Yaya Toure s agent believes Pep Guardiola has humiliated the midfielder by leaving him out of Manchester City s Champions League squad.
Guardiola has made his mark with five wins from as many competitive matches at City, while also displaying a ruthless side by shipping a host of first-teamers, including Joe Hart and Samir Nasri, out on loan.
Toure, who left Guardiola s Barcelona to join City in 2010, remained at the Etihad Stadium after transfer deadline day but will play no part in the group stages of Europe s premier competition – standing as the odd-man out with 17 overseas players already in the squad.
The 33-year-old, whose only action so far this season came during the Champions League play-off tie against Steaua Bucharest, will not seek a January move a…
Bayern Munich s Arjen Robben felt the first half of Saturday s 5-1 win over Schalke was among the best since he arrived at the club in 2009.
Robben hit a hat-trick while David Alaba and Mario Mandzukic also registered in the dismantling of 10-man Schalke at the Allianz Arena as the German champions recorded a 15th consecutive Bundesliga win.
Pep Guardiola s side are now 48 matches unbeaten in the league and Robben felt, after seeing Bayern go four goals up within half an hour, that it was one of the best first-half performances he had seen at the club.
All credit to the team. We really enjoyed it. We played with so much passion. It was one of the best halves of football I ve seen since joining Bayern, the club s official website quotes him as saying.
What pace, …
Scotland assistant coach John Carver has confirmed that Andy Robertson will return to training on Tuesday after leaving their first session in Germany as a precaution.
The Liverpool full-back was escorted off the pitch at the Stadion am Groben in Bavaria as Steve Clarke s men took part in an open training session ahead of the opening game of Euro 2024, where they face the hosts on Friday.
Lawrence Shankland was another player that also came off early, having scored in the Scots final fixture before the start of the tournament against Finland last week, found by Robertson at the back post.
However, assistant coach Carver is confident both players, who have 80 international caps between them, will be ready to feature in Munich on June 14.
Robertson is …
Germany legend Miroslave Klose has ended his playing career at the age of 38
There is a never-ending argument over who the greatest footballer of all time is.
It all depends on your perspective. People talk about Pele, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo being candidates for the accolade.
However, there is a group of players who get less press and accolades, while still making a big mark on the beautiful game. A classic example of that is former Germany international Miroslav Klose.
The 38-year-old has finally called time on his playing career, having enjoyed a glittering career at both club and international level. He deserves more accolades, so I wrote this article. A tribute to Klose if you like!
Just a…
Guingamp coach Jocelyn Gourvennec hailed his side s display as perfect following their 2-0 win over Rennes in the Coupe de France final.
Gourvennec s men produced an excellent performance at the Stade de France on Saturday to earn a comfortable success against their Brittany rivals, securing glory in France s oldest domestic competition.
Jonathan Martins Pereira put Guingamp ahead in the 37th minute and Mustapha Yatabare ensured victory with a goal almost immediately after the break.
The triumph marked the second time that Guingamp have beaten Rennes in the final of the tournament, repeating a feat they achieved in the 2009 showpiece.
And Gourvennec was quick to pay tribute to the efforts of his players.
We played the perfect match, Gourvennec told France 2…
Uruguay wrapped up preparations for the FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 win against Slovenia in a friendly at the Estadio Centenario on Wednesday.
Edinson Cavani and substitute Christian Stuani were on target in each half in Montevideo as Uruguay extended their unbeaten streak on home soil.
Cavani opened the scoring in the 37th minute, glancing his header into the back of the net his seventh goal in 10 competitive games for the national team.
And Stuani, who netted the winning goal against Northern Ireland on Saturday, come off the bench to put the result beyond doubt 13 minutes from time.
Uruguay have not lost at home since their 1-0 defeat to Argentina in a World Cup qualifier back in 2009, while Slovenia slumped to back-to-back defeats following March s 2-0 loss to …
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not ruling out further departures from Manchester United before the January transfer window closes.
Defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah joined Bayer Leverkusen on a permanent deal earlier this week and striker Odion Ighalo s loan deal is set to expire at the end of the month.
A number of other fringe players have been linked with the Old Trafford exit, meanwhile, with the likes of Jesse Lingard, Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo all in need of minutes – the Argentinian pair have been told they can leave.
Daniel James, Brandon Williams and Dean Henderson are others reportedly seeking loan moves to further their development.
And Solskjaer is prepared to sanction more exits in the coming weeks as he attempts to trim his squad.
You ca…
Critics of the Nations League were handed healthy helpings of humble pie after England and Croatia served up a thriller in their Group 4 decider, Harry Kane s late winner booking the Three Lions a place in the Finals.
The last 15 minutes at a raucous Wembley on Sunday matched anything international football has to offer with Kane knocking in his first goal since the World Cup where his side lost to Croatia in the semi-finals in extra-time to send Gareth Southgate s side through and the visitors down into League B.
Andrej Kramaric appeared to have kept Croatia on top in this new-found rivalry after his fine solo goal sparked delirious celebrations and put the Russia 2018 runners-up on track to stamp their ticket for the end-of-season tournament.
But substit…
After all the flashpoints and controversies, the trophies won and red cards, the impassioned defences and public rows, Roberto Mancini wore a weary and rueful expression.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day following Manchester City s frustrating 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers in January 2013 – a result that pushed a hard-earned Premier League title further back in the direction of Manchester United – the Italian confirmed his compatriot Mario Balotelli would join AC Milan on an initial loan.
I think that this is a good chance for Mario to come back in Italy. I am very sorry because we love him as a guy and a player, Mancini said.
We are so sad in this moment. I think he will miss me… not only me, but all the journalists. For you he was very important.
…
Derby County manager Phillip Cocu is aiming to utilise captain Wayne Rooney s knowledge of Manchester United when the two teams meet in the FA Cup fifth round on Thursday.
Rooney spent a hugely successful 13 years at Old Trafford, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer before returning to Everton in 2017.
The former England skipper left Goodison Park to join MLS franchise DC United the following year, spending two seasons in the United States prior to linking up with Derby as a player-coach in January.
While it is three years since Rooney was at United, Cocu says Rooney’s long stay at United can only help the Rams as they target an upset at Pride Park.
Of course, Wayne is very important, and maybe even more so in this game because he knows Manch…