Новости за 31.10.2017

Pep Guardiola is not ready to shelve Manchester City's attacking style at Napoli – even though a draw would be enough to secure a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Early goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus set up a pulsating 2-1 win for Guardiola's men when the sides met at the Etihad Stadium two weeks ago, making it three wins out of three in Group F for the Premier League leaders. Napoli responded to that setback by taking seven points from three games in the interim... Читать дальше...

David Silva wants a new contract at Manchester City and an answer to his Champions League prayers. Silva joined City from Valencia in 2010 and has won every major honour in English football during his time at the Etihad Stadium, including Premier League titles in 2011-12 and 2013-14. The Spain playmaker has been typically influential in Pep Guardiola's side winning nine of their opening 10 top-flight matches this term to set the early pace in the Premier League. City face Napoli on Wednesday with... Читать дальше...

The Brazilian right-back, currently with PSG having become one of the most decorated players and won more than 100 caps for his country, was expected to join the Reds.But Liverpool decided to pull the plug on the £9 million transfer and spend the money elsewhere – later bringing Jermaine Pennant and Alvaro Arbeloa to Anfield – and Alves has admitted he was preparing himself for a move to the five-time European champions.Speaking in the December 2017 issue of FFT, he reveals: “I pretty much had an agreement with Liverpool. Читать дальше...

Gylfi Sigurdsson, Davy Klaassen (Everton)Grouped together because they’re symptomatic of Everton’s muddled (to choose a kind word) summer. On paper, the duo looked like strong – if expensive – acquisitions for the Toffees in their bid to break the glass ceiling above them. But the reality has been troublingly different.In Sigurdsson’s case, Everton have so far failed to make the most of a player who essentially guarantees goal contributions – over the last three Premier League seasons, the Icelandic... Читать дальше...

The 62-year-old Money took over a flailing Solihull side on October 5, and has struggled to turn the club's fortunesaround and leaves them bottom of the National League.However, one highlight has been Solihull's run to the FA Cup first roundas they prepare to play League Two outfit Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.Solihull beat Ossett in a replay during Money's tenure to send the Midlands club through, and the outgoing bossalso led themto a 3-1 win over Eastleigh a week ago -one of only three league... Читать дальше...

The League Two club currently have eight players out injured, meaning their squad is looking a bit thin on the ground. So, not for the first time, Ainsworth has come out of retirement to help make up the numbers on the bench.Ainsworth, who still actively plays Sunday League football to maintain his fitness, last played for Wycombe 14 months ago.Hehelped inspire the Buckinghamshire club to a 3-0 victory over Northampton in the Checkatrade Trophy, bringing himself on as an 85th-minute substitute and... Читать дальше...

The 20-year-old Brazilian exploded onto the Premier League scene after making his Citizens debut back in January, scoring three goals in as many league appearances.And despite having to sit out 10 weeks after breaking a metatarsal at Bournemouth, the youngster bounced back with goals in each of the Blues' final three games of 2016/17.Jesus had spent the first half of the season in Brazil, netting 12 goals to help Palmeiras seal a first Brasileirao Serie A title since 1994, and winningthe player of... Читать дальше...

Both Morata and Everton hotshot Romelu Lukaku were on the wishlists of the two Premier League rivals over the summer. But whileUnited won the battle for Lukaku, the west Londoners made sure they got their man from Real Madrid.The Spanish striker is already proving his worth following the £60 million deal, scoring seven goals in his opening seven Premier League and Champions League outings –including a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 4-0 drubbing of Stoke at the end of September.Morata, who has featured in... Читать дальше...

Young or old, it’s hard to deny the universal appeal of those players whose job it is to score goals. We grow up wanting to be them. Just ask Gabriel Jesus, who dreamed of following in the footsteps of Ronaldo while kicking a football around Sao Paulo.Our celebration of the game’s best strikers opens with the Manchester City forward talking about his quest to become the best player in the world and win the World Cup.We also speak to Alvaro Morata, who swapped Real Madrid for Chelsea over the summer... Читать дальше...

10. Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal)The first thing that strikes you about Kolasinac is his sheer body mass. Lantern-jawedwith the torso of an Olympic weightlifter and a backside that puts Kevin Davies to shame, Arsenal’s new left-back is ananthithesisof the fragility that has blighted Arsenal for years.Yet there’s a deceptive level of subtlety to the Bosnian’s gametoo, and for a man seemingly built to defend it’s his attacking that has impressed the most. His performance against Swansea on Saturday was... Читать дальше...

The new scheme will be tested this weekend in the A-League and W-League.The yellow card offences are ones you'd perhaps expect: they'll be dished out for coaches and staff who persistently leave their technical area, show dissent or sarcastically clap the work of match officials.Red cards will be handed out if a manager or one of his staff are caught using abusive language, confronting the opposition, spitting, or - perhaps the best one -angrilythrowing water bottles.The trials have been sanctioned... Читать дальше...

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is a "phenomenon" and an "example" to anyone due to his immense levels of professionalism, according to Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino. Ronaldo will go up against Pochettino's Spurs on Wednesday at Wembley, as Real Madrid look to improve upon their 1-1 draw with the Premier League side at the Santiago Bernabeu. It was Ronaldo who scored Madrid's goal when the two sides last met, and he will be eager to catch the eye as he returns to England, where he excelled for Manchester United between 2003 and 2009.

