Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou named manager of the year at PFA Scotland Awards
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou and striker Kyogo Furuhashi have enjoyed a double success at the PFA Scotland Awards. Postecoglou was named Manager of the Year by his peers at the ceremony on Sunday evening, during which a special merit award went to former St Mirren, Aberdeen and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The Australian was honoured after guiding his club to back-to-back top-flight titles as they chase a domestic treble. He saw off competition from fellow Premiership boss Stephen Robinson of St Mirren, Dunfermline’s James McPake and Stirling Albion’s Darren Young. Kyogo took the cinch Premiership Player of the Year title after scoring 30 goals in all competitions, 24 of them in the league to sit at the top of the charts. He was one of three Bhoys men nominated along with Japanese team-mate Reo Hatate and last season’s winner Callum McGregor after the club surged to a second successive title, with Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen completing the shortlist. In addition, Celtic frontman Jota claimed the Goal of the Season prize for his sublime chip in the 4-0 home victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers in September. The Ibrox club’s midfielder Malik Tillman, who has scored 10 league goals this season, was named Young Player of the Year. Tillman was nominated along with Celtic duo Liel Abada – last year’s winner – and Matt O’Riley joined by Rangers midfielder Malik Tillman and Albion Rovers’ Charlie Reilly, who scored 24 goals despite the Cliftonhill side finishing bottom of League Two. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-05-15 07:49
3 Philadelphia 76ers who definitely won't be back next season
The 76ers failed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals again this year, falling to the Celtics in seven games. Departures big and small are sure to follow.After sweeping the Nets in first round of the NBA Players, the 76ers had hopes of taking the next step towards the Eastern Conference Finals...
2023-05-15 06:52
Will Alisson be the architect of another Liverpool great escape?
It is the 36th game of their Premier League season and Liverpool, on a late charge towards the Champions League places, are away in the Midlands. Needing victory, they are drawing as the game enters the 95th minute. And then goalkeeper turns goalscorer. West Bromwich Albion suffered the indignity of conceding to Alisson in 2021. History is unlikely to repeat itself at Leicester on Monday, even if it falls on the eve of the second anniversary of the only goal ever scored by a Liverpool goalkeeper. But, once again, they are aiming for the improbable, encouraged by their memories. “A lot of times when I look on Twitter for news, that goal appears in my timeline,” Alisson said. “This week I watched it already. It’s good, it made me feel good. It makes me think how crazy it is that I scored a goal. It was kind of a sign for us that something special was coming. Because I can be 100 times in the box, I don’t know if I will score again. I know now I can head a ball in a good way, but hopefully we are not going to need it again. I think this season we are having special moments, [Diogo] Jota’s goal is a really special one against Tottenham; last minute as well.” Finish in the top four and Alisson may go down as the architect of another great escape, albeit in more conventional fashion. He has been overworked and outstanding. He entered the weekend with fifth most saves in the division and having prevented the most goals, according to goalkeeping statistics relating to the quality of opportunities. “Sometimes the goalie performances comes when the team is not playing so good and conceding more chances,” he reflected. That has been the case this season; he is the frontrunner to be named Liverpool’s player of the year. He already has one memento; he was presented with a shirt with ‘100’ on the back by Jurgen Klopp, marking his century of Liverpool clean sheets. “The goal is special but the clean sheets are better,” Alisson said. There are, he hopes, many more to come. “One hundred is a lot for me now but in comparison to the great goalies in Liverpool’s history it is not even 50 per cent of what they achieved. They got over 200 clean sheets.” He is the seventh goalkeeper to register 100 for Liverpool, but it may be a table even he cannot top. Not when Ray Clemence recorded 323 shutouts and Bruce Grobbelaar a further 267; it helped that Anfield greats made 665 and 628 appearances respectively. “I don’t know if I can play as many matches as them,” said Alisson, currently on 229. “I think Ray had over 600 matches for Liverpool, but I’m already looking forward to the next 50 or 100 clean sheets, and for the next one in the next match we have. It would be special to be alongside them or to beat them, I admire a lot what the great goalies did, but I’m writing my own story here at Liverpool.” That story is nowhere near its final chapter. Alisson is still only 30 and with a deal until 2027. His commitment stems from much more than a contract, however. Alisson’s father, Jose Agostinho Becker, drowned in 2021. Lockdown restrictions meant he was unable to return to Brazil. His Anfield family instead offered support. “I never imagined to go through a moment like that in my life,” he recalled, a tear in the eye. “Nobody thinks about losing their Dad or Mum suddenly but so many people at that moment were losing loved ones in Covid times and I think the world was in a place where everybody was ready to show love for people. Not only at Liverpool, though the boys here at the club were amazing: I think they felt my pain together. “I took three days at home after my dad passed away and I was looking forward to coming back