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• Rosenior believes ‘world-class’ Joao Pedro can become even better

  Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has praised Joao Pedro as a world-class talent, asserting he would not trade the in-form Brazilian for any other striker following his recent hat-trick against Aston Villa.

  ​Liam Rosenior has hailed Joao Pedro as a “world-class” talent following the striker’s impressive tally of ten goals in fourteen matches.

  Ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup clash against Wrexham, Rosenior compared his leading man to elite peers like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

  The head coach stated, “I wouldn’t swap Joao for anyone in this moment to be honest,” citing his exceptional attributes.

  ​Despite the Brazilian’s 20-goal total this season, Rosenior insists the 24-year-old still has significant room for growth.

  He noted that Pedro’s age allows for further development, adding, “I know there are a lot of things he can improve on.”

  Whether Pedro starts today remains uncertain as Rosenior considers rotation, but the focus remains on securing Chelsea’s first FA Cup trophy since 2018.

• Player Ratings: Below par performance saw TAA get 4 but Real Madrid overcome Celta Vigo

  Federico Valverde’s late, heavily deflected strike secured a vital 2-1 victory for Real Madrid over Celta Vigo, masking a lackluster performance and defensive lapses from Los Blancos.  

  ​Thibaut Courtois – 6/10: The Belgian goalkeeper experienced a relatively quiet evening at the Balaidos. He dealt comfortably with three routine saves throughout the match and was left entirely exposed for Celta’s equalizer, giving him little chance to maintain a clean sheet.

  ​Trent Alexander-Arnold – 4/10: It was a night to forget for the Englishman, whose defensive hesitation allowed Williot Swedberg to create the leveler. He struggled to exert his usual influence on the ball and has yet to find his stride in the iconic white shirt since his move.

  ​Raul Asencio – 5/10: The youngster had a mixed outing, notably failing to track Borja Iglesias on the goal that brought Celta level. His performance was further hindered by a series of reckless challenges that put the backline under unnecessary pressure.

  ​Antonio Rudiger – 6/10: While he wasn’t forced into many high-stakes defensive actions, the German international was uncharacteristically slow in moving the ball from the back. He provided a stable presence but lacked his usual progressive impact on the game.

  ​Ferland Mendy – 6/10: Returning from a significant injury layoff, the Frenchman looked solid and provided essential cover on the left flank. He made a crucial late-game intervention that prevented Celta from taking the lead during a dangerous counter-attack.

  ​Aurelien Tchouameni – 7/10: The standout performer in the Madrid engine room, Tchouameni opened the scoring with a brilliant curled effort from distance. He anchored the midfield with a commanding presence and was unlucky not to add a second shortly after.

  ​Federico Valverde – 6/10: The Uruguayan’s relentless work rate was on full display as he covered every blade of grass. While his winning goal in the 95th minute owed a great deal to a massive deflection, his willingness to shoot ultimately secured the three points.

  ​Thiago Pitarch – 6/10: Pitarch provided a functional presence in the midfield but failed to truly influence the tempo or creativity of the side. He played a safe game, acting more as a tactical placeholder than a dynamic playmaker during his time on the pitch.

  ​Vinicius Jr – 7/10: Playing in a more centralized role, the Brazilian was a constant thorn in Celta’s side, hitting the woodwork early on. Though he lacked the final clinical touch on this occasion, his dribbling and movement remained the team’s primary offensive threat.

  ​Arda Guler – 6/10: Deployed in an unfamiliar false nine role, the Turkish starlet struggled to impose himself on the game. He saw very little of the ball in congested areas and was eventually replaced after 65 minutes of mixed success.

  ​Brahim Diaz – 6/10: Starting on the right wing, Diaz worked hard to link the play and created a handful of half-chances for his teammates. It was a disciplined and solid shift, even if he didn’t manage to produce a game-breaking moment.

• Paris Saint-Germain suffers home defeat to Monaco ahead of Chelsea’s UCL visit

  Paris Saint-Germain suffered their first home defeat of the season in a 3-1 loss to Monaco, providing a major setback just days before their crucial Champions League meeting with Chelsea.

  ​Paris Saint-Germain’s formidable home streak ended in frustration as Monaco secured a clinical 3-1 victory at the Parc des Princes.

  Despite early dominance and creative sparks from Achraf Hakimi and Bradley Barcola, a critical defensive error by Warren Zaïre-Emery allowed Maghnes Akliouche to open the scoring.

  The visitors remained remarkably disciplined, absorbing constant pressure while capitalising on rare opportunities to frustrate the league leaders.

  ​The second half mirrored the first as substitute Aleksandr Golovin doubled the lead from close range.

  Although Luis Enrique’s triple substitution briefly paid dividends when Barcola reduced the deficit in the 71st minute, Folarin Balogun quickly restored the two-goal cushion via a deflection.

  PSG’s late offensive surge left them vulnerable at the back, sealing their first domestic home loss of the current Ligue 1 campaign.

  ​Attention now shifts to the Champions League as PSG prepare to host Chelsea on Wednesday.

  Luis Enrique must address the uncharacteristic defensive lapses seen against Monaco to ensure his side is ready for the high-stakes Round of 16 first leg.

  With key players like Ousmane Dembélé returning to the fold, the Parisians will be desperate to rediscover their clinical edge on the European stage.

• Bernardo Silva reveals how Arsenal is being handed title advantage

  Bernardo Silva claims refereeing inconsistency has handed Arsenal a title advantage after Manchester City’s frustrating 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest increased the gap at the top to seven points.

  Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has voiced frustration over officiating following a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest that left his side seven points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

  Silva criticized the decision to deny Erling Haaland a penalty after a collision with goalkeeper Matz Sels. He stated, “I just think that all the 50-50s this season have gone against us – all of them.”

  Despite leading twice through Antoine Semenyo and Rodri, City conceded late to Elliot Anderson, further complicating their title defense.

  Silva admitted City’s own errors contributed to the gap, acknowledging, “It’s on us that we didn’t win.”

  Meanwhile, Forest manager Vitor Pereira urged his squad to remain focused on the present as they battle to stay outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

• Player Ratings: Mbeumo 3, and Mainoo 4, flop as Man United suffer first loss under Carrick at Newcastle

  Michael Carrick’s unbeaten start as Manchester United manager came to a crashing halt at St. James’ Park, where a late Will Osula strike secured a 2-1 win for a Newcastle side that played the entire second half with ten men.  

  ​The Red Devils tasted defeat for the first time under Carrick’s stewardship in a night of missed opportunities and defensive lapses.

  Despite a numerical advantage following Jacob Ramsey’s dismissal for simulation, United failed to break down a resilient Magpies defense.

  While Casemiro’s header briefly restored parity following Anthony Gordon’s penalty, Osula’s solo brilliance in the dying moments ensured the points stayed on Tyneside.

  ​Manchester United Player Ratings

  ​Senne Lammens: 7/10

  The young Belgian continues to grow in stature despite the result. While he wasn’t called upon to make a flurry of acrobatic saves, his command of the penalty area was authoritative. His distribution remains a key asset, and he handled the high-pressure atmosphere of St. James’ Park with notable maturity.

  ​Noussair Mazraoui: 6/10

  Handed a starting role, the fullback was a steadying presence on the right side of the defense. He carried out his defensive duties with minimal fuss but lacked the overlapping ambition to trouble Newcastle’s backline, eventually departing late with a knock.

  ​Leny Yoro: 6/10

  It was a steep learning curve for the teenager against a physical Newcastle front line. After some early positioning jitters, he grew into the game and was denied a goal of his own by a spectacular Ramsdale save. He remains a work in progress but showed glimpses of his high ceiling.

  ​Harry Maguire: 6/10

  The veteran defender was dominant in the air, winning several crucial headers to clear the danger. While he was largely composed against Newcastle’s pace, he will be disappointed not to have stepped out quicker to block Osula’s match-winning effort in the final minute.

  ​Luke Shaw: 6/10

  Shaw endured a bruising encounter, including a heavy collision with Dan Burn, but remained a gritty competitor. He offered some support in the buildup before being substituted at the hour mark as United looked to freshen up their defensive options.

  ​Casemiro: 6/10

  The Brazilian experienced a game of two halves. He showcased his elite vision with pinpoint passing in the first period and scored a vital equalizer with a clinical header. However, the relentless intensity of the Newcastle midfield eventually took its toll on his legs.

  ​Kobbie Mainoo: 4/10

  A difficult evening for the academy graduate, who struggled to cope with the physical intensity of the Magpies’ press. He was dispossessed in dangerous areas several times during the first half and, despite more space after the red card, failed to dictate the tempo as usual.

  ​Bruno Fernandes: 6/10

  The captain’s night was a mix of frustration and productivity. He conceded a clumsy penalty after a foul on Gordon but quickly made amends with a perfectly weighted free-kick for the equalizer. He probed for an opening late on but couldn’t find the decisive final ball.

  ​Bryan Mbeumo: 3/10

  A night to forget for the winger, whose performance was characterized by a lack of clinical edge. Missing a glaring opportunity with the goal at his mercy in the first half proved costly, and he struggled to find any meaningful rhythm before being hooked.

  ​Benjamin Sesko: 5/10

  While his hold-up play and link-up touches showed flashes of quality, the striker was largely starved of clear-cut chances. After a prolific run of form, he found himself well-shackled by the Newcastle center-backs and was unable to test Ramsdale.

  ​Matheus Cunha: 5/10

  Cunha worked hard to find pockets of space but lacked the final product to hurt the hosts. He forced a save in the first half but faded as the match progressed, failing to provide the creative spark needed to break down ten men.

  ​Substitutes & Manager

  ​Manuel Ugarte: 6/10

  Brought on to add bite to the midfield, he threw himself into the physical fray. He added energy and nearly found a winner with a header that sailed just over the crossbar.

  ​Joshua Zirkzee: 6/10

  Replacing the ineffective Mbeumo, the forward looked sharp and eager to influence the result. He drew a fantastic late save from Ramsdale and offered a more dynamic threat in the final third.

  ​Michael Carrick: 5/10

  Carrick will rue a missed opportunity to consolidate United’s position. While his initial setup was reasonable, he was slow to introduce attacking reinforcements despite his side holding a man advantage for over 45 minutes of play.