SPORT : Simeone reacts as Atletico Madrid terminate Diego Costa’s contract

 

Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, has paid tribute to striker, Diego Costa, after the Spaniard’s contract was terminated by the club on Tuesday.

 recalls that Atletico Madrid on Tuesday announced they had terminated Costa’s contract following mutual consent ahead of the January transfer window.

“Atlético de Madrid and Diego Costa have reached an agreement for the termination of the striker’s contract, which was to end on June 30, 2021.

“The striker asked to leave the club for personal reasons a few days ago and on Tuesday signed the termination of his contract,” Atletico Madrid’s statement read.

Reacting, Simeone said he was grateful to Costa for giving Atletico Madrid his heart during his time at the La Liga giants.

“I am grateful to him [Diego Costa], like all the people who gave us their hearts,” Simeone said as quoted by Marca.

“Diego was one of them, as much from a sporting point of view as from a human point of view.

“We have not seen each other for a few days because Diego did not come to train while he was negotiating.

“Most importantly, we can hug each other when we see each other, celebrating our memories,” he said.

SPORT : EPL, John Terry criticises Chelsea star after 1-1 with Aston Villa

 

Aston Villa’s assistant manager, John Terry, has criticised Chelsea defender, Andreas Christensen following his side’s 1-1 draw with the Blues in the Premier League on Monday night.

Goals from Olivier Giroud and Anwar El Ghazi gave both Chelsea and Aston Villa a point each at Stamford Bridge.

After the game, a fan told Terry on Instagram that he should be “raging” with Aston Villa’s equaliser following their refusal to put the ball out of play while Christensen appeared to be injured on the floor.

But Terry, who spent thirteen years as Chelsea’s captain during his time at the West London club, said Christensen should have got back in position to defend Aston Villa’s attack.

He [Christensen] should have got up,” Terry said.

He added, “Great to be back at the Bridge tonight. Another great performance in the space of 48 hours from the boys @avfcofficial. Rest and recover now for the next game.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard, has since insisted that Chelsea should not have been awarded a foul for Jack Grealish’s collision with Christensen.

Lampard said, “In terms of the Grealish incident, I haven’t seen it again, but I didn’t feel there was much in it at the time, I am not sure whether it was a foul or not.

“I was just concerned as soon as Andreas stayed down that the ball was going to go into our box and we would be a man down, which turned out to be the case.”

SPORT : Man Utd vs Wolves, Solskjaer gives injury updates ahead of EPL clash

 

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is optimistic Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be available for selection when they host Wolves on Tuesday night.

However, the Norwegian will have to make a late call on Victor Lindelof.

Lindelof deputised for Wan Bissaka against Leicester City on Boxing Day, as he missed out with a knock he sustained in a 6-2 win against Leeds a week earlier.

However, the Swede lasted just over an hour at King Power and was replaced by Axel Tuanzebe, who also filled in at right-back for the Carabao Cup quarter-final win against Everton before Christmas.

United take on Wolves at Old Trafford looking to improve their home form and Solskjaer says he is hopeful both players will be available.

“Victor didn’t train this morning [Monday] so we’ll give him 24 hours. He’s still getting treatment,” Solskjaer said.

“Aaron trained with the boys. We didn’t do a lot because there was snow and it was just about preparation training anyway. If there’s no reaction he should be available.”

SPORT : Three clubs Diego Costa cannot join from Atletico Madrid revealed

 Atletico Madrid striker, Diego Costa, will have to pay £23m if he wishes to cut short his contract with Atletico Madrid early and make a move to their LaLiga rivals Real Madrid or Barcelona, Cadena Cope reports.

The 32-year-old rejoined Atletico from Chelsea in 2017 and has scored 19 goals in 81 appearances in all competitions.

However, this season, he has been a peripheral figure, making just two starts in the league after falling down the pecking order behind Luis Suarez and Joao Felix.

With his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, Costa was widely expected to leave in the summer anyway, but it is now believed he is keen to depart in January.

The Spain striker missed training on Monday in order to try to find a resolution with the club.

But Costa has a clause in his contract whereby he would be forced to pay a staggering £23m if he were to join any of the three elite teams in Spain outside Atletico: Barca, Madrid or Sevilla.

SPORT : EPL, How Lampard clashed with Chelsea players during 3-1 defeat to Arsenal

 

Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard, ‘lost it’ in the dressing room when speaking to his players at half time during the 3-1 loss to Arsenal, The Athletic reports.

After a fine start to the season, the Blues have hit a blip recently, winning just one of their last five Premier League matches.

They could now slip nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool if the reigning champions win their game in hand.

Undoubtedly, the nadir of their recent run of bad results came on Boxing Day against Arsenal.

Prior to that win, Mikel Arteta’s side had not won in seven league games and were closer to the relegation zone than the top four. But they went two goals up at half-time against the Blues.

During the break, Lampard raged at the players in the dressing room, criticizing their poor display.

His words did not seem to have any effect as Bukayo Saka made it 3-0 early in the second half. Tammy Abraham eventually netted a late consolation, while Jorginho missed a penalty.

SPORT : EPL, Brendan Rodgers reacts as Iheanacho misses penalty in Leicester’s 1-1 draw with Palace

 

Leicester City boss, Brendan Rodgers, has reacted to the penalty miss by Nigerian international, Kenechi Iheanacho, during the Foxes 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday.

Leicester failed to pick up all the three points against Palace as Iheanacho fired a first half spot kick into the hands of goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

The Super Eagles star, who has not scored for Leicester since July 2020, wasted the chance to put the Foxes 1-0 ahead in the 18th minute.

Ivorian Wilfried Zaha scored for the home side in the 58th minute through a counter attack before Harvey Barnes restored parity seven minutes from time.

Rodgers, however, defended the Nigerian forward, insisting that Iheanacho had done very well during training before the trip to the game.

“I said at half time, it was one you have to let go of,” Rodgers told Amazon Prime

“He practised yesterday and hit five out of five, so he was confident, but it is just one of those things.”

SPORT : Why I fight with my son – Cristiano Ronaldo

 

Juventus superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he always fights with his 10-year-old son over what he, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. eats

Ronaldo said he would allow his son do whatever he decides to do in future and will never force him to pursue a career as a footballer.

The Portuguese star, however, said that it irks him when his son drinks Coca-Cola!

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates with his family at the Globe Soccer Awards.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was awarded the ‘Player of the Century’ at the event for his outstanding performance in the last 20 years.

“I’m hard with him sometimes because he drinks Coca-Cola and Fanta sometimes and I’m pissed with him,” Ronaldo said in an interview after picking up the award in Dubai.

“I fight with him when he eats chips and fries and everything, he knows I don’t like it. I tell him every time, it takes a lot of dedication, a lot of hard work.

“I’m not gonna push nothing for him to be a football player….”