¿Está listo Raúl Jiménez para jugar en un ‘grande’ de Europa?

El ascenso de Raúl Jiménez en el futbol europeo ha sido notable desde la llegada del mexicano a la Premier League. Las grandes actuaciones con el Wolverhampton han despertado el interés de otros equipos y tal parece que por fin, los ‘grandes’ de …

El ascenso de Raúl Jiménez en el futbol europeo ha sido notable desde la llegada del mexicano a la Premier League. Las grandes actuaciones con el Wolverhampton han despertado el interés de otros equipos y tal parece que por fin, los ‘grandes’ de Europa voltean a ver el trabajo del delantero azteca.

En España no pasó nada con Jiménez en el año que estuvo en el Atlético de Madrid, nunca pudo ganarse la confianza del ‘Cholo’ Simeone y prefirieron venderlo al Benfica en lo que en esa entonces fue la transacción más cara que haya echo en su historia el club portugués.

Raúl Jiménez vistiendo la camiseta del Atlético de Madrid en la 2014-2015. Foto vía @record_mexico

En Portugal tuvo sus altibajos, pero el ascenso era notable, sin embargo el último año de Jiménez en Benfica al delantero ya no se le veía cómodo y la afición de las Águilas es muy exigente y querían ver más minutos al jugador más caro de su equipo.

Raúl Jiménez celebrando un gol con Benfica en 2018. Foto vía @Benficastuff

La salida de Portugal era necesaria, Benfica le sacó muy buen dinero a Jiménez y el Wolverhampton encontró lo que buscaba. Raúl necesitaba probarse en otro nivel de competencia, exigirse como jugador y seguir creciendo y eso le ofrecieron los Wolves, la confianza de la titularidad, el respaldo de todo el equipo y un sistema armado específicamente para destacar las cualidades del centro delantero tanto como asistidor como definidor. El resultado: 39 goles y 18 asistencias en dos años.

¿Está Raúl Jiménez para un ‘grande’ de Europa?

Sin duda lo está, no es fácil ganarse el respeto en la Premier League y Jiménez lo ha conseguido, el mundo entero ha destacado las cualidades del mexicano y tal parece que el nivel de madurez que viene mostrando pondría a Jiménez en la posición de tener los mejores años de su carrera.

Raúl Jiménez celebrando un gol con el Wolverhampton. Foto vía @RodFarfanA

Con 29 años, la carrera de Jiménez tendría al menos cuatro o cinco años en su mejor nivel y si es junto a los mejores del mundo, aún no habríamos visto lo mejor de Raúl en su carrera.

Juventus y Tottenham son algunos de los interesados en Jiménez, ambos planteles son poderosos, pelean títulos año con año, Juventus tal vez un escalón más arriba que los Spurs, pero son protagonistas y quieren a Raúl la siguiente temporada.

Los Wolves ya le pusieron precio al mexicano, si se había hablado que el delantero rondaba los 47 millones de euros, los ingleses han decidido cerrar números y tasar a su ‘joya mexicana’ en 50 millones de euros, lo que haría de Raúl, el jugador mexicano más caro de la historia.

Un verdadero ‘killer’ del área

Las cualidades de Raúl Jiménez son muchas y muy llamativas para los grandes clubes europeos, aquí las principales del delantero mexicano:

  • Romance con el gol: No ha dejado de anotar desde que llegó a Inglaterra, el mexicano hace goles de todas maneras, de cabeza, de derecha de izquierda, dentro del área, de larga distancia, es un verdadero depredador del área y un dolor de cabeza para las defensivas y los porteros rivales.
  • Su cerebro, mayor cualidad: No solo sabe anotar, Jiménez hace jugar a sus compañeros y esos jugadores que piensan antes de actuar pertenecen a una rara especie en peligro de extinción, muy valiosa para cualquier equipo.
  • Adaptabilidad: A lo largo del tiempo hemos visto ir y venir a muchos jugadores mexicanos al viejo continente, algunos logran consolidarse y otros regresan muy pronto sin haber alcanzado sus objetivos. Raúl ha mostrado solidez mental para adaptarse a otros países, idiomas y culturas. Ha vivido en España, Portugal e Inglaterra y le ha ido bien, las directivas de los clubes interesados en el mexicano no tienen de qué preocuparse en el tema mental y de adaptación, el mexicano sabe hacerlo.

