Новости за 17.02.2019

Luciano Spalletti was frustrated Mauro Icardi did not celebrate Inter's dramatic 2-1 victory over Sampdoria on Sunday with his team-mates. Icardi, who was replaced as club captain by Samir Handanovic this week amid speculation surrounding his future, watched from the stands at San Siro due to the knee injury that kept him out of the 1-0 win over Rapid Vienna on Thursday. Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta confirmed before kick-off the Argentina striker would still be offered a new contract... Читать дальше...

Emre Can has labelled Juventus a "family club", and insists that there is no special treatment afforded to the Serie A champions' star man Cristiano Ronaldo. Can, like Ronaldo, joined Juve in the close-season, having signed on a free transfer from Liverpool. The Germany midfielder has established himself as a first-team regular under Massimiliano Allegri, though his arrival in Turin was always going to be overshadowed by that of Ronaldo, who is Juve's top scorer with 19 league goals from 24 appearances. Читать дальше...

Pro Piacenza's 20-0 Serie C defeat at AC Cuneo stands as an "insult to sport", according to Italian Football Federation (FICG) president Gabriele Gravina. Crisis club Pro Piacenza named a seven-man startling line-up comprised of youth-team players and a massage therapist for Sunday's match at Cuneo's Stadio Fratelli Paschiero, where an inevitably farcical spectacle unfolded. The Rossoneri's senior squad and coaching staff are on strike over unpaid wages and their previous three league games were... Читать дальше...

Lionel Messi is the perfect team-mate in attack because of the extra opposition attention he occupies, according to fellow Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele. Argentina great Messi and France forward Dembele have struck up a successful understanding in the latter's second season at Camp Nou, sharing 43 goals between them in all competitions. The former Borussia Dortmund man is beginning to plug the hole left by Neymar, who departed for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 due to a reported desire to break free of Messi's shadow. Читать дальше...

Alisson believes Liverpool will not feel the absence of Virgil van Dijk when they host Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Van Dijk will be serving a one-game ban for Tuesday's first leg of the last-16 tie at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp facing defensive selection issues. Joe Gomez has been ruled out and Klopp has indicated Croatia defender Dejan Lovren is not expected to recover from a hamstring injury in time. Liverpool's options without the world's most expensive defender Van Dijk are therefore limited... Читать дальше...

SPAL coach Leonardo Semplici believes Serie A officials need to rethink how VAR is deployed after his side were on the wrong end of a controversial decision in their 4-1 loss to Fiorentina. With the game poised at 1-1, Mattia Valoti thought he had put SPAL ahead with 16 minutes remaining, only for the goal to be ruled out after referee Luca Pairetto overturned his call following a consultation with his video assistant, instead awarding a penalty to Fiorentina at the other end – the first time such... Читать дальше...

Jose Mourinho has suggested he would take a job in Ligue 1, while attending Lille's home game against Montpellier. Mourinho, who has worked as a television pundit after being sacked by Manchester United in December, was pictured shaking hands with former France striker Nicolas Anelka at Sunday's game. Earlier this month Mourinho was caught on camera suffering a fall at an ice hockey game in Russia, but he was on safer ground at the Stade Pierre Mauroy to watch a 0-0 draw. "Look who is invited... Читать дальше...

Mauro Icardi will still be offered a new Inter contract despite being replaced as the club's captain due to his behaviour, according to chief executive Beppe Marotta. Icardi, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, was stripped of the captaincy this week with goalkeeper Samir Handanovic installed as his replacement. The striker subsequently pulled out of the Inter squad to face Rapid Vienna in the Europa League, using Instagram to hint he was being treated for an injury. Icardi, whose wife Wanda Nara is his agent... Читать дальше...

Arsene Wenger believes Thierry Henry can still have a successful managerial career, despite his sacking after just three months in charge of Monaco. Henry, who enjoyed eight trophy-laden years under Wenger as a player at Arsenal, was sacked after 20 games at the helm of a Monaco side that won just four times under his leadership. But Wenger said the timing of Henry's arrival at Stade Louis II contributed to the shortlived nature of his tenure, pointing out that pressure on coaches mounts more quickly... Читать дальше...

Countless footballers across the globe will have endured games to forget this weekend but none had it as hard as the cobbled together line-up of Serie C crisis club Pro Piacenza, who lost 20-0 at AC Cuneo. The result owed much to the bottom-of-the-league outfit's starting line-up featuring seven players, predominantly from their youth ranks, while they travelled without senior squad members or technical staff due to an on-going strike over non-payment of salaries. Their numbers briefly swelled... Читать дальше...

Santiago Solari described Sergio Ramos' latest red card as an "occupational hazard" after the Real Madrid captain was sent-off in their home LaLiga loss to Girona. Ramos was dismissed in the last minute of Sunday's 2-1 victory for relegation-threatened Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Spain defender earlier conceded a penalty for handball, for which he was booked, and was shown a second yellow after catching a Girona defender with a high boot in the process of attempting an overhead kick. It ended a controversial week for Ramos... Читать дальше...

Nuno Espirito Santo hopes Wolves' first FA Cup quarter-final in 16 years will be played at Molineux after seeing his side beat Bristol City 1-0 in the fifth round. Ivan Cavaleiro's first-half goal settled an entertaining encounter at Ashton Gate, where the Robins launched a late assault on Wolves' goal but failed to beat goalkeeper John Ruddy. Portuguese forward Cavaleiro was the hero for Wolves in round four, when he scored the winner in a replay victory over Shrewsbury Town, and Nuno said the... Читать дальше...

