“We are up against a well-organised, well-prepared team, but we are on a great run, the results reflect that,” Ancelotti said.
“The atmosphere is good, there’s a good mood around the place and the players are motivated.
“We want to finish the first half of the season strongly, we’ve done really well so far.
“We’ve managed the first part of the campaign well, despite all the problems we’ve had. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I have faith in the campaign.
“I’m pleased with what we’ve done to this point, but well aware of what is still to come because it’s a long season – there are still six months to go.”
Ancelotti’s current deal runs through to the end of the season and the veteran Italian coach has bee…
Mikel Arteta has praised Mesut Ozil for his incredible attitude after restoring the Arsenal midfielder to his starting XI for the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
Ozil missed the final game of interim boss Freddie Ljungberg s spell in charge at Everton due to a foot injury, though the Swede said he would not have featured anyway after he reacted angrily to getting substituted in the loss at Manchester City.
Midfielder Ozil had barely featured under Unai Emery earlier in the season either but Arteta, appointed last week, called the German a massive player at his first news conference.
He backed up that comment by naming Ozil in his first team and Arteta was impressed with what he saw from Ozil at Bournemouth, where Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cancelled out Dan Gosling s op…
Andrea Pirlo hailed the spirit in his Juventus team after they defeated Serie A leaders Milan 3-1 to continue their revival but said he is ignoring results of the teams above them.
The Bianconeri made it three wins from four league matches as Federico Chiesa scored a brace and Weston McKennie netted at San Siro as Milan s 27-match unbeaten run in Serie A was ended.
The result moved Juventus up to fourth in the table, seven points behind Milan with a game in hand, on a night when second-placed Inter lost 2-1 at Sampdoria.
It was important for us, Pirlo told Sky Sport Italia, reflecting on the result.
We weren t interested in the results of the teams above us, as we were concentrated on our own progress.
We ll see in a few months where we are.
Market: Motherwell win
Odds: 19/20 @
Looking to make it three Premiership victories on the bounce this weekend, Motherwell will welcome Dundee United to Fir Park on Saturday afternoon.
Starting with the hosts, while Motherwell might have once again shown some extended issues this season, the Steelmen are enjoying what has been a stellar end to their campaign. Really hitting the ground running since returning from the international break, the mood in Stuart Kettlewell’s side should be at a recent high. Last seen putting in another dominant display on home soil as they cruised their way to a 3-0 romp against Livingston, the Lanarkshire-based outfit will be smelling the chance to make another Premiership statement on Saturday afternoon. Likewise, marking their re…
Newcastle United midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa said he would love to play for Paris Saint-Germain at some stage in his career.
The winger has been linked with PSG the club he supported as a child and has not ruled out a move back to his home nation one day to play in the French capital, but he hopes he can still achieve things with Newcastle.
Much has been made of the PSG link, it is a club that I ve supported since I was a child. One day I would love to play for them. But if Newcastle are really ambitious, then I ll stay, Ben Arfa told French channel TF1.
Ben Arfa was one of the Magpies outstanding players last season when they qualified for the Europa League, and has been described by fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger as the best player of his generation from Les Bl…
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is expecting to receive a world-class fee if Yohan Cabaye is sold before the transfer window closes.
The France international midfielder was the subject of a rejected bid from Arsenal reportedly in the region of £10 million last week.
Cabaye is yet to feature for his current club so far this season as speculation continues to rage over his future, with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain also said to hold an interest in the 27-year-old.
But Pardew is desperate to keep hold of one of his stellar performers, and is expecting to have money to spend in the search for a replacement, should he leave.
The former Charlton boss said: The answer isn t as simple as a yes or a no . The answer is he is either going to be sold and we ar…
The total of 30,000 Iceland fans almost 10% of the entire population of this country warmed up for their Argentina draw with trademark Viking Clap, which apparently brought a fair share of luck to the team.
It’s a spine tingling tradition Icelanders have introduced and which gained quite a huge popularity since 2016 and their Euro appearance.
At a larger scale on the global stage, this clap looks even more impressive.
Have a look.
30,000 Iceland fans doing the Viking Clap unbelievable! Almost 10% of their entire population!
— FIFA World Cup (@worIdcupfan)
…
Thomas Muller scored twice as Germany kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win over Norway, but Joachim Low was left questioning why the Bayern Munich forward was unable to find the net at Euro 2016.
Despite scoring five goals during Germany s successful World Cup campaign in 2014, Muller drew a blank in France as Low s men were eliminated at the semi-final stage his missed penalty in a shoot-out victory over Italy in the last eight went unpunished.
And after Muller starred in a dominant win for the defending champions in Oslo, where Joshua Kimmich also got his name on the scoresheet, Low joked that the player s eye for goal had arrived a few months too late.
We played very confidently, said Low. Norway did not come into play at all and h…
Premier League champions Manchester City have sent their sincere condolences to the Royal Family after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
Her Majesty passed away peacefully at her Balmoral residence on Thursday at the age of 96.
The sporting world has paid tribute to the Queen, with the Premier League announcing it was deeply saddened by her passing.
Manchester United said the club shares the sorrow of the entire nation , while Arsenal held a minute s silence ahead of the second half of their Europa League match at FC Zurich.
Manchester City wishes to express its sincere condolences to The Royal Family following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty’s dedication and service has been exemplary and we join our coun…
A pair of late goals ended up giving Montreal a deserved 2-2 draw at home against the Columbus Crew in Friday s MLS action.
In a clash between two of the Eastern Conference s top-six teams, no goals were scored in the first 65 minutes, before Jonathan Mensah broke the deadlock for the visiting team.
Columbus centre-back Mensah was up for an indirect free kick, and after working the ball around to the wing, right-back Steven Moreira s cross found him near the penalty spot where he connected on a perfect looping header back across to the far post.
Just two minutes later, in the 68th, Lucas Zelarayan unleashed a speculative effort from outside the box, which was blocked, but it bounced right back to him for a second crack which would beat the goalkeeper into the bot…