Category: football

Categories
football Slides Sports News Transfer News

TOTTENHAM CLOSING IN ON ANTONIO CONTE AFTER SACKING NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO

ENFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: New Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte poses for a photo at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 01, 2021 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Tottenham are closing in on the appointment of Antonio Conte as their new boss after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo.

Spurs fired Nuno after just four months on Monday morning following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester United where the fans turned on him.

They moved quickly to find a successor, renewing interest in former Chelsea boss Conte, who was close to getting the job before Nuno in June.

The two parties were in advanced discussions on Monday, the PA news agency understands, with the Italian believed to be in London ahead of a possible announcement.

A deal would see Conte, who has been out of work since leaving Inter Milan at the end of last season, return to the Premier League where he guided Chelsea to the title in 2016-17, adding an FA Cup the following season.

Conte, who delivered the Scudetto to Inter before departing, had previously been in advanced talks with Spurs about becoming Jose Mourinho’s successor in June, but they broke down after the two parties were at odds over key issues.

However, managing director Fabio Paratici is now in position at the Premier League club and has a strong relationship with the 52-year-old, having worked with him at Juventus.

And it looks like any differences will be overcome, with chairman Daniel Levy turning to the serial winner to turn Spurs back into a force in English football.

Nuno was relieved of his duties after Levy and Paratici met on Sunday to discuss his future, with the news delivered early on Monday morning.

The Portuguese was a condemned man following the loss to United at the weekend, where fans chanted ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ and roundly booed him at full-time.

And a statement from Tottenham on Monday morning read: “The club can today announce that Nuno Espirito Santo and his coaching staff Ian Cathro, Rui Barbosa and Antonio Dias have been relieved of their duties.”

Paratici said: “I know how much Nuno and his coaching staff wanted to succeed and I regret that we have had to take this decision. Nuno is a true gentleman and will always be welcome here. We should like to thank him and his coaching staff and wish them well for the future.”

Nuno’s appointment on June 30 ended a 72-day managerial search following Jose Mourinho’s sacking six days before the Carabao Cup final.

The former Wolves boss was previously discounted from the role by Levy for his pragmatic style of play, but after the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Brendan Rogers, Erik Ten Hag, Mauricio Pochettino and Conte proved elusive, the chairman was eventually persuaded by Paratici to appoint Nuno.

It started well as, amid the backdrop of Harry Kane’s summer transfer saga, they won their first three Premier League games, including an opening day 1-0 victory over Manchester City which helped win Nuno August’s manager of the month.

However, they lost five of their next seven games and the style of play flew in the face of Levy’s demands for “free-flowing, attacking and entertaining football”.

The losses to West Ham and Manchester United in their last two Premier League matches have seen them go two hours and 16 minutes without having a shot on target.

Conte could be in charge for the Europa Conference League clash with Vitesse Arnhem on Thursday night, with a Premier League trip to Everton following on Sunday.

Categories
football Sports News

RAUL JIMENEZ SCORES HIS FIRST HOME GOAL FOR OVER A YEAR AS WOLVES BEAT EVERTON

Raul Jimenez bagged his first Molineux goal for over a year to inspire Wolves to a narrow 2-1 win over Everton.

The forward, fit again after recovering from a life-threatening fractured skull 12 months ago, scored at home for the first time since October 2020.

It was also his 50th goal for Wolves – and second of the season – as the Mexico international proved beyond doubt he has lost nothing following the horror injury.

Max Kilman’s first goal for the hosts set them on their way and they now sit seventh in the Premier League.

They lost four of their first five under Bruno Lage but are now unbeaten in five games, winning four, to join the clutch of clubs around the European spots.

Wolves moved above Everton, despite Alex Iwobi’s second-half goal threatening a comeback following the Toffees’ aimless first half, and Rafa Benitez’s side have lost their last three.

Ruben Neves set the tone early when his sharp volley tested Jordan Pickford, with Mason Holgate hacking away Conor Coady’s attempted follow up.

In front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate, Pickford was in action again soon after when he turned Francisco Trincao’s fine 25-yard effort over.

Yet even Pickford needed bailing out by VAR when Hwang Hee-chan broke through after 18 minutes as Everton struggled to contain the bright and efficient hosts.

Jimenez’s fine run ended with him slipping in Hwang, who squeezed the ball into the corner from six yards, but Wolves’ celebrations were cut short with the striker fractionally offside.

Everton were clearly smarting from last week’s 5-2 humbling at home to Watford and appeared to have picked up where they left off during the chaotic late defeat.