here, to this place, because I felt already the love. Not only here but from the football world, I was really touched. I received so many letters from managers, from clubs that I never imagined I would receive.” A couple of months later, Alisson emerged in the West Brom box to score a goal that led Liverpool on a path that ended in the 2022 Champions League final, that almost brought a quadruple. Now, once again, there is the hope a difficult campaign can end on a high. “We are having similar challenges,” he said. And if there is unlikely to be a similar solution, another Alisson header, his shutouts offer the prospect of further success. “Keeping clean sheets keeps you closer to victories,” he said. So, too, does his bond with Liverpool. “When I signed a long-term deal at this club, I thought a lot at this moment that everybody was there for me and I have this feeling that I want to be here for the club as well,” he said. “To keep making history, keep this atmosphere that we have as a family.” Read More Jurgen Klopp backs Liverpool to revive title rivalry with Man City next season No identity, no intensity: How Southampton were relegated from the Premier League Erik ten Hag finally within sight of matching a past Manchester United great... no, not that one
2023-05-15 05:59
Bruno Fernandes warns Alejandro Garnacho he cannot relax at Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes has been delighted by Alejandro Garnacho’s progress but warned the Manchester United teenager that he cannot relax if he is going to fulfil his potential. A year and two days after his starring role in the club’s FA Cup Youth Cup triumph against Nottingham Forest, the 18-year-old was once again in goalscoring form at Old Trafford on Saturday. Garnacho had been out for two months with an ankle injury and he returned with a bang against Wolves, with the substitute scoring a fine, late goal in front of the Stretford End to wrap up a 2-0 win. Skipper Fernandes threaded through the Argentinian to score and hopes the nascent talent can “score much more until the end of the season.” “Obviously, we know Garna can change games,” the Portugal midfielder said. “He plays with pace, he can take players one against one. “But he’s still developing himself, so we don’t have to go and push so much to him because he’s still a young kid. “He can do great things, but in the future he has to do much better than actually he is doing because he has more than the capability to be even better than he is actually (right now). “He’s been doing amazing for the first season he’s been playing in the Premier League, with more minutes, with more consistency. He’s doing great, but we all know he can do much more for us.” Garnacho recently signed a new deal keeping him at Old Trafford until 2028 after impressing in his first full season as a first-team player. He has also won around Erik ten Hag having irked him during pre-season, with Fernandes claiming he “didn’t have the best attitude” during that period. “That message was from the manager, it was not from me,” Fernandes said. “I just heard what the manager said. “What I have to say to Garnacho, I tell him at the training ground, whenever we are eating, on the training ground or wherever. “If he wants to hear, he hears. If not, he doesn’t but I try to help. “I think he did an interview talking about me trying to help him a lot of times, and that’s what I’m trying to do. “But, obviously, as I said, he’s still young, and I don’t want to give too much compliments because you know when you’re young, you get too many compliments, you can get a little bit relaxed and everything. “We need this Alejandro coming on and making goals, making assists, getting back to recover balls – everything. “But I think if he wasn’t doing what he needed to do, he wouldn’t be playing. We need this Alejandro coming on and making goals, making assists, getting back to recover balls – everything Bruno Fernandes on Alejandro Garnacho “At the beginning of the season, the manager didn’t give him any chances because he thought that he wasn’t being the best, and now he’s getting his chances. “He’s been playing a lot this season because he’s training well, he’s doing what he has to do and he’s getting his rewards – and the team are getting the rewards as well, and that’s the most important thing.” Garnacho’s adaptation from youth football to the top end has also impressed Fernandes, saying his team-mate is reaping the rewards of his hard work. “I think he’s doing very well and he’s training every time with us, so that makes him be more prepared for the games,” he said. “But mentally he’s being much better also because I think he understood what it takes to be a professional player. “He is doing that, taking that and he is working a lot also in the gym with the coaches, so he is getting his rewards. “He’s getting his rewards because he is training well because if he wasn’t he is not even playing I’m pretty sure.” Garnacho’s return is a welcome boost for United with three Premier League games left in the race for the top four before the FA Cup final against Manchester City. “We know it will be tough to get the top four but it depends on ourselves and everything is in our hands so we have to do our job,” Fernandes added. “I’m not worried about Liverpool – I’m worried about us doing our job because it’s about ourselves. “Like I said, if we do our job properly, if we win our games, we will be in the Champions League so we don’t need to look at the table or look at other teams.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Geraint Thomas assumes Giro lead as Covid dashes Remco Evenepoel’s hopes James Anderson suffers ‘mild’ groin strain one month out from Ashes Cameron Norrie advances at Italian Open to set up Novak Djokovic last-16 clash
2023-05-15 05:56
What did Tim Anderson say to Jose Abreu about White Sox fans?
