Новости за 21.12.2018

This time last year, Griezmann was heading into the new year targeting a World Cup win with France, a shot at the Ballon d’Or and perhaps a move to Manchester United. The first prospect came off, the second one not quite. Nor, to his relief, did the third.Yet what lingers is the Ballon d’Or. Griezmann had hoped to become the first mortal man in a decade to win the prize, only to see Luka Modric become the one to wrest it from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. “When I learned [I didn’t win], you... Читать дальше...

Cristiano Ronaldo will face Roma on Saturday before being rested for one of Juventus' final two games of 2018, Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed. The Juve boss had promised to give the Portugal star at least one game off during December, with Ronaldo having played 90 minutes in all but one of their Serie A matches this season. Allegri wants the 33-year-old involved against Roma, as Juve look to prolong their unbeaten start to their league title defence, but he is happy for Ronaldo to miss either... Читать дальше...

Gennaro Gattuso has dismissed talk of Gonzalo Higuain moving to Chelsea, while insisting AC Milan's problems are not the sole responsibility of the struggling forward. Higuain joined Milan in a high-profile initial loan switch from Juventus in June but has so far failed to hit the levels of previous seasons, netting just five times in Serie A this term. With Chelsea, coached by Higuain's former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri, said to be on the lookout for a new front man in January, reports have emerged... Читать дальше...

When Salah was in his early teens, he was a left-back at the youth team of a club near Cairo called Arab Contractors. Such was his ability to get into goalscoring positions that, in a game his team won 4-0, he apparently missed five one-on-ones. But back then nobody lauded his ability to carve out chances, least of all Salah himself, who broke down in tears.At that time Salah was just another Egyptian kid hoping to make it, but he worked harder than most and got good advice. His coach that day, Said El-Shishini... Читать дальше...

Marco Asensio is set to miss the Club World Cup final after sustaining a thigh injury. The 22-year-old has suffered a grade two injury in his right rectus femoris, Real Madrid confirmed in a statement. It means the Spain international will potentially not return to action until at least January 3, when Madrid face Villarreal in LaLiga. Santiago Solari's side take on Al Ain in the Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, having beaten Kashima Antlers 3-1 in their semi-final. The European champions... Читать дальше...

Eddie Howe insists he has no interest in speculation over the managerial positions at Manchester United and Tottenham. The Bournemouth boss has been tipped as a possible candidate to take over at Old Trafford once Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's interim spell in charge is over at the end of the season. With Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino the favourite to become Jose Mourinho's permanent successor at United, Howe has also been linked with taking over in north London if the Argentine were to leave the club. Читать дальше...

Even in a year defined by disappointment, Hazard has risen above the bad news angle to shine.At club level, Chelsea’s decline under Antonio Conte has left Hazard outside the Champions League looking in, but he still scored the winner in the FA Cup final and was his club’s top scorer and top assist provider in all competitions.If Chelsea will not look back on 2018 with any great fondness, Hazard is the exception to the general rule. They cycle between highs and lows on an annual basis and change managers every two years... Читать дальше...

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock thinks Ole Gunnar Solskjaer "absolutely" stands a chance of landing the Manchester United job on a full-time basis after replacing Jose Mourinho in an interim capacity. Solskjaer begins his United reign away to Cardiff – whom he coached in 2014 – on Saturday at the end of a hectic week at the Old Trafford club. Mourinho was dismissed on Tuesday, two days after a 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool, leaving United 19 points behind the Premier League pacesetters. Читать дальше...

See, Manchester United fans, it hasn’t all been doom and gloom. Sure, the club is beset by structural problems in the post-Fergie era, while the 2018/19 season has started badly and got worse – but one United player has reached a significant milestone. Rejoice!It takes real ability and staying power to reach the 50 mark for goals and assists in the Premier League. Pleasingly, United’s man has reached an even 50 for both, but obviously players tend to rely on one strength more than others.Take one of the absentees here: Ruud van Nistelrooy. Читать дальше...

If ever a period of 12 months was going to make Neymar more likeable to his detractors, then this was it.With his debut season at Paris Saint-Germain curtailed by injury in February, the first part of the Brazilian’s year became a feverish race against time to make it to the World Cup. He successfully did so and coped well with the extraordinary pressure placed – as always – upon his shoulders, even if Brazil were unable to get past the quarter-finals.Yet many still found sticks to beat him with... Читать дальше...

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants Manchester United to "play without fear" but warned his players that they must embrace a team-first mentality. The former Red Devils forward has taken charge as interim boss until the end of the season following the departure of Jose Mourinho this week. Much of Mourinho's final few months in charge was dominated by talk of arguments with players including Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez, while he also appeared to question the mentality of younger stars such as Jesse Lingard and Luke Shaw. Читать дальше...

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expecting to have a degree of input in Manchester United's January transfer plans despite only being appointed as Jose Mourinho's successor on an interim basis. Following Sunday's 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool, Mourinho was sacked by United after a dismal start to the season, which has left them 19 points off the top of the table. United acted by installing club icon Solskjaer in a temporary capacity, borrowing him from Norwegian club Molde until the end of the campaign... Читать дальше...

Spain coach Luis Enrique believes there is no doubt about the quality possessed by Isco despite the playmaker's recent struggles at Real Madrid under Santiago Solari. Isco has found himself out of favour since Solari replaced Julen Lopetegui at the end of October and is yet to start for the new coach in LaLiga. The 5-1 Clasico embarrassment against Barcelona – Lopetegui's last game in charge – was Isco's most recent start in the league, with the Spain international having to accept a substitute role ever since. Читать дальше...

