'Fantastic': Atalanta boss blown away by one Arsenal star, Ademola Lookman calls him 'incredible'

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 20, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

‘Beautiful’ was the word Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini used to describe Arsenal before Thursday’s Champions League opener.

But, as Tottenham Hotspur found out last weekend and as Manchester City will discover again this, Mikel Arteta’s side can be pretty damn belligerent too when they want to be.

After restricting Spurs to an XG of just 0.7 – William Saliba and matchwinner Gabriel Magalhaes justifying Rio Ferdinand’s ‘best in Europe’ claim – this time it was the turn of another free-wheeling, usually high-scoring side to bang their heads in vain against Arsenal’s brick wall backline.

On the rare occasions that Atalanta did manage to break through, Thomas Partey gifting the Europa League holders a penalty just after half-time, goalkeeper David Raya would come to the rescue and secure yet another clean sheet.

First denying Mateo Retegui from 12 yards, the Spain international then launched himself to his left to keep out the Argentine-born Italy striker for the second time in a matter of seconds.

If his penalty save was a little straightforward – Retegui’s spot-kick was poor – then his remarkable reaction stop on the rebound was anything but.

Penalty hero David Raya saves Arsenal in Atalanta clash

“I feel sorry for the lads, we played a great match,” Retegui told Sky Italia, squandering comfortably the best chances in a game short on goal-mouth activity. “I missed the penalty, but you learn from your mistakes.

“The goalkeeper made a great save but, on the second ball, I made a mistake. I didn’t see him because he got up quickly.”

Raya, who’s form since arriving from Brentford forced Aaron Ramsdale into a fresh start at Southampton, continues to be arguably the most underrated goalkeeper in the game. More heroics like this – on a stage as wide as the Champions League – and the one-time Blackburn Rovers glovesman will finally start to get the credit he deserves.

“It was an incredible double save by Raya. Incredible,” sighs Ademola Lookman, the former Everton youngster who’s hat-trick stunned Bayer Leverkusen in May’s Europa final, via the UEFA website.

“We take it game by game. It’s the first (group-stage match), so we’ll see. It was a balanced match.”

“It’s a good point,” adds Gasperini, in quotes reported by Tuttomercatoweb, after lauding Arteta in the build-up to Thursday’s clash. “It’s normal, there’s the regret of the missed penalty. Going ahead at that moment would have been a reward for the whole team.

“It was a very useful match for us. We played against a great team, we come out of this match with a performance from the attackers in the defensive phase that had never been there before. This helped the collective performance of the whole defence.

“The penalty save was good, but the recovery on the second header was fantastic.”

A point on the board in the Champions League

The concern, for Arteta, will be that Arsenal never really threatened a goal of their own on the night. With Gabriel Martinelli firing their best chance a mile over the crossbar – no goals now in his last 17 Gunners appearances – the visitors XG didn’t even creep over one on the night.

Fortunately, on an off night for Arsenal’s forward players, the Premier League challengers can rely upon their stalwarts at the other end to bail them out.

“I was lucky to go in the right direction and save it,” Raya, who now has four clean sheets in five games, tells TNT Sport when running through his Retegui denial. “I was lucky to get the rebound as well. I was quite quick to get up and save it.

“It’s great to be able to keep a clean sheet and help the team get a point. It took a long time to confirm the penalty, so I made the decision to go to the bench and went to talk to the goalkeeping coach (Inaki Cana) about where to throw myself.

“He helped me a lot in every way, so credit to him too.”

Raya, interestingly, could have been joined at Arsenal by another Spanish stopper. A £21 million bid for Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, however, failed in August.

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'Harsh': Thierry Henry slams Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali's call at Chelsea

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 19, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

There still seem to be dark clouds hovering over Stamford Bridge despite Enzo Maresca’s positive start.

There is a power struggle at Chelsea, with Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali at the top of the tree – Eghbali’s Clearlake Capital have a 65.1% stake in the club.

Boehly was front and centre of the London club when Roman Abramovich departed Chelsea in 2022 and the new faces arrived.

To say it has been drama-filled and emotional since then would be an understatement because the team have gone from winning the Champions League in 2021 to finishing out of Europe altogether only a few years later.

It has been well-documented that Chelsea have spent like crazy and it has got many people, far and wide, talking, talking and talking.

