Tensions boiled over after Real Madrid’s 2–1 win against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu as Barca captain Frenkie de Jong slammed Dani Carvajal for his post-match gesture towards winger Lamine Yamal. What began as a heated Clasico ended in chaos with the culmination of days of tension sparked by Yamal’s pre-game remarks that infuriated the Madrid players and set the stage for a volatile night in the Spanish capital.

Tensions flared after Real Madrid's 2-1 victory against Barcelona

Madrid’s 2–1 victory over Barca was meant to be a statement of resurgence and it was, but not without controversy. Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham sealed the win for Los Blancos, ending their four-game winless streak against their league rivals. But the football was quickly overshadowed by chaos once the referee blew for full time.

As soon as the whistle sounded, tensions that had simmered all night erupted. Several Madrid players, including Carvajal, Vinicius Junior and Eduardo Camavinga, surrounded Yamal, shouting and gesturing angrily. Yamal, visibly taken aback, tried to walk away before being pulled into a heated confrontation. Carvajal’s mocking gesture, reportedly urging Yamal to “talk now”, ignited a brawl that drew in players and staff from both sides. Security and officials had to intervene as tempers flared on the sidelines. Pedri, already sent off earlier, was seen shouting from the tunnel, while Vinicius exchanged words with Barcelona’s bench.

This eruption didn’t come from nowhere. In the days before the match, Yamal had angered Madrid’s dressing room with his playful yet provocative remarks on a Kings League stream, saying Madrid “complains too much about referees” and joking that “Barca always wins because we don’t cry.” He even reposted clips of last season’s 4–0 win at the Bernabeu, mocking Madrid fans and referring to them as “moaners.” Madrid captain Carvajal took notice, responding before kick-off: “On the pitch, respect matters; words don’t win Clásicos. Let’s see who talks at the final whistle.” The exchange set the tone and when Madrid won, the veteran right-back made sure to follow through.

After the game, midfielder De Jong didn’t hold back, expressing anger over how the Yamal was treated calling for more respect and maturity from Madrid’s players. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDe Jong speaks out – “what they did to Lamine was too much”

The usually composed De Jong was visibly frustrated as he addressed reporters in a post-match interview labelling the treatment to Yamal as too much and claiming Yamal's statements have been overexaggerated.

"When the referee blew for full-time, several Madrid players went straight for Lamine. It was over the top. If Carvajal wanted to talk to him, he could’ve done it privately. Making gestures on the pitch just fuels the fire. Lamine never said Madrid cheats, I never heard that," the Dutchman said.

Barcelona assistant Marcus Sorg also came to Yamal’s defence, admitting the 18-year-old was affected by the atmosphere. “He’s young; he has to learn how to handle pressure. It’s not easy to play when you’re booed every touch.”

Madrid midfielder, Aurelien Tchouameni, also dismissed any bad blood claiming: "It gave us a little boost. There’s no bad blood, but those things light you up."

Vinicius loses his nerves as Raphinha asks for calm

Tension between Vinicius and Yamal boiled over after the game, but it began right on the pitch. As tempers flared post-match, Yamal, frustrated by the hostile Bernabeu crowd and pointed remarks from Madrid players about his pre-match taunts, reportedly challenged Vinicius to “talk inside the tunnel.” That suggestion of a private confrontation set off Vinicius, who’d already clashed with teammates and rivals, reportedly shooting back: "You talk too much – talk now!"

After the final whistle, Raphinha, who missed the game due to a hamstring setback, came down from the stands in street clothes and found himself face to face with Vinicius. What followed was a calmer but revealing conversation between two compatriots who saw the situation differently.

“What he did before the match isn’t done; it’s not what a good teammate should do,” Vinicius reportedly told Raphinha, referring to Yamal’s comments that mocked Madrid before the game. Raphinha, however, was more reflective. Speaking to after the match, he acknowledged Yamal’s mistake but also called for empathy.

"He was guilty of being young and lacking maturity to say what he said. His words gave Real Madrid extra motivation," said Raphinha. Even within Barca’s camp, there’s an understanding that Yamal’s pre-match bravado fuelled Madrid’s fire. Yet, many believe the Real players went too far with their reaction.

