Eden Hazard can be best player in Europe, says Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri

Eden Hazard can become the greatest player in Europe, according to Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri.

The Belgian is embarking on his seventh season at Stamford Bridge, despite suggesting after this summer's World Cup that he was ready to move on.

The Premier League transfer window closed with Hazard still at Chelsea, although reported suitors Real Madrid can still pursue him until the end of the month.

But Sarri is looking forward to using Hazard - who could make his first start of the season against Arsenal on Saturday - in his new-look Chelsea side, and is excited to see what the 27-year-old can offer.

"We are talking about one of the most important players in Europe," said Sarri. "But, in my opinion, he can improve more.

"He can be the first. It depends on him. The best for technical skill, the best for scoring, but I think it depends only on him. On his mind."

Sarri also insisted he is not concerned about the form of striker Alvaro Morata, who has only scored once in 15 Premier League games this calendar year.

He said: "I am not worried about Morata. Morata is a very good player.

"I think in this moment he needs only to gain confidence. He needs to score. As all strikers in the world, I think

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Posted in: Atletico Madrid,Davis Cup,La Liga,Tim Hardaway Manila for NBA PH 3×3,Wyndham Championship:

Davis Cup: Changes mean death of event - Tomas Berdych

Controversial plans to end the Davis Cup's 37-year-old format will signal the death of the competition, says two-time winner Tomas Berdych.

The 25-year £2.15bn plan approved at the International Tennis Federation AGM on Thursday would turn the Davis Cup into a season-ending 18-team event.

But Czech Berdych, tweeting with the hashtag #ripdaviscup, said the history of the competition "will all be gone".

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt called the decision a "disgrace".

"I am very proud to be a winner of the competition that was here for over 100 years," wrote 32-year-old Berdych, who was part of the Czech Republic team that won the Davis Cup in 2012 and 2013.

The Davis Cup, which was founded in 1900, has been played in the current format since 1981.

• 'A sad day for tennis' - Davis Cup changes approved

Sixteen nations compete in the World Group in knockout ties, while the remaining countries are divided into three regional zones.

It is played in February, April and September and November, with each World Group tie played over three days in a best-of-five tie of five-set matches.

Under the new format, which will start in 2019, 18 nations will compete in a week-long, round‑robin tournament.

The countries will be split into six groups with each group fixture comprising two singles and one doubles match, all over three sets.

"Sometimes it's more than a game, more than money," said 37-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion Hewitt, who won the competition with Australia in 1999 and 2003.

"Most of my biggest highs and toughest losses came in five-set epic Davis Cup matches in front of screaming home or away fans.

"For the International Tennis Federation to take that away from the next generation of future stars is a disgrace."

An increasing number of top players have skipped matches in recent years to ease their schedule, and both world number one Rafael Nadal and 13-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic have backed reforms.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Britain's governing body, opposed the proposals, saying it was concerned about scheduling, financing and the division between member nations.

Tennis Australia, which from 2020 will host a revamped World Team Cup organised by the ATP in the first week of January, and the German Tennis Federation (DTB) also voted against the plans.

"It will kill the Davis Cup," said DTB vice-president Dirk Hordorff.

"You cannot make an event which is more or less an exhibition, after the Masters in November, and expect the players to come.

"The Davis Cup is the crown jewel of the ITF, and if you change something then you have to have a clear concept and a clear contract, but even board members, regional federations and big nations asked questions and they don't get the answers."

The plan is funded by an investment group led by Barcelona and former Spain footballer Gerard Pique.

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Posted in: Barca,Davis Cup,Luka Modric,Real Madrid,Tim Hardaway Manila for NBA PH 3×3,Wyndham Championship:

Wyndham Championship: Brandt Snedeker cards 10th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history

Brandt Snedeker shot the 10th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history with an 11-under-par 59 in the opening round of the Wyndham Championship.

The American, 37, converted a 20ft birdie putt on the final hole for the PGA Tour's first 59 in 2018.

The putt sealed his 10th birdie of the day on a card also featuring one bogey and an eagle, secured when his 176-yard approach on the par-four sixth went in.

The score is a new course record at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro.

The world number 88 played his closing nine holes in eight under par. His eagle on the sixth forced organisers to cut a new hole on the green after his ball damaged the cup when it pitched straight in.

Snedeker, an eight-time PGA Tour winner, has not won since the 2016 Farmers Insurance Open, but holds a four-shot lead over compatriots John Oda and Ryan Moore.

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Posted in: Cristiano Ronaldo,Kevin de Bruyne,Luka Modric,Tim Hardaway Manila for NBA PH 3×3,Wyndham Championship:

Fantasy football: Tips for picking your Premier League team

It is the big question facing millions of football fans every weekend: who should be included in the fantasy team for the next round of matches?

We've delved into the stats and the history books to give you some tips on who is likely to perform well - and who might be worth leaving out.

A rare weekend to swerve Man City's attackers?

Manchester City v Huddersfield - a chance for the home side to run riot, right?

Well, perhaps not. Huddersfield might have conceded more goals than two of the relegated teams last season, but they had a strangely stunting effect on the eventual champions.

City scored in 17 of their 18 Premier League home games last term - a total of 47 goals - but they could not do so against the Terriers in May (although they had secured the title by that stage).

Pep Guardiola's side also found their away game against the same opponents a struggle earlier in the season, trailing at half-time before registering an 84th-minute winner.

