Ernesto Valverde accepts it will not be enough to challenge for just one trophy in his first season at Barcelona.
The Catalans endured a rocky start to the 53-year-old s reign at Camp Nou as they lost 5-1 over two legs to Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana, but they have since won seven out of seven matches in all competitions.
Valverde s predecessor, Luis Enrique, won the treble in his first season in charge – as did Pep Guardiola in 2008-09 – meaning the pressure is on Valverde to deliver.
The former Athletic Bilbao boss is not looking beyond Wednesday s Champions League trip to Sporting CP but is well aware of what is expected between now and next May.
To be honest, I ll be happy just winning tomorrow. I don t look any further than that, he …
Patrick Kluivert hopes Barcelona will retain his compatriot Frenkie de Jong, amid reported interest from Manchester United.
Despite his own reported intentions to stay in LaLiga, De Jong has been linked to a reunion with Erik ten Hag his former boss at Ajax – with Barcelona attempting to break even on an €85million package.
The 25-year-old has struggled to find a role that best suits him since arriving at Camp Nou in 2019, with Sergio Busquets still starting as Barcelona s deepest midfielder.
Kluivert believes De Jong would flourish in Busquets role but it would be hard to supplant the veteran, but despite this and Barcelona s recent financial troubles, they should try to keep him.
I hope that they will keep him, Kluivert told Cadena Ser. If they sel…
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp feels there were other factors at play aside from James Milner s saved penalty after Southampton left Anfield with a 0-0 draw.
The hosts were frustrated by a deep-lying and well-manned Southampton defence but looked set to grab the breakthrough when Jack Stephens was penalised for handball inside the box after 64 minutes.
But Milner s usual reliability deserted him as he could not quite pick out the bottom left corner and Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster saved brilliantly.
Former England international Milner last failed from the spot in the Premier League in November 2009 and had netted seven from seven this term.
The experienced player shouldered responsibility for a setback that left Liverpool s Champions League qualification…
Ivan Toney has been left out of Brentford s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace due to ongoing transfer speculation surrounding the striker, Bees boss Thomas Frank confirmed.
The England forward is linked with a move away from the Brentford Community Stadium, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all reportedly interested, as are Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
Frank initially stated Toney, who missed the first half of last season through suspension, would be available for Brentford s first game of this campaign during his pre-match press conference.
However, the Dane believes the Bees have demonstrated their ability to cope without his services.
Your Bees for the season opener |
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC)
There s a …
Mason Greenwood says he is “happy to be here” at Getafe as he was unveiled in front of the home crowd for the first time following his loan move from Manchester United.
The 21-year-old made the switch to Spain on deadline day after it was announced last month that he would continue his career away from Old Trafford.
Greenwood was suspended by United back in January 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online and faced charges including attempted rape and assault, but the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February this year that the case had been discontinued.
Greenwood had the opportunity to train in front of the Getafe fans in an open training session on Tuesday and was later unveiled in front of the home s…
Sky Sports understands that Iker Cassilas has signalled his intention to end his career with Porto after penning a new one-year deal with the club.
The former Spain international has put pen-to-paper on fresh terms which will see him remain with the Portuguese giants until the end of next season, by which time he will be almost thirty-nine-years old.
Cassilas moved to Porto following a twenty-five-year association with Real Madrid, during which time he made seven hundred and twenty-five appearances in all competitions and won a whole host of major honours including five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
Internationally, he is his country’s most capped player with one hundred and sixty-seven appearances, while with them he won two European Champi…
Manchester City left it late to seal a 100-point Premier League season but Gabriel Jesus was the champions final day hero as he snatched a 1-0 win deep into stoppage time at Southampton.
City have set competition records for wins, goals scored and points acquired during their march to glory in 2017-18, although little of their usual panache was in evidence during a listless opening half at St Mary s.
The unlikely 10-goal swing required to put Saints in danger of relegation never looked to be on the cards and Mark Hughes well-manned defence coped assuredly with mounting City pressure after the break.
That was until Kevin De Bruyne s exquisite lofted pass – a 16th league assist of the campaign for the Belgium playmaker sent substitute Jesus clear to loft a cool f…
Macauley Bonne and Scott Malone scored the goals as managerless Gillingham beat MK Dons 2-1 to claim their first win in four games.
First-half substitute Bonne opened the scoring eight minutes after coming on before Malone claimed his first goal since April 2022 to lift the Gills back into the top three just two days after sacking Neil Harris.
Under the guidance of caretaker manager Keith Millen, the slow-starting hosts almost fell behind after seven minutes when Joe Tomlinson flashed an effort across the face of goal. Mo Eisa also squandered a promising move by shooting straight at goalkeeper Jake Turner.
Bonne capitalised on a mistake by Dons defender Anthony Stewart to go through on goal and coolly side-foot past keeper Craig MacGillivray after 26 minutes.
…
Diego Simeone eased any fan fears he might leave Atletico Madrid as part of their expected exodus.
Atletico look set for arguably their most important transfer window since Simeone returned to the club as coach in 2011, with numerous key players departing.
Juanfran, Diego Godin and Filipe Luis are expected to leave on free transfers, Lucas Hernandez will join Bayern Munich, while Vitolo, Santiago Arias, Thomas Partey, Rodri and Saul Niguez have been strongly linked with moves.
To make matters worse, star forward Antoine Griezmann also announced his intention to leave the club despite only signing a new contract last year.
P̶l̶a̶y̶e̶r̶s̶
LEGENDS
Juanfran, Godin
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN)
With several major European clubs se…
Brighton and Hove Albion have agreed a deal to sign Leadro Trossard from Genk, according to .
The fee is apparently set at £18 million, breaking the club s transfer record dating back to last year when the Seagulls signed midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh for £17 million.
The 24-year-old winger captained Genk as they marched to their fourth league title in Belgium last season, scoring 22 goals and laying on 11 assists in 47 games in all competitions. He has played for Belgium at all youth levels, but is yet to make his senior international debut even though he is being called up by Roberto Martinez regularly.
Torssard joined the Genk academy at the age of 15 from the Bocholt academy in 2010. He has had loan spells with Lommel United (twice), K.V.C. Westerlo a…