..::Football III::..

Status
Not open for further replies.

Wolverine GTR

Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Mahrez: Leicester must keep dreaming of title

    riyad-mahrez-premier-league-man-city-v-leicester_1njgbkwymar4819tje94iauj7t.jpg


    Goalscorer Riyad Mahrez thinks leaders Leicester City can "keep dreaming" of Premier League title glory after their resounding 3-1 win at Manchester City.
    Claudio Ranieri's side are now six points clear of their opponents after Mahrez scored a dazzling solo effort either side of Robert Huth's double from set-pieces.

    Surprise package Leicester face another title rival when they visit Arsenal next weekend and winger Mahrez, who has 14 league goals for the season, is relishing the challenge.

    "We got a great win here," he told BT Sport. "Leicester still have a lot of games so we can't speak now about the title.

    "It's a great, great win but we have to keep going next game against Arsenal.
    "We are going to fight for the title and see what we can do."Even us, we didn't expect to win here 3-1 so we are just going to keep dreaming and we will see what can.
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Guardiola appointment has not affected Man City players, says Pellegrini


    Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini dismissed the notion Pep Guardiola's forthcoming arrival as his replacement had any impact on Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to Premier League title rivals Leicester City.

    The Chilean confirmed on deadline day he would be leaving the club at the end of the season with the club subsequently confirming Guardiola would take over the reins at the Etihad.

    Pellegrini then watched his side's title hopes take a blow with a 3-1 defeat at home to Leicester but rejected suggestions the Spaniard's impending arrival had anything to do with the ineffective showing."I think that I talked too much about last week, focusing on that thing, and I don't think it is fair to try and have excuses," he told reporters.

    "I have finished talking about those things. I do not want to answer any questions more about that."It would be very easy for me to say 'yes' [it has affected the players], but that is not the truth."

    The City boss was also quick to praise Claudio Ranieri's side but admitted he was not impressed with his side's defending.

    "A lot of things. We played first against a very good team. It's fair to give them merit because they are playing well in a very good moment," he added.

    "After that, we defended very badly – especially from set-pieces, where we conceded two goals. We were doing very well on that in the last game [a 1-0 win at Sunderland] but today we did it very badly.

    "With a lot of possession we didn't create too many chances, except from in the last 20 to 25 minutes of the first half, where we had some chances to equalise."At the beginning of the second half, again two minutes and again another goal. We did it all worse than Leicester."
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    :baffled:PSG's Lavezzi agrees Shanghai Shenhua move

    ezequiel-lavezzi-psg-toulouse-coupe-de-la-ligue-27012016_krz4copavlgk1sb7hfb13bfuh.jpg


    Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi is set to join Shanghai Shenhua, Goal can confirm.

    The Argentine will follow the likes of Jackson Martinez, Ramires and Gervinho to the Chinese Super League for €5 million (£3.8m), signing a two-year deal.

    Lavezzi has been left out of the PSG squad that has travelled south for Sunday's clash at Marseille ahead of the completion of the move.

    The 30-year-old is out of contract in France at the end of the season and was linked with the likes of Chelsea and Inter during the January transfer window.

    Goal understands PSG were ready to loan Jean-Kevin Augustin to Angers until the end of the season but the youngster will be kept at the club as a result of Lavezzi's imminent departure.

    Lavezzi has played 16 games in Ligue 1 this season, scoring two goals. He joined PSG from Napoli in 2012 in a deal reportedly worth as much as €30m.
     

    Alucard_SxE

    Well-known member
  • Apr 18, 2015
    6,523
    2,465
    113
    Leicester exploited Manchester City's weakness - Huth

    roberthuth-cropped_16njxbv0lk7ml19gywm4p4uutz.jpg


    Leicester City defender Robert Huth was surprised by Manchester City's sluggish start but not by their weakness at set-pieces in a potentially pivotal 3-1 win in the Premier League title race.

    The hosts are now six points off the top, with Huth netting in the first and second half either side of Riyad Mahrez's brilliant goal – a blow from which Manuel Pellegrini's team never recovered.

    Huth brushed aside Martin Demichelis to score a third-minute opener from Mahrez's free-kick, before he headed in a corner on the hour mark, amid suspicions of a foul on Demichelis.

    The visitors had little cause to worry when Sergio Aguero pulled a goal back late on and Huth felt the tactics of Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri were perfectly judged."We expected them to come out flying, to be honest, but I thought in the first five or 10 minutes we came out better," Huth told BT Sport.

