標籤: Continues

Aston VillaIan Matsen and Sunderland‘Lutsharel Geertruida’ is on standby list in the Netherlands over concerns about armory Star Jurien Timbers.

NU has reported this The Aston Villa and Sunderland defender will remain on the standby list until Tuesday as Ronald Koeman waits to see if the Timbers can go to the World Cup.

Arsenal defenders are coming back

They report that while the Arsenal defender is back on the road after months of injury, Koeman doesn’t want to take any risks.

The right-back has been included in the 26-man squad for the World Cup, although he last played his match in March. He has not even trained with Arsenal for some time.

Koeman has until Tuesday to make changes to his selection. He is waiting until the last minute before deciding on the Arsenal defender.

“He had to train with the group for the first time today. (To see) if he can make it to the Champions League final. It remains to be seen,” he said at Wednesday’s press conference.

Aston Villa and Sunderland are on standby

Arsenal will play in the Champions League final on Saturday. Timbers was a regular this season but has been out since March with an ankle injury. He is also now recovering from a hip injury.

Koeman is waiting to see whether he features in the final before making his final decision. And that leaves Aston Villa and Sunderland on standby for their World Cup hopes.

Geertruida was part of the Netherlands squad in the last international break, having been a regular for Sunderland this season. Meanwhile, Matsson has played mostly on a substitute basis under Unai Emery at Aston Villa this season.

It remains to be seen who Koeman selects if Timbers is unavailable. For now, it appears he is hedging his bets. He is leaving defenders from Aston Villa and Sunderland on standby while he hopes to get the Arsenal player fit.

Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has responded to claims he wants to target Manchester CityErling Haaland if he is elected.

Today Sport Cover Comments from RiquelmeWhen asked directly about a move for Haaland should he take charge at Real Madrid.

presidential campaign

For those who do not know, Enrique Riquelme intends to challenge Florentino Pérez for the presidency of Real Madrid this year.

He is currently preparing his candidacy, which will need endorsement and approval by Saturday to challenge the President.

His current focus is on that, but reports in Spain are already linking him to bigger plans to potentially succeed the election.

Manchester City on target

Sport Witness covered a similar report yesterday. It adds that Riquelme not only wants to appoint Jurgen Klopp as manager, but also sign Erling Haaland from Manchester City.

In fact, he and his team are reportedly in contact with Haaland representatives to discuss a possible move.

Now, speaking at the Cox shareholder meeting (he’s the company’s chairman), he’s been asked directly about those rumors. And he has not shied away from the idea of ​​signing the Manchester City striker.

“That’s the most enjoyable part after whether someone runs (for election) or not,” he said.

“The best players should be at Real Madrid. They always have been. The best will always want to come; this is the best club. So we need a candidacy that brings back transparency and good governance to attract talent, so that talent wants to come.

“Talents have to come to Real Madrid. The greatest club in history must have the best talents, and we have to provide the right conditions so that people feel comfortable within the club. So, yes, of course, all the talents in the world will be welcomed at Real Madrid.”

Werder Bremen continue to play transfer game as they seek relaxation southampton Debtor Yukinari Sugawara this summer.

BILD HANOVER REPORT ON DEFENDER TODAYThat includes comments from manager Clemens Fritz regarding the 25-year-old.

transfer doubt

The newspaper states that while Yukinari Sugawara has been the most valuable asset of the seven loaned players this season, No decision has been made about signing him permanently.

It is thought Werder could sign the right-back on a loan deal with Southampton this summer via a €6m option. But the last few weeks have changed this.

Sugawara is no longer undisputed in the team. His performance has reportedly become ‘stagnant’.

Manager Clemens Fritz (45) told BILD: “Yuki has a lot to give, but there is still more potential. He is a good boy, but there has been no decision yet on whether we will continue with him or not.”

southampton talks

But the German clubs are certain; They will not pay the €6m buyout clause this summer. However, this doesn’t mean that Yukinari Sugawara’s time with them is over.

Instead, Werder Bremen intend to negotiate with Southampton to secure the services of the defender. They, obviously, want a cut and want to get it cheap.

The problem on that front is that he is ready to play in the World Cup. Their performance there could help increase their market value. This is something that Southampton are very aware of. Therefore, there is no hope of reaching an agreement with the vendor soon.

Instead, they will sit and wait to see what happens. Sugawara is under contract until 2028 so there is no immediate pressure on that front either.

Looks like they know a lot about what Werder are doing and won’t play along for the time being. Whether that causes panic among the German club, who would buy Sugawara for less than his current €7.5m valuation, remains to be seen.

Joshua Zirkzee’s wages Manchester United Despite being on target for a long time, the injury remains a problem for Napoli.

Corriere del Mezzogiorno Report Zirkzee’s current wage packet of €4.3m a year ‘could tempt Napoli to look elsewhere’ this summer.

napoli wants a new striker

The newspaper reports that Napoli are looking for a replacement for Rasmus Hjolund, who would be signed on a permanent basis in the summer.

Romelu Lukaku is currently an alternative option but is expected to leave in the summer. The Belgian has fallen out with those in charge at the club after choosing to remain in Belgium for injury treatment against Napoli’s wishes.

