Lionel Messi has joked that Pep Guardiola did football a lot of harm with his revolutionary approach at Barcelona, describing the now-Manchester City boss as the best coach he has worked with.
Guardiola led Barca to 14 major trophies during an incredible four-year spell with the club between 2008 and 2012, including three league titles and two Champions Leagues.
In the decade since Guardiola left Camp Nou, Messi has only lifted Europe s foremost club prize on one occasion (in the 2014-15 season), while the City boss has yet to repeat his continental heroics with Barca.
However, Messi is in no doubt as to Guardiola s place as the best coach he has worked with and believes others desire to emulate him damaged the game.
Asked by Movistar whether Guardiola is…
Former France international and World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi has announced his retirement at the age of 35.
The midfielder, who has not played this year after he was omitted from Inter Miami s 2022 roster, has officially called time on his career.
An 84-cap veteran for Les Bleus, Matuidi was a member of Didier Deschamps Russia 2018-winning squad, starting four of their matches including the 4-2 final success against Croatia.
In a statement to social media, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus man spoke of realising his ambitions, and thanked fans for their support over the years.
Football, I loved you so much, he wrote. Football, you gave me so much, but the time has come to say stop.
I accomplished my dreams as a child, my dreams as a…
Julian Nagelsmann believes Germany s victory over Hungary on Wednesday showed their increasing maturity, even if Toni Kroos is far from satisfied with the Euro 2024 hosts progress so far.
Germany became the first team to reach the last 16 of the tournament as goals either side of half-time from Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gundogan saw off tricky opponents.
Indeed, head coach Nagelsmann suggested this was the sort of match in which his team might previously have faltered.
That was a very unpleasant opponent, he told MagentaTV. You have to win a game like that first.
It shows a good maturing process. In November, we would not have won this game.
It is only the second time Germany have advanced through the group stage in four major tournaments, but th…
Former Chelsea player and manager John Hollins has died aged 76, the club has announced.
Hollins made almost 600 appearances for the west London side as a player between 1963 and 1975 before a three-year stint as boss from 1985.
Chelsea board member Daniel Finkelstein said: “He was a hero to the fans of this club, and very much that to me.
Chelsea Football Club is greatly saddened to announce the passing of our former player and manager John Hollins MBE.
All at the club send our heartfelt condolences to John’s family and friends.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
“He was at the heart of one of Chelsea’s greatest teams and, as well as contributing to its trophy success, he expressed its spirit.”
After spells at Queens Park Ran…
Former Bayern Munich and Germany defender Holger Badstuber has announced his retirement from football.
Badstuber made 178 appearances for Bayern in all competitions after making his debut in 2009, though injuries reduced him to just 28 games between the end of the 2012-13 season and his 2017 departure.
The defender, who won 31 international caps and played at the World Cup in 2010 and then Euro 2012, later featured for Stuttgart and FC Luzern.
But Badstuber had been without a club after leaving the Swiss outfit by mutual agreement last December, and has now pledged to pursue a coaching career after hanging up his boots at the age of 33.
Dear fans after 13 years of professional football, I m announcing the end of my career as an active player, he wrote …
Niklas Sule is determined to prove Uli Hoeness wrong as the injured defender aims to recover full fitness in time for Euro 2020.
The Bayern Munich centre-back tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a Bundesliga game in October.
The serious injury was expected to end Sule s season and former Bayern president Hoeness told him to forget about representing Germany at the Euros.
But the 24-year-old said his rehabilitation is going well and could lead to an early comeback.
The knee s fine, I m ahead in the healing process. That speaks to the good work of the surgeon, Sule told reporters at a Bayern fan event.
For me, the European Championship is clearly the goal and I assume that I can and will do it.
I work for it every…
On a Sunday schedule that includes the likes of Juventus and Bayern Munich, there are plenty of heavyweight affairs from across Europe’s elite.
So, for those of you looking to stick on a Sunday flutter, we have found a couple of helpful betting markets that can potentially offer a lucrative return.
14:30 Bayern Munich vs Werder Bremen
Although Bayern Munich might face a real battle in their bid to make more Bundesliga history this season, the German icons are enjoying an extended purple patch. Marking their return from Germany’s festive break with a routine 3-0 romp at home against Hoffenheim, Sunday’s hosts will know the importance of making a crucial statement of intent at the Allianz this weekend.
Signing off 2023 with a lively 2-1 victory awa…
Germany sealed their presence at Euro 2012 with a 6-2 victory over Austria in Gelsenkirchen, with Mesut Ozil and Miroslav Klose prevalent.
Klose scored his 62nd international goal, leaving him six behind Gerd Muller s record for Germany.
Ozil and Lukas Podolski both joined him in etching their names on the score sheet within the opening half hour, as the Germans took a commanding lead.
Marko Arnautovic pulled one back for Austria before half-time, but there was no return for the visitors.
Ozil and Martin Harnik traded goals early in the second half, but substitutes Andre Schurrle and Mario Gotze rounded off Germany s win with late strikes.
It took just eight minutes for the hosts to break the deadlock. After a cross was cleared only to the edge…
Best odds: 12/5
Bookmaker:
As part of their final preparations for Euro 2024, Poland and Turkey will face off in an international friendly on Monday evening in Warsaw.
Poland is set to kick off their European Championship journey against the Netherlands on June 16, while Turkey will start their campaign in Germany with a match against Georgia on June 18.
Poland
Poland triumphed over Ukraine 3-1 in a friendly on Friday, marking their fourth consecutive victory, and they now aim to secure another favorable outcome in their final match before Euro 2024.
Michal Probierz’s squad will commence their Group D campaign against the Netherlands on June 16th, with Austria and France also competing in what promises to be a highly intriguing and challenging…
Girona are continuing to upset the big guns in Spain’s top flight.
Sunday’s stunning 4-2 win at Barcelona means Real Madrid, city rivals Atletico, Barca and Real Sociedad – all leaders of their Champions League groups – continue to trail in the wake of the team from Catalonia.
Here, the PA news agency provides some detail about Los Blanquivermells, who have lost just once in 16 matches this season and top the table by two points.
– Do they have trophy-winning pedigree?
How are you feeling this morning, Girona FC fans?
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN)
No, unless you count lower league titles and regional cups.
This is only Girona’s fourth campaign in Spain’s top flight, with last season’s 10th-placed finish equallin…