Miami beats the Bucks
Miami beats the Bucks and a stale rivalry possibly will be the hottest in the NBA this season. The Heat and Bucks began the new season with a blockbuster trade. The Heat began the Las Vegas Summer League scoring 119 points on the Bucks. Bam Adebayo confronted Tyler Herro on his social media post shot in the practice gym also. Miami Summer League performance The Heat Summer League team scored 60 points in the second half. Draft pick Ryan Conwell scored 19 points. He made seven out of 16 shots. Jahmir Young also scored 19 points. Tre White and Ian Schieffelin each scored 16 points and Tre Donaldson and Vlad Goldin each scored 14 points. The game was tied at 56 at the half and the Heat started making all their shots. The Bucks squad started missing all of their shots. The Bucks only made three out of 21 shots in the third. They were outrebounded 14-9. The Heat will play the Magic on Saturday and the Bucks play the Spurs on Sunday. Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo confrontation Bam Adebayo confronted Tyler Herro at a practice court in a Las Vegas hotel. Tyler Herro was apparently baited by a fan on Instagram into making negative comments about Bam. Unfortunately, Herro erred in believing that his conversation with the fan in direct messaging would remain confidential. Adebayo âstruck Herro in the head areaâ according to sources telling ESPNâs Shams Charania. Herro was on camera during the game being interviewed by Chris Haynes of Primeâs NBA broadcast before the report was broke. Herro was smiling for the camera with a Milwaukee Bucks cap on backwards. Whatever friendship there was, is over. (Photo credit: Reggie Hildred, Imagn Images) The direct messages are now all over social media. Herroâs lasting comment: âIâm just saying should an elite defender be making $60 million a year?â Also, Herro posted art on his Instagram page on the NBA players with the lowest shooting percentage. Giannis was the worst and Bam was also on the list. Bucks vs. Heat will be marquee TV The trade between the Bucks and the Heat will be a top headline this upcoming season. But, this petty clapback by Tyler Herro on Bam will fuel tension in the games between the two teams this season. The Heat were the foil to the Bucks during âthe Jimmy Butler era.â Giannis could only beat Miami once during âthe Jimmy Butler era.â (Photo credit: Matias Ocner, Miami Herald) Giannis won his championship in 2021 and the Bucks exorcised the Heat in the first round. Then in 2023, the Bucks had the Heat beat in Miami in Game 4. The Heat were able to win the game and upset the Bucks. The Heat won eight times against the Bucks six during the three years they faced one another in the playoffs (2020, 2021, 2023.) The post Miami beats the Bucks appeared first on thePeachBasket.
Juventus confirm interest in Villa goalkeeper Martinez
Juventus sporting director Giovanni Carnevali has confirmed the club are interested in a move for Emiliano Martinez, while the signings of Brahim Diaz, Franck Kessie and Theo Hernandez are less likely. Martinez, who is currently representing Argentina at the World Cup, was set to leave Villa ahead of the 2025-26 season, with Manchester United reportedly interested at the time. However, the goalkeeper stayed at Villa Park and helped them win the Europa League and secure fourth place in the Premier League. Since he joined Villa from Arsenal in 2020, after helping the Gunners win the FA Cup, only Ederson (70), Alisson (69), David Raya (68) and Jordan Pickford (61) have kept more clean sheets than the 33-year-old in the Premier League (60). Martinez has also made the second-most saves in the English top flight since the start of the 2020-21 season (625), with only Pickford (674) making more.  Here’s how the month of July is looking for the Bianconeri!  pic.twitter.com/AcksaWPLBo â JuventusFC  (@juventusfcen) July 7, 2026 Juve have also been linked with free agent Kessie, former AC Milan full-back Hernandez and Diaz, who has struggled for consistent minutes at Real Madrid. Carnevali insists Juve do not have the funds to go for those three players, while they wait to close a deal for Martinez. “There is no truth to them, because these are very important players, but if we analyse their costs and values, they cannot be part of the plan at this moment for the construction of this squad,” Carnevali said when asked about Kessie, Hernandez and Diaz. “We have various negotiations in progress, it takes time to reflect, because we donât want to be frenetic, the market changes every day. “Just look at Dibu Martinez, who is playing at the World Cup⌠we need to wait for that to play out. “There are many situations, a club like Juventus has to be open on various different fronts and pay attention to what can happen.” The post Juventus confirm interest in Villa goalkeeper Martinez appeared first on SoccerNews.
