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Victor Boniface Responds To Coach’s Criticism With Powerful Message After Tough Start At Werder Bremen

Victor Boniface in Werder Bremen training 2025 after coach criticism

When You’re A Striker Known For Goals And Flair, A Goal Drought Can Feel Like The World’s Loudest Silence.

That’s the reality Nigerian forward Victor Boniface is facing at Werder Bremen, where his loan spell from Bayer Leverkusen hasn’t quite gone according to script. After seven goalless matches, the 24-year-old found himself in the crosshairs — not just of fans, but of his own manager.

Following Bremen’s 1–1 draw against Mainz, coach Horst Steffen didn’t mince words:

“He tried to hold onto the ball up front. Today I thought to myself: Come on, he can do even better.”

For a player who lit up the Bundesliga last season and was tipped to be Nigeria’s next big attacking export, that comment hit hard.


Boniface’s Calm Comeback

Rather than react with fire, Boniface responded with focus.

Taking to Instagram, he posted a photo of himself with a short caption that said it all:

“Step by step.”

No long speech, no defensiveness — just quiet determination. For a player whose career has been built on resilience, from his rise at Union Saint-Gilloise to his breakout season at Leverkusen, it’s a reminder that form may dip, but class never disappears.


The Bigger Picture

At 24, Boniface is still adjusting to a new system, new teammates, and the weight of expectation that comes with being one of Nigeria’s brightest footballing talents.

His message of “step by step” isn’t just a clapback — it’s a statement of intent. It signals patience, growth, and the hunger to earn back his rhythm in front of goal.

And in a football world where reactions are often louder than results, Boniface’s calm confidence stands out like a deep breath in a noisy stadium.


Sports Market Insight

Boniface’s situation underscores a familiar market truth: transfers are not instant upgrades. Even top talents need adaptation time to fit new tactical demands and team chemistry.

But as every great striker knows, confidence fuels goals — and Boniface’s measured mindset could be the spark that reignites his season.

Stay tuned to Sports Market International, your go-to source for the best football stories, player insights, and updates shaping the global sports market.

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Alan Shearer Slams Man Utd For Overpaying On Benjamin Sesko Transfer

Alan Shearer gesturing during a football commentary segment.

Shearer Criticizes Man Utd’s Big Spending On Sesko

Manchester United’s £70-74 million acquisition of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig has come under fire from Premier League legend Alan Shearer. The Slovenia international has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford, scoring just two goals in 12 appearances this season.

Shearer told Betfair:

“One player that must do better for United is Benjamin Sesko. They paid 70 odd million for him. That was a lot of money, I know it’s the market but it was too much. He’s had a tough start and I don’t expect huge things from him to be honest.”

The ex-Newcastle striker added that while Sesko is a talented player, he doubts the striker can justify the hefty transfer fee so far.


Sesko’s Early Struggles And Injury Concerns

Sesko has also faced injury issues, limiting his game time. In a recent Premier League clash against Tottenham, Sesko was introduced in the 58th minute but had to be substituted after a robust challenge from Micky van de Ven. United manager Ruben Amorim stressed that the injury was a bigger concern than Sesko’s form:

“That is not the biggest concern now. That happens, especially with a striker. I am more concerned with an injury, because it’s in the knee, we don’t know, we need Ben to be a better team.”

Sesko was subsequently ruled out during the international break, leaving his availability for Slovenia’s World Cup qualifiers in doubt.


Slovenia Coach Demands Respect From Man Utd

National team boss Matjaz Kek expressed frustration at United’s handling of Sesko’s injury, highlighting a lack of official communication:

“With all due respect to a great club like Manchester United, we have officially not received anything yet; no papers, no documents… United haven’t contacted anyone from our camp. The only thing that matters to me is his wellbeing. Slovenia deserves respect, even if on the other side there is a powerhouse like England.”

Kek’s comments underline tensions between the club and country as Sesko navigates both injury recovery and his adaptation to life in the Premier League.


Can Sesko Turn Things Around?

With United investing heavily in Sesko, the pressure is mounting for the young striker to justify the £70m price tag. Injuries and adaptation challenges have made a slow start inevitable, but fans will be hoping for a return to form soon.

As Shearer suggests, expectations may need recalibrating — but the season is far from over, and Sesko’s next performances could define his Manchester United career.

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Premier League

Leandro Trossard’s Stunning Evolution Impresses Former Coach Amid Arsenal Breakout Season

Leandro Trossard Celebrating A Goal For Arsenal

Leandro Trossard’s Stunning Evolution Impresses Former Coach Amid Arsenal Breakout Season

Leandro Trossard has been nothing short of sensational this season — but perhaps the most surprising person in the world right now is the man who coached him years ago.
Peter Maes, the former Genk boss who oversaw Trossard’s early development, admits he can hardly believe the transformation.

