Author: Adeola Adebowale

Pep Guardiola says his relationship with Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho did not play a role in his decision to leave Barcelona. Guardiola, 42, announced on Friday he will not renew his contract with Barca after being ‘exhausted’ by his whirlwind four years in the job. The last two seasons of Guardiola’s tenure have been punctuated by spiteful exchanges with Mourinho, who is on the… Read more

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini insisted Manchester United will still win the Premier League despite closing the gap at the top. City beat West Bromwich Albion 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium as Wigan shocked United 1-0 on Wednesday to reignite the title race. Second-placed City trails United by five points with five games remaining, including a tantalising local derby between the two sides, but Mancini… Read more

Chinese big spenders Shanghai Shenhua have appointed Nicolas Anelka to the club’s new-look coaching staff. Earlier this week there was speculation on head coach Jean Tigana’s future at the club, and at Thursday’s press conference Shenhua confirmed three French assistant coaches, brought to Shanghai by the former Fulham boss, had been moved on as their methods were reportedly not working with the players. Tigana has… Read more

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo believes Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid was a vital step towards claiming the La Liga title. The Portugal international grabbed his seventh hat-trick of the 2011-12 season, before Jose Callejon helped to make the result even more expressive with a goal of his own. Radamel Falcao had earlier drawn Atletico level. The victory allowed Madrid to maintain the four-point… Read more

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes that the main difference between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is that the Argentine is more naturally gifted. The Sweden international, who played alongside Messi during his season-long stay at Barcelona in 2009-10, is of the opinion that while Ronaldo is a wonderful player, he has had to work hard to get where he is today. “Leo Messi is all talent, while… Read more

Only a win will do for Barcelona when they host AC Milan at the Camp Nou in their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday. The holders looked lethargic in the sides’ goalless draw at the San Siro a week ago and while Lionel Messi and co could not manoeuvre their way around Milan’s miserly defence, many at the club blamed a pitch described as… Read more

Antonio Valencia has dedicated his goal in Manchester United’s 2-0 win against Blackburn to former coach Dragan Miranovic. Serbian Miranovic, who died two weeks ago, coached mainly in Ecuador but also worked at various clubs all over the world. Miranovic, who died of a heart attack, gave Valencia his big break during the winger’s time at Ecuadorian club El Nacional at the start of his… Read more