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Forest boss Steve Cooper hails Callum Hudson-Odoi’s ‘moment of brilliance’
Forest boss Steve Cooper hails Callum Hudson-Odoi’s ‘moment of brilliance’
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper expected Callum Hudson-Odoi to have a big impact as his “moment of brilliance” earned a 1-1 draw with Burnley. Hudson-Odoi reminded the Premier League what he is capable of with a fine debut goal, bringing his side level with a brilliant curling effort in the second half after Zeki Amdouni had put the Clarets ahead. It is 18 months since the 22-year-old last played in England’s top flight as his promising Chelsea career petered out, but, after a year on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, he was back with a bang. He was Forest’s brightest spark following his deadline-day move from Stamford Bridge and got his reward. “Any new player will want to hit the ground running and show what they can do,” Cooper said. “We got Anthony (Elanga) and Callum in really good positions and we could have done more with them. “I know he has quality and he can have moments of brilliance. We need that at times in the Premier League and we got one tonight. It is great for him, great for us obviously. “He hasn’t played much football, he has trained well, but I backed him to do well tonight. He ran out of legs, I didn’t think we’d get that long out of him. We have got to push him to do more of that. “You see goals like that in the Premier League, there is so much quality. It is a brilliant goal. We have had a few of those scored against us but we haven’t had too many of them for us. Beautiful strike, beautiful technique, great for him, great for the team. He will feel good about that.” I know he has quality and he can have moments of brilliance. We need that at times in the Premier League and we got one tonight Steve Cooper on Callum Hudson-Odoi The point for Burnley enabled them to get their campaign up and running after three successive defeats, but they might be disappointed they did not leave with all three after they were denied a late winner by VAR as Sander Berge was ruled to have handled the ball. They then ended the game with 10 men after Lyle Foster elbowed Ryan Yates deep into added time, with VAR also intervening. Clarets boss Vincent Kompany was pragmatic in his response. “I have a decent business brain and a decent coaching brain, but when it comes to the laws and legalities I switch off,” he said. “A handball this way and handball that way, people come in and explain to us all of the time, but I have come to a decision to trust they know what they are doing and that they have the right intentions. “It’s not something I want to discuss too much because I can’t change it now.” Having played Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham in their opening three games, Kompany is seeing an improvement. “You have to fight for every point in this league, but there is a range of teams that we can compete with at the moment from what I have observed,” the Belgian added. “I thought today was at least even and depending what side of the fence you sit on you probably think you deserved three points. “But, if we stay in these games, our team has got so much progress still to go and that is the exciting things for us. In these types of games we are there, but in the future there is room for much further improvement.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Spain players emphasise ‘firm will’ to refuse national team call-ups Taulupe Faletau: Belief and confidence key for Wales at World Cup Joe Marler says England more interested in winning than playing with ‘finesse’
2023-09-19 06:23
Real Madrid agree deal to sign England’s Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid agree deal to sign England’s Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund
Jude Bellingham is closing in on a move to Real Madrid after the Spanish side struck a deal with Borussia Dortmund worth an initial £88.5million. The 19-year-old moved to Germany from boyhood club Birmingham in 2020 and has long dreamt of moving to the LaLiga giants. England star Bellingham is now on the cusp of completing his move to Madrid. Dortmund confirmed in a statement that the Spanish side have agreed to pay 103m euros (£88.5m), with an additional amount of around 30 per cent of that fixed fee agreed. If those add-ons are achieved, the deal could reach 133.9m euros (£115m). Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-06-07 22:57
Fever vs. Aces prediction and odds for Saturday, June 24 (Trust Las Vegas at home)
Fever vs. Aces prediction and odds for Saturday, June 24 (Trust Las Vegas at home)
The Las Vegas Aces are 11-1 in the 2023 season, and they’re looking to add to that record when they host the Indiana Fever on Saturday.Las Vegas has been absolutely dominant at home, winning every home game by at least 13 points. They’re favored by 15.5 points in this game against th...
