From Swansea setback to England international – Marc Guehi has come a long way
Marc Guehi is aiming to be England’s ‘Steady Eddie’ after overcoming doubts during a loan stint at Swansea to become a regular in Gareth Southgate’s squad. The Crystal Palace centre-back, 23, has seven senior caps and has featured in three of the previous four games ahead of the final Euro 2024 qualification double-header against Malta and North Macedonia. Having come through the ranks at Chelsea, where he credits Claude Makelele as a mentor, Guehi never made a Premier League appearance for the Blues but is now a fixture in the division in south London. Guehi was also capped at every England age group from Under-16s upwards until making his senior debut last year. Asked how he has dealt with every step up in his career, Guehi replied: “The trait is, that in my life everything has been quite steady. Growing up I was never pushed on too soon, or left behind. “It was always quite steady and my career has been exactly the same. In the academy, going out on loan, steadily playing game after game and gaining confidence. Getting the move to Palace and finding my feet in the Premier League and now coming here with England. “So when you talk about those steps and progression, everything for me has been quite natural. I just see things how they are and take things how they come. “When I said about the steadiness, along that pathway there is those setbacks. I think it’s your job as an individual to just learn from those as quickly as possible. And not allow them to drag you from behind. “There’s been many setbacks and always will be. It’s about learning from them and using those moments to prove yourself.” The main setback for Guehi was during his time on loan at Swansea, a move which coincided with the start of the coronavirus pandemic that shut down football for over three months during the 2019/20 season. Guehi was away from home and had fallen out of favour in the Swansea team, not featuring in the final four matchday squads before football was halted – although he returned to get back into the side before spending another campaign on loan at the Liberty Stadium. “Not many people know, it was tough for me at Swansea,” he said. Those moments were difficult, you take those moments, learn from them, try to move on and put them right Marc Guehi “I have not spoken about it, everyone thinks it was plain sailing, great. I played the first four games and then I didn’t play up until after lockdown. Being away from home, in Swansea, different country, on your own, there’s going to be challenges, going to be tough. “Those moments were difficult, you take those moments, learn from them, try to move on and put them right. I was just out of favour. Not anything in particular. I came from Chelsea, came with a lot of confidence, and my confidence almost gets knocked. “Thankfully, I did get back home, just in time before (lockdown), it was so strange to say it, for so many people around the world it was horrible, for my family, and so many people around. “For me, it was probably the best moment, I could get away from football, be with my family, and just focus on myself. How can I now if football does come back – thankfully football did come back – if we do get back to playing, how can I get back in this team? “I genuinely enjoyed Swansea. It was good. Swansea was a great place for me to play. I had a great view from an apartment looking out onto the beach although it was not sunny but it was still a decent view.” Guehi, who plays drums at his church when time allows and whose father is a pastor, has used setbacks such as his experiences in south Wales, to build a stronger mentality. “It is like building calluses but in your mind,” he added. “Going through those moments does help you in everyday life, everyday situations. You might have a bad game but you remember what you’ve gone through before, and you almost put that to bed and go I just need to prove myself the next game. Moving steadily.” Read More Anthony Joshua sees Otto Wallin as a stepping stone on his way to a title fight Rohit Sharma glad India ‘could get the job done’ against New Zealand Still plenty to play for – Scotland v Georgia talking points A look at the data behind Virat Kohli’s record 50 ODI centuries Virat Kohli hits record ton as India beat New Zealand to reach World Cup final Francis Ngannou ranked as top-10 heavyweight by WBC after impressive debut
2023-11-16 07:16
Chelsea controversially held by Real Madrid in Champions League opener
Chelsea had to settle for a point in their Champions League opener as Olga Carmona’s penalty saw Emma Hayes’ side held 2-2 at Real Madrid. After Carmona put Real ahead in the 10th minute, the Blues turned things around via two headers either side of the break, Niamh Charles equalising and then setting up Sam Kerr. But moments later Carmona – scorer of Spain’s winner against England in the summer’s World Cup final – converted from the spot after Jessie Fleming was judged to have fouled Athenea del Castillo in the box. Chelsea substitute Lauren James rattled the crossbar before Charles controversially had an effort ruled out in stoppage time as the visitors were unable to secure a winning start to their final Champions League campaign before Hayes leaves at the end of the season and becomes United