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Mourinho on Turkish football: ‘I’m the foreign one’

Fenerbahce coach José Mourinho labelled himself as “the foreign one” on Saturday when addressing his need to adapt to Turkish football. The Portuguese manager famously described himself as “a special one” during his first spell at Chelsea before opting to be known as “the experienced one” while at Tottenham. Asked about Turkish football after his team’s 2-2 Super Lig draw at Goztepe, Mourinho said: “The passion, the love, the enthusiasm…

Sterling wants Chelsea clarity after City game axe

Raheem Sterling wants clarity over his Chelsea future after being left out of the squad for Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League opening loss to Manchester City. The 29-year-old played in all six matches during the club’s preseason tour to the United States but was omitted from the matchday squad for Enzo Maresca’s first competitive match in charge at Stamford Bridge. Maresca, who called it a technical decision to leave Sterling out,…

Juventus boss Motta hints at McKennie stay

Juventus begin their Serie A season with a limited number of players available and considerable work to do in the transfer market, manager Thiago Motta said on Sunday, adding that United States international Weston McKennie, who looked to be on his way out of the club, could now return to the fold. Four seasons without a league title after winning nine in a row forced Juventus into major changes, with…

Real Madrid were already Spanish champions, and then they signed Mbappé. Is LaLiga ready?

“Uff.” If it’s possible to sigh and smile at the same time, that’s what Girona coach Michel did. ESPN just asked the manager who pushed Real Madrid closest in last season’s LaLiga title race how his team will cope now that Madrid have signed arguably the best forward on the planet, Kylian Mbappé. (They open their 2024-25 season at Mallorca: Watch it Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN+ in the U.S.)…

Lille’s Angel Gomes hospitalized with head injury

Lille’s game against Stade de Reims was halted for more than 30 minutes after Angel Gomes was knocked unconscious in a collision and needed lengthy treatment. Lille’s 2-0 victory was overshadowed by the serious head injury sustained by Gomes, an English attacking midfielder, after a collision with Reims’ Amadou Koné in the 11th minute. Gomes received medical attention for more than 20 minutes before being carried off on a stretcher.…

Buzzwords alone won’t save Premier League VAR from the abyss

“Well done, boys; good process,” referee Simon Hooper said to his team, praising them for a smooth VAR review as he restarted play after Liverpool’s Luis Díaz had been flagged offside at Tottenham Hotspur in September 2023. It couldn’t have been further from the truth. Hooper was oblivious to the huge error that had unfolded in the VAR room; Diaz was onside, and the goal should have been given. Hooper’s…

Álvarez: I left Man City to look for a new challenge

Julián Álvarez has said he left Manchester City after only two seasons to join Atlético Madrid because he needed “a new challenge.” The Argentina international, who had a contract with City through June 2028, completed his move to Atlético earlier this week for £82 million ($104m). “I felt that I needed a change in my career,” Alvarez said during his unveiling on Friday. “I needed to look for a new…

Prem loans £20m to women’s game oversight org

The Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), which was formerly known as NewCo and is taking over running the Women’s Super League (WSL) from the FA, has been granted a £20 million interest-free loan from the Premier League as the top two tiers of women’s football in England becomes independent for the first time. The announcement comes after last November’s news that that women’s football in England would be run by…

Arsenal to win the title, Arne Slot to thrive at Liverpool? Bold predictions for 2024-25

The 2024-25 European soccer season is finally here! After months of waiting — and with a brilliant summer of drama and excitement thanks to Euro 2024, the Copa America and the Olympics — we are back with a new club season on the continent, and there’s plenty to talk about. Who’s winning the Premier League? Can anyone topple Real Madrid in Europe? Will Bayern Munich reclaim their crown as the…