Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested he will be judged on playing style rather than trophies if he is to land the Manchester United manager's job on a full-time basis. Solskjaer, appointed as interim boss last month to replace the sacked Jose Mourinho, has made clear that he would love to […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has been warned by the Football Association over his behaviour after Manchester City manager launched into a touchline rant during the champions' crucial 2-1 victory against Liverpool. Guardiola threw his scarf to the ground and shouted at fourth official Martin Atkinson after a decision from referee Anthony Taylor went against […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham swept into the FA Cup fourth round as Fernando Llorente hit a hat-trick and Serge Aurier struck twice in a 7-0 rout of fourth tier minnows Tranmere on Friday. There are 74 league places between the sides and Tottenham, third in the Premier League, underlined the gulf in class as they […]

New York (AFP) – Caleb Porter, who coached Portland to the 2015 Major League Soccer crown, and Tim Bezbatchenko, mastermind of Toronto's 2017 title run, were named Friday to guide the revamped Columbus Crew. The MLS club was saved last month when owners of the NFL Cleveland Browns agreed on a purchase deal that kept the […]

Rome (AFP) – Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta has joined AC Milan from Flamengo of Rio de Janeiro on a four-and-half-year contract, the Serie A club announced on Friday. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has been linked with Milan for several months. Italian media put the fee at 35 million euros ($40m or £31.56m). Paqueta is a […]

London (AFP) – Premier League strugglers Huddersfield have signed Jason Puncheon on loan from Crystal Palace until the end of the season. Puncheon had made just four league appearances for Palace this term after falling out of favour with Eagles boss Roy Hodgson. The 32-year-old winger will be expected to provide a lift for Huddersfield, […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Describing himself as a "blast from the past", United Arab Emirates coach Alberto Zaccheroni warned Friday that the Asian Cup hosts could just surprise a few people this month. The softly-spoken Italian, who previously led Japan to the continental crown, insisted his side would attack Gulf rivals Bahrain in Saturday's opening […]

Doha (AFP) – A Qatari official and senior Asian Cup tournament organiser arrived in the United Arab Emirates Friday after sources close to the matter confirmed he had been denied entry 24 hours earlier, amid a simmering diplomatic dispute between the two countries. Saoud al-Mohannadi, vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Qatar […]

London (AFP) – Callum Hudson-Odoi should fight for a place in the Chelsea starting line-up and not be swayed by a multi-million euro offer from German giants Bayern Munich, according to Blues assistant manager Gianfranco Zola. The 18-year-old winger — a pivotal member of the England side that won the 2017 under-17 World Cup — […]

London (AFP) – Bournemouth on Friday completed the signing of Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke for a reported fee of £19 million ($24 million). Solanke's arrival, likely to be the first of two moves from Anfield to the Vitality Stadium, with defender Nathaniel Clyne set to join on loan until the end of the season, will […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Describing himself as a "blast from the past", United Arab Emirates coach Alberto Zaccheroni warned Friday that the Asian Cup hosts could just surprise a few people this month. The soft-spoken Italian, who previously led Japan to the continental crown, insisted his side would attack Gulf rivals Bahrain in Saturday's opening […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – French Lige 1 club Toulouse said Friday they had signed Japan international Gen Shoji for an undisclosed sum until June 2022. The central defender who helped Japan reach the knock-out stages of the 2018 World Cup joins the French club from Japanese champions Kashima Antlers. Sources close to the deal said […]

London (AFP) – Burton manager Nigel Clough is not spending much time briefing his players on Manchester City's qualities because he does not want to "frighten the life out of them" ahead of the first leg of the League Cup semi-final. League One club Burton will head to the Etihad Stadium next Wednesday knowing their […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – On the finest of margins, a title race can turn. Manchester City resurrected their defence of the Premier League by inflicting Liverpool's first defeat of the season in an enthralling encounter decided by centimetres. At one end Sadio Mane hit the post and John Stones cleared off the line with […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson says a first Premier League defeat of the season at the hands of rivals Manchester City will not be decisive in the title race. A narrow 2-1 loss at the Etihad on Thursday ended the Reds' 20-match unbeaten league start and cut their lead at the […]