London (AFP) – Claudio Ranieri wouldn't mind if Premier League champions Leicester stopped paying him because what motivates the veteran manager is passion, love and a team who fight for each other. The 65-year-old — who was at the helm to guide 5000/1 outsiders Leicester to the Premier League title last season — told The […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits he is worried as he tries to halt the longest winless run of his managerial career. Guardiola has gone six games without a victory as he prepares to take his team to West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday. The former Barcelona […]

London (AFP) – Everton manager Ronald Koeman says he would love to bring Wayne Rooney back to Goodison Park if the England star can't revive his flagging Manchester United fortunes. United captain Rooney has been relegated to the bench by boss Jose Mourinho in recent weeks after a dip in form that prompted speculation he […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona coach Luis Enrique believes former teammate Pep Guardiola will succeed at Manchester City and that criticism of his methods are borne out of jealousy. Guardiola is in the midst of the worst run of results in his managerial career having not won in six games, including a 4-0 thrashing by Luis […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho admits Henrikh Mkhitaryan is struggling to adapt to life at Manchester United but insists he has no intention of selling the Armenian just three months after his £26 million ($31 million, 28 million euros) signing. Mkhitaryan has played just 104 minutes of Premier League football this season since arriving […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane backed Cristiano Ronaldo's case for a fourth Ballon d'Or on Friday despite the Portuguese superstar's current struggles in front of goal. Ronaldo won both the Champions League with Real and Portugal's first ever major tournament at Euro 2016 to make him the favourite to land the award […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger fears the crowd trouble that marred West Ham United's League Cup victory over Chelsea and left 200 fans facing banning orders could damage the campaign for safe standing areas in stadiums. Rival fans threw coins, seats and bottles inside West Ham's London Stadium on Wednesday and were involved […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger says Lucas Perez will be out of action for up to eight weeks after the Arsenal striker was targeted by a "stupid" challenge from Reading's Danzell Gravenberch. Gunners boss Wenger is furious that Gravenberch clattered Perez in Arsenal's 2-0 League Cup victory at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. Perez will […]

London (AFP) – West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis ended speculation about his future on Friday as he signed a one-year contract extension with the Premier League club. Albion are under new Chinese ownership and it had been suggested Pulis might part ways with the Baggies after expressing his displeasure at the lack of quality […]

Singapore (AFP) – English footballer Jermaine Pennant fired a parting shot as he left his Singapore club, saying even Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi couldn't lift the moribund S-League. The former Arsenal and Liverpool winger, 33, made the comment as he departs Tampines Rovers after just nine months in the nine-team Singapore league. "No matter who […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger has credited Shkodran Mustafi with giving Arsenal the defensive steel that has helped the Gunners share the lead at the head of the Premier League table going into Saturday's match with struggling Sunderland. Wenger's side will head to the Stadium of Light level on points with Manchester City and Liverpool […]

Paris (AFP) – Struggling Lyon will attempt to halt their alarming dip in form away to Toulouse on Saturday as the pressure mounts on Bruno Genesio following a run of five defeats in six matches. Lyon lurched into crisis mode after crashing to a 3-1 home reverse against Guingamp last weekend, and it won't get […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich face familiar opposition in neighbours Augsburg on Saturday as the Bundesliga leaders take on their Bavarian rivals for the second time in four days. Bayern beat Augsburg 3-1 on Wednesday in the second round of the German Cup as US international Julian Green — deputising for striker Robert Lewandowski — […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City’s form under Pep Guardiola is beginning to show similarities to their final season under his predecessor Manuel Pellegrini, with a fast start followed by an autumn stumble. Last season, City won their opening five matches under Pellegrini, then fell away so badly that they only just secured England’s […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid are hoping Cristiano Ronaldo can end a lean period in front of goal as they attempt to keep their noses in front of a tight five-way race atop La Liga at Alaves on Saturday. Madrid bounced back from a four-game draw streak in style by scoring 20 goals in winning […]