September 2021 – Football Flame

30Sep

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Kalvin Phillips edges closer to Leeds renewal

Leeds player Kalvin Phillips in action during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leeds United at St. James Park on September 17, 2021 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips is edging closer to signing a new contract at Elland Road, according to the Telegraph.The 25-year-old has been the subject of links with elite clubs in the Premier League, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and arch rivals Manchester United.But John Percy reports that Phillips “is in advanced talks with the Leeds hierarchy”, and is set to renew his current deal that runs out in 2024.Kalvin Phillips and #LUFC on threshold of agreeing new, improved contract at Elland Road. @JPercyTelegraph reports https://t.co/s1YHWiOjYl pic.twitter.com/hMG5LKOZdj— Telegraph F...

30Sep

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LALIGA

Toni Kroos discusses Mbappe’s failed Real Madrid move

Toni Kroos of Real Madrid CF gestures during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Real Madrid and FC Sheriff at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on September 28, 2021 in Madrid, Spain.Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos says Kylian Mbappe is ‘sure to be’ at the club in future despite their failed bid to bag the star this summer.The Spanish club tried to poach the forward from Paris Saint-Germain but couldn’t get the deal over the line so the French international remains at PSG.Kroos says the best players in the world need to play for Madrid and that includes Mbappe.He told Goal: “In the summer I already said that I would like a player like him to come, but if he doesn’t we have a good team.“Let’s see what happens in the future, it is difficult for me to say because I am not the one who ...

30Sep

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NEWS

Conte blames Chelsea: ‘They should have done more against Juventus’

Former Inter Milan's Italian coach Antonio Conte gestures during the Italian Cup quarter final football match between Inter Milan and AC Milan on January 26, 2021 at the Meazza stadium in Milan.Antonio Conte believes Chelsea ‘should have done more’ against Juventus, while the Bianconeri ‘proved to be humble.’The Serie A giants earned a 1-0 win against Chelsea at the Allianz Stadium thanks to a Federico Chiesa strike in the second half.Juventus played a defensive game, and did allow only one shot on target for the reigning title holders.Conte, a former Juventus and Chelsea coach, commented on the game on Sky Sport Italia.“Juventus’ important win is the result of an exact strategy. Juventus wanted to play this kind of game,” he said.“They didn’t concede much to Chelsea, they defended inside ...

30Sep

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SERIE A

Juventus must know how to win games like this — Massimiliano Allegri

Head coach of Juventus Massimiliano Allegri looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League group H match between Juventus and Chelsea FC at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2021 in Turin, Italy.Juventus put in a solid defensive performance reminiscent of Massimiliano Allegri’s previous tenure at the club as they foiled Champions League defending champions Chelsea. In a rearguard showing that would have even warmed Fefu’s heart, the Bianconeri dared Thomas Tuchel and his side to take their best shot, and stood up to it despite missing the attacking thrust of Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata.The game was always going to be a tactical masterclass with Allegri and Tuchel pitting their wits and squads against each other, but the knives were already out for the Juve boss from the fans even befor...

30Sep

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SERIE A

AC Milan president says new stadium will be ready by 2024

President Paolo Scaroni attends the AC Milan at 'Restore The Music: Milan' event at Sant’Ambrogio Institute on September 29, 2021 in Milan, Italy.AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni is confident the team’s new stadium will be ready in three years and that the club will be ready to break ground on the project by the end of next year.The beginning of the end for Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium was announced in 2019 when the Rossoneri and Inter Milan unveiled the two shortlisted projects for their proposed new stadium.The two rival clubs both play their home games at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — commonly referred to as San Siro.Planning for the new stadium is expected to start in earnest after the municipal elections in Milan next month.“I hope we’ll see it (the new stadium) in 2024, 2025 — buil...

30Sep

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UCL

Barcelona future not in my hands says Koeman after dismal Benfica loss in Champions League

Coach Ronald Koeman of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League match between Benfica v FC Barcelona at the Estadio da Luz on September 29, 2021 in Lisbon Portugal.Ronald Koeman has insisted that a decision over his Barcelona future is out of his hands after another chastening night in the Champions League.Having already been brushed aside 3-0 by Bayern Munich in their Group E opener earlier this month, the crisis-stricken LaLiga giants went down by the same scoreline against Benfica in Portugal on Wednesday night after a brace from Darwin Nunez and Rafa Silva effort.Such a dismal pair of losses mean that five-time winners Barcelona have now made their worst-ever start to a Champions League campaign.The Blaugrana already sit five points adrift of leaders Real Madrid in LaLiga after on...

29Sep

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UCL

Robert Lewandowski nets twice in Bayern Munich win over Dynamo Kyiv

Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Muenchen scores their side's first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League group E match between FC Bayern München and Dinamo Kiev at Allianz Arena on September 29, 2021 in Munich, Germany.Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich made it two wins from two in the Champions League group stage with victory over Dynamo Kyiv.Lewandowski netted for the sixth successive Champions League game when he opened the scoring from the spot.And the prolific forward soon doubled Bayern's lead by firing past Georgiy Bushchan from Thomas Muller's pass.Serge Gnabry thumped in a third before Leroy Sane and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting wrapped it up.Bayern have now scored eight goals in their opening two Group E games.They sit top with maximum points and...

29Sep

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UCL

Cristiano Ronaldo scores in 95th minute as Manchester United defeat Villarreal

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates scoring their second goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Manchester United and Villarreal CF at Old Trafford on September 29, 2021 in Manchester, England.Cristiano Ronaldo scored an injury-time winner as Manchester United came from behind to beat Villarreal in an action-packed Champions League Group A contest.The repeat of last season's Europa League final, which the Spanish side won on penalties, looked to be heading for a draw after another disappointing United performance but summer signing Ronaldo stroked home from Jesse Lingard's lay-off to spark jubilant scenes at Old Trafford.However, Unai Emery will be left wondering how his side did not come away with all three points themselves.United started off brightly w...

29Sep

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UCL

Atalanta 1-0 Young Boys : Matteo Pessina Goal Does the Trick

Matteo Pessina of Atalanta fights for the ball with Mohamed Ali Camara of Young Boys during the UEFA Champions League football match between Atalanta and Young Boys at Gewiss Stadium on September 29, 2021 in Bergamo, Italy.Atalanta took care of business at home in the second Champions League game versus Young Boys, improving to four points in Group F. The Bergamaschi had some issues breaking the deadlock but were mostly in control and gave up just one major chance. They eventually broke through midway through the second half with a tap-in by Matteo Pessina after a relentless action by Duvan Zapata.Gian Piero Gasperini went with his standard lineup, minus José Luis Palomino, who is injured. Merih Demiral filled in, while Matteo Pessina joined Ruslan Malinovskyi in a supporting role, an...

29Sep

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Nuno vows not to crack under Spurs pressure

Manager Nuno Espírito Santo of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on September 11, 2021 in London, England.Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo said on Wednesday he will not be affected by the mounting pressure sparked by his side's wretched run.Nuno's team were woeful in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at north London rivals Arsenal as they suffered a third successive Premier League loss.Tottenham have conceded three goals in each of their last three league matches and some fans stayed behind to call for Nuno to be sacked after the Arsenal debacle.Nuno was far from Tottenham's first choice to replace Jose Mourinho in the close-season and there have already been reports the former Wolves boss will be on borrowed time if resu...