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Tag: Roberto Firmino

  • Firmino ‘proud’ after more Champions League history

    Firmino ‘proud’ after more Champions League history

    Roberto Firmino said he was proud of making history with his Saudi club and becoming an Asian Champions League winner, six years after lifting the prestigious European equivalent.

    The 33-year-old Brazilian forward was an important member of Jurgen Klopp’s side who won the UEFA Champions League in 2019.

    Firmino was named the AFC Champions League’s most valuable player after inspiring Al Ahli to beat Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 on Saturday as the Jeddah club became Asian champions for the first time.

    “I’m very happy and very proud of the team,” said Firmino. “Happy to make history here and able to repay the support of the club, family and friends.

    “I’m very grateful and I feel privileged to be given this talent and opportunity. I always do my best to help my teammates and my team.”

    Firmino scored six goals en route to the final and was pivotal again in the showpiece.

    The veteran laid on the pass for fellow Brazilian Galeno to curl a delicious shot into the top corner in the 35th minute before producing a pinpoint cross seven minutes later for Franck Kessie to nod home.

    “This title win shows us to have a monster mentality,” said Firmino. “We always believed we could be champions and we have done it.”

    Al Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle praised the 58,000 home fans at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium for playing their part in the win.

    Read Also: NFF mourns demise of former FIFA referee Momoh

    “I’m so proud of the players for how they were doing, how they were performing, how the journey went in this competition,” said the German coach.

     “Also the fans who created an amazing atmosphere, which we never take for granted. Together we can achieve special things and that was tonight. It’s nice to give something back to the supporters.”

    The win was even more remarkable given that just three years ago Al Ahli were relegated from the Saudi Pro League.

    “It’s been a crazy journey. Not that long ago, it looked completely different,” said Jaissle.

    Kawasaki coach Shigetoshi Hasebe conceded that his team had been outplayed.

    Having knocked out Al Sadd of Qatar after extra time and then upsetting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi club Al Nassr, Hasebe admitted his tired Frontale players had been unable to hit the heights again in their third tough match in seven days.

    Al Ahli fans packed their home stadium for the AFC Champions League final against Kawasaki Frontale

    “They deserved to be champions,” said Hasebe of Al Ahli. “They could show their strength, especially in the first half, and we couldn’t. The key was the second goal.

    “If we could play as we know we can, we could have won. The last two games were the proof. Tonight it didn’t work and we have to do more in the future.”

    Hasebe admitted that Frontale’s defensive frailties had cost them, after they had edged both their quarter-final and semi-final 3-2.

    “Every single game we played here, we conceded two goals and that’s the part we have to improve on for the future.”

  • Firmino unlikely to face Barca, says Klopp

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Roberto Firmino is unlikely to be fit for the Champions League semi-final, second leg clash at home to Barcelona on Tuesday.

    Firmino has been struggling with a groin problem and was only able to feature as a substitute as Liverpool were beaten 3-0 in the Nou Camp in the first leg.

    The Brazil international wasn’t included in Liverpool’s matchday squad for Saturday’s Premier League game away to Newcastle, and Klopp expressed concern regarding the situation.

    Klopp told Sky Sports: ‘Bobby didn’t start at Barcelona, he had problems, he has still problems, he’s not even in the squad, he’s just not available. That’s just how it is. So we have to accept it, and that’s why It’s easy to leave him out because the medical department said no chance.

    ‘It doesn’t look really good to be honest. It’s the situation, we all thought it would be quicker, especially he thought it would be quicker, but it doesn’t work out so we have to wait. Midweek is not really likely.’

    Firmino has been hugely important for Liverpool this campaign – he has scored 16 goals and provided eight assists across all competitions.

    Klopp elected to start midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum as a false nine against Barcelona, while Daniel Sturridge started up front against Newcastle.

  • Keita, Firmino give Liverpool 2-0 win over FC Porto

    Goals from Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino earned Liverpool a 2-0 win over Porto on Tuesday in their UEFA Champions League quarter-finals first leg match.

    Juergen Klopp’s side took the upper hand in the tie but without killing off their Portuguese opponents.

