Category: Sports news

Jurgen Klopp reacts to Gerrard manager links at Liverpool

“MY TIME FAR FROM OVER,” SAYS JURGEN KLOPP IN RESPONSE TO STEVEN GERRARD ANFIELD LINKS

Jurgen Klopp has downplayed the talks linking new Aston Villa manager and Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard, to the Anfield job in the near future, saying his time at Anfield is “far from over”.

Speaking at the Liverpool versus Arsenal pre-game press conference, Jurgen Klopp hailed the new Aston Villa boss but quickly put to bed all talks about him leaving the Merseyside club any time soon for the Liverpool legend, who has been touted as a future Liverpool manager.

“I saw Stevie say a lot of nice and smart things,” the 54-year-old German said at the pre-game presser on Friday. “I don’t have to think about these kinds of things at the moment, thank God, because we are in the middle of this season and that’s all we are focused on.

“No other manager gets asked that often about what happens in three or four years. I didn’t think about [it] and I don’t want to think about it.

“It’s all fine how it is. It’s over when it’s over, but it’s far away from being over so let’s focus on that.”

Steven Gerrard only focused on Aston Villa job

Aston Villa paid £3 million in compensation to secure Gerrard from Rangers for the remainder of the season in early November 2021, and the 41-year-old manager has fully settled into his new role since then, with the Premier League being familiar territory to him.

Speaking at his inaugural pre-match press conference in response to a question that he has had to answer many times since he took his first steps into management, Gerrard emphasised that he is focused on Aston Villa for as long as his contract is in play.

“I think everyone knows all around the world what Liverpool means to me but my focus is very much on Aston Villa. I’ve said that I am all-in and I can promise our supporters that that’s the case,” Gerrard told reporters ahead of the Brighton-Villa game.

Jurgen Klopp believes Gerrard can become Liverpool manager in the future

Jurgen Klopp is Liverpool’s most successful coach in recent history, and fans would rather have him spend the rest of his career at Anfield, just like Sir Alex Ferguson did at Manchester United.

The 59-year-old German still has three years left on his current Liverpool contract, but with his comments following the Gerrard question, fans can look forward to a possible extension in the future.

Klopp, however, has talked up the new Aston Villa boss’ chances of managing the Merseyside club in the future, describing his managerial career so far as ‘perfect’ and solid enough to prepare him for the Anfield job.

He told Sky Sports, “Stevie is doing everything right so far, getting some experience here with the academy, taking his coaching experiences to Rangers, being very, very, very successful there, then he has made the next step. So far it has been the perfect career.

“While I’m here, it’s difficult but of course [he can be Liverpool’s future manager]. But it is important that from now on that the Steven Gerrard Aston Villa chapter starts and that’s exactly what will happen.”

Zidane turns down offer to replace Xavi at Al Saad

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo via Telemadrid, Zinedine Zidane has turned down an offer from Qatar Stars League side, Al-Sadd, to replace former manager Xavi Hernandez, who left for Barcelona earlier in November.

Spanish football journalist, Ramon Fuentes reported via Mundo Deportivo that Zinedine Zidane is still enjoying his break from active management, and will only return immediately to management if the Paris Saint-Germain or France national team job becomes available.

Zinedine Zidane fits the bill for Al-Sadd, who is seeking for a name as big as Xavi to take over from the Catalan, who left the club after six trophy-laden years, two of which was spent as head coach.

https://twitter.com/AlsaddSC/status/1456574716911788035?t=7lF_6Z39sRyaYqEA6jY0pA&s=08

Zidane not eager to return to coaching

Zidane got into club management dynamics in 2010 after an appeal from then Madrid coach, José Mourinho for the legendary midfielder to work more closely with the team. In the following years, he would become the assistant coach to current head coach, Carlo Ancelotti in his first stint at the club.

In 2016, Zidane was appointed Real Madrid head coach and lead the club to their most successful period in the past two decades, winning eight trophies which included a UEFA Champions League hat trick. He would resign five days after the third Champions League triumph, stating mental stress and a need for change at Real Madrid.

The France and Real Madrid legend returned to the club in 2019 after his successors failed at the club, and left active management for the second time at the end of the 2020/21 season, after leading the club to another LaLiga win, his second as a manager.

Zidane has been touted as a replacement for embattled Manchester Untied manager Ole-Gunnar Soskjaer since the start of the 2021/22 season, and only became an option for Al-Sadd after Xavi left. However, Zidane had previously expressed a distaste for management during his time at Real Madrid. At the moment, it seems the Frenchman will be enjoying a much needed sabbatical from football.

