List of All Articles with Tag 'ag'

Mauricio Pochettino has agreed terms to become Chelsea’s new manager, with the contract to be signed in the next few days. The 51-year-old has already reached the point where he is discussing prospective summer transfers, with the club looking for a striker, No 6 and goalkeeper to complete a best XI. One of Pochettino's first tasks, however, will be to oversee the cutting down of a bloated current squad. The Argentine has already made clear his admiration for energetic players such as Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Enzo Fernandez, Wesley Fofana and Mason Mount. Of those potentially being signed, Declan Rice, Emiliano Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister and of course Harry Kane have been discussed. Pochettino will also seek talks with Romelu Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Inter Milan. Pochettino became the outstanding favourite for the job around three weeks ago, when it became clear he was the best fit from the initial interviews. The Chelsea hierarchy has prioritised his outstanding success with developing players at Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton, as they seek to build the best young squad in Europe. While the discussions were protracted and slower than anticipated, there has long been a feeling Pochettino would ultimately end up as Chelsea manager. He will be joined by long-time coaches Jesus Perez, Miguel D’Agostino, Sebastiano Pochettino and Tony Jimenez, as well as a core already at Stamford Bridge. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Ryan Mason ready to take on Tottenham job as Julian Nagelsmann is ruled out Kane correct to highlight Tottenham’s lost values, admits boss Mason New manager clarity needed to save Chelsea and Lampard from themselves

For Erik ten Hag, the soundtrack to an afternoon on the touchline consisted of plenty of choruses celebrating a predecessor. And not even his most celebrated predecessor, even though Sir Alex Ferguson watched on from the directors’ box as Ten Hag secured a first victory in three games. But it took Manchester United a step closer to the Champions League, a competition that defines Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. And as Solskjaer made his first return to Old Trafford since his sacking 18 months ago, memories of 1999, of the Nou Camp and of Bayern Munich being beaten in injury time, lingered. His legendary status has not been diminished by his disastrous final few months in the dugout. Ten Hag has rejuvenated and roused United after inheriting a mess and yet, Solskjaer is entitled to argue, he is only on course to emulate him. The Norwegian twice secured Champions League qualification as a manager; Ten Hag only needs two more wins to follow in his footsteps after a victory that stemmed from the inspiration offered by Solskjaer’s finest signing. Anthony Martial, a Louis van Gaal capture, got the first goal to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers. Antony, Ten Hag’s own biggest buy, earned the assist. But the catalytic contribution, the key pass, came from Bruno Fernandes. The injury-time second, scored on his comeback by Alejandro Garnacho, came after Fernandes released him. Many a Solskjaer favourite has fallen by the wayside – only four of his final starting 11 began for Ten Hag here, while his anointed leader, Harry Maguire, got a late cameo – but Fernandes has retained his prominence. On a day when United were without the injured Marcus Rashford, they required some inspiration. Fernandes obliged when it felt few others could for a goal-shy side. So they recorded a 25th home win of the season, a feat they last achieved under Ferguson. Solskjaer’s past tended to invite comparisons with the great Scot. The post-Ferguson United managers, however, are perhaps best assessed against each other and, with 66 points, Ten Hag’s United have equalled their tally in two seasons when Solskjaer was at the wheel, whether for part or all of it; they could yet top his best total of 75. The Norwegian’s legacy is undeniably mixed – three years offered evidence of progress only for United to regress alarmingly in the autumn of 2021 – and the sense is that the Ten Hag revival is built on sounder foundations, but defeats to Brighton and West Ham threatened the kind of end-of-season slide that would question that analysis. Right now, United could do with the services of Solskjaer; but the potent striker rather than the well-meaning manager. Martial’s goal was their first in three games; in all competitions, Garnacho’s strike was just their fifth in seven. They lack the ability to blow teams away and victory became a grind. They were minus the injured Marcus Rashford, whose absence underlined the need to sign a high-class forward in the summer, but Martial ended an eight-game goal drought with an opportunity he could scarcely miss. It was just his fifth league goal of the season, a statistic explained in part by his frequent absences. It came from an incisive move, with Fernandes dissecting the defence with a pass, Antony showing the unselfishness and awareness to roll the ball into Martial’s path and the striker getting a tap-in. It was a rarity from Antony in various respects; a right-footed assist and, indeed, an assist of any kind. The Brazilian was nevertheless the brightest of the forwards, if also the most profligate. He spurned a glorious early chance after Max Kilman slipped. He headed wastefully wide from Luke Shaw’s cross; somehow, a particularly one-footed footballer even seemed to use the left side of his head. He had a late shot clawed away by Dan Bentley. He was, at least, persistent. But the debutant goalkeeper Bentley, who was deputising for Jose Sa, went untested for too long. Too often United were betrayed by a stray touch here and a moment of indecision there. Their decision-making was faulty at times, their confidence missing. Eventually Bentley made a fine save from Jadon Sancho, who darted in off the left. When Casemiro whipped in a shot, Bentley tipped it away. But he was helpless when, with Wolves pushing forward in their search for an equaliser, Fernandes sent the substitute Garnacho sprinting clear. He marked his recent five-year contract with a fifth goal for the club, and it is likelier that he, and they, will spend next season in the Champions League. Read More ‘Huge talent’ Alejandro Garnacho backed to play key role in Man Utd’s run-in Players really want to come – Erik ten Hag optimistic for transfer window Rashford a Man United injury doubt but Ten Hag handed defender boost Erik ten Hag faces race against time to solve Man Utd’s clear failings ‘It’s in our hands’: Erik Ten Hag not panicking over Man United’s top-four hopes Erik ten Hag reveals David De Gea contract stance after costly mistake at West Ham

Player ratings from the Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Tottenham at Villa Park on Saturday, which ended 2-1 in favour of the home side.

