OLT SPORTS

The Premier League season is slowly but surely coming to an end, with certain teams having ten games at most before calling time on their campaign. There have been a lot of surprises right from the season kickoff in August that nothing seems so surprising again, less than two months before the curtain drawer. The massive drop-off Liverpool have experienced all season is one thing that came as a surprise at the start but since the Reds have been unable to overcome this in months, it has become less of surprise. Arsenal on the other hand became a team on the rise at the start and whilst many had thought it won't last, all have now come to terms that Mikel Arteta's minions are title contenders. Even if not all is convinced of their credentials to get it over the line with their eight point gap lead, the sure thing is that all know that City have much more to do if they are to dethrone Arsenal from the league summit. Manchester United have also experienced quick resurgence under Er

Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta has been announced winner of the Premier League Manager of the month award for March after his Arsenal side won all four games during the month. The result means Arteta, who had already won the award three times this season, having claimed the August, November/ December and January editions, has now won it four times this season. Meanwhile Liverpool's Jugen Klopps holds the record for most Premier League Manager of the month awards won in a season when he claimed it five times in Liverpool's title winning campaign of 2019/20 season. With two more editions to go, Arteta will be looking to achieve this and maybe surpass the achievement, but it won't come easy with tough fixtures awaiting them right after their game with Leeds United this weekend. Arteta still have Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Brighton to come before the end of the season and Arteta winning the award again in April will only means Arsenal are a few games

It was always meant to go down to the wire in different races on the Premier League standing and the ranking of the difficulty of each teams’ remaining games just affirms that fact. Title contenders, Arsenal and Manchester City are a place ahead of each other as Mikel Arteta’s side ranks eleventh, which makes them have the tougher fixtures compared to City in twelve. The Gunners’ fixtures is well-balanced. Five each of teams in either half of the table. Though City play more of this teams in their eleven games to go but having to play Liverpool, Chelsea, and even Arsenal at home is always better. Not to forget Arsenal travel to Anfield, where they've not picked up a Premier League point since January 2016 and have not win a Premier League game since 2012, when a Robin van Persie double helped Arsène Wenger’s side come from behind to seal a huge win. Mikel Arteta started and played 50 minutes of that match. But, it is fair to understand that Arsenal have broken some jinx to be here

A consortium led by American billionaire Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital acquired Chelsea on the 30th of May 2022 after a long running saga. But, a lot of both positive and negative circumstances have surrounded the club since then from the sacking of well appreciated coach, Thomas Tuchel and a lot more. To much larger part of the Chelsea supporters, the transition seem to be limited only to the change in ownership but there is more to it.  With then club director – Marina Granovskaia and well respected Advisor – Petr Cech leaving after the takeover was completed, a significant change happened almost immediately after the summer window of 2022 closed. The coach that led Chelsea to the Champions League glory more than a year ago at the time was sacked. This caused a lot of uproar between fans and the club as most felt it was an unjust sacking. Many felt it was because of the inconsistent run of game at the time which was still not bad as it is now but from the clubs point of view, the

A lot has gone down within a year at Chelsea Football Club. The man who brought Chelsea their fame in the football world was force to sell after a sanction was placed on the Russian billionaire over the invasion of Ukraine. The club was taken over by a consortium led by American billionaire Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Under the ownership of Roman Abramovich, Chelsea won a total of 21 trophies including the prestigious UEFA champions league twice. Despite winning the Champions league in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel, The London club has failed to challenge for the Premier league title since they last won it in 2017. Now this raises a difficult question, even though Roman Abramovich carried Chelsea to the most successful period in their history, did he actually also held them back on long term? When Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea back in 2003, They became competitive almost immediately winning their first league title in 50 years in 2004 and won another the following year both under J

With such personality, maybe if you go to Tottenham Hotspur, then you will fit in given the narratives that has surrounded the club. The infamous line 'it's in the history of the Tottenham' said life to by former Juventus and Italy international defender, Georgio Chiellini. Whatever transpired between Bayern Munich and 35-year-old Julian Nagelsmann is surely not only down to infield issues or performances. Albeit these has also played their roles, it is obvious there is more that has not unfold in the speech of the Bayern hierarchy, with Nagelsmann still yet to say much about it. According to information gathered, man management played a significant role in the failure of the former RB Leipzig manager in Munich, due to his personality, which does not really fit into that of a team with top players. Leadership qualities are etiquette required to manage at top level. It has to be learned and well applied, even so far a young manager, in the midst of players who probably have

Former Real Madrid left-back and club legend, Marcelo has named Argentine and PSG forward, Lionel Messi as the toughest player he has come up against. Messi and Marcelo faced several times in the Clasico when both were at their previous clubs, Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. They also faced a few times when with their respective countries, as Lionel Messi lined up with Argentina while Marcelo did with Brazil. Messi, who is considered the all-time greatest player, also appeared to have put any debate to bed following his conquest of the world with Argentina in Qatar last year was a contant headache for Marcelo, who had to put up with him in games. Marcelo, when asked the toughest opponent he has faced: “Messi is unbelievable, he's the toughest opponent I've ever faced.” During his time in Spain, Messi scored 26 goals and registered 14 assists in 47 games against Marcelo’s Real Madrid and was very influential in Barcelona's dominant in the LaLiga at the time. Marcelo,

