Tag Futebol

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Sometimes I wonder if being a part of a smaller club with modest history is actually a far simpler, and ultimately better variant of the two possible ones. And I bet this thought comes to most clubs, managers and even players who long for those past, overly romanticised times when you had to invest less and stood to gain tenfold.

But then they probably remember they’re making far too much money to care and they’ve developed far too big of an ego to dial it all down a bit now. No, not in the days of modern football when we know where our priorities lie despite knowing where they should be. And that is the problem Manchester United are facing right now – denial.

Denial is the first of the five stages of grief according to the Kübler-Ross model and as long as Manchester United are unwilling to accept that they are indeed grieving over past accolades, trophies, managers and overall better times, they will be unable to move forward.

No one can deny that they are a club with one of the richest histories in the world of football and living in the past is not faulting solely them, but that is undoubtedly at the very roots of all of their problems.

Manchester United were a huge club and the emphasis is on the past tense here; they should stop acting like they are still on top of the food chain. Of course they are failing to meet their expectations because those expectations are so high that even the titans of modern football would be struggling to meet them.

The first step in getting out of this slump is to stop trying to punch above their weight. Stop dreaming of all those star players joining every summer, stop praying for Champions League football until you are indeed ready to contest that trophy and stop acting like the world is at your feet when clearly you are the ones on your knees.

One point separated City and Liverpool but twenty-five separated them from the rest! Fans discuss who could reduce the deficit next season in the video below?

This might all sound extremely harsh but just like every civilisation has a start, peak and eventual end before rebuilding from scratch, the same goes for football clubs. Don’t believe me? Just ask Milan, Aston Villa, Leeds or some other fallen titans. The list just goes on and on, really.

The road is long and painful as Manchester United have only just entered the denial stage and are yet to experience anger, bargaining, depression and then finally acceptance on their way to resurrection. No one said it would be easy but the sooner they accept their own limits and start moving forward, the better.

أكد سيسك فابريجاس لاعب موناكو الفرنسي الحالي وبرشلونة السابق أن هناك أشخاص في الفريق الكتالوني حاولوا إيذاء ليونيل ميسي قائد البارسا.

وتحدث فابريجاس لراديو كتالونيا، قائلا: “من وجهة نظر شخصية، تريد أن يقوم أصدقاؤك بعمل جيد، لا أعرف ما الذي يمكنك أن تطلبه من ميسي بعد سنوات عديدة من العطاء”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فابريجاس: مع جوارديولا وقعت أشياء لا يجب الحديث عنها.. ومورينيو ساعدني

وأضاف: “عندما فاز بالثلاثية مرتين لم يتحدث أحد، ربما تكون قد أعطيت الكثير لكن يبدو أنهم يتذكرون الأشياء الحديثة فقط”.

وأتم فابريجاس: “رأيت أشخاصًا من النادي حاولوا إيذائه، لكنني أشعر بالامتنان لأنه ما زال في برشلونة، هل يشعر ميسي بالوحدة؟ لا أعتقد ذلك، لقد عاصر العديد من اللاعبين ولم يعد أحد منهم موجودًا، وكان سواريز داعمًا له”.

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Marko Arnautovic has not scored for West Ham United since netting a brace against Brighton & Hove Albion at the start of 2019.

The forward has played 10 Premier League games since then, drawing another blank against Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.

And the West Ham fans have been on social media heavily criticising the Austria international, who has not been the same since the January transfer window.

It was actually Arnautovic’s replacement who scored West Ham’s second against Leicester, with Lucas Perez coming off the bench to register in what proved to be a 2-2 draw at the London Stadium.

It has been some fall from grace for Arnautovic, who could well depart in this summer’s transfer window.

A number of the West Ham fans were frustrated with his performance against Leicester, whilst others were just simply upset at the 30-year-old in general.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

أكد سيد عبد الحفيظ مدير الكرة بالأهلي أن فريقه ينظر إلى الفوز ببطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، وذلك عقب التتويج بالدوري المصري.