This spoiled their relations, they were already in trouble in the media. Sporting director Giovanni Manna is already targeting a replacement.

A list has been drawn up and Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee is on it. The Dutchman is a long-term target for those in charge in Naples.

However, his €4.3m salary is a problem. Indeed, the newspaper says it is an issue that may suggest Napoli could look elsewhere for a lower-cost deal instead. Brighton’s Ivan Ferguson is also on their list.

Listen to Manchester United offer

This has become clear from recent reports Manchester United will listen to offers However, for Joshua Zirkzee this summer.

Perhaps if there is an opportunity to save money on that front, Napoli will be able to get a deal done with the striker over the line. Even in that scenario, it seems they need the 24-year-old to contribute.

Corriere del Mezzogiorno has not clarified by how much he needs to reduce his salary. But any real possibility of a transfer happening this summer is likely to cost a significant amount. It seems the ball is completely in the Dutchman’s court.

Fenerbahçe are ready to get serious in their attempts to sign Bernardo Silva after he leaves Manchester City in this summer.

Photomack reports that the Turkish club They have ‘started efforts’ to include Silva in their team once he becomes a free agent.

manchester city tour

According to their information, sporting director Devin Ozek and football branch manager Erton Torunogullari will travel to England after the Galatasaray derby on Sunday.

They are planning to hold the first meeting with Bernardo Silva’s agent to discuss a move this summer.

There are also plans to beat rivals Galatasaray to his signature. This would involve the Manchester City star being offered a higher salary than the one already offered by Galatasaray. There is no mention of statistics at this point.

But Fenerbahçe are getting serious about the Manchester City midfielder. His planned trip to England to meet his agent is proof of this.

fierce european competition

The question is whether the Turkish side can win the race for the 31-year-old, with half of Europe seemingly ready for him.

The Manchester City star remains an attractive option, especially on a free transfer. And several European sides are already making moves for them behind the scenes.

Juventus have been keen for months, while Galatasaray are also making an offer. In fact, a report last month had Bernardo Silva There is a €15m deal to be decided between the two clubs.

This appears to have spurred Fenerbahce into action. They don’t want to let him go elsewhere in Turkey without putting an offer on the table themselves. Thus, their director will be traveling to England this week to speak to his agent and state his case.

This will add another layer to an already developing transfer battle. Silva will have plenty of suitors and even more offers when he leaves Manchester City on a free transfer this summer.

🇪🇸 Vitor Reis | “I want to return to Manchester City” – defender explains loan, development and ambitions https://t.co/ZjcvXg4Btv #mcfc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 21 April 2026

life after watford It hasn’t been easy for Yasser Asprilla, and it’s not getting any better in the short term.

girona newspaper Today report on the 22-year-old and the latest blow for him during his loan spell at Galatasaray.

Yasser Asprilla is currently on loan with Galatasaray after leaving Verona at the end of the January transfer window.

Verona’s problems for Yasser Asprilla

He has struggled at the Spanish club since joining from Watford in a €18m deal in August 2024. He previously scored seven goals and ten assists in 86 games for the Hornets after arriving for €3m in 2022.

But it didn’t work in SpainWhere he has provided four goals and two assists in 50 games. Galatasaray’s situation has worsened, with no goals or assists in nine games so far.

Verona were hoping that Galatasaray would sign him permanently in the summer. The loan deal includes an option to buy for €23m. Now, however, Galatasaray are assuming he will return to Spain at the end of the campaign.

This is made even stronger by the fact that Yasser Asprilla is injured at the moment. His knee is swollen and he has already missed his last game. It is not clear when he will return from the problem.

It is the latest blow for the player who has failed to make the cut in Turkey. After their difficult run in Verona, this is another low. His career after Watford did not go as he, or perhaps anyone, expected.

big summer transfer window

It was expected that the midfielder would continue to progress at Verona after establishing himself at Vicarage Road, but he now looks a bit stagnant. This injury won’t help on that front.

Big summer is coming. Galatasaray probably doesn’t want him and Verona to feel the same way. They were certainly happy to send him out in January and were also hoping for a permanent exit.

They may now need to find other suitors as they try to get their money back after spending big to get Yasser Asprilla from Watford two years ago.

Manchester United And chelsea RC Lens are pictured signing Mamadou Sangare in the summer.

The Mali international’s progress has attracted the attention of some clubs including Manchester United and Chelsea.

He joined Ligue 1 side Rapid Vienna in August 2025 and featured regularly this season.

To put this in context, the midfielder played 2,102 minutes in 27 matches, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

His Ligue 1 statistics this season are as follows:

• Appearances: 25
• Start: 23
• Total minutes: 1,967
• Minutes per game: 79
• Interceptions per game: 1.4
• Tackles per game: 2.8
• Possession won (last third): 1.0
• Balls recovered per game: 6.8
• Clearance per game: 1.0
• Duel won: 6.4

Manchester United and Chelsea keen on Sangaré

The player’s impressive performances for the French club in the Premier League have not gone unnoticed.

is according to calciomercato.itWho mentioned Manchester United and Chelsea in a report focused on Juventus.

