Man United knocks Onana and co out of the FA Cup
Manchester United have qualified for the next round of the FA Cup. Erik ten Hag’s team had their hands full with Everton at home, but eventually won 3-1. Antony and Rashford scored the goals, with Coady scoring in both goals. It is Man United’s seventh consecutive win in all competitions. At Everton, Red Devil Amadou Onana played the entire game in midfield.
Laporta believes that renewed version Super League can start in 2025 without English clubs
Barcelona president Joan Laporta is convinced that a renewed version of the Super League can start in 2025 without English clubs. Barça, along with Real Madrid and Juventus, remain loyal to the project in the wake of the failed start-up in April 2021, when the other nine founding clubs quickly pulled out.
In October, plans to revive the league were announced. Bernd Reichart, the CEO of A22 Sports Management, promised an “open format”. UEFA called Super League supporters “greedy” after meeting Reichart the following month.
Athanasios Rantos, Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union, denounced the competition format by stating that UEFA and FIFA would lawfully penalize participating clubs.
However, Laporta remains optimistic about the Super League project. The remaining teams hope that the Court of Justice will rule that any sanctions by UEFA are incompatible with EU competition law. “We will hear the verdict in March or April. I think the clubs will benefit from it,” Laporta told radio station Cadena SER on Thursday.
“We want the management to be with the teams. I hope that UEFA will still take a seat at the board table,” it continued.
Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool all pulled their tails back at the time due to the fierce public and media reaction to the plans.
“The Super League will be a league that can rival the Premier League,” Laporta continued. “I suspect that the English teams will not participate initially, but that we will merge later.”
Laporta has a different vision than La Liga president Javier Tebas, who he says is not taking enough initiatives to help Spanish clubs compete with their English counterparts. “He should be more concerned with television subscribers and the revenue increase of Spanish football.”
Former Anderlecht midfielder Kljestan stops playing football at the age of 37
American midfielder Sacha Kljestan has announced that he is hanging up his football boots at the age of 37. He shared the news in a message on social media.
“Today I am announcing my football retirement. If you know me, you know that this is an emotional and difficult day because of my great love for the sport. But I’m ready for a new chapter in my life. I lived in a dream for 17 years. I’m thankful for my career, the great games I’ve played and most of all for the everlasting friendships I’ve made along the way. Thanks football”, Kljestan penned down.
Kljestan settled with RSC Anderlecht in the summer of 2010 and would eventually be under contract there until early 2015. In that period he became a crowd favorite and won the national title in three consecutive seasons (2012, 2013 and 2014) with the Belgian record champion. Afterwards he was active in his own country for New York Red Bulls, Orlando City and LA Galaxy. Kljestan also collected 52 caps for the US national team.
Zulte Waregem dissolves Lasse Vigen’s contract
After the arrival of Ruud Vormer and the imminent recruitment of Christian Brüls, Lasse Vigen (28) no longer sees a future for himself at Zulte Waregem. The Dane, who was recruited on a free transfer a year and a half ago after a short period at Bröndby, never succeeded in enforcing a permanent place at Essevee. He therefore had his contract terminated by mutual agreement.
Vigen, called up once for Denmark seven years ago without taking action, played 35 times in the shirt of the Boeren but did not score once. His promising preparation under Francky Dury last season was never followed up. (LUVM)
Ravych (Cercle Brugge) is out for weeks with a broken hand
Miron Muslic has to work on his defense against Westerlo next weekend and also in the following weeks. Christiaan Ravych, the 20-year-old revelation who had secured a permanent place in the green-black defense since the end of October, suffered a broken hand in training at the beginning of this week. He underwent surgery this afternoon and will remain unavailable for at least one to one and a half months.
Due to the suspension of Deman (twice yellow in Mechelen), Miangue has to make a move on the left flank. And Muslic is not well in the central defenders, because David Sousa (unavailable all season due to a cruciate ligament injury) will remain in rehabilitation for at least another month and a half. At Edgaras Utkus it is even waiting for the start of the next competition. The Lithuanian also tore the cruciate ligaments of the knee on the second match day against Anderlecht, but later it turned out that the meniscus was also damaged, so that he will not play again this season. (LUVM)
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