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FA Cup Final Defeat Painful, Says Chelsea’s Azpilicueta after Penalty Miss

Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta misses to score during the penalty session of the English FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Liverpool, at Wembley stadium, in London, on May 14, 2022. (AFP)
Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta misses to score during the penalty session of the English FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Liverpool, at Wembley stadium, in London, on May 14, 2022. (AFP)
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FA Cup Final Defeat Painful, Says Chelsea’s Azpilicueta after Penalty Miss

Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta misses to score during the penalty session of the English FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Liverpool, at Wembley stadium, in London, on May 14, 2022. (AFP)
Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta misses to score during the penalty session of the English FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Liverpool, at Wembley stadium, in London, on May 14, 2022. (AFP)

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta said that back-to-back final defeats against Liverpool on penalties were tough to take after Juergen Klopp's side once again got the better of them in the FA Cup decider on Saturday.

Chelsea, who lost the League Cup final in February, went down 6-5 in the FA Cup shootout after Azpilicueta and Mason Mount both missed their spot kicks, allowing Kostas Tsimikas to slot home the winner in sudden death.

"When we arrived at the penalty shootout we tried to do the best we can. We were ready for it. Unfortunately this time it didn't happen again," the Spaniard told the club website.

"I missed my penalty as well so it's not Mason. We are all together here. When we make the list, we all feel confident that we want to shoot. This time it happens and I'm sure Mason will have a lot more times, he's still a young player.

"It's part of football. It's true that sometimes it looks painful, but of course we are the first ones who are hurt."

Chelsea, third in the Premier League, have had a turbulent season due to government-imposed sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

Russian owner Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale in March and a consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly is now set to take over at Stamford Bridge.

Azpilicueta said Chelsea could still take some positives from the season if they finish strongly in the league, starting with Leicester City on Thursday.

"We got two trophies this season, the Club World Cup and the Super Cup, which we have to appreciate as well ... but of course, when you arrive here and you lose two finals you are disappointed. Now we have two games, six points, to finish third."

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Sports

Galatasaray Midfielder Lang to Undergo Surgery after Freak Thumb Injury

Galatasaray's Dutch forward #77 Noa Lang receives medical attention after cutting his thumb during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Galatasaray's Dutch forward #77 Noa Lang receives medical attention after cutting his thumb during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
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Galatasaray Midfielder Lang to Undergo Surgery after Freak Thumb Injury

Galatasaray's Dutch forward #77 Noa Lang receives medical attention after cutting his thumb during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Galatasaray's Dutch forward #77 Noa Lang receives medical attention after cutting his thumb during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Galatasaray midfielder Noa Lang will undergo surgery on his right thumb after he sustained a serious injury following a collision with the advertising hoardings in Wednesday's 4-0 Champions League defeat by Liverpool, ⁠the Turkish club said.

The ⁠26-year-old clutched his hand in pain as blood flowed from the injury. He was taken ⁠off on a stretcher before being transported to hospital.

Galatasaray also confirmed that striker Victor Osimhen suffered a fracture to his right forearm in the first half. The club said on ⁠Thursday ⁠a decision on whether he will require surgery would be made in the coming days.

Liverpool advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate win.

Sports

Full Day of Play Cancelled at Miami Open Due to Rain

Mar 18, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A worker dries Butch Buchholz Court during a rain delay on day 2 of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Mar 18, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A worker dries Butch Buchholz Court during a rain delay on day 2 of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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Full Day of Play Cancelled at Miami Open Due to Rain

Mar 18, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A worker dries Butch Buchholz Court during a rain delay on day 2 of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Mar 18, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A worker dries Butch Buchholz Court during a rain delay on day 2 of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

All first-round matches at the Miami Open scheduled for Wednesday were cancelled due to rain in South Florida and will be rescheduled, the tournament said.

Organizers had hoped the weather might improve to ⁠allow for a night ⁠session featuring American Venus Williams and Britain's Francesca Jones followed by Italy's Matteo Berrettini facing Frenchman ⁠Alexandre Muller, but the ocean-blue Grandstand court was rendered unplayable due to the relentless downpour.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and 13th-ranked Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic are the defending ⁠champions ⁠at the WTA 1000 and ATP Masters 1000 event, the second leg of the "Sunshine Double" that comes on the heels of the Indian Wells tournament in the Southern California desert.

Sports

Fernandez Uncertain over Chelsea Future after Champions League Exit

Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez gives a thumb up at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge, west London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez gives a thumb up at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge, west London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
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Fernandez Uncertain over Chelsea Future after Champions League Exit

Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez gives a thumb up at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge, west London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez gives a thumb up at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge, west London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)

Enzo Fernandez has suggested he could leave Chelsea at the end of the current season after the London club were knocked out of the Champions League.

Leroy Rosenior's side were beaten 3-0 at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday as the French giants completed an aggregate 8-3 thrashing of the Blues over the two legs of their last-16 tie.

With world club champions Chelsea currently sixth in the Premier League, they may yet fail to qualify for a place among European football's elite next term, AFP reported.

Argentina's Fernandez captained the Blues against PSG on Tuesday in the absence of the injured Reece James.

But the 25-year-old midfielder did little to end speculation he could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge, telling ESPN: "I don't know, there are eight games left and the FA Cup. There's the World Cup and then we'll see."

Fernandez, reflecting on Chelsea's latest loss to PSG, who put the tie to bed with two goals in the first 15 minutes at Stamford Bridge, added: "I think we failed to control the game. In the first leg, we lost focus in the final 15 minutes and conceded three goals, and here it happened at the very start.

"At this level, you can't concede two goals so quickly because of small details.

Ultimately, over the two legs, PSG were the better side and deserve to go through. Since I arrived at Chelsea we have already passed through similar situations and we were able to turn them around.

"Now, our focus must be on winning the FA Cup and achieving our goal of qualifying for next season's Champions League."

Eight-time FA Cup-winners Chelsea face third-tier Port Vale in the quarter-finals on April 4.