The Guardian

The World Cup winner’s off-the-cuff assessment was brutally honest. Within days their manager and CEO were gone, but the problems run much deeper Kiat Lim wanted to see Valencia play so badly, so that is what he did. It was week four in La Liga, 6 September, and for the first time since he was given the presidency 18 months earlier, the owner’s 33-year-old son was going to watch his team play a c…

Max Rushden is joined by B arry Glendenning , Barney Ronay and John Brewin to discuss the weekend’s Premier League action Continue reading...

Matt Donohue and his assistant not used this weekend Pro Ref said allowing winner was ‘error of judgment’ The video assistant referee officials who allowed Erling Haaland’s winning goal in the Manchester derby on Sunday have been stood down from their responsibilities. Matt Donohue and his assistant, Blake Antrobus, have been told by Pro Ref they have not received appointments for the next round …

Head coach insists forwards need to improve pressing Changes up front likely for Carabao Cup tie against Spurs Andoni Iraola has shifted the focus on to Liverpool’s forwards for the team’s uninspiring display against Fulham, insisting they need to give more to make his system work. The head coach admitted his team took “a step backwards” with their goalless draw on Saturday. His central midfield …

Test coach to work for Sky NZ in October and December Fleming will plan South Africa tour in upcoming weeks England’s new Test head coach, Stephen Fleming, will return to New Zealand to work as a commentator on the Black Caps’ Test and white-ball series against India next month, despite having formally started work. Fleming is due in England this week for talks with the captain, Joe Root, and the…

‘It’s not a given, that’s the reality,’ Kerr says in Budapest Athletes cautious over BBC’s informal shortlist policy It should be the biggest no-brainer of the sporting year. After a summer where athletics has captured hearts and headlines, and made so many fans fall back in love with it again, either Amy Hunt or Josh Kerr should win the award for BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The bookies’ …

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! Keys. Phone. Wallet. What day it is. The names of people to whom we’ve just been introduced. Where we parked the car. The shopping list we wrote to remind us what Tin groceries we need. The dog we’re supposed to be walking. Dozens of umbrellas. The name of the hotel we’re staying in. Assorted birthdays. Why we walked into a room. The list of thi…

In a bad-tempered meeting at Old Trafford, United and City showed they are far from the finished product Sign up for our free newsletter here While London has a host of top-flight clubs and Liverpool have been regular contenders, the story of the Premier League can almost entirely be told with Mancunian main characters. From Manchester United’s decade-plus of dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson to …

Losing captain frustrated by lack of in-play statistics Stanford offers warning to Ryder Cup leader Jim Furyk The latest inquest into failure by an American team on European soil involves slow greens, the perception of a premature celebration and a curious absence of statistical backup. Angela Stanford, whose Solheim Cup team were defeated by Europe in the Netherlands on Sunday, warned Jim Furyk’…

The actor’s latest promotion has stirred outrage but will no doubt benefit the prediction markets hoping to lure in young men Prediction markets are a cynical business. Many customers will lose money, and the real product may just be the delightful dopamine hit that comes in that brief window between placing a bet and its outcome – which is statistically more likely to be a disappointment than a …

Alexander Zverev was simply too good for the home hope at the US Open on Sunday. Andy Roddick’s record may stand for some time to come On a Sunday afternoon set up for Ben Shelton to play national hero, the US Open final debutant suffered a four-set defeat to Alexander Zverev, a result that deflated the partisans at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match compounded Shelton’s miserable head-to-head record…

Departure of head coach after defeat at Freiburg sums up club that could join other fallen giants in second tier It could not go on. Even at this early stage the sinking feeling was familiar and impossible to shake, and something had to give at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The first Bundesliga coaching change of the season is upon us just three games in, and it is not a major surprise that it is Eug…

Club want explanation after spot-kick given against them They are likely to raise penalty not awarded at Aston Villa Arsenal are seeking an explanation from Pro Ref over the penalty awarded to Sunderland on Saturday that Mikel Arteta described as “ unacceptable at this level ”. It is understood the Premier League champions contacted Pro Ref on Monday to request a meeting after Ezri Konsa was pena…

Despite an impressive start under Gennaro Gattuso, supporters are boycotting the Stadio Olimpico to wage war against Claudio Lotito Gennaro Gattuso has given some memorable post-game interviews down the years. Who could forget his “sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit” rant at OFI Crete, or the face of the beleaguered interpreter tasked with translating it? Last year, not long before taking…

Manchester United must regroup after a heavy home loss to Chelsea while Crystal Palace frustrated the Gunners The frustration among Manchester United fans at full-time was evident at Leigh Sports Village after they had watched their team get thrashed 5-0 by a rampant Chelsea. There are certainly things to be worried about, but perhaps judging United’s new manager, Eva Olid, on the basis of how th…