Manchester City striker Erling Haaland openly criticized his own performance following the team’s disappointing 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday. Aston Villa handed City their latest loss after Jhon Duran gave them a 16th-minute lead, and Morgan Rogers extended the advantage just after the hour mark. Phil Foden scored a late goal for City in stoppage time, but the visitors struggled throughout the match. Haaland, in particular, had little impact, having scored just once in his last six appearances. The Premier League’s back-to-back Golden Boot winner was limited to only 18 touches, with just one coming…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain are set to reignite their pursuit of Victor Osimhen during the January transfer window. According to RMC Sport, PSG have already initiated contact with the Nigerian striker’s representatives. The French giants were linked with Osimhen last summer but opted against meeting Napoli’s €100 million valuation. Currently on loan at Turkish champions Galatasaray, the 25-year-old has a release clause in his contract, allowing him to make a move this winter. However, PSG may need to offload Randal Kolo Muani to create space for the former Lille forward in their squad. Osimhen has been in impressive form…
Premier League strugglers Southampton have appointed former Roma manager Ivan Juric as the permanent replacement for Russell Martin. Martin was dismissed following a 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary’s last Sunday. Interim manager Simon Rusk oversaw a narrow 2-1 loss to Liverpool in the midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final, but now the club has announced Juric as their new head coach. “I’m very pleased,” Juric said upon his appointment on Southampton’s official website. “I think it’s a really big challenge, but I’m optimistic because I saw a team that can do better.” The 49-year-old Croatian has spent his entire…
Scott McTominay has stated that his decision to leave Manchester United was a ‘mutual’ one between him and the club. The Scotland international made the move to Serie A side Napoli last summer in a £25.7 million deal. Speaking to the BBC, McTominay revealed he has no regrets about leaving United, emphasizing that it was a decision he was confident in. “I took it, I didn’t look back, and it didn’t take me long to make the decision,” McTominay said. “I knew that was what I wanted, and I’ll never have any regrets in my life.” “It was a mutual…
Pep Guardiola has urged for perspective on Manchester City’s recent struggles as they prepare for a challenging clash against Aston Villa in Saturday’s early kickoff. Despite guiding City to four consecutive Premier League titles and six in the last seven seasons, Guardiola’s team finds itself in an unfamiliar slump this season, with just one win in their last 11 matches. City currently sit fifth in the league table, trailing Nottingham Forest and holding a narrow two-point lead over Villa. Reflecting on the situation, Guardiola said:”I handle the good moments, and I handle the bad moments. I’ve had tough times in…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has provided an injury update ahead of Sunday’s match, confirming that defenders Benoît Badiashile and Wesley Fofana will remain sidelined for the long term. “Unfortunately, Badiashile and Fofana are still out, and both will be unavailable for a significant period,” Maresca said during his press conference. The absence of the two key defenders is a setback for chelsea’s backline. However, Maresca offered some positive news, announcing that attackers João Félix and Noni Madueke are fully fit and available for selection. “João Félix and Noni Madueke are both fine,” he confirmed, providing a boost to the team’s…
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Rúben Dias will be out for three to four weeks after sustaining a muscle injury during Manchester City’s recent match against Manchester United. “He felt something during the game and played through it for 75 minutes with pain,” Guardiola explained. “Now, he’s out,” he added. However, there is some positive news for City as defenders Manuel Akanji and John Stones have returned to training, offering a boost ahead of the team’s upcoming fixtures. Dias’ absence comes at a challenging time for City, who are enduring their worst run of results under Guardiola, with just one…
A section of Manchester United fans expressed their frustration with Marcus Rashford following his recent comments about seeking a “new challenge.” Rashford was left out of the United squad that suffered a 4-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final, with head coach Rúben Amorim explaining the decision was tactical. While Amorim has kept the door open for Rashford amid speculation about his future, some fans made their disappointment clear during the match. A banner unfurled by a group of supporters read: “Excuses. Ta ra, Marcus”—a reference to the famous 1989 message directed at then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson:…
Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has said his team lacked “clinical” finishing in their 4-3 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Thursday night. Tottenham took a commanding 3-0 lead with goals from Dominic Solanke (brace) and Dejan Kulusevski. United responded with goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo, but Heung-Min Son added a fourth for Spurs, before Johnny Evans scored United’s third. Speaking to Sky Sports, Amorim said:”We lost our focus at the start of the second half, and that made things difficult. If you look at the overall game, we were the better team, but…
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has urged Arsenal to sign Victor Osimhen when the transfer window opens in January. Arsenal’s struggle for goals up front has been evident this season, with the Gunners failing to score from open play in their last four matches. Currently sitting third in the Premier League, behind Liverpool and Chelsea, Mikel Arteta’s side is in need of a boost. Ferdinand believes that bringing in Osimhen could be key to revitalizing their title challenge. “You don’t have a number nine who’s coming on and impacting games,” Ferdinand told Football Transfers. “I don’t think you necessarily…
The Carabao Cup semi-final draw was confirmed on Thursday night, following Tottenham Hotspur’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Manchester United in the final quarter-final tie. Spurs will host Liverpool in the first leg of their semi-final, while Arsenal will face Newcastle United at home in the other. The first legs are scheduled for the week of January 6, with the second legs to follow starting February 3. Liverpool are the defending champions, having defeated Chelsea in last season’s final.
The National Sports Festival, originally scheduled for January, has been postponed once again to May 2025. The 22nd edition of the festival, branded “Gateway Games, Ogun 2024,” will now take place from May 16 to 30, 2025. Ogun State had won the bid to host the festival during the closing ceremony of the 21st NSF on December 10, 2022, with plans initially set for November 2024. However, due to unforeseen circumstances and the state’s lack of readiness, the event was first postponed to January 12, 2025. In October, Governor Dapo Abiodun had inspected renovations at the MKO Abiola Stadium and…
Manchester United head coach Rúben Amorim has confirmed that Mason Mount’s latest injury will sideline the midfielder for “several weeks.” The 25-year-old was forced off early during last weekend’s Manchester Derby, which United won 2-1 thanks to late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo. This marks another setback for Mount, who had already missed time earlier in the season due to a hamstring injury. Mount’s debut season at Old Trafford was also riddled with injuries, limiting him to just 14 Premier League appearances. During the current 2024/25 campaign, he has managed only 243 minutes on the pitch. Speaking at…
Former Atalanta midfielder Massimo Donati has hailed Ademola Lookman as an “incredible player,” highlighting the Nigerian’s newfound awareness of his strengths as a key factor in his transformation. Lookman joined Atalanta from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig in 2022 and has quickly become a crucial player for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side. This season, the 27-year-old has scored 11 goals in 19 appearances across all competitions. On Monday, the Nigeria international was named CAF Men’s Player of the Year, further solidifying his status as one of Africa’s top talents. “Lookman is an incredible player,” Donati told Gazzetta. “The biggest improvement he’s made…
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk’s career at the club is under threat following reports of a positive test for a performance-enhancing drug (PED). The Ukrainian international could face a four-year suspension if the results are confirmed. According to FootballTransfers, a banned substance was detected in the 23-year-old’s sample, and a second test could determine his fate. Chelsea, who signed Mudryk for €70 million, are preparing for the worst-case scenario. While Mudryk has denied any wrongdoing, his absence could pose a major challenge for the team, especially with critical matches like their upcoming Conference League clash against Shamrock Rovers. Fortunately, the January…
Former Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro credits Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini for Ademola Lookman’s remarkable rise in form this year. Since joining Atalanta from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in 2022, Lookman has flourished at the club. The 27-year-old has also shone on the international stage, playing a pivotal role in Nigeria’s run to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. “I believe giving Lookman the freedom to roam has allowed him to showcase his quality, both in decision-making and execution,” Peseiro told Sportitalia. “Of course, the club and Gasperini have created an environment where Lookman…
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford expressed his disappointment after being left out of the squad for the Premier League derby against Manchester City last weekend. Manager Ruben Amorim chose to exclude Rashford from the lineup that secured a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium. Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo scored in the second half to give United all three points. In an interview with Henry Winter, Rashford acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized his growth in handling such setbacks. “It’s disheartening to be left out of a Derby… but it happened, we won the game, so let’s move on,” Rashford said.…
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confessed to attempting to influence referees during matches this season but acknowledged that his efforts have been ineffective. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the Dutchman revealed he aimed to create a siege mentality at Anfield in hopes of receiving more favorable decisions from officials. “You try to influence as much as you can,” Slot admitted. “The mistake I’ve made here twice already, and one or two times in Holland, is believing that creating an atmosphere where it feels like the whole world is against you might lead to positive decisions at the end of…
The FIFA Best Awards took place in Doha, Qatar, on Monday night. Vinicius Jr, the winger for Real Madrid, was named Men’s Player of the Year, surpassing Manchester City’s Rodri and his teammate Jude Bellingham. In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati claimed the Player of the Year award for the second year in a row. The 2024 FIFA Puskas Award for Goal of the Year was awarded to Alejandro Garnacho for his breathtaking overhead volley against Everton in the Premier League. Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez was honored as Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, while Alyssa Naeher (USA and…
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has stated that only the global football governing body has the authority to determine the best player in the world. His comments, seemingly aimed at the Ballon d’Or, were made during the 2024 FIFA The Best Awards on Tuesday night. Infantino argued that FIFA should be the organization responsible for choosing the world’s best player, citing its unique voting system. Both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best are prestigious individual awards in football. Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid was named the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year for 2024. The Ballon d’Or, organized by…