Month: September 2019

Bayern Munich booked a place in the final, but Werder Bremen’s captain criticised referee Daniel Siebert

Werder Bremen captain Max Kruse described Bayern Munich’s winning penalty in the DFB-Pokal semi-final as “ridiculous”.

Quickfire goals from Yuya Osako and Milot Rashica had drawn Werder level on Wednesday after Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller scored to put Bayern in control.

But with 10 minutes to go at Weser-Stadion, Theodor Gebre Selassie’s challenge on Kingsley Coman resulted in referee Daniel Siebert pointing to the penalty spot, with VAR not used.

Lewandowski stepped up to convert and in the 91st minute ex-Bayern striker Claudio Pizarro missed a good headed chance at the back post to force extra time.

The full-time whistle saw numerous Werder players, as well as coach Florian Kohfeldt, confront Siebert over the penalty award, and Kruse could not hide his frustration with the decision in a post-match interview.

“That is ridiculous. What do we have VAR for?” Kruse said.

“I don’t want to say anything else, what the referee told me on the pitch is enough already.”

Kruse clashed with Bayern defender Jerome Boateng after the game and he explained what happened in the exchange.

“He told me Bayern was by far the better team and they should have been up at half-time by 4-0,” Kruse added. “He should not talk to me but celebrate with his fans.”

Bayern’s captain on the day Muller, though, defended Siebert and said it was the right decision to penalise Gebre Selassie.

“When I saw it in the match it was a clear penalty,” the forward said. “Kingsley runs away from him, Gebre Selassie pressures him with his arm and makes him fall over.

“Kingsley is no diver. I can understand that a penalty that leads to a 3-2 always gets discussed, but this decision was right.”

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The Gunners failed to move back into the top four after turning in another dire performance in a 3-1 loss at Wolves on Wednesday evening

What a difference a week makes!

Arsenal went into the weekend looking well-placed to go on and finish third in the Premier League, but two shambolic defeats later they are now facing up to another season outside of the top four.

If Unai Emery’s side were bad against Crystal Palace on Sunday, then they were truly dire on Wednesday evening as they were steamrollered by a Wolves team led by the quite magnificent Diogo Jota.

The Portuguese attacker was unplayable, leaving the Arsenal defence in his wake time and time again as he drove at them with an intensity and drive that was unmatched anywhere within the visitors’ ranks.

When the 22-year raced onto Granit Xhaka’s loose pass just before half-time, you knew what was coming. He glided past Sokratis’ pathetic attempt of a challenge before firing in a shot which squirmed under Bernd Leno to make it 3-0.

As he and his Wolves team-mates celebrated, Emery stood motionless propped up against his dugout, hands plunged deep into his pockets.

What he was thinking only he will know, but you would hope for Arsenal’s sake he was already dreaming of the summer and the chance of bringing in players of Jota’s quality.

Because that’s what Arsenal need if they are going to get back competing with England’s best, let alone the best in Europe.

Yes they were atrocious defensively once again at Molineux, conceding three goals for the second successive game, but they were equally as inept in attack, a total shambles, from back to front.

They dominated possession, enjoying more than 70 per cent all night, and constantly had the ball in Wolves’ final third. But they never looked like doing anything with it.

It wasn’t until Eddie Nketiah came on for the final 20 minutes that they anyone who at least tried to drive at the Wolves defence and cause them problems.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was awful, Mesut Ozil was no better and Alex Iwobi was his usual frustrating self.

Alexandre Lacazette ran the channels all night long, but was given absolute nothing to work with from those who were supposed to be his supply line. How the Frenchmen would loved to have had either of Jota or Ruben Neves behind him.

After what happened against Palace at the weekend you would have expected some sort of response from Arsenal, who had picked up wins in each of their last two away outings.

But from the moment Neves smashed home a free-kick on 28 minutes to give Wolves the lead, there was only ever going to be one winner.

The sight of a couple of Arsenal players turning their backs and shielding their faces rather than trying to block Neves’ set piece summed up the visitors’ performance. It was cowardly.

From that point on it was so easy for Wolves. They doubled their lead through Matt Doherty’s header and then Jota left the Arsenal defence in his wake to add a third – both were goals Leno will not want to see again.

Sokratis did pull a goal back late on in the second half, heading in Xhaka’s corner but it was no more than a consolation. The game and the battle had long been lost.

Arsenal’s hopes of a top-four finish is now out of their hands, they are relying on others to do them a favour – something that is entirely possible given the way the season is going.

