AAO KHELEIN

Leeds [UK], Jan 01 (ANI): Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he is trying to structure his side around German striker Mesut Ozil. "I'm not surprised. I know the ability, I know the player we have there. The structure has to help him for him to take everything that he has inside," Goal.com quoted Arteta as saying. "That's what I'm hoping, that he can sustain that level every three or four days. He's putting in everything he has to try to do that," he added. Praising the 31-year-old experienced forward, Arteta said, "His numbers, physically, have improved so much, and he's willing. That's what I can tell you from every day what I see in training." Ozil played in an advanced role against Chelsea, forming a front four alongside Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Reiss Nelson. "On his own, he cannot do it. He needs the collective structure, organisation, and his team-mates. There are only one or two players in ...

Buenos Aires, Jan 1 (IANS) Former Italy international striker Daniel Osvaldo has come out of retirement to play for Argentinean first division club Banfield, according to widespread local media reports. The Argentina-born 33-year-old agreed to a one year contract after meeting with head coach Julio Cesar Falcioni in Buenos Aires this week, local newspaper Clarin reported. He is expected to join his new teammates for their first training session of 2020 on Friday, reports Xinhua news agency. Oswaldo has not played competitive football since retiring after a brief spell with Boca Juniors in early 2016. Capped 14 times for Italy, Osvaldo's career includes spells at Fiorentina, Espanyol, Roma, Southampton, Juventus, Inter Milan and Porto. Banfield are currently placed at the 16th spot in the 24-team Argentinian Superliga, which is in the midst of a summer recess. Osvaldo's first match for his new club is expected to be a home clash against Patronato on January 26. aak/dpb ...

Leeds [UK], Jan 1 (ANI): Ahead of the clash against Manchester United in the Premier League, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said 'every game for the club is a must-win'. "Every game for us is a must-win. Against any opponent, we have to win. We are Arsenal and these are the demands," Goal.com quoted Arteta as saying. "The second goal that we conceded was in a transition where we had a bad structure and organisation when defending big spaces with equal numbers," he added. Arsenal faced a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea on Sunday after scoring an early goal. The hosts conceded two late goals by Jorginho and Tammy Abraham. Arteta is familiar with the quality of players Manchester United have and hope that Arnesal will not give them the opportunity to score. "We made one half-bad decision and these things are similar, with space they [United] can punish you for sure. That's my worry now. I hope that the result doesn't affect them too much,...

London, Dec 31 (IANS) The English Premier League will kick off 2020 with a slew of New Year's Day matches for bleary-eyed fans to tune into, as Liverpool look to pick things up where they left off in 2019 having gone 19 matches unbeaten. Jurgen Klopp's side sits atop the table with a game in hand and gets ready to host Sheffield United at Anfield on January 2, Efe news reports. The Merseyside team has only dropped two points so far this season thanks to a draw with arch-rivals Manchester United. It is a string of tightly packed fixtures for Liverpool, who will have to see off Chris Wilder's side before taking on cross-city rivals Everton in the FA Cup on January 5. Arsenal, currently in 12th position under the new management of Mikel Arteta, and fifth placed Manchester United will go head-to-head on the first day of 2020. Everton are set to tackle Manchester City, whose bid to defend the title seems to be fading as the club finds itself in third place, 14 points behind...

Leeds [UK], Dec 31 (ANI): Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said that Aymeric Laporte is still injured but will return to the training session in a week or 10 days. Laporte was ruled out of the side for six months after sustaining a knee injury. "Laporte is now getting better and training alone. He is already on the pitch. I do not know, how long until he is back, but one week or 10 days then he can train with us," Goal.com quoted Guardiola as saying. Earlier, defender John Stones was also ruled out for a month due to muscle injury. He sustained an injury during a training session. The 48-year-old Guardiola said that Leroy Sane is still injured and will not be a part of the squad against Everton. "Laporte and Sane are still injured - the rest are happy," he said. Manchester City will next lock horns with Everton on January 1 at home. Manchester City is on the third spot in the Premier League table with 41 points while Everton is placed on the 10th spot wit...

Manchester [UK], Dec 31 (ANI): After earning back to back victories against Newcastle United and Burnley in the Premier League, Manchester United's Jesse Lingard said that the squad is confident for the upcoming games. The Red Devils thrashed Newcastle by 4-1 at home while it defeated Burnley FC by 2-0 at away game. "We take a lot of belief (from those wins) and the confidence is flowing at the moment," the club's official website quoted Lingard as saying. Manchester United will next take on Arsenal in an away game on January 2. Lingard said that away games are very challenging but if the team executes the gameplan well then surely it can win. "Away games are always tough and you get your hostile atmospheres. But we are used to that and as long as we stick to our gameplan and our tactics, then hopefully we can win the game. Confidence and focus is very important," the 27-year-old said. Manchester United is on the fifth spot in the Premier League table...

London [UK], Dec 31 (ANI): After facing a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea in the Premier League, Arsenal player Bukayo Saka has backed head coach Mikel Arteta, saying he has the vision and strategy to win trophies for the club. "We need to win games and win trophies. So, I feel like he has that vision and that strategy. He knows how he wants us to get there. If we can be on board and do what he wants us to, we'll do well," club's official website quoted Saka as saying. The 18-year-old said that coach Arteta brings new ideas to the team as he understands the players very much. "He's someone who understands the players, understands the club and all the ideas that he's bringing in," he said. Bukayo said that the team is very excited to perform under Mikel Arteta's leadership. "He has a clear strategy of how he wants us to play and we're just really excited to work with him," he added. Arsenal is on the 12th spot in the Premie...

Manchester, Dec 31 (IANS) Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is "optimistic" about new signings in January. The English Premier League side lost out to Borussia Dortmund on roping in highly rated Erling Haaland. But the manager said it is about getting the right players and he has the backing of the management. "I'm always an optimist," Solskjaer was quoted as saying by ESPNFC. "I'm optimistic we can keep players fit and if the right ones become available we do have the resources and I do have the backing from the board, but it's also about getting the right ones. It has to be. "There's no point suddenly bringing someone else in now for the sake of three or four months if that can disrupt any good feeling or chemistry in the group, because the chemistry in the group is really good. "It has to be the right type and it has to be a good investment for the long term as well." United take on Arsenal on Wednesday aft...

Barcelona, Dec 31 (IANS) Lionel Messi has told Neymar that he is ready to quit FC Barcelona and make way for him, if needed, as the Catalan giants are looking to the Brazilian star as a replacement for the Argentine striker, according to reports. According to France Football as quoted by The Sun, Messi sent a WhatsApp to his former teammate and Paris Saint Germain striker that read: "Only together can we win the Champions League. "I want you to come back. In two years, I'm leaving, and you'll be alone, you'll take my place." Spanish giants Barcelona's think-tank also feel that Neymar can fill the shoes of Messi once he is gone, after trying out Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele to see if they can step up, as per the Spanish outlet Sport. Neymar met his former teammates Messi and Luis Suarez at the ex-Liverpool forward's wedding vow renewal service recently. Neymar is reportedly not happy with the French side PSG after he fel...

Miami [USA], Dec 31 (ANI): Inter Miami CF has appointed 44-year-old Diego Alonso as the first-ever head coach of the side ahead of the inaugural 2020 Major League Soccer (MLS). Alonso has good experience behind him as he is the only coach to win the Concacaf Champions League with two different teams. He will be joining Inter Miami after an impressive stint in Mexico, where he won three titles and qualified his teams to two FIFA Club World Cups. "In Diego we found a manager that fits our culture and has a strong desire to build a winning club for our fans. He brings a lot of experience and championship-winning mentality as we begin our drive to be among the best clubs in the Americas," Inter Miami CF Sporting Director Paul McDonough said in an official statement. "We have big aspirations for our club and believe Diego has the right drive, passion and leadership to accomplish our goals," he added. Most recently, he led CF Monterrey from May 2018 to September 201...

Miami, Dec 31 (IANS) Diego Alonso, a former Uruguay international who has won trophies as a player and a manager, will be the head coach of Inter Miami when the Major League Soccer side takes to the pitch next year for its inaugural season, the David Beckham-led club has announced. The 44-year-old Alonso "brings a lot of experience and championship-winning mentality as we begin our drive to be among the best clubs in the Americas," Inter Miami CF Sporting Director Paul McDonough said in a statement. Alonso comes to the MLS after a successful five years in Mexico, where he led two different clubs to titles. Monterrey posted a record of 39 wins, 13 draws and 20 losses during Alonso's May 2018-September 2019 tenure, which included an appearance in the Liga MX final and victory in the 2018-2019 Concacaf Champions League. Earlier, he guided Pachuca to the 2016 Liga MX crown and the 2016-17 Concacaf Champions League title. Alonso's squads defeated three MLS clubs -- tw...

Leeds [UK], Dec 30 (ANI): Juventus player Cristiano Ronaldo won best men's player at Dubai Globe Awards. The footballer took to Twitter and said he was honoured to receive the award. His tweet read: "Honored to receive one more time Globe Soccer Award! A very emotional moment for me to share this award with my family Grateful for all the hospitality, see you soon Dubai!" Ronaldo has won the award for the sixth time out of nine times. The 34-year-old thanked his family and Juventus team for supporting him. "I have to thank my family, my girlfriend, my boy there, Cristiano, my three kids who are waiting for me in the hotel, my friends, my team-mates of Juventus and the national team, my agent, all the people here tonight who support this gala," Goal.com quoted Cristiano as saying. Juventus forward said expressed his gratitude towards fans who voted for him and wished everyone a Happy New Year. "And finally to thank [everyone] who voted for me. It'...

Leeds [UK], Dec 30 (ANI): Manchester City player Oleksandr Zinchenko hailed coach Pep Guardiola and said he is the best in the world. "It's unbelievable. He's the best in the world, no doubt," Goal.com quoted Zinchenko as saying. The 23-year-old said Guardiola is incredible with tactics and knows when the team needs advice. "For me, the most important thing is he knows the right thing to say at the right time, and the team feels these type of moments. Of course, he is unbelievable with tactics," he said. On Sunday, Manchester City thrashed Sheffield United 2-0 and will next lock horns with Everton on January 1. Manchester City is placed on the fourth spot with 41 points in Premier League while Everton is on the eighth spot with 29 points. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2MFAhfB

Dubai, Dec 30 (IANS) Star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo ended the year by winning the best men's player at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards here. Ronaldo did not win the Ballon d'Or this year, finishing behind Lionel Messi who bagged it for the record sixth time and Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk. But the 34-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation, got his fourth successive prize at the awards after helping his club Juventus claim the 2018-19 Serie A title in his first season in Italy while also playing a key role in Portugal winning the Nations League. "Honoured to receive one more time Globe Soccer Award! A very emotional moment for me to share this award with my family. Grateful for all the hospitality, see you soon Dubai!" he tweeted. England international Lucy Bronze was awarded the best women's player of the year, while Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was named the best manager. dm/kk/bg via Sify.com http...

Tehran, Dec 30 (IANS) Iran U-23 national football team head coach Hamid Estili says his side have learned from a 2-2 draw against Qatar, in which Iran threw away a two-goal lead. "It was a good test and the Qatar match gave us the chance to evaluate our team for the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship," Estili said after the match on Sunday. "The match against Qatar was very important because we wanted to practise attacking and defensive football," he added, reports Xinhua news agency. The match between Iran and Qatar was held in Doha ahead of the upcoming 2020 AFC U-23 Championship, where Iran have been drawn in Group C along with China, South Korea and defending champions Uzbekistan. The competition will be held in Thailand from January 8 to 26. kk/sdr/ via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2SzZ1cR

Leeds [UK], Dec 30 (ANI): Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said that defender Tariq Lamptey is in talks with the club over a contract extension. "We'll see. He's talking with the club and hopefully, he feels a bit of love from today as we've parachuted him in," Goal.com quoted Lampard as saying. "He was actually on his Christmas break when we called him in yesterday. He trained and then played," he added. The 19-year-old made his Blues debut when he was brought on in the second-half of the 2-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday. "I'd seen him when I was doing my coaching badges and you do a lot of hours with the academy and youth team. I saw him train a lot and I know he has a different dimension as a right-sided wing-back," Lampard said. Lamptey has been with Chelsea since he joined the under-7 side and progressed through the youth academy, taking on a key role for the U23s this season. Lamptey's contract with Chelsea expires at the end of ...

