The 36-year-old is hoping that a bad result for the Bhoys will give his own team the edge in Sunday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final clash Hearts striker Steven MacLean confessed that he hopes Celtic ‘get pumped’ by RB Leipzig in the Europa League on Thursday night. The Edinburgh club currently sit at the top of the Scottish Premiership, six points ahead of the Hoops. Despite being a former Rangers man, MacLean’s comments did not come from a malicious place, rather one of hope as Craig Levein’s charges gear up to face the Scottish champions in the League Cup semi-final on Sunday. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi…

The Marseille midfielder has admitted that his side will have to contain a France international colleague if they are to taste continental glory Dimitri Payet labelled Antoine Griezmann as Atletico Madrid’s “mister plus” as Marseille prepare to try to stop him in the Europa League final. Marseille face a daunting task in Wednesday’s showpiece at the Groupama Stadium, with Diego Simeone’s men the favourites to lift the trophy in Lyon, Griezmann a substantial reason for that status. Griezmann has 27 goals in 47 appearances this season, producing another brilliant campaign in which he has showcased the form that has made him one of Europe’s hottest properties. Article continues below Editors'…

The Reds’ Europa League final defeat to Sevilla in Basel in 2016 was the moment everything changed at Anfield, as it sparked a squad overhaul The Novotel Hotel, Basel. Well after midnight, and a few beers down. It should have been a celebration, not an inquest. Liverpool should have been dancing and singing around the Europa League trophy. Instead, Jurgen Klopp and his squad were left to reflect on what might have been. Regrets would be carried back to Merseyside the following day. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have already played his final game for Inter Sarri vindicated for dropping Kepa as Chelsea &…

The Argentine manager will miss out on the showpiece as part of a four-match UEFA ban Atletico Madrid will not have head coach Diego Simeone on the touchline for the Europa League final against Marseille after he was handed a four-match ban by UEFA. Simeone was sent off by referee Clement Turpin during Atleti’s 1-1 semi-final first-leg draw against Arsenal last week having continued to harangue the official in the aftermath of Sime Vrsaljko’s 10th-minute red card. The Argentinian tactician was forced to watch Thursday’s 1-0 victory over the Gunners from the Wanda Metropolitano stands and that game will serve as the first of four under his suspension. Article continues…

The winger went off towards the end of the game clutching his shoulder but the coach does not expect it to be severe Maurizio Sarri has calmed fears over Pedro after the winger suffered an injury at the end of Chelsea’s 1-0 win over PAOK ​in the Europa League. Pedro was brought down in second-half injury time on Thursday, and appeared to have dislocated his shoulder as he left the field. The 31-year-old has had a productive start to the season, scoring three goals in his first seven matches for the in-form Blues. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have already played his final game…

European football’s governing body has announced that there are to be no challengers to their Slovenian head in the upcoming elections Aleksander Ceferin will continue as UEFA’s president after European football’s governing body announced he will not be challenged in next February’s elections. Ceferin, who succeeded Michel Platini in 2016, was nominated for a second term as president in August. The former head of the Football Association of Slovenia is now set to remain in charge of UEFA for another four years. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have already played his final game for Inter Sarri vindicated for dropping Kepa as Chelsea & Pedro…

The Blues striker was the match winner versus the Hungarian champions, but it was almost another bad night for him at Stamford Bridge The Fernando Torres comparisons have been around for almost a year now for Alvaro Morata – but his form was becoming so bad that he was in danger of being regarded as an even poorer signing than his compatriot. Like Torres before him, Morata broke Chelsea’s transfer record when signed for £58 million ($75m) plus add-ons from Real Madrid in the summer of 2017. Life at Stamford Bridge started promisingly for the Spain international, but below-par performances have been an increasingly regular sight for the ex-Juventus forward.…

The former Gunners boss says that his star player is keen on replacing Gus Poyet in France, though he refused to be drawn on his own coaching future Thierry Henry holds the ambition to take over from Gus Poyet at Bordeaux, Arsene Wenger has claimed. Arsenal’s record goal scorer has earned his coaching stripes in an assistant role with Belgium, where he helped the country finish third at World Cup 2018. Now Wenger, who stood down from the Gunners role in the summer after over two decades in charge, says that his former protégé is interested in a more permanent position. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi…

The Czech striker has continued a flurry of transfer activity at Turf Moor by joining from Derby County, with Sean Dyche busy bolstering his ranks Burnley have completed the signing of Matej Vydra from Derby County for an undisclosed fee, reported to be worth in the region of £11 million ($14m). The Czech Republic forward was the top scorer in the Championship last season with 21 goals and has signed a three-year contract at Turf Moor containing the option of a further 12 months. Vydra’s arrival continues a flurry of transfer activity for Burnley as Thursday’s deadline approaches, with Joe Hart secured from Manchester City earlier on Tuesday, while club-record…

The former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder has left Greek club Olympiakos by mutual consent and is keen on returning to England Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure says he is ready for a new challenge after leaving Olympiakos, with his agent claiming that he is focusing on sealing a return to the Premier League. The Ivorian has departed the Greek Super League outfit just three months and five appearances. And, having won three Premier League titles and the FA Cup during his time in England with City, his agent insists he is looking at the possibility of a return to England’s top flight. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve…