Month: January 2023

Diego Simeone appeared to contradict his previous remarks about his commitment to Atletico Madrid, stating that his future with the club will only become clear at the end of the season.

Atletico’s defeat in the Copa del Rey to Real Madrid on Thursday effectively ended their silverware prospects for the season, with the club fourth in LaLiga, 13 points behind leaders Barcelona, and also out of Europe.

Speaking after the defeat to Los Blancos, Simeone reaffirmed his commitment to Atleti, insisting he will not walk away of his own accord yet.

However, at his press conference ahead of Atleti’s LaLiga visit to Osasuna on Sunday, Simeone suggested a decision on his future will depend on how Atleti finish the season. 

Asked if he intended to continue with the club, Simeone said: “It is more complex than what you suggest. They [the club] will find out when the season ends what will happen.

“My contract depends a lot on how we finish the season. Every season finale we get together to see how we continue. This year will not be the exception.”

Atleti have failed to win any of their past three league games on the road, after winning seven of the previous eight such games in the competition.

Given that poor run of form, they could perhaps not have asked for a better opponent to face on Sunday as they bid to get their season back on track.

Atleti have been victorious on their past four visits to Osasuna, scoring at least three goals in each of those wins.

Despite the quick turnaround after Thursday’s defeat, Simeone has no doubt his players will be in good shape for the clash at El Sadar Stadium.

“We do it as a way of life,” he added. “When one gives everything like the other day, you stay peaceful. You do what you have to do. It is the way of understanding life. I am at peace and have the tranquillity of doing a great job.

“Now it’s a game against a rival who will be excited, with a very good coach, always competitive, always complex, with positive energy.”

Juventus will be able to call on Paul Pogba for the first time this season against Monza, with Dusan Vlahovic also fit again, though Weston McKennie is set to leave the club.

Pogba returned to Juve from Manchester United at the start of the season, having previously signed for the Bianconeri after leaving Old Trafford the first time in 2012.

But France’s World Cup-winning midfielder sustained a knee injury in pre-season and later required surgery, missing the entire season so far and Qatar 2022.

Finally, on Saturday, coach Massimiliano Allegri was able to confirm Pogba’s imminent return to action, while Vlahovic is also set to feature for the first time since the World Cup following a groin complaint.

He added of the pair’s status ahead of Juve’s home match against Monza: “They’re fine. They did good [in] training, a good test the other day.

“Vlahovic’s condition is better than Pogba’s, also just as a physical structure, but Paul in recent days has come ahead.

“If a player is called up, he can play. Of course, they don’t have 60 minutes in their legs, they’ll have 30 at most.”

Mattia De Sciglio will also be available to Allegri, but Leonardo Bonucci requires more time to recover his injured adductor.

Juan Cuadrado and Federico Chiesa, who is fatigued, will both miss the Monza game before returning to the fold against Lazio in midweek.

McKennie is another who will be absent this weekend, and Allegri does not expect the United States midfielder to return to Juve as a deal has been struck with a suitor, said to be Leeds United.

“There is an agreement between the clubs, then I don’t know if it will go through,” Allegri said.

“He’s a player on the market, so it doesn’t seem right and normal to bring him [for this game].”

Leeds avoided another FA Cup upset by winning 3-1 at Accrington to reach the fifth round for just the fourth time in 20 years.

Jack Harrison’s stunning strike gave the Premier League side an interval lead and two goals in as many second-half minutes from Junior Firpo and Luis Sinisterra killed the tie.

But it was not all plain sailing for Jesse Marsch’s side and Sky Bet League One side Accrington deservedly pulled one back through teenage substitute Leslie Adekoya’s first senior goal.

But Leeds, dumped out of the cup by the likes of Hereford, Histon, Rochdale, Sutton, Newport and Crawley in recent years, had too much quality for their hosts and reached the last 16 for the first time in seven years.

The opening exchanges were fast and furious. Accrington skipper Sean McConville stung Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier’s palms with a 25-yard drive and Shaun Whalley was denied by Max Wober’s lunging tackle.

Leeds record signing Georginio Rutter almost made a dream start on his first appearance for the club, dragging a low left-footed shot inches wide with his first real touch.

Accrington made it uncomfortable for the visitors. McConville launched another rocket and Whalley threatened at the near post, with both efforts held by Meslier.

But Leeds took a 23rd-minute lead with the game’s first moment of real quality when Harrison lashed home a blistering drive into the bottom corner after some neat build-up.

Stanley responded well. Brentford loanee Aaron Pressley’s angled shot was saved by Meslier, who fumbled Whalley’s dangerous ball into the box soon after.

Leeds almost doubled their lead through Sinisterra, whose long-range effort crashed against a post – replays showed Toby Savin got his fingers to it – but Jesse Marsch’s side had Meslier to thank for keeping them in front when he kept out Ethan Hamilton’s shot.