The Serie A team is fourth in the standings, two points ahead of fifth-placed Como and three ahead of sixth-placed AS Roma.

The Old Lady are already working on some operations, although everything will depend on Champions League qualification.

As part of their plans, Juve are considering RC Lens’ Mamadou Sangare for the midfield. Manchester United and Chelsea are also showing interest in the Malian, and both clubs are ready to launch a major auction in the next window.

Therefore, Juventus general manager Damien Comolli intends to try to overtake the Premier League pair in the transfer race.

The Turin club are unlikely to make a move until the end of this season, giving both the Red Devils and Blues time to make moves. The lens man is valued at around €30m, and this could rise further with a potential bidding war.

Our Opinion: Fees shouldn’t be an issue for PL Duo

Manchester United or Chelsea are unlikely to have any problem paying €30m in the summer and their sporting projects could probably be key in convincing the midfielder.

Mamadou Sangare has a decision to make and there is no mention of his stance on a potential transfer. His contract is until 2030, and transfer market He is worth €30 million.

The Red Devils need to bring in at least one new midfielder and Sport witnessed last month broadcast news His surprising interest in Chelsea’s Andre Santos.

At the worst time of the year, injuries have begun to pile up for the Los Angeles Lakers.

After being a good but inconsistent team for most of the season, the Lakers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since the beginning of March. After a loss to the Denver Nuggets on March 5, LA won 13 of their next 14, including decisive wins over the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets (twice).

Unfortunately, the good vibes and confidence were derailed this week when top star Luka Doncic suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him out of at least the last five games of the regular season. The news means LA will be without the player who averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per night for the team. Well, it looks like he’s not the only key player Lakers fans need to worry about.

Austin Reeves is also struggling with injury now?

LA Times Lakers reporter Brad Turner reported on Saturday afternoon, “Austin Reeves got imaging on his obliques on Saturday, and his status for the Lakers vs. Mavericks tomorrow is TBD. Marcus Smart is also TBD with an ankle injury.”

Obviously, both players are listed to be determined, which can still be seen as a positive. This is not a diagnosis to be ruled out for several days, weeks or months. But both of these are tough hits at bad times.

Smart has already missed one game this week due to a joint injury. This is an injury that can’t be rushed, and the team needs to make sure he’s ready for the playoffs starting in a couple of weeks. And must be 32 years old. However, Reeves is a bigger concern.

The forward’s obliques are the latest addition to the injury report, and are now worse than Smart’s ankle. Grade 1 strains may cause sidelining for up to three weeks. While a moderate strain or tear could mean up to two months of downtime.

Since Reaves is not listed as out for the Mavericks game, he appears to be in the light realm. However, this does not rule out a nightmare scenario where the Lakers could be without their top two scorers for the remainder of the season and possibly a game or two in the NBA playoffs.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Mitchell Robinson has always been known for cryptic, hard-to-decode social media posts that leave fans reading between the lines. But after the New York Knicks’ 114-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on March 27, it seemed like Robinson completely flipped the script, and gave an answer so honest and self-aware that the entire Knicks fanbase didn’t see it coming.

After the game, a disappointed fan wrote to Robinson on Snapchat: “Y’all played like crap today, man.” Robinson responded without hesitation: “We did, but basketball won’t be a great night every night.”

Michelle Robinson holds up a mirror for the ny knicks

Snapchat certainly wasn’t the only social media platform where Robinson openly expressed his feelings. Right after the Knicks fan TV clip of Robinson instructing teammate Ariel Huckporty on rebounding before the game. He left a comment on the same post after the game.

Robinson wrote: “Until we change our mentality, it doesn’t matter; we’re not doing anything remarkable – keep that nonsense up, including me.”

a defeat that affected the situation

It was certainly not a tiring game. In fact, a Knicks win over Charlotte would have moved New York into second place in the Eastern Conference, a seeding that offers a lot of playoff advantage.

However, they allowed a Hornets team to dominate the first half 65–55, before going on a meaningless run late in the third quarter to put them behind 94–76. The Knicks’ record is currently 48–26, which is third in the East, but their playoff position has not been decided.

A monster test awaits against the Thunder

There is no time to be disappointed. The Knicks head to Paycom Center to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Thunder are on top of the Western Conference with a 58-16 record and are very formidable with a 30-6 home record this season.

However, if Robinson’s honest comments do indeed indicate a real change in attitude, then Knicks supporters should be prepared to see him deliver an extraordinary rebounding show, completely controlling the zone, consistently blocking every missed shot for the Thunder, and clearly demonstrating why a focused Mitchell Robinson is without a doubt one of the league’s most powerful big men.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

SAN FRANCISCO – This has not been a good season for the Golden State Warriors. And it sure wasn’t a good performance for the Warriors in the tanking 109-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets. However, the sight to behold for sore eyes is Gui Santos and the leaps he has made this season.

The 23-year-old Brazilian scored a career-high 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the field, giving a boost to a depleted Warriors team dealing with Moses Moody’s season-ending serious knee injury. After the game, Steve Kerr had nothing but praise for the 55th pick of the 2022 NBA Draft.

