Gladbach verlängert mit nächsten Star

© Christof Koepsel, getty

Christoph Kramer bleibt Gladbach langfristig erhalten

Borussia Mönchengladbach setzt seine Serie wichtiger Vertragsverlängerungen fort. Der Tabellenführer der Fußball-Bundesliga schloss mit seinem 2014er-Weltmeister Christoph Kramer einen neuen Vertrag bis 2023.

"Christoph hat sich in den vergangenen Jahren zu einem der Köpfe unserer Mannschaft entwickelt. Als Fußballer wie auch als meinungsfreudiger Typ in der Kabine ist er für uns enorm wichtig, und wir freuen uns, dass wir den Vertrag mit ihm verlängern konnten", sagte Sportdirektor Max Eberl.

Der Mittelfeldspieler war 2016 von Bayer Leverkusen zurück zur Borussia gewechselt. Seitdem hat er 98 Pflichtspiele bestritten, in denen er insgesamt fünf Tore erzielte.

Im "SID"-Interview hatte er seinen Klub zuletzt gelobt: "Man hebt hier nicht ab im Erfolgsfall, man wirft im Fall einer Niederlagenserie nicht alles um. Man hat einen klaren Plan und eine klare Vision, das spürt man einfach. Das zeichnet einen Verein im heutigen Fußball aus."

Zuvor hatte Mönchengladbach die Verträge mit Florian Neuhaus (2024), Laszlo Benes (2024) und Yann Sommer (2023) verlängert.

Solskjaer: I don't fear sack at Manchester United

MANCHESTER, England -- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he does not fear the sack at Manchester United.

United are ninth in the Premier League table after their worst start to a season since 1988 and sit closer to the relegation places than the top four ahead of Wednesday's visit of Tottenham.

"It doesn't make me concerned," Solskjaer said. "I'm just focusing on my job and that's doing as well as I can, looking forward to the next game."

Solskjaer's United have taken 26 points from the 22 league games since he was appointed permanent manager in March. Mauricio Pochettino was sacked by Tottenham after collecting 25 points from his last 22 games in charge. Meanwhile, Unai Emery was dismissed by Arsenal having taken 28 points from his final 22 games.

Pochettino has said he intends to get back into management soon following his departure from Spurs but Solskjaer has said he is purely focused on turning United's season around.

"Football is a results business. We're not happy, we know we can do better and we are working hard," Solskjaer added, while also ruling out Paul Pogba for the visit of Jose Mourinho's men.

"The work is always geared on us improving but we're not getting all the results we've deserved."

United have won just four of their 14 league games this term, and after the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, they are on a run of three games without a win in all competitions.

Solskjaer, however, insists it is not the time for crisis talks with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the Glazers.

"We speak all the time so it's not like knee jerk suddenly now we need to talk," Solskjaer said.

"We speak a few times every week so it's continually progressing, the plans we've put in place, the rebuilding we know we started. We made some decisions that were necessary and now of course we're not happy where we are, but we will continue working."

Solskjaer is facing a tough week with Tottenham's visit followed by a trip to Manchester City on Saturday. It will be Mourinho's first time back on the touchline at Old Trafford after he was sacked by United a year ago and Solskjaer is expecting the Portuguese coach, who has guided Spurs to three straight victories, to get a warm welcome.

"He will get a very good reception and that's just a testament to this club and these supporters," Solskjaer said.

"They remember two-and-a-half years, winning trophies and I'm 100 percent sure our fans, staff and the club will welcome him. I don't think whoever is manager of the opposition will change motivation [for the players]. They are motivated to do well for Man United."

Pogba has returned to training after missing two months with a ankle injury but will not be fit to face Tottenham. Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic, meanwhile, are rated as "touch and go".

"Paul is not ready, no," Solskjaer added. "He's still a bit away but he's working hard so let's see. Let's see how long it will take. "We've got more games than this one. We can't look at just the one game, we have to look at long-term."

Man United 2-2 Aston Villa: Villa rescue a point at Old Trafford

Tyrone Mings' first Premier League salvaged a draw for a Villa side winless at Old Trafford since 2009. 

Story of the game

Jack Grealish opened the scoring with a wonder strike that left David De Gea motionless in the United goal to hand Villa an early, slender advantage. Aston Villa's skipper was once more integral to hiss sides impressive display.

His fourth strike of the season was however cancelled out by Marcus Rashford on the cusp of half time, as he headed home Andreas Pereira's cross. The England forward had a stroke of good fortune as the post and Tom Heaton's shoulder helped the ball over the line.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rallied his men at the break as his side took a deserved second-half lead. Pereira's midfielder partner - Fred - was this time the architect, swinging in a cross that eventually found Victor Lindelof's head after Villa striker Wesley flicked the ball on at the near post.

