WanderlustSport

Former players from Barcelona, Manchester City, and Arsenal rank among Andres Iniesta’s favorite footballers of all time.  At a recent event held in Qatar, the ex-Barca star was prompted to list his five all-time favorite players, and neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo was included.  Rather, these were the five players that Iniesta selected as his top choices.  Michael Laudrup   Iniesta became part of the Barcelona academy in 1996, only two years after Laudrup departed from the club.  As a child raised in the nineties, it’s not surprising that a player such as Laudrup captured his imagination.  The Danish luminary was celebrated for his passing, vision, and technical abilities – qualities that Iniesta would later excel in mastering.  "Michael Laudrup has been my idol since I was a child," Iniesta mentioned in a different interview from last year.  “His skill and his elegant playing style, the manner in which he advanced as a midfielder.” "...

• Cole Palmer has gone seven straight matches without a goal. • Enzo Maresca has supported his key player. • The once highly productive playmaker felt especially annoyed during the match against Southampton.  Chelsea's playmaker Cole Palmer addressed his ongoing scoring struggle with a resolute message, assuring fans: "Don't worry, I will return."  Palmer listed seven failed attempts during Chelsea's 4-0 victory over Southampton on Tuesday night, prolonging his goal drought to seven straight matches in all competitions. This marks the longest dry spell of Palmer's once flourishing Chelsea career, exceeding a six-match period he experienced nearly a year ago.  Enzo Maresca has exhibited steadfast confidence in his pivotal midfielder, who responded with a puzzled grin after witnessing a late free-kick deflected by Aaron Ramsdale during the week.  In the immediate aftermath of yet another zero, Palmer turned to social media. Following his congratulatory remarks t...

Arsenal, Wolves, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, West Ham, Everton, Fulham, Leicester, Manchester City, Liverpool, Fulham, Totthenham Hotspur.  Those are the 11 fortunate Premier League teams that will face Southampton once more this season. As the battle for European qualification is extremely competitive this season and the Saints are significantly outmatched by all teams except their relegation rivals, it is becoming a truly significant factor in any assessments.  Do they still have a match with Southampton? It's unfortunate for Newcastle, Forest, Bournemouth, and now Chelsea, who can no longer count on those three guaranteed future points.  Upon Southampton's victory at Ipswich, we must acknowledge our disappointment for two reasons. Initially, it greatly reduced the likelihood of a serious relegation battle, and secondly, it seemed to extinguish any aspirations of Southampton surpassing Derby's notorious 11-point season as it approached its conclusion.  We aren't a...

Reports indicate that it would require an ‘eye-watering’ sum for Man Utd to dismiss Ruben Amorim this summer if they opt for a change.   The Red Devils are enduring a dismal season with INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe deciding to dismiss Erik ten Hag and appoint Amorim in November.  Man Utd currently ranks 15th in the Premier League, nearer to the relegation zone than the top four, and Amorim is facing intense pressure to improve results and performances.  Under Amorim, the results have been poorer than during Ten Hag's tenure at Old Trafford, with Man Utd securing only four victories in his initial 15 Premier League games in charge.  Rumours suggest that Amorim might be dismissed if results don’t enhance, but numerous reports confirm the Portuguese head coach will certainly remain until at least the season’s conclusion.  However, The Sun claims that Man Utd 'will encounter a staggering £12million cost’ because the Red Devils’ head coach is ‘believed to have an unbr...

• Wesley Fofana is back in the Chelsea lineup for Tuesday's match.  • French center-back absent since December due to hamstring injury.  • The defender openly challenged Enzo Maresca's assertions about a season-ending problem.  Chelsea have received a boost with the inclusion of centre-back Wesley Fofana in Tuesday's squad heading to face Southampton.  Fofana sustained a hamstring injury in December, leading to a strange exchange with manager Enzo Maresca. The Frenchman first stated that his problem was not grave, but Maresca contended that it might be a season-ending injury.  A social media post disclosed Fofana's claim that Maresca's remarks were "not accurate" as he projected a return to play by mid-February. The manager subsequently verified that Fofana had challenged the recommendations made by the club's medical team.  In the end, it seems that Fofana's belief was justified since Fabrice Hawkins was the initial one to announce his forthcoming...

Reports indicate that Manchester City have devised a strategy to find a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, who is anticipated to exit the Premier League champions this summer.  De Bruyne's long-term prospects are uncertain since he ranks among the 20 top footballers who might become free agents in 2025.  The Belgian international ranks among the top midfielders in Premier League history, yet injuries in recent years have affected him, causing him to drop in the hierarchy at the Etihad.  The 33-year-old has started just 12 Premier League matches for Man City this season, and he seems more likely to depart with interest from the Saudi Pro League and MLS.  Ex-Premier League chief scout Mick Brown believes De Bruyne is eager to ‘leave’ Man City as he ‘desires’ a transfer to the MLS.  Brown informed Football Insider: “Man City believes they have an excess of older players.  "De Bruyne is among them, and they are now ready to allow him to depart when his contract e...

Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has clarified why he believes Manchester City will pose a greater challenge to the Reds than Arsenal in the upcoming season.  Arne Slot’s team has performed excellently this season, as Liverpool holds an 11-point lead at the Premier League summit over second-placed Arsenal, who have one match in hand.  The Premier League title is theirs to forfeit following the Reds’ 2-0 victory over Man City on Sunday, after Arsenal lost 1-0 at home to West Ham, their London rivals, on Saturday.  Man City had secured the previous four Premier League titles consecutively and now need a rebuild during the summer, with the club's management already investing in fresh talent in the January transfer window.  Arsenal is currently confronting a third consecutive season of finishing as the Premier League runner-up with Mikel Arteta, and Liverpool icon Carragher believes that a Man City revival is more probable than the Gunners bouncing back to claim the title ...

Sir Jim Ratcliffe may be viewed as a villain by some, yet Man Utd supporters ought to appreciate that he is supposedly ‘rescuing’ the club.  Justifying the Ratcliffe reductions   I have never encountered John Nicholson and know little about his life, but from what I’ve read of his writing, we would mostly share the same views. Politics, indeed. Labor unions, indeed. Wishing for a more just and compassionate world, I stand with you, my friend. Even while perusing his recent tirade criticizing my club’s new minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, I find myself nodding in agreement. Although it isn't especially enlightening, the idea that 'billionaire is a bad person' shouldn't surprise anyone; I simply can't tap into the anger that Johnny expresses.  Being in the UK and earning about 30,000 per month, I have faced redundancy, which is an awful experience, particularly when you have a young family and a mortgage to manage. I truly empathize with the United employees facing job l...

• Lamine Yamal ended Barcelona's latest match with a bleeding foot.  • The Catalan powerhouse welcomes Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.  • Yamal is uncertain for the cup match on Tuesday.  Barcelona attacker Lamine Yamal allegedly missed the squad's last comprehensive training session ahead of their home match against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, casting uncertainty on his participation in the Copa del Rey semi-final.  Yamal wasn't performing at his peak during Barcelona's tough journey to Las Palmas on Saturday night, frequently appearing frustrated when confronted with the hosts' strong marking tactics. The teen successfully forged the chance that resulted in Dani Olmo's second-half goal in a match that ultimately concluded with a 2-0 victory.  Following the game, Yamal shared a photo of a sock drenched in blood on social media, accompanied by the caption: "It's not a foul" - a direct critique of the referee's choice to i...

• Erling Haaland has been dealing with a knee injury.  • Man City forward was absent for the team's previous two matches.  • Pep Guardiola "optimistic" before the upcoming match against Tottenham.  Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola anticipated that Erling Haaland will return from his knee injury "soon" and remains optimistic that the club's key striker might play against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.   Haaland has missed City's previous two matches. Having seen his fellow players overwhelmed by Real Madrid in the Champions League last week while being an unused substitute, Haaland was not included in the squad for City's disheartening 2-0 loss at home against Liverpool on Sunday.  The robust Norwegian has been dealing with a knee injury he incurred during an unusual decisive win for his team when he fell awkwardly against Newcastle United on February 15.  City's strong beginning against Liverpool quickly diminished as a dynamic attack led b...