Author: Bobbie Jackson

Getty ImagesBobbie JacksonBBC Sport journalist1 hour ago43 CommentsEngland manager Thomas Tuchel will not release players early for the Club World Cup because he wants to “cherish” and “worship” every moment with his squad.On Friday, Tuchel named his 26-man squad for a World Cup qualifer against Andorra (7 June) and a friendly against Senegal (10 June).Eight members of the squad play for teams competing at the Club World Cup, which begins on 15 June – five days after England host Senegal at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.The month-long Club World Cup is being held in the United States and England captain Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich play Auckland City on the opening day of the tournament.Chelsea, who have five players in the England squad, are the first Premier League club in action on 16 June.Tuchel said no managers had been in touch with him about leaving players out of his plans.”The discussion was very open,” said the German. “Very quickly we also understood this is a very important camp for us with one year to go until the Word Cup. “Why send players if we want to cherish every day we have together. What signal would it send to the group to send players away?”Tuchel, who oversaw victories against Albania and Latvia in his first two matches in March, said England will start and finish the camp with the same 26 players, adding that he will “manage their minutes”.”I was an advocate and I could see the reason for the players who go to the Club World Cup to maybe leave a little earlier, to maybe change the squad,” Tuchel said. “I can understand the argument from especially the clubs who would love to see the players get a rest but we have a strong argument for ourselves and our goals we want to reach. “We are building a group and a togetherness. We want to develop a camaraderie and it is only possible if we take every day seriously.”Not normal, not correct – MarescaDespite pressure from clubs participating in the Club World Cup, Tuchel has stuck to his guns.Hired on a remit to win the 2026 World Cup, Tuchel stressed before his first match in charge that he only has a total of 60 days and 24 sessions with his squad before the tournament begins.Five Chelsea players – Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James – are included in the squad.Before the squad was announced, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said there was a lack of care for players’ welfare when asked about his players receiving a call-up.”It is not normal, it is not correct,” said Maresca.”I know people say they have money but it is not about money, it is about the health of the players. I don’t think people pay attention to that.”Kane, 31, was always going to be selected given his role as captain, while Conor Gallagher has had a good season with Atletico Madrid in Spain.But the selection of Jude Bellingham could prove more controversial.The midfielder has postponed surgery on his shoulder until after the Club World Cup, a decision that will see him miss at least the first six weeks of the 2025-26 season.The former Birmingham City midfielder has made 52 appearances for Real Madrid this season and could play up to an extra seven matches at the Club World Cup should the La Liga side reach the final.End of season timeline25 May: Final Premier League games28 May: Conference League final: Chelsea v Real Betis31 May: Champions League final: PSG v Inter Milan4-10 June: Six-day England camp including games on 7 June and 10 June11-28 June: U21 European Championship15 June -13 July: Club World Cup, including Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, plus others15 June: Bayern play first Club World Cup game16 June: Chelsea play first game18 June: Man City & Real Madrid play first gamesMid-July: Pre-season matches begin, including overseas tours9 August: Community Shield13 August: Uefa Super Cup: Tottenham v Champions League winners16 August: Start of 2025-26 Premier League seasonRelated topicsFootballEngland Men’s Football Team

