Arsenal fans think they now know what Unai Emery will do vs Spurs after FC Vorskla decision

Unai Emery's team selection to face FC Vorskla in the Europa League on Thursday night certainly got fans talking.

The Spaniard named a very young team for the clash in Kiev, with a frontline consisting of Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock and Emile Smith Rowe.

And the bench was even younger, with the likes of Charlie Gilmour, Tyreece John-Jules, Bukayo Saka and Zech Medley all named amongst the substiutes.

But it was his decision to start with Rob Holding which really caught the eye - as fans discussed what it could mean ahead of Sunday's north London derby with Spurs.


Holding has been in excellent form of late, but plenty of supporters believe the fact that he started in Ukraine on Thursday night means that he will sit out Sunday's clash with Spurs at the Emirates - with Emery instead opting for a centre-back pairing of Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi against Tottenham.

And the potential inclusion of Mustafi in the derby does not seem to have gone down to well. Here's a selection of what's been said on social media.

Read More »

Maurizio Sarri reveals why he is 'worried' about Eden Hazard after goalscoring drought

Maurizio Sarri admits that he is not worried about Eden Hazard's goal drought but more concerned about the recent spate of injuries that the Chelsea star has picked up.

The Belgian has not scored in nine games for club or country having had a stunning start to the season under the new head coach.

However, during that spell he was also recovering a back injury that he picked up ahead of the Manchester United draw last month. Hazard was then on the end of a heavy Serge Aurier tackle at the weekend against Spurs that left him hobbling with an ankle injury and missing training for past two days.

While Hazard was always likely to be rested against PAOK on Thursday night in the Europa League, the winger is set to be fit enough to try to end his goal drought against Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

But Sarri is still concerned that the busy schedule over the festive period and the knocks that Hazard is picking up is having an effect on his form.

"I am worried because 25 days ago he had an injury, a back injury," Sarri said. "Now the ankle. So I think that he has lost a lot of training. So it's normal he wouldn't be top of his physical condition. One week of training and a couple of matches and he'll be back at the best level of physical condition.

"I think that this week is useful for him in training. Then we will see. Of course I think that he cannot play ten matches in 29/30 days, so sometimes he has to rest."

Read More »

Arsenal behind the scenes: Unai Emery's January priority, Nelson return, Dembele latest & Pavon

The Premier League returns this weekend with Arsenal heading to Bournemouth on Sunday looking to extend their unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions.

It's been a fine start to the season for the Gunners under Unai Emery, but now they will be really trying to kick on as we head towards the busy festive period and the January transfer window.

Ahead of their return to action, Arsenal writer Charles Watts gave his thoughts on some of the big talking points at the club right now during a Q&A with fans on Thursday - Here is what he had to say on what is going on behind the scenes in north London.

On what Arsenal and Sven Mislintat's transfer priority is

Charles Watts: "The plan at Arsenal was they weren’t going to do any business in January and then target two key areas in the summer - wide attacker and left-back.

"Obviously, the injury to Welbeck has changed that and they really do need to bring someone in now in January because they are very short on attack and will be overly reliant on Auba and Laca.

"The summer budget was going to be around £50m, before any player sales. Which is fairly similar to what it has been in recent years. I think they will add to that by getting rid of players like Elneny and possibly Kolasinac.

"A new left-back will certainly the priority in the summer. I could see another central midfielder coming in as well."

On a possible January return for Reiss Nelson

Charles Watts says: "A lot depends on whether they think they could bring anyone in. If it looks like landing one of their key targets is unlikely, then Nelson could be an option to return as cover for Welbeck.

"Ideally, Arsenal want him to remain in Germany for the season as they see that as best for his development.

"But there is a possibility of him coming back in January. There is usually a one-week period in January during a season-long loan where the deal can be cut short.

"So Arsenal would have to make a decision there and then. As it stands, I think he will stay with Hoffenheim."

On the possibility of Ousmane Dembele signing from Barcelona

Charles Watts says: "I’m afraid I can’t see it happening. Arsenal just can’t afford him.

"They want him, make no mistake about that, but the money it would take to prize him away from Barca is just out of Arsenal’s reach right now.

"The only way they could do it is if Barca allowed him out on loan and then they struck some sort of payment deal that was structured over several seasons.

"That’s not out of the realms of possibility, but I would be very surprised if it happened.

