Arsenal executive Ayto to leave club
Arsenal assistant sporting director Jason Ayto is leaving the club, BBC Sport understands.The well-respected executive has decided to exit the Emirates Stadium ahead of the summer window.Ayto worked under former sporting director Edu and was promoted into the position of interim sporting director after Edu left in November.But Ayto will leave the club in due course. Andrea Berta was appointed as Edu's successor in April.More to follow
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Reuters
22 minutes ago
- Reuters
Auckland coach readies part-time squad for Club World Cup's 'toughest group'
June 11 (Reuters) - Auckland City's players aren't full-time professionals and many have taken annual leave to compete in the Club World Cup where they face what coach Paul Posa calls "the toughest group". New Zealand's champions, who are fresh from winning the OFC Champions League, will face Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors in Group C of the revamped tournament, which starts on Saturday, and Posa acknowledged their uphill battle. "It's quite possibly the toughest group we could have drawn," Posa, who guided them to fifth place in the old Club World Cup in 2009, told Reuters. "We have two traditional European powerhouses in Bayern Munich and Benfica and Boca Juniors, who are also capable of going all the way." "We have competed in many of the previous versions of the CWC competition which has given us a broad range of experience allowing us to punch above our weight in the past. Our goals are to be prepared, and compete, to the best of our ability," he added. Auckland enter the 32-team tournament months after claiming their 13th Oceania title and fourth in succession. Yet despite continental success, football remains a part-time commitment for the squad. "All of the players have other jobs alongside their football commitments," said Posa. "However, they have an extraordinary dedication to their football outside of their working hours. "Players have had to take annual leave from their jobs... Indeed some of the players were unable to take time to attend both the OFC Champions League competition and the Club World Cup." The mid-June to mid-July tournament timing means it falls during Auckland's season rather than after it, as the previous version of the competition did. "The challenge of having the CWC fall in the middle of the season has been ensuring that players are in top form at the right times - however I believe we're on track to achieve this," said Posa. Serving as caretaker coach for Albert Riera, who's away for family reasons, Posa previously managed Auckland from 2008-2010. During the 2009 Club World Cup, they defeated UAE's Shabab Al Ahli and DR Congo's TP Mazembe to finish fifth. The 63-year-old acknowledged how difficult it would be to repeat his 2009 success: "It's nice to dream we could be that competitive again - however, we're realistic about the challenge." While temporary, Posa has maintained Auckland's established playing style. "It has not been difficult to maintain a playing philosophy that has evolved at Auckland City over many years. Of course, every coach puts their own fingerprint on a team," he said. This stability underpins Auckland's continued success. "This comes down to building on experience gained in previous competitions and a consistent focus on being well organised and prepared, both on and off the pitch," Posa said. "The culture surrounding the team is such that they always want to win and motivating them is no problem at all."
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
England ‘a work in progress' and have a lot of improving to do
Conor Gallagher accepts there is 'a lot of improvement' to make following a disappointing international break which saw England slip to a first defeat under Thomas Tuchel. England laboured to an unimpressive 1-0 victory over Andorra, a side ranked 173rd in the world, before slipping to their first defeat to African opposition three days later. Despite Harry Kane's early goal, the warning signs were there as Dean Henderson made five saves in the first period, but after Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr drew the visitors level, Habib Diarra and Cheikh Sabaly struck in the second half as boos rang around the City Ground. Gallagher, who was substituted in the second half, revealed Tuchel was calm in the dressing room after the game and is frustrated the next international window is three months away. The Atletico Madrid midfielder said: 'It was a really tough game, but we're still building. There's a lot to improve and there's a lot to work on and, as a team, we'll do that. 'I'm sure the manager and the coaching staff will look back at the game and see where we can be better because there is a lot of improvement to be made, but we're moving forward. 'He's calm. He's obviously disappointed and not happy, but he's calm with us. He knows we could be a lot better. 'It's a shame because we're away from each other for a few months now, whereas he would like to kind of fix the problem straight away, but he can't because that's how it is in international football. 'It's a work in progress and all the lads and the staff and the manager are all confident and happy with the progression. 'We have a lot to build on and improve and that's what we're going to try to do.' England were accused of not showing the right attitude in their narrow win over minnows Andorra. Asked whether they had shown the right application against Senegal, Gallagher replied: 'Yeah, definitely. I think we really wanted to win and I feel like we worked hard. 'I don't think we were great, if I'm being honest. But like I keep saying, it's a kind of work in progress and we need to improve moving forward and we're all happy to be doing that.' Gallagher's focus will now switch to the Club World Cup as he prepares to join up with his Atletico team-mates in the United States ahead of their first game against Champions League winners Paris St Germain at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. He said: 'It's really exciting and I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to be a great tournament. I think it will be really exciting when all the teams are actually there and the tournament starts. 'You want to always play against the best players and the midfielders. Obviously (PSG) had an unbelievable season, so you want to be playing against these guys. We know how hard it will be, but it's good for us and it's exciting.'
Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The three Premier League clubs 'interested in signing Jadon Sancho' after Chelsea paid £5m to send him back to Man United
The three Premier League clubs interested in signing Jadon Sancho this summer have been revealed, according to a report. The former England star had hoped to reboot his career with Chelsea after falling out of favour at Manchester United on the back of a public fallout with former manager Erik ten Hag. Ten Hag had criticised Sancho's performances in training after he was left out of a squad to face Arsenal in 2023, with the player branding the words 'completely untrue' in a social media post that was later deleted. The situation resulted in Ten Hag demanding an apology, and Sancho refusing to give one - he did not play for the Dutchman again and went on loan to Chelsea after a brief spell at former club Borussia Dortmund. The Blues had the chance to sign him permanently for £25million this summer - a fraction of the £73m United had paid four years prior. They instead, though, opted to pay £5m to cancel the deal, with Sancho now heading back to United. His future remains unclear, but, according to The Sun, there are three English top flight sides looking to acquire the former England winger on a permanent deal. One of those sides is said to be Tottenham, who have the pulling power of the Champions League after qualifying for the competition by winning the Europa League. Thomas Frank is set to be announced as the new manager of Spurs, and could make Sancho one of his first signings, if the report is to be believed. Another club is Aston Villa, who are also in Europe, but had to settle for Europa League qualification after failing to finish in the top five of the Premier League when they lost against United on the final day of the season. Villa took Marcus Rashford - another United outcast - on loan for the second half of last season, and turned the forward's form around after he had fallen completely out of favour at Old Trafford, being criticised by Ruben Amorim. There is therefore evidence that Villa and Unai Emery can turn players' fortunes around, which could be an attractive prospect for Sancho. The third side is Newcastle, who, like Spurs, are in the Champions League. They have long been in the market for a right-sided forward, and Sancho fits the bill. It is reported that Villa are keen on a loan deal, but United would prefer a permanent transfer to make additions to their side. Dortmund - the German side who Sancho played for twice - were also interested in a move. Sancho took to social media to thank the Blues for his time at the club after it was made clear that Chelsea would not be making the loan deal permanent. 'Grateful for the experience,' Sancho wrote to his 10.4m Instagram followers. 'Big love to everyone at Chelsea who made me feel at home - team-mates, staff, and the fans. 'Wishing the club all the best moving forward. Truly grateful, thank you Blues.' The message accompanied a compilation of some of Sancho's best moments in a Blues shirt, including Premier League and Conference League efforts. Sancho struggled for consistency over the 2024-25 season, though he did score in the Conference League final against Real Betis, which Chelsea won 4-1.
