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Tag: Philippe Coutinho

  • Barcelona to sell Coutinho after UCL horror show

    Philippe Coutinho is “not a Barcelona player” and will be the first casualty of their shambolic Champions League exit to Liverpool, while the board is set to meet to decide coach Ernesto Valverde’s fate, sources have told ESPN FC.

    Sources also confirmed that a number of the coaching staff are disappointed with Coutinho’s performances this season.

    The Brazilian is the club’s record signing at €160 million but his displays against his former side across both legs of the semifinal strengthened the idea that his time at Camp Nou is up.

    “Coutinho is not a Barcelona player, that’s been made clear,” a club source told ESPN FC.

    The ex-Liverpool playmaker started the season well but his form and confidence have fallen off a cliff since an injury in October.

    He’s been unable to re-find his best form since and the source bemoaned that “he has added nothing. He will leave in the summer.”

    ESPN FC first revealed in March that Barcelona were ready to listen to offers north of €105m for Coutinho and his performances against Liverpool have done nothing to change their plans.

    He was taken off before the hour mark in both matches, jeered by Barca fans last week and Liverpool supporters on Tuesday.

    The Catalan club made a huge effort to sign him but there’s now an acknowledgment that things have not worked out.

    While the reaction in the heat of the moment has seen Coutinho singled out inside the club, the board, headed by President Josep Maria Bartomeu, will try to deal with the fallout from the Liverpool loss in the coming days in a more cool-headed manner.

    Read Also: Barcelona announce squad to face Liverpool

    Diario Sport called the 4-0 defeat the “biggest embarrassment” in the club’s history and Bartomeu says there will be time to reflect on how they recover from a second successive European humiliation. They also surrendered a three-goal lead against Roma last year.

    “There will be time for a deep reflection and to give explanations,” he said after the game. “There’s a Copa del Rey final to play in three weeks [against Valencia on May 25].

    “Last year, in Rome, the same thing happened and it’s not easy to explain. We will try to do so internally.

    “We have to pick ourselves up and apologise to all the Barcelona supporters.”

    The board will talk in the coming days and Valverde’s future will be up for debate.

    The former Athletic Bilbao boss has won back-to-back league titles but those who are most critical of him at the club point to the fact this is the second time in a year that Barcelona have chucked away a huge advantage.

    However, as suggested by Bartomeu, the board does not want to rush into making a decision.

    But there will be talks to see if they can respond to a question which they still don’t have an obvious answer: who could replace Valverde?

    There are not many options available who would be capable of leading the required regeneration.

    Barcelona’s starting XI at Anfield included seven players aged 30 or over.

    “We have to see how Valverde deals with this tricky situation,” a club source said on Wednesday.

    “The fans are really upset and disappointed with what happened and on Sunday there’s a league game against Getafe. It will be interesting to see how the supporters react.”

    ESPN

     

     

  • Liverpool vs FC Barcelona: Coutinho, Suarez ready for frosty Anfield reception

    Brazil’s Philippe Coutinho might be in line for a strange double on Tuesday night, as he was whistled by some FC Barcelona supporters at the Camp Nou.

    Now, he may well be booed by Liverpool FC fans at Anfield.

    He goes back to Liverpool where he played for five years.

    If he is not given a good welcome, it will match the send-off he received from FC Barcelona supporters when he was taken off in the first leg.

    Ousmane Dembele’s injury in the game against Celta Vigo at the weekend means Coutinho will almost certainly start against the team he left in January 2018.

    FC Barcelona will defend a 3-0 lead from last week’s first leg, and there will be no love lost during the game for the player.

    This is a player who chose to leave Jurgen Klopp’s project just under a year and a half ago to join Lionel Messi and company at FC Barcelona.

    Coutinho has struggled to win favour with FC Barcelona fans this season.

    He played well against Manchester United in the second leg of the quarter-finals and scored.

    Read Also: Suarez, Messi rekindling magic as favoured victims Celta await

    But he soured what had been his best Nou Camp performance in a FC Barcelona shirt that night by putting his fingers in his ears when celebrating.

    It was a protest at what he saw as a lack of respect and patience from supporters.

    But it made things worse and in the next home game he was whistled when taken off against Real Sociedad.

    The recriminations seemed to have been forgotten in the next home game when he hit the bar with one free-kick and played well against Levante as FC Barcelona won the league.

    But when he was taken off by coach Ernesto Valverde against Liverpool, there were more jeers and whistles from home supporters.

    FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi stuck up for the Brazilian in his post-match interview.

