London: Manchester City mengumumkan mereka menandatangani pertahanan tengah antarabangsa Portugal, Ruben Dias menerusi perjanjian enam tahun dari Benfica.
Benfica Ahad lalu mengesahkan mereka mencapai persetujuan untuk menjual Dias pada harga 68 juta Euro (RM331.7 juta) termasuk tambahan 3.6 juta Euro (RM17.56 juta) menerusi bonus dengan Nicolas Otamendi akan berhijrah sebaliknya dengan nilai 15 juta Euro (RM73.19 juta).
“Mempunyai peluang menyertai kelab seperti Manchester City adalah sangat menakjubkan buat saya dan sesuatu yang sukar ditolak,” kata Dias menerusi satu kenyataan oleh City.
“Kejayaan mereka menceritakannya sendiri. Mereka adalah pasukan dominan di England sejak beberapa tahun lalu, bermain gaya serangan yang saya rasakan sesuai dengan gaya saya.
“Sangat menakjubkan untuk menjadi sebahagian daripada skuad berbakat dan bermain untuk pengurus berkelas dunia seperti Pep Guardiola, yang memiliki rekod baik membangunkan pemain muda seperti saya.
“Saya percaya boleh meningkat di sini, di kelab yang bercita-cita besar seperti saya dan saya akan berikan apa sahaja untuk berjaya dan menang gelaran.”
Dias menjadi pemain ketiga yang ditandatangani City pada musim panas ini selepas membawa masuk pemain pertahanan Nathan Ake dari Bournemouth dan sayap Sepanyol, Ferran Torres.
MUNICH – Kabar buruk menghampiri Borussia Dortmund jelang laga Piala Super Jerman kontra Bayern Munich, Kamis 1 Oktober 2020 dini hari WIB. Winger andalan mereka, Jadon Sancho, dipastikan absen merumput akibat infeksi saluran pernapasan. Namun, pria asal Inggris itu dikonfirmasi negatif Covid-19.
“Jadon Sancho dan Roman Burki tidak akan terbang ke Munich karena mengalami masalah infeksi pernapasan. Keduanya dinyatakan negatif pada tes Covid-19 kemarin (Senin 28 September),” cuit akun Twitter resmi Borussia Dortmund @BVB, Rabu (30/9/2020).
Jika ditotal, Die Scwharzgelben kehilangan delapan personel mereka dengan berbagai alasan. Sementara di kubu lawan, Bayern Munich hanya dipastikan merumput tanpa dua pemain anyar mereka, Leroy Sane dan Tanguy Nianzou.
Absennya Jadon Sancho merupakan pukulan telak bagi Borussia Dortmund. Sebab, pria berusia 20 tahun itu merupakan pemain andalan di skuad racikan Lucien Favre. Namun, ada juga yang menyebut absennya sang pemain berhubungan dengan rumor transfer.
Seperti diketahui, Jadon Sancho adalah bidikan utama Manchester United pada bursa transfer musim panas 2020. Negosiasi kedua klub berjalan alot memasuki pekan terakhir bursa transfer sebelum ditutup pada 5 Oktober mendatang.
Setan Merah tengah dalam posisi tertekan. Sebab, Borussia Dortmund kukuh di angka 120 juta Euro (setara Rp2,1 triliun) untuk banderol Jadon Sancho. Sementara itu, Man United hanya berani mengajukan tawaran sebesar 90 juta Euro (setara Rp1,57 triliun).
Sebetulnya, Borussia Dortmund pernah menetapkan tenggat transfer bagi peminat Jadon Sancho pada 10 Agustus 2020 atau sebelum memasuki masa pramusim. Namun, Man United masih kukuh ingin membajaknya ke Old Trafford.
Sebagai pemilik sah, Borussia Dortmund jelas berhak mempertahankan Jadon Sancho. Klub berkostum itu juga punya kuasa untuk menolak segala bentuk tawaran yang diajukan Man United apabila nilainya masih di bawah yang diminta.
