Jose Mourinho has admitted that the Europa League is “not the big dream for every big player” but they have to find motivation and Manchester United want to win the competition. United manager Mourinho is preparing his team for the opening Europa League game of the season on Thursday, away against Feyenoord, and is disappointed that the stadium will be at reduced capacity due to crowd trouble. Speaking at his news conference on Wednesday, Mourinho said: “This is not a competition that Man United wants. It’s not the big dream of every big player, but we are not in the…
Author: David Folami
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola called Sergio Aguero a “special player” after the striker scored a hat trick in his side’s 4-0 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach in their delayed Champions League Group C opener. Aguero opened the scoring in the eighth minute before adding his second from the spot 20 minutes later after debutant Ilkay Gundogan had been brought down. The Argentinian made it 3-0 midway through the second half before Kelechi Iheanacho completed the rout in added time. When asked where the 28-year-old ranks among the other strikers Guardiola has worked with, the City manager told BT Sport: “One…
Marc Albrighton described scoring Leicester’s first ever Champions League goal as a dream come true. The Foxes marked their entry into the competition with an emphatic 3-0 win away to Club Brugge, leaving them top of Group G after Porto and Copenhagen drew 1-1. Albrighton opened the scoring when Luis Hernandez’s long throw was poorly defended and he told BT Sport 2: “It’s some feeling. It’s something I never thought I’d achieve, but it’s here and it feels just as good as I dreamt it.” Riyad Mahrez then scored the other two goals, the first a superb free kick and…
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed that the club took advantage of uncertainty at Manchester United when agreeing to sign Renato Sanches with a “handshake.” Bayern confirmed the signing of Sanches, 19, from Benfica for an initial €35 million in May, before he went on to impress as Portugal won Euro 2016. And Rummenigge told Sport Bild that the Bavarians “reacted quickly” after United had failed to follow up their initial interest in the midfielder. “We knew very well that Renato had a firm offer from Manchester United,” he said. The Bayern deal started to take shape on the…
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino rued a missed opportunity as his side lost 2-1 to Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday. Spurs suffered a disappointing defeat in front of a record crowd as they started their campaign at their temporary European home of Wembley. Monaco went ahead after just 15 minutes through Bernardo Silva and they doubled that on 31 when Thomas Lemar found the back of the net. Toby Alderweireld pulled one back on the stroke of half-time but the home side could not draw level in the second half. Speaking after the game, Pochettino said: “I think that…
Wayne Rooney has been left out of Manchester United’s 20-man squad for the Europa League match at Feyenoord on Thursday to give him some rest. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard, who struggled in Saturday’s derby defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford, will also not travel to the Netherlands. The squad was announced on United’s official website and United manager Jose Mourinho revealed in his prematch news conference: “He [Rooney] has played every game since the start of the season and he also played 90 minutes for the England team [against Slovakia]. He played 90 minutes last weekend [against Manchester…
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he never doubted his players during his side’s last gasp 2-1 Champions League Group F win at home to Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday evening. The visitors looked set for a famous first win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu through Bruno Cesar’s 47th-minute strike, until ex-Sporting youth teamer Cristiano Ronaldo equalised with time almost up with a free kick, and Madrid substitute Alvaro Morata headed the winner with the last touch of the game. For a long time it seemed Madrid were set to become the first Champions League holders to lose their opening game…
Rampant Leicester marked their Champions League debut in stunning style as they thrashed Club Brugge 3-0. Boss Claudio Ranieri had warned against expecting another fairytale but it was dream night in Belgium after Leicester scored twice inside the first half an hour. Marc Albrighton netted the Foxes’ first-ever Champions League goal, and first in Europe since 2000, before Riyad Mahrez crashed in a brilliant free-kick. Mahrez made it 3-0 with a second-half penalty with Leicester, who dominated at the Jan Breydel Stadium, top of Group G after Porto and Copenhagen drew 1-1. Burnley will give the Foxes a sterner test…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for postponing the Edo governorship elections. INEC announced the postponement of the election on Thursday, September 9, 2016, citing security issues as its reason. According to Punch, PDP’s spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, described the postponement of the polls as a coup. Adeyeye said “The postponement of the election by INEC is illegal, unconstitutional and a breach of the peoples’ trust in the commission and the security agencies. “It is a coup against the people of Edo State in particular and Nigerians in general. Since APC assumed power, virtually…
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Monday inaugurated the ultra-modern Lassa Fever Virology Centre constructed by the Ebonyi Government at the cost of N350 million. Inaugurating the project situated at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA) premises, Adewole said that the Federal Government would partner with Ebonyi to deliver adequate healthcare to the people. “The Federal Government will inaugurate six virology centres across the country to check the disease, as the 2015 outbreak was the most disastrous in the country’s history. “The mortality rate was about 60 per cent which implied that for every 10 cases, six fatalities…
