Chelsea’s FA Cup campaign came to a halt in the fourth round as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to newly-formed rivals Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday evening. The match started in chaotic fashion, with Bart Verbruggen spilling Cole Palmer’s cross into his own net within the first five minutes. However, Brighton quickly leveled with a superb header from Georginio Rutter, deservedly equalizing after a strong first-half performance. Early in the second half, Kaoru Mitoma’s lob put Brighton ahead, and Chelsea never looked likely to recover. Despite a few half-chances, the Blues failed to create any real threat as their…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid battled to a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s intense derby. The match was still waiting for its first shot on target when Atletico were awarded a penalty in the 34th minute. After VAR confirmed a foul by Aurelien Tchouameni on Samuel Lino, Julian Alvarez stepped up to calmly chip the ball down the middle, giving Atletico the lead in a lackluster first half. This marked the fifth game of the season where Real Madrid failed to register a shot on target. Carlo Ancelotti clearly demanded more from his team after the break, and Kylian Mbappe delivered…
Antony earned his second La Liga MVP award after Real Betis’ 3-2 loss to Celta Vigo on Saturday, surpassing his Premier League record during his two-and-a-half years with Manchester United. The Brazilian joined Betis on loan in January to reignite his career, which had stalled since his £81.3m transfer from Ajax in the summer of 2022. So far, the move has been successful, with Antony securing back-to-back MVP awards in his first two games for the club. During his time at United, Antony won the Premier League Player of the Match award just once—during a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest…
Harry Maguire believes Manchester United must restore their confidence and turn Old Trafford into a fortress after a series of disappointing performances this season. The Red Devils endured their sixth home Premier League defeat last Saturday, losing 2-0 to Crystal Palace, followed by a narrow FA Cup victory over Leicester, which almost ended in another setback. United’s struggles at home were evident during Friday’s FA Cup fourth-round match, where the team was jeered off at halftime. A goal from Bobby De Cordova-Reid had given Leicester the lead, punishing United for a lackluster first-half performance. However, a late comeback, featuring Joshua…
Pep Guardiola has discussed Rodri’s significant impact on Manchester City and his potential return from injury ahead of next season, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. Guardiola acknowledged the midfielder’s importance, especially as the club approaches the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League. However, he made it clear that he would not rush Rodri’s recovery, saying, “I’d love to arrive in the last stages of the UCL and he could help, but I will not put one second of pressure,” emphasizing his trust in the squad to handle key moments without the Spanish international. Rodri has been sidelined due to…
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has acknowledged that Ansu Fati has caught his attention as the winger continues to fight for his future at the club. Fati has only made four La Liga appearances this season and has played just once for Barcelona since November 2024—coming on as a late substitute in the Copa del Rey match against fourth-tier Barbastro. The 22-year-old was frequently linked with a move away from Barcelona during the January transfer window, but he chose to stay and fight for his place in the squad, despite Flick recognizing the stiff competition for minutes in his position. Embracing…
FIFA has suspended the football federations of Congo, Pakistan, and one other country, barring them from participating in the 2026 World Cup due to ‘serious circumstances.’ The suspension of the Congolese Football Association (FECOFOOT) stems from “undue interference by third parties” in the association’s operations. FIFA’s statement highlighted that this interference violated FECOFOOT’s obligations under FIFA’s statutes. The decision was made after two FIFA/CAF missions were sent to Brazzaville for consultations. In Pakistan’s case, the suspension was due to the failure of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to adopt a revised constitution that ensures “truly fair and democratic elections.” The…
Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy expressed his frustration with the FA Cup officials after his side was defeated by a controversial stoppage-time winner from Manchester United’s Harry Maguire on Friday night. Ruben Amorim, Van Nistelrooy’s counterpart at United, could only agree with the irate Dutchman. Leicester took a first-half lead in their fourth-round clash at Old Trafford, with Joshua Zirkzee equalizing after the break. The match was tied at 1-1 as it entered the third and final minute of added time. Maguire then hammered a free-kick from Bruno Fernandes into the bottom corner to snatch a late, and arguably…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that the club expects to learn the outcome of their ongoing legal battle with the Premier League “in one month.” The reigning Premier League champions were charged in February 2023 with over 100 breaches of financial regulations, including accusations of inflating sponsorship agreements to bypass both domestic and international financial restrictions. The club has consistently denied any wrongdoing. An independent tribunal heard arguments from both City and the Premier League at the end of 2024, but no specific verdict date was given, though it was anticipated that a resolution would come in the…
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has opened up about the reasons behind Marcus Rashford’s unexpected loan move to Aston Villa, as reported by Daily Post. The 27-year-old forward has joined Villa until the end of the season, with the club covering up to 75% of his wages and having the option to make the move permanent for £40 million. In a press conference ahead of their FA Cup match, Amorim explained that he struggled to get Rashford to align with his tactical vision for the team, which ultimately led to the decision to let him go. He noted that Rashford…