Blog (Page 231)

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank wants Ivan Toney to ‘show resilience’ after he was denied his England debut during the September internationals. Toney, who has never been capped by his country at any level, was called into Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for the first time ahead of Nations League clashes with Italy and Germany. However, the striker was omitted from the matchday squad for England’s 1-0 loss in Italy and was an unused substitute in the following 3-3 draw against Germany at Wembley. Nevertheless, Frank is trying to remain positive, showing empathy with fellow manager Southgate and challenging Toney to do more to winRead More →

Reigning Spanish and European champions Real Madrid host Osasuna in La Liga on Sunday night. Real Madrid’s start to the season has been, quite literally, perfect. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have won each of the nine matches they have contested across all competitions this term. Osasuna haven’t matched their faultless hosts but have recorded four wins from their first six games of the campaign for just the third time in their top-flight history. Here’s everything you need to know about the meeting between these in-form sides. Real Madrid: 3 WinsOsasuna: 0 WinsDraws: 2 Real Madrid: WWWWWOsasuna: LWWLW Karim Benzema missed Madrid’s last three matches before the international break which he alsoRead More →

A Norwegian documentary has revealed the process used by Erling Haaland for picking his new club at the end of last season, detailing how the striker came to choose Manchester City over the likes of Real Madrid and PSG. Haaland: The Big Decision, released on Scandinavian streaming platform Viaplay, depicts Haaland and his father Alf-Inge devising a points-based system with which to rank potential suitors for the 22-year-old. Factors included whether or not the club was in need of a new number nine, which would have played in City’s favour after famously playing the 2021/22 campaign without a recognised striker in their squad. The HaalandsRead More →

Antonio Conte has addressed the media ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Arsenal in the north London derby on Saturday. Spurs head to the Emirates Stadium as one of only two teams still unbeaten in the Premier League this season. Conte’s men will go top with a win at the home of their bitter rivals. Here’s what the Italian had to say at his press conference. “We have to wait tomorrow to check some players because they returned from the national team with some physical problems. Tomorrow will be very important to understand the players we can count on. “Honestly I don’t want to speak aboutRead More →

Paris Saint-Germain welcome Nice to the capital in Ligue 1 on Saturday evening as Christophe Galtier faces his former employers. The 56-year-old only spent one season in charge of Nice but went head-to-head with PSG three times last term, avoiding defeat home and away in the league as well as guiding Les Aiglons into the Coupe de France quarter-finals via penalties at the Parc des Princes. Here’s the PSG XI Galtier may deploy to get one over his old club. 🆕📽️⚽️ training of the day! 🔜 #PSGOGCN pic.twitter.com/0wjjXyUoIS — Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) September 28, 2022 GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma – Just like his international and clubRead More →

Real Madrid are expected to be without Luka Modric for up to ten days after the midfielder returned from international duty with a hip injury. News of Modric’s injury was announced on Wednesday afternoon after the 37-year-old returned from Croatia duty to train with his club. Following a gym session, tests confirmed Modric had suffered an overload in the hip which is likely to see him miss this weekend’s game against Osasuna. Modric is also likely to miss Madrid’s next league game against Getafe, as well as their upcoming Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk. Madrid now face an anxious wait to see if ModricRead More →

Arsenal forward Emile Smith Rowe has undergone surgery on an ongoing groin injury, which had been behind his limited playing time so far this season, the club has confirmed. Having scored 10 Premier League goals last season, Smith Rowe missed the first game of the new campaign and has managed only 47 minutes across Arsenal’s first eight outings in all competitions. He was also missing altogether from last weekend’s win over Brentford. The 22-year-old experienced what is described as a ‘significant setback’ after appearing for 16 minutes in the recent defeat to Manchester United, making surgical intervention necessary following specialist consultations and discussions within theRead More →

Dejan Kulusevski is an injury doubt for the north London derby on Saturday after picking up a hamstring problem while on international duty with Sweden. The Tottenham forward has been a big hit in the Premier League since signing from Juventus in January, contributing a goal and three assists in domestic action so far this season, though he has been rotated with summer signing Richarlison in recent times. However, after playing in both Nations League games for his country over the international break, The Athletic say he is being monitored by medical staff at Hotspur Way but is facing a battle to be fit inRead More →

Christian Pulisic has admitted that he’s ‘excited’ to work under new manager Graham Potter following the final international break before the World Cup. The American international was in action for the USMNT this past week as they disappointingly drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in their final pre-World Cup friendly. His 76 minutes during that game was nearly half the amount of minutes he has played in the Premier League so far this season, with former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel handing him just one start and hauling him off at the hour mark. Speaking to ESPN ahead of his return to Chelsea, Pulisic exclaimed his excitementRead More →

Arsenal star B*th Mead suffered a head injury in the Gunners’ 1-0 Champions League qualifying win over Ajax that resulted in her team finishing the game with only 10 players after the match officials denied them the opportunity to bring on a concussion sub. Mead didn’t start the game in Amsterdam, which was ultimately decided by a single Vivianne Miedema goal, but came off the bench only to then leave the field with stoppage time remaining. The Ballon d’Or nominee took a blow to the back of the head from Ajax defender Lisa Doorn. Arsenal correctly were prepared to take no chances with her healthRead More →