SPORT : Transfer, Diego Costa’s contract with Atletico Madrid terminated

 

Diego Costa’s contract with Atletico Madrid has been terminated by mutual consent ahead of the January transfer window.

Atletico Madrid confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday.

“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,” Atletico Madrid’s statement read.

“The striker asked to leave the club for personal reasons a few days ago and on Tuesday signed the termination of his contract.

“The club thanks Diego Costa for his dedication during these years and wishes him well in the next stage of his professional career.”

Costa, 32, had asked Atletico Madrid to terminate his contract early due to personal reasons.

The former Chelsea striker whose deal with the La Liga giants was due to expire in June 2021, will be able to join a new team as a free agent in January.

SPORT : EPL, Second lockdown looms after record-high number of COVID-19 cases

 

The Premier League has recorded its highest number of positive Coronavirus results of the season, with 18 new cases.

These new cases are from the 1,479 players and club staff tested between December 21 and 27.

Some of those cases are at Manchester City and the outbreak saw their game at Everton called off on Monday.

Before Tuesday, the highest number of cases this season was 16, during the week of November 9 to 15.

“The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday 21 December and Sunday 27 December, 1,479 players and Club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, there were 18 new positive tests.

“Players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days.

“The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency. No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and results will be made public after each round of testing,” a Premier League statement read.

SPORT : EPL, Michael Owen predicts Man United vs Wolves, Brighton vs Arsenal

 Michael Owen, a former Liverpool forward, has predicted Manchester United to beat Wolves 1-0 when both teams clash in the Premier League on Tuesday night at Old Trafford.

Owen also predicted that Brighton and Arsenal would play a draw at the Amex Stadium tonight.

Providing his predictions, Owen told BetVictor, “Manchester United are brimming with confidence.

“Their patchy home form was given a massive boost in their demolition of Leeds just over a week ago. They take on a Wolves side who despite looking good going forward, are struggling in front of goal.

“I think Wolves could sit in and play for a point, but if they do, Man United may just have enough to break them down. Man United 1, Wolves 0.”

Speaking on the Brighton vs Arsenal match, Owen said, “Both these sides could do with a win.

“We all know about Arsenal’s troubles, but Brighton is not doing much better. The Seagulls have slid down the league table and despite looking good at times, there have been too many slip-ups.

“Despite both teams being out of form, I think both managers will fancy winning this. That said, it is hard to make a case for either side, and I would not be surprised at all if it ended all square. Brighton 1, Arsenal 1.”

The kick-off time for Man United vs Wolves is 9 pm, while that of Brighton vs Arsenal is 7 pm.

SPORT : Interesting features, match statistics as Chelsea fails to win at home against Aston Villa

 Chelsea faltered at Stamford bridge after they were held to a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Monday night football.

It was a game the Blues needed to win to move into the Premier League top four but they let in a goal later on to share the spoils in the London Derby contest.

Lampard was unhappy with his sides’ draw with Aston Villa and they would be looking forward to the next games on Match Day 17.

Following the 1-1 draw on Monday Night Football, DAILY POST evaluates the interesting features and match statistics as Chelsea fails to record the win.

Shots on target

5 (Chelsea) (Aston Villa) 3

The encounter between two London side ensured that the match lived up to the billing in the final third.

Chelsea had the upper hand in the game unlike the visiting Aston Villa had in the game.

They recorded 5 shots on target compared to the 3 shots on target that Aston Villa had in the game.

Shots Off Target

8 (Chelsea) (Aston Villa) 6

The Blues may have had the upper hand in the tie over the visiting Villa side but it was clear here that Chelsea missed a lot of chances in the game.

It led to their misery as they endured another 1-1 draw at home. They had 8 shots off target while Aston Villa had 6 shots off target.

POSSESSION

6 (Chelsea) (Aston Villa) 36

Chelsea dominated the game as they faced up with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. They had 64% of the ball compared to Aston Villa’s 36% of the possession in the 90-minute affair.

However, Chelsea could not make it count as they allowed Aston Villa back in the game.

Corners

11 (Chelsea) (Aston Villa) 4

Chelsea’s intensity in the final third ensured they had 11 corner-kicks in the match. Though Aston Villa managed to produced about 4 corner-kicks of their own in the game.

Offsides

1(Chelsea) (Aston Villa) 1

The Blues and their Aston Villa counterpart were guilty of one offside call apiece in the entire duration of the game.

Chelsea was drawn out of position especially when their second goal was ruled out for offside. While Dean Smith’s men lost their cool when they went in search of an equalizer.

Fouls

16(Chelsea) (Aston Villa) 3

The physical challenges that took place in this match showed that Chelsea committed a large number of fouls in the match.

The match culminated into 16 + 3 – 19 fouls in the entire match. But it was the home side that recorded 16 fouls as regards to Aston Villa 3 fouls in the match.

Yellow Card

3 (Chelsea) (Aston Villa) 1

The match produced a total of 4 Yellow cards in the match but Chelsea had 3 bookings. Aston Villa Anwar EL-Ghazi was given a yellow card in the 71st minute.

While Chelsea’s trio of Cesar Azpilicueta, Olivier Giroud and N’Golo Kante was booked in the 45th, 71st and 74th minute of the game respectively.

Goalkeeping Saves

2 (Chelsea) (Aston Villa) 4

Despite the brilliance of Edouard Mendy in goal, Aston Villa found their way back in the game.

The Senegalese International was able to make only 2 goalkeeping saves while he conceded 10 minutes before the hour mark. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez made 4 goalkeeping saves.

Goal-Kick

6 (Chelsea) (Aston Villa) 10

The game produced about 16 goal-kicks in the entire match.

Chelsea could produce 10 goal-kicks in the opposing area due to their increased quest for goal in the game.

Aston Villa managed to produce 6 goal-kicks against Frank Lampard’s side in the contest.

Treatments

3 (Chelsea) (Aston Villa) 3

Chelsea and Aston Villa produced a total of about 3 + 3 – 6 treatments in the entire match.

Chelsea’s quest and the physical surge in the tie ensured they created 3 treatments while the visiting Aston Villa side also had the same number of treatments with 3 treatments as well.

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.”