..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Icardi set to renew Inter contract amid Madrid interest


Inter captain Mauro Icardi is set to ignore interest from Real Madrid and sign a fresh deal at San Siro, according to his agent and wife Wanda Nara.Icardi, 25, has been one of Inter's few consistently excellent performers in recent seasons as the Milan giants have struggled to keep up with the likes of rivals Juventus, Napoli and Roma in domestic and European competition.

The Argentine, however, has seen his name linked with an exit on more than one occasion over the past few seasons, with Madrid often named as suitors.

Speculation reached a head this season due to reports of meetings between the player, who attended the Copa Libertadores final in Madrid's Bernabeu home, and Merengue authorities as he stalled on Inter efforts to extend his contract.But Wanda has now revealed that Icardi will soon be putting pen to paper on a new deal.

"[His contract] will be renewed, it will be renewed," she signalled to Striscia la Notizia in an interview on Friday.The former model also spoke out on the relationship between her husband/client and Inter supremo Guiseppe Marotta.

Certain reports had suggested that Marotta had grown tired of both Icardi's stalling and comments made by Nara in the press, leading to a deterioration in relations.But Nara herself painted a picture of harmony at San Siro."Does Marotta love Icardi? Of course he does. There is no distance between them," she added.

Icardi signed for Inter from Sampdoria in 2013, having shined as a youngster at the Genovese side after failing to progress from Barcelona's youth system to the first team.

The Rosario native has gone on to score 121 goals in 205 games for the Nerazzurri in all competitions, and has clinched the Capocannoniere award for Serie A's top scorer on two separate occasions - although he is still waiting for his first title with Inter.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Hoffenheim 1 Bayern Munich 3: Goretzka goals close gap on Bundesliga's return

Leon Goretzka's maiden Bundesliga brace guided Bayern Munich to a hard-earned 3-1 win at Hoffenheim in their first fixture of 2019.Victorious in each of their final five league matches last year, the defending champions picked up where they left off as Goretzka struck twice in 12 first-half minutes.

Hoffenheim took a 10-match unbeaten streak into Friday's encounter but were unable to build on Nico Schulz's fine 59th-minute strike in Julian Naglesmann's 100th match at the helm in Germany's top flight.


Robert Lewandowski provided the knockout blow three minutes from the end to trim Borussia Dortmund's advantage back to three points ahead of the league-leaders' tricky trip to fourth-placed RB Leipzig on Saturday.
Bayern began brightly and threatened through Lewandowski and Thomas Muller inside the opening 20 minutes.Mats Hummels should have gone one better, but failed to poke past goalkeeper Oliver Baumann amid a scramble in the box.Goretzka eventually made the dominance count with a quickfire double.

He broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a deflected close-range finish after Baumann saved Lewandowski's initial header, before David Alaba's inch-perfect cross enabled the midfielder to cap a swift counter-attack in first-half stoppage time.

Hoffenheim were more competitive after the interval and it did not take long for Joelinton to draw Manuel Neuer into a smart low save, the follow-up to which Kerem Demirbay dragged wide.Neuer, though, was given no chance with the next effort as wing-back Schulz speared an unerring drive into the bottom-left corner from 20 yards.

The hosts pressed with renewed hope and an Adam Szalai header drew a crucial denial from the Bayern captain, but the comeback was extinguished when Muller intelligently turned James Rodriguez's dinked pass into Lewandowski's path for the sealer.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pulisic has all the quality to be a success at Chelsea - Ex-Dortmund manager Bosz


Peter Bosz's time as Borussia Dortmund manager lasted just half a season back in 2017, but that was long enough to leave the Dutch manager with a good impression of U.S. national team star and new Chelsea signing Christian Pulisic.

Bosz coached Pulisic during his time with the current Bundesliga champions having joined the club after earning plaudits for guiding a young Ajax side to the Europa League final.

The 55-year-old's time at Westfalenstadion coincided with a difficult period of time for Pulisic, who endured the U.S. national team's failure to qualify for the World Cup in October of 2017.

Despite that, Pulisic was a regular starter for Dortmund under Bosz, though a disappointing Champions League group stage elimination and an eight-match winless run eventually led to Bosz's firing and the hiring of Peter Stoger.

Since then Pulisic has dropped down the pecking order at Dortmund, and has since been snapped up by Chelsea in a deal worth $73 million (£58m), though he will spend the remainder of the season back on loan with Lucien Favre's team.

And Bosz, who is preparing to make his return to Bundesliga as manager of Bayer Leverkusen sang the praises of the 20-year-old, believing he has all the attributes to be a success in the English game.

"I think I understand the move to Chelsea" Bosz told Goal in an exclusive interview. "[The] Premier League is different. You've got to be physically strong, and he is, so we'll see.

"Chelsea's not easy because a lot of good players are there, but I think [Pulisic] has the quality to be successful at Chelsea."He's a good kid. He still is really young. When I worked with him in Dortmund he was really young, but really talented also.

"He's fast. He's got a good shot. His mentality is outstanding. He's always fighting, he's always working and he's a good player."Bosz is back in the Bundesliga after having been hired by Leverkusen in December to replace Heiko Herrlich, with his new side currently sitting ninth in the table as they prepare to face high-flying Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday in their first match following the winter break.

He will come face to face with former side Dortmund on February 24, who in turn restart their campaign against RB Leipzig on Saturday as they aim to hold off the challenge of Gladbach and Bayern Munich in the title race.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pogba: Solskjaer is like Ferguson and back home at Man Utd


Paul Pogba considers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to have come “home” at Manchester United, with the club’s interim boss bringing many of Sir Alex Ferguson’s coaching qualities with him.

The Red Devils turned to a familiar face for assistance in December after deciding to part company with Jose Mourinho.A rescue mission was handed to a Treble-winning hero of the past, with the 2018-19 campaign in danger of collapsing around those at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer has set about his challenge with gusto, delivering six successive victories across all competitions while getting key men, such as Pogba, to rediscover their spark.He has also been credited with returning the United values of old to the Theatre of Dreams, with an attacking philosophy being embraced and players granted the freedom to express themselves.

Pogba, who completed his own homecoming when rejoining the Red Devils from Juventus in 2016, told BBC Sport of the new man at the helm: “It’s like home for him. He knows.“Nothing really changed, he just came back to the time of Ferguson. The training, the way we use the ball, it’s everything like before.”

On what Solskjaer brings as a manager, with the Norwegian having previously spent time with United coaching within their youth and reserve ranks, Pogba added: “He’s always been really smiley, a person close to the players, understanding them.“The respect gets a bit higher now but he’s still the same person.”

Early success for Solskjaer has put him in contention to land the managerial reins on a permanent basis.There is, however, still a lot of work to be done, with a top-four finish considered to be the minimum requirement for a club of United’s stature.Pogba believes Champions League football can be delivered, with the Red Devils showing that they are back on the right track.

The World Cup winner added: “We have goals, that’s our objective, to go back to the top.“The top four, we can do it. We know we can do it.”

United sit six points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea at present but will get the opportunity to close that gap, albeit briefly, when they play host to Brighton on Saturday afternoon – with Maurizio Sarri’s side involved in an evening derby date with London rivals Arsenal.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Solskjaer backs 'fantastic' Mourinho to return: I don't think he'll struggle to find a job


Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not think Jose Mourinho will have any problems finding a job despite his sacking by Manchester United.

The Portuguese was dismissed by United after a disappointing first half of the 2018-19 campaign, with the club having collected just 26 points after 17 games - their worst tally at that stage of the season since 1990-91.Solskjaer was announced as Mourinho's interim replacement on December 19 and has since steered the Red Devils to victories in all six of his matches thus far.

Former Real Madrid and Chelsea boss Mourinho is not considering walking away from the game, however, revealing on Thursday that he believes he belongs at the top level of management.Despite his struggles at United, the 55-year-old boasts an impressive CV that includes title wins in Portugal, Italy, Spain and England, while he has won the Champions League on two occasions, with Porto and Inter respectively.

And, when asked about the Portuguese's comments about his return to management, Solskjaer told reporters: "Yeah, why shouldn't he?
"Because he's a fantastic manager and, with the results he's had, I don't think he'll be struggling to find work."