“I won’t coach for 20 years, I will retire before that,” Zidane said in a press conference during the 2020/21 season. “I spent almost 18 years as a player and I said I would never be a coach. Now I am and it wears you out a lot. We will see but not for 20 years, that’s for sure.”

Al-Sadd seeking to maintain royal status at the top of Qatar Stars League

Xavi left Al-Sadd top of the table with eight wins and one draw from nine games. The club hierarchy believes that Zinedine Zidane fits the bill in both name and managerial talent to keep their club at the top. Al-Sadd is the most successful club in Qatar winning 15 of the 50 titles that have been competed for since the league began.

Zidane, however, is rumoured to be learning English, which could mean a U-turn on his refusal to take up the Manchester United job.

Jesse Lingard makes decision on his future at Manchester United

Jesse Lingard and Manchester United have hit a roadblock in their contract negotiations as the player’s camp have decided not to renew his contract with the club.

Jesse Lingard will be leaving Old Trafford on a free Transfer next season after rejuvenating his career at West Ham in a brilliant six-month spell in which he played a key role in the London club’s return to European competition.

West Ham fans were pressuring the club to keep Lingard and were disappointed when the 28-year-old chose to return to Old Trafford to fight for his place. However, Lingard seems to be losing that battle as he has only seen 63 minutes of action this season for Manchester United.

It has now been reported by The Times that the 28-year-old will leave Old Trafford at the end of his contract which expires this season.

Jesse Lingard and his topsy-turvy Manchester United career

Jesse Lingard joined Manchester United at age seven and has represented the club at every level of club competition, a testament to his talents as a footballer. Before making his official senior debut for Manchester United in 2015, he had loan stints at Leicester City, Birmingham City, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Derby County.

He has since managed just under 250 appearances for Manchester United and has scored 35 goals, mostly as a squad player. His career has also been marred by slight injuries which kept him out of the squad at times when he would have had more opportunities. However, his battle with mental health issues has affected his time at United more than other issues.

In an interview while on loan at West Ham, Lingard admitted that he considered taking a break from football due to his personal struggles. “I was going into games happy sitting on the bench and that’s not me,” Lingard said in the interview.

“I didn’t want to play because my mind wasn’t there, I wasn’t focused at all. I was thinking about other things and obviously bottling it all up; trying to play football, you can’t do it.”

After finding himself again at West Ham and returning to the club that helped him start his career with the hopes of making it there, he has now hit a roadblock and is looking like returning to square one with his career.

Manchester United disrespectful towards Lingard, sources claim

Reports from The Times claim that Manchester United are offering Jesse Lingard a new contract with less salary than he already earns on his present contract, which the midfielder’s party finds disrespectful.

This has led to contract talks being called off and Lingard looking to go on loan for the remaining six months of his present contract in order to get some game time and stay sharp for when he leaves on a free at the end of his contract.

It will benefit both parties to allow Lingard leave the club at this time, however, as he isn’t getting any younger and may never really get the playing time he wants within the club. It’ll also be beneficial for the club as they have Shola Shoretire in their youth ranks, who has played a few games for the senior team and is a perfect Jesse Lingard replacement.

 

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers dismisses reports linking him to Manchester United

Brendan Rodgers, who has been touted as a potential replacement for embattled Manchester United manager Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer has now come out to dismiss the speculations as ‘disrespectful’, according to the latest reports.

It was reported last weekend by The Mirror that the Leicester City gaffer had been discovered to be house-hunting in Cheshire in preparation for the Manchester United job. However, the Foxes’ boss, who is also linked to the Manchester City job after Pep Guardiola leaves, has dismissed  speculations he is leaving the King Power Stadium.

“There’s two things. Firstly, it is really disrespectful to ask the question when you have a manager in place, a good manager and a good man, who is working hard at the club,” Rodgers said at a news conference.

“Secondly, I can’t really comment on it, because it is not something that is real. I am here as the Leicester City manager, proud to be here, privileged to be here and fully committed to the players, the club, the ownership. That’s about it, all the other noise around that is something we can’t control.”

Rodgers linked to former club’s eternal rivals – a thing of concern for Liverpool fans

Brendan Rodgers coached Liverpool between 2012 and 2015, leading the club to a second-place finish in that period, playing some of the best football the club witnessed since Rafa Benitez left the club.

Despite not having the best of stints at the Merseyside club, he managed to win the hearts of the fans and was highly rated for his style. Many Liverpool fans still consider him one of them, and the links to Manchester United have raised concern among that section of fans.

