Eden Hazard: Real Madrid forward may miss rest of season, says Zinedine Zidane

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is uncertain whether injured Eden Hazard forward will play again this year.
Hazard, 29, who joined Real in Chelsea at June in an deal suffered a busted ankle to Levante on Saturday during his side’s 1-0 La Liga reduction.
The Belgian was playing his second game back following a similar injury.
“I don’t know whether his season is finished, I don’t understand but I trust not,” said Zidane.
“I really don’t know if he’ll require an operation, it’s not my place. I can see he is not satisfied.
“It is important he remains optimistic but of course it’s difficult. It is a bad moment, it won’t be easy and he’ll feel like this for a while.”
Actual, who play at home in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie against Manchester City on Wednesday, are next in La Liga, two points behind leaders Barcelona.
Before going to Spain, Hazard spent at Chelsea, helping them win the Premier League the Europa League on 2 occasions and the League Cup.
However he continued a thigh injury in training the day before the onset of the Spanish year and didn’t perform until September.
His ankle fracture was then sustained by him throughout the 2-2 Champions League draw against Paris St-Germain in November and was outside for two or more months.
Hazard has assisted Belgium reach on the very top of Fifa’s world rankings and they are among the favorites to win Euro 2020, which starts on 12.

Arsenal’s Grant Xhaka calls for more openness with fans

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Granit Xhaka has known to allow greater openness with fans following his roster with Arsenal fans.
After being stripped of the captaincy the midfielder needed to leave the bar in January, with sworn at supporters who booed him.
Xhaka has vowed to stay and fight for his position but highlighted a gap in accessibility as a part of his difficulty to lovers between England and Germany.
“I realise that the fans need the players to do in each match but they also ought to see it is not always so simple,” he said, quoted in sunlight.
“Here is the largest gap between Germany and England, since here we do not have the connection with the lovers. In Germany, we have many coaching sessions once the fans can come and talk to you.
“Here, everything is closed and it would be useful to be able to explain to people why something is moving well or not so well.”
The Switerzland international will be looking forward to his future with the club and insists he enjoying his football again under new manager Mikel Arteta.
He said:”I advised the club (this )’so long as I’m here I am always ready to give everything’. I train hard and things turned around.
“That’s become the secret to joy for me personally and with the help of Mikel along with my team-mates I’m enjoying being an Arsenal player again.”

Manchester United to succeed with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, says Ed Woodward

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Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward believes the foundations are in place for long-term victory together with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.
United are still in contention for FA Cup glory and Europa League, even though they sit fifth in the Premier League – an eye-watering 38 points behind table-topping competitions Liverpool.
Bruno Fernandes’ big-money January coming has increased optimism and Woodward believes United are on the ideal track.
“We’re pushing for a solid finish in the Premier League, the Europa League and the FA Cup because we enter the final third of the year,” he said.
“We’ve continued to make progress on the squad rebuild, with many changes concerning players that we’ve brought in and gamers that come during our academy; the foundation for bringing the long-term victory we are all working towards is now set up as we execute our plan and our footballing eyesight .”
More to follow…

Vontaze Burfict reinstated by NFL after record suspension

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The NFL”softly” reinstated linebacker Vontaze Burfict from suspension each month, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Monday.
Playing for your then-Oakland Raiders, Burfict was suspended for the last 12 games of the 2019 year Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle in Week 4. It was the longest suspension in NFL history.
Burfict, 29, is a free agent. He and the Raiders were playing on a yearlong, $ 2m contract, a discounted deal due in part to his prior transgressions.
While serving suspensions for player-safety violations, he missed the beginning of both the 2016 and 2017 seasons, and he also missed the beginning of 2018 for a violation of this league’s policy on drugs.
In 2016, Burfict had a five-game suspension to get a hit on Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman diminished to three matches.
He’s amassed over $5.3m in fines and forfeited wages because of suspensions in his profession, Spotrac said.
Burfict’s agent said that the eight-year NFL veteran was exercising in his alma mater.
“Vontaze has spent the entire offseason studying and studying the suitable code of conduct for involvement in the NFL,” Schaffer said, per Pelissero.
“He’s observed tape, spoke with coaches and NFL specialists doing what he could to adapt his ardent play into the principles of the NFL.”
Burfict has 622 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five interceptions and five fumble recoveries in 79 games (77 starts) with the Bengals and Raiders. He also made the Pro Bowl at 2013.
Sky Sports NFL will keep you updated with offseason storylines along with all the information, including Free Agency the Scouting Combine and the NFL Draft. Follow us @NFL and in www.FILE_0_EXTENSION/NFL

Real Madrid face defining week under Zinedine Zidane

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So perhaps it is no surprise that this issue was foreseen by the Real Madrid boss anticipation and eyesight were among the features of Zinedine Zidane as a participant. Asked last month concerning the sacking of Ernesto Valverde from Barcelona, he said:”At big clubs, that is exactly how things are and nothing else will change. I know that when we lose two games, I will be criticised.”
He spoke in the moment from a position of appreciable strength when Atletico Madrid were beaten at the start of the month and optimism grew. Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the game that day at the Bernabeu to expand Real Madrid’s guide to six factors at the top of La Liga. The club were in the quarter-finals of their Copa del Rey.
But the two losses so has the criticism have followed , predictably.
Real Madrid were dumped from the cup from Real Sociedad, conceding four occasions in a defeat in front of their fans. A goal by Celta Vigo made a draw in the Bernabeu to them. Shocked the European champions and worse was to follow in the weekend when Levante replicated their trick of season.
Suddenly, it is Barcelona top of La Liga.
This conduct of form can hardly come at a more crucial time. Manchester City will be the visitors to this Bernabeu on Wednesday until Barca come calling in the Clasico on Sunday. Win those two along with the woe that is current will probably be forgotten. Lose them this and mini-crisis gets full blown off and the recriminations will begin in earnest for Zidane.
It’s almost a year as the Frenchman returned at the immediate aftermath of Champions League elimination from Ajax. The boat was steadied. Normal order apparently restored. However, since Zidane came back into Madrid, with having passed, the issue now is that beneath it all very little has really changed. The issues remain.
Certainly, the majority of the players perform. The summer signings aren’t expected to play a lot of part in this week of the season of Real Madrid. Eden Hazard suffered a fractured ankle. Rodrygo is not unavailable for selection to your Clasico because of suspension. When Eder Militao and Luka Jovic begin either match it could be a surprise.
A comfortable line-up means troubles. Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, the shortage of a goalscorer has been an issue and form appears to have ended any lingering impression that the void can be filled by Benzema. The forward’s targets have dried up and there’s nobody in the club who’s currently doing enough to make up for that shortfall.
In fact, from the previous 14 games dating back into mid-December, no Real Madrid player has scored more than two goals. Benzema has failed to score in 10 of his last 12 appearances. The two Jovic and Gareth Bale, on paper, among their candidates to deal with this problem, were omitted in the squad against Levante. There’s not any obvious solution.
All of that places pressure on Madrid’s defence. This was something that by making his team more difficult to play against, Zidane sought to improve this season. Spirit returned but now there are fears which Madrid are open again.
A run of four matches without a clean sheet – the first time that’s occurred because the opening months of the campaign – is really a concern. There’s been little protection although sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane remain a partnership of pedigree. Behind these, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was for the winning goal of Levante to blame.
How does the issue be solved by Zidane? There are wide choices in Vinicius and Bale Junior however form in doubt and with assurance diminished , perhaps this really isn’t the week to get football. More probable is that Madrid will look to place statistics as they did this month when naming five midfielders from Atletico.
Expect Zidane to call on the huge names to bond him out. Ramos and the remainder have saved their best for this particular competition. They will back themselves to ride this year .
Just as they have before.
When beaten 3-1 at Wembley at November 2017 from Tottenham It’s well worth remembering that at the last season of his first spell in charge of Zidane, there was talk about crisis. Marca called them easy to beat that evening. El Pais watched it that the team had gone.
Zidane proceeded to finish that season – and complete football – . Don’t write off Real Madrid yet. The only thing more prevalent which crises at this club are trophies.
Follow Real Madrid vs Man City on Wednesday – and also the Clasico on Sunday between Real Madrid and Barcelona – on the Sky Sports website together with our sites that are live and app.

Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss ‘never thought’ record would be equalled

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he”never believed it had been possible” for his side to equal Manchester City’s record of 18 successive Premier League wins.
The league leaders united a victory over West Ham on Monday and City.
City won 18 straight matches between August and December 2017.
“It is so special. The numbers are so hard. I stated we wanted to write our stories, make our own background,” said Klopp.
“Clearly, the boys shot that very seriously and that is all cool but just not too important right now.
“We are only at the situation and need to recover and prepare for the next game.”
The last time Liverpool dropped points at the league had been in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on 20 October 2019.
Victory over West Ham in Anfield, where championships Lukasz Fabianski suffered a nightmare, took Liverpool to within four wins of the first league title in 30 decades.
When Fabianski failed to take care of a routine Georginio Wijnaldum header liverpool took an early lead but David Moyes’ side replied through the header of Issa Diop substitute Pablo Fornals swept West Ham into the lead nine minutes.
But Fabianski allowed the shot to squirm through his legs in Sadio Mane and the 68th minute of Mohamed Salah turned into Trent Alexander-Arnold’s lob.
It means Liverpool are all 22 points clear of champions City in the top of the table.
“I couldn’t have wished for a better position to go into these last 11 games,” Klopp added. “I never thought it was possible but each among [the successes are] very tricky.”
Former Chelsea and Scotland winger Pat Nevin on Radio 5 Live:”Normally there’s absolutely not any danger at this place [Anfield] because you expect Liverpool to triumph. They were asked a great deal. It turned out to be a game. However when Liverpool should win with the odd goal that they find a method.
“They rode a small bit of chance in the next half. If there were 10 seconds left, the West Ham fans could have been thinking’that is an absolute eternity’. You do not think that at Anfield although there are a few teams in which you feel you are running out of time. A second feels like an eternity.
“All three goals came from full-back assists. That isn’t a fluke, it occurs all the time. That’s one reason Liverpool have been so extraordinary.”
Former West Ham and England goalkeeper Rob Green on Radio 5 Live:”Liverpool were not at their finest on Monday. Compared to a week, the operation from West Ham has been a stark contrast. They asked questions. Every guy place a change in.
“Jurgen Klopp was observing that like a big, huge triumph. It was probably the most they were pushed all season.”

