Pep Guardiola explained why Erling Haaland will not be the difference between Manchester City s previous Champions League failures and a first title.
City have been repeatedly frustrated in the Champions League but are through to the quarter-finals for a sixth straight year after dominating RB Leipzig, led by Haaland.
The City number nine hit five on Tuesday in a 7-0 second-leg win in the last 16, securing an 8-1 aggregate victory.
Haaland broke a series of records in the process, including moving to 39 goals for the season – a new club record.
But these unprecedented goalscoring feats will not be enough to make City champions of Europe if they do not defend better than in previous seasons, Guardiola insisted.
Asked if Haaland s involvement coul…
Kylian Mbappe has revealed he will announce a decision regarding his future before linking up with the France national team for June s Nations League fixtures.
With his contract with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain due to expire next month, Mbappe has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Conflicting reports have suggested PSG are confident of tying the 23-year-old to a new deal in the French capital, while the hierarchy at the Bernabeu are sure of luring him to Spain.
Mbappe, a 2018 World Cup winner, has scored 36 goals and provided 21 assists for PSG this season, firing the Parisiens to the 10th Ligue 1 title in the club s history.
His total of 57 goal contributions this season can only be bettered by international team-mate Karim Benze…
Making what was a real title statement on Saturday evening, Arsenal stormed their way to a 3-0 romp away at Brighton.
Climbing to the top of the Premier League table here, Arsenal eventually breached Brighton’s rugged defence as England international Bukayo Saka converted from the penalty spot 12 minutes before the half-time break.
While the Seagulls might have come flying out of the traps after returning from the interval, it was the red-hot Kai Havertz who slotted home from close range midway through the second-half.
Laying down what was a major marker on the south coast, Brighton certainly had salt rubbed into their wound as former talisman Leandro Trossard came off the bench and wrapped up all three points in the final moments.
While Mikel Arteta�…
Kevin Phillips has no regrets about launching his managerial career away from the limelight in which contemporaries Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney have operated.
The former England striker is currently in charge at National League Hartlepool having started in the seventh tier of the pyramid with South Shields, whereas Lampard and Rooney were both handed their first big chance in the Sky Bet Championship by Derby and Gerrard took up the reins at Scottish giants Rangers.
Phillips had expressed frustration in the past about the lack of opportunities which came his way as he looked for a first managerial job but has sympathy for Lampard, who is out of work after bruising spells at Chelsea and Everton; Rooney, sacked by Birmingham after less than three months;…
Best odds: 39/20
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Though both clubs went through a significant decline in recent years, the game between Inter Milan and AC Milan is still considered one of the biggest in Italy. It has been one of the most fiercely contested city rivalries in the world throughout the history of the game, and form, good or bad, even if it does last for years, simply doesn t come into it. Between them, these two clubs have won 36 Serie A titles (18 each), 12 Coppa Italia trophies (Inter 7, Milan 5), 10 European Cup/Champions League trophies (Inter 3, Milan 7), three UEFA Cups (all Inter), and two UEFA Cup Winners Cups (both Milan).
Inter Milan
After several years of desperate struggle to at least maintain their status of a club competing regularly in the Champions Leag…
Hearts have completed the signing of centre-back Frankie Kent from Peterborough after fending off an attempt to hijack the deal by a cinch Premiership rival.
The 27-year-old former Arsenal youth player has signed a three-year contract after Peterborough received an undisclosed fee.
Hearts say they saw off some “stiff, late opposition” to sign the former Colchester player, who joined Posh in 2019 and made 170 appearances, helping the club to promotion to the Championship in 2021 and the League One play-offs last season.
Sporting director Joe Savage told the Hearts website: “We’ve said all along that we’ll be patient to make sure we get the right players in and Frankie certainly fits the bill.
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— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) …
Outgoing Republic of Ireland women’s coach Vera Pauw has claimed Football Association of Ireland executives undermined her position by interfering in the running of the team in the build-up to the World Cup.
After this week’s announcement that the Dutchwoman’s contract would not be renewed with Eileen Gleeson taking over in an interim role, Pauw issued a statement in which she said the FAI had conducted a “flawed” review into the World Cup campaign in which “the outcome was pre-determined”.
In a lengthy statement reflecting on “four wonderful years” in the job, Pauw said she had begun talks over a contract extension in March, with the FAI “committing to issuing an offer to me” only for the association to reconsider.
Pauw, 60, took charge of …
Manchester United will face Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup semi-finals, while Newcastle United meet Southampton.
Erik ten Hag s side beat third-tier Charlton Athletic 3-0 in the last eight and will travel to the City Ground for the first of the two-legged semi-final clash, as United search for a first trophy since 2017.
Forest have struggled in the Premier League as they battle to avoid the drop but edged past rivals Wolves on penalties after a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, moving just two games away from the Wembley Stadium showpiece.
Newcastle were dominant in a 2-0 win over Leicester City to reach the competition s semi-finals for the first time since 1976 and will visit the Premier League s bottom side Southampton for the first leg.
Nathan Jones side regis…
Best odds: 4/6
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The fiercely competitive Euro 2024 Group E reaches its climax on Wednesday evening, as pre-tournament favorites Ukraine and Belgium clash at the MHPArena in Stuttgart.
Both teams managed to secure their first wins in their previous outings, reviving their hopes for a place in the knockout rounds. Ukraine, under Serhiy Rebrov s guidance, staged a comeback to defeat Slovakia 2-1 after trailing by a goal. Meanwhile, Belgium recorded a 2-0 victory over Romania, reinvigorating their campaign.
Ukraine
Everything is still up for grabs as Euro 2024 Group E heads into its final matchday, with all four teams tied on three points from their first two fixtures—a historic first for the Championships. Ukraine currently find themselves at t…
Prediction: Palmeiras to win 3-0
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Palmeiras and Vasco da Gama will lock horns with each other in the Brasileiro this week. The match between Abel Ferreira’s side and Alvaro Pacheco’s team will be held at Allianz Parque and is scheduled to kick off at 1:30 am UK time on Thursday.
Palmeiras
Palmeiras are one of the biggest and most well-known clubs in Brazil who tend to do well in major club competitions and win silverware. Alviverde won the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and are very much in the running for the title this season.
Abel Ferreira’s side are eighth in the 2024 Campeonato Brasileiro Série table at the moment. Palmeiras have picked up 11 points from seven matches and are five points behind leaders Bo…