Marseille s Didier Deschamps is one of the best coaches in European football, according to Stephane Mbia.
Former France captain Deschamps took over at his former club in May 2009, winning the Ligue 1 crown during his first season in charge.
Marseille have struggled domestically this season, and sit eighth in the Ligue 1 standings.
But they have reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, and will host Bayern Munich in the first leg on March 27.
Mbia feels his coach s experience has been of benefit to the whole Marseille team, and claims each day under Deschamps guidance has improved him as player.
He won it all as a player. He feels the blows, he s a winner, Mbia told RMC.
He s one of the greatest coaches in Europe.
…
Sven Ulreich returned to haunt former club Stuttgart as his injury-time penalty save secured Bayern Munich a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stuttgart.
Ulreich – making his comeback from an adductor problem – kept out Chadrac Akolo s spot kick after the video assistant referee had spotted a foul by substitute Niklas Sule on Santiago Ascacibar in a frantic finish at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
The late miss meant a 79th-minute strike from Thomas Muller – who, like Sule, was sent on in the second half – settled the game after Bayern had struggled to find a way past home goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
Zieler produced a string of eye-catching saves as Bayern looked in danger of failing to find the net for the first time in all competitions since a 2-0 league defeat to …
Manchester United defender Phil Jones has agreed a new deal that will keep him with the club until 2019.
The England international who arrived from Blackburn Rovers in 2011 was due to see his contract at Old Trafford expire at the end of next season.
However, having played a regular role in Louis van Gaal s maiden campaign with the club last time out, Jones has put pen to paper on a new four-year deal.
I am delighted to have signed a new deal, Jones told the club s official website.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and am looking forward to continuing my development as a player.
This a great club to be part of and I cannot wait to start the new campaign. I would like to thank the manager, coaching staff and fans for their cont…
Aberdeen have confirmed the departure of Albania midfielder Ylber Ramadani to Serie A side Lecce.
The undisclosed fee is reported to be just over £1million for a player who joined the Dons from MTK Budapest last season and made 44 appearances.
“Despite only being here for a season, Ylber’s commitment and desire to do his best for the club was clear for all to see”, manager Barry Robson said.
Ylber Ramadani has today joined Serie A side U.S Lecce for an undisclosed fee.
Everyone at Aberdeen FC wishes and his family all the very best in the future.
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC)
“I’ve no doubt his experience at Aberdeen, and within the Scottish game, will have made Ylber a better player and prepare him for the challenges which li…
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Serie A will become the latest elite European league to get underway this weekend as fans prepare to celebrate Italian football just over a month after their national team s triumph at Euro 2020. In terms of the league itself there s a whole lot of intrigue behind what could happen at the top end of the table, and one team who will have more eyes on them than most is Inter Milan as they prepare to host Genoa in the first game of their title defence.
Inter Milan
The loss of Romelu Lukaku and Antonio Conte has rightly led to a parade of questions regarding the direction Inter Milan are heading in. There was disagreement behind the scenes regarding Inter s transfer policy during the current summer transfer window…
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov said he wants to leave Old Trafford, admitting he was fed up with his lack of game time.
The 31-year-old Bulgarian made only 21 appearances for United last season as he was overlooked in favour of Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez as Wayne Rooney s strike partner.
The former Bayer Leverkusen man s future first came into question when he was surprisingly left out of United s matchday squad for the 2011 Champions League final clash with Barcelona at Wembley, despite being the joint-leading goalscorer in the Premier League that season.
And after speculation about a proposed move away from Manchester, Berbatov took to social media to vent his frustrations.
The truth is, I love this club, but I am not going to be u…
Chelsea have come very close to completing a deal to sign Arsen Zakharyan from Dinamo Moscow, according to Fabrizio Romano. They have already reached an agreement with the player over the proposed personal terms, their confidence of agreeing a transfer fee with the Russian club is growing daily.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder is obviously a project for the future as Chelsea seek to build a strong base of young talent for years to come. There has been reported interest from Manchester City as well, but it seems Zakharyan has already chosen Stamford Bridge as his destination, and if the deal goes through, it remains to be seen if manager Graham Potter will be able to include him in the team straight away, or decides to send the youngster out on loan somewhere to gain experi…
Roque Santa Cruz admits he would prefer to join a team in the north-west of England as the Paraguayan seeks an exit from Manchester City.
The 30-year-old, who joined City from Blackburn Rovers in 2009 for an estimated 17.5 million pounds, has played just 20 times and has scored three goals since signing.
Santa Cruz spent last season on loan with La Liga side Real Betis where he netted seven times in 33 appearances, but the former Bayern Munich man is now hoping to earn a permanent move from Etihad Stadium and hopes, with his family settled in the area, a north-west side can strike a deal for his services.
He told the Daily Mirror: A north-west club would be ideal. I don t want to keep moving my kids back and forth. It is not good to move them year after year.
Fulham boss Martin Jol admits the club are no closer to agreeing a new deal with star defender Brede Hangeland.
The Norwegian centre-back has entered the final year of his contract at Craven Cottage and it appears he won’t be signing a contract extension.
Fulham boss Martin Jol is desperate to keep hold of his prized asset, but confesses that the talks over a new deal are not progressing well.
“That will take a bit longer because we don’t talk to him every day but there will be another appointment as we try to keep him here for the long term,” Jol was in Daily Mail.
“If that is not possible then we will try to keep him for the next two years.”
The player’s agent said in August that contract extension looked unlikely, so everything …
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has insisted FIFA president Sepp Blatter should remain in his role.
Blatter, who announced his decision to step down in June three days after winning re-election and six after nine FIFA officials were indicted on charges of racketeering conspiracy and corruption, is suspended from his post.
The chief of world football s governing body was handed a 90-day ban after the Swiss attorney general opened a criminal investigation into an alleged disloyal payment made by Blatter to UEFA president Michel Platini, who was also suspended by FIFA, in 2011.
But Ecclestone told Russian television network RT: I don t think he [Blatter] should have ever stepped down. I don t think he should have been challenged.
If people allegedly h…