EPL

Premier League form table after Arsenal & Man City wins

Published

2 weeks ago

March 12, 2023

The gap between Arsenal and Manchester City remained the same at the end of the weekend’s Premier League action with both winning, but other top-half sides faltered.

Arsenal claimed victory against Fulham with ease thanks to three goals in what was a sumptuous first-half display. The hosts didn’t concede any others after the break but couldn’t get themselves on the scoresheet either.

Man City weren’t nearly as comfortable as their title rivals in their match with Crystal Palace but a 78th-minute penalty from Erling Haaland ensured that they remained the only side other than the Premier League leaders to be unbeaten in their last five league games.

Only those two have picked up more points in the last 10 games than Brentford, despite the fact that Thomas Frank’s side were beaten by Everton. Brighton would have surpassed them in the form table if they could beat Leeds, but they only drew 2-2.

Tottenham closed the gap on both after winning their third match in four games, beating Nottingham Forest 3-1, and drew level with Manchester United who were held to a goalless draw by Southampton.

Aston Villa round out the top seven after claiming a point against West Ham.

Position	Club	Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points
1.	Man City	10	7	1	2	22
2.	Arsenal	10	7	1	2	22
3.	Brentford	10	5	4	1	19
4.	Brighton	10	5	3	2	18
5.	Spurs	10	6	0	4	18
6.	Man Utd	10	5	3	2	18
7.	Aston Villa	10	5	2	3	17

Middle of the pack

Liverpool brought themselves back into the top-four race with their 7-0 demolition of Man Utd but then followed it up with a defeat to Bournemouth, while Fulham lost ground in the same race by falling to defeat against Arsenal.

Both will be made a little nervous by the fact that Chelsea have won their last two league games to climb up the form table and into the mix for a Europa League spot.

Splitting the three sides in said table are Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, both of whom have struggled of late.

Position	Club	Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points
8.	Wolves	10	4	3	3	15
9.	Liverpool	10	4	2	4	14
10.	Fulham	10	4	2	4	14
11.	Nottingham Forest	10	3	4	3	13
12.	Newcastle	10	2	6	2	12
13.	Chelsea	10	3	3	4	12

Out of form

As you’d expect, the bottom places in the form table are occupied by those fighting to stay in the Premier League.

Crystal Palace have been dragged into the relegation battle having failed to pick up three points in any of their last 10 games.

Leeds have only done so once themselves but have at least claimed as many points as Leicester thanks to their four draws.

Everton and Bournemouth did their survival chances the world of good with wins over Brentford and Liverpool last time out, while Southampton and West Ham picked up decent draws against Man Utd and Aston Villa.

Position	Club	Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points
14.	West Ham	10	2	4	4	10
15.	Southampton	10	3	1	6	10
16.	Everton	10	3	1	6	10
17.	Bournemouth	10	2	2	6	8
18.	Leeds	10	1	4	5	7
19.	Leicester	10	2	1	7	7
20.	Crystal Palace	10	0	5	5	5

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EPL

Fabio Paratici opens up on Antonio Conte’s Tottenham exit & provides update on manager search

Published

14 hours ago

March 28, 2023

Sean Walsh

Tottenham Hotspur managing director of football Fabio Paratici has discussed the decision to part ways with head coach Antonio Conte.

Spurs reached a mutual agreement for Conte to depart the club on Sunday night following a disappointing run of results.

Conte oversaw exits in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and UEFA Champions League this season despite high hopes of ending the club’s 15-year trophy drought.

In his personal life, Conte lost three close friends – Spurs fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone, former Italy colleague Gianluca Vialli and Serie A legend Sinisa Mihajlovic – while he had to undergo emergency surgery on his gallbladder at the start of February.

Speaking to Tottenham club channels, Paratici leaned on these reasons as to why Conte’s reign ended so sourly.

“About Antonio, we know how difficult this season was for him personally. Gian Piero died, Vialli and Mihajlovic [died], the surgery, the club supported him a lot about this and everyone was close with each other. But we arrived to this mutual agreement, and I think the decision we made was the right decision to everyone,” Paratici said.

Paratici went on to talk about interim manager Cristian Stellini – Conte’s former assistant who took charge of Tottenham in his absence this year – as well as speculation over a permanent successor.

“So Cristian managed the team even when Antonio was sick this season and was good. He has a lot of experience as a second and even first coach in the past. We have Ryan Mason who can help him a lot because he’s been part of this club for a long time, he knows everything about this club and this kind of group of players. So I think we are really, really confident that these two persons can do a very good job,” Paratici continued.

“The players doesn’t have to change a bit, the style of training. So change everything when you have just 10 games to go I think would be really difficult to the players.

“I would like to see, not just this season but even last season, when we came here we speak about ‘rebuild’ a bit. We started to play Conference League, starting not so good. Then at the end of the season we achieved a big result to get Champions League.

