Football
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...
Nine Premier League clubs to allow stars miss project restart
Up to nine Premier League clubs will let their players skip Project Restart over fears they could infect their families with coronavirus. England’s top division is looking at a return date of June 12 as they attempt to conclude this season. But The Sun have reported that nearly half of the league’s teams have conceded forcing players back into action while the virus is active will be impossible. A source told the publication: “If someone has a partner who’s pregnant, or close family who has cancer, how can we force them to play in those circumstances?” It is understood that teams from across the table are concerned with player safety and one team has told stars they do not have to play. One club who will be without key players should football return is Aston Villa, with manager Dean Smith ...
Almeria centerback confident of breaking into Super Eagles squad
Almeria center back and Nigeria international, Valentine Ozornwafor, has confidently disclosed that he is so sure of making the Super Eagles set up in the nearest foreseeable future. Ozornwafor in a chat noted that the Super Eagles chance is not something to think about too much because his time to become an Eagles regular is closer. “I don’t think about it, I am sure that one day I will play for the Super Eagles, and it is not going to be far from now, all I do now is work hard to making sure it comes to pass,” He said. “Talking about the players there presently, I am not disputing the fact that they are not good, but I am speaking confidently that I know who I am, I know what I am capable of.” Lastly, the on-loan Galatasaray defender, however, admitted that there are many central backs c...
La Liga congratulates Bundesliga ahead football league return
The Spanish La Liga has congratulated Germany’s Bundesliga for announcing its imminent return as Spain’s top-flight stepped up its own comeback preparations. The Bundesliga was given the green light to resume later this month when chancellor Angela Merkel made the announcement during a news conference on Wednesday. Strict testing and matchday procedures will be put in place by the German government, with football seemingly set to resume on May 15 having been paused in mid-March. LaLiga outlined its own plan for a staggered return to training on Monday, with teams set to begin individual work this week before gradually moving to group sessions, the ultimate aim being to re-commence the 2019-20 season in June. Spanish clubs began testing players for COVID-19 on Tuesday and LaLiga sees the Bu...
Inter ask Chelsea to drop asking price for Victor Moses
Inter Milan have reportedly asked Chelsea to drop their asking price for Nigerian utility player Victor Moses. According to Calcio Mercato, the Italian club are unwilling to match Chelsea’s €12 million price tag. Inter head coach Antonio Conte remains eager to sign Moses on a permanent deal at the end of his loan spell with the club. The Nezarrurri though will require Chelsea to drop their evaluation of the player if he is to complete a permanent switch to the San Siro at the culmination of the 2019-20 season. Moses spent the first half of the current campaign on-loan at Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce, but left the Istanbul-based club almost exactly a year after joining the them on an 18-month loan deal. The 29-year-old has made seven appearances for Inter across all competitions this s...
Liverpool midfielder chooses Nigeria over England
Ovie Ejaria has committed his international future to Nigeria. The midfielder is currently on loan at Reading from Liverpool. According to former Super Eagles media officer, Colin Udoh, Ejaria is now set to represent the three-time African champions. “Ovie Ejaria has committed to Nigeria, an @NGSuperEagles team source tells me. “Paperwork is already with FIFA, and Nigerian passport needs to be renewed. “All but settled for the Liverpool man who is on loan at Reading,” Udoh tweeted on Wednesday. Ejaria was born in London to Nigerian parents. Get more stories like this on Twitter
We want to win LaLiga on pitch – Barca coach
Barcelona coach, Quique Setien, insists he wants to win the LaLiga title on the pitch. Spanish clubs are waiting for news when the competition will resume. For now, Barca lead the table and could be crowned champions if the season is now abandoned. Setien said, “Common sense would indicate that if it cannot continue, the logical thing would be for it to remain as it is. “But what we want is to end it. I’m looking forward to finishing it. “I wouldn’t want to win the championship if it stayed like this.” Get more stories like this on Twitter
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 ...
