He rarely completed the full 90 minutes even when he did start, and although Tuchel’s arrival was the chance for a fresh opportunity, early indications are that he is not an integral part of the German’s plans.
Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech is ready to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer if he continues to play a peripheral role under Thomas Tuchel, a new report has claimed.
The 27-year-old joined the Blues in the summer of 2020, but injuries have hampered his ability to nail down a regular starting berth. Ziyech has made just 11 Premier League appearances to date, and has not featured in the top flight since he started Tuchel’s first game in charge – the 0-0 draw with Wolves.
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Now, Corriere dello Sport claim that Ziyech is ready to end his disappointing spell in the Premier League, with teams in Italy lining up to make a move for him in the summer.
AS Roma and Milan have both shown interest in the former Ajax star in the past, and could take advantage of his unsettled status to try and get a deal done.
For Ziyech, a departure would end what’s been a fairly miserable time in England so far, where his repeated injuries and inability to fit into certain tactical setups have seen him slide down the pecking order at Chelsea.
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Initially a favourite under Lampard once he’d overcome injury, Ziyech soon slipped out of the side and onto the bench as the Blues strived for consistency.
Ziyech wants to leave Chelsea this summer | James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images
He rarely completed the full 90 minutes even when he did start, and although Tuchel’s arrival was the chance for a fresh opportunity, early indications are that he is not an integral part of the German’s plans.
The Moroccan has played just 82 minutes of a possible 360 Premier League minutes under the former PSG boss, which is a far cry from his dominating spell at Ajax – one that yielded a Dutch Footballer of the Year award, four successive nominations for the Eredivisie Team of the Season and four seasons finishing as the player with most assists.
Ziyech was also a regular goal getter in the Netherlands, bagging 49 goals for Ajax in 165 appearances.
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For Chelsea, he’s scored just twice in all competitions, and only once in thePremier League.
Chelsea’s mini-revival has coincided with Ziyech’s absence from the team, which may indicate that he’ll have little to no chance of earning a regular place in the team unless things dramatically change in west London.
The news completes a double for City as midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who netted five goals in six appearances throughout January, lifted the player of the month award.
In a surprise to no-one given Manchester City’s incredible recent form, Pep Guardiola has been named Premier League manager of the month for January.
It was a season that promised to deliver an open title race until the death, but City have taken full advantage of faltering form from Liverpool and Manchester United to pull away from the chasing pack.
They sit five points clear at the top of the division with a game in hand at present and that is largely thanks to a perfect January that saw them pick up six consecutive victories.
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They started the month with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late consolation would prove to be the only goal they would concede for the entire month.
They won their next five matches by an aggregate scoreline of 13-0, brushing aside a quarter of the division with minimal fuss to assert themselves as the clear favourites to win the league for the third time in Guardiola’s tenure.
The news completes a double for City as midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who netted five goals in six appearances throughout January, lifted the player of the month award.
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He has become a favourite of Guardiola’s in recent weeks and was in the thick of it as City started 2021 with a bang.
Despite a faltering start to the season, Guardiola’s team are beginning to look more and more like the side who romped to successive league titles in 2018 and 2019.
Guardiola was named best boss for January | Michael Steele/Getty Images
They were virtually unbeatable for those two seasons, registering 100 and 98 points respectively – then the two highest totals ever recorded.
They won just two of their first five games this season and were in the bottom half of the table as recently as November.
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But they have taken 38 points from their last 42 available and look on course to charge to yet another title.
Guardiola fought off competition from David Moyes, Mikel Arteta, and Graham Potter to win the January award.
..circumstances of his transfer are a little bit on his shoulders. That was the impression from far away, from outside.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has insisted he has complete faith in goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who he believes can prove himself as a top shot stopper once again.
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An abysmal 2019/20 campaign, in which Kepa posted a historically low save percentage, saw then-manager Frank Lampard push for the signing of new goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who has impressed since his £22m move from Rennes.
Mendy has been Tuchel’s go-to goalkeeper, but the boss confirmed that Kepa will be given a chance to prove himself with an appearance in Thursday’s FA Cup fifth round tie with Barnsley.
“He will play [against Barnsley],” said Tuchel. “From outside, of course we had a view on his situation and some difficulties on the sporting side. Maybe, also, the circumstances of his transfer are a little bit on his shoulders. That was the impression from far away, from outside.
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“The good thing for him is that we start new, that this is a new start for him because I don’t have a history with him and I hope there will be no difficulties and I don’t see them coming. Today, I absolutely believe [he can turn things around].”
Thomas Tuchel will give Kepa Arrizabalaga a fresh start | Clive Rose/Getty Images
There is a belief that the Chelsea hierarchy would like Tuchel to give Kepa another chance. Lampard’s reluctance to do so contributed to his dismissal from Stamford Bridge in January, but director Marina Granovskaia has personally involved herself to try and keep Kepa happy.
Granovskaia took time out of her summer break to sit down with Kepa to offer her support and to try and find a way back for the Spaniard, who cost a world record £72m when he arrived from Athletic Club in 2018.
“It applies for Kepa because it applies for every player, no matter whether we bought him for crazy money or he came from the academy, or was a free agent,” Tuchel continued. “It is our job to push the guy to the limit.
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“And we are pretty selfish because we want to have them in the best shape on the pitch. Of course, the club want the market value to stay or increase but for me it is pretty selfish, we want the guy in the best shape and we want the best competition in any position.
“From inside, I see a nice guy, a nice personality, an open personality. A hard working guy with, obviously, a lot of quality. He deserves to be here. He’s a sports guy who loves competition, he does everything to impress in training.”
With his performances over the last two seasons, many have credited the Liverpool pair for evolving the full-back role
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has admitted that he’s going through a bad spell of form this season, and has described it as ‘something new’.
The Reds have struggled for consistent form this season and the champions currently sit in fourth position in the Premier League ahead of a weekend clash with Leicester City.
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Much of the club’s success over the last three years has stemmed from the exceptional form of their full-backs Andrew Robertson and Alexander-Arnold, but both have struggled this season and as a result Liverpool have struggled to reach their previous heights.
Speaking exclusively to ESPN Brasil, via Sport Witness, the 22-year-old admitted that he wasn’t having the best of seasons but believes results are the most important thing and the performances will follow.
