List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has told Tottenham that qualifying for the Champions League is far tougher than it was before. Villa host Spurs on Saturday with the two sides still in the hunt for European football next season, but with hopes of claiming a top-four Premier League place all but over for both. Tottenham – Champions League finalists in 2019 who reached the round of 16 this season – are sixth, six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United having played a game more. Eighth-placed Villa’s late bid to break into the top four was ended by successive 1-0 away defeats to United and Wolves over the last fortnight. “Their expectation in the beginning was to be in the top four,” ex-Arsenal boss Emery said of his former North London neighbours. “It’s now more difficult than it was five to 10 years ago. There are now seven teams trying to be in the top four. “Maybe Aston Villa now as well. It’s more difficult.” Tottenham’s search for a first trophy since League Cup success in 2008 has seen them turn to Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte since Mauricio Pochettino’s departure in November 2019. Neither Mourinho nor Conte, both perennial winners, could sprinkle their stardust on Spurs and caretaker boss Ryan Mason now has the task of trying to secure European football next season. Mason’s three matches in charge so far have produced a win, a draw and a defeat, with the latest game being a 1-0 home victory over Crystal Palace. Emery said: “Tottenham have had some problems in the last month but they have very good players. “The last match they played against Palace they kept good balance tactically and they have very powerful players in the transition, being strong defensively. “They have very good players who can make different tactical decisions. “The last matches against them at home here, (Villa) have struggled and it’s now a challenge to get a good performance at home. “We have to believe in our players, in our tactical way we are progressing. That is the match on Saturday. “To play a great match, spirit and playing and trying to get at them. They have a three-goal difference with us but our mind is to be very competitive and to get better.” Villa quartet Boubacar Kamara, Leon Bailey, Matty Cash and Philippe Coutinho are all available. “It’s the first time in the last month we have everybody ready to be in the squad for Saturday,” Emery said. “Only Jed Steer is out but Cash, Kamara, Bailey, Coutinho – in the last match they were in the squad but not ready 100 per cent to play. “Some players are still not ready to play 90 minutes, but they’re ready to be in the squad and ready to play.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Steve Cooper not interested in Chelsea’s problems ahead of Forest’s trip Josh Cobb shocked to be replaced by David Willey as Northamptonshire T20 captain Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson named National League manager of the season

Steve Cooper says Nottingham Forest’s assignment at Chelsea on Saturday is not made any easier by the London club’s recent struggles. Forest head to Stamford Bridge looking for the three points that could virtually secure their Premier League status and will fancy their chances, despite their dreadful away record. Chelsea ended a nine-game winless run at Bournemouth last week, but they have not won any of their last five league home matches. Cooper says he does not take any notice of the problems Frank Lampard is enduring. “We are playing Chelsea away so that is always going to be a tough game at any time of the season, you look at the squad they have, the changes they can make, the team they can start with, they have players all over the pitch who can make a difference and we have to be ready for that,” he said. “I never pay any attention to any context around a team we play against apart from them being at their best because I always think you have to prepare for that. “That’s what we’ll be doing. We want to go there with our best intentions of getting a result we really need and want. “We have got to know what it takes from our guys to do well and try and minimise the strengths they have because there is a lot.” Forest will give Serge Aurier every chance to be fit after he limped off in Monday night’s win over Southampton with a knock. “Serge walked off and we’re doing everything we can to see if he’s available,” he said. “Maybe in a different time of the season and if Neco (Williams) was fit it might be a different situation, but we are going to give him everything we have to be available. But that might be touch and go. “(Gustavo) Scarpa is back in full training now so he won’t be far off being available. (Emmanuel) Dennis has been injured, he picked up a knock in training before Southampton and he is still not available. “Still a bit of a mixed bag, it’s definitely been worse but not something we’re paying attention to.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Josh Cobb shocked to be replaced by David Willey as Northamptonshire T20 captain Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson named National League manager of the season It was an amazing honour – Chelsea star Sam Kerr proud of role in coronation

