The Mexico star said his goal was simply to play in the first division as a professional, a goal he’s now far exceeded

PSV and Mexico star Hirving Lozano says he never could have imagined taking part in matches like Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Barcelona.

The 23-year-old has been linked with moves to some of the world’s biggest clubs but said when he was a child his dream was simply to make it as a professional in his home country. 

Having reached that goal, the El Tri winger is now focused on bigger and better things.  

“I never imagined so much. The first thing that comes to your mind at that age is to play in the first division. My goal was to play in a stadium, as a professional, and thanks to God I achieved that,” he said at a news conference Friday. “Little by little more goals come to you, and I’m always trying to get better.” 

Lozano and PSV fell to Barca by a 2-1 scoreline this week and have just one chance left to pick up a Champions League group stage victory, traveling to Milan to face Inter on Dec. 11. Despite the reigning Eredivisie champions not finding the results, Lozano said playing in a group with Barcelona, Inter and Tottenham Hotspur has been enjoyable. 

“The first time I heard the Champions League hymn, it really made an impression on me. It’s really beautiful to play in this tournament,” he said. “We got into a tough group, but we enjoyed it a lot.” 

Lozano may have expected to be part of the competition after helping PSV to the Dutch title, but for club and country teammate Erick Gutierrez it came as a huge shock. He started the season with Pachuca before an injury to a summer signing and moving into the Champions League group stage motivated PSV to make a late move for the midfielder. 

Suddenly, he was being put into Champions League matches as a substitute and being asked to close down Lionel Messi, with a pair of appearances against Barcelona in the competition and another appearance against Spurs. 

“I was playing in the Mexican league and I never expected to face [Messi] in a tournament like the Champions League. Maybe I hoped to face him with the national team, but not in the Champions League,” Gutierrez said. “At PSV, a dream come true for us to be able to play against a player that’s the best in the world. Sometimes you try not to see him like that on the field, but suddenly you see him again because he’s a really smart player. They’re moments that mark your career.” 

While PSV won’t be moving to the Champions League knockout round, the Dutch side is on track to return next year. The club has won 13 of 13 league matches ahead of a Sunday contest against third-place Feyenoord.

Manuel Pellegrini expects Andy Carroll to perform on the pitch in the final months of his West Ham contract if he wants to stay at the club.

If Andy Carroll wants to extend his stay at West Ham beyond this season he is going to have to earn it, according to Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Carroll’s six years with West Ham have been beset by knee, groin and ankle injuries, the 29-year-old only making 115 Premier League appearances since arriving from Liverpool.

The striker’s latest first-team return came when he replaced Javier Hernandez in the 64th minute of Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over Cardiff City for his first outing this season.

His contract expires at the end of the campaign and Pellegrini has challenged the England international to prove himself worthy of an extension.

“When you need to renew your contract, of course you must demonstrate why you need to renew,” said the Chilean.

“We know what Andy can give to our team, now he must demonstrate he is able to do it week by week.

“He has now the last six months, and I hope that he will be able to do it.”

Pellegrini added: “For the moment, he can be a very important substitute.

“We know what he can give to our team, the other day in 15 minutes, he had two or three shots, headers.

“All the other defenders must be worried if they see Andy near the box, he can give a lot of important things to our team.”

Click Here: Crystal Palace Shop

The club had struggled to win in its own stadium, but finally got over the hump with a 3-1 victory Sunday that sends it to the semifinals

The fans actually packed into the Estadio Olímpico de Universitario at the Ciudad Universitaria, or CU, on Sunday. While the supporters were hoping to see the better-seeded Pumas top Tigres and move into the semifinals, it seemed like long odds.

Tigres had been on a roll. They won the first leg, 2-1. And the series was headed back to the CU where Pumas had only been able to win twice this season. They needed a win to keep the season going. Many fans feared the worst.

Instead, they were rewarded with a 3-1 victory for the home side, good enough for a 4-3 aggregate triumph and a ticket to the semifinals. Pumas will play on.

They’ll also get another home game, likely in front of more than 40,000 fans once again. Attendance has not been a strength for the club, which plays its home matches at noon on Sunday. An average of 24,534 people turned up for the club’s home matches this season, just more than half of the stadium’s listed capacity for soccer matches.

It’s difficult to divine the exact correlation between fans in the stands and results on the field. Pumas’ home match against fellow Mexico City side Cruz Azul drew 42,717 fans in Jornada 15, and fans saw La Maquina top Pumas, 2-1. But you can’t help but wonder if a tepid atmosphere is part of the reason why Pumas were so poor at home this season. Before Sunday’s triumph, they’d beaten only Necaxa, in now-fired manager Marcelo Michael Leano’s first-ever game as Liga MX manager, and Lobos BUAP, which was in the midst of five-match losing streak, at home this season.

