Man City and Liverpool FC fans have to accept uncomfortable truth
The toxic nature of the rivalry that grew between Manchester City and Liverpool in recent years was nearly summer up in the 2022/23 season.
Jurgen Klopp Sport News
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says he will discuss his future at end of season
MADRID: Carlo Ancelotti has eluded speaking about his future after recent reports that again linked the Real Madrid coach with a move to Brazil’s national team. The veteran Italian manager was asked several times by reporters on Saturday at a pre-game press conference if he would leave the Spanish giant this summer, and each time he responded that he didn’t want to speak about it. “At the end of the season we will speak about this with the club,” he said more than once. The 65-year-old Ancelotti is under contract with Madrid through June 2026. Speculation regarding his career plans has once again spiked after Madrid’s exit from the Champions League this week. Britain’s Sky Sports has reported that he will step down following the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26. Besides the Copa del Rey, Madrid is still in the fight to defend its La Liga title and is also to play in the Club World Cup this summer. Madrid is in second place behind Barcelona in the league.
Nassr’s title hopes dented by Qadsiah
Al-Nassr lost 2-1 to Al-Qadsiah on Friday in what was a huge blow to their chances of winning the Saudi Pro League title. The defeat means that while the Yellows stay in third and eight points behind the leaders Al-Ittihad, there are now just six games to go. Time and matches are running out.
F1 title fight is increasingly focused on McLaren but Verstappen still hopeful
JEDDAH: Ahead of Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, this Formula 1 season is looking like McLaren vs. McLaren. Still, defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull says he hasn’t lost hope. McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are the only ones to consistently have the pace through the first four rounds of the championship. Norris has a three-point lead but admits he isn’t at his best — though he had the fastest time of the day in practice on Friday — while Piastri has momentum after winning in Bahrain last week. Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes have all had their moments but none has been a consistent challenger, as McLaren’s 58-point constructors’ championship lead shows. Friday practice Norris went fastest in the second practice session, while Yuki Tsunoda crashed to continue his difficult start with Red Bull.
Klopp ‘happy’ in new job despite Real Madrid rumors: agent
BERLIN: Jurgen Klopp is “very happy” in his current post at Red Bull despite rumors linking him to a return to management with Real Madrid, his agent said Friday. The former Liverpool manager became Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer in January, taking care of a stable of clubs including RB Leipzig, the New York Red Bulls and Bragantino in Brazil. Real Madrid’s quarter-final elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Arsenal this week has led to speculation manager Carlo Ancelotti is headed for the exit at the end of the season. German media reported that Klopp was one of the names that the Spanish giants want to take over in the Bernabeu dugout. Asked about the rumors, his agent Marc Kosicke said 57-year-old Klopp was enjoying his new job. “Jurgen is very happy with his new role with Red Bull,” Kosicke told Sky Deutschland. Also speaking on Friday, RB Leipzig coach Zsolt Low said he “could not imagine” Klopp moving to Real Madrid, adding the German was “very happy in the job.” Low praised Klopp’s impact, saying “he’s shown that he can bring a club together, a group of 40, 50, 60 people, and take them with him. “He adds incredible value with his experience, his human quality and his energy.” In a 23-year career as a top-flight manager with Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz, Klopp left each club of his own accord, a rarity in coaching. “No matter where he’s been, he’s given 100 percent,” Low said, adding “regardless of where he is he’s stayed and done the job. It’s important to him to make a clean exit.” Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is considered a leading candidate for the Real Madrid job.
German World Cup-Winning Defender Mats Hummels To Retire At The End Of 2024/25 Season
Roma defender Mats Hummels, who won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, is set to retire at the end of the season, he announced on social media on Friday. In an emotional video posted to Instagram, the 36-year-old referenced "a moment no footballer can avoid," adding "after more than 18 years of everything football has given me, I'm ending my career this summer". Hummels came through Bayern Munich's juniors and made his debut for the club aged 18, before moving to Borussia Dortmund where he became a core part of Jurgen Klopp's two-time title winners.
Liverpool’s Slot happy to let Premier League title bid take its course
LONDON: Arne Slot says Liverpool are unconcerned by how soon they can win the Premier League title after going 12 points clear again with victory in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby. A day after second-placed Arsenal cut the gap to nine points by beating Fulham 2-1 at home, Liverpool responded by defeating Everton 1-0 at Anfield. Liverpool next face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Slot, in his first season as Liverpool manager since succeeding Jurgen Klopp, was asked Thursday how close he felt to clinching the title. “We are not working on theories about how many points this is, this, this,” said Slot. “We are taking the challenge of Fulham on for Sunday, where we have to be at our best again, like yesterday, to get a result. “We’ve played 30 games now. Maybe there were three or four where the score was so clear that in the last 20 minutes it wasn’t a problem anymore.
Stuttgart Beat RB Leipzig To Reach German Cup Final
Stuttgart set up a German Cup final clash with third-division Arminia Bielefeld after a 3-1 win over RB Leipzig on Wednesday. Under the watchful eyes of Jurgen Klopp, the new head of global soccer for Leipzig's owners Red Bull, the visitors were outclassed by a strong Stuttgart side. Goals from Angelo Stiller, Nick Woltemade and Jamie Leweling took Stuttgart to victory, putting them on track for a first German Cup triumph since 1997. The victory continues Stuttgart's rise since former Leipzig youth-team coach Sebastian Hoeness took over in April 2023.
Stuttgart beat Leipzig to reach German Cup final
STUTTGART, Germany: Stuttgart set up a German Cup final clash with third-division Arminia Bielefeld after a 3-1 win over RB Leipzig on Wednesday. Under the watchful eyes of Jurgen Klopp, the new head of global soccer for Leipzig’s owners Red Bull, the visitors were outclassed by a strong Stuttgart side. Goals from Angelo Stiller, Nick Woltemade and Jamie Leweling took Stuttgart to victory, putting them on track for a first German Cup triumph since 1997. The victory continues Stuttgart’s rise since former Leipzig youth-team coach Sebastian Hoeness took over in April 2023. “We’re going to Berlin,” Hoeness told Germany’s ZDF. “Unbelievable. The lads are unbelievable...