Manchester United forward Anthony Martial will not play in France's friendly against Cameroon on Monday due to a thigh injury, says national team boss Didier Deschamps. Martial, who was named to his country's 23-man squad for the upcoming European Championship, is not expected to be a doubt for the tournament, but will not factor against the African side in Nantes. "Martial has pain in his thigh," Deschamps said on Sunday. "He finished the season late. I will not take any risks tomorrow and it is likely that he will not participate in the match. "There is no doubt about Martial's participation in the Euros. His thigh problem is muscular fatigue." The 20-year-old has scored 18 goals in 56 matches for Manchester United since moving from Ligue 1 side Monaco … [Read more...]
No Mamadou Sakho recall- Deschamps
Liverpool French defender Mamadou Sakho could avoid punishment from UEFA this week and wouldn't be considered for selection says French boss Didier Deshamps. Reports in France suggest the defender will be cleared of a doping offence this week after he was found to have a fat burner in a sample he submitted following Liverpool’s Europa League tie with Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 17. Sakho's lawyers believe the contents of the fat burning product are not on UEFA's list of banned substances and feel no further action should be taken, with a decision set for this week. The former PSG defender is now free to resume his career after serving a 30-day provisional suspension and it was claimed that he could be a late call-up to the French squad after … [Read more...]
I am proud to be a Gunner- Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka says it is a "dream" to join Arsenal, now that his transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach has been finalised. The 23-year-old secured a move to Emirates Stadium this week for a reported fee of close to €40million after an impressive four-year spell in the Bundesliga. The midfielder, compared to Andrea Pirlo by former Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, is believed to have sealed the move prior to Euro 2016 and is relishing the prospect of his first appearance under Arsene Wenger. "I feel good, now I'm happy to be a Gunner," Xhaka told Sky Sports News after Switzerland's 2-1 friendly defeat to Belgium on Saturday. "It's been a big week for me, but now it's official and I'm very happy. Arsenal is a big club. I've seen the pitch, it's … [Read more...]
Our Champions League place is under threat, warns Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger has conceded he fears for Arsenal's top-four chances after Sunday's barren draw against Sunderland. Arsenal failed to break down the Black Cats, whose point at the Stadium of light lifted them out of the Premier League's bottom three. Petr Cech had to save sharp efforts from Wahbi Khazri and Jermain Defoe, with Arsenal failing to convert their clear-cut chances against Sam Allardyce's men. The result leaves Arsenal fourth, five points clear of Manchester United - who have a game in hand - leaving Wenger fearful of a run-in that features games against fellow European contenders Manchester City and relegation-threatened Norwich City. When asked if he was worried Arsenal could lose their top-four spot, Wenger said: "Yes, of course. We care … [Read more...]
Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany ruled out for four months
Vincent Kompany’s thigh injury is expected to keep him out for four months meaning the Belgian captain will miss the start of next season under the club’s new coach, Pep Guardiola. Kompany, 30, lasted just six minutes of the tie in the Santiago Bernabeu before succumbing to the latest muscle problem in an injury-ravaged campaign. He later released a message on his Facebook page that confirmed he will definitely miss the tournament. "I'll miss the Euros," he wrote. "To me that's very sad news. "So I could be standing here, feeling sorry for myself. I could fear for my career, as others may do. I could give up. "That is not me. I decide on my future. "There is a bigger picture to everything in life and only failing to see it, will cause me to fail. "I … [Read more...]
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp withdraws Europa League final tickets
Jürgen Klopp has told Liverpool fans not to travel to Basel for the Europa League final if they do not have tickets, despite inviting them to do so last week. The Merseyside club’s manager admitted that he had made a mistake by telling supporters to travel en masse and urged those who are unable to attend the game at St. Jakob-Park to stay at home. “Last time I spoke about Basel, I spoke like a supporter,” he said, with a sheepish grin, after Sunday’s 2-0 league win over Watford. “I do it sometimes because first of all I am a supporter, I like this game.\ “But I invited all Liverpool fans to Basel and that was not too smart to be honest. Basel is a nice city but it is not ready for us. It was my mistake. “We have to take back the invitation to Basel. … [Read more...]
United narrow win leaves Norwich staring at relegation
Manchester United's bid for Champions League football was kept alive after a 1-0 win at Carrow Road which saw Norwich slip closer to Premier League relegation. Juan Mata has formed a habit finding the net against Norwich – he had scored four times against them for United in the Premier League before this encounter. And here was the Spaniard scoring the goal that might well have dispatched the Canaries to the championship. Norwich had 18 minutes to do what they had not managed to in their three previous games -- score -- but once more they failed to do so. The Canaries' fate could be decided as soon as Wednesday, when they host Watford. The hosts began with intent, a strong early spell coming between injury blows for the visitors. Anthony Martial was … [Read more...]