Fans were speculating with Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson said to former teammate and first baseman Jose Abreu in Sunday's game.The Chicago White Sox have not gotten off to the best start to the 2023 campaign, as they sat in fourth place in the AL Central division with a 14-27 rec...
2023-05-15 05:49
Warriors rumors: GS wants to have their cake and eat it too this offseason
The Golden State Warriors want to keep the band together. Unfortunately, that's not how the NBA works. But they can try.It'll be tough to keep the current iteration of the Golden State Warriors together.Draymond Green has a player option, which he'll likely use to enter free a...
2023-05-15 04:58
Blue Jays fans had a problem with Ronald Acuña's home run trot (Video)
Toronto Blue Jays fans at Rogers Centre think Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña took his time running around the basepaths.After losing the first two games of their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays north of the border, Ronald Acuña and the Atlanta Braves had a sense o...
2023-05-15 03:52
Mikel Arteta apologises to fans after Arsenal are blown away by Brighton
A frustrated Mikel Arteta apologised to the Arsenal supporters after a crushing 3-0 loss at home to Brighton all but ended their Premier League title hopes. Second-half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan earned the Seagulls a deserved victory at the Emirates that means Manchester City need one more win from their final three games to defend their crown. City could be champions on Saturday night if Arsenal lose at Nottingham Forest with the gap between the top two now four points, and Pep Guardiola’s side holding a game in hand on the Gunners, who have failed to win five of their last seven matches. “A really different feeling to the feeling that we all had last Sunday (at Newcastle) when we felt proud and we felt that we really did what we needed to win in certain moments. Today is completely the opposite,” Arteta admitted. “We have to apologise to our people, especially for the second half. “What I have to accept first is what happened in the second half and digest it. “After that until it’s mathematically over… the second position is secure. That’s not going to change. We have to digest and that will take a few days. “At the moment it’s just frustration. The feeling that we gave the game away in the second half. We fought really hard to be in the position that we are in and today we were in a critical moment to keeping hoping and digging for that dream. “When you have to play in these moments you cannot do what we did in the second half. “Then we have to look. If a team is capable of doing that when it comes to the biggest stage, there’s a lot of things to analyse and think about because it cannot happen.” Manchester City’s 3-0 victory at Everton earlier in the day had ramped up the pressure on Arsenal but they started strongly despite losing Gabriel Martinelli to an ankle injury after 19 minutes. Gabriel Jesus tested Jason Steele midway through the opening 45 and Leandro Trossard clipped the crossbar with a swerving effort before Bukayo Saka dragged an effort wide from 14 yards at the end of a stop-start half. Brighton punished Arsenal’s profligacy straight after half-time when Estupinan followed up his blocked cross with a scuffed centre that Enciso headed home for his third goal of the season. Arteta made a raft of changes after but the visitors stayed in control and picked off the hosts with Undav able to lob Aaron Ramsdale in the 86th minute before Estupinan grabbed a deserved goal with a close-range finish in stoppage-time. A reflective Arteta added: “Obviously what the team has done over the last 10 months is very different to what anybody expected and that generates a lot of expectation as well enthusiasm, happiness and joy. “That’s something that has to be managed in the right way and after we have the responsibility to make sure the team performs and I am responsible for that. “So, I hate the feeling of letting people down when they are expecting something. That’s the biggest regret I have today and I have to apologise for that.” It was a different set of emotions for Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, who laughed off comparisons with Jose Mourinho after he wheeled off down the touchline to celebrate Undav’s goal. He did insist, however, that nothing had been achieved by his sixth-placed side. “Yes I am very delighted for the performances. I think we deserved to win but then really happy, really proud because the last five days were very difficult after the defeat on Monday (against Everton),” De Zerbi stated. “We have 58 points and not enough to qualify for Europe. “We have another four games, tough games, Newcastle, Southampton, City and last game Aston Villa and we have to fight to deserve to qualify because 58 points is not enough to play Thursdays next year.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Man City brush aside Everton to close in on title as Brighton stun Arsenal Craig Overton defends Somerset’s non-declaration tactics in draw with Lancashire Brighton win puts Manchester City on title brink – 5 things from Premier League
2023-05-15 03:29
Alyssa Thompson can count on USWNT veterans for help
Alyssa Thompson can count on USWNT veterans for help.
