Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc said on Tuesday he thinks his side are ready to reach at least the Champions League semifinals for the first time in more than 20 years. Speaking ahead of PSG’s friendly clash on Wednesday in Qatar against Italy’s Inter Milan, Blanc said it was right that the pressure was on for PSG to perform in European football’s biggest domestic club competition. At a joint press conference with Inter coach Roberto Mancini, Blanc said: “A season is judged on every trophy there is to win. “In France last year we had a perfect season but quite…
Author: David F.
Chelsea’s recovery has begun, captain John Terry claimed on Tuesday with the Blues unbeaten in the three games since Jose Mourinho’s departure. A victory over Sunderland has been followed by draws with Watford and Manchester United. A surge up the Premier League table has yet to materialise, however, and the champions remain in 14th place, only three points off the relegation zone. Chelsea travelled to Old Trafford on Monday to take on a United team that had lost four games in a row, but were unable to make that five as the two struggling giants fought out a 0-0 draw.…
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal says he will not quit despite seeing his side slip further off the top four. Monday’s 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea means United have now failed to win in eight games in all competitions. That hasn’t happened since 1990 and leaves the club five points adrift of Manchester City in fourth place. But an upbeat and defiant Van Gaal said: “When the players give such a performance with a lot of pressure, there’s no reason to resign.” It has been a testing few days for Van Gaal, who has been in charge of…
Chelsea’s interim manager Guus Hiddink says his team must show “ambition” against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday. The Blues have won just one of their past five matches, while United have lost three successive league games. Chelsea drew 2-2 against Watford on Saturday in Hiddink’s first game in charge since succeeding Jose Mourinho. The Dutchman said: “Every Chelsea versus Manchester United game is big but this one is especially of course.” The Premier League champions, who are 15th the table and 10 points adrift of sixth-placed United, came from behind against Watford on Boxing Day, with Diego Costa…
The woeful sight of Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic ballooning the ball way over the Manchester United crossbar when it appeared easier to score during the troubled sides’ 0-0 draw Monday perfectly framed the parlous position the club finds itself in midway through this tumultuous season. The match at Old Trafford was a desperate and scrappy affair between two tortured teams who have both lost the ability to clinically dispose of opponents when the opportunity presents itself. With Diego Costa suspended (again), Loic Remy suffering with a minor injury (again) and Radamel Falcao lacking match fitness (again), Chelsea interim manager Guus…
Before Christmas, it was suggested that Louis van Gaal had two games to save his job, and yet Manchester United have lost one of those and drawn the other, scoring no goals in either. In both games — the first a 2-0 defeat by Stoke and the second yet another goalless draw, this time with Chelsea — United totally dominated possession but couldn’t find the back of the net. Stoke took advantage of two United mistakes on Dec. 26, with their first goal coming after an incredibly feeble pass attempt by Memphis Depay. The Dutchman was 25 yards away from…
Leicester finished 2015 level on points with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League after a goalless draw with Manchester City at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night. The stalemate leaves Leicester second in the table behind the Gunners on goal difference, completing an amazing turnaround from 12 months ago when the Foxes were bottom of the standings. After defeat at Anfield on Boxing Day, some questioned the title credentials of Claudio Ranieri’s team but they silenced their critics with another superb performance on Tuesday night as they more than held their own against many people’s favourites for…
Because Leicester City play on Tuesday, it remains to be seen if Arsenal will top the Premier League table at the turn of year. Claudio Ranieri’s surprise package can leapfrog the Gunners if they beat Manchester City at the King Power Stadium, but whatever happens, Arsene Wenger’s team are in a good position heading into the second half of the season. For Arsenal to be where they are this campaign is both an expectation filled for fans who have demanded more in recent seasons and an achievement in itself because of the issues of depth that the squad has faced.…
Two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo says Lionel Messi is “more complete” than Cristiano Ronaldo, and has tipped the Barcelona star to win his fifth Ballon d’Or in January. The former Brazil, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid legend has been named the world’s best player three times in his career. Messi and his Real rival have shared the prize over the past seven years. Messi holds a slight edge with four wins to Cristiano Ronaldo’s three, and the ex-Brazil international Ronaldo says Messi is his pick to win another. “I choose Messi,” Ronaldo told Clarin on Monday. “I see Messi…
Marc Wilmots believes using a “humane” management style similar to Jurgen Klopp’s approach has benefitted his Belgium side, but insists becoming the No. 1 team in the world is not the same as winning a title as he prepares the Red Devils for Euro 2016 next summer. Wilmots, 46, was named as Coach of the Year at the Global Soccer Awards in Dubai on Sunday after Belgium rose to No. 1 in the FIFA World Rankings following a 3-1 win over Israel in October. The 2014 World Cup quarterfinalists topped their Euro 2016 qualifying group ahead of Wales, and they…
Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez says that speculation he could be sacked after Wednesday afternoon’s La Liga game at home to Real Sociedad is fuelled by a local media “campaign” against both him and club president Florentino Perez. With Benitez’s future being widely questioned around the Spanish capital, there has been mounting speculation that the now-available Jose Mourinho could be back in the Bernabeu hotseat as early as this week. Madrid’s players are also reportedly unhappy with Benitez’s methods, with AS claiming that while Benitez was spending Christmas with his family on Merseyside, dressing room heavyweights spoke with B-team coach…
Wayne Rooney has revealed he apologised to Oscar for the challenge on the Chelsea midfielder that led to suggestions the Manchester United captain should have been sent off. Rooney, 30, was cautioned by referee Martin Atkinson for his injury-time tackle on the Brazil international in Monday’s 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. But Howard Webb, who refereed the 2010 World Cup final, said on BT Sport: “It is clear when you see it in slow motion that Wayne Rooney should have been given a red card.” Rooney felt a booking was right for the offence when he planted his studs into…
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has conceded the Premier League side are unlikely to sign his close friend and Argentina teammate Lionel Messi from Barcelona. Messi, 28, have often been linked with a move to City, particularly after the club employed Barcelona’s former chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain, while it remains to be seen if Pep Guardiola, who managed Messi at the Camp Nou, will take over at the Etihad Stadium. City goalkeeper Willy Caballero said last week that bringing his fellow Argentine to the club was “possible,” in part because of his good friend…
Barcelona and star player Lionel Messi triumphed at the seventh edition of the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Sunday, taking home the prizes for best team and best player. Messi had travelled from Argentina to attend the ceremony. “It’s very nice to receive these awards, but I always say that the team makes it possible,” said Messi. “It’s been an extraordinary year.” Barcelona won five titles in 2015 – the Spanish league title, the Copa del Rey, Champions League, European Super Cup and the World Club Cup. Only the Spanish Super Cup eluded them with a loss to Athletic…
Diehard Real Madrid fan Sergi Guardiola’s decision to write offensive tweets aimed at Barcelona came back to haunt him on Monday when he was hired and fired by the Spanish giants on the same day. The 24-year-old striker penned a deal with Barca’s B team but was sacked just a few hours later when angry fans of the Catalan club made officials aware of Guardiola’s Twitter tirade from 2013, www.lequipe.fr reported. His tweets had included “Allez Madrid” and “F@#$ Catalans”. “FC Barcelona has decided to terminate the contract signed with Sergi Guardiola, after finding that he had published offensive tweets…
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique on Tuesday refused to rule out the possibility of strengthening his side in the January transfer window, with the club’s ban on signing new players set to expire. Barca were barred from registering new players for two consecutive transfer windows in 2015 after breaking Fifa rules on the signing of foreign players under the age of 16. However, from January 4 Barca will finally be able to hand debuts to off-season recruits Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal, with further transfer activity potentially on the cards. “You always have to take into account the possibility of improving…
The Super Eagles will fly out to South Africa on Saturday, January 2, for the final build up of preparations for the 2016 Africa Nations Championship. The team returns to training on Sunday, 27th December after a three day break which allowed the players to go celebrate the Christmas holidays with their families. In the absence of Chief Coach Sunday Oliseh, the team has been in Abuja preparing for the championship before the break. Assistant coaches Salisu Yusuf, Jean Francois Losciuto and Tijani Babangida have held forth for the former Borussia Dortmund ace as he continues to recuperate from an…
Southampton lacked ruthlessness and have to be more clinical in front of goal, manager Ronald Koeman said after West Ham United came from behind to defeat the Saints 2-1 in the Premier League on Monday. The Saints, who destroyed leaders Arsenal 4-0 on Saturday, had a 1-0 lead at half time, but the Hammers clawed back and clinched the three points thanks to goals from Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll. “You know if you only score one goal they still have the belief,” the Dutch manager told the club’s website (www.saintsfc.co.uk). The former Ajax and PSV Eindhoven manager said opponents…
Everton duo Tom Cleverley and James McCarthy will be examined after they picked up knocks in Monday’s demoralising 4-3 Premier League loss to Stoke City, manager Roberto Martinez has said. Cleverley replaced James McCarthy after just 26 minutes, but he made way in the second half for Steven Naismith after injuring his achilles tendon. “To lose Tom Cleverley through injury and to get a reaction, a flare up from James McCarthy is a real negative,” Martinez told reporters after the game. “It was a blow to lose James so early. We felt we needed an extra energy and you saw…
Arsenal’s Petr Cech is hoping to provide the perfect platform for the club to win the title after the goalkeeper celebrated a record by keeping his 170th Premier League clean-sheet. The 33-year-old surpassed the 169 shut-outs recorded by former England international David James as Arsenal beat Bournemouth 2-0 on Monday to go top of the table. Cech joined the club in the close season following a trophy-laden career at Chelsea, having kept 162 league clean sheets over 11 seasons at Stamford Bridge. “I have to confess that I started thinking about the record. The most important thing was to win…