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has revealed that he and his family received a "disgusting" death threat on social media. The centre-back has struggled for form this season and has received criticism from fans and pundits alike, particularly after he was substituted just 31 minutes into Liverpool's 4-1 defeat to Tottenham. But Lovren has now brought to light just how serious some of the comments sent to him on social media have been, with the Croatia international posting a screenshot on his Instagram... Читать дальше...

Yaya Toure conceded he is "worried" about how Napoli's partisan crowd might fire up their players in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Manchester City. The Premier League pacesetters beat Napoli 2-1 at Etihad Stadium on October 17, but Napoli showed plenty to suggest they will be an even tougher opponent on home soil. City have started the season well, but so have Maurizio Sarri's men, as they sit top of Serie A with 31 points after 11 matches, and are playing some of the most eye-catching football in Europe. Читать дальше...

Arnold Issoko had put the visitors in front with just three minutes on the clock, but Rosell responded for Portimonense with the game's best strikesix minutes later.From around 30 yards out, the former Barcelona andSportingKansas City midfielder – now on loan from Portuguese giants Sporting –picked up possession from distance and let rip with a venemous strike that rocketed into the top corner.Woof indeed.0:54 for Rosell's strikeSpare athought for goalkeeper Pedro Trigueira, who'd have had similarly... Читать дальше...

FIFA Ultimate Team offers some particularly outlandish designs, offering the opportunity to show off and one-up your friends nicely.With that in mind, we’ve picked out some of the very best kit styles for use in FUT (or indeed, any mode) in FIFA 18.1. Osmanlispor (home)Turkish Super Lig side Osmanlispor unveiled a range of different Nike kit designs ahead of the 2017/18 season. Just a couple of them are featured in FIFA 18, with the primary gold and black style serving as the highlight.2. Pumas (home)Fans... Читать дальше...

You might think that, given the greatly expanded nature of Europe’s top club competition since 1992, heaping up a pile of victories wouldn’t be too tricky for a top manager. Group stage games against the likes of Qarabag (no offence) and Maribor (no offence) surely helps.Yet it’s not that simple, as evidenced by the names missing here. For example – and here’s an early clue – Zinedine ‘15 wins’ Zidane doesn’t crack this list just yet. And he’s won the damn competition for the last two seasons. Admittedly... Читать дальше...

Last season's Women's Super League runners-up Manchester City have begunthe new season in expectedly comfortable fashion, securing four wins from their first four matches.But they were made to work for their latest victoryas Birmingham Ladies' Quinn produced a memorable goal in the opening stages.After Rachel Williams almost dispossessed City goalkeeper Ellis Roebuck, Steph Houghton's scuffed clearance landed at the feet of Quinn, who took just one touch before unleashing her curling effort into the top corner.Unfortunately... Читать дальше...

Marc Andre ter Stegen believes his Germany team-mate and rumoured Barcelona target Leon Goretzka is an "extraordinary and remarkable" midfielder who is destined for the top. Goretzka has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga since joining Schalke from VFL Bochum in 2013, breaking into the Germany team as a result and starring at the Confederations Cup in Russia. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, scoring seven goals in his last 10 matches for club and country. Читать дальше...

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is hopeful the political situation in Catalonia does not result in Barcelona's withdrawal from La Liga.Catalonia's independence referendum at the start of October saw 90 per cent of voters favoursecession from Spain.The official declaration of Catalonia's independence came on Friday, with Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy then sacking the Catalan government, with charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds set to be brought against them.Barcelona... Читать дальше...

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is hopeful the political situation in Catalonia does not result in Barcelona's withdrawal from LaLiga. Catalonia's independence referendum at the start of October saw 90 per cent of voters favour secession from Spain. The official declaration of Catalonia's independence came on Friday, with Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy then sacking the Catalan government, with charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds set to be brought against them. Barcelona... Читать дальше...

Real Madrid will be without Raphael Varane for Wednesday's Champions League trip to Tottenham after picking up an injury against Girona on Sunday, while Gareth Bale also misses out again. Varane picked up a thigh problem as Madrid suffered a shock 2-1 defeat in Catalonia on Sunday. The France international was considered a doubt and trained alone on Monday. His lack of participation in the match was confirmed a day later with the announcement of Madrid's squad. Former Spurs star Bale has been... Читать дальше...

After mounting pressure from activists to increase women'srights, Saudi Arabia has taken its first steps towards sporting equality. As of 2018, female spectators and journalists will be allowed to attend both club and national fixtures in a segregated area of grounds.The new law has been agreed withAhmed Eid al-Harbi, president of the Saudi Football Federation and former goalkeeper, and is expected to boost attendance figures across the country by as much as 15 per cent.Although this is undoubtedlypositive... Читать дальше...

Manchester City will "be in trouble" if they fail to improve on their mid-season performance levels during the last two Premier League campaigns, according to former Manchester United captain Gary Neville. City have been tremendous in the first 10 games of the season, claiming 28 points from nine wins and a single draw, while they have also blown teams away in attack. With 35 goals scored, they are averaging 3.5 per game and sit five points clear of nearest challengers United. This is not an unusual position... Читать дальше...