    He said: “It’s ugly that they whistle a team-mate like this. We are all in this together. We have to be united to the end because we are close to our objective now.”

    Messi is not the only player to have come out in support of Coutinho.

    After his fingers-in-ears protest, Luis Suarez said: “The smallest thing that you do — and what Philippe did the other day was tiny — gets magnified.”

    Suarez will also be going back to Liverpool for the first time in a competitive game since he left the club in 2014.

    He celebrated his goal against them at the Camp Nou, although as he made his way back to the centre-circle there was also an apology.

    It was aimed to the away fans high in the Camp Nou.

    Suarez and Coutinho were team-mates when Liverpool so nearly won the English Premier League (EPL) under Brendan Rodgers in the 2013/2014 season.

    Now they stand on the brink of a potential treble in Spain.

    It would be the second of Suarez’ career at FC Barcelona, after he also managed it in his first season with the Catalans.

    The Uruguayan and the Brazilian were close friends at Liverpool and still have former team-mates, such as Jordan Henderson, in the current Liverpool line-up.

    There will be no love lost on Tuesday and that may also extend to the stands where Liverpool supporters might forget their fondness for two former sons, if only for 90 minutes.

    NAN

     

  • Messi hits out at Barcelona fans for ‘ugly’ Coutinho whistles

    Lionel Messi criticized Barcelona fans for jeering Philippe Coutinho when he was taken off in the second half of Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League winagainst Liverpool at Camp Nou.

    Messi struck twice in the second half, bringing up 600 Barca goals in the process, to leave his side in a commanding position heading into next week’s semifinal second leg at Anfield.

    But Barca’s win was tainted by the treatment former Liverpool playmaker Coutinho received when he was replaced by Nelson Semedo just before the hour mark. The club’s record signing endured a difficult night against his ex-teammates but Messi didn’t believe his performance was deserving of the whistles aimed at him by his own fans.

    The Argentina international even celebrated his first goal — which made it 2-0 in the 75th minute following Luis Suarez’s opener — by telling the home supporters not to whistle their own players.

    “We’re at the defining stage of the season and we have to be more united than ever,” Messi told reporters after the game. “I said that at the start of the season. It’s not the time to criticise anyone.

    “We have to support each other and stick together for the rest of the season. It is ugly to treat a player like that when they’re taken off.”

    While Coutinho’s Camp Nou struggles endured, it was another electric performance from Messi, 14 years to the day since he scored his first goal for the club against Albacete. His second goal was a sublime free kick from 30 yards.

    He now has 12 goals in Europe this season and 48 in all competitions, with Barcelona on the verge of a first Champions League final since 2015 and with a treble in their sights. They’ve already won La Liga and have a Copa del Rey final to come against Valencia later this month.

    Read Also: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scores 600th career club goal

    However, the scoreline did flatter Barca slightly. Liverpool had their chances throughout the game, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen making three good stops and Mohamed Salah missing a great late opportunity to grab an away goal when he struck the woodwork.

    “We’re not used to not having the ball and we struggled a little,” Messi admitted. “But that’s how the game went and we had to find a way through in whatever way necessary. They didn’t manage to score and that’s important.

    “We were better in the first half and they pressed well in the second, but they didn’t have too many chances. Of course, they wanted to get a goal, an away goal is huge. We have a good advantage but we know it’s not over. Anfield’s a really tough place to go.”

    Coach Ernesto Valverde also warned that the tie is far from over. Barca were knocked out in the quarterfinals last season by Roma when, despite winning the first leg 4-1, they were beaten 3-0 at the Olimpico.

    “Liverpool had some clear chances — one off the post,” Valverde said in his postgame news conference. “And there was a great save by [Ter Stegen]. They had their moments and we had to suffer at times but, in the end, we got a good result against a really strong team.

    “But it’s a similar result to last year. We also had a three-goal lead against Roma.”

    ESPN

  • Messi eats at his own table- Alba

    Lionel Messi’s mesmeric display in Barcelona’s 4-2 Champions League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, proved yet again, that he is a class above the world’s other top players, team mate Jordi Alba, has said.

    Messi ran amok at Wembley Stadium, slicing Spurs apart with incisive passes from deep, such as the one that allowed Philippe Coutinho to open the scoring.

    He was as dangerous as ever in front of goal, firing in the Catalan side’s final two goals to end their winless run of three games.

    “Messi eats at his own table; he plays on another level to the rest.

    “When Leo goes on a run, all the rest of us can do is grit our teeth. He is the best in the world and he makes all of us a little bit better,” Barca defender Alba told reporters.

