Real Madrid failed to start the defence of their LaLiga title on an encouraging note, after their lacklustre one-all draw at Mallorca. Before that, Eduardo Cammavinga had suffered a scary looking knee injury in training ahead of their UEFA Super Cup win against Atalanta. Los Blancos will now also be without another star midfielder as manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Jude Bellingham sustained an injury in training and will now reportedly be sidelined for several weeks. “Following tests carried out today on our player Jude Bellingham by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the…
Author: Somto Isaac
A major setback in Arsenal’s title chase last season was their loss to Aston Villa — not once but in both games last season. And Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has now made it clear his side needs to step up, against the side they lost 2-0 at the Emirates and 1-0 at Villa Park, in the 2023-24 campaign. Following their 2-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend to kickstart their 2024-25 Premier League season, the North London side travel to face Unai Emery’s side who finished fourth in the previous campaign. “They scored and we didn’t, it’s very simple,” Arteta…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed he jumped with no hesitation, on the opportunity to sign Ilkay Gundogan, after the midfielder left the club before the start of last season. Gundogan played for seven seasons at City before leaving for Spain, and he could now make a return in Saturday’s home game against Ipswich Town. “[Gundogan] called me and asked me the situation, the chance to come back and we said yes immediately,” Guardiola said to reporters in his press conference on Friday. “He played really well last season and I know how competitive it is. I love his qualities…
Real Madrid gaffer Carlo Ancelotti was visibly upset following his team’s performance in their 1-1 draw at Mallorca to kickstart their 2024-25 LaLiga season. The 65-year-old highlighted his team’s lack of balance and poor defending as the main causes of their share of the spoils. Ancelotti stated his players lost their focus after gaining control early after Rodrygo’s 13th minute strike — allowing Mallorca salvage a point with Vedat Muriqi’s header after the interval. “Today I am not happy. I think we could have been done much better,” Ancelotti said in a press conference. “We need to be more concentrated,…
New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has admitted that the number of players at the club is too much, insisting some players will have to leave the club. Maresca’s thoughts revolved around the issue of Raheem Sterling’s future after the Englishman was left out the squad for Sunday’s home game against Manchester City. “I want Raheem Sterling but I want all the 30 players that we have, but there is no space for all of them. So for some of them, they have to leave,” Maresca said following the 2-0 loss when asked about Sterling’s absence. The Italian insisted Sterling’s omission…
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski expressed his utmost pride in his young teammates following their comeback win at Valencia to kickstart their 2024-25 season with a win. The Catalan giants earned a 2-1 win despite missing key names like Ilkay Gundogan, Pedri, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie De Jong — as new manager Hansi Flick handed 20-year-old Marc Casado a debut, playing alongside Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Bernal, who are all 17-year-old’s. However, Barça put up a strong fight to get maximum points thanks to Lewandowski’s brace. “It was very important to start with a win in such a…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta showered praise on Bukayo Saka following the Englishman’s performance in their 2-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. The Gunners made a good start in their bid to finally win the Premier League title as Saka netted a brilliant goal, while also setting up another for Kai Havertz in the first half. Saka’s display earned him praise from his manager, who compared his goal to something players like Lionel Messi can deliver. “Bukayo had an unbelievable action to score the 2-0. With good players it’s like that. With [Lionel] Messi, I know he’s going to come…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag showed frustration at his side inability to convert their chances in their 1-0 win over Fulham in the opening game of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign. The Red Devils failed to deliver in front of their club faithful in their much anticipated opener, with a number of unburied opportunities. Last season’s FA Cup winners, however, only found a way through substitute Joshua Zirkzee netting a late goal on his competitive debut. “I think one area we have to get right is how to kill [games] in the box,” Ten Hag said to newsmen. “We…
Chelsea are set to reward star man Cole Palmer with a new deal until 2033, according to reports. The 22-year-old established himself as the main man for the Blues in under a year following his arrival from Manchester City — scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists in the Premier League. The Englishman is already under contract until June 2031, and according to reports making the rounds, has signed a two-year extension. The new deal will see Palmer earn a significantly higher pay than his £80,000 a week. Palmer was one of the Premier League’s best in the previous campaign,…
Chelsea have completed yet another transfer of Portugal international Pedro Neto, following the club’s announcement on Sunday. The 24-year-old moves to Stamford Bridge on a seven-year deal for a £54million fee. The Blues will pay an initial £51.3million fee with a further £2.6million dot expected add-ons. “I feel really grateful to have joined this club,” Neto said to Chelsea’s official website. “I have worked really hard in my career to be here and I’m looking forward to getting on the pitch with this shirt.” Neto’s transfer now takes Chelsea’s summer transfer window spending to around £185 million, while the deal…