    "We spoke about their weakness at set-pieces and it worked a treat on the first one."I think there were a few others after that, so we're happy with that."

    In the build-up to the game, the Manchester City camp spoke regularly of their ambition to contest trophies on four fronts – with last-16 FA Cup and Champions League ties coming before their League Cup final appearance at the end of this month.

    With fellow title aspirants Tottenham and Arsenal also still involved in the FA Cup and Europe, Huth thinks such distractions could lend Leicester an advantage in their improbable bid for glory.

    "It certainly helps us. All the teams around us have Champions League, Europa League – those sort of games and it is inevitable that they think of other games rather than the league, especially the further they go.

    "That can only work in our favour. I know the other teams have a bigger and better squad than us but we've only got the league to focus on."


    Man nikamata match eka baluwa. Leicester patta :cool:
    Maharez ge goal eka patta. And Vardy!! omg! patta runner kenek
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Ranieri: Leicester spirit is the best I have ever known


    Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has hailed his team's spirit as the best he has ever know after their 3-1 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

    The Foxes extended their lead at the top of the table with a convincing win thanks to two goals from Robert Huth and a Riyad Mahrez strike.Leicester are now five points ahead of second-placed Tottenham and six clear of City and Ranieri was delighted with his side's display.

    "It was a good performance for us, difficult because when you play against a team like City with players of fantastic quality it is not easy," Ranieri told reporters.

    "But we were very, very concentrated. We want to try to win without pressure, just enjoy the match and try to do our best."The first goal was very good for our confidence and then we closed all the space because we played in a very concentrated and determined way through all the match.

    "I said from the first moment here at Leicester there is a fantastic dressing room."On the pitch they help each other, they fight for each other and that is fantastic spirit.

    "We are 11 on the pitch and that is important. We play every time with 11. It is not easy."It is the best spirit I remember in my career, as well when I was a footballer."

    Next up for Leicester is a trip to Arsenal but Ranieri says his team will continue to play the same way as they have done all season against the Gunners."[The Man City win means] Nothing, I'm sorry," he said. "We know it is a crazy league and then we have to try in this crazy league.

    "There are some big teams who have to win. We now will enjoy, of course. We don't leave anything but we want to fight – without pressure."For us it is important to play and continue in this way because it is a strange league."
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Official: Vardy signs new Leicester deal until 2019

    2625352_heroa.jpg


    Jamie Vardy has signed a new three-and-a-half year contract with Leicester City, extending his stay at the King Power Stadium until 2019.

    The striker's existing deal was due to run until 2018 but he has been rewarded for his remarkable rise to the top of the Premier League scoring charts.

    Vardy, who had not played a top-flight game until age 27, has netted 18 league goals this season to put Leicester five points clear at the top of the table.

    "I'm absolutely delighted to be fighting to achieve something special with this club, as part of this squad," Vardy told Leicester's official website.

    "I've never known a spirit like it - from the owners, to the manager and his staff, the players and the fans. I want to be part of it for a long time.

    "Leicester City have shown nothing but total faith in me since the day I arrived here three-and-a-half years ago and it's impossible to measure how much that belief has helped me to improve.

    "I'll forever be grateful for the investment the club has made in me and I'll spend every day working to repay it."

    Leicester signed Vardy for £1 million - a new record for a non-league player - from Fleetwood Town in 2012 and he went on to score 16 league goals as they won the Championship title during his second season.

    He notched five goals last season as the Foxes secured survival with seven wins in their final nine matches and has already more than tripled that total in 2015-16.

    "Jamie is a fighter," Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri said. "He has had an unbelievable journey to get to this point in his career and continues to play every game as if it's his last.

    "I love his spirit, which is a quality I want in my players above all else. "He has shown what a fantastic player he is and, more importantly, he is part of a fantastic group.

    "I am very happy that he will stay with us for a long time."
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Klopp has successful surgery to remove appendix


    Jurgen Klopp underwent a successful operation to remove his appendix as Liverpool drew 2-2 with Sunderland.

    The German felt ill on Friday night, with club doctor Andy Massey diagnosing the problem on Saturday and the manager was taken to Aintree Hospital.He had surgery at around 1:30pm and was informed of his side’s result following the procedure.

    Klopp’s duties were overseen by his backroom team, including assistants Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz, first-team development coach Pepijn Lijnders and goalkeeping coach John Achterberg.

    Liverpool had been 2-0 up at Anfield, but conceded twice late on to drop points as supporters staged a walkout protest over ticket prices on 77 minutes.


