Новости за 19.10.2017

Arsene Wenger described how Olivier Giroud promised he would hit the winner before his special effort snatched Arsenal a Europa League win at Red Star Belgrade. After 85 tepid minutes at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, Jack Wilshere's burst through midfield, one-two with Theo Walcott and the winger's centred header set up Giroud to score a brilliant overhead kick and maintain the Gunners 100 per cent run in Europe this term. The Frenchman had looked well off the pace before his stunning intervention,... Читать дальше...

Former Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic has undergone a third kidney operation after a donor was found. The 37-year-old suffered kidney failure in 2006 while playing for Werder Bremen and after his body rejected a transplant from his mother, he received a donor from his father. His kidneys failed again in September last year, though, and the 37-year-old has endured an anxious wait to find a new donor. Klasnic, who played for Bolton Wanderers between 2009 and 2012, was due to attend their Championship... Читать дальше...

Arsenal limped past Red Star Belgrade 1-0 as Olivier Giroud's stunning goal lit up an otherwise entirely forgettable Europa League encounter. After sparkling inter-play between Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott, Giroud executed an overhead kick into the top corner five minutes from time to lift returning pressure from Arsene Wenger. The weekend's defeat to Watford, after which the Hornets captain Troy Deemey claimed the Gunners lacked "Cojones", reopened some Arsenal fans' frustrations with Wenger... Читать дальше...

Craig Shakespeare affirmed his belief in Leicester City's ability to climb back up the Premier League in his first statement since being sacked as manager. The Foxes have claimed just six points from their opening eight matches in a poor start to the campaign, leaving them third-bottom of the table, with the final straw coming in Monday's underwhelming 1-1 draw at home to West Brom.  Shakespeare took over on a permanent basis in June after steadying the then-champions in an impressive spell as caretaker manager last season... Читать дальше...

Arjen Robben says he has had no talks over a new Bayern Munich contract but is "relaxed" over his future. The experienced winger's deal expires in 2018, by which time he will be 34, and there has been speculation he will retire rather than pen fresh terms. The former Chelsea and Real Madrid man is yet to be approached by Bayern officials over an extension but he insists it is not on his mind at present. "I am very relaxed," he told Sky in Germany. "I've not been approached by anyone yet and I am in no rush. Читать дальше...

Slaven Bilic has denied that West Ham have issues with discipline, despite Andy Carroll's reckless dismissal against Burnley leaving him short of strikers for Tuesday's fixture with Brighton and Hove Albion. Bilic will hope Javier Hernandez returns from a hamstring injury in time for the Premier League clash at London Stadium, with Diafra Sakho ruled out with a back injury and Carroll suspended. The England striker was shown two yellow cards in the space of two first-half minutes at Turf Moor for a pair of identical fouls... Читать дальше...

Caerau were leading 3-2 against Pontyclun, but the thrilling contesthad to be stopped due to a classic case offloodlight failure.The 49-year-old former England international had agreed to take partfollowing an invitation from the club's secretary Dai Hooper, who once met him at a function.The Sky Sports pundit went into the game fully committed, andplayed 65 minutes of the match.After the gameMerson said he would happily play for the Welsh Division Three sideagain if his timeallowedhim to."I didn't... Читать дальше...

It’s a day almost as feverishly awaited as the release of the fixture list itself: Which games are featured live on the TV? Sky Sports and BT have released their Premier League coverage schedules up to the end of 2017. All 20 clubs are featured, of course – but not entirely equitably.Arsenal and Manchester United lead the way herewith 15 of a possible 20Premier League games shown before we hit 2018– three times as many as five of their Premier League rivals.But those forgotten teamscan't draw audiences like on December 10... Читать дальше...

During a stoppage in Sunday's 3-3 draw, Liberti is believedto have “urinated in the direction of the away section, making absence and vulgar gestures to his genital organ”.Turris have launched an appeal, with club president Antonio Colantonio furiously defending his player.Colantonio claims Liberti was peeing into a urinal near the away section, and not directly at the supporters.“Our player Liberti absolutely did not do what is alleged," he said in a statement."Quite simply, in the warm-up area... Читать дальше...

FADE IN:INT: SOME BUILDING, SOMEWHERENICK FURY is sat in front of a group of assembled superheroes in a secret lair. We can’t see them as they are all in shadow because SHIELD spent their entire budget on FLYING AIRSHIPS and had none left for LIGHTBULBS.NICK FURYI’ve gathered you all here today because I need some new Avengers. The last ones only signed on for three films and don’t want to keep making one of these interminable snoozefests every year.HARRY KANEWhy are you still here then?NICK FURYMuch... Читать дальше...

Speculation surrounding Carlo Ancelotti and the Leicester City vacancy is unlikely to come to fruition, according to Swansea City head coach Paul Clement. The Foxes, struggling in the Premier League relegation zone with one win from eight matches, sacked Craig Shakespeare on Tuesday and have placed Michael Appleton in caretaker charge for Saturday's trip to face the Swans. Rumours have emerged suggesting Ancelotti - who departed Bayern Munich last month after a 3-0 Champions League defeat to Paris... Читать дальше...

British author Rowling tops Forbes's European celebrity rich list for 2017 with projected earnings of $95m –$2m more than the Real Madrid forward.However, Ronaldo will be pleased to know he'sstill the year's highest-paid sportsman in the world, ahead of basketball icon LeBron James and rival Lionel Messi.According to Forbes'srankings, the 32-year-old comes fifth in the overall celebrity list (behind Drake, Rowling, Beyonce and Diddy), with Messi14th.In terms of footballers in the Europeanrankings... Читать дальше...

