Philippe Coutinho s Champions League triumph with Bayern Munich can be a boost for Barcelona and Antoine Griezmann will find his best form, says Los Cules goalkeeper Neto.

Brazil playmaker Coutinho spent last term on loan at Bayern and won a Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League treble – the latter triumph including a star turn off the bench in an 8-2 battering of Barca in the quarter-finals.

Even though Bayern opted not to make the move permanent, it still appeared as though Coutinho s future lay away from Camp Nou until Ronald Koeman s arrival as head coach signalled a fresh lease of life at Barca.

Coutinho has two assists and a goal, as well as an 88.96 per cent pass success rate, from four LaLiga games this season and compatriot Neto is delighted to se…

Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann backed Vincent Kompany to succeed at his former club Bayern Munich as expectations grow for the Belgian to take charge in Bavaria.

The former Manchester City captain, who began his coaching career in Belgium with Anderlecht, oversaw Burnley s relegation from the Premier League in the 2023-24 season.

Yet Kompany is expected to soon be announced as the new head coach of Bayern.

The Bundesliga giants parted ways with Thomas Tuchel after a rare season without silverware but Nagelsmann, speaking on Sky Germany, expects Kompany to deliver for the Bavarian side if appointed.

I ve heard that he s a very good coach with outstanding prospects, and he has had many good coaches who trained him, so he ll do well, said Nagelsmann, who…

Mauricio Pochettino believes he is under no greater pressure from the owners at Chelsea than in either of his two previous Premier League appointments.

The Argentinian enjoyed successful spells with Southampton and Tottenham, guiding the latter to the Champions League final in 2019, but has seen his new side struggle for goals and wins since he was appointed in the summer despite a huge transfer outlay.

He famously enjoyed a close relationship with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy prior to being sacked five months after taking the club to within a game of being crowned European champions.

An injury update from Cobham ahead of our Carabao Cup fixture against Brighton.

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)

At Southampton there was a similarly jovial working arran…

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel insists Timo Werner is getting stronger and stronger despite the Germany international s goalless run in the Premier League now stretching to 14 games. 

Werner arrived at Stamford Bridge with a reputation as a prolific goalscorer following his move from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. 

But the 24-year-old has scored just four times in 22 Premier League appearances, with his blank in Sunday s 2-1 win at Sheffield United stretching his barren run even further. 

While he did not get on the scoresheet, he was in the thick of the action as Chelsea made it three wins on the bounce under new boss Tuchel. 

His low cross was clinically dispatched by Mason Mount to put the Blues ahead shortly before the int…

Cristiano Ronaldo is more likely to return to Manchester United than Real Madrid, while Chelsea are desperate to land Erling Haaland.

Ronaldo, 36, is out of contract at Juventus in 2022 and his future has again become a talking point.

Two of his former clubs, United and Madrid, have been linked with the Portugal star.

TOP STORY – MAN UTD RETURN MORE LIKELY THAN MADRID FOR RONALDO

A return to Manchester United is more likely than Real Madrid for Juventus star Ronaldo, according to Tuttosport.

The report says Madrid president Florentino Perez has not opened the door for a Ronaldo return, due to the club s interest in Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe.

Ronaldo starred at United between 2003 and 2009 before shining in Madrid …

With all eyes falling on the Allianz Arena on Saturday evening, Bayern Munich opened Thomas Tuchel s tenure with an action-packed 4-2 victory against Bundesliga title rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Although the German champions might have shocked many last week as they sacked Julian Nagelsmann, the ex-Chelsea boss certainly opened his tenure with a statement on home soil.

Storming their way to a rampant 3-0 lead heading into the interval as Thomas Muller s brace quickly followed Gregor Kobel s stunning own goal, the Bavarians couldn t have wished for a better return from the international break.

With Kingsley Coman adding a fourth just six minutes after the half-time break, Dortmund will know that they face a huge amount of scrutiny following another collapse at the …

England manager Roy Hodgson has told his players they can win Euro 2016 during an upbeat meeting .

Hodgson s men are preparing for qualifiers against San Marino and Switzerland without the likes of Jack Wilshere, Jordan Henderson, Leighton Baines, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge.

Back in the squad is Jonjo Shelvey, the 23-year-old Swansea City midfielder set for his first international appearance since 2012.

Shelvey revealed Hodgson s belief that England can go all the way in France next year, when the 68-year-old s contract expires.

He just said we can either go one way, keep winning and stay the way we are, or we can go up another level in our performances, he said.

Because there s no reason why the England team, with the players we ve got,…

Barcelona coach Xavi talked up the importance of Barcelona s victory over Atletico Madrid as the LaLiga leaders returned to winning ways on Sunday.

Ferran Torres netted the only goal in a 1-0 win at Camp Nou, bringing an end to a goalless run that included back-to-back goalless draws in the league.

The victory also extended Barca s commanding lead at the top of LaLiga to 11 points over rivals Real Madrid, who could be forgiven for having their attention elsewhere as they defend their Champions League crown.

With eight games to go, Barca are closing on the title, but Xavi made clear there was work still to be done.

There is nothing done, although it is exciting, he said. Here, nobody feels like a champion, and if someone does, we will tell them that nothi…

Republic of Ireland assistant coach Roy Keane has called on the players to earn their place at Euro 2016 with a pair of strong displays in their play-off tie with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Balkan side missed out on sealing a European Championships debut when they were beaten by Portugal for a spot at Euro 2012, while Ireland have progressed from this stage once in three attempts their fourth play-off appearance will set a new record.

Ireland make the trip for the first leg in Zenica on Friday, with Bosnia unbeaten in four competitive home matches.

However, Ireland won the only previous meeting between the two sides with a 1-0 triumph in Dublin in a 2012 friendly.

Ireland finished behind Germany and Poland in their qualifying group, while Bosnia missed out o…

Roberto Mancini expects to see more focus and ruthlessness from Italy when they face Switzerland after being held to a 1-1 draw by Bulgaria in World Cup qualifying on Thursday. 

In their first match on home soil since winning Euro 2020, Italy went in front through a fine finish from Federico Chiesa but were pegged back before half-time when a swift counter-attack ended with Atanas Iliev turning home. 

Georgi Georgiev did well to deny Chiesa and Ciro Immobile as the Azzurri searched for a winner in the second half, the Bulgaria goalkeeper finishing the game at Stadio Artemio Franchi with seven saves.

Despite failing to secure all three points, Italy made it 35 games unbeaten to equal the European record set by Spain.

Avoiding defeat to Switzerland in Ba…