Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona need to avoid a growing sense of hysteria felt by fans, fellow players and media over protracted negotiations to extend superstar striker Lionel Messi's contract, his coach Luis Enrique said Friday. With just 18 months left on the 29-year-old Argentine's deal, Enrique insisted there is no need to panic. "We have […]

London (AFP) – Sunderland manager David Moyes has accused Jeremain Lens of being "disgracefully disrespectful" after the Netherlands midfielder said it would be good for him if the Premier League strugglers were relegated. Lens is currently on loan at Turkish club Fenerbahce after being recruited by former Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat, who brought the 29-year-old […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte insists Chelsea defender John Terry won't be allowed to leave the Premier League leaders during the January transfer window. Terry has been unable to nail down a first team place since returning from injury and the Chelsea captain was linked with a temporary move to Bournemouth this week after Blues […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho claims he is a calmer manager than Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, despite having been sent to the stands twice for disciplinary reasons this season. United manager Mourinho has guided his team to nine successive wins in all competitions, and even though they are currently sixth, they could make […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola admits he is not certain if injury-plagued Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany will ever return to peak form. Kompany is back in first team contention having had an eight-week lay-off for a knee problem he sustained against Crystal Palace in November. That was the Belgium centre-back's 35th injury […]

Décines-Charpieu (France) (AFP) – Manchester United's Dutch forward Memphis Depay is the top target for French club Lyon during the winter transfer window, coach Bruno Genesio said Friday. "I'm a fan of this player and have made him my priority," Genesio told a press conference as he outlined the 23-year-old's qualities. "He's forceful, powerful, capable […]

Libreville (AFP) – Shock qualifiers Guinea-Bissau face hosts Gabon Saturday in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations opener, hoping to continue a Leicester City-like run in the competition. Traditional underachievers Leicester were the sensational winners of the 2015-2016 English Premier League, giving football minnows across the world belief that nothing is impossible. The west […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger insists Mesut Ozil won't base his contract talks with Arsenal solely on the uncertain future of the Gunners manager. Wenger's current deal only runs until the end of the season and he has yet to reveal whether he will extend his 20-year reign at the Premier League club. With Wenger's […]

Libreville (AFP) – New-look Ivory Coast are preparing to defend the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Gabon on Saturday, buoyed by encouraging results and impressive form from new recruit Wilfried Zaha. The Crystal Palace flier hopes to make an impact in a competition that boasts Europe-based stars like Riyad Mahrez of Algeria, […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo returns for Real Madrid as the European champions put their Spanish record 40-game unbeaten run on the line for the second time in four days in a top of the table clash at Sevilla on Sunday. Victory for the hosts would blow the La Liga title race wide open with […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero said he scored "perhaps the best goal of my career" against Fiorentina, and he expects the Old Lady to continue outplaying La Viola when the sides meet on Sunday. For Del Piero, Juventus v Fiorentina is a "derby" and one in which he struck a superb volley […]

Paris (AFP) – With one eye twitching in the direction of Barcelona in the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain head into their first taste of 2017 French league action with ground to make up. Saturday's game at a Rennes side with realistic designs on Europe will, PSG hope, reignite their form after an opening half of […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United have a golden opportunity to haul themselves into the Premier League title race at the expense of bitter rivals Liverpool this weekend, while leaders Chelsea will look to steady their nerves at Leicester. United go into the Old Trafford showdown in fine fettle after beating Hull in the League Cup […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Fresh from signing a new contract Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny has demanded his team-mates ramp up their performances, beginning with the Premier League game at struggling Swansea on Saturday. Koscielny, who has committed himself to 2020 — which would mean the French defender has been at the Gunners for 10 […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino has challenged his Tottenham Hotspur players to demonstrate their growing maturity when they face West Brom on Saturday in the wake of their impressive victory over Premier League leaders Chelsea. Pochettino's side ended Chelsea's run of 13 successive league victories by extending their own winning run to six games and […]