Manchester United defender Phil Jones praised new permanent manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for restoring a buzz not felt at the club since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
After a successful spell in temporary charge, Solskjaer signed a three-year deal last week to remain at Old Trafford.
During his period as caretaker boss, Solskjaer turned United into genuine contenders for a top-four spot, despite their chances previously looking bleak under Jose Mourinho.
However, it is not just the results that have improved after Solskjaer s arrival, with the atmosphere appearing to be better as the players are said to have reacted well to the Norwegian s personality.
Jones is one of few Ferguson recruits still in the squad almost six years on from th…
Mats Hummels said Germany s tactical approach was wrong after the World Cup holders lost the opening game of their title defence 1-0 to Mexico.
Hirving Lozano struck the only goal of the Group F clash, but Mexico wasted numerous chances on the break to record an even larger margin of victory.
Germany, meanwhile, had 26 shots without causing Guillermo Ochoa too many problems, although the Mexico goalkeeper made nine saves in keeping a memorable clean sheet.
Hummels felt Germany did not heed the warning of their final warm-up friendly against Saudi Arabia that ended in a tight 2-1 win, their only success in seven matches since the end of the World Cup qualifying campaign last year.
It s pretty simple. We played like we did against Saudi Arabia, but agai…
´You need an objective ref´ – Klopp hits out at officials as Liverpool boss fumes over Kane, Jota fl
Jurgen Klopp railed at Paul Tierney after accusing the referee of blundering by failing to send off Harry Kane and snubbing Diogo Jota s penalty appeal in Liverpool s dramatic draw at Tottenham.
The Liverpool manager said the game needed an objective ref – a comment that could land him in trouble – and questioned if there was anything personal to read into Tierney s decisions.
I have really no idea what his problem is with me, said Klopp, who spoke to the referee at half-time and full-time.
Former Borussia Dortmund boss Klopp was convinced Kane should have been ordered off for a first-half lunge on Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, who was himself dismissed late in the game for fouling Emerson Royal, as the game finished in a 2-2 draw.
And Klopp …
Shakhtar Donetsk skipper Darijo Srna led the tributes to Mircea Lucescu following the coach s announcement that he would leave after 12 years in charge.
The 70-year-old Romanian led the Ukrainian club to eight domestic league and six domestic cup titles, as well as their first European trophy in the form of the 2009 UEFA Cup.
He was also voted Ukrainian coach of the year on eight occasions and, according to Srna, his influence upon the players went beyond football.
This is life, we can t change it, said Srna.
Lucescu is a Shakhtar legend. He lifted the club to the highest level. He was our teacher not only in football, but in life.
But we have to move on. Now we must learn how to live without Mister .
Lucescu himself, meanwh…
Canada advanced to the knockout stages of the Paris Olympics against all the odds following a 1-0 victory over Colombia in Marseille.
The defending Olympic champions had won both their group matches, but were docked six points after being found guilty of using a drone to spy on New Zealand s training session ahead of their opening match of the Games.
It subsequently saw head coach Bev Priestman banned from football-related activities for a year, and despite appealing the decision, saw it rejected.
However, Vanessa Gilles header proved to be the difference as she rose highest to meet Jessie Fleming s corner kick delivery in the 61st minute.
While Canada only took three points from their group games, they joined both Spain and the United States as the on…
Mauricio Pochettino says it is impossible to envisage him leaving Tottenham to take charge of the English national team.
Sam Allardyce s tenure as England manager ended this week after just 67 days following alleged remarks he made in a video recorded by undercover reporters offering advice on how to circumvent rules on transfers.
Pochettino has had a strong influence over England selection in recent years, handing numerous home-grown players chances at both Southampton and Spurs, bolstering the national side s stocks in the process.
The likes of Dele Alli, Luke Shaw, Eric Dier and Harry Kane have become England regulars after top-flight exposure at the hands of Pochettino, who is not ruling out a future move into the international game, but the Argentine s sole …
Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol believes Pep Guardiola has taken on his greatest challenge in the Manchester City job.
Puyol enjoyed four successful seasons under Guardiola at Camp Nou, winning three LaLiga titles and the Champions League in 2009 and 2011.
Guardiola then went on to enjoy further success with Bayern Munich, lifting the Bundesliga trophy in each of his three seasons, although glory on the European stage eluded him.
Now at City, Guardiola has made a strong start to his tenure, winning his first 10 matches in all competitions before a slight wobble last week saw them follow a 3-3 draw in the Champions League at Celtic with a 2-0 loss at title rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
After dominating in Spain and Germany, Puyol says Guardiola has his…
Brendan Rodgers bemoaned a lack of quality after Celtic’s interest in Europe ended with a 2-0 defeat in the Champions League by Lazio in Rome.
The Hoops went into the make-or-break game with one point from four Group E matches but were undone with two late goals from the home side’s classy substitute Ciro Immobile.
Celtic were awarded a penalty in added time for a push on substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu inside the box but it was overturned when VAR intervened and sent referee Halil Umut Meler to the pitchside monitor for another look.
Brendan Rodgers spoke to after . |
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC)
The Parkhead outfit, without Luis Palma, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Liel Abada through suspension or injury, will finish bottom in their Champ…
Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana claims another club opted against signing him in 2017 because they felt their supporters would not accept a black goalkeeper.
Onana, 23, was born in Cameroon and has spent 12 years in Europe, first coming through Barcelona s academy before switching to Ajax in 2015.
There he has remained ever since, becoming a regular starter for the Amsterdam giants in the 2016-17 season, helping the club to the Europa League final.
It was after that match – a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United – when it looked as though Onana might move on.
But he now says an interested party passed on him because they felt their fans would not accept having a black player in goal.
Speaking to Dutch newspaper Het Parool, Onana said: Racism is there…
Liverpool are interested in signing Mohammed Kudus from Ajax in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners were already aware of the quality of the midfielder, and that his performances for Ghana at the 2022 Qatar World Cup have enhanced his reputation further.
Kudus has been on the books of Ajax since 2020 and has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in Eredivisie. The 22-year-old has done well for Ajax, both in the Dutch domestic league and in European club competitions.
The former Nordsjaelland midfielder has made five starts and nine substitute appearances in the Eredivisie for Ajax so far this season, scoring five goals in the process. Kudus has also made fi…