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AFPMadrid eye Anfield clash against Liverpool

Los Blancos are now at the top of the league table with 27 points, five-points ahead of Barca, restoring their confidence and fuelling more motivation ahead of their clash against Premier League side Liverpool in the Champions League on November 4. Coach Xabi Alonso will hope to win the game and continue their winning run in the European campaign, however, the league leaders will face struggling Valencia on Saturday before flying to England.

West Indies put up a fight with Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle scoring half-centuries but it wasn’t enough

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jun-2025

South Africa’s men had their day at Lord’s and it might well have roused the women’s team because they came back from 0-1 down in the ODI series against West Indies with a power-packed performance. There were contributions all the way down the batting order to put up 309 for 9, led by Sune Luus’ enchanting 76 off just 65 balls. Nondumiso Shangase produced a career-best 55 having been trusted with the No. 3 position for only the second time ever. And Annerie Dercksen was around to provide the flourish at the end, even though wickets were falling, as South Africa picked off 106 runs in the last 10 overs.West Indies, in reply, built their innings around fifties from Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle but their challenge wilted in the face of some miserly spin bowling from Nonkululeko Mlaba, who brought up her best figures in ODI cricket with 4 for 33. Her dismissal of Matthews came at a crucial time with West Indies keeping up with the required rate at 107 for 2 in the 20th over largely thanks to their captain’s fluency. She made 56 off just 58 balls with nine fours.Cambelle kept fighting – 53 off 58 even though she hit just five boundaries – and West Indies arrived into the last 10 overs of the game with 221 runs on the board – 18 more than South Africa at the same time and only 89 away from victory with five wickets in hand. Mlaba and the eternally gifted Marizanne Kapp took a game that was in the balance and broke it with three wickets in 11 balls. Campbelle was gone. The West Indies’ lower order had been opened up and the game petered out to its only conclusion.Scoreboard pressure played a big part in all that. Having been put in, South Africa found the going a little tough with even their free-flowing captain Laura Wolvaardt only able to score 28 off 47 balls. But the openers’ willingness to weather that period – Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits stayed together for 15.1 overs – ensured the rest of the line-up had better conditions to bat in. It showed in how only one of the remaining top seven batters had a strike rate below run a ball. Luus was the major driving force for the innings, scoring her first ODI fifty in the last 20 innings, a sequence that goes back to September 2023. Her partnership with Shangase lit the torch paper – 85 off 69 – and that fire spread. Dercksen came in and kept up the tempo, adding 40 off 23 balls with Luus before Luus fell. But that was just a reason to go harder and Dercksen and Chloe Trying put on 57 off 34 for the seventh wicket.Tuesday’s ODI now becomes a decider before the two teams get together for a three-match T20I series.

After a frustrating start to the season, one ex-chairman has taken aim at Newcastle United and PIF for what they did for one of their big-money players in the summer.

Howe: Newcastle looked "jaded" in Arsenal defeat

If any 10-minute period could sum up Newcastle’s season so far, it was against Arsenal as the Gunners turned the game on its head with two late goals. The Magpies thought they had done enough.

They had their lead courtesy of Nick Woltemade, who rose highest to head home in the first-half. For the most part, it looked as though they had stifled any Arsenal threat, too. But then Mikel Merino and a last-gasp Gabriel arrived on the scene. With one win in six games, Eddie Howe was forced to reflect on another disappointing evening at St James’ Park.

The Magpies’ poor start follows a difficult summer, in which Alexander Isak finally got his move after a lengthy saga. They’ll be desperate for a change in fortune in Tyneside, but they’re receiving no sympathy from one former chairman.

Rummenigge slams "idiot" Newcastle after Woltemade saga

Despite the fact that he’s now scored twice in three Premier League games, former Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has slammed Newcastle and PIF for their decision to spend a club-record fee on Woltemade in the summer.

He told reporters in a brutally honest assessment:

Of course, this comes just months after Newcastle hijacked Bayern’s deal to sign the towering forward in impressive fashion. Whether Rummenigge’s criticism is fair or simply as a result of the sour taste left behind by that saga is certainly something to ponder.

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So far, Woltemade looks likely to pay back the £69m fee that the Magpies paid out in the form of goals and prove that they were right to pay his £132,500-a-week salary demands.