But with two of their remaining three games away from home – starting at Leicester on Sunday – you do not have any confidence in Emery’s side being able to get the points they need to ensure Champions League football returns to the Emirates.

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A video has surfaced on social media showing members of the squad and backroom staff on board a plane singing about their title rivals

Manchester City have denied that a video featuring players and staff singing a song that mocks Liverpool relates to Sean Cox or the Hillsborough disaster.

Footage has surfaced online of members of the playing squad and backroom team chanting a parody version of ‘Allez Allez Allez’,  a song adopted by Liverpool supporters that was frequently heard at Anfield during the 2018-19 campaign.

The altered version of the song, that is filmed on board a plane, presumably transporting City players and staff from Brighton after their Premier League title triumph on Sunday, mocks Liverpool as “victims of it all” and that they’re “battered on the streets”.

City have, however, denied that the lyrics relate to Reds fan Cox, who was violently attacked outside Anfield prior to last season’s Champions League win over Roma,  or the Hillsborough disaster.

Instead, they claim that the song relates to Real Madrid’s victory over the Merseyside club in 2017-18 that saw them the lose the Champions League final in Kiev.

“The song in question, which has been a regular chant during the 2018-19 season, refers to the 2018 UEFA Champions League final in Kiev,” a City spokesperson said.

“Any suggestion that the lyrics relate to Sean Cox or the Hillsborough tragedy is entirely without foundation.”

The chant also mentions the injury suffered by Mohamed Salah in the 3-1 defeat to Madrid, with Sergio Ramos’s strong challenge ending the Egyptian’s participation in that game midway through the first half.

The words in the version recorded featuring City staff and players are changed from Ramos to Vincent Kompany, seemingly relating to the City captain’s tackle on the 26-year-old in his side’s 2-1 win over Liverpool back in January.

Pep Guardiola’s side edged out the Reds in the race for the Premier League title in 2018-19, winning their second consecutive league crown after finishing a point above Jurgen Klopp’s men.

City had trailed against Brighton in Sunday’s finale, only for goals from Sergio Aguero, Aymeric Laporte, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan sealing a 4-1 win at the Amex Stadium.

That meant that Liverpool, who beat Wolves 2-0 in their last match of the league campaign, would finish on 97 points, one behind their rivals for the title.

City are also still capable of securing a domestic treble, should they get the better of Watford in the FA Cup final on May 18.

Despite coming up short in the title race, Liverpool can still win a trophy in 2018-19, with Klopp’s side facing Tottenham in the Champions League final on June 1.

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The fullback set up a pair of goals in the 5-0 win to equal the most assists delivered by a defender since 2010-11

Andrew Robertson tied a Premier League record for assists by as Liverpool waltzed to a 5-0 victory over Huddersfield to reclaim the lead in the title race.

Jurgen Klopp’s men entered the day a point behind reigning champions Manchester City and aimed to put the pressure on the Citizens ahead of their visit to Burnley on Sunday.

It did not take long for the Reds to do just that, as Naby Keita set the club’s record for fastest goal in their Premier League history with a strike just 15 seconds into the contest.

While Huddersfield had some early moments, Liverpool simply overwhelmed the Terriers as the contest went on, coasting to an easy victory behind braces from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

Robertson played a big part in the victory as the left-back has done on multiple occasions this year, as he assisted on both Mane’s first goal and Salah’s second, which capped the scoring.

In doing so, Robertson is now up to 11 assists on the season, which equals a Premier League record for a defender set by Leighton Baines in 2010-11 and Andy Hinchcliffe in 1994-95.

Robertson’s memorable evening was just one of a host of impressive marks set by Liverpool in the contest, which saw them move to 91 points on the year and the league lead change hands for the 29th time – the most in the English top-flight since World War II.

Converting to three-points for a win, 91 points is second best in club history, trailing only the side who amassed 98 points in the 1978-79 season.

It also meant Liverpool have racked up 50 points at Anfield, which is the best total at home in their Premier League history.

And while they didn’t earn any records, Salah and Mane also accomplished feats in the victory.

Salah has now moved into sole possession of the lead for the Premier League golden boot at 21 goals, while Mane is also alone in second, on 20.

The pair have become the first duo to score 20 goals for a single club in the Premier League since Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge managed it in 2013-14.

Likewise, Salah became the first Liverpool player since Suarez to score 20 or more goals in two straight seasons. Robbie Fowler is the other Liverpool player to have managed it.

Liverpool now turned their attention to the Champions League, with a midweek clash against Barcelona in Spain on May 1.