“Probably it’s been a spell of bad form that I haven’t had before. So it’s new. But I think really, for me, I set targets in levels and I have expectations in myself. If I don’t meet them then and I’m not happy. I want to be better than I am. I haven’t been able to meet them so far this season but we’ve only just passed the halfway stage, so there’s still a long way to go.”
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The England defender scored his only goal of the season in a recent win over Tottenham, and with just five assists to his name in 26 appearances so far, he has fallen way below his usual level. Despite that, he believes that the team winning is more important.
“Well, I just had three games where I felt better, felt in a little bit more of a rhythm. Being able to create things for the team and feel like I’ve been the last few seasons so I supposed that’s ok, but… Like I mentioned earlier. Individually that doesn’t really matter to me as much as winning games. I’d have 38 bad games in the season, if that meant winning every single game…So I wanna perform as well as I can and help the team win. Because that’s the man thing that matters.”
With his performances over the last two seasons, many have credited the Liverpool pair for evolving the full-back role but Alexander-Arnold believes he can’t take all the credit for himself.
File Photo: Trent Alexander-Arnold | Noble Reporters Media | Adigun Michael Olamide | NoRM News
“I’d say a lot more technical. I think I have impacted how numbers are probably integrated into that role now, I think. A lot of full-backs now are getting judged how many assists and goals and goal contributions they’re getting.
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“I can’t just take all the credit for it. I have to give a lot to Robbo too. He’s really pushed me and I’ve obviously pushed him too to set these records and set these high standards for everyone else in the fullback role, and that’s what I’m going to keep doing. I suppose it’s not about change in the role and how it’s thought about. It’s about making sure we’re as good as we can be for the team and helping us win games and that means get an assistant and goals, that’s what it means.”
Liverpool have lost each of their last two Premier League fixtures and after travelling to Leicester at the weekend they will switch their attentions to the Champions League for the last 16 clash with RB Leipzig.
Saliba hasn’t exactly shied away from the chance to bash Arsenal since returning to France, recently telling L’Equipe (via GFFN) that he was surprised to have been given up on so quickly.
Arsenal centre back William Saliba has criticised Mikel Arteta for not giving him enough time to prove himself at the Emirates Stadium this season.
A £27m arrival from Saint-Etienne, Saliba did not play a single minute for the Gunners this season and was eventually shipped out on loan to French side Nice in January, winning the club’s Player of the Month award the same month.
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It was a confusing situation, particularly with Arsenal struggling defensively for a large part of the first six months of the season, and Saliba has confessed he was unimpressed with the way Arteta handled the whole thing.
William Saliba was unimpressed with his situation at Arsenal | Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
“It is clear that so much has changed in the last year,” he told RMC Sport’s Top of the Foot. “When I saw that the coach changed a lot changed for me too. In this year there has been a lot of change in my personal life as well.
“He judged me on two-and-a-half matches. I would have liked for him to play me more. But he told me I wasn’t ready. I was waiting for him to give me a chance, but football is like that. When I initially came to Arsenal the league looked very good so I showed up to training and wanted to train on my own to show the coach I was ready.
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“I am happy now, I want to play for Nice. The idea when you’re part of a team is a better feeling for me.”
Saliba hasn’t exactly shied away from the chance to bash Arsenal since returning to France, recently telling L’Equipe (via GFFN) that he was surprised to have been given up on so quickly.
“There were a lot of factors I think because when they were finishing their league season, I was in quarantine at home, where I could only run 1km in my house,” he explained. “And then there was this thing about the [Coupe de France] final, we didn’t know if I was going to be able to play or not.
“What I mean is as soon as my contract finished (with Saint-Etienne), I wasn’t able to train until an agreement was found. That was for two weeks, I wasn’t training, and the others had already started training again.
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“After that, then I went over there at the end of July, they had one more week, so I was training all alone. They came back from holidays two weeks later and I was still training by myself. When they came back I played in two friendlies, but I wasn’t ready, I hadn’t played for six months. I had no preparation and to pick up rhythm, you need to play matches.
“The coach told me I wasn’t ready, I thought ‘That’s normal, these were just two matches and I hadn’t played for six months’. After that I waited for my chance, I waited for him to play me more to get a rhythm. But that’s football, it’s like that, it’s behind me and I took the experience.”
Liverpool recently sold Rhian Brewster to Sheffield United for somewhere close to the £20m mark..
Fulham are expected to demand £10m from Liverpool for young winger Harvey Elliott when the two clubs head to a tribunal on Tuesday.
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Liverpool signed the 17-year-old in the summer of 2019 before he had signed a professional contract with Fulham, but the Cottagers are entitled to some compensation after being responsible for his development.
Liverpool offered to pay close to £750,000 to sign the then 16-year-old, but as noted by The Athletic, Fulham want closer to £10m for a player who is: their youngest ever player, Liverpool’s youngest ever starter and the youngest player in Premier League history.
Elliott is currently shining in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers, notching four goals and eight assists in 22 appearances, and he has been tipped to be a major part of the Liverpool setup upon his return to Anfield.
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Fulham still feel as though a £10m would be daylight robbery. They felt that Elliott had the potential to blossom into a future superstar at Craven Cottage, and young England internationals have been known to sell for more than that figure.
Harvey Elliott’s case is set for a tribunal | Nicola Sua – AMA/Getty Images
For comparison, Liverpool recently sold Rhian Brewster to Sheffield United for somewhere close to the £20m mark, despite the fact that the striker had not made a single appearance in the Premier League at that point.
Whether Fulham will actually get that £10m is unknown, but given the record amount of compensation set by a tribunal stands at the £6.5m Liverpool were ordered to pay Burnley for Danny Ings, it’s not looking good.
Liverpool will definitely hope to avoid paying that kind of money. Jurgen Klopp was open about the Reds’ lack of transfer funds in January, which is why centre-back Ozan Kabak was only signed on an initial loan, and shelling out £10m might not sit well with club chiefs.
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It’s a big case for both Liverpool and Fulham, but also for academies as a whole. There’s a perception that smaller teams are often short-changed in these situations, with most pointing to the mere £850,000 Exeter City were awarded from Chelsea’s purchase of Ethan Ampadu, who earned his first cap for Wales just months after joining the Blues.
Fulham have invested a considerable amount of money in their academy to obtain Category 1 status in 2012, but there are fears that those efforts could be undermined if a player like Elliott is only worth pocket change to a tribunal.
Guardiola’s men are competing for four trophies and they want to make sure all their players are fully focused on the task at hand
Manchester City are prepared to reward John Stones’ recent run of good form with a new contract at the Etihad Stadium.
