Football
Herve Renard apologies for omitting Hakim Ziyech in African select XI
Getty Images Former Morocco coach Herve Renard has apologised for leaving out the name of Hakim Ziyech in a select XI of the best African players he has managed. The 51-year-old Frenchman has coached four African sides to date – Angola, Zambia, the Ivory Coast and Morocco. He found success leading the Chipolopolo and the Elephants to Africa Cup of Nations success in 2012 and 2015, respectively. He also led the Atlas Lions to their first World Cup outing in 20 years at the 2018 edition in Russia where they finished last in a group containing Spain, Portugal and Iran. Renard’s XI contained Ghana’s Richard Kingson in goal, Medhi Benatia, Kolo Toure, Jonathan Mensah and Achraf Hakimi in defence. In midfield is Yaya Toure and Michael Essien in a double pivot, while it’s an attacking trio of Sia...
Arturo Vidal hits back at Giorgio Chiellini’s alcohol claims
Arturo Vidal has hit back at former Juventus team-mate Giorgio Chiellini, who said in his autobiography that the Chilean’s weakness was alcohol. Chiellini spent four seasons at Juve with Vidal, who is now at Barcelona, and said that although the midfielder was a “champion,” his fondness for partying held him back. “A footballer isn’t a devil or a saint. The distinction to be made is quite another. That is, between those who are real and those who are fake,” Chiellini wrote in an excerpt printed by SOS Fanta. “Someone like Vidal sometimes went out and drank more than they should’ve. Everyone knew it. It can be said that alcohol was a bit of a weakness for him. “However, that doesn’t put into question whether he is a champion or which type of person he is. Weaknesses are part of human nature...
Romelu Lukaku didn’t lay ‘a finger’ on Chelsea’s Champions League trophy
Romelu Lukaku admits to having not laid “a finger” on the Champions League trophy when Chelsea conquered Europe in 2012, with the Belgian still resenting Andre Villas-Boas for leaving him out of a successful squad. The potential of a powerful Belgian striker was bought into by the Blues following the appointment of the Portuguese coach who was intended to follow in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho. However Villas-Boas would last only a matter of months at Stamford Bridge, with Roberto Di Matteo eventually replacing him on an initial interim basis. Chelsea went on to claim a maiden continental crown under the Italian tactician who had become a firm fan favourite in his playing days. Lukaku, who was just a teenager and made only 12 appearances in his debut campaign, was invited to travel with ...
Kelechi Iheanacho returns to training slightly overweight
Kelechi Iheanacho is happy to be back in training after six weeks without football, no thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Super Eagles player shared the picture of himself arriving Leicester City training ground on Wednesday to training. “Good to be back missed everything,” stated the player upon arriving at training, as portrayed by the picture above taken beside his car. Meanwhile the former Manchester City forward could find himself in coach Brenda Roger’s hot water as he appeared overweight with a robust cheek. Iheanacho who has featured in 12 league matches for the Foxes this season must harder in order to be ready for a premier league game in June. Iheanacho has scored 28 goals in 81 appearances for the Foxes since he joined them from Manchester City in 2017. Get more st...
Emmanuel Dennis reveals highlights of 2019/20 season
Club Brugge forward Emmanuel Dennis says his goals against Real Madrid and Manchester United are the highlights of his 2019/20 campaign. The young striker hugged the headlines in October after bagging a brace against Real Madrid in a Champions League group stage fixture, that ended 2-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu. The 22-year-old also scored a goal in a Europa League round of 32 first leg tie against Manchester United in February following his team’s demotion to the UEFA second tier club competition. Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports News, the Nigeria international said; “Against Manchester United was a highlight,” “Madrid is a big team, the best in the world, but I was disappointed because I wanted us to win and we drew. I wanted those three points.” “I was happy because I was speakin...
Michael Essien: How Jose Mourinho prevented me from joining Arsenal
Former Chelsea star, Michael Essien, has disclosed that Jose Mourinho stopped him from playing for London rival club Arsenal FC. Essien who spoke on Instagram live chat with Carol Tshabalala, stated that he almost joined Arsenal but Mourinho got to know of it and pressed him to play for him at Real Madrid instead. “I was with Chelsea in Monaco for the Super Cup and a strange number called me but I didn’t want to answer it but my cousin who was in the room with me that day told me to pick it up. “The number kept calling so I picked and as soon as I said hello and another hello came from the other end and I realised who was on the phone so I told my cousin it’s Jose Mourinho. “We started talking and he said, ‘I heard you’re on your way to Arsenal’. But I told him it’s not true. I had not hea...
