(GSM) Lionel Messi is full of praise for the coaches he experienced so far in his early but impressive career. The Barcelona striker refuses to say that the Catalans have improved their play since Josep Guardiola succeeded Frank Rijkaard. I don t like these kind of comparisons.
Rijkaard is a great coach, just like Guardiola, the Argentina international told L Equipe. I ll never forget the fact that he (Rijkaard) launched my career, that he had confidence in me while I was only sixteen or seventeen. Still, Messi sees a difference between the two tacticians, but in another aspect. Guardiola is more strict while Rijkaard gave us more freedom, but unfortunately we couldn t handle it.
Last Sunday, Messi received the Ballon d Or, the European footballer of the year award. …
Market: Sydney FC win
Odds: 8/11 @
Looking to sign off their A-League campaign with a flurry on home soil, Sydney will welcome Newcastle to the Allianz Stadium on Saturday morning.
Starting with the hosts, while Sydney might have found themselves enduring an A-League blip prior to March’s international break, Steve Corica’s side have come roaring back in some style. Last seen putting in another professional display as they claimed a 2-0 victory away at Brisbane, the Sky Blues have secured back-to-back top-flight wins for the first time since the start of February. Unbeaten in each of their last four A-League appearances and storming their way to a stellar 4-1 romp against Perth on April 15th, the former champions have found a real clinical edge in the final …
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois does not know whether his stay with the club will be extended beyond this season.
Belgium international Courtois is on loan at Estadio Vicente Calderon from Premier League side Chelsea.
The 21-year-old has spent the previous two seasons with Atletico following his move from to Chelsea from Genk in 2011.
Courtois has great affection for Atletico, but admitted he is unaware as to where his future lies.
We must wait, time will tell, he told Sportium.
This year I wanted to stay because I wasn t sure if I would play at Chelsea.
Besides, I was excited to play in the Champions League with Atletico and wanted to be a starter with a view towards the World Cup.
But now everything depends on Chelsea. I had a conv…
Neymar believes his Barcelona team can this season become the first club to defend the Champions League.
The Brazil international scored the third goal of Barca s 3-1 win over Juventus in last season s final as Luis Enrique s men completed a treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League.
No team has been able defend the continental title since the introduction of group stages and change of name from the European Cup to the Champions League in 1992.
Barca will again be among the front-runners this term to claim the biggest prize available despite a mixed start to their campaign across all competitions.
Neymar told the club s official website: We have quality, we have a great team, quality players and we can win another Champions League in a row (sic…
David Alaba has appeared set to swap Bayern Munich for Real Madrid.
Alaba is keen for a new challenge following a successful partnership with Bundesliga and Champions League holders Bayern.
But three of Europe s elite are still reportedly eyeing Alaba.
TOP STORY – TRIO NOT GIVING UP ON ALABA
Liverpool, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are still trying to sign wantaway Bayern Munich star David Alaba, according to Fabrizio Romano s Benchwarmers column.
Alaba will leave Bundesliga champions Bayern on a free transfer at the end of the season and he has been tipped to join LaLiga holders Real Madrid.
However, Liverpool, Chelsea and PSG are still pursuing the Austria international.
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Ange Postecoglou criticised Celtic s work ethic as the Scottish Premiership champions suffered a first league defeat in 364 days at St Mirren on Sunday.
Mark O Hara headed the Paisley side ahead in the first half, before Jonah Ayunga added a second after the break to inflict a first defeat on Celtic since September 19 last year.
The loss was just Celtic s second in their past 27 visits to St Mirren, and Postecoglou accepted his side were well off their usual standards.
We just weren t aggressive both in action and in thought, he said. We kind of tried to ease our way into a game of football and you just can t do that. You ve got to be at it from the start and we weren t.
You don t put it down to one of those days; it s a disappointing day. We …
Wigan have confirmed the signing of versatile 27-year-old James Perch from Newcastle.
Perch, who can operate in both defence and midfield, has signed a four-year deal after Wigan and Newcastle agreed an undisclosed fee.
He moved to St James Park from Nottingham Forest in 2010 and overcame a tough start to life at Newcastle to make 80 appearances in all competitions, scoring just once.
Perch told Wigan s official club website: It feels great to be here with a new challenge ahead of me, and I’m very excited at getting that started.
The prospect of helping to get the team promoted was really appealing and I can’t wait to meet the rest of the boys and get started.
I think Wigan Athletic is a great club and after speaking with the manager, his ambition and …
Perth Glory have confirmed that Kenny Lowe will become the club s interim coach, replacing the sacked Alistair Edwards.
Lowe – previously Perth s assistant coach from 2007 to 2011 took his first training session on Friday ahead of his first match in charge against Adelaide United on Sunday.
Perth chief executive Jason Brewer believes the appointment is the right fit because Lowe s coaching philosophy is consistent with the club s player development strategy.
Kenny Lowe is very well respected by his peers for his coaching abilities, Brewer said.
He has helped nurture some of this country s brightest prospects including many members of our current squad.
He has a very impressive pedigree in youth development in particular and that is something our club is s…
Sky Sports understand that Everton are set to offer Jordan Pickford an improved contract.
The England international is currently on an extended break following his involvement in this summer’s World Cup finals.
His performances at the tournament have seen him attract interest from Chelsea, who have installed him as their top target with Thibaut Courtois continuously linked with a move to Real Madrid.
However, a move away from Merseyside would be unlikely with Everton set to reward the twenty-four-year-old for his rise to prominence.
Pickford only moved to Goodison Park from Sunderland twelve months ago, following the North East outfit’s relegation to the Championship.
The shot-stopper was ever present for the Toffees in the 2017/18 Pre…
Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere refuted the suggestion that Mario Balotelli only stayed at the club because he failed to secure a move to Marseille, saying: He has shown us his desire to stay.
Balotelli was expected to leave Nice following the club s failure to qualify for European football last season, which Rivere explained prompted a reduction in the Italy striker s salary.
Rivere revealed that the 28-year-old received a very, very large financial offer from a club in the Chinese Super League and entered discussions with a number of French clubs, including Marseille, but opted to remain at Allianz Riviera for a third season.
The Nice chief insisted claims that Balotelli remained at the club by default are totally wrong , telling their official website: He …