Raheem Sterling believes he has transformed from a player who was not living the way I should into a football obsessive.
Sterling heads into Saturday s derby against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City s premier attacking threat, particularly in the injury-enforced absence of Sergio Aguero.
The England forward has become indispensable for club and country, converting his promise into prolific returns over recent seasons.
Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, former Liverpool star Sterling blossomed with 18 and 17 goals respectively in City s back-to-back Premier League triumphs in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
The 24-year-old has eight in 14 top-flight outings this time around, the same number of goals he amassed during England s successful…
Oman boss Pim Verbeek has urged his team to score as many as possible against Turkmenistan as they desperately bid to qualify for the 2019 Asian Cup knockout phase as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
Verbeek s men head into their final Group F outing having lost their first two games, however their goal difference is only minus 2, meaning they stand a good chance of progressing if they manage to beat Turkmenistan.
Their opponents find themselves in a similar situation, though they go into Thursday s game with a goal difference of minus five after getting hammered 4-0 by Uzbekistan last time out.
The opportunity to qualify despite losing two games is not one Verbeek wants to pass up, and he is putting the pressure on his men to go out and get goals.
Jupp Heynckes is anticipating a gigantic fixture when Bayern Munich face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.
The holders have been drawn against the newly crowned Bundesliga champions in a repeat of the last-four tie from five years ago, which Bayern won on penalties.
That was the season in which the German club won the treble under Heynckes and the head coach hopes the fact they have the first leg at home, just as they did in 2013, is a positive sign.
I have to say, it s a cracking tie. A gigantic fixture, in a very positive way, he said.
I have good memories of our treble season. We played against Juventus and Barcelona at home in the first legs. I hope that s a good omen.
Madrid met Bayern at the quarter-final stage last term…
Xavi is hopeful Barcelona will be able to announce a new contract for Gavi in a few days .
Barca president Joan Laporta this week publicly stated the club were frustrated by the delay in the 17-year-old signing a renewal.
Laporta suggested Gavi s agent Ivan de la Pena – a former Barcelona team-mate of Xavi – was comparing the offer to others, with the Spain international only having one year left on his deal.
However, Xavi was optimistic Gavi will put pen to paper in the near future after Barca beat the A-Leagues All-Stars 3-2 in Sydney on Wednesday.
These things take time, but I m hopeful that in a few days we can announce something, said Xavi.
A win in Sydney, Australia to wrap up the 2021-22 season!
— FC …
Andy Robertson has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, the Premier League side have announced.
The Scotland international, who has spent the past four years at Anfield, is reported to have agreed a deal that runs through until 2026.
Robertson joins fellow defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, plus goalkeeper Alisson and midfielder Fabinho, in agreeing fresh terms to commit his future to the Reds.
Obviously when the negotiations started and it looked as if my future was going to be here longer term than what it was, then I think it s no secret that I m happy at this club, he told the club s website.
I want to stay at this club for as long as possible and to extend my stay, it s always a happy time for me, for my family.
…
Manchester City can still shrug off their lacklustre Premier League title defence and enjoy the best season in the club s history, according to Bernardo Silva.
Pep Guardiola s side are a yawning 22 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, a virtually unassailable deficit that could be even bigger the next time they take to the field after Sunday s home match against West Ham was postponed due to the effects of Storm Ciara.
Focus will soon turn towards a mouth-watering Champions League last-16 meeting with Real Madrid, as City travel to the Santiago Bernabeu on February 26 for the first leg.
A Wembley showdown versus Aston Villa on March 1 gives Silva and his team-mates the chance to win a third consecutive EFL Cup, and they remain in the running for back-to-back …
UEFA has banned Albania s Mirlind Daku for two games after the forward led supporters in nationalistic chants following Wednesday s 2-2 draw with Croatia at Euro 2024.
Daku grabbed a megaphone before joining in with offensive chants about Serbia and North Macedonia after full-time in Hamburg.
Issues persist at the European Championship in Germany, with chants relating to historic political and ethnic tensions in the Balkans region.
Daku will be banned for a total of two UEFA representative team competition matches for which he would be otherwise eligible, a statement from European football s governing body said on Sunday.
[Daku] failed to comply with the general principles of conduct, violated the basic rules of decent conduct, used sports events for ma…
Luis Enrique has reiterated he would love to see Pep Guardiola take over as Spain coach in the future.
Former Barcelona coach Guardiola suggested last month that he wishes to try his hand in international football after leaving Manchester City.
Guardiola s City deal runs until 2023, and while he plans to take a break whenever his time at the Premier League club is up, he also wants to experience coaching a national team.
Luis Enrique helped continue the legacy his former team-mate built at Camp Nou and said he would have no issues in standing aside for Guardiola.
In fact, it is something Luis Enrique wants to see.
I d love that, I wish [Guardiola] was the Spain coach. I d love it – it would be perfect, he enthused in a news conference ahead o…
Serie A heavyweights Inter Milan are said to have submitted an offer to sign Keita Balde from AS Monaco.
The Nerazzurri have reportedly proposed a loan deal with an option to buy for €30 million, although it is being suggested that any deal could involve Antonio Candreva moving to France.
Keita Balde is no stranger to Serie A as he made his name playing for Lazio in Italy. The 23-year-old spent the total of four seasons with Biancocelesti after breaking into the first team in the 2013/14 season.
The Senegal international is seen as the alternative for Luka Modric and Arturo Vidal and the negotiations are believed to be in an advanced stage, according to dello Sport.
Keita Balde scored eight goals for AS Monaco in 23 Ligue 1 appearances during the last …
Germany coach Hansi Flick says his side lacked intensity and precision in their 1-1 Nations League draw with Italy on Saturday.
Die Mannschaft looked the brighter side in the first half, yet the best chance fell to the Azzurri, with Gianluca Scamacca striking the post from distance.
Roberto Mancini s side were much improved after the break, though, and Lorenzo Pellegrini put them ahead in the 70th minute.
However, Germany recovered a point three minutes later courtesy of Joshua Kimmich s neat finish after a scramble in the penalty area.
The result means Flick has not lost any of his first 10 matches in charge of the national team, becoming the third Germany coach to achieve that feat after Sepp Herberger and Josef Derwall.
Despite that, …