Новости за 24.10.2018

Arsenal star Mesut Ozil says he is still supporting Germany despite quitting international football following the World Cup. Ozil retired from Germany duty after he was heavily criticised for being photographed Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan prior to the tournament. The midfielder said in a three-part statement, which strongly criticised the German FA (DFB), that the meeting "had no political intentions". But Ozil is not holding a grudge as he confirmed in a question and answer session... Читать дальше...

Thierry Henry picked up a point in his first Champions League game in charge of Monaco with a 1-1 draw at Club Brugge – but was grateful to Lois Openda for missing a late sitter for the hosts in the Group A clash. Moussa Sylla scuffed in with his right foot to put the Ligue 1 strugglers ahead in the 31st minute on Wednesday, only for Wesley's header to level matters as Brugge ended an eight-match losing streak in the competition. Henry's managerial debut with Monaco on Saturday had been eventful to say the least... Читать дальше...

Feyenoord striker Robin van Persie is set to retire at the end of the season. Former Arsenal and Manchester United forward Van Persie rejoined boyhood club Feyenoord in January and has enjoyed his return, but he is not planning on staying beyond the 2018-19 campaign. The 35-year-old played his role in his side's KNVB Cup triumph last term and will not prolong his career solely in pursuit of the Eredivisie title, insisting his second stint with Feyenoord is already a success as he has rediscovered his enjoyment of the game. Читать дальше...

Unai Emery hailed the importance of the Europa League to Arsenal as his side seek an 11th straight win in all competitions. Arsenal travel to Sporting CP on Thursday with both teams having taken maximum points from Group E matches against Vorskla and Qarabag. A 3-1 comeback win at home to Leicester City in the Premier League on Monday maintained Arsenal's momentum under new coach Emery, who succeeded Arsene Wenger. And Emery, a three-time winner of the Europa League during his time in charge of Sevilla... Читать дальше...

Management is no easy lark. Zinedine Zidane may have made it look that way by strolling into Real Madrid and winning three straight Champions League titles, but for mere mortals it's a constant struggle of man-management, tactical brain-storming, media handling and more.To rank bosses based on their achievements is not an easy task, then: with so many nuances to take into consideration, there's no straightforwardway to define success (and therefore the bestfootball managers). Winning the Champions League is the pinnacle... Читать дальше...

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has described Paris Saint-Germain's hierarchy as "magicians" in a broadside aimed at the club in relation to their finances. Ahead of his side's clash with PSG in the Champions League, De Laurentiis revived complaints he has made about the French champions and their commitment to UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.  In September, UEFA re-opened an investigation into PSG's finances after they had initially been cleared of breaking FFP rules. De Laurentiis... Читать дальше...

Tiemoue Bakayoko has vowed to show the best of his abilities after making a slow start to a loan spell at AC Milan. The Chelsea midfielder was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge after a single season at the club following his move from Monaco, where he won the Ligue 1 title. But a switch to Serie A has not given Bakayoko the boost his career needed, and he is yet to start a league game for the Rossoneri. Bakayoko has, however, started both of Milan's matches in the Europa League and he could face Real Betis at San Siro on Thursday. Читать дальше...

Gennaro Gattuso insists his relationship with Leonardo remains open and honest amid rumours the AC Milan sporting director is considering a change of coach. Reports in the Italian media claim Leonardo, who returned to the club in July, plans to replace Gattuso with ex-Italy boss and former Rossoneri midfielder Roberto Donadoni. The fresh speculation comes in the wake of the weekend's late derby loss to Inter that left Milan with 12 points from their opening eight Serie A fixtures. Gattuso denied... Читать дальше...

Florian Thauvin will miss Marseille's Europa League clash with Lazio and is a doubt to face Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday's Ligue 1 showdown. The France international is said to be struggling with a pain in his heel and sat out the 1-0 win over Nice last weekend. Head coach Rudi Garcia has confirmed Thauvin will be unavailable for Lazio's visit to the French south coast on Thursday, telling a news conference: "He will not be with us." When asked if Thauvin would be available for Le Classique at Stade Velodrome... Читать дальше...

Chelsea's Eden Hazard will not feature against BATE in the Europa League due to a back problem that could also force him to miss Sunday's Premier League clash with Burnley. The Belgium international has been in scintillating form this season, scoring eight goals already, but coach Maurizio Sarri will have to do without the 27-year-old on Thursday when Chelsea host BATE looking to make it three Europa League wins from three. He also fears Hazard is a doubt for the trip to Turf Moor to take on Burnley at the weekend. Читать дальше...

1. Carlos Alberto (Porto, 2003/04)Deployed by Jose Mourinho as a second striker behind either Derlei or Benni McCarthy, Alberto started every game of Porto’s run to the 2004 Champions League Final. He was only 19 at the time, and the Brazilian capped his stellar campaign in Europe with an expertly-taken goal to break the deadlock in the final against Monaco. It looked like a career in the big time beckoned for Alberto – but the youngster left his ego get the better of him. After clashing with Mourinho’s replacement... Читать дальше...

1. Carlos Alberto (Porto, 2003/04)Deployed by Jose Mourinho as a second striker behind either Derlei or Benni McCarthy, Alberto started every game of Porto’s run to the 2004 Champions League Final. He was only 19 at the time, and the Brazilian capped his stellar campaign in Europe with an expertly-taken goal to break the deadlock in the final against Monaco. It looked like a career in the big time beckoned for Alberto – but the youngster left his ego get the better of him. After clashing with Mourinho’s replacement... Читать дальше...

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said the club's doors are open to Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani, should he seek a move back to Naples. Cavani's future at Parc des Princes has been the subject of speculation, with PSG coach Thomas Tuchel playing down reports of a rift after he substituted the Uruguayan during a 3-2 Champions League defeat to Liverpool in September. In an interview with Le Parisien, De Laurentiis expressed his long-held admiration for Cavani, who spent three seasons at Napoli before joining PSG in July 2013.

Serginho scored a dramatic late goal to send Kashima Antlers into the AFC Champions League final for the first time following a 3-3 semi-final second-leg draw and 6-5 aggregate victory over Suwon Bluewings. Kashima went into the game hoping for a repeat of their group-stage win in Suwon after coming from two goals down to win the first leg 3-2. The 2017 J1 League runners-up looked to have one foot in the final when Shuto Yamamoto put them ahead on the night after 25 minutes, but Suwon staged a dramatic second-half fightback. Читать дальше...

Cristiano Ronaldo has made no secret of the fact he holds a dear place in his heart for Alex Ferguson, having described the ex-Manchester United manager as his "father in football" in the past. And, after the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and former United favourite helped Juventus to a straightforward 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in the Champions League, he was reunited with his old boss on Tuesday. Ronaldo posed for a picture with his one-time mentor, who signed him as a skinny 18-year-old from Sporting CP in 2003. Читать дальше...

Spain 0-1 Northern Ireland (1982)It’s fair to say that host nation Spain employed some...er,rudimentary tactics in this World Cup group game, scything down player after player without punishment and then chuckling awayas Northern Irish players gotbooked for lookingat anopponent.In spite of the perceived injustice, the 48th minute produced the most famous goal in Northern Ireland’s history: a quick breakaway in which Billy Hamilton– a particular victim of Spain’s cynicism– put the afterburners on down the right wing. Читать дальше...

The 2018/19 Champions League is beginning to take shape: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus are three from three, AEK Athens are nought from nought, and Manchester United are well on their way to a glorious victory in the competition for the first time since 2008.[Fiddles with script, furrows brow]. That's the last time we let Fred the Red into FFT Towers.What we are seeing, however, is a staggering level of quality across the board, with eight clubs in particular having legitimate claims to win the thing this year. Читать дальше...

Robert Lewandowski reassured Bayern Munich supporters of his commitment to the club following a tumultuous few months in which he was linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena. The 30-year-old striker scored in Bayern's 2-0 Champions League victory over AEK Athens to take his goal tally to three in his last two matches, following a run of three games without finding the net. Lewandowski's return to form has come as a relief to Bayern coach Niko Kovac, whose position is the subject of speculation... Читать дальше...

Barcelona will be hoping that Luis Suarez can fill the sizeable goalscoring boots of the injured Lionel Messi when Inter visit Camp Nou on Wednesday. Buoyed by their last-gasp derby win over AC Milan at the weekend, Luciano Spalletti's side will need to reverse recent history if they are to leave Spain triumphant with Barca unbeaten in 13 games at home against Italian opposition. Edinson Cavani faces off against his old side Napoli for the first time as Paris Saint-Germain look to beat an Italian... Читать дальше...

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri praised Paulo Dybala for his display against Manchester United in the Champions League. Dybala scored the game's only goal as Juve recorded a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The Argentina international's strike was his fifth in 10 games this season, as he helped Juve retain their perfect record in Group H. "I thought that he [Dybala] put in a great performance, I have to say," Allegri told a news conference. "He was playing well beforehand in previous games. Читать дальше...

Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his thanks to Manchester United's supporters after receiving a warm welcome upon his return to the club on Tuesday. Former United star Ronaldo was back in Manchester as Juventus outclassed the Red Devils 1-0 in the Champions League. Ronaldo and Juventus silenced the home crowd but the United fans still gave the five-time Ballon d'Or winner an ovation post-match. And it was appreciated by Ronaldo, who won three Premier League titles and the Champions League among other... Читать дальше...

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed midfielder Fabinho would get his chance to impress against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League. Fabinho, who turned 25 on Tuesday, has made just four appearances for the Premier League club since arriving from Monaco in the off-season. But with Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita sidelined due to hamstring injuries, the seven-time Brazil international is set to get an opportunity at Anfield on Wednesday. Klopp confirmed Fabinho would play a part and said... Читать дальше...

Gremio took a huge step towards the Copa Libertadores final after a 1-0 win over River Plate in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. A second-half header from Michel saw the Brazilian outfit edge to victory in the first leg of the semi-final at the Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti. Defending champions Gremio held the hosts at bay for much of the contest, leaving three-time winners River with work to do in the second leg in a week's time. Without Everton Soares (thigh) and Luan (foot), Gremio managed... Читать дальше...

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admitted he is concerned by Romelu Lukaku's goal drought after another blank against Juventus in the Champions League. Lukaku and United were toothless as they were outclassed 1-0 by Juve at Old Trafford on Tuesday – the Belgian striker's scoreless streak for the club extending to eight matches. The 25-year-old has scored four goals this season – all in the Premier League – though he has not found the back of the net since September 15 against Watford. "Yeah,"... Читать дальше...

Marcelo said "all journalists try to hurt us, maybe it's envy because you don't know how to play football" as the Real Madrid star leapt to the defence of Julen Lopetegui. Lopetegui's future in Madrid has come under fire following a five-match winless streak, though Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League victory over Viktoria Plzen offered some respite. The former Spain head coach's position is still believed to be in doubt and Madrid left-back Marcelo hit out at the media as he backed the 52-year-old. Читать дальше...