List of All Articles with Tag 'al'

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been very proactive in free agency and that aggressiveness continued into the NFL draft. Which three moves have stood out?It’s been a rough few years for a franchise that has plenty of stability at the head coaching spot. Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers...

Previewing Man City vs Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final second leg, with TV & live stream details, team news, predicted lineups & score prediction.

With the 2022 season wrapped up, here's a look at ten of the best rivalries between wide receivers and defensive backs in NFL history. As iron sharpens iron, so wide receivers and defensive backs sharpen one another.The original Proverbs verse isn't specific to football, but the no...

Today's USMNT news includes JesusFerreira denying Napoli links, Malik Tillman winning PFA Scotland's Young Player of the Year and Zack Steffen keeping a clean sheet for Middlesbrough in the Championship playoffs.USMNT news: Jesus Ferreira denies Napoli linksJesus Ferreira scored a late...

Pep Guardiola says a week in which Manchester City can reach the Champions League final and win the Premier League again is a “dream come true”. Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton following City’s victory by the same scoreline at Everton means Guardiola’s side can clinch a fifth title in six seasons next weekend. But before that City will have to get past holders Real Madrid in a home semi-final second leg to maintain their quest for a first Champions League triumph, with the tie level at 1-1. “It is a dream come true being here, honestly,” said Guardiola, whose side also have an FA Cup final against Manchester United to look forward to next month. “I know at the end we maybe don’t get all the trophies, people say we are a not good team, a ‘failure’ team, but it is a dream come true being here. “We are the only team in Europe fighting for all the competitions: the FA Cup final with Manchester United and still it is not over, the Premier League never ends, we know that from the past with Liverpool. “(We have) the semi-final at home with our people, second leg trying to reach the final of the Champions League. “Where we have come from previous seasons is an extraordinary season and hopefully we can finish well.” It is a dream come true being here, honestly. We are the only team in Europe fighting all the competitions Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola City, who are currently on an 11-match winning run in the league as part of a 22-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, can guarantee the Premier League title with victory at home to Chelsea next Sunday. But they will be confirmed as champions even sooner if Arsenal are defeated at relegation-battling Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening. Guardiola is taking nothing for granted but knows the win at Everton, after their draw in the Bernabeu, was key in keeping the Gunners out of reach. Everton went into the game on the back of an impressive 5-1 win at high-flying Brighton but a brace from Ilkay Gundogan either side of Erling Haaland’s 36th league goal of the season secured the points for City at Goodison Park. “When I see Chelsea and Brighton (City’s next two matches) we have a lot of work to do,” Guardiola added. “But this one (Everton) away was a tricky one. “I was really impressed by the way Everton handled the game against Brighton but from the first minute we controlled the game, except certain transitions. “They are the best in the Premier League from every free-kick and corner since Sean Dyche went in there, it is almost a goal every time. Arsenal lost here for one corner, so it happens. “We had the patience and momentum and movements from Riyad (Mahrez) and Phil (Foden) was really good in behind. We scored the goals in the right moment. “It was so important and nice to to celebrate with our fans away because they are always with us.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Wrexham plan talks with Ben Foster over whether he wants to carry on playing Nat Sciver-Brunt says mental health break helped put her in a ‘good place’ Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler are out on their own, says Curtis Strange

Wrexham are to hold talks with Ben Foster over whether the former England goalkeeper wants to prolong his career with them in the English Football League. Foster was retired for nine months until he answered a Wrexham SOS in March after regular goalkeeper Rob Lainton was ruled out for the rest of the campaign through injury. The 40-year-old played the final eight games of the season, saving a stoppage-time penalty in the crunch 3-2 victory over title rivals Notts County, as Wrexham won the National League with a record points total of 111. “A discussion will take place with Ben Foster to establish if his intention is to return to retirement or continue playing,” Wrexham said in a statement announcing their end of season release/retained list. Foster said last month he could extend his career after Wrexham ended a 15-year absence from the EFL under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. “You have to contemplate it because to be part of Wrexham is a special thing,” said Foster, who had a loan spell at the Welsh club in 2005 before going on to play for Manchester United, Watford, Birmingham and West Brom. “It’s nice to be a man of leisure and freedom and I really enjoyed my retirement. I had a great time for nine months. “But everybody who plays here can see that Wrexham is a really special club.” Wrexham have extended Paul Mullin’s contract by a further season following promotion. Mullin has scored 76 goals since joining from Cambridge in the summer of 2021, 47 of them coming last season. Mark Howard and Anthony Forde have also had one-season contract extensions and Liam McAlinden will be offered a new deal. Wrexham will exercise the option to keep Scott Butler and Aaron James. Harry Lennon is to retire from playing due to injury, while Reece Hall-Johnson, Jake Hyde and Rory Watson are among other players to be released. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Nat Sciver-Brunt says mental health break helped put her in a ‘good place’ Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler are out on their own, says Curtis Strange Martin Odegaard admits Arsenal must learn from crushing Brighton defeat

Mikel Arteta has fired a warning to his Arsenal squad after their 3-0 loss to Brighton.

