Archive | May 2016

Arsene Wenger now has a stadium named after him….

'Stade Arsene Wenger': Arsenal boss now has a stadium named after him

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has today visited Alsace to inaugurate the ‘Stade Arsene Wenger’ in Duppigheim. The Premier League manager has been honoured in the region where he grew up by having a new stadium named after him. Roughly 600 people watched on as Wenger opened the stadium in his name. The Stade Arsene Wenger, built in the village of Duppigheim, seats 500 people. Wenger was clearly delighted with the new stadium and described it as an honour. ‘It’s an honour,’ he said. ‘I’m a little surprised.’ The village’s mayor, Adrien Berthier, is convinced that Wenger was fully deserving of his new stadium, which cost £580,000 to build. Local team USL Duppigheim will play at the stadium and club president Peter Troesch believes Wenger should have stadiums across the country. ‘He deserves to have one in every village in Alsace and France,’ said Troesch.

Hummels signs for Bayern Munich….

Done deal! @matshummels has put pen to paper on his contract at #FCBayern.

It’s been a good few days for Bayern Munich and a bad few for Borussia Dortmund. Not only did Bayern beat Dortmund on penalties to win the German Cup on Saturday, they have now confirmed the signing of one of their best players. Germany international defender Mats Hummels, a previous target for Manchester United, has now signed for Bayern and will move from Dortmund in a transfer worth a reported £30m.

Manchester United sack coach Van Gaal….

Louis van Gaal

Louis van Gaal has been sacked as manager of Manchester United, with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho set to be named as his replacement. Van Gaal, 64, leaves after two years of a three-year contract and is currently discussing severance terms. The former Netherlands boss is believed to earn around £6.4m a year.  Mourinho’s appointment is expected to be confirmed after the 53-year-old Portuguese meets with senior United officials on Tuesday. It is not yet certain what future Ryan Giggs, Van Gaal’s assistant, has at Old Trafford or what will happen to the rest of the coaching team.

New Arsenal kit….

Santi Cazorla

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla with their kit for next season. Yes that peculiar black stripe is down the centre of the shirt.

PSG win French Cup….

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two goals and set up another as Paris Saint-Germain defeated bitter rivals Marseille 4-2 to clinch a 10th French Cup title on Saturday in the Swede’s final game with the club. Blaise Matuidi fired PSG into an early lead at the Stade de France, but Marseille hit back just 10 minutes later through on-loan Newcastle midfielder Florian Thauvin. Ibrahimovic then put PSG 2-1 ahead from the penalty spot on 47 minutes, with Edinson Cavani adding a third before Ibrahimovic struck again with his 156th and final goal for PSG eight minutes from time. Michy Batshuayi grabbed a consolation strike for Marseille late on, but it was academic as PSG successfully defended last year’s domestic treble.

Juventus win Italian cup….

Italian defender Georgio Chiellini lifts the Italian Cup trophy after the 1-0 victory over Milan on Saturday

Juventus won a second-successive double when substitute Alvaro Morata’s extra-time goal gave them a 1-0 win over AC Milan in the Italian Cup final on Saturday, as their dejected opponents missed out on Europe for a third successive season.Juve’s win also meant that tiny Sassuolo, who have completed only three seasons in the top flight since making their Serie A debut in 2013-14, qualified for Europe for the first time.Milan, who finished seventh in Serie A after another dismal season, surprisingly looked the more dangerous team at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico but failed to take their chances.Juventus, Serie A champions for the last five seasons, snatched the win 10 minutes from the end of extra-time when Morata swept the ball home to finish off a counter-attack which started deep in the Juve half.

Brendan Rodgers is new Celtic’s coach….

Celtic have appointed Brendan Rodgers as their new manager. The former Liverpool, Swansea City, Reading and Watford boss has signed a 12-month rolling contract to replace Ronny Deila, who departed the Scottish champions at the end of the season. Rodgers, 43, left Anfield in October after more than three years in charge. “I will give everything I have and do all I can to bring our supporters exciting, entertaining and winning football,” said the Northern Irishman. “The club has been in magnificent shape in recent years and has collected silverware regularly during this time. “My objective now, of course, is to continue this work, to keep us at the top and again make our mark in Europe.”

Walter Mazzarri is Watford’s new coach….

https://i0.wp.com/www.tg.la7.it/sites/default/files/la7_news_import/sport_710502.jpg

Watford have announced that former Inter Milan boss Walter Mazzarri will become head coach from 1 July after the departure of Quique Sanchez Flores. The 54-year-old Italian, who has also managed Sampdoria and Napoli, has signed a three-year contract at Vicarage Road. Spaniard Flores left after less than a year with the Premier League side. Watford finished 13th in a season where they also lost in the FA Cup semi-finals to Crystal Palace. Mazzarri is the Hornets’ eighth manager in the past four years. Watford’s chief executive Scott Duxbury told the club’s official website: “Walter has been the target of a number of approaches for his services, so we’re delighted to secure him as head coach here at Watford. “We’re thoroughly looking forward to working with such a highly regarded coach, with the progress and development of the club always remaining the highest priority.”

Guardiola bows out with German Cup win….

Pep Guardiola ended his Bayern Munich reign with another domestic double as they beat Borussia Dortmund on penalties to win the German Cup. Dortmund’s top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sidefooted over a great chance towards the end of normal time. There were no goals either in extra-time, although Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski was only denied by a great Eric Durm block. In the shootout, Douglas Costa scored the winning penalty. Dortmund failed with their second and third kicks, as Manuel Neuer saved from Sven Bender and Sokratis Papastathopoulos missed. Bayern centre-back Josh Kimmich struck his team’s third kick straight at Roman Burki straight after Papastathopoulos had driven wide, but Thomas Muller and Costa scored for Guardiola’s side. It means that the manager, who is leaving to take charge at Manchester City, completed his three-year reign with a second German league and cup double, having secured the Bundesliga title in April. He won the league in each of his three years in Bavaria.

Manchester United win FA cup….

Manchester United came from behind and survived Chris Smalling’s sending-off to beat Crystal Palace and win the FA Cup at Wembley through Jesse Lingard’s extra-time strike. United looked on course to end the season empty-handed as well as missing out on Champions League football when substitute Jason Puncheon’s powerful far-post finish put Palace ahead with 12 minutes left. It was harsh on United, who had hit the woodwork through Marouane Fellaini and Antony Martial, but they responded within four minutes with a brilliant run from Wayne Rooney that ended with Juan Mata scoring from close range. United lost Smalling to a second yellow card for hauling back Yannick Bolasie in extra time – but Lingard took the trophy to Old Trafford when he lashed home a first-time strike from Damien Delaney’s half-clearance after 110 minutes. This is Man United’s 12th FA cup trophy win and they have equaled Arsenal’s record.

Manchester United to name Mourinho as new coach….

https://i0.wp.com/i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02565/jose_mourinho_2565541b.jpg

Manchester United will appoint Jose Mourinho as their new manager according to insider sources. It is believed a deal with the 53-year-old Portuguese was agreed in principle before United’s FA Cup final win against Crystal Palace on Saturday. With United failing to qualify for the Champions League under Louis van Gaal, the Old Trafford hierarchy is thought to have decided a change is required. Mourinho has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea in December. Most people has faulted the manner in which United allowed this news to leak on a day LVG won a trophy.

Manchester United kit is on its way to Wembley….

Boxed up and ready for Wembley – our kit men have been preparing for Saturday’s final, with help from @DHLManUtd.

The Manchester United kit is on its way to Wembley ahead of tomorrows FA Cup final against Crystal Palace. Just as well it’s going a day before, they might have had to play in their skins, with their record of arriving on time in the capital this season.

Money to spend for new Aston Villa boss….

Dr Tony Xia

New Aston Villa owner Dr Tony Xia has said the club’s next manager will be given up to £50m to spend to get the club back into the Premier League. The Chinese businessman also confirmed former Chelsea and West Brom boss Roberto di Matteo is in contention for the managerial vacancy. Xia bought the club from Randy Lerner this week for £60m, subject to Football League approval. “We will have a budget from £20m to £30m to £40m to £50m,” he said.

Gerrard and Lampard among MLS Big Guys….

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are among the top five earners in Major League Soccer, with ex-Real Madrid star Kaka the league’s highest-paid player. Former Liverpool and England captain Gerrard, 35, is paid a total of $6,132,500 by LA Galaxy. Fellow midfielder Lampard, 37, who joined New York City last year, earns $6,000,000. Former world player of the year Kaka, 34, earns a league-record $7,167,500 at Orlando City. The lowest-paid player in the league, according to the figures released by MLS Players’ Union, is Montreal’s Belizean forward Michael Salazar. The 23-year-old collects $51,492 a year – a sum Kaka can earn in less than three days.

Continue reading

Federer out of French Open….

Roger Federer

Roger Federer has withdrawn from this year’s French Open after failing to recover from a back injury. The 34-year-old did not play in the Madrid Open earlier this month after hurting his back during practice for the tournament. Federer returned for the Italian Open but was beaten in the third round by Dominic Thiem. “I have been making steady progress, but I am still not 100%,” said the world number three. “I feel I might be taking an unnecessary risk by playing in this event before I am really ready. “This decision was not easy to make, but I took it to ensure I could play the remainder of the season and help to extend the rest of my career.” It means Federer will miss a Grand Slam for the first time this century. The Swiss has struggled with injury this year, having undergone knee surgery after January’s Australian Open. The former world number one returned for the Monte Carlo Masters in April and reached the quarter-finals, where he was beaten by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Federer, winner of the 2009 French Open, has played just four events in 2016.

FIFA opens case against Niersbach….

The FIFA ethics committee has opened proceedings against FIFA Council and UEFA executive committee member Wolfgang Niersbach, the ex-president of the German Football Association. The adjudicatory chamber has recommended a two-year ban from all football related activities for Niersbach, who resigned from his post at the German FA in November over a FIFA payment that has resulted in a tax evasion investigation.

CAF to investigate assault on referee….

Eric Otogo-Castane

Al Merreikh official Hatim Mohamed Ahmed is being investigated by the Confederation of African Football after he appeared to hit Gabonese referee Eric Otogo-Castane in the face. The incident occurred in the 84th minute of Wednesday’s Confederation Cup match between Sudan’s Al Merreikh and Kawkab Marrakech of Morocco. CAF is reviewing the incident and awaiting the match officials’ report. Kawkab won the match 2-0 – with two penalties – for a 2-1 aggregate win. CAF director of communications Junior Binyam said: “Investigations are being carried out and the the case will be submitted to the disciplinary jury.” Kawkab were 1-0 up in Wednesday’s second leg of the play-offs tie – with the score 1-1 on aggregate – when a number of Merreikh club officials entered the field. In the ensuing melee, Al Merreikh’s director football Hatim lashed out with his left arm and seemed to strike Otogo-Castane on the right side of his head. After play resumed, Kawkab went on to win an 89th-minute penalty which they converted to earn their place in the group stage of Africa’s second tier club competition.

Second Chibok girl rescued….

Amina Ali Nkeki with her child, meeting President Buhari

A second schoolgirl from the more than 200 seized in the Nigerian town of Chibok has been found, the army says. But a spokesman for the Chibok girls’ parents has cast doubt on the claims, saying that the girl’s name is not on the families’ list of those missing. An army spokesman said Serah Luka was among a group of 97 women and children rescued by troops in the north-east. Islamist militant group Boko Haram has abducted thousands of other girls in recent years, rights groups estimate. This comes two days after the rescue of the first Chibok girl, Amina Ali Nkeki. In its initial statement after Ms Nkeki was found, the army identified her by a different name.

Continue reading

Inter agree deal for Sevilla’s Banega….

Banega

Inter Milan have agreed a deal to sign Sevilla’s Argentina midfielder Ever Banega. The Serie A club have been linked with Yaya Toure this week but are said not to be interested in the Manchester City man. Instead they will announce the arrival of Banega in the next couple of weeks. The 27-year-old joined Sevilla in 2014 and was part of the side that beat Liverpool 3-1 in the Europa League final in Basel last night.