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Stones was out of favour under Pep Guardiola last season and was widely expected to leave the club following the big-money arrivals of Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake, but the Englishman has instead forced his way back into the starting lineup, forming a dominant partnership with Dias.
In his 13 Premier League starts this season – he only managed 12 last year – Stones has helped City keep ten clean sheets, and he even chimed in with two goals in the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace back in January.
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As it stands, Stones is set to enter the final 12 months of his contract at the end of the season, and The Times note that Guardiola has urged City to offer him fresh terms to keep him around for a little while longer.
John Stones has earned himself a new contract at Man City | Michael Regan/Getty Images
Club officials were open to selling Stones last summer but have been incredibly impressed with his reaction to the new signings, and talks between the two are expected to be held at the end of the season.
City want to wait so as to avoid adding any potential distractions into the mix. Guardiola’s men are competing for four trophies and they want to make sure all their players are fully focused on the task at hand.
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Speaking to NoRM‘s known Media after his goalscoring exploits against Palace, Stones confessed that he struggled to accept being out in the cold at City and admitted he worked tirelessly to try and get himself back into the fold.
“It’s always tough when you’re not playing and you don’t get a run of games – then when you do, you don’t perform to what you can do, because you maybe put too much pressure on yourself,” he said.
“I’ve said it to Micah Richards and to a lot of people that I went back to the basics and looked at myself first, looked at what I can improve on in every aspect.
“I’ve said to [Richards] a few times now – he’s been very open about himself as well, which is good – and I think players that have been in my position and for me personally to keep fighting and keep believing in myself is something first and foremost that needs to happen.
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“You need to be able to look yourself in the mirror and say ‘am I doing everything for myself and for the team?’
“I did that and kept working hard kept the faith and kept grinding away. And as I said, I kept trying to improve – and I still am now. I don’t think you’ll ever stop looking to improve on yourself. I’m just trying to do my best.”
Hojbjerg’s arrival initially raised an eyebrow after his unsavoury end to life on the south coast, but like Reguilon, he has proven himself well worthy.
Following an impressive season on loan at Sevilla, Reguilon arrived from Real Madrid for a fee in the region of £27m and has quickly established himself as one of the best left backs in the Premier League with a series of impressive performances.
Speaking to 90min’s Ben Haines as part of Spurs TV’s N17 Live, the 24-year-old credited Hojbjerg as a big part of the reason he was able to hit the ground running so seamlessly.
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He said the Dane, who had signed from Southampton just a month earlier, was the first player to reach out to him after he arrived in north London.
Hojbjerg has earned high praise | James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images
He did so via a WhatsApp message that went into a surprising amount of detail, and left Reguilon taken aback.
He said ahead of Tottenham’s clash with West Brom: “One thing that nobody knows is that Pierre, as soon as I arrived, he sent me a long WhatsApp message welcoming me to the team.
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“He said ‘Hi, welcome to Tottenham. I’m Pierre-Emile Hobjerg. I hope you do well. We need you to do your work for the team.’
“I was surprised, because it was a big message!” he said, gesturing with his fingers to stress that it was, in fact, a big message.
“He went into detail about the team-mates, about the coach, all of it. I was like ‘OK!’
“When you arrive in a new city and a new country, it’s important to have people and players who help you, and Pierre is one of them.”
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Hojbjerg’s arrival initially raised an eyebrow after his unsavoury end to life on the south coast, but like Reguilon, he has proven himself well worthy.
He is yet to miss a minute in the Premier League, and has been as consistent and meticulous on the pitch as he is over WhatsApp.
Klopp opted to persevere with the partnership of Jordan Henderson and Nat Phillips at the back for that one, as the Reds lost 1-0 to the south coast team.
New Liverpool signing Ozak Kabak could make his debut at some stage against Manchester City, as Jurgen Klopp named the central defender in his matchday squad for the first time.
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Kabak arrived on an initial loan from Schalke on deadline day as part of the solution to Liverpool’s injury crisis, but the deal was not cleared in time for him to face Brighton.
Klopp opted to persevere with the partnership of Jordan Henderson and Nat Phillips at the back for that one, as the Reds lost 1-0 to the south coast team.
Henderson remains at centre back for the must-win clash against City and is joined by Fabinho, who returns to start for the first time since mid-January.
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New arrival Ben Davies made the squad against Brighton but he has been left out this time around.
File Photo: Liverpool New Signing, Ozan Kabak to play against Manchester City | Noble Reporters Media | Adigun Michael Olamide | NoRM News
There is no place for Rhys Williams either, as Phillips drops out of the starting XI to join Kabak on the bench.
A strong bench shows Liverpool’s injury problems are easing up somewhat but it comes too soon for Diogo Jota who is expected to return to action at some point in February.
Alisson retakes his place between the sticks after illness kept him out against Brighton, and having him back will be a major boost as Klopp’s team look for a win that could reinvigorate their title challenge after another Anfield stumble during the week.
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Elsewhere Curtis Jones comes in for the experienced James Milner, while Georginio Wijnaldum retains a place alongside Thiago, who starts a seventh straight Premier League game for the defending champions.
The first choice front three take their place with neither Divock Origi or Xherdan Shaqiri doing enough to warrant a shuffling of the pack, while the usual full-back pairing of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson will look to provide the ammunition from wide areas.
Juventus are rumoured to want to get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo because his contract is too much of a financial strain as it is..
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that the club has an ‘open dialogue’ with star midfielder Paul Pogba about his contract situation and future at Old Trafford.
Agent Mino Raiola openly claimed in December that Pogba had become unhappy at United and wanted to leave.
He also effectively threatened the club by pointing out that his client can leave as a free agent when his current contract expires in 2022 if they refuse to sell.
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Raiola was widely criticised for the timing and bluntness of his message in the same week as a crunch Champions League game against RB Leipzig that United went on to lose.
Pogba and Solskjaer appear to be on good terms | Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Pogba was not directly involved but was at least thought to be complicit because he never took any action to deny what his agent had said if it was untrue.
However, things appear to have changed since then. Pogba was in and out of the United lineup at that time and has now re-taken a regular starting place in a team that has improved enough to have forced its way into the Premier League title race for the first time since 2013.
The Frenchman appears happier on the pitch and it is reflected in more consistent performances.
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Previously, he cut a frustrated figure head and shoulders above teammates below his level.