London, Dec 30 (IANS) Premier League club West Ham have appointed David Moyes as manager and will return for a second spell at the club. Moyes has signed an 18-month deal and starts with the New Year's Day home game against Bournemouth at London Stadium. He replaces Manuel Pellegrini, who was sacked after Saturday's 1-2 home defeat by a much-changed Leicester side. "It's fabulous to be back," Moyes said in an official statement. "It feels great to be home. I've missed being here because I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed being around the stadium and I loved being in this part of the world and I missed the club, so I can't wait to get started. "I'm feeling very proud that I'm back here at West Ham. But I think more importantly I'll be looking to see what I can do and what I can make improvements to, how we can get some wins with the players and how we can get some quick wins on the field as well. "I do believe that the squad of ...

Manchester [UK], Dec 30 (ANI): Pep Guardiola became the quickest manager to reach the milestone of 100 wins in the Premier League after Manchester City's 2-0 victory over Sheffield United on Sunday. Guardiola took 134 games to complete his century of wins. The Spanish manager now broke the previous record of Jose Mourinho who achieved his 100th victory in the 142nd match when Chelsea defeated Manchester United 3-1 in January 2014. Third on the list is Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, who reached the milestone in his 159th match against Merseyside rivals Everton earlier this month. "It's a big compliment for the club, players and staff to achieve 100 victories. It's an incredible achievement for this incredible organisation and big compliments to all the players and staff we had during this period," Goal.com quoted Guardiola as saying. "Of course we are proud of everything in these seasons, the incredible effort. When you think about 100 wins in 134 games it...

London, Dec 30 (IANS) Chelsea rallied to beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Premier League action, ruining Mikel Arteta's return as coach of the Gunners. "We were so awful for 30 minutes -- slow, lethargic, nervous. The opposite of against Tottenham. We gave Arsenal everything they wanted. We made the change early as we felt it had to be done. Second half we dominated," Efe news quoted Chelsea coach Frank Lampard as saying after Sunday's match. Arsenal got off to a great start, thanks to a goal by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 13th minute. "It was very cruel the way we lost it, in the first half we saw a lot of positives and saw what we are trying to implement. But the way we conceded was disappointing," Arteta said. "It was clear why it was disappointing, I don't need to say any more." Jorginho scored a goal in the 83rd minute, making it 1-1, and then Tammy Abraham delivered the knockout blow, nailing a goal in the 87th minute that made it 2-1 for...

London [UK], Dec 30 (ANI): English football club West Ham United reappointed David Moyes as manager after Manuel Pellegrini was shown the exit door at the London Stadium following another poor result this weekend. Moyes has signed an 18-month deal and begins work immediately ahead of the New Year's Day fixture with AFC Bournemouth at London Stadium. Joint-Chairman David Sullivan said in a statement: "David proved in his short time with the Club that he was capable of getting results and we believe that he will start moving the Club in the right direction once again." "We are delighted to welcome David back - he knows the Club well and he built strong relationships during that time which will be crucial for the work that needs to be done going forward," he added. Moyes on his reappointment said that he feels 'great' to be back at home. "It's fabulous to be back. It feels great to be home. I've missed being here because I really enjoyed ...

Leeds [UK], Dec 29 (ANI): Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has hailed striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, saying that he has the potential to be at the top in Europe. "Calvert-Lewin is a fantastic striker in my opinion -- fantastic with the head, clever in the box, and sharp. I think he is going to be at the top in England and in Europe. He has all the qualities to be a top striker," Goal.com quoted Ancelotti as saying. "But he's young and for this reason, he has to improve. He is a humble guy and he doesn't talk a lot," he added. Following Calvert-Lewin winner against Burnley in Ancelotti's first match in charge, he notched a brace at Newcastle on Saturday to ensure the Italian's tenure began with two wins from two. The win took Everton up to 10th in the Premier League table and extended their unbeaten run in the league to five games. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2QukbGD

London [UK], Dec 29 (ANI): Chelsea on Sunday defeated Arsenal 2-1 at Emirates stadium here in the Premier League clash. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang broke the shackles for the Gunners as he scored in the 13th minute of the game. Aubameyang headed the ball in the net through Mesut Ozil's corner, giving a 1-0 lead over Chelsea. Chelsea had most of the possession but did not find any opportunity to score an equalizer, leading to the same scoreline in the first half. With the start of the second half, the Blues started well and made attempt to score but were denied as a result of good defending by the gunners. As the match was coming to the end, Jorginho scored the equalizer for Chelsea in the 83rd minute. Tammy Abraham fired the second goal for Chelsea giving a much needed 2-1 lead over Arsenal. Arsenal tried their best to come back in the match but no further goals were scored in the match and scoreline remained the same. With this win, Chelsea consolidated their position on the ...

Leeds [UK], Dec 29 (ANI): Former striker Fernando Morientes believes that Real Madrid will lift this season's La Liga title. "The heart tells me that Real Madrid will win La Liga," Goal.com quoted Morientes as saying. Barcelona is placed at the top of the table followed by Real Madrid and Sevilla on second and third spots respectively. The 43-year-old said that both Barcelona and Real Madrid are performing well. "It depends on Messi. When Cristiano Ronaldo was here, everything was very close. The two teams are both playing at a very high level. The season will really start in February," Fernando said. Fernando said Sevilla, Valencia, and Atletico have good teams and can win the title. "It could be won by Sevilla, Valencia, Atletico... they are a way off, but they have a good squad and can win a lot more points," he said. Valencia sits on eighth place on La Liga table with 28 points while Atletico Madrid is on the fourth spot with 32 points. (AN...

