Category: Tournament

Charles Leclerc on Ferrari upgrade for Sochi: “We don’t expect much performance from it”

Do you feel like you have outperformed the car this season, making the difference?
Charles Leclerc: “Overall this year I feel myself in a very good form, better than last year. I am trying to push the car at its limit in every session which helped my consistency. Surely I made mistakes sometimes, but there are also races where I took the risks and it worked out. We managed to do some podiums, lucky or not, we managed to do some podiums. I am happy with how the season is going on my side but there is still a lot to do. Last year I was pushing in qualifying, but there was a bit more left in FP1/FP2/FP3. Now I try to extract the maximum out of the car all the time and it seems to work for now.”

Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc on the Maranello team’s upgrade … Read the rest

Who are you?

The transfer market dominates football discourse and analysis to the point that the shark has been jumped and football matches are, essentially, considered 90-minute exercises to see what a team needs to buy. It gives me pause for thought when I attribute so much weight to Arsenal’s pursuit of a new central midfielder.

However, I do consider this a glaring requirement for Arsenal before the window closes next month and I think the difference between Arteta’s side being a top six team and a top four team probably rests on whether they are able to recruit in … Read the rest

Upamecano breaks silence amid links with Man United

RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano has responded to rumours over his future amid links with Manchester United this summer.

The young Frenchman is among the world’s highest-rated prospects and it was understood that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen on his signature.

Upamecano was previously thought of as being unavailable but once news over a release clause surfaced, rumours quickly grew out of control.

The release clause is only in effect from the next summer but the thinking was that United could bid a bit higher than that release clause to secure him this summer instead.

However, nothing to that effect has happened yet and it was more wishful thinking from fans than anything real.

… Read the rest

MotM Curtis Jones says he’ll “show up” any time he’s called upon by Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool starlet Curtis Jones dropped a 10/10 performance for the Reds in the EFL Cup on Thursday night, bagging himself an impressive brace inside the first-half.

The midfielder was awarded the Man of the Match award after the full-time whistle for a great all around shift from the 19 year old.

Jones pledged that he will show up any time he’s called upon by manager Jurgen Klopp, in somewhat of an acceptance speech for the award!

“I’ve always said, whenever I’m called upon I’ll give 100 per cent. I’m waiting for my turn, and any time I’m called upon I’ll show up, 100 per cent,” he’s quoted as saying by Neil Jones.

MORE: (Video) Curtis Jones in insane form with first-half brace, which included Cruyff-turn and brilliant use of instep

We at Empire of the Kop love Jones and everything about him – from the way he … Read the rest

“Special talent” – Liverpool ace earns huge praise from these Reds fans after performance vs Lincoln

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones is earning big praise from fans as they react to his performance against Lincoln on Twitter.

The 19-year-old is yet to fully establish himself as a regular for the Liverpool first-team, but he announced himself with a memorable solo goal against Everton in the FA Cup last season.

MORE: Video: Jones’ sublime finishes take Liverpool clear at Lincoln

Since then, Jones has continued to impress when he’s managed to get on the pitch, and he had another eye-catching performance for Liverpool as they thrashed Lincoln City 7-2 in the Carabao Cup this evening.

The teenager scored twice, with both goals well-taken efforts to show once again why he’s such a big prospect and should have a very bright future at Anfield.

More Stories / Latest News
Video: ‘The goal was small’ – Mourinho unhappy with goal dimensions for Tottenham’s Europa League tie
September 24, 2020 22:30
… Read the rest

Juve president’s letter proves champions are as hungry as ever for more wins

Juventus has won the last nine consecutive Italian Scudettos and as they enter another season, the Old Ladies want the 10th consecutive trophy as well as the Champions League and the Italian Cup.

This was made clear in the club’s president, Andrea Agnelli’s letter to the club’s shareholders ahead of their meeting next month.

He delivered his usual address by reminding them that winning nine consecutive league titles isn’t something that has been done in any of the top European league’s recently and they will not stop there as they aim for a 10th consecutive league title.

He admitted that winning the next title not be a given and that they fully understand that it is a tall mountain to climb.

He then added that they will put all their efforts to win every competition that the club plays in this campaign.

The letter published on the club’s website via … Read the rest

Olav Mol explains ‘Ferrari – FIA agreement is not what everyone thinks’

Olav Mol, commentator at Ziggo Sport, finds the downfall at Ferrari very painful. He does say that the agreement made with the FIA is not what everyone thinks.

In a big interview with Motorsport.com Mol talks about how he thinks Ferrari’s deal with the motorsport federation works. “What we should not forget is that the deal they made with the FIA has less to do with illegality than we might think or hope. There was something on it and that was intellectual property, in other words that was protected. They could not have that made public because otherwise… Well done. That is why they agreed that with the FIA.”

“That agreement had a very big impact”, Mol continues. “If you still think in the aerodynamics department that you can continue to drive with the same downforce with significantly less power, then you are in trouble. It’s also a bit of … Read the rest

Carabao Cup rotation likely + Covid worries delay return of fans

Arsenal are in Carabao Cup action tonight, as we face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium later on.

With Liverpool coming up next in the Premier League, it’s an interesting one for Mikel Arteta. If the trip to Anfield were at the weekend, I suspect we’d see a side with no risks taken whatsoever. The fact that it’s Monday night means we have a couple of extra days to recover, so we might see some players involved who normally might sit this out – even if they’re on the bench.

There are players who could use this game to get some match fitness into their legs; there are players who haven’t featured at all this season, or indeed for some time, who will be looking at this game as some kind of signal regarding their own futures. If, for example, Matteo Guendouzi and Mesut Ozil don’t feature in this … Read the rest

Man United prepared in case of negotiations breaking down for Telles

Manchester United have a third option to go for should their pursuit of FC Porto’s Alex Telles end in failure according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The talented Brazilian has been heavily chased after the race for Real Madrid’s Sergio Reguilon ended poorly.

Tottenham Hotspur ended up agreeing to Madrid’s demand to include a buy-back clause that United refused to cater to.

It was something supporters understood and so the disappointment wasn’t that great, though it’s safe to say it will be if a move for Telles fails.

After all, Porto aren’t asking for a large fee, Telles is believed to have agreed to personal terms and he only has a year left on his contract.

… Read the rest

Lijnders drops huge hint Koumetio could make senior debut this week

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has suggested youth defender Billy Koumetio could make his senior debut for the Reds this week.

The Premier League champions travel to the East Midlands to take on League One minnow Lincoln City in the EFL Cup.

On pre-match press conference duty, in the absence of Jurgen Klopp, Lijnders dropped a huge hint that Koumetio could feature in the match.

“He has a check now. Hopefully he can play with the team. We’ll see. He’s a proper talent who needs time. We want to give him that time,” he’s quoted as saying by James Pearce.

“He is a tall centre-half and has real strength in the air. And he can put the ball where he wants to put it.”

MORE: Liverpool predicted XI v. Lincoln – Reds duo set to be handed debuts in EFL Cup clash

We think the … Read the rest