Новости за 09.03.2018

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been in touch with Brazil coach Tite to discuss Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred. Fred was linked with a move to City in the January transfer window, with the player hinting he would be open to joining the Premier League leaders. "A friend gave me the news saying that City and Guardiola were interested in me," Fred said. "I'm happy to be so well known in Europe." And Tite has revealed Guardiola has contacted him about the 25-year-old, who has a chance of being selected for the World Cup. Читать дальше...

Tours have confirmed the death of teenage midfielder Thomas Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who was 18, passed away overnight between Thursday and Friday. "Tours FC is shattered by this tragedy, which plunges the club into immense sadness," the club said in a statement. "The club extends its deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, all of Thomas's team-mates and friends, and gives them all their support in these difficult times." Tours were due to play Valenciennes on Friday, but all of the club's fixtures for this weekend have been postponed.

Neil Warnock has defended Jorge Mendes' involvement at Wolves and insists he wouldn't care if the Championship club signed superstars like Neymar. Wolves are on course to secure promotion to the top flight under Portuguese coach Nuno Espirito Santo, though some rivals have raised concerns over the ownership structure at Molineux. Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani questioned the legality of the link-up with agent Mendes - who represents Santo and some of the playing squad - after his side's 3-0 loss to the leaders on Wednesday. Читать дальше...

Jupp Heynckes has hinted he may be persuaded to sign a new Bayern Munich contract, with the coach's deal set to expire at the end of the season. Heynckes signed a short-term contract when he was appointed as the replacement for sacked coach Carlo Ancelotti in October 2017. Bayern have been flying in Heynckes' fourth spell in charge, with the Bundesliga champions 20 points clear at the top of the league and through to the DFB-Pokal semi-finals. Heynckes bowed out at Bayern in June 2013 after leading... Читать дальше...

Ernesto Valverde says he does not know anything about reports Neymar could return to Barcelona. The Brazilian has lit up Ligue 1 since leaving Barca for Paris Saint-Germain in August, becoming the world's most expensive player following the €222million deal. But a broken foot ruled Neymar out of the second leg of a last-16 Champions League tie with Real Madrid, and the 26-year-old is also a doubt for the World Cup. Reports have suggested Neymar is unsettled at PSG, with Madrid regularly linked to a move for the forward since he left LaLiga. Читать дальше...

Brendan Rodgers has piled the pressure on Rangers ahead of Sunday's Old Firm derby against his Celtic side. Rangers, having played a game more than Celtic, are six points behind the league leaders, who are seeking a seventh straight title. A 2-0 win at Aberdeen last time out got Celtic back on track after the champions went two league games without scoring a goal. And Rodgers believes Rangers have to win Sunday's game at Ibrox if they are to have any chance of reclaiming the Scottish Premiership title. Читать дальше...

Marco Reus has signed a new contract with Borussia Dortmund that will keep him at the Bundesliga club until June 2023.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been fined £20,000 by the Football Association (FA) and warned over his future conduct after wearing a yellow ribbon supporting political prisoners in his native Catalonia. On Monday, Guardiola accepted the FA charge of "wearing a political message", putting him in breach of the organisation's kit and advertising regulations. The City boss began wearing the pin in support of pro-independence politicians Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez, who were imprisoned... Читать дальше...

Alexis Sanchez will struggle to hit the same heights for Manchester United as he did at Arsenal, according to former Liverpool player Dietmar Hamann. Jose Mourinho swooped for the Chile international in January in exchange for the out-of-favour Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The move is yet to pay dividends, with 29-year-old Sanchez having only scored once in eight competitive appearances during an underwhelming start to life at Old Trafford. And former Reds midfielder Hamann believes the all-action forward's best is behind him. Читать дальше...

*Note: all data courtesy ofSTATS;goalkeepers ranked on saves per goals conceded26. Joe Hart (West Ham)Save percentage: 55.9%, Total saves: 38, Clean sheets: 3Hart was dropped by David Moyes earlier in the season, and the statistics backup the impression that the Manchester City loanee was underperforming. Hart made only 1.27 saves per goal conceded in his 14 appearances between August and November, which helps to justify why his World Cup place is in serious jeopardy.25. Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)Save percentage... Читать дальше...

Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham can become a power in European football but admits they "need to build a history of winning". Spurs were dumped out of the Champions League by Juventus on Wednesday as two quickfire goals turned a tie that had been in their control. It marked a fourth successive season under Pochettino in which they have failed to reach the quarter-finals of a European competition, with the FA Cup their last remaining hope for silverware this term. Despite the setback, the... Читать дальше...

Unai Emery says he is not worried about reports he will be sacked by Paris Saint-Germain after the club's Champions League exit. PSG were beaten 2-1 by Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, the LaLiga giants progressing to the quarter-finals after a 5-2 aggregate victory. Following their midweek European exit, PSG are reportedly considering potential replacements for Emery with Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone and Chelsea's Antonio Conte said to be in the frame. Despite the growing pressure... Читать дальше...

Antonio Conte has conceded John Terry's absence has represented a "big loss" for Chelsea. Terry joined promotion-chasing Aston Villa in July after 19 seasons at Stamford Bridge in which he won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups and featured in Champions League and Europa League-winning campaigns.  The central defender made just nine league appearances in his final year at Chelsea but provided valuable off-field support to Conte as the Italian led the west London club to the title. Читать дальше...