    Messi was a surprise absentee from the three nominees at FIFA’s The Best awards ceremony last week in London, where Real Madrid’s Luka Modric was crowned Player of the Year ahead of Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo.

    “For me `The Best’ is a lie,” said Alba.

    Rakitic, the scorer of Barca’s second goal, said Messi was one of a kind.

    Read Also: 2018 FIFA Best Award: Modric wins to end Ronaldo, Messi dominance

    “With respect to the other players, Messi is unique. Sometimes a player has a great season like Modric did, but we all know Messi is different,” he added.

    Wembley is a happy hunting ground for Barcelona, who won their first European Cup there in 1992.

    They also beat Manchester United 3-1 at the venue in the Champions League final in 2011.

    “If we played like this every day then we’d win every competition every year.

    “If we do things in the right way and work as a team, it’s very difficult to beat us. If we all fight for the same objective the results will come,” said Alba

    The victory keeps Barca joint top of Champions’ League Group B with Inter Milan, who they play next, and saw them snap a run of four Champions League away games without a win.

    “There are some games you look forward to a lot and this was one of those and we’re very happy with how the players responded,” added Coach Ernesto Valverde, who had faced heavy criticism in the media in the build up to the game.

    “I hope the fans are too,” he said.

  • Barca new sign Coutinho out for three weeks

    Barca new sign Coutinho out for three weeks

     

    Barcelona have revealed new signing Philippe Coutinho will be sidelined for around three weeks after sustaining a thigh injury.

    Coutinho signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Barca to finalise a transfer that could be worth up to £142million to Liverpool.

    However, Barca fans will have to wait to see their new signing in action after they confirmed an absence due to injury of around three weeks.

    The Brazil international missed both of Liverpool’s opening two games in 2018 with a thigh problem and Barca have confirmed he is now set to be sidelined for the rest of January.

    A club statement read: “Coutinho has an injury to his right thigh and he is expected to be out for around three weeks.”

    The thigh injury did not derail his move to the runaway LaLiga leaders, though, and he put pen to paper on his contract before being officially welcomed to the club by president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

    Bartomeu said on his club’s website: “We’re delighted to present Philippe Coutinho, a player who we’ve tried to get to come and play for us since last summer.

    “We knew it was not going to be easy to get him here, we’ve been talking and working for months on this but one of the important aspects was he wanted to come here. And he helped make an effort, and he was patient, and that was been key in him coming here.

    “And I’m very pleased to announce the signing of one the world’s star players and he will be here for many years.

    “I also want to thank Liverpool, one of Europe’s biggest clubs, for allowing him to leave and come here.”

    Making a brief comment before getting ready to head out on to the Nou Camp pitch for a photo shoot in front of the club’s supporters, Coutinho said: “I want to thank the president and everyone who has made the transfer possible.

    “I’m very happy, as I’ve said it was my dream. I hope to live up to expectations on the pitch.”

  • Barcelona seal Coutinho deal for £142million  

    Barcelona seal Coutinho deal for £142million  

     

    Barcelona have signed Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho in a club-record transfer.

    Mirror Football understands that the Reds have settled on an agreement for the Brazilian for an initial fee of €120million (£106.4m), with a further €40m (£35.5m) in add-ons.

    It is the second-most expensive transfer of all-time, trailing the £198million PSG paid Barcelona for Neymar last summer – and it is the most money ever received by an English club.

    Coutinho will pen a five-year deal, with the Catalan giants likely to give him an extension in the summer to ensure his deal does not run out mid-season.

    The 25-year-old was a notable absentee as Jurgen Klopp’s side jet off to Dubai for a mid-season break. He will instead fly out to Barcelona to wrap up his dream move.

    Coutinho was absent for the Merseyside derby in Friday evening, with the Reds beating Everton 2-1 to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.

    The Brazilian is set to be unveiled later this evening, the player’s representatives believe, with Barcelona set to unveil Coutinho early next week.

    Ernesto Valverde’s side play in La Liga on Sunday vs Levante, but a debut could come either Thursday in the Copa del Rey vs Celta Vigo or the following Sunday at Real Sociedad.ters)

    Coutinho tried to force through a move to Barcelona over the summer by handing in a transfer request to Liverpool.

    However, the Reds held firm in their insistence he would not be sold, rejecting all offers from the Catalan giants.