Pentingnya Jadon Sancho buat klub bisa dilihat dari komentar sejumlah rekan setimnya. Erling Braut Haaland belum lama ini menilai eks didikan akademi Manchester City itu bakal menjadi pemain yang penting buat Borussia Dortmund pada musim 2020-2021.
Pernyataan senada diungkapkan sang kapten kesebelasan, Marco Reus. Pemain asal Jerman itu mengaku senang mendengar kabar Jadon Sancho kemungkinan besar bertahan semusim lagi di Stadion Westfalen.
Jose Mourinho masterminded a game of two halves on Tuesday night | MATT DUNHAM/Getty Images
Tottenham have won a penalty shootout, people. The end is very much nigh.
Following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes and nine successful spot-kicks on the bounce, Mason Mount’s effort which rebounded wide via the post sent Spurs into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
And their progression into the last eight much has to do with the work of manager José Mourinho on what was a vintage night for the Portuguese string-puller; from spats with Frank Lampard to chasing Eric Dier down to the home dressing room toilet midway through the second half, it was some night for the ‘Special One’.
The way he set-up his Tottenham side was typical stuff, as well. With Harry Kane on the bench and Giovani Lo Celso rested, Mourinho utilised a passive 5-3-2 with Erik Lamela and Steven Bergwijn leading the line, while Sergio Reguilon made his debut at left wing-back.
On the surface, however, uninspiring is perhaps a generous way to summarise Spurs’ first-half showing.
With clear intent to limit space centrally for the Blues in their deep block, the hosts were overly reliant on Bergwijn, Lamela and the odd darting run from midfield in regards to causing Chelsea trouble in transition – their most likely method of creating chances.
But with the freedoms of Aurier and Reguilon restricted, there were a distinct lack of outlets in this Spurs side meaning they were easily pressed. With Tanguy Ndombele the only press-resistant profile in the starting XI, the Blues had tremendous success counter-pressing and winning the ball back in dangerous areas.
Fortunately for Spurs, though, they went into the break just 1-0 down, a goal which came from a Reguilon error – and eager slide – in the build-up phase. On the whole, Mourinho’s side had done well to limit Hugo Lloris’ workload considering Chelsea’s territorial superiority.
But then the alteration came, the switch flicked for Mourinho. After sucking up 45 minutes of pretty tame Chelsea pressure, now was the time to attack a vulnerable backline and a goalkeeper making his debut.
Edouard Mendy looked very assured, by the way, and the Senegalese international was called into action early in the second period to deny Reguilon after the Spaniard met Aurier’s cross from the right with plenty of conviction – a sequence, nonetheless, which epitomised Spurs’ contrasting performance either side of the break.
The hosts’ more enterprising and aggressive approach allowed the previously limited wing-backs to maraud down their respective flanks and both enjoyed superb second halves. Aurier impressed going both ways while the debutant showed tremendous character to bounce back from his earlier error and put in an incredibly energetic and dynamic display.
The former Real Madrid man’s destined to be a fan-favourite in N17, that’s for sure.
Nevertheless, despite their improvement down the flanks, increased authority out of possession and the greater control established in midfield by the ever-improving Ndombele, Spurs’ equaliser remained anonymous.
That was until a certain Erik Lamela, who, despite all his ludicrous hard-work, churned out a typically infuriating display, capitalised on some unconvincing Chelsea defending to poach an equaliser following a cross from that man Reguilon with ten minutes to go.
Mourinho’s master plan worked a treat; limit the damage with a deep 5-3-2, then pick the opportune moment to be aggressive late on in the game. It was no surprise that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Kane earned minutes after the break, as Spurs switched to a back four to round off the contest.
The irresistible N’Golo Kante tried his best to swing momentum back Chelsea’s way, but once Lee Mason blew the full-time whistle to send the contest into penalties, there was almost a sense of inevitability about the victor – despite the justified pessimism of the Lilywhite faithful.
This is undoubtedly a Spurs side on the up, they were superb against Newcastle on Sunday – forget about the nonsense which occurred in the dying embers – and have looked pretty good ever since a certain Frenchman pirouetted his way past James Ward-Prowse to eventually set-up Son Heung-min’s equaliser at Southampton ten days ago.
