Manchester United’s interim boss Darren Fletcher labelled Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened Burnley ‘a massive disappointment.’ Benjamin Sesko’s brace (50th and 60th min) for United was cancelled out by an own-goal from Ayden Heaven (13th min) and a wonder-strike from Jaidon Anthony (66th min). “[It] is a massive disappointment. If you look at the chances we created, goal-line clearances, a disallowed goal, 30 shots, lots of attacking play. We did more than enough to win the game,” said Fletcher. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 January,2026 09:09 AM IST | Burnley | AgenciesBarcelona’s Spanish teenaged phenomenon Lamine Yamal is not just cashing in on the pitch, but off it too, with Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory ranking him as the most valuable player in the world. The 18-year-old is reportedly worth . 297 million (approximately Rs 3591 crore). The news comes as little surprise, considering how important the winger has become to his club’s fortunes. So far this season, Yamal has notched up nine goals and 11 assists in 22 games across all competitions for Barcelona. In the previous season, he played a pivotal role in helping the Catalan giants win a domestic treble. He has also starred for Spain, netting six goals and providing 12 assists across 23 games for them in the year. Second on the list is Manchester City’s Norwegian goal-machine Erling Haaland, with a value of . 217 million (approximately Rs 2624 crore), and after him comes Real Madrid’s French ace Kylian Mbappe at . 174 million (approximately R2104 crore). These assessments were based on their age, period of contract and projected performance. Top 5 most valuable football players . Lamine Yamal - . 297mn (approximately Rs 3591cr). Erling Haaland - . 217mn (approximately Rs 2624cr). Kylian Mbappe - . 174 mn (approximately Rs 2104cr). Jude Bellingham – . 132.5mn (approximately Rs 1602cr). Michael Olise – . 118.6mn (approximately Rs 1434cr)
09 January,2026 09:08 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentPep Guardiola admitted Manchester City cannot think about catching Arsenal in the English Premier League title (EPL) race after their winless run extended to three matches. Guardiola’s side wasted a chance to put pressure on Arsenal as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. Erling Haaland drilled in his 150th goal for City from the penalty spot in the 41st minute, but the Norway striker was guilty of several misses, with Bernardo Silva and Rayan Cherki also squandering opportunities. Pep Guardiola Hampered by injuries to several defenders, City cracked in the 60th minute as Kaoru Mitoma’s first goal since September dealt a huge blow to their title hopes. Second-placed City are five points behind leaders Arsenal, who can extend the gap to eight points if they beat Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday. “Of course if you don’t win games we cannot think about these things,” Guardiola said when asked if City were still in the title hunt. Guardiola bemoaned City’s wasted chances as Brighton joined Chelsea and Sunderland in successfully frustrating the Spaniard over the last three matches. “The result is the result. I’m not a person who believes what we have done isn’t fair. One point for them, one point for us. That is what it is. I love a lot the way we played, we did many good things, but we don’t score goals. There were too many clear chances. That is the reason why we could not win the [recent] games” lamented the Spaniard. 09No. of times Man City have dropped points from winning positions in the EPL this season 22No. of shots on goal for City vs Brighton; their most in EPL without scoring more than a goal since Dec ’24 This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 January,2026 09:03 AM IST | Manchester | AFPLiverpool manager Arne Slot believes his inconsistent side can still do ‘special things’ if everyone is fit and firing, but his comments will be put to the test against the ruthless league-leaders Arsenal when the two face off in the English Premier League (EPL) on Thursday. The Reds head to the Emirates having steadied their ship marginally over the last month — they are unbeaten in their last nine games, however four of them have been draws. They sit in fourth place, but still trail the Gunners by 14 points. While retaining their crown seems highly unlikely, Slot remains convinced that the team is still capable of beating the best in the business. “We aren’t where we want to be, but I feel we have a very talented squad. If everyone’s available, then we can [still] do special things,” said Slot. Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo (centre) celebrates scoring vs Fulham on Sunday. Pic/Getty Images The Dutch coach also said toppling the table-toppers could do wonders for their confidence and could even spur them to clinch silverware in other competitions. “It would mean a lot because if you win games like these, it tells you that you can compete in the latter stages of the FA Cup and the Champions League. We’ve shown that we can do this already because we have already beaten Arsenal at home,” said Slot, while referencing their 1-0 win over the Gunners at the end of August. However, this time around, Slot’s side will be short of firepower with Mohamed Salah playing for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike remain sidelined with injuries. 26No. of times Liverpool have beaten Arsenal in the EPL; no other opponent has defeated the Gunners more often 20No. of consecutive EPL games in which Arsenal have conceded against Liverpool This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
