Новости за 13.04.2018

Aston Villa guaranteed their place in the Championship play-offs with a battling 1-0 home win over Leeds United on Friday. Lewis Grabban scored the only goal at Villa Park as Steve Bruce's team moved to within two points of the automatic promotion places and established an unassailable cushion over seventh-place Middlesbrough. Grabban headed Villa into the lead in the 29th minute, directing a finely floated left-wing centre from Jack Grealish back across goal to beat Leeds goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Читать дальше...

UEFA has dismissed fears the Champions League semi-final draw was fixed after fans alleged that match tickets for Roma's home clash with Liverpool went on sale beforehand. A screenshot, apparently of an email sent to Roma season ticket holders on Thursday, has circulated on social media showing the chance for people to secure admission for the meeting between the teams in the Italian capital on May 2. Some supporters consequently claimed the pairings for the last-four ties were rigged when Liverpool... Читать дальше...

Chelsea have issued a complaint to UEFA after some of their fans alleged they were subjected to "brutality" from stewards and police at their Champions League match in Barcelona. The Premier League champions said after the encounter in March that "a number of Chelsea fans were hurt" in incidents outside Camp Nou prior to kick-off. After conducting an internal investigation, Chelsea released a statement on Friday to confirm a complaint has been filed with European football's governing body. "Following the match... Читать дальше...

Niko Kovac is a surprise selection as the new Bayern Munich coach, replacing veteran Jupp Heynckes in the Allianz Arena dugout. Thomas Tuchel had been regarded as a frontrunner, before Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed the former Borussia Dortmund boss - expected to replace Unai Emery at Paris Saint-Germain - has agreed a deal with another club. Eintracht Frankfurt are unhappy with the way the Bavarians have appointed Kovac, but the Croatian will take charge next season after agreeing a three-year deal. Читать дальше...

Bayern Munich ended speculation over their new head coach on Friday, announcing the appointment of Eintracht Frankfurt's Niko Kovac on a three-year contract. The 46-year-old, who spent two years at the club as a player and won the Bundesliga title in 2003, will take over from Juppy Heynckes at the Allianz Arena on July 1 this year. Kovac enjoyed a long playing career for club and country and spent two years at the helm of Croatia, but his two seasons at Frankfurt are the only ones he has had as a head coach at club level. Читать дальше...

Neymar has indicated he will be fit to return to action in a month, meaning he should be able to go to the World Cup with Brazil. The Paris Saint-Germain forward has been sidelined since February after breaking a bone in his foot in a game against rivals Marseille, with the injury requiring surgery. PSG stated on Friday that Neymar's recovery is going well, while coach Unai Emery hopes the Brazilian can return before the end of the season. Neymar suggested PSG's last game of the campaign against... Читать дальше...

Eden Hazard says he will not be happy as long as Chelsea are not winning in the Premier League. The Blues have endured a difficult 2018 with only three Premier League wins in 11 matches, with Antonio Conte's men slipping out of the top four and crashing out of the Champions League. But star man Hazard, who has excelled at times this season despite Chelsea's problems, says he cares little for his own form while the team are struggling. Asked by Sky Sports if he is happy with his performances, the Belgium international replied... Читать дальше...

Roma stars Alisson and Daniele De Rossi expect a difficult game against Liverpool, although they believe all four Champions League semi-finalists are at a similar level. The Giallorossi stunned favourites Barcelona in the last eight as they fought back from a 4-1 first-leg deficit to win 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico and improbably progress on away goals. And Alisson, who has starred throughout their European run, is now hopeful Roma can go one step further and reach May's final in Kiev. "There's... Читать дальше...

Jupp Heynckes believes next Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovac was "predestined" to take charge at the club. The newly crowned Bundesliga champions announced on Friday the Eintracht Frankfurt boss will take the reins at the Allianz Arena on July 1 on a three-year deal. Heynckes, who was drafted in for the remainder of the season when Carlo Ancelotti was sacked in September, thinks the club have made the right decision by appointing the former Croatia international. "I have already said that Niko... Читать дальше...

Liverpool can win the Champions League this season, according to 39-goal star man Mohamed Salah. The Reds brushed Premier League leaders Manchester City aside in the quarter-finals to earn a draw against Salah's old club Roma, fresh from knocking out Barcelona, in the last four. Egypt winger Salah concedes there is still a way to go before Liverpool can think about a sixth top European title, but he is backing his side. "We can [win it] - we are in the semi-final," he told CNN. "I always say that we take it step by step... Читать дальше...

West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez has been cleared of a Football Association (FA) charge of alleged racial abuse by an independent regulatory commission. Rodriguez was charged with using "abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race" towards Gaetan Bong during a Premier League match in January. The Brighton and Hove Albion defender made a complaint against the West Brom player after he appeared to squeeze his nose and waft a hand at him. Rodriguez... Читать дальше...

Isco branded a journalist "shameful" for his coverage of Real Madrid's Champions League quarter-final win over Juventus. The Madrid star was angered by Spanish radio and television presenter Juanma Castano describing the European champions' controversial elimination of Juve on Wednesday as "a scandal" and "a robbery", following a late penalty given in Lucas Vazquez's favour at the Santiago Bernabeu. The assessment particularly frustrated Isco because Barcelona's stunning comeback against Paris... Читать дальше...

