
Gundogan 'very happy' at Man City
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says he is "very happy" at Manchester City and wants to "play at the highest level for much longer" after starring at the Club World Cup on Sunday.Gundogan, 34, scored twice as City thrashed UAE side Al Ain 6-0 to progress to the last 16 of the competition in the United States.The Germany midfielder has been linked with a move to Galatasaray and boss Pep Guardiola has been open about wanting to work with a smaller squad this season."I have one more year left on my contract and I'm very happy here," said player of the match Gundogan. "I think everybody knows that."I am committed to that competition and enjoying my football. I still believe I have several years in me at the highest level by taking good care of myself. I've proven last season where I didn't miss a game."I'm available, I'm fit - I want to play at the highest level for much longer."Guardiola was asked about Gundogan's future on Saturday and said: "No news is good news. So I don't know anything, I didn't speak with him."If he will not be part [of the squad], he would not be here. But at the same time, we have - right now - a long squad, too many players, so we cannot go with 26 or 27 players this season."

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Daily Mirror
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Bellingham sends strong message to FIFA after concerning Club World Cup issues
Jude Bellingham has not been impressed with conditions at the Club World Cup and the Real Madrid star has called for improvements to be made before the 2026 World Cup Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has criticised the pitches at the Club World Cup and urged FIFA to ensure improvements are made ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The revamped Club World Cup is being played at 12 stadiums across the US and five of those venues will be used next summer. However, Bellingham has not been impressed with the conditions after featuring in two games for Real Madrid and the 21-year-old has warned things need to change to "protect the players" before the World Cup. "The pitches aren't great here, honestly," Bellingham said after his side's 3-1 win over Pachuca. "It's really hot, I know it's the same for everyone but I'm only saying because you asked me. The pitches aren't great at all. "It holds up, the ball barely bounces and it's tough on the knees as well. Hopefully it's something that someone will look at, going into the World Cup next year. It's important that we protect the players as well as giving the fans a spectacle." Bellingham has also confirmed he is set to undergo shoulder surgery after the tournament, having been managing an injury since 2023. "I've reached the point where the pain isn't so bad, but I was sick of playing with the sling," he explained. "I'm losing a lot of weight from sweating so much, and I've decided that I'll have surgery after the tournament. I've been waiting for a long time, and my patience is running out, but the physios and doctors have been incredible. I just want to feel free." Bellingham scored the opening goal against Pachuca, with Arda Guler and Federico Valverde also finding the back of the net for Xabi Alonso's side after Raul Asencio was shown a straight red card just seven minutes into the game. "I'm not going to say that the three goals came because we worked on the midfielders' runs, but we did talk about it during the water break," Alonso said post-match. "They have the quality and their finishing was fantastic. "It gave us an advantage in a difficult situation, as we were down to ten men from the seventh minute. The team showed discipline and sacrifice, knowing how to control the game without the ball. We knew that if we recovered it, we could get out and that's how the goals came. "Going 3-0 up was important so that we didn't have to push too hard if we conceded, as happened afterwards. It's a victory that strengthens us a lot in terms of our football and our morale to compete in this tournament. "We had to defend with a player fewer in a low block and you have to know how to suffer and have the humility to find the right moment. The defensive line held the area well and we had good periods of possession. "We took a lot of positives from the game, especially the three points. We weren't able to show what we've been working on. We had to adapt to the game by staying balanced and maintaining possession so that the players felt comfortable."


The Guardian
29 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Sampdoria in line to avoid relegation to Serie C after chaotic playoff abandoned
The second leg of the Serie B relegation playoff between hosts Salernitana and Sampdoria was abandoned on Sunday after home fans threw smoke bombs and seats on to the pitch. Sampdoria were leading 2-0 when the match was initially postponed in the 65th minute as Salernitana fans hurled objects on to the pitch. Play briefly resumed but was ultimately abandoned amid chaotic scenes at the Stadio Arechi. According to Italian media, Sampdoria are likely to be awarded a 3-0 win, which would secure a 5-0 aggregate victory and guarantee their escape from what had seemed certain relegation to the third tier. Salernitana's CEO, Maurizio Milan, told a press conference that the club would go down to Serie C. 'We hoped to [restart] from [Serie B], we'll do it from Serie C,' he said. 'We know very well that the third division is very complicated. We'll start again immediately, learning from our mistakes.' Sampdoria, Italian champions in 1991, were initially relegated to Serie C for the first time in their 78-year history, only to be handed a lifeline after the season ended when Brescia were docked points for financial irregularities, dropping them below Sampdoria and granting the Genoa club a place in the relegation playoff. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Salernitana also suffered a setback after being hit by food poisoning, which led to the second leg being postponed following Sampdoria's 2-0 home win in the first leg.


Daily Mirror
43 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
FIFA investigating after Antonio Rudiger alleges racial abuse during Club World Cup
Antonio Rudiger came on as a late sub for Real Madrid in their Club World Cup win over Pachuca, but the game was marred after the German defender alleged he had been racially abused FIFA have launched an investigation after Antonio Rudiger alleged he was racially abused during Real Madrid's Club World Cup win over Mexican side Pachua. Rudiger was brought on as a late substitute for Trent Alexander-Arnold at the Bank of America Stadium. Madrid were already three goals up by the time the German came on. Los Blancos had to deal with the early dismissal of centre-back Raul Asencio, who saw red after just seven minutes. But the 10 men still broke the deadlock 10 minutes before half-time through Jude Bellingham. Arda Guler then scored a second for Xabi Alonso's side, who had drawn their opening game. Federico Valverde volleyed in a third with 20 minutes to go. Their Mexican oppenents did pull one goal back through Elias Montiel's deflected strike two minutes after Rudiger came on. Then in injury time, Rudiger clashed with Pachuca captain Gustavo Cabral. After speaking to the players, referee Ramon Abatti crossed his arms in front of his chest, which signals the activation of FIFA's anti-racism protocol. According to the Daily Mail, sources inside the stadium claim that Cabral is alleged to have aimed a vile racist insult at Rudiger. Cabral has strongly denied the accusation. Rudiger was visibly incensed when he approached Abatti following a verbal exchange with Cabral. Madrid boss Alonso confirmed that Rudiger had made an allegation that he had been racially abused. 'That's what Rudiger said, and we believe him,' Alonso told reporters in his post-match press conference. 'It is important to have zero tolerance in these kinds of situations. FIFA now is investigating. That's all I can say.' While the referee did not issue a card, his 'crossed arms' gesture was the first step in a possible three-stage response to discriminatory behaviour. Step one alerts officials and competition authorities to the alleged incident and gives the referee the option to stop the match. Steps two and three, which involve suspending or abandoning the match, are only triggered if the situation escalates or continues. Cabral denied he used racist language, insisting he had instead called Rudiger a 'coward'. He said: 'It was a fight, we collided, he said that I hit him with my hand and then there was an argument and the referee made the sign of racism. In Argentina we say 'cagon de mierd' (a profanity used to call someone a coward), all the time I told him the same thing.' According to The Athletic, after being told of Cabral's explanation, Rudiger's camp reiterated his position. Pachuca head coach Jaime Lozano insisted none of his players stood for racial abuse. 'I only found out now that you are telling me, we haven't talked about it in the dressing room. I haven't spoken to Cabral about it, I couldn't give you any explanation or justification in that sense," Lozano said. 'Nothing justifies that, but I will talk to him but knowing him from before this has never happened with him, nor with any of these Pachuca players in our league. I tell you I can put my hands in the fire for my captain.'