Now, others are much closer to him and complementing his game and vice versa.
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It is still not certain either way will happen at the end of the season – whether he signs a contract or pursues a transfer away, but Solskjaer’s comments suggest there is a healthy relationship between the player and club and the situation will continue to be monitored.
Pogba is out of contract at Old Trafford in 2022 | Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
“We’ve got a good open dialogue with Paul, so what we talk about and how we see that situation remains between us of course,” the United is quoted as saying by NoRM‘s known Media.
“I’m just happy he’s focused, he’s playing really well and he’s happy in himself and that’s important. You can see Paul now enjoying playing football with a red shirt on.”
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If United cannot convince Pogba to sign a new contract, a sale this coming is a must to recoup a transfer fee before he is able to leave as a free agent in 2022.
Equally, the player, soon to turn 28, will be aware that inking a fresh deal will see him commit the remainder of his best years to the club.
It could end up that staying put and signing a new contract is Pogba’s only realistic option.
Man Utd & Paul Pogba must make a decision by the summer | Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
The coronavirus pandemic has wiped out any possible market for him, with the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona all interested but strapped for cash. Were he to run down his contract and try his luck in free agency, he may find that any offers can’t match his expectation.
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Real are prioritising a move for Kylian Mbappe this year but are expected to have to sell a number of players and potentially finance some of the transfer with a loan to afford it.
Juventus are rumoured to want to get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo because his contract is too much of a financial strain as it is, while Barcelona are in full-on financial crisis with debts estimated to have spiralled to €1bn.
Solskjaer and the United squad were then able to go in and carry on their preparations for the crucial game without any further problems or setbacks.
Manchester United endured brief disruption to their preparations for Saturday night’s Premier League clash with Everton and Old Trafford when fire engines were called to the team’s hotel in Salford seven hours before kick-off.
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United typically use the luxury hotel, located just across the River Irwell from Manchester city centre and a short drive to Old Trafford, as a base before home matches.
But when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his squad arrived on the team coach on Saturday lunchtime, fire engines were already on their way to the hotel.
NoRM‘s known Media writes that the United party pulled up shortly after 1pm, only for two fire engines to also arrive almost immediately afterwards.
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Crews of firefighters are said to have jumped from the vehicles and rushed inside, only for it be end up as a false alarm.
Man Utd were greeted by fire engines at their team hotel | Pool/Getty Images
The firefighters are reported to have then left with everything appearing to be fine and the Mirror suggests the problem may have been caused by a fire alarm being set off in the hotel’s kitchens.
Whatever the issue, Solskjaer and the United squad were then able to go in and carry on their preparations for the crucial game without any further problems or setbacks.
After back-to-back games without victory, United returned to winning ways last time out when they thrashed Southampton 9-0 at Old Trafford to equal their own Premier League record from 1995.
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The result almost doubled their goal difference, completely reversing the damage inflicted by the 6-1 defeat against Tottenham earlier in the season, and kept United in second place in the table.
A win against Everton would see United go level on points with leaders Manchester City and put the pressure on their rivals, who are in action away at Liverpool just under 24 hours later.
The new rules, slated to last until the day after the game, ban travellers from countries hit by new, more contagious coronavirus variants such as Britain.
Liverpool will not be allowed to enter Germany for a Champions League match against RB Leipzig on February 16 because of strict entry rules imposed over the pandemic, the German interior ministry said Thursday.
“German federal police informed RB Leipzig today that the described case does not meet the requirements for an exception” to the travel restrictions, the interior ministry said in a statement.
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According to AFP sports subsidiary SID, Leipzig is now looking for an alternative location.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – Anfield General Views – Anfield, Liverpool, Britain – March 13, 2020 General view of the Liverpool logo on Anfield Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff/File Photo<br />
The Bundesliga club is set to host Premier League champions Liverpool in a Champions League last-16, first-leg game but the planning for the match has been upended by Germany’s recently updated travel restrictions.
The new rules, slated to last until the day after the game, ban travellers from countries hit by new, more contagious coronavirus variants such as Britain.
Though there are some exceptions for medical workers and others in key professions, the interior ministry has repeatedly said that there is “no special provision for professional sportspeople”.
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According to German media reports, UEFA’s regulations decree that Leipzig must find a way of hosting the match or risk forfeiting it as a 3-0 defeat.
Potential solutions include playing the game at a neutral ground outside of Germany, or switching the home and away legs of the tie so that the first leg would be in Liverpool.
Tuchel is hoping a return to a ground where Werner has had happy memories will be the catalyst for his rediscovering his appetite for goals.
Timo Werner is “working hard with a smile” as he tries to end his scoring drought in the Premier League dating back to last November said Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.
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The 24-year-old German international has failed as of yet to justify the £52 million ($71 million) former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard persuaded the board to spend on him in the close season.
He has scored nine goals across all competitions with just four in the Premier League.
However, fellow German Tuchel says Werner is “not looking for excuses”.
“With every player we try to create a relationship,” said Tuchel at his press conference on the eve of their game with Tottenham Hotspur.
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“Every guy is different.
“Some need to be close and some need to be alone.
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“We find out what suits him and allows him to open up and feel comfortable again on the pitch.
“It is our responsibility to create moments where he can bring out his best, which means attacking the space in behind to use his speed.
“We create situations with the whole team to use his strengths.”
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Tuchel is hoping a return to a ground where Werner has had happy memories will be the catalyst for his rediscovering his appetite for goals.
“He has good memories at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,” said Tuchel.
“He has scored for Chelsea and RB Leipzig there and he is not looking for excuses.
“He is working hard with a smile.”
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‘Role model’ Tuchel’s first two games in charge since replacing Lampard last week have yielded four points, leaving them 11 points off the top two Manchester City and Manchester United.
His chances of securing a second successive win will be enhanced by the absence of Spurs’s injured talismanic striker Harry Kane.
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Kane has scored or created 23 of Tottenham’s 34 Premier League goals this season.
“It is always easier when Harry Kane is not playing,” said Tuchel.
“He is one of the best number nines in the world and when he is in shape, he is maybe the role model number nine that every coach wishes for, in terms of work rate and ability.
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“His goalscoring is outstanding. We assume he will not play but we will prepare for all cases.”
Tottenham’s form, like Chelsea’s, has dropped away after a bright start.
They topped the table in December, but have won just two of their past nine league games and lag behind in the race for Champions League spots as they are six points adrift of the top four.
