by David
on October 23, 2019
Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool’s seven Ballon d’Or nominees is the surest indication his club have re-established themselves as a leading European force.
Liverpool’s manager has always spoken about his desire to make Anfield the final destination of a player’s career rather than a stopping-off point en route to Barcelona or Real Madrid, and the progress over the past two years firmly indicates Klopp is succeeding.
Central defender Virgil van Dijk is the odds-on favourite to win the prestigious award in December — the Premier League has not had a representative in the final three since Fernando Torres in 2008. With him on the 30-man shortlist are Alisson, Roberto Firmino, Giorginio Wijnaldum, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah. Read more... (509 words, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)
by David
on October 18, 2019
La Liga have agreed to stage a league match between Atletico Madrid and Villarreal in the United States, according to reports.
The match would take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, a 65,000-seater venue that has hosted five Super Bowls, on December 8 .
It comes less than a year after the Spanish top flight failed in hosting one of Barcelona’s league fixtures in the US.
Plans to host the game between the Catalan giants and Girona in Miami fell through after the controversial proposals were rejected while being met with uproar. Read more... (269 words, estimated 1:05 mins reading time)
by David
on October 18, 2019
The Royal Spanish Football Federation has confirmed the El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona has been postponed.
The biggest match in world football was due to be played on October 26 at the Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Both clubs have now been told that they must agree to a new date by 10am on Monday or the competition committee will determine the date for them.
La Liga feared a match with an estimated global TV audience of 650m viewers will be used as platform for protests against this week’s Spanish Supreme Court sentencing of nine Catalan separatist leaders to prison terms of between nine and 13 years for their part in a referendum held in defiance of the Spanish Constitution in 2017 and a subsequent declaration of independence. Read more... (275 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)
by David
on October 10, 2019
Milan ultras released a statement calling the club “weak and failing yet again to achieve the target it really wanted” after replacing Marco Giampaolo with Stefano Pioli.
Giampaolo was axed this week after just seven games and 111 days in charge, a new club record.
Fans are already furious at the introduction of the ninth different Coach since Max Allegri was sacked in January 2014.
“Time’s up… you have to prove yourselves!” read a statement from the Curva Sud ultras.
“This was the banner we laid out in the stands on Saturday during the Genoa game, representing a population of Milanisti exhausted by the continual embarrassment of this club. Read more... (420 words, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)
by David
on October 9, 2019
AC Milan have confirmed the appointment of former Inter Milan boss Stefano Pioli as their new manager. The 53-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Serie A side to replace the sacked Marco Giampaolo.
Giampaolo paid the price for Milan’s dreadful start to the season and was dismissed earlier this week after just seven games in charge. It is the shortest reign in the club’s history.
Giampaolo was axed after former president Silvio Berlusconi told Paolo Maldini and Zvonimir Boban they’d made a mistake in hiring the coach. Read more... (284 words, estimated 1:08 mins reading time)
by David
on October 7, 2019
Manchester United are without a win in three Premier League matches and David de Gea cannot remember a more difficult period for the club
A nonplussed David de Gea believes Manchester United are enduring their “most difficult time” since his arrival in 2011.
The Red Devils suffered a third defeat in six Premier League matches on Sunday, as they went down 1-0 to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Matty Longstaff’s second-half strike proved the difference between the two sides, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men mustering just three shots on target. Read more... (332 words, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)
by David
on October 6, 2019
Manchester United are two points above the Premier League relegation zone after another loss, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer accepting the blame
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer acknowledged the responsibility for Manchester United’s poor form rests on his shoulders after they went down 1-0 away to Newcastle United.
Solskjaer’s side fell to a third Premier League loss of the season and are 12th in the table, only two points clear of the relegation zone, having scored just nine goals.
United have only taken 17 points from 16 games since his permanent appointment in March after he initially impressed as Jose Mourinho’s successor on a temporary basis, with Solskjaer accepting he needs to turn things around. Read more... (482 words, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)
by David
on October 6, 2019
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says he is not worried about the sack despite his side’s poor form.
Spurs lost 3-0 at Brighton on Saturday to compound a miserable week that also saw them thrashed 7-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The club were also knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties by League Two Colchester last month. When asked if he feared for his job, Pochettino said:
“No I am not worried, what worries me is life, not football.”
Speaking at a news conference after Saturday’s game at Amex Stadium, Pochettino said: Read more... (402 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)
by David
on October 6, 2019
Pep Guardiola called Manchester City’s defeat at Wolves a “bad day” but isn’t thinking about Liverpool despite slipping eight points behind in the title race.
Adama Traore’s second-half double helped Wolves stun City 2-0 to leave Liverpool in control of the title race at this very early stage heading into the international break.
Regarding the title race, Guardiola said:
“It is a lot of points [difference].
“They [Liverpool] don’t drop points for many reasons.
“But it is better not to think about that. It is better to think about what is next.” Read more... (230 words, estimated 55 secs reading time)
by David
on October 5, 2019
Jurgen Klopp said he could not enjoy Liverpool’s late win over Leicester after Hamza Choudhury’s foul forced Mohamed Salah to hobble off.
The Leicester midfielder scythed down the Liverpool forward to prevent him taking a clear route to goal in the final minute of the game at Anfield, and was given a yellow card, while Salah, after playing on for several minutes, left the pitch in visible pain, with his longer-term condition as yet unknown.
Liverpool went on to keep up their winning streak for a 17th Premier League game but, after the match, a sullen-looking Klopp fumed at Choudhury – whose red-card foul on Matt Ritchie in August left him on the sidelines for two months. Read more... (298 words, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)
