Sports Updates

[Edoman]

[b]Jurgen Klopp Wins The League Managers Association Manager Of The Year 

Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp has been named the League Managers' Association manager of the year.[/b]

Klopp's team won the Premier League - the Reds' first English top-flight title for 30 years.

Emma Hayes recently won the FA Women's Super League manager of the year award after leading Chelsea to the title.

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa won the Championship award after guiding his side to the title and promotion to the Premier League.

In announcing Klopp as the winner on Sky Sports, former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It was thoroughly deserved.

"The performance level of your team was outstanding. Your personality runs right through the whole club.

"I'll forgive you for ringing me at half past three in the morning to tell me you had won the league - thank you!"

Klopp's side amassed 99 points as they won the Premier League title by 18 points from second-placed Manchester City.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be named the winner of the League Managers Association manager of the year award, for this wonderful Sir Alex Ferguson trophy, named after a man that I admire so much," said Klopp.

"I know it's not 100% appropriate as a Liverpool manager - but I admire him. He was the first British manager I met and we had breakfast together. It was long ago and I'm not sure if he remembers it still, but I remember it forever because it was for me in this moment like meeting the Pope if you want!

"It was absolutely great and from the first second we really clicked. I wouldn't have thought in that moment that one day I would hold the trophy in my hands which is named after him."

He added: "It feels extra special to win this award because it is voted for by my fellow managers.

"It's an honour to be in the company of so many managers who have been named as LMA manager of the year before, including of course Liverpool managers like Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Sir Kenny Dalglish and, in recent years, Brendan Rodgers."

"I am here on behalf of my coaches. I'm OK as a manager but they make us a real special bunch of football brains and I love to work with them together. To work together with Pep Lijnders, Peter Krawietz, John Achterberg, Vitor Matos and Jack Robinson - it's a pleasure."

The FA Women's Championship manager of the year was Aston Villa's Gemma Davies.

Coventry City boss Mark Robins was the League One winner, while Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell got the League Two award.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53560879

[Edoman]

SPORT
EPL: Pedro leaves Chelsea


 July 27, 2020



Chelsea attacker, Pedro Rodriguez has confirmed he is leaving Stamford Bridge after helping the club qualify for next season’s Champions League.


Pedro arrived at Chelsea on June 20, 2015 on a €27m deal from Barcelona.


While in London, the Spaniard has won one Premier League title, an FA Cup and a Europa League with the Blues.


The 2018/19 season ended with Pedro scoring 13 goals, eight of which came in the Premier League and the other five in the Europa League, and was key under Maurizio Sarri.


Pedro shares the record of being among a few players to have scored in both the Europa and Champions League finals alongside Steven Gerrard, Allan Simonsen, Hernan Crespo and Dmitri Alenichev.


Confirming his exit, the 32-year-old tweeted, “Last game at Stamford Bridge. Thanks to every fan for your support through these years, to the club for giving me the chance of being a Blue and to my teammates. You’ll be in my heart forever. Now let’s fight for the FA Cup trophy!!! BIG BLUE FAMILY.”


In his five seasons at Chelsea, Pedro scored a total of 44 goals in 232 matches, including 3 scored in the just concluded season.

[Edoman]

Kai Havertz gives deadline for Chelsea move


 July 28, 2020



Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz is pushing hard for the club to agree a deal with Chelsea, before their Europa League tie against Rangers next week.


Havertz wants to join the Blues and only an agreement about the transfer fee is delaying the deal.


Leverkusen value Havertz at £90m, but all parties are hopeful a deal can be done at £70m plus add-ons.
Chelsea’s qualification for the Champions League, means Frank Lampard has more money to spend after signing Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.


Havertz is back in training with Leverkusen ahead of the Rangers game, but the 21-year-old would like the deal completed before that match.



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It will be a busy summer at Stamford Bridge with Lampard also looking for a new goalkeeper, left-back and centre-back.

[Edoman]

Champions League: Arthur refuses to play for Barcelona again

 July 28, 2020



Arthur Melo is negotiating an early release from Barcelona, following a lack of playing time since his transfer to Juventus was confirmed, ESPN reports.