“He’s spent a lot of minutes here despite all the injuries this past month, and he continues to get better,” Kerr said. “He’s really smart. He’s finding ways to get to the rim with great footwork, and is a really smart player, feels very confident with his shot. So it’s fun to see Gui really blossom.”

Not known as a scorer coming from Brazil or even the Warriors’ Santa Cruz G-League affiliate, Santos has developed his offense to become a better on-ball creator. His teammates and coaches have noted the developments he has seen in his footwork, his 3-point shot and his playmaking, an all-around level on that end of the floor.

“It’s a good feeling,” Santos said after the game. “I was talking to my family right after the game, and they were asking me how many Brazilian players in the NBA had 30 points? And I think it was just three or four. [players]. I, Leandro Barbosa, [Anderson] Varjao, and Nene Hilario. We all had 30 marks. “It’s special, not gonna lie.”

Gui Santos said his family called him after the game to tell him he was one of four Brazilian players to score at least 30 points in an NBA game:

“It was me, Leandro Barbosa, Varjao and Nene Hilario. So we all had 30 points. It’s special, not gonna lie.” pic.twitter.com/6P24kcQW7m

– Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) 26 March 2026

Draymond Green’s honest reflection of Gui Santos’ hard work

As far as Draymond Green, who can relate to Santos’ underdog story, Santos’ success is due to the hard work he has put in. Green expressed pride in seeing Santos, a sophomore teammate, work so hard to get to this point.

“My honest answer is that when Gui came here he didn’t look like an NBA player,” Green said candidly. “And he put his head down. Worked every day.”

Green recounted times when he would arrive at the practice facility in the morning and find Santos already completing a workout or shootaround.

It’s a tough and tough climb that Green admires because he got his chance not by scoring and doing the things he does now, but by doing the dirty work. Green cited aggressive counterattacks. And for Green, it’s a wonderful thing to see.

“He worked to become this person,” Green explained.

“You talk about countless hours in Santa Cruz, he never complained. Always stuck to the process. And I’ve said since the day he came here, he never turned his back on it. Stuck, kept his head down, kept working, and he’s now getting an opportunity to show everything he’s worked on and the game he’s built, and it’s a beautiful thing to see.”

Draymond Green was asked about the work Gui Santos has done to get to this point:

“When Gui came here, he didn’t look like an NBA player, and he had his head down. Worked every day… From the day he came here, he never turned his back on it.”

Full Soundbyte: pic.twitter.com/GXGT7UJDbB

– Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) 26 March 2026

That work resulted in Santos earning a three-year extension worth $15 million this season. A win-win deal for both the player and the team.

The Brooklyn Nets rookie is getting extended minutes during the final stretch of the season after the team was eliminated from postseason contention. Ben Saraf has seen the biggest increase in workload during recent games.

Saraf has struggled for most of the season. However, he has started to show his skills which led the Nets to select him with the No. 26 pick in the June draft. The 6-foot-6 point guard continued his encouraging performance during Sunday’s 126-122 loss to the Sacramento Kings, scoring a season-high 22 points on 10-of-20 shooting with five assists and two turnovers.

“I think I played pretty well. I got to the rim and made two [feet] “I felt like I was able to finish at the rim, just like the coaches wanted,” Saraf said. I mean, they didn’t have any crazy shot-blockers, so I was able to go all the way. [to the basket]”

Saraf was the only Nets player to score 20 points during the defeat. The 19-year-old has scored in double figures in five of his last six games.

Ben Saraf continues his encouraging performance with a career best performance

Saraf has averaged 12.3 points on 47.5 percent shooting with 4.5 assists and 3.0 turnovers per game during that span. Jordi Fernandez praised the rookie’s finishing and ability to limit turnovers as Brooklyn’s leading ball-handler in Sacramento.

Fernandez said of Saraf’s performance, “It was great.” Possibly one of his best games finishing at the rim. You can see it right there, I love how aggressive he was. Five assists to two turnovers. Our 30 assists resulted in only seven turnovers [as a team] Very impressive. So this is definitely a step forward for us.”

While Saraf was effective as a driver and facilitator on Sunday, he missed all five of his three-point attempts. The Israeli floor general is shooting 36 percent on just 3.6 three-point attempts per 20 minutes this season.

Sunday’s loss moved Brooklyn into a tie with Sacramento for third place in the draft lottery standings. The Nets now have two fewer wins than the Kings with 11 games remaining. They have one more win than the Washington Wizards in second and two more than the Indiana Pacers in first.

Brooklyn has matchups with Sacramento, Washington and Indiana on its remaining schedule.

Manchester United could be in conflict with Paris Saint-Germain over the summer transfer of Inter Milan’s Ange-Yon Bony.

The Frenchman has attracted the attention of a few clubs including Manchester United and PSG.

He left his country when Parma signed him from Chateauroux in August 2021. The striker spent four years with the Italian club, scoring 15 goals and 12 assists in 117 games.

Although these numbers are not that impressive, Inter Milan bet on him last summer.

