Blog (Page 220)

Six days after thumping AC Milan 3-0, Chelsea will travel to San Siro to try and replicate the feat. The Blues, who beat Wolves 3-0 at the weekend, have climbed up into second in their Champions League group but still have a whole lot of work to do to ensure they book their place in the knockout stages. With a handful of injury concerns to address, here’s how Graham Potter could set up. Gallagher is flying under Potter / James Williamson – AMA/GettyImages GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga – The Spaniard appears to have Potter’s faith right now, but he’ll need to keep the levels up asRead More →

Andres Iniesta says he would like to return to Barcelona in some capacity once his playing career is over. Barça are currently rebuilding impressively under his former midfield partner Xavi Hernandez while Iniesta winds down his own playing career with Japanese club Vissel Kobe. However, Barcelona is the only other club he has played for and it is the one with which he will always be most associated – and he hopes to return there soon. “I’ll spend another year here, then we’ll see,” Iniesta told Iniesta told Gazzetta Dello Sport. “I’d like to return to Barcelona, but I don’t know which role. Coach, sportingRead More →

Paris Saint-Germain will have the option to buy young midfielder Xavi Simons back from PSV Eindhoven next summer. The young Dutchman left PSG this summer on a free transfer and has excelled in the Eredivisie, racking up six goals and four assists in just nine games and flashing the kind of potential that was widely expected of him during his time with both PSG and boyhood side Barcelona. His departure had many PSG fans scratching their heads, not least because the Ligue 1 side received no money in exchange for one of the game’s most popular young talents, but Rik Elfrink has now unearthed theRead More →

Atletico Madrid have confirmed that Antoine Griezmann has completed his permanent return to the club from Barcelona. The Frenchman first joined Atletico in 2014 from Real Sociedad and went on to become one of the defining figures in the club’s modern history, notably helping them reach the Champions League final in 2016 and win the Europa League in 2018. After flirting with a move to Barça in 2018, he eventually swapped the capital for Catalonia in 2019, though proved to be an underwhelming signing and was loaned back to Atletico at the start of last season on a two-year deal. And Los Rojiblancos confirmed onRead More →

The 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs bracket is set following a dramatic ending to the regular season on Decision Day. Supporters’ Shield winners LAFC and Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union head straight into the Conference semi-finals. However, the other 12 teams will battle it out in the first round, which begins on Saturday, October 15. Here is the full 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs bracket: Second seeds CF Montreal pushed right until the final day for top spot in the East but ultimately fell two points short. Nevertheless, they enjoyed a stellar regular season and will be firm favorites against an Orlando City side that scraped intoRead More →

England manager Gareth Southgate has stressed his desire to see out the entirety of his contract with the Three Lions. After leading England to the final of Euro 2020 last year, Southgate penned a new deal to commit himself to the team until 2024, but things have gone downhill since and England find themselves on a six-game winless streak heading into the World Cup. Some fans have been calling for Southgate to step down after the winter showpiece in Qatar – a minority have even challenged him to leave beforehand – but the boss has no desire to leave early. “As we speak now, I’mRead More →

Chelsea remain in talks with midfielder Mason Mount over a new contract, 90min understands, with the Blues confident an agreement will be reached. Mount’s future was identified as a pressing concern following Todd Boehly’s arrival at the club, with the American co-owner keen to hand a bumper new deal to both the 23-year-old and right-back Reece James, who are viewed as potential cornerstones of the club’s future. James has since penned a lucrative six-year contract and so the focus is now on Mount, with whom talks are progressing well. Sources have confirmed to 90min that Chelsea are not worried that negotiations with the midfielder haveRead More →

Erik ten Hag has praised Casemiro’s performance in Manchester United’s 2-1 over Everton, stating that fans saw how ‘important he is’ to the team on Sunday evening. The midfielder was at fault for Everton’s goal inside the opening five minutes, losing the ball in the lead up the goal, but recovered well to put in a solid display alongside the impressive Christian Eriksen in the heart of the Man Utd midfielder. When asked about Casemiro being dispossessed in the lead up to Everton’s goal, speaking to BT Sport, Ten Hag said: “Yeah but I think he will [learn to] anticipate quickly and you saw thatRead More →

Jurgen Klopp stated that both Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injuries are ‘not good’ after both were taken off in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Arsenal. Diaz was subbed off during the first half with a knee injury, while Alexander-Arnold came off at half-time after suffering an ankle injury following a heavy collision with Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank. The former was later seen on crutches in the mix zone. Speaking after the game to the club’s official website, Klopp provided rather worrying updates on both players’ conditions, stating: “Lucho [Luis Diaz] we had to change before [half-time]. [It’s] something with the knee, not good. “HeRead More →

Jurgen Klopp has lamented Liverpool’s defending and the early goal his side conceded in their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The Reds now sit a disappointing 10th in the Premier League table having won just two of their opening eight games this season. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Klopp discussed what went wrong for his side on Sunday, stating: “The early goal which we conceded is obviously very, very much the opposite of everything you want to have here [at the Emirates Stadium] because, with the moment Arsenal is in and the moment we are in, I think it’s reallyRead More →