Mauricio Pochettino set to extend his contract
Espanyol boss Mauricio Pochettino is set to agree a two-year contract extension with the club.
The negotiations between the Argentine and club president Daniel Sanchez Libre have been going really well and Pochettino is expected to sign contract extension in the next few days.
The former Espanyol defender has thus been given the confidence to continue his project at Montjuic after successfully guiding the club from the brink of relegation to La Liga mid table.
While Juan Antonio Carillo will continue as assistant coach, club legend Ivan de la Pena is expected to become Pochettino’s right hand man once he hangs up his boots.
The Argentine coach has become an instant hit at Montjuic even though that was his first coaching job and it is no wonder the club management are eager to tie him up for as long as possible.
[Source: El Mundo Deportivo]
CFR Cluj sack coach Mandorlini
After the slow start to the domestic championship, CFR Cluj have decided to sack coach Andrea Mandorlini just few days before the Champions League match against Basel.
The Italian coach had led Cluj to domestic title last term and was preparing for the Champions League opener against Basel when he heard the news.
“I absolutely did not expect this. It was a really low blow, unfair and premeditated. In Europe all the teams who did well last season have started slowly,” said Mandorlini.
“In any case, we were six points off the top and had everything necessary to make up the lost time. Last season we won everything and by qualifying for the Champions League we gave the club an extra €20m.
“Above all, we had formed a squad, as 80 per cent was the same side that took all the trophies a few months ago. I was preparing for the Champions League game with Basel and it was a dream for me.”
The club management probably thought the change would shake up the team before the Basel game but they should have at least allowed Mandorlini some more time to try and patch things up after what he had achieved with the team last season.
[Source: Gazzetta dello Sport]
New York Red Bulls sign Mehdi Ballouchy
The New York Red Bulls have signed midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy from Colorado Rapids in exchange for forward Macoumba Kandji.
Ballouchy had a good first part of the season with Colorado, having played 21 games for the Rapids, with three goals and five assists to his name.
Macoumba Kandji arrived to New York last September from Atlanta Silverbacks but he failed to command a starting place and only featured in 11 league games this season, scoring one goal in the process.
After reinforcing the back and front line with Rafa Marquez and Thierry Henry respectively, New York Red Bulls have now added a solid midfielder to their ranks and they look set to challenge Columbus Crew for the Eastern Conference title.
[Source: USA Today]
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