Month: January 2023

Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe claimed he was not informed about Kylian Mbappe replacing him as the club’s vice-captain.

Mbappe scored five times as PSG beat sixth-tier Pays de Cassel 7-0 in the Coupe de France on Monday, with the France star wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of regular skipper Marquinhos.

After the match, PSG coach Christophe Galtier told reporters Mbappe is now their vice-captain.

Kimpembe – who has not played since November due to a heel injury – had previously been Marquinhos’ deputy.

Rumours on Tuesday suggested Kimpembe had agreed to step down from the position to allow Mbappe to take up a leadership role.

However, he insists such reports are inaccurate, instead accusing PSG of failing to inform him at all.

“In the last few hours I have been able to hear and read a lot about myself,” he wrote on his official social media accounts.

“I therefore wish to make things clear in order to avoid continuing to spread false information in this regard.

“I was not made aware of this decision, this is completely false… That said, I will always respect the decisions of the club.”

Stefano Pioli wants Milan to “shut up and work” after they lost more ground in the Serie A title race with a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Lazio on Tuesday.

The Rossoneri lost for the first time in seven league matches with goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Mattia Zaccagni giving Maurizio Sarri’s side the advantage heading into the break.

Luis Alberto then added a third with a well-taken penalty before Felipe Anderson rounded off the scoring as Milan failed to win for a fifth straight game in all competitions.

With Pioli’s men remaining 12 points behind Napoli, the Milan head coach believes it is time for less talk and more action from the reigning champions.

“Right now there are many things that are not working, mental and tactical aspects,” Pioli told DAZN. “I’m here to talk because I have to, we should shut up and work. I too will try to talk less and work more.

“We have to get back to Milanello [Milan’s training ground] quickly to work and work well, we’re not playing according to our possibilities.

“Things aren’t going well for us, that’s for sure. In 20 days we haven’t brought home any good performances or results.”

With Milan now having conceded eight goals in their past three league matches, as many as in their nine previous Serie A games, Pioli knows his team will have to find a defensive fix, and quick, if they are to somehow claw back Napoli and retain the title.

“The problem right now isn’t too much with the ball,” Pioli explained. “But without the ball there’s no cover and we leave too many spaces.

“We just have to work. The team needs to be more compact, attentive and collaborative. Continuing to make these mistakes means creating even more difficulties in the match.

“We have to go back to playing as we know how and do it as soon as possible. In the last two weeks the performances have not been what we expected and could have done.”

Milan’s search for a return to form could soon be boosted by the return of veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has missed all of this season with a knee injury but posted a video earlier on Tuesday of him kicking a ball at the club’s training ground.

Pioli refused to point to Ibrahimovic’s long absence for his team’s shortcomings this season, adding: “It’s too easy now [to blame Ibrahimovic’s injury]. We don’t want to have any excuses or justifications.

“I realise that it’s a delicate moment for the boys. They will have my support. They will certainly want to be competitive again soon.”

Farhad Moshiri is looking for investment into Everton but is not trying to sell the club.

Everton owner Moshiri, who invested in the club in 2016, sacked yet another manager on Monday, as Frank Lampard became the latest Toffees boss to be relieved of his duties.

While Monday saw Lampard’s departure following a dismal run that has left Everton sitting 19th in the Premier League after 20 games, Tuesday brought more drama.

Everton had been hoping to seal the signing of Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal. However, the forward is set to join Tottenham after a remarkable U-turn. Stats Perform understands Danjuma had been expected to report to Everton’s Finch Farm training base on Tuesday to complete the formalities of his move.

While Marcelo Bielsa, Sean Dyche, Ralph Hasenhuttl and even former Toffees manager Sam Allardyce are reported candidates to replace Lampard, reports emerged that Moshiri had placed Everton up for sale, with an asking price of £500million having been cited.

However, an interview with a member of Everton’s fan advisory board was subsequently released on the club’s YouTube channel, with Moshiri confirming he is not looking to sell.

“The club is not for sale but I’ve been talking to top investors, real quality, to bridge the gap on the [new] stadium,” Moshiri said in the interview, which was recorded prior to the West Ham game.

