Dribble Diaries

Pep Guardiola believes Man City's reign of terror "will come to an end" at some point after they were defeated for the fourth time in a row. For the first time since Guardiola took over, City lost four consecutive games, falling 2-1 to Brighton after a late comeback at the Amex. Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the first half, but late goals from substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O'Riley gave Brighton the win. "It is what the people want, for us to be finished," he told me. "We won a lot, and it happened. "The end will come; it is not forever. It is unlikely that City will win the Premier League every season for the following 55 years. "In this business, you have to win games, and we aren't winning any right now, especially in the Premier League. It will allow us to be more focused. Whatever is going to happen, will happen." When asked about losing four games in a row for the first time in his career, Guardiola shrugged and said t

Real Madrid's Éder Militão suffered a full tear of his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee versus Osasuna. Militão sustained injury to both meniscuses in his right leg. The Brazilian will have surgery in the coming days. Militão was stretchered off in the 30th minute of Real Madrid's LaLiga match against Osasuna on Saturday. He was replaced by Raul Asencio, a Castilla graduate. It's a shattering setback for Real Madrid's defense, which is already without Dani Carvajal and David Alaba. Militão has suffered his second ACL tear in as many seasons with Real Madrid. The initial injury to his left knee happened against Athletic Bilbao in August 2023. Militão was not the only player substituted due to injury versus Osasuna. Rodrygo and Lucas Vázquez both sustained injuries.

Ruben Amorim has stated that he will not attempt to raid Sporting Lisbon for players during the January transfer window, but he cannot make any other commitments. Amorim will officially take over as United's manager on Monday, succeeding the dismissed Erik ten Hag. He will inherit a squad that is mostly shaped by Ten Hag's image and preferences, therefore he will surely need to make changes by entering the market. It has been speculated that the tactician will be joined to Old Trafford by some of his greatest Sporting players, including Viktor Gyokeres, Pedro Goncalves, Geovany Quenda, and Ousmane Diomande. In his final pre-match press conference for Sporting on Saturday afternoon, Amorim promised reporters that he will not target Sporting players during the winter transfer window, but he declined to provide similar assurances for the summer. He also stated that his primary goal once he gets at United is to win as many games as possible before the season ends. The 39-year-ol

Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea's head coach, says Liverpool will be ready to put her team to the test when they meet this weekend. against Sunday afternoon, the Blues will take against the Reds at St Helens. Last season, Liverpool defeated Chelsea 4-3, putting their title chances in jeopardy, albeit they subsequently won the season. Speaking to the media before of this weekend's match, Bompastor stated that Chelsea respects a Liverpool team that will be ready to challenge. "It's a really exciting game and I know that Liverpool will find a way to perform against Chelsea, so we are prepared for that," says Bompastor. "We don't take any game for granted, and this weekend is no exception. "Based on Liverpool's performances and results since the start of the season, I anticipate to face a well-organised squad that does not concede many goals and is fully prepared to face us on Sunday. They will have a good team and squad. "We will be focusing on ours

The drone surveillance issue that arose during Canada's women's football team's 2024 Paris Olympics campaign was a sign of a "past pattern of an unacceptable culture," Canada Soccer stated following an independent assessment. A drone was allegedly deployed to eavesdrop on one of their opponents' training sessions in New Zealand. Following the claims, FIFA banned the head coach, Bev Priestman, for a year, as well as analyst Joseph Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander. Priestman was removed from her position. On Friday, Canada Soccer, the sport's governing body in Canada, announced that it had received the report of an independent reviewer "hired by the organization's board of directors to investigate the illegal use of drones at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games," and the organization's senior officials provided their initial reactions while promising a more comprehensive response in the coming days. Kevin Blue, Canada Soccer

Rodri won the 2024 men's Ballon d'Or by just 41 points over Vinicius Jr, according to the coveted yearly prize's organizers. The Manchester City and Spain midfielder defeated the Brazilian forward for the individual prize, causing Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid to skip the presentation in Paris. According to L'Equipe, Rodri has 1170 points to Vinicius' 1129, ahead of the full publication of voting results by organizers France Football. Each of the 99 judges for the men's award named a top ten for the Ballon d'Or, with each first-place vote worth 15 points, followed by 12, 10, eight, seven, five, four, three, two, and one point for the tenth-place spot. Five jurors did not vote for Rodri, while three voted against Vinicius. Ademola Lookman, who helped Atalanta win the Europa League, received an unexpected first-place vote, but Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Lautaro Martinez also topped lists, as did a number of Real Madrid players. The Spanish team did n

Olympique de Marseille were stunned earlier this evening when they were defeated 3-1 by AJ Auxerre at the Stade Vélodrome. Marseille conceded an early goal in the tenth minute as Lassine Sinayoko took advantage of a mistake by Lilian Brassier. With the hosts chasing the game, Auxerre scored in the 43rd and 45th minutes from Gaëtan Perrin and Hamed Traorè, despite continuing errors. Marseille would trail 3-0 at halftime for the second consecutive home game. Marseille's home form has raised some worries for manager Roberto De Zerbi. Marseille has won all but one of their six away games, but their performances at the Vélodrome have been significantly less steady. A win over OGC Nice has been the only bright spot in a season that has seen draws at the Stade de Reims and Angers SCO, as well as defeats at Auxerre and Paris Saint-Germain. Roberto De Zerbi criticizes Marseille's home results. De Zerbi was not hesitant to put his head on the chopping board following this recent dismal

Five of the most exciting football games to watch this weekend, including derbies in Sheffield, Turin, and London, as well as a major clash in Portugal. Sheffield United versus Sheffield Wednesday. Following Sheffield United's relegation from the Premier League, the Steel City Derby will return to the English football calendar this season. Chris Wilder's team has recovered well from that defeat to sit second in the Championship, with automatic promotion as their goal. Sheffield Wednesday will aim to throw a spanner in the works of their fierce rivals, despite a mixed season that has included big wins and crushing defeats. Which version of Danny Rohl's side appears remains to be seen, although a stunning victory over Norwich last time out has increased optimism. The Owls will want to be hooting full-time. Juventus versus Torino The Derby della Mole continues the local grudge match tradition. Juventus are one of only three unbeaten clubs in Europe's top five leagues, but

Neymar Junior has spent the latter half of his career battling ailments, and his stint at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia has been a physical nightmare for the Brazilian. The 32-year-old only recently returned to duty after missing a year due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but he has already suffered another muscle ailment. Neymar was paid a big sum of money on a two-year contract, but he has only played seven games for Al-Hilal, and with only six months remaining on his contract in January, they are ready to cut losses. According to Action Ma3 Waleed via Sport, they are seriously considering not just Neymar's departure but also terminating his contract because they are tired of his injury concerns. They will release him in January and are looking for their next star, however their ambition is to sign Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo. He has only played 42 minutes after recovering from his ACL tear. Neymar has only appeared in seven games for Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal since l

England has announced their roster for the latest round of Nations League matches. Lee Carsley will take charge of his final games as temporary manager, against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. Lewis Hall, a Newcastle utility player, has received his first senior call-up, and Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis will make his debut. The Three Lions are second in League B Group 2 after their first four Nations League games. Thomas Tuchel will take permanent control of the national team in January, with an initial 18-month deal.

France has picked their Nations League team for November's games against Italy and Israel. Adrien Rabiot rejoins the national team, and Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier receives his first call-up. Adrien Rabiot rejoins the national team, and Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier receives his first call-up. Deschamps said on Thursday that the Real Madrid forward was left out following discussions between the two. "I had several discussions with him," Les Bleus' head coach explained. "I thought about it and made this decision for this particular set of games. I believe it is better this way. I am not going to debate. "I can tell you two things: Kylian wanted to come, and non-sporting issues do not come into play as long as the presumption of innocence is maintained. "It's a one-off choice for this gathering, with two games ahead of us." France is second in League A Group 2 of the Nations League, trailing Italy after a 3-1 home loss in September.

Following Aurelien Tchouameni's terrible performance against FC Barcelona in the season's first El Clasico, questions have been raised about his form. The French international has been significantly below his best level this season, with his performance against Barça in particular raising concerns within the club. In fact, reports earlier this week claimed that Real Madrid will consider offers for the 24-year-old in the summer, throwing doubt on his future at the Santiago Bernabeu. Martin Zubimendi is Real Madrid's primary target. Building on that, Fichajes says that Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi has emerged as a potential Real Madrid replacement for Tchouameni. Should the Frenchman leave the Spanish capital, Carlo Ancelotti's squad will be looking for a player who can offer balance and stability to their midfield, and the 25-year-old Zubimendi has emerged as a top contender. The Real Sociedad mainstay's solid performances and leadership in

It is no secret that La Liga has attempted to expand the reach of Spanish football in recent years. In order to achieve the same goal, the league recommended moving Barcelona's game versus Atletico Madrid from Montjuic to the United States of America. The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami has been touted as a possible destination. While the concept of moving a league game overseas was previously opposed, better relations between Barcelona and La Liga now support the proposal. Catalunya Radio has discovered that the Catalans suffer from a sickness. Barcelona's Condition For starters, Barcelona is willing to play their crucial match against Los Rojiblancos in Miami without home support. Such a sacrifice, however, requires an equivalent price. The Catalans thus want financial recompense, especially given that they would lose stadium revenue from ticket sales for the game. In addition to financial recompense, La Liga will most likely provide special flights for fans who want to travel

