Новости за 08.05.2018

West Brom have been relegated from the Premier League following Southampton's 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Swansea City. Albion had long seemed condemned to the drop but a remarkable upturn in form under interim boss Darren Moore left hopes of an incredible escape flickering. Moore was named Premier League Manager of the Month on Tuesday thanks to two draws and three wins on the back of Alan Pardew's sacking at the start of April. But the damage done by a dismal campaign prior to last month... Читать дальше...

Swansea City's relegation fears deepened after Manolo Gabbiadini's second-half goal helped Southampton to a nerve-shredding 1-0 win at the Liberty Stadium. The win moves Mark Hughes' side into 16th place in the Premier League – ahead of Huddersfield Town on goal difference – and they know they will be safe if they avoid defeat against Manchester City on the final day of the season this Sunday. It is looking increasingly bleak for the 18th-placed Swans, who need to beat Stoke City at the weekend... Читать дальше...

Gianluigi Buffon has warned his Juventus team-mates that final defeat to AC Milan is tough to swallow ahead of Wednesday's Coppa Italia showpiece. Buffon's fantastically decorated career is without a Champions League winners' medal, with losses to Barcelona and Real Madrid in two of the past three finals bitter pills for the goalkeeping great to swallow. But arguably his most acute instance of heartache came at Old Trafford in 2003, when Milan triumphed on penalties after a drab final ended goalless. Читать дальше...

Zob Ahan recovered from a 90th-minute red card to score in stoppage time and secure a 1-0 first-leg advantage in their AFC Champions League last-16 tie against Esteghlal. The home side appeared to have settled for a scoreless draw when Mohammad Nejadmahdi was dismissed for a second bookable offence late in normal time. But they almost immediately won a spot-kick courtesy of Rouzbeh Cheshmi's handball and Giorgi Gvelesiani held his nerve to secure a handy lead heading into next week's return leg. Читать дальше...

Mark Hughes has described the Swansea Marriott as one of the "poorest hotels we stay in" after Southampton's preparations for Tuesday's crunch clash against Swansea City were disrupted. The Saints were meant to the staying at the Marriott, but were forced to change hotels at short notice and had to spend the night before the game in Cardiff – almost 40 miles away. Southampton were reportedly told that they could not stay at the hotel due to a virus but, as of Monday night, rooms were still listed as available for bookings to the public. Читать дальше...

AC Milan's desperation to recapture their former glory makes the Coppa Italia final as important as a World Cup, according to Gennaro Gattuso. The seven-time European champions have won just one trophy since 2011, the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus in Doha in 2016. But they can make it a second against the same opposition at Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday, when they will attempt to deny the Bianconeri from adding to a near-certain Serie A title. Gattuso, who replaced Vincenzo Montella in November... Читать дальше...

Yaya Toure is "desperate" to stay in the Premier League next season, according to the Manchester City midfielder's agent. The 34-year-old, who has made just 16 appearances for the Premier League champions in all competitions this season, is out of contract at the end of the campaign.  His agent, Dimitri Seluk, has revealed the Ivorian has his heart set on a stay in England and will even agree to pay back half his wages if his new club are not satisfied with his performances. He told Sky Sports News... Читать дальше...

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has appeared to rule out the possibility of Ousmane Dembele leaving on loan. Dembele is yet to justify the reported €105million fee paid to prise him away from Borussia Dortmund, managing just eight LaLiga starts since returning from a hamstring injury in January. The 20-year-old's stuttering start to life in Spain has fuelled speculation linking him with a switch to Champions League finalists Liverpool. Asked whether Barca would consider loaning him out, Valverde... Читать дальше...

West Brom's interim boss Darren Moore has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for April. Since replacing the sacked Alan Pardew at the beginning of last month, Moore has overseen two draws and three victories in five matches at the helm. The streak includes wins away to Manchester United and at home against Tottenham, either side of a late comeback to snatch a 2-2 draw with Liverpool. It means the seemingly doomed West Midlands club still have faint hopes of avoiding relegation, although... Читать дальше...

The Russian Football Union has been fined 30,000 Swiss francs (€25,000/$30,000) by FIFA following discriminatory chants during March's international friendly between Russia and France in St Petersburg, world football's governing body has confirmed. During France's 3-1 win over the 2018 World Cup hosts, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele were seemingly targeted by monkey noises from a section of the home support. Following an investigation by its Disciplinary Committee... Читать дальше...

When a tenacious team outside the top flight plays stylish football all season and finishes the campaign head and shoulders above the rest, it’s difficult to claim their promotion was undeserved.Football isn’t always fair, though…8. Leicester, 1994Leicester fans must have felt a sickly sense of déjà vu during their 1994 First Division play-off final against Derby when Tommy Johnson fired the Rams in front. The Foxes had fallen at this same hurdle two seasons running, losing to Blackburn in ’92 and Swindon the following year. Читать дальше...

Johnson and Morley, who quickly shot to prominence in the BBC's documentary series about Salford's rise under Gary Neville Co., have overseen three promotions during their four seasons in charge of the club -including a dramaticrun to the FA Cup second round in 2015/16.After failing to get promotion via the play-offslast season, Salford securedthe National League North title this campaignwith a game to spare.However, despite the on-field success, Johnson and Morley have walked away due to"irreconcilable... Читать дальше...

GK: Joe Hart (Manchester City to West Ham)After a difficult time in Italy with Torino in 2016/17, Hart was hoping to resurrect his career with the Hammers, on loan from Manchester City once more.But just four months later (and 33 goals conceded in 14 games), the goalkeeper had been dropped in favour of Adrian – and now the former England No.1 isn’t even guaranteed a place in the summer’s World Cup squad.Hart, whose City colleagues romped to the title without him, only turned 31 in April.RB: Pablo... Читать дальше...