The relationship between Arthur and Barca has gone sour in recent weeks to the point that he no longer wants to be involved in their Champions League last-16 second leg clash against Napoli on August 8.
Barca’s players underwent the latest round of COVID-19 testing on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s return to training.

However, Arthur did not turn up and would prefer that his Camp Nou stay ended immediately.


The 23-year-old did not feature in any of the club’s final six games after the Juventus deal, which is worth a potential €82million was announced on June 30.


At the time, Barca said Arthur would remain available for selection for the rest of the season.

However, the Brazil midfielder has grown frustrated by his lack of game time since then and wasn’t among the substitutes for the final LaLiga game against Alaves, despite Barca having only three outfield changes.

[Edoman]

Transfer: Atletico Madrid decide on selling Partey as Arsenal offer Guendouzi, £22.5m


 July 28, 2020


Atletico Madrid have rejected an offer from Arsenal to sign their midfielder, Thomas Partey after the Gunners offered Matteo Guendouzi plus £22.5million in a swap deal for the Ghanaian international.


According to Get French Football News, Atletico Madrid are believed to have reiterated to Arsenal that they want Partey’s £45.6million release clause to be paid out in full.


Partey had drawn the interest of Arsenal in recent weeks as their manager, Mikel Arteta looks to make his first signing of the summer.

Guendouzi, on the other hand, has been frozen out at the Emirates.


The 21-year-old is Arsenal’s main make-weight in any potential deal with Arteta having few assets to use.
Partey’s current contract at Atletico Madrid will expire in 2023.


[url=https://dailypost.ng/2020/07/28/chelsea-told-to-sign-man-city-defender-sell-problem-player-alonso-immediately/][/url]
The 27-year-old had said in the summer of 2018 that he was hopeful of playing in the English Premier League, one day.


“The Premier League is good. It is very competitive and has some of the best players in the world.

“Hopefully, one day. I want to play there,” Partey said.

[Edoman]

Chelsea told to sign Man City defender, sell problem player, Alonso immediately


 July 28, 2020




Arsenal hero, Paul Merson, has urged Chelsea to sign Manchester City defender, John Stones, and sell “problem” player, Marcos Alonso, this summer’s transfer window.


Chelsea have impressed under manager, Frank Lampard’s first season at Stamford Bridge as they finished fourth on the Premier League table and reached the FA Cup final, where they will tackle Arsenal on August 1.


The Blues have already signed Lampard Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech from RB Leipzig and Ajax respectively.

But Merson believes Chelsea’s defence still needs one additional player, Jones, who is being linked with a move away from Man City this summer.


“I’d go and get John Stones for that, and play him in the middle of the three. Then I’d say have Antonio Rudiger and Christensen either side of them,” Merson told Sky Sports.


“Chelsea love to play out the back, they roll it out every time, so you need someone unbelievably good on the ball.

“If you have pace around them, I think it will help Chelsea; I think Stones would be a great buy, and he has to play in a three.


“At the moment Chelsea have three centre-halves that aren’t in the same class as Stones on the ball.”
Merson added: “Their priority has to be getting a centre-half and a left-back.


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“Frank Lampard doesn’t trust the centre-backs. They’ve bought well so far upfront, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech are major signings, but don’t end up like Arsenal, where everyone is crying out and can see what they need.

“Marcos Alonso for me needs replacing; he gets vital goals, but he’s not a natural defender.


“That doesn’t help the back three because centre-halves have to come out of their comfort zone and come out of the line of the box to defend on the wings. Alonso causes that problem.


“Cesar Azpilicueta is a great pro, but he’s getting on now. Kurt Zouma has a mistake in him.


“Chelsea don’t have a naturally-gifted centre-half who can put his foot on the ball and play.”

[Edoman]

Champions League: Real Madrid forward tests positive for COVID-19 ahead of Man City clash

 July 28, 2020



Real Madrid forward, Mariano, has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss their Champions League trip to Manchester City next month.