After a frustrating end to the first round of games in the Group A of the NPFL abridge format campaign, Remo Stars return for the second half of the season, looking to bounce back. Refreshed and boosted with the arrivals of new faces during the mid-season break, Daniel Ogunmodede’s minions hosted Nasarawa United, in search for their first win in five league games. Our correspondant, Kehinde Hassan Afolabi was at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne as the Sky Blues look to put behind recent disappointments, which also includes elimination in the Ogun State Aiteo Cup in the hands of their own Academy, Beyond Limits. As for the visitors, Nasarawa United have had a poor season too but ended the first round with a 2-0 win over Sunday's host thanks to goals in either half from Joshua John and Emmanuel Ogbole. That was only their second win of the season and a first league win over Remo Stars since January, 2017, further highlighting how poor the Ikenne based were in the later stages of the

Marcus Rashford’s England future in limbo after Gareth Southgate's comment on persistent withdrawal from Three Lions squad but Manchester United fans have reacted in support of their own, insisting the manager has been unfair with his treatment of the forward. In the wake of England's first ever win over Italy in 64 years, England manager, Gareth Southgate did not shy when asked about Marcus Rashford in his post match interview. The world, for those that paid have attention would have noticed the Mancunian’s persistent withdrawal from England squad for qualifiers and friendlies, and Southgate made his feelings known this time. “Well, the feeling was he was playing really well, but we haven’t often had him. So, in terms of a loss when you haven’t had him that often, then it’s different to being a loss. But without a doubt he was in good form. We were looking forward to seeing him.” Those were the words of the England boss on Rashford’s absence after goals from Declan Rice and ca

In the late hours of Thursday, Bayern Munich made a shocking decision as new broke about the Bavarians parting ways with Manager, Julian Nagelsmann, 20 months following his appointment. The German, who had been the club manager since he replaced Hansi Flick in the summer of 2021 helped them to the league title last season but suffered elimination in the Champions League quarter finals, to Villarreal. While the club continued to give verbal support until the last minute, there have been concerns over his ability to take the club forward and club felt their goal for the remainder of the could be at risk, hence, his sacking. Nagelsmann himself had complained about lack of support from the club, highlighting their inability to replace Robert Lewandowski after the striker departed for Barcelona in the summer. Club and fans have also criticized Nagelsmann of his tactics, which they believed has costed them twelve points in the Bundesliga this year, hence their inability to blow Dortmund away

Manchester City’s Phil Foden has showered praises on England teammate, Bukayo Saka following the latter's response of the winger to missing a crucial penalty in the final of the European Championship in 2021. Speaking ahead of Three Lions’s meeting with Italy in tonight's European Championship qualifier, Foden admits to learning from Saka, who appeared to have put the heartbreak behind him. Since that penalty miss, Saka has gone from strength to strength as has even now assume the role of penalty taker at his club, Arsenal, scoring all his efforts from 12 yards including against the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool. “Definitely, I learn from him,” said Foden. “From him missing that penalty, he's turned it around with his performances on the pitch for club and country. He's such a nice lad and everyone loves him. He's a big part of what we do here.” Saka has also grown to be a major part of the England set-up under Gareth Southgate and is almost an assured

Arsenal defender, William Saliba has been immense in his first season at the club and has been one of the best Center Backs in the Premier League this season. Alongside Gabriel Magalhães, they have kept the joint most clean sheets in the English top division this season and have the third best defensive record after 28 games into the season. Their efforts also sees The Gunners lead the pack ahead of run-in, with their latest win over Crystal Palace taking them eight points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand. The performance of Saliba, who had been in the books at the club since 2019 has prompted Arsenal to want to tie him down on fresh terms, with his current deal set to end in 2024 after the activation of a year extension. Reports earlier in the week suggested that the French defender will sign a new deal to continue his adventure at the club. Several reports has it, the former Saint Etienne and Marseille man is happy with his time at Arsenal, though it took over three

Last time out, the Nigerian National Team proved there is nothing super about their Eagles following another disappointing loss to Portugal in Lisbon, just before the kickoff of the global showpiece last winter, in Qatar. Portugal ran out 4-0 winners in a show of complete dominance with Jose Peseiro’s Eagles chasing shadows from start to finish at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon. The results spelled a fourth defeat in six games under Peseiro, which included results in friendly meetings with Algeria, Ecuador and Mexico. One of the wins came in a fashion of a laboured 2-1 victory over Sierra Leone while the other, which was a 10-0 thrashing of Sao Tome and Principe in June was rather more about their opponent, who are surely not up to the level of professionals of the game. The four defeats however, have come in games where they were expected to showcase how much they have improved following the departure of Gernot Rohr, nonetheless, they were found wanting. Where do Eagles go from h