Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam aren't setting any public expectations for their team this season

The predicted Chelsea lineup to face Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola says he cannot recall telling anybody he believes Roberto De Zerbi will succeed him as Manchester City manager. A story has emerged claiming the Catalan privately tipped the Brighton boss to succeed him after City drew at the Amex Stadium in May. Yet, while Guardiola may have cast doubt over whether that occurred, he has repeatedly been effusive in his praise of the Italian and remains so ahead of Saturday’s meeting between their two clubs. Guardiola, whose future beyond the expiry of his contract in 2025 is unclear, said: “I don’t remember that. “Maybe I have bad memory but I’m sure Roberto can train in any team around the world. I don’t have any doubt. “I don’t remember saying that to the players. I remember saying before he arrived, one or two games in, about sustaining the manager, but I don’t remember saying that honestly. “It’s none of my business. If the chairman asks my opinion I will give my opinion but it’s none of my business. “I’m not the sporting director. It’s not my responsibility to say what’s going right or wrong.” Former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk boss De Zerbi has made a big impression since taking over at Brighton just over a year ago. He guided the club into European competition for the first time with a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last season and they have started the current campaign strongly. Guardiola feels this proves a manager need not have had experience at the highest level to land the biggest jobs. He said: “It doesn’t mean you have to be at the top clubs to be manager of the top clubs. I was appointed Barcelona first-team (manager) coming from the fourth division with no experience at the top level. “You have the idea of the club, the sporting director follows the idea, they hire the manager for this idea, they hire players to follow the idea. When that happens it’s going well. “Man City have done this, Liverpool with Jurgen (Klopp) for many years – winning titles with the same process and same ideas.” Guardiola, 52, is widely considered the greatest coach of his generation having last year added a third Champions League title to a glittering CV that also includes five Premier League wins. His players are always in the perfect body-shape position. Pep Guardiola on Roberto De Zerbi Yet even he feels like he can learn from a relative youngster like 44-year-old De Zerbi. He said: “His players are always in the perfect body-shape position to get the ball. “It’s a stupid thing to say but one of the key points. Everyone moves in the right moment, tempo. “Football is not ‘you have to move’, it’s when. It’s body shape in the perfect shape. It’s really good. “Everything he does makes sense and I learn.” Read More Mauricio Pochettino hails Reece James’ leadership and defends captain after ban Luke Shaw not expected to be fit until after November’s international break FIFA hands two-year doping ban to World Cup winner Papu Gomez Rotherham’s game with Ipswich off and Scottish matches postponed due to storm It is bad news – Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi expects Man City to bounce back Kevin Sinfield calls on England to empty tanks against South Africa

Mohammad Rizwan hit an unbeaten 86 to steer Pakistan to 252-7 against Sri Lanka after rain reduced their crucial Asia Cup contest to...

Pep Guardiola claimed there is no pressure on Erling Haaland to score more goals after the Norwegian’s double sank Young Boys on Wednesday. Haaland struck twice in the second half as the holders claimed a hard-fought 3-1 win over the Swiss side in their Champions League Group G encounter on the artificial surface at Bern’s Wankdorf Stadium. The game had been in the balance after Meschack Elia had cancelled out Switzerland international Manuel Akanji’s opener with a superb strike. Haaland’s goals were his first in six Champions League games while his effort against Brighton on Saturday ended a three-game scoreless run – relative barren spells for a player who plundered 52 in total last season. Guardiola said: “There is the impression after last season that he has to score seven goals every single game. That is impossible. “But he is scoring a lot of goals and if people want him to fail because he doesn’t score 50 goals it doesn’t matter. He is always there. “The second goal was really good and he had other chances. The important thing is to create them. “Maybe in the right moment of the season he will be there, better than now, but he has already scored a lot of goals and we are really pleased. “I’ve told him many times I don’t judge him for scoring goals, although I know he wants to score goals. He has the desire to improve and I don’t have doubts about that.” City’s victory, sealed with a Haaland penalty and a clever late finish, was their third in succession and took them a step closer to the knockout stages. They could reach the last-16 for an 11th consecutive season with a follow-up win over the same opposition at the Etihad Stadium in a fortnight. “The result was good and in general it was a really good performance,” said Guardiola, whose side had 26 attempts on goal. “We could have scored more goals but is the important thing is to create the chances.” Guardiola added that Phil Foden did not play because of a “small problem” while Julian Alvarez, who had a goal disallowed after coming off the bench, was not able to play the full game. Young Boys coach Raphael Wicky felt his side gave a good account of themselves. He said: “That courage and passion, we can be proud of what the team delivered, but you need a perfect game against a team like this. We couldn’t do it. “Perfect means taking your chances and not conceding from set-pieces. We’re disappointed with the result, but we can be proud of the team’s performance.” Read More Erling Haaland scores Champions League brace while PSG ease past AC Milan Former Everton boss David Moyes pays tribute to ‘wonderful man’ Bill Kenwright David Moyes hopes West Ham and Olympiacos fans behave in Greece Moeen Ali eager to get anxious England playing with a smile again Esme Morgan pleads for patience and politeness from England’s autograph hunters Self-confessed ‘golf tragic’ Dan Carter keen to boost participation in Ireland

There was a major shake-up to the AFC playoff picture following the conclusion of week 11. Division leaders such as the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguar

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The Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars open their Western Conference Final series on Friday in Las Vegas

Justin Verlander pitched seven innings of two-hit ball for his first victory with the Mets, and Pete Alonso hit his major league-leading 13th home run as New York squeezed out a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds

What the papers say Chelsea are set to make Victor Osimhen their prime target in the January transfer window. The 24-year-old Nigerian striker is keen to make the move from Napoli to Stamford Bridge, according to The Daily Telegraph. Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq are chasing goalkeeper David De Gea, reports The Sun. The 33-year-old is a free agent since leaving Manchester United at the end of last season. Saudi Arabia is also a potential destination for West Ham winger Said Benrahma. The Sun reports various clubs in the Saudi Pro League are eager to snap up the 28-year-old Algerian. Boca Juniors full-back Valentin Barco is a target for Manchester City. The Sun reports the Premier League champions would loan the 19-year-old to Leicester. Social media round-up Players to watch Samuel Lino: Newcastle are monitoring the progress of the 23-year-old Brazilian winger from Atletico Madrid as the transfer window period approaches, reports Spanish sports publication Todo Fichajes. Thomas Partey, Kalvin Phillips and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: Juventus are keen to sign a midfielder in January and have three Premier League names on their shortlist, claims French site Foot Mercato. Read More On this day in 2007: Christine Ohuruogu wins appeal against Olympic ban The sporting weekend in pictures Laura Kenny sets her sights on a fourth Olympics

Here is how to watch La Liga action in 2023/24 in the United Kingdom and the United States.

A look at Erling Haaland's scoring credentials in the 2023/24 Premier League season, whether he will break more records and who could rival Manchester City's striker for the Golden Boot