by ·Comments Off on Lionel Messi speaks on Eden Hazard ahead of El Clasico

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has said that Eden Hazard has plenty of quality but he can’t be regarded as a direct replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. The Belgium international made the move to the Bernabeu from Chelsea for £89m during the summer but he has since struggled for form with just one goal and two assists from 13 appearances.


Hazard is presently sidelined with an ankle problem which could keep him out until the New Year but Messi believes the Belgian can prove a quality purchase for Los Blancos in the long run, he told: “Hazard has a lot of quality. He is a different football player who can unbalance [defences]. But I think he is different to Cristiano, with different characteristics. It is very difficult to replace Cristiano, but Hazard is also a great player.”
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by ·Comments Off on Carlos Tevez Inspires Juniors to 1-0 Win over River Plate

After a long wait to get revenge on rivals River Plate, Boca Juniors were finally able to achieve this objective after a 1-0 win in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. Coach Gustavo Alfarodecide to take the gamble of going with Carlos Tevez, who has immense experience when it comes to big matches. However, the former Juventus and West Ham star is clearly not at his peak at 35 years of age. The inclusion of Tevez might have had to do with bowing to pressure, but it meant no space for Mauro Zarate, who has been the top scorer for Boca Juniors in this competition this year.


There was also an absence of Emanuel Reynoso who may have created a major impact with his powerful left foot. Even though there were occasions when Tevez was able to combine very well with teammates, he was unable to come up with the crucial goal that would prove to be the separating factor. This is because River Plate were able to contain Tevez to a great extent. The striker no longer has the pace to get past opponents. Counter-attacks and set pieces were a key weapon for Boca Juniors, who were able to make a difference in the last quarter. The introduction of Zarate was influential for the team and he helped Jan Hurtado score the winning goal.
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by ·Comments Off on Carlos Tevez Confident of Comeback against River Plate

Boca Juniors forward Carlos Tevez is confident that the club will be able to overcome the deficit of a 2-0 defeat against River Plate in the Copa Libertadores semi-final. The crucial match between the two great rivals witnessed a disappointing outcome for Boca Juniors with the team losing to goals at crucial stages. A penalty from Rafael Borre provided the lead for the home team after just seven minutes, while Ignacio Fernandez doubled their advantage in the 70th minute. Boca Juniors’ problems were mounting and the team was reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute when Nicholas Capaldo was sent off with a straight red card.


Tevez watched his team get back to winning ways with a 1-0 success overDefensa y Justicia during the weekend. This is one of the two league matches for Boca Juniors before they prepare to host River Plate in the reverse fixture at Estadio Alberto José Armando. The possibility of a historic comeback remains high. Tevez was protected for most of the first leg since he was only called up as a substitute in the 55th minute. The former Juventus and Manchester City forward has scored only one goal in eight appearances in the Copa Libertadores this season. In the domestic league, he has fared slightly better with two goals in eight games.
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by ·Comments Off on Valverde pleased with Lionel Messi’s workout at Borussia Dortmund

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has said that Lionel Messi had done enough during the recent Champions League opener against Borussia Dortmund on the road. The Argentina international had started the season on the sidelines with a calf problem but he managed to make his comeback during the second half of the European meeting at Signal Iduna Park.

Messi could not make the difference to the scorelineas the game ended in a 0-0 draw but he was still peripheral to the proceedings during the closing stages of the encounter. Speaking after the match, Valverde appreciated the efforts of the Argentina international by stating that he had fared well without any prior preparation on the playing field.
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by ·Comments Off on Tottenham confirm Juan Foyth is sidelined until September

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that defender Juan Foyth has sustained a lateral ligament injury to his left ankle and that is expected to keep him out of action until September at the least. The Argentina international picked up the injury during the Audi Cup final against Bayern Munich and he is now set to miss the beginning of the new Premier League season.

“After undergoing assessment over the past few days, we can confirm that Juan Foyth has sustained a lateral ligament injury to his left ankle following a challenge in our Audi Cup match against Bayern Munich. The Argentina international, who will miss the opening two games of the season due to suspension, will now undergo a period of rehabilitation and is expected to return to training in September,” a statement on the club’s official website read.

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by ·Comments Off on Andrea Dossena speaks on Paulo Dybala’s transfer situation

Former Palermo and Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena believes Paulo Dybala may have reservations over a move to Manchester United this summer. The Argentina international has been heavily tipped to sign for the Red Devils in a swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku but he has yet to give the go-ahead for the proposed transfer.

Speaking to Tuttosport, Dossena acknowledged that United are one of the world’s biggest sides but they have not been able to compete for the Champions League over the past few years. He added that Dybala may have reservations over the same, given the club are still under the transitional period under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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by ·Comments Off on Tottenham confirm Juan Foyth is sidelined until September

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that defender Juan Foyth has sustained a lateral ligament injury to his left ankle and that is expected to keep him out of action until September at the least. The Argentina international picked up the injury during the Audi Cup final against Bayern Munich and he is now set to miss the beginning of the new Premier League season.

 

“After undergoing assessment over the past few days, we can confirm that Juan Foyth has sustained a lateral ligament injury to his left ankle following a challenge in our Audi Cup match against Bayern Munich. The Argentina international, who will miss the opening two games of the season due to suspension, will now undergo a period of rehabilitation and is expected to return to training in September,” a statement on the club’s official website read.
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by ·Comments Off on Rivaldo backs Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d’Or

Former Barcelona star Rivaldo has backed Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d’Or crown after impressing on the individual scale during the previous campaign. The Argentina international has won five Ballon d’Or titles during his illustrious career but none of those have resulted during the previous three editions of the prestigious accolade.

Speaking to Betfair, Rivaldo said that Messi has the chance to secure a record sixth Ballon d’Or crown this year, considering he was exceptional on the individual scale with more than 50 goals across all competitions, he told: “In my opinion, the Ballon d’Or of this season is Messi for what he has done. He didn’t win the Champions League, but because it is an individual prize he scored a lot of goals, important goals.”
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by ·Comments Off on Billy Sharp insists Sheffield United promotion ends Carlos Tevez saga

Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp has said that his team’s promotion to the Premier League should put an end to the Carlos Tevez saga. The Blades were previously relegated from the top-flight during the 2006/07 season after the Hammers beat the drop through a Tevez winner at Manchester United on the final day.

Speaking to reporters, Sharp said that the Blades return to the Premier League should erase some of the bitterness associated with Tevez’s winner for the Hammers, he told: “I actually really liked Tevez as a player and, obviously, that hurt when that happened. But that’s forgotten about now and we are back in the top flight. I’m sure the games against West Ham will be fiery ones anyway and that will be brought back up again, but for me it’s forgotten. I have no grudges against Tevez. I’m a Sheffield lad and a Sheffield United fan and to be able to play in the Premier League with this club will be unbelievable.”
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by ·Comments Off on Virgil van Dijk hails Lionel Messi ahead of Champions League semi-final

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has hailed the qualities of Lionel Messi and the Barcelona side ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. The Reds have done extremely well to progress to the final four of the competition for the second-straight year, but they need to overcome the challenge presented by the Blaugrana to reach the final in Madrid.

Speaking to reporters, Van Dijk stressed that he is not thinking about the Ballon d’Or title after recently being honoured with the PFA Player of the Year accolade. Implying to Messi, he added that there are players, who are basically out of the world and he has yet to showcase such kind of consistency.
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