Kane scored twice against Leipzig on Sunday, including a late winner that broke Bayern’s three-game losing streak across all competitions.

The win indeed brought hope back to the club after a turbulent week marked by the announcement of coach Thomas Tuchel’s imminent departure at the end of the  season.

“We need to keep doing what we’re doing. It is good to win this game but we need to go on a run until the end of the year,” Kane told reporters.

“We had to show a reaction after last week. We have a responsibility to the club and our manager, we can’t just sit there and sulk about it,” he said.

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The 30-year-old added that he had practised Saturday’s opening goal with forward Jamal Musiala during training, and he hoped to build better connections with his team mates.

This was after Tuchel said Kane was unhappy with the service at Bayern last week.

“We need more connections with each other, the last few weeks we have not had it but we can build on (what we achieved) today,” Kane said.

Kane leads with 27 goals in the Bundesliga and 31 in all competitions this season.

Bayern trail the unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen by eight points, who are currently at the top on 61 points after their 2-1 win over Mainz 05 on Friday.

“The season isn’t going like we wanted it to go, credit to Leverkusen,” Kane said of the gap between the teams on top.

“We need to keep fighting and we need to push them.”

Bayern host Lazio in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on March 5 and visit Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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Sven Ulreich; Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting; Leroy Sané; João Cancelo and Thomas Müller, among others from the professional squad joined the session.

Young talents – Justin Janitzek; Alexsandar Pavlovic; Gabriel Marusic; Taichi Fukui; Younes Aitamer and Angelo Brückner also participated.

After a brief talk and warm-up, the players trained coordination drills, passing and other technical drills.

Meanwhile, on an adjacent pitch, Jamal Musiala only completed an individual workout.

The session lasted around an hour and afterwards Tuchel held individual talks with a few players.

Tuchel replaced Julian Nagelsmann, who was dismissed last week, and will make his debut for Bayern Munich against his former team and Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund.

Players who are serving their national teams, such as Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich, are expect to return on Friday.

Source: dpa/NAN

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The Premier League club announced the sack in a statement on Wednesday.

“On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, the Club would like to place on record its gratitude to Thomas and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the Club.

“Tuchel  will rightly have a place in Chelsea’s history after winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here.

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“Chelsea’s coaching staff will take charge of the team for training and the preparation of our upcoming matches as the Club moves swiftly to appoint a new head coach.

“There will be no further comment until a new head coach appointment is made,” the club said.

Tuchel who took over from Frank Lampard in January 2021, guided the club to their second Champions League title just four months later.

He also won the UEFA champions league, Club world cup and Super cup for the club.

Source: NAN

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The 27-year-old Spaniard is currently playing second fiddle to Edouard Mendy at Stamford Bridge, but his form when called upon has not gone unnoticed by Tuchel.

Kepa, making only his sixth appearance of the season, produced two stunning saves to keep Brentford at bay as a youthful Chelsea side won 2-0 on Wednesday.

The win helped them to reach the League Cup semi-finals.

Mendy is set to return when the Blues head to Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Sunday, but Tuchel is delighted with his options in the goalkeeping department.

“I am very happy in general. Happy is maybe not the right word, but I am super impressed with Kepa,” he said.

“It is not a surprise anymore because he is in the state of mind as a person, a character and a sportsman where he just delivers for us, because he does what he does best.

“This is what he shows every day in training and this is why he gets the reward. I am absolutely sure that this is the reason why he has these kinds of performances.

“I am super happy, we need him in this kind of shape. The goalkeepers are a strong group and Kepa is a big part of it.”

Tuchel can welcome back Romelu Lukaku and Callum Hudson-Odoi for the trip to Villa Park.

The attacking duo were two of the eight Blues players hit by COVID-19 but have now recorded negative tests and are back in training.

Defender Andreas Christensen is also in contention after a back injury.

Source: dpa/NAN

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Lukaku sustained an ankle injury and Werner hurt his hamstring during the first half of the 4-0 home victory over Malmo FC  in UEFA Champions League Group H on Wednesday.

Belgium striker, Lukaku, was injured by a tackle from Lasse Nielsen which resulted in a penalty kick Jorginho confidently dispatched to add to Andreas Christensen’s opener.

Kai Havertz replaced Lukaku and scored Chelsea’s third before playing a role in another penalty kick for the Blues which was converted by Jorginho.