“I can do it myself and the reason I want to do it is to bring top sport investors into Everton for some of the reasons that the fans want improvement, more talent, and we are close to having a deal done.

“It’s not selling the club at all. It’s just bringing more expertise in terms of global sponsorship, in terms of commercial development and a lot of specialist sport investors have this pool of knowledge. It’s to secure that for Everton.”

In the wide-ranging interview, Moshiri vowed to “deal with everything” and said he is “sensitive” to fan concerns.

He reiterated his support of the club’s four-person board, insisting chairman Bill Kenwright is “one of the most loved and respected men in football”.

Moshiri said it is the “most critical time” in Everton’s history, as he vowed to turn around their fortunes.

“I feel the pain. The fans have points. We’ll be addressing them,” he said. “Ambition for Everton is always to be among the elite.

“Our goal is never to be in the bottom three. Our ambition is to play European football. We haven’t succeeded today, but we’ve laid the foundation to do it. Not just communication, hollow words, but implementation and demonstration to fans. We share this, step-by-step progress, to success together.

“We have a plan. The plan is in place.”

Subsequently, on Tuesday, Allardyce seemed to rule himself out of contention.

“If I was going to Everton, they’d already have rang me,” he said in an interview with William Hill.

“I know Farhad Moshiri. I have a lot of respect for him, certainly the money he’s found for Everton. Obviously not invested as Newcastle have invested. They’ve invested in players that haven’t delivered, through various different managers.

“I only bought two while I was there [Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun], I still hold up to my achievement because it’s the best, you know what I mean, from 16th, 17th, to eighth in 22 matches.

“What they need is someone who can go in and get the team functioning correctly.”

Joshua Kimmich’s stunning 90th-minute equaliser spared Bayern Munich’s blushes as the Bundesliga champions rescued a 1-1 draw at home to Koln on Tuesday.

Bayern had been on the verge of their first home league loss since last January before their captain took centre stage, though it was not enough to restore their six-point lead at the summit following RB Leipzig’s 6-1 demolition of Schalke.

Ellyes Skhiri, who scored twice in Koln’s remarkable 7-1 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday, put the Billy Goats ahead amid a purposeful opening.

Koln were under pressure for long periods thereafter, however, and they could not see the win out as Kimmich struck from distance at the end.

The visitors looked bright from the start and Skhiri capitalised on the first real opportunity in the fourth minute, tucking in at the back post after Julian Chabot flicked on Florian Kainz’s corner.

Marvin Schwabe made a necessary block to deny Serge Gnabry 10 minutes later, but Bayern continued to look unconvincing defensively.

They were grateful to Yann Sommer just before the half-hour, the goalkeeper getting a vital hand to Kainz’s squared pass with Denis Huseinbasic lurking for a tap-in.

Bayern finished the half on top, but again Schwabe spared Koln, pushing Leon Goretzka’s ferocious volley away.

Matthijs de Ligt saw a long-range effort tipped over and Ryan Gravenberch shot agonisingly wide as Bayern – who replaced Gnabry with Kingsley Coman at half-time – began the second period well.

Leroy Sane then cut in from the right to test Schwabe, who later acrobatically nudged Thomas Muller’s header over amid a desperate onslaught.

But there was only so much Schwabe could do, and stopping Kimmich’s 30-yard piledriver was a step too far.

What does it mean? Bayern avoid defeat but draw offers Leipzig encouragement

There will have undoubtedly been a few curses thrown around in the Leipzig camp after Kimmich’s brilliant equaliser, with Die Roten Bullen previously looking set to end the matchday just three points off the top.

Nevertheless, the reality is that this was still a good result for Leipzig and the chasing pack, and a bad one for Bayern. It is a four-point advantage now, and this championship could still slip from Bayern’s grasp.

Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern recorded 1.45 expected goals to Koln’s 0.81, and when you consider Kimmich’s strike accounted for just 0.025 (which equates to a 2.5 per cent chance of scoring) and Ellyes’ tap-in was 0.6, it is fair to say that on the balance of play Bayern were good value for at least a draw.

Chabot and Schwabe unfortunate

Koln cannot feel too down about the result – they would have won were it not for a frankly brilliant strike.

