Month: February 2025

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is sure he will sign a new contract with the club at season s end.

The Northern Irishman has led his side to within touching distance of a first league title in 24 years, sitting five points clear at the top.

Rodgers signed a three-year deal in June 2012, but – having seen his team definitely into next season s UEFA Champions League at the very least – he is expected to earn a new contract.

There is nothing really until the end of the season, but there is no doubt that at some point we will agree another deal, the 41-year-old said.

I am sure of that.

While several clubs are expected to be interested in Rodgers, the former Swansea manager said he still had a lot to achieve at Liverpool.

Pride would be a good word …

Celta de Vigo goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez said interest in coach Luis Enrique from Barcelona has come because he s done things well here .

The Galicia-based club are safe from the relegation mire, 10 points clear of the drop zone with three games to play, and occupy a spot in the top half of the La Liga table.

Enrique s ability to steer Celta to 12 wins and seven draws in 35 matches has seen him linked to replace Gerardo Martino, who is under increasing pressure to keep his job after what could be a trophy-less season at Camp Nou.

But Yoel said Enrique still has three games to go before he can consider any job offers.

First he has to finish the season here and then later, the boss will take whatever decision he needs to take, the shot-stopper said.

If the cal…

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has praised his influential midfielder Yaya Toure, describing him as being like Ruud Gullit .

The Ivorian was instrumental in his side s potentially title-clinching win over Newcastle on Sunday, scoring twice late on to further loosen United’s grip on the Premier League trophy.

Although Mancini insists the midfielder is not carrying the team on his own, he is well aware of the attributes the 28-year-old brings to the team and has compared him to the Netherlands’ Euro 1988-winning captain Gullit.

Yaya is fantastic because he has everything he is strong, quick, has good technique, and can play in different positions, Mancini told reporters.

He is like (Ruud) Gullit for me a player of that kind. But he can t pla…

Reigning champions Western Sydney Wanderers are looking forward to renewing rivalries with Guangzhou Evergrande in the AFC Champions League.

Wanderers became the first Australian side to lift the trophy when they defeated Al Hilal 1-0 on aggregate in the final last month.

Having defeated 2013 champions Evergrande on away goals at the quarter-final stage, the A-League outfit were paired with the CSL side in Thursday s draw.

The two clubs will compete in Group H, along with the third-placed side in Japan s J.League and whe winner of play-off one (east).

Wanderers representative Christian Layland is expecting another closely fought encounter when the two sides meet again, after their last-eight clash back in August ended 2-2 on aggregate.

We had…

Manchester United s humiliating 7-0 defeat to Liverpool was an accident , believes Real Betis president Angel Haro, who expects a response when his side face the Red Devils on Thursday.

Betis travel to Old Trafford four days after United suffered the joint-heaviest competitive defeat in the club s history at Anfield.

Only a week on from their EFL Cup triumph, Erik ten Hag s men were ruthlessly dismantled by Jurgen Klopp s hosts to hand them just their second loss of the calendar year.

But with a Europa League last-16 first leg next on the agenda, Haro says Betis must be ready to battle against a fiery response from the Red Devils.

[Their loss] is an accident, in an important rivalry, he told Marca. You have to look at Manchester United in recent games, w…