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La fête du printemps
Chinese New Year 🧧 📸 @lexpressmu
#mauritius #travelgram #takemetomauritius #bonjourlilemaurice #bonzourmoris #hellomauritius #feteduprintemps #ilemaurice #fetechnoise #sinomauricien
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Rory McIlroy almost aced a par-four hole en route to the first-round lead at the WGC-Mexico Championship on Thursday.
McIlroy’s two-iron at the 305-yard first hole, his 10th of the day, landed on the front of the green and his ball almost grazed the cup as it trickled past.
He sank the subsequent six-foot eagle putt and carded an eight-under-par 63 at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.
Rory McIlroy leads the pack at the WGC-Mexico Championship after the first round of action
The Northern Irishman leads American rival Dustin Johnson who finished seven under par
The Northern Irishman headed American Dustin Johnson by one stroke.
Tiger Woods, after receiving an enthusiastic introduction from the first tee announcer in his first tournament appearance in Mexico, promptly hit his drive out-of-bounds.
He double-bogeyed the hole but recovered to shoot a level-par 71.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson could hardly have started worse, carding an eight-over 79.
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From the moment Finn Russell introduced himself to French rugby with two tries and a 20-point haul on his debut for Racing 92 last August, it was difficult not to think of him as a sports car now operating in a land of monster trucks.
His ability to leave rivals choking on exhaust fumes was bound to take the breath away. But there was always a risk that he might bump into one of the behemoths who dominate the landscape in the Top14.
That juncture arrived last Sunday for the fly-half, with the concussion he suffered in Racing’s game against Toulouse ruling him out of Scotland’s showdown with France on Saturday.
Finn Russell (right) is out of Scotland’s Six Nations match with France due to concussion
Gregor Townsend is astute enough to recognise that, sooner or later, this was always going to happen; his best-laid plans could be ambushed by the harsh realities of Russell’s new life in Paris.
But that doesn’t make it any more palatable. Not when the injury was sustained slap-bang in the middle of the Six Nations.
For all that Russell’s decision to swap a Glasgow postcode for one in the Parisian suburbs brought an expansion of his rugby education and an inflation of his bank balance, there would come a point when Scotland would be left counting the cost of his lucrative contract.
The injury is in the middle of the Six Nations campaign and is hugely frustrating for Scotland
It is something that Townsend has spent this week coming to terms with. Russell is no longer on the SRU’s payroll. It really is as simple as that.
Racing call the shots in terms of when he does and doesn’t play. Townsend is quick to acknowledge the fact that, previously, the French club had been fairly agreeable over how they used Russell.
There were times that the SRU had asked for their star playmaker to be rested and, as such, a middle ground had been struck. But Pat Lambie’s recent retirement meant that Racing simply had to play him last weekend. As far as they were concerned, that was the bottom line. End of story.
Townsend, who has handed the No 10 jersey to Peter Horne in Russell’s absence, was understandably frustrated on Thursday.
But, when push comes to shove, he accepts that there are times when Scotland will be powerless to prevent Russell’s paymasters from playing him as and when they see fit.
Townsend has spent this week coming to terms with Russell’s injury as it hampers his plans
With Greig Laidlaw also playing his club rugby in France and Stuart Hogg set to join English Premiership side Exeter Chiefs as of next season, Townsend criticised what he feels is ‘not a level playing field’ for his Scotland players in comparison to their Six Nations rivals.
Asked if he found the circumstances around Russell’s injury frustrating, Townsend replied: ‘You could certainly class it as that because he’s got injured between two Six Nations games.
‘He could have been injured, obviously, during the Six Nations – injuries are random. It is disappointing, though, that he played a Sunday before a Test match – and that was always one of the risks of him playing in France.
‘When they’ve signed a player, they’ve signed him for all the games outwith the international window that he’s available for and, ultimately, it’s their choice.
