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Jurgen Klopp accepts Liverpool was no near Newcastle in the defeat at St James’ Park

December 7, 2015 by

Liverpool is among the few promising league sides this season who have the guts to surprise anyone thanks to its newly appointed manager Jurgen Klopp who brought in this change to the last season’s highly demotivated side. Liverpool lost last premier league game against Newcastle by 2-0 which is important not for its result but for the way Reds played on the visiting field. They never looked in commanding position; in fact, kept missing opportunities hence could not score even a single goal at St James’ Park. This is surprising from a side who just triumphed Southampton side by 6-1 and manager Jurgen Klopp is not willing to digest it easily therefore he not only accepted his mistake but as well said it is better to lose these kinds of games. He was pointing over the mistakes his side did in the game that should have been under their control, but anyways, it is good to see someone is taking the responsibility of a defeat rather criticizing media, referees and all that.

Talking about the game and why they could not overcome the hosts, 48-year-old German said, “If you see the situation that Newcastle is in and the situation we are in, I have to say they deserved the win, maybe we could have deserved a point. I couldn’t see that we should have won three points because we were not good enough, we didn’t do what we could do. I have to see it again, I have to analyse this game so I know more about it. It’s hard work — that’s clear, but it shouldn’t be this hard because we could do better and play much more football.

“We played no counter-pressing. Pressing was not good….we were not compact enough — a lot of things we didn’t do well. Better you lose a bad game than a good game.”

Pointing out the mistakes his side did in the game, Klopp add after his second loss as Anfield boss, “Nearly everything, I would say. The start, the middle and the end. I don’t know. This was obviously not a really good football game, and that was 50 per cent because of Newcastle and 50 per cent because of Liverpool FC.

“It was an open game with no rhythm from our side. We were not creative enough, so we had no chances. We got this goal — it was something like a Christmas present or whatever. We made our goal, but because we weren’t good enough today, the linesman thought, ‘Don’t make world-class goals if you play this s—. The second goal I’m not interested in, it was a counter-attack and that’s normal. So we have to take this game and think about why it happened. That’s not the biggest issue in the world.”

Filed Under: England, Soccer News Tagged With: ,

Jurgen Klopp optimistic about Philippe Coutinho’s early recovery

December 5, 2015 by

Liverpool newly appointed manager Jurgen Klopp facing the challenge to deal with several injuries to his side’s star players and he feels a big vacuum is now on the back after missing players like Philippe Coutinho for injury. Although both Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson are available to play again after a long absence from the field, yet Klopp is looking for 23-year-old Brazilian who has missed last three games for a hamstring problem he conceived during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Manchester City. Earlier, he was expected to came back after one game, but now after being in the stands for three games, manager wants him to recover sooner and take the responsibility although there is big relief to the side since return of Sturridge recouped the loss to some extend who scored twice in the Southampton win. Knowingly, Coutinho could join the team against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday, however, it is still a guess and only manager can share the details on his recovery by then. Anyways, having been optimistic for a champions league qualification, Reds look focused over their upcoming games despite having been passing through several injuries and manager said on missing key players at this stage, “I like optimism, really, but with Phil we were too optimistic. Sometimes it happens like this and there is nothing to criticise — he has tried everything he can.

“He trained nearly normally but he doesn’t feel comfortable and we have to take care of this because the muscle is a dangerous thing when you always feel it a bit. He is training and we will wait. I can wait every day, it is no problem. If someone tells me, ‘now he is available,’ and next time he will play with us, no problem. Yesterday, no-one gave me this sign so today we have to wait again.”

Adding about Sturridge’s comeback and why he should shoulder most of the burden on his shoulders in absence of Coutinho, Klopp explained, “I think it is completely normal with a player with a long injury history. Obviously he did well in the last game and the plan before the game was to play about 55-60 minutes so that is what we did.

“Of course he felt each muscle after the game, that is normal because it was intensive, but in this moment he is available for the weekend and we will see.”

Filed Under: England, Soccer News Tagged With: , ,

Real president Florentino Perez expresses their unawareness over Denis Cheryshev issue

December 4, 2015 by

Real Madrid

Whenever we have a big and recognized soccer club in the field, it is not supposed from them to violate any rule of the game even if it happens unintentionally, and if it takes place, it is taken as a surprise to many that how such a side with an army of experts can do so. Real Madrid is one such side who recently included winger Denis Cheryshev in its starting lineup for the game against Segunda B club Cadiz on Thursday. Initially, no one noticed what is happening but when Cadiz came to know that 24-year-old Russian footballer has had been booked three times last season playing at Villarreal on loan, they filed a formal complaint citing the mistake done by the Spanish side. Looking at the complaint, Real first replied that any such sanction is not applicable since player was not notified personally but later looking at the heat on the issue, club president denied of having done anything wrong deliberately. Florentino Perez expresses his ignorance about the issue and said, “We did not have any knowledge nor did the player of his own suspension. No one knew. After an analysis with the board of directors, we have decided that the suspension for three yellow cards was not effective because no one communicated it to the player as per Article 41.

“Real Madrid was not aware of the existence of any sanction, no one communicated that to us. The CAS has dictated that a player receive a personal notification. If we admit that the suspension was efficent, it would have to have been annulled according to Article 112, which states that the suspension is not effective because it was not communicated to the player so there was no fielding of an ineligible player.”

Clarifying their earlier stand that player was not notified on the issue, 68-year-old added, “It makes no sense to say that the player was notified if it was not so. Madrid has not been able to anything more than analyse the nature of this reality and we believe the suspension was not done effectively. We will in the very least go to the CAS because there is jurisdiction. If someone did not do their job, we would ask for forgiveness. But if the player has not told us, nor the federation, nor Villarreal, it is impossible for us to be aware. We did not receive any information on July 27. The federation knows this.

“No one was negligent at Real Madrid. That is our conclusion after speaking with our legal team.”

Filed Under: Soccer News, Spain

Arsene Wenger gears up to bring more players this January

November 27, 2015 by

Every time we are around a transfer window, every side starts preparing lucrative contracts for aspiring players to strengthen its army and its holds true in case of toppers who are already on the top of the board coz they are most insecure hence want to gather best talent of the world. Arsenal, the side who surprised everyone with a position among top four in the premier league this season, is one such side who looks more hungry to hire players especially for defense where they have been weakest in last few games. Manager Arsene Wenger has already hinted about his targets for this January transfer window and would like to enhance more options for defensive midfield after losing Francis Coquelin for three long months to an injury. Apart from him, Gunners are also without the services of Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Mikel Arteta leaving a big vacuum at the back end and 66-year-old Frenchman wants to keep their board ranking intact in later of the season as well.

Talking about the competition ahead and how he spent on Black Friday shopping, longest running Arsenal boss said in a news conference, “If I find the right quality, I will do something. I love a bargain. Who does not love a bargain? I don’t know many people that don’t like a bargain.” Although he hinted they will not sign players just for the sack of it as it will burden their balance sheet more and leave no space for further adjustment in the first team considering the financial restrictions put in by the FFP guidelines. He added, “If people need two TVs, yes — but if they don’t need one, why should they buy two? That’s where you come back to a bargain. What is for us a bargain is to buy players of top quality, because only top quality strengthens our squad.

“I bought Patrick Vieira for £2.5 million, and it was a top bargain because he was a top quality player. We spent £40m on Ozil, but I still consider it a bargain because the player is top quality. The quality of his (Patrick Vieira) performances has turned opinions. He now has the support of everybody who loves Arsenal.

“What is interesting about Mesut’s game is that he is not only a provider now. He likes to get on the end of the things. What he has added to his game is the runs into the box. I think he has a much better balance in his game now — giving, assisting and scoring.”

Filed Under: England, Soccer News Tagged With: ,

Florentino Perez backs Rafa Benitez to continue as coach

November 24, 2015 by

Life is not easy when you are associated with a big side especially when you do not have experience of mentoring a reigning club containing more world class players than ever and this is something that seems to be happening with Real Madrid’s newly appointed manager Rafa Benitez who is now feeling pressure of guiding players who have long been a brand in themselves. Until last week, 55-year-old Spanish was enjoying his stay at Santiago Bernabéu but after a humiliating defeat to arch rival Barcelona he along with President Florentino Perez faced fans’ embarrassing chants asking them to resign from their posts. However, no one listened anything against Ronaldo during the whole game suggesting fans are still with Portuguese despite rumors of him linking with former side Manchester United. Anyways, this is the right time for President Florentino Perez to back his manager and rightly so he guarded his new head coach amid rising demand of his sacking on his reported difference with Ronaldo.

Reportedly, Real dressing room is not happy with the way Benítez is managing club affairs and according to players vibe, they want club’s B-team coach Zinedine Zidane to take over the former Nepoli boss. Talking about manager and if they are thinking of his sacking after reported difference with teammates, Perez said, “We have analysed the sports situation. Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez has all our support and trust. The solution to this is Rafa Benitez. We signed him to turn things around. We think he is the right person. But we must let him work — not listen to those making up lies that board doesn’t want him, or the players don’t want him.

“He has a good relationship with the players, with the board, and me in particular. We understand the anger of fans after Saturday, but ask for support for our players. It is not habitual for us to be permanently denying things (Benitez sacking). But I understand that there are some journalists who want to destabilise us. On Saturday, a sports paper from Madrid said that according to Radio Montecarlo I had dinner with the PSG president and — what’s his name — Jorge Mendes to talk about Cristiano.

“There are people who lie to damage Real Madrid. They think that, without me, they would have more influence in the club. I could say many more things. Never has Cristiano Ronaldo said to me ‘With this coach, or this club, we will win nothing.’ has never said anything about anyone, he is a good guy, all that comes out about me wanting to sell him, meeting with people, is people wanting to destabilise the club. It happens every day.”

Filed Under: Soccer News, Spain Tagged With: , ,
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