At San Siro, the 22-year-old competes with Lautaro Martínez, Marcus Thuram and Pio Esposito. He still managed to play 1,235 minutes in 37 matches, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists.

Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu has used him as a substitute since most of his appearances were off the bench. Below are his Serie A statistics from this season.

• Expected goal: 3.24
• Expected Support: 1.48
• Big chances made: 4
• Big chances missed: 2
• Shots on goal per game: 0.3
• Goal conversion: 26%

The attacker is now attracting the attention of both Manchester United and the Ligue 1 winners.

Manchester United can challenge PSG

is according to media footWho cover the Red Devils’ interest in a report focused on PSG.

The Paris club want to bring Bony back to France in the summer. PSG consultant Luis Campos is already drawing up a plan that includes improving their attack.

Goncalo Ramos is likely to depart and at least one new attacker will arrive at the Parc des Princes. This is where Bony comes into the picture and he is an option for the Champions League winners because his profile attracted Luis Enrique.

PSG is not alone as there is ‘a lot of interest’ in him. Manchester United and Al-Hilal are both ‘in the race’ with both clubs attempting to ‘sign’ the player in the next window.

Bonnie will be the backup for the Red Devils

His contract is till 2030 and transfer market He is worth €35 million. Inter Milan invested €23m to sign the frontman and could demand more than €35m to part ways with him.

Manchester United have Benjamin Cesco and Joshua Zirkzee as their recognized strikers, while Brian Mbeumo has also been used as a number 9. Young player Chido Obi has not featured this season.

On Wednesday, Sports Witness Covered Claims Zirkzee wishes to leave Italy after this season.

His exit could leave Bony taking his place at Old Trafford, provided the Red Devils are interested in signing him.

Boni is represented by P&P Sport Management, and the agency is headed by Italian agent Federico Pastorello.

🇩🇪Nathaniel Brown | Manchester United suits €60 million transfer to club

✅ ‘Almost completely profitable’
‼️ #MUFC and real madrid move forward https://t.co/K8hA9pKOtr

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 18 March 2026

Tottenham Hotspur star Dejan Kulusevski has not played for the Premier League team this season due to a long-term injury.

He suffered a knee injury in May 2025, causing him to miss Spurs’ Europa League final victory over Manchester United.

Due to injury, the Tottenham player will miss Sweden’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine later this month. Sweden manager Graham Potter has left him out of the squad for the upcoming international break, having thought he would be available much sooner.

The 25-year-old last made an appearance for the north London club in a 2-0 league defeat to Crystal Palace on May 11 last year. He suffered an injury and was replaced by Mickey Moore in the 19th minute.

Timeline of the Tottenham star’s recovery process

Three days after the injury, Spurs confirmed that he had undergone successful surgery. Later that day, Anze Postecoglou, who was in charge of the club at the time, said that he would be out for “at least a few months”.

In August, reports stated that he would not return until the end of that year. On September 9, Kulusevski got His “rehabilitation is going well” and he predicted a return to the field in the “very, very near future”.

• On 1 October, John Dahl Tomasson, who was the national team manager at the time, Spurs attacker explained He is in “a different phase of his rehabilitation”. Later that month, Sweden dismissed him and appointed Potter as his successor.
• Former Chelsea on 20 November the manager pointed out Kulusevski could return “around the New Year.”
• A month later, Potter was confident His players returned for the March international break, but optimism vanished in February. the coach accepted “It will be tough to get back in March.”

Earlier today, Potter announced his squad for the upcoming international break. After this he spoke to the media and soccer channel Has released his comments.

As well as the 25-year-old, Liverpool striker Alexander Isak is also a big miss for Sweden.

On the absence of both, he said: “Alexander Isak has made a lot of progress and is on the field. But the games are coming very quickly. Dejan is progressing but not as fast as we would like.”

What happened since Kulusevski played for Spurs?

There have been many developments at both the English club and national team since Dejan Kulusevski last arrived.

On May 21, 2025, Tottenham defeated Manchester United 1–0 to win the Europa League and secure a place in the Champions League. On 6 June, Tottenham parted ways with Anze Postecoglou, the manager who had helped them win the trophy.

Thomas Frank’s appointment was confirmed a few days later. In September of that year, Daniel Levy resigned as club president. A month later, Fabio Paratici returned, leaving him for Fiorentina in February.

Frank was dismissed on 11 February and Spurs appointed Igor Tudor until the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Sweden struggled in World Cup qualifiers and were dismissed [first time in their history] Tomasson. The national team appointed Potter in his place.

To recap, Kulusevski has yet to play under Tudor and Potter at Tottenham and Sweden respectively.

🇺🇾Rodrigo Bentancur | Detailed information on Tottenham return

🔥Player’s fitness trainer gives update
📅 Full training + return to sport timeline
‼️ Whisper it… but it could be positive Spurs news 👇https://t.co/BxZb214aw8 #thfc #Happiness

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 13 March 2026

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix delivered the kind of Sunday that reminds you why you started watching this sport. A 19-year-old Italian won his first Formula 1 race. Finally Lewis Hamilton stood on the podium in red. And the reigning world champion never reached the starting grid. Two races into the most comprehensive regulation overhaul in F1 history, the 2026 season already has its first star, its first feel-good story and its first real crisis.

Here are our winners and losers from the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.

Winner: Kimi Antonelli | mercedes

Nineteen years old. First Formula 1 win. The youngest Grand Prix polesitter in the history of the sport. And he did it the hard way: losing the lead to Lewis Hamilton off the line, fighting back through two aggressive Ferraris, and then completing a 56-lap race in Shanghai without a support net or any experienced teammates to hand him over.

Antonelli has been the subject of much discussion ever since Mercedes appointed him to the seat vacated by Hamilton. Hype has a way of crushing young drivers who aren’t ready for it. He looked ready. There was a scary moment late – a huge lockup at Turn 14 with four laps remaining that sent him deep into the runoff – but he kept it together, maintained the gap, and crossed the line 5.5 seconds clear of George Russell. Antonelli is the second youngest race winner in F1 history behind Max Verstappen. For American fans attending this game, remember the name. You’re going to be saying this a lot over the next decade.

Loser:McLaren

There’s no easy way to frame this. Both the cars did not start. Not one. Both.

Lando Norris never made it to the grid. Oscar Piastri, who has now failed to start a race in both rounds of 2026, was taken back to the garage before the formation lap with a separate electrical failure on each car. Two different problems, two different cars, same disastrous result.

McLaren won the Constructors’ title last year and arrived in Shanghai as one of the teams capable of making it a four-way championship battle. Right now, they have zero points in two races and a reliability crisis that should worry everyone at Woking. The 2026 power unit rules are clearly causing headaches across the paddock but no one’s headache has been that bad.

Winner: Lewis Hamilton ferrari

He is waiting for 26 races for this day. His first podium in the Ferrari red suit finally came in Shanghai, and he earned it the way you’d want the greatest driver of his generation to earn it – wheel to wheel, aggressive, lively. Hamilton led the race on the opening lap after a promising start from third on the grid. He battled with Russell for the lead, swapping positions several times, and when matters calmed down, he was in third place behind the two Mercedes drivers, who had the fastest packages on the day.

The inter-Ferrari battle with Leclerc in the final stages was the kind of racing that made people fall in love with the sport in the first place. Hamilton later said that it was one of his most enjoyable races in years. At 40, on a new team, in a new era, he still wants that. Don’t let anyone tell you that the Ferrari chapter is already over.

Losers: Max Verstappen and Red Bull

Ten laps from the end, Verstappen was running in sixth place and quietly saving something from a dirty weekend. Then the power unit died. He limped around the circuit for most of the lap before parking, and received his second retirement in two races, which is not necessarily true for a four-time world champion racing for a team with serious reliability concerns in Japan.

The bigger picture here is really worrying for Red Bull. The new Ford power unit reportedly arrives in 2026 with limited working batteries. Verstappen has been vocal about his frustration with the car’s behavior through the corners, and the gap to Mercedes in qualifying has been quite high both weekends. He’s not out of this championship conversation (he never really is), but Red Bull need answers before Suzuka, and they need them fast.

Winner: George Russell mercedes

George Russell leads the drivers’ championship by one point after Sunday’s race and defeat by his 19-year-old teammate. Think about that. Two races, two podiums, a win, a second place, a sprint win in Shanghai, and the fastest car on the grid by a clear margin.

Russell has been methodical, precise and completely professional throughout the first two weekends of the always chaotic new era. Beating Antonelli on Sunday doesn’t diminish what Russell is building here – it actually makes Mercedes’ story better. Two drivers capable of winning races, separated by one point in the standings, are teammates who will eventually have to compromise with each other. When Mercedes brought in Antonelli, Russell knew what he was signing up for. Right now, he’s handling it just fine.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

Luka Doncic continues to impress for the Los Angeles Lakers as the team enters a crucial stretch of the season.

Doncic led the Lakers to a 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night with a nearly triple-double performance that highlighted his offensive impact. The star guard finished with 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists while adding three steals and a block in 37 minutes.

He made 17 of 31 shots from the field, including 9 of 14 from three-point range, and converted 8 of his 9 free throw attempts. The performance marked one of Doncic’s most complete performances of the season and led Los Angeles to another impressive win.

The dominant night continued a remarkable stretch for Doncic, who has increased his production during the Lakers’ recent surge. Over the past four games, he has averaged 40.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists, while also contributing 2.5 steals per contest. During that span, he has shot 51 percent from the field, 45 percent from three-point range and 86 percent from the free throw line as Los Angeles has won four consecutive games.

Luka Doncic’s impressive season pushes Lakers to top seed in Western Conference

Doncic’s consistency has been central to the Lakers’ success this season. Through 54 games, the 27-year-old is averaging 32.9 points, 8.5 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game, while also recording 1.5 steals per contest. He is shooting 47.5 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from three-point range and 77.6 percent from the free throw line while playing 35.5 minutes per game.

His offensive production has helped stabilize the Lakers as they push for position in the Western Conference standings. The win over Chicago improved Los Angeles to 41–25 on the season, moving the team into the third seed.

