Sports Update

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SPORT
EPL: Guardiola makes claims about Liverpool’s Premier League title race
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Published
 
on
 April 27, 2019



Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has revealed he regards a key advantage for Liverpool in Premier League title race.

Guardiola said Liverpool benefitted from their failure to progress in both the League Cup and FA Cup.
The Catalan said that it was of no advantage to his team that Liverpool now have the added demand of a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

City have played nine more domestic cup games than Jurgen Klopp’s side this season having won the League Cup and reached next month’s FA Cup final.
The Reds were eliminated at the first hurdle in both competitions.
Liverpool are preparing for a Champions League last four tie against Barcelona and next Saturday’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United.

But Guardiola, whose City team were dumped out in the Champions League quarter-finals by Tottenham Hotspur, doesn’t regard that as a disadvantage to their title rivals.
“When that happens in November, December, January, February that helps a lot,” Echo quoted Guardiola as saying.
“But to be involved in the Champions League semi-finals – you are not tired. You do not feel any pain. That is a better position to be in, to be in the semi-finals.

“The toughest months in this competition are December, January, February when they had two weeks in training camps and we had to be here playing every three days. That is a big advantage for the opponent.”

[Edoman]

Barcelona crowned La Liga champions after Lionel Messi comes off the bench and scored the only goal. (Photos)






Spanish club, Barcelona have been crowned champions of Spain after they clinched the La Liga title for the 2018-19 season on Saturday night.
The Spanish gaint defeated Levante 1-0 after Argentine striker Lionel Messi came from the bench to score in the 62nd minute to seal the La Liga title. This is Barcelona's eighth league title in the last 11 years and 26th overall. 

Messi who now has 10 league titles was handed the trophy by Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish FA.
The newly crowned La Liga Champions will face Liverpool on Wednesday in  Champions League's Semifinal clash.
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by Linda

[Edoman]

What Hazard said after 1-1 draw with Man Utd, playing in Champions League
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Chelsea star, Eden Hazard has reiterated his desire to play in the Champions League next season as the race for the top four in England remains wide open.


Hazard has been regularly linked with a move to Real Madrid in recent months as Chelsea have stumbled in and out of the qualification places at the top of the Premier League.

The Belgian did not play in the Champions League this season since the Blues missed out on qualification.


Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United keeps Maurizio Sarri’s men narrowly inside the top four, two points ahead of Arsenal in fifth.

“Chelsea has to play in the Champions League every year.

“It’s one of biggest clubs in the world, and for myself also I want to play in the Champions League, and we will,” Hazard told Sky Sports after the game.


Hazard admitted that he was content with the share of the points, but believes that his side had enough to take victory late on.

“A good day but could be better. We came here thinking about winning the game, a draw is not a bad result for us but I think if we believe a bit more in our chances we can score another goal.

“We now have two games and we will try and be in the top four


“We started slowly but today we had a reaction and scored our goal. I don’t remember one chance for them in the second half and yes we just played a good game.

“The game was hard, in a good way, this Man Utd-Chelsea game is always tough,” he added.

[Edoman]

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk officially crowned PFA Players' Player of the Year (Photos)



 

 
Liverpool centre-back , Virgil Van Dijk has been officially crowned the Professional Footballers' Association's Players' Player of the Year for 2019 after a stellar season. 
 
The Dutch defender succeeds team-mate Mohamed Salah in winning the award after beating Manchester City stars, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva, and Chelsea forward Eden Hazard to claim the prestigious prize.  
 

The 27-year-old footballer received the gong at a ceremony which took place at the Grosvenor House in London.

I think it's special, definitely,' the 27-year-old said. 'If you see the standard of strikers we have in the league or play makers we have in the league, it's unbelievable.

'If you see the shortlist and quality there is, it's very special that the players in the league voted for me. I won't take it for granted. It's just very special.

'I think throughout the whole season I've been feeling great. We've been winning many games, we are competing with Man City for the title and I think the most important thing is to stay fit and play consistent as well - I think I've been doing that pretty well this season.

'Obviously without the help of my team-mates, it wouldn't be possible but we have just to keep going, carry on and I'm feeling good.' 

Van Dijk went on to pay tribute to his Liverpool team-mates. 'I think the key is that the way we defend is that we do it all together,' he added.

'Defending starts upfront, our strikers put pressure on their defenders, it's unbelievable. 
'I don't want to be put under pressure by those kind of players and even if they (the opponent) beat that press, we still have a midfield that keeps hunting you down at all times.
'It makes it a lot easier for us as the back four. But if we're under pressure we still need to deal with it and I think that's been going pretty well as well.
'Everyone is responsible for the good things that have been going on right now at Liverpool. We just want to keep it going and hopefully that will result in trophies.'
 
Van Dijk was also  joined by his Liverpool team-mates Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold who all made the Premier League team of the year.
 

by Linda

[Edoman]

Barcelona on Saturday, April 27, were crowned champions of Spain after beating Levante at the Camp Nou in which Lionel Messi came off the bench to score the winner. Players of the club and their fans were all in joyous mood after the final whistle as they were all seen celebrating the Spanish La Liga title. 

But Luis Suarez's six-month-old son Lautaro stole the show during the post-match celebrations at the Nou Camp. Lautaro was spotted taking a bite out of his father's shoulder while being carried around the pitch. Many were quick to notice that the comical image drew a resemblance to the infamous moment Suarez bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup. 

Suarez was playing for Premier League side Liverpool at that time and he was banned for four months before he joined Barcelona. Meanwhile, Luis Suarez and his teammates are now preparing for their next game against Liverpool in the Champions League semifinal. 

Luis Suarez will be making a return to Anfield for the first time since he left the club five years ago for the Spanish giants. Liverpool is looking to go one better after finishing runners up to Real Madrid in last season's Champions League final, while Barcelona is seeking a first final appearance since 2015. 

Source: https://www.titiloyeblog.com/2019/04/nemesis-luis-suarez-receives-bite-from.html

[Edoman]

SPORT
Champions League: I’m prepared for you – Liverpool star warns Barcelona’s Messi



Liverpool defender, Andy Robertson, has issued warning to Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash.

Liverpool will tackle the newly crowned La Liga champions in the Champions League semi-final first leg fixture on Wednesday night at Camp Nou.
But Robertson has now warned Messi that he has prepared to mark him out in front of Barcelona fans.

Speaking on Messi, Robertson told UEFA’s official website: “I don’t think you have to prepare any differently from any other game. Of course, you’re playing against a better player than you usually would… he’s the best player in the world.
“But I think we all need to be prepared because he drifts all over the pitch.
“You watch him, and sometimes he’s back in the centre-half spot, picking up the ball from deep and things like that, so he’ll start on the right but I’m prepared for him not to stay out there. But I know he’ll be running at us at times, and it’s all about how we defend it.”

He added, “We need to defend in packs, but the problem is that it’s not just him.
“If you keep him quiet, then you’ve got Coutinho, who we all know well, you’ve got Suarez and people like that who can cause you problems, so it’s not about keeping one man quiet, it’s about keeping the whole team quiet, and that’ll be the hardest thing for us.”
The kick-off time for the match is 8pm Nigeria time.

[Edoman]

SPORT
EPL: How Solskjaer blasted Martial in front of Man Utd squad
 April 30, 2019



Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, ripped into Anthony Martial following their 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday, SportsMail reports.

Solskjaer vented his anger at Martial in front of the other players in the dressing-room, after leaving the Frenchman on the bench at Old Trafford.
Martial has been complaining of a bad back, but it’s understood that Solskjaer was unhappy with the player’s blatant lack of effort.

The Norwegian decided to send on Alexis Sanchez rather than Martial as a replacement for Marcus Rashford, when the England striker succumbed to an existing shoulder injury in the 65th minute.
There have been concerns over Martial’s attitude since he signed a new five-year contract at the end of January, following a string of lacklustre performances.
Having been first-choice since Solskjaer took over in December in a front three alongside Rashford and Jesse Lingard, the former Monaco man is now out of favour.

[Edoman]

SPORT
LaLiga: Barcelona take decision over Coutinho’s future amid interest from Man Utd, Chelsea



Barcelona senior officials are ready to give Philippe Coutinho a chance to prove his worth at the club, Goal reports.

The Brazilian swapped Liverpool for Spain in January 2018.
Although, he made an initial good impression with his performances in his debut season, however, Coutinho has found the 2018/2019 season to be difficult.

The playmaker has struggled to reproduce his best form and has fallen in and out of the first team in rotation with Ousmane Dembele.
That lack of playing time had led to rumours that Barca would be willing to listen to offers in the coming transfer window, with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain interested
But a recent upsurge in form ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg, has helped convince those in charge that his services should be retained for next season.

[Edoman]

SPORT
EPL: Morata ‘quicker’ than Higuain, Giroud – Chelsea legend, Makelele



Chelsea legend, Claude Makelele, has claimed that striker, Alvaro Morata is quicker than Gonzalo Higuain and Olivier Giroud.

