Phil Foden: Man City youngster will be 'important player for decade'
Phil Foden "will be an important player" for Manchester City "for the next decade", says boss Pep Guardiola. The 18-year-old midfielder made his first Premier League start in a 2-0 win over Cardiff on Wednesday as City went back to the top of the table. Foden has played 24 times this season, a mix of cup games and substitute appearances in the league. "Even though he is a young player he is able to do everything. Every game he creates chances," said Guardiola. Foden has started games in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup - scoring six goals - as well as coming on 10 times in the league. He made another 10 appearances last season, having made his debut in the Champions League in November 2017. "He has played a lot of minutes [966 this season]," said Guardiola. "This was not his first official game with us. He is part of the group - last season he trained with us, played sometimes, but this season, every training day, every single day he is in the locker room so he is part of the group and everything and he feels that." Foden - at 18 years and 310 days - is the youngest English player to start a league game for City since Daniel Sturridge in January 2008. "He is an exceptional player but at the same time it is not easy for him, playing in David Silva's position, Kevin de Bruyne's position, with Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva," said Guardiola. "But he has passion and he wants to be here. We are delighted he is here. I assure you next season he is going to play more minutes than he has this season, and that is the process - you know, calm, and [nearly] 19 years old."
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2019-04-05 02:00:00
Raul Jimenez: Wolves sign Benfica striker for club record
Wolves have confirmed the club record signing of striker Raul Jimenez from Benfica for
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2019-04-05 02:00:00
Danny Rose on racism: Tottenham defender 'can't wait to see the back of football'
Tottenham defender Danny Rose says he "can't wait to see the back of football" and is frustrated at the lack of action taken against fans' racism. Racist chanting was directed at several England players, including Rose, during the Euro 2020 qualifier in Montenegro. Uefa has charged Montenegro with racist behaviour but Rose, 28, does not expect a significant punishment. The left-back said: "When countries get fined what I probably spend on a night out in London what do you expect?" Rose, who was also abused while on England Under-21 duty in Serbia in 2012, says he will play on but has "had enough" of racism in the game. "How I programme myself is that I think I've got five or six more years left in football, and I just can't wait to see the back of it," he added. "Seeing how things are done in the game at the minute, you just have to get on with it. "There is so much politics in football. I can't wait to see the back of it." The Montenegro disciplinary case will be dealt with by European football's governing body on 16 May. The minimum punishment is a partial stadium closure, while a second offence results in one match being played behind closed doors and a fine of 50,000 euros (
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2019-04-05 02:00:00
Emiliano Sala: Cardiff City seek talks with Nantes over transfer fee dispute
Cardiff City are seeking direct talks with Nantes in an effort to solve the dispute over the
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2019-04-04 02:00:00
Celtic took a step closer to retaining the Scottish Premiership title
Celtic took a step closer to retaining the Scottish Premiership title as they edged to a win over relegation-threatened St Mirren in Paisley. If Neil Lennon's side beat Livingston on Saturday, Rangers would need at least a point at Motherwell the next day to keep the title race alive. Timothy Weah's header crashed off the bar and bounced in to open the scoring - his fourth goal since signing. Olivier Ntcham had a penalty saved but Ryan Christie found a late second. With Rangers beating Hearts at Ibrox, the gap at the top remains at 13 points with just six games left to play. Defeats for Hamilton and Dundee leave St Mirren's position unchanged in second-bottom as they fight to avoid the drop.