Dortmund [Germany], Dec 29 (ANI): German club Borussia Dortmund on Sunday signed Erling Braut Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg on a contract till the summer of 2024. The 19-year-old scored 28 goals in 22 games for Salzburg this season, including eight in the six Champions League group stage. "I had intensive discussions with the club's management, especially with Hans-Joachim Watzke, Michael Zorc, and manager Lucien Favre," Haaland told Dortmund's website. "There was a feeling right from the start that I absolutely wanted to join this club, go down this route and play football in this incredible Dortmund atmosphere in front of more than 80,000 spectators. I'm already itching to get started," he added. Dortmund CEO Watzke was similarly excited to beat a number of top clubs to Haaland's signature. "Despite many offers from some absolute top clubs from all over Europe, Erling has decided to join the project at BVB and the vision we have shown h...

New Delhi [India], Dec 29 (ANI): Ahead of the clash against Wolves, Liverpool's coach Jurgen Klopp said that their aim is to become the most successful team in the Premier League. "I'm not stupid and we know what faces us in this particular period is a big, big test. But this is the Premier League and our ambition is to be the most successful team in it and that means rising to meet every challenge," Goal.com quoted Klopp as saying. Liverpool manager said that the team will never blame anyone for the setbacks. "We will have setbacks, we will lose games, of course, we will. But we will never look to external factors to explain it, no matter how legitimate they may appeal," he said. Earlier, Liverpool defeated Leicester 4-0 on Thursday and consolidated its position at the top of the table. The team currently has 52 points from 18 matches and is 10 points ahead of the second-placed club Leicester. Liverpool will next take on Wolves later in the day, whic...

Leeds [UK], Dec 29 (ANI): Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hailed new head coach Mikel Arteta and said the team have seen a 'big difference' since his appointment. "He's only been in charge for a few days, but we've seen a big difference already. We needed someone who would come in and shake the whole squad up," Goal.com quoted Aubameyang as saying. "We needed someone with new ideas, with a new message and someone who would take us in a different direction. Mikel has brought all of that. We needed a fresh new start and something different and we can feel it already," he added. Arteta started his reign with a 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth on December 26, with Aubameyang scoring a second-half equaliser to secure a point. Arteta's first test at home will be the match against Chelsea at Emirates Stadium later in the day. Arteta joined Gunners, after the side sacked the Unai Emery, leaving his role as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manches...

Leeds [UK], Dec 29 (ANI): Ahead of Premier League clash with Arsenal, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said that coach Mikel Arteta was a very good and technical player. "He was a very good player, a very intelligent player, very technical player," goal.com quoted Lampard as saying. The gunners signed Arteta on a three-and-a-half-year deal. The 41-year-old manager wished Arteta to do well ahead of the match and said that the manager role is full of strains and pressures. "I do wish him well - obviously not on Sunday - but I wish him well because when you see a fresh manager come into a job like that, I understand the strains and the pressures of it and the desire to want to do well in it. On a personal level I wish him well," he said. Chelsea's manager said Arteta is a leader whatever team he heads and is suitable for management. "Seemed to be a leader, not a fist-pumping kind of leader, but a leader in whatever teams he was playing in. He looks like he...

Tehran, Dec 29 (IANS) The Qatar U23 football team came from 2-0 down to draw with Iran U23 team 2-2. The friendly match was held in Doha as part of the preparations for the 2020 AFC U23 Championship. In the match, Reza Shekari gave Iran the lead in the 28th minute from the penalty spot and Mehdi Ghaedi extended Iran's lead six minutes later late on Saturday. Abdulrasheed Umaru Ibrahim scored twice for Qatar in the 83rd and 90th minutes to equalize for Qatar, reports Xinhua news agency. For the 2020 AFC U23 Championship, Iran have been drawn in Group C along with defending champions Uzbekistan, China and South Korea. The competition will be held in Thailand between January 8 and 26. kk/bc via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2Qnj6jG

Dubai, Dec 29 (IANS) Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo wants to try his skills in acting once he is done playing football. "One of the things that I seek to challenge myself in, for example, is acting in a movie," the Portugal captain was quoted as saying by ESPNFC at Dubai International Sports Conference on Saturday night. Ronaldo, who plays for Italian champions Juventus, said he sees himself playing in the near future. He added that he wants to "continue my studies after retiring from football." Ronaldo has won four of his five Ballon d'Or awards and three Champions League titles while with Real Madrid before joining Juventus in the summer of 2018. He bagged his first Champions League trophy with Manchester United before his move to Spain. dm/kk/dpb via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2Q4q5iE

London, Dec 29 (IANS) Manchester United moved to fifth place in the English Premier League points table with a 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday night. Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford were on target as a Paul Pogba-less United eased past a lacklustre Burnley side to close in on the top four in the standings. United have now taken 13 points from their last six games. Frenchman Martial scored his 10th goal of the season from close range after his brace against Newcastle United on Boxing Day. Andreas Pereira set him up after he robbed Charlie Taylor and crossed superbly from the right. Rashford then raced clear in stoppage time to seal the victory. Meanwhile, Leicester City beat West Ham 2-1 which saw the latter's manager Manuel Pellegrini being sacked as the club succumbed to their ninth loss in the past 12 matches. Second-placed Leicester rode goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Demarai Gray to win the tie. For West Ham, Pablo Fornals found the back of the net. Everton, meanwhil...