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has fired an ominous warning to his England team-mate Marcus Rashford, saying he’s back to his best physical condition and relishing playing in El Clasico. Real lead Barcelona by two points at the top of La Liga ahead of the hotly-anticipated clash at the Bernabeu, with more than just bragging rights at stake.

• Stop-start season so far for Bellingham

  Bellingham has battled with injury at Real Madrid while navigating a strained relationship with England boss Thomas Tuchel in recent months. A summer shoulder surgery meant Bellingham missed the start of the season in Spain, making only a few substitute appearances early on. He has recently found form, scoring his first Champions League goal of the season in a victory against Juventus. His situation with England became fraught following controversial comments by Tuchel in June, who described some of Bellingham's on-field antics as "repulsive," later apologizing. Tensions escalated in October when Tuchel omitted Bellingham from the squad for World Cup qualifiers, citing Bellingham's lack of match rhythm. But the former Borussia Dortmund star can put all those worries behind him with a positive performance againstdeadly rivals Barcelona. 

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  Importance of El Clasico

  Ahead of the match, Bellingham said: “It's probably one of the biggest matches in the world. As a kid, I watched them all; I grew up following them. I've played in a few of them. I've had some great moments and some tougher ones, but it's an incredible match to play, especially at home, and I'm really looking forward to it. "In England, everyone recognises that this is one of the biggest matches in the world. There are big classics and derbies there, but even there, everyone is aware of what  this match means. Because of the level we've seen over the years, the pressure, the demands, the quality of the players, and the level of play at stake every time. I grew up there, but that doesn't change my perspective: on the contrary, I respect it even more. So yes, it's important that we get the win."

• Bellingham firing on all cylinders

  Bellingham is feeling positive about his fitness after early-season struggles, he said: "I feel very good and happy. Finally back on the pitch. In the last few games before the break, and then against Getafe and Juve, I started to feel better, closer to my best form. I'm strong and positive, probably in the best physical condition I've been in a long time. I'm ready to contribute and give whatever it takes for the team to win and continue the momentum they'd already created while I was away. I hope I can continue playing well, enjoying ourselves, and winning." He added: "A very important part is managing the match, the moment, emotions, and certain details that make all the difference. Last year, when we found ourselves behind in some matches, it affected us too much, and we let the game slip away. Now it's about staying mentally stable throughout the 90 minutes. Tactically, we know how they play and how we want to play. So the key is managing the rest well: the nerves, the pressure, the atmosphere… which will be huge. It's these details that can make the difference."

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  All eyes on the Bernabeu

  A blockbuster El Clasico awaits and Barcelona hold the psychological edge, having won all four of last season's encounters between the two bitter rivals, including a resounding 4-0 league victory on Real Madrid’s turf. Madrid will be without defenders Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba for the game in the Spanish capital but know that star striker Kylian Mbappe has been in sensational form, scoring 10 times in just nine LaLiga games so far in 2025-26. Barcelona, despite an injury crisis which has impacted key stars including Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Joan Garcia, Gavi and Raphinha, have excelled under Hansi Flick, demonstrating a robust, high-scoring attack. Get ready for a high-stakes battle that could significantly impact the title race.

Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav has been named as a like-for-like replacement for Shuchi Upadhyay for India Women’s white-ball tour of England. A left-shin injury has ruled Upadhyay out of the tour.Upadhyay made her ODI debut during the tri-series in Sri Lanka, against South Africa. She received her maiden T20I call-up for the upcoming England tour.The BCCI said the shin injury was diagnosed during the pre-tour camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru.She was the third-highest wicket-taker at the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy held in December last year. She picked up 18 wickets then at an economy rate of 3.48 and an average of 15.44 in nine innings. She was named the Player of the Tournament as her team, Madhya Pradesh, won the trophy.Radha, who has played seven ODIs and 84 T20Is, last featured for India in December 2024, where she picked up four wickets against West Indies. However she was overlooked for the ODI series against them that followed.Before the West Indies series, she was the highest wicket-taker in the one-dayers against New Zealand at home.India will take on England Women in five T20Is, followed by three ODIs, starting June 28.

The trophies haven’t always followed, but West Ham United have had some truly sensational players represent them over the years.

You’ve got the historical greats, like Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds, and Geoff Hurst, as well as some more modern ones.

