Football: Dominant Chelsea retain Women's Super League title

LONDON -- Chelsea secured a fourth consecutive Women's Super League title after a 3-0 win at Reading on Saturday held off Manchester United's fight to win the English top flight for the first time.

Sam Kerr scored twice, while Guro Reiten was also on target, to secure the victory the Blues needed and which relegated Reading in the process.

Victory completed a league and FA Cup double for Chelsea after they beat United 1-0 at Wembley earlier this month.

And they came close to a treble after missing out narrowly to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals.

But Chelsea's reign of domestic dominance has been seriously challenged this season as United, Arsenal and Manchester City pushed them in a four-way title race until the final weeks of the season.

The champions, though, showed their quality when it mattered most with a seven-game winning run to finish the league season.

Fittingly, it was Chelsea's two star performers this season in Kerr and Reiten who took centre stage to seal the title.

"We've played so many games, you have to go again every third or fourth day," said Reiten.

"But we keep doing it again and again, digging deep, finding that special moment to win games and, yeah, we're good!"

The two combined for the opening goal after just 18 minutes when Kerr headed in Retien's cross.

The Norwegian midfielder then slotted through the legs of goalkeeper Grace Moloney to make it 2-0 before half-time.

Kerr was crowned the football writers' women's player of the year this week and struck her 29th goal of the campaign in all competitions two minutes from time by tapping home at the second attempt.

United won 1-0 at Liverpool thanks to Lucia Garcia's goal but finished two points adrift of Emma Hayes' women.

The Red Devils women's side was only formed five years ago and they will play in the Champions League next season for the first time.

"I think we've maxed out on our potential in terms of running with Chelsea to the wire. It's nice that it's close but we know we've got some way to go," said United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps.

"I'm hungry for success. I want to go and win the Champions League now!"

Arsenal claimed the third and final place in next season's Champions League ahead of City on goal difference despite losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Ronaldo makes history as treble sinks Spurs, Liverpool close gap on Man City

BRIGHTON -- Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time leading men's goalscorer in football history as his brilliant hat-trick inspired Manchester United's 3-2 win against Tottenham, while Liverpool closed the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City with a 2-0 victory at Brighton on Saturday.

Ronaldo had netted just once in his previous 10 games amid speculation that the Portugal striker was considering his future after less than a season of his second spell with United.

The 37-year-old's commitment was questioned when he reportedly jetted to Portugal last weekend rather than watch his team after being ruled out of their 4-1 defeat at Manchester City with a hip injury.

Even United interim boss Ralf Rangnick conceded he didn't know if Ronaldo was happy at the club.

But Ronaldo proved his commitment to the United cause with a superb display to single-handedly dispatch Tottenham at Old Trafford.

With recently retired NFL legend Tom Brady watching from the stands, Ronaldo bagged his first United treble since 2008.

His brilliant 25-yard drive put United ahead in the 12th minute before Harry Kane equalized with a 35th minute penalty awarded for Alex Telles' handball.

Ronaldo restored United's lead three minutes later from Jadon Sancho's cross, but Harry Maguire's 72nd minute own goal threatened to ruin his evening.

However, Ronaldo headed home from Telles' corner in the 81st minute to claim his 807th career goal, making him the top-scoring men's player in history, according to FIFA statistics, as he surpassed Josef Bican.

Ronaldo's heroics earned a standing ovation from Brady and lifted United into fourth place, while Tottenham are five points behind them in seventh.

"Today it was his best performance, at least since I arrived. He was good in training on Thursday and that is why I decided to start him," Rangnick said.

"A fantastic performance. It was not just the three goals, it was also he was part of the team when they were in possession of the ball.

"We showed the kind of reaction we were due after the bad second half at City."

At the Amex Stadium, Luis Diaz opened the scoring for Liverpool with a 19th minute header and Mohamed Salah netted with a 61st minute penalty awarded after Yves Bissouma's handball.

