England all-rounder Stokes facing uncertain summer after knee operation May 24, 2016 England all-rounder Ben Stokes has revealed his anguish at facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a cartilage tear to his left knee. Stokes is certain to miss the remaining two instalments of the current three-Test series against Sri Lanka after aggravating his knee as England emphatically won last week’s first [...]
Andy Murray blasts Amelie Mauresmo rift talk after scraping past oldest man in French Open draw May 24, 2016 Britain's Andy Murray strongly refuted suggestions that his behaviour caused a split with former coach Amelie Mauresmo after he battled into the second round of the French Open on Tuesday. Murray completed a delayed 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 win over 37-year-old Radek Stepanek – the oldest man in the men’s draw – to avoid [...]
Charlie Stillitano: International Champions Cup will not turn into a European Super League — but we can offer a model to follow May 24, 2016 The man accused of plotting a closed-off competition for Europe’s biggest clubs has denied that his organisation’s pre-season friendly tournament will play a hand in forming any breakaway league. But Charlie Stillitano, the chairman of the International Champions Cup (ICC) organisers Relevent Sports, does believe that top clubs could form a new competition under the [...]
Champions Leicester only received fifth-highest Premier League prize money payment May 24, 2016 Leicester may have taken the plaudits and the silverware but Arsenal took home the biggest slice of Premier League prize money last season, becoming the first team ever to bank more than £100m. The Gunners pocketed £100.9m for finishing second, while Leicester received a relatively modest £93.2m – only the fifth highest amount of the [...]
Jose Mourinho is facing the biggest task of his managerial career at Manchester United May 24, 2016 Jose Mourinho has had six months since leaving Chelsea to plan what he would do if hired by Manchester United – just as well, because the task awaiting him at Old Trafford looks to be the biggest of his career. Forget the FA Cup win that proved Louis van Gaal’s swansong, this is a squad in [...]
Manchester United: Jose Mourinho a “nice prospect” according to Memphis Depay but Daley Blind reveals he would have liked Louis Van Gaal to stay May 24, 2016 Manchester United winger Memphis Depay has described the opportunity to work under incoming manager Jose Mourinho as "a nice prospect" following a frustrating first season at the club under the now-sacked Louis Van Gaal. Van Gaal was officially relieved of his duties on Monday, despite winning the FA Cup on Saturday, following days of speculation he [...]
Man Utd’s PR over Van Gaal sacking was as cryptic and obfuscatory as a Panamanian tax return May 23, 2016 Louis van Gaal is said to have heard of his sacking from his wife after she’d seen a breaking news alert. Harsh stuff. Despite the FA Cup win there clearly was no love lost between the Dutchman and Manchester United’s owners, the Glazer family. As the bungled leaking of Van Gaal’s sacking showed – first [...]
Murray fighting for French Open survival after 37-year-old qualifier pushes him to brink May 23, 2016 Britain's Andy Murray faces a battle to avoid a shock first-round elimination at the French Open when his match against qualifier Radek Stepanek resumes on Tuesday. Second seed Murray lost the first two sets to the 37-year-old Czech but fought back from the brink of an embarrassing exit to trail 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 2-4 when [...]
Van Gaal sacked: United confirm Dutchman’s exit as Mourinho appointment nears May 23, 2016 Manchester United have confirmed the sacking of manager Louis van Gaal and said that a decision on his successor – widely expected to be Jose Mourinho – will be made "soon". Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward praised Van Gaal's "excellent work" and "great professionalism and dignity" as he confirmed the Dutchman's dismissal just 48 hours after [...]
England call on Woakes as fears grow over Stokes injury May 23, 2016 Warwickshire's Chris Woakes has been drafted into the England squad for this week’s second Test against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street amid fears that Ben Stokes faces a lengthy absence. All-rounder Stokes hurt his left knee while bowling during last week’s emphatic first-Test win and is due to see a specialist on Tuesday to determine the [...]