Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has pointed to Kylian Mbappe as the team’s “biggest problem” amid their current struggles for form. Ancelotti believes Mbappe’s arrival has played a key role in their difficulties, with the French forward joining the club this summer as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. However, his time in Madrid has been far from smooth, coinciding with Los Blancos’ challenges in defending both their La Liga and European titles. In their recent 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico, Mbappe’s finishing and repeated offside positions frustrated fans. Furthermore, his preference for a central striker role…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti has pointed to Kylian Mbappé as a key factor behind Real Madrid’s recent struggles. Although the French forward, who joined on a free transfer this summer, has been a potent attacking force, his defensive work has come under heavy scrutiny. Reports from Relevo suggest that Ancelotti is particularly concerned with Mbappé’s minimal defensive contributions, especially after the team’s disappointing 4-0 loss to Barcelona, where he covered just eight kilometers on the pitch. Ancelotti believes this lack of defensive effort is disrupting the team’s overall balance, particularly when it comes to their pressing game and ability to…
Eddie Hearn, promoter of Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, has stated that Joshua is open to a fight with Tyson Fury as he considers his next steps in boxing. Joshua faces a lengthy wait for his anticipated matchup with Fury as he carefully plans his return following a disappointing defeat to Daniel Dubois. The knockout loss in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium in September marked a significant setback for Joshua, leaving him to navigate his path in the competitive heavyweight division. Despite this recent defeat, Hearn maintains that Joshua is still “arguably the biggest star in the heavyweight…
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has stated that he “feels responsible” for Erik ten Hag’s dismissal on Monday. The Premier League club made the decision to fire Ten Hag a day after the team suffered a 2-1 loss at West Ham. Ruben Amorim has since been appointed as the new head coach, while former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is currently in interim charge. Fernandes netted his first goal of the season in the 5-2 victory over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup earlier this week, and he also scored his first league goal on Sunday during the 1-1 draw with…
Moises Caicedo scored a spectacular volley to help Chelsea secure a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. The Blues were looking to recover from a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup earlier in the week. This match marked United’s first league game following Erik ten Hag’s departure. After a goalless first half, Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring with a penalty, sending Robert Sanchez the wrong way after Rasmus Hojlund was fouled in the box. Just five minutes later, Caicedo equalized for Chelsea, ensuring both teams shared the points. Chelsea now sits fourth in…
Manchester United have reportedly informed winger Antony that he is free to leave the club during the January transfer window following the dismissal of manager Erik ten Hag, according to talkSPORT. Antony’s former club Ajax and Brazilian side Flamengo are said to be interested in him, while other Premier League teams might also consider a loan deal. The 24-year-old joined United on Ten Hag’s recommendation over two years ago for £85 million from Ajax. However, he has struggled to meet expectations at Old Trafford, netting only four goals in his first season and contributing just once last season. So far…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faces a significant challenge with only 13 first-team players available for their upcoming Premier League match against Bournemouth, providing a boost for Arsenal and Liverpool in the title race. Guardiola revealed the extent of City’s injury crisis, which includes season-ending injuries to Rodri and Oscar Bobb, as well as ongoing absences for key players like Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, and Jack Grealish. The situation has worsened recently, with Manuel Akanji suffering a calf injury during warm-ups and Ruben Dias leaving the game against Tottenham at halftime. As City prepares for a tough…
Liverpool and Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk has explained the circumstances behind his accidental injury to teammate Ibrahima Konate during their Premier League win against Brighton on Saturday. Van Dijk noted that with many players around the ball, he inadvertently headed Konate on the arm. Konate left the match with an apparent injury after going down in pain following a challenge during a corner just before halftime. He exited the pitch with a makeshift sling and was replaced by Joe Gomez at the break. After the game, Van Dijk commented on the situation, saying, “There were so many bodies around…
Ademola Lookman is leading the pack among Serie A forwards in the 2024 calendar year. The Nigerian forward has been in outstanding form, supported by key statistics that highlight his superiority over other attackers in Italy’s top flight. Earlier this year, Lookman emerged as Nigeria’s standout player at the Africa Cup of Nations, netting three goals—joint-most in the tournament—contributing to the Super Eagles’ silver medal finish in Ivory Coast. He carried that momentum back to Bergamo, helping Atalanta secure a top-four finish. The pinnacle of his year came in the Europa League final, where he scored a hat-trick, handing Bayer…
The Premier League issued a statement on Sunday, affirming that referee Robert Jones made the correct decision not to send off Lisandro Martinez after the Manchester United defender’s controversial tackle on Cole Palmer. United captain Bruno Fernandes had given his team a lead with a penalty 20 minutes from time, but Moises Caicedo equalized just five minutes later, resulting in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. A key moment occurred in the third minute of injury time when Martinez lunged at Palmer, making contact with his knee after the ball had gone airborne without him touching it. Referee Jones opted…
