Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup believes his side s Premier League encounter against Stoke City has taken on must-win status.
The Liberty Stadium club conceded an injury-time equaliser in their 1-1 UEFA Europa League draw at Kuban Krasnodar on Thursday, and have won just one of their last five fixtures in the English top flight a run that includes last Sunday s 1-0 defeat to fierce rivals Cardiff City.
And, with Swansea having won both home fixtures against Stoke since their promotion in 2011, Laudrup knows his side need a positive result again this time around.
The game on Thursday was the first game after the derby so that was always going to be special, he told The Daily Mail.
But Sunday is the next game in the Premier League. So a combination of that and…
Mattia Perin has acknowledged trying to emulate Gianluigi Buffon s success at Juventus might be an impossible challenge.
Iconic goalkeeper Buffon brought an end to his illustrious 17-year stay at Juve, which included nine Serie A titles and four domestic doubles, when his contract expired following the 2017-18 season.
The 40-year-old will continue his career at Paris Saint-Germain, where he has signed for the upcoming campaign with an option to extend for another.
When asked if Buffon s legacy in Turin weighed on him following his €12million switch from Genoa, Italy international Perin said: To emulate what Gigi did will be difficult, if not impossible.
He is the most gifted goalkeeper in football history. He is the reference point for all goalkeepers.…
Kylian Mbappe has committed his future to Paris Saint-Germain amid links with European champions Real Madrid.
Mbappe won the FIFA Young Player award for his performances at Russia 2018 after helping France claim the World Cup on Sunday.
The 19-year-old forward scored in France s 4-2 victory over Croatia in Moscow as he took his tournament tally to four goals.
Mbappe – who completed a permanent transfer to Ligue 1 champions PSG from French rivals Monaco during the off-season having spent last term on loan in Paris – has no plans to leave the capital as Madrid attempt to replace Juventus-bound Cristiano Ronaldo.
MY LOVE
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe)
I will stay with PSG, continuing on my path wi…
Swede Lars Lagerback, has been named as Nigeria s coach on a five-month contract through until the World Cup in South Africa, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced on Saturday.
The 61-year-old was interviewed on Friday and named after a meeting of the NFF board here early Saturday.
He takes over from Shuaibu Amodu, who was sacked after Nigeria lost 1-0 to Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals last month.
Lagerback began work with the Sweden Football Association in 1990, concentrating on the the country s junior teams.
In 1996, he took over the Sweden B team and stayed there until 1998 when Tommy Soderberg took him on as assistant coach for Sweden.
In 2000, he was promoted to the position of joint-coach, a responsibility he woul…
One bright spark
I am wondering if Sir Alex Ferguson is beginning to feel a little worried about things at Manchester United.
Competitive
His first team is still competitive in the race for the Premier League title although Chelsea are looking good for that. They have lost to Chelsea and Liverpool and been somewhat fortunate to beat Arsenal and Manchester City. Whilst they are clearly still in the top two or three, they do not seem to have compensated for the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo.
In Europe, United have been less than impressive despite qualifying with games to spare. They have looked vulnerable at the back and less decisive in front of goal than they have been for a long time.
Shadow
At the back, Nemanja Vidic looks like a pale shadow…
Marcelino has signed a new three-year deal at Villarreal, the Liga club have confirmed.
The former Spain youth international – whose contract was set to expire at the end of this season – arrived at Villarreal in January 2013 and guided the club to second in the Segunda Division, sealing a return to the top flight.
In their first two campaigns back in La Liga, Villarreal finished sixth on both occasions, securing qualification to the Europa League.
They reached the last 16 in 2014-15 before being knocked out by eventual champions Sevilla.
This season, Marcelino has led the club to fifth in La Liga after 11 matches, while once again they look well placed to reach the knockout stages of the Europa League.
An official presentation to an…
Harry Kane made it eight goals in his last five games as his double helped Tottenham to an impressive 4-1 Premier League victory against London rivals West Ham on Sunday.
Kane s turn and finish put Spurs in front midway through the first half, before Cheikhou Kouyate struck the crossbar for West Ham with an acrobatic effort.
Toby Alderweireld headed in a second and Dele Alli hit the bar in a frantic end to the first half, before Kane netted with a shot from the edge of the box and Kyle Walker produced a fine finish after the break.
Manuel Lanzini contributed an impressive consolation goal for the visitors, before substitute Ryan Mason smashed an effort against the post as a great day for the hosts was almsot rounded off by a fifth goal.
The convincin…
Cristian Arango scored twice in an historic performance as Los Angeles FC claimed a 3-2 win over Real Salt Lake in a thrilling MLS contest on Sunday.
Arango s brace included the fastest goal in club history for LAFC – who have won four consecutive games against RSL – after opening the scoring just 20 seconds into the match at Banc of California Stadium.
It eclipsed Eduard Atuesta s record – he scored after 85 seconds on April 24 earlier this season.
Real Salt Lake equalised through Damir Kreilach s stunner approaching the half-hour mark, when the Croatian curled a strike into the net from distance.
Guaranteed delivery in 20 seconds or less. 1-0
— LAFC (@LAFC)
Visiting RSL were only on level terms for two minutes after Arango res…
A banana was thrown at Richarlison during Brazil s friendly against Tunisia in Paris, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said.
Richarlison scored the Selecao s second goal in a 5-1 win at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
But the victory in Brazil s final match before the World Cup was soured by reports of a racist gesture aimed at the Tottenham forward.
Video footage appeared to show a banana land near Richarlison as he celebrated his goal, and the CBF confirmed the incident on social media.
Unfortunately, after the goal, a banana was thrown on the pitch towards Richarlison, scorer of the second Brazilian goal, a short statement read.
The CBF reinforces its position to combat racism and repudiates any prejudiced manifestation.
L…
Steve Bruce took no extra satisfaction from ending Hull City s winless Premier League run against his former club Sunderland.
Hull s new strike duo Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic were on target as Bruce marked his first return to the Stadium of Light since he was sacked by Sunderland in November 2011 with a win.
Wes Brown s third red card of the season for a professional foul on Long gave the visitors the initiative after just four minutes.
Hull made the most of their numerical advantage to secure a first win in six top-flight matches.
Yet Bruce insisted the three points were no more enjoyable just because they came against his old employers.
Loads has been said. I just said that last time I came here I needed a police escort to get home, that was two years …