‘I’m just disappointed that the French Federation, or the Top14, had games on Sunday, which makes it very difficult to recover from any injury in a short time -and, if you have a head injury, it is almost impossible to play the following week.
‘I would certainly look at not playing on Sundays because, with the HIA process that is rightly in place, if anybody is suspected of having a head injury then they go through that process and that effectively rules them out six days later.
‘We are obviously able to rest Scottish-based players between rounds two and three of the Six Nations. England rest all of their players because they all play in England. Ireland rest all their players because they all play in Ireland.
‘Wales are probably in a similar situation to us because they have one or two players based in England, and Italy likewise – I believe Sergio Parisse has been ruled out because of a head injury, as well.
‘It is obviously not a level playing field going into such an important tournament, that our players do play between Six Nations games, but it is what it is – we can’t change it.
‘Yes (we asked Racing to rest him). We’ve had a really good relationship with them since Finn moved to France. He was rested before the Six Nations, he was rested before the November Tests, he has been rested for a couple of other games throughout the Six Nations.
‘They are aware that it’s in their best interests, and especially in Finn’s best interests, that he doesn’t play too many games.
Scotland asked Racing 92 to rest Russell but the request was denied and he picked up an injury
‘But they were in a position where they believed they had to select Finn because one of their other tens – Pat Lambie – retired with a head injury.
‘So, that’s what happened and he’s going to miss a game for us and potentially miss games for them, because of his injury.’
Townsend admitted that no official date has yet been set for Russell’s comeback, with the SRU keen to respect the various return-to-play protocols that are in place.
Horne’s inclusion at fly-half is one of four changes from the defeat to Ireland a fortnight ago, with fit-again Magnus Bradbury being rewarded with a place in the back row after a man-of-the-match display for Edinburgh last weekend.
Elsewhere, Blair Kinghorn replaces Hogg at full-back, while Nick Grigg gets the nod to partner his Glasgow Warriors team-mate Sam Johnson in midfield. With Adam Hastings out of form at the moment, Townsend clearly feels that Horne’s experience makes him a safer pair of hands.
‘Adam would have been in a better position for selection if he had played more rugby over the last month,’ said the head coach. ‘But Peter Horne has shown everyone that he can play very well at ten at international level.
Townsend admitted on Thursday that he does not have a return date currently for Russell
‘He’s probably our most organised and best prepared player in the squad.’
As Scotland chase a first win in Paris in 20 years, they go up against a French team who seem to be mired in crisis.
After their capitulation against Wales and their thrashing at Twickenham, though, Townsend is not of a mind to write them off – warning his players that France will come out all guns firing.
He is also wary of the threat posed by the youthful Toulouse half-back pairing of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, who have just 13 caps between them.
Townsend added: ‘The French mindset is one of reaction, they love reacting to difficult circumstances, to challenges. They will come out all guns blazing.’
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Paul Newman for the Daily Mail
England have identified Chris Silverwood as a leading candidate to become head coach when Trevor Bayliss leaves at the end of this World Cup and Ashes summer.
Ashley Giles, the new team director, has confirmed Sportsmail’s Monday story that revealed he wants one man to step into the Australian’s shoes, with assistants given extra responsibility for different formats.
Silverwood, the current bowling coach, could be placed at least in interim charge for the tour of New Zealand in October that follows the clash against Australia.
Chris Silverwood is a leading candidate to become England head coach after Trevor Bayliss
‘What Chris did at Essex before he joined us was remarkable,’ claimed Ashley Giles
‘We have candidates for the head coach job within our system and Chris is one of them,’ said Giles.
‘We see the same names being bandied about and some of them are very good coaches, but what Chris did at Essex before he joined us was remarkable.
‘They were a bit of a shambles and he came in and turned them around completely to win the championship. He’s got a very nice way about him. He’s a tough bloke with a fair amount of discipline but he communicates very well. Chris is one of the candidates.’