In total, City had only seven shots on target in 180 minutes against Huddersfield in 2017-18, fewer than against any other side.

Going back a bit further to when Huddersfield were in the Championship in 2016-17, they again frustrated City, this time forcing a replay thanks to a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup at the John Smith's Stadium.

On Sunday, City will have to do without the injured Kevin de Bruyne, meaning picking their attacking players might not be the no-brainer you'd have thought it would be.

• De Bruyne suffers knee injury

Load up on Burnley defenders

For a team renowned for their solidity at the back last season (the sixth-best defensive record in the division with 39 goals conceded, one more than Liverpool and Chelsea and 12 fewer than Arsenal), it is surprising that Burnley have kept only one clean sheet in their past 10 home league games.

That might have seen a move away from having the likes of Ben Mee and James Tarkowski in your fantasy teams, but this could be a good week to get them back in.

Since Joe Hart's arrival, the Clarets have not conceded a goal - three shutouts in a row totalling 300 minutes of playing time - and they are coming up against a side who just cannot score on their travels.

In fact, Watford have not scored in any of their seven away league games since Javi Gracia took over as manager, the joint longest wait a new Premier League boss has had for his side to score on the road (equal with Billy Davies and Mick McCarthy).

Add in the fact that Watford have not won any of their past 10 away games against Burnley - failing to score in 349 minutes of action at Turf Moor - and the signs look good for Sean Dyche's back four and keeper to claim plenty of points.

Milner the creator

James Milner is noted for his understated persona, the Liverpool midfielder rarely hitting the headlines.

But the former England international did make his mark in the Champions League last season with one particular stat.

He provided eight assists - more than Cristiano Ronaldo, more than Lionel Messi. More, in fact, than anyone else in the competition, and all from a midfield role which often means he finds himself in deeper positions than many of Europe's premier chance creators.

Was that statistic a one-off? Quite possibly not, if the opening day of the Premier League season was anything to go by.

The 32-year-old was again in fine creative form. His expected assists tally - the number of assists he should have had if the chances he created had been converted - was 1.15 in the 4-0 win over West Ham. No other player in the top flight managed more than 1.00.

Yes to Spurs but no to Kane?

Everyone knows Harry Kane has never scored a Premier League goal in August - a run of 14 games, 988 minutes and 46 shots that surely has to end sooner rather than later.

His previously outstanding record in London derbies has also suffered of late - after a sequence of 17 goals in 16 matches against other clubs from the capital, he has scored a relatively paltry five in his past 13.

Whether you back Kane to break his August duck or not in Saturday's game against Fulham, Spurs players certainly look to be a sensible inclusion in your fantasy team this week.

Put simply, Spurs always beat promoted clubs at home. They have done exactly that on the past 18 occasions they have met a new top-flight team.

So if you want to look for non-Kane options, then perhaps Hugo Lloris would be your best bet.

Tottenham have conceded only once in their past nine games against promoted teams and seven in that longer sequence of 18 games.

Added to that, Fulham failed to find the net in their opening game against Crystal Palace, with Match of the Day pundit Ian Wright saying their attacking play needed to be "a lot quicker" at Premier League level.

Newcastle's Ritch vein of form

Got any Cardiff players in your squad? Might be time to take them out sharpish.

The Bluebirds play Newcastle this weekend - and have lost their past 10 meetings with the Magpies.

In fact, Newcastle are on their longest winning run in the league against one opponent, and manager Rafael Benitez has never lost to Saturday's counterpart Neil Warnock.

All that points to the inclusion of a Newcastle player or two in your fantasy line-up. But who?

Winger Matt Ritchie could be a good shout - he's had a hand in three goals in his past two league games against Cardiff, while Christian Atsu has netted in his previous two matches against them.

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Posted in: Atletico Madrid,Barca,Cristiano Ronaldo,Fantasy football,Kevin de Bruyne,Real Madrid,Tim Hardaway Manila for NBA PH 3×3

Tim Hardaway, Brian Scalabrine to visit Manila for NBA PH 3×3

Brian Scalabrine #24 of the Chicago Bulls points to a teammate in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics on January 13, 2012 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

NBA great Tim Hardaway and former NBA forward Brian Scalabrine are headed to Manila to grace the 2018 NBA 3X Philippines festivities from August 25-26.

It’s has been a tradition for the league to bring NBA players to the annual 3-on-3 tournament event, which is now in its eighth year in the country.

The culmination of the 3×3 tournament featuring men’s and women’s teams will be held at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Hardaway, a five-time NBA All-Star who is also an assistant for the Detroit Pistons, is looking forward to his return to the hoops-crazy Philippines.

“It’s a great feeling to return to the Philippines and get reacquainted with the passionate Filipino fan base,” said Hardaway. “NBA 3X celebrates the vibrant culture of basketball, which will be in full display for fans to experience throughout the weekend festivities.”

Scalabrine, meanwhile, is ready to experience the Filipinos’ love for the game for the first time.

“Traveling to the Philippines for the first time is an exciting opportunity to experience how the game is played on this side of the world,” said Scalabrine. “As a basketball fan and analyst, I’m looking forward to interacting with the fans and sharing my knowledge with the talented athletes at the NBA 3X event.”

The Detroit Pistons Flight crew will also pay the Filipino fans a visit.

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Posted in: Tim Hardaway Manila for NBA PH 3×3