Month: July 2020

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Lingard says he wasnt himself this past season

Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard says he was “lost as a player and person” during the 2019-20 season.

Lingard, who was limited to just nine Premier League starts, says the recent campaign had been “difficult for so many reasons”.

“I never wanted to give up,” Lingard posted on Instagram. “I knew who I really was on and off the pitch.

“I knew having been there before I could get there again. It meant working harder than I’d ever done before.”

The England midfielder, 27, had assumed greater responsibility for his younger siblings after his mother fell ill earlier in the season.

His performances for United waned as a result and, speaking to the Daily Mail in December, he said had been “down and glum”.

Lingard revealed he had been told he was on his “last chance” by Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, following an incident on social media last summer.

“I wasn’t performing and he [Solskjaer] was on me all the time. He wanted more from me,” he added.

The midfielder was also reportedly the victim of verbal abuse, including a racial slur, as he boarded the team coach after the club’s FA Cup win at Derby County’s Pride Park in March.

In his latest social media post, Lingard acknowledges the fans “frustrations” but says his “love for this club and everyone connected to it has never left me”.

“This team, this club is my family and I will continue to keep working harder than ever to help this team achieve its goals,” he added.

Lingard’s only league goal came in the eighth minute of stoppage time in his side’s crucial 2-0 win over Leicester City, which sealed third place and a Champions League qualification spot on the final day.

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Werner: Chelsea move was inspired by Lampard

COBHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Timo Werner of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on July 28, 2020 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Chelsea’s newest recruit Timo Werner says playing under manager Frank Lampard was the “main” attraction upon deciding to join the club.

The Germany striker, 24, started training with the Blues this week after completing a £54m switch from RB Leipzig earlier this summer.

“We talked a lot about the system, how he [Lampard] wants to play and sees me playing,” said Werner.

“He knows me now a little bit better and it fits very good between us.”

Werner was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool before signing for Chelsea, and the forward says it is “like a little dream” moving to the west London club.

“When you have a decision to go from your old club and you come to a big club like this, it was for me a dream which came true because Chelsea is a very big club,” he added.

“I know of the players before when they won the Champions League with (Didier) Drogba, with my new manager Frank Lampard, Petr Cech as the technical advisor, it is like a little dream for me.

“But I want to become, not a same player like them, I want to be part of a new era here so I will play to try to give my best.”

While Werner understands the demands of the English top flight, he also believes his attributes are suited to the Premier League.

“The style of the Premier League is very fast and my speciality is that I am really fast so I think it is perfect for me to play here,” Werner told Chelsea’s official club website.

“It is another league in another country so I can improve myself to bring it to another level, so those are the reasons I come to the Premier League and to Chelsea.”

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ARTHUR TO FACE BARCELONA DISCIPLINARY ACTION AFTER SNUBBING TRAINING

Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo could face sanctions for failing to turn up at training with Barcelona, who concluded a deal to sell him to Juventus a month ago.

The Catalan club say the player is under contract until the end of the season and have demanded he return, with the local press claiming he was in his native Brazil.

“The player has not joined the squad as expected and we are considering a course of action,” a club statement said.

Arthur has been sold to Juventus in a deal worth 72 million euros ($81 million) with Bosnian playmaker Miralem Pjanic moving in the opposite direction for a similar fee at season’s end.

The player had been reluctant to leave the Camp Nou and even released a statement in April, insisting his “idea was clear” and that he wanted to play at Barcelona “for many years”.

Barca coach Quique Setien said in a press conference at the time of the sale: “We expect the greatest commitment from him until the last day he is here.”

Sources from the spanish club say the player maintains Setien had told him he had played his last game with the La Liga club. Arthur has not featured for Barca since the transfer was announced on June 29.

Barcelona resumed training on Tuesday ahead of their Champions League last-16 second leg with Napoli next month.

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NAPOLI REPORTEDLY FINALISE DEAL FOR VICTOR OSIMHEN

Napoli’s deal for Victor Osimhen is done. The official announcements are forthcoming to complete the striker’s move from Lille to Napoli.

On Tuesday morning the azzurri defined the last elements related to Osimhen’s new agents. That deal was completed, alongside the already completed deal with Lille.

The French club will receive €50m payable over five years, plus bonuses tied principally to Napoli’s future progression in the Champions League (from quarterfinal through trophy winners), essentially a percentage of prize earnings Napoli would get from UEFA.

Osimhen will sign a contract worth around an average of €4m after taxes per season plus bonuses. Napoli’s Karnezis, if he approves of the destination, will move to Lille but in any case the deal is a different one with respect to Osimhen’s transfer.


Once the signing is made official by the Italian side, Victor Osimhen will be the most expensive African player in world football.

The Nigerian’s move from Lille ought to have been finalised in the past week but important paper works slowed down the move.

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MANCITY V REAL MADRID UCL FIXTURE THREATENED BY FRESH COVID-19 POSITIVE CASE

Mariano Diaz has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the Champions League clash against Manchester City.

The 26-year-old will not feature against Man City in next month’s Round of 16 second leg tie.

He has also entered a period of self-isolation and quarantine.

Mariano hasn’t started a single game this season and has made just four substitute appearances for Real Madrid.

Man City vs. Real Madrid could now be in serious doubt following the positive COVID-19 not to mention Spain’s recent wave of coronavirus, which has seen the country placed on UK’s quarantine list.

But Madrid have been made exempt from strict rules preventing travellers from Spain coming here without a fortnight’s quarantine.

Though news that there is a positive result within the Spanish side’s camp could prevent the second leg from happening.

The Champions League fixture is currently scheduled for August 7 at the Etihad with Man City leading Real Madrid following their 2-1 victory in February.

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EXPOSED! CAS REVEALS NINE EPL CLUBS WHO OPPOSED MANCITY’S UCL BAN LIFT

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) have confirmed that nine Premier League clubs wrote to them back in March asking them not to lift Manchester City’s European ban.

The Citizens were found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations back in February, after the Adjudicatory Chamber of UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) stated that the club had broken the rules by ‘overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016’.

Subsequently, the club were handed a two-year ban from Europe and a €30m fine. The former of which has, of course, since been overturned while City will instead have to pay a €10m fine for failing to co-operate with UEFA throughout the process.

CAS confirmed that while City appealed their punishment, nine Premier League clubs wrote to them after the initial ruling pleading for them not to overturn the two-year ban.

Those clubs were: Arsenal, Burnley, Chelsea, Leicester, Liverpool, Man Utd, Newcastle, Spurs and Wolves.

While it makes sense for the European contenders to be keen on another spot opening up in both the Champions and Europa League, it’s interesting to see Burnley and Newcastle among those opposed City’s reinstatement.

Nevertheless, while the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho lamented the lifting of City’s European ban with the latter labeling the decision as “disgraceful” , City boss Pep Guardiola handed out some particularly harsh words for Arsenal following his side’s exit in the FA Cup semi-finals at the hands of the Gunners and former assistant Mikel Arteta.

“And Arsenal, I have all the respect for what they are on the pitch, not much off the pitch,” he said, due to the Gunners’ then suspected – now confirmed – role in the letter handed to CAS by the group of clubs.

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JURGEN KLOPP WINS SAF MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was awarded the League Managers Association Sir Alex Ferguson Manager of the Year trophy on Monday.

Marcelo Bielsa, who oversaw Leeds United’s first return to the Premier League in 16 years, won the Championship equivalent and Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes was handed the Women’s Super League edition of the award.

Klopp guided Liverpool to their first-ever Premier League title and a first title in England’s top flight in 30 years this season, after leading the Reds to a Champions League crown in 2018-19.

After accepting the award, Klopp said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be named the winner of the League Managers Association Manager of the Year Award for this wonderful Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy, named after a man that I admire so much. It feels extra special to win this award because it is voted for by my fellow managers.”

The German coach pipped Bielsa, Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth and last year’s winner Chris Wilder of Sheffield United to the Alex Ferguson Trophy named after the former Manchester United manager.

“It’s an honour to be in the company of so many managers who have been named as LMA Manager of the Year before, including of course Liverpool managers like Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Sir Kenny Dalglish and, in recent years, Brendan Rodgers,” Klopp said.

“Everything we have accomplished at Liverpool this year couldn’t have been done without the superb input of my coaching staff; they make us a really special bunch of football brains. I love to work with my coaches, my players and everyone at LFC and, of course, I am thankful for the support from all our wonderful Liverpool fans.”

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was named the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year on July 24.

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ARTHUR WANTS BARCA EXIT BEFORE UCL RESTART

Arthur Melo and Barcelona are negotiating the midfielder’s early release from the club following a lack of minutes since his transfer to Juventus was confirmed, sources say.

The relationship between Arthur and Barca has soured in recent weeks to the point that he no longer wants to be involved in the club’s Champions League campaign, which resumes against Napoli on Aug. 8.

Barca’s players underwent the latest round of coronavirus testing on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s return to training to plan for that last-16 second-leg game (they drew 1-1 in Italy).

However, Arthur did not turn up and Spanish sources said that he doesn’t want to be involved in the preparations and would prefer that his Camp Nou stay ended immediately.

Arthur, 23, did not feature in any of Barca’s final six games after the Juve deal, which is worth a potential €82 million, was announced on June 30.

At the time, Barca said Arthur would remain available for selection for the rest of the season, as would Miralem Pjanic for Juventus, who is moving in the other direction for €60m.

However, the Brazil international has grown frustrated by his lack of game time since the deal was confirmed. He wasn’t among the substitutes for the final league game against Alaves, despite Barca having only three outfield changes.

Coach Quique Setien said Arthur claimed he had an ankle problem but the Catalan club did not release a statement regarding any injury, which is customary when players miss matches with fitness issues.

Setien had previously said that Arthur would play for the club again only if it was absolutely necessary.

That could have been the case against Napoli, with midfielders Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal both suspended, but the emergence of Riqui Puig has further pushed Arthur down the pecking order, making it highly unlikely he features again before moving to Italy.

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LIVERPOOL EYEING SCHALKE’S KABAK AS DEJAN LOVREN’S REPLACEMENT

Liverpool are reportedly interested in trying to sign Schalke 04 defender Ozan Kabak.

The 20-year-old Turkish centre-back has been at the heart of the Reds’ pursuit for a new defender in the wake of Dejan Lovren’s move away from Anfield.

Lovren has joined Zenit St Petersburg for almost £11 million, and in response to that, Liverpool will attempt to try and make the signing of Kabak a reality.

For now, though, Schalke are demanding a fee of at least £31.8m before agreeing to sell the youngster.

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BRIGHTON COMPLETE SIGNING OF ADAM LALLANA FROM LIVERPOOL

Brighton have confirmed the signing of midfielder Adam Lallana from Liverpool on a three-year contract.

The former Southampton star had been undergoing a medical with the Seagulls but his move has now gone through after celebrating the Premier League title with the Reds last week.

Speaking for the first time since signing with the club, Lallana said it was ‘the perfect match’, admitting it was an easy choice after Brighton made him feel ‘wanted’.

‘I can’t wait, it’s a breath of fresh air coming down here… having my medical done, everything’s new and It’s challenge I’m looking forward to and I can’t wait to get started.

‘The whole infrastructure and ambition around Brighton excites me. There is so much young talent, so much ability.

The manager’s highly sought after and it was a pretty easy choice in the end – especially given how much Brighton have reached out and its nice to know you’re wanted and I think it’s a perfect match.’

His new manager Graham Potter said he was looking forward to working with him and hailed his ‘wealth of experience’, insisting there was ‘no doubting’ his quality.

‘There is no doubting Adam’s quality, and if you look at his footballing CV his ability is clear for everyone to see,’ Potter said.

‘He has played at the very highest level, for both club and country, and achieved great things. He has a wealth of experience alongside his technical quality.

‘The honours he won during his time at Liverpool, and the high regard in which he is held at Anfield, only further underline his ability and character.

‘Adam is a really exciting signing for us, someone I am sure the supporters will be really looking forward to seeing play as and when things are able to begin to return to normal.

‘To have both his experience and quality out on the pitch will be a great addition for us, and I know he will be an excellent role model for our younger players in the squad.

‘I am really looking forward to working with him when we return for pre-season training in a few weeks.’

Lallana posted a picture of himself holding up a Brighton shirt on Instagram. The 32-year-old, who will wear the number 14 shirt, said he ‘couldn’t be more excited’ to begin the new chapter and was ‘proud’ to be linking up with the club.

So a new adventure begins,’ he wrote. ‘Couldn’t be more excited… a club with ambition and hunger to match my own. I’m ready for it. Delighted and proud to be joining the Brighton family. Can’t wait to get started.’

Lallana arrives at Brighton having won a host of trophies for Liverpool in his six years at Anfield. An impressive CV includes the Premier League title, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

He joined Liverpool in 2014 after catching the eye at boyhood side Southampton and went on to play 178 games for the club scoring 22 goals.