Against those two teams, who met last night at Stamford Bridge, you would once more expect Celtic to be in the unfamiliar position as the underdog, the team on the back foot.

Though that eventually transpired in Hamilton, the SWPL champions came flying out of the blocks, relishing the challenge in front of them.

But once the excitement of their new surroundings wore off, reality soon hit.

Twente – competing in the competition for the 10th time – were streetwise. They know what this competition demands. They rode out the early wave of Celtic’s energy then pounced and pinned them into their own defensive third. They toyed with the hosts at times.

“We are where we are but we need to get fitter, we need to control the ball when we have it, we need to be brave and play out from the pressure like we did in the first 15 minutes,” Sadiku added.

“The movement, the pace with and without the ball. When we defend that much, we need to be fitter so that when we have the ball, we can relax.

“We concede the first goal late in the half, does that have something to do with fatigue? The second goal, we concede late in the game, so could that have something to do with it?”

“We’ll learn from this and take confidence, because they should be confident.”

That confidence comes from a second-half rally. As they did in the first, Celtic came out quick and alert from the restart and created chances they should have made count.

But ultimately they didn’t, and Kayleigh van Dooren’s late goal ensured a Twente victory. A stage this grand is unforgiving, as Celtic discovered.

It is all a learning curve, though. This is unchartered territory for a side few – if any – thought would be dining at this table when Sadiku came in just 10 months ago. A point she is keen to reiterate.

“There are errors we need to fix,” the head coach added.

“I don’t know how much people are expecting from us to be in the top 16, what we’re doing right now is we’re going to fight. We’ll try to do everything to get as many points as possible.

“In January or in the summer, I don’t think anyone expected us to be where we are right now.

“It’s been a great experience, we’ll learn and I think we can really put in a better performance for our next game.”

SPAIN’S manager insists his contract situation is “not normal” after winning Euro 2024.

Luis de la Fuente stepped up from his national team’s Under-21s boss to take over from Luis Enrique as the senior gaffer in December 2022.

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De La Fuente successfully ensured Spain qualified for the Euros, winning seven of their eight matches to book their spot in Germany.

His initial contract took him up to the end of the summer tournament.

However, he put pen to paper on a new deal at the beginning of June until the 2026 World Cup.

But despite leading Spain to Euro 2024 glory – beating England 2-1 in July’s final in Berlin – De La Fuente has still not been rewarded with an improved contract with no pay rise or extension.

Reports suggest the Spanish FA and De La Fuente’s representatives are in talks to seal a new deal to take him through to Euro 2028 where he will try and defend the title.

But for now, the manager is stunned by the lack of progress – and suggested Enrique would not be treated in the same way if he had led Spain to the major honour.

De La Fuente – who won two LaLiga titles and the Copa del Rey as a left-back with Athletic Bilbao in the 1980s – said: “It’s not normal for a European champion to be without a contract.

“I don’t know if the same thing would have happened with Luis Enrique.

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“I’ve had offers, as is normal.

“What’s not normal is that the current European champion, I don’t know if it’s ever happened in history, is without a contract.

“I have the same conditions as when I was promoted from the U21s.

“It would have been fair if I had signed the contract already.”

Spain beat Germany and France before downing the Three Lions at Euro 2024.

In their two matches since being crowned champions, La Roja drew 0-0 with Serbia then beat Switzerland 4-1 despite playing with ten men for 70 minutes.

They face Denmark on Saturday in their next Nations League fixture before hosting Serbia on Tuesday.

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“His athleticism and skill level are through the roof, but so is his conscientiousness, his professionalism, and his desire to achieve great things.”

The club say that Pearson, who won his first, and so far only, England cap in a World Cup warm-up game against Wales last year, will now remain with them “beyond the current campaign”.

“Last season was a whirlwind, but Saints is a place I feel I can really push on and develop,” said Pearson. “It’s a place I’ve learnt loads already and somewhere I’ve really been enjoying playing rugby.

“The obvious ambition for us is to go all the way again and repeat our successes of last year, we want to put our name in the hat to win the Premiership again and I’m really excited to be a part of that.”

Northampton are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Leicester Tigers for the latest East Midlands derby.

FANS are up in arms after Atletico Madrid announced their new stadium sponsor.

The Spanish giants moved into the 68,456-capacity Metropolitano Stadium in 2017 after leaving the iconic Vicente Calderon Stadium.

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The state-of-the-art venue hosted the 2019 Champions League final, when Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-1.

Now Atletico’s stadium will undergo a rebrand after the club agreed a deal with Saudi company Riyadh Air, according to AS via Expansion.

The sponsorship means the venue will be renamed the Riyadh Air Metropolitano until at least 2033.

The deal is reported to be worth in the region of £210-250million, and will see Riyadh Air increase their involvement in Atletico, having already sponsored their shirts.

Chinese company Wanda group sponsored the ground for the first five years before Civitas took over in 2022 in a deal worth £7m a year to Atletico.

Fans are unhappy at the switch with some declaring the “game has gone”.

One supporter reacted to the news saying: “Riyadh Air Metropolitano” not even remotely feels like their home ground name 🤮”

Another added: “Woke nonsense.”

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What we know about the ‘new’ Old Trafford

MANCHESTER UNITED plan to build a new stadium rather than redevelop Old Trafford.

The decision was made after a number of fact-finding missions to other stadiums including the Bernabeu and Nou Camp.

The cost of the project is expected to be a staggering £2billion.

A capacity of 100,000 is expected.

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It is felt that a club of United’s standing should have a new state-of-the-art facility.

The new stadium will be built on land adjacent to the Red Devils’ current home.

United are looking to not only build a stadium but regenerate the area of Trafford where the ground will stand.

There had been plans to KEEP Old Trafford rather than demolish it, and use it as a scaled down second venue.

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However, it’s looking increasing likely that it will in fact be entirely demolished.

The club consulted with 30,000 fans about what to do and believe there is roughly a 50-50 split on staying or moving.

The club have appointed the architects Foster + Partners to come up with a “masterplan”. The company were behind Wembley Stadium.

Old Trafford has been United’s home since 1910.

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The target is for completion by 2030.

A third wrote: “They’re coming for absolutely EVERYTHING.”

And another commented: “Atletico and Barcelona are selling their souls for money it’s embarrassing.”

When interim boss Lee Carsley oversaw the wins against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, he did so without arguably some of his most important players.

As well as Palmer, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham were also absent.

While Palmer has made a blistering start to the season, Foden and Bellingham are yet to really get going.

Manchester City forward Foden scored 27 goals in all competitions last season and won the PFA Player of the Year award, but he has started just two Premier League games so far for Pep Guardiola’s side this time around.

Meanwhile, Bellingham began this season with a leg injury and has just one assist and no goals in the five La Liga games he has played for Real Madrid so far.

Then, of course, there is Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. He featured in all of England’s games at Euro 2024, scoring one goal and providing one assist.

He has once again been a key player for the Gunners so far this season and was brilliant in the Champions League win against Paris St-Germain last week, and again in the weekend win against Southampton.

To make life even more difficult for Carsley, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon has also been impressing and is another strong option to start for the Three Lions.

Carsley has suggested it is important to find a way to get all his best players in, and he selected Palmer as a central midfielder at England Under-21 level.

“Carsley has got to find a way of getting him into the team, but it doesn’t have to be as the number 10 ahead of Foden or Bellingham because he can play off the right as well,” former Premier League striker Chris Sutton said.

“With the talent Palmer has, and his goals and his numbers, this season his form has been better than Bukayo Saka’s, and in fact it has been better than anyone’s.

“I have always believed that if someone’s form is good, get them in. So, whether it is the right or in the middle, Carsley has to fit him in. He must start for England against Greece.”