Author: WTX Sports Team

Rio Ferdinand has suggested Ruben Amorim may have made a mistake in not keeping Ruud van Nistelrooy on at Manchester United. Amorim touched down in Manchester on Monday to officially take the reins at Old Trafford having been named Erik ten Hag’s permanent replacement at the start of the month. The 39-year-old arrives from Sporting Lisbon with his trusted backroom team in tow, with assistants Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido and Emanuel Ferro, goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital and sports scientist Paulo Barreira also arriving at Carrington. It means there is no room for van Nistelrooy in the dugout with United confirming…

Norway have confirmed that Martin Odegaard will return to Arsenal during the international break to continue rehabilitation on his ankle injury. Odegaard injured his ankle ligaments during the September international break and returned from an eight-week absence as a late substitute in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Inter in the Champions League last Wednesday. The 25-year-old was able to complete a full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday and was called up to Norway’s national side for their upcoming Nations League games against Slovenia and Kazakhstan. However, Norway’s national team doctor, Ola Sand, has announced that Odegaard…

Former Match of the Day pundit Mark Lawrenson believes the BBC have a ready-made replacement waiting in the wings to replace Gary Lineker at the end of the season. Lineker has been the face of the flagship football highlights programme for 25 years but will step away from the role at the end of the current Premier League campaign. The former England international will remain with the BBC to anchor its FA Cup coverage next season and the 2026 World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada before leaving the broadcaster for good. For years, Lineker was joined by Lawrenson in…

Deportivo Riestra, a team in the top flight of Argentinian football, has been slammed for fielding an influencer in their starting XI as part of a marketing stunt. Riestra picked Ivan Buhajeruk, better known as Spreen, in their team to play Velez Sarsfield on Monday in a Liga Profesional Argentina match. The 24-year-old lasted just 50 seconds on the pitch and did not touch the ball before being subbed off for Gustavo Fernandez. The Spreen selection was all part of a marketing stunt from Victor Stinfale, who owns both the club and its main sponsor, energy drink Speed Unlimited. The…

Erik ten Hag could be offered a speedy return back into the world of management by Roma, with the club on the hunt for their third head coach of the season. Former Torino and Hellas Verona boss Ivan Juric took over the reins from Daniele de Rossi in September but was sacked following Roma’s 3-2 defeat at home to Bologna at the weekend. The 49-year-old Croatian had been in the role for just 12 matches and departed the Serie A outfit with a record of four wins, three draws and five losses. It leaves 12th-placed Roma in a state of…

PM Christopher Luxon issued a formal apology in Parliament to survivors of abuse in state, foster, and faith-based care. His apology acknowledged the widespread abuse, neglect, and exploitation endured by hundreds of thousands of children and vulnerable adults over seven decades.  

GARY LINEKER is being forced out Match of the Day at the end of the season after his stance on requesting Israel to be banned by FIFA, – and the BBC are being forced to make the change and in the process looking at who can replace him. The popular presenter, 63, took over hosting duties on the flagship BBC programme from Des Lynam in 1999. Gary Lineker is stepping down as Match of the Day presenter Credit: BBC Who will fill the empty chair? But after more than 25 years in the studio hotseat, he has called time on…

Luke Humphries revealed that his below-par Grand Slam of Darts performance was due to his son being unwell and his mind being elsewhere. The world champion has fallen at the first hurdle in Wolverhampton after defeats to Rowby-John Rodriguez and James Wade, meaning he is eliminated before his final group game against Mickey Mansell. The 29-year-old was the defending champion at the Grand Slam so it is a very disappointing outcome and he admits he is gutted, but more important things areon his mind. Humphries posted on social media after a 5-3 defeat to Wade on Sunday: ‘What can I…