The 2023 NFL Schedule is officially out. Here's an early breakdown of who will win every game from Opening Night until the Super Bowl.A busy NFL offseason has reached its latest milestone with the release of the 2023 NFL Schedule. There has been a lot of drama and player movement, including...

Lakers take down the Warriors in Game 6 to send them home packing

MLB Rumors: Chicago Cubs should trade for Aroldis ChapmanWhat's wrong with a reunion?The Chicago Cubs could use some bullpen help -- as could most contending squads around the MLB trade deadline -- and Aroldis Chapman is very available. In fact, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Kans...

Follow live coverage as Southampton face Fulham in the Premier League today. Manchester City are reigning champions after beating Liverpool to the finish line in a neck-and-neck 2021/22 title race where a comeback win on the final day of the season against Aston Villa secured a fourth title in five years for Pep Guardiola's side. Jurgen Klopp's Reds were on course for a quadruple last season but were forced to settle for just an FA Cup and Carabao Cup win and will return trying to win the title again just as they did in 2020. It was a dramatic season for Chelsea a year ago with Roman Abramovich now replaced by Todd Boehly as owner in west London. He will want an instant return on his hefty investment at Stamford Bridge while Tottenham, back in the Champions League, will want to kick on once more too. It's not all about the action at the top though with Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest promoted to the top tier for 2021/22 and hoping to hold their own against the best English football has to offer and avoid the drop. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:

Follow live coverage as Crystal Palace face AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League today. Manchester City are reigning champions after beating Liverpool to the finish line in a neck-and-neck 2021/22 title race where a comeback win on the final day of the season against Aston Villa secured a fourth title in five years for Pep Guardiola's side. Jurgen Klopp's Reds were on course for a quadruple last season but were forced to settle for just an FA Cup and Carabao Cup win and will return trying to win the title again just as they did in 2020. It was a dramatic season for Chelsea a year ago with Roman Abramovich now replaced by Todd Boehly as owner in west London. He will want an instant return on his hefty investment at Stamford Bridge while Tottenham, back in the Champions League, will want to kick on once more too. It's not all about the action at the top though with Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest promoted to the top tier for 2021/22 and hoping to hold their own against the best English football has to offer and avoid the drop. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:

Follow live coverage as Manchester United face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League today. Manchester City are reigning champions after beating Liverpool to the finish line in a neck-and-neck 2021/22 title race where a comeback win on the final day of the season against Aston Villa secured a fourth title in five years for Pep Guardiola's side. Jurgen Klopp's Reds were on course for a quadruple last season but were forced to settle for just an FA Cup and Carabao Cup win and will return trying to win the title again just as they did in 2020. It was a dramatic season for Chelsea a year ago with Roman Abramovich now replaced by Todd Boehly as owner in west London. He will want an instant return on his hefty investment at Stamford Bridge while Tottenham, back in the Champions League, will want to kick on once more too. It's not all about the action at the top though with Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest promoted to the top tier for 2021/22 and hoping to hold their own against the best English football has to offer and avoid the drop. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:

The 46-year-old man is still missing and is feared dead, say police in South Australia.

Follow live coverage as Bayern München take on Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga today. Bayern Munich remain the team to beat in the German top flight with Julian Nagelsmann's juggernaut side 31-time winners of the competition. Boasting some of the best players in the world such as Sadio Mane, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer they are always favourites to retain their league crown. Rivals Borussia Dortmund traditionally push them the closest and have won the title five times, most recently back in 2012 under Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Borussia Mönchengladbach were a force in the Seventies winning the league five times but are without a champion team since while Werder Bremen, Hamburg and Stuttgart are all multi-time winners too. RB Leipzig are the newest kids on the block and backed by energy drinks manufacturer Red Bull are now threatening to challenge for a first title of their own. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:

Follow live coverage as Union Berlin take on Freiburg in the Bundesliga today. Bayern Munich remain the team to beat in the German top flight with Julian Nagelsmann's juggernaut side 31-time winners of the competition. Boasting some of the best players in the world such as Sadio Mane, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer they are always favourites to retain their league crown. Rivals Borussia Dortmund traditionally push them the closest and have won the title five times, most recently back in 2012 under Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Borussia Mönchengladbach were a force in the Seventies winning the league five times but are without a champion team since while Werder Bremen, Hamburg and Stuttgart are all multi-time winners too. RB Leipzig are the newest kids on the block and backed by energy drinks manufacturer Red Bull are now threatening to challenge for a first title of their own. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below: