Новости за 22.11.2018

Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti made no secret of his desire to coach Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani amid reports linking the Uruguayan with a return to Stadio San Paolo. Cavani enjoyed three of his best seasons at Napoli, netting 78 Serie A goals to establish himself as one of Europe's most feared marksmen, ultimately earning a reported €64million switch to PSG in 2013. Although 19 league goals was the most he managed in a single season during his first three years in France, Cavani stepped... Читать дальше...

Mike Rigg has been named Burnley's new technical director. The Premier League side, winless in five games and 15th in the table, confirmed Rigg's appointment on Thursday. Rigg, head of player acquisition at Manchester City at the time they signed the likes of Sergio Aguero and David Silva, starts work next month. The 49-year-old will report directly to club chairman Mike Garlick and manager Sean Dyche has welcomed Rigg's appointment. "I have mentioned over the past couple of years how important it is to grow all areas of the club... Читать дальше...

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc dismissed claims Manchester City have a buy-back option on Jadon Sancho, insisting they only have a "matching right". Sancho has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence in the Bundesliga since joining Dortmund in August 2017, with his form this season earning him his first call-up to the senior England team. City were unable to convince Sancho to sign a new lucrative contract and allowed him to depart in a reported £8million deal, with the winger then... Читать дальше...

Sergio Aguero feels knee surgery has given him a fitness boost that allows him to carry out Pep Guardiola's pressing instructions more thoroughly. Aguero, Manchester City's record goalscorer, has not always seemed to have the best relationship with Guardiola, who has preferred Gabriel Jesus at times throughout his spell in charge. But the striker has started all 12 Premier League games this term compared to Jesus' two, scoring eight goals - including his 150th in the competition - to lead the race for the Golden Boot. Читать дальше...

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is a "madman" in training, according to his former Roma team-mate Gervinho. Last season Salah established himself as one of the world's best players, as he scored a phenomenal 32 goals in 36 Premier League matches having joined the Reds from Roma in a deal that could rise to £50million. Salah became an integral part of Roma's squad after ending a disappointing spell at Chelsea via a loan stint at Fiorentina, and his signing effectively spelled the end for fellow winger Gervinho... Читать дальше...

Patrice Evra accepts he went "too far" in a social media video where he played with a raw chicken, but has defended his bizarre Thanksgiving message. Former Manchester United and Juventus defender Evra went viral on Tuesday when he posted a video on Instagram where he caressed and fondled the poultry, at one point putting the raw meat in his mouth. Over 1.7 million people have so far viewed the clip, during which Evra shouts his catchphrase "I love this game", but he was widely slammed for his latest antics. Читать дальше...

Unai Emery says Arsenal were "falling" under Arsene Wenger but has denied making radical changes to turn the Premier League club around. Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League in each of Wenger's last two seasons but have shown signs of improvement in 2018-19. Although Emery's first two matches in charge ended in defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea, they subsequently won 11 games in a row in all competitions. While the Gunners' form has since stuttered with one win in five, they... Читать дальше...

The Superclasico second legIs this the biggest game in South American club football history? You bet.The great rivals from Buenos Aires provided supreme entertainment in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores final that ended in a 2-2 draw, and now River Plate host Boca Juniors in the crucial second leg.Starting from next season, the final will be played as a single fixture like in the Champions League – a hugely unpopular decision which makes this gargantuan clash even more special. It’s worth noting... Читать дальше...

New Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri has told his players to "forget the past" as they aim to overcome a dismal start to the Premier League season. The Cottagers sit bottom of the table with just five points from their first 12 matches, a paltry return that led to Ranieri replacing Slavisa Jokanovic during the final international window of 2018. Ahead of his first game in charge against fellow strugglers Southampton, the Italian made it clear he is confident of avoiding relegation. Asked what a win over the Saints would do for Fulham... Читать дальше...

There’s a dirty rumour going around that Premier League clubs may have to reduce the maximum number of overseas players in their 25-man squads from 17 to 13.Actually, it’s more than a rumour – the FA have made this request to the Premier League, who have replied, “Who are you again?” If such a restriction is introduced, British players’ hefty transfer fees would soar higher still.But it’s not just Brits who’d be in demand. We mustn’t forget those pearls on the seabed: foreign players who meet the... Читать дальше...

Mauricio Pochettino confirmed Tottenham are "working so hard" to extend Christian Eriksen's contract beyond 2020. Eriksen has been a key player at Spurs ever since he joined from Ajax in 2013 and the club are eager to tie him down to a new long-term deal. Media reports suggest the two parties have been in talks for several months, but rumours of tentative interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona have often lingered in the background. Speculation in August claimed... Читать дальше...

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen could make his return from a two-month injury lay-off in Saturday's clash with Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino has said. The Belgium international last played on September 29 in Spurs' 2-0 win away to Huddersfield Town, but he had to be withdrawn at half-time due to a hamstring problem. That injury has kept him out ever since, but he returned to training during the international break with Spurs readying themselves for a difficult few weeks. Chelsea visit Wembley on Saturday... Читать дальше...

Didier Drogba announced his retirement from football at the age of 40 on Wednesday. The former Ivory Coast international spent nine seasons at Chelsea across two spells, picking up 12 major honours along the way, including four league titles and the 2012 Champions League. He is the highest scoring African player in Premier League history, and the only man to reach three figures, finishing his career with 104 goals from 254 appearances in English football's top flight. But who are the other men from his continent trailing in his wake? Читать дальше...