Norwich youngster Shae Hutchinson vows kidney transplant won’t end his career

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Norwich child Shae Hutchinson has pledged to not allow the simple fact that he wants a new liver prevent him from fulfilling his dream of breaking a career.
The 19-year-old comes with a hereditary illness named Alport Syndrome – combined with affecting his hearing and eyesight that – signifies the kidney he had been given by his father in 2018 is currently working at only 17 percent.
Hutchinson, who joined Norwich out of Arsenal as a 16-year-old, suffers from fatigue that is extra as a consequence of the condition but says he has learned to adapt to it.
“My fantasy, my purpose is to play with Norwich’s first group and hopefully once I do this done and over with and that I get back to the pitch hopefully I can get to this level,” that the Norwich U23s striker told Sky Sports News.
“I won’t ever let anything get in my way. I’ve been decided from the beginning. You need to chase your own dreams. If you like it go catch it.
“Health comes before soccer. I understand that.
“However, it gets me frustrated how I can’t play 90 minutes since I am getting tired quicker than everyone else. But I have to understand that and that I do understand it.”
His condition was hidden by hutchinson for fear of being turned away but the club have been supportive, putting his training programme that he has one session less a week and holding routine wellbeing meetings.
“He wishes to be a footballer so much. He was scared that when he told us that would be removed from him,” said Norwich U23s manager David Wright.
“Now he knows that is not the situation. The football part is secondary. He’s a kidney transplant as it is very, very significant stuff in terms of his own health.”
Norwich first-team director Daniel Farke claims the club takes their own duty of care to their players.
“It is not like we judge them just a piece of company,” he said.
“Obviously we are all happy when they’re effective and may have a fantastic impact for Norwich City, however we always judge them as human beings. We look after them and that I think Shae is currently in the best hands.”

Manchester United supporters group say ‘fans were in genuine fear for their safety’ in trip to Bruges

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Manchester United fans team’MUST’ have composed an open letter to the mayor of Bruges to whine of enthusiast treatment match against Club Brugge.
Manchester United drew 1-1 in the first leg of the Europa League round-of-32 tie week with Club Brugge.
The Manchester United Supporters Trust stated”fans were in real fear for their security” during the trip to Belgium.
The letter read:”Lots people who have travelled the globe after MUFC are of the view that this had been the worst experience of a European away match they had had for many decades.
“We returned home having an impression of Bruges that should shame all those responsible for our safety and security.
“We have numerous reports that the authorities educated cab drivers to stay away from the ground rather than to choose up Manchester United fans. It was a very long walk in horrible weather conditions from town to the stadium.”
The letter to mayor Dirk De fauw raised issues with claims, in addition to the local police’s use of water cannons and barbed wire barriers.
The statement read:”We’d be ashamed if visitors to Manchester were treated as described above – are you not conscious of the way visitors to your city were medicated?
“Poor treatment is one problem but the security issues go far beyond this and we’ll soon be sending a report to UEFA outlining the problems our fans have delivered to us.”
From the correspondence MUST also alleged:
Sky Sports News has contacted the mayor’s office .

