Friday, 3 November 2017

Barcelona star Messi wants Tottenham duo, Real Madrid eying Mourinho return

Barcelona star Lionel Messi would love the club to sign Tottenham duo Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli.



Alli bagged a brace with Eriksen also getting on the scoresheet in Spurs’ 3-1 Champions League win over Real Madrid last night.

And Spanish website Don Balon claims Messi was impressed by the performances of the Tottenham duo.

It is said he feels both players would be welcome at the Nou Camp, particularly given the club’s ageing midfield.

Andres Iniesta is past his best, while Sergio Busquets turns 30 in July - and Messi thinks Spurs’ young duo could help Barcelona win silverware galore.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is on Real Madrid’s list of candidates to replace Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane is under pressure with Los Blancos well off the pace both domestically and in Europe.

And Don Balon say Real have Mourinho on their list should they decide to axe the Frenchman.

Also on their radar are Mauricio Pochettino and Joachim Lowe, though prising them away from their current posts at Tottenham and Germany could be difficult.

Timing wrong for Mauricio Pochettino to join Real Madrid, says Guillem Balague

The timing is wrong for Mauricio Pochettino to leave Tottenham for Real Madrid, says Guillem Balague.



GUILLEM SAYS

“Real Madrid are following Pochettino with a lot of interest, but they have no intention of approaching him as they want to see how Zinedine Zidane reacts in the current difficult situation. At Real Madrid the manager needs to give players priority and look after them – but they also need something else. I feel they are doing something special at Spurs, and Pochettino feels part of it. In terms of any potential deal, timing will be important – at the moment the timing is wrong. Who knows how winning a trophy with Spurs will affect the situation.”

Read More: http://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/11827/11111296/guillem-balague-qa-live

European Paper Talk: AC Milan to target Chelsea boss Antonio Conte next summer

AC Milan have made Antonio Conte their No 1 target, according to reports in Italy
With the opening of the January transfer window just two months away, there is already plenty of talk about who might be on the move around Europe.



Our friends at Football Whispers have scoured the continent to bring you all the latest news and transfer gossip from the European newspapers...

Italy

AC Milan have made Antonio Conte their number one target to become the club's head coach in the summer. Vincenzo Montella is currently in charge of the Rossoneri but is under intense pressure following a poor start to the season.

If Milan sack Montella before the end of the season, former Watford manager Walter Mazzarri could be appointed on a short-term interim basis. (Calciomercato)

Conte was humbled, meanwhile, in the Stadio Olimpico as he watched his Chelsea side endure a Halloween nightmare at the hands of a ruthless Roma in their Champions League Group C clash. Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice as the Giallorossi thumped the Blues 3-0, with it being "an historic lesson for Conte".

Following the game, the Blues boss admitted that Eusebio Di Francesco's side deserved to win but lamented the poor defending that allowed Roma to score. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)

It will take a bid in excess of €100m (£87.4m) for PSG to consider selling Juventus transfer target Marco Verratti. The Serie A champions remain interested in the midfielder but are reluctant to meet the French club's asking price. (Calciomercato)

Juventus have revived their interest in Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos. The 21-year-old joined the La Liga champions over the Bianconeri in the summer but has struggled to make an impression and the Serie A champions may launch a bid for his services in the New Year if his situation under Zinedine Zidane does not improve. (Calciomercato)

Spain

Atletico Madrid need a miracle if they are to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase. Diego Simeone's men only managed a 1-1 draw at home to Qarabag on Tuesday night, leaving the 2014 and 2016 finalists on just three points after four games.

They now have to beat Roma and Chelsea in their final two games while hoping that other results go their way after a "disastrous" night against the Azeri club. (Marca)

Source: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11108297/european-paper-talk-ac-milan-to-target-chelsea-boss-antonio-conte-next-summer

Thursday, 2 November 2017

Real Madrid will improve against Tottenham after dreadful Girona loss, Guillem Balague warns

Real Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema suffered a shock loss at Girona
After their "dreadful" showing at Girona, Guillem Balague has warned Real Madrid will be "a completely different team" when they take on Tottenham at Wembley.



The Spanish champions suffered a shock defeat of the season at the weekend as La Liga newcomers Girona came from behind to claimed an historic 2-1 victory.

After handing the initiative to Barca in the La Liga title race, Real will hope to have more success as they continue the defence of their Champions League crown.

The reigning European champions head to Wembley for the very first time on Wednesday, and Balague believes Real's performance will be in stark contrast to that seen in Girona.

"You will see a different Real Madrid," the Sky Sports Spanish football expert said. "The same guys that played so poorly at Girona will raise their game.

Read More http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11835/11105850/real-madrid-will-improve-against-tottenham-after-dreadful-girona-loss-guillem-balague-warns

Wednesday, 1 November 2017

Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears: Cutler and co to set Soldier Field rocking

Chicago are tough at home, enjoy their Monday Night Football, and have too much experience for the visiting Eagles. That's according to Neil Harvey, who's predicting a home win for the Bears...



Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears
Tuesday, 01:30
Live on Sky Sports 1


Little was expected of these two teams this year. Both raised eyebrows, in a good way, with their efforts in Week One.

