Brendan Rodgers spoke about being under intense media pressure going into Celtic’s impressive 1-0 cinch Premiership win over Rangers at Ibrox.
The Hoops went into the game on the back of a loss to Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup and a home draw to St Johnstone and with some key players missing, but Kyogo Furuhashi’s late first-half strike stretched their lead over Rangers to four points after four games.
After the game, Rodgers said: “I understand I have been placed on death watch by the media.
Smiles all round at Ibrox!
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC)
“But whatever the result today I’m an experienced manager now and I’m staying calm.
“But that’s where you are powerless as a coach.
“For me I understand what w…
Hull City have announced the signing of former Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor subject to international clearance, .
The 31 year old, who spent last season with Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas, has signed a three year contract with the Tigers ahead of their return to the Premier League.
McGregor moved to Turkey following fourteen years in the Scottish Premier League, during which time he won fifteen major honours including five league titles.
He has been capped twenty-nine times for Scotland, for whom he remains first choice despite a ban in 2009 when he and then captain Barry Ferguson were disciplined for unprofessional behaviour.
The transfer ends Steve Bruce’s search for a new number one, after David Stockdale returned to Fulham at t…
Paris Saint-Germain will be out to continue their extraordinary run of form and stay top of Ligue 1 when they travel to Saint-Etienne on Sunday.
PSG have not tasted defeat in any competition in their last 20 matches, and occupy top spot following their 4-0 demolition of Bastia last weekend.
Laurent Blanc s men backed up that success with a 5-0 rout of Anderlecht in the UEFA Champions League, Sweden international Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring four times against the Belgian champions.
Ibrahimovic and strike partner Edinson Cavani have scored 19 goals between them so far this season, and they should be confident of adding to that tally against a side that has won just one of its last five.
However, Saint-Etienne took four points off PSG last campaign, winning 2-1 at t…
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque does not want the goalscoring burden to fall to his strikers in Thursday s international friendly in Italy.
The European Champions defend their title in France in June but they head to the Stadio Friuli with Del Bosque still seemingly unsure over his best solution in attack.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa was left out of the squad having failed to impress on the international stage, while Paco Alcacer was chosen to lead the line towards the end of qualification for Euro 2016 but is without a Liga goal for Valencia in two months.
The onus could therefore fall upon Juventus striker Alvaro Morata, fresh from an impressive Champions League showing against Bayern Munich and a brace in the Turin derby, to deliver the goals.
Meanwhile…
Juan Carlos Ortega will begin his reign as Chivas Guadalajara coach with a trip to Queretaro in round seven of the Liga MX season.
The 45-year-old was appointed on Monday to replace Benjamin Galindo, who was sacked following the 4-2 defeat against Puebla.
That result saw Chivas slip to 15th in the Mexican Apertura championship, as an own goal from Kristian Alvarez and then a Matias Alustiza strike helped Puebla to their first win of the campaign.
Ortega who worked as a coach at the club between 2003 and 2009 will be hoping to reverse Chivas slide when he takes charge for the first time against a Queretaro side who have won just once in their opening six games.
Elsewhere, Morelia will look to defend top spot when they take on America.
Carlos Bustos side clim…
Wayne Rooney could not resist a dig at Manchester City fans after scoring his 200th Premier League goal in Everton s 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Monday.
The former Manchester United captain broke the deadlock 10 minutes before half-time, placing Dominic Calvert-Lewin s cross beneath City goalkeeper Ederson.
Rooney wheeled away in front of the home support with his hands cupped to his ears, prompting plenty of angry responses from the stands.
And England s record goalscorer aimed a further jibe at those from the blue half of Manchester via his personal Twitter account, writing Always nice to see a few familiar faces alongside a picture of him celebrating.
Always nice to see a few familiar faces
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney)
A ph…
Benfica winger Toto Salvio has all but confirmed that Nicolas Gaitan will join Atletico Madrid.
Reports in Spain and Portugal claim that the Champions League finalists have agreed a fee in the region of €25million for the Argentina international, who admitted he had played his last game for the Primeira Liga champions after the Taca da Liga final.
Salvio fully expects Gaitan to seal a move to the Vicente Calderon in the coming weeks and concedes it is a blow for his side to lose one of their top players.
I know there s a big possibility for Nico to go to Atletico Madrid, he told ESPN.
I m very happy for him, because we ve spent a lot of time together.
Benfica is losing one of its stars. He s been important in all the years I ve been here. H…
Former Italy international Antonio Nocerino has ended his spell with Orlando City, it has been revealed.
The midfielder’s two-year contract with the MLS side will soon come to an end and the club opted against the option to extend the deal for a further year.
This comes as a surprise considering that Nocerino was an important member of the squad, although there is a chance the player himself wanted to leave.
The 32-year-old has enjoyed a successful career in Italy, representing Crotone, Messina, Piacenza, Juventus, Palermo, AC Milan, Torino and Parma, and a return to Serie A could be on the cards.
Nocerino played for the Italian national team between 2007 and 2013, making a total of 15 appearances for the Azzurri.
…
Nolito said a big reason for joining Manchester City was to work with Pep Guardiola, despite being sold by the Spanish manager at Barcelona.
City completed the signing of 29-year-old Nolito on a four-year deal after activating his release clause at Celta Vigo, thought to be £13.8million.
Nolito was heavily linked with a return to former club Barcelona, where he played under Guardiola, but elected to move to the Premier League instead.
I thought it was the best decision for me and my career, he said. I have come to the Premier League to play with City under Pep Guardiola, who will play me in the first team and I am very happy with the decision I took.
I wish Barcelona all the best. I am very proud of Barcelona s interest, but now I am here and I th…
Emery s era off to a good start / Image via Skysports.com
Paris Saint-Germain officially opened the new season with the French Super Cup at Worthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt, Austria against Olympique Lyonnais on Saturday night.
The Trophée des Champions match featured Ligue 1 champions and the winners of the Coupe the France as PSG fans finally got the chance to see their new team in competitive action under new head coach Unai Emery.
After a comprehensive 4-1 triumph it is fair to say they have every right to be pleased with the display and here are the 5 things we learned as Paris Saint-Germain get their season underway with a title:
PSG in for yet another successful season in France
The game in Austria was a perfect opportunity for the French champi…