Chelsea defender John Terry could move to China next season to play for Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande. Terry’s existing one-year-contract at Chelsea will be running out at the end of this season and Evergrande are set to table a huge offer for him. The 35-year-old was given a one-year-contract at the end of last season and after initially getting regular game time under Antonio Conte, Terry has been struggling with an injury. Summer signing David Luiz has impressed alongside Gary Cahill at the heart of Conte’s 3-man defence which means there is no place for Terry at the moment.…
Author: David Folami
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has urged his team-mates to quickly regain their focus for Saturday’s Premier League fixture with Middlesbrough after the euphoria of their victory over Barcelona. City beat Barcelona 3-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday in what was their first win over the Spanish side in six attempts. The victory was lauded as a landmark result by City manager Pep Guardiola, the former Barcelona boss, following his pre-season arrival at the Etihad Stadium. However, Belgium international De Bruyne, who scored from a free-kick against Barca, is wary of complacency creeping in ahead of the Premier…
Barcelona forward, Neymar has made his debut on the Hollywood big screen. In a trailer unveiled by Paramount Pictures for the movie ‘XXX-Return of Xander Cage’ Neymar is seen in one scene. The movie stars Hollywood giants Vin Diesel and Samuel L. Jackson. We could not tell the Brazil international’s role in the movie but it seems he played himself as he was seen kicking an object from the floor to showcase his skills as a footballer. His agent also could not reveal any details about the movie but confirmed Neymar’s involvement in the flick. “I’ve always wished to appear…
After a 37-shot performance against Burnley on Saturday, Manchester United have averaged 16.8 shots per game in league and European competition, ninth-most in Europe’s top five leagues. Despite the high volume of shots, the Red Devils average only 1.36 goals a game, ranking 46th of 98 teams among those top leagues. So is it because they have been bad or unlucky? It turns out to be a little bit of both. Man United have been one of the more inefficient teams in Europe with its shots. To wit, United rank 81st in on-target percentage, 76th in conversion percentage and eighth…
After a long wait to finally land his dream job, Jose Mourinho’s own actions will see him banned from managing Manchester United on the touchline at Swansea City. Mourinho’s overzealous protestations, which landed him his sending off and ultimately his suspension this Sunday, did little to quell talk of a man struggling under severe pressure. It is possible the horrendous form that led to his sacking at Chelsea last season still weighs heavy. For now, though, it is about the side, not the absent boss, which is rather welcome. United need a first league win since September, and they need…
Beating Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday would be huge for Arsenal. Already level on points with leaders Manchester City, the meeting at the Emirates is not only an opportunity for the Gunners to end Tottenham’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season, but also to give their own title credentials a shot in the arm. Arsene Wenger’s side look good for it, too. They have not lost since the opening weekend against Liverpool and have since won games — such as at Sunderland and Ludogorets — they would probably have drawn or lost previously. Their most impressive weapon at the moment…
Liverpool are set to appoint Michael Edwards as the club’s first sporting director, according to a source and multiple media reports. Edwards has worked for the club since 2011, after Fenway Sports Group took control of the Premier League side, in a number of roles including head of performance and analysis, director of technical performance, to technical director. His promotion to sporting director means he will be in charge of transfer talks with players and agents, according to reports. He also leads all football operations. Those duties previously fell to Ian Ayre, who is stepping down next year. Liverpool manager…
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has apologised for “misunderstandings” after being frozen out of the squad following statements made by his agent Dimitri Seluk. Toure released a statement in which he said comments made in the past “do not represent my views on the club or the people that work there.” It followed reports that he had told Seluk to end his feud with City boss coach Pep Guardiola. The statement, posted on his Facebook page, said: “I wish to apologise — on behalf of myself and those who represent me — to the management team and all those working…
Former Arsenal manager George Graham has told The Times he is hopeful Arsene Wenger may have finally addressed the club’s longstanding lack of “toughness” and “mentally strong” players. Wenger has faced questions over Arsenal’s lack of mental edge for many years, particularly since the departure of midfielder Patrick Vieira in 2005. Graham, who led Arsenal to First Division titles in 1989 and 1991, had been associated with defensive football during his time with the club and, having attended the Gunners’ 4-3 home loss to Liverpool at the start of the season, he described that performance as “typical Arsenal these days.”…
United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann hopes Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger decides to move to Major League Soccer, saying: “It would be a great thing.” Schweinsteiger, 32, has yet to make an appearance for United since Jose Mourinho took charge in the summer and, although he has now resumed first-team training, reports suggest the former Germany captain remains available for transfer and could be sold in January. Last month, MLS commissioner Don Garber said Schweinsteiger would be welcomed “with open arms” and Klinsmann, who managed the midfielder during his stints in charge of Germany and Bayern Munich, hopes a deal…
