Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo has finally spoken about the most difficult period of his career, revealing the mental health struggles that forced him to step away from football.
After months of silence, the defender has now returned to the pitch and, more importantly, to a better mental place.
The defender explained that the match was an important step in his recovery and confidence.
“The truth is, I’m feeling really good. I felt very comfortable. I think I played a good game. I was also able to help with the goal, which was great for me.
“Physically, I felt strong too. At the end, I was obviously tired because I hadn’t played so many minutes in a long time, but overall, I’m very, very happy.”
The red card against Chelsea
The Uruguayan also reflected on how much he has changed since his red card in London on November 25, an incident that marked the start of his break from football.
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Araujo was sent off against Chelsea. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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“I’ve changed quite a bit because I’ve learned a lot during this time. I think it was what I needed to do after that decision I made.
“I feel different and I’m happy about that because I’m more comfortable, happier. I can enjoy what I love doing, which is playing football, and that helps a lot.”
When asked what exactly had changed, Araujo explained that the time away helped him gain a new perspective on life and football.
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“Well, you see things from another point of view. I felt that the worst of the worst was over and now I see things differently.
“The time I took off was for a reason, because in the end I was able to work on it with professionals, with my family, and spiritually, which was what I needed.”
Looking back at the red card against Chelsea, Araujo revealed that the moment was only part of a deeper and longer struggle.
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“It was a combination of things. I hadn’t been feeling well for a long time, maybe more than a year and a half. You try to be strong, but I felt that I wasn’t well.
“Not only on a sporting level, but also on a family and personal level. I wasn’t feeling myself, and that was when I clicked and said: Something is happening, I need to raise my hand and ask for help.
“I’m one of those people who keep everything to myself, but you also have to understand that there are professionals who can help you.
“I needed to raise my hand and say that something was happening to me in order to recover.”
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Been dealing with it for a long time
He also revealed the extent of the issue, admitting that anxiety had turned into depression while he was still playing matches.
Araujo has opened up on his mental state. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
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“In the moment, you feel sad, but then, when the game is over, it all hits you. I already felt that I wasn’t well, that’s the truth, but out of inertia, you try to keep going, and sometimes you need help.
“I had been suffering from anxiety for a year and a half, which turned into depression, and I was playing like that. That doesn’t help, because you don’t feel like yourself on the field.
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“When I wasn’t feeling well, I knew something was going on. That day, I realised that I needed to talk to professionals and the club so they could help me.”
Despite the mental struggle, Araujo insisted that quitting football was never truly on his mind.
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“I didn’t think about giving up playing, but you consider a lot of things because I wasn’t feeling myself.
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“I knew my performance wasn’t what I’m capable of. That’s why you consider a lot of things, but it wasn’t the idea.”
“First, I spoke to Deco because he’s the sporting director and he’s close to us. I told him what was happening to me.
“At first, he was a little surprised because it’s not very common for a Barcelona player to tell him these things, but he took it very well, in a very personal way.
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“From the very first minute, Deco called the president and the coach. They were spectacular.
“I’m very grateful to Deco, the president, the coach, and also to the people behind the scenes who you might not see, who are part of our day-to-day lives. The club gave me everything I needed to recover.”
Araujo is thankful to Flick. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“He took it very personally. Flick knows my condition, and it was clear that I wasn’t performing at my best. He knew something was going on.
“From the beginning, he sent me messages telling me to take my time recovering, that the most important thing was to get through it well.”
Araujo admitted that the dressing room also played a key role during his darkest days.
“A huge one. After making the decision, I had some really bad days. I didn’t want to get out of bed. It was hard, because I had always dreamed of playing football and now I had to stop.”
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He also remembered the encouraging words from teammates, which helped him stay motivated.
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“They were all very nice messages from Pedri, Frenkie… Messages like, “Take it easy, get well, and come back as the titan you always are.” That was really nice because you see that they trust you.”
Support from the football community
Finally, Araujo revealed that the support went beyond Barcelona, with players from other clubs reaching out privately.
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“That surprised me a lot. When I decided to stop, I didn’t imagine the boom it would cause, but, of course, we’re at Barça. Players from other teams in Italy and Germany.
“They appreciated what I had done.
“Some told me they had been through the same thing but had kept it to themselves because they were perhaps being paid, they were afraid to stop, afraid of how people would react.”
Oct 4, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City SC head coach Oscar Pareja prior to the game against the Columbus Crew at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Orlando City SC and head coach Oscar Pareja mutually have agreed to part ways, effective immediately, the team announced on Wednesday.
Hired on Dec. 4, 2019, Pareja posted a 103-72-66 record across all competitions and helped the club capture the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2022.
Orlando has limped out of the blocks this season, yielding an MLS-high 11 goals and losing all three matches. The team hosts CF Montreal (1-2-0, 3 points) on Saturday.
“I want to thank Oscar for the dedication, leadership and professionalism he brought to our club,” general manager and sporting director Ricardo Moreira said. “He delivered one of the most significant moments in Orlando City’s history with the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and helped establish the competitive foundation that has propelled us forward, highlighted by our active club-record run of six straight playoffs appearances, which is currently the longest streak in MLS.
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“At the same time, we believe this is the right moment to take the club in a new direction as we look to the next phase of our growth and ambitions. We are grateful for everything Oscar has contributed and wish him nothing but success in the next chapter of his career.”
“Oscar’s impact on our club and community will always be remembered,” said Mark Wilf, Orlando City SC owner and chairman. “He helped elevate Orlando City on and off the field, guided us through milestones that reshaped our trajectory and represented our crest with integrity. We are grateful for all he has given to the organization.”
Pareja, 57, previously coached the Colorado Rapids (2012-14) and FC Dallas (2014-18) as well as Liga MX side Club Tiajuana (2018-19).
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the club’s players, staff and supporters for the trust they’ve given me over these last several years,” Pareja said. “Together, we shared moments that will stay with me forever. While it is the right time for both me and the club to move in new directions, I leave proud of the work we did and with deep appreciation for the people who made it possible. Orlando will always have a special place in my heart, and I wish the team nothing but success in the future.”
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Assistant coach Martin Perelman takes over as the interim head coach. He has served as Orlando City’s first team assistant coach since 2024.
The United States will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. (Image credit: X)
NEW DELHI: Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday that the country cannot participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the United States killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to a report by Al Jazeera citing Reuters.“Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Ahmad Donyamali told state television on Wednesday, according to the report.
Gautam Gambhir reflects on India’s World Cup win and backing Sanju Samson in the tournament
The latest round of conflict between Israel and the United States on one side and Iran on the other began on February 28. The West Asia conflict has also disrupted global energy supply chains.Ahmad Donyamali said the conditions required for participation in the FIFA World Cup do not exist.“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist. Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence,” Donyamali said, according to the Al Jazeera report citing Reuters.The United States will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 104 matches, beginning at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 and culminating at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the final on July 19.All of Iran’s group-stage fixtures are scheduled to be played in American cities, including Los Angeles and Seattle.Donyamali’s remarks came after Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, said in an Instagram post on Wednesday that Iran’s participation in the World Cup would be welcomed by US President Donald Trump.“President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Gianni Infantino said in the social media post.Earlier, Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), also questioned Iran’s participation in the tournament following the recent attacks, saying it would be difficult for the country to approach the competition with optimism.“After this attack [on Iran], we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope. If the World Cup is like this, who in their right mind would send their national team to a place like this?” Taj said on Iranian state television.
The bracket has been released, and the 2026 Big East Tournament — one of the most exciting events in all of sports — tips off on Wednesday in New York. St. John’s will be the No. 1 seed in this week’s tournament after clinching the outright league title during the final weekend of the regular season. After the Red Storm took care of business against Seton Hall in their final game and UConn was upset by Marquette, it opened the door for the reigning Big East Tournament champions to earn the top seed.
UConn finished second in the Big East standings and will be the No. 2 seed. Villanova, led by first-year coach Kevin Willard, will be the No. 3 seed. Seton Hall is the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 seed Creighton in the quarterfinals. The top five teams in the Big East standings all received a first-round bye.
Entering the weekend, only three teams (St. John’s, UConn and Villanova) were in CBS Sports’ latest Bracketology projections. Seton Hall is one of the teams on the outside looking in heading into the final week of the season and will need a strong showing to potentially get back into the conversation to receive an at-large berth.
The first round of the Big East Tournament begins Wednesday with three games on the slate. No. 9 seed Providence will face No. 8 seed Butler in the opening game of the tournament. After that game ends, No. 7 seed Marquette will face No. 10 seed Xavier.
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No. 11 seed Georgetown vs. No. 6 seed DePaul is the final game of the first round.
