Borussia Dortmund fell to a chastening 4-0 defeat versus Thai side BG Pathum United in their second friendly match under new head coach Nuri Sahin.
Sahin took the reins after Edin Terzic resigned in the wake of BVB s Champions League final loss to Real Madrid last month.
His first game at the helm saw Dortmund draw 1-1 with third-tier German side Erzgebirge Aue on Wednesday, before they set off on a pre-season tour of Asia.
On Sunday, they faced BG Pathum United – who finished fourth in the Thai League 1 last term – in Thanyaburi, with a team featuring the likes of Karim Adeyemi, Youssoufa Moukoko, Julian Brandt and Niklas Sule being trounced 4-0.
Speaking after the loss, former midfielder Sahin told reporters: Of course it s a heavy defeat, but I kno…
Giovanni van Bronckhorst claimed the scoreline did not offer a true reflection of Rangers performance after they succumbed to a 3-0 Champions League defeat at home to Napoli.
Second-half goals from Matteo Politano, Giacomo Raspadori and Tanguy Ndombele condemned Rangers to a third consecutive defeat on Wednesday after James Sands was dismissed for two bookable offences.
The defeat could have been heavier had Allan McGregor not twice denied Piotr Zielinski from the penalty spot following a VAR check for encroachment.
Politano then tucked away his opener from 12 yards, as Napoli became just the third side to be awarded multiple penalties in back-to-back Champions League fixtures (after Chelsea in 2020 and Salzburg in 2021).
Despite Rangers defensive s…
Rio Ferdinand has defended Harry Maguire s Manchester United form, with the ex-England man comparing his struggles to those of Gerard Pique when he played for the club.
The centre-back became the most expensive defender in history when he arrived at Old Trafford from Leicester City in 2019.
Yet he has struggled to replicate the form he has enjoyed for Gareth Southgate s Three Lions since his capture, particularly during a dismal 2021-22 campaign.
Ferdinand has backed the United captain however, pointing to the combination of differing styles between club and country that may have left him shortchanged at the Red Devils.
In an England shirt he’s been nothing but phenomenal, he said on YouTube show Vibe with FIVE. He’s been unreal. You can’t say he…
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka accepts he needs to improve his disciplinary record, but he does not think he can change his approach.
Xhaka attracted widespread criticism after he was sent off in Arsenal s EFL Cup semi-final first leg draw with Liverpool.
The Switzerland international made a wild lunge on Diogo Jota in the first half, with the Liverpool man looking to bring down a lofted pass before he received a high kick from Xhaka.
It was by no means the first time Xhaka s discipline has been called into question – that was his fifth red card since joining Arsenal in 2016, the joint-most of any Premier League player in that time.
But he does not think changing his game is possible, pointing out that it is not as if he is doing it on purpose.
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Wolves have confirmed the appointment of Julen Lopetegui as their new head coach, bringing an end to their search for Bruno Lage s replacement.
Lage was axed at the start of October following Wolves defeat to West Ham, but they have picked up just four points from five matches since then and sit second-bottom of the Premier League heading into the weekend s fixtures.
Lopetegui was dismissed by Sevilla last month after spending over three years with the Andalusian side, who he guided to Europa League success in 2020, and was long-reported as a priority target for Wolves.
While it was reported the former Real Madrid and Spain coach initially rejected Wolves advances, on Saturday it was announced he had taken up their offer.
Lopetegui will not take charge at…
Franck Ribery will be playing in Serie A this season! Those are the latest news regarding the French veteran, as he is on the verge of signing for Fiorentina. Fabrizio Romano, one of the staff members at well-respected Di Marzio, claims that the player and the Serie A club have reached an agreement. The player is expected to sign a two-year contract with the club from the Artemio Franchi stadium.
Only one thing is left to be done and that is his medical. Ribery will have his medical some time this week, according to Romano, as he is inches away from becoming their new player. Ribery has been without the club in the past few months, as his contract with Bayern Munich came to an end. The Bavarian club opted not to offer a new deal to the 36-year-old, with them being interested in…
Jose Mourinho wants to see the real Dele Alli again at Tottenham and has challenged the England international to turn his form around.
Alli established himself as one of the brightest talents in English football under Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs, contributing prolifically from midfield.
He scored 18 Premier League goals as Tottenham finished runners-up to Chelsea in the Premier League in 2016-17, cementing his status as a key figure for club and country.
Alli was on target in England s 2018 World Cup quarter-final win over Sweden but has struggled for form and fitness since.
The 23-year-old was a peripheral figure during the opening weeks of the current campaign, in which he lost his place in Gareth Southgate s national squad.
Whether or not Alli…
Matthijs de Ligt believes his relationship with Noussair Mazraoui will benefit Manchester United s defence this season.
De Ligt and Mazraoui joined United in a double signing worth up to £60million from Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
The two defenders were also together at Ajax, where they played under Erik ten Hag before being reunited in Germany.
The manager confirmed on Thursday that both players would be in the squad for the Red Devils Premier League opener against Fulham on Friday, and De Ligt is looking forward to developing their partnership further.
What can I tell you about Nous? He is an amazing guy, an amazing player, De Ligt said in an interview with the club s media channels.
I ve known him already for a long time, I think around 10 yea…
Veteran Sampdoria forward Fabio Quagliarella has been handed an Italy recall after equalling a Serie A record.
Quagliarella, whose last Italy cap came in 2010, is included in Roberto Mancini s squad for a Coverciano training camp next week.
The 36-year-old has hit 16 goals in 20 appearances this season to top the Serie A scoring charts ahead of Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Quagliarella has found the net in 11 consecutive appearances in the league, levelling the competition record set by Gabriel Batistuta while playing for Fiorentina in 1994.
11 Fabio has scored in 11 consecutive Serie A games played, the joint-longest such run in the history of the competition, equalling Gabriel Omar Batistuta (11 in a row in 1994). Olympus.
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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insists the club have never considered a move for Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, labelling it mission impossible .
Ronaldo, 32, was linked with a move from Madrid in the off-season, with United and Paris Saint-Germain reportedly interested.
But, speaking after his side s 5-2 friendly win over LA Galaxy on Saturday, Mourinho said there was no chance for United to sign Ronaldo again.
We have never thought about it because he is such an important player for his club, of great economic power, Mourinho said.
We have not been able to find for whatever reason that could have made us think that Ronaldo could leave.
I am not a defender in my club once you waste time on players who are mission impossible.
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