Joao Pedro Watford
Posted inDaily News

Roberto De Zerbi says he made Joao Pedro ‘mistake’ after loss against Arsenal

April 8, 2024
The Brazil international started on the bench in the 3-0 defeat by Arsenal. De Zerbi put that down to his decision to leave him on for the full game at Brentford after a two-month absence forced by injury. Albion had just gone 2-0 down when he was sent on as a substitute along with Facundo Buonanotte. De Zerbi said: “I made a mistake at Brentford because Joao Pedro couldn’t play in the first XI (on Saturday) because I kept him on the pitch for 90 minutes. “In my head before the Brentford game was to change him after 65 minutes. “But to try to win the game and on the bench there wasn’t another striker, I made a mistake.” Albion have a clear week to plan for their trip to Turf Moor. De Zerbi said: “When we prepare the game with the right time and not every three days we are a completely different team.”
Vincent Kompany
Posted inDaily News

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany’s verdict on Everton defeat

April 8, 2024
The only goal came on the stroke of half time when Aro Muric’s clearance was charged down by Dominic Calvert-Lewis and deflected into the net. Dara O’Shea was sent off in the second half after bringing down Dwight McNeil just over the halfway line. “The letter of the law says he should have been denying a goalscoring opportunity to be sent off and I’ll let you guys make your judgement on that,” said Kompany. “There was a lot of force on the ball and it would be a comfortable pick up for the goalkeeper.” The result leaves the Clarets six points from safety, but Kompany refused to pin the blame on his goalkeeper. “He has to keep going. It is part of being a professional footballer. We all live with the mistakes we make, it happens for everyone in life and in football it is no different,” he added. “Our momentum collapsed twice through moments of our own doing. But I can’t for one second criticise the effort of the team and the idea to come here and play like this.”
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.
Tom Lockyer
Posted inDaily News

Luton skipper elated to achieve the accolade of becoming a Premier League goalscorer #LutonTownFC

October 2, 2023
Watch more of our videos on Shots!and live on Freeview channel 276Visit Shots! nowHatters skipper Tom Lockyer was understandably elated to earn an accolade he never thought was possible, becoming a Premier League goalscorer when netting Town's opener in their 2-1 win at Everton on Saturday.The 28-year-old hasn’t been known for his scoring record during the majority of his career, far from it in fact, with 15 goals in 435 club matches.He managed just seven in seven years at Bristol Rovers, on target in the Conference, League Two, League One and the Checkatrade Trophy, before notching once for Charlton in his 43 Championship outings for the Addicks.Signing for Luton in September 2020, the Wales international again had to wait a while to wheel away in celebration, on target in a 2-1 success over Bristol City in January 2022.Last term, Lockyer opened his account in a 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Newport County, also scoring in the 1-1 draw at Coventry in the league.He then finished the campaign with the most prolific run of his career to date, with three goals in his last five starts, although the fifth saw him replaced inside 10 minutes after collapsing on the pitch during the play-off final at Wembley.Thankfully making a full recovery, Lockyer started his fifth top flight match for Luton at Goodison Park on Saturday, putting a glorious chance over the bar when meeting Alfie Doughty’s corner, but there was no stopping him on 24 minutes.Tom Lockyer's disappointment at missing this header didn't last too long as he opened the scoring at Goodison Park on Saturday - pic: Lewis Storey/Getty ImagesAnother Doughty delivery saw Carlton Morris’s header rebound off the bar, with the centre half showing fantastic determination to slide in and deflect Ashley Young’s clearance into the net to put the Hatters in front for the first time this season.Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: “Being a Premier League goalscorer is something you dream of and you don't think will ever happen, but what an accolade."It's special but it's a team game and a first Premier League win brings a buzz in the changing rooms."We'll enjoy it and you just hope it gives everyone a taste and they want more now.”Team-mate Morris was quick to praise his close friend as well, saying: “No matter which box he’s in he just can’t help blocking and tackling it into the net, so he’s doing it in the right way!”With most pundits writing the Hatters’ chance of staying up off before a ball was even kicked this year, Lockyer, who had to go off early in the second half due to an eye injury, was thrilled to show them that Town mean business in their attempts to remain a top flight club.He added: “There’s a lot of people been saying a lot of things, so it’s nice to try and silence them a little bit and get the first win on the board."It feels really good but we need to try and back that up as well, we want to try and push on as well.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil accepts red card but bizarrely claims Wolves deserved to beat the Hatters instead of draw #WOLVESFC