Giles confirmed Paul Collingwood will step up as one of Bayliss’s assistants when Paul Farbrace leaves for Warwickshire at the end of this tour, but he will share duties with Silverwood and white-ball batting coach Graham Thorpe rather than be the No 2.
The bowling coach could be placed at least in interim charge for the tour of New Zealand
All three look certain to be in the new set-up when Giles makes his choices, but the future of red-ball batting coach Mark Ramprakash is less clear.
What is certain is that Giles wants one supremo and would prefer him to be English.
‘We need the best bloke for the job but it would be nice at some point for us to have an English head coach,’ he said.
The ECB, meanwhile, are at war with Surrey over their new Hundred format, with chief executive Tom Harrison refusing to confirm that the Oval will be one of the eight venues for the competition.
Surrey were the only county to vote against the format and ECB chairman Colin Graves is lobbying support to take the competition away from the Oval, which had been named as a base for a Hundred team.
One insider told Sportsmail: ‘Graves has called the counties saying Surrey should have their offer withdrawn.’
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Jeff Powell For The Daily Mail
The American sparring partner flown expensively across the Atlantic by Chris Eubank Jnr to help him prepare for his Saturday night grudge fight is predicting that James DeGale will be victorious at the O2.
Eubank was startled to be told not only that Denis Douglin expects him to lose but that he has gone public with that prediction.
Upon his return to the Mayweather gym in Las Vegas, Douglin gave an interview in which he said: ‘I expect DeGale to win. Chris fell for the simple traps I set him and James is much better and slicker than I am.
James DeGale (left) and Chris Eubank Jnr trade insults at their press conference on Thursday
Denis Douglin sparred with Eubank but has remarkably admitted: ‘I expect DeGale to win’
‘If I can trick him then DeGale will cause him big problems.’
This is a serious breach of boxing etiquette on two counts. What happens in sparring is supposed to stay in the gym, and the sparring partner is expected to be loyal to the employer.
Eubank is doubly disappointed since Douglin spent six weeks living in his house in Brighton, along with his new full-time US trainer Nate Vasquez.
Eubank Jnr (right) faces DeGale for the IBO super-middleweight title in London on Saturday
Douglin added: ‘I hate to say this because I had a good time in England and we did some excellent sparring. But while Chris is physically strong James is much more skilled and will win.’
When told of the betrayal Eubank said: ‘It does surprise me. It is contrary to what he was telling people before we broke camp. We had some good hard sparring, both technical and physical and it was an excellent camp.’
DeGale was shocked, saying: ‘Douglin said that? I would been very unhappy if one of my sparring partners had said something like this about me. While he was still here he was telling people that I’m rubbish. But I guess he can say what he thinks now he’s gone home with the pay cheque.
‘And he’s only saying what most people believe. That Chris is not a good enough boxer to beat anyone with my skills.’
Eubank’s legendary father (left) revealed that he is ‘terrified Junior will lose this fight’
The American’s breach of faith was not the only shock at the final press conference before the fight.
Eubank’s legendary father revealed that he is ‘terrified Junior will lose this fight’. Chris Snr explained: ‘Junior has all the physical elements to be a great champion but there is the question of the spirituality.
‘I had that in abundance and it was important to my 19 world title fights. I respect James because he proved he has the spiritual attribute by winning his Olympic gold medal and then his world titles against high quality opposition.’
Eubank Jnr’s only defeats have come against former world champions Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves and his father adds: ‘We must see what transpires in the ring. As it stands now this is a 50-50 fight.’
The predictable exchanges of insults and provocation – with DeGale calling Eubank ‘idiot, moron, delusional’ and Eubank accusing him of being ‘a drinker’ – was less surprising than a suggestion that their old rival Groves had been pulled from the ITV commentary team for the 02 after one of them objected to him taking the microphone.
Both the combatants denied lodging that protest. Eubank Snr suggested that DeGale’s parents were responsible.