"If Barca sell Dembele they have to pay Dortmund £26m. That tells you how much they would need to do business, even with his disciplinary issues.

Read More »

6 Quality Centre-Backs Chelsea Target to Replace David Luiz in January

Chelsea fans watched on in utter dismay on Saturday evening, as David Luiz's horror show performance at the back saw their side slump to a humiliating 3-1 defeat against their fierce local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Time and time again, the north Londoners sliced through the Blues' defence like a razor-sharp machete through a stack of rotting cabbages.

With such a liability in their side, there's no chance that Chelsea will be able to challenge the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool for the title this season, and they desperately need a cool head to shore up their backline.

So here's six top quality centre-backs that Sarri target in the January transfer window.

6. Milan Škriniar - Internazionale

Inter defender Milan Škriniar is reportedly being eyed by a number of elite sides at the moment, including Chelsea.

The Slovakian powerhouse's rugged style of defending has seen him become a highly coveted player, and he has

With Manchester United thought to be hell-bent on signing the 23-year-old, the Blues will need to act fast to avoid missing out on a real talent.

5. Stefan Savić - Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid have become notorious for their rock-solid defence under Diego Simeone, with centre-back Stefan Savić

The Blues were reportedly keen on signing the Montenegrin ace in the summer, and could reignite their interest in securing his services come the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old failed to make an impact while playing for Manchester City earlier in his career, and clearly has some unfinished business to attend to in the Premier League.

4. Kalidou Koulibaly - Napoli

Sarri has already raided his previous club Napoli once to bring in midfield magician Jorginho, and could look to bring another of his former players.

While Koulibaly is likely to prove a costly purchase, Liverpool proved that you can't put a price on defensive solidity after splashing on the cash on Virgil van Dijk. The Blues would do well to follow suit and make a similarly groundbreaking signing.

The Senegalese sensation has thrived in Serie A for five seasons now, and may well be ready to take on a new challenge.

3. Lewis Dunk - Brighton & Hove Albion

Admittedly lacking the pedigree of the other candidates on the list, Brighton & Hove Albion's Lewis Dunk could arguably be Chelsea's next Gary Cahill if they're prepared to take another gamble.

Despite coming for a relatively unfashionable side, Dunk's consistent form for the Seagulls saw him earn his first England cap earlier in the month, as he finally earned the recognition he deserves.

At the age of 27, the 6ft 4in defender is now in his prime, and he could offer Chelsea some real composure in their often haphazard backline.

2. Alessio Romagnoli - AC Milan

After spending money like a drunken uncle at a birthday party bar, AC Milan's issues with UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules have come back to haunt them.

The Serie A sleeping giants may well need to cash in on some of their top talents to balance the books, and Chelsea should look to capitalise.

Italy international Alessio Romagnoli has the capability to lead the Blues' defence for the next decade, and his experience wearing the armband at a young age (23) highlights his impressive leadership skills.

1. Matthias Ginter - Borussia Mönchengladbach

At the age of 24, Matthias Ginter is already a seasoned international with bags of experience for Germany, and the Borussia Mönchengladbach man could work wonders alongside his international teammate Antonio Rüdiger at Chelsea.

The former Borussia Dortmund man has been rock solid for his side this season, and put in a heroic performance as his side stunned Bayern Munich at the Alianz Arena earlier in the season - earning a clean sheet in a 3-0 win.

With his side currently second in Bundesliga, it may be hard to persuade Ginter to jump ship in January, but a summer move could well be on the cards.

Read More »

Maurizio Sarri to make his big decision over Andreas Christensen and David Luiz

It's easy for Chelsea fans to get carried away after the Tottenham Hotspur defeat and think that changes need to be made all over the park.

However, one question that has been under a big debate is that of David Luiz and whether or not he should remain as the centre-back next to Antonio Rudiger for the Blues.

Now might be the time though for Christensen to take the Brazilian's place in the league and Maurizio Sarri could well make that decision against Fulham or Wolves.

But what are the positives and the negatives to the two defenders?

David Luiz

The positives

The main positive with Luiz this season has been with the ball at his feet, and at the moment he has one of the highest passing stats in the Premier League so far. The Brazilian has completed 1,050 passes in the league, the fourth highest on the list.

