Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger should consider recalling Theo Walcott or Danny Welbeck for misfiring Olivier Giroud in bid to restore fluency before vital Premier League games against Man Utd and Spurs February 24, 2016 Defensive mistakes attracted the majority of Arsene Wenger’s wrath as the Arsenal manager picked over the bones of another costly Champions League defeat, this time against free-scoring Barcelona, on Tuesday night. Yet there is another malfunctioning aspect of his team that has garnered less attention as they enter a run of fixtures that could determine [...]
Fifa election 2016: Presidential candidate Sheikh Salman accused of using football development funds on 2009 campaign February 24, 2016 Fifa presidential candidate Sheikh Salman has been accused of using Fifa development funds on a previous election campaign in 2009. The frontrunner to replace Sepp Blatter as head of football's governing body, whose campaign has been rocked by allegations of being complicit in human rights abuses, now faces accusations of using money earmarked for infrastructure and [...]
Arsenal 0, Barcelona 2: Lethal Messi gives Gunners deja vu February 23, 2016 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger blamed his team’s failure to learn from previous mistakes after Barcelona condemned them to an all-but certain Champions League exit at the first knockout round for a sixth year in a row. Two goals in the last 20 minutes from star Lionel Messi, the second a penalty, decided this first leg [...]
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino should follow Manchester City manager Mauricio Pellegrini’s lead and prioritise the biggest competitions February 23, 2016 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino cannot have failed to notice the furore that greeted Manchester City’s rotation policy as the Argentinian ponders team selection for Thursday's match against Fiorentina. Read more: Chelsea dump much-changed Man City out of FA Cup City boss Manuel Pellegrini has been pilloried this week after his experiment of fielding six teenagers [...]
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu wants Europe’s biggest clubs to be given wildcard entry into the Champions League February 23, 2016 Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has backed the idea of the Champions League offering wildcard entries to elite European clubs who fail to qualify for the competition. Members of the European Club Association (ECA), the representative group of the continent's biggest clubs, tabled the idea of offering wildcards as a way of ensuring well-supported teams [...]
Former Manchester United man signs huge Adidas sponsorship deal worth £31m over 10 years February 23, 2016 Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is set to sign a 10-year sponsorship deal with Adidas worth an eye-watering £31m, after spending years resisting being tied down to a particular sportswear brand. The Juventus star has so far not been affiliated to any one brand and has been happy to sport an assortment of different [...]
Shrewsbury Town 0, Manchester United 3: We needed help from Europa League conquerors FC Midtjylland to make FA Cup progress, admits Van Gaal February 22, 2016 Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal admitted that playmaker Juan Mata’s contentious free-kick was stolen from Europa League conquerors FC Midtjylland after the 11-time FA Cup winners cruised past League One strugglers Shrewsbury Town. A second-half strike from Jesse Lingard complemented goals in the opening period by Chris Smalling and Mata as United set up [...]
All I say is ‘abracadabra’ and Messi, Suarez and Neymar conjure magic, says Enrique as Barcelona bid to outgun Arsenal February 22, 2016 Barcelona boss Luis Enrique revelled in the ease of conjuring magic from his aces in the pack Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar as the lethal striking trident bid to outgun Arsenal. Messi, Suarez and Neymar have netted an astonishing 91 goals between them this season, while reigning European champions and La Liga leaders Barcelona [...]
Arsenal v Barcelona: Arsene Wenger admits Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez-inspired Catalan giants are almost perfect but insists the Gunners can cause a Champions League upset February 22, 2016 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits his team must rediscover their ruthless streak if they are to pull off a Champions League upset on Tuesday against a Barcelona team he rates as “not far from perfect”. Barca, propelled by the free-scoring triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, are strongly fancied to condemn the Gunners [...]
Chelsea 5, Man City 1: Guus Hiddink calls for FA Cup to be protected as Blues punish Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to field five teenage debutants February 21, 2016 Chelsea 5, Man City 1 Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink issued a passionate defence of the FA Cup’s place in English football after watching his team march into the quarter-finals by trouncing a weakened Manchester City on Sunday. Goals from Diego Costa, Willian, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and youngster Bertrand Traore helped the free-scoring Blues hit [...]