    The Merseysiders have an FA Cup fourth round replay at West Ham on Tuesday, but it is unclear at the moment if Klopp will be back in the dugout by then.
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Pochettino: Second place feels fantastic

    pochettino-cropped_15w7ih12tu52f1kv29x4arn9y4.jpg


    Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino was feeling "fantastic" after watching his side defeat Watford 1-0 on Saturday to move up to second in the Premier League.

    Defender Kieran Trippier scored his first goal for Spurs in the second half to earn them a narrow, but ultimately comfortable, victory as the visitors failed to produce a single shot on target.

    Manchester City's loss to title rivals Leicester City earlier in the day had opened up the opportunity for Pochettino's men to climb the table, and they did just that with an impressive performance.That combination of results adds extra spice to their game with Manuel Pellegrini's side at the Ethiad Stadium next Sunday.

    "I think it is great, the feeling is fantastic," Pochettino said on Sky Sports when asked about jumping into second spot.

    "The feeling is better because the performance was fantastic. I feel very proud of my players, the effort was brilliant.

    "We need to keep going, always believe we can get better, try to improve and at the end of the season we will see what happens. The reality is we are second but then is the real test for us [against City].

    "We need to be calm. We are in a very good position in the league but the philosophy from the beginning of the season has been to go step by step. We are a very young squad so it is important to keep going and take every game and competition and be ready to compete.

    "It is very important to recognise the atmosphere at the stadium because our supporters were brilliant at a time when the team needed to feel the patience to try to score. I say 'Thank you', because at a difficult moment of the game when we played well, created a lot of chances, the team needed them."
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Mourinho breaks silence: I will be back soon

    2640442_heroa.jpg


    Jose Mourinho has said he will return to football soon in his first interview since being sacked by Chelsea.

    Mourinho was in attendance at Borussia Dortmund's draw with Hertha Berlin on Saturday but had made few public appearances since leaving Stamford Bridge in December.

    And in an interview with GQ, the former Blues boss says he will not be "fully happy" until he is back in his "natural habitat."

    Asked if he was enjoying his down time, Mourinho said: "No, I am not enjoying it. I can have everything I love at the same time.

    "I can have my family, I can have my friends, I can have my quiet life, which I also like, and I can have my football… I can have everything together and I don’t need to give up on one of them.

    "To be fully happy I need everything, so I go back to football. I think it’s my natural habitat. I have worked since I can remember, and as a manager since 2000. I stopped when I left Chelsea in 2007, for a few months, and now is the second time I stop in 15 or 16 years, so it is not a drama. But for sure, I will be back soon."

    Mourinho has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United, but Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal has dismissed reports of talks between the Portuguese and the club as "nonsense."
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Ex-Manchester United boss Moyes offered China job

    2435962_heroa.jpg


    Former Manchester United boss David Moyes has revealed he has been offered a job in China.

    Moyes, who has been out of work since parting ways with Real Sociedad, revealed that he would return to management next season, stating that he has "numerous opportunities"."My heart has always been in the Premier League, but I've had an offer to go to China as well," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

    "I think I will [return next season], I have had numerous opportunities, especially since I have come back to England.

    "I want to pick the right job, one that really excites me and one I am able to get my teeth into. You want to feel you can manage the way to want to manage."

    On the prospect of coaching an international side, the 52-year-old Scot said: "I would be interested. I've come through all the layers of football.
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Van Gaal: I don't believe Mourinho to Man Utd 'nonsense'

    2640292_heroa.jpg


    Louis van Gaal does not believe Manchester United are in talks with Jose Mourinho - and has dismissed reports regarding his future as "nonsense".

    Mourinho has been heavily linked with United in recent weeks, with reports claiming representatives of the former Chelsea boss have met with officials from the club.

    Van Gaal says the stories have affected his family, but he has never doubted his ability and does not expect to be replaced by the Portuguese.

    “The last two months have been very difficult for my wife, my kids, my grandchildren and my friends to cope with,” he told reporters. “For me too, but I can cope.

    "In the Netherlands they know I am too arrogant to doubt myself, but I also know that such a nonsense is being created about me.

    "I do not believe that there is already a relationship between Jose Mourinho and Manchester United.”

    Van Gaal also claimed the media had invented stories about him, such as suggesting he had hired security for his wife.

    He added: “I criticise the media for inventing stories. I never hired security. Never ever. And I am walking on the streets without security and all the people I meet are very positive.”
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Levante 0-2 Barcelona: Luis Enrique's men go three points clear at La Liga summit

    2648842_heroa.jpg


    Barcelona marked Luis Enrique's 100th game as coach of the club with a 2-0 victory over La Liga's bottom side Levante at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia on Sunday.

