Varane: Real Madrid can’t give up on La Liga

Zinedine Zidane’s men suffered their fifth defeat of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by Espanyol

Raphael Varane says Real Madrid must not give up on their La Liga campaign despite a damaging defeat to Espanyol on Tuesday.

Gerard Moreno’s stoppage-time strike inflicted a fifth league defeat of the season on the reigning champions, leaving them 14 points behind leaders Barcelona, having played a game more.

The Champions League represents Madrid’s best chance to end the campaign with another trophy, with the holders taking a 3-1 first-leg lead to France on March 6 in their last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain.

But Varane insists they must keep pushing for better results in the top flight, even though their title defence appears to be at an end.

“We performed better in the first half than we did in the second,” the France international said. “We always have to give our best when we pull this shirt on.

“We can’t give up on La Liga; we have to show the same drive. We’re not looking at the points, we have to focus on the games and try to win them because that’s what this badge demands of us. You can never write us off.

“We always want to win and this won’t have any effect on the PSG game. Regardless of whether Neymar plays or not, it’ll be tough because they’ll come out all guns blazing. We’re ready for it and will continue with our preparations.”

Fellow centre-back Nacho Fernandez felt Madrid paid the price for a poor showing in the second half at RCDE Stadium and admits it has been a domestic campaign to forget.

“I don’t think that we deserved to lose, but it wasn’t one of our best performances,” he said. “We did well in the first half and were disciplined, but in the second half our performance levels dropped off and we weren’t as dominant.

“It’s not normal. We’re used to winning titles. We’re still involved in a special competition, in the Champions League, and have to prepare for it and go in to it full of confidence.”

Source: www.goal.com

Brazil legend Ronaldinho: Any team in the world would make room for Harry Kane

The Brazil great lauded the Spurs star, saying that any club in Europe would make room for him if given the chance

Tottenham star Harry Kane could walk into any team in Europe, according to Brazil great Ronaldinho.

Kane has enjoyed another prolific season at Spurs, scoring 35 goals in all competitions to mark the third campaign in four when he has netted at least 30.

The England international is linked to the likes of Real Madrid and Ronaldinho believes the 24-year-old is more than capable of playing for any of the world’s biggest clubs.

“Harry Kane has been a great player for a while now – but there is no doubt this season he has hit a new level,” he told the Mirror .

“He is now at the level where any team in the world would want him. He could walk into any team in Europe.

“Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, it doesn’t matter how strong the team. He is now one of those few players in the world that any team would have to make room for if they had the chance to sign him.”

Kane has won the past two Premier League Golden Boots and is on track to make it three this season.

While Spurs will want to keep Kane, Ronaldinho – a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year – said clubs had shown they would pay whatever was needed to sign the world’s best.

“Over the last windows we have seen that the biggest clubs in Europe have paid whatever fees needed to sign the best players in the world,” he said.

“For maybe four or five clubs, they are now at a stage where the fee is not important if they want the player, they pay what they have to.”

Tottenham sit fourth in the Premier League table but face a fight for a Champions League place next season, with Chelsea just two points back.

Spurs are still alive in Europe this term and head into their round of 16 second-leg clash with Juventus level after a 2-2 draw in Italy.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur in action during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at Wembley Stadium on September 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Source: www.goal.com

De Gea is Man Utd’s only world-class player – Neville

The Spanish goalkeeper has bailed out United regularly again this season, and the former Red Devils skipper says he’s the one player they can rely on

Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes that goalkeeper David de Gea is currently the club’s only world-class player.

De Gea, who was named United’s Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons between 2013 and 2016, has been in magnificent form again of late.

The Red Devils came away from their Champions League round-of-16 first leg against Sevilla with a 0-0 draw thanks to the Spaniard’s wonderful reflex save from a Luis Muriel header.

And Neville insists that the 27-year-old, who is being linked to a potential summer move to Real Madrid once more having almost signed for them in 2015, is the clear star of Jose Mourinho’s current squad despite the recent addition of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez.

“De Gea’s the only world-class player Manchester United have got. You could maybe say Sanchez but not at Manchester United yet, even if he has been at a level for the last five or six years that you would say is world class,” Neville toldGoal .

“But De Gea’s the only player Manchester United have got at this moment in time that I would say has performed for the club at a world-class level.

“The other player I would say that has done brilliantly well, whether you could say he’s world class or not, is Antonio Valencia over the last two or three years. He’s been outstanding,” Neville added.

“But to me De Gea is their stand-out player in terms of world standard at the club without a shadow of a doubt.”

Neville, who was speaking at the Vimto Salford Challenge which celebrated a new partnership between local fruit juice giants Vimto and the Salford City side he co-owns, added that he has no concerns about Sanchez’s influence on the decreased game time for fellow forwards Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard.

“They are getting games, they’re just not going to play every single week and I would expect Manchester United players to be challenging for places all the time,” he explained.

“The problem for Jose Mourinho at the moment is how you get Romelu Lukaku, Rashford, Martial and Sanchez into a front combination thanks works together. That’s the big question at the moment, who plays on the right? Martial’s been out there, we’ve seen Sanchez out there in a couple of games, and neither of them are ideal out there.

“They’d all probably prefer to play centre forward, Rashford, Martial, Sanchez and obviously Lukaku. So at the moment it’s how they fit into a front three which is the most interesting thing, not which one plays. They have to show they can play together.”

United head to Crystal Palace on Monday in their next Premier League fixture having picked up three valuable points at the weekend by beating Mourinho’s old club Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Source: www.goal.com

‘Hazard should play 90 minutes’ – Courtois surprised at Conte’s Man Utd substitution

The Chelsea goalkeeper wants to see his Belgian team-mate play the full match where possible after he was withdrawn in the second half at Old Trafford

Thibaut Courtois admits he was surprised to see Eden Hazard substituted by Antonio Conte during the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United.

The Blues slipped out of the Premier League’s top four after goals from Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard earned United the points following Willian’s opener.

Lingard’s winner came two minutes after Hazard had been substituted by Conte, with Pedro coming on for the Belgium international.

Chelsea were then left without their most creative spark when chasing the game and Courtois has aired his surprise at his compatriot’s withdrawal.

“I have no explanation for the substitution,” Courtois told Belgian outlet Play Sports. “I did not expect it, but it’s the manager’s choice. He’ll explain it. I can’t look into his head.

“Of course, you want players like Eden 90 minutes on the pitch. He can always bring something extra.”

Conte has been under pressure in recent weeks, with the Blues struggling domestically. Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League, two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham and 19 behind leaders Manchester City.

Speaking after the defeat at Old Trafford, Conte suggested that Hazard had failed to maintain his high standards in the second half and that his withdrawal was merely a tactical decision.

“No Hazard [is not injured], no,” he told a news conference. “It was a tactical decision.

“You have to keep the same performance for 90 minutes, we didn’t have a great balance, and every single player has to try to work with the ball, without the ball, otherwise we lose our balance.

“I think he’d finished his energy because the first half he ran a lot. The second half he started the same way, but when I see a player is a bit tired, my task is to find a different solution.”

Meanwhile, Courtois was left deflated by the defeat at United, which came on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Barcelona in the Champions League when Chelsea had also taken the lead.

“After our goal, we conceded a counter-attacking goal just like last Tuesday but in the second half we had less of the ball, but even then we should never have lost this match,” he said.

“If you do not do the small things well in top matches, you lose, which is what happened.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Eden Hazard of Chelsea walks off after being subbbed during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on January 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Source: www.goal.com

Gareth Bale equals David Beckham’s record with 116th Liga appearance

The two Madrid favourites have made an identical number of appearances in the Spanish top flight, although Bale holds the edge in their head-to-head

Gareth Bale has equalled a record previously held by David Beckham after appearing in his 116th La Liga game.

The Wales international, 28, started for Real Madrid against Espanyol in Tuesday’s clash.

And in doing so, he reached a mark that only Beckham had previously managed.

Bale now shares the record for the most Liga appearances made by a British player, which Beckham had previously set while also playing for Madrid in 2007.

The former Tottenham man moved to Madrid in 2013 in a world-record transfer, and in his first season scored in the Champions League final as the Merengues lifted the much sought-after Decima.

In total he has scored 61 goals in a Madrid shirt, compared to Beckham’s 13.

Bale also boasts a far more impressive win ratio than the ex-Manchester United idol, having finished on the winning side 79 times, 13 more than Beckham.

Source: www.goal.com

Giroud reveals Arsenal regret he intends to resolve at Chelsea

The France international remains determined to get his hands on the Premier League title having crossed London without a winners’ medal to his name

Olivier Giroud admits to having left Arsenal with “unfinished business” and is determined to right his Premier League wrongs with Chelsea.

The France international brought a five-and-a-half-year stint with the Gunners to a close during the January transfer window.

A deadline day switch saw him cross London, with Chelsea acquiring a proven performer who had plundered more than 100 goals for their local rivals.

Giroud was, however, to leave Emirates Stadium with just three FA Cup winners’ medals to show for his efforts and he is eager to land English football’s biggest prize after trading red for blue.

“I don’t know if we can really call it a regret but I have a little feeling of unfinished business because I would really have liked to have won the Premier League with Arsenal,” the 31-year-old told SFR Sport.

“You don’t just wipe away five-and-a-half years like that. I have said it often enough – it was my ultimate goal.

“Having said that, it’s not over, I’m still in the Premier League, now I’m at Chelsea. For this year, I think it’s over for the title, but next year, we’ll come to it with great ambitions.

“I still want to win it before I end my career.”

He has already opened his account for new employers, in an FA Cup clash with Hull City, but still has plenty to prove if he is to see regular game time and chase down his ultimate goals.

A 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in their latest outing has dropped the Blues out of the Premier League’s top four, while a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter means Antonio Conte’s side face the unenviable challenge of having to score at Camp Nou in the return date on March 14.

 

Chelsea’s French attacker Olivier Giroud looks on during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Chelsea at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on February 5, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

Source: www.goal.com

Chelsea to offer Hazard massive raise

 

Chelsea ready new contract offer for Hazard

 

Chelsea hope to keep Eden Hazard in London by offering him a new contract with a massive bump in wages, according to the Daily Mail.

Hazard’s current contract runs through 2020, but rumours continue to circulate that he desires a move to Real Madrid.

And the Blues are hoping a new deal, which would see him earn wages of £300,000 a week, would be enough to entice the former Premier League Player of the Year to stay.

 
Source: www.goal.com

Figo demands time for under-pressure Real Madrid boss Zidane

The Merengue coach has attracted criticism as a result of the team’s recent struggles, but his old team-mate is adamant he is right for the job.

Luis Figo believes some of the criticism levelled at Zinedine Zidane this season has been unfair, suggesting Real Madrid’s detractors have forgotten his previous achievements too quickly.

Zidane enjoyed a brilliant start to his coaching career at the Santiago Bernabeu, leading Madrid to Champions League success within five months of replacing the sacked Rafael Benitez in January 2016.

He then guided Madrid to a Champions League and LaLiga double in his first full season in charge, helping the club become the first to win Europe’s elite competition in its current guise for two straight years.

This term things have been somewhat more troublesome, with Madrid’s transfer activity coming under criticism and they head in to Tuesday’s away league clash with Espanyol 14 points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

And, although Figo acknowledges pressure is something every Real Madrid coach needs to accept, he is adamant his former team-mate is the right man for the club.

Speaking to Omnisport, Figo said: “The coach of Real Madrid is always under pressure and you know that you depend always on results.

“But sport is like that. For me, you can win every year. But since he picked the team, I think he did fantastic, great.

“But the problem normally in football is it depends on what you do in the last games.

“People forget very fast what you achieved in the recent past. But I think the people are happy, the players are happy with him and that is the most important.”

Part of the reason Madrid are so far behind Barca this season is the form of Lionel Messi, who has been sensational, scoring 22 and setting up another 12 in 25 LaLiga appearances.

And his impressive performances have not escaped Figo, who lauded him as “one of the greatest of all time”.

“It’s amazing what he is achieving and I think every time he doesn’t surprise us because he makes amazing things every game,” Figo added.

“So this is very beautiful what he does in terms of football and his career. He’s one of the greatest footballers of all-time.”

Source: www.goal.com

‘Neymar was asking for trouble!’ – Amavi blames PSG star for injury

The Brazilian forward is facing up to a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken bone during a feisty Ligue 1 encounter with Marseille

Neymar has been accused of “looking for things” during Paris Saint-Germain’s clash with Marseille, with his actions ultimately resulting in a broken metatarsal.

The Brazilian forward was forced from the field in tears on Sunday as Ligue 1 leaders PSG sought to see out a 3-0 victory over arch-rivals.

He had been subjected to eight fouls during an outing cut short 10 minutes from the end, with the 26-year-old having already entered the contest as the most fouled performer in Europe’s top divisions.

While there is no suggestion that anybody has ever intended to cause Neymar harm with the rough treatment, Marseille defender Jordan Amavi has suggested that the South American often asks for trouble.

He told RMC following a feisty encounter with PSG: “We played normally against Neymar. I found him looking for things [fouls].

“I am just telling you what I saw on the pitch. He waited for us to press and then released the ball at the last minute.

“What did he expect? Personally, I do not know, I think he was looking for things though. He reaped a little of what he sows.

“Everybody knows that he has the talent, but he waited for us to press before releasing the ball.”

It has already been reported that certain Marseille players warned the match officials during the game that they were growing tired of Neymar’s antics.

It was eventually a rather innocuous coming together with Bouna Sarr which did for the talented forward , though, leaving him writhing on the deck and awaiting a stretcher.

Post-game analysis determined that a broken bone had been suffered , although PSG head coach Unai Emery has denied his star player needs surgery, as was first feared.

Quite how long Neymar will be sidelined for remains to be seen, but it seems likely he will miss important fixtures in an ongoing Ligue 1 title bid and the second leg of a Champions League last-16 encounter with Real Madrid .

Source: www.goal.com

‘I’ve proved myself!’ – Man Utd striker Lukaku expects more respect for scoring exploits

The 24-year-old has been in impressive form for the Red Devils this season but feels the criticism he receives is a bit too much

Romelu Lukaku feels he has proved his ability as a striker and believes he deserves greater respect for his goalscoring exploits.

The striker has netted 22 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United following his £75 million move from Everton in the close season.

Lukaku, 24, is two goals short of a century in the Premier League in his career, having also excelled for Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion before a spell at the Toffees.

The Belgium international played a key role in United’s 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday, equalising soon after Willian’s opener for Chelsea.

That strike was his first against a top-eight side in the league this season, and although he insisted recent criticism had no effect on him, Lukaku expects more admiration.

“I started playing when I was 16. Year in, year out people expect 20 goals from me. I’ve been doing it for 10 years straight so I think I’ve proved myself,” he told reporters.

“You expect a bit more respect but it’s the situation we’re in. I don’t listen to it. I just want to improve and show the people what I can do on the pitch.

“As long as I win and lead my team to winning that’s when I will be really satisfied. As a football player, I don’t play for the individual. A lot of big players that we recognise today in the game are players who have won something and I want to be [the same]. The road is still far ahead but I’m ambitious and I’ll work every day for my team to win – I’m not thinking about myself.

“I can still improve everything about my game. I’m 24 and I think I have a lot of years ahead of me before my prime so I’m never satisfied. I always want to improve and get better and it’s a nice challenge.

“I think I have got a nice record. I’ve scored a lot this season and I just want to keep going. I know that I can improve and I want to improve and really work hard. I want to win trophies. We are still in the fight in two competitions. It’s not going to be easy but it’s a nice challenge.”

Ex-Anderlecht star Lukaku had the chance to return to Chelsea in the summer instead of heading to Old Trafford, but he is happy and believes he made the right call.

“When I make a choice it’s with my head and my heart,” he added.

“I made the right choice for me. As you can see, I’m in a good situation. I’m with a manager and players who push me every day. The challenge is there to win and it’s something that I wanted.”

 

Soccer Football – Champions League – Manchester United vs CSKA Moscow – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – December 5, 2017 Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Source: www.goal.com