moggi

Moggi: Juventus lacking experienced leadership

Ex-Juventus director Luciano Moggi feels that the current team does not have experienced leaders.  The Italian Serie A side have been inconsistent under manager Thiago Motta so far this campaign.  Moggi believes the issue is due to a lack of on-field leadership, telling Radio Bianconera: “How is Juve doing at the halfway point? It’s a team of kids, of young people, who basically have to perform a miracle to make a project. A coach who has to start to understand the team better. I believe that if it maintains its position in the league table, for the first year it has also done well. Certainly not very well, because the many draws have clouded a bit… especially the idea of ​​the fans. “But this does not mean that they have not taken a certain path that can lead to the realization of a project that could be that of starting with the young and ending up opening a cycle, this is Juventus. For example, I wrote it, I do not want to criticize because these are the difficulties that exist in taking a team forward. I wrote that it is an uninspired team, but uninspired I mean, practically the inexperience as such, that is the little habituation to a match. “Because when the young people are 18, 19, 20 years old, practically they have to give something of experience that they do not have. Since leaders are missing here, the problem comes from experience. Yes, the leader is missing. The leader is missing in this team – Moggi acknowledged – who can speak of inspiration on the pitch, who can put things together with his teammates. There is no doubt about this.”

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diego

Diego Simeone happy with Copa rout of Getafe

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was happy with the team’s win against Getafe in the Copa del Rey quarter final. Atletico took a 5-0 victory last night, with Giuliano Simeone scoring twice, Samuel Lino, Angelo Correa and Alexander Sorloth also getting on the scoresheet.  Simeone said: “The team played the game well, tried to be forceful, and were aggressive in attack. It’s true that Getafe changed a lot, but we played a game with high intensity to go for what we wanted, which was to get through.  “Whenever we have seen the youngsters from the youth team do well, it is a joy for us, for those who saw them grow. Saúl, Lucas, Thomas, now Riquelme or Barrios. Many youngsters who give health to the others who know that if they train well they will be able to compete. It is a satisfaction for everyone, for those who have done it in previous years and for those who accompany them to do better.” About his son, Giuliano, Diego also said: “I shouted the first goal as I needed to, the second less because the game was not over and the third more. I have no relation to shouting it or not shouting it. Sometimes I understand that one or two goals do not close the game and that is why there is more or less enthusiasm to celebrate it.  “There is still a long way to go until Saturday, we must work in the same way, but the healthiest thing is that people come to compete no matter how many minutes it takes and that is the difference we can have with the others, if we maintain it it gives us the possibility to continue with what we are doing.” 

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hernandez

Real Betis acquire Columbus Crew striker Hernandez

Real Betis have signed Columbus Crew striker ‘Cucho’ Hernandez. Hernandez will join Betis for a €13m fee.  The former Huesca attacker has signed a contract with Betis till 2030. Last season, he played 41 games in all competitions for Columbus Crew, scoring 25 goals and recording 14 assists.  Along with Huesca, Hernandez also played for Mallorca and Getafe in Spain and Watford in England. 

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gomes

Gomes to leave Lille for free as West Ham and Tottenham show interest

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are chasing former Manchester United midfielder Angel Gomes, amidst reports that he will leave Lille for free in the summer.  Angel has had an outstanding stint at Lille this term, which earned him an invitation to join the England squad under former interim coach Lee Carsley, who saw that he had potential  Per reports by the Telegraph, any transfers will have to wait until the summer, when he’ll be available to move for free after his contract expires. Top Premier League teams like the Spurs and Hammers have already shown interest in him. They’ll certainly be watching Angel for the rest of the season before deciding where he goes next.  Gomes told L’Equipe that leaving Old Trafford in 2020 was “very difficult” and he would love to rejoin the club if he got the chance. With his contract nearing its end, Manchester United might take him back.  “It was a very difficult decision,” he said. “In my heart, I wanted to leave, in my head, I was thinking of staying. But I had to follow my heart. I felt that I needed to take another step in my career.  “I felt that had I stayed, there wouldn’t be a lot of opportunities for me. Luis Campos (Lille’s then sporting director) and Lille spoke about their project and I believed in it even more, that’s what convinced me to move – the faith Lille had in me.  “Do I imagine myself coming back one day? Obviously, it’s home. I would love to come back. But you never know in football. I just have to keep my feet on the ground, and keep playing, making the most of it. I can’t predict what will happen in the future.” 

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gonzalez

Nico Gonzalez arrives in Manchester from FC Porto

Nico Gonzalez, Manchester City’s fourth and final first-team signing of the January transfer window, arrived in the north-west of England on Tuesday evening.  The reigning Premier League champions splurge close to €200 million across the winter market to buy two new central defenders and an attacking talent, before ending the window with a new defensive midfielder.  Although there had been praise and excitement around signings like Abdukodir Khsanov and Vitor Reis from RC Lens and Palmeiras respectively, and Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt, there was a belief that the team also needed a central midfielder.  As such, a deal was reached during the last days of the January Window. The Citizens signed Nico Gonzalez from FC Porto in a €60 million switch from the Portuguese team.  Manchester City confirmed the deal during the closure of the market for English teams on Monday night. It was also revealed that he signed a four-and-a-half year contract and adopted the number 14 shirt at the Etihad Stadium.  Gonzalez left Porto on Tuesday afternoon to begin his days at City Football Academy and is settling well into his new home. 

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embiid

Triumphant return: Joel Embiid posts triple-double, hits go-ahead layup

Joel Embiid hopes coming back to the Philadelphia 76ers lineup isn’t a one-day thing. The center proved he hasn’t slowed down, after returning from a left knee injury that kept him absent for a month. Embiid delivered his first triple-double of the term on Tuesday night in a win over the Dallas Mavericks.  Embiid, who was absent in the last 15 matches, had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Philadelphia’s 118-116 victory. He played for 36 minutes while wearing a leg brace and went 12-for-23 from the field and 4-for-9 from the free-throw line.  “I wish I could play every game,” Embiid said of his expectations for the rest of the season. “Whatever God decides from that point on, I can’t control it. Goal is to be available every single night.” Nonetheless, coach Nick Nurse said after the match that Embiid would not compete on Wednesday night against Miami Heat. The center played in just his 14th game of a season he said has been “extremely” frustrating. The 76ers are 8-6 with him and 20-29 overall. They’ll need him to play again to advance to the playoffs. “Trying to find the positives, like support and family, but it’s tough,” he said. In the match against the Mavericks, Embiid appeared to be normal. His layup with 22 seconds on the clock put Philadelphia up by a point. He stole the defensive rebound on Dallas’ next possession and then defended the last play of the meeting when the Mavericks turned it over.  “I just wanted to come out aggressive, assert myself inside and out,” Embiid said. Embiid, who was drafted No. 3 overall by Philadelphia in 2014, entered the game averaging 24.4 points and 7.9 rebounds. He still thinks the 76ers can turn things around. “We just got to get healthy and stay healthy,” he said.

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mahomes

Mahomes unconcerned with G.O.A.T. conversation: ‘I care more about the legacy of our team’

Patrick Mahomes is on his way to attaining G.O.A.T status, but he does not care for it, as he works towards helping the Kansas City Chiefs make history.  “No, I’m just trying to be the greatest Patrick Mahomes that I can be,” he said Monday from Super Bowl LIX Opening Night. “I mean, that’s obviously a goal of anyone’s, is to be the greatest at their profession, but in order to do that, you have to be the greatest that you can be every single day, and if that’s on the field and the work ethic I put in or off the field in the father and husband that I am, I’m gonna try to be the greatest in that way, and whenever I’m done with football, if I leave everything out there the way that I feel like I have so far, as far as effort and mentality, I’ll be happy with the results and I’ll let others talk about who the greatest is of whatever profession that is.” A Sunday win over the Philadelphia Eagles would make Mahomes the first quarterback in NFL history to lift four Lombardi Trophies before his 30th birthday.  Regardless of how the match turns out, he will join the likes of Tom Brady and John Elway as the only quarterbacks in league history to start five-plus Super Bowls. He will be the first to do so before he turns 30. Brady was 34; Elway was 38.  According to Mahomes, those numbers aren’t about him but about the Chiefs. Surpassing Brady as the GOAT, would just reflect the club’s power.  “I care more about the legacy of our team,” he said. “You know, we’ve put in so much work and worked so hard that I want to be remembered for the team that we are and the team that we built here in Kansas City. I never really think about my legacy; I think about all the guys that I’ve played with and how they’ve kind of left their imprint on this team and I want us to be remembered for that.” Kansas City have gotten their own share of haters since they started this race to become the first three-peat Super Bowl champions. He dismissed talks about him being a “villain” several times while speaking on Monday night. Mahomes stated that people hating winners is on them.  “I don’t even think it’s embracing being in the villains,” he said. “We embrace who we are, and we believe we play the game the right way. We believe that we play with a lot of heart and a lot of passion for the game and then we win football games. If winning football games makes you a villain, we’re gonna keep going out there and doing it.” The three-time Super Bowl MVP gets now what the New England Patriots went through during their decades-long run. He also understands all too well the bitterness of some fans toward a giant that seemingly can’t be slain. “It’s all fun because I was that guy. I was a Cowboys fan growing up, and I used to hate the Patriots,” he said. “I think more than anything, I appreciate the greatness of the Patriots more now when I see how hard it was to do what they did. But we just go out there and play the game that we love, the way that we feel like is the right way and all the other stuff is kind of outside noise. Hopefully we’re just giving people a great product to watch, and they can see the love for the game that we have.” Mahomes must continue to rack up victories if he wants to pass Brady. The Chiefs QB currently has 17 playoff wins (No. 2 all time) and three Super Bowl victories, well behind TB12’s 35 postseason wins and seven Lombardis. Beating the Eagles on Sunday, however, would get Mahomes much closer, much earlier in his career. It’s the longevity of Brady’s winning ways that Mahomes learns the most from the current G.O.A.T. “You know, as I’ve watched the greats, I think more than anything, it’s just to be able to win,” Mahomes said. “I know that sounds easy, but to be able to win with a team that’s around you is something that’s special and that the greatest do, and I think I learned that the most from Tom Brady. He did whatever it took to win the football game, and as a quarterback, that’s what you have to be and that’s what I’ve learned over my career.”

