NEWS – Page 81 – Football Flame

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Kompany retires as a player, become head coach of Anderlecht

Vincent Kompany poses during the FWA Vincent Kompany tribute dinner at the Savoy Hotel, London. Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany ended his 17-year playing career on Monday to focus on being head coach of Belgian team Anderlecht. The 34-year-old Kompany left City to join Anderlecht, his first professional club, in a player-manager role in May last year. "I want to fully commit to my role as a coach and need 100% of my time and focus for it," said Kompany, who has agreed to a four-year deal as coach. "That´s why I´m quitting as a football player." Kompany´s first match in charge will be against Mouscron on Sunday. The Belgian league is two rounds into its new season.
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Rangers boss Steven Gerrard provides injury update on Joe Aribo

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard celebrates with Ryan Jack and Joe Aribo (right) during the Europa League play off second leg between Rangers and Legia Warsaw at Ibrox Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. Steven Gerrard is hoping to have Joe Aribo back in his side for next weekend's match against Kilmarnock. The midfielder missed out through injury as Rangers were held 0-0 by Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Sunday. It was a frustrating afternoon for Steven Gerrard's side, as they dropped points for the first time this season. Speaking after the match, Gerrard said: “I’m hoping to have Joe back for next weekend. “He’s got a small ankle problem that we scanned. “There’s a bit of swelling in there which is obviously a big risk coming to a surface like the on...
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Manchester United’s Europa League dream crashed by Sevilla

Fred and Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United look dejected following their sides defeat in the UEFA Europa League Semi Final between Sevilla and Manchester United at RheinEnergieStadion on August 16, 2020 in Cologne, Germany. Manchester United’s long season ended on game No 61 and in semi-final heartbreak.  Extras time appeared the favoured outcome before Luuk de Jong stole ahead of a dozing Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to score the winner 12 minutes from time for Sevilla. While they will meet Shakhtar Donetsk or Internazionale in Friday’s final, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side head for the beach and reflection on what might have been.  A third-place Premier League finish is admirable but losing in the League Cup, FA Cup and now Europa League semi-final is a disapp...
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John Mikel Obi: Stoke City set to sign former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder

John Obi Mikel of Trabzonspor controls the ball during the UEFA Europa League group C match between Getafe CF and Trabzonspor at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on September 19, 2019 in Getafe, Spain. Stoke City are set to sign former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi on a one-year deal. The former Nigeria captain, 33, is a free agent having left Turkish side Trabzonspor by mutual consent in March. Earlier this week he told BBC Sport Africa he was open to a return to English football. Mikel made 249 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in an 11-year spell, which ended when he left Stamford Bridge in 2017. He won the Champions League and Europa League, two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups and the League Cup with the London side. After leaving Stamford Bridge he joined Chinese side Ti...
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Greg Docherty and Ross McCrorie set to depart Rangers

Hibernians Greg Docherty during a Ladbrokes Premiership match between Hibernian and St Mirren at Easter Road, on February 01, 2020, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Greg Docherty and Ross McCrorie are set to depart Ibrox permanently after Rangers manager Steven Gerrard ruled out sending the duo back on loan. Hull have opened talks with the club over a move for Docherty while Hibernian are in the early stages of discussions as they plan a swoop for fellow midfielder McCrorie. Docherty spent the season before last at Shrewsbury, where he was named their player of the year. But that was not enough to break back into Gerrard’s team and he was sent to Easter Road for the second half of last term. McCrorie was also farmed out to Portsmouth last campaign but, like Docherty, has been unable to...
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Sevilla down Wolves, Shakhtar thump Basel to reach Europa League semis

Lucas Ocampos of Sevilla celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final between Wolves and Sevilla at MSV Arena on August 11, 2020 in Duisburg, Germany. Sevilla qualified for the semifinals of the Europa League on Tuesday after Lucas Ocampos' late header broke Wolverhampton Wanderers' hearts, while Shakhtar Donetsk thumped Basel 4-1 to join the Spaniards in the last four. Five-time competition winners Sevilla face Manchester United in Cologne on Sunday thanks to a brilliant header from Argentine Ocampos with less than two minutes left on the clock which gave them a deserved 1-0 win, while Shakhtar take on Inter Milan on Monday in another intriguing tie. Sevilla dominated their English opponents over the course of the match, as a tired-looki...
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Steven Gerrard confident Rangers ready to fly out of blocks against St Johnstone

