SUNDERLAND, United Kingdom // Jose Mourinho admitted Chelsea suffered from a Uefa Champions League hangover as they were forced to settle for a point at Sunderland.
The Premier League leaders stretched their advantage at the top to seven points thanks to an uncompromising 0-0 draw at the Stadium of light, a 20th game unbeaten to start the season.
Read more: Sunderland stand firm against the Chelsea threat, writes Jonathan Wilson
Mourinho sent out an unchanged line-up less than four days after the 5-0 romp at German side Schalke guaranteed their place in the knockout stages of European football's top club competition.
But the Chelsea manager saw his side fade visibly in the final quarter of their first of eight games in a hectic 34-day period leading into 2015 that will play a big part in shaping the destiny of their season.
He admitted Sunderland’s greater preparation time had played a significant role in the London club failing to add to their nine-match winning streak on Wearside.
“Sunderland’s players will have watched our game on Tuesday at their homes, and they will have gone to bed at 11pm,” said Mourinho.
“We arrived at home from our game at 5am on Wednesday, and that’s something I don’t forget, so for this reason I praise my guys. They deserve their Christmas party, that’s for sure.
“Sunderland had a full clear week to prepare for this match, and to develop a strategy against us. Some people might like to criticise defensive teams, but I don’t, because they did it very well against us and achieved their goal of a clean sheet.
“We’re not happy with a point, but we have to be mature enough to realise that in this league, every match is difficult.
“I have no negative words for my players, because they tried everything they could to win the game, and in the end it was a fair result.
“There’s no time to be complaining, because we move on to another match on Wednesday where we’ll try to get the points.”
Chelsea’s lead will be back down to at least six points when they return to action at home to Tottenham, due to second-place Southampton hosting third-place Manchester City on Sunday.
Mourinho is forced into at least one change, as the Blues’ 12-goal top scorer Diego Costa will miss the visit by Spurs through suspension after earning a fifth booking for catching defender Wes Brown with a flailing arm in the second-half.
The Chelsea manager refuted suggestions the Spaniard was fortunate to avoid a red card after escaping censure for a studs-up first-half lunge at Sunderland skipper John O’Shea.
Mourinho added: “I’ll play Loic Remy or Didier Drogba instead, they have an opportunity to play on Wednesday as Costa is suspended. We don’t cry about injuries and suspensions, and missing out will mean Costa is fresh to face Newcastle next weekend.”
Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet paid tribute to his side, who had late chances to win through substitute Jozy Altidore and ex-England midfielder Adam Johnson.
Sunderland climbed three points clear of the relegation zone, thanks to an eighth draw of the season, their fourth in a row unbeaten.
They host Manchester City on Wednesday, and the former Chelsea midfielder said: “We have to be pleased with a point. In terms of our display it was the best for a while. You can talk as long as you like, but it’s what happens out on the pitch that matters.
“We put in a great defensive display and Chelsea didn’t have an easy chance all game, which is testament to the way we played and how well we defended.”
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The biog
Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
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Roll of honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles
Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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