Category Other

UCL talking points: Pep’s tinkering costs City, Arsenal look unstoppable

And then there was one. With five games played, Arsenal are the only team in the UEFA Champions League with an unblemished record. The Gunners’ impressive 3-1 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday saw to that, but what of the other results this week? What can we read into Chelsea’s confident 3-0 win over Barcelona? What does Liverpool’s 4-1 capitulation at the hands of PSV Eindhoven — at Anfield no…

Sources: Man United want wing-backs, midfielder

Manchester United will look to bolster their options at wing-back next summer, sources have told ESPN, alongside their pursuit of a central midfielder. United are assessing their options to strengthen their midfield. Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba are all among the names in the frame. Work has also been done to assess Wolves pair João Gomes and André, as well as Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller and Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher.…

How San Diego went from expansion afterthought to cup contender

SAN DIEGO — When one single goal can be the difference between glory and failure, taking risks isn’t for everyone in soccer. Across the globe, some teams are specifically built to avoid any hints of hazard. Knowing that on-the-field pragmatism can pay off with conservative bets, it’s tempting for many tactical architects to play with caution. In a sport that’s demonstrated time and time again to be fickle, clubs often…

Palace player facing ban for WWE-style headlock

Crystal Palace midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn is likely facing a lengthy ban after she was sent off for placing Leicester City’s Hannah Cain in a headlock and wrestling her to the ground during their League Cup clash Sunday. The Republic of Ireland International reacted to another small altercation between opponents during Palace’s 3-0 win. Littlejohn, who joined Palace in September, gave Cain a slight push before the Wales international responded by…

Ronaldo escapes World Cup ban after Ireland red

Cristiano Ronaldo will likely avoid missing any Portugal games at the 2026 World Cup despite his red card in a qualifying game for elbowing a Republic of Ireland opponent. FIFA published a disciplinary verdict Tuesday that imposed a three-game ban, which judged Ronaldo’s action as “violent conduct” or “serious foul play,” but with two of those games deferred for a one-year probation period. Ronaldo served a mandatory one-game ban when…

Ex-Belgium international retires at just 26

Former Belgium international Zinho Vanheusden has announced his retirement from football at the age of just 26 after persistent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Vanheusden began his senior career at Inter Milan but never went on to make a senior appearance for the Serie A side instead enjoying loan spells at Standard Liège, Genoa, AZ Alkmaar and K.V. Mechelen in the Belgian Pro League before finishing his career at Marbella…

Jenni Hermoso claims Liga MX title with Tigres

Spain international Jenni Hermoso achieved her dream of winning a title in Mexico, helping Tigres Femenil to the 2025 Apertura trophy on Sunday. Tigres Femenil edged America 1-0 to take the tie 4-3 on aggregate win to clinch the 2025 Apertura tournament. Hermoso, 35, the victim of the ‘Rubiales kiss scandal’ that rocked Spanish football after the country’s 2023 World Cup triumph, had previously lost Liga MX finals with Tigres…

Madrid convinced of ‘winning Super League battle’

Florentino Perez hit out at LaLiga president Javier Tebas, rivals Barcelona, Spain’s referees and UEFA in a combative speech at Real Madrid’s annual general meeting, while insisting the club will “win the next battles” on the Super League. Around 1500 representatives of Madrid’s 98,000 members participated in Sunday’s meeting at the club’s Valdebebas training ground, approving its annual accounts, and quizzing the board. In an 80-minute intervention, Perez criticised the…

Amorim: United to keep Mainoo, Zirkzee if needed

Ruben Amorim has told Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee that he will put the club first when it comes time to decide if they can leave Manchester United in January. Both Mainoo and Zirkzee have struggled for game time so far this season and are keen to explore moves away from Old Trafford ahead of next summer’s World Cup. But while the pair haven’t started often, they are regularly part…

1 year of Amorim: ‘I knew United would struggle’

Ruben Amorim is not taking anything for granted at improved Manchester United given their surprise setbacks and less shocking struggles during his first year in the job. Monday’s Old Trafford encounter against Everton comes on the first anniversary of his maiden game in the hotseat away to Ipswich. Amorim oversaw a 1-1 draw at Portman Road and went on to experience more downs than ups during his first campaign, but…