April 2015 - Soccer Wiretap

Klopp: Coutinho Has Unbelievable Skill

Oct 31, 2015 4:32 PM

Philippe Coutinho had two goals in Liverpool's 3-1 win at Chelsea.

"Philippe is a great player," Klopp told BT Sport. "He has unbelievable skill, he's a great guy.

"You have to fight, you have to work and that's what he did today -- he got back what he invested."

ESPN

Tags: Liverpool

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Joel Campbell Scores In First EPL Start For Arsenal

Oct 31, 2015 4:06 PM

Joel Campbell made his first Premier League start four years after joining Arsenal.

Campbell scored a goal in the 73rd minute.

Campbell was perhaps Arsenal's most dynamic forward in the first half.

Campbell was signed in 2011 but didn't get his work permit until July of 2013 and has since been out on loan to Lorient, Betis, Olympiacos and Villarreal. 

Paul Doyle/The Guardian

Tags: Arsenal

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Yaya Toure: Pellegrini Has Done Brilliantly

Oct 31, 2015 11:06 AM

Yaya Toure praised Manuel Pellegrini and insisted the Champions League is a target for Manchester City.

Pellegrini won the Capital One Cup and the Premier League in his first season in charge at the Etihad Stadium, and while City failed to win any silverware in 2014-15 they are now Premier League leaders.

"He's done brilliantly well in his three seasons here," Toure said. "The club and the fans are very satisfied with the way we play. The Champions League has been difficult but it's a big target this season.

"We have progressed very well with him. He is a very clever manager who always backs his players. He comes and chats with you and is very open with you. Not just with me but with all the players.

"He gets the best out of the players. He knows how to get the best out of our young players too and he's the kind of manager we have to have at this club. We are all grateful and happy to work for him."

Richard Jolly/ESPN

Tags: Manchester City

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Jose Mourinho Following Loss To Liverpool: Nothing To Say

Nov 1, 2015 10:05 AM

Chelsea were beaten 3-1 at Stamford Bridge by Liverpool, further putting Jose Mourinho's job in danger.

Mourinho told BT Sport he had "nothing to say" following the match.

Chelsea took a 1-0 lead but Liverpool went on to score three unanswered.

"I have nothing, nothing to say," he said.

Asked about Lucas Leiva avoiding a second yellow card for his foul on Ramires when the score was 1-1, he repeated: "Nothing to say."

On Diego Costa's clash with Martin Skrtel, he added: "I have nothing to say."

ESPN

Tags: Chelsea, Liverpool

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Rudi Garica: Serie A No Longer Strictly About Defending

Oct 30, 2015 3:08 PM

Roma manager Rudi Garcia has praised the attacking nature of modern Italian soccer.

Serie A has historically been known for being defensive, but clubs like Roma, Napoli and Fiorentina have been scoring freely this season.

"There's always been a culture of defending in Italy, but it's good we're seeing more goals. It makes a better show," said Garcia.

"Goals are important but not conceding helps too. I like how teams are scoring more than before in Serie A."

Roma is currently top of the table with 23 points.

"We want to bring this club and the city of Rome to the very top. In our own small way, we'll try our hardest," he added.

 

Stefan Coerts/Goal

Tags: Roma

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Jose Mourinho 'Can't Promise' Champions League Spot For Chelsea

Oct 30, 2015 1:45 PM

Jose Mourinho says he "cannot promise" a spot in the Champions League next season for Chelsea.

Chelsea currently sit 15th in the table after winning just three matches.

"Chelsea is a big club. It's the club that I choose to come to. It's a club I live in a very specific way every day.

"Liverpool is a big club, Manchester United is a super big club. Last season Liverpool win nothing and didn't qualify for the Champions League.

"Two years ago Man United didn't qualify for the Champions League - not even Europa League - and won nothing.

"They are still a monster club, but that's football."

The job status of Mourinho is in doubt.

Asked if he had been given a guarantee about his job status, Mourinho replied: "I don't have to tell you."

BBC

Tags: Chelsea

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Remi Garde Expected To Be Next Manager Of Aston Villa

Oct 30, 2015 1:31 PM

Remi Garde is expected to become the next manager of Aston Villa.

Kevin MacDonald is the caretaker manager and preparing the team for Monday’s trip to Tottenham. 

He said: “Obviously, the hierarchy think he is the man for the job. I’ve been told I need to prepare the team for Monday. Whether Remi has been given the position and is maybe in the stand to watch, I don’t know, that is going to be an ongoing thing.

“He was a decent footballer at Arsenal, they don’t have many bad players over the years, and he has got a good pedigree as a coach. If, at the end of the season, Aston Villa are still in the Premier League then it’s a good appointment. Arsène Wenger came in and never had any Premier League experience.”

Garde is on a sabbatical from Lyon.

Press Association

Tags: Aston Villa, Misc Rumor

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Blatter Blames Platini For Backing Out Of Pact To Give US World Cup

Oct 30, 2015 1:30 PM

Sepp Blatter blames Michel Platini backing out of a secret FIFA pact to award the 2022 World Cup to the United States.

