Barcelona manager Quique Setien is to be sacked on Monday and Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman could be the man to replace him, says Guillem Balague.

Balague told BBC BB Radio 5 Live on Friday that Quique Setien was only Barcelona’s fourth choice to replace Ernesto Valverde

La Liga runners-up Barcelona were humiliated in an 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich as they crashed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage on Friday.

Setien, 61, was hired as Ernesto Valverde’s replacement in January.

However, he failed to lead his side to a trophy in 2019-20.

On Sunday night Spanish radio station Cadena COPE said they had spoken to Barcelona President Josep Bartomeu who told them Setien had been sacked. A board meeting is due to take place at 10:00 BST on Monday.

Spanish football expert Balague says former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has “been approached”, but ex-Barca player Koeman would be a more popular choice.

“The board will meet tomorrow and [Setien] will be sacked,” Balague told the BBC 5 Live Euro Leagues podcast. “They have to choose a manager because in two weeks time pre-season starts – and the talk is Koeman could be the man.

“He said no to an offer in January, but this is different. I think his health situation may have played a part. Discussions may be taking place, we may hear tomorrow, but he will need to separate from the national side so there is still a wait for that to happen.

“He is a name who will, more or less, make everybody happy.”

Former Everton and Southampton manager Koeman, 57, who was appointed as Netherlands manager in February 2018, was rushed to hospital in May with chest complaints but said afterwards he felt “fit as a fiddle”.

Pochettino, who has been out of work since being sacked by Tottenham after five years in charge in November, is also being linked with the role.

According to Balague, the Argentine is in the running but his appointment would not be a well received by the fans, due to his history as both a player and manager for local rivals Espanyol.

Instead, Koeman may oversee a “year of transition” before ex-Barca midfielder Xavi, currently in charge of Qatari club Al Sadd, would arrive.

Source – BBC News

Singapore-backed company Bellagraph Nova Group (BNG) claims it has held talks with Newcastle over the possible takeover of the club.

BNG, co-founded by Singapore-based investors Evangeline Shen, Nelson Loh and Terence Loh, and headquartered in Paris, said that negotiations were at an advanced stage and that the group was willing to “massively contribute” to the club’s development.

A statement from BNG read: “Bellagraph Nova Group’s founders (have) already provided a LOI (Letter of Intent) as well as a proof of funds on August 10.

“In addition to the engagement to the Newcastle Football Club and community, Bellagraph Nova Group enlisted help of England captain Alan Shearer and former player Michael Chopra.”

Alan Shearer played for Newcastle for 10 years before retiring in 2006

BNG owns 31 entities and earned about $12bn (£9.154bn) in revenue last year, according to the company’s website.

The group added that the talks with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley had taken place in recent days and were ongoing.

Newcastle’s £300m takeover by a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium collapsed last month after the group announced it was ending interest in the deal, which was delayed by the Premier League’s owners and directors test.

Mike Ashley has owned Newcastle United since 2007

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said last week that the group, which included Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), declined to take up the Premier League’s offer of independent arbitration to decide who would own the club.

However, Sky Sports News has been told that Ashley is still in communication with the PIF and its partners and is attempting to resurrect the takeover.

The Saudi-backed bid was criticised by human rights campaigners, with questions also being raised about pirate broadcasts of Premier League games in the Middle Eastern country.

Sky Sports News have contacted Newcastle for comment.

Source – Sky Sports

The 20-year-old winger hopes his season-long spell at the German club will lead to him becoming a success in the Premier League.

Photo by Goal/Getty

Tahith Chong says he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne by flourishing at Werder Bremen, after joining the German side on loan from Manchester United.

The 20-year-old winger will spend the 2020-21 campaign at the Bundesliga team and was hailed by sporting director Frank Baumann as a “a talented youngster with real potential”.

The likes of De Bruyne and Serge Gnabry spent a season with Bremen before moving on to bigger and better things, with the Belgium star going on to shine for Wolfsburg before returning to England while the latter is now impressing at Bayern Munich. Chong hopes his spell at Bremen will help advance his career, too.

“It’s definitely in the back of your head when you come here,” he told Bremen’s website. “The club’s history and reputation for helping players like Gnabry and De Bruyne advance their careers is always good to hear, so I’m sure this the right place to continue my development.”

The Netherlands Under-21 international has also been in contact with Bremen midfielder Davy Klaassen and is convinced he has joined a club that is right for him.

“Once it came out that Werder were interested in me, he sent me a text to say that I should get in touch if I had any questions about the club or making the move to Germany and he’d be happy to help, which was really good of him,” he added. “I’d seen him play at Ajax when I was younger so it’s amazing to be playing alongside him now!