“Then this season, we played Champions League, we passed the group, it was a good achievement for us. And then we get out against Milan.

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“I think about growing up, the team and the club. The pathway for the club was good about results in that way. And then of course we are disappointed because we can be better in the FA [Cup] against Sheffield [United]. Every time you lose one game, you regret it.

“Of course we are focused and looking forward about being better arriving at the end of the season and the next season better again.

“The Premier League always is tough, so we have a lot of teams and clubs [who are] really, really prepared…but we fight, we like that. So we will fight to achieve our target, we are prepared to fight until the end of the season. We have to be focused on the last part of the season.

“We don’t speak about other coaches or follow the speculation in the media because this is just speculation. We are focused and now concentrating on helping Cristian and the staff, the players.

“I think today we have to be focused on our squad and our manager because it’s an important moment.”

Paratici is one of 12 former Juventus officials who were due in court this week regarding the club’s financial mismanagement, though a date for the hearing has now been pushed back until May.

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On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss Julian Nagelsmann’s future and links to the vacant Tottenham head coach role, Barcelona’s ambition to bring Lionel Messi ‘home’, Brighton teenager Evan Ferguson, Florian Wirtz, Kalvin Phillips and more!

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EPL

Bruno Fernandes disagrees with Cristiano Ronaldo’s assessment of Roberto Martinez

Published

15 hours ago

March 28, 2023

Sean Walsh

Bruno Fernandes has revealed he does not agree with teammate Cristiano Ronaldo regarding the impact of new Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez.

The former Everton and Belgium boss was named as the surprise successor to Fernando Santos following the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

While Martinez has been known to coach attacking and entertaining football, his teams are often characterised by their haphazard and sloppy defending – almost the inverse to how Portugal played under Santos.

Ronaldo, who scored four goals in two games for Portugal this month, was quick to tell reporters of the positive impact Martinez has had on the team.

“It’s a new chapter for everyone, for the players, the staff and the country. We feel good energy. It’s a breath of fresh air,” the Al Nassr forward said.

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But when speaking to Portuguese channel RTP3, Fernandes simmered Ronaldo’s excited judgement.

When asked if he agreed with Ronaldo’s comments, Fernandes replied: “No, it’s just a new coach with new ideas. There is no breath of fresh air at all. It’s just a transition period.

“The atmosphere in the national team has always been good. There’s never been anything that wasn’t fresh of the air, so I think it’s just new dynamics, new coach, and you have to assimilate his ideas.”

Portugal have made a perfect start under Martinez’s management, securing a 4-0 win at home to Liechtenstein before beating Luxembourg 6-0 on the road.

Fernandes and Ronaldo’s recent careers have been intertwined due to their prominence with the Portugal national team and their 15-month spell together at Manchester United.

Upon Fernandes’ arrival in England, the Old Trafford faithful devised a chant which referenced his arrival ‘from Sporting like Cristiano’.

The duo didn’t quite hit their best heights in tandem while at United, and Ronaldo’s bitter exit in November 2022 was followed by the two appearing to be on frosty terms ahead of the World Cup.

But Ronaldo dismissed this suggestion at the time, telling the press: “My relationship with him is excellent.”

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Premier League clubs keen to sign wantaway Lorient star Enzo Le Fee

Published

20 hours ago

March 28, 2023

Tom Gott & Graeme Bailey

A number of Premier League sides are monitoring Lorient midfielder Enzo Le Fee after he confirmed his desire to leave the club this summer, 90min understands.

The 23-year-old has dazzled this season for Lorient, impressing both defensively and in attack and chipping in with four goals and five assists in 28 games.

90min reported in November that Leicester had begun tracking Le Fee as they prepared for the departure of Youri Tielemans, and sources have confirmed to 90min that the Foxes are by no means alone with their interest.

Both Fulham and Wolves have voiced an interest in Le Fee while one source also named Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham as admirers of the France Under-21 international.

The interest in Le Fee has follows the midfielder’s public admission that he does not plan to extend his contract, which expires in the summer of 2024, and his desire to secure a move away from Lorient this summer.

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“It’s time for me to leave,” Le Fee told Le Telegramme on Monday.

“I have a special bond with the club and that’s why I wanted to extend my contract at the start of the season. I waited for a contract offer from Lorient until December. It never came. Now, I don’t expect anything from the club and I won’t extend my contract.

“I hope to leave this summer so that my transfer will bring money to Lorient.”

Before that interview, Le Fee told L’Equipe of his desire to finish the season strongly to boost his chances of a summer transfer.

“I’ve never wanted to leave Lorient through the back door,” he stressed. “We’re having a very good season and I know these last few months are very important if I want to join a big club.

“I am someone who likes challenges, risks too. I want to show that I am capable of playing at the highest level.”

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