Football: Liverpool aim to spoil Lionel Messi's Champions League dream
BARCELONA (AFP) - Jurgen Klopp has insisted Liverpool are ready to end Lionel Messi's Champions League mission by beating Barcelona in the semi-finals.
Messi has been rested for Barca's last two league games and appears more motivated than ever in Europe, after pledging to "bring that beautiful cup back to Nou Camp " at the start of the season.
But Klopp has warned his players not to focus only on the Argentinian.
"It's not only about Messi but of course it's about him as well," Klopp said at a press conference on Tuesday (April 30).
"Can we concentrate on Messi? We should in a lot of moments but if we only concentrate on him, there are 10 other world-class players who can decide the game as well.
"Messi said before the season, 'we want to bring back that cup'. That sounds like a threat to me. Now we did it, now we are here and all I can say is we want to go to the final as well."
Barcelona play Liverpool in the first leg on Wednesday, four days after celebrating winning the Spanish LaLiga on Saturday. With a Spanish King's Cup final this month against Valencia to come, it means a treble is in their sights.
Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic said: "Leo has been a LaLiga champion 10 times in 15 years and of course, after seeing him lift the cup (on Saturday) with such happiness, that motivates everyone.
"If Leo is happy to win every title, it makes us even more eager too. We know we're Barca, we have to give everything and following the best player in history gives us more confidence to do that."
Liverpool hope to have their own striker back in time for the first leg, after Roberto Firmino trained after recovering from a muscle strain.
"If he is 100 per cent ready to play he will maybe play," Klopp said. "He is here. Tomorrow we have another session."
Messi is likely to be flanked by two former Liverpool players, with Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho expected to start in an attacking three.
But while Suarez has flourished in Spain, Coutinho has struggled to find his feet since joining Barca for €120 million (S$183 million) in January last year.
"We miss Phil Coutinho a lot because he is a world-class player and I loved working with him," Klopp said. "When I first heard he wanted to go to Barcelona I couldn't imagine it would be good. But we had to deal without him and we did well."
Barcelona have not lost at home in the Champions League since 2013 while the last English opponents to beat them on their own turf was Liverpool in 2007.
"A draw would not be the worst result in the world, not that we would go for it but it would be okay," Klopp said.
"It would mean a lot to win. It's difficult, so many teams came here with an idea to do this or that and they got a big knock. But we saw the game against Real Sociedad and they did well. Levante did well a couple of days ago. But the better the opposition is, the higher the stakes are, and the more they are engaged.
"Now they are champions, they can completely focus on the Champions League."
Liverpool have lost only once in the Premier League this term and are still fighting with Manchester City to win the title.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino already boast 68 goals this season between them.
"We need to stop them running at our defence," Rakitic said. "We are going to try to score but we mustn't lose our heads."
"We know in these ties one good game is not enough, you need to play two great games," coach Ernesto Valverde said. "If you switch off for five minutes against Liverpool, they can finish you off."
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Football News -. Read more at straitstimes.com. City's title surely but brighton no pushovers. Published. If Manchester City win at Brighton today, their 14th consecutive Premier League
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Yes, City head into the game as overwhelming favourites with everyone to get the job done despite being away from home, but as Brighton are no pushovers and the likes of Manchester United, Wolves and Everton have felt the full force of Chris Haughton's side at the Amex stadium this season.
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Football: Liverpool, Spurs better than Man City at the moment, says Guardiola
Football: Liverpool, Spurs better than Man City at the moment, says Guardiola
LONDON • So much has changed for Manchester City in the space of a week.
Two rounds of matches and two defeats later, a one-point gap has turned into a sizeable seven-point lead for Liverpool (51 points) over the Premier League champions.
And should City continue their downward spiral at revitalised Southampton on Sunday, their title defence could be over by the time they welcome the buoyant Reds to the Etihad Stadium next Thursday.
While it is not in Pep Guardiola's psyche to panic, even with his side faltering as the title race picks up pace at the halfway mark, the manager would have recognised the need to sharpen up fast.
He acknowledged that uncertainty had crept into the minds of his players after the 2-1 loss at Leicester on Wednesday, their third defeat in four league games.
He told Sky Sports: "The fact is we lost three in four, and the last two, and if you want to be real contenders, we have to win again.
