Planet Football Archives - Page 34 of 54

After nine years in the shadows, Benzema is shining in Real’s spotlight

Posted on March 18, 2021 by admin

Take a look at what’s happened at Real Madrid in recent years. Were it not for Karim Benzema stepping out of the shadows and into the limelight, the club would be staring at a full-blown crisis. “It will be Benzema,” was Zinedine Zidane’s curt response recently when asked whether Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo or Kylian Mbappe would be leading […]

The story of Keegan’s second spell as Newcastle boss

Posted on March 18, 2021 by admin

In the corridors at the Ricoh Arena, trouble was brewing. Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United had just survived a late comeback from Coventry City to win a League Cup tie after extra-time. James Milner, who had handed in a transfer request, was named man of the match. It was late August 2008, days before the window closed, and […]

Watch: Rudiger gives Hermoso cheeky pat on head after Savic red

Posted on March 18, 2021 by admin

Antonio Rudiger found himself at the centre of controversy as Chelsea beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, and the centre-back appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself throughout. Leading 1-0 after a cagey first leg played in Bucharest, Chelsea took a huge step towards progressing when Hakim Ziyech opened the scoring from a slick […]

Watch: Martinelli scores spectacular volley in Arsenal training

Posted on March 17, 2021 by admin

Arsenal‘s Gabriel Martinelli delivered a timely reminder of his incredible abilities during a recent training session. After joining the club from Ituano in 2019, Martinelli became the first teenager to score 10 goals in a season for Arsenal since Nicolas Anelka in 1998-99. The striker then picked up an untimely knee injury during a training session and spent a number of […]

Watch: Martinelli scores spectacular volley in Arsenal training

Posted on March 17, 2021 by admin

Forget about the miss and just focus on Vinicius can do

Posted on March 17, 2021 by admin

Sergio Ramos’ reaction was the proverbial 1000-word picture. He bent over, head in hands, before slumping to the floor and throwing his arms in the air, anguish and frustration writ across his face. Real Madrid were 1-0 up on the night and 3-0 up on aggregate in their Champions League last-16 tie with Atalanta. Another goal […]

Gboly Ariyibi: I was playing Sunday league when Leeds signed me

Posted on March 17, 2021 by admin

In the weeks before making his Leeds United debut in front of 27,000 people and the Sky Sports cameras, Gboly Ariyibi was bouncing around clubs on trial and playing Sunday league football. The winger was released by Southampton in the summer of 2013 aged 18, leaving him to maintain fitness with park football while spending […]

Mehdi Taremi: From the Persian Gulf to the Champions League

Posted on March 17, 2021 by admin

If you are an outstanding young player in Brazil or Argentina, or if you show promise in any but a very few European countries, you are guaranteed one thing: a legion of scouts will be watching your every on-pitch move. The big boys will be circling, set to pounce and snap you up. If you […]

A forensic analysis of Riquelme’s magnum opus v Real Madrid

Posted on March 16, 2021 by admin

When Juan Roman Riquelme retired in 2015 after an 18-year professional career, he didn’t say too much. He never was a man of many words. Yet of the few sentences he did manage, two stood out: “I enjoyed football to the maximum. I hope the people have enjoyed it alongside me.” They felt incongruous. Not untrue, […]

Six classic PL goals that wouldn’t have been given with VAR

Posted on March 16, 2021 by admin

Love it or loathe it, VAR has completely changed Premier League football. It’s safe to say it hasn’t stopped people discussing officiating decisions, but it has changed what we think of what should and shouldn’t be handball and offside. With replays and the modern interpretation of the laws, some classic and hugely significant Premier League goals would […]