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Man Utd’s Grace Clinton bullish ahead of FA Cup final: ‘Chelsea aren’t invincible’

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Grace Clinton’s introduction to the Women’s FA Cup final last season was unforgettable, though not for the reasons she might have hoped. While on loan at Tottenham, she was instrumental in helping the team reach their first-ever final in the competition.

A trip to Wembley should have capped a season where she also earned the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award. However, with Manchester United—her parent club—also making the final, she found herself cup-tied and left watching from the stands as Tottenham suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat.

Reflecting on that experience, Clinton described it as “bizarre” and “hard to swallow.” She had worked tirelessly all season to help Spurs make history, only to watch from the sidelines. The conflicting emotions were overwhelming.

On one hand, there was frustration and disappointment. On the other, a sense of pride as friends and teammates from United lifted the trophy.

Now back at Manchester United, Clinton has turned that disappointment into motivation. This season, the 22-year-old midfielder has thrived under manager Marc Skinner, scoring eight goals in 21 Women’s Super League matches and playing a key role in United’s third-place finish, which secured qualification for the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

She also delivered a decisive performance in the FA Cup semi-final, scoring a vital header against Manchester City that sealed United’s return to Wembley.

This time, Clinton will be on the pitch, not in the stands. She views the opportunity as the perfect reward for a season of personal and team growth.

Clinton acknowledges the pressure that came with returning to United and the expectations to replicate her performances from Spurs. However, she embraced the challenge and continued developing alongside a strong squad.

The opportunity to play in the Champions League and another FA Cup final has added even more significance to her impressive season. Every game felt like a final, and closing the season at Wembley adds an extra layer of excitement.

Despite being the defending champions, United will enter the final as underdogs against Chelsea. The Blues, who have already secured the WSL title and League Cup, are chasing a domestic treble.

They finished the league campaign unbeaten, with only two losses all season—both in the Champions League against Barcelona. Their recent 1-0 win over United sealed their title, yet Clinton believes her team’s performance that night has boosted their belief ahead of the final.

She recognizes Chelsea’s dominance but insists they are not unbeatable. That recent encounter has fueled United’s confidence and belief that they can cause an upset. Clinton points to the magic of the FA Cup—anything can happen in a single game.

Her confidence speaks to the maturity and composure she has shown throughout her meteoric rise. Even with a Wembley final days away, she made time to travel to London to help launch the first McDonald’s all-girls Fun Football Day at Hanwell Town FC.

Clinton understands the importance of representation and creating accessible spaces for young girls in football. As someone who grew up playing in boys’ teams until she joined an academy, she sees the value in offering girls more opportunities to play in supportive environments.

With a massive summer on the horizon, Clinton’s journey may be only just beginning. A regular fixture in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad, she’s expected to play a significant role at the upcoming UEFA Women’s European Championship in Switzerland. For Clinton, every challenge—from domestic finals to international tournaments—brings excitement and motivation.

Whether she’s at Wembley with United or competing on the European stage with England, Clinton remains focused and ready to seize every opportunity that comes her way.

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Napoli-linked Sancho ‘attracting interest’ from new Serie A side

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Napoli-linked Sancho 'attracting interest' from new Serie A side

Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.

The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.

Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.

Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.

Juventus enter the race for Sancho

Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.

According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.

Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?

Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.

If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.

Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.

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Flamengo punish 10-Man Chelsea in 3-1 Club World Cup stunner (Highlights)

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Flamengo 3-1 Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.

Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.

Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.

Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.

His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.

Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.

The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.

Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.

Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight

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Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan: Ramos opener earns shock draw after Lautaro misses sitter

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Monterrey vs Inter Milan

Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.

Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.

In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.

The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.

However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.

The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.

The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.

Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.

Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights

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