Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo could be sanctioned for his goal celebration when he netted the equaliser in Sunday’s La Liga ‘Clasico’ at Barcelona, the president of Spain’s professional soccer league (LFP) said. . Ronaldo, not for the first time when he has scored at the Nou Camp, appeared to be urging the Barca fans to calm down when he struck to make it 1-1 in the 31st minute. . The Portugal captain, regularly the subject of abuse himself, has gained a reputation for winding up opposing fans and was widely criticised when he tore off his shirt to celebrate…
Author: David F.
Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo has said his side never entertained any fear of defeat in the course of Orange African Under-20 Championship final clash against hosts, Senegal. . The Nigerians piped the Young Lions of Teranga 1-0 in the final AYC clash on Sunday at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium, Dakar to claim a record seventh African title. . Ojo said the encounter though somehow tough than they envisaged but they were determined to hang onto their hard earned lead till the end of the keenly contested clash. . “We believed in ourselves that we’ll win the clash against…
Kenneth Otigba declared his wish to play for Nigeria despite playing for Hungary at youth level and he exclusively tells supersport.com why his heart beats for Nigeria as Calvin Emeka Onwuka caught up with him in Heerenveen, Holland. . Last year, as the Nigerian Super Eagles prepared for the world cup in Brazil l or actually just after the qualification was ensured I was at a press conference where a few names were reeled out to coach Stephen Keshi and asked if these players could break into his squad for Brazil. Amongst those names were Leon Balogun then of Fortuna…
Manchester United’s on-loan striker Radamel Falcao hinted on Tuesday he could leave the club at the end of the season in search of more regular football, but said he was still committed to the English side. . Colombia forward Falcao missed last year’s World Cup through injury then moved on loan from Monaco to United where he has seen limited first-team action and scored few goals under manager Louis van Gaal. . “I think any footballer needs to play and is happy playing. I’m totally committed to the club, there are eight matches to go (in the Premier League) and…
Stephen Keshi has accepted terms offered to him by the Nigeria Foootball Federation (NFF) and is set to be named coach of the Super Eagles. . A member of the NFF’s technical committee, Paul Bassey revealed that Keshi has accepted to continue as head coach of the three-time African champions. . “He (Keshi) has accepted the terms. Keshi has agreed to come back to work and that’s where we are for now,” Bassey told supersport.com. . When quizzed on the situation, Keshi refused to make a definite statement. . “My dear brother, I was offered a contract by the NFF…
Louis van Gaal has revealed that Manchester United will be his final job before retirement, reports The Telegraph. . The 63-year-old took over at United last summer after leading the Netherlands to a surprise third-place finish at the World Cup in Brazil, and he has one of the most impressive CVs in modern football. . He led a very young Ajax team to glory in the Champions League in 1995, and he also won three successive league titles with the club. . Van Gaal has also won silverware with Barcelona, AZ, and Bayern Munich, and he has been tasked with leading United back…
Manchester United’s search for a top quality central defender continues and they must secure one in the summer transfer window. . Louis van Gaal’s only central defensive reinforcement for Man United was Marcos Rojo who was more influential for Argentina as a left back. . Other than that, the Dutch manager gave opportunities to youngsters like Blackett and McNair who have done really well but United need someone world class. . According to latest reports, Manchester United are ready to finally sign a quality central defender. . As per Metro, Manchester United have agreed to pay the release clause of…
Manchester United are widely expected to make a move for Memphis Depay in the coming summer, after impressive performances from the speedy 21-year old all season. Louis van Gaal has worked with the winger at international level, and the pair could well be at the same club come July. . Depay infamously favourited a tweet about a potential move to Manchester United last week, and today the tricky winger took his social media game to another level, taking a sly dig at local rivals Liverpool, before quickly unfavouriting the tweet. . The tweet read “If Depay ends up going to…
Rafael Da Silva was chuffed to return to first team action when Manchester United took on Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday. . After struggling with injury issues all season, the Brazilian had previously returned to the team against Yeovil at the start of January but that would be his last appearance until Sunday’s match. . It appears Louis van Gaal prefers the stability of Antonio Valencia at right-back but it seemed there might be a way back for Rafael after Valencia’s error knocked United out of the FA Cup last week. . Van Gaal’s choice to also play…
Angel Di Maria is braced for a return to action after serving a one-match suspension, and the Argentinian is determined to help Manchester United through a tough run of fixtures, beginning with Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool. . Di Maria was sent off for two bookable offences in the Reds’ FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Arsenal and subsequently missed the morale-boosting 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend. But he is now back in contention for a place in Louis van Gaal’s team at Anfield. . United’s match with Liverpool is swiftly followed by fixtures against rivals…
World Cup-winner Paul Breitner feels Wayne Rooney is Manchester United’s number-one star. . The former West Germany international, who scored in two different World Cup finals and won 48 caps for his country, believes the England captain has earned the global respect of millions of supporters, even those who do not follow the Reds. . Speaking at the launch of the Red Heart United event at Old Trafford, the ex-Bayern Munich and Real Madrid stalwart was effusive in his praise of United’s no.10 and explained his standing within the game. . “You have so many outstanding players in your team and in…
Sean Dyche was “jumping around inside” after a “fantastic night” that saw his Burnley team record a famous win over Manchester City at Turf Moor on Saturday. . Manager Dyche felt the third from bottom club fully deserved their 1-0 victory, one that takes them within a point of safety and seriously dents City’s hopes of retaining their Premier League crown. . “The margins were tight but I think we edged it overall in a close game,” he told reporters. “I think the rewards were there for the team, individuals, the staff, myself and also the town and its fans.…
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini was in no mood to concede his team’s Premier League title challenge was over after watching them dominate possession but lose 1-0 at Burnley on Saturday. . The result was a major blow for the champions who are chasing a third title in four seasons but remain second behind Chelsea on 58 points with nine matches to play. . The full repercussions of Saturday’s defeat may not be felt until Sunday when Chelsea, who have 63 points and two matches in hand, play Southampton at Stamford Bridge. . “When you have a mathematical chance you…
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has urged his side to be on the front foot against Swansea as they continue their battle to finish in the Premier League top four. . The Reds travel to the Liberty Stadium on Monday in striking distance of a Champions League place with 10 matches of the campaign remaining. . Rodgers’ team are the league’s form team with an undefeated record in 2015 and have been victorious in seven out of their last eight matches. . But he does not want them to lose sight of the challenges ahead and urged them to set the…
Diego Costa ended his seven-game drought but the Chelsea striker’s 18th Premier League goal of the season was not enough to secure victory as the leaders were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. . Jose Mourinho’s side were desperate to bounce back from their midweek Champions League exit against Paris Saint Germain and take advantage of Manchester City’s surprise defeat against Burnley on Saturday. . But Dusan Tadic’s 19th penalty cancelled out Costa’s 11th minute opener and denied the Blues the chance to establish an even more commanding lead over the chasing pack. .…
Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster can look forward to an England call up next week with the praise of club coach Ronald Koeman ringing in his ears after an outstanding performance in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea. . But Forster, who saved attempts by Oscar, Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and Loic Remy as Chelsea peppered his goal in the second half, was not the only Saints player whose showing gives them hope of a run-out against Lithuania and Italy this month. . London-born full backs Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand returned to the capital with outstanding performances against the Premier League…
Wayne Rooney cheekily poked fun at claims he had come off badly in a boxing bout in his own kitchen by miming a knockout blow after scoring against Tottenham on Sunday. . Rooney’s day began badly when video footage emerged of the United and England striker being apparently knocked out in his kitchen by former teammate Phil Bardsley during a supposedly friendly sparring session. . The Sun newspaper reported the footage was shot in Rooney’s kitchen on February 22. . In the video, the pair pull on boxing gloves and trade blows as they spar in Rooney’s Cheshire mansion. .…
Chelsea’s disappointing 1-1 home draw with Southampton on Sunday could mean the Premier League title battle is no longer a two-horse race, according to manager Jose Mourinho. . It has appeared for months that the championship crown would go to leaders Chelsea or second-placed Manchester City but Mourinho believes it would be unwise to rule out teams like Arsenal and Manchester United. . “I agree that Chelsea not winning at home is not a good result but we had a five-point lead before the match and afterwards we have a six-point lead,” the Portuguese told reporters at Stamford Bridge. .…
The race for this season’s regular-season MVP award remains tighter than ever, with five candidates showing why it won’t be an easy choice to make. . Looking back at the candidates’ performances in games played from 9 to 16 March, LeBron James’s showings are undeniable, while Houston Rockets guard James Harden and Oklahoma City Thunder Russell Westbrook can’t be ruled out. . Four-time MVP James, who averaged 26 points in that timescale, sparked the Cavaliers (43-26) to the top-2 in the Eastern Conference thanks to their 3-1 record. . The Cavaliers are no longer the struggling team that faced an…
Lionel Messi was in the unusual position of having to laud one of his opponents for once as Joe Hart produced a sensational performance, albeit to no avail, as Barcelona eliminated Manchester City from the Champions League on Wednesday. . Hart made 10 saves on the night to restrict Barca to a 1-0 victory thanks to Ivan Rakitic’s solitary strike on the half-hour mark which sealed a 3-1 aggregate triumph. . Messi teed up the Croatian with a wonderful assist, but his quest to move ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history was frustrated…