Premier League club Aston Villa has sacked manager Steven Gerrard following Thursday’s 3-0 Premier League defeat at Fulham.
A club spokesman said: “We would like to thank Steven for his hard work and commitment and wish him well for the future.”
Villa have won just twice in the league this season and only sit above the relegation zone on goals scored.
Details to follow…
Manchester United striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, has explained why he walked off inside the tunnel before the final whistle during his team’s 2-0 win over Premier League rival, Tottenham on Wednesday night.
In an interview, he was asked “Cristiano, why did you walk off inside the tunnel before the final whistle tonight?”
“Georgina called me and said if I’m not home by 11 PM, she will lock the door and I’ll sleep outside,” Ronaldo responded.
Meanwhile. Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag, has clarified his decision to leave Ronaldo on the bench during his recent Premier League match.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had earlier reported that Ronaldo, who was an unused substitute in the game at Old Trafford, left the bench and walked down the tunnel with a few minutes to the end of the match to the amazement of the fans of the Manchester club.
Ten Hag picked English striker, Marcus Rashford, over the 37-year-old Portuguese international, even though Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Antonio Conte’s men in the same fixture last season.
It came as a surprise to see the Portuguese benched but Erik ten Hag insisted it was the right call.
He went on to claim he picked players who will be able to carry out his plan given the way Tottenham plays.
“We are building for the future, but the future is tonight,” the United boss told Amazon.
“You pick the line-up that you think has the most chance to win, and you have a game plan. Cristiano [Ronaldo] is an important player and he can make a goal.
“I have to deal with all the players’ expectations and I have to deal with developing this team. You have to make a game plan.
“This is a good Tottenham team, a compact, transition team with high intensity and I think this is the best way to start like this. You get more runs behind, more dynamic up front.”
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 14 goals in 20 games against Tottenham Hotspurs in his career.
Manchester United on Wednesday evening defeated third-placed Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 with goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes, which placed them in fifth place in the Premier League table.
This was as Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, angrily walked away from the pitch and entered the dressing room before the end of the game after Man Utd manager. Erik ten Hag, conducted the mandatory substitutions without bringing him on.
Man Utd manager made just one change from the team that drew with Newcastle at the weekend, with Cristiano Ronaldo replaced by the fit-again England international, Marcus Rashford.
Fernandes was at the heart of everything good that came out of United’s build-up play and it really looked like he finally found himself in his new role.
Under Ten Hag, the Portuguese midfielder has played in a somewhat more reserved role and is not as involved in the penalty area.
His beautiful right-footed curler gave United the platform to comfortably stroll around for the final 20 minutes and after the game, it has now been revealed that Fernandes set a new record in the Premier League this season.
According to the statistical website WhoScored, Fernandes strung together a whopping nine key passes against Tottenham, a new record in a Premier League match this season. In addition to his goal, he had another strike ruled out after being marginally offside.
Collectively, it was a masterful team performance but Fernandes’ personal efforts helped set the tone and Ten Hag will now be hoping for another three points on Saturday.
Erik ten Hag, after the game, described Spurs as a “magnificent team” in a show of respect for the good job the latter’s manager has done.
In his words: “Against a magnificent Tottenham we played very well. Games don’t always go like this- they are not always easy. Today was a brilliant performance and we could have scored three or four goals. I am happy. From a good defense we are very proactive in pressing. That is a base to win games.”
Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga has opened up on his ‘difficult’ start to life as a Gunner.
The defensive midfielder looked the real deal in the very early parts of last season, but his form dipped as the season progressed.
He has struggled to make an impact on the first-team this season, with the Gunners top of the Premier League.
“Honestly, it’s difficult. I’m at one of the best clubs in England. I could have played somewhere else every weekend, but that wouldn’t have been the right solution for me,” said Lokonga, per The Metro.
“I develop better with 20 minutes of playing time at Arsenal than always playing elsewhere but always winning with 3-0 or 4-0. It’s a personal decision [to stay at Arsenal].
“I wanted to give myself another year to stay at Arsenal and then see what happens. I think I have the qualities to succeed here.
“Last season, I didn’t perform at my best level. I still have things to prove.”
