Enzo Maresca says he is "convinced" Chelsea cannot compete for "big things" with Manchester City and Arsenal this season. The Italian manager has had an good start at Stamford Bridge, winning seven of his 10 matches, overseeing a run of 27 goals and seeing Chelsea rise into fourth place, just two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Meanwhil e , Maresca has urged caution about his team's ability to win major trophies during his first season. “I really don’t think we can compete with City or Arsenal," Maresca said after beating Gent 4-2 in the Europa Conference League. "I really don’t think that because we are not ready. The reason is that City has worked with the same manager for nine years and Arsenal for five years. If you want to compete for big things you need that time. “After Arsenal beat PSG they asked Luis Enrique and he said the same thing that Arsenal have had the same manager for five years and them only a year and a half."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a fresh warning to Iran Monday, saying there was no place in the Middle East beyond Israel’s reach amid a flurry of strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. In a video statement made in English, Netanyahu addressed the people of Iran and warned that their government was bringing them “closer to the abyss”. “With every passing moment, the regime is bringing you — the noble Persian people — closer to the abyss,” said Netanyahu. “There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach,” the prime minister added, warning the people of Iran that their “regime plunges our region deeper into darkness and deeper into war”. “Don’t let a small group of theocrats crush your hopes and your dreams,” Netanyahu said. Israel has in recent days been mounting heavy air strikes in Lebanon against the “Axis of Resistance”, a network of Iran-aligned militant groups in the region, including in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. An Israeli strike on Beirut Friday killed Hassan Nasra