Part of Sarri's system is making sure that the ball is recycled well by the defence and playing out from the back is a massive part of that, with the two centre-backs getting the ball off Kepa Arrizabalaga and playing from there.

Luiz is one of the best in the league at playing from the back with his calm persona and ability, while he also has a great amount of skill playing the longer balls over the top, spreading the play and finding the wingers with great accuracy.

The negatives

The defending stat is a startling one with the Brazilian having been at fault for seven of the 11 Premier League goals against the Blues, and it could have been more.

Luiz has never really been the best defender throughout his career, but his other qualities have really been the overriding figure that have somewhat put that to the back of their mind. However, this season those flaws have at times been highlighted, especially with Antonio Rudiger playing to a high level.

Sometimes switching off when in defensive mode as well, the lack of pace that Luiz has is also something of a concern, and with Marcos Alonso pushing forward there is at times too much space down the left for the opposition to exploit.

Andreas Christensen

The positives

Christensen really is the future of the Chelsea defence and there is a fear that if the Blues don't play him more regularly in the coming weeks then he is going to push for a move.

The 22-year-old has all the attributes to be a top centre-back, with excellent ability on the ball, good pace and decent in the tackle as well.

Comfortable in bringing the ball out from the back and has good recovery pace that would allow more cover to Alonso down the left.

The negatives

When Christensen has been given his chance this season then he hasn't really been putting in the best performances and next to Gary Cahill they have looked shaky at times.

The youngster has looked short of the form that got him the number one centre-back role last season under Antonio Conte, but some of that might come with the irregularity of playing as well.

He has started just Four Europa League matches and another two in the Carabao Cup, yet to make his first Premier League appearance of the season and could be short of confidence.

Read More »

Triple KO for Barcelona ahead of PSV Champions League clash

Ernesto Valverde has three late drop-outs for the Champions League clash at PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday at the Philips Stadium. Luis Suárez, Jasper Cillessen and Arthur Melo have not been included, but Ivan Rakitic and Philippe Coutinho are back.

Suarez is going to miss two to three weeks with stem cell treatment on a knee problem.

In Cillessen's case he has a leg injury and will miss the same amount of time. The Dutch goalkeeeper sustained the problem before the game against Atletico while warming up.

Arthur, meanwhile, has a thigh problem and will miss the PSV game. Added to those absences are Sergi Roberto and Rafinha Alcantara, who were injured against Atletico.

Read More »

Arsenal unveil ground-breaking new feature at Emirates Stadium that is a Premier League first

Arsenal have announced the installation of a large-scale battery storage facility capable of powering a full match at the north London stadium.

It is the first of its kind in the Premier League and works by stockpiling solar energy from panels on the roof of the 60,000-seater ground.

This new feature is the latest step in an effort to cut electricity costs and lower the venue's impact on the environment with the Gunners having already replaced their floodlights with more efficient LED alternatives.

Arsenal unveil a new Battery Storage Solution at Emirates Stadium. (Image: Arsenal Football Club)

Match days at a major stadium put high demands on the national grid with clubs such as Arsenal operating offices, food and drink outlets, security systems and broadcast facilities in addition to putting on a football match.

By running the stadium from solar power stored in an on-site battery, the north Londoners hope to sell electricity back to the national grid when it is not needed on days where the stadium is not in use.

In a statement released by the club, a spokesperson for Arsenal outlined the technology and its capabilities.

"The storage system has been designed to meet our peak levels of energy consumption and will store enough power to run the Emirates for 90 minutes. It's the equivalent of powering 2,700 homes for two hours.

Read More »

Unai Emery explains exactly why he left Mesut Ozil out of Arsenal's 2-1 win at Bournemouth

Unai Emery hinted after Arsenal’s hard-earned victory at Bournemouth on Sunday that he left Mesut Ozil out of the team because he feared the German would struggle to deal with the home side’s intensity at the Vitality Stadium.

Ozil was left amongst the substitutes during the 2-1 success and didn’t even get up to warm-up during the second half, instead deciding to stay firmly behind Emery on the second row of the bench.

He watched on as an own goal from Jefferson Lerma and a second half Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strike extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions and moved them to within one point of the top four.

Ozil may now find himself starting Thursday night’s Europa League clash against Vorskla in Ukraine, raising the possibility of him sitting out the north London derby with Spurs next weekend.

