Norwich City climbed to within one place of the Championship play-off spots following a 3-2 victory away at Derby County and a hat-trick from Borja Sainz.
The result ended a run of nine straight home wins in the league for Derby, and it was the first time they have been beaten at Pride Park since February. Norwich, meanwhile, have now won three of their last four matches.
Norwich took the lead in the first half through Sainz in controversial circumstances, with the ball looking as if it had gone out of play during the build-up to the goal.
But Derby would not go down without a fight, equalising through Craig Forsyth on his 300th career appearance, as he fired past Angus Gunn from eight yards.
Just five minutes later, Norwich were back in front with Sainz …
Although might have gained a string of plaudits after replacing Graham Potter at Brighton back in September 2022, the Italian tactician is already looking for a new adventure.
While there might have been plenty of speculation over his long-term future at the Amex, it was officially confirmed last week that the 44-year-old would be leaving the Seagulls at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Still with two years left on his current deal with , many across the Premier League were shocked by what felt like a spontaneous announcement.
Guiding Brighton to a sixth-place finish last season and spearhead their charge for a maiden European adventure, the former Shakhtar Donetsk boss appears to be a man in demand.
With Europe’s managerial merry-go-round now firmly …
Harrogate boss Simon Weaver praised his team’s character and ability as they leapt into the top half of League Two following a 2-1 home win over Accrington.
For the first time since August 2021, Harrogate secured maximum points after conceding the opening goal at their Wetherby Road ground with George Thomson’s stoppage-time effort sealing victory after he had set up Jack Muldoon’s equaliser to cancel out Jack Nolan’s second-half opener for the visitors.
The victory ended a run of four straight defeats against Stanley for the Sulphurites, dating back to the clubs’ Unibond League days in 2002/03, with a delighted Weaver hailing a “perfect Christmas” following a third league win on the bounce.
He said: “We always knew it would be a testing game. Acc…
Of course we have a certain history…but we don t know each other as well as everybody thinks.
So said Thomas Tuchel during a glowing assessment of his German compatriot Jurgen Klopp, not long after replacing club legend Frank Lampard in the Chelsea dugout in January.
You could be forgiven, though, for thinking there is a much stronger bond between two men from the same country, whose paths from young heavy-metal upstarts to coaching heavyweights have taken eerily similar paths.
There are striking facets in each man s style of play too. The high intensity pressing, the devastating speed of the counter-attack, the fluidity of the forwards.
Now, whether you are a believer in fate or coincidence, the two are set to battle in the Premier League for the fir…
Phil Foden gave Manchester City a slender 2-1 Champions League quarter-final advantage over Borussia Dortmund after Marco Reus snatched an away goal in a frantic finish at the Etihad Stadium.
Kevin De Bruyne started and finished a rapid move to put City ahead in the 19th minute, but Dortmund were unfortunate to be behind at half-time after referee Ovidiu Hategan inexplicably penalised Jude Bellingham for a fair challenge on Ederson.
City belatedly hit their stride in the final quarter of the game, although Foden looked like being the villain as he missed two golden opportunities before Bellingham and Erling Haaland combined for Reus to coolly equalise six minutes from time.
Fortunately for the home team, England youngster Foden kept a cool head when Ilkay Gundoga…
Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford will instil confidence and help Manchester United win titles, according to Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes was United s key man last term, scoring 18 times and assisting 12 in the Premier League as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s men finished second in the top flight.
Ronaldo now joins his Portugal team-mate, returning to Manchester after a 12-year absence having previously scored 118 goals in 292 appearances across all competitions in his first spell.
And Fernandes, who impressed with a game-high five key passes including an assist in the absence of Ronaldo against Azerbaijan, hailed the quality and confidence the all-time leading international scorer will offer.
We know that enthusiasm will be high, everyone knows Cristia…
Diego Simeone urged Atletico Madrid to return after the World Cup with the intention of turning around their faltering season following another defeat.
Atletico were beaten 1-0 away to Mallorca on Wednesday, stretching their winless run to five matches across all competitions – they have never endured a worse streak during Simeone s spell in charge.
Up next is a tussle with minnows Almazan in the Copa del Rey on Saturday, but otherwise Atletico are now not due to play competitively again until after the World Cup.
Wednesday s defeat leaves Atletico sixth in LaLiga, although a big win for Rayo Vallecano against Celta Vigo on Thursday could push Simeone s men down a place.
Either way, the first half of the season has not gone to plan for Atletico, who wil…
Jose Mourinho has outlined his 2020 vision for Manchester United as he plans to guide the club to a position where they are challenging on all fronts within two years.
The Portuguese watched on at Wembley on Wednesday as his side were comprehensively outplayed in a 2-0 loss to Tottenham, who opened the scoring inside 11 seconds through Christian Eriksen.
Phil Jones calamitous own goal shortly before the half-hour had United chasing the game and they were unable to turn the tide as Manchester City opened up a 15-point lead atop the Premier League thanks to their 3-0 win over West Brom.
That gulf may have some United fans worried about a period of City dominance under Pep Guardiola, but his old adversary Mourinho, when asked where he sees his side in 2020, responde…
Pep Guardiola has called for Graham Potter to be given more time as Chelsea manager, after Manchester City handed his opposite number a heavy FA Cup defeat.
The Blues suffered a second loss in the space of four days against the Premier League champions, losing 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Potter hit out at his critics earlier this month, stressing he needs time and patience from both fans and owner Todd Boehly in order to implement his vision.
Guardiola is in agreement, believing the circumstances he experienced in leading Barcelona to the treble in his first season in charge in 2008-09 to be unique.
I would say to Todd Boehly, it was a pleasure to meet him, but give him time, he said. I know results are important in big clubs but I would say give him time…
Man United´s new Dutch prospect, ´next Neymar´ among 10 potential Football Manager 2020 ´wonderkids´
Pedrinho Corinthians
The latest after Vinicius and Rodrygo in a long line of Brazilian talents to be dubbed the next Neymar , Pedrinho looks destined for the top. An outrageously skilful attacker who usually plays out wide for Corinthians, the 21-year-old likes to come in off the right flank and on to his left foot, as he relishes a shot after beating his man. Comparisons with Arjen Robben are understandable, but the quicker you make a move, the less you ll have to stump up.
Sandro Tonali Brescia
Given Tonali now has a full season of professional football under his belt, he s likely to be one of the hardest to attain from this list. Nevertheless, he is still at Brescia despite links with the big Italian clubs, therefore making him a tantalising proposition if you…