Last weekend, Zinedine Zidane guided his Real Madrid side to a record equaling 16-match winning streak, now they stand a chance to obliterate that record which they share with Barcelona who's run lasted in the 2010/2011 LaLiga season under the tutelage of Pe Guardiola, if they can beat Villarreal at Santiago Bernebeu tonight. The last time the Frenchman tasted a result other than a win was back in February when he lost to Diego Simeone led Atletico, after taking over from Rafa Benitez after he struggled to keep Real Madrid close to the LaLiga title. Real Madrid has since recorded 16 wins, 12 in the closing stages of last season and all 4 games this season, beating Levante, Celta Vigo (twice), Las Palmas, Sevilla Barcelona, Eibar, Getafe, Villarreal, Vallecano, … [Read more...]
Diego Simeone shortens Atletico Madrid contract
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has shortened his deal with the club by two years, according to reports in the Spanish media. Simeone reduced the terms of his contract with the Spanish giants, while there are claims that he has decided to take English lessons so as to fit into Premier League system. Simeone signed a contract with Atletico in March 2015 that tied him to the Liga outfit until June 2020. AS and Marca report that the Argentine has had negotiations with the club and changed the deal so that it now expires in June 2018. Fernando Torres said he doubted the reports. "It is an unreal hypothesis," Torres said during a news conference on Thursday. "Let's be real. We are one month into the season and this is a very important year for us. … [Read more...]
Schmeichel takes dig at boring Guardiola
Peter Schmeichel has taken a dig at Pep Guardiola ahead of the Manchester derby by saying Pep Guardiola made Bayern Munich “boring”, and will find it more difficult to play his brand of football at Manchester City than he did at Barcelona and Bayern. Pep Guardiola made an exciting Bayern Munich team boring to watch and was fortunate he had the players at his disposal to implement his style at Barcelona and Bayern, winning three Bundesliga titles and two DFB-Pokal in three years in Germany, says Peter Schmeichel. “He was okay at Bayern Munich. I have to say he was okay,” he told Omnisport . “For me, personally, he changed a really good, entertaining team to be become more boring to watch. “Where as Bayern before were very direct, they won the treble, had … [Read more...]
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane opens up on Mourinho talks
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has told Canal+ it was "difficult to turn down Jose Mourinho" and a move to Manchester United this summer, but says Zinedine Zidane's vote of confidence convinced him to stay in Spain. Varane, 23, has developed into a world-class centre-back since moving to Madrid from Lens in 2011 bearing the tag of being one of the game's most promising youngsters. That transformation was aided in great part by Mourinho during his three-year tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the United coach hoped to reunite with the France international at Old Trafford this summer only for Varane to reject the move. "Of course it's flattering. Manchester United is a very big club. But from the moment when Madrid and I are in sync on my project, … [Read more...]
Costa: I wouldn’t be criticised if I played for Real Madrid or Barcelona
Chelsea striker Diego Costa helped Spain to a 2-0 friendly win over Belgium in Brussels before calling out the Spanish media for their criticism of his performances for the national team. Costa set up David Silva for Spain's first goal before the Manchester City midfielder went on to score his second goal of the night to cap off a good performance for Julen Lopetegui's men. The striker was brought on in the 27th minute in place of an injured Alvaro Morata, and reckons it was one of his best games for Spain. "If I were a Real Madrid or Barca player, you would say I played well," Costa told reporters. "I did bad games. But even if I don't score, the truth must be said. I missed the goals but they will arrive. "Media don't lie many times when they say I … [Read more...]
Gareth Bale not bothered by Paul Pogba surpassing his record fee
Gareth Bale says he is not bothered by losing the tag of the world's most expensive player to Paul Pogba. Bale's three-year reign as the most expensive player in football history ended when Pogba joined Manchester United from Juventus for £89million last month. That fee eclipsed the £85.3million Real Madrid paid Tottenham to sign Wales forward Bale in the summer of 2013. But Bale said: "I'm not fussed and I couldn't care less. "None of the players have pulled my leg on it." Bale was speaking at a UEFA Champions League gala dinner to launch the 'Road to Cardiff' with the 2017 final being held in his home city at what was known as the Millennium Stadium. The 27-year-old would become only the sixth player to win the European Cup or Champions League … [Read more...]
Man City midfielder Samir Nasri completes Sevilla switch
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has completed a season-long loan move to La Liga side Sevilla. Nasri, 29, was linked with a move to Turkish side Besiktas but opted for Sevilla and the chance to play Champions League football. .@SamNasri19 has joined @SevillaFC on a season-long loan - good luck in La Liga, Samir!https://t.co/9NgFKEUM8k pic.twitter.com/PX0jSuHjgP - Manchester City (@ManCity) August 31, 2016 Nasri missed all of City's preseason after returning to training overweight and did not feature in City's first four games of this campaign. He was ruled out for six months after having surgery on a groin tendon injury, which meant he was dropped out of Manuel Pellegrini's Champions League squad on their run to the semifinals. The former … [Read more...]