Had they ultimately been successful, Chabot and Schwabe would have been key. The goalkeeper of course made six saves, while his team-mate at centre-back seemed to be in the right place almost the whole game, making a match-high 10 clearances and winning all but one of his nine duels.

Gnabry hooked

He was relatively lively in the first half, but Gnabry was wasteful in the final third of the pitch and found himself withdrawn at the break. Coman, his replacement, ended up tallying a joint match-high four key passes (level with Alphonso Davies).

Key Opta facts

– Bayern are undefeated in their last 10 games in the Bundesliga. Their last longer unbeaten streak was from October 4, 2020 to January 3, 2021, a run of 12 games.
– Skhiri scored after just three minutes and 13 seconds, the earliest goal for Koln in a 2022-23 Bundesliga game.
– Bayern attempted 855 passes, the highest total by any team in a Bundesliga game this season. Dayot Upamecano attempted a team-high 134 passes.
– Bayern have now scored in their last 48 Bundesliga home games, with Kimmich’s moment that preserved that run giving the midfielder a third league goal of the campaign.

What’s next?

Bayern are at home again on Saturday as they welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to the Allianz Arena. Koln go to Schalke on Sunday.

A late Ben Krauhaus goal saw the points shared between Bromley and Dagenham as they drew 1-1.

The result sees the Ravens move into sixth in the Vanarama National League table, while the Daggers move up into the play-off places just behind in seventh.

Dagenham had the first chances of the match when Harry Phipps headed wide before Dean Rance’s long-range shot whistled over the crossbar.

They found the opening goal in the 36th minute when Josh Hare struck a perfectly placed free-kick into the bottom corner.

James Vennings had a chance for the Ravens after half-time, but his effort was well-held by Elliot Justham before Josh Walker’s shot was saved.

Krauhaus then scored his first league goal for Bromley, slotting the ball home to equalise in the 87th minute.

Milan missed the opportunity to close the gap on Serie A leaders Napoli after they were thumped 4-0 by a rampant Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday.  

Stefano Pioli’s men were condemned to a first defeat in seven league matches after goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Mattia Zaccagni gave the hosts a half-time advantage.

Luis Alberto added a third from the spot after the interval before Felipe Anderson rounded off the scoring as the Rossoneri failed to win for the fifth game in a row in all competitions.

The impressive result sees Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio leap from sixth to third and within a point of Milan, who remain 12 points off Napoli.

Lazio were ahead just four minutes in, Luis Alberto cleverly dummying a Zaccagni pass into the path of Milinkovic-Savic to coolly stroke into the bottom corner.

Sandro Tonali stung the palms of Ivan Provedel as Milan looked for a response, but the champions would find themselves two goals down before half-time.

Adam Marusic saw a shot come back off the post after latching onto Pedro’s through-ball, but Zaccagni was there to bundle home the rebound for his third goal in three league games. 

Milan’s shaky defending continued to be their downfall in the second half, with Lazio going further ahead when Pierre Kalulu brought down Pedro for a penalty, which Luis Alberto blasted down the middle past Ciprian Tatarusanu.

With Milan staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat, Anderson slotted home after a neat pass from Luis Alberto to further embarrass Pioli’s side.

What does it mean? Milan’s title charge takes another blow

Last season’s Serie A title victory was Milan’s first in 11 years, but it is looking more and more likely their search for another will endure another wait as Napoli’s bid to end their own drought gathers pace.

Milan were clearly second best here, registering 0.75 xG (expected goals) to Lazio’s 3.04 while mustering just three shots on target as Provedel enjoyed a relatively easy game between the sticks.

Zaccagni stars again

With Lazio’s talisman Ciro Immobile still absent with a thigh strain, Zaccagni stepped up once more with another goal to help his side to all three points. 

A constant threat down the left, no Lazio player had more successful duels (11) and chances created (two) than Zaccagni, who also added an assist to his goal. 

Tomori limps off to add insult to injury

Tomori was forced off in the 24th minute with Milan already 1-0 down, and his team struggled to defend for the remainder of the game. 

Milan won eight of their 16 tackles, compared to Lazio’s 17 of 26, and the hosts could and perhaps should have scored more than just the four goals they did. 