United face Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday and Solskjaer is confident he can make it seven wins in a row, insisting he goes into every game expecting to take the victory.He added: "You go into every single game at Manchester United, as a player or a manager, thinking you're going to win. That's just the nature of this club.

"We've had six good games but the next one is always the important one.Everyone said about Tottenham being the test - I don't think that is the test in the respect of attitude, because you know the players are going to be up for that.

"I want the players to be confident, but I don't want them to be complacent and take their foot off the pedal."That's a big difference for me. I want them going in there full of confidence, taking people on, playing, running, passing forward, getting the crowd with them because that's what it's about."

Solskjaer's impressive start has seen United move level on points with fifth-placed Arsenal, while they have cut the gap to the Champions League spots to six points, with Chelsea currently occupying fourth.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2019.01.19

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2019.01.19

Wolves Vs Leicester City

Bournemouth Vs West Ham

Liverpool Vs Crystal Palace

Manchester United Vs Brighton

Newcastle Vs Cardiff City

Southampton Vs Everton

Watford Vs Burnley

Arsenal Vs Chelsea

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[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!
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[Wolverine GTR]

LA Liga Fixtures 2019.01.19

LA Liga Fixtures 2019.01.19

Real Madrid Vs Sevilla

Huesca Vs Atletico Madrid

Celta Vigo Vs Valencia
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[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A Fixtures 2019.01.19

Serie A Fixtures 2019.01.19

Roma Vs Torino

Udinese Vs Parma

Inter Vs Sassuolo
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[Wolverine GTR]

Bundesliga Fixtures 2019.01.19

Bundesliga Fixtures 2019.01.19

Leverkusen Vs Monchengladbach

Frankfurt Vs Freiburg

Augsburg Vs Fortuna

Hannover Vs Werder Bremen

Stuttgart Vs Mainz

Leipzig Vs Dortmund
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[SomiBoyz]

football

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United Vs Brighton

Manchester United Starting Line-up

De Gea
Young
Lindelof
Jones
Shaw
Matic
Herrera
Pogba
Lingard
Martial
Rashford

&

Brighton Starting Line-up

Button
Montoya
Duffy
Dunk
Bong
March
Stephens
Propper
Gross
Locadia
Murray
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!
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[Wolverine GTR]

Half Time

Manchester United 2 Vs 0 Brighton

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[Wolverine GTR]

Rash​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Full Time

Manchester United 2 Vs 1 Brighton

Manchester United Goal(s)

P.Pogba 26(PEN)'
M.Rashford 42'

&

Brighton Goal(s)

P.Grob 72'


​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

Rashford ge goal eka patta

& next FA Cup match against ArsenalGood luck Manchester United!
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[Wolverine GTR]

Huesca 0 Atletico Madrid 3: Dominant Atleti keep pressure on Barca


Atletico Madrid moved to within two points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona after a comfortable 3-0 win over bottom club Huesca on Saturday.Full-backs Lucas Hernandez and Santiago Arias put Atletico in control before Koke ensured Atletico extended their unbeaten run in the league to 17 games.

Huesca threatened early on at El Alcoraz through the lively Cucho Hernandez, but finding a way through proved a step too far, Jan Oblak impressing once again in the Atletico goal.


Lucas' first goal of the season put Atleti ahead and Arias doubled their lead before Koke sealed the points on a foggy night in northern Spain, keeping Diego Simeone's men firmly in title contention.Atleti started the better, but were lucky not to be behind in the 12th minute as Jorge Pulido's acrobatic volley beat Oblak only to thud into the post.

It was a warning Atleti failed to heed and four minutes later an Enric Gallego's flick released Cucho. The Colombian forward tried to round Oblak, but the goalkeeper stayed on his feet and was able to get fingertips to the teenager's low effort.

Having survived two scares, Atleti should have taken the lead moments later when Lemar latched onto Angel Correa's pass, but he fired straight at Roberto Santamaria when one-on-one.Lucas made no mistake just after the half hour, though, as he tapped home at the back post after Lemar and Koke had unlocked the Huesca defence.

