Month: September 2019

The gifted youngster has had to make some changes to his eating pattern following his move to Europe, but is confident he’ll make an impact at PSV

When Christian Pulisic left the United States to join Borussia Dortmund at the tender age of 16, he was by no means the first young American to try his luck abroad.

However, there is no denying that the success of the Chelsea winger has led to a bit of a trend.

In fact, the USA team that made it to the quarter-finals at the Under-20 World Cup back in June relied heavily on players plying their trade in Europe, with expats such as Timothy Weah, Sebastian Soto and Alex Mendez the standout performers.

Another member of that talented squad who has already made the jump to Europe is gifted midfielder Richard Ledezma.

The 18-year-old joined Eredivisie giants PSV at the start of 2019 and, even though an injury initially slowed him down somewhat, he is now slowly but surely getting used to his new surroundings.

“It wasn’t that difficult to make the move to Netherlands,” Ledezma told Goal and Voetbalzone.  

“I’ve been away from my family for almost two, three years, playing with Real Salt Lake in Utah. So we were living in dorms and I don’t think it’s much harder.” 

That’s not to say nothing’s changed at all for the youngster, though, as he’s had to accept a change to his diet. 

“PSV help me with my nutrition, with my food and how I eat. It’s the quantity of food you eat, I guess,” he added. 

“Because I came a little chubby, when I got here, I guess. They all called me ‘fatty’ and stuff, so I was like, cool, you know? So no more McDonald’s!” 

Having spent the first six months of his PSV career with the Under-19 team, he worked closely with legendary striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and the former Manchester United ace is impressed with Ledezma’s potential. 

“He’s making a difference in midfield with very quick-thinking passes, movement, can score a goal, play people in, he’s creating chances for the whole team,” the PSV U-19 coach stated. 

“So a very promising talent, I was really happy to work with him for now.” 

Ledezma himself, meanwhile, agrees with Van Nistelrooy’s assessment of his biggest strengths. 

“I play as a No.10 or No.8, although I can also play the No.6 role. But I’m more flashy as a player, so I like going forward more,” the USA U-20 star said.  

“I like to assist, to create goals. I’m not about scoring goals, but about assists, you know, that’s my thing.” 

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Ledezma idolises former Barcelona superstar Andres Iniesta, as well as his aforementioned compatriot Pulisic.  

“Role-models? Iniesta… He’s a big player obviously. I know it’s hard to compare, but I think I could do it one day. You have to aim high,” he added. 

“Pulisic is an inspiration too. I played Fortnite with him once, the video game. It was nice talking to him, giving me a little advice. I look up to him, he’s the number one when it comes to Americans playing soccer in Europe.” 

But whereas Pulisic has already earned himself a big-money move to Chelsea after making over 100 appearances for BVB, Ledezma still very much has his work cut out to prove himself in the European game. 

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His contract with PSV is due to expire at the end of the 2019-20 campaign and he’s well aware of the importance of the season ahead, with the Eindhoven side having a unilateral option to extend his deal by two years. 

“My ambition here at PSV is to convince the club to trigger that option. So hopefully I get those two extra years and move up to the first team quickly. And then just experience first-team minutes. 

“My ideal route would be to get those two extra years, but to be playing with the first team and some games with Jong PSV obviously. And hopefully move higher and higher. 

“[I would] play in the first team for a few years and then maybe move to Spain.  

“Real Madrid are my favourite club in the world, but I don’t necessarily see myself playing there…” 

Stella McCartney has been granted approval to register its term
“Fur-Free Fur” as a trademark for the brand.

The vegetarian luxury brand has been using the term Fur Free Fur
since its launch in 2001 to label its high-end faux fur material,
which it describes as a “no compromise, modern statement that
demonstrates what the future of fashion looks like today.” McCartney’s
Fur Free Fur items are typically made using a blend of sustainable
materials such as modacrylic, cotton or polyester.

The brand won an appeal over the term, meaning it can now register
“Fur-Free Fur” as a trademark for its imitation-fur items. This appeal
reverses an earlier decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,
which had said that the application for “Fur-Free Fur” was not
descriptive enough to warrant a trademark.

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Now, after two years of fighting for the term, Stella McCartney can
now file to register its “Fur-Free Fur” term as a trademark.

The 18-year-old centre-back became Unai Emery’s third summer signing on Thursday and opened up on why he turned down Spurs

New Arsenal defender William Saliba has revealed that playing for “the biggest club in England” led to him choosing the Gunners over local rivals Tottenham.

The 18-year-old completed a £27 million ($34m) move to the north London outfit on Thursday, becoming their second signing of the day following the season-long loan deal for Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos .

The defender was spoilt for choice when it came to deciding where his future lay this summer, with Arsenal’s north London rivals Spurs also interested in securing his services.

And Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, the teenager insisted he only had one club in mind, adding: “Since I was little, I’ve been watching Arsenal play in the Champions League and so on.

“There are a lot of French players who have come through here, so that really helped me to make my mind up.”

Saliba also revealed that current Gunners midfielder Matteo Guendouzi had his say in the move, saying: “I spoke to Matteo [Guendouzi], I even bumped into him at a funfair in Paris.

“That’s where I told him that Arsenal wanted to sign me! He gently advised me to come here and explained what it was like.

“It’s a massive pleasure to sign for a really, really big English club. This is the biggest club in England for me, so it was an easy decision.

“I didn’t think twice about signing here, so I’m really happy.

“You have to keep working when you hear that a club is interested in signing you. You have to keep working; that’s what I’m doing and I’m proud to be signing here.”

The France Under-20 international made 16 Ligue 1 appearances for Saint-Etienne last season, and will be returning to the club on a season-long loan as part of the deal before joining up with the Arsenal squad ahead of the 2020-21 season.

When asked why this was the right choice for the youngster, Saliba answered: “Well, it was important first of all because I wanted to prove myself for another year at Saint-Etienne, before I come to try and establish myself here at Arsenal.

“This is a big club, and when you come here, you need to be ready.

“I’m going to try and have a great season with the club that developed me in order to be ready for Arsenal.”

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The Bayern star was caught kicking out at the England youngster but claims he did not deserve to be booked for his actions

Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich was not taking any of the blame for his stamp on Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, which left the England youngster in a bandage.  

Kimmich was caught with the bottom of his boot on Sancho’s outstretched ankle and foot as the two players went for a ball that ran out of play.  

Just six minutes after Sancho had put the match to bed with a brilliant second goal for his club, doubling their lead as Dortmund went on to win the DFL-Supercup 2-0, Kimmich stepped on his opponent’s leg as the two clashed near the touchline, with the Bayern man booked for the challenge after the fact.  

While the booking really should not have come as a shock, Kimmich says he was upset at picking up the card in what he felt was as much Sacho’s fault as his own.  

“It was an unfortunate situation,” Kimmich told DAZN . “I wanted to get the ball and he put his foot in.  

“But I did not kick him and I was angry that I was given a yellow card, because that was not my intention. ”  

Kimmich went on to say that had he been sent off for his action it might have caused an on-field meltdown.  

“If I had seen red, then I would have romped,” he told reporters following the match.  

While Kimmich’s tackle brought about plenty of critics, his manager, who says he did not see the play, vouched for the 24-year-old’s character.  

“Joshua did not do this on purpose,” he told ZDF .  

Sancho is looking to kick on from a breakout campaign with Dortmund last season, and his heroics in the Supercup will do nothing to temper expectations on the youngster.

And while the stamp from Kimmich was a low-point in the clash between the top two sides in Germany, Dortmund team-mate Marco Reus was not shocked to see Sancho put the Bundesliga champions under pressure with his performance.  