Declan Rice, for example, or Dimitri Payet before him, and going back a little further, the livewire that was Paolo Di Canio.

All three made an enormous impact on the club during their time in East London, and Nuno Espírito Santo has someone in his squad today who should be spoken about in the same way.

Di Canio, Payet and Rice's West Ham careers

Starting in chronological order then, Di Canio joined West Ham in January 1999, and while there were some questions over the move for his rash behaviour, and the fact he had just been banned for 11 games for pushing a referee, Harry Redknaap justified the move by simply stating that the Italian could “do things with the ball that people can only dream of.”

Over the next four and a half years, the Roma-born icon would rack up an impressive tally of 50 goals and 19 assists in 139 games for the club, with his strike against Wimbledon in March 2000 later being named the league’s goal of the decade.

While he left to join Charlton Athletic following the Irons’ relegation in 2003, Di Canio made a lasting impression in East London and continues to call the fan base his second family.

Another maverick star who the East End fell head over heels for during his time in the capital was Payet.

The French magician joined the club from Marseille in the summer of 2015, and it didn’t take long for him to announce himself, providing the assist for Cheikhou Kouyaté from a well-taken free kick on his debut against Arsenal.

He ended that season with an outrageous tally of 12 goals and 15 assists in 38 games, which was enough for him to be named the Premier League Player of the Year at the 2016 London Football Awards, shortlisted for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and named West Ham United Player of the Year.

However, things would sour the following season, when, in the new year, he refused to play after making it clear that he wanted to return to Marseille, which he eventually did for around £25m.

Finally, the only academy product of the three, Rice was well and truly one of West Ham’s own.

He made his senior debut for the club in a Premier League game against Burnley in the 16/17 season, and over the next six years would go on to amass 244 more for the club, as well as becoming the captain in the summer of 2022.

His crowning achievement in claret and blue came the following summer, when he led the club to their first European title, beating Fiorentina in the Conference League final.

Unfortunately, he then left to join Arsenal a couple of months later, but he did at least bring in around £105m in the process.

In all, it’s impossible to deny that Di Canio, Payet and Rice are three of the very best players to have represented West Ham in the modern era, although another name might have to be added to that list.

The West Ham star emulating Di Canio, Payet and Rice

Now, while neither the results nor performances have been all that great this season, West Ham still have several incredibly talented players in their squad.

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However, when it comes down to someone who could emulate and be looked at in the same way as the three icons mentioned above, only one player comes to mind: Jarrod Bowen.

The 28-year-old joined the Hammers from Hull City in January 2020, and while there was some excitement around his transfer, it didn’t feel like it would be such a seismic one at the time.

After all, while his first six months at the club certainly weren’t bad, they also weren’t anything special, as in 13 appearances, he scored a single goal and provided four assists.

Things improved slightly the following year, as he recorded 14 goal involvements in 40 appearances, but it was the season after that, the 2021/22 campaign, when it became clear just how special a player he is.

Appearances

245

Starts

220

Minutes

19521′

Goals

77

Assists

52

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

Minutes per Goal Involvement

151.32′

Points per Game

1.46

For example, in 51 appearances, the “unplayable” winger, as dubbed by Thomas Frank, scored 18 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.64 games, which was also enough to see him earn his first senior England cap.

However, it was the year after that in which his defining moment as a West Ham player came, as in the 90th minute of the Conference League final, he made a perfectly timed run, and under all the pressure in the world, scored the winning goal to send East London into delirium.

Since then, the firm fan favourite has continued to improve, and since being given the captain’s armband last year, it’s hard to think og what else he needs to do to cement himself as a West Ham legend.

Ultimately, while he might not get the same recognition outside the fan base, it would be fair to say that Bowen is well on his way to becoming one of the Hammers’ greatest ever – if he isn’t there already.

West Ham are brewing homegrown Diouf in exciting 18-year-old at Rush Green

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They might be in the relegation zone and have a single win from their last five Premier League games, but the future could be bright for West Ham United.

Granted, things off the pitch and the relationship between the ownership and fans are in a dire state, but with Nuno Espírito Santo now in the dugout, there is a feeling that he could steer the side to a respectable finish this season.

