England legend John Barnes has warned Manchester United that their issues stem deeper than the squad at their disposal, as the club enters the Erik Ten Hag era.
United axed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer midway through last season and drafted in Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis until the end of the 2021-22 season – which ended with disappointment as the club failed to secure a top-four finish and Champions League football.
Ten Hag was lured to Old Trafford from Ajax to take the club into a new direction, becoming the fifth permanent managerial appointment at United since Sir Alex Ferguson s retirement in 2013.
The arrival of the Dutchman comes amid further changes in the United hierarchy, with Ed Woodward departing and Richard Arnold coming in as chief executive office…
Ibrahimovic needed three knee operations to save his career as 41-year-old Milan star reports for Sw
Zlatan Ibrahimovic revealed it took three knee operations to rescue his career at the end of last season, as the Milan striker returned to centre stage on Tuesday with Sweden.
The 41-year-old spoke at a national team press conference ahead of Friday s Euro 2024 qualifier against Belgium, having been called up by coach Janne Andersson.
Two years have passed since Andersson recalled Ibrahimovic after a long spell in the international wilderness, and he has endured cruel fortune in that subsequent time, with a knee injury ruling him out of the delayed Euro 2020 finals.
That blow in 2021 was followed by Ibrahimovic requiring anterior cruciate knee ligament surgery at the end of last season, which was necessary to extend his playing days.
Milan announced in la…
Pep Guardiola recognised Manchester City s 3-0 win against Bayern Munich was a really, really good result but stressed the job was not yet done.
A first-leg demolition of the German champions means City would have to capitulate woefully in Bavaria next Wednesday to miss out on a semi-final place.
This City team are on a nine-game winning streak and have hit at least three goals in seven of those victories, easing into a spectacular stride as the end of the season approaches.
Goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland – whose 45th of the season put the seal on the win – left Thomas Tuchel s Bayern in a desperate position ahead of the rematch.
Guardiola, a former Bayern head coach, made a point of complimenting the Bundesliga giants, who had th…
Denmark threw down a gauntlet for the Qatar 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 win over France, only to narrowly miss out on the Nations League Finals.
First-half goals for Kasper Dolberg and Andreas Skov Olsen put the Danes firmly in the frame to reach next year s final four, only for rivals Croatia to net twice in the second half to beat Austria and finish top of Group A1.
Nevertheless, an assured victory over World Cup holders France in Copenhagen offered a sharp reminder of Denmark s dark horse credentials for Qatar, after also reaching the Euro 2020 semi-finals.
Austria s defeat ensured Les Bleus dodged relegation to the second tier, but for Didier Deschamps, alarm bells may be ringing after a lacklustre campaign.
0 France are one of six teams to have …
Ghana s World Cup reunion with Uruguay is set to be full of bite, and Luis Suarez was handed a start in the showdown at Al Janoub.
Suarez said on Thursday that he will never apologise for his famous handball on the line in a 2010 quarter-final tie with the Black Stars.
With the scores level at 1-1, Asamoah Gyan hit the resulting spot-kick against the crossbar, and Uruguay went on to win on penalties.
Suarez was sent off for the handball, but it was put to him in the pre-match press conference that many Ghana fans still compare the former Liverpool and Barcelona star to the Devil.
Uruguay coach Diego Alonso had no issues in handing the 35-year-old a starting spot for the crunch Group H match, though. Uruguay need a victory to stand a chance of progressing …
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes says she does not intend to watch Sunday’s Manchester derby that could see her side crowned Women’s Super League champions.
With two rounds of games to go, champions Chelsea are two points clear of second-placed Manchester United heading into their lunchtime kick-off at Kingsmeadow against Arsenal.
If the Blues win, United then failing to in their early evening clash with Manchester City at Leigh Sports Village will mean a fourth successive WSL title – adding to last weekend’s FA Cup success – secured for Hayes’ team.
Asked if she would be watching the derby, Hayes told a press conference: “I said (to her son) I promise you Sunday afternoon we’ll take you out, new bike, and I’ll take him and his cousins for a roll around …
The Republic of Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 were all but ended by the Netherlands for whom substitute Wout Weghorst’s goal secured a 2-1 win in Dublin.
The hosts, in need of victory to put themselves in contention in Group B, took the lead on four minutes when Adam Idah scored from the penalty spot after Virgil van Dijk had been penalised for handball.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu brought down Denzel Dumfries as the Netherlands won a penalty of their own midway through the first half, with Cody Gakpo levelling from 12 yards.
FT | It ends in defeat at the Aviva Stadium.
— Ireland Football (@IrelandFootball)
Weghorst ensured his side moved second with a game in hand behind leaders France when he scored from Dumfries’ cut-back af…
France must defy the weight of history as they attempt to sink Germany in the second semi-final at the Women s European Championship.
Corinne Diacre s French team have already made a colossal impact on the tournament in England, starting from when they smashed five goals past Italy in the first half of their opening group game.
That felt like a statement 45 minutes, a message to their rivals that this France team are different to those who have come before. Although France have not quite hit those swashbuckling heights since, they are through to their first Women s Euros semi-final, after falling in the quarters in each of the last three editions.
Coach Diacre made some tough choices for this tournament, omitting star forward Eugenie Le Sommer and Champions Leag…
Olivier Giroud s first-half strike proved the difference as Milan battled through to the Champions League last four with a 1-1 draw at Napoli to secure a 2-1 aggregate triumph.
Ismael Bennacer s goal last week at San Siro snatched a 1-0 quarter-final lead and Milan deservedly doubled their aggregate advantage in the first half on Tuesday in Naples.
Giroud had an earlier penalty saved by Alex Meret but made amends soon after with his 43rd-minute opener after Rafael Leao s incredible run to create the goal.
Victor Osimhen s stoppage-time strike offered Napoli hope after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia s 82nd-minute penalty was saved by Mike Maignan, but Milan held on to reach their first Champions League semi-final since 2007.
That run. Just sensational.
�…
Chelsea are interested in signing Samuel Lino from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2025, according to . Lino has impressed a number of clubs with his performances, but it is Chelsea who are showing the most interest at the moment and think that his attacking versatility would be a great addition to the squad.
Lino has been on the books of Atletico since 2022 when he joined from Gil Vicente in the Portuguese Primera Liga. The 24-year-old winger spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Valencia from Atletico and is now part of the Madrid club’s first team.
The Brazilian winger has given one assist in six La Liga matches for Atletico so far this season. Lino has also played 28 minutes in the UEFA Champions League and has scored one goal in four Copa del Rey games for Diego S…