The Commissioner for Health in Ogun, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, has declared the state free of Lassa fever following a recent expression of fear at a patient showing signs of the fever. The commissioner made this known in a statement he issued in Abeokuta on Sunday. He said that the government immediately swung into action to make sure that the patient, who complained of symptoms related to the fever was treated accordingly. “Being a proactive government, we don’t want to take chances, so we monitored with series of test carried out on the victim. “We have activated our disease surveillance and…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the postponement of the Edo state governorship elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as illegal. INEC announced, on Thursday, September 8, that the polls would hold on September 28 instead of September 10 as originally scheduled. The PDP’s comments were contained in a statement released by spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye on Thursday. The statement reads: “Sequel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s decision this afternoon to go ahead with the Edo state gubernatorial election as scheduled; and their immediate reversal of that patriotic stance, the Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party…
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has assured Nigerians that they will see the change promised by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in another couple of years. Osinbajo made the statement on Sunday, September 11, 2016, while speaking with journalists after a church programme in Abeokuta, Ogun State. “There are lots of people who will say where is the change they promised. People will condemn and shout, but we are very focused, calm and extremely confident that God is on our side and this country will not be the same,” he said according to Premium Times. “In another couple of years, we will…
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede has described factional Chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff as an “empty barrel”. The Sheriff faction of the party has presented businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim as its own candidate for the state’s coming governorship elections. Jegede made the comments on Monday, September 12, 2016, while speaking at an interactive session in Akure, ThisDay reports. “Let me tell you the fact. All those canvassing the factional PDP thing are empty barrels and should be ignored,” he said. “This is how you will know they are unserious people: All the PDP…
The candidate of the All Progressives congress (APC) in the Edo governorship Election race, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has urged voters to carefully select their leader. He stated this on Monday, September 12, during a visit to the Benin Technical College in Egor Local Government Area of the state. Obaseki said voters should assess the antecedents of all the candidates, including their achievements both in and out of government before making a choice. He said: “Leadership is very important; that is the key issue in this election. Who do we give power to? What is his background? What has he done…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to work on solving Nigeria’s problems and stop complaining. The opposition party also told Buhari to stop blaming past governments for his administration’s failures. The PDP made the comments via a statement released by spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye. The statement reads: “Mr. President in his Sallah message today, again blamed the present acute economic recession on the past administration and global economic downturn.” “Let Mr. President and his party, the APC, be reminded that it took a smart and experienced world-class Economic Team in the Year 2010 to lead Nigerians through…
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of running an insensitive government. Ize-Iyamu also assured people of the state that he would be fair to all residents regardless of their religion if elected into office. The PDP candidate made the comment while giving a Sallah message in commemoration of the Eid-el-Kabir festival. According to Daily Trust, Ize-Iyamu also said that he would revive industries shut by the policies of “an insensitive government in the past eight years.” “I am prepared to increase your opportunities to be skilled, equipped and empowered…
After his commanding performance in ‘Dance, ‘Professor Johnbull’ and ‘Mmege Mmege’ featuring Selebobo, among others, Flavour drops spanking new visuals for a love tune titled ‘Obianuju’. This one goes straight out to beautiful ladies all around the world. The visuals was directed by Patrick Elis. Enjoy.
Arsene Wenger revealed he turned down approaches from Paris Saint-Germain on numerous occasions because of his “love” for Arsenal. Wenger, 66, has been in charge at the Premier League club since 1996, but could have returned to his homeland. The Frenchman confirmed he had previously been wanted by PSG, who Arsenal face in the Champions League on Tuesday. “Look, [I didn’t say yes] because I love where I am,” Wenger said. “I know well the owners, but I feel always I remained loyal to Arsenal Football Club because I think it’s a club that has the qualities I love. And,…
Football legend Kanu Nwankwo is mourning the death of his mother, Susan Kanu Iheme who died on Wednesday, September 7. The cause of the death is still unknown but Kanu has released a statement eulogising his mother. The loss of Mama is hard to bear. She is a rock that stood by me and all my siblings. She showed us equal love and affection, and always prayed for each and every one of us,” the former Arsenal star says in a statement made available to papilomews.com. “Her support and prayers for me right from the beginning of my playing career…