Los mejores años de Raúl Jiménez están por venir, sería muy positivo para él jugar junto a grandes figuras del futbol mundial como Cristiano Ronaldo en la Juventus o Harry Kane en Tottenham. El futuro del mexicano podría dar un salto importante en este verano y ya nos emocionamos con la idea de ver al delantero en un equipo Top 10 de Europa.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

 

 

Joe Goossen didn’t think twice about training Kubrat Pulev

Joe Goosen will train heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev for the latter’s title shot against Anthony Joshua, the trainer announced…

Joe Goossen isn’t the deliberating type. When you make him an offer, expect a response in three to five business days. One if he’s really sold on it.

In case you haven’t heard, Goossen is really sold on Kubrat Pulev. The veteran trainer is set to begin working with the Bulagrian heavyweight contender, who is looking to upset British kingpin Anthony Joshua on June 20 in London.

Goossen made the announcement while he was working the Fox broadcast of Robert Helenius’ shocking win over Adam Kownacki last Saturday night in Brooklyn. He said he’ll leave for Bulgaria this week to start training Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs), a decision one would imagine would have required some reflection. Leaving the sunny climes of Southern California, where Goossen is from, for the rust belt of Eastern Europe at this time of the year, after all, is generally a pretty big ask.

Of course, the chance to train one of the principals in a massive heavyweight title fight is a powerful incentive. Less than 24 hours after receiving the offer, Goossen was bugging Pulev’s handlers for YouTube links.

“I just found out about [the Pulev offer] yesterday (Friday) and I’ve been watching film,” Goossen told Boxing Junkie as he was leaving Barclays Center on Saturday.

And the verdict?

“I really like his style,” he said. “He fights like a middleweight.”

Goossen, who hails from one of the most storied boxing families in the business, has some history working with middleweights, most notably Michael Nunn. He has famously worked with the Ruelas brothers, Gabriel and Rafael, and the late Diego Corrales.

As for as heavyweights go, Goossen has helped mold the likes of Lance Whitaker, Dominick Guinn, Malik Scott and Lionel Butler. Most recently, he trained Chris Arreola for his fight against Kownacki last year. The point is he’s been around the block and seen a few things. He has experience. Pulev’s Bulgarian handler Ivaylo Gotzev – Pulev is also co-promoted by Top Rank – apparently wants some of that vast know-how to rub off on his client.

“I got a call from his promoter Ivalo out of the blue,” Goossen said. “I’ve known Ivaylo for 25 years, and he thought of me, and I’m glad he did, and I was more than happy to take the job.”

Of course, Goossen has yet to actually work with Pulev. So far, everything’s been based on the eye test. After a lifetime in the sport, Goossen, 66, has a pretty reliable set of eyes.

“I think we’re going to make a good fit,” Goossen said. “His style is good, and I think he’s going to make a good fit for me. That’s about it.”

One hopes it will be as good a fit as one of those natty denim jackets Goossen likes to wear.

Follow Sean Nam on Twitter @seanpasbon

Kubrat Pulev reportedly deported en route to Fury-Wilder fight

Kubrat Pulev was just trying to make it to the Wilder-Fury II card when he was deported to Bulgaria by US immigration officials.

While two top heavyweights were busy duking it out Saturday night inside the ring, one contender found himself in the throes of the U.S. immigration system.

Kubrat Pulev, a longtime contender, was deported to his home country of Bulgaria after trying to board a flight from Chicago to Las Vegas to attend the rematch between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, which ended with Fury stopping Wilder in stunning fashion in the seventh round.

The Athletic first reported the news.

It’s not clear why Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs) was deported but it likely means he won’t be setting up training camp in the U.S. anytime soon. The Bulgarian, the mandatory challenger for one of Anthony Joshua’s titles, is tentatively slated to take on British star in June. The fight is expected to take place at either Wembley Stadium or the newly built Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

This is not the first time Pulev has made negative headlines. The boxer came under fire for kissing a female reporter without consent last summer.

How to Watch Premier League Boxing Day, Leicester City vs. Liverpool & Manchester United vs. Newcastle United Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch Premier League Boxing Day Live.

The NFL has Thanksgiving, the NBA has Christmas and the Premier League has Boxing Day. Once again the annual extravaganza of English soccer is jam packed with action all day. Whether it’s the title race or the jockeying for Champions League spots, there’s something of importance to keep an eye on from the early morning all the way through the late afternoon. 

