يقام نهائي كأس السوبر الأوروبي بعد غد الخميس، في ملعب بوشكاش أرينا، بالعاصمة المجرية، بودابست، بين بايرن ميونخ بطل دوري الأبطال، وإشبيلية الفائز بالدوري الأوروبي.
مباراة نهائي السوبر الأوروبي ستشهد حضور جماهيري، حسب قرار الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم، في خطوة جديدة لعودة الجمهور من جديد للمدرجات، بعد غيابهم منذ مارس الماضي بسبب تفشي فيروس كورونا.
طالع أيضًا.. إجراءات كورونا تحرم بايرن ميونخ من جماهيره أمام إشبيلية في السوبر الأوروبي
صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية، أفادت بأن رئيس وزراء بافاريا، ماركوس سويدير، طلب من مشجعي بايرن ميونخ ألا يسافروا إلى المجر لحضور المباراة، لأن مدينة بودابست الآن من ضمن المناطق التي تحتوي على عدد إصابات كبير لـ فيروس كورونا.
وقال ماركوس: “مجرد التفكير في الأمر يسبب لي آلام في المعدة، علينا أن نكون حذرين للغاية من عدوى جسيمة قد تحدث، قنبلة بيولوجية نخشاها جميعًا”.
ويرى الاتحاد الأوروبي أن الفترة الأصعب من الوباء قد انتهت، لكن ألمانيا تحذر من أن المشكلة لم تحل، وتخشى الإصابة، في ظل سفر أكثر من 4 آلاف مشجع لـ بايرن ميونخ إلى بودابست.
وكان النقاش في الفترة القليلة الماضية، حول ما إذا كان من السابق لأوانه فتح الملاعب للجماهير، لذا فإن الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم يرى بأن السوبر الأوروبي سيكون اختبارًا جيدًا، لكن الخوف يبقى من تكرار ما حدث في مباراة فالنسيا وأتلانتا التي كانت مصدر الوباء في أوروبا.
West Ham United may well hope that Declan Rice does not turn in another brilliant performance against Manchester City on Wednesday.
The Sun reported earlier this month that City were lining up a raid on English talent in the summer, with £50million-rated Rice on a shortlist also including Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell.
On the chalkboard
Rice has been in exceptional form for the Hammers thus far this season, turning in superb performances against both Arsenal and Liverpool.
In the former game, he scored his first senior goal for the Irons as they won 1-0 but another sterling display could be something of a double-edged sword.
City will have scouted Rice prior to Wednesday’s game, of course, but he could offer Pep Guardiola a timely reminder of his attributes if he repeats his previous displays against top-six opposition at the London Stadium.
With Fernandinho injured during the Carabao Cup final, defensive midfield appears to be the one position where City lack the depth so prevalent across the board.
A move for Rice makes all the sense in the world, then, but he remains the jewel in the Hammers’ crown this season.
Indeed, he has made himself indispensable to manager Manuel Pellegrini, playing 28 times in all competitions, and finding himself in contention for an England call-up after declaring his intention to play for the Three Lions over the Republic of Ireland.
Per WhoScored, Rice makes an average of 2.8 tackles per game, along with 1.6 interceptions and 0.4 fouls. On the ball, he averages a pass completion rate of 86.2%, from 44.3 passes per game.
Proving his worth to City on Wednesday, then, would benefit the Hammers on the night but may ultimately see him exit the London Stadium this summer.
Perfect for City
Rice appears to fit the exact profile of player that City need.
Fernandinho is injury-prone and will be 34 in May, with Guardiola needing to bring in fresh blood to compete in the position.
West Ham are sure to demand a pretty penny but the champions have the resources required to buy practically any player in world football.
A £50m move would thoroughly compensate the east London side but they are unlikely to find a replacement any time soon.
Ultimately, they may have to hope Rice flops on Wednesday and that City decide to turn their attention elsewhere, such is the pricelessness of the midfielder to the Hammers.
أكد مدرب ليفربول يورجن كلوب، أنه ليس سعيدًا بقانون لمسة اليد الجديد، وذلك بعد ما حدث في مباراة توتنهام ونيوكاسل يونايتد أمس الأول في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
وانتهت المباراة بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لمثله في الجولة الثالثة.
واحتسب حكم المباراة، بمساعدة تقنية الفيديو، ركلة جزاء لصالح نيوكاسل في الدقيقة 94، بعد أن اصطدمت الكرة بذراع لاعب توتنهام إريك داير بشكل لا إرادي منه.
وقال كلوب، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “نتفق جميعًا على أن إريك دير لم يرتكب أي خطًأ”.
وأضاف الألماني: “لا يمكنك التحكم في جسدك بهذه الطريقة، يجب أن تتحرك بطريقة ما، كل ما عليك فعله هو قطع ذراعك!”.
وواصل: “لست سعيدًا بتلك القاعدة والحكام أيضًا، ولست سعيدًا بمقدار الوقت الذي يتعين علينا انتظاره لبحث حالات التسلل”.
وتابع: “بعض التغييرات في القواعد لم تساعد حتى الآن، ولكن في الوقت الحالي علينا قبولها”.
Sheffield Wednesday have been in fine form recently, having gone unbeaten in their last seven Championship outings. The Owls have been reinvigorated by the appointment of Steve Bruce and will now be heading into Monday night’s derby clash with bitter rivals Sheffield United at Hillsborough full of confidence.
Wednesday can damage the Blades’ automatic promotion hopes with victory in the Steel City derby, but would also boost their own play-off ambitions with a win too. Former West Ham United striker and EFL on Quest pundit Dean Ashton has given his verdict on the Owls’ play-off credentials.
What he said
Speaking to Football League World, Ashton gave his opinion on whether or not Wednesday can sneak into the play-offs: “I looked at the table and it’s as if Sheffield Wednesday were invisible! I hadn’t seen them and then suddenly they’re there. I looked at the fixtures and obviously, it’s the Steel City derby and all of a sudden Sheffield Wednesday are there in the top six race.”
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The ex-England forward continued, taking into account the impact that Bruce has had: “They’ve shown defensively that they can be really strong and hard to beat in recent games and they’re scoring goals too with Fletcher back in form. There’s always a team that comes late and with his experience there is no reason why it can’t be them.”
Wishful thinking
The Owls are currently 14th in the Championship table, seven points behind sixth-placed Bristol City heading into tonight’s derby clash. With 12 games left to play that certainly isn’t an insurmountable gap but the odds are stacked against them.
What’s more, Bruce’s side face a tough run-in, with visits to title-chasing pair Leeds United and Norwich City, as well as meetings with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City all to come in their last few fixtures.
Bruce has certainly done a good job so far at Hillsborough, but the play-offs still look a little way beyond the Owls this season.
Liverpool fans will be feeling tense as the Premier League season starts to enter its final stages, especially with how Manchester City are currently performing. The Reds will know that they can ill-afford any defeats at this moment and will need to ensure they take maximum points from their remaining nine fixtures.
There is no denying that Jurgen Klopp has one of the best defences in the top-flight, however, there have been some doubts in recent games about their ability to find the back of the net and create enough opportunities for their forward line, which may have led to renewed speculation about a former transfer target.
What’s the News?
According to a report by Calciomercato, Liverpool are understood to remain interested in Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski and ‘insist’ on the player.
The Poland international midfielder is thought to remain on the Premier League outfit’s radar despite being believed to be edging closer to a new deal with the Serie A outfit.
The Anfield outfit’s interest in the 24-year-old is thought to have begun in 2016 following an impressive European Championship tournament with his country, however, they missed out on him with Napoli acquiring him.
The Verdict:
If one thing is for certain regarding the Poland international, it is that the links to the Premier League side do not appear to be going away any time soon and he is the type of player that could certainly bring something of value to Klopp’s side.
The 24-year-old is one of the hottest midfielders in European football, with his pace, vision and the ability to pick out a pass having impressed a number of onlookers, including former boss Maurizio Sarri, who once dubbed him as the next Kevin De Bruyne.
“He is an absolute talent, he also has great physical skills and if he grows in the level of personality, he can play in any area of the court, the new De Bruyne,” he told Tuttomercatoweb at the beginning of 2018.
With Zielinski understood to be closing in on a new deal at Napoli, it would seem incredibly unlikely for Liverpool to sign him, even if they do insist on him, making the claim a little hard to believe.
Liverpool fans, what do you make of the constant speculation surrounding a move for Zielinski and do you think a move will ever happen for him? Join in with the discussion below by letting us know what you think.
أوضح المدرب الألماني، يورجن كلوب، المدير الفني لنادي ليفربول، رأيه في أداء محمد صلاح وفيرجيل فان دايك، رغم الإقصاء أمام آرسنال في كأس رابطة المحترفين الإنجليزية.
ليفربول ودع كأس كاراباو من دور الـ16، بعد السقوط أمام آرسنال بركلات الترجيح عقب انتهاء الوقت الأصلي للمباراة سلبيًا دون أهداف (طالع تقرير المباراة).
صلاح شارك كأساسي في المباراة، وخرج في الدقيقة 61، وحل البلجيكي، ديفوك أوريجي بدلًا منه. شاهد ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح فى مباراة ليفربول وارسنال
وقال كلوب في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للمباراة: “اللعب بلاعبين شباب أمام فريق مثل آرسنال، لم يكن سهلًا للغاية، لكنهم يتعلمون ويريدون التعلم وهم قدموا أداءً جيدًا في مباراة صعبة حقًا اليوم”.
وأضاف: “الأمر كان صعبًا على اللاعبين، ليس فقط لأنهم شباب، ولكن لأنهم يلعبون مع لاعبين لم يعتادوا اللعب مع بعض من قبل”.
وواصل: “في رأيي اللاعبون قاموا بعمل جيد حقًا، ولهذا السبب أقول إنني أحببت ما قدمناه اليوم كثيرًا، وأحببت كذلك ما قدمه محمد صلاح وفيرجيل أيضًا، إنهما محترفان للغاية، وقادوا اللاعبين الصغار بشكل جيد بجانب ميلنر كذلك”.
وأردف: “من الصعب أنّ أكون إيجابيًا للغاية بشأن المباراة لأننا لم نفز بها، ولكن التعادل أمام آرسنال كان نتيجة جيدة أيضًا، ثم خسرنا بركلات الترجيح، كانت لدينا فرص أكبر في المباراة، لذلك أعتقد أننا فعلنا الكثير من الأشياء الجيدة، وهذا ما تتمناه كمدرب عندما تلعب بلاعبين شباب ويقدمون أداءً جيدًا، أنا سعيد جدًا بما قدمه اللاعبين”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. كلوب يلمح لاقتراب رحيل شاكيري: هناك أشياء خلف الكواليس علينا التعامل معها
وتابع: “كان يمكن أنّ نكون أكثر دقة في إنهاء الفرص، ولكن بيرند لينو، قدم مباراة جيدة حقًا، حتى أكون صادقًا، لكن في النهاية خسرنا بركلات الترجيح، والأمر يتعلق بالحظ وأشياء كثيرة”.
وبسؤاله عما إذا كان يفضّل الفوز في مباراة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز أو مباراة كأس كاراباو الليلة ضد أرسنال: “لا يُمكنني اتخاذ مثل هذا القرار، أريد الفوز في كلتا المباراتين، أعتقد أننا اليوم فعلنا كل شيء حقًا لنفوز، ولكن الأمر لم ينجح وعلينا قبول الأمر، لم نخسر بسبب الأداء”.
وأتم تصريحاته قائلًا: “اليوم اللاعبين قدموا أداءً جيدًا حقًا، لقد دافعنا بشكل جيد ولعبنا بشكل جيد أيضًا، دييجو جوتا كان رائعًا أيضًا، وريس ويليامز ونيكو، لقد أحببت الكثير مما قدمناه أمام آرسنال، ولكننا خسرنا في النهاية وهذا الجزء الذي لم أحبه”.
Crystal Palace fell to a gutting 2-1 defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals Brighton on Saturday, with the result meaning that both clubs are now level on points with eight games to go.
The Seagulls had one real opportunity to score – Anthony Knockaert’s winner simply cannot be called a chance – and took advantage, with former Eagle Glenn Murray capitalising on a combination of swirling wind and poor judgement on James Tomkins’ part to get in behind and fire clinically beyond a helpless Vicente Guaita.
The aforementioned clinching goal scored by Knockaert was a result of a breakdown of Palace possession in the final third and an excellently picked out pass out to the wing from Dale Stephens, who then watched his French teammate beat Patrick van Aanholt far too easily and offload a postage-stamp strike into the top corner from outside the box.
Roy Hodgson’s side took their time to build up and create chances while Brighton won the ball back and had it in their opposition’s net merely seconds later.
Chris Hughton’s men soaked up pressure excellently and looked to hit their hosts on the counter wherever possible – it worked, and the Seagulls beat Palace at their own game.
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Prior to the loss, the Eagles had torn Burnley apart at Turf Moor in a stellar away performance where the Clarets were the aggressors – as the home side often are – and Palace were dangerous every time they got the ball forward with speed.
The impressive victory was far from a fluke, though, as Palace’s form away from Selhurst Park is up there with the top teams in 2019, whereas their record at SE25 this season if woeful.
The defeat to Brighton was their eighth of the campaign at home and the loss will surely serve as an indicator to everyone at and involved with Palace that there is a clear need for a classic number 10 in the ranks when they aren’t afforded space for counter-attacks.
Now, Max Meyer may seem to be a ready-made solution but the young German often doesn’t get his head up quick enough to find the killer pass and, by the time he does, the opposition midfield or defence is on him like a pack of wolves – at 5-foot-7, the former Schalke man doesn’t have the physical attributes to keep the ball.
Meyer has wasted his opportunities when deployed in his preferred central role this season and looks far more effective in a wider position, where he is allowed to drift in – he isn’t the player to resolve Palace’s struggles in breaking down deep-sat opposition.