Sean Dyche insists he is unaware of any approach regarding the vacant Leicester City manager's post and was quick to dismiss reports linking him with the role as "a good story for the media". The Burnley boss has been touted as a possible replacement for Craig Shakespeare following the latter's sacking on Tuesday, in the wake of the Foxes' poor start to 2017-18. Leicester sit third from bottom in the Premier League with just one win from eight matches ahead of their trip to Swansea City on Saturday... Читать дальше...

West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic says Jose Mourinho gave him his watch after he turned up for Inter training hours early to avoid another confrontation with the head coach. The Austria international endured a difficult loan spell at San Siro in the Portuguese's final year in charge, making only three Serie A appearances in the Nerazzurri's treble-winning season. Mourinho later described Arnautovic as "a fantastic person with the attitude of a child" and the club declined to take up the option to sign him permanently from Twente... Читать дальше...

The Player has spent 15 years across all four divisions. He’s played in the Premier League and for his country. (Illustration bySpencer Wilson.)Each week we'll bring you a column from our mole...The dressing room is not a place for the faint-hearted. Anything goes – absolutely anything, whether it’s racist, sexist or homophobic. One team-mate had cancer and even he didn’t escape. When he refused to come on a nightout, another player said: “Why not?You’ve only got a month to live.”He was also asked... Читать дальше...

It's no fun being a Premier League keeper in the high-pressing, attack-minded modern Premier League where – let’s be honest – not many teamscan actually defend.As goal totals have headed north in the 10 (and a bit) years since 2006/07, it’s time to honour the custodians who’ve stemmed the tide with at least 20 clean sheets.The man atop this list has a whopping 153 in that timespan, but has been aided by playing behind arock-solid defence (in the past –less so now to be honest). Still, every perfect ‘0’ in your goals-against column counts ... Читать дальше...

Leicester City caretaker boss Michael Appleton is focusing purely on preparing his players for Saturday's clash with Swansea City as the club adjusts to the departure of Craig Shakespeare. Shakespeare, who guided the Foxes away from a relegation battle in impressive fashion last season, was sacked on Tuesday after just one win from the opening eight Premier League games of 2017-18. That poor start has left the 2015-16 champions languishing in the relegation zone ahead of a trip to the Liberty Stadium this weekend. Читать дальше...

Brighton and Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton feels there is still an "unacceptable" level of offensive behaviour in football despite significant improvements in recent years. The Football Association has been in the spotlight this week following an investigation into the conduct of former England women's boss Mark Sampson. The FA apologised to England players Eniola Aluko and Drew Spence after new evidence showed Sampson to have made remarks that were "discriminatory on the grounds of race". Hughton... Читать дальше...

The 39-year-old Georgianmade over 250 appearances at full-back for the Rossoneri during asuccessful nine-year period.As well as achieving continental success, he liftedthe Serie A titleplaying in a backline alongside the likes of Alessandro Nesta andPaolo Maldini.After an illustrious career which came to an end with Genoa in 2011,Kaladze set his sights on conquering the world of politicsand is running to leadtheGeorgian Dream party against seven other candidates."Every time when I talk about success in politics or in sport... Читать дальше...

Karim Benzema has no desire to leave Real Madrid despite reports of an offer from Arsenal, according to the striker's agent. Rumours in Spain this week claim the Gunners have launched a bid to sign the 29-year-old in the January transfer window. Benzema has only managed two goals this season and missed a clear chance against Tottenham in Tuesday's 1-1 Champions League draw at the Santiago Bernabeu. His disappointing form has led to speculation he could leave next year, despite having signed a new four-year contract last month... Читать дальше...

Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta has admitted to morale being low within the Chelsea squad following a recent poor run of form. Chelsea held a 2-0 lead over Roma at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Wednesday before needing to rely on a last-gasp equaliser from Eden Hazard to snatch a point after a strike from Aleksandar Kolarov, and a brace from Edin Dzeko, put Roma ahead with 20 minutes to go. Azpilicueta, as quoted by Standard Sport after the 3-3 draw, said: "The mood at the moment is not the best. Читать дальше...

Carlos Bacca believes he was part of the worst AC Milan team in history but insists his time at the club was a personal success. The Colombia international signed from Sevilla in July 2015 for a reported fee of €30million and scored 34 goals in all competitions, helping them to a Supercoppa Italiana triumph last year and a place in this season's Europa League. The 31-year-old returned to LaLiga with Villarreal in the transfer window as Milan conducted an overhaul of the squad following the takeover by Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux. Читать дальше...

Who first nicknamed you ‘The Octopus’?Frank Pocock, WarwickSome friends from a local club. They said that, like an octopus, everything I got in my hands I put in my mouth – I would eat the spoon if I could. It’s got nothing to do with having rubbery legs!Abroad, Colombia has a reputation for drugs, guerrilla warfare and corruption. What’s it really like? Were you ever aware of any of these problems growing up?John Stephen, via e-mailMy family’s never been affected by drugs or guerrillas, but Colombia is suffering from some big problems. Читать дальше...

Eniola Aluko will be considered for England selection, says interim head coach Mo Marley. On Wednesday, Aluko - who has 102 caps - received an apology from the Football Association (FA) after new evidence showed former manager Mark Sampson to have made remarks that were "discriminatory on the grounds of race". Sampson was sacked last month on account of "inappropriate and unacceptable" behaviour with female players in a previous role. Aluko faced the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee on Wednesday... Читать дальше...

Arkadiusz Milik has suggested a loan switch from Napoli may help his recovery from a knee problem, with rumours suggesting Chievo as his likeliest destination. The Poland international suffered a second serious knee injury in as many seasons last month, when he limped off after coming on as a substitute during the second half of a 3-2 win at SPAL. Milik subsequently underwent surgery and is expected to be out for around four months. It has been suggested the striker could seek a temporary switch... Читать дальше...