Month: September 2019

The Blues boss is facing more and more questions about starting the 18-year-old, as the Premier League returns this weekend

Maurizio Sarri believes that Callum Hudson-Odoi has the ability to make his first Premier League start soon, but insisted that making an impact against sub-standard international opponents is not an indicator of future success in the Premier League.

Hudson-Odoi debuted for England off the bench against Czech Republic over the international break, before making his first start against Montenegro, as Gareth Southgate’s team started their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with two wins.

The 18-year-old put in strong showings in both games, forcing an own goal against the Czechs before looking dangerous in a 5-1 win over Montenegro.

Sarri has come under fire for his limited use of the teenage winger this season, but the former Napoli boss isn’t getting carried away by Hudson-Odoi’s successful beginning to life as a senior international. 

“Callum is ready to play against every opponent,” Sarri told reporters at Cobham Training Ground. “I think the qualification for the European Championships, the level is really very low. It’s not the Premier League level, of course.”

“I think he needs to improve more. And I want him to improve more. And he has to stay with his feet on the floor. I have not got to play against Montenegro. There are a lot of national teams at a very low level. 

“He has to work every day, and improve the left, improve in the defensive phase, improve in the movement without the ball. I want him to improve because the potential is really, really very, very high. And so it’s right that he continues to improve.

“Otherwise we risk stopping him. He is, at this moment, a very, very good player. But he can become more. I want him to become more.”

Sarri also said that Olivier Giroud, N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard may have returned from the international break with some tiredness.

Jorginho also picked up a slight injury after coming off in the 57th minute of Italy’s 6-0 win against Liechtenstein. Sarri is hopeful that the midfielder can return for Sunday’s away clash against Cardiff City.

“No, as I said before, we have some players a little bit tired,” Sarri said. “A little problem with Jorginho. But we are trying to recover him. I think it’s possible for him to play. I am not sure at the moment, but I think it’s possible.”

Sarri now faces eight more games in the league with his long-term future at Stamford Bridge on the line, after coming under scrutiny over some poor results in recent weeks.

Chelsea are currently in sixth place after an away defeat to Everton before the international break. Chelsea have only won one away league game in 2019 and Sarri thinks that his team’s mentality has faltered in their efforts for a top-four finish.

“It’s really very strange. In the first half of the season, we played better away than at home. Now, in the last five matches, we were in trouble away, and I don’t know why. It’s very difficult to explain the last four or five matches away.

“I am really very confident, but, especially away, the reaction on the pitch to the difficulties in the last few months were really wrong. In the last match, we played very well for 45 minutes. And then the first difficult [moment] – two corners – we conceded a goal, and after the goal, we were not able to react in the right way. It’s very strange after the first 45 minutes.

“The problem is the reaction. The problem in the last match was clear. We were not able to face the first difficulty of the match. We were not able to react. So it was clear that the problem was the mentality.

“So we need to work and try and improve our mentality as soon as possible because we are able to react. In the first part of the season, if you remember, we were able to react immediately when we conceded a goal. So it’s very strange. Now the situation is different.”

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The Colchoneros have received seven red cards in their last 11 trips to Camp Nou, a fact that is not lost on their coach

Diego Simeone was left frustrated by a lack of consistency from La Liga’s referees after Diego Costa was sent off for dissent in Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 defeat at Barcelona.

Atletico went into the game eight points adrift of pacesetters Barca, meaning anything other than a win would be of little use in the title race.

Their chances took a major blow in the 28th minute when Costa was given his marching orders after appearing to say something to referee Jesus Gil Manzano.

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi secured the win – and probably La Liga – with goals in the last five minutes, though much of the post-match focus remained on Costa.

“In the last 11 games here [at Camp Nou] we have received seven red cards,” Simeone told reporters. “We must be doing something wrong.

“I asked the referee and he told me something that Costa says he didn’t say. If he said it [what the referee claims], he is deservedly sent off.

“But other players have said things and he doesn’t send them off. We see it and they do not send them off.

“But that does not justify Costa’s actions. If the referee interprets that there was insult, he’s deservedly sent off, but it’s not always the same [outcome for every player].”

Simeone was also eager to move away from the negativity many have attached to the defeat, with some suggesting their season is over, although he believes such opinions show how far the team has come.

“Our season has not ended in any way,” he said. “We have to win as many points as possible.

“I value that we won the European Supercup, that we fought for the second place, and it is bad? I love it, I love that it is said to be bad [the season]. Do not forget where we are.”

Now 11 points behind the leaders and just two ahead of arch-rivals Real Madrid with seven games remaining in the campaign, Atletico’s next test will come on Saturday at home to Celta.

