The striker will go head to head with his former Spain team-mate in the last game of his career with old strike partner David Villa also in opposition

Andres Iniesta has penned an emotional farewell message to long-term international team-mate Fernando Torres, who is playing the final match of his professional career on Friday.

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The 35-year-old, now at Japanese side Sagan Tosu, will come up against a Vissel Kobe team featuring Iniesta and old strike partner David Villa in the final game of an 18-year career which has seen him lift the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League and Europa League.

With only two months between their birthdays, Torres and Iniesta had played together for Spain since youth level, and it was the former who found Cesc Fabregas to play in Iniesta for the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final.

In a letter published in El Mundo, Iniesta wrote: “It’s very strange, I’d say beautifully strange. Here we both are, about to play your last game as a professional.

“I still have some left. Here we are, on the other side of the world. It’s as if life, funny as she is, had brought us all the way to Japan to say goodbye.

“Football brought us together more than 20 years ago, when we were children. Well, you will always be El Nino. And it will never separate us. We met when we had utopian dreams. That goal you scored us at the U16 European Championship with the national team in England.

“I’ll never forget the gesture you made to dedicate that goal to me. I saw it on TV because I had to go home with an injury.”

After making his professional debut for Atletico Madrid in 2001, Torres went on to represent Liverpool, Chelsea, AC Milan and Sagan Tosu, as well as making more than 100 appearances for Spain.

With more than 250 club career goals to his name, he will be hoping to sign off in style in what is a significant match in the J-League season. Sagan Tosu sit 16th, in the relegation play-off position, with Vissel Kobe just one place and two points above them.

Ahead of the match, Iniesta also recalled a gesture made by Torres when the pair were young: the striker wrote “Someday, you and I will win the World Cup together” on a Spain shirt after flopping at the Under-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.

The midfielder continued: “We began away from spotlights and cameras until we came to share thousands of experiences before winning a World Cup for our country.

“When we meet in Spain, I’ll show you that shirt, that treasure that nobody else discovered. Although, it is true, there is no greater treasure than your friendship, Fernando.

“It’s been a wonderful journey. It has taken us to every corner of the world. And look where we are today. In Tosu, you and I playing a football match. One more. But it’s not just another one, it’s your last game, who knew?

“You face David Villa and I. Then you’ll go home. Yours are waiting for you, although you have to know that the ball will be sadder today than yesterday.

“Enjoy everything that comes to you now and be happy. But how strange, Fernando. You haven’t left yet and I miss you already.”

The former Blues defender sees issues to be addressed at Stamford Bridge, but has faith in a former team-mate to deliver on expectations

There is no cause for panic at Chelsea just yet, says Ashley Cole, but there are issues for new boss Frank Lampard to address.

A club icon has taken in three competitive outings as a coach back in familiar surroundings.

He is still waiting on a first win, with Premier League and UEFA Super Cup frustration endured so far.

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Results have improved steadily, with a 4-0 defeat at Manchester United followed by a penalty shootout reversal against Liverpool in continental competition and a 1-1 draw at home to Leicester.

Lampard now has a first Premier League point on the board, but had been hoping for more at Stamford Bridge.

Leicester battled bravely to claim a share of the spoils in west London on Sunday, with Cole admitting that the Blues need to find a spark in the final third before serious questions are asked of them.

The former defender, who has announced his retirement at the age of 38, told Sky Sports: “Chelsea’s start was very good. From minute one, they had their game plan to press, to make runs in behind and it worked. Then after that, it was a little bit disappointing.

“We spoke a lot about where the goals are going to come so when you take a 1-0 lead, you need to try and get another one because you don’t feel like you’re going to get enough chances.

“In this game, they had enough chances but they didn’t finish them. That would be the main concern for Frank – are they going to be good enough to take their chances and score more than one per game?

“Chelsea have got the players and everyone expects them to be in the top four or six, but the Premier League has changed. The manager needs time, the players need time and I don’t think everyone should panic yet.”

Chelsea took the lead against the Foxes through Mason Mount, but were pegged back by Wilfried Ndidi.

Cole admits that the Blues struggled to contain their opponents at times, with more expected of them on home soil.

The ex-England international added: “Leicester were a different animal.

“I think [James] Maddison started to get on the ball further up the pitch and start affecting the game. Ndidi was controlling the game from behind, and they just seemed to step up a few gears, and Chelsea didn’t know how to react to that.

“Chelsea should be happy [with a point], but you’re playing at home and you should be winning these games.”

The former Red Devils midfielder has lifted the lid on what life was like working with a prodigious talent after his arrival at Old Trafford

Cristiano Ronaldo never frustrated his team-mates at Manchester United, insists Eric Djemba-Djemba, despite being the complete opposite to David Beckham as he “loved the tricks”.

A Portuguese youngster inherited the fabled No.7 jersey upon his arrival at Old Trafford in the summer of 2003.

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He was asked to follow in some illustrious footsteps, including an England captain who once graced the right flank for the Red Devils.

Ronaldo quickly became much more than a wideman, but to start with he was a direct winger who loved trying to bamboozle opponents with his quick feet.

Djemba-Djemba admits those around him often had no idea what was going to happen, but that was part of the appeal in a player who was always destined to reach the very top of the game.

The former United midfielder told American Gambler: “The players didn’t find Ronaldo frustrating, he was just young.

“If you look at Ronaldo now versus playing 15 years ago, you can see the difference.

“He was young and that was his game. Sometimes it was hard for [Ruud] van Nistelrooy, [Louis] Saha and [Wayne] Rooney because they didn’t know if he would cross the ball, when you’re waiting for the cross and it doesn’t come.

“But they knew that was Cristiano’s game, and they knew that he wouldn’t cross the ball so they waited for the cross, for Ronaldo to dribble past the defender before he would cross.

“He wasn’t like David Beckham, he would take one touch and whip it in. Cristiano loved the tricks!”

So untouchable was Ronaldo at United that even Sir Alex Ferguson rarely had a cross word for him.

“Sometimes Ferguson would tell Ronaldo ‘no’, but I never saw Fergie angry or unhappy at Cristiano,” added Djemba-Djemba.

“For Ferguson to be unhappy was very hard for him; he was like a dad with his kids! He could be unhappy if we were drawing a game or not playing well. He was like everyone, you can be unhappy because you’re not playing well.

“He never had a go at me; he was like my dad! He was a dad for Cristiano, John O’Shea, [Darren] Fletcher, [David] Bellion, even Rio Ferdinand!”

Ronaldo has gone on become a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, with a memorable spell with United following by a record-breaking one at Real Madrid and a current stint at Juventus.

Interest in him has built to the point that he is now one of the most recognisable personalities on the planet, but Djemba-Djemba claims to know the real CR7.

He added: “People can watch Ronaldo on the television, but they don’t know the real Cristiano.

“Cristiano is a man, who had a difficult time as a kid in football. People see him on the television and think he is arrogant or takes the piss out of people, but Cristiano is an emotional man.

“You need to talk to him to see who he really is. My mum passed away and he said Eric if you need me, you can call me, you can visit me, don’t worry I am here for you.

“Every day when we were together at United, we drove to training together. Sometimes we would drive in my car; sometimes we would drive in his car. After training we went to eat at Nandos in Manchester; he helped me discover Nandos!

“When we went to away games, we were roommates. He was my best friend. We were together every single day for training; sometimes I would go to his house to eat as his house as his mother was there with him when Cristiano was young. Sometimes he would come to my house to eat, as I was living alone in Rio Ferdinand’s old house!”

Gabriel Jesus thought he had extended City’s league winning run to 16 games, only to see his last-gasp goal ruled out for a handball

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino admits he is still adapting to the use of VAR in football despite seeing the technology come to his side’s rescue once again to grab a draw against Manchester City. 

