Unai Emery knew what he was getting when he signed Marco Asensio: a three-time Champions League winner, for starters, but a high-pedigree star capable of bending games to his will. Just as Emery was getting hot under the collar on another awkward night at Club Brugge, the Villa manager booked for voicing his frustrations pitchside, … Read more
Manchester United fans have been urged by a supporters’ group to wear black to Sunday’s anti-Glazer protest. The home Premier League match against Arsenal will be preceded by a supporter march to Old Trafford, starting at 3.15pm from the Tollgate pub. The 1958 fan group hope it “could be one of the largest ever protests” … Read more
Alexander Isak is expected to remain at Newcastle this summer as the club’s Saudi Arabian ownership emphasise their determination to surmount the difficulties presented by Premier League spending rules. Darren Eales, Newcastle’s chief executive, hopes the club will become a magnet for leading players and will strive to retain Isak, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and … Read more
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee, ESPN reported on Tuesday. The 32-year-old was injured when he was fouled while driving to the basket during the first quarter of Monday’s 122-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings. He landed awkwardly, immediately grabbed his leg and called for assistance. Irving … Read more
The former England captain Will Carling has questioned the quality of the coaching within the national setup and suggested it is holding the team back. Carling, who was part of England’s backroom staff under Eddie Jones, has also rejected complaints from squad members such as Ellis Genge that ex-players are “out of touch” after their … Read more
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Preamble The 2024-25 Champions League knockout round has officially begun and it truly does not get better than the two heavyweights from the Spanish capital facing off with European football at stake. The reigning champions, Real, have been inconsistent this season … Read more
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Preamble Out of both domestic cups and 13 points behind Liverpool in the title race, the Champions League now represents Arsenal’s best chance at a trophy this season. After finishing third in the 36-team league phase, they should be considered among … Read more
BACK WHERE THEY BELONG Welcome back, everyone, to the Round of Arsenal, otherwise known as the last-16 of Bigger Cup since the Wenger years, and for us it will always be thus. Pedants will point out that ‘ooooooh, Arsenal weren’t even in Bigger Cup for many years’ and ‘oooooooh, Arsenal actually won their last-16 tie … Read more
Jamie George questioned whether he had an England future after being left hurt by Steve Borthwick’s decision to strip him of the captaincy on the eve of the Six Nations. George said he was blindsided by the England head coach but after receiving advice from his inner circle – including the Saracens director, Mark McCall, … Read more
Football fans will associate André Villas-Boas with racing, the former Porto, Chelsea, Tottenham and Marseille manager having made waves as a driver at the Dakar Rally, but if any manager is shifting through the gears at present, it must surely be Luis Enrique. PSG squared off against Lille on Saturday, a game that was circled … Read more