September 25, 2023
Watch more of our videos on Shots!and live on Freeview channel 276Visit Shots! nowWolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil bizarrely claimed that he felt his side deserved to emerge triumphant from their 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road yesterday.The visitors were on the back foot for almost all of the first half in which they were reduced to 10 men following Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s red card, as Luton dominated proceedings, going closest when Carlton Morris’s 20-yard rasping drive smacked against the post.Town then fell behind early in the second period, Neto breaking away to score a fine individual goal, as home stopper Thomas Kaminski made an important double save, but following that the Luton keeper wasn’t unduly tested.Referee Josh Smith sends off Wolves defender Jean-Ricner Bellegarde - pic: Liam SmithHatters drew level through a disputed penalty midway through the second half and almost won it, Chiedozie Ogbene flagged offside when tapping home from close range.The stats showed Town had the upper hand throughout, with 20 shots, three on target as opposed to three from the visitors, all of them on target.Hatters also won 10 corners to one from Wolves, having 55 percent of possession, but despite that, O’Neil said: “I’m extremely disappointed with the first 20, 25 minutes, but we knew today would be a test of mentality and being ready to go."Luton were aggressive, went man for man and we lost every duel."Every time it went into our forward players, it bounced off them, every time it went into theirs, it stuck."When it dropped into midfield they were faster to it, so I’m extremely disappointed with the first 20, 25 minutes, so much so that we had to change shape and try and get a foothold, which I thought we did."We saw off that terrible spell and managed to make the game slightly more even."We suffer a crazy moment from Jean and from that moment it’s going to be a tough hour or so."I asked a big question from the players at half time and they managed to produce second half to be fair."To come from the first 20 minutes, and lose a man, to respond the way they did and fight the way they did to the very end and deserve to win the game was a big effort from them.”One thing O’Neil didn’t really have any complaints with was the decision to send off Bellegarde late in the first period, the French defender dismissed for kicking out at Luton skipper Tom Lockyer.The former Bournemouth manager added: “I only saw it back on the iPad when they were doing the check."It looked like there was a coming together and it looked like a kick out a little bit."I’ll watch it back to have a clearer look at it but if he has kicked out I can understand the red card."Jean is very disappointed about it, he apologised to the group, apologised to me, it’s just something we can’t have."I spoke a lot about trying to fix some of the craziness within the group and that’s an extreme version of it."You can’t be successful in football matches if someone does that."The fact we leave with a point after that, is one hell of an effort from everyone, but more often than not it someone does something like you’re going to walk away with no points, which we can’t afford to do.”
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi feels lucky after worst performance yet winning against Bournemouth 3-1 #BHAFC

September 25, 2023
The win sees Albion move up to third in the Premier League following an emphatic brace by super-sub Kaoru Mitoma. De Zerbi said: “Today we played one of the worst games of my time (here). Two, three or four times we were lucky. Bournemouth were great in the first half. "We were better in the second half, but still not at our best level. "When you play with the young or new players, they need time to understand the new ideas on the pitch. “We won with character, passion, behaviour and not with the style of play. It's a very important part, maybe the most important. De Zerbi also highlighted the significance of Mitoma to the team and emphasised the need for him to be rested to ensure his performances remain consistent, crediting Albion owner Tony Bloom in the process for retaining the Japanese winger’s services for the season. “The credit is to Tony Bloom, not me. I think Mitoma is one of the most important players but sometimes he needs to stay on the bench to rest, to play better the next game.”
Andoni Iraola
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola on goal against Brighton and positive performance despite loss #AFCB

