London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel says he will put a competitive Chelsea team on the pitch next season irrespective of the constraints on the club as a result of their asset freeze and impending sale. Russian owner Roman Abramovich put Chelsea on the market last month following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and was subsequently targeted […]

London (AFP) – Ralf Rangnick said on Wednesday that Manchester United must face up to the reality their top-four hopes have likely disappeared as they prepare to take on Chelsea this week without a swathe of key players. Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho have joined the Red Devils' lengthy list of absentees for Thursday's rearranged […]

London (AFP) – Fernandinho says Manchester City will aim to "hurt" Real Madrid in their own backyard after winning the thrilling first leg of their Champions League semi-final 4-3. City held a two-goal lead three times at the Etihad, but Real, having come from behind in the previous rounds against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, responded […]

London (AFP) – Title-chasing Liverpool will play two Premier League games in the final week of the campaign after their match against Southampton was rescheduled due to their participation in the FA Cup final. Jurgen Klopp's men will travel to the south coast for their penultimate fixture of the league season on Tuesday, May 17, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – "We have to do a magical thing," said Karim Benzema after Real Madrid performed another Houdini act in the Champions League to escape only 4-3 down from Tuesday's thrilling semi-final, first leg against Manchester City. Benzema set up what should be a special night at the Santiago Bernabeu on May […]

Mexico City (AFP) – The Seattle Sounders are eyeing an end to more than two decades of futility on Wednesday when they take on Mexico's Pumas UNAM in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final. The Sounders are bidding to become the first Major League Soccer side to be crowned continental champions since […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City have a slender lead to defend in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid after winning a thrilling first leg 4-3 at the Etihad on Tuesday. The English champions could live to regret not killing off the 13-time winners after taking a two-goal lead […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – John Stones recovered from a muscle problem in time to start at right-back for Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on Tuesday. Pep Guardiola had a selection headache with first-choice full-backs Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker ruled out by suspension and injury […]

Liverpool (AFP) – David faces Goliath in the Champions League on Wednesday as Villarreal travel to Anfield to meet Liverpool, aiming to derail the Reds' bid for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies. Jurgen Klopp's men, who lifted the League Cup in February, have already won the same number of major honours this season as the […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp has dismissed the idea that Liverpool have a dream Champions League semi-final draw as they prepare to face Villarreal in the next stage of their quest for an unprecedented quadruple. The Reds, who host the Spaniards for the first leg at Anfield on Wednesday, are potentially nine games away from […]

Madrid (AFP) – Villarreal captain Dani Parejo said on Tuesday his team are convinced they can spring another surprise and beat Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals. After knocking out Juventus in the last 16 and Bayern Munich in the quarters, Villarreal are looking to pull off another shock by defeating Liverpool, the six-time European […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has agreed a new contract until 2026 with a buy-out clause set at 1 billion euros, the club announced on Tuesday. Araujo's previous deal was due to expire next year and his commitment comes as a huge boost to Barca, who see the 23-year-old as a key player […]

Milan (AFP) – Giorgio Chiellini will bring down the curtain on his international career this summer after Italy face Argentina in the so-called 'Finalissima' at Wembley, the site of his greatest career triumph. The 37-year-old was one of the key figures of the Azzurri's Euro 2020 victory, captaining his country to a dramatic win over […]

Vila-real (Spain) (AFP) – “I said ‘Where is Villarreal?’” explains Etienne Capoue, who describes it like he was scanning a map of the world and pointing his finger down. “I was told it was in the sun, just there, next to Valencia. So I said ‘alright, let’s go’.” Capoue’s last two games for Watford were […]

Rome (AFP) – Moise Kean's late goal gave Juventus a hard-fought 2-1 win at Sassuolo in Serie A on Monday, allowing them to close the gap on third-placed Napoli to one point. Sassuolo had done more than enough to claim a share of the points when Kean struck two minutes from full-time. A long ball […]