Pablo Mastroeni has backed new arrival Diogo Goncalves to mirror the impact of departed star Andres Gomez, as Real Salt Lake prepare to return to MLS action against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Real Salt Lake emerge from the Leagues Cup break third in the Western Conference standings, with only Inter Miami (56) bettering their 51 goals this season in MLS.
However, they must continue their playoff push without Gomez, who has joined French side Rennes after contributing seven goals and 13 assists in regular-season action this year.
The $11million fee RSL received for Gomez allowed them to strengthen in the transfer market, and Mastroeni feels Goncalves – brought in from Copenhagen – could replicate his impact.
If I had to take a flier, I d say Diogo is a …
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker:
Desperate to claim a crucial Premier League boost on Saturday lunchtime, Manchester United will travel to St. Mary’s when they meet Southampton.
Southampton
Starting with the hosts, while Southampton might have book a Premier League return for this season, it is no secret that Russell Martin’s men have a real challenge on their hands this time around. Already pencilled in as a landslide relegation contender this year, the former Swansea boss has seen his squad show a string of worrying issues since opening proceedings last month. Last seen heading into September’s international break with a routine 3-1 loss at the hands of Brentford, the Saints have lost each of their opening three Premier League appearances. Now one of just two…
Rodri fired the winning goal as Manchester City finally claimed Champions League glory and completed the treble with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Inter Milan.
The midfielder rifled home in the 68th minute as the Premier League winners City wore down the Italians in a draining final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday.
The contest was a tight one, with City suffering a serious blow in pursuit of the prize that has eluded them for so long when they lost Kevin De Bruyne to injury in the first half.
The prolific Erling Haaland was also kept quiet by a stubborn Inter side but Rodri eventually made the breakthrough with a firm strike after a Bernardo Silva pass was deflected into his path.
Etched in history.
— UEFA Champions League …
Friday marks the 10th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson’s last game as Manchester United manager, with the club still searching for a return to their glory days under the long-serving Scot.
Here, the PA news agency compares those years to the last decade of Ferguson’s triumphant reign.
Ferguson’s last 10 years
United won the Premier League in five of Ferguson’s last 10 years in charge, taking his total to 13 titles overall.
That included a run of three in a row from 2006-07 to 2008-09, before he added the 2010-11 title and signed off in 2012-13 with another.
They never finished outside the top three in that time, with an average league position of 1.7, and averaged 84.4 points per campaign.
His sides won 68 per cent of their league games a…
Gareth Southgate is relishing renewing acquaintances with Croatia after England were drawn to face the side that beat them in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup at Euro 2020.
Mario Mandzukic s extra-time winner sent Zlatko Dalic s men through to the final in Russia at the expense of the Three Lions.
England gained a measure of revenge for that loss by edging out Croatia to reach last season s Nations League Finals.
They have since progressed to Euro 2020 courtesy of a free-scoring qualifying campaign with a youthful squad, although Southgate believes any suggestions Croatia s experienced generation led by Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic is on the slide are premature.
I thought that maybe 12 months ago but they recovered really well in their group, he tol…
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has vowed to return Manchester United to “the very top of English, European and world football” after agreeing a £1.25billion deal to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club.
The Old Trafford outfit announced on Christmas Eve that the chairman of INEOS, who will assume delegated responsibility for football operations, had entered into an agreement, which is “subject to customary regulatory approvals”, which will also see him invest US dollars 300million – more than £236million – to refurbish the debt-laden club’s infrastructure.
However, it is boyhood fan Ratcliffe’s promise to put United “back where we belong” which will excite fans who have been in open revolt against owners the Glazer family, who launched a strategic review of the b…
Manchester United are interested in signing Jose Maria Gimenez from Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Barcelona and Real Madrid are also keen on the 28-year-old Uruguay international centre-back.
Jose Maria Gimenez has been on the books of Atletico since 2013. The 28-year-old centre-back has been superb for the Spanish club over the years and is at the top of his game now at the age of 28. The Atletico no. 2 has made two starts and two substitute appearances in La Liga so far this season and has also played 45 minutes in the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester United are 10th in the Premier League table at the moment with nine points from seven matches, seven points behind Liverpool in fourth place. Meanwhile, Atlet…
Nashville SC interim head coach Rumbani Munthali aims to get a more recognizable look about the team as he prepares for his second game in charge against CF Montreal.
Gary Smith, who led Nashville for seven years, made a shock exit following their 2-0 win over Toronto FC on May 16, with Munthali stepping up from player development coach to take his place.
Nashville’s first game under him ended in a 1-1 draw with Atalanta United on Saturday, leaving them 11th in the Eastern Conference.
With little time to put his stamp on the team, Munthali believes being able to welcome back injured players will help to get them back on track.
I think as you see players come back into the team [from injury], you see that we re starting to be a little more recognizable …
Best odds: 11/20
Bookmaker:
Having failed to win any of their last three Premier League matches, defending champions Manchester City travel to Birmingham on Tuesday to face Aston Villa, who have arguably been the surprise of the season in the English top flight under Unai Emery, even though their last game, away to relegation-battlers Bournemouth, ended also in a draw.
This will be a match between teams currently sitting fourth and third, respectively, in the English top flight, with no more than a point between them.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa s impressive four-game winning streak across all competitions came to an end last weekend as they managed no more than a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, twice recovering from being …
Charlotte FC must embrace the challenge of facing the best team in MLS when they take on Inter Miami on Saturday.
That is the view of full-back Nathan Byrne, who this week penned a new contract with Dean Smith s team.
Charlotte head south this weekend to play Miami, who are in the hunt for the regular-season points record in MLS.
A win for Charlotte could see them clinch a playoff spot,
If we want to win things this season, then you have to play against the best teams and the best players, he said.
It s just another challenge and we are going to go into it with full confidence.
Reflecting on his new deal, Byrne said: Charlotte is a place I have really enjoyed my football over the last two years, and there is no place I d rather continu…