Real Madrid: What Zinedine Zidane had to say after the 0-1 loss to Villarreal

Real Madrid had chance after chance but was unable to find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss to Villarreal Saturday. Here is what manager Zinedine Zidane had to say after yet another disappointing defeat.

“It might be a mental aspect that is stopping us from winning. When we are on a bad run there are always negatives to pick up on. We shot on target but didn’t score, when there were rebounds we were not on the end of them. This can wear you down mentally. We need to keep plugging away in search of the next win. We did everything possible to win and I honestly cannot reproach my players for their actions. I am not happy but nor do I feel beaten. This is another chance to show that we can turn this situation around. After a game like this, things are tough, but we can turn this around.”

“Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but we’ll keep on because we’ve still got something to prove. We’re here and don’t write Real Madrid off because there’s still life and hope in this team. There’s a game every three days in football. When things aren’t going well, you’ve got the chance to change it, and when they’re great, to keep that going. We’ll change it by sticking together and helping each other out. That’s what we need to do to get out of this rut.”

Read More: https://therealchamps.com/2018/01/14/real-madrid-zinedine-zidane-say-0-1-loss-villarreal/

Barcelona news: Lionel Messi is such a luxury, Jordi Alba reveals why

JORDI ALBA has reserved special praise for Lionel Messi after his performance for Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona thrashed Celta Vigo last night 5-0 to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Lionel Messi grabbed a double, scoring twice in the opening 15 minutes to take his tally to 21 goals in all competitions this term.

After drawing 1-1 in the first leg, Barca named a stronger line-up to secure a 6-1 aggregate victory.

Alba, who set up both of Messi’s goals, got on the scoresheet in the 28th minute as Messi repaid the favour to put the win beyond doubt.

Read More: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/903608/Barcelona-Lionel-Messi-Jordi-Alba-Copa-del-Rey-Celta-Vigo-reaction

Conflicting Reports Claim RB Leipzig May or May Not Have Sanctioned Early Keita Move

A mooted Thomas Lemar to Liverpool transfer was so the Monday that just past, like, 72 hours ago. With Jürgen Klopp and FSG valiantly wading back into the frigid January transfer waters after the sucker punch of Philippe Coutinho’s graceless departure for the Camp Nou, Liverpool fans have been entertained by links to every footballer with a pulse. And now, barely a third of the way through a winter silly season that is mercifully only a month long, we’re back on the Naby-Keïta-Right-Bloody-Now train. Toot toot, yah bastids.

Things have been progressing swimmingly to this point in the quest to bring the RB Leipzig dynamo to Anfield earlier than planned. However, in the last 24 hours, the German club seem to be putting out mixed signals. On the one hand, there have intimations that a pot-sweetner in the range of €20 million on top of the already agreed fee would be enough to close an early deal; while at the same time discouraging statements have emerged from both the ED Leipzig coach stubbornly maintaining that, “There is no reason to let [Keïta] go now,” and the club themselves stating “Nothing has changed and our position hasn’t changed from before regarding the transfer.”

Let’s recap: £48m-£60m has already been agreed for the Guinean midfielder to join in July. Awesome. Except here’s the thing though: he’s really good. Really, really good. So good, that it would be great to have Keïta driving the Reds to league glory ASAP.

ED, currently sitting fifth in the table but only two points off of second (hey! the Bundesliga looks kind of fun!) obviously weren’t too keen at first on the prospect of their best player leaving in the middle of their own fight for Champions League places.

Read More: https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2018/1/12/16881518/conflicting-reports-claim-rb-leipzig-may-or-may-not-have-sanctioned-early-keita-move-jurgen-klopp

Messi’s 2 Goals Help Barcelona Advance in Copa del Rey

BARCELONA, Spain — Lionel Messi scored twice in the span of three minutes during a 5-0 win over Celta Vigo on Thursday that sent Barcelona through to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.

Messi, who also created Barcelona’s third goal for Jordi Alba, set his team on its way to a 6-1 aggregate victory with his 21st and 22nd goals in all competitions this season.

Alba had provided the assists for Messi’s strikes in the 13th and 15th minutes, and Messi returned the favor by setting up Alba in the 28th.

Luis Suárez made it 4-0 before halftime, and Ivan Rakitic headed in a corner kick by Dembele in the final minutes to complete the rout.

Philippe Coutinho, Barcelona’s new acquisition, watched from the Camp Nou stands following his club-record transfer from Liverpool earlier this week. He will make his debut after he recovers from a right leg muscle injury.

Barcelona Coach Ernesto Valverde took no chances after a 1-1 draw in the first leg, starting Messi in his first appearance in the tournament this season — he had rested for the first three cup games.

Messi quickly quashed any chance of Celta springing an upset. He swept Alba’s cross past goalkeeper Sergio Álvarez, who got a hand to the ball, and he followed up by firing home after another exchange of passes with Alba.

