Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has stated his players must pull back from “disrespectful” behaviors towards referees after Real Madrid’s Jude Belligham was sent off for arguing with the match official in the 1-1 draw at Osasuna. Bellingham insisted after Saturday’s contest that he did not insult the referee and admitted the situation was a misunderstanding – and the following day, he apologized on social media for ‘leaving his teammates in a tough position’. Speaking to the media, Flick hammered he had spoken to his squad about the importance of avoiding altercations with match officials. “It’s disrespect. For me, it’s like…
Author: Somto Isaac
Manchester City and manager Pep Guardiola have had a nightmare season, which continued in Europe in midweek and as they prepare to welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad this weekend, their injury woes have not ceased with Manuel Akanji joining the sidelines. The Cityzens lost 3-2 to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, in yet another collapse in a miserable season so far.Both City and Newcastle are level on 41 points and are fighting for a top four place, meaning this weekend’s game is a huge clash for both sides. Speaking to the media ahead of the contest, Guardiola…
Bayern Munich have secured the lengthy stay of star Jamal Musiala — who has signed a new five-year contract, extending his stay at the club until 2030. The 21-year-old, who had been with Southampton and Chelsea before moving to Bayern as a 16-year-old in 2019, has been a star performers for the Bavarians this season, netting 10 goals in 18 league games. The German international expressed his happiness with the new contract, admitting his aim is to achieve great things over the next few years. “I am very happy. Bayern is one of the most important clubs in the world,…
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff have been charged by England’s Football Association for misconduct at the end of a dramatic Merseyside derby. Slot was shown a red card after the final whistle by referee Michael Oliver in the 2-2 draw which was the final derby at Goodison Park. The Liverpool manager and his assistant Hulshoff were judged to have “acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour” towards the match officials. Both Merseyside clubs have also been charged with their players behaving in an “improper and/or provocative way following the…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faced the press ahead of the big UEFA Champions League knockout clash against Real Madrid on Tuesday. Quizzed on how the draw of the two heavyweights facing early in the competition, reduces the intensity levels expected of the tie. “The draw is the draw and we accept the challenge.” Guardiola was also asked if Real Madrid set the pace for other teams to follow in the Champions League. “Definitely. There are few clubs in Europe with a history like this [Real’s]. “We have not done, let’s say, ‘quite well’ in the group stage, so we…
Luis Enrique debunked claims of overconfidence on the part his Paris Saint-Germain side ahead of the UEFA Champions League clash against Brest, despite their recent triumph against their Tuesday opponents. The first leg of the knockout phase playoff will take centre stage at the sold-out venue in Guingamp, where Brest are playing their home games due to UEFA stadium regulations. Enrique is however, fully focused on the job at hand, even after thumping Brest 5-2 just under two weeks ago in the French top flight. “They were one of the best teams in France last season,” he said. “Their reward…
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…
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…