SPORTS

Sanchez would be ‘great’ for United, says Mourinho

Published

7 years ago

January 16, 2018

Jose Mourinho said Monday it would be “great” if Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez became a Manchester United player as Manchester City’s interest in the Chilean reportedly came to an end.Sanchez, 29, looks to have played his last game for Arsenal, with manager Arsene Wenger saying on Sunday that his move could be confirmed “in the next 48 hours”.

A layer of uncertainty as to whether he would opt for the blue or red half of Manchester appeared to end on Monday when, with United en route to a 3-0 home win over Stoke, City let it be known they were no longer interested in signing the forward, although there were reports that Chelsea might enter the bidding.

Mourinho, speaking after second-placed United had reduced Premier League table-toppers City’s lead to 12 points, was wary when it was suggested to him that Sanchez was on his way to Old Trafford.

“No news on Alexis Sanchez, he is an Arsenal player,” he told the BBC. “If he stays it’s great for Arsenal, if he comes to us, great for us, if he goes to another club, great for them.”

The United manager, in a subsequent interview with Sky Sports, was coy when asked if United were now in pole position to sign Sanchez.

“I’ve no idea. Today I was completely separate from all of that — I was just focused on my match and not worried about anything else.

“I’m not going to speak about hypothetical situations. Probably there are other clubs also interested and trying and I shouldn’t talk about a player who is an Arsenal player.”

Pep Guardiola’s City, whose move for the player collapsed at the end of the summer transfer window, are understood to be reluctant to pay a reported fee in the region of £35 million ($48 million, 39 million euros) for a player who is out of contract at the end of the season.

If the transfer goes ahead it would be the third blockbuster move of the January window involving Premier League clubs following Philippe Coutinho’s big-money move from Liverpool to Barcelona and Virgil van Dijk’s arrival at Anfield from Southampton.

– Makeweight Mkhitaryan? –
And there was speculation on Monday that Mourinho was prepared to let United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan move south to Arsenal in order to help get the deal done.

It certainly looked as if the Armenian was on his way out of Old Trafford after he failed to even make the bench against Stoke.

“He is our player so I can speak about him,” said Mourinho. “He has a lot to offer us.

“Is he going to be involved in leaving us? It is possible,” the Portuguese added. “The market is open.”

City boast a dazzling array of attacking talent with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero vying for places.

Sanchez would certainly feature for City, who lost their unbeaten Premier League record at Anfield on Sunday, as they chase silverware on four fronts but he would probably struggle to pin down a permanent starting berth at the Etihad.

United also have an impressive selection of forwards but Sanchez could expect more playing time alongside Romelu Lukaku at Old Trafford, with doubts growing over the future of Zlatan Ibrahimovic following his recent return from a long-term injury.

Sanchez joined Arsenal from Barcelona in 2014 and in a stellar 2016/17 campaign scored 30 goals and made 17 assists, though his form has since dipped.

His loss would be a major blow for Arsenal, who saw Robin van Persie swap the Emirates for Old Trafford in 2012, with several former Gunners, including Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Kolo Toure, joining City in recent years.

Wenger left Sanchez out of his squad to face Bournemouth on Sunday, where they slipped to a damaging 2-1 defeat, leaving them eight points off the top four.

Related Topics:Alexis Sanchez Jose Mourinho Manchester United

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SPORTS

Mbappe Takes Reins For Real Madrid In Liverpool Clash

Published

10 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Reporter

Mbappe Takes Reins for Real Madrid in Liverpool Clash | fab.ng

With Vinicius Junior injured, Kylian Mbappe will lead Real Madrid’s attack against Liverpool. The French captain, who recently scored his first goal in five matches against Leganes, will play his preferred left-wing position.

Real Madrid, currently struggling in the Champions League, will rely on Mbappe to provide the attacking spark, especially with Vinicius out for over three weeks.

Liverpool currently leads their group, while Real Madrid sits in 18th place after disappointing results against Lille and AC Milan.

