Villarreal renew Calleja contract after Europa League qualification

Jose Mourinho responded to criticism of Manchester United s style of play in the Europa League final by stressing poets don t win many titles .

United beat Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm on Wednesday to claim the trophy and a priceless place in the group stages of the Champions League for next season.

Ajax captain Davy Klaassen accused United of waiting to play long balls during a match in which they comfortably kept the Dutch side s attack at bay while scoring goals through Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

It is not the first time Mourinho s side have been criticised in this season s tournament, with Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas claiming his side were infinitely superior as they narrowly lost their semi-final tie 2-1 on aggregate.

There are lot of poets in fo…

Dani Ceballos could be the next big thing for Spain / image via

The Under-21 Spanish squad arrived in Poland seen as the strongest team in the UEFA U21 European Championship.

Star-Studded Spain

Albert Celades’ men failed to disappoint by extending an impressive unbeaten run initiated back in March after a qualifying 3-0 defeat at the hands of Croatia. Unbeaten in nine consecutive matches, La Roja added four compelling wins in Poland to prolong their streak to 13 matches in a row without a single loss.

With only a day away from the most important match this season, that will either give credit to their formidable string of results or destroy everything these Spanish Under-21 side built over the past couple of months, La Roja are given to emerge victorious fro…

Real Madrid are still expected to sign Kylian Mbappe when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires next summer, but according to Spanish outlet Fichajes, they are contemplating other options, namely Manchester City s Julian Alvarez at the moment, in case the Mbappe transfer doesn t happen.

City signed Alvarez in January 2022 from River Plate for around £20 million and sent him back on a season long loan. That means he actually arrived at the club in the same transfer window as Erling Haaland, and he s mostly been in the shadow of the Norwegian sensation, though in recent matches, manager Pep Guardiola has been using both his strikers together. In all competitions, Alvarez has scored 19 goals and produced five assists in 55 matches for City.

The 23-year-old attacke…

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has refused to be drawn on speculation regarding his future, according to the Mirror.

The thirty-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to his side’s Champions League quarter-final opponents Barcelona.

However, he is remaining focussed on matters on the pitch, with that European tie just two days away.

Mata moved to Old Trafford from Chelsea in January 2014 and has since racked up two hundred and fifteen appearances in all competitions, scoring forty-four goals while during that time he has won the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League.

He also won a trio of medals during his time at Stamford Bridge – including the Champions League while internationally he won the …

Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey’s second-half goals ensured Arsenal continued their winning start to the Premier League season as they beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Villa Park.

In an entertaining contest that saw Ollie Watkins squander glorious chances in either half, Mikel Arteta’s side would hit the front in the 67th minute.

Substitute Trossard struck 110 seconds after his introduction with a fine finish from the edge of the area, with Partey’s powerful effort sealing the triumph 10 minutes later.

Martin Odegaard could have added further gloss to the Gunners’ impressive display but blazed over from inside the area after being picked out by Declan Rice.

Arsenal join Manchester City and Brighton Hove Albion at the top of the early-season table with s…

According to a recent report from Daily Mirror, Manchester City star Leroy Sane is set to stay at the club until at least the end of the season in the midst of rumours regarding his future. The expectation is that he will still make the jump over to German giants Bayern Munich during next summer’s transfer window, but Bayern won’t be able to get their hands on him until then. 

Sane’s future has been a source of great debate amongst fans and pundits alike, with nobody really knowing whether he was going to stay or go. His injuries certainly haven’t helped in that regard, but now, it would appear as if he’s taking the time on the shelf seriously as he contemplates what’s next. 

Whatever the case may be, nobody can deny that he’s in the midst of one of the…

Ronald Koeman backed Antoine Griezmann but said goals would be the best medicine to boost the Barcelona forward s confidence.

Griezmann s last goal came against Ferencvaros in the Champions League on December 2, and he has just three in 16 LaLiga appearances this season.

A trip to Los Carmenes to face Granada on Saturday could help the France international, who has been involved in four goals (three goals and one assist) in his past five visits to the ground in LaLiga.

Barcelona coach Koeman said while Griezmann was working hard, goals would be best for the 29-year-old.

Any player needs confidence in himself, his team-mates and the place where he plays. This starts with the player, he told a news conference.

As a coach, I can communicate with […

Pep Guardiola acknowledged he was among those who doubted David Silva would be a success at Manchester City as he lauded the midfielder s just incredible longevity.

City captain Silva is set to make his 400th appearance for the club against Bournemouth on Sunday, having joined from Valencia in 2010.

The Spaniard has played a part in four Premier League title wins, yet, to many, his diminutive stature and silky skills did not appear a good fit for English football.

This was put to Guardiola in Friday s pre-match news conference and the City boss interjected to say he had similarly thought Silva might struggle before being proven spectacularly wrong.

Yep, me included [in those who thought Silva would struggle], he said. I think it s his character. It s not…

Jamie Carragher has criticised Liverpool s performance after a 1-0 away loss to Southampton continued their recent slump.

The Premier League champions went down to defeat courtesy of an early goal from their former striker Danny Ings on Monday.

Liverpool had drawn their previous two games against West Brom and Newcastle United, while they also recently dropped points against Brighton and Hove Albion and Fulham.

Manager Klopp felt the Southampton defeat was down to an early mistake by Trent Alexander-Arnold and a failure to award his side penalties.

But Carragher was baffled to see Liverpool not bombarding the Southampton goal in the latter stages.

Aside from their 7-0 win over Crystal Palace, the former Reds defender has been concerned by their la…

Gabriel Gabigol Barbosa and Matteo Politano have agreed permanent exits from Inter, joining Flamengo and Napoli respectively.

Flamengo are said to have paid €17million to sign Gabriel, while Politano has joined Napoli on a two-year loan with an obligation to buy.

After failing to make his mark upon arriving at San Siro for a reported €25m in August 2016, Gabigol shone on loan at Flamengo last year. He scored 43 goals in 60 games as Jorge Jesus led them to Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores glory.

The 23-year-old striker was linked with a move to West Ham but signed a five-year deal to stay at Flamengo on Tuesday.

Se é para o bem da Nação..

— Gabriel Barbosa (@gabigol)

Inter also agreed to let Politano depart after he be…