Football

Pep Guardiola, the esteemed manager of Manchester City, has vowed to staunchly defend the club against allegations of financial misconduct. His unwavering support stems from his deep-seated trust in the club's Abu Dhabi-based owners and his profound connection with the City faithful.City is currently embroiled in a protracted legal battle, facing 115 charges of breaching Premier League financial regulations. The club vehemently denies any wrongdoing, asserting that they possess irrefutable evidence to exonerate themselves. The outcome of the ongoing hearing, dubbed "sport's trial of the century," is not anticipated until 2025.Despite the looming uncertainty, Guardiola remains resolute in his belief in City's integrity. He has repeatedly fielded uncomfortable questions about the case, but his unwavering stance is rooted in his conviction that the club's owners and management are above reproach."I am an integral part of this club, it's in my DNA," Guardiola declared. "As the manager, I am the primary spokesperson, the one who communicates with the fans. I will always defend my club because I trust them implicitly."Guardiola's unwavering support has resonated deeply with City fans, who have witnessed an unprecedented era of success under his stewardship. Six Premier League titles, the club's maiden Champions League triumph, and a plethora of other trophies have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest managers in the club's history.Beyond the silverware, Guardiola's steadfast defense of City's reputation has further endeared him to the supporters. A group of fans has even commissioned a banner in Catalan, expressing their desire for him to extend his stay at the club."I am eternally grateful for their love and support," Guardiola said. "I have felt it from the moment I arrived here. I love this club, and that will never change."However, when pressed about his future plans, Guardiola remained coy. His current contract expires at the end of the season, but he declined to provide any clarity on whether he would sign an extension."I have stated my position from the outset," he said. "When the time is right, we will discuss it."Aside from the off-field challenges, Guardiola faces a demanding fixture schedule this season. The revamped Champions League format includes two additional group games, and City is also set to participate in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.Guardiola expressed his displeasure with FIFA's request that all teams field their strongest lineups in the Club World Cup. "We will travel with our entire squad," he said. "I will decide who plays. I don't understand how one player can be considered stronger than another."

Manchester United's co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe, has cast doubt over Erik ten Hag's future at the club, admitting that the team is not performing as expected under the Dutch manager. Despite having a chance to dismiss rumors of Ten Hag's potential dismissal, Ratcliffe's comments have raised concerns about the manager's job security.United's dismal start to the season, with only two wins in six Premier League matches, has put Ten Hag under immense pressure. The team's 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham and their failure to hold onto a two-goal lead in their 3-3 draw with Porto in the Europa League have further intensified the scrutiny on the manager.Ratcliffe, who took charge of United's football operations in February, refused to guarantee Ten Hag's future, stating that the decision would be made by the club's management team, including sporting director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Omar Berrada. He emphasized that the team has only been together for a short period and needs time to make sensible decisions."Our objective is very clear, we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it's not there yet, obviously," Ratcliffe said.Ten Hag's tenure at United has been turbulent, with the team finishing eighth in the Premier League last season. Despite leading United to an FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May, the club's poor start to this season has raised questions about his ability to turn things around.Ratcliffe's comments have added to the uncertainty surrounding Ten Hag's future. The manager will be hoping to turn things around in United's upcoming Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday. However, the pressure on him is mounting, and the club's hierarchy will be closely monitoring the team's performance in the coming weeks.

Alvaro Morata has been recalled to the Spanish national team for their upcoming Nations League matches, as announced by coach Luis de la Fuente on Friday. The AC Milan forward returns to the squad after recovering from a muscular injury that kept him out of Spain's opening two Group A4 encounters.De la Fuente praised Morata's leadership qualities, describing him as "one of the best strikers in the world" and "a great captain who unites the team." He added that Morata's presence on and off the field is invaluable.However, Spain will be without key midfielder Rodri, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and will miss the rest of the season. De la Fuente acknowledged Rodri's irreplaceable role but expressed confidence in other players stepping up.Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been called up to replace Rodri, while Mikel Merino, who recently recovered from an injury, has also made his return to the squad.Spain will face Denmark in Murcia on October 12 before hosting Serbia in Cordoba three days later. The squad includes a mix of experienced players and rising stars, with a strong emphasis on players from La Liga clubs.De la Fuente's decision to recall Morata and include Zubimendi and Merino signals his intent to maintain a competitive and cohesive team despite the absence of key players. Spain will be aiming to secure positive results in their remaining Nations League matches and build momentum ahead of the 2024 European Championship.

Bayern Munich's attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala has been ruled out of action for the upcoming Bundesliga clash against Eintracht Frankfurt and Germany's two Nations League matches due to a hip injury. The 21-year-old was initially included in Julian Nagelsmann's squad for the international fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands, but will now miss out.Musiala has been a key player for Bayern this season, scoring three goals in 10 appearances across all competitions. His absence will be a blow to the German champions, who are currently top of the Bundesliga table.The injury is a setback for Musiala, who has been in impressive form for both club and country. He has made 36 appearances for Germany, scoring six goals, and has established himself as one of the most promising young players in Europe.Bayern have confirmed that Musiala will be sidelined for the time being, but have not provided a specific timeframe for his return. The club's medical staff will continue to assess his condition and provide updates as they become available.In Musiala's absence, Bayern will likely turn to Leroy Sané or Kingsley Coman to fill the void in attack. Both players have been in good form this season and will be eager to make an impact in Musiala's absence.Germany have called up Stuttgart's Jamie Leweling to replace Musiala in their squad for the Nations League matches. Leweling has been in impressive form for Stuttgart this season, scoring three goals in 10 appearances.Musiala's injury is a reminder of the physical demands of top-level football. The 21-year-old has played a lot of football in recent months and his body is now paying the price. Bayern will hope that he can recover quickly and return to action soon.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that the team has had to adapt its tactics in the absence of captain Martin Odegaard, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury. Odegaard has missed Arsenal's last six games, forcing Arteta to change his usual 4-2-3-1 formation.In Odegaard's absence, Leandro Trossard has taken his place in the starting lineup, while Kai Havertz has played alongside him in a two-man strike partnership. This tweak has allowed Arsenal to maintain their unbeaten record in the Premier League, with the Gunners sitting in third place just one point behind leaders Liverpool."We had to be different," said Arteta. "The impact Martin has in everything that we do, it was too big to try to replicate it with one player. We've tried to do it in a different way, adapting a few things, using players' qualities, players that can play in different positions and with the right chemistry around them."Arteta praised the team's ability to adapt, but admitted that they still miss Odegaard's presence. "We found a way, but we still miss him," he said. "We don't have Martin, there are all the things that we cannot do. But as well we have a big threat in other areas and we have to make the most of them."Odegaard is working hard to return to action, but Arteta could not provide a specific timeline for his comeback. "He's working so hard," said Arteta. "He's doing everything he can to get back as quickly as possible, but we don't want to rush him. We want to make sure he's fully fit and ready to go when he comes back."

Belgium's national football team coach, Domenico Tedesco, has announced his squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Italy and France. Notably, Manchester City's star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will miss the matches due to injury.De Bruyne, 33, had previously hinted at potentially retiring from international football. However, he has since assured Tedesco that he intends to continue playing for Belgium for the next two years, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup."I had a long conversation with Kevin," Tedesco said. "He's injured now, but he's highly motivated to continue with us and play in the World Cup. He asked to be excused from this camp and the November camp to focus on his physical recovery."Another notable absence from the squad is Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku. Tedesco has decided to rest Lukaku, who recently joined the Italian club, to allow him to "work individually" and settle into his new surroundings.Belgium will face Italy in Rome on October 10th and then host France in Brussels on October 14th. The squad includes a mix of experienced players and rising stars, with several players representing top clubs across Europe.Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Al Qadsiah), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig)Defenders: Sebastiaan Bornauw (Wolfsburg), Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting Portugal), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Bruges), Wout Faes (Leicester), Matte Smets (Genk), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt), Koni De Winter (Genoa)Midfielders: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Arne Engels (Celtic), Malick Fofana (Lyon)Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig), Cyril Ngonge (Napoli), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)

