Feb. 1, 2021 Blazers beat Bulls Damian Lillard hit two late three-pointers, including one on the buzzer, to give the Portland Trail Blazers a 123-122 NBA win over the Chicago 11 Bulls, BBC reported. Sports Chelsea’s Azpilicueta leads defeat of Burnley for Tuchel’s first win ow this was more like it. Al- offended certain people by replacing lacked an edge during the early stages, though it was slow going at Lampard, a legend in these parts de- making it easy for Burnley to maintain Nfirst, Chelsea was well into its spite the removal of the “In Frank We its organization. Chances were sparse. stride by the end. Trust” banner from the Shed End for Werner, who was trying hard, twice The football was crisp, urgent and this match. tested Nick Pope with low drives from inventive once César Azpilicueta had Even Tuchel has seemed slightly the edge of the area, while there were scored the first goal of the Thomas swept away by the pace of change. a couple of threatening moments from Tuchel era, theguardian.com reported. With the games coming thick and fast, Hudson-Odoi and Mount. There was a clear idea in attack and the impression remains of a manager It needed quicker transitions to prize far more discipline without the ball, still working out how best to utilize his Burnley apart. Tuchel kept calling ensuring that Burnley never seriously squad. Once again Tuchel made per- for more urgency and his instructions threatened an equalizer during the sec- sonnel changes as he searched for the were finally heeded when Chelsea ond half. perfect blend in his 3-4-3 system, com- broke through. The move began with After the choked introduction pletely overhauling his front three af- Jorginho threading a pass to Mount, against Wolves, this felt like the true ter blunt displays from Hakim Ziyech, who received possession on halfway start of Tuchel’s reign. The tactical Olivier Giroud and Kai Havertz against before turning and darting into space. coherence missing under Frank Lam- Wolves. Tammy Abraham came in as Mount ignored Tuchel’s call to push pard returned. Marcos Alonso, a player the central striker, Mount returned in the ball to the left, instead looking to banished under Lampard, returned to a free role on the right and Timo Wer- the opposite flank for Hudson-Odoi, underline the change by scoring the ner, an unused substitute in midweek, who played a cleverly disguised pass clinching goal. began as an inside-left forward, a role for Azpilicueta, arriving like Trent Callum Hudson-Odoi was outstand- that brought the best out of him at RB Alexander-Arnold and finishing like ing again, combining slickly with Ma- Leipzig last season. Cristiano Ronaldo, slamming a high son Mount to ensure that Tuchel’s sec- The intention was to move Werner shot past Pope. ond game in charge ended in a deserved away from the wing and closer to goal, Azpiliceuta’s surge from right win over Burnley, lifting Chelsea up working in tandem with Alonso, who center-back was a sign of the fluidity three places to seventh. was hauled out of cold storage and Tuchel craves. The captain’s goal lift- The rush to judge Tuchel after his handed a first start since being hauled ed the tension and Chelsea hammered first game, the drab stalemate with off when Chelsea was 3-0 down at Burnley in the second half. Hudson- Wolves, felt ridiculous. This is a man- halftime to West Brom in September. Odoi was always a threat, smacking a ager who needs time on the training The latter’s inclusion was evidence of DARREN WALSH/GETTY IMAGES post with a deflected effort and fizzing ground to make his ideas work; a scien- Tuchel’s propensity to surprise, not to César Azpilicueta celebrates after scoring for Chelsea just before halftime in his side’s match against Burnley at Stamford Bridge a dangerous low ball across the face tific coach with an idealistic zeal who mention his desire to give opportunities stadium, London, England, on January 31, 2021. of goal. Pulisic, on for Abraham at the has been parachuted in mid-season and to individuals who were frozen out un- break, was denied. asked to rebuild a broken team. der the previous regime. opinions within the fan base. It is not chance when he headed a Hudson-Odoi seemed a perfect image of Chelsea’s There were seven minutes left when The German is battling against While Lampard was unimpressed about winning popularity contests. delivery across goal, only for Abraham stifled attacking during the first half. Chelsea killed the game, Pulisic darting a cramped schedule, offering him with Alonso for returning to the team There was a logic to picking Alonso, and Mount to collide at the far post. Even Tuchel spent a lot of time slap- down the left and chipping the ball into little time to prepare. Perhaps he can bus without permission after being who is more comfortable at left wing- As Abraham and Mount both lay on ping his thighs in annoyance when the middle for Alonso, who controlled be forgiven the heresy of omitting withdrawn against West Brom, Tuchel back than Ben Chilwell. The Span- the turf, which was perhaps down to moves broke down during the opening with his thigh and then his knee before Mount against Wolves, even if he has was ready to use a player who divides iard attacks well and created an early embarrassment rather than injury, it period. Chelsea bossed possession but volleying past Pope with his left foot.