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has criticized his former club for missing the opportunity to sign Cole Palmer when he left Manchester City for Chelsea. Palmer was sold in the summer of 2023 due to intense competition at Man City. Since joining Chelsea, the England international has quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout players. The 22-year-old scored 25 goals last season and already has 12 this season for the Blues. “Cole Palmer’s been brilliant, hasn’t he? I think he’s fantastic,” Scholes said on The Overlap. “He’s a big United fan too. How did we miss him?…
Marcelo is now a free agent after his contract with Fluminense was terminated. This news was confirmed by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on his X account on Saturday, stating: “Real Madrid legend Marcelo is now available as a free agent after his contract at Fluminense has been terminated.” The decision from the club appears to be linked to a clash between Marcelo and coach Mano Menezes, which resulted in Marcelo being benched following a heated disagreement over tactics. The 36-year-old left Real Madrid in 2022 after a stellar 15-year career that included five Champions League titles. He briefly joined…
Liverpool reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday. The home side fell behind in the first half after Ferdi Kadioglu scored with a low shot. However, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah struck late in the match to secure the win at Anfield. With this victory, Liverpool now has 25 points from 10 matches, two points ahead of Manchester City. City’s unbeaten start to the season ended with a 2-1 loss at the Vitality Stadium, where Josko Gvardiol’s late header only provided a consolation after goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson…
Bruno Fernandes achieved his 150th and 151st goal involvements for Manchester United during the 5-2 victory over Leicester City. In a feel-good win under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, Fernandes scored his first two goals of the season, relieving some pressure after a disappointing start to the campaign that contributed to Erik ten Hag’s departure. With this achievement, Fernandes becomes only the seventh player to reach 150 goal involvements in Europe’s top five leagues since joining United on January 29, 2020. Notably, he is the only midfielder to accomplish this milestone in the last five years. Fans will be keenly…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his team struggled to match Bournemouth’s intensity during their 2-1 defeat on Saturday, which ended their 32-game unbeaten streak in 2024. Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring for Bournemouth, followed by a second goal from Evanilson. Although Josko Gvardiol managed to pull one back for City, it was only a consolation. In his post-match interview with BBC, Guardiola said: “We knew we couldn’t match their intensity. We discussed it beforehand. It was an open game, and while we had chances at the end, I congratulate Bournemouth on their victory. “They excelled in the 50-50…
Chelsea centre-back Wesley Fofana has reaffirmed his commitment to the Blues following summer interest from Marseille. After the transfer window closed, Fofana revealed that Marseille director Medhi Benatia reached out to him about a potential move. As a lifelong Marseille fan, this sparked some reflection before he ultimately decided to reject the offer. “We received a call from Mr. Benatia, and my heart went: boom boom,” Fofana shared in a recent interview with Telefoot. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca assured Fofana of his future at Stamford Bridge, which ultimately influenced the player’s decision to reject Marseille’s approach. “I wasn’t sure if…
Alex Iwobi is committed to inspiring young people through football and music. The Nigerian international recently released his second single, “What’s Luv?”, featuring his close friend SPKS and rising artist MBrown. This follows his debut single, “Don’t Shoot,” released in June. At 28, Iwobi expressed his desire to motivate young individuals to pursue their dreams. “Growing up in a challenging area of London, I understand how tough it can be, and I’m grateful to have a platform to make a difference,” he told BBC Sport. “I hope my music shows that young people don’t have to fit into just one…
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe explained his team’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, highlighting the hard work and defensive effort of his players. Alexander Isak’s first-half goal secured the win for Newcastle at St. James’ Park. Speaking to BBC MOTD after the match, Howe credited his team’s determination and solid defending, especially in the second half. “Today’s performance was built on hard work, desire, and excellent defending in the second half,” Howe said. “We maintained 95 minutes of concentration and consistency in our attitude, effectively managing and controlling some very talented players.” He emphasized the…
Controversial British broadcaster Piers Morgan criticized Arsenal following their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday. He expressed disappointment in the team’s performance, stating that they have regressed since last season. Morgan noted that it was concerning Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had not secured a world-class striker or a suitable creative midfielder to fill in for the injured Martin Odegaard. After Alexander Isak’s decisive goal secured all three points for Newcastle at St. James’ Park, Morgan, a passionate Arsenal supporter, took to X to share his thoughts: “Newcastle deserved that win. They were the better team today. Arsenal have gone…
Viktor Gyokeres has expressed uncertainty about his future amid rumors linking him to Manchester United alongside Ruben Amorim, who will take over as head coach on November 11 after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal. Gyokeres has been a standout performer in Europe, notably scoring four goals in Sporting CP’s 5-1 victory over Estrela, which helped maintain their perfect start to the 2024/25 league season. Having a strong relationship with Amorim, who signed him from Coventry City, Gyokeres remained noncommittal when asked about a potential move to Old Trafford. “I don’t know,” Gyokeres told Sport TV. “I’m happy here and focused on…