SportsNews
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress

Published
4 months agoon
By
Ekwutos Blog
Max Verstappen thinks Red Bull can forget about winning any championship in Formula 1 next year if it does not make good progress with its RB21 car.
While the Dutchman celebrated his fourth consecutive drivers’ title with Red Bull in 2024, he is well aware that success owed much to a dominant start to the campaign that gave him a comfortable buffer in the standings.
And it was the team’s subsequent dip in form that opened the door for McLaren to snatch the constructors’ crown for the first time since 1998.
While Red Bull did rediscover some form in the closing stages of the year, Verstappen acknowledged the competition is now so close that his outfit needs to take a good step forward for 2025.
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Speaking about the prospects for next year in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Verstappen said: “If we continue like this, I won’t be champion next year. It’s as simple as that. We really need to make steps to be competitive next season. We all know that.
“I trust the team that they can fix the balance issues from last season. Certain things that we couldn’t adjust last year will be changed for next year.
“We know that we need to be better over the kerbs, bumps and in the slow corners. Those are generally our weaknesses. If we are still beaten then, it will be based on pure speed.
“I always keep the pressure on, also on myself. I try not to think too lightly about things. At one point the car was barely driveable. There was no more to get out of it than this.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Verstappen also revealed in the interview how his own input into the characteristics of the car at the Italian Grand Prix helped steer development of the RB20 back on track following the mid-season wobbles.
“All plans for new parts, which were to come after that [race in Monza], could be thrown into the bin,” he said. “The team actually started from scratch after that. Before that, they couldn’t find the exact problem.
“I saw a couple of graphics when we were looking at the data. I saw certain aerodynamic shifts in how we entered the corners, turned into corners and also in terms of ride heights.
“It was different from last year’s car. I said, ‘Hey, it’s very clear that this and this is the problem, isn’t it?’ That turned out to be right, I heard later on.
“I hadn’t seen those lines and those graphics before. I then said that it was quite clear what we had to work on, because the engineers obviously know exactly what had been changed from last year’s car.
“At the beginning of last season we were still winning our races convincingly, but I felt even then that the balance of the car did not feel the way I wanted it to.
“But, back then, we still had a big lead over the other teams, who might not have had a very good winter.”
Verstappen also had a cheeky dig at rivals, suggesting that some of their success was down to using tricks.
“Things happened in the background that meant we had no chance at all in certain races,” he said. “I know that for sure, but no one will ever admit that.”
Additional reporting by Ronald Vording
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NPFL: Sunshine Stars coach, Akinfolarin demands more from players after win against Enyimba

Published
7 hours agoon
April 14, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Sunshine Stars head coach, Bobola Akinfolarin has called for improvement from his players after their victory over Enyimba in a matchday 33 encounter.
Sunshine Stars beat Enyimba 2-1 In a keenly contested this at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday.
Akinfolarin believes the players still need to improve on their physical strength.
He, however, admitted that the team is on the right path.
“We needed this. It gives us a push,” Akinfolarin told Sunshine Stars media.
“We still have work to do, especially on the players’ physical strength, but I believe we are heading in the right direction.”
Sunshine Stars will next travel to Port Harcourt for a matchday 34 clash against Rivers United.
SportsNews
Van Dijk’s Late Winner Edges Liverpool Towards Premier League Title

