Новости за 06.01.2018

Antonio Conte branded Jose Mourinho a "little man" after the Manchester United boss continued his spat with the Chelsea manager with a jibe about match fixing. The Premier League rivals have been involved in back-and-forth verbal sparring in recent days after it was suggested Mourinho had aimed a dig at Conte when he said he prefers to act in a "mature" manner on the touchline, rather than "crazy" or like a "clown". Conte responded ahead of Chelsea's trip to Norwich City in the FA Cup by suggesting... Читать дальше...

Stoke City have parted company with Mark Hughes after a prolonged slump in form under the Welshman left them fighting against Premier League relegation. Hughes was in charge at the bet365 Stadium for four and a half years, leading the Potters to three successive ninth-place finishes in the top flight. However, they finished 13th last term and have slipped to 18th in 2017-18, having won only one of their last seven league matches. Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat to League Two side Coventry... Читать дальше...

Philippe Coutinho's move to Barcelona from Liverpool will propel him into the top three on the list of the most lucrative transfers of all time. Heading to Camp Nou for a reported fee of €160million on a five-and-a-half-year deal, Coutinho is set to become the club's record signing. Only Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have been transferred for a higher fee, and Coutinho will be expected to fill the void left by the former's world-record move to Ligue 1 for the 2017-18 season.... Читать дальше...

The most anticipated move of the January transfer window was all but confirmed on Saturday when Barcelona announced they had reached an agreement with Liverpool to sign Philippe Coutinho. Coutinho, 25, is set to sign a five-and-a-half-year deal with the LaLiga leaders, while his buyout clause will be a whopping €400million. But how did Barcelona break the news so many had been waiting for? While many clubs have opted for increasingly elaborate transfer announcements on social media in recent months, Barca kept things simple. Читать дальше...

Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool did "everything within our means" to keep Barcelona-bound Philippe Coutinho at the club. The Brazil star's imminent switch to Camp Nou was announced on Saturday, the 25-year-old agreeing a five-and-a-half-year deal and moving for a reported fee of £142million, his release clause set at €400m. Coutinho had long been a target for the LaLiga giants, who were rebuffed several times in their attempts to sign him back in July and August. Having handed in a transfer request... Читать дальше...

Chelsea's second string flattered to deceive at Carrow Road as the 2017 FA Cup finalists were held to a 0-0 draw by Norwich City in the third round. Antonio Conte used Saturday's clash as a chance to give some of his squad players more game time, but it backfired as they struggled to create openings and will need a replay if they are to progress. The likes of Kenedy, Michy Batshuayi and Willy Caballero were all given rare starts for the visitors, but they were easily marshalled by the Championship side. Читать дальше...

Barcelona have confirmed a deal is in place for the big-money signing of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, the Brazil international set to move for a reported fee of £142million. Coutinho, who joined Liverpool from Inter in January 2013, was the subject of significant interest from Barca in the previous transfer window, but a switch to Camp Nou failed to materialise as Liverpool rejected multiple bids and the playmaker's transfer request. The leaders of LaLiga will now get their man, with the enormous... Читать дальше...

Sean Dyche criticised referee Graham Scott after Burnley fell victim to a quick free-kick from Manchester City in Saturday's 4-1 FA Cup loss at the Etihad Stadium. The Clarets led through Ashley Barnes' superb strike before Ilkay Gundogan's fast thinking saw him thread a set-piece through the static visiting defence for Sergio Aguero to score. Aguero netted again just 93 seconds later before Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva added late gloss, but Burnley boss Dyche was left to rue what he felt was... Читать дальше...

Mark Hughes' Stoke City future was left hanging by a thread following Saturday's shock FA Cup loss to Coventry City, but the Welshman insists he "can take the pressure" and turn things around. Speculation is rife that Hughes will be sacked following the 2-1 defeat at the League Two club, though the 54-year-old spoke as if he would be afforded another chance to prompt a revival. Jack Grimmer's goal proved decisive to compound the woes of a club languishing 18th in the Premier League, leaving the under-fire Hughes with no place to hide. Читать дальше...

Two late goals secured a 2-0 victory for Borussia Dortmund as they dominated Fortuna Dusseldorf in a friendly clash on Saturday. Peter Stoger's men controlled possession throughout in La Linea de la Concepcion in southern Spain but left it until the 71st minute to open the scoring through substitute Alexander Isak. The 18-year-old was on hand to apply the finish after an Andriy Yarmolenko strike deflected into his path, and it was the Ukraine international who provided the assist for the second. Читать дальше...

Pep Guardiola hailed Sergio Aguero as "an essential player" after the striker scored twice to spark a Manchester City revival against Burnley on Saturday. The hosts fell behind at the Etihad Stadium when Ashley Barnes blasted the Clarets into the lead, but Aguero netted a double inside 93 seconds to turn things around in the second half. Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva added further gloss to make it 4-1, but it was Aguero who stole the show to earn rich praise from his manager.  "Both of Sergio Aguero's goals were amazing... Читать дальше...

AC Milan head coach Gennaro Gattuso criticised his players for taking too many risks as they held on for a 1-0 Serie A win against Crotone on Saturday. Milan came into the fixture on the back of a three-match winless league run, but Leonardo Bonucci's 54th-minute goal was enough to claim a much-needed victory. However, Gattuso expressed frustration that his side could not build on their lead over the relegation candidates, despite their dominance and feared conceding a leveller late on. "We were coming off a period that wasn't great... Читать дальше...

Selected reports below; all other scores at the endAston Villa 1-3 PeterboroughLeague One Peterborough came from behind at Villa Park to pull off a brilliant win over Championship promotion-chasers Aston Villa.Villa had taken a fifth-minute lead through youngster Keinan Davis, but couldn't find a second to kill off the Posh, who rallied after half-time. First, Grant McCann's team drew level through their free-scoring striker Jack Marriott, and then grabbed a shock late second seven minutes from time... Читать дальше...

