List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

Curtis Jones insisted he never lost faith he would earn a Liverpool revival after coming through a “tough time” to establish himself as a first-team regular. The 22-year-old midfielder’s quickfire double helped the in-form Reds to a comfortable 3-0 win at relegation-threatened Leicester on Monday. Jones has now started the Reds’ last nine Premier League games having previously only made two starts all season, with a shin injury sidelining him until mid-October. He has also scored three goals in his last four appearances – ending an 18-month drought – to help Liverpool in their late Champions League charge with Jurgen Klopp’s side fifth and a point behind the top four. The England Under-21 international told the club’s official site: “In terms of confidence, I’ve always been the same lad. I’ve always had the belief in myself but it’s been a tough time, I’ve had the injuries and stuff so I’ve not really had a full run of games in the past. “But I came in against Chelsea and I kept my shirt and I’ve still got the shirt now. I’m enjoying it, I’m being humble and keeping my feet on the ground and I know what it takes, so that’s what I’m doing. “Being a kid in the academy days I’ve always scored goals and I wouldn’t say I’ve been the star kid but I’ve always been the kid who has jumped up the age groups. I’m enjoying it, I’m being humble and keeping my feet on the ground and I know what it takes, so that’s what I’m doing. Curtis Jones “Then I came around the first team and it was kind of a shock where the whole of the game changes, so I’ve had to make a change to the whole of my game. But I’m adapting well and I think it’s the best run I’ve had for a while.” Jones struck twice in three first-half minutes against Leicester before Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 25-yard effort added the gloss. It left Leicester two points from safety with two games left and Jamie Vardy admitted they need to win at Newcastle on Monday and in the final-day visit of West Ham to stand a chance of surviving. “We’ve got to put it straight to the back of our minds now,” the striker told the club’s official site. “We’ve got to focus on the next two games and we’ve got to pick two wins up. It’ll be tough but we know we’ve got the talent in that dressing room. It needs to click. “We’ve got two games left and the minimum we can have is two wins just to give ourselves a chance. “So, we’ll get back on that training pitch, spend all week looking at Newcastle, how we can exploit the weaknesses and how we stop, obviously, their strengths. “We’ve got to make sure that we put the 90-minute effort in next week to pick up a win.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Jofra Archer ‘distraught’ after being ruled out of Ashes summer Coventry’s Mark Robins feels pressure is on Middlesbrough in play-off second leg A closer look at the battle to beat the drop in the Premier League

It was a eulogy from Pep Guardiola about a midfielder. He reflected on the excellence he can show when in a deeper role and celebrated his goalscoring exploits. He said how keen he is to keep him and that the club hierarchy know that. He was hailing Ilkay Gundogan, understandably after a tour de force. Just as predictably, Kalvin Phillips was not the object of his affection. The German’s afternoon at Goodison Park brought two goals. The Englishman’s brought two minutes of football. One could be bound for Barcelona on a free transfer in a couple of months. The other still has five years left on his Manchester City contract. Perhaps, when Gundogan plays as majestically as he has against Leeds and Everton, it is unfair to compare anyone to him. Yet in effect, Guardiola had to when Rodri sat out the games against Sheffield United and Leeds; on each occasion, he opted for Gundogan to anchor the midfield. Phillips was supposed to be the specialist defensive midfielder. Instead, he is the specialist substitute. Rodri is the most overworked member of City’s squad, with 4104 minutes under his belt. It is in part because Phillips has been trusted with just 407. Some 55 games into City’s season, Phillips has started just two: against a Bristol City team in the Championship and a Southampton side bound for that division. Guardiola’s side lost at St Mary’s, in their worst performance of the season, in the Carabao Cup. A bit-part role is not explained purely by a shoulder injury in autumn. City have scored 92 league goals, but none with Phillips on the pitch; indeed, they have a negative goal difference during his outings. Leicester scored one, and came close to getting three, after Phillips’ introduction a month ago; the midfielder described his own performance as “a bit of a stinker”. Since then, votes of no confidence have come from Guardiola, with cameos that have begun so late that nothing could go wrong: he came on injury time against West Ham, with a three-goal lead, slightly earlier at Goodison, and with the same scoreline. Scan Phillips’ season and Guardiola often brings him on so late he is destined to be the no-impact substitute: he was also introduced in injury time against Borussia Dortmund. He