Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso conceded that his team fell well below expectations following a disappointing 2-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Despite forging several clear-cut openings, the Blues were repeatedly thwarted by Spurs goalkeeper Antonín Kinský. The game slipped away from the hosts in the second half when an own goal from goalkeeper Mike Penders put Tottenham ahead, followed quickly by a second yellow card for Cole Palmer. Mathys Tel capped off the afternoon with a late second goal to condemn Chelsea to defeat.

Reflecting on a display that paled in comparison to recent victories over Bournemouth and Everton, Alonso insisted that responsibility lies across the entire squad.

“We all take the blame for the result and for the performance,” Alonso stated post-match. “Today we were not at our best. I felt that in the second half, the game was even and could have gone either way. Once we conceded that first goal, and then with the red card, it was difficult.”

“In the second half, it was tight, with some half-chances for them and half-chances for us. It was about taking a moment, and once we conceded the first goal, it conceded everything,” he added. “Then, when we wanted to have a reaction, we got the red card. Then it went the other way.”

The Spaniard emphasized that his side must use the setback as a learning opportunity moving forward: “We can do better. It’s one to reflect on after this big game against a good opponent. And as for the performance, it’s one we must improve.”

Manchester United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth. Speaking to the British media after the match, Manchester United Coach, Michael Carrick said: “It was a tough day. The lads all wanted to play well, but they found it difficult today. (yesterday Sunday evening)

“There were some nerves, some anxiety and a bit of hesitation. That made it a very difficult game. Conceding twice before half-time put us in a difficult position, so the next goal was always going to be hugely important. I could feel that the fans wanted to get behind us. Even at half-time, I could hear the noise from the stands and sense their desire to drive us forward. I spoke to the players about that at the break as well.

If we had scored at that point, it would have changed the whole complexion of the game, but we couldn’t. The third goal we conceded effectively put the game beyond us. I have mixed emotions. You can see the lads trying to do the right things, and you can also feel the emotion in the stadium. Standing on the touchline, I really did have very mixed feelings.”

On the goals conceded:
Carrick said: “When Heaven was penalised for that challenge, he only got the ball and didn’t catch anyone, but the referee still awarded them a free-kick. That said, we should have defended the free-kick better. Yoro slipped, and he’s very disappointed about it. He’s still learning and made a mistake today. It won’t affect him—he’s a top player. For the third goal, the wind affected the flight of the ball, and it was also a great finish.”

On the decision to leave Bruno: Fernandes on the bench
Carrick said: “He’s fit and available to play, but we decided to go with today’s lineup. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the result we wanted, which is disappointing for everyone. We wanted to get forward and create more chances. There were areas where we could have done better, but overall, we clearly didn’t do enough.”

Paris St-Germain’s Ligue 1 match against Lyon has been pushed back 24 hours to Monday as the French capital prepares for another weekend of protests.

The fixture at the Parc des Princes in Paris had been scheduled to kick off at 19:45 GMT on Sunday but will instead take place at 20:30 on Monday.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) announced the postponement in a statement on Friday after French police prohibited the fixture from taking place on its original date.

French authorities are preparing a major security operation for demonstrations planned for Saturday.

Around 550,000 people took part in demonstrations last Saturday to protest rising fuel prices, education standards and the cost of living, which have escalated after weeks of student protests.

Marches took place in several major French cities, including Paris, backed by unions and student groups, and were marred by some incidents of violence, looting and destruction.

The security challenge is further complicated by Sunday’s NFL match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France, an event expected to require a significant police deployment.

The game will be played in Saint-Denis, about 10km from Place de la Bastille, where the protests are expected to begin.

The disruptions have already affected France’s domestic football schedule with Toulouse’s Ligue 1 home game against Troyes moved from Saturday to Sunday at the request of authorities.

Reigning French and European champions PSG are second in the standings after seven matches, while Lyon lead the table on 14 points, ahead of the holders on goal difference.

The match will also now be played on the same day as the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.

Injured PSG pair Ousmane Dembele, the 2025 winner, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are among the contenders for the award.