Despite beating PSV Eindhoven earlier in the competition, Juventus head coach Thiago Motta believes a different battle awaits as both sides aim for a place in the last 16. The Old Lady began the new league phase with a 3-1 win over the opponents in September but they finished 20th and they face the Dutch club who ended 14th, as they defeated Liverpool in the final game. “We played a good game against PSV at that point but a lot of things have changed, both here and there,” Motta said to reporters ahead of Tuesday’s first leg in Turin. “Tomorrow…
Author: Somto Isaac
Following their defeat of Liverpool, giant-killers Plymouth Argyle drew reigning Premier League champions Manchester City as the fifth round draw of the FA Cup took centre stage. Defending champions of the competition Manchester United will play host to Fulham at Old Trafford. League Cup finalists Newcastle United will also face league rivals Brighton & Hove Albion as Bournemouth will also host Wolverhampton Wanderers in another all-Premier League clash. There could be a fourth top flight clash if Nottingham Forest defeat League One’s Exeter City — with Ipswich Town waiting for the winners of the contest. Aston Villa have been drawn…
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone admitted his side have to be prepared for tough top-of-the-table clash against city rivals Real Madrid. Real sit a point above Atletico at the summit of the standings with 49 points, and four off third-placed Barcelona. Atleti thumped Getafe 5-0 in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday, and Simeone somewhat surprisingly revealed his side are recovering rather than intense preparation. “We haven’t talked about the match yet,” Simeone said in his press conference on Friday. “We have chosen to recover well and tomorrow afternoon we will decide where we are going to be in the…
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery voiced his excitement of the challenge to restore the form of new signing Marcus Rashford. Emery and Villa are set to face Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup this weekend. The Spaniard also confirmed that Andres Garcia and Donyell Malen will not be included in their European squad. “The decision we had to take yesterday and they are out – Andres Garcia and as well, Donyell Malen,” Emery said. “It wasn’t a good decision that I had to take but I spoke with Andres and I spoke with Donyell to…
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has echoed his teammates will not get carried away with winning a potential quadruple this season, following their 4-0 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, to book their ticket to the League Cup final against Newcastle United. Van Dijk rounded up the demolition with a header following goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai to help the defending champions seal a 4-1 aggregate win on Thursday night to seal a return to Wembley on March 16. In addition to their qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 after topping the league…
Liverpool manager Arne Slot revealed his dislike for in-stadium VAR announcements, stating the development will increase pressure on referees. The update is being tried out by the English Football League during the League Cup semi-finals. The referees are to announce their final decision following a visit to the VAR pitchside monitor or at the “conclusion of factual matters such as accidental handball by a goalscorer or offside judgements” and only the final decision is announced to supporters. Last year, the Premier League said the supporter experience of video technology was “nowhere near good enough” and the organisation’s chief football officer…
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick stated his side are not one to find “excuses” after rivals Real Madrid expressed extreme displeasure with Spanish referees following their surprise LaLiga defeat at the weekend. Los Blancos lost 1-0 against Espanyol on Saturday and then sent an angry letter to the Spanish Football Federation raging at the country’s officiating as “rigged” and “completely discredited.” Madrid expressed their anger after Espanyol’s Carlos Romero was not sent off for bringing down striker Kylian Mbappe and the defender went on to net the winning goal. “This [letter] is their choice, they do it like this, it’s…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was disheartened with his side’s exit from the League Cup following their 4-0 aggregate loss against Newcastle United. Goals from Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon secured a 2-0 win in front of the St. James’ Park faithful to secure their second final in the competition in the last three years. Speaking after the contest, the Spaniard admitted the defeat left a bad taste but focus would start immediately beginning with their training camp in Dubai. “We have to look forward. This is going to be a painful one. When we are in Dubai, recharge and go…
Real Madrid defender David Alaba will yet again spend time on the sidelines after he picked up an adductor injury in his left leg. Following a recent return from an anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] tear, which kept him out for more than a year, the LaLiga giants have not provided a specific date for a return. Los Blancos travel to Leganes in the Copa del Rey last eight on Wednesday – with a huge derby against city rivals Atletico Madrid at home and a visit to Manchester City in the Champions League knockout round playoffs on February 11. “Following tests…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was over the moon with his side’s 2-1 win over West Ham United to boost their hopes of a top four finish as they moved above champions Manchester City in the Premier League. The Blues fell behind to Jarrod Bowen’s effort three minutes before halftime but Pedro Neto equalized after the break and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s own goal aided the comeback. The win for Chelsea was their second in their last eight games. “It is huge,” Maresca said. “It was a tough game especially mentally. It is never easy when teams come here and wait and sit…