Pep Guardiola has built the best team in world football at Manchester City, according to the club s former midfielder Joey Barton.
City are on track to win the quadruple, with Guardiola s men 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League and through to the final of the EFL Cup, where they will face Arsenal on February 25.
A 4-0 thrashing of Basel on Tuesday in which Leroy Sane returned from injury leaves City with a foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, while a trip to League One side Wigan Athletic awaits in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday.
And Barton, who started his career at City and played for the club between 2002 and 2007, says his former employers are the real deal.
Yeah no doubt about it. I think they re the best team in wor…
Cristiano Ronaldo does not believe Portugal are among the favourites to win the World Cup in Russia, with Brazil and Spain instead tipped by the Real Madrid star to claim the trophy.
Portugal face Spain in their World Cup opener on June 15 before facing Morocco and Iran in their remaining Group B fixtures.
The Iberian derby promises to be one of the great matches of the group stage, but Ronaldo thinks Spain have a better chance of winning the World Cup than Euro 2016 champions Portugal.
We are not favourites, Ronaldo told Desimpedidos. We have to be honest and humble and understand that, theoretically, there are teams with stronger names, like Brazil, Spain, Germany, also Argentina.
We re not favourites but everything is possible in football. We ll try …
Raphael Wolf has signed a two-year contract extension at Werder Bremen that will see the goalkeeper remain at the Weserstadion until 2017.
The 26-year-old joined Werder in 2012, but saw his first season at the club wrecked by a serious knee injury, preventing him from appearing for the first team the whole campaign.
After returning to fitness and usurping Sebastian Mielitz in goal last term, Wolf went on to keep six clean sheets in 21 Bundesliga outings, as Robin Dutt s side finished a disappointing 12th in the league table.
Sporting director Thomas Eichin hailed the goalkeeper s great development after tying him down for another two seasons and, having established himself as number one, Wolf is positive for the future.
I am really happy that I was able …
Tottenham star Gareth Bale scopped both the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year
Tottenham star Gareth Bale scooped both PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year at last night’s award ceremony.
Bale is the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the double honour and only third in history to claim both awards.
Outstanding
Gareth Bale is an outstanding player and has been one of the standouts performers this season.
His 19 goals in the Premier League from midfield have kept Tottenham in contention for a place in the Champions League next season.
The 23 year-olds talent is not in question. However, has he really done enough to win both awards? I am not so sure to be honest.
Half
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Youssoufa Moukoko made more history by becoming the Bundesliga s youngest ever scorer in Borussia Dortmund s match against Union Berlin on Friday.
The prodigious striker lashed home a rocket of a shot from just inside the penalty area to draw Dortmund level at Alten Forsterei after Taiwo Awoniyi had put the hosts in front after 57 minutes.
His goal ultimately proved in vain as Marvin Friedrich quickly restored the hosts lead to secure a 2-1 win, but at just 16 years and 28 days Moukoko sets a new German top-flight benchmark.
It surpasses the record set by Bayer Leverkusen youngster Florian Wirtz, who was 17 years, one month and three days when he scored his first Bundesliga goal in June.
16 years and 28 days old
Youssoufa is the youngest goalscor…
England reached a final of a major tournament for the first time since 1966 after Harry Kane scored a rebound from an extra-time penalty to make the score read 2-1 against Denmark in the Euro semifinal.
The penalty decision itself caused a lot of talk, with many believing Raheem Sterling had dived to win it. To cap things off, Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had a laser pen directed at his face, presumably from the stands. He still managed to save Kane s shot, but there was no saving the lucky rebound.
Absolutely shocking that this was allowed to happen! Someone used a laser pen on Kasper Schmeichel!!!
— Swansea Beat (@swanseabeat)
…
Germany are going to have to do it the hard way if they want to add the European title to their World Cup crown, but Benedikt Howedes is relishing the prospect at taking on the best the tournament has to offer.
Joachim Low s side are overwhelming favourites to overcome Slovakia in their last-16 tie on Sunday, but far greater obstacles await in the subsequent rounds.
With Italy or Spain next, Germany may have to overcome hosts France in the semi-final if they get that far, but that is no problem for defender Howedes.
Asked who he would most like to face, the 28-year-old told the DFB website: France – the hosts. The atmosphere would be amazing for sure. It would be great to experience that.
And the Schalke man believes Didier Deschamps side could win …
Competition: Spanish La Liga
Market: Valencia to win against Las Palmas
Odds:
Valencia welcome Las Palmas to the Mestalla Stadium in tonight’s Spanish La Liga clash, and are favourites to pick up all three points to start the season with a win.
Los Che struggled for form last season, but will fancy their chances of a much brighter start at home to a Las Palmas outfit who have struggled for results on the road.
Last season, Valencia finished in a lowly 12th position in the Spanish La Liga with just 44 points from 38 games. They suffered 16 defeats and conceded 48 goals, but things should change this time round. Valencia ended the 2015/16 strongly after a managerial change and will be looking to pick up where they left off.
As for the opposit…
QPR boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed that Loic Remy is on his way out of the club, with Chelsea his likely destination.
The 27-year-old was left out of the squad to face Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday, amid reports he is on the verge of a move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are in the market for a striker after allowing Fernando Torres to join Milan on a two-year loan agreement.
And speaking to TV cameras ahead of the Sunderland clash, Redknapp said: He [Remy] has got a move. I think the deal looks like it is probably done.
When asked directly whether the club involved was Chelsea, the QPR manager responded: As far as I know, yes.
Remy was in line for a switch to Liverpool ahead of the start of the season but the deal fell through at…
Andy Carroll has passed his medical at West Ham United ahead of his proposed £15million move from Liverpool.
Hammers co-chairman David Gold once again took to Twitter to announce the success of the England international’s physical examination, which had originally been expected to take place on Wednesday.
Gold had previously announced that the club were closing in on a deal for the 24 year old on the social media site last week.
Carroll spent the majority of last season on loan with the London club, where he scored seven goals in twenty-four league appearances.
Kenny Dalglish signed the former Newcastle United man for a British record transfer fee of £35million in January 2011, though he scored just six goals during his time with the five-time Eu…