Rohit Rajeev

Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has praised Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany for showing the courage to bench stars Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. The World Cup winner believes Kompany’s rotation policy has not only helped manage the players’ workload but also shown his trust in the entire squad, keeping morale high.

New Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti has urged his players to be ambitious and set their sights on winning the Scudetto this season. The Italian tactician, who replaced Igor Tudor at the helm, emphasised that the players will be the driving force behind any potential turnaround, insisting that their mentality and commitment will determine how far the team can go.

Belgian club Lokeren have staunchly defended former Belgium and Inter midfielder Radja Nainggolan following reports he faces prosecution over allegations of money laundering. Chairman Hans Van Duysen maintained that Nainggolan is innocent until proven guilty, as the case has yet to go to trial. He also expressed frustration over the negative attention the situation has drawn due to Nainggolan’s high-profile career and decorated past.

AC Milan duo Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot have recovered from their respective injuries but are expected to be rested for Sunday’s clash against Roma as a precautionary measure. The club’s medical team and coach Massimiliano Allegri are keen to ensure both players regain full match fitness before returning to action, with their comeback likely to take place in next week’s fixture against Parma instead.

Lazio forward Pedro has announced that he will leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season. The former Barcelona and Chelsea star expressed his desire to help Lazio return to European competitions, aiming to finish his time at the club on a high. Pedro, however, hinted that he could consider continuing his playing career even after his contract concludes.

Former Germany midfielder Didi Hamann criticised the match officials after Luis Diaz was wrongly deemed onside before scoring the equaliser, which proved to be the turning point in Bayern Munich’s 4-1 win over Koln. Hamann argued that the absence of VAR until the third round of the DFB-Pokal is unfair to teams that have been eliminated due to refereeing errors.

Koln sporting director Thomas Kessler has moved to calm the hype surrounding rising star Said El Mala, following reports of interest from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and several Premier League clubs. El Mala has committed his future to Koln by signing a contract until 2030 and the director insists he will not be sold any time soon by the Bundesliga side.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aveiro, took to social media to congratulate her grandson on receiving his first call-up to the Portugal Under-16 national team. Portugal faced Turkey on Thursday in their opening game of the Federations Cup, and Ronaldo Jr came off the bench to make his debut for the Selecao U-16 side.

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has called for introspection following the sacking of Croatian coach Igor Tudor. The Serbian forward admitted that it would be counterproductive to blame one person for the club’s poor run of form as Tudor became the third coach to be dismissed in a year and a half, stressing the onus is on the players to make sure they turn things around.

Levante striker Etta Eyong is eyeing a move in the upcoming January transfer window, despite only joining the club in the summer. Barcelona were keen on signing the Cameroonian forward but were unable to complete the deal due to financial restrictions. The 21-year-old has been in impressive form this season, recording six goals and three assists in all competitions to attract interest from Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany reiterated that winning the DFB-Pokal is not just a dream for the fans but a vital objective for the team this season, after Harry Kane’s brace inspired a 4-1 victory over Koln in the competition. Koln manager Lukas Kwasniok echoed Kompany’s words, saying it is evident that Bayern are “desperate for the treble”.

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has decided not to get carried away with the club’s hopes of winning the Serie A title this season. He believes that Milan’s main objective remains finishing in the top four and securing a place in next season's Champions League. The Italian tactician has set a target of at least 74 points for the season and aims to restrict goals conceded to between 20 and 25.

AC Milan forward Santiago Gimenez shared an interesting story about veteran midfielder Luka Modric, who bought iPhones for everyone in the team after his arrival from Real Madrid. Modric did this to avoid taking part in a dressing room tradition where every new player has to sing a song in front of the rest of the squad. The Croatian midfielder has been one of the standout performers in Serie A this season, inspiring Milan to the top of the league table.

Juventus manager Igor Tudor admitted that it was “a shame” his team could not score and secure at least a point from their 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday. The coach urged all players to take responsibility and leadership, noting that the team is behind where he would like them to be. Tudor also lamented the absence of the influence of champions that the club once had but stressed that the current players must be given confidence.

AC Milan midfielder Ardon Jashari is aiming to return from injury in the first week of November, ahead of the international break. The Swiss international suffered a fibula injury following a collision with Santiago Gimenez in training, causing a massive setback shortly after Jashari's arrival from Club Brugge after a prolonged transfer saga.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane took to social media to congratulate 17-year-old Lennart Karl after he scored his first goal for the club in their 4-0 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League. Describing it as a “night to remember,” the English forward urged Karl to keep the momentum going.

Former Italy striker Antonio Cassano has criticised the quality of Serie A, claiming that only the passion of the supporters is keeping the league alive while the level of football in Italy has stagnated. He believes there is a lack of rhythm and flow in the game, with excessive time-wasting making some matches a “chore” to watch. Cassano also feels that the drop in quality has been reflected in the poor performances of Italian clubs in Europe.

Napoli head coach Antonio Conte believes the team should treat their Champions League experience as a "school" and fully "absorb" the lessons it offers. He wants the club to carefully assess their position in the tournament, viewing this season's European campaign as a new journey. Conte has also called for patience, emphasising that the season will largely depend on how quickly the new players settle and integrate into the team.