Accrington spurned a golden chance to equalise moments after the restart when Harvey Rodgers – a lifelong Leeds fan – failed to get his shot on target at the far post following McConville’s free-kick.

Rodgers stabbed another chance wide after Meslier spilled Doug Tharme’s long throw.

Leeds wasted two chances of their own in quick succession just after the hour mark as Bamford and Sinisterra fired off target.

But Leeds then put the tie to bed with two goals in as many minutes. Bamford brilliantly teed up Firpo to drill home his first goal for the club and another free-flowing move ended with Sinisterra’s thumping finish from Harrison’s pass.

Savin denied Leeds a fourth when keeping out substitute Rodrigo’s shot as Leeds threatened to overrun their hosts.

But John Coleman’s side went down fighting and deservedly reduced the deficit in the 81st minute when Adekoya swept home Seb Quirk’s pass from six yards.

Carlo Ancelotti has responded to strong claims made by Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin that Real Madrid get preferential treatment from referees, insisting corruption no longer exists in football.

In a statement published on Atletico’s official website on Friday, Gil Marin claimed Real are involuntarily favoured by referees and have created an atmosphere that influences officials.

Gil’s strong remarks came a day on from Atletico’s 3-1 extra-time loss to fierce rivals Real in their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie, which they led for an hour until Rodrygo cancelled out Alvaro Morata’s goal.

Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior won the tie for the hosts at the Santiago Bernabeu in the additional period, after Stefan Savic was sent off by man in the middle Cesar Soto Grado for two bookable offences.

However, Atletico felt Real midfielder Dani Ceballos should also have been dismissed for bringing down Thomas Lemar when already on a yellow card and with the visitors a goal to the good.

“Anyone who observes [the situation] from the outside can see that for decades the same thing almost always happens,” Gil Marin added in his statement.

“Unfortunately it no longer surprises anyone, it is not news. It’s very obvious and you just have to remember the story.”

Ancelotti was reluctant to get involved when asked about Gil Marin’s comments at a pre-match press conference previewing Sunday’s LaLiga match with Real Sociedad, but he did add suggestions of referees favouring certain teams are wide of the mark.

“I have not read the comments, though I have heard something,” Ancelotti said. “I don’t want to talk about it. The only thing I can say is that my character is my character and I respect to all opinions.

“It was a competitive match, an even match. I think for our part we deserved to win. The rest are matters I won’t talk about.”

Asked if he feels referees in general are doing a good job, Ancelotti said: “It is very complicated for them. It seemed that with VAR it could help. There is no longer talk about offside, for example. 

“But everything that is not objective can create controversy. The corruption is gone compared to the past. In general, refereeing has improved a lot across Europe.”

Madrid now turn focus back to LaLiga and a showdown with third-placed La Real, who lost to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey in midweek but are on a five-game winning run in the league.

“La Real are playing very well and have good dynamics,” said Ancelotti, whose side trail leaders Barcelona by three points.

“We have to improve certain parts. After what happened against Atleti, it is important to play a complete match offensively and defensively.”

Aaron Morley and Dion Charles were on target for Bolton as they strengthened their grip on a League One play-off place with a 2-1 victory at the Valley.

Morley whipped a superb 30-yard free-kick past Charlton goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer after four minutes.

Maynard-Brewer got a vital touch to deflect Charles’ shot on to the crossbar soon after.

Charlton found a response almost instantly after the second half started when a fine team goal ended with Albie Morgan playing a one-two with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on the edge of the box and firing a low drive across Wanderers keeper James Trafford.

Trafford pushed a Morgan free-kick around his right post and then set Rak-Sakyi up with a glorious chance but the Crystal Palace loanee, from six yards out, could only steer the ball wide.

Charles restored Bolton’s lead in the 68th minute – moments after referee Carl Brook had waved away penalty appeals when Kieran Lee went down under Scott Fraser’s challenge.

Charlton defender Ryan Inniss misplaced a header and it was nodded into Charles’ path by Kyle Dempsey for the striker to claim his 11th league goal of the season.

Kelechi Iheanacho was Leicester’s FA Cup saviour again as the Foxes squeezed past Walsall.

The substitute’s deflected strike clinched a 1-0 win to send the visitors into the fifth round and spare Youri Tielemans’ blushes.

The skipper missed a second-half penalty before Iheanacho ended the Saddlers’ stubborn resistance.

Iheanacho, who also scored the winner in the 1-0 third-round victory at Gillingham, now has 17 goals in 23 FA Cup appearances.

It was a slog for Leicester with Walsall edging the first half but Michael Flynn’s men never seriously tested Daniel Iversen.

The League Two side can still be proud of their efforts even if Flynn was unable to add another upset to the list.

His cup pedigree involves knocking Leicester out of the FA Cup in 2019 while his Newport side also beat Leeds and Watford, took Tottenham to a replay and Brighton and Newcastle to penalties.

A 4-1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City even sparked a friendship with Pep Guardiola which Flynn cherishes and the upset expert was hunting another scalp.

His side – with only two league defeats since September – went at Leicester with relish and Iversen turned Tom Knowles’ early low effort away.

They were helped by the Foxes, with fit-again James Maddison starting for the first time since November, lacking the cohesion and concentration needed for this kind of cup tie.

Loose passes stunted any momentum and they were hassled by the lively Saddlers with Maddison’s booking for dissent underlining the visitors’ frustrations.

Walsall won the physical battles, committing to the challenges Leicester were clearly not used to in the top flight, and had every reason to be happy with their first-half display.

That said, the Foxes still found some brief openings with Harvey Barnes miscuing at the far post and Patson Daka firing over after a sharp turn but there was little to suggest they would have anything other than an uncomfortable afternoon in the shadow of the M6.

A rough and tumble cup tie had the 2021 winners scrambling, Tielemans unable to make a mark and Barnes cutting a lonely figure on the left with Leicester’s big names failing to step up before the break.

That there was no zip from the Foxes owed much to Walsall’s refusal to give them an inch but the Saddlers gifted the visitors a golden chance two minutes after the restart.

Joe Low’s poor touch allowed Daka to nip in ahead of Isaac Hutchinson, who sent him tumbling in the box, and although referee Gavin Ward initially gave a free-kick he eventually awarded the penalty.

It was the perfect chance for Leicester to grab hold of a tie which had threatened to slip away but Tielemans’ poor spot-kick hit the post.

Walsall quickly responded and Andy Williams volleyed over with the game sparking to life and Leicester finally found their mojo.

Suddenly, the Saddlers were in danger of being overrun and needed goalkeeper Owen Evans to deny Barnes, Tielemans and Daka.

But Leicester finally had control and made it count with 22 minutes left.

Patient build up involving Nampalys Mendy, Timothy Castagne and Tielemans ended with Mendy finding Iheanacho.

The striker was allowed to turn onto his left foot and his 20-yard effort took a wicked deflection off Brandon Comley to loop over Evans.

Massimiliano Allegri has too much going on with Juventus in the aftermath of their points deduction to worry about his future, according to the Bianconeri coach.

Juventus, then third in Serie A, were deducted 15 points last week following an investigation into the club’s past transfer dealings.

They have always denied any wrongdoing and hope the sanctions will be overturned on appeal.

But Juve slipped to 10th before a 3-3 draw with Atalanta and will kick off against Monza on Sunday in 11th. Monza could overtake their opponents with a win.

Allegri was asked on Saturday if he had spoken to owner John Elkann about a contract renewal, but his attention is on matters on the field.

“I spoke to Elkann but not about this,” Allegri said. “He asked me how the team is doing.

“Right now there are so many things to do, we need to stay focused on the league without losing sight of it. We have four months with goals to achieve.”

Allegri is trying to keep his players focused, too, keen to maintain the belief that saw them earn 38 points on the pitch – even if they have only 23 in the standings.

“We have to be isolated from everything; we are asked to go on the pitch and win games,” he said.

“We must be focused on what we have done so far. We must have revenge on our minds against Monza because we have taken only a point in the last two games regardless of external problems.

“There is a strong club. We think about making the results and reinforcing our ranking, which is 38 points. From that, we must move forward.

“We finished the first round [of the season]; now we have another 19 games. From tomorrow, we must try to score as many points as possible.”

He added: “We scored 38 points. If you say otherwise, you can lose certainties; the team scored 38 points on the field.

“We have to work on the basis of that ranking there, then if they give [the points back] to us or not, there is a strong club that works to defend itself.

“We have to defend ourselves on the field – and indeed attack, because we have to score points.”

Manchester United are reportedly hot on the trail of Juventus’ Serbian sensation Dusan Vlahovic.

Frontman Wout Weghorst has already joined from Burnley on a temporary deal, while Anthony Martial has struggled with injury issues. 

Erik ten Hag is therefore in need of a long-term solution at centre forward, with goal machine Vlahovic representing an enticing option. 

Ahead of United’s FA Cup clash with Reading, we consider how the Bianconeri’s No9 would fit in at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag’s targets

Weghorst and Jack Butland have joined United on loan this winter but Ten Hag is not done in the transfer market yet. 

The Dutch boss, 52, has explained that the club are constantly looking for ways to bolster the squad, suggesting that the Red Devils would move again if the right opportunity presents itself. 

He said: “As Manchester United, you always have to look for solutions and always you have to look for better and that is what we will do. 

“We will be doing our research and if there are opportunities, we have to go for it.”

Turin trouble

The unique circumstances in which Vlahovic finds himself have created such an opportunity for both the player and United. 

Juventus have been handed a 15-point deduction following an investigation into their previous transfer dealings and sit 11th in the Serie A table, 14 points off the top four. 

With the Italian giants in a precarious position, the 23-year-old may be keen to look for a new home and Old Trafford is certainly an appealing destination. 

Vlahovic would represent a long-term solution for Ten Hag but one with the capacity to make an immediate impact.

Ruthless efficiency

Injury has restricted Vlahovic to just 853 Serie A minutes across 10 appearances so far this season but the striker has made telling contributions when he has been on the field. 

His six league goals in that timeframe have come at a rate of one every 142.17 minutes, averaging out at an impressive 0.63 per 90. 

The 19-cap international has also demonstrated the ability to pull off a variety of finishes, scoring one header, once with his weaker right foot and four times with his left — including one penalty and two free-kicks. 

Given Martial has managed just 461 minutes of Premier League football this term, United could certainly do with a free-scoring alternative.

Pulling the trigger

Vlahovic has taken 3.27 shots per 90 in Serie A this term, averaging 1.27 on target.

Both those metrics rank inside the league’s top 20 and increase the likelihood of the centre forward getting on the scoresheet. 

The former Fiorentina hitman’s excellent off-the-ball movement results in a steady supply of big chances — eight have fallen his way so far, with the Serb netting four.

Causes for concern

Vlahovic excels in front of goal but he is not necessarily the perfect fit for Ten Hag’s system. 

Per 90 in Serie A, Vlahovic takes just 32.81 touches, attempting only 18.04 passes and completing 12.87. 

Following the signing of Weghorst, Ten Hag revealed the qualities he looks for in a central striker. 

He said: “I expect a team player and someone who can link up, a player who will do his defending work and we are really happy to sign [Weghorst].” 

If Vlahovic is to be United’s long-term striking solution, he will have to add more facets to his game — but he would certainly bring goals to Old Trafford in abundance.

PSV Eindhoven are interested in bringing Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga to the Eredivisie.

Swedish international Elanga, 20, has been an unused substitute in United’s last three Premier League games.

Boss Erik ten Hag has instead favoured Marcus Rashford and Antony in wide positions, playing behind recent loan signing Wout Weghorst.

And with Jadon Sancho returning to training this week and Alejandro Garnacho continuing his rapid rise, Elanga’s opportunities are likely to be limited.

United’s Malmo-born academy graduate has scored four goals in 48 appearances for the Red Devils.

PSV are in the market for attacking reinforcements having seen star forward Cody Gakpo and dynamic talent Noni Madueke both leave the club for the Premier League this month.

The Sun report that the Dutch giants are hoping manager Ruud van Nistelrooy can use his contacts at Old Trafford to engineer a deal for Elanga.

United legend Van Nistelrooy won the Golden Boot in their Premier League title-winning campaign in 2002-03.

The 46-year-old coach will want to bolster his forward options as he seeks to mastermind PSV’s title challenge and a deep run in the Europa League.

In other news

Bayern Munich and Manchester United have “no chance” of signing Tottenham talisman Harry Kane, according to reports in Germany.

Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli is eager to agree a deal to bring Spurs winger Bryan Gil to the LaLiga strugglers, say The Sun.

The Mail claim Nottingham Forest are moving closer to recruiting Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Stefano Pioli is not expecting Milan to do business before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, believing their squad already contains the solutions to all their problems.

The Rossoneri have suffered an alarming slump this month, going five matches without a win across all competitions.

The three defeats in that run have been particularly concerning as Milan have crashed out of the Coppa Italia to Torino, lost 3-0 to rivals Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana and been on the end of a 4-0 thrashing by Lazio this week.

Yet Pioli is relying on the players who have struggled of late to set Milan back on course, starting against Sassuolo on Sunday.

“We have the resources to get out of this moment,” the coach said. “The club has been expressing itself on the market for some time.

“We’re recovering from injuries, so that’s how we’re doing.”

Pioli agreed Milan are dealing with a mental issue, but he has no doubts about the attitude of his players.

“Absolutely. No-one should think that the players do not want to overcome this moment or that they do not put in 100 per cent,” he said. “I have always seen great attention and will.

“This moment is overcome by working, because we know how to do much better than what we are doing.”

Milan have not gone six matches without a win since April 2018, then led by Gennaro Gattuso, and Pioli acknowledges only the result matters against Sassuolo at San Siro.

“Maybe winning tomorrow will see the return of our self-esteem,” he said. “And the results and football will be as beautiful as we have always been.”