W.12- The Day Before the Day
Czech, please… Invitation accepted. đ Which Czech will clinch the women’s singles championship? đ#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/bWer3RBBN3 â Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 9, 2026 via GIPHY =DAY 12 NOTES= …there was the usual, relatively light(-ish) schedule on Friday as we charge toward the weekend, with most of the final match-ups set as of today (save for the 14u juniors). The doubles final will pit #2 Gaby Dabrowski/Luisa Stefani against #10 Guo Hanyu/Kristina Mladenovic. Dabrowski/Stefani have picked up five titles together over the years, switching partners before ultimately coming back together this year (and winning three titles so far, on all three surfaces). But they’ve never won a major together. They claimed the Eastbourne title before this Wimbledon, and will try to add what what would be the first Wimbledon crown in any discipline for both. Dabrowski has a pair of U.S. Open WD wins (w/ Erin Routliffe) to her credit, as well as two MX wins (AO/RG). She lost in the ’19 and ’24 Wimbledon WD finals with Xu Yifan and Routliffe, respectively. Stefani has an AO MX win, but has never played in a major WD final. She played in last year’s MX final at SW19, but came up short. KRISTINA EN FINALE đŞ Kristina Mladenovic et Hanyu Guo sâimposent face Ă la paire Jiang/Xu et disputeront la finale du double dames Ă Wimbledon dimanche đą#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/wVzllfUKte â FFT (@FFTennis) July 10, 2026 Kristina Mladenovic, a former top 10 singles player, is into her 18th doubles GS final: 12 in Women’s (6 titles)6 in Mixed (3 titles) Guo Hanyu will be her 7th different partner in a GS final: Babos, 6 (4 W)Garcia, 4 (2)Nestor, 4 (2)Dodig, 1 (1)Zhang, 1Guinard, 1Guo, 1 pic.twitter.com/l3kg5NFArl â JosĂŠ Morgado (@josemorgado) July 10, 2026 Mladenovic, a former WD #1, will be looking to end her multi-year slam title drought with what would be her seventh major doubles win, and her first at Wimbledon. The Pastry has won two AO and four RG crowns, but is 0-1 in Wimbledon finals (2014). She *has* won a MX title at SW19, though, all the way back in 2013 (one of three career MX crowns). Guo will be playing in her first career slam final. They were the Auckland champs back in January. …the junior final will pit #1 Sun Xinran against #14 Anna Pushkareva. Sun lost to a junior Hordette (Alisa Oktiabreva) in this year’s RG girls’ final, but gets another chance here vs. another young Russian in Pushkareva. Sun would be the first Chinese girl to win at Wimbledon, while Pushkareva would be the first Hordette to take the SW19 crown since Anastasia Potapova (now repping AUT, of course) in 2016. The Girls’ and Boys’ Singles finals are confirmed. Xinran Sun vs Anna Pushkareva Jordan Lee vs Cruz Hewitt #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/WpFAk6o5MR â Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2026 The top-seeded Brazilian duo of Victoria Luiza Barros & Nauhany Vitoria Leme da Silva will try to become the first duo from that nation to win a junior doubles slam. They are already the first to reach a major girls’ slam final. They’ll face #5-seeded Czechs Jana Kovackova & Katerina Zajickova, who’ll be looking to make history, as well. A win by the Crushers will make them the first team to win RG/WI (aka the “Channel Slam”) in the same season since 2013 (Czechs Krejcikova/Siniakova), and would give Kovackova the first Career Junior Doubles Slam (w/ her *fourth* straight major win, after the first two came with sister Alena). …and the wheelchair final will feature the *19th* slam title match clash between #1 Yui Kamiji (who def. DC/#4 Wang Ziying in a MTB) and #2 Diede de Groot (def. #3 Li 4 & 2). De Groot is 16-2 in the previous eighteen meetings. A win from Kamiji would allow her to join de Groot as the only woman to have won all eight slam s/d titles. They’ve both also won the year-end WC Masters s/d