[protected-iframe id=”59ebe181bd95a408ffd30d712f2d1f25-58289342-150719707″ info=”https://fubo-preview.global.ssl.fastly.net/lp/preview/index-lite.html?params=irad%3D540143%26irmp%3D1205322%26pack%3Dfubotv-basic&page_slug=NBCSN” style=”max-width: 640px;” width = “100%”]

Premier League Boxing Day

When: Thursday, December 26

Time: 7:30 a.m. 3:00 p.m. ET

TV: NBCSN

Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Jose Mourinho’s luck against his former teams so far this term have been rotten. The Spurs will look to rebound from a terrible home loss against Chelsea as they host Brighton. The poor result in the previous match leaves them six points behind the Blues for the fourth and final Champions League spot. 

Chelsea is riding high after its impressive performance and victory at Tottenham. Can the team avoid a slip up against a lesser opponent in Southampton? Frank Lampard’s side has found success against the big clubs this season. The tricky opponents have been when Chelsea is favored. The race for the top four appears like it’ll be tight all season. Chelsea can’t afford to drop points in matches like these if it is hoping to return to the Champions League next season. 

After great results against Tottenham and Manchester City, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s resurgent Manchester United crashed back down to earth. A putrid performance away to lowly Watford saw the Red Devils fall down to eighth in the table. The return of Paul Pogba wasn’t enough to inspire United, who was done in by self-inflicted mistakes in the back. If United has any hope of a top four finish, it’ll need to find some consistency very quickly. 

The final matchup of the day is the big one. The title race is already close to being over before the new year even arrives. If Liverpool can travel to King Power Stadium and pick up three points over second place Leicester City, it could be the final blow. A lot can go wrong in the final five months, but it’s really hard to envision a near-perfect Liverpool blowing such a huge lead. Jurgen Klopp’s side will need to shake off its triumphant Club World Cup trip and regain its focus for what could be the most important result in a potential title-winning season. 

Boxing Day TV Schedule

Live Stream: fuboTV (try for free)

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, 7:30 a.m. ET (NBCSN)

Chelsea vs. Southampton, 10 a.m. ET (NBCSN)

Sheffield United vs. Watford, 10 a.m. ET (NBC Sports Gold)

Aston Villa vs. Norwich City, 10 a.m. ET (NBC Sports Gold)

Bournemouth vs. Arsenal, 10 a.m. ET (NBC Sports Gold)

Crystal Palace vs. West Ham United, 10 a.m. ET (NBC Sports Gold)

Everton vs. Burnley, 10 a.m. ET (NBC Sports Gold)

Manchester United vs. Newcastle United, 12:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

Leicester City vs. Liverpool, 3 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

How to Watch West Ham vs. Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Stream West Ham vs. Tottenham Hotspur Live Online

The international breaks are over for a while, which means the Premier League returns for the very busy holiday season. West Ham and Tottenham match up at London Stadium to kick off the weekend. It’s time for the contenders to separate themselves from the pretenders. 

[protected-iframe id=”59ebe181bd95a408ffd30d712f2d1f25-58289342-150719707″ info=”https://fubo-preview.global.ssl.fastly.net/lp/preview/index-lite.html?params=irad%3D540143%26irmp%3D1205322%26pack%3Dfubotv-basic&page_slug=NBCSN” style=”max-width: 640px;” width = “100%”]

West Ham vs. Tottenham Hotspur 

When: Saturday, November 23

Time: 7:30 a.m. ET

TV: NBCSN

Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Tottenham Hotspur may have found the one opponent that has been more disappointing than them this season. West Ham finds itself just five points above the relegation zone with just 13 points through 12 matches. Manager Manuel Pellegrini’s job is under fire after the extremely poor start. The Hammers added several promising signings in the summer to an already talented squad. Many expected them to compete for a Europa League and even possibly challenge for the Top Four. Unfortunately, those prognostications haven’t come true. Tottenham hasn’t won any competition since its 2-0 win over Manchester United on September 22. 

