Sports

Quick-tempo Leeds will be tough rivals

LONDON • Leeds are back in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years with a style of play un..

Published

3 years ago

September 11, 2020

LONDON • Leeds are back in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years with a style of play under eccentric manager Marcelo Bielsa that is as far removed from their historic "Dirty Leeds" image as it is possible to get.

During a long and varied career, the 65-year-old Argentinian has deployed an exhilarating, whirlwind brand of football designed to not let the opposition breathe – although it risks leaving his own players exhausted before the end of the term.

His teams invariably deploy a high press and attack using quick, vertical passes, with his two seasons at Leeds in the Championship being no exception as he steered them to the title and promotion to the English top flight last season.

For Bielsa, taking the initiative is a sacrosanct principle and he has no time for teams who sit back in defence, or "speculate" as he disparagingly describes it.

The former Argentina coach's influence is widespread, with Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino among those who regard him as their mentor, even if the contents of his trophy cabinet are modest.

Rather than big-name players, Bielsa works better with those who are prepared to adapt themselves to his heavily demanding style, making Leeds an ideal club for his Premier League debut.

It will be the third of Europe's top leagues to experience his system after the Spanish La Liga and France's Ligue One.

While initial positive campaigns at Athletic Bilbao and Marseille fizzled out, leading to his departure, Bielsa appears settled at Elland Road unlike his past clubs and eventual winners Arsenal experienced a foretaste of what is to come during a 1-0 win over Leeds in the FA Cup third round last season.

"They are a nightmare for any team to play against," said Gunners manager Mikel Arteta. "It is like going to the dentist… if you are not ready, you get exposed."

It is far removed from the 1960s and '70s when their perceived win-at-all-costs approach under Don Revie earned them the "Dirty Leeds" nickname as they swept up trophies including the league title, FA Cup and League Cup.

But even if that label no longer applies on the pitch, they still quite like the concept.

"We actually channel that," club chairman Andrea Radrizzani told Fifa magazine. "We want to play great football and we are doing that but we also need to fight every time we go onto the pitch… having that character is important to being a Leeds United player."

LEEDS TRANSFERS
IN

• Rodrigo from Valencia (£30 million, S$53.3 million)

• Helder Costa from Wolves (£16 million)

• Robin Koch from Freiburg (£13 million)

• Illan Meslier from Lorient (£5 million)

OUT

Nil

STEPPING UP A LEVEL

One of the difficulties we will face this season (is when the going gets tough) and we have to show we can continue to play the way we want. ''

MARCELO BIELSA, Leeds manager.

FULHAM TRANSFERS

IN

• Anthony Knockaert from Brighton (£10 million)

• Harrison Reed from Southampton (£6 million)

• Antonee Robinson from Wigan (£2 million)

• Mario Lemina from Southampton (loan)

OUT

• Alfie Mawson to Bristol (loan)

STABILITY NEEDED

You can't build teams with drastic changes, drastic swings of players. Some clear errors were made last time and we will learn from that. ''

SCOTT PARKER, Fulham manager.

WEST BROM TRANSFERS

IN

• Grady Diangana from West Ham (£12 million)

• Matheus Pereira from Sporting LiRead More – Source

straitstimes

Sports

Spain investigates racism in football, after further abuse hurled at Vinícius Jr

Published

2 weeks ago

May 28, 2023

Europe Disk

Prosecutors in Spain have opened an investigation into the racist abuse hurled at Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior as Brazil made a formal protest on Monday.

The 22-year-old Brazilian international has often been targeted by opposition fans in Spain’s La Liga and was once more in a 1-0 loss at Valencia on Sunday.

The game was held up for several minutes and the referee wrote in his post-match report that shouts of ‘monkey’ had been directed at Vinicius.

Valencia FC released an official statement reiterating ‘its strongest condemnation against racism and violence in all forms’ and stating that it would be ‘acting forcefully against all identified persons with the most severe measure by banning them for life’ from the stadium. The club confirmed that the police had identified a total of three fans to date who had racially insulted Vinícius Jr during the match. The prosecutor’s office in Valencia was also investigating a possible hate crime.

