Surging Aston Villa demolish Newcastle to boost European hopes
Red-hot Aston Villa demolished Newcastle 3-0 at Villa Park on Saturday as Ollie Watkins continues to lead their incredible surge up the Premier League table.
Eddie Howe Sport News
Aston Villa boost European hopes at Newcastle's expense
Ollie Watkins' hot streak continued as Aston Villa strengthened their European aspirations with a dominant 3-0 win over Newcastle at Villa Park.
Gavi would be happiest staying at Barca — Xavi
GETAFE, Spain: Xavi Hernandez believes young Barcelona midfielder Gavi would be happiest staying at the club, amid speculation he could leave in the summer, the Catalan coach said Saturday. Gavi signed a contract renewal with Barcelona until 2026 in September but because of the club’s financial difficulties, they have not been able to register it with La Liga. That means Gavi remains on his previous deal, which is set to expire in June, allowing him to sign for free for any other side.
'He was getting the sack last year' - Peter Crouch tips Arsenal mastermind Mikel Arteta for manager of the season
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta deserves to be crowned Premier League manager of the season, says Peter Crouch, after going from the risk of the sack to the brink of the title over the last year. Arteta came under pressure during the 2021/22 campaign as his Gunners side collapsed to finish fifth, failing to secure Champions League football.
Galtier deeply hurt by accusations he made racist comments
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier said he feels hurt “at the deepest level” of his humanity by accusations that he made racist and anti-Muslim comments when he was in charge of French club Nice. RMC Sport and other French media this week quoted a leaked email from former Nice director of football Julien Fournier to the club’s owners, in which he accused Galtier of saying there were too many Black and Muslim players in the squad.
Milking it: United manager Ten Hag defends decisions
MANCHESTER, England: Erik ten Hag says there’s a Dutch expression about hindsight. The Manchester United manager was defending his substitution decisions from Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Sevilla in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals at Old Trafford. “Where I’m coming from you call it ‘you’re looking a cow in the (behind),’” Ten Hag said Friday at a news conference.
Ukraine bars its national teams from events with Russians, Belarusians
KYIV: Ukraine barred its national sports teams from competing in Olympic, non-Olympic and Paralympic events which include competitors from Russia and Belarus, the sports ministry said in a decree on Friday. Ukraine’s deputy sports minister, who signed off on the move, told Reuters in an interview that it was a “bad decision” but one that was better than the alternative. The decree, criticized by some Ukrainian athletes, comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) angered Kyiv by paving the way for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Newcastle United reject ‘dark arts’ claims as Eddie Howe thanks Unai Emery for ‘Sliding Doors’ moment
NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has said he is not the master of Premier League “dark arts” despite claims to the contrary by the likes of Erik ten Hag and Thomas Frank. In fact, he does not even know where the tag has come from as he says it does not reflect how his Newcastle United team have performed this campaign. The Magpies have shocked the top flight this season with their quick, compact and pressing style, much akin to the first incarnation of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.