Liverpool and England defender Joe Gomez is "gutted" after he was forced to have ankle surgery that not only ends his season at club level, but also rules him out of the World Cup. The 20-year-old has featured 23 times in the Premier League this term, becoming a dependable option for manager Jurgen Klopp. Gomez has featured prominently at centre-back and right-back, with his performances earning him recognition with Gareth Southgate's senior England squad. But it was during an England friendly... Читать дальше...

Pep Guardiola lauded Yaya Toure's decisive contribution to Manchester City's era of success ahead of the Ivorian's final home match. The outgoing midfielder's decorated eight-season stint is due to be celebrated in Wednesday's clash with Brighton and Hove Albion after City confirmed his contract would not be renewed. Toure has proved an inspired signing since arriving from Barcelona, winning the Premier League three times, the EFL Cup twice and the FA Cup once. Guardiola, who sanctioned his 2010 move while in charge of Barca... Читать дальше...

Antonio Conte is convinced Tiemoue Bakayoko has a future at Chelsea despite a difficult first season in the Premier League. The French midfielder rose to prominence last season with Monaco, making himself a key part of Leonardo Jardim's side as they won Ligue 1 and reached the Champions League semi-finals. Chelsea saw enough in his performances to consider him worth the reported £40million asking price, as Nemanja Matic was surprisingly allowed to join Manchester United. Bakayoko has struggled... Читать дальше...

Paco Lopez will continue as Levante head coach next season after overseeing a remarkable run of form to keep the club in LaLiga. Lopez had been in charge of the reserve side, until he replaced Juan Muniz on March 4, with the team battling against the drop. However, in just nine matches, Lopez and Levante have collected 22 points - losing just once - to more than double their season's tally and secure safety. And following a run that included a notable victory against Sevilla, Levante have confirmed... Читать дальше...

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has been ruled out of the Champions League final and the World Cup after undergoing ankle surgery. The 20-year-old aggravated an existing injury in the recent 0-0 draw with Stoke City, and the problem will force him to miss the showpiece clash with Real Madrid in Kiev on May 26. He originally sustained the issue in England's friendly win over Netherlands in March, having started on the right side of a three-man defence. Gareth Southgate looked to have earmarked the... Читать дальше...

Kylian Mbappe has the talent to be the next Lionel Messi, as long as he follows the Barcelona man's example of respectful humility, according to Samuel Eto'o. France international Mbappe, still just 19, has quickly established himself as a world star, scoring 26 goals last season for Monaco and another 21 this term for Paris Saint-Germain. But he still has some way to go before matching Messi and, while Eto'o believes he has the potential, the Barca forward's former team-mate hopes Mbappe develops off as well as on the pitch. Читать дальше...

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane wants to swiftly move on from the latest Clasico controversy and get back to talking about football. European champions Madrid were unable to end rivals Barcelona's unbeaten LaLiga run on Sunday despite playing over 45 minutes against 10 men in a typically feisty encounter at Camp Nou. And while many media outlets continue to focus on what was allegedly said by certain players before and after Sergi Roberto's red card, Zidane has little interest in prolonging the conversation. Читать дальше...

Bolton survived Championship relegation by the skin of their teeth after late goals from David Wheater and Aaron Wilbraham completed a dramatic 3-2 turnaround against Nottingham Forest.Bolton's achievement meant they broke the 46-game second-tier record for staying up with the fewest points (43).Little was also part of the Peterborough squad that got relegated from the Championship with a record-high 54 points– so it's hard to blame the 29-year-oldfor enjoying the celebrations a little bit more than... Читать дальше...

Pogba's side Genclerbirligi, who are in the relegation zone, were 1-0 down againstAntalyaspor with fiveminutes of their Turkish Super Lig clash toplay whenthe 27-year-old picked up an injury as he tried to clear the ball.Genclerbirligi had used all three of their substitutes, but that didn't stop Pogba from walking off the pitch– meaning hissidewould have to finish the game with 10 men.The defender'sdecision incensed team-mate Ahmet Oguz, who confronted Pogba on the touchline. That quickly evolved... Читать дальше...

Bayer Leverkusen have announced the signing of Mitchell Weiser from Hertha Berlin on a five-year contract. The former Germany Under-21 right-back has excelled at Hertha since joining on a free from Bayern Munich in 2015 and will now link up with Leverkusen as they prepare to return to European competition. The club are all but guaranteed a Europa League place, yet could still qualify for the Champions League, with sporting director Rudi Voller noting the need for transfer activity to boost the squad. Читать дальше...

For all the special football Manchester City have played this season, when most people think of Pep’s most breathtaking managerial achievement (so far), they will cast their minds back a decade.In May 2008, Guardiola was named as Barcelona boss for the 2008/09 season – and that went reasonably well, as his side won the Treble. However, it wasn’t just the trophies that Barça racked up during his astonishing four-year spell.It was the style of play; revolutionary high-speed, high-pressure tiki-taka with a ruthless cutting edge. Читать дальше...

Retiring midfielder Thiago Motta hopes to one day coach Paris Saint-Germain's first team as he looks to a future in the dugout. The former Barcelona and Inter star will play at the Parc des Princes for the last time on Saturday when PSG host Rennes, before the 35-year-old steps into a role with the club's youth team. But Motta has loftier ambitions as a head coach and is already planning a route to the top at the Ligue 1 champions. "I think it's easier [to start in the youth system], because I'm new as a coach," he told L'Equipe. Читать дальше...