Explaining his decision to bench the former Real Madrid man at the Vitality Stadium, Emery stated that it was something that was decided on during the week while trying to work out a way of dealing with Bournemouth's intense pressing game.

“We thought about how we can be better in the match today, with a very demanding match physically with their intensity against us and [that’s what] we decided,” said Emery.

“But every player is important. Also today we tried with three centre-backs. It was another opportunity to improve and find our best performance.”

When asked whether he doesn’t trust Ozil to perform in an ‘intense and competitive’ game, Arsenal’s head coach added: “In the beginning of the season we were speaking every day about being competitive, we need to be organised and we need individual quality to better our performance. And it’s the same today.”

Having taken the lead midway through the first half thanks to Lerma’s own goal, Arsenal found themselves pegged back seconds before the interval when Josh King finished off a rapid Bournemouth counter-attack.

Read More »

Eden Hazard makes a vow to Chelsea fans after 3-1 defeat to Spurs

Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard has told fans that he would never abandon their club in the January transfer window amid speculation that Real Madrid could make a move for the Belgian.

After two Premier League title-winning campaigns with the Blues, the 27-year-old has spoken about his desire to play elsewhere but has always left the door open when it comes to signing a new contract to stay at Stamford Bridge.

In a French TV appearance with Canal+, the former Lille winger opened up about his future after he was asked about whether he would agree to a deal to remain at Chelsea.

"I have one year left in June," he said. "If I don't extend, [a move] is possible.

"I can't see myself leaving in January. I wouldn't do that to the club, the fans.

"Next summer it's a possibility, but it's also possible that I spend the rest of my career at Chelsea."

It's not the first time that Hazard has been so honest in how he presents these two possibilities, or dismissed the idea of burning bridges to force his way out of the club.

"I don't want that," said Hazard in October when asked about his compatriot Thibaut Courtois who demanded a transfer to Real Madrid in the summer.

"I want what's good for me but I want what's good for the club because the club has given me everything," he said. "I don't want to say: 'Yes, I am signing a new contract,' and then in the end I don't end up signing. So I will see.

Read More »

The 50 most underrated colleges in America

Whether a student is more inclined to learn about artificial intelligence or take up photography, several factors play a role in choosing the right college.

Business Insider has compiled a ranking of the top 50 underrated colleges nationwide by considering two factors: reputation and future earnings. We figured that schools with mediocre or obscure reputations but whose students made high salaries would be underrated.

To determine our ranking, we combined the mutually exclusive sets of Best Universities and Best Liberal Arts Colleges from The US News & World Report's annual college ranking. We pulled data on median earnings for students from each school who were working and not enrolled ten years after starting at the college from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. You can read the full methodology here.

The Missouri University of Science & Technology took the No. 1 spot. The campus has an atmosphere students described as a less stereotypical Big Bang Theory episode, according to The Princeton Review.

Read More »

French full-back issues come and get me plea to Arsenal ahead of January transfer window

Arsenal are not expected to be busy in the January transfer window.

Head of football Raul Sanllehi does not think the January transfer window is the time to make changes to the squad, although an injury to Danny Welbeck could mean the Gunners do look for attacking reinforcements.

Sanllehi said recently: "I don't believe much in the winter window. There are exceptions but if you have the right plan in the summer and the team are performing at the level you expect, you should not go to that window or try to avoid it.

"It’s there for emergencies, a big injury or if something is really not working and you need to recover there. I give much more importance to the summer windows."

However, if Arsenal are looking for a left-back, there is one all ready to join them, although they may be in the market for someone a bit better.

Anthony Goelzer has admitted that he wants to play for the Gunners and would welcome a transfer.

The 20-year-old is currently playing in the French second division for Valenciennes, making six appearances for the Athenians so far this season.

But if he was given the chance to play in the Premier League for Arsenal, it's fair to say the youngster would take it with open arms.

The full-back was asked by La Voix du Nord  where he would transfer to if he was an agent, and he responded: "Arsenal, it's my dream. Or at least in the English league. It's an incomparable championship with a lot of very big teams. All games are tight, the game never stops, with a lot of intensity. It's beautiful to watch."

Read More »

Sarri names one Tottenham player he’ll like to sign 'and it's not Harry Kane'

Chelsea boss, Maurizio Sarri has named one Tottenham player he would like to sign.

