English
Pep Guardiola: Manchester City deserve an apology
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his team deserved an apology, after their two-year UEFA ban from European football was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) — a verdict he called “a good day for football”. Guardiola said the club’s reputation had been damaged by the furore around allegations that they broke Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules and fired back at comments from rival managers Jose Mourinho and Juergen Klopp. Mourinho had described the CAS decision to fine City 10 million euros ($11.39 million) for non-cooperation with the investigation as “disgraceful”. “Maybe. The thing about the money, maybe. But Jose and all the managers should know that we were damaged. We should be apologised (to). Because, like I said many times, if we did something wrong, we will...
Gerard Houllier: Liverpool need tough love from Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool have always been a side that needs “tough love”, says Gerard Houllier, with Jurgen Klopp proving to be the perfect coach to deliver “vision” and long-term success at Anfield. Those on the red half of Merseyside are currently basking in the warm glow of a first title triumph in 30 years. Since last getting their hands on the English top-flight crown in 1990, many managers have tried and failed to get Liverpool back on the loftiest of perches. Houllier spent six years at the helm between 1998 and 2004, delivering domestic cup success and a UEFA Cup win. He also carried the Reds close to a long-awaited title, as did Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers. Klopp has been the man to get Liverpool over the line, while also claiming Champions League and Club World Cup honours, with the German...
Liverpool reiterate need for safe celebrations ahead of Villa clash
Liverpool have again urged their supporters to avoid mass gatherings in the city and to celebrate their Premier League triumph safely at home in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, chief executive Peter Moore said on Friday. Liverpool’s 30-year wait for their 19th English top-flight crown ended last week when Manchester City lost at Chelsea and thousands of fans turned up at their Anfield stadium to celebrate. Local media reported that fans launched fireworks at the Royal Liver Building, with a fire breaking out on the balcony of the landmark owned by Farhad Moshiri, the majority shareholder of the side’s local rivals Everton. Liverpool, Merseyside police and the City Council issued a statement condemning the “wholly unacceptable” behaviour, while manager Juergen Klopp requeste...
Dean Henderson praises David de Gea amidst talk over future
Manchester United star Dean Henderson has addressed the talk surrounding his future and fans will love to hear what he had to say. The young goalkeeper is currently on loan at Sheffield United and has rightfully gained plenty of plaudits for a brilliant season so far. Henderson’s good form has coincided with the time David de Gea has looked the most human he has since arriving at Old Trafford. This has led to some sections of supporters to call for the Spaniard’s head, with some claiming the Englishman would be better off as the club’s number one next season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hasn’t addressed the topic head-on but recently insisted De Gea is the best goalkeeper in the world and there’s nothing to worry about in regards to his form. Earlier in the season Solskjaer had said Henderson wil...
ICPC declares former staff wanted over fraudulent practices
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has declared one Gloria Obioma Elih, a former staff wanted for allegedly demanding and receiving gratification from officials of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources who were being investigated. The ICPC disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday via its official Twitter account stating that Criminal charges were filed against Elih, who was also a former staff of the commission before an FCT High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Adeniyi. According to the commission, Elih allegedly demanded and received gratification from officials of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources who were being investigated and all efforts to serve her and procure her attendance in court have proved abortive. The commissio...
Marcus Rashford reacts to Odion Ighalo’s contract extension
English striker Marcus Rashford has congratulations Odion Ighalo following his contract extension with Manchester United. Ighalo was signed on loan from Shanghai Shenhua back in January after Rashford sustained an injury that ruled him out of action for three months. The six-month loan initially expired on May 31, but United decided to retain the services of the former Super Eagles striker for another six months and he now remains at Old Trafford until January 2021. Rashford who couldn’t hide his excitement after Manchester United announced the new agreement on their website took to his social media handle to congratulate his teammate. “Congrats @ighalojude 👏🏾♥️” Rashford wrote on Twitter. Ighalo who has scored four goals in eight matches for the club will be ...