"As soon as possible, we have to try to win again for our mood, our confidence and our desire. You have to be confident to play and to come back."
The Spaniard admitted he had to "change the dynamic" in his team as Liverpool and Tottenham (45 points), who have leapfrogged City into second, were now "better than us at the moment".
He said: "You have to accept it, and it's important to accept where we are and they are improving.
"The reality is there are two or three teams better than us. We're not talking about whether we can get to (the level of) Liverpool, the issue is about winning another game, and thinking in ourselves about how we can improve."
While he still retains faith in "how exceptional the lads are in the locker room", he knows they face the greatest test of their character in the coming week.
"Good results make miracles in the mind. Now there will be doubts, and what you have to do is try to put in a good performance. But we are able to do that. I never doubt them. I don't forget who we are, how good we are," the City manager added.
However, he is also well aware his defence lacks a real shield in the absence of Fernandinho, who missed his second straight league game with knee trouble and remains a doubt this weekend.
City do not have a natural replacement for the Brazilian enforcer, which was why he was so desperate to land Jorginho, who eventually moved to Chelsea in the summer.
Without Fernandinho, their win percentage drops to 59.3 from 71.3.
Sky Sports pundit Steve Sidwell believes no other City player can perform the same role, although the former Fulham midfielder also felt the rest of the team were not pulling their weight.
He said: "Fernandinho does a lot of work there. But I think it's down to a lack of mentality that Pep Guardiola will not be happy about.
"Look at the results they've lost there, Crystal Palace and Leicester, and they'll be very disappointed with (the) Palace (loss) having been at home as well."
Another problem area for City is at left-back, where first-choice Benjamin Mendy is not expected to return from injury until at least February.
His replacement Fabian Delph was sent off at the King Power Stadium and he will miss the Saints and Reds games owing to a three-game ban. That leaves Oleksandr Zinchenko or Aymeric Laporte there and they are far from ideal options in that position.
However, Sidwell refused to rule City out of the title race despite their poor run, backing them to turn things around with "the quality they have got".
He added: "If there's one team, when you're top, who you don't want to be chasing you, then it's going to be this City team.
"The depth of squad they've got, they can go out and win games convincingly."
REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN, THE TIMES, LONDON
Pele will have an operation to remove a 'ureteral stone,' his doctors said Wednesday, a day after the football great returned to Brazil following treatment in a Paris hospital for an infection.
Pele to have urinary tract surgery in Brazil: hospital - msn.com
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LONDON • So much has changed for Manchester City in the space of a week.
Two rounds of matches and two defeats later, a one-point gap has turned into a sizeable seven-point lead for Liverpool (51 points) over the Premier League champions.
And should City continue their downward spiral at revitalised Southampton on Sunday, their title defence could be over by the time they welcome the buoyant Reds to the Etihad Stadium next Thursday.
While it is not in Pep Guardiola's psyche to panic, even with his side faltering as the title race picks up pace at the halfway mark, the manager would have recognised the need to sharpen up fast.
He acknowledged that uncertainty had crept into the minds of his players after the 2-1 loss at Leicester on Wednesday, their third defeat in four league games.
He told Sky Sports: "The fact is we lost three in four, and the last two, and if you want to be real contenders, we have to win again.
"As soon as possible, we have to try to win again for our mood, our confidence and our desire. You have to be confident to play and to come back."
CITY'S WIN RATE WITH FERNANDINHO - 71.3%
WITHOUT FERNANDINHOÂ - 59.3%
The Spaniard admitted he had to "change the dynamic" in his team as Liverpool and Tottenham (45 points), who have leapfrogged City into second, were now "better than us at the moment".
He said: "You have to accept it, and it's important to accept where we are and they are improving.
"The reality is there are two or three teams better than us. We're not talking about whether we can get to (the level of) Liverpool, the issue is about winning another game, and thinking in ourselves about how we can improve."
While he still retains faith in "how exceptional the lads are in the locker room", he knows they face the greatest test of their character in the coming week.
"Good results make miracles in the mind. Now there will be doubts, and what you have to do is try to put in a good performance. But we are able to do that. I never doubt them. I don't forget who we are, how good we are," the City manager added.