Hodgson currently seems to prefer Luka Milivojevic as his playmaker in chief, with the two central midfielders ahead of the Palace captain expected to make runs into the box off of Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha – really, they should be teeing up the aforementioned duo instead.
This approach was extremely ineffective against the Seagulls, whose banks of four and five swamped the Palace runners and made the lives of Jeffrey Schlupp and James McArthur very difficult – the midfield pair took half as many touches as Milivojevic, who sat back and struggled to pick them out with regularity.
Palace have to ease the burden on the Serb by signing a proper number 10 ahead of the 19/20 season – it may require a change of system but the Eagles need a player who can split a compact defence otherwise they risk allowing their terrible record at Selhurst Park to carry on into next season.
It’s all well and good getting plenty of players forward but if you can’t provide that pin-point pass into their feet then they are useless and you leave yourself exposed on the counter.
Prior to Michy Batshuayi’s arrival at SE25 in January, the primary concern was the lack of a proven goalscorer but even Christian Benteke would have been more effective than his far superior compatriot in this game as Palace’s midfielders were incapable of spotting his runs.
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Perhaps they are still adjusting to the forward’s play style and learning when they should look up for him but, regardless, the quality of pass was rarely there – McArthur, in particular, was guilty of sloppy distribution.
There is no point having a top striker like Batshuayi, who took just 34 touches on Saturday, in the ranks if you don’t have the players who can see the runs in behind he makes – the priority in the summer, then, is to sign a top playmaker first, then worry about getting that goalscorer.
علق أسطورة كرة القدم الإنجليزية ونادي برشلونة السابق، جاري لينكر، على مواجهة برشلونة ويوفنتوس في دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وأوقعت القرعة الفريقين في المجموعة السابعة من البطولة مع كل من دينامو كييف وفينيرفاروش، وستبدأ المباريات في 20 أكتوبر الجاري بحسب ما حدد الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم.
مواجهة برشلونة ويوفنتوس تعني صدام جديد بين الغريمين ليونيل ميسي وكريستيانو رونالدو لأول مرة في مجموعات دوري أبطال أوروبا.
اقرأ أيضًا | بعد أكثر من عامين.. رونالدو ضد ميسي عملاقان حطما الأرقام القياسية
وغرد لينكر عن المواجهة المنتظرة بين ميسي ورونالدو، وكتب عبر حسابه الرسمي على “تويتر”: “سيواجه المحاربان القدامى بعضهما البعض في مباريات دور المجموعات للمرة الأولى في دوري أبطال أوروبا”.
الجدير بالذكر أن الثنائي قد تواجهان في البطولة القارية ولكن في الدور نصف النهائي لموسم 2010/2011 وكان التفوق حليف ميسي في النهاية.
وكان من قبلها مواجهة بينهما في نهائي البطولة لموسم 2008/2009، وكان التفوق لصالح ميسي كذلك وفاز بالبطولة مع العملاق الكتالوني، عندما فاز على مانشستر يونايتد في وجود رونالدو.
التفوق الوحيد لصالح رونالدو يرجع لموسم 2007/2008 عندما واجه برشلونة في وجود ميسي بالدور نصف النهائي وفاز مانشستر يونايتد وقتها ذهابًا إيابًا بنتيجة 1-0.
Fulham look set to lose star player Ryan Sessegnon this summer with Tottenham Hotspur the most likely destination – but his hugely inflated £50 million price tag might be concerning some.
According to the Mirror, Fulham prodigy Ryan Sessegnon is reluctant to sign a new contract at Craven Cottage handing Pochettino’s Spurs a major boost in their pursuit of the player.
The Englishman is one of the most highly rated youngsters in the country and has drawn interest from the likes of Manchester United, but his unwillingness to move away from the capital has become a major sticking point for the northern powerhouses.
This will come as a disappointing blow for Paris Saint Germain, who have apparently been pursuing the player for over a year (as per the Mirror).
Should Tottenham sign the player this summer there is every chance he could return to Craven Cottage on a temporary basis to help the side fight their way back into the Premier League – after they are inevitably relegated at the end of this season.
We have to question whether £50 million could be better spent elsewhere, though.
Indeed, despite being touted as one of the most promising young talents in English football, Ryan Sessegnon has barely made an impact in his first season in the Premier League, managing just two goals and five assists in 28 appearances.
Spurs do not have the time nor the money to be making investments who require extensive refining and it could be in the club’s interests to look elsewhere to find more accomplished to ensure they avoid a repeat of this season.
Spurs fans, do you think £50 million is a fair amount for Ryan Sessegnon – and if so where else would you want to see it spent? Let us know in the comments below…