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Arsenal v Chelsea: Katie McCabe says Gunners ‘envious’ of serial winners Chelsea

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Katie McCabe says Arsenal are “envious” of Women’s Super League title rivals Chelsea because of their continued success in the top flight.

The Gunners take on the seven-time champions at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

“It always hurts [seeing Chelsea lift title]. You want that to be you. You are in a team sport to be lifting trophies with your team-mates,” said McCabe.

“Of course you are envious of them being successful. What we can do is focus on ourselves and put one foot in front of the other. Hopefully, by the end of the season, that will be us.”

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Arsenal sit sixth in the WSL with five points, one point behind Chelsea in second, who have also played one game fewer.

Chelsea’s league match against Manchester United was set to be played on Sunday, 6 October but was postponed because of a conflict with the Blues’ European schedule.

It means Sonia Bompastor’s side had a weekend off before playing in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Saturday’s match will be Arsenal’s third in seven days.

But McCabe said Arsenal “relish” competing in all competitions and have the squad depth to tackle such a busy schedule.

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“You want to be playing a lot of games,” the Republic of Ireland captain said.

“Of course five games in 15 days is a lot but that is the beauty of playing in a big squad as well, the strength in depth that we have. If the manager needs to rotate we know anyone can come in and do a good job.

“It is a challenge that we look at and relish rather than shying away from it.”

Arsenal have indeed strengthened in recent seasons, signing big names such as England striker Alessia Russo and Spanish World Cup winner Mariona Caldentey, as well as keeping hold of experienced players like McCabe.

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But the Gunners have not lifted the WSL title in five years and have finished third in the last two seasons, meaning they have had to jump extra hurdles in order to qualify for the Champions League group stages.

Jonas Eidevall’s side came through two rounds of qualifying this season to reach the group stage, where they will meet Bayern Munich, Juventus and Valerenga.

“We have always been looking to build each season, and we did that in the window, but most importantly kept the same core group of the squad that has been there for a long time and understand the ins and outs of the club,” added McCabe.

Despite Chelsea’s dominance when it comes to lifting the league title, Arsenal did beat them in last year’s League Cup final and secured an impressive 4-1 WSL victory over the Blues at the Emirates.

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“We take those moments as positives and bring it in and really instil that winning mentality into the team,” said McCabe.

“We already did it last year, so it’s not a new thing for us. It is about controlling ourselves, controlling our game plan and what we want to do in the game and applying it. And going in with the right attitude of course.”

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Mark McCall expecting tight derby between Saracens and Harlequins

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Mark McCall expecting tight derby between Saracens and Harlequins

McCall said new-look Sarries had room for improvement despite seeing off Exeter to remain the only unbeaten side in the division.

“The last performance we were more consistent throughout than we have been in the first couple of games,” he said.

“We’re happy with the energy, spirt and fight in the team. It’s a good sign and a good characteristic to have in a new team, but there is plenty to improve in our rugby.

“When you have got some new folk at your club and trying to establish partnerships and new relationships, the longer they are together the better.”

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Samoan flanker Theo McFarland is not available after concussion at Exeter but Maro Itoje should start after training with England this week.

Tom Parton and Sam Spink remain a few weeks away but McCall said there was a chance Ollie Hartley could be back well before Christmas as his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury was ahead of schedule.

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Bolivia move to stadium 2,000 FEET higher in bizarre bid to qualify for World Cup 2026

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Bolivia move to stadium 2,000 FEET higher in bizarre bid to qualify for World Cup 2026

BOLIVIA have moved to a stadium 2,000 FEET higher in altitude in a bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The South American nation have always been difficult to beat at home due to their ground in La Paz being 11,940 feet above sea level.

Bolivia have moved to the Villa Ingenio stadium to help their World Cup qualification

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Bolivia have moved to the Villa Ingenio stadium to help their World Cup qualificationCredit: instagram @club_always_ready_oficial
They beat Colombia on Thursday in their first home game since the ground switch

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They beat Colombia on Thursday in their first home game since the ground switchCredit: AFP

But three defeats in five games in World Cup qualifying left them in dire need of a result.

They sat second bottom of the 10-team table – prompting a major decision by the Bolivian FA.

In September, they decided to switch their final five home matches to the Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto.

This is 13,615 feet above sea level – nearly 2,000 feet higher than their usual venue in La Paz.

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They also appointed a new manager, Oscar Villegas, following the sacking of Antonio Carlos Zago in July after a disappointing Copa America.