The Blue are unbeaten this season and will look to extend it when they clash with Tottenham at the Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference ahead of the top-four clash, the Italian admitted that he would prefer to sign Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen ahead of their striker Harry Kane.

Sarri said he would like to have Eriksen in his side.

“Of course Harry Kane is the best English striker in the moment, so a very important player, but if I have to say another name, I like very much Eriksen,” Sarri said.

“Why? Because he is a very smart player, a very technical player.

“He’s able to play in midfield and, at the same moment, score eight or nine goals in a season.

“I think that he is a very important player.

“I like him very much, but I don’t want to talk about a player of Tottenham for the market, of course. I only answered a [hypothetical] question.”

Read More »

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Mercy Health Launch New Alliance

CINCINNATI and COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, one of the nation's preeminent academic medical centers, and Mercy Health, a Catholic health ministry serving Ohio and Kentucky (part of Bon Secours Mercy Health), have launched Healthy State Alliance, a bold new ambition to tackle Ohio's most critical health needs and truly make a difference in improving the health of communities.

The Alliance brings together two organizations with complementary missions, capabilities and talents. Wexner Medical Center offers highly specialized and differentiated clinical services and more than 2,000 clinical trials. Mercy Health brings a vast geographic footprint with proven clinical services and a thriving accountable care organization. Together, they have created the Alliance to leverage their respective strengths, significantly expand access to life-changing care and improve the health of all of those they serve.

Read More »

Barcelona considering shock January swoop for Chelsea's 2012 Champions League hero

Barcelona's search for defensive reinforcements during the January transfer window has seen them linked with a surprise move for ex-Chelsea star Branislav Ivanovic.

Injuries to the likes of Samuel Umtitl and Thomas Vermaelen this season has left the La Liga champions short of options at centre-half, with Gerard Pique and summer signing from Sevilla Clement Lenglet the only real choices for Ernesto Valverde of late.

With clubs allowed to do business once again in the new year, the Catalan giants are expected to sign a defender in January.

Arsenal's fit again captain Laurent Koscielny was a named mooted a couple of weeks ago, as was Blues centre-back David Luiz, but it would appear that Barca are looking at another player with Premier League experience.

According to Goal , Barca's main priority in January is to sign a defender with the profile of a 'veteran' and it's understood that Ivanovic fits the profile and they are now considering a move for the 34-year-old.

This would be seen as a short-term option, with the club very much interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus target Matthijs De Ligt from Ajax in the summer.

Ivanovic was a first team regular for most of his Chelsea career and won three Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge in addition to the Champions League and Europa League plus three FA Cup wins and the League Cup before leaving to join Zenit St Petersburg in February 2017.

A right-back who is equally comfortable playing in the middle, the Serbia international scored 34 goals for the Blues during his nine years at the club with his extra-time winner against Napoli in 2012 the stand-out strike to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

They would go on to lift the trophy for the first time in their history against Bayern Munich after outfoxing Barcelona at the Camp Nou at the semi-final stage.

Read More »

The Chelsea talks that Makes N'Golo Kante more valuable than Eden Hazard right now

Chelsea midfielder, N’Golo Kante has signed a new five-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

The deal is worth £290,000 per week.

“I’m happy to extend my time with Chelsea, it has been two beautiful years and I wish for more to come,” Kante told the club’s official website.

“Since I came, I completely improved as a player, challenged myself and got some awards I never thought about. I like the city, I like the club and I am happy to be here for more time.”

Also speaking, the Club director, Marina Granovskaia said: “We are delighted N’Golo has signed a new contract and sees his long-term future with Chelsea.

“When he arrived, we knew we had signed a special player but he has astounded everybody with his tireless and unselfish displays.

“Off the pitch, he remains a dedicated professional and a humble human being despite the fact he is a world champion and a two-time Premier League winner.

“We now look forward to five more years with N’Golo at the heart of the Chelsea midfield.”

The Blues are reported to be offering in the region of £300,000 to the Belgian superstar to tie him down to the club, with Real Madrid consistently sniffing around.

Read More »

Arsenal rocked by double injury blow ahead of Bournemouth, Spurs and Manchester United clashes

Nacho Monreal will miss Arsenal's next three Premier League games after suffering a setback in his return from a hamstring injury.

