Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford says criticism does not affect him, adding “everyone hates you” when you are an England player.

Pickford let a shot from Christian Benteke go underneath him on Saturday, saying: “I couldn’t get my leg out. It was stuck. It happens”

The 25-year-old was at fault for Christian Benteke’s goal on Saturday as Everton went seventh in the Premier League thanks to a 3-1 win against Crystal Palace.

Pickford says the criticism is unfair.

“Everyone hates you, for some reason, that’s part of being an England player,” he said.

“I think the press and everybody, the punters – look at Gary Neville – they just want to come for England players.

“You have got to live with it, you have got to learn. I know what I am capable of and I know what I am good at.”

Pickford’s temperament was called into question last season because of his performance in a 3-2 defeat at Newcastle in March. The former Sunderland keeper saved a penalty but his antics with the Newcastle fans led his behaviour being called “ridiculous and bizarre” by BBC Sport pundit Alan Shearer.

Last season Pickford made four errors which led to goals. He has two in the current campaign.

“Look at Joe Hart when he was number one. He got pelters every week,” added Pickford.

“You just keep it away from your head as the only person who can sort things out is yourself as an individual, on the pitch and in training.

“It’s looking after things on the pitch for Everton that is my main aim. That gets you picked for England.

“It’s funny because everyone raves about you when you are with England but then you get back to your club and everyone wants to slate you.

“As a person, I don’t let it affect me.”

He accepts he made a mistake for Benteke’s goal but felt there were mitigating circumstances.

“I’ve watched the goal. I’m lucky I haven’t done my cruciate (knee ligaments), to be honest. My foot planted. It was a foot save and I have led with my hand,” he added.

“I couldn’t get my leg out. It was stuck. It happens. But I am mentally strong. I’m disappointed but it doesn’t affect us.”

Source – BBC News

The Swedish star put his side two goals ahead at half-time but that wouldn’t prove enough after a shocking second-half showing.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said AC Milan “stopped playing” as the star striker lamented the Rossoneri’s collapse after they surrendered a two-goal lead against city rivals Inter in a thrilling Derby della Madonnina.

Milan’s 2-0 half-time lead was wiped out in a matter of minutes by Serie A title hopefuls Inter, who turned the derby on its head with four unanswered goals to sensationally win 4-2 at San Siro on Sunday.

Ibrahimovic provided the assist for Ante Rebic’s 40th-minute opener before becoming the oldest Serie A goalscorer in Milan derby history in first-half stoppage time.

Milan, however, were unable to hold on against Inter – who produced a stunning comeback to leapfrog defending champions Juventus atop the table.

“It’s difficult to explain what happened,” the 38-year-old Ibrahimovic told Sky Sport Italia after scoring his third goal since returning to Milan in January.

“At half-time we told ourselves, the first 15 minutes going back out there will be crucial, and in that 15-minute spell we conceded two goals.

“We stopped playing, the team stopped believing, we stopped pressing, didn’t pass it around enough. From the equaliser onwards, everything collapsed.

“I think a lot of it is down to experience, because you must know how to control a game at 2-0 up, not just winning at the end.

“It’s strange, because our first half was practically perfect. I expected more from Inter and the first-half performance did not look like a team worthy of second place. They did after the break.”

Inter are ahead of Juve on goal difference after 23 games, while AC Milan are 10th and 10 points adrift of the Champions League places.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli admitted he was angry with his side for not capitalising on what was a fantastic first 45 minutes.

“I am angry with my players, because we had some defensive duties in those situations and the moment we let it go, we were punished,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.

“It’s a real pity, as we were in control and outplaying a strong team, making it look like there was never a 19-point gap between us. We had defensive duties and we did not perform them.

“It was absolutely our best first half of the season, but we lost a derby that we had been winning, and we must build on the qualities we showed in that first half. The match must be analysed on the whole.”

Source – Goal.com

The Spurs midfielder said he had let himself and his club down after seeming to poke fun at the virus that has killed more than 800 people worldwide.

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Tottenham and England midfielder Dele Alli has apologised after he posted a video that mocked the coronavirus crisis on social media.

The 23-year-old was in an airport during the Premier League’s winter break and was wearing a facemask.

The camera was pointed at an Asian man in the departure lounge and then moved to a bottle of hand sanitiser with the caption: “The virus gunna have to be faster than that to catch me”.

Alli deleted the video soon after it appeared and subsequently took to Chinese social media site Weibo to apologise for the insensitive video.

“I’d like to apologise for the video I posted on Snapchat yesterday,” the former MK Dons man said.

“It wasn’t funny. I realised that immediately and took it down. I let myself down and the club.

“I don’t want you guys to have that impression of me, , it wasn’t funny and I realized that straight away and took it down.

“It isn’t something that should be joked about. Sending all my love and thoughts and prayers for everyone in China.”

According to CNN over 800 people have died around the world as a result of the coronavirus and more than 37,000 have been diagnosed with the disease.

Though it started in China it has now spread to 28 countries globally, and it has affected the world of football too.

New Manchester United forward Odion Ighalo joined the Red Devils from Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua in January but has been unable to travel with his new club for a training camp in the winter break over fears of exposure to the disease.

Travel restrictions imposed by the UK government on people who have spent time in China recently mean the club are unsure whether Ighalo “would be allowed back into the country if he leaves again”, according to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Alli has enjoyed a good start to life under new Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho, having scored five times and assisted twice in the Premier League since the Portuguese took over in November following a tricky start to the season under Mauricio Pochettino.

Source – Goal.com

Real Sociedad’s Martin Odegaard scored against his parent club to help send Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey in a thrilling quarter-final.

Real Madrid have won the Copa del Rey 19 times, while Real Sociedad have triumphed twice

The Norwegian midfielder, who is on a two-year loan, opened the scoring.

Alexander Isak netted twice in two minutes, including a superb acrobatic effort, as Sociedad went 3-0 ahead.

Marcelo and Rodrygo scored for Madrid, in between Mikel Merino adding Sociedad’s fourth, with Nacho heading in late on.

The defender’s 93rd-minute goal set up a tense finish at the Bernabeu as the referee played eight additional minutes. Although Sociedad’s Andoni Gorosabel was sent off for a second yellow card, Real Madrid were unable to find the equaliser.

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior had a header ruled out by the video assistant referee for offside in the second half.

Odegaard, 21, who joined Real Madrid as a 15-year-old, was rewarded with a standing ovation from the home fans as he was substituted in the 64th minute.

Zinedine Zidane’s side are top of La Liga and have the best defensive record in the top flight with just 13 goals conceded from 22 games. They were unbeaten in 21 games coming into the tie.

It was the first time that Madrid have conceded four times under Zidane in more than 190 matches across two spells in charge.

“It hurts, we have to be honest, nobody likes a defeat,” said Zidane.

“Despite [trailing] 1-4, we have fought until the end, but it has not been possible.

“We must congratulate the opponent and also accept losing.”

Sociedad, who are eighth in La Liga, have won the competition just twice in their history, most recently in 1987.

The draw for the last four takes place on Friday, with Granada – who knocked out holders Valencia – and second division side Mirandes both in the pot.

Athletic Bilbao took the last place in the draw by beating Barcelona 1-0 on Thursday.

Source – BBC News

Spanish police have arrested six individuals who were allegedly involved in leaking the sexually explicit video of former Malaga coach Victor Sanchez del Amo on the internet.

Spanish police have arrested six people over the leaking of an explicit video of former Malaga boss Victor Sanchez del Amo. Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Sanchez del Amo reported on Twitter on Jan. 7 that a crime had been committed against his privacy and claimed he had been victim of harassment and blackmail before the video was posted online.

He was initially suspended by the Spanish second division club before being sacked four days after the video was released “for disciplinary reasons.”