Although Mbappe has scored seven goals in La Liga, his performances haven’t met the expectations of a player of his calibre. Despite this, he believes he is gradually settling into his role at Real Madrid.

“I think I put in a good performance, I’m starting to get up to speed with my team-mates,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV after their victory over Leganes, which moved Real Madrid into second place in La Liga.

“I can play in every position and I’m ready to help the team and give my all…

“I play on the right, on the left, in the middle and with two up top. It doesn’t matter to me. I want to help the team and score goals.”

📋✅ Our squad for the match!
🆚 @LFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/7icPnnJYEF

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) November 25, 2024

Tactical Adjustment

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti had initially resisted moving Kylian Mbappé to the left wing. He preferred to keep Vinícius Jr. in that position since it suited his playing style better. Vinícius thrives on the flank and is less effective when deployed through the middle.

However, after Mbappé struggled to score—managing just one goal in seven matches as a central striker—Ancelotti decided to make a tactical change ahead of the Leganés game.

He swapped their positions, allowing Mbappé to operate from the left while Vinícius played centrally. Despite the switch’s impact, Ancelotti explained that the decision stemmed from fitness concerns rather than strategic preference.

“Playing on the outside is more tiring than through the middle, Vinicius returned from international duty on Thursday and Mbappe was fresher than Vinicius,” said Ancelotti.

“He scored a goal with a fantastic assist from Vini Junior – they’re both improving bit by bit.”

Strategic Challenges Ahead for Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti faces crucial tactical decisions for Real Madrid’s upcoming trip to Merseyside against the Premier League leaders. With injuries depleting his squad, he must rethink his formation to maximise impact.

One option involves deploying Kylian Mbappé as part of a two-man strike force, potentially alongside Jude Bellingham. Although Bellingham played deeper this season, he was Madrid’s key attacking force last year.

🏃💨 #LeganésRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/xXSZgQuYxp

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) November 24, 2024

He filled the void left by Karim Benzema’s departure. Ancelotti shifted Bellingham back to midfield after Mbappé’s arrival to create balance.

However, injuries to key players like Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo, and Lucas Vázquez, coupled with long-term absences of Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, and Éder Militão, have left Madrid thin on options.

Mbappé is already under pressure. This is due to off-field issues, including a rape investigation in Sweden (which he called “fake news”) and a financial dispute with former club PSG.

He has faced scrutiny over his form. Ancelotti defended him, criticising media speculation about the striker’s mental health as “ugly” and expressing confidence in Mbappé’s resurgence.

Mbappé’s recent goal against Leganés eased some pressure, but Madrid urgently needs him to replicate that performance against Liverpool to stay competitive.

Check out more sports news here.

SPORTS

Leicester Players Seen Partying In Denmark Just Hours After Chelsea Defeat

Published

2 days ago

November 25, 2024

Reporter

Leicester players seen partying hours after Chelsea defeat | fab.ng

People spotted Leicester City players partying in Copenhagen. This happened just hours after Chelsea defeated them. The night out came only a day before the club announced the sacking of their manager, Steve Cooper, aged 44.

On Saturday, the Foxes suffered a Premier League defeat against their former boss Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side. Despite the disappointing result, many players seemed unaffected and boarded a flight to Copenhagen shortly after the match.

According to reports from the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet, the group included Jannik Vestergaard, Victor Kristiansen, Harry Winks, and Conor Coady.

We have parted company with Steve Cooper, who leaves his position as First Team Manager with immediate effect.

— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 24, 2024

They were seen enjoying themselves in a lively late-night session in the Danish capital. Fan-recorded footage even showed one player humorously holding up a sign. The sign read, “Enzo I miss U,” seemingly a nod to their former coach.

The timing of the celebration raised eyebrows, especially given Leicester’s ongoing struggles. The team currently sits in 16th place in the Premier League, facing mounting pressure.

Their defeat against Chelsea only intensified scrutiny, and the players’ partying session added fuel to the fire of discontent among fans.

