Mane: Lewandowski ´one of the best´ strikers in the world

Sadio Mane insists Robert Lewandowski is one of the best strikers in the world, but does not want to be involved in discussions over his future at Bayern Munich.

Lewandowski has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, with the striker after a new challenge following eight seasons at Sabenerstrasse, and 12 in total in the Bundesliga.

Mane arrives this off-season at Bayern in similar circumstances, seeking a departure from Liverpool with a year left on his deal after six seasons at the club, helping them win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, while also winning the African Cup of Nations with Senegal in 2021.

Speaking in an interview with BILD, Mane did not want to get caught up in any unnecessary drama with that in mind.

Clearly, Rober…

Chelsea 3 Middlesbrough 0: Conte´s men relegate visitors and move closer to title glory

Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic were all on target as Chelsea moved a step closer to the Premier League title with a 3-0 home win over Middlesbrough, who are relegated as a result.

Chelsea will be crowned champions if they are able to win at West Brom on Friday, while Boro drop back to the Championship after a single season s stay in the top flight.

Costa gave Chelsea a deserved lead after a dominant opening to the game, finishing off a fine pass from Cesc Fabregas, via a touch off Cesar Azpilicueta.

Within 10 minutes the Chelsea lead was doubled, Alonso stealing in at the back post to steer home his sixth league goal of the season thanks to a deflection from Brad Guzan s thigh.

The goalkeeper was nutmegged again by Matic, Fabregas supplyin…

Sean Dyche hails Everton unity after beating Newcastle to climb out of drop zone

Everton boss Sean Dyche hailed the togetherness of his side after they beat Newcastle 3-0 to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Dwight McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Beto scored in the final 11 minutes as the Toffees took the spoils at a raucous Goodison Park.

Dyche has emphasised the importance of team spirit since the club were hit by a 10-point deduction last month and he believes that was evident in their display.

The tale of a wild finale under the Goodison Park lights

— Premier League (@premierleague)

Dyche said: “The performance level at home has been pleasing all season but you have got win games and you have got to score goals.

“We did that well. I thought it was another good performance, particularly first …

Ancelotti scotches Camavinga exit talk: ´He´s untouchable´

Carlo Ancelotti emphatically ruled out the possibility of Eduardo Camavinga leaving Real Madrid following links with Arsenal and Chelsea.

The 20-year-old midfielder joined Los Blancos in August 2021 in a reported €31million deal after emerging as one of Europe s most promising young players at Rennes.

He unsurprisingly took ownership of a rotation role during his first season, making 13 LaLiga starts from 26 appearances.

But the France international has struggled to kick on this term, with only five of his 16 league outings coming as a starter.

His future was then called into question on Friday when speculation surfaced suggesting Arsenal were particularly keen on a loan move, while big-spending Chelsea have been credited with an interest.

I´m not here because of Neymar and Zlatan – Sneijder explains Nice switch

Wesley Sneijder says Neymar s world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain had no influence on his decision to move to Ligue 1 with Nice.

The Netherlands star signed what is reported to be a one-year deal with Lucien Favre s side on Monday after leaving Galatasaray at the end of his contract.

The former Inter and Real Madrid man is the latest high-profile name to try his hand in France s top flight, with his move coming just days after Neymar sealed a €222million switch to PSG from Barcelona.

But Sneijder insists that it was Nice s own project, and not the thought of following in the footsteps of Neymar or former PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, that convinced him to move to France s south coast.

Talent and good players help the league to develop further bu…

Chelsea 2-0 Servette: Madueke´s second gives Blues strong advantage in qualifying

Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke s second-half goals gave Chelsea a 2-0 advantage over Servette in their Europa Conference League play-off tie.

The Blues put the disappointment of their Premier League defeat to Manchester City behind them, taking control of qualifying in the first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea made a slow start to the game, with Gael Ondoua causing an early scare for Filip Jorgensen from a tight angle, though the goalkeeper was equal to it.

The Blues then stepped up the pace after the break – Nkunku darted in behind Servette s defence before being taken out by Jeremy Frick, and he made no mistake with the resulting penalty, emphatically firing it into the back of the net.

Marc Guiu should have doubled their lead moments later, pick…

Tuchel´s PSG extension – Opta numbers help to explain new deal

Thomas Tuchel and Paris Saint-Germain might have ended the season with a dismal run of form, but their 2018-19 Ligue 1 campaign was still mightily impressive.

The capital club wrapped up the title more than a month before Friday s last fixture at Reims, finishing 16 points clear of second-placed Lille.

And given PSG s failings in the Champions League and both domestic cup competitions, it appears it was their Ligue 1 displays that convinced the club to extend Tuchel s contract until June 2021 on Saturday.

Using Opta data, it is clear to see why the board would be impressed, too, even allowing for the late-season run of three wins in 10 matches across all competitions.

Tuchel won 76.3 per cent of his league matches this term, recording 2.39 points per ga…

Silva confirms plans to leave Manchester City

David Silva will play his final season at Manchester City in 2019-20, the influential midfielder has announced.

Silva, 33, is considered one of the greatest players in the club s history, helping them to win four Premier League titles as well as a brace of FA Cups and four EFL Cups.

But the former Spain international, who joined from Valencia in 2010, has decided the upcoming campaign will be his last with City.

Silva will not, however, sign for another Premier League club once his City contract expires.

This is the last one,  Silva told reporters. Ten years for me is enough. It s the perfect time.

Initially the club were talking about two years [contract] but I decided to sign another one so I finished at 10 years.

It completes the …

Hughton lauds Brighton centurion Murray

Chris Hughton hailed Glenn Murray s dedication after the 35-year-old striker s 100th Brighton and Hove Albion goal earned them a third straight 1-0 Premier League win against Wolves.

One week after being forced off against Newcastle United with a worrying head injury, Murray swept home three minutes into the second half.

Mat Ryan made a key save from Ryan Bennett in second-half stoppage time as Brighton held on to record three successive wins in the top flight for the first time in 37 years.

Murray, who had a spell with Brighton from 2008 to 2011 before returning, initially on loan, in 2016, came in for effusive praise from Hughton after his landmark strike.

He s somebody that is enjoying his football at the moment, he s scoring goals at the highest lev…

Gattuso has agreed new Napoli deal – Giuntoli

Gennaro Gattuso has agreed a new contract with Serie A side Napoli, according to director Cristiano Giuntoli.

Gattuso, 42, is currently contracted to Napoli until the end of the season after replacing Carlo Ancelotti in December last year.

Since taking charge, former Milan boss Gattuso has guided Napoli to Coppa Italia glory in 2019-20 – the club s first piece of silverware since 2014.

Giuntoli was asked about Gattuso s future prior to Thursday s 1-1 Europa League draw at AZ.

 | Gattuso: “It s a good point. We took risks out there”

 

 

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli)

I know the lawyers are exchanging the contracts, Giuntoli told Sky Sport Italia.

We have reached an agreement and the paperwork w…