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brasier

Cubs sign Brasier from Dodgers to boost bullpen

The Chicago Cubs bought Ryan Brasier and cash from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To create room on the 40-man squad, the Cubs chose left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny for assignment.  Brasier was chosen for the post last week when Los Angeles signed Kirby Yats, but Brasier has been a productive pitcher when in-form in recent seasons. In June 2023, he joined the Dodgers after leaving the Boston Red Sox and delivered a 0.70 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 38 ⅔ innings with Los Angeles.  However, Brasier didn’t perform as well last campaign, pitching a 3.54 ER across 28 innings. He was also absent for more than three months due to a right calf strain. He recorded a career-low 4.5% walk rate, and his 34.8% chase rate was above the league average (28.5%).  Brasier spots a 3.85 ERA through 285 ⅓ career innings. He has extensive playoff experience from his six years with the Red Sox, where he won two World Series.  Now as he enters his ninth MLB season, he is the latest noteworthy player to join Chicago’s renovated bullpen, which has free-agent Caleb Thielbar and trade signings Eli Morgan and Ryan Pressly. 

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nhl stadium series

O.A.R to headline NHL Stadium Series

Platinum-certified band O.A.R will appear as headliners in the NHL Stadium Series Pep Rally, with a free concert at St. John Arena. They will play before the faceoff between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings inside Ohio Stadium on Saturday, March 1. The NHL Stadium Series Pep Rally will be free and open to the public with first-come, first-served seating. The concert will start at 2:30 p.m ET.  O.A.R, whose members are OSU alumni, will be joined by OSU Athletic Band and the university’s award-winning Spirit team. The Spirit team will include cheer and dance, to bring the high-energy enthusiasm of OSU game day traditions to fans before the outdoor game begins. Blue Jackets players will first stop at St. John Arena before doing the ceremonious walk to Ohio Stadium.  Fans can purchase tickets to the 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at Ticketmaster.com. Ticketmaster is the only official marketplace of the NHL. They offer fans that guarantee that the seats they buy on Ticketmaster.com and the Ticketmaster app are the same seats they’ll get. 

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flick

Flick slams Real Madrid letter: Not the way we do things here

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has replied to Real Madrid over their letter to the RFEF regarding the state of refereeing in Spain. Flick took the swipe this morning as he previewed tomorrow’s Copa del Rey quarter final with Valencia.  The match: “It’s a totally different game to the one in La Liga. We’re going to give it our all. We’re going to press. They’re going to press. Everything will be different. The atmosphere, the stadium, the ambiance…”  Dani Olmo and Gavi: “We’ll see if Olmo comes on in the second half. Gavi is not an option for tomorrow, according to protocol. It’s good to do it like this, the blow was hard.” Frenkie de Jong: “You always compare players. We have a game tomorrow and then another on Sunday. We’ll be back at three or four in the morning. I need all the players. Frenkie is great, and Casadó is also wonderful. It doesn’t matter who plays, everyone will give their all. That’s what’s important.” Dani Olmo: “He has shown, in many games, how important he is for us. He is important in the centre and in attack, he knows how to control the ball. He is very important. But we have to take care of him. We have to make sure he keeps playing. It all depends on the load he has. We have to know how he feels and adapt. We can’t have him in every game. He is important for the next games.” Letter from Real Madrid: “To be honest, I don’t want to talk about it. But it’s not our way of doing things, I wouldn’t do it. Every coach and club has some reasons for saying things. We are human and we make mistakes. And referees have a very hard job and we have to look after them, the situation they have is not easy.” Valencia? “The first game was tough, then we played again. The atmosphere was incredible. Tomorrow we will have a lot of pressure. It’s a cup match. You don’t win the title, but you can lose it and we don’t want that.” You’re turning 60 years old: “In my life, I often think about the situations I would like to experience. Many dreams come true, and one was to coach Barça. It’s something incredible. I like the city, it’s fantastic. The sun, the food, the weather… February and look at the temperature. But I love this club and coaching this team is fantastic. The players are unique. It’s incredible. I’ve never experienced anything like it. They love training, they love training and playing. I love watching it. I appreciate it very much. It’s a dream come true.” Real Madrid’s complaint: “I think I’ve said it. When I arrived I said there are no excuses, no complaints, no blame. I don’t like it. We have to win our games. We have lost some, unexpectedly, and it’s our fault. We’re seeing what we can do. We’re close, but it’s not all over yet. Sunday is a big game and we have to win it, but first there’s Valencia.” Goalkeepers: “(Wijciech) Szczesny is number one, clearly. “I know that goalkeepers are compared. Iñaki (Pena) is fantastic. We chose Szczesny for his personality, and for his way of doing things, style… both are great. The youngsters do well too. We made a decision and followed it. We decided what was best for the team.”

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