Their next Premier League match is against Newcastle on May 4.

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The Hoffenheim star will link up with a Bundesliga rival at the end of the season, potentially casting doubt over Julian Brandt’s future

Bayer Leverkusen have announced the signing of attacking midfielder Kerem Demirbay from fellow Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

Demirbay, who joined Hoffenheim from Hamburg in 2016, has scored four Bundesliga goals for Julian Nagelsmann’s side this term, providing eight assists, and has signed a five-year deal with Leverkusen for a fee reported to be around €28 million (£24m/$31m).

The news that Leverkusen have bolstered their midfield contingent may, however, cast further doubt over Julian Brandt’s future, with Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich all reportedly interested in the 23-year-old, while Kai Havertz has also been linked with a move away.

Demirbay had been mooted as a target for other sides across Europe.

Liverpool and Premier League rivals Arsenal were said to have shot admiring glances in his direction at various stages.

His creativity will, however, be staying in the German top-flight.

“This is the next chapter after three great years at Hoffenheim,” Demirbay told Leverkusen’s official website.

“Leverkusen play really attractive attacking football. Their style suits mine and I’m really looking forward to becoming a part of this team.”

Germany international Demirbay will officially join Leverkusen at the end of the campaign, and will wear the number 26 shirt.

Demirbay made five appearances for Hoffenheim in the Champions League this season, and could well find himself back in Europe’s elite club competition next term, with Leverkusen – who sit fifth in the Bundesliga – pushing for the final qualification spot.

“This is a clear sign of our ambition,” said Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller.

“We have a lot planned for the coming season but first we want to qualify for Europe. If we do that. We’ll need quality players like Kerem Demirbay.”

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The 34-year-old forward continues to attract silverware following his move to Juventus but wishes his critics would let him be

Cristiano Ronaldo says he is “annoyed” that he is forced to prove that he is a good player every year and wants critics to leave him alone.

The Juventus and Portugal star has long been regarded as one of the best players the game has ever seen, having won five Ballons d’Or and as many Champions League titles.

After winning the Serie A title with Juve this season, the 34-year-old has now won league crowns in three different countries and is challenging for the Italian division’s top scorer award having scored 21 times in 29 appearances.

But the attacker continues to receive criticism in some circles because of his ongoing rivalry with Barcelona icon Lionel Messi and he finds the animosity towards him irritating.

“I will not deny that sometimes it annoys me and it tires because it seems that every year you must prove that you are very good,” he told  El Pais . 

“It’s hard. You have what you have to have that extra pressure of having to prove something to people, not just for you, also to the people around you. Your family, your mother, your son: ‘Cris, you have to win tomorrow’.

“That makes you more active. You always have to train, but there comes a time when you say: ‘Look, let me be’.”

He added: “I don’t think they believe I’m a robot, but they do see me as a person who can never have a problem, can never be sad, can never have a problem. 

“People identify having no problems, success, with money. How can you be sad or have a downer if you have millions? You must understand that people do not think like you, have not lived certain moments, do not have a culture greater than what they are allowed.

“But I understand it. I know people are waiting with a shotgun for Cristiano to miss a penalty, or to fail in a crucial match. But it is part of life and I must be prepared. I’ve been prepared for many years now.”

Nevertheless, Ronaldo insists he is still enjoying his playing career, saying he hopes to keep surprising his critics.

“I see football as a mission: go to the field, win, make me better,” he said. 

“Those moments when I went out on to the field thinking: ‘I’m going to dribble!’ Honestly, I don’t have those moments anymore.

“There is an additional pressure. People are always judging: ‘It’s over already. He’s 33, 34 or 35 years old, he should stop’. And you want to surprise people: here the bug follows.”

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Eagles boss Roy Hodgson is aware of the speculation raging around a star turn, but believes he will be at Selhurst Park for the 2019-20 campaign

Wilfried Zaha continues to spark talk of interest from the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, but Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is expecting the winger to stay put.

The Ivory Coast international finds himself firmly in the transfer shop window heading into the summer.

His exploits across five seasons back at Selhurst Park have seen a man who flopped during a forgettable spell at Old Trafford between 2013 and 2015 rebuild his reputation.

A second stint with the Red Devils is now being mooted, while other leading sides in England and across Europe would welcome the opportunity to add the 26-year-old to their ranks.

Zaha is, however, tied to a contract with Palace through to 2023 and Hodgson believes that agreement will be honoured for at least another 12 months.

