London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal's FA Cup fate won't define his future, but the beleaguered Gunners boss desperately needs a victory over Manchester City in Sunday's semi-final to keep his growing army of critics at bay. Wenger has been under siege like never before in his 21-year reign as furious Arsenal fans call […]

Liverpool (AFP) – In-form Liverpool will aim to move a step closer to qualifying for the Champions League when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp's side are on a seven match unbeaten run that includes five wins and has lifted them up to third place in the Premier League. The Reds are sixth […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Luke Shaw hopes to be offered the opportunity to resurrect his Premier League career by Jose Mourinho at Burnley on Sunday after helping Manchester United into the Europa League semi-finals. The England full-back played 120 minutes in Thursday’s extra-time victory over Anderlecht as United set up a semi-final meeting against […]

Istanbul (AFP) – For over a century, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce have been battling for football supremacy in Turkey's largest city Istanbul, in the world's only transcontinental derby. Watched by a voracious media and unforgiving fans, it's a game where losing simply can't be an option. "It's war," says Yakip Altonisik, a member of Galatasaray's main […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona made a last-gasp bid to have star striker Neymar back for Sunday's critical Clasico clash with an appeal to a Spanish sports court against his three-game ban. As it stands the 25-year-old is set to miss the blockbuster showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu after being shown the first red card of […]

London (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate led the tributes on Friday to "gentle giant" Ugo Ehiogu after the sudden death of the former Aston Villa star at the age of 44. Ehiogu collapsed on Thursday at Tottenham's training centre, where he worked as the club's under-23 coach, after suffering a cardiac arrest. Southgate had […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte took a swipe at Tottenham ahead of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final saying it is high time that the north London club ended decades of underachievement. Conte's Premier League leaders are just four points ahead of second-placed Tottenham in a tense title race, but Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Manchester United will face the Spanish side Celta Vigo in the semi-finals of the Europa League over two legs and Ajax take on Lyon, after the draw on Friday. Jose Mourinho's United will be strong favourites and have the advantage of playing the second leg at Old Trafford as they attempt […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola hopes Gabriel Jesus will play a part in Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal after the Brazilian recovered from a broken foot. Jesus had an immediate impact after making his City debut as a substitute against Tottenham in January, scoring three goals in four Premier League games […]

Zurich (AFP) – FIFA's ex-president Sepp Blatter said Friday that a comeback was possible for his former ally Michel Platini, declining to hit back after the Frenchman savaged him in an interview last month. Blatter told AFP that Platini's name may be cleared by "new elements" concerning the infamous two million Swiss franc payment ($2 […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed Gary Cahill is set to miss Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham after being treated for a small stone in his kidney. Cahill was admitted to hospital on Tuesday after training and the England centre-back had tests and treatment before being released on Thursday. With the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United's mounting injury problems mean they are "in trouble" going into the season's decisive weeks, according to manager Jose Mourinho. Mourinho lost Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimiovic to injury during Thursday's Europa League quarter-final win over Anderlecht, the pair joining Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata on the […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Holders Real Madrid face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals as the city rivals do battle once more and French surprise-package Monaco take on Juventus, following the draw on Friday. The all-Madrid showdown is a rerun of the 2014 and 2016 finals in Europe's top club competition, with a Cristiano […]

Berlin (AFP) – Police commandos on Friday arrested a German-Russian suspect behind a bomb attack on Borussia Dortmund's team bus, prosecutors said, indicating the motive was financial and not terror-related. They said the man, identified only as 28-year-old Sergej W., was hoping to profit from a drop in the football team's share price as a […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham's under-23 coach Ugo Ehiogu has died at the age of 44, the Premier League club announced on Friday. The former England defender passed away after suffering a heart attack on Thursday. Tottenham announced in a statement: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Ugo Ehiogu." Ehiogu, capped […]