Author: bigbanng

WHAT HAPPENED? After scoring a hat-trick in his first-ever Manchester derby back in October, Haaland had an underwhelming outing when the two rivals met again on Saturday. He hardly had an impact upfront as Manchester City went down 1-2 against their rivals. While Guardiola admitted that the Norwegian needs to be more effective, especially when teams fall back and defend, he is confident that the striker would adapt to their system. WHAT THEY SAID: Speaking to reporters Guardiola said: “At the moment we have that process because when teams are sat in their 18-yard box, it is more difficult but we have to…

Much has been made of the fact that the Spanish Supercup has been hosted in Saudi Arabia once again, after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar went under the microscope for its human rights record. It is something that has brought Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez plenty of criticism, who has defended the move to the Middle East. Of course money talks in football, the primary reason is the fact that the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) will take in around €40m for the tournament. Real Madrid and Barcelona will both receive €2.8m for their participation, as per Sport. Valencia pick up €1.7m,…

Charlton defender Lucas Nesss has revealed he missed out on swapping shirts with some of Manchester United’s box-office players after the EFL Cup quarter-final tie last week. The 20-year-old centre-back started for the Addicks at Old Trafford. Ness ended up with the shirt of unused United sub Zidane Iqbal. “I was late into the tunnel after the game – because I was talking to a mate,” he told the South London Press. “I spoke to their kitman and asked: ‘Who can I get?’ I wanted Martinez, Maguire – the defenders – and they were all taken. I said: ‘Just get me…

Paul Scholes’ Cristiano Ronaldo theory proved right by Manchester United star Having scored the winner in Manchester United’s derby victory over Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, Marcus Rashford has now registered 16 goals – and six assists – in 26 appearances for the Reds this term. His impressive goal return includes eight strikes in the Premier League. Rashford has scored in each of his last eight matches for United, and with Anthony Martial going off injured at half-time against Pep Guardiola’s side, the pressure was on the England international to deliver. While the Reds have added Dutch striker Wout Weghorst to their squad on…

At a fraught point in the Manchester derby, Pep Guardiola felt he had to get something off his mind. The Catalan called Erling Haaland over and intensively gave the Manchester City forward a series of instructions. As he listened, the Norwegian didn’t look anywhere near as enthused about any of this as his manager. Haaland stood there with his hands on his shoulders. That might have been down to his generally impassive appearance, but it came as part of a very passive performance. Haaland was barely involved, with only 19 touches, and two shots. Even Jack Grealish beat him to a header for a goal…

Barcelona win their first title since former player Xavi took over as the team’s coach in 2021. Barcelona players celebrate with the trophy [Hussein Malla/AP Photo]Published On 16 Jan 2023 Barcelona have won the Spanish Super Cup for the first time since the competition was revamped and moved to Saudi Arabia with a 3-1 victory over Real Madrid. Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and Pedri scored a goal each at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh on Sunday to give Barcelona its first Super Cup trophy since 2018, and the first since the tournament’s Final-Four format began in 2020 in a lucrative deal for the…

Shaw aiming high after but title talk still way off at Man United Luke Shaw insisted nobody at Manchester United is thinking about winning the title after Saturday’s dramatic and controversial derby victory over Manchester City. United stunned the defending champions as they followed up a highly-contentious equaliser with a late winner at Old Trafford to move within a point of their second-placed neighbours in the Premier League. While arguments raged over the nature of Bruno Fernandes’ leveller – awarded despite Marcus Rashford’s run towards the ball from an offside position in the build-up – there was no denying the 2-1 win represented a…

Bruno Fernandes has rubbished suggestions that he was taking a veiled dig at Cristiano Ronaldo after Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Saturday. In a nutshell While praising the performance of the Red Devils in this weekend’s derby, Fernandes highlighted a major change in the side when he explained that there is a much greater sense of team spirit in the Old Trafford dressing room nowadays. “We used to be individuals, now we are a team,” Fernandes said, sparking speculation that he was hinting that United lacked togetherness in the first half of the season, when Cristiano Ronaldo was at the club. But Fernandes insists he…