Barca could go 14 points clear with a win over bottom side Huesca, with that clash finishing just minutes before Atletico kick off in the Wanda Metropolitana.

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The Portuguese has been mooted as a possible successor to Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge, but he is paying little attention to the speculation

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Wolves boss Nuno says speculation linking him with a possible move to take charge of Chelsea “doesn’t mean anything”.

There is no vacancy at Stamford Bridge as things stand, with Maurizio Sarri still at the helm in west London.

It has, however, been suggested that the Italian could be on borrowed time with the Blues.

Goal has revealed that Roma are monitoring Sarri’s situation ahead of a potential opportunity to bring him back to Serie A.

If he were to leave Chelsea, then various candidates are already being mooted to fill his shoes.

Portuguese tactician Nuno is among those considered to have come into contention on the back of his fine work at Molineux.

A man who has led Wolves to promotion into the Premier League and now into the top-half of the top tier is, however, paying little attention to the rumours surrounding his future.

Quizzed on the links to Chelsea, Nuno said: “No comments, it doesn’t mean anything. Nothing, I am here speaking with you.”

Pressed on whether he is happy in his current post, the 45-year-old added: “I consider myself a happy person, yes.

“Yes, with the problems and difficulties that are involved but at the same time, it is a moment of joy, especially total dedication to what I must do and what we must do to keep on becoming better and growing. Focused.”

While keen to divert attention away from his own future, Nuno is prepared to admit that Wolves will be looking to tie up a permanent deal for loan star Raul Jimenez.

The Mexican striker has starred during his short time in England, netting 15 times to date, and there is a £30 million ($39m) purchase option in the deal which took him to Molineux from Benfica.

Nuno said of the 27-year-old frontman: “It is the same situation. We know we have time to make a decision.

“We are very happy with Raul and his performances, so when things are done, there will be an announcement.

“But the right moment will be the moment that will involve all the parts, and then we will announce it for sure.”

The 27-year-old donned a Mexican wrestling mask but it was the Hornets who secured a place in the final

Watford captain Troy Deeney was disgruntled by Raul Jimenez’s celebration of Wolves’ second goal in their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, admitting he might have “lost my head” had he seen it live.  

The 27-year-old striker donned a luchador mask when he put Wolves 2-0 up in the 61st minute at Wembley Stadium, but the Hornets came from behind to secure a 3-2 victory after extra time. 

Deeney played a crucial role, blasting home a 94th-minute penalty to level the game at 2-2 before Gerard Deulofeu scored the winner to avoid a penalty shootout.  

Veteran forward Deeney only saw the Mexico star’s celebration when he was shown a replay of it after the match. 

“I genuinely didn’t see that until just now,” the 30-year-old told BeIN Sports . “There’s a bit of me that wants to say something nasty, but I won’t.  But I’m glad he put that mask on, he can wear it out as well now that he’s a loser. Enjoy the mask, but we got the victory. 

“Don’t get me wrong, he’s a top, top player. I was him and I think he’s very good, he plays the nine position on his own really well. 

“I didn’t see the mask thing, so I’m kind of glad I’ve only seen it now because I probably would have lost my head if I saw that. I think you’ve got to wear the mask and do all that stuff when you know you’re going to win the game.” 

The win takes Watford to their first FA Cup final in 35 years, and Deeney was delighted with the determination his side showed by coming from behind. 

“The hard work, the desire, you’ve seen it there,” he told BT Sport. 

“At 2-0 down many teams would have called it a day but we kept going, we brought the little man on [Deulofeu], had a little bit of magic, and the rest is just hard work. 

“We’ve got room to grow. We’re a team that doesn’t have a ceiling on it just yet. We’re not seventh [in the Premier League], we’re not in the top 10 regularly so there’s still loads to do.  

“Personally, it’s just a case of, with these young boys coming up who are keeping me on my toes, making sure I try to get this new deal. If anyone’s watching, I’d like a new deal thank you!” 

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The England defender has told his side that nothing is impossible as they chase a historical feat

John Stones insists his Manchester City team-mates are fighting for an unprecedented quadruple ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Tottenham.

City reached the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion earlier this month but the Carabao Cup winners followed that result with a defeat by the same scoreline in the first leg of their tie against Spurs.

A 3-1 weekend win at Crystal Palace kept Pep Guardiola’s side firmly in the hunt for back-to-back Premier League titles, as they approach a pivotal eight days where Spurs return to the Etihad Stadium for a league encounter before next Wednesday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Guardiola has insisted a clean sweep of major honours is “almost impossible” but, speaking alongside his manager at a pre-match news conference, Stones said the prospect was inspiring the City dressing room as the finish line approaches.

