Month: January 2025

(GSM) Burkina Faso coach Paolo Duarte has been released from his coaching position at Ligue 1 side Le Mans, following a disagreement with club president.

The 41-year-old Portuguese was appointed by the French outfit in June and had been combining both roles.

However, Duarte was set to be absent for a month with Burkina Faso participating in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

Club president Henri Legarda had requested the former U.D. Leiria coach to remain with the Ligue 1 side but Duarte turned down the request.

Following this, arrangements were initially made for Duarte s replacement but with the club currently second from bottom of the French Ligue 1 and having won just two games all season, Henri Legarda has been forced to act.

We couldn t, in o…

Mikel Arteta will not go down without a fight despite seeing his Arsenal side carved apart by a rampant Manchester City.

Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Erling Haaland were on target as Pep Guardiola s side claimed a 4-1 win over the Gunners on Wednesday.

City are now just two points behind the Premier League leaders with two games in hand.

Following City s win, they now have a 92 per cent chance of winning the league, compared to just eight per cent for the Gunners, according to Opta.

Arteta, however, is not giving up hope.

It s a very difficult night, obviously after the way we lost, he told BT Sport.

But we have to stand up, look at the bigger picture and the way we are competing toe-to-toe with this team. It s incredible, to be fair…

A-League leaders Brisbane Roar will look to get back to winning ways on Sunday, as they prepare to host Melbourne Heart.

Mike Mulvey s men fell to a 1-0 loss to Melbourne Victory on Friday night, in what was former Roar man Ange Postecoglou s last match in charge of the Victorian team.

But they have a good chance to find their form at home to Heart this weekend, with John Aloisi s side winless in three this season.

From five trips to Roar s Suncorp Stadium, Heart have won only once their first in December 2011 losing three of the next four since.

Despite their form on paper looking a bit shoddy, Heart really should have more points on the board than their two from three games.

They were pegged back to a draw at home to Central Coast courtesy of …

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp warned his team they would be doing things his way as he prepares to implement his high pressing game.

Klopp was unveiled as Brendan Rodgers successor at a media conference on Friday as he looks to restore the Anfield club s past glories.

The German refuses to make huge statements about what his team will achieve, but he will have them working hard.

I am not the guy who is going to go out and shout, We are going to conquer the world or something like this, Klopp said.

But we will conquer the ball, each time. We will chase the ball. We will run more, fight more.

Klopp said his pressing tactics were not a proposal, rather a law , as he looks to match the success he had at Dortmund.

Dortmund won two Bundeslig…

Pep Guardiola will manage Sergio Aguero carefully, as he explained the difficulties of keeping each player in his Manchester City squad satisfied.

City made it 20 successive wins in all competitions on Saturday, as they edged past West Ham 2-1 in the Premier League thanks to goals from defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones.

Aguero made just his fourth start of the season in total – and his first since October – with the City great, who is out of contract at the end of 2020-21, having struggled with injuries through the course of the campaign.

The 32-year-old failed to have an attempt and created just one chance before he was taken off in the 61st minute, having had 32 touches – less than any other outfield player to have started the game for City.

…

Jose Mourinho says there is no point crying about Roma s growing injury list, after Paulo Dybala pulled out of Sunday s showdown with Atalanta.

Dybala was injured during the warm-up ahead of the Serie A clash at Stadio Olimpico – the Argentina international sustaining a left flexor issue in his thigh.

Nemanja Matic replaced the former Juventus forward in the Giallorossi s starting line-up, with Lorenzo Pellegrini pushing into a more advanced role. 

Dybala joins the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum (tibia fracture) and Stephan El Shaarawy (muscular) on the injury list, while Rick Karsdorp is expected to miss around six weeks as he prepares to undergo surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Nevertheless, Mourinho insists his side must be ready to deal …

Former Manchester United assistant Mike Phelan believes Wayne Rooney may want a fresh challenge at a different club.

The striker has been linked with a move away from the English Premier League champions, with Arsenal one of several clubs believed to be interested in his services.

Rooney, 27, reportedly asked to leave the club at the end of last season, the second time he has requested a transfer.

Phelan, who was a trusted assistant of Sir Alex Ferguson s, said it could be time for the England striker to move on.

Wayne is at the greatest club you can be at, Phelan told the BBC.

Why would you want to jeopardise that, unless you want a fresh challenge and you feel that challenge isn t being met at Manchester United.

Rooney is expected to meet United ma…

Bayern Munich defender Rafinha has extended his contract with the Bundesliga club until 2017.

The 28-year-old s deal at the Allianz Arena had been due to expire at the end of this season.

However, the Brazilian, who joined Bayern from Italian side Genoa in June 2011 has opted to continue his stay with the Bavarians for a further three years.

I am very proud, Rafinha told FCB.tv.

It s very important for me, my career and my family that I can continue to play for one of the best clubs in the world.

Rafinha has made over 70 appearances for in his two years at Bayern, and won the first major honours of his career in their treble winning campaign last season.

The right-back is in line to add another medal to his collection after he helped Bayern secure t…

Nigeria will offer Carl Ikeme a coaching role after the goalkeeper announced his retirement from football.

Former Wolves keeper Ikeme said on Friday he was hanging up his boots on the advice of medical experts after spending the last 12 months battling acute leukaemia.

The 32-year-old is in remission but opted not to attempt to prolong a playing career that saw him make 274 domestic career appearances in all competitions.

Ikeme did not confirm his future plans but he will be given the chance to work with the Super Eagles.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) general secretary Mohammed Sanusi said in a statement: The NFF will find the resources to send Carl Ikeme on a coaching course, and afterwards absorb him into the technical crew of the Super Eagles.