The last two and half years has been one to forget for Philippe Coutinho after finally sealing his dream move to Barcelona from Liverpool in January 2018. Coutinho 27, was Liverpool’s best midfield player before leaving Anfield and was urged to stay by Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp but was adamant and even boycott the club’s matches in order for his release to be sanctioned. He had registered 14 goals and nine assists in the 2016/17 season in 36 outings and made 20 appearances for The Reds in the 2017/18, scoring 12 times and assisting eight others before finally moving to…
Author: Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
Kai Havertz powers Leverkusen to another win in the BundesLiga with his two goals in a 3-1 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach. The 20-year-old picked up from where he stopped on Monday night when he opened the scoring in the 7th minute, latching onto a cutback from Bellarabi. Gladbach equalised through Marcus Thuram early in the second half and six minutes later, Havertz dispatched a penalty after Bellarabi was fouled by Nico Elevdi to restore parity for the club from Leverkusen. Sven Bender ensures the safety of the points nine minutes from time when he headed home a free-kick from Kerem…
Manchester City star Bernardo Silva warned Real Madrid could not be written off despite his side’s strong position in the Champions League last-16 tie. The Premier League giants stunned Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions league tie in February. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, officials are reportedly hoping the Champions League can return in August. Despite City’s good position, Silva is wary of Madrid, who have won three of the past four Champions League titles. “You can’t write any team off, far less Madrid who have won 13 European Cups,” the midfielder said. “No…
The BundesLiga returns this weekend after an exciting weekend of football it present us the last time out. The German topflight becomes the first of the Europe’s top five league to return to action after the Coronavirus triggered break. Top guns Bayern, Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen returned with big wins while Leipzig were pegged back at home by Freiburg. Norwegian striker Braut Erlin Haaland scored the first BundesLiga goal in over two months, notching home a low cross from Thorgan Hazard 29 minutes into their match with Schalke, as 27goals was recorded in nine matches played in the restart weekend.…
Manchester United defender and captain Harry Maguire admits his first training session with his teammates since isolation was ‘tough’ but felt ‘so safe’. Premier League clubs got the green light to start ‘phase one’ training in small groups on Tuesday after testing revealed only six positive cases of coronavirus from 748 tests done on players and non-playing staff. United returned to their Carrington training complex on Wednesday after two months since their last competitive match against LASK and although it had been a change from the usual way, Maguire was pleased to be back. Asked if it was reassuring knowing…
The midfielder will train at home for the foreseeable future due to concerns over his safety amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. Kanté, whose family has a history of heart issues, which saw him lost his father as an eleven years old and his brother Niama, shortly before the 2018 world cup is believed to be vulnerable to the threats of the pandemic. Kanté 29, a quiet character has remained indoors with one of his brothers since the suspension of matches has had an health scare two years ago when he collapsed in front of his Chelsea teammates in training. However, tests…
Chelsea Football club have announced the extension of contract of two players whose contracts ends in the summer. Olivier Giroud and Willy Caballero are the beneficiary of the extension at the club. Giroud, who has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge with Italian clubs Lazio and Inter Milan believed to be interested in securing the Frenchman’s service. The striker has impressed boss Frank Lampard and gain a spot in the Chelsea team before the Coronavirus triggered break and subsequently earning him a year extension at the London club. Caballero 38, has also been rewarded with a year…
Watford player, Two Staffs and Burnley Assistant Manager Test Positive Premier League on Tuesday confirmed six positive cases across three clubs. A Watford player and two members of non-playing staff were among six positive tests for coronavirus within the first round of Premier League testing. The club confirmed the news late on Tuesday evening, after Burnley had earlier said assistant manager Ian Woan tested positive on Sunday. The Premier League announced on Tuesday that six positive cases of coronavirus across three clubs had been confirmed after an initial 748 players and non-playing staffs were tested. A club statement said: “Watford…
Before the suspension of matches, Chelsea had injury crisis, which leaves boss Frank Lampard no other option than to play 18year old Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour. The teenager put in some scintillating performances in the few outings, winning himself the man of the match against European champion, Liverpool and another one against Everton. The rise of Gilmour has now attract comparison to Cesc Fabregas when the Spaniard joined The Gunners back in 2003. Fàbregas 33, arrived in England at the age of 16 from FC Barcelona in the summer of 2003 and established himself as one of Arsenal’s crucial players…
Watford captain Troy Deeney has confirmed he will not be returning to training amid fears of the Coronavirus pandemic. Premier League clubs have been given the green light to resume training on Tuesday but the striker has made it know he will not risk returning without certainty of safety. In an interview with Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew on Talk the Talk YouTube show, Deeney said: “It only takes one person to get infected within the group and I don’t want to be bringing that home. “My son is only five months old, he had breathing difficulties, so I don’t…