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Boy, 13, suddenly dies at school as site closed & cops launch probe into tragedy
A 13-YEAR-OLD boy has suddenly died at school – as police launch an urgent investigation.
Cops were called to Melin Primary School in Neath, which has since been closed.
The death is not being treated as suspicious and the boy’s next of kin have been informed.
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What do Man Utd need to guarantee qualification to the Europa League last 16?
MANCHESTER UNITED are on the brink of finalising their place in the next stage of the Europa League.
United secured a late 2-1 win over Rangers last week and currently sit fourth on 15 points in the league phase of the competition.
The win against Rangers was significant as it ensured the Old Trafford club gained breathing space between them ninth-placed Galatasaray.
Although not enough to confirm straight qualification, their trip to Romanian giants FCSB on Thursday puts fate in Ruben Amorim’s side’s hands.
FCSB are also inside the top eight with a host of teams vying for a one of the eight seeded spots, including sixth-place Tottenham and the aforementioned Rangers in 13th.
What do Man Utd need to guarantee qualification to the Europa League last 16?
Simply put, a win would see the Red Devils progress into the last 16 as one of the four best sides.
United are already guaranteed at least a place in the play-offs with their current point tally.
But victory would allow them the chance to finish second, third or fourth – as long as results in either Roma’s clash with Frankfurt and Athletic Club vs Viktoria Plzen go their way.
Despite being one of the three unbeaten sides in the competition, the Reds can’t catch table toppers Lazio.
According to Opta’s supercomputer – which simulates the 2024-25 Europa League phase 50,000 times to work out team’s Europa League knockout likelihood – United have an 89.8 per cent chance of a top-eight finish.
How to watch FCSB vs Man Utd
- United’s final league phase clash against FCSB will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
- Fans will also have the option to stream all entire action on discovery+ which is available to download via any compatible mobile device or tablet.
- Kick-off for the huge match – and all other Europa League games – is scheduled to get underway at 8pm GMT on Thursday, January 30.
- Alternatively, tune in to SunSport’s comprehensive live blog for all the action as it happens.
Cole Palmer is in same bracket as Chelsea icon – but my celebration is better than his, says Blues hero David Luiz
DAVID LUIZ did not bat an eyelid when Enzo Maresca poured cold water on Chelsea’s title hopes.
The Brazilian defender claimed club legend and Mr Ego Jose Mourinho would be saying exactly the same if he were in the Stamford Bridge dugout right now.
But Luiz claims if anyone is to ignite a title challenge for the Blues next season, it will be “world class” Cole ‘Cold’ Palmer.
Chelsea were second in the Premier League and just two points shy of pace-setters Liverpool when the boss played the safety card in mid-December.
Yet his side has foundered since, winning only ONE of their last seven games and slipping to sixth.
Some thought the Italian’s assessment smacked of a loser’s mentality and has contributed to their dip.
But Luiz, who won both the Champions League and Premier League in West London, told SunSport: “I don’t think it was a lack of ambition.
“Enzo’s there every single day. He knows more than everybody Chelsea’s level. We cannot be here pointing at him and judging what he has to say.
“He is just trying to be honest but, inside his head, there’s a lot of ambition and he wants to win titles.
“It’s just that it’s not the right moment. Of course, Mourinho never said anything like that but he’d say the same at the moment.
“Maresca is doing a great job, the team is starting to have a great philosophy to play football again.
“And if they continue this way, soon Chelsea is going to come back and start to fight for titles again — next season they will challenge with Liverpool, City, Arsenal.
“Chelsea chose the right young players with a lot of talent with great quality.”
Samba star Luiz, 37, who now plays for Fortaleza in his homeland, made no mystery of how highly he rates Palmer.
He compared him to Blues legend and former team-mate Eden Hazard and tipped the England star to be the driving force behind Chelsea’s return to glory.
Luiz, who also played for Arsenal, said: “Cole, like Eden, is on another level, he’s a world-class player.
“He took a tough decision to leave Man City and it was the right one for him.
“Everybody can now see the amazing player that he is. I’m enjoying seeing him play.
“He’s intelligent and intelligent players are difficult to defend.
“He’d have played in my 2012 and 2017 teams — for world-class players there’s always a place.”
But Luiz joked that Palmer’s shoulder- rubbing ‘cold’ celebration is no match for his own tongue-out celebration.
He said: “Mine was better because you didn’t see it that much, while he’s scoring every single week!
“In my time, Chelsea fans had to wait for up to ten or 20 games . . . so I go for mine!”
Luiz’s star-studded Chelsea teams used to gun for glory every single season — but now the club’s main aim is to finish in the top four while looking to get their hands on the low-rent Conference League.
Luiz said: “It’s a different period. Chelsea are in transition now while in my time the club was stabilised in every department and everything was in the right position, so it was easy to fight for the titles.
“Each time a player arrived he was able to do everything in the short period and was ready to help the team.
“Now it’s a totally different moment and it’s never easy when you change everything and restart a club.
“There’s been a big change in Chelsea. When you change Roman Abramovich for another president, the ambitions change.
“But the new owners are just trying to put everything in the right way, the club is heading in the right direction and, for sure, Chelsea will come back.”
The ex-Paris Saint-Germain star has credited fellow South Americans Moises Caicedo, 23, and 24-year-old Enzo Fernandez for going from dead-men walking to finally living up to their multi-million price tags.
He said: “I love a lot of players at Chelsea but in particular Caicedo. He has some amazing qualities, he’s powerful.
“He didn’t start well but he had the personality to keep going, keep fighting and now he’s started to show his class.
“Enzo is another top player, a world-class one. But sometimes when collective results are good, then everybody judges individual performances in a different way.
“Enzo is fantastic and at Chelsea he has many examples to follow to continue to improve.”
Luiz also leapt to the defence of Robert Sanchez and Nicolas Jackson, with the calamity pair enraging the Stamford Bridge faithful every now and then.
He said: “In every club around the world always supporters are not going to be happy with two or three players. This is normal.
“But I think Jackson and Sanchez are amazing players — and they will prove that to Chelsea fans and give good things soon.
“Fans deserve amazing players who play well and I hope they can both repay their faith.
“The moment that you sign for Chelsea, you already have the potential to be a great Premier League player.”
Desperate search for two students, 14 and 15, who disappeared near King’s Cross on school trip to UK
COPS have launched a desperate search for two students who disappeared near King’s Cross on a school trip to the UK.
Douae, 14, and Houda, 15, were last seen in Tavistock Place, London.
The two girls are on a student visit from Morocco.
The force released images of the pair sat next to each other on a coach.
They both have brown hair and dark features.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Police are looking to locate Douae, 14 and Houda, 15 as we have concerns for their welfare.
“They were last seen at 20:30hrs in Tavistock Place, WC1H while on a student visit from Morocco.
“If you have any information please contact police quoting the reference 01/7101825/25.”
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