It would seem ludicrous to demand more from someone scoring at a rate of 1.24 goals per game this season, yet Pep Guardiola wants Erling Haaland to be more of a team player for Manchester City. Haaland’s team-mates suggested earlier in the campaign it would take time for the ponytailed predator to adapt to playing in a Guardiola team. At the time, it was swept under the carpet as City went two months unbeaten but now, with one shot on target in two games, it becomes very relevant. Guardiola agreed that Haaland needed to get involved in games more. During…

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez spoke to the media after his side beat Real Madrid 3 – 1 to lift the Spanish Super Cup title. The Catalan was proud of his team’s performance after their convincing win. READ: Carlo Ancelotti’s post-game quotes “I am very satisfied because I really like how we played,” Xavi said after the game. “It is clear that winning conditions us, because otherwise we wouldn’t have confidence. Today we didn’t lose balls and the midfielders have understood their assignments very well. We have played better, but I am happy for the players because they have received a lot…

Bruno Fernandes has angrily hit back at claims that he dug out Cristiano Ronaldo with his comments following Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday. United headed into the Manchester derby without the services of Ronaldo, whose second spell at Old Trafford came to an abrupt and bitter end last month. But Erik ten Hag’s side didn’t need their former talisman to claim a famous victory, which came courtesy of two goals in four second-half minutes from Fernandes and Marcus Rashford. Fernandes was quick to praise his team-mates after the win – but some people speculated that the Portuguese midfielder had attacked his compatriot with his post-match verdict. Rio Ferdinand…

Bruno Fernandes has posted a rant on social media after feeling his comments about Manchester United’s success this season were wrongly interpreted as an attack on former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. Fernandes has been widely quoted telling BT Sport after the Red Devils’ 2-1 derby win: ‘[We] used to be individuals, now we are a team. You can see a proper team that works for each other.’ This was seen by many as a dig at Ronaldo, who left United in controversial fashion last year, but the midfielder has strongly denied this in a rant on Instagram. He ranted on Instagram after the game as…

Manchester City sold a ‘football project’ to Erling Haaland, while leaning on his family’s affinity to the club, as they tried to persuade the striker to sign in the summer. City won the race to sign Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for £51m, and he has scored an impressive 27 goals in 24 appearances to date. Haaland’s family – including father Alfie who previously played for City – have made it clear they have a plan for the striker’s career that will get the most out of his talents. In a new documentary, City’s chief football operations officer Omar Berrada has explained how the…

With it often pitting the greatest players and teams in the world against each other, El Clasico is undoubtedly one of football’s most iconic matches. The second of the season will take place in the Supercopa de Espana with Barcelona and Real Madrid beating Real Betis and Valencia on penalties respectively to reach the final. It will be the 251st competitive match the two have played against one another, but which side has won more of those? What is El Clasico? El Clasico, which translates in English to ‘The Classic’, is the name given to any match that takes place…

Erik ten Hag confirmed Anthony Martial was forced off in Manchester United’s win against Manchester City through injury. The Frenchman came off at half-time as United recorded a brilliant comeback win against their rivals at Old Trafford. Martial was an injury doubt ahead of the game but he was selected to start and he impressed in the first-half, with United imposing themselves on City in the opening 45 minutes. However, City took hold of the match after the interval when Martial was replaced by Antony. The Brazilian was sent to warm-up during half-time and many supporters felt he was going to replace Marcus Rashford,…

Bruno Fernandes has hit back at claims suggesting his post-match comments about Manchester United’s improvements this season were aimed at former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese ace scored in the Reds’ impressive 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, with the midfielder levelling proceedings after Jack Grealish opened the scoring for the away side. Erik ten Hag’s men went on to win the derby thanks to Marcus Rashford’s late strike. After the game, Fernandes, during an interview with BT Sport, spoke about how United were now a ‘team’ after previously being a group of ‘individuals’. ALSO READ: Ten Hag makes admission about United substitutions in…