However, Rodgers has seemingly made his stance known on the Manchester United job a while back. Three months after he left the Liverpool job, the 49-year-old Leicester City manager was asked if he’d ever manage United.

“When you manage Liverpool, you know the Manchester United job is gone,” Rodgers replied.

Rodgers on a roll with Leicester City

Brendan Rodgers has brought back the confidence of the 2015 title-winning Leicester City side, winning the FA Cup last season – the first in the club’s history – and has guided them to two fifth-place finishes in the Premier League in the past two seasons, which earned them European football.

Leicester City is currently in 12th place in the Premier League with 15 points from 11 games, due to a lacklustre start by the Foxes. The club is picking up form, however, and look on course to replicate their past season.

Brendan Rodgers is currently committed to finishing the season with the Foxes, but it still remains to be seen whether he will be taking up the offer to replace Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer at United.

After missing out on Antonio Conte who joined Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United might be forced to consider a move for Brendan Rodgers, should Ole Solskjaer eventually get the sack. Only time will tell what becomes of the managerial merry go-round

 

Manchester City and Barcelona in two-way battle for Arsenal star Aubameyang

Rumours from the 2021 summer transfer window about Barcelona going after Arsenal’s captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have resurfaced again. The striker is said to remain a target for the Catalan giants for the winter transfer window of 2021, per International Business Times.

New reports, however, now place Manchester City as Barcelona’s competition for the Gabonese striker’s signature. It remains to be said about who will eventually get Aubameyang if he chooses to leave Arsenal, however, due to the wages he demands.

Barcelona’s attackers have suffered fitness issues this season. Sergio Aguero will be out for a few months as doctors monitor his heart condition to determine if he’ll ever play football professionally again. Ansu Fati suffered another injury that’ll keep him out for a few more weeks after only returning following a lengthy lay-off.

Luuk De Jong is not a favourite of Xavi Hernandez, having only been brought to the club on Ronald Koeman’s behest, and Martin Braithwaite is another striker who may not be getting as much playing time under Xavi Hernandez when he returns from his lengthy injury layoff.

This is why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s name has come up once again as a striker option for Barcelona, as reports claim that Xavi is monitoring the striker’s situation at Arsenal.

Xavi already has an opinion on Aubameyang 

The rumours of Aubameyang to Barcelona have been circulating for the better part of two seasons, and Xavi weighed in on the matter while he was still manager at Qatari side Al-Sadd.

Speaking on the rumours then which linked both Aubameyang and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane to Barcelona, Xavi said, “Mane and Aubemayang can kill you in open space. But Barcelona needs players who know how to move in small spaces.”

“I am thinking about a player who would adapt to Barcelona and it’s not easy to find one.”

It is left to the imagination to figure out if Xavi has changed his mind on Aubameyang being the kind of player that fits Barcelona’s profile, or if these reports are only resurfacing due to the issues surrounding Barcelona’s attack right now.

Barcelona to face fierce competition from Manchester City

Aubameyang currently has one year left on his Arsenal contract and earns £12.58 million annually. Barcelona are reportedly willing to take the risk to bring him to Camp Nou but will be facing competition from Manchester City owners, City Football Group, who can easily match his wages.

The Aubameyang deal will cost any club €20 million, but it remains to see if Arsenal will be willing to part with the striker whose form has improved after a turbulent 2020/21 season.

He only just recovered from injury himself and could prove to be risky business for Barcelona, who are reportedly only considering the striker due to the many injuries to their forward line.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta hints at Messi’s return

Barcelona FC club president, Joan Laporta has hinted at a possible return for PSG forward, Lionel Messi and the captain of Japanese League side Vissel Kobe, Andres Iniesta, following the return of veteran right-back, Dani Alves to the Camp Nou.

Barcelona signed the legendary Brazilian right-back on a deal that’ll see him spend the remainder of the season in the Camp Nou, with an option to extend for another full season. Over 10,000 fans were at the Camp Nou to witness his return to the club, where he had earlier spent eight trophy-laden seasons before moving on to Juventus, then Paris Saint-Germain, then São Paulo, before returning to the club where he made a name for himself.

Dani Alves has never hidden his love for the Catalan club and has expressed a desire to return on many occasions. His return was thanks to Xavi, who wanted to have Dani Alves’ experience back in the squad as he built a Barcelona of the future, according to President Laporta.

The 38-year-old Brazilian won’t be eligible to play for the club until January, however, but joins training with Xavi’s side immediately.

https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/1460946968792993793?t=ZpP-wby8OewAo7nr_eAYgQ&s=08

Laporta doesn’t rule out bringing the band back together

Laporta’s first tenure as Barcelona president saw a team with Dani Alves, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi as its core. He has now succeeded in bringing back two of them in his second tenure as president and hasn’t ruled out bringing the other two back to Camp Nou.

In an interview at the beginning of November with Sport, Lionel Messi discussed returning to the club in an off-field role. “I always said that I would love to help the club and be useful,” Messi said to Sport.

“I would love to be a sporting director at some point. I don’t know if it will be in Barcelona or not. Or if it will be something else. If there’s the chance, I would like to go back and contribute what I can because it’s the club I love and I would love them to keep doing well, growing and being one of the best in the world.”

Laporta, speaking at the presentation of Dani Alves at Camp Nou, said about a potential Messi and Iniesta return: “I don’t rule anything out. It happened with Dani, age is a number. They’re two great players. I can’t predict what will happen tomorrow, they’re still playing and contracted to other clubs. You never know.”

https://twitter.com/goal/status/1461084008138383365?t=BmfRG9rPrRdo6IA0eKmQYQ&s=08

Xavi could be key to bringing Messi and Iniesta back

All four players have an excellent off-field relationship, just like they had on-field when they played together in the Blaugrana colours. This relationship could be key to reuniting the band, a feat that, if pulled off, could see Joan Laporta immortalised by Barcelona fans worldwide.

Andres Iniesta has already expressed a desire to return to Barcelona in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, a sentiment he re-echoed after Xavi was appointed manager, per Sport.

While fans can continue to dream about having these legends back in Blaugrana colours, they can look forward to Dani Alves, who has declared that his time at Barcelona is not going to be a holiday.

“I wasn’t born to be second, I was always first. I’m here to fight, I’m not here to pass time or to live in Barcelona,” Alves said during his presentation. “I’ve come here to play and fight for a place. It’s not because I made history or because of my good relationship with Xavi. I’m going to fight and try to contribute. Age is just a number. I just proved it at the Olympics.”

Manuel Neuer and Bayern Munich begin contract extension talks

German shot-stopper Manuel Neuer is in talks with the German Bundesliga giants, Bayern Munich over a contract extension.

The 35-year-old currently has a contract with the Bavarians until 2023 but is looking to extend it for two more years, until 2025.

Neuer has enjoyed much success individually, with the club, and with the German national team since joining Bayern Munich from Schalke 04 in 2011. His 451 appearances for the German champions places him in 12th position for all-time appearances for the club. By the end of his current contract, he’d have broken into the top 10, displacing Bastian Schweinsteiger who ended his time at the German champions after 500 games.

More time on the sidelines for promising goalkeeper Alexander Nübel

Bayern Munich turned to Schalke 04 again to search for a replacement for Manuel Neuer, who despite his qualities, is closer to retirement. Alexander Nübel joined the Bavarians on June 30, 2020, on a free transfer.

The 6ft 4in goalkeeper, fondly referred to as “Neuer Mark II” by fans made only two appearances in all competitions for the German giants after he joined before being shipped off to French side AS Monaco on a two-year loan spell for playing time.

Nübel, speaking to German news outlet Kicker, praised Manuel Neuer’s abilities and spoke about how much he learnt from the German number 1.

“I learned a lot from Manuel Neuer. His movement, his understanding of the game, the way he interacts with the defenders. I compared the way he reacts to some situations in training to mine, and what I can take from it,” Nübel said.

He also spoke of his desire to play for and succeed at Bayern Munich the same way Manuel Neuer, who, like him, moved from Schalke to Bayern Munich, did.

“I joined Bayern because they presented me with the best career plan. I still have enough time to play games for Bayern.”

Despite the club considering Nübel to be Neuer’s long-term successor, the veteran’s form will only mean that Nübel will have to wait for even longer to get his chance between the sticks for Bayern Munich. Nübel’s loan at AS Monaco, currently coached by former Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac, lasts till 2023, which is the year Neuer’s current contract ends. But with the news of an extension, it only means that Nübel will be back at the club and on the bench again.

Bayern Munich planning squad meticulously and effectively

Manuel Neuer is not the only Bayern star whose contract is being reviewed. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka have already signed new long-term contracts back in September, committing most of their playing prime to the club. Talks are also ongoing with Serge Gnabry whose contract expires with Bayern Munich in 2023 as well.

Securing an extension for Neuer, however, not only shows the club’s belief in the 35-year-old but shows how much of a balanced side Bayern Munich are and want to remain.