    Luis Enrique completed a century of matches in all competitions at the Barca helm with an 80th win as Luis Suarez's second-half stoppage-time strike added to an early own goal from Levante captain David Navarro.

    The injury-time strike sent Uruguay star Suarez top of the Pichichi standings as La Liga's leading goal-scorer this season ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, with Real Madrid in action away to Granada later in the day.

    Despite not being as impressive as in the crushing 7-0 victory over Valencia in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, the Catalan giants did enough to re-open a three-point advantage over Atletico Madrid - 3-1 winners over Eibar on Saturday - at the Liga summit.

    Barca were dangerous early on and took the lead after 21 minutes when Navarro inadvertently steered a cross from Jordi Alba beyond Levante goalkeeper Diego Marino, but Suarez missed a glorious chance to make it two soon after when he astonishingly missed the target from inside the six-yard box.

    Levante looked dangerous on the counterattack and hit the post through Jose Luis Morales before half-time, continuing their strong showing after the interval, but Suarez wrapped up the win in the 92nd minute with a 10th goal in his last six outings.

    Barca subsequently equalled a Spanish record - which they set under Pep Guardiola in 2010-11 - of 28 successive games in all competitions without defeat, having not lost since going down 2-1 away to Sevilla in October.

    Levante came under pressure from Barca right from kick-off and almost fell behind inside the opening minute, Andres Iniesta clipping narrowly over from just outside the box after Marino failed to adequately clear Suarez's cross.

    Lionel Messi had a goal wrongly ruled out due to an incorrect offside decision two minutes later; Verza clearly playing the Argentine onside from Iniesta's brilliant through ball.

    The onslaught continued when Marino was forced to dive to his left and parry away Neymar's attempt to curl an effort into the far corner, but the hosts' resistance was broken in the 21st minute.

    Iniesta fed Alba at the byline and Navarro diverted the left-back's cross into the back of his own net.

    Suarez missed a chance to double Barca's advantage when he steered Neymar's cutback wide from inside the six-yard box in the 25th minute, and Levante almost made the most of the reprieve before the break.

    After Verza and Jefferson Lerma were unable to hit the target with their respective efforts, Morales raced in behind the Barca defence in a break down the left but, despite beating Claudio Bravo, was denied by the post.

    Levante continued positively and within two minutes of the restart Giuseppe Rossi's 20-yard strike was palmed away from the bottom-left corner by Bravo.

    Luis Enrique's team continued to control possession but struggled to create chances and it was not until Ivan Rakitic's near-post header in the 59th minute that Marino was called into action again.

    Levante were put to the sword in second-half injury time, Suarez finishing a counterattack led by Messi with a cool effort, the Uruguayan using the outside of his boot to guide the ball beyond Marino.
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    :rolleyes:Mourinho hints at Man Utd move - 'It's clear I have to leave London'

    chelsea-supporters-back-jose-mourinho_1u5gkdeiak6al1urgpj1ruycn5.jpg


    Jose Mourinho has dropped another hint that he could be set to take over from Louis van Gaal as Manchester United manager, stating he is "ready" to manage a club outside London.

    The Portuguese coach has been without a club since December following his dismissal from Chelsea, which came about after he led the defending champions to their worst-ever start to a Premier League season.

    With Van Gaal's position at Old Trafford coming under increasing pressure in recent weeks, speculation has mounted that Mourinho is being lined up to take over from the experienced Dutchman.

    Mourinho has stated his intention to return to management in the near future but went one step further in his most recent interview, revealing his reasons behind the club-hopping years at Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid.

    "When my kids were younger, we could move a lot, experience different countries and in my case different clubs, different football," he told GQ.

    "But there was a moment where they needed some stability: so we made a decision three years ago to move back to London, and we manage my professional life around that.

    "It’s an amazing place to live, amazing for them to study and search for their future, and for the family to be together."In spite of Chelsea's woeful showing this season, Mourinho is determined to maintain England's capital as his family's base but he has admitted it is necessary for him to work away from London.

    "At this moment I don’t have a job, and I don’t know where football will take me, because in football you never know," he added."But for sure for sure for sure, as a family, our home will still be England, our home will be in London. But obviously I am ready to move.

    "As a professional, I am ready to move, especially because football in London for me, in terms of clubs… I think it is clear that I have to move."
     
    Status
    Not open for further replies.