Six Nations: Launchbury injury blow opens door for Itoje to make full England debut versus Ireland February 24, 2016 Saracens lock Maro Itoje is in line to make his first international start after fellow second row Joe Launchbury was last night ruled out of England’s Six Nations showdown against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday. Launchbury had been named in head coach Eddie Jones’ 23-man matchday squad for the clash but has failed to recover from [...]
Arsenal 0, Barcelona 2: Lethal Messi gives Gunners deja vu February 23, 2016 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger blamed his team’s failure to learn from previous mistakes after Barcelona condemned them to an all-but certain Champions League exit at the first knockout round for a sixth year in a row. Two goals in the last 20 minutes from star Lionel Messi, the second a penalty, decided this first leg [...]
Rookie Daly set for England bow in Six Nations clash with Ireland February 23, 2016 Uncapped Wasps centre Elliot Daly is in line for his international debut after being named in England head coach Eddie Jones’s 23-man squad for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland at Twickenham. Daly’s inclusion coupled with the omission of Northampton lock Courtney Lawes is the only change from the matchday party on duty against Italy [...]
Pellegrini denies shadow of Guardiola has derailed City’s silverware tilt this season February 23, 2016 Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini last night denied that the shadow cast by the impending arrival of Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium has derailed his side’s tilt for silverware this season. City beat Sunderland the day after announcing that departing Bayern Munich boss Guardiola would replace the Chilean at the end of the current [...]
Beckham urges United to give Van Gaal more time but also calls for Mourinho’s Premier League return February 23, 2016 Former England skipper David Beckham believes under-fire boss Louis van Gaal should be given more time by his old club Manchester United but also wants to see Jose Mourinho back in the Premier League as soon as possible. Van Gaal has overseen a turbulent campaign at Old Trafford which sees fifth-placed United currently six points [...]
Shrewsbury Town 0, Manchester United 3: We needed help from Europa League conquerors FC Midtjylland to make FA Cup progress, admits Van Gaal February 22, 2016 Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal admitted that playmaker Juan Mata’s contentious free-kick was stolen from Europa League conquerors FC Midtjylland after the 11-time FA Cup winners cruised past League One strugglers Shrewsbury Town. A second-half strike from Jesse Lingard complemented goals in the opening period by Chris Smalling and Mata as United set up [...]
All I say is ‘abracadabra’ and Messi, Suarez and Neymar conjure magic, says Enrique as Barcelona bid to outgun Arsenal February 22, 2016 Barcelona boss Luis Enrique revelled in the ease of conjuring magic from his aces in the pack Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar as the lethal striking trident bid to outgun Arsenal. Messi, Suarez and Neymar have netted an astonishing 91 goals between them this season, while reigning European champions and La Liga leaders Barcelona [...]
Farrell in line for axing should Tuilagi earn England recall, admits head coach Jones February 22, 2016 England head coach Eddie Jones admits that vice-captain Owen Farrell is in the firing line to be axed should centre Manu Tuilagi earn a recall up for his side’s penultimate Six Nations clash against Wales next month. Jones watched from the stands as Tuilagi made his return for club side Leicester against Harlequins on Friday [...]
Fiorentina 1, Tottenham Hotspur 1: Pochettino warns Alli to cool it and learn self-control February 18, 2016 Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino insists teenage midfielder Dele Alli must learn to curb his devilish streak after escaping with a yellow card following a petulant kick at defender Nenad Tomovic during his side’s draw with Fiorentina last night. Spurs will take a potentially critical away goal into next week’s second leg after midfielder Nacer Chadli [...]
Augsburg 0, Liverpool 0: Klopp demands more from Reds after dour draw on return home February 18, 2016 Inpatient Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp refused to conceal his frustration at his side’s failure to beat relegation-threatened Bundesliga outfit Augsburg on his return to Germany in last night’s Europa League last-32 first leg. Striker Daniel Sturridge wasted Liverpool’s best effort on goal in a largely dour contest, while former Sunderland striker Ji Dong-won flirted with winning [...]