However, he is also well aware his defence lacks a real shield in the absence of Fernandinho, who missed his second straight league game with knee trouble and remains a doubt this weekend.
City do not have a natural replacement for the Brazilian enforcer, which was why he was so desperate to land Jorginho, who eventually moved to Chelsea in the summer.
Without Fernandinho, their win percentage drops to 59.3 from 71.3.
Sky Sports pundit Steve Sidwell believes no other City player can perform the same role, although the former Fulham midfielder also felt the rest of the team were not pulling their weight.
He said: "Fernandinho does a lot of work there. But I think it's down to a lack of mentality that Pep Guardiola will not be happy about.
"Look at the results they've lost there, Crystal Palace and Leicester, and they'll be very disappointed with (the) Palace (loss) having been at home as well."
Another problem area for City is at left-back, where first-choice Benjamin Mendy is not expected to return from injury until at least February.
His replacement Fabian Delph was sent off at the King Power Stadium and he will miss the Saints and Reds games owing to a three-game ban. That leaves Oleksandr Zinchenko or Aymeric Laporte there and they are far from ideal options in that position.
However, Sidwell refused to rule City out of the title race despite their poor run, backing them to turn things around with "the quality they have got".
He added: "If there's one team, when you're top, who you don't want to be chasing you, then it's going to be this City team.
"The depth of squad they've got, they can go out and win games convincingly."
REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN, THE TIMES, LONDON
Pele will have an operation to remove a 'ureteral stone,' his doctors said Wednesday, a day after the football great returned to Brazil following treatment in a Paris hospital for an infection.
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Football: 'Massive relief' for Klopp as Liverpool edge past Palace
Football: 'Massive relief' for Klopp as Liverpool edge past Palace
LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he felt "massive relief" after Mohamed Salah's double helped his side go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League following a thrilling 4-3 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday (Jan 19).
Salah is the league's top scorer with 16 after goals at Anfield that contained huge slices of luck, with Liverpool having to overcome a determined Palace team in a rollercoaster encounter.
Liverpool will happily accept goals of all types as they look to win the league title for the first time in 29 years and this result again heaped pressure on second-placed Manchester City, who face Huddersfield Town on Sunday.
"It's a massive relief. We knew for different reasons the game would be difficult," Klopp said afterwards.
"Crystal Palace traditionally do well against Liverpool and with the physicality it was clear it would be like the first half was.
"We had to stay positive, being one down is not a massive blow, we just needed to win the second half and did what we had to do."
Palace were the last team to beat Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League back in April 2017 and the south London club looked on course to repeat that feat when Andros Townsend gave the visitors a well-worked lead after 34 minutes.
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Liverpool came flying out of the blocks after the break though as Salah and Roberto Firmino helped the Reds hit back within eight minutes of the re-start.
Salah's opener for Liverpool came courtesy of a Virgil van Dijk shot that took a huge deflection off James McArthur and fell perfectly to him three yards out before Firmino curled into Julian Speroni's far corner.
'DIFFERENT WAYS TO WIN'
However the match was only just getting started. James Tomkins headed Palace level with 25 minutes remaining before Salah scored another freakish goal, bundling home from less than yard out after Speroni - the Premier League's oldest player - fumbled a soft James Milner cross and gifted the ball to the Egyptian.
Palace were helped when Milner was sent off for a second bookable offence following a sloppy tackle on Wilfried Zaha a minute before the end of normal time, but Sadio Mane scored four minutes later to give Liverpool a 4-2 lead that finished the Londoners despite Max Meyer sweeping past Becker in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
One of the defining characteristics of Liverpool under Klopp's side is the way they can win in contrasting fashions, be it Saturday's seven-goal thriller or last week's efficient 1-0 success at Brighton.
"There are different ways to win football games and today we had to dig in to do that," Klopp said.
"I'm really happy. The result is massive, we have 60 points now it's crazy, it's an important number."
Salah's double meant the Egypt forward had now scored 50 Premier League goals in just 72 appearances.
"It's an exceptional achievement from a world-class player," said Klopp.
"It's a classical win-win situation because he benefits from our style of play and the other boys benefit from him scoring goals."
'WICKED CRUELTY'
Palace boss Roy Hodgson, who managed Liverpool for a tumultuous period between July 2010 and January 2011 and is not fondly remembered on Merseyside, was left to reflect on his side's bad luck.