The club officially dismissed Steve Cooper on Sunday, just a day after the Copenhagen outing. The decision came as the Foxes continued to falter in the league, struggling to escape the lower half of the table.

The management cited poor results and lack of progress as key factors behind the move.

Fans and pundits have questioned the players’ commitment and focus, given the timing of their late-night escapades.

With Leicester facing a challenging season, the responsibility now falls on the team to regroup and prove their dedication on the field.

The next few weeks will be crucial as they search for a new manager and attempt to climb out of relegation danger.

Check out more sports updates here.

SPORTS

Benin & Sudan Qualify For AFCON As Ghana, Nigeria & Tunisia Exit

Published

1 week ago

November 19, 2024

Reporter

Benin and Sudan Secure AFCON Finals Qualification Amid Upsets

Benin and Sudan clinched spots in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals after securing 0-0 draws on the penultimate day of preliminaries.

However, the day also witnessed surprising home defeats for powerhouses Ghana, Nigeria, and Tunisia, adding unexpected twists to the qualifiers for the tournament in Morocco.

Benin Survives Group D Battle

Benin entered a three-way fight with Libya and Rwanda for the second spot in Group D, as Nigeria had already qualified. Playing in Tripoli, Benin held Libya to a goalless draw, which proved enough to edge past Rwanda on a superior head-to-head record.

Rwanda shocked the football world by defeating Nigeria 2-1 in Uyo. After trailing early, Rwanda struck back with late goals from Jimmy Mutsinzi and Innocent Nsuthi, who plays semi-professionally in the United States.

The defeat exposed Nigeria’s vulnerability under caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen, their third coach in 2024. Following a 1-1 draw with Benin last week, Nigeria’s performance intensified the urgency to appoint a foreign coach ahead of the AFCON.

Only 3️⃣ spots left. 👀#AFCONQ2025 pic.twitter.com/mbVgKVH942

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) November 18, 2024

Sudan Secures Second Spot in Group F

Sudan needed a point from their final two matches to qualify behind Angola in Group F. After suffering a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Niger, Sudan redeemed themselves with a hard-fought draw against Angola in Benghazi.

The result confirmed their AFCON berth, but Niger kept the pressure on with a stunning 2-1 victory over Ghana in Accra.

Niger’s upset relegated Ghana to the bottom of the group, ending their streak of 10 consecutive AFCON appearances.

⏰ Full-Time in Accra.

🇬🇭 Ghana 1️⃣-2️⃣ Niger 🇳🇪

⚽️ Jerry Afriyie 67’ | Ousseni Badamassi 22’, Oumar Sako 90+2’ #BlackStars pic.twitter.com/tUCOhlmN25

— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) November 18, 2024

Despite debutant Jeremia Afriyie scoring an equaliser, Ghana conceded a late header by Oumar Sako in stoppage time. Mohammed Kudus added to the home side’s misery by missing a penalty in a forgettable campaign for the Black Stars.

Tunisia Loses Top Spot in Group A

Although Tunisia had already qualified, they suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Gambia in Tunis. Abdoulie Ceesay’s 17th-minute goal toppled Tunisia from the top of Group A.

Earlier, Tunisia also suffered a defeat at home to the Comoros Islands, who clinched first place after defeating Madagascar 1-0. These results highlighted the growing competitiveness of African football.

Morocco Completes Perfect Campaign

AFCON hosts Morocco demonstrated dominance in Group B by finishing with a flawless record. Brahim Diaz led the charge with a hat-trick in a 7-0 rout of Lesotho. Morocco scored 26 goals in six matches while conceding only two, showcasing their readiness for the tournament.

Final Qualifiers to be Decided

Thirteen matches remain in the qualifiers, but only four hold significance for the final three spots in the 24-team tournament.

With several unexpected results already shaping the competition, the final day promises more drama as the remaining teams battle for their place in Morocco.

The unexpected upsets and competitive performances underscore the evolving landscape of African football, setting the stage for an exciting 2025 AFCON.

Check out more sports updates here.