data-mm-id=”_tpb0j1r7x”>The Los Angeles Chargers, as they are prone to do, have found themselves in a bind of their own creation. They were a playoff team in 2018, but fell apart in 2019 and went 5-11. Their star running back missed a chunk of the season while holding out. Once the regular season mercifully ended, the team announced they wouldn't be bringing back Philip Rivers, the face of the Chargers for 15 years. To top it off, all this happened on the eve of the opening of their new stadium. Los Angeles had an extremely tough time selling tickets last season, and everyone noticed. "Home" games were regularly dominated by opposing fans. And that was in their temporary digs at Dignity Health Sports Park, with a capacity of 27,000. Their new SoFi Stadium will have a capacity of just over 70,000. If they couldn't get many of their fans to buy tickets last year, how are they expecting to sell out over twice the amount of seats coming off a bad season and without their beloved franchise quarterback?Only one man is capable of such a Herculean task. His name is Tom Brady. Austin Ekeler, just about the only positive to come out of last season, is already on board. He went on NFL Total Access on Tuesday night to say that Brady would help fill a leadership hole that now exists within the organization after the departure of Rivers and Russell Okung, who was traded to Carolina in exchange for Trai Turner. Football-wise, there are better destinations for Brady. But he did just start a production company out in LA, and he is a California boy at heart. As he moves closer to his post-playing career, moving to Los Angeles would be a step towards achieving the lofty goals he surely has planned off the football field. The Chargers better hope that's enough, because he's the only solution to the problem they face: a complete and utter lack of interest in their organization that will result in many an empty seat in 2020. Bringing Brady in wouldn't right all of the wrongs that the Spanos family has committed over the years in the eyes of their fanbase, but he's certainly the most exciting option for any Chargers fan. But Brady would put butts in seats, plain and simple. There are a lot of Northeastern transplants in Los Angeles, and Brady is one of the few names in sports that every single person knows, from the most diehard of football fans to the most indifferent. Sure, potential ticket-buyers may be fans of Brady rather than the Chargers. But that's a better outcome than 10,000 home fans, 40,000 away fans, and 20,000 empty seats. Los Angeles needs to start off their first season in their new stadium with a bang. This is the only way to do it.
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Personally, no matter what happens I will be here next season, Guardiola said to Sky Sports. If the club don t sack me that can happen I will stay here 100 per cent, more than ever.
Firstly, because I want to stay more than the contract [I have] now. It s something special, I want to stay, I want to help the club, if it is possible, to maintain this level as much as possible.
Why should I leave when I said a month ago that I love this club and I like to be here. We spoke with the players and for the next three months here we are going to focus on what we have to do and then we will have to see the sentence.
Those are the words of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola who has said that, despite the club s impending two season ban from Europe, he does no…
If Manchester United s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday highlighted one of their biggest concerns, the contest also put a spotlight on a potential fix in the form of the visitors star man.
So plentiful are their issues that one could argue the starting XI against Villa requires as many as six upgrades to bring them even close to Liverpool s standard.
But one area in which they are woefully short is midfield. Paul Pogba aside, not one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s current options would get near the line-up of Jurgen Klopp s Reds or Manchester City and, given his form this year, it would be difficult even to make a case for the Frenchman.
The emergence of an apparent interest in Leicester City s James Maddison makes sense and appears to indicate a desire to final…
Market: Monaco win
Odds: 8/11 @
Hoping to extend on their domestic romp this weekend, Monaco will welcome Reims to the Stade Louis-II on Saturday afternoon.
Starting with the hosts, extending on their Coupe de France adventure last weekend as they edged past Lens, the mood in Monaco’s camp should be at a red-hot high. Although Adi Hutter’s side might have eventually fallen short in their bid to punch a European return, the Monegasques appear to be sat in pole position to clinch a Champions League ticket. Signing off 2023 with another eye-catching display as they secured a 2-1 victory away at Toulouse, the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss will be calling on his squad to make another statement here. Now winning four of their previous five domestic appearances a…
France got the better of South Africa in a seven-goal thriller as Andre-Pierre Gignac s hat-trick inspired Les Bleus to a 4-3 victory at the Tokyo Olympics.