“We’re still on for the quadruple and that’s the dream we’ve got to try and achieve, and definitely something we’re fighting for every day,” he said.

“Personally, I don’t think a lot of things are impossible but that’s the mindset of different people, I suppose. If you don’t dream big you’re not going to get anywhere near it.

“I think it comes from within everyone. We have this dream and ambition to do it.

“Like last season, 100 points had never been done before. We’d won the league quite early and still had that ambition to go on and fight for 100 points and break records. We go in with that mentality again.”

Tottenham will be without England captain Harry Kane after the striker’s latest ankle injury setback, while Dele Alli is a doubt after suffering a broken hand during the first leg.

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“I think they’ve got a strong squad and two key players missing,” Stones said.

“[Kane] is a big miss for them. I don’t think we can concentrate too much on who’s playing and who’s not.

“From the last game we had our game plan and we stuck to that. After reviewing the game as a team we’ve found a lot of positives

“We can’t concentrate on Harry and Dele not playing. What we’ve done best through the years I’ve been here is focus on us and do everything we possibly can as players to get that outcome we want.”

Zinedine Zidane says his preferred goalkeeper will be clear next season, leaving the club’s current trio fighting to impress before a summer clear out

When Zinedine Zidane returned to Real Madrid, many changes were expected.

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His reappointment promised lifelines, but a first appearance of the season for his goalkeeping son, Luca, was unprecedented.

With Thibaut Courtois injured and Keylor Navas having just returned from the international break, Zidane explained his decision was made in order to give the latter a rest.

“Next season there will be no debate about the goalkeeper – it’s going to be very clear,” he added.

“At the moment, there are three good keepers and we are going to finish the season with them.”

Early signs suggested Zidane would put his faith in Navas, the man who helped deliver three Champions League titles, as he picked him for his first game in charge.

But the coach himself said his decision was not “final”, explaining: “Thibaut is going to play again and the third goalkeeper is Luca. That’s three good goalkeepers but Madrid should have three or four great goalkeepers.

“You cannot contest four, five or six competitions with just one great goalkeeper.” 

With Courtois injured for three of his four games so far – the same number that Navas has started – and with his son also getting a game, Zidane’s preferred shot-stopper for next season remains unclear.

Reports have even suggested that Andriy Lunin, currently on loan at Leganes, is in the picture, with Marca understanding that Zidane wants him as the back-up to Courtois.

That is despite the Belgian having underwhelmed since arriving from Chelsea last summer, so much so that he currently has the third-lowest save percentage (65.12) among La Liga’s goalkeepers (minimum 15 appearances).

Yet despite criticisms and poor form, Courtois has not lost his confidence, saying: “I still consider myself one of the best, despite the Spanish press wanting to kill me.” 

His main competitor for a starting place is similarly determined. “Today the sun came up in the line-up because my name was in. You have to take advantage of the moment,” Navas said after being selected for Zidane’s first game in charge – a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo. 

Having spent so long in the cold – even admitting: “I did have the feeling that whatever I did in practice, I wasn’t going to play [under Solari]” – Navas will be fierce competition for Courtois before the season is out.

However, if Zidane is to decide on the Belgian as his first choice, Navas is unlikely to stick around, saying: “I have given everything for this club and I will continue giving it while I’m here, but I don’t want to spend another year like that.”

Other than an age gap of six years, there is little between Zidane’s two front-running candidates.

Courtois has over 450 appearances to his name at just 26-years-old, has been first choice for three title-winning teams – twice with Chelsea, and once with Atletico Madrid while still just 21 – and was named ‘IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper’ last year.

Navas, meanwhile, may have played just short of 400 senior games, but he was the starting shot-stopper for Zidane’s three successive Champions League winning campaigns.

With Courtois currently injured, one cannot make assumptions about who the manager prefers in the long-term, but his words certainly suggest Navas’ game time is more out of respect than preference.

“I like Courtois [as well as Navas],” he said last month. “Thibaut has shown he is a great keeper but I want Keylor to feel important too. I don’t forget what he has done. He has played less but he has to play.”

With the Costa Rica international having just turned 32-years-old, if Zidane is building for the future like reports suggest, then he and Madrid may well look to cash in on a player whose current deal will run for another two years.

That possibility is strengthened by the two promising young goalkeepers behind the more senior pair.

Luca Zidane is a France youth international who was the starting shot-stopper for his country’s 2015 UEFA European under-17 Championship triumph.

The 20-year-old was handed his senior debut by his father at the end of last season and was given the nod for Madrid’s clash with Huesca last month.

He has earned praise from Madrid goalkeepers past and present, with Navas saying: “Luca is a great goalkeeper, he has shown that he is where he is because he has earned it and nobody has given him anything,” while former shot-stopper Kiko Casilla told Marca: “He’s going to be an elite goalkeeper for many years.”

Elsewhere, fellow 20-year-old Lunin has also been getting his first taste of La Liga football on loan at Leganes.

The former Dnipro player joined Real Madrid in the summer after two impressive seasons in Ukraine – which led to him making his senior international debut in March of last year.

He has only played five games this season, but Madrid have high hopes for a player they paid an initial €8.5 million (£9.9m/$9.5m) fee for just 10 months ago.

As for the trio who currently find themselves battling it out, they can only take the opportunities they are handed between now and the end of the season.

Zidane has stressed that plenty “depends on which goalkeepers [Madrid] will have next season”.

For now, it’s up to Courtois, Navas and Luca to make sure they do enough to avoid being part of an inevitable summer clear-out at the Bernabeu.

The manager defended his decision to leave the midfielder out of the first XI against Spurs, insisting Manchester City played well

Pep Guardiola has confirmed he dropped Kevin De Bruyne from the Manchester City starting line-up for Tuesday’s loss to Tottenham for tactical reasons.

De Bruyne only came off the bench in the 89th minute at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and was unable to inspire a late comeback as City fell to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Guardiola chose Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho to support David Silva in midfield, but City did not manage a shot on target after the 47th minute, meaning Son Heung-min’s 78th-minute strike proved decisive after Sergio Aguero missed a first-half penalty.

City boss Guardiola insists his side played well, though, having explained he left out De Bruyne to make the core of his side more defensively sound.

“I decided to play with two holding midfielders in that position to be a bit more solid,” he told a news conference. “I decided for the other ones. I know it is tough for him [De Bruyne].”

He said of the result: “Now we know what we have to do. I have the feeling the game was quite good. We controlled them and arrived with some quality situations.

“In the high competitions, at a high level, you have to live these situations. Now we have another option, another chance and that is the point.

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“They had a few chances on the counter-attack but we controlled the game and played quite good.

“If we are not able to arrive in the last stages [of the tournament] it is because it is a challenge. The situation is what it is.

“When we don’t play good, I am the guy who says we didn’t play good, but I don’t have that feeling.”

Bernardo Silva was also omitted, having picked up a problem in training, but Guardiola hopes to have him back for next week’s second leg.

“In the season there are injuries, there are problems and I hope Bernardo will be fit in the next week,” he said.

Guardiola has now called on City fans to make the return at the Etihad Stadium a daunting prospect for Spurs, as he attempts to keep his own side’s quadruple challenge on track.

“We did not have a single day to prepare training on the pitch; they had six days,” he said.

“Hopefully, our people can support us every single minute. Hopefully, the Etihad is full with our supporters.

“We know what we have to do: score goals, play as best as possible. We are going to try.”

With the race to the Premier League hotting up, Marcelo Bielsa’s men face a tough test against in-form opponents

Second in the Championship table, Leeds United aim to take a step closer to a long-awaited return to the Premier League by overcoming Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. 

Marcelo Bielsa’s side beat Preston 2-0 on Tuesday with a couple of goals from Patrick Bamford in the closing 30 minutes. Their form, however, has been erratic with two defeats in their last four outings.

Sheffield Wednesday’s hopes of finishing in the playoffs are hanging by a thread, though they showed in midweek by winning 3-0 against Nottingham Forest that they remain a dangerous opponent. With five matches of the season remaining, they likely need to win them all to stand a chance of sneaking into the top six – and even that may not be enough.

Game	Leeds vs Sheffield Wednesday
Date	Saturday, April 13
Time	5:30pm BST / 12:30pm EST

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In the United States (US), the game can be streamed via ESPN+.

US TV channel	Online stream
N/A	ESPN+

In the UK, the game will be shown on Sky Sports Football and Main Event and can be streamed through the Sky Go app.

UK TV channel	Online stream
Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Main Event	Sky Go

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Position	Leeds players
Goalkeepers	Casilla, Peacock-Farrell, Huffer
Defenders	Ayling, Cooper, Jansson, Davis, Berardi, Halme
Midfielders	Philips, Forshaw, Klich, Shackleton, Dallas, Alioski
Forwards	Roofe, Roberts, Saiz, Bamford, Clarke, Harrison, Hernandez, Brown

Confirmed Leeds starting XI: Casilla, Alioski, Cooper, Jansson, Ayling, Phillips, Klich, Roberts, Harrison, Hernandez, Bamford

Position	Sheffield Wednesday players
Goalkeepers	Westwood, Dawson, Wildsmith
Defenders	Lees, Hector, Van Aken, Baker, O’Grady, Fisker Nielson, Pudil, Lazaar, Fox, Thorniley, Penney, Iorfa, Palmer
Midfielders	Kirby, Hutchison, Pelupessy, Lee, Bannan, Abdi, Jones, Boyd, Reach, Onomah
Forwards	Preston, Aarons, Matais, Forestieri, Hooper, Fletcher, Joao, Winnall, Nuhiu, Stobbs

Confirm Sheffield Wednesday starting XI: Westwood, Palmer, Fox, Fletcher, Bannan, Hooper, Lees, Reach, Boyd, Hutchinson, Hector

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Leeds can be backed at 8/15 to win this match with Bet365. Meanwhile, a draw is priced at 3/1. Sheffield Wednesday’s price to cause an upset is 11/2.

Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

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Leeds leapfrogged Sheffield United into second position in the Championship on Tuesday and the target is now to hold that spot for the final three matches of the campaign.

It has been 15 years since Leeds were relegated from the top flight and they are now within touching distance of a return.

With Norwich six points clear in first place and just five games to play, any hopes of the title have surely gone, but the critical aspect for the Elland Road club is to finish in the top two and thereby achieve automatic promotion.

“For us we have to win the five games left,” boss Marcelo Bielsa affirmed.

“When you have less points to win because you are in the last games of the league, the gap or space for mistakes is reduced.

“It is no good to make any analysis until this objective is complete, the only important thing is if we get promotion.

“We play with the obligation to win promotion, not to make the best season.”

Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, promise to be stern opponents. Since Steve Bruce took charge of the Owls in February, they have suffered only one defeat in 13 matches, and while they have drawn six of these, they have kept an impressive seven clean sheets.

A veteran of the English scene, the former Manchester United centre-back is impressed with how Bielsa has adapted to the rigours of the Championship.

“He has been very good in what he has done,” he said. “We’re all intrigued by him, he’s a bit different and a bit of a breath of fresh air that we all look at and think: ‘Wow, that’s different’.

“He’s done a smashing job and we’re all intrigued by his methods and the way he has done it. His pedigree goes before him.

“From day one there’s been a positive attitude from them and his team reflects his intensity.

“For me we’re always intrigued and when you get the plaudits of top managers like Mauricio Pochettino and Pep Guardiola then you have to take a bit of notice of this guy.

“He’s certainly a little bit different, even the way he sits on an ice bucket or whatever he sits on. We’re all intrigued by that eccentric side to his nature.”

Bruce will get his first close-up view of the Argentine at Elland Road, having been appointed after the clubs drew 1-1 at Hillsborough in September.

This time around, a repeat of that outcome would be a result to suit neither side.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s impact at Old Trafford is reminding the legendary Ivorian of his own historic march to success in Europe’s elite competition

Manchester United’s change of fortune under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reminds Didier Drogba of Chelsea’s Champions League win in 2012 under Roberto di Matteo as the Red Devils prepare to take on Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the competition.

United endured a difficult 2018-19 campaign under Jose Mourinho, but the mood has significantly changed ever since the arrival of Solskjaer in December 2018.

They are back in the race for a top-four spot in the Premier League and shocked Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, recording a 3-1 win at Parc des Princes after previously losing the first leg 2-0 at home. 

Chelsea found themselves in a similar situation during the 2011-12 campaign, with Di Matteo replacing Andre Villas-Boas as the man in charge ahead of the decisive stages of the season and eventually leading them to Champions League glory.

Drogba was a key part of that Chelsea team, scoring a late equaliser in the final against Bayern Munich, before eventually netting the decisive penalty, and he thinks Solskjaer could potentially repeat Di Matteo’s achievement.

“Did you know I was going to do that in 2012? I didn’t. Not even me, I didn’t know [I could],” Drogba told Goal at Geneva Motorshow, courtesy of Yokohama Tyres. “Maybe someone or a team will come up, a club like Manchester United.

“From what I saw [against PSG], I have to count on them. They have spirit and quality. They have this thing of having a manager who has won it and knows how to win; this is important. It is always something different when a manager has played at the club.

“He knows the spirit, and he knows everything about the club. The players respect that. That’s exactly what happened with Di Matteo and us, and that’s what is happening with Man Utd and Solskjaer.

“We don’t go too far [with the comparison], but I see a little bit of what we did in 2012 because they won in a place where nobody expected them to win and in a very, very good way. So, it is interesting.”

United host Barcelona at Old Trafford on Wednesday, before locking horns with the Catalans at Camp Nou on April 16.

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