Category: Sports

Xabi Alonso Gives Fitness Update On Victor Boniface

The manager of Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface will be available for their DFB-Pokal semi-final game against Düsseldorf at BayArena on Wednesday, April 3.

Victor Boniface has been struggling with an adductor injury since January. He had to undergo surgery to treat the injury.

Due to the injury, he withdrew from the Super Eagles of Nigeria 2023 AFCON squad. In his absence, the Nigerian team finished second in the tournament in Ivory Coast.

Also, the absence of Victor Boniface has not stopped Bayer Leverkusen from maintaining their unbeaten run in all competitions. They are the only club in the top five leagues in Europe who are yet to taste defeat this season.

Hence, the return of Boniface who has scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in 23 games in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen is seen as a big boost for an already vibrant side.

Ahead of Bayer Leverkusen’s DFB-Pokal semi-final game against Düsseldorf, coach Xabi Alonso confirmed that Boniface has been training hard, and he is set to play his first game in 2024.

“We have no injured players. Everyone could be available for the squad,” Alonso told a press conference.

“Boniface could play a part of the game. He trained hard and came through it with a strong mentality. He can’t wait to be back on the pitch.”

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Pep Guardiola Gives Update On Ake, Walker, Stone After Arsenal Draw

Man City Have Been Handed Brutal Reality Check - Pep Guardiola On City's 4-Game Winless Streak

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has noted that the injury Nathan Ake sustained in the club’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal might keep him sidelined for a while.

Pep Guardiola also noted that Kyle Walker will remain sidelined a bit longer, while John Stones is expected to return to full fitness soon.

During Arsenal’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, March 31, coach Guardiola had to substitute Ake for Rico Lewis in the 27th minute because the 29-year-old Dutch defender sustained an injury.

Before the game that ended 0-0, Manchester City lost their two English defenders, Kyle Walker and John Stones to injuries.

Walker sustained an injury while playing for England against Brazil on March 23; Stone sustained his injury while playing for England against Belgium on March 26.

Due to fitness issues, Pep Guardiola had to make do without the star players as his team failed to score a goal against Arsenal in front of their home fans on Sunday.

After the game, the Spanish tactician told Sky Sports that Ake’s fitness issues could be because he played two games in one week.

“It is what it is”, the former FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager said.

“[Ake] played two games this week [including] with the national team in Holland. John will be better soon, I think. Kyle will be longer, now Nathan will be longer.”

Note that Manchester City are currently sitting third on the league table, three points behind first-placed Liverpool, and a point behind second-placed Arsenal.

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Mauricio Pochettino Laments After Chelsea’s 2-2 Draw With Ten-Man Burnley

The manager of Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that he wasn’t happy with the performance of his team after an abysmal outing against relegation-threatened Burnley.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea played from the 40th minute of the Premier League game with a man advantage after Burnley’s Lorenz Assignon was red-carded in the first half.

Four minutes after the red card, Cole Palmer gave Chelsea the lead in the 44th minute via the penalty spot and most football enthusiasts thought Burnley would suffer a whitewash at Stamford Bridge.

Interestingly, Burley’s coach Vincent Kompany was able to set up his team in such a way that the team came back as early as in the 47th minute of the second half.

In the 78th minute, Chelsea restored their lead courtesy of Cole Palmer’s strike. The lead didn’t last for more than three minutes before ten-man Burnley equalized in the 81st minute through the boots of Dara O’Shea.

The game ended 2-2 as Chelsea maintained their 11th spot with 40 points in 28 games, while Burnley maintained their 19th spot with 18 points in 30 games.

After the draw on Saturday, Pochettino said, “Today we didn’t show the capacity, the energy, the hunger. Not the minimum to compete in the Premier League. In the defensive phases, we concede too much.

“That is why I’m so upset and disappointed. It’s more here (in the heart) and here (in the head) than in your legs. It’s about being strong like a group, strong like a team.

“We are too slow evolving in this area. That was the key today. But when we didn’t have the ball, we didn’t have the same energy.

“Today, sorry, I am not happy with the performance when we don’t have the ball. It’s difficult to accept not to win. It was a must-win game.”

He continued: “The players need to realize that competing is different from playing football. We can be there and play, but we need to increase our level.

“It’s not about blaming the players. Maybe we (the coaching staff) need to be tougher with them.

“We need to be more ruthless, find better communication, be more competitive.

“We are missing something. That’s why we are where we are. When we don’t have the ball we need to increase our capacity to recover it.”

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Xabi Alonso To Stay At Bayer Leverkusen For One More Season

Bayer Leverkusen coach, Xabi Alonso has reportedly informed Premier League club, Liverpool, and German Bundesliga club, Bayern Munich, that he is not planning to leave his current club ahead of next season.

Xabi Alonso is currently enjoying an unprecedented run at Bayer Leverkusen where he is currently topping the German Bundesliga table with 10 points above second-placed Bayern Munich.

The Spanish tactician is the only manager in the top four leagues in Europe that has not suffered a defeat this season.

Hence, he is wanted by his two former clubs, Bayern Munich and Liverpool who are expected to lose their current coaches, Thomas Tuchel, and Jurgen Klopp, respectively, at the end of this season.

Transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, has claimed that Liverpool have bowed out of the race to appoint Xabi Alonso since Thursday, March 28, and Bayern Munich are expected to bow out today, March 29.

The transfer expert also said Alonso is expected to remain the head coach of Bayer Leverkusen until 2025 and there will be a release clause which will permit him to join another club at the end of next season.

“Liverpool, Bayern, and Real Madrid will keep following the development of Xabi Alonso in the future months”, the transfer expert added.

Also, the honorary president of Bayern Munich, Uli Hoeness had said it is almost impossible for Xabi Alonso to leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of this season because the Spanish tactician would want to achieve more feats at the club.

“Alonso is more inclined to stay at Bayer Leverkusen given their current successes because he would not want to leave them behind”, he said as quoted by Daily Mail.

“Let’s say if he had two or three more years of success, it would probably be easier to get him out of there.”

“I personally, and we all, extremely appreciate Xabi Alonso, but you mustn’t forget that he is now training at a club that is currently in the process of becoming German champions.”

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