You are here: Home / Archives for Soccer News

Benitez accepts Real inability to handle pressure during Sevilla loss

November 9, 2015 by

Real Madrid new boss Rafa Benitez seems to be highly optimistic for Real’s impressive show this season that is why he is not ready to accept any loss especially when they have been in dominating position. Last game with Sevilla was one such game that eventually went in favor of home side and they won a high scoring game quite impressively. Sensing the importance of possibly a lost opportunity, Benitez expresses his frustration over the way his side handled the pressure during crucial moments although James was the only Real player who impressed everyone with his brilliant ball holding technique in the later half.

Game started with good news for the visitors when Sergio Ramos header gave them initial lead but their joy was short lived as Ciro Immobile, Ever Banega, and substitute Fernando Llorente made it sure Real would have to go back empty handed. This defeat is also noticeable looking at Benítez side’s season record where they have conceded just four times out of first 14 La Liga and Champions League games. Talking about what went wrong for them and if manager was responsible for placing players on undesirable positions in crucial moments, Blancos coach said in the post-match news conference, “We played 30 very good minutes, lots of control, in all levels. Then we let them score at a set-piece. That changed the game.

“From the second goal we started to make mistakes, they took advantage and scored a third. We came back and scored late, but it wasn’t enough. That was the lesson from the game, in the first half a good Real Madrid for a long time, in the second half we were not able to manage the situation. We should have killed the game in the first half, and we didn’t.”

Another disappointing news for the Spanish giant has been injury to Sergio Ramos which could yield more negative impact in upcoming games. Clarifying if Ramos’ injury was the turning point of the game, Benitez said, “I wouldn’t say it determined things, as the other centre-backs played well. But one change made a difference, as we had one substitute less to change things when we wanted to. I speak about the team, as a team, I do not talk about individual players. And we were not able to control the game in the second half.”

Filed Under: Soccer News, Spain Tagged With: , ,

Mourinho is given two games to secure his job: Reports

November 2, 2015 by

If any side has been in the media not for its good show but for its surprising reversal of form from the last year, it is definitely league defenders Chelsea who has been the only defender in recent times to conceive more than five defeats in the first half of the season and if rumors are to be believed Chelsea manager is given two more games to secure his job, according to media reports. This is despite the fact that manager Jose Mourinho has expressed his confidence about his future leading North Londoners yet Blues last defeat to Anfield side at home, which was sixth of the last ten for Stamford Bridge side, changed everything for Portuguese in England. Carlo Ancelotti is the first name that could replace the second term serving boss on a temporary basis for his short experience serving the side from 2009 to 2011 if former is asked to leave the job and club owner Roman Abramovich has also hinted in his recent interview that they could take an extreme step during November international break if former Everton boss fails to win the confidence.

Actually, no one is in a position to tell the exact cause of Chelsea failure this reason: many call it a superstition effect that did never let anyone perform well in his third league campaign, many are taking it just a correction period for the defenders after an unprecedented show in the last season. Now, when Chelsea are heading for their next Champions league game with Kiev, manager Mourinho is not talking it less than a do or die affair for his survival especially after getting an open support from fans during Liverpool game, he said, “It’s a big game. It’s a game that we cannot lose. We still can finish first, second or third, and obviously we want to finish in the top two.

“There are things that are out of our hands. The players tried. You could feel, and not just because we scored in the first couple of minutes, the attitude, desire. It was 50-50 despite the fact we were winning 1-0. There were two minutes of added time and we conceded the goal after two minutes and 35 seconds. What happened in the second half was a consequence of crucial moments, moments that the stadium saw, and more than just see it, the players felt it. From then, what happened was just a consequence.”

Filed Under: England, Soccer News Tagged With: ,

Mourinho’s cautious media brief after 3-1 home defat to Liverpool

November 1, 2015 by
Chelsea 1 – 3 Liverpool_FC

Jose Mourinho seems to have become most vulnerable manager in this league season especially after his yesterday’s home defeat to Liverpool which gave more reasons to lambast second term serving manager’s role in Chelsea current league campaign. The outspoken Portuguese controlled his words after the 3-1 loss to Liverpool and actually said nothing against him, his side, or anything – which is a surprising reaction from him! On the other side, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp celebrated his first league win heading the Anfield side and his side also did not disappoint him in securing their first major win against the defenders in last many years. However, the important highlight of the game was former Everton boss who looked absolutely helpless after being linked with media reports that suggest he would now lose his job. Reacting over the media questions about his team and how he sees this defeat considering his future in England, Mourinho replied, “I have nothing, nothing to say. Nothing. Nothing to say.”

The interesting thing that everyone saw inside the ground was fans support that second term serving boss got during the game, it was nowhere visible that he is losing fans backing after a dismissal show as league defenders in the season and reacting over those vibes, Portuguese said, “The fans are not stupid.”

Moreover, he also asked everyone to see the game and then give an honestly review about Blues performance. He added, “The players, they tried. You could feel the attitude. You could feel the desire and that the game was 50/50. The recognition of our work is just by getting results. We have some players that are really sad in the dressing room and I am full of respect for them but we see match after match that they are not getting the respect they deserve.

“I am really, really sorry with that lack of respect for professionals.”

Without being aggressive over provoking media questions, he politely said, “You are all intelligent guys. If you want to write, you write. Next press conference I will bring you nice glasses. Maybe you see the game in a better way. There are things that are out of our hands. Two minutes’ extra time, we concede the goal on two minutes 35 seconds. Then, what happened in the second half, everything is a consequence of some crucial moments.

“Moments that the stadium saw, the players more than see, the players felt it. From now, what happens is just a consequence.”

Filed Under: England, Soccer News Tagged With: , ,

Ronaldo would go back to United: Jose Semedo

October 30, 2015 by

Soccer world is full of surprises where you cannot be sure if someone would continue playing his current side or not despite of having been a loyal teammate for it and Real Madrid’s highly successful forward Cristiano Ronaldo is one such player who has ever been in the media: most of time for his firing performances, while some time – for his transfer rumors. Every week we encounters at least one claim that suggests former Manchester United player would move out of Spain in later years of his professional career like other legendry players who switched to rather third zone clubs when they crossed a particular age. But if it could also happen to Ronaldo is still a skeptical thing since 30-year-old Portuguese is still in a fine form despite of his age and if we rely on Real president recent statement where he ensured they would continue enjoying his services until he reaches forty, no one should have any doubt of Ronaldo future. Former Sporting Lisbon teammate Jose Semedo is the next one to guess where Ronaldo could land in later stage of his career and expectedly he counts over ManU to hire his services again.

Semedo, who now plays for Sheffield Wednesday as centre-back, has been a close friend of Portuguese and he said this after having been in touch with the starlet for years. He supported his claims with the fact that Ronaldo won Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards when he used to be a United man and agrees of his successful run in Spain as well yet strongly believes, he would move to central Europe at some point of time. Talking about Ronaldo future, Semedo said, “He is very happy at Real Madrid he loves English football, he loves English people, and deep down I think he will come back to England because it doesn’t look like he wants to finish his career without getting back to England.

“He said he would wish Real Madrid is in England, but that is not possible. I believe he will end his career in English football again.”

Although, these rumors are in preliminary stage no one is taking them seriously and even Ronaldo has never said anything about this himself, but since he is growing with the time, and if Real would afford him if his age hinders his performance, would be interesting to see.

Filed Under: England, Soccer News, Spain Tagged With: , ,

It’s a first win for Jürgen Klopp!

October 29, 2015 by

Liverpool_FC

Jurgen Klopp can finally take a deep breath after winning his first game mentoring Liverpool. It has been more than one week and almost five games he has been on English duty and striving for a win and Capital One Cup quarter-final tie against Bournemouth was the one that scored a triumph for Anfield side and its newly appointed manager. Though, Klopp has had grossly been successful on English duty after securing as many as three draws but a win can surely take your moral to a new high while media is just looking for an opportunity to find a loophole in you. Apart from Capital One, Reds position is not good in league table where they are struggling at ninth position with just three wins out of ten played games and for this reason bosses had to remove the former manager for the German who did few impressive things after joining the league giant and result is in front of all of us, team is behaving like a rejuvenated side full of confidence and after this win, they can surely come back in the premier league as well in upcoming weeks.

Defender Nathaniel Clyne gave the reason to pride when he netted only goal of the day in 17th minute of play. Talking about his feeling after securing first win and how it is different than earlier draws, 48-year-old German said after the game, “I feel much better than after a draw — but I don’t think the other games were so much worse than today, the result is the biggest difference. We did well tonight as we did not have too much time for training between the games — we had only one hour training with this new team and system.

“Minute-by-minute we got better and for the whole 90 minutes we played football. I am satisfied, the boys did really well.”

Adding about injured players especially Daniel Sturridge who is still struggling with a knee injury, Klopp said, “We have to talk about Daniel when he can train. I don’t know how much but four, five, six, seven, eight days is normal. It is not important how good you are, it is only important you have enough strength to play in this really intensive league.

“There is no pressure from me. I have to wait. If he is back then he has to train. Christian, I think, will be fit on Saturday. With our striker situation we can take absolutely no risk. Divock came on and worked really hard.”

Filed Under: England, Soccer News Tagged With: , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »