Posts

Showing posts with the label METRO NEWS

Cristian Stellini provides Son Heung-Min injury latest after Spurs win at Marseille

Image
Son Heung-Min went down and looked dazed in the first half in Marseille (Picture: Getty Images) Tottenham coach Cristian Stellini could provide few details of Son Heung-Min’s worrying head injury during Tottenham’s win at Marseille, although did reveal that the forward was celebrating with his teammates after the memorable victory. The 30-year-old was forced off during the first half of Tottenham’s crucial Champions League meeting with Marseille on Tuesday night. He challenged for a ball in the air with Chancel Mbemba and caught the Marseille defender’s shoulder in his jaw, which left him looking dazed on the grass. Son was unsteady on his feet as he was helped towards the touchline and it was clear he could not continue, replaced by Yves Bissouma . Spurs would go on to win the game 2-1 and book their spot in the round of 16, but there are still concerns over Son. Stellini said after the match: ‘In this moment we don’t know, we have to wait for a medical assessment, we wait f...

Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min frustrated at Tottenham under Antonio Conte, reckons Rio Ferdinand

Image
Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane have been prolific in their time at Spurs (Picture: Getty Images) Rio Ferdinand believes Harry Kane , Son Heung-Min and all the forwards at Tottenham will be frustrated with the style of play at Tottenham under Antonio Conte . Spurs are having a solid season so far, sitting third in the Premier League after 13 games and going into a crunch Champions League match on Tuesday, which they must just avoid a defeat at Marseille to progress to the knockout stages. Only the top two in the Premier League – Arsenal and Manchester City – have scored more goals than Tottenham, but they have been accused of a defensive and somewhat dull style of play under the Italian boss. Kane has scored 10 league goals so far this campaign, only behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot, but Ferdinand believes he and his fellow forwards will be frustrated under Conte. ‘What do you want? Do you want success and take a bit away from the style, or do you want to go...

Sunderland boss full of praise for Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo

Image
Amad Diallo is impressing on his loan spell at Sunderland (Picture: Getty Images) Amad Diallo is starting to impress Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray during his loan spell from Manchester United , earning himself a regular spot in the starting XI with the Black Cats. The 20-year-old has had a remarkable career so far, moving to Manchester United from Atalanta for an incredible £37m in 2021 after just a handful of appearances for the Italian side. He has since spent a loan spell with Rangers in Scotland and is now gaining experience with Sunderland in the Championship. Mowbray is impressed with the winger, having handed him three starts in recent weeks, and 10 appearances in all, and thinks he has shown enough to hold down a regular starting berth. ‘I think he got wrapped up in the game on Saturday (against Luton) emotionally and that was good to see,’ said the Sunderland boss. ‘With his physical data, he was top in every aspect from distance covered to number of high-speed sprin...

Arsenal and Chelsea handed transfer boost with Wilfried Zaha set to run down Crystal Palace contract

Image
Wilfried Zaha has scored 14 Premier League goals in 2022 (Photo: Getty) Crystal Palace are growingly increasingly concerned that Wilfried Zaha will not sign a new deal with the club, according to reports. Zaha’s contract expires at the end of the season and the forward will not be short of suitors with Arsenal and Chelsea among many clubs both home and abroad interested in acquiring his services. The Ivory Coast international is enjoying perhaps the best form of his career and continuing to play a big role for the Eagles, with Patrick Vieira’s side 10th in the table after 12 games. In 2022, only four players have scored more Premier League goals than Zaha, namely Tottenham duo Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Manchester City ’s Erling Haaland. In October, Vieira confirmed that Palace and Zaha were in talks over a contract extension, with the manager expressing his hope that his talisman would stay at Selhurst Park. But according to the Daily Mail , n...

Frank Leboeuf claims Marseille are ‘still crying’ over William Saliba decision

Image
William Saliba massively impressed on loan at Marseille last season (Picture: Getty) Frank Leboeuf has claimed that Marseille are ‘still crying’ over the fact that William Saliba decided to return to Arsenal and did not stay with the club. The 21-year-old France international centre-back massively impressed on loan at Marseille last season and some had hoped he would move there permanently. Saliba played 52 games for Marseille as they finished runners-up in Ligue 1 to qualify for this season’s Champions League while parent club Arsenal missed out after a late collapse to Tottenham and had to settle for the Europa League . He also helped Marseille reach the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League in a strong season for the club. Saliba was crowned Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year. At the time he had still not made an appearance for Arsenal, but following his third loan since joining the Gunners in 2019, he returned to north Lon...

Manchester United and Arsenal legends Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright make World Cup predictions

Image
Can Harry Kane fire England to World Cup glory (Photo: Getty) Manchester United legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville as well as Arsenal icon Ian Wright have revealed who they think will win the 2022 World Cup . With the World Cup in Qatar now just a few weeks away, the time has come to make serious predictions about who will immortalise themselves in football history. There is no clear and obvious pick to win with Betfair listing Brazil, France, Argentina, Spain, England and Germany as the favourites. This is a fact reflected in the predictions of the trio, who were announced on Thursday as part of ITV ’s punditry team for their coverage of the tournament. Former United and England defender Neville has decided to remain patriotic and back Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions who are heading to Qatar under a bit of a cloud following some a poor run of form in 2022. Neville said: ‘I’m going to go for England! They’ve gone from semi-final, final, runner up and now they are going to go...

Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn tells Erik ten Hag to replace Manchester United star: ‘Cut your losses!’

Image
Erik ten Hag joined Manchester United at the end of last season (Picture: Getty) Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn has urged Manchester United to ‘cut their losses’ and sell a member of Erik ten Hag’s squad, either in January or next summer. Former Ajax boss Ten Hag has only had one transfer window to oversee the incomings and outgoings at Old Trafford. Manchester United backed their new manager with the signings of Antony, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez last summer. The likes of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Eric Bailly all left the Theatre of Dreams as Ten Hag honed in on the players he wanted to work with at United. Manchester United have largely impressed under Ten Hag, winning six of their last nine Premier League matches to climb to sixth in the table. The January transfer window will give Ten Hag another chance to bolster or trim his squad and former Arsenal defender Winterburn believes Anthony Martial is som...

Graham Potter explains why Kalidou Koulibaly not in Chelsea squad for Man Utd clash

Image
Graham Potter and Chelsea were forced to make do without Kalidou Koulibaly against Man Utd (Picture: Getty) Graham Potter has confirmed Kalidou Koulibaly was not included in Chelsea ’s squad for Saturday’s game against Manchester United due to a knee injury. The summer signing from Napoli has endured a difficult start to his Premier League career but had begun to cement his place at the heart of Chelsea’s defence in the absence of fellow new recruit Wesley Fofana. Koulibaly completed 90 minutes against Brentford in midweek as he helped his side snuff out the threat of Ivan Toney and keep a creditable clean sheet in the goalless draw at the Gtech Community Stadium. The 31-year-old, however, felt his knee after the game and wasn’t risked against United forcing Potter into another defensive reshuffle. ‘Just felt his knee at the back end of the game against Brentford,’ Potter told Sky Sports. ‘Not too bad but too soon for this one.’ Chelsea made three other changes including ret...

‘He’s had enough!’ – Roy Keane launches passionate defence of Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo

Image
Roy Keane defended his former Man Utd teammate Cristiano Ronaldo (Photo: Sky Sports) Roy Keane has defended Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo after he refused to be subbed on against Tottenham last Wednesday. Ronaldo disobeyed Erik ten Hag’s instructions during the 2-0 win at Old Trafford, and stormed down the tunnel and left the stadium before full-time. The star forward was subsequently axed from United’s squad to face Chelsea on Saturday. Keane, a former teammate of Ronaldo during his first spell at United, understood the decision to punish him but nonetheless defended the 37-year-old. ‘I try to see it from the player’s point of view,’ Keane told Sky Sports. ‘He’s obviously had enough. He’s lost his head and I think it’s been brewing over the last few weeks with Ronaldo. ‘But I will still try and defend him. He’s a human being, he’s got flaws. He probably feels frustrated that he’s not been getting opportunities and he’s had enough. Ronaldo’s frustration at get...

Jurgen Klopp sends class message to Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi after Liverpool defeat

Image
Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal against Liverpool was only his second for Nottingham Forest (Photo: Getty) Jurgen Klopp says he is happy for Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi after the ex-Liverpool youngster scored the winner against his former club on Saturday. Forest stunned Liverpool 1-0 at the City Ground, with Awoniyi’s 55th minute strike enough to seal all three points and lift Steve Cooper’s side off the bottom of the table. The Nigerian striker was on the Reds’ books from 2015 to 2021, but never played a minute for Klopp’s team, instead spending his time out on loan at various clubs across Europe before finally being sold to Union Berlin. After a very successful season in the Bundesliga, he returned to England in the summer and has had a decent start to life at Forest, especially in the context of their struggles. ‘He [Awoniyi] had a sensational development,’ Klopp said post-match after enduring Liverpool’s latest disappointing result. ‘He has arrived where he belongs and I a...

Jurgen Klopp criticises two Liverpool players after shock Nottingham Forest defeat

Image
Virgil van Dijk squandered Liverpool’s best chances in their defeat against Nottingham Forest (Picture: BT Sport) Jurgen Klopp blamed Liverpool’s impotent attack for Saturday’s shock Premier League defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The Reds appeared to have overcome their early season struggles after recording back-to-back wins over Manchester City and West Ham but were largely toothless against relegation haunted Forest. Klopp was forced to make a number of changes from the side that narrowly overcame the Hammers with both Thiago Alcantara and Darwin Nunez missing out through injury. Liverpool’s best chances came from set-pieces and squandered a number of glaring opportunities with Virgil van Dijk and Roberto Firmino particularly culpable. Van Dijk passed up the best chance of an evenly contested first half when he inexplicably attempted to head the ball across the six yard box and provide Jordan Henderson with a tap-in when he had the goal his mercy. F...