Julen Lopetegui insists Wolves need to spend to avoid another relegation dogfight. The former Real Madrid manager has guided Wolves to safety with three games left, despite being bottom of the table at Christmas. He is due to meet chairman Jeff Shi before the end of the season to thrash out the club’s plans for the summer and beyond now their Premier League status is assured. Those talks will include discussions over his transfer kitty at Molineux after a season of struggle. “We have to be together in the same way, we want to improve. In football you have to want to increase your performance and squad. This is about investment too,” said Lopetegui ahead of Saturday’s trip to Manchester United. “I am going to have a long meeting with our chairman to hear him and hear what his ideas are for next year. This is going to be key for me. “That’s why I have to hear him and know first hand what his ideas are. After I will have more information to take a decision. “We have to improve and have to take advantage of the summer. If not we know the level of the Premier League; the first step is to hear him. “Afterwards we will take our decision about a lot of players. In the right moment I’m going to talk, first with the club and afterwards with the players about what is going to be our idea. “We want to improve, we need to improve. We have had a very hard year. We have to be ready to improve and be able to compete better in the next year. “We have to be ready. This year has been a very hard year for all, maybe it can serve as a lesson for all of us.” Lopetegui has no new injury worries for the trip to Old Trafford with Wolves 13th and 10 points clear of the drop zone. “United are a very good team, with top players, a good coach with a very clear idea in the way they want to play,” he added. “They are fighting to be in a good position to be in next season’s Champions League. This is a very difficult achievement.” Read More Football rumours: Newcastle revive interest in signing James Maddison Dwight McNeil says ‘nothing is done yet’ despite Everton’s huge win at Brighton On This Day in 2006: Theo Walcott lands shock England World Cup call-up Roberto De Zerbi believes Brighton deserve a European place Ruben Neves: It would need a catastrophe for Wolves to go down now Julen Lopetegui: Survival for Wolves will be my biggest achievement

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has been named Vanarama National League manager of the season. But Wrexham striker Paul Mullin, who scored 47 goals in all competitions, lost out on the player of the season award to Macaulay Langstaff. Notts County striker Langstaff scored 42 National League goals – four more than Mullin – as Luke Williams’ side finished four points short of champions Wrexham’s record total of 111. Parkinson steered Wrexham over the line amid the fierce spotlight on the Welsh club because of their Hollywood star owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Wrexham missed out on promotion in the play-offs last season, but the Red Dragons ended a 15-year absence from the English Football League on the season’s penultimate weekend this time. Notts County, who pushed Wrexham all the way in a thrilling title race, will contest the play-off final against Chesterfield on Saturday for the second promotion spot. The top two dominate the National League team of the year with eight players. Notts County supply five players, two more than Wrexham. National League Team of the Year: N Ashmore (Boreham Wood), J King (Chesterfield), A Chicksen (Notts County), B Tozer (Wrexham), K Cameron (Notts County), E Lee (Wrexham), M Palmer, R Rodrigues, M Langstaff (all Notts County), P Mullin (Wrexham), R Colclough (Chesterfield). Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Everton manager Sean Dyche insists it would be wrong to think “everything is solved” following their resounding win over Brighton. A 5-1 victory, only the club’s second away win in the Premier League this season, lifted the relegation-threatened Toffees out of the bottom three and two points clear of the drop zone. However, despite the morale-boosting result prompting many pundits to now favour Everton escaping a first top-flight relegation since 1951, Dyche has cautioned against complacency – especially with treble-chasing Manchester City next up at Goodison Park. “When I walked in here the thing that hit me instantly was a big result, big everything; tough result, low everything. That needed to change in-house,” he told the club’s website. “The in-house feel here, the environment we work in, and the flow had to get more level and more consistent in our daily work and thinking. “We’ve spoken to the players and staff about it. It’s important to handle good times in terms of not thinking everything is solved and right and proper. “When I talk about seeing through the noise, that maybe implies when things aren’t going right but it very much applies to when things are going right as well.