The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

  • Swansea 1-3 Man United: Red Devils destroy Swans

    Swansea 1-3 Man United: Red Devils destroy Swans

    A brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a goal from Paul Pogba helped Manchester United return to winning ways in the Premier League courtesy of a 3-1 victory over struggling Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.

    Jose Mourinho made six changes to the side beaten by Fenerbahce in midweek, but the manager was forced to watch on from the stands as he served his one-match touchline ban after being sent off against Burnley last weekend.

    It was one of the five to keep their place that almost gave United a lead after less than two minutes when Wayne Rooney – now just two goals short of Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time record for the club – curled an early effort narrowly past the far post.

    Paul Pogba broke the deadlock for the visitors before a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent them into the halfway stage with a deservedly convincing lead, and they held out despite a Mike van der Hoorn consolation to condemn Swansea to a 10th straight Premier League match without a win.

    It is now 10 league games without a win since the opening day of the season for Swansea and just one point from a possible 12 in charge for Bradley ahead of their meeting with Everton after the international break.

    With this win Manchester United have avoid making their worst start to a Premier League campaign courtesy of the victory, climbing up to  sixth in the Premier League table with their first away league win since August.

  • Pogba injured, doubtful for Swansea clash

    Pogba injured, doubtful for Swansea clash

    Football most expensive player Paul Pogba is doubtful for Manchester United’s Premier League trip to Swansea City on Sunday after he limped off during the Europa League game against Fenerbahce.

    The Frenchman seemed to injure his thigh in a tackle with Brazilian midfielder Souza and he expressed his frustration by punching the ground before getting back to his feet.

    Pogba tried to shake off the knock and played on, even managing to create enough space for himself to fashion United’s first shot on target – albeit an effort comfortably saved by Volkan Demirel. However, on the half-hour mark he signalled to the bench that he felt unable to carry on and he was replaced by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    With Ander Herrera suspended after his sending-off against Burnley last weekend, the Reds could have some problems in midfield ahead of the return to domestic action. It will therefore be intriguing to see if Jose Mourinho calls on the services of Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has just returned to training with the first-team squad.

    There was no official update on Pogba’s condition before the squad flew home from Istanbul but if he is ruled out for the weekend, he will join existing absentees Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Antonio Valencia on the sidelines.

  • Fenerbahce 2–1 Man Utd: Pogba injured as Emenike enjoys win

    Fenerbahce 2–1 Man Utd: Pogba injured as Emenike enjoys win

    Emmanuel Emenike was on the winning side as Turkish giants Fenerbahce defeated Manchester United 2-1 in the Europa Cup match played this evening.

    Senegalese international Moussa Sow gave the visitors the lead inside the first two minutes as he met a delightful cross from Hasan Ali Kaldirim with a sensational overhead kick from just the edge of the box to make it 1-0.

    The Red Devils lost Paul Pogba in the first half as he went down under a heavy challenge from Souza and was replaced by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    Fenerbahce won a freekick on the edge of the United box and Lens curled the ball past David de Gea. Jose Mourinho immediately sent on Henrik Mkhitaryan for youngster Marcus Rashford.

    Fenerbahce substitue, Emmanuel Emenike was through on goal just seconds after his introduction from the bench, but the former Nigeria international could not take the ball in his stride and was eventually denied by a mixture of Daley Blind and De Gea.

    Emenike continued to look the most likely on the break as Fenerbahce went in search of a killer third goal, but he was once again kept out by De Gea before falling agonisingly short of tapping home a low cross from Lens at the far post.

    Those missed opportunities almost came back to haunt Dick Advocaat’s side when Rooney drilled a 25-yard piledriver into the top corner with just one minute left of normal time, moving within two goals of Sir Bobby Charlton in United’s all-time goalscoring list and level with Ruud van Nistelrooy as the club’s top scorer in European competition with 38.

  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the Premier League’s highest earner but…

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the Premier League’s highest earner but…

    While the Premier League’s new wealth of riches has seen an influx of financial gains to new signings, across the Atlantic those monetary figures are being made to look like pocket change.

    This upcoming season the disparity between the NBA and the Premier League is only set to get bigger with the likes of Kevin Durant’s sporting earnings dwarfing that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, for example.

    Here, Sportsmail explains how the game of basketball has inflated players wages that only their footballing counterparts can dream of.

     So what is exactly happening in the NBA?

    The upcoming 2016-17 NBA season sparks a new eight-year TV deal with media broadcasters ABC, ESPN and TNT worth an astonishing £18.2billion ($24bn) through to the end of the 2024-25 campaign. Over this period the NBA will earn close £2.3bn per year – a significant rise from their previous eight-year deal of £705m per annum.