Rashford racially abused , Ostapenko make winning starts in Australia Ageless Venus Williams Open champion Ostapenko on social media opened her 2021 season triumphed over Sara Er- with a 6-1, 6-3 thrashing of rani 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the first Manchester United forward Mar- colors that should only be cel- vestigate.” Sunday, while round of the Gippsland Tro- cus Rashford said he was subject- ebrated.” Speaking on Match of the Day, former top 10 players Jelena phy, charging back after los- ed to “humanity and social media In a statement released on Sun- former Arsenal and England strik- Ostapenko and Caroline Gar- ing the first set. at its worst” after receiving racist day, Greater Manchester Police er Ian Wright said the authorities cia also scored wins. Former world No. 4 Caro- abuse on Saturday. (GMP) said it was aware that a and social media companies need Williams, 40, showed line Garcia of France also got The 22-year-old, who was number of Manchester United to do more to identify the perpe- few signs of having spent her season on a positive note, awarded the MBE for his work players had suffered abuse on so- trators. 14 days in quarantine in her ousting Australian wildcard fighting child food poverty, re- cial media between Wednesday He said, “It seems to be a fact if first-round romp at the Yar- , 6-3, 6-4. ceived multiple racist messages and Saturday. a black player plays poorly — or ra Valley Classic, grinding wtatennis.com “It was a lot of emotions on Instagram on Saturday, BBC It added, “Nobody should be they think they did — they come down her Dutch opponent to get back on court, finally,” reported. subject to such abuse and it is with all the emojis and whatever. in 65 minutes – an amazing Former en route to reaching the final said Garcia. They were sent to the England deeply upsetting not only to those There are ways of being able to 27 years after making her semifinalist four in 2019. “I tried to stay very calm striker after United’s 0-0 draw who suffer it, but to all those who catch people. They’re not vigilant professional debut, AFP re- needed 75 minutes to secure American Shelby Rogers and play one point at a time, with Arsenal. come across this awful language enough, nowhere near. ported. her first victory of the year, also progressed, thanks to a and I think I improved during “It should be some- The tournament is one a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Bel- 6-2, 7-5 win over No. 12 seed the match, so that’s the most thing they’re doing of two WTA events being gian Ysaline Bonaventure in Fiona Ferro, the first ranked positive thing about today.” hand in hand [authori- played concurrently at Mel- the same event. player to fall, while Anastasija Other first-round Gippsland ties and social media bourne Park as players pre- Collins is back at the site Sevastova proved too strong Trophy winners included for- sites]. But how much pare for the Australian Open of her best career major run, for Madison Brengle. mer top 10 player Daria Kasat- do they care deep starting on Feb- which saw her upset former In a battle between former ina of Russia and Kaia Kanepi down?” ruary 8. champion top five players, 2017 French of . Former Tottenham, Newcastle and Eng- land midfielder Jer- maine Jenas added, “The platforms, I need Barcelona denies leaking Messi’s contract them to show me these people and say they’re Barcelona said it will take “appropriate doing everything they legal action” against Spanish newspaper can to bring some jus- El Mundo after it published details of tice. For those asking forward Lionel Messi’s contract. why we are still tak- Barcelona denied “any responsibility ing the knee, there you for the publication of this document”, go.” BBC reported. The Football As- Argentina international Messi, 33,

GETTY IMAGES sociation had reiter- joined Barcelona at 13 but handed in a Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford (R) and Arsenal right back Cédric Soares are ated its commitment to transfer request in August. seen during their sides’ match played at Emirates Stadium in London, England, on January clamping down on dis- His contract runs out in the summer 30, 2021. crimination of all kinds and there is uncertainty if he will remain earlier on Saturday. with the club. “I’m a black man and I live ev- too. “We are united with all of foot- Barcelona said in a statement that it ery day proud that I am,” he said on “These hateful words have no ball in our abhorrence of any rac- “regrets” its publication, adding, “FC Twitter. place anywhere in our society ist abuse,” read an FA statement. Barcelona categorically denies any re- “No-one, or no one comment, whether online or otherwise.” “This is not acceptable in any part sponsibility for the publication of this is going to make me feel any dif- GMP also added that a number of society. document, and will take appropriate le- ferent. So sorry if you were look- of comments had been reported, “We will continue to work with gal action against the newspaper El Mun- ing for a strong reaction, you’re that it was “working with those the rest of the game, the govern- do, for any damage that may be caused as just simply not going to get it involved to provide support” and ment and social media platforms a result of this publication. here. that it would be “investigating to remove this — and all elements “FC Barcelona expresses its absolute “I’m not sharing screenshots. these crimes thoroughly”. of — discrimination from our support for Lionel Messi, especially in It would be irresponsible to do Facebook, which owns Insta- sport.” the face of any attempt to discredit his fcbarcelona.com so and as you can imagine there’s gram, also released a statement Rashford’s teammates Axel Tu- image, and to damage his relationship nothing original in them. after Rashford’s abuse. It said, anzebe and Anthony Martial were with the entity where he has worked to pions League four times and the Bal- dent Josep Maria Bartomeu, who re- “I have beautiful children of “We have taken action in this case racially abused on social media become the best player in the world and lon d’Or — awarded to the world’s best signed in October. all colors following me and they by removing accounts and com- after the defeat by Sheffield Unit- in football history.” player — six times. Messi, who described Bartomeu’s don’t need to read it. Beautiful ments and are continuing to in- ed on Wednesday. Messi is Barcelona’s record goalscorer His controversial summer request to reign as “a disaster”, said in December, and has won 10 La Liga titles, the Cham- leave followed clashes with club presi- “I don’t know what I’m going to do yet.”