Location: Madison Square Garden — New York Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) | Follow live:CBS Sports App
All times Eastern; some start times approximated
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First round — Wednesday, March 11 Game 1: No. 9 Providence 91, No. 8 Butler 81 | Recap Game 2: No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 Xavier | GameTracker Game 3: No. 6 DePaul vs. No. 11 Georgetown | 9 p.m. on Peacock
Quarterfinals — Thursday, March 12 Game 4: No. 1 St. John’s vs. No. 9 Providence | Noon on Peacock Game 5: No. 4 Seton Hall vs. No. 5 Creighton | 2:30 p.m. on Peacock Game 6: No. 2 UConn vs. Game 2 winner | 7 p.m. on FS1 Game 7: No. 3 Villanova vs. Game 3 winner | 9:30 p.m. on FS1
Semifinals — Friday, March 13 Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner | 5:30 p.m. on Fox Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner | 8 p.m. on FS1
Big East Tournament Championship Game — Saturday, March 14 Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner | 6:30 p.m. on Fox
NEW DELHI: India had a mixed day at the Swiss Open on Wednesday, with some impressive wins but several early exits. The biggest highlight came from Kiran George, who stunned former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in straight games. Ranked 42nd in the world, Kiran edged past the third seed 23-21, 21-19 in the opening round and will next face Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan. However, Gunawan knocked out former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, defeating him 21-15, 12-21, 21-4 in the round of 32.India also celebrated an upset victory in mixed doubles as Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto beat Denmark’s fourth-seeded pair Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund 21-15, 21-14. They will now take on China’s Gao Jia Xuan and Wu Meng Ying in the next round.Despite these wins, several Indian shuttlers were knocked out early in the Super 300 tournament. In men’s singles, US Open champion Ayush Shetty lost 18-21, 19-21 to Canada’s Brian Yang. In women’s singles, Unnati Hooda was beaten 21-14, 21-14 by Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin-Chian, while top seed Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia comfortably defeated India’s Tanvi Sharma 21-11, 21-10 in just 30 minutes.India also faced a setback when HS Prannoy, the 2023 World Championships bronze medallist, gave a walkover to Japan’s Koki Watanabe. In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde were eliminated after losing 19-21, 14-21 to Thailand’s fifth-seeded pair Ruttanapak Oupthong and Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat.On a positive note, India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty moved into the round of 16 with a 21-19, 21-19 win over Singapore’s Eng Keat Wesley Koh and Junsuke Kubo. H Amsakarunan and M R Arjun also advanced after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chen Zhi Ray and Lin Yu Chieh 21-16, 24-22.
Manchester City were thrashed 3-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League to leave them needing a miracle in the second leg next week
Manchester City saw their Champions League hopes disappear for another year on another horrible night for them at the Bernabeu. Pep Guardiola picked an attacking team to take the game to Real Madrid but instead they were undone by three goals from Fede Valverde in an astonishing first 45 minutes.
Gianluigi Donnarumma gave away a penalty in the second half that could have buried City, but the keeper did get back to his feet to keep Vincius’s spot-kick out. That will give City a glimmer of hope for the second leg, but they were unable to build on that by getting any goals back in Madrid.
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An outstanding reaction save from Thibaut Courtois stopped a certain goal from Nico O’Reilly and City had nothing else to offer. Here are the player ratings from the Manchester Evening News.
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Donnarumma: Could possibly have done better on at least one of the goals and gave away the penalty, but a good save to keep City alive. 5
Khusanov: Started really well against Vinicius but lost his way and then couldn’t reassert himself in the game. 5
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Dias: Couldn’t keep things together at the back, although he did try to push them forward in the second half. 5
Guehi: Probably his most uncomfortable night in a City shirt, struggling to stay on top of his game and beaten by Valverde for a goal. 5
O’Reilly: Exposed for the opening goal and struggled defensively all game. Improved in midfield but far from his best. 4
Rodri: Not a return to Madrid that he will remember fondly as he could not stop Real from bypassing City’s midfield. 5
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Silva: Wasn’t great on set-pieces or corners and couldn’t get on the ball to have an impact. 5
Semenyo: Willing to get on the ball and tried to make something happen in the final third, albeit his touch was loose. 5
Savinho: Didn’t do much wrong and won a couple of free-kicks in dangerous territory but was sacrificed for the system at half-time. 5
Doku: Looked like he was going to have Alexander-Arnold on toast yet he was double-marked out of the game and made some poor decisions in the final third. 5
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Haaland: Didn’t offer anywhere near enough, and being taken off before the end tells its own story. 4
Substitutes
Reijnders (for Savinho, 46) Couldn’t influence the game. 5
Cherki (for Semenyo, 70) Tried to make things happen. 6
Ait-Nouri (for Silva, 70) Some good, some bad. Booked. 5
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Marmoush (for Haaland, 82) No time.
