Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos says he is “surprised” about the reaction to his yellow card against Ajax and the suggestion he earned it on purpose.

Ramos was booked in the 89th minute against Ajax

After a footballing magazine invited controversy by naming the PSG star as the greatest Selecao player since Pele, the Portuguese coach weighed in.

Photo: Getty

Neymar will have to reach the pinnacle of success with Brazil before he can compare to Pele and other Selecao legends, according to Jose Mourinho.

The star forward has already staked a claim to being one of the best players in the world, having dominated Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain when healthy and achieving statistical and team success while a member of Barcelona.

Prior to that Neymar was a standout while playing for Santos in his native Brazil – something he shares with Pele.

However, the forward’s exploits on the international stage have not matched his domestic success.

Though he has taken home Olympic Gold medal and triumphed in the Confederations Cup, success in the Copa America and World Cup have eluded him.

Neymar’s Brazil side famously stumbled to a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germanyin the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup, despite being the host nation.

And while Neymar was absent for that defeat with a back injury, he was present in 2018 as Belgium knocked out Brazil from the World Cup in Russia by a 2-1 scoreline, in a tournament where the star man’s theatrics when fouled grabbed more headlines than his goalscoring.

However, Placar, a Brazilian football magazine, recently named Neymar as the country’s greatest player since Pele, drawing criticism as it ignored other Selecao greats like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Zico and Ronaldinho.

Asked by DAZN about the controversy, Mourinho admitted Neymar is one of the world’s best talents with an impressive track record in the club game, but that his international exploits hold him back when compared to other Brazil greats.

“Neymar is a fantastic talent and nobody can doubt that,” Mourinho said.“He came to Europe and won immediately.

“But I think they forgot players that were the best of the world at some point, such as Ronaldo and Rivaldo, just citing two, and I could remember more. They also came to Europe and were fantastic, but beyond that, they passed through this special situation in a country’s life that is succeeding on the international level.

“Neymar will keep fighting to be on Europe’s elite, where he already is, and this [winning with Brazil] will continue to be a dream for him”

The Brazil star will get another chance this summer to win at a major tournament when Brazil hosts the 2019 Copa America.

In the meantime, Neymar will hope to recover from a broken foot in time to help PSG finally break through in the Champions League.

Source – Goal.com

Defending I-League champions Minerva Punjab have asked the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to shift their upcoming match against Real Kashmir, scheduled to be played in Srinagar on February 18, following the Pulwama terrorist attack that killed over 40 CRPF paramilitary troopers on Thursday. If the match is not shifted or rescheduled, club president Ranjit Bajaj said his side would rather forfeit the match and concede three points.

Real Kashmir beat Minerva 1-0 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. AIFF

“There are bodies still being picked up from the streets. By playing a match in Srinagar which is just about an hour’s drive from where this attack took place, we would be giving the impression that everything is normal when that is not the case,” Bajaj said.

Bajaj also cited security concerns of playing in Srinagar. “Right now we don’t know what the security situation is like. There are curfews all over the state,” he said.

Bajaj said that the nature of his team put them at particular risk. “My team jersey has the line ‘We salute Indian Army’ written on it and the flags of the Indian armed forces printed on it. Minerva is also famous for training Services Selection Board (SSB) aspirants, so we feel particularly threatened,” he said.

He added that he would not be satisfied with a guarantee from the AIFF that it was safe to play the game in Srinagar. “I want a written confirmation by the Ministry of Home Affairs that it is safe to play a match in Srinagar,” he said.

Teams travelling to Srinagar for I-league games have reportedly been provided two security vehicles and 15 security personnel, who travel with them at all times including at night when they are stationed outside their hotel.

With Minerva scheduled to fly out to Srinagar on Saturday, Bajaj says he is hoping the AIFF will reschedule the match. “The AIFF is telling me that they are trying to see what they can do but we are sticking to our ground. If we have to concede three points we will do that,” he said.

Speaking to PTI, I-League CEO Sunando Dhar said they will consider the feedback from the local authorities in Srinagar.”We will see what the local authorities have to say. We will go ahead with the match if the local authorities give us a positive feedback. As of now, it is on, and shifting remains the last resort,” Dhar said.

If Minerva forfeit Monday’s game, Real Kashmir will go to the top of the table with 35 points, although current leaders Chennai City have a match later on the same day. Minerva are currently third from bottom with 14 points, and will remain there if they forfeit.

