Новости за 08.04.2018

Danny Welbeck insists his only concern is finishing the season strongly with Arsenal despite boosting his World Cup hopes with a match-winning display against Southampton. The forward had failed to score a Premier League goal in 2018 but struck twice in his side's 3-2 triumph at the Emirates Stadium, including heading in the winner in the 81st minute. He has been beset by injury problems in the past two seasons and he has rarely figured for England since playing a leading role in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2016. Читать дальше...

A sheepish Christian Pulisic admitted his incredible opening goal in Borussia Dortmund's morale-boosting 3-0 win over Stuttgart was intended to be a cross. The teenage winger inadvertently broke the deadlock in the 38th minute at Signal Iduna Park when he swung the ball in from the right and saw it drift over Ron-Robert Zieler and in off the far post. It was the slice of luck Dortmund needed to overcome a nervy start as they bounced back from last weekend's 6-0 hammering at Bayern Munich. Michy... Читать дальше...

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte cut a frustrated figure after his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday and believes the game was a microcosm of their season. The Blues dominated their opponents from start to finish and only wasteful finishing and superb goalkeeping by Joe Hart prevented them from adding to Cesar Azpilicueta's first-half opener. Their failure to make their dominance count was punished 17 minutes from time when Javier Hernandez fired home just four minutes after coming off the bench. Читать дальше...

Zinedine Zidane denied Real Madrid are over-reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo after they were held to a 1-1 derby draw against Atletico Madrid. Ronaldo continued a phenomenal 2018 when he volleyed Madrid into a deserved 53rd-minute lead at the Santiago Bernabeu – his 40th goal in all competitions this season. Atleti had rarely threatened up to that point but responded with gusto as Antoine Griezmann scored for the third consecutive season in this fixture and Keylor Navas saved impressively from Koke. Читать дальше...

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone again marvelled at his team's ability to compete with LaLiga's superpowers after the 1-1 draw at Real Madrid in El Derbi. Cristiano Ronaldo gave the hosts a deserved 53rd-minute lead but Atleti hit back with gusto as Antonio Griezmann swiftly levelled and they almost led through Koke. Atleti remain sandwiched between leaders Barcelona and third-placed Madrid in LaLiga, four points better off than their neighbours. Simeone, who famously led Atletico to a stunning title triumph in 2013-14... Читать дальше...

Antoine Griezmann felt Atletico Madrid turned in a poor derby day performance against Real Madrid before Cristiano Ronaldo's goal at the Santiago Bernabeu shocked them into action. Griezmann netted for the third season in succession in the fixture to snatch a 1-1 draw for Diego Simeone's men, converting when Keylor Navas saved from Vitolo in the 57th minute – only four minutes on from Ronaldo volleying Madrid ahead. It was a lead Zinedine Zidane's men merited after they had the better of a first... Читать дальше...

Amadou Diawara has promised Napoli will "fight until the bitter end" in the Serie A title race after his first league goal kept Maurizio Sarri's men within four points of Juventus. It looked as though Napoli would slip up on Sunday as they trailed Chievo at home, having earlier missed a penalty through Dries Mertens, but they kept going and got their reward in the closing stages. Arkadiusz Milik drew the hosts level after 89 minutes before Diawara struck in the 93rd minute, showing the character... Читать дальше...

Tunisia forward Youssef Msakni has been ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining a serious knee injury. The 27-year-old was expected to be a key figure for his country in a tough group, which includes England, Belgium and Panama. He was injured during Al Duhail's 5-2 win over Al Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) on Saturday with the club later saying in a statement that he will be out of action for six months. Msakni took to Instagram to celebrate the club's sixth QSL title where he confirmed the injury. Читать дальше...

Andre Gomes has no interest in discussing his future beyond the end of the season as he is "living the dream" at Barcelona. The Portugal international has endured a difficult campaign at Camp Nou - his form deteriorating to the point he described life at Barca as "hell" - but he returned to the starting line-up for a LaLiga game for the first time since January against Leganes on Saturday. There is talk of a move to Manchester United, but Gomes is focused on performing again for Ernesto Valverde's side as they chase a treble. Читать дальше...

Luciano Spalletti insisted Walter Mazzarri had no reason to be afraid after their bizarre handshake following Torino's 1-0 Serie A victory over Inter on Sunday. Spalletti's intense smile bordered on a grimace as he met Mazzarri with an almost aggressive handshake, captured by television cameras, as his opposite number appeared keen to end the exchange as quickly as possible. But the Inter boss says his strange behaviour was all down to etiquette. "I went to greet him, he did not seem to want to shake hands," Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia. Читать дальше...

Antoine Griezmann believes he is back to his best at Atletico Madrid after enduring a "complicated" start to the season. Linked with a blockbuster transfer to Premier League side Manchester United that failed to materialise, the France international endured a rocky beginning to the 2017-18 campaign. He was sent off in Atletico's LaLiga opener against Girona before enduring an eight-game run without a goal, his longest dry spell for the club since arriving from Real Sociedad in July 2014. However... Читать дальше...

Inter missed the opportunity to move into third in Serie A as they were beaten 1-0 by Torino despite a strong display at Stadio Olimpico. Roma's defeat to Fiorentina on Saturday had opened the door for the Nerazzurri to climb the table, but they failed to make their first-half dominance count as a goal from their former loanee Adem Ljajic sealed an unlikely home victory. Luciano Spalletti's Inter were on top from the off in the but, after missing chance after chance, Torino took their first opportunity... Читать дальше...