Robert Lewandowski netted twice on Tuesday as Bayern Munich came from behind to win 2-1 at PSV Eindhoven and seal their place in the last 16 of the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are guaranteed a place in the top two in Group D with two matches still to play after a night on which Poland hot-shot Lewandowski could have scored five goals, having also hit the woodwork on three occasions. “Overall we played well going forward, but took a little bit too long to move the ball in the first half,” said Bayern’s Germany forward Thomas Mueller. “We should…
Arjen Robben says Bayern Munich’s performances must improve as Robert Lewandowski’s two goals rescued a 2-1 come-back win at PSV Eindhoven to put them in the Champions League’s knock-out phase. With two games still to play, Bayern are guaranteed a place in the top two in Group D following Tuesday’s result in Eindhoven. Poland hot-shot Lewandowski could have scored five goals, having also hit the woodwork on three occasions. Having lost 4-1 away in Munich a fortnight ago, PSV took a shock lead when Santiago Arias headed the hosts ahead inside the opening quarter of an hour. But Lewandowski converted…
Borussia Moenchengladbach have accused Bundesliga bosses of favouritism towards Bayern Munich as they face a successive Friday night match, three days after a mid-week game in Europe. Gladbach were held to a 1-1 draw home to Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday and play Hertha Berlin away in a key Bundesliga match on Friday. It is the second time in quick succession Gladbach have been given a short turn-around by the German Football League (DFL) after they drew 0-0 with Frankfurt last Friday – three days after a German Cup win home to Stuttgart. Borussia, 11th in Germany’s top…
Barca could be five points adrift of Real by the time they kick off as the European champions host Leganes on Sunday. Madrid endured an embarrassing night in front of an empty stadium on Wednesday as they spurned a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 away at Legia Warsaw. The match was played behind closed doors due to violence and racist chanting from Legia fans. Yet, only Mateo Kovacic’s equaliser five minutes from time allowed Madrid to extend their unbeaten run to 27 games, and coach Zinedine Zidane once again criticised his side’s lack of intensity. “We lacked intensity, desire and…
Barcelona face a huge task to bounce back from defeat at the hands of old boss Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in midweek when the Spanish champions travel to high-flying Sevilla on Sunday. Barca trail La Liga leaders Real Madrid by two points with Sevilla, who have won their last seven home games, just a point further adrift. “We are coming into the game well,” said Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli after his side moved to the brink of qualifying for the Champions League last 16 with a 4-0 thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb. “I don’t think losing will affect Barcelona. If we…
Ahmed Musa is pleased with Leicester City’s impressive start in the Uefa Champions League and is keen to help his side seal qualification for the knockout stages as soon as possible. The Foxes have won their opening three games of the competition against Club Brugge, FC Porto and FC Copenhagen and currently sit top of group G. A draw for Leicester in the next game against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday could see them seal a place in the last 16 and Musa is keen to play his part to make that a reality. “We have been doing very well in…
Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is set to be out of action for up to a month after breaking a bone in his hand during Wednesday’s goalless Champions League draw away to FC Copenhagen, the Premier League champions have announced. Schmeichel suffered the injury during the first half in his native Denmark but got through the game and made a couple of late saves as Leicester edged closer to the last 16 of Europe’s elite club competition. The 29-year-old, a key figure for Leicester in their run to being crowned champions of England last season, was due to see a…
Sad but true, it is now official: Manchester United is in a crisis and in danger of becoming the “has-been giants” of English football. For clarity sake, I repeat that they are in danger, not yet there, and below are why their fans should worry. We are talking about a team that has spent in the last three years almost half a billion dollars in players and coaches acquisition and currently the most successful club in the history of English football. This latest defeat at the hands of Fenerbahçe SK at the Europa league group stage has sent Man United…
Swansea City manager Bob Bradley has asked his players to banish fear from their hearts as they prepare for the visit of Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. The American took over at the Welsh club in October, replacing Italian Francesco Guidolin, and is still searching for his first win after three league games in charge, with the club second from bottom in the 20-team league on five points. “There needs to be a mentality not the least bit afraid, that still understands every time we step on the field this is the chance to turn things around,…
Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta believes Antonio Conte’s decision to rebuild the team’s back line has laid the foundations for their push towards the top of the Premier League table. Conte’s side face Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday hoping to extend a run of four successive league wins since the head coach abandoned his original back four and installed a three-man central defensive unit. That run of success –- achieved without a goal conceded – has moved the side to within a point of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool who are tied on 23 points at the top of the…