The ex-midfield maestro said this following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.
Morata is currently on loan at Atletico Madrid from Chelsea following the Blues manager, Maurizio Sarri’s decision to bring Gonzalo Higuain to Stamford Bridge last January.

“For me, the way I see it, I think it depends on the manager and the way he wants to play football,” Makelele told Stadium Astro.
“We didn’t know exactly what the manager wanted at the start. He prefers Higuain because he’s more adapted with Hazard and Willian, he had him before, he knows Higuain very well, so he knows the mentality and spirit of Sarri’s team.
“But for me, the one is Morata, he’s a real striker. He’s like [Karim] Benzema a little bit, technically soft, scores goals, not selfish, runs, I think he’s quicker than Higuain and Giroud.”

[Edoman]

Lionel Messi scored his 600th goal for Barcelona in some style as the Camp Nou legend netted an absolutely stunning Champions League free-kick against Liverpool.

Messi headed into Wednesday night's semi-final first leg having netted his 598th club goal for Barca at the weekend against Levante, sealing the LaLiga title in the process.

Luis Suarez put Barca ahead in a frenetic first half at Camp Nou, while Messi scored a fortunate tap-in after the break after Suarez had hit the bar from close range.

Standing over a dead ball 35 yards out, and with Alisson Becker to beat, Messi duly curled the ball into the top right-hand corner of the Liverpool goalkeeper's net to leave the Camp Nou crowd stunned.

Even Jurgen Klopp appeared to be laughing on the touchline at the sheer brilliance of the goal, with Messi adding yet another peach of an effort to a long list of goals from free-kicks this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo also scored the 600th goal of his storied club career in a 1-1 draw away to Inter in Serie A on Saturday.

Watch video:

Source: https://www.mediahelm.com.ng/2019/05/lionel-messi-scores-his-600th-goal-for.html

[Edoman]

Wenger blasts Van Dijk after Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Barcelona

   




                           
Former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, has hit out at Virgil van Dijk’s defending for Barcelona’s opening goal in their 3-0 win over Liverpool.


Luis Suarez opened the scoring for the La Liga champions in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, after losing Van Dijk to fire home.

Lionel Messi then added two goals in the second, including a spectacular free-kick.


Wenger told beIN Sports: “Physically they are stronger than Barcelona, especially pace-wise.

“Barcelona made two or three yellow cards because they could not even run with Liverpool’s players.

“But when they get into the final third Barca have that quality. One chance, one goal.


“It is very interesting because Virgil van Dijk [usually] covers, but he should go with Suarez to cover that goal.

“Especially from a centre-back with that quality… he lets him go. At the start, his position is not bad, but he refuses to respond.

“It’s a great goal because the cross is fantastic. For a goalscorer it is ideal. It is marvellous football.”

[Edoman]

Manchester United forward urges Solskjaer to bring back Ronaldo

 




                             
Manchester United forward, Jesse Lingard has said that he would “love to sign Cristiano Ronaldo”.


A return to Old Trafford for Ronaldo has been mooted in the past, but the former Real Madrid superstar opted for Juventus last year.

The Portugal captain spent six years with United between 2003 and 2009, winning the Premier League and Champions League titles.


Lingard has now urged Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to consider bringing him back, as the Norwegian is set to rebuild his squad over the summer.

“I would love to sign Ronaldo. He has been one of the best players in the world over the last decade.

“He has been here before so he would slot right back in.

“Growing up he was just unbelievable to watch in a United shirt, so on a personal note it would be amazing to play with him,” Lingard told the Daily Mirror.

[Edoman]

Europa League: Valencia’s squad against Arsenal revealed [Full list
 


Valencia have released their squad that will tackle Unai Emery’s Arsenal in tonight’s Europa League semi-final first leg tie at Emirates Stadium.

Valencia manager, Marcelino García Toral released a list of 19 players through the club’s official Twitter page.
Valencia head to the game following their 1-0 defeat to Eibar in the La Liga encounter on Sunday.

Below is Valencia’s squad against Arsenal:
Goalkeepers: Domenech, Neto, Cristian.
Defenders: Roncaglia, Gabriel Paulista, Diakhaby, Gaya, Lato, Piccini, Garay.

