15/02/2026

SUNDAY | FEB 15, 2026

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Happy Blues Rosenior hails Chelsea’s professionals as Wrexham dare to dream

Chelsea’s Pedro Neto (left) celebrates with Alejandro Garnacho after scoring the opening goal during the FA Cup fourth-round match against Hull City at the MKM Stadium yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

lutely everything today.” Lewis Koumas went closest to a consolation for the Tigers when his low late effort hit a post. “Towards the end, I think that we deserved one goal,” Jakirovic said. “We had a few nice chances and I said to (Rosenior) that we deserved the goal and of course, he agreed. “Congratulations to my players. Maybe if we play our next games like this, with this passion, energy, intensity, that we are complicated, that we are tactically good, that we can be much higher in the table.” In yesterday’s other FA Cup match, Hollywood-backed Wrexham kept up their hopes of a fairytale run in the FA Cup with a 1 0 victory over Ipswich Town in their fourth round tie at the Racecourse Ground . Wrexham defeated Premier League Nottingham Forest in the last round and dis patched fellow second-tier Championship side Ipswich to reach the fifth round for ߑ the first time since they were quarterfinalists in the 1996-97 season. Josh Windass scored the only goal of the game in the first half as Ipswich battled to cre ate clear-cut chances and Wrexham proved more clinical. After a tepid start to the game, the home side led on 34 minutes when Max Cleworth’s low cross from the right was turned in ߑ by Windass for his ninth goal of the season in all competitions. Ipswich only had one shot on target as Wrexham managed to see out the remainder of the game with relative ease. North Wales club Wrexham were bought by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2020 and have embarked on a rise through the divisions that has attracted global attention. “Every season in football is special and you’ve got to savour it,” said manager Phil Parkinson, who was keen to take a breath to let the club’s latest impressive achievement sink in. “The FA Cup is part of that and it was impor tant that we backed up the Nottingham Forest win with another win tonight.” – The Independent/Agencies

BY MARK WALKER

CHELSEA BOSS Liam Rosenior admitted his side’s work ethic was the stand-out feature as they cruised to a 4-0 win at his former club Hull in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Pedro Neto fired a hattrick, his second direct from a corner, while Brazil winger Estevao was also on target as Championship promotion chasers Hull were swept aside at the MKM Stadium. Rosenior, making his first return to the club where he was player and manager, said: “The overall positive thing was the application of the team. Our pressing, our intensity, our work rate and Pedro exemplified that, to be honest. “That’s why he scores the goals that he does. I’m very lucky to have such talented players. What I’m really realising quickly is they’re not good players, they’re outstanding profession als. It was a really professional performance against a very good team, who are pushing for the Premier League. “This is not an easy game, and some of our football was everything I want to see. But before that, the values of what the team stood for tonight made me a very happy coach.” Chelsea spurned several first-half chances, with Rory Delap and Estevao the guilty parties in particular, while Hull never threatened an upset. Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic has led them to fourth in the second tier, five points off the top two and Rosenior hopes his former club can seal top-flight promotion. “The spirit and the character of the team and their threat in transition,” he said. “I really hope it happens. So I wish them all the best. “It’s so nice to see so many really welcoming faces here and I think the manager is doing a fantastic job.” While Rosenior made seven changes, Jakirovic made six of his own with one eye on his side’s promotion push. The Bosnian, who felt Chelsea’s extra quality was evident, said: “It’s difficult, because we played against Chelsea. I think we gave abso

- Story on page 12

‘He can retire’

Dortmund stay close to Bayern

- Story on page 14

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