Tuchel, though laid to rest any thought that he might feel sentimental towards his opponents having been rumoured to be a Spurs supporter when he was a boy.
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“When I was a boy and I was Tottenham in the garden, it was to show off with my friends,” said Tuchel.
“I did not know they were a club in London, it was just a name we heard on the television.”
Both can drive forward from midfield with real purpose and are quiet often central to an attacking move.
Alan Hudson claimed that Frank Lampard would not have faced the sack had he signed Jack Grealish for Chelsea from Aston Villa.
The Chelsea icon told Caught Offside that Lampard could’ve kept his seat in the dugout had he made a move for Villa’s talisman.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 28: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on December 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
“I know Frank, used to know him well until becoming manager, and had I been his adviser I would have told him to buy Jack Grealish,” Hudson said.
“And I mention this because Jack has just learned the ins out outs of top-level football, and he’s 25-year-of-age – that’s how long it takes today, not eighteen months.
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“Had Frank had signed Jack he’d still be the Chelsea manager.”
Lampard lost his job after Chelsea underwent a poor run of results that included a home draw against Grealish’s Villa.
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Hudson was also critical of the youthful contingent who made such an impact under their previous manager.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JUNE 21: Mason Mount of Chelsea heads the ball as Jack Grealish of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Chelsea FC at Villa Park on June 21, 2020 in Birmingham, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
“That’s the difference – Jack makes things happen, he knows the game, not like these kids, who are players-in-waiting.”
It was not long ago that Grealish was a young gun trying to prove himself in the Premier League. He has since flourished into an exceptional talent and many at Chelsea are on a similar track.
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One name that stands out is Mason Mount. The 22-year-old has easily been Chelsea’s best player this season and has a comparable influence on his team as Grealish does at Villa.
The pair have parallels in their respective styles of play.
Both can drive forward from midfield with real purpose and are quiet often central to an attacking move.
Mount and Grealish have been pitted against each other as rivals not just at club level, but the international set up as well.
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Plenty was made about which one would make it into Gareth Southgate’s starting line-up.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 12: Mason Mount of England(L), Jadon Sancho of England(C) and Jack Grealish of England(R) look on during the national anthems during the international friendly match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium on November 12, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Egerton – Pool/Getty Images)
This obsession caused Grealish to call the whole debate ‘annoying’ and that ‘they weren’t even fighting for the same spot’ (Sky Sports).
It took seconds for the first jibes to appear as the internet’s best and brightest lined up to take the mickey out of Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is literally Groundhog Day (check your calendar) and we have just witnessed Southampton lose 9-0 in a Premier League game. it is deja vu all over again…
This time, their tormentors were Manchester United and much like when Leicester subjected them to the same scoreline last season, social media greeted the news in typically understanding, respectful fashion.
Only joking.
It took seconds for the first jibes to appear as the internet’s best and brightest lined up to take the mickey out of Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side.
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Before we dive into all of that carnage, how about a few stats as a light starter?
United were in merciless form on Tuesday night | Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images
One of the very best reactions came from the: ‘Has the 9-0 Been Mentioned’ Twitter account, set up in protest of pundits constantly referencing that Leicester defeat whenever they cover a Southampton game.
Of course, they quickly changed the name to the brilliant: ‘Have EITHER of the 9-0’s Been Mentioned.’
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Well, if you can’t laugh at yourself…
Southampton’s bitter rivals, Portsmouth, then got in on the act.
Even on one of the most historic nights in Premier League history some people could not help but notice how Mike Dean had managed to steal the show, taking an age to review the incident that led to the penalty for United’s eight goal.
Before we let Southampton fans begin their recoveries, we could not live with ourselves if we did not share some of these fire tweets with captured the mood of a momentous evening perfectly.
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Or, more accurately, just made us laugh.
We will see you next time the Saints treat us a nine goal thriller.
The defender gained some vital match fitness in that win, and he’ll be hoping to have proven his worth to Solskjaer’s first team in the process.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that defender Brandon Williams will not leave Manchester United on loan in the January transfer window, despite Newcastle United and Southampton previously expressing an interest in the 20-year-old.
The left-back looked set to leave Old Trafford this winter in order to gain some much-needed experience at the top level, and a deal was believed to be close with the Magpies.
But after Man Utd’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal on Saturday, Solskjaer stated that Williams ‘will stay’ at the club, while announcing that no other players will be heading out of the exit door in the winter window.
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“Brandon [Williams] will stay,” Solskjaer confirmed.
“He played Under-23s against Liverpool today, he needed match fitness. I don’t have any other players that we think will be going. It’s a relentless season and we go again on Tuesday.”
Williams was part of Man Utd’s crushing victory over Liverpool Under-23s on Saturday, when they romped to a 6-3 win, with new signing Amad Diallo scoring a brace – including a cheeky panenka penalty.
Williams fell out of the side towards the end of the 2019/20 campaign, and then dropped even further down the pecking order when Alex Telles joined in the summer from Porto.
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Now behind both Telles and Luke Shaw in the race for the starting left-back spot, it appeared that a move to another Premier League club would be his only option to earn some regular playing time, but the Norwegian boss has closed the door on that possibility.
It appears he is wary of injuries leaving them short of quality alternatives across the pitch, so Williams must wait patiently for his chance to arrive, and grab it with both hands if it does.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confessed he had to talk himself into accepting the Blues’ offer of an 18-month contract.
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The former Paris Saint-Germain boss was earmarked as a preferred replacement for Frank Lampard, who was sacked after leading Chelsea on a run of four wins in 11 games in all competitions, and he was flown in to take charge in the 0-0 draw with Wolves last time out.
During negotiations with Tuchel, reports on the length of his contract varied wildly. Some said four-and-a-half years, but those who said 18 months were eventually proven correct, and Tuchel confessed that he was taken aback by the proposal initially.
“I want to be very honest with you, at first it was a concern, I was a little like ‘oh, why 18 months?’” Tuchel confessed (via Goal). “And after one minute I thought ‘what does it change?’
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“What does it change? If they give me four-and-a-half years, they [could] sack me anyway. If they are not happy with me, they will sack me anyway. And if they gave me four-and-a-half years they would put in a clause that when they sack me, they’ll pay me.
“So where can I be sure that I’ll be there for four-and-a-half years? You cannot. That is the truth at this level. What is the role right now of the coaches? Are we in charge of the whole team and the transfers as well, or not, are we totally free in everything we do or not? Are we only responsible for bad results or also good results? What is this role and where do we find ourselves in that?”