Wilfred Ndidi: Why Leicester City move was very scary for me
Wilfred Ndidi claimed he saw his move to Premier League side Leicester City as an opportunity rather than getting carried away with pressure. After three seasons at Belgian top-flight side Genk, the Nigeria international joined the Foxes in a transfer deal worth £17 million. At that time, the King Power Stadium giants were reigning English champions, plus they needed a replacement for N’Golo Kante who had joined Chelsea on a five-year deal. The Frenchman played a starring role in Leicester’s English top-flight-winning campaign where he made 40 appearances while helping France reach the final of Euro 2016. Despite adapting to life quickly at the Luminus Arena after his move from Nigeria’s Nath Boys Academy, Ndidi said he saw an opportunity to ‘develop’, thus, embraced the burden of expectat...
Alex Iwobi reveals happiest moments of his career in national team shirt
Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi has revealed helping Nigeria reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup is the happiest moment of his career. Iwobi scored the winning goal against Zambia to help Nigeria qualify 2the FIFA World Cup for the sixth time, two years after switching allegiance to the West African Nation. While speaking to sports bibe on Instagram live session, the former Arsenal forward said the feat remains the best of his career, despite winning bronze at the African cup of Nations in Egypt and English FA Cup with Arsenal. “I’ve had a lot of happy moments in my career but for me, I will say when I scored against Zambia to send my national team to the World Cup because my parents were there,” he said. “That’s a special moment, I almost shed a tear on the pitch.” He said. Iwobi went on to rep...
19 dead as Iran warship hit by ‘friendly fire’ in tense Gulf
An Iranian warship was hit by a friendly fire missile during naval exercises, killing 19 sailors, state media and the army said Monday, amid tensions with the US in Gulf waters. The incident involving the Konarak vessel occurred on Sunday afternoon near Bandar-e Jask, off the southern coast of the Islamic republic, state television said on its website. “The vessel was hit after moving a practice target to its destination and not creating enough distance between itself and the target,” said the channel. The armed forces said in a statement that 19 crewmen were killed and 15 injured. It said the Konarak had been involved in an “accident” during the exercises, without elaborating. The vessel had been towed ashore for “technical investigations”, it added, calling on people to “avoid speculatio...
Ex-QPR Star Taraabt Backs Eze To Lead Club To Premier League
Former Queens Park Rangers star Adel Taraabt says he hopes England-born Nigerian midfielder Eberechi Eze will lead the London club back to the Premier League. Eze has been impressive for Queens Park Rangers this season which has seen him been linked with a host of Premier League sides. The 21-year-old has scored 12 goals made eight assists in 39 games in all competitions so far this season for Mark Warburton side. And the 30-year-old Moroccan international, who now plays for Benfica in the Portuguese top flight urged Eze not to lose focus. “I watch him and think he has big potential,” Taarabt told the club website. “I enjoy watching him – he’s physically strong, has a good touch, can score goals. I see him and hope he will one day take QPR to the Premier League – I think he has that abilit...
Will Premier League with no fans be worth the wait?
The Premier League is adamant that it can overcome huge logistical challenges to get players back on the pitch during the coronavirus crisis but has long since accepted there will be no fans in the stadiums. English Football Association chairman Greg Clarke became the latest senior figure to admit this week that social-distancing guidelines make it impossible for supporters to congregate in stadiums “any time soon”. The drive behind the Premier League’s “Project Restart” is the attempt to avoid having to pay back millions in TV revenue. Clubs could reportedly miss out on £762 million ($946 million) for failing to complete this season alone. According to UEFA’s latest European Club Footballing Landscape report, just 13 percent of the Premier League’s revenue comes from gate receipts. Englan...
Jadon Sancho looked up to former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney
Manchester United target and Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho has admitted looking up to Wayne Rooney as a youngster. The Bundesliga winger is believed to be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s priority signing for the summer despite the increasing uncertainty surrounding football. Sancho represents the missing piece to United’s otherwise exciting attacking in Marcus Rashford as a left-winger, Anthony Martial as a striker and Bruno Fernandes as an attacking-midfielder. The former Manchester City man would slot in with ease in the right-wing position and give Solskjaer a new dimension to his attack. Sancho has been dropping a few hints over a potential move to the Red Devils with Dortmund reportedly looking for a somewhat realistic fee of €100m. In the video above, Sancho says: “Who did I look up to ...
