Former Brazil manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo has backed Neymar to be the best player at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Paris Saint-Germain star struggled with a foot injury during the backend of the previous league campaign and this partly hampered his performances for Brazil at the World Cup finals in Russia.
Brazilian soccer star Robinho confirmed that the familiar faces at Real Madrid, as well as the chance to play at the Santiago Bernabeu helped him decide to move to the Spanish capital in such an important phase of his career development, rather than join their rivals Barcelona.
The forward, who has had quite a career, said the large group of Brazilian faces, and the coaching staff that was familiar faces helped him decide to join them, though he added that Barcelona also had a similar mix of players he knew at the time, and were interested. What swung it at the time was the fact that Robinho would be playing in the massive Bernabeu stadium on a weekly basis – as a child he had always dreamed of playeing there rather than in the Maracana or the Camp Nou. (more…)
Former World Cup winner and Brazil legend Claudio Taffarel has said that he is not surprised by the progress made by Alisson Becker over the past couple of years. In the summer of 2016, Roma signed the shot-stopper from Internacional for a modest £7.1m but they managed to make a hefty profit on him after sanctioning his £65m switch to Liverpool earlier this summer.
Since then, Alisson has been fluent between the sticks on more occasions than not and Taffarel has suggested that his potential was never in doubt, he said: “You know, from the moment Alisson started playing at Roma he has enjoyed a natural growth. We all expected it, because in Brazil he had already shown his potential. He always showed that in the Brazilian team as well. “For us, it is very important. For the Brazilian goalkeepers it opens a lot of doors in Europe when they’re spoken of well. Ederson has impressive potential. Over time he will grow.”
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Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that he could face his ‘toughest season’ yet with Spurs. The north London outfit surprisingly made no signings during the recent transfer window and Pochettino now expects double effort from the current squad, if they are to compete for another top-four finish this season.
Speaking to reporters, he said: “Given everything, for me, it will be the toughest season and if we want success we have to give more than our best. 100 percent is not enough – it’s 200 percent. We know from inside that the season will be hard and because we are warriors we want to fight. We want to be proud at the end, we want success, and we do not want to complain or make excuses. I am a winner and I love the challenge, so I feel full of energy. We want to go again. The club, the fans, and the team need our full energy more than before.”
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Brazil international Lucas Moura is keen to make an impression during Tottenham Hotspur’s pre-season tour of the United States. The 25-year-old could not make much of an impact after his mid-season arrival from Paris Saint-Germain last term but he is now eager to make amends starting with a strong display from pre-season.
Speaking to reporters, he said: “Roma is a big game to start the tour, I have Brazilian friends who have played at Roma. I also played against them (for PSG) last pre-season in America! It’s always tough against Italian teams.It’s always a pleasure to play against Barcelona. It’s a big team, big players and for me, it’s an important test. We have to try to keep the ball and when we lose it, we try to get it back quickly. It’s my first pre-season with the club so I will give my best to show my talent and try to help the team win games. That’s my objective.”
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Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has heaped praise on Harry Kane following his stunning showing for England at the summer World Cup. The Tottenham Hotspur ace netted a match-winning brace during the 2-1 over Tunisia and he managed to follow it up with a hat-trick in the 6-1 mauling of Panama.
As a result, Kane is leading the Golden Boot race with five goals from just two matches and Oxlade-Chamberlain has praised his compatriot for leading from the front as the captain, he told TalkSPORT: “We all know how capable he is of scoring, but to take it to the World Cup is what all top goalscorers try to do. He’s on a great run of form at the moment and long may that continue in this tournament.He’s been brilliant leading the boys, not just vocally, but with his performances, which is massive.”
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Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Graham Roberts has urged Gareth Bale to consider a return to Spurs during this summer’s transfer window. The Wales international netted a sublime brace during Real Madrid’s Champions League final triumph over Liverpool on Saturday but doubts continue to linger over his future at the European champions.
As such, Roberts has urged the 28-year-old to return to his former club, who have made great progress under Mauricio Pochettino in recent seasons, he tweeted: “You bloody beauty Gareth Bale get back to Spurs we’re the fans appreciate you and idiots don’t boo you and the manager wants you! Klopp just can’t get over the line these big games.”
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Former Stoke City defender Danny Higginbotham believes Dele Alli should not start in England’s opening World Cup game against Tunisia. The Three Lions are overwhelming favourites to beat the African nation in their first group stage match but Higginbotham feels Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be a much better option on the day.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, he said: The reason I’m leaving out Dele Alli, I think he’s a fantastic player, but I just think I in a game like this the middle of the pitch of going to be compact and the second he gets on the ball he’s going to be crowded out. There’s going to be very little room between the midfield and the Tunisia defence and I think the physicality of someone like Loftus-Cheek, who can pick up the ball and leave players in his wake, would suit England.”
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Tottenham Hotspur Harry Kane is reportedly looking forward to the 2018/19 season where Spurs will be plying their trade at their brand new stadium. The north London club had to spend an entire season where they played their home games at the Wembley but they have done reasonably well by qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Speaking ahead of Spurs’ curtain closer against Leicester City, Kane admitted that he is excited by the new challenge at the new stadium next term and he is hopeful that this could be an attraction to bring more quality players within the ranks, he said: “You never know in football. In transfer windows you can never put your finger on it. But it is a big attraction, a massive new stadium, a great team. (more…)
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has stressed that he won’t change the selection policy at the club in order to enhance the World Cup hopes of a single player. Earlier this month, Roberto Martinez warned that Toby Alderweireld may miss out on a World Cup starting berth without regular gametime, but Pochettino believes he cannot agree to the demands of every national team manager.
Speaking in his press conference, Pochettino said: “I have an amazing relationship with Roberto. I understand his comment, like all the managers. If I am the Belgium manager, England manager or Argentina manager, I want all my players to play.But my focus is to manage Tottenham and win games with Tottenham. I cannot be kind with every single manager. The interest for me is Tottenham, it’s about Tottenham to win. I understand the (Belgium) manager but what can I do?”