The feeling around the club is great; Sergio Reguilon looks a sure bet to be a star, Tanguy Ndombele’s second season remontada continues – his 2:20 Twitter compilation will be a must-watch, by the way – Gareth Bale’s celebrating goals in the stands and, what do you know, Jose Mourinho still knows how to coach a football team.
Maccabi Haifa await on Thursday amid their hectic September schedule in the final hurdle of their Europa League qualifying adventure.
Manchester United v AZ Alkmaar: Group L – UEFA Europa League | Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Ngay sau khi Dalot được đồn đoán sẽ ra đi, Ethan Laird đã được đôn lên đội 1 để thi đấu.
Vị trí hậu vệ cánh, đặc biệt là với Aaron Wan-Bissaka chưa bao giờ mang tới sự yên tâm tuyệt đối ở hàng phòng ngự Man United. Theo đó, khả năng phòng thủ của Wan-Bissaka vẫn còn mặt hạn chế khiến Quỷ đỏ thành Manchester nhiều lần khốn khổ.
Nhưng HLV Ole Gunnar Solskjaer không còn sự lựa chọn nào tốt hơn ngoài Wan-Bissaka. Và khi mà Diogo Dalot không thể phát triển và chuẩn bị rời sân Old Trafford, chiến lược gia người Na Uy buộc phải tìm kiếm cái tên khác thay thế.
Ngay lập tức, tài năng trẻ Ethan Laird đã được trao cơ hội. Sau khi bình phục chấn thương, Laird đã được đôn thẳng lên đội hình chính để sẵn sàng cho mùa giải mới. Thậm chí cầu thủ này có khả năng ra sân ở trận gặp Brighton trong khuôn khổ vòng 4 League Cup tới đây.
Solskjaer đánh giá Laird nằm trong số những cầu thủ triển vọng bậc nhất ở học viện Man United. Mùa trước, Solskjaer đã tạo điều kiện để Laird có trận ra mắt Man United trước Astana ở vòng bảng Europa League vào tháng 11/2019 và cũng ra sân trong chiến thắng 4-0 trước AZ Alkmaar.
Milan: Genoa mengumumkan 14 pemain serta kaki tangannya didapati positif Covid-19 hanya selepas seteru setempat, Sampdoria mendedahkan pemain yang baharu ditandatangani Keita Balde juga mempunyai virus itu.
Penjaga gol, Mattia Perin dan pemain tengah, Lasse Schone terlepas perlawanan Serie A yang menyaksikan kekalahan 0-6 Genoa ke atas Napoli pada Ahad selepas didapati mempunyai kontak Covid-19 dan 12 yang lain didapati positif selepas perlawanan itu.
“Selepas ujian hari ini, jumlah mereka yang positif Covid-19 meningkat kepada 14 membabitkan pemain dan staf,” menurut Genoa dalam satu kenyataan.
“Kami sudah mengaktifkan semua syarat protokol yang diperlukan bagi membendung penularan virus dan memaklumkan kepada pihak berkaitan.
“Kami akan memaklumkan maklumat susulan mengenai situasi ini.”
LONDON – Pelatih Chelsea, Frank Lampard, memastikan kalau ia akan memasang Eduardo Mendy dan Ben Chilwell saat timnya menghadapi Tottenham Hotspur di ajang Piala Liga Inggris 2020-2021, Rabu 30 September 2020 dini hari WIB.
Lampard mengklaim kedua nama tersebut dalam keadaan baik dan telah siap untuk melakoni laga besar bersama The Blues. Namun, kabar tak terlalu baiknya adalah Hakim Ziyech dan Christian Pulisic yang masih harus menepi akibat cedera.
“Mendy dan Chilwell akan masuk skuat besok (laga kontra Tottenham di Piala Liga Inggris),” ujar Lampard seperti diwartakan Goal International, Selasa (29/9/2020)
“Mereka fit dan kami akan lihat apakah mereka mulai atau tidak. Ziyech dan Pulisic tidak jauh tapi mereka masih dalam fase pemulihan. Masih terlalu dini bagi mereka berdua,” sambungnya.