Malaga’s police cyber crime unit had been investigating the incident.

According to Spanish news agency EFE, three of those individuals were arrested in Malaga while the others were detained in Cordoba.

Sanchez del Amo, 43, announced that last month he had taken legal action against Malaga for unlawful dismissal.

Source – ESPN

The Portuguese icon expected to still be in his hometown instead of aiming to win a sixth Champions League title with Juventus at this age.

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Cristiano Ronaldo thought by the age of 35 he would be a “fisherman in Madeira” and remains convinced of Champions League glory with Juventus.

The Portugal superstar celebrated his birthday on Wednesday and reflected on a glittering career during which he has become acknowledged as one of the all-time greats.

Ronaldo has won top-flight titles in England, Spain and Italy, the Champions League with Manchester United and Real Madrid, celebrated European Championship and Nations League glory with his country, and is also a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Such accomplishments were beyond the expectations of Ronaldo when he dreamed of becoming a footballer.

“At 35? I thought I was going to be a fisherman in Madeira,” he said to Canal 11.

“This never came into my mind. I wanted to be a professional footballer, but I didn’t think I was going to win everything I’ve won.”

Ronaldo first lifted the Champions League with the Red Devils in the 2007-08 campaign and won four in the space of five seasons with Madrid between 2013-14 and 2017-18.

His first campaign with Juve ended with domestic success in Serie A but a quarter-final defeat to Ajax in Europe’s premier competition means Ronaldo’s desire for continental success burns as strong as ever.

“To play at Juventus gives me the chance to win it again,” he added.

“We know it’s difficult, it depends on many factors, but it’s possible because we have a good team.

“We must take one step at a time going forward.”

The Juve star was asked if he has a favourite goal among the incredible number he has scored for club and country over the years. While he struggled to pick out the best, he says the famous overhead kick against his current team in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2018 was the toughest to pull off.

“It’s not easy to pick one [to be the best], there are many and it’s difficult,” he added. “There bicycle kick was certainly the most difficult of them all.”

Ronaldo has netted 19 times in as many Serie A appearances this season, helping the Turin side to a three-point lead over nearest challengers Inter.

Source – Goal.com

Inaki Williams got ahead of the midfielder in stoppage time to head home a dramatic winner for Athletic Club after a testing week at Camp Nou.

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Sergio Busquets refused to blame the row between Lionel Messi and Eric Abidal for Barcelona’s Copa del Rey exit on Thursday night.

A last-gasp goal from Inaki Williams saw Athletic Club claim a 1-0 win at the San Mames Stadium, leaving La Liga and the Champions League as the only chances for Barca to win silverware this season.

Messi had hit back angrily against comments from sporting director and former team-mate Abidal, leading to speculation about the futures of both men – but Busquets was in no mood to talk about it after the game.

“We are just focused on the sporting side of things,” Busquets said when asked about the situation with Messi. “We won in the league at the weekend but it wasn’t to be today.

“It’s a sad day for everyone. We didn’t want to go out.

“We have two competitions left; we have to keep on fighting. We have to continue. Everyone’s angry. We did things well.”

With Real Madrid eliminated in a 4-3 home defeat to Real Sociedad earlier in the evening, this season’s Copa del Rey looks to be anybody’s game.

Athletic, Sociedad, Mirandes and Granada will contest the two semi-finals, with the draw made on Friday.

It will be the first time since 2003 neither one of Barca, Madrid, Valencia or Atletico Madrid will feature in the last four.

There was already a fresh feel to the competition, as the two-legged ties of the past were replaced with one-off elimination games up to the semi-final stage.

“We deserved to go through, but this is the new Copa,” Busquets added. “In one isolated moment, it can slip away from you.

“A fateful ending after all that happened. That’s football.

“One cross has ended up in the back of the net. We’d managed the game well; we knew how to suffer but one detail and you’re gone.”

Barca may at least take some solace from the fact elimination from the Copa clears some space in the schedule for a squad decimated by injuries.

