Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed concerns about the demanding schedule his team faces, with a grueling 16-hour round trip to Kazakhstan followed by a Premier League match just days later. The Blues will travel to Almaty for their UEFA Conference League clash with Astana on Thursday. Due to ongoing stadium renovations in Kazakhstan’s capital, the team must make the 3,700-mile journey, which includes an eight-hour flight each way. The flight route has been altered to avoid conflict zones in Ukraine, Russia, and Syria, adding to the travel time. Once they arrive in Almaty, temperatures are expected to plummet to…

Millwall head coach Neil Harris will depart the club following Saturday’s match against Middlesbrough. Harris, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, returned for a second stint in February 2024 and guided the Lions to safety in the Championship. Under his leadership, they finished 13th last season after a difficult start. However, the club has struggled this season, sitting 11th and without a win in four games. In a statement, Harris expressed his love for the club, stating, “This club is more than a job to me, it’s my club and always will be,” adding that the time felt right to step…

Four Manchester City stars feature in the 2024 Fifpro Men’s World XI, highlighting their dominance during another stellar season. The team includes Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, all of whom were instrumental in City’s fourth consecutive Premier League triumph. Joining them is Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, the sole representative outside Real Madrid and City. Real’s players include Jude Bellingham, who topped the overall voting, Toni Kroos, Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, Vinicius Jr, and Kylian Mbappe, who switched to Madrid from PSG this summer. Notably absent is Lionel Messi, left out for the first time…

Guinea midfielder Naby Keita is set to join Hungarian champions Ferencvaros on loan from Werder Bremen in January, with an option for a permanent transfer. Keita, 29, has been sidelined at Bremen since his suspension in April for refusing to travel with the team for a match against Bayer Leverkusen. Bremen’s sporting director, Clemens Fritz, confirmed the decision, stating, “It was clear Naby would not play for Werder again. This loan is the best solution for everyone involved.” Keita, who joined Bremen on a free transfer in June 2023, has struggled for form and fitness, managing just five Bundesliga appearances,…

West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek dedicated his goal in a vital 2-1 victory over Wolves to teammate Michail Antonio, who remains hospitalized following a car accident on Saturday. The 34-year-old forward, West Ham’s all-time Premier League top scorer, underwent surgery for a lower limb fracture on Sunday and is recovering under medical care. Speaking after the match, Soucek revealed the team had a video call with Antonio before the game. “We played for him,” Soucek said. “He’s in my heart, and I wanted to score for him today.” The Hammers players warmed up wearing Antonio shirts, and Soucek celebrated his…

Just months after a promising revamp, Juventus finds itself mired in familiar struggles, sparking questions about whether the club’s bold overhaul has truly delivered. Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli promised a fresh start this season, ushering in young talent and a new coach, Thiago Motta, to reinvigorate the Old Lady. An aggressive transfer window saw nearly €200m spent on midfield talents like Teun Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz. Early results were encouraging, with emphatic wins and a stylish, attacking identity emerging. Yet 15 games into Serie A, Juventus sits sixth, unbeaten but winless in recent weeks. Seven draws in nine games have…

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has publicly criticized the club’s board for insufficient investment in the squad following a 4-3 defeat to Chelsea, a match in which Spurs squandered a 2-0 lead. The loss, their latest in a challenging season, leaves Tottenham in 11th place in the Premier League after 15 games. Speaking to Telemundo Deportes, the Argentine World Cup winner did not hold back in assessing the club’s shortcomings. “Manchester City competes every year, Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea keeps investing—those are the models to imitate,” said Romero. “Hopefully, the board realizes something is going wrong because this is…

Five England stars have been included in the FIFPRO Women’s World XI, highlighting the growing global recognition of the Lionesses’ talent. Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze makes history by earning her seventh selection, equaling the record held by France’s Wendie Renard. Bronze’s move from Barcelona to Chelsea last summer has solidified her reputation as one of the best defenders in women’s football. Joining Bronze in the prestigious XI are Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Mary Earps (Manchester United/Paris Saint-Germain), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), and Lauren James (Chelsea). Global Diversity in the Team The World XI features players from five nations, demonstrating the international…

David Coote, a 42-year-old Premier League referee, has been dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after a comprehensive investigation into allegations surrounding his conduct. Coote, who first officiated in the Premier League in 2018, was suspended on November 11 following the emergence of a video allegedly showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool FC and their former manager Jürgen Klopp. This video referred to a contentious match between Liverpool and Burnley in 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Klopp criticized Coote post-match for what he perceived as leniency toward Burnley’s physical challenges. Two days after Coote’s…

Atlético Madrid mounted a thrilling comeback to defeat Sevilla 4-3 in a dramatic La Liga clash at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The home side, trailing 3-1 with an hour gone, showcased resilience and determination to secure a vital victory, with Antoine Griezmann playing the role of hero by scoring twice, including a sensational stoppage-time winner. The match began with early excitement, as Atlético took the lead in the 10th minute through Rodrigo de Paul’s powerful shot from the edge of the box. However, Sevilla responded almost immediately, leveling the score just two minutes later when Dodi Lukebakio slalomed past Julian…