Chunky pointed the finger straight back at his opponent’s father.
The public exposure of the issue seemed to activate ITV’s reinstatement of Groves, who said later that he ‘still expects’ to launch a new future as a broadcaster at the 02..
The Saint defeated the other two parties to their sometimes bitter three-way rivalry, DeGale narrowly early in their careers and Eubank convincingly before retiring after losing his world super-middleweight title.
*DeGale v Eubank will televised live this Saturday night on ITV Box Office.
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Le seul endroit où on m’entend pas quand j’ai la bouche ouverte💫
#travel #travellife #traveling #traveltheworld #underwater #bluemonday #nofilters #974 #instagrammers #surftrip #goprohero5black #wildlifephotography #mauritius #surfsession #dayoff #beachplease #colors #healthylife #kitesurf #underwater #oceanlovers #holidays #love #landscape #reunion #photoshooting #clearwater #gopro
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and
Matt Porter For Mailonline
Maurizio Sarri defended Jorginho after Chelsea supporters booed the midfielder when he came on against Malmo.
The Blues boss brought on the Italian, who is seen as the centrepiece of ‘Sarriball’, in the 76th minute and some jeers rang round Stamford Bridge.
Sarri claimed after their 3-1 win that the first 30 minutes highlighted the importance of Jorginho to his system.
Jorginho came on during the second half but received boos from the Chelsea supporters
Jorginho spent the majority of the match on the bench, but came on for the last 15 minutes
Jorginho was swapped for Ross Barkley, who has often been subbed for Kovacic this season
‘In the first 30 minutes we understood why Jorginho is very important for our team,’ Sarri said.
‘We were in trouble to exit from our half, on pressing. With Jorginho, it’s easier I think.
‘I hope that our fans will be able to understand that Jorginho, for us, is really a very important player.’
Manager Maurizio Sarri defended his player after the match, saying Jorginho is very important
Jorginho came on for Ross Barkley in the 76th minute, who has been much more accustomed to swapping with Mateo Kovacic. So far this season, Sarri has made this swap 20 times.
Sarri has come under fire for his stubbornness in his tactics this season, especially after it seemed Premier League teams were starting to figure out his systems.
A 2-0 loss to Arsenal, a 4-0 loss to Bournemouth, a 6-0 defeat to Manchester City, and a FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United turned the fans against him.
Opposing teams would start to target Jorginho, who was having a much more productive time during Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season.
A routine 5-1 aggregate win over Malmo in the Europa League might have appeased a few fans for now, but a League Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday and a visit from Tottenham a few days later will be a much bigger test for Chelsea.
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Leur petite entreprise ne connaissait pas la crise jusqu’à ce que le fisc américain ne flaire une entourloupe: un couple qui tenait un lucratif débit de cannabis dans le Colorado, où la vente de cette drogue est légale, risque de finir en prison pour avoir omis de déclarer dix millions de dollars.
Andrew Poarch et son épouse Shuntay, 31 ans tous les deux, ont ouvert en janvier 2013 le « Lazy Lion » (littéralement « lion paresseux »), un club privé vendant de la marijuana et permettant aux amateurs d’y consommer leurs emplettes dans la foulée.
Mais comme la loi continue, au niveau fédéral, à interdire l’exploitation commerciale du cannabis, les heureux propriétaires de l’établissement se faisaient payer exclusivement en liquide pour éviter les ennuis.
Non contents d’avoir « oublié » de déclarer aux impôts plus de dix millions de dollars de recettes sur trois ans, ils ont été jusqu’à réclamer au fisc le remboursement d’un trop-perçu…
Leur audace a vraisemblablement mis la puce à l’oreille des inspecteurs des impôts, qui ont facilement découvert la fraude: le couple, qui se fournissait dans des exploitations agricoles lui appartenant, enregistrait la moindre transaction sur un logiciel informatique.
