Pep Guardiola is confident Manchester City will bounce back from the disappointment of seeing their Premier League winning streak come to an end at Crystal Palace.
For the first time since August, City failed to take all three points, held to a goalless draw by Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
It meant Guardiola failed to equal the winning run of 19 successive games he achieved with Bayern Munich in 2013-14.
However, City are still 14 points clear at the top of the table and Guardiola believes his squad have the character to recover quickly against Watford on January 2.
The character is always there, you would not have character and make the numbers we did this season, he told a media conference.
The character you have to prove every day, once…
AC Milan bounced back from their derby debacle as Rafael Leao’s early goal secured a 1-0 win at home to Verona.
Seven days after their 5-1 humbling by city rivals Inter, Milan ground out a victory at San Siro which owed more to hard work than any real quality.
Captain-for-the day Leao struck after only eight minutes, scoring for the third league game running, as the hosts made it four wins from five at the start of the Serie A season.
Job done! Brought to you by
— AC Milan (@acmilan)
Kick-off was delayed by 25 minutes following heavy rain, but Stefano Pioli’s men were quick out of the blocks when the action got under way.
Christian Pulisic, one of six changes from the team which drew 0-0 with Newcastle in the Champions League in …
Barcelona have confirmed 18-year-old winger Pablo Torre will join the club from Racing Santander at the end of the season in a deal that could cost them more than €20million.
Spain youth international Torre, who will turn 19 in April, has signed a four-year contract, which contains a €100m release clause.
A technically gifted and tricky wide player, Torre made his first-team debut for Racing as a 17-year-old in July 2020 and went on to establish himself as a regular for the senior side in 2020-21.
This season, Torre has had a hand in 12 league goals in Group 1 of the Primera Division RFEF, Spain s third tier.
Real Madrid and Real Sociedad were also linked with the youngster, who reportedly had a €10m release clause, but Barca have beaten their ri…
Belgium will aim to end a seven-match winless run in their rivalry with Finland when the sides meet in Monday s Euro 2020 Group B clash at Saint Petersburg Stadium.
The Red Devils have defeated Russia 3-0 and Denmark 2-1 in their opening two games and are assured of a place in the knockout stages.
However, Roberto Martinez s side may require a point to secure top spot and a meeting with one of the best third-placed sides in the last 16.
Belgium do not have the best of records against Finland, drawing three and losing four of the last seven meetings since their last win in this fixture 53 years ago.
The world s top-ranked side head into this latest encounter as heavy favourites, though, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is targeting top spot.
It s p…
La Sexta is reporting that Manchester City are looking to lure Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos to Etihad.
The Citizens are believed to be prepared to offer the Spaniard a yearly wage of €10 million in order to prize him away from Santiago Bernabeu.
Sergio Ramos currently has a deal until June 2017 worth €8 million per season and while he is not looking to leave the club, the defender is likely to be tempted by the proposal from England.
The 28-year-old has developed into one of world s top defenders since joining Real Madrid from Sevilla back in 2005, making 297 La Liga appearances for los Blancos and scoring 37 goals.
While winning the Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 trophies with Spain, Ramos has won three league titles with Real Madrid as we…
Former Brazil and Santos forward Pepe has paid tribute to ex-team-mate Pele and the eternal memory of the greatest footballer following his death aged 82.
The three-time World Cup winner passed away on Thursday following a battle with colon cancer, leaving behind a football world in mourning.
As the Selecao star s team-mate for club and country between 1956 and 1969, fellow Santos attacker Pepe played over 700 games with Pele across their careers.
The pair lifted the Jules Rimet trophy alongside each other in both 1958 and 1962 too, and now the 87-year-old has offered his own respects to his late countryman.
The whole world knew the seriousness of Pele s illness, Pepe said. But mainly we, the closest and most intimate, had more contact with him and his f…
Market: Victor Osimhen to score anytime
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Looking to sign off the 2021/22 campaign with a flurry on Sunday morning, Napoli will make the trip to the Stadio Alberto Picco when they meet Spezia.
Starting with the hosts, managing to extend on their Serie A status thanks to an action-packed display last weekend, Spezia have just about dragged themselves over the finish line. However, despite being last seen landing a 3-2 win away at Udinese, Head Coach Thiago Motta has seen his side show some real issues this season. Enduring a four-match losing run over the past month, there is no doubt that the Little Eagles face a huge task here. On a run highlighted by a 3-1 drumming at the hands of European outsiders Atalanta on May 5th, Spezia have also gained a re…
Venezuela midfielder Tomas Rincon has joined Serie A side Genoa on a free transfer.
The 26-year-old had been training with the club after being released by Hamburg at the end of last season and did enough to convince coach Gian Piero Gasperini to offer him a contract.
Genoa CFC can announce the signing of Tomas Rincon, a statement on Genoa s official website said.
He has been playing for Hamburg SV in recent seasons, and after training this week has passed all subsequent medical tests.
Rincon joined Hamburg from Venezuelan side Deportivo Tachira in 2009 and made over 100 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit.
…
Phillip Cocu is relaxed about PSV claiming the Eredivisie title this weekend and claims he may not watch Ajax s clash with Heracles.
A 3-1 victory over PEC Zwolle on Friday put PSV on the verge of securing the championship, which would be confirmed if Ajax lose on Saturday.
However, the head coach says he will possibly occupy his time with something else, rather than monitor their rivals progress.
I m not sure if I m going to watch Ajax, he told Fox Sports. We will certainly not watch it together, the players have two days off and we will leave it that way.
It is best to win the title in a full stadium, but on the other hand I will be happy if we win it tomorrow.
Should Ajax claim all three points, PSV will have another chance to win their f…
England s World Cup squad are a tight knit group and have plans in place to deal with any racial abuse aimed at any members of the travelling party, says manager Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions will leave for Russia next week ahead of their opening game with Tunisia on June 18, but Danny Rose s family will not be following them.
Rose made the decision to tell his family to stay at home due to concerns over abuse at the tournament, particularly after racist chants were aimed at French players during a friendly with Russia in March.
The Tottenham full-back has experienced racism previously in his England career – when playing for the Under-21s against Serbia in 2012 – and he is not prepared to see his family suffer the same abuse.
Southgate says he sy…