Leeds [UK], Dec 29 (ANI): Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has lashed out at the Premier League for the scheduling of matches and went on to say that the organisers do not really care about the well being of the players. The tournament has been drawing criticism from several coaches for the scheduling of matches during the festive season. Several sides have to play two games within a span of 48 hours, and this previously has been criticised by coaches of Liverpool (Jurgen Klopp) and Tottenham Hotspur (Jose Mourinho). "I do not have any confidence about that. They don't care. In the first season, it was the same, we played at Anfield and two days later with Burnley at home. My words are not going to change anything, Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp have said the same. Every season is the same, TV decides and we have to adapt," Goal.com quoted Guardiola as saying. "I have to evaluate the players and how they feel. We have to put fresh legs on. I honestly don't...

Burnley [UK], Dec 29 (ANI): Manchester United defeated Burnley 2-0 on Saturday (local time) to move to the fifth spot in the ongoing Premier League here at the Turf Moor. With this win, United has taken its points tally to 31 from 20 matches. United was able to keep the bulk of ball possession with them, and their efforts finally paid off in the 44th minute of the game, as Anthony Martial registered the first goal for the side. No other goals were possible in the first half and at the interval, the visitors went in with a 1-0 lead. In the second half, Burnley and United were seen grappling for the ball. United kept the ball with them, and as a result, the hosts had difficulties to enter their opponents' half. In the dying moments of the game, Marcus Rashford registered the second goal for United, and with this, the visitors went away with a 2-0 win. In other matches, Tottenham Hotspur had to settle with a 2-2 draw against Brighton. While Leicester city registered a 2-1 win o...

London, Dec 29 (IANS) English Premier League side West Ham on Sunday sacked their manager Manuel Pellegrini after the club lost 2-1 at home to Leicester City -- their ninth loss in the past 12 games. "It is with great disappointment that we've had to make this decision," joint-chairman David Sullivan was quoted as saying by BBC." It has become clear that a change is required to get the club back on track in line with our ambitions this season. "We felt it was necessary to act now in order to give the new manager as much time as possible to try and achieve that goal." Pellegrini was with West Ham for 18 months having been appointed in May 2018 on a three-year deal. West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, who skippered the outfit against Leicester, said the unit lacked confidence. "People were talking about us being top-six contenders and now we're so far away," the 20-year-old was quoted as saying by BBC. Fans are coming to the game pretty much ...

Mumbai, Dec 28 (IANS) Mumbai City FC will be aiming for their first win on home soil as they host Hyderabad FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) contest at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Sunday. Mumbai, who have registered three wins on the road, suffered two defeats and one draw from their three games at home in the league. They will be up against a Hyderabad side who are yet to register a win away from home. Coming into the tie, Jorge Costa's team are on a five-match unbeaten run. The good news for the Portuguese coach is that his side aren't dependent on goals from one particular player. Amine Chermiti has four goals to his name and as many as 11 different players have a goal each to their name. However, what would concern Costa is that his side struggles to keep clean sheets, something which they haven't managed in the last seven games. He will also be without the services of midfielder Paulo Machado and Rowllin Borges due to injury. The Portuguese midfielder might...

Beijing, Dec 28 (IANS) Ten Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai have been selected to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2023, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced on Saturday. The other host cities are Tianjin, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Dalian, Qingdao, Xiamen and Suzhou. The 2023 Asian Cup will involve 24 teams after its expansion of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, including that of the host nation, reports Xinhua news agency. It marks the second time Asia's premier soccer competition will be played in China, which also hosted the 13th edition of the Asian Cup in 2004. kk/bg via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2t7WFHq

Milan [Italy], Dec 28 (ANI): AC Milan have announced the signing of Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a basis of free transfer and he will be staying with the club until the end of this season. The contract of the Sweden international has the option of being extended to another year. "I'm coming back to a club I hugely respect and to the city of Milan I love. I will fight together with my teammates to change the course of this season. I will do everything to make it happen," Zlatan said in an official statement. The 38-year-old has made a return to the club after earlier helping them to win the league title in 2010-11. He managed to score 56 goals for the Italian club across two seasons. Zlatan's career began with Malmo Fotbollforening. He has also represented AFC Ajax, Juventus, FC Internazionale, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, Manchester United and Los Angeles Galaxy. He has made a total of 788 appearances and has registered 473 goals...

Wolverhampton (England), Dec 28 (IANS) Manchester City's chances of overtaking unbeaten Liverpool to win a third straight Premier League title suffered what looks to be a decisive setback with a 2-3 loss to Wolverhampton. City are third with 38 points from 19 matches, while the Reds lead the league with 52 points and have a game in hand, reports Efe news. Wolves, meanwhile, have climbed to 5th place with 30 points while becoming only the second team in any league to prevail in a season series against a squad coached by Pep Guardiola, having beaten City on October 6 in Manchester. The first key moment in what would turn out to be a drama-filled Friday night at Wolverhampton's Molineux Stadium came barely 10 minutes into the contest. Wolves' Conor Coady got a ball to Diogo Joto behind the City defence, prompting a desperate Ederson to rush to the edge of the area in bid to deny the striker. Missing the ball, the City keeper brought down Joto and was sent off with a red c...

Rome, Dec 28 (IANS) The talismanic Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who won a pair of trophies with AC Milan in 2010-2012, has signed with the Rossoneri for the remainining of the 2019-2020 season. "The club and the striker have agreed on a deal until the end of the current season with an option to extend the contract for the next one," AC Milan confirmed on their official website on Friday. The striker played for AC Milan in the two season 2010/11 and 2011/12 recording 85 appearances, 56 goals and significantly contributing to the achievement of the 18th Scudetto and the Italian Super Cup. Ibrahimovic, who has been without a team since leaving the LA Galaxy at the end of the 2019 Major League Soccer season, will be joining a Milan squad that is struggling. "I am returning to a club that I respect enormously and to a city that I love. I will fight with my teammates to change the course of this season and I will do everything to achieve our goals," Ibra said in comments poste...