and Paralympic Gold in both disciplines, as well. De Groot, who this year won her first major since her ’24 hip surgery (at RG), is seeking her seventh Wimbledon title. Kamiji was RU to de Groot in the ’22 Wimbledon final, and again last year in the title match vs. Wang. It’ll be the 32nd slam singls final for Kamiji (11-20) and 29th for de Groot (24-4). *WOMEN’S SINGLES FINAL* #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE vs. #9 Linda Noskova/CZE *WOMEN’S DOUBLES FINAL* #10 Guo/Mladenovic (CHN/FRA) vs. #2 Dabrowski/Stefani (CAN/BRA) *MIXED DOUBLES FINAL* #2 Ostapenko/Arevalo (LAT/ELS) def. Hunter/Polmans (AUS/AUS) 4-6/7-5/6-2 *WHEELCHAIR WOMEN’S SINGLES FINAL* #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN vs. #2 Diede de Groot/NED *WHEELCHAIR WOMEN’S DOUBLES FINAL* #1 Kamiji/Zhu (JPN/CHN) vs. #2 Li/Wang (CHN/CHN) *GIRLS’ SINGLES FINAL* #1 Sun Xinran/CHN vs. #14 Anna Pushkareva/RUS *GIRLS’ DOUBLES FINAL* #1 Barros/Leme da Silva (BRA/BRA) vs. #5 J.Kovackova/Zajickova (CZE/CZE) *GIRLS’ 14-and-UNDER SF* Isha Manchala/USA vs. Lyubov Pronenko/RUS Eduarda Gomes/BRA vs. Mariia Kocherzhenko/UKR …CRACKING THE CODE… ON DAY 12: Win the elephant, make the Wimbledon final.. them’s the rules!@berlin_tennis & @badhomburgopen proving to be the perfect SW19 prep this year. pic.twitter.com/EK4iQRAWkZ â Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 10, 2026 …THE CENTER OF THE CZECH CRUSHER COLLECTIVE… ON DAY 12: Two finalists from one small area, corner of Moravia on Czech Republic. Two Czech towns. Two Wimbledon finalists. đ¨đżđž Karolina Muchova was born in Olomouc. Linda Noskova was born in Vsetin and grew up in Prerov. Just around 70 km separate Olomouc and Prerov, while Vsetin is⌠pic.twitter.com/0zUKu6gKke â First Serve (@1st_serve_news) July 10, 2026 …HMMM… ON DAY 12: THE shot of the tie break (Karolina’s that is..) Incredible stuff. pic.twitter.com/xscWwAzQyj â Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 9, 2026 No sĂŠ por quĂŠ, pero viendo jugar a Muchova, este aĂąo, en Wimbledon me he acordado de Jana Novotna đ¤đ¤ pic.twitter.com/RMzEuiAr9K â Jose Antonio Mielgo (@JAMielgo) July 9, 2026 Karolina Muchova reminds me of Jana Novotna â Ann Braybon (@abba7474) July 9, 2026 …OSTAPENKO BEING OSTAPENKO… ON DAY 12: Ostapenko grand slams đ⢠Singles â ď¸â˘ Doublesâ ď¸â˘ Mixed â ď¸â˘ Juniors Singles â ď¸â˘ Hard â ď¸â˘ Clay â ď¸â˘ Grass
Casillas: Relationship with Mourinho like a marriage that ended badly
Iker Casillas has described his relationship with Jose Mourinho at the end of their time together at Real Madrid as “a marriage that ended badly”. Mourinho has been reappointed as Los Blancos’ head coach this summer, having previously taken charge of the club for three seasons between 2010 and 2013. During that time, Madrid won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana once each, as they rivalled Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. Los Blancos’ league win under Mourinho marked the first time a LaLiga side had reached the 100-point mark in a single season, though Barca achieved the feat a season later. Despite their shared success, Mourinho’s relationship with Casillas suffered, largely due to an incident involving the Spanish national team. Â Mourinho: âWorking for Real Madrid is an honor and a responsibilityâ. pic.twitter.com/KWjPOzSUC1 â Real Madrid C.F. Â (@realmadriden) July 10, 2026 Casillas held talks with Barca players to resolve their rivalry for the benefit of Spain, which Mourinho did not like. The former Madrid goalkeeper revealed how his relationship with Mourinho was at the end of their time in the Spanish capital, but he insists things have now changed. “With Jose Mourinho, it was a marriage that ended badly,” Casillas told L’Equipe. “Today, if we meet, we greet each other, and we can even sit at the table and talk without any problem.” The post Casillas: Relationship with Mourinho like a marriage that ended badly appeared first on SoccerNews.
