Ilkay Gundogan opted to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City because they are ‘in a different league’ compared to Germany’s top clubs, he explained in an interview published on Monday. Gundogan signed a four-year contract with City in June after five years with Borussia Dortmund and the midfielder is in goal-scoring form. “When I drive to (City’s) training centre by car, it’s already something very impressive,” the Germany midfielder told Kicker magazine. “You can’t even compare it to a club like Bayern Munich, it’s in a different league. “You can see that you have arrived at a world-class club, which…
Author: David Folami
A lack of composure at both ends of the pitch is costing Manchester City points, according to their manager Pep Guardiola. City, held to a 1-1 home draw by Middlesbrough on Saturday, have won one of their last five Premier League games to slip to third in the table behind Liverpool and Chelsea. “Sometimes when you miss a point it’s a shame… we’re attacking with 10 guys and we don’t let (opponents) run,” Guardiola told reporters. “We have to insist on playing that way but we have to be better in the boxes. When that happens the game will be…
Everton’s 5-0 drubbing by an inspired and ruthless Chelsea team at Stamford Bridge on Saturday left midfielder Tom Cleverley feeling embarrassed. The Merseysiders travelled to London in good form, but had no answer to Chelsea’s three-man defence and the attacking threat posed by the trio of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Pedro. “It hurts. You feel inferior as a professional,” Cleverley told reporters. “That’s not what you work for. It really does hurt Embarrassment? I would probably say that, yeah.” The former Manchester United player said the defeat ranked among the worst of his career and urged his teammates to…
Once again, Liverpool go whoosh. That was the fifth time this season that Jurgen Klopp’s side have scored four or more goals in a match. They’ve played only 11 games. Poor old Watford. They were just blown away like a newspaper on a windswept beach. This column has never been too shy to mention the Reds’ inability to keep a clean sheet, but if they keep scoring at this rate, that really isn’t going to matter too much. They’ve got a spring in their step, strength in depth and no European commitments. And now they’re top. If a lack of…
Manchester United ended a difficult week with a truly commanding performance. Three first-half goals, two of which were assisted by Wayne Rooney, saw them send Swansea to a 3-1 defeat. Jose Mourinho made several changes due both to injuries and perceived loss of form yet was rewarded with this resounding win. Positives United were merciless. Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to goal-scoring form, acquiring a first-half brace, and Paul Pogba netted the game’s crucial first with a superb strike from distance. Wayne Rooney looked as precise and inventive as he has in months while Michael Carrick was quietly supreme at the base…
At last, a Manchester United performance full of swagger under Jose Mourinho. There were times at Swansea, especially in the first half, when their passing triangles were reminiscent of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. And their finishing, so hesitant in recent weeks, was at last explosive. Two summer signings heavily criticised during United’s recent malaise made hay against a desperately poor Swansea. Paul Pogba’s spectacular 15th-minute goal was rifled in from 25 yards, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted in the 21st and 33rd minutes. Swansea staged a fightback over the last 20 minutes after being buoyed by Mike van der Hoorn’s…
Gerard Pique says Lionel Messi should have won the Ballon d’Or every year since 2009 because his Barcelona teammate is “on another level.” Cristiano Ronaldo won the old Ballon d’Or award in 2008 during a year in which he had played alongside Pique at Manchester United, but Messi took the crown for the first time the following year. The Argentina captain then won the combined FIFA Ballon d’Or award in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 but Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid in 2009, was named the world’s top player in 2013 and 2014. Portugal captain Ronaldo is considered favourite to…
Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata says Cristiano Ronaldo is “not a robot” who can be expected to score five goals in every game but is still the world’s best player. Madrid announced on Sunday that Ronaldo had agreed a contract extension until 2021, but he was not able to celebrate the new deal with a goal in the 3-0 victory over newly promoted Leganes. Gareth Bale scored a brace and Morata rounded off the scoring as Ronaldo endured another frustrating 90 minutes, managing zero shots on target and being booked for shouting at referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz. It now almost…
Philippe Coutinho has revealed exactly what manager Jurgen Klopp demands from his frontline as Liverpool went top of the Premier League following a wonderful attacking display in Sunday’s 6-1 victory over Watford. Coutinho was in fine form at Anfield on the weekend as he scored the Reds’ second goal of the day and provided the assist for Sadio Mane’s opener. Fellow frontman and compatriot Roberto Firmino was also on the scoresheet against the Walter Mazzarri’s team, and Coutinho explained how the movement from the forward trio has helped Liverpool reach the summit of the table. “The manager asks us to…
Arsenal’s opening goal in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur has sparked a debate over the offside rule, with former officials Howard Webb and Graham Poll backing the call to allow it to stand and ex-referees’ chief Keith Hackett saying it should have been disallowed. Arsenal took the lead when Spurs’ Kevin Wimmer headed into his own net, but Alexis Sanchez was standing ahead of the final defender when Mesut Ozil took the free kick. The offside rule stipulates that it is an offence for a player to stand ahead of the second-last opponent when the ball is played if…