Midfielders: Guedes, Soler, Parejo, Wass, Ferran.
Forwards: Gameiro, Rodrigo, Mina, Sobrino.
The kick-off time for the match is 8 pm

[Edoman]

SPORT
Europa League: Chelsea release ‘killer’ squad against Eintracht Frankfurt [Full list]
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 May 2, 2019

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Chelsea have released a strong squad to face Eintracht Frankfurt in today’s Europa League semi-final first leg tie at Commerzbank-Arena.
According to Football London, the Blues manager, Maurizio Sarri has released a list of 19 players.
Chelsea head to the game after playing a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in their last fixture in the Premier League on Sunday.
Below is Chelsea’s squad against Eintracht Frankfurt:
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Willy Caballero, Jamie Cumming, Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Marcos Alonso, Emerson Palmieri, Davide Zappacosta, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Eden Hazard, Pedro, Willian, Olivier Giroud and Gonzalo Higuain
The kick-off time for the match is 8 pm.

[Edoman]

Jose Mourinho Gives Lionel Messi New Nickname 'The God Of Football'


Jose Mourinho watched Liverpool and Tottenham coaches Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino lose in their Champions League fixtures this week.

Mourinho hailed Messi



Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho hailed Lionel Messi as 'the God of Football' following Barcelona's 3-0 victory over Liverpool.
Messi struck twice in the second-half of the
Champions League semi-final first leg at Camp Nou as Barca beat Liverpool by the same scoreline they defeated United in the quarter-final second leg.

Although Mourinho antagonised Barca as Internazionale and Real Madrid coach, he spent four years at the club working with the late Sir Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal and his son, Jose Jr., is an avid Barcelona fan who is particularly reverential towards Messi.

Mourinho commended Liverpool for their bravery in Barcelona, where Sadio Mane lofted an excellent chance over the crossbar at 1-0 and Roberto Firmino had an effort cleared off the line before Mohamed Salah struck the post. Liverpool remarkably had more possession than Barca but could also have lost by a greater margin.

"Liverpool was brave in the approach,"
Mourinho told Russia Today. "I don't think in the past 20 years many teams in the Champions League beat Barcelona in ball possession in the Champions League.

Manchester United make Juan Mata final contract offer

"God of Football made it completely different. Of course [Barca] have a good team, phenomenal players, but that player is absolutely incredible.
"Liverpool deserve much more than the 3-0 defeat but in the last two corners of the game it could be 4-0 or 5-0, because the game was broken and then they couldn't cope. The question is which Barcelona will we have when Messi decides to say goodbye.
"Fabinho and even [Roberto] Firmino looks small [for the free-kick] but is not small. Firmino is the last one but this side, the goalkeeper gave one metre to the diagonal to cover that situation and it's impossible to stop.

Why Romelu Lukaku is considering leaving Manchester United

"Luis Suarez's movement [for the first goal] is phenomenal. One metre here, and I bring the defender with me, at least mentally because the defender thinks I'm going in that direction and now I'm going to attack the space in front. And goodbye."
Mourinho also questioned Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino's decision to play a back three in their 1-0 first leg loss to Ajax, who lined up with playmaker Dusan Tadic doubling as the centre forward.

"Tottenham was playing with three centre-backs against nobody," Mourinho scoffed.
Manchester United might have already made two key signings

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-messi-mourinho-news-16215802.amp

[Edoman]

SPORTEuropa League: Sarri under fire for dropping Hazard against FrankfurtPublished on May 3, 2019 By Ifreke Inyang

Former Chelsea manager, Glenn Hoddle, has slammed current boss Maurizio Sarri, for dropping Eden Hazard to the bench against Frankfurt on Thursday night.


Hazard was benched again for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final clash.

Chelsea battled their way to a 1-1 draw in Germany, with Hazard introduced just past the hour mark.


Sarri claimed the Belgian had been in need of a rest, but Hoddle believes a 19-goal player should be the first name on the team sheet.

He told BT Sport: “I really for the life of me can’t understand why you wouldn’t play your best player in this semi-final.

“They will only find out how important Hazard is after he is gone, unfortunately, because he is that good a player.


“But let’s face it, without him in the first half they were ordinary.

“What he does brilliantly is you can give him the ball and he will draw three players over to him and he can get you up the pitch.

“But he has goals in him and has got end product in there and around the penalty area. He is a danger.



“He has got everything going forward, possibly not all the time he doesn’t track back, but they will miss him.

“I actually think that he could be even better as a No. 10 with two holding midfield players behind him.

“You could then just say to him go and play and he might get that if he goes to Real Madrid, unfortunately.”

[Edoman]

SPORT
Europa League: Sarri under fire for dropping Hazard against Frankfurt
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[img=317x0]https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Sarri.jpg[/img]

Former Chelsea manager, Glenn Hoddle, has slammed current boss Maurizio Sarri, for dropping Eden Hazard to the bench against Frankfurt on Thursday night.

Hazard was benched again for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final clash.
Chelsea battled their way to a 1-1 draw in Germany, with Hazard introduced just past the hour mark.