States head coach. The west London outfit – who have not won this competition among the glut of trophies they have claimed under Hayes, going closest as runners-up in 2021 – return to Women’s Super League action against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday before continuing their Group D games by taking on Paris FC at the same ground five days later. Wednesday’s earlier game in the pool saw Paris FC beaten 2-1 at home by Swedish side BK Hacken. Real grabbed the lead with the first real effort on goal as Ann-Katrin Berger’s attempted clearance came to Claudia Zornoza and she passed to Carmona, whose strike from 25 yards flew in via a deflection off Chelsea skipper Millie Bright. While the hosts offered little more in the way of attacking threat for the rest of the first half, Chelsea looked increasingly likely to hit back. And after Kerr had seen a rising shot well turned behind by Misa Rodriguez just prior to the half-hour mark and Erin Cuthbert fired off-target, the equaliser four minutes before the break when Charles headed in from Ashley Lawrence’s cross. Further Chelsea pressure in stoppage time included a Cuthbert free-kick going wide off a white shirt and Sjoeke Nusken’s shot being caught by Rodriguez. The opening stages of the second half saw Rodriguez deal with a Kerr header and do superbly to divert a shot from the same player wide moments later. Hayes introduced James for Fran Kirby and after Charles blocked a Del Castillo strike, the substitute put a shot into the stand at the other end. Chelsea got themselves in front with Charles once again involved as her 74th-minute cross was nodded in by Kerr. But only five minutes later, the score was back level after Fleming made a challenge that started outside the box on Del Castillo, she went down in the area and – with no VAR in operation – referee Frida Klarlund pointed to the spot, with Carmona powerfully dispatching the penalty past Berger. As Chelsea pushed to regain the lead, Rodriguez produced another good save to deny Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and James sent a wonderful shot crashing against the bar. The visitors then had the ball in the net again deep in stoppage time through Charles’ finish, but the effort was chalked off – seemingly for offside, although replays showed she had not been – to leave Hayes looking frustrated and Real breathing a sigh of relief. Read More Jon Rahm says it is ‘mainly my fault’ that he cannot catch Rory McIlroy in Dubai Ex-Chelsea keeper Petr Cech joins Belfast Giants as ‘temporary emergency cover’ Sir Chris Hoy says Katie Archibald’s form ‘incredibly impressive’ ahead of Paris Emma Hayes: Winning Champions League would be fairytale end to time at Chelsea The issues facing injury-hit Newcastle heading into testing end to year The sporting weekend in pictures
2023-11-16 06:56
Sam Howell is the NFL's leading passer through 10 weeks. The Commanders hope he's their long-term QB
Sam Howell is the NFL’s leading passer with 2,783 yards, and his 264 completions are also the most of any quarterback through the first 10 weeks of the season
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Pro Picks: Bengals will upset Ravens, tighten up the jumbled AFC North
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2023-11-16 06:45
AC Milan fullback Florenzi under investigation in Italy for illegal betting, reports say
AC Milan fullback Alessandro Florenzi is the latest Italian player placed under investigation by Turin prosecutors looking into footballers using illegal websites to bet on games according to Italian media reports
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F1 roars into Las Vegas with parties, concerts, celebrities and, eventually, an actual race
Formula One has arrived in Las Vegas for a week of parties, concerts, celebrity-packed events and eventually Saturday night's race
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Frank Reich retakes control of offensive play calls in Carolina less than a month after giving it up
Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich is retaking control of the team’s offensive play calling less than a month after handing it over to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown
2023-11-16 06:22
Alex Loera joins Bay FC as the expansion team's first player after trade with Current
Defensive midfielder Alex Loera has become the first player for Bay FC, the National Women’s Soccer League expansion team set to start next season in the San Francisco Bay Area
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Sinclair Says Diamond Sports Subsidiary Likely to Close in 2024
Sinclair Inc. said its bankrupt local sports unit Diamond Sports Group will probably shut down after the end
2023-11-16 05:58
Portland Timbers announce new jersey sponsor for 2024 MLS season
The 2024 MLS season will see Portland Timbers sport a new shirt sponsor.
2023-11-16 05:55
Steelers TE Freiermuth hopes hamstring issues are behind him as Pittsburgh gears up for stretch run
The Pittsburgh Steelers are hopeful tight end Pat Freiermuth can return in time for a showdown with Cleveland
2023-11-16 05:52
Alan Pulido named 2023 MLS Comeback Player of the Year
Sporting Kansas City forward Alan Pulido has been named the 2023 MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
2023-11-16 05:47