Drinkwater places faith in Villa loan to revive career

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Danny Drinkwater's bid to revive his flagging career has seen him move on loan on Tuesday to Premier League strugglers Aston Villa from Chelsea for the rest of the season.

The 29-year-old midfielder -- capped three times by England -- moves there after an unsuccessful loan spell with Burnley, for whom he made just two appearances since joining them at the beginning of the season.

His career has taken a downward spiral since he moved from Leicester to Chelsea for £35 million in 2017 playing just 12 times in all competitions.

However, Aston Villa manager Dean Smith believes Drinkwater can recapture the form that made him such a pivotal figure in Leicester's fairytale 2016 Premier League title win.

"Danny was a key member of Leicester City's title-winning team and has represented England, so he is a vastly experienced player," said Smith.

"He will strengthen our squad significantly."

Drinkwater -- whose first test may come when fourth from bottom Villa host defending champions Manchester City on Sunday -- has had his problems off the field too.

He was banned from driving for 20 months last year after being found to be 2 1/2 times over the legal alcohol limit when he crashed his car in April.

Drinkwater was sidelined for a stint earlier this season after suffering ankle ligament damage in September during an incident at a Manchester nightclub.

'We're not here for a walk', Zidane says of Super Cup

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, getty

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said his team is solely focused on lifting the Spanish Super Cup trophy ahead of this week's revamped four-team competition taking place in Saudi Arabia.

"We're not coming here for a walk," Zidane said at a news conference Tuesday, on the eve of his team's semi-final against Copa del Rey holders Valencia in Jeddah.

"It's the first edition in Saudi Arabia and the competition is a great hope. It's an important competition and we want to give our all to play a good match tomorrow (Wednesday)," said Zidane.

"It's a one-off match. It's not like playing in La Liga. We're both playing away and it's just one match. Everything changes but our mentality, it doesn't change."

Real and Valencia will be joined by Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia, amid controversy over a tournament held far from home in a country long-condemned for its record on human rights.

Spanish media reported only nine percent of the 12,000 tickets set aside for the four competing clubs had been purchased.

However, the three fixtures at the 62,000-capacity King Abdullah Stadium are expected to be sold out.

Barcelona play Atletico on Thursday with the winners of the two semi-finals to meet Sunday in the final.

Real will be without the injured Eden Hazard, while neither Karim Benzema, their top scorer, nor Gareth Bale have made the trip due to fitness problems.

"There are no favourites. The four teams which are here are the four favourites to win it," said Zidane. "The only thing I'm thinking about is our match tomorrow. It's a semi-final, but for us, it will be a final."

Luka Jovic has scored just once for Real since his move from Eintracht Frankfurt in July but the Serbian forward is set to lead the attack in the absence of Benzema.

"Luka Jovic, he's the future. You have to take it slowly with him," said Zidane. "He's a young player who wants to learn and play. He can score goals, but what interests me is the complete player he can become.

"He's only been with us for five or six months, so a bit of calm is needed."

Chelsea run a loss despite Abramovich inputff

Chelsea made a loss of almost £100 million ($130 million) last year despite owner Roman Abramovich pouring nearly a quarter of a billion pounds into the Premier League club, their figures for 2018/19 released on Tuesday show.

Amongst their expenditure was yet another payout to a sacked manager -- this time £26.6 million to Italian Antonio Conte.

The 50-year-old -- who is now at Inter Milan -- had a year left on his contract when he was fired just a season after guiding them to the Premier League title.

"Exceptional items in the current year of £26.6million relate to changes in respect of the men's team management and coaching staff, together with associated legal costs," read Chelsea's latest set of published accounts, for the year ending June 30, 2019.

The club has spent £90 million in compensation to Conte and his predecessors since Abramovich took over in 2004.

Conte was replaced by compatriot Maurizio Sarri, who left the club for Juventus in the summer of 2019, one year into a three-year contract.

The club also invested £280.6m in their playing squad during 2018-19, with the acquisitions of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Pulisic, Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho all included in their latest figures.

In all Abramovich, who has at times been rumoured to be disenchanted and looking to sell, put in £247 million of his own money over the course of the year -- ending in June 2019 -- with the club still ending £96.6m in the red.

However, their sale of Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard to Real Madrid for 100 million euros last summer should make the next set of accounts happier reading, especially as the outgoings of the club in the most recent close season were zero thanks to a transfer ban.

That has since been lifted allowing manager Frank Lampard to invest in the transfer market in January.ff

Rodgers urges Leicester to create 'new history'

Nigel French via www.imago-images.de

Brendan Rodgers has urged Leicester to "create new history" by reaching the League Cup final.

The Premier League high-fliers, who last won the trophy in 2000, host Aston Villa in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday as overwhelming favourites to make it to Wembley.

The 2016 Premier League champions, who are second in the league this season, have not reached a major final since.

"I'm aware the club hasn't been to a final for 20 years so let's get there then," Rodgers said on Tuesday.

"Let's not be worried too much about the past. Let's create this new history but we know we're going to have to play well to get there.

"It's always nice when you have something tangible to show for your progress."

Rodgers is expected to name a strong side as Leicester seek a first-leg advantage.

"It's important to stay calm, you don't need to magnify the importance of the game," he said. "Every game you go into you go with the intent to be aggressive, playing well and winning.

"It's the same preparation, very calm, full of details and how can we exploit any weaknesses Aston Villa may have?"

Rodgers said there was no change in James Maddison's contract situation, with talks continuing over a new deal.

"It's just ongoing. James is a player we are keen to keep here and help us on this journey," he said, with Maddison linked to Manchester United. "James and his reps are speaking with the club, which is great.

"These things take time but his level has not dropped. He is playing at a really high level."

Manchester United are taking on Manchester City in the other semi-final, with the first leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Spurs lose injured Sissoko until April

Paul Terry via www.imago-images.de

Tottenham suffered another injury blow on Tuesday with the news that midfielder Moussa Sissoko will be sidelined until April after undergoing knee surgery.

The French international suffered medial collateral ligament damage during a 1-0 defeat at Southampton on New Year's Day.

"Following a clinical assessment and scans, Moussa Sissoko has today undergone surgery to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee," Tottenham said in a statement.

"Our medical staff will monitor Moussa's recovery before he commences rehabilitation with a view to returning to training in early April."

Sissoko will miss at least 10 Premier League matches, including clashes with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as both legs of Tottenham's Champions League last 16 clash with Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig.

Jose Mourinho will also be without talisman Harry Kane in the coming weeks after the England captain suffered a hamstring tear at Southampton.

Club captain Hugo Lloris and Ben Davies are long-term injury absentees, while Mourinho claimed Tottenham's record signing Tanguy Ndombele is "always injured" after the French midfielder limped off in the first half at Southampton.

PSG : Neymar se lâche, Paris est plus fort que jamais

Pas encore apparu sous le maillot parisien cette année, Neymar va se montrer à l’occasion du match face à Saint-Etienne en Coupe de la Ligue.

Le Brésilien espère reprendre au niveau qui était le sien en décembre, quand le PSG pouvait compter sur ses quatre fantastiques pour faire le spectacle offensivement, mais aussi faire le travail défensivement. De quoi lui donner de belles ambitions pour les mois à venir, alors que Neymar n’a pas hésité à confier sur Globo Esporte qu’il sentait que c’était l’année ou jamais pour un triomphe européen du PSG.

« Est-ce que cette saison est notre meilleure chance? Peut-être, oui. Au niveau de l’effectif, depuis que je suis ici, c’est l’année où nous sommes les mieux préparés, les plus forts dans tous les domaines. Nous avons nos chances. Paris n’a jamais remporté la Ligue des champions, mais nous allons essayer de tout gagner. Nous connaissons nos qualités et nous espérons évidemment pouvoir être au rendez-vous à la fin », a souligné le numéro 10 parisien, qui veut mettre fin à la malédiction de ses années précédentes au PSG, mais estime au moins avoir grandi avec tous les malheurs rencontrés dans la capitale.

« 2019 a été une année très difficile pour moi sur tous les plans, professionnel comme personnel. Une année d’apprentissage, de rebondissements. Je me suis blessé et j’ai dû me relever. Puis j'ai fini par me blesser à nouveau. Mais même si on peut croire à une année gâchée, j’ai beaucoup appris, j’ai engrangé de l’expérience. Espérons que 2020 soit meilleur. Mon objectif en 2020 est de gagner tout ce que je peux avec Paris et avec l'équipe nationale. Relever de nouveaux défis, atteindre la finale de la Ligue des champions, gagner la Copa America à nouveau. Ce sont les missions que je souhaite accomplir pour la nouvelle année », a livré l’ancien barcelonais, qui a donc pris la parole pour évoquer ses ambitions pour les mois à venir.f

Paul Pogba undergoes ankle surgeryff

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Shaun Botterill, getty

Paul Pogba underwent surgery on his ankle injury on Tuesday, reporting that "everything went well" during the operation in a social media post.

The Manchester United midfielder initially posted a video on Instagram in which he looked groggy and admitted: "I don't even know if I'm OK or if I'm high or if I'm sober, just don't ask me if it went well, I don't know."

He later deleted that post and replaced it with a shorter video.

"Everything went well," Pogba said. "We have to keep the positive energy."

Pogba, 26, is expected to be out for another four weeks after suffering his second ankle injury of the season.

The France international, who has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, has made only eight appearances this season in a campaign blighted by injury.ffffffffffffff