The I-League had already rescheduled a match in Srinagar earlier this season when third placed East Bengal’s game against Real Kashmir on February 10 was postponed to February 28 due to heavy snow. According to PTI, the Kolkata club have also got in touch with the AIFF after the attack, expressing similar security concerns.

Source – ESPN

Brazilian club Flamengo played their first match since a fire broke out in their training ground and killed 10 academy players on Feb. 8.

Flamengo supporters hold up a poster in honour of the 10 youth academy players that died in a dormitory fire / Getty Images

Nearly 30,000 fans, many with white balloons, banners and flags, attended the state championship match against rival Fluminense.

The game was initially scheduled for Saturday, only hours after the deadly incident, but was cancelled after the tragedy.

Flamengo supporters sang a song to honour the dead at 10 minutes of play.

Survivor Cauan Emanuel, who was released from hospital this week, was filmed crying in the tribunes of the Maracana, sided by family members and Flamengo fans.

The victims were between 14 and 16 years old. Police are still investigating what caused the fire.

Fluminense won the match 1-0 with a goal from Luciano in second-half stoppage time.

Source – ESPN

The Liga title-winning coach was set to see his current terms expire at the end of the season, but moves have been made to retain his services.

Photo: Getty

Barcelona have tied Ernesto Valverde to a new deal for 2019-20, with his contract containing the option for a 12-month extension beyond next summer.

A coach who guided the Blaugrana to a Liga and Copa del Rey double in his debut campaign had been due to see his current terms expire at the end of the season.

Questions had been asked of his future amid the uncertainty surrounding his ongoing presence at Camp Nou.

Leading figures at Barca have, however, spoken out on a regular basis regarding the club’s desire to retain the services of a proven winner.

An agreement has now been reached to keep Valverde in his current post for at least one more season.

In a statement released on the club’s official website, Barca said of their boss: “Since his arrival as coach, Valverde has recorded some spectacular numbers only achieved by a select few. In his first season he won both the league title and the Copa del Rey and in 2018-19 he has already added the Spanish Super Cup to that list.

“In total the coach has led FC Barcelona in 96 official matches, winning 65, drawing 22 and just nine defeats. Of those 65 victories, 43 have come in the league, 11 in the Copa del Rey, 10 in the Champions League and one in the Spanish Super Cup.

“The Barca coach came within a whisker of leading the side to an undefeated 2017-18 La Liga season. Only a defeat late on in the campaign at Levanteprevented the team from making history. The team also scored in 37 consecutive matches in the league, the run only coming to an end last Sunday against Athletic Club.

“In his 96 games as Barca coach Valverde has seen his team score 233 goals whilst only conceding 78 (45 clean sheets).

“Leo Messi is top scorer in the Valverde era with 74 goals, followed by Luis Suarez on 47, Coutinho (18), Dembele (17), Paulinho and Pique (9) and Rakitic (8). With regards to assists, Leo Messi leads the way again with 32 then come Suarez (25), Jordi Alba (23), Sergi Roberto (13), Dembele (12) and Coutinho and Rakitic (11).

“Luis Suarez is the player who has played most under Valverde with 7,026 minutes ahead of Pique (7,024), Ter Stegen (7,020) and Rakitic (6,986). Ivan Rakitic has most games with 89 followed by Sergio Busquets and Messi (83), Luis Suarez (82) and Pique (81).”

Those star names will be hoping to continue figuring prominently under Valverde in the weeks and months to come.

Barca are currently back at the top of the Liga table, but have seen their lead cut by arch-rivals Real Madrid to six points.

The Blaugrana are also into the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, where they are taking in a two-

legged Clasico clash with Real, and are set to face Lyon in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Source – Goal.com

The Chile international forward has endured a tough time since swapping Emirates Stadium for Old Trafford and may look to retrace his steps.

Photo: Getty Images

Alexis Sanchez “could go back to Arsenal”, claims former Gunners star Marc Overmars, with the Chilean likely to be questioning his decision to leave for Manchester United.

The 30-year-old forward made the call to depart Emirates Stadium during the 2017-18 campaign, as his contract in north London ran down.

Arsenal avoided seeing him drop into the free agent pool, with a trade deal put in place with Premier League rivals which saw them take Henrikh Mkhitaryan as Sanchez headed in the opposite direction.

Neither club has found much value in that agreement, with two proven performers struggling to produce their best amid lofty expectations.

Sanchez has flopped badly at United, with just five goals recorded in 37 appearances, and questions continue to be asked of the contribution being made by a man on a lucrative contract.

Overmars, who spent three years at Arsenal between 1997 and 2000, believes the South American may be regretting his move to Manchester, telling ADN Deportes: “I have great respect for Alexis because he did extremely well in Arsenal, I do not know if it was a good decision to leave.

“English football changes you, it turns you around, it took me a step forward. Arsene Wenger arrived a year before me, Dennis Bergkamp made a big impression in England, it was a fantastic time, I think we changed the history of the club a bit.”

While Sanchez enjoyed considerable success at Arsenal, finding the target 80 times in 166 outings, it has been a different story with United.

Speculation has already suggested that he may be moved on by the Red Devilson the back of a failed experiment.

It could be that he looks to retrace his steps, with Overmars of the opinion that a shock return to familiar surroundings could be made.

The Dutchman added: “This type of player was very important for Arsenal because that’s where they take you.

“After Alexis, Arsenal tried to sign another player like that but he was not given, so he could go back to Arsenal.”

Sanchez penned a four-and-a-half-year contract upon his arrival at Old Trafford, with that deal intended to run through to the summer of 2022.

Source – Goal.com

The former Real Madrid defender says that while the Argentine is a ‘great player’, he isn’t able to appreciate his talents as a supporter.

Photo: Getty/Goal

Former Real Madrid right-back Alvaro Arbeloa claims he is counting the days until Lionel Messi announces his retirement and that he doubts he’ll ever be able to enjoy him as a footballer.

The 36-year-old, who himself retired in 2017, played against Messi during his Madrid days, with Arbeloa making 237 appearances in all competitions during two spells at the Bernabeu.

And despite Messi being considered one of the greatest players in history, Arbeloa insists that, because of his ties to Madrid, he will never be in a position to enjoy the Argentine’s abilities, suggesting that he’s counting the days until he retires.

“I respect Barcelona a lot, as they’re a great team with a great player like Lionel Messi,” he told Marca. “He’s very good, although I’ve never been able to enjoy it [watching him] and I don’t think I ever will.

“I hope he retires before long, I’m counting down the days.”

Former Spain international Arbeloa won one league title during his time with Madrid, although it’s Barca that currently lead the standings in La Liga.

Both sides also remain in contention for the Champions League, with Los Blancos aiming to defend their crown as they face Ajax in the last 16, while Barca take on Lyon on February 19.

Arbeloa claims that while he’s not ‘anti-Barcelona’ he even takes pleasure from seeing them lose in training.

“I’m not anti-Barcelona,” he added. “I always want them to lose because that’s good for Real Madrid. Real Madrid fans aren’t anti-Barcelona, but I do hope that they lose in training tomorrow.

“Would I want them to fail to go through in the Champions League? Yes, there would be one less rival.

“Barcelona were always a challenging team, they’re a great team. I always went out to beat them.

“I’ve always seen tension in Clasicos, even seeing Zinedine Zidane with his hands around Luis Enrique’s neck.”

Arbeloa also commented on Isco’s situation at Madrid, with the playmaker having struggled to cement a regular place in Santiago Solari’s starting XI since the Argentine’s appointment.

The former Liverpool man said: “Isco has gone through something he never has had to before. He’s had to play in a position that isn’t his.

“I’m the number one fan of Isco and I hope he stays at Real Madrid for many more years.”

Source – Goal.com

The young phenomenon netted and Angel Di Maria was electric as United lost for the first time under their caretaker boss.

Photo: Getty Images

In the space of eight weeks, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had got everyone at Manchester United dreaming again. But it took Paris Saint-Germain less than eight minutes in the second half at Old Trafford on Tuesday to leave the Norwegian hoping for a miracle if he is to lead United into the Champions Leaguequarter-finals.

Solskjaer’s 10 wins and one draw in his opening 11 matches having succeeded Jose Mourinho, along with injuries to key PSG stars Neymar and Edinson Cavani,had made United the favourites here in so many eyes.