Nine years across two spells, 381 games, 164 goals, four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and one inspired Champions League triumph.Yep, Didier Drogba done good at Chelsea – not least when you consider how so many of those trophies were inspired directly by him.There was (*deep breath*) an extra-time goal against Liverpool in the 2005 League Cup Final; two more to beat Arsenal in the same competition’s showpiece two years later; the only goal in the 2007 FA Cup Final which downed... Читать дальше...

The Superclasico at El Monumental will decide much more than bragging rights as River Plate host Boca Juniors in the second leg of a tantalisingly poised Copa Libertadores final. River twice came from behind at La Bombonera to draw 2-2, leaving an opportunity for a player to etch their name into the history of one of world football's fiercest rivalries. Some legendary names have pulled on the iconic jerseys of Boca and River, and here we look at six greats to have graced the fixture who Saturday's... Читать дальше...

Didier Drogba was a "monster in the dressing room" who won countless big games for Chelsea, according to Frank Lampard. It was announced on Wednesday that Drogba would retire from the game at the age of 40 following a professional career spanning two decades, the peak years of which the Ivorian spent at Stamford Bridge. In nine seasons across two spells, Drogba won a dozen major honours, including four Premier League titles and a famous Champions League triumph in 2012. And Lampard, a key figure... Читать дальше...

The Russian Football Union (RFU) has confirmed Vitaly Mutko was present at its executive committee meeting this week, having stepped aside from his role as president late last year. Mutko, the country's deputy prime minister under Vladimir Putin, took a temporary break from his duties with the RFU after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) handed down a lifetime ban from the Olympics. Having been accused of being involved in state-sponsored doping - allegations he denied - Mutko confirmed... Читать дальше...

He will take the field at Old Trafford on Saturday. He always does. He is a fixture, a larger-than-life figure who invariably cheers up some of the Manchester United faithful. Enough about Fred the Red, though. His namesake, on the other hand, may not be seen – and not just because his 5ft 7in frame means he’s a Lilliputian figure in Jose Mourinho’s supersized midfield mix.Perhaps that’s why he was overlooked two weeks ago. Mourinho’s Manchester derby gameplan was ruined, he suggested, by Paul Pogba’s injury. Читать дальше...

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reflected fondly on his time at Manchester United, where his more youthful team-mates made him feel "like Benjamin Button". The former Sweden international arrived at Old Trafford as a 35-year-old free agent ahead of 2016-17 and scored 28 goals across all competitions as United lifted the Community Shield, the EFL Cup and the Europa League. A serious knee injury meant he missed the conclusion of that campaign and the start of the next, before it was announced in March that he would depart for LA Galaxy in MLS. Читать дальше...

Iker Casillas has revealed his regret at not confronting Jose Mourinho during the pair's fractious relationship at Real Madrid. Mourinho spent three years in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu between 2010 and 2013, a period which delivered one league title and one Copa del Rey. Although that LaLiga-winning side racked up 100 points and scored 121 goals en route to dethroning Barcelona in 2012, Mourinho was far from a universally popular figure in the Spanish capital. That included a bust-up with Casillas... Читать дальше...

Samir Nasri's quality would be a welcome addition to the West Ham squad, according to Pablo Zabaleta. Former France international Nasri has been training with the Hammers in a bid to improve his fitness and earn a contract through to the end of the season. Nasri last played a competitive fixture almost a year ago, in the Turkish Super Lig for Antalyaspor, and is preparing to return from a doping ban after he received a drip treatment at a Los Angeles clinic in 2016 while on loan at Sevilla. An... Читать дальше...

The last game between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona was effectively LaLiga's 2017-18 decider, with Lionel Messi's free-kick sending the Catalans on track to win the title. Since that March meeting both teams have invested in reinforcements to add depth to their squads, while Andres Iniesta and Gabi are among the key players for the respective teams to have moved on to new clubs. But Ernesto Valverde and Diego Simeone are set to name very similar sides to that March game when they face off at the Wanda Metropolitano... Читать дальше...

Pep Guardiola can leave a lasting legacy at Manchester City and match his achievements at Barcelona, according to Xavi. During a four-year spell in charge at Camp Nou, Guardiola won 11 major trophies, including three LaLiga titles and the Champions League on two occasions. Spain legend Xavi played an influential role in that glorious era and believes his old boss has the capacity to shape a City side that will go down in history alongside that fabled Barca outfit. After failing to pick up a trophy in his first season at the Etihad Stadium... Читать дальше...

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes he has improved as a coach since arriving in the Premier League. Guardiola took charge of City in 2016 after enjoying success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The 47-year-old led City to the Premier League title in a record-breaking 2017-18 season, while they top the table this campaign. Guardiola said learning about the challenges in England had improved him as a manager. "I am a better manager than I was in Germany, and I am a better manager now than I was in Barcelona by far... Читать дальше...

Jose Mourinho would have led Manchester City to two or three Premier League titles, according to Chelsea great Didier Drogba. Mourinho is under some pressure at Manchester United, who are eighth in the table after a mixed start to the season that included a derby loss prior to the international break. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola's City are top of the table and coming off a record-breaking season in which they claimed the title. But Drogba, who played under Mourinho during two stints at Chelsea, feels... Читать дальше...