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Showing posts from September 2, 2018

Yaya Toure 'cannot wait' to help Olympiakos win trophies

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Former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure has rejoined Olympiakos - 12 years after making his mark in Europe with the Greek Super League club. The 35-year-old Ivory Coast international played for the Piraeus-based side during the 2005-2006 season, scoring three goals in 20 matches. He then joined Monaco, before moving on to Barcelona between 2007 and 2010. After their Gulf-based owners injected huge funds into Manchester City, Toure was one of the key signings who helped the club win three Premier League titles in seven seasons. He played 230 matches for City, scoring 59 goals, but was released at the end of last season after another title triumph. Toure is now back with Olympiakos, although the club have not released any financial details or the duration of the contract. Toure wrote on his website: "It is an honour to be back at Olympiakos! "When I left in 2006 I said I would come back and I am delighted to keep my word. I h...

Luis Enrique's Spain: What can we expect from the new era?

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Spain play their first match since the World Cup when they take on England in the Nations League live on  Sky Sports  on Saturday, but what can we expect for Luis Enrique's new era? The former Barcelona manager was appointed on a two-year contract in July following Julen Lopetegui's acrimonious sacking before the World Cup. Spain went on to endure a poor tournament in Russia, only winning one group game before being knocked out on penalties by the hosts. With Luis Enrique now aiming to take them back to the top, we asked Spanish coach Pep Clotet, currently assistant manager to Garry Monk at Birmingham City, what to expect from his new-look side. Pragmatism and pressing Luis Enrique promised "evolution and not revolution" at his unveiling back in July, insisting he will continue with Spain's traditional passing approach, but there are likely to be some stylistic adjustments. According to Clotet, the new head coach won't hesitate to put his stamp on...

Paul Pogba says there will 'always be talk' about his Manchester United future

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Paul Pogba admitted there will "always be talk" about his future at Manchester United, but claims it is not him doing the talking. Speaking to reporters after France's 0-0 Nations League draw with Germany in Munich on Thursday night, Pogba said it was "always good" to meet up with his World Cup-winning team-mates again. Asked if he was "fed up" with all the speculation in England about his relationship with United manager Jose Mourinho, the 25-year-old midfielder said: "It's not me who's talking. "I'm trying to work on myself physically. I got back late [from the World Cup], so I'm trying to perform as well as possible. "I'm just trying to do my job and for the rest there'll always be talk." Pogba's comments, however, came after he gave an interview to Sky Germany that fuelled speculation about his happiness, and long-term future at Old Trafford. "My future is currently in Manchest...

Mario Balotelli: How ex-Liverpool striker returned to Italy fold

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Mario Balotelli has returned to the Italy squad for the first time in four years under Roberto Mancini. Ahead of their Nations League games against Poland and Portugal, both live on  Sky Sports , we examine how he has turned things around - and whether it will last… Mario Balotelli's stock was low back in the summer of 2016. The striker's frequent misdemeanours had been offset by thrilling performances during his younger years, but after just two league goals in his last two seasons with Liverpool and AC Milan, a career that once promised so much appeared to be drifting in the wrong direction. Two years on, however, and Balotelli is looking up again. The 28-year-old has rekindled his career at Nice following his departure from Liverpool, and Roberto Mancini, his old mentor at Manchester City, has rewarded him with a recall to the Italy fold. Here, we look at how football's  enfant terrible turned it all around. The return to form "We are very pleased to welc...

Joachim Low rejects suggestion Mesut Ozil could return for Germany

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Germany coach Joachim Low has confirmed there is no chance of Mesut Ozil returning to the squad after he announced his retirement from international football in July. Arsenal playmaker Ozil accused some members of the German FA of racism, with Low later claiming he was not consulted by the player before he made his decision. Germany play France in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday - live on  Sky Sports  - with Low attempting to rebuild confidence after their group-stage World Cup exit this summer, minus Ozil. "I think everything has been said about this. When a player announces his resignation like that, you don't pick him for the squad eight or nine weeks later," said Low. "Players who have resigned will not have a role to play in future. He's said he doesn't want to play, he told us his thoughts, I don't know why we should keep talking about it. "He was part of the team for a long time but not anymore, for this team it's over and...

Leroy Sane's body language questioned by Germany team-mate Toni Kroos

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Toni Kroos believes Leroy Sane can be a match-winner for Germany and Manchester City, providing he listens to advice and works on improving his body language. Despite playing a key role in City's Premier League-winning squad last season, Sane was not part of his country's World Cup squad this summer. But after Germany's travails in Russia, coach Joachim Low named the 22-year-old in his squad for Thursday's UEFA Nations League opener against France in Munich -  live on Sky Sports -  and the friendly international against Peru on Sunday. Sane's recall to the international fold coincides with his omission from the Manchester City squad, where he is yet to start for Pep Guardiola's side and was not even named among the substitutes for the 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle on Saturday. "Sometimes you have the feeling with Leroy's body language that it is all the same, whether we win or lose. He has to improve his body language," said Real ...

Luke Shaw admits Jose Mourinho was right to criticise him for Manchester United performances

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Luke Shaw has conceded that Jose Mourinho was right to publicly criticise him, and says the Manchester United manager was key in his return to the England squad. The 23-year-old left-back was recalled to the England squad for the matches against Spain and Switzerland for the first time in 18 months after a strong start to the season for his club. Shaw had previously struggled to earn a place in Mourinho's side at United, with the Portuguese manager on one occasion saying he was asking to be substituted because he was playing so badly. However, Shaw has impressed in playing every minute of United's season so far, and when asked about Mourinho's treatment of him, he said: "I think he got frustrated with me because he knew I could do better. When I look back, maybe he was right. "It was a tough few years but it made me stronger mentally. I wanted to prove to him I can do what he said I couldn't. "I had a chat with the manager before the season...

Liverpool name Divock Origi in Champions League squad

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Liverpool have included Divock Origi in their Champions League squad. The striker's future at Anfield was uncertain during the summer, but no move materialised so he remains on the books. Origi's dad Mike Okoth told Kenyan newspaper  Daily Nation  on Monday that Borussia Dortmund and Valencia "showed good interest but could not match what Liverpool wanted" for his son. Despite netting 21 times in his first two seasons at Anfield, Origi fell down the pecking order after the arrivals of Mohamed Salah, Dominic Solanke and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain last summer. He spent last season on loan to German club VfL Wolfsburg, where he netted seven times in 24 starts, including a vital play-off goal against Holstein Kiel which helped Wolfsburg preserve their Bundesliga status. The 23-year-old Belgium international, who missed out on a place in his country's World Cup squad this summer, featured for Liverpool in pre-season before being named in the Reds' Premier...

Raheem Sterling withdraws from England squad with back problem

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Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has withdrawn from the England squad for the matches against Spain and Switzerland due to a back problem, the Football Association has announced. Sterling had been one of 18 players to keep their place in Gareth Southgate's squad for the first matches since the World Cup in Russia. Midfielder Adam Lallana, goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and defenders Joe Gomez, James Tarkowski and Luke Shaw have all earned call-ups. The 22-man squad arrived at St George's Park on Monday and will train together for the first time on Tuesday. Jamie Vardy and Gary Cahill have effectively retired from international football - although both are available in case of an injury crisis - but Sky Sports News understands that England are not planning on replacing Sterling. In Vardy's absence Southgate named Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Danny Welbeck as the only strikers in the squad. England play Spain at Wembley in the UEFA Nations League on Satu...