Madrid are due to face City at the Etihad Stadium on August 7.


But Mariano, 26, will be unavailable for selection by Zinedine Zidane after he tested positive for Coronavirus.


Madrid’s players returned to training on Tuesday, after being granted a little break following their LaLiga title win.

Following his positive test at Madrid’s training ground, Mariano must now self-isolate and will miss the trip to Manchester in 10 days’ time.

“After the COVID-19 tests carried out individually on our first football team yesterday by the Real Madrid Medical Services, our player Mariano has given a positive result.

“The player is in perfect health and complying with the sanitary isolation protocol at home,” an official club statement read.

[Edoman]

8 EPL clubs could play in Champions League, Europa League next season


on
 July 28, 2020



UEFA have confirmed that up to eight Premier League teams could play in the Champions League and Europa League next season, according to Sky Sports.



Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have already qualified for the Champions League group stage next season, after finishing in the top four places in the 2019/2020 campaign.


Leicester, who finished in fifth place, have qualified for the Europa League group stage next season.


Tottenham Hotspur were sixth and also qualified for the Europa League second qualifying round.
If Manchester City or Chelsea go on to win the Champions League this season, there will be no extra slot for an English club next season.


Also, if Manchester United win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League group stage – which they have already reached through Premier League top-four spot – there will be no additional slot for an English club.

If Chelsea beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final this weekend, Tottenham do not need to play in Europa League qualifying round.


Wolves will qualify for the Europa League’s second qualifying round, as the Premier League’s seventh-placed team.


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However, if Arsenal win, the Gunners will qualify for the Europa League group stage.
Wolves will only play in Europe if they win the Europa League this season.


The only way eight Premier League clubs could play in European competitions next season: Wolves join Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea in the Champions League group stage next season as Europa League winners. Arsenal qualify for the Europa League group stage as FA Cup winners. Leicester will have qualified for the Europa League group stage next season as the fifth-placed team.

[Edoman]

SPORT

Willian’s agent denies player will stay at Chelsea, reveals two Premier League offers


 July 28, 2020



Chelsea winger, Willian, has not made a u-turn about his future at the club, according to his agent, Kia Joorabchian.


The Brazil international is expected to decide on his future after this Saturday’s FA Cup against Arsenal.



Joorabchian, speaking with talkSPORT, also revealed that Willian has received five offers – from MLS, Premier League and European clubs.


Willian’s current deal was extended, to allow him play until the end of the season which was delayed by COVID-19.

The 31-year-old has been linked with Chelsea rivals, Arsenal and Tottenham, but now his agent has claimed he has several offers on the table.

[url=https://dailypost.ng/2020/07/27/transfer-coutinho-makes-u-turn-over-arsenal-decision/][/url]
“He’s had a big offer from the MLS and two teams from the Premier League and two offers in Europe,” Joorabchian said.


“He will make his mind up after the FA Cup.”

[Edoman]

[b]Timo Werner Says Lampard Was The Main Attraction For Him At Chelsea 


Chelsea's newest recruit Timo Werner says playing under manager Frank Lampard was the "main" attraction upon deciding to join the club.[/b]

The Germany striker, 24, started training with the Blues this week after completing a £54m switch from RB Leipzig earlier this summer.

"We talked a lot about the system, how he [Lampard] wants to play and sees me playing," said Werner.

"He knows me now a little bit better and it fits very good between us."

Werner was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool before signing for Chelsea, and the forward says it is "like a little dream" moving to the west London club.

"When you have a decision to go from your old club and you come to a big club like this, it was for me a dream which came true because Chelsea is a very big club," he added.

"I know of the players before when they won the Champions League with (Didier) Drogba, with my new manager Frank Lampard, Petr Cech as the technical advisor, it is like a little dream for me.

"But I want to become, not a same player like them, I want to be part of a new era here so I will play to try to give my best."

While Werner understands the demands of the English top flight, he also believes his attributes are suited to the Premier League.

"The style of the Premier League is very fast and my speciality is that I am really fast so I think it is perfect for me to play here," Werner told Chelsea's official club website.

"It is another league in another country so I can improve myself to bring it to another level, so those are the reasons I come to the Premier League and to Chelsea."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53571922

[Edoman]

Community Shield to take place on August 29 at Wembley with Liverpool to face either Arsenal or Chelsea









The Football Association has confirmed the Community Shield will take place at Wembley on Saturday, August 29. 
 
Premier League champions, Liverpool will face the winner of Saturday’s FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea in the Community Shield clash.
 
It has been reported that a restricted number of supporters will be welcomed into Wembley for the clash as part of plans for supporters to make a socially-distanced return to sports venues from October 1.
 
The announcement comes after the Premier League revealed last week the 2020/21 season would start on September 12 and run until May 23, 2021.
 
The EFL has also confirmed the Championship, League One and League Two seasons will commence on the same weekend, with their regular seasons ending on the weekend of May 8, 2021.
 
 
 

[Edoman]

Sevilla star, Nemanja Gudelj tests positive for Covid-19 days before Europa League clash starts




                           


Sevilla have confirmed star player Nemanja Gudelj has tested positive for Coronavirus, putting it's Europa league clash with Roma next week at risk, as a fresh wave of the virus hits Spain.
 
The Spanish club and another Spanish club Zaragoza reported new infections on it's players days after Real Madrid revealed player Mariano had tested positive.
 
Gudelj was tested on Sunday along with coaching staff and the rest of the first-team squad, before the results were returned on Monday. Two further tests have since been carried out on the rest of the squad and the coaching staff but results won't be back until Thursday.
 
According to the club's statement posted to fans on Twitter, Gudelj is asymptomatic and self-isolating at home, but the club has suspended training sessions.
 

 
"Good afternoon everybody, after confirming my positive Covid-19 test I want to tell you all that I am perfectly fine, I have no symptoms," Gudelj posted on Twitter.
"I hope to be back with my team-mates soon and help the club reach its goals at the end of this season. 
"Thanks for all your messages of support, we are still here training and we'll see you soon."

b

[Edoman]

Zlatan Ibrahimovic sets new record with his 50th career goal as a Milan player




                       


38 year old Football star, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has set a new record after helping his team, AC Milan defeat Sampdoria on Wednesday, July 29 scoring his 50th goal for the club. 
 
Zlatan who has played for Manchester United, LA Galaxy, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Inter, Juventus and AC Milan during a career that has spanned two decades, has scored eight goals during his second spell at the club.
 
On Wednesday night, he scored in just the 4th minute of the clash with Sampdoria, making it his 50th league strike as an AC Milan player.

He scored 42 in 61 games during his first stint at the club back in 2010-11 and 2011-12,  and has now scored 8 goals this season. During his time as an Inter Milan player Zlatan scored 57 goals for the club, making him the first player to score over 100 goals for both clubs.
 
Zlatan's total goals scored in club and international football now stands at 552 in 934 matches, among still active players, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have better goal stats than him.
 

[Edoman]

Crystal Palace winger, Wilfried Zaha claims black footballers are becoming scared to use social media because of racist abuse







Crystal Palace and Ivorian winger, Wilfried Zaha, has said black footballers are becoming scared to use social media because of the alarming cases of racist abuse.
 
Earlier this month, the Ivory Coast international was sent sickening racist messages, which resulted in a 12-year-old boy being arrested in connection with the incident. 
 
Speaking in a new interview with CNN, the 27-year-old revealed he has created a platform to help fight off racist abuse, but says blacks footballers don't fancy being on social media anymore.
 
He also went on to disclose that he's no longer on Twitter because of sickening abuse from racists. 
 
Zaha said: "I've had racial abuse all my life but it's a thing where for right now, I've got a platform where I feel like if I can make a change, I'll try." 
 
"For black footballers for instance, being on Instagram is not even fun anymore. You're not enjoying your profile because every time I'm scared to even look up my direct messages anymore because it could be filled with anything.
 
"I don't even have Twitter on my phone anymore, because it's almost certain that you're going to get some sort of abuse."
 
He added: "I reported 50 accounts... and I got racially abused after the stuff that I got before, and it's like what happens after that account gets blocked?
 
"Then they just make a new one straight after. I feel like with everything that we do in life, with everything we register to, we have to give some sort of ID, so why is it not the same with Instagram? Why is it not the same with Twitter?"
 
 
 

[Edoman]

Cristiano Ronaldo's Hopes Of Finishing Serie A's Top Scorer Fade Away

Cristiano Ronaldo's hopes of ending the campaign as top scorer in Serie A faded away on Wednesday as he failed to find the net when champions Juventus slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat away to Cagliari.

The 35-year-old Portuguese star is on 31 goals for the season, four behind Lazio's Ciro Immobile with only a home league game against fifth-placed Roma left to play.

Cagliari, who are 13th in the table, shocked the newly-crowned champions in the eighth minute when 20-year-old striker Luca Gagliano reacted quickest, stabbing home Federico Mattiello's pass across the box to net his first goal for the club.

Things went from bad to worse for Juve in first-half stoppage time as Giovanni Simeone smashed a right-foot shot across keeper Gianluigi Buffon and in at the far post to put Cagliari two goals up.

With a first-half goal chalked off for offside, Ronaldo had plenty of chances as Juve dominated, but he found his efforts smothered by the Cagliari defence.

When his team mates did manage to get a shot on target they found keeper Alessio Cragno in superb form as Cagliari held on to win.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8574083/amp/Cristiano-Ronaldos-hopes-finishing-Serie-scorer-fade-away.html

[Edoman]

Relegated Bournemouth accepts a £41million bid for Nathan Ake from Manchester City









Bournemouth have accepted a £41million offer from Manchester City for central defender Nathan Ake as they look to raise funds following their relegation from the Premier League to Championship.
 
The fee, which would be a club-record sale for Bournemouth, would see them receive £40m upfront with a further £1m to come in add-ons.
 
The Holland international will now discuss personal terms with Manchester City with a deal expected to be completed in the coming days.
 
Ake joined Bournemouth from Chelsea for a club-record fee of £20m in 2017 and had been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge, but City is now his next destination. The club is also closing in on a deal for Valencia winger Ferran Torres, 20, who has been identified as a replacement for Leroy Sane.
 
 
 

[Edoman]

Abramovich would have sent me to Siberia if i came fourth" - Former Chelsea coach Avram Grant




                              


Former Chelsea coach, Avram Grant has joked he would have been "sent to Siberia" by Roman Abramovich had he led Chelsea to a fourth-placed finish just like Frank Lampard did with the club this season.
 
Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Wolves on the final day of the season placed them in fourth position and ensured Lampard's side will be playing in the Champions League next season.
 
In his only season at the club in 2007-08, Grant guided Chelsea to a second-placed finish in the Premier League, while the club lost to Tottenham in the EFL Cup final before losing to Manchester United on penalties in the Champions League final.
 
Grant was immediately sacked after the Champions League finale, and now says Abramovich did not give him such liberty back in his time like he is giving to Lampard now.


"I think it's a good season, especially compared to how it began, without being allowed to buy players," Grant told Stats Perform News.
 
                
 
"Compared to the requirement of Roman Abramovich, if I told him some years ago that fourth place would be good for him, probably he would send me to Siberia, but because of the situation before, I think it's a good place. For Frank, I think it's a big achievement.


"It's his first year as a coach in the Premier League. Of course, he was a player with a lot of experience, but you cannot compare a player to a manager, and I think he's managed the team very well.


"A lot of young players and he knew how to play them, how to give them a rest and when to push them. It's a good base for the future, I was very pleased with his performance."

Grant also believes Lampard always had the right mentality as a player to become a top-level coach.


"I was sure, because he was always a leader. When you spoke with him, he had a different view about football," Grant said.


"In my team at Chelsea there was a lot of leaders. I thought [Michael] Ballack would be a good coach, Didier [Drogba], John Terry, because there was a good personality and a lot of knowledge about football.


"Of course, having the knowledge is not the same, you have to pass the knowledge to players, you have to deal with the owner, the media, you have to deal with the supporters, but at the end of the day, you depend on the performance on the pitch – it's results, especially at the top."

[Edoman]

[b]Kepa Is Resigned To NEVER Playing For Chelsea Again Ahead Of FA Cup Final[/b]

Kepa Arrizabalaga expects to be shown the exit door at Chelsea this summer amid fears he has played his last game for the club.

The Sun claim the Spanish goalkeeper is set to be left out of the FA Cup final clash with Arsenal on Saturday and replaced with 38-year-old veteran Willy Caballero.

Kepa became Chelsea's record signing in 2018 in a £71.6 million move from Athletic Bilabao, but persistent errors have hampered his progress.

The 25-year-old was dropped for Chelsea's Premier League final day victory over Wolves, and the stopper is reportedly convinced he will not win his place back in time to feature in the Champions League tie at Bayern Munich on August 8.
Blues are 3-0 down heading into the last-16 second leg, meaning it will most likely be the club's final match of the protracted 2019-20 season.

Kepa has struggled to win Frank Lampard's trust since the Chelsea icon's appointment as manager in July 2019, keeping 10 clean sheets in 41-appearances.

The Spain international was dropped for five matches in February after a poor run of form, but reclaimed his spot in the FA Cup win over Liverpool and league victory over Everton.

Kepa kept his place when the season resumed in June but played his part in slipshod defensive displays against West Ham and Sheffield United.

The keeper's inability to stop champions Liverpool in the 5-3 defeat at Anfield proved the final straw for Lampard, who is now looking to strengthen his goalkeeping options in the transfer window.

Sportsmail understands Blues are reluctant to sell Kepa given the strong possibility of taking a major financial hit, but the club could be persuaded to strike a deal if a bid in excess of £50 million is made.

In the meantime, Chelsea’s new performance and technical director Petr Cech, who played in goal for the club between 2004 and 2015, will use his expertise to find a replacement.

Burnley keeper Nick Pope, Ajax’s Andre Onana and Manchester United loanee Dean Henderson are thought to be among those on the shortlist.

Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/12262827/chelsea-team-news-kepa-arrizabalaga-will-caballero-arsenal-fa-cup/amp/

[Edoman]

Victor Osimhen becomes Nigeria's most expensive player after signing a €50m deal to join Napoli from Lille







Victor Osimhen has officially become Nigeria's most expensive player after completing a big-money move from Lille to Napoli. 
 
The Nigerian international striker, who scored 18 goals in 38 appearances for the French club in the 2019-20 season, moves to Naples in a five-year deal worth €50 million (£45m/$59m).
 
The Serie A side announced the signing in a statement via its website and Twitter page on Friday, saying: 'SSC Napoli are delighted to announce the signing of Victor Osimhen from Lille on a permanent transfer.'
 

 
The big-money move also makes Osimhen the most expensive signing in Napoli’s history, a record that was set last summer by Hirving Lozano when he signed from PSV Eindhoven for €38m plus bonuses.
 
He is also expected to be handed the No.9 jersey and will be presented to the media in Naples after his summer vacation.
 

A delighted Osimhen wrote on Twitter: 'Can’t wait to put on this iconic jersey,thank you for the warm welcome.'
 

[Edoman]

Messi to be offered €260m to leave Barcelona


 July 31, 2020



Inter Milan are optimistic of convincing Lionel Messi to leave Barcelona next year, by tabling an ‘astronomical offer’, according to Marca.


Messi is out of contract in 2021 and is believed to be unhappy with life at the Nou Camp.


This follows a series of behind-the-scenes rows and Barca’s disappointing campaign.


Inter are now looking to capitalise on the situation and hope they can lure Messi to the San Siro in the next 12 months.

The Serie A giants are willing to offer Messi a deal worth €260 million (£235m) over four years.


It would push Messi’s net earnings above that of rival Juventus forward, Cristiano Ronaldo