Chelsea Boss Tuchel Calls on Fans to ‘Show Respect’ after Rudiger Hit by Object

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel. (AFP)
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel. (AFP)
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Chelsea Boss Tuchel Calls on Fans to ‘Show Respect’ after Rudiger Hit by Object

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel. (AFP)
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel. (AFP)

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said fans should show players respect from the stands after defender Antonio Rudiger was hit by objects thrown by Tottenham Hotspur supporters at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Rudiger, 28, was struck during the second half of Chelsea's 2-0 victory as goals from Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva gave them their first league win since Dec. 26.

The incident came a day after Aston Villa pair Lucas Digne, who joined from Everton two weeks ago, and Matty Cash were hit by objects thrown by home supporters at Goodison Park.

Merseyside Police have charged a 19-year-old with assault and throwing an item on the pitch during Everton's 1-0 defeat.

" ... Everybody needs to show respect and behave to certain guidelines, there's no doubt about it," said Tuchel.

"If this is a new trend we need to act together to make sure that it stops as soon as possible, to protect the fantastic environment and unique atmosphere of England."

Sky Sports reported Metropolitan Police had made two arrests and were working to identify anyone else involved in throwing objects during the match.



Leverkusen Sign Former Real Madrid Defender Vazquez

12 December 2023, Berlin: Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez in action during the 2023 UEFA Champions League Group C soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Real Madrid at the Olympic stadium in Berlin. (dpa)
12 December 2023, Berlin: Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez in action during the 2023 UEFA Champions League Group C soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Real Madrid at the Olympic stadium in Berlin. (dpa)
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Leverkusen Sign Former Real Madrid Defender Vazquez

12 December 2023, Berlin: Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez in action during the 2023 UEFA Champions League Group C soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Real Madrid at the Olympic stadium in Berlin. (dpa)
12 December 2023, Berlin: Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez in action during the 2023 UEFA Champions League Group C soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Real Madrid at the Olympic stadium in Berlin. (dpa)

Former Real Madrid right back Lucas Vazquez has joined Bayer Leverkusen until 2027, the German club announced on Tuesday.

The five-time Champions League winner joins on a free transfer, having been a free agent since his Madrid contract expired in the summer.

The 34-year-old completed a medical in Madrid and is in line to play in Leverkusen's next match, away at Werder Bremen on Saturday.

In a statement, Vazquez said he was "looking forward to continuing my career at Leverkusen".

Vazquez revealed former Leverkusen coach and current Real manager Xabi Alonso and one-time Leverkusen player Dani Carvajal, who is now at Madrid, helped convince him to join the German side.

"With Lucas Vazquez we are signing an extremely experienced player who has won everything there was to win with Real Madrid over the past ten years," said Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes, adding the newcomer would become "a pillar" of the side.

Leverkusen were looking for a right-back after Jeremie Frimpong's move to Liverpool at the end of last season.

Other than a short stint at Espanyol, Vazquez spent his entire career with Real Madrid, winning four La Liga titles.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's arrival at Real meant Vazquez fell lower in the pecking order at right back, but the nine-time capped Spanish player wanted to continue his career.

Unbeaten domestic double winners two seasons ago, Leverkusen have undergone a complete rebuild this summer, with several key players leaving the club.

Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka and Frimpong have all left for the Premier League, Jonathan Tah joined league rivals Bayern Munich and coach Xabi Alonso moved to Real Madrid.


Gordon Sorry for Reckless Tackle on Van Dijk and Says His ‘Intentions Were Pure’ 

Newcastle's Anthony Gordon checks on Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League soccer match between Newcastle and Liverpool in Newcastle, England, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP)
Newcastle's Anthony Gordon checks on Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League soccer match between Newcastle and Liverpool in Newcastle, England, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP)
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Gordon Sorry for Reckless Tackle on Van Dijk and Says His ‘Intentions Were Pure’ 

Newcastle's Anthony Gordon checks on Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League soccer match between Newcastle and Liverpool in Newcastle, England, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP)
Newcastle's Anthony Gordon checks on Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League soccer match between Newcastle and Liverpool in Newcastle, England, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP)

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon has apologized to Virgil van Dijk for a reckless challenge on the Liverpool captain that earned a red card, saying he was “trying to create energy” in a wild Premier League game between the teams.

A fired-up Gordon sprinted toward Van Dijk and lunged into the center back with an out-of-control tackle that left a visible scrape down Van Dijk's right calf and the Netherlands international in a heap on the ground with his sock down to his ankle.

Having initially been given a yellow card, Gordon saw the punishment upgraded to a red card following a VAR review. The score was 1-0 to Liverpool at the time and the visitors ran out a 3-2 winner Monday thanks to a goal in the 10th minute of stoppage time by 16-year-old substitute Rio Ngumoha.

Gordon took to Instagram on Tuesday to say sorry for the tackle and that his “intentions were pure.”

“I was just trying to create energy in the game and I mistimed the tackle,” Gordon said. “I also want to apologize to Virgil. I would never intend to tackle somebody like this on purpose. We spoke after and he knows that.”

Van Dijk and Gordon talked to each other while referee Simon Hooper viewed the incident on a pitch-side monitor before awarding a red card.

“I said to him if that’s not a sending-off, I don’t understand football,” Van Dijk said. “Unfortunately, these things happen in football. If he meant it or not, it happened. We move on.”

For Gordon, it was a second red card in six months.

“I'll be back and better, the same as every other setback I've ever faced,” he wrote.

Gordon will be suspended for the next three domestic games.

He has been filling in as Newcastle's striker in the absence of Alexander Isak, who has said he wants to leave the club and isn't training with the main squad at the moment amid reported interest from Liverpool. It meant there was a hostile atmosphere at St. James' Park during Monday's game.


Slot Hails Liverpool’s Mentality After Win at Newcastle 

Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates with Liverpool manager Arne Slot after the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC, in Newcastle, Britain, 25 August 2025. (EPA)
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates with Liverpool manager Arne Slot after the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC, in Newcastle, Britain, 25 August 2025. (EPA)
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Slot Hails Liverpool’s Mentality After Win at Newcastle 

Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates with Liverpool manager Arne Slot after the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC, in Newcastle, Britain, 25 August 2025. (EPA)
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates with Liverpool manager Arne Slot after the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC, in Newcastle, Britain, 25 August 2025. (EPA)

Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised his players' mental fortitude after their 3-2 victory at Newcastle United on Monday, saying his team had shown the kind of mentality needed to get results in difficult places.

With the match unfolding in the shadow of Newcastle's dispute with striker Alexander Isak, who was reportedly the subject of a 110 million pounds ($148.60 million) bid from Liverpool this month, the Premier League champions endured a roller-coaster evening at a white-hot St James' Park.

Liverpool squandered a two-goal lead against a Newcastle side reduced to 10 men following Anthony Gordon's first-half red card, but were rescued by a 100th-minute winner from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha.

"Winning away at Newcastle then you definitely need to have quality, especially in an atmosphere like this," the Dutchman told reporters. "Not football quality because that's not what we showed today — apart from the last goal we scored.

"That looked a little bit like what I see on a daily basis on the training ground. But to have the mentality to fight here in such a hostile stadium, that is definitely something you also need if you want to compete in the end.

"Winning is something else but at least competing you definitely need to have this mentality — and that's what we showed."