Rabiu Ibrahim: I will put up a show that will help us beat the Chadians
comprehensively."
AS Trencin playmaker, Rabiu Ibrahim, has reacted to his call up to the
Nigeria senior national team, calling it a dream come true.
"It's a dream come true for me have being on the edge of the team for
long, but my club career wasn't good enough and I’m happy to be rewarded
with a call up due to my performances for my team," he said.
"I’m not coming to the camp to make up the numbers, I’m coming to show
Nigerians the reason why the coaches called me up and hopefully, if I
get selected, I will put up a show that will help us beat the Chadians
comprehensively."
Rodgers: I'll go if owners want
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said he knows the pressure is on him and will resign if asked to by the club's owners.
The Reds lost 6-1 at Stoke on the final day as Mark Hughes’
side ran riot in the first half, racing to a 5-0 lead and ending the
contest after just 45 minutes.
Rodgers has come under criticism as
the club have failed to match last year's campaign, when they came
agonisingly close to winning the Premier League title, but he insists he
is the right man for the job.
Asked if he understood the pressure
was building on him, the Northern Irishman said: "Yes, absolutely. I've
always said that if the owners want me to go, then I go. It's as simple
as that.
"But I still feel I've got a lot to offer the club. A
lot has happened this year which has made the job difficult, but I
totally understand that."
It was a disappointing end to Steven
Gerrard’s Liverpool career, and Rodgers was dejected after their
first-half display at the Britannia Stadium.
“I’ve got two
apologies to make,” he said. “Firstly to the supporters because it was
nowhere near good enough or competitive enough from any of us
representing Liverpool today. A very, very poor performance in that
first half.
“The second apology goes to my son [Swindon player
Anton Rodgers], because I was supposed to go down to Wembley to see him
in the [League One] play-off final, but I can’t leave here and shoot
away after that.
“There’s a lot of reflecting to do after that performance. Just a really disappointing first half.
“We
were really defensively poor in a couple of moments that we spoke about
before the game, in terms of stopping crosses. We were too easily
beaten in one-v-one situations and that led to openings for them to
score.
“There were some outstanding goals but we certainly didn’t help ourselves.”
The
Liverpool boss also explained his decision to drop Raheem Sterling to
the bench, after the 20-year-old has dominated the headlines amid a
contract row with the club.
"I felt there’s obviously been a lot
going on in the past weeks in particular," he said. "And I felt there
were other players mentally better positioned to play in the game. It
was as simple as that, really."
Gerrard scored Liverpool’s
solitary goal on Sunday afternoon, meaning he finished the season with
nine Premier League strikes and ended as the club’s top scorer.
It’s
the second season in succession their top scorer as departed, after
Luis Suarez’s exit last summer, and Rodgers admitted there needs to be
an improvement in front of goal.
He said: “We finish in sixth
position, which is where we deserve to finish. It’s a big, big summer
ahead. We lose Steven after today and you’ve seen again his inspiration
in the team to get a goal. We’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do.
“I
think it’s clear, you look at our goals over the course of the season
and [the lack of goals] has been the major contributing factor.
“I’ve had to look at different ideas and different ways to make the team create and score more.
“We’ve
taken our beating today. Stoke were better than us, especially in that
first half. Second half we were much better and much more authoritative
in the game, but still we can’t take much away from losing 6-1.”
OSAGUONA FOR LAZIO, PALERMO , BASEL
Nigeria international Osaguona Ighodaro is attracting huge interest from teams in the Italian Serie A.
Before
now the Raja Casablanca striker was said to be on the radar of Torino
and Lazio, and in the last few days a new team has joined the scramble
for his signature.
Footafrica365.com has claimed that Palermo
have come into the equation, with the Sicily based club expected to slap
in an undisclosed bid for the former Enugu Rangers in the summer.
Osaguona Ighodaro has scored 5 goals in 14 matches for Raja Casablanca with whom he is under contract until December 31, 2018.
Football | Barclays Premier League
Thousands flock to Chelsea parade
25 May 2015, 22:36
An estimated 70 000 people took to the streets of
west London on Monday to watch Chelsea show off their Premier League
and League Cup trophies in an open-top bus parade.
