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The Germany winger is not letting the disappointment of missing out on a World Cup - or comments from the Real Madrid star - get to him Leroy Sane feels motivated by missing out on Germany's World Cup squad and the criticism levelled at him by compatriot Toni Kroos. Sane, 22, enjoyed a fine campaign last season with Manchester City, impressing so much that he won the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year award. Despite his age, he established himself as a key player in Pep Guardiola's title-winning side and, to a neutral, looked an obvious selection for Germany's squad. But a history of poor performances on the international stage caught up with him, resulting in Joachim Low overlooking Sane for Russia 2018. Kroos then questioned Sane's attitude and suggested the City winger does not care if Germany win or lose after he returned to the fold in September. The Real Madrid midfielder said Sane "needs people who tell him what

A Dutch defender at Anfield is considered to be one of the world's finest, but Jamie Carragher feels silverware is required to be the very best Virgil van Dijk is “right in the top group” when it comes to the world’s best defenders, says Jamie Carragher, but the Liverpool star has been told he needs trophies in order to overtake the likes of Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos. The arrival of a £75 million ($99m) addition at Anfield in January is considered to have helped turn Jurgen Klopp’s side into serious contenders for major silverware. Liverpool reached the Champions League final last season, before coming unstuck against Madrid, while a Premier League title challenge is being pieced together on the back of an unbeaten start in 2018-19. Van Dijk has played a key role in making the Reds competitive, but the Netherlands international is still lacking the silverware which marks serial winner Ramos and his World Cup-winning club colleague Raphael Varane out as the very bes

The former Red Devils striker believes an inconsistent side is improving at Old Trafford, but insists an under-fire boss remains the right choice Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Jose Mourinho can deliver a Premier League title for Manchester United, but has warned the Portuguese cannot “do miracles” with an underperforming side. The man at the Old Trafford helm has seen his future called into question on a regular basis this season, with it suggested that he has lost the trust of his players and the ability to deliver results. Having committed to a new contract back in January, there has been no indication that Mourinho will walk away from his post. Ibrahimovic believes that is the right stance, with a proven winner being let down by those around him as United seek to force their way back into contention for top prizes. The former Red Devils striker told  The Mirror : “I think he has the ability to win [the Premier League]. “I think he is the right coach for that club, for th

The Spanish giants made an offer to sign the French defender, but he was not willing to make the jump Lucas Hernandez said he turned down the chance to leave Atletico for city rivals and La Liga giants Real Madrid. The France defender's younger brother Theo is already on Madrid's books, having joined from Atletico in 2017. Deals between the Madrid clubs are unusual but Theo's move was more palatable as he had never played for Atletico's first team. Lucas, though, said he could not bring himself to follow his sibling to the Santiago Bernabeu, although the 22-year-old would not rule out leaving Atleti in the future. "I didn't pay too much attention [to the offer]," Lucas said to  RMC Sport  . "I was 100 per cent focused on my club, where I had recently signed a new contract. "My agent told me about it. When he said there was an opportunity to go to Real Madrid, I told him I couldn't do that. "Atletico are my club, a team wh

Manchester United have four points from two Champions League games, but their display in a stalemate against Valencia was far from positive. Manchester United have now gone four games without a win in all competitions following Tuesday's 0-0 Champions League draw with Valencia at Old Trafford. Fresh from a humbling week in which they exited the EFL Cup to Derby County and lost 3-1 to West Ham in the Premier League, Jose Mourinho's side produced another lifeless display in their second continental game of the season. A total of just five shots on target being mustered between the two sides over the whole match underlined the lack of attacking quality, with United again unable to get the best out of Alexis Sanchez, restored to the starting line-up after being dropped at the weekend. The result means the Red Devils are second in Group H, two points behind Juventus and three above third-place Valencia, but the manner of the display will do little to ease the pressure on t

Junior Moraes' brace was not enough for Shakhtar Donetsk as they were forced to settle for a dramatic draw with Lyon in France. Lyon scored twice inside two second-half minutes to salvage a late 2-2 home draw with Shakhtar Donetsk and stay top of Group F in the Champions League. Memphis Depay's second-half introduction sparked a remarkable fightback that saw Moussa Dembele and Leo Dubois net 119 seconds apart at an empty Groupama Stadium on Tuesday. Lyon, shock 2-1 winners at Manchester City a fortnight ago, were forced to play this match beyond closed doors as punishment for crowd disturbances during last season's Europa League, and the eerie atmosphere initially played into Shakhtar's hands. Junior Moraes struck a double either side of half-time to put the visitors within reach of a second Champions League away victory in 10 attempts but, despite their earlier dominance, Dembele and Dubois' rescue act ultimately left them clinging onto a second consecuti