FOOTBALL: Why Barcelona will not sack me – Koeman

 

Barcelona manager, Ronald Koeman, has said he is not bothered about rumours claiming he will be sacked, as he “signed for two years”.

The Dutchman’s first year is coming to an end and he has already won the Copa del Rey trophy.

Barca remains in the hunt for the LaLiga title, although their destiny is out of their hands.

Koeman has faced questions of his ongoing presence, with Joan Laporta now back as president and he could make more changes this summer.

But the 58-year-old remains confident that he will be in charge for the 2021-22 campaign.

“The president showed me his confidence from the first day and it is him who must decide.

“I signed for two years here and I see myself leading this group of players next season,” he told a press conference on Monday.

FOOTBALL: EPL. Why I didn’t play my best football under Mourinho – Rashford

 

Manchester United forward, Marcus Rashford, has said he could not play his best football under Jose Mourinho, because of his rigid tactics.

According to him, forwards were not given the freedom to swap positions under Mourinho.

Rashford revealed this while in conversation with Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand for BT Sport.

“I think that’s when we play our best football (when we can be flexible).

“Under Jose (Mourinho) I would say everything was a bit (points) “you play there, you play there, you play there”.

“And yeah, you can do a job, but it was difficult for me to play my best football,” Rashford said.

During Mourinho’s two and a half years at Old Trafford, Rashford managed 28 goals for United.

Since Mourinho departed, the 23-year-old has netted 42 goals across a similar time period.

FOOTBALL: Three clubs to be relegated from EPL confirmed

Fulham became the third club to be relegated from the Premier League.

This follows their 2-0 defeat to Burnley on Monday night.

Scott Parker’s men needed to avoid losing to hold on to their faint hopes of staying up.

However, Ashley Woodward and Chris Wood scored for Burnley to seal Fulham’s fate.

Just on Sunday, West Brom were also relegated, thanks to a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Sheffield United’s drop into the Championship was confirmed weeks ago.

Norwich City and Watford have also taken up two spots in the Premier League ahead of the 2021/2022 season.

 

FOOTBALL: Juventus faces threat of expulsion from Serie A

President of the Italian football federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, has said Juventus face being kicked out of Serie A if they don’t withdraw from the European Super League.

AC Milan and Inter Milan have backed out of the breakaway competition, leaving Juventus as the only Italian club persisting with the plans.

“The rules are clear. If Juventus is still part of the Super League when it enters next season, it can’t participate in Serie A.

“I would be sorry for the fans but rules are rules and they apply to everyone. I hope this holdout ends soon,” Gravina told Naples radio station Kiss Kiss.

Juventus won Serie A for the ninth straight year last season, but have since relinquished the title to Inter.

FOOTBALL: EPL. Edinson Cavani reveals who convinced him to sign new contract at Man United

 

Manchester United striker, Edinson Cavani, has revealed who convinced him to sign a new contract at Old Trafford.

Cavani said his Man United teammates, supporters and everybody who is part of the club convinced him to extend his stay at the Red Devils.

The Uruguay star on Monday signed a new one-year contract extension that will keep him at Man United until June 2022.

Cavani joined Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

“What’s my motivation to stay, quite simply, I would say it’s exactly what this club represents as an entity, as an organization,” Cavani told Man United’s website after signing the new deal.

“That is down to the club itself, but also the people who work behind the scenes and within the club, obviously the supporters as well. As the days, weeks and months pass by, you do get to develop a huge affection for the club, and I think, on a human level, it creates a bond with yourself, your teammates and everybody who is part of the club, and you start to feel that.

“You notice that it’s a real motivation, and it gives you a desire to want to stay. I’m very excited and keen to stay for another season, to give it my best, to help the club on the field as I can and hopefully bring some happiness and joy to the supporters.”

Burna Boy did not receive money from Wike – Manager

 

Burna Boy’s manager and his mother have revealed that the Grammy award winner did not receive N10m from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had during a homecoming ceremony for Burna Boy, after his Grammy win, promised to gift him land and money as an appreciation for winning the Grammy Awards.

He also promised to gift other singers that performed that night N10m each.

However speaking with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on Rubbing Minds, Bose Ogulu said it was an honour for Burna boy to be hosted by the Rivers government but that he was not paid to perform.

She said it would have been a travesty if any other state had hosted the singer before Rivers.⁣⁣

⁣⁣”The first thing about that event was that money was not paid. It was paid to everyone else but Burna. Everyone else who came to perform was paid, but him, because they were honouring him. He was not being paid to be there.⁣⁣

⁣⁣”It is only a bastard, my people say, that refuses honour in his father’s house.”

Nigeria breakup: Yorubas will lose, South-West has thugs, fake pastors – Olu Okeowo

 

Nigerian billionaire, Olu Okeowo has declared his opposition to the break up of Nigeria.

The real estate magnate warned that if the succession plan succeeds, the South-West region will lose out.

Daily Times reports that Okeowo made the remark while speaking at a church service organized in his home to mark his birthday.

Okeowo said he noticed electricity is no longer in abundant supply because the Shiroro and Gerreru Plants have been “surrounded”.

“Electricity is being generated in the North. Those who are saying divide don’t know what they are saying.

“Even if we divide today, the gas that they would use to run any turbine comes from another area.

“The Southwest will be the ones to lose out most because what we have produced mostly are area boys and fake pastors. We need to pray for the unity of Nigeria,” he said.

Several groups are agitating for the division of the country, insisting it remains the only solution to the country’s problems.