Новости за 28.12.2018

Watford head coach Javi Gracia accepts Abdoulaye Doucoure could follow former team-mate Richarlison out of Vicarage Road. Richarlison joined Everton ahead of the 2018-19 season to reunite with former Hornets boss Marco Silva, and Doucoure has been linked with signing for the Toffees in the January transfer window. Doucoure, who signed a new contract running until 2023 in August, is also reportedly a target for Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal. Club owner Gino Pozzo has indicated Watford will fight to keep the midfielder... Читать дальше...

The owners of the NFL's Cleveland Browns and a Columbus-based family have agreed in principle to take over ownership of the Columbus Crew from January, Major League Soccer announced on Friday. Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam and Columbus investors led by Pete Edwards Jr will take over ownership of the 22-year-old franchise from Precourt Sports Ventures, effectively ending a year of uncertainty over whether owner Anthony Precourt would move the MLS franchise to Austin, Texas. "After several months of discussions... Читать дальше...

Joe Cole will return to Chelsea in 2019 as a technical academy coach, working with various age-grade teams in the club's youth set-up. Cole came through the ranks at West Ham and made his debut aged 17, before joining Roman Abramovich's revolution at Chelsea five years later in 2003 in a deal reported to be worth £6.6million. It was at Stamford Bridge where the versatile attacking midfielder enjoyed the best years of his career, spending seven seasons with the Blues and winning a host of honours. Читать дальше...

UEFA and FIFPro have condemned the "unacceptable" racist chants directed at Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly at Inter on Wednesday and criticised a failure to follow the recognised protocol for dealing with such incidents. The three-step process dictates that, in the first instance, the referee should stop the game and request that an announcement be made over the public address system. The second step requires the players to return to the changing rooms while the issue is addressed and the final step, if required, is to abandon the match. Читать дальше...

The general public has been advised not to engage in any football-related conversation with Liverpool-supporting colleagues under any circumstances when they return to work after the Christmas break.Experts have warned that an innocent enquiry about a co-worker’s holiday season could result in an unprecedented deluge of Liverpool-based enthusiasm, endangering productivity in the workplace and any attempt to remain pleased that Jurgen Klopp’s men have unexpectedly unseated Manchester City.“If you do come into contact with a known Liverpool fan... Читать дальше...

Maximilian Eggestein (Werder Bremen)The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the surprise breakthrough players in the Bundesliga this season. An energetic, tenacious central midfielder with very good decision-making in possession, the Bremen academy graduate has cemented a spot in Florian Kohfeldt’s team.Eggestein is a rounded midfielder with excellent ball recovery skills and the intent to playforwards. There’s still room to develop and he’s not top level just yet, but the Premier League would certainly offer a step up.Interesting for... Читать дальше...

Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri says stadium bans alone will not solve the problem of racism in Italian football. Inter have been ordered to play two Serie A home matches behind closed doors after Kalidou Koulibaly was abused during Napoli's 1-0 defeat in Milan on Wednesday. But Allegri believes there needs to be a change in mindset when it comes to tackling the issue of racism. "These aren't my decisions, if they've made this decision it'll be the right one," he told a news conference. Читать дальше...

Declan Rice has committed his future to West Ham by signing a new five-and-a-half-year deal with the Premier League club. Rice's deal was set to expire in 2020, but the club announced on Friday he has agreed a new long-term contract, which includes the option for a further year. The 19-year-old has become increasingly influential for the Hammers this season, starting 16 Premier League games under new boss Manuel Pellegrini. And the versatile teenager, who can operate either in midfield or defence, is thrilled to be staying at West Ham. Читать дальше...

Rodrigo Caio has revealed he had a medical with Barcelona before they opted to sign Jeison Murillo instead. Barca boosted their defensive options this month by bringing in Murillo on loan from Valencia until the end of the season with an option to sign him permanently for €25million. However, Sao Paulo centre-back Rodrigo Caio, who has four Brazil caps to his name, said he was also on Barca's radar and passed a medical with the Catalans, only to see them decide against signing him. "I did the... Читать дальше...

Arsenal boss Unai Emery decided against signing Mohamed Salah for Paris Saint-Germain due to doubts over the Liverpool star's readiness for a big club. Emery described Salah as having developed into one of the top five players in the world, but was less sure of his ability to adapt to more intense expectations during his two-season spell at Roma. The Gunners will get a close-up view of the forward's talents when they meet Jurgen Klopp's table-toppers at Anfield on Saturday. Salah, 26, enters the... Читать дальше...

AC Milan have received no contact from Chelsea over Gonzalo Higuain amid speculation he could leave the club, according to sporting director Leonardo. Higuain is in the midst of a dismal run of form, having failed to score in his last nine games. Milan signed Higuain on a season-long loan from Juventus in August, the Rossoneri can make the deal permanent by exercising a €36million option. However, reports in Italy have claimed Higuain has agreed to move to Chelsea and renew acquaintances with Maurizio Sarri... Читать дальше...

The alleged racial abuse Kalidou Koulibaly endured before being sent off against Inter will prompt Napoli to appeal his two-game ban, according to the club's lawyer. Koulibaly, 27, received two yellow cards in quick succession at San Siro, first for a challenge on Matteo Politano and then for sarcastically applauding the referee. Napoli head coach Carlo Ancelotti claimed after the match his defender "was nervous and the mood at the time was not the best" due to crowd taunts seemingly directed at Koulibaly. Читать дальше...

Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri has rejected speculation he is ready to take charge of Manchester United. Several newspapers in the UK reported that Allegri is keen on moving to Old Trafford at the end of the season, with the Premier League club seeking a successor to the sacked Jose Mourinho. Allegri has won domestic doubles in each of his four years in charge of Juve, who are nine points clear at the top of Serie A and among the favourites for this season's Champions League. And the... Читать дальше...

