MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti predicted Friday that Kylian Mbappe and football’s other brightest young stars would bounce back strongly after disappointing showings in the Champions League. All four quarterfinal first leg matches thrilled supporters this week but some of the brightest names in the game were below their best on the biggest stage. … Read more
Why Al-Shabab’s Ivan Rakitic is ‘the happiest guy in the world playing football’ LONDON: Jose Mourinho once called Ivan Rakitic, who joined struggling Saudi Pro League giants Al-Shabab in January, “fantastic” and “one of the most underrated players in the world.”The rich praise from The Special One underscores what a significant coup Al-Shabab achieved in … Read more
RIYADH: Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus has insisted his club will give equal importance to all trophies still on offer this season and that he is used to being in charge of teams that compete for and win trophies, Arriyadiyah reported. Jesus was speaking at a press conference following his team’s 3-0 win over Al-Okhdood in … Read more
Karim Benzema missed another penalty on Friday but that did not prevent Al-Ittihad beating Al-Fayha 3-1 to remain in fourth place in the Roshn Saudi League and move within two points of Jeddah rivals Al-Ahli. Despite falling behind to a 25th-minute penalty converted by Abdelhamid Sabiri, which temporarily silenced the home crowd in Prince Abdullah … Read more
Erling Haaland looks determined to make up for lost time. The Norway striker scored five goals to power Manchester City into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup in a 6-2 win against Luton on Tuesday. It was his eighth hat trick in a season-and-a-half with City and the second time he has scored five in … Read more
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida: Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has hit out at referee union members after talks broke down leaving the league to start the new season without their top referees. Garber, speaking to reporters prior to the opening game of the season between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake, warned MLS was “very … Read more
DOHA: Musab Al-Battat has led Palestine on the pitch with his all-action performances and off it as the voice of a team who have battled the odds to reach the Asian Cup knockout rounds for the first time.The 30-year-old captain will be the man his team look to once again for inspiration when Palestine face … Read more
LUTON: Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe refused to make excuses for his side’s Luton Town loss, described by Magpies’ legend Alan Shearer as ‘”awful”. Newcastle made it five defeats in the last six in all competitions, suffering a 1-0 reverse at the Premier League strugglers. Former winger Andros Townsend got the only goal of … Read more
How Sevilla’s data-driven methodology can help Saudi and regional clubs punch above their weight Few clubs in world football have punched above their weight in the last two decades quite like Sevilla FC. In a landscape that includes arguably the world’s two biggest clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as the likes of Atletico … Read more
ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST: All is on track for African football’s biennial showpiece, the Africa Cup of Nations, according to organizers in the Ivory Coast who are confident their security measures will prevent a repeat of the tragedy that overshadowed the 2022 edition in Cameroon. Ivory Coast may be one of the heavyweights in African football but … Read more