Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has stated his side must learn from their last two games against Atletico Madrid if they stand a chance to win in Sunday’s game which could be key in the title race. Real Madrid sit three points above Flick’s team – who have a game in hand – following their win against Villarreal on Saturday, meanwhile Atleti sit four points behind the summit. The Catalan giants were defeated 2-1 at home to Atletico and were also held to a 4-4 draw in the Copa del Rey semi final first leg with Alexander Sorloth netting an injury…
Author: Somto Isaac
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is adamant his side will still qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League despite increased pressure following their 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. The outgoing league champions squandered a chance to move into the top four after surrendering their lead twice against fellow Champions League chasers Brighton. Guardiola’s side now sit fifth on the log, as fourth placed Chelsea face Arsenal on Sunday – and with fans and players alike in an unfamiliar position, the Spaniard understands there could be nervousness around the club. “Yes, definitely. Everybody feels the pressure. But…
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone hit out at the decision to cancel Julian Alvarez’s penalty in the UEFA Champions League last 16 penalty shootout loss to rivals Real Madrid. The record winners of the competition triumphed 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 aggregate scoreline – as Alvarez slipped while taking his own and VAR ruled it out for a judged double touch. “The referee said when Julian got to the penalty spot he touched the ball with his standing foot, but the ball did not move,” Simeone said to reporters. “But beyond that, which now just serves to argue about…
Despite fans and players celebrating qualification to the UEFA Champions League quarter finals following a hard fought win against Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was more concerned with his side’s performance than the result. Los Blancos wrapped up a 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout after the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate. Ancelotti was however disappointed that his side let in a goal inside the first minute that brought the contest at level matters as he insisted on more sharpness as they gear up to face Arsenal for a spot in the last four of Europe’s premiere competition.…
Arne Slot pointed to the fact his Liverpool team were unlucky in the “best game” he has ever been involved in, following their Champions League exit on Tuesday against Paris Saint-Germain. The French giants were the dominant team in last week’s first leg but Harvey Elliott’s late goal snatched a win for the Reds at Parc des Princes. However, it was a reverse case as Slot watched some poor conversion of chances on display as Ousmane Dembele’s goal on 12 minutes proved decisive. PSG then triumphed on penalties after spot kicks from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones was saved by…
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique praised his side for qualifying for the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League while also insisting Liverpool were deserving of progression too. Enrique exhumed pride with his side’s performance as they came from a goal down from last week’s first leg to beat the Premier League leaders 1-0 at Anfield on Tuesday – while also winning 4-1 in the penalty shootout. “Both of the teams deserved to go to the next phase, they play better than us here, but I think my team at Anfield, in a special stadium, showed great personality and character,”…
Mikel Arteta expressed outrage at his team’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United, a result that might have blown Arsenal’s chances at the Premier League title. The Gunners trail leaders Liverpool by 15 points, and with 10 matches left to execute, Arne Slot’s team seems primed for their 20th league crown. Arteta was a visibly frustrated figure following the fact that his side could get just a single goal in the contest through Declan Rice’s second half strike against a United side struggling in 14th place. “Very frustrating we haven’t won with the dominance and the chances we…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca fired back at critics of his side’s 1-0 triumph against Leicester City, stating that getting wins in the Premier League is not as easy as it looks on a “PlayStation console”. The Blues rose to fourth on the league table, thanks to Marc Cucurella’s strike in the second half. However, Chelsea’s display against 19th placed Leicester was largely unaccepted by the fans, who booed the players off at halftime. Maresca has previously defended his preferred possession style of play for his team as opposed to swift attacks under his tutelage — and his sentiments were no…
Barcelona president Joan Laporta faced the media following the death of the club doctor, Carles Minarro, while also expressing gratitude to Osasuna and LaLiga for accepting the request to postpone the scheduled game for Saturday. The Blaugrana supremo, whose facial expression showed immense grief, stated that the first team’s doctor “was a man very dear to everyone” while also explaining what transpired. “He passed away this afternoon at the team’s training camp. As you can imagine, the players, the staff, the coach, everyone was very sad. He was a person who was very much loved, who came to all the…
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard understands facing Manchester United will be a hard task despite their struggles this season but insists the Gunners will travel to Old Trafford searching for a win. The Red Devils have won just two of their last seven home games in the Premier League, against relegation-threatened Southampton and Ipswich Town. However, Ruben Amorim’s side who sit 15th on the log have shown signs of a different spirit, including a penalty shootout triumph at Arsenal in the FA Cup, in January. “When they click as a team it’s challenging to play them,” Odegaard said to reporters. “They’re…