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has expressed her pride over her role in the King’s coronation last weekend, describing it as an “amazing experience”. The Australia international on Saturday led her country’s delegation in the formal procession, carrying the flag as they made their way into Westminster Abbey. Kerr, who helped Chelsea thrash Everton 7-0 in the Women’s Super League the following day, said: “I got offered the opportunity to be part of it about a month ago while I was in international camp, and I originally thought the Everton game was on the same day, so I thought it was not doable. “But Emma (Hayes, the Chelsea manager) and the club were kind enough to let me attend, obviously because it’s an amazing, amazing honour, and something I’ll probably tell my kids about in 10, 15 years. “It’s been a crazy week. I was quite worried about missing a training session, because that’s just who I am. “But it all worked out – we had two wins (also 2-1 against Liverpool on May 3) and I got to attend the King’s coronation, which was something that was an amazing experience for me and a proud moment for my family.” Kerr was speaking ahead of Chelsea taking on Manchester United on Sunday in what is the first Women’s FA Cup final to sell out Wembley. The last two finals have been won by the Blues with Kerr scoring a brace in each, and the prolific 29-year-old forward said: “I love playing at Wembley, I think it’s probably my favourite stadium to play at in the world, just based on whenever you go there it’s a big game. “I think this team always steps up when there’s a big occasion so it’s going be amazing – a packed-out crowd – my family is coming over for it. It’s going to be very exciting.” As well as the FA Cup triumphs, Chelsea – currently a point behind WSL leaders United with a game in hand after Wednesday’s 6-0 victory over Leicester – have also secured three league titles and two League Cups since Kerr joined during the 2019-20 season. Kerr added: “I think when you win one trophy, you can’t help but want more. “I love winning, whether it’s FA Cup finals, a game at the weekend, in training, whatever, and I hate losing, so it’s easy to stay motivated as a footballer, that’s our job, that’s why we do it. If I wasn’t motivated, I wouldn’t be playing football. The FA Cup is a very important trophy to us and hopefully we can keep it at Chelsea.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Everton boss Sean Dyche warns not to assume ‘everything solved’ by Brighton rout Ronnie O’Sullivan planning to prioritise Asian tournaments over playing in UK Andy Murray to speak with his team about French Open participation

Former NFL star JJ Watt has put his old Chelsea allegiances to one side because he believes he can make a big difference at Championship-winning Burnley. The 34-year-old, who retired from playing last year, has been in Lancashire this week to enjoy Burnley’s final game of the season and take part in Tuesday’s trophy parade after he and his wife Kealia, a former United States international, became investors in the club. Watt has previously said he was a Chelsea fan but that is in the past for the three-time NFL defensive player of the year. “I’m a massive football fan and I’ve been looking for the right opportunity for a long time,” Watt told the PA news agency. “Burnley is a club that has been around since 1882, it’s got incredible support in a great town and I’m very much looking forward to helping create the vision that Alan (Pace, chairman) and Vincent (Kompany, manager) have for the club. “With a club like Chelsea if I got involved, I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t have any impact in what is a $6billion club. But if you come to a club like Burnley you have the chance to make a difference, the chance to make an impact. “I don’t hide the fact I used to be a Chelsea supporter but I’m all Burnley now.” While the Premier League is now awash with investment from around the world, most of that is channelled into the big six clubs or those in London. Turf Moor is a long way from the more glamorous image of the top flight, but Watt, who grew up in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, said that appealed to him. “I’m from a small town in Wisconsin and I grew up watching the Green Bay Packers,” said Watt, who spent 10 seasons with the Houston Texans and two with the Arizona Cardinals. “Every bit of evidence says Green Bay is not a big town and there’s no reason for them to be great but I think that something special can happen in a small town, especially when you have a manager like Vincent Kompany and a chairman like Alan Pace, and supporters like we have here.” Watt admitted he felt a bit of out of place at Tuesday’s parade – “I don’t feel like I deserve to be here because I just joined” – but he has quickly got involved in several aspects of the club, even sitting in on a meeting looking ahead to the summer transfer window. Having taken some inspiration from the impact Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have had at Wrexham, just promoted to League Two, Watt said he wanted to take Burnley global. There will also be a particular focus on improving the women’s team at Burnley, who play in the National League North, the third tier of the pyramid. “I’m going to be helping to increase the global brand,” Watt said. “We want to help create interest and excitement around Burnley Football Club and tell the story of the town and get people to understand how great of a place it is. “(The women’s team) is a big part of what we want to do. Women’s football is on the rise globally and we want to make sure Burnley is a part of that rise.”

On a night of thrilling sensory overload, it is Internazionale left with the feeling that matters most: victory, and in the match that matters most. That it was 2-0 at the San Siro, from the most thrilling of starts, went some way to finishing this Champions League semi-final when it had barely begun, putting Simone Inzaghi’s fine cup team on the brink of the grandest final in club football. It still could have been much worse for AC Milan, who badly missed their best player in Rafael Leao. It meant they had no answer – either at the back or front – to Inter’s individual stars. Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan plundered lightning bolts of early goals. One of a few remaining hopes for Milan is that Leao’s return can spark a comeback that had some embers in that second half. There was also the almost irrational manner that Inter started the game, as much borne of the emotion of everything that was happening as any imposed idea. The same can happen in the second leg, especially since Milan were the “home” side here. Stefano Pioli at least has to ensure they believe that. That’s what much of this came down to, as the entire occasion ratcheted up to something that went beyond a sporting spectacle. These two teams didn’t just come together for a historic derby in the most prestigious of competitions. They came together for something bigger. This was in truth a deeply rich cultural occasion as much as a sporting fixture, the profound history of the latter context enriching the former. It was also a truly sensory experience. The noise and colour were of another plane, vintage sights and sounds like those huge Italian banners being waved like battle flags amid raucous chanting afforded a new air. There is something important to that. These are two grand clubs who had largely been left behind by the forces enveloping the wider game, but who were still picked off by such interests. It was understandably cast as a semi-final that only happened due to the luck of the draw, with the prize for the winner being the misfortune to get well beaten by the victor of the “real” final in the actual final. Even some of the players had a Europa League feel, a combination of Premier League has-beens and Premier League yet-to-bes. And it still produced an occasion unlike anything the Champions League has experienced in recent years. It was deafening. It was also, fittingly for something so sensory, entirely organic. The owners of major clubs – be they equity firms, states or industrialists – may be seeking to buy this but it is something that can only come from the history and context. Imbued in that stadium-wide roar that greeted the final “champions” of the competition theme was the shared history of 10 European Cups each. As to the present, and who will enjoy the prize of that next Champions League final, it was Inter who initially attacked with that atmosphere much better. They were going with the vivid flow of it all, actually playing to the occasion in a way that arguably better suited them. The two opening goals were vibrant illustrations of this, Milan apparently unable to even impede a briefly unstoppable force. For the first, a Hakan Calhanoglu corner was acrobatically turned in by Dzeko in what felt like one unbroken move. For the second, the effervescent Federico Dimarco just surging through to set up Mkhitaryan for the finish to a flowing move that just seemed to sear through Milan. It was at that point that Inter looked like they would score with every attack, the physical force of their individual stars looking better equipped for the occasion than Milan’s more methodical system. That system was also frequently at the brink of breaking down, like when Simon Kjaer and Fikayo Tomori again got themselves into the most awful mess dealing with a Lauturo Martinez run. It was just as well the Argentine decided to go down, ensuring the penalty was ruled out, and Milan were not yet out of the tie. Mike Maignan did a good enough job of that himself, producing at least two brilliant reactive saves. The contrast between the approaches did condition the game further, though, and actually ensure Inter weren’t far out of sight too early. With Inzaghi’s side primed to respond to Milan with individual bursts, it was little surprise that Pioli’s system began to assert itself more in general play – even if he did have to bring Junior Messias on for Ismael Bennacer to ensure that. Brahim Diaz started to run the game. Sandro Tonali hit the post. Messias shot when he should have passed. This was where they were missing their own star in Leao. The Milan crowd behind Andre Onana’s goal could sense something. They tried to draw with more sensory overload, the