Rafa Benitez claimed yesterday that a number of his Chelsea players had given him their private support after his broadside this week against the club's supporters and board, as the interim manager tried to calm another explosive few days at Chelsea.

It has been a long shadow that the Arsenal created by Arsene Wenger have thrown across their neighbours Tottenham Hotspur for the 16 years the Frenchman has been in charge.

A 90th-minute strike by Mousa Dembele yesterday took Tottenham Hotspur through to the last 16 of the Europa League.

The man who brought Ryan Nelsen to Toronto FC says his managerial potential was obvious more than a decade ago and he has the potential to coach "at the highest levels in the sport".

The scale of sport's latest disaster is so immense it is hard to take in.

"This is", suggested Friedhelm Althans, the chief investigator of the Bochum police in Germany, "the tip of the iceberg".

Harry Redknapp insisted yesterday that no one at Queens Park Rangers told Peter Odemwingie to make his now notorious trip south from the west midlands to Loftus Road on Thursday night in an ill-fated attempt to see through a move to the west London club.

Lionel Messi hit four and Cristiano Ronaldo a hat-trick as Barcelona and Real Madrid warmed up for their Spanish Cup semifinal on Thursday with respective 5-1 and 4-0 victories.

Mauricio Pochettino's first match as manager of English Premier League soccer club Southampton ended in a goalless draw at home to Everton yesterday.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert is still no clearer on the likely availability of captain Ryan Nelsen for upcoming Oceania World Cup qualifiers against New Caledonia.

In news that will send shivers down All Whites fans, speculation is mounting that Ryan Nelsen is about to retire from football and be unveiled as Toronto FC coach.

Arsenal tally third scoreless match in a row as Villa climbs out of relegation zone.

Mourinho and Ronaldo have set records at Real Madrid but fail to gain complete respect.