by David
on August 18, 2018
Arsenal boss Unai Emery insists there are reasons to be positive about his side despite their 3-2 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.
For the first time in the Premier League era Arsenal are winless after their opening two matches.
Arsenal defensively were terrible in the opening 20 minutes as Chelsea looked in total control and led thanks to goals from Pedro and Alvaro Morata. But the Gunners rallied through two goals in four minutes from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi.
Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also missed clear chances during a thrilling first half, but Chelsea were the better side after the break and snatched a win nine minutes from time when Alonso turned in Eden Hazard’s cross. Read more... (344 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)
by David
on August 18, 2018
Maurizio Sarri praised Chelsea’s mental strength as they snatched a 3-2 win over Arsenal on Saturday despite squandering a two-goal lead in a “horrible” period that left the Blues boss squirming on the touchline.
Chelsea looked on course for an easy win over their London rivals after Pedro and Alvaro Morata put them 2-0 up after just 20 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
But the Blues defensive woes, an issue under Antonio Conte last season have not gone away, as defensive mistakes allowed Arsenal to equalize through goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi. Read more... (281 words, estimated 1:07 mins reading time)
by David
on August 18, 2018
The eyes of the footballing world were on Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday as the Ballon d’Or holder made his Serie A debut.
But the story almost a nightmare for Ronaldo and Juventus in Vernona as Chievo came close to registering a famous victory.
Drawing 2-1 with 10 minutes to go was not what anyone expected before the match, But as Juve laid siege to the Chievo goal in the final 10 minutes of a breathless clash the script was ready for a famous Ronaldo last-minute winner. Read more... (604 words, estimated 2:25 mins reading time)
by David
on August 17, 2018
Blockbuster claims from outspoken Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who suggested on Friday that the owners of Roma and Liverpool are secretly the same.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday, De Laurentiis said “a little bird has told me a few years ago” that Pallotta is in some form of partnership with Liverpool owner John Henry.
“I always had a suspicion that the real owner of Roma is the same as Liverpool, and if this were the case, the two clubs should not be allowed to play in the Champions League,” De Laurentiis said. Read more... (448 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)
by David
on August 17, 2018
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde says La Liga’s plan to take one fixture per season to the United States or Canada strikes him as “strange.”
La Liga announced on Thursday that an agreement with Relevant, the organisers of the International Champions Cup, would see one game played in North America each year to promote the game in the continent.
However, the plans have been met with a mixed response, with the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) among those complaining that the deal was struck without the necessary consultation. Read more... (239 words, estimated 57 secs reading time)
by David
on August 17, 2018
Italian-based strikers Lautaro Martinez and Giovanni Simeone are among the 20 new faces in Argentina’s squad for upcoming friendlies against Guatemala and Colombia, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) have announced.
Martinez, who joined Inter Milan from Racing earlier this summer, and Simeone, the Spain-born striker who plays for Fiorentina, are included up front alongside Paolo Dybala, Angel Correa and Cristian Pavon.
Mauro Icardi, the Inter striker who was surprisingly left out of Argentina’s World Cup squad, also returns, but there is no place for Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero or Angel di Maria. Read more... (366 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)
by David
on August 17, 2018
Jose Mourinho has denied having a bust-up with Paul Pogba and insists he is happy with the unsettled Frenchman’s attitude at Manchester United.
United are adamant that Pogba will not be sold to Barcelona even though it’s understood that he wants to leave Old Trafford for a second time.
But Mourinho denied that he had been involved in an angry exchange with the 25-year-old midfielder, and praised him for playing against Leicester last week after just four days training. Read more... (469 words, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)
by David
on August 17, 2018
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted there is no competition for goals between the club’s scintillating front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
The trio have formed a frightening attacking line-up and their goals helped the Reds to the Champions League final last season and turned them into Manchester City’s biggest threat in the Premier League.
Salah and Mane both opened their accounts for the season in the 4-0 win over West Ham last weekend and, speaking ahead of his team’s trip to Crystal Palace on Monday night, Klopp insisted the trio are not competing against each other. Read more... (337 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)
by David
on August 17, 2018
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has admitted that Alvaro Morata could be struggling with a lack of confidence after scoring just three times this year.
The Spaniard, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Real Madrid last summer, started last week’s opening 3-0 victory at Huddersfield but failed to find the back of the net.
Morata is likely to lead the line against Arsenal again on Saturday evening and Sarri concedes the 25-year-old needs a goal to get back on track.
Speaking ahead of the London derby with Unai Emery’s men, Sarri said: ‘I am not worried about Morata. He is a very great player. Read more... (352 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)
by David
on August 16, 2018
After the midweek defeat to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup, new Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui was asked about the clubs summer transfer inactivity.
“I do not think the club’s policy changes much because of this game,”
was Julen Lopetegui’s answer after the game in Tallinn when asked about new signings. But 24 hours later, after reviewing the game, Lopetegui has changed his mine.
He wants a centre forward, a central defender and a physical midfielder. There are 15 days until the transfer window closes to reinforce his squad and the justification for new players has only gained weight after the defeat to Atlético exposed the lack of depth on the bench. Read more... (440 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)
