Новости за 02.12.2019

Lionel Messi has finally become the player people thought he’d be. It’s taken about 15 years of senior football, 800 games and a list of feted coaches to make it happen – but, as they say, better late than never.At 32, his evolution can be considered complete. Back when Messi was in his early teens, nobody expected him to become... Lionel Messi. He was short, gifted, creative – and so he seemed to be the next in a long line of Argentine playmakers whose only conceivable role was that just behind... Читать дальше...

Lionel Messi has won a record sixth Ballon dOr crown at a ceremony in Paris.The Barcelona star moved ahead of great rival Cristiano Ronaldo to take outright ownership of the record, seeing off Liverpools Virgil Van Dijk and Juventus Ronaldo.The Argentinian struck 54 goals for club and country in the 2018-19 season.Lionel Messi is the 2019 #ballondor winner pic.twitter.com/5nNZXl05vY #BallondOr (@francefootball) December 2, 2019The 32-year-old held off the challenge of Holland centre-back Van Dijk... Читать дальше...

Please note: This feature originally appeared in our 25th anniversary issue this summer. Subscribe now for just £2.40 an issueIt’s not easy to interview Lionel Messi. He’s very well protected, for one, by people who know the strongest image of him is what he does on a pitch, not what he says off it.Use the same principle to see why you never hear Kate Moss speak or David Beckham offer controversial opinions. It’s better for them to let their image and talent talk, and then let others fill in the... Читать дальше...

Yesterday, this column approached Amazon’s entry into the Premier League broadcasting world from the perspective of the match-going supporter. It was a bleak affair and not without cause, but it needn't be a one-sided discussion; there are potential positives to this change and it could, in time, breed healthy developments in the game.Primarily, those are likely to be cosmetic and related to the way football is presented. Whenever a new broadcaster enters the market, there’s always the hope of a different formula being applied. Читать дальше...

Neil Lennon has heaped praise on the Celtic fans who travelled to Dingwall for Sundays game against Ross County.The Hoops boss was alerted to one supporters bus in particular which travelled approximately 270 miles from Stranraer for the noon kick-off before being rewarded with a comprehensive 4-1 win.It was Celtics 10th successive win in all competitions and it kept them top of the Ladbrokes Premiership table over Rangers on goal difference, and the Parkhead boss was grateful for the backing.Ive got to pay tribute to the fans... Читать дальше...

Brendan Rodgers has reiterated his desire to remain as Leicester boss amid continued links with the vacant managerial post at Arsenal.Since Unai Emery was sacked by the Gunners last week, Rodgers has persistently been linked with the job at the Emirates Stadium despite affirming his commitment to the Foxes on several occasions.Following Sundays dramatic victory against Everton, the Northern Irishman confirmed he has a release clause in his contract at Leicester, which runs until 2022, prompting the... Читать дальше...

Rangers have been hit with a UEFA charge but have avoided fresh sanctions over sectarian singing.The club face UEFA disciplinary action for their fans setting off fireworks at last weeks Europa League draw against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.There had been speculation Rangers could face a third charge over sectarian chants this season but the fireworks issue is the only one listed on the charge sheet.Was expecting fireworks during the game but weve got some before kickoff pic.twitter.com/09tc4CUj8M Andy Newport (@AndyNewportPA) November 28... Читать дальше...

Head coach Gabriele Cioffi has left Sky Bet League Two Crawley by mutual consent following a poor run of form.Saturdays 2-1 FA Cup defeat at home to Fleetwood was the Reds 10th defeat in 14 games a run which began in late September.Coffis side were without a league victory since beating Colchester on October 12, slipping down to 17th in the table, with their only other win in that period a 4-1 FA Cup victory over Scunthorpe last month.Gabriele Cioffi has today left his position as head coach by mutual consent... Читать дальше...

Livingston manager Gary Holt will encourage his side to get forward at Tynecastle rather than trying to play on Hearts fans frustrations.Hearts ended a nine-game run without a Ladbrokes Premiership home win last month but have since conceded eight goals without reply on the road against Kilmarnock and Rangers.Caretaker boss Austin MacPhee admitted after Sundays 5-0 defeat by Rangers that the uncertainty over the managers role was a situation that needed to be carefully managed.Holt said: They went to Ibrox on Sunday... Читать дальше...

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has no concerns over Mamadou Sakhos fitness, with the centre-back set to return to the starting line-up for Tuesdays visit of Bournemouth.The Eagles are on the verge of a defensive injury crisis with Joel Ward (knee), Scott Dann (ankle) and Gary Cahill (knee) ruled out of the midweek Premier League clash.Dann started Saturdays 2-0 win at Burnley but was forced off in the second half which allowed Sakho to make his first appearance in over two months for Palace.A... Читать дальше...

St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin says signing a striker will not be his priority in the January transfer window.The Buddies are the lowest scorers in the Ladbrokes Premiership this season with 11 goals from 15 matches.Goodwin would like to add one or two players to his squad next month but admits the club cannot afford to recruit the sort of forward who would deliver an instant return.He said: When the January window comes maybe well be able to add a couple of real bits of quality that might make a... Читать дальше...

Ashley Westwood will return from suspension for Burnleys Premier League clash against Manchester City.Westwood missed Saturdays home defeat to Crystal Palace after picking up a fifth booking of the season, but returns to a midfield in which Danny Drinkwater is pushing for a start.Charlie Taylor is an injury doubt after being forced off against Palace while Johann Berg Gudmundsson is not yet fit after a hamstring problem.City will make one enforced change with midfielder Ilkay Gundogan suspended after... Читать дальше...

Kilmarnock boss Angelo Alessio insists he is wary of Ladbrokes Premierships bottom side St Johnstone ahead of their visit to Rugby Park on Wednesday night.Tommy Wrights side remain behind second-bottom St Mirren on goal difference after their 4-0 defeat by Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday.Killie are three points adrift of the fourth-placed Steelmen and unbeaten in three matches, although they had to come from two goals behind to draw 2-2 against Hibernian at Easter Road thanks to Dario Del Fabros... Читать дальше...

Allan Simonsen (Charlton)Barcelona to Charlton Athletic has to be one of football's less well-trodden paths.In 1982, former European Footballer of the Year Allan Simonsen walked it. Despite scoring in Barca's 2-1 European Cup Winners Cup final victory the previous season, Simonsen was told his time at Camp Nou was up. Diego Maradona had arrived and with league rules permitting teams only two foreign players, Bernd Schuster and Maradona were the future, Simonsen the past.Real Madrid showed interest... Читать дальше...

Long before the days of Mike Dean memes, another follicly challenged match official was busy revolutionising refereeing for the better. No, Manchester United fans, this isn’t an ode to Old Trafford penalty specialist Howard Webb, but rather a tribute to the world’s first celebrity referee: Pierluigi Collina.A distinctive 6ft 2inpresence, known for his bald head and piercing stare, Collina had the look of happy hardcore raver from one of those 90s nightclub promo videos on YouTube – but he was no joke. Читать дальше...

Eight minutes are on the clock and then we’d love to know your scores@FourFourTwo – drop us a screenshot with proof but no spoiler,then please challenges some friends to do the same.* denotes that manager was relegated with this club. No caretakers or interims included (sorry, Freddie)THEN TRY...Quiz! Can you name the top 32 all-time English goalscorers in the Champions League?While you're here, why not take advantage of our brilliant subscribers' offer? Get the game's greatest stories and best journalism... Читать дальше...

Jamie Carragher believes it would be a mistake for Brendan Rodgers to leave Leicester for Arsenal.The Gunners are on the lookout for a new manager after sacking Unai Emery on Friday.Rodgers has emerged as a leading contender for the position at the Emirates Stadium, although the Northern Irishman insisted he was committed to Leicester following Sunday's 2-1 victory over Everton.And Carragher, who worked under Rodgers at Liverpool, thinks his former boss should stay put."I think the position Brendan Rodgers is in... Читать дальше...

Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock has backed interim manager Freddie Ljungberg following Sunday's 2-2 draw with Norwich.Ljungberg was appointed as caretaker boss at the Emirates Stadium after Unai Emery was sacked on Friday.A seven-match winless streak in all competitions cost the Spaniard his job, but Ljungberg was denied victory in his first game in charge.Arsenal's failure to beat Norwich at Carrow Road leaves them seven points adrift of the top four after 14 games.But Willock has hailed Ljungberg... Читать дальше...

Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno conceded his side were lucky to earn a draw away to Norwich on Sunday.Two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helped the Gunners twice come from behind to earn a point in the Premier League at Carrow Road.But it could have been different had Leno not made fine saves to deny Kenny McLean and Teemu Pukki in the second half. WHAT. A. SAVE. McLean gets clean through on goal and looks certain to score but Bernd makes a superb fingertip stop! @Bernd_Leno 2-2 (59)#NORARS... Читать дальше...

TheInternational Football Association Board (IFAB) will hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss potential tweaks to Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.VAR was introduced in the Premier League at the start of this season, since when several managers, players, pundits and supporters have voiced concerns about its efficacy.The system has been in place for longer in other leagues across the world, but IFAB memberswill consider making changes to the way it is used."It's still relatively new technology for the game of football," Patrick Nelson... Читать дальше...

Robert Pires believes it will take time for Freddie Ljungberg to turn things around at Arsenal.The former Sweden international was appointed as interim manager at the Emirates Stadium after Unai Emery was sacked on Friday.The Spaniard’s dismissal came after a seven-match winless streak in all competitions, and Ljungberg was unable to oversee Arsenal’s first Premier League victory since early October in his first game in charge.The Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw by relegation-threated Norwich on Sunday... Читать дальше...

This will be an important week for the Premier League. On Tuesday, amid fears of insufficient bandwidth, Amazon will broadcast its first batch of fixtures. Realistically, Crystal Palace against Bournemouth is unlikely to test that capacity, but Manchester United against Tottenham could and the Merseyside derby probably will.Amazon have paid £90m for the rights to 20 fixtures each season for the next three years. That’s certainly not the limit of Jeff Bezos’ financial reach and, most likely, it’s... Читать дальше...

Manchester United have made their worst start to a Premier League season in 31 years but manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not yet concerned by their position in the table.A 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa a match the Norwegian admits they did not deserve to win left the Red Devils ninth with 18 points from 14 matches, their worst return at a similar stage since 1988-89.Back then they finished 11th in the top flight, 25 points behind eventual champions Arsenal.Full-time at Old Trafford.#MUFC #MUNAVL Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 1... Читать дальше...

Ryan Christie believes his focused team-mates will have been unaware of one impressive statistic concerning Celtics 4-1 Ladbrokes Premiership win over Ross County on Sunday.The Scotland international grabbed a first-half double inDingwall, with Staggies striker Ross Stewart levelling in between.Returning midfielder Tom Rogic netted with a deflected drive after the break, with his replacement Mikey Johnston adding a fourth as the Hoops made it 10 wins in a row in all competitions to maintain their... Читать дальше...

Steven Gerrard would not be surprised to see Juventus sniffing around Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara. Reports over the weekend claimed the Serie A giants were keeping tabs on the Finland international, who Rangers signed for a knock-down 50,000 fee from Dundee 12 months ago. Light Blues boss Gerrard insists he has had no contact from the Turin outfit, but believes Kamara is currently showing he is capable of reaching the heights required to attract a future bid. Theres nothing from Juventus with Glen... Читать дальше...