Inter Milan head coach Andrea Stramaccioni has laughed off any similarities between himself and former mentor Jose Mourinho.
Italian Stramaccioni hailed the Real Madrid head coach, who led Inter to the treble in 2009/10, for making football history in several countries.
Mourinho won the league and Champions League with Porto in his native Portugal, and has also guided Chelsea and Real to domestic glory in league and cup competitions.
I ve never compared myself to Mourinho, not for a second, Stramaccioni said.
I m a young manager trying to gain experience as fast as possible.
The only thing that we have in common is that I m training Inter Milan. That is the only thing I can think of.
He has written important pages of football histo…
Al Kuwait were crowned AFC Cup champions for the second time in four years after demolishing Iraqi club Arbil 4-0 in the final on Saturday.
Kuwait got off to the perfect start after Walied Ali won a penalty inside the opening two minutes. Tunisian import Chedi Hammami coolly converted the spot-kick to put his side 1-0 up.
Ion Marin s men continued to exert control over the game and converted their dominance into a 2-0 lead on the stroke of half-time after Rogerinho tapped in an Issam Jemaa pass.
Despite coming out after half-time more determined, Arbil were unable to break down their opponents and the game was put out of their reach in the 83rd minute when Abdualhadi Khamis found the back of the net.
Abdullah Al Dhafeeri capped off the win with a stoppag…
Zenit St Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti believes he is too old to be the next AC Milan manager.
Current boss Massimilliano Allegri has come under huge criticism for the San Siro side s poor performances in Serie A this term, and Spalletti has been repeatedly linked to take over.
However, the 53-year-old has revealed a move to the San Siro is not on his mind.
I am too old to coach Milan, Spalletti said on Monday ahead of his team s UEFA Champions League clash at Milan.
I want to continue in Russia anyway. I have a good relationship with the president here and have only just renewed my contract. I would, however, like to coach in England in the future.
Although he ruled out a move to the Rossoneri, he gave a compliment to one of their star p…
Diego Simeone gave a strong indication that he will still be Atletico Madrid head coach next season after claiming his presence, as a hologram, at an Audi Cup news conference was proof of his commitment.
Doubts over the long-term future of Simeone in the Spanish capital have persisted throughout the season, with the Argentine admitting to his desire to coach Inter – who he represented during his playing career – in the future.
Speculation of a San Siro return has gathered pace following the Nerazzurri s sacking of Stefano Pioli this week.
But Simeone – who led Atleti to LaLiga glory in the 2013-14 season – suggested that, at least for the time being, his future remains with his present employers, hence his appearance at a media conference to promote the p…
New Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha says he has taken over the biggest club in Scotland as he begins the challenge of restoring the club to its former glories.
Caixinha, most recently in charge of Al Gharafa in Qatar, has signed a three-year contract at Ibrox to replace Mark Warburton, who left in chaotic circumstances last month.
Celtic s dominance of Scottish football has been unrivalled in the wake of Rangers being liquidated, reformed and forced to climb back up the divisions, starting from the fourth tier in 2012-13.
But in a dig at Brendan Rodgers side, Caixinha says it is Rangers who are the biggest team in the Old Firm rivalry.
We are talking about a worldwide club, he told Rangers TV.
It is a massive club the biggest club in Scotland.…
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone insisted he loves rebellious players after praising Joao Felix s angry goal celebration.
Joao Felix – a club-record €126million signing in 2019 – came off the bench in the second half to seal a 2-0 win over Villarreal on Sunday as Atletico put their LaLiga title charge back on track.
The Portugal international looked unimpressed after scoring in the 69th minute – Joao Felix gesturing and shouting towards the Atletico bench – following Alfonso Pedraza s own goal.
Asked about the celebration, Simeone told reporters post-match: You ll have to ask him.
…
Fabian Delph has moved from Manchester City to Everton, signing a three-year contract.
Everton swooped to sign the midfielder for a fee that could reportedly rise to £10million after he entered the final 12 months of his deal at the Etihad Stadium.
England international Delph made 89 appearances in all competitions for City over four seasons, occasionally filling in at left-back.
He started 21 times for Pep Guardiola s men when they cantered to the title in 2017-18 but featured less regularly last term as City were crowned champions again.
The 29-year-old s hopes of returning to first-team calculations were further diminished when City paid Atletico Madrid a club-record fee to secure the talented Rodri.
Every time I have played against Eve…
Laurent Blanc has been confirmed as the new coach of Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal.
The former France manager has been linked with PSG for the past few weeks and has now been formally announced following Carlo Ancelotti s departure to Real Madrid on Tuesday.
The 47-year-old told les Parisiens: PSG is a great opportunity for me, it s a great club. (The project) is very interesting. I m going to do what I want to do and that s train.
Blanc, who won the Ligue 1 title with Bordeaux in 2008-09, will officially link up with PSG on July 1 when the players report for pre-season training.
A club statement read: The board of Paris Saint-Germain has given Laurent Blanc the mission to build on last season and to continue the club s ascendency tow…
Josko Gvardiol remains totally happy at RB Leipzig with no hurry to rush into a pre-transfer agreement amid growing links to Real Madrid and Chelsea.
That was the message from the centre-back s agent Marjan Sisic as Gvardiol continues to impress at the World Cup with Croatia, who beat Japan on penalties to reach the quarter-finals on Monday.
Chelsea reportedly had a £77million (€90m) offer rejected before the start of the season before the 20-year-old signed a new contract with Leipzig.
Madrid are said to have joined the growing list of Europe s elite clubs interested in the defender, though Sisic insists his client will not be forced into making a quick decision on his future.
Regarding a possible transfer in summer 2023, we are in no hurry and I can…
Nigeria are set for participate in the Nelson Mandela Challenge for the second time when they face South Africa in Durban on Wednesday.
The charity match has been held once a year since 1994, and has extra poignancy this time around due to the former South African president s ill health.
Nigeria last featured in the 2004 edition of the fixture and suffered a 2-1 loss in Johannesburg, but they will be confident of turning the tables in 2013.
Prior to losses at the hands of Copa America holders Uruguay and world champions Spain in the FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winners had avoided defeat for 19-straight games.
South Africa, meanwhile, have alternated between victory and defeat in their last four fixtures, and come into this game locked …