Ancelotti plans to quit club coaching after leaving Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he is likely to call time on his coaching career at club level once he leaves Real Madrid, but is open to staying in charge of Los Blancos for another 10 years.

The 62-year-old last week became the first ever coach to win each of Europe s top five leagues when guiding Madrid to LaLiga glory.

Ancelotti s legendary managerial career has spanned 26 years and across 11 jobs, including two stints with Spanish giants Madrid.

But the Italian is now thinking about the future and hopes to spend more time travelling and with his family.

After Real, yes, I ll probably stop, he told Amazon Prime. But if the club keeps me here for 10 years, I ll train for 10 years.

I d like to be with my grandchildren, go on vacation with my wi…

Bale insists future does not hinge on result of Wales´ clash with Ukraine

Gareth Bale says his future in football is not dependent on the result of Wales  World Cup play-off final against Ukraine on Sunday.

Bale, who was the world s most expensive player when he joined Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2013, has confirmed he will leave the European champions when his contract expires at the end of this month.

The 32-year-old has been linked with a return to Spurs, where he spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan, as well as hometown club Cardiff City, while it has also been suggested he could retire if Wales fail to qualify for Qatar 2022.

Bale, though, insisted the result of Sunday s clash at the Cardiff City Stadium will have no bearing on his decision over what to do next season.

Asked if his future hinges on the vital clash, Bale …

Emma Hayes: Chelsea not overthinking semi-final against ‘world-class’ Barcelona

Emma Hayes insists Chelsea have not overanalysed “world-class” Barcelona ahead of their Champions League clash on Saturday.

Chelsea have travelled to Catalonia for the first leg of their semi-final 12 months on from the two clubs meeting at the same stage of the competition.

Barcelona prevailed 2-1 on aggregate on that occasion before overcoming Wolfsburg in Eindhoven to lift the trophy for the second time in three years.

Chelsea boss Hayes, speaking ahead ahead of this weekend’s first leg at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, said: “Barcelona have been the top team in Europe in recent years.

“Results have suggested that, they are world champions and European champions, but this is a football match and there’s two legs.

“Our job is to ge…

Leverkusen dealt blow as Wirtz suffers ankle injury

Florian Wirtz is set for a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a capsular injury to his right ankle while on international duty with Germany.

The midfielder suffered the injury during Germany s 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the Nations League on Monday, being replaced at half-time by Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Robert Andrich.

Leverkusen confirmed the 21-year-old underwent an MRI scan on Tuesday and is receiving treatment. However, the club also confirmed it is unclear when Wirtz will return to training.

He is a doubt for their return to Bundesliga action against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, with a Champions League meeting with Brest following that next week.

Wirtz, who was named the Bundesliga Player of the Season last campaign, has been an …

Paris Saint-Germain linked with Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford

Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, according to . The report has claimed that PSG were looking at a deal for Rashford in the summer of 2024 when they were on the hunt for a replacement for Kylian Mbappe after he moved to Real Madrid and are now eyeing a move for the England international forward.

Rashford has not been at his best for a while now. With United themselves not having the best of times, the 26-year-old forward’s form has dipped. Rashford has struggled to maintain consistency in his game and is not scoring enough goals or providing enough assists.

The England international has scored one goal in six starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for United so far this season. Rashford has also s…

Switzerland 1/2 to qualify from Group A in this summer’s Euro 2016

Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Switzerland to qualify
Odds:

Switzerland haven’t had the best international week, suffering defeats to the Republic of Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina in friendlies, but are still looking forward to this summer’s European Championships after a promising qualifying campaign.

The prestigious international tournament doesn’t kick off until June, and the Swiss outfit still have a handful of friendlies to come to build up some momentum ahead of the Championship. A lack of goals in their last two games is somewhat of a worry, so they’re likely to use their remaining friendlies as an indicator of their performance levels.

Switzerland were drawn in Group A along with France, Romania and Albania, and stand a good chance …

Ronaldo returns to Portugal squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers

Cristiano Ronaldo s Portugal hiatus has come to an end after he was included in a 25-man squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Ukraine and Serbia.

Ronaldo, 34, has not played for his country since their disappointing World Cup campaign which saw them eliminated by Uruguay in the last 16.

The Juventus forward was allowed to miss the international get-together in September, and that extended to matches in October and November, as he settled into life at his new club.

Portugal did not suffer without him, however, going undefeated as they recorded three wins in six matches, qualifying for the Nations League Finals in the process.

But, with Euro 2020 qualifying set to start, Ronaldo is back involved with the national team.

Coach Fernando Santos has al…

Prediction: Stoke City vs Coventry City

Best odds: 173/100

Bookmaker:

The Championship s opening weekend features a Midlands showdown as Stoke City host Coventry City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Stoke aim to break free from their run of midtable finishes, while Coventry will have their sights set on a long-awaited promotion to the Premier League after several near misses in recent years.

Stoke City

Since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018, Stoke City have experienced six consecutive seasons of bottom-half finishes in the Championship, leaving fans at the bet365 Stadium with little to cheer about. Facing a potential relegation battle early last season under Alex Neil, the club made a decisive managerial change in December by appointing Steven Schumacher, who had …

We gave everything – Sarina Wiegman so proud despite ‘hard to take’ final defeat

England boss Sarina Wiegman felt the Lionesses exhausted every effort to win their first Women’s World Cup final despite coming up just short with a 1-0 loss to Spain in Sydney.

The Dutch boss, who led England to their first major trophy at last summer’s European Championship, finds herself with a silver medal in two consecutive attempts after steering 2019 runners-up the Netherlands to the title-decider four years ago in France.

Second place is still a best-ever finish for the Lionesses in a global showpiece, beating their bronze medal from 2015, but the three-time FIFA Best winning coach knows from experience it may take some time before the sting subsides.

Sarina Wiegman gives us her reaction to our defeat…

— Lionesses (@Lionesses)

Wi…

Carvajal to miss Euro 2016, replaced by Bellerin

Dani Carvajal will miss Euro 2016 after sustaining an injury in Saturday s Champions League final.

Madrid revealed on Monday that Carvajal, 24, suffered a grade two muscle injury at San Siro, opening the door for Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin to take his place in Spain s squad.

Bellerin made his international debut in Sunday s 3-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina and will face competition from Cesar Azpilicueta and Juanfran for a starting spot in Vicente del Bosque s side.

Very proud day for me my family! Unbelievable feeling to get my first cap for ! Boyhood dream come true

— Héctor Bellerín (@HectorBellerin)

I m available to the coach for whatever is needed I m delighted with the experience, Bellerin, 21, told a news conference.

I…