Sports

EPL: Five-star Man City go top, Spurs smashed by Newcastle

Published

2 weeks ago

April 14, 2024

NewsDirect

Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League as lowly Luton were eased aside 5-1 at the Etihad while Newcastle thrashed Tottenham 4-0 on Saturday.

Amid a gruelling schedule, Pep Guardiola could hardly have wished for a kinder fixture in between the two legs of his side’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Guardiola made six changes from a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Spanish capital on Tuesday and City seemed set for a stress-free afternoon from the moment they opened the scoring after just two minutes.

Erling Haaland’s shot deflected off the unfortunate Daiki Hashioka into his own net.

Yet the floodgates refused to open as the English champions had to wait until after the hour mark before making the points safe when Mateo Kovacic smashed in Julian Alvarez’s cross at the edge of the box.

Haaland scored five then the sides met in the FA Cup in February.

The Norwegian had to settle for just one time this time when scored from the penalty spot for his 20th Premier League goal of the season.

Ross Barkley netted a late consolation for Luton but they have just five games left to save their top-flight status.

Jeremy Doku fired into the far corner after jinking through the Luton defence before Josko Gvardiol scored his second goal in a week after opening his City account in Madrid.

Victory takes City two points clear of Arsenal and Liverpool, who both have a game in hand, and are in action on Sunday.

Liverpool host Crystal Palace at Anfield looking to bounce back from their shock Europa League defeat to Atalanta.

Arsenal entertain Aston Villa, who moved back into the top four without kicking a ball on Saturday thanks to Tottenham’s trouncing at St. James’ Park.

Alexander Isak scored twice, while Anthony Gordon and Fabian Schar were also on target as the Magpies moved up to sixth and kept their slim chances of Champions League football next season alive.

Newcastle are 10 points adrift of Tottenham and Villa with six games remaining but have the far easier run-in.

“We’ve just got to keep doing our bit which is trying to win every game,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.

“We’re hopefully returning to somewhere near our best and we’ve got to keep heading in that direction.”

Manchester United can move back above Newcastle into sixth with a victory away to Bournemouth later on Saturday.

At the bottom of the table, Nottingham Forest edged one point clear of the bottom three after a thrilling 2-2 draw against Wolves.

Matheus Cunha struck twice for the visitors at the City Ground to deny Forest a vital three points after goals from Morgan Gibbs White and Danilo had put them 2-1 in front.

Brentford’s first win in 10 games pulled the Bees seven points clear of the drop zone as Ollie Arblaster’s own goal and Frank Onyeka earned a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United.

Burnley’s chances of survival are fading fast after a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton left them still second bottom, six points adrift of safety.

Sports

Finidi`s appointment long overdue, says Sports Analyst

Published

4 hours ago

April 30, 2024

NewsDirect

A renowned Sports Analyst, Tayo Balogun said that the appointment of Finidi George as the Super Eagles head coach was long overdue.

Balogun told the NEWSMEN in Ibadan on Tuesday that it was surprising that NFF waited this long to make the appointment.

“In view of the Eagles tight schedule, one would have expected that immediately José Peseiro said he was leaving, George should have been upgraded to continue with the plans already on ground.

“Giving all the statistics and all things involved I think there was no choice than to appoint him because he worked with Peseiro for 20 months and also as an interim manager.

“He had earlier coached a football team in Nigeria. He knows the terrain. He might not have been involved in the politics of Nigeria football, but every other thing he knows and he’s home grown.

“With organisation and dedication, I see no reason why we can’t qualify ahead of Rwanda, Benin Republic and South Africa in our group.

“After working with Peseiro, who was a defensive minded coach, he’ll have to pick his own style. In the next few matches, I’ll want him to be very cautious,”he said.

Balogun said that if we love Nigeria, this is the time for us all to come together and support George.

“His salary should be decided, mode of payment as and when due. I prefer that George is the chosen one over a foreign coach who won’t know much about Nigerian football and its terrain.

“There are advantages in having a foreign coach, but there are many more disadvantages,” he said.

NEWSMEN reports that the NFF on Monday announced the appointment of George as the Super Eagles head Coach.

George in interim capacity edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.

Sports

EPL: I just like him – Peter Schmeichel picks best manager to replace Ten Hag at Man United

Published

4 hours ago

April 30, 2024

NewsDirect

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has picked Thomas Tuchel as the best manager to become the next Red Devils boss.

Schmeichel, who is impressed by Tuvhel’s football knowledge, says the German has what it takes to get the best out of the players.

Speaking on BeIN Sports, Schmeichel said he former Chelsea boss did not fail at Stamford Bridge and should be given a chance at Manchester United.

He believes the current Bayern Munich manager projects authority and said: “I like Thomas Tuchel. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing him a couple of times and his football knowledge is fantastic.

“He’s been a little bit unlucky with being at two big football clubs at the wrong time of their history, at times where things weren’t working on every level.

“It’s not that he didn’t do well Chelsea, for instance. I mean, he won the Champions League, didn’t he?!

“I just like him, there’s something about him. He projects authority. Never compare people but he’s got the same kind of thing that [Jurgen] Klopp has.

“You know he’s the boss and you know what he’s doing. If Manchester United were in the market for a manager then he should be somebody mentioned in that respect.

“He should be. He has that kind of pedigree, he’s got the authority, he’s proven he can win which I think is really important. He doesn’t come with a set system, ‘This is how our football is being played’… yeah, of course, he’s a big-club manager, isn’t he.”

Tuchel, who is the current boss at Bayern Munich, will be leaving the German side at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United is hanging in the balance, with many reports linking him with an exit.