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Chelsea's Enzo Fernández is facing increased uncertainty over his future at the club after Liam Rosenior hinted at 'a few hurdles' that need to be overcome. Fernández has been serving an internal two-match suspension for comments made during the international break that appeared to court Real Madrid. Despite apologizing, Fernández will miss Chelsea's Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday.Rosenior expressed hope that Fernández would be a 'massive part of the group moving forward' but acknowledged there are issues to clear up. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has stressed that Manchester City must win every game, starting with Sunday's fixture at Chelsea, to have any chance of winning the Premier League title.In other news, Mikel Arteta has praised Eberechi Eze's determination to return early from a calf injury. Eze is set to feature against Bournemouth on Saturday and has impressed Arteta with his 'obsession' with improving since joining Arsenal last summer.

Bath Rugby has secured a spot in the Champions Cup semi-finals for the first time in 20 years with a stunning comeback against Northampton Saints. The match was an 11-try epic, with Bath ultimately prevailing thanks to a 76th-minute try by replacement forward Ted Hill.The game was a thrilling contest from start to finish, with Northampton Saints dominating early on. They scored five tries in the first half-hour, including scores from Henry Pollock, Archie McParland, Fraser Dingwall, Tom Lockett, and Josh Kemeny. However, Bath refused to give up, and their renowned forward strength eventually tipped the scales in their favor.Alfie Barbeary and Thomas du Toit were among the key figures for Bath, who came roaring back to trail by only 38-33 with 20 minutes left. The visitors were temporarily down to 14 players during this period, which Bath capitalized on.The match was a grand advert for the English club game, with both teams showcasing their skills and determination. Bath's coach, Johann van Graan, marveled at his side's dramatic fightback, saying, 'I have been in rugby for a long time and this ranks as one of the best I have been involved in.' Northampton Saints' director of rugby, Phil Dowson, was frustrated with the loss, stating, 'It was obviously a good game of rugby but it’s frustrating to be on the wrong side of it.' The win sets up a semi-final clash for Bath against the winners of the all-French tie between Bordeaux and Toulouse.

West Ham United delivered a decisive 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the London Stadium, reviving their survival hopes with a performance that left Tottenham Hotspur slipping into the bottom three. The breakthrough came when Taty Castellanos slotted his fourth goal for the Hammers after a clever flick set up a one‑two with Pablo Felipe. Just 66 seconds later, Castellanos struck again, completing a rapid double that underscored the impact of his January move from Lazio. Earlier, Jarrod Bowen’s cross found Konstantinos Mavropanos, who headed past José Sá to open the scoring in the 42nd minute. Mavropanos, once criticised for defensive lapses, added a second goal with an acrobatic volley, cementing his transformation into a surprise goal‑machine. Defensive stability, bolstered by the recent arrival of Axel Disasi, helped the side keep a clean sheet despite Wolves’ early pressure. The Wolves, sitting at the foot of the table with just 17 points, were unable to recover after going behind. Beyond the three points, the result had league‑wide ramifications: Tottenham Hotspur fell to 18th place with 30 points, joining the relegation battle for the first time this season, while West Ham climbed to 17th, level on points with Nottingham Forest and just one point ahead of Leeds United. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo praised his January signings, noting that the additions of Castellanos and Pablo have given the squad the “punch in attack” needed to turn the season around. He remained cautious, stating, “It doesn’t change anything. Next week we play after our opponents. Today we did the job.” With only three losses in their last eleven matches, West Ham’s resurgence offers a glimmer of hope after a disastrous start that saw them languish near the relegation zone in early January. The victory also highlighted the growing pressure on Tottenham as they prepare for their first match under Roberto De Zerbi, a trip to Sunderland, while West Ham look ahead to a decisive clash with Leeds United on the final day.