end glowing demonically with red flares, a firecracker loudly exploding. There was no late eruption from Milan, though. They kept to the system without ever cutting through. Their fans still roared encouragement at the end. Inter’s players ran to theirs. This isn’t over. It might just take a while for anyone watching to get over. Read More The Milan derby crowns Serie A’s return - here is why it means so much more AC Milan are back – but not as how you remember them Man City vs Real Madrid is the ‘real’ Champions League final Milan derby creates thrilling sensory overload that shows how football should be AC Milan vs Inter Milan LIVE: Champions League semi-final result and reaction False 9? Edin Dzeko shows the value of an old-fashioned centre-forward

What the papers say Newcastle have rekindled their interest in England midfielder James Maddison, according to the Daily Telegraph. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move away from Leicester in the summer. Timothy Castagne, 27, is another Leicester player who could be on his way out with Arsenal keen on the Belgian full-back, reports the Daily Mirror. Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, 22, is also on the Gunners’ radar. The Premier League is the likely destination for England striker Tammy Abraham, 25, with Roma prepared to sell for £40million, according to the Daily Mirror. Manchester United are believed to have watched the ex-Chelsea forward. Hugo Lloris, 36, has been offered a move away from Tottenham to Saudi Arabia. The Times reports the France goalkeeper will triple his salary with the move away from London. Social media round-up Players to watch Lautaro Martinez: Manchester United are tracking the Argentina striker, 25, at Inter Milan.Manuel Ugarte: The Sporting Lisbon midfielder, 22, is catching the eye of Liverpool who are reportedly ready to pay the Uruguayan’s £52million release clause. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Wigan produced one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history when they beat Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley, on this day in 2013. Ben Watson’s late header clinched a fairytale win for the Latics, who won their first major trophy just 35 years after becoming a Football League club. Roberto Mancini’s big-spending City, who won the FA Cup in 2011, were overwhelming favourites having been crowned Premier League champions in 2012. The Latics were in the Premier League’s bottom three and were given little chance after beating Bournemouth, Macclesfield, Huddersfield, Everton and Millwall to earn their chance of glory. But manager Roberto Martinez said: “We all know Manchester City are the major favourites, and rightly so. But there are many examples of major upsets in the past. It can happen, but we will have to be perfect.” In the event, it proved a perfect afternoon for Wigan’s on-loan Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Joel Robles, who saved from Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri and most notably denied Carlos Tevez with his legs to keep Mancini’s all-stars at bay. Having weathered a storm, the underdogs went close when Shaun Maloney’s free-kick hit the crossbar and they gained fresh impetus six minutes from time when City defender Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for a second bookable offence. The decisive moment came in the final minute of normal time when Watson met Maloney’s corner at the near post and glanced a header over the helpless Joe Hart. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, who had famously broken his leg while playing for Blackburn in the 1960 final, revealed afterwards he had envisioned the victory in a dream several weeks earlier. The then-76-year-old, who had led the team out, said: “I did predict all this and it was a fantastic dream. “It was a lovely dream that night and it’s come true.” Mancini was sacked by City two days later and was replaced by Manuel Pellegrini on June 14, nine days after Martinez had departed Wigan to replace Manchester United-bound David Moyes as Everton manager.

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher tried to troll TCU for getting blown out by Georgia, apparently forgetting the Aggies didn't even make a bowl.The TCU Horned Frogs were the kings of Texas in the 2022 college football season, coming just one game away from being kings of the sport, ...

Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer revealed who he believes is going to win the Heisman Trophy in the 2023 season, and it isn't last year's winner.Last season, the college football world kept close tabs on the Heisman Trophy competition. There were a variety of legitimate contend...