The loss of Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele, and the failure to bring in any first-team players in January have left new manager Quique Setien working with a skeleton squad.

They now move on to league games with Real Betis, Getafe and Eibar, before the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Napoli on February 25.

Source – Goal.com

Premier League clubs are expected to make changes to the summer transfer window to bring it in line with the rest of Europe.

Jurgen Klopp has previously spoken about wanting the transfer window in line with Europe

For the past two seasons, the window in England closed the day before the top-flight campaign began.

However the deadline for most of Europe is the end of August, leading clubs to say they are at a disadvantage.

The matter will be discussed when senior officials of all 20 Premier League clubs meet on Thursday.

The transfer window was moved to the start of August in England following complaints from clubs and managers that keeping it open after the start of the season was disruptive.

It was hoped major leagues across Europe would also bring their own windows forward.

However, that did not happen and a number of clubs found themselves in the uncomfortable position of knowing their players were in demand across the continent but unable to bring in replacements for anyone they wanted to sell.

On Thursday, the clubs could decide to keep the window as it is, but this is thought to be unlikely.

If they opt for a change, it would either be to revert back to the end of August, in line with the rest of Europe, or split the window so it closes domestically before the season starts while remaining open for international deals.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has previously voiced his support for bringing the closure of the summer transfer window in line with the rest of Europe.

“I don’t care when it closes, but it must close at the same time,” he said in September. “They spoke about finishing it before the season starts. Good idea, but only England did it. That makes no sense. It was a good idea but it didn’t work out.”

In addition, the clubs will decide the date for the opening weekend of the 2020-21 season with both the finals of Euro 2020 and the Copa America on 12 July.

Following a YouGov report published on Tuesday which said 74% of fans wanted the video assistant referee (VAR) retained with some modifications, referees’ chief Mike Riley will give an update on the system.

He will present the findings of research aimed at gauging opinion from a broad spectrum of fans, both those who attend matches and others who watch games on television.

Source – BBC News

The Spaniard believes the Belgian’s struggles could be on his new club rather than the player himself.

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has questioned Real Madrid‘s role in Eden Hazard’s difficulties to settle in La Liga.

Hazard secured a dream move to Los Blancos from Chelsea in June last year for a reported fee of €100 million (£90m/$110m).

After questions were raised over the 29-year-old’s fitness in pre-season, Hazard has struggled to perform strongly for Real to date, with a string of injuries not helping his cause.

Currently recovering from a foot injury, the Belgian has one goal and four assists to show from his first 13 appearances for his new club.

Having seen Hazard up close in the Premier League, Guardiola believes the player’s quality can’t be questioned and any dip in form is down to Los Blancos.

“If he’s not playing well, something’s going on at Madrid because he is really good,” Guardiola said on Post United in an interview with YouTuber ‘DjMaRiiO’.

“Not a top player, another level above. What we saw in England… he is world class. But the whole world knows that you need a period of adaptation.”

Hazard was in line to play his first match of 2020 on Thursday when Real Madrid tackle Real Sociedad in their Copa del Rey quarter-final but he has failed to make Zinedine Zidane’s match day squad.

The French manager is eager to exploit the Belgian attacker in seasons to come but is clearly cautious about rushing his return to action.

“We are happy to have Eden Hazard. He had a bad injury and as time has gone he has got better,” Zidane said on Wednesday.

“We are happy to have a player like Eden and we will try to make the most of him during the many years he will be with us. The Madridistas are very happy too.”

While somewhat critical of Real Madrid’s handling of Hazard to date, former Barcelona boss Guardiola admits he misses taking the club on in El Clasicos.

“A little bit, yes. Every year it was the game of the century,” Guardiola said of the great rivalry. “Here it is very different. In terms of the media, it’s totally different.”

The Manchester City manager will get the chance to return to the Santiago Bernabeu in late February when his side tackles Zidane’s men in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash.

Source – Goal.com