And it seems to have worked.

After a 2-1 win away at Chile, they then beat Colombia 1-0 in El Alto on Thursday to move up to sixth in the table – the final automatic qualification spot for the World Cup.

They have not qualified for a World Cup since the US last hosted it 30 years ago.

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Following the decision to switch grounds, new head coach Villegas revealed it “is going to help us a lot”.

He said: “Soccer is made of details. It does not mean that with this [changing stadiums] we are going to win.

Everton fans say ‘I feel sick just looking at it’ as new video of Bramley Moore Dock stadium go viral

“We are trying to take care of details that can allow us to be more effective.

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“In El Alto, we are going to try to be as intense as possible and to let them know that they are on a new pitch where we have been unbeatable.

“The psychological and emotional aspect also plays a role, it is something that is going to help us a lot.”

Bolivia‘s final four home games are against Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil.

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England have to be courageous at times – Carsley

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England have to be courageous at times - Carsley



England interim manager Lee Carsley says the Three Lions “have to be courageous at times” after his attacking line-up failed to impress in a 2-1 defeat by Greece.



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Kevin Bowring: Former Wales coach dies aged 70

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Kevin Bowring: Former Wales coach dies aged 70

Bowring was born in Neath and was a product of the Neath Grammar School.

He played a few games for the Neath senior side in the back row alongside his boyhood idol Dai Morris, the former Wales flanker.

Bowring spent nine years with London Welsh where he appeared in 268 games, captaining the club for three seasons and representing the Barbarians on three occasions.

A teacher by profession, Bowring hung up his boots at 32 when he took up a job at Clifton College.

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His first taste of coaching had come as a 20-year-old when he worked with the Briton Ferry RFC youth squad.

Bowring became involved with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) set-up where he worked his way through the ranks, coaching the Sevens, under-21s and Wales B sides.

After initially being caretaker coach as Wales beat Fiji in November 1995, Bowring took permanent control and was in charge for 28 more games.

He was tasked with trying to help Wales cope with the move to professionalism and also integrating returning rugby league players back into the union set-up.

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Bowring was seen as seen as one of the great thinkers of the early professional game and he wanted his national side to play in the traditional expansive way associated with Welsh rugby.

His reign as Wales coach ended after he resigned following a heavy 51-0 defeat by France in the 1998 Five Nations at Wembley.

After working as a lecture in Cardiff Met university, Bowring was appointed to his RFU role.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer REJECTS national team job as he waits for return to management three years after Man Utd sacking

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer REJECTS national team job as he waits for return to management three years after Man Utd sacking

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has reportedly rejected the chance to return to management.

The Norweigian has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United in 2021.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has turned down a chance to manage a national team

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has turned down a chance to manage a national teamCredit: AFP
Solskjaer has been out of work since leaving Man United

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Solskjaer has been out of work since leaving Man UnitedCredit: Getty

Solskjaer, 51, earned the full time job at Old Trafford after a stint as interim manager in 2018.

However, despite a promising start, he was axed after two and a half seasons.

Solskjaer has now been offered the chance to take over the Denmark national team.

Tipsbladet reported that he was approached over the vacant role following Kasper Hjulmand’s exit.

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However, it is believed that Solskjaer rejected the chance to have an interview with the Danish FA.

Had he accepted the position, then he would have had the opportunity to coach current Red Devils Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen.

The report claims that it is because he is already in “negotiations with a major club” over the head coach role.

Solskjaer has recently admitted that he would accept a role back at Old Trafford if the opportunity arose.

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He told media: “If the family [United] asks, I would say yes every day of the week.

“It feels wrong to talk about jobs that other people have now, but I would say yes, of course.”

How would Southgate and Tuchel transform Man Utd flops and who is best for job?

The Red Devils currently have Erik ten Hag in the dugout, although he faces an uncertain future.

The Dutchman has come under pressure from fans and the Old Trafford hierarchy due to the terrible start to the season.

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Ten Hag was the full-time replacement for Solskjaer after Ralf Rangnick‘s interim spell ended in the summer after the 2020/21 season.

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'It's going to be a massive game' – Arsenal's McCabe on Chelsea

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'It's going to be a massive game' - Arsenal's McCabe on Chelsea

Arsenal’s Katie McCabe says Saturday’s match against Chelsea is a “massive game” and it “hurt” seeing the Blues win back-to-back WSL titles.

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