September 25, 2023
Dominic Solanke lofted the ball into an empty net after Ryan Christie had pickpocketed goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, but Cherries were unable to hold on, Milos Kerkez’s own goal levelling scores before the break. Karou Mitoma came off the bench to score twice and turn the game around in the hosts’ favour. Verbruggen saw a lot of the ball in the first period, being tasked with building moves for Brighton. The goalie was allowed to dwell on the ball, but Christie picked the right moment to tackle the Dutchman and set up Solanke for the opener. Cherries anticipated this, according to Iraola, who told the Daily Echo: “We knew when you come here they are going to try and build up. “We have a lot of decisions to make. “We decided to go man-to-man, taking risks and the only free man was the keeper. “We had to decide very well the moment where you have to run to the keeper, otherwise they find the spare man very easily and they are out. “I think we did really well, not only on this play, but overall during the game. We lost because of other reasons.” It took Brighton just 15 seconds to take the lead in the second half, leaving a shellshocked Cherries struggling to find a response. “I think we had the chances, especially with Antoine, the two chances he had for us,” continued Iraola. “He was very good from the bench. “Also the one that they cleared from the line and we had some chances there. “But it was much more difficult, because when they don’t have the need to attack you, they can play with the ball, they can attract you and it is much more difficult to play against Brighton once they are winning. “For me the key is having the first half where we were winning, you have to make more damage.”
Thomas Frank
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Thomas Frank praised Brentford mentality after Bournemouth draw #BRENTFORDFC

September 4, 2023
Mbeumo’s fourth of the season cancelled out goals from Dominic Solanke and David Brooks after Mathias Jensen put Brentford in the lead for Brentford in the first half. And Frank praised his team’s second-half display which saw them extend their unbeaten start to the season, with six points on the board. “First half we were good but second half we were fantastic,” Frank said. “I think we ran over Bournemouth in the second half and we created chance after chance. "The only chance I can remember from Bournemouth was the goal, and that was a mistake from Rico (Henry). "But the mentality in this team is incredible. What character. They never give up, they will never die. "After we got a more than well-deserved equaliser, we still went for it, with centre-backs Nathan Collins and Kristoffer Ajer still overlapping. "I am very proud of the team's performance. "If we play this 100 times, we win it 98, draw one, that was (Saturday), and lose the other time, because there were so many big chances."
Jaidon Anthony
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jaidon Anthony on assist for David Brooks against Swansea in League cup #AFCB

August 30, 2023
Anthony provided a fantastic assist for Brooks to equalise after Cherries trailed 1-0 in Wales thanks to Matt Grimes’ first-half penalty. The away side then took a lead through Hamed Traore, before the hosts again levelled scores via Jamie Patterson. In the end it was substitute Ryan Christie who had the last say, finding the bottom corner in the 90th minute to send Cherries through to the next round. Discussing his assist for Cherries’ first, Anthony insisted that Brooks deserved the credit for applying the finishing touch. He told the Daily Echo: “It was a good ball and to be fair it's not an easy finish either, on his weak foot. “I think he's had a really good pre-season and a start to the season in front of goal. “I'm happy he could put it away and help us to win.” Brooks’ goal came about after Cherries won the ball high up the pitch, with Anthony believing the strike to be representative of the way Andoni Iraola wants Cherries to play. “I think the manager wants us to be aggressive in every game,” explained the 23-year-old. “It's a perfect example of the high press and what that can do. “Win it back and then attacking pass, and we get the goal - happy days. “The most important thing was getting through to the next round. “The first half, we knew we weren't at the races and we knew we had to react in the second half. “I think obviously the second goal is probably a bit unfortunate, but I think we deserved what we got in the end.” The draw for the third round will be made on Wednesday evening, following the conclusion of second round ties. Teams will not be regionalised, meaning Cherries could be handed another lengthy trek. Sides competing in Europe enter at this stage of the competition, with third round ties being staged the week commencing Monday, September 25.
Andoni Iraola
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Andoni Iraola on first win as AFC Bournemouth boss in league cup #AFCB

August 30, 2023
Cherries had to come from behind to triumph 3-2 in south Wales, Ryan Christie netting a stoppage-time winner after earlier strikes from David Brooks and Hamed Traore. Matt Grimes had put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the eighth minute, a lead they held until half-time. It marks a first victory for the Spaniard since joining the club over the summer, after three Premier League games so far without a win. Ryan Christie fired home a late winner (Image: PA) Asked if the feeling was relief at eventually getting over the line against Championship opposition in Swansea, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I think it was a game with two very different parts, two very different halves. “I think we started very bad. Probably the worst way to start, conceding a penalty and we were very slow to move the ball in the first half. “We only had to improve in the second half. I think the rhythm was different in the second half. “We moved the ball much quicker, the rhythm was much higher. And then we were in control of the game. “I think we should have probably won the game earlier, but in the end this is the cup and sometimes you have to suffer.” Iraola’s frustration with the first-half display was evident by his triple substitution at the break. “It was about not only the names and the subs, it was about the attitude, the willingness to attack the spaces, to be more direct, not receive the ball only facing our goal. “To be more aware of the situations, open the game and the pitch a little bit more. “I think especially with Milos (Kerkez) and Jaidon (Anthony), we were opening the left wing very well and then we could find Junior (Traore) and Philip (Billing) inside and from there we were much better.” Although Iraola made seven changes to the starting line-up which had faced Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, it was a strong selection full of players who have featured in the league this season, aside from debutant Andrei Radu in goal. Discussing the importance he places in staying in the cup competitions, Iraola said: “In the end it is not that you make changes or play a weaker team in the cup and they give you an extra (free) weekend. “No, they are not giving you anything. “At the end, it is also a way of very good training for us and in the next round also we will try to win the game, because at the end you never know when a good run can happen. “You have to try it every single year.”
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi reveals no surprise in defeat to West Ham #BHAFC

August 29, 2023
If this game wasn’t a reality check, then what followed from Roberto De Zerbi certainly was. At least that appeared the intention from the head coach after this first defeat of the season. One reality is Albion won’t change their way of playing. They just need to do it better. Another reality is that, ideally, they need to fill a gap or two which were visible to a degree in their two 4-1 wins and more obvious on this occasion. Having (understandably) cashed in their insurance policy, Albion cannot afford to leave the back door unlocked like they did on Saturday. They piled men forward, piled up passes and got into a whole pile of trouble on counter-attacks. Not just how they dealt with those counter-raids but that they were allowed to happen in the first place. This game felt a bit like a 5-1 reverse to Everton late in the last campaign (a game in which Moises Caicedo played, let’s not forget). West Ham had the right plan, the right personnel and, like the Toffees back on that rainy Bank Holiday, a goalkeeper in good form. Counter-attack goals from perennial Amex threat James Ward-Prowse, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio put them out of reach. But the home side, always capable of creating danger, might still have snatched some reward after Pascal Gross reduced arrears. In that Everton game, De Zerbi felt his side were too cavalier in how they chased the game after going behind in the first few seconds. Here, he again said they needed to be more aware of the time available. Defeat came at the end of a week when Albion had been showered with praise. But it was a reminder of the tests posed by the Premier League. De Zerbi said: “We are Brighton and maybe the people are confused when they think of Brighton. “Brighton can lose the game with West Ham. Why not? “They can lose the game against Everton. “Then we want to win against everyone. We are playing with courage, with pride and we want to make our fans happy, winning every game or winning the Europa League. “But we can’t forget we are Brighton. “YOU can’t forget we are Brighton. “YOU can’t forget we lost three big players because we are not honest otherwise and I want to be honest. “I will fight to win every game but for us, for our fans, for our club, we have to be clear and honest.” After losing Julio Enciso to injury, De Zerbi said he wants a No.10 as well as a Caicedo type in midfield and one other player in an unspecified position. The latter may well be a specialist right-back. Here, they had found some momentum after a slow start when poor execution of the right plan caught them out. Adam Webster tried to force a pass but saw the ball cut out by Ward-Prowse, who helped it forward. That was when Webster should have kept it simple as he got to the ball before Antonio, rather than trying a pass back to Bart Verbruggen which fell short. Billy Gilmour got back to block from Ward-Prowse but the ball bounced back for the Hammer to tap in. De Zerbi said: “When we concede the first goal, the mistake by Adam Webster wasn’t the last part with Antonio. “With the pass, he took a big risk. In another way we can play, we move the ball faster to move the opponent right and left but we have to keep the ball. “We can’t lose the ball in that way because we were attacking with a lot of players and the first thing is to keep the ball and don’t lose the ball. “But anyway there was the possibility to defend better after this mistake on the pass. “But Webster is still one of the most important players and it is not a problem.” Alphonse Areola denied Evan Ferguson soon after that goal and early in the second period before Bowen outpaced Pervis Estupinan to reach Said Benrahma’s cross and finish cleverly. Antonio left Webster standing to drive home the third and, after Gross shot into the bottom corner to re-ignite hope, Areola’s saves from Joel Veltman and Ferguson killed hopes of a comeback. There were also penalty shouts for handball and for a clip on Kauro Mitoma, plus a goal-saving clearance by Danny Ings from a Lewis Dunk header, as Albion swarmed towards the North Stand. If you are going to lose, then go down fighting, attacking, giving it your all. Albion certainly did all that. But they should not have dug themselves that hole in the first place. Albion: Verbruggen; Milner (Veltman 72), Dunk, Webster, Estupinan: Gross, Gilmour (Lallana 60); March (72), Welbeck (Joao Pedro 60), Mitoma: Ferguson. Subs: Steele, Igor, Dahoud, van Hecke, Buonanotte Goal: Gross 81. Yellow card: Mitoma West Ham: Areola: Coufal, Zouma, Ogbonna, Emerson: Soucek (Benrahma 39), Alvarez (Fornals 84), Ward-Prowse: Bowen, Antonio (Kehrer 79), Paqueta (Ings 85). Subs: Fabianski, Johnson, Cresswell, Cornet, Mubama. Goals: Ward-Prowse 19, Bowen 58, Antonio 63. Yellow card: Ward-Prowse 24 (foul), Alvarez 45+1 (foul), Kehrer 89 (foul). Referee: Anthony Taylor. Minimum stoppage time indicated: 4+6.
Rob Edwards
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Rob Edwards saw signs of real improvement in his Luton side despite Chelsea defeat #LUTONTOWNFC

August 28, 2023
Town boss Rob Edwards insisted he saw signs of real improvement in his side despite their 3-0 defeat at Chelsea on Friday night.The Hatters were going up against a team that on paper, cost just under the princely sum of £450m to assemble, with two £100m-plus midfielders patrolling the central areas in British transfer record holder Moises Caicedo and Argentina World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez.They dominated possession early on as expected, having the quality to take the lead through a fine solo goal from England international Raheem Sterling, himself a £47.5m acquisition last summer.Luton boss Rob Edwards greets opposite number Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge - pic: Liam SmithTown weren’t without their spells of pressure though, particularly before and after the break, but crucially they couldn’t find the net, Ryan Giles’ deflected shot saved by Robert Sanchez the closest they came.Sterling then added a second with 68 minutes gone, while Senegalese forward Nicholas Jackson, who cost a mere £31.8m, still far more than Town’s entire squad was put together for, completed the scoring.Despite that, Edwards felt Luton had been better than their opening day 4-1 reverse at Brighton & Hove Albion, saying: “We don't like losing, I’ve got to stress that.“We know we want to win games, we know we want to get points, but I've seen improvement from 13 days ago.“I saw we can compete with a top, top team for massive spells of the game, so that's a huge thing to be proud of and to take positives from.“The lads have reacted so, so well from Brighton."We’re going to be able to take loads from this game and a lot of it are positives, but we know there are areas we need to keep working on and improving, but we were competitive with Chelsea Football Club.“I’m not going to go through the numbers, we all know, they're a huge club who have won the Champions League a couple of times in recent years, so lets be honest, should we be competing with them?“But we did, so loads of good stuff.“Where we've got to improve now, is continue to work really hard, and those moments, at both ends of the pitch are really, really key now.“We did create half opportunities, and one decent one.“You don't get many when you come here, so we've got to try and be a bit more ruthless and then at the bottom end, if we get a little bit stretched we've just got to make sure we close those gaps really, really quickly."They've got the quality to pick someone out, they’ve got the quality to then finish it, but lots to take, lots of positive things.”Town looked like they might be able to cause an upset in the early stages of the second period, as they began to have the better of proceedings, none more so than when Giles went close.Edwards knows it’s moments like that they need to really drive home their advantage at this level, as he continued: “I felt we started the second half really well, very positively."We had the territory, it was in their half, we weren’t able to create loads of chances, but I felt we’re looking strong in this game now, maybe they were ready to have a little bit of a wobble."We had moments to cross, we just lacked that little bit of quality, that little finesse, we didn’t pick someone out."Ryan Giles had a good opportunity that was half blocked, probably our cleanest one“It was a big moment for us, you’re not going to get many chances here at Stamford Bridge, but that was a really well-worked opportunity and really they defended it well as they got the block.“Then the game was going a bit more end-to-end, getting a bit stretched, and clearly then they become very dangerous as well, but because we’re in the game you can't change too much."You’ve got to hope that we can see any dangerous moments out, that second goal probably deflated us a little bit, we've got to make sure that we learn that third one doesn’t come, because even at 2-0 you’re still in the game.”After being breached by Sterling’s close-range finish for the crucial second goal, and then conceding again shortly afterwards, Jackson prodding home, with 15 minutes to go, there was a worry Town could go under and their goal difference take a hit.However, they didn’t and almost grabbed a consolation for the 3,054 away fans to celebrate, substitute Jacob Brown going close, lofting his effort off target when looking to capitalise on some defensive hesitancy.Edwards added: “I’m extremely proud of the group, as I saw full commitment to the gameplan, saw a group that stayed together right to the very, very end, didn't go under, and it competed with a brilliant football team.“I can see a real cohesion in the group, well organised, and a commitment there as well, so there’s a lot of good things, but we don’t like losing, none of us like losing and we want to pick up points.“We're a new group as well, I've got to stress that."There's a lot of new players there experiencing Premier League football for the first time and it doesn't get more difficult than Brighton away and Chelsea away.“Maybe one or two games, but we can take a lot from it, we'll learn and learn quickly, but I think we'll see more improvement in a week's time.”
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi reacts to Brighton’s 3-1 defeat against West Ham #WHUFC

August 27, 2023
But he said they lost balance in the 3-1 defeat. Albion had plenty of possession and territory but were hit a ruthless away side who also defended in depth. De Zerbi said: “I’m disappointed with the result. “It wasn’t the best game in my time but I think we didn’t play bad. “We didn’t play a great, great game but we played a good game - enough to get a point. “We conceded the first goal in a bad way, in a stupid way. “I don’t understand yet what happened in the part of the pitch in that situation between Webster and Antonio and we concede a goal. “And then West Ham defended in the last 20 minutes with very small spaces and it became very difficult to find the condition to score. “Anyway, we shot 27 times, we created ten, 11 chances to score. “And in the second half I am disappointed because we lost the balance. “The games are 90 minutes plus extra time and we have not to lose the balance. “But we are Brighton. We have to improve the team, improve the players, improve the understanding of the game.” West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola made stunning saves from Joel Veltman and Evan Ferguson to cut short hopes of a comeback after Pascal Gross made it 3-1. De Zerbi said: “Areola was, I think, the best player on the pitch but West Ham are still a very good team. “In the last transfer market you can understand how many very good players they brought.”
Andoni Iraola
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola on loss to Tottenham Hotspur #AFCB

