Despite leading Barca to the Copa del Rey and almost certainly the LaLiga title, Valverde has reportedly been considering his future. But Bartomeu said the club were delighted with the coach, despite their stunning quarter-final exit against Roma in the Champions League. “It’s false. We’re very happy with him,” he told El Larguero. “It’s his project, we’re not talking about it. Someone will have said it, but not the board or the club....
While his quarterback and his defensive back and even his owner sell fast food on TV, the coach of the Dallas Cowboys buys it off the rack at Wendy’s. While most football fans would trade their birthrights for a trip to the Super Bowl, this guy has been there, done that. “Went to one of ’em,” Switzer says. “Hated the crowds, the traffic. Said I’d never go back, ’less I could ride the bus....
Barry Sanders’ son, running back Barry J. Sanders, will enter the fall as a graduate student, NewsOK reported. MORE: 10 best recruiting schools since 2010 | Replay officials to make targeting calls? “They’ve got my full commitment and I’m looking forward to being there come late June,” said Sanders, who will be transferring from Stanford. The elder Sanders, who was also a running back, finished the 1988 season with the Cowboys with 2,850 yards rushing, 44 touchdowns and won the Heisman Trophy....
The German tactician has been a free agent ever since he was sacked by Chelsea on September 7 and replaced with Graham Potter. Xavi, meanwhile, is at risk of losing the support of the club’s board if he does not win La Liga this season. Barcelona were relegated to the UEFA Europa League for the second season in a row when they finished third in their Champions League last year....
Lozano, known as ‘Chucky’, rocked world champions Germany in Mexico’s opening match at the 2018 World Cup, scoring the winning goal in his side’s stunning 1-0 victory. The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout season at PSV Eindhoven in 2017-18, scoring 19 goals and providing 11 assists in 34 appearances in all competitions, and his World Cup debut appears to have gained him even more admirers. Indeed, Jesus Lozano has confirmed that the Catalan giants are interested in his son’s services, but he is unsure if a move will be sanctioned this summer....
In case you didn’t know… Leganes are at the bottom of the table and sacked Mauricio Pellegrino before hiring Aguirre for the job. The Mexican had a decent start with his new club as he was able to secure a 1-1 draw against the fifth-placed Real Sociedad. The heart of the matter FC Barcelona take on CD Leganes after the international break but Los Pepineros’ manager Aguirre is already fretting over over how to stop Messi’s free-kicks....
In case you didn’t know… Neymar left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017 but has recently been linked with a return to the Nou Camp. The Brazil international has won two Ligue 1 titles, one Coup de France and one Coupe de la Ligue with the French giants, but the achievements are pale in comparison to his successes at Barcelona. The 27-year-old lifted two La Liga titles, one Champions League and three Copa Del Rey trophies during his time at the Catalan club....
A mixture of untimely injuries and poor performances saw Blaugrana win just two of their opening five matches. Now though, the Catalan giants seem to have finally rediscovered their top gear - with three straight victories in all competitions. The visitors meanwhile, have been one of the most impressive sides in the LaLiga this season. They’re serious contenders in this one as well, despite having ended up on the wrong side of the result in two of their last three fixtures....
Barca completed the greatest comeback in Champions League history at Camp Nou, overturning a 4-0 first-leg deficit to destroy Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 on the night. But two of their goals came from hotly-contested penalties while PSG were also denied a spot-kick following a Javier Mascherano handball. This all arrives in the aftermath of a domestic controversy when Gerard Pique caused consternation by suggesting Madrid’s dubious penalty in the recent 3-2 win over Villarreal was just further evidence that the capital side are given preferential treatment by officials....
However, there was only one player they had in mind when they went to Rome and that was Hector Bellerin. The Arsenal right-back is the Catalan club’s prime target for the summer ahead, with their problems at right back this season well documented. The 22-year-old Spaniard has already admitted that being linked to Barcelona is flattering, saying, “It’s nice there are a lot of big clubs that are interested in me, but if one of those is Barcelona that’s special....
The Reds will not shift from their “definitive stance”, as outlined in an emphatic statement by owners Fenway Sports Group, that no offers will be considered for the Brazil international, who will remain at Anfield come the close of the window. Barcelona 7/5 to win La Liga The last proposal tabled by the Catalan club, which was instantly swatted away on Friday, was followed up by a deadline emailed to Liverpool; they had until Sunday evening to change their minds or the approach would be withdrawn....
Liverpool reached back-to-back Champions League finals in sensational fashion, stunning Barca 4-0 at Anfield on Tuesday to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit. It was another forgettable European night for Barca, who were remarkably eliminated by Roma in last season’s quarter-finals after surrendering a 4-1 lead following the opening leg. Alisson was part of the Roma side that shocked Barca 3-0 in the return fixture to advance on away goals in April 2018 and the Brazil international – now preparing for a European decider with the Reds – revelled in Liverpool’s achievement....
Paco: Watching Messi gives you joy The tweet said that the “Catalonian scum” would not get close to winning La Liga and accused the regional press of writing “lies” about Malaga head coach Michel. The comment was made in response to a Twitter user who jokingly said Malaga should allow Real Madrid to beat them on the final day of the season in a match that could prove decisive in the title race....
The teams have developed somewhat of a rivalry in recent years and they have already met this season in the International Champions Cup, with Barca winning 2-1 thanks to a Neymar double. The pair met in the 2015 Champions League final, which Barca won, but Juve had their revenge when they met at the quarter-final stage last season, triumphing 3-0 on aggregate on their run to the final. TV CHANNEL & LIVE STREAM In the UK, the match will be available to watch live on television on BT Sport Extra 2 as well as being available to stream online via the BT Sport app....
Both teams have got off to winning starts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this season. Baroda pulled off a nail-biting win against Uttarakhand, defending 168 runs courtesy the exploits of skipper Krunal Pandya (76) and Smit Patel (41). Krunal Pandya also led the way with the ball, reducing Uttarakhand to 67/5 in the 12th over. Dikshanshu Negi and Kunal Chandela resurrected the Uttarakhand innings and almost took their team over the line....
According to Calciomercato, Trincao has struggled to find a place in Ronald Koeman’s side since the Dutchman switched to a 3-4-2-1 formation. This could see the Barcelona youngster leave the club when the transfer window opens this summer. Francisco Trincao rose through the youth ranks at Braga before making his debut for the club in 2018. The winger became a regular for the Portuguese side in his second season for the club, making 40 appearances and scoring nine goals in all competitions....
The pair have now begun the process of splitting their assets between themselves. However, as with most cases, the process has been far from smooth. The Colombian singer and Catalan footballer were reportedly recently embroiled in a battle to secure custody of their children. Now, according to AS, they are locked in a battle for their private jet which has an estimated worth of £20 million. The jet in question is a Learjet 60XR, which can accommodate up to ten passengers inside, and both Shakira and Pique want the asset for themselves....
The 22-year-old endured a miserable night on Wednesday as Barca was beaten 2-1 by Real Madrid, with the Brazil star guilty of missing a glorious chance in the final minute of regular time. Neymar's misery has now been further compounded by the news he will miss the games against Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal, Getafe and Elche, though the club will be hopeful of him returning for the final-day clash with Atletico Madrid....
The new signing underwent an operation on Tuesday after suffering the injury prior to the 4-0 weekend win over Napoli in Michigan. Neto joined Barca from Valencia in June as Jasper Cillessen moved in the opposite direction. His absence leaves the LaLiga champions without an experienced competitor for first-choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen ahead of Friday’s season opener against Athletic Bilbao. Inaki Pena, 20, is expected to be promoted from Barcelona B after travelling with Ernesto Valverde’s squad to the United States....
According to Fichajes, the Blaugrana have been tracking the progress of the 21-year-old forward this season. They are also bracing themselves for the potential departures of Luuk de Jong and Martin Braithwaite in the summer. De Jong arrived at Camp Nou on a season-long loan from Sevilla last summer. The Dutch forward has scored just four times in 15 appearances across competitions for Xavi’s side this season. Considering his underwhelming returns, he is likely to return to Sevilla after his loan deal expires....
