Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach of Real Madrid, has hinted that the club prefers not to utilize younger players. Following Real Madrid’s comfortable 3-0 victory over Cadiz on Saturday, where they secured their 36th La Liga title after Barcelona’s loss to Girona, Ancelotti explained his decision to substitute 19-year-old Arda Guler. When questioned about the substitution, Ancelotti cited Guler’s fatigue as the reason for his replacement with Jude Bellingham, emphasizing the need for fresh energy to secure the win. “Arda Güler fulfilled his role admirably, considering his youth. I opted to replace him due to fatigue, seeking fresh legs to…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Cristiano Ronaldo has emphasized that scoring another hat-trick doesn’t bother him as much as the welfare of his team does. The seasoned Portuguese forward achieved his 66th career hat-trick, adding to his remarkable tally of 52 goals in 52 games this season. In Al-Nassr’s 6-0 victory against Al-Wehda in the Saudi Pro League at Al-Awwal Stadium on Saturday, Ronaldo moved closer to the milestone of 900 career goals, needing just 10 more. While celebrating his 50th goal of the season with his first strike in the match and securing his 66th career hat-trick, Ronaldo reiterated that his main focus is…
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has cautioned his team against dropping any points in their final three Premier League matches. Despite their impressive 5-1 victory over Wolves on Saturday, City remains one point behind the league leaders, Arsenal, who secured a 3-0 win against Bournemouth. With three games remaining for City and two for Arsenal, the Gunners also hold a superior goal difference, six goals better than Guardiola’s side. When questioned by Sky Sports if their emphatic win over Wolves was a statement to their title competitors, Guardiola responded, “The message isn’t just ours; Arsenal has sent one…
Former England defender Micah Richards highlights Manchester City’s upcoming match against Tottenham Hotspur on May 12 as a crucial fixture to watch. Speaking on Sky Sports following City’s 5-1 victory over Wolves, Richards pointed out that despite City’s strong form, their history at Tottenham’s ground suggests they might face difficulties. With City trailing Arsenal by just one point after their latest result, Richards emphasized the significance of the approaching end-of-season matches. He noted that City often excel in these high-stakes encounters. Reflecting on Tottenham’s recent dip in form, Richards highlighted City’s less-than-stellar record at Spurs’ stadium, indicating potential stumbling blocks…
The 2023-24 Championship season unfolded an electrifying contest for Premier League promotion, with Leicester City and Ipswich Town emerging triumphant, securing the top two spots for automatic promotion. As the curtain falls on an eventful campaign, let’s delve into the contenders for promotion and their prospects in the upcoming Premier League season. Leicester City, steered by manager Enzo Maresca, clinched the Championship title with an impressive 97 points and a formidable goal difference of +48. Despite grappling with challenges throughout the season, including a late-season stumble, Leicester’s possession-oriented approach and the pivotal contributions from goal scorers like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Stephy…
Forest’s statement following Liverpool’s victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage drew criticism from Sky Sports, with Neville urging former Premier League referee Clattenburg to step down from his role. Neville stated, “Mark Clattenburg must resign tonight. If he saw those words go out which question the integrity of a referee and claims someone is a cheat for supporting another club then he’s supporting what is being said. He would lose all credibility with referees in the game. He should stand down tonight and distance himself from that statement.” Expressing his dismay, Neville likened Forest’s statement to a “mafia-gang statement,” labeling…
Mercy Akide Udoh made history as the first African woman to play professional football globally. Her groundbreaking achievement came when she joined the now-defunct Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) league in the United States, recognized as the world’s inaugural women’s football league. Akide’s entry into the sport marked a significant milestone for Nigeria and African women’s football, earning her recognition from FIFA as “The most renowned figure in African women’s football and one of the most formidable attacking players of the previous decade.” Born in Port Harcourt in 1975, Akide began her football journey by playing with boys in her…
Chelsea, one of the titans of the English Premier League, has opened discussions with Napoli in their quest to secure Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen ahead of the forthcoming summer transfer window. According to reports from Di Marzio, Chelsea is ready to make a substantial financial offer to secure Osimhen’s services for the upcoming season. The proposed bid being discussed between the clubs is said to fall within the range of €80-90 million. In addition to the monetary offer, Chelsea is reportedly willing to include Romelu Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Roma, as part of the deal, along with…
On Sunday, during Liverpool’s 4-2 victory over Tottenham, Mohamed Salah, the winger extraordinaire, matched a milestone previously set by Wayne Rooney. At Anfield, Salah, along with teammates Andy Robertson, Cody Gakpo, and Harvey Elliott, found the net before the hour mark, keeping Liverpool’s slim title aspirations burning bright. In addition to netting the opener, Salah, often hailed as the ‘Egyptian King’, provided the assist for Elliott’s remarkable goal. This latest performance boosts Salah’s season tally to 18 goals and 10 assists. Remarkably, Salah now holds the distinction of being the first player to achieve both 10+ goals and 10+ assists…
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou is confident that the club will support his “drastic” plans for player sales and acquisitions during the upcoming summer transfer window. Despite starting their first season under Postecoglou with an unbeaten Premier League run until November, Tottenham’s recent poor performances have dimmed their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. While Spurs may consider the 2023/24 campaign a relative success, Postecoglou is aiming for more and is advocating for significant changes within the club. “We need change. Change has to happen,” Postecoglou stated at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s match against Liverpool.…