Marcelo's long-term future at Real Madrid appears increasingly shaky after the shock 2-1 home loss to Girona contributed to a damning statistical portrait of the left-back's waning influence. After two matches among the substitutes, the experienced Brazil international was restored to the starting XI on Sunday and only succeeded in fuelling positional rival Sergio Reguilon's claims for a permanent berth. His defending was questionable for both Girona goals as Los Blancos slumped to their seventh league loss of the season... Читать дальше...

Girona coach Eusebio Sacristan described under-fire Real Madrid left-back Marcelo as an "institution" after his side's historic LaLiga win at the Santiago Bernabeu. Marcelo has come in for criticism after a series of poor performances this season and he once again struggled against relegation-threatened opponents on Sunday. Although squad rotation saw the Brazil international start the clash with Girona, Marcelo has hinted he may seek a move away from Madrid at the end of the season after losing his place to Sergio Reguilon. Читать дальше...

There is no need to "kill Real Madrid forever" after a LaLiga loss at home to Girona, says right-back Alvaro Odriozola. Santiago Solari's side led at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday thanks to a first-half Casemiro header, with Madrid hunting a sixth consecutive league win to exert pressure on leaders Barcelona. But a second-half collapse saw a Cristhian Stuani penalty and Portu's header turn the game around for relegation-threatened Girona before Madrid captain Sergio Ramos was dismissed in the last minute. Читать дальше...

Santiago Solari insists Real Madrid will keep fighting for the LaLiga title despite their five-game winning run ending with a stunning home loss to Girona. Casemiro's first-half header had Madrid 1-0 up and in total control against Eusebio Sacristan's LaLiga strugglers at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. But, within 10 second-half minutes, Cristhian Stuani's penalty and Portu's header had earned Girona's first win away to Madrid and moved them four points clear of the relegation zone. Sergio Ramos... Читать дальше...

Thibaut Courtois said Real Madrid lost control in their home LaLiga loss to Girona that leaves Los Blancos nine points adrift of leaders Barcelona. A run of five straight wins, including last weekend's 3-1 defeat of city rivals Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano, had thrust Madrid back into the title race ahead of the Clasico on March 2. Casemiro's header put the hosts on track to extend their streak before Girona produced a stunning second-half comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. After... Читать дальше...

Samuel Umtiti has recovered from a knee injury in time to join Barcelona's squad for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Lyon. Ernesto Valverde's men visit Groupama Stadium on Tuesday and will do so with France international Umtiti in tow after he was named in their 21-man travelling party. The 25-year-old, who signed for the LaLiga champions from Lyon in 2016, rejoined training earlier this month but has not featured since the 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid on November 24. Читать дальше...

Paul Pogba believes Manchester United are recapturing the spirit of the 'Class of 92' and wants to help nurture the club's next crop of academy talents. The Red Devils have been rejuvenated since interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over from the sacked Jose Mourinho in December, winning 10 of 12 matches and going unbeaten until the Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. Solskjaer, a fan favourite during his 11-year stint at Old Trafford, has been credited with restoring... Читать дальше...

Neymar will not recover from his metatarsal injury in time to feature in Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League return clash with Manchester United, according to his father, who indicated that the forward will not play again until April. PSG host United on March 6 in the second leg of their round of 16 tie, with the French champions taking a 2-0 lead into the game after Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe scored in a convincing win at Old Trafford. Neymar has been out of action since he injured... Читать дальше...

Adam Le Fondre scored a penalty to rescue Sydney FC a 1-1 draw as they narrowly escaped a shock defeat to bottom club Central Coast Mariners in the first A-League match at Leichhardt Oval.  Aiden O'Neill's accurate finish put the visitors in front on a scorching day, a lead they defended resolutely as they searched for only their second league win of the season.  They remained on course for victory until the 76th minute, when Jem Karacan conceded a penalty that gave Le Fondre the opportunity to score his 13th goal of the season. Читать дальше...

Alexis Sanchez said former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho created an unhealthy atmosphere at Old Trafford. Mourinho was sacked in December and replaced by caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer amid reports of dressing-room unrest at United. Sanchez was lured from Premier League rivals Arsenal to United by Mourinho in January last year, however, the 30-year-old forward fell out of favour prior to the Portuguese's departure. Chile international Sanchez – who has only scored five goals in all competitions since arriving in Manchester ... Читать дальше...

Bayern Munich veteran Arjen Robben said Anfield is his "worst stadium" ahead of the Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool. Bundesliga champions Bayern will travel to last season's runners-up and Premier League leaders Liverpool for the first leg on Tuesday. Robben – who will leave Bayern at the end of the season – has some unhappy memories of Anfield from his time with Chelsea. Chelsea were edged 1-0 on aggregate by eventual winners Liverpool in the 2004-05 Champions League semi-finals... Читать дальше...

Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde is not worried about Lionel Messi taking penalties after the superstar scored one and failed to convert another against Real Valladolid. It was a mixed evening for Messi at Camp Nou, where the Barca captain's 43rd-minute penalty led the LaLiga leaders to a 1-0 victory on Saturday. Messi – who has scored 30 or more goals in each of his last 11 seasons in all competitions for Barca – should have had a second but the five-time Ballon d'Or winner saw his 85th-minute spot-kick kept out by Jordi Masip. Читать дальше...

Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez admitted he is "worried" having failed to bring more joy to the Premier League club and their fans. Sanchez has struggled for form and fitness since arriving from rivals Arsenal in January last year, with the 30-year-old scoring just five goals as a United player. United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he cannot help Sanchez after the former Barcelona star's disappointing performance in Tuesday's 2-0 first-leg loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Читать дальше...