Transfer: Chelsea put N’Golo Kante, 8 others up for sale [Full list]

 August 3, 2020



Chelsea are ready to sell at least nine players this summer transfer window, as they look to oversee a huge squad overhaul ahead of next season.

Transfer: Three players Arteta wants Arsenal to sign this summer revealed


 August 3, 2020



Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, wants the club to sign three players this summer transfer window in order to fit his plans to play a 4-3-3 system next season.

Transfer: Man Utd finally reach agreement to sell Sanchez


 August 3, 2020



Inter Milan are set to announce the permanent signing of striker, Alexis Sanchez, after agreeing to a fee with Manchester United.

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Quote:[b]Iker Casillas Retires From Football

Former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has retired from football at the age of 39.[/b]

Casillas made 725 appearances for Real during a 16-year career at the Bernabeu, winning three Champions League titles and five La Liga crowns.

He also helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and two successive European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

Casillas joined Porto in 2015 but has not played since suffering a heart attack during training in April 2019.

During his recovery he was given a role on the club's coaching staff in July 2019.

He made 156 appearances for the Portuguese side, winning two Primeira Liga titles and one Portuguese Cup.

Casillas won 167 international caps for Spain between 2000 and 2016. Only former Real team-mate Sergio Ramos has made more appearances for the national side.

Announcing his retirement on Twitter, Casillas said: "The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination to which it takes you.

"I think I can say, without hesitation, that it has been the path and the dream destination."

Real Madrid said Casillas, who joined the Spanish giants at the age of nine, was the best goalkeeper in the 118-year history of the club.

"Real Madrid wants to show its appreciation, admiration and love for one of the greatest legends of our club and world football," read a statement on the club's website.

"Iker Casillas belongs to the heart of Real Madrid and will be so forever."

In February, he announced his intention to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), before later withdrawing because of the "exceptional social, economic and health situation" the country was suffering during the Covid-19 pandemic.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53652195

EPL: Man City announces Torres as Guardiola’s first summer signing


 August 4, 2020



Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Ferran Torres from Valencia.

                                 

                            

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Zidane Named World’s Best Manager Ahead Of Klopp, Guardiola 

Zidane Named World’s Best Manager Ahead Of Klopp, Guardiola



Real Madrid boss, Zinedine Zidane, has been voted the best manager in the world by French newspaper L’Equipe, beating Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola to the title.

48-year-old won a La Liga title, three Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, two Club World Cups and a Spanish Super Cup during his first spell at Real Madrid before he surprisingly left the club in 2018.

He was re-appointed within just ten months, however, and has gone on to win another La Liga title and another Super Cup this season to continue his remarkable record with Madrid.



Zidane, 48, won a La Liga title, three Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, two Club World Cups and a Spanish Super Cup during his first spell at Madrid before he surprisingly left the club in 2018.

Within just 10 months, Zidane was re-appointed, however, and has gone on to win another La Liga title and another Super Cup this season to continue his remarkable record with the Los Merenguez.

Klopp and Guardiola join Zidane in the top three for their remarkable achievements, but there was no room for Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho, who L’Equipe described as having a “fading image and magic.”

On Zidane, they wrote: “He is a coach who has experienced only one club, and quite rarely defeat.

“A coach who did what none of his predecessors did, win three Champions Leagues in a row (2016, 2017, 2018), who was able to return to the footsteps of his own glory and question everything to become a new Spanish champions with Real Madrid last month.

“Guardiola has something else, his dogma, his permanent research, the virtuosity of his collective game, dizzying constructions, his consistency (198 points in two seasons from 2017 to 2019), but he does not have everything, and chooses his central defenders as his attackers or midfielders.’

They also added Klopp has “charisma” and described him as the “fashionable man” and “favourite of many.”

Zidane has a chance of winning a fourth Champions League as coach later this month but faces an uphill task as he goes head-to-head with two-time winner Guardiola when Manchester City and Madrid meet in the second leg of their last-16 clash on Friday, with City 2-1 up from the first game in Spain.

https://www.completesports.com/zidane-named-worlds-best-manager-ahead-of-klopp-guardiola/

Quote:[b]Ronaldo Scores Twice But Lyon Eliminate Juventus From The Champions League 

Lyon survived a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired comeback from Juventus to hang on and book a Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City.[/b]

Leading 1-0 from February's first leg, the French side were handed a soft early penalty which Memphis Depay converted in style.

That left Juve needing to score three times to progress and Ronaldo got one back from the penalty spot.

He then thundered in his 130th Champions League goal but Lyon held on.

Lyon boss Rudi Garcia, said: "We came up against an opponent who has an extraterrestrial in its squad," of five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo.

"This is the victory of a group. We wanted to be in the final eight in Lisbon, we are there.

"We'll still be outsiders and that suits us very well."

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri may have guided his side to a ninth straight Serie A title but they were lethargic throughout and his position could be under threat.

Juve have not won the Champions League since 1996 and the wait goes on at least another year.

Uninspiring Old Lady
To question Sarri after one year in charge may seem harsh, but the reality is that in Turin - as in Paris and in Munich - winning the league is the minimum requirement.

