Baku (AFP) – Eden Hazard scored twice in what could be his farewell appearance as Chelsea swept away Arsenal in the Europa League final in Baku, winning 4-1 to hand Maurizio Sarri his first major trophy as a coach. This match started at 11pm local time on Wednesday in Azerbaijan, but it was Thursday by […]

Oeiras (Portugal) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo linked up with the Portugal squad on Wednesday as the European champions began their preparations for next month's inaugural UEFA Nations League Finals. Portugal will meet Switzerland in the semi-finals on June 5 in Porto, with the winner set to play England or the Netherlands for the title on […]

Marseille (AFP) – Andre Villas-Boas made a bold start to his reign as Marseille coach by declaring on Wednesday he wants to impose a "radical philosophy" on the fallen French giants. Marseille handed Villas-Boas a two-year contract on Tuesday, giving the former Chelsea, Tottenham, Porto and Zenit St Petersburg coach the chance to revive the […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Beijing Renhe ended Wednesday's 5-0 thrashing at Guangzhou Evergrande with three goalkeepers on the pitch in farcical scenes in the Chinese FA Cup fifth round. The Chinese Super League (CSL) club were accused of effectively throwing the game at Fabio Cannavaro's Evergrande and are likely to be punished by the Chinese Football […]

Zurich (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino is running unopposed in his bid for a second term as the head of world football's governing body, but that does not mean everyone approves of his job performance. Least of all his predecessor, Sepp Blatter, who led FIFA from 1998 to 2015, when he was forced out […]

London (AFP) – Former England international Andy Carroll's injury-plagued spell at Premier League side West Ham came to an end on Wednesday with him being released. The 30-year-old — whose nine caps would be well into double figures but for persistent injuries during his career — has had heel, ankle, knee and groin injuries in […]

Milan (AFP) – Gian Piero Gasperini will stay on to coach Atalanta in their first-ever season in the Champions League, the Serie A club confirmed on Wednesday. "With great satisfaction I can confirm that the relationship between Atalanta and our coach Gian Piero Gasperini continues," club president Antonio Percassi said on the club's website. "A […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Sadio Mane admits he is flattered by suggested interest from Real Madrid but insists he is happy at Liverpool and fully focused on trying to help them win the Champions League. Reports from Spain in recent weeks have suggested that Real want to bring the Senegal forward and Manchester United's French midfielder […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini could be set for a new role in the club after chief executive Ivan Gazidis said Wednesday he wanted to convince the former Italy defender to become technical director. Brazilian Leonardo stepped down as sporting director on Tuesday, along with head coach Gennaro Gattuso, amid reports of […]

Baku (AFP) – Chelsea face Arsenal in the Europa League final in the unfamiliar setting of Azerbaijan on Wednesday in what is likely to be Chelsea star Eden Hazard's last match for the club before a rumoured move to Real Madrid. The buildup to the all-English clash has been marred by the controversy surrounding UEFA's […]

London (AFP) – England's chances of landing the inaugural Nations League title — a first continental trophy since the 1966 World Cup — have been boosted by Manchester City's exploits last season, says central defender Harry Maguire. The 26-year-old Leicester star — linked to a big money move to Manchester United — said City players […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Swansea starlet Daniel James, who has been linked with Manchester United, can advance his case for such a high-profile move after being called up for Wales's Euro 2020 away matches with Croatia and Hungary. The 21-year-old winger missed a training camp in Portugal following the death of his father but […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has admitted that it will "difficult" for the club to sign Manchester City winger Leroy Sane. Germany international Sane, 23, has been heavily linked with a move to Bayern in recent weeks after reportedly becoming unhappy at a lack of game time in Manchester. Hoeness confirmed last […]

Milan (AFP) – Gian Piero Gasperini has turned down a move to AS Roma and will led Atalanta in their first-ever season in the Champions League, according to reports on Wednesday. Atalanta finished third in Serie A to secure Champions League qualification for the first time in the club's 111-year history. The club from Bergamo […]

London (AFP) – Whether Liverpool are winning or losing a minute from time in Saturday's Champions League final with Tottenham Hotspur a rendition of their emotive song "You'll Never Walk Alone" will reverberate round the stadium in Madrid. It will be competing with their opponents' anthem "When the Spurs go Marching In", but according to […]