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Pochettino’s men faced a daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium to kick off their Premier League campaign, and unsurprisingly found it difficult to keep pace with the reigning champions. 

Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero both scored to put City up twice over the course of the 90 minutes, although on each occasion Spurs found a way back. 

Erik Lamela hit from range to cancel out Sterling’s early effort in the first half, before a header from substitute Lucas Moura tied the game at 2-2. 

But all of Spurs’ exertions could have counted for nothing were it not for VAR, in use for the first time in England’s top flight. 

Deep into injury time City thought they had grabbed victory through Gabriel Jesus’ goal, only for play to be brought back for a handball in the area during the build-up to the strike. 

The incident was uncannily akin to Tottenham’s incredible win over the Citizens in the Champions League quarter-finals, where they also benefitted from a last-gasp decision from ‘upstairs’. 

And while Pochettino is by no means a fan of the new technology, he is trying to make his peace with the advances.

“We need to accept that [VAR]. I was a little bit critical of VAR but now we have to accept the rules,” the Argentine signalled after the final whistle to the BBC. 

“Now it benefits us. No doubt it won’t benefit us at other times. It’s a rule we need to accept.”

Saturday’s draw cut short a run of 15 consecutive victories for City in the Premier League, dating back to the start of February. 

But while Pochettino was happy to see his charges take something from the game, he nevertheless wants to see improvements as the season progresses.

“I’m very pleased with a point and but also knowing we need to improve. We are in a process where we need to improve in all areas and the team is going to improve step by step but we need time,” he explained.

“It was an unbelievable goal [by Lucas Moura]. Always when you play a team like Manchester City, you have to play your best.”

The former Red Devil is less than impressed with how players conducted themselves while he was at the helm

Roy Keane has launched a scathing attack on some of the players he oversaw as assistant coach of the Republic of Ireland.  

The former Manchester United player had been Martin O’Neill’s partner in charge of the national team from 2013 to 2018 before both left their roles in November last year following a poor run of results.  

Not one to keep quiet, Keane feels he and O’Neill were let down by some of their players, who he believes thought far too highly of themselves.  

“I’ll give you an example. Jon Walters, the last two or three years – Jon does a lot of talking, it’s amazing. Harry Arter, he went to Cardiff on loan, got relegated. Wardy can’t get in the Stoke team, at the moment, bottom of the league,” Keane said while speaking at an Off The Ball event in Dublin.  

“Imagine if Jon won a trophy. He talks a good game. He goes on the TV, on about how he was harshly treated by me. Not kicking a ball for Burnley for two or three years. 

“On TV, crying about his family situation. You know, how about lying low for a while, taking it easy? Have a look at his medals? Wouldn’t take long. 

“Ironically two or three years ago when his career was coming to the end, he went to Ipswich on loan. I was laughing my head off. 

“When we were beaten by Wales, he didn’t have a good game. Wardy didn’t have a good game. They need to go back and see how bad they were.”  

Accused of demanding too much of his players as a coach, Keane feels he has nothing to apologise for and singled out one incident he experienced as a player to make his point. 

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“Brian Clough – you’re on about motivation – he punched me one time,” he said.  

“He was upset. It was heated. He punched me. I remember thinking ‘You’re still a brilliant manager’. 

“I came in the next day and trained. I didn’t text somebody in the media. Or go on ‘Ratsapp’.” 

Having left his most recent role as an assistant at Nottingham Forest in June, Keane revealed he’s open to a return to management but wants complete control of a club again.  

“I definitely want to have another crack. I don’t think Real Madrid will be calling me,” he said.  

“If I go back to a club, it’s got to be as a manager, simple as that.” 

Republic of Ireland face Switzerland on September 5 as part of Euro 2020 qualification with Mick McCarthy’s side currently top of their group. 

The France international midfielder will remain at Old Trafford despite links with a move to Spain, his manager says

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Paul Pogba will stay at the club despite persistent rumours linking him with a move to Real Madrid.

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The World Cup winning France international has supposedly been unhappy at Old Trafford and his performances have come in for some criticism, but his coach views him as a vital part of his rebuilding project.

Pogba has played every game of a disappointing start to the season for United, including Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton, which saw 10-man Saints hold on for a point when Jan Vestegaard equalised following Daniel James’ early strike.

Pogba was seen limping after the game at St. Mary’s but Solskjaer doesn’t believe the injury is serious.

“Paul Pogba will be playing for us,” the Norwegian coach said after the game, before being asked if he was happy with the situation, “I’ve just said that.

“He twisted his ankle, I think, but he’ll go away on international duty now and hopefully it’s not too bad and he can play for France because I know how much he loves his country and playing for them.”

Pogba has been a lightning rod for criticism at United as they’ve gained just five points in their first four Premier League games.

Pogba wasted a golden chance to secure three points against Wolves two games ago when he missed a penalty. They lost to Crystal Palace in their next game, undoing the positivity that came from an opening 4-0 win over Chelsea.

He gave the ball away 20 times in Saturday’s draw with a team the Red Devils were expected to beat.

His manager believes that too much blame is attached to Pogba and said the whole team had been guilty of sloppiness and highlighted the Frenchman’s role as United searched for the winning goal.

“I think we as a team after about half an hour started giving sloppy balls away and Paul was one of them. He wasn’t any different to anyone else,” he added.

“I think we as a team didn’t play well but of course in the last 20 minutes, half an hour he did create loads for us going forward.

“Everyone expects everything from him every game. He has to defend, he has to attack, he has to win headers, he has to win tackles, he has to dribble past people, he has to make passes. That’s just Paul and he’ll thrive on that.”

The Brazil midfielder knows the Reds will have a target on their back as reigning champions but is looking forward to the ‘intensity’ of Europe

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho is looking forward to being the team everyone wants to beat in Europe this season as clubs await Thursday’s draw for the Champions League group stage.

The reigning champions will enter the draw in Pot 1 alongside the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus, while Liverpool’s opponents in the last two finals, Real Madrid and Tottenham, are in Pot 2.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have started the season in excellent form, the only Premier League side to register three wins from three games, and Fabinho thinks the added pressure of juggling domestic commitments with Europe will provide a welcome challenge.

“The Champions League is a special competition and we’re the reigning champions,” he told Liverpool’s website. “There’s always going to be a lot of expectation about who we’re going to come up against. We’re relaxed about it.

“We’re fully aware that when we return from this international break there will be a more intense fixture schedule with midweek games, but that’s good – we like it.

“As we’re the reigning champions, all the other teams are going to focus much more on us, they’ll know more about our team.

“We’re excited about this season’s competition. We know how strong the team is and, as always, we have to work hard and with confidence.”

Fabinho proved himself a key player over the course of last season, and was one of the stars of Liverpool’s remarkable semi-final comeback against Barcelona.

Initially struggling to break into the first team, he was missing from the defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and Red Star Belgrade which almost saw the Reds dumped out in the group stage, but went on to start in every match from the last 16 onwards.

While the performances of midfield trio Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum were impressive last season, Liverpool will be hoping the strain of fighting on multiple fronts will be eased by the return to fitness of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and a Naby Keita ready to make an impression in his second season at the club.

Despite last season’s all-English final, manager Jurgen Klopp doesn’t believe Premier League sides will dominate the Champions League this year.

European giants such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus have all strengthened their squads significantly over the summer, with the European transfer window still open for further business.

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The Reds manager believes Premier League sides are unlikely to repeat their European dominance again this season

Despite both European titles being held by English clubs, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp is adamant they won’t be dominating the Champions League anytime soon. 

Last season saw both the Europa League and Champions League final competed between Premier League teams with the Reds beating Tottenham to claim the latter.

Ahead of Thursday’s group draw for the upcoming Champions League campaign, Klopp stressed he sees the competition being very open and doesn’t believe English teams will be replicating their dominance for a second year.

“The groups will be incredible. I have no clue who will win the Champions League,” Klopp said.

“We have the same chance like everyone else, but that is all, and no I don’t see us, the English teams, dominating.

“I don’t think there was ever a stronger Pot 2. It is just crazy. They should all be in Pot 1, but there is not enough space there.

“I don’t think there was ever a stronger Pot 3. Then Pot 4 you can get RB Leipzig – wow!”

As reigning champions, the Reds are in Pot 1 for the draw alongside fellow Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester City.

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While attempting to talk down the English threat, Klopp was quick to highlight the strength of Bundesliga sides this season. 

“Bayern Munich now finally brought in Ivan Perisic and Philippe Coutinho, which is like a big boost,” he said.

“Look at the squad Borussia Dortmund has and tell me we are stronger than them. That is incredible. They can make five changes and you think: ‘Really? they didn’t play last week? Why?’ 

“There are a lot of quality teams – Juventus will be there, PSG will be there. Whatever happens they will find solutions. Real Madrid? Do you think they gave up already.” 

Liverpool have begun their domestic campaign with three straight wins to sit top of the Premier League but Klopp has seen his side’s defending questioned with the Reds yet to keep a cleansheet. 

The German has since stressed he’s happy with his backline and revealed they work on their defending in a way people wouldn’t expect. 

Klopp also admitted this week he’ll likely take a break when his time with Liverpool comes to an end with former Reds keeper Jerzy Dudek declaring Steven Gerrard looms as the only candidate to replace him. 

A House Democrat accused e-cigarette company Juul of making false and misleading advertising claims, and called on the Food and Drug Administration to investigate.

Rep. Raja KrishnamoorthiSubramanian (Raja) Raja KrishnamoorthiHouse Democrats blur lines on support for impeachment College should profit students and taxpayers — even at for-profit schools Overnight Health Care: Oversight chair plans to call drug executives to testify on costs | Biden airs anti-‘Medicare for All’ video | House panel claims Juul deliberately targeted kids MORE (D-Ill.) said Juul has been marketing itself as a tool to help people quit smoking, claiming its pods are safer and healthier than traditional cigarettes. 

Krishnamoorthi, chairman of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, launched his own investigation into Juul earlier this summer. The subcommittee in July held a two-day hearing into the company’s marketing and health claims.

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In a 53-page letter to acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, Krishnamoorthi called the testimony during the hearing “extremely concerning” and urged Sharpless to take action “to protect the American public from the fraudulent and unapproved medical claims made by” Juul.

“Your predecessor, Scott Gottlieb … pointed to Juul as a primary cause of the epidemic,” Krishnamoorthi wrote. “Testimony from our hearing supports that conclusion.”

Krishnamoorthi said Juul co-founder James Monsees and the company’s Chief Administrative Officer Ashley Gould made multiple unproven claims under oath that Juul is safer and healthier than traditional cigarettes. He said the two also made numerous references that Juul is a smoking cessation device.

Krishnamoorthi included in his letter a copy of Juul’s presentations to American Indian tribes, where the company pitched its product to be sold at a steep discount in exchange for being promoted as a way to quit smoking by switching to Juul instead.

Juul wants its device to be considered by the FDA as a tobacco product, which has a much lower regulatory bar than a smoking cessation product. 

Krishnamoorthi said the FDA is required to look past “overt claims and determine the product’s intended use.” 

E-cigarette use has surged among middle and high school students, prompting federal health officials to call the spike in youth vaping an “epidemic.” 

The FDA is facing pressure to respond. Agency officials have acknowledged e-cigarettes could be a way to help adult smokers transition to something less harmful, but they need to balance it against the danger of young people getting addicted.  

E-cigarette companies claim their products are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, but there is very limited evidence that shows the long-term effects of people using them, or how effective they are at helping people to quit smoking.  

In a statement to The Hill, an FDA spokesman said the agency will respond directly to Krishnamoorthi about the concerns in his letter. The spokesman added Juul’s marketing activities are part of the FDA’s broader investigation, and the agency will share more “early next week.” 

The spokesman noted that even though the general public may understand the term “smoking cessation” to mean switching from a traditional cigarette to a non-combustible product, the FDA has not approved any e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.

Juul spokesman Ted Kwong said switching and cessation are two different words. 

“Switching is not another word for cessation. They mean two very different things,” Kwong said in a statement.

“We are a switching product — our product contains nicotine and is intended to switch adult smokers from one nicotine delivery system to another — not a cessation product and that is clear in all of our marketing and communications,” Kwong said.

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President TrumpDonald John TrumpSmoot-Hawley fearmongering continues Jerry Moran: ‘I wouldn’t be surprised’ if Pompeo ran for Senate in Kansas The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump doubles down on Dorian’s threat to Alabama MORE‘s special envoy to the Middle East and an architect of the administration’s long-awaited peace plan for the region is leaving the White House, a senior official confirmed to The Hill on Thursday.

Jason Greenblatt will depart the administration in the coming weeks to return to New Jersey, where his wife and six kids reside, the official said. His exit had been discussed at the end of 2018, and the administration began taking steps to transition oversight of the peace plan.

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Trump’s special envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, will assume some of the responsibilities of handling the Middle East peace process, according to the administration official. Avi Berkowitz, a top aide to senior White House adviser Jared KushnerJared Corey KushnerTrump’s envoy for Middle East, architect of peace plan set to leave post Our justice system must reward success Trump administration to withhold Middle East peace plan until after Israeli elections MORE, will also play a more prominent role.

Trump thanked Greenblatt in a tweet for being “a loyal and great friend and fantastic lawyer.” Greenblatt previously worked as an attorney for the Trump Organization.

“His dedication to Israel and to seeking peace between Israel and the Palestinians won’t be forgotten,” Trump tweeted. “He will be missed.”

The New York Times first reported Greenblatt’s impending exit from the administration.

The move further throws into question the timing and viability of the Trump administration’s long-promised Middle East peace plan.

Greenblatt and Kushner have taken the lead on negotiations and have met with leaders in the region throughout the past two years.

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“Jason has done a tremendous job leading the efforts to develop an economic and political vision for a long sought after peace in the Middle East,” Kushner said in a statement. “His work has helped develop the relationships between Israel and its neighbors as he is trusted and respected by all of the leaders throughout the region.”

The release of the plan’s specifics has been subject to several delays, and the White House has struggled to garner buy-in from Palestinian officials.

Greenblatt tweeted last week that the White House would withhold the plan until after the Israeli elections set to take place this month.

Israel is set to hold elections on Sept. 17, which were triggered after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a governing coalition following his victory in April.

The senior administration official would not provide details on the state of the plan, other than to say “the vision is now complete and will be released when appropriate.”

The Trump administration has promised since 2017 that it would deliver a groundbreaking proposal to ensure peace between Israelis, Palestinians and other stakeholders in the Middle East. It has unveiled snippets of its plans, including an economic component, but many of the specifics remain under wraps.

The president has made support for Israel a core issue of his first term. He often highlights the decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv. 

He has also attacked Democrats as anti-Semitic, seizing on controversial comments from Reps. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarTrump’s envoy for Middle East, architect of peace plan set to leave post Pirro acknowledges suspension by Fox Labor Day jitters on both sides of America’s political divide MORE (D-Minn.) and Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibTrump’s envoy for Middle East, architect of peace plan set to leave post Trump lashes out at the media, Democrats in Labor Day tweets Trump plays to evangelical base with hard-line support for Israel MORE (D-Mich.). The president stepped into a controversy of his own last month when he said Jewish people who vote Democrat show “disloyalty” to Israel.

Updated at 11:47 a.m.