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said players need to “go to the limits” for the club. Mourinho revealed that defenders Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling did not feel fit enough to face Swansea City. The withdrawals of left-back Shaw and centre-back Smalling compounded United’s defensive problems, with right-back Antonio Valencia and centre-back Eric Bailly having already been ruled out. That meant Mourinho had to field a makeshift defence including Ashley Young at right-back and Matteo Darmian at left-back. Phil Jones started in central defence after 10 months out with injury, playing alongside Marcos Rojo. United secured a 3-1 victory at…
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he has been “a bit unlucky” not to have scored more goals in recent games. Ibrahimovic ended his goal drought when he struck twice in the 3-1 win at Swansea City on Sunday, having not scored in his previous six Premier League appearances. Until the trip to South Wales, the 35-year-old had managed just one goal in 11 games in all competitions, against Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League. Ibrahimovic told MUTV: “Yes, it has gone a couple of games where I haven’t scored but I’m still trying, I’m still going, and the chances…
A pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa, Integrity Group, has asked Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa to pay attention to the welfare of workers in the state. The Leader of the group, Mr Christopher Abarowei in a statement entitled, ‘Singing in a Strange Land,’ lamented the plight of civil servants, saying they were suffering untold hardship. Abarowei noted that the inability of the government to pay full salaries in Bayelsa considered as a civil service state had increased the level of hunger and poverty in the state. “We are all on the same page irrespective of…
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has hailed the suspension of the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, by the National Working Committee of the party. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Frank was suspended for allegedly putting the party’s image in public odium. Speaking with newsmen in Akure on Saturday, the APC Publicity Secretary in Ondo state, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya said, “the action of the NWC is long overdue because Timi has really embarrassed the party in recent times. “He has shown that his character does not possess the quality required of him…
Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Friday approved the dissolution of the management of the 16 local government councils in the state. The dissolution was announced by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji lsiaka Gold, in a statement issued in Ilorin. Gold explained that the tenure of the affected councillors expires this November. The dissolved councils are Asa, Baruten, Edu, Ekiti, Ifelodun, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Irepodun, Isin, Kaiama, Moro, Offa, Oke-Ero, Oyun and Pategi. He said that the dissolution of the councils was in conformity with the Kwara State Legal Notices No.4-19. The scribe added…
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday said Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has changed the narrative of the state. Oyegun said this at the sent-off party organised by the South South zone of the APC in honour of Oshiomhole who exit as governor on November 12, 2016 following completion of his two terms of eight-year tenure. Oyegun said before Oshiomhole assumed office as governor, the state was considered as a civil service state and as such not viable. He stressed that through desire to effect positive change in the state, Oshiomhole embarked upon…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Sokoto inaugurated 500 Kalambaina Housing Units. Speaking at the event, Buhari stated that all tiers of government had the sacred responsibility of addressing the welfare of the governed in all possible ways. According to him, provision of shelter to the teeming populace is a priority for a purposeful leadership. He noted that the completion of the projects started by the previous APC-led administration of Aliyu Wamakko was a demonstration of humility and a fulfilment of the promises made by the APC administration. The President, therefore, saluted the efforts of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal and all…
Former Presidential Spokesperson, Reuben Abati has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Saturday. EFCC Spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren confirmed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was released to a surety without further conditions. An online medium, PREMIUM TIMES, had earlier reported that Abati confirmed his own release on Saturday morning and was “putting up somewhere in Abuja’’. The ex-presidential aide turned himself to the EFCC on Oct. 21 after he was accused of receiving N50 million from detained former National…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday saluted the efforts of the Nigerian Army for rescuing another Chibok schoolgirl. In his twitter handle, Buhari commended the soldiers for their gallant efforts to secure the people and territory of Nigeria, describing them as the nation’s heroes. “ I have received the heart-warming news of the rescue of another of our Chibok girls by the Nigerian Army “I commend our troops, who continue to work gallantly to secure the people and territory of Nigeria. You are our heroes. “No man, woman, or child will be left at the mercy of Boko Haram. This has…
The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) has threatened to blow up more crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta. The militant group also claimed responsibility for the destruction of the Trans-Forcados Crude Export pipelines in Warri South-West Council Area of Delta State. The NGDJM described the meeting of the Niger Delta elders as a humiliation of the people of the oil rich region, and also said that they are ready to go to war. This is following an announcement by the Minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, that Nigeria’s crude oil production has increased. The militant group also…