New Delhi [India], Dec 27 (ANI): Portuguese striker Christiano Ronaldo on Friday taught his Serbian friend Novak Djokovic 'how to jump' on Friday. Taking to Instagram, Juventus forward shared a video where he is seen teaching, the world number two, Djokovic how to jump high. Both the athletes attempted the jump while they were training in the gym wearing workout shorts. "Teaching @djokernole how to jump!! Was a pleasure to see you and train with you my friend!!" Ronaldo wrote in a post. Ronaldo scored a goal against Sampdoria in Serie A through a header by making an 8.5 feet high jump. Djokovic, meanwhile, will take part in the Australian Open from January 20. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2QuRglY

Kochi, Dec 27 (IANS) Kerala Blasters FC will be desperate for a win as they host NorthEast United in their Indian Super League encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday. The Blasters are on an eight-game winless streak with their last win coming against ATK in the season opener. The team had, similarly, gone on a 14-match winless drought after their season opener in the previous campaign as well, which cost them dearly. Kerala, with just seven points from nine games, are at a stage where they cannot afford to drop any more points. Eelco Schattorie's team have been poor at home as well, despite enjoying strong fan support. Since the last season, Kerala have only 14 points from 14 home matches and the last three of them have finished in draws. They are coming off a demoralizing 3-1 defeat to rivals Chennaiyin FC and Schattorie will be eager for a win over his former side. Thankfully, captain Bartholomew Ogbeche, who was NorthEast United's top scorer last season bef...

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Enjoying the festive season, sporting legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Novak Djokovic were seen having some fun as the Portuguese soccer star posted a video on social media of him teaching the tennis icon how to jump and head the ball to score a goal. "Teaching Novak Djokovic how to jump!!Was a pleasure to see you and train with you my friend!!" Ronaldo said in an Instagram post. The pair were having fun as Ronaldo set the Serbian a target where he would run along with Djokovic and jump together. Ronaldo's Juventus are behind Antonio Conte's Inter Milan only on goal difference as they prepare to welcome sixth placed Cagliari next year on January 6. Ex Manchester United and Real Madrid star forward Ronaldo has netted 10 goals in 14 league games this season. Djokovic, meanwhile, will take part in the Australian Open from January 20. In the last decade, he won all but one of his 16 majors. dm/bg via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2EYoX9W

Milan, Dec 27 (IANS) The talismanic Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to join AC Milan on a free transfer after the former Sweden international left LA Galaxy earlier this year, according to Sky Sport Italia. The announcement is expected to be made by Friday, the report published by ESPNFC said. Ibrahimovic was with Milan between 2010 to 2012, winning a Serie A title. He has 535 career goals across all levels of competition. Ibrahimovic started his professional career at Malmo in 1999 and went on to play for Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG and Manchester United before joining Galaxy in 2018. He had 22 goals and 10 assists in 27 matches (24 starts) in 2018. dm/bc via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2SFOhd9

Manchester, Dec 27 (IANS) It is impossible to replace Sergio Aguero, feels Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Aguero, 31, has 244 goals for the club which is a record and has a contract till 2021. "He can stay but it depends on his physical condition and his desire," Guardiola was quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "Replacing him will be one of my biggest challenges because he is irreplaceable." The City manager went on to laud Aguero for being so humble despite being a big soccer star. "I've never seen such a big star be so humble and funny," Guardiola said. "He accepts my decisions when it sometimes doesn't work for him. Big stars don't (usually) do that. "I've worked with other stars who believed they were bigger than Sergio when they weren't and they were more difficult to handle and to be with. It's not easy to find a guy with his status, his personality and what he's done in his career with his humility. He i...

Beijing, Dec 27 (IANS) The Chinese Football Association (CFA) is expected to appoint the successor to Marcello Lippi as its men's national team head coach in a few days after having talks with three local candidates. Li Tie, Li Xiaopeng and Wang Baoshan, all coaches of the Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs, were interviewed by a panel of experts at a secret place on Thursday, a CFA insider told Xinhua. "Most of CFA staff had no idea of where the interview was held," he said. "As the national team will set up a training camp on 5th of next January, the new head coach will be unveiled on or before that date," he added. Li Tie, 42, is considered to be the favourite to fill in the vacancy left by Lippi's sudden resignation on November 14th when China lost away to Syria 2-1 at a crucial World Cup qualifier. Lippi's resignation caught Chinese football decision-makers unprepared. "We did not expect it, his act threw all things concerned into turmoil,...

Leeds [UK], Dec 27 (ANI): After Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, Tottenham coach Jose Mourinho has now hit out at the Premier League festive scheduling and said it is against every rule of physiology and biology. Earlier, Liverpool coach Klopp had also lashed out at the scheduling saying it is unfair for teams to play two matches in a span of 48 hours. He sympathised with Manchester City, who are all set to play a match later today, and then they will take the field on Sunday. Mourinho's words came after Tottenham's 2-1 win over Brighton in the Premier League. "I cannot imagine these boys, not just my boys, but Graham Potter's boys, how they can play in 48 hours. If you go to control the distances they run, the intensity, the breaks, if you are going to control that and if we are going to tell anyone who understands physiology, it is a crime that they are going to play football again on the 28th," Goal.com quoted Mourinho as saying. "It is against every r...

Leeds [UK], Dec 27 (ANI): After registering a 4-1 win over Newcastle United, Manchester United's coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deemed player Marcus Rashford as 'physical specimen' and went on to compare him with Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. Rashford scored in the 41st minute of the match for United and as a result, he brought up his 11th goal of the Premier League this season. "He is a physical specimen. He is looking after himself, working hard in the gym. When you have got that spring, it's just about having courage and getting up there," Goal.com quoted Solskjaer as saying. "I remember a boy I used to play with that used to head it quite well when he was close to goal. And we compare them quite often. So, that's another string to his bow Marcus that Cristiano used to get when he was getting to that age as well," he added. In the match against Newcastle, Anthony Martial scored twice while Mason Greenwood also got among goal-scoring chart...

Rio de Janeiro, Dec 27 (IANS) Orlando City have completed the signing of former Shandong Luneng and Guangzhou R&F midfielder Junior Urso. The 30-year-old Brazilian joins the Major League Soccer club from Brazil's Corinthians for an undisclosed fee after agreeing to a four-year deal, reports Xinhua news agency. Urso made 57 appearances for Corinthians across all competitions in 2019 following a two-year spell with Guangzhou R&F. He represented Shandong Luneng from 2014 to 2016. Earlier in the week, Orlando City had announced the signing of Argentinean defender Rodrigo Schlegel from Racing Club. The Florida outfit finished 11th in the MLS Eastern Conference this year with nine wins, 10 draws and 15 defeats. aak/ksk/ via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2PZNZMf

Leicester [UK], Dec 27 (ANI): After registering a win against Leicester City in the ongoing Premier League, Liverpool's coach Jurgen Klopp dismissed title talk and said he could not be less interested. Liverpool defeated Leicester 4-0 on Thursday (local time) and consolidated its position at the top of the table. The team currently has 52 points from 18 matches and is 13 points ahead of the second-placed club Leicester. "I could not be less interested in that (talk that the title race is over) to be honest. It was a good game. We finished so strong and scored some great goals. We are not listening to any of that. We are focused on our next game only," Goal.com quoted Klopp as saying. "We can still improve... how we manage games, how we defended in the first half. But we can enjoy this amazing win. And tomorrow we start again," he added. No club has ever failed to win the title with a 13-point lead this late in the season. However, Klopp said that Liverpool...

Leicester (England), Dec 27 (IANS) Liverpool defeated Leicester City 4-0 to increase their lead atop the Premier League to 13 points. On Thursday evening, the visitors got off to a flying start against the second-place Foxes, dispelling any idea that Jurgen Klopp's side would be fighting fatigue after their triumph at the Club World Cup in Qatar, reports Efe news. The Reds have taken 52 of a possible 54 points from 18 matches. The Manchester United supporters, who packed into Old Trafford on Thursday for a clash with Newcastle United, were rewarded with one of the Red Devils' finest performances of the season as the hosts romped 4-1. With the win, Man United have 28 points from 19 matches and occupy the 7th spot on the Premier League table. In the first of the Boxing Day fixtures, Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 and take some of the sting out of last weekend's loss to Chelsea. Spurs' sixth victory in nine matches under new...

Leicester [UK], Dec 27 (ANI): Robert Firmino scored a brace as Liverpool defeated Leicester City 4-0 in the ongoing Premier League here at the King Power Stadium on Thursday (local time). With this win, the side has consolidated their position at the top. The team currently has 52 points from 18 matches and is 13 points ahead of the second-placed club Leicester. The Reds dominated the bulk of ball possession and their efforts finally paid off in the 31st minute as Firmino registered the first goal for the side. No other goals were scored in the first half, and as a result, Liverpool went into halftime with a 1-0 lead. In the second half, three more goals were registered by the Reds. First, in the 71st minute, James Milner converted a penalty. Then Firmino managed to score his second goal in the 74th minute. And to put the final nail in the coffin, Trent Alexander-Arnold scored in the 78th minute, to give the side a four-goal cushion. In another match, Manchester United triumphed...

Nyon [Switzerland], Dec 26 (ANI): Barcelona striker Antoine Griezmann applauded Lionel Messi and said that there may never be a player like him. "We are talking about a player we may never see again, or like there is only every 40 years," UEFA.com quoted Griezmann as saying. "We must take advantage of it, whether we are his team-mates, fans in the stands or his coaches. What he can do with the ball is incredible and it's a sight to see him play and play alongside him," he added. The 28-year-old headed to Blaugrana after they had a 120 million Euros deal with Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window. After a goal against Alaves on Saturday, Messi completed his half-century of goals in 2019, for the sixth year in a row. This is the sixth consecutive year that Messi has amassed 50 goals for Barcelona and Argentina combined. He scored a goal in the 69th minute of the match to take his tally to 50 goals. He achieved the milestone for the ninth time in...

Chennai, Dec 26 (IANS) FC Goa regained the top spot in the Indian Super League after trumping Chennaiyin FC during an edge-of-the-seat contest witnessing a 4-3 scoreline in favour of the visitors at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday. First-half goals from Ahmed Jahouh (26'), Brandon Fernandes (41') and Hugo Boumous (46') set the Gaurs on their way. Chennaiyin threatened to come back with goals from Andre Schembri (57') and Rafael Crivellaro (59') but Ferran Corominas (63') added a fourth for Goa before Crivellaro managed to get another goal back in injury time, setting up a grandstand finish. However, Sergio Lobera's team held on to seal the win. FC Goa head the table with 21 points from 10 matches whereas Chennaiyin's loss has left them at eighth with nine points after as many games. The hosts started the game on a positive note but couldn't maintain their aggression in the attacking third for long. Intricate build-up play by Nerijus...

Leeds [UK], Dec 26 (ANI): Leicester City's defender Ricardo Pereira said that the clash against Liverpool will be a big game as they are 'very tough opponent'. "[Thursday] will be a big game. We will face a very tough opponent, who is also the championship leader. We know it will be difficult, but we will play at home, with our fans. I think that if we defend well and we are effective, we can do something," Goal.com quoted Pereira as saying. City will take on Champions League winner Liverpool at the King Power Stadium in front of the home crowd on Friday. Having played one extra game than the Reds, the Foxes trail their league leaders by 10 points as they seek to win their second Premier League title and deny Jurgen Klopp's side their first. "Here in England, you never know [about the Premier League race]. It is true that 10 points ahead of second is a lot. But last year too, they were seven points ahead, and Manchester City finally won the title. I ...

Bhubaneswar, Dec 26 (IANS) Odisha FC and Jamshedpur FC will be looking to end their indifferent run of form in the Indian Super League when they meet at the Kalinga Stadium on Friday. It should make for a spectacle in Bhubaneswar as Odisha FC finally make their debut in their home city. Josep Gombau's side have had to play their previous home games of the season from Pune due to the unavailability of the Kalinga Stadium. The Spanish coach will hope that a change of setting will turn their fortunes around and give them an impetus in their push for the play-off spots. Odisha, placed seventh on the table (9 points), have won just one out of their last six games and are coming off a demoralising 0-3 defeat against FC Goa. "Yes, there is a chance (of reaching the playoffs). We have nine points and we have played nine games away. We are very excited to finally play at home. We now have three crucial games at home. Depending on how these three games go, we will know if we have a c...

