Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari has left the door open to a January exit for Isco after suggesting on Tuesday it will be up to the club whether to keep the midfielder. Solari dodged an opportunity to back Isco after being asked if, as coach, he would be happy to allow the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gabriel Jesus says his confidence has soared after his recent goal glut, vowing that Manchester City will not let up in their pursuit of Premier League leaders Liverpool. The Brazil striker scored another two, taking his tally to seven in three appearances, as City beat Wolves 3-0 on Monday to […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to be sidelined for up to a month with knee damage, leaving the Premier League leaders short of defensive options. The England international sustained a problem in the warm-up before Saturday's 1-0 win at Brighton but played the full 90 minutes. However, he now faces an extended […]

London (AFP) – French midfielder Paul Pogba says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's arrival as interim manager at Manchester United has not only sparked his return to form but also put a smile back on his face. The 25-year-old — an integral figure in France's World Cup triumph last year — has shown the sort of form […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech announced on Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season. The 36-year-old, who won four Premier League titles with Chelsea, revealed his decision on Twitter. He wrote: "This is my 20th season as a professional player and it is 20 years since I signed my […]

Dubai (AFP) – One of football's great rivalries takes centre-stage at the Asian Cup on Wednesday when Iran play Iraq still smarting from their controversial exit four years ago. Iran played most of the classic 2015 quarter-final with 10 men after Mehrdad Pooladi's hotly disputed first-half dismissal but when it ended 3-3 after extra-time, Iraq […]

London (AFP) – Nottingham Forest on Tuesday named former player and ex-Ireland boss Martin O'Neill as the new manager at the Championship club. The 66-year-old, who won two European Cups at the City Ground in his playing days, replaces Aitor Karanka after the Spaniard's departure last week. O'Neill becomes the club's 11th full-time boss since […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris admits his side are now looking over their shoulders at the teams chasing them in the race for the Premier League top four. Spurs have been considered title challengers after a superb run but two defeats in three games — the latest to Manchester United on Sunday — […]

London (AFP) – French midfielder Paul Pogba says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's arrival as interim manager at Manchester United has not only sparked his return to form but also put a smile back on his face. The 26-year-old — an integral figure in France's World Cup triumph last year — has shown the sort of form […]

Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) (AFP) – Thailand looked in disarray when they sacked their coach one game into the Asian Cup but the War Elephants, inspired by their very own "Messi", are now dreaming of greater things. Milovan Rajevac's dismissal following the 4-1 defeat to India seems to have galvanised the Thais, who then beat […]

New Delhi (AFP) – Football fans and pundits were full of praise for India Tuesday even as an injury-time penalty cost the Blue Tigers an unlikely spot in the Asian Cup knockout stages and prompted the coach to resign. Despite its giant population India is a footballing minnow at a lowly 97th in FIFA's world […]

Seoul (AFP) – South Korean football officials have presented the children of four dead players with gold medals in what is being seen as an attempt to lift a supposed curse on the team at the Asian Cup. The Taeguk Warriors are an Asian footballing powerhouse, making nine consecutive appearances at the World Cup since […]

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus target their first title of 2019 in the Italian Super Cup on Wednesday against a backdrop of controversy and protests over human rights issues and ticket restrictions imposed on female fans by hosts Saudi Arabia. The one-off match is normally between the reigning Serie A and Italian […]

London (AFP) – Premier League leaders Liverpool showed they can scrap their way to victory, edging past Brighton to maintain their four-point lead over Manchester City, who brushed aside 10-man Wolves with a 3-0 win. Tottenham lost ground on the Premier League pacesetters after being beaten at home by a rejuvenated Manchester United, who won […]

Paris (AFP) – Thierry Henry renews acquaintances with former France and Arsenal team-mate Patrick Vieira on Wednesday when Monaco face Nice as part of a rearranged batch of midweek fixtures in Ligue 1. The coaching showdown between two of France's 1998 World Cup winners was first scheduled for December 7, but the game was postponed […]