Arsenal's first choice left-back has not played since the win at Fulham in early October but had been passed fit to feature against Wolves immediately before the international break.

He was not named in the squad, however, and now it has been revealed he has suffered a setback and will not return to full training for another fortnight.

That means he will certainly miss Sunday's trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League as well as next weekend's north London derby with Tottenham and the trip to Manchester United on December 5.

Monreal's continued absence will be a major blow to Unai Emery, who will now hope that Sead Kolasinac can recover his best form quickly having only just returned from a hamstring issue himself.

In a further injury blow, Konstantinos Mavropanos' return has also been pushed back.

The impressive young centre-back has not played a single minute this season due to an ongoing groin injury but he was scheduled to return to full training in November.

That date has now been pushed back to December, however, raising fears that the defender may not be fully match fit before the turn of the year.

Stephan Lichtsteiner, who suffered a hamstring injury during the home game with Sporting CP in the Europa League before the international break, will be assessed ahead of Sunday's trip to Bournemouth.

Laurent Koscielny is still not considered ready to return from his ruptured Achilles as Arsenal continue to integrate the club captain back into the first-team picture.

Read More »

Sven Mislintat eyes move for £68m German international to replace Aaron Ramsey at Arsenal

Sven Mislintat has shown since arriving at Arsenal that he has no issue returning to Borussia Dortmund and raiding his former club.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made the switch from the Westfalenstadion to the Emirates in January and then Sokratis followed in the summer, with Arsenal handing Dortmund around £70 million for the two deals.

And now it appears that Mislintat could be about to try and snare another player  from Dortmund’s grasp, if the latest reports in Germany are to be believed.

It’s being reported by Sport Bild that Arsenal are interested in signing Julian Weigl, the Germany international midfielder.

Weigl, who is also being targeted by Paris Saint Germain, was heavily liked with a potential £68m switch to Manchester City in the summer, with Pep Guardiola known to be a big admirer of the 23-year-old.

He remained with Dortmund, however, but has found his game time somewhat limited this season, making just two starts for the Bundesliga leaders.

Weigl was injured throughout the summer and missed the start of the season while new signings Thomas Delaney and Axel Witsel immediately made their mark at the Westfalenstadion.

As a result, he has made just six appearances in all competitions, four of which have been starts.

Speaking to the German press about his lack of game time, Weigl said: “Competition is always important. I think Axel Witsel has a lot to offer with his international experience. I am glad that he is here. Playing with good people is never bad.”

Arsenal are in the market for a new midfielder as they plan for life without Aaron Ramsey, who has been told he can leave at the end of the season when his contract expires.

Mohamed Elneny, who is once again being eyed by Leicester City, could also be on his way out of north London as head coach Unai Emery and Mislintat continue to reshape the squad at the Emirates.

Villarreal midfielder Pablo Formals has been linked as a potential target to replace Ramsey, as has Manchester United’s Juan Mata.

Read More »

Maurizio Sarri reflects on his four months at Chelsea - and he reveals what he is unhappy about

Maurizio Sarri has enjoyed a fantastic start to life as Chelsea manager following his exit from Napoli in the summer.

Starting off with a 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town in the Premier League, the Blues are currently unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions.

Finishing outside the top four for the second time in three seasons in May after a nightmare title defence, Chelsea are in contention for the top prize at present as they trail leaders Man City by four points.

While the Italian is incredibly pleased with the team's start to the new season, he has revealed that he is unhappy about the lack of time on the training pitch due to the club's busy schedule.

"The results and the quality of our football are positive," he told Gazzetta dello Sport (via Gianluca Di Marzio ). "18 games without a loss, in such a competitive reality show that we're on the right track.

"I'm even more happy because we play a lot and the rhythm is really tight.

"I can't deny I already knew that we had a lot of commitments but I'm still looking for a good balance between training sessions and games.

"The one thing to correct is time-related. There isn't a lot of time between the training sessions and I think it doesn't help the coach nor the players.

"It's not even only about the physical aspect but also about the mental one.

"David Luiz surprised me by his availability and cleverness, Barkley has found consistency after a long period of injuries. Willian has great qualities.

"His playing style is perfectly suited to the English league; Morata is a quality player, fast and technically gifted.

"He's a sensible person and the difficulties had hurt him."

Read More »