The Lakers will look to carry their momentum on Saturday when they host the Denver Nuggets (41-26) at 5:30 pm PT on ABC. The matchup could carry significant playoff implications as both teams sit at the top of the conference.

Following the home game, Los Angeles begins a six-game road trip Monday against the Houston Rockets (40-25) at 6:30 p.m. on NBCSN and Peacock as the team moves into a competitive Western Conference race.

New Los Angeles Lakers owner Mark Walter continues to make big changes to the organization’s basketball and business operations department, and he made another change to his new staff on Wednesday.

Following the hiring of Lon Rosen as the Lakers’ new President of Business Operations a few weeks ago, Walter and the organization announced on Wednesday that Michael Spetsner has been named the new Chief Strategy and Development Officer.

Spetsner has spent the last decade of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, most recently holding the position of Vice President of Business Strategy and Analytics for the organization. Working with Walter for the Dodgers, Spetsner played a key role in identifying commercial opportunities for the franchise, implementing new business models for rights holders, and modernizing the fan ecosystem.

In this newly created role with the Lakers, Spetsner will lead the organization’s long-term business strategy to drive value and identify international growth opportunities.

“As we look to redefine what’s possible across the sports landscape for fans and partners, we will build on the Lakers’ legacy and look to the future to see what’s next,” Rosen said in the team’s press release. “Michael’s leadership will help us optimize our business to ensure long-term value.”

This role designed for Spetsner appears to be a continuation of what he was doing with the Dodgers, as he did a lot of work with international engagement and led L.A.’s efforts to launch a Japan-based fan club. He was also instrumental in helping create a massive museum-style exhibit in Tokyo to celebrate the Dodgers’ history and global appeal.

The Lakers announced the hiring of Spetsner just one week after adding former NCAA champion and Virginia basketball head coach Tony Bennett as the organization’s new NBA Draft advisor.

In this role, Bennett will play a key role alongside executive Rob Pelinka in the Lakers’ decisions during and before the draft, assisting with player evaluation, scouting and the final decision on who the organization should select.

As far as Pelinka’s role in leading the team is concerned, Walter and Rosen have made it clear that they do not want to make any changes to the executive’s position and ability to usher in a new era of success for the Lakers.

“I just run the business side, Rob has the authority to do what he does,” Rosen said, via ESPN. “Look, I have a great relationship with Rob. I’ve known Rob Pelinka since he was representing Kobe [Bryant]. I met him many, many years ago.”

Since purchasing the Lakers from Jenny Buss and her family, Walter has continued to position this historic organization for success by making key decisions on the business side of basketball. Spetsner is the latest name to join this newly revamped staff, which features plenty of faces who have turned the Dodgers into MLB’s marquee powerhouse.

Walter aims to do the same in the NBA with the Lakers.

No team in the NBA this season has blown more double-digit leads in the fourth quarter than the Toronto Raptors, a trend that reared its ugly head in a 110-107 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic was furious over a non-call in the first half, which came before Toronto gave up a 15-point lead in the final frame. Losing against the league’s better teams has also been a consistent trend.

According to Josh Levenberg of TSN Sports, the Raptors have lost 15 times against the NBA’s top teams.

“The Raptors are 4-15 against top-10 teams. Last night, Darko lamented the lack of focus to close out those games, but he’s going to have to wear that down,” Levenberg reported. “They were in control, up by 12 when they started the fourth without Barnes and Ingram (vs. Wembey). With that went a 7-0 run and gave up momentum. Unforced error.”

The Raptors’ lead was cut to 10 in the fourth quarter. The Spurs immediately made it a game. Devin Vassell’s 21 points led six Spurs players into double figures, including De’Aaron Fox (20 points) and Dylan Harper, who had 15 points off the bench.

Brandon Ingram (20 points) and Immanuel Quickley combined for 40 points on 15 of 34 attempts. The Spurs held the Raptors to 17 points in the final frame.

Scotty Barnes’ injury hurts Raptors’ momentum

Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes has been hampered by a foot injury, according to reports. As fans were looking for answers after the game, as TSN’s Josh Levenberg reported, Barnes playing through pain was reportedly one of many obstacles the Raptors faced during the second half of their loss to the Spurs.

Barnes was reportedly playing “on one leg” and he was “playing through the pain”, as head coach Darko Rajakovic told TSN’s Josh Levenberg after the game.

With 23 games left in the season, the Raptors’ recent struggles are a new development as they battle for position in the Eastern Conference.

Washington Capitals stars Tom Wilson, Logan Thompson and Martin Fehrvary will all have a chance to win a medal. It came after both Canada and Slovakia won their Olympic quarterfinal matches on Wednesday.

Canada’s game was absolutely thrilling, as they defeated Czechia 4–3 in overtime. The Canadiens trailed 3–2 until Nick Suzuki equalized, and Mitch Marner scored the OT game-winner.

Wilson received two penalty minutes in the win and currently has three points in four games, along with multiple hits. Thompson was the backup goaltender behind Jordan Binnington, allowing three goals. The 28-year-old Capitals netminder has started one game for Canada, coming away with a win and a .960 save percentage.