Romelu Lukaku lived up to his self-styled "sergeant" tag with an emergency stint at centre-back during Manchester United's 3-2 win at Crystal Palace. Belgium striker Lukaku netted the equaliser at Selhurst Park on Monday before Nemanja Matic's stunning long-range strike sealed a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down in stoppage time. Jose Mourinho had already used his three substitutions by that stage and responded by asking Lukaku – who described himself as the United boss' "sergeant on the field" this week ... Читать дальше...

Harry Kane is not talking about his future at Tottenham, says Mauricio Pochettino, amid reports the striker has pledged to stay at the club. Kane has been linked with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season, with rumours about his future intensifying after Spurs were knocked out of the Champions League this week. Defeat to Juventus leaves the FA Cup as Tottenham's only remaining chance of winning their first silverware of the Pochettino era, while Spurs also face a battle to secure Champions League qualification. Читать дальше...

A sad story this, because Sunderland are effectively becoming the clichéof a club in decline.It's understood by the local Chronicle that, from next season, the club will be closing its Premier Concourse - the Stadium of Light's highest level - and relocating season-ticket holders to a lower part of the bowl.It makes sense, of course, because anyone who has watched a game at the ground recently will know just how low the average attendance currently is (average 57% capacity) - and how empty such a... Читать дальше...

Manchester United's Saturday showdown with Liverpool is no more important than their forthcoming cup clashes against Sevilla and Brighton and Hove Albion, according to Jose Mourinho. One of English football's bitterest feuds returns to Old Trafford on Saturday, with two points separating second-placed United from Liverpool in third in the Premier League table. Mourinho's trophy-laden career has taken in stints with Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid – bringing him into direct contact with some of European football's biggest rivalries. Читать дальше...

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has rubbished speculation suggesting he could sign a contract extension in the coming weeks. Recent reports in Spain claimed Guardiola's agent, Josep Maria Orobitg, had flown to Manchester to complete the negotiations. But the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss, whose initial three-year contract started in 2016, flatly denied the rumour that a deal new is imminent. City would understandably be eager to tie down the 47-year-old as he looks to guide the Premier... Читать дальше...

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has allayed fears over the long-term health of N'Golo Kante and insisted the France midfielder is "fine". Kante passed out after a training session in the build-up to Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Manchester City, prompting speculation the former Leicester City man could have a previously hidden issue. But Conte, speaking ahead of Saturday's home clash with Crystal Palace, is adamant the 26-year-old is fit and in contention to face Roy Hodgson's Premier League strugglers. He said... Читать дальше...

Arsene Wenger has struggled to sleep and received support from old rival Alex Ferguson during Arsenal's recent form slump. The Gunners halted a four-game losing streak with an impressive 2-0 Europa League last-16 win at AC Milan on Thursday, but that result might do little to improve an atmosphere verging on toxic around the Emirates Stadium. Back-to-back 3-0 defeats against Manchester City – the first of which came in the EFL Cup final – and a sapping reverse at Brighton and Hove Albion arguably left Wenger's tenure at its lowest ebb. Читать дальше...

Joshua Kimmich can follow in the footsteps of Philipp Lahm after committing his long-term future to Bayern Munich, according to Jupp Heynckes. Despite his previous deal having two years left to run, the versatile 23-year-old has signed a new contract that will keep him at the Bundesliga giants until 2023. Comparisons to fellow German Lahm - a legendary name at Bayern who captained his country to glory at the 2014 World Cup - are understandable, considering Kimmich's suitability to play in either defence or midfield. Читать дальше...

Zinedine Zidane has tipped world football's transfer fees to reach eye-watering new levels amid reports Real Madrid are considering a mega-money move for Neymar. Brazil international Neymar left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record €222million deal in August. The 26-year-old has since been linked with a return to Spain, with speculation the Ligue 1 leaders could allow him to leave for almost double the amount they paid. Zidane, who was most expensive player yet when he joined Madrid for Juventus in 2001... Читать дальше...

It may seem peculiar, in a series highlighting greatest individual seasons, to nominate a title-winning Manchester United player. Since that phrase is now yellowing around the edges, it’s worth recalling that Alex Fergusonalways prioritised the team over the player; certain useful individuals might be indulged –a stubbornly-turned blind eye here, a structure-busting pay rise there –but only for as long as they served the unit.But one of Fergie’s great strengths was the self-belief to change as occasion arose. Читать дальше...

Real Madrid outcast Fabio Coentrao has defended Zinedine Zidane's treatment of him despite feeling like the "ugly duckling" at the club. Coentrao returned to his native Portugal in July after sealing a season-long loan deal with Sporting CP. The 29-year-old made just three LaLiga appearances last term as he struggled for confidence, wondering if he had "forgotten how to play". But while he is eager to avoid a return to Los Blancos, the 52-cap Portugal international harbours no ill feeling toward Zidane. Читать дальше...

Cagliari's Joao Pedro has been handed a provisional suspension after failing a drugs test, Italy's national anti-doping agency NADO has confirmed. The Brazilian attacking midfielder tested positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide after Cagliari's goalless draw at Sassuolo in Serie A on February 11. Joao Pedro has impressed for Diego Lopez's relegation-threatened side this season, scoring five times in 19 top-flight starts and regularly wearing the captain's armband. News of the positive... Читать дальше...