Tag: Philippe Coutinho

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Coutinho joins Aston Villa on permanent deal from Barcelona

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– Aston Villa have signed former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal from Barcelona.

– The Brazilian, 29, moved to Villa Park on loan in January in a deal which included an option to buy at the end of the season.

– He has now signed on a contract running until 2026 for 20m euros (£17m) and is understood to have taken a considerable wage cut from his deal in Spain.

Also Read: Aston Villa reach total agreement with Barca over permanent transfer of Coutinho

– “This is a brilliant signing for Aston Villa,” said manager Steven Gerrard.

– “Phil is a model professional and his impact on the group has been very clear since he joined in January.

– “With the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch, he’s also a valuable role model for our younger players who can only benefit from his experience.

– “As we look to build towards next season, it is incredible to work at a club that executes its business so decisively and smoothly.”

– Coutinho has scored four goals and provided three assists at Villa, although none of those have come in his past eight games.

– He joined Barcelona in a £142m move from Liverpool in January 2018 and had 12 months to run on his contract.

– Gerrard, who was Coutinho’s captain at Liverpool, made it clear after Saturday’s impressive 3-1 win at Burnley that he wanted to sign Coutinho permanently.

– Coutinho scored 54 goals in 201 appearances for Liverpool, who he joined in a £8.5m move from Inter Milan in January 2013.

– He scored 26 goals in 106 appearances for Barcelona.

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Brazil cruise past Paraguay

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– Brazil scored twice in the last four minutes, the second a first international goal from Real Madrid striker Rodrygo, to cap a comfortable 4-0 win over Paraguay in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Belo Horizonte.

– The defeat ended Paraguay’s hopes of qualifying for Qatar and further cemented Brazil’s position as one of the favourites to lift the trophy in December.

– Brazil top the South American qualifying group with no defeats in 15 games and the win extended to 61 matches their unbeaten home record in World Cup qualifiers.

Also Read: World Cup qualifiers: A massive point for Ecuador against Brazil

– Paraguay, who have yet to win any of their first five games under coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, are second bottom of the 10-team group with 13 points from 16 games.

– It was a successful but frustrating night for Raphinha, who scored one, had another chalked off, and also hit the post.

– The Leeds United winger thought he had put Brazil 1-0 up after just 93 seconds only to see the goal ruled out after a lengthy consultation with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

– However, with 28 minutes gone he superbly controlled a long ball from Marquinhos and wriggled between two defenders to put Brazil 1-0 ahead.

– He was unlucky not to get another early in the second half but saw his volley come back off the post.

– Philippe Coutinho got a deserved second for the home side just after the hour when he placed a sumptuous shot into the top corner of the net from 30 meters out.

– Antony made the scoreline more reflective of the play with four minutes left when he curled a left-foot shot past a helpless keeper.

– And Rodrygo tapped home a minute later to round off a commanding performance from the five-times world champions.

– Vinicius Jnr, Matheus Cunha, and Lucas Paqueta also came close for Brazil, who, with qualification already guaranteed, fielded a much-changed side.

– Talismanic striker Neymar was out injured and there were rare starts for goalkeeper Ederson, midfielder Fabinho, left back Alex Telles and captain on the night Dani Alves.

– New Newcastle signing Bruno Guimaraes made a substitute appearance in the second half.

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Coutinho strike earns Aston Villa a point against Man United

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– Philippe Coutinho scored a late equaliser on his Aston Villa debut as Steven Gerrard’s side fought back from two goals down to draw a pulsating Premier League duel with Manchester United at Villa Park.

– Coutinho was just about to be introduced by Villa boss Gerrard midway through the second half when Bruno Fernandes slammed home his second goal of the game off the underside of the bar.

– But the Brazilian proved the catalyst for a memorable response.

Also Read: Coutinho’s set to join Aston Villa on loan from Barcelona

– First he drove at the United defence, helping to create the space which Jacob Ramsey exploited to halve the deficit.

– Then Ramsey slid over an excellent cross from the left which Raphael Varane was unable to intercept as he slid back, leaving Coutinho to finish into an empty net.

– The goal brought celebrations at both ends of the pitch as Emiliano Martinez also went into the crowd in relief – it was the Argentine’s horrible sixth-minute error that had gifted Fernandes the visitors’ opener.

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Barca can beat Bayern: Xavi after Betis loss

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– Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has said he believes his team can beat Bayern Munich in their crucial Champions League clash next week despite being dealt a reality check by Real Betis on Saturday.

– Juanmi’s second-half goal earned Betis a 1-0 win in LaLiga at Camp Nou as Xavi suffered his first defeat since replacing Ronald Koeman in November.

– Barca’s next game is a daunting trip to Munich on Wednesday, where a win would seal their place in the last 16 of the Champions League. However, a draw or a defeat would see them knocked into the Europa League if Benfica beat Dynamo Kiev.

Also Read: Xavi first loss as a Barca Manager after Betis defeat

– “The team is capable of going to Munich and winning,” Xavi said in a news conference after the Betis match.

– “That’s the objective. We depend on ourselves. We’re going to one of the toughest grounds in the world, but we’re going there to give everything and to compete.”

– While Barca play for their Champions League future in the week, Saturday’s loss saw them slip seven points behind opponents Betis, who sit third in LaLiga.

– It was the Catalan club’s sixth defeat of the season in all competitions and their third at Camp Nou but their first under Xavi, who had overseen wins against Espanyol and Villarreal and a draw with Benfica in his first three games in charge.

– “We conceded on the break when we were at our best,” Xavi said of Juanmi’s 79th-minute winner. “We have to be smarter tactically. I’m really annoyed about the goal we conceded.

– “It’s a shame because we had played well in the second half. It’s a defeat that hurts, but that’s football. Sometimes you win without deserving it, like against Villarreal, but today it was the opposite.”

