This and more from the happenings in the world of football
FC Pune City snap ISL golden boot winner Marcelinho
Indian Super League side FC Pune City on Monday announced the roping in of the last edition golden boot winner Marcelo Pereira for the upcoming season.
The Brazilian winger, who has plied his trade in Spain, Greece and Italy, represented Delhi Dynamos FC last season.
In his 15 appearances, Marcelinho scored 10 goals and made five assists.
FC Pune City CEO Gaurav Modwel was excited on the new addition to his team.
“Marcelinho has a great appetite for scoring and caused some serious damage to other teams' defence in ISL last season. He is a busy player on the pitch, always in the thick of things -- setting the pace, assisting and finding the back of the net. I know our fans really wanted him to don the FC Pune City jersey! Welcome Marcelinho," he said.
In his career spanning almost a decade now, Marcelinho has represented Atletico Madrid 'B', Getafe 'B', Greek clubs like Skoda Xanthi FC, Atromitos Athens, Kalamata among others.
Head coach Antonio Habas said, "Marcelinho is one of the most accomplished attackers we have seen in ISL. He has the versatility to play on wings as well as in front of the net along with great pace to match his abilities. These qualities will be of great help to the team and hope we can achieve results that we aim for in the coming season."
On donning the orange and purple jersey this time, Marcelinho said. "It's exciting times ahead as I join FC Pune City. Antonio Habas is a great coach to work with and his vision for the club is something that got me excited. I will give my 100 per cent and ensure my stint with FC Pune City gives the Orange Army many reasons to celebrate."
Ramos asks for more leniency from referees after red card record
Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos believes English referees are more lenient than their Spanish counterparts and has asked La Liga match officials to take a leaf out of the Premier League book after being sent off in Sunday's 3-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna.
The captain earned a second booking in injury time for elbowing Deportivo's Borja Valle while challenging for an aerial ball, adding to the yellow card he received in the second half for slapping Fabian Schar in an off-the-ball scuffle.
"In some areas we need to look more at English football and let the players play on more, I like their system better. In Europe referees are more tolerant," Ramos, who received the 23rd red card of his Real Madrid career, told reporters.
"I don't agree with the (second) yellow card, it was harsh, but I respect the opinion of the referee. I have no intention of hurting him, I just supported myself, but you learn from everything."
Explaining the first incident with Schar, which occurred when Deportivo's Zakaria Bakkali player was injured on the floor, Ramos added: "We didn't kick the ball out because they didn't do it (earlier in the game).
"They ran after me, Schar headbutted me and all I did was push him out the way without trying to hurt him."
Ramos is Real's most sent off player, with former defender Fernando Hierro trailing way behind on 12 red cards.
Out of Ramos's 23 red cards, 18 have come in the La Liga, three were shown in the Champions League and two in the King's Cup. The centre back, however, has never been dismissed in 143 games for Spain.
Five players were sent off in eight Liga games over the weekend, compared to two in nine Premier League games.
Liverpool must rotate to compete on two fronts: Klopp
Liverpool must rotate their squad this season if they are to sustain their challenge in both the Premier League and the Champions League, manager Juergen Klopp has said.
Klopp made five changes to the starting lineup for Saturday's 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, a game sandwiched in between two legs of their Champions League playoff against Hoffenheim.
The German is taking nothing for granted despite Liverpool's 2-1 lead over the Bundesliga side ahead of their return leg at Anfield.
"We all have pressure and it's a quick start always," Klopp told reporters. "You need to be there immediately, deliver and all that stuff.
"The difference this year is that it's really hard, we all know a draw today, two points instead of four or six, it doesn't feel good but you can sort it.
"You can't do this in a Champions League qualifier. This intensity is really hard, for both teams not just us, yes that's very special and that's why we made the changes today."
Substitutes Dejan Lovren, Emre Can and Mohamed Salah are all expected to return to the starting lineup against Hoffenheim on Wednesday.
Klopp said he will keep shuffling his pack during the European competition as long as the replacements continue to impress.
"It's all about the boys. If they play in a game like this today, if they perform like this then yes, we will change, 100 percent," he added.
"If not, we can't because we cannot give a game away, we cannot say that's not that important."
Following their European qualifier, Liverpool host Arsenal in the league on Sunday.
