Soccer Dec 23, 2021
"You can see the names of these teams that have reached the semifinals, so every side wants to try to lift this trophy," Tottenham manager Antonio Conte said.
Soccer Aug 13, 2021
'Reborn' Romelu Lukaku returns to Chelsea at peak of his powers
The Belgian hit his peak during two years at Inter Milan after leaving Manchester United, and was central to the Italian club’s first Serie A title in 11 years last season.
Soccer | PREMIER REPORT May 18, 2018
Antonio Conte looks to give Chelsea a trophy on way out
by Christopher Davies
If the Chelsea players want to give Antonio Conte a farewell present of winning the F.A. Cup final against Manchester United on Saturday, they will have to raise their game considerably from the shambolic, error-ridden performance in the 3-0 defeat by Newcastle United last ...
Soccer | PREMIER REPORT Jan 26, 2018
Clock ticking on Conte's time with Chelsea
by Christopher Davies
"Antonio Conte has left his post as head coach of Chelsea. The club would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him well for the future." No, not a Japan Times exclusive, but a paragraph that will be coming your way in the ...
Soccer | PREMIER REPORT Nov 3, 2017
Mourinho's strategy not yielding desired results
by Christopher Davies
Jose Mourinho returns to Chelsea on Sunday and it is the safest of bets that Saturday's press conference will fire the first bullets ahead of a match neither side can afford to lose. Antonio Conte will inevitably be in Mourinho's sights, but to the ...
Soccer | PREMIER REPORT Aug 11, 2017
Manchester City primed to capture Premier League title
by Christopher Davies
Antonio Conte is not happy. Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho are not happy. Arsene Wenger is reasonably happy and so is Mauricio Pochettino. The happiest of all the Premier League's heavyweight managers is Pep Guardiola. The 2017-18 season starts with differing moods among the men ...
Soccer | PREMIER REPORT Feb 3, 2017
Victory over Arsenal virtually guarantees Chelsea title
by Christopher Davies
If Chelsea beats Arsenal on Saturday, the fat lady can begin gargling. The Blues would be 12 points ahead of Arsenal with 14 games remaining and there is no evidence that Chelsea is going to falter. In the 24-year history of the Premier League only ...
Soccer | PREMIER REPORT Dec 2, 2016
Guardiola, Conte set to match wits in tactical battle
by Christopher Davies
Pep Guardiola kept up with the progress of a penalty shootout with a difference this week. It was in the World Chess Championship between Norway's Magnus Carlsen, the reigning champion, and Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin. Their best-of-12 match ended in a dead-heat so the title ...
Soccer Nov 6, 2016
Chelsea crushed Everton 5-0 on Saturday to storm to the top of the Premier League with a vintage display after Manchester City was held 1-1 at home by a last-minute goal from promoted Middlesbrough. It was the first time City had been knocked off the ...
Soccer | PREMIER REPORT Oct 28, 2016
Premier League teams remain behind rest of Europe
by Christopher Davies
The Premier League is awash with money. Middle-class clubs can afford to pay fees of £30 million. Never has the top flight been so prosperous. It also has the best collection of coaches in its history with Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Antonio Conte, ...
Soccer Oct 24, 2016
Pep Guardiola may have thought it a bad day when he suffered a fifth match without a win on Sunday but it was nothing compared to the nightmare that befell his old managerial rival Jose Mourinho on an extraordinary afternoon of Premier League action. Guardiola's ...
Soccer | PREMIER REPORT Aug 26, 2016
Strong managerial ranks highlight start of new season
by Christopher Davies
This is the season the Premier League has been waiting for since its inception in 1992. It boasts the most glittering array of Hollywood managers with expensively assembled supporting casts and tempting fate as it may be, it is virtually impossible not to visualize a ...