2023-06-25 01:16
False 9? Edin Dzeko shows the value of an old-fashioned centre-forward
False 9? Edin Dzeko shows the value of an old-fashioned centre-forward
The cameras panned to the technical director in the San Siro stands. There were plenty of reasons to pick out Paolo Maldini, and his job title is not the most prominent. Not for the man who remains the byword for elegantly effortless defending, not when his name is synonymous with the European Cup. Arguably the greatest left-back of all time was scarcely witnessing a defensive masterclass. Even if he had, the primacy of Mauro Tassotti, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and Maldini himself would have remained unchallenged: they are perhaps football’s greatest back four and certainly AC Milan’s. Comparisons were rarely going to flatter Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Simon Kjaer and Theo Hernandez. A shambolic showing made them more glaring. Admittedly, Maldini knows such defining European games can take on a life of their own. He captained AC Milan during Deportivo la Coruna’s four-goal comeback in 2004 and Liverpool’s blitz of three goals in seven minutes in the 2005 final. Inter’s burst of two in four minutes might have brought unpleasant flashbacks. But Maldini won five European Cup finals and Milan conceded a solitary goal in them. And, 11 minutes into their first semi-final for 16 years, they were two down, and to two of the elderly. Maldini could be a poster boy for veterans: a Champions League winner for the last time a few weeks before his 39th birthday, he remains the oldest scorer in a final, at 36. Which, Edin Dzeko may feel, is enviably youthful. When he rifled Inter into the lead, he became the second oldest scorer in a semi-final, behind only Ryan Giggs. After a 37-year-old scorer came a youngster of 34; Henrikh Mkhitaryan is another throwback figure. When Jose Mourinho’s Inter won the Champions League in 2010, it was a famously experienced side. Simone Inzaghi may hope that, in his scorers at least, he has borrowed from the same formula. Dzeko and Mkhitaryan can suit the image of Serie A as a retirement home, a comfortable abode for footballers too old to gegenpress. The reality is more complicated and the Italian renaissance has entailed astute recruitment and a host of players over a decade Dzeko’s junior. But the rhythms of the division can be suited to the elderly. Those who are tactically adept and technically proficient, as Dzeko is, can stave off the passing of time. It helps that he has both a target man’s presence; so, too, that he is a beautiful striker of a ball. Dzeko has long been a wonderful volleyer. Five years ago, he scored a goal for Roma against Chelsea that had a hint of Marco van Basten about it; except that, unlike the great Dutchman, he scored it with his less favoured left foot. A derby opener came with another swing of his left foot, another clean connection, another lovely goal. It was the 400th of a career for club and country that began with Dzeko as a nondescript midfielder in the Bosnian league. He has come a long way since then, but the journey may yet carry him to Istanbul and transport Inter back to their past. The goals of another quintessential No. 9, Diego Milito, won the Nerazzurri the Champions League in 2010. The false nine has become more prevalent and popular in the intervening 13 years, but Dzeko is the old-fashioned centre-forward who never went away. Five years ago he scored in each leg of a Champions League semi-final, but for Roma and in vain and both of them after Liverpool’s five-goal blitz at Anfield. Eighteen years ago, he may have been cheering on AC Milan against Liverpool. Dzeko’s hero is the record scorer in the history of the derby della Madonnina; admittedly all of those goals came for the Rossoneri and it was easier for the Bosnian to be open about his love of Andriy Shevchenko before he joined Milan’s, and San Siro’s, other club. Shevchenko was in the crowd, sat in front of Maldini, to witness a terrific finish. He saw Mkhitaryan, an old rival from Dynamo Kiev’s games against Shakhtar Donetsk, surge into the Milan box and lift a shot over Mike Maignan. The Armenian ran straight through the middle. It was too easy. Somehow Milan’s shoddy defending did not yield more goals. Hakan Calhanoglu, who has crossed the city, hit the post. Referee Jesus Gil Manzano first awarded Lautaro Martinez a penalty and then rescinded his own decision. Maignan made a terrific save from Dzeko. And so Milan will return to their home ground as the away team in six days, still in with a chance that Maldini will play a part in securing a sixth European Cup, to add to the 1963 triumph, when his father Cesare captained them, and 1969, a rare Maldini-free success. But not if they defend like this, and not if the old master Dzeko is similarly clinical. Read More Milan derby creates thrilling sensory overload that shows how football should be The Milan derby crowns Serie A’s return - here is why it means so much more AC Milan are back – but not as how you remember them Milan derby creates thrilling sensory overload that shows how football should be Lazio extend Napoli’s wait for title by a day at least Chelsea take control of WSL title race with thrashing of Leicester
2023-05-11 05:49
Vikings newcomer Risner regrets taking so long to sign. They could use a quick study
Vikings newcomer Risner regrets taking so long to sign. They could use a quick study
Dalton Risner spent six months as a free agent until he finally signed this week with Minnesota
2023-09-21 06:59
Man Utd takeover: The reason for delays in club sale process
Man Utd takeover: The reason for delays in club sale process
Manchester United's sale process is being held up by disagreements over which bid to proceed with between the six Glazer siblings.
2023-06-29 20:21
When does the 2023 November international break end?
When does the 2023 November international break end?
A look at the details of the November international break including when it starts and ends, as well as when the Premier League returns.
2023-11-13 08:28
'Germany still among the world's best', says Japan coach Moriyasu
'Germany still among the world's best', says Japan coach Moriyasu
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said on Friday struggling Germany were still among the world's best despite the four-time World...
2023-09-08 23:50
What did Noah Lyles say about the NBA? Stephen A Smith joins condemnation of US sprint champion
What did Noah Lyles say about the NBA? Stephen A Smith joins condemnation of US sprint champion
Noah Lyles questioned NBA's 'world champions; title while addressing the media after winning three gold medals at the World Athletics championships
2023-08-29 15:28
Winn Wins! Cardinals rookie gets back 1st-hit ball after Mets' Alonso throws it into the stands
Winn Wins! Cardinals rookie gets back 1st-hit ball after Mets' Alonso throws it into the stands
Cardinals rookie shortstop Masyn Winn did get a souvenir baseball to take home after recording his first major league hit in his MLB debut
2023-08-19 13:24
Man Utd confirm departures of 6 players as free agents
Man Utd confirm departures of 6 players as free agents
Man Utd have confirmed the departures of six players as free agents after their contracts expired.
2023-07-01 16:27
Buffalo Sabres lock up defenseman Rasmus Dahlin to 8-year, $88 million contract extension
Buffalo Sabres lock up defenseman Rasmus Dahlin to 8-year, $88 million contract extension
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s emergence as a team leader and one of the NHL’s top offensive blue-line threats last season earned him an eight-year, $88 million contract extension
2023-10-09 20:57