Lionel Messi s presence for Argentina is a privilege not a nuisance, team-mate Giovani Lo Celso insisted ahead of the nation s decisive Copa America clash against Qatar.
Messi and Argentina are in danger of another Copa group-stage elimination as La Albiceleste prepare to face guests Qatar in Porto Alegre on Sunday.
After a 2-0 loss to Colombia and a 1-1 draw against Paraguay from two Group B matches, pressure is on Argentina to avoid a repeat of their 2016 exit, with captain Messi firmly in the spotlight.
Messi – the country s all-time leading scorer – is yet to win a senior trophy with Argentina following back-to-back Copa finals in 2015 and 2016 and a runners-up appearance at the 2014 World Cup.
When asked if Messi s presence is more a nuisance tha…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he was never contacted by Bayern Munich to replace Jupp Heynckes, though the German insisted a move to the Bundesliga champions would have been complicated.
Former Borussia Dortmund boss Klopp was linked with Bayern before the Bavarians turned to Eintracht Frankfurt s Niko Kovac to succeed head coach Heynckes in 2018-19.
Klopp enjoyed great success in Germany, having restored glory back to Dortmund after claiming Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012.
However, Klopp – who is preparing for a Champions League semi-final against Roma – said joining Bayern was never an option, with the 50-year-old contracted to Premier League giants Liverpool until 2022.
It s a fact that I never had any release clauses in my contracts, Kl…
Mats Hummels has described the decision to leave Borussia Dortmund for Bayern Munich as the most difficult of his life.
The Dortmund captain s move to the Allianz Arena was announced on Tuesday, with Hummels agreeing a five-year deal to return to the Bundesliga champions.
Hummels, who left Bayern for Dortmund in 2009 following a loan spell at Signal Iduna Park, will re-join the Bavarians on July 1.
The 27-year-old has won two Bundesliga titles and the DFB-Pokal in his time with Dortmund and was part of the team that lost to Bayern in the 2013 Champions League final.
In a statement published on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, Hummels wrote: After my transfer to Bayern was announced today, I would like to explain it in a little more detail.
As y…
Paolo Guerrero teed up Peru s first World Cup goal in 36 years before also finding the net himself as Ricardo Gareca s side ended Australia s slim qualification hopes with a 2-0 victory.
Experienced striker Guerrero, who was only allowed to play in the tournament after the captains of Peru s World Cup opponents petitioned FIFA to temporarily lift his 14-month suspension for a failed drug test, made the most of what may have been his final appearance for Los Incas, who finished with three points to add to the many plaudits they have earned in Russia.
Their opener would have been worthy of winning any World Cup match, Andre Carrillo volleying Guerrero s weighted cross into the net to the unbridled joy of the raucous Peru fans packing the stands in Sochi.
The ta…
Former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri offered a staunch defence of Arsene Wenger and believes the club s players should shoulder the blame for their recent slump.
Arsenal once again appear too far behind to make an impression in the Premier League title race and suffered a chastening 5-1 defeat at Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League.
They are through to face non-league Lincoln City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, but there remains palpable discontent among the Emirates Stadium fanbase with their long-serving manager.
Wenger is out of contract at the end of this season and yet to make a decision on his future, but Nasri feels he has unfairly become a scapegoat after more than 20 years at the helm.
You cannot criticise a guy like that…
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson remains unconvinced that VAR is improving football, despite a positive independent assessment for Scotland’s match officials.
An independent review panel (IRP) has deemed that just three of the first 407 VAR checks this season produced the wrong outcome.
It is understood that the panel of former players, coaches and managers gave match officials a higher accuracy rating for major decisions than the Scottish Football Association referees department itself.
St Mirren were on the end of one of those perceived mistakes for a so-called double-hit penalty by Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski – and Dundee the other two – but Robinson believes it is supporters who are being short-changed by how the technology is being used.
The f…
Claudio Ranieri has declared any ill-feeling towards Jose Mourinho as pre-history and says he would happily share a bottle of wine with the Manchester United manager.
Mourinho succeeded Ranieri at Chelsea in 2004 and irked supporters of the Italian by claiming he had been considered a loser during his four years at Stamford Bridge.
A simmering war of words continued during their respective spells in Serie A, with Mourinho questioning Ranieri s age and mentality as his Roma side lost out to the Portuguese coach s treble-winning Inter in the 2009-10 title race.
Mourinho also claimed he would not trade the success he has enjoyed during his career for the shock Premier League title triumph masterminded by Ranieri with Leicester City last season.
However, as h…
Demarai Gray is prepared to stay at Leicester City after Craig Shakespeare landed the job on a permanent basis, despite being frustrated at his lack of game-time.
The 20-year-old has been linked with Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham over recent months, but is ready to remain at the King Power Stadium even though he only started nine Premier League games last season.
Shakespeare was handed a three-year deal to become Leicester s permanent manager this month after impressing in interim charge following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri.
He always spoke to me one-on-one, Gray told reporters.
With him getting the job now I am happy with that and hopefully I will get more of an opportunity. I have to train properly and get my chance.
I m looking forw…
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has said Paul Pogba most likely won t be staying at the club beyond this season.
Pogba picked up a calf injury in the 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on Tuesday that will keep the midfielder out for a month.
With the Frenchman out of contract at the end of the campaign, and United s final game of 2021-22 coming on May 22, Rangnick does not expect Pogba to feature again, and has now suggested he may have played his final game for the club.
He won’t be available [at Arsenal] and most likely not for the rest of the games. It seems right now he will not renew his contract [so] it s most likely he won t be here any more next season, Rangnick said at a news conference on Friday.
Pogba has been linked with a move to Re…
Barcelona are interested in signing Azzedine Ounahi from Angers in the January transfer window, according to . Ounahi has been playing well for Morocco at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona are among a number of clubs who have been impressed by the 22-year-old midfielder and are keen on securing his services when the transfer window opens in January.
Ounahi has been on the books of Angers since 2021 and is one of the best young players in Ligue 1. The 22-year-old midfielder has made 13 starts and one substitute appearance in Ligue 1 for Angers so far this season. During the 2021-22 campaign, the young midfielder made 16 starts and 16 substitute appearances in the league, scoring two goals and giving one assist in the process…