تحدث ألفارو موراتا، مهاجم يوفنتوس، عن قيادته لفريقه للفوز أمام دينامو كييف، في الجولة الأولى لدور المجموعات بدوري أبطال أوروبا.
وسجل موراتا هدفي يوفنتوس في المباراة التي انتهت لصالح البيانكونيري (2-0).
طالع تقرير مباراة يوفنتوس ودينامو كييف وشاهد الأهداف
وأدلى الإسباني بتصريحات عقب المواجهة لشبكة “سكاي إيطاليا”، والموقع الرسمي للاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”
وقال موراتا: “اللعب في دوري الأبطال بقميص اليوفي أمر مثير للغاية بالنسبة لي”.
وأضاف: “آخر مباراة لعبتها في هذه المسابقة مع يوفنتوس، سأتذكرها دائمًا وليس لأسباب جيدة، (الهزيمة أمام برشلونة في نهائي 2015)، ولكن كل عام يكون لديك فرصة أخرى وسنحاول مجددًا”.
وأكد: “هناك فرصة في كل عام للفوز بدوري الأبطال ونريد أن نقطع كل الطريق، أردنا أن نبدأ بداية قوية في المجموعة ولعبنا بشكل جيد هذا المساء”.
يذكر أن يوفنتوس يقع في مجموعة تضم برشلونة وفيرينكفاروس، ودينامو كييف.
There was a time where Jason Gavin seemingly had the world at his feet (yes, really).
Born in the Republic of Ireland, the defender moved to England in 1996 as a teenager to join Middlesbrough. Although he only made sporadic appearances for the Smoggies, his experience of playing in the top-flight attracted the attention of Bradford City who signed him in 2003 in what proved to be a disastrous move.
The Bantams were in the First Division at the time and were hoping to avoid a relegation battle under the guidance of Nicky Law yet a terrible start to the campaign saw the former Chesterfield boss lose his job in November. Bryan Robson was brought in to try and steady the ship yet it proved to be an impossible task. In a season that saw the club concede 69 goals in the league, much of the blame was passed onto Gavin who had failed to demonstrate anywhere near the levels of performance that they had hoped he would have produced at Valley Parade. The 2003/04 campaign ended with Bradford being relegated to the third tier as they finished 15 points adrift of Gillingham yet the worse was still to come.
After the season had ended, the club announced that they had entered administration with debts of £13m revealed in an annual financial meeting (via the BBC). This forced the club to put many of their players up for sale in the following summer, including Gavin who unsurprisingly didn’t have many takers giving his escapades in the previous season. After being frozen out of new manager Colin Todd’s plans, the defender moved back to Ireland in 2005 where he had a brief spell at Shamrock Rovers before moving onto to Drogheda United where he made 65 league appearances for the club.
Having once graced the Premier League, the drop down in level for Gavin illustrated just how quickly things can fall apart if a player ends up making the wrong move during what is a critical stage for their development. The former Middlesbrough player eventually retired from football in Australia at the age of 32, calling time on a career which was ultimately ruined by his decision to join Bradford.
Tottenham Hotspur face a massive battle to finish in the top four this season.
There are just six games of the season remaining and Spurs are one of four teams, including Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, battling for the final two Champions League qualification spots.
But Spurs’ form recently has been abject at best and there is a very real scenario that Spurs could go from being in a title race to qualifying for the Europa League.
Football FanCast breaks down the potential consequences of Spurs failing to finish in the top four.
A tighter transfer budget
Spurs have not signed a player in the past two transfer windows, with their last new addition being Lucas Moura in January 2018.
A failure to qualify for the Champions League would surely have a major impact on the club’s transfer budget this summer.
Chairman Daniel Levy has claimed that the club’s new stadium will not have an impact on the club’s finances, but that appears contingent on qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition.
Finishing fifth or sixth would limit the club’s pulling power significantly and also potentially see the club struggle to pay the prices required to buy elite stars in today’s transfer window.
Pressure on Pochettino
Soccer Football – FA Cup Fourth Round – Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur – Selhurst Park, London, Britain – January 27, 2019 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino reacts after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Nobody is suggesting that Mauricio Pochettino’s future is in doubt, right now at least.
But a fall from the title race to a fifth or sixth place finish would surely see questions asked.
Pochettino has urged the club to be brave in the transfer market but, again, there is an expectation that the club will finish in the top four.
That, in itself, is Pochettino’s doing – he has transformed the club and qualifying for the Champions League is now a requirement instead of a desire.
The club may be able to cope with one season outside of the bubble but back-to-back failures may well put his tenure to a premature end.
Doubts over Kane
Soccer Football – Premier League – Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur – Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain – February 23, 2019 Tottenham’s Harry Kane applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Andrew Yates EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative fo
Harry Kane signed a new contract last summer and appears to genuinely adore playing for Tottenham.
