Sports update

[Edoman]

Abramovich sacking Lampard is not my problem – Mourinho
on
 January 22, 2021





Tottenham Hotspur boss, Jose Mourinho, has said he does not care if Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, fires Frank Lampard as manager.


Lampard is under intense pressure at Stamford Bridge, following a run of poor results.


The Blues’ 2-0 loss at Leicester City in midweek, was their fifth league defeat in their last eight fixtures. It leaves them in eighth place on the table.
Senior officials at the club want to give under-pressure Lampard time to turn the club’s fortunes around and not make a decision mid-season.

However, they are believed to be considering Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, RB Leipzig’s Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel who was just sacked at Paris Saint-Germain.


Ex-Juventus boss Max Allegri has also admitted he wants to manage in England.


Mourinho himself has been sacked twice by Abramovich in the past.
When asked on Friday if he feels the Russian will give Lampard time to turn the team’s fortunes around, he replied: “No, that’s not my problem at all.”

[Edoman]

Fikayo Tomori joins AC Milan on loan from Chelsea (photos)








Serie A side, AC Milan have signed defender Fikayo Tomori on loan from Chelsea FC until the end of the season.
 
The deal for the 23-year-old English defender includes an option to buy, which would cost the Italian side £26.6m (€30m.)
 
“AC Milan is delighted to announce the signing of Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola Tomori on loan from Chelsea FC until the end of the season,” the Italian club said in an official statement.
 

 
“The defender has signed a contract until June 30, 2021, but AC Milan have an option to make the deal permanent,” it added.
 
The defender will wear the No 23 shirt while playing for Stefano Pioli's side
 

 
Born in Canada to Nigerian parents and raised in England, Tomori joined Chelsea’s academy at the age of eight and made his Premier League debut with the London-based club in 2016.
 
During his time with Chelsea’s senior team, he has been loaned out to Brighton & Hove Albion, Hull City, and Derby County. He had to secure a loan move to AC Milan due to the lack of playing time having played only four matches this season. 
 

[Edoman]

[b]Ronaldo Rejects £5.3m-A-Year Offer To Become The Face Of Saudi Arabian Tourism

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly turned down a multi-million-pound offer to become the face of Saudi Arabian tourism.[/b]

The deal amounted to €6million per year (£5.3m) and is understood to have included Ronaldo making visits to the country and his image being used on all promotional material.

Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi has also been approached by Saudi Arabia's tourism authority, but his view on the proposal is not yet known.

Both representatives of Ronaldo and Messi refused to discuss the matter when approached by The Telegraph.

Earlier this week, Ronaldo became the highest-scoring player in the history of the sport as Juventus beat Napoli to win the Italian Super Cup, while Messi has won a record six world player of the year crowns.

Saudi Arabia is aiming to become an attractive tourist hub through its 'Visit Saudi' campaign with the country's reputation in the doldrums over its chequered human rights record, although travel is currently limited due to Covid-19 and Visit Saudi adverts state that a visa must be acquired to go there.

The international reach of two of the most successful players ever to play the game would have added significant clout to their campaign, but any athlete willing to strike a deal with the kingdom would face severe criticism.

Saudi Arabia is using sport as a vehicle more generally to promote itself, staging the Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah last January, with Messi's Barcelona competing for the trophy alongside Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia.

Barca's manager at the time Ernesto Valverde admitted that 'we are here because of the money' in what was the first year of a three-year worth £102m to the Spanish football federation (although the event was ultimately held in Spain this year due to the coronavirus pandemic).

Messi was also in Riyadh in November 2019 to play a friendly for Argentina against Brazil, where he met Turki Al-Sheikh, the chairman of the country's 'general entertainment authority' and the majority owner of Segunda Division side Almeria.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9178203/Cristiano-Ronaldo-rejects-5-3million-year-offer-face-Saudi-Arabian-tourism.html

[Edoman]

Yaya Toure 'set' to join Ukrainian outfit Olimpik Donetsk as an assistant coach









Manchester City, Yaya Toure is reportedly set to take his first coaching role at Ukrainian side Olimpik Donetsk.

 

The Ivorian, 37, has enjoyed a trophy-laden career which included spells at Barcelona and Manchester City, and he also won 97 caps for the Ivory Coast.

 

His last playing contract was at Qingdao Huanghai in the Chinese Super League, but reports suggest he will start his coaching career in the country he played in from 2003 to 2005.

 

Toure is now set to join Vicente Gomez's coaching staff at Olimpik Donetsk.

 

Toure's former agent Dimitry Seluk commented on Twitter: 'Yaya started his football career in the Donetsk club. He will also start his coach's career at the Donetsk club.