got one minute against West Ham in August, three against Arsenal in February, four against Chelsea in January, nine at Southampton, 12 against Sevilla, 13 at Wolves. A total of 17 appearances feels deceptive; even then, 161 of his minutes have come in the FA Cup. He may be having the worst treble-winning season ever, remembered in part for Guardiola branding him overweight after the World Cup. And if many could envy the medal collection he may soon have, Phillips in a better state could be the endearing success story – the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ who was transformed by Guardiola’s hero Marcelo Bielsa, integral for England on their run to the final of Euro 2020. Now he seems an afterthought, City’s third-choice defensive midfielder – fourth-choice if John Stones’ reinvention puts him ahead of Phillips – getting token appearances and meaningless minutes. For a while, it was possible to take solace in history. Many a player has flourished in his second season under Guardiola, after belatedly adjusting to his complex demands. Yet, even without being automatic choices, they were not marginalised. Bernardo Silva’s maiden season brought 53 appearances; 35 of them were in the Premier League, where he played 1520 minutes. Thus far, Phillips has played 105. Riyad Mahrez’s debut campaign brought 1338 top-flight minutes, Jack Grealish’s 1917, Rodri’s 2488. Each kicked on thereafter but, seemed with the benefit of hindsight, it was apparent he had a part in the manager’s long-term plans. It seems less likely that Phillips does; 10 days ago, Guardiola refused to confirm he will be at the Etihad Stadium next season and said the £42m man had to earn his confidence. So far, he has not. All of which feels more damning given Guardiola’s playing days and his status as the godfather of the midfielder. Rejection should be more painful. It could provide City with more of a problem, too. With Gundogan likely to go to Barcelona, with the prospect of another summer of interest from the Nou Camp in Silva, Phillips may present an unwanted problem; likely to be pursued elsewhere in the Premier League but adding to City’s need for reinforcements. As players of the calibre of Ronaldinho, Deco and Zlatan Ibrahimovic can testify, Guardiola can be swift to exile even the most distinguished; as Joao Cancelo knows to his cost, he can still be ruthless. Phillips faces a different form of public humiliation, embarrassed by the brevity of his contributions. He could finish the season with more medals than starts but, in a strange way, it would be a sign of how his move has gone wrong. Read More Man City being driven to title by man of the moment – and it’s not Erling Haaland It’s not necessary what he does – Pep Guardiola hits out at Everton’s Yerry Mina Kevin De Bruyne is Man City’s man for the big occasion but has he met his match? The no-impact substitute: Kalvin Phillips’ humiliation gives Man City a problem Pep Guardiola: It’s up to Kalvin Phillips to show he deserves a Man City future What Man City need to win Premier League title this weekend

Confronted by their own ultras, AC Milan have encountered issue after issue in the build-up to Tuesday’s monumental return leg, but one problem is a lot more longstanding. It is also so immediate, since it is precisely the challenge against Internazionale. Milan might be the second most successful club in Champions League history, having played in the very first European Cup season in 1955-56, but that distinguished record has never seen them come back from more than a goal behind from a knock-out first leg. All that grand glory, and nothing to really inspire for this biggest of games against their greatest rivals. That might seem somewhat superficial but the profound potential effect should not be dismissed. You only have to look at last season, and this year's possible final opponent, for the greatest illustration of how it works. Real Madrid are the European champions in large part because their stadium had seen so many great comebacks, fostering this belief within the team as well as an aura around it. Milan have none of that. The only tie that comes close was a 1985-86 Uefa Cup first round against Auxerre but it’s hardly of the same scale, and would almost seem small-time to mention. Stefano Pioli has consequently been unable to inspire his players with any footage of the past. “We only talked about the derby,” the Milan manager said. That’s possibly just as well, because any look to history would mostly show Milan suffering from such comebacks. You don’t even have to go to the extreme of Istanbul, which is of course where this final is set to be held. There was Deportivo La Coruna in 2004 and Barcelona in 2013. Duly, this tie might also be decided by comebacks on the other side, albeit of a different nature. There is the return to prominence of some former Premier League stars, some of them well into their 30s. This entire tie was after all set in motion by Edin Dzeko’s soaring goal for Inter Milan in the opening minutes of the first leg. It may now be shaped by Simone Inzaghi’s use of those players. One of the reasons that Milan were so unprepared for Inter’s