Wembley (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte insisted he is a "serial winner" after ending a difficult season on a high by beating Manchester United 1-0 to lift the FA Cup thanks to Eden Hazard's penalty at Wembley on Saturday. In what is still widely expected to be Conte's final game in charge, […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – New Italy coach Roberto Mancini on Saturday recalled Nice striker Mario Balotelli to the Azzurri fold for three upcoming friendlies as he begins the job of reviving Italian fortunes. Mancini was appointed last Monday, six months after Gian Piero Ventura was sacked following the four-time world champions' failure to qualify for […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho claimed Chelsea didn't deserve to win the FA Cup after adopting a cautious approach in the second half of their 1-0 victory against Manchester United on Saturday. Mourinho was frustrated that Chelsea opted to sit back and defend the lead secured by Eden Hazard's first-half penalty at Wembley. United were […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea captain Gary Cahill said the Blues' FA Cup final triumph against Manchester United was a huge relief because it saved his side's troubled season. Antonio Conte's team held on for a 1-0 win over United at Wembley as Eden Hazard's first-half penalty was followed by a determined defensive display from the […]

Porto (Portugal) (AFP) – Premier League side Leicester City have signed Portugal defender Ricardo Pereira from Porto for a fee that could rise to 25 million euros ($29.5 million), the Portuguese champions announced on Saturday. The 24-year-old was named in Fernando Santos' Portugal World Cup squad on Thursday after helping his club win the league […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Galatasaray won the Turkish Super Lig title for the 21st time after a tense end to the season on Saturday which saw all Istanbul teams chasing the coveted trophy. The Istanbul club beat Izmir side Goztepe 1-0 away from home to secure the crown after a goal from the penalty spot in […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final on Saturday as Eden Hazard scored the winner with a first-half penalty. Here are three things we learned from the Wembley showpiece: Conte out-wits Mourinho In what could prove to be his final match as Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte enjoyed a sweet […]

Wembley (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 to lift the FA Cup thanks to Eden Hazard's penalty at Wembley on Saturday to salvage a disappointing season. In what is still widely expected to be Chelsea manager Antonio Conte's final game in charge, the Blues withstood a second-half onslaught from United after Hazard's […]

Berlin (AFP) – Goalkeeper Marwin Hitz joined Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer on Saturday having made himself unavailable for the World Cup finals with Switzerland. Hitz was out of contract at Augsburg and will rival fellow Swiss Roman Buerki to play in goal for Dortmund, who qualified for the Champions League by finishing fourth […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Italy great Gianluigi Buffon played his final game for Juventus on Saturday before tearfully exiting after a 17-year career as storm clouds gathered during a 2-1 win over already relegated Verona. Buffon — who had captained Juventus to a seventh straight Serie A title and fourth consecutive Italian Cup triumph this […]

Beijing (AFP) – Manuel Pellegrini, favourite to succeed David Moyes at West Ham, appeared closer to a return to the Premier League Saturday after his Chinese club released him. The Chilean manager, who led Manchester City to the title in 2014, has been heavily linked with the Hammers job, as the London club tries to […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has admitted Lionel Messi played in a friendly against Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday due to a "contractual issue" even though the striker was left out of last weekend's loss to Levante. Levante's shock 5-4 victory ended Barca's hopes of completing their first ever unbeaten La Liga season in […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – New Italy coach Roberto Mancini on Saturday recalled Nice striker Mario Balotelli for three friendlies against Saudi Arabia, France and the Netherlands. The 27-year-old Balotelli has scored 13 goals in 33 appearances for the Azzurri but has not been selected since Italy's humiliating group-stage exit from the 2014 World Cup. Balotelli […]

London (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku was only fit enough to be named among Manchester United's substitutes for their FA Cup final clash with Chelsea on Saturday. Lukaku had missed the previous three matches after suffering an ankle injury against Arsenal in April and United manager Jose Mourinho revealed the Belgium striker told him he wasn't […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic's dominance of Scottish football continued as they completed a treble of domestic trophies for the second consecutive season with a 2-0 victory over Motherwell in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday. Stunning first-half strikes from Callum McGregor and Olivier Ntcham meant there was never much doubt of Celtic claiming a treble […]