Having masterminded the FA Cup victory over Manchester United back in 2010, Preston North End manager Simon Grayson will be hoping to lead his new side to the FA Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Louis van Gaal s side. The Red Devils struggled against both Yeovil and Cambridge, and they could face a tough task at Deepdale Stadium.
Preston North End were relegated to the League One in 2011 after a long run in the Championship and they have been trying to return to the second tier ever since. The appointment of former Leeds United manager Simon Grayson could prove decisive as he has led the Lilywhites to fourth in the league standings, with his side four points behind the promotion places at the moment, albeit with a game in hand. Meanwhile, Grayson is proving to be the FA Cup…
Ludovic Obraniak is optimistic that Poland will be able to progress out of their group at Euro 2012.
The Bordeaux midfielder acknowledged that there is immense pressure on the national team to perform as co-hosts of the tournament, where they are drawn alongside Russia, the Czech Republic and Greece in Group A.
The expectations are huge. The whole country is expecting a first victory, Obraniak told L Equipe.
This is a football country, the public will be like a 12th player for us. Our ambition is to reach the quarter-finals, and then we ll see what happens.
We remain realistic, knowing that many teams are better than us at this stage.
Poland s first participation in the European Championship was in 2008 but they failed to win a single game a…
Connor Wickham will hope a move to Crystal Palace can help him fulfil his potential
England under-21 international Connor Wickham joined Crystal Palace from Sunderland for a fee of around £9million.
The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Eagles, but the move could be seen as a gamble by the Eagles.
Struggle
When Wickham moved to the Black Cats in 2011 from Ipswich for a fee in the region of £8million he was regarded as one of the most promising young English players of the time.
He was being linked with moves to the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool.
However, it was the side from the north east who pulled off something of coup by signing the teenage striker. Since the move he has struggled to justify the relatively big …
Chelsea captain John Terry believes he has proved a point to Rafael Benitez after captaining his club to a fourth Premier League title.
Terry continued his record of being an ever-present in the league this season as Jose Mourinho s side beat Crystal Palace 1-0 on Sunday to open up an unassailable advantage with three games still to play.
The former England skipper s career stagnated when Benitez took interim charge of Chelsea in the 2012-13 campaign, but Terry has been revitalised under Mourinho.
One person said, they know who they are, I couldn t play twice in a week and I proved them wrong, the 34-year-old told Sky Sports.
I ve got great players and a great manager [around me].
Reflecting on Chelsea s first title since 2010, secured by Eden…
Argentine giants River Plate have emerged as favourites to sign Colombian midfielder Juan Quintero from FC Porto, according to reports in South America.
After failing to impress at Estadio do Dragao, the 24-year-old did well to get his career back on track in native Colombia, bagging 16 goals in 36 competitive matches.
Nevertheless, FC Porto are ready to cash in on the talented footballer and they want around €10 million for the attacking midfielder.
According to reports in South America, River Plate are already in talks with the Dragons and they hope to recruit Quintero in the January window.
The highly rated footballer had impressed at Pescara and also playing for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup, and he seems to have managed to get his career back on …
Dele Alli was sent off as Tottenham crashed out of the Europa League with a 2-2 draw against Gent in the second leg of their last-32 tie on Thursday.
The England international was given his marching orders for a shocking tackle on Brecht Dejaegere towards the end of the first half, and although Spurs battled boldly in his absence, they were unable to secure what would have been only a second win in seven matches at Wembley.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Mauricio Pochettino s side made an ideal start when Christian Eriksen opened the scoring with just 10 minutes played, but a Harry Kane own goal put Gent back in front on aggregate.
Alli s dismissal left Spurs with a mountain to climb but they remained the dominant force after the break, and Victor Wanyama rest…
In-demand Ajax star Matthijs de Ligt has let Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman in on his plans for what is expected to be a blockbusting close-season transfer.
The 19-year-old centre-back captained Ajax to a domestic double and the semi-finals of the Champions League in a superb 2018-19.
Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs to be linked with De Ligt, who is set to line up for his country when Netherlands take on England in Thursday s Nations League Finals semi-final in Guimaraes.
Speaking at a pre-match news conference, Koeman told reporters he has an idea over what the youngster s next move will be but would not elaborate further.
I spoke to Matthijs one week ago about his future and that s a secret…
Gabriel Barbosa has earned a recall to the Brazil squad for the friendlies against Senegal and Nigeria following a rich vein of form at Flamengo.
Since arriving at Flamengo on loan from Inter in January, 23-year-old striker Gabigol has scored 30 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions.
He has been rewarded with a first call-up since the Copa America Centenario in 2016 by head coach Tite and is joined by club team-mate Rodrigo Caio.
The news will come as a blow for Flamengo boss Jorge Jesus, though. His side sit top of the Campeonato Brasileiro at the halfway point but the league does not stop for the international calendar.
Convocação da !
ATACANTES:
Everton
Firmino
Gabriel Barbosa
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) <…
Cristiano Ronaldo was hailed as a born champion by Andrea Pirlo after the superstar forward kept his goalscoring run going with a double in Juventus 2-0 win over Cagliari.
The Portugal international scored twice in the space of four first-half minutes to take his tally for the season to eight goals in six appearances in all competitions.
In doing so, Ronaldo became the first Juve player to score in each of his first five Serie A outings in one season in the three-points-per-win era.
His match-winning brace came from five attempts and he also laid on three chances for his team-mates, earning praise from head coach Pirlo.
He is a great professional, as we already knew, Pirlo told DAZN. He is a real champion and sets the example for everyone around him, bo…
Leeds United have been offered the chance to sign Riqui Puig on loan from Barcelona in the January transfer window, according to . German club RB Leipzig and Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco have also been offered the young midfielder, it has been claimed.
Ruig has struggled for regular playing time at Barcelona so far this season. The Spanish and European giants will allow the 21-year-old midfielder to go out on loan when the transfer window opens in January, and representatives of the Spain Under-21 international have offered him to Leeds, Leipzig and Monaco.
According to , Ruig has played three minutes in La Liga and 25 minutes in the Champions League for Barcelona so far this season. During the 2019-20 campaign, the Spanish midfielder made five starts and six substitute a…