    The rise in the TV earnings will filter down to the 30 franchises within the NBA thus meaning a larger budget to entice possible targets – i.e. players.

    WHAT ABOUT THE BIG NAMES?

    LeBron James will become a free agent on Friday which allows him to negotiate contracts with the major franchises. He did not exercise his player option with the Cleveland Cavaliers for next season but is expected to remain at the team and is eligible for a maximum salary of roughly £22.6m per season.

    Reigning MVP Stephen Curry is currently on a relatively low contract (£9.1m) at the Golden State Warriors – although he will expect a considerable rise when it expires.

    How does this compare to the Premier League?

    It was only last year that England’s top flight announced their biggest TV rights deal in history.

    Starting this upcoming term until the end of the 2018-19 season, the Premier League will earn £5.1bn over this period in domestic rights from Sky and BT – equating to £1.7bn a year.

    So what does the impact of the NBA’s new deal mean for franchises?

    Spend, spend, spend. NBA teams have a salary cap of £69m to splash on their roster – a rise of £15m. The 30 teams all have a minimum of £63m to spend meaning some players are given inflated salaries just to make sure they reach their expenditure quota.

    And what about the players?

    It’s an eye-watering market for the players who are benefitting from mind-blowing offers that have never been seen before.

    For example, Evan Turner has swapped life at the Boston Celtics for the Portland Trail Blazers after more than quintupling his salary.

    Last season, Turner earned £2.7m with the Celtics but his new £58m four-year deal in Portland will see that increase to £14.5m per term or £279,000 per week.

    The Russian center was a bench player for the newly-crowned NBA champions the Cleveland Cavaliers earning £3.7m per year.

    However, the 29-year-old will now pocket £48m over four years with the Los Angeles Lakers, at £12m per annum; despite the fact they held the second overall worst record last season.

    How does those fees compare with the Premier League?

    Not favourably for England’s top flight or football’s highest-paid players in general. Considering that Mozgov is now playing for the second worst team his weekly wage is £230,000.

    Man United new boy Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Premier League’s highest earner, is on £260,000 per week.

    Why are the players earning so much?

    Anticipating gigantic contracts to players, NBA commissioner Adam Silver warned Players Association president Michele Roberts that the league increased the salary cap gradually when the new television contract came.

    Sadly for the 54-year-old, his pleas fell on deaf ears with the Players Association replying with a resounding no – thus, the mammoth influx of wages.

    And has any of Adam Silver’s predictions happened?

    Yes. Aside from the astonishing wages offered to players, an imbalance of the talent has happened too.

    Kevin Durant was the lucrative free agent this summer before he decided to swap the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors.

    The 27-year-old’s move to the Oracle Arena gives coach Steve Kerr a tantalising starting five next season, which will include Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and reigning MVP Stephen Curry – who are All-Stars.

    The increased salary is to blame for this super-team creation. Despite their stardom Thompson and Curry are currently on relatively low deals at the Warriors – although they will expect considerable rises when they expire.

    Couldn’t something have been done before?

    In 2011 the NBA regular season was shortened from 82 to 66 games due to a lockout between the owners and the players. Known as the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations eventually fell in favour of the latter.

    The main issues dividing both sides were the division of revenue and the structure of the salary cap and luxury tax. Owners proposed to reduce the players’ share of basketball related income (BRI) from 57 per cent to 47 per cent, but the players countered with 53 per cent.

    In the end, the CBA revenue saw players receive 51.2 per cent of BRI in 2011–12, with a 49-to-51 band in its subsequent years.

    So what now?

    The quality of the NBA has been criticised by former players – who believe that the number of teams who can win the Finals will only diminish.

    While that is yet to be seen, one for thing is for certain – players with little impact on their team are set for a financial windfall over the next eight years.

  • Ibrahimovic confirms Man United switch

    Ibrahimovic confirms Man United switch

    Former Sweden striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has confirmed he will sign for Manchester United after leaving Paris St-Germain.

    The 34-year-old, capped 116 times for his country, was out of contract after four years at the French champions, the BBC reports.

    He will link up again with his former Inter Milan boss, Jose Mourinho, at Old Trafford.

    “Time to let the world know. My next destination is Manchester United,” the BBC quoted the striker as saying on social media.

    United, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League, has not confirmed the move.

    Ibrahimovic is yet to complete a medical and sign a contract with the 20-time English champions.

    The Swede made his debut for hometown club Malmo in 1999 and went on to play for Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan before joining PSG.

    He has scored 392 goals in 677 games and last season was his most prolific, with 50 goals in 51 matches – a record for the French club.

    His tally of 38 league goals was also a club record.

    The player – who retired from international football after Sweden’s exit from Euro 2016 earlier this month – has won a trophy every season of his career since 2001, including 13 league titles.