Sarri claimed the Belgian had been in need of a rest, but Hoddle believes a 19-goal player should be the first name on the team sheet.
He told BT Sport: “I really for the life of me can’t understand why you wouldn’t play your best player in this semi-final.
“They will only find out how important Hazard is after he is gone, unfortunately, because he is that good a player.

“But let’s face it, without him in the first half they were ordinary.
“What he does brilliantly is you can give him the ball and he will draw three players over to him and he can get you up the pitch.
“But he has goals in him and has got end product in there and around the penalty area. He is a danger.

“He has got everything going forward, possibly not all the time he doesn’t track back, but they will miss him.
“I actually think that he could be even better as a No. 10 with two holding midfield players behind him.
“You could then just say to him go and play and he might get that if he goes to Real Madrid, unfortunately.”

[Edoman]

Real Madrid believe they have closed the signing of Serbian international Luka Jovic, with forward Mariano Diaz likely to move in the opposite direction.

Diario AS reported that Madrid will pay €60million (£51m) for the 21-year-old with €48m (£40.8m) going to Eintracht Frankfurt and €12m (£10.2m) going to Benfica, who still own a percentage of the player’s rights.

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Diaz will not move in exchange but in a separate transfer that will take the financial sting out of Madrid’s second signing after they secured defender Eder Militao from Porto.



Barcelona had taken an interest in Jovic but withdrew from the race to sign him because of the price.

Jovic has impressed all season with 26 goals in 44 games and he scored against Chelsea in Frankfurt's Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday night.

He has also helped the Bundesliga side challenge for a place in next season's Champions League. They are currently fourth place with three games left to play.

He is expected to join on a six-year deal and will seemingly spearhead Zinedine Zidane's overhaul of personnel this summer after a disappointing campaign that has seen them way off Barcelona in La Liga and knocked out of the Champions League in the last-16.

More sport reports here http://www.reportminds.com/2019/05/real-madrid-signing-of-striker-luka.html?m=1

[Edoman]

Bayern Munich star, David Alaba opens up on how his refusal to pay bribe stopped him from playing for Nigeria






David Alaba, Bayern Munich star, has accused coaches of the Golden Eaglets of denying him the opportunity to join the Nigerian squad at the 2007 FIFA World Cup in South Korea because he refused to pay bribe.  
 
At that time, late Yemi Tella was in charge of the Eaglets. In an interview with All Nigeria Soccer,  Alaba called the Nigeria U-17 coaches, “jokers” and vowed not to have anything to do with any of them in future.  
 
He claimed to have trained with Palanga midfielder, Haruna Lukman Abdulkarim, UB Conquense forward, Macauley Chrisantus and Slovan Bratislava’s midfielder, Rabiu Ibrahim ahead of the 2007 World Cup.  
 
The 26-year-old was eligible to represent Nigeria but he switched to Austria, his country of birth, after that encounter. Alaba, who was born in Vienna, capital of Austria, has a Filipino mother and Nigerian father.  
 
Alaba has earned 68 caps for Austria, scoring 13 goals and represented the country at the 2016 European Championship. On September 9, 2007, the late Tella led a team of youngsters to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup. That was the third time Nigeria had that title after previous wins in 1985 in China and 1993 in Japan.

by Linda

[Edoman]

All-girls junior team emerge winner in boys' football league






A team of girls have defeated boys to emerge winners in a boys' football league.
The under-12 girls' junior football team of SB Frankfort, a club based in Plymouth, Devon, won the Devon Junior and Minor league with two matches left to play in the season, according to The Independent.
 
The publication added that the girls have won 14 of their 17 games, drawing the other three, and scored 75 goals with more than 4 goals per match.
 

 
The girls competed in the boys' football league to challenge themselves, but they didn't expect that they were going to win.
It is thought it could be the first time an all-girls team has won a boys' football league in Britain.
 

 
Elite juior girls' team have been allowed to compete in boys' leagues since May 2016, when the FA changed its elite pathway for girls' football.
SB Franfort head coach James Brown-Tunnell said his team's title win was "a fantastic achievement for the whole squad."
 

 
He added: "Everyone has played their part this season. This has been four years in the making and I couldn't be happier."
He continued: "The main aim by joining the boys' league was for the girls to be challenged, so it's amazing to end up league winners. 
"Our aim is to stay undefeated and then move on to the league cup final on 12 May."
 

 
Assistant coach John Preston said: "It has been a great season and we have had great games against some fantastic teams who have praised the girls both on and off the pitch.
"We have been told many times that the girls can't, but this proves our girls definitely can."
 


by Linda Ikeji at 04