As Atletico Madrid’s defence has declined, Oblak has only improved and continued to cement his place as the world’s best goalkeeper.David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois preceded him in the Spanish capital, but he’s surpassed both in the eyes of Colchoneros. The Slovenian shot-stopper played 37 La Liga matches last season and conceded just 22 goals; an average of 0.59 per game. Astonishingly, it was only as recently as October that Oblak had managed more clean sheets (74) in La Liga than he had conceded... Читать дальше...

Jeison Murillo says he is fulfilling a dream by joining Barcelona from Valencia. The 26-year-old will move to the LaLiga leaders on a loan deal until the end of the season, which includes a purchase option of €25million. The Colombia international is believed to have been signed due to injury concerns at the heart of the Barca defence, with Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen sidelined. Having made only three appearances for Valencia in 2018-19, Murillo is thrilled to move to Camp Nou, having promised... Читать дальше...

Paul Pogba (Man United)This list could feasibly have been filled with six Manchester United players, but Pogba sits head and shoulders above (below?) his team-mates. There’s no doubt that a rocky relationship with Jose Mourinho has demotivated the Frenchman this season, and if it truly wasa case of star player vs star manager, United have made their choice.But Pogba too must take some responsibility. It's too extreme to say, as Gary Neville did on commentary during the Liverpool game, that Manchester... Читать дальше...

Tired of your mates recycling the same old football trivia questions from years gone by? Bring them bang up-to-date and get them guessing with our Opta-powered Premier League quiz. All the answers are at the bottom of the page, so you can claim the high ground when it comes to statistical knowledge!   1. If Liverpool beat Wolves on Friday, they will be guaranteed to be top of the Premier League on Christmas Day, ahead of facing title rivals Manchester City on January 3. Who were the last side... Читать дальше...

Harry Kane has had a strange year. He finished 2017/18 with his highest Premier League goal tally, 30 from 37 appearances, won the World Cup’s Golden Boot over the summer, and even managed to start scoring in August when the new season began.And yet the perception is of a down year, a jaded player struggling on for the sake of a Tottenham team that still don’t have an adequate alternative.It’s perhaps an indication of the levels Kane has reached that such a contradiction can exist: he may have been prolific... Читать дальше...

James Rodriguez insisted he is only thinking about Bayern Munich as the star midfielder denied reports of a rift with head coach Niko Kovac. Bayern are in no rush to use their option to buy James, who is in the final season of his two-year loan deal from Real Madrid, according to chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. James reportedly wants to return to Champions League holders Madrid but the Colombia international refused to speculate about his future. "My present is with Bayern Munich, I have a contract with them until June," James said. Читать дальше...

Steaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali labelled women's football "against human nature" and added females were "created to be beautiful to attract the opposite sex" in an astonishing rant. The outspoken Becali made the comments after being asked how he would react if UEFA ever forced him to create a women's team at the Romanian club. Phoning in to Pro TV, the 60-year-old told the Ora Exacta program: "I'll quit football! You can't do things against God's will. "[It's more so] aligning to Satan's ideas. Читать дальше...

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp sees no weaknesses in Manchester City as he praised the "special" Premier League champions in the race for the title. Klopp's Liverpool are a point clear of City atop the table – a lead the Reds can extend with victory over Wolves at Molineux on Friday. Liverpool remain the only undefeated team in the Premier League after Pep Guardiola's City were upstaged by Chelsea on December 8. Klopp's side look in ominous form following their 3-1 win over Manchester United last week... Читать дальше...

Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri said Jose Mourinho is the "heart of football" and has to come back soon after he was sacked by Manchester United. Mourinho's two-and-a-half-year tenure as United manager came to an end on Tuesday – the limp 3-1 defeat to Premier League leaders Liverpool the final straw for Ed Woodward and the club's hierarchy. The Portuguese has already been linked with a return to Real Madrid and Ranieri urged Mourinho to return to management soon. "I send a message with him. We are very friendly," Ranieri told reporters. Читать дальше...

Mauricio Pochettino is determined to rid Tottenham of the negativity that too often surrounds the club as they continue to fight on four fronts this season. Spurs booked their place in the EFL Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over north London rivals Arsenal on Wednesday, the result coming a week after a 1-1 draw away in Barcelona sent them through to the last 16 of the Champions League. Tottenham also sit third in the Premier League, yet Pochettino knows it only takes one bad result for the feelings towards his team to change... Читать дальше...

Manchester United midfielder Fred will not leave Old Trafford and is determined to fight for his future following the sacking of manager Jose Mourinho, according to agent Gilberto Silva. United reportedly spent £52million to lure Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk in June but the Brazil international found playing time limited under former boss Mourinho. Fred has only made eight Premier League appearances – six as a starter – and 12 in all competitions since joining United, leading to his omission from the Brazil squad. Читать дальше...

Interim Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is already relishing the chance to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. The Red Devils were drawn to face the French club in the last 16 on Monday - 24 hours before they announced the departure of Jose Mourinho from Old Trafford. PSG topped their group ahead of Liverpool and Napoli and, led by the forward trio Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, they have high hopes of progressing deep into the knockout stages. Yet Solskjaer... Читать дальше...