Then, the Toffees conceded four in the final 12 minutes and they imploded again by conceding two in four minutes thanks to calamitous defending.

After 28 minutes Jimenez won a corner for Rayan Ait-Nouri to sling in and Kilman beat Michael Keane, Andros Townsend and Ben Godfrey to head past Pickford.

It was the defender’s first goal for Wolves, with his only other career strike coming for Maidenhead against Dover three years ago.

Then Jimenez got the goal he had waited over a year for when Godfrey gift-wrapped it for him.

The defender’s woeful back pass lacked any weight to reach Pickford and Jimenez caught Holgate on his heels to race through and dink the ball over the exposed goalkeeper.

Despite Wolves’ dominance Demarai Gray and Holgate missed fine chances at the end of the half and Fabian Delph replaced Jean-Philippe Gbamin – who made just his second league start for Everton since joining in 2019 – at the break.

Anything above the lacklustre first half would have been an improvement and the Toffees showed glimpses of a fightback, Kilman blocking a Gray drive, before Jose Sa escaped embarrassment 10 minutes after the break.

The goalkeeper’s clearance was charged down by Richarlison but he recovered in time to deny the striker.

The much-improved visitors then survived when Jimenez’s header hit a post before Iwobi struck to test Wolves’ nerves with 24 minutes left.

Godfrey’s speculative drive from distance was blocked by Coady but it fell straight to the previously anonymous Iwobi to finish under Sa.

Wolves regrouped and Trincao poked wide while referee Martin Atkinson changed his mind after initially awarding a penalty for Holgate’s foul on Trincao, only to give a free-kick outside the box.

Sa then clinched Wolves’ win with a stunning one-handed save to turn away Anthony Gordon’s header with four minutes left.

Categories
football Sports News

BARCA’S SERGIO AGUERO TO MISS THREE MONTHS DUE TO CARDIOLOGICAL ISSUES

Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero will be unavailable for at least the next three months after undergoing “a diagnostic and therapeutic process” for a cardiological issue.

The 33-year-old former Manchester City forward was taken to hospital on Saturday after leaving the field early in Barca’s 1-1 draw at home to Alaves in LaLiga.

Aguero was making his first start at the Nou Camp since his summer transfer but his evening lasted just 41 minutes.

The Argentinian reported chest discomfort and appeared to be suffering breathing problems, although he managed to walk from the field as he was replaced by Philippe Coutinho.

A Barca statement on Monday read: “The first team player Sergio Aguero has been subjected to a diagnostic and therapeutic process by Dr Josep Brugada.

“He is unavailable for selection and during the next three months the effectiveness of treatment will be evaluated in order to determine his recovery process.

“The Argentine was taken to hospital for cardiological evaluation on Saturday following the Barca v Alaves game in which the Barca striker felt unwell in the first half and was replaced before half-time by Philippe Coutinho.”

Speaking ahead of Barca’s Champions League Group E match against Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine on Tuesday, caretaker coach Sergi Barjuan said Aguero remains “calm”.

Barjuan said: “I talked to him and he’s calm. He’s confined to his room but considering the situation he’s calm.”

Aguero’s former team Manchester City, for whom he scored a record-breaking 260 goals, sent a message of support and wished him well, as did former team-mate Raheem Sterling.

Sterling tweeted on Sunday: “Stay strong my brother @aguerosergiokun, we’re all with you. Get well soon.”

Categories
football Slides Sports News

TOTTENHAM SACK NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO AFTER FOUR MONTH IN CHARGE

Tottenham have sacked Nuno Espirito Santo after only four months in charge of the club.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy held crisis talks yesterday following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester United and has dismissed Nuno, who was appointed as Jose Mourinho’s successor after a protracted search this summer.

Levy, who was already worried about recent results and performances, was furious was the manner of the United defeat and has decided make a change with Tottenham eighth in the Premier League.

A short statement on the club’s website confirmed the sacking: “The Club can today announce that Nuno Espírito Santo and his coaching staff Ian Cathro, Rui Barbosa and Antonio Dias have been relieved of their duties.

“A further coaching update will follow in due course.”

Spurs will now begin a search to replace Nuno, with Porto manager Sergio Conceicao and Paulo Fonseca being considered as potential candidates. Antonio Conte is being strongly linked with the job in Italy.

Nuno was appointed on a two-year contract in June. He departs after just 124 days and 17 games in charge with Spurs 10 points behind leaders Chelsea.