Chelsea have five games to come over the next 17 days and Tuchel said there could be no excuses for a decline in results.

That is if Lukaku and Werner are sidelined for an extended period.

“We have a twisted ankle with Romelu and a hamstring injury for Timo. So, they will be out for some days, I guess,” Tuchel said.

“Normally we’re in a good place injury-wise — we had only Christian Pulisic out. But we miss everybody.

“We have a lot of games to play, a lot of competitions. Now we have to find solutions. No excuses accepted.

“The two were in good shape and were dangerous and could create and score.

“Now we need to find solutions and guys who waited for their chance need to step up and prove that they can do the same thing.

“Whoever it might be, the race is on. The guys who will start against Norwich in the next game have our trust. We will try to find new solutions.

“Let’s stay positive. We won games before without Timo and we won games before without Romelu. We don’t want to have these problems too often, but these things happen in the season.”

Havertz could now be in line to start against Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday.

He said: “I came from the bench, you always have to be ready. It is always tough to come in, but I tried to do my best in the second half to score a goal. So, it is a nice feeling.”

Source: dpa/NAN

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Thousands of Chelsea fans were in the crowd of 14,110 to see their team lift the trophy in the Dragao Stadium.

The final match had been moved from Istanbul with Portugal operating under less severe coronavirus restrictions.

Havertz sparked the celebrations with his 42nd minute goal, created by a super pass from Mason Mount.

It split the defence and allowed the 21-year-old German to escape goalkeeper Ederson and tap home.

Manchester City won the domestic championship by a distance but lost to Chelsea both in the league and FA Cup.

It now means Blues manager Thomas Tuchel completed a whirlwind story of success since taking over from Frank Lampard in January.

Defeat in their first UEFA Champions League final means Manchester City remain without the biggest prize in European football.

This is in spite of billions of dollars being spent over the years by their Abu Dhabi owners.

Chelsea are kings again and Tuchel has glory at the second attempt having lost in the final with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last season.

Like in 2012, the Stamford Bridge club won having changed managers mid-season.

“To share it with everybody is incredible,” Tuchel said. “I don’t know what to feel.

“I was so grateful to arrive a second time [in the final].

“The [players] were determined to win this. We wanted to be a stone in their shoe. We encouraged everybody to step up and step out, to be more brave and create dangerous counter-attacks.”

Pep Guardiola was coaching in the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since his second triumph with FC Barcelona in 2011.

But he paid the price for a Manchester City line-up which was incredibly attacking.

Midfield anchors Fernandinho and Rodri were dropped as Ilkay Guendogan took the deepest role in the centre of the pitch.

Kevin De Bruyne and Bernando Silva supported Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden.

“I did the best with my selection. I tried to pick the best selection to win the game,” said Guardiola.

“We struggled to break the lines in the first half. The second half was much better.

“Against the defensive structure of Chelsea it wasn’t easy. We struggled a little bit with the long balls and second balls. In that moment you need inspiration.”

Manchester City were exposed when Mount’s long pass through the centre found Havertz cutting in to collect and finish for his maiden UEFA Champions League goal.

“I don’t know what to say. I really don’t know what to say,” said an emotional Havertz.

“I waited a long time. I’ve waited 15 years for this moment and now it’s here.”

His goal was the least Chelsea deserved after Havertz’s compatriot Timo Werner spurned two previous great chances to open the scoring.

The misfiring striker had a fresh air swipe from Havertz’s cut-back and sent a weak shot straight at Ederson having been found by Mount.

Manchester City in contrast could not get through the solid Chelsea shape which had Jorginho and N’Golo Kante snapping in the middle of the park.

Even, losing veteran defender Thiago Silva to first half injury did not disturb them.

In spite of Manchester City’s abundance of creative players, their best chance of the first half came from Ederson’s long ball over the defence.

But Sterling’s clever attempt was foiled by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

They did not fare better at the start of the second half.

De Bruyne’s poor night ended in disappointing fashion when he was substituted for Gabriel Jesus with a head knock after a clash with Antonio Ruediger.

Fernandinho was introduced for Silva but the next opportunity came for Chelsea, when Havertz set up substitute Christian Pulisic to chip wide on the break.

Record goalscorer Sergio Aguero was thrown on with 14 minutes remaining.

But his last game for Manchester City ended in defeat when Mahrez’s awkward shot flew a fraction high in the last minute of injury-time.

Source: dpa/NAN

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