Neymar is making "excellent" progress in his recovery from injury, Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed. The world's most expensive footballer suffered a fractured foot against rivals Marseille in February, with initial fears he could miss Brazil's World Cup campaign in Russia. Coach Unai Emery indicated in on Friday that the 26-year-old should return in time for the end of the season. And with the World Cup two months away, the Ligue 1 leaders have provided a positive medical update on Neymar's condition. Читать дальше...

Zamalek have lost theirlast three league games, which has ultimately led to Galal's sacking.In the 17 games he took charge of, he won eight, drew two and lost seven.Galal had resigned from his post last week after a 1-0 defeat to Misr Lel-Makasa, but he was reappointed on Monday after a meeting with clubofficials.Three days later,he's unemployed again.In mid-March, Zamalek were knocked out of the 2018 African Champions League by Ethiopia's Welayta Dicha, and they're currently third in the Egyptian Premier League... Читать дальше...

19. Mark Hughes (Southampton)Dangerously close to ending the season having overseen not one but two relegations. Sacked by Stoke after a dire first half of the year in which they were hit for seven by Manchester City, five by Spurs, and conceded nine over two games against Chelsea, Hughes was brought in last month by a desperate Southampton.He has since taken them from just outside the relegation zone to just within it. He may yet save them, of course – and there were green shoots of hope in a gutsy display at the Emirates ... Читать дальше...

Mohamed Salah has set his sights on breaking the Premier League record for most goals in a single season. Egypt international Salah has been a revelation since returning to English football in a €42million transfer from Roma in July, scoring 39 goals in all competitions. Salah tops the Premier League's scoring charts with 29, although he is being hunted down by Tottenham's Harry Kane - the winner of the Golden Boot in each of the last two seasons - who has 25. Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo and... Читать дальше...

Atletico Madrid have confirmed striker Diego Costa suffered a hamstring injury in Thursday's Europa League clash with Sporting CP. The Spain international was withdrawn in the second half of the 1-0 quarter-final second-leg loss to the Portuguese side in Lisbon and was sent for further tests. "After undergoing medical exams this Friday, April 13, he has been diagnosed with a hamstring injury to his left leg," Atleti confirmed in a statement via their official website. The club were unwilling to... Читать дальше...

Bayern Munich have been labelled "disrespectful" by Eintracht Frankfurt director of football Fredi Bobic for allegedly leaking news of their agreement with coach Niko Kovac a day before the announcement. Reports began to circulate on Thursday that Bayern had made their decision regarding a successor to Jupp Heynckes, with Kovac said to be lined up. That news was then confirmed on Friday, as it was announced Kovac - who played for Bayern between 2001 and 2003 - was to return to the club on a three-year deal next term. Читать дальше...

Jose Mourinho says the absence of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial from the Manchester United team is down to the strength of his first XI. Rashford has been restricted to 14 Premier League starts this season, just one of which has come since the beginning of 2018, with the January arrival of Alexis Sanchez appearing to have pushed the England forward down the pecking order. Martial, meanwhile, has started 16 Premier League games but none since February, although he has been sidelined due to injury... Читать дальше...

In the 23rd minute of Torino's 1-0 victory over Inter in Serie A on Sunday, Candreva smacked a set-piece off target which ended up hitting 25-year-old Marco Rapisarda.The university student had been facing the other way when he was struck in his lower back. According to Calciomercato.com, the poor victim had to finish his shift before he was checked out at a hospital.Scans revealed that he needed speedy surgery to stop the internal haemorrhage, before having his spleen removed.By way ofapology, both... Читать дальше...

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists he is 100 per cent certain that Mohamed Salah will still be at the club next season. The Egypt international has enjoyed a spectacular first term at Anfield, scoring 39 goals in all competitions, and his form has led to speculation of interest from Real Madrid. Klopp told Bild this week that he had no fears over the possibility of losing Salah and he has again stressed the forward is committed to the club. "It's not a situation I'd even think about," said the German. Читать дальше...

Premier League clubs have voted against using VAR on a full-time basis from next season, with trials set to continue. The 2017-18 campaign has seen the on-field referee consult with a colleague regarding key decisions in FA Cup games and the EFL Cup final, with mixed results. Critics have pointed to the amount of time often taken to reach a decision, while the lack of communication with fans inside the stadium has also been a sticking point. Liverpool's FA Cup fourth-round defeat at home to West... Читать дальше...

Sergio Aguero will be missing for Manchester City's Premier League clash with Tottenham, having made "a huge effort" to feature against Liverpool in the Champions League. Aguero had been out for a month prior to last week's Manchester derby, in which he emerged from the bench and appeared to be fouled by Manchester United's Ashley Young late on - only for referee Martin Atkinson to wave away penalty appeals. And manager Pep Guardiola says the Argentina forward could not train after that incident... Читать дальше...

Pep Guardiola claims Manchester City did not fail in the Champions League despite their quarter-final exit. City were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Liverpool to crash out at the last-eight stage, having gone one phase further than in their first campaign under Guardiola. But the Premier League leaders were hard done by, according to their manager, after seeing goals ruled out in both legs, with Guardiola sent to the stands for remonstrating with the referee when Leroy Sane had a goal ruled out at the Etihad Stadium. Читать дальше...

Antonio Conte is not bothered about claims Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri has been approached with a view to replacing him at Chelsea. Conte is widely expected to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season after presiding over a tumultuous campaign, both on and off the field. Despite being champions last term, Chelsea have not challenged for the title this year and look set to miss out on Champions League football as well. Conte's willingness to criticise Chelsea's transfer policy has not helped... Читать дальше...