Key Opta Facts:

– Zaccagni has scored a goal in three consecutive Serie A games for the first time in his career. He is the top-scoring Italian player in Serie A this season with eight goals.
– Milan have conceded two goals at half-time without scoring in two Serie A games in a row for the first time since April 1997 (2-0 v Juventus and Inter, with Arrigo Sacchi in charge).
– Lazio have not conceded a goal in the first half in 16 of their 19 Serie A games this season, better than any other team in this campaign.
– Milan have conceded three goals in the first five minutes of play in Serie A this season, already as many as they had conceded in this time frame in the whole of last season.
– The Rossoneri conceded at least four goals without scoring in a Serie A match for the first time since against Atalanta (a 5-0 defeat) on December 22, 2019.

What’s next?

Both teams are back in Serie A action on Sunday, when Milan host struggling Sassuolo and Lazio welcome 11th-placed Fiorentina.

Bradford held Stockport to a goalless draw in a poor game to prevent the home side leapfrogging them into the play-off places.

Stockport had the only chances of a scrappy first half when neither side managed a shot on target.

Kyle Knoyle, making his full Stockport debut after joining from Doncaster, fired over from their first attack and Kyle Wootton should have done better with a header that flew past the post from a corner.

Bradford struggled to create anything but felt aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty after Alex Gilliead went down from a nudge in the back by Will Collar.

Bradford keeper Harry Lewis, whose late grandad Ken Mulhearn won the fourth tier with Stockport, produced two saves to deny the home side in a better second half.

Lewis shovelled away Collar’s shot and then made an unconventional block with his head to deny Neill Byrne’s close-range attempt from Knoyle’s cross.

Bradford manager Mark Hughes was booked for obstructing a throw-in but he will be pleased with the point.

Ashley Palmer’s late goal gave Chesterfield a 1-0 win at home to Altrincham in the National League.

Liam Mandeville had the best chances of a poor first half from the hosts with Alty keeper Oliver Byrne saving the first before he blazed the second over.

Shortly after the break Joe Quigley teed up Palmer on the edge of the area but his powerful shot was blocked by Isaac Marriott.

Byrne saved well from Mike Jones and Ollie Banks fired over but Palmer won it three minutes from time with a header from a corner.

Fiacre Kelleher came off the bench to earn Colchester a point from their 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing Salford in Sky Bet League Two.

The Ammies went close in the 10th minute when home goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara pushed away Matt Smith’s header, following Jason Lowe’s ball into the area.

The visitors edged the first half but Colchester almost took the lead in first-half stoppage-time when John Akinde sent a free header straight at keeper Alex Cairns, following Noah Chilvers’ ball into the six-yard box.

The second half was a livelier affair and Salford took a 49th-minute lead through Conor McAleny, who nodded in from close range from Ryan Watson’s assist after Theo Vassell’s header from a corner had struck the crossbar.

However, Colchester equalised in the 63rd minute when substitute Kelleher rose to plant a fine header from Luke Chambers’ pass into the net.

Arthur Read’s long-range effort was pushed away by Cairns, who also brilliantly pushed away Cole Skuse’s rocket for a corner in the closing stages.

However, the points were shared.

Freddie Ladapo and Conor Chaplin both scored twice in the first half as Ipswich eased to a 4-0 victory over struggling Morecambe – their first win in five games.

Town got off to a perfect start when Ladapo stabbed the ball home following a corner by Leif Davis in the first minute.

Morecambe goalkeeper Connor Ripley prevented Nathan Broadhead from adding a second, while Lee Evans’ 35-yard strike struck the foot of a post.

Town extended their lead in the 16th minute when Broadhead’s defence-splitting pass released Ladapo and his shot found the back of the net via both posts.

The third goal came in the 38th minute when Wes Burns’ cross found an unmarked Chaplin, whose crisp strike found the bottom corner.

Chaplin was on hand again just before half-time when he steered the ball home via a deflection from Morecambe defender Jacob Bedeau following another cross from Burns.

A fine save from Ripley prevented Broadhead from adding a fifth from 25 yards, while Morecambe earned their first corner of the match in the 71st minute but failed to have any shots on target.