Not used: Trafford, Bettinelli, Nunes, Alleyne, Ake, Stones, Gonzalez, Foden
Jude Bellingham watched on as his Real Madrid team-mates raced into a 3-0 lead against Manchester City, largely thanks to a top-class showing from Fede Valverde, who bagged a hat-trick
21:12, 11 Mar 2026Updated 21:37, 11 Mar 2026
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Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham was left speechless after watching team-mate Federico Valverde score an astonishing hat-trick in Wednesday night’s Champions League clash against Manchester City.
Valverde ran onto Thibaut Courtois’ long ball to put the Spanish giants ahead before doubling his tally seven minutes later. Towards the end of the half, the midfielder completed his hat-trick with a sensational goal.
Brahim Diaz’s neat looped ball inside the box played Valverde in, he flicked the ball over Ruben Dias and then Marc Guehi before volleying past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
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During the half-time interval, TNT Sports showed Bellingham watching the goal on a screen from the stands and being left jaw-dropped.
He appeared to watch the goal twice on the screen inside the Santiago Bernabeu before bowing to his teammate.
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Things nearly went form bad to worse for Pep Guardiola’s side after Donnarumma brought Vinicius Junior down inside the area. However, the Italian shot-stopper denied the Brazilian from the spot.
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Bellingham is currently nursing a hamstring injury, though there is hope that he can return for the return leg at the Etihad Stadium next week.
Mbappe is also thought to be pushing for a return to action for the second leg.
Watch Real Madrid vs Man City on TNT Sports
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Man City have reached the UEFA Champions League round of 16 where they face Real Madrid on March 11. Fans can watch the game on the TNT Sports Prime Video channel.
Mike Tyson is expecting a good fight between 49-year-old Floyd Mayweather and 47-year-old Manny Pacquiao when they meet for a rematch this September.
The two fighting icons first fought in 2015, with Mayweather running out a unanimous points winner after twelve rounds of action that failed to deliver on incredible hype that had been built up for around six years.
Despite the general consensus that both men were significantly past their best, the event was a money-spinner and set various records in the sport that still remain intact today. The best chance of those records being broken may only be a return fight.
Speaking to FightHype, Tyson was excited at the prospect of the rematch, praising Pacquiao’s latest performance against Mario Barrios.
“I think that’ll be a good fight. I hope Manny’s serious. Manny looked good in his last fight he fought, too.”
Pacquiao fought to a draw with then WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in July last year. Mayweather, who retired in 2017, has only been active on the exhibition circuit – something he says he will continue twice this year before putting his famous 50-0 professional record on the line against his Filipino rival.
Many had assumed that scheduled exhibitions for both men – Tyson for Mayweather, Ruslan Provodnikov for Pacquiao – would be canned due to the magnitude of the rematch. Asked if his bout with Floyd would still go ahead, Tyson remained tight-lipped, dialling back on an interview earlier this week in which he said with certainty it was going ahead.
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“Hey, you never know. Anything’s possible … You know he’s crazy.”
Learning how to sequence your downswing properly can be confusing, especially if you’re doing it on your own. The internet is flooded with swing tips, and for every great coach offering thoughtful guidance, there’s an armchair expert doling out bad advice to chase clicks, making it harder to tell what’s actually correct and what just sounds convincing.
That’s why it helps to listen to those who have spent a lifetime studying and mastering instruction. We turned to Brian Manzella, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, to simplify the downswing and strip it down to the essentials.
Instead of a dozen swing thoughts, Manzella says you need to remember just three key moves. Follow along with his three-step approach to dial in your sequence and start striping your shots in time for golf season.
1. Drop from the top
There’s a common mistake amateurs make at the top of their backswing that can ruin your sequence before it even starts: spinning or turning your body to lower the club down. As Manzella explains, keeping the club in the same position and turning your body toward the target never works out well.
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Instead, he says, something has to lower the club down to set you up for a successful following sequence. You just need to learn how to do that properly.
“The drop of your arms down to a normal hitting position — arms relative to the torso — early in the downswing is your first step,” Manzella says.
According to Manzella, before you practice dropping the club down, you first need to ensure that your lead arm is higher than it is across your chest. Meaning the club isn’t starting from a position that is too far inside, or behind you. Once you’re in the proper position at the top of your swing, let your arms fall straight down until your hands reach about hip height.
2. Twist or tumble to turn the clubface
“Your second step is, depending on the golfer, you’re either going to have to apply some twist pretty soon after this drop occurs,” he says, “or you may drop it so much that you have to apply another move, the tumble.”