Stoke City need to win three of their final five games to have a chance of staying in the Premier League, according to Jack Butland. Paul Lambert's side succumbed to a fourth straight loss on Saturday, going down 2-1 against Tottenham as Christian Eriksen scored twice for the visitors at the bet365 Stadium. The result means Stoke remain second from bottom in the table but they now trail 17th-placed Crystal Palace by four points, a worrying gap considering time is running out to retain their top-flight status. Читать дальше...

Substitute Kenny Athiu secured Melbourne Victory a home A-League elimination final in a late win against Wellington Phoenix, while Bobo broke another record in Sydney FC's defeat of Adelaide United. Victory had been thrashed away to Ulsan in the AFC Champions League in midweek and their week looked set to continue in dismal fashion as they deservedly fell behind to a comical own goal on Sunday. Leigh Broxham appeared to handle from a left-wing corner and then stabbed the ball past his own goalkeeper in an attempt to clear the ball. Читать дальше...

Claudio Ranieri insists he will still be the Nantes head coach next season, despite speculation linking him with the vacant Italy job. Former Leicester City boss Ranieri is reportedly among the candidates for the Azzurri, who sacked Gian Piero Ventura after they failed to reach the World Cup, with interest in Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Mancini also mooted. And the Premier League title-winner had previously suggested he would ask to leave Nantes if Italy came calling, but now says he will stay in Ligue 1 for another year. Читать дальше...

Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool will not go to Manchester City to defend their commanding lead and will instead look to repeat the 3-0 first-leg win. The Reds are on the brink of the Champions League semi-finals after a stunning defeat of City at Anfield in midweek, with the return leg to come on Tuesday. But Jurgen Klopp's men are not looking to protect their advantage at the Etihad Stadium, according to Van Dijk, with another attacking blockbuster on the cards. "We are going to discuss it over... Читать дальше...

Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has suggested veteran wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery could be set for contract renewals following the side's latest Bundesliga title win. Both players' deals expire at the end of the season, and they featured in a 4-1 win away at Augsburg on Saturday that wrapped up a sixth successive title, with Robben on the scoresheet. Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes hailed the pair as "great professionals with outstanding quality", before Rummenigge proposed... Читать дальше...

Arsene Wenger is surprised by Southampton's Premier League plight this season and believes Virgil van Dijk's departure to Liverpool could have been key. The Arsenal manager is preparing to take on the struggling Saints on Sunday, with the Gunners looking to secure sixth place while their opponents battle relegation. The sides drew 1-1 in the reverse fixture in December and Wenger did not expect to find Southampton 18th in the league, in grave danger of the drop, in the closing stages of the campaign. Читать дальше...

Paul Pogba's match-winning display against Manchester City can be a "big, big turnaround" in his Manchester United career, according to Gary Neville. United's record signing has attracted criticism in recent months - finding himself out of the side on occasion - and he was the subject of much of the pre-derby talk, with City boss Pep Guardiola claiming he was offered the chance to sign the France international in January. But in Saturday's clash at the Etihad Stadium, with City 2-0 up and ready to celebrate the Premier League title... Читать дальше...

Antonio Conte has told Chelsea to be realistic about the prospect of playing in the Europa League next season. Last week's 3-1 defeat to Tottenham at Stamford Bridge has left the reigning Premier League champions facing what looks to be an insurmountable task to finish in the top four. Spurs' 2-1 win over Stoke City on Saturday has moved them 11 points clear of Chelsea, who must beat West Ham on Sunday to have any realistic hope of catching their London rivals. With the prospect of Europa League football looming in 2018-19... Читать дальше...

Atlanta United survived an early red-card scare to thrash LAFC 5-0 in the MLS clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The visitors were looking to recover from last week's dramatic derby loss to LA Galaxy but were dispatched in ruthless style, despite having more shots and possession than their hosts. Chris McCann was sent off for a foul on Benny Feilhaber in the first minute, but referee Ted Unkel downgraded the punishment to a booking following a video referral. Atlanta did not look back from that early boost... Читать дальше...

Danilo was saddened by Manchester City's dramatic defeat to Manchester United on Saturday and accused Jose Mourinho's side of snatching victory through "long balls". City went into the clash at the Etihad Stadium knowing a win would see them crowned Premier League champions, but they went down 3-2 in a first home defeat of the season in all competitions. Pep Guardiola's side held a 2-0 half-time lead through Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan and should have scored more to cap a fine first 45 minutes... Читать дальше...

Mark Hughes believes Arsene Wenger has done a "remarkable job" at Arsenal, even if the pair have not always seen eye-to-eye in the past. Hughes takes struggling Southampton to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday desperate for a positive result as they bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League. The Welshman has clashed at times with his Arsenal counterpart down the years, including one incident in 2009, when Wenger opted not to shake his fellow manager's hand following a 3-0 defeat to Hughes' Manchester City side. Читать дальше...

Jupp Heynckes praised "great professionals" Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben after the veteran wingers helped Bayern Munich seal a sixth successive Bundesliga title. Robben scored his side's third goal in a 4-1 win away at Augsburg on Saturday that wrapped up the league with seven games still to play. Heynckes withdrew the Dutchman – who is out of contract at the end of the season – after 83 minutes, allowing the 34-year-old to receive a rousing ovation from the travelling supporters. Substitute... Читать дальше...