Andoni Iraola
Posted inDaily News

AFC Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola on reunion with Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta #AFCB

October 2, 2023
Arteta’s Arsenal ended up comfortable 4-0 winners at Vitality Stadium, following goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Ben White. A lot of the build-up to the fixture in the national press and on social media focused on Iraola and Arteta’s shared footballing past, the pair playing in the same Antiguoko team in their native Basque country. Aside from a single game together for Spain’s under-21s, it was the last time the pair crossed paths, prior to this summer’s meeting of all Premier League managers. Asked about the reunion following the game, Iraola responded: “Once the game starts, you forgot about these things. “You focus on the sporting side. I congratulated him and I will just talk to him right now as soon as I finish. “But during the game at the end, you forget about these things and then you can complete it.” Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is also from the Basque province of Gipuzkoa, as well as ex-Wolves manager Julien Lopetegui, who left the Premier League this summer.
Pep Guardiola
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- What Pep Guardiola said about Roberto De Zerbi and Brighton after 1-1 draw #BHAFC

May 26, 2023
The champions fought out a 1-1 draw with Albion. Guardiola admitted being a De Zerbi fan, following his career all the way back to when the Brighton manager was at Sassuolo. He said: “I started to see his football in Sassuolo, Italy, with a middle team and I remember they went to Napoli, Milan, Inter and I remember saying, 'Oh my God, these players play really good'. "With Shakhtar he did the same, with exceptional football in a short time before the war and then he got an opportunity to come here and show who they are. They played really good.” The Manchester City manager had more to say as he gave praise to the Seagulls for their season. He added: “They are a fantastic team in all departments, that’s why they are in the Europa League, well deserved.” “They have an incredible team, we tried to have the ball and we did it. They have the quality.” Guardiola was aware of Albion's strengths. Despite being crowned champions, the starting XI was a strong team. “Today I felt we needed a proper team otherwise Brighton can play 90 in your box. “The way they play there is only one, that’s why it’s unique. "I saw the game against United, in the FA Cup semi-final, against Liverpool many times, Arsenal. "They are really good, they have quality, the young players, the experienced players. They are exceptional. “Brighton is one of the tops. Dunk, Caicedo, Gross, Mac Allister, Mitoma. I admire them, I enjoy watching them.”
Pep Guardiola
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Pep Guardiola likens Roberto De Zerbi to top chef Ferran Adria in Catalunya restaurant #BHAFC

May 24, 2023
The Manchester City boss believes his side’s trip to the Amex whets the appetite for their Champions League final against Inter and the FA Cup final versus Manchester United. Guardiola said today: “It’s like a Michelin star restaurant, it’s unique. “In Catalunya it was (top restaurant) El Bulli – (head chef) Ferran Adria the best cook for many, many years. “He changed completely, completely, the cuisine. “I think Brighton is playing with something unique, special. “The way they move, the way they do. “It’s a good, incredible challenge for us to prepare the two finals.” El Bulli, on the Costa Brava, had three Michelin stars and Adria was hailed as “the most imaginative generator of haute cuisine on the planet” by John Carlin in The Guardian. Guardiola said: "I congratulate Brighton on their incredible achievement to get into the Europa League. "Pay attention to what I'm going to say because I'm pretty convinced I'm right - Roberto de Zerbi is one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years. "There is no team playing in the way they play - it is unique. I had the feeling when he arrived in the Premier League that the impact would be great but I couldn't expect he would do this in this short a time. "He creates 20-25 chances on average a game. He's better by far than all the opponents, he monopolises the ball in a way I haven't seen for a long. long time. "Everyone is involved, the keeper is like a holding midfielder. "They deserve completely the compliments and the success they have."
Mikel Arteta Arsenal
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- What Mikel Arteta said about Brighton with Roberto De Zerbi #BHAFC

May 13, 2023
But there is no scope for his Arsenal side to drop points when the Seagulls go to the Emirates. William Saliba is once again missing from the Gunners’ back line with a back injury which has ruled him out in recent weeks, while left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) is also absent. Midfielder Mohamed Elneny and defender Takehiro Tomiyasu are out for the rest of the season with knee injuries. Arsenal boss Arteta said: “The way Brighton play under manager Roberto de Zerbi is remarkable. It is just a joy to watching them play. “What they have brought to the league is a different idea, a different way of playing and a different challenge to manage against. "What the manager has done with the team is incredible, so it will be a very tough match. "They pose an extremely tricky challenge, with the way they play, so we will have to handle the things they do, but it will be the same for them, managing the way we do it. "They have been ahead of other clubs in the way they have made decisions, the way they have developed players and recruited talent. “It's been really impressive, I think they have done extremely well." Arteta was being quizzed about contractual matters in the run-up to the weekend. He said: “Obviously where we are with each individual is probably different in terms of timing but the clarity is there,” he said of deals for players that may be in the offing. “We have communicated to each of them what the intentions are and we are trying to get that done as quickly as possible but respecting and not losing any focus on what is the real deal right now. “The moment there is anything to announce with any individual, we will do that as a club like we always do. It’s not the moment to talk about that.”
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi reacts to Brighton defeat at Tottenham #BHAFC

April 9, 2023
But he said he did not deserve his red card at Tottenham. De Zerbi and opposite number Cristian Stellini were both sent from the benches in a highly controversial Premier League clash. Spurs won 2-1 after Albion had two goals ruled out and at least one justifiable penalty appeal waved away. The flashpoint on the touchline came soon after the second goal was ruled out. De Zerbi said: “I didn’t say anything to the referee. “I didn’t put any pressure on the referee. “I don’t like when the other bench put pressure on the referee. “We have to help the referee, not to put more pressure in this stadium, in this atmosphere.” De Zerbi has been red-carded twice in recent weeks and also served a ban for four yellows. He said: “In my career it is the first time I have had so many red cards. “I’ve had two games in the stand and we won both. “I don’t think there’s a problem. “When I was in the dressing room, there was a clear penalty on Mitoma.” Relations between De Zerbi and Stellini appeared tense from before kick-off. The Seagulls boss put that down to “personal things”. He said: “I am used to always respecting everyone inside the pitch and outside the pitch and I don’t like when people don’t respect me. “I always respect everyone, especially the coaches. “I can answer for me, not for him.” He confirmed he felt Stellini did not respect him and added: “There is a personal situation and I told him what was my opinion, my idea - not bad words, only my opinion.” De Zerbi praised his side’s display. He added: “For sure we are very proud of the performance. “We played a great, great game and I think we deserved to win.” De Zerbi said he was unclear whether he would be banned from the technical area when his side play Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final.
jesse marsch leeds united
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Leeds boss Jesse Marsch explains his outbursts at the Amex #LUFC

August 28, 2022
Jesse Marsch has explained why he argued his way to a yellow card at the Amex. The Leeds boss was booked for his ongoing complaints about decisions by Michael Salisbury. He was fortunate to avoid a second yellow when he sarcastically applauded that decision. Marsch’s regular complaints led to him being taunted by the home crowd. He said: “I thought my behaviour at that point deserved the yellow card. “When you don’t believe you are getting performances out of the referee, I think you have two options. “To sit there and take it or to escalate your behaviour to try to make a point, to see if you can affect the way decisions are being made. “Sometimes it works for you, sometimes it works against you. “I will never be a guy who just sits there and takes it. That’s not my style." He added: “I didn’t think it was a good performance (by the referee), but I don’t think ours was a good performance in the first half. This can happen. “We had him against Chelsea as fourth official and I like his demeanour. “I just think he didn’t have the best performance today. “I know I let him know that maybe a couple too many times!” Marsch said Leeds were “very lucky” to get to half-time on level terms. Asked how Albion made life tough, he said: “They very clearly man-mark. “Then with the ball they almost just played long and gave us the ball because they wanted to bypass our pressing, which is part of the match plan that we wanted to build. “When you play against man-marking, if you give them time to get into their schemes, then it’s always difficult unless you’re really sharp with combinations and movements in behind to break them down.”