Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has admitted he expected to be sacked over the weekend.
On Monday, the Scot confirmed reports that he had received an email from club owner Vincent Tan prior to Saturday s Premier League match at Liverpool, telling him to resign or be relieved of his duties.
Cardiff subsequently released a statement on Sunday confirming Mackay would remain in charge, with dialogue planned between the manager and Tan.
In a press conference 24 hours later, Mackay said: “I did feel I was going to lose my job on the weekend. The email (from Tan) deeply upset me.
I declined to resign and expected to be sacked over the weekend. To give the fans a clap (at Anfield) was something I wanted to do for the support they had given me.
I don t know if w…
Fagner called on Brazil to learn from Tuesday s defeat to Peru, although both he and Marquinhos criticised the LA Memorial Coliseum pitch.
Brazil were beaten for the first time since their 2018 World Cup reverse to Belgium, ending a 17-match unbeaten run, as they lost 1-0 to a late Luis Abram goal.
But Fagner insists the South American champions never questioned the threat of their opponents, who they defeated in the Copa America final.
The right-back, who started, with Dani Alves on the bench, hoped Brazil would be able to grow from a rare loss.
We know the strength of South American football. There is no poor team, Fagner told TV Globo. We played a consistent game and created chances to score. We were penalised by a set-piece at the end of the game.
Although I completely understand the meaning behind it and it s better to be safe in all accounts, because the most important is the families and the health security of everyone and support this 100 per cent.
But maybe we could ve considered individual training, where you have basically no risk. You re not touching anyone, you re not close to anyone. See if everyone was getting closer to football behind played all over the world.
Obviously, it s very difficult and I understand someone needs to make decisions. We just have to do what they re telling us. Difficult moment in our professional lives and personal lives, but we just have to hold on and everything will be fine in the future for sure.
Monaco were ninth and nine points outside of the European qualifica…
Humiliated 3-0 at home by Bayern Munich, fallen French giants Lyon turn their focus back to domestic duties and their battle to save not only their season but their European aspirations next season.
The former multiple French champions are sitting fifth in the French league, 12 points behind leaders Marseille, with five games left to play, starting with Sunday s trip to fourth-placed Montpellier.
Despite their poor domestic form, Lyon had their most successful season in Europe as they reached the Champions league semi-final for the first time despite a less talented side than the one that won seven titles from 2002.
But the side from south-eastern France have been in decline since the departure of coach Gerard Houllier (2005-2007), who was replaced by Alain Perr…
Portuguese giants FC Porto have announced the signing of Brazilian striker Kleber de Souza Freitas from Cruzeiro. The 26 year old arrives at Estadio do Dragao for a fee of 5.5 million euros. As part of the deal, Porto s Argentine forward Ernesto Farias will go to Cruzeiro.
Kleber started his senior career at Sao Paulo and moved to Dinamo Kiev in 2004. He spent five years with the Ukrainian giants before moving to Cruzeiro in early 2009. In 2008, he also had a short loan stint with Palmeiras.
Kleber was a reportedly a 6 million pound transfer target for Liverpool last summer.
He was part of the Brazilian team that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2003 by beating Spain in the final.
[Source:- FC Porto]
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Nabil Fekir does not expect to leave Lyon in January, but has not ruled out a stint abroad at some stage in his career.
The 23-year-old had been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal after breaking into the Lyon first team three seasons ago.
Fekir particularly shone in 2014-15 with 13 goals in Ligue 1, while also providing 12 assists, as Lyon finished second behind eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.
He has struggled with injuries since, though, and this season he has only contributed four goals in 14 league appearances.
That recent form may have cooled interest from the Emirates Stadium, but Fekir is not worried and is more than happy to remain as part of Bruno Genesio s squad.
At the moment I m not very good on the pitch, so I haven t rec…
Mesut Ozil says he is in no rush to open talks over a new contract with Arsenal.
Ozil has been in sublime form this season and leads the Premier League assist charts with 15 from 16 appearances, eight clear of Leicester s Riyad Mahrez and Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu. He has also netted four times in all competitions.
Several reports have suggested the Gunners are keen to tie down the Germany international beyond the expiry date of his existing deal in June 2018, but the 27-year-old feels there is still plenty of time left to discuss a potential renewal.
There is no rush to sign a new contract, Ozil told Kicker.
My current deal runs until 2018. That is still two-and-a-half years. There are no talks at the moment.
I can only say that I am very…
Timo Werner is in a good way ahead of Chelsea s EFL Cup tie against Aston Villa after taking a big step forward at Tottenham, Thomas Tuchel says.
Germany international Werner endured a difficult first season in England, although head coach Tuchel only arrived halfway through the campaign.
The former RB Leipzig forward was a regular, playing in 52 matches and making 44 starts across all competitions, as Chelsea won the Champions League.
But Werner s form in front of goal was repeatedly called into question as he hit the net just 12 times from 118 shots worth a combined 21.1 expected goals.
Converting just 10.2 per cent of his chances and scoring once every 319 minutes, this profligacy led to the Blues splashing out a club-record fee on Romelu Lukaku.
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Defending champions Manchester City will travel to West Ham in the EFL Cup fourth round, while Arsenal host Leeds United.
Pep Guardiola s men are in search of an unprecedented fifth successive triumph in the competition and they will face Hammers, who beat City s rivals Manchester United 1-0 in round three on Wednesday.
Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 victory over League One AFC Wimbledon and they take on Leeds at the Emirates Stadium next after Marcelo Bielsa s side edged past Fulham on penalties.
There are five all-Premier League ties in total, with Leicester City pitted against Brighton and Hove Albion after being defeated at the weekend in the top flight by Graham Potter s men.
European champions Chelsea needed penalties to sneak past Aston Villa and th…
(GSM) Australia star Harry Kewell has revealed that his continuous injuries brought him close to quitting football.
Kewell has showcased his talents at Leeds United, Liverpool and Galatasaray. However, injuries made the 31-year-old consider his future in the game back in 2006.
I came close to quitting football a couple of times, Kewell said in The Observer.
Only my wife, my manager and my best mate know how close.
You get to the point where it s such a struggle, you wonder if it s all worth it.
Kewell is, however, now back to something close to his best, with the 2009/10 campaign proving to be his most productive for some time.
Kewell revealed that he never doubted his abilities and he is enjoying playing football again.
I n…