Former Premier League star Bacary Sagna on playing through grief
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Levi Colwill backs Chelsea to compete for Premier League glory
Levi Colwill believes Chelsea have what it takes to challenge for the Premier League title, especially after beating the odds to win the Club World Cup. The Blues shocked the football world with an astonishing 3-0 win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final. Not many people saw that coming, especially after PSG swatted aside Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the previous rounds by a combined scoreline of 6-0. However, Chelsea thrived off being written off and delivered a performance that sent shockwaves throughout the world. The Blues also enjoyed a fantastic end to the 2024/25 campaign. They won 14 out of 16 games across all competitions, qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Europa Conference League in the process. For the first time since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Consortium took over Chelsea, there is a real sense of progress which has been missing at Stamford Bridge over the past couple of years. But Colwill sees the recent success as a turning point. 'We had ups and downs like a lot of teams last season,' he told The Athletic. 'We still stayed around the top four and were never miles behind. With the fans, we really went all together and just pushed. 'When that happens, I feel something just lights up and you just win, win, win.' That unity carried Chelsea to international success. But what stood out most for Colwill was the lack of respect the team received heading into the final against PSG. 'It felt like no one thought we had half a chance, even in the final, and I thought that was very disrespectful,' he added. 'It gave us that fire in the belly, and we proved everyone wrong.' With the 2025/26 campaign just weeks away, Colwill is convinced Chelsea have what it takes to challenge for the biggest prizes and has his eyes on the Premier League title. 'We feel like we can definitely compete for the Premier League,' he said. 'The players we have in our squad are among the best, and we are really excited for this season, to once again prove people wrong.'
Yahoo
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Luton 1-0 Wimbledon: Ryan Johnson own-goal condemns Dons to defeat on League One return
Luton Town made a winning start to the 2025-26 League One campaign on Friday night after a late Ryan Johnson own goal handed them a 1-0 win over Wimbledon. The Hatters were not at their best, but were gifted three points by Johnson's 85th-minute gaffe. Nahki Wells lofted a ball into the box from range, aiming for the run of Cauley Woodrow, but the backpedalling Johnson badly misjudged his clearance, glancing a looping header into his own net. With just five minutes left to play, there was not enough time for the Wombles to respond. There are positives to take back to Plough Lane, though. They limited the hosts to just six shots on the night, but managed just two themselves, neither of which were on target. It is not an unfamiliar problem for Johnnie Jackson's side, who scored the second-fewest goals of any top-ten finisher in League Two last season. 'I'm gutted for the players and the supporters,said Jackson, cutting a downcast figure at the final whistle. 'To lose the game in that manner is cruel.' He was quick to absolve Johnson of any blame, though: '[Johnson] has to go and put his head on it. It can land on top of the bar, go over, but it is just one of those things. It goes in, and it is a horrible way to lose.' Luton have plenty riding on this campaign after suffering back-to-back relegations, tumbling from the Premier League to the third tier, and will be grateful for a slice of luck in their season opener. But Hatters boss Matt Bloomfield acknowledged at full-time that there was plenty of room for improvement. 'We are an evolving group, adding lots of bodies,' he said. 'We are on the journey to the final product but we are not there yet, I think that's obvious. 'There's lots in my mind right now, but I am pleased to get off to a winning start.' Luton have brought in no less than 10 new faces this summer, and announced an eleventh ahead of kick-off with the surprise unveiling of Swansea's Jerry Yates, who hit ten Championship goals last season while on loan at Derby County. 'It has been a tough one to get over the line, let me assure you,' Bloomfield laughed. 'We had to work really hard on it. 'I am complimentary of the boys we already have, but if we can add that pace and power, grit and determination which I think he brings, the way he presses, we are really pleased to get him through the door.' Luton face Peterborough next time out as they look to extend their winning form, while Wimbledon will hope to get their first points on the board as they host Lincoln City.
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Leigh stun Warrington with dramatic late comeback
Betfred Super League Leigh (2) 20 Tries: Hanley 2, Trout Goals: O'Brien 4 Warrington (8) 16 Tries: Dufty, Jake Thewlis Goals: Sneyd 4 Leigh Leopards staged a stunning late fightback with two tries in three minutes to dent Warrington Wolves' Super League play-off hopes with a thrilling 20-16 home win. Wire bossed most of the game, and after Marc Sneyd and Gareth O'Brien successfully traded penalty kicks, the visitors led 8-2 at the break through Matt Dufty's try, laid on by a stunning run from Josh Thewlis. His younger sibling, Jake Thewlis, crossed five minutes after half-time to take Warrington 12 points clear before Umyla Hanley cut the deficit back to within a score. Sneyd's superb 46-metre penalty kick put Wolves 16-8 ahead with 10 minutes left, but Hanley crossed again before Owen Trout crashed over for the winning score with less than three minutes to go. Warrington remain four points outside the play-off places with seven rounds to go after a mystifying defeat. And a smash-and-grab fourth-straight win for Leigh - their seventh win from eight - moves them within a point of second-placed Wigan Warriors. Responding to a limp defeat at lowly Castleford Tigers last time out, Warrington showed aggression and energy from the get-go, pinning their hosts deep inside their own territory for much of the opening quarter. Yet despite their dominant play, steadfast Leigh defence limited them to just two points - Sneyd chipping over a penalty for Joe Ofahengaue's high tackle on Sam Powell, who had been held up on the line moments earlier. And having barely set an attacking boot in Wire territory, Leigh were soon level through O'Brien's penalty for late contact by Wire debutant Ryan Matterson. Yet, order was restored in the 32nd minute when Josh Thewlis, inside his own half on the right wing, cut back into the centre with a breathless run, slaloming through challenges before sending Dufty in under the posts. If there was hope for a below-par Leigh, and concern for Wire, it was that just one score separated the sides going into the second half. Sneyd slotted a second penalty before George Williams' superb kick down the left wing bounced kindly for Jake Thewlis to collect and cross for his eighth Super League try of the season. Leading 14-2 with 15 minutes left, Dufty had a second score - and a potential decider - overturned by the video referee following a Lachlan Fitzgibbon obstruction. And two minutes later, and having barely troubled the Warrington line, Leigh were back in it when Hanley stretched out to touch down O'Brien's deflected grubber kick. O'Brien's conversion brought the Leopards back within six points, but Sneyd's dead-eye penalty from long distance again took the visitors two scores clear. But once again after a Warrington score was ruled out after a video review - this time from Toby King - Hanley powered through for a second try and O'Brien's conversion cut the gap to 16-14. Wire were suddenly hanging on and buckled moments later as Trout capped his 100th Super League appearance with the winning score from close range. Leigh: Hodgson; Brand, Niu, Hanley, Charnley; O'Brien, Lam; Trout, Ipape, Ofahengaue, Halton, Hughes, Liu. Interchanges: McNamara, Tuitavake, Davis, Badrock. Warrington: Dufty; Josh Thewlis, Wrench, King, Jake Thewlis; Williams, Sneyd; Yates, Powell, Vaughan, Stone, Fitzgibbon, Currie. Interchanges: Philbin, Matterson, Wood, Walker. Referee: Liam Moore.