“I already knew about the club and how big Werder are in Germany when I first spoke to the coach. The decision was a very easy one. The approach of the club is also excellent so I knew straightaway that this will be the right team for me.

“Having watched games from last season, it’s clear that there are a lot of young players coming through in the Bundesliga and that’s really exciting to see. You can see it here in Bremen as well with players who are the same age or younger than me!

“My main aim to play as much as possible and to help Werder to win as many games as we can.”

Source – Goal.com

They are the club who discovered Eden Hazard, sold Nicolas Pepe for £72m and tempted Angel Gomes to sign from Manchester United.

Angel Gomes, Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Magalhaes are recent examples of Lille’s youthful recruitment process

Ligue 1 side Lille have become masters at developing young talents before selling them on for a huge profit – and Brazilian defender Gabriel, a target for Premier League clubs in this transfer window, is likely to be next.

But what is the secret behind their success?

“We are a destination that young players love,” owner Gerard Lopez told BBC World Service’s World Football. “They know we are going to trust youth.

“Last year we played with the youngest squad in the Champions League, so it’s an attractive destination for a young player.”

Some of the game’s most high-profile players spent their formative years at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, including Real Madrid forward Hazard, who joined the club’s academy aged 14 in 2005, joining Chelsea for £32m seven years later.

More talent has been developed since Lopez took over the club at the start of 2017.

Ivory Coast international Pepe signed from Angers in 2017 for 10m euros (£9m) before joining Arsenal for £72m last summer. In July, Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen joined Napoli for an initial 70m euros (£63.3m) only a year after signing from Belgian side Charleroi for less than a third of that fee.

Lille have used some of the money from the Osimhen deal to buy 20-year-old Canada forward Jonathan David from Gent, another Belgian club, for a club-record fee, reportedly 30m euros (£27.1m).

The club also persuaded England Under-20 midfielder Gomes to move from Old Trafford on a free transfer before joining Portuguese side Boavista on a season-long loan.

Such recruitment has translated into on-pitch progress.

They had not won a major trophy in 56 years when Hazard helped them to the French league and cup double in 2011.

They have finished outside the top eight just twice in eight years since, including finishing runners-up in 2019.

‘He will call me up, literally out of nowhere’

The man behind much of their recent transfer success is sporting director Luis Campos.

The 55-year-old joined the club in 2017 after a successful spell at Monaco, where he signed Fabinho, Anthony Martial and Bernardo Silva.

“He [Campos] will call me up, literally out of nowhere,” added Lopez, a former owner of Formula 1’s Lotus F1 team (now Renault). “He can be in Chile and then he calls me two days later and he’s in the Czech Republic, and he tells me ‘we gotta get this kid’.

“Everyone knows that Messi is good, or Ronaldo, or Dybala. We find players that people haven’t seen.

“We are never going to be Real Madrid or Barcelona. So you have got to find your spot, identify where your strength is – and ours from day one was to say ‘we know for the big, big talent, we aren’t an ending club’.

“We need to be able to spot talent early on so we don’t have to spend 60m or 70m euros on a player we spent 20m on and that is fundamental.”

‘Gabriel is leaving’

Defender Gabriel, who joined from Brazilian side Avai in 2017, is set to be the next big-money departure.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a £30m move to Everton, Arsenal and Napoli.

“Gabriel is young, extremely powerful, currently right now probably one of the two most dominant central defenders in the French league,” said Lopez.

“The way we work is very simple. We explain to him and his environment, his agent, what we are looking for, and once we get those offers the choice is his, like we did with Nico [Pepe] and Victor [Oshimen].

“We are there now, so we told him: ‘Eventually you have to make a decision but we’re not pressing you.’ I think he will make it this week, or next week at the latest. He is leaving, we’ve given the OK for that.

“There’s a lot of competition. He’s a young player so he’s got to make sure he makes the right decision. We help him out a little bit so we tell him: ‘We think this might be the right manager or club for you.’

“He’s got so much talent, he will succeed wherever he goes.”

Source – BBC News

The French side added to their upset of Juventus in the last 16 with another huge result to advance to the semi-finals.

Photo by Gettty

Lyon coach Rudi Garcia was elated after leading his side to a shock Champions League victory over Manchester City, affirming that he got the best of Pep Guardiola when it came to tactics.

Moussa Dembele’s late double sealed a 3-1 triumph for the French side in Saturday’s quarter-final clash, after Kevin De Bruyne had earlier cancelled out Maxwel Cornet’s opener.

