Atletico Madrid’s players will not allow praise to go to their heads even though they are level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga, coach Diego Simeone said on Wednesday. “When people talk well of your work it is good to help you keep improving,” Simeone told a news conference. “When you get too much praise then you can start to think that it all happens naturally but it isn’t like that. It is down to work and we realise that. “When you are sure of yourself you are not nervous about a criticism or a comment.…
Author: David F.
Manchester United are extremely concerned about disenchantment with Louis van Gaal’s managerial approach among the players and will discuss the situation just before the January transfer window, sources have told Theinfostride. We have been told that some senior members of the squad have even privately complained to club officials about the restrictive style of play and Van Gaal’s strict nature. Recent United briefings to English newspapers had indicated that the club’s support for the Dutchman remained emphatic but Old Trafford sources have repeatedly insisted that was never a unanimous view among club officials, and that some senior figures have doubted…
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and the rest of the club’s board were continuing to hold intense discussions about Jose Mourinho’s future on Wednesday with the manager’s future in serious doubt, according to current widespread speculations. Sources say Chelsea’s top officials met for nine hours on Tuesday following the 2-1 defeat to Leicester City on Monday night and that talks were continuing on Wednesday. Theinfostride has been told that a vote will be taken on Mourinho’s future, although that will be used merely to guide the final decision, which will rest with Abramovich. The Chelsea owner has been keen to retain…
A cracking volley from Spain international Xabi Alonso sealed Bayern Munich’s place in the German Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday after a 1-0 win over Darmstadt. The 34-year-old midfielder launched a long-range strike from outside the area with 40 minutes gone at Munich’s Allianz Arena which hit the top left-hand corner and gave Darmstadt goalkeeper Christian Mathenia no chance. “Even I wouldn’t have tried to pull that one off,” said Bayern’s impressed Germany striker Thomas Mueller when asked about Alonso’s strike. Having knocked out holders Wolfsburg in the previous round, Pep Guardiola’s remain the team to beat in the cup. Bayern…
Head coach of Nigeria’s Under-23 football team, Samson Siasia insists success at the just-concluded 2015 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is not “an end” as regards his project with the Dream Team VI. Nigeria beat Algeria 2-1 on Saturday in the Under-23 Afcon final to emerge champions in Senegal, booking a ticket to the 2016 Olympics as a result. While admitting that the victory pleased him to no end, Siasia revealed that only success at the 2016 Olympics will represent Utopia. “I was coach of Nigeria during the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, when we reached the final,…
FC Midtjylland striker Paul Ebere Onuachu says he is excited about playing Manchester United in the Europa League as the prospect of playing at Old Trafford looms. The Danish side have been paired with the English giants in the second round of the Europa League after the draws were made last week. Onuachu and his team came second behind Napoli in Group D of the competition ahead of Club Brugge and Polish side Legia Warsaw to qualify for the round of 32. The 21-year-old played six times in the Europa League scoring one goal in the process and says he…
Manchester City could have striker Sergio Aguero available for Monday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal after the Argentine returned to full training following a heel injury. Aguero limped off against Southampton last month and has missed the club’s last four games. City’s website (www.mcfc.com) said Aguero played a full part in Wednesday’s training session and, providing he suffers no reaction, could be ready to play at The Emirates on Monday. Aguero’s season has been a stop-start one so far with a hamstring injury picked up on international duty sidelining him for seven games earlier in the campaign. He has only…
Ghanaian actress and movie producer, Yvonne Nelson, has revealed that the movie, ‘Beast of No Nation‘ does not qualify for a nomination at the Ghana Movie Awards. The actress told Ghana’s KMJ on Hitz FM that the movie does not qualify for a nomination because it is not a Ghanaian production. ‘It’s not fair to all of us if they submit that movie because it is not a Ghanaian production. The fact that it was shot in Ghana doesn’t make it a Ghanaian production. So I won’t agree to that. If we are trying to promote our own, why will…
Top Nigerian music act, Olu Maintain has dropped a new single. The ‘Cinderella’ singer this time around teamed up with five talented females for the remix of his popular single, ‘NAWTI’. Olu Maintain engaged Seyi Shay, Yemi Alade and Cynthia Morgan to feature on ‘NAWTI -Baddest Remix Eva. Choc City first lady, Victoria Kimani and ex triple MG act, Emma Nyra are also on the new song. Olu Maintain had earlier announced he was dropping an album in August this year which didn’t happen. It is however unconfirmed if he will still be releasing it before the end of the…
Nigerian pop star, D’banj has just set a new record by becoming the first ever Nigerian artist to be featured on E! News. D’banj’s exclusive interview with E! News will air on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 8pm in it’s special E! News ‘African Special’. A few months ago, international magazine, FADER also interviewed Nigerian pop stars Wizkid and Burna Boy.
As Rivers state anticipate its biggest entertainment event of 2015, Timaya’s iConcur concert, the hosts for the event has been unveiled. Top celebrity couple, Gbenro and Osas Ajibade have been announced as the host of the concert which comes up on Saturday, December 19, 2015. Set to join Timaya at the gig are 2face, Tiwa Savage, D’banj, Skales, Mr 2kay, Burna Boy, Orezi and a host of other South South based music acts.
One of daughters of Fuji maestro, K1 the Ultimate, Damilola Marshal was called to bar in Abuja today, December 15, 2015. Damilola, who is 25 years old, graduated from the North America University Houdegbe, Cotonou, Benin Republic. Tall and beautiful, she is described by her friends as a combination of beauty and brain. Damilola will be the second daughter of the music icon to become a barrister. His first daughter, Monsurat was the first to be called to the bar. K1’s daughter.
Nollywood babe, Tonto Dikeh has launched her official website www.tontodikehent.com. The new website was launched a few hours ago with the aim of getting the actress closer to her fans with timely news and information on her activities, tours and events. Tonto Dikeh now joins other actresses like Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Ayo Adesanya and others who all recently launched their personal websites.
The Nigerian Music Video Awards, NMVA earlier scheduled to hold on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at Eko Hotels, and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos has just been postponed. In a statement concerning the postponement, the founder of the awards, Mr. Cally Ikpe said the postponement is inevitable. In his words, ‘Due to Circumstances beyond our control, it has become inevitable to postpone by a few weeks the 9th edition of the annual Nigerian Music Video Awards earlier fixed for December 17, 2015. A new date will be communicated shortly. We deeply regret all inconveniences’.
Suspended Fifa president Sepp Blatter has compared the investigation into ethics charges against him to “the Inquisition”. Blatter, 79, made the claim in a letter sent to all 209 national football associations reiterating his innocence. The Swiss was banned for 90 days in October, along with Uefa president Michel Platini. Both deny wrongdoing. Blatter and Platini, 60, will have personal hearings with Fifa’s ethics committee this week. World football’s governing body is investigating allegations that a £1.35m payment was made in 2011 for work Platini did as Blatter’s adviser. The term Spanish Inquisition is colloquially used to describe being asked…
The whole world will have noted in recent months that much speculation has focused on Barcelona, and whether the Spanish giants can afford to keep their ridiculously talented trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez at Camp Nou given their financial constraints. The Blaugrana have repeatedly said they do not intend to sell any of the three players, but both Manchester clubs will test the Catalan club’s resolve next summer in a “£1 billion battle,” according to The Sun. The paper reports that United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is “desperate to land Neymar,” while “Woodward’s rival at City, Khaldoon…
Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos says his former Bayern Munich teammate David Alaba is “an outstanding player” but refused to be drawn on speculation linking the Austria international with a move to the Real madrid. Alaba has established himself as one of Bayern’s leading stars after impressing in a variety of roles under coach Pep Guardiola, leading to reports of interest from Madrid. Kroos, who left Bayern for Real in 2014, said in an interview that he rates Alaba highly. “David is very good player and he has shown his class both at Bayern and the Austrian national team,” the Real…
UEFA.com has announced its Champions League XI for the 2015-16 group stage, with no representatives from European champions Barcelona. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have the most representatives with two apiece, with Thomas Muller and David Alaba making the cut for the German champions and Kevin Trapp and Thiago Silva included from the French side. Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the leading scorer in the group stage with 11 goals and also contributed three assists, is included alongside Muller (five goals, two assists) and Hulk, whose three goals and four assists helped Zenit St Petersburg top Group H.…
Cesc Fabregas has said Chelsea’s players must take responsibility for their poor Premier League form in 2015. Chelsea’s 2-1 loss at Leicester City on Monday night left them a point above the relegation zone after 16 matches played this campaign. Blues manager Jose Mourinho accused his players of betraying his work after the Premier League champions suffered their ninth league defeat of the term, and Fabregas accepts he and his teammates need to improve. The midfielder is quoted by Sky Sports as saying: “We will all have to take responsibility. If you are a big player and paid like a…
Spain international Thiago Alcantara always knew he’d choose Bayern Munich when he left Barcelona, even though his countryman David De Gea tried to lure him to Manchester United. Thiago, 24, trained and learned the game of football at Barca’s famed La Masia academy, but when the son of Brazil World Cup winner Mazinho moved on from the Catalans in 2013, he knew where he wanted to play. “David De Gea wanted me to join [Man United],” Thiago told the Daily Mail. “He wrote a message on my match ball after we’d beaten Italy in the final [of the 2013 U21…