The Champions season returned to center stage as the season reached its midway mark for those competing. And it was a night of surprises and underdogs, as Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayer Leverkusen all unexpectedly lost. Champions show a disturbing trend. Real Madrid, the reigning champions, have not had a nice few days. Vinicius Jr was overlooked for the Ballon d'Or after losing 4-0 in El Clasico. They now face a serious risk of missing out on the Champions League knockout rounds after losing to Milan 3-1 at home. It leaves Los Blancos with just six points from four games, including trips to Liverpool, Brest, and Atalanta, as well as a home match against Salzburg. Worryingly, they continue to fall behind in three of their four Champions League games. There's plenty for Ancelotti to think about at the Bernabeu. Ruben Amorim gains an early advantage over Guardiola. All eyes were on Sporting CP's encounter with Manchester City after it was announced earlier this wee

The captain has not featured for Arsenal since August. Arsenal received a big boost when Martin Odegaard exercised ahead of crucial games against Inter Milan and Chelsea, although midfield partner Declan Rice was absent. Odegaard has been out for more than two months after suffering an ankle injury while playing for Norway at the beginning of September. However, the club captain is nearing a return and practiced with the Arsenal squad on Tuesday morning ahead of their Champions League match against Inter on Wednesday. However, he was left out of Norway's team for a Nations League double-header against Slovenia and Kazakhstan in November. Martin Odegaard trained at London Colney on Tuesday. Odegaard has been fighting to be available for the Inter game and is eager to make his return. The 25-year-old has been exercising on grass for a few weeks, but Arsenal will be wary of rushing him back after such an extended absence.   Odegaard injured his ankle ligaments while playing for N

It's time for matchday four of the redesigned Champions League, which boasts some fascinating matchups across the continent. We examine Tuesday's major talking points. ⚔️ Match of the day There is a lot of competition for this category, but the match between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield takes the crown. It pairs the Premier League leaders against Germany's defending double winners, who are guided by an old Reds favourite, Xabi Alonso. Liverpool is one of just two teams (the other being Aston Villa) with a perfect record into matchday four, but they face Leverkusen, who have conceded only once in the competition this season. The game will be thrilling to watch as two of the continent's most exciting and entertaining teams compete. Leverkusen remains unbeaten in Europe this season, having won two and drawn one of their UCL games. They'll have to work hard to keep this record against Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have won three straight games and c

Five talking themes ahead of Champions League play, including Xabi Alonso's return to Liverpool and a meeting between the competition's most successful teams. Alonso makes his Anfield homecoming. When Jurgen Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool, Xabi Alonso was generally expected to be picked as his replacement. The Spaniard's astonishing performance in leading Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten German double - the club's first league title in history - made him a hot commodity, and his links to Liverpool appeared to be a perfect fit. Alonso instead turned down offers to stay at Leverkusen, but there's unlikely to be any animosity when the Bundesliga winners visit Anfield on Tuesday. Alonso was a tremendously popular character at Liverpool and will be warmly welcomed on Merseyside, but Leverkusen should not expect the same. Liverpool is thriving under Arne Slot, and they hope to continue their spotless Champions League record this season. European royalty meets

Steve Clarke has defended leaving Lennon Miller out of Scotland's newest squad, claiming the 18-year-old "needs time and space to grow" before receiving his first senior call-up. Miller has been a breakout sensation in Scotland this season, and the teenager captained Motherwell to a 2-1 League Cup semi-final loss to Rangers on Sunday. The midfielder has already played for Scotland's Under-21s, but with Scot Gemmill's team out of action this month, Miller will instead represent the Under-19s in the latest round of European qualifiers. Scotland faces Croatia and Poland in their last Nations League double-header, and Clarke has been bolstered by the recovery of several injured players, notably John McGinn. Clarke's side gained their first Nations League point with a 0-0 draw at home to Portugal last month, but relegation is looming unless Scotland defeats Croatia at home or Poland in Warsaw. Youngsters Ben Doak and Connor Barron remain in Clarke's squad,

A new study details how Real Madrid's own management ambitions could derail Manchester City's perfect Pep Guardiola succession plan. Officials at the Etihad Stadium are still waiting for manager Pep Guardiola to make a final decision on his future at the club, despite the 53-year-old being in the final year of his Manchester City contract, which was last extended in November 2022. Manchester City have continuously stated that they will not put any pressure on Guardiola to make a decision any time soon, as a gesture of respect for his remarkable work in propelling the club to never-before-seen heights in the game. However, as Pep Guardiola continues to consider what is best for himself and his family in his ninth season at the club, City are also assessing the managerial landscape throughout Europe for potential choices if the Catalan decides it is time to depart. That evaluation has inevitably led them to Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso, who has wowed many Europeans with