Chelsea FC has traditionally embraced a strict disciplinary approach, with previous managers implementing fines for various infractions. Under Liam Rosenior, the club has continued this trend, recently penalizing star player Enzo Fernández for comments suggesting he might leave for Real Madrid. Fernández, the club's vice-captain, made the remarks while on international duty with Argentina, sparking concerns about his commitment to Chelsea. However, Rosenior took swift action, publicly criticizing Fernández but also engaging in a productive one-to-one chat, which led to a full apology from the player. This approach has earned praise from fans and the media, demonstrating Rosenior's ability to manage Enzo Fernández effectively and maintain squad harmony. Fernández will miss an upcoming crucial match against Manchester City but is expected to rejoin the team afterward. The incident highlights Chelsea's cultural shift under English management, emphasizing discipline and clear communication. This approach may prove beneficial as the team faces challenging matches ahead, including their upcoming encounter with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

Roberto De Zerbi has vowed to bring back the attacking style of football known as 'Ange-ball' to Tottenham Hotspur in a bid to prevent the club's first relegation in 49 years. The Italian manager has only seven games to impart his complex football philosophy to his players. De Zerbi wants to replicate the rampant, marauding style of his predecessor Ange Postecoglou, who won Tottenham's first trophy in 17 years but was dismissed after finishing 17th in the Premier League last season. “I want to keep the ball,” De Zerbi said. “I want to see again the Tottenham I watched with Postecoglou because, in my second season in Brighton, there was Postecoglou here with a lot of these players and it was one of the best teams in terms of quality of play.” De Zerbi has kept things simple in his early days at Tottenham, with individual meetings and training sessions on the pitch. The first test of what has been absorbed will be away to Sunderland on Sunday. De Zerbi has often been criticised for short stays at previous clubs, but he insists he is committed to Spurs “for a long time” after signing a contract to 2031, which does not include a break clause if they are relegated. Spurs have lost seven of their past nine games but De Zerbi has analysed their recent matches and taken encouragement from the 1-1 draw at Liverpool and 3-2 Champions League win against Atlético Madrid. “We have to show this for 90 minutes and we have to believe in ourselves,” he said. “The most important part in football is the mental part. You are used to speaking too much about the style of play, the tactical disposition, blah, blah, blah. But in the end, the mental part is crucial in every work, especially in football, especially in this moment in Tottenham.”

Real Madrid's struggles continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Girona in La Liga on Friday, extending their winless run to three games in all competitions. This result gives leaders Barcelona the chance to stretch their advantage at the top of the table to nine points, with a game in hand against Espanyol on Saturday.Federico Valverde put Madrid ahead six minutes after half-time, but Girona levelled in the 62nd minute through Thomas Lemar. Despite dominating possession, Madrid lacked composure going forward, allowing Girona to secure a valuable point and move up to 12th in the league.The draw has significant implications for the title race, with Madrid now six points behind Barcelona. The hosts' fans expressed their frustration with the team's performance, jeering their players as they left the field.In other European matches, Marseille reclaimed third place in Ligue 1 with a 3-1 win over Metz, while Roma boosted their Champions League hopes with a 3-0 victory over Pisa, thanks to a hat-trick from Donyell Malen.