    There remains plenty of work to do for the Premier League leaders, who will be disappointed they were unable to gain a bigger advantage for next week’s second leg.

    On a bitterly cold night at Anfield, Liverpool were well below their best and Porto deserve credit for a determined performance after going two goals down in 26 minutes.

    The visitors fired an early warning shot with Moussa Marega blasting narrowly wide in the second minute.

    However, the home side took the lead three minutes later through a Keita shot which deflected off Porto midfielder Oliver Torres and beat the helpless Iker Casillas.

    Mohamed Salah then forced Casillas into a low save with a sharp shot on the turn.

    But the Egyptian should have done better in the 22nd minute when he placed the ball wide when through on goal, after being played in by a sloppy Porto pass.

    Liverpool had their second four minutes later — Jordan Henderson split the Porto defence with a superb pass to Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose low cross was tapped in from close range by Firmino.

    The Brazilian should have added to his tally, but blasted over after a good cross from Henderson.

    The dangerous Marega then had a low drive well saved by the legs of Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker as Porto showed they were not about to roll over.

    Sadio Mane had an effort ruled out for offside three minutes after the interval, but apart from another Marega effort in the 69th minute there were few clear-cut chances in the second half.

    The Portuguese side fought well to stay in the game in a scrappy second half to give themselves a chance of a comeback at home in next week’s second leg. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Dancing not Mohamed Salah’s stock-in-trade -Firmino

     

    Brazil forward Roberto Firmino is happy with his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah for winning the African footballer of the year but insists the Egypt international does not have dancing as part of this hobby.

    Firmino was reacting after video of the award held in Dakar Senegal went viral with Salah barely trying to show a few dance steps.

    It was clear that Salah who has scored over 45 goals for Liverpool is not the dancing type as he merely rocked his award from side to side like a new born baby.

    Firmino told Liverpoolfc.com: ‘I saw it on the internet! I would like to congratulate him on winning the African Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year.

    ‘And yes, I saw that they tried to make him dance… he tried, but I don’t think it’s his forte!’

    Salah won the award for the second year running after a fine season for club and country.  The 26-year-old scored 32 goals in the Premier League to win the golden boot and 44 across all competitions last campaign.

    Salah, who has 13 league goals this season, is one goal behind Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for this year’s race for the golden boot.

    Egypt could be said to be gotten a double as the land of the pharaohs was interestingly given the hosting right for the 2019 African cup of Nations in June.  Salah reacting to the hosting right given to Egypt said it will further lift the image of the Egyptian league even as he dedicated his award to his country.

    Soccer fans who reacted to his winning the award on one hand and the hosting right given to Egypt on the other, said the next nations cup which will feature 24 teams will be full of fireworks with some predicting that Pharaohs will come out smoking with intent to make it to the final. Egypt remains the most successful team in the African Nations cup after winning the championship a record seven times.

  • Russia 2018: Brazil beat Mexico to reach quarter-finals

    Neymar barged his way into the 2018 FIFA World Cup limelight with a goal, an assist and another helping of histrionics as Brazil roared into the quarter-finals.

    The five-times champions secured a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Monday to help inflict a seventh straight second round exit on the central Americans.

    The PSG forward was both architect and executioner for Brazil, sliding home in the second half and then teeing up Roberto Firmino late on.

    But he also brought some drama into the game as he writhed on the floor, seemingly in agony, after Mexico’s Miguel Layun had made slight contact with his ankle.

    However, that should not overshadow his generally positive display, as the former champions beat an otherwise stubborn Mexico.

    The Mexicans’ World Cup began with such promise with a victory over champions Germany, but ended in familiar fashion in the first knockout round.

    It was the seventh World Cup running that Brazil have reached the last eight, where they will now face Belgium or Japan.

    On their part, Mexico have not made it to that stage since they hosted the tournament in 1986.

    Mexico, who enjoyed an enviable recent record against Brazil having won seven of their previous 15 matches against them, were a threat on the counter in the first half.

    But they then faded, without ever really being put to the sword.

    For all their quasi-mythological attacking traditions, this Brazil side have a pragmatism that keeps them in check.