Andrew Poarch a plaidé « coupable » des faits qui lui sont reprochés et accepté de verser trois millions de dollars d’arriérés d’impôts, ont indiqué mercredi les services du procureur.
Il encourt une peine de trois ans de prison et 250.000 dollars d’amende, et sera fixé sur son sort en mai. Son épouse pourrait également être poursuivie.
© AFP
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Nobody can argue Gareth Bale has not made a success of his time with Real Madrid. He has four Champions League winner’s medals, equalling Phil Neal’s record for a British player, he has won the Club World Cup and UEFA’s Super Cup three times each, he has won La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
It remains a qualified success, though. We know who the defining force was in those years for Madrid and Bale lived in his enormously sculpted shadow.
Throughout, Bale’s champions insisted he could be the Bernabeu’s main man if only Cristiano Ronaldo would let him breathe. And then, last summer, Ronaldo left. And now, this summer, Madrid would like Bale to leave, too.
Gareth Bale’s time at Real Madrid could be over once this season has concluded
The club won’t say that but it is being reported by Marca, and nothing gets in those pages without the club’s sanction.
What is plain is that Bale’s ascension has not gone as planned. He has been troubled by injury again – Bale is referred to, cruelly, as Mr Glass after missing close to 90 games in his six seasons there – and is fighting to regain his place from Vinicius Jr, an 18-year-old Brazilian, who did not make his debut until this season.
In addition, his 12 goals in 30 games is considered a poor return, compared to that of Ronaldo, who already has 21 in the shirt of Juventus.
Bale’s wonder goal following his arrival from the subs’ bench against Liverpool in the Champions League final was considered the perfect springboard to assume Ronaldo’s mantle but it hasn’t materialised. Instead it is noted that he is still uncomfortable speaking Spanish, has not embraced the local lifestyle and does not accompany team-mates on social nights out.
Bale has failed to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure at the end of last season
New goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois referred to his nickname, ‘The Golfer’ because of his choice of pastime, and it was not interpreted as a compliment.
Bale will be 30 by the time next season starts and while eschewing late nights in Madrid may have stood him in good stead, his injury record would trouble any suitor.
He is at an age when Chelsea offer only one-year contracts, while Manchester United and Manchester City have younger options in wide positions. A return to Tottenham in their new stadium would have romantic appeal, but a club that has spent two transfer windows dormant would not appear to be in the market for big ticket items.
It seems a pity that a player of such immense talent could be left in limbo but if he stays in Madrid – which is his wish – he may be a squad player and little more.
The goal that looked to have at last propelled him to the fore at Madrid, has instead been his undoing. All it did was raise expectations to an impossible level. Bale was never going to be the next Ronaldo. Who is?
Bale has struggled to kick on following his brace in last season’s Champions League final
On a recent journey from Liverpool between leaving Lime Street and arriving at Euston, a trip of little more than two hours, there were 14 announcements about security. If we saw anything that didn’t look right, we were told, text this number or tell a member of the transport police. Each announcement concluded with the same vacuous slogan. ‘See it, say it, sorted.’
Next week, on Wednesday night, West Ham play at Manchester City, while Watford visit Liverpool. For anyone leaving Manchester for London after 9.15pm, the first available route arrives at 6.31am the following morning, necessitating three changes and a journey time of nine hours and four minutes; the equivalent trip back after 8.52pm from Liverpool will require two changes, get in at 7.05am and take nine hours and 20 minutes.
Now, if Virgin Trains cannot get you home from two of Britain’s biggest cities without it turning into a scene from Doctor Zhivago, what chance do you think they have of taking on ISIS?
Why does everyone have to live in a permanent state of fear anyway? Shut up about what you can sort. You can’t even sort the wifi out.
Those seeking answers to the collapsing form of Alexis Sanchez may want to consider this straightforward question. When was his last great season?
Not great game. Anyone can have one of those. Not even a good season, in which he was the best player at Arsenal, because we know Sanchez was the talent there.
