Leicester City 3, Derby County 1: Relief for Claudio Ranieri as Foxes ease pressure on under-fire boss with FA Cup victory February 9, 2017 Under-fire Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri insists the gloom engulfing the club has started to lift after his side navigated their potentially treacherous FA Cup fourth round replay with Championship side Derby. Extra-time was needed after Derby’s Abdoul Camara cancelled out Andy King’s opener, but substitute Wilfred Ndidi, with his first goal for the Foxes, and [...]
Mayor Sadiq Khan facing calls to make London football clubs foot £5m policing bill February 8, 2017 Mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to ensure that London’s football clubs pay the £5m it costs to police their matches every year. The London Assembly agreed a motion on Wednesday asking Khan to lobby government for a change in the law that would make clubs foot the full bill for policing. Clubs are currently [...]
Bill Gates ignored opportunity to buy Liverpool ahead of 2010 FSG takeover February 8, 2017 World's richest man, tech pioneer, philanthropist…football club owner? Bill Gates, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world's wealthiest people, passed up on the opportunity to add the latter title to his resume after being offered Liverpool Football Club in 2010. Intermediaries trying to find a buyer for the Premier League club from [...]
“I will have failed”: Football Association chairman Greg Clarke offers to resign if he doesn’t reform organisation February 8, 2017 Football Association chairman Greg Clarke says he will step down from his role if he fails to "deliver real change" to the under-fire organisation. Ahead of Thursday's House of Commons debate on a motion of no confidence in the FA, Clarke said he had already begun a process to improve its governance. The Commons Culture, [...]
Leicester owe me for Premier League title, insists Claudio Ranieri after Foxes hand Italian vote of confidence February 7, 2017 Under-fire Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri insists he is owed the chance to stay at the club even if a turbulent season ends in relegation after being handed a vote of confidence. The Foxes are in danger of becoming the first defending champions to be relegated since 1938. They have won only two of their last [...]
Leicester players and fans should be rallying behind Claudio Ranieri – but the next two games could decide his fate February 7, 2017 They may still end up losing their next four games, but whether they do or not, Leicester’s public backing for manager Claudio Ranieri today was the right thing to do and I take my hat off to them. These are difficult times for the Foxes, whose Premier League-winning dream season has been followed by the rude awakening [...]
Troy Deeney interview: Watford’s captain on how prison spurred him to the Premier League February 7, 2017 For most players it’s a motivational pep talk, a successful loan move or a dramatic moment on the pitch that is the catalyst for propelling a career to new heights. But for Watford striker Troy Deeney, the script really begins at the moment the door to his cell in Warrington’s Thorn Cross prison slammed shut at [...]
European football clubs crush January transfer window spending record, splashing out €200m more than previous high February 7, 2017 The biggest leagues in European football spent more money than ever before in this year's January transfer window, crushing the previous record by more than €200m (£172.6m). According to research from academics at the CIES Football Observatory, clubs in the top divisions in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain collectively spent €742m (£640.3m) in the four-week [...]
Antonio Conte on turning Chelsea from ugly ducklings into beautiful swans February 6, 2017 Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed that he relied on his single-mindedness during a mixed start to his task of reviving the club's fortunes. The Blues seem set to sweep to the Premier League title in Conte's first season, but the Italian admits a stuttering start at Stamford Bridge tested his self-belief. “The start of [...]
Leicester City 0, Manchester United 3: Claudio Ranieri denies mutiny claims after champions’ relegation fears worsen February 5, 2017 Leicester City 0, Manchester United 3 Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri dismissed suggestions of a dressing-room mutiny after a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat deepened the champions’ relegation fears. Man-of-the-match Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juan Mata struck as Manchester United won comfortbaly at the King Power Stadium to boost their Champions League qualification hopes. Read [...]