London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho admitted Saturday that he once got round a two-match ban by hiding in a laundry basket so he could give a team-talk before a Champions League match. Mourinho, sacked by Manchester United in December, told BeIN Sports how he skirted a touchline suspension on the eve of the 2005 quarter-final […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan launched their anti-racism campaign in reaction to last month's abuse of Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly as 11,000 local schoolchildren watched a goalless draw with Sassuolo at the San Siro on Saturday. Inter Milan were ordered to play two matches behind closed doors as punishment for racist chants and monkey noises […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane branded Wydad Casablanca "bullies" after the South Africans defeated the Moroccans 2-1 Saturday in a CAF Champions League clash of giants. "Wydad are used to winning and they do not like it when they fail to do so," the 2016 Champions League-winning coach told reporters after the […]

Monaco (AFP) – Beleaguered Monaco coach Thierry Henry claimed that VAR stopped working during his struggling side's 5-1 thrashing at home by Strasbourg on Saturday, saying that they should have been awarded a penalty. Henry told reporters, "I have a scoop for you" as he entered his post-match press conference after a humiliating defeat which […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has told Manchester City star Leroy Sane he has a long way to go before he can be considered as great a player as Ryan Giggs. Sane has been outstanding this season for a City side chasing Premier League leaders Liverpool, having recovered from the disappointment of missing […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Renaissance Berkane of Morocco trounced ASC Jaraaf of Senegal 5-1 Saturday in a CAF Confederation Cup play-off second leg to reach the group stage. The thrashing completed a miserable trip to north Africa for the Dakar club after officials complained about being given an old bus and staying at a hotel far […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, having played for several of Europe's finest clubs since his top-level debut 20 years ago, says the Los Angeles Galaxy are now his top priority. The 37-year-old forward said Saturday he is staying with the Major League Soccer side for the 2019 campaign because he longs to restore them […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Timothy Weah scored on his Celtic debut as the Hoops maintained their bid for a "treble treble" with a 3-0 win over Airdrie at Parkhead in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday. Weah, the son of former World Player of the Year George Weah, looked to be a chip […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri labelled his players mentally weak and difficult to motivate after losing 2-0 at Arsenal in a toothless performance on Saturday. The Gunners blew the race for a top-four Premier League finish wide open as first-half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny closed Arsenal and Manchester United, who […]

London (AFP) – Leeds United's lead at the top of the second-tier English Championship was cut to one point after a week of further spying revelations ended with a 2-1 loss away to Stoke City. Far from backing down after admitting to sending a club employee to spy on a Derby training session ahead of […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Marcus Rashford has a claim to being the best striker currently playing in the Premier League as Harry Kane recovers from injury, Manchester United caretaker-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested. Rashford marked his 150th appearance for United with an outstanding goal as they defeated Brighton 2-1 in the Premier League […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal blew the race for a top-four Premier League finish wide open as first-half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny saw the Gunners beat Chelsea 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Chelsea remain in pole position for a return to Champions League football next season in fourth, but are now […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund restored their six-point lead over Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday as Axel Witsel netted in their 1-0 away win at fourth-placed RB Leipzig. Second-placed Bayern, the defending champions, had trimmed Dortmund's lead to three points on Friday with an impressive 3-1 win at Hoffenheim as […]

London (AFP) – Premier League strugglers Cardiff signed Nantes striker Emiliano Sala for a club record fee reported to be around £15 million ($19 million) on Saturday. Cardiff confirmed the deal just hours after a damaging 3-0 defeat at Newcastle that saw the Bluebirds drop into the relegation zone. Argentina-born Sala, who had been at […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah's double inspired a dramatic 4-3 victory over Crystal Palace, while Arsenal ignited their top four bid with a 2-0 win against Chelsea on Saturday. With second-placed Manchester City travelling to bottom of the table Huddersfield on Sunday, […]