Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal on Monday bemoaned the packed English Premier League schedule over the holiday season, while confirming that Angel Di Mariawill not make the trip to Stoke City on Tuesday. “I am not happy — but I cannot change it — because I don’t think it is good for the players […]
Section 2 Around the Net
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Mancini: Inter Lacks Confidence
Roberto Mancini rejected suggestions that Inter Milan might have been built for a different coach following Sunday’s 4-2 loss against AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. The formerManchester City manager, in his second stint as coach of the Nerazzurri, was sent off during the defeat, which saw Inter fall to 11th in the Serie A […]
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Blatter Insists Qatar Will Host 2022 World Cup
Sepp Blatter has once again reiterated that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will go ahead as planned, despite the emergence of a new report claiming that both 2018 host Russia and Qatarwere engaged in vote-trading and vote-buying. “Believe me, with all what has been said, what is told around the world, by whom? By […]
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New York passes goal-anchoring law
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill late that requires the state to come up with official regulations for anchoring soccer goals. The law was inspired in part byJulia Parisi, a then-8-year-old girl from Westchester County, whose femur was broken by a toppled goal in 2002. There have been at least 36 deaths […]
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Gervinho Tries to Smuggle Woman into Italy
Apparently, AS Roma and Ivory Coast forward Gervinho tried and failed to smuggle a woman onto his flight back to Italy after last week’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)qualifiers, according to reports in France. Roma hired a private jet for the former Arsenal player to return home from the Ivorian capital of Abidjan last week […]
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Report: Wilshere Out Two-Three Months
The Guardian on Monday reported that Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who went off injured in the 2-1 loss to Manchester United last weekend, could face ankle ligament surgery and a three-monthlayoff, although the decision on whether he requires surgery will be taken in the coming days. Even without surgery, the England international would still be […]
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Enrique: Messi to Play Different Positions for Barca
Lionel Messi will be used both as the main striker as well as a wide forward in Barcelona’s frontline as Coach Luis Enrique looks to get the best out of his team.“There will be games when Leo is in the center, and others were he is out wide,” Enrique said in an interview with TV3. […]
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Valcke: FIFA's Reputation is Damaged
FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke on Tuesday acknowledged that it could take “years” to rebuild FIFA’s reputation following the damage it has taken in recent weeks withrespect to the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively. Speaking at a meeting of the International Football Association Board, Valcke said: “The […]
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Ribery Rips FIFA's Ballon d'Or
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery expects teammates Arjen Robben and Manuel Neuer to miss out on the 2014 Ballon d’Or because the award nolonger goes to the world’s best player, but is instead decided by politics. The Frenchman was beaten to the prestigious individual award by Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldolast year despite guiding Bayern […]
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Pellegrini: Aguero 'One of the Best in the World'
Manuel Pellegrini hailed hat-trick hero Sergio Aguero for rescuing Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League hopes with two late goals on Tuesday to give thePremier League champ a 3-2 win against Bayern Munich. After the game, the City coach declared the diminutive Argentine, who has now scored 17 goals in all competitions this season: “One of […]