Sport

Iwobi To Return To Football In Feb

Published

5 months ago

January 9, 2023

H B. Ray

Alex Iwobi, a midfielder for Everton, is anticipated to play against Arsenal on February 3 after missing the previous three weeks due to ankle ligament damage sustained during Friday’s 3-1 FA Cup third-round loss to Manchester United.

Fidel Info reports that following a vicious challenge by Tyrell Malacia in the 47th minute, the 26-year-old former Arsenal star injured his ankle ligaments.

Following a scan on Sunday, it was determined that the Nigerian would not need to sit out for an extended amount of time to receive treatment.

“Alex Iwobi is expected to be out for around three weeks with the ankle ligament injury sustained against Manchester United on Friday,” the club wrote on their website.

“The Everton midfielder was taken off on a stretcher early in the second half of the FA Cup tie at Old Trafford.

“Scan results on Saturday confirmed a lateral ligament injury that will be managed conservatively by the club’s medical team at Finch Farm.”

The injury is a further setback for Everton, who last week’s humiliating home loss to Brighton caused them to slip into the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Iwobi thanked Everton supporters for their support and assured them that he would be back soon in a post on social media.

The midfielder wrote, “Appreciate the love, back soon.”

Iwobi, who played in all 18 of Everton’s Premier League games this season, had been one of the team’s standout players prior to getting hurt. He had one goal and five assists.

With 15 points from 18 games, the Toffees are in 18th place in the table, and Iwobi’s absence will be noticed as Frank Lampard struggles to keep his team out of the relegation zone.

Football

Leicester, Leeds Relegated From Champions League

Published

1 day ago

May 28, 2023

H B. Ray

Everton prevailed in the battle for survival over Leicester and Leeds to remain in the Premier League.

Fidel Info reports that Leicester and Leeds will join already-relegated Southampton in the Championship after Everton’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth forced their relegation.

Even though they defeated West Ham 2-1, Leicester—the Premier League champions just seven years ago—fell into the second division for the first time since 2014.

Leeds’ three-year stay in the top-flight ended with a 4-1 defeat against Tottenham.

Football

Done deal! Mauricio Pochettino signs Chelsea contract to succeed Frank Lampard as Blues boss

Published

1 day ago

May 28, 2023

Olayiwola Quadril

Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly signed the contract that will see him become Chelsea’s new manager in the 2023-24 campaign.

The Blues have worked their way through three managers this season, with Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel relieved of his duties in September 2022. Graham Potter then lasted just 31 games at the helm, with Frank Lampard returning to Stamford Bridge as interim boss.

Several candidates have been linked with the most prominent of Premier League posts since then, but The Telegraph reports that Pochettino has agreed to take the reins.

The former Southampton and Tottenham head coach has been out of work since leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the 2021-22 season.

Pochettino boasts plenty of experience when it comes to the English top-flight, while he also guided Spurs to the Champions League final in 2019, but he will be inheriting a Chelsea squad that has underperformed badly this term. They are destined to finish in the bottom-half of the table despite investing around £600 million ($741m) across the last two transfer window

Lampard’s final game in charge of Chelsea will be against Newcastle on Sunday, with Argentine tactician Pochettino then set to pick up the managerial baton heading towards the summer transfer window and another rebuilding project.

Football

LaLiga: Lionel Messi to take over as Barcelona captain

Published

1 day ago

May 28, 2023

Olayiwola Quadril

Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi will reclaim the captaincy of Barcelona if he returns to the Catalan giants this summer.

Following the departure of Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Gerard Pique from the club, Blaugrana squad members will once again cast their votes to select the captains of the first team next season.

The consensus within the Camp Nou inner sanctum is clear: the squad itself should elect its own captain, according to Sportskeeda.

Messi’s return is looming ever closer, and the Argentine striker, if he decides to return to Camp Nou, is seen as a highly probable contender for the captaincy.

The Barcelona hierarchy is reportedly prepared to do anything within their power to bring back the greatest player in the club’s illustrious history.

Messi is held in the highest esteem within the Barcelona dressing room, as his influence stretches beyond his former teammates, reaching the newer entrants as well.

Notably, Messi had previously donned the captain’s armband for Barca, succeeding Andres Iniesta in 2018