Uefa’s executive committee confirmed last year the most significant changes to the Champions League in a generation. Days before the failed European Super League plot was launched back in 2021, Uefa announced reforms to the Champions League had received unanimous backing from the European Club Association and Uefa Club Competitions Committee. It confirmed plans to change the format of European football’s top club competition from 2024, giving the tournament its first new look in 20 years. The proposals were not met with the same level of backlash that greeted the Super League plans but have still been criticised by leading fans’ groups, including the Football Supporters’ Association [FSA]. “We are united in opposition to proposals to reform the Champions League that are a back door attempt at a return to the discredited idea of a European Super League,” read a statement from the FSA’s Premier League Network. But what are the changes, and how will the Champions League look from 2024 now the plans have been voted through? Here’s everything you need to know. What would the new Champions League look like? Since 2003, the Champions League has been a 32-team competition with a single group-stage phase followed by a knockout phase. The 32 teams, seeded according to league position and Uefa coefficient, have been split into eight groups of four, with the top two teams progressing to the last-16 after six rounds of matches in a round-robin format with both home and away matches. That has then been followed by three two-legged rounds, the last-16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, with matches played home and away, before the final at a neutral venue. From 2024, the group stage will look completely different. There are two main changes: four additional teams will be added to take the number of clubs up to 36, and a single league format will be used. The league phase will determine an overall ranking - from 1st to 36th, with three points for a win and one for a draw as usual. The top eight teams will advance to the last 16, with the 16 teams finishing between ninth and 24th entering the play-off round over two legs, with a victory securing passage to the last 16. Teams who finish 25th or below will be eliminated and will not drop down to the Europa League. How will the league format work? Uefa and the European Club Association reached agreement on this last year. The number of fixtures is set to increase from the current six to eight, after Uefa compromised on its original plan of ten. Fixtures would be determined using a ‘Swiss-style’ seeding system. All eight matches will be played against different teams, with four at home and four away, and organised by seeding. All the results would contribute to the overall league ranking. Will it change the knockout phase? Apart from the play-off round, the knockout phase is set to be the same from the last 16 stage. There have been reports, however, that Uefa will discuss the idea of scrapping two-legged semi-finals in favour of a ‘final four’ format played across a week in one European city. Will some clubs be able to qualify based on past performance? No, this has been scrapped by Uefa, after the plans were met with criticism and would have opened the door to there being a safety net for the biggest clubs and widening the inequalities in European football to an even greater extent. Instead, Uefa will award two extra places to the countries who collectively performed best in Europe in the previous season. If applied to next season that would mean England gaining an extra spot, along with the Netherlands. This would mean the Premier League would have five Champions League teams for that season. Unlike the coefficient plans, it would mean there would be no barrier to certain clubs receiving an additional spot. How will the other two extra Champions League spots be allocated? According to Uefa, the other two spots will be allocated according to this criteria: Slot one: One of the additional places will go to the club ranked third in the championship of the association in fifth position in the Uefa national association ranking. Slot two: Another will be awarded to a domestic champion by extending from four to five the number of clubs qualifying via the so-called ‘Champions Path’. Read More Uefa insist Champions League final will be held in Istanbul despite Turkey election unrest UEFA in talks over salary cap and ‘everyone agrees’ – Aleksander Ceferin Ceferin would not rule out a Champions League final being held in United States Bruno Fernandes warns Alejandro Garnacho he cannot relax at Manchester United Brighton win puts Manchester City on title brink – 5 things from Premier League Sam Allardyce refuses to criticise Leeds’ Patrick Bamford despite penalty miss

Bruno Fernandes has hailed the abilities of Manchester United teammate Alejandro Garnacho but warns he must stay focused to fulfil his true potential.

Manchester United are considering a move for Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel - despite ongoing contract talks with David de Gea. While Erik ten Hag wants the Spanish goalkeeper to stay, the Dutch coach is also intent on creating competition and ensuring he has different tactical options. Kobel is one of those who fits the profile required, especially given his ability with his feet, something that has been an issue for De Gea this season. Dortmund, aware of long-standing interest from a number of clubs, including Chelsea, are intent on offering Kobel a new deal themselves. The Switzerland international’s current contract runs until 2026 but has established himself as one of the leading goalkeepers in the Bundesliga this season, and among the most promising in the game. While the 25-year-old did make headlines following a high-profile error in Dortmund’s showdown with Bayern Munich, he is seen as having been influential to a first proper title challenge in years. Read More Mikel Arteta knows why Arsenal suffered title agony - here’s what must come next Erik ten Hag finally within sight of matching a past Manchester United great... no, not that one Bruno Fernandes warns Alejandro Garnacho he cannot relax at Manchester United

Ahead of Man City's Champions League semi-final second leg tie with Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola says he must learn to adapt with the hectic fixture schedule that he 'doesn't understand'.