Yet Angel Di Maria and Kylian Mbappe conspired to upset the form book and bring Solskjaer and United crashing back down to earth. The Argentine’s two assists in the blink of an eye and the Frenchman’s clinical finish on the hour were killer blows the home side were never going to be able to overcome. Paul Pogba’s late red card for a ridiculous challenge on Dani Alves only served to make the mountain harder to climb.

United had again gone with a game plan of inviting pressure and exploiting space on the break, and it had moderately positive results in the first half without ever looking like truly taking PSG apart. In those first 45 minutes they just didn’t make the most of good positions in which they found themselves.

Besides Pogba’s near-post shot after a fine burst down the right they seemed to make all the wrong decisions when it mattered. Jesse Lingard dragged a pass behind Anthony Martial as they broke with two on two, while Marcus Rashford checked his stride at the vital moment just as he was destined to receive a Luke Shaw cut-back.

At the other end they were benefiting from the fact that PSG were too often leaving Mbappe to fend for himself, hoping for a bit of magic from the World Cup winner rather than putting numbers around him to keep United on their toes.

While the losses of Martial and Lingard to injury forced a rethink, there shouldn’t have been the drop-off in performance which followed as PSG started to turn the screw. With Alexis Sanchez dropping too deep and Juan Mata unable to add the pacey edge on the right, United seemingly had no outlet and the French champions made the most of their chance to gain some superiority.

After Mbappe had tested David de Gea for the first time, Di Maria swung in a killer cross from the corner flag which saw Presnel Kimpembe get in front of the flat-footed Nemanja Matic to turn home.

And less than eight minutes later it was twice as bad for United. Di Maria got free on the left and delivered a crisp ball to Mbappe, who was able to side-foot home after Eric Bailly had failed to reach the Argentine’s pass.

Everybody had been expecting a wake-up call sooner or later, but this one came on the biggest of stages. It could have got even worse had it not been for a strong hand from De Gea as Mbappe blazed his way beyond the United back line.

Pogba then unsurprisingly saw red after connecting with Dani Alves’ knee with a late, high challenge in the dying stages. He had had a frustrating night up against Marquinhos, and his absence from the return leg will hardly help matters.

One black mark against his name will not be the end of Solskjaer as a contender for the permanent gig at Old Trafford, but ultimately this result came about from United’s inability to adapt to new realities once Plan A didn’t work and their personnel had been forced to change.

There is still a second leg to come, of course, but it will take a huge amount of character to get out of this hole in Paris on March 6.

No team has ever managed to progress following a 2-0 home defeat in the first leg of a Champions League knockout phase, meaning Ole Gunnar Solskjaer really does need to produce a miracle.

Source – Goal.com

Paul Scholes is set to be unveiled as the Oldham Athletic manager at a press conference on Monday at 14:00 GMT.

Paul Scholes retired from playing in 2013 and has since worked as a television pundit

Scholes was cleared to take charge of the League Two club after an English Football League meeting on Friday.

The ex-England midfielder owns a 10% stake in National League club Salford City along with five former Manchester United team-mates.

However, a holding of 10% or less in a club is disregarded providing it is held “purely for investment purposes”.

EFL rules prevent a person holding roles with two clubs at the same time without the prior consent of the board.

Edinson Cavani may miss the first leg of Paris St-Germain’s Champions League last-16 tie with Manchester United.

Edinson Cavani has scored 21 goals in 25 games for PSG this season

The 31-year-old injured a tendon in his hip after scoring a penalty in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Bordeaux.

Fellow forward Neymar has been ruled out of Tuesday’s first leg and the return game on 6 March through injury.

In a statement, PSG said the length of Cavani’s unavailability “will depend on the evolution of the injury over the coming days”.

Speaking on French television on Sunday, manager Thomas Tuchel said: “There is no good news for Edi this morning.”

He added: “There are still examinations today at our training centre, the club will speak a little later, but in my opinion the news is not going to be very good. It will be very difficult for him to play.

“There is a very small hope. We always hope but the first exams are not good.”

Brazilian forward Neymar suffered a broken metatarsal in a 2-0 French Cup victory over Strasbourg on Wednesday, 23 January and was ruled out for 10 weeks.

This leaves World Cup-winning forward Kylian Mbappe – who replaced Cavani at the weekend – as the only fit member of their first-choice front three.

Belgium right-back Thomas Meunier is also out of the first leg, with PSG confirming he suffered a concussion during Saturday’s match.