PSG draw Marseille in Coupe de France quarter-finals

Former Barcelona coach Quique Setien claims the club still have not compensated him for his early dismissal, or even called to inform of his contract termination three months on.

Setien arrived at Barca in January as Ernesto Valverde s replacement, signing on a contract until 2022 as the club hoped to reconnect with their philosophy of exciting, possession-based football.

However, Setien s time at Barca was fraught with problems, from an apparently strained relationship with talisman Lionel Messi that reportedly spread to other members of the squad, to underwhelming results and performances on the pitch.

The culmination of numerous issues at the club was the 8-2 humiliation by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final, a result that contributed to Mes…

John Stones has been named in Manchester City s matchday squad for the first time in more than a month after recovering from a hamstring injury in time for Sunday s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.

The England international last featured for City in the 2-0 win at Leicester City on November 18 and had been expected to be out until January.

But he returns to the squad for City s final game of 2017, providing a timely boost for coach Pep Guardiola, with Vincent Kompany picking up a knock against Newcastle United on Wednesday.

Although Stones has missed a total of 11 matches across all competitions, City s form has not suffered, and Shakhtar Donetsk are the only team to have beaten them in that period.

City s incredible winning streak has only be…

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel said he could not explain his side s laboured performance in their 2-0 win against Nantes, admitting he noticed a lack of confidence among his players.

Kylian Mbappe scored after 52 minutes to give the Ligue 1 champions the lead at Parc des Princes and Neymar converted an 85th-minute penalty to make sure of the result, but Nantes missed numerous opportunities to get back on level terms.

PSG had Keylor Navas to thank for a string of fine saves on Wednesday that ensured the league leaders extended the gap at the top of Ligue 1 to five points over second-placed Marseille.

However, Tuchel was asked afterwards to explain why PSG s performance was not more convincing midweek.

I do not know, he told Canal Plus.  It …

Stoke City have entered the race to sign Manchester United forward Memphis Depay, .

The Netherlands international has failed to produce his best form for the Red Devils having signed for them from PSV Eindhoven last summer.

Stoke are eyeing a replacement for Ibrahim Affelay, who has been ruled out for eight months with a cruciate ligament in training last week.

Memphis has racked up forty-two appearances for Louis van Gaal’s side so fat this season, scoring just seven goals, with five of those coming in Europe.

He has been capped twenty times for the Netherlands, scoring three times and drew many admirers following his performances under Van Gaal at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Manchester United beat Everton in the semi-finals of the FA C…

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is braced for Friday s daunting trip to Manchester United.

In-form United host Newcastle at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, boasting a seven-match unbeaten record in the Premier League.

United s form is in stark contrast from last season, when they had failed to win in three previous league games before losing 1-0 at home to Newcastle in December 2013.

And Pardew, whose Newcastle sit ninth in the standings, is aware his side must enjoy large spells of possession, just like they did last season, if they are to avoid leaving Old Trafford empty-handed.

The big reason we did well [last season] is that we retained the ball, Pardew said. We had an equal share of it  and we need that again because, with this particular Manchest…

Fernando Torres had only been a European champion for a matter of hours when the Liverpool star consigned Spain s triumph to the history books and turned his attention to Anfield s own trophy drought.

Torres s typically clinical finish against Germany in Vienna sealed Spain s first international trophy for 44 years and capped a memorable season for the striker.

His stunning debut campaign with Liverpool had provided the perfect response to critics who questioned his ability to prosper at the highest level, and now he was the golden boy of Spanish football as well.

It was the first major medal of Torres s career but the 24-year-old isn t one to rest on his laurels.

With Spain s ghosts laid to rest, he set his sights on ending Liverpool s 18-year wait …

An emboldened Raymond Domenech said he was relishing the massive task of rebuilding the French national set-up, ahead of his youthful side s friendly against Sweden.

Domenech has been under heavy scrutiny since France s dismal showing at the European championships in June, surviving a French football federation (FFF) confidence vote by the narrowest of margins weeks later.

I m more motivated when I m under pressure, Domenech said on the FFF website Monday.

It s a fight on a high level. I m in my element. The sword is out. I need to go into battle. I m more than motivated, I m all fired up.

Domenech, who steered France to the 2006 World Cup final, last week named his squad for the friendly match in Gothenburg, which was notable for its reliance on yo…

Former Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez claimed external problems derailed his tenure, insisting he had a good relationship with the players.

Benitez was sacked as coach in January amid strong reports of dressing room unrest, just seven months into a three-year deal in Madrid.

His replacement, Zinedine Zidane, went on to guide Madrid to Champions League glory as well as a second-place finish in La Liga in 2015-16.

Benitez has since moved on to Newcastle United now playing in England s Championship but reflecting on his spell in the Spanish capital, the 56-year-old said everything was working well internally at the Santiago Bernabeu, contrary to reports, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Sergio Ramos among the players at odds with the former boss.

It was a…

Hull City A.F.C. have completed the signing of Robert Snodgrass from Norwich City for an undisclosed fee.

The Scotland international, 26, has agreed a three-year deal at the KC Stadium and will officially join the club on 1 July.

Snodgrass is the club s second signing of the summer, following the permanent capture of Jake Livermore from Tottenham Hotspur for a club record fee potentially rising to £8 million.

Having spoken to the owners and the manager here, and having seen the plans they have for this club, I was very keen to be a part of it all, .

Once the fee was agreed between the two clubs, it all happened very quickly and everything the club has done to get the deal completed has been unbelievable. This is the start of an exciting…

Sunderland have appointed Paolo Di Canio as their new head coach.

The 44-year-old Italian signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Black Cats and will begin working with the relegation-threatened team on Monday.

Chairman Ellis Short said: Paolo is hugely enthused by the challenge that lies ahead of him. He is passionate, driven and raring to get started.

The sole focus of everyone for the next seven games will be to ensure we gain enough points to maintain our top-flight status.

I think that the chances of that are greatly increased with Paolo joining us.

The appointment comes after Sunderland sacked Martin O Neill on Saturday evening following the 1-0 home loss to Manchester United, ending a reign that began in December 2011.

Our…