He has scored 164 goals in 250 games for Spurs and is arguably the finest striker the club have had in the modern era.
He is unlikely to seek an exit but a failure to qualify for the Champions League would see vultures circling.
Kane, England’s captain and the Golden Boot winner at the 2018 World Cup, would walk into any team on the planet and the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and PSG would surely be monitoring his situation with keen interest.
As mentioned with Pochettino, Kane would surely cope for a season but another failure next season could see a flurry of bids tabled.
A firesale
Soccer Football – Premier League – Everton v Tottenham Hotspur – Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain – December 23, 2018 Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier recats Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further d
Spurs are surely set to sell a number of players this summer, purely based on their performances this season. The likes of Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies and Erik Lamela can all be upgraded and have not been at the top of their games this term.
There are doubts over Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen too, with the former holding a £25million release clause in his contract and the Denmark international being courted by Real Madrid.
Spurs can recover from both leaving but there may be more to come: Danny Rose, Jan Vertonghen and Hugo Lloris, along with the likes of Lucas Moura and even Son Heung-Min, may not take too kindly to being in Europe’s second-tier competition next season.
With Son and Vertonghen, in particular, it would be remarkable if a number of clubs did not come knocking.
A half-full new stadium
Spurs have just opened their £1billion stadium, the second-largest in London.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as it is currently known, has the ability to host over 62,000 fans.
But the prospect of playing a team such as Astra Giurgiu on a Thursday evening is unlikely to whet the appetite of fans in the same way that Real Madrid or Barcelona visiting will do.
It is unlikely that the group stages would bring in a capacity crowd, and may even have an impact on season ticket sales.
Levy and his fellow board members are unlikely to take too kindly to that turn of events.
كشف مدرب ليفربول يورجن كلوب موقف اللاعب جويل ماتيب من المشاركة في مباراة الغد أمام أياكس الهولندي في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويستضيف امستردام أرينا مباراة الفريقين في الجولة الأولى، من دور مجموعات دوري الأبطال.
وقال كلوب في مؤتمر صحفي، قبل مباراة الغد ونشره الموقع الرسمي للنادي: “لدينا الكثير من اللاعبين هنا لكن البعض الآخر ليس كذلك، وجويل ماتيب هو أحد اللاعبين غير الموجودين لدينا هنا”.
وأضاف: “كان من الواضح بالنظر إلى تاريخ ماتيب أنه من غير المحتمل أن يبدأ مرة أخرى بعد خوضه 90 دقيقة أمام إيفرتون، لقد تركناه في إنجلترا، ولكن هناك فرصة جيدة أمامه للمشاركة في لقاء الأسبوع المقبل”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. كلوب يهاجم صحفيًا بسبب فان دايك وتياجو ويؤكد: لا أشعر بالأسف تجاه أياكس
وواصل: “تياجو ألكانتارا ليس هنا أيضًا، الجميع يعرف ذلك لأنكم تشاهدوننا ونحن نسافر، لا أعرف كم من الوقت سيستغرق غيابه، كما قلت لدينا لاعبين يعانيان بعد مواجهة إيفرتون، فان دايك وتياجو، وجويل ولكن لأسباب مختلفة”.
واختتم: “ولكني راضِ عن الخيارات المتاحة لدي، وربما أكون أنا الوحيد الذي أقول ذلك!”.
وتعرض فان دايك وتياجو ألكانتارا لإصابات يوم السبت الماضي أمام إيفرتون في الدوري الإنجليزي.
شدد المدرب الألماني يورجن كلوب، المدير الفني لنادي ليفربول، على أهمية أنّ يكون فريقه مركز بنسبة 100% أمام شيفيلد يونايتد في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
ليفربول يستعد غدًا لملاقاة شيفيلد، في تمام التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، على ملعب “آنفيلد”، بالجولة السادسة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
كلوب تحدث عن ريان بروستر، مهاجم الفريق الشاب السابق، والذي انضم إلى شيفيلد يونايتد مقابل 23.5 مليون جنيه إسترليني.
وقال كلوب في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة: “كلنا نعرفه جيدًا، وهذه هي المشكلة، نحن نعرف كم هو جيد”.
وأضاف: “هذا هو الحال دائمًا عندما يكون صبيًا، خاصةً مثل بروستر الذي هو بالفعل ولدنا، ربما يتعين علي أنّ أقول (اعتدت أن يكون ابننا) وأنا أتمنى لـ شيفيلد موسمًا جيدًا حقًا في البريميرليج”.
وواصل: “نحن بحاجة إلى أنّ نركز بنسبة 100% في مباراة الغد، إذا لعب، ولكن ليس هو فقط، شيفيلد يبلي بلاءً حسنًا حقًا، لقد كان لديهم بداية صعبة للغاية، ولكن هم الآن على ما يرام، وسيحاولون تقديم كل شيء لدينا، وهذا سيجعل المباراة حقًا صعبة للغاية”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. كلوب يكشف إمكانية عودة ألكانتارا وأليسون لـ ليفربول ضد شيفيلد يونايتد
وشدد: “إذا أردنا الفوز على شيفيلد يونايتد غدًا، والحصول على النقاط الثلاث، يجب علينا أنّ نكون أقوياء حقًا”.
وتابع: “نحن نعلم أنّه يجب علينا على أرض الملعب ألا نسمح لـ بروستر بالحصول على الكرة، فهو يسدد بشكل جيد، وهو أكبر تهديد لنا، آمل ألا يكون في يومه غدًا”.
وأردف: “مباراة الغد أمام شيفيلد ستكون مُختلفة تمامًا عن مباراة أياكس، سنواجه فريقا يستحق الكثير من الاهتمام لكل ما يفعلونه، إنهم جيدون حقًا وأعلم أنّ مدربهم سيحاول جعل الأمور صعبة علينا”.
وأتم تصريحاته قائلًا: “لقد كان لديهم أسبوع كامل للتحضير للمباراة، بعكس فريقي، بكل تأكيد ستكون مباراة صعبة للغاية لنا”.
Changes are surely coming aplenty for Newcastle United next season, as Rafa Benitez demands a proper reshuffle in shape in order to compete for bigger things.
The Magpies find themselves in risk of losing some key personnel considering the aforementioned Spaniard’s contractual situation on Tyneside and, elsewhere, influential midfielder Isaac Hayden seems insistent on leaving.
He’s not suited to life at St. James’ Park, seemingly wanting to move for personal reasons and, while it seems harsh to criticise him for that, the former Arsenal youngster would now be a big miss. Indeed, Hayden’s energy and steel in midfield have brought a new spark to Benitez’s game when it looked as if things were going stale, so his potential departure would be a blow.
So, according to reports from German outlet Bild (via HITC), the Magpies are looking for a rather unknown replacement in Nurnberg’s Patrick Erras.
While talented, the 24-year-old German is still finding his feet at the Bundesliga bottom feeders, making him quite an unusual replacement for such an influential midfielder. Erras’ only made 13 appearances for Nurnberg, including only 7 starts and would surely have to undergo a period of acclimatisation if he were to move to the English top flight.
Unlike the reliable Hayden, he’s still struggling to stand out in difficult circumstances.
If Newcastle want to move forward and become a side challenging for a European spot, getting mediocre talents like Erras won’t do. While the 24-year-old’s timely shown his ability with a few impressive appearances, stats don’t favour him at all. He’s only assisted once this campaign and boasts a relatively unimpressive 74.1% passing accuracy (stats via WhoScored).
Unlike the industrial Hayden, Erras has seemingly struggled under pressure and hasn’t been able to dominate possession as well as he’d like.
Exposing him to the Premier League’s intensity could be a huge risk, as the Magpies need to do better than getting a cheap replacement for their potentially departing workhorse.
Newcastle fans, would you be pleased with Erras’ potential arrival in the summer? Join the discussion by commenting below…
Newcastle United have once again gotten themselves to Premier League safety with a series of fine performances in the second half of the campaign.
Rafa Benitez has once again done a superb job in the managerial hotseat at St James’ Park, and if the Magpies are to keep progressing, then they have to ensure they keep hold of the Spaniard and back him in the transfer market.
Former Chelse and Liverpool manager Benitez could easily get himself a move to one of Europe’s top clubs if he wanted, but with news this weekend emerging of Newcastle willing to give Benitez up to £50m to spend in the summer market, then the Spaniard might well just stay put.
With that £50m, we here in the Tavern feel that the Magpies need to go after a former striker in the form of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is set to become a Championship striker following Fulham’s relegation to the Championship this season.
However, the big Serbian is a much improved version of the player Newcastle had a couple of seasons ago, and a move for the big man on a permanent or loan deal might represent a shrewd piece of business for the club.
Mitrovic has proved himself useful in the top flight this term despite the struggles of the Cottagers, and there has to be an element of him what feels he has a point to prove in the north east.
Strong, young enough to get better, and with a keen eye for goal, Mitrovic would be a brilliant second chance signing for Newcastle.
أكد فاروق جعفر نجم الزمالك الأسبق، أن تأجيل مباراة الفريق الأبيض والرجاء المغربي في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا ليس في صالح القطبين.
وقرر الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف” تأجيل نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا الذي تأهل له الأهلي، بالإضافة إلى تأجيل مباراة الزمالك والرجاء، في إياب دور نصف النهائي، الذي كان مقررًا له يوم الأحد المقبل، لأجل غير مُسمى.