“I know how much Nuno and his coaching staff wanted to succeed and I regret that we have had to take this decision,” said Spurs’ managing director Fabio Paratici.

“Nuno is a true gentleman and will always be welcome here. We should like to thank him and his coaching staff and wish them well for the future.”

His exit makes Nuno’s the shortest tenure of Levy’s ten permanent appointments at Tottenham.

Tottenham supporters sang “You don’t know what you’re doing” at the former Wolves boss as the atmosphere turned toxic during Saturday’s defeat by United and Levy has lost faith in him.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

PSG CONSIDERING CANCELLING SERGIO RAMOS’ CONTRACT FIVE MONTHS INTO NIGHTMARE SPELL

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly pondering the possibility of terminating Sergio Ramos’ mammoth contract just months after sanctioning it. Ramos is still yet to kick a ball for the French giants following his summer move from Real Madrid.

The Spanish defender has been ruled out with a calf complaint for the past three months and hasn’t played since Real’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Chelsea back in May.

Despite that, it’s estimated that the 35-year-old has already pocketed in excess of £4million during his five-month stay in Paris based on the extortionate sums that have been circulated in relation to his salary.

And reports in France are now suggesting that PSG chiefs are growing weary of the situation regarding the veteran defender and that ripping up his expensive new contract ‘hasn’t been ruled out’.

“The trust that some placed in the defender at the time of his signing, or even after his calf injury a few weeks later, is no longer unshakable today,” Le Parisien reports.

But PSG would need to come to a compromise on compensation with Ramos – who may not be willing to play ball on being shunted out of the club just months into a two-year agreement.

Ramos’ arrival was seen as a coup by the club as they finally bid to end their wait for European glory under Mauricio Pochettino this term.

The Spanish international’s was just one of an influx of expensive new arrivals alongside ex-Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Gini Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi and Gianluigi Donnarumma. But so far, PSG’s trio of free signings, Ramos, Messi and Wijnaldum, have struggled to meet lofty expectations at the Parc des Princes.

Messi was hooked off at half time during PSG’s 2-1 victory over last season’s Lige 1 champions, Lille, and is still yet to find the net for his new side in the league this term

Categories
football Slides Sports News

MAN UTD EASE PRESSURE ON MANAGER SOLSKJAER WITH WIN AT TOTTENHAM

Manchester United eased the pressure on under-fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with an easy 3-0 win at Tottenham which saw the heat turned up on Nuno Espirito Santo.

Solskjaer is battling for his job after last weekend’s 5-0 humiliation by Liverpool, but as has been the case so often during his reign at United, his team delivered a result when he needed it the most.

A brilliant goal by Cristiano Ronaldo – his 11th against Tottenham, the most of any English opponent – and second-half strikes from Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford saw United coast to the points in north London and gave the Norwegian a bit of breathing space.

He will not be out of the woods just yet, though, with a Champions League trip to Atalanta and the Manchester derby to come in the next week.

While Solskjaer will have enjoyed his evening, the same cannot be said for Nuno as the Tottenham fans turned on their boss Nuno, chanting ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ and made their feelings clear at full-time with a loud chorus of boos.

The Portuguese seems like a man condemned and with his side toothless in attack and unable to muster a shot on target during the 90 minutes, patience in the fanbase is already running out.

Spurs could have gone into the top four with a win, but that never looked on the cards and with five wins and five defeats from their opening 10 games, a challenge for Champions League qualification looks beyond this team.

Both sides had chances to grab the upper hand in the opening 10 minutes as Son Heung-min had an effort deflected wide and at the other end Cavani’s shot was blocked by Eric Dier.

Tottenham began to grow into the game and should have taken the lead midway through the first half.

After United cleared a corner Lucas Moura’s clipped ball over the top found Son, but the South Korean poked over from close range having taken control of the ball well.

Five minutes later Spurs thought they had taken the lead as Cristian Romero turned in Dier’s header from a corner at the far post, but he was several yards offside.

It felt like it was the hosts who had the momentum, but United wrestled it away in the 39th minute with a moment of quality that was made and finished in Portugal.

Ronaldo cleverly peeled off Ben Davies’ shoulder and his compatriot Bruno Fernandes picked him out with a pinpoint cross.

There was plenty for the 36-year-old still to do, but his finish was superb, sending a low first-time volley across Hugo Lloris and into the far post as he continued his love affair of scoring against Spurs.

He was celebrating a second early in the second half after another emphatic finish, but he went slightly early with his run and it was ruled out for offside.

