Pep Guardiola joked that he will sleep better once Jurgen Klopp has left Liverpool – and backed his long-time rival to return to management one day.
Klopp made the shock announcement on Friday morning that he will be quitting Anfield at the end of the season after nine years in charge.
Guardiola joined City a year after Klopp arrived on Merseyside, and the duo have been jostling at the top of English football almost ever since, with the German ending Liverpool’s 30-year wait for the title in 2020.
They had previously locked horns for two years in Germany with Guardiola at Bayern Munich and Klopp in charge of Borussia Dortmund, and have faced each other more than any other manager – a total of 29 times.
The two clubs have since met in the Premier Lea…
Brazil were dumped out of the Copa America by 10-man Uruguay, who survived Nahitan Nandez s red card to win on penalties after a bad-tempered, goalless quarter-final.
Marcelo Bielsa s team played the final 16 minutes a man down after Nandez was dismissed for a reckless lunge on Rodrygo, but with star winger Vinicius Junior suspended, Brazil were unable to find a winner and were made to pay in the shoot-out.
Sergio Rochet saved from Eder Militao before Douglas Luiz struck the post, and though Jose Gimenez squandered Uruguay s first chance to win it, Manuel Ugarte made no mistake with their next attempt.
They will now face Colombia in the last four after James Rodriguez inspired Los Cafeteros to a 5-0 rout of Panama, while Brazil s wait for a 10th Copa title goes o…
Manchester United are interested in signing Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Premier League club United have made an initial approach to secure the services of Ugarte.
Sky Sports have noted that United are internally discussing over the next steps in their pursuit of Ugarte. The report does not mention what PSG’s plan is regarding the 23-year-old Uruguay international defensive midfielder, who has been on the books of PSG since the summer of 2023 when he moved from Sporting Lisbon.
Ugarte made 21 starts and four substitute appearances in Ligue 1 for PSG last season. The youngster gave two assists in those games. The defensive midfielder also made five starts and three substitute appearance…
Market: Shelbourne win
Odds: 1/2 @
Looking to extend on their FAI Cup adventure on Sunday afternoon, a high-flying Shelbourne will travel to the Carlisle Grounds when they meet Bray.
Starting with the hosts, while Bray might still find themselves batting it out in the First Division play-off chase, the Wanderers are seeking some recent stability. Despite snatching an action-packed 3-3 stalemate away at Kerry last time out, Ian Ryan’s men have recorded just a single victory from any of their previous five second-tier appearances. Opening July with a 1-0 loss at the hands of Cork City, the Seagulls have also shown some extended defensive issues. Including a 2-0 defeat against Treaty United last month, Bray have recorded just a single clean sheet across any compe…
Rodrigo de Paul says Argentina were born to suffer after celebrating his side s remarkable World Cup victory over France in Qatar.
Lionel Scaloni s side held a two-goal lead at the interval against the defending champions, but a second-half brace from Kylian Mbappe turned the tie on it s head, with further drama to follow.
Lionel Messi scored his second of the game to hand Argentina the lead again in extra time, but a second Mbappe penalty clinched the forward his hat-trick, sending the game to penalties – where Gonzalo Montiel tucked home the deciding effort.
Having fallen at the final hurdle in 1990 and 2014, the win handed Argentina their first World Cup crown since 1986 and will result in a third star on their shirt – only Brazil (five), Germany and Italy…
Jonas Olsson fears Chris Brunt s knee injury could shatter his dreams of representing Northern Ireland at a major international competition.
Brunt suffered the setback during last weekend s 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace, the 31-year-old leaving the field on a stretcher after falling awkwardly when challenging Wilfried Zaha.
While the full extent of his injury has yet to be revealed, Olsson says the prospect of missing Euro 2016 would be a huge blow to his team-mate, who was struck by a coin thrown by one of his own fans in last month s FA Cup loss to Reading.
It is a shattered dream for him not to be able to represent his country in the Euros, said the Sweden international.
I think that coin incident is not on his mind at all when you have an injur…
Former Barcelona captain Xavi believes England can pull off a surprise and win their first European Championship in 2016.
Much has been made of the fact England have failed to win silverware since lifting the World Cup in 1966, reaching the semi-final of the Euros on two occasions in 1968 and 1996.
However, Xavi, who won back-to-back European Championships with Spain in 2008 and 2012, can see similarities between that side and England s young team.
I think England have a real chance, the 36-year-old told The Mirror.
Before we [Spain] won our first title I believe it was the pressure that meant we never progressed past the quarter-finals. Because of our quality there was so much pressure on us and it got to us.
England when they had …
Harry Kane produced a special display against Manchester City that will be tough to match in the Premier League this season, says Jamie Carragher.
Tottenham stunned City with a thrilling 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, a result that gave Liverpool fresh hope in the title race.
Kane scored twice and had another goal ruled out by VAR but it was his creative play against a City team who tried to sign him last year that delighted Liverpool great Carragher.
The England captain s pass sparked the move that saw Dejan Kulusevski open the scoring and his link-up play with Son Heung-min – who racked up two assists – was sublime throughout.
That was one of the best performances I have seen this season, it really was, Carragher said to Sky Sports abo…
Neymar has been acquitted of fraud and corruption charges stemming from his 2013 transfer to Barcelona from Santos.
A Spanish court also exonerated Neymar s father and the two clubs, while ex-Barca presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell were also found not guilty, as well as former Santos president Odilio Rodrigues.
The trial in October examined the Brazil international s move in 2013 after complaints by DIS, a Brazilian company that owned 40 per cent of Neymar when he was playing for Santos.
The case was brought by Spanish prosecutors, with DIS citing lost income after the real value of the transfer was understated by the other parties.
DIS were seeking a five-year jail term for Neymar as well as a fine of up to €149million, while the prosec…
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has revealed he signed £52million midfielder Sandro Tonali after he “fell in love” watching his play for AC Milan last season.
The 23-year-old Italy international made a stunning Premier League debut in the Magpies’ 5-1 rout of Aston Villa on Saturday evening, announcing himself in English football in style with the opening goal and a commanding engine room display.
Asked if Tonali had exceeded his expectations, head coach Howe said: “I don’t know. I wouldn’t say so because that would be disrespectful to his ability.
A dream debut!
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC)
“We pursued him for a long, long time, paid a big fee for him because I fell in love watching him play the game last year.
“He’s an …