Rome (AFP) – Juventus on Sunday poured cold water over rumours in Italy that they were planning a dramatic pounce for Pep Guardiola, saying that they had never even spoken to the Manchester City boss. "It's a strange world, we've not had any contact with Guardiola and nor have we ever thought about it given […]

Berlin (AFP) – Disgruntled defender Jerome Boateng is on the verge of leaving Bayern Munich after president Uli Hoeness told him to find a new club on Sunday. Boateng, 30, has appeared increasingly unhappy at Bayern this season, after losing his place in the team to Niklas Suele. Having remained on the bench as Bayern […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has confirmed once and for all that coach Niko Kovac will remain in his job next season. Speaking on Bavarian broadcaster BR, as Bayern celebrated their league and cup double in the centre of Munich on Sunday, Hoeness said he was "one hundred percent" sure Kovac would […]

London (AFP) – Unai Emery's first season at Arsenal will be judged a success or failure depending on the outcome of a single game — the Europa League final against Chelsea — but the Spaniard has a habit of saving his best for Europe's second-tier competition. Emery won the Europa League three years in a row […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa and Derby County face off for the biggest bounty in world football on Monday with the riches of the Premier League guaranteeing around £200 million ($253 million) for the winner of the Championship play-off final. However, the lure of a Premier League windfall is seeing more clubs in England's second […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – The backing from Barcelona's club president Josep Maria Bartomeu came but it was not as convincing as before. Last week he said coach Ernesto Valverde was "trusted completely" but as Valencia's players danced on the pitch at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, tossing the Copa del Rey between them, his support felt […]

London (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri faces an uncertain future as Chelsea manager even if the much-maligned Italian leads his side to victory in the Europa League final against Arsenal. Sarri has endured a traumatic first season at Stamford Bridge and he heads to Baku with little clarity over his prospects of staying in charge beyond […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has categorically ruled out selling England starlet Jadon Sancho ahead of next season. Sancho, 19, has been linked with a number of Europe's top clubs after an explosive second season in Dortmund, but in an interview with Bild newspaper on Sunday, Dortmund boss Watzke said they would […]

London (AFP) – Millions of UK-based football fans will tune in to watch the finals of Europe's elite club competitions this week — and not only because all four competing teams are English. Telecoms and pay-TV group BT, currently the only British television broadcaster to screen live matches from the Champions League and the Europa […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu insisted on Saturday that coach Ernesto Valverde is not to blame for his team's surprise Copa del Rey final defeat to Valencia, the Catalan's second cup shock in a matter of weeks. After throwing away a three-goal lead against Liverpool in the Champions League, Barca's disappointing […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Sporting Lisbon won their 17th Portuguese Cup on Saturday after triumphing 5-4 on penalties in a thrilling final taken to spot-kicks thanks to a 121st-minute Porto equaliser that saw the two sides draw 2-2. The dramatic triumph gave Sporting, who finished third in the league, a cup double for the season after […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac appears to have avoided the sack after his side secured a domestic double with victory over RB Leipzig in the German Cup final on Saturday. Kovac, 47, has fought off relentless criticism in his first year in charge of Bayern, as well as rumours that he would […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Barcelona wanted a trophy to ease their Champions League heartache but instead fell to another shock defeat as Valencia pulled off a thrilling 2-1 victory on Saturday to win the Copa del Rey. Chasing a record fifth consecutive triumph, Barca were undone by a relentless and gutsy Valencia side, who hung […]

Rome (AFP) – An aerial masterclass from Federico Santander saw Bologna snatch a 3-2 win at the death and ensure that Napoli finished their underwhelming season with a whimper. Santander acrobatically nodded home with two minutes remaining of a free-wheeling encounter to take the three points after Carlo Ancelotti's side had gamely fought back from […]

Berlin (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski dedicated victory to departing team mates Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery after Bayern Munich wrapped up a domestic double with a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in the German Cup final on Saturday. Goals from Lewandowski and Kingsley Coman sealed victory for Bayern in an enthralling game at the Olympic […]