Leicester City 1, FC Copenhagen 0: Claudio Ranieri demands Premier League improvement after European smiles widen October 18, 2016 Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri demanded Premier League improvement after his side moved to within touching distance of the Champions League knockout phase with victory over FC Copenhagen. Algeria playmaker Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal of the game five minutes before the break as Leicester became only the fifth side in history to win their first [...]
Jose Mourinho is entitled to play it safe while Manchester United rebuild after rocky patch, and why Pep Guardiola should send Manchester City out to attack Barcelona October 18, 2016 Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has had several more months working with his team than Jose Mourinho has had at Manchester United, and I think the way that Monday’s 0-0 draw played out illustrated that. Eight Premier League games into his reign at United, Mourinho does not feel he has an attacking style that he can [...]
I never considered selling Theo Walcott in the summer, insists Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger October 18, 2016 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he never contemplated selling forward Theo Walcott in the summer despite an underwhelming year which appeared to suggest the clock was ticking on his Gunners career. Walcott has undergone something of a renaissance this term and notched his fifth Premier League goal of the season with two strikes against Swansea on [...]
Manchester City have reached “new level of commercial maturity”, claims chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak October 18, 2016 Manchester City have reached a new level of "commercial maturity" after announcing club record revenues of £391.8m for last season, according to chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Despite their worst Premier League campaign since 2010, City scored a second consecutive year of profitability as the bottom line almost doubled from £10.5m to £20.5m. The club's 11.4 per cent rise [...]
Liverpool 0, Manchester United 0: Jose Mourinho revels in proving doubters wrong as David de Gea saves Red Devils from Anfield rap October 17, 2016 Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho revelled in proving his doubters wrong after frustrating Liverpool’s attacking potency during an attritional stalemate at Anfield. Liverpool were unable to break free from the shackles of a carefully crafted Mourinho game-plan, although United were indebted to goalkeeper David de Gea, who pulled off two impressive saves to keep the [...]
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri makes no apologies for prioritising Champions League October 17, 2016 Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has defended his decision to prioritise the Champions League and rest key players for Saturday’s demolition at Chelsea with Tuesday's tussle with FC Copenhagen in mind. Ranieri chose to start reigning PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez and £30m record signing Islam Slimani on the bench as the Premier League [...]
Middlesbrough 0, Watford 1: Aitor Karanka jibes laughed off by Hornets boss Walter Mazzarri October 16, 2016 Watford boss Walter Mazzarri brushed aside cries of a lack of sportsmanship from Middlesbrough counterpart Aitor Karanka after the Hornets bulldozed their way into the Premier League’s top half with victory at the Riverside Stadium. Karanka accused Watford’s players of time-wasting and being prone to simulation during a clash settled by a long-range effort from [...]
Adidas stand to profit as Manchester United’s Paul Pogba tops shirt bestseller list – but could Arsenal look for more from Puma? October 15, 2016 At first glance, Manchester United’s £75m-a-year kit deal with Adidas looked like a vast overpayment on the behalf of the German sportswear manufacturer. Back in 2014 when United’s commercial guru Ed Woodward secured the deal, United had just endured their worst season since the 1980s, the club had failed to attract some high profile transfer [...]
Slaven Bilic refuses to blame London Stadium for West Ham’s early season woe October 13, 2016 West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has refused to lay the blame for his side’s turbulent start to the season at the door of their new home, the London Stadium. The Hammers are currently marooned in the relegation zone having accrued just four points from their opening seven fixtures, while crowd trouble has marred some [...]
Mauricio Pochettino confirms when he expects Harry Kane to return to full training as key midfielder suffers injury setback October 13, 2016 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that prolific marksman Harry Kane is set to return to full training next week as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury. Kane damaged ankle ligaments during his side’s Premier League victory over Sunderland last month and it was initially feared the England forward would be sidelined for up to [...]