Premier League

Subterms

    More stories

    • 275 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s top team pay visit to Old Trafford as Ten Hag issues major warning about tough return to glory days

      by

      ERIK TEN HAG has warned Sir Jim Ratcliffe that returning Manchester United to their glory days is the toughest job in football.Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion stake in the club moved a step closer last night as a delegation of his closest aides – including cycling guru Sir Dave Brailsford – visited Old Trafford.
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s right-hand man Sir David Brailsford visited Old TraffordCredit: Rex
      Jean-Claude Blanc is set to be United’s new CEOCredit: AFP
      Former Great Britain and Team Sky cycling boss Brailsford and ex-Juventus CEO Jean-Claude Blanc held a series of high-level talks with senior United staff, including director of football John Murtough and interim chief exec Patrick Stewart.
      The visit is the first time Brailsford and Blanc have set foot inside Old Trafford since they accompanied British billionaire and Ineos chemicals chief Ratcliffe on an initial visit in March.
      And manager Ten Hag has been told replicating United’s trophy-winning dynasty under legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson is “impossible.”
      Ten Hag declared: “This is the most difficult job to do. But I want the challenge.”
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      The Dutchman is the fifth permanent Red Devils boss since Fergie stepped down after 27 years in charge back in 2013.
      And the former Ajax boss added: “A big, successful club was constructed, which then dropped in the last 10 years.
      “Everyone was telling me: ‘You can’t succeed in that job.’ They said it was impossible.
      “Me? I wanted the challenge. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it was such a great club with such a great fanbase.
      Most read in Football
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFER
      “People love Man Utd or they are against them. I like clubs like this. Ajax was like this.”
      Rather than be in awe of the glittering success Ferguson presided over, he has been inspired by that era, particularly United’s comeback 1999 European Cup triumph which completed the Treble.
      In an interview with fanzine United We Stand, Ten Hag continued: “I loved the teams of Sir Alex, that win in Barcelona. It was inspiring.
      “Nobody thought United would beat Bayern Munich.
      “But I didn’t realise the belief, determination, resilience, with  Schmeichel, Keane, Cole, Irwin, Beckham, Giggs and Scholes…”
      Ten Hag had a good first year in charge finishing third and reaching two domestic cup finals, winning the Carabao Cup – the club’s first silverware in six years.
      There has been a downturn this season, with 10 DEFEATS in 22 games, but ETH refuses to wobble.
      He said: “In my first year, I don’t think we could have expected better.
      “I know everyone hopes we win the league and when that doesn’t happen there will be disappointment, but we came from a point where we had to rebuild.
      “Last season was very good. This season has not been so far, but I stress the ‘so far’ bit. We’ve had a lot of setbacks, but then there are setbacks in every project.
      “We’ve had problems which we have to solve and in the background we are sorting out problems.
      “We will take advantage of these decisions in the future, but we have to come through this difficult period and we will.
      “We are building and I see through the cloud and see a bright future here. I see positive things.”
      Brailsford won six Tour de France titles at Sky and oversaw GB’s world and Olympic cycling success.
      He was then asked by United fan Ratcliffe to oversee his sporting organisations, which include a part share of the F1 Mercedes team, French Ligue 1 side Nice and Swiss team FC Lausanne.
      Blanc previously worked at Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain and was appointed CEO of Ineos Sport in December 2022.
      United’s owners the Glazer family first announced they were considering selling the club a year ago.
      Read more on The Sun
      A source revealed: “The United investment is moving forward so it’s expected that some of Sir Jim’s top people spend time at United meeting people.
      “Sir David and Jean-Claude are both very experienced and can’t wait to get stuck into helping improve United’s fortunes on the pitch.”
      Erik ten Hag believes being Man Utd manager is a tough as it gets in footballCredit: EPA More