وكان الأهلي قد نجح في حسم بطولة الدوري لموسم 2019-2020 قبل انتهاء المنافسات بنحو 7 أسابيع، للمرة الـ42 في تاريخه.

وقال سيد عبد الحفيظ في تصريحات إذاعية عبر آثير “أون سبورت اف ام”: “الحمد لله على الفوز ببطولة الدوري ولكن تبقي الفرحة الأكبر وهي الفوز بدوري أبطال إفريقيا، مررنا بموسم صعب ولكن تبقي في النهاية الروح الجماعية”.

وتابع: “لم أر واقعة مشادة محمد فضل وكهربا ولكني سأتحدث مع الأول كونه عضو مجلس إدارة اتحاد الكرة وأنظر للأمر”.

اقرأ أيضًا عبد الحفيظ يكشف موقف الأهلي تجاه كهربا بعد مشاهدة فيديوهات المشادة مع فضل

واستطرد: “محمد شريف وناصر ماهر وصلاح محسن وأكرم توفيق تم الاستقرار على عودتهم للفريق بالموسم الجديد، وننظر لمستقبل باقي المعارين”.

وأوضح: “أحمد فتحي لم يبخل بمجهوده مع الأهلي في الفترة الأخيرة حتى انتهاء مسيرته مع الأحمر”.

طالع أيضًا.. رسميًا.. الاتحاد السكندري يعلن ضم ثنائي الأهلي

وأشار: “لا يجوز أن يتعامل أي لاعب مع النادي كونه نجم وهذا لا يليق مع الأهلي، ولا أختلف مع أي لاعب في العقوبات ولكن يتم الاختلاف في التعامل، طبقًا لأهمية اللاعب ومكانته في الفريق”.

واختتم: “موسيماني يعلم قيمة الأهلي ومكانته في القارة الإفريقية والوطن العربي وهو متعطش للفوز بالألقاب خلال الفترة المقبلة”.

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BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson has ripped into Arsenal in his latest set of Premier League predictions, and while he has tipped the Gunners to see off Newcastle United at the Emirates on Monday night he has been far less impressed with their form on the road.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the former Liverpool player believes that Unai Emery’s men will take all three points against the visiting Magpies, but he took the opportunity to also speak about the north London outfit’s sketchy away performances and results.

While only Manchester City and Liverpool – the latter only by goal difference – have better records on their travels in the top flight this term, Arsenal find themselves as the 10th-best team when they aren’t on their own patch.

Their displays away clearly haven’t gone unnoticed by Lawrenson, who told the BBC: “It is a worry the Gunners are so different on their travels, though. What that basically says is that everything is good at home when they have loads of the ball and that is the strength of the team when they are going forward – like they should be on Monday.

“But, when they are away, and under the cosh more, they can’t seem to cope with that. They don’t seem to be able to pick up points on a regular basis, and their results in Europe have been disappointing too.

“Unai Emery has made plenty of changes after replacing Arsene Wenger as manager but in that regard, it is still ‘same old, same old Arsenal’.”

Have Premier League grounds become “lifeless tourist attractions”? Decide for yourself by watching the video below…

Emery won’t want to see this

The Spaniard has clearly made plenty of changes since replacing the experienced Frenchman at the helm last summer, but one thing that hasn’t drastically improved is club’s away form.

The 47-year-old will be well aware of that and will know that a big improvement is needed next term, but he still won’t be happy to see his reign compared to Wenger’s in a negative sense nearly a year after the managerial change was made.

Whatever the case, Arsenal need to find a winning formula on the road if they want success in the Premier League and in Europe in the future.

أوضح رونالد كومان، المدير الفني لفريق برشلونة الإسباني، موقف حارس المرمى، مارك تير شتيجن من اللحاق بمباراة الكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد، المقرر لها 24 أكتوبر الجاري، في ظل تعافيه من إصابته.

كما تحدث كومان عن إمكانية منح بعض الراحة لنجمه ليونيل ميسي، مع الجدول الزمني المتتابع لمباريات الفريق.

وظهر كومان في مؤتمر صحفي خاص بمباراة برشلونة وخيتافي، المقرر لها غدًا السبت، بمنافسات الليجا، ونشرت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية تصريحاته.

