Football-italia
Insigne & Verdi fit for Arsenal
Insigne & Verdi fit for Arsenal
Lorenzo Insigne and Simone Verdi are in Napoli’s squad to face Arsenal in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday. Insigne was rested for Napoli’s 1-1 draw with Genoa but has recovered from a thigh injury, while Verdi is passed fit after his muscular twinge. Faouzi Ghoulam has also proved his fitness, completing 76 minutes of […]
Insigne & Verdi called for Arsenal
Insigne & Verdi called for Arsenal
Lorenzo Insigne and Simone Verdi are in Napoli’s squad to face Arsenal in the Europa League on Thursday. Insigne was rested for Napoli’s 1-1 draw with Genoa but has recovered from a thigh injury, while Verdi is passed fit after his muscular twinge. Faouzi Ghoulam has also proved his fitness, completing 76 minutes of his […]
Ref confirmed for Arsenal-Napoli
Ref confirmed for Arsenal-Napoli
Spaniard Alberto Undiano Mallenco will officiate Napoli’s Europa League quarter-final first leg at Arsenal on Thursday. Undiano Mallenco is one of the most experienced in his trade, with over 500 competitive matches under his belt. The 45-year-old oversaw Arsenal’s 3-0 win against BATE Borisov in the last 32, as well as Roma’s 1-0 victory over […]
‘Napoli need to buy a ref!’
‘Napoli need to buy a ref!’
Singer-songwriter Gigi D’Alessio has joked that his hometown club Napoli ‘need to buy a referee’ to win the Scudetto. Refereeing controversy is never far away in Serie A, and that was the case at the weekend, with flashpoints in Juventus’ 2-1 win against Milan and Lazio’s 2-2 draw with Sassuolo. “We need to buy a […]
Sarri: I’d take a pay cut!
Sarri: I’d take a pay cut!
Maurizio Sarri claims he would take a pay cut if the ‘very strange’ Premier League scheduled fixtures better, with Chelsea forced to play twice in four days. Sarri regularly criticised Serie A during his Napoli tenure for not giving them more time to prepare for European matches. His latest complaints come after Chelsea were scheduled […]
Higuain plans Chelsea stay
Higuain plans Chelsea stay
Gonzalo Higuain accepts he is still adapting to English football but confirms he wants to stay at Chelsea beyond this season. Higuain still has only three goals for Chelsea since arriving from Juventus in January, prompting manager Maurizio Sarri to admit the striker was struggling. There is also doubt over whether the Blues will be allowed […]
Arsenal pair doubtful for Napoli
Arsenal pair doubtful for Napoli
Arsenal pair Granit Xhaka and Laurent Koscielny are major doubts for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Napoli. Xhada has missed Arsenal’s last two Premier League matches with a groin injury, while Koscielny has been similarly absent for the Gunners’ games since the international break, only returning from a serious Achilles problem in December. […]
Montella drops Fiorentina hint
Montella drops Fiorentina hint
Vincenzo Montella has suggested that he would be open to a second spell in charge of Fiorentina, where he had ‘three wonderful years’. Montella coached Fiorentina between 2012 and 2015, leading the Viola to a Coppa Italia Final, while the 44-year-old is currently out of work. “I rate Pioli and I think he deserves to […]
Ancelotti: ‘Napoli have to wake up’
Ancelotti: ‘Napoli have to wake up’
Carlo Ancelotti complained Napoli are “defending badly and getting the basics wrong. If we play like this against Arsenal, we’re in trouble.” The Partenopei were held to a 1-1 home draw by Genoa, despite their opponents having Stefano Sturaro sent off within the opening half-hour. Ancelotti was asked if Napoli’s minds were already focused on […]
Prandelli: ‘Refs must be consistent’
Prandelli: ‘Refs must be consistent’
Cesare Prandelli was again critical of the referees after Genoa’s 1-1 draw with Napoli. “We just want to see consistency in decisions.” The Grifone had Stefano Sturaro sent off within the opening half-hour for a studs-up tackle on Allan, which had been a yellow card before the VAR viewing. “If you tell me that all […]