Odds to Win the Honda Classic

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One of the toughest courses on the PGA Tour Requires the spotlight this week for the Honda Classic’s 2020 Variant at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Brooks Koepka is the +1200 front-runner in BetOnline, followed closely by Tommy Fleetwood (+1200), Rickie Fowler (+1400), Gary Woodland (+2200), Billy Horschel (+2500), Justin Rose (+2500), Louis Oosthuizen (+2500), Viktor Hovland (+2800), Byeong Hun An (+3300) and Daniel Berger (+3300).
Once he missed the cut, rose is teeing it up at the Honda Classic for the first time because 2015. The last time we watched Rose was at the Genesis Invitational, where he finished T-56. 2017 Honda Classic winner Rickie Fowler is back in the fold for the first time because the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Koepka has performed with only three occasions in the 2019-20 year but is back at the track in which he ended from one year ago as a runner-up along with Fowler. A West Palm Beach native, koepka, has published a withdrawal, a missed cut and a T-43 when coming from a knee injury that forced him to overlook that the Presidents Cup.
Keith Mitchell held off a late surge from Koepka and Fowler to appear successful at PGA National, This past Year. The triumph was his first on the PGA Tour. Koepka and fowler were both but the offer was sealed by Mitchell’s 15-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole. Mitchell tied entering Sunday and was tied to the lead through 36 holes. The American is a haul to return to back.
The course is ranked as one of the classes on the tour. The place is emphasized by the Bear Trap — a very intimidating stretch of holes from No. 15-17. The moniker comes in Jack Nicklaus, who redesigned the course in 1990.
Have a look at the complete collection of chances of the book, and keep tuned for my selections for the tournament which can be uploaded here on Tuesday.

Coronavirus: Serie A games could be played behind closed doors

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The Italian government is going towards having soccer games as authorities attempt to contain the spreading coronavirus that has created northern Italy played behind closed doors in regions that are affected this epidemic in Europe’s point.
Serie A president Paolo Dal Pinto delivered a letter to the authorities on Monday requesting that matches no more be retrieved in the affected regions but played with fans in life, noting that there is very not much time for make-up dates contemplating each of elite football competitions have to be completed by May 24 because of the upcoming European Championships.
Although no last decision was made the strategy was suggested by sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora to German Premier Giuseppe Conte.
Playing with sports behind closed doors to another week might be possible, since fans can easily stay in the home, said the president of the federation for sport doctors , Maurizio Casasco.
But the clubs have to be in agreement, and there’s more than soccer in Italy.
The national staff are due to hold a coaching camp in their national training base Coverciano near Florence ahead of friendlies against England at Max-Morlock-Stadion at Nuremberg at Wembley and Germany month.
To the round on Sunday were postponed, such as Inter Milan’s game against Sampdoria at the San Siro, f our Serie A games scheduled.
Rather than being hauled in Milan also the very first board meeting for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics was changed.
Members of the board of directors to its 2026 Games predicted from their various offices the regions hardest hit by the virus, in the Veneto and Lombardy regions, the Olympic Committee explained.
Additionally, there are concerns over the Europa League fixture of Inter against Ludogorets, together with the leg scheduled on Thursday in Milan. The Bulgarian side has composed to UEFA to request more information regarding the circumstance.
Juventus, located in Turin, are due to to sponsor Inter Sunday. Other games scheduled for northern Italy following weekend include Udinese vs Fiorentina on Saturday and AC Milan vs Genoa on Sunday.
French club Lyon have been in contact with UEFA and French authorities over concern about the 2,500-3,000 Juventus fans traveling at the city on Wednesday.
Stocks fell 11 per cent on Monday over the Milan stock exchange in early trading, forcing a suspension trading.
Juventus also announced their museum at the Allianz Stadium would stay closed until at least Saturday. Stadium tours were also suspended.
Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malag said that playing matches behind closed doors was problematic. It may be the only alternative for now.
With fewer concerns in Italy, Napoli’s Champions League game against Barcelona on Tuesday is defined as performed as intended.
All matches were cancelled by serie C west. Volleyball and rugby games were also suspended nationally through second weekend.
Defense officials said five people had died, including two men in northern Lombardy and more than 200 individuals had tested positive for the virus in Italy. It is the highest amount of cases outside Asia.
Officials had not pinpointed the source of the epidemic of Italy and struggled to contain the amount of cases, which motivated rail traffic to stop across its border and by Monday had spread to a half-dozen of regions.
In South Korea, local soccer authorities indefinitely postponed the start of the 2020 season.
The statement was made by the K League since the nation grapples with this outbreak.
763 was attained by the number of cases in South Korea including seven deaths, on Monday. Mainland China has reported 2,592 deaths among 77,150 cases.
In Asia, the hockey federation cancelled the games of its federal women’s team against the leading players due to the virus of North America.
The Italian Winter Sports Federation suspended all its events across the nation for an entire week, although it stated that for next weekends World Cup races at La Thuile from the Valle dAosta area were to go.
The International Ski Federation, which has cancelled this year to races in China which were slated to check the path for its 2022 Beijing Games operates those races.
Alpine joint and women’s super-G are scheduled for next Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The Italian federation said it is in contact with the government over the situation that was growing.
Italy is set to host the World Cup ski finals in Cortina d’Ampezzo in March 18-22.
Maintaining the ski races could be an option.