Ryder Cup star Matt Fitzpatrick has been discussing his love of Football Manager. He is busy in New York at present, as he battles Team USA for one of the most prestigious prizes in golf, but likes to relax by putting his coaching skills to the test in the gaming world. Fitzpatrick claims to not be the best when it comes to tactics and managing a team, but is proud of his transfer record.
Paris Saint-Germain have been hit by injury news as captain Marquinhos is ruled out for several weeks. The Brazilian defender will miss this weekend’s Ligue 1 clash with Auxerre and next week’s Champions League showdown against Barcelona. PSG must rely on backups to steady the defence ahead of a crucial European test.
Hansi Flick is facing a selection crisis ahead of a crucial Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia suffered an injury in training, while tests have confirmed winger Raphinha will be sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring problem, ruling both out of key domestic and European fixtures.
Jose Mourinho claims that he feels that he is a 'much better coach than before' as the Benfica boss prepares for a reunion with his former club Chelsea in the Champions League. After losing his job at Fenerbahce last month, Mourinho returned to his homeland to take charge of Benfica. Under the veteran coach, the Liga Portugal side have registered two wins and a draw thus far.
Real Madrid have been plunged into a defensive crisis after Dani Carvajal suffered a calf injury during the Madrid derby, ruling him out for around a month. With Trent Alexander-Arnold already sidelined for up to eight weeks, Los Blancos are left without a single natural right-back, forcing Xabi Alonso to improvise ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
Liverpool have been warned to brace themselves for "banging drums and smoke everywhere" when travelling to Turkey for a Champions League clash with Galatasaray. The Reds will be back in European action on Tuesday, with Arne Slot’s side being told - by a man who knows all about life at both clubs - that they must put any distractions out of their mind when entering the most hostile of environments.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has called it a “privilege” to face Jose Mourinho as the Portuguese coach returns to Stamford Bridge with Benfica in the Champions League. With the Blues struggling for form and under pressure after recent defeats, Maresca now seeks to steady the ship and secure vital points against a Chelsea legend.
Jose Mourinho’s reunion with Chelsea, the club where he enjoyed so much success across two spells at Stamford Bridge, is one of the headline fixtures in this season’s Champions League as he takes new employer Benfica back to his former stomping ground. Blues winger Pedro Neto is relishing the chance to come up against his fellow Portuguese thanks to his incredible legacy.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot revealed why star winger Federico Chiesa was left out of the Reds squad for their upcoming Champions League fixture against Galatasaray this week. The Italian displayed impressive performances in the club's last couple of matches. After starring with two assists in the win over Southampton, he scored the Reds' solitary goal against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Pafos FC’s remarkable Champions League journey reaches its biggest night yet as they host Bayern Munich and Harry Kane in Cyprus. Head coach Juan Carlos Carcedo admits one man won’t be enough to stop the English striker, but believes veteran defender David Luiz could be decisive. The Spaniard also hopes his Premier League experience will prove useful against Bayern’s prolific No.9.
Lamine Yamal’s father has come to spotlight once again after appearing in a lighthearted cooking video where he joked he will “live off” his son. Mounir Nasraoui, often outspoken on social media, defended the Barcelona starlet while brushing off critics. The remarks came just days after Yamal’s decisive return for Barca ahead of a huge Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Nico Schlotterbeck has been hailed as Borussia Dortmund's version of Thomas Muller, with Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus tipping the German centre-back for a talismanic role in their bid to challenge for the Bundesliga title. Schlotterbeck’s return from injury has already stabilised the defence, and Dortmund’s bright start to the season suggests they are building a strong platform around their emerging leader.
Barcelona’s long-awaited return to Camp Nou appears to be edging closer, with UEFA listing the revamped stadium as the host of their Champions League clash against Olympiacos on October 21. The development comes amid growing optimism that the Blaugrana could also host Girona in La Liga three days earlier. However, final approval from city authorities and UEFA remains the key before the doors officially reopen.
Tom Bischof has arrived at Bayern Munich with ambition and confidence, describing himself as a "mentality monster" ready to challenge established stars. After a strong debut start against Werder Bremen, the 20-year-old midfielder already looks set to carve out a key role under Vincent Kompany. With Bayern dominating in Europe and Harry Kane in record-breaking form, Bischof’s integration could be crucial as the Bavarians visit Cypriot champions Pafos.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has sent the Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal a firm reminder that “talent alone isn’t enough” ahead of the Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. The German urged the 18-year-old to back up his dazzling skills with work rate and discipline, playing down the hype around him and insisting the winger must step up defensively to reach the next level.