Nyon [Switzerland], Dec 26 (ANI): Barcelona striker Antoine Griezmann has revealed that he joined the club 'to learn a new style of play, a new philosophy, and to grow on a personal level.' "I came here to Barca to learn a new style of play, a new philosophy and to grow on a personal level. Atletico can also win the La Liga and the Champions League, they have the team and the coach to do it," UEFA.com quoted Griezmann as saying. "I did not leave Atletico to win the Champions League or win more titles," he added. The 28-year-old headed to Blaugrana after they had a 120 million euros deal with Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window. Under Diego Simeone, who has managed the club since 2011, Atletico won the 2013-14 La Liga title and finished runners up twice between 2017 and 2019. They also lost in two Champions League finals while being managed by the Argentine, with Griezmann remembering the 2015-16 defeat to city rivals Real Madrid without m...

New Delhi, Dec 26 (IANS) Kerala Blasters FC has the highest fan following on all the social media platforms as compared to other Indian Super League (ISL) teams, a study has said. According to Germin8, a digital intelligence company, an analysis of all social media activity by the teams in the ongoing ISL has shown that Kerala has the highest number of followers on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube followed by Chennaiyin FC and ATK. Newbies Hyderabad FC and Odisha are catching up fast, the analysis says. "We, at Germin8, use Germin8 Social Listening which helps us understand the current public interest and sentiment on various trending topics happening in India. "Germin8 collects conversations from across all social media platforms and using AI analyses these conversations in real time and converts them into industry- specific actionable insights," Ranjit Nair (PhD AI), CEO and Founder of Germin8 Solutions said. dm/bg via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2t4I1k2

Srinagar, Dec 26 (IANS) Real Kashmir FC registered their first win of the I-League season as they went on to defeat defending champions Chennai City FC 2-1 at the TRC Ground here on Thursday. Danish Farooq gave the hosts the lead before Bazie Armand doubled their advantage. Syed Suhail Pasha pulled one back for the visitors, but the Snow Leopards held on to bag all three points. Back in front of their Srinagar faithful, it was Kashmir who kicked-off the proceedings, being firmly in the driving seat. The first opening of the match arrived in the 7th minute, when a cross from Kallum Higginbotham found Mason Robertson, who tried an audacious chip over Nauzet Garcia Santana, but the Chennai custodian showed quick reflexes to deny him. In the 13th minute, some smart footwork by Danish Farooq, followed by an exquisite rabona flick with his weaker foot put Higginbotham through down the right. The Englishman bulldozed his way into the six-yard box and passed it across goal for Mason Robert...

London, Dec 26 (IANS) Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hit out at the Premier League for the scheduling of matches around Christmas. "It is absolutely not ok. None of the managers has a problem playing on Boxing Day, but playing on the 27th and 29th is a crime. This year we play 26th and 29th and it is like a holiday. I understand all those saying it should not happen. They are not moaning. They are telling," goal.com quoted Klopp as saying. "It is not for the spectacle. It would not be a problem to play 26th and 29th with more teams. There is no reason why more teams do not get more than 48 hours between a Premier League game," he added. Manchester City will be facing Wolves on Friday and are scheduled to take on Sheffield United on Sunday. While Liverpool has to face Leicester City on Thursday night and will then take on Wolves on Sunday. He also said that Manchester City's obligation to play two matches within a span of 48 hours was an "absolute cr...

Asuncion (Paraguay), Dec 26 (IANS) Former Bayern Munich and Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz is poised to sign a new contract with Paraguayan first division side Olimpia, extending his professional career to a 24th season. Santa Cruz's current deal with the Asuncion-based club expires this month, but the 38-year-old is understood to have agreed to a new 12-month contract, reports Xinhua news agency. "I am ready for the challenges that are coming next year," he said in a social media post on Wednesday alongside a photo with his family. Olimpia also posted a message indicating the veteran forward would continue. "He has been all over the world ... and became a legend while always holding Olimpia in his heart," the post said. Santa Cruz has scored 45 goals in 109 league appearances for Olimpia since rejoining his boyhood club in 2016. Capped 112 times for Paraguay's national team, Santa Cruz has had spells at Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Blackbu...

Kolkata, Dec 25 (IANS) ATK delivered the perfect Christmas present for their supporters with a 1-0 win against defending champions Bengaluru FC in the Hero Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium here on Wednesday. After a goalless yet intriguing first 45 minutes, David Williams (47') scored in crackling fashion. The visitors' half-cooked attempts to get back into the game failed and the hosts' defence then did an exceptional job of keeping the Bengaluru attack at bay. The three points at home has helped Antonio Habas' men to the top of the Hero ISL table. ATK have 18 points, the same tally as Goa, having played a game more. Bengaluru are third, with 16 points from 10 matches. ATK threatened as early as the second minute. Williams chipped the ball into the path of Krishna who ran in behind the defence and struck the side-netting with just goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to beat. Two minutes later, a poor pass back to the keeper by Rahul...

New Delhi [India], Dec 25 (ANI): All India Football Federation (AIFF) has invited clubs from Indian Super League (ISL), I-League and Second Division League to confirm their participation in the inaugural edition of AIFF Futsal Club Championship. In a letter to all clubs, Kushal Das, General Secretary, AIFF, has written that "futsal is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world ... Futsal is also seen as a complementing sport with football for player development. There could be an opportunity for the Champion Club of this tournament to represent India for the subsequent AFC Futsal Club Championship." "We are planning to start the tournament in July/August 2020. The players could be from the senior, reserve or Under-18 teams of your club," the letter further reads. The development comes after the AIFF Executive Committee on December 10 decided to introduce a Futsal Club Championship in the AIFF calendar. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2t6ofVl