Getty ImagesBobbie JacksonBBC Sport Journalist2 hours agoCarlo Ancelotti said his bond with Real Madrid “is eternal” as he prepares to leave the Spanish club this weekend and become head coach of Brazil.The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced earlier this month that Ancelotti has agreed to take charge of the national side from 26 May.Rubber-stamping that news, Real have confirmed Ancelotti’s tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu will end following Saturday’s home meeting with Real Sociedad.”Our club wishes to express its gratitude and affection to one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and world football,” Real Madrid said in a statement.Club president Florentino Perez added: “We feel incredibly honoured to have had the chance to enjoy a coach who has helped us achieve so much success, but who has also embodied our club’s values in such exemplary fashion.”Ancelotti has won 15 trophies across two spells as Real manager, including the Champions League and La Liga titles last season.His first stint ran from 2013 to 2015, and his second began in 2021 when he was tempted away from Everton.The 65-year-old’s deal with Real was due to expire in June 2026, but his departure has been brought forward and he will begin his new job on Monday.”I carry with me in my heart every moment of this wonderful second stint as Real Madrid manager,” Ancelotti posted on X.”They have been unforgettable years, an incredible journey filled with emotions, titles, and, above all, the pride of representing this club.”What we’ve achieved together will forever remain in the memory of Real Madrid fans, not only for the triumphs, but for the way we achieved them. The magical nights at the Bernabeu are now part of football history.”Now a new adventure begins, but my bond with Real Madrid is eternal.”Xabi Alonso, who played for Real Madrid, Liverpool and Spain, is poised to replace Ancelotti.Alonso, 43, has confirmed he will be leaving Bayer Leverkusen, and Real want him in place before the start of next month’s Fifa Club World Cup.”I wish him all the luck in the world, because he is a coach who has the characteristics to coach this club, this team – enjoy it,” said Ancelotti.Brazil turned to Ancelotti to replace Dorival Junior who was sacked in March following a 4-1 defeat to Argentina in World Cup qualifying.The Selecao are fourth in the South American group, having lost five of 14 games, but they are still well placed to qualify for the 2026 finals.Ancelotti’s first games in charge of Brazil will be World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Ecuador in June.Related topicsSpanish La LigaBrazilReal MadridFootball

Getty ImagesBobbie JacksonBBC Sport Journalist3 hours agoDisney+ will broadcast the Women’s Champions League from next season after securing the rights for five years.All 75 matches of the 2025-26 campaign will be available on the streaming platform.There will be a new format to the competition, which starts with an 18-team league before moving into a knockout phase.”The Uefa Women’s Champions League is the very best in football performance, dedication and passion,” said Disney+ EMEA general manager Karl Holmes.Dazn has shown the Women’s Champions League for a European audience over the past four seasons, with TNT Sports broadcasting some matches in the UK.In March Disney+ had a reported 125m subscribers worldwide.In December Netflix secured the rights for live coverage of the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups in the USA.This season’s Champions League concludes on Saturday when Arsenal face Barcelona in the final in Lisbon.Head here to get involvedRelated topicsFootballWomen’s Football

Getty ImagesBobbie JacksonBBC Sport Journalist21 May 202592 CommentsUpdated 1 hour agoCaptain Son Heung-min joked that he was a Tottenham “legend” after they won their first major trophy in 17 years.Spurs beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday.It was the first time 32-year-old Son, who joined Spurs in 2015, had won silverware at club or international level after losing three finals.”Let’s say I’m a legend. Why not?” he told TNT Sports.”Seventeen years – nobody has done it, so let’s say with amazing players, [I am] probably a legend of the club.”This is what I’ve always dreamed for. Today is the day it happened. I am the happiest man in the world.”In August Son told BBC Sport he could not be considered a legend until he won a trophy with Spurs.Son, who has won 133 caps for South Korea, joined Spurs for a reported £22m after scoring 29 goals in 87 games for Bayer Leverkusen.He came off the bench in the 67th minute against United, his 454th appearance for Spurs.South Korea were beaten in the 2015 Asian Cup final, while Spurs lost in the 2019 Champions League final and the 2021 Carabao Cup final.”I felt the pressure,” Son said.”I wanted it so badly. In the past seven days I was dreaming about this game every night. It finally happened and I can sleep easy now.”Getty Images’I wanted a day like this for Sonny’Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou was full of praise for the club’s longest serving player.”We’ve had some unbelievable champion footballers at this club – Harry [Kane] is a prime example – and they haven’t had a day like this,” Postecoglou told TNT Sports.”I wanted a day like this for Sonny because he has done everything he can in the last 10 years to try and get this feeling and for some reason it hasn’t worked.”Former Spurs captain Harry Kane won his first major trophy this month when Bayern Munich lifted the Bundesliga title.”We had an unbelievable friendship and partnership so I was happy he won a first trophy,” Son said.”Harry, we won as well.”To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedRelated topicsEuropean FootballEuropa LeagueTottenham HotspurFootball