Новости за 02.10.2018

Pep Guardiola hailed a key Champions League win for Manchester City over Hoffenheim, conceding it was game they could not afford to lose. The Premier League title holders fell to a 2-1 loss at home to Lyon in their opening Group F game, representing a fourth consecutive defeat in the competition.  But on Tuesday they fought back from going a goal down inside the first minute to triumph 2-1, with Sergio Aguero and David Silva on target in Germany. "After losing the first game it was so important we don't lose ... Читать дальше...

Vincent Kompany was delighted Manchester City could right the wrongs of their opening Champions League loss by beating Hoffenheim on Tuesday. Pep Guardiola's side fell to a 2-1 Group F defeat at home to Lyon last month – their fourth in a row in the competition – but bounced back in Germany courtesy of David Silva's late winner. City had fallen behind in the first minute before Sergio Aguero levelled, with Silva clinching maximum points three minutes from time. "It was a tough away game, a big... Читать дальше...

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is embarrassing the Premier League giants, according to Paul Scholes, who is surprised the club are standing by the former Chelsea boss. Mourinho's position at United is coming under increasing scrutiny following the Red Devils' worst start to a league season in 29 years and apparent tensions between the Portuguese and Paul Pogba. United face Valencia in the Champions League on Tuesday and, speaking prior to the clash at Old Trafford, Scholes slammed Mourinho's behaviour. Читать дальше...

Inter boss Luciano Spalletti compared PSV Eindhoven to coach Mark van Bommel ahead of their Champions League Group B clash, predicting a physical contest. Van Bommel made over 250 appearances and scored more than 50 goals in his time as an all-action midfielder for the club he now coaches and Spalletti said the Dutchman is building a team in his own image. PSV have made a positive start this season under Van Bommel, who was appointed head coach in June, winning all of their games apart from a Dutch... Читать дальше...

Ernesto Valverde insists he has a good relationship with Mauricio Pochettino despite dropping him from the Espanyol team back in 2006. Pochettino was Espanyol captain when Valverde took charge, but he was axed from the side and retired not long afterwards at the age of 34. The Argentine, now Tottenham boss, claimed in the book 'Brave New World' that Valverde was worried about Pochettino's influence in the dressing room. He added that it was "hard to accept" but insisted this week that becoming... Читать дальше...

Jose Mourinho has recalled Alexis Sanchez and Eric Bailly to the Manchester United team for their Champions League game against Valencia. Sanchez was left out of the United squad for Saturday's 3-1 loss at West Ham, with Mourinho overseeing the club's joint worst start to a Premier League season. But the Chile forward is back in the team for Tuesday's visit of Valencia, starting alongside Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford in attack. Bailly is restored to the defence and David de Gea starts in... Читать дальше...

Jurgen Klopp is not falling for the mind games of "smart fox" Carlo Ancelotti ahead of Liverpool's Champions League trip to Napoli. Ancelotti, a three-time winner of the competition, described Liverpool as one of the strongest sides in Europe in the build-up to Wednesday's tie. Liverpool reached the final of last season's competition but lost to Real Madrid after Mohamed Salah was injured and Loris Karius made two dreadful mistakes. The Reds opened their 2018-19 campaign with a thrilling 3-2 home win against Paris Saint-Germain... Читать дальше...

Persepolis took a step towards the final of the AFC Champions League with a 1-0 win at Al Sadd, earned thanks to a controversial 86th-minute penalty. Ali Alipour stepped up to beat Saad Al Sheeb after he was brought down by the hosts' goalkeeper late in Wednesday's first leg of the last-four tie. Qatar side Al Sadd, who started with Barcelona icon Xavi in midfield, were furious with the decision by referee Hettikankanamge Chrishantha Dilan Perera to point to the spot at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Читать дальше...

Petr Cech has been ruled out for up to four weeks with the hamstring injury he suffered in Arsenal's win over Watford. The experienced goalkeeper had to be substituted early in the second half of Saturday's 2-0 home victory Bernd Leno came on to make his debut and will seek to impress coach Unai Emery as he eyes an extended run in the starting line-up. An update from Arsenal's medical team on Tuesday confirmed Cech's anticipated period of absence. "Expected to return to full training in three... Читать дальше...

Manchester United youngster Mason Greenwood has signed his first professional contract with the club. The forward, who turned 17 on Monday, has developed into one of United's most highly regarded academy products in recent years. Greenwood has scored nine league goals for Neil Ryan's Under-18 side this season, having finished as their top goalscorer last term. The England Under-18 international has also netted two goals in two UEFA Youth League appearances under coach Nicky Butt, including in Tuesday's 4-0 victory over Valencia. Читать дальше...

Napoli head coach Carlo Ancelotti says he is surprised by the choice of Viktor Kassai for his side's Champions League clash against Liverpool. Kassai was criticised for a series of questionable decisions as Ancelotti's Bayern Munich were knocked out by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last April. Arturo Vidal was harshly sent off by the Hungarian referee, while two goals scored by Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to be offside. Following Bayern's exit Robert Lewandowski claimed Kassai's calls made... Читать дальше...

After seven games played, Leicester City sit eighth in the Premier League. They are three points behind Tottenham in fourth, having already faced two of the pre-season title favourites.This comes after losing their most talented attacking player in the summer, and whiletrying to blend in a number of new players. The 10 outfielders who began their last home game started only 141 league games for Leicester last season; Harry Maguire, Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi accounted for 108. By any reasonable expectation... Читать дальше...

