Aston Villa have publicly confirmed that Unai Emery is committed to the club beyond 2029 after positive talks with chairman Nassef Sawiris, ending speculation over a move to Manchester United. The Spaniard has been strongly linked with replacing Michael Carrick at Old Trafford, where Villa travel this weekend in need of a response to Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League defeat to Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho believes only Real Madrid could have won the way they did against AEK Athens, after his side came from behind to snatch a dramatic stoppage-time victory in Greece. The coach also defended Vinicius Junior over Yan Diomande's switch to the right and admitted the penalty Kylian Mbappe won at Racing Santander was a soft one, though he insisted it changed nothing.
Andoni Iraola could not hide his frustration after seeing Liverpool's perfect start to the Champions League campaign come to a crashing halt in Istanbul. Despite leading twice, the Reds were undone by a spirited Fenerbahce side led by interim boss Dirk Kuyt, who secured a memorable 3-2 victory.
Kasper Schmeichel has urged Manchester United fans to get behind Michael Carrick's side, warning that protests against the club's owners are hurting the players. The former Celtic goalkeeper praised supporters for staying put during Tuesday's comeback win over Roma, and insists they now have the chance to influence results in a testing run against Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Real Madrid maintained their perfect European record with a thrilling 3-2 victory over AEK Athens in a match defined by tactical shifts and individual brilliance. Despite trailing twice, the Spanish giants displayed their trademark resilience to snatch all three points at the death.