This is about a year when he would, quite plainly, have walked into any team in the country, any team in Europe, almost.
Alexis Sanchez has struggled at Manchester United – maybe they’re too big a club for him
The fact is, Sanchez spent an awful lot of time at Arsenal waving his arms about in frustration at his team-mates. Even his most prolific season, 2016-17, ended in a fifth-placed finish, and a 10-2 aggregate defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League knockout stage. It was the result that inspired Munich’s mocking tweet: ‘Can we play you every week?’
That’s how seriously the elite of Europe were taking Sanchez by that time. Yet, let’s take that campaign as a recent peak – he finished it strongly with Arsenal winning the FA Cup. It is still almost two years ago.
Ultimately, Sanchez couldn’t get in the team at Barcelona and now he can’t make the first XI at Manchester United. Arsenal are a big club, too – but not as big as those two. Maybe, for all the arm-waving, that was his level.
There was a long interview with Ravel Morrison, the great lost talent of English football, published at the weekend.
He talked through the issues that saw him lose his way at Manchester United – where he was regarded as the greatest natural talent since Paul Scholes – and then West Ham, Birmingham, Queens Park Rangers, Cardiff, Lazio and Atlas in Mexico.
He could have been a brilliant asset to any of those clubs but now, at the age of 26, is on a four-and- a-half-month contract with Ostersunds in Sweden, a small top-division team watched by roughly 6,000 fans.
Throughout a lengthy conversation there appeared not a scintilla of acceptance from Morrison that he may have messed up; which is no doubt why he finds himself where he is.
Ravel Morrison’s (right) career has gone downhill since he came through the ranks at United
Much debate around the choice to be made this Sunday. Carabao Cup final or Liverpool versus Manchester United. What is the bigger game?
Personal preference says go with the trophy. If Liverpool could actually win, or lose, the League at Old Trafford this weekend, then no contest. But they cannot. At Wembley, however, one of only three major domestic prizes will be lifted. We cannot argue that finite success is important, and then ignore it when it happens. As compelling as the match between United and Liverpool will be, it is a single stride in the title race, no more.
What is interesting is the schedule. We now know little is random. These marquee events are schemed, placed in the calendar for maximum impact and intent. Yet why is the Premier League’s aim always to suffocate their rivals?
Chelsea will be competing in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday
Manchester United and Liverpool have both reached a single League Cup final in the last seven seasons. It is not a competition either club takes greatly seriously. So there was always a chance some of the Football League’s thunder would be stolen by a rival event at Old Trafford.
Just like last season, when coincidentally Manchester United were due to play Chelsea, while Manchester City were visiting Arsenal on the Football League’s big day. By chance, that last fixture turned out to be the final, too – but the first game went ahead.
It isn’t just football that the Premier League seem to target. What are the chances of both Manchester derbies being scheduled for the two biggest weekends in rugby’s calendar: the visit of the All Blacks in November, and the conclusion of the Six Nations Championship in March? Yet that is what happened.
The second Manchester derby has been rescheduled due to FA Cup quarter-final commitments, but the Premier League win either way. Now they have a juicy elite fixture to shoehorn in as the title race nears its conclusion. Their broadcast partners won’t mind that.
Any television deal counted in billions is going to be subject to a degree of manipulation, we understand. The Premier League can no longer leave their narrative entirely to chance. Yet why the need to crush? Why can’t they part with even the crumbs from their table? Haven’t they got enough?
The match will be on the same day as Manchester United vs Liverpool in the Premier League
The news that Emiliano Sala signed a potentially invalid contract before his untimely death would appear to blow the legal wrangle between Cardiff and Nantes over payment wide open. It doesn’t.
It’s standard. Sala was still a Cardiff player via his International Transfer Certificate; it is merely his contract with his new club that was subject to change, not his status.