Pumas compensated for the issues at home by being the best team in the league on the road. They’d won away from home six times and lost just once, setting off the alarms when they were unable to replicate those sorts of showings in the first leg at El Volcan.

Instead, David Patino’s side was able to outwit and outperform a Tigres team that spends more money and has grown accustomed to more fervent support. The first half of the contest reflected just how much was on the line for the two sides. Liga MX rules have away goals as the first tiebreaker but better regular-season finish as the second. A goal for Pumas would put the Mexico City side in a position to advance. Two for Tigres would give them an almost insurmountable edge.

The one came for Pumas in a second half that opened up considerably from the opening 45 minutes. Carlos Gonzalez, who scored a hat trick in the teams’ regular season meeting, applied a powerful header to a set piece from Ignacio Malcorra, to nose Pumas in front in the 52nd minute.

They’d be on the back foot again three minutes later, with Rafael Carioca’s shot smashing against the crossbar, then Pumas goalkeeper Alfredo Salvidar’s outstretched body and slowly rolling across the line.

But as the crowd shouted out their “Goya” cheer and other exhortations for Pumas, Patino’s men kept pushing to retake the advantage. Tigres weren’t strong enough out wide, and Pumas were able to get down the flanks and put in service. After a failed attempt from the right side of their attack, Malcorra put a cross in from the left side for Felipe Mora, who had to beat only the goalkeeper for his series-winner.

The Costa Rican has seen his first-team opportunities practically disappear since Santiago Solari took charge

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has admitted he is frustrated at losing his starting spot to Thibaut Courtois at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

Navas moved to Madrid in 2014 from Levante, and has overseen an historic run of success for the Merengue. 

After acting as Iker Casillas’ deputy in his debut season he took over first-team duties for the 2015-16 season, and has won the Champions League in each of his three campaigns as No. 1. 

The arrival of Courtois from Chelsea, however, has relegated the Costa Rican in Madrid’s pecking order. 

While Julen Lopetegui utilised both keepers during his short tenure, his successor Santiago Solari has favoured the Belgian. 

The goalkeeper had stated earlier in the season that he had “the same desire to leave [Madrid] that I have to die” but has now hit out at his lack of playing time. 

Navas’ last Madrid game came on October 31 in the Copa del Rey against Melilla, where he kept a clean sheet in a 4-0 victory. 

“I went from winning three Champions League titles to not playing,” the player fired to El Chiringuito. 

Navas has appeared in seven matches in all competitions for Madrid this season, conceding seven goals. 

Courtois, meanwhile, has started 11 times, conceding 13. 

The frustration won’t have been eased by the club’s poor form this term. 

Madrid have won just six of their 13 league matches and sit six points back of league leaders Sevilla heading into the weekend. 

Despite the poor league form, the club still look to be among the favourite in the Champions League. 

They cliched top spot in Group G with 12 points from the five matches played so far and will close their group campaign against CSKA on Dec. 11. 

Saturday sees Los Blancos take on Valencia in La Liga as the club looks to climb back into Champions League places in the league table, with a Copa de Rey round of 32 second-leg clash against Melilla to follow next Wednesday. 

Click Here: pandora Bracelets

Gregg Berhalter’s first camp as U.S. national team coach sees him call in veteran Michael Bradley and a collection of young prospects to start 2019

Gregg Berhalter’s first training camp in charge of the U.S. national team will feature a squad that includes many new faces, and some the new coach is very familiar with.

Recent Manchester City signing Zack Steffen and veteran midfielder Michael Bradley headline the 27-man roster for the USMNT’s upcoming January training camp in Chula Vista, California. The squad, made up exclusively of MLS players, will train ahead of friendlies against Panama and Costa Rica.

Steffen, Wil Trapp and Gyasi Zardes are all part of the squad, having all played for Berhalter with the Columbus Crew. Steffen is coming off a big December that saw him complete a $10 million (£8m) transfer to Manchester City that will see him join the Premier League giants in the summer of 2019. He was also named U.S. Soccer male player of the year and MLS goalkeeper of the year.

Bradley is back with the national team for the second time since the team’s failed attempt to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The 31-year-old Toronto FC midfielder is far and away the most experienced player on the squad, with nearly 100 more caps than Zardes, the second-most capped player on the team.