Moreover, while they have not performed well enough, there is real talent in this squad, with summer signing Soungoutou Magassa being someone who could explode with the right coaching.

On top of that, there are several truly exciting players in the academy, including one who could be unreal with the Frenchman and has been compared to former Hammer Mohamed Diamé.

Why West Ham signed Magassa

In late August, West Ham completed the £17.3m signing of Magassa, and while it was undoubtedly done with the intention of him making an impact this season, it also feels like a move that could help make the midfield so much better in the long term.

The simple reason for this is that the incredible Frenchman is brilliant when it comes to the defensive and offensive side of the game – he is someone who can shield the backline, but also spring attacks for his side.

For example, the respected analyst Ben Mattinson has claimed that the Stains-born gem has an immense ability to “spray passes wide out to the wings” but that he’s also got very “high potential” for playing as a six “due to how he reads the game and his pure athleticism.”

Likewise, U23 scout Antonio Mango has highlighted how “strong in both offensive and defensive duels” the youngster is.

This ability to excel in both parts of the game is unsurprisingly represented in his underlying numbers.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for dribblers tackled and blocks, the top 3% for ball recoveries, the top 8% for switches, the top 11% for through balls and more, all per 90.

In short, Magassa is an excellent prospect, and in more good news, West Ham could have another gem who’d be brilliant alongside him, someone who has been compared to Diame.

West Ham's ideal teammate for Magassa

There are several exciting prospects currently plying their trade in West Ham’s academy, from Josh Landers to Preston Fearon.

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However, only one youngster has been compared to former Hammer Diame, which is Mohamadou Kanté.

The promising Frenchman joined the club from Paris FC last summer, but remained in the French capital for the season, where he made eight appearances in what turned out to be a promotion-winning campaign.

Described as having “good anticipation” and being “very calm and composed on the ball” by one analyst, another has been bolder, claiming he “moves like Mo Diame.”

The argument behind such a comparison is that, like the retired midfielder, the youngster has “long-ranging legs that eat up ground & extend to win the ball off the toes of the opposition.”

However, he’s more than just a tenacious ball-winner, with the same analyst highlighting his “nibble feet & intelligent, composed passing.”

It’s the combination of all these traits that have seen him rack up an impressive tally of two goals and two assists in just eight appearances for the U21s so far this season.

Moreover, as he’s comfortable playing in central and defensive midfield, he could end up being a brilliant partner for Magassa, with one driving forward and the other sitting back to help the defence.

Ultimately, it’s still early in his West Ham career, but Kante looks to be a real star in the making.

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Aurelien Tchouameni has been ruled out of action for Real Madrid and France after he was diagnosed with a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg, Los Blancos announced in a statement on Thursday. The news will come as a huge setback for both Tchouameni's club and country, as he had become indispensable under both Xabi Alonso and Didier Deschamps.

Real Madrid issue Tchouameni injury update

Madrid have been dealt a hammer blow as the former Monaco star was diagnosed with a muscle injury after playing the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 Champions League loss to Liverpool on Tuesday evening. 

"Following tests carried out today on our player Aurelien Tchouameni by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg. His recovery will be monitored," said Real Madrid in a statement published on their official website. 

Madrid head coach Alonso will have to navigate through the upcoming fixtures without a player he described as a "key pillar" in June. "Tchouameni is a key pillar because of the weight he carries, the different roles he can play depending on the position he has to take,” Alonso said at one of the Club World Cup press conferences. “He constantly has to make small decisions and help the whole team.”

AdvertisementAFPHow many games will Tchouameni miss for Madrid?

Tchouameni has been one of the most important pieces of Alonso's system. Indeed, the 25-year-old has started in 14 of the 15 games Real Madrid have played this season. With 1,224 minutes out of a possible 1,350, Tchouameni is the outfield player with the third-most minutes this season, behind Kylian Mbappe (1,310 minutes) and Alvaro Carreras (1,252 minutes). His absence will cause Alonso a huge headache.

While Madrid did not mention how long Tchouameni will remain out of action, a report from Spanish publication indicates when the defensive midfielder could potentially recover. They claim that the Real Madrid No.14 will be sidelined for the next three weeks, with it never advisable to rush recovery from muscle injuries. 