Meanwhile, Fehrváry recorded his first Olympic point (an assist) in Slovakia’s 6–2 win over Germany. The 26-year-old defenseman recorded a secondary assist on the team’s first goal, scored by Pavol Regenda.

Fehrváry led Slovakia in ice time on Wednesday with 22:01. He is the country’s leader in TOI as part of the top shutout pair so far through the tournament.

For now, Canada and Slovakia will wait to see who they play in the semi-finals. The last two quarterfinal matches of the day are Finland-Switzerland and USA-Sweden.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

F1’s last chance to figure things out before the real action begins did not disappoint on Wednesday – especially for Scuderia Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc walked fastest in the morning. On lap seven Lance Stroll’s car stopped and went into the gravel. Lewis Hamilton looks more optimistic than in the last two years. And Aston Martin gave everyone another reason to worry.

Welcome to the first day of the second Bahrain test. In three weeks, everyone will head to Melbourne for Round 1 of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

So, what have we learned so far from the second week of testing on Wednesday?

ferrari looks like ferrari

Charles Leclerc set the fastest time of the morning – 1:33.739 – putting him three-tenths of a second ahead of reigning world champion Lando Norris. Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli finished third, once again finishing tenth.

For fans new to the sport: three-tenths in F1 is like daylight. But time sheets don’t always tell the truth. Teams run different fuel loads and tire compounds during testing, and no one shows everything they’ve got. Think of it like the NFL preseason – starters don’t play a full game.

What was harder to hide was the difference in the rest of the field. Williams’ Alex Albon was fourth, almost two full seconds behind Leclerc. Haas driver Esteban Ocon told reporters the midfield was “seconds away” from the front. In a race over 50 laps two seconds of lap time is the difference between fighting for points and fighting for survival.

Ferrari,McLaren,Mercedes. All three of them looked like they were working on a different level. again.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton seems like a different person

Ferrari split the day between the drivers, so Hamilton’s track time came in the afternoon. But he spent the morning talking to the media and what he said was worth listening to.

Last year was the worst year of his career. He joined Ferrari from Mercedes – a move considered the most important chapter of his historic career – and spent the entire season without a podium. For the seven-time world champion, this is no slump. This is a crisis. He didn’t like the car, his relationship with engineer Riccardo Adami broke down and he spent 2025 as a man driving someone else’s machine.

“Last year, we were locked in the car that I eventually inherited,” Hamilton told reporters. “It’s a car that I’ve been able to develop on the simulator for the last 8-10 months, and so I feel like a bit of my DNA is within it, so I’m more connected.”

On his headspace: “I’ve really spent a lot of time this winter rebuilding, refocusing, really getting my body and mind to a better place,” he said.

🚨 | Hamilton is happy so far: “The performance of the car so far really excites me. Working with this new generation of cars is a very different experience; we are trying to learn everything from scratch, in real time.”

“Last year, I had to race a car whose baseline I… pic.twitter.com/spqR8pOJeQ

– La Gazzeta Ferrari (@GazzetaFerrari) 18 February 2026

He is 41 years old. He has been rejected before. And Ferrari’s car looked so fast on Wednesday that their optimism may have been based on something real.

Aston Martin Just Can’t Catch a Break

On Wednesday afternoon, Lance Stroll’s AMR26 lost drive going into Turn 11. Honda’s power unit dropped to neutral. The car turned around. After seven rounds the walker climbed out.

red flag. Flatbed tow. The day is over.

This is not a one-time thing. During the first test last week, Aston Martin logged fewer laps than any other team. Stoll estimated that the car was four to four and a half seconds behind the pace. This is not an interval that you will complete in three weeks.

The AMR26 is the first car built under Adrian Newey, who left Red Bull last year in one of the biggest moves in recent F1 history. Newey designed four consecutive championship-winning cars at Red Bull, so expectations were high. But the car’s aggressive aero concept is believed to be causing cooling problems for the Honda power unit, which is already suspected to be short on power.

Fernando Alonso, who managed only 28 laps on Wednesday morning, said during the first test that Newey “has not forgotten how an F1 car is designed.” This is probably true. Getting the thing to last an entire afternoon is a different problem altogether.

Red Bull and Cadillac are also in trouble

Was an Aston Martin company. Red Bull rookie Isak Hadjar managed only 13 laps after suffering a coolant pressure problem. He is still sixth fastest, suggesting that the RB22 has the pace beneath the headache. But 13 laps isn’t much to push forward.

American team Cadillac also struggled in its first F1 season. Their driver, Sergio Pérez, the same man who was released by Red Bull, suffered sensor problems which caused him to lose the entire first hour. Not a productive morning, at the track, for both Red Bull and Cadillac.

what really matters

The 2026 rules are the biggest reset F1 has seen in years. New power units. Active aerodynamics, where wing elements automatically adjust depending on speed to balance drag on straight lines with downforce through corners. No one has ever raced it. Every team is still learning.

More than two testing days left. Then it’s Melbourne.

Looks like Ferrari has got them together. Aