Portugal PM sees budget surplus in 2023, its second in almost 50 years
By Sergio Goncalves LISBON The Portuguese government will end the year with a budget surplus, its second in
1970-01-01 08:00
Niger attack: Jihadists kill dozen of soldiers in deadliest raid since coup
Killings by militant Islamists have intensified since the military seized power in July.
1970-01-01 08:00
Banks behind 70% jump in greenwashing incidents in 2023 -report
LONDON The number of instances of greenwashing by banks and financial services companies around the world rose 70%
1970-01-01 08:00
Turkey’s Inflation Tops 61% as Surging Oil Prices Worsen Outlook
Turkish inflation accelerated in line with forecasts to exceed 61% for the first time this year as higher
1970-01-01 08:00
Chelsea finally catch a break as Mykhailo Mudryk gets his moment
Chelsea got their goal and then had some fortune. If both were overdue, it came as a great relief for Mauricio Pochettino, who got just his second win since returning to the Premier League with this comfortable 2-0 victory over neighbours Fulham in the west London derby. It may just be one night in Chelsea’s long road back to where they want to be under the former Tottenham manager, but there was enough here to suggest that something is finally starting to come together in this young side – not least because of the identity and resilience of their goalscorers at Craven Cottage. Mykhailo Mudryk got his first for Chelsea at long last, amid much criticism of his performances since an £88m transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk, while Armando Broja marked his return from injury and first start in 11 months by doubling Chelsea’s lead in the space of two first-half minutes. Mudryk was rewarded for his perseverance and it was somewhat fitting that the winger ended Chelsea’s goal drought in the Premier League while also breaking his own personal duck. If Pochettino will hope it is the moment that gives the 22-year-old the platform and confidence to show his true potential, he too was rewarded for continuing to give Mudryk the opportunity on what was his fourth consecutive start. Chelsea hardly turned a corner against Fulham, but Pochettino’s display of faith and patience is what the club will need to get there. After all, it had not been easy for Mudryk. “It’s about maturity, adaptation,” Pochettino said. “We need to understand that young people need time, need to settle.” It was a reminder that Mudryk’s difficult start at Cheslea can also be put down to wider issues at the club. Mudryk joined a bloated squad last season and a dressing room that could not even fit all of their first-team players. It was hardly an environment where he could arrive and be the “cherry on the cake”, as Pochettino explained. “It’s about time and to have patience, to trust these guys and these young, talented players, and to build their confidence,” Pochettino continued. His proven record of developing young players suggests the Argentine arrived at just the right time for Mudryk. Because there is a player there, even as the Ukrainian’s flashes come in raw, untamed bursts of speed, his legs and boots often whirring ahead of the brain. But against Fulham there was also, finally, the touch of class at the end, in the moment that unlocked the match and released the pressure on the visitors. Mudryk was typically electric yet erratic in the opening 10 minutes, running the ball out of play on the left before lashing a wild shot wide after cutting in from the wing; he was taunted by the Fulham fans in the Hammersmith End with chants of “what a waste of money”, and could have allowed his head to drop. But if the forward’s decision-making around the box looked to be in question again, Mudryk then provided the sharp touch from Levi Colwill’s clever ball into his path before finishing under Bernd Leno. With it, Mudryk had his first goal since his last appearance in the Ukrainian top flight almost 11 months ago, and after a goalless September, Chelsea had their first in the Premier League since a 3-0 win against Luton in August, as well as a rare away win. After a spell of almost 300 minutes without a goal, the second then came in a matter of seconds, and in this final fixture of the weekend there was room for one more “significant human error”. This time, though, it was Fulham captain Tim Ream who passed straight out to the impressive Cole Palmer, and whose efforts to clear instead saw the ball cannon off Broja’s foot and past Leno. Chelsea will argue that their slice of good fortune had been coming; Pochettino’s side had arrived at Craven Cottage as the Premier League’s great xG underperformers, with more big chances missed than anyone this season, but this was the night where their luck perhaps started to turn. Pochettino’s team were the brightest before the goal and for once they had quickly built a lead to settle on. It allowed for a night of positivity – Chelsea needed a win after making their worst start to a top-flight season in 45 years, but Pochettino will be more encouraged by some of the displays in his young, although expensively assembled, side. Palmer, in particular, stood out on his first Premier League start for Chelsea, his left foot all deft touches and clever, slipped passes through the lines. In for Raheem Sterling, who was on the bench due to illness, the £40m signing from Manchester City has laid a claim to be the brightest of Chelsea’s many summer recruits and produced the pass that led to Broja’s goal. In midfield, Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher, the player of the match, functioned well ahead of the record signing Moises Caicedo, who shielded and screened to allow the other two to burst and drive. As a collective, they outworked and dominated Fulham’s midfield trio of Joao Palhinha, Harrison Reed and Andreas Pereira, which does not happen often. Fulham, though, were well below what was required on their big night. After finishing above Chelsea last season, they came into this west London derby feeling as confident as they had done before this fixture in a generation. But Marco Silva’s side were blunt in attack and far too open at the back – it took until the hour for substitute Carlos Vinicius to threaten Chelsea’s patched-up defence for the first time when he headed over the bar from close range. Moments later, Chelsea could have been out of sight. Ian Maatsen, who replaced Mudryk - off due to a minor know - at the break, struck the inside of the post with a first-time effort from Gallagher’s cut-back before Fernandez’s shot was blocked by Leno. Robert Sanchez made his first saves when the Chelsea goalkeeper kept out another Vinicius header and then raised his foot to deny Fulham substitute Saka Lukic, who should have scored from six yards late on. It would have made for a tense finish, but after a difficult start to the season, Chelsea had earned themselves a break. Read More The Premier League now faces a credibility ‘crisis’ – and latest VAR farce is just the tip Jamie Carragher believes VAR at ‘crisis point’ in Premier League Frank Lampard explains why he is ‘not surprised’ by Chelsea’s struggles Mauricio Pochettino’s faith in Mykhailo Mudryk is exactly what Chelsea need Mauricio Pochettino vows to continue to show belief in Chelsea’s young stars Frank Lampard explains why he is ‘not surprised’ by Chelsea’s struggles
1970-01-01 08:00
Sri Lankan economy to see growth next year after 3.8% contraction, says World Bank
By Uditha Jayasinghe COLOMBO (Reuters) -Sri Lanka's economy is set to perform better than expected but still see a significant
1970-01-01 08:00
Bradley Cooper wore Leonard Bernstein's personal bathrobe in Maestro
Leonard Bernstein's children have revealed the personal item the actor wore for his portrayal of the late conductor and composer.
1970-01-01 08:00
Tennis-Swiatek on board with WTA's performance byes
Iga Swiatek has given her backing to the reintroduction of performance byes during the WTA's Asian swing of
1970-01-01 08:00
Henry Cuellar: US congressman carjacked at gunpoint in Washington
Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar is reportedly unharmed after the incident in Washington.
1970-01-01 08:00
World Bank Trims Forecast for Fastest-Growing Emerging Region
The World Bank lowered its economic growth forecast for South Asia for next year, although still expects it
1970-01-01 08:00
Mauricio Pochettino vows to continue to show belief in Chelsea’s young stars
Mauricio Pochettino promised Chelsea will continue to show belief in their young stars after Mykhailo Mudryk scored his first goal for the club in their 2-0 win against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Armando Broja, making his first start since injuring his ACL in December, also netted as the visitors gave their most convincing performance yet of the manager’s reign and ended a run of three Premier League games without a goal. Chelsea took the lead after 18 minutes when Mudryk chested down Levi Colwill’s expertly-flighted cross and nudged the ball past Bernd Leno as the Fulham goalkeeper advanced. And within a minute it was two, Cole Palmer dispossessing Tim Ream who was careless with the ball at his feet and feeding Broja, who deflected the ball home off Ream’s attempted clearance. It was a dominant first half from Chelsea with Palmer, making his first Premier League start for the club after impressing in the EFL Cup win against Brighton last week, making a critical difference coming deep to collect the ball and starting the visitors’ attacks. Ian Maatsen, on at half-time in place of Mudryk, struck a post after the break as Pochettino’s side threatened a third, and it was not until 14 minutes from time that a lacklustre Fulham threatened a response when Robert Sanchez blocked Sasa Lukic’s close-range shot. Pochettino pointed to the patience the club have shown in waiting for their expensively assembled but young side to come good, particularly Mudryk who finally broke his scoring duck nine months after jointing from Shakhtar Donetsk for £88million. “The difference (tonight) is the result,” said the manager. “The performance was really good. First half I think we played really well, second half we controlled the game. “I’m pleased for Mudryk, and for Armando. For Misha because he has scored his first goal in the Premier League and then for Armando, after a long period out he’s scored again. The competition is really good for the team. “It’s about maturity, adaptation. We need to understand that young people need time, need to settle. Massive change for him when he arrived here. I think when you arrive in a team, it’s not easy to settle because there were too many young players that arrived in a team (that) was not solid. “They need to add something to the team, to build something important. Always it’s difficult, but it’s about time and to have patience, to trust these guys and these young, talented players, and to build their confidence. “It’s a massive job. It’s step by step. Sometimes people have not the patience, but for us it’s about being patient. Even when we were losing and when we didn’t win from the beginning of the season, we were calm and kept the belief. “Now that we’ve won two games in a few days it’s (still) important to stay calm.” It was the fourth game in a row in which Mudryk had started, having not been in the starting XI for any of Pochettino’s first five matches in charge. He was withdrawn at half-time with what the manager said was an issue with his quad, but he is expected to be fit for Saturday’s trip to face Burnley. “He played because he deserved it, and he showed in training that he deserved it,” said the manager. “He was really focused in training and had the confidence to go on the pitch and play. “Normally it’s the player that needs to show us that we can trust in them.” Fulham boss Marco Silva reflected on a game in which he felt his team lacked the required aggression as they fell to a third league defeat of the season. “Disappointing result for us,” he said. “At certain moments, performance-wise as well. They started intense from the first moment, winning some individual challenges that gave the boost they needed. “Our first half was not aggressive enough on and off the ball. We were sloppy in some moments. We did not bring the dynamic that we should. Even our first pressure didn’t work very well.” Read More Chelsea finally catch a break as Mykhailo Mudryk gets his moment Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
1970-01-01 08:00
Sumatran rhino birth offers glimmer of hope for species almost hunted to extinction
A critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros calf has been born in a national park in Indonesia, the third successful pairing between a local female rhino named Ratu and Andalas, a former resident of Ohio's Cincinnati Zoo.
1970-01-01 08:00