Bayern Munich reserve shirt number for Leroy Sane ahead transfer
Manchester City’s Leroy Sane has the No.10 shirt reserved for him at German giants Bayern Munich next season. Media outlets in Germany are convinced Sane will finally complete a move back to the Bundesliga this summer. And the current Bundesliga leaders are ready to offer the No.10 shirt worn for a decade by Dutch legend Arjen Robben and currently taken by the on-loan Philippe Coutinho. Sane’s transfer to Bayern was scuppered last August when he suffered a serious knee injury in the Community Shield. City and Bayern have to agree a deal but the 24-year-old now only has one year left on his contract. Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “It is well known that I never comment on players who are under contract with other clubs.” Sane was one of Guardiola’s first signings ...
Didier Drogba: How Juan Mata helped me win Champions League trophy
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has revealed how his former Blues’ teammate, Juan Mata, helped him win the 2012 UEFA Champions League. Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalties in the final to win their first Champions League trophy eight years ago at the Allianz Arena. Thomas Mueller put the host in front with eight minutes left to the end of the match before Didier Drogba equalised for the Premier League giant following an assist from Mata as the encounter ended 1-1 after 120 minutes. “Eight years ago, the manager [Andre Villas-Boas] had been sacked by the club and we, the players, had a team meeting where we recognised being partly responsible for his departure,” Drogba wrote on Twitter on Tuesday night. “The captain @johnterry spoke, @franklampard @petrcech and other leaders in the ...
Victor Moses delighted to be back in training
Nigerian winger Victor Moses is delighted to be back in training with his Italian club Inter Milan. The former Nigerian international flown back to Italy last week after the Italian government agreed to allow teams to return to training as they prepare to restart the season. The 2019/2020 Italian Serie season and other sporting activities were suspended back in March, following the coronavirus pandemic which have ravaged the country. Teams were allowed to train the first time since March, but under strict conditions, in order to reduce the risk of the spread of the virus. It would be recalled that the Inter Milan hierarchy announced that none of their playing staffs tested positive for the dangerous virus. Meanwhile, it is unclear when the league will be allowed to return, but the Italian ...
Newcastle takeover ‘close’ as EPL fail to block £300 million Saudi deal
Newcastle’s takeover is on the brink of being completed as the Premier League failed to find any reason to block the prospective takeover. According to a report in Football Insider, which claims the league has now fully investigated allegations linking the Saudi government to illegal streaming services. Amanda Staveley’s consortium – backed by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund – is close to taking control of the club from Mike Ashley. The deal has been in the pipeline for some time now, with Magpies fans desperate for a conclusion ahead of the summer transfer window. Newcastle are set to spend big in the summer transfer window, and have already been linked with a host of big-name players. And the Premier League has apparently found no reason to block the takeover after the investigat...
Chelsea star arrested on suspicion of rape
Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of rape following an alleged incident at his west London apartment. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that both they and the London Ambulance Service were called in the early hours of Sunday, May 17 to a report of an unwell woman. The statement added: “When emergency services attended, a woman reported that she was raped. She was taken to hospital.“A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of rape. He was released from custody and bailed to return on a date in mid-June. Enquiries continue.” Sunday’s alleged incident comes just weeks after Hudson-Odoi battled the coronavirus, which he was diagnosed with on March 12 . The teenager was the first Premier League player to be diagnosed with the illness, coming short...
Sunday Oliseh: I started funding Nigeria national team in 1996
Nigeria legend Sunday Oliseh has opened up on his experience with the Super Eagles which spanned nine years. The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder made 63 appearances for the West Africans before he was forced to retire from international duty in 2002. Oliseh was a key member of the Super Eagles team that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia under Dutch tactician Clemens Westerhof. He explained the tournament opened doors of opportunities for him as he secured a move to Italy to play for Reggiana, becoming the first Nigerian to feature in the Serie A. “The 1994 Afcon was very special for me. In fact, it was my first major tournament for Nigeria in Tunisia and we had some great talents in the squad at that time,” Oliseh told the Punch. “We were favourites heading into the tournam...
