Branislav Ivanovic calls on Chelsea players to stick together following consecutive league defeats September 25, 2016 Defender Branislav Ivanovic has urged the Chelsea squad to stick together after their early-season wobble continued with Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Arsenal. The result condemned the Blues to consecutive Premier League losses, following last week’s 2-1 reverse at home to Liverpool, and came after a midweek EFL Cup scare at Leicester. “I know it’s very [...]
Win over Chelsea should give us the taste for more, says Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger September 25, 2016 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Saturday’s emphatic and long-awaited victory over London rivals Chelsea can remind his players of the heights they can reach. The 3-0 win was the Gunners’ best display of the season and fifth domestic triumph on the bounce – as well as a first competitive defeat of the Blues in 11 [...]
Freddie Ljungberg interview: Former Arsenal midfielder looking to Wenger as he plots his new life in coaching September 22, 2016 If the past really does dictate the future then former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has a notable back catalogue to consult as he plots his ascendency to the upper echelons of the coaching world. A member of the Gunners’ Invincibles who went the entire 2003-04 campaign unbeaten, Ljungberg, who won five major trophies in nine [...]
English Football League clubs reject proposals to incorporate Premier League B teams and Old Firm in overhaul of competition September 22, 2016 Premier League B teams and Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers have been ruled out of a revamped English Football League (EFL) structure following opposition from clubs to the proposals. It means that the extra eight clubs needed to make up a fifth tier of 20 teams – with the working title of League Three – [...]
Manchester City form is no surprise but Leicester can still catch them, says Claudio Ranieri September 22, 2016 Bullish Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri insists it is too soon to declare Manchester City as the Premier League’s champions-elect and is adamant the Foxes will defend their title to the bitter end. Leicester, who made a mockery of their status as 5,000-1 outsiders last term, have made a modest start to the campaign having won [...]
Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote wants to buy Arsenal FC and “turn it around” September 22, 2016 Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote wants to buy Arsenal within three to four years and turn the club's fortunes around. The Nigerian cement magnate, worth an estimated £8.4bn, says he has no doubt he has the capital to complete a full takeover of the Premier League. And the Arsenal fan believes he has the business [...]
Northampton Town 1, Manchester United 3: Jose Mourinho fumes despite Reds navigating banana skin to set up clash with rivals Manchester City September 21, 2016 Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho took aim at referee Stuart Attwell for failing to reduce League One Northampton to 10 men after his side ended a three-match losing streak to set up an EFL Cup fourth round tie with rivals Manchester City. United powered through in the second period with goals from Ander Herrera [...]
EFL Cup round-up: Slaven Bilic urges West Ham to use last-gasp win as leverage to escape wretched start to season September 21, 2016 West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has urged his side to use their last-gasp 1-0 victory over League Two Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup third round as leverage to escape their wretched start to the campaign. The clash looked certain to end goalless and head into extra-time before substitute Dimitri Payet curled home a sumptuous 25-yard [...]
Football Association chief Martin Glenn vows to spend big on upgrading Wembley for 2020 European Championship September 21, 2016 Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn has pledged to plough money into upgrading Wembley Stadium to ensure it is among the top one per cent of world stadia for the 2020 European Championship. The national stadium, which reopened in 2007 after a £800m rebuild, is set to host the semi-finals and final of the tournament, [...]
From virtual reality to socks to the “Netflix of sports” — these nine companies are changing football through technology and innovation September 21, 2016 Modern football has become a magnet for cutting-edge technology and innovative ideas. The ever-increasing sums of money sloshing around in the sport have raised the stakes, forcing clubs to seek out the next marginal gain through state of the art software and brilliant minds, as well as providing ample business opportunities for enterprising fans. These [...]