BILBAO, Spain — A performance out of nowhere and a result no one saw coming: Manchester United breathed new life into their ailing season by shocking Athletic Club in the Europa League semifinals Thursday night. A stunning 3-0 victory in Bilbao means Ruben Amorim’s team — battered and bruised by a miserable campaign in the Premier League — stands on the brink of return to Bilbao later this month for…
Chicago Fire FC is in talks with Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne on a designated player contract, a source confirmed to ESPN, and look to have the inside track to sign the Belgium playmaker if he moves to MLS. De Bruyne announced last month that he would leave Man City at the end of the season when his contract with the English club expired. The 33-year-old has been with…
Birmingham City broke the English Football League (EFL) record for most points in a season, after a 2-0 away win against Blackpool on Wednesday took the club to an unprecedented 108 points. The club, minority owned by Tom Brady, had already secured the League One title and promotion back to the second-tier Championship. They have managed to garner yet more success this season, though. With victory on Wednesday, Birmingham surpassed…
The North Carolina Courage on Wednesday added a new chief soccer officer who has had success as City Football Group’s head of coaching support during Manchester City’s rise under manager Pep Guardiola. Now, Dr. Ceri Bowley will take on his first role at the top of a technical staff pyramid for the NWSL club, which includes the title of sporting director, and shape the direction of the Courage. “We always…
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger is expected to be out of action for up to two months, sources have told ESPN, after undergoing knee surgery on Tuesday. Sources have told ESPN that Rüdiger was expected to be unavailable for up to two months, which would see him miss the remainder of the LaLiga season and jeopardize his participation in this summer’s Club World Cup. The club’s target would be for…
LONDON — Ousmane Dembélé handed Paris Saint-Germain a crucial UEFA Champions League advantage by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 semifinal first-leg win against Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday. Dembélé, who gave PSG an injury scare by limping off in the second half, now has 45 goal involvements in 45 games this season, and his strike here makes Luis Enrique’s team strong favorites to reach the final in…
The Brazil Football Federation (CBF) expects Carlo Ancelotti to be coach of the national team in time to manage a pair of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers in June, sources have told ESPN’s Pedro Ivo Almeida and Victoria Leite. Although no official agreement is in place between Real Madrid manager Ancelotti and Brazil, discussions in recent days have led to optimism that the 65-year-old will take the job, with sources adding…
LIVERPOOL, England — With seconds remaining in Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Arne Slot turned on the touchline and blew a kiss to his family in the stands. It was a quiet, understated gesture from the man who has, in that same manner, achieved the unthinkable in his debut season at Anfield. If it was Jürgen Klopp who turned Liverpool supporters from doubters to believers, then it’s Slot…
Wrexham will operate a “no superstars and no egos” policy when they target new signings for their Premier League push next season after being linked with Jamie Vardy and Kevin De Bruyne, manager Phil Parkinson said after clinching a record-breaking third promotion. Saturday’s 3-0 win against Charlton Athletic at Stok Cae Ras sealed promotion to the EFL Championship from League One and secured Wrexham’s place in the history books as…
Pep Guardiola said reaching the FA Cup final doesn’t come close to making up for Manchester City’s poor season. City beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Wembley on Sunday to set up a final against Crystal Palace next month. But after failing short in the Premier League, Guardiola insists securing Champions League qualification and winning the FA Cup won’t make him view the campaign as anything other than a disappointment. Asked…