Leeds are serious about the song Willy Gnonto, Chelsea’s 760m-published man, and Frank Lampard isn’t afraid of being fired.
Here are the headlines for today’s English football news.
TALK OF THE DAY: Urging fans to change offensive lyrics
Leeds is calling on its supporters to change the song’s lyrics to a tribute song to Willy Gnonto, according to the Daily Mail. The reason is that it refers to a racial stereotype.
The 19-year-old Italian scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw with West Ham earlier this week. To the tune of “La Bamba” the audience sang: “Willy Gononto, Willy Gononto, eat spaghetti, drink moretti, fill him up huge”.
Which translates to him eating spaghetti, drinking Italian beer and his nether regions big. The first time the words were heard from the stands, during Gnonto’s debut against Bournemouth in November, the club posted an alternate final line on social media that read: He plays for United..
However, the original version seems to have stuck with many. An issue that is said to be taken seriously by the Leeds management and will be addressed at the next board meeting.
It is the second time this season that a similar situation has arisen. Writing from Man United, Diallo, on loan from Sunderland, last month asked fans to change the lyrics to his own song: “Hearing you sing my name is great, but let’s show respect.”
In 2017, Romelu Lukaku also called on Manchester United supporters to stop singing about his genitals.
Opinion of the day: Chelsea player ‘problem’
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said Marc Cucurella was Chelsea’s weak link in their losing encounter with Manchester City on Thursday night.
The left-back is criticized, among other things, for being involved in the goal at the back. Jamie Carragher believes the player “cannot and does not want to defend”.
It’s a great ball (from Jack Grealish). But Cucurella just stops and gets easier to put on, says the former Liverpool defender on Sky.
Colleague Hasselbaink claims that Cucurella is a hard worker.
– But he was the weak link, adds the Dutchman.
– I think Chelsea played well but Cucurella was the weakest link and Man City noticed that. its a problem. He came from Brighton and didn’t get off to the best start and today it shows.
Cucurella’s £60 million (about SEK 760 million) price tag hardly makes things any better.
Status of the day: Chelsea’s grim injury list
After the loss meeting with Manchester City on Thursday night, ten players were included on Chelsea’s injury list. Edouard Mendy, Rhys James, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Armando Bruja, Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic have all been influenced.
– You always have to take responsibility, but you hope people see the whole context and see where we are and what we have to go through, says Graham Potter in his press conference.
Quote of the day: Lampard ‘not superman’
– I must try to influence everything I can. When you stepped in, we did a strategic review to improve across the board. I had to be Superman to succeed in dominating across the board, says Frank Lampard whose job was on the line after Everton lost 4-1 to Brighton.
The coach adds that he is a “big boy” who understands how the industry works. Wayne Rooney, Sean Dyche and Roberto Martinez mentioned three names among the possible replacements.