Real Madrid said earlier it had filed a complaint ‘in order that the facts be investigated and those responsible be held accountable. The club said the chants, in its view, ‘constitute a hate crime’.

Brazil formally protested to the Spanish ambassador and will lodge an official complaint with authorities in Madrid.

There is growing anger in Brazil, where the lights of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro were turned off for one hour in solidarity with the player.

‘Black and imposing,’ Vinícius tweeted of the darkened statue, saying he was moved and thanked followers for their support. ‘But I want, above all, to inspire and bring more light to our fight,’ he added.

Vinicius has been racially abused at several stadiums this season in Spain. On one occasion, an effigy of him was hung from a bridge by Atlético Madrid fans. Spanish police said on Tuesday that they had arrested four people as part of a probe into the hanging of the dummy.

During the Valencia match, Vinícius stood in front of home fans behind one goal and pointed to an apparent culprit. Play was delayed for several minutes in the second half.

Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea spoke to Mestalla stadium officials, who made an announcement calling for racist insults to stop before play resumed 10 minutes later.

Spain’s government sports council is analysing crowd images to root out the fan or fans responsible. The body has in similar incidents in the past proposed a one-year stadium ban and fine of €4,000 for those found guilty.

On a day of recriminations and soul-searching, the head of Spain’s football federation said the country had a ‘problem’ with racism. ‘As long as there is just one fan, a single undesirable, or group of undesirables who hurl insults over someone’s sexual orientation, or skin colour, we have a serious problem,’ Luis Rubiales said.

But Real Madrid heavily criticised Rubiales, saying his refusal to ensure FIFA protocols – which suggest matches should be halted when racist abuse is heard – are upheld in Spain is exacerbating the problem.

‘His inaction has resulted in the helplessness and defencelessness of our player Vinícius,’ said the club, which hit out at the federation for failing to ‘prevent the situation’.

La Liga argues it has been ‘proactive’ in previous cases of racism against Vinicius.

Vinícius was sent off in added time at the end of the game for hitting Valencia player Hugo Duro during a brawl. Real said the match officials ‘made unfair decisions based on incomplete images’ when Vinicius was shown a red card.

After the match, Vinícius issued a strongly worded statement saying that ‘today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists … The league that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano (Ronaldo) and Messi now belongs to racists.’

Read from: https://www.spainenglish.com/2023/05/23/spain-investigates-racism-football-abuse-hurled-vinicius-jr/

Sports

PSG: Parisian Return Dream For Spain

Published

5 months ago

January 26, 2023

Staff Editor

Long removed from the Spanish selection, Sergio Ramos could know very big news today. The Paris Saint-Germain central defender has been very serious since the start of the season and he could now reap the fruits of his labor, he who had suffered a long calf injury.

Paris Saint-Germain emerged from a 7-0 victory over Pays de Cassel in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. This is the third time this season that Christophe Galtier’s team has managed to score so many goals in a match, after the 7-1 against LOSC in the league and the 7-2 against Maccabi Haïfa in the Ligue des Champions. With this victory, PSG is qualified for the round of 16 where it will find Olympique de Marseille for the 2nd Classic of this fiscal year 2022/2023.

Autumn champion, Paris Saint-Germain is only 3 points ahead of its runner-up RC Lens. With 47 points, the Parisians managed a very big first part of the season in Ligue 1, with a record of 15 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Great news recently fell concerning one of Galtier’s players, enough to motivate him to attack a second part of the season which will be busy in Paris.

Luis de la Fuente in Favor of Ramos’ Return

According to information reported by the AS newspaper, the new coach of the Spanish national team Luis de la Fuente will soon meet Sergio Ramos to discuss the prospect of his return to La Roja! A moment eagerly awaited by the central defender of Paris Saint-Germain who had a very bad time not being called up for selection with Luis Enrique, he who missed the last World Cup in which he could have participated.

Spain have just inherited Italy in the draw for the Final 4 of the League of Nations which takes place this Wednesday. Sergio Ramos could therefore make his return 2 years later, he who had played his last match in the red jersey against Kosovo on March 31, 2021. Better still, the legend of Real Madrid could even be entrusted with the role of captain of the club. team by Luis de la Fuente, who has a lot of consideration for the Parisian number 4. Author of 2092 minutes played in a total of 26 games with Paris this season, Ramos shows his ability to play at the highest level at almost 37 years old.

This article is originally published on score.fr

Sports

Today’s Transfer Market Updates: January 16

Published

5 months ago

January 16, 2023

Staff Editor

Lots of news on this Monday of the transfer market. From Nicola’s bench in the balance, to the sensational victory of Atalanta over Salernitana for 8-2. Market bombs involving Inter and Barcelona, engaged in an exchange. Today’s news will make fans dream!

Mychailo Mudryk to Chelsea

Here we go! The transfer of the Ukrainian player, as already anticipated yesterday, is now official. An exhibition operation, the one that led the Shakhtar striker to wear the Blues shirt. He had already distinguished himself as a promising profile and thus convinced the Chelsea management that the English team decided to shell out 100 million euros and thus beat the competition from Arsenal, who went so far as to offer 70 million euros as a basis fixed and more than 25 million in bonuses, which are not always easy to achieve, as reported by the transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano. The boy’s will has always pushed the negotiation towards a transfer to Arsenal, but the Blues have been very convincing, both with the rich contract offered to the player, but also with the important commissions that will be paid to the boy’s agents. And then there are the requests from Shakhtar to consider, who immediately made it clear that they only wanted to listen to offers starting from a base of 100 million. When Mychajlo realized that Arsenal’s offer was already the maximum of their possibilities, he accepted the Chelsea court. The Ukrainian footballer binds to Chelsea until 2030, a very long contract, which protects the growth of the footballer, who will immediately have the opportunity to take the field and demonstrate his real value.

Bomb From Spain: Exchange Depay – Correa!

Sensational indiscretion from Spain, where many newspapers describe a very advanced negotiation between Barcelona and Inter, engaged in an equal exchange, which would bring Memphis Depay to Milan and Joaquin Correa to Barcelona. A negotiation that would make many fans happy and certainly both clubs. The Dutchman Depay’s contract is about to expire and the limited playing time that Xavi has given him so far suggests that the management will hardly be willing to offer him a renewal. Very good reason to help Memphis find new accommodation right away. There have been many polls, especially from second tier Premier League clubs. A few days later Manchester United came forward, for what would have been a sensational comeback. However, the English club has moved on to other objectives, making Weghorst official. Atletico Madrid have also come forward for the player, having to replace Joao Felix, who is on loan at Chelsea. However, contacts with Barça have shown that, under current conditions, the negotiation cannot take off.

As for Inter, Correa has absolutely not convinced. Last season he was tormented by physical problems, while this year he had much less. Different situation but the performance of the Tucu has never been positive. Performance that led the Nerazzurri management to consider a possible transfer. The investment made to convince Lotito and bring Joaquin to the Nerazzurri was important, but Tucu has never convinced. And taking a look at Inzaghi’s attack, we immediately understand why the arrival of Depay cannot be excluded: Lukaku tormented by injuries, Dzeko who cannot always play as a starter and then Correa who is not convincing. Depay at Inter would be a reinforcement of no small value and Correa at Barcelona would be a good chance to find a different audience, which possibly doesn’t boo, unlike the Nerazzurri.

More News

Verona: Hongla can leave. Salernitana and Cremonese strongly interested in the player. Ballardini signs with Cremonese until 2024. Inter have not yet received any official request for Marcelo Brozovic. Nicola in the balance, the granata management did not take the defeat against Atalanta well.

This article is originally published on calciodangolo.com