Manuel Pellegrini on Thursday said the decision to keep New York City FC midfielder Frank Lampard at Manchester City for the remainder of the season is necessary to the club’stitle aspiration. Lampard, 36, came on as a substitute to head in the winning goal as City beat Sunderland, 3-2, at the Etihad Stadium on New […]
Section 2 Around the Net
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Mourinho: Referees Must Protect Hazard
Jose Mourinho launched his second scathing attack at Premier League referees in less than a week following Chelsea’s 5-3 loss against Tottenham Hotspur on New Year’s Day. Inparticular, the Portuguese called on Anthony Taylor and Phil Dowd, who refereed Chelsea’s last two Premier League games, to do a better job of protecting diminutive star EdenHazard, […]
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Gerrard Confirms Summer Move Abroad
Steven Gerrard has confirmed that he will leave Liverpool and the English Premier League at the end of the season. The Reds captain has spent his entire 17-year career at Anfield, but in apress conference on Friday said he simply wants a new experience before he hangs up his boots for good. Since the announcement, […]
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Reports: Pardew Closing in on Palace Appointment
Alan Pardew is close to being named the new head coach of Crystal Palace, and could oversee the relegation-threatened club’s clash against Aston Villa at Villa Park on New Year’sDay. Pardew, 53, reportedly said goodbye to his Newcastle United squad on Tuesday ahead of his move South London, where he would replace former coach Neil […]
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Reports: Pulis to Take Over at West Brom
Reports in England suggest that West Brom will name Tony Pulis as its new head coach on New Year’s Day. Pulis would takeover from Alan Irvine who was fired on Monday after a run ofseven defeats in nine Premier League games. The former Stoke and Crystal Palace manager would be West Brom’s fourth coach in […]
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Bale Denies Man United Move
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale on Tuesday denied reports linking him with a move to Manchester United. “Am I going to Manchester United? I’m very happy at Real Madrid,”the Welshman said. “I love the city, the climate and the club,” he told Dubai Television. “My contract ends in 2019, and I could sign a renewal.” […]
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Ibrahimovic: No Roma Move
Zlatan Ibrahimovic laughed off rumors linking him with a move to AS Roma on Tuesday, insisting that he will see out his Paris Saint-Germain contract, which runs until 2016. The Swedishstriker, speaking after PSG’s 1-0 win against Inter Milan at the Dubai Football Challenge, also denied reports that he had fallen out with PSG coach […]
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AC Milan Ends Real Madrid Win Streak
Stephan El Shaarawy starred as AC Milan handed Real Madrid its first defeat in 23 games, winning 4-2 at the Dubai Football Challenge. The Italy striker scoredtwice after Jeremy Menez opened the scoring, while Giampaolo Pazzini headed in Milan’s fourth. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema got the goals for Real. Carlo Ancelotti was nonplussed in defeat, insisting […]
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Diskerud Hints at MLS Move
USA midfielder Mix Diskerud is leaving Rosenborg, SI.com reports. While the Norwegian club announced that it wants to sign the Norwegian-American to a new contract, the two sides have notbeen able to agree so far. While previous reports had linked Diskerud with a move to Liga MX club Tijuana, the 24-year-old tells SI.com that if […]
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Martino: My Year with Barca was a "Failure"
Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has branded last season, his only season in charge of Barcelona, as a “failure,” claiming that he taught Lionel Messi & Co. absolutelynothing. Asked by Argentine newspaper Clarin what he was able to teach Messi in particular, the Argentine tactician responded: “Nothing. Nothing at all. Not to him or to Barca. […]