Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Embattled Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho launched a stirring defence of his misfiring Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Friday. The 35-year-old Swede has scored just once in 11 games after starting brilliantly for his new club — where he was reunited with Mourinho after they were together at Inter Milan […]

Berlin (AFP) – Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou bagged a hat-trick as Hertha Berlin defeated weary Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-0 to move into third spot in the Bundesliga on Friday. The former Chelsea and Lille star allowed Hertha to maintain their 100 percent home record while Gladbach, who were playing just three days after drawing with […]

Paris (AFP) – Algerian playmaker Ryad Boudebouz scored twice as Montpellier beat Marseille 3-1 on Friday to leave new OM coach Rudi Garcia still looking for a first league win in charge. Boudebouz netted both of his goals in the first half and Steve Mounie also struck for the hosts at the Stade de la […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United's Spanish international midfielder Juan Mata said it is time for his team to play well rather than talk a good game, starting with Swansea on Sunday. The 28-year-old — United's player of the month in a spell of poor results for them and manager Jose Mourinho including a […]

NBC Sports this weekend will be doing a first TV to digital to social line up to provide soccer fans in the United States with plenty of coverage of the Premier League. Due to the clocks already going back one hour in the United Kingdom, Saturday's game between Chelsea and Everton on NBC will kick […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp stressed he would have the "final say" over which players were bought and sold at Anfield after the Merseysiders announced Friday their newly-created post of sporting director. Michael Edwards, who previously held backroom roles as Liverpool's head of analytics, director of technical performance and technical director has the […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was adamant Friday he had no cause for regret in failing to sign Romelu Lukaku, given he had a "complete player" at his disposal in rival striker Diego Costa. Brazil-born Spain international Costa tops the current Premier League scoring charts with eight goals, while Belgium's Lukaku has found […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane will be fit to play some part in this weekend's North London derby, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said Friday. The England striker has been out for nearly seven weeks with an ankle problem but Pochettino said it would "not be a risk" for the 23-year-old to feature in some […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal's Hector Bellerin insisted Friday he was happy to see out his existing contract with the Gunners amid reports linking him with a move to Premier League leaders Manchester City or Spanish giants Barcelona. The 21-year-old Spain full-back, battling to be fit for the North London derby at home to Tottenham Hotspur […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid, one of the world's richest clubs, have returned 20.3 million euros to Madrid city council after the EU said it constituted "illegal" state aid, city officials said Friday. In a statement, the city council said it would inform the European Commission it had received the sum, which is equvalent to […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insisted nothing has changed in his stormy relationship with Yaya Toure although he welcomed the Ivory Coast international's apology for controversial statements issued by the player's agent. The City manager was talking on Friday just hours after Toure issued an apology over his dispute with […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has apologised on behalf of his agent for controversial comments which led to his exclusion from the Premier League team. Manager Pep Guardiola has refused to pick Toure since Dimitri Seluk claimed the midfielder had been "humiliated" by his omission from the club's Champions League squad. […]

London (AFP) – A bitter feud ignited by greed and sustained by jealousy will once again leave families divided when Arsenal and Tottenham stage the latest chapter of the north London derby on Sunday. To the unsuspecting outsider, Arsenal and Tottenham's annual showdowns might appear tame in comparison with the scenes of violence and mayhem […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russian Premier League joint leaders Zenit St Petersburg face a tough game at Terek Grozny on Sunday as they look to maintain their unbeaten run after making progress in the Europa League. Zenit, the Premier League's only unbeaten side, sit second, level on points with Spartak Moscow, who top the table having […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic on Friday warned his players against Saudi Arabia's "specialists in provocation" in a home World Cup qualifier this month that could potentially decide his own future. The Franco-Bosnian, whose position as head coach has been plunged into doubt after a disappointing 2018 qualifying campaign, has named a full-strength […]