“When Jadon approaches you in one-on-one, it’s brutally difficult (for the defender),” he told reporters. 

Dortmund let slip a massive lead in the Bundesliga last season and watched as Bayern lifted the league trophy once again, topping their rivals by just two points. 

The two sides look set to be among the league leaders again this season, with Bundesliga leading scorer Robert Lewandowski back with Bayern and both runner up Paco Alcacer and the league’s third-leading scorer Reus​ in the fold for Dortmund along with the promising Sancho. 

 

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The Portuguese starlet has said he wants to emulate his international team-mate, but his new manager doesn’t see similarities on the pitch

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone does not think Joao Felix is a similar player to Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nineteen-year-old Joao Felix became the second-most expensive teenager in world football when he joined Atletico from Benfica for €126 million (£113m/$141m) last month, a fee only eclipsed by those paid for Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Philippe Coutinho by Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona respectively.

The forward has enjoyed an encouraging pre-season under Simeone and got a goal and an assist in Thursday’s 3-0 friendly win over an MLS All-Stars side in Orlando.

The player admitted this week he would like to emulate the success of compatriot Ronaldo , a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and a league champion in England, Spain and Italy, but Simeone thinks there is little point comparing the two.

“No, I don’t think Joao Felix is like Cristiano,” he said.

“The reality is that he has a good game to observe. I’ve enjoyed watching him since he arrived. He has vision and good control going forward, which speaks well for his age and how he plays and how he reads the game.

“We are going to add situations to help him grow and become a better and stronger player in the way everyone thinks he will.

“I’m really pleased with all the new players. Felipe is growing, [Mario] Hermoso the same. To play all the new players together helps us to be able to get ready for what is coming, which is going to be tough.

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“The team is working well. We’ve been together every day for more than 20 days. The new guys are making a big effort to catch on to what we want.”

Joao Felix himself was happy with his performance as a substitute as he scored his second goal for the club following a strike in the 7-3 International Champions Cup win over Real Madrid .

“I’m happy to score. I got two in my last two games and it makes me very pleased,” he said.

“I play as I always play. Adapting depends on the players. It’s just the start, although we’re doing well. We’ll work every day to have a good season.”

On his blossoming partnership with Diego Costa, having set up the striker for Atleti’s third goal, he added: “We understand each other well. We speak the same language and I hope to give him more assists.”

The Reds full-back has responded after his Juventus-linked teammate posted the speeds of players at the club

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has used social media to defend himself after leaked squad data suggesting he was the slowest player at Old Trafford.

, who has agreed to a €9 million (£8.24m/$10m) annual contract with Juventus, posted a video on Friday showing the results of a speed test from United’s training, with the Belgian clocking the second highest speed of the session at 36.25kph

While Portuguese defender Diego recorded the fastest speed of 36.43kph on the test, his fellow full-back Shaw had the lowest score for all players tested at 31.03kph.

The England star’s recorded speed put him below Manchester United teammates such as  , Juan Mata and Scott .

Following a tweet from Mata to that jokingly said, “Thanks for finally showing the world that I’m quicker than Luke Shaw bro,” Shaw used his Twitter account to explain why he was so low on the list.

“They only wanted me to go 70% don’t let me start speaking on you boy,” Shaw tweeted.

And there is one small caveat from the speed results, with the training session having taken place way back on July 10. That was three days before United’s 2-0 win over Perth Glory in the first game of pre-season, with players still working their way back to full match fitness.

While has deleted his original tweet and video, the posts from Shaw and Mata currently remain on the social media platform.

appears to be on the verge of moving to Turin, but is waiting for an agreement between the A club and his Manchester United employers.

forwards Paulo and Mario could be part of any deal to bring to the Italian champions, but discussions between the two clubs are still ongoing.

The Belgium international is yet to play a minute for the Red Devils in pre-season, with manager Ole Gunnar insisting the former  striker is not fit enough to play.

Manchester United round off their pre-season with an International Champions Cup match against AC Milan in Cardiff on Saturday, before beginning their Premier League campaign with a home fixture versus Chelsea on August 11.

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The former USMNT midfielder has cautioned the players who are looking for parity with the men, and taken a shot at NWSL in the process

Former U.S. men’s national team midfielder Jermaine Jones has hit out at the U.S. women’s national team, saying their fight for equal pay could “backfire real quick.”

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The World Cup champion USWNT are in the midst of a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer alleging gender discrimination, and are set for mediation to attempt to resolve the issue before it goes to court.

But Jones, 37, is not on board with the USWNT’s fight, saying that it’s normal for women to get paid less than men in sport. 

“There is a big difference between men’s sport and women’s sport,” Jones told toofab.

“Give me one country where the girls get paid the same as the men. There is just no country.

“The girls, they are calling and screaming a little bit for more respect and (to be) more appreciated for what they are doing, and that’s I think more the case why they are saying all this.”

One of the principle differences between the U.S. men’s and women’s teams is the pay structure, with the women collecting an annual salary from U.S. Soccer along with benefits, while the men are only paid in bonuses for roster and game appearances, among other incentives. 

Jones has highlighted that difference, also saying that the women’s professional league in the United States, the National Women’s Soccer League, is not up to standard.

“Some players who play MLS, they play men’s national team, can make less than a woman who gets a salary cap through the national team, not through her club, and that’s a big difference,” he said.

“We’re coming, and we get not paid. We have to play games and win games,” he said. “She gets the whole season paid, and plays in a league where you can say that you suck.”

Though the women are fighting for more money for their entire team, Jones believes that some high-paid USWNT stars might get a raw deal.

“I think they have to be careful too, because you have players (like) Alex Morgan, they are making more than some of the guys, but then they scream out and say ‘we need more money’. It can backfire real quick.”

The U.S. women have won four World Cups, including the last two, while the men have only reached the World Cup semifinal once – at the inaugural edition in 1930.

Jones, however, isn’t getting caught up in the accomplishments of the USWNT in comparison to the USMNT. 

“Of course as men we know it’s tougher to win a World Cup than the girls.”

The striker’s head coach has said that his player informed him that a departure to the capital was imminent

Valencia boss Marcelino revealed Rodrigo told him he was joining Atletico Madrid before the forward’s move to the Spanish capital fell through.

The 28-year-old missed two days of training this week to complete a switch to Atletico, only for Valencia’s La Liga counterparts to pull the plug on a deal.

Speaking on Thursday, Valencia general director Mateu Alemany claimed Atletico’s offer – rumoured to be in the region of €60 million (£54.8m/$66.5m) – had been withdrawn.

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“Those who were offering are now no longer offering, and what seemed like an agreement could not be executed,” Alemany told Mundo Deportivo.

“There was a principle of agreement. Subsequently, due to circumstances that have nothing to do with Valencia, it did not go ahead. Between clubs, there was a principle agreement, and right now that offer is no longer on the table.”

Rodrigo has now returned to training and is in contention to play against Real Sociedad on Saturday in Valencia’s opening league fixture of the campaign.

Head coach Marcelino welcomed the twist in the long-running transfer saga, believing it enhances his side’s Champions League prospects on the back of last season’s fourth-place finish in La Liga.

“As you know Rodrigo at one point was transferred, so the club told me the same day of training on Tuesday,” Marcelino said at Friday’s news conference. “He also told me that he was going to Atletico. But suddenly, that transfer was not completed. 

“Starting from there, Rodrigo wanted to train again. He never asked me to leave Valencia, it is something I want to make clear. We are trying to return to normal.

“We are a team with Rodrigo and another without Rodrigo. If he is not there, we will have to review the objectives of Valencia because in the market it is very difficult to find a football player who brings us the same footballing merits as Rodrigo.

“To play in the Champions League the team must look for a higher potential. But if the team is weakened, the Champions League must not be a priority.”

Spanish clubs have until September 2 to complete their transfer business.

The prolific frontman is said to have turned down offers, but reports claim there is still interest elsewhere in Europe

Sporting coach Marcel Keizer is keen to keep hold of Dutch danger-man Bas Dost but understands that retaining the striker on the books may be difficult.

The centre-forward has scored 93 goals in 127 appearances for the Portuguese outfit and has generated interest from a host of clubs during the summer transfer window.

A Record report earlier this week claimed that Championship side West Brom made a late move for the 30-year-old, adding that the offer was turned down as the player had no interest in joining the West Midlands club. 

The report also stated that further bids from teams based in Mexico, China, Turkey and the Middle East have not been entertained, while Russian side Zenit St Petersburg are said to be preparing to make a move.

Speaking to the press ahead of Sporting’s weekend fixture against Braga, head coach Keizer addressed the situation.

“[Dost] trained all week, he’s here,” he said. “We have to see what happens. We don’t want to lose our players, but the [transfer] window is still open and we have to wait.

“I would prefer if the transfer window was already closed. I need all the players we have, but sometimes that cannot happen. We have to wait and see.”

With the English transfer window now closed, Manchester United-linked Bruno Fernandes looks set to stay at the Jose Alvalade Stadium and the club may have to let Dost depart to help balance the books, much to the dismay of Keizer.

Freeing up Dost’s wages would allow the coach to cut spending, reinvest in the current squad and solve immediate cash problems at the club.

Earlier this week, Corriere dello Sport reported that Lazio have shown a keen interest in the frontman, who is reportedly keen to compete in one of Europe’s top leagues again before the end of his career.

Still contracted to Sporting until 2021, the Portuguese side are said to value the player, who has 218 goals in 407 appearances at club level, at around the €20 million (£18m/$22m) mark. 

Sporting will hope to bounce back from a disappointing 1-1 draw against Maritimo in their first Liga NOS clash of the season when they welcome Braga on Sunday.

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The Frenchman, who starred at Stamford Bridge, will join Petr Cech and Frank Lampard in returning to West London next season

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Claude Makelele will return to Chelsea’s Cobham training base tomorrow as he returns to the Blues as the new Young Player Technical Mentor.

Makelele’s new job will focus on the club’s young talent as well as the players the club has loaned out. He will also have an ambassadorial role for Chelsea.

According to Chelsea’s website there are 17 players contracted to the club currently on loan elsewhere.

The former France international’s job will be similar to Petr Cech’s role with the senior team. Cech is also returning to the club in a technical role after playing at Stamford Bridge with distinction.

Another ex-Blue is on staff as manager as Frank Lampard, the club’s record goalscorer, is in charge of the first team.

None of the three men have experience in their new roles in the Premier League, though Lampard managed Derby County in the Championship last season, leading the Rams to the Playoff final where they were defeated by Aston Villa.

Makelele has primarily been working as a coach since he finished his playing career as a member of Paris Saint-Germain in 2011.

He swapped the pitch for the dugout in Paris, becoming an assistant coach from 2011-13 alongside Paul Clement. He then had a season in charge at Bastia in 2014.

After a spell as technical director at Monaco, the ex-midfielder resurfaced on the bench, again as Clement’s assistant at Swansea City in 2017. After leaving Wales he moved to Belgium to coach Eupen, a job he will leave to take his new role at Chelsea.

Makelele played for France on their run to the 2006 World Cup Final as part of his 71-cap international career.

During his club career, he represented six clubs, most notably Real Madrid in addition to Chelsea and PSG.

He played 144 games for the West London club and won back to back titles, alongside Cech and Lampard in 2005 and 2006.

The return of the trio comes at a tempestuous time at Stamford Bridge, as the club copes with a transfer ban that prohibits them from buying new players for two windows.