2023-05-15 03:23
Man City brush aside Everton to close in on title as Brighton stun Arsenal
Ilkay Gundogan helped himself to a superb double as Manchester City edged closer to a fifth Premier League title in six seasons with a 3-0 win at Everton. As a result of their victory on Merseyside and Arsenal’s 3-0 home defeat by Brighton, a maximum of three more points from their remaining three matches, the first of them at home to Chelsea next Sunday, will secure the trophy once again. Indeed, Pep Guardiola’s men could be crowned champions on Saturday evening should the Gunners lose at Nottingham Forest, and even a draw at the City Ground would effectively end the race as a result of City’s superior goal difference after a straightforward afternoon at Goodison Park. Gundogan took his tally to four in two matches with an expertly-executed over-the-shoulder volley and an exquisite curling free-kick. In between, Erling Haaland scored his almost mandatory goal to make it 52 for the season, with former Everton centre-forward Dixie Dean’s record of 63 still realistically within his reach. Arsenal, however, could not follow suit in a game boss Mikel Arteta admitted before kick-off was a must-win affair as second-half goals by Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan earned Brighton a stunning win at the Emirates Stadium. After a keenly-contested first half, Arsenal fell behind to Enciso’s 51st-minute header and, as they desperately sought a way back into the game, the hosts were picked off by Undav and then Estupinan in a devastating display by the visitors, who are themselves on the brink of qualifying for Europe for the first time. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa ensured West Ham are still not mathematically assured of their place in next season’s top flight after Brentford eased to a 2-0 victory. David Moyes made nine changes ahead of Thursday night’s Europa Conference League semi-final second leg against AZ Alkmaar but saw his side come up short against a Bees line-up deprived of the services of 20-goal striker Ivan Toney by injury, with Mbeumo and Wissa both scoring before half-time. Danny Ings thought he had reduced the deficit after the break, but his tap-in was controversially disallowed for handball by Divin Mubama following a VAR review. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-05-15 03:20
Mikel Arteta apologises to fans for Arsenal's second-half capitulation against Brighton
Mikel Arteta issued an apology to Arsenal fans after watching his side ship three unanswered goals in the second half against Brighton which dealt the Gunners a heavy blow in the Premier League title race
2023-05-15 02:50
My club has suffered – Emma Hayes hopes FA Cup win brings ‘joy’ to Chelsea fans
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes praised striker Sam Kerr as she dedicated her side’s third consecutive FA Cup victory to Blues fans in a year in which she feels the wider club has “suffered”. Kerr struck the winner past England goalkeeper Mary Earps to fire Chelsea to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in front of a crowd of 77,390 at Wembley, a new world record for a women’s domestic club fixture. It was the fifth time in nine years Chelsea have triumphed in the showpiece and another game-changing moment from Australia international Kerr, who latched on to substitute Pernille Harder’s pinpoint pass to steer home the winner in the 68th minute. “I’ve never coached a player like her,” said Hayes. “For a player to have such convictions, such confidence, such courage, the way she attacks everything. “What I love about Sam is she is willing to take responsibility for the team at the top end of the pitch, but I think it’s important to mention Pernille Harder, because without Pernille Harder she wouldn’t have got that goal. “So congratulations to the team, the squad. It will bug me if I don’t say this – I’m a football fan and I’ve watched how much my club has suffered this year. “We’ve had ownership changes, the men’s team hasn’t been brilliant, Chelsea fans this is for you. I hope we had a little bit of joy tonight. I hope we gave you something where you can smile about it this year. The whole club, owners included.” We've had ownership changes, the men's team hasn't been brilliant, Chelsea fans this is for you. I hope we had a little bit of joy tonight Emma Hayes It ultimately came down to fine margins for Marc Skinner’s United side, who had reached a major final for the first time since their promotion from the Championship in 2019. They started brightly and largely controlled a first half in which they had a goal chalked off for offside and a penalty appeal by Nikita Parris turned down, officials ultimately determining she had been brought down by Niamh Charles outside the area. Second-half substitutions saw Chelsea spring back to life after a first period that led Hayes to agree with assistant manager Paul Green, who branded it the “worst first half of FA Cup football we’ve ever had”. Her mood had shifted by the time the final whistle blew and the Prince of Wales draped a medal around her neck. She said: “I think our team has been in transition, with six different players in the starting line-up to last year’s final. My big thing is, ‘How can we still keep winning while transitioning?’ “So this year of trying to get as many players as many opportunities and keep developing their experiences in all areas of the pitch and to win knowing we’re in that stage, this is far and away my most memorable FA Cup final.” Skinner’s side still lead the Women’s Super League, although second-placed Chelsea, with a game in hand, are just one point behind. It has been a year of firsts for his team, who are tantalisingly close to clinching a first ever Champions League berth. Skinner said: “I’m not going to stop and this team’s not going to stop. If anyone thinks we’re going away, we’re not going away. “These are just moments you have to win and we haven’t done that today, but we’ve got a really good account of ourselves and we’ll be back, no doubt about that. “We know how special our club is and how we need to be synonymous with success. Along the way you get a few bumps and today is one of them.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Brighton win puts Manchester City on title brink – 5 things from Premier League George Ford ‘a little pocket of calm amid the chaos’, says Alex Sanderson Owen Farrell adamant Saracens have always played with adventure in attack
2023-05-15 02:28