January 2023 – Football Flame

31Jan

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BAYERN MUNICH, Joao Cancelo, Manchester City, TRANSFERS

Bayern Munich sign Portuguese right-back Cancelo on loan from Man City

Board member sports Hasan Salihamidzic of FC Bayern Muenchen and Joao Cancelo of FC Bayern Muenchen at the official press conference on January 31, 2023 in Munich, Germany.Bayern Munich signed Portuguese right-back Joao Cancelo on loan from Manchester City on Tuesday, the transfer window deadline day. “FC Bayern have signed Portugal international Joao Cancelo on loan from Manchester City. The 28-year-old full-back moves to Munich on an initial deal through to the end of the current season,” Bayern Munich said in a statement. Cancelo said he cannot wait to play for alongside many skillful players at the German powerhouse and he vowed to do his best in his new club. “I know that this club, this team lives for titles and wins titles every year. I’m also driven by the hunger for success. I’ll ...

31Jan

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FA Cup, Michail Antonio, NEWS

Antonio scores as West Ham ease past Derby to earn Man Utd clash in FA Cup

David Moyes the manager / head coach of West Ham United and Michail Antonio of West Ham United during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round game between Derby County and West Ham United at Pride Park on January 30, 2023 in Derby, England.David Moyes cannot wait to take on his former club Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round after goals from Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio sealed West Ham’s 2-0 victory at third tier Derby on Monday. Bowen put West Ham ahead early in the first half and Antonio doubled the lead soon after the interval in the fourth round tie. Moyes’ side will head to Old Trafford in late February as they continue their bid to reach the FA Cup final for the first time since 2006. It will be Moyes’ latest return to United, who sacked the Scot in 2014 only 10 months after he ...

31Jan

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Gennaro Gattuso, LALIGA, Valencia FC

Gattuso leaves Valencia job after seven months

Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Valencia CF, looks on prior to the LaLiga Santander match between Real Valladolid CF and Valencia CF at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla on January 29, 2023 in Valladolid, Spain.Valencia manager Gennaro Gattuso has left the La Liga club after just seven months in charge at the Mestalla. Former AC Milan and Napoli boss Gattuso, 45, signed a two-year deal when he was unveiled last summer. But Valencia have lost eight of his 18 league matches in charge and sit 14th, just a point above the bottom three, after Sunday’s loss at Real Valladolid. Valencia said former Italy midfielder Gattuso’s departure had been “decided by mutual agreement”. His exit leaves Los Ches searching for a fifth manager in less than three years. Valencia stalwart Voro Gonzalez will take char...

30Jan

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EVERTON FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, Sean Dyche

Dyche wants to help his Everton squad ‘shine’

Sean Dyche poses for a photograph after becoming manager of Everton FC at Finch Farm on January 30, 2023 in Halewood, England. Sean Dyche says it is his job to make the quality players in Everton’s squad “shine” after being appointed manager. The Toffees sacked Frank Lampard last week with the club 19th in the Premier League and two points from safety. Dyche, 51, who joins on a two-and-a-half-year contract until June 2025, had been out of work since being dismissed by Burnley last April. “Our aim is to put out a team that works, that fights and wears the badge with pride,” said Dyche. “The connection with the fans can then grow very quickly because they’re so passionate. “There is quality in this squad. But we have to make them shine. That’s the job of me and my staff.” Dyche is Evert...

29Jan

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Borussia Dortmund, BUNDESLIGA, Sebastien Haller

Dortmund beat Leverkusen as Haller makes first start

Sebastien Haller of Borussia Dortmund is challenged by Robert Andrich of Bayer 04 Leverkusen during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at BayArena on January 29, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany.Borussia Dortmund surged to within three points of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich with a 2-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday as Sebastien Haller made his first start since undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. Haller, making his third Dortmund appearance since returning to the team earlier this month, was crucial in both goals. The Ivory Coast striker let the ball run through his legs for Karim Adeyemi’s first-half goal, before pressuring Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba into an own goal in the second period. Leverkusen started the match by consistently finding s...

