Rooney backing Man City & Barcelona for Champions League final

Kasper Schmeichel lauded Leicester City s undescribable FA Cup final triumph as a 1-0 win over Chelsea gave them the trophy for the first time.

Youri Tielemans hit the only goal in the rain at Wembley on Saturday, allowing the Foxes to celebrate with their returning fans under the arch.

That was Leicester s only shot on target, though, and the rest of the drama was reserved for the opposite end of the pitch in the closing stages.

A Wes Morgan own goal was ruled out by the VAR as Ben Chilwell strayed offside, but Schmeichel had twice brilliantly denied Chelsea before that incident.

The Leicester goalkeeper made only three saves yet crucially lunged after a downward Chilwell header and then denied Mason Mount.

Schmeichel became the first keeper sinc…

Harry Kane could be set to make his first appearance of the season after he was named in Tottenham s squad for their visit to Wolves.

Kane, a target for Manchester City, last played for England in the Euro 2020 final on July 11.

The Spurs talisman – who scored 23 Premier League goals last season to win the Golden Boot – only returned to training on August 13 and was not involved as Nuno Espirito Santo s side defeated City in their first game of the season last Sunday.

He was included in the 25-man squad for the Europa Conference League qualifier against Pacos de Ferreira but did not make the trip to Portugal for the first leg. Tottenham lost 1-0.

Nuno suggested on Friday that Kane could be involved after getting a full week of training under his belt…

Crystal Palace s managerial search is over after they confirmed Patrick Vieira as their new boss.

The Frenchman has signed a deal until 2024, the former Nice coach succeeding Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park.

Former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo had seemed a likely candidate to come in, with Palace having at one point been confident of appointing the Portuguese, only for the move to break down.

Nuno has since joined Tottenham, while Palace were also close to handing the job to ex-Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre, though the Swiss then turned down the opportunity after talks had initially progressed well.

However, Palace have now made their choice, with Arsenal great Vieira, who helped the Gunners to three Premier League titles, penning a three-year …

Milan sealed their place in the Europa League last 32 after coming from behind to beat Celtic 4-2 in an entertaining Group H game at San Siro on Thursday. 

Stefano Pioli – back in the dugout after missing three games with COVID-19 – saw his side get off to a torrid start, with Tomas Rogic and Odsonne Edouard putting Neil Lennon s struggling Scottish Premiership outfit into an early two-goal lead. 

Milan powered back, though, and restored parity with quickfire goals from Hakan Calhanoglu and Samu Castillejo before the break.

Jens Petter Hauge scored a wonderful goal at the start of the second half and set up substitute Brahim Diaz with eight minutes remaining, with Milan advancing to the knockouts courtesy of Lille s dramatic late comeback for a 2-1 w…

Olivier Giroud staked his claim for a regular place in Chelsea s starting line-up after scoring four goals against Sevilla, according to the last player to net four in a game for the Blues, head coach Frank Lampard.

Giroud scored with his left foot, right foot, his head, and netted a penalty at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as the 34-year-old became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the modern Champions League and the first Chelsea player to hit four since Lampard did so against Aston Villa in 2010.

His performance, which followed another match-winning appearance in Chelsea s 2-1 victory over Rennes a week earlier, left Lampard unable to deny that the World Cup winner is in contention for a place in the first XI to face Leeds United on Saturday.

Giroud has ye…

Watford have appointed Premier League winner Claudio Ranieri as their new head coach.

Ranieri has signed a two-year deal at Vicarage Road following the departure of Xisco Munoz, who became the first Premier League managerial sacking of the season on Sunday.

Under Munoz, the Hornets won their first game on their top-flight return against Aston Villa but only managed to pick up four points from the next six games to leave them in 15th.

However, new appointment Ranieri is no stranger to English football having enjoyed spells with Chelsea and Fulham, while overseeing the most unlikely of title-winning terms with Leicester City.

The Foxes secured the title in 2015-16, led by the likes of Riyad Mahrez, N Golo Kante and Jamie Vardy as they lost just three times…

Olivier Giroud has questioned why Didier Deschamps did not give France s senior players any advance notice of Karim Benzema s return from international exile.

Real Madrid striker Benzema was named in France s Euro 2020 squad in May following an absence of nearly six years.

He had been frozen out by head coach Deschamps since 2015 after becoming embroiled in a blackmail scandal involving international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena. Benzema has strenuously denied he was complicit in attempted blackmail.

Looking to bolster his attacking options, Deschamps decided the time was right to bring back Benzema ahead of the European Championship, but Giroud believes the move proved unsettling to France s established way of playing.

Giroud has not featured for Franc…

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In an Italian heavyweight showdown on Sunday night, Roma will welcome a struggling AC Milan to the Stadio Olimpico this weekend.

Starting with the hosts, putting in another eye-catching display while on Europa League duties earlier in the week, Roma find themselves enjoying a real purple patch. Landing a 3-1 romp against Portuguese outfit Braga on Thursday, Paulo Fonseca s side cruised their way to the round of 16 in a routine fashion. Making an immediate return to winning ways after their 0-0 stalemate against Benevento last weekend, I Giallorossi have managed to find a route back into the top-four. With a Champions League return at the top of their agenda this year, Roma have lost just one of their last seven matchups across all forma…

Nick Montgomery aims to forge a “new identity” for Hibernian after being appointed the club’s head coach.

The former Sheffield United midfielder arrives in Edinburgh after 11 years with Central Coast Mariners, who he led to the A-League title last season following a 6-1 Grand Final victory over Melbourne City with the help of a hat-trick from former Hibs striker Jason Cummings.

The 41-year-old initially moved to Mariners as a player after making almost 400 appearances for Sheffield United. He was captain, assistant coach, youth coach and head of football at the Australian club before taking over as head coach in August 2021.

He has now taken charge at Easter Road on a three-year deal, describing Hibs as the “perfect” club for him.

He said: “I …

Manchester City have won the Champions League to add to their Premier League and FA Cup triumphs.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the key players in their stunning treble.

Erling Haaland

The Norwegian has been an absolute sensation, scoring a record 36 goals in City’s Premier League campaign and 52 in all competitions. People doubted whether he would be able to maintain the phenomenal scoring rate of his early career once he arrived in the Premier League following his £51million move from Borussia Dortmund but he quickly dispelled their reservations. He formed a potent partnership with Kevin De Bruyne and bagged six hat-tricks in all competitions including a stunning five-goal Champions League haul against RB Leipzig. City had to adjust their playing style to accom…