Jurgen Klopp's side have won their last eight league games, keeping the pressure on City, with the champions playing at Crystal Palace on Monday.

Salah has reached 20 goals in a Premier League season for the fourth time, with his latest strike coming at just the right time amid his tense contract negotiations.

Klopp said on Friday it is up to Salah whether he signs a new deal, a claim that was followed by the Egypt forward's agent tweeting a series of laughing emojis just minutes later.

Salah's long-term value to Liverpool is immense, but of more immediate concern to Klopp will be the knock that saw him replaced by Diogo Jota soon after his first goal in four games.

With a testing trip to Arsenal looming on Wednesday followed by an FA Cup quarter-final at Nottingham Forst, Klopp will hope his star makes a quick recovery.

"Something was not right. I think there was a situation where his foot got stretched. We'll have to see," Klopp said.

While City are in fine form, Liverpool's hot streak is equally impressive.

The Reds have scored 21 goals and conceded just twice in their winning run, while also keeping a third successive league clean sheet for the first time this term.

On the title race, Klopp said: "It's always the same, you expect Manchester City to win every game when you watch them play.

"The only thing we can do is as win as many football games as possible. We're ready, we don't need to call it a title race, we just want to win games."

Brentford boosted their bid to avoid relegation with a 2-0 home win against third bottom Burnley thanks to a pair of late goals from Ivan Toney.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Man Utd stumble again as Chelsea top Premier League

LONDON -- Manchester United were held at home by Everton on Saturday after Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped to the subs bench as Chelsea scored two late goals against Southampton to top the Premier League table.

Elsewhere, Brighton drew 0-0 with Arsenal to end the Gunners' recent winning streak while Leeds earned their first league win of the season.

United's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford continues an unimpressive run of home results including a League Cup defeat by West Ham and last week's shock Premier League loss at the hands of Aston Villa.

Ronaldo has scored five times in six games in all competitions since rejoining the club in late August but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he did not regret resting the 36-year-old -- who scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Villarreal in midweek.

"You make decisions throughout the season, you've got to manage the players' workload," said the Norwegian manager. "The decision was, for me, the correct one today.

"We have started better than last season, but it is still not what we wanted."

Everton created plenty of chances in the opening period but fell behind shortly before half-time when surprise pick Anthony Martial curled home his first Premier League goal since February from a Bruno Fernandes pass.

Solskjaer called on Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho 12 minutes after half-time as he looked to put the game beyond Rafael Benitez's men but Everton ruthlessly exposed United's frailty on the counter-attack.

Demarai Gray won the ball back on the left and freed Abdoulaye Doucoure into acres of space in midfield. Doucoure played in Andros Townsend to fire home his fifth goal in nine appearances.

Townsend performed a Ronaldo-style "Siuuu" goal celebration and said it was done in tribute to the Portuguese superstar, whom he said was his "idol".

Everton thought they had won it late on but Yerry Mina's close-range finish from a Tom Davies pass was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

- Chelsea strike late -

Chelsea ended a miserable week on a high, with Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell striking late in a 3-1 win against Southampton, who are still without a league victory this season.

The three points lifted the Stamford Bridge club to the top of the Premier League on 16 points, two clear of Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton and Brighton.

Thomas Tuchel's side, tipped by many to win the Premier League in the early weeks of the season, were well beaten by Manchester City last week and lost to Juventus in the Champions League in midweek.

But they returned to winning ways in London on Saturday, helped by a second-half red card for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

Trevoh Chalobah nodded Chelsea into an early lead but Ward-Prowse levelled from the penalty spot just after the hour mark before he was sent off in the 77th minute for a dangerous tackle on Jorginho after a VAR check.

Werner provided the decisive moment, sliding in from Cesar Azpilicueta's cross before Chilwell volleyed in from close range on 89 minutes to secure the victory.

"After two defeats we had to be careful that we didn't start being too sad or too worried because there was a chance to be on 16 points," Tuchel told the BBC.