 

'(He) Will come to Olympic. Thanks to the president and head coach who invited Yaya to pass on his experience to young footballers as an assistant coach [sic].'  

 

Toure's former agent Dimitry Seluk commented on Twitter: 'Yaya started his football career in the Donetsk club. He will also start his coach's career at the Donetsk club.

 

'(He) Will come to Olympic. Thanks to the president and head coach who invited Yaya to pass on his experience to young footballers as an assistant coach.'  

 

Yaya Toure won three La Liga titles at Barcelona and one Champions League from 2007 through to 2010. He joined Manchester City for £27m and went on to win three Premier League titles and one FA Cup. 

 

 He joined Olympiacos in 2018 for three months and then played out the rest of his career in China.

[Edoman]

Chelsea vs Luton: Abramovich identifies former coach as Lampard’s replacement


on
 January 24, 2021





Chelsea’s hierarchy has identified Leicester City manager, Brendan Rodgers, as a possible replacement for Frank Lampard, if he is fired, according to the UK Mirror.


Lampard is fighting for his job at Stamford Bridge, after the Blues slipped seven places in the Premier League in the space of six weeks.


Chelsea went top of the table in early December, but have lost five of their last eight matches to slip to eighth, five points outside of the top-four places.

Lampard will be looking to get a win on Sunday in the FA Cup against Luton Town on Sunday, to give himself a bit of breathing space.


The former England midfielder has been doing well in cup competitions.
While Russian owner Roman Abramovich respects Lampard and is desperate for him to succeed, he will not tolerate many more mediocre performances, especially after he sanctioned a £200m spending spree last summer.

If Abramovich’s hand is forced and Lampard goes, Chelsea could look to move for Leicester boss Rodgers.


It is understood that senior officials at the club have been impressed by Rodgers, who is one of the most highly-rated coaches in Europe.


Rodgers, who used to coach the youth team at Chelsea, almost led Leicester to the Champions League last year.

[Edoman]

Ahmed Musa Set To Join West Brom

Musa Set To Join West Brom

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa is set to join Premier League club West Bromwich Albion on a permanent deal, reports Completesports.com.

The 28-year-old has not been attached to a club since leaving Saudi Arabian outfit Al Nassr in October 2020.

According to Daily Mail, the Baggies have requested a visa for the winger and booked him in for a medical on Wednesday.

It has been suggested that Sam Allardyce is looking for a deal until the end of the season.


Capped 95 times by Nigeria, Musa’s career has stalled since he left CSKA Moscow in 2016. Having scored 55 goals in 167 appearances for the Russians, he joined Leicester City in the summer of that year.

Things did not work out at the King Power Stadium, as the African made just seven league starts from 21 outings. He joined after the Foxes had claimed the Premier League title and hoped to be part of something special.

But he was loaned back to CSKA for the second half of the 2017-18 campaign. He was then sold to Al Nassr in January 2019 and played 62 times in all competitions before being released.

https://www.completesports.com/musa-set-to-join-west-brom/

[Edoman]

Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: Gabriel own goal sees cup holders ousted



23 January 2021,


Holders Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup as the unlucky Gabriel Magalhaes settled a scrappy clash at Southampton with an own goal.
Southampton's 1-0 win at St Mary's came against an Arsenal side who were without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, their two-goal hero in last season's final, for personal reasons.


Gabriel turned a cross-shot from Kyle Walker-Peters beyond Bernd Leno for the only goal, his slight touch meaning a ball that looked like going wide squeezed just inside the left post.


Without Aubameyang, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal carried little threat against a side who sit one place above them in the Premier League.


The visitors almost fell behind early on, a corner from James Ward-Prowse curling in from the right and clipping the crossbar.


Che Adams and former Gunners winger Theo Walcott threatened to find the breakthrough for Southampton before it arrived in the 24th minute.
The optimistic effort from Walker-Peters skidded low through a crowd of players and caught a flick off Gabriel on its way into the corner.

It meant Arsenal's defence had finally been breached after going 508 minutes without conceding a goal.


Southampton's Danny Ings smashed a shot against the foot of the right post early in the second half, although he had strayed a fraction offside.


Walcott thumped a shot high over the Arsenal bar as the hosts looked to make sure of their place in the next round.

In a largely underwhelming contest, Eddie Nketiah saw a shot palmed away by home goalkeeper Fraser Forster, while Ward-Prowse cleared off the line from substitute Bukayo Saka, but a flag for an earlier offside would have seen that ruled out.

What does it mean? Cup can be cruel

Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season as a head coach, so this was his first defeat as Arsenal boss in the competition. To lose Aubameyang just hours before kick-off was news he could have done without, and for this game to be decided by an own goal was equally rough on the Gunners chief.


Ward-Prowse impresses again

If his corner kick that almost caught out Leno was a deliberate attempt to beat the goalkeeper, then it was a touch of genius. It may have been a slight mis-kick, but there were few missteps from the England international in an impressive display. 

He had more touches (68) than anyone else on the Southampton team and played 33 passes in the Arsenal half, by far and away the most of any outfield Saints player (three players made 19 such passes). He played eight crosses and produced a goal-line clearance into the bargain, impressing at both ends of the field.


Tale of two Gabriels

Arsenal had 61.6 per cent of possession, meaning this was a wholly different game to the Emirates Stadium clash between these teams in December, when they had a mere 35.17 per cent of the ball. They were arguably the better team in the second half, but starting with Gabriel Martinelli ahead of Saka looked a questionable choice. The Brazilian had two shots but was mostly peripheral, having only 17 touches, and the arrival of Saka off the bench as his replacement was perhaps overdue when it came in the 58th minute.
Key Opta Facts:


- Southampton have beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup for the very first time, with the Saints drawing one and losing four of their previous five matches against the Gunners in the competition.


- The Saints have eliminated the holders from the FA Cup for the first time since beating Tottenham in a replay back in February 1902. Indeed, the Saints had lost each of their previous seven FA Cup fixtures against the competition's holders prior to today.


- This was Mikel Arteta's first defeat in the FA Cup as a player or manager in 15 games (W13 D1), since featuring in Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Blackburn back in February 2013.


- Gabriel's own goal was the first goal Arsenal have conceded since Tammy Abraham’s strike for Chelsea on Boxing Day, ending the Gunners’ run of 508 minutes without conceding in all competitions.


What's next?

Enjoy that? These two teams will stage a repeat on Tuesday when they meet at St Mary's in the Premier League, which may prove a more captivating contest.

[Edoman]

Udinese 0-0 Inter: Conte sent off as Nerazzurri miss chance to go top



23 January 2021,




Antonio Conte saw red as Inter were held to a goalless draw by Udinese and missed out on the chance to overtake Serie A leaders Milan at the midway point of the season


Inter beat Juventus 2-0 last weekend to enhance their title credentials but could not follow that up with another win in Saturday's stalemate at the Dacia Arena.


Relegation-threatened Udinese entered the game winless in eight but they restricted Inter to minimal chances, the best falling to Lautaro Martinez in the first half.


Conte's frustration boiled over late on, the Inter coach receiving his marching orders due to dissent, though the Nerazzurri at least gained a point on their bitter rivals Milan, who were beaten 3-0 by Atalanta ahead of the sides' Coppa Italia quarter-final on Tuesday.


Bayern Munich are the only side to have scored more goals in Europe's top-five leagues than Inter this season but the visitors could not get going against Udinese.


Martinez had a goal correctly ruled out for offside from Inter's first meaningful attack and was denied by a superb one-handed Juan Musso save 15 minutes later.

Udinese otherwise kept their opponents at bay in a low-tempo first half, with Arturo Vidal and Ashley Young failing to truly test Musso from weak attempts.


Inter continued to lack ideas as the match wore on and were almost dealt a sucker punch when first Roberto Pereyra and then Rodrigo de Paul fired just wide of the target.


Achraf Hakimi lashed across the face of goal and a bad day for Conte got worse when he was booked and then sent off for protesting a decision that went against his side as Inter fired a blank for the first time in 22 league games.

[Edoman]

Milan 0-3 Atalanta: Ilicic inspires victory over Serie A leaders



23 January 2021
Atalanta struck a blow to Milan's Serie A title hopes after winning 3-0 against the league leaders at San Siro on Saturday.


A first-half header from Cristian Romero and a penalty after the break from Josip Ilicic set the Rossoneri on course for just a second league loss of the season.

Stefano Pioli's side secured the title of winter champions by staying top at the halfway stage of the season, but Inter have closed the gap and the rest of the chasing pack will feel emboldened by the result.


Duvan Zapata struck a clinical third goal on the break to make certain there would be no comeback from Milan, who are now winless in seven home league matches against Atalanta stretching back to January 2014.


New signing Soualiho Meite almost marked his debut with a goal three minutes in, the midfielder sending a header high and wide from Sandro Tonali's corner.


Atalanta began to build some pressure and found the breakthrough 26 minutes in, Romero stooping to nod the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma from Robin Gosens' delivery.


The visitors doubled their advantage just seven minutes into the second half, Ilicic firing a penalty beneath Donnarumma after Franck Kessie had caught him in the face with a raised arm.
It should have been 3-0 on the hour mark, Zapata heading over after being picked out by a brilliant Ilicic cross from the right.


Pioli handed a debut off the bench to Mario Mandzukic, and he nearly marked his Serie A return with an immediate impact, Pierluigi Gollini doing well to get a hand down and claw away his shot.
As Milan sought a lifeline, Atalanta hit them on the break in ruthless fashion.


Romero slipped in Zapata - who had hit the post with a header in his side's previous attack - and the forward rifled a left-footed shot beyond Donnarumma.

What does it mean? Milan are winter champions but Scudetto battle is on
Inter's goalless draw at Udinese means Milan stay top of the table at the midway point of the season despite this defeat.


Still, their lead over the Nerazzurri is now down to two points as they have now lost twice in their previous four league games.


Atalanta are up into fourth, although they have played two games more than Napoli and Juventus below them.


Ilicic shines at San Siro

With Alejandro Gomez almost certain to leave this month, Atalanta's creative burden is firmly on Ilicic's shoulders, and he did not disappoint here.
He created five openings from crosses, one of which set up Romero's opener, and ended with more shots (seven) and more on target (three) than anyone else.


No milestone magic from Zlatan
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was making the 600th appearance in regular-season league competition of his storied career, but this was not much of a way to celebrate.


The 39-year-old played the whole game but had just 35 touches of the ball, completed only 15 passes and did not muster a shot on target.


What's next?

Milan face Inter in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on Tuesday before heading to Bologna in Serie A next Saturday. Atalanta meet Lazio twice next week, in the cup and then the league.

[Edoman]

Ibrahimovic targets redemption against Inter after heavy Atalanta defeat



23 January 2021,



Zlatan Ibrahimovic feels Milan have become "fragile" and is seeking an instant response to Saturday's 3-0 thrashing against Atalanta when they take on fierce rivals Inter next.


Previously unbeaten in 27 league matches stretching back into the 2019-20 season, Milan have now lost two of their last four games - they also went down 3-1 to Juventus earlier this month.
Goals from Cristian Romero, Josip Ilicic and Duvan Zapata condemned Stefano Pioli's side to their latest defeat, but they are still top at the midway point of the season as closest challengers Inter could only manage a 0-0 draw with Udinese.
However, Ibrahimovic accepts being winter champions will count for little unless Milan regain some consistency and end their decade-long wait for Scudetto success.


"We lost two games after more than 30 matches that we didn't lose," he told Sky Sport Italia.


"The team is a bit fragile because when certain players are missing, we lack a bit of experience. They are replaced by young players, but this is no excuse.


"We make many sacrifices; we work and we are first for a reason.


"But being top at this stage does not matter. We are halfway through the championship, so far we have done well but still nothing this is the most difficult period because there are so many games and now we just have to continue."


Asked if Tuesday's Coppa Italia quarter-final with Inter has now taken on even more importance, Ibrahimovic said: "We have to redeem ourselves after this defeat.


"We have the chance to do it in a few days and then against Inter. That will be a good match."
Milan's club-record run of scoring in 38 successive league games was ended in Saturday's loss at San Siro, a game in which the Rossoneri managed only two shots on target.


Ibrahimovic was unable to test Pierluigi Gollini with any of his five efforts, while his 36 touches of the ball were the fewest by any home player to take part in the entire game.


The veteran striker, who has 12 goals in nine league outings this term, admitted afterwards that he felt isolated up front.


"In the first half I was too alone in attack," he said. "I didn't have anyone close to support me, but it could also be because of the pressure from Atalanta that put us in trouble.


"Today many things were missing, it was not our day. Now the important thing is to recover and think about the next match to redeem ourselves.

[Edoman]

Real Madrid need the best Hazard - Benzema



24 January 2021, 




Karim Benzema has urged Eden Hazard to "make another story" at Real Madrid, after the Belgium star impressed against Deportivo Alaves on Saturday.


Hazard scored himself and also set up the first of two Benzema goals as Madrid eased to a 4-1 win over LaLiga strugglers Alaves, relieving some of the pressure on Zinedine Zidane, who was absent from the touchline after testing positive for COVID-19.


Madrid had lost their previous two matches, against Athletic Bilbao in the Supercopa de Espana before going down to minnows Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey in midweek.


Casemiro opened the scoring before Benzema struck either side of Hazard's third goal of the season in all competitions.


Hazard, signed from Chelsea in 2019, has struggled for form amid an injury hit spell at Madrid, but he seemed close to his best against Alaves.


The 30-year-old both scored and assisted in a league game for just the second time in a Madrid shirt, while only Benzema (four) managed more attempts than Hazard's two.


With Hazard showing signs of a resurgence, Benzema, who has scored 10 league goals this season, wants his team-mate to go on and make his name in the Spanish capital.


"You always notice the depth in this team, I always want to help my team-mates," Benzema told Movistar.


"Hazard I think he was a great player at Chelsea and now he has to make another story at Madrid. He is well, much better. He works hard and has played a good game. We need the best Hazard."
Madrid's victory closed the gap, temporarily at least, on LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid, who host Valencia on Sunday.


Los Blancos are four points shy of their city rivals but six clear of Barcelona, who are also in action on Sunday.


"It was a good game, very good for confidence, we know that each game is very difficult, each rival makes it difficult for us," said Benzema, who has now been involved in 10 goals in eight appearances against Alaves in LaLiga.


"Today everything came out, we all wanted to play, it was a very good game for us. That is worked every day, the goals, the crosses, the passes. We are on the right track after a hard week for us. We always want to win."

[Edoman]

Juventus 2-0 Bologna: Arthur opens his account as champions go fourth



24 January 2021, 

Arthur scored his first goal for Juventus as the defending champions beat Bologna 2-0 to go fourth in Serie A.


Juve claimed their first trophy under boss Andrea Pirlo with a Supercoppa Italiana victory over Napoli in midweek and got their title bid back on track at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.


Arthur's deflected first-half strike and a Weston McKennie header moved the Turin giants seven points adrift of leaders Milan with a game in hand.
Juve, beaten by Inter last weekend, were not at their best but although Bologna had their chances, they are now without a win over the Bianconeri in 19 attempts.


Pirlo's side took the lead in fortuitous fashion after 15 minutes, when Arthur's long-range drive struck Jerdy Schouten and gave wrongfooted goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski no chance.


Skorupski produced a fine double save to prevent Juve from increasing their advantage, using his feet to deny Federico Bernardeschi from close range after palming away a strike from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Juan Cuadrado fired wastefully off target before Roberto Soriano went close to equalising late in the first half with a shot from inside the penalty area that flashed wide.


A fine reflex save from Wojciech Szczesny prevented Cuadrado's header from gifting Bologna an own goal early in the second half and the Juve keeper once again had to be alert keep out Riccardo Orsolini's left-footed strike.


Bologna were made to pay for their profligacy when an unmarked McKennie nodded in Cuadrado's corner 19 minutes from time.
Skorupski denied McKennie a quickfire double with a great reaction save before preventing Alvaro Morata from adding a third goal at his near post.


The busy Skorupski beat away Adrien Rabiot's left-footed shot and saved a powerful Ronaldo strike as Juve saw out a comfortable win.

[Edoman]

Chelsea 3-1 Luton Town: Abraham hits hat-trick as Kepa and Werner falter



24 January 2021, 


Kepa Arrizabalaga made another blunder and Timo Werner missed a penalty but Tammy Abraham's hat-trick got Chelsea past Luton Town with a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.


Abraham's quickfire double put Chelsea in control early in the FA Cup fourth-round tie on Sunday, as last season's runners up seemed to be heading for a comfortable success.


Yet Kepa, brought in as one of seven changes made by Frank Lampard from Tuesday's defeat at Leicester City, enabled Luton to haul themselves into the contest when he failed to keep out Jordan Clark's effort.


Abraham's third goal 16 minutes from time ultimately set up a fifth-round trip to Barnsley, though Werner's woeful run in front of goal continued when his late spot-kick was saved.

[Edoman]

Bruno Fernandes' wonderful freekick helps Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2 to dump Jurgen Klopp's men out of FA Cup







A second-half inspired by Bruno Fernandes was the final blow in a back-and-forth battle at Old Trafford on Sundaynñ, January 24  as Manchester United secured a convincing 3-2 victory over Liverpool to progress to the next level of FA Cup.

In the first half, Salah broke the scoreless deadlock with a delicately dinked finish in the 18th minute after Roberto Firmino found him with a delicate pass.
 


Shortly after, Manchester United through Pogba launched a counter attack ball to Marcus Rashford who expertly played the ball to Mason Greenwood in behind the Liverpool defense.
 


Greenwood didn't waste any time as he clinically finished from a difficult angle to make it 1-1.

In the second half, Rashford gave Manchester United the lead. 19-year-old defender Rhys Williams was dispossessed inside his own defensive third and the Red Devils wasted little time in snatching the ball off him before Greenwood slipped the ball in behind for Rashford to slide the ball under Alisson to make it 2-1.
 

 
But Liverpool were not going to give up yet as Harry Maguire played Edinson Cavani into trouble deep inside Manchester United territory. 

Cavani's pass was quickly intercepted by Liverpool and sent to Salah who made a simple, left-footed finish, making the score 2-2.

With 78 minutes on the clock, Fernandes, Manchester United's best player in the last one year, provided the magical touch from 20 yards out to score 3-2.
 


Liverpool are now out of the competition, and end a terrible week in which they also lost to Burnley at home, the first time they were losing at home in 3 years.

Up next for Manchester United in the FA Cup will be a visit from fellow Premier League side West Ham United.
 
 

[Edoman]

Frank Lampard 'to be sacked by Chelsea today with ex-PSG boss Thomas Tuchel to replace him'







Frank Lampard is reportedly set to be sacked today by Chelsea following the club's slump in form that sees them sit ninth in the Premier League table. 
 
According to Daily Telegraph, the board told players not to report to the training ground until Monday afternoon, January 25, as Lampard will become the 10th manager sacked during the Roman Abramovich era.
 
Confirmation of Lampard's sacking is expected to be announced on Monday as the club take decisive action following a run of five losses in eight league games.
 
Chelsea Sunday's win over Luton Town took them to the fifth round of the FA Cup but it seems it was not enough to save the former midfielder from his job after only 18 months into his time as Chelsea manager. 
 
Former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund manager, Thomas Tuchel is reportedly in a prime position to replace Lampard as talks are currently ongoing. 
 
 

[Edoman]

[b]Arsenal Reach Agreement With Real Madrid To Sign Martin Odegaard On Loan

Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign Martin Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid, Sportsmail understands.[/b]

The 22-year-old is expected to join imminently until the end of season and is believed to be set to undergo his medical on Monday.

It has been claimed Odegaard is due to touch down in London on Sunday – and will not be required to undergo quarantine before linking up with his new team-mates.

Sportsmail reported over the weekend that Arsenal were hopeful of wrapping up negotiations after holding further talks with the LaLiga champions on Saturday.

Odegaard was also keen to speak to boss Mikel Arteta to understand his expected role in the team with the midfielder desiring regular first-team football.

It is understood that Real Madrid wanted their prodigy to join Arsenal ahead of Real Sociedad despite Odegaard initially wanting to move to San Sebastian.

Arsenal will pay a £2.5million loan fee and will also pay Odegaard's salary.

Martin Odegaard has always had a strained relationship with Zinedine Zidane and never been given a chance... now Arsenal could have one of Europe's best young players if he recapture the form he showed on his last loan at Real Sociedad

Odegaard becomes the second player from the Bernabeu to join Arsenal after Dani Ceballos extended his loan spell in the summer.

His arrival means another foreign signing at the north London outfit will have to leave, however, with under-fire goalkeeper Alex Runarsson in the firing line.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9181687/Arsenal-reach-agreement-sign-Martin-Odegaard-loan-Real-Madrid.html

[Edoman]

Chelsea sack Lampard: Was Blues legend let down by Werner, Havertz and other new signings?



25 January 2021, 


It did not take long for Chelsea to run out of patience with Frank Lampard following significant investment in their first-team squad during the close season.

Chelsea spent in excess of £200million on reinforcements for the 2020-21 campaign but with the club ninth in the Premier League and 11 points off top at the midway point, they dispensed with the services of their head coach on Monday.


Lampard arrived just 18 months ago with the club under a transfer embargo and was lauded for his faith in youth during a debut campaign that yielded a top-four finish and an FA Cup final appearance.


However, Chelsea have not managed to maintain an upward trajectory this season and after a run of two wins in eight Premier League games the decision was taken to cut ties with the club legend.
It is fair to say some of Chelsea's new arrivals have not lived up to expectations this term and we look at the numbers behind their performances.


Timo Werner – £45m from RB Leipzig
Werner arrived from Leipzig with big expectations having been involved in 36 league goals (26 scored, eight assisted) in 2019-20 – a tally only bettered by Robert Lewandowski (38), Ciro Immobile (45) and Lionel Messi (46).


He did not take long to find his stride, having a hand in 11 goals (eight scored, three assisted) in a 10-game stretch in all competitions between September and November.

However, the only goal he has scored in 15 appearances since the end of that streak came against Morecambe in the FA Cup third round – it ended an 827-minute drought in all competitions.
He is without a goal in 11 Premier League outings and his difficulties in front were compounded by his failure to convert from the penalty spot against Luton Town on Sunday.


Kai Havertz – £71m from Bayer Leverkusen
Alongside Werner (14) and Tammy Abraham (15), Havertz (10) is one of just three Chelsea players to have been involved in at least 10 goals in all competitions this season.

However, half of those have come against lower-league opposition – he scored the first hat-trick of his senior career against Barnsley in the EFL Cup in September, and versus Morecambe in the FA Cup this month had a goal and an assist.

When looking at his figures from the Premier League, he has just one goal and one assist in 16 appearances – 11 of which have come from the start.

Lampard seemed to struggle to figure out how to get the best out of versatile forward Havertz and given his price tag that will be high on the agenda for his replacement.


Ben Chilwell - £45m from Leicester City
A plantar fascia injury delayed Chilwell's Chelsea debut but he was quick to make an impact, becoming just the third Blues player to both score and assist on their Premier League debut, joining Deco and Alvaro Morata.
Within 13 games he had already matched his career best of four Premier League assists in a single season, while his six goal involvements in that time frame was the same as he managed across the entirety of 2019-20 for Leicester.


Crosses from the full-backs were a key part of Lampard's approach and Chilwell's 82 in open play is second to Reece James' 97.

But while 24.7 per cent of James' deliveries were accurate, only 13.4 of Chilwell's were - the third-worst rate of any Blues player to find a team-mate with at least one cross in open play.


Hakim Ziyech – £33.3m from Ajax
An assist for Werner in a pre-season friendly against Brighton provided promising signs, but a knee injury meant his competitive debut did not arrive until October.

He has registered two goals and four assists in 17 appearances in all competitions, but only Mason Mount (2.5) has created more chances per 90 minutes than Ziyech (2.4) this season (all comps).
Furthermore, he creates 0.8 Opta-defined 'big chances' per 90 minutes, which is the most of any Chelsea player to have featured in more than two games.


His expected assists in open play per 90 minutes of 0.21 ranks joint-seventh alongside Kevin De Bruyne (among players to have played at least 450 minutes), so with some better finishing his impact may look more impressive on paper.


Edouard Mendy – £22m from Rennes
After Kepa Arrizabalaga committed three errors leading to goals in as many Premier League appearances to start the season, bringing in Mendy from Rennes appeared an astute decision.


He kept nine clean sheets in his first 12 appearances in all competitions, but in his subsequent nine outings he has shut out the opposition just twice and conceded 13 goals.
In the Premier League, Mendy has let in 12 goals from an expected goals on target (xGOT) of 10.8, meaning he has let in one more goal than would have been anticipated from the chances he has faced.


That is the joint-eighth worst in the league among keepers to have played over 900 minutes.


Thiago Silva – free transfer
Although he became the first outfield player to make an error leading to a goal on their Premier League debut in two years when his loose control was seized upon by Callum Robinson in a 3-3 draw with West Brom in September, Silva's experience seemed to significantly improve Chelsea's defence.
Only Kurt Zouma (64.6 per cent) has a better duel success rate than Silva's 63.5 among players to have played at least 10 games in all competitions, and he has helped them tighten up when defending set-pieces.


Excluding goals scored directly from free-kicks, Chelsea conceded 13 times from set-pieces in the Premier League in 2019-20, while this term they have only shipped five from dead balls and one of those came when Silva was not in the side.


The Brazilian has also made them more of a threat from set-plays, providing two of the nine goals Chelsea have scored in such situations

[Edoman]

Where it went wrong for Frank Lampard at Chelsea: The five keys to his demise



25 January 







Only 18 months ago, football romantics were swooning as Chelsea appointed club legend Frank Lampard as their new boss on a three-year deal.
But fast-forward to today and that fairytale has turned into a nightmare, with the Blues confirming the sacking of their underperforming boss this morning.


Top of the table as recently as last month, we look at how and why things unravelled so quickly for the 42-year-old.



Rotten run of form

Since briefly moving to the Premier League summit following a 3-1 home win over Leeds, results have been nothing short of dire at Stamford Bridge.
Aside from cup wins over Morecambe and Luton respectively, the Blues have lost five of eight outings — and performance levels have dropped markedly, too 

Even wins over West Ham and Fulham were far from convincing, while a home draw with Aston Villa was never going to cut it.


It’s reported that last week’s 2-0 loss to Leicester — a side nine points clear of Chelsea despite spending £100 million less in the summer — was the final straw for club owner Roman Abramovich.


Big money, bigger expectations
Little was expected of Lampard during his maiden campaign given the club were operating under a transfer embargo, leading to the new boss blooding youth products with relative success.


The likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Reece James all flourished when given their opportunity and a fourth-placed finish in 2019-20 was generally regarded as impressive.


But when the purse strings were loosened in the summer, expectations rose sharply. Abramovich sanctioned over £220m of new arrivals and, in return, expected to see the Blues enter the title mix immediately.


The slow starts of marquee additions Timo Werner and Kai Havertz have undoubtedly played a large part in Lampard’s demise.


Too easily breached

Despite an embarrassment of riches going forward, Chelsea have always looked fragile at the back during Lampard’s regime.


In fact, since the start of last season, only Newcastle (54) have conceded more away goals in the Premier League than Chelsea — while the Blues have kept only five clean sheets in 29 games on the road during that period.


Yet there have been signs of improvement, with 13 shutouts in all competitions this campaign already equalling last season’s tally despite playing nearly half as many games.


The arrivals of Edouard Mendy, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell were perhaps beginning to address the issue. Unfortunately, it didn't happen quickly enough to save their boss.


Found out against bigger sides

When Chelsea splashed the cash in the summer, it was done with a view to bridging the gap that had emerged between themselves and both Liverpool and Manchester City.

Yet under Lampard, the Londoners have struggled to perform against their fellow powerhouses — taking only 15 points from games against fellow ‘big six’ sides since August 2019.


That is a joint-low total alongside Arsenal, while they have taken a lowly two points from a possible 15 in such contests this season, as well as losing to top four wannabes Leicester and Everton.
There is no doubt that a squad filled with such an array of international talent should be producing better efforts on the big occasions.


A job taken too soon?

The big talking point throughout Lampard’s entire reign has been experience. Or more accurately, a lack of it.


Not only is he a relative rookie himself in managerial terms, but Lampard has showed unwavering faith in his young players — with nobody playing more games than Mount (80) and nobody scoring more goals than Abraham (29).
While the departing boss showed no preference towards the Blues’ bigger names, the impending arrival of ex-Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel suggests that club owners now desire a coach who has looked after groups of high-profile stars before.


Many will argue that Lampard could have turned things around with more time. But time has always ticked a little faster at Stamford Bridge.

[Edoman]

Chelsea sacked Lampard for demanding £80m for new player, Rica
 
on
 January 25, 2021





Chelsea’s board clashed with Frank Lampard over his insistence on signing former academy product Delcan Rice from West Ham United, according to The Athletic.


Lampard was fired on Monday, after the club’s recent slump in form, which has left the Blues ninth in the Premier League table.

Chelsea was under a transfer ban when Lampard was appointed in 2019 and he led the club to fourth place in his first season at Stamford Bridge, which was considered a success given the circumstances.

However, last month, he was given £225m which was splashed on the likes of Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell.


However, Lampard was far from content with the club’s outlay and he repeatedly demanded the signing of Rice from rivals West Ham.


The midfielder was released from Chelsea’s academy at the age of 15 but has gone on to establish himself as a full England international.


West Ham is realistic about their prospects of keeping Rice in the long-term but they wanted around £80m for the midfielder last summer, which Lampard felt was good value for money.

However, the board was uncomfortable with the optics of splashing out such a huge sum on a player that they deemed not good enough just five years ago.




They also felt the team was well stocked in defensive midfield and that other areas of the side required more urgent investment.


But Lampard continued to push for Rice’s signing and expressed on a number of occasions his desire to land the player at any cost.

However, it is clear that the board did not agree with Lampard over Rice and he was angered further when the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso and Emerson remained at the club instead of being sold.


The tension between Lampard and those above him grew further, as he requested the signing of Rice again before the January transfer window opened.

[Edoman]

I don’t think Lampard wants to talk to me after Chelsea sack – Mourinho

on
 January 26, 2021





Tottenham Hotspur manager, Jose Mourinho, has claimed he does not think Frank Lampard wants to speak with him, just after being sacked as Chelsea boss.


Mourinho stated this after they booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round, following a 4-1 win at Wycombe.
The match came just hours after Lampard was dismissed at Stamford Bridge after 18 months in charge.


Lampard played under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge from 2004-2007 and then again in 2013, winning two Premier League titles, two Carabao Cups, an FA Cup and a Community Shield together.

Mourinho himself has been sacked twice at Chelsea.


“I don’t think Frank wants to speak to me or with anyone apart from his close circle of family and friends,” Mourinho said.


“But I am always sad when a colleague loses his job and Frank is not just a colleague. He is an important person in my career so I feel sorry he did.


“But it is the brutality of football, especially modern football, so when you become a manager, you know that sooner or later it is going to happen to you.”