Новости за 13.10.2018

Paolo Maldini says Gennaro Gattuso is a far more balanced character than his intense touchline demeanour suggests and remains the right man for AC Milan. Gattuso, a famously fiery figure during his playing days, is nearing the one-year anniversary of his appointment as Vincenzo Montella's successor at San Siro. The ex-Italy midfielder has yet to completely convince in that time and has seen his position become a source of speculation, with Antonio Conte consistently linked to the role. But Maldini... Читать дальше...

Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars insists Matthijs de Ligt will not leave in January, yet he offered no assurances over the teenage defender's future beyond this season. Netherlands international De Ligt, 19, has been linked with Barcelona, Roma and Manchester City ahead of transfer windows across the continent reopening again in the new year. De Ligt signed a four-year contract extension in 2017 and Overmars has confirmed he will not be leaving in January. "The percentage that De Ligt leaves... Читать дальше...

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has revealed that the Premier League champions offered to triple Lionel Messi's wages in an unsuccessful attempt to bring the Barcelona superstar to England in 2016. Big-spending City were linked with moves for the likes of Kaka and Messi for many years, before assembling a record-breaking Premier League outfit under Pep Guardiola. But Al Mubarak confirmed that there was truth to reports City were hoping to recruit five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi... Читать дальше...

Roberto Mancini does not fear Nations League relegation with his Italy rebuild geared solely toward next year's Euro 2020 qualifiers. Ex-Manchester City manager Mancini has won just one of six matches since taking charge earlier this year and none of the past five. A solitary point from last month's meetings with Poland and Portugal has left the Azzurri bottom of their Nations League group and at risk of slipping into League B. Mancini is reluctant to place emphasis on present results, insisting... Читать дальше...

Roberto Carlos has called for patience with Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid but believes the teenager will develop into a "superstar". Vinicius joined Madrid from Flamengo in a reported €45million deal in July, with Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from the Santiago Bernabeu leading some to suggest the Brazilian would become an instant fixture in the first team. The 18-year-old has played only twice in LaLiga, though, appearing briefly from the bench on each occasion during what has been a difficult start to the season under Julen Lopetegui. Читать дальше...

Gonzalo Higuain is a "true champion" who has elevated the play of everyone around him at AC Milan, former defender Paolo Maldini has said. Argentina striker Higuain moved to Milan from Juventus on an initial season-long loan deal prior to this campaign beginning and having not netted in his first two games against Napoli and Roma, the 30-year-old has since scored six times in five games, including a brace against Chievo before the international break. Milan fans will be hoping he extends his purple... Читать дальше...

Central Coast Mariners chief executive Shaun Mielekamp has stressed it is "too early to tell" if Usain Bolt's two-goal showing in a friendly on Friday has persuaded the A-League club to offer him a full-time deal. Eight-time Olympic champion Bolt, who retired from the track in 2017, is currently on trial with the Mariners as he bids to fulfil his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He made his first start against Macarthur South West United and, despite missing several routine chances... Читать дальше...

Thierry Henry's appointment at Monaco comes with expectations heightened by more than just his stellar achievements on the pitch. The 41-year-old Arsenal great has returned to the club that gave him his start in professional football and is seeking to join an illustrious group of fellow 1998 World Cup winners to have successfully transitioned into coaching. Four members of that France squad have already combined for six top-division titles, three Champions League triumphs and a World Cup in their post-playing careers. Читать дальше...

Defender Marc Bartra believes Spain head coach Luis Enrique has instilled a sense of calm in the national side. Spain's 2018 World Cup campaign was thrown into disarray when coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked two days before their opening game for signing a contract to take over at Real Madrid. Fernando Hierro was installed at short notice, but was only able to steer the 2010 world champions to the last 16, where they were dumped out by hosts Russia. Enrique was appointed coach in July and boasts... Читать дальше...

Germany's squad has undergone further renovation with Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah called up ahead of the Nations League fixture against France. Tah, 22, will link up with Joachim Low's squad in Amsterdam, but is not expected to be involved in Saturday's meeting with Netherlands. Germany have already shuffled their pack several times following the withdrawals of Antonio Rudiger, Leon Goretzka, Kevin Trapp and Kai Havertz. Tah helped his country qualify for the European Under-21 Championship... Читать дальше...

Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from LaLiga has done little to harm Spanish football, according to the league's president Javier Tebas. The Portuguese superstar left Real Madrid in July to join Italian champions Juventus, ending a nine-year association with Los Blancos. Tebas admits that he would have been concerned had the switch taken place four years ago, but believes LaLiga is in a more robust position now and is able to handle the departure of one of its leading players. "We have worked to make LaLiga's brand above any one player or club... Читать дальше...

Diego Maradona lampooned Lionel Messi for using "the bathroom 20 times before a game" and suggested the Argentina star stay in the international wilderness. Messi has not appeared for the national team since the last-16 loss to eventual champions France at the World Cup in Russia. Caretaker coach Lionel Scaloni remains hopeful the Barcelona skipper will eventually end his self-imposed exile, but Maradona is less convinced of the 31-year-old's present value to the team. The Albiceleste great and former head coach... Читать дальше...

Former Italy international Antonio Cassano has announced his retirement from football just a week after linking up with Serie C minnows Virtus Entella. The former AC Milan, Inter and Real Madrid forward had been without a club since a brief pre-season training stint with Verona in July 2017, and last played an official league game in May 2016 for Sampdoria. Cassano, who won 39 caps for Italy, had agreed to train with Entella without signing a contract, but the 36-year-old has now revealed his decision to call it quits. Читать дальше...

Harry Kane and Eric Dier hailed Jadon Sancho after the 18-year-old made his England debut in Friday's goalless draw with Croatia. The Borussia Dortmund winger replaced Raheem Sterling with 12 minutes remaining in Rijeka to become the first player born after 2000 to represent the Three Lions. Sancho impressed during his late cameo and team-mates Kane and Dier believe that if he continues to work hard he will enjoy a fruitful career with the national side. "He's great," Kane told Sky Sports. "Big congratulations to him for his debut. Читать дальше...

Thierry Henry has revealed that he turned down "some very attractive offers" before signing a three-year deal as Monaco coach. The 41-year-old was announced as the Ligue 1 side's new boss on Saturday, following the dismissal of Leonardo Jardim two days earlier. Henry had been linked with Aston Villa before Dean Smith's appointment on Wednesday, as well as the Egypt national team.   Posting on Twitter, Henry said the lure of returning to the club where he made his professional debut in 1994 was too great to resist. Читать дальше...

Thierry Henry has signed a three-year deal to become Monaco's head coach. Henry replaces Leonardo Jardim, who was dismissed on Thursday after six points from their opening nine matches left them languishing 18th in Ligue 1. The 41-year-old made his professional debut for Monaco inv1994 before going on to enjoy prolific spells at Arsenal, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls. After two years as Roberto Martinez's assistant with the Belgium national side, he has now been tasked with reviving a team... Читать дальше...

Eden Hazard still has room for improvement and could become one of the world's best players, according to Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri. The Belgian has started the season in blistering form, netting a stunning EFL Cup winner against Liverpool and leading the Premier League scoring charts with seven goals in eight appearances. He gave Blues fans cause for concern earlier this week when he once again hinted at a possible move to Real Madrid, though he insisted that would not happen in January.... Читать дальше...

Mexican star Carlos Vela scored a brace as Los Angeles FC defeated Houston Dynamo 4-2 in a match delayed by lightning on Friday. Former Real Sociedad forward Vela netted twice in a weather-interrupted MLS clash to boost LAFC's hopes of a top-two seed in the Western Conference. Houston – who are already out of the play-picture and lost 4-1 to Seattle Sounders on Monday – were leading 1-0 through Mauro Manotas' 33rd-minute opener when lightning around Banc of California Stadium halted proceedings three minutes. Читать дальше...

Brazil captain Neymar said he was much happier that under-fire team-mate Gabriel Jesus scored a goal than if he had netted five against Saudi Arabia. Jesus ended his international goal drought as Brazil defeated 10-man Saudi Arabia 2-0 in an international friendly in Riyadh on Friday. The Manchester City forward had failed to score during Brazil's World Cup campaign in Russia, where the Selecao lost in the quarter-finals, sparking criticism. Neymar – who impressed against the Saudis – leapt to... Читать дальше...

Mickey Mouse was the star attraction as Paul Pogba and some of his France team-mates paid a visit to Disneyland on Friday. With time on their hands before Tuesday's Nations League showdown against Germany in Paris, Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele hung out with Mickey Mouse. After world champions France battled to earn a 2-2 draw against Iceland on Thursday, the French quartet visited the iconic theme park and even picked up some of Mickey Mouse's famous gloves along the way. Читать дальше...

Markus Babbel finds Manchester United's situation laughable and unbelievable, insisting the club and not under-fire manager Jose Mourinho are at fault for their struggles. Beleaguered boss Mourinho is under extreme scrutiny amid United's woes this season, while there have been reports of dressing-room unrest. Mourinho was reportedly set to be sacked regardless of last week's result against Newcastle United but those rumours were dismissed by the Red Devils prior to their stunning 3-2 comeback in Manchester. Читать дальше...

MLS side Columbus Crew are one step closer to remaining in Ohio thanks to some help from NFL franchise the Cleveland Browns. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is part of an investment group that is trying to keep the Crew in Columbus. Crew's current owner Anthony Precourt has made it clear in recent months he would like to relocate the team to Austin, Texas. He reportedly wanted to put the team in either Columbus or Austin, whichever one would build him a stadium. MLS, though, is still planning to introduce an Austin team... Читать дальше...

Zlatko Dalic has told Croatia to forget Mario Mandzukic as he works to uncover a replacement for the Juventus striker. Mandzukic retired following his country's run to the World Cup final and Croatia have scored just one goal in three matches since, the latest of which was a 0-0 draw against England on Friday. That result followed a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Spain but coach Dalic is focusing on the future, rather than dwelling on the past. "It is not like us not to be able to score two matches in a row," he said. Читать дальше...

Ross Barkley is determined to work hard at Chelsea to keep his place in Gareth Southgate's England side after returning to the international fold in Friday's 0-0 Nations League draw with Croatia. Barkley had not featured for England since 2016 after struggling for form and fitness in the latter stages of his time at Everton and early in his Chelsea career. But the 24-year-old has played in all but one of the Blues' Premier League matches under Maurizio Sarri and appears to have put those concerns behind him. Читать дальше...

Eden Hazard joked about wanting Romelu Lukaku's form to begin and end with Belgium following the Manchester United man's brace in the win over Switzerland. Star striker Lukaku struck twice in the second half in Brussels to send Roberto Martinez's men top of their Nations League group with a hard-earned 2-1 victory. The 25-year-old had gone scoreless in six competitive matches before Friday, last netting for United in a 2-1 win at Watford almost four weeks ago. But ahead of Chelsea's clash with... Читать дальше...