SPORTS MANIA

The Italian also bemoaned the lack of consistency that has become a problem in an 'up and down' season for the Blues Antonio Conte said that Chelsea “lacked everything” in a dismal second-half performance of their 3-0 Champions League defeat against Roma, and that the team will have to “dig deep” and “use this loss” to find an appropriate response against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The Premier League champions became the first English club to suffer defeat in Europe this season, in what was a miserable first match back in Italy for Conte. He actually thought they played well and were just unlucky in the first half, even though that was when they conceded two goals, as the side descended into chaos in a calamitous second half that saw an otherwise razor-sharp Roma miss two big chances. “I actually believe we played a good match in the first half, but were 2-0 down. We could have scored after 30 seconds and then suffered on the break. We ...

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has named the three reasons why he joined the west London club and not Manchester United during the summer transfer window. The Spanish striker joined the Blues for a club record fee of 58million pounds. But he was also heavily linked with a move to United during the early stages of the window. And now, ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Roma in the Champions League, Morata has listed the three reasons why he chose to move to the Stamford Bridge side. “I came here because there was a coach like Antonio Conte,” Morata told Gazetta dello Sport . “We started talking about my eventual transfer last spring and I finally came to London. “I’m in debt with Conte. He had taken me for Juve and then left for Italy. When I knew he wanted me, I didn’t think twice. “There were a number of favourable situations,” he added. “The first was the coach: I knew Conte and I had no trouble finding myself in his football ideas. “The second is the environment: I wa...

As World Cup qualifying nears completion, fans are anxious for the epic tournament to begin. The World Cup will kick off in Russia on June 14, 2018. The final will conclude the tournament on July 15. While the majority of World Cup teams are known, there still remains a few playoffs to determine the final qualifying teams. By mid-November, we should have the entire field of 32 teams. Eight European teams will take place in a playoff that will decide the final four European teams to advance to Russia. The following European teams will be competing for a trip to Russia: Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Northern Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Republic of Ireland and Greece. The playoffs run from November 9 through November 14. Africa also has three more teams that will advance to the 2018 World Cup. The final African qualifying matches will take place on November 14. The teams will be split up into eight groups of four. This will take place at the World Cup draw on Friday, December 1 a...

2017/10/11 Argentina’s Lionel Messi (C) celebrates after defeating Ecuador and qualifying to the 2018 World Cup football tournament, in Quito, on October 10, 2017. Juan Ruiz / AFP Lionel Messi fired Argentina into the World Cup with a brilliant hat-trick on Tuesday as South American champions Chile suffered a shock elimination. Messi single-handedly resurrected Argentina’s hopes in a 3-1 win over Ecuador in Quito that drew a line under a chaotic campaign that had left the two-time champions in danger of failing to qualify. The Barcelona superstar scored twice inside the opening 20 minutes to give Argentina the lead after Ecuador had stunned the visitors with an opening goal after from Romario Ibarra after 38 seconds. Messi then completed his hat-trick — the 44th of his dazzling career — with a sublime chip in the second half to seal the victory. The Argentinian superstar can now look forward to his fourth appearance at the World Cup at next year’s finals in Russia, where ...

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi limped off with a first-half injury as World Cup holders Germany completed a 100% record in Group C by thrashing Azerbaijan. Mustafi pulled up with what looked like a hamstring problem in the build-up to Ramil Seydaev’s equaliser. He was helped from the pitch before being replaced by Matthias Ginter. Joachim Low’s side found their feet after the break with Liverpool midfielder Emre Can among the scorers. Germany won all 10 of their group matches, scoring a record 43 goals in the process. They are the second European team to win 10 of 10 matches in a qualifying campaign after Spain, who went on to win in 2010. Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka scored twice in Kaiserslautern, a superb backheel from a corner and a neat finish from Leroy Sane’s cut-back, with Sandro Wagner of Hoffenheim becoming the first player to score five times in his first five caps since Ronald Worm in 1978 when he headed home. Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger was credi...

      Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has been handed a fresh injury concern with reports in Spain that Luis Suarez may require surgery to remove a cyst on his right knee. Club doctors hope Suarez will recover with a hands-off approach, but Catalunya Radio says that the Uruguay international will have to go under the knife if the niggles continue. If that is the case, the operation could take place during the next international break and will keep Suarez on the sidelines for between two and three weeks. Why advertise with us Suarez, 30, originally picked up the injury in his knee during Barcelona's 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup on 16 August. Barcelona said at the time that the ex Liverpool forward was expected to be on the sidelines for a month. "Luis Suárez will be out of action for around four weeks. Tests carried out on Thursday morning confirm that the Uruguayan has a distension in the posterior articular capsul...

2017/10/06 Spain have won their past seven World Cup qualifying games Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was jeered by fans as Spain qualified for next summer's World Cup with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Albania. Pique said before the game he would not be driven out of the national team by fans opposed to his public support for the Catalonia independence referendum. Jeers rang out from Spain fans each time the 30-year-old touched the ball in Alicante. Advertisement Goals by Rodrigo, Isco and Thiago sent Spain through with one match to spare. Pique, 30, will miss Monday's final game in Israel (19:45 BST) through suspension, after picking up a second-half booking for pulling back Armando Sadiku. Manchester City midfielder David Silva also picked up his second yellow card of the qualifying campaign, ruling him out of the Jerusalem tie. Group G winners Spain are five points ahead of Italy, who were surprisingly held to a 1-1 home draw by Macedonia.

French club Paris-Saint-Germain will do everything possible to sign embattled Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez when the January 2018 transfer window opens. According to the report, Brazilian star Neymar has reminded PSG chiefs of his desire to play with the Chilean international in France next year. It was stated that Neymar agreed to move to Paris-Saint-Germain from Barcelona on the condition that Alexis Sanchez would join him at the club. Neymar wants Paris-Saint-Germain to sign Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez (photo: Sun) Recently, Neymar and Edinson Cavani had a bust up on the pitch over who will be taking penalties, and the club are now reportedly ready to sell Cavani in January for them to bring Sanchez in. PSG are expected to face serious competition from Premier League club Manchester City as the club's gaffer Pep Guardiola is also positive that Sanchez would join him at the Etihad Stadium in January.

2017/10/06 Barcelona midfielder and captain Andres Iniesta has signed a "contract for life" with the La Liga giants. The 33-year old Spain international has made 639 appearances for the Catalan club, scoring 55 goals. Iniesta came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, after joining in 1996 at the age of 12. Advertisement He made his first-team debut in October 2002 and has made the second-most appearances for the club. Iniesta has captained the side since 2015 and shares the record with Argentina forward Lionel Messi for the most titles in Barcelona history, with 30.

Paris Saint-Germain are working on fulfilling Neymar’s ‘wish’ and securing a summer deal for Arsenal forward, Alexis Sanchez. Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona for a world-record fee of £198million this summer. And since joining the Ligue 1 giants, the Brazilian has formed a formidable forward line alongside Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe. Hip According to French paper, Le Parisien, Sanchez and Neymar are friends and the Brazilian singled out his former Barcelona team-mate, as someone he wanted PSG to sign. Any deal could reportedly see Cavani leave, with the club needing to sell players to balance their books and avoid breaking Financial Fair Play regulations. Germany winger, Julian Draxler, had also been touted as a possible makeweight in any deal to take Sanchez to Paris. But after Cavani fell out with Neymar over penalty duties and PSG sporting director, Antero Henrique, allegedly expressed his concern over the forward’s efficiency in front of goal, the Uruguay strik...

CRISTIANO RONALDO tried to leave Real Madrid this summer. Cristiano Ronaldo tried to leave Real Madrid this summer The Portugal international has been sensational in recent seasons for the La Liga giants. Ronaldo, 32, has become Real’s all-time record goalscorer following his move from Manchester United in 2009. However, there was speculation the forward would quit Real in the summer after tax fraud allegations. And Spanish outlet Diario Gol say Ronaldo tried to force his exit this summer. United were linked with a move for their former talisman but Jose Mourinho didn’t bid for the forward. However, Diario Gol say Barcelona star Lionel Messi knew Ronaldo wouldn’t leave the Bernabeu. Messi knows Ronaldo is desperate to rival him for goalscoring records and in the Ballon d’Or race.

2017/10/05 Bundesliga giant, Bayern Munich has named Jupp Heynckes as head coach until the end of the 2017/18 season following the sack of Carlo Ancelotti last week. The German champion made the announcement on their website on Thursday. The 72-year-old retired from football following the 2012/13 season, in which he led the Bavarians to an unprecedented treble of Bundesliga, DFB Cup and UEFA Champions League titles. Heynckes also bagged the FIFA World Coach of the Year award in 2013. Ancelotti was relieved of his duties in the wake of Bayern’s disappointing start to the current campaign, with a 3-0 defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League proving to be the final straw for the club’s hierarchy. Assistant coach and former Bayern right-back Willy Sagnol took over the reins of first-team for Matchday 7, a 2-2 draw away to Hertha Berlin that leaves them five points behind Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund. This will be Heynckes’ fourth spell at the club...