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard celebrates with his staff during the Europa League play off second leg between Rangers and Legia Warsaw at Ibrox Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. Steven Gerrard believes Rangers are “right into their rhythm” as they prepare to host St Johnstone on Wednesday night. The Light Blues have started the Scottish Premiership season with two wins out of two, even though they have been knocked out of the Europa League by Bayer Leverkusen. St Johnstone’s match against Aberdeen at the weekend was postponed after two Dons players tested positive for Covid-19 and a further six were instructed to self-isolate following a night out. The Ibrox boss is unsure as to what the break will do to Saints but is confident his players will be ready. Gerrard...
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Man United books spot in Europa League final four

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 from a penalty during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final between Manchester United and FC Kobenhavn at RheinEnergieStadion on August 10, 2020 in Cologne, Germany. English football club Manchester United fought hard against Copenhagen late Monday, beating their Danish opponents 1-0 to advance to the UEFA Europa League semifinals.  Man United’s Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock in extra time in Cologne, Germany as the 25-year-old attacking midfielder scored from a penalty kick. The Red Devils will face England's Wolverhampton Wanderers or Spanish team Sevilla in the next stage. In the other match of the night, Italian team Inter Milan eliminated their German opponents Bayer L...
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Atletico Madrid announce two positives for COVID-19 on eve of trip to Lisbon

Atletico Madrid confirmed on Sunday evening that two members due to travel to Lisbon on Monday for the quarterfinals of the Champions League had tested positive for coronavirus, reported Xinhua news agency. The club did not confirm whether the positives are among its players or technical staff in an official statement, which explains that according to UEFA protocol every member of the expedition to Lisbon for the final phase of this season's Champions League underwent a PCR test for COVID-19 on Saturday. "Among the results which were known today (Sunday), two people tested positive, and they are currently under isolation in their respective homes," explained Atletico, adding that the positive tests were "immediately communicated to the respective Spanish and Portuguese health authori...
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Steven Gerrard eager to reward Rangers fans with Premiership win at an empty Ibrox

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard celebrates during the Europa League play off second leg between Rangers and Legia Warsaw at Ibrox Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. Steven Gerrard is confident Rangers can build on their opening day win at Aberdeen when they take to an empty Ibrox on Sunday. The Gers kicked off their campaign with an important three points last weekend as Ryan Kent netted the only goal of the game. St Mirren are the first visitors to Ibrox in Premiership action this term but there won't be the usual fanfare to greet Gerrard and his players. “Certainly in the league it’s been a long time since we played at Ibrox," Gerrard said. “We’ve had some preparation games there already this season with Coventry and Motherwell, but it’s been some time since we ...
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Europa League roundup: Wolves storm into first quarters in 48 years

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Raul Jimenez celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg match at the Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton. Thursday August 6, 2020. Wolves reached their first European quarter-finals in 48 years on Thursday while Sevilla, Bayer Leverkusen and Basel enjoyed far more comfortable victories in the matches that brought the Europa League round of 16 to a belated close. Raul Jimenez scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the ninth minute and Wolves survived a series of scares to edge Olympiakos 1-0 at Molineux for a 2-1 aggregate win in a tie that began in Athens on March 13.  Leverkusen beat visiting Rangers 1-0 to win 4-1 on aggregate while Basel beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 for a 4-0 aggregate...
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Teden Mengi sets himself challenge after Manchester United debut

Manchester United's Teden Mengi during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Wednesday August 5, 2020. Manchester United youngster Teden Mengi is hungry for more minutes in the first team after making his debut for the club in the win against LASK at Old Trafford. Mengi, 18, has captained United's U18 side this season and was included in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad for the Europa League knockout rounds. The youngster was an unused substitute during the 5-0 rout in Austria and was once again named on the bench despite supporters calling for him to start the second leg at home. Mengi replaced Timothy Fosu-Mensah six minutes from time for his senior debut and the defender revealed he was delighted to repay Solskjaer's faith in him. "It'...
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Shakhtar, Copenhagen advance as Europa League returns

Manor Solomon of Shakhtar Donetsk celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg match between Shakhtar Donetsk and VfL Wolfsburg at Metalist Stadium on August 5, 2020 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Shakhtar Donetsk and Copenhagen reached the Europa League quarterfinals Wednesday as continental soccer returned amid the coronavirus pandemic. Shakhtar, the 2009 Europa League winner, won 3-0 in the second leg against Wolfsburg to complete a 5-1 victory on aggregate, five months after the first leg was played. Copenhagen reached the quarterfinals of a European competition for the first time after overturning a 1-0 deficit from the first leg against Istanbul Basaksehir to win 3-1 on aggregate. Shakhtar and Copenhagen are the first teams to book...
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Neymar: I’m living my best moment with PSG