"It was important to have a better performance than the last two games, that we sharpened our mindset so that we are not afraid to lose. It was nice to play the way we did and get a deserved win."

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal were bottom of the Premier League table after three matches before three consecutive wins lifted them to the comfort of mid-table.

But they found it tough to break down high-flying Brighton in a soggy evening contest on England's south coast and Arteta admitted his team did not deserve to win.

Earlier, Leeds beat Watford 1-0 thanks to a first-half strike by Diego Llorente while Hwang Hee-chan struck twice as Wolves beat struggling Newcastle 2-1.

Norwich stopped the rot against Burnley after six straight league defeats but they remain rock bottom of the Premier League table with just a single point from seven games after a 0-0 draw.

Liverpool host Manchester City in the pick of Sunday's Premier League matches.

Agence France-Presse

Champions League return gives platform for Man U’s rebuild

Manchester United’s return to the Champions League is a significant milestone as the Red Devils seek to close the gap to rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in the battle for Premier League supremacy.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men held their nerve on a final-day shootout for a place in the top four, winning 2-0 at Leicester to complete a 14-game unbeaten run in the league and end the season best of the rest in third place.


“Liverpool and City have been running away with it in the last couple of seasons so to get third is a massive achievement for the team,” said Solskjaer.

A huge 33-point gap to champions Liverpool shows the strides they still have to make to become title contenders again, but since the January signing of Bruno Fernandes transformed the mood and results at Old Trafford, no team in the Premier League has won more points.


“Bringing Bruno in, in January, has made a big difference,” said Harry Maguire, who cost United a world record £80 million ($103 million) for a defender at the start of the season.

“To finish third in the Premier League should be a minimum requirement from this club, but next season we have to keep improving and building.”


A third-place finish should buy Solskjaer time that did not look likely when Old Trafford turned on the team during a miserable 2-0 home defeat to Burnley in January.

The Norwegian has already proved himself adept at building a counter-attacking team capable of upsetting the odds. United have beaten both Chelsea and City three times this season and were the only team in 36 games between March 2019 and February 2020 to take a Premier League point from Liverpool.

However, the arrival of Fernandes, the emergence of 18-year-old Mason Greenwood, Paul Pogba’s return from injury and the development of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial into 20-goal-a-season forwards has improved United’s ability to see off weaker opposition.

“I think it’s a big day for Ole, it gives him some peace and demonstrates progress,” said former United captain Gary Neville after the victory at Leicester. “They look like they can win games in different ways.”

Culture change

During his 19 months in charge, Solskjaer has repeatedly stressed the need for a culture change as well as a return to winning ways on the pitch.


Greenwood and Rashford are not the only academy graduates to make important contributions this season. Brandon Williams and Scott McTominay are established squad players, while United have also got back to picking off exciting young British talent from other clubs in Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James.

“We are going places and we’ve got a team you can like. You can see the DNA of Manchester United. At least that’s what I feel,” said Solskjaer.

The income from the Champions League will aid that rebuild.

Even prior to the economic hit caused by coronavirus with the loss of matchday income and rebates to broadcasters, United expected their revenue to shrink by up to £67 million this season without Champions League football.

On top of extra TV and prize money, United also stood to lose substantially from clauses in certain commercial contracts had they missed the spotlight provided by European football’s premier competition for two consecutive seasons.

Key to United’s improvement from sixth last season to third has been the success of their four big signings in Fernandes, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka and James, compared with wasted transfer fees and wages spent on players in previous years, including Alexis Sanchez.

If they are to keep heading in the right direction, their recruitment must be spot on again, with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho reportedly United’s premier target for the summer.

Agence France-Presse

Big wins for Liverpool, City; more woe for United, Chelsea

A fourth straight win for Liverpool. Another big victory for Manchester City. More disappointment for Manchester United and Chelsea.

Oh, and the usual dose of VAR controversy.


Just a typical afternoon in this season’s Premier League.