Unfortunately, for the powers that be, whilst they finished sixth last term, they haven’t had the stability they would have wanted.

From Thomas Tuchel to Chelsea’s summer appointment Maresca, they have had more managers than goals scored by Manchester City’s crazy machine, Erling Haaland.

The last man to depart Chelsea was Mauricio Pochettino, with the former Tottenham boss leaving as soon as the 2023/24 Premier League season ended.

Thierry Henry thinks those in West London were ‘on their way’ with Pochettino in the dugout. They finished the campaign strongly, reached two finals and ended up sixth.

The legendary striker slammed Chelsea and stated that it was ‘harsh’ from their perspective to let the Argentine go.

Fast forward to the present and Pochettio is the new coach of the USA men’s national team, with Henry reacting to that move, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (17/09/24 at 7:05 pm).

Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea exit

“There is an understanding you need to have with what’s happening in the US, Pochettino is clever enough to understand that and know what he is going to have to do,” said Henry.

“He did an amazing job with Espanyol. An amazing job. He did amazingly with Southampton. I thought he was doing well, he was on his way at Chelsea, without mentioning Tottenham, but I just did. But he was doing well and it was harsh the way he got the sack at Chelsea.

“I think he is clever enough to understand what he needs to do (for the US job). He needs to do his research and make them play a certain way.”

Life under Enzo Maresca

The promotion-winning boss with Leicester City has started fairly well and you just question what are his objectives this season.

If Chelsea don’t get into the Champions League, will they boot him out? It would be stupid if that’s the case.

READ MORE: Robert Sanchez tells Chelsea star to calm down for having a go at teammate v Bournemouth

You suspect that he needs to do what Pochettino didn’t manage and that’s win a trophy because it will shut down a lot of outside noise.

Then, perhaps, like Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, he will be given extra time to run because stability is needed more than anything at the club.

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Slovan coach shares 4 reasons why Celtic were so good, they were 'impossible' to stop

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 19, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Celtic have been on the wrong end of some Champions League thumpings over the years.

Bayern Munich. Paris Saint-Germain. That 6-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid just last season, to name but three.

But as a Celtic side inspired by their Japanese stars put Slovan Bratislava to their Samurai sword on an instantly-famous European night at Parkhead, it was just nice for Brendan Rodgers to be on the other end of a crushing, highly lopsided scoreline at last.

Celtic not only won their Champions League opener for the first ever team. They blitzed it. They pureed, mashed and sliced Slovan Bratislava, with the eventual 5-1 victory arguably flattering the beleaguered visitors more than it did their beguiling hosts.

Arne Engels, the £11 million summer signing, set about repaying his club-record transfer fee with a fizzing corner to set up Liam Scales’ opener. After Kyogo Furuhashi doubled the lead in the 47th minute, following some dazzling work from Nicolas Kuhn, Engels then opened his Hoops account from the penalty spot.

Celtic hammer Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League

A gorgeous finish against the run of play from Slovan’s Kevin Wimmer threatened a fightback, but Celtic snuffed out any fears almost immediately as Kyogo, Reo Hatate and the irrepressible Daezen Maeda combined for the fourth.

A goal made in Japan, but constructed in Scotland.

Substitute Adam Idah then put the glacier cherry on top of the cake with a sublime one-touch finish on the run late on. Celtic securing their biggest-ever Champions League group-stage win in style.

“Of course, I congratulate Celtic on a well-deserved victory, even if it was a cruel one for us,” sighs Vladimir Weiss Sr, the Slovan Bratislava head coach speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel.

“It was played in a fantastic atmosphere. We managed the first-half well, Vlado (Weiss Jr, the manager’s son) had a chance to equalise. Ufortunately, we didn’t score.

“In the second-half, two quick goals decided the course of the match.”

“We lost 1-5. Of course, I can’t be satisfied with the result, but I’m not disappointed with performance. Celtic were very effective. We wanted to play football and I think we left a decent impression, even though we lost by a margin of class.”

Weiss Sr was, however, disappointed by how easy his Slovan side made it for Celtic at times.

Playing into the hands of Rodgers’ high-pressing team, Slovan lost possession countless times in their own half; Callum McGregor and co snapping into tackles for a Hoops side who never once relented in their pressure.

Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi and Arne Engels shine

“You have to appreciate the quality of the opponent, the excellent players and the excellent coach in Rodgers,” Weiss adds. “In the three and a half years with Slovan, it was definitely the most difficult match in terms of intensity.

“It was very instructive for us. We were ready for everything, but that quality showed.”

Weiss then highlighted four areas of the game in which Slovan simply could not live with the reigning Scottish champions.

“Their pressing, passing speed, (their ability to) open the game, (their) one-touch play. They were better at that. They should be congratulated,” the former Slovakia and Georgia manager says.

“At home, we would have a better chance for a better result. It was practically impossible in this atmosphere.

“They have typologically smaller but fast players. We have taller ones. They were faster, more accurate (with their passing), better quality in many phases of the game.

“Celtic deservedly won – but you won’t hear any criticism of my players. I am proud that they are here, the emotion they have given to this club.”

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'He's a top player': Mark Robins admits Coventry simply couldn't cope with one Tottenham star

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 19, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

When Tottenham Hotspur Ange Postecoglou decided to bring some of his big hitters to Coventry City, he surely would have hoped he wouldn’t have to use them.

In the midst of a gruelling fixture list – defeated in the North London derby last weekend and with the Europa League to come – a Carabao Cup trip to second-tier Coventry City felt like the ideal moment for Postecoglou to shuffle his pack and give his fringe players the chance to shine.

It was a chance few of them seized.

Timo Werner struggled badly, Archie Gray was overloaded at right-back, and Pape Matar Sarr endured a strangely sloppy night in possession. Dominic Solanke, starved of service, is no closer to reaching his proposed 20-goal target.

Postecoglou’s frustrations were never more evident, meanwhile, than when he introduced Heung-Min Son and James Maddison shortly before Brandon Thomas-Asante gave Coventry a lead that did not exactly flatter the hosts.

But, as is often the case on occasions such as this, the sheer Premier League-level quality of the visitors cancelled out the bravery and the belligerence of Mark Robins’ side.

James Maddison changes the game for Tottenham

Substitutes Dejan Kulsevski and Djed Spence combined for Tottenham’s 88th minute equaliser.

Brennan Johnson – another who came off the bench to replace the injured Wilson Odobert – then ensured there was to be no penalty shoot-out in the Midlands as he raced in behind and clipped a composed finish into the far corner.

“Lets face is, they are a top team,” sighs Robins, via Coventry City’s official YouTube channel, while describing Spurs as the ‘best pressing team in Europe‘.

“And when they make the changes, when they brought Son on, when they brought James Maddison on, when they bring Kulusevski on having already brought on Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence…”

Maddison might not have scored or even set up either of Spurs’ two late goals on the night.

But Robins feels that his 62nd minute introduction – against his former employers – was the moment which turned the game in Spurs’ favour.

Maddison took the game by the proverbial scruff of the neck, dictating things from the centre and opening up gaps that a tiring Coventry simply couldn’t plug.

Coventry City undone by one of their own

“You have got to look at when Maddison comes on. He gets hold of the ball, he allows (his team-mates) to move into positions where he can find them,” Robins says of the Coventry-born playmaker, who came through the ranks and made his debut for the Sky Blues back in 2014.

“Even then, the chances that they had we snuffed out. We got some good blocks and headers. We defended really well. And then the once chance they get in the box, they just get a toe-end to it.

“I can’t responsibility for (Maddison’s rise) at all!” Robins adds. “He’s a top player and he’s somebody who came through our academy. I think everyone here is proud of him and what he achieved.

“It’s testament to what we do here, but also his quality, his character and his personality have got him to the stage he’s at.”

Ahead of Saturday’s meeting with London neighbours Brentford, Postecoglou will be hoping his charges can take some semblance of confidence of a dramatic late fightback on the road, even if it was against Championship opposition.

Johnson, in particular, should feel a little lighter this morning after a difficult couple of days for a player who appears to have become something of a scapegoat amongst the harsher members of the Tottenham fanbase.

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Coventry boss says Tottenham are 'the best team in Europe' at one thing after EFL Cup clash

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 19, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is facing criticism really for the first time since taking over the Premier League outfit in 2023.

With the novelty of his free-flowing football and his refreshing personality wearing off a little – Postecoglou was immediately taken to the hearts of Spurs supporters by the virtue of simply not being Antonio Conte or Jose Mourinho – some rather awkward conversations are now starting to be had as the critics grow both in volume and number.

Is Postecoglou really the man to take Tottenham back towards the summit of English football?

Is there a limit to what can realistically be achieved from a tactical approach which tends to leave the back door wide open? Why have Spurs not solved the issues that plagued them last season, in particular a vulnerability to quick transitions and that set-piece Achilles heel.

Tottenham lost the North London derby last week in very predictable circumstances. Gabriel Magalhaes – outstanding alongside William Saliba again – crashed in a header right from under the nose of Guglielmo Vicario.

Postecoglou, in the aftermath of that disappointing home loss, was quick to point at his CV.

A CV which shows that, to quote the manager himself, he ‘always wins things in my second year’, via BBC Sport.

Tottenham Hotspur survive Carabao Cup scare at Coventry

Well, arguably Spurs’ best shot at silverware nearly slipped through their grasp on Wednesday night as second-tier Coventry City took a 1-0 lead into the 88th minute in the third-round of the EFL Cup.

A dramatic late fight back – goals from forgotten man Djed Spence and the unfairly maligned Brennan Johnson – kept Postecoglou’s second-season record intact.

And, while the straight-talking Aussie is facing a growing throng of doubters these days, Coventry boss Mark Robins was quick to defend his opposite number. The stats – for better or for worse – prove this is a Tottenham team with Postecoglou’s fingerprints all over it.

“They are the best pressing team in Europe at the moment,” Robins said, via Coventry’s official YouTube channel. “Also, they have more possession than any other team in Europe too.

“Those are the stats of the team we played against tonight. Even though there were some changes, they all train the same way and they are all top players.”

Substitutes Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson rescue Spurs

Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Radu Dragusin, Wilson Odobert, Fraser Forster and Timo Werner all came into the team.

But with Coventry taking the lead given to them by Brandon Thomas-Asante into the dying stages, Postecoglou was forced to dip into his fearsome armoury and bring on his sharp-shooters in an attempt to rescue Tottenham’s Carabao Cup campaign.

James Maddison, Heung-Min Son, Dejan Kulusevski and matchwinner Johnson all entered the fray.

“I’m going to try not to swear,” a deflated but proud Robins tells the Coventry Telegraph. “I thought we were good. I thought we were really good out of possession and got most things right.

“We still have to be more ruthless, let’s be honest. I keep saying; when life presents you with chances, we seem to not take those chances at this moment in time.

“I look back to the play-off final (in 2023) and the game against Manchester United. It was there for us, and the game was there for us again tonight. And we just didn’t manage to take it. There’s the disappointment but there are so many positive from the game.”

“From our perspective, yes, it’s disappointing that we didn’t see the job out and get over the line but there are lots and lots of positives from that tonight. And if you’re Tottenham Hotspur you are probably relieved to go through at our expense.”

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'Look at yourself': Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy argue about Tottenham star after win over Coventry

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 18, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

You can sense the frustration in Jamie O’Hara’s voice as Tottenham crawled to a 2-1 win over Coventry in the League Cup on Wednesday night.

Ange Postecoglou has had to take a lot of verbal hits this week after Arsenal beat Tottenham in the north London derby.

Spurs had the chance to put things right against Championship opposition, but with only a few minutes left on the clock, they were heading out and facing more misery.

But then Djed Spence and the under-fire Brennan Johnson scored to save the London club’s blushes and book their ticket to the next round. 

Tottenham know they aren’t winning the Premier League title, but the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League are competitions their fans are hoping they can win.

Realistically, the League Cup is the most likely one, followed by the FA Cup and then a European trophy.

But, for that to happen, Postecoglou’s all-action Tottenham side need to know how to put the ball in the back of the net. 

That’s why Spurs paid a club-record transfer for Dominic Solanke, but injury and no goal to his name after three games, have made things frustrating for the player.

O’Hara thinks that Solanke needs to look at himself and see what more he can do after his side failed to have a shot at goal in the first half.

But Jason Cundy defended the 27-year-old and argued ‘he’s come back from injury’ and ‘you have to cut him some slack’, as he told talkSPORT.

Dominic Solanke is yet to score for Tottenham 

“Solanke comes off after 60 minutes again, that’s got to be a talking point,” said O’Hara. “It’s not happening.” Cundy responded: “He needed minutes. That’s probably enough for him. In terms of his performance, nobody played well for Spurs.”

O’Hara argued: “Come on, for £60 million. I know price tags mean nothing. Like, come on. You have to make something happen for yourself. If you are staying on a football pitch for 60 minutes and you don’t have a shot. Surely, you have to look at yourself and go ‘I have got to do more’. I would be demanding the ball anywhere and having a shot from somewhere. He’s a striker and you haven’t had a shot.”

Cundy then pleaded: “He’s come back from an injury, Solanke. I am no defender of Spurs. You have got to cut him a little bit of slack. He has only just got there”. O’Hara added: “I get that. But, come on, we need a bit more from him.”

Dominic Solanke isn’t the problem

The service Solanke got in the north London derby was poor and that continued against Coventry, before that lucky ending.

Even Postecoglou knows that his side didn’t deserve to progress, but perhaps this is the luck and spark that they needed.

READ MORE: Dominic Solanke says player Tottenham sold is just ’incredible’

They have a tricky home tie against Brentford at the weekend, before their European adventure begins next week.

There are plenty of games to go around for Solanke to get off the mark and you fear if he still has a big fat zero to his name by next month, then things could really go wrong.

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Fonseca admits AC Milan could not cope with one Liverpool star, he's 'the most difficult to stop'

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 17, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Now, this will not be the first game that comes to mind when discussing famous Liverpool comebacks against AC Milan in the Champions League.

This is not the star-studded Rossoneri side of 2005.

This was not the Miracle of Istanbul, either. It certainly didn’t need to be.

Instead, Liverpool found themselves going up against AC Milan team who appeared to have been suffering an allergic reaction to set-piece marking.

The Merseyside giants made Christian Pulisic’s third minute opener redundant not so much through Arne Slot’s intricate tactical plans or a sizzling solo performance akin to Steven Gerrard’s in Turkey two decades ago, but instead some well-delivered set-pieces and some well-executed counter attacks.

If Slot was feeling any hint of pressure following Saturday’s shock home defeat to Nottingham Forest, then that is nothing compared to the burden on Paulo Fonseca’s shoulders.

Milan have won only one from five games since the former Leeds United and West Ham target was appointed to replace their 2022 Scudetto-winning head coach Stefano Pioli.

And, worryingly for him, the nature of that dismal collapse on home soil, during a much-anticipated Champions League opener, was as much down to Milan’s own failings as it was to Liverpool’s strengths.

Liverpool beat AC Milan in Champions League opener

“We played against Liverpool, who are a great team,” Fonseca tells Sky Italia, doubts already growing amongst a hair-trigger local press. “We started the game well. Then, they had a chance on the counterattack and scored two goals from set pieces that changed the game and our mental balance.”

Liverpool cancelled out Pulisic’s early strike and then took a 2-1 lead into half-time with two almost identical goals. First, it was Trent Alexander-Arnold flashing a cross onto the head of Ibrahima Konate.

Then, Kostas Tsimikas fired a clone of a dead ball into a crowded penalty area. This time, Virgil van Dijk towered above a stranded Mike Maignan to nod home.

“In these types of games, it’s the details that make the difference. You can’t make mistakes,” Fonseca sighs. “I think Liverpool are more of a team than us and they showed it. We have to work to have continuity.

“After the second goal conceded, the team never played. So, it’s difficult.”

Mo Salah shines in San Siro triumph

A thrilling counter-attack – one of many Liverpool executed against a Milan side frequently ripped apart in transition – saw Cody Gakpo cross for Dominik Szoboszlai to convert from close range and kill the game as a contest in the 67th minute.

There would be no goal for Mo Salah, however. Though not for a lack of trying.

After one of his poorest displays in a Liverpool shirt against Nottingham Forest – and amid the continued rumbling of that Saudi Arabian interest – this was the Salah the Reds fans have come to know and idolise.

He hit the bar twice in the first-half while giving Theo Hernandez – a superb attacking full-back but often a poor defensive one – the runaround.

“We still make too many mistakes,” Fonseca, who’s initial arrival sparked plenty of debate following a mixed previous spell in Italy with AS Roma, says in quotes reported by Redmen TV on YouTube. “In the one-against-one, in the individual game, and in other phases, we have had a very bad time.

“Especially trying to tackle Salah, trying to limit his movements. Salah and other players are the most difficult players to (stop).”

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