May 2019 – Page 2 – Football Flame

28May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Xavi Named Head Coach of Qatari club Al Sadd

Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi has been appointed head coach of Qatari club Al Sadd SC, the team for which he hass made more than 100 appearances as a player.Xavi would replace Jesualdo Ferreira as manager at the start of next season.Xavi, a World Cup winner in 2010, won eight La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies at Barcelona.On his coaching style, Xavi said, "My philosophy as a coach reflects the style we developed for many years under the influence of Johan Cruyff and La Masia, and that has its greatest exponent in the way of playing football in Barcelona."I love seeing teams take the initiative on the field, attack football and return to the essence of what we all love from our childhood days - possession football, " he added.

28May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Dani Alves to Replace Neymar as Brazil Captain

Neymar will not captain Brazil during next month's Copa America, with Dani Alves handed the armband for the showpiece South American tournament on home soil.In a statement released on Monday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said: "The decision was communicated to Neymar by Tite on Saturday."The announcement comes after a turbulent end to the season for Neymar at Ligue 1 champions PSG, where coach Thomas Tuchel has ruled out the former Barcelona star becoming captain.Neymar is set to serve a three-match ban for striking an opposition supporter after last month's Coupe de France defeat against Rennes.The Brazilan star scored scored 23 goals in all competitions this season after recovering from a foot injury with 15 goals coming in Ligue 1 play.

28May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Neville: "Man Utd Have Always Lost Out On Big Players"

Manchester United legend Gary Neville says it is nothing new for the club to miss out on major talent in the transfer market and he is “not in a rush” to see them winning the game’s biggest trophies again.“I think United can still attract top-end players because we’ve seen good players come to the club over the last six or seven years,” said Neville. “This club will never move away from being a sensational football club, it will have difficult moments and it’s having a difficult time now.“The money in the game now means you’re always in competition. The club has lost players when it’s been successful to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. It lost Robben to Chelsea in the mid-2000s, we lost Nasri to City, don’t always think that when Sir Alex Ferguson was here it didn’t happen.“T...

28May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Union Berlin Secure 1st Ever Bundesliga Promotion

FC Union Berlin became the 5th team from Berlin to play in the Bundesliga. No other city has had more than 2. The others are:▪️Hertha BSC ▪️Tennis Borussia Berlin ▪️SV Blau Weiss Berlin ▪️Tasmania 1900 BerlinMatch: Union Berlin 0-0 Stuttgart (agg. 2-2)Following a dramatic relegation playoff fixture against Stuttgart, Union Berlin sealed their first ever Bundesliga promotion.Union held firm at home to deny Stuttgart and progress by virtue of 2 away goals they scored in the first leg.Just nine minutes into the second leg, Dennis Aogo put Stuttgart ahead with a superb freekick. However, VAR ruled it out as Nico Gonzalez was standing in an offside position and was in the line of sight of the keeper. Nigerian striker Suleiman Abdullahi hit the post twi...

27May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Kane: I'm Fit to Play Today

Tottenham striker Harry Kane has handed the club a huge boost by declaring himself fit to play against Liverpool in Saturday’s Champions League final, some just five days out from the fixture.The England skipper injured his ankle against Manchester City on April 9, and has played no part in any of the club's nine matches since.The 25-year-old watched from the stands as his side overturned a three-goal deficit against Ajax in spectacular fashion in the semi-finals.And in a timely boost to the North Londoners, the England ace now appears ready to make a welcome return in time for Saturday's clash at the Wanda Metropolitano.Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kane said: "I could play if the Champions League final was today.""I trained Friday, and I trained Saturday. I'll train this week and I fe...

27May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Aston Villa Promoted to the Premier League

Aston Villa have been promoted to the Premier League after beating Derby 2-1 in the Championship play-off final on Monday.Villa held off a late fight back from Frank Lampard's team at Wembley to book their return to the English top-flight after three years in the Championship.Anwar El Ghazi opened the scoring late in the first half when he met Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross to beat Kelle Roos and John McGinn headed into an open goal on the hour mark after an error from the Derby goalkeeper.Jack Marriott pulled one back for the Rams in the 81st minute in a tense finish to the game, as Jayden Bogle and Mason Mount also came close to finding the net. Towards the end of the seven minutes of injury time, Harry Wilson proved lively down the wing for Derby, but saw one cross cleared by the Villa defenc...

