2 h. ago Julen Lopetegui: ‘Of course we could have played better. It was our fault’

Spaniard on the ‘pain and anger’ of his sacking at West Ham and rejecting an immediate return to management“And then suddenly they sacked me.” Julen Lopetegui is running through the reasons to be cheerful – safety secure, 17 shots at the Etihad and the physical stats, an identity emerging, a winter window and a kinder calendar coming – when he uses one of only two English lines in as many hours, delivered as if the final page of a story. The other, not entirely incidentally, is “no comment”, and a smile accompanies both. Five weeks from his sacking at West Ham, the anger and hurt has subsided, on the surface at least. The period of mourning, as he puts it, is over.“My father died and, although you can’t compare them, personal and professional mourning came together,” Lopetegui says. Offers arrived, but it was too soon. Instead he headed to Mexico, where he is building a hotel with his brother Joxean, a former pelota player, and as he arrives at another hotel, this time in Madrid, it...

Politics

14 h. ago Chelsea player ratings vs Aston Villa: Filip Jorgensen mistake costly as Pedro Neto efforts in vain

Chelsea have now lost their last three games in a row across all competitions

Sport

16 h. ago Top Swansea City player ratings as star a constant threat and forward turns in one of his finest displays

Here's how Swansea City's players rated in the

Events

17 h. ago Tottenham player ratings vs Ipswich: Brennan Johnson makes difference but Mathys Tel looks unsuited

Tottenham secured a third straight win in the Premier League for the first time in more than a year

Politics

17 h. ago Arsenal player ratings vs West Ham: Mikel Merino reality check as Mikel Arteta gamble fails

Declan Rice and Gabriel struggle on nightmare afternoon for Gunners

Sport

19 h. ago What Manchester United players discussed in dressing room at half

Man United fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime.

Sport

19 h. ago Cardiff City player ratings as defender fantastic and striker's form continues but clumsy moment costs points

Here is how the Bluebirds players rated in the clash with Pilgrims at Home Park

Sport

19 h. ago Manchester United player ratings vs Everton with a 1/10 as Bruno Fernandes inspires comeback

Man United drew with Everton in the Premier League for the final time at Goodison Park and here are how the players rated.

Sport

42 h. ago Premier League's tallest player gives dancing masterclass to young fans

The Geordie-born Newcastle United defender Dan Burn is a real fan favourite at St James's Park and has taken part in a hilarious Q&A with young fans

Sport

47 h. ago Army veteran who was given months to live set to play football for Scotland

Barry Roan, who underwent a liver transplant two years ago, is set to feature for the Scotland Transplant Active Football at the European Championships.

Politics

62 h. ago Europa League playoffs: Roma v Porto, Galatasaray v AZ and more – live

Europa League updates from around the groundsLive scoreboard | Read Football Daily | And mail Rob45 min: Roma 2-1 Porto (agg: 3-2) Roma almost scored a third a moment ago, with a shot cleared off the line by Otavio. I didn’t see exactly what happened because THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON.Welcome to heaven. AZ Alkmaar are cruising into the last 16 of the Europa League, having done a helluva number on one of the tournament favourties. After a superb run from Ernest Poku, Gabriel Sara’s attempted clearance hit Seiya Maikuma and ricocheted into the net. Continue reading...

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63 h. ago Europa League playoffs: Ajax, Fenerbahce, Real Sociedad and more in action – live

Europa League updates from around the groundsLive scoreboard | Read Football Daily | And mail RobEuropa League latestRoma 0-1 Porto (agg: 1-2)Bodo/Glimt 0-1 FC Twente (agg: 1-3)FCSB 1-0 PAOK (agg: 3-1)Galatasaray 0-0 Alkmaar (agg: 1-4) Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago Lucy Bronze praises Spanish players for speaking out during Luis Rubiales trial

‘It’s incredibly brave,’ says former Barcelona defenderEngland play Portugal in Nations League on FridayLucy Bronze described the Spanish players who were involved in the trial of Luis Rubiales as “incredibly brave” and said England players stood with them in their fight for change, on the day the former head of the Spanish football federation was found guilty of sexual assault.Speaking before England play Portugal on Friday and Spain on Wednesday in the Nations League, and shortly before the verdict, Bronze, who was a teammate of several of the players involved in the trial during her time at Barcelona, said: “I am good friends with a lot of the players involved around it. From my point of view, knowing them, it’s been incredible that these players have had to go through that. Continue reading...

Sport

67 h. ago Ronan Keating calls for appeal of 'lenient' sentence for man who caused death of his brother in car crash as he slams 'reckless' driver's 'selfish actions'

The Boyzone star's brother Ciaran died in a car crash in July 2023 while travelling with his wife to watch their son play football.

Events

68 h. ago Eight players could miss Man City vs Liverpool as surgery confirmed after injury

Latest Manchester City injury news and Pep Guardiola deals with several players on the sidelines going into the Premier League clash against Liverpool

Sport

69 h. ago Luis Rubiales found guilty of sexually assaulting Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso

Former president of Spanish football federation kissed player after team won women’s World Cup in 2023Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting the footballer Jenni Hermoso by kissing her on the lips after Spain’s women’s team won the World Cup.Rubiales, who was acquitted of coercion, was ordered to pay a fine of more than €10,000. He was also ordered not to go within 200 metres of Hermoso for a year, and to refrain from contacting her for 12 months. Rubiales can appeal against the sentence before the same court. Continue reading...

Events

69 h. ago Football fundraiser set to score big for Scottish disability charity

Scottish football legends unite to raise £20k for inclusive play and social spaces

Sport

69 h. ago Luis Rubiales found guilty of sexual assault kiss on Jenni Hermoso at World Cup

Disgraced former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been found guilty over kissing player Jenni Hermoso without consent after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final

Events

69 h. ago Could Messi do it on an inhumanely cold night in Kansas City? Of course he could

Temperatures dipped to 0F (-17C) for Inter Miami’s match on Wednesday. The Argentinian still found a way to make a differenceThe question, which in time has become less of a question and more of a cliche meme, is a variation of Andy Gray’s comment: Sure, Lionel Messi is an all-time great. But can he do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke?This question is ridiculous and annoying. Of course he can – he’s done it on rainy nights in Fort Lauderdale multiple times in just the last year and half. There are whole compilations of him doing all of his usual Messi things in terrible weather throughout his career. Even the dialog the question/meme supposedly replaces – let’s see if Messi can overcome this piece of weather-based adversity! – seems pointless when the player in question has already, for all intents and purposes, completed football at the highest level. Continue reading...

Politics

69 h. ago Mick Jagger's son Deveraux, 8, is rushed to hospital after an accident while playing football as the rocker's girlfriend Melanie Hamrick admits 'when they hurt, you hurt'

The Rolling Stones rocker, 81, shares Deveraux Octavian Basil, eight, with his former ballet dancer partner Melanie, 37, and have been dating since 2014.

Politics