Bale back in the fold but not fit to face Betis

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane said on Friday Gareth Bale has resumed light training but will not be available for Real Madrid’s La Liga game at home to Real Betis. 

Madrid can register their third consecutive victory by beating struggling Betis on Saturday but Bale remains on the sidelines, as he continues his recovery from a calf problem. 

Bale caused a stir this week by taking the day off on Monday to meet his agent in London, prompting reports in Spain he was discussing a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu in January. 

But Zidane has insisted Bale had permission to be absent from the club and he is now back in training. 

The Welshman was not with the rest of the squad for Friday’s early session but did some running alone with a team physio. 

“He is here with us, he is training and working hard,” said Zidane in a press conference on Friday. 

“He is back from his trip and he is getting better. He is not available yet but he is recovering bit by bit. 

“It seems we should bring him out here to speak to you because I don’t know anything more.” 

Real Madrid sit second in La Liga, a point behind Barcelona and one ahead of Atletico Madrid and surprise high-fliers Granada, both of whom have played a game more. 

James Rodriguez returned to Madrid on Friday from Colombia after the birth of his second child, but he is not expected to be involved this weekend. 

Centre-back Nacho is struggling with a knee problem and Marco Asensio is a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament injury. 

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/34pYUDr

Klopp searches for solution to Liverpool’s League Cup dilemma

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool are yet to resolve their League Cup dilemma after holding talks over the fixture clash between the quarter-final against Aston Villa and the Club World Cup.

Klopp’s side will be in the Middle East for the Club World Cup when their League Cup tie at Villa was scheduled to be played in December.

Klopp had threatened to pull Liverpool out of the League Cup if the English Football League didn’t accomodate them by moving the last eight match.

He has considered fielding two separate sides to solve the fixture congestion, but it remains likely the Villa game will be pushed back until early January.

“We discussed it. We have to as there is not too much time to make that decision. But no final decision yet,” Klopp told reporters on Friday.

“If we did play while in Qatar it would be two different teams but we cannot leave any players at home for the Carabao Cup.

“We have two games there (in Qatar) in a very busy period. It is not that we can go there with 11 players and say these 11 guys play two games in Qatar and the other guys play back home against Aston Villa.

“It doesn’t work like that. We will make a decision but not yet.”

Klopp believes the League Cup needs an overhaul if it is to remain in the calendar given the already hectic demands on the top Premier League clubs.

“It is obvious it is too much. Absolutely obvious. Everyone involved in the game will tell you that. Let’s have a look how they deal with it,” he said.

But Klopp has doubts about whether the authorities are ready to listen to the managers who fear their players’ health is being put at risk by fixture burn-out.

“If you see the schedule coming up it is all OK,” he said. “Premier League: what a competition, sensationally cool. Then Carabao Cup: nice competition, what a wonderful game we had on Wednesday.

“But then there is still in January, after a very busy schedule in December, there is two (legged) semi-finals.

“It is an easy decision for me to say, ‘OK, if you keep that competition why have two (legged) semi-finals?’

“That is the difference to other countries. We are the only country where no-one wants to touch it.

“The FA wants to touch the League Cup, the Football League wants to touch the FA Cup but no-one wants to talk about it.”

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/326NjaK

Klopp hails local hero Alexander-Arnold ahead of 100th appearance

London (AFP) – Trent Alexander-Arnold has delighted Liverpool fans with not only his performances but the fact he is a locally-born player said manager Jurgen Klopp on Friday.

The 21-year-old right-back is set to make his 100th appearance for the Premier League leaders against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Klopp said Alexander-Arnold’s rise to stardom had been in part due to his determination to set himself ambitious goals.

“He’s so young and already so experienced,” said Klopp at his eve of match press conference.

“It’s a wonderful story for different reasons.

“I know that in Liverpool everyone was desperate to have a ‘scouse’ hero making his way into the first team.

“When he made his first appearance he said ‘great, but it’s not about having one game, it’s about having 100’.

“Now we can talk about that, and there were not a lot of bad games in that 100.”

Klopp, whose side lead Manchester City by six points going into this weekend’s matches, praised Alexander-Arnold’s attitude.

“I wish for him to stay healthy and fit, and then the future’s bright for him and for us,” said Klopp.

“He’s a great role model. He’s relaxed about that but feels responsible as well.

“It’s a pleasure to work with him.”

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2N5uwrT

Klopp hails local hero Trent-Arnold ahead of 100th appearance

London (AFP) – Trent Alexander-Arnold has delighted Liverpool fans with not only his performances but the fact he is a locally-born player said manager Jurgen Klopp on Friday.

The 21-year-old right-back is set to make his 100th appearance for the Premier League leaders against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Klopp said Alexander-Arnold’s rise to stardom had been in part due to his determination to set himself ambitious goals.

“He’s so young and already so experienced,” said Klopp at his eve of match press conference.

“It’s a wonderful story for different reasons.

“I know that in Liverpool everyone was desperate to have a ‘scouse’ hero making his way into the first team.

“When he made his first appearance he said ‘great, but it’s not about having one game, it’s about having 100’.

“Now we can talk about that, and there were not a lot of bad games in that 100.”

Klopp, whose side lead Manchester City by six points going into this weekend’s matches, praised Alexander-Arnold’s attitude.