"I thought it was a really good performance," Hodgson said.
"To find yourself 2-1 down to a 45-yard shot that was deflected and then a deflected shot was unfortunate.
"To come back to 2-2 was commendable. The third goal, the cruelty of football shows itself at its most wicked."
As for Liverpool's title chances, the ex-England manager added: "Liverpool have the wherewithal and the margin of points at the top. That is a good place to be.
"I am pretty sure that Jurgen Klopp and his staff and players realise there is a long way to go."
Sport betting is a phenomenon that is quickly gripping Kenya. A university student, matatu tout, young professional, boda boda guy, retiree and watchman are all united in anxiety and joy or sorrow depending on the outcome of a sporting event for which they placed a bet on.
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LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he felt "massive relief" after Mohamed Salah's double helped his side go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League following a thrilling 4-3 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday (Jan 19).
Salah is the league's top scorer with 16 after goals at Anfield that contained huge slices of luck, with Liverpool having to overcome a determined Palace team in a rollercoaster encounter.
Liverpool will happily accept goals of all types as they look to win the league title for the first time in 29 years and this result again heaped pressure on second-placed Manchester City, who face Huddersfield Town on Sunday.
"It's a massive relief. We knew for different reasons the game would be difficult," Klopp said afterwards.
"Crystal Palace traditionally do well against Liverpool and with the physicality it was clear it would be like the first half was.
"We had to stay positive, being one down is not a massive blow, we just needed to win the second half and did what we had to do."
Palace were the last team to beat Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League back in April 2017 and the south London club looked on course to repeat that feat when Andros Townsend gave the visitors a well-worked lead after 34 minutes.
Â
Liverpool came flying out of the blocks after the break though as Salah and Roberto Firmino helped the Reds hit back within eight minutes of the re-start.
Salah's opener for Liverpool came courtesy of a Virgil van Dijk shot that took a huge deflection off James McArthur and fell perfectly to him three yards out before Firmino curled into Julian Speroni's far corner.
'DIFFERENT WAYS TO WIN'
However the match was only just getting started. James Tomkins headed Palace level with 25 minutes remaining before Salah scored another freakish goal, bundling home from less than yard out after Speroni - the Premier League's oldest player - fumbled a soft James Milner cross and gifted the ball to the Egyptian.
Palace were helped when Milner was sent off for a second bookable offence following a sloppy tackle on Wilfried Zaha a minute before the end of normal time, but Sadio Mane scored four minutes later to give Liverpool a 4-2 lead that finished the Londoners despite Max Meyer sweeping past Becker in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
One of the defining characteristics of Liverpool under Klopp's side is the way they can win in contrasting fashions, be it Saturday's seven-goal thriller or last week's efficient 1-0 success at Brighton.
"There are different ways to win football games and today we had to dig in to do that," Klopp said.
"I'm really happy. The result is massive, we have 60 points now it's crazy, it's an important number."
Salah's double meant the Egypt forward had now scored 50 Premier League goals in just 72 appearances.
"It's an exceptional achievement from a world-class player," said Klopp.
"It's a classical win-win situation because he benefits from our style of play and the other boys benefit from him scoring goals."
'WICKED CRUELTY'
Palace boss Roy Hodgson, who managed Liverpool for a tumultuous period between July 2010 and January 2011 and is not fondly remembered on Merseyside, was left to reflect on his side's bad luck.
"I thought it was a really good performance," Hodgson said.
"To find yourself 2-1 down to a 45-yard shot that was deflected and then a deflected shot was unfortunate.
"To come back to 2-2 was commendable. The third goal, the cruelty of football shows itself at its most wicked."
As for Liverpool's title chances, the ex-England manager added: "Liverpool have the wherewithal and the margin of points at the top. That is a good place to be.
"I am pretty sure that Jurgen Klopp and his staff and players realise there is a long way to go."
Sport betting is a phenomenon that is quickly gripping Kenya. A university student, matatu tout, young professional, boda boda guy, retiree and watchman are all united in anxiety and joy or sorrow depending on the outcome of a sporting event for which they placed a bet on.