Gennaro Gattuso is not focusing on talk he could imminently be sacked by AC Milan as they prepare to face SPAL this weekend. Gattuso's side welcome SPAL to San Siro amid reports Gattuso may be relieved of his duties should they fail to obtain a positive result. Milan are sixth in Serie A, three points behind fourth-placed Lazio as they bid to make a return to the Champions League, but are winless in their last five matches and have failed to score a goal in their previous four league games. Wednesday's... Читать дальше...

Jurgen Klopp accepts Alberto Moreno is unhappy with a lack of opportunities this season, but says his door remains open to the Liverpool left-back. Moreno aired his frustration in an interview on Spanish radio having made only two Premier League appearances and featured once off the bench in the Champions League. The fine form of Scotland captain Andy Robertson for the Premier League leaders has reduced chances for Moreno, who has been out of action with a back injury, to play. "I hurt myself... Читать дальше...

PEC Zwolle have announced the appointment of Jaap Stam as the club's new head coach on an 18-month deal. Former Reading boss Stam takes charge after the departure of John van 't Schip with the club battling to avoid relegation from the Eredivisie. The move represents a homecoming for Stam, who started his playing career at the club before going on to star for Manchester United and Netherlands. "PEC Zwolle is a club close to my heart and it feels good to be back," Stam told the club's official website. Читать дальше...

Lucas Hernandez has confirmed he is willing to consider leaving Atletico Madrid amid links to Bayern Munich. Recent reports in Spain suggested Bundesliga champions Bayern were preparing to trigger the defender's €80million release clause in January. Atletico's executive director Miguel Angel Gil Marin dismissed the possibility of Lucas departing in the upcoming transfer window but said the club would think about talks at the end of the season. The France international is remaining tight-lipped over a possible destination. Читать дальше...

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri says Italy can do more to eradicate racism from football after Kalidou Koulibaly was abused during Napoli's defeat at Inter on Wednesday. Sarri was Koulibaly's coach in Naples until the end of last season and was replaced by Carlo Ancelotti following his move to Stamford Bridge. Ancelotti claimed to have tried to get the match suspended on three occasions at San Siro and said his players could leave the pitch if similar circumstances occur in future. Koulibaly was sent... Читать дальше...

Inter boss Luciano Spalletti has confirmed that Radja Nainggolan is in contention to face Empoli on Saturday after serving a one-match ban for a breach of club rules. Nainggolan sat out Wednesday's 1-0 Serie A victory over Napoli for what the club described as "disciplinary reasons". The Belgian midfielder only joined Inter in June from Roma in a deal reported to be worth €38million plus Nicolo Zaniolo, though he has failed to live up to expectations. Nainggolan has scored two goals in 11 Serie A outings... Читать дальше...

Maurizio Sarri believes now is the time for Chelsea to decide on Eden Hazard's future at the club amid continued speculation. Links with a move to Real Madrid for the Belgium international have persisted, with the winger recently refusing to be drawn on whether he would commit long term to Chelsea and extend a contract that expires at the end of next season. Hazard said he was "just focused on the pitch" after scoring twice in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Watford on Wednesday, the 27-year-old having now scored four goals in his last four games. Читать дальше...

Inter coach Luciano Spalletti has strongly reiterated his condemnation of the alleged racist abuse suffered by Kalidou Koulibaly and said the club "gladly accept" the banning of fans from San Siro if it helps fight discrimination. The Nerazzurri's 1-0 win over Napoli on Wednesday was marred as racist chanting appeared to be aimed at Koulibaly on numerous occasions. Napoli head coach Carlo Ancelotti claimed his side requested the match be stopped on three occasions due to the apparent abuse. Inter... Читать дальше...

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no doubt Paul Pogba is a player Manchester United can build their team around. France midfielder Pogba's performances came under intense scrutiny as his relationship with former manager Jose Mourinho seemingly deteriorated prior to the Portuguese's exit 10 days ago. Mourinho was replaced by Solskjaer, who has taken interim charge until the end of the season and led United to successive wins over Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town, Pogba scoring twice against the latter on Wednesday. Читать дальше...

Ola Toivonen scored his fifth A-League goal in six starts to salvage Melbourne Victory a 1-1 home draw with an impressive Wellington Phoenix on Friday. Sweden striker Toivonen turned home Terry Antonis' misdirected effort in the 77th minute to extend the champions' unbeaten streak to eight games and, at least temporarily, send them top on goal difference. Victory, winners in six of their previous seven outings, had fallen behind to David Williams' classy curling finish 15 minutes earlier and were... Читать дальше...

OK, so there’s still one Premier League match left of 2018 – but we’re an impatient bunch at FFT, so are delivering this quiz to you on a silver platter right now. Consider it an alternative to that leftover cheese you’ve been chugging down for the last three days.But what a year it’s been in England’s top flight. Manchester City broke an all-time points record in 2017/18 yet might not even end the calendar year in second place; leaders Liverpool saw their Egyptian king set a new high mark for goals... Читать дальше...

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been the best striker in the Premier League this season and is "perfect" to play with, according to his Arsenal team-mate Matteo Guendouzi. Aubameyang's goal against Brighton and Hove Albion on Boxing Day took his tally for the season to 13, the most in the division. The Gabon international also has three assists to his name and Guendouzi, who has become a regular in his first campaign at Emirates Stadium, lavished praise on the former Borussia Dortmund talisman. "He's helping us a lot because he scores so much... Читать дальше...