Berhalter has called in several new faces, including U.S. Under-20 national team standout Mark McKenzie and his Philadelphia Union teammate Auston Trusty. MLS rookie of the year Corey Baird is also part of the group of 12 uncapped players called in, a group that also includes San Jose fullback Nick Lima and arguably the biggest surprise of the squad, 20-year-old Chicago Fire midfielder Djordje Mihailovic.

The USMNT will convene in California on January 6 and train in Chula Vista before shifting to Phoenix, Arizona ahead of a friendly against Panama on January 27. The U.S. team will then travel back to California to take on Costa Rica in San Jose on February 2.

GOALKEEPERS: Alex Bono (Toronto FC), Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Tyler Miller (LAFC), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew).

Click Here: Spain Football Shop

DEFENDERS: Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas), Greg Garza (FC Cincinnati), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union), Keegan Rosenberry (Colorado Rapids), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union), Walker Zimmerman (LAFC).

MIDFIELDERS: Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Paul Arriola (D.C. United), Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Russell Canouse (D.C. United), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew).

FORWARDS: Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers), Christian Ramirez (LAFC), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew).

The Dutch striker will retire from football at the end of the season and a Gunners legend believes his switch to Old Trafford was the right choice

Click Here: New Zealand rugby store

Arsenal legend Ian Wright says that Robin van Persie was justified in his decision to leave the Gunners for Manchester United.

The 35-year-old Dutch striker will retire from football at the end of the season after returning to boyhood club Feyenoord, where he made his debut aged 17.

Van Persie won the FA Cup with Arsenal and a Premier League title for Manchester United during his time in England, but courted controversy among Gunners supporters when he penned a public letter in 2012 stating that the club’s ambition did not match his own – before joining United that summer for £20 million ($25m).

“It’s really hard for fans,” Wright told Goal.

“I do feel for Robin because he was so unfortunate with injuries at our club and he stayed as long as he could, he saw people leaving around him. 

“Being an ex-player I can totally understand [his decision to leave] but coming from a fans’ point of view you can see why they would be very, very disappointed with the fact that he left and he went to Manchester United and won the title with them. 

“Let’s face it, he won the title literally single-handedly for them. They would have loved him to stay and be fit enough to try and do that for Arsenal but it’s very difficult to say you want the fans to forgive him when he left and did exactly what he left for.”

Wright compares the Van Persie situation to the abuse he received from fans when he made the switch from Crystal Palace to Arsenal in 1991, for what was a club record fee at the time.

“It’s like when I left Crystal Palace. I love Crystal Palace but the fans have a problem with me simply because I left and went to Arsenal and was a success. I said to them I’m leaving to win trophies,” added the ex-England international. 

“Robin van Persie left talking to us about the ‘little boy’ in him who said he had to take this chance. He was totally justified in doing that because he won a Premier League medal. 

“For anybody to expect Arsenal fans to welcome him with open arms is something that I can’t answer. There’s a certain loyalty that fans will want and unfortunately for Robin he just got himself into the situation where the greatest club in this country came calling with one of the greatest managers in world football – and it’s very difficult to turn that down.”

Ian Wright was speaking in partnership with YouTube. To check out his brand new YouTube channel, please head to www.youtube.com/ianwright  

Nearly 600 former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials are asking House leadership to investigate the agency for appearing to place undue focus on California’s pollution enforcement, an act they argue is politicized.

In a Thursday letter sent to both the House Oversight and Reform Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, the former EPA employees ask Democratic leadership to investigate whether warnings issued by Administrator Andrew WheelerAndrew WheelerOvernight Energy: Dems subpoena Perry in impeachment inquiry | EPA to overhaul rules on lead contamination tests | Commerce staff wrote statement rebuking weather service for contradicting Trump Hundreds of former EPA officials call for House probe, say agency’s focus on California is politicized EPA to overhaul rule on testing for lead contamination MORE to California in September, regarding the state’s homeless population and pollution concerns, were done as retaliation for ongoing pushback to President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocratic 2020 hopefuls tout LGBTQ plans at town hall Trump defends Syria move at rally: ‘Bring our troops back home’ Pompeo adviser resigning: report MORE’s air enforcement agenda.

“EPA’s credibility depends on its commitment to use its authority to protect public health and our environment in an objective, even-handed manner, rather than as a blunt instrument of political power. While that principle has served the public well under both Republican and Democratic Presidents, it is in serious trouble today,” read the letter, signed by former Obama EPA Administrator Gina McCarthyRegina (Gina) McCarthyOvernight Energy: Dems subpoena Perry in impeachment inquiry | EPA to overhaul rules on lead contamination tests | Commerce staff wrote statement rebuking weather service for contradicting Trump Hundreds of former EPA officials call for House probe, say agency’s focus on California is politicized It’s time for Congress to address the ‘forever chemical’ crisis MORE and others.