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Manzella explains that this “twist” move helps players turn their clubface toward the ball, which helps them square up the face as they enter impact. The ‘tumble,’ on the other hand, is a slightly more pronounced action where the club travels slightly more out and forward to get the face turning toward the ball.
The twist, it seems, is ideal for players who keep their club on plane during their initial drop in the downswing sequence, while the tumble is optimal for players who get slightly more laid off during their first step in the downswing.
If you tumble the club, Manzella says to remember one key thing: avoid dropping the club too far under plane. This can make it difficult to consistently turn the clubface toward the ball, and lead to poor face control and inconsistent contact.
3. Throw it into impact
The final step in Manzella’s three-step approach to the downswing is throwing the club into impact, and it might be the easiest of all. The secret to a successful throwing motion? Clubface control.
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As Manzella explains, when you’re throwing the club into the ball, you need to line it up for the shot you’re trying to hit. That means avoiding any twisting or turning of the hands as you deliver the clubhead into the back of the ball.
If you can control your face as you throw the club, you’ll nail this move and catch it clean every time.
While these three pieces work in tandem as a synchronized chain, Manzella encourages players to work on them both individually and together. Do that, he says, and you’ll have the club in position to hit textbook shots every time.
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The Compression Ball: Golf Impact & Swing Training Aid
The Compression Ball
The New Golf Swing Ball Training Aid to Build a Consistent, Connected Motion and Improve Ball Striking
Stop the guesswork and start building a powerful, repeatable golf swing. Introducing The Compression Ball, the premier golf impact ball training aid designed to master the most crucial element of a great swing: connection. If you’re tired of inconsistency, this golf swing trainer is your key to synchronizing your arms and body for more accurate strikes and better performance.
This impact ball golf trainer is more than just a piece of foam; it’s a comprehensive system for developing muscle memory. Whether you’re a beginner struggling with a “flying elbow” or an experienced player refining your sequence, this is one of the top golf training aids for immediate, tangible feedback.
Why The Compression Ball is a Must-Have Piece of Golf Training Equipment:
MASTER YOUR CONNECTION: As a leading golf impact ball, its primary function is to keep your arms and body working as one. Place the soft foam ball between your forearms to eliminate separation in your backswing and downswing, leading to dramatically improved ball striking.
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INNOVATIVE LANYARD SYSTEM: What truly sets this impact ball training aid apart is its adjustable, removable lanyard. When you lose connection during a drill, the ball doesn’t fall to the ground. No more chasing your aid—just uninterrupted, efficient practice.
PREMIUM ADAPTIVE FOAM: Made from ultra-soft, durable memory foam that comfortably molds between your arms. We selected the best foam for this training aid—it’s soft enough to prevent tension but firm enough to provide clear feedback on your arm structure.
VERSATILE SWING TRAINER: This is the perfect swing trainer golf aid for a wide range of practice. Use it for chipping, pitching, half-swings, and full-swing practice. It’s lightweight and perfect for the range, home, or as part of your pre-round warm-up.
Benefits –
✅ Build a Tour-Level Swing: Promotes ideal arm structure and body synchronization.
✅ Improve Timing & Tempo: Encourages a smooth, one-piece takeaway and transition.
✅ Develop Lasting Muscle Memory: Ingrains the feeling of a connected, efficient swing.
✅ Instant, Honest Feedback: Immediately signals when your arms and body are out of sync.
✅ For Golfers of All Levels: Simple enough for juniors, effective enough for scratch players.
✅ Practice Anywhere: Its durable, lightweight design is ideal for indoor or outdoor use.
Simple & Effective Golf Impact Ball Drills:
Getting started with your new golf swing ball training aid is easy:
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Placement: Place The Compression Ball between your forearms, just below the elbows. Apply light pressure to hold it in place.
Chipping Drill: Start with small chip shots. Focus on keeping the ball between your arms from start to finish, rotating your chest to control the swing. This will eliminate wristy, inconsistent chips.
Half-Swing Drill: Progress to 9-o’clock to 3-o’clock swings. If the ball drops, you know you’ve lost connection. This drill is key for improving your swing path and impact position.
Full-Swing Integration: Once comfortable, take smooth full swings. The goal isn’t to hit at 100% power, but to maintain connection throughout the entire motion.
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Connection is the secret that separates good golfers from great ones. Stop searching for complex solutions and get back to the fundamentals. With The Compression Ball, you have the simple, effective golf swing training aid you need to build a swing you can trust.
Order the Compression Ball and feel the difference a connected swing makes!
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