Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of rock-bottom Dijon on Friday with coach Thomas Tuchel accusing his expensively-assembled team of "being too passive and not playing together". It was the third loss of the Ligue 1 season for the French champions who could also see their lead at […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has extended an invitation to England rugby union coach Eddie Jones to visit him after the World Cup. Guardiola planned to watch on television when England take on South Africa in the final in Japan on Saturday. His thoughts will then turn to City's Premier […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of rock-bottom Dijon on Friday in a sapping setback to morale just days before they tackle Club Brugge in the Champions League. It was the third loss of the Ligue 1 season for the French champions who could also see their lead […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Anthony Martial is scoring more because he is smiling more as the Frenchman's return to action coincides with an upturn in form for Manchester United. Martial scored in both of the games he has started since coming back from a thigh injury — against Partizan Belgrade […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola said on Friday he agrees with title rival Jurgen Klopp about the hectic schedule the Premier League's top teams have to face ahead of his side's clash with Southampton. Klopp criticised as "too much" the number of matches his side has to play as he struggles to find […]

London (AFP) – Frank Lampard on Friday poured cold water on Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger's reported claim that he is fit to return to action ahead of the Blues' trip to struggling Watford. The 26-year-old German international has been restricted to just one appearance under new coach Lampard after first undergoing knee surgery and then […]

London (AFP) – Dele Alli needs people to rally round him in an effort to try and lift his form which has seen him lose his place in the England squad, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday. The 23-year-old midfielder — whose goal scoring has slipped from 23 in all competitions in the […]

London (AFP) – Unai Emery confirmed on Friday that Granit Xhaka will miss Arsenal's home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend as the Swiss midfielder's fan feud rumbles on. Xhaka appeared to swear at Arsenal supporters after his second half substitution prompted sarcastic cheers and booing during Sunday's 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace, with […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane said on Friday Gareth Bale has resumed light training but will not be available for Real Madrid's La Liga game at home to Real Betis. Madrid can register their third consecutive victory by beating struggling Betis on Saturday but Bale remains on the sidelines, as he continues his recovery from […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool are yet to resolve their League Cup dilemma after holding talks over the fixture clash between the quarter-final against Aston Villa and the Club World Cup. Klopp's side will be in the Middle East for the Club World Cup when their League Cup tie at Villa was scheduled […]

London (AFP) – Trent Alexander-Arnold has delighted Liverpool fans with not only his performances but the fact he is a locally-born player said manager Jurgen Klopp on Friday. The 21-year-old right-back is set to make his 100th appearance for the Premier League leaders against Aston Villa on Saturday. Klopp said Alexander-Arnold's rise to stardom had […]

London (AFP) – Stoke manager Nathan Jones was sacked on Friday after only 10 months in charge of the Championship strugglers. Jones won only six of his 38 games in charge after succeeding the axed Gary Rowett in January. The former Luton boss leaves with Stoke languishing second bottom of the Championship after a 2-0 […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United's hopes of a fourth successive away win may hinge on in-form forward Marcus Rashford passing a fitness test after manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed he had hurt his knee. Rashford, who injured his knee celebrating his stunning second goal in Wednesday's 2-1 League Cup win over Chelsea, is […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Marcello Lippi was accused Friday of neglect and delivering "a slap in the face" amid grumblings that China's coach is not doing enough to justify one of the highest salaries in football management. Former Everton midfielder Li Tie will temporarily take charge of China's national team at an East Asian championships next […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Julian Brandt says he hopes his side's 2-1 midweek win over Borussia Moenchengladbach in the German Cup will mark a turning point in the season. While some had the black and yellows as favourite to win the Bundesliga after an aggressive off-season recruitment effort, Dortmund sit in fifth […]