Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has emphasized that for Arsenal and Liverpool to have a shot at winning the Premier League title this season, they must overcome Manchester City. Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville cautioned both the Gunners and the Reds against depending on other teams to do them favors. City’s comeback from a one-goal deficit to secure a 3-1 victory against United on Sunday places them just one point behind league leaders Liverpool. Arsenal could close in within two points of the top spot by defeating Sheffield United on Monday night. City’s upcoming league fixtures include away matches…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Chelsea legend Petr Cech has disclosed that he did not find training enjoyable under former manager Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge. The former goalkeeper expressed his belief that the training sessions under the Italian were excessively intense, resembling an actual match, which left the players fatigued. Cech shared these insights on the Obi One Podcast, recalling, “When a new manager arrived, Carlo Ancelotti, he was like ‘wow, this training is so intense, it’s like a match.’ I was like, ‘no boss, it is the worst’ because I felt everyone looked tired and wasn’t training well. Carlo didn’t understand this because…
In a remarkable showcase of skill and teamwork, Arsenal secured a resounding 6-0 victory against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. This commanding win solidifies Arsenal’s hold on the third position in the league standings, reigniting aspirations of clinching the coveted trophy for the first time in over two decades. The match unfolded with Arsenal’s dominance evident, particularly in the first half, where they netted five goals from various contributors. Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Declan Rice each displayed their goal-scoring prowess, leaving Sheffield United in disarray. The decisive moment arrived in the 58th minute of the second half…
Mikel Arteta outlines Arsenal’s potential requirement of 90 points to vie for their first Premier League title in two decades. The Gunners are in contention with Liverpool and Manchester City for the coveted English football prize, with a forthcoming match against Sheffield United aimed at narrowing the gap after both rivals secured late victories over Nottingham Forest and Manchester United. Achieving the 90-point target entails winning ten of the remaining 12 league games, including challenging away fixtures against City, Manchester United, and North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. When questioned about the necessary efforts, Arteta responded, “You always ask me this…
Casemiro emphasizes the need for Manchester United to emulate Manchester City’s approach after suffering another defeat in the derby. The Red Devils succumbed 3-1 to City at the Etihad Stadium, conceding to sustained pressure after initially taking the lead through a remarkable Marcus Rashford goal. Goals from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland made the difference, widening City’s lead over Manchester United in the league to a significant 18 points. Discussing the considerable points gap and the third consecutive defeat to their rivals, midfielder Casemiro acknowledged the “big objective” of closing this gap. “That is the big objective; we also have…
AC Milan forward Rafael Leao has emphatically stated that he has no intention of leaving the club in the near future, despite rumors of interest from Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. Recent reports from Spain had suggested that Milan might entertain offers for the 24-year-old in the upcoming summer transfer window, with Chelsea reportedly considering a renewed pursuit of Leao. Paris Saint-Germain, in anticipation of Kylian Mbappe’s potential departure, was also mentioned as a possible destination for the forward. However, Leao has swiftly put an end to any uncertainties about his future, asserting, “My future is at Milan. I’m here, and…
Bayern Munich is considering an immediate termination of head coach Thomas Tuchel if the team fails to advance past Lazio in the Champions League’s last 16. Tuchel’s departure at the end of the season has already been confirmed following a disappointing stretch that left the club trailing ten points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga title race. The Champions League struggles escalated when Bayern suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lazio in the first leg of the last-16 tie last month. There’s a looming risk of elimination unless they can overturn this deficit in the upcoming return leg on Tuesday. Sky…
Trent Alexander-Arnold emphasizes his full understanding of England manager Gareth Southgate’s past decisions to limit his playing time on the national team, despite his prominent role with one of the top club teams in the country. Despite his notable contributions to Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold faced challenges securing a spot in England’s starting XI, playing only 33 minutes during the recent FIFA World Cup in 2022. While he eventually featured as a central midfielder in the latter part of 2023, Alexander-Arnold, in an interview with FourFourTwo, acknowledged the timing factor in team selection and expressed understanding towards Southgate’s choices. “In a different…
Xavi expresses concern over Barcelona potentially facing an extended period without midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, both of whom sustained injuries during Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Athletic Club. De Jong, who left the field on crutches after an ankle injury in the first half, and Pedri, who appeared to injure his quadriceps just before half-time, could be sidelined for an extended period. Xavi remarked, “The injuries to Pedri and Frenkie do not look good. It is very unfortunate. They look like they will miss several games and could be out for a long time. Between today and tomorrow, we’ll…
Reports indicate that Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has engaged in discussions to clear the air with Kylian Mbappe. This comes in the wake of Enrique substituting the star forward during a 0-0 draw with Monaco, following Mbappe’s announcement of his intention to leave PSG when his contract expires in June. Despite persistent rumors linking Mbappe to Real Madrid on a lucrative five-year deal, tensions between the player and manager seem to have risen. Enrique, possibly preparing for a future without Mbappe, made tactical decisions such as not starting him in a recent win over Nantes and substituting him in…
Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is confident that the team will secure all three points in their upcoming match against Sheffield United on Monday night. Arsenal is currently in excellent form, having won all their Premier League fixtures in 2024. Fabregas anticipates that Mikel Arteta’s side will continue their winning streak, asserting that they are too strong for the relegation-threatened Blades. Despite their recent loss against Porto, Fabregas believes Arsenal is performing at a higher level in the Premier League and is confident in their abilities. Expressing his viewpoint, Fabregas stated, “I see Arsenal at the moment as too strong.…
Barcelona is actively seeking to transfer Kounde to secure funds for their own signings, and alongside Kounde, Brazilian winger Raphinha is also marked for sale. The onus is now on Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool to present concrete offers for the player. Specifically, Chelsea is in need of a high-quality central defender for the long term, especially to succeed Thiago Silva. Kounde’s ability to play as a full-back adds to his appeal as a potential option for the Blues. Manchester United, on the other hand, aims to strengthen their defensive lineup by considering a partnership between Kounde and Lisandro Martinez.…
Genk and Nigerian forward Tolu Arokodare faced a barrage of online vitriol and racial abuse after his penalty miss contributed to the team’s defeat against Club Brugge. In the Belgium Pro League clash, Genk, sitting in the 5th position, had the opportunity to overtake the 3rd-placed Club Brugge at Cegeka Arena. Arokodare, who had netted eight goals in 10 starts for Genk that season, was entrusted with a penalty kick in the 18th minute to secure an early lead for the hosts. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old Nigerian’s attempt missed the target, leading to a shift in momentum. Club Brugge capitalized on…
Anthony Joshua is determined to achieve a knockout victory over Francis Ngannou and intends to “make a statement” during their super-fight in Saudi Arabia on Friday. Currently riding a three-fight winning streak, Joshua is steadily working his way back into world title contention after a dominant performance against Otto Wallin last December, where he secured a victory in five rounds. Anticipating a different challenge against Ngannou in their non-title contest, Joshua expressed his confidence, stating, “I believe I can knock him out. Definitely. I would love to knock him out and make a statement. Physically, I feel strong and ready…
Sevilla’s head coach, Quique Sanchez Flores, has acknowledged that Manchester United loanee Hannibal Mejbri has secured a future with the Spanish club after making his inaugural start over the weekend. Initially joining Sevilla on loan for the remainder of the season with a potential £17 million buy option this summer, the 21-year-old faced a challenging beginning as he was deemed unready to play following a 28-minute appearance in a 5-1 defeat to Girona. Subsequently, Mejbri saw limited action, totaling just nine minutes over the next seven games. After the Girona loss, Sanchez Flores explained, “Hannibal, after speaking with him and…
Erling Haaland entered the Premier League only around 18 months ago, yet Manchester United fans are already dismayed by his impact. The Manchester City striker, with an extraordinary goal-scoring record, played a crucial role in his team’s historic treble last season, leaving United to witness his lethal abilities firsthand. As Sunday’s highly anticipated Manchester derby approaches, Haaland, facing United three times, has scored five goals and provided three assists against them. The irony is that Haaland could have been a Red Devil, as former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who had previously worked with him at Molde, recognized his prodigious…
In Manchester City’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Manchester United, former Red Devils captain Gary Neville placed blame on Victor Lindelof for Phil Foden’s impressive equalizer. Neville asserted that the defender’s efforts were lacking in the lead-up to Foden’s goal. Despite Marcus Rashford finding the net for Erik ten Hag’s team during the match, Lindelof, who filled in as a left-back in Luke Shaw’s absence, struggled to contain Foden after a precise pass from Rodri in the center of the pitch. Neville commented on Sky Sports, stating, “We have witnessed two remarkable goals at that end of the pitch. Manchester…
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has strongly criticized Paul Pogba following the Juventus midfielder’s four-year ban for doping. Souness maintained that Pogba lacks honesty, emphasizing that his previous observations about the 30-year-old being ‘lazy’ were accurate. Pogba recently received a four-year ban from football due to a failed drugs test, and he is currently appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), expressing shock and heartbreak over the situation. ”I criticized Paul Pogba often during his career, and some people seemed to take amusement from it,” said Souness in an interview with the Daily Mail. “But it was…
Paris Saint-Germain manager, Luis Enrique, has confirmed that the decision to substitute Kylian Mbappé at half-time during their 0-0 draw against Monaco was entirely his own. This marks the second consecutive match where Mbappé has been taken off early by Enrique. In the previous game against Rennes, the 25-year-old was substituted in the 65th minute as they played to a 1-1 draw. Speaking after the Friday game, Enrique emphasized the importance of preparing for a future without Mbappé in the squad. “I have been in football long enough; you should know that everything is important in this kind of club,”…
La Liga has initiated an inquiry following the circulation of a video on social media that allegedly captures a young Valencia fan racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during their 2-2 draw on Saturday night. ESPN Brazil shared the footage and interviewed the woman who recorded the incident. She revealed that the police were alerted during the game. This match marked Vinicius’ return to the Mestalla since May of the previous year when he faced racial abuse from home fans. Despite the Brazilian’s two goals helping Real Madrid secure a point, a potential late winner was denied after the…