Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has furiously dismissed rumours suggesting the squad has given up on their season amid a grim Premier League relegation battle. Speaking ahead of a crucial Champions League round of 16 tie against Atletico Madrid, the Dutchman passionately defended his teammates, insisting everyone at the club is fully committed to turning their dire situation around.
Emile Heskey has told GOAL why Liverpool will listen to offers for Mohamed Salah this summer, with the Egyptian superstar finding himself back on the bench. The mercurial winger, with 254 goals for the Reds to his name, is under contract until the summer of 2027. He may, however, be moved on in the next transfer window while a fee can still be generated.
After Federico Valverde's stunning first-half hat-trick handed Real Madrid a commanding 3-0 lead in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg, Manchester City face a monumental task in the return clash. Dive into shot maps, xG insights, and key battlegrounds — will City unleash overloads and high pressing for a remontada, or will Madrid's counter-threat seal the tie?
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has confirmed that Lamine Yamal is fully fit and ready for the club's high-stakes Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Newcastle United. The 18-year-old sensation was notably rested during the weekend win over Sevilla in La Liga, leading to speculation regarding his physical condition. However, the German tactician has dismissed any injury concerns, insisting his talisman is prepared for the decisive clash at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Rodri has fueled speculation regarding a potential move to Real Madrid after delivering a cryptic response about his Manchester City future. The former Ballon d'Or winner also admitted to feeling "frustrated" with City's recent inability to kill off games.
Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a significant injury boost ahead of their crucial Champions League round of 16 second-leg tie against Atletico Madrid. Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall has made a surprise return to full training two months ahead of schedule, having previously been ruled out until April following ankle surgery. His availability provides interim boss Igor Tudor with a vital extra creative option as the club seeks a European miracle.
When Newcastle beat Bayern Munich to the signing of towering Stuttgart frontman Nick Woltemade in August, it was seen as major coup on the back of their qualification for the 2025-26 Champions League. Indeed, Eddie Howe was delighted to see the club-record, £65 million ($88m) deal pushed through late in the summer transfer window, with the German snapped up as a replacement for Liverpool-bound Alexander Isak.
Chelsea’s preparations for their vital Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain have been rocked by another tactical "leak". Reports from France suggest £70 million defender Wesley Fofana is set to be the casualty of a defensive reshuffle for the second leg of the round of 16 Champions League tie.
Pedro Porro has defended Igor Tudor's unprecedented decision to replace goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky just 17 minutes into Tottenham's crushing Champions League round of 16 first leg loss to Atletico Madrid. The young goalkeeper was replaced after a disastrous start at the Metropolitano, in which the visitors fell behind by three goals. Porro has now revealed the dressing room's reaction to the unexpected tactical move.
Newcastle United star Joelinton has praised the impact of Nick Woltemade since his switch to a midfield role ahead of the club's Champions League trip to Barcelona. The Brazilian highlighted his team-mate's tactical flexibility as the Magpies prepare for a massive night at the Spotify Camp Nou.
The history of Chelsea Football Club can be split into three separate eras. You have everything that happened before Roman Abramovich's takeover in 2003, everything that happened under the Russian oligarch's control, and everything after he was forced to pass over the keys to the club to the BlueCo-Clearlake consortium in 2022.
With Manchester City trailing Real Madrid 3-0 ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, you might have assumed Pep Guardiola would spend the day before the game at the Etihad Stadium running through tactical instructions with his squad or delivering motivational messages to help them overhaul this daunting deficit against the kings of European football. You would certainly not have imagined the coach would give his players a day off.
Following his stellar performance against Manchester City, Federico Valverde has suddenly found himself in the spotlight as never before. The Uruguayan is a worthy successor to Toni Kroos – even if his style of play is quite different.
Bayer Leverkusen have ignited the mind games ahead of their Champions League decider at the Emirates by poking fun at Arsenal’s set-piece reliance. Following a cagey 1-1 draw in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, the German side’s social media team shared a provocative image aimed at the Gunners' tactical "supremacy" from corners.
Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed that Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe have returned to the Real Madrid squad ahead of the trip to face Manchester City in the Champions League. Both players have been dealing with fitness issues but the head coach says they are now ready to travel with the team, with Mbappe available to play while Bellingham is close to making his return.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has issued a stark warning to Arne Slot, suggesting the Dutchman may have reached a point of no return with the Anfield faithful. The Reds were booed off following a frustrating 1-1 draw with Tottenham, leaving their season in jeopardy and the manager's relationship with the supporters fractured.
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior is set to hold urgent face-to-face talks with the PGMOL this week following a controversial 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United. The scheduled meeting comes after a bizarre pre-match incident where Blues players were seen forming a huddle around the referee, sparking intense scrutiny and debate over the squad's unusual on-pitch conduct.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has challenged teenage sensation Max Dowman to remain grounded following his historic Premier League goal against Everton at the weekend. As the Gunners prepare to host Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow in their Champions League last-16 second leg, following a 1-1 draw in Germany, the coach insists past achievements matter little as focus turns to the future.
Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has escaped a ban for pushing a ball boy in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain. The incident occurred during a frustrating night in the French capital where the Blues were comprehensively beaten 5-2, leaving their European ambitions hanging by a thread.
Legendary former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has doubled down on his comments regarding Anthony Gordon's absence from the starting XI against Barcelona. After Gordon strongly denied suggestions he was unwilling to play, labelling the claims as "nonsense", Shearer has publicly stood by his initial criticism of the winger.
Chelsea captain Reece James will miss several games after picking up a new injury. James has enjoyed a fine 2025-26 season and was expected to be named in England's squad later this week for the upcoming March internationals but he is now set for an extended period on the treatment table with a hamstring problem.
Dominik Szoboszlai has issued a blunt wake-up call to both his team-mates and the Liverpool faithful following a damaging 1-1 draw against Tottenham. The Hungarian midfielder, who opened the scoring at Anfield, expressed his deep frustration with supporters who opted to leave the stadium before the final whistle. With Liverpool's Champions League hopes hanging by a thread, Szoboszlai insisted that a fractured atmosphere is actively hindering the team’s performance.
Pep Guardiola has made a surprising admission when explaining why he has given his Manchester City players the day off 24 hours before facing Real Madrid in their Champions League last-16 second leg. City lost the first leg 3-0 in Madrid and are hoping to become only the fifth team in the competition's modern history to overturn a deficit of three goals or more.
Real Madrid's former coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed the light-hearted message he sent to Federico Valverde following the midfielder’s stunning hat-trick against Manchester City. The Uruguayan international produced the performance of a lifetime at the Santiago Bernabeu, single-handedly dismantling the Premier League giants in a sensational first-half display. His treble has put the Spanish giants in a commanding position ahead of the second leg.
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