Roberto Mancini suggested the failings of Italy are due to the problems within Serie A where coaches don t let young players play because they are afraid of making mistakes .
Italy secured their first European Championship since 1968 with a penalty shoot-out win over England last July, but World Cup play-off heartbreak followed in March for the Azzurri against North Macedonia.
The narrow 1-0 defeat meant Italy missed out on a second successive World Cup, having failed to qualify for both Russia in 2018 and Qatar four years later.
Italy s failure was met with widespread criticism of the domestic game in which critics suggest younger players are not offered as many opportunities to develop, with a preference to rely on foreign players.
This was represented …
James Milner has extended his contract with Liverpool to prolong his stay at the club beyond the end of this season.
Liverpool have not announced the exact length of the agreement but it is reported to be a two-and-a-half year deal.
The fresh terms for vice-captain Milner came on the same day the club renewed manager Jurgen Klopp s contract until 2024.
Milner, who turns 34 in January, joined the European champions in 2015 on a free transfer from Manchester City and came off the bench in their Champions League final win over Tottenham last season.
His previous deal with Premier League leaders Liverpool was due to expire at the end of the season but he will now remain part of Klopp s squad going forward.
I ve been lucky and privileged to play for t…
Antonio Conte is expecting a six-way battle for the Premier League title this season, while he predicts teams will give 120 per cent against champions Chelsea.
Conte led Chelsea to the title in his first season in English football and his win ratio of 79 per cent is the best of any manager in the history of the Premier League.
Chelsea begin their defence at home to Burnley on Saturday and the Italian is expecting a tough battle as Chelsea seek to become the first team to retain the league since Manchester United in the 2008-09 campaign.
I don t know if this season could be more difficult than last season, Conte told reporters on Friday. I don t know.
We are champions. We have to face every game in the right way. The other teams will try to give 120 per …
Sol Campbell has been appointed as the new manager of League Two strugglers Macclesfield Town.
The former Arsenal and England centre-back has taken charge at the Moss Rose on an 18-month contract, the club announced on Tuesday.
It is Campbell s first management role since he retired from playing in 2011.
The 44-year-old takes over from Mark Yates, who was sacked in October after failing to win any of his first 12 league matches in charge.
Drink anyone????
— Macclesfield Town (@thesilkmen)
Campbell spent nine years with Tottenham before making the controversial switch to north London rivals Arsenal, where he became a mainstay of the defence under Arsene Wenger.
He won two Premier Leagues and two FA Cups with the Gunners and was …
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Fernandinho ranks as one of the best three holding midfielders in the world.
Free-scoring Premier League leaders City will aim to improve their record of nine wins and a draw from 10 top-flight games when they host Arsenal on Sunday.
A 4-2 triumph at Napoli to secure qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League in midweek gave the latest demonstration of the stunning attacking array at Guardiola s disposal.
Raheem Sterling netted his 10th of the season and Sergio Aguero became City s all-time leading scorer as Leroy Sane excelled against the Serie A table-toppers.
But ahead of an encounter with Arsene Wenger s side that promises to be another feast of attacking football, Guardiola took time to …
Jesse Lingard accused Manchester United of making false promises to him during his final months at the club ahead of his first return to Old Trafford with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Lingard came through United s academy, spending 22 years at the club before his departure on a free transfer at the end of last season.
The England international had been largely a rotation option during his time in United s senior squad, but he fell well down the pecking order in the 2020-21 campaign as he failed to make a single Premier League appearance in the first half of the season.
That led to him joining West Ham on loan and reinvigorating his career in London, scoring nine Premier League goals – a personal best for a single campaign – in 16 appearances.
Such fo…
AC Milan have announced the signing of centre-back Mateo Musacchio from Villarreal on a four-year deal.
The defender underwent a medical last week and he has now formalised his move to San Siro, with Milan believed to have paid a fee in the region of €18million.
The 26-year-old started his professional career with River Plate before joining Villarreal in 2009.
He made well over 200 appearances in all competitions, but will now continue his career in Serie A.
announces signing from on a 4-year contract through to 30 June 2021
— AC Milan (@acmilan)
Musacchio becomes Milan’s first signing ahead of next season as they look to re-build their squad.
The Rossoneri finished sixth in Serie A in 2016-17 to qualify for Europa Leag…
Celtic will take a 1-0 lead to Saint Petersburg in their Europa League round-of-32 tie with Zenit after Callum McGregor netted a first-leg winner.
Substitute Charly Musonda centred for McGregor to slam a finish into the top-left corner and lift the roof off Parkhead with just 12 minutes remaining and Roberto Mancini s visitors seemingly content with a hard-earned draw.
Zenit s only previous meeting with Scottish opposition had seen their dominant 2008 side defeat Rangers in the UEFA Cup final, but Celtic fared rather better than their rivals 10 years on and deserved a goal long before it finally arrived.
Although a rusty Russian defence out of competitive action for over two months prior to the game struggled to contain Brendan Rodgers men from the off, the lack …
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In what looks set to be a heavyweight FA Cup showdown from the Etihad on Friday night, Manchester City will host title rivals Arsenal.
Manchester City
Starting with the hosts, despite suffering that controversial 2-1 loss away at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, Manchester City have come roaring back. Last seen breezing their way to a 3-0 romp against relegation scrappers Wolves, Pep Guardiola s men know that they face a real Premier League title battle in 2023. Still sat five points adrift of Friday s guests, the former Barcelona boss should be boosted by City s recent success on home soil. Mounting that stunning second-half comeback against top-four hopefuls Tottenham on January 19th as they eventually claimed an epic 4-2 victory at th…
Aaron Ramsey feels Arsenal will improve their wretched away form after establishing a 2-0 lead against Napoli in their Europa League quarter-final.
Ramsey put the Gunners in front at Emirates Stadium on Thursday and Kalidou Koulibaly deflected in Lucas Torreira s drive to double their lead.
Arsenal could have taken an even more dominant position to Naples next week, with Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wasting late chances to extend their advantage.
Despite Arsenal having only won twice away from home since November, at Huddersfield Town in the Premier League and Blackpool in the FA Cup, Ramsey is confident about Unai Emery s side moving into the semis.
We ve won away this season so we re capable of doing it, Ramsey said to BT Sport.
We ve…