Paris Saint Germain's forward Neymar Jr during Paris Saint Germain training session at Camp des Loges on August 17, 2019 in Paris, France. Neymar believes he is enjoying his best form since joining Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain. After arriving from Barcelona in a world-record €222 million transfer in 2017, Neymar has won nine titles and scored 74 goals in 85 appearances across all competitions. Neymar – who has repeatedly been linked with a return to La Liga giants Barca – has already celebrated Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophee des Champions success in 2019-20 as PSG eye Champions League success this term. "These three years came with a lot of knowledge. I've lived times of joy and some complicated ones, especially when I was unable to play due to i...
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Fulham wins the £135 million football game and promotion to English Premier League

Scott Parker manager of Fulham, Joe Bryan and Bobby Decordova-Reid of Fulham celebrate with the trophy after the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Final match between Brentford and Fulham at Wembley Stadium on August 04, 2020 in London, England. Fulham secured an instant return to the Premier League on Tuesday by beating west London rival Brentford 2-1 in the Championship play-off final. Joe Bryan scored twice in extra time at Wembley to give Fulham the win in what is widely called the most lucrative game in football. Fulham will receive at least £135 million (Dh647m) over three years after securing promotion, a year after being relegated from the world’s richest football league. Fulham owner Shahid Khan failed in a bid to buy Wembley a year ago, and his team had to celebrate in an e...
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Basaksehir continues Europa League campaign

Players of Medipol Basaksehir pose for a photo as they celebrate their victory at the end of the UEFA Europa League second match of the last 32 rounds between Medipol Basaksehir and Sporting Lizbon at the Fatih Terim Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on February 27, 2020. The 2019/20 UEFA Europa League has been on hold since March 12 due to COVID-19 outbreak. It was announced on June 17 that this season’s quarterfinals, semifinals and final would be played as a straight knockout tournament across four cities in Germany: Cologne, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Gelsenkirchen. All these ties will be single-leg fixtures. The games will be played behind closed doors. Basaksehir, which was crowned the champion in the pandemic-hit Turkish Super Lig last month, carries a 1-0 advantage to the away tie. ...
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Peterborough United almost signed West Ham United star

Michail Antonio of West Ham United celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Watford FC at London Stadium on July 17, 2020 in London, England. Peterborough United co-owner Darragh MacAnthony has revealed his club almost signed West Ham United star Michail Antonio straight from non-league. Posh monitored Antonio when he was a winger playing for Tooting & Mitcham in the early days of MacAnthony’s reign in 2007. But Posh didn’t go through with their bid and the player went on to join Reading. Antonio (30) was a star of West Ham’s successful fight against relegation from the Premier League this season. MacAnthony, speaking on his popular ‘Hard Truth’ podcast said: “There are always gems to be found in the lower d...
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Paul Scholes visited by police over party claims

Paul Scholes is presented as the new manager of Oldham Athletic during a press conference at Boundary Park on February 11, 2019 in Oldham, England. Former Manchester United and England footballer Paul Scholes has been spoken to by police over claims he flouted lockdown rules by staging a house party. The Sun newspaper reported a party was held at his Oldham home for his son's birthday on Friday evening, the day new rules kicked in in Greater Manchester. The restrictions ban social gatherings in people's homes and gardens. Scholes, 45, has not commented on the report. It comes as authorities in Greater Manchester declared a major incident following recent rises in coronavirus infection rates. Figures released on Sunday showed the seven-day rate of new coronavirus cases in Ol...
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Infantino to remain Fifa President during legal probe

Giovanni Infantino, president of FIFA, walks between sessions on the opening day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. Fifa President Gianni Infantino will continue to work while cooperating with a criminal probe into meetings he had with Switzerland’s top prosecutor during a corruption investigation into world football’s governing body. A special federal prosecutor, Stefan Keller, is examining the legality of meetings Infantino held with Michael Lauber, whose official title is attorney general. Prosecutors have asked the Swiss government to lift Lauber’s immunity as part of the probe. Keller has cited “indications of criminal conduct” related to meetings between Lauber, Infantino and a regional Swiss prosecutor during the corruption pro...
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Pochettino: Tottenham chiefs rejected my vision for the club

Mauricio Pochettino, Former Manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Mauricio Pochettino has said he expected more time to turn last season around at Tottenham Hotspur and suggested that the club lost faith in his vision following the "mistakes" he made. Pochettino was sacked last November, just five months after guiding Spurs to the Champions League final, and, in an interview yesterday with the Spanish newspaper 'El Pais', the 48-year-old also appeared to backtrack over previous claims that he would never manage Barcelona. Jose Mourinho replaced Pochettino as Tottenham manager and, with the club having slipped to 14th in November, a strong finish during Project Restart lifted them to a final Premier League position of sixth. Of his Tottenham departure, Pochettino said: "After the Champion...
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