Hordes of blue-clad fans exploited the opportunity afforded by a public
holiday to line the route as three buses took players and staff on a
winding tour of the roads adjacent to their Stamford Bridge home.
Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy on Sunday after winning 3-1 at
home to Sunderland in their final league game, having beaten Tottenham
Hotspur 2-0 in the League Cup final in March.
Addressing the fans, manager Jose Mourinho said: "Thank you for
everything, for all your support. Book another place for the parade next
season. I hope we can give you that."
The 52-year-old Portuguese, who returned to Chelsea for a second stint
as manager in 2013, then made an unconvincing attempt at a Chelsea
anthem, singing: "Blue is the colour, la, la, la, la, la!"
The club's Russian owner Roman Abramovich took part in the parade, along
with members of Chelsea's European Youth League and FA Youth
Cup-winning squad.
Veteran striker Didier Drogba, who played the final game of his second
Chelsea spell against Sunderland, was on the first of the three buses.
Long-serving goalkeeper Petr Cech is also expected to leave the club
after losing his place to Thibaut Courtois, but he did not discuss his
future when he addressed supporters.
"We are all blue, so we are all the same," said the 33-year-old Czech Republic international.
But his Nigerian teammate John Mikel Obi led the crowd in a chorus of: "Petr Cech, we want you to stay!"
In an interview broadcast earlier on Chelsea's in-house television
channel, Mourinho warned that his side will have to improve if they want
to successfully defend the league title next season.
"We have to be better if we want to be successful again," he told
Chelsea TV. "The other opponents are not going to accept this without a
fight.
"Next year will be more difficult, but because it's difficult is one of
the reasons why I came back to England. I will enjoy it again."
Football | Barclays Premier League
Thousands flock to Chelsea parade
25 May 2015, 22:36
An estimated 70 000 people took to the streets of
west London on Monday to watch Chelsea show off their Premier League
and League Cup trophies in an open-top bus parade.
Hordes of blue-clad fans exploited the opportunity afforded by a public
holiday to line the route as three buses took players and staff on a
winding tour of the roads adjacent to their Stamford Bridge home.
Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy on Sunday after winning 3-1 at
home to Sunderland in their final league game, having beaten Tottenham
Hotspur 2-0 in the League Cup final in March.
Addressing the fans, manager Jose Mourinho said: "Thank you for
everything, for all your support. Book another place for the parade next
season. I hope we can give you that."
The 52-year-old Portuguese, who returned to Chelsea for a second stint
as manager in 2013, then made an unconvincing attempt at a Chelsea
anthem, singing: "Blue is the colour, la, la, la, la, la!"
The club's Russian owner Roman Abramovich took part in the parade, along
with members of Chelsea's European Youth League and FA Youth
Cup-winning squad.
Veteran striker Didier Drogba, who played the final game of his second
Chelsea spell against Sunderland, was on the first of the three buses.
Long-serving goalkeeper Petr Cech is also expected to leave the club
after losing his place to Thibaut Courtois, but he did not discuss his
future when he addressed supporters.
"We are all blue, so we are all the same," said the 33-year-old Czech Republic international.
But his Nigerian teammate John Mikel Obi led the crowd in a chorus of: "Petr Cech, we want you to stay!"
In an interview broadcast earlier on Chelsea's in-house television
channel, Mourinho warned that his side will have to improve if they want
to successfully defend the league title next season.
"We have to be better if we want to be successful again," he told
Chelsea TV. "The other opponents are not going to accept this without a
fight.
"Next year will be more difficult, but because it's difficult is one of
the reasons why I came back to England. I will enjoy it again."
Monday, 25 May 2015
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Rickie Lambert to be used as 'bait' for Christian Benteke, Gundogan and Navas for United, Ancelotti for Hammers?
Benfica's Nico Gaitan and Eduardo Salvio are en-route to
Chelsea and Liverpool, United are close to a £30m deal for Nicolas
Otamendi, and Arsenal want £60m-rated Lyon duo...