Barcelona claimed their 13th Spanish Super Cup in style with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sevilla on Wednesday night in the second leg at the Camp Nou, giving the Catalonians a whopping 5-0
Real Madrid stroll to an easy win as they put pressure on
Liverpool will be without forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino when they face Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final as they look to overturn a 3-0 deficit, Manager
Liverpool's Salah, Firmino ruled out of Barcelona game
Pedro scores an away goal as Chelsea recover from an early setback to draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Frankfurt 1 - 1 Chelsea - Match Report & Highlights
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Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri 'offended' by insult from Burnley
Do I take the leap and work overseas? know a bit more what I should keep my eyes open for. coming in to work and take a job away from one of their citizens
#TakeTheLeap: Study Abroad Open House | Study Abroad Office
We Looked Like Schoolboys: Luis Suarez after Barcelona Crumble Again in Champions League UEFA Champions League: Barcelona blew up a 3-0 lead in the semi-final tie to lose 4-3 on aggregate and get knocked out.
VIDEO - Luis Suarez: Barcelona 'looked like schoolboys
Football: Home United engage youths in MacPherson through photography and sport. Dec 29, 2018, 8:52 pm. Home get cushion with away strike. Aug 2, 2018, 5:00 am.
Football: 'Invincibles' season in Singapore Premier League
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Football: Home United engage youths in MacPherson through photography and sport ; Football: Albirex Niigata earn point in 0-0 draw with Brunei DPMM, but continue goal-less run ; Leeds star says fans have to 'sing louder' as Sky Sports mute chants ; Football: Ambitious Hougang United show title promise, but face tough start in Tampines Rovers
Photographer captures heart of America | News - Marissa Elman
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Football: Albirex Niigata earn point in 0-0 draw with Brunei
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Football: Home United engage youths in MacPherson through photography and sport ; Leeds star says fans have to 'sing louder' as Sky Sports mute chants ; Football: Ambitious Hougang United show title promise, but face tough start in Tampines Rovers ; FA Cup LIVE scores - Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest and the rest
PDF Singapore Sports Hub Festival of Football Will Be the Largest
Lippi earns sympathy despite reign ending on gloomy note
Football. Home football Guardiola trusts Man City to resolve FFP allegations. When asked whether he was concerned his achievements at City would be tainted by the allegations, Guardiola
Guardiola trusts Man City to resolve FFP allegations
The new era will require a deep understanding of learning. No one in the organization is better poised than L&D to deliver. The race will soon be on. L&D can (and should) seize this opportunity to become central to organizational success. There is no room for complacency in L&D.
COMPLACENCY | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary
Manchester City could be handed a two-window transfer ban in the coming days. According to UK Sun report, world's football governing body, FIFA are ready to slam Man City with the same ban handed to Chelsea for flouting rules guiding the transfer of minors following series of investigations.
Man City set to be hit with transfer ban for two windows
Football: Arsenal beaten by BATE in Europa League as
Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad. Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - April 20, 2019 Barcelona's Clement
Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad | Free
Mourinho blames player power, wants top coaching job
Mourinho blames player power, wants top coaching job
LONDON • Jose Mourinho has bemoaned the power wielded by modern players and suggested that clubs ought to be structured to empower managers to deal with it.
Speaking to beIN Sports where he was appearing as an analyst, the former Manchester United manager said: "The phrase I kept with me was when Sir Alex (Ferguson) told me, 'The day a player is more important than the club, goodbye'.
"The manager is there to coach them. Not to keep discipline at any cost."
Mourinho joined United in May 2016 and was sacked last month after a 3-1 defeat by Premier League leaders Liverpool.
During his tenure, the club won the League Cup and the Europa League, but they made a slow start to this season as the manager fell out with a number of their star players, notably Paul Pogba.
Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge until the end of the season, the club have won six games in a row and are now six points off the top four in the Premier League.
Pogba has been instrumental in midfield in that run, while attackers such as Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have also been playing with a freedom not afforded to them by their former coach.
Mourinho, 55, is understood to have a non-disclosure agreement with the club, which prevents him from discussing the specific circumstances of his departure. But his words will be interpreted by many as a swipe at the United players with whom he clashed.
"In modern football, there is a problem between the coach and the player," he added.
"We are not in a time any more where the coach, by himself, is powerful enough to cope and to have a relationship of education and sometimes confrontation with players who are not the best professionals.