Let’s go back to the king of all non-compliant contracts – the one that Carlos Tevez signed with West Ham in 2006. West Ham were found to have misled the Premier League about third-party agreements in that deal and were extraordinarily fortunate to avoid a points deduction, and relegation, as a result. Yet Richard Scudamore, then the Premier League chief executive, was always bemused by West Ham’s deception.
He said that Premier League policy, in the case of non-compliant contracts, was to register the player and then return to the club with lawyers to produce a document that would meet regulations.
Tevez, he said, would have still been cleared to make his debut for West Ham that Saturday, even if the meeting was scheduled for the following week. That is how certain the Premier League are of compliance.
Emiliano Sala tragically died shortly after completing his move from Nantes to Cardiff
It is regarded as a formality. The governing body are facilitators, not enforcers. They want to help the clubs do business. West Ham, Scudamore maintained, had absolutely no reason to lie.
That is what would have happened with Sala. The Premier League’s legal team would have met with Cardiff, pointed out the passages in the contract that were not permissible and worked together on alternate wordings. Some clauses would have been removed, others rephrased.
Sala would then have signed the new contract which, tragically, he never had the opportunity to do. But have no doubt, the deal was done. These are technicalities and if Cardiff intend using them to try to avoid their financial obligations to Nantes, they are setting a precedent that will not find favour with the other 19 Premier League stakeholders. They like the system the way it is: loose.
It was not the worst result for Liverpool against Bayern Munich, but there is a lot of presumption about the return leg. Yes, if Liverpool score, Munich must more than match that.
Yet, in their last 26 home matches in the Champions League, Munich have won 22, drawn twice and lost twice – both losses to eventual winners, Real Madrid. The only team they have failed to score against in that time was Sevilla, having already won the first leg away. Liverpool are a dangerous team, but Munich merit more respect than is being shown.
Monchi is one of the names being touted for the vacant technical director’s role at Arsenal. He worked with coach Unai Emery at Sevilla for four seasons, and had a very good relationship. Why would Arsenal place the manager’s man in charge, rather than a figure operating independently?
Maybe so that, in future, nobody awards a £350,000-a-week contract to a player who doesn’t fit the coach’s style, and is barely going to get picked.
Monchi is one of the names being touted for the vacant technical director’s role at Arsenal
Having lost their title sponsors, Team Sky are apparently seeking backers in Colombia. Do your own jokes, you know you want to.
Not wanted by the ECB’s new competition, The Hundred: The Oval, one of the greatest cricket grounds in the world, because Surrey had the temerity to challenge the ECB’s blueprint.
Wanted by The Hundred: Chris Gayle, a wonderful batsman, but one who spends most of his time agreeing short-term contracts and explaining why he doesn’t want to play cricket. It figures.
Considering there were no actual rules in place bar the one about acting in good faith towards rivals, the £200,000 fine given to Leeds for spying by the Football League seems fair. A new regulation expressly forbidding viewing training 72 hours prior to any fixture, however, would make more Draconian punishments possible in future. This doesn’t have to be the precedent.
Whenever the popularity of Lewis Hamilton is discussed it is suggested one of the reasons he does not find favour with the British public, or is overlooked for a knighthood, is because he lives as a tax exile.
Presumably we’ll be asking Sir Jim Ratcliffe to return his title, now Britain’s richest man has also relocated to Monaco for tax reasons.
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Arsenal and Chelsea have booked their places in the last 16 of the Europa League as they both registered 3-0 scorelines in their respective encounters.
Brendan Rodgers’ 10-man Celtic bowed out of the competition at the hands of Valencia while Napoli, Inter Milan and Frankfurt also sealed their spots in the next round.
Here, Sportsmail takes a look at all the things you may have missed from Thursday evening’s action in the Europa League.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (R) scores Chelsea’s third in a comfortable win over Malmo on Thursday
Zenit St Petersburg’s players were given a guard of honour as they made their way to the Gazprom Arena for their second leg with Fenerbahce.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, the Russian side needed no motivation after they were given a sensational welcome ahead of kick off.