Blatter's allegations in an interview with the Financial Times come almost a year after a FIFA ethics investigation exonerated 2018 host Russia and 2022 winner Qatar of corruption in winning the contentious dual votes in 2010.

Blatter is provisionally suspended from the FIFA presidency while under investigation for financial wrongdoing.

AP

Tags: World Cup

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Benitez Denies Banning Sergio Ramos From Drinking Beer

Oct 30, 2015 11:22 AM

Rafa Benitez has denied claims he's "too serious" as a coach and likes to micromanage small details such as the nutrition habits of his players.

"There are people who think that I am too serious," Benitez said. "I read nonsense that people believe, like I control the olive oil on the salads, or that I have banned [Sergio] Ramos from drinking beer.

"I have been away eight years, I see my barrio [neighbourhood] and the people and I greet them normally. It has changed little. Just by being Madrid coach makes you closer to people you do not have time to deal with."

Dermot Corrigan/ESPN

Tags: Real Madrid

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Martinez Coy On Possible Sale Of Romelu Lukaku To PSG

Oct 31, 2015 11:04 AM

Roberto Martinez has declined to comment on reports that Everton would sell Romelu Lukaku if they received the right offer.

Mino Raiola reportedly told a French radio station they had been given the manager’s blessing amid rumors of interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

“I’m not here to try to do the job of an agent," said Martinez. "I’m not going to entertain any sort of rumors and speculation. I have to do that during the transfer window, against my wishes, so as you can understand I’m quite happy now not to go into any comments.”

Lukaku is the most expensive signing in the history of Everton.

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Tags: Everton, Paris Saint-Germain, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Semedo: Cristiano Ronaldo Likely To Finish Career In England
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009.

ESPN

Ramires Signs Extension With Chelsea Through 2019
Ramires joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2010 and he has since made 241 appearances for the Blues.

ESPN

Guardiola Cites Gregg Popovich On Success Needing Time
Pep Guardiola insists Bayern Munich's defeat in last season's Champions League against Barcelona was actually a highlight for him.

FourFourTwo

Klopp: Cameron Brannagan Has 'Everything You Need For Midfield Player'
Cameron Brannagan has signed a long-term contract with Liverpool and figures to be part of Jurgen Klopp's plans.

James Orr/The Independent

Arsenal Targeting Gonzalo Higuain For January Transfer Window
Gonzalo Higuain has eight goals and two assists in 10 matches.

ESPN

Angel Di Maria Never Wanted To Leave Madrid For United
Angel di Maria appears happier with Paris Saint-Germain than he did with Manchester United.

ESPN

Jose Mourinho Cleared To Be On Touchline Against Liverpool
Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands at West Ham last week.

Dominic Fifield/The Guardian

NBC's EPL Ratings Up 19 Percent Over Last Season
NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus predicted the company wouldn't make money on the transaction, positioning it more as a loss-leader, but is already hedging those remarks.

Matthew Futterman/Wall Street Journal

Barcelona Could Play In Ligue 1 If Catalonia Wins Independence
La Liga president Javier Tebas said last month that Barcelona would no longer be able to participate in the competition if the club's home region became an independent entity.

FourFourTwo

Juventus Rejected Multiple $92M Bids For Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba is under contract with Juventus until June 2019.

FourFourTwo

Zidane: Real Madrid Aren't Selling Ronaldo, Bale
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale have been linked to moves to Manchester United at various points.

FourFourTwo

Guus Hiddink Open To Chelsea Return If Mourinho Fired
Guus Hiddink took Chelsea's job on a temporary basis in 2009 after the dismissal of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

ESPN

Premier League Asked To Consider Adopting Rooney Rule
There are no black managers in the Premier League and only six at the Football League's 72 clubs.

Louise Taylor

Xavi Believes Wayne Rooney Needs To Play In Deeper Position
Wayne Rooney has struggled playing as a center forward this season.

ESPN

Agent: Zlatan Could Sign Everywhere, Including Miami
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has most recently been linked to David Beckham's proposed MLS franchise in Miami.

Mark Rodden/ESPN

Blatter: 2018, 2022 World Cups Were Chosen Before Vote
Sepp Blatter is claiming there was an agreement in place to award the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to Russia and the United States before voting had begun.

James Riach/The Guardian

Abby Wambach Announces Retirement From Soccer
Abby Wambach said before the World Cup this past summer in Canada that she wanted to cap her 15-year career with the game's most prestigious championship.

AP

Chelsea Interested In Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti If Mourinho Fired
Roman Abramovich's long-term target is Pep Guardiola but he is not believed to be interested in managing Chelsea.

Miguel Delaney/ESPN

Jose Mourinho's Camp Contacts PSG, Inter Milan
Jose Mourinho's camp has already begun to make contingency plans in case he's fired by Chelsea.

Miguel Delaney/ESPN

Ranieri: Jamie Vardy Could Join Real Madrid
Jamie Vardy has been linked with a move to Real Madrid by reports in Spain.

Tom Davis/Goal.com