It was a eulogy from Pep Guardiola about a midfielder. He reflected on the excellence he can show when in a deeper role and celebrated his goalscoring exploits. He said how keen he is to keep him and that the club hierarchy know that. He was hailing Ilkay Gundogan, understandably after a tour de force. Just as predictably, Kalvin Phillips was not the object of his affection. The German’s afternoon at Goodison Park brought two goals. The Englishman’s brought two minutes of football. One could be bound for Barcelona on a free transfer in a couple of months. The other still has five years left on his Manchester City contract. Perhaps, when Gundogan plays as majestically as he has against Leeds and Everton, it is unfair to compare anyone to him. Yet in effect, Guardiola had to when Rodri sat out the games against Sheffield United and Leeds; on each occasion, he opted for Gundogan to anchor the midfield. Phillips was supposed to be the specialist defensive midfielder. Instead, he is the specialist substitute. Rodri is the most overworked member of City’s squad, with 4104 minutes under his belt. It is in part because Phillips has been trusted with just 407. Some 55 games into City’s season, Phillips has started just two: against a Bristol City team in the Championship and a Southampton side bound for that division. Guardiola’s side lost at St Mary’s, in their worst performance of the season, in the Carabao Cup. A bit-part role is not explained purely by a shoulder injury in autumn. City have scored 92 league goals, but none with Phillips on the pitch; indeed, they have a negative goal difference during his outings. Leicester scored one, and came close to getting three, after Phillips’ introduction a month ago; the midfielder described his own performance as “a bit of a stinker”. Since then, votes of no confidence have come from Guardiola, with cameos that have begun so late that nothing could go wrong: he came on injury time against West Ham, with a three-goal lead, slightly earlier at Goodison, and with the same scoreline. Scan Phillips’ season and Guardiola often brings him on so late he is destined to be the no-impact substitute: he was also introduced in injury time against Borussia Dortmund. He got one minute against West Ham in August, three against Arsenal in February, four against Chelsea in January, nine at Southampton, 12 against Sevilla, 13 at Wolves. A total of 17 appearances feels deceptive; even then, 161 of his minutes have come in the FA Cup. He may be having the worst treble-winning season ever, remembered in part for Guardiola branding him overweight after the World Cup. And if many could envy the medal collection he may soon have, Phillips in a better state could be the endearing success story – the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ who was transformed by Guardiola’s hero Marcelo Bielsa, integral for England on their run to the final of Euro 2020. Now he seems an afterthought, City’s third-choice defensive midfielder – fourth-choice if John Stones’ reinvention puts him ahead of Phillips – getting token appearances and meaningless minutes. For a while, it was possible to take solace in history. Many a player has flourished in his second season under Guardiola, after belatedly adjusting to his complex demands. Yet, even without being automatic choices, they were not marginalised. Bernardo Silva’s maiden season brought 53 appearances; 35 of them were in the Premier League, where he played 1520 minutes. Thus far, Phillips has played 105. Riyad Mahrez’s debut campaign brought 1338 top-flight minutes, Jack Grealish’s 1917, Rodri’s 2488. Each kicked on thereafter but, seemed with the benefit of hindsight, it was apparent he had a part in the manager’s long-term plans. It seems less likely that Phillips does; 10 days ago, Guardiola refused to confirm he will be at the Etihad Stadium next season and said the £42m man had to earn his confidence. So far, he has not. All of which feels more damning given Guardiola’s playing days and his status as the godfather of the midfielder. Rejection should be more painful. It could provide City with more of a problem, too. With Gundogan likely to go to Barcelona, with the prospect of another summer of interest from the Nou Camp in Silva, Phillips may present an unwanted problem; likely to be pursued elsewhere in the Premier League but adding to City’s need for reinforcements. As players of the calibre of Ronaldinho, Deco and Zlatan Ibrahimovic can testify, Guardiola can be swift to exile even the most distinguished; as Joao Cancelo knows to his cost, he can still be ruthless. Phillips faces a different form of public humiliation, embarrassed by the brevity of his contributions. He could finish the season with more medals than starts but, in a strange way, it would be a sign of how his move has gone wrong. Read More Man City being driven to title by man of the moment – and it’s not Erling Haaland It’s not necessary what he does – Pep Guardiola hits out at Everton’s Yerry Mina Kevin De Bruyne is Man City’s man for the big occasion but has he met his match?