Manchester United won against their city neighbours by two goals to one courtesy of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford. United looked destined to lose but a turnaround in the late stages of the game saw them claim the bragging rights in Manchester. A hallmark of United’s game is how defensively sound they were and in this case that translated into how successful the team was in neutralizing Erling Haaland. Haaland has been electric for City since he signed from Borussia Dortmund, notching 27 goals for Pep Guardiola’s side in all competitions this season. However, against the Red Devils, the Norwegian was kept quiet and…

Guti spent 15 years as a Real Madrid player after graduating from their academy, winning five La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues. And during that time, he played some of the finest passes the Santiago Bernabeu has ever seen. Guti was not always the first name on the teamsheet at Madrid and was not even universally popular among fans. He had a turbulent private life and was accused of lacking work rate and consistency by some of his managers. But Guti was two things above all else: a die-hard Madridista and an absolute genius with the ball at his feet.…

Manchester United completed a stunning comeback against City to extend their winning run to nine matches in Saturday’s electric derby. After Jack Grealish nodded the visitors in front on the hour mark three minutes after coming on, Bruno Fernandes brought the game level via a controversial VAR decision. The on-running Marcus Rashford was adjudged not to be interfering with play from Casemiro’s through ball, allowing Fernandes to sweep home on 78 minutes. And four minutes later super sub Alejandro Garnacho teed up Rashford to net his 16th goal of the season to bag a fantastic three points for United. READ MORE: United player…

Cristiano Ronaldo might be worth over £400million, but that doesn’t hold a candle to the colossal wealth of the world’s richest ever tennis star. Romanian Ion Tiriac, who hung up his racket in 1979, only made around £200,000 during his tennis career. Although he won a French doubles titles in 1970 and reached the semi-final of Wimbledon, he enjoyed nowhere near the same level of fame as the likes of Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer or Serena Williams. Following his retirement from the sport, Tiriac took up coaching and worked with the likes of Ilie Nastase and a young Boris Becker. However, it was only after…

One of the more compelling scenes in Deadline Day: Football’s Transfer Window , the documentary series released by Sky today, arrives midway through the opening episode when the cameras are allowed to film a snippet of a meeting at Manchester City. Several of the club’s key strategists, including chief footballing operations officer Omar Berrada, are involved and some of the data tools that the club uses can be seen. First there is a transaction tracker shown on screen, looking at the global spend during last summer’s window. The analyst speaking, who is not named, tells the meeting that the market is bouncing back towards…

Real Madrid and Barcelona face off in the 2023 Spanish Supercup Final. This is the second El Clasico of the season, the first after the long World Cup break. It has the potential to be a decisive one, given that the winner could gain a lot of momentum for what’s going to be a tough season ahead. Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy, Kroos, Valverde, Modric, Rodrygo, Vinicius, Benzema. Barcelona predicted XI: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Araujo, Kounde, Alba, Busquets, Gavi, Pedri, Dembele, Raphinha, Lewandowski. Real Madrid have lost Lucas Vazquez to an ankle injury and their depth at the…

Marcus Rashford was Manchester United’s hero once more in a dramatic 2-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday to maintain a remarkable revival in Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge. Rashford’s winner secured a ninth consecutive win for the Red Devils since Cristiano Ronaldo’s last game for the club in November. Ronaldo’s acrimonious departure threated to derail the progress being made under Ten Hag. But shorn of the melodrama surrounding the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, United are thriving with Rashford taking centre stage. The England international now has 16 goals for United this season and has scored in nine straight games…

Real Madrid and Barcelona will face off in an El Clasico in the final of the Spanish Super Cup. Both teams needed penalties to get through their respective semi-final match. Los Blancos got past Valencia while Blaugrana got the better of Real Betis. Now, it remains to be seen how things play out when the two Spanish giants meet each other in Riyadh. Both have looked a bit out of form lately. Real Madrid have seemed sluggish in their recent performances and came into the Spanish Super Cup on the back of a defeat at the hands of Villarreal. That…