Zlatan Ibrahimovic to miss Manchester United FA Cup tie as Bournemouth appeal against Tyrone Mings charge March 7, 2017 Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss next week's FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea after accepting a three-match ban for violent conduct. The Swedish striker, who elbowed Bouremouth's Tyrone Mings in the first half of Saturday's 1-1 draw, will also be suspended for United's Premier League games away at Middlesbrough and at home to West Bromwich Albion. Bournemouth are [...]
Ronald Koeman to Arsenal or Barcelona? Why Everton manager is perfect for a Champions League club but should stay at Everton March 7, 2017 As an Evertonian, I was delighted when the club hired Ronald Koeman as manager last summer. He was the one that I wanted, although I wasn’t sure he would leave Southampton, where his results were pretty miraculous. He did and the Toffees have been lucky to have him. Koeman got off to a good start [...]
Betting: Barcelona and Dortmund to exact Champions League second leg revenge March 7, 2017 When Barcelona were drawn against PSG in the Champions League last-16, many just assumed that Luis Enrique’s all-conquering side would breeze past the French champions. But the Catalonians were left shell-shocked, when first half strikes from Angel di Maria and Julian Draxler put Unai Emery’s side in complete control. Further goals from Di Maria and Edinson [...]
BT must innovate to win over more football fans and justify its lavish £1.2bn outlay on Champions League rights March 7, 2017 The business of football TV rights used to be relatively simple. There were rights to show live games, and rights to show highlights. For years, Sky dominated the live market, crushing a series of challengers with its financial fire-power and superior coverage. Highlights were often reserved for traditional free-to-air TV channels such as ITV and [...]
West Ham United 1, Chelsea 2: Antonio Conte praises Blues for handing title pressure March 6, 2017 West Ham United 1, Chelsea 2 Chelsea manager Antonio Conte praised his team for withstanding pressure from their title rivals after they re-established a 10-point lead atop the Premier League with a clinical dismantling of West Ham. The Blues took hold of the contest when Eden Hazard finished a rapier counter-attack and tightened their grip [...]
Arsene Wenger plays down rumours of Alexis Sanchez rift on eve of near mission impossible against Bayern Munich March 6, 2017 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger played down suggestions of a rift with Alexis Sanchez on the eve of his side’s near impossible Champions League conundrum against Bayern Munich. Wenger denied that a training ground feud was the reason for Sanchez’s omission from the Gunners’ starting line-up at Liverpool on Saturday, but conceded the Chile playmaker was [...]
Betting: Bayern to pile more misery on Wenger at the Emirates March 6, 2017 Arsene Wenger’s time at Arsenal looks to be nearing a bitter end, as a growing number of fans continue to turn on the long-serving manager. Defeat at Liverpool on Saturday, which saw talisman Alexis Sanchez left on the bench, has only added to the pressure from Gunners fans who are eager for change. It doesn’t [...]
Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to miss Manchester United’s FA Cup clash with Chelsea after FA misconduct charge March 6, 2017 Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic faces missing his side’s FA Cup quarter-final showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday after being slapped with a misconduct charge by the Football Association (FA). Bournemouth’s Tyrone Mings has also been charged after he and Ibrahimovic clashed in two separate incidents during the Cherries' 1-1 draw at Old [...]
Chelsea enters the big league after Sadiq Khan signs off new £500m home March 6, 2017 Chelsea's £500m stadium expansion has been given the green light by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, paving the way for a 50 per cent increase in the ground's capacity. The club, currently sitting at the top of the English Premier League, will expand within the tight constraints of its Fulham-based home. Match-day capacity at Stamford Bridge [...]
Sunderland 0, Manchester City 2: I don’t want to see a team of mine defending a two-goal lead, fumes Pep Guardiola March 5, 2017 Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola slammed his side for sitting back and defending a two-goal lead despite cantering to a routine victory over bottom of the table Sunderland. In-form Sergio Aguero swelled his goal tally for the season by netting his fifth in three matches in the opening period as Leroy Sane settled matters shortly [...]