Tag: Ismael

4 February 2026 Off

Blackburn Rovers: Your opinions on Valerien Ismael sacking

By Total Football News

We asked you how you felt about Valerien Ismael’s exit from Blackburn Rovers on transfer deadline day and it seems the timing has got you puzzled.

Here is what you had to say:

Elliot: When the side rallied at the back of last season, I was willing to give him a chance into this season. But it’s never got going under him and I don’t feel the players were ever

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3 February 2026 Off

Valérien Ismael: Blackburn Rovers sack head coach after year

By Total Football News

Analysis by BBC Radio Lancashire’s Andy Bayes

To announce the departure of a head coach five hours before the transfer window closes is a little different, but the executives at Blackburn Rovers probably felt that they had no choice following an eighth home defeat of the season on Saturday.

When I spoke to Valerien Ismael after the defeat by Hull City, he couldn’t defend that record, and he didn’t particularly

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19 January 2026 Off

Blackburn Rovers: Opinion – Ismael isn’t worried… but the fans are

By Total Football News

Valerian Ismael isn’t worried. After 12 minutes on Saturday lunchtime he must have been the only person associated with Blackburn Rovers at Portman Road able to make that statement.

It was a game I expected nothing from but that is the joy of the Championship – you never know what you are going to get.

Unfortunately, those in the away end for a 12:30 kick-off, having paid £38 for the

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23 December 2025 Off

Blackburn Rovers: Valerien Ismael on ‘carnage’ of four games in 10 days

By Total Football News

Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael hopes to negotiate the “carnage” of the festive programme before adding to his squad in the January transfer window.

Rovers have four games in 10 days with an already threadbare squad, starting at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.

Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire: “It’s really tough this time of year. The only one I like is the Boxing Day game, it’s a really nice tradition, always special.

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8 December 2025 Off

Valerien Ismael: Blackburn boss to limit signings for new pitch

By Total Football News

Rovers were ordered to replay the fixture against Ipswich – a decision that Ismael labelled “disgraceful” – with the game resulting in a 1-1 draw when it eventually took place last week.

When asked whether it was the right call for referee Ruebyn Ricardo to bring Saturday’s game with the Owls to a halt, Ismael said it was “embarrassing” that the same situation had happened again.

“I want to have

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1 December 2025 Off

Blackburn Rovers: George Pratt aims to give Valerien Ismael selection headache

By Total Football News

Blackburn Rovers defender George Pratt has vowed to stay grounded and work hard to stay in Valerien Ismael’s plans going forward.

The 22-year-old was recalled from a loan spell at National League North Chorley last month as Rovers lost Scott Wharton and Hayden Carter to injury.

After being named on the bench for the home defeat by Derby County, Pratt was handed his debut in the derby win at Preston

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25 October 2025 Off

Valerien Ismael: Blackburn boss denies his squad has regressed

By Total Football News

It is “stupid” to suggest Blackburn Rovers’ squad is weaker than last season, according to boss Valerien Ismael.

Rovers head into Saturday’s Championship match at home to Southampton (15:00 BST) with just one point from their past five outings and sitting second from bottom of the table, after finishing seventh last season.

“This is stupid analysis. We didn’t lose any quality (in the squad) we reduced the age, we took

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26 September 2025 Off

Valerien Ismael: Blackburn Rovers boss calls decision to replay abandoned Ipswich game ‘a disgrace’

By Total Football News

Ismael’s comments echo those of his club, who said they were “extremely disappointed by the outcome” on Thursday.

“When you receive that many messages from people around the world and they are all shocked it means something is wrong,” the Frenchman, 49, added.

“You quickly need new guidelines otherwise it will always be a political case.”

As yet no new date has been scheduled for the rearranged fixture.

In their

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17 May 2025 Off

Blackburn Rovers: Valerien Ismael wants to avoid summer upheaval

By Total Football News

Valerien Ismael hopes to avoid a summer of upheaval at Ewood Park and says stability is the key for Blackburn success next season.

Rovers endured a rollercoaster campaign, spending much of the season in the top six of the Championship but dropping to 12th in April, only to finish strong and end up seventh.

They narrowly missed out on a play-off place on the final day, courtesy of a draw

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