Real Africa News

Thursday, 7 December 2023

Willian says £50m Manchester City player is the toughest player he has ever faced

By Corel balloon 07 December No comments

Willian has said that Kyle Walker is the toughest player he has ever come up against in his career.

In an interview with Premier League Brasil, the Fulham winger also named N’Golo Kante as one of his most challenging opponents.

However, the £50 million (Guardian) man, whom Gary Neville recently crowned as the Premier League’s greatest right-back of all time is often picked by wingers as their hardest-ever opponent.

Willian says Kyle Walker is the toughest opponent he has ever faced in his career

In an interview with DAZN Canada in September last year, Neymar picked the Manchester City defender as a full-back that made life hell for him going forward.

Last month, even Leeds United wideman Jaidon Anthony said the same about the 33-year-old.

Now, Willian has also named Kyle Walker as a right-back whom he found the hardest to go toe-to-toe with.

“I could talk about [N’Golo] Kante, with whom I played [with] for a long time. But, to choose one that I played against for a long time, I’ll go with [Kyle] Walker from Manchester City”, he told Premier League Brasil.

How much Kyle Walker has improved defensively over time does not get enough credit

Kyle Walker would perhaps be chuffed to discover that a winger of the calibre of Willian singled him out as his toughest-ever opponent.

But it seems like the perception around Walker’s defensive prowess is that if not for his one-of-a-kind recovery pace, he would not be as elite as he has been at the back for years.

However, in our view, this is simply a myth.

While Walker’s incredible speed does bail him and his side out on several instances, it is easy to forget that he was perhaps even quicker at Tottenham Hotspur at a younger age.

However, aspects like the Englishman’s positioning, spatial awareness and tackling were simply not up to par, making him suspect defensively at times.

At Manchester City, Kyle Walker has worked on his craft, which has allowed him to even operate as a right-sided centre-half and keep world-class forwards quiet.

Countless players with pace to burn could become legendary full-backs if it was as easy as Walker has made his job look for years on end.

'I admire the player'... Erik ten Hag now admits he really rates 23-year-old Chelsea

By Corel balloon 07 December No comments

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has now admitted that his side had a plan to deal with one Chelsea player at Old Trafford last night who he really rates.

He said in his post-match interview with Amazon Prime Video that he deployed Scott McTominay to defend and press Enzo Fernandez in his side’s 2-1 win over the Blues last night.

Fernandez had one of his poorest games in a Chelsea shirt last night as he struggled big time in the middle of the park.

Manchester United v Chelsea FC - Premier League

He gave away a penalty just minutes into the game, and even though the effort was saved by Robert Sanchez it was a sign of things to come.

Ten Hag has now admitted that he certainly had a plan to deal with the World Cup winner last night, after acknowledging his talents.

He said: “He had a very important role. Fernandez, I admire the player. He had an important role to pick him up, to defend him, to press him.

Ten Hag rates Fernandez

“But also in possession to take benefit from his back and he did that several times. And several times he put us in very good scoring positions.”

The 23-year-old was coming into last night off the back of his first and second goals for the club in the hard-fought win against Brighton.

Playing with 10 men for the majority of that game, it has been claimed by Mauricio Pochettino that this may have had an effect on his starting players who were back in action just three days’ later.

Either way, it is almost certain that Fernandez will remain in the starting side when Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Everton comes around, with a chance to return to winning ways.

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is the new Chancellor of the prestigious Weldios University

By Corel balloon 07 December No comments

A few days ahead of his 60th birthday, popular televangelist and President of Loveworld Incorporated, Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakhilome, Dsc, Dsc, DD. was conferred as the Chancellor – Head of Government and Chairman Plenipotentiary of the fastest growing bi-lingual private university, Weldios University.

Pastor Chris, a philanthropist and lover of education, expressed gratitude having received this honor. As the author of the most translated book in history, the Christ Embassy Pastor plans to continue impacting humanity globally using this bilingual institution that is now under his tutelage. Weldios University, located in Benin Republic, offers Bachelors, Masters, Post-Doctoral, and Doctorate programs. The Registrar of the University, Dr. Ugo Magnus Kel is honored that Pastor Chris accepted this appointment and knows that the Man of God will not only aid in increasing the international standard of the university but also debunking the negative stereotypes surrounding universities in Benin Republic.

For more information on Weldios University, visit http://weldiosuniversity.edu.bj.

Gunmen attack Kogi guber election tribunal secretary, steal petition documents

By Corel balloon 06 December No comments

Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that gunmen attacked the secretary of the state governorship election Tribunal, Mr David Umar Mike on Monday in Lokoja and made away with sensitive petition documents on the just concluded gubernatorial election in the state.

According to the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP William Aya, the armed attackers, wielding guns, targeted Mike and his colleagues just before the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office around 1:20 PM on Monday, December 04, 2023.

The tribunal officials, including Mike, were en route to the tribunal venue at the state High Court complex in Lokoja when the assailants struck.