âIf anyone should be afraid, itâs Franceâ, claims Yamal ahead of huge semi-final clash
Lamine Yamal believes France should be more worried than Spain ahead of their titanic World Cup semi-final tussle. La Roja booked their place in the last four with a 2-1 victory over Belgium in Los Angeles, with Mikel Merino coming off the bench to score the decisive goal again. Spain have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup for only the second time after 2010, when they went on to win the tournament in South Africa. They have also set the outright longest unbeaten run in their history, now avoiding defeat in each of their last 36 matches since a 1-0 loss to Colombia in March 2024 (W27 D9). Spain will now face France for a place in the final, and Yamal insists there’s no reason for the European champions to be afraid. “If anyone should be afraid, it’s them. We’ve eliminated them [from Euro 2024 and the 2024-25 Nations League],” said Yamal. “We are two great teams, for me, the two best, but we have no fear.” And Spain boss Luis de la Fuente, who has now managed more games across the World Cup and Euros without ever losing than any other manager (13, W12 D1), shares Yamal’s views. “Itâs fair to think weâll work to beat them; I think theyâre just as worried,” De La Fuente said about France. “Weâre the only team that has beaten them two games in a row. A great team is going to face another great team.” 2 â Mikel Merino is the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score the winning goal in two different knockout stage matches as a substitute. Dependable. pic.twitter.com/iBlLgEJt4m â OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 10, 2026 There are just two examples of a player scoring the winning goal for Spain in the knockout stages of the World Cup as a substitute: Merino versus Portugal in the round of 16 on Monday, and Merino against Belgium in the quarter-finals on Friday. Merino is also the first player in World Cup history to score the winning goal in two different knockout-stage matches as a substitute. When asked about the Arsenal midfielder, De La Fuente said: “He is incredible, he has many virtues, he is world-class. “He could play on any team and we are lucky to have him. We know that whenever we need him, he is there.” The post âIf anyone should be afraid, itâs Franceâ, claims Yamal ahead of huge semi-final clash appeared first on SoccerNews.
Salmon joins West Ham from fellow WSL side Aston Villa
West Ham have bolstered their attacking options ahead of the 2026-27 Women’s Super League season with the addition of Ebony Salmon from West Ham. Salmon links up with West Ham following her exit from fellow WSL side Aston Villa, and has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Hammers. The 25-year-old joined Villa from the Houston Dash and went on to make 58 league appearances for the club, scoring nine goals as well as providing three assists. She has also made four appearances for England at international level, but has not turned out for the Lionesses since 2023. “I’m really excited to join West Ham United and begin this next chapter of my career,” Salmon told the club’s website. “After the conversations I had with Rita and others at the Club, it just seemed like the right fit for me. “I’m really looking forward to getting started, meeting all of my team-mates and the fans, and helping West Ham push on this season.” Ebony’s here West Ham United is delighted to announce the signing of Ebony Salmon. â West Ham United Women (@WestHamWomen) July 10, 2026 Salmon becomes Rita Guarino’s seventh signing of the summer window as West Ham aim to improve on their 10th-place finish in the WSL last season. The Hammers’ 20 goals were the second-worst in the division in 2025-26 behind relegated Leicester City (11), while they also shipped 45 goals at the other end. The post Salmon joins West Ham from fellow WSL side Aston Villa appeared first on SoccerNews.
