Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said his side ought to have been "smoking cigars" after they made hard work of an eventual 4-2 win away to Watford on Tuesday. But the Portuguese boss said his side had "lost stability" when midfielder Nemanja Matic went off early in the second half […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – David Silva has all the attributes to cement his place as one of Manchester City's leading lights for years to come, according to his manager Pep Guardiola. It is believed Silva, 31, is close to agreeing a new deal with the Premier League leaders as his current contract expires at […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jamie Vardy's 100th goal in English league football helped inspire Leicester City to a 2-1 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday that left the visitors' title bid floundering. Vardy struck early on before Riyad Mahrez doubled Leicester's lead, only for Harry Kane to ensure a nervous finish for […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ashley Young scored two superb goals against his former club as Manchester United beat Watford 4-2 to trim Manchester City's lead at the Premier League summit to five points. England international Young netted twice in six first-half minutes at a freezing Vicarage Road on Tuesday, with Anthony Martial and Jesse […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sevilla's Argentinian coach Eduardo Berizzo underwent "successful" surgery for a malignant prostate cancer on Tuesday, the club said without putting a date on his return to work. "The period of recuperation...will depend on the post-operative developments over the next few days," the club said in a brief statement, adding that his return […]

Rome (AFP) – Roma captain Daniele De Rossi was given a two-match ban on Tuesday for slapping Genoa's Gianluca Lapadula in last weekend's Serie A draw. De Rossi was sent off with his side leading 1-0 after 69 minutes for hitting Lapadula in the face and the Genoa striker scored the resulting penalty for a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Alberto Contador believes former rival Chris Froome is ready to win a maiden Giro d'Italia title next season, and then follow it up with a record-equalling fifth Tour de France crown. Froome won the Vuelta a Espana for the first time in September to join Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil (1963) and Bernard Hinault […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Former Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar has left Portuguese champions Benfica after his contract was ended by mutual agreement on Tuesday. The 38-year-old had served as second-choice last season to the now-Manchester City keeper Ederson Moraes, but slipped below Bruno Varela and Belgian teenager Mile Svilar in the pecking order this term. "The […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte has told any of his Chelsea players unhappy with a lack of game time that they should be grateful to play for the reigning Premier League champions. Willian and David Luiz have been out of Conte's first XI of late and the Chelsea boss is preparing to rotate his options […]

Monaco (AFP) – Monaco midfielder Youri Tielemans will need surgery after suffering a knee injury in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. The Belgian international, 20, has not travelled with Leonardo Jardim's squad for Wednesday's match at Nantes and could be out until after the winter break. "Youri Tielemans has a meniscus injury in the […]

Abuja (AFP) – Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has been given a new two-year contract after guiding the country to the World Cup finals, the country's football association announced on Tuesday. "He has done very well and does not need to go into the World Cup uncertain of his future," said Amaju Pinnick, president of the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid left-back Marcelo on Tuesday admitted defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of nearly half a million euros, according to a judicial source. Brazilian international Marcelo admitted to tax fraud in court in Alcobendas, on the outskirts of Madrid, after being accused using front companies to hide 490,917 euros ($579,348) he earned […]

Lyon (AFP) – Lyon forward Mariano Diaz denied on Tuesday that Real Madrid have a buy-back clause, after the European champions sold him to the Ligue 1 club in the close season. The Spaniard has impressed in France, scoring 11 goals in all competitions this term, but Spanish media reports suggested Real had added an […]

Athens (AFP) – Greece coach Michael Skibbe has been offered a new two-year deal despite his team failing to qualify for the World Cup, the Greek football federation (HFF) announced on Tuesday. The HFF said that German Skibbe will be in Athens on Thursday to sign his new contract. The 52-year-old was hired by Greece […]

Milan (AFP) – New AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso warned on Tuesday that the former Italian giants must suffer if they want to return to their glory days. Gattuso, a key figure in some of Milan's best ever teams, took over as coach on Monday after Vincenzo Montella was sacked following a disappointing start to […]