Julen Lopetegui has said he knows he is vulnerable after Real Madrid were beaten 1-0 at Alaves on Saturday, while captain Sergio Ramos said it would be “crazy” to sack the manager despite Real’s run without a win — or even a goal — now at four matches. The last time Madrid went four games without scoring was in April 1985, when coach Amancio Ortega was immediately fired, but Lopetegui said it was much too early in the season for any such drastic action. “Coaches are always exposed, but we are not thinking about [the sack],” Lopetegui said in a…
Author: David Folami
Kylian Mbappe has praised his teammates for their role in Sunday’s 5-0 home win over Lyon that saw the French champions set a new record of nine wins from their opening nine fixtures. “My performance was good, but it was a team effort above all,” Mbappe told Canal+ after the final whistle at Parc des Princes. “We got the record and I will put my man of the match award in my trophy cabinet. Records are great, but I want to insist of the team aspect — there will be other chances to speak about records. “The team is the…
The agent for Zinedine Zidane said the former Real Madrid coach is not interested in managing in England amid persistent reports that he will replace Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. Zidane, has said he will coach again after walking away from Madrid in May following their third consecutive UEFA Champions League title. And although Mourinho remains under fire at United, who ended a four-game unbeaten run by defeating Newcastle United on Saturday, Zidane is an unlikely option to replace him, according to Alain Migliaccio. “I do not think that he will coach in England,” Migliaccio told Le Journal du Dimanche.…
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho received a private show of support from one Old Trafford chief after victory over Newcastle with a hug from Richard Arnold in the tunnel, sources have said. Arnold, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward’s right-hand man, interrupted a post-match interview to congratulate the United boss following the dramatic 3-2 win on Saturday evening. Sources said Mourinho was asked about his future in the interview, and after the Portuguese coach directed the question to Arnold, who was standing nearby, United’s managing director hugged the 55-year-old and said “well-done.” It came at the end of a week that has…
Maurizio Sarri has said Ross Barkley is on course to become a “great player” for Chelsea and England after he had a goal and an assist in the 3-0 win over Southampton. Chelsea’s breakthrough in the 30th minute came courtesy of Barkley, who dispossessed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg high up the pitch and played in Eden Hazard for his seventh Premier League goal of the season. Barkley then netted his first Chelsea goal to double their advantage just before the hour mark, tapping in Olivier Giroud’s acrobatic volley from a clever free kick, and substitute Alvaro Morata added another layer of gloss…
Pep Guardiola has apologised to Gabriel Jesus after taking the penalty off him in Manchester City’s 0-0 draw at Liverpool. The Algerian winger then blasted his shot high over the bar — his fifth missed penalty in eight attempts in the Premier League — as City had to settle for a point. “Yeah [Gabriel] wanted it, I apologise,” Guardiola told a news conference. “During the training sessions, I see [Mahrez] every time taking penalties and it gives me a lot of confidence. It will be a good experience for him, next time it will go in.” The result leaves City…
Harry Kane has refuted Cardiff manager Neil Warnock’s suggestion that he put pressure on referee Mike Dean to send off Joe Ralls at Wembley on Saturday. Kane rushed over to confront Ralls after the visiting midfielder’s cynical 58th-minute tackle on Lucas Moura, which was punished with a straight red card. Kane, however, does not believe he had any influence on Dean’s decision. “He’s kicked one of our players knee-height and the ref said to me that the fourth official helped him out,” said the Tottenham forward. “I guess managers are going to get angry, it’s part of the game. But…
Gonzalo Higuain scored twice as AC Milan secured a 3-1 victory over bottom side Chievo. Milan came into this match in 12th place and just four points above the relegation zone, but any doubts over whether they would record their third win of the campaign were put to bed following Higuain’s first-half double. The game’s opening goal came on 27 minutes as the on-loan Juventus man profited from a defensive mix-up. Chievo defender Mattia Bani and goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino got in each other’s way and Bani headed the ball to Suso, who picked out Higuain to score. And the two…
John Terry has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37 as he prepares to move into coaching. Terry, who has been without a club since leaving Aston Villa on a free transfer in May and was close to joining Spartak Moscow in September before having a change of heart, announced the decision on his official Instagram account. Last week, he helped prepare Chelsea U19s for a UEFA Youth League match against Danish club Molde that they went on to win 10-1, and he is reportedly set to return to Villa as assistant to Arsenal legend Thierry…
Kylian Mbappe has scored four goals in 13 second-half minutes to lead Paris St Germain to a 5-0 win over Lyon in a bruising Ligue 1 encounter on Sunday. Leaders PSG, already eight points clear of Lille, extended their winning start to the league season to nine games but it was a hugely flattering score for them after a match where both teams finished the first half with 10 men. Lyonnais, who had to substitute two players before half-time because of injury, more than held their own for the first hour and hit the post with the score at 1-0.…
Daddy duties for Russell Wilson, who shared a few adorable pictures with his stepson, Future Zahir, and Ciara’s fans are applauding the football star. This week, Russell took to social media and he shared a video and sweet picture where little Future is clinging to him like there is no tomorrow. Ciara’s son and husband were cheering the NBA champions, Golden State Warriors, as they took on the Sacramento Kings and won by a score of 122-94. Russell said it was “guys night out” and via the clips that surfaced online, the pair had a great time. Ciara and Russell…
Rihanna has been killin’ it on social media lately, which is why she’s our Instagram Queen of the Week! Our Instagram feeds were blessed this week, all thanks to Rihanna. The singer, 30, showed off tons of incredible looks and peeks at her Fenty Beauty holiday collection over the past seven days. Due to the amount of glorious posts RiRi decided to share, we’re naming her our Instagram Queen of the Week! Rihanna started the week off strong with a photo of her khaki satin trench coat outfit that she wore for a Sephora and Fenty Beauty event in Dubai.…
Cardi B and Nicki Minaj presented us with the feud that shows no sign of slowing down, after their infamous bust-up at New York Fashion Week last month. The two came to blows and haven’t stopped blowing ever since, with both rappers taking to social media and radio stations galore to sound off against one another. Now, Nicki has got her merchandise in on the action, by releasing some pretty tongue-in-cheek bags that harp back to one of Cardi’s comments in wake of their melee. Today, though, Cardi seemingly responded, as she showed off a new tattoo that appeared to…
Federal Way teenager Khairi Perry went to Thursday’s Beyonce/Jay-Z concert in Seattle just expecting to have a good time. He left $100,000 wealthier. Perry, 17, was awarded a six-figure college scholarship at the concert by the BeyGood and Shawn Carter Foundations. BeyGood was started by Beyonce, and Shawn Carter is her husband Jay-Z’s real name. For Perry, the award is life-changing. “It’s mind boggling,” he told The News Tribune Sunday. “All my focus is on graduating high school and getting into college and pursing my dream.” Perry had no idea he was being considered for the scholarship. “I was lost…
It was intriguing to learn that billionaire superstars Beyonce Knowles and her husband Jay-Z financed the purchase of their $88 million Californian mansion last year with a $53m mortgage from Goldman Sachs. The Wall Street Journal revealed that the power couple’s mortgage payments will be more than $200,000 a month, with a fixed interest rate of 3.4 per cent that will become adjustable in 2022. Is it any wonder that with money so cheap even the richest American entertainers are tempted to treat their home as a giant ATM? With US stock markets seemingly on a never ending upward trajectory…
Ghanaian actor Chris Attoh has penned an emotional message Sunday thanking God for finding love, hours after he tied the knot with his girlfriend. “I want to thank God for his love and for hearing my prayers, indeed when the sun appears all things suddenly seen with clarity,” he wrote. “Thank you God for a blessed day!!!” Attoh, who broke up with first wife, Nigerian actress Damilola Adegbite in 2017, remarried on Saturday. He tied the with his America-based Caribbean girlfriend who has been identified as Betty at a private ceremony at North Kaneshie in Accra. Attoh and Adegbite have…
As the results from the concluded primaries in various parties begin to trickle in, it’s a victory song for some like Stephanie Coker’s husband Olumide Aderinokun who clinched the PDP’s house of rep ticket. Olumide Aderinokun will be representing Abeokuta north, Obafemi-Owode and Odeda federal constituency in the forthcoming elections. The businessman took to his Instagram page on Thursday, October 4, 2018, where he shared the good news. “To God we owe all the glory Thank you to everyone, my wife, family & friends for the support. I am pleased to announce that I am PDP’s elected candidate for the…
Mayorkun is enjoying a good run in his music career and he owes it partly to the influence of Davido who gave him the opportunity at DMW. He tells Punch News about their first meeting. It is an encounter that will forever live in his memory. Mayorkun admits that the singer’s goodwill helped him to be relevant in his hustle. “I will continue to remember the day I met Davido for good. He has really been a blessing to me and I will always appreciate him. “He is a very good person because he didn’t know me from Adam before…
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has been honoured by the United Nations as one of the 100 most influential people of African descent. The AMVCA award-winning actress announced the good news via her Instagram page on Thursday, October 4, 2018. “Honoured to be one of the Most Influential 100 People of African Descent at the United Nations by @mipad100,” she wrote. Congratulations to Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde for flying high the name of our country. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde isn’t the only Nigerian celebrity on the list as we have the likes of Davido, D’banj, Dakore Egbuson, Yemi Alade, Stella Damasus and Falz. The award ceremony which…
Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has congratulated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for emerging as the Presidential flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the just concluded national convention of the party held in Port Harcourt. Atiku got 1,532 votes during the PDP convention and was declared the winner. Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu also commended the delegates to the convention and members of the organizing committte led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for holding a convention in which a candidate was elected in a free, fair, transparent…