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    This is done in such a way that you cannot see them ever truly cutting loose at this tournament.

    Having kept clean sheets in seven of their previous eight games, they were never going to commit men forward.

    That would have allowed Mexico to pick them off on the counter in the same way that Germany did in the group stage.

    That is not to say that they were not under the cosh in the early stages as Mexico sought to isolate the Brazilian fullbacks Fagner and Filipe Luis.

    They both looked vulnerable as Carlos Vela and Hirving Lozano bore down on them.

    Lozano had an effort blocked after two minutes as did Hector Herrera, but as the first half wore on Brazil got on top in the stifling Samara heat.

    A glaring spotlight had been on Neymar after his opening three performances saw him miss a litany of chances, frequently squandering possession and spending far too long on the turf.

    Yet he answered a number of questions with his performance and a decisive finish early in the second half from a move he had started himself.

    Minutes after the restart Brazil took the lead in exquisite fashion with Neymar starting and ending the move.

    He darted across the edge of the area before a perfect backheel released Willian, whose low cross fizzed into the danger area where Neymar slid in to turn the ball home.

    It was a choking blow for Mexico, who had been the better side for the opening half an hour, pegging Brazil back and creating several half chances.

    Brazil had to wait until the 88th minute to put the match to bed when Neymar was the architect again, crossing for Firmino to tap the ball home.

    They will have to do without defensive midfielder Casemiro in the quarter-finals, however, after he was booked for the second time.

    NAN

  • City better prepared to foil Liverpool trio, Gundogan

    Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan believes they are better prepared to cope with Liverpool’s attacking trio in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at Anfield on Wednesday.

    City’s 4-3 defeat at Liverpool in January was their only loss against an English Premier League (EPL) side this season.

    It came courtesy three goals in nine second-half minutes from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, who have combined to score 75 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this season.

    “There’s a lot of respect, because all three have scored plenty of goals and they’ve also set up many more,” Gundogan told British media.

    “Liverpool are still the only team that’s been capable of beating us in the Premier League. But we’re aware why this happened, although we performed pretty well that day.

    “Obviously, going back to Anfield for the first-leg game is a great motivation for us.

    “We’d like to get a great result in the first leg and then dominate the game in the second leg, in front of our fans.

    Read Also: Hazard, Liverpool trio listed for PFA award

    ” That’s what we want to do and, if we achieve that, then I’m sure we’ll make it into the next round.”

    Gundogan spent four years playing under Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp who managed Borussia Dortmund before moving to England.

    It was a period with the German club winning the Bundesliga title, German Cup as well as reaching the 2013 Champions League final.

    “Juergen is a terrific coach and he’s capable of motivating his team ahead of every game.

    “And he’s proving all that again with Liverpool – their attack is incredibly strong. So they aren’t an easy team to beat but we need to do so,” Gundogan added.

    City could wrap up the EPL title with a win over local rivals Manchester United on Saturday before facing Liverpool in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium three days later.

    NAN

  • Firmino handed driving ban, fine.

    Firmino handed driving ban, fine.

     

     

     

    Roberto Firmino has been fined £20,000 and banned from driving for a year after admitting drink-driving at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.

    The Liverpool forward was charged with drink-driving after being stopped and subsequently arrested in Liverpool on Christmas Eve.

    Michael Hogan, defending the 25-year-old, said the incident happened the day after the footballer’s family home was targeted by burglars who were “prepared to use extreme force”.

    Firmino said: “I apologise, without reservation, to the club, the manager, my team-mates and the supporters for putting myself in this situation. What I have done is wrong and sets a bad example.

    “I promise to everyone in the LFC family that I will learn from this mistake, learn from this experience, and not repeat it in the future.”

    A LFC spokesperson said: “The player has been disciplined by the club for his actions and reminded of his responsibilities for the present and future.

    “The nature of this action will remain private; however it does not impact on his availability for selection for matches.

    “The club considers this to be an isolated incident and a rare lapse in judgement and professionalism.

    “We will however work with the player to further educate him on the dangers associated with drink driving specifically.”

    Firmino has since featured 10 times for Liverpool since his arrest, including Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Premier League leaders Chelsea.