London, United Kingdom | AFP
The soccer ball does not stop rolling in England during the end-of-year holidays and is especially present every December 26 with the emblematic ‘Boxing Day’, which this year will serve to start the 19th day of the Premier League.
Playing the day after Christmas is a tradition in the English championship and for many it is a symbol of an overloaded calendar.
– Leadership at stake –
“We are going to play our third game in nine days. That demands a lot from you, both mentally and physically,” said Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk, of Liverpool.
His team takes to the pitch on Tuesday at Burnley’s field (19th) and there is a lot of play these days because of how exciting the top of the standings is. They are just one point behind leaders Arsenal, with whom they drew 1-1 on Saturday in matchday 18.
Also playing on Boxing Day is another contender for the lead, Aston Villa (3rd), who visits Manchester United and has the same points as Liverpool. Arsenal will not play until Thursday, at home against West Ham.
– 58 games in 29 days –
All English teams face the overload of matches as best they can, between player rotations and also managing the psychological aspect.
After losing 2-0 on Saturday at West Ham, Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag divided his post-match press conference into two: first five minutes to comment on the defeat and then another ten to talk about the Tuesday’s game against Aston Villa. A scene as curious as it is surreal, just a few minutes after the final whistle.
The devilish pace of matches means that the competition barely leaves time for training. Before the duel against Arsenal, Liverpool had only been able to train 135 minutes adding up their practices from the previous ten days.
Between the Premier League, Europa League and League Cup, Liverpool will play eight games in December, before starting 2024 on January 1 against Newcastle on matchday 20 of the Premier League.
From December 5 until West Ham and Brighton meet on January 2, 58 games will have been played in 29 days.
– “Happy faces” –
After that, the Premier League will stop for two weeks, but that ‘truce’ will be occupied by the third round of the English Cup and the first leg of the English League Cup semi-finals, so there will be no real break.
The peculiarity of the British December and January calendar, despite criticism, also has fervent defenders.
“It is the most special time of the year for me. You test yourself physically and mentally. You never see so many happy faces in a stadium as at this moment, people are usually in a good mood,” says Belgian Vincent Kompany, former defender. of Manchester City and current coach of Burnley.
— Program for the 19th matchday of the Premier League
– Martes (‘Boxing Day’):
(9:30 de Paraguay) Newcastle – Nottingham Forest
(12:00) Bournemouth – Fulham
Sheffield United – Luton Town
(14:30) Burnley – Liverpool
(17:00) Manchester United – Aston Villa
– Wednesday:
(16:30) Brentford – Wolverhampton
Chelsea – Crystal Palace
(17:15) Everton – Manchester City
– Thursday:
(16:30) Brighton – Tottenham
(17:15) Arsenal – West Ham
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The footballer of the Paraguayan National Team, Alejandro Romero Gamarra, left a very emotional message on his Instagram account after playing his last match of the year with Al Ain, which he won on Sunday and where “Kaku” scored a real great goal.
“Today the last game of the year ended and I didn’t want to pass by this incredible year that I personally spent. I arrived at a very big club with high expectations, I know they expect more from me and I am convinced that great things are coming next Next year, I’m sure it will be better. Thank you Al Ain!”wrote the 28-year-old player.
But the most sentimental part was when referring to his family, who is in Dubai accompanying him to close a special year, in which he managed to raise his level again since his delicate injury and living his first months in a new country, Qatar. .
“Now I want to thank my friends, my family, for accompanying me all year, for being there in the good and bad times. Being able to travel for the first time all together was one of the best things that happened to me in my life”he acknowledged.
“To my old man who booked the trip to Dubai and although he almost went crazy a week later, it made me happy to enjoy those moments with you. I love you family!”he emphasized.
“Now I want to thank the best of all @carrizokkaren for always being there, for giving me that push and the right words when things don’t go the way I want. I love you mom!”he added.
“Kaku” closed his season by registering 5 goals and 3 assists in his last 11 games with the Al Ain shirt, a club he joined for the final part of the season.
Perhaps one of his biggest pending issues in 2023 was not being able to have the necessary continuity in the Paraguayan National Team. He played 3 of the 6 games, but only started one.
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The Paraguayan defender Bruno Valdez must appear at Boca Juniors tomorrow, which could rule out any chance of signing for Libertad.
The Gumarelo cast showed interest in the Solense youth playeraccording to information provided by journalist Gustavo del Puerto.
In this sense, the player’s family acknowledged that they do not have direct information from Valdez or his representative, which encourages them to think that he will make his return to Paraguayan football effective.
“Bruno appears on December 26. He is still a Boca player, he had signed for three years and he is very happy”said Marcelo Valdez, the footballer’s father, in a conversation with Deportes Uno.
The Argentine press mentions that Juan Román Riquelme, who will begin his first cycle as president of the Auriazul club, demands the presence of all the footballers with a contract and from then on will work on the solution case by case, so it is not ruled out that they have news about the situation of the compatriot in the coming days.
Libertad is working against the clock in the search for a top center back, given the departure of Argentine Alex Barboza, who is leaving for Brazilian football.
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Libertad goes for Bruno Valdez due to the imminent departure of Alexander Barboza
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2023-12-25 20:26:23
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