Football News: Review Of The Day 29th April 2019
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Review of the Day
Bolton Game To Take Place This Week
Despite current Bolton Wanderers owner Ken Anderson saying he would look elsewhere for a buyer if intended buyer Laurence Bassini does not produce proof of funds today, Bassini has said he expects the deal to go through and has also said the postponed match against Brentford will take place this week. The EFL has yet to confirm a date for the rearranged fixture.
Smith Praises Bielsa's Sportsmanship
Despite giving up the win which would have kept their hopes of automatic promotion alive, Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has praised Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa for his sportsmanship in ordering his players to gift Villa an equaliser after they took the lead in controversial circumstances. Leeds had scored while Villa wanted them to put the ball out for an injury to one of their players. Smith said: "Full respect to Marcelo for doing that. I think sportsmanship has prevailed in the end."
Blades Return To Prem
After Leeds drew with Villa on Sunday they blew their hopes of automatic promotion, meaning that Sheffield United were able to celebrate promotion. They have joined Norwich City in the automatic promotion spots. They still have very slim hopes of the title, if Norwich lose on the final day and they beat Stoke City it would give them the title.
Sarri Hopes Higuain Will Stay
Chelsea's head coach Maurizio Sarri has said he expects on-loan srtiker Gonzalo Higuain to stay on for next season, despite the huge cost involved in a loan or permanent deal with his parent club Juventus for the 31 year old Argentine. Sarri replied, when asked if Higuain was staying: "In theory, yes. It's difficult to adapt to the Premier League. I think in the next season he will be able to score a lot. For a striker it is difficult to get used to the Premier League. I remember Suarez at Liverpool in [his] first season only scored three goals, then 16, then 24."
Van Dijk Gets Player Of The Year
Liverpool's Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk has won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award. The 27 year old beat Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Sergio Aguero, Sadio Mane and Eden Hazard in a vote by fellow players. Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling did manager to win the award for young player of the year, despite being 24 years old now.
Schalke Hit Out At Fans Banner
Schalke have released a statement criticising their fans for displaying a banner making fun of the bomb attack on Borussia Dortmund's team bus in 2017: "During yesterday's match, a small section of Schalke fans displayed a banner - as they did in the reverse fixture - making fun of the 2017 bomb attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus. As a reminder: we are referring to cowardly attempt to murder people, in which fortunately there were no deaths. We are stunned by this distasteful display and have already apologised to Borussia Dortmund. Rivalry belongs to the Revierderby, as does respect. We expect such derogatory verbal attacks to stop moving forward. There is no place for this at FC Schalke 04."
Hazard Set For Dortmund
Borussia Monchengladbach winger Thorgan Hazard has revealed an agreement to join Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Hazard told VTMNIEUWS: "I have a personal agreement with Borussia Dortmund. I have talked to them. It's now between the clubs. It takes time. They are in talks."
Allegri Loses It With Critic
Juventus' manager Massimiliano Allegri walked out of an interview with Sky Sports Italia after being criticised by former Italian international Daniele Adani. Adani has been heavily critical of Italian coaches in Europe and Allegri hit back: ""Against Ajax, we suffered with their counter-attacks, not their style of football, and that made it look as if they had an extraordinary game, whereas they were better in Amsterdam. The same goes for tonight, it's natural that when you misplace a lot of passes, you run risks. Sometimes you need to improvise and the idea you had in July has to change completely. There is a difference between playing well and winning, but it's not as small as it seems. In Italy, everyone has become a theorist of football and that is a real problem, like you reading your books. Now you shut up and I'll talk, you don't know anything about football. You just sit there behind the desk, you read your books, but you don't know anything about the practicality of the sport. I've won six Scudetti, I'm the coach, I'm talk, shut up." Then he threw the earpiece to the ground and stormed off.
Rakitic Wants Barca Stay
Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic has said in an interview he wants to sty with Barcelona: "I want nothing but Barcelona. I don't want to go anywhere else. I hope the club, the president, the coach and the fans see it like me and I hope the time comes when they will tell me that I will stay here for another three years. I wish I could say that I already have another three years of contract and that I will stay here, but in football anything can happen."
Napoli Fans Reject Shirt
Napoli midfielder Jose Callejon had his gift rejected at the weekend despite Napoli's win over Frosinone. As Napoli fans chanted "We deserve more", Callejon, who had just completed his 300th appearance for the club, threw his shirt to the ultras, only for them to refuse it.
Written by Tris Burke April 29 2019 06:59:14
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