News. Sports. Arts & Entertainment. Politics
Liverpool FC Manager Jurgen Klopp won’t give any bulletin board material to two of his local rivals. The German was asked to comment about the summer transfer business of both Everton and Manchester United, but he made no remarks that would spark controversy. He instead politely answered the reporter’s query, maintaining that he is not interested in what they are up to this summer transfer window.
Follow paulmbanks
Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp wisely refused to be drawn into a war of words with Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho. The German said that he is simply “not interested” in what Mourinho has to say about Liverpool, while also acknowledging that his side had a 2015-16 season that was similar to what Manchester United just experienced this past campaign.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool were without European football this past season and it worked to their advantage. The former won the Premier League title while the latter reached the top four. Mourinho said that this upcoming season will be tougher for both as they will now face the added workload.
Follow paulmbanks
For Kenedy, his days at Chelsea FC may be numbered, and the clock probably started ticking as soon as he posted those two controversial Instagram stories. The Brazilian winger was sent home the team’s Asian tour following his offensive social media posts about China. In one post, he dropped the f-bomb on the world’s most populous country, and in the other he appeared to be mocking a security guard.
Many social media users denounced his behavior as racist, and Chelsea football club were left with no other recourse but to issue an official statement apologizing to China.
Follow paulmbanks
Chelsea FC broke the club record for most expensive transfer when they signed Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid less than a week ago. The striker, brought in as a replacement for Diego Costa and as a fallback option when Stamford Bridge missed out on Romelu Lukaku, cost the club £58 million.
That makes him the 13th most expensive signing in world history. Morata made his debut in a blue shirt today, in a 3-2 preseason friendly loss to Bayern Munich.
Follow paulmbanks
Watching Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba work out together at Manchester United’s USA tour training site at UCLA was a bit reminiscent of the film Rocky III.
Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa had gone from adversaries to allies by that point, and their training together montage has remained etched in the brains of all who have substantial knowledge of the Rocky franchise.
Lukaku and Pogba, very close friends off the pitch who became teammates just three weeks ago, share the same agent in Mino Raiola. It’s well documented how much Pogba was recruiting Lukaku, and when the Belgian striker’s move became official, the Pogba reaction posted on Instagram quickly went viral worldwide.
Follow paulmbanks
Manchester United suffered a major blow today regarding their UEFA Super Cup prospects, as the European ruling body extended the suspension of Eric Bailly. United’s best central defender served a one match ban in the Europa League Final victory of Ajax in Stockholm due to an incident in the second lego of the semi-final against Celta Vigo.
United learned today they must now face Real Madrid on August 8 in Skopje without Bailly as UEFA extended his suspension two additional games.
Follow paulmbanks
Usually, at best, college football Media Days discussion is quality gridiron wonkishness. At worst, typically, it’s a tedious cliche convention in which everybody tells you they’re going to go 12-0, and they do so in buzzwords and corporatespeak.
Rarely do you get a meaningful discourse about topics that transcend football. Of course, most media days don’t have Iowa football player Sean Welsh. Last Wednesday, the senior offensive lineman from Springboro, Ohio penned an emotional, revealing and edifying op-ed about his battle with depression.
It was published on the official Iowa football website.
Follow paulmbanks
On Friday, Illinois football unveiled their $80 million plans to upgrade their facilities. The ambitious project includes a brand-new 107,650 square foot Illinois Football Performance Center to be constructed next to the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility, and adjacent to Memorial Stadium.
That’s the immediate short-term project. In the longer term, phase 2 seeks to expand Memorial Stadium’s south and east grand stands. Construction on the new practice facility will break ground early next year, with a projected completion in time for the start of the 2019 college football season.
Follow paulmbanks
If you believe in karma, and you’re aware of the Mike Dudek story, then you no doubt believe that he’s due for some better fortune. Dudek wasn’t highly recruited coming out of Naperville (Neuqua Valley), but he busted out with a huge rookie season at Illinois, garnering first team freshman All-American honors in 2014.
He was known as Mikey Dudek then, and some today still refer to him as “Mikey,” but no matter what first name one uses, we can all agree that he’s a play-maker. He’s a dangerous wide receiver who stretches the field and gives Illinois the vertical passing game element that they have sorely lacked in the two years that he’s been absent.
Follow paulmbanks
Manchester United have a very action packed summer preseason schedule, as they’re currently in the midst of a five match in 12 day span. They’re undefeated thus far, having defeated: Real Madrid on penalty kicks 3-2 yesterday in Santa Clara, Manchester City 2-0 in Houston on Thursday night, Real Salt Lake in Sandy 2-1 a week ago and the L.A. Galaxy in Carson 5-2 on the 15th.
Their fifth and final match in the United States comes Wednesday, when they face Barcelona in Washington D.C.
Follow paulmbanks
Injuries are an awful thing whenever they occur, but they take on an added level of negativity when they occur during a meaningless friendly. You always hate to see someone get hurt, but it’s even worse when the setback occurs in an exhibition match. Chelsea beat London rivals Arsenal 3-0 at the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing on Saturday, but they saw their 29-year-old winger Pedro get banged up pretty bad.
The Spaniard collided with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina, and suffered multiple fractures from the impact.
Follow paulmbanks
It may only be the pre-season, but Manchester United still have a bit of a battle against the injury bug. Midfielder Ander Herrera got injured against Real Madrid yesterday, and it’s unknown right now how much time he could miss. United Manager Jose Mourinho discussed what he does know right now about Herrera’s injury in the postgame news conference, and you can read his quotes over at this link.
Another midfielder, Juan Mata, took a knock in the friendly against Real Salt Lake, but it’s not serious and he is expected to return soon.
Follow paulmbanks