29Jan

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CHELSEA FC, Malo Gusto, TRANSFERS

Chelsea sign Gusto from Lyon in £31m deal

27 Malo GUSTO (ol) during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Olympique Lyonnais and Racing Club de Strasbourg at Groupama Stadium on January 14, 2023 in Lyon, France.Chelsea have signed 19-year-old French right-back Malo Gusto from Lyon for 35m euro (£30.7m). Gusto has signed a deal with the Blues until summer 2030 but will complete the current season at Lyon. Lyon said the deal includes 5m euro (£4.4m) in add-ons. “The defender will now continue his impressive progress on loan [at Lyon] before joining up with the Blues in the summer ahead of the new campaign,” Chelsea said in a statement. Gusto came through the ranks at Lyon before making his first team debut in January 2021. He has made 15 appearances this season for the French club, who are ninth in Ligue 1. Lyon said the club “regrets...

28Jan

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ARSENAL FC, FA Cup, Manchester City, Nathan Ake

‘Exceptional guy’ Ake edges Man City past Arsenal in FA Cup

Nathan Ake of Manchester City celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on January 27, 2023 in Manchester, England. Manager Pep Guardiola called Nathan Ake an “exceptional guy” after he sent Manchester City into the FA Cup fifth round with the winning goal in a narrow victory over Premier League title rivals Arsenal. The Gunners have established an impressive lead in the league but it was City who shaded a tight contest thanks to Ake’s precise 64th-minute finish after good work from Jack Grealish. Arsenal had chances of their own, especially in the first half when City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, deputising for Ederson, saved well from Takehiro Tomiyasu and new signing...

27Jan

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EVERTON FC, Marcelo Bielsa, NEWS

Bielsa arrives in London for further Everton talks

Former Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa shouts instructions to his team from the technical area during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road on January 22, 2022 in Leeds, United Kingdom.Marcelo Bielsa has arrived in London for further talks with Everton’s hierarchy as they search for a successor to Frank Lampard. The 67-year-old former Leeds United manager is a favoured choice of Everton owner Farhad Moshiri. Sean Dyche, who has been out of work since being dismissed by Burnley in April, is the other main contender to take over at Goodison Park. The Toffees hope to have someone in place by the weekend. Bielsa is believed to have reservations about the composition of Everton’s squad and its ability to play his trademark high-tempo styl...

27Jan

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Copa del Rey, NEWS, Vinicius Junior

Vinicius scores, Real Madrid beat Atletico in extra time in Copa del Rey

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid CF battle for the ball with Pablo Barrios Atletico de Madrid during Copa del Rey Quarter Final match between Real Madrid CF and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 26, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.Vinicius scored late in extra time to seal a 3-1 come-from-behind win over Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Vinicius Junior’s day started with him being the target of an apparent hate crime. It ended with the Brazil forward scoring a goal to help Real Madrid secure a spot in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey. Vinicius scored late in extra time to seal a 3-1 come-from-behind win over Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals on Thursday. The buildup to the game between the two fierce rivals was marred after a dummy of Vinicius was hanged ...

26Jan

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BARCELONA FC, Copa del Rey, Ousmane Dembele

Dembele shines as Barcelona beat 10-man Sociedad 1-0 to reach Copa semifinals

Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona is tackled by Aihen Munoz of Real Sociedad during the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Spotify Camp Nou on January 25, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. Dembele scored the winning goal early in the second half as Barcelona defeated 10-man Real Sociedad 1-0 to return to the last four after a one-year absence. The days of Barcelona fans jeering Ousmane Dembele are long gone. There were only cheers from the crowd at the Camp Nou after the France forward led the hosts to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.The result ended a nine-game winning streak for Sociedad, which played a man down from the 40th minute after Brais Méndez was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. It was Soc...