In a swift response to the Swede's goal - Tyrone Mings - his opposing centre half restored parity three minutes after conceding.

As Matt Targett recycled the ball back into De Gea's box, Mings was left unmarked to slam home his second goal for the club.

Tom Heaton saved the away side twice in the final ten minutes, so often precarious time in the game for Villa to see out a point in the past. Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and recently Liverpool have all found late goals against Dean Smith's men.

A point at Old Trafford see's Villa rise to 15th place ahead of a visit to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Takeaways

Heaton could yet force an England starting spot

Despite Gareth Southgate's clear preference to start Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford throughout EURO 2020 qualifying, Heaton may still have something to say about that.

The former Burnley 'keeper was again assured and comfortable as Villa came under siege from a potent United frontline late on.

United reinforcements

Having been outplayed for the best part of an hour by a Championship promoted midfield, United fans will want a busy January window. Granted Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba were both absent, Mata was uncreative and elusive in the first period.

Grealish can add something to the England squad

Overlooked too often, Southgate must seriously consider a squad with Jack Grealish involved come the summer.

The ability to glide with the ball is a quality not many footballers have, and since Grealish has added goals on a consistent basis this year, he could well be an important member of the three lions team.

Man of the Match

So often Grealish has been the talisman for a Villa side buoyant after his return from injury four weeks ago. From completed passes to fouls won, Grealish topped the match stats as he nails down he continues his superb Championship form.

Leicester City 2-1 Everton: Late VAR drama sees Iheanacho score winner

The Nigerian forward came off the bench to tip the balance in the Foxes favour for a sixth consecutive Premier League victory.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored a late winning goal awarded by VAR as Leicester City came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at the King Power Stadium on Sunday evening. 

It did initially look as though the Foxes' five-match winning run in the Premier League was set to come to an end as Richarlison gave the Toffees a shock first-half lead. Brendan Rodgers' men eventually broke their tough resistance as Jamie Vardy converted at the back post mid-way through the second period. 

Iheanacho then had his say in the 94th minute as he scored when one-on-one with Jordan Pickford and despite being flagged offside, VAR awarded the goal and the three points to the home side.

Story of the Match

Early chances

Despite the pressure heaped on Everton boss Marco Silva before the match, the Toffees actually produced a positive performance and could well have taken the lead if Djibril Sidibe's strike had been a yard lower.

Leicester always remained a danger though and Ayoze Perez fired a warning shot as he showed quick feet in the penalty area but put his low effort just wide of Jordan Pickford's far post.

The hosts were unusually frustrated though and that was compounded as Richarlison gave the hosts a lead by finishing off a clinical counter-attack by dispatching Sidibe's cross past Kasper Schmeichel with a fantastic diving header.

VAR has its say early on

With Everton defending extremely well, Rodgers' troops thought they had a great opportunity to equalise as a penalty was awarded for a foul on Ben Chilwell but VAR chalked off the original decision. That gave the visitors even more encouragement as they almost got a second, first through Dominic Calvert-Lewin's blocked shot and Michael Keane's header from a corner.

Those missed chances came back to bite Silva's team as Leicester roared back into the clash. Iheanacho, brought on by Rodgers, charged down the right-flank and played a perfect cross for Vardy who slammed the ball into the net. 

The momentum then appeared to shift as James Maddison spurned a chance from close-range, putting the ball straight into the midriff of Pickford. Moise Kean however had the best opportunity as he almost caught Schmeichel off of his line but curled his shot marginally wide.

Iheanacho causes drama at the King Power

Time continued to tick down and just as it looked as though both sides were going to walk away with a point, Iheanacho latched onto Ricardo Pereira's through-ball and beat Pickford with a low finish. The offside flag seemingly cut his celebrations short but VAR again had another side, adjudging him in line and seeing Leicester claim the win.

Takeaways

VAR does its job

For all of the criticism that VAR has got this season, and deservedly so, it was crucial in this match today. Firstly ruling out the penalty, which was the correct decision, it also allowed Iheanacho to net the winning goal. With points so important in the Premier League, a wrong decision could set the tone for a team's season. However, no one can argue against correct decisions and that is what VAR awarded at the King Power Stadium.

Club record

Here's an aspect that nobody thought would be possible at the start of the season - Leicester are performing better than in their title winning season. With the victory against Everton, the Foxes have now chalked up a club-record six Premier League wins in a row and it was certainly deserved looking at the balance of play.

The end for Silva?

To the Toffees credit, they did perform much better at the King Power Stadium, frustrating one of the best sides in the league. They were concentrated, disciplined and defensively sound. However, it could be too little too late. The loss now leaves Everton 17th in the league and only two points above the drop zone ahead of the Merseyside derby in midweek.