Tchouameni will miss this weekend's La Liga trip to neighbours Rayo Vallecano, as well as France's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Azerbaijan later this month. It is also unlikely that he returns for Madrid's first two games – against Elche in La Liga and Olympiacos in the Champions League – upon the resumption of club football, while it is not yet clear if he will be fit in time for the Girona game on November 30. 

How could Madrid line up without Tchouameni?

What makes matters worse for Los Blancos is that all of these aforementioned fixtures will be played away from home. Tchouameni is a key component of Alonso’s setup, offering both defensive stability and tactical flexibility through his ability to operate as a deep-lying pivot or drop in as a pseudo-third centre-back, both in an out of possession. His absence will leave a notable void in midfield and could significantly disrupt the rhythm and structure of Madrid’s play as Alonso continues to instil his habits and philosophy into his players.

However, it might not be as bad as it may look from the outside. Against Liverpool, Federico Valverde was brought off towards the end of the second half due to discomfort in his right adductor, with the Uruguayan telling reporters: “The doctors have told me it’s due to fatigue. They’ll do tests tomorrow or the day after.”

He has been cleared of any injuries and will be available for Sunday's game against Rayo. Tchouameni's absence and Trent Alexander-Arnold's subsequent return from injury could see Valverde return to the midfield after playing the last six successive games at right-back. 

What's more, Dani Ceballos and Eduardo Camavinga have also returned to full fitness. With no other injuries in midfield, Alonso has a number of options at his disposal. If required, he could call up the likes of Jorge Cestero and Thiago Pitarch from the academy, with the young duo already invited to first-team training sessions as well as matchday squads.

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Getty Images SportMadrid aim to bounce back with Rayo win

Alonso's side have lost just twice this season, both away from home: a 5-2 loss against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano and the 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield. They firmly remain in contention to secure one of the eight direct spots to the Champions League round of 16, while holding a healthy five-point lead over arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga. They will aim to continue their winning run domestically this Sunday against Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio de Vallecas, where they have gone three straight seasons without registering a win.

Paul Merson slammed a Chelsea star after the bitterly disappointing 2-1 defeat against Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

Blues suffer setback against newly-promoted Sunderland

Sunderland have surpassed expectations so far this season, but the Blues would’ve been expecting to take all three points against a newly-promoted side, and the 2-1 defeat is a setback, especially after winning their previous four games on the bounce in all competitions.

Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring for Enzo Maresca’s side after just four minutes, with the winger netting his first goal since arriving at Stamford Bridge, but Wilson Isidor’s equaliser and a stoppage-time winner from Chemsdine Talbi turned the game on its head.

A number of the home side’s players struggled, with Marc Guiu failing to make any impact on the match, and there have since been calls for Maresca to drop the striker, who touched the ball just ten times prior to being withdrawn on the 75-minute mark.

Guiu was given the nod at centre-forward, in order to accommodate Joao Pedro in an attacking midfield role, despite the Brazilian starting almost exclusively at striker so far this season.

Maresca would’ve been hoping the position change would allow the 24-year-old to rediscover his top form, but it wasn’t to be, with Merson left very unimpressed by his performance.

Speaking on Sky Sports (via Metro), the former Arsenal man said: “They need Delap back badly, they need a focal point.

“Guiu played up front and I think he touched the ball nine, ten times. You can’t do that in a team that are supposed to be dominating the ball.

“Chelsea ran out of ideas. They had winger after winger but half of them don’t go past anyone. Joao Pedro looked lost as a number ten. They struggled and were pretty poor.”

Injury may have impacted Pedro's performance

The Blues have been forced to deal with a number of injury issues in the early stages of the campaign, and Maresca revealed the former Brighton & Hove Albion man is one of many players not at full fitness.

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The Italian said: “Joao is not training every day because he is managing an injury problem. Moi is the same, Enzo is the same,

“We have four or five players that have some problems and cannot work every day. They try to make the effort and play the game. Joao struggled a little bit today but all of the players did today, so it’s not just Joao.”

That said, there will rightfully be concerns about the display, with the forward losing possession nine times and failing to get a single shot away throughout the match.

Pedro’s performance levels have been going downhill for some time now, having failed to register a Premier League goal or assist since September, and Maresca will be hoping the £125k-a-week forward can turn the corner soon.