ADVERTISEMENT

In late September. Wheeler sent a letter to California Gov. Gavin NewsomGavin Christopher NewsomOvernight Energy: Dems subpoena Perry in impeachment inquiry | EPA to overhaul rules on lead contamination tests | Commerce staff wrote statement rebuking weather service for contradicting Trump Hundreds of former EPA officials call for House probe, say agency’s focus on California is politicized California bans small plastic bottles in hotels MORE (D) criticizing the state for “failing to meet its obligations” on sewage and water pollution, blaming homelessness for the contamination. The letter specifically knocked San Francisco. It was the latest move in the political battle between Trump and the nation’s largest state, and one experts have said carries no scientific merit.

The EPA pushed back in a statement, saying California’s failures on air and water create “pubic health risks” for its population.

“Highlighting that California has the worst air quality in the nation along with other serious environmental problems is not a political issue. The Trump Administration, unlike the previous administration, will act to protect public health and the environment for all Americans,” EPA spokesman Michael Abboud said.

The letter from the former employees comes as the Environmental Integrity Project unveiled an investigatory deep dive that found via the EPA’s enforcement database that many states, not just California, were out of compliance with EPA regulations when it comes to wastewater discharge violations.

According to the internal EPA data, Ohio, New York and Iowa were the biggest offenders. 

The group found 429 major sources across the country are in “significant noncompliance” for either discharging more pollution than allowed under their permits or for not meeting deadlines for compliance. All of the information they highlighted is found publicly on EPA’s website.

“On September 26, you wrote to the Governor of California to express concern about, ‘numerous exceedances’ of Clean Water Act discharge limits for major sources and noted that the violations were serious enough to, ‘suggest the need for more formal and in-depth EPA oversight.’ We ask that you give equally close scrutiny to Clean Water Act violations at large municipal or industrial wastewater treatment plants in other states,” the group wrote in a separate letter to Wheeler on Thursday.

While Wheeler, who is from Ohio, said the EPA keeps an eye on all states that fall behind their pollution enforcement obligations, he said in September that California was the only state to receive such a warning.

“Andrew Wheeler should look at his own backyard, if he wants to pick on a state,” said Tom Pelton, EIP director of communications.

He said the argument that the EPA worried about enforcement was disingenuous.

“If they are going to be interested in enforcement, that would be a first for them because they’ve seen a significant decline in enforcement under the Trump administration.”

He said the numbers showed the EPA’s sharp focus on California was unwarranted.

Click Here: NRL league Jerseys

“It appears to be an improper political weaponizing of the EPA’s enforcement authority. EPA should be using science and data to guide its enforcement actions, and there is zero science that backs up homeless pollution as a problem. And it’s wrong to use ePA in this way.”

The former EPA employees in their letter echoed similar criticisms.

“Mr. Wheeler’s actions cannot be treated as legitimate uses of EPA’s authority taken for the purpose of advancing environmental protection, especially considering the current Administration’s record. EPA has not shown much enthusiasm for enforcing environmental laws since President Trump took office, particularly when violations come from big polluters with political connections,” read the letter.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocratic 2020 hopefuls tout LGBTQ plans at town hall Trump defends Syria move at rally: ‘Bring our troops back home’ Pompeo adviser resigning: report MORE said Thursday that he plans to meet with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at the White House on Friday as the United States and China move forward with trade negotiations.

“Big day of negotiations with China. They want to make a deal, but do I? I meet with the Vice Premier tomorrow at The White House,” Trump announced on Twitter on Thursday morning. 

Trump’s tweet came after the South China Morning Post reported trade discussions would end Thursday, earlier than anticipated.

Chinese officials are in Washington for the latest round of high-level trade talks following weeks of lower-level discussions. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The White House said earlier this week that U.S. trade representative Robert LighthizerRobert (Bob) Emmet LighthizerOn The Money: Economy adds 164K jobs in July | Trump signs two-year budget deal, but border showdown looms | US, EU strike deal on beef exports Chinese, US negotiators fine-tuning details of trade agreement: report The Trump economy keeps roaring ahead MORE and Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: Trump to meet China’s vice premier during trade talks | Appeals court says Deutsche Bank doesn’t have Trump’s tax returns | House Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey to retire Trump says he will meet with Chinese vice premier Friday amid trade talks The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump grapples with Syria fallout MORE would welcome the Chinese delegation on Thursday to discuss forced technology transfer, intellectual property rights, agriculture, enforcement and other issues. 