وبسؤاله هل تفكر في منح ميسي قسطًا من الراحة؟”، أجاب: “من حيث المبدأ، نريد أن نضع أفضل فريق ممكن في كل مباراة، مشاركة اللاعبين مع منتخبات بلادهم تؤثر على الأندية الكبيرة، عاد الجميع بحماس وفرح، بعد التدريب سنقرر”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. زيدان: لن أعلق على ما يحدث مع جريزمان وما يقال عن يوفيتش هراء!

وعن إمكانية مشاركة ميسي ضد خيتافي ثم ضد فيرينكفاروسي وريال مدريد ويوفنتوس؟، علّق: ” ميسي يلعب بجدول زمني ضيق للغاية منذ سنوات عديدة، علاوة على ذلك، إذا لم يلعب سيكون أكثر إرهاقًا، إنه لاعب يريد الفوز، ويريد دائمًا أن يكون في المباريات”.

وبشأن إمكانية لحاق تير شتيجن بالكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد، أتم كومان: “منذ يوم الثلاثاء كان يعمل في الملعب وكل شيء يسير على ما يرام في الوقت الحالي، لا أعتقد أنه سيصل إلى الكلاسيكو، فلا داعي لتحديد موعد، إنه حارس رائع لكننا هادئون، نحن سعداء بعمل نيتو”.

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Matt Polster has spoken out about his desire for more playing time at Rangers, and Steven Gerrard would be foolish not to heed the American’s advice.

Polster signed for Rangers in January for a small fee, but the 25 year-old is yet to make a first team appearance for the Gers.

He is now fit and raring to go though, and the USA international could actually provide a big boost to Gerrard as the season draws to a close.

What’s he said?

“I’d love to be a part of the derby,” he said, reports The Express.

“Obviously it’s a big match. I haven’t even seen it live. I was away when we played them at the end of the year.

“It’ll be quite a day. The expectation is always the same, you want to beat them.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

“It was quite frustrating missing out against Dundee,” he continued. The January arrival was supposed to make his debut but suffered an injury.

“The manager told me before going out to training that I was going to make my debut – but things didn’t happen as I would have liked.

“I didn’t feel comfortable and I didn’t want to put the team or him in a difficult position where I would start the match but then after 20 or 30 minutes and have to be pulled out.”

Surprise for the Old Firm?

First of all, Polster deserves credit for his team-first attitude, as he certainly wouldn’t have been the first player to force his way onto the pitch despite an injury only for it to cost his side.

His hunger and desire also provide quite the boost for Gerrard, as the squad seems to have lost a bit of bite in the last few weeks, failing to win a single game in the month of March.

Polster is versatile enough to play on either defensive flank or in midfield, and with the Gers struggling to find success with any of their left-back options, could the American provide cover in an unfamiliar role against Celtic?

He certainly won’t lack fight, and that’s exactly what fans want to see in the Old Firm.

علّق ميكيل آرتيتا المدير الفني لفريق آرسنال الإنجليزي، على مفاوضات ناديه مع حسام عوار، لاعب ليون الفرنسي.

ويرتبط الجانرز بالتعاقد مع عوار، لكن لم تحسم المفاوضات مع اقتراب غلق نافذة الانتقالات الجارية.

وتحدث آرتيتا عقب هزيمة فريقه أمام ليفربول في الجولة الثالثة للبريميرليج، بنتيجة (3-1).

ونشر موقع “فوتبول لندن” تصريحاته وبسؤاله: “ما أخبار صفقة عوار؟”، أجاب: “ليس لدينا أي أخبار عن ضم لاعبين جدد أو من قد يغادرون النادي”.

وأضاف: “لم يتبق سوى أسبوع على نافذة الانتقالات، وأعتقد أنه سيكون مزدحمًا حقًا للأندية الأخرى، لأنه لم يتم إنجاز الكثير من الصفقات، لنرِ ما سيحدث”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. رئيس ليون يحدد موعدًا نهائيًا لرحيل ديباي وعوار

وبسؤاله مجددًا: “هل سيكون أسبوعًا مزدحمًا بالنسبة لك؟”، رد آرتيتا: “أعتقد أنه سيكون مشغولًا حقًا للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، لا أعرف بالنسبة لنا كيف سيحدث ذلك”.

