By RYAN TOLMICH
According to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, the fate of Mario Balotelli is entirely in the striker’s hands.
Rodgers says that it is fully up to the controversial striker to decide his own future, even after a frustrating first campaign with the club. Left off Liverpool’s preseason traveling roster, Rodgers says that Balotelli’s absence is not indicative of his future, as the striker is currently working on his fitness at the club’s training ground.
“I’m not sure,” Rodgers said when discussing Balotelli’s future. “That will be entirely up to Mario. He’s working hard to get fit, and we’ll see when the season begins.
“Mario hasn’t come on the tour but he’s been working hard and well at Melwood to get back fit, along with the other players who are there.”
Here are some more news and notes to kick off your Wednesday morning:
RIVER PLATE REACHES COPA LIBERTADORES FINAL
For the first time since 1996, River Plate is in the Copa Libertadores final.
The Argentine club sealed a spot in the championship game with a 1-1 draw on Tuesday night, topping Paraguay’s Guarani, 3-1, on aggregate.
Down a goal on the evening following a Fernando Fernández strike in the 61st minute, River Plate struck back in the 79th to lock up the result. Forward Lucas Alario provided the finish, his first goal of the club, lobbing a shot from the edge of the box to seal victory.
River Plate will now await the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal in Mexico between Tigres and Brazilian club Internacional, who won the first leg, 2-1.
PREMIER LEAGUE EXECUTIVE TELLS ENGLAND TO LOOK AT COSTA RICA; STOP BLAMING LEAGUE
Pointing to Costa Rica’s success, Premier League chief Executive Richard Scudamore says it’s time for England to stop blaming the league for the national team’s failures.
Many blame the national team’s current troubles on the Premier League’s constant importing of former talent, but Scudamore says that it’s time for the blame to be placed elsewhere. Citing the unheralded Costa Rica’s success at the last World Cup, Scudamore believes that England should be more open to selecting players from less prominent teams in an effort to build a more effective team.
“Why shouldn’t the England team come from the top 12 teams in the Championship and bottom 10 teams of the Premier League, if they’re English and they’re good enough?” said Scudamore. “Costa Rica played very well in the World Cup and where are they playing their league football?
“We get hung up about they can’t possibly be good enough unless they’re playing for Chelsea or Manchester United. Of course they can be good enough.”
QUICK KICKS
Jose Mourinho hit back at criticism from Everton with regards to Chelsea’s pursuit of defender John Stones. (REPORT)
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is nearing a loan move to Roma following Arsenal’s acquisition of Petr Cech. (REPORT)
Louis van Gaal says that Manchester United may not be in the market for a striker and that his previously alluded to “surprise” signing is not a forward. (REPORT)
Lionel Messi has been criticized by a Gabon political party following his appearance in the country on Tuesday. (REPORT)
French Football League (LFP) president Frederic Thiriez has threatened the French Football Federation over the latter’s opposition to a change in the country’s relegation system. (REPORT)
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Do you think Balotelli will be at Liverpool at the start of the season? Which team do you see joining River Plate in the Copa Libertadores finals? Who do you blame for England’s failings?
Share your thoughts below.
I want Balotelli to Orlando City to happen. I feel like him and Brek Shea would instantly become good friends and he would bag some goals served up by Kaka.
Messi should be criticized. He’s wearing “Jorts” for Christ’s sake!!! What the hell was he thinking????
Take it easy on the jorts. There is a time and place for them. However, that time and place was not on an official visit to Gabon. Money cannot buy class.
Arsenal should buy and groom hamid. USA has more than proven that we have some of the best keepers in the business. It’s the one position we could have a starter at a big 4 or 5 EPL club.
lol
What a worthless comment.
Agree with the Messi Gabon issue. Messi dresses like a Man-Child.