    • 175 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Jurgen Klopp ready to raid Bundesliga in £30million transfer after Joel Matip’s season-ending injury

      by

      LIVERPOOL are eyeing a January move for Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix after Joel Matip’s season-ending knee injury.Centre-back Matip, out of contract this summer, now looks unlikely to play for the club again after rupturing his ACL against Fulham last weekend.
      Jurgen Klopp could raid the Bundesliga for a new defender in JanuaryCredit: PA
      Joel Matip has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a ruptured ACLCredit: Alamy
      Reds boss Jurgen Klopp could now fast-forward plans to buy a replacement and has been looking at Frenchman Lacroix along with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.
      Lacroix, 23, has been in the Bundesliga after joining from Sochaux in 2020 and Wolfsburg would want £30million as he only has 18 months left on his deal.
      The 6ft 3in defender is one of the fastest players in German football and can also play  right-back.
      Another target for Klopp is England international Guehi.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Palace will listen to offers of £50m-plus but they are not interested in him leaving next month.
      Klopp will now rely on skipper Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in central defence — with Joe Gomez and rising star Jarell Quansah currently the only back-ups.
      The arrival of Lacroix would ease those woes, with the former French youth international capable of playing on both sides of central defence.
      He has already kept two cleans sheets for Wolfsburg this season despite their inconsistent Bundesliga form.
      Most read in Football
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFER
      Lacroix also captained the side earlier this season and has one goal from 15 appearances across all competitions.
      Klopp previously looked to Germany to recruit Matip on a free transfer from Schalke in 2016.
      He has since made 201 appearances for the Reds and won both the Premier League and Champions League with the club.
      Liverpool are eyeing a move for Wolfsburg defender Maxence LacroixCredit: Getty More

    • 238 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Banishing Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to stands for Aston Villa clash will pour petrol on flames of already bitter feud 

      by

      MIKEL ARTETA will be sitting in the directors’ box when Arsenal visit Aston Villa on Saturday — and they had better be ready to beef up their security.The last time these teams met at Villa Park, the rival tech nerds had a proper punch-up in the stands, which resulted in Villa’s head of performance analysis Victor Manas getting a three-match stadium ban and an £8,000 fine.
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be watching the match against Aston Villa from the standsCredit: Reuters
      So sticking the volatile Arteta into the mix is only going to pour petrol on the flames of an already bitter feud.
      The Arsenal boss collected his third yellow card of the season for the unspeakable crime of “excessively celebrating” Tuesday’s 4-3 stoppage-time victory at Luton.
      It means he will be banished from his usual position an inch from the side of the pitch this weekend.
      And that might just come as a blessed relief for his players accustomed to a 90-minute ear-bashing from football’s ultimate micro-manager.
      Read More on Football
      Yet there can be no doubt that Arteta’s methods are working and  all those people awaiting another Arsenal collapse are going to be sorely disappointed.
      Because there is a steely determination about these Gunners, which we haven’t seen for a very long time. Declan Rice’s 97th-minute winner at Kenilworth Road was their seventh stoppage-time goal this season.
      Maybe we should start calling it “Mikki time” because if you add three more goals netted in the final five minutes it means an extra nine points for the table toppers.
      They have the meanest defence and the best away record in the Premier League and will provide the ultimate test for Villa’s 14-game winning streak at home.
      Most read in Football
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFER
      So throw in Unai Emery’s lingering bitterness over the way he was dismissed by Arsenal to make way for Arteta and we have all the ingredients for a proper grudge match.
      Villa’s incredible transformation under Emery has prompted some observers to suggest Arsenal would be champions by now if he had been allowed to continue in the job.
      But that’s a grotesque rewriting of history because Arsenal were an absolute shambles when the axe fell on Emery four years ago and Arteta had to completely rip up the squad he inherited to sort out the mess.
      He might have spent around £600million to get the Gunners to the top of the league but there has hardly been a duff signing among them.
      The upcoming Premier League clash involves a lot of history for Arteta and Unai EmeryCredit: Getty
      And the soundest investment of the lot has been the club-record £105m spent last summer to buy England international Rice.
      Because even at that eye-watering price, there hasn’t been a better buy in 2023 than the 24-year-old central midfielder who has transformed Arsenal’s title prospects.
      A group of “hilarious”  fans have even set up a GoFundMe page to pay West Ham an extra £25m for their former captain.
      Yes, Rice really has been that good, a guaranteed seven or eight out of ten every week.
      He will be crucial at Villa Park and at Anfield in two weeks for a potential title decider.
      Win those two games and Arsenal could be nine points ahead of champions Manchester City by Christmas.
      Pep Guardiola will point out his team were further behind at one point last season yet still won the league.
      But this time it feels different because one team is conceding late goals and the other is scoring them.
      City have become gorged on success. Arsenal are still hungry for glory.
      UNITED’S BAD CALL
      MANCHESTER UNITED claim they banned a number of journalists because they didn’t call the club before running a story that Erik ten Hag has lost the dressing room.
      And if those reporters had actually asked United to check out the information, I’m sure they would have been told: “Yes, you’re right, the players all hate the boss and they are trying to get him out.”
      Many years ago, a  famous manager once rang to complain that I had not checked out a story with him.
      Yet even when I pointed out that he had blatantly lied the previous time I had put in a check call, he still couldn’t understand why he wasn’t given the opportunity to carry on telling porkies.
      HARRY MAG-WHY
      SO Harry Maguire has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for November — because Manchester United beat mighty Fulham, Luton and Everton.
      Good job they didn’t take into account seven Champions League goals conceded against Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Or three they shipped at home to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.
      And has Maguire really been the best player in the top flight — or simply less s**t than he was at the start of the season?
      JARVO IS NO JOKE
      YOUTUBE ‘prankster’  Daniel ‘Jarvo’ Jarvis was at it again, sabotaging the Euros draw in Hamburg with sex noises.
      It was the latest stunt from the Colin Hunt of sport who has disrupted football, cricket and rugby events  — and was once jailed for a fake robbery.
      Only last year he was handed a suspended sentence for running on to The Oval pitch and colliding with Jonny Bairstow.
      Time for another spell in solitary for this tiresome attention seeker.
      GI’S COP UPSET
      THE RIDICULOUS Gianni Infantino popped up at Cop28 in Dubai the other day because he says climate change and sustainability are vital to Fifa.
      So important that he has recently awarded the 2030 World Cup to six nations spread across three different  continents 6,000 miles apart.
      What an eco-warrior he is…
      EURO DISEASE
      REMEMBER when ­football hooliganism used to be known as “the English disease”?
      Nowadays it seems  we’re just about the only country whose fans are not intent on smashing up every European city they visit.
      Read more on The Sun
      Legia Warsaw thugs caused mayhem at Villa Park last week.
      Our knuckleheads are all too busy protecting statues. More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Forgotten ex-Tottenham ace Dele Alli nearing return to Premier League football as Everton boss Dyche shares huge update

      by

      DELE ALLI is nearing a return to football as he steps up his recovery from a groin injury.The Everton star has not played since February due to the issue.
      Dele Alli is back in training and is eyeing a return in the 2024Credit: AFP
      But the 27-year-old is now training again and has been running on grass for the first time.
      Dele is reportedly on course for a comeback in the new year.
      Manager Sean Dyche revealed: “He is going well.
      “He is back on the grass with the sports science and fitness side, going through football-related drills, but the actual freedom to come and join in with us is not there yet.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      “Hopefully over the next week he will start slowly blending in.
      “He still has a bit to go because he has been out for a long time, he needs a game programme.
      “But to get him back on with us would be really pleasing for him because he has been so unlucky.”
      Dele has managed just 13 appearances since joining Everton in 2022.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      He was loaned out to Besiktas last season but was unable rediscover his old form shown at Tottenham, scoring just two goals.
      Dele bravely opened up in the summer about the trauma he suffered as a child.
      The 37-time capped England star revealed he was sexually abused by a friend of his mum aged six.
      He also said he dealt drugs aged eight, spent time in rehab and got an addiction to sleeping pills.
      His story lead to a banner of support being held up by classy Everton fans earlier this season. More

    • 275 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      I was a lifeguard and personal trainer – now I’m scoring goals in Premier League and have even played at World Cup

      by

      KIEFFER MOORE has enjoyed a unique journey to being a Premier League star. The Bournemouth striker once worked as a lifeguard and personal trainer on top of having an unusual spell in Norway.
      Kieffer Moore balanced being a lifeguard and personal trainer with his football careerCredit: Rex Features
      The striker is now with Bournemouth in the Premier LeagueCredit: Reuters
      Moore’s, 31, difficult rise to the top started when he was aged just 12 in the academy at Torquay.
      The Devon-based side folded their academy and he was left without a club.
      After bouncing around amateur sides on the south coast and working in a sweet shop and a restaurant as a teenager, Moore was then picked up by Truro City.
      To make ends meet he continued to work as a lifeguard and personal trainer, waking up at 5am, working a full-day and then travelling two hours each way to make training.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Many would’ve struggled with the schedule but Moore never lacked belief he would one day score goals in the Prem.
      He told The Telegraph: “It sounds stupid but it felt like it was my destiny.
      “I always believed I would be a footballer from a very young age.
      “I had to be there. It was meant for me to make it in football.”
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      After impressing at Truro, he scored for fun at Dorchester Town and was snapped up by then Championship side Yeovil.
      Moore was with the club as they tumbled down the divisions, eventually leaving as they were relegated from League One in 2015.
      He then penned a one-year deal with Norwegian side Viking and failed to score while in Scandinavia.
      The Welshman ended up going full circle and re-signing for Torquay in National League, admitting: “I was back to where I started in the blink of an eye.”
      But being back closer to friends and family helped his career as he begun to climb the football pyramid again.
      Moore was signed for £10,000 by Championship side Ipswich and was then loaned out to Rotherham in 2017.
      The towering 6ft 5in striker scored 13 goals in 22 League One games and then 17 in 31 matches for Barnsley a year later.
      His performances saw him earn a spot in the division’s team of the year and a subsequent move to Championship outfit Wigan.
      But the Lactics were soon relegated after a points deduction.
      However, he did enough to convince Cardiff to keep him in the second tier and he netted 25 times in 66 games.
      Moore then became a mainstay in Wales’ starting XI as they qualified for the World Cup in Qatar.
      He featured in all three games as the Dragons crashed out in the group stages.
      On his return home, Moore signed for his 12th club Bournemouth in January 2022.
      Read more on The Sun
      The £5million man swiftly made himself a fan’s favourite as he scored the goal to earn the club a draw against Nottingham Forest, which sealed their promotion to the Premier League.
      Moore has played six games this season and scored one goal as he looks to improve on his tally of four last season.
      Kieffer Moore played in all three games for Wales at the World CupCredit: Alamy More

    • 213 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      My dad won Premier League with Man Utd – now I’m making my own way in football

      by

      THE SON of a former Manchester United player is now carving his own path in football as he follows into his father’s large footsteps.Juan Sebastian Veron experienced mixed fortunes during his two-year spell at United even though he won the Premier League in 2003.
      Ex-Manchester United ace Juan Sebastian Veron’s son is following in his footstepsCredit: AFP
      Juan Sebastian’s son Deian Veron currently plays for his father’s club EstudiantesCredit: 2021 Getty Images
      Veron joined the Red Devils in 2001 with high expectations following five stunning years in Serie A and the Argentine national team.
      The Argentine played for the likes of Sampdoria, Parma and Lazio beforehand.
      However, the midfielder couldn’t replicate the same performances at Old Trafford where he amassed a total of 11 goals and 15 assists in 82 appearances across all competitions.
      The ex-Argentina international left the Manchester giants for Premier League rivals Chelsea in 2003.
      Read More on Man Utd
      However, Veron also struggled at Stamford Bridge where he registered a mere 14 appearances with one goal to his name.
      The versatile midfielder also underwent two loan stints at Inter Milan and Estudiantes during his four-year stint with the Blues.
      That led to a permanent move to Estudiantes where he stayed until 2012.
      Veron moved to Brandsen 11 years ago for a few months before undergoing two more stints at Estudiantes until his retirement in 2017.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      Can you name the famous fathers?

      The now 48-year-old is still with the Argentinean giants as he serves as the club’s chairman.
      And one of the players he has in his squad is his own son Deian, who has been playing at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi since his was a child.
      The 23-years-old, who also plays as a midfielder, is still on Estudiantes’ books.
      Deian has played a total of seven times for the first team since his promotion in 2021.
      But he is now undergoing a loan stint with Central Cordoba where he has competed in 19 games.
      Deian is looking to extend his family’s legacy as his grandfather Juan Ramon, his uncle Iani and his great-uncle Petro Verde, who played for Sheffield United, were all professionals. More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd ‘take concrete action in swoop for Ligue 1 wonderkid, 18, but face competition from rivals City’

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED have made a serious move to swoop for Ligue 1 star Leny Yoro but they will face rivals Manchester City, a report claims.The January transfer window is approaching and English clubs are always keen to nab the best talent from the French league, and the centre-back set to be in the mix.
      Manchester United and Manchester City both have Leny Yoro on their radarCredit: Getty
      Erik ten Hag is keen to reinforce his backline after inconsistent performances this season.
      And with four back-to-back draws, Pep Guardiola’s side are in trouble as the league title is slowly drifting away.
      In the hope of restoring their faith, both bosses are said to have their radar on high alert for Lille defender Yoro, according to Le10.
      The French outlet claims that the clubs have made a “very concrete move towards Ligue 1” for the wonderkid.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      It is said the teams have been in contact with Lille ahead of the January window.
      Yoro is one of the French league’s most talented prospects having made his first senior appearance in May 2022.
      He is the second youngest ever Lille player, with Eden Hazard in third.
      But the Ligue 1 giants are said to be “pushing very hard to try and keep their player by extending his contract.”
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      The France U21 star still has another term left on his contract as it is set to expire in June 2025.
      However, Lille are said to be open to finding a deal that can suit all parties involved.
      So far Yoro has made just six appearances this season but has scored two goals in both Ligue 1 and the Europa Conference League.
      If he made a move across the Channel, Yoro would follow in the footsteps of other former Ligue 1 talents such as William Saliba Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Guimaraes and Jeremy Doku. More

    • 213 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd hero Scott McTominay reveals change Erik ten Hag made to training which inspired Chelsea win

      by

      SCOTT MCTOMINAY revealed what change Erik ten Hag made in training to pioneer Manchester United’s 2-1 win against Chelsea.The Scotsman was the hero of the night after his double strike secured the win for the Red Devils but he gave the boss all the credit for their important win.
      Scott McTominay revealed what change Erik ten Hag made before their win against ChelseaCredit: Getty
      McTominay was the star of the night as he scored both goals in their 2-1 victoryCredit: EPA
      Man Utd have faced criticism the last few weeks over their inconsistency as they struggled against Newcastle and allowed a 2-0 lead when they faced Galatasaray.
      And before they clashed with Mauricio Pochettino’s side the Red Devils had only won five of their last ten games.
      But after his successful performance, McTominay was quick to praise Ten Hag’s preparation before the game to ensure his team were on top form.
      He told Prime Video what had changed in the squad before the game.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      McTominay said: “Obviously, the manager to be honest with you.
      “The way that we’ve approached the game, a lot of light training sessions to keep energy, to keep fresh, and to keep going for the next game – because obviously they come really thick and fast.”
      United had a double-game week like most of the Premier League teams but failed to win anything against the Magpies on Saturday.
      Anthony Gordon tapped home from Kieran Trippier’s cross midway through the second half to steal all three points from Ten Hag’s men.
      Most read in Football
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFER
      Meaning it was vital for the Red Devils to beat the Blues after their miserable defeat.
      The midfielder added: “But for us it’s a night that we should be happy with, and one that we can build on.
      “We started really, really well in the game and obviously the fans are really happy with the way we started.
      “And reacted after a pretty abysmal display against Newcastle, to be honest. 
      “All the boys were so upset with how we coped with that game, it wasn’t anywhere near good enough, and to come here and win tonight was a plus and it’s something we can build on.”
      There is no rest for United as they have six more games to play this month like the other teams competing in Europe.
      Ten Hag’s side will next take on Bournemouth on Saturday at Old Trafford where they hope to secure another win. More