Arsenal could not find a better manager than Arteta – Guardiola

Pep Guardiola believes Mikel Arteta is the right man to lead Arsenal despite their awful start to the 2020-21 Premier League season.

Arsenal lost to Burnley at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, their fourth straight home league defeat, which represents their worst such run since 1959.

The Gunners are 15th in the table, 10 points off the top four and only five points clear of their relegation zone.

The decline under Arteta, Guardiola s former Manchester City assistant, has been swift as Arsenal ended the previous campaign on a high with FA Cup success.

Pressure is building now on the manager, who has failed to get the best out of his key men most notably, captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The striker, who signed a lucrative new contract ahead of the cam…

Mata believes Manchester United must set ´higher standards´

Standards must be raised at Manchester United following last season s disappointment, according to Juan Mata.

Former Spain international Mata previously described United s end-of-season slump, which saw them win just two of their last 12 matches in all competitions and miss out on Champions League qualification, as very painful .

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led the club to eight consecutive victories after taking over from Jose Mourinho last December but soon found himself under pressure as the club failed to win any of their last six matches in 2018-19.

Mata started 16 Premier League games last season – the fewest across the course of a full season since he joined the club in January 2014.

In an interview with United s official app, the former Chelsea and Val…

Iran 0 Spain 1: Costa goal breaks stubborn resistance

A fortuitous Diego Costa goal helped Spain overcome a dogged Iran to secure a 1-0 win in their World Cup Group B clash in Kazan.

Carlos Queiroz s side produced a defensive masterclass to reduce Spain to nothing more than half-chances during a hugely frustrating opening 53 minutes for the 2010 champions.

Costa who scored twice in Friday s pulsating 3-3 draw with Portugal eventually found the breakthrough, though, when Ramin Rezaeian s attempted clearance cannoned off his leg and into the bottom-left corner.

Iran had the ball in the back of the net just eight minutes later courtesy of Saeid Ezatolahi, but their wild celebrations were cut short after referee Andres Cunha was advised by VAR that Rezaeian s vital intervention had been made from an offside position.

Kevin Muscat to leave Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory head coach Kevin Muscat will leave the four-time A-League champions, it was announced on Monday.

Muscat s 14-year association with the Australian giants as a player and a coach will come to an end following Wednesday s final AFC Champions League group-stage clash against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

The 45-year-old, who captained Victory and worked as an assistant before taking the reins in 2013, is set to depart after the side s humiliating 6-1 loss to Sydney FC in the A-League Semi-Final.

After captaining Victory to two championships, club great Muscat oversaw another two as coach – including the 2017-18 triumph – as well as a premiership and FFA Cup.

An undisputed legend of the club. The 2018/19 season will be Kevin Muscat s last at Melbo…

Iniesta: Spain retirement not easy decision

Andres Iniesta says he spent many months thinking about his international future being opting to quit Spain duty after the World Cup.

Iniesta confirmed his international retirement after Spain s shock last-16 exit at the hands of hosts Russia on penalties.

The former Barcelona captain, 34, will now turn his focus to the next chapter in his career at Japanese club Vissel Kobe.

And in a lengthy social media post on Tuesday, Iniesta explained how he came to the decision to stop playing for Spain.

Hello everyone, wrote 2010 World Cup winner Iniesta. Fourteen years ago, I put on the shirt of our national team for the first time, I was 15 years old and I ll never forget that moment. It was a lifelong dream to be able to defend the colours of my country. 

Klopp hints at retirement after Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has suggested that Liverpool could be his last club before retirement.

The 49-year-old started his coaching career with Mainz and worked seven years at the Opel Arena before leaving for Borussia Dortmund in 2008.

He also worked with BVB for seven seasons, winning two Bundesliga titles before stepping down at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

Klopp says he has little intention of taking on short-term roles at a number of clubs and admits that his managerial post at Anfield could be his last.

I will not have been in charge of 10 different clubs once my managerial career is over, he told Sport1.

There is a not insignificant chance I will have coached three clubs. I would say it is very unlikely I will become a club-hopper all of a sudde…

England 5-3 Kosovo: Sancho and Sterling star in Group A thriller

Raheem Sterling scored and recorded a trio of assists while Jadon Sancho hit his first England goals as Gareth Southgate s side came from behind to beat Kosovo 5-3 in Southampton. 

Kosovo led after 34 seconds of the Euro 2020 qualifier at St Mary s Stadium on Tuesday, Valon Berisha giving the Three Lions a scare, but they roared back to lead 5-1 at half-time thanks to Sterling s inspirational display.

He levelled the scores with a header and set up Harry Kane to make it 2-1 before Mergim Vojvoda s own goal, Sterling then providing assists for Sancho s two strikes in an action-packed Group A clash.

England lost their focus after the interval with Berisha netting again and Vedat Muriqi converting a penalty a feat Kane failed to match soon after  to make the final…

Southgate searching for next Paul Gascoigne

Gareth Southgate admitted that England have struggled to produce star players with the regularity of Spain, picking out his former team-mate Paul Gascoigne as a unique talent in the modern history of the Three Lions.

Gascoigne earned 57 England caps between 1988 and 1998 and played alongside Southgate at Euro 96, where his performances cemented his place as one of the country s finest creative midfielders.

Following England s 2-1 defeat to Spain at Wembley on Saturday, Southgate reflected on his country s struggle to unearth players with Gascoigne s talent and suggested that an increased focus on technical ability at junior level could help to nurture more creative players.

Weighing up England s most talented players against the likes of Spain s Andres Iniest…

Milan star Leao flattered by Real Madrid interest but assures ´feet are firmly on the ground´

Rafael Leao expressed his excitement over speculation of interest from Real Madrid, but the Milan forward assured his feet will remain firmly on the ground .

The Portugal international has starred for Milan since joining from Lille in 2019 and played an integral role as Stefano Pioli s side secured their first Scudetto in 11 years.

Leao scored 11 times and assisted eight in 34 Serie A appearances over the 2021-22 season, setting up two goals in the final-day 3-0 win over Sassuolo that sealed the title.

No Milan player outscored him – Olivier Giroud also scored 11 league goals – or recorded more assisted for the Rossoneri this term.

Leao regularly tormented Serie A defences with his powerful runs down the left flank, with only Adama Traore (107), Ky…

Legia Warsaw fans cause disorder outside Villa Park ahead of Europa Conference League clash (Video)

The city of Birmingham witnessed unpleasant scenes as Legia Warsaw fans caused problems outside Villa Park as their team prepared to face Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League on Thursday. Three police officers were reportedly injured, and there was a large number of arrests.

Consequently, the supporters of the Polish team were stopped from entering the stadium.

West Midlands Police have confirmed three officers have been injured amid disorder with Legia Warsaw fans outside Villa Park. They say they cannot let them in the ground and told the public to avoid Witton Lane .

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews)