WanderlustSport

"I believe it's not a matter of effort," Enzo Maresca replied when questioned about Christopher Nkunku's recent absence of goals, assists, and overall contributions for Chelsea before the match.  With five goals in the Conference League, he ranks as the second-highest scorer in the tournament; however, he failed to score in both matches against his first significant opponent, Copenhagen, in the last 16, and once more here, along with no assists and now a missed penalty. Legia Warsaw might have fallen 3-0, but we believe none of those players exited the pitch as disheartened as the Chelsea attacker.  Nineteen goal contributions in slightly over 1900 minutes this season indicates he’s a) had a more than adequate campaign and b) hasn’t been utilized nearly enough by Maresca, but those goals/assists scored against Servette (2), Gent, Panathinaikos, FC Noah (3), Heidenheim, Shamrock Rovers (2), Bournemouth, Southampton (4), Morecambe, and Barrow (3) creates a contrasting v...

In a year lacking a prominent international championship, securing the Champions League is undoubtedly essential for clinching the Ballon d’Or. Thus, Mo Salah is unavailable. Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior must be feeling nervous.  Here are the leading 10 contenders for the award, as per the bookmakers…  Contenders for the 2025 Ballon d’Or victory   9. Harry Kane [Bayern Múnich] If Bayern claims the Champions League title, there’s a possibility for Kane. At the very least, he ought to secure a trophy this season, as Bayern is ahead of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen.  9. Jude Bellingham [Real Madrid] Came in third place in last year's Ballon d’Or voting but did not attend the ceremony following Real Madrid's wild response to Rodri's win. 9.Vinicius Junior [Real Madrid]  All expectations were for Vini Jr to grasp the trophy, but it didn't happen. At the very least, Real Madrid responded with poise and a great deal of decorum, coming toge...

Arsenal thrashed Real Madrid on Tuesday, and that 3-0 triumph easily ranks among Mikel Arteta’s top victories as Gunners manager.  10. Centenary victory against Fulham  To get started, we celebrate a significant win for Mikel Arteta. In March 2023, Arsenal defeated Fulham at Craven Cottage – their latest victory there – leaving west London with a 3-0 scoreline, marking the 100th win during the Arteta era.  Arteta achieved 100 victories in just 168 matches, boasting a win percentage of 59.5% at that point, which was greater than any other manager in the club’s past, including Arsene Wenger, whose 100th win occurred in his 184th match.  9. Invaluable Boxing Day win  Regarding its importance, the Boxing Day victory against Chelsea in 2020 was among the most crucial for Arteta, who was enduring constant pressure and at risk of being dismissed.  Arteta’s squad needed a creative influence in the No. 10 position, which they found with the inclusion of Emile Smith ...

So, raise your hand if you were aware that Declan Rice could perform like that?  Indeed, we all recognized he had evolved into essentially the perfect midfielder over the past few years. He has been England's top defensive midfielder for quite a while now, but he has never been limited to just that role. He has consistently possessed much more as a midfielder than just mere destruction.  However, we didn't truly see him as a 'master at unleashing unstoppable free-kicks against one of the top goalkeepers globally' type of player.  Questions must be raised regarding why it took the so-called set-piece genius Nicolas Jover such an extended period to discover the Mr. Burns-like brilliant tactic of instructing Rice to deliver unstoppable free-kicks past one of the greatest goalkeepers globally.  Or maybe he’s actually more astute than we realized and had reserved this unique strategy for when Arsenal needed it most in their most crucial match of the season. In such a scen...

Cesc Fabregas expressed that he was “speechless” about Declan Rice, who netted what Jon Champion called “two of the best free-kicks you are ever likely to witness” for Arsenal versus Real Madrid.  The Gunners entered their Champions League quarter-final matchup against Real Madrid as the underdogs. Their rivals are a powerhouse of European football, while Arsenal has not been among the top tier in the prestigious competition for many years.  However, the north London team dominated Real, scoring three goals in the second half to secure a 3-0 victory in the first leg.  Midfielder Rice netted two of those goals within 13 minutes, both from direct free-kicks. Before this match, he had played over 300 professional games without scoring a direct free-kick goal, but he smashed two incredible ones past Thibaut Courtois.  In commentary, Jon Champion described the goals as: “Two of the best free-kicks you will ever witness.”  Ex-Arsenal player Fabregas was amazed by Rice...

With Manchester United suffering another defeat midweek and being incredibly tedious and uninspiring on Sunday, appearing likely to finish between 12th and 16th, I question how long some of their current fans – including tourists, megastore regulars, and occasional day visitors – will tolerate this combination of not only failure but also utter monotony before they decide to leave and not return.  These supporters gain no reflected glory from such tiresome mediocrity. Not even several objectives. Only Everton and West Ham have netted fewer goals away from the bottom three. There is no benefit for their lavish expenditure. No superstars to behold. You won't feel a sense of dominance or superiority following another loss or an excruciatingly dull draw. It begins to appear inflated, gassy, and self-absorbed.  In my lifetime, only Liverpool during the 1970s and 1980s has drawn numerous casual supporters, simply seeking a day of fun and the assurance that comes with backing a trium...

"Simply avoid making any foolish choices." Clearly, that was the main worry for the players who stepped onto the pitch at Old Trafford for the Manchester derby. Mission complete, we suppose, but there truly isn't much else to express for either party apart from that.  The first half came to life only occasionally – mainly through Manchester United counter-attacks that they failed to convert. Similar to the previous encounter between these teams, it highlighted how distant both have been from the Premier League summit this season.  The latter part of the match presented a slightly increased tempo, a touch more rhythm, and a hint more readiness to attempt actions not strictly dictated in the pre-match video briefings of both teams, which has become a troubling trend for elite clubs this season. And these two sides as well.  Both City and 4 performed better than they did in that dreadfully dull match until very late in December, yet there was a clear feeling that the occasio...

Ruben Amorim identified Alejandro Garnacho as one of three Manchester United players who lack “quality” before a summer where he aims to add “two significant players”.  Amorim took over as United's new head coach in November but has faced challenges in making the intended impact after Erik ten Hag was let go, with the Red Devils currently in 13th place in the Premier League ahead of their match against Manchester City on Sunday.  It is commonly acknowledged that the Portuguese manager requires new players this summer since the existing group is finding it difficult to adjust to his philosophy and system.  Amorim affirmed before the Manchester derby that he aims to recruit a few "big players."  Amorim stated, “We must excel in recruitment.” "We must understand our system, our style of play, and the players must fit perfectly in that role." We understand the actions to take, we will find out next season.  “I simply aim to concentrate on our strengths and add one o...

Man City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has announced that he will depart from the Etihad Stadium at the conclusion of the season in an emotional message.  In the past year, there have been speculations that the Belgium international might be transferring to Saudi Arabia, Major League Soccer, or another overseas league.  His choice has likely been influenced by the Citizens' displays this season, as the reigning Premier League champions sit in fifth place in the standings.  Man City has just one opportunity to win the FA Cup before the season concludes, further enhancing De Bruyne's remarkable collection of trophies in Manchester.  De Bruyne has netted 106 goals in 413 games across all competitions, with the Belgian securing six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, and one Champions League during his tenure at the Etihad.  On Friday, De Bruyne made a statement on social media announcing his departure from the club, noting that it was the right “time...

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has criticized Michael Owen for claiming that merely securing the Premier League title is insufficient for the Reds this season.  The Reds defeated Everton midweek to regain their 12-point advantage at the top of the Premier League standings, following Arsenal's victory over Fulham the night before.  Liverpool was aiming for several trophies earlier this year, but their defeats against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Newcastle United in the League Cup final occurred in rapid succession before the international break.  Liverpool is now fully concentrated on the Premier League, with only a significant downturn able to prevent them from securing their 20th English top-flight title.  Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk was displeased with one of Owen's inquiries following the Merseyside Derby, as the ex-Reds forward implied that merely winning the Premier League this season wasn't sufficient.  Following Liverpool's victory...