Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is confident Kobbie Mainoo can deal with the hype following his impressive full England debut.
Just four months on from making his first Premier League start, the 18-year-old put in a man-of-the-match performance in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw against Belgium at Wembley.
Mainoo had not even been included in the initial England squad but followed a promising debut off the bench against Brazil by potentially earning a spot at Euro 2024 with his display against Belgium.
That performance has taken the midfielder’s stock to new heights but Ten Hag is confident the success will not go to his head.
“I thought it was very good, but we are not surprised,” the United boss said. “We have seen what he is capable of, that he can ve…
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Two sides who find themselves battling it out at opposite ends of the Serie A table, Juventus will make the trip to a struggling Verona on Thursday night.
Verona
Starting with the hosts, while Verona might have shocked many across Italy last season as they claimed a top-half finish last season, the Gialloblu have rather drastically failed to keep up that momentum this time around. Last seen putting in another worrying display as they were hit with a deserved 2-0 loss away at Monza, Salvatore Bocchetti s men find themselves at the heart of a Serie A nightmare. Managing to muster just five points from their opening 13 top-flight contests, the Veneto-based outfit sit rock-bottom of the table and tipped as a leading relegation pick as we …
Spain forward Pedro insists he and his team-mates have not been distracted by David de Gea s alleged implication into a sexual abuse case.
El Diario published alleged court documents on Friday, which named De Gea and Athletic Bilbao forward Iker Muniain in relation to an ongoing case involving pornography businessman Ignacio Allende Fernandez.
However, De Gea has denied having any involvement and insisted he would remain part of Spain s Euro 2016 plans after instructing his lawyers to handle the case, while Muniain also denied any involvement.
And Chelsea forward Pedro says neither De Gea nor the team have been destabilised.
I don t think it will affect the team. We already know what has happened yesterday. We trained like normal David was very impressiv…
Juventus and Spain striker Alvaro Morata has been in fantastic form for club and country this year.
Spain striker Alvaro Morata scored twice as La Rojo enjoyed a convincing 3-0 win against Turkey in their second Euro 2016 Group D clash at the Allianz Riviera on Friday evening.
His first goal was an exquisite header, while his second goal of the game was a tap-in from close range after outstanding build-up to tear the Turkey defence apart, and he’s looking like the perfect man to lead the line for the defending champions.
Morata not a conventional striker
Alvaro Morata hasn’t been too full of goals for Juventus in his two seasons in Turin, but performances are what has led to the plaudits coming his way – particular in the second-half of 2015/16. Th…
Marco Giampaolo has moved a step closer to becoming AC Milan s new head coach after leaving Serie A rivals Sampdoria.
The 51-year-old has been heavily linked with the vacancy at San Siro following Gennaro Gattuso s departure last month.
Giampaolo joined Sampdoria in 2016 from Empoli and guided them to 11th, 10th and ninth-place finishes respectively during his three seasons at the club.
He had been contracted until June 2020, but the club confirmed on Saturday that he has left the Stadio Luigi Ferraris along with his backroom staff.
Giampaolo told the club s official website: I thank the president and everyone at Sampdoria for three incredible seasons. I had a good time in Genoa, and we had a good time together.
My thanks to all the managers, c…
Lionel Messi wants Barcelona to beat Real Madrid in Saturday s Clasico clash to ensure his side can enjoy a merry Christmas.
Barca head to the Bernabeu to take on their old rivals with an 11-point lead from Madrid in the Liga table, Barca sitting six points clear from second-placed Atletico Madrid.
Victory for Ernesto Valverde s men would give Barca an overwhelming lead from last season s champions, who have a game in hand due to their trip to the Club World Cup.
And Messi, who missed out on this year s Ballon d Or to Madrid s Cristiano Ronaldo, is keen for Barcelona to go into the winter break on a high.
It would be important to win for what it means, it s always a special game, Messi said. Real Madrid, at their stadium winning is an important advantage…
Gabriel Jesus credited Manchester City and Brazil team-mate Fernandinho for helping him to get back on the goal trail.
Jesus netted an impressive brace in City s 4-1 Premier League win over Burnley on Tuesday, ending a run of 10 matches without a goal for club and country that featured two missed penalties.
A pair of assured finishes suggested a return to form for the 22-year-old, who is expected to lead the line for Pep Guardiola s men once again in Saturday s Manchester derby, as Sergio Aguero remains sidelined with a thigh injury.
I had a talk with Fernandinho. He has been helping me a lot. He has always been very important since I arrived at the club, Jesus said.
With his experience throughout his career, he is giving me advice. The day before the g…
England manager Gareth Southgate believes they cannot afford to write off Tunisia and Panama after being handed a favourable World Cup draw.
Southgate s men were pitted against Tunisia a team they beat at the same stage at the 1998 World Cup and tournament debutants Panama in Friday s draw at the Kremlin in Moscow.
The Three Lions were also handed the tricky proposition of a game with Belgium, who boast what is seen as a golden generation featuring the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard, in Kaliningrad in their final Group G game.
That could be seen as a match to decide the winner of the group, but, with England having finished second in a group containing United States, Slovenia and Algeria in 2010, before failing to get out of a group also boasting Italy, U…