- Georgian goalkeeper Shotaa Maminashvili is dead - The goalkeeper has tragically died after collapsing during his team pre-match warm up - Zugdidi director Revaz Pertaia has described the late goalkeeper as a good sportsman and a good person A goalkeeper in Georgia Shotaa Maminashvili has tragically died after collapsing during his team’s warm-up. Shotaa Maminashvili collapsed during the warm-up (Image: CEN) Maminashvili was turning out for Zugdidi FC on Sunday ahead of their match with Vit Georgia in the town of Mtsjeta. READ ALSO: Ighalo scores hatrick in training match as preparation for Zambia intensifies However, the 31-year-old Georgian collapsed during the warm-up and he was immediately rushed to hospital after losing consciousness, but he later died in hospital. Zugdidi director Revaz Pertaia told media in Georgia: "They could not save him. It is a horrible tragedy. He was a good sportsman and a good person." PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest Nigeri...

CRISTIANO RONALDO has been labelled ‘unbearable’ by his Real Madrid team-mates, according to shock reports coming out of Spain. Published 4th October 2017 Cristiano Ronaldo has been labelled unbearable by his Real Madrid team-mates The Portuguese has struggled so far this season, failing to score in his three La Liga appearances. And Diario Gol claim sources from inside the Real dressing room have told them of their discontent with Ronaldo. Some players have apparently described being at the same club as the 32-year-old as ’a constant battle’. The reports claim new Real signing Dani Ceballos has been very surprised with the situation at the Bernabeu. Ronaldo is often seen remonstrating on the pitch if things aren’t going his way and that is said to have irked some Real players.

  President Florentino Perez has been looking for a marquee striker for years, but the much-maligned Karim Benzema has held his place after winning favour with Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo.   However, with Benzema now struggling to keep up the high standards, Perez is looking to finally bring a top striker to the Bernabeu and, at the moment, there are few better than Kane.   Tottenham are understood to be determined to keep their star man.    The 24-year-old has already hit the back of the net 11 times in all competitions for Tottenham this season and looks well on his way to winning a third consecutive Premier League golden boot.   Since 28 February 2016, the London-born star has scored an incredible 44 goals in the top flight, a full eight more than the next nearest player, Sergio Aguero.   Still so early into his career, the England international has the potential to reach incredible heights in the game and Real M...

2017/10/04 Chelsea midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, has admitted that he was the player who threw a slice of pizza at then-Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, at Old Trafford in 2004. The incident happened after Arsenal lost their 49-game unbeaten run against United. There was friction between the two sets of players and it spilled over into the tunnel, where a piece of pizza was anonymously hurled into Ferguson’s face. Fabregas has long been suspected of being responsible, but nobody from either side of the scuffle has ever fully accused the Spanish midfielder, a teenager at Arsenal at the time, of casting that fateful slice. But speaking on an upcoming episode of Sky One show ‘A League of Their Own’, Fabregas was asked directly by host James Corden, if he threw the pizza at Sir Alex. “Yes,” the now-Chelsea player sheepishly replied. “All of a sudden, I heard noises [in the tunnel] and I thought what’s happening? So I go out with my slice of pizza and I saw Sol Ca...

2017/10/04 19:52 Lacazette Alexandre Lacazette has revealed he turned down the chance to join Paris Saint-Germain this summer, favouring a move to Arsenal and the Premier League instead. The 26-year-old held talks with PSG over a potential move to the Parc des Princes in a transfer that could have seen him line up alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. But the Frenchman opted for a move to the Emirates, signing for Arsenal in a club record £46.5m deal. Despite passing on the opportunity to play Champions League football with PSG, Lacazette insists he has no regrets in snubbing the French giants. “We talked to PSG but I knew it was not where I wanted to go. In France, I would only play for Lyon,” Lacazette told RMC Sport. “PSG could have helped me progress because of the big players they have but I wanted to play in another league.” Lacazette has hit the ground running in north London, netting four goals in his first seven league appearances for Arsenal. Although his s...