LECCE – Pelatih AC Milan, Stefano Pioli, benar-benar malas menanggapi rumor soal pemecatan dirinya pada akhir musim. Pria berkebangsaan Italia itu mengaku sangat bahagia dengan timnya dan hanya berpikir soal bagaimana meraih target lolos ke Liga Europa.
Seperti diketahui, AC Milan dirumorkan kian dekat dengan Ralf Rangnick. Pelatih berkebangsaan Jerman itu akan menggantikan Stefano Pioli pada akhir musim Liga Italia 2019-2020 apapun hasil yang dicapai, termasuk lolos ke kompetisi Eropa.
Situasi tersebut jelas tidak mengenakkan bagi Stefano Pioli yang tengah menjabat. Pria berusia 54 tahun itu hanya berusaha fokus pada tugasnya membawa AC Milan mencapai target. Sebab, keputusan dan penilaian akan kinerjanya harus diambil pada akhir musim.
“Saya tidak tertarik dengan apa yang dikatakan di media. Saya senang dengan tim ini. Saya bekerja sejak awal dengan gairah dan kompetensi. Setelah itu, masa depan diputuskan pada akhir musim ini,” tutur Stefano Pioli usai laga kontra Lecce, dikutip dari Football Italia, Selasa (23/6/2020).
Manchester City prolonged Liverpool’s title coronation until Thursday at the very earliest with a thumping 5-0 victory over Burnley at the Etihad Stadium on Monday evening.
City took advantage of the Clarets’ first lapse in concentration 27 minutes in as an unmarked Phil Foden lashed a low effort into the bottom corner following a well worked short corner.
Riyad Mahrez put the game beyond Burnley’s reach with two goals in the space of six minutes on the stroke of half time. The Algerian latched onto Fernandinho’s superb cross field pass, turned Charlie Taylor inside out and fired home, before netting from the penalty spot following Ben Mee’s foul on Sergio Aguero.
City were just as ruthless in the second half, with David Silva and Foden both tucking home from close range to secure an emphatic victory.
Unfortunately, the match was somewhat marred by an offensive banner flown above the Etihad Stadium shortly after kick-off.
Key Talking Point
While many other top flight sides have put in sluggish, laboured performances since the Premier League resumed, City had looked slick their 3-0 victory over Arsenal, and followed this up with a similarly polished display on Monday evening.
Despite making eight changes to side that beat Arsenal, including switching their entire back four, City were well-oiled and sharp.
Their build up play was patient and intricate, they moved the ball around with a real pace and intensity, and made this usually stubborn Burnley side look very weak and fragile. Pep Guardiola’s side have taken the three-month break completely in their stride.
Amazingly, this is the 17th time City have scored five or more goals in a Premier League games since Guardiola became manager.
Substitutes: Jesus (7), de Bruyne (7), Laporte (6), Sane (6)
Phil Foden
The 20-year-old turned in a performance of real star quality. While his goals will grab the headlines – the first a sweetly struck left-footed low drive, the second one demonstrating his natural goalscoring instinct – it was his intelligence, movement and cute touches that particularly caught the eye.
Foden drifted into the little pockets of space between the Burnley back four and midfield, and his deftly disguised pass to send Bernardo Silva away for was simply sublime.
Key Talking Point
While City had the luxury of making eight changes, Burnley could only name seven substitutes – including two goalkeepers. Sean Dyche’s side are really stretched, and it showed.
They desperately missed the physical presence of Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood. The Clarets failed to register a shot on target, with Jay Rodriguez and Matej Vydra cutting isolated figures up front.
Although the pair were left to feed off scraps, they rarely won an aerial duel, and Fernandinho and Nicolas Otamendi enjoyed a relatively comfortable night.
Player Ratings
Starting XI: Pope (5); Lowten (5), Tarkowski (4), Mee (4), Taylor (4); Brownhill (6), Westwood (5) Cork (5), McNeil (5); Rodriguez (4)), Vydra (4)
Substitutes: Pieters (4), Thompson (4)
Next up for Manchester City is a trip to Chelsea on Thursday. Should Liverpool beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday, City will need to take all three points at Stamford Bridge to deny the Reds the title.
Burnley are also back in action on Thursday, as they welcome relegation-threatened Watford to Turf Moore.
Huyền thoại Chelsea mách nước cho Lampard | Robin Jones/Getty Images
Huyền thoại Joe Cole vừa khuyên huấn luyện viên Frank Lampard nên chiêu mộ cầu thủ Ben Chilwell từ Leicester City.
Ở kỳ chuyển nhượng mùa hè năm nay, Chelsea được cho là câu lạc bộ chịu chi nhất Ngoại Hạng Anh. The Blues đã bỏ ra một núi tiền để mang về Stamford Bridge những cái tên như Hakim Ziyech hay Timo Werner.