As the team bus slowly crept along towards the stadium, fans let off yellow and red flares creating visually stunning scene in the process.
This resulted in the coach emerging from a huge fireball as a drone captured the bus’ journey from above.
And it looked to have worked a treat as Sergey Semak’s side went on to win the second leg 3-1 to book their spot in the last 16 of the Europa League.
Zenit’s players were given a guard of honour as they made their way to the Gazprom Arena
Fans stood either side of the road to let off flares as the bus slowly made its way to the stadium
The spectacular scenes were captured by a drone that flew overhead of the team bus
The coach emerges from a huge fireball before it is escorted to the stadium in St Petersburg
The Gazprom Stadium can be seen in the background as fans let off flares on Thursday night
As the second half got underway at Stamford Bridge, the visiting supporters let off flares in the away section.
This led to smoke billowing across the pitch making the action slightly more difficult to see.
The smoke even affected Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero who made a mess of a clearance.
However, it was Chelsea who would be out of sight not long after as Olivier Giroud, Ross Barkley and Callum Hudson-Odoi would seal the deal in the second leg.
Smoke billows across the pitch at Stamford Bridge as the second half gets underway
Hooded Malmo supporters light off several flares in the away end on Thursday evening
The lively supporters continued to chant throughout the game creating a great atmosphere
However, the smoke from the flares made things difficult to see for Chelsea’ Willy Caballero
The players continue to play while the smoke lingers across the pitch on Thursday evening
Arsenal got off to a flying start in their second leg with BATE Borisov as the visitors’ one-goal lead was wiped out after just four minutes.
An own goal from centre back Zakhar Volkov gave the Gunners the lead before Shkodran Mustafi doubled the lead shortly before the break.
The German’s thumping header from a corner was the first goal he’s ever scored in continental match, having failed to score in his 26 prior for Valencia.
Shkodran Mustafi leaps in the air to head in Arsenal’s second goal against BATE Borisov
German defender hoofs the ball into the air as he celebrates scoring his first European goal
Aleksandr Hleb came on to a standing ovation at the Emirates as he replaced Dmitri Baga in the 58th minute.
The 37-year-old enjoyed three years at Arsenal where he made 131 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 11 goals and setting up 16 for his team-mates.
Hleb also featured for Arsenal in their Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in 2006, becoming the first ever Belarusian footballer to do so in the process.
He eventually made his switch to the Catalan giants two years later but the attacker still has a place in Arsenal fans’ hearts as he came on for the Belarusian champions on Thursday.
Aleksandr Hleb (centre) comes on for Dzmitry Baha (left) in the second half at the Emirates
The former Arsenal forward applauds the home support as he makes his way on to the pitch
Hleb receives a standing ovation from the Arsenal fans at the Emirates on Thursday evening
Supporters rose to their feet to welcome the 37-year-old back to north London
Hleb returns the applause as the game gets back underway in the second half on Thursday
For the second time this week, Mauro Icardi and his wife Wanda Nara watched Inter Milan from their box at the San Siro.
The Argentinian striker’s future at the club is in doubt after he was stripped of his captaincy.
The 26-year-old’s wife Wanda, who is also his agent, has also taken to social media to defend her husband which has caused unrest among the fans and in the Inter camp.
Icardi is currently out with a knee problem but the club confirmed on Wednesday that scan results failed to find any issues with his knee, casting even more doubt over his future.
The two smiled and watched on as Inter ran out 4-0 winners against Rapid Vienna.
Mauro Icardi and his wife Wanda Nara watch Inter Milan from the stands at the San Siro
The 26-year-old’s (centre) future at Inter is in doubt as he watches his side run out 4-0 winners
Icardi and wife Wanda smile as they are spotted on the screens at the San Siro on Thursday
It is the second time this week that the Argentine striker has had to watch Inter from the stands
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