– Xavi also confirmed that young midfielder Gavi, who suffered a knock to the head in the first half, has been taken to hospital as a precaution.

– There was some good news for Barca ahead of the trip to Germany in the performance of winger Ousmane Dembele, who came off the bench to create his side’s most dangerous chances in the second half.

– “He’s a great player that generates excitement,” Xavi said of Dembele, who is yet to sign a contract renewal with his existing deal up in the summer.

– “The fans see what he’s capable of and he’s full of confidence. He created a lot, it’s just a shame nothing he did ended in a goal. He’s someone that has to make the difference.”

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Barca UCL decider at Bayern to be without fans

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– Barcelona’s vital Champions League game at Bayern Munich next week will be played without fans as new restrictions are introduced in Bavaria aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

– The German government has reacted to rising infection rates by imposing a 50% capacity limit on sporting stadia, with outdoor venues capped at a maximum of 15,000 fans.

– Bavaria, one of the 16 states in the country, has gone one step further, though, by deciding all matches should be played behind closed doors for the foreseeable future.

Also Read: Barcelona await Munich test for UCL last 16 qualification

– Therefore, Bayern’s game at home to Barca on Dec. 8 will be played in an empty Allianz Arena, as will their upcoming Bundesliga matches against Mainz and Wolfsburg.

– Barca released a statement on Friday which read: “Bayern Munich vs. FC Barcelona will be played behind closed doors.

– “The game corresponding to matchday six in the Champions League will be played without fans in the stadium due to the serious increase in coronavirus cases in the German region of Bavaria in the last few weeks.”

– Stadiums were only allowed to admit people who were vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 and only if they could show a negative test.

– Barca can book their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League if they win in Munich. However, a failure to do so could see them drop into the Europa League in the New Year.

– If Benfica beat Dynamo Kiev on the same day, only three points against Bayern will be enough for Xavi Hernandez’s side make the knockout stages of the competition.

– In the event Barca and Benfica finish level on points if Barca draw in Munich and Benfica win the Portuguese side will advance courtesy of their superior head-to-head record.

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Nederlanders & Coutinho seal vital win for Barca

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– Late goals from Memphis Depay and Philippe Coutinho delivered Barcelona a 3-1 victory over Villarreal in LaLiga Santander on Saturday night at the Estadio de La Ceramica.

– The guests took a lead early in the second half through Frenkie de Jong, only for Villarreal to battle back and find a leveller through Samu Chukwueze. Just when it looked like the Yellow Submarine were poised to find a winner, Memphis turned the tables by taking advantage of a Villarreal mistake and scoring the decisive goal. Coutinho would then convert a stoppage time penalty to nail down a second straight league win for new boss Xavi Hernandez.

– Xavi handed out a first ever start to youngster Abde, who slotted into attack with Gavi and Memphis , while in the back it was three-man centre-backs with Ronald Araujo, Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia.

Also Read: We need to win on Saturday – Xavi

– There was plenty to talk about in the opening minutes with a trio of chances for Barcelona and controversial no-calls from referee Soto Grado, who spared Dani Parejo of a potential red card for a rough tackle on Sergio Busquets and a potential Pique handball in the area.

– One of those Barcelona chances was for Memphis, who then missed a clear-cut opportunity later on in the half, while Yeremi Pino and Pedraza had chances that fell by the wayside.

– Just like in last week’s win over Espanyol, the Barcelona goal came shortly after the re-start, as a Jordi Alba cross glanced off of Memphis and reached the stabbing foot of De Jong, who had an easy tap-in. Initially ruled offside, the play went to VAR and the goal was confirmed for a 1-0 Barcelona lead.

– Villarreal slowly began to respond, so Xavi went to his bench, bringing on Ousmane Dembele for Abde, followed by Oscar Mingueza for Alba and then Philippe Coutinho for Nico.

– The momentum was with Villarreal and sure enough the home side would get their equaliser as some slack defending allowed Villarreal substitute Samuel Chukwueze to swoop in and hit a first-time shot past goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to make it 1-1.

– Villarreal looked the likelier side to find a winner and Danjuma nearly did just that with a right-footed shot that had Ter Stegen beat, but instead slipped just wide of the post.

– But against the run of play Memphis would sneak in and grab a late winner for the Catalans when a long punt upfield from Ter Stegen was headed back by Villarreal’s Pervis Estupinan, allowing the Dutch striker to pounce and ultimately sweep in a shot to deliver Barcelona a 2-1 advantage.

– A stoppage time foul from Juan Foyth on Coutinho in the Villarreal area resulted in a penalty and the Brazilian confident stroked home the spot kick, polishing off the 3-1 scoreline.

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Philippe Coutinho can become successful if he rediscovers confidence – Xavi

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– New Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has said Philippe Coutinho can become an important player for the club if he can rediscover his confidence.

– Coutinho, 29, has failed to live up to expectations at Barca since signing from Liverpool in a club-record transfer worth €160 million in 2018.

– The Brazilian has struggled with injuries since returning from a loan spell with Bayern Munich in 2020, but Xavi is willing to give him another chance to prove himself at Camp Nou.

Also Read: Barca boss; Xavi prepares for Espanyol test

– “Coutinho is someone who can play in various positions and he can be important for the team,” Xavi said ahead of Saturday’s match against Espanyol, his first as Barca coach.

– “He needs to re-find himself and recover his confidence. If he does, he will help us a lot. He has an innate talent.”

– Xavi said it is now up to Coutinho, who recently made his 100th appearance for Barca, to deliver, suggesting his problems are more mental than physical.

– “It depends on him,” he added. “He will get chances because he’s a player I like personally. It’s more psychological than anything because he has talent.”