by David
on December 6, 2018
The Derby d’Italia is a a game drenched in history ands the bitter rivalry between two of Serie A’s greatest clubs continues on Friday night.
Juventus will be out to end hope that Inter have of challenging for the Scudetto this season. The gap between the sides already stands 11 points, an increase in that margin this weekend would make it an almost insurmountable chasm for Inter..
Max Allegri’s team are in imperious form and could set another record with a win in this one. A Juve victory would mean they have amassed 43 points from their first 15 league games, matching the tally set by PSG last week for the top five European leagues in the three-point era. Read more... (643 words, estimated 2:34 mins reading time)
by David
on December 6, 2018
Chelsea’s ‘very worried’ manager Maurizio Sarri admitted he was at a loss to explain his side’s unexpected collapse at Wolves on Wednesday night but hoped it would prove a kick up the backside before Saturday’s visit of Manchester City to Stamford Bridge.
Sarri’s side, featuring five changes from the weekend win against Fulham, were in cruise control at Molineux and leading 1-0 until two goals in four minutes from the home side around the hour mark changed everything.
It was previously unbeaten Chelsea’s second consecutive away defeat having been trounced by Spurs at Wembley and Sarri said; Read more... (331 words, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)
by David
on December 5, 2018
While Chelsea insist they have not broken any Fifa rules on the signing of underage players, there actions suggest that they know a possible transfer ban is on the horizon.
According to reports in France, the Premier League side are in trouble with FIFA for the illegal signing of players under the age of 18.
Based on documents from Football Leaks, it is claimed Chelsea face a TWO-YEAR transfer ban and a fine after 19 of their signings were investigated by Fifa’s Integrity and Compliance Department.
It is suggested 14 of those signings were under the approved age of 18, without falling into other allowed categories, or being given special permission. Read more... (453 words, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)
by David
on December 4, 2018
American star Christian Pulisic was named the second best young player in the World on Monday at the Ballon d’Or ceremonies in Paris.
Frenchman superstar Kylian Mbappe was the unanimous winner of the Kopa Trophy, named after the late Raymond Kopa, the first French winner of the Ballon d’Or and presented to the best U-21 men’s player in the world.
The 20-year-old Pulisic, who is in his fourth season at German club Borussia Dortmund, received 10 second-place votes, including those from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and one third-place vote for 31 votes. Read more... (212 words, estimated 51 secs reading time)
by David
on December 4, 2018
Manchester City are reportedly facing a Champions League ban for breaking Financial Fair Play regulations.
The English champions were the subject of a series of stunning revelations made by the Football Leaks hackers last month, not least with regard to inflated sponsorship deals seemingly designed to beat UEFA’s FFP system.
Among the reports, based on documents seized by Football Leaks, was a claim that City’s holding company paid £59.5million of Etihad’s annual sponsorship deal, with only £8m coming from the airline.
On Monday, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin confirmed that what he described as ‘a concrete case’ was being investigated. Read more... (377 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)
by David
on December 4, 2018
Luka Modric saw off competition from France’s World Cup stars as the Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder won the Ballon d’Or on Monday to end a 10-year stranglehold on the award by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Modric was announced as the winner of the prestigious prize in Paris ahead of Ronaldo and French World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann.
Paris Saint-Germain’s teenage forward Kylian Mbappe came fourth, leaving Messi to settle for fifth position. Another Frenchman, Modric’s Madrid teammate Raphael Varane, was seventh, just behind Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah. Read more... (376 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)
by David
on December 4, 2018
Inter Milan star Mauro Icardi has become the first non-Juventus player to win Serie A Footballer of the Year since Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2011, while Massimiliano Allegri scooped the coach’s prize for a fourth time.
Icardi finished joint top-scorer in Serie A last term alongside Ciro Immobile on 29 goals in 34 Serie A appearances and helped get Inter back into the Champions League.
The Argentina international has carried that form into the current campaign as well, having netted eight times in 11 outings.
Icardi also won the best goal award for his spectacular backheel during a four-goal haul against Sampdoria last March. Read more... (213 words, estimated 51 secs reading time)
by David
on December 4, 2018
Manchester United owners, the Glazers care about only one thing and that is making money. They don’t care about winning the Champions League. What they care about is participation in the competition and the money that comes with that.
So the latest comments from Jose Mourinho must have set off alarm bells from Manchester to Tampa Bay as the United boss has claimed United will need “almost a miracle” to finish in the top four this season.
Mourinho’s blunt admissions come as the United manager faces another major defensive headache ahead of a crucial clash against in-form Arsenal tomorrow amid doubts over the availability of as many as eight defenders. Read more... (477 words, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)
by David
on December 3, 2018
It’s the best domestic cup competition in the world and the FA Cup third round draw could non-league side Solihull Moors meet Arsenal in a tantalizing money-spinning tie
The National League high flyers, managed by Tim Flowers, need to beat League One Blackpool in a replay at Bloomfield Road next Tuesday in order to face Unai Emery’s side.
Arsenal arriving at the 3,050-capacity Damson Park would represent the biggest occasion in Solihull’s history.
Arsenal’s North London rivals Spurs could also meet non-league opposition as they will travel to either League Two Tranmere or National League North Southport. Read more... (358 words, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)
by David
on December 3, 2018
Arsenal versus Tottenham is one of those few rivalries that rarely disappoint and that was the case at the Emirates on Sunday. This North London derby had everything, goals, a comeback, an imminent boil-over, quality, mistakes and theatre. In the end, nobody will grudge the Gunners their 4–2 win. The game also highlighted that while one team is on the ascendancy, the other is at a risk of stagnating. Read more... (524 words, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)