Recently, Chelsea have made a habit of offering their managers short-term contract, with Roman Abramovich seemingly growing tired of shelling out enormous compensation fees to part ways with his staff.
While the Russian’s ruthless, trigger-happy approach to managers has left many concerned in the past, Tuchel insisted that he is not focused on the risks of such a perilous position.
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“I decided not to worry too much, be brave enough to take on this adventure, because it was absolutely clear that I want to do it and I don’t want to miss the chance,” the German added.
“It’s also my character to believe more in the chances than the risks. There is absolutely, for me personally, nothing to be afraid of. I’m very grateful to do this job at this level and I don’t want to waste my time thinking about risks.”
Those misses proved costly, as Man Utd failed to find the net at the Emirates Stadium, dropping two more points in the Premier League title race
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has backed Edinson Cavani to ‘score a few soon’, after the Uruguayan’s poor finishing cost Manchester United a potential two extra points in a goalless draw against Arsenal.
The Red Devils were not at their best on Saturday, but they did carve out two gilt-edged opportunities for the 33-year-old, but the usually reliable striker first somehow hit Bernd Leno with his close-range effort, and then acrobatically fired wide late on.
..But coach Solskjaer was upbeat after the match, and he backed Cavani to hit a rich vein of form following his poor display against the Gunners.
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“He’s there, I was a striker myself, I had periods when I don’t score, the gaffer [Sir Alex Ferguson] and everyone around me would say ‘you were there to miss the chances’,” Solskjaer said.
“To score you have to miss a few and he’ll definitely score a few soon.”
Speaking about the game as a whole, Solskjaer maintained that Man Utd created enough chances to beat Arsenal, and claimed that they ‘controlled the game’ despite the Gunners arguably coming closest, when Alexandre Lacazette’s free-kick rattled the crossbar.
“We created enough chances to score, we’ll work on that and get them going again. We look at it as one step forward after Wednesday night,” he said.
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“I felt that we controlled the game, the free-kick that hits the bar can always go in, but they didn’t bother us too much. We were a little bit passive outside the box, they had a few too many shots, but David wouldn’t be bothered by too many of them.”
The draw leaves Man Utd trailing Manchester City by three points in the Premier League table, while the Citizens still hold a game in hand over their fierce rivals.
Tuchel added that he had huge admiration for the outgoing boss as both a player and a person, and revealed he’d already spoken to Lampard since being appointed.
Thomas Tuchel has described any chance of Chelsea embarking on a Premier league title challenge this season as ‘not realistic’, and says he intends to focus his efforts on the Champions League and FA Cup.
The German boss was addressing the media in his first press conference since being appointed Blues manager, despite having already taken charge of his first game at the helm.
His maiden outing saw his side fail to break the deadlock against a resolute Wolves side on Wednesday evening – a result which leaves them 11 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City – and while Tuchel recognises he must deliver success, he’s already ruled out a title challenge this season.
“Realistically this year it’s the Champions League and the FA Cup,” he told reporters (via the club’s official YouTube channel). “To speak now about the Premier League title there are too many teams between us and this is not realistic, we will just lose the focus.
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“At Chelsea it is about results for us as managers. We always try to bring in performances, to bring in and develop and improve players and increase their value, but in the end I’m very realistic.
“I’m in a cub whose DNA it is to win and go for trophies and I’m here to challenge for every trophy we play for.”
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Despite underling the need to deliver consistent silverware during his time at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel also stressed the importance of entertaining the fans in the process.
“Success is also to make the stadium happy,” he added. “People should be exited to come to Stamford Bridge, people should be excited to watch our team, people should be excited and feel like the team plays with a special energy and atmosphere.”
Tuchel had been out of work for little over a month when he was announced as Chelsea’s new boss, though he said he couldn’t pass on such a glorious opportunity when the job was offered to him.
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“It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world in the most competitive league of the world,” he said. “It felt like we should not miss the chance to be part of the Chelsea family and to compete for titles with the best manager and best teams. That was a pretty easy choice.”
The recent sacking of Frank Lampard has not been well received by some sections of the Chelsea fan base, with a banner hung on the gates of Stamford Bridge voicing displeasure at the decision to dismiss the former Blues midfielder.
“I was a huge fan of Frank as a player,” he said. “It was a huge joy to watch him play and to see how he played with personality. He was one of the key players to demonstrate in 90 minutes what Chelsea was about – intensity, devotion and winning mentality.
“I have the biggest respect for him personally and for his legacy, It just got bigger when I received a personal message this morning to wish me all the best and maybe meet in the future when this is possible.”
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When quizzed about the possibility of adding to his squad during the January transfer window, Tuchel insisted he’s keen to show faith in those already at the club, though he failed to completely rule out any new arrivals.
“I have the feeling right now that the guys deserve to be trusted and I want to trust everybody,” he added. “If the possibility comes along that we all agree on making us stronger right away we will not hesitate, but it’s not like we have the absolute need to do something.”
Unfortunately for Font, Laporta soon hit back and insisted that his mind is made up about the situation.
Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has claimed that the team should pursue a move for Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia this month as the defender has supposedly promised to play without a salary until the end of the season.
Garcia’s contract with City will expire at the end of the current campaign and he has made it clear that he will not be signing a new one. He intends to move to Barcelona, but City have always been reluctant to sell, regardless of the financial risk.
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The decision on whether to sign Garcia this month was left to the three presidential candidates – Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font – but the trio could not agree on a move and now Garcia seems set to join on a free transfer in the summer.
Font was strongly in favour of landing Garcia, and he recently held a press conference to urge his fellow candidates to reconsider their stances.
“Eric García is ready to make an effort [to leave City this month] and not be paid this season,” Font said (via The Times).
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“The movements we have made lead us to understand that the signing of Eric García is possible now, the club can manage it financially. Ronald Koeman and our sporting structure consider his signing fundamental to aspire to win titles this season. So we ask the managing committee to sign Eric this week.
“Why not sign him? If he’s ready to not be paid this season… City will accept €3m plus variables. The impact on the accounts this season would be €230,000 in amortisation. How do we motivate Koeman if the only request he’s made is denied?”
“After seeing the economic situation of the club, I remain in my position. Candidates do not have the power to tell the Management Board things that it cannot do.
“If a player wants to come here, he has to prove it. If he comes for free in June, I don’t know why we have to give money to a club that is our competitor. Now we are talking about amounts that are now different, but ultimately it would be to pay money for a player that in June would be free. We will wait until June and then we will talk.”
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Laporta’s determination to avoid paying for Garcia culminated in a strongly worded letter to acting president Carles Tusquets, warning him not make any decisions which could negatively impact the winner of March’s elections, but Catalunya Radio note that Tusquets has hit back.
In his own letter, Tusquets accused Laporta of threatening him no less than five times, and he urged the presidential hopeful to keep his mouth shut until the elections on March 7. Yikes.
The Red Devils have made a habit of coming back to take all three points from losing positions this term – but instead it was the visitors who found a second wind.
Sheffield United produced one of the shocks of the season as the Premier League’s bottom side recorded a 2-1 win over title chasing Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.
It was an energetic, tireless, cohesive performance from the Blades, reminiscent of the displays that they had turned in on a weekly basis last season.
Sir Alex Ferguson's here and that Sheffield United performance might remind him of the 'obscene' effort from relegated West Ham at Upton Park in 1992. Sheffield United still destined for the Championship, which makes this such a demoralising defeat for #mufc. They were poor.
Chris Wilder’s side took the lead after 23 minutes, former Manchester City academy product Kean Bryan rising highest to head home from a corner.
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However, the goal was not without controversy, with Billy Sharp not penalised for a nudge on David de Gea in the buildup. Minutes later at the other end, a foul was awarded against Harry Maguire following a similar incident.
Manchester United making a supposedly routine fixture far too hard for themselves, it’s just like old times.
It was the only complaint United could muster after a flat first half performance.
But the Red Devils fought back and found an equaliser in the 64th minute, former Sheffield United academy product Maguire escaping the attentions of the excellent Phil Jagielka and powering home a header.
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United twice failed to clear their lines and Oliver Burke was presented with all the time and space in the world inside the box to fire towards goal, and his effort deflected in off Axel Tuanzebe.
It was a glorious piece of completely calamitous defending from the Red Devils.
You can do nothing but laugh at this, by the way. It’s genuinely quite funny. United weren’t ever winning this league but they had to choose a game against the worst team in PL history to date to confirm it 😂
It was calamitous defending against a side with just one Premier League win and ten Premier League goals to their name prior to Wednesday evening.
It was ultimately a poor performance from Manchester United, who missed the opportunity to return to the Premier League summit and brought an end to their unbeaten top flight run.
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The result and manner of the defeat also led to fans questioning their title credentials.
We had fun with it as fans, but this Manchester United squad can't win a title. Too many so called 'big' players hide in crunch time.
But take nothing away from Sheffield United, who produced a stunning performance from front to back. The midfield three of John Lundstram, Oliver Norwood and John Fleck were absolutely everywhere, while their three centre halves were absolutely imperious.
Txiki sold City Academy’s Kean Bryan to Sheffield United, who scores to help defeat Man United at Old Trafford, which keeps #ManCity Top Of the League…
Gunners coach Mikel Arteta was also delighted with the transfer, stating that Odegaard will offer ‘quality offensive options’ to his current crop of players.
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Real Madrid star Martin Odegaard on loan until the end of the season.
The Norwegian midfielder travelled to North London to put the finishing touches on the deal on Sunday, and with the details in place, all that was missing was the official confirmation from the clubs.
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Now, the Gunners announced Odegaard’s arrival in video form on their Twitter account, offering pictures of the 22-year-old in their famous red strip for the very first time. The midfielder has taken the number 11 shirt, leaving the number 10, previously worn by Mesut Ozil, open to one of his new teammates.
Odegaard’s signature has softened the blow of the German’s Emirates exit, with fans disappointed in how the former talisman’s career ended in North London. They can now look forward to witnessing Madrid’s playmaker in action, after he struggled to make his mark in their first team under Zinedine Zidane.
The youngster enjoyed a breakout season at Real Sociedad last year, and Los Blancos decided not to allow him to rejoin their rivals on loan for another campaign. Odegaard was expected to become an integral part in the champions’ midfield, but he ended up making only seven La Liga appearances in 2020/21.
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That absence from their plans allowed the Gunners to jump in and land themselves an excellent piece of business. Arsenal technical director Edu was full of praise for the club’s new signing, thanking Madrid for their collaboration in allowing the move to come to fruition.
Martin Odegaard to play for the Emirates Stadium on loan from Santiago Bernabeu. (Noble Reporters Media, Olamide)
“We are delighted to welcome Martin to the club until the end of the season. I would like to thank everyone at Real Madrid and Martin’s representatives for their collaboration in making this loan move happen.
“Martin is an exceptional talent and we are strengthening our squad by introducing an exciting offensive player to the club for the remaining months of this season.”
“It’s great that we’ve secured Martin to come to us until the end of the season. Martin is of course a player that we all know very well and although still young, he has been playing at the top level for a while.
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“Martin will provide us with quality offensive options and we’re all excited to be integrating him into our plans between now and May.”
• Emile Smith Rowe’s career on the line •
For Arsenal, Emile Smith Rowe has undoubtedly been the saviour of the season.
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Since his arrival to the Gunners’ Premier League starting lineup, Arsenal have been fantastic domestically.
He has led them to four wins and a draw in the last five games, offering up three assists and transforming their season.
Emile Smith Rowe might have to bench for a year? (Noble Reporters Media, Olamide)
The 20-year-old has given Arsenal the sort of creativity they were hoping to find by spending big in the January transfer market, and he’s turned the Gunners back into a genuine threat.
It’s now understood that he’s due to be rewarded with a bumper new contract, but on top of that, Arsenal are now looking to reward Smith Rowe with an enormous threat to his young club career.
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Real Madrid playmaker Martin Odegaard has now sealed a six-month loan switch to the Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal stressing the need to bring someone in to rotate with Smith Rowe and steer them through to the end of the season.
On one hand, that’s absolutely right. Relying so heavily on a 20-year-old with seven Premier League appearances to his name is a recipe for disaster. Arsenal need someone to help shoulder the burden, 100%.
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However, that replacement probably shouldn’t be someone who is coming to the Emirates to take most of Smith Rowe’s minutes.
Smith Rowe needs regular game time if he is ever going to blossom into the kind of player Arsenal feel like they can rely on. He doesn’t need to play 38 games and 90 minutes every week, but he needs to be playing more often than not.
Unfortunately, you have to say that same thing about Odegaard as well.
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The 22-year-old former wonderkid has found his career at somewhat of a crossroads. Despite an impressive loan spell with Real Sociedad last season, he’s not yet at the level he needs to be to star for Real.
Martin Odegaard tries new career at EPL. (Noble Reporters Media, Olamide)
Zinedine Zidane handed Odegaard a grand total of 367 minutes this season – five starts and four substitute appearances – forcing the Norwegian to head out on loan to try and find more minutes.
He’s chosen Arsenal, with manager Mikel Arteta understood to have personally convinced Odegaard to pick the Emirates as the perfect spot for his development. That probably means Arteta has promised him minutes.
Odegaard will rock up to Arsenal expecting to be a regular starter, but the problem is that Smith Rowe currently demands – and deserves – the same. There’s only one No. 10 spot, just ask Mesut Ozil.
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For Arteta, there needs to be a delicate balancing of the situation, but there’s a real possibility of nobody winning. If Smith Rowe plays too much, Odegaard doesn’t play enough. If they play 50:50, both will be lacking.
To have two wonderkids fighting for one spot can be a recipe for disaster. We’ve seen plenty of players choose to walk away from their clubs because of a lack of confidence in their development path – Tariq Lamptey leaving Chelsea for Brighton is a recent example.
The goal put the game beyond Southampton’s reach but it was just the latest, decisive impact that Saka has had while operating down the right-hand side.
A month ago, Arsenal were being written off as relegation fodder, while Southampton were being tipped as unlikely top four contenders.
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It is testament to the fine job that Mikel Arteta has done in motivating his squad that when the two sides met in the Premier League on Tuesday night, the Gunners managed to secure a fairly straightforward win.
In the past, conceding in the opening three minutes might have been enough to down Arteta’s mentally fragile charges. However, on Tuesday this was not the case. Instead, the Gunners rallied brilliantly, eventually securing a 3-1 victory.
Bukayo Saka kneel-slides to jubilate. (Noble Reporters Media, Olamide)
The credit for such a result should not go to just one man – whether that be Arteta or a player – as collectively, the north Londoners were very strong. Despite this, someone who is worthy of extra special praise is Bukayo Saka.
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Deployed as a right forward, Saka once again impressed. Since being move to the opposite flank by Arteta five games ago, the Gunners form has improved dramatically. Prior to the switch, Arsenal had won just four of their opening 14 games.
Since swapping him, they are unbeaten, with Saka registering six direct goal involvements in as many games. His latest two contributions were very impressive as well. Just before half-time, Saka slipped free of Jake Vokins and raced onto Alexandre Lacazette’s through ball. Despite travelling at ridiculous pace, he showed the speed of thought to skip past the onrushing Alex McCarthy before firing the ball into the empty net.
After the break, he was at it again, this time returning the favour to Lacazette with a tremendous assist. Drifting free of his marker at the back post, Saka was found by Cedric Soares’ long ball. Without breaking stride, Saka latched onto it before putting an appetising ball across the box for Lacazette to bundle home.
Bukayo Saka celebrates in Style. (Noble Reporters Media, Olamide)
Of course, it would be overly simplistic to put Arsenal’s sudden upturn in fortunes down to the tweaking of one player’s role, but his success in the position does suggest that his long-term future could lie there.
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What were you doing at 19? Previously this season, when deployed as a wing-back, there was a feeling that Saka could not influence things enough in the final third. There is little danger of that now and the England international’s efficient, yet attractive performances have played a significant role in transforming Arsenal stodgy, predictable approach play.
Considering he has only been able to legally buy a pint for just under 17 months, that is, quite frankly, ridiculous.
Chelsea went on to confirm that Tuchel would lead his first training session on Tuesday evening, before taking charge of his first match against Wolves a day later.
Chelsea have confirmed Thomas Tuchel as their new head coach, replacing Frank Lampard who departed the club on Monday.
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Tuchel was most recently in charge of Paris Saint-Germain. During his time there, PSG dominated domestically, as well as reaching last year’s Champions League final which they lost to Bayern Munich. Prior to taking over in Paris, he was Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Borussia Dortmund.
Tuchel has signed an 18-month contract at Stamford Bridge, and revealed his delight in an interview with the club’s website.
“I would like to thank Chelsea FC for their confidence in me and my staff,” he said.
“We all have the greatest respect for Frank Lampard’s work and the legacy he created at Chelsea. At the same time, I cannot wait to meet my new team and compete in the most exciting league in football. I am grateful to now be part of the Chelsea family – it feels amazing!”
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Director Marina Granovskaia added: “It is never easy to change head coach in the middle of the season but we are very happy to secure one of Europe’s best coaches in Thomas Tuchel. There is still much to play for and much to achieve, this season and beyond. We welcome Thomas to the club.”
Chelsea currently sit ninth in the Premier League having won just one of their last eight games. Tuchel’s first task will be to get the club back on track domestically, while his predecessor had safely guided the Blues to the last 16 of the Champions League, where they will face Atlético Madrid in February.
There is now a solution that will ensure teams can at least immediately replace a player suspected of having suffered a concussion.
The Premier League has approved a trial of concussion substitutions that could be introduced to games very soon.
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In the event of a suspected concussion, it will give clubs the power to make additional substitutions and contribute to better player welfare.
Once the final details surrounding implementation are ironed out between FIFA and international lawmakers IFAB, the trial can begin and each side in a game will be allowed to make a maximum of two concussion substitutions, regardless of the number of substitutions made already.
As things stand, players with a head injury or suspected concussion may force themselves to carry on, putting themselves at risk of more serious injury, if the only alternative is that their team would be at a numerical disadvantage without them.
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A Premier League statement explained: “Premier League Shareholders today formally agreed to introduce the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) additional permanent concussion substitutions trial.
“The trial will be confirmed when the implementation of the reporting processes, including private medical information, has been resolved with IFAB and FIFA.
“With player welfare the Premier League’s priority, the protocols will allow a maximum of two concussion substitutes to be used per team, with the opposition side able to use the equivalent number.
“The additional concussion substitutions may be made regardless of the number of substitutions a team have made already.
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“The trial is a result of the IFAB’s consultation with stakeholders and recommendations from their concussion expert group to allow additional substitutions for players with actual or suspected concussion.”
With Premier League games coming thick and fast in an ever more congested season, any measures intended to improve player safety, health and welfare cannot come soon enough.
Noble Reporters Media 