London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has once more criticised the Nations League, comparing the tournament to watching opera every night or having world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua box week in week out. Klopp believes there is no place in football's already congested calendar for a major new competition, with the German arguing that […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Kevin de Bruyne is in contention to make his return from injury when Manchester City host Burnley on Saturday, City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed. The Belgian has made just one substitute appearance this season after suffering a knee injury in training on August 15. City initially feared that De […]

Paris (AFP) – Thierry Henry returns to Ligue 1 for the first time in 19 years this weekend, tasked with dragging a crisis-hit Monaco away from the relegation zone after a miserable start to the season. The Arsenal great came through the youth system at the principality club in the 1990s, and is now mirroring […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho insists he will be on his best behaviour on his return to Stamford Bridge, but hopes his Manchester United side inflict Chelsea's first defeat of the season on Saturday. The Portuguese won three Premier League titles in two successful spells in charge of Chelsea, but has lost all […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich bosses Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness on Friday launched a fierce attack on the German media over "disrespectful and disgusting" reporting amid a rare four-match winless streak for the Bundesliga champions. "FC Bayern will no longer accept this manner (of reporting)," fumed Rummenigge, who even quoted a paragraph of the […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Unai Emery has called for calm and insisted the Gunners still have plenty to improve on despite a nine-game winning run in all competitions. Six of those wins have come in the Premier League as Arsenal have closed to within two points of top spot in the Premier League. But […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui said on Friday that he feels "good" and "calm" over his future at the club despite four winless matches. "I feel good, I'm Real Madrid coach, the pressure is at the maximum," Lopetegui said at the press conference prior to the Liga match against Levante on Saturday. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac says the German champions must stick to their guns at Wolfsburg on Saturday if they are to break their four-match winless streak and get back into the Bundesliga title race. Kovac cut a relaxed figure in Friday's press conference despite his side's difficulties that have seen them […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has brushed off reports he was involved in the attempted kidnapping of an acquaintance who owes him 50,000 euros. "This must stop," Benzema said on his Twitter page Friday following a report by the Mediapart website implicating the exiled France international in the attempted kidnap. Mediapart's report, […]

London (AFP) – Eden Hazard insists he will be happy to end his career at Chelsea should his dream move to Real Madrid not materialise. Hazard has been instrumental in Chelsea's unbeaten start under Maurizio Sarri, scoring eight goals in all competitions, as the Blues sit joint top of the Premier League alongside Manchester City […]

Berlin (AFP) – Under-pressure Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovac desperately needs a win at Wolfsburg on Saturday to break the Bavarian giants' miserable run and reignite their Bundesliga title defence. Kovac, 47, only took charge in July, but must turn things around at mid-table Wolfsburg with the German champions winless in their last four […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid and Barcelona cannot avoid heading into next week's Clasico under pressure but each have two games to lift the mood at least, ahead of the pivotal clash at the Camp Nou. Eight games into La Liga and both Julen Lopetegui and Ernesto Valverde are feeling the heat, forced to defend […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Raheem Sterling will return to Premier League action for Manchester City against Burnley on Saturday with a spring in his step after ending his international goal drought in style. The burning issue now for the City management is tying the 23-year-old down to a long-term deal at the Etihad. The […]

Huddersfield (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is entitled to feel frustrated as his fears over the international break were realised with a lengthening injury list that will do little to help his side arrest a recent dip in form. Without a win in four games, the Reds travel to face Huddersfield on […]

Milan (AFP) – Engulfed in turmoil, Cristiano Ronaldo will look to pick up where he left off on the pitch as Juventus host Genoa in Serie A on Saturday before next week's trip to his former club Manchester United in the Champions League. Ronaldo shrugged off explosive rape allegations to score for the champions in […]