Premier League side Chelsea would clash with fierce rivals Liverpool twice within a few days in September.The Blues are currently doing very well under new manager Maurizio Sarri. They have won all three games so far in the league and are geared to do more as they find that balance for the season.
The President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara has declared that his country is ready to host the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2021. The first gentleman of the West African country during a media interaction insisted they are fully prepared and are capable of hosting the tournament.
Cameroon are the next and are ready to host the coming edition of the bi-annual tournament. In an attempt to respond to media speculation that the 2019 hosts may not be ready to accommodate the visitors and cope with the bigger tournament, Ouattara told reporters that his country will have everything in place for 2021 version of the tournament.
“We are very much aware of the decision to increase the number of participating teams and also the change in the usually date, in every situation, Ivory Coast has the necessary infrastructure to host the tournament,” the president said. “Some days ago, we staged the Jeux de la Francophonie with 4,000 athletes from 54 countries. So, Ivory Coast has the infrastructure and in any case, we will continue up to 2021,making available the necessary infrastructure to stage the final tournament.”
The 2021 tournament will be the first time Ivory Coast will have staged African football’s showpiece event since 1984 which is the reason Alassane Ouattara is more convinced his country can do it, as Guinea have already been nominated as the 2023 hosts.
Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard was in superb form as the Blues beat Huddersfield on Tuesday. Following the shock loss to West Ham on Saturday, the team responded very well as they returned to winning ways.
Antonio Conte admitted that the Premier League race was over as Manchester City widened the gap to 14 points. The Italian manager was widely condemned for such statement especially as the season was yet to reach halfway. It seems Stamford Bridge is merely seeking a top four finish this term, and possibly any other domestic title. In Europe, they have been drawn against Barcelona and it seems like the end of the road already.
Continue reading EDEN HAZARD IMPRESS AS CHELSEA DEFEAT HUDDERSFIELD
In a series of recent outbursts that paints frustration in its graphic form, outlaw Diego Costa says Chelsea are deliberately raising the benchmark of his transfer fee in a bid to trigger disinterest from the only club he pressed to end up at – Atletico.
Diego has spent much of his time in exile reiterating that he will only consider a move to the La Liga side, however, in his latest interview granted at his home in Brazilian town of Largato, the out-of-favour forward admitted for the first time that he might be open to any move that takes him far away from Stamford Bridge. Perhaps at this rate of beyond-the-Rubicon damaged relationships, he might even consider MLS Football.
“I’ve demonstrated I care for Atletico and have interest in playing for them,” he began. “But if Atletico and Chelsea don’t come to an agreement and Atletico don’t make a big effort, I can’t keep on wanting to play for a club that isn’t going to make a bigger effort to try and sign me,” he added. Continue reading COSTA ACCUSES CHELSEA OF SABOTAGING ATLETICO MOVE
Borussia Dortmund, like Atletico Madrid, is one of the few teams in Europe or that have had the privilege of housing“classic” strikers within their ranks; strikers that deliver both in tactical roles as well as important goals.
The Borussen were however – after initially struggling to fill the hole left behind by the six foot one – able to landShaktarDonesk’sAubameyang. The Gabonese turned out to be another world class poacher in his own right and even topped this season’s bundesliga goal scoring chart with another former Borussia Dortmund player not too far behind in the second spot – Lewandoski. Continue reading BALLOTELLI TO DORTMUND BETTER BE A JOKE
Antonio Conte reckons that Eden Hazard will probably not end his association with Chelsea as he finds a lot of comfort at the club and also in the city where he is well settled now with his wife and kids.
Also Conte hints that he does not have the full authority to make the calls regarding the transfer of big players like Hazard and that authority actually lies in the hands of the Chelsea bigwigs.
As per Conte, he can only convey his opinion to the top and then it depends on them what they do, but, he believes Hazard’s sale is not something that the hierarchy is considering at all right now.
The hierarchy actually intends to strengthen the squad even further and will be adding more quality to the squad next summer as they aim to contend for the title in all the tournaments they take part in. Continue reading Antonio Conte claims Eden Hazard long association with Chelsea
Spanish international, Bojan Kirkic has told his football club Stoke City he wants to leave in this summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old front man was not in the Potters’ squad for last weekend’s 3-1 win away to Sunderland having complained about some mild hip discomfort to manager, Mark Hughes.
Hughes having restated his desire to keep the forward, signed from Barcelona for £3 million in the summer of 2014, has told him he is still a key part of his plans. He assured Bojan of more game time after a meeting with his representatives, It is understood that Stoke value at around £12 million. Continue reading BOJAN KIRKIC NEARS STOKE CITY EXIT
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed that the injury playmaker Eden Hazard sustained was not a serious one.
“I don’t think so,” Conte said when asked if the injury was one that was long term. Conte said Hazard could not just feature for the Sunderland clash after his injury in the 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion. Hazard played 79 minutes but had to be replaced by Branislav Ivanovic in the game played at Stamford Bridge.
Brazilian forward Willian is set to start in place for Hazard against Palace. Out-of-favour Cesc Fabregas played when Chelsea faced David Moyes’ men. The Spaniard replaced Nemanja Matic while Kurt Zouma returned to the squad after a long-term injury. Zouma did not feature but making the bench is a big boost for the player after many months out. Continue reading CONTE: HAZARD’S INJURY NOT SERIOUS
Eden Hazard has recovered his good form under Antonio Conte.
However, it appears that the player has managed to recover under the Italian manager and seems to be playing better on the pitch. According to some pundits, this is mainly to the change of formation that has been carried out by the Italian manager.
Indeed, Eden Hazard is given more freedom in the new 3-4-3 formation that is favored by Antonio Conte. This means that the playmaker is free to play on the wings or more centrally where he can influence the play better. Eden Hazard is also more open to shooting on goals, and this has resulted in four goals this season. This is not bad especially when you know that the player only managed four goals for the whole of last campaign.
Continue reading Hazard back in form
It has been 2 years since Park Ji-sung last played in a competitive game, but the midfielder looks as athletic as ever.
He said that South Korea had been handed a tough draw when it comes to the World Cup qualifiers. Indeed they have been drawn with a group comprising of Iran, China, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Syria. South Korea will be looking to participate in their 9th successive World Cup, but Park Ji-sung believes that this will be difficult.
He said that the other teams found in the group are among the best in Asian football and that the South Korea team will have to be at their best if they want to make it to the finals. He said that South Korea had already played against Iran and Uzbekistan in the past, and it was by no means an easy match. He said that this is not an easy group and that the South Korean team should be ready for a fight if they want to qualify.
Continue reading Park Ji-sung speak about football