Quotes

The Most Sought-After Players This Summer Will Be The Free Ones

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen says that players who are free agents when the season ends will be coveted more than others as clubs look to rebound from the financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Professional football has been suspended across the major European leagues due to the pandemic and questions remain over whether players whose contracts end on June 30 will be allowed to continue playing for clubs if the season is extended. 

Wayne Rooney Sees Massive MLS Potential But Wants Salary Cap Abolished

Major League Soccer (MLS) must remove caps on salaries if it is to fulfill its potential and compete with Europe's top leagues, former England captain Wayne Rooney has said. 

The salary cap was introduced to help level the playing field by preventing teams from spending big on players. It has worked to an extent, with 10 different teams crowned MLS Cup champions over the last 13 seasons. 

Now’s The Time For MLS-Liga MX Super League, Says Santos Laguna And Atlas Owner

Major League Soccer and Liga MX would benefit from joining forces into what would amount to a North American super league in the eyes of Santos Laguna and Atlas owner Alejandro Irarragorri. 

Irarragorri offered a statement after Liga MX, the top soccer league in Mexico, announced it would be suspending promotion and relegation for the next five years. 

Barça Coach Quique Setién Has Major Doubts Over LaLiga Season Completion

Barcelona coach Quique Setien is pessimistic that the Spanish top flight season will be able to be completed and has called LaLiga's conditions for the campaign recommencing "a non-starter" due to the continued threat of the novel coronavirus. 

LaLiga has been on hold since March 10 due to the pandemic although president Javier Tebas has said matches could start up again on either May 29, June 7 or June 28, most likely without spectators. Tebas has estimated Spanish clubs would lose around $1.09 billion if the season is not completed. 

DeAndre Yedlin Says American MLS Players Suffer Without Promotion/Relegation

Newcastle United and USMNT right back DeAndre Yedlin has become the latest soccer personality to speak out in favor of a promotion/relegation system in MLS. 

Speaking to ESPN, Yedlin joined MLS alumni such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, DeMarcus Beasley and Bob Bradley in claiming it would make MLS a more competitive league. 

CONCACAF Confirms That 2022 World Cup Qualifying Format Needs Overhaul

The format and dates for CONCACAF's qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are up in the air due to the sports shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, confederation president Victor Montagliani said Monday. 

Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Montagliani admitted that CONCACAF could wind up changing how it determines which three teams will earn direct berths in the World Cup and which one will head to an inter-continental playoff. 

MLS Ponders Drastic Changes To 2020 Season, Including Tournament Format And Neutral Locations

MLS commissioner Don Garber told ESPN that the league will explore alternative formats when it comes to completing the 2020 season. Garber said that MLS is "focused at getting in as many as games as possible" if play resumes following the coronavirus pandemic. 

Rakitić Warns Barça He’s Not ‘A Sack Of Potatoes’ And Won’t Be Used As Neymar Makeweight

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has criticized his club for their recent treatment of him and for trying to force his departure last year. The Croatian has been at Barca since 2014 but has fallen out of contention this campaign due to the arrival of Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong and has only started 10 of Barca's 27 LaLiga matches. 

Paul Pogba Desperate For Success And Feeling 100% After Injury-Plagued Season

Paul Pogba's stint on the sidelines has made him more determined to succeed on his return from a layoff for a foot injury, the Manchester United midfielder has said. Pogba's injury restricted him to eight appearances so far this season, but he was primed to return before professional football in England was suspended because of the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Idiotic Belarusian Premier League Is Now Just Creepy

Words can’t describe how I feel about the Belarusian Premier League. Trying to play through a pandemic is one thing but putting fake fans in the stadium to boost the atmosphere is a whole new low. FC Dynamo Brest does get some creativity points for how the club carried it out, but the Belarus mannequin situation is also pretty creepy.

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