Month: November 2024

Zlatan Ibrahimovic likened himself to movie character Indiana Jones in the wake of Manchester United s 3-0 win over Saint-Etienne at Old Trafford.

The prolific attacker netted a hat-trick to lead his side to victory in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie, scoring once in the opening 45 minutes before adding two more after the break.

Thursday s victory keeps United on track for continental glory, with Jose Mourinho s men still in the race for the EFL Cup and FA Cup as well.

Ibrahimovic started his United career by winning the Community Shield and is hopeful of adding more silverware in the remainder of the season.

Every trophy for me is incredible, everywhere I came I won so if I can win something here I will be super happy, Ibrahimovic said…

Matthijs de Ligt has never shown real leadership with Juventus and the club might do well to offload him, according to former Bianconeri defender Nicola Legrottaglie.

The Netherlands centre-back is under contract at the Allianz Stadium until June 2024, but could soon be on the move after three years in Italy.

Chelsea have been linked with a move for the 22-year-old, who has been a regular in the heart of the Juventus defence since arriving from Ajax for €85.5million in July 2019.

The centre-half has racked up 117 appearances across all competitions, scoring eight goals, and winning the Serie A title during his first season.

In 87 Serie A games, he has committed just one error leading to a goal, yet Legrottaglie has not been wholly convinced by De Ligt…

Marcello Lippi feels China must work to find the right balance between attack and defence against Philippines in their next Asian Cup match.

China had to come from behind to win 2-1 against Kyrgyzstan in their opening Group C encounter but can seal qualification for the next round in Friday s game at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

And Lippi, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, expects Philippines to pose a different type of challenge to most teams at the Asian Cup.

I think they are more like a European team [compared to other sides] in this tournament, Lippi told reporters. 

They have players who were born in Germany, Spain and Denmark with great talents physically. It will be a tough match for us, and three points is very important for us to q…

Robert Lewandowski saluted the character demonstrated by Barcelona s young side, after they came from behind to beat Valencia 2-1 in their opening match of the LaLiga season.

A depleted Barca trailed at the Mestalla to Hugo Duro s 44th-minute header, but Lewandowski struck either side of half-time to complete the turnaround in Hansi Flick s first competitive match in charge.

With the Blaugrana missing several key players including Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Ilkay Gundogan, Flick handed a senior debut to 20-year-old Marc Casado, who joined 17-year-olds Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Bernal in the starting line-up.

Nevertheless, the visitors recovered from their slow start, and Lewandowski was thrilled by the youngsters exploits.

It was …

Mason Greenwood has trained with Getafe for the first time and been welcomed by fans following his loan move from Manchester United.

United announced last month that the 21-year-old, who will be officially presented as a Getafe player on Tuesday evening, would be continuing his career away from the club.

Greenwood was suspended by the Old Trafford club on January 30, 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.

We love you,

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Pavel Pogrebnyak has been fined 250,000 rubles (£2,938) by the Russian Football Union (RFU) after suggesting black players should not represent Russia. 

Pogrebnyak gave an interview earlier this month to a local publication, in which he questioned why Brazil-born striker Ari had been given a Russian passport. 

Ari – a former Brazil Under-20 international – has spent much of his senior career in Russian football, having joined Spartak Moscow in 2010 from Eredivisie side AZ, while he has also represented Lokomotiv Moscow and Krasnodar. 

It was his form late last year for Krasnodar which earned him his first two caps for Russia, but Pogrebnyak – who has played 33 times for his country – made controversial statements about Ari s call-up. 

T…

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho hailed David de Gea after the star goalkeeper claimed his maiden Premier League Golden Glove, though he insisted the award is about the team.

De Gea scooped the Golden Glove award for the first time after recording his 18th clean sheet of the season in Thursday s goalless draw at West Ham.

It added to De Gea s fourth Manchester United Player of the Year award he collected this month as Mourinho lauded the Spain international.

David has been terrific, Mourinho said via MUTV. But the Golden Glove is about the team and not about somebody analysing the goalkeeper, and deciding this is the best goalkeeper of the Premier League. 

It is about clean sheets and they are about the team. Obviously, we are all very happy for…

Market: Roma win

Odds: 19/20 @

Hoping to lay down a domestic marker on Sunday evening, Roma will travel to the Unipol Domus when they meet Cagliari.

Starting with the hosts, although Cagliari might have made their Serie A return this season, the Islanders are in the midst of a public top-flight struggle. Last seen putting in another nightmare performance as they slumped to a routine 3-0 drumming at the hands of Fiorentina, Claudio Ranieri’s side sit rock-bottom of the table and tipped as a leading relegation contender this time around. Heading into September’s international break with a 2-1 defeat against Bologna, the former Leicester boss has seen his side put just a pair of Serie A points on the board from any of their opening seven appearances. With their…

Manchester City secured a domestic treble as they earned a record 6-0 FA Cup final victory against Watford at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.

City dominated the first-half and took a deserved lead as David Silva struck the opening blow with a clinical finish in the 26th minute. That advantage was doubled in the 39th minute as Raheem Sterling smashed in Gabriel Jesus lofted effort practically on the line but the goal was awarded to the latter.

Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench early in the second-half and coolly scored, with Jesus also getting on the scoresheet. Sterling wrapped up the FA Cup late in the game as he netted two excellent goals.

City enjoy early possession

As was probably expected, the recently-crowned Premier League champions enjoyed the maj…

Lionel Messi is struggling to comprehend how Argentina are in danger of Copa America group-stage elimination as they prepare to face Qatar in a crucial clash on Sunday.

Argentina lost to Colombia in their first game and could only draw with Paraguay last time out, leaving them bottom of Group B, below Qatar on goal difference.

La Albiceleste have been in turmoil for 12 months, having endured a miserable World Cup campaign that cost Jorge Sampaoli his job, and they have rarely looked like a cohesive unit since Lionel Scaloni stepped up to the position.

Failure to get out of the group at the Copa America would be a new low, particularly given third place could be enough to see them progress.

We have to think positively and keep our confidence, Messi told r…