LAMBERT FOR BENTEKE?
Using the word 'bait' in the same sentence as 'Rickie Lambert' conjures
up images of the big man in stockings and suspenders, but a shudder and a
shake of the head later, we concentrate on the Daily Mirror's rather
obvious claim: That Liverpool could use Villa's interest in Lambert to
get Christian Benteke.
The Mirror also repeat the old lines about Danny Ings and James Milner
joining Liverpool on free transfers this summer, but there is no mention
of Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi, who was strongly linked
with a Liverpool move on Sunday.
GUNDOGAN AND NAVAS FOR UNITED?
'Manchester United have agreed terms on a move to bring Ilkay Gundogan
to the club and have identified Keylor Navas as a potential replacement
for David De Gea,' is the headline news on Goal.com, who say that 'Van
Gaal has requested reinforcements in at least five positions'.
Goal's Duncan Castles throws a few other names into the mix - Paul
Pogba, Gareth Bale, Danilo, Nathaniel Clyne, Dani Alves - but there's a
lack of centre-halves on that list. Gundogan to force Michael Carrick
back into defence? It's an idea...
ANCELOTTI FOR WEST HAM?
We would bloody love to see Sam Allardyce's face if he was replaced by
Carlo Ancelotti, who is described as an 'ambitious surprise candidate'
for the West Ham job by the Daily Telegraph. That is something of an
understatement.
West Ham did expect to announce Rafa Benitez, but he is instead bound
for Real Madrid. That leaves them with the likes of 'Real Sociedad coach
David Moyes, Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, former player Slaven
Bilic, who is leaving Turkish club Besiktas, former Swansea City manager
Michael Laudrup whose coaching contract in Qatar is also coming to an
end and Marseille manager Marcelo Bielsa'.
AND THE REST
Watford are considering replacing manager Slavisa Jokanovic despite him
leading the club into the Premier League. Talks over a new contract have
reached an impasse...Swansea City's Garry Monk will not be taking the
vacant West Ham United manager's job as he's set to sign a new long-term
contract...Brentford are set to name Marinus Dijkhuizen as their new
head coach...Everton are eyeing a summer move for Wolves winger Bakary
Sako. Roberto Martinez is also monitoring Brentford winger Moses
Odubajo...Nigel Pearson is hoping the standing ovation Leicester fans
gave Esteban Cambiasso will persuade the Argentinian to put pen to paper
on a new contract.
Promoted stories
Yaya Toure's agent has performed a U-turn and insists his client will remain at Manchester City this summer.
Dmitri Seluk recently claimed Toure was "90 per cent certain"
to leave City at the end of the season, but he has now changed his
tune.
Speaking to Sky Sports News on Monday, Seluk said Toure, who
had been linked with a move to Inter, would remain at the Etihad
Stadium after the club told him that he was "too important to let go."
Toure's
20-goal tally helped City win the Barclays Premier League two years
ago, but last season he struggled, scoring half that number.
It
seemed certain the Ivory Coast international would leave City when Seluk
made his initial declaration a month ago, but it now appears the player
will stay and see out the final two years of his contract.
Toure's
representative made the headlines a year ago when he said his client
was seeking to leave City because the club had failed to honour his 31st
birthday sufficiently.
"There is a big possibility Yaya will leave this summer," Seluk said in May 2014.
"He is very upset. What happened at his birthday means the club don't care about him. It was proof."
City
boss Manuel Pellegrini has repeatedly stated his desire to hang on to
his star midfielder, who moved to the Etihad Stadium from Barcelona in
2010.
The 32-year-old is currently with the City squad in north America on a post-season tour.
Pellegrini's side will take on Toronto FC at BMO Field on May 27, before facing Houston Dynamo 24 hours later.
The
final leg of the tour sees City travel to New York on May 30 to attend
their sister club New York City FC's game against Houston Dynamo in MLS.
Alves to decide after CL final
Dani Alves says he will make a decision over his future at Barcelona
after their Champions League final with Juventus in Berlin on June 6.
Dani Alves: Linked with Manchester Unite
Alves is out of contract at the end of next month and has not yet agreed a new deal at the Camp Nou.
