SONIA BOMPASTOR says Chelsea were “disappointed” to have their top-flight clash with Manchester United postponed.
The Blues boss also reckons the move to put their Women’s Super League duel on hold, was not good.
Bompastor, whose team hosts Real Madrid in the Champions League tomorrow, was reflecting on the decision that resulted in Chelsea missing out on WSL action at the weekend.
Their duel with the Red Devils was scheduled to take place on Sunday – just two days before their group stage opener against Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea chief, 44, said: “Of course, we were disappointed, players and staff.
“I think everyone has to understand we were supposed to play.
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“We were in a very, very good team dynamic, and not having the opportunity to play this weekend changed everything in preparation for the game against Real Madrid.
“When you have the opportunity to play one game a week, and with this decision being made and postponing the game, now we have been out of competition for 10 days, which is completely different.
“If you look at the situation, the decision is not good.
“It’s not good for all the English clubs who are in the Champions League competition.”
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Chelsea’s title win last term saw them automatically reach the tournament’s group stages this season.
And last month Arsenal and Manchester City joined them after battling through competition’s qualifiers.
On September 29 the Women’s Professional League Limited, who this term took over the running of the WSL, announced the postponement of the Blues’ clash with United.
They cited player welfare as the reason given the tight turnaround between domestic and European games for the WSL title-holders.
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The organisation has come in for criticism concerning its decision, with Uefa having published its Champions League match calendar more than a year ago.
And Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall described the handling of the situation as “amateurish”.
On if better communication is needed between Uefa and federations and authorities like the WPLL, Bompastor added: “The league is a professional league.
“They need to know about the rules. I just said to the league my thoughts on the situation, I think that’s good enough for me.
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“I don’t want to share more here in a press conference.
“For them, it’s good to have our feedback and as I always said to the league, we should be proud to have three English clubs in the Champions League this year.
“All the decisions in this league through the season have to be made in order to help the English clubs to compete in the Champions League.”
Tomorrow night at Stamford Bridge Chelsea will begin their quest to win a Women’s Champions League for the first time in their history.
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Their game against Madrid, who are second in Spain’s top-flight and currently level on points with leaders Barcelona, will be Bompastor’s first in Europe as the Blues’ gaffer.
The last time Bompastor oversaw side competing in contest at the stadium was when her old club Lyon faced Chelsea in a second-leg semi-final game
In March last year they were beaten by the Blues, then managed Emma Hayes, via a dramatic penalty shootout.
Bompastor, who has won the tournament as a player and coach, also played for a Lyon team that reached the contest final at Stamford Bridge in 2013.
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Back then they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to German giants Wolfsburg.
The Blues manager adds: “I played in a Champions League final at Stamford Bridge in 2013 and I’ve been here as a manager of Lyon.
“Now I’m really excited because now I’m in the dugout for Chelsea and I’m the Chelsea manager.
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“I can’t wait to be in that position, enjoy the game and enjoy to be out there with the players and the fans.”
The three-part series airing on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Sounds tells the story of the women’s international team in Wales, from their unofficial first matches in 1973 through to the modern day when they are on the brink of reaching the finals of a major tournament for the first time.
McAllister, along with her then international team-mates Michele Adams and Karen Jones, successfully lobbied the Football Association of Wales to form an official side in 1993.
Under Jarmo Matikainen they twice came close to a play-off place for Euro 2013 and the 2015 World Cup, before his successor Jayne Ludlow took the team to the brink of the 2019 World Cup and Euro 2022 play-offs, missing out on a place in the latter on away goals scored in a head-to-head record against Northern Ireland, despite having a vastly superior goal difference.
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Wales were then beaten in the final moments of extra time in the play-off final by Switzerland for a place in the 2023 World Cup under Gemma Grainger in their last qualifying campaign.
Grainger says qualifying for a major finals would be a landmark moment not just for women’s football in Wales, but for all female sport.
McAllister, who is now a Uefa vice-president, said: “If you look at the way in which women’s football is organised now in Uefa, we’re talking the strategy of it being a multi-billion-pound industry by 2030.
“I think this platform that we’d have by being in Switzerland next summer would be transformative really for how we run women and girls’ football in Wales.
