of an early goal to shift the game’s momentum.

“We need to score quickly. That will change the dynamic and force them to open up. We must capitalize on that and score goals to win.”

The Reds will be looking to harness their attacking prowess and fan support as they seek to overturn Tottenham’s advantage and progress to the final.