Manchester City will relish the incredible test of facing Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals as Pep Guardiola reminded his players they require two exceptional performances to reach the final.
Having eliminated Madrid from the Champions League in the 2010-11 semi-finals as Barcelona boss and in a 2019-20 last-16 tie with City, Guardiola could become the first coach to have knocked Los Blancos out of the competition three times.
City have also remained undefeated in their previous three home Champions League matches against Real Madrid (one win, two draws) ahead of Tuesday s crucial first leg at the Etihad Stadium.
However, while City are still awaiting their first European title after falling at the final hurdle against Chelsea last season, Madr…
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes will become head coach of the United States women’s team at the end of the season.
Hayes will finish the 2023-24 Women’s Super League campaign with the Blues before she joins her new team two months before the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Interim head coach Twila Kilgore will continue in her role and then join Hayes’ staff as an assistant coach.
A proven winner.
One of the most distinguished managerial careers in club soccer is headed to the touchline.
— U.S. Women s National Soccer Team (@USWNT)
“This is a huge honour to be given the opportunity to coach the most incredible team in world football history,” Hayes said.
“The feelings and connection I have for this team and for this country run…
Manchester United great David Beckham acknowledged change is required at Old Trafford, but hopes Cristiano Ronaldo will remain part of the Red Devils future plans.
Ralf Rangnick s United delivered an abject showing in a 4-0 loss at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, meaning the Red Devils have conceded more goals (56) than in any previous Premier League campaign.
The result represented a new low in a dire season for United, who will also set their lowest-ever Premier League points tally, sitting on 58 – six fewer than their 2013-14 mark with only one game to play.
Ajax coach Erik ten Hag will replace Rangnick at the end of the season, but the Dutchman will be tasked with a sizeable rebuilding job, with numerous players out of contract and several signings r…
What the papers say
Manchester City are the latest club to track Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, according to the Daily Mail. They join city rivals Manchester United, Tottenham and Real Madrid in following the 21-year-old.
United have also been linked with another defender in the summer. The Daily Mail says they could make a bid for Senegal youngster Mikayil Faye, 19, from Barcelona.
The Daily Star says Scott McTominay is going nowhere, despite being linked with a move away from Old Trafford. The club plan to offer the Scotland midfielder, 27, an improved contract.
Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, 24, is being watched by Arsenal, reports the Daily Star. He may be available as Nottingham Forest look to balance their books.
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Liverpool s pursuit of Feyenoord boss Arne Slot proves there is a dearth of elite coaches currently on the market, according to former Reds defender Jamie Carragher.
On Wednesday, widespread reports claimed Liverpool have entered talks with Feyenoord, who will reportedly demand at least €10million (£8.5m) in compensation to part with Slot.
Slot joined Feyenoord in July 2021 after leaving AZ Alkmaar, leading the Eredivisie giants to the Europa Conference League final – which they lost to Roma – in his first campaign at the helm.
The club s second league title in 20 years followed in 2022-23, and though Feyenoord are set to relinquish their crown to PSV this term, they beat NEC Nijmegen to lift the KNVB Cup on Sunday.
Xabi Alonso was thought to be …
Prediction: Shamrock Rovers to win 2-0
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Shamrock Rovers and Vikingur Reykjavik will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Champions League First Qualifying Round this week. The second leg of the tie between the League of Ireland Premier Division club and the Besta deild karla team will be held at the Tallaght Stadium in South Dublin. It is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm UK time on Tuesday. The first leg of the tie was played out in Iceland last week. It ended in a goalless draw.
Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers are the biggest, the most well-known and most successful club in the Republic Of Ireland. They have won the League of Ireland Premier Division as many as 21 times and the FAI Cup on 25 occasions.
Stephen Bradley’s…
Joshua Zirkzee has been hugely influenced by NBA great Allen Iverson, the Manchester United forward said ahead of Saturday s clash with Brentford.
United return to Premier League action against the Bees at Old Trafford in desperate need of a victory.
They have lost their last two home league matches, and Erik ten Hag is under pressure.
New signing Zirkzee has failed to hit the ground running, despite scoring on his debut against Fulham in August.
But speaking to United’s official media channels, the Dutchman revealed he was inspired by a different sport than football.
I started watching basketball when I was around 15, 16 maybe, and it started because of, you know, Michael Jordan and the big ones, he said.
But the main reason why I rea…
Jeremy Mathieu could be fit for the Euro 2016 finals after Barcelona confirmed he should return to action within eight weeks.
The 32-year-old suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during France s 4-2 friendly win over Russia this week and underwent surgery on Thursday.
It was feared that Mathieu would miss the remainder of the club season and be unavailable for the Euros in France, which begin on June 10, but Barcelona expect him to be available again by the end of May, meaning he retains an outside chance of being available for Didier Deschamps final squad.
Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu has been operated on successfully, a club statement read. The player will be out for approximately six to eight weeks.
Mathieu had earlier stated that his reco…
Goals from Brahim Diaz, Jude Bellingham and Joselu earned LaLiga leaders Real Madrid a 3-0 win over lowly Cadiz.
Carlo Ancelotti s side will seal a record-extending 36th Spanish title later on Saturday if Barcelona fail to beat Girona.
With four games remaining, Real climbed to 87 points and extended their lead to 14 points over second-placed Barcelona and 16 clear Girona in third.
Real manager Ancelotti rested several key players ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich and his side did more than enough to secure the three points.
— Real Madrid C.F.(@realmadriden)
After dominating the first half, they finally managed to break the deadlock with Diaz first netting a curling shot from the edge of the box in the 5…
Bruno Fernandes is perfectly aware Manchester United are not ready for a Premier League title challenge but has defended his under-fire team-mate Casemiro after Sunday s loss to Liverpool.
United entered the first international break of the season 14th in the table with just three points, suffering back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool.
A Luis Diaz brace and a Mohamed Salah strike condemned United to another embarrassing defeat at the hands of their old rivals, as Ten Hag became the first Red Devils manager to lose three home Premier League games by three or more goals within the space of a year.
United were also beaten 3-0 by Manchester City last October and fell to the same scoreline versus Bournemouth two months later.
Ten Hag …