Nick Woltemade’s massive £69 million move to Newcastle continues to divide opinion in Germany, with Julian Nagelsmann praising the striker’s start while warning he still has “steps to take.” The national coach’s remarks arrive amid fierce criticism from Bayern legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who labelled Newcastle “idiots” for meeting Stuttgart’s lofty asking price.
Diego Simeone has learned his punishment from UEFA after he confronted Liverpool fans at Anfield during his side's 3-2 Champions League defeat earlier this month. The Argentine manager was sent off in the dying minutes of the match after he got involved in a heated exchange with a fan after Virgil van Dijk's late winner.
Chelsea attacker Joao Pedro had a night to forget at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday against Benfica in the Champions League despite the 1-0 victory. The Brazil international arrived as a second-half substitute but was sent off deep into stoppage time after picking up two yellow cards and will now serve a ban. The sending off marred a good night for the Blues as they picked up their first Champions League win of the new season.
Antoine Griezmann created history for Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League during their 5-1 drubbing of Eintracht Frankfurt. After the game, head coach Diego Simeone was delighted with his performance and reserved special praise for the former France international. The Argentine expressed his gratitude to Griezmann and said that "talent has no age."
Every month, GOAL brings you the top stories involving teenage wonderkids and the world's best young footballers. During September, there was plenty to be said about the likes of Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono, but there were also plenty of other headlines made by the planet's emerging stars in both the men's and women's games.
Victor Osimhen fired Galatasaray to a stunning 1-0 Champions League win over Liverpool and declared the Turkish giants “the best team in the world” after the final whistle. The Nigeria striker’s first-half penalty settled a raucous contest in Istanbul, piling pressure on Arne Slot after back-to-back defeats for the Premier League champions.
Barcelona’s long-awaited return to the Spotify Camp Nou may face further delays, with November’s clash against Athletic Club now emerging as the likeliest homecoming date. Despite nearing approval for an early-October reopening, the club are weighing financial, logistical and sporting factors that could push Flick’s side to stay at Montjuic a little longer.
Ajax’s Champions League campaign went from bad to worse on Tuesday night as they were thrashed 4-0 by Marseille at home, their second straight defeat in the competition that has piled even more pressure on their under-fire manager John Heitinga. But despite the humiliation, the Dutchman insists he is not worried about his position at the Eredivisie side.
Robert Lewandowski’s Barcelona future remains uncertain as Deco hailed the striker as “a phenomenon at every level” while insisting his contract situation should not be debated publicly. The Poland international, who scored two match-winners last week and is now eyeing Wednesday's Paris Saint-Germain challenge, is reportedly being monitored by AC Milan as his deal runs down, but Barca remain patient over renewal talks.
Jose Mourinho spoke about the "great potential" of Chelsea wonderkid Estevao Willian as his Benfica visited Stamford Bridge on Tuesday for a Champions League fixture. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Blues boss also revealed the truth about his links to the Brazil national team coaching job, a role that Carlo Ancelotti accepted in the summer.
Real Madrid’s 5-0 Champions League win at Kairat Almaty has been overshadowed by Federico Valverde’s emotional statement addressing reports that he had refused to play. The Uruguayan vice-captain strongly denied suggestions of a rift with Xabi Alonso, insisting he has always given “everything and more” for the club, even while playing through injuries.
Kylian Mbappe delivered a stunning hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 5-0 Champions League win over Kairat Almaty on Tuesday, but the French star still left the pitch frustrated at not taking all of his chances. The 26-year-old, who has now scored 13 goals this season, believes finishing opportunities is exactly what he was brought to the club to do.
Erling Haaland was livid with Manchester City for failing to see off Monaco as Pep Guardiola's side had to make do with a 2-2 draw in the second game of their Champions League campaign. Haaland had twice given City the lead in Monaco but a wonder strike from Jordan Teze and a late penalty from former Tottenham ace Eric Dier snatched a point for the hosts.
Rasmus Hojlund produced a statement performance for Napoli in the Champions League, scoring twice against Sporting CP and celebrating by pointing to the competition’s badge. The on-loan Manchester United striker seemed to send a message to his parent club, who are enduring a season without European football under Ruben Amorim, which has not been going down well in Manchester.
Paris Saint-Germain stars “don’t give a damn” about what opponents have to say when it comes to ‘best team in the world’ titles, with Lamine Yamal and Pedri being made to eat their words as the current holders of the prestigious Champions League crown secured another notable victory over Barcelona. A thrilling contest in Catalunya, which swung one way and then the other, ended in dramatic circumstances as PSG snatched a 90th-minute winner.
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