New UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says he will make a review of the recent Champions League reforms his first priority.
The head of Slovenian football won a landslide victory at Wednesday s electoral Congress in Athens, gaining 42 votes from a possible 55 to beat rival Michael van Praag to the post.
Representatives of the European Football Professional Leagues board criticised UEFA s decision to alter the competition regulations for the Champions League, which included guaranteeing four group-stage places to the top-ranked leagues currently the Bundesliga, LaLiga, the Premier League and Serie A.
The EFPL claimed the changes were made without the consensus of the domestic competitions, and Ceferin speaking after his election said he is eager to examine the agr…
Bayern Munich can break new ground and focus attention back onto playing matters with victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
After president Uli Hoeness was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail for tax evasion on Thursday, the German and European champions can hit the headlines for the right reasons by smashing the Bundesliga record for consecutive unbeaten games matches from the start of a season.
Bayern s 6-1 win over Wolfsburg last Saturday moved them to 24 league games without defeat this term a figure Leverkusen achieved in the 2009-10 campaign.
Leverkusen are one of two sides to take points off Bayern in the Bundesliga in 2013-14 and their recent record against Bayern will give Sami Hyypia s side hope at the Allianz Arena.
Not only were Leverku…
Spanish daily newspaper AS understands that Manchester United are weighing up a January bid for Barcelona star Gerard Pique.
While making a number of quality attacking signings this summer, the Red Devils are extremely short of good options at the back and recruiting at least one centre-back is a priority in the winter transfer window.
According to AS, Barcelona stopper Gerard Pique is one of the first names on the club s hit-list.
Having started just one of first four league fixtures this season, it would appear as though the Spain international is not in the first team plans of coach Luis Enrique, and unless things change considerably, Pique may decide to leave in search of first team football.
It was at Old Trafford that the player started his profes…
Franck Kessie has been one of Atalanta s young standout performers this season. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)
September 21st. That was, to date, the last time Atalanta lost a match.
La Dea suffered a shock 1-0 reversal to Palermo, which marked their second straight defeat after being thrashed 3-0 by Cagliari. That would prove to be the turning point, and they have not looked back since.
In fact, heading into their tie with Roma, Atalanta have won four matches on the trot, including recording three straight clean sheets. They have shown they can mix it up with the big boys of Italian football after defeating Napoli and Inter. And they have shown they can grind out results against teams whose sole intent is to earn a point, as demonstrated against Pesca…
Southampton captain Jose Fonte has submitted a transfer request, the Premier League club have confirmed.
The 33-year-old Portugal centre-back s deal at St Mary s Stadium runs until June 2018 and director of football Les Reed revealed he neglected to sign fresh terms.
He s had several opportunities to improve the contract situation. He s reserved his right not to do that, Reed told BBC Radio Solent.
He s made it very clear he would like to explore the opportunities for a transfer.
That s where we are at the moment, Jose wants to leave the club. He s formally asked for a transfer.
Fonte, who has made 288 appearances for Saints since joining from Crystal Palace in January 2010, was linked with Manchester United after helping Portugal to Euro 2016…
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…
Memphis Depay has revealed he would like to return to the Premier League, as reported by .
The Dutchman spent four seasons with PSV Eindhoven before he went to England and joined Manchester United in 2015. However, he couldn t find his feet as Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal the following summer, and he was sold to Olympique Lyon for £21.7 million in January 2017. He returned to good form in France with 22 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions last season, and now he obviously feels he is ready to try the Premier League again.
He has named two clubs in England s top flight which he would consider as potential destinations Chelsea and Manchester City. With the current champions well-stocked with wide attacking players (Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, Riyad Mah…
Tottenham Hotspur welcomed Chelsea in what was undoubtedly the biggest game of the 13th round of this season s Premier League. With the teams entering the clash in fourth and third place, respectively, and with Arsenal breathing down their necks in fifth, any points won against each other would ve been considered vital by both sides.
Team News
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino had a few players missing for this encounter. Fullbacks Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier were both out with groin problems, midifelder Mousa Dembele was out with an ankle injury, while centre-back Davinson Sanchez suffered a hamstring problem. Given the situation, the Argentinian went with a flexible version of 4-2-3-1 formation and this line-up:
Hugo Lloris was in goal, with the experienced centre…
Predicton: Alexis Sanchez anytime goalscorer
Odds:
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Chelsea and Manchester United face off on Saturday afternoon, both gunning to lift the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium.
The two come together having lifted the trophy an eye-watering 19 times between them, and this fixture holds considerable importance for both Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
Chelsea
Having not won the FA Cup since 2012, edging past their former manager this weekend would represent a huge success for the Blues this season considering their disappointing league campaign in which they finished fifth. Antonio Conte is under considerable pressure and now looks set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign, so a trophy would be the best way to potentially round-off h…
Chelsea have confirmed they are to consider their options over the development of Stamford Bridge, with the current planning permission set to expire on March 31.
The club had gained permission to expand Stamford Bridge to a 60,000 capacity, though reports on Wednesday suggested the project had been placed on hold.
However, since planning permission was granted in March 2017, no work on the project has commenced.
It has now been confirmed that Chelsea are considering options as to how to proceed, with the current permissions to expire on Tuesday.
Club statement.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
We are grateful to all our fans and stakeholders, especially Hammersmith Fulham Council, for their patience and understanding in the matter, a stat…