The Eagles boss said when quizzed on the latest round of exit rumours: “I have that old-fashioned idea that when you sign a contract, you go back after the season ends and start playing again.

“That’s the way I see it. I hope he finds good form in the last two games.”

Zaha struggled to make an impact in his most recent outing, as Palace played out a goalless draw with Everton.

Hodgson believes a mercurial talent can sometimes demand too much of himself, saying: “That pressure comes from him, not us. At times we encourage him to release the ball and run off it more, than run with it.”

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Palace are eager to ensure that Zaha gets the chance to iron out his faults while still on their books next season.

Club captain Luka Milivojevic has added on the future of a talismanic presence: “If you play for Palace, you want him to stay.”

For now, Zaha’s focus is locked on ending the 2018-19 campaign as positively as possible.

Palace have just two games left to take in, away at Cardiff on Saturday and at home to Bournemouth.

They are destined to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table, but still have the chance to clamber above London rivals West Ham and into 11th spot.

Dortmund missed out to Bayern by two points in the Bundesliga title race this season, despite leading the way for much of the campaign

Borussia Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke says it would be great for the Bundesliga if Leroy Sane were to join Bayern Munich, despite his team missing out to the seven-times champions in this season’s title race.

Dortmund narrowly lost out to Bayern in the title run-in after topping the table for much of the campaign.

Lucien Favre’s team led the way until early April, before a 5-0 hammering at the Allianz Arena against their great rivals cost them the initiative and dealt a setback from which they were unable to recover.

And despite watching the Bavarians snatch a seventh straight title from under his team’s nose, Watzke says he would be delighted to see Germany international Sane return home – even if it means strengthening Dortmund’s biggest rival.

“I think it would be great if Bayern brings Leroy Sane back as a German national player, because that would further increase the appeal of the league,” the Dortmund chief told Bild.

“I am the first to congratulate them [on their title win].

“We want to become champions, but Bayern is like Mount Everest.

“You can try to defeat it once – and we want that too. I think even Germany needs that again soon.”

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Watzke continues to face questions regarding the future of winger Jadon Sancho, with the England international the subject of ongoing speculation that he will join one of Europe’s top clubs in the summer.

But the Dortmund chief insisted that, whilst the 19-year-old’s long-term future likely lies elsewhere, he will still be at Signal Igunda Park next season.

“It’s safe to assume that Jadon will not be playing at BVB for ten more years, but we have clear agreements about the present,” said Watzke. “Jadon is not on the market and will be playing at Borussia Dortmund next season.”

Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic has also been linked with a move, with Dortmund touted as a likely destination for the Croatia international.

“We do not have to talk about Mandzukic,” said Watzke. “He’s currently a Juventus player, he plays in Turin, and as I know Mario Mandzukic, he’s a striker so ambitious he always wants to play.”

All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu is coming back to Super Rugby to play for the Blues.

Nonu has spent the past three seasons playing for Toulon in the Top 14 after moving offshore at the end of 2016.

This one-year deal will be his third stint at the Blues, after playing in Auckland in 2012 and 2014. 

The 36-year-old is most synonymous with the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, having played his provincial rugby with Wellington and notching 126 Super Rugby caps with the Hurricanes franchise.

Nonu has played 103 Tests for the All Blacks and was one of their best players in a 12-year international career.

He was a notoriously average Super Rugby performer but Nonu proved he was all class when it came to Test rugby and his former Wellington, Hurricanes and All Blacks teammate, Blues coach Tana Umaga wants to tap into his experience.

The Blues finished on the bottom of the New Zealand Super Rugby conference in 2018 and Umaga is under enormous pressure to turn things around after being handed a one-year contract extension.

“Our review showed that our backline, while talented and exciting, lacked an experienced figure on a regular basis in the midfield due to injury,” Umaga said.

“Next season will throw up some other challenges with a new format without the international break. And players in line for the World Cup, like Sonny Bill Williams, will likely be monitored more closely.”

Nonu said he was optimistic about the Blues’ future under one of his former All Blacks teammates.

“Hopefully next year will be a year to build and to be successful. That is the challenge I am looking forward to,” he said

“I know the Blues have had some tough times in the last few seasons but I am excited to play with some of the young and up-and-coming players who will have long careers and rejuvenate this place.

“And I am looking forward to be under the watchful eye of Tana who was a mentor when I was coming through, so I am looking forward to doing my best for him and the franchise.”

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The 2019 Super Rugby season kicks off on Friday February 16, with the Blues taking on the Crusaders in round one.