After the fury of seeing Ligue 1 cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic – a decision that left Lyon out of European competition for 2020-1 – they have now disposed of two continental giants, having squeezed past Juventus on away goals in the previous round, leaving Garcia in awe of his battling charges.

“Proud of my troops, proud of my players. We believed in us, that we could achieve this feat,” the coach explained to RMC Sport after the final whistle.

“We only conceded one goal and that is due to the team spirit of the group. Moussa was disappointed but as I said before the match, I knew he was going to be decisive when he came back. I am delighted that he scored twice as he had not yet scored in the competition.

“With Pep, you have to expect anything. We knew he could cook up something to destabilise us, but we can say we won the tactical battle. After Leipzig, we mainly wanted to be in the round of 16 and that’s what we had achieved. If we show that mindset, we can do something against Bayern.”

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas was also on top of the world after seeing his side progress to the semi-final against Bayern, telling RMC Sport: “It’s wonderful. We have a group that has transcended itself. We already had good players but the psychological side was missing.

“I am very happy tonight. It’s great to have pulled off qualification against Juve and City. We know that Manchester City are a machine and that they should have passed so yes it is an achievement.

“It is also a huge feat after what has been going on for months with this League which stopped ten rounds from the end [with Lyon] in seventh place.

“We must underline the coaching of Rudi and the will of the players at the time of the equaliser. I think Rudi is a boy who does a good job even though it hasn’t been easy. He knew, with humility and sometimes difficulties, how to do his job and he made sure that this work allowed him this recognition so no, it’s not revenge, it’s confirmation.”

Source – Goal.com

Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has tested positive for coronavirus.

Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has been out of action since July through injury

The France international, 26, has been out of action since July and is recovering from a knee injury so is not with the rest of the Barcelona squad in Lisbon for the Champions League.

Barcelona play Bayern Munich in the quarter-final on Friday.

The Spanish side said Umtiti, who was tested on Thursday, is “asymptomatic, is in good health and is isolating at home”.

They added: “The club has informed the relevant sporting and health authorities as well as tracing all the people who have had contact with the player so that they can undergo the corresponding tests.”

On Wednesday, fellow Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo confirmed he had Covid-19 after the club initially said an unnamed squad member had tested positive.

Todibo, 20, was one of nine reporting for pre-season training and had not had any contact with the senior side in Lisbon. He is also asymptomatic and quarantining at home.

Source – Goal.com

Sergio Aguero will miss Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final against Lyon on Saturday through injury, says boss Pep Guardiola.

Sergio Aguero has missed 11 games since he injured his knee against Burnley on 22 June

The Argentina striker had surgery on his knee in Barcelona in June but had yet to be ruled out of the resumption of the Champions League.

However, Aguero, 32, has not joined his team-mates in Lisbon for the last-eight tie against French side Lyon.

“He is still in Barcelona making a recovery,” said Guardiola.

The Spaniard said he did not know if Aguero would be fit for the remainder of the competition if City progress.

If City win they will play either Barcelona or Bayern Munich in the semi-final on Wednesday.

“Anything can happen, it is a knockout game, but we are ready,” said Guardiola.

“The pressure will be there, but it will be for all the other teams.”

Each tie in the ‘final-eight’ competition in Portugal will be played over one leg.

“It’s quite different,” said Guardiola. “When you play the first leg you have one eye on the second leg.

“But when we play FA Cup or Carabao Cup we are used to it. There are no second chances – you are either in or out. The approach is very different.”

RB Leipzig will face Paris St-Germain in the first semi-final on Tuesday.

Source – BBC News

AFC Richmond revealed the unlikely hire after impressing in the U.S. in a different sport entirely, and he’ll be looking to silence the doubters.

Photo by AppleTV+

In one of the most surprising announcements of the season, Premier League side AFC Richmond have unveiled American coach Ted Lasso as their new manager.

The appointment has come as a shock to football pundits and supporters alike, with some notable names left confused as to why the Premier League side would appoint someone with no experience in football management and no experience in football at any level.

Despite those reservations, Lasso does have coaching experience in a different type of football, having previously taken charge of an American Football team at college level.

He will bring with him experience from his time as a lower-tier Kansas college coach and will be assisted by Coach Beard.

It is hoped that Lasso’s arrival can help get the best out of players such as veteran Roy Kent and bright young star Jamie Tartt.

The announcement was a closely guarded secret until Friday’s unveiling where Lasso was given the opportunity to speak to journalists for the first time and reveal why he has decided to test himself in England‘s top flight, having never coached a soccer team before.

Lasso spoke highly of his new employers and claimed that he would bring a different attitude to the team, one where hard work is important, but perhaps not the most important aspect of coaching.

“I know that AFC Richmond is going to give you everything it’s got, win or lose,” Lasso claimed at his first official press conference.

However, there may have been one eventuality Lasso did not prepare for: drawn games, which is something one intrepid reporter present was quick to point out.

“That’s right, y’all do ties here,” the coach exclaimed, before highlighting the importance of all aspects of player development.

“For me, success is not about the wins and losses,” he said. “It’s about having these young fellas being the best versions of themselves on and off the field.”

Additionally, Richmond have revealed that the appointment of the former American football coach represents a new direction for the rudderless team, insisting: “Richmond are changing the way we do things. That way is the Lasso way.”

Already, both the media and the team’s players are cynical about the appointment, but the important question remains: can the new coach get them to see the Ted Lasso way?

Source – Goal.com

Arturo Vidal claimed on the eve of the Champions League semi-final that the Blaugrana were still top dogs but they were routed by the Bavarians.

Photo by Getty/Goal

With no second leg to fall apart in because of the coronavirus pandemic, Barcelona simply started off as if this were Rome or Anfield, and got worse from there.

The memories of those infamous Champions League capitulations came flooding back as Thomas Muller fired Bayern Munich ahead in Lisbon after just three minutes and four seconds.

David Alaba’s own goal levelled the scores instantly but then the relentless Bavarians scored again, and again and again and again.

The final score was an embarrassing 8-2 to Bayern but, if anything, it was kind on the Catalans.

The worst thing about this shocking quarter-final defeat wasn’t just how Barcelona kept giving up their once-prized possession; how blunt they looked in attack despite boasting the best player that ever lived; how Sergi Roberto gave the ball away so weakly for the second goal; how limply Clement Lenglet was bypassed by Thomas Muller for the fourth; how patently unfit Luis Suarez was; how Semedo was turned into stone by Alphonso Davies; how Barca’s record signing Philippe Coutinho scored two and set one up for Bayern; or any of the many other obvious flaws on display.

No. The worst thing about this global humiliation was how grimly and utterly predictable it all was.

Unless you happen to be Arturo Vidal, quite possibly the one man on earth who thought that this game would go differently.

“They have a lot of confidence but they’re not playing against a Bundesliga team on Friday, they’re up against Barcelona, the best team in the world,” said the Chilean on Thursday, before spending 90 minutes shovelling humble pie after humble pie down his throat.

His pre-match comments raised eyebrows on Thursday; they look plain ridiculous now.

Barcelona became the first team to concede four goals in the first half of a Champions League knockout match since Porto, who shipped five against Bayern Munich, in April 2015.

This Barcelona team became the first to concede five goals in a European match since 1976, when they lost 5-4 to Nevski Sofia in the UEFA Cup.

The Barcelona team became the first to concede seven goals in any competition since 1949 against Valencia; and the first to ship eight since being routed by Sevilla in 1946.

It was the 7-0 aggregate defeat by Bayern in the 2013 semi-finals all over again and could have been worse, if Bayern’s finishing was sharper and their defending better.

After all, one of Barca’s goals came courtesy of their opponents, with David Alaba turning in Jordi Alba’s cross to level the game early on, and Jerome Boateng nearly pulled off a remix of his 2015 tumble as Suarez sent him for a hotdog en route to scoring the Catalans’ second.

However, Barcelona’s defensive ineptitude was on a whole other level. It would have sent shockwaves through the game, if Barcelona hadn’t already displayed such incompetence against Liverpool last season, when they were hammered 4-0 at Anfield.

“If we don’t change we will not beat Napoli,” worried Lionel Messi after Barcelona threw away La Liga, despite leading Real Madrid before the coronavirus stoppage.

Maybe he was hoping ineffective and hapless coach Quique Setien would be axed, but it would have made no difference. This ageing Barcelona squad is largely ready for the glue factory.

Many Barcelona players will be wishing they had gone out against the Italians, in a way, it would have been kinder than having their obvious defects exploited ruthlessly by Hansi Flick’s side.

Bayern, who won 26 of their previous 27 competitive games, are the best team in Europe and proved it time and again in Lisbon.

Ex-Barca midfielder Thiago Alcantara pulled the strings for Bayern and showed off with a couple of no-look passes, including one which led to Serge Gnabry’s goal.

It was a reminder of the Blaugrana’s failures in the transfer market, as was the fact that all three of their most expensive players started on the bench – Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele on Barca’s; and Coutinho on Bayern’s.

His introduction as a substitute late in the second half, to play against them in the Champions League, beggared belief.

The Brazilian scored two and set one up to rub salt into the Catalans’ gaping wounds, which could take years to heal.

The best team in the world? This is a historically bad Barcelona.

Source – Goal.com