Former Chelsea boss Avram Grant says Andre Villas-Boas will be expected to achieve immediate success at Stamford Bridge.
The 33-year-old tactician was unveiled as manager on a three-year deal on Wednesday.
Grant, who took over from Jose Mourinho in September 2007, led Chelsea to the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, which they lost to Manchester United, and second in the English Premier League.
The Israeli said Villas-Boas would need to be successful early on to ensure pressure would not build on him.
Owner Roman Abramovich is a guy who wants results and will support you financially, Grant told Radio 5 Live on Thursday.
He has invested a lot of money and wants success as early as possible.
The former Porto manager led them to league gl…
Roma closing in on Miralem Pjanic
Roma are expected to wrap up a deal for Lyon midfielder Miralem Pjanic later today, L’Equipe reports.
The two clubs have reportedly agreed on €11 million transfer fee last night and it’s now up to the player to agree personal terms.
Roma are prepared to offer the Bosnia international €2 million per season, which should be enough to persuade the young midfielder into joining the Giallorossi.
The 21-year-old has endured some tough times at Gerland since arriving from Metz in 2008, but has finally been given a real chance this season.
New coach Remi Garde reserved a starting place in midfield for Pjanic in the absence of injured Yoann Gourcuff, but it looks as though that wasn’t enough to keep the player a…
Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has pledged to keep in-demand captain Ross McCormack at the club despite significant interest.
A host of clubs – including the likes of West Ham United, Cardiff City, Fulham and Derby County – are said to be keen on signing McCormack ahead of the new season.
The Scotland international was the Championship s top scorer last term, netting 28 times in 46 appearances, and his brilliance helped Leeds stave off the threat of relegation after a disastrous run of form in early 2014.
Fulham are thought to have had a £5million bid rejected for the forward, while recent reports have linked Cardiff with a £9million move for a player they sold to Leeds in 2010.
And while Cellino said he may give McCormack the chance to talk to …
FIFPro believe FIFA s decision to ban Luis Suarez for four months infringes his right to work and have vowed to support the striker.
Suarez was hit with a four-month suspension from all football-related activities on Thursday and prohibited from playing for Uruguay for nine matches after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during Tuesday s FIFA World Cup Group D clash.
The Uruguayan Football Association vowed to appeal against the decision, which has left them without their star man for the remainder of the tournament, and Chiellini stated that he felt the punishment was excessive.
World players union FIFPro have now come out in support of the under-fire frontman, who was previously in hot water for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal in 2010 and Che…
New Chelsea signing Alvaro Morata is delighted that destiny has given him the chance to play for manager Antonio Conte.
The Spain international completed his move from Real Madrid last week for a reported fee of £70million, making him the Premier League champions record signing.
Morata was brought to Juventus by Conte in 2014, but the pair did not get the chance to work together for long, with the 47-year-old leaving to take charge of Italy a month later.
The striker stated in April that he expected to work with Conte again sooner or later and he is excited to have the chance to do so in England s top flight.
I know Antonio wanted me in the past and I really want to work with Antonio, and finally destiny put us together, he told the club s official web…
Cruzeiro have confirmed the appointment of former Brazil boss Mano Menezes as their new coach following the departure of Paulo Bento.
Menezes left Cruzeiro following the 2015 season to take charge of Shandong Luneng for the 2016 Chinese Super League campaign.
However, following a dismal start in the CSL, the 54-year-old resigned from Shandong in June and now returns to Belo Horizonte just seven months after his departure.
Menezes takes over from ex-Portugal head coach Bento, who left his post on Monday having only assumed the reins in May.
Bento won just four of his 15 top-flight matches at the helm and leaves the 2013 and 2014 champions languishing in 19th.
Cruzeiro face Copa Libertadores-chasing Santos in their next outing on Sunday.
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Edinson Cavani trained with Manchester United for the first time on Sunday after the new signing completed his quarantine period.
Cavani joined United on transfer deadline day as a free agent having left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the 2019-20 season.
However, amid the coronavirus pandemic, government guidelines in the United Kingdom require people to quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival from certain foreign territories.
The Uruguayan travelled from France, one of the countries on the list, meaning he has had to train in isolation.
Cavani was therefore unable to feature in Saturday s Premier League win away at Newcastle United, meaning his debut could come against former club PSG in the Champions League.
As they prepare for …
Ernesto Valverde has agreed a new contract as Barcelona coach until the end of next season with the option for a further year, the club have confirmed.
Valverde is in his second campaign at Camp Nou, having joined from Athletic Bilbao, and has enjoyed a strong start to life as Barca s coach – winning LaLiga and the Copa del Rey in 2017-18.
Once again the Catalan giants look well on track for a successful season this time around, sitting six points clear at the top of the table after 23 matches, while they are also in the semi-finals of the Copa and the Champions League last 16.
Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu spoke highly of Valverde earlier in the week, insisting he would be in charge of the team next season regardless of whether they win any silverwar…
Market: Exeter City win
Odds: 4/5 @
Two sides who really find themselves battling it out at opposite ends of the League Two table, Exeter will welcome Oldham to St. James Park on Saturday afternoon.
Starting with the hosts, managing to land a thumping EFL Trophy victory in midweek after a stellar first-half romp, Exeter find themselves enjoying what has been a remarkable run of form. Eventually claiming an action-packed 5-3 win against Bristol Rovers on home soil, the Whites are now sat just a single point adrift of finding a route into the automatic promotions spots. Last seen on League Two duties landing a 2-1 win away at Salford, Matt Taylor s men have won each of their last three League Two contests on the spin. With leading marksman Matt Jay already racking…
According to a recent report from Sky Sports, Juventus are set to offer Giorgio Chiellini a new contract with the club.
The 36-year-old became a free agent when his contract ran out last month and, in that time, he kept himself pretty busy by playing an integral role in helping Italy win Euro 2020.
There are plenty of English fans out there who would be pretty content with never seeing Chiellini again but for the Italians, he s a hero. Juve have their eyes firmly fixed on the prize of regaining their Serie A title from Inter Milan and one way in which they can do that is by improving their defensive structure.
Chiellini alone isn t going to do the job but if they can get him to commit to at least one or two more years with the Old Lady, then they could begin to …