To be fair, the fact that Philly beat the long-suffering Cleveland Browns wasn't so unexpected. But maybe the manner of victory was. The Eagles defense gave up just 168 passing yards and a mere 120 rushing yards in that 29-10 win. While on offense, rookie QB Carson Wentz made a flying start to his NFL career, with two touchdowns and no turnovers en route to a 100.9 passer rating. Then again though, this was only the Browns.

Chicago surprised by taking an early lead away to much-fancied Houston, and holding it until the second half. The Bears eventually went down 23-14. But it was a much gutsier showing than predicted and suggested just maybe there is life after Matt Forte.

Forte's replacement at running back, Jeremy Langford, was rock solid in Week One, rushing for 57 yards and a touchdown against one of the best defenses in the league. They'd have looked average numbers against most sides. But to do it against the Texans was something much more impressive. Langford looked a potential NFL star when he debuted last season. And as far as I'm concerned, he will be. He's got a genuine change of pace and can catch too. He looks the perfect replacement for Forte and I recommend backing him in a few markets for the final game of week two.

Chicago gunslinger Jay Cutler is an enigma, but I fancy he'll have one of his good days against a Philly defense that ranked fifth from last against the pass last year. And given the Eagles were even worse against the run (last in the NFL), there's every reason to think Chicago will move the ball with relative ease, with Alshon Jeffrey a receiver who when he plays, plays big - as shown by his 54 yard touchdown last week.

By contrast, the Bears defense ranked much higher than that. And the solid showing against Houston suggests Chicago can hold Carson Wentz in check, with veteran Head Coach John Fox likely to have prepared plenty of zonal coverage and a myriad of blitzes to put the rookie to the test.

Soldier Field is a tough place to go at any time. And that time just doesn't look right for Philadelphia, who still have rebuilding to do. Receivers Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor are talented, but young, like their QB. And with so little experience on offense, it's hard to back them with confidence.

For stats fans, Chicago are 4-1 winners against the spread in their last five Monday Night games. I like them to make that 5-1. The Bears can strike early, as they did in Week One. And this time, not only could they hold on, but might even pull away - if Wentz starts chancing his arm at a level he's not yet used too. Chicago's pass defense ranked fourth best in the league last year and is sure to gobble up any chances that might come their way.

Read More: https://betting.betfair.com/us-sports/nfl/eagles-at-bears-picks-predictions-monday-night-football-160916-680.html

Real Madrid seek respite from La Liga woes on Wembley debut against Spurs

On the plane back from defeat in Girona on Sunday evening Zinedine Zidane went over the game again while in the rows behind him his players quietly watched films or TV series, keen to clear their minds of what had just happened. “It wasn’t a nice feeling,” Sergio Ramos admitted, and it didn’t make for good viewing either.



“I’m not worried,” the Real Madrid manager had said as he sat in front of the media after the match; now, as he sat in front of his captain flying west, and with no need to transmit a public message of tranquillity, he might have felt differently.

Madrid’s 2-1 defeat by Girona leaves them trailing La Liga’s leaders Barcelona by eight points as they head to Wembley to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League. “The league’s long,” Zidane said and on Monday night Ramos insisted he had overcome eight points before. Actually, he hasn’t: Madrid have never won the title from so far behind and it was not just that they had been defeated; it was that, as the Girona coach, Pablo Machín, insisted, it had been “fully deserved”.


At half-time, Madrid led 1-0, but the home side had already hit the post twice and in the dressing room Machín told his players they could win; all they had to do was carry on. Girona scored twice in the second half and might have scored more; Madrid sought a way back into the game but never truly looked like finding it. At one point, the olés rang round as Girona kept the ball from their opponents, moving it from man to man as those in white shirts repeatedly arrived a little too late.

Before that cameras had caught Marcelo, who lost the ball 16 times during the game, responding to Luka Modric: “I made a mistake? What, and you don’t?” With the exception of Isco, seemingly on a one-man mission to get Madrid going, they all had. “We have to play better and work harder,” the midfielder Casemiro said at the end. Zidane disagreed. “We didn’t play badly,” he insisted. Yet nor had they, he admitted, played well.

Actually, badly was a pretty accurate description of a team lacking inspiration or intensity, suffering a striking disconnect between their players, disorganised and so overrun all across the pitch that Zidane ended up replicating Girona’s formation in an ultimately futile attempt to plug the leaks. In the press conference afterwards, the coach went in circles, not convincing in his analysis – which is unusual for him. “When we lose, it’s for a reason,” he eventually conceded. He denied that there had been a lack of work, intensity or attitude. There had certainly been a lack of football.

Read More: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/nov/01/real-madrid-wembley-spurs-champions-league-tottenham-hotspur

La Liga News: Real Madrid and Barcelona to battle over new Spain international

Barcelona are desperate to bring young recruits into the side to ensure they have the best Spanish talent in La Liga.



Their famed La Masia academy has dried up in recent years, with fewer and fewer graduates making it into Ernesto Valverde’s first team.

And Barcelona-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo claim scouts have earmarked two top talents to sign at the end of the season.

However, Real are also watching one of those prospects.

The player in question is Real Sociedad right-back Alvaro Odriozola.

Barca’s technical director Robert Fernandez is said to be a fan of the 21-year-old, who can also play as a winger if required.

Read More: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/863519/La-Liga-News-Real-Madrid-Barcelona-transfer-Alvaro-Odriozola-Spain