Tottenham fans were not happy with what they were witnessing and turned on Nuno when he substituted Moura in the 54th minute.

Boos rang loudly around the stadium followed by chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’.

The mood soured even more in the 64th minute as United doubled their lead.

Oliver Skipp was robbed of possession in the centre circle, Fernandes passed to Ronaldo, who played in an onside Cavani and his clipped finish was stylish.

United killed the game four minutes from time as substitute Rashford coolly slotted home after being played in by Nemanja Matic.

That incensed Tottenham fans even further and they chanted for Nuno’s sacking and the removal of chairman Daniel Levy.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

SEAN DYCHE CELEBRATES NINE YEARS AT BURNLEY WITH WIN OVER BRENTFORD

Burnley registered their first win of the Premier League season as they beat Brentford 3-1 at Turf Moor on the day Sean Dyche reached nine years as Clarets boss.

The hosts netted three times without reply in the first half, with Chris Wood lashing the opener past Premier League debutant Alvaro Fernandez in the fourth minute.

Matt Lowton added a header in the 32nd and Maxwel Cornet then struck to make it 3-0 four minutes later.

Brentford substitute Saman Ghoddos pulled a goal back with 11 minutes of normal time remaining, but the visitors were unable to spoil Dyche’s anniversary as his side took maximum points for the first time in 10 league outings this season, and 13 including the end of last term.

It saw Burnley move out of the relegation zone, up a place to 17th, while Thomas Frank’s Bees remain 12th after their third successive league defeat.

Burnley grabbed the lead early when Lowton lofted the ball forward on the right and Ethan Pinnock tried to intercept but could not prevent it running to Wood, who cracked a shot beyond Fernandez.

The hosts continued to push, with Wood causing further problems for Brentford and penalty appeals being waved away by referee Jon Moss after Ashley Westwood went down in the box.

And Burnley then had the ball in the net again on the quarter-hour mark, Cornet finishing having been teed up by Wood, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside via a VAR check.

An encouraging spell for Brentford followed, in which Ivan Toney brought a good save out of Nick Pope.

But soon after, it was Fernandez doing well to thwart Johann Berg Gudmundsson one-on-one, and moments later Burnley did double their advantage as Lowton rose to head in Charlie Taylor’s cross.

Clarets fans had barely finished celebrating that when Dyche’s men scored again as Cornet, in delightful fashion, notched his fourth goal in five league appearances since joining the club, bringing down a pass from Dwight McNeil and then smashing the ball past Fernandez from the edge of the box.

It could have got even worse for Brentford before the interval, with Wood seeing one shot deflected behind and sending another just over.

Wood then put a header wide shortly after the break, before Pope dived to push away a Christian Norgaard shot.

Lowton and McNeil made unsuccessful attempts with strikes around the hour mark, and Norgaard and Toney were subsequently off-target with efforts at the other end.

After McNeil sent a free-kick wide of the near post, Brentford then reduced the deficit via a superb volley from Ghoddos, but they could not make things any more nervy for Burnley in the closing stages.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

AARON RAMSDALE STARS AS ARSENAL BEAT LEICESTER TO CONTINUE EXCELLENT FORM

Arsenal reaped the benefits of a fast start as they continued their fine run with victory at Leicester on Saturday, with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in inspired form.

Gabriel Magalhaes and Emile Smith Rowe – with his fourth goal in seven games – had the visitors on top within the opening 20 minutes at the King Power Stadium and Arsenal headed back down the M1 with a 2-0 win after stoutly defending their advantage.

The victory is a seventh in nine across all competitions for Mikel Arteta’s side, who showed glitz and guile in equal measure to outfox Leicester.

Brendan Rodgers has overseen something of a mini-revival after Leicester’s slow start to the season almost paralleled that of Arsenal, but – after beating Manchester United here last time out in the league – they could not find a way back into the game.

Even Jamie Vardy, fit enough to start following a knee injury, could not inspire a comeback and add to his 10 goals in 12 previous appearances against one of his favourite opponents.

Arsenal set the tone early, with Bukayo Saka – on his 100th appearance for the club – seeing an effort blocked which Daniel Amartey almost inadvertently then steered into his own goal.

Scoring from set-pieces is becoming a regular occurrence for the Gunners and it was a Gabriel header from Saka’s corner which broke the deadlock as the Brazilian celebrated his first goal since March.

Smith Rowe doubled the lead on 18 minutes, continuing his fine form with the latest England squad announcement looming.

With Alexandre Lacazette battling for the ball in the box, it was cleared into the path of the academy graduate, who made no mistake with a clinical finish.

Benjamin White has made a fine start to life at Arsenal and was passed fit to play here after illness, but he conceded a silly free-kick on the edge of his own box as half-time approached.

James Maddison, a reported summer target for Arsenal, bent over a perfect effort which Ramsdale did brilliantly to tip onto the post at full stretch, jumping back up to keep out Jonny Evans’ effort from the rebound.

The save was so good, even Peter Schmeichel, whose son Kasper was in goal at the other end, tweeted that it was the best he had “seen for years”.

Rodgers reacted to the hosts’ first-half display by introducing Harvey Barnes and Ademola Lookman, with the Foxes much brighter following the restart.

Luke Thomas, in for the injured Ricardo Pereira, drove an effort just wide, with Arteta’s response to Arsenal’s loosening grip on proceedings seeing Martin Odegaard replace Lacazette.

Still Leicester pushed as Ramsdale turned a Lookman shot behind, the former Sheffield United goalkeeper becoming increasingly important as he then made himself big to save from Barnes.

Vardy’s chances had been quite limited and he uncharacteristically miscued a header as the game entered the final quarter with Arsenal still holding on.

Evans was arguably lucky to avoid a red card as he dragged Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang down with no other defenders around him but was only booked by referee Michael Oliver.

Schmeichel made a big save of his own soon after, keeping out Aubameyang’s effort from five yards out, with Leicester unable to find a way through in the closing stages as Arsenal held on for the three points.

Categories
football Sports News

BARCELONA’S SERGIO AGUERO TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER CHEST PAIN EXPERIENCE

Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero has been admitted to hospital for a cardiac exam after experiencing chest pain during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Alaves.

Aguero, 33, had to be taken off before half-time after being attended to on the Camp Nou pitch by Barca’s medical team for a lengthy period of time.

The Argentina international was eventually able to walk off the field before being transferred to hospital where he underwent tests to determine the nature of the problem.

“The first team player Sergio Aguero reported chest discomfort and has been admitted to the hospital for a cardiac exam,” Barca said in a brief statement after the game.

Aguero will continue in hospital on Sunday to undergo further exams after suffering an arrhythmia during Saturday’s game.

Barca also lost Gerard Pique to a calf strain against Alaves to further increase their injury woes. Sergi Roberto, Ronald Araujo, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Ansu Fati, Ousmane Dembele and Martin Braithwaite all missed Saturday’s game with various fitness issues.

Aguero, who joined Barca from Manchester City in the summer on a free transfer, only made his debut for the club earlier in October after he injured his calf in preseason training.

He scored his first goal in the Clasico defeat to Real Madrid last weekend and followed that up with his first start in Wednesday’s surprise loss to Rayo Vallecano.

The game against Alaves marked his second start in a week as Barca’s winless run stretched to three games in LaLiga.

With interim coach Sergi Barjuan on the touch line following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman in midweek, Memphis Depay gave Barca the lead in the second half.

Luis Rioja equalised almost immediately for Alaves to earn a point for the Basque side and leave Barca languishing in ninth in the league table with 16 points from 11 games.

“It’s a bad point,” defender Jordi Alba told reporters after the game. “Anything other than three points is bad for Barca, but especially now seeing where we are in the standings.

“We did enough but we are struggling to score and it takes very little for teams to score against us. We are all trying but it’s tough.”

Barjuan will remain in charge for Tuesday’s must-win game against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League as the search for a new manager goes on.

Categories
football Sports News

IBRAHIMOVIC NETS 400TH LEAGUE GOAL AS AC MILAN EDGE AS ROMA

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 150th Serie A goal as AC Milan inflicted Jose Mourinho’s first home defeat in the Italian top flight with a 2-1 win over AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday to keep pace with Serie A leaders Napoli.

The 40-year-old striker rifled a low free kick into the bottom corner in the 25th minute to put the visitors ahead after a lively start, his 400th goal in total in domestic leagues.

Ibrahimovic had a brilliantly finished second ruled out for offside after the break, just like team mate Rafael Leao in the first half, before going down under Roger Ibanez’s challenge to earn a spot kick that Franck Kessie converted in the 57th minute.

Milan were reduced to 10 men for the final 25 minutes after left-back Theo Hernandez was shown a second yellow card, but Stephan El Shaarawy’s stoppage-time strike was not enough to rescue the game for Roma.

Victory leaves Milan second, level on 31 points with leaders Napoli, and 12 points ahead of fourth-placed Roma.