Sandro Wagner marked his return to Bayern Munich colours with a goal as the Bundesliga champions began 2018 with a 6-0 thrashing of Al Ahli in Doha. The forward, who completed a move to the Allianz Arena from Hoffenheim on January 1 having left Bayern as a youngster 10 years ago, opened the scoring in the first half of Saturday's friendly. Jupp Heynckes' men then ran in five further goals after the interval - Corentin Tolisso, Arjen Robben, Kingsley Coman, Niklas Dorsch and Niklas Sule all finding the net for a much-changed side. Читать дальше...

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Unai Emery has laid a portion of the blame for his side's Champions League collapse in Barcelona last season at the door of referee Deniz Aytekin. PSG took a 4-0 lead to Camp Nou for the second leg of the round-of-16 tie but were hammered 6-1 in Catalonia, with Sergi Roberto delivering the decisive blow in stoppage time - one of three Barca goals in the final seven minutes. The hosts scored two penalties on their way to snatching the memorable 6-5 aggregate win and... Читать дальше...

Fleetwood Town goalkeeper Chris Neal earned his crust on Saturday as his clean sheet in the 0-0 draw against Leicester City in the FA Cup saw him win a year's supply of pizza. A well-known pizza chain had offered the 32-year-old a month's worth of the doughy treat for every 7.5 minutes he negotiated without conceding a goal against the Premier League club. Neal was aided by the absence of former Fleetwood favourite Jamie Vardy, although it was the visitors who enjoyed the bigger slice of luck after... Читать дальше...

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone described Diego Costa as a player who "transmits fear" following his goal and red card in Saturday's win over Getafe. The striker's first LaLiga appearance since rejoining Atleti from Chelsea was an eventful one, with Costa scoring his side's second goal in the 2-0 win at the Wanda Metropolitano before picking up a second yellow card for celebrating among the home fans. Simeone felt the referee had little option given Costa broke competition rules but was eager... Читать дальше...

Sporting CP have completed the signing of highly-rated Fluminense midfielder Wendel, who had been heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain. Last November, PSG coach Unai Emery confirmed his club were "working on" a deal to bring in the 20-year-old. However, Wendel will instead continue his career with Sporting, having signed a five-and-a-half-year deal after a reported fee of around €8m was agreed. A statement on the Primeira Liga club's official website read: "Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol... Читать дальше...

Ernesto Valverde continues to be a big fan of Philippe Coutinho, but the Barcelona boss steered clear of speculation suggesting the Brazil international is on the verge of a move to Camp Nou. Coutinho was heavily linked in August, but Liverpool were able to hang onto their prize asset, Barca seemingly signing Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund instead. However, the Catalan giants have reportedly renewed their interest in Coutinho now the transfer window has reopened. Coutinho – who has 12... Читать дальше...

The Football Association has launched an investigation into the row between Roberto Firmino and Mason Holgate after referee Bobby Madley reported an allegation to the governing body following Friday's Merseyside derby. Everton defender Holgate shoved Liverpool forward Firmino into the stands during the home side's 2-1 win at Anfield, sparking ugly scenes as the two squared up to each other. A verbal exchange followed that prompted Holgate to react angrily and, though nobody was booked following the spat, a complaint has since been made. Читать дальше...

Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid is an unimaginable prospect for coach Zinedine Zidane. The Portuguese star remains the subject of growing speculation over his future, with reports suggesting Ronaldo is unsettled at the Santiago Bernabeu. It stems from the 32-year-old's apparent displeasure at his contract, with Barcelona rival Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar said to be on higher wages. But Zidane is confident Ronaldo will stay with Madrid for the remainder of his career. "I cannot imagine a Real Madrid without Cristiano... Читать дальше...

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is reported to have agreed a move to Guangzhou Evergrande, but Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke expects speculation over the forward's future to continue. Reports emerged in China on Saturday that the Super League club had beaten rivals Beijing Guoan to the Gabon international's signature, with the fee said to be €72million and the transfer to be finalised at the end of the Bundesliga season. This latest twist in what has been a long-running transfer saga is sure to anger Guoan if true... Читать дальше...

Ross McCormack scored both goals as Melbourne City came from behind to beat Wellington Phoenix 2-1 on Saturday and move up to third in the A-League table. Roy Krishna put the visitors ahead on 42 minutes at AAMI Park, capitalising on some hesitant defending before lifting the ball over goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis from close range. Andrija Kaluderovic was inches away from doubling Wellington's lead 11 minutes into the second half but his header from Krishna's cross came back off the underside of the crossbar and bounced clear. Читать дальше...

Jose Mourinho apologised to Henrikh Mkhitaryan for taking him off at half-time of Manchester United's FA Cup win over Derby County on Friday. The Armenia international, who was an unused substitute in the 2-0 Premier League victory at Everton on Monday, was replaced by Romelu Lukaku at the break with the game goalless. United went on to win the third-round clash 2-0 thanks to late goals from in-form Jesse Lingard and Lukaku, who was making his first appearance since suffering a head injury in the goalless draw with Southampton on December 30.

Bayern Munich head coach Jupp Heynckes has denied the club have received a bid from Chelsea for Arturo Vidal and has ruled out selling the player this month. The Premier League champions have reportedly lined up a £33million move for the Chilean in an effort to bring him to Stamford Bridge during the transfer window. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who won three successive Serie A titles with Vidal at Juventus, has spoken in glowing terms of the 30-year-old in recent weeks and admitted "I'd always want him with me" in December. Читать дальше...