    Despite his desire for the switch to the Nou Camp, Coutinho has impressed for Liverpool this season, scoring 12 goals in all competitions. Here is a roll call of football’s expensive transfer of all time

    1. Neymar (Barcelona to PSG, £198m – 2017)
    2. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool to Barcelona, £142m – 2018)
    3. Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, £97m – 2017)
    4. Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United, £89m – 2016)
    5. Gareth Bale (Tottenham to Real Madrid, £86m – 2013)
    6. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United to Real Madrid, £80m – 2009)
    7. Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli to Juventus, £75.3m – 2016)
    8. Neymar (Santos to Barcelona, £71.5m – 2013)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Barca fans insist on Coutinho as club tables £133m

    Barca fans insist on Coutinho as club tables £133m

     

    Barcelona appear to have been pushed to the wall with no other option but to table a £133million bid for Liverpool forward Philippe Coutinho. Over 70% of the club fans have reportedly voted to have the player at the Nou camp as soon as possible.

    The Catalan giants saw three sizeable bids – the biggest of which was worth £114m – for the Brazilian playmaker rebuffed last summer, despite the player handing in a transfer request.

    But, according to Mundo Deportivo, Barca are set to revisit the option this month with an offer of almost £100m – with £36m to be offered in add-ons to make the deal more attractive to the Reds.

    Barca feel the player’s desire to move to the Nou Camp will work in their favour and the Spanish outlet claims president Josep Maria Bartomeu is in constant contact with the Premier League club.

    The bid would be in line with what Barcelona offered Borussia Dortmund for Ousmane Dembele last summer in the wake of Neymar’s record-breaking departure to Paris Saint-Germain.

    In a poll by another Spanish magazine, Sport, Barca fans were asked to vote for which player they would like their club to sign next.

    The Brazil international comfortably topped the poll, earning 70 per cent of the vote – 52 per cent more than closest rival Yerry Mina, the Palmeiras centre back.

    Despite Nike’s online store appearing to suggest Coutinho’s move to Barcelona was imminent after inviting customers to ‘Shop Coutinho’s look’, the club has denied that a deal has already been struck.

    They will, however, endeavour in earnest to make the 25-year-old their next superstar signing this month.

  • Real Madrid join Barca and PSG Coutinho chase

    Real Madrid join Barca and PSG Coutinho chase

     

    Real Madrid are preparing to take on bitter rivals Barcelona for the signature of Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho next summer.

    The Brazilian star was the subject of several bids from Barcelona back in the summer transfer window, culminating in an £105million offer back in August.

    But Liverpool refused to sell him, having been left with insufficient time to reinvest the money, and Coutinho remained at Anfield.

    Liverpool are now braced for Barcelona to resume their efforts to sign the 25-year-old next summer – or even in January – but could profit from a bidding war between the La Liga leaders, their arch-enemies in Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

    According to Mundo Deportivo, the reigning European champions have already approached Liverpool to express their interest in Coutinho, who has scored four goals and supplied three assists this season.

    With Real’s interest, Barcelona will be keen to wrap up a deal in January, which could drive the asking price up even further.

    With Angel Di Maria and Julian Draxler expected to leave next summer, PSG are also in the mix as they search for attacking players and playing alongside compatriot Neymar and young striker Kylian Mbappe could prove enticing to Coutinho.

    Coutinho has been used as an attacking midfielder, second striker and on the flanks, where he excels at providing assists for teammates.

    Due to his dribbling ability, pace, and agility, he has been compared to Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho by his former Espanyol manager Mauricio Pochettino who also said “Philippe has a special magic in his feet, while former Brazilian striker Careca has also compared him to Zico, due to his creativity even as he continues to get pat on tbe back from his teammates.

  • Coutinho makes Ballon d’Or nominees list

    Coutinho makes Ballon d’Or nominees list

     

    Liverpool and Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho is on the shortlist for France Football’s prestigious Ballon d’Or award

    Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has been named among the first 10 nominees for the Ballon d’Or 2017, France Football has revealed.

    The prestigious award, which was aligned with FIFA from 2010 to 2015, has been won by either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi for the past nine years.

    Ronaldo picked up his fourth Ballon d’Or last year to move one behind Messi, and the Portugal and Real Madrid forward is odds-on favourite to make it five this time around.

    France Football has opted to stagger out the nominees throughout Monday, with Liverpool’s Coutinho among the first 10 players to be announced.

    Chelsea and France midfielder N’Golo Kate has also been nominated for the award, which is handed to the world’s top performing men’s player.

    Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar, Real Madrid trio Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Luka Modric, and Barcelona striker Luis Suarez have also made the shortlist of 30.