onslaught was because it was so difficult to second-guess what Inzaghi might do. One of the strengths of this season - if also, in the league, one of the weaknesses - has been how the coach can alternate his forward line. So it was in the first leg that he initially had the energy of Lauturo Martinez with the calculation of Dzeko. The Inter squad remain in awe of how intelligent the Bosnian is as a player, in that way that occasionally happens with senior pros who go onto a different level as they get older. Part of that has been how he conserves energy and visibly manages himself, though, which is why one of Inzaghi’s main relays up front has been between Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku. There is another comeback of sorts there, though. It could be glimpsed in the Belgian’s livewire introduction to the second half of the first leg. The Inter squad are now talking about Lukaku being back at the level he was when he left Inter in the summer of 2021 in the first place - when he was being hailed as the new “king of Serie A”. One reason is he was discomfited by a difficult adjustment period at Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, and was then intent on getting 100% ready for the World Cup. That rush probably set him back, as the displays in Qatar showed. Lukaku has really only been back to full fitness since February and that has helped generate “great momentum”. He has the feel back. He has the finishing back, as the weekend’s brace showed. That gives Inzaghi a satisfying sort of dilemma. It is increasingly difficult to leave Lukaku on the bench. He could tear at Pioli’s side. The one caveat to all of this, as well as to the first leg, is that Milan will have a comeback of their own. Rafael Leao will return to the line-up, which makes them a very different proposition. It was so conspicuously what was missing from their display on Wednesday - if also some proper defending at the back. Milan had so much process, but no product. It looked like they couldn’t really hurt Inter. Leao changes that. It should force a change in Inzaghi’s approach. Whether it changes this to the level that it changes Milan’s history remains to be seen. “Those who play football know that the matches are never finished until the end,” Pioli also said. “And we believe in it.” Inter, however, have the reality of that two-goal lead. It’s a lot to come back from. Read More Glorious Milan derby proves football does not need Super League False 9? Edin Dzeko shows the value of an old-fashioned centre-forward AC Milan are back – but not as you remember them Inter vs AC Milan team news and predicted line-ups Is Inter vs AC Milan on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Bundesliga title battle continues as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund ease to wins

Germany midfielder Sjoeke Nusken will join Chelsea from Eintracht Frankfurt on a three-year deal from July 1, the Women’s Super League side have announced. The versatile 22-year-old has already appeared for the Frauen-Bundesliga side close to 100 times and will complete her move at the conclusion of the current campaign. Nusken, who has also won 15 caps for Germany and scored two goals, said: “I wanted to move to the Women’s Super League because it’s a good league, English football is very cool to play in and it’s the right thing to do now. “I’m very excited and happy to be at Chelsea and I’m looking forward to next season. “It’s a big club with such good players. I hope to improve my football skills. I’m very excited to meet my new team-mates and I can learn a lot from them.” Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said: “Sjoeke is a fantastic young midfield player whose ability to play the ball deep into the opponents’ half is not her only standout strength, there is everything from her interceptions, her reading of the game and her overall presence. She’s dynamic, she’s good aerially and she’s going to be a fantastic signing for this club.” Chelsea won the Women’s FA Cup for the third successive year on Sunday, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final, and are in the running to claim a fourth consecutive WSL title. They can move two points clear of current leaders United at the top of the table if they beat West Ham in their game in hand on Wednesday, with only two rounds of the season left after that. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Marcelo Bielsa has been appointed as Uruguay head coach. The 67-year-old had been out of football management since leaving Leeds almost 15 months ago. The Uruguayan Football Association confirmed Bielsa’s appointment on a deal running until the 2026 World Cup. He succeeds Diego Alonso as national team boss. Alonso’s contract expired after the World Cup in Qatar earlier this season, where Uruguay suffered a shock group-stage exit. Bielsa served as manager of Argentina from 1998 to 2004 and he also had a four-year stint in charge of Chile. Bielsa guided Leeds back to the Premier League from the Championship in 2020 and was one of the most popular managers in the club’s history. But he left in February last year following a run of four successive league defeats. His lengthy managerial career has also included spells with Athletic Bilbao, Marseille and Lille. Uruguay are currently 16th in FIFA’s world rankings, with Bielsa’s first major campaign at the helm set to be next year’s Copa America in the United States. Read More Sam Allardyce hoping fear of relegation helps drive Leeds to safety Leeds paying the price for Orta’s muddled, messy attempts to rebuild AC Milan must overcome own history as well as Inter’s two-goal lead