Berbicara mengenai kiper barunya, Lampard meyakini kehadiran Mendy jadi hal positif bagi Chelsea yang memang tengah membutuhkan sosok yang bisa lebih dipercayakan untuk berada di bawah mistar gawang.
Tidak bisa dipungkiri, Lampard memang saat ini tengah dipusingkan setelah aksi blunder Kepa Arrizabalaga di dua laga awal. Tidak hanya itu, Willy Caballero sebagai kiper lapis dua juga gagal menunjukkan performa positif usai kebobolan tiga gol di laga kontra West Brom Albion akhir pekan kemarin.
Untuk itu, Lampard pun menilai penandatanganan Mendy pada bursa transfer musim panas 2020 ini sangat tepat bagi timnya. Ia berharap sang pemain bisa segera menunjukkan kualitasnya bersama Chelsea.
“Ini semua sangat positif dari tanda-tanda awal dan interaksi,” ujar Lampard ketika berbicara mengani kedatangan Mendy.
“Sama seperti seorang pria di lapangan latihan. Dia telah beradaptasi dengan sangat baik dalam beberapa hari pertama dan kami telah membuatnya merasa diterima seperti biasa.
“Ini adalah kompetisi. Dia penjaga gawang yang baik dan kami tahu banyak tentang dia. Kita akan lihat sejauh apa pengaruh yang bisa diberikan,” tandasnya.
Liverpool offered a timely reminder of just how substantial the gulf in class between themselves and the rest of the Premier League is with a 3-1 victory over a very decent Arsenal side.
Question marks have been thrown at Jurgen Klopp’s side seemingly ever since they lifted their maiden Premier League title; can they do it all over again? How can they repeat last season’s antics? Will they remain motivated after such an exhaustive title-winning effort?
Their defensive performance against Leeds in their opening match of the 2020/21 campaign only stoked concerns that they would not be quite as unbeatable this time around, but after last weekend’s performance against Chelsea and Monday night’s result and display against Arsenal – coupled with Manchester City’s capitulation against Leicester – Liverpool have demonstrated that they are still the team to beat this season.
Monday evening’s victory over Arsenal was particularly impressive given the stature of opposition. Mikel Arteta’s side are currently one of the Premier League’s form teams, beating the Reds on penalties in the Community Shield final less than a month ago.
This was not a bad performance from Arsenal either, who confidently played out from the back from start to finish and beat the Liverpool press emphatically to open the scoring. Although the mistake from Robinson and finish from Alexandre Lacazette were scruffy, this should not take away from what a slick Arsenal move it was to begin with, showing just what this Gunners side were capable of.
But Liverpool primarily prevented Arsenal from playing through them like this. The goal had come against the run of play, with the Reds camped in the visitor’s half for most of the first period.
And the response to going a goal down was instant. Within 10 minutes of conceding the opening goal, Liverpool were 2-1 up. This is a side who do not like losing. This is not a side who have lost their winning mentality and become a soft touch now the Premier League trophy is in the cabinet.
These were classic Liverpool goals too – Klopp’s side at their best. The fizzing energy of Mohamed Salah to worm his way past Kieran Tierney for Sadio Mane’s first, followed by the quality of delivery from Trent Alexander-Arnold and the desire of Robertson to latch onto his inch perfect cross.
Alexander-Arnold’s stunning distribution was a constant all evening, his slightly shaky defensive display against Leeds becoming more and more of a distant memory with each pinpoint delivery.
Arsenal should have equalised in the second half but Alisson once again proved his importance for Liverpool with a big save to deny Lacazette, before new signing Diego Jota popped up with a very well taken goal to assure the Reds of all three points. You get the sense the former Wolves man could be another astute signing who Klopp manages to squeeze the absolute very best out of.
This was a slick Liverpool performance, and even more impressive considering Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson were absent through injury.
The speed at which they bounced back from going a goal down was in stark contrast to the manner in which Manchester City just melted away against Leicester on Sunday, demonstrating that this Liverpool side are just as hungry, just as motivated and just as ruthless as ever.
