Madrid (AFP) – Diego Simeone called on his Atletico Madrid side to prove they are among the best sides in the world on Monday ahead of a must-win Champions League clash against Qarabag of Azerbaijan. Atletico have taken a meagre two points from their opening three Group C games to put their chances of reaching […]

Rome (AFP) – Chelsea coach Antonio Conte said Monday that he would let French midfielder N'Golo Kante decide whether he is fit to play in Tuesday's Champions League tie at Roma. Kante has been out since picking up a hamstring injury during the international break earlier this month. The 26-year-old returned to training before last […]

Rome (AFP) – Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has dismissed suggestions he finds life in London "too stressful", saying he would sign for ten years with the English Premier League champions if offered. The 25-year-old — who signed a club record £58 million ($76.6 million) deal from Real Madrid in the close season — was quoted […]

Abuja (AFP) – Chelsea's Victor Moses will miss Nigeria's final 2018 World Cup qualifier in Algeria and the friendly against Argentina with a hamstring injury, while coach Gernot Rohr recalled in-form youngster Henry Onyekuru. Nigeria had already qualified for next year's finals in Russia with Moses a key figure, but the 26-year-old suffered the injury […]

Belgrade (AFP) – Slavoljub Muslin has left his position as coach of Serbia after leading them to next year's World Cup finals, the Serbian federation (FSS) announced on Monday. The FSS said in a statement on their website that Muslin had departed after his contract was broken by "common accord". He will be replaced on […]

Vienna (AFP) – Austria named the German Franco Foda as their new coach Monday, succeeding the Swiss Marcel Koller who announced his resignation last month after failing to qualify for the World Cup. Currently in charge of Austrian powerhouse Sturm Graz, Foda is the first German to be hired in the national team's 113-year history. […]

Paris (AFP) – The misfiring Kylian Mbappe could be dropped for Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League clash with Anderlecht on Tuesday as the French club look to secure their place in the last 16. Mbappe's rise to superstardom has been rapid but the France forward, who is still just 18, is currently going through the worst […]

Moscow (AFP) – Alexander Kokorin and Fedor Smolov will spearhead Russia's attack in the November friendlies against Argentina and Spain, as coach Stanislav Cherchesov unveiled his 27-man squad on Monday. The 2018 World Cup hosts will take on Argentina at Moscow's renovated Luzhniki Stadium on November 11, before facing Spain in Saint Petersburg three days […]

Rome (AFP) – Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco called on his players to have "the same mentality" against Chelsea in Tuesday's Champions League game in Rome as in London two weeks ago. Roma have won all three of their league games since drawing 3-3 with Chelsea a fortnight ago, and Di Francesco called on his […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho says Romelu Lukaku should be "untouchable" after questioning his treatment by Manchester United's fans for the second time in three days. Lukaku made a lightning start to his United career, scoring 11 goals in his first 10 games for the club following his £75 million ($99 million, 85 […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful Harry Kane will be fit for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Real Madrid after he missed the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United. Kane, who has scored 13 goals for Spurs this season, was expected to be a doubt for the game at Wembley after a hamstring […]

Berlin (AFP) – Alexander Nouri on Monday became the third Bundesliga coach sacked this season when Werder Bremen fired him with the club second from bottom in the Bundesliga and winless this season. Bremen's 3-0 thumping at home to mid-table Augsburg on Sunday was the last straw for Werder's board after cries of "Nouri out!" […]

Rome (AFP) – Edin Dzeko versus Eden Hazard — Tuesday's Champions League clash between Roma and Chelsea in the Stadio Olympico could turn out to be one between the two star forwards. Both Roma's Dzeko and Chelsea's Hazard scored two goals apiece in the six-goal European thriller in Stamford Bridge on October 18. Belgian playmaker […]

London (AFP) – Neither Anthony Martial nor Marcus Rashford are happy spending time on the bench, but the competition between them is pushing both to greater heights for Manchester United this season. With Romelu Lukaku the first-choice number nine and Henrikh Mkhitaryan generally preferred by manager Jose Mourinho on the right flank, Martial and Rashford have […]

Madrid (AFP) – Finding themselves against the ropes, Atletico Madrid have to come out swinging and finally start landing punches to keep their Champions League dreams alive when Azerbaijani champions Qarabag visit the shiny new Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday (1945GMT). The move to the 68,000 capacity stadium, which will host next season's Champions League final, […]