Liverpool, United Kingdom | AFP | As Jurgen Klopp tries to maintain Liverpool’s challenge for the Premier League title, the need to sort out his midfield is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. A home match against bottom club Fulham on Sunday may just offer the opportunity to start to put …
Read More »Mourinho fails to match up as Guardiola takes Man City streets ahead
Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester United turned to Jose Mourinho as the antidote to their “noisy neighbours” Manchester City finally achieving their long-held goal of hiring Pep Guardiola as manager in 2016. Reunited in England’s northwest after two confrontational years on either side of the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry, …
Read More »Mbappe tells AFP: Ronaldo, Messi still best but won’t win Ballon d’Or
Paris, France | AFP | Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe told AFP on Thursday that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain football’s greatest players but that his own World Cup heroics could help crown him the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner. Mbappe, 19, inspired France to World Cup victory in Russia with …
Read More »Southgate defends decision to honour Rooney as Wilson gets first call-up
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Gareth Southgate defended the decision to honour Wayne Rooney by fielding England’s top international goalscorer in a friendly against the USA at Wembley next week. The Football Association announced on Sunday that Rooney would be awarded his 120th cap as a tribute to his …
Read More »Man Utd’s Martial earns recall to France squad
Paris, France | AFP | Anthony Martial has been rewarded for his impressive recent form with Manchester United by being recalled to the France squad by coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday. Martial, who has scored five goals in United’s last four Premier League games, comes in for France’s Nations League …
Read More »Giroud heads Chelsea past BATE, Rangers lose thriller at Spartak
Paris, France | AFP | Chelsea booked their place in the Europa League knockout stage as Olivier Giroud’s first club goal of the campaign gave Maurizio Sarri’s men a 1-0 win at BATE Borisov, while Rangers lost a seven-goal thriller against Spartak Moscow. Giroud ended his 11-game goal drought this …
Read More »Arsenal progress despite Sporting stalemate, Chelsea ease through
Paris, France | AFP | Arsenal booked a place in the Europa League knockout stage and extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches despite a 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon on Thursday, while Olivier Giroud’s first goal of the season sent Chelsea through. But Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck, given a …
Read More »Five things we learned from the Champions League
Paris, France | AFP | Under-fire Jose Mourinho and Manchester United revelled in an incredible smash and grab victory at Juventus, while Real Madrid continue their revival and Cristiano Ronaldo watches on as his magnificent volley counts for nothing. AFP Sport looks at five things we learned in the Champions …
Read More »Ronaldo frustated as Juve ‘gift’ United victory
Turin, Italy | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo could not hide his frustration that despite scoring his first Champions League goal for Juventus the Italian side ‘gifted’ a dramatic late 2-1 victory to Manchester United. Ronaldo struck with a magnificent first-time volley on 65 minutes to leave Juve on course for …
Read More »Henry worried by Monaco winless run
Monaco, Principality of Monaco | AFP | Monaco coach Thierry Henry refused to look for excuses for his winless run at Monaco on Monday, insisting he and his players will dig deep against Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday. Henry has yet to win in four games since taking …
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