“I wish for him to stay healthy and fit, and then the future’s bright for him and for us,” said Klopp.

“He’s a great role model. He’s relaxed about that but feels responsible as well.

“It’s a pleasure to work with him.”

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2N3jvr8

Jones sacked as manager of struggling Stoke

London (AFP) – Stoke manager Nathan Jones was sacked on Friday after only 10 months in charge of the Championship strugglers.

Jones won only six of his 38 games in charge after succeeding the axed Gary Rowett in January.

The former Luton boss leaves with Stoke languishing second bottom of the Championship after a 2-0 defeat at Millwall last weekend.

Jones made his name by leading Luton’s promotion from League Two, but he struggled in the second tier and Stoke lost 10 of 14 league games this term.

“I would like to thank chairman Peter Coates, firstly for the opportunity to manage this football club and then for the continued support and patience throughout my time here,” Jones said.

“I would also like to thank the supporters for their fantastic support. Finally, I wish the club the very best for the future.”

Jones’ assistant manager Paul Hart and first-team coach Joaquin Gomez have also left the club.

Rory Delap, Kevin Russell and Andy Quy will take charge of the team for Monday’s game against West Bromwich Albion while the Potters search for a new manager.

Chris Hughton, sacked by Brighton at the end of last season, ex-Manchester United boss David Moyes and former Stoke manager Tony Pulis have all been linked with the role.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2PCmIQk

In-form Rashford faces fitness test ahead of Bournemouth clash

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United’s hopes of a fourth successive away win may hinge on in-form forward Marcus Rashford passing a fitness test after manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed he had hurt his knee.

Rashford, who injured his knee celebrating his stunning second goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 League Cup win over Chelsea, is one of three key players who face late fitness tests on the eve of the match with Bournemouth on Saturday.

Rashford, who turned 22 on Thursday, is a doubt along with defenders Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, who picked up knocks late on in the Chelsea clash.

“It’s still early,” said Solskjaer at his eve of match press conference.

“Hopefully we can get them back on the pitch tomorrow (Saturday).

“They had some treatment yesterday (Thursday) and they need a little more treatment today and a light session.”

Rashford has been a pivotal figure in United’s upturn in fortunes.

He has scored five goals in his last five games, with four for United and one for England in the 6-0 win over Bulgaria in the Euro 2020 qualifier last month.

His goals have helped United to an unbeaten run of four matches, a win and a draw in the Premier League plus wins in the Europa League and League Cup.

Rashford has been a different figure to the player who had managed one goal in his previous 12 games for club and country.

Solskjaer has credited the return from injury of Anthony Martial who has served as an important support to Rashford in attack.

“Since Anthony has come back, Marcus has flourished as well,” said Solskjaer.

“He is happier, facing goal, driving at people, taking players on instead of being that target man with his back to goal.

“But Marcus wants to master all the skills in the end. But he has only just turned 22 so I am sure we will see him up front as a number nine.

“It may be as a two with Anthony or as part of a three like we did at Norwich or out wide as we did at Chelsea.

“There are different ways of playing with Marcus.”

After successive away wins at Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League, Norwich in the Premier League and then Chelsea, United hope to round off a run of four successive games on the road with another victory.

The uptick in form has changed the mood around Old Trafford, and Solskjaer believes the 1-1 draw with rivals Liverpool two weeks ago — United are the only team to take points off the leaders thusfar this term — marked a line in the sand.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2WykEtT

Lippi accused of ‘slap in the face’ as China critics circle

Shanghai (AFP) – Marcello Lippi was accused Friday of neglect and delivering “a slap in the face” amid grumblings that China’s coach is not doing enough to justify one of the highest salaries in football management.

Former Everton midfielder Li Tie will temporarily take charge of China’s national team at an East Asian championships next month in South Korea instead of the 71-year-old Italian World Cup winner.

Thursday’s announcement by the Chinese Football Association was greeted with anger by sections of local media, which said that it had nevertheless been long known that Lippi had opted to remain home in Italy for the tournament.

“But this doesn’t mean that this is not a problem,” said a scathing commentary in the influential Oriental Sport Daily.

“However, shouldn’t training the team be his job? Since he holds the salary of the position of the national football coach, he should do the work that the national football coach should do.”

The former Juventus and Italy boss Lippi, who quit as China’s coach in January only to return in May, reportedly earns 180 million yuan ($25 million) a year.

But suggesting that Lippi has little interest in the long-term development of Chinese football, Oriental Sport Daily added: “Lippi neglected his duties halfway.

“No matter whose face this slap lands on, one should follow up with a question — who gave Lippi the qualification and power to do this?”

Lippi is attempting to take China, ranked 69th in the FIFA world rankings, to only their second World Cup.

He has won 16 of his 36 matches in charge over two spells but his reign will be judged on whether he can get the world’s most populous country to the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Tencent Sports was equally unimpressed.

After a World Cup qualifier against Syria in mid-November, Lippi will return to Italy and spend Christmas there, Tencent said.

“The holiday may last for four months,” said Tencent.

“Therefore it is no exaggeration for fans to say that Lippi’s annual salary of 180 million yuan is too easy.

“Coaching the national football team carries huge pressure for any head coach, but it is almost impossible to see this in Lippi.”

China are second behind Syria in their qualifying group following a 0-0 draw at the Philippines in their previous game.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2NusrVt