Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona defender Gerard Pique insists he will not reverse his decision to retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup. Pique announced his intention to leave La Roja after having to demonstrate he did not cut the colours of the Spanish flag off his kit during a 2-0 win in Albania […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Pep Guardiola's legacy at Barcelona will never be forgotten, according to Barca defender Gerard Pique, ahead of the Manchester City manager's return to the Camp Nou on Wednesday. Pique was a major part of the Guardiola side that won 14 trophies in a golden four-year period between 2008 and 2012. "Pep made […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Arch-rivals Liverpool and Manchester United failed to spark as England's two most successful clubs played out a forgettable 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Monday. Victory would have lifted Jurgen Klopp's in-form Liverpool level with leaders Manchester City and Arsenal, but they remain fourth after seeing a five-game winning streak come […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – English Premier League leaders Manchester City on Tuesday announced record turnover of $480 million and its Abu Dhabi owners said the club has reached a "turning point". City, who were hit by UEFA sanctions over their finances in 2014, announced a 20 million pound ($24.5 million/22.2 million euro) profit from […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claimed that his team had exposed Liverpool's shortcomings after holding Jurgen Klopp's high-flying team to a 0-0 draw. Liverpool went into Monday's game at Anfield seeking a sixth successive win in all competitions and bidding to draw level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City and […]

Bangkok (AFP) – The Football Association of Thailand has said it may hold a World Cup qualifier behind closed doors while the nation mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej and all forms of entertainment are reined in. The venue for the November 15 tie against Australia was cast into doubt after the Thai king, the world's longest-reigning […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claimed that his team had exposed Liverpool's shortcomings after holding Jurgen Klopp's well-regarded team to a 0-0 draw. Liverpool went into Monday's game at Anfield seeking a sixth successive win in all competitions and bidding to draw level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City and […]

Barcelona (AFP) – For one of the most decorated coaches of all-time, boasting a 75 percent career win percentage and 21 trophies, Pep Guardiola's record of two wins from his last 11 away Champions League matches is an uncharacteristic stain. Manchester City's long court of the Catalan was not just to dominate at home, but […]

Paris (AFP) – AFP Sports previews Wednesday's Champions League action with Pep Guardiola taking Manchester City to Barcelona. (all kick-offs 1845 GMT): GROUP A At Paris Paris Saint Germain (FRA) v Basel (SUI) As coach of Sevilla last season Unai Emery beat Basel on the way to winning the Europa League. Now his current charges, […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Borussia Monchengladbach face a test of fire as they travel into the cauldron of Celtic Park on Wednesday with a first Champions League Group C win at stake for both sides. Celtic's raucous fans carried the Hoops to a 3-3 draw with Manchester City last time out and coupled with Gladbach's poor […]

London (AFP) – After crumbling at the first sign of pressure far too often in recent years, Arsenal are finally showing signs of developing a steely spine and Theo Walcott is the unlikely standard bearer. Arsene Wenger's side have been guilty of squandering numerous chances to mount Premier League title challenges and go deep into […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho praised his team for subduing Anfield after they held in-form Liverpool to a dour 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Monday. United have won only one of their last five league games and remain seventh in the league, three points below fourth-place Liverpool and five points […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Fresh from ending a 17-month wait for an away La Liga win, Sevilla will seek another scalp on the road at Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday to take a huge step towards the Champions League last 16. Victory at the 23rd attempt on the road, 3-2 at Leganes on Saturday, moved Sevilla up […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri is not worried by the English champions' poor domestic run and is confident they will rediscover their winning ways, he said on Monday. The Foxes have won just twice in eight Premier League games and slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday, leaving […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – If new Marseille owner Frank McCourt's turbulent eight-year reign over the Los Angeles Dodgers is anything to go by, fans of the French giants could be in for a bumpy ride. The 63-year-old Boston-born tycoon, who on Monday completed his purchase of the Ligue 1 side, began his career in commercial […]