Sevilla are suddenly in crisis, and the departure of their brilliant transfer wizard after 26 years leaves an enormous hole to fill at the Sánchez PizjuánOn Sunday afternoon Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo did something he had only done once before and hasn’t done for almost 20 years: he hid from Sevilla supporters at the Sánchez Pizjuán. Just before midnight on 10 September 1997, ‘Monchi’ watched a late lob fly over him into the net, allowing tiny Isla Cristina to knock them out of the cup, and fans were so furious that the kitman smuggled him out in the back of his van, the defeated keeper covering his face whenever he pulled up at the lights and his coach briefly even removing...
Edinson Cavani’s talismanic Coupe de la Ligue final performance in the win over Monaco marked his continuing rise out of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s shadowBy Adam White and Eric Devin for Get French Football NewsWhistles rang round the Parc des Princes. As Ángel Di María’s shot ricocheted down from the bar, with Metz keeper Thomas Didillon stranded, Edinson Cavani conspired to embarrassingly scuff his rebound effort wide, the goal at his mercy, much to the Parisian crowd’s increasing frustration. This was not an isolated incident. Although PSG eased to a 3-0 victory back in August, Cavani, thrust into the spotlight of the centre-forward role vacated by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, cut a disillusioned and embittered figure. He choked.Thirty-one points clear and 35 goals better...
The striker’s reception on Naples return was tamer than expected – as was his display – in a draw that suggested Juve may be slowing down at the wrong timeMaurizio Sarri was looking unusually smart last Monday, shedding his Napoli tracksuit in favour of a white shirt and blue jacket to collect the 2015-16 Panchina d’Oro (Golden Bench). He had pipped Juventus’s Massimiliano Allegri into second for the award, given each year to the best manager in Serie A – as chosen by a panel of their peers.Humble as ever, Sarri expressed surprise at his triumph, suggesting he would expect such a prize to go to the man who finished higher. But with mischief in his eyes he also looked...
The reality is jarring. Tayfun Korkut’s team are three clear of the relegation play-off spot and two clear of Wolfsburg, who they held to a thrilling 3-3 drawOn a weekend in which 35 goals were scored in the Bundesliga, the BayArena always seemed likely to chip in generously. Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg fixtures, especially on this ground, produce goals, with the most notable occasion having been two years back, when the visitors let 3-0 and 4-2 leads slip before Bas Dost won the game at the death with his fourth goal of the afternoon.The difference then was that both teams were riding the crests of relative waves, finishing the campaign in fourth and second positions in the table respectively. Already,...
A 3-1 scoreline was flattering to the losers and a run of four games without a win in all competitions encapsulates a season threatening to end prematurelyThey were enjoying this down by the river, singing along in the spring sunshine. Diego Simeone led them through the chorus of Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You dedicated to Fernando Torres, “The Kid” who is 33 on Monday and who had come on this time unlike the last, finally returning from that head injury, and they swiftly followed by chanting at Cholo too. Related: Lionel Messi scores twice as Barcelona survive early Valencia shock Luis Enrique amused to see journalist fast asleep during his press conference https://t.co/uMo3cI5L6f "I know I can go...