27May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Chelsea's striker Alvaro Morata want to extend Atletico stay

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata says he wants to spend the rest of his career at Atletico Madrid.Morata, 26, joined Atletico in January on an 18-month loan deal, scoring six goals in 17 games for the Spanish side.He was Chelsea's record signing when he joined for £60m from Real Madrid on a five-year contract in July 2017, and scored 24 goals in 72 games."I am very clear that I want to stay here," the former Atletico youth player told Spanish sports newspaper Marca."Leaving here has not crossed my mind. I want it to be resolved as soon as possible. I'm happy here. I want to be here for all the years I have left as a professional."If it was solely down to me, I would have signed my contract with Atletico."It's what I want, but there are contract matters. I did everything possible to come here ...

27May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City Chairman Believes Rivals are Jealous

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has branded La Liga chief Javier Tebas and other critics "jealous", and insists his side will not be banned from the Champions League or receive a transfer ban as long as investigations into its conduct are "judged on facts".City won an unprecedented domestic treble this season but in recent weeks their sporting achievements have had to share the spotlight with allegations of widespread rule breaking and even the policy of the Abu Dhabi government and royal family, given Al Mubarak and Blues owner Sheikh Mansour have strong links to both.“He (Tebas) talks about how we distorted the market? There is a hypocrisy in this statement that is ironic,” the City chairman said. “Number one, let’s look at the Spanish league, the time of breaking records on...

27May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Tuchel Can't Promise Mbappe and Neymar Stay

Paris Saint-Germain will fight to keep Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at the club during this summer's transfer window, but Thomas Tuchel isn't making any promises.The coach will be remaining at the Parc des Princes after signing a new contract, but doesn't want to speculate on the futures of his players."There is a lot of speculation which means we have a lot of quality and talent," he said at the Monaco Grand Prix, when interviewed by Sky Sports."My wish as a manager and as a coach is clear, as I want all my players to stay at PSG and stay with our project."The work is not finished, it has just started."My wish is clear, but I can't promise it as that would be naïve and I don't want to be naïve in this business."

27May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Report: Chelsea star Kante a major doubt for Europa League final

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is a doubt for Wednesday’s Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku after sustaining a knee injury in training over the weekend, according to British media reports.The France international missed Chelsea’s previous two games with a hamstring injury but returned to training last week and manager Maurizio Sarri was confident he would be fit for the club’s season-ending showpiece in the Azerbaijan capital.Both the Times and Guardian newspapers reported that Kante had twisted his knee during a training session on Saturday and was not likely to recover in time for the final.The 28-year-old’s absence is a blow for Sarri, who is already without the services of defender Antonio Rudiger, midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi due to injuries....

27May

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SERIE A

AC Milan miss out on UCL spot despite SPAL win

AC Milan endured a bittersweet 3-2 win at SPAL in the last round of the Serie A, finishing the campaign outside the top four after their nearest rivals both booked their Champions League berths on Sunday.The result left Milan fifth on 68 points, one behind third-placed Atalanta and fourth-placed city rivals Inter, meaning they will have to be content with the Europa League next season.Atalanta came from behind to beat Sassuolo 3-1 at home while Inter eked out a 2-1 win against relegated Empoli at the San Siro.“I am happy with the development of my players, I think many of them have improved a lot,” said AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso, whose future with the club is uncertain. “We can still get better although it will not be easy to improve this season’s 68 points.“The biggest regret is...

26May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Lewandowski Brace Helps Bayern Win DFB-Pokal

Robert Lewandowski's double and a thumping finish from Kingsley Coman ensured Bayern Munich beat RB Leipzig 3-0 to win the DFB-Pokal and complete a domestic double in Niko Kovac's first season.Having secured a seventh straight Bundesliga title last time out, Bayern went ahead against a resilient Leipzig - featuring in their first ever major final - thanks to Lewandowski's wonderful 29th-minute header.Things would have been different if not for Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who on his return from injury pulled off a pair of fantastic stops to deny Yussuf Poulsen and Emil Forsberg.Thiago Alcantara passed up a golden chance to extend the lead, but his miss mattered little as Coman made sure of Bayern's first domestic double in three years before Lewandowski's delicate chip rounded off a fin...

26May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Valencia Shock Barcelona to Win the Copa del Rey

Valencia are the new Copa del Rey champions after beating Barcelona and denying the Blaugrana a fifth consecutive cup success.After their woeful Champions League capitulation against Liverpool, Barcelona sought to placate their frustrated fans with a domestic double having wrapped up the league title with three games to spare in April.But goals from Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo handed the champions a shock defeat at the Benito Villamarín Stadium that piles more pressure on Ernesto Valverde – with Lionel Messi’s effort with 18 minutes left nothing more than a consolation.The Catalans could have won their fourth domestic double in five years on Saturday but it was not to be.