Midway through the fifth day of the County Championship’s second round, Ollie Pope joined an elite group by becoming the 11th centurion in Division One this season. Five of those centuries belong to Surrey, with Jamie Smith already on two. The pre‑season favourites, despite a drawn opening match, looked formidable at the close of play, sitting at 412 for six.Leicestershire’s situation could not be more contrasting. Fresh from promotion, the side suffered a defeat to Sussex in their opener and, by the second session, appeared short on confidence, ideas and quality. Late‑stage wickets offered a brief spark, but the scoreboard told a different story.A crowd of 4,700 spectators braved a brisk early‑spring day at the Oval. With Surrey’s top six all boasting international caps, the match was inevitably examined for potential England implications. The first surprise came from Leicestershire’s own Josh Hull, who marked the second anniversary of his solitary Test appearance.Now 21, Hull has shed the rawness of his debut against Sri Lanka in September 2024, showing improved pace and reliability. He opened his season with a wicket in his first over, dismissing Dom Sibley lbw, and later produced a short ball that struck Pope’s helmet and an edge from Smith before being pulled after a brief spell.When Hull returned for a fourth spell deep in the final session, Smith repaid the effort with a brutal low‑flying pull for six, pushing his total past 150 runs. The partnership underscored Surrey’s growing dominance as the day progressed.Jamie Smith’s 166 from 240 balls marked his second century in the opening two Championship games, a knock highlighted by a patient start – one run from his first ten balls – before accelerating with a flurry of boundaries.Smith’s innings unfolded with cautious intent: after a modest 28, he unleashed three fours in as many deliveries, eventually reaching 166 before being caught by Ajaz Patel off Ben Green’s 90th over. The innings demonstrated both resilience and flair, cementing his role as a key run‑maker.For Pope, the century arrived after a seven‑month drought without a first‑class fifty and a solitary century against India at Headingley 21 innings earlier. His 24‑run start, achieved on half the balls faced by Smith, quickly turned into a commanding display as he steadied the innings.Both batsmen left the Oval with the confidence of seasoned internationals. A delayed emergence of Dan Lawrence after Pope’s boundary suggested the wicket was never in serious contention. Ben Foakes contributed a steady 62, while Leicestershire, with an average of 226 for the season, will need to conjure more surprises to bridge the gap.

Brandon Holtz, a 39-year-old real estate broker from Illinois, has achieved an incredible feat by qualifying for the Masters tournament as an amateur golfer. Ranked 3,262 in the world amateur golf rankings, Holtz secured his spot by winning the US Mid-Am, a route into the Masters for amateur players aged 25 and over.Holtz's journey to the Masters is an unlikely one. He didn't play golf at college, instead being on a basketball scholarship at Illinois State. He only took up golf seriously after finishing college, spending his early 20s on the mini tour trying to make it as a pro. However, it cost him more than he won, and he eventually paid $200 to the US Golf Association to have his amateur status reinstated in 2024.His background in elite college basketball has proven to be more helpful than his short time on the Hooters Tour. As a shooter, Holtz was able to perform under pressure, a skill that suited him well in the Mid-Am, a matchplay event. He won it with his driver, which he says is the best club in his bag.Despite struggling in his first round with a score of 81, Holtz remains optimistic. 'This is a dream come true really,' he said. 'The experience as a whole is incredible. It was definitely not what I wanted to do on the golf course today, but I had a lot of fun.'Holtz's story is an inspiration to many, showing that it's never too late to pursue your dreams. As he said, 'I'm 39, chasing a dream and here we are.'

Some American cities shortlisted to host the 2031 Women's World Cup are contemplating withdrawal due to concerns related to Fifa's management of this summer's World Cup. The cities are exploring alternative options, such as focusing on hosting the 2031 Rugby World Cup instead.There are 40 stadiums on the US Soccer Federation's longlist for potential 2031 Women's World Cup venues, while World Rugby has received expressions of interest from 27 cities featuring 33 stadiums, with 20 stadiums appearing on both lists. Cities like Chicago and Pittsburgh have already declined to enter the running for Women's World Cup hosting rights, reportedly due to concerns about Fifa's financial demands.A source working with one of the cities in question noted that World Rugby is offering greater commercial freedom and has fewer demands regarding access to stadiums. Another source indicated that the Rugby World Cup is likely to be more profitable due to the demographic profile of rugby supporters and their expected spending on match attendance.Fifa delayed confirmation of the 2031 World Cup hosts from the end of this month to an unspecified date this year. The joint proposal from the US, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica is currently the only bid on the table. Additionally, there are concerns about the US government not providing Fifa with mandatory guarantees regarding obligations on visas, tax, safety, and security.The experience of dealing with Fifa for the upcoming men's World Cup has not been uniformly positive for all cities, with issues such as safety and security costs and public transport problems. World Rugby has announced that it will finance its event and share profits or losses with USA Rugby, rather than requiring hosts to underwrite the tournament.