Tennis analyst and commentator Jon Wertheim has issued a grovelling apology after being taken off the air following comments he made about Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova’s appearance. Wertheim, a prominent American tennis journalist, made his ‘deeply regrettable comments’ on the Tennis Channel’s coverage of the WTA finals, unaware he was on the air. During coverage of the season-ending championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wertheim commented: ‘What do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova? Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng take the court.’ The Tennis Channel have confirmed Wertheim has now been taken off the air ‘indefinitely’ with the…

Antonio Conte hinted at conspiracy theories as he slammed VAR for not intervening in a penalty decision during Napoli’s draw at Inter Milan on Sunday. Conte’s Napoli side remain top of the Serie A table after the 1-1 draw at the San Siro, which saw Scott McTominay open the scoring for the visitors before Hakan Calhanoglu equalised. Calhanoglu had the chance to win the game for the hosts with a penalty in the 74th minute but fired his effort against the post. Despite the spot-kick being missed, Conte remained furious with the officials for awarding it, believing VAR should have…

England and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard looks set to return to the dugout at Championship side Coventry City, according to reports. Lampard has been out of work since his disastrous spell as Chelsea interim manager came to an end following the 2022-23 season and had been linked with a move to Roma. Source link

Jaap Stam has predicted his former teammate Ruud van Nistelrooy will walk away from Manchester United this week rather than remain on as a part of Ruben Amorim’s coaching staff. Club legend van Nistelrooy was placed in temporary charge as interim manager at Old Trafford following the sacking of Erik ten Hag last month. The former striker remained unbeaten in his four games in charge, signing off with an impressive 3-0 victory over Leicester City on Sunday. Ruben Amorim will now take the reins, officially arriving at the club today after signing a two-and-half year deal with the Premier League…

Brendan Rodgers was keen to avoid controversy after Celtic fans caused a Rememberance Sunday minute’s silence to be cut short, but suggested the tribute should have been observed. Ahead of Celtic’s Scottish Premiership clash with Kilmarnock on Sunday at Rugby Park there was due to be the traditional minute’s silence before kick-off. The players assembled in the centre circle and Kilmarnock captain Kyle Vassell approached with a wreath, with the away fans booing as he did. The referee blew his whistle to commence the minute’s silence but there was further booing, whistling and pro-IRA chanting from the Celtic fans. Such…

Arne Slot expects Trent Alexander-Arnold to miss England’s fixtures during the international break after being forced off with injury in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday night. The right-back pulled up in the first half at Anfield and was seen pointing to his right hamstring as he spoke with the physio whilst sitting on the ground. Alexander-Arnold was then replaced by Conor Bradley in the 25th minute and is now expected to withdraw from England’s squad ahead of their Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland next week. ‘It’s difficult to say how serious it…

Michael Owen says he is ‘astonished’ that VAR did not intervene to award Aston Villa a penalty in Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Anfield on Saturday evening. Goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah sealed the victory for Arne Slot’s side, who are now five points clear at the top of the Premier League. However, Villa felt they were denied a clear penalty with the score at 1-0 when Conor Bradley pulled Pau Torres to the ground inside Liverpool’s area. VAR checked the incident but did not tell referee David Coote to review his decision on the pitchside monitor. Owen, however,…

Arsenal included 14-year-old Max Dowman in their first-team training session before their Premier League clash against Chelsea on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s side are looking to get back on track after suffering back-to-back defeats away to Newcastle United and Inter. The Gunners currently sit 10 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League and a defeat at Stamford Bridge on Sunday would put another huge dent in their title ambitions. Arteta and his players were making their final preparations ahead of the game against Chelsea and Dowman was a surprise inclusion among the first-team squad. The 14-year-old midfielder is highly regarded by…

Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of Manchester United for the final time as interim boss against Leicester City on Sunday. United scored four times in the first-half in a 5-2 win over the Foxes in van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge in the Carabao Cup last week. After a draw against Chelsea and a first European win of the season against PAOK on Thursday, the Dutchman will be looking to sign off in style. Amad Diallo strengthened his case for a starting role with a superb individual performance against the Greek champions, scoring twice in the second-half. The Ivorian…