Patrice Evra quizzed about Man Utd’s Premier League title chances

Image
Patrice Evra helped Man Utd win their most recent Premier League title in 2012-13 (Picture: Getty) Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has shared his opinion on his former club’s chances of winning the Premier League title in 2022-23. United are fifth in the Premier League after their opening 10 games prior to Saturday’s trip to Chelsea and a win would see them move up into the top four and go five points behind leaders Arsenal, who face Southampton on Sunday. They finished second in 2020-21 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but last season ended in disaster as the Norwegian was sacked before things got even worse under interim boss Ralf Rangnick , with the club dropping to a sixth-placed finish. But there is renewed optimism under new manager Erik ten Hag, who arrived from Ajax this summer, who has recovered from a shaky start to lead the Red Devils to impressive wins over Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham. Evra helped United become champions of England in 2012-13 – the last time...

Jurgen Klopp explains why Darwin Nunez and Thiago miss Liverpool’s clash with Nottingham Forest

Image
The Merseysiders have been forced to make a number of changes (Picture: Getty) Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is without both Darwin Nunez and Thiago Alcantara for Saturday’s clash against Nottingham Forest but the pair are likely to be back to face Ajax . The Uruguayan striker, an £85million signing from Benfica in the summer, netted the winning goal against West Ham on Wednesday but was withdrawn shortly before the hour mark. Klopp confirmed afterwards that Nunez had ‘felt something’ and would need to be assessed by the club’s medical team, with Saturday’s lunchtime trip to the City Ground coming too soon. In addition to being without the forward, midfielder Thiago has also come down with an ear inflection and was only ruled out in the early hours of the morning. Speaking to BT Sport before kick-off, Klopp said of his missing stars: ‘No [it’s not precautionary], I wish I could do that. For Darwin the game comes too early. ‘He feels the intensity of the game [against West Ham...

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola claims he ‘believes in Liverpool more’ than Jurgen Klopp does

Image
Pep Guardiola’s Man City host Brighton on Saturday (Photo: Getty) Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has aimed a dig at his rival Jurgen Klopp over Liverpool’s title prospects this season. Liverpool beat City 1-0 last Sunday in a heated affair at Anfield and it seems tensions are still relatively high between the two clubs and their managers. Going into the fixture, the Reds were trailing the Citizens by 13 points after an awful start to the season, with Klopp claiming that his team were already out of the running for the Premier League title. This view wasn’t shared by Guardiola who even claimed that Liverpool were still his side’s biggest challengers in the title race, snubbing the likes of Chelsea , Tottenham and league leaders Arsenal in the process. Fast-forward to Friday, and the City boss has now doubled-down on these remarks, even going so far as to say that he has more faith in his rivals than Klopp does. ‘It looks like with my statement I believe more in the Li...

Erik ten Hag insists he wants Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Manchester United

Image
Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Man Utd’s clash at Chelsea (Photo: Getty) Erik ten Hag says he is still ‘counting on’ Cristiano Ronaldo for the rest of the season with the Manchester United star set to miss Saturday’s clash at Chelsea . Ronaldo has been axed from the matchday squad for refusing to come on as a substitute in United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham last Wednesday and leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle. Many have speculated that the 37-year-old, who desperately attempted to leave United in the summer, has played his last game for the Red Devils with his relationship with Ten Hag, his teammates and the club now beyond repair. But Ten Hag says that is not the case at all, and hinted that Ronaldo’s punishment may only apply for the match at Stamford Bridge. In his pre-match press conference, the United manager was asked whether he thought the Portuguese legend would remain at the club for the rest of the season and whether he wanted him to stay. Ten Hag simply repl...

FA won’t investigate Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp over xenophobia accusations

Image
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday (Photo: Getty) The Football Association will not be investigating Jurgen Klopp after the Liverpool manager was accused of making xenophobic comments towards Manchester City ’s owners. Ahead of last Sunday’s game between Liverpool and City, which the Reds won 1-0, Klopp bemoaned the spending power of the three clubs who are backed by Gulf states – City, Newcastle and PSG. ‘What does Liverpool do? We cannot act like them. It is not possible,’ the German said. ‘There are three clubs in world football who can do what they want financially. It’s legal and everything, fine, but they can do what they want.’ The Times  reported that some within the City camp felt these comments were borderline xenophobic and had inflamed tensions between the two clubs, which led to the game being even more heated than usual. Pep Guardiola  was pelted with coins from home fans at Anfield, while away supporters made vile chants ...