08 January,2026 08:42 AM IST | London | AgenciesSports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday announced that the Indian Super League, which was on pause due to lack of a commercial partner, will start on February 14. The ISL will feature all 14 clubs. The I-League, which was also on pause, will be held ‘around the same time’ The ISL will feature 91 matches on home and away basis. The I-League will be a truncated event with 55 matches. “A Rs 25 crore central pool has been made for the ISL. 10 per cent of this fund will come from AIFF, 30 per cent was to come from a commercial partner, but since we don’t have one right now the AIFF will pitch in with that contribution,” AIFF head Kalyan Chaubey said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 January,2026 08:52 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIManchester United legend Wayne Rooney hailed Chelsea’s new boss Liam Rosenior, who had worked under the former England star at Derby County. “I think Liam is as good a coach as I’ve ever worked with. He was incredible in his coaching ability. I was more of the manager, dealing with players and everything. So I learned a lot from him from,” Rooney said of his former assistant coach on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 January,2026 08:49 AM IST | London | AgenciesEnglish Premier League giants Chelsea on Tuesday announced the appointment of Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior as their new head coach to replace Enzo Maresca. The Englishman has signed a six-year contract until 2032, said the club’s statement. “I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed Head Coach of Chelsea Football Club. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies. “I believe deeply in teamwork, unity, togetherness and working for one another, and those values will be at the heart of everything we do. They will be the foundation of our success. I will give everything, every single day, to help this team compete and win at the very highest level,” said Rosenior, who was previously in charge of French Club Strasbourg which is owned by the BlueCo investment consortium — the same group that owns the Blues. Rosenior, 41, had previously managed Hull City in the EFL Championship and also had a stint at Derby County, first as the assistant coach to Wayne Rooney, before replacing the former Manchester United legend at the helm on an interim basis. Regarding the Englishman’s appointment, Chelsea’s statement read: “Liam has shown that he can build teams with a clear way of playing while setting the highest standards with players on and off the pitch. While there will continue to be a focus on player development, the Club’s expectations and ambitions remain high. Liam has the ability to get the best out of this squad quickly.” Chelsea are currently fifth in the English Premier League table with 31 points from 20 matches. Rosenior’s coaching credentials so far... Derby County (Jun to Sept 2022) – Took over from head coach Wayne Rooney on an interim basis. Won seven of his 12 games in charge. Hull City (Nov 2022 to May 2024) – Finished seventh in ’23-24, eight places higher than previous season. Nominated for coach of the year. Strasbourg (July 2024 to Jan 2026) – Guided French club to a seventh place finish in 2024-25 after they finished 13th the previous season. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 January,2026 08:47 AM IST | London | AgenciesRuben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United on Monday, bringing a dramatic end to his turbulent 14-month spell as manager of the struggling Premier League giants. The dismissal of the Portuguese follows growing tensions with Old Trafford bosses, including director of football Jason Wilcox, over recent days. The club, sixth in the Premier League table after a 1-1 draw at Leeds on Sunday, issued a statement saying Amorim had “departed his role as head coach of Manchester United,” thanking him for his service. “The club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change,” United said in their statement. “This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.” Current under-18s coach Darren Fletcher, a former United midfielder and technical director between 2021 and 2024, will take charge of the team against struggling Burnley on Wednesday. The BBC said the club were planning to appoint a caretaker boss for the rest of the season. Names in the frame for the full-time job include Enzo Maresca, who left Chelsea last week, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and former England manager Gareth Southgate. Amorim had hinted at deep frustrations on Friday, suggesting he was not being fully backed in the transfer market. And he made a string of eye-catching comments after Sunday’s draw at Elland Road, where he stressed he was United’s manager rather than “just the coach.