Having been thrashed 4-1 by Mexico in their opening game of Group A, France hit back to keep their chances of progression alive, though they had to do so the hard way in Saitama.
Indeed, South Africa led on three occasions during a remarkable second half, yet it was Les Bleus who took the points.
Liberato Cacace s stunner was not enough to propel New Zealand to victory against Honduras in Group B, while reigning champions Brazil could only draw 0-0 with the Ivory Coast and Spain overcame Australia thanks to Mikel Oyarzabal s late winner.
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Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri insists Cristiano Ronaldo is serene despite a warrant for his DNA amid the ongoing investigation into a rape allegation.
American Kathryn Mayorga has accused Ronaldo of sexually assaulting her in a hotel in Las Vegas in 2009, something the Portugal captain has strenuously refuted.
German publication Der Spiegel first reported the claims, which also included the suggestion Ronaldo paid Ms Mayorga $375,000 in 2010 as part of a privacy agreement, preventing her from going public with the allegations. Ms Mayorga filed a lawsuit in an attempt to quash that agreement, while Las Vegas police have re-opened an investigation.
Ronaldo s lawyer Peter Christiansen confirmed the payment was made to Ms Mayorga, but said some documents presen…
Fulham could push a deadline-day loan bid through for Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
The Albania striker was among the Chelsea substitutes as Mauricio Pochettino’s side were beaten 4-1 at Liverpool on Wednesday.
Broja did not get on the pitch and Fulham boss Marco Silva is keen to bolster his forward options with Raul Jimenez’s hamstring injury leaving them light in attack.
Aston Villa, West Ham and Wolves have also been linked with Broja this month, but Fulham now appear Broja’s most likely destination should he leave Stamford Bridge for now.
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has been linked with a move to Tottenham throughout January, but Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou suggested on Tuesday it would be “unlikely” to see any more signings.
Thomas Tuchel is refusing to pretend nothing is happening as Chelsea suffer a run of poor form, including some average performances.
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Chelsea s last two results have been particularly disappointing, losing 3-2 to West Ham and drawing 3-3 with Zenit in the Champions League despite being ahead in both matches.
Tuchel is keen to address the issues that have caused his side s slump head-on, but revealed that he is not worried about getting back on track.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic maintained his scoring run with a goal in each half to help Milan earn a 3-1 win over 10-man Napoli that takes his side back to the top of Serie A.
Sassuolo moved to the summit earlier on Sunday with a 2-0 win at Hellas Verona but Milan responded with an Ibrahimovic-inspired victory at Stadio San Paolo to go two points clear.
The veteran striker headed in from 14 yards with 20 minutes played to score for the eighth league game running before kneeing in an unorthodox second after 54 minutes, but he worryingly limped off late on with a thigh injury.
Dries Mertens had responded for Napoli only for Tiemoue Bakayoko to be sent off 165 seconds later and Milan, without head coach Stefano Pioli and a number of other backroom staff members due to corona…
Ernesto Valverde has described Pedro as an historic Barcelona player after the Chelsea winger claimed he would like to return to Camp Nou.
Pedro told Ser Catalunya this week that he would love to go back to the club where he won 20 major trophies, including five LaLiga titles and three Champions Leagues, between 2008 and 2015.
The 32-year-old has only played four times in the Premier League under Frank Lampard this season and, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, it has been suggested the Spain international could be allowed to leave next month.
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After thrashing Crystal Palace 7-0 on December 19, Liverpool were six points clear at the Premier League summit.
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The reigning champions had seemingly found top gear again.
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For a fourth successive outing in the league they had failed to score, while the shock result sees them stuck in fourth position in the table, six points behind leaders Manchester United.
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