According to reports, Thiago Silva has made the decision to return to his former club Fluminense once his contract with Chelsea expires this summer. The veteran defender announced earlier this week that he would be leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2023/24 season after four years with the Blues. Despite interest from various clubs across Europe and Saudi Arabia, multiple reports, initially from Brazilian outlet Globo, indicate that Silva has agreed to rejoin Fluminense. The deal with Fluminense will not be officially announced until Chelsea’s season concludes out of respect, as Silva is currently sidelined with an injury…
David Moyes disclosed that West Ham came close to signing Cole Palmer last summer before the midfielder opted for Chelsea. The Hammers pursued Palmer’s signature at the end of the previous season following his departure from Manchester City. However, they lost out to Chelsea in the transfer battle. Conversely, Manchester City showed interest in West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta during the summer. Still, they withdrew from the deal due to an investigation into potential betting breaches by the midfielder. Reflecting on West Ham’s failed attempt to sign Palmer, Moyes suggested that Paqueta’s collapsed move to City played a role in the…
Bayern Munich’s search for a new manager has encountered two new hurdles as both Roger Schmidt and Roberto De Zerbi have publicly dismissed the possibility of joining the club. Following unsuccessful pursuits of Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, and Ralf Rangnick, Bayern’s quest for a successor to Thomas Tuchel, who is set to depart at the season’s end, has faced setbacks. Schmidt, currently coaching Benfica, reiterated his commitment to his current role, stating, “I’m not available. I’m fully dedicated to Benfica and content with my position. I don’t require any invitations. My stance is crystal clear.” Similarly, De Zerbi expressed his…
Erling Haaland showcased his extraordinary talent on Saturday evening, netting four goals to propel Manchester City to a commanding 5-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. With Arsenal securing three points against Bournemouth earlier in the day, City needed a win to keep pace in the title race. They displayed composure and dominance, with Haaland completing his hat-trick before halftime. Although Hwang Hee-chan threatened to ignite a Wolves comeback early in the second half, Haaland swiftly extinguished any hopes with a stunning fourth goal. Julian Alvarez sealed the victory late on, ensuring City’s stronghold in the Premier League title chase. Game Recap:…
Real Madrid secured the 2023/24 La Liga title on Saturday evening following Barcelona’s unexpected defeat away at Girona. Los Blancos had earlier triumphed over Cadiz with a 3-0 victory, extending their lead over Barcelona to 14 points at the time. Xavi’s squad needed to win all their remaining games to stand a chance of overtaking Madrid, but their loss against Girona dashed those hopes. This marks Real Madrid’s 36th La Liga title, placing them nine ahead of Barcelona’s 27 victories. Reclaiming the title from Barcelona was a top priority for Madrid this season. They demonstrated their intent early on, with…
Barcelona suffered a stunning 4-2 defeat against Girona on Saturday evening, consequently gifting the La Liga title to Real Madrid. With Carlo Ancelotti’s team securing a 3-0 victory over Cadiz earlier in the day, Barcelona understood that anything less than a win against Girona would hand their rivals the coveted title. Despite initially taking a 2-1 lead, Xavi’s side relinquished their advantage in spectacular fashion, allowing Madrid to clinch the championship. The Match Recap: Barcelona wasted no time asserting their dominance, as Christensen found the net just three minutes into the game with a remarkable volley from the edge of…
Manchester United has engaged in discussions with Getafe regarding the extension of Mason Greenwood’s loan spell with the Spanish club, as per a recent report. Greenwood embarked on a 12-month loan agreement with Getafe last summer, following the dismissal of charges of rape and assault against him. During his time in Spain, the 22-year-old has thrived, tallying ten goals and six assists in 32 appearances. Although his loan arrangement doesn’t include an option for a permanent transfer, Getafe, having secured a 20% sell-on clause, have expressed their keenness to retain Greenwood for the upcoming year. According to The Athletic, talks…
Ivan Toney’s tenure at Brentford could be winding down, with only two games potentially remaining in his career at the Gtech Community Stadium. However, there’s also the possibility of him staying for another 40 matches or so. The 28-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Brentford this summer, as his contract expires in 2025. Both Toney and the club have been quick to dispel such speculation. Last season, Toney’s future seemed bright, with prospects of joining a European or title-chasing club, despite facing an eight-month football ban. However, interest in him is waning, and the option to…
According to BBC Sport, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has secured the Premier League’s Golden Glove award following Luton’s goal against Everton’s Jordan Pickford on Friday. Raya has maintained 14 clean sheets in 29 league appearances this season since joining the Gunners on loan from Brentford last summer. Before Friday’s match, Pickford was the sole contender who could have surpassed Raya in the Golden Glove race. However, Pickford’s chance to clinch the honor outright vanished when Elijah Adebayo scored the equalizer for Luton in their 1-1 draw. Despite having two games left, Pickford remains two clean sheets behind Raya and can,…
The recently appointed head coach of the Super Eagles, Finidi George, has expressed no intention to collaborate with his former teammates, Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amuneke. Finidi has yet to finalize his backroom staff since assuming his position earlier this week. Amokachi and Amuneke are said to be contenders for the assistant coach role. Both of them had also applied for the head coach position of the Super Eagles. Reports suggest that Finidi prefers to select his own assistants rather than working with the two former players. The NFF had previously stated that the new Super Eagles coach would have…