Everyone at Celtic 'on the same page' – Rodgers

Published

6 days ago

September 28, 2024

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Everyone at Celtic 'on the same page' - Rodgers

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reacts to the 6-0 Scottish Premiership win over St Johnstone.

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Erik ten Hag: Decision over Manchester United manager ‘not my call’, says Sir Jim Ratcliffe

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45 mins ago

October 4, 2024

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Erik ten Hag: Decision over Manchester United manager 'not my call', says Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Ten Hag has won two trophies in two years at Old Trafford, but an impressive 2-1 victory against Manchester City in May’s FA Cup final proved vital to the Dutchman keeping his job.

Ten Hag ended the club’s six-year wait for silverware with victory against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final in his first season at the club, also achieving a third-place finish in the Premier League.

But his second season proved far more difficult as United, having been knocked out in the group stage of the Champions League, finished eighth in the league before ending on a high against City at Wembley.

The initial deal Ten Hag signed when he was appointed in 2022 was due to expire at the end of the current season, in 2025.

Following a review of the team’s performance across the 2023-24 season, which included speaking to potential replacements for Ten Hag, the club – led by Ratcliffe – decided to trigger an extension to keep the manager at Old Trafford until 2026.

But just 10 games into the campaign, with United 13th in the Premier League table and winless in Europe, speculation over his future is mounting – with a trip to high-flying Villa to come before October’s international break.

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Football

Aaron Ramsdale: Southampton goalkeeper talks Arsenal & David Raya

Published

2 hours ago

October 4, 2024

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Aaron Ramsdale: Southampton goalkeeper talks Arsenal & David Raya

Football Focus’ Kelly Sommers speaks to Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale about his move away from Arsenal and his competition with David Raya.

Watch Football Focus on Saturdays from 12:00 BST on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Get all the latest Southampton news and views

Available to UK users only.

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Football

'I don't think we can compete' with Man City and Arsenal – Maresca

Published

3 hours ago

October 4, 2024

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'I don't think we can compete' with Man City and Arsenal - Maresca

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca says he does not “think we can compete” with Manchester City and Arsenal this season because “we are not ready”.

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Football

Enzo Maresca: Chelsea boss says they can’t compete with Man City or Arsenal

Published

4 hours ago

October 4, 2024

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Enzo Maresca: Chelsea boss says they can't compete with Man City or Arsenal

“I really don’t think that because we are not ready. The reason is that City has worked with the same manager for nine years and Arsenal for five years. If you want to compete for big things you need that time.

“After Arsenal beat PSG they asked Luis Enrique and he said the same thing that Arsenal have had the same manager for five years and them only a year and a half.

“Imagine us, only three months… so it’s a huge difference. So I am really convinced we cannot compete with those clubs.”

Chelsea are home to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday (14:00 BST).

They have spent £1.5bn across the last five transfer windows, albeit with significant player sales, and currently only have Carney Chukwuemeka (ill) and Reece James (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Maresca wants time and patience in his first year of management at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues entering the third year of their ownership under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

He added: “The target is to improve and slowly, slowly to get closer to those clubs but at the moment we are not ready for that,” he added.

“There is no timeframe because you can continue to improve and add solutions to things always.”

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Anthony Griffith: Ex-Port Vale captain begins refereeing journey

Published

5 hours ago

October 4, 2024

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Anthony Griffith: Ex-Port Vale captain begins refereeing journey

Griffith’s journey towards becoming a referee started in September, on a three-year programme designed to give former players the chance to have a crack at the job often described as the ‘hardest in football’.

After a brief flirtation with refereeing 10 years ago, when the idea of getting players into officiating was first tried, Griffith said it was an experience that stuck with him.

“I had a go at it in 2014 and I really enjoyed it,” he added. “Staying connected to the game and controlling the whole match – it was great.

“At the time there was no pathway, so I’m pleased that there’s an opportunity for ex-players because the game is calling out for that niche.”

While Griffith’s love for a tackle may have put him in front of a referee a fair bit, he says the way he tried to speak to them is something he is using on the new course.

“I think the way you communicate with players is key,” he said.

“Referees are human and will make mistakes but there is that communication aspect where you can talk to a player if you’ve got it wrong.

“I tried to communicate with the referee – it makes a little bit of a difference when you’ve got the armband because you can communicate a bit more and you’re also in the pre-match talk so you get that feel.”

Griffith knows that “shouting, screaming and balling” at referees “doesn’t do you any favours” adding: “Yes, there may have been a lot of yellow cards [in my career] but there was never any disrespect towards the referee”.

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