The U.S. and China have been locked in a trade dispute for much of Trump’s time in office. Trump has sought to pressure China with tariffs to come to the table on a new trade agreement that reins in Beijing’s trade practices, but his administration’s efforts have thus far been unsuccessful and both sides have instead ratcheted up tariffs. 

Trump has expressed optimism about the prospect of a trade agreement and downplayed the impact of the trade war on the U.S. economy.

News earlier this week that the U.S. would blacklist eight Chinese technology companies increased tensions days before trade negotiations were set to start, provoking doubts about the possibility of a deal. 

Click Here: pinko shop cheap

Roughly two-thirds of economists say the U.S. manufacturing sector is in recession, according to a new Wall Street Journal poll.

The survey found that 65.3 percent of private sector forecasters said manufacturing was in a recession, usually defined by the sector as two consecutive quarters of contraction.

ADVERTISEMENT

Federal Reserve figures from the summer showed similar contraction at factories, while recent manufacturing data from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) has shown two months of declines.

Economists surveyed by the Journal also said they see the overall economy slowing heading into 2020.

Growth in the third quarter of the year, which ended Sept. 30, slowed to an annual rate of 1.82 percent, according to the median estimate of economists surveyed. The Commerce Department said the economy expanded at a 2 percent pace in the second quarter.

Economists in the Journal poll forecast that rate will slow further to 1.77 percent during the last three months of 2019.

Those figures are well below the 3 percent growth President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocratic 2020 hopefuls tout LGBTQ plans at town hall Trump defends Syria move at rally: ‘Bring our troops back home’ Pompeo adviser resigning: report MORE promised during the 2016 campaign.

Click Here: pinko shop cheap

Among the main concerns among economists is uncertainty in trade relations.

The U.S. trade war with China has led to tariffs on billions worth of traded goods, with a 5 percent tariff increase on $250 billion of Chinese imports slated to take effect Tuesday.

Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at the White House on Friday as part of renewed trade talks between the world’s two largest economies. But the prospects for a major breakthrough are slim given the recent ratcheting up of tensions.

At least four national security officials raised concerns to a White House lawyer over the Trump administration’s attempts to pressure Ukraine before and immediately following President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocratic 2020 hopefuls tout LGBTQ plans at town hall Trump defends Syria move at rally: ‘Bring our troops back home’ Pompeo adviser resigning: report MORE‘s call with Ukraine’s president, The Washington Post reported Thursday. 

It was not previously reported that officials raised concerns before the call with President Volodymyr Zelensky that resulted in a whistleblower complaint and impeachment inquiry into Trump. 

The Post reported that officials had been concerned by the May ouster of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, conspiracy theories pushed by Trump lawyer Rudy GiulianiRudy GiulianiPompeo adviser resigning: report ‘Off-script’ Trump rails against impeachment, Democrats at feisty rally Trump’s former Ukraine envoy was dismissed after she pushed Giuliani to go through official channels: report MORE and signs in meetings that Trump wanted information that could hurt Democratic presidential candidate Joe BidenJoe BidenDemocratic 2020 hopefuls tout LGBTQ plans at town hall Trump bashes Biden at Minnesota rally, asks ‘Where’s Hunter? ‘Off-script’ Trump rails against impeachment, Democrats at feisty rally MORE. 

Click Here: kanken kids cheap

ADVERTISEMENT

The newspaper added that within minutes of the July 25 call, top officials were being asked by others about possible problems with what Trump had said to Zelensky. 

“When people were listening to this in real time there were significant concerns about what was going on — alarm bells were kind of ringing,” one person familiar told the newspaper. “People were trying to figure out what to do, how to get a grasp on the situation.”

Officials reportedly brought complaints to  National Security Council legal adviser John Eisenberg. It is not clear if these were the same officials who spoke with the whistleblower. 

The Post reported that within hours of the call, a rough transcript put together by aides was moved to a network for classified intelligence information. The whistleblower complaint said that White House officials had been “‘directed’ by White-House lawyers to remove the electronic transcript from the computer system in which such transcripts are typically stored.”

An official who listened to the conversation spoke “immediately” with Eisenberg, the Post reported. A person familiar told the paper two others who had heard the call or seen the rough transcript did the same. 

It is not clear if Eisenberg acted on the concerns. One official told the Post that the lawyer had promised to “follow-up,” which was reportedly interpreted to mean he would look into the matter and possibly speak with White House counsel Pat Cipollone.

The White House has released a rough transcript of the Trump-Zelensky call in which Trump asked the foreign leader to look into Biden, one of the 2020 Democratic front-runners. 

House Democrats have launched an impeachment inquiry into the matter, although Trump has denied wrongdoing. 

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.