من جانبه صرّح جان ميشيل أولاس رئيس ليون، بشأن عرض آرسنال لعوار: “كان عرضًا بسيطًا، ولم يجعلنا حتى نفكر في بيعه”.

وبسؤاله: “كم تريد؟ 40 مليون يورو أم 50 مليونا؟”، أجاب: “أكثر من الرقم الأول الذي ذكرته”.

JM Aulas about Aouar #Arsenal deal: “There was a timid offer, it was not an offer that was even susceptible to making us consider a sale”.
How much you want? €40m, €50m?
“More than the first number that you mentioned…”. [@GFFN].#AFC are still in contact with his agent. ⚪️🔴

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 28, 2020

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Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been sidelined with injury since he was forced off the field in the Champions League semi-final last year, but a return to full fitness looks set to arrive during the final months of the campaign after he was added to the club’s Champions League squad, as per the London Evening Standard.

What’s the word?

Liverpool’s injury list has been piling up in recent weeks but the latest development concerns the return of a lengthy absentee.

According to a recent report from the London Evening Standard, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been added to Liverpool’s Champions League squad ahead of the last-16 tie against Bayern Munich.

The England international had initially been expected to return in the summer, but the progress he has made behind the scenes is pushing him towards a return this season.

Ki-Jana Hoever has also been added to the list, replacing Nathaniel Clyne following his loan move to Bournemouth, as per BBC.

A game-changing boost for Liverpool

Liverpool’s typically rampant, free-flowing and fearful midfield has become uncharacteristically devoid of creativity in recent weeks.

The combination play in midfield has become rather predictable, but the injection of dynamism Oxlade-Chamberlain would provide could transform the effectiveness of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield trio.

With Liverpool still in the hunt for both the Champions League and the Premier League, the German manager will need as many quality options as possible at his disposal, and the return of the Ox will effectively feel like a new signing.

It may take the 25-year-old a few games to find his feet once again, but his performances – whether they be off the bench or from the outset – could represent a game-changer for the Reds.

According to Calciomercato, AC Milan would be willing to part ways with long-term Wolves target Franck Kessie for just €25m (£23.3m).

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Ivory Coast international was the subject of a mega-money bid from the Midlands-based side in 2018.

Back then, Fosun offered a whopping €40m (£37.2m) for the former Atalanta man, plus €20m (£18.6m) in bonuses which was rejected by the Italian giants.

Following on from that bid, Wolves were again believed to be planning a swoop for Kessie as recently as November ahead of the January window, when Gazzetta revealed that the club were plotting to invest more than €20m in the Ivorian’s services.

However, no move to Molineux materialised, but following Calciomercato’s recent report on AC Milan’s new asking price, perhaps it was a bullet dodged for Fosun.

Why was it a bullet dodged?

At a first glance, Kessie’s stock has clearly been dented for whatever reason seeing as AC Milan are now happy to take just £23.3m for him, having rejected an offer of over half that sum in 2018.

For a club to turn down an offer of nearly £60m for a player, only to then deem his asking price as roughly a third of that figure means questions have to be asked in regards to how efficient a use of cash that would’ve been from Wolves, had their 2018 offer been accepted.

However, what also makes this situation feel like Fosun dodged a bullet in 2018 is the fact that Nuno Espirito Santo already has a wealth of midfield options, and the 23-year-old may not have fitted into the side anyway given the Wolves boss’ stubbornness.

Call yourself a Wolves expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

Nuno has used just 20 players in the Premier League this season, fewer than any other club, and with the likes of Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Leander Dendoncker, Morgan Gibbs-White and Bruno Jordao all vying for a starting role, it feels far from certain that Kessie would have even been one of the first names on the teamsheet.

In other news, this Jorge Mendes client has proven to be an excellent value for money addition by Fosun…