A number of European clubs, including Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, are reportedly lining up free transfer for him.
However, when asked to clarify his future, the 32-year-old insisted he still has to make up his mind.
“All I am thinking about is enjoying the two finals to come,” Alves said.
“I don't want to think about the future - it will distract me. I'll make my decision after the Champions League final.
“I've spoken to the president and told him about the conditions which I need to keep me at the club.
“Whether I stay here or leave, this club will always be in my heart; I've spent the most memorable years here.” Extravagant: Radamel Falcao has been an expensive mistake for Manchester United
Manchester United have announced they will not be signing Radamel Falcao on a permanent basis, and it's not difficult to see why.
The Colombian forward joined the club on loan from Monaco on transfer deadline day in September, much to the delight of the club's fans. United negotiated a £6million loan fee with the Ligue 1 club and took on his £250,000-a-week wages.
For that kind of money, you'd expect some pretty impressive performances.
Unfortunately, they never materialised.
NO EPL FOR OMERUOAND BORO
Norwich City sealed an immediate return to the Premier League as a
blistering first-half display saw them beat Middlesbrough 2-0 in a
pulsating Sky Bet Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Two goals in three first-half minutes shifted the final in
favour of Alex Neil’s side as goals from Cameron Jerome and Nathan
Redmond saw the Canaries return to top-flight football at the first time
of asking, following their relegation last season.
Both sides
rattled each other’s crossbars in a frenetic start to the match, before a
well organised Norwich took the game away a Boro side who rarely
threatened to drag themselves back into the game.
The results
marks a dramatic turnaround for the Canaries who, having turned to Neil
to ignite their floundering season in January, beat a side they had
failed to beat in the regular season with an accomplished display.
The
news before kick-off concerned traffic around the National Stadium as
Middlesbrough were held up en-route to the ground. Patrick Bamford
returned from injury to lead to Boro attack, while Neil named the same
line-up which defeat East Anglian rivals Ipswich Town in the
semi-finals.
And the continuity among the Norwich ranks was
evident from the off as the Championship’s third-place side grabbed the
initiative.
Jerome was the early out-ball and he missed a glorious
chance to open the scoring on nine minutes when he failed to convert
Whittaker’s cross from the right.
What followed summed up the
end-to-end nature of the game as Bradley Johnson’s sent a left-footed
volley crashing against the crossbar of Dimitrios Konstantopoulos’ goal
seconds before Boro repeated the feat as Jelle Vossen rattled John
Ruddy’s goal with an exquisite effort.
The game then swung in
Norwich’s favour as Jerome picked Daniel Ayala’s pocket on 12 minutes,
bore down on the Middlesbrough goal and slotted the ball past the
on-rushing Konstantopoulos to become the first player in Norwich’s
history to score at Wembley.
It was two just shortly after as
Redmond gathered Whittaker's through ball down with one touch before
rifling home with his second from inside the right-hand channel give the
Canaries a deserved two-goal lead.
Shell-shocked, Middlesbrough
struggled to find a way through Norwich’s solid midfield set-up, with
Alexander Tettey and Wes Hoolahan, along with Jerome, penning Boro deep
inside their half for large parts.
However, trailing by just two
goals, the half-time interval presented Aitor Karanka with the chance to
regroup, and they did as Albert Adomah used his pace to get in behind
the Norwich rearguard consistently for the first time after the break.
Bamford
drew a fine save from Ruddy on 60 minutes, after Lee Tomlin had found
the England U21 striker with a disguised pass, and Ruddy was on hand
again to smother substitute Kike’s drilled cut-back as Boro failed to
create a clear opening on the Norwich goal.
Ayala had a couple of
half chances to atone for his part in Jerome’s opener, before his third
header from a corner was blocked en-route to goal by Norwich substitute
Lewis Grabban.
Middlesbrough could not find a way through in the
closing stages and it was left to Norwich captain Russell Martin to lift
the Championship play-off trophy aloft as the Canaries became the 18th
side to seal promotion to the Premier League the season after they were
relegated.
