Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Chelsea star Oscar misses out but Brazil include the Real Madrid pair of Marcelo and Casemiro for the crunch clash next month with old rivals Argentina in World Cup qualifying. Coach Tite on Friday named a strong 24-man squad for the games at home to Argentina on November 10 and […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Friday rejected speculation star Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero and injury-plagued club captain Vincent Kompany are not part of his long-term plans. Neither player started in City’s 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday which has cast an element of doubt over […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Brazilian superstar Neymar has signed a new five-year contract that will keep him at Barcelona until 2021, the Spanish champions said on Friday. The deal, which had been agreed in June, includes a buy-out clause of up to 250 million euros as Barca seek to ward off interest from potential suitors.

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho should be given a warm welcome when the Manchester United manager returns to Chelsea, on Sunday said present Blues incumbent Antonio Conte. Conte, who took over in July after Guus Hiddink had stepped in when Mourinho was fired last term, added that the Portuguese coach who guided Chelsea to three […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger compared the Premier League to "a jungle" on Friday saying every day was a fight for survival. The 66-year-old Frenchman — whose side are on a hot streak of form with seven successive wins in all competitions — will hope his players heed such words when they host […]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been a raging success since he was appointed as Gunners manager in 1996. The Frenchman has collected three Premier League titles, six FA Cups, six Community Shields, and was awarded as the Premier League Manager of the Season on three different occasions. Nevertheless, there will come a time in which […]

London (AFP) – Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted he will no longer feel a sense of invincibility when he returns to Stamford Bridge with Manchester United on Sunday. Mourinho avoided a home league defeat in his first three-year stint at Chelsea and prior to a 1-0 Champions League victory there with Inter Milan […]

Berlin (AFP) – Carlo Ancelotti's Bayern Munich bid to claim a rare win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday as the Bundesliga leaders look to get back to winning ways in Germany's top flight. Having won their first eight games under Ancelotti in all competitions, Bayern then went three matches without a win but got back […]

Paris (AFP) – Rudi Garcia faces a daunting first assignment as Marseille coach with the struggling French giants travelling to bitter rivals and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 this weekend. The former Lille and Roma boss has penned a three-year contract at the Stade Velodrome where his task is to resurrect a side […]

Milan (AFP) – Midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura said AC Milan are primed and ready to finally taste victory over Juventus when the sides meet in an enticing San Siro clash on Saturday. Eight games into the season Juventus look to be on their way to a record sixth consecutive Serie A crown after opening up significant […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino is keen for his Tottenham Hotspur players to rise to the occasion and move to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday. That may only be for a few hours but Spurs know that victory at Bournemouth in a lunchtime kick-off will be enough to lift […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal will aim to make it eight consecutive victories when they host Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Saturday in defence of an 11-match unbeaten record in all competitions. The North London side are riding high after beating Ludogorets 6-0 in the Champions League in midweek, a match where Mesut Ozil scored […]

Liverpool (AFP) – The mood at Liverpool is an optimistic one despite the frustration of Monday's goalless draw at home to Manchester United, as Jurgen Klopp's injury list shortens. Georginio Wijnaldum's influence was missed against United as he recovered from a hip injury sustained on World Cup duty with the Netherlands, but the midfielder is […]

London (AFP) – North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will both have the chance to pile the pressure on Pep Guardiola by leapfrogging his Manchester City side at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday. The Gunners, level on points with City, are at home to struggling Middlesbrough while Spurs, a point […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said Paul Pogba needs time to fulfil his full potential in England after the French midfielder scored twice in a 4-1 win over Fenerbahce. Pogba, a world-record 89 million pounds ($109.1 million, 100 million euros) signing from Juventus, scored a penalty and a long-range effort […]