    The Ballon d’Or is judged solely by a panel of journalists after FIFA and France Football ended their partnership in 2015.

    In September, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar were nominated as finalists for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

    Cristiano Ronaldo remains the heavy favourite to defend his 2016 crown. He clinched last year’s title ahead of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann and is expected to be among the names announced later in the day.

    If Ronaldo wins this year he would equal Messi’s haul of five Ballon d’Ors. The rivals have shared the last nine awards between them since Ronaldo claimed his first in 2008 as a Manchester United player.

    The remaining 20 names on the shortlist will be announced at intervals throughout Monday with the full shortlist set to be revealed by 6.15pm.

    Ballon d’Or 2017 shortlist so far

    Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)

    Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

    N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)

    Marcelo (Real Madrid)

    Dries Mertens (Napoli)

    Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

    Neymar (PSG)

    Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)

    Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

    Luis Suarez (Barcelona)

  • Expected line-up if Liverpool must defeat Spartak Moscow

    Expected line-up if Liverpool must defeat Spartak Moscow

    Liverpool plays Spartak Moscow in Russia tonight (Kickoff time is 7:45pm – West Africa Standard Time) to put their qualification back on track after playing a 2-2 draw with Sevilla at Anfield.

    Recall that Liverpool’s last five games have seen them play beautiful football but with no good result to show for it after they were thrashed by Man City 5 goals to nothing.

    In other disappointing games, they drew with Sevilla (2-2), drew 1-1 with Burnley, eliminated by Leicester in the Carabao cup before getting back to winning ways against Leicester in the English Premier League (EPL) with the hard-fought match on Saturday.

    Russia is a difficult place to go and get results for English teams as it has proved to be in the past.

    Liverpool has played with Spartak Moscow on four occasions in European competitions, winning two and losing the other two.

    If Liverpool must win against Spartak Moscow, they must on top of their game, which means their attack must put on their goalscoring boot; the midfielders must create enough for the Strikers and complement the defenders, who will be tasked with keeping the counter-attacking Spartak Moscow team at bay.

    Here is Liverpool full squad for the Spartak Moscow game:

    Keepers: Karius, Mignolet, Ward

    Defenders: Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Robertson, Alexander Arnold, Flanagan, Klavan

    Midfielders: Henderson (captain), Wijnaldum, Milner, Can, Coutinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain.

    Forwards:  Mane, Salah, Sturridge, Solanke, Firmino.

    This is the line-up football analysts will expect for the game if Liverpool is to win the game in Russia. The club operates a 4-3-3 formation. that has been Liverpool’s formation since last season and it could be difficult to imagine Klopp changing it anytime from now.

    Expected Line-Up:

    Goalkeeper: Loris Karius.

    Reason – Mignolet should be rested after his “hero and villain” performance against Leicester.  Ward should remain on the bench and Karius be given the nod to take charge of the goal post.

    Defenders: Flanagan, Matip, Lovren, Moreno.

    Reason – Flanagan strength and power will be needed since Gomez is suspended for this game and the young Alexander-Arnold will be bullied on the ball.

    Matip and Lovren should be at the heart of defence due to Klavan’s lack of pace and power.

    Moreno should be given the nod ahead of Robertson due Moreno’s pace, his contribution to the attack and directness.

    Midfielders: Henderson, Can, Coutinho

    Reason – Henderson will be expected to lead the team out on the field of play after a good all-round game on Saturday.

    Wijnaldum or Can?  This is a big task for me to do. Either of the two can do the job but I will go for Can because of his versatility and his big body presence. Wijnaldum away performance is against him as he does not use to perform when he plays away from home. Coutinho automatically slots into creating and dictating the play from midfield.

    Forwards: Mane, Sturridge, Salah

    Mane is ready for selection after not playing for his club’s last three games serving a suspension.

    According to kloop, Mane is in the right frame of mind to start this game, so there is nothing stopping him from starting this game.

    Mo Salah should start the game from the right side of the pitch, is pace and goal scoring ability will be needed if Liverpool is to win.

    People will be expecting me to start Firmino for this match, but I will go for Sturridge. Many eyebrows will be raise as to this selection. In this match, Liverpool will need a natural number 9 to do the finishing which Sturridge has proven to be over the past years.

    And moreover, Firmino needs rest as he has underperformed in the last two games and Sturridge showed what he is capable of doing in his brief cameo against Leicester.     

    With this strong line-up, I see Liverpool dismantling Spartak Moscow in Russia with a bit of luck.