Hansi Flick wants Barcelona to adopt a more direct approach during his first season in charge, though the German will not sacrifice the Blaugrana s tiki-taka principles.
Former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Flick was named as Xavi s replacement in May, after Barca finished a distant second to rivals Real Madrid in LaLiga.
Flick s Bayern side were known for their aggressive approach in and out of possession, winning a Bundesliga and Champions League double under him in 2019-20.
Between Flick s appointment in November 2019 and his exit in June 2021, Bayern averaged the highest possession share in the Bundesliga (62.55%) and won the ball in the final third 489 times, 172 clear of Borussia Dortmund, who were second by that metric (317).
They also led the way…
Manchester City recovered from two goals down at half-time to defeat Tottenham 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday and close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Spurs took advantage of some poor City defending – with Ederson in particular at fault – through goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Ederson Royal just before the interval.
But City s response was just as swift as they were level eight minutes into the second half thanks to Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland, who ended his mini goal drought.
City survived a scare when Perisic hit the post, but Riyad Mahrez put them ahead and added another late on to move his side within five points of Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
5 Manchester City have now avoided defeat in each of the last five Premi…
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said he was not really looking for positives but instead for a response after his side s 3-0 loss at Aston Villa.
OIlie Watkins continued his superb form for Villa as Unai Emery s team claimed a fifth straight Premier League win on Saturday.
Third-placed Newcastle were second-best throughout at Villa Park, with Villa leading the way in shots (15 to eight), attempts on target (six to two) and expected goals (1.87 to 0.57). Indeed, the hosts also hit the woodwork twice and had a goal disallowed.
It snapped a five-game winning streak for Newcastle, who suffered their heaviest defeat in the league since losing 5-0 to Manchester City in May of last year.
With a home game against top-four rivals Tottenham next up, Howe wants …
Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino is hoping to get off to a positive start when they welcome Houston Dynamo to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta announced on June 3 that they had parted ways with Gonzalo Pineda, with Valentino stepping into his shoes with the Five Stripes sitting 13th in the Eastern Conference.
They have won just one of their last 11 matches in the MLS – beating Inter Miami 3-1 – but defeat to Charlotte FC last time out spelt the end for Pineda.
I want to get back to that enjoyment, Valentino said. How we can find that every day, on and off the field and shared success.
When you look at teams and organisations, it is not one person s fault, it is shared in terms of where we are. There is that responsibility and accoun…
Troy Lesesne admitted D.C. United s trip to Philadelphia Union could have huge playoff implications, but played down the significance of a win.
D.C. are level on points with Philadelphia but sit one place below them in the Eastern Conference in 10th due to their inferior goal difference.
Lesesne s team are currently unbeaten in three, having come from behind to draw 1-1 with New York City FC last time out after back-to-back wins.
A win on Sunday would move D.C. above their opponents, but Lesesne is not resting their end-of-season hopes on one match.
This is a big match, there s no way around that, Lesesne said.
Regardless of the outcome, there are still going to be four matches after this weekend that will be equally as important.
Clear…
Manchester City are interested in signing Viktor Gyokeres should Erling Haaland leave, according to . The report has claimed that the long-term future of Haaland at City is not guaranteed, and should the Norway international striker decides to leave the Etihad Stadium, then the defending Premier League champions will make a move for Gyokeres.
Gyokeres is one of the best strikers in Europe and has been in fine form for Sporting Lisbon since his move to the Portuguese club from Coventry City in 2023. The Sweden international striker has scored 11 goals and given one assist in eight Portuguese league matches and has scored one goal in two UEFA Champions League games for Sporting so far this season.
Haaland is one of the best strikers on the planet. The 24-year-old Norway i…
France s World Cup celebrations knew no boundaries in Moscow, as Paul Pogba and company gatecrashed Didier Deschamps news conference to shower the coach and members of the media with champagne.
Deschamps 2018 vintage produced another solid display on Sunday, bottling up Croatia to win 4-2 before lifting the trophy in the pouring rain.
Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba scored corkers for Les Bleus, both fizzing in shots from outside the area, while Antoine Griezmann s name will be toasted back in his homeland after he converted a first-half penalty.
After celebrating on the pitch in the sudden deluge, Deschamps was surely somewhat relieved to get himself inside for his post-match addressing of the international media, giving him the opportunity to dry off a lit…
(GSM) Portsmouth s Algerian international midfielder Hassan Yebda believes England are capable of winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The France-born star, who is currently on loan at Fratton Park from SL Benfica, is set to go head-to-head with the Three Lions next summer.
Algeria have been drawn alongside England, the United States and Slovenia in Group C, as they prepare for their first appearance at the finals in 24 years.
Yebda is confident the African minnows can spring a surprise or two in their efforts to reach the knockout stages, but admits that Fabio Capello s side will be the team to beat when the best sides on the planet congregate to do battle.
England can go all the way, he said in the Daily Star.
They have a very good tea…
Barcelona star Lionel Messi believes his record of six Ballon d Or awards will be broken.
Messi, 32, claimed the prize for a sixth time in Paris on Monday, beating Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo.
While only Ronaldo has also won the award at least five times, Messi feels someone can get more than six.
I think so. I don t know who but it s possible, he told reporters.
Records are made to be beaten, but I don t know who or when. But at the moment I hold the record and I m very happy.
Sheesh!
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
Messi won his first Ballon d Or in 2009 before his dominance led to him claiming the prize in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and this year.
The Argentina international sa…
The international break is set to conclude this week, but there are still many fixtures to be played. The bulk of these fixtures are scheduled for 6 September. Amongst these games are 2012 European Championship qualifiers, 2014 World Cup qualifiers (AFC and CONCACAF), and international friendlies. With 52 international matches scheduled for Tuesday, you need a place to check on all the fixtures taking place. For this reason, I have decided to provide the schedules for all of Tuesday s international matches here on SoccerNews editorials.
But before I overwhelm you with the 52 fixtures, let s take a look at the most intriguing games scheduled for Tuesday, 6 September.
Belgium v. United States
Jurgen Klinsmann will be keen on getting his first as the m…