Players from both teams confronted each other angrily in the final stages of the Blues’ 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge on February 11, resulting in a financial penalty and a warning

The Football Association (FA) has fined both Chelsea and Everton £30,000 for failing to control their players during their Premier League match in February.

Everton’s Gareth Barry was shown a second yellow card for a tackle on Willian in the closing stages of the game at Stamford Bridge, an incident that sparked a mass confrontation between the two sides.

“Following an incident in the 86th minute of their fixture on February 11, 2015, both clubs were charged with failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour,” read an FA statement.

“The charge against Chelsea further alleged that their players surrounded the match referee and/or became involved in a mass confrontation.

“Chelsea and Everton both admitted their charge and, as well as being fined, were also warned as to their future conduct.”

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The summer signing was withdrawn at half-time this weekend after another below-par performance, but his captain is confident the Argentine will come good

Wayne Rooney accepts that Angel Di Maria’s performances for Manchester United have disappointed after the Argentine was withdrawn at half-time against Sunderland on Saturday.

The British-record signing failed to make an impact at Old Trafford against Gus Poyet’s men, extending his run without a league goal to 14 games, and was replaced by Adnan Januzaj at the break.

Louis van Gaal later backed Di Maria to come good, hinting that he is low on confidence, and Rooney feels the Argentine will eventually prove why United parted with nearly £60 million to sign him from Real Madrid last summer.

“Di Maria’s performance was one of those days every footballer has,” Rooney told reporters. “He’s a great player, he’s shown that and you don’t lose your talent overnight.

“Hopefully he’ll get back to his best and start giving some great performances for us. He has a lot of experience and I think he’ll figure it out – we all have to do that sometimes.

“There’s nothing worse than when everyone keeps going on at you. You have to come to it in your own way and I’m sure he’ll be a big player for us between now and the end of the season.”

Rooney netted both goals as United beat the Black Cats 2-0 to remain on course for a top-four finish, but a number of fans booed the team during the game as frustations grew at Old Trafford.

When asked about discontent from supporters, Rooney told reporters. “I think that’s normal. The fans here are always brilliant – they want us attacking at every opportunity but you can’t do that all the time.

“Sometimes you have to work the opposition to tire them out which, towards the end, is how you win games.”

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The Germany international has yet to score a single Serie A goal since joining the Nerazzurri on loan from Arsenal during the winter transfer window

Roberto Mancini has admitted that struggling striker Lukas Podolski is simply not offering Inter enough quality or incision up front.

Podolski joined the Nerazzurri on loan from Arsenal during the winter transfer window but the Germany international has yet to net a Serie A goal in eight appearances for the Milanese outfit.

The forward lasted just 66 minutes before being hauled off by Mancini in Sunday’s 1-0 loss at home to Fiorentina and replaced by Xherdan Shaqiri, who immediately injected more dynamism into the Inter attack.

Mancini thus confessed afterwards that Podolski must improve – and fast – if he is to have any chance of extending his stay at San Siro beyond the end of the season.

“Shaqiri did well but had played [on] Thursday, so it was right to give him rest,” the Inter boss told the club’s official website.

“Podolski must give more, so it is not enough and he is the first to know that.”

As for Inter’s defeat, which leaves them eighth in the Serie A standings, Mancini felt his side had paid the price for a poor first-half display – even though the game was decided by Mohamed Salah’s strike 10 minutes after the interval.

“We were generous, we know they are a good team and it was in my opinion a very balanced game,” the former Manchester City boss added.

“Had we found the equaliser immediately, maybe we could try to bring home a victory.

“The problem was that at first we were hesitant. Fiorentina are a team that dribbles well. In the first half we had to be bolder, more determined.”

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