The Indian senior men's football team will face Vietnam in a one-off friendly match on October 12 at the Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. The match will count towards the FIFA Rankings.The friendly was originally scheduled to be a tri-nation tournament, with India also facing Lebanon on October 12. However, Lebanon withdrew from the tournament, prompting the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) to request the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to reschedule the Vietnam-India match to October 12, which was accepted by the VFF.India will assemble in Kolkata on October 5 and have a training session on October 6. Manolo Marquez and his squad will travel to Vietnam on October 7, where they will continue training.Marquez announced a list of 26 probables on Monday. The final squad of 23 players will be announced before the team's travel to Vietnam.This will be the second event that the Indian senior national football team will be played under Manolo Marquez, who was appointed to the post succeeding Igor Stimac on July 20, 2024. The Intercontinental Cup was the 56-year-old Marquex's first assignment as India coach.India will be looking to build on their recent good form, which has seen them win the SAFF Championship and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. Vietnam, meanwhile, are ranked 97th in the FIFA Rankings, 10 places below India.The match will be a good test for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup. India will be hoping to continue their good form and Vietnam will be looking to improve their FIFA Ranking.

Erik ten Hag's Manchester United endured a rollercoaster ride in their Europa League clash with Porto, salvaging a 3-3 draw thanks to a late Harry Maguire equalizer. The result came amidst mounting pressure on Ten Hag, whose team has struggled in the Premier League this season.Ten Hag's plea for patience until the end of the season highlights the challenges he faces. Despite winning the League Cup and FA Cup in his first two seasons, United's poor start to the current campaign has raised concerns. The Red Devils languish in 13th place in the Premier League and have drawn their opening two Europa League games.The match in Porto started brightly for United, with Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund giving them a 2-0 lead within 20 minutes. However, Porto fought back with goals from Pepe and Samu Omorodion before halftime. Omorodion put the home side ahead early in the second half, and United's woes were compounded by Bruno Fernandes' red card.Maguire's header from a corner rescued a point for Ten Hag, but the performance raised questions about United's defensive solidity. The English giants have failed to win any of their last four away European games despite scoring three times in each of them.Ten Hag acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "We will get there, don't judge us in this moment. Judge us in the end of the season. We will improve, we have two seasons where we achieved finals. Just wait, we will develop and progress this team."Maguire, who has lost his starting spot to Matthijs de Ligt, defended his manager, saying, "When you go on a bad spell players come under pressure and also the manager does. He's experienced enough and been at this club long enough so I'm sure he knows how to deal with it."The upcoming international break could provide a crucial opportunity for Ten Hag to reassess his team's performance and prepare for the challenges ahead. United's next match is against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

France's star forward Kylian Mbappe has been omitted from the squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium. The decision was made by coach Didier Deschamps to allow Mbappe to rest and recover from a minor thigh injury.Mbappe recently returned to action for Real Madrid after a brief spell on the sidelines. He made a substitute appearance in the Champions League match against Lille, but the team suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat.Deschamps explained his decision to leave Mbappe out of the squad, stating that he had spoken to the player and determined that it was not a serious injury. However, he emphasized that he would not take any risks with Mbappe's fitness."I am not going to take risks, which is why he is not in the squad," Deschamps said.France will face Israel in an away fixture on October 10, which has been moved to Budapest due to security concerns in the Middle East. They will then travel to Brussels to take on Belgium on October 14.The absence of Mbappe is a significant blow to France's hopes of success in the Nations League. The team has three points after their first two outings in Group A2, which is topped by Italy with six points.Deschamps also announced the retirement of vice-captain Antoine Griezmann from international football earlier this week. Griezmann, who has won 137 caps for France, made the decision at the age of 33."He had such an impact that we can't play in the same way," Deschamps said of losing Griezmann. "I am not necessarily going to change the system, but I am not going to look for an equivalent player."Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku, who has not played for France since June last year, has been recalled to the squad. However, midfielder N'Golo Kante has also been left out.