Published
1 day agoon
April 13, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
A record-equalling 20th English top-flight title could come as early as next Sunday if Liverpool win at Leicester and Arsenal lose away to Ipswich.
Virgil van Dijk spared Liverpool’s blushes with a late winner to beat West Ham 2-1 on Sunday and edge to within six points of the Premier League title.
Andy Robertson’s own goal four minutes from time had given the lowly Hammers a deserved equaliser after Luis Diaz put Liverpool in front early on.
Van Dijk, though, swiftly restored the lead to show Liverpool retain the mentality of champions, even if they are running out of steam in the closing stages of the season.
“That was a relief because to me it felt after West Ham scored and the way the second half went, it was maybe more that you could expect them scoring,” said Liverpool boss Arne Slot.
“But our fans and our players thought differently because from the moment they scored the 1-1, we started playing again, we started pressing again. The fans were really loud at that moment of time.”
Liverpool’s lead stretches to 13 points with six games remaining.
A record-equalling 20th English top-flight title could come as early as next Sunday if Liverpool win at Leicester and Arsenal lose away to Ipswich.
The stage was set before kick-off for Mohamed Salah to be the hero as the Egyptian was given a huge ovation just days after ending speculation over his future by signing a new two-year contract.
Salah started with the intention of making sure he was the focus of attention as young left-back Ollie Scarles struggled to cope with the Premier League’s top scorer.
The 32-year-old has failed to score in seven of his last eight Liverpool games as his sensational early season form has failed off.
But he still managed to set a new Premier League record by registering his 45th goal or assist of the campaign, the most ever in a 38-game season.
Salah outmuscled Scarles on the touchline and sprinted clear before an inch-perfect cross for Diaz allowed the Colombian to tap in for his 15th goal of the season on 18 minutes.
Defeat sees West Ham slip to 17th in the table, but they had a series of chances to take at least a point.
The fatigue that has seen Liverpool struggle in recent times was in evidence again as they had goalkeeper Alisson Becker to thank for moving another three points closer to the title.
Alisson brilliantly tipped Mohammed Kudus’ attempted chip onto the bar with the visitors first serious attack.
Jarrod Bowen had West Ham’s best chance to level when he failed to beat Alisson when one-on-one with the Brazilian before he turned away another powerful drive by Kudus.
When West Ham did finally find the net, it was thanks to two of Liverpool’s most experienced defenders.
Robertson and Van Dijk both went for the same ball and the Scotland captain diverted Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross into his own net.
The goal suddenly sparked Liverpool into life after a listless second half as Diaz’s deflected effort went over the bar.
Van Dijk took just three minutes to make amends for the equaliser as he powered in Alexis Mac Allister’s corner.
The Dutchman kissed the badge in celebration in a potential nod to him reportedly being close to following Salah in signing a new contract.
There was still more drama to come as Niclas Fullkrug hit the bar for West Ham in stoppage time.
But Liverpool held out to take another step towards the title in Slot’s first season in charge.
SportsNews
EPL: Onana dropped from Man United squad to face Newcastle

Published
1 day agoon
April 13, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana will not feature in Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The Cameroon international has come under increasing scrutiny following a poor performance in Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Lyon in the Europa League.
Onana was deemed responsible for both of the French side’s goals, adding to a season already marked by high-profile mistakes.
His omission from the squad was confirmed by sources who stated it was to allow Onana to “rest and disconnect.”
The decision is not considered permanent, and the 29-year-old is expected to return for the second leg of the quarter-final tie against Lyon at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The error-strewn display came just a day after former United midfielder Nemanja Matic branded Onana “one of the worst goalkeepers” in the club’s history.
Despite the criticism, manager Ruben Amorim has offered his support.
Amorim publicly defended the under-fire keeper following the Lyon match, stating that he had personally made more mistakes this season than Onana.
Onana, who arrived from Inter Milan in 2023 for £47 million, has struggled to justify his hefty price tag. Although he has started all 69 Premier League games since joining, his form has remained inconsistent.
Since the beginning of last season, he has made eight errors leading directly to goals—the highest of any goalkeeper currently at a Premier League club.
Onana replaced long-serving goalkeeper David de Gea, a move made by former manager Erik ten Hag, who favored Onana’s ability with the ball at his feet.
Turkey’s Altay Bayindir is expected to make his Premier League debut on Sunday in Onana’s place.
It would mark just his sixth appearance of the season, having previously featured only in domestic cup competitions. He last played in January.
Off the pitch, Onana has also faced personal challenges. Last month, his wife, Melanie Kamayou, was robbed while leaving a restaurant in Cheshire.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will also be without their manager Eddie Howe for Sunday’s clash. The club confirmed that Howe had been admitted to hospital after feeling unwell for several days.

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