Manchester City can attribute their 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday to Rodri, whose late goal salvaged a crucial point. Despite a smart first-half strike from former City player Raheem Sterling putting Chelsea in the lead, Rodri’s late goal masked over an unusually lackluster performance from Pep Guardiola’s team. Erling Haaland had two excellent headed chances and missed another opportunity, highlighting City’s struggles throughout the game. Here’s how the match unfolded: In the first two minutes, Julian Alvarez struck wide as City started energetically. Haaland then missed a header that should have been an easy tap-in. Chelsea posed a threat…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Tottenham slipped out of the top four as Joao Gomes scored twice, securing a deserved 2-1 victory for Wolves in north London on Saturday afternoon. Wolves took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Gomes headed in from a corner. Dejan Kulusevski leveled proceedings with a smart finish early in the second half. However, a burst of pace from Pedro Neto allowed Wolves to counter, and Gomes arrived in the box to smash in the winner, solidifying their position in the top ten. In the build-up to the match, both teams faced injury setbacks. Tottenham was without influential full-backs…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that it was his “responsibility” that Cole Palmer opted to leave the club for Chelsea last summer. Despite Palmer’s 41 senior appearances for City over three years, the 21-year-old sought more regular playing time, prompting his decision to move on. City secured a substantial £42.5 million fee for Palmer, who had limited first-team experience. At Chelsea, Palmer has thrived, contributing to a total of 21 goals and assists in 28 games and earning a place in the senior England squad. Guardiola explained the circumstances leading to Palmer’s departure, stating, “If Palmer had the…
Arsenal delivered a resounding 5-0 victory against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon, closing the gap to just two points behind league leaders Liverpool. The opening salvo came in the fourth minute when Martin Odegaard, receiving a pass from Gabriel Martinelli, unleashed a superb low drive into James Trafford’s bottom corner. Shortly before halftime, Bukayo Saka doubled the lead with a confidently converted penalty after Lorenz Assignon’s foul on Leandro Trossard in the box. The second half saw Arsenal extend their dominance with Saka securing his brace within minutes of the restart. The 22-year-old capitalized on Odegaard’s precise through…
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is reportedly eyeing Barcelona midfielder Gavi for their summer transfer plans as they brace for the departure of Kylian Mbappe, according to sources. Mbappe has communicated his intention to leave PSG this summer, a move that would save the club approximately €200 million (£171 million) annually. However, a legally binding agreement between Mbappe and the club ensures PSG’s financial protection in the event of his departure, with the player set to return around €80 million (£69 million). In anticipation of the substantial funds becoming available, PSG has compiled a list of potential targets for the upcoming transfer…
Mauricio Pochettino asserts that he has not made any changes to Enzo Fernandez’s role in Chelsea’s team, despite a notable improvement in the Argentine’s performance. Throughout the season, Fernandez’s impact has faced scrutiny, with accusations that Pochettino’s utilization of the 23-year-old contributed to Chelsea’s struggles, highlighted by instances of him being caught too high on the pitch. However, in recent weeks, Fernandez’s influence has undergone a positive transformation. Not only has he become more involved in Chelsea’s build-up play, but he has also showcased a goal-scoring prowess, finding the net four times in 2024 already. When questioned about the perceived…
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has dismissed rumors linking him to the Liverpool managerial position. With Jurgen Klopp set to depart Anfield at the end of the 2023/24 season, Liverpool has compiled a shortlist of potential candidates, including Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso and Postecoglou, who is a lifelong Liverpool fan. Addressing the speculation in a press conference, Postecoglou stated, “I may be on a shortlist, [but] I don’t want to comment on that because it’s not a consideration in my current priorities, both personally and professionally.” When asked if he might stay at Tottenham despite the Liverpool interest, given…
The prolonged wait has come to an end, unveiling the not-so-secret departure of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain at the conclusion of the season. Mbappe, who previously surprised many by opting for a new deal in Paris over a speculated move to Real Madrid in 2022, has now communicated his intention to leave PSG this summer to Nasser Al-Khelaifi. The focus shifts to PSG’s next steps, with an internal list of potential replacements already in the works, featuring names like Marcus Rashford and Victor Osimhen. However, the enormity of filling Mbappe’s void is acknowledged, and PSG appears inclined to transition…
Liverpool’s pursuit of the Premier League title has suffered a significant setback as Alisson reportedly sustains a fresh hamstring injury. Scheduled to face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium in Saturday’s early kick-off, Liverpool is expected to navigate the match without their starting goalkeeper. As per The Mirror’s report, Alisson incurred a hamstring injury during training, ruling him out of the clash against Brentford. The Brazilian faces a race against time to regain fitness ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea on the following Sunday. Additionally, Liverpool hosts Luton Town on Wednesday in their last Premier League game before…
Manchester United has reportedly reached out to Bayern Munich regarding the potential acquisition of striker Mathys Tel, as per a German report. Tel, set to turn 19 in April, is in his second season with Bayern since joining from Rennes in 2022. Despite limited appearances in Bavaria, he has attracted attention from clubs across Europe. According to Sky Sports Germany, Manchester United has made contact with Bayern about the availability of the Frenchman. Two other unnamed Premier League clubs have also recently inquired about Tel. United’s pursuit of a new forward has been publicly acknowledged, with manager Erik ten Hag…
Former Chelsea and AS Roma manager, Jose Mourinho, has endorsed Portugal as his pick to win Euro 2024. Scheduled to take place from June 14 to July 14 this year, with Germany as the host nation, Mourinho shared his predictions on the Vibe with Five podcast on Thursday. He also identified England, featuring talents like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, among the favorites to clinch victory in Germany. “It is a very good generation,” Mourinho remarked. “They [England] got to the Euro [2020] final, they can do it. “The mentality of the guys who have gone abroad, Bellingham for example,…
The Sun reports that Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, pivotal players for the Super Eagles, are presently under medical observation in Italy following their involvement in the recent African Cup of Nations tournament. Lookman, who showcased his skills at AFCON with three goals, is unavailable for Atalanta’s Serie A match against Sassuolo due to an ankle injury sustained in the final against Cote d’Ivoire. Despite Lookman’s absence, Atalanta’s medical team is working diligently to expedite his recovery for the upcoming fixture against AC Milan. Lookman’s significant contributions to Atalanta this season, boasting seven goals and three assists before his injury,…
Jose Mourinho has identified Scott McTominay as one of the players he cherished coaching the most during his tenure at Manchester United, referring to the midfielder as ‘my boy.’ Mourinho, who managed Manchester United from the summer of 2016 to December 2018, won three trophies in his first season and finished as runners-up in the Premier League to Manchester City in his second season. Throughout his time at United, Mourinho played a pivotal role in integrating McTominay into the first team, giving him his professional debut in May 2017 when he was just 20 years old. Since leaving United, Mourinho…
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has conveyed a message to his players, Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer, emphasizing the importance of celebrating if they score against Manchester City in the upcoming Premier League clash at Etihad on Saturday evening. Both Sterling and Palmer were former players at Manchester City, and in a previous encounter earlier this season, they scored in a 4-4 draw against Pep Guardiola’s side, opting for subdued celebrations as former City players. However, Pochettino has now urged the English stars to express joy in their celebrations this time if they find the net against the host. In his…
The Premier League resumes with an enticing fixture this weekend as Manchester City, the reigning champions, face off against Chelsea in a highly anticipated clash at the Etihad Stadium. Both teams enter the match with divergent fortunes, setting the stage for a fixture brimming with intrigue. MNC vs CHE: Match Preview, Kick-Off Time, Team News, And Possible Starting Lineup As the Citizens strive to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool, their counterparts from West London aim to bolster their chances of securing a top-seven finish. Match Preview Pep Guardiola’s squad is in formidable form, boasting a 10-game winning streak…
Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender William Gallas has unveiled that Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is poised to join Chelsea during the summer transfer window. Drawing parallels between Osimhen and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, Gallas emphasized that the Nigerian international has the potential to make a considerable impact in the Premier League. Despite Osimhen extending his contract with Napoli until 2026 in December, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed his departure this summer. Osimhen has garnered interest from clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain. “I think they [Chelsea] will sign Victor Osimhen in the summer. I don’t know…
Former Belgium captain, Eden Hazard, has disclosed the reason behind his decision to join Chelsea, despite initially lacking interest in the club. Throughout his tenure at Stamford Bridge, Hazard found the net 110 times and provided 92 assists in 352 appearances over seven seasons. His contributions helped secure two Premier League titles, two Europa League triumphs, and an FA Cup. Interestingly, Hazard could have chosen a different path and played for Manchester United in the Premier League. Reflecting on his options, he revealed, “I had a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson [then manager of Manchester United]. I spoke with Harry…
Following the Super Eagles’ setback in the Africa Cup of Nations final, Ademola Lookman took to social media to extend congratulations to the Ivory Coast team and striker Sebastien Haller for their victory. The Nigerian forward commended Haller for his outstanding performances throughout the tournament and expressed optimism that Ivory Coast’s success would serve as an inspiration across Africa. Lookman shared his thoughts in a tweet via his X account, stating, “We fell short, but we gave everything, and we will be back. Thank you for all the love and support, always grateful for the fans. Congratulations to the hosts…
[ez-toc]In the recent FIFA men’s rankings released on Thursday morning, the Super Eagles have surged 14 positions, now securing the 28th spot globally. Furthermore, they claim the third position among Africa’s top teams, with Morocco leading the continent’s rankings and Senegal in second place. Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire round out the top five teams in Africa. The next update of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking is scheduled for April 4th.
Paris Saint-Germain’s forward Kylian Mbappé has officially conveyed his intention to leave the club this summer. According to Sky Sports, Mbappé informed the club’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, of his decision on Tuesday. The details of Mbappé’s departure are still being negotiated, with discussions ongoing regarding whether he will depart for a transfer fee or opt for a departure without compensation. PSG expects Mbappé to uphold his commitment not to leave on a free transfer. Once an agreement is reached, both PSG and Mbappé will jointly make an official announcement. Real Madrid has emerged as a strong contender for the 25-year-old,…