All posts tagged: Striker

Kylian Mbappe’s stunning claim: ‘I’m the 4th-choice striker at Real Madrid now’ | Football News

Kylian Mbappe’s stunning claim: ‘I’m the 4th-choice striker at Real Madrid now’ | Football News

Published by Webster

2 min readUpdated: May 15, 2026 09:39 AM IST Kylian Mbappe endured another rough night for Real Madrid after he was booed while making a substitute appearance in the 2-0 victory over Oviedo on Thursday. The Frenchman then made the stunning claim that Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa told him that he is the team’s fourth-choice striker, a claim that was instantly rubbished by the Spaniard. Mbappe is still not fully recovered from a left hamstring injury but claimed after the win over Oviedo that he was ready to play from the start. “I’m 100% fine. I didn’t play because the coach told me I’m the fourth striker in the squad behind (Franco) Mastantuono, Vini (Vinícius Júnior) and Gonzalo (García). I accept it,” Mbappe said. “I was ready to start, it was his decision. You can’t be angry with the coach, you always have to respect the opinion of the coach. I’ll keep working hard and wait to be the starter.” Arbeloa dismissed Mbappe’s claims. “I don’t have four strikers, and I haven’t told anything like …

Former Ashton Villa striker predicts winner of EFL cup: ‘Arsenal win, Arsenal win…’

Former Ashton Villa striker predicts winner of EFL cup: ‘Arsenal win, Arsenal win…’

Published by Webster

2 min readUpdated: Mar 20, 2026 03:41 PM IST Arsenal and Manchester City are at the top of the Premier League table. The sides will take on each other in the EFL Cup final. Former Ashton Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has rooted for Arsenal to win the  EFL Cup competition. And also predicted that it might get a bit spicy on the touchline between Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on the touchline. “Arsenal win, Arsenal win, Ally (McCoist), for me,” Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT (via Arsenal Insider). “I just think they know how important that game is. I just think when I look at Man City, I just think Gabriel (Magalhaes) and (William) Saliba are going to be so aggressive on (Erling) Haaland, the form that he’s been in. “And I think it’s going to get spicy on the touchline. I know they’re friends, (Mikel) Arteta and Guardiola, but I think everything’s on the line in this game.” Title race Arsenal sit top on 70 points, followed by Manchester City …

Former Italy striker Pamela Conti set to take charge of India U-17 Women’s Football Team

Former Italy striker Pamela Conti set to take charge of India U-17 Women’s Football Team

Published by Webster

The All India Football Federation is poised to appoint former Italian international Pamela Conti as head coach of the India U‑17 women’s national football team ahead of the upcoming AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in China as per a report from TOI. Conti, a former Italy striker and experienced coach, has emerged as the federation’s top choice to lead India’s youth side, with terms reportedly agreed and a contract expected to be finalised shortly. Conti’s appointment follows the recent confirmation of Amelia Valverde, the Costa Rican World Cup-experienced coach, as head coach of the senior women’s national team for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026. The AIFF’s strategy reflects a broader push to bolster Indian women’s football across age groups and enhance performance on the continental stage, particularly as teams vie for global tournament berths. Conti brings substantial international experience to the role. As a player, she enjoyed a 16-year professional career across Italy, Spain, Sweden, Russia and the United States, earning 90 caps and scoring 30 goals for the Italy national team. After …

Kylian Mbappe now claims Paris Saint-Germain owe him 260 million euros; PSG demand 440 million euros from striker | Football News

Kylian Mbappe now claims Paris Saint-Germain owe him 260 million euros; PSG demand 440 million euros from striker | Football News

Published by Webster

The legal dispute between Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe escalated on Monday with both sides making colossal financial demands. The France star forward and his former club are at odds over alleged unpaid wages, and the financial dispute was examined by an industrial court. Mbappe, who did not attend the hearing, previously claimed he was owed 55 million euros ($63 million) by the reigning European champion. He now demands more than 260 million euros from the club, arguing that PSG owes him that money because his fixed-term contract should be reclassified as a permanent one. Such a reclassification would trigger compensation for unfair dismissal, unpaid wages, bonuses, and severance. He also claims damages for moral harassment, undeclared work, and breaches of PSG’s duty of good faith and safety toward him. Story continues below this ad “Kylian Mbappe is not asking for anything beyond what the law provides; he is simply seeking the enforcement of his legal rights, as any employee would,” the player’s advisers said in a statement. PSG, meanwhile, is seeking a total of …

Nottingham Forest Striker Taiwo Awoniyi Out Of Induced Coma After Serious Abdominal Injury

Nottingham Forest Striker Taiwo Awoniyi Out Of Induced Coma After Serious Abdominal Injury

Published by Webster

Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi is out of an induced coma after having urgent surgery following an abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City. The 27-year-old was injured when he collided with a goal post in the 2-2 draw against Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday and was taken to hospital on Monday after further investigations by the Forest medical team. Having had the first part of the surgery on Monday, the forward spent Tuesday in an induced coma as medical staff monitored his progress as part of the procedure. Awoniyi had the second stage of the operation, including closing the wound, on Wednesday, BBC reports. On Tuesday, Nottingham Forest said that Awoniyi is recovering well following urgent surgery. Awoniyi had only been introduced as a substitute five minutes earlier when he collided hard into a post as he attempted to score the winning goal. It later turned out that Elanga had been offside but the sideline official didn’t raise their flag until after Awoniyi had struck the post. Awoniyi …

Nottingham Forest Striker Taiwo Awoniyi Undergoes Surgery After Post Collision

Nottingham Forest Striker Taiwo Awoniyi Undergoes Surgery After Post Collision

Published by Webster

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has had “urgent” surgery on a serious abdominal injury sustained in last weekend’s Premier League match with Leicester, it was announced Tuesday. The Nigeria international, 27, collided with the post in the 88th minute of the 2-2 draw at the City Ground as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from Anthony Elanga while under challenge from the Foxes’ Facundo Buonanotte. “The club can confirm Taiwo Awoniyi has undergone urgent surgery following an abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City,” said a Forest statement. “Everyone at Nottingham Forest sends their best wishes to Taiwo. “The club will provide further updates when appropriate.” Awoniyi, who joined Forest from Union Berlin in June 2022, had only been on the pitch for five minutes having come on as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare. He tried to play on following prolonged treatment on the field, but the full extent of his injury was only discovered by medical staff on Monday. The way Awoniyi’s injury was dealt with during …

PSG striker Ousmane Dembele fit to face Arsenal in semi-final

PSG striker Ousmane Dembele fit to face Arsenal in semi-final

Published by Webster

Ahead of their clash in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have been given a boost with news that striker Ousmane Dembele has recovered from a slight hamstring problem. There was a question-mark over the France striker playing in the second leg game at home because he had limped off midway through the second half of last week’s first leg at Emirates Stadium. PSG lead 1-0 in the two-legged semi-final. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, PSG coach Luis Enrique said Dembele, who scored the winner in London against Arsenal last week, has been training with his teammates for two days. “I have him at my disposal tomorrow,” Enrique told journalists. Story continues below this ad Dembele’s importance to PSG’s cause in the Champions League cannot be under-stated: when he scored against Arsenal, it was his eighth strike in nine Champions League appearances since the start of 2025. After picking up the injury in the Champions League, Dembele was rested for PSG’s weekend clash against Strasbourg, where …

Theatre in football doesn’t exist: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti slams striker Endrick for misses vs Getafe | Football News

Theatre in football doesn’t exist: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti slams striker Endrick for misses vs Getafe | Football News

Published by Webster

Brazilian wonderkid Endrick hasn’t had the best 2024/25 season in Real Madrid colours with the 18-year-old scoring just one goal in the La Liga so far. But he had a chance to add to his tally in Madrid’s midweek game against Getafe but he couldn’t take his chances with coach Carlo Ancelotti blasting the youngster after the match. “Endrick had two good chances. For the first, I think he couldn’t have done much better. The second might have been offside but he has to learn from that. Young players need to strike the ball properly, not this theatrical stuff. Theatre in football doesn’t exist,” Ancelotti said. Forward Kylian Mbappe out with an ankle injury he sustained in their Champions League quarter-final loss to Arsenal, Ancelotti also opted to start with Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Luka Modric, Antonio Ruediger and Eduardo Camavinga on the bench due to Saturday’s important Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. Story continues below this ad Arda Guler’s cultured first-half strike earned Madrid a nervy 1-0 win at Getafe that kept their LaLiga …

Pep Guardiola gives Erling Haaland injury timeframe as Man City looks to adapt without star striker | Football News

Pep Guardiola gives Erling Haaland injury timeframe as Man City looks to adapt without star striker | Football News

Published by Webster

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is expected to be sidelined for “between five to seven weeks” with an ankle injury, manager Pep Guardiola said Tuesday. Guardiola gave a more precise timeframe than was offered Monday by City, which only said Haaland was seeking specialist consultation to confirm the full extent of the injury and should be fit to “play a further part in the remainder of this season.” If the Norway international was to miss five weeks, he would likely be back for the final three league matches of the season and the FA Cup final on May 17 — should City beat Nottingham Forest in the semifinals. If he misses seven weeks, Haaland would be set to return around the time of the FA Cup final and might only be able to play in City’s final Premier League match. City is heading to the United States in June for the 32-team Club World Cup. Story continues below this ad City, which has won the last four Premier League titles, is in fifth place and …

Soccer-Arteta hails stand-in striker Merino for another match-winning goal | Football News

Soccer-Arteta hails stand-in striker Merino for another match-winning goal | Football News

Published by Parlour News

By William Schomberg HT Image LONDON, – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his emergency centre-forward Mikel Merino for clinching another three Premier League points for the north Londoners on Sunday when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over city rivals Chelsea. Merino – a midfielder by trade – showed the instincts of a seasoned striker when he glanced a header from Martin Odegaard up and over Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal, the ball dropping into the net at the far post. “The way he’s approaching this is incredible,” Arteta told reporters. “He wants to understand everything. He wants to learn from it. He’s very critical of himself all the time. And at the end, the reality is that he wins matches for us.” Merino scored twice in a 2-0 win over Leicester City in February when he came on as a substitute to lead Arsenal’s attack and he has been playing in that position ever since. Asked about the 12-point gap between Arsenal and league leaders Liverpool, Arteta said the onus …