Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, has acknowledged the fans’ calls for the club to sign a new striker in the upcoming summer transfer window. While recognizing the supporters’ concerns, Edu remained discreet about the specific plans and targets Arsenal may have for the upcoming transfer season. The acquisition of Gabriel Jesus in 2022 for £45m has been marred by his injuries and a candid admission that goal-scoring isn’t his forte. Eddie Nketiah, the only other central striker in the squad, has not been a regular starter since November. Manager Mikel Arteta has often opted for repurposed wingers or attacking midfielders, such…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Liverpool secured a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final, with Virgil van Dijk delivering the decisive goal in extra time. The game appeared destined for a goalless draw in the third successive domestic cup final between the Reds and the Blues until Van Dijk’s headed winner from a late corner at Wembley. Jurgen Klopp’s side, featuring several young academy graduates, outlasted Chelsea, who are still pursuing their first trophy in the BlueCo era. In the first half, Liverpool had a chance when Axel Disasi’s slip allowed Cody Gakpo to set up Luis Diaz, resulting in a low…
Jurgen Klopp explained that Liverpool’s young players in the Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea were well-prepared for the moment due to the “environment we’ve created together” behind the scenes. With notable absentees such as Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Darwin Nunez from the matchday squad, Klopp included several teenagers on the bench. Despite assumptions that the substitutions signaled a conceding of the match, Klopp clarified that it was a tactical move to introduce fresh, young legs during extra time when Liverpool was actually on the offensive. “I’m pretty sure when we brought on all the kids, people…
Luka Modric delivered a spectacular late winner for Real Madrid against a spirited Sevilla side led by Sergio Ramos at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening. In his first return to the Bernabeu since the pre-Covid era, Ramos inspired his team to resist the La Liga leaders for a significant portion of the match. However, a moment of brilliance from Modric, a former teammate of Ramos, proved to be the decisive factor. The Ballon d’Or winner netted the winning goal in the final ten minutes of the game, propelling Madrid eight points clear at the top of the La Liga…
Mauricio Pochettino expressed his frustration over Chelsea’s missed opportunities in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, describing the defeat as “painful.” Despite carving open five significant chances, defined by Opta as situations where a player should reasonably be expected to score, Chelsea failed to capitalize on them. Liverpool’s second-choice goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher, played a pivotal role in thwarting Chelsea’s attempts. Pochettino emphasized the importance of scoring first in a final, lamenting Chelsea’s inability to convert their chances and conceding a last-gasp header from Virgil van Dijk. “We created four, five, six big chances, and we didn’t score,” sighed the visibly…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has suggested that both Omari Forson and Amad Diallo will play crucial roles in the upcoming weeks, filling in for the injured Rasmus Hojlund. Hojlund, who had scored seven goals in his last six Premier League appearances, sustained a “small” injury, ruling him out of the match against Fulham. This setback will keep the Dane sidelined for up to three weeks, affecting games against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, and potentially Everton and Sheffield United. This has prompted a reshuffle in the team, with Marcus Rashford moving to a central role, Alejandro Garnacho on…
Liverpool is set to receive a prize of only £100,000 after their 1-0 triumph against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday. In contrast, Chelsea, following their defeat at Wembley, will earn £50,000. The other two semi-finalists, Fulham and Middlesbrough, are slated to receive £25,000 each for reaching the last four. Contrastingly, those teams eliminated in the earlier rounds will not receive any prize money. This sum is notably less than the substantial rewards of over £100 million offered to the Premier League champions and a comparable amount available to the victors of the Champions League. In comparison, the…
Manchester United is expressing a keen interest in acquiring Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres in the upcoming summer transfer window. According to a Fichajes report, the 25-year-old Swedish striker, who has scored 29 goals and provided 11 assists for Sporting CP this season, has caught the attention of Manchester United. Gyokeres, who joined Sporting CP from Coventry City, reportedly has an £85 million release clause in his contract, a fee that Manchester United is reportedly willing to pay to secure his services. In another transfer development, Chelsea is reportedly eyeing a move for Brest full-back Bradley Locko. The 21-year-old has…
Iwobi emerged as the hero for Fulham, securing a decisive stoppage-time goal in the 2-1 victory against Manchester United. This win marked Fulham’s first triumph over Manchester United in 15 years, leaving the Nigerian elated. “I’m over the moon right now; to win at Old Trafford in the last minute is crazy, there’s no better feeling,” he expressed to the club’s official website. “We feel like we performed really well; we’ve been performing well recently, and today is a step in the right direction, and hopefully, we can kick on from there.” Alex Iwobi struck in the final minute of…
Vincent Enyeama, the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, has sadly confirmed the passing of his father, Phillip. On Sunday, Enyeama shared a heartfelt video tribute on social media, featuring moments of playing tennis with his late father. “To God be the glory for a life well spent. You were the reason a lot of people achieved what they achieved. You were selfless and generous. You stood in for many, you fought for many to achieve their dreams. “I am proud to have been fathered by you. It’s a series. Your number was called. Farewell. God rest your soul in peace,” he…
Despite Chelsea’s unfortunate defeat in the EFL Cup Final against Liverpool, there were notable performances from Chelsea players that truly deserve recognition. Three Chelsea Players Worthy of Appreciation Despite EFL Cup Final Loss To begin with, Malo Gusto deserves accolades for his exceptional display while filling in for the injured Reece James. Gusto surpassed expectations on the flank, demonstrating both solidity and skill throughout the match. Secondly, goalkeeper Petrovic emerged as a pivotal figure for Chelsea, making a series of remarkable saves to keep his team in the game despite relentless pressure from Liverpool. Lastly, Cole Palmer’s creativity and vision…
Barcelona delivered one of their most impressive performances of the season as they routed Getafe 4-0 on Saturday. The opening goal came in the first half when Raphinha capitalized on Jules Kounde’s long ball to confidently slot past David Soria. Barcelona, adopting a more direct style, could have increased their lead with chances for Ilkay Gundogan and Raphinha, who missed an opportunity to feed Joao Felix for a tap-in. In the second half, Joao Felix doubled the lead, tapping in a precise cut-back from Andreas Christensen. Frenkie de Jong added the third, finishing a move initiated by Raphinha’s quick footwork.…
Manchester United suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fulham on Saturday at Old Trafford. Despite an engaging first half, neither team managed to break the deadlock before the break. Calvin Bassey opened the scoring in the second half, and Harry Maguire equalized in the 88th minute. However, in the seventh minute of stoppage time, Alex Iwobi converted a brilliant Fulham counter-attack to secure a surprising 2-1 victory for the visitors and leave Erik ten Hag’s side stunned. Match Highlights: – Fulham made a bright start at Old Trafford, with Alex Iwobi narrowly missing two early shots. -…
Upon hearing his sentence, Dani Alves bowed his head in disgrace during a court appearance in Barcelona. Following a three-day trial this month, the Brazilian football legend has been convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman. Despite facing a potential four years and six months behind bars, Alves plans to appeal the decision. His life took a tumultuous turn after Catalan police arrested him in January 2023, leading to his imprisonment. Two months post-arrest, Alves’ model wife, Joana Sanz, left him, citing his impact on her mental health. This marked a stark contrast to Alves’ illustrious football career, where he…
Former Chelsea star Joe Cole has expressed reservations about the performance of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, despite the Nigerian’s recent goal against Barcelona in the Champions League. Cole shared his thoughts with TNT Sports while discussing potential rising stars in the world of football, following in the footsteps of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The former England international noted that Osimhen, who garnered attention around this time last year, has experienced a dip in form compared to the previous season. “Osimhen was the one this time last year. Everyone was looking at and then he’s fallen off a little bit,” remarked…
Manchester City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to just one point with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Bournemouth on Saturday evening. The decisive goal came in the 24th minute when Mateo Kovacic’s well-placed chip found Erling Haaland, whose bouncing half-volley was parried by Neto into the path of Phil Foden, allowing him to tap into an unguarded net. City had an early chance to take the lead when Bernardo Silva played a long ball to Foden, who set up Haaland, but the Norwegian striker squandered the opportunity. Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez tested Ederson with a long-range effort in…
Arsenal responded emphatically to their midweek Champions League setback by securing a resounding 4-1 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night, maintaining their pursuit of the Premier League title. Eager to redeem themselves after a surprising 1-0 defeat to Porto in the Champions League last-16 first leg, Arsenal dominated from the outset against Newcastle. The Gunners showcased their determination with an outstanding performance on home turf. The Magpies struggled to match Arsenal’s intensity, finding themselves under constant pressure early in the game. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice tested Newcastle’s goalkeeper Loris Karius in the initial stages,…
Former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann has shed light on the challenges faced by coaches at the club, emphasizing the limited time provided for implementing plans and team development. Nagelsmann, who currently serves as the head coach for Germany, compared Bayern Munich’s approach to that of other clubs, highlighting examples like Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool and Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, who were afforded more time to achieve success. “I was appointed at Bayern with the aim of changing things. There are clubs that give you the time. Jürgen Klopp was at Liverpool FC for five years until he became…
In a season where the Premier League title race is not the sole focus, the spotlight turns to the highly anticipated Carabao Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Both teams enter the clash with contrasting forms, with Liverpool enjoying a strong run while Chelsea seeks stability. Cup finals, however, possess a unique magic, making anything possible when these football giants collide. Match Preview The Blues enter the final nursing the wounds of a recent 4-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League, adding intensity to manager Mauricio Pochettino’s demand for a response from his squad.…
As Chelsea gears up to confront Liverpool in the EFL Cup final on Sunday, manager Mauricio Pochettino faces a pivotal decision regarding the lineup that could potentially secure the club’s first trophy under his management. While the ultimate choices will hinge on factors such as fitness and tactical considerations, here’s a proposed starting lineup that may pave the way for Chelsea to clinch the trophy: Goalkeeper Djordje Petkovic: Despite encountering some uncertain moments this season, Petkovic remains Chelsea’s unequivocal number one. His poise in high-pressure situations and adept shot-stopping skills will be essential against Liverpool’s formidable attack. Defense: Malo Gusto:…