Reina: Benitez was ´ideal candidate´

Stefano Pioli feels Milan dropped two points against Roma despite Alexis Saelemaekers snatching a draw with a 97th-minute equaliser at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

The Rossoneri headed into the match in the Champions League places but above fifth-placed Roma on just goal difference, and it appeared the Giallorossi would leapfrog Pioli s men as Tammy Abraham scored in the 94th minute with the match s first shot on target.

But with Roma seconds away from a huge win, Saelemaekers turned home from Rafael Leao s deep cross to break the hosts hearts and keep Milan in the top four.

Despite his team snatching a draw at the death, Pioli still felt Milan dropped two points, with city rivals Inter just three points behind and with a game in hand.

When asked if Roma …

Much has been said about La Liga in the last few months. The main focus of attention has been with eternal rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona. Real Madrid s big spending has put Los Blancos back on par with the European champions

It was just assumed that the two giants would be the only teams competing for the La Liga crown. However Sevilla who finished third in La Liga last season are looking stronger than they have for along time.

Strength in-depth

Sevilla have something this season that they have lacked in previous season that is strength in depth. They now possess 20 quality squad players.

Strong in attack

One of the strongest areas of their team is their front line. Last season s strike force of Brazilian Luis Fabiano and former Tottenham star…

Mauricio Pochettino has rubbished reports Tottenham could sign Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero. 

Aguero has not scored in his last six City appearances and was left out of the starting line-up to face Barcelona in the Champions League last week, leading to reports in the Spanish media that Spurs could swoop for the Argentina international. 

Pep Guardiola has insisted Aguero remains an important player for City, and now Pochettino has laughed off transfer links with his club. 

Asked at a media conference before Tottenham s game with Leicester City whether the reports were accurate, Pochettino said: Not true, 100 per cent not true.

The Argentine coach is a well-known admirer of his compatriot, previously comparing him to Mozart. 

When Ag…

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone knows his side can t afford to drop points this weekend.

Atletico Madrid travel to the Anoeta to face Real Sociedad in the Spanish La Liga on Saturday afternoon, in a game that could have big ramifications in the title race.

This weekend’s meeting is far from a foregone conclusion as Atleti have been shaky on the road this season while Sociedad have been formidable on home soil.

And if results go against Diego Simeone’s men, Atletico Madrid could find themselves six points adrift in the title race.

Atletico struggling for consistency on their travels

Atletico Madrid have enjoyed a bright start to the La Liga season, staying in touching distance of the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona in the table but th…

Luis Suarez will depart Nacional in November when his contract ends, says club president Jose Fuentes.

The 35-year-old striker re-joined his first club in his native Uruguay in July after his Atletico Madrid contract expired at the end of last season.

Uruguay s all-time record goalscorer has since played 10 games for Nacional, registering four goals and three assists, but will depart at the end of this campaign ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

President Fuentes told Channel 10 s Punto Penal: The championship is over and Luis Suarez is leaving Nacional. I m not going to create false expectations.

Luis Suarez made a great effort to come to Nacional and, every time they ask me, I say it so as not to generate expectations for the future.

He s …

Prediction: France to win 2-1

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France and Austria will face each other in 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Group A1 this week. The match will be held at Stade de France in Saint-Denis and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm UK time on Thursday.

France

France are at the bottom of the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Group A1 table at the moment with just two points from four matches. Didier Deschamps’s side kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Denmark at Stade de France in Saint-Denis in June before playing out a 1-1 draw with Croatia away from home. France then played out a 1-1 draw with Austria at Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna.

Les Blues have one of the best and strongest squads in the world, and they will be one o…

The 23-year-old will join the London club ahead of the new Premier League season, subject to passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.

Tottenham s Premier League rivals Swansea and Fulham had been strongly linked with a swoop for the player s signature.

However, a statement on the club s official Twitter account confirmed he will head to White Hart Lane, reading: We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with FC Twente for the transfer of Nacer Chadli.

Subject to personal terms and medical, the Belgian international winger will join up with the squad for pre season training in Hong Kong.

Chadli made 26 Eredivisie appearances for Twente last season and scored 12 goals, helping them to a sixth-placed finish in the Dutch top flight.

The w…

A run of seven Premier League games without a win has left Swansea City desperate to pick up three points against Tottenham on Sunday.

The dismal streak, broken up somewhat by a memorable 2-1 FA Cup victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, sees Michael Laudrup s men sit just three points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

The likes of West Ham and Crystal Palace beneath them playing on Saturday could heap the pressure on Swansea to get a result at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, but recent history does not read in their favour.

The men from South Wales have struggled against Tottenham since their promotion back to the English top flight in 2011, losing four of the five Premier League clashes between the sides, who both remain in this sea…

Fulham are not planning to sell Ryan Sessegnon according to vice-chairman and director of football Tony Khan, who described the teenager as key to the Cottagers squad.

Sessegnon enjoyed a superb season as Fulham clinched promotion to the Premier League in 2017-18, making 48 Championship appearances and scoring 16 goals for Slavisa Jokanovic s side.

The 18-year-old has been linked with a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur but Khan posted a message on his Twitter account to refute suggestions that Sessegnon might be allowed to leave Craven Cottage.

We re not selling Ryan Sessegnon, said Khan. We ve never considered it!

We’re not selling . We’ve never considered it! I couldn’t sit back and read these false rumors anymore, had to say something. Ryan’s key…

Callum Hudson-Odoi credited Frank Lampard with creating a more positive vibe around Stamford Bridge and said he cannot wait to return to action after signing a new five-year contract at Chelsea.

The 18-year-old winger ended months of speculation over his future by agreeing fresh terms, the academy product having drawn interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

Hudson-Odoi looked like he was on his way out of London towards the end of a turbulent 2018-19 season for Chelsea under Maurizio Sarri, but he said Lampard s arrival in July marked the start of a turnaround in the atmosphere around the club.

He [Lampard] has come in and given a lot of players a chance, the England international told the Evening Standard.

Even in training he is giving a lot …