While the visibility deteriorated in the heavy fog, Atletico were not affected and almost doubled their advantage when Correa burst through, but Santamaria reacted superbly to deny the forward from point-blank range.A second goal did arrive after 52 minutes as Antoine Griezmann was given time to pick out Arias at the far post, the full-back volleying past Santamaria in style.

Huesca continued to pose a threat, but their challenge was ended when Koke lashed home in the 71st minute, the midfielder finishing in style after Griezmann's header had come back off the crossbar.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 1: Record-breaking win for Solskjaer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's fine start continued as Manchester United's caretaker manager became the first boss in the club's history to win his first six league games following the 2-1 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Almost 25 years to the day since Matt Busby died, Solskjaer made it seven wins from seven in all competitions on the one-month anniversary of his appointment as two of the players to have shone in his short tenure scored again.

Paul Pogba converted a 27th-minute penalty he won himself for his fifth goal in his last three games at Old Trafford before Marcus Rashford marked his 150th appearance with the second prior to the interval.


Pascal Gross pulled one back for Brighton, but United claimed the three points to move into fifth, above Arsenal, ahead of the Gunners' home game with fourth-placed Chelsea later on Saturday.
Rashford and Pogba had already threatened the Brighton goal before United were awarded a penalty.Pogba latched onto a long Nemanja Matic pass on the right flank by taking a touch inside Gaetan Bong, who bundled into the back of the Frenchman to concede the spot-kick.The usual stuttered run-up followed but Pogba placed his effort into the right-hand corner, past David Button's right hand to put United in front.

Button was able to make himself big and prevent Anthony Martial making it 2-0, while Brighton's Glenn Murray fired a great chance wide with a miss that would look even more costly before the break.

With three first-half minutes remaining left-back Diogo Dalot, a late inclusion in the starting XI due to Luke Shaw's injury, fed Rashford and he cut inside Gross before bending a fine right-footed finish into the far corner.Rashford continued to look in the mood after the interval, firing in a cross that Jesse Lingard somehow failed to direct home from close range.

Martial blasted into the side netting but United's intensity dropped and Brighton were given hope with 18 minutes to go.Davy Propper's outside-of-the-foot cross reached Gross, who chested the ball down and poked the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

A nervy finish for the home side therefore ensued and though Pogba was unable to alleviate the tension when rifling just wide, United held on to round off a fantastic first month in the job for Solskjaer.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Madrid 2 Sevilla 0: Solari's side take over third spot

Late goals from Casemiro and Luka Modric clinched Real Madrid a 2-0 win over Sevilla at a sodden Santiago Bernabeu – a result that lifts Santiago Solari's side above their opponents in the LaLiga table.

Madrid appeared set to endure a frustrating afternoon in the Spanish capital, both Modric, who played over half of the contest with a nasty cut following a clash of heads with Franco Vazquez, and Dani Ceballos denied by the woodwork after the break.

However, Casemiro produced a sensational long-range strike in the 78th minute to help his team secure a 10th straight home league victory over Sevilla, who let slip their loose grasp of third place.


The Brazilian's curling attempt evaded Tomas Vaclik, the visiting goalkeeper only able to paw the ball into the top left corner of his net as Sevilla’s defence was finally breached in the face of a second-half onslaught from their opponents.A wounded Modric added a second in stoppage time, converting a one-on-one opportunity as he curled his effort beyond the advancing Vaclik.

The European champions had needed an 88th-minute winner from Ceballos against his former club Real Betis last time out in the league and, back in action in front of their own fans, they made a bright start in the pouring rain.

Yet the early optimism faded as the first half wore on, Madrid fortunate Sergio Escudero failed to provide the finish at the end of a swift Sevilla counter, sending his left-footed attempt into the side-netting when confronted by Thibaut Courtois.
The hosts, though, were much improved after the break.

Modric – who swapped a bandage for a much-less obvious plaster after the interval – saw a firm drive from a tight angle deflected onto the post, while Ceballos’ effort from distance was kept out by the crossbar.

Casemiro had better luck when taking aim from outside the penalty area in the 78th minute and, with Sevilla’s resistance finally broken, the outstanding Modric made sure of the result with a calm finish in the closing seconds.