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

Lionel Messi’s feat of becoming Barcelona’s all- time top goalscorer is set to be honored in the buildup to the Catalan club’s clash with Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou on Saturday. The Argentina international broke the longstanding record of 232 strikes for the Blaugrana by scoring a hat-trick against Granada earlier this month. The previous holder of the landmark, Cesar Rodriguez, played for the Spanish… Read more