Alessandro Diamanti hit out at former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli on Monday as he defended his decision to move to the Chinese Super League.

Diamanti signed for Guangzhou Evergrande in February and, despite having scored five goals in 23 games for the Chinese club, the 31-year-old has not played for Italy since.

The former Bologna attacking midfielder was part of Prandelli s squads for Euro 2012 and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup but missed out on a spot at this year s World Cup in Brazil, with many pundits claiming it was due to Diamanti s decision to play in China.

But in the lead-up to Wednesday s AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg against Western Sydney Wanderers, Diamanti defended his choice and claimed he would do it again even if Prandelli had…

Ruben De la Red has tipped former Real Madrid team-mate Iker Casillas to win the Ballon d Or after his performances for club and country.

After leading Jose Mourinho s team to the La Liga title, the Spanish international goalkeeper then helped his country defend their European title in Poland and Ukraine.

The truth is, goalkeepers maintain a different outlook to the rest of the team, De la Red, who retired in 2010 due to a chronic heart problem, told AS.

To me, saving a goal is just as important as scoring one. Through that, Casillas has done enough to deserve the Ballon d Or.

Other players thought to be in prime contention for the award are Casillas Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

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Jens Lehmann s dream of returning to international football and playing in next year s World Cup looks unlikely to be fulfilled, Germany goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke said Monday.

It is unnecessary to really think about it, Koepke, who coaches the national team s goalkeepers, told the Stuttgart Zeitung.

It would send out the wrong signal to our younger goalkeepers.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Lehmann, 39, won the last of his 61 caps against Spain in the 1-0 Euro 2008 final defeat in Vienna and signed for Bundesliga side Stuttgart soon after.

And he announced his international retirement last August.

But having signed a year s extension to his contract on Friday, which will keep him in the Bundesliga until the summer of 2010, Lehmann has said …

Pep Guardiola has said the success of clubs should not be determined solely by trophies, as he acknowledged Manchester City cannot win all of the time .

City appear almost certain to relinquish their Premier League title this season, having fallen 14 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool ahead of Saturday s clash with second-placed Leicester City.

While Guardiola s men could yet win the Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup, the Catalan believes too much criticism comes the way of teams who do not pick up prizes despite enjoying strong campaigns.

Asked if it is possible for a very good team to have a very good season without winning silverware, Guardiola told Sky Sports: Of course.

[Did] Liverpool [have] a bad season in the Premier League last season…

Marcus Rashford has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United, the Red Devils have confirmed.

Rashford s new deal includes the option for a further 12-month extension and sees the England international earn a pay rise to a reported £300,000 per week.

The 21-year-old, who has made 170 appearances for the club, was one of the few United players to impress in an underwhelming 2018-19 campaign that saw manager Jose Mourinho replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He scored 10 Premier League goals, his best return yet, as well as converting the late penalty that completed United s stunning Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain.

United missed out on Champions League qualification last term and Rashford is determined to lead the club back…

New Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta will be assisted by Freddie Ljungberg, Albert Stuivenberg and Steve Round, the club confirmed on Tuesday.

Ljungberg served as interim boss following the departure of Unai Emery, including taking charge of the 0-0 draw away at Everton while the recently appointed Arteta watched on from the stands.

The duo held talks after the game at Goodison Park and Arteta revealed on Monday that the Swede would be staying on at the club as part of his revamped coaching staff.

Now the Gunners have announced the appointments of Stuivenberg and Round, while goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana Pavon joins from Brentford.

I am delighted to have this talented group of coaches alongside me, Arteta said.  They bring a great mix of experienc…

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri insists his team will not do a Chelsea and collapse following their Premier League title win.

The Blues won the league in 2014-15, but slumped to a disastrous 10th-place finish last season winning only 12 of 38 matches  with Jose Mourinho sacked in December and Guus Hiddink seeing the club through to the end of the campaign.

Following their shock Premier League win, Ranieri s men are again being written off – the bookmakers have them as seventh favourites to come out on top – but the Italian does not see Leicester crumbling. 

When I build something, it is never destroyed, the 64-year-old told reporters ahead of Sunday s Community Shield against Manchester United at Wembley.

My philosophy is to watch your hous…

Gareth Southgate believes the experience of players in the Premier League s big six will only benefit his England squad heading into the World Cup.

Eighteen of Southgate s squad play for clubs who finished in the top six last term, with Leicester City duo Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire the only outfield players to not to do so, although Chelsea s Ruben Loftus-Cheek spent 2017-18 on loan at Crystal Palace.

And Southgate insists that the mentality of the top-six teams is a huge boost to England s chances of progressing in the tournament.

I think it’s big, he said, shrugging off suggestions that his squad is raw and inexperienced.

We are seeing that with Manchester City having a core of four English players most weeks, United having a core of English play…

Harry Kane scored a late penalty to rescue Tottenham a 2-2 draw against bottom-of-the-table Norwich City in Saturday s Premier League clash.

The England international marked his 200th appearance in the competition by winning and then converting a spot-kick with seven minutes remaining at Carrow Road.

Mario Vrancic s first Premier League goal had earlier given Norwich a first-half lead and Teemu Pukki had one ruled out by the video assistant referee for a contentious offside.

Christian Eriksen s free-kick temporarily restored parity before Serge Aurier comically put into his own net, but Kane spared Spurs blushes somewhat in the closing stages.

FULL-TIME: Goals from and see us come from behind twice in the second half to take a point at Carrow Road.

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George Burley will remain as Scotland manager despite having failed to lead his squad to the play-offs for next year s World Cup, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) confirmed on Tuesday.

A 1-0 home defeat by the Netherlands last week ended Scotland s chances of reaching the World Cup finals and was widely expected to trigger the dismissal of Burley, who had ruled out resigning in the wake of what was a deeply disappointing qualifying campaign.

But it appears Burley has convinced his SFA bosses to give him a second chance following talks at Hampden.

Burley, who replaced Alex McLeish at the helm of the national side in January 2008, has arguably not enjoyed his fair share of luck as Scotland manager with fixture scheduling, some controversial refereeing decis…