"A club must be very well organised to cope with these kind of situations, where the manager is only the manager and not the man who is trying to keep the discipline or educate the players.
"The structure must be there to protect the manager and for the players to feel that they are not going to arrive into a situation where they feel more powerful than they used to be."
The former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto manager ruled himself out of the running for the Benfica job last week but confirmed that he intended to continue managing at a "top level".
"I am too young (to retire). I am in football for a long, long time, but I will be 56 in a couple of weeks and am really too young," he said.
"I want to coach. I belong to top-level football and that is where I am going to be."
THE TIMES, LONDON
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 10, 2019, with the headline 'Sterling gets van Dijk's vote for PFA award'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Sterling gets Van Dijk's vote for PFA player of the year
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Cristiano Ronaldo appeared disgruntled after realising his teammate Bernardo Silva had beaten him to the Uefa Nations League Player of the Tournament award. Portugal beat the Netherlands in the
Nations League: More than just Cristiano Ronaldo! Portugal
Paul Pogba: Man United can turn it round in Barcelona two penalties to help Manchester United past West Ham on Saturday. the season to 16 with a pair of spot-kicks that saw him move away
Paul Pogba's penalty run-up 'would not have happened' under
LONDON: Jurgen Klopp has condemned 'disgusting' racist abuse aimed at Mohamed Salah and called for lifetime bans for the Chelsea fans accused of taunting the Liverpool star. A video circulated on social media ahead of Chelsea's Europa League match at Slavia Prague this week showed a group of six supporters chanting "Salah is a bomber
Liverpool coach Klopp condemns 'disgusting' Salah abuse ahead
There's still one round of matches remaining to be played in Spain's La Liga but already big changes are happening with the division's top teams. Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid
Real Madrid Barcelona Sold Direct on eBay | Fantastic Prices on Real Madrid Barcelona
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Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette is eligible to play in Thursday's Europa League last 16 second-leg clash against Rennes after his three-match ban was reduced to two games, UEFA said on Tuesday.
Football: Arsenal's Lacazette free to face Rennes as Uefa
Newcastle United's 2-0 win over 10-man Huddersfield Town on Saturday eased their Premier League safety fears and sent the Terriers hurtling ever faster towards relegation to the Championship.
EPL: Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop
Manchester City tear apart Liverpool's feeble defence to claim an emphatic victory over the 10-man visitors and move top of the Premier League. approach to the game, there must surely be an
Pep Guardiola wants perfect run-in as Manchester City close
Inter Milan, in third, got back to winning ways with Argentine Lautaro Martinez coming off the bench late and scoring the only goal after 79 minutes in a 1-0 victory at Parma. Radja Nainggolan set up the Argentine to give Luciano Spalletti's side their first goal and league win of 2019.
Napoli stumble at Fiorentina, Martinez gets Inter back winning
Jan 06, 2019 · The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well in this corner of south Wales. Newport County, 74 places below Leicester City on the league ladder, served up a giantkilling that will be talked about for
6 Things We Learned From a Pulsating Fourth Round in the FA
Ronaldo faces disciplinary hearing over goal celebration. Uefa said the Portuguese would face a hearing on Thursday for "improper conduct" during the last-16 second leg match, where Juventus
Champions League: Ronaldo faces disciplinary hearing over
EIBAR, Spain (AFP) - Atletico Madrid needed Thomas Lemar to come off the bench and score an 85th-minute winner against Eibar on Saturday (April 20) as they stretched their lead over Real Madrid to
Atletico extend lead over Real with narrow win over Eibar
LONDON • Jose Mourinho has bemoaned the power wielded by modern players and suggested that clubs ought to be structured to empower managers to deal with it.
Speaking to beIN Sports where he was appearing as an analyst, the former Manchester United manager said: "The phrase I kept with me was when Sir Alex (Ferguson) told me, 'The day a player is more important than the club, goodbye'.
"The manager is there to coach them. Not to keep discipline at any cost."
Mourinho joined United in May 2016 and was sacked last month after a 3-1 defeat by Premier League leaders Liverpool.
During his tenure, the club won the League Cup and the Europa League, but they made a slow start to this season as the manager fell out with a number of their star players, notably Paul Pogba.
Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge until the end of the season, the club have won six games in a row and are now six points off the top four in the Premier League.
Pogba has been instrumental in midfield in that run, while attackers such as Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have also been playing with a freedom not afforded to them by their former coach.
Mourinho, 55, is understood to have a non-disclosure agreement with the club, which prevents him from discussing the specific circumstances of his departure. But his words will be interpreted by many as a swipe at the United players with whom he clashed.
"In modern football, there is a problem between the coach and the player," he added.
"We are not in a time any more where the coach, by himself, is powerful enough to cope and to have a relationship of education and sometimes confrontation with players who are not the best professionals.
"A club must be very well organised to cope with these kind of situations, where the manager is only the manager and not the man who is trying to keep the discipline or educate the players.
"The structure must be there to protect the manager and for the players to feel that they are not going to arrive into a situation where they feel more powerful than they used to be."
The former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto manager ruled himself out of the running for the Benfica job last week but confirmed that he intended to continue managing at a "top level".
"I am too young (to retire). I am in football for a long, long time, but I will be 56 in a couple of weeks and am really too young," he said.
"I want to coach. I belong to top-level football and that is where I am going to be."
THE TIMES, LONDON
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 10, 2019, with the headline 'Sterling gets van Dijk's vote for PFA award'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Sterling gets Van Dijk's vote for PFA player of the year
Report Ad
Get A Free Quote Or Call & Learn About Our Reliable Movers Today!
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared disgruntled after realising his teammate Bernardo Silva had beaten him to the Uefa Nations League Player of the Tournament award. Portugal beat the Netherlands in the
Nations League: More than just Cristiano Ronaldo! Portugal
Paul Pogba: Man United can turn it round in Barcelona two penalties to help Manchester United past West Ham on Saturday. the season to 16 with a pair of spot-kicks that saw him move away
Paul Pogba's penalty run-up 'would not have happened' under
LONDON: Jurgen Klopp has condemned 'disgusting' racist abuse aimed at Mohamed Salah and called for lifetime bans for the Chelsea fans accused of taunting the Liverpool star. A video circulated on social media ahead of Chelsea's Europa League match at Slavia Prague this week showed a group of six supporters chanting "Salah is a bomber
Liverpool coach Klopp condemns 'disgusting' Salah abuse ahead
There's still one round of matches remaining to be played in Spain's La Liga but already big changes are happening with the division's top teams. Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid
Real Madrid Barcelona Sold Direct on eBay | Fantastic Prices on Real Madrid Barcelona
AD
Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette is eligible to play in Thursday's Europa League last 16 second-leg clash against Rennes after his three-match ban was reduced to two games, UEFA said on Tuesday.
Football: Arsenal's Lacazette free to face Rennes as Uefa
Newcastle United's 2-0 win over 10-man Huddersfield Town on Saturday eased their Premier League safety fears and sent the Terriers hurtling ever faster towards relegation to the Championship.
EPL: Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop
Manchester City tear apart Liverpool's feeble defence to claim an emphatic victory over the 10-man visitors and move top of the Premier League. approach to the game, there must surely be an
Pep Guardiola wants perfect run-in as Manchester City close
Inter Milan, in third, got back to winning ways with Argentine Lautaro Martinez coming off the bench late and scoring the only goal after 79 minutes in a 1-0 victory at Parma. Radja Nainggolan set up the Argentine to give Luciano Spalletti's side their first goal and league win of 2019.
Napoli stumble at Fiorentina, Martinez gets Inter back winning
Jan 06, 2019 · The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well in this corner of south Wales. Newport County, 74 places below Leicester City on the league ladder, served up a giantkilling that will be talked about for
6 Things We Learned From a Pulsating Fourth Round in the FA
Ronaldo faces disciplinary hearing over goal celebration. Uefa said the Portuguese would face a hearing on Thursday for "improper conduct" during the last-16 second leg match, where Juventus
Champions League: Ronaldo faces disciplinary hearing over
EIBAR, Spain (AFP) - Atletico Madrid needed Thomas Lemar to come off the bench and score an 85th-minute winner against Eibar on Saturday (April 20) as they stretched their lead over Real Madrid to
Atletico extend lead over Real with narrow win over Eibar
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