Why? Because the player Arsenal fans now hail as calm, reliable and incredibly decisive was once… a serial sulker.

From Sulking Youngster to Arsenal’s Silent Weapon

With Gabriel Martinelli sidelined, Trossard has owned Arsenal’s left flank with confidence and consistency. In 14 matches across competitions, he has delivered four goals and four assists — numbers that have directly earned the Gunners crucial Premier League points, including his match-winning strike against Fulham.

Inside the club, coaches routinely praise his level-headedness. They call him a player who shuts out noise, focuses on work, and stays locked in mentally — a far cry from the player Maes once struggled to manage.

The Coach Who Didn’t See It Coming

Speaking to Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg, Maes shared his honest surprise:

“At that time, I didn’t immediately see Leandro as a true captain… he wasn’t a regular starter yet, and he often sulked in training.”

But fast-forward to 2024, and he sees a completely different man.

“It’s true that Leandro is a strong personality now. He believes in himself deeply and can convey that belief to others.”

With Belgium missing key leaders like Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans, Trossard is even being considered for the national team captaincy. That’s how far he’s come.

Transfer Interest? Arsenal Closed the Door

Roma tried.
Fenerbahce asked questions.
Saudi clubs — as usual — hovered.

But Mikel Arteta didn’t blink. He wasn’t selling.

Trossard’s versatility across the front line, combined with his leadership maturity, makes him invaluable in a squad competing on four fronts.

Big Nights, Big Goals — Trossard Loves It

Fresh off scoring in Arsenal’s Champions League win over Athletic Club, Trossard explained why he thrives in pressure moments:

“Those games are why you want to become a footballer… I love the big games. We’ve been so close to winning something — it’s time to push for trophies.”

That hunger is precisely what Arsenal fans want to hear.

A Complete Reinvention

From a moody teenager who didn’t like being benched…
To a Premier League match-winner…
To a potential Belgium captain…

Leandro Trossard’s evolution is one of football’s most underrated glow-ups — and Arsenal are reaping every bit of the reward.

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Pep Guardiola Tipped To Stay At Man City For Two More Years As Ex-Star Explains Why He’s Still A Better Tactician Than Mikel Arteta

Pep Guardiola giving tactical instructions on the Manchester City touchline.

Pep Guardiola’s future at Manchester City has once again become a headline conversation, but former City forward Paul Dickov believes the Catalan genius isn’t going anywhere just yet. Despite reports hinting that Guardiola might leave next summer, Dickov insists the City boss still has the hunger, energy and tactical sharpness to remain in charge until the end of his contract in 2027.

This comes after Guardiola himself admitted earlier in the year that he would “stop coaching” once his Manchester City chapter ends. The comment triggered waves of speculation, even though Pep later joked that his break might not come until “2035.” For now, he seems fully committed to the job, repeatedly stressing that his mission at City is far from complete. He believes his team can still reach new levels, and according to him, the energy inside the camp has returned stronger than ever.

Dickov agrees. Speaking recently, he explained that Guardiola looks just as fresh and driven as he did the day he stepped through the Etihad doors. He praised the atmosphere Pep has built — one where both staff and players feel motivated to give everything. With City undergoing a strategic rebuild featuring younger players and new tactical ideas, Dickov believes Pep is genuinely enjoying this phase of the project.

The more intriguing talking point is the ongoing comparison between Guardiola and his former assistant, Mikel Arteta. Arsenal may be four points ahead of City in the Premier League table, but Dickov insists that Guardiola remains unmatched when it comes to tactical brilliance. The recent 3–0 win over Liverpool was his perfect example: a match where City’s fluid structure, intelligent movement and in-game adjustments completely overwhelmed Jürgen Klopp’s side.

Guardiola’s ability to tweak the shape, rotate roles and control the rhythm of matches continues to set him apart. Even when critics claim he relies too much on playing from the back, he has shown this season that he is more than willing to go direct to Erling Haaland when needed — a reminder that his philosophy is adaptable, not rigid.

For Dickov, that is the difference. Arteta is exceptional, but Pep is still the master. And as long as he remains at Manchester City, the Premier League will continue to witness tactical innovation at its highest level.

So, despite rumours of an early exit, all signs point toward Guardiola staying put for at least two more years. The project is thriving, the motivation is intact, and the competitive fire is still burning. For City fans — and for football lovers who appreciate a managerial genius — that’s very good news.

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