25May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea Reportedly Want £130m for Eden Hazard

Chelsea want £130m for Eden Hazard, as per reports. Real Madrid value the Belgium international at no more than €100m (£88m) due to the fact that he is entering the final 12 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge.Chelsea are under no pressure to sell and negotiations over a proposed deal are being handled by Blues director Marina Granovskaia.Hazard revealed earlier this month that he had made a decision on his future and expected it to be resolved following the Europa League final against Arsenal on Wednesday.Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, who will also have talks over his future following the game in Baku, insisted the club needed to "respect" the decision Hazard has made about his future.

25May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Tuchel Expects to Stay at PSG Next Season

Thomas Tuchel expects to still be Paris Saint-Germain head coach next season, but he acknowledges the situation could "change every day".PSG won the Ligue 1 title, but crashed out of the Champions League and Coupe de la Ligue early, as well as losing the Coupe de France final to Rennes on penalties.The shoot-out defeat to Rennes came in the final weeks of the season as PSG won just three of 10 matches in all competitions, also including Friday's 3-1 loss at Reims.Champions PSG were completely outplayed away from home in their last game of the campaign, yet Tuchel was positive for the future at full-time."I think I can say yes [I will stay]," Tuchel told a post-match news conference. "But, in football, it can change every day."You often ask me, but I am here. If it changes, it will not be d...

25May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Monaco Scrape to Ligue 1 Survival

Monaco have secured Ligue 1 survival despite failing to get the point they needed to guarantee safety on the final day, instead ending a dreadful season with a 2-0 defeat in Nice.Leonardo Jardim’s men knew only an improbable set of results – defeat at Nice, victory for Caen and an eight-goal swing – could send them into a relegation play-off after last week’s vital home win over fellow strugglers Amiens.Jardim had urged his side to keep their fate in their own hands, and Cesc Fabregas hit the crossbar after 12 minutes – but Benoit Badiashile’s own goal left them relying on Bordeaux to put in a performance against Caen.Mickael Le Bihan doubled Nice’s lead after 67 minutes from the penalty spot, but Younousse Sankhare’s opener for Bordeaux proved enough to save last season’s runners-up and r...

25May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Pochettino 'Motivated' to Stay at Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino says he is "motivated" to stay at Tottenham and take them to the next level.Pochettino's Spurs future has been uncertain following comments he made before the Champions League semi-final victory over Ajax, in which he suggested he could walk away if they were to win the competition.There has also been speculation in Italy that he is of interest to Juventus, who recently parted ways with Massimiliano Allegri.But Pochettino told talkSPORT on Friday: "Tottenham, for me, is the best club in the world."When we talk about facilities - this training ground, a stadium that is the best in the world - there is no better club."Then it's London - there is no better city. And the Premier League is the most tough and the most exciting league in the world."We need to make that step. O...

24May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Everton Sign Huddersfield Goalkeeper Lossl

Everton have signed Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Jonas Lossl on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of June.The Demark international has signed a three-year deal with the Toffees that will take him through to the summer of 2022.He will join up with his new club on July 1 and begin preparations for next season, where he is expected to provide cover and competition for first-choice shot-stopper Jordan Pickford.Lossl made 31 Premier League appearances for Huddersfield in 2018-19 but was unable to prevent their relegation to the Championship, conceding 54 goals and keeping just five clean sheets in that period.He joined on loan from German outfit Mainz in the summer of 2017 following the Terriers' promotion to the top flight, a deal which was made permanent a year later.Pickfo...

24May

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LALIGA

Real Madrid Slam Pochettino's Training Ground Claims

Real Madrid have issued an official statement slamming Mauricio Pochettino over claims his requests to use the club's training ground were rejected.Spurs will be staying in the Spanish capital ahead of the Champions League final against Liverpool at Wanda Metropolitano on June 1.The Argentine has been heavily linked with the top job at Santiago Bernabeu in recent months and he suggested Perez tried to offer him a compromise to suit both Madrid and Spurs.“Real Madrid? I have no other goals if I am not training Tottenham; football takes you where you deserve," Pochettino told El Partidazo de Cope.“Ahead of the final, we will train at Valdebebas and sleep in a nearby hotel.“I asked Florentino to let us sleep in the sports centre, but he told me that I can only sleep there when I become the co...

24May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Wenger Eyeing Return to Football

Arsene Wenger is eager to return to football, but the former Arsenal boss is unsure if his comeback will be in management.Wenger, 69, ended a 22-year stay with the Premier League side at the end of last season before stepping away from management for this campaign.The Frenchman, who has reportedly turned down numerous opportunities, said he would return, although he is unsure in just what role."I will go back into football, for sure," Wenger told The Guardian."In what position I don't know, whether that is as a manager or not. The appetite, the desire, is still there."Wenger, who also managed Nancy, Monaco and Nagoya Grampus Eight during his career, said he would quickly decide what kind of position he wanted for his first job away from the Gunners since 1996."Originally I said I want to m...