اقرأ أيضًا.. الأهلي يعلن قرارًا جديدًا بعد تأجيل موعد نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا
وقال فاروق جعفر خلال مداخلة عبر برنامج “البريمو” المُذاع عبر قناة “TEN”: “تأجيل مباراة الزمالك والرجاء والنهائي ليس في صالح القطبين، الكاف من المفترض أن يعطي درسًا لكل الاتحادات الإفريقية في الانضباط والالتزام والتوقيت والبرامج، وهذا الكلام غير مقنع بالمرة، وسيقل من حظوظ الفريقين”.
تابع: “نحن كمصريين أخذنا الموضوع بشيء من الإنسانية في ظروف الرجاء المغربي وأن يتم تأجيل المباراة بسبب إصابات كورونا، لكن لو فريق مصري في هذه الظروف الكاف لن يمكن ليأخذ نفس الموقف”.
وواصل: “لو تلقى مصطفى محمد عرضًا للاحتراف بعد نهاية الموسم الإفريقي أرى من وجهة نظري أن يقبله، هو تلقى أكثر من عرض، ولن نستغنى عنه بسبب البطولة الإفريقية”.
واختتم: “لابد من تدخل وزير الشباب والرياضة لكي تكون هناك تهدئة بين جماهير القطبين”.
Over a year since he left for Barcelona, there is still a common-held belief among Liverpool fans that their club needs to find a Philippe Coutinho replacement, but Jurgen Klopp’s men’s stellar goal scoring form and deadliness in front of goal resoundingly proves otherwise. Here’s a quick look at what fans have been saying on Twitter over recent months…
In the spotlight
Something that has likely accelerated supporters’ desire for a Coutinho replacement recently is how much the Brazilian international has been in the spotlight of late.
Having looked like he never would previously, the 26-year-old is finally starting to find his feet at Camp Nou, helping Ernesto Valverde’s men to a two-leg victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
If that hasn’t been enough of a reminder for the Anfield faithful about what they’ve been missing, they’ll get to see him first-hand once again in the next round of Europe’s top domestic competition.
The Reds face Barca in the Champions League semi-finals, so the playmaker will be heading back to Merseyside for one night only.
However, ahead of the tie, Reds fans need to forget about the idea of replacing Coutinho for good as it has dragged on for longer than it should have and the club’s key figures clearly aren’t that interested in pursuing a direct successor.
Why Coutinho replacement is the one theory Liverpool fans need to ditch
There can be little doubting that at the time, the loss and improper replacement of Coutinho had a negative impact on Klopp’s men.
But since then, the Reds have evolved to cope without Coutinho and perhaps more importantly, an out-and-out number ten in their regular starting XI.
This has been helped by Roberto Firmino being more of a playmaking forward, dropping deep into the No.10 pocket that Coutinho would be trying to occupy, but the famous front three have also learned to be successful without a particularly creative supply route directly behind them.
There were absolute scenes on Sunday as Liverpool moved back to the top of the league. Thogden was at Anfield to capture the exact moment in the video below…
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have developed to provide those sparks of ingenuity themselves and if you need any evidence, just look a where the Merseysiders are right now – second in the Premier League and in a second consecutive Champions League last four.
And as for the attack, once again it’s been the key with 79 goals scored in the Premier League and plenty of 2018/19 still left, this all without Coutinho or a direct replacement for him.
Just let it go Anfield faithful – a successor simply isn’t needed.
تألق بيدري جونزاليس مع فريقه برشلونة الإسباني منذ مشاركته بقميص البلوجرانا، تحت قيادة رونالد كومان المدير الفني للبارسا.
وانضم بيدري لبرشلونة قادمًا من لاس بالماس، واعتمد عليه كومان في عدة مباريات، وشارك للمرة الأولى في دوري أبطال أوروبا أمام فيرينكفاروس المجري، وسجل هدفًا في مواجهة انتهت بفوز البارسا (5-1).
اقرأ أيضًا.. هل يعود تير شتيجن أساسيًا في مباراة برشلونة ودينامو كييف؟
كما تألق بيدري أمام يوفنتوس في الجولة الثانية لدوري الأبطال، في المباراة التي حسمها برشلونة بالفوز (2-0).
شارك بيدري أيضًا في منافسات الليجا مع برشلونة، وتوضح صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية أن البارسا سيدفع 250 ألف يورو للاس بالماس.
ويأتي ذلك بسبب مشاركة بيدري في 5 مباريات حتى الآن مع برشلونة، وبموجب العقد بين الناديين، الفريق الكتالوني ملزم بدفع ذلك المبلغ لـ لاس بالماس.