Betting: Ruthless United to push nervous Norwich closer to relegation trap-door May 5, 2016 When Norwich beat Newcastle just over a month ago, the Canaries were six points clear of the Magpies, and four clear of the drop zone. But they welcome Manchester United to Carrow Road on Saturday lunchtime after three successive defeats, and are now two points behind Newcastle and safety. While that win, and another the [...]
Leicester City brand has grown more than any other club this season but Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea still top the list May 5, 2016 Leicester City have been placed above Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in a ranking of the strongest Premier League brands after catching the world’s attention with their historic title triumph. The newly-crowned champions are this season’s biggest risers on the Brandtix rankings of Premier League brand value, which measures both a team’s on-pitch and off-pitch [...]
Football betting: Manchester City and Arsenal can edge closer to Champions League spot with a point May 5, 2016 It wasn't supposed to be this way for either of these two sides. When Manchester City against Arsenal was scheduled for the penultimate weekend of the season, it looked like a mouth-watering clash that could decide the fate of the Premier League. Instead, the Gunners travel to Manchester on Sunday with the trophy already in the [...]
Tottenham in talks to stage next season’s Champions League matches at Wembley, confirms FA chairman Greg Dyke May 5, 2016 Chairman Greg Dyke yesterday confirmed that the Football Association is in negotiations with Tottenham over the north London club playing its Champions League matches at Wembley next season. Spurs later released a statement affirming their intention to consider playing European games away from White Hart Lane in order to comply with Uefa stadium regulations. Next [...]
Forget Leicester City, Southampton and Everton are a better bet for future Premier League success according to new management index May 5, 2016 Newly-crowned champions Leicester City are more likely to mimic Chelsea's collapse than retain the title next season, according to a new report on the management quality at Premier League clubs. Claudio Ranieri's side may have redefined what was previously thought possible, but similar-sized clubs hoping for long-term success should instead look to Southampton and Everton, [...]
Real Madrid 1, Manchester City 0 (Agg: 1-0): Pellegrini blames lack of creativity as City suffer European Bale-out May 4, 2016 Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini rued a lack of creative spark as his side meekly bowed out of the Champions League following an uninspiring showing against 10-time winners Real Madrid. Real set up a repeat of the 2014 final against La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid when former Tottenham forward Gareth Bale’s cross-cum-shot flew beyond City [...]
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp eager to harness Anfield factor again as Reds bid for Europa League final May 4, 2016 Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has backed his side to stoke the “Liverpool world” by conjuring another Anfield comeback to dispatch Villarreal in Thursday's semi-final second leg and reach the Europa League final. Liverpool trail 1-0 from the first leg after conceding a last-gasp strike from Villarreal substitute Adrian Lopez, although for large parts of their [...]
Mousa Dembele facing extended ban after FA charge Tottenham midfielder with eye-gouging Chelsea’s Diego Costa May 4, 2016 Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele is facing a lengthy ban after he was charged with violent conduct by the Football Association (FA) for appearing to gouge Chelsea striker Diego Costa in the eye. The FA emphasised that Dembele’s alleged offence was so severe that, if found guilty, he should be punished more severely than with the [...]
Bayern Munich 2, Atletico Madrid 1 (Agg: 2-2, Atletico win on away goals) Manchester City-bound Pep Guardiola fails to deliver Champions League parting gift May 3, 2016 Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola’s quest to deliver Champions League glory as his leaving gift before joining Manchester City in the summer was destroyed as Atletico Madrid progressed from Tuesday's semi-final second leg on away goals. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Bayern levelled the tie through former Liverpool midfielder Xavi Alonso but wasted a golden [...]
Manchester City not fretting over expected return of Cristiano Ronaldo, insists Manuel Pellegrini as he plots pathway to Champions League final May 3, 2016 Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini insists he is not having sleepless nights over the expected return of two-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo as his side bid to reach the Champions League final by toppling Real Madrid. Former Manchester United attacker Ronaldo, who has scored 47 goals – 16 in the Champions League – this term, [...]