    In his four seasons at PSG, Ibrahimovic won 12 trophies, including the domestic quadruple twice.

     

  • Ibrahimovic in Sweden Olympics squad

    Ibrahimovic in Sweden Olympics squad

    Sweden captain, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has been named in the country’s 35-man provisional squad for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    The 34-year-old striker is representing his country at Euro 2016 in France and is expected to decide whether he will compete in the Olympics following his conclusion, Goal reports.

    Sweden Under-21 coach, Hakan Ericson is hopeful Ibrahimovic will participate in Rio, but acknowledged the lack of time following the European Championships could be a pitfall.

    “He has said he wants to wait to make his decision until after the European Championships,” Goal quoted Ericson, who is taking charge of the Olympics squad, as saying on Wednesday.

    “There is a little gap and I want to keep it open because it would be fantastic, although my hopes are not huge. But we have hope.”

    Ibrahimovic is one of seven over-23 players named in Sweden’s preliminary squad, which will be cut to 18 players.

    Only three over-age players will be eligible for the Games starting in August.

     

  • Enyeama’s mistake gifts PSG point

    Enyeama’s mistake gifts PSG point

    Nigerian goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama endured a night of contrasting fortunes in Lille OSC’s 2-2 draw against champions, PSG at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

    The Super Eagles man made some remarkable saves to deny the home side but it was his mistimed reactions to a PSG corner in the 67th minute that allowed the hosts a route back into the game.

    Enyeama began the game in fantastic fashion with a save that defied logic in the 21st minute.

    PSG broke free down the left and full back, Lucas Digne opened up the Lille defence with a lovely pass that left Argentine striker, Ezekiel Lavezzi unmarked in the area.

    The South American must have thought he had scored as he connected sweetly with a powerful half volley only for Enyeama to spectacularly block the effort. The rebound was slowly creeping in under the bar but the former Enyimba goalkeeper swiftly picked up himself and pushed the ball away for a corner with the onrushing Lavezzi breathing down his neck.

    Enyeama enjoyed a let off in the 32nd minute when he unconvincingly punched away a corner towards the path of Zlatan Ibrahimovic whose cross shot found Thiago Silva unmarked in the Lille six yard box.

    The Brazilian however managed to scoop his connection over the crossbar when it appeared easier to score. Enyeama finally conceded in the 35th minute when PSG won a free kick 24.4 metres out.

    Ibra fired home with the effort taking a slight deflection off a Lille defender that left the goalkeeper with little chance.

    With the home side cranking up the pressure, Enyeama had to produce another top save to deny Gregory Van der Weil two minutes later.

    The see-saw contest required the Nigerian to be at his best at all times and in the 61st minute, a finger tip save off Lavezzi’s powerful drive prevented a sure goal.

    The chances continued to come thick and fast as PSG chased a late winner but Enyeama was on hand again in the 81st minute to deny Pastore who found himself in a one-on-one situation with the shot stopper after he was deftly played in by Adrien Rabiot.

    Enyeama had to remain alert in the final minute of added time as he produced an important save to deny substitute Jeremy Menez who again had just the Nigerian to beat.

    The Lille captain, Rio Mavuba, who capped an impressive outing with a brilliant goal, was full of praise for Enyeama after the game.

    “We are happy, delighted to have taken a point at Parc (des Princes). Throughout the game, let’s be honest, PSG did not steal his point, with Vincent (Enyeama) who again made the saves he needed to make,” Mavuba told the club’s official website, www.losc.fr.

    The point sees Lille remain in third place, a point behind second-placed AS Monaco and four behind PSG who remain at the summit.

  • Ronaldo can have the Ballon d’Or, I already know that I am the best – Zlatan Ibrahimovic

    Ronaldo can have the Ballon d’Or, I already know that I am the best – Zlatan Ibrahimovic

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has told Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribery they can have the Ballon d’Or because “I know I am the best”.

    The Swedish striker has been in superb form this year for Paris St Germain, scoring eight goals in this season’s Champions League – as many as Ronaldo.

    However, the Portuguese has emerged as favourite for Fifa’s Ballon d’Or award after netting a hat-trick for his country in last week’s 3-2 World Cup play-off victory over Sweden – with Portugal qualifying for the 2014 finals in Brazil.

    Meanwhile, France winger Ribery helped Bayern Munich secure the treble last season and was an early favourite for the award, won three times in a row by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, until Ronaldo garnered late support for his performances with Portugal.

    “I don’t need the Ballon d’Or to know I’m the best,” said Ibrahimovic, who played a key role in PSG’s Ligue 1 title triumph last season. “It matters more to some players.

    Source: Telegraph UK