Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta sighted his team’s failure to adapt to the Carabao Cup match ball as part of what affected them in their semifinal first leg loss to Newcastle United. The North London side conceded goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon as the visitors gained a healthy advantage at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. However, Arsenal fluffed at a number of opportunities in the game, registering six big chances from 23 shots, with just three on target. Majority of Arsenal’s chances sailed over the crossbar and Arteta admitted the tournament’s Puma ball, in comparison to the Premier League’s Nike…
Author: Somto Isaac
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed the appointment of Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the men’s senior national team, the Super Eagles. Chelle replaces the interim gaffer of the team, Augustine Eguavoen who filled in for Finidi George, who resigned less than two months into the job. The Technical and Development Sub-Committee, who recommended Chelle’s appointment during its meeting on January 2, 2025 in Abuja, was successfully approved by the NFF Executive Committee on Tuesday. The former RC Lens defender will resume his role with immediate effect and will lead the side through the remaining games of…
France coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed he will leave his role as head coach of the men’s senior national team, stating the time has come for him to stop. The 56-year-old, who is France’s longest-serving coach, is set to step aside after the 2026 FIFA World Cup as he will not renew his contract which expires in the year. Although, Les Bleus are yet to book their place in the 2026 World Cup. “In 2026 it will be over. In my head it’s very clear. I’ve done my time, with the same desire and passion to maintain France at the…
Tottenham Hotspur have triggered the option to extend club captain Heung-Min Son’s contract until 2026. The 32-year-old has been at the club since 2015, moving from Bayer Leverkusen. Sitting fourth on Spurs’ all-time top scorers list, Son has made 431 appearances while netting 169 goals. The South Korean was also named captain of the North London side in August 2023, with his most notable season coming a year prior after finishing as the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner in the 2021-22 season after scoring 23 goals. Son is also the captain of the national team, making 131 appearances and registering…
Liverpool gaffer Arne Slot rushed to the defence of Trent Alexander-Arnold following criticism aimed at the Englishman’s performance in their 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Sunday. Constantly linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, the Liverpool defender came up against United’s Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot in a game which Red Devils legend and former captain Roy Keane severely criticised his display. “We talk about how brilliant Trent is going forward, but Trent’s defending today, my goodness it’s like schoolboy stuff,” Keane said on the Sky Sports broadcast. “There’s talk about him going to Real Madrid, the…
Pep Guardiola thrashed claims that his Manchester City side were back to their best in their 4-1 win against West Ham United on Saturday, although admitting he would sleep better after their victory. Erling Haaland netted twice in a league game since September and Savinho was brilliant, setting up three goals in the win which left them sixth on the standings, two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Although, it was City’s first time to win successive games since October, Guardiola was not entirely pleased. “No, you judge the results,” he said reporters after the win at Etihad Stadium. “We saw in…
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim wants to see more from his team after their performance in the 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, expressing satisfaction with his side’s intensity. Just a week after Amorim admitted his under-par team could face relegation, Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo netted the first goals for the Red Devils at Anfield since 2018, in a game where United went pound-for-pound with the division’s best team. “Today I’m allowed to be the only guy upset with the team,” Amorim spoke to the press after the game. “But today we were a team.…
Roberto De Zerbi has claimed that the French Ligue 1 is stronger than the opposing statements made against it, but has not been sold well as a product. Speaking on his view of French football, De Zerbi shared an opinion in contrast to one which global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo stated while speaking about the Saudi Arabian league. “I think Ligue 1 is a stronger league than people think abroad,” De Zerbi said. “It is probably badly sold by those in charge,” continued De Zerbi, who had spent the previous two years as coach of Brighton and Hove in the Premier…
Barcelona manager cut a frustrated figure due to the club’s struggle to get new players’ licences for Dani Olmo and Pau Victor but showed optimism ahead of their Copa Del Rey contest against Barbastro. With the Blaugrana unable to meet LaLiga’s wage cap, an application was made to the Spanish FA for licences on Tuesday after they lost their second appeal to register the players for the remainder of the season on Monday. “I’ve spoken to Dani and Pau and the situation isn’t easy for them but they’re positive and want to play for this club,” Flick said in his…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca faced the press ahead of this weekend’s London derby away against Crystal Palace as he confirmed his team will be without Wesley Fofana, who has been a mainstay in the defence since the start of the campaign. Fofana could be on the sidelines for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury. The Frenchman already had a torrid 2023-24 campaign after surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament but began this season in fine form as a rock in Maresca’s backline. The 24-year-old has started every game he was available for before he sustained an…