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 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes his squad is capable of overcoming Fenerbahce in the Europa League, even with several players unavailable.  Captain Bruno Fernandes is sidelined due to a suspension from his red card in the 3-3 draw against FC Porto, and Jonny Evans will also be missing. "The players we have need to step up, and I trust they can," Ten Hag told reporters in Istanbul. "Our team is filled with experienced players who have encountered these situations before. We're looking ahead with optimism; the atmosphere will be electric, serving as motivation and a real challenge for us." Mason Mount is among those who won't be available for the 20:00 BST kick-off, and he would have been a prime candidate to step in for Fernandes in the no.10 position. "I'm afraid we’ll have to wait a bit longer for Mount, as we anticipated," the manager said. "But I believe he’ll be back soon." In-form defender Jonny Evans picked up

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has suggested the players are "close" to strike over concerns about their job growth. The Spanish midfielder made 63 appearances for club and country last season during a campaign that does not end until the Euro 2024 final on July 14. They face even more games this season with City competing in the expanded Champions League and the Club World Cup, which starts in June. Asked about the possibility that the busy schedule could lead to a players' strike, Rodri said: "I think we are close to that, it is easy to understand. I think it's something general. I think if you ask any player he will say the same, it is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever. "I think it's the general opinion of the players. And if it keeps this way, there will be a moment where we have no other option, I really think but let's see. "I don't know what's going to happen, but it's something that worries us because we are the guys th

  Former Italian striker Salvatore "Toto" Schillaci, famous as the top scorer of the 1990 World Cup, died on Wednesday at the age of 59. Juventus are among the Italian football clubs who have paid tribute to Schillaci, who became an icon for his surprise goals during the World Cup at home in his country, saying only "Ciao Toto" on social media media with a photo of him wearing a Juve shirt. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced that all matches played in Italy between now and the end of next weekend will benefit from a "minute of reflection" before kick-off."His goal celebrations, in which his face became a symbol of collective joy, will forever remain an integral part of Italian football's heritage,"  FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said in a statement.Toto Schillaci played for Juventus and Inter after starting his career in the early 1980s in Messina and enjoyed modest success at club level.His best club season came just bef

One issue with sports leagues hiring reporters to cover their leagues is that there are unspoken limits on how aggressively those reporters can cover the league. Mike Silver, who previously worked at NFL Network, has been open about his departure. Jim Trotter , whose time at NFL Network is coming to an end, could be an example of a journalist who was a little too dedicated to his craft. Trotter tweeted on Monday, "This will be my final week with the NFL Media Group." "Over the weekend, I was informed that my contract would not be renewed." I'd like to express my gratitude to NFL Network and NFL.com for the lessons learned and proved over the last five years." That last line was most likely not a result of carelessness or coincidence. Lessons were learned and confirmed. Trotter may have learned and/or confirmed that there is a line that NFL Media reporters cannot cross — and that he may have crossed it. If he did, it could have happened when Trotter pressed

Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has announced plans to meet with his teammates to discuss ways to honor their late colleague Christian Atsu, who died in the tragic earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, February 6. In an interview with Citi Sports, Agyemang-Badu spoke about his former teammate and friend, Atsu, describing him as a "blessing to Ghana football" and highlighting his contributions to the national team during his time as a winger. He stated, "Christian was a fantastic player, person, and friend. He was a blessing to Ghana football and will be remembered fondly by both his teammates and fans." Agyemang-Badu stressed that the team will need to work with Atsu's family to determine the best way to honor their late teammate, saying that "we can't just do it alone." "The footballers will meet this week to see what we can do for our late brother, and we can't do it alone; we need to collaborate with the

Andre Ayew is overjoyed to be reunited with Steve Cooper at Nottingham Forest. The captain described the Welshman as a unique individual. The 33-year-old has joined Nottingham Forest on loan until the end of the season, allowing him to work with Cooper once more. Cooper and Ayew were team members at Swansea City. The Ghanaian made 84 appearances and scored 35 goals under the 43-year-tutelage. old's "It's a great feeling to sign for Nottingham Forest," Ayew said. "I know how big the club is and how much it means to the city and the fans. It's always been difficult for me to play against Forest and at The City Ground, despite the fact that I adore the venue. "Steve Cooper is a person who knows me very well and understands how to work with me both on and off the field. We have a great relationship; he's a special coach, a special human being, and someone I really admire." "I know what I can bring to the team, and I'm ready to give it my al

David Gold , the co-chairman of West Ham, passed away at the age of 86 after a brief illness. He was a lifetime supporter of the Hammers, and the team stated he died on Wednesday morning "peacefully" with his fiancee and daughters by his side. In 2010, Gold and David Sullivan shared the chairmanship of West Ham. Gold had previously served as the chairman and co-owner of Birmingham City. Manager David Moyes expressed his deep sadness at the news.