Michael Jackson is easily one of the biggest musical legends the world has ever seen, but the fact that he is still a legend even in death is definitely something some people do not understand. The legend has now added a new record to the long list, especially since this achievement comes years after his death. Micheal’s hit album, ‘Thrillerchas now become the first album to ever sell 30m copies, getting a certification of 30x multi-platinum. The late singer’s newest achievement from beyond the grave was announced by the Recording Industry Association of America and the music legend’s estate on…
Author: David F.
Ronald Koeman fears Southampton will become embroiled in a relegation battle if they cannot swiftly arrest their declining form. Southampton host Tottenham on Saturday, managed by Koeman’s predecessor Mauricio Pochettino, in the Premier League following a run of five fixtures without victory that has also included a 6-1 home defeat by Liverpool and a 3-1 reverse at Manchester City. Their only point during that time came in a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa, who are bottom of the table by six points, and has left them eight points off both the relegation zone and the Premier League’s top…
Having come through their Champions League qualifying group in the most complicated, difficult way possible, Arsenal’s reward was to draw tournament favourites Barcelona in the round of 16. It was a group they were always unlikely to win anyway, with Bayern Munich obviously the strongest side in it, so how they got to this point was irrelevant. Nor do Arsenal fans need any reminding that drawing one of the so-called easy sides is any guarantee of European progression. Last season Monaco looked like a great chance for Arsene Wenger’s men to go further than the round of 16 for the…
Demba Ba has shed light on the managerial methods that led Chelsea to sack Jose Mourinho, describing the Portuguese’s style as “very exhausting” and admitting that he is not a coach who looks to rebuild the confidence of his players. Chelsea announced on Thursday that they had parted company with Mourinho for the second time “by mutual consent” after a disastrous start to the season, with the club’s technical director Michael Emenalo later confirming that “palpable discord” had developed between the manager and his players. And while Ba — who scored 14 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions for…
Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo insists sacking Jose Mourinho was “a very tough decision for the good of the club” and confirmed that “palpable discord” had developed between the Portuguese and his underperforming squad. In a statement released on the club’s official website on Thursday, the Premier League champions revealed they had parted company with Mourinho for the second time by mutual consent after two days of intense board meetings led by owner Roman Abramovich. Defeat to Leicester City on Monday left Chelsea languishing in 16th in the Premier League table, only a point above the relegation zone, with Mourinho…
It has become impossible to watch an Arsenal game this season without hearing of Mesut Ozil’s assist record. It’s now 13 in the 2015-16 Premier League season alone, a staggering figure that matches the best-ever assist haul of Dennis Bergkamp for an entire league campaign. Amazingly, it’s six more than any other Premier League player this season, and four more than anyone else in Europe’s major five leagues. It’s better than anyone could have imagined when Arsenal broke their club record transfer fee — three times over — to sign him in summer 2013. Yet in a way, it doesn’t…
The trip to Wolfsburg wasn’t a complete disaster for Manchester United. Although the first team were eliminated from the Champions League after a 3-2 defeat, their U-19 side beat Wolfsburg 2-0. Unfortunately, the convincing victory didn’t stop their elimination from the UEFA Youth League. Nicky Butt, who coaches United’s U-19s, has had to scrape together teams this season to play in the competition. United have players on loan to get more football than they’d get playing in the junior teams at Old Trafford. U-19 football is not as recognised in English football as it is on the continent, where considerable…
Steven Gerrard has hailed Jurgen Klopp’s impact at Liverpool and wishes he had the chance to play for the German. Gerrard is back training at Melwood during the Major League Soccer off-season before returning to LA Galaxy next month. And the former captain has felt the effects of Klopp’s positive influence around the club. Recalling a meeting with the German last month, Gerrard told the Evening Standard: “I had coffee with him and when I came out of the room I just felt happy. I felt taller. And I am not one of the players so I can only imagine…
Arsene Wenger has said Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez might be ready to return in Monday’s home clash with Manchester City. Sanchez has been out with a hamstring problem since the 1-1 draw with Norwich at the end of last month, but Wenger said he might be available for the clash at the Emirates Stadium. “Everybody who played against Villa is available for Monday,” he told a news conference. “Maybe there is a slight chance for Alexis to be in the squad again, but it is too early to be sure about it. He is running, but not participating in full…
Manchester United made a failed bid for Turkey captain Arda Turan last season, according to the Barcelona midfielder’s agent. Turan, 28, joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid for €34 million in July, although he is still not able to play for the Champions League winners until January because of their transfer ban. But, while Chelsea were also linked with the playmaker, Ahmet Bulut claimed that United also attempted to sign his client from Atletico. “Last season Manchester United made a bid for Arda but Atletico Madrid did not want him to leave,” Bulut told AMK. “I was in talks with Barcelona…
Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo has told Portuguese magazine Visao that he prefers the Spanish capital to Paris, but has not said he will never move to Paris Saint-Germain. Ronaldo, 30, has been linked with a move away from Madrid next summer, with former club Manchester United and French champions PSG reportedly interested in the Portugal captain. Reports in the Spanish media have repeatedly suggested that Ronaldo is unhappy with current Madrid boss Rafa Benitez, and the forward said last week that he misses former Los Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti and would love to work with the Italian again. Ronaldo…
Barcelona strolled into Sunday’s Club World Cup final as Luis Suarez scored a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Guangzhou Evergrande. Barca saw Lionel Messi ruled out shortly before the match with renal colic while Neymar, who has just recovered from a groin injury, also played no part, but Luis Enrique’s European champions enjoyed a comfortable win. “Suarez was spectacular,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. “He is very talented in difficult situations and knows what to do in those situations. We had some injuries to deal with so we had to adjust and he stepped up.” Suarez put Barcelona…
Eden Hazard’s dad has rebuffed any suggestion his son faked the injury that contributed to his substitution in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Leicester City on Monday. Hazard was taken out for Pedro Rodriguez on 31 minutes after a late challenge by Jamie Vardy during the loss at the King Power Stadium, which left Chelsea just one point clear of the relegation zone. Mourinho said after the match that he did know the nature of the injury, adding: “The only thing I know is in 10 seconds he made the decision himself. It must be a serious injury because he just…
Pep Guardiola has let the cat out of the bag as regards whether he will be staying at Bayern after the end of this season or not. He has announced he won’t. The Spaniard’s three-year contract expires next June and Bayern’s head coach has said he will announce “before Christmas” whether he will extend his stay or leave, with Manchester City among the English sides keen to secure his services. According to German daily Bild, Guardiola gave his decision to Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge “last week”. “Everything points to his leaving,” the paper added. Kicker suggested his departure was “an…
A first Champions League appearance in 19 years followed Juventus’s first league and Cup double in two decades, but as 2015 comes to a close the reigning kings of Italian football are battling a Serie A backlash. The Old Lady of Turin won a treble of trophies by the end of last summer with a 31st league title, a 10th Italian Cup and their seventh Italian Super Cup after a 2-0 win over Lazio in Shanghai. Juve’s bid for a first European crown since 1996, however, was halted in spectacular fashion as Barcelona handed Massimiliano Allegri’s men a footballing masterclass…
Gary Neville got the highly anticipated victory everyone expected of him against lower league Barakaldo on Wednesday and sealed a place in the King’s Cup last 16 5-1 on aggregate. Santi Mina’s header put Valencia ahead after eight minutes and Alvaro Negredo slotted home having been played in by Andre Gomes after 31 minutes. Former England defender Neville, in his third match in charge of the Spanish team, decided against making too many changes despite a 3-1 lead from the first leg against the third-tier side. Eibar overturned a 3-0 first-leg loss as a Mikel Arruabarrena penalty completed a 4-0…
After the shock Jose Mourinho’s sack as Chelsea manager on Thursday, We ave decided to list five of the most memorable quotes from his two spells at Stamford Bridge: “I have top players and I’m sorry, we have a top manager. Please do not call me arrogant because what I say is true. I’m European champion. I’m not one out of the bottle. I think I’m a special one.” – Right in his introductory press conference after arriving from Porto in 2014, Mourinho earns himself the nickname ‘The Special One’ “It is like having a blanket that is too small…
Cesc Fabregas has done his bit to lighten Mourinho’s mood by telling him himself and the rest of the players wil definately miss him. “Thank you for all you have done for me,” Fabregas wrote on Twitter, alongside a picture of the pair celebrating Chelsea’s league title success last May. “I owe you a lot and we will all miss you. Good luck in the future.” Fabregas is one of many players whose performance level has dropped this season as Chelsea have lost nine of their 16 league games, leaving them a point above the relegation zone. Chelsea’s players publicly…
Ligue 1 veteran, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said he wants Jose Mourinho to still be in charge of Chelsea when his team faces them in the Uefa champions league soon. Of course his wish won’t come true as Mourinho was confirmed sacked today. The Swede added that he was surprised at seeing his former coach in such trouble — Chelsea have lost nine games, are 16th in the Premier League and there is speculation Mourinho is about to be sacked — but insisted that would not make PSG favourites when the two sides meet next February and March. “To play against…
Real Madrid’s attacking BBC have got much potential but under-pressure coach Rafa Benitez must utilize them more effectively with his team hosting Rayo Vallecano on Sunday having dropped five points off the pace in La Liga. Defeat last weekend by Villarreal cranked up the pressure on Benitez and, apart from a fortunate victory over Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League, they have been unable to come out on top against any of the leading sides. Real failed to take advantage of a surprise draw by table-topping Barcelona against Deportivo La Coruna and, with Gareth Bale returning alongside Cristiano Ronaldo…