Milan strengthen defence with Gila signing
AC Milan have announced the signing of defender Mario Gila from Lazio. The 25-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the Rossoneri after a reported âŹ30m fee was agreed between the two Serie A clubs. Gila joined Lazio from Real Madrid ahead of the 2022-23 season and went on to make 120 appearances for the Italian side, helping them reach the Coppa Italia final last term. The Spaniard won the most tackles (68) among Lazio players over the last two Serie A seasons, while he also won the second-most duels (289) and recorded the third-most interceptions (53). “We can do great things together. I feel like I can reach my full potential here,” Gila told the official club social media channels. Adding Spanish steel at the back ¥Bienvenido, Mario Gila!  pic.twitter.com/sgXICmNGGA â AC Milan (@acmilan) July 10, 2026 “I think that I can help the team in every phase. “I’m a real perfectionist; I never give up, and I always aim as high as I can in every aspect of my life, whether thatâs on or off the pitch. “This shirt has a really special weight to it, which I’m aware of. Iâm here to learn and give my all on the pitch in order to reach the levels that have made AC Milan great.” Gila becomes Milan’s second signing since the arrival of head coach Ruben Amorim, with Goncalo Ramos also joining the Rossoneri this summer for a club-record fee. Milan begin their 2026-27 Serie A campaign on August 23 against Torino, while their first home game comes five days later against Venezia. The post Milan strengthen defence with Gila signing appeared first on SoccerNews.
Michael Edwards Steps Away as Liverpool Faces Another Period of Change
Liverpool are facing fresh uncertainty behind the scenes after Michael Edwards decided to step down from his role as Fenway Sports Groupâs chief executive of football. His departure comes just two years into a three-year contract and marks another major change at a time when the club is already navigating significant shifts in its football structure. Why Edwards Decided to Leave The main factor behind Edwardsâ exit appears to be frustration over the lack of progress in FSGâs efforts to acquire a second European club. When he returned to the organisation in 2024, Edwards was attracted not only by the opportunity to help Liverpool through a period of transition but also by the chance to shape FSGâs broader football ambitions. A key part of that vision involved building a multi-club network. However, despite exploring opportunities involving clubs such as Getafe, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Malaga, no deal materialised. As the project evolved away from its original vision, Edwards ultimately decided it was time to move on. Mike Gordon Takes a Bigger Role With Edwards leaving, FSG president Mike Gordon is expected to assume more direct responsibility for Liverpoolâs football operations. Although the departure creates uncertainty from the outside, those within the club remain confident that the foundations established in recent years are strong enough to maintain stability. Club leaders believe Liverpoolâs recruitment structure, culture, football philosophy and internal processes are well-positioned for continued success. Questions Surround Richard Hughes Edwardsâ departure comes amid ongoing speculation about sporting director Richard Hughes. Hughes has been linked with a possible move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, and Liverpool have reportedly been unable to provide clear assurances about his future beyond the current transfer window. The timing is significant, given that Hughes only recently appointed Andoni Iraola as Liverpoolâs new head coach following Arne Slotâs departure in May. His contract currently runs until 2027. Edwardsâ Lasting Legacy at Liverpool This is the second time Edwards has left Liverpool. His first spell as sporting director helped transform the club into one of the most effective operators in European football. He played a major role in building squads that delivered Premier League and Champions League success, while Liverpoolâs recruitment between 2016 and 2020 became widely admired across the sport. When he left in 2022, several elite clubs, including Manchester United and Chelsea, were reportedly interested in securing his services. The Multi-Club Vision That Never Materialised One of Edwardsâ biggest objectives after returning was helping FSG expand into the multi-club ownership model that has become increasingly popular across football. The strategy was partly driven by post-Brexit regulations that limit English clubsâ ability to sign overseas players under the age of 18. Owning a club within the European Union can create development pathways for young players while helping them later qualify for UK work permits. Despite extensive research and discussions involving around 25 clubs, FSG ultimately failed to complete a purchase. A More Challenging Second Spell While Edwardsâ first stint was almost universally praised, his return has faced greater scrutiny. Liverpool invested heavily in players such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, with spending reaching ÂŁ241 million on those two signings alone. Although Liverpool won the league title during Arne Slotâs first season, some observers believe those expensive additions have yet to fully justify their price tags. The transition away from the JĂźrgen Klopp era initially appeared seamless, but the club now finds itself entering another phase of change. Transfer Plans Continue Despite Exit Liverpoolâs recruitment strategy is not expected to be significantly disrupted by Edwardsâ departure. Most of the preparation for summer business has already been completed, with responsibility for executing transfer plans largely falling to Hughes and his team. So far, Spanish winger Victor MuĂąoz is the clubâs only summer signing, while JĂŠrĂŠmy Jacquet was signed earlier in the year and is set to officially join in July. Further attacking reinforcements are also expected to be a priority. Key Contract Decisions on the Horizon Alongside potential new signings, Liverpool must also address a number of important contract situations. Negotiations with Dominik Szoboszlai are reportedly ongoing, while several senior players are entering the final year of their current agreements, including: Virgil van Dijk Alisson Curtis Jones Joe Gomez These discussions will become increasingly important as the club plans for the future. Who Could Replace Hughes If He Leaves? Should Hughes eventually depart, Liverpool already has several internal candidates who could step into a larger role. David Woodfine, currently assistant sporting director, is highly regarded within the organisation and shares a close working relationship with Edwards. Another option is Julian Ward, who previously served as sporting director before returning to FSG as technical director in 2024. Both men already have extensive experience within Liverpoolâs football structure. Edwards Leaves Proud of His Work In his farewell statement, Edwards said he believed Liverpool was in a stronger position than when he arrived and expressed pride in the work completed during his time back at the club. He acknowledged that the wider football project evolved differently from what had originally been planned but highlighted the extensive work carried out to present ownership with a range of strategic options for the future. Meanwhile, Mike Gordon praised Edwardsâ contribution, describing him as a key figure in Liverpoolâs recent success and an important part of the clubâs journey to a historic 20th league title. The post Michael Edwards Steps Away as Liverpool Faces Another Period of Change appeared first on SoccerNews.
Hayen appointed as new Burnley head coach on three-year deal
Nicky Hayen has been announced as Burnley’s new head coach after penning a three-year deal at Turf Moor on Friday. Hayen, who arrives from Belgian Pro League side Genk, replaces Scott Parker after he left the Clarets by mutual consent in April. Michael Jackson took interim charge of the Clarets, but their Premier League relegation had already been confirmed by that point and they ultimately finished 19th in the table. Burnley failed to win any of their last 15 Premier League home games (D6 L9), with only three teams enduring longer runs within a single season in the competition. Following Parker’s departure, Burnley approached the Football Association of Wales as they looked to appoint their head coach, Craig Bellamy. Bellamy was part of Vincent Kompany’s backroom staff during his time at Burnley, but negotiations broke down and the club have now switched their focus to Hayen. The 45-year-old was appointed as Genk’s head coach last December and led the club to a seventh-place finish in the Belgian top flight. “I’m pleased to be joining a club with real history and supporters who care deeply about it,” Hayen told Burnley’s club website. “I know most of them won’t know much about me yet, that’s fair, and it’s on me to change it. “What I can tell them is how my teams play. We keep the ball, we press with purpose, and we trust young players with real minutes, not just a place on the bench. “I’m really looking forward to working with the squad in the US on the pre-season tour. The hard work starts there.” Burnley Football Club confirm the appointment of Nicky Hayen as the Club’s new Head Coach on a 3-year contract â Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) July 10, 2026 Hayen arrives having overseen 127 Belgian Pro League matches with three different clubs, with his most successful tenure coming with Club Brugge between 2024 and 2025. During his time in charge, he won 41 of his 67 league games in charge (D15 L11), winning the Belgian Pro League title as well as the Belgian Cup and Belgian Super Cup. He takes over a Burnley side that struggled in 2025-26. They conceded the most goals (75) in the Premier League last season, while only fellow relegated side Wolves (27) scored fewer than the Clarets’ 38. Hayen’s first game in charge will see Burnley square off against League One side Notts County in the EFL Cup, before they begin their Championship campaign against West Ham at Turf Moor on August 16. The post Hayen appointed as new Burnley head coach on three-year deal appeared first on SoccerNews.
âI think Xabi is very cleverâ â Rafa Benitez on new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso (Video)
Xabi Alonso has a difficult task of getting Chelsea back towards the top of the Premier League table, and Rafa Benitez thinks his compatriot has what it takes to succeed at Stamford Bridge. Benitez coached Alonso during his days at Liverpool, when the Merseysiders achieved the famous âmiracle of Istanbulâ in the 2005 Champions League final, as well as at Real Madrid a few years later. âChelsea is NOT easy, but I think he can do wellâ Rafa Benitez can see Xabi Alonso turning around the Bluesâ fortunes pic.twitter.com/5OorVqHP52 â Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 10, 2026 The post âI think Xabi is very cleverâ â Rafa Benitez on new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso (Video) appeared first on SoccerNews.