August 27, 2023
Cherries fell to a 2-0 defeat to Spurs, with goals from James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, either side of half-time. Shortly before Kulusevski’s goal, Iraola made a double change with Jaidon Anthony and Hamed Traore replacing Justin Kluivert and Christie, the latter having impressed in the first half particularly. Reflecting on the defeat, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “After the game you think and probably I shouldn’t have taken Ryan out from the game. “Especially without the ball, he was pressing really well. He was doing a good amount. “Probably I wanted to go a little bit more offensive, but we were worse I think from that point. “I don’t know if it’s after the subs or after the 2-0, because it was just one minute later. But probably until the 62nd minute, we were playing well against a very good team. “We were having our chances, I was quite happy with the performance. “From there, we couldn’t keep the intensity and they were controlling the game much easier.” He added: “I was disappointed with the end of the game, after 2-0. “I think until 2-0, the team was playing well. It looked like in this moment we had the chances to score for 1-1, but from there we lacked a little bit of intensity. “They were more comfortable on the ball and we didn’t finish the game well.” Cherries are still searching for their first win, with one point from their opening three fixtures. They head to Swansea City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, before travelling to Brentford in the Premier League next weekend. “We knew from the beginning we had a really tough schedule to start,” said Iraola. “But now we also have some important players out with injuries. “But we have to keep competing and try and take points from every game.”
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi dedicates Brighton win to Italian coach Carlo Mazzone #BHAFC

August 20, 2023
A devastating start to the second half saw them secure a 4-1 success at Wolves. The head coach said the win was in memory of Carlo Mazzone, who had three years in charge of Brescia during a long coaching career and has died at the age of 86. De Zerbi said: "He was one of the best Italian coaches. He was a coach of my town. He was a big man, big person and big coach. “I’m really pleased with the performance and the result. We played really well. “I’m really pleased because we changed three players in the starting XI and they played like the last game against Luton." De Zerbi felt his side could have pushed on after Solly March (2) and Pervis Estupinan added to Kaoru Mitoma’s sensational first-half opener. He added: “We’ve started very well in the Premier League and we played very well until we it was 4-0. “Then we could play better but anyway, I’m happy. If we something to improve, we can do so in that part of the game. “But I’ve spoken to the players and I’ve spoken my opinion to them. “If we want to fix big targets, we can improve."
Jurgen Klopp Liverpool
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Jurgen Klopp unhappy with Alexis Mac Allister red card #LFC

August 20, 2023
The former Brighton & Hove Albion man was given his marching orders after catching Ryan Christie with a late tackle early in the second half at Anfield. Liverpool led 2-1 at the time, going on to secure a 3-1 victory, cancelling out Antoine Semenyo's early opener. Asked about Mac Allister's red card, Liverpool boss Klopp said: "I saw it back. The amount of times I got asked about it shows already it’s worth discussing it again, which we will probably be. "I asked Macca and he said ‘I touched him, but not really’. That was all he told me and then after the game I saw him back and if you are going to have a list of points we need to give a red card, I think the majority, besides contact, no other box is actually ticked at that moment. "It is a decision I think we all agree if he gives a yellow card, VAR will not overturn it and now they have given a red card VAR is not overturning it because the contact means there is no clear and obvious mistake. "But I think the punishment, 40 minutes with 10 men today, is already punishment enough. We have to talk to the authorities."
Gary O’Neil
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil on losing game against Manchester United and referee #WOLVESFC