The stolen documents are reported to belong to five political parties, namely the Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The stolen items included two record books crucial to the proceedings and a bag containing Mike’s personal belongings.

On December 4th, 2023, at approximately 6:20 PM, Mike, accompanied by his Confidential Secretary, Labode Apreala, and Assistant Secretary, Hassimu Adamu, reported the incident to the State Criminal Investigation Department, as outlined in the police report.

As per the report, Mike stated, “That just before the CBN at about 1320hrs, one SUV vehicle which had earlier overtaken him blocked his car with two other SUVs following behind. All of them surrounded and blocked him as he attempted to reverse.

“That he saw about seven hooded men all heavily armed and dressed in black attire who shot severally into the air and dragged him and his two other colleagues out of their car, ransacked the car and made away with all the petition documents.”

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Onuoha Benthrand, has promptly ordered a thorough investigation into the incident. The Police Command has called on the public to refrain from making statements that could potentially prejudice the ongoing investigation.

Chelsea stumble against Man United amid Mauricio Pochettino £288m January transfer demand

By Corel balloon 06 December No comments

All the latest Chelsea news, transfer gossip and reaction to the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United

Mauricio Pochettino watched his Chelsea side lose to Man United.

Chelsea were unable to pick up against Manchester United where they left off against Brighton as they stumbled toward defeat at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty in the opening stages, but his blushes were spared by Scott McTominay later in the half.

Cole Palmer showed off some individual brilliance, working some space to drill a shot into the back of the net and bring his side onto level terms. The Blues never kicked on from there though, with McTominay popping up once again to seal all three points for the Red Devils, sending Chelsea back with none.

With that said, here are your morning Chelsea digest on Thursday, December 7.

Jackson blame for Man United goal

Ally McCoist has taken aim at Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson for his role in Manchester United's first goal at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. Mauricio Pochettino named an unorthodox lineup to take on the Red Devils as Levi Colwill took the armband at left-back, with Marc Cucurella at right-back.

Jamie Carragher aims Man City dig after Pep Guardiola jibe amid Arsenal and Chelsea FFP wait

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has hit back at Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola following his comments on his failure to win a Premier League title.

Guardiola responded to claims from Carragher and fellow Sky Sports pundits Micah Richards and Gary Neville that his side are suffering from complacency after last year's historic treble. The Citizens are currently six points behind league leaders Arsenal after drawing their last three games.

On Tuesday, in his pre-Aston Villa press conference, Guardiola unleashed a six-minute monologue of his team's coverage on television before predicting that his side will win a fourth straight Premier League title.

"He knows how difficult it is. Gary Neville would've won four [consecutive] Premier League titles in the best period of Manchester United," he said. "But he didn't do it, you know?

Mauricio Pochettino has easy Chelsea January transfer demand for Todd Boehly

Even for Chelsea's standards January 2023 was off the scale barmy. Starting the window struggling to find an identity after splitting with a fan favourite manager, appointing a figure many could sympathise with but not follow into war and doing so with the backdrop of a new ownership group making loud claims that few truly believed.

Ally McCoist takes aim at Chelsea star at fault for Man United goal following penalty miss

Early Chelsea team news hint dropped ahead of Manchester United clash amid suspension concerns

Man United vs Chelsea live highlights and reaction - McTominay double sinks poor Blues

Alan Shearer has told Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino three ways to exploit Man United

Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag sack verdict given ahead of Man Utd vs Chelsea showdown

Five Man United stars set to miss Chelsea clash as Mason Mount denied reunion

Chelsea approach embarrassing record as Raheem Sterling receives Onana lecture in Man Utd defeat

Chelsea confirm new Mauricio Pochettino captain decision vs Man United for the 'next John Terry'

Mauricio Pochettino gives Christopher Nkunku injury update ahead of Man Utd vs Chelsea

Chelsea star Cole Palmer makes Manchester United prediction ahead of Old Trafford visit

Chelsea told what they must change ahead of key Manchester United clash at Old Trafford

Gary Neville makes sad Man Utd confession ahead of Chelsea Premier League meeting

Every word Mauricio Pochettino said on Man Utd loss, Chelsea energy, injuries and 10th place

Confirmed Chelsea starting lineup vs Man Utd as Reece James on bench and Cole Palmer starts

I saw Robert Sanchez shine but his Chelsea teammates were shamelessly hidden in Man United loss

Chelsea player ratings vs Man Utd as Robert Sanchez shines amid Blues struggle

Erik ten Hag sent Manchester United sack warning ahead of Chelsea clash as score prediction made

Why Mauricio Pochettino chose to name Reece James on the bench for Manchester United vs Chelsea

What Mauricio Pochettino made Chelsea players do before Man Utd game to fix Premier League issue

Chelsea press conference LIVE - Mauricio Pochettino on Sanchez, James and Man Utd loss