Read More: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/sports/messi-barcelona-copa-del-rey.html

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane reveals uncertainty over future

Real Madrid are currently having a nightmare season as they sit fourth in the La Liga table, 16 points behind Barcelona.

And they have also been less than convincing in the cups as they finished second in their Champions League group and drew 2-2 with second division side Numancia last night.

Zidane signed a contract extension with Real in September but pressure has been growing on his position in recent weeks.

And he understands the need to turn results around quickly.

"I just go game to game, year to year," said Zidane.

"I cannot think two or three years down the line, as I know how it is here, even having a contract, which means nothing.

"It is not easy for the players who play less. We played a good game. We maybe lacked a bit of gas at the end."

Lucas Vazquez scored a brace as Real progressed to the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey with a 5-2 aggregate win last night.

And Zidane says he was pleased with how his side played.

Read More: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/903059/Real-Madrid-Zinedine-Zidane-future-La-Liga-news

Paper Talk: Klopp’s Dortmund warning, Lukaku seeks legal advice, Messi’s hand-painted boots

BARCELONA have forked out huge coin to finally replace Neymar and it’s been revealed Jurgen Klopp was behind making them pay so much for two record signings.
Plus Romelu Lukaku responds to ‘voodoo’ claims and Leo Messi shows off his new boots.
A text Jurgen Klopp sent to former club Borussia Dortmund essentially cost Barcelona $405m.

Barca have finally got their man in Philippe Coutinho, but had Klopp not alerted his ex-employers to their transfer plans, they’d have almost certainly have saved themselves a huge sum of money.

Last summer the Catalans were in the market for an attacker after selling Neymar to PSG, with Coutinho very firmly atop their wish list. The Spanish giants had money to spend and Klopp was in no way ready to part with his prized asset.
Aware of the situation and Barca’s probable plan b, the German manager got in contact with Dortmund and informed them to be weary of an approach for starlet Ousmane Dembele.

According to German journalist Raphael Honigstein, Klopp informed the BVB that he would not be selling Coutinho, and that they could essentially hold the Spaniards to ransom over Dembele’s transfer fee.

Honigstein revealed the bombshell on The Totally Football Show, “Dortmund revealed that they benefited from Barca’s interest in Coutinho in the Summer. Klopp passed on a message to them to say that LFC wouldn’t sell, saying, ‘don’t worry, we’re not selling Coutinho to Barcelona. So, if they come to you looking to sign Dembele, be assured that they have enough money and ask for a lot of money’. They signed Dembele for a lot and topped that with Coutinho, so I don’t know where that leaves with them in terms of Antoine Griezmann.”

It appears, Klopp may have had the last laugh.

MESSI’S INCREDIBLE HAND-PAINTED BOOTS

The remarkable story of Lionel Messi’srise from Argentina to Barcelona has been immortalised on a pair of football boots.

30-year-old Messi was presented the boots by Paraguayan artist Lili Cantero, who had painted them by hand after being inspired by the Barca ace’s life and achievements.

The boots feature a range of moments from the forward’s life, dating back to his early childhood and also feature images of his family.


His famous celebration against Real Madrid is depicted, as is the iconic picture of the Argentine on Ronaldinho’s back.

“These boots were sent to Barcelona as a gift for the player, they are fully hand-painted,” Cantero said of her artwork.

“The boots are inspired by the life of Messi, narrating with images its history and how it was working hard to reach the top. From Paraguay with Love, for the world.”



Read More: https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/teams/liverpool/paper-talk-klopps-dortmund-warning-lukaku-seeks-legal-advice-messis-handpainted-boots/news-story/affaf43df87a4ff59d1ab468c289aa7d

Real Madrid, Barcelona transfer news: Mo Salah, Zinedine Zidane, Arda Turan, Philippe Coutinho

REAL Madrid are plotting an audacious Anfield raid of their own to steal the spotlight back from Barca, while Zinedine Zidane is at loggerheads with club president Florentino Perez.
That and more in a La Liga edition of Rumour Mill!

REAL TO RAID LIVERPOOL FOR SALAH

Not fans of being outdone, Real Madrid are preparing an audacious counter to Barcelona’s signing of Philippe Coutinho, by sanctioning an Anfield raid of their own.

Despite manager Zinedine Zidane’s assertion that Los Blancos wouldn’t sign anyone in January, Los Blancos are being linked with a big-money swoop for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, according to Sky Sport Italia.

Barca smashed their transfer record with the signing of Coutinho, and now Real are determined to splash the cash themselves in a bid to counter the deal.

Salah has been on fire since joining Liverpool in the summer, netting 17 goals in 21 appearances after signing for £37m from Roma.

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/la-liga/real-madrid-barcelona-transfer-news-mo-salah-zinedine-zidane-arda-turan-philippe-coutinho/news-story/ffb0108fcaaa4391931d213318035e61