Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is adamant the team s recent struggles are not a cause for concern.
City have lost their last three games, getting dumped out of the Champions League by Liverpool and going down 3-2 to Manchester United despite holding a 2-0 half-time lead.
Pep Guardiola s men were among the Champions League favourites before their 5-1 aggregate defeat to the Merseysiders, while a win over United in the derby would have secured them the Premier League title against their bitter rivals.
For some, those defeats have taken the gloss off City s remarkable season, but Kompany is certain there is nothing to worry about, as they prepare to face Tottenham at Wembley on Saturday.
I have been part of very successful City teams, but it was ne…
Rodrigo Moreno admits it will be a special occasion when Valencia face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final in their centenary year.
The Spain striker scored the only goal as Marcelino s side claimed a 1-0 second-leg win in their semi-final with Real Betis on Thursday, thereby securing a 3-2 aggregate triumph.
It means Valencia will play in the final for the first time since they last won the trophy in 2008, with the match taking place just two months after their 100th birthday.
And Rodrigo says facing Barca will be a moment to savour for everyone associated with the club.
It s a very special season with the centenary and we re very happy to reach the final, he said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
We ve played a very complete knockout tie. We dese…
Kylian Mbappe cut a relieved figure after ending his goal drought in LaLiga by striking both goals in Real Madrid s 2-0 win over Real Betis on Sunday.
Mbappe, who had failed to score since his debut in the UEFA Super Cup, opened the scoring in the 67th minute before adding his second eight minutes later from the penalty spot.
Heading into this fixture, the Frenchman had attempted the most shots this season (17) across Europe s top five leagues, and had the worst difference between expected goals (1.8 xG) and goals scored (none).
But the 25-year-old was not to be denied at the fourth time of asking, becoming the fourth Madrid player in the 21st century in LaLiga whose first goals have been with a brace after Cristiano Ronaldo, Javier Hernandez and Dani Ceballos …
I don t know about this. I have a contract with the club, there is no point for me to leave, everyone is happy with me at the club.
Those are the words of Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette who has played down reports that suggest a clause in his contract could allow him to leave the Gunners if they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season.
The popular opinion amongst most fans and pundits alike is that both Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could start looking elsewhere for a new club if they wind up in the Europa League for yet another year.
While that may put a little bit of pressure on Arsenal s push for the top five and Europa League campaign, it seems as if Mikel Arteta is pretty confident that his side will have a strong end to…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic landed at Linate Airport ahead of undertaking his Milan medical on Thursday.
Milan chief football officer Zvonimir Boban and a number of fans were in attendance to greet Ibrahimovic ahead of his return to San Siro.
The 38-year-old striker agreed a six-month deal, with the option for another year, with the Rossoneri last Friday.
Upon completing his medical, Ibrahimovic is expected to sign his contract and head to Milanello to meet coach Stefano Pioli and his new team-mates.
Ibrahimovic, who previously played for Milan from 2010 until 2012 and won the Scudetto and Supercoppa Italiana, became a free agent after deciding to leave LA Galaxy at the end of their MLS campaign in October.
Milan sit 11th in Serie A and return from the mid…
Arsenal and Manchester City enjoyed important away victories at Liverpool and Tottenham respectively to keep pace with Women’s Super League leaders and defending champions Chelsea.
Vivianne Miedema, who sat out 312 days with an anterior cruciate ligament injury before making an October comeback, netted her first goal since December 2022 at the hour mark of Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at Prenton Park.
Leah Williamson returned from her own ACL recovery as a substitute in Arsenal’s midweek Conti Cup victory over Reading and was named in the Gunners squad by boss Jonas Eidevall – celebrating both his 41st birthday and 100 games in charge – but did not play.
January signing and player of the match Emily Fox was instrumental in the build-up to both goals, Arsenal�…
Thursday in Tokyo sees three of the United States flagship teams in the limelight.
The USA s women s football team were stunned by Canada in the semi-finals to compound a disappointing tournament that also saw them well beaten by Sweden in the group stage.
Megan Rapinoe and her team-mates can salvage something from the Olympics in the bronze medal match against Australia.
The men s basketball team also have Australia for company in their semi-final, while the US baseball team are similarly still in contention for gold as they take on Korea Republic in the final four.
Here, Stats Perform looks at these and other potential highlights on day 13, where the men s 400 metres final is the showpiece event in the Olympic Stadium.
KING JAMES SET FOR SECOND …
There are many things fans might not like regarding the MLS. The fact that there is no promotion-relegation system might create a stir on some of the “traditional” football fans, who believe one team should be punished from having a poor season, while the ones from the lower categories should be rewarded for their success. The lack of importance given to the playoffs – the stage where the trophy is ACTUALLY decided – could become a cause of concern, too.
However, there is one particular thing that is becoming quite disturbing regarding the MLS. And that’s none other than their expansion system. At first it seemed nice to add more teams, but right now the league has gotten crazy. And there are no signs of it stopping any time soon.
How did the expansion process ca…
According to Fabrizio Romano, the future of Bayern Munich s Matthijs de Ligt is currently uncertain. The Dutch defender feels he hasn t been playing enough under Thomas Tuchel, but with Tuchel set to leave the club at the end of the season, whether De Ligt is allowed to leave too will up to the new head coach, once the Bavarians make their choice on that front.
Once a hot prospect from the famous Ajax academy, the 24-year-old spent three seasons with Juventus before joining Bayern for €67 million in 2022. However, things haven t been going very well for him this season of the 22 Bundesliga matches Bayern have played so far, he was a part of the starting XI in just nine, due to injuries and Tuchel s preference towards Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae, now Eric Dier as well.
…
Former Bayern Munich defender Rafinha has returned to Europe with Olympiacos after a brief stint with Flamengo.
Rafinha, 34, joined Flamengo in June 2019 and enjoyed a trophy-laden spell that included the Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores last year.
But, following coach Jorge Jesus decision to move back over the Atlantic Ocean to re-join Benfica, Rafinha has also opted to return to Europe, where he had previously spent 14 years of his career.
The former Brazil international spent five seasons with Schalke from 2005, before a solitary campaign in Italy at Genoa.
He then joined Bayern in 2011 and was there until completing his move to Flamengo last year.
Μέλος της οικογένειας του Ολυμπιακού ο Ραφίνια…