Lokonga added: “At the end of last season, I almost snapped. I called my agent to ask him if staying at Arsenal was a good idea. He comforted me in my choice, even though I know I need to start more often to develop.”
Liverpool player James Milner admits he expected Manchester City striker Erling Haaland to join Leeds United.
The pair faced-off yesterday as the Reds defeated Leeds.
Milner told Viaplay afterwards: “I can confirm that he said he would sign for Leeds a few years ago when we played against him (when Haaland was in Red Bull Salzburg).
“He obviously lied, so it’s disappointing.”
The pair did catch up yesterday: “We had a little chat, yes.”
Manchester City ace Kevin de Bruyne has warned teammates of a backlash from Liverpool today.
City’s brilliant Belgian midfielder – a Liverpool fan as a kid – insists Pep Guardiola’s champions still view the Merseysiders as the team to beat despite being 13 points better off than Jurgen Klopp’s side.
He said: “They (Liverpool) are a brilliant team and have the quality to hurt you at any time during a game. Winning 7-1 away from home at Rangers in a very tough competition on Wednesday shows how dangerous they are.
“When you play against top players, they will always be a threat. But I am sure they think the same about us. They have had a few injuries and a few difficult results so far this season, but it will be a challenging and intense game on Sunday – like it always is against them. We are really looking forward to it.
“Liverpool have a top side and we are under no illusions that Sunday is going to be a huge test for us. It is true that they haven’t quite reached the same level as previous seasons so far, but they are so dangerous and have so much quality all over the field. We have started the season really well, so our focus is on our performance and to try to ensure that we continue our good form.
“Anfield is always a tough place to go, but we have won there before and have come close to winning on numerous occasions.”
Phil Foden has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City, the English Premier League (EPL) champions announced on Friday.
The 22-year-old England midfielder, a boyhood Manchester City fan and the crown jewel of the club’s modern academy system, is now committed to the Etihad Stadium outfit until 2027.
Born in Stockport, Foden has made 182 first-team appearances and scored 52 goals since being handed his debut by Pep Guardiola in 2017.
He has already won 11 trophies in his burgeoning career, including four Premier League titles, and has been the PFA’s Young Player of the Year for the past two seasons.
His new deal supersedes a previous one due to expire in 2024.
“It’s hard to put into words how happy I am to have signed this contract,” said Foden. “It’s a dream come true.
“I have been a Manchester City fan all my life. I’ve trained here for so many years and I’ve even been a ball boy.
“I love this club so much. So, to know I am going to be a part of it until 2027 feels amazing.”
Foden feels he owes a lot of his success to Guardiola, Manchester City’s inspirational manager.
“Amazing, unbelievable,” said Foden of the Spaniard. “I think he’s made me 10 times the player I was.
“He’s improved all aspects of my game and I’m just thankful to have him here and I’m enjoying my football with him.”
Foden, who has earned 18 England caps and is poised to play a role in the upcoming Qatar FIFA World Cup, has been in fine form this season.
He has netted seven goals this term, including a first senior hat-trick in the 6-3 derby thrashing of Manchester United earlier this month.
“I don’t think anything beats it. It’s definitely been one of my favourite moments in my career,” said Foden.
“This year I’ve been scoring a lot more goals. So, hopefully I can keep going in that direction.”
Foden is seen as a natural for a central playmaking role but he has also proved highly effective in attacking roles across the front line.
He said: “At the moment I enjoy playing off the right and left. My preferred position is obviously midfield but I can do those other jobs as well.
“It’s just nice to know I can play different positions and do a job for the team.”
Manchester City have high hopes for the future with Foden.
The club’s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, said: “We are all so proud of Phil and what he has achieved already —- but we know there is so much more to come.
“His natural talent and ability are obvious, but his hard work, professionalism and dedication make him really special.
“We feel he can progress further and become even better.
“By signing this contract, he now has stability and can focus absolutely everything on becoming one of the best players in the world.”
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says he’s planning the season around Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ten Hag was happy seeing Ronaldo score the winner at Everton on Sunday.
The Dutchman said: “I want to support him as much as possible. We have a certain demand on players, what we expect from them, in certain positions on the pitch.
“But I want to get the best out of him, he is getting into better shape now and he can contribute more to the squad.”
Ten Hag also commented on Anthony Martial’s injury setback.
He added: “I want every player available, sometimes it is disappointing when they are not. I know we need him with all the games coming up.
“But when players aren’t available, it is about dealing with the situation. It is about the players who are available.”
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp felt there were positives he could take from his team’s defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League.
The Reds were defeated 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium by the high-flying, table-topping Gunners on Sunday.
Despite equalizing twice after going behind, Liverpool could not find a third equalizer in the contest.
Post-game, Klopp said on their performance, per the club website: “Yes. Very disappointed. I think around all three goals we made decisive mistakes. The first goal was definitely too early and in our situation it was obviously not what you need to get a foot in the game. I understand it a little bit because it’s a situation where we pass the ball forward, lose it and have a chance to win it back, Diogo nearly blocks the ball and if he can block the ball then I think we go the other way. But he can’t block the ball, the first ball plays through our lines and there we have to interrupt the game – whoever I don’t know exactly, I have to look at it back – because the moment when Odegaard can [play] this pass, this pass is not to defend anymore, it’s just not possible.
“1-0 down, really bad start but started controlling the game, played a really good game against a very aggressive, full-of-confidence Arsenal side. But we really showed that we are here for a reason. We scored the equaliser, a wonderful goal, great play, and open game, could go either way I think with advantages for us, more possession, more finishes, these kind of things. Then we make a bad decision before half-time with the free-kick and that’s the situation where you ignore a free-kick – I’m completely guilty for that. That’s an excuse from my side, you can say I was surprised… ‘Yeah, what are we doing?’ But then the boys are convinced, ‘Let’s score a goal.’ But we didn’t, we conceded one on the other end. Like after the worst possible start, now we had the worst possible end to the first half.
“I told the boys that we have to try to obviously cut off the two goals and build on the good stuff. But that means you have to play football again and that’s what we didn’t do. Yes, Arsenal came out again very aggressive, man v man against Hendo and Thiago, but we were not flexible enough anymore in the front line – so didn’t drop in the right moments, didn’t offer half-spaces, apart from the goal from where we did that obviously particularly well. Then we scored the equaliser and now it’s a really open game I think with, again, a slight advantage for us but then the penalty happens.
“What can I say now about that situation? So, he thought immediately it’s a penalty, which is interesting but his decision. Mr England had a look at it and thought as well it’s a penalty. How we know in life, if two refs think the same then it’s the truth we have to live with. But if I see the situation back, if there was contact – I am not sure there was contact, but there might have been soft contact, of course – but the player goes again on both feet and then down, that’s an indication that something might have been made up – but not for the refs. But they thought it’s a clear not a handball in the first half when Diogo put the ball on Gabriel’s arm – we cannot change that. Our situation is now obviously a really difficult one but it’s already difficult enough with injuries now on top of that but if in a game like this these decisions go against you, it’s kind of typical but it doesn’t help. Now we have lost the game with a lot of good moments – again, not to forget. The team in form played against the team not in form pretty much, and we played some good stuff and could have got a result. I think a draw would have been a deserved result but now we have to deal with that and that’s fine.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he accepts he’ll eventually be sacked which is the biggest fear as a team coach.
The Spaniard, 40, has turned things around at the Emirates having been one of the favourites to get the chop last season.
But Arteta says losing his job is inevitable.
Speaking on Michael Calvin’s Football People podcast, Arteta said: “As a manager, probably it’s the (biggest) fear of getting sacked.
“I made a very conscious decision the day I made the decision to become a coach – I said: ‘It will happen. Today, tomorrow, in a month’s time, in ten years time. I don’t know when it will happen.’
“That cannot drive my emotion and this cannot be the reason why I do certain things or not.
“For me now the fear is to let people down.”
The feel-good factor is back at Arsenal, something that has been absent since the departure of legendary boss Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal are unified both on and off the pitch – something a long-serving staff member told Arteta.
They told the Gunners boss: “I’ve never seen this before.
“I have never felt that unity across the club, with our supporters.”