List of All Articles with Tag 'sport'

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is defiant in his belief that Mikel Arteta is the right man to take the club forward. The Gunners’ Premier League title hopes ended on Saturday when they lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, which saw Manchester City crowned champions for a fifth time in six seasons. They sat on top of the league for 248 days of the season and had an eight-point lead over City in March, but despite their late capitulation Arteta’s side have won acclaim for their progress this season. When asked whether he thought Arteta was the man to lead the pursuit of City, he said: “You can forget this question – he is more than the right manager for this team.” The Gunners have faltered badly in their last eight games, winning just twice, but Xhaka says this season has to be the blueprint for progression. “We don’t need to forget how we work for the last 11 months,” he said. “Even when we lost now in the last two games, of course the people see what happens now, but don’t forget the 11 months we worked. “If someone told us before the season that we will be here, I think everyone would sign it. Our goal for sure was to be back in the top four. Now we are second. Of course when you are so close to the title you want to win the title. “But we are there where we are, deserve to be where we are, and let’s see what happens next season. We have to go and do the next step.” Forest’s victory meant that they stayed up against the odds in their first season back in the Premier League. They did it the hard way, having signed 30 new players across the two transfer windows and were on an 11-game winless run up until the end of April. You can forget this question - he is more than the right manager for this team Granit Xhaka on Mikel Arteta But 10 points from the last five games has seen them move out of the relegation zone and midfielder Ryan Yates was happy to prove people wrong. “That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “I have had a lot of that individually, this season is no different. That was always going to come with the amount of players brought in and the amount of money spent. “During those periods we have had, we have had to show real togetherness and resilience. “All credit to the manager, because he has really instilled that belief in us that we can still achieve. This is really special, let’s kick on again next season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Hole-in-one continues Michael Block’s fairytale week at Oak Hill We’re alive and ready – Sean Dyche vows Everton are ready for final fight Brooks Koepka holds slender lead as US PGA Championship heads for thrilling end

Oscar Mercado drove in five runs and Paul DeJong added a three-run homer to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 10-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday

Starling Marte ended a long power drought at the perfect time, hitting a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning that sent the resurgent New York Mets past the Cleveland Guardians 5-4 in the opener of a split doubleheader

Riley Adams had a career-high four hits and finished a triple short of the cycle as the Washington Nationals tied their season high with 18 hits in a 6-4 win over the Detroit Tigers 6-4

The Los Angeles Angels have revamped their bullpen in pursuit of more success in the middle innings

Vinicius Junior said “racism is normal in LaLiga” after the Real Madrid star was sent off having faced racist abuse from the stands in a 1-0 defeat at Valencia on Sunday. The match at the Mestalla was halted for 10 minutes in the second half as Vinicius pointed out fans to the referee who he said had racially abused him. The Brazilian continued to play but was sent off in injury time after he became involved in a brawl with Valencia players. The 22-year-old shoved Valencia striker Hugo Duro as tempers flared between both sides, with VAR deciding it warranted a red card. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti condemned the abuse and said Vinicius’s reaction was “understandable” in the circumstances. Vinicius has been subjected to racist abuse several times this season. Before Sunday’s match, LaLiga have filed as many as eight instances of “racist behaviour” against the forward this season, including against Real Madrid’s rivals Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. In a post on Twitter, Vinicius said the “championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi today belongs to racists”. “It wasn’t the first time, nor the second, nor the third,” Vinicius said. “Racism is normal in La Liga. The competition thinks it’s normal, the Federation does too and the opponents encourage it. “Today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists. And unfortunately, for everything that happens each week, I have no defence.But I am strong and I will go to the end against racists.” Ancelotti said LaLiga “has a problem” after revealing he wanted the referee to stop the match following the racist abuse. “I don’t want to talk about football today, there is no meaning in talking about football today,” Ancelotti said. “What we saw today is unacceptable. An entire stadium chanting racist slurs. “I asked him if he wanted to keep playing, and he stayed in the game. “LaLiga have a problem here. For me Vinicius is the most important player in the world. LaLiga has a problem, these episodes of racism have to stop the match. “It’s the entire stadium that is insulting a player with racist chants and the match has to stop. I would say the same if we were winning 3-0, there is no other way. “Vinicius is very sad, he is angry. Something like this can’t happen in the world we live in.” In a statement, LaLiga said it will open an investigation into the incident and will take legal action if “any hate crime is detected”. It read: “In view of the incidents that occurred during the Valencia CF – Real Madrid CF match at the Mestalla Stadium, La Liga informs that it has requested all available images to investigate what happened. “Once the investigation has been completed, if any hate crime is detected, La Liga will proceed to take the appropriate legal action. “La Liga will also investigate the images in which racist insults were allegedly directed towards Vinicius Jr outside the Mestalla stadium.” In their own statement, Valencia condemned “isolated incidents”. “Valencia CF wish to publicly condemn insults and attacks of all kinds in football. Although this is an isolated episode, insults to any opposing player have no place in football and do not fit with the values and identity of Valencia CF. The club are investigating what occurred and will take the most severe measures against the perpetrators. “Valencia CF also condemn any offence and request the utmost respect for our fans. Whilst strongly denouncing these isolated incidents, Valencia CF would like to thank the more than 46,000 fans in attendance for their support for the team.” Read More ‘No doubt’ Ancelotti should stay at Real Madrid despite Champions League failure Only Vinicius Jr has the key to shape semi-final - even if Man City dominate The best player in the world right now? Vinicius brilliance has elevated the debate Kevin De Bruyne is Man City’s man for the big occasion but has he met his match? The six types of Pep Guardiola full-back, and what each says about Man City Manchester United take WSL title race to the wire with dramatic derby winner