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 January,2026 08:50 AM IST | London | AFPManchester United on Monday released a statement that they have parted ways with head coach Ruben Amorim after a stint of 14 years. In his place, Darren Fletcher has taken up the role on an interim basis. "Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United. Ruben was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to a UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May. With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change. This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish," the release read. "The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future. Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team against Burnley on Wednesday," it added. Club statement: Ruben Amorim. — Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 5, 2026 United are placed in the sixth position of the EPL table after securing a 1-1 draw at Leeds on Sunday. During the press conference after the match, a furious Amorim said that he was Manchester United's manager rather than just the coach. He also asked the scouting department and the sporting director to do their job. "Guys, to start with that, and I noticed that you receive selective information about everything, I came here to be the manager of the Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. And that is clear. I know that my name is not (Thomas) Tuchel, it's not (Antonio) Conte, it's not (Jose) Mourinho but I'm the manager of Manchester United. "And it's going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decides to change, so that was my point," he said. Amorim changed his favoured three-man defence for the recent win over Newcastle before reverting to his preferred formation in the disappointing draws with Wolves and Leeds. The 40-year-old is also said to have had disagreements with the club over transfer targets amid reports of tensions with United director of football Jason Wilcox. (With inputs from Agencies)
05 January,2026 06:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFootball superstar Lionel Messi has die-hard fans all over the globe, who undoubtedly bombard his social media accounts in the hope of drawing his attention. However, it appears that certain fans tend to cross the line and that’s something the Inter Miami star’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo is not happy about. Suzy Cortez, a former Playboy model, is one such fan. She has been reportedly flooding Messi’s social media accounts with steamy pictures of herself due to which Roccuzzo has allegedly instructed the security at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium to ban her from entering the premises, reported British tabloid The Sun. Cortez is unhappy about this. “I felt humiliated. No one should be banned from a public sporting event because of personal issues or disputes on social media,” Cortez told Brazilian publication Extra, claiming she was stopped from entering the venue for the MLS Cup final last month. Messi and Roccuzzo — a model, social media influencer, and entrepreneur — have known each other since childhood. They began dating in 2009 and exchanged vows in 2017. The couple has three sons: Thiago (13), Matteo (10), and Ciro (seven).
05 January,2026 08:38 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentArsenal manager Mikel Arteta said his team’s resilience to fight back from conceding early to beat Bournemouth 3-2 is a sign of their growth as they aim to end a 22-year wait to win the English Premier League (EPL). The Gunners moved six points clear of Aston Villa at the top of the table and seven ahead of Manchester City, who host Chelsea in their game-in-hand on Sunday. A rare error from Gabriel Magalhaes gifted Bournemouth the lead in the 10th minute, but the Brazilian centre-back quickly made amends at the other end to equalise (16th min). A second-half double from Declan Rice (54th and 71st min) then secured the three points for the Gunners despite a stunning strike from Eli Kroupi (76th min) to give Bournemouth hope late on. Mikel Arteta “They [Bournemouth] are so good, [we] made it even harder for ourselves conceding the first goal, but I love the character of the team,” said Arteta. “I love the character of Gabriel. The way he overcame that situation, it’s just unbelievable. It says a lot about how much we’ve grown. The team found a way to beat them and it’s a massive win,” he added. Rice had been a major injury doubt after missing Tuesday’s 4-1 thrashing of Villa due to a swelling on his knee. Arteta said that the England international had pushed himself to return to the starting line-up and proved the match-winner by doubling his goal tally for the season. “He has stretched himself to the very limit and the team were rewarded with two great goals. I think it’s the first time he’s scored two in an EPL game, so yes a great day to remember,” remarked a jubilant Arteta. 01No. of times Declan Rice has scored a brace in the EPL 15No. of wins for Arsenal in their first 20 EPL games this season; Only twice before have they won more times in their first 20 top-division fixtures This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2026 08:23 AM IST | Bournemouth | AFPADVERTISEMENT