Ending that now 25-year drought in the Champions League is the goal and were it not for Ronaldo, Juve offered next to nothing as an attacking force.

Six of Sarri's starting XI are in their 30s and they were painfully slow in approach at times, showing why they had only actually won two of their last eight games in Serie A.

Where there is the remarkable Ronaldo there is hope, and his second on the night was a superb, swerving left-footed shot from range that gave hope of another tilt at the business end of the competition.

But when Ronaldo headed a corner over the top, that hope was extinguished.

Ronaldo could yet win the trophy with a third team, joining Clarence Seedorf in an exclusive club, but time is running out for the 35-year-old. As it may be now for Sarri, too.

"I don't think directors of a top level will make a decision based on one match," Sarri said after the match.

"They are going to evaluate the whole season.

"I find this kind of question [about his future] offensive, but not towards me, it's offensive towards the directors. I have a contract, I'll respect it and I don't expect anything."

Since 2003-04 (when we have the data available), Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 19 goals from outside the box in the Champions League, more than any other player

Lyon were only seventh in the French top flight when the season was cancelled in April and this was just their second game back.

They held Paris St-Germain to a 0-0 draw in the French League Cup final last Friday night - losing on penalties - and were equally resolute in Turin.

Referee Felix Zwayer helped them out with a gift of a penalty as Houssem Aouar went down after a drive into the area, with Rodrigo Bentancur clearly winning the ball.

Depay converted with a fine Panenka chip, and Lyon always looked likely to see the tie out even after Ronaldo's double.

Depay was harshly adjudged to have handled while blocking a free-kick in the wall to give Juve a way back in and it would have been easy to cave.

But Aouar, Bruno Guimaraes and Maxence Caqueret all excelled in midfield as Lyon booked a one-off tie against City in Lisbon next Saturday night.

"It is the victory of a group. We wanted to be in Lisbon. Here we are," said Lyon boss Rudi Garcia.

"I have been here a few times with Roma. Juventus are the best club in Italy, a team that wanted to win the Champions League and have an alien.

"We saw Ronaldo's magnificent second goal. Few people thought we could do it. We did it."

Man of the match - Houssem Aouar (Lyon)

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53683503

Quote:[b]Manchester City Eliminates Real Madrid From The Champions League 


Manchester City finished off the job they started back in February by deservedly overcoming Real Madrid to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.[/b]

Pep Guardiola's side will now face Lyon in the one-game knockout format in Lisbon after inflicting Zinedine Zidane's first elimination from the Champions League, the French manager having won it three times in his three previous seasons in charge.

It was a victory City fully merited as their intense pressing game forced Real into numerous mistakes, with France World Cup-winning defender Raphael Varane in particular unable to cope with the pressing of Gabriel Jesus.

He robbed Varane to set up Raheem Sterling to score in the ninth minute but Karim Benzema's towering header before half-time set up the possibility of a tense second period.

City, though, created the better opportunities in an excellent performance - whereas Real missed the leadership and nous of central defender Sergio Ramos, who was suspended after being sent off in the first leg.

Without Ramos alongside him, the uncomfortable Varane made another error when his headed back-pass fell short of Thibaut Courtois to allow the lurking Jesus to pounce in the game's decisive moment after 68 minutes.

Relentless City too strong for Real
City's superiority over Real was actually more emphatic than the scoreline suggests.

From the opening seconds, with Phil Foden in an advanced role and the Spanish champions unsettled by the mobility of Sterling and Jesus, City's relentless pressing and intensity gave them control.

It was epitomised by Jesus - who hounded Varane into submission - but City had stars all over the pitch, with Kevin de Bruyne producing some brilliant passes and Kyle Walker positive in defence and attack.

Goalkeeper Ederson was faultless when called upon and there were few signs of the defensive frailties that have undermined them in the Premier League this season.

If City perform like this against Lyon they will be difficult to stop, but the French side must not be taken lightly after disposing of Juventus.

The Champions League has always eluded City and has been out of Guardiola's reach since his glory days at Barcelona - but if this quality and discipline can be maintained, this could be the season that all changes.

Real miss Ramos' steel
Real Madrid captain Ramos was a noisy presence from his seat behind the technical area as he encouraged his team-mates on the pitch - but Zidane would have given anything to have him out there alongside them.

The 34-year-old remains a magnificent defender with real presence and at the Etihad Real paid a heavy price for his red card in the first leg of this quarter-final, played at the Bernabeu six months ago.

His organisation and composure was badly missed with his usual central defensive partner Varane - upon whom the burden of responsibility fell in Ramos' absence - suffering a personal nightmare.

Jesus was Varane's tormentor in chief, robbing him of possession to set up Sterling's opener - his 100th goal for the club - then chasing down his weak attempt at a headed back-pass to score City's crucial second.

Real have the quality of Benzema as a constant threat in attack but Ramos is still the glue that holds this team together and they came badly unstuck in the face of City's desire and energy.

Man of the match - Gabriel Jesus (Man City)

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53683510

BREAKING: Juventus sack Sarri after Champions League exit


 August 8, 2020



Juventus have sacked their manager, Maurizio Sarri after their exit from the Champions League at the hands of Lyon on Friday night.