Newcastle can secure Champions League qualification with a point against Leicester in the Premier League

Luis Robert Jr. homered, Lance Lynn pitched six effective innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 for a three-game series sweep

Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill hit a superb century to outdo Virat Kohli’s second successive ton as Royal Challengers Bangalore were eliminated from the Indian Premier League

The United States has routed France 9-0 to keep its perfect record at the ice hockey world championship

Manchester United scored a stoppage-time winner against 10-woman Manchester City to take the Women’s Super League title fight down to the final day. Chelsea had put the pressure on their rivals as first-half goals from Guro Reiten and skipper Magda Eriksson earned them a 2-0 home win over Arsenal earlier in the day and a five-point advantage. The Blues have reeled in previous leaders United and Marc Skinner’s side knew only a first WSL derby victory against their city rivals would be enough to take the fight to the final day next weekend. Hayley Ladd fired in a long-range shot in only the second minute to give the hosts the lead and City were reduced to 10 players just before half-time when goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck brought down Nikita Parris. But Filippa Angeldahl’s attempted cross flew over Mary Earps for an equaliser in the 68th minute, and City came close to winning it before Lucia Garcia poked in United’s second in the first minute of added time. Earlier, Reiten put Chelsea ahead with a 22nd-minute strike before Eriksson - who earlier in the week had announced she will be leaving the club at the end of the season - added a finish just before the break. Katie McCabe had the chance to pull a goal back with a penalty on the hour but put it wide. Emma Hayes’ side can clinch a fourth successive title with victory over bottom side Reading next Saturday while United - who have clinched Champions League qualification for the first time - face Liverpool. Defeats for Arsenal and fourth-placed City mean the Gunners stay three points clear - with a much better goal difference - in the race for the third Champions League qualifying spot. The relegation fight will go to the final match of the season after Leicester were beaten 2-1 by West Ham. Leicester could have relegated Reading with victory but Sophie Howard’s own goal put the Hammers ahead and Dagny Brynjarsdottir made it two with a spot-kick. Ruby Mace was shown her second yellow card for the Foxes in added time but there was still time for Hannah Cain to pull one back from the penalty spot. Rachel Daly extended her lead over Khadija Shaw in the race for the Golden Boot with another goal in Aston Villa’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool. Kirsty Hanson put Villa ahead in the seventh minute and the sides went into half-time level after Katie Stengel and Natasha Dowie scored in quick succession for Liverpool prior to Daly’s goal. Stengel then put Liverpool ahead again in the 62nd minute but Hanson equalised eight minutes later. Everton, who are assured of finishing above their city rivals in sixth, defeated Brighton 2-1. Hanna Bennison scored an added-time winner after Brighton’s Katie Robinson had cancelled out Katja Snoeijs’ opener. Read More Departing Magdalena Eriksson and era-crowning win show why WSL title heading back to Chelsea ‘Unstoppable’ Manchester City players have the hunger to win more trophies Manchester City players and fans celebrate step one of the treble Manchester United vs Manchester City LIVE: Latest Women's Super League updates

The Carolina Hurricanes have to find a way to turn more scoring chances into goals to stay in the Eastern Conference Final against Florida