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2019-04-04 02:00:00
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says he is "lucky" to have so many squad options
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says he is "lucky" to have so many squad options as a new-look side cruised to Premier League victory over Brighton with three excellent goals. Olivier Giroud flicked home Callum Hudson-Odoi's cross before Eden Hazard curled home from the edge of the box from Ruben Loftus-Cheek's pass. Loftus-Cheek then scored an excellent 25-yard strike into the top corner to seal victory. All three goals involved players who have played more minutes in the Europa League than the Premier League this season. "After 50 matches it's very difficult to play every three days," Sarri told BBC Sport. "We needed to change. We're lucky because Callum is doing very well. Loftus has no problem with his back for the first time this season. Giroud is in a good period." The Blues, who have won their past 10 games against the Seagulls since 1967, move up to fifth in the league. Next up for Chris Hughton's Brighton is Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
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2019-04-04 02:00:00
Tottenham celebrated the official opening of their magnificent new
Tottenham celebrated the official opening of their magnificent new
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2019-04-04 02:00:00
Manchester City moved back above Liverpool
Manchester City moved back above Liverpool at the top of the Premier League after easing to victory against struggling Cardiff. An eighth successive league win for the defending champions was seldom in doubt and means they lead Jurgen Klopp's team by a point with six games remaining. Pep Guardiola's side, who are chasing an unprecedented quadruple, know they will finish top if they win their remaining matches but it is unlikely many of them will be as straightforward as this one. Kevin de Bruyne took just five minutes to open the scoring with his first league goal since 22 December, running on to Aymeric Laporte's pass and squeezing his shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle. More Manchester City possession and chances followed, before Leroy Sane made it 2-0 just before half-time, burying his shot into the bottom corner after a neat chested knock-down from Gabriel Jesus. Cardiff, who remain five points adrift of safety, barely threatened at the other end and did not register an effort at goal or a touch in the home area until Junior Hoilett had a hopeful shot blocked at the very end of the first half. They did not manage a serious foray forward until Oumar Niasse broke away to force Ederson into a fine save after 85 minutes, while Manchester City continued to pepper Neil Etheridge's goal with shots. Phil Foden had two efforts brilliantly stopped by Etheridge as he tried unsuccessfully to mark his first league start with a goal, while Jesus saw an elaborate flick fly wide when it appeared easy to tap the ball home, with his blushes saved by an offside flag. Despite failing to add to their tally in the second half, Manchester City's goal difference is now nine better than Liverpool's - although the Reds can replace them at the top if they win at Southampton on Friday.
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2019-04-04 02:00:00
Olivier Giroud became France's third highest goalscorer of all time as he scored in an easy win over Iceland.
Samuel Umtiti put the hosts ahead with a glancing header from Kylian Mbappe's left-wing cross, before Giroud saw the ball bounce off him and into the net following Benjamin Pavard's cross. Mbappe added a third from Antoine Griezmann's pass, before Griezmann netted a fourth shortly afterwards. Giroud, 32, has now scored 35 times in 89 international appearances. The Chelsea striker's 68th-minute goal had a touch of fortune about it as Pavard's cross was palmed out by Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson hit Giroud and went in. Nevertheless, the goal took him clear of David Trezeguet's total of 34, with only Michel Platini (41 goals in 72 appearances) and Thierry Henry (51 goals in 123 matches) ahead of him. France have now scored eight goals in two qualifying games for the 2020 European Championship, having beaten Moldova 4-1 in their opening qualifier on Friday. Didier Deschamps' side lead Group H on goal difference, ahead of Turkey, who also have six points from their two games.
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2019-03-26 02:00:00
Scotland at 'rock bottom,' says captain Andy Robertson
Scotland are at "rock bottom" after their first two Euro 2020 qualifying games, says captain Andy Robertson. Alex McLeish's side are fifth in Group I following a 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan and an unconvincing 2-0 win over San Marino, the world's bottom-ranked side. But the Liverpool left-back is calling on the squad to "stick together" in a bid to recover from their sticky start. "The only way we do that is by winning games and playing a lot better," said 25-year-old Robertson. "The country is at rock bottom just now in terms of football and we need to pick it back up." McLeish and the players came in for heavy criticism after the loss to Kazakhstan, who were hammered 4-0 at home by Russia on Sunday. And Scotland's performance in San Marino did nothing to ease the pressure on the manager before a June double-header at home to Cyprus and away to group leaders Belgium. Robertson, who missed the opening qualifier because of dental surgery but returned to skipper the team on Sunday, admitted the San Marino game was "all about damage limitation". "When you get beaten in a game you were meant to win, and people are saying it's the worst result we've ever had, then this week was never going to be a success," he said. "But we followed it up with not a good performance again. The lads need to stick together." 'Can't look at this game in isolation' - analysis BBC Sport Scotland's Michael Stewart Andy Robertson himself is saying the country is at rock bottom football-wise. The supporters are fully aware of that. They feel it. You can't look at this game in isolation. You've got to think about the fact that under the previous manager in the last six competitive games he was undefeated in 2017. If you look at Thursday night, it was shambolic. And Sunday's performance wasn't much better. The only difference was we were playing against a team that was officially the worst in the world. So things are not great.