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“Obviously, there’d be financial returns which are very welcome for an association like us, but qualification would bring incredible attention, incredible dividends.
“We saw when England won in the last Euros just what they would be able to do to capitalise on that for school sport for girls and for club development.
“I think we’re savvy enough in Wales, we’ve got a strong enough strategy and a good enough leadership to make sure that we don’t waste that opportunity.
“For me, I think it’ll probably be the single most important historical thing to happen, maybe even in women’s sport, not just football, if we get there.”
LUKE LITTLER couldn’t watch as Rob Cross sent him crashing out of the World Grand Prix.
The 17-year-old turned away from the board as his practice buddy hit the bullseye to KO him 2-1 on his debut in Leicester.
‘The Nuke’ never looked in red-hot form and lost the opening set because of poor doubles despite hitting four sizzling 180s.
Littler levelled it up in sets but in the decider Cross needed 88 to finish the job and sealed it with a perfect bullseye.
It was only a third win at the GP for Cross after seven previous appearances.
Teen sensation Littler has now lost in his opening match of both the last major trophies after losing to Michael van Gerwen in the Matchplay in July.
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World No.4 ‘Voltage’ said: “He’s on the crest of a wave still and playing brilliantly all year. He’s picked up trophies regularly. He’s a phenomenon.
“The boy is absolutely mustard which makes it a big result for me. I’ve been shocking in this tournament in the past but my double-starts were brilliant tonight.
“Luke has been different class all year and has beaten me more and he’ll be back, that’s for sure.
“This is a great win and well overdue in the Grand Prix. But it’s up to me to keep it going. This win means nothing unless I get on a decent run and go all the way.”
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PLANET LEGEND (4.00 Huntingdon, nap)
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Up there the entire way when nabbed late at Worcester. He was clear with the winner, who has scored again since, and he can defy a 2lb rise with a similar performance.
WIESAAM (1.53 Leicester, nb)
Collared late on handicap debut at Newcastle. That was over 7f and a drop in distance should prove perfect. Off 3lb higher, he can deservedly get off the mark.
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LORD MELBOURNE (4.25 Leicester, treble)
Back to winning ways with a cosy success at Epsom. He’s gone up 3lb for that, which doesn’t look harsh for a horse who is still unexposed. Ralph Beckett’s horses are in great nick and he can win again for the Arc winning connections.
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Templegate’s tips
LEICESTER
1.53 Wiesaam (nb) 2.23 Connie’s Way 2.53 Kathleen Mary 3.23 Pappabella 3.53 The Ridler 4.25 Lord Melbourne (treble) 5.00 Pearl Sands
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This past Saturday, “Poatan” defended his UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 307, and he did so by putting away Khalil Rountree in violent fashion. Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) has quickly become one of the biggest stars in MMA as he’s achieved plenty in and out of the octagon in less than three years in the promotion.
With five championship wins on his resume and many highlight-reel finishes, is Pereira now the face and most important fighter in the UFC? Where does he rank among the greatest in light heavyweight history?
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MMA Junkie’s Brian Garcia, Nolan King, Mike Bohn, and host Gorgeous George discuss Pereira’s big TKO win over Rountree and take an overall look at his incredible UFC run.
Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.
“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel at noon ET. You can also find each episode on your favorite podcast platforms – including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more – on Tuesday mornings.
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Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
It is not known exactly what compensation would be paid to Ten Hag if his contract was terminated.
In 2021, Ten Hag’s predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer received a £7m pay-off when he was sacked, with an additional £3m going to other members of his staff. This sum goes directly to a club’s accounts under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, reducing the amount they have to spend on players.
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As with transfers, any compensation payable for a new manager can be amortised over the period of the contract. It would depend on the length of contract and the compensation how much of that goes into the current year’s accounts.
However, a club may calculate an anticipated upturn in performance could generate more money in TV revenue, gate receipts and prize money to be worth making a move.
And, as happened last summer, clubs have until 30 June to submit their accounts so any who are at risk of exceeding the Premier League’s limit of £105m of allowable losses over three seasons can sell players.
Last month United announced a net loss of £113.2m to 30 June 2024. The previous years’ losses were £28.7m and £115.5m.
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Some of the losses can be clawed back for PSR purposes and United say they are committed to abiding by the rules.
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