Adrian Mutu's latest appeal against a ruling he must pay former club Chelsea £15.2million in compensation has been rejected. Mutu took his case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in a bid to overturn a previous decision made by FIFA and supported by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But the ECHR confirmed on Tuesday that Mutu's appeal has been rejected with the £15.2m sum therefore still owed to Chelsea. The Premier League side cancelled Mutu's contract in 2004 after he tested positive... Читать дальше...

Tottenham must not become preoccupied with Barcelona and instead focus on kick-starting their own Champions League campaign on Wednesday, according to Harry Kane. The Premier League club go into the Group B fixture at Wembley Stadium without a point to their name after letting slip a one-goal lead in a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Inter. Spurs opened with a home win over Borussia Dortmund in last season's competition but, after their late collapse in Italy last month, now face the daunting prospect... Читать дальше...

NEWS Who's on 2018's shortlist?2003: Rafael van der Vaart (Ajax)Van der Vaart was earmarked for greatness from very early on in his career. Having honed his skills on the streets of Amsterdam close to the trailer park he grew up in, he was scooped up by Ajax aged 10 and moulded into the technically excellent player who would leave them 12 years later for Hamburg.The Dutchman was a first-team regular by the age of 17 and won the Eredivisie twice, in 2002 and 2004, establishing himself as a goalscoring... Читать дальше...

Jadon Sancho's fine start to the Bundesliga season has been rewarded with a new four-year deal at Borussia Dortmund. The 18-year-old has shone to help Dortmund top the table after six rounds of the 2018-19 season. Although Sancho has scored only one league goal, his five assists is two more than anyone else in the division this term. Sancho joined Dortmund from Manchester City in August 2017, with the deal reportedly worth in the region of €9million. And the teenager said his decision to leave... Читать дальше...

Championship leaders West Brom have boosted their promotion push with the signing of free agent Bakary Sako. The Mali international, who was available after ending an injury ravaged spell at Crystal Palace, has signed a season-long contract. Sako scored 15 goals for Wolves in his last Championship season in 2014-15 and said he wanted to link up with Baggies boss Darren Moore. "He played a big part," Sako told the club's website. "A lot of Premier League clubs wanted me but as soon as I knew Darren... Читать дальше...

Ezequiel Barco (Atlanta United)Potential Rating: 89Blessed with blistering pace and sublime dribbling skills, the 19-year-old Barco has a higherpotential rating than any other MLS player inFIFA 19.Currently rated at 74, the Atlanta United midfieldercan rise up to 89 if nurtured correctly. He’s got a great weak foot/skill move combinationwhich makes him effective on the left flank, sohe’s able to finish with both feetand utilise four-star skill moves.Joao Felix (Benfica)Potential Rating: 87Plying his trade in the Portuguese top tier... Читать дальше...

Serge Aurier, Mousa Dembele, Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen will join Dele Alli in missing Tottenham's Champions League clash with Barcelona - but Hugo Lloris will start on Wednesday. Alli missed the Premier League win over Huddersfield Town at the weekend with a hamstring injury, with Mauricio Pochettino confirming after the 2-0 victory that the midfielder would not be ready to face Barcelona in midweek. However, Spurs have now confirmed the England international will not play again before the international break... Читать дальше...

Neymar heaped praise on "winner" Thomas Tuchel and warned the best is yet to come from Paris Saint-Germain as they seek Champions League success. The Brazil star produced a below-par display in PSG's opening Group C loss to Liverpool, the Ligue 1 champions falling to a 3-2 loss at Anfield.  Thomas Tuchel's side host Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday, having seemingly shrugged off the disappointment of that Merseyside reverse by winning three consecutive top-flight matches. And Neymar echoed the sentiments of his coach... Читать дальше...

Kylian Mbappe could become the first player to secure theGolden Boy award twice after he was included on a 40-man shortlist for this year's prize.The Paris Saint-Germain forward was crowned in 2017 and has since played a starring role for France at the World Cup, scoring in the final against Croatia to helpLes Bleus lift the trophy in Russia.Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who helped his club reach the Champions League final, is one of four from the Premier Leaguein the running to be... Читать дальше...

In 2010, right after the final of Brazil’s most celebrated youth tournament, the Copa Sao Paulo, the country’s controversial agent Wagner Ribeiro received a text from one of his clients full of enthusiasm.“I’m going to be the world’s best player,” it read.The message had not been sent by Neymar. Robinho had forgotten about such a tag by that stage of his career. And it couldn’t have been Kaka either, who’d already won the Ballon d’Or.Nope: it was from Lucas Moura, then 18 years old. Sao Paulo’s wonderkid... Читать дальше...

Sergio Aguero is probably the best striker in the world and Manchester City fans are lucky to have him, according to the club's former forward Paul Dickov. Aguero joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2011 for a reported £35million after establishing himself as one of the world's most sought-after young talents in LaLiga. He swiftly adapted to life in the Premier League and, although he has had some injury troubles over the years, that has not stopped him becoming a City great. His famous title-clinching... Читать дальше...

Manchester City haven’t exactly made a blinding start to their 2018/19 Champions League campaign, having gone down 2-1 at home to Lyon in their Group F opener.But Pep Guardiola’s side are among the favourites for this year’s Ol’ Big Ears with good reason – what with having won the Premier League at a canter and probably broken Alan Shearer’s individual all-time goals record along the way. Or something. Citizens a little older in the tooth may just be pleased to be in Europe’s premier competition... Читать дальше...

Lionel Messi is a great captain because he leads by example on the pitch and inspires off the field with words of wisdom, according to Barcelona team-mate Clement Lenglet. Messi became captain following the departure of Andres Iniesta to Japanese club Vissel Kobe. But after three successive LaLiga matches without a win, some have criticised Barca for having a lack of leadership on the pitch, particularly in the 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday when Messi started on the bench. His... Читать дальше...