August 16, 2023
O'Neil regularly complained about refereeing decisions during his spell in charge of Cherries, the Dorset club the only team in the Premier League not to be awarded a spot-kick last term. With Wolves 1-0 down to Manchester United on Monday night, Red Devils debutant goalkeeper Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic deep into time added on, but Simon Hooper did not react and VAR Michael Salisbury deemed there was no foul, with an incredulous O’Neil instead booked for his reaction. The hosts closed out the narrow victory at Old Trafford. O’Neil said after the match he though Onana was trying to take Kalajdzic’s head off, and then revealed he had received an immediately apology from Premier League referees’ boss Moss. “Having just spoken to Jon Moss, fair enough he came straight out and said it was a blatant penalty and it should have been given,” O’Neil said. “I sometimes feel bad. I’ve spent a lot of my day with him trying to understand the new guidelines and how to not get myself booked which I’ve failed in, but fair play to Jon in coming out. “He said it was clear and obvious and he can’t believe the on-field referee didn’t give it and he can’t believe VAR didn’t intervene. It’s probably made me feel worse to be honest because once you know you’re right you feel worse about leaving with nothing.” O'Neil replaced Julen Lopetegui as Wolves boss last week, having been sacked by Cherries in June, with Andoni Iraola appointed.
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi admits he wants to sign a successor to Moises Caicedo #BHAFC

August 14, 2023
The Ecuador international was not involved on Saturday as Chelsea moved in to hijack Liverpool’s £111 million move for the player. While the deal has not been completed, the midfielder is now expected to head to Stamford Bridge for a British record fee. Albion did not require his particular qualities in the season-opener as they beat Luton 4-1 at the Amex. But De Zerbi wants a replacement for Caicedo to be brought in rather than, as on Saturday, giving his midfield a different look. He told The Argus: “Yes, I think we need another midfielder if Caicedo leaves. And, for me, he can leave. “We need another midfielder with the same characteristics, the same importance. “In the Premier League, you know better than me, in midfield positions, sometimes you need more kilogrammes, more impact.” Mahmoud Dahoud started in midfield against the Hatters and impressed with his range of passing. De Zerbi said: “Dahoud is a great player for us because he is specific for our idea of football, for our style of play. “But I think we lost different characteristics. “Dahoud is different to Moises Caicedo.”
Andoni Iraola
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Andoni Iraola on Cherries’ change of style against West Ham #AFCB

August 14, 2023
Trailing to Jarrod Bowen’s goal early in the second half, Iraola turned to his bench with forwards Justin Kluivert, Kieffer Moore and Antoine Semenyo all introduced. Cherries eventually carved out an equaliser, Dominic Solanke tucked home after latching onto Semenyo’s wayward shot. Reflecting on the 1-1 draw, Iraola said: “The first half for me was too slow. We were on the ball but we weren’t really creating chances. We improved after. “Especially in the second half I think we were more direct, because we couldn’t find spaces in the middle. "It’s difficult, especially when we were losing the game, we closed everything inside and we had to go through the outside, play a little bit more direct, crossing, and I think we were better when we did this. “With Kieff, with Justin, with Antoine, who helped us a lot. In the second half, I think we finished better. “I think we were better when we were more direct. “We had to go more direct and we ended the game with Kieff and Dom up front, with Justin and Semenyo. The four of them could be a number nine. “It was risky, but we were losing. At the end Joe (Rothwell) and Phil had to cover a lot of space. “But I think once the game opened a little bit and we were more direct and there were more spaces for everything, I think we were better.” Asked if he got the performance he expected from his side in his first competitive game in charge, Iraola added: “You always expect to play very good and to win the games. But for sure West Ham expected the same. “There were some positives, but also some things that we have to improve. “I was quite critical with the team during half-time, because we were moving the ball very, very slow. “They were just shuffling and sliding and we couldn’t find spaces. “We improved in the second half, not as much as we’d like, but I think we were in the positive tendency.”