Fabio Capello reckons Manchester City are “the best team in the world” as Pep Guardiola’s side prepare for their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. The tie is a rematch of last year’s last-four clash, where City were knocked out in dramatic circumstances at the Bernabeu as Real mounted a stunning comeback to win after extra time. A Champions League trophy is the one piece of silverware that has so far evaded Guardiola during his nearly seven years with City. Speaking at the Laureus Awards on Monday, former England boss Capello highlighted the difference prolific striker Erling Haaland has made to City and his belief they are now the finest team on the planet. He said: “I think City is the best team in the world. This year makes the difference. “Last year, (they) missed the forward and this year you have a really important forward. Not only this – you have 24 players. “When you make the substitution, always a fantastic player is entering. Real Madrid, I think (have) 14, 15 players. “They probably will be a little bit tired (after winning the Copa del Rey on Saturday evening), but they have the best coach in the world, Carlo Ancelotti.” Two-time former Real Madrid boss Capello added: “Carlo knows everything about the openings, and we prepare the games really, really well. I hope, Carlo, we will win.” Ex-Inter Milan and Real Madrid winger Luis Figo echoed Capello’s sentiments about City’s improvement, but warned that they had their work cut out against the 14-time European Cup winners. “I think (Manchester City) are one of the best teams in the world now,” the former Portugal star said. “They are playing very good football, and in the last years, they are always in the competition, they have the experience already, they know already what to do so they don’t lose like last year. “But they play against the best club in the history of the Champions League. “Sometimes I think the history of the competition, that helps you in different kinds of moments and important moments in this competition, and everyone, I think they think that Manchester City is now a favourite for the games against Real Madrid. “But you have to count the history and count that Real Madrid is always alive until the last second of the game. “It will be nice to see, but I think for sure they are more than ready to win this beautiful competition.” Figo is hoping another of his former clubs, Inter Milan, can get the better of rivals AC Milan in the other semi-final. He said: “I expect that Inter can win, and probably that will happen, I hope! “I think Italy have to be proud this year that they have two teams in the semi-final. Fantastic performance in the Champions League. “You know anything can happen, but it’s beautiful in the same time that you have the chance to see two big games of the best club competition in the world in the same city.” :: Fabio Capello and Luis Figo were speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards. Find out more at www.laureus.com

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Liverpool have completed the signing of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton in the first step of Jurgen Klopp’s summer midfield overhaul. The Argentina international has signed a five-year contract at Anfield and is expected to be joined by further arrivals after the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Liverpool had to fight off interest from other clubs for Mac Allister and always intended to get some of their transfers done before pre-season, to give them more time to settle in. They believe the 24-year-old, who scored 10 Premier League goals as he helped Brighton to their highest-ever finish of sixth in the top flight, can occupy any of the three midfield positions in Klopp’s side. The midfielder told Liverpoolfc.com: “It feels amazing. It’s a dream come true, it’s amazing to be here and I can’t wait to get started. “I wanted to be in [from] the first day of pre-season, so it’s good that everything is done. I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates. “It was a fantastic year for me – World Cup, what we achieved with Brighton – but now it’s time to think about Liverpool and try to be a better player and a better human being every day. “Since I won the World Cup, I said that I want to win more trophies and I think that this club will help me to do that – that’s the aim and when you are in a big club like this one you have to win trophies. So, that’s what I want. “Since I arrived here, I can see how big this club is – the players we have, the staff, everyone. I’m really pleased and looking forward to playing for this club.” Liverpool had identified Mac Allister as a key target even before the World Cup, where he set up Angel Di Maria’s goal in the final against France, after first tracking him when he was still playing in South America. The deal was the last completed by outgoing director of football Julian Ward, with his successor Jorg Schamdtke now taking the lead in Liverpool’s transfer business, and was aided by the club’s long relationship with his agent Juan Gemelli, who was involved in Philippe Coutinho’s move to Anfield in 2013. Liverpool believe that Mac Allister, like Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk, had to fight his way to the top, rather than being fast-tracked, and have a history of successful signings of players aged between 23 and 25. Read More Supporter arrested at FA Cup final for wearing offensive Hillsborough T-shirt The year that sportswashing won: A season that changed football forever Liverpool appoint former Wolfsburg chief Jorg Schmadtke as sporting director Liverpool on the verge of signing Alexis Mac Allister to fill midfield void Broad brilliance and a statuesque striker – Thursday’s sporting social Liverpool appoint former Wolfsburg chief Jorg Schmadtke as sporting director

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David Moyes has urged West Ham and Olympiacos supporters to behave themselves when the teams meet in Greece in the Europa League. Tensions are high in Athens after Olympiacos’ league match with rivals Panathinaikos on Sunday had to be abandoned after an opposition player was hit by a firecracker. Olympiacos have subsequently issued a warning to their supporters against throwing missiles and using laser pointers, which has become big problem in Greek football. Meanwhile, West Ham fans were banned from their last European outing in Freiburg due to missile throwing during the Europa Conference League final victory over Fiorentina in June. Hammers boss Moyes said at his pre-match press conference: “They’ve got great support here, fantastic enthusiasm, and it’s fantastic to come to a football city where the football really matters. “You want the passion and the atmosphere but we also want good behaviour from our supporters and Olympiacos supporters. “It’s a big game, but it’s important that everyone works together and end up having a good night. “I think all we want is a good football game. You have to support your team well. You’re not doing your club any favours if you’re getting stadium bans or your team is getting thrown out of Europe. “You have to be well behaved and we want the supporters to be that.” Thursday’s match gives West Ham the chance to bounce back from Sunday’s painful 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa. Greek defender Dinos Mavropanos said: “For the game against Aston Villa, it was a bad day against a good team. “But our schedule is really busy so we needed to learn from it and start to focus on this game. We’ve been doing that. We’re here, we’ve worked hard and we’re looking forward to the match.” Vladimir Coufal has not travelled due to a knock but fellow full-backs Ben Johnson and Aaron Cresswell are back in the squad after spells out. Read More Former Everton boss David Moyes pays tribute to ‘wonderful man’ Bill Kenwright Moeen Ali eager to get anxious England playing with a smile again Esme Morgan pleads for patience and politeness from England’s autograph hunters Self-confessed ‘golf tragic’ Dan Carter keen to boost participation in Ireland Liverpool set for boost as Cody Gakpo in line to make return against Toulouse London Broncos set to lose out under rugby league’s new grading criteria

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