By beating Burnley 3-0 on Saturday, Liverpool achieved a club-record 13th straight league victory and stayed in first place on a maximum 12 points heading into the two-week break for internationals. No other team in England’s four professional leagues has won all its games since the start of the season.

City is hot on Liverpool’s heels in second place, already seemingly reprising the northwest clubs’ duel for the title last season.

It is now 14 goals this season for the defending champions after a 4-0 home win over Brighton that included a double from Sergio Aguero, who is the top scorer in the league with six goals.


City’s win was marred by a first-half injury to arguably the team’s best defender, Aymeric Laporte, which according to manager Pep Guardiola could keep the center back out for “a while.”

Meanwhile, pre-season predictions that this will be a transitional year for United and Chelsea under inexperienced coaches are proving to be true, with the two teams already seven points off Liverpool before September with just one win apiece so far.

Both squandered leads Saturday, United failing to build on Daniel James’ early goal — his third of the season following his offseason arrival from second-tier Swansea — and drawing 1-1 at Southampton.

Chelsea will be even more unhappy, surrendering a two-goal lead at home to promoted team Sheffield United and drawing 2-2.

Every weekend has featured some sort of contentious issues with VAR, which is being used for the first time in the Premier League this season, and the latest dispute was at Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa.


Villa thought it had scored an equalizer in the seventh minute of stoppage time through Henri Lansbury, only for the goal to be ruled out because teammate Jack Grealish was adjudged to have dived in the build-up. Villa’s players were furious and it looked a tight call, with the video assistant referee choosing not to overturn the on-field decision of the referee.

EASY FOR LIVERPOOL

A touch of fortune and a defensive error helped Liverpool ease to a 13th straight win.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross from the right glanced off the back of Burnley striker Chris Wood and span high and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Nick Pope into the far corner of the net in the 33rd.

Four minutes later, Burnley defender Ben Mee passed the ball straight to Roberto Firmino in midfield and the Brazil forward played in Sadio Mane, who slotted home his finish.

Firmino added the third in the 80th from a counter-attack.

LAPORTE BLOW

Man City’s third victory in four matches might have come at a huge cost with the right knee injury to Laporte.

The French defender, who was called up by his national team on Friday for just the second time, punched the ground as soon as he made contact with Adam Webster as the Brighton center back charged down the right wing. Laporte held his hands behind his head and shook his head as he was carried off.

“It doesn’t look good,” Guardiola said. “I’m waiting for the doctor to call me. He (Laporte) might be out for a while.”


Any lengthy absence for Laporte would be a major blow to City, which released long-serving captain Vincent Kompany in the offseason and has John Stones currently out injured. Fernandinho, a center midfielder, filled in as a center back off the bench against Brighton.

Kevin De Bruyne and substitute Bernardo Silva were the other scorers for City.

POGBA INJURY

The sight of Paul Pogba hobbling away from St. Mary’s stadium was a further blow to United after its poor display against Southampton.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Pogba “got a bad knock on his ankle” but expected the midfielder to still turn up for international duty with France next week.

James’ goal was canceled out by Jannik Vestergaard’s header in the 58th minute. Kevin Danso was handed a second yellow card for a crude, high challenge on Scott McTominay, reducing Southampton to 10 men in the 73rd, but United couldn’t capitalize.

ABRAHAM’S DOUBLE DOUBLE

Tammy Abraham has now scored two goals in consecutive games for Chelsea, cementing his place as the team’s first-choice striker

His first-half double — after his brace against Norwich last weekend — was not enough to see off Sheffield United, which reduced the deficit through Callum Robinson less than a minute after the restart before Kurt Zouma’s own-goal in the 87th minute.

OTHER RESULTS

Jamie Vardy scored twice in Leicester’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, West Ham beat Norwich 2-0 through goals by Sebastian Haller and Andriy Yarmolenko, while Watford collected its first point of the season by drawing 1-1 at Newcastle.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Manchester United to pay $97M for defender Harry Maguire

LONDON — Manchester United is set to break the world transfer record for a defender after agreeing to pay 80 million pounds ($97 million) to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester, a person with knowledge of the deal said Friday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the transfer for the 26-year-old Maguire has yet to be finalized.


United has been pursuing the center back for more than a year since his standout performances at the 2018 World Cup for England and finally agreed to Leicester’s asking price with just a week remaining in this summer transfer window ahead of the Premier League season opening.

The fee eclipses the deals for Matthijs de Ligt to leave Ajax for Juventus last month for 75 million euros (then $85 million), and for Virgil van Dijk to join Liverpool from Southampton for up to 75 million pounds in January 2018.

Leicester’s hand in the negotiations with United was strengthened by Maguire signing a new five-year contract last September. Leicester will be receiving 80 million pounds two years after paying around a fifth of that fee to sign Maguire from Hull.

As it stands, Maguire will be the seventh central defender at United going into the season, alongside Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, and Axel Tuanzebe.


United opens its campaign against Chelsea on Aug. 11. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side is trying to return to the Champions League after finishing sixth in the Premier League last season.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Liverpool returns to top spot; Everton humiliates Man United

LONDON — Before returning to the top of the Premier League, Liverpool got to savor a Manchester United humiliation.

Now, unusually, Liverpool needs a swift recovery by its great rival after United’s despair at being routed 4-0 by Everton on Sunday.


Liverpool’s hopes of ending a 29-year English title drought could hinge on a big favor from sixth-place United when it hosts Manchester City on Wednesday.

After beating Cardiff 2-0 on Sunday, Liverpool is two points ahead of City with three games remaining. But Pep Guardiola’s champions have a game in hand over Liverpool so defending the title is still under their control — unless they fail to beat United.

“If you are only motivated by winning the holy grail then something is wrong with you,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. “We enjoy the ride together with our fans.”

How his team could do with United holding City to a 0-0 draw just as it did when Liverpool visited Old Trafford in February.

“Man United was in that moment obviously in a much better moment,” Klopp said. “We’ll see what comes out on Wednesday. We have no influence on that, but we still have to play games after that.”

For Arsenal, the challenge in its remaining four matches is sealing a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League. That mission was hampered by a 3-2 home loss to Crystal Palace that left Unai Emery’s side in fourth place but only ahead of Chelsea on goal difference and a point behind Tottenham.

LIVERPOOL RECORD

Liverpool’s breakthrough against relegation-threatened Cardiff only came in the second half — the sixth successive league game which Liverpool has won by scoring a winner after the break.

Georginio Wijnaldum met Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner at the near post in the 57th minute.

“The boys decided the routine for the first goal in the dressing room at halftime,” Klopp said. “We had different routines but the players decided and I love that.”

Liverpool was disrupted by losing Fabinho following a clash of heads and Milner was sent on to play what proved to be a decisive role.

Milner netted from the penalty spot in the 81st minute after Sean Morrison grappled Mohamed Salah, who fell to the ground.

“Morrison used his hands four or five times and (referee) Martin Atkinson took his time but eventually gave a penalty,” Klopp said.

Liverpool now has a club-record 88 Premier League points, beating the 86 managed in the 2008-09 season. But there’s still a first championship crown since 1990 to secure.

Cardiff’s mission is staying in the Premier League and the south Wales side remains in the last relegation place — three points from safety with three games remaining.

UNITED COLLAPSE

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apologized to fans after United lost for the sixth time in eight matches in all competitions — a spell that includes the manager’s caretaker position being turned into a permanent job on a three-year contract.

Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson scored before the break, and Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott added to United’s pain with further goals in the second half.

“We have got to apologize to the fans because they were absolutely fantastic and that performance is not good enough for a Man United team,” Solskjaer said. “All the way from me to the players, we know that we let the fans down, we let the club down. That performance is difficult to describe because it is so bad. 



“We were beaten on all the things, all the ingredients you need, added to the talent. There is no place you can hide on the pitch.”

United is where it was when Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho in December — sixth place.

ARSENAL SETBACK

United’s loss meant Arsenal still ended Sunday in fourth place, two points ahead of Solskjaer’s side despite the north London club’s 10-match winning league home run ending.

After Christian Benteke netted his first goal in 20 games in the 17th minute, Mesut Ozil did level for Arsenal at the start of the second half.

But Benteke set up Wilfried Zaha to restore Palace’s lead in the 61st before James McArthur headed in the visitors’ third.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in the 77th but Arsenal couldn’t find two more goals to extend its 10-match winning league run at home.

“It was very frustrating, because it was a big opportunity,” Arsenal manager Unai Emery said. “But we’ve had plenty of big opportunities before today, plenty of key moments that give us the opportunity to achieve our first target, to play in the Champions League next year.”

That could still be secured by winning the Europa League with Arsenal facing Valencia in the semifinals.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Pogba scores as Man United wins Premier League opener

MANCHESTER, England — Jose Mourinho received an instant reward for handing Paul Pogba the captaincy when the World Cup-winning midfielder paved the way for Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Leicester as the English Premier League season opened on Friday.

Having returned from France’s triumph in Russia last month to intense media speculation about his future under United manager Mourinho, the 25-year-old Pogba was named skipper of a team that included debutant Fred.

After an unusual stuttering run-up that briefly gave way to jogging on the spot, Pogba rifled home the first goal from a third-minute penalty after Daniel Amartey had handled a shot from Alexis Sanchez.


The France playmaker then continued to impress as the first half wore on at Old Trafford, leading his team-mates by example.

United had several chances to extend its lead against a Leicester side that called goalkeeper David De Gea into action more often than Mourinho would have liked.

The manager, however, celebrated on the touchline after defender Luke Shaw directed home his first senior goal to put the result out of reach after an excellent through ball from Juan Mata.

Substitute Jamie Vardy pulled one back with a stoppage-time header after Ricardo Pereira’s cross came back off the post, but it was too little, too late for Leicester.

“Pogba was a monster, we thought maximum 60 minutes, he managed (more than) 80,” Mourinho said after taking his captain off late in the game. “Pre-season was very hard and we needed this fantastic spirit by the players to manage this performance and this result.

“Paul was fantastic, his contribution was amazing but the fuel was disappearing. I am (also) very pleased for Luke. He made one mistake in 90 minutes, he was very good defensively.”


Leicester looked startled by United’s early intensity but slowly began to feel its way into the match, with debutant James Maddison shining.

Demarai Gray clipped in a smart ball that Kelechi Iheanacho followed with a strike across the face of goal, before a fierce Maddison shot was stopped by De Gea.


At the other end, Andreas Pereira, making his first United appearance since February 2016, looked sharp in midfield alongside Pogba.

Matteo Darmian tested Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel at the near post early into a second half that United started with bundles of possession, but few clear-cut chances.

A good opportunity came when Pogba fed Sanchez and he set up Mata, who had a shot that was deflected just wide.

But it was far from one-way traffic. Eric Bailly did superbly to deny Iheanacho, and Vardy bundled Shaw off the ball to send in a cross that Gray almost flicked home.

It was Shaw, who just like Pogba has endured some tough times under Mourinho, who was the unlikely late hero for United.


With seven minutes remaining, he flicked the ball past a defender before sending a low left-footed strike into the net.

It was the first senior goal for former England and Southampton defender Shaw, on the 23-year-old left-back’s 141st appearance.

“It’s important to win and play well,” Mourinho said. “We must get used to teams who have players of the same quality that we have. Every team is a good team, forget the name, forget the history, forget the shirt.”

Leicester manager Claude Puel praised his players.

“It was not a good result, but it was a good performance,” Puel said. “We showed good control, good football, a lot of chances. We had chances to score in the first half. It was more difficult in the second half.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Leicester 2 points away from Premier League title

MANCHESTER, England — One chance gone for Leicester in its attempt to clinch a first English league title.

Over to you, Tottenham.

Needing three points to pull off the ultimate underdog success story in sports, Leicester only managed to pick up one from a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Leicester still has two games left — against Everton at home next weekend and Chelsea away on the final day — to collect the required two points. It might not even go that far, as second-place Spurs has to beat Chelsea on Monday to keep the title race alive.

“I’d like to watch the (Chelsea-Spurs) match,” said Claudio Ranieri, Leicester’s Italian manager, “but I’m on a flight back from Italy so I might not know the result until I land.”

Spurs can at least prepare for that game at Stamford Bridge knowing they are guaranteed a top-four place and therefore a spot in next season’s Champions League.

The same can’t be said for either of the Manchester clubs.

While United stayed in fifth place, Man City dropped to fourth by losing 4-2 at Southampton as manager Manuel Pellegrini’s risk in playing a weakened team backfired.

Key players like Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne and Vincent Kompany were among those rested ahead of the second leg of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid on Wednesday, and it showed in City’s loose display at St. Mary’s Stadium. Sadio Mane scored a hat trick for seventh-place Southampton, while Kelechi Iheanacho scored both of City’s goals.

In the tight race for the final two Champions League spots, Arsenal is third — three points ahead of City and seven points ahead of United which has a game in hand. West Ham is a point further back in sixth.

In the other game Sunday, Swansea guaranteed Premier League football for another season by beating Liverpool 3-1, with Andre Ayew scoring two of the goals.

Like City, Liverpool seemed preoccupied by a looming European game — Thursday’s second leg of its Europa League semifinal against Villarreal, which stands at 1-0 to the Spanish side — and fielded a depleted starting lineup.

Christian Benteke scored the only goal for Liverpool, which finished with 10 men following the 76th-minute red card to left back Brad Smith.

For Leicester, a seemingly impossible dream is one step closer and there’s now a good chance the team could seal the title in front of its own fans at the King Power Stadium next weekend against Everton, in the next-to-last round of fixtures.

Danny Drinkwater, Leicester’s box-to-box midfielder will miss that game after being sent off against United for collecting a second yellow card in the 86th minute.

United opened the scoring at Old Trafford through Anthony Martial’s powerful sidefoot volley in the eighth minute, by which time Leicester had barely got out of its own half.

Ranieri’s team of rejects, journeymen and unheralded foreign players has been confounding the doubters all season and they did so again here, digging deep and equalizing with their first genuine chance when Wes Morgan headed in from Drinkwater’s free kick in the 17th.

“I am very pleased with our performance after the goal,” Ranieri said. “We keep calm and score a goal. After that we get a lot of confidence and play better. After that, it was another match.”

United could also have finished with 10 men had the referee spotted Marouane Fellaini lashing out at Leicester defender Robert Huth, first with his forearm and then with his elbow, as they jostled at a set piece. Fellaini appeared to be reacting after his hair was pulled by Huth and United manager Louis van Gaal empathized with his player.

Mimicking the incident by appearing to grab a TV reporter’s hair off camera, Van Gaal said: “What is your reaction when I grab your hair? Your hair is shorter than Fellaini’s but when I do that, what are you doing then? It’s a reaction.”

Leicester’s vocal fans stayed behind after the final whistle, chanting “Tottenham Hotspur, we’re waiting for you,” and “Are you watching, Tottenham?”

The pressure now moves onto Spurs, who haven’t won away to Chelsea in the league since 1990.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Ronaldo the movie star? Football ace to appear in Scorsese film

Cristiano Ronaldo can do things ordinary human beings can’t.

He became the top scorer of UEFA Champions League, led both Manchester United and Real Madrid to numeorus trophies, he became insanely rich, and he’s also the most famous person in social media.

Add movie star to hist growing list of accolades as he is set to appear in a Martin Scorsese film.


In a Marca report, Ronaldo was given a part for Scorsese’s latest film “The Manipulator.”

Scorsese’s film is based on Italian real estate agent Alessandro Proto, who supposedly inspired the character of Christian Grey in the infamous “Fifty Shades of Grey” series.

As per Marca, Ronaldo looks to have an involvement in the production as the Real Madrid forward bought an expensive apartment in the exclusive Trump Tower, which Proto used to own, which Scorsese selected as the film’s setting. IDL

source: sports.inquirer.net

Man United turns to Monaco again to sign Martial

MANCHESTER, England — For the second straight year, Manchester United is turning to French club Monaco to solve its striker shortage in the final hours of Europe’s summer transfer window.

Twelve months ago, it was Radamel Falcao. This time, it’s Anthony Martial.

The French Football Federation said Monday that Martial, a 19-year-old forward who has been compared to France great Thierry Henry, was granted permission to leave France’s national squad to sign a contract at United.

Reports in the French and English media said Martial will cost United 36 million pounds ($55.5 million), a hefty fee for a player who has just been called up by France for the first time ahead of upcoming friendlies against Serbia and Portugal. Martial only signed a new contract at Monaco this summer until 2019.

United is taking a gamble on Martial after the team scored just three goals in its opening four matches of the Premier League season. Wayne Rooney has been used by United manager Louis van Gaal as a lone striker, but hasn’t scored in the league since April 4.

Martial can play as a winger or as a central striker, and has played at all youth levels for France. He scored nine goals in 35 league matches last season and is widely regarded as one of the brightest young players in French football alongside Lyon’s Nabil Fekir.

With his speed, technical skills and penchant for cutting in from the left, Martial has many of the same attributes as Henry — France’s record goalscorer and a Premier League great from his time at Arsenal.

Martial joined Monaco from Lyon in 2013 for 5 million euros and blossomed last season, relegating veteran Dimitar Berbatov to the bench toward the end of the campaign.

“He approached (France coach) Didier Deschamps for authorization to go to England to sign a contract with Manchester United there,” a FFR statement said about Martial. “In these exceptional circumstances, the coach accepted the request of the player.”

Martial is due to link up again with the France squad at its Clairfontaine base near Paris on Tuesday.

A loan move for Falcao didn’t turn out well for United, with the Colombia striker scoring four goals in 29 appearances. United rejected the opportunity to sign Falcao on a permanent basis and also sold Robin van Persie this offseason.

The other strikers in United’s squad are Javier Hernandez, who has been linked with a move in the final days in the transfer window, and youngster James Wilson.

The transfer window closes in England on Tuesday.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Moyes reiterates Wayne Rooney not for sale

SYDNEY  — Manchester United manager David Moyes reiterated on Friday that he has no plans to sell Wayne Rooney despite Premier League rival Chelsea continuing its pursuit of the England striker.

United formally rejected an ambitious Chelsea bid for Rooney this week and Moyes has made it clear he wants Rooney among the striking options for his first season in charge of the 20-time English champions.

New Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho appears desperate to land the forward and new deal is expected to be tabled soon.

“The club’s position has not changed,” Moyes said Friday of United’s determination that Rooney play out the remaining two years of his contract.

The 27-year-old Rooney has pushed for a move from United since expressing frustration about his lack of playing time.

He is not with the club on the Australian leg of its Asia Pacific tour after aggravating a hamstring injury in Bangkok last week.

Speaking at a media conference on the eve of United’s pre-season friendly against an A-League All Stars team, Moyes said rather than shedding players the league champions are looking at more signings, promising news in the next 24 hours on the possible recruitment of Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

“The chief executive is dealing with it. Hopefully know more in the next few days,” he said.

Moyes is yet to sign any new first-team players since taking over from Alex Ferguson in May, much to the concern of United fans.

”As far as players we are looking to bring in are concerned, we are working hard to do that,” Moyes said.

”We are trying very hard to make some additions. … hopefully there will be some good news in the not too distant future.”

source: sports.inquirer.net