Tuy nhiên, đội bóng thành Luân Đôn vẫn chưa muốn dừng lại ở đó. Huấn luyện viên Lampard và các cộng sự vẫn đang tìm kiếm những cái tên phù hợp để nâng cấp đội hình. Mới đây huyền thoại Joe Cole vừa khuyên Lampard nên chiêu mộ cầu thủ Ben Chilwell của Leicester City.
Cựu sao tuyển Anh cho hay: “Ben Chilwell rất phù hợp với bản sắc của Chelsea. Cậu ấy hội tụ đầy đủ những yếu tố để trở thành một ngôi sao. Nếu cập bến Chelsea thì đó sẽ là một bước tiến trong sự nghiệp của cậu ấy. Tuy Leicester City đang xếp trên Chelsea, thế nhưng được dìu dắt bởi Frank Lampard sẽ là một điều gì đó rất tuyệt vời”.
Ở mùa giải năm nay, Ben Chilwell đã ra sân tổng cộng 24 lần cho Leicester City ở đấu trường Premier League. Cầu thủ người Anh có cho mình 3 bàn và có 3 đường kiến tạo.
KUALA LUMPUR: Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) dan Pejabat Pesuruhjaya Sukan mahu memperkukuhkan lagi hubungan antara kedua-dua belah pihak.
MOM dalam satu kenyataan memaklumkan kedua-dua pihak bersetuju untuk memperakukan kumpulan kerja bagi membincangkan lebih lanjut bidang kepentingan bersama untuk meningkatkan pembangunan sukan di negara ini melalui Persatuan Sukan Kebangsaan (NSA).
Presiden MOM, Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria dalam kenyataan itu berharap akan ada lebih banyak pertemuan antara kedua-dua belah pihak pada masa akan datang.
“Saya yakin terdapat banyak bidang untuk dilaksanakan bagi kepentingan sukan di Malaysia,” katanya pada Isnin.
Pesuruhjaya Sukan, Dr Wirdati Mohd Radzi turut bersependapat dengan Mohamad Norza dan meluahkan rasa gembira kerana dapat bertemu dengan ahli Lembaga Eksekutif MOM sejak dilantik pada Julai tahun lepas.
“Mereka adalah pemegang taruh utama dalam ekosistem sukan Malaysia dan saya tidak sabar untuk bekerjasama dengan MOM untuk memperkukuhkan lagi Persatuan Sukan Kebangsaan kita,” katanya.
Terdahulu beliau mengadakan kunjungan hormat ke ibu pejabat MOM di Jalan Hang Jebat, di sini, dan dalam pertemuan itu perbincangan terarah kepada tadbir urus dan pendaftaran persatuan sukan, proses arbitrasi dan penyelarasan program pendidikan untuk meningkatkan jumlah pentadbir sukan berkelayakan.
“KALAU ada wang tetapi tiada bakat pun tidak akan menjadi.”
Itu kata Nasharudin Elias, penyanyi terkenal negara dan juga bapa kepada pemain muda kebangsaan, Aniq Asri, mengenai tanggapan sesetengah pihak bahawa pelaburan membawa anaknya ke Sepanyol sebagai satu usaha sia-sia.
Graduan Program Pembangunan Bolasepak Negara (NFDP), Aniq, dilaporkan bakal ke Akademi FC Malaga City sekali gus memberikan sinar cerah buat perkembangan bola sepak negara.
Walaupun ada sesetengah pihak menganggap ia satu pelaburan kosong tetapi Nasharudin atau lebih dikenali dengan nama Datuk Nash menegaskan bakat dan kebolehan dimiliki anaknya menjadi tunjang kepada pemilihan ke kelab berkenaan.
“Apabila menginginkan sesuatu, pelaburan sememangnya diperlukan tetapi ia menjadi perkara kedua. Kami bukan berniaga.
“Apa yang penting, Aniq memiliki bakat dan berminat dengan apa yang dilakukan. Kami hanya berikan galakan untuk dia berbakti kepada negara,” katanya.
“Harapan saya, pemain muda dalam negara kita perlu diberikan galakan khususnya mereka yang meraih peluang.”
MADRID – Winger Atletico Madrid, Thomas Lemar, mengungkapkan bahwa dirinya pernah sangat dekat untuk bisa bergabung dengan Liverpool. Namun hal itu urung terealisasikan, dan masih membekas penyesalan dalam diri Lemar hingga saat ini.
Sebagaimana diketahui, Lemar memang sempat menjadi target prioritas transfer Liverpool pada musim panas 2017. Pelatih Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, menaruh ketertarikan luar biasa terhadap Lemar yang saat itu berstatus winger andalan AS Monaco.
Keteterikan Klopp pun membuat dirinya meminta manajemen Liverpool memboyong Lemar pada bursa transfer musim panas 2017. Namun transfer tersebut tidak pernah terwujud lantaran manajemen Liverpool keberatan dengan harga yang dipatok oleh Monaco.
Lemar sendiri akhirnya meninggalkan Monaco untuk bergabung dengan Atletico di jendela transfer musim panas 2018. Meski sudah bergabung dengan Atletico, Lemar mengaku masih memiliki rasa penyesalan dirinya batal hengkang ke Liverpool pada 2017.
“Apa saya menyesal (batal bergabung dengan Liverpool)? Mungkin. Saya tidak menutupinya. Saya merasa sedikit kecewa dengan fakta tersebut,” jelas Lemar, seperti dilaporkan oleh Liverpool Echo, Senin (22/6/2020).
Selain itu, Lemar juga memberikan reaksi soal masa depannya bersama Atletico. Ya, dalam beberapa hari terakhir, Lemar memang digosipkan bakal hengkang dari Atletico. Lemar pun mengatakan bakal menunggu hingga musim ini selesai baru memutuskan soal kelanjutan kariernya di Atletico.
“Setelah semua selesai, maka usai sudah, jadi saya mencoba untuk tidak memikirkannya. Saya terus bekerja sehingga klub-klub ini kembali selama jendela transfer berikutnya. Saya terbuka untuk semua tawaran. Saya tidak menutup pintu,” tutup pemain berusia 24 tahun tersebut.
Tom Davies and Joe Gomez | Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 23 points on Sunday evening, but were held to a dire 0-0 draw at Goodison Park.
As has been the case with most games so far, the season’s third Merseyside derby got off to a pretty sluggish start. The artificial fans could do little to mask the sleepy, exhibition tempo, although a slick Liverpool counter-attack just after the half-hour mark might have, had Roberto Firmino not dragged his shot wide.
The introduction of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the break saw Liverpool up the ante, but while their attacks increased in frequency and intensity, the Toffees stood strong. By the hour mark, the Reds had seen 65% of the ball, but were limited to a single shot on target.
For all the game was controlled by Liverpool, however, Everton exploded into life as the game entered the final 10 minutes. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Tom Davies and Richarlison all found themselves with excellent chances, but a combination of some magnificent work from Alisson and the Brazilian’s right-hand post kept the sheet clean.
Fabinho surprised everyone when he took precedence to Trent Alexander-Arnold to fire a stoppage-time free kick at Jordan Pickford, but a victory for either side would have been unjust in what was – let’s face it – a terrible game of football.
Key Talking Point
All eyes turned to 19-year-old Anthony Gordon, who made his first league start in a youthful Everton XI which featured four academy graduates, and it was a team which, for the most part, did the job it set out to; frustrate and contain the more esteemed visitors.
Liverpool were far from at their best, granted, but they weren’t given the space to be, as the Toffees used the declining tempo and tame atmosphere to their advantage.
They will feel desperately unlucky not to have won the game when a flurry of late chances came their way, but they nonetheless have reason to be positive after ensuring their rivals will have to wait that little bit longer to make sure of their Premier League title.
Substitutes: Sigurdsson (5), Bernard (N/A), Kean (N/A).
Andre Gomes
To call it a spectacular Everton performance would be quite a reach, but it was functional and effective, owing largely to the brick wall they set up in front of the Liverpool midfield which cut off the supply to an isolated forward line.
At the heart of all that was Gomes, whose defensive abilities were as effective as his distribution and composure on the ball which allowed his side some respite when they were able to get on the ball.
Key Talking Point
The team Jurgen Klopp sent out raised more than a couple of eyebrows, as Mohamed Salah was only fit enough for a place on the bench. He was replaced by January signing Takumi Minamino while Andy Robertson – suffering from a minor knock – sat out for the dependable James Milner.
Joel Matip and Naby Keita were each handed starts, which would have seemed unlikely, but the deployment of a squad player or two can perhaps come as no real surprise given the severity of the schedule ahead.
The unfamiliar lineup coupled with the ring-rust of three football-less months led to a performance that lacked in rhythm and vibrancy, and even the introduction of Divock Origi – a Liverpool cult hero after five goals in his last seven derbies – was unable to inspire anything magical.
A muscle injury to Matip forced Klopp to make his fifth substitution when he might have considered throwing Salah into the fray, but a fairly lethargic performance – made worse by the introduction of a shaky Lovren – nudged them a point closer to the Premier League title.
There was next to no quality in the game from a Liverpool perspective until 80 minutes, when they needed Alisson at his very best to prevent what would have been an embarrassing defeat at the home of their rivals.
The Brazilian made himself big and reacted like lightning to keep out Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, and continues to prove he was worth every penny of his massive transfer fee.
Both sides have a tight turnaround ahead, with Everton travelling to bottom side Norwich on Wednesday just hours before Liverpool host Crystal Palace.
Everton return to Goodison to face Leicester a week later, while Liverpool have the small matter of a trip to Manchester City next Thursday, though will be hoping to have the title sewn up before then.