Simone Inzaghi’s Inter are 90 minutes away from the Champions League final after securing a 2-0 advantage against AC Milan. Early goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan leave Inter strongly placed to set up a meeting with either Manchester City or Real Madrid. Milan were short of threat in the first leg, but should be boosted for this encounter by the return of Rafael Leao. The forward has been passed fit to play after recovering from injury and may be required to play a key role if his side are to overturn the deficit. Here’s everything you need to know. When is Inter vs AC Milan? The second leg of the semi final is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Tuesday 16 May at their shared San Siro ground in Milan. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on BT Sport 1 with coverage from 7pm BST. Subscribers can stream the action via the BT Sport app or online player. Team news Inter were able to rest a number of their first choice side in the win over Sassuolo, with Lautaro Martinez, Hakan Calhanoglu and Alessandro Bastoni in line to return to Simone Inzaghi’s starting lineup. The manager is expected to name a lineup identical to the one that secured a 2-0 first leg lead. Stefano Pioli should be boosted by the availability of Rafael Leao after the forward missed last week’s game due to a thigh injury. Junior Messias and Rade Krunic could also be fit to contend for selection. Predicted line-ups Inter XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Martínez. Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kjær, Theo Hernández; Tonali, Krunić; Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz, Leao; Giroud. Odds Inter win 19/17 Draw 5/2 Milan win 41/14 Prediction A draw is enough to ensure Inter’s progression through to the final. Inter 1-1 Milan (3-1 agg.) Read More False 9? Edin Dzeko shows the value of an old-fashioned centre-forward Mauricio Pochettino agrees Chelsea terms and plots summer transfers UEFA rebuts claim Istanbul in doubt as Champions League final host after election Is Inter vs AC Milan on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Bundesliga title battle continues as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund ease to wins On this day in 2006: Liverpool win thrilling FA Cup final against West Ham

AC Milan must fight back from behind with Inter well-placed to advance to the Champions League final. A strong first-half performance saw Simone Inzaghi’s side secure a two-goal advantage in last week’s first leg. Inter will now enjoy the advantage of the support of the bulk of the crowd as well as usage of their San Siro changing room, a privilege denied to them in the “away” leg. A weekend defeat to Spezia also saw Milan lose ground in the race for a top-four finish, leaving Stefano Pioli seeking a swift and significant improvement to try and secure a final place. Here’s everything you need to know. When is Inter vs AC Milan? The second leg of the semi final is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Tuesday 16 May at their shared San Siro ground in Milan. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on BT Sport 1 with coverage from 7pm BST. Subscribers can stream the action via the BT Sport app or online player. Team news Inter were able to rest a number of their first-choice side in the win over Sassuolo, with Lautaro Martinez, Hakan Calhanoglu and Alessandro Bastoni in line to return to Simone Inzaghi’s starting lineup. The manager is expected to name a lineup identical to the one that secured a 2-0 first-leg lead. Stefano Pioli should be boosted by the availability of Rafael Leao after the forward missed last week’s game due to a thigh injury. Junior Messias and Rade Krunic could also be fit to contend for selection. Predicted line-ups Inter XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, ÇalhanoÄŸlu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Martínez. Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kjær, Theo Hernández; Tonali, Krunić; Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz, Leão; Giroud. Odds Inter win 19/17 Draw 5/2 Milan win 41/14 Prediction A draw is enough to ensure Inter’s progression through to the final. Inter 1-1 Milan (3-1 agg.) Read More Mauricio Pochettino agrees Chelsea terms and plots summer transfers UEFA rebuts claim Istanbul in doubt as Champions League final host after election False 9? Edin Dzeko shows the value of an old-fashioned centre-forward Inter vs AC Milan team news and predicted line-ups Bundesliga title battle continues as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund ease to wins On this day in 2006: Liverpool win thrilling FA Cup final against West Ham