Pep Guardiola has the ability to coach anywhere in the world, according to former Barcelona star Ronaldinho, ahead of a scramble for the departing Bayern Munich head coach s services.
Bayern announced at the weekend that Guardiola will not extend his contract with the Bundesliga champions, with Manchester City, near neighbours United and Chelsea all thought to be chasing the Catalan s signature for next season.
After securing three league titles, two Copa del Rey crowns and two Champions Leagues with Barcelona, Guardiola has lifted back-to-back Bundesliga trophies, although he is yet to secure European silverware at the Allianz Arena.
Regardless of the 44-year-old s next destination, Ronaldinho who left Barca shortly after Guardiola s appointment in 2008 expects …
Manchester United got back on track with a 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 clash at Old Trafford.
Just days after humiliation at the hands of Liverpool, an unchanged United side responded fiercely to put one foot in the quarter-finals.
It was not all plain sailing for Erik ten Hag s side though, with Ayoze Perez equalising in the first half after Marcus Rashford gave the hosts an early need.
A strong second half put United in control though, as Antony guided home a trademark curler and Bruno Fernandes headed home to ensure a firm lead before Wout Weghorst added further gloss to the scoreline.
0 Following their 7-0 defeat against Liverpool, Manchester United have named an unchanged starting XI for the first t…
Long-serving goalkeeper Diego Benaglio believes Wolfsburg are better equipped to deal with the demands of the Champions League than when they were Bundesliga title holders.
Benaglio was part of the side that sensationally pipped Bayern Munich to the German title in 2008-09 but feels Wolfsburg’s current crop who followed the Bavarian giants home in second last time around and collected the DFB Pokal hold the edge over a squad that failed to get out of the group stage in 2009.
Compared to our participation [in 2009/2010], we are more solid as a unit, he told a press conference.
I am convinced we can survive the group.
Wolfsburg were also paired with CSKA on that occasion and opened up with a 3-1 win in the Russian capital that their goalkeeper …
Dries Mertens has posted a farewell message to Napoli fans, saying his exit was not how he would have planned it.
The Belgium forward s nine-year stay at the Serie A club came to an end following the 2021-22 season after he rejected the offer of a new contract.
Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis previously said Mertens turned down the offer of a new deal because he wanted more money, telling Radio Kiss Kiss: I presented him with €4million per season gross and he refused.
So I said thank you very much I need to have money to buy young players who can represent Napoli in future seasons.
In a message posted to his social media on Wednesday, Mertens said: Dear Neapolitans, I knew this day would eventually come, but I didn t know how difficult it would…
Verdict: Chelsea win and under 2.5 goals
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Heading to Stamford Bridge with a 1-0 advantage, Mauricio Pochettino s weakened Spurs side will face Chelsea in their EFL Cup semi-final second leg on Thursday night.
Chelsea
Starting with the hosts, coming off the back of a 2-0 loss away at Arsenal last weekend and Maurizio Sarri publically criticising his squad, Chelsea s bright start to the season seems a long time ago. With their advantage in the top-four cut to just three points and with both Arsenal and Manchester United breathing down their necks, it will be the Blues form in the final third which will be the biggest concern for the former Napoli boss. With Eden Hazard being deployed as a false nine and fans around Stamford Bridge…
Chelsea s ongoing negotiations with Barcelona could produce more than just midfielder Frenkie de Jong, with new reports that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also on the table for a transfer.
The two powerhouse clubs have been in seemingly constant discussion over the past month, with Barcelona openly looking to add Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta after swooping in to claim Blues target Jules Kounde.
Chelsea recently took Azpilicueta out of the equation by signing him to a two-year extension, but the two clubs re-opened their negotiations when the Stamford Bridge outfit decided to put in a bid for De Jong, and in the process they may have found the answer to their striker situation.
TOP STORY – BARCELONA WILLING TO INCLUDE AUBAMEYANG IN CHELSEA T…
Massimiliano Allegri was pleased with Juventus display in a 0-0 draw at Milan on Sunday despite their failure to register a single shot on target.
It was the first time the Bianconeri had not had a shot on target in a Serie A match since March 2019 against Genoa.
The stalemate meant Juve remained in fifth, 11 points adrift of leaders Inter having played a game more.
However, Allegri was not despondent with this side s efforts and believes they are on the right track.
It was a good game. We were coming off a lot of head-to-head clashes and a defeat would ve sent us 10 points behind Milan, so that d be negative, he told DAZN.
We need to be a little calmer and more focused in the final third, as we are hasty and get the final ball wrong. …
Cristiano Ronaldo became the leading goalscorer in the history of men s international football as his late double saw Portugal beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 in World Cup qualifying Group A.
The 36-year-old, who completed a remarkable return to Manchester United this week, had earlier missed the chance to pull clear of Iran icon Ali Daei when his penalty was saved by Gavin Bazunu.
Stephen Kenny s side looked like they would take full advantage of that reprieve after John Egan put them ahead shortly before half-time.
As is so often the case, though, Ronaldo had the final say, drawing his side level with an 89th-minute header – his record-breaking 110th international goal – before sealing a memorable win in the dying embers of stoppage time with another tr…
Cesc Fabregas has signed a four-year deal to officially become the permanent head coach of Como.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder was promoted to first-team head coach on an interim basis last November, but only for a month due to not having his UEFA coaching badges yet.
Fabregas led the club from seventh to third in his short tenure, and stayed on as an assistant to Osian Roberts when he was named caretaker – he has now moved into a development role at the club.
Under their stewardship, Como earned automatic promotion to Serie A for the first time in 21 years.
Having now completed his badges, Fabregas will take charge of the club for their return to the top-flight.
Como 1907 is delighted to confirm that will become head coach of the…
Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of one count of rape on the direction of the judge in his ongoing trial at Chester Crown Court.
Mendy, 28, was cleared of the rape of a 19-year-old woman at his home in Cheshire on July 24 last year.
Mendy s co-accused Louis Saha Matturie, 41, was cleared of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against the same woman.
Judge Stephen Everett ordered the jury to clear the two defendants of those counts after the prosecution offered no further evidence.
Mendy and Matturie remain on trial for a number of other alleged sexual offences, which they both deny.
Mendy was suspended by City on August 26, 2021 and has not played for them since.
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