Author Archive: index

RAMOS SHOULD GROW UP

index July 13, 2017 Spain Videos CHAMPIONS, EURO, final

For a player that has managed to be around and active in the terrains of professional football, have an amazing run with both club and country, Sergio Ramos has time and again betrayed the elder statesman status he ought to be living at this time and age of his career.

The Andalusian is a fine player no doubt and an intelligent one even given how he seamlessly transitioned from being a right back to a center back. However, the thing with professional football is that you may play over 50 matches a season but the tiny bits of edge-of-the-cliff moments most times define a whole season or tournament.

A missed tackle, split second of poor positioning, lack of absolute concentration, all do most of the damages encountered in crucial matches. That is where Ramos falls short. It is not as if that characteristic is all that matters, rather, it has to do with the fact that as players get old, self control becomes their ultimate fort and while the teenagers allow their emotions to get the better of them, the veterans prove to handle anything that comes their way with better judgments. (more…)

Spain International keen on Manchester City Exit

index June 16, 2017 Spain Videos

Spain international Nolito is reportedly eyeing a potential return home following an unfruitful first season with Manchester City.

The former Celta Vigo attacker joined the Citizens for &pound13.8m last summer after he got the chance to work with Catalan tactician Pep Guardiola.

Nolito made a bright start to his Citizens career with six goals and two assists in his first 10 outings, but he therein fell out of favour under Pep with Leroy Sane being preferred ahead of him in the pecking order.

The ex-Barcelona man had been restricted to just nine league starts over the course of the previous season, and he now hints that he could move on in order to reclaim his place with Spain for the 2018 World Cup, he told El Transistor: “I am under the contract, so the club will decide, but I want to leave. I haven’t played in six months. I will do everything possible to make Spain’s World Cup squad.

“I have learnt very, very little English – it’s very hard. Just ‘tomorrow’, ‘good morning’, ‘good afternoon’ and a little more. My daughter’s face has changed colour — it looks like she’s been living in a cave.” (more…)

Spain underperforming at the moment

index May 4, 2017 Spain Videos Brazil, CHAMPIONS, EURO, Football, Highlights, Spain

New Spain national team JulenLopetegui believes that the national team is underperforming at the moment and that they will need to improve.

He said that there are already some good players in the team and that you just need at the quality of La Liga to understand that there is some good potential in the team. He said that the national team has been underperforming ever since they won the World Cup and the Euros and that they will need to improve.

Lopetegui said that he accepted to take charge of the team as he feels that there is some good potential in the Spanish team and it is up to the players to rise to the occasion and make sure they deliver the goods.

The new Spain, national team coach, said that he has been observing the national team for quite some time and he feels that there needs to be a new winning mentality in the team. He said that the players have become quite comfortable and it is up to the manager to bring this motivation and determination in the team. (more…)

SUAREZ TO APPEAL RED CARD

index March 28, 2017 Spain Videos CHAMPIONS, EURO, Highlights, Spain

Luis Suarez is hoping an appeal will save him from missing the Copa del Rey final after being sent off for Barcelona in a bad-tempered semi-final, second leg against Atletico Madrid.

Suarez scored the vital goal as three players were dismissed in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday that secured the team’s place in a fourth straight final, Barca winning 3-2 on aggregate.

However, the Uruguayan – sent off for the first time in three years since his move to Spain – claimed a stray elbow on Koke as the game entered stoppage time was not even a foul.

“It makes me laugh because it was like he [the referee] wanted to do it,” Suarez told Gol Television.

“We need to see if we can appeal the second yellow because it isn’t even a foul, but we already know how these things go.

“That is why I am so angry because it was absolutely nothing. The first yellow was also for the first foul I committed in the game, but you could see it coming.” (more…)

RAMIREZ JOINS TEAMMATES IN SPAIN

index February 22, 2017 Spain Videos CHAMPIONS, EURO, Football, Highlights, Live, Spain, world

Star player Gaston Ramirez has joined up with his teammates in Spain as he is set to continue with the club this term.

The player was heavily linked with a move to struggling Leicester City but Boro disallowed the deal.

The player is now keen to rebuild his reputation at the club after he handed in a transfer request to exit the Riverside Stadium. The former Southampton player has not featured in the last six games for Boro due to a knee injury he picked up. The 26-year old playmaker would join teammates in Spain for a four-day training break so he can return refreshed for the race to finish the campaign well.

“He is and he will be an important player in this team and he knows that. He know the effort that the club made to sign him last season and therefore that the club made this summer to sign him permanently,” Boro manager Aitor Karanka said. (more…)

Pep Guardiola favors Changing Teams every year

index January 28, 2017 Spain Videos

Pep Guardiola believes that one of the primary objectives of him switching teams after every few years is the desire to have more and more idea of the game of Football.

As per Guardiola, if that desire to gain knowledge was not there, he would not have moved out of Barcelona. His tenure there was going like a dream and he could have glued himself to that position of Barcelona coach. The sword of axe was definitely not hanging over him.

But, he had to see other places, other leagues, different approaches, different conditions and that took him first to Germany and now to England where he is now coping with different ‘refereeing methods’ too as he pointed out in one of his latest press conferences. (more…)

Diego Costa is out injured and David Villa has the chance to return

index December 13, 2016 Spain Videos

Chelsea’s Diego Costa has recently sustained a thigh injury that has forced him to stay out of the latest training sessions of the Spanish national football team and this has compelled the head coach Julen Lopetegui on having to search for a replacement which is what the 50 year old Spanish tactician did as he recently called up Iago Aspas.

While Diego Costa is out injured and unable to perform, Julen Lopetegui opted to give Iago Aspas the chance to perform for the Spanish national side while Costa is unable to compete.
The 50 year old manager Julen Lopetegui has also recently talked about the possibility of calling up David Villa and give the veteran attacker the chance to come back to the international stage after having retired on 2014.

David Villa decided to retire from the international scene on 2014 after having scored 59 goals in 97 appearances but Julen Lopetegui has hinted out the possibility of making a surprise call up as Lopetegui appears to be closely monitoring David Villa in the MLS.

“The truth is that I saw him very well and playing with a lot of intensity. Villa continues to play at a very good level and in the future we will see if he can return. We don’t close the door to any player and we always have consideration for players that can help the national team. Villa is well, playing with a lot of rhythm, scoring lots of goals and showing a great attitude. He is a player who has done priceless things for Spanish football.” Spain’s Julen Lopetegui said.

David Villa is a 34 year old attacker who is currently performing for the MLS side, New York City FC and the Spanish player is a hugely influential player for the American outfit as he was the top goal-scorer of New York City FC after scoring 18 goals during the 2015-16 season and Villa has continued his impact with the club by netting 22 goals in 32 appearances.

HERNANDEZ CONSIDERS SPAIN MOVE

index November 8, 2016 Spain Videos

Lucas Hernandez currently plays for the youth team of France, his birth country but is yet unsure of whether he would keep on representing them up till the senior level.

Hernandez, who plies his trade with Atletico Madrid at Club level as a defender has been embroiled in a tug of war over the right choice to make after Spain indicated their interest in him.

Hernandez was born in Marseille, France and had taken the decision to play for France youth side at first. With this move from Spain, he is unsure yet of what he really wants to do.

In an interview just recently, the 20 year old defender suggests that he would carefully go through his options before making a decision on whom to play for.

“That’s a personal decision. At the moment, I’m happy playing for the France U21 side, but the future depends on who I can play for.”

Hernandez hopes to feature in the Champions League game to be played on Wednesday against Rostov. He has still indicated yet that there is an intense competition in Diego Simeone’s squad.

“New players are contributing a lot and this is being seen on the pitch and in the performances,” he continued.
“And of course this year will hopefully be better than the past. (more…)

Is Iker Casillas international career over?

index October 22, 2016 Spain Videos EURO, Football, Goals, Madrid, Spain, world

On June 30 of 2016, Vicente del Bosque decided to step down from coaching the Spanish national football team and around 1 month later, it was confirmed that Julen Lopetegui was the man selected to replace Vicente del Bosque and become the new coach of Spain.

Even with this managerial change in the Spanish national side, it seems like Iker Casillas can’t change his fortune as he has had to settle with a place on the sidelines as a 2nd choice goal-keeper behind David de Gea.

Iker Casillas is 35 years old and it’s not surprising to see such a veteran player having to be dropped more regularly to the bench while other younger performers are getting the chance to showcase their skills and this is the case of David de Gea from Manchester United.

David de Gea has already demonstrated his skills and he is deserving of taking up the 1rst spot in the Spain national team. The young shot-stopper is considered to be as one of the best goal-keepers in the world along with: Manuel Neuer and Thibaut Courtois.

For the entirety of Iker Casillas career he has been the main man in between the posts for Spain but times change and with the uprising of David de Gea, it’s hard to deny that the star player of Manchester United is a world class player and that he truly does deserve to become the new undisputed shot-stopper of Spain. (more…)

RODRIGUEZ SET TO LEAVE SPAIN THIS SUMMER

index September 13, 2016 Spain Videos EURO, Football, Highlights, Spain

Real Madrid could release the Columbian skipper this summer for a move away from Spain, according to reports making the rounds.

Express Sport claims that Chelsea coach Antonio Conte has received the go-ahead to submit a bid for the player as he is desperate for playing time. The report claims that the management would allow the deal of up to £60 million go through if the coach deems him an asset.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane does not have Rodriguez on his priority list and isn’t keen to adjust the current to make him fit in, despite the huge transfer fee spent on getting the Columbian after the 2014 World Cup. However, popular Spanish football pundit Guillem Balague told Sky Sports that Madrid could be the ones behind the story to attract bids from interested clubs. Chelsea remains the top club keen on landing Rodriguez.

“Real Madrid will be happy to let James go this summer. It’s been reported Chelsea are willing to pay £60.1 million for the Colombia international.
“We will see if they are willing to pay that sort of money, but it sounds to me that Real are leaking this story to attract interest in the player. He’s not worth that money and I’m pretty sure Chelsea know that,” Balague said.
(more…)