The Spurs are just one point better in the table, sitting in 14th. The downfall of Tottenham is possibly the most surprising story of the European season so far considering it was playing in the Champions League final less than six months ago. Mauricio Pochettino’s side has a ton of work to do to get back on track. It won’t be easy away from home where they haven’t won a match since January. It’s clear that the Spurs have the talent to succeed and turn around their season, the question is, have things become too out of hand behind the scenes to salvage their campaign? 

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

Tottenham’s dramatic manager dismissal and the hiring of Jose Mourinho, explained

Mauricio Pochettino is out. Jose Mourinho is in. How did Tottenham Hotspur get to this place?

This is FTW Explains, where we try to dig in and understand what is going on in the world. Let’s dive in on the Tottenham Hotspur manager situation.

Early Wednesday, the unthinkable became real: Jose Mourinho had been named the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur, just hours after the club had announced the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.

It’s a stunning development for a club that seemed on the brink of becoming a world power in soccer, and has now stumbled out to a disappointing start to the season. It’s also a hire that, on the face of it, seems to represent a total abandonment of what Spurs had come to represent.

We’re getting ahead of ourselves, though. You might be wondering what, exactly, is going on, and how we got here. So let’s dive into it. Let’s catch you up on the great Spurs Manager Escapade of 2019.

Who is this now?

The club is Tottenham Hotspur F.C., which has traditionally been a decent-but-not-great club in the Premier League but, over the past few years, become one of the dominant forces in English football. They made the Champions League final last year, where they lost to Liverpool. This was a stunning achievement, and they did it all under their now former manager, Mauricio Pochettino.

And now Pochettino has been fired?

Precisely. He’s one of the three main people to know in all this, by the way, along with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and new Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho. I know that name.

Yeah he’s the maniacal Portuguese manager who’s had a ton of success and also managed to destroy his relationship with just about every club he’s ever been at. But we’ll get to that. Let’s talk about what happened with Pochettino.

Let’s.

OK, so here’s the thing: Mauricio Pochettino did absolutely incredible things with Spurs. He took what was a middling Premier League side and turned them into one of the most entertaining, exciting, attacking young teams in the world. They routinely challenged for Premier League titles, and then made the Champions League final last year.

He never won a trophy, but for a club like Tottenham, he clearly had them punching above their weight. And now just months after he makes the European final, he’s out. That’s wild.

What happened to him?

Tottenham were losing games — lots of games — and it sure appeared like he lost the locker room.

According to The Athletic, Pochettino had always preached an incredibly demanding training schedule, and his team’s playing style demanded incredibly high fitness. When his players were young and eager, they bought in. After years of it, however, it understandably got old.

It also didn’t help that the squad hadn’t been replenished and almost all of the players were underpaid. They were just burned out.

Why were they underpaid?

Depending on who you ask, because Levy is either careful with his money or because he’s a cheapskate. This is why I think it’s all a bit harsh on Pochettino — Levy was extremely reticent to spend big money, either on new players or on bigger contracts for his stars.

So Pochettino, by all accounts, had to get guys to buy in on his system. It was described as cult-ish because that’s sort of what it was. Pochettino basically had to make the argument to his players: Buy into the system, believe in the system, sacrifice some money now, and we can do big things.

Eventually, the players got tired of it. Now they were working incredibly hard, they weren’t getting paid enough, and they weren’t winning anymore. They turned on him.

So … how is Mourinho going to fix any of this?

Super duper unclear!

Pochettino’s teams stressed high pressing, running like maniacs all over the field, creating havoc and turnovers and then capitalizing when they get the ball.

Mourinho’s teams … have not done that. His teams have traditionally been brutal, ugly things which defend with numbers and then score goals on set pieces and the occasional counter attack. He’s either practical or cynical, depending on how you view the world.

He’s also famously prickly, and can be awful to players who he thinks aren’t buying into his system.

Is giving an unhappy team of underpaid players a manager who’s hard to deal with the best recipe for success?

You wouldn’t think it, but who knows. Mourinho’s last few stops have ended in embarrassment, and maybe he can channel his drive to redeem himself into some patience and humility. Maybe he can clean them up defensively and get the guys to buy in.

Or it’ll be a train wreck.

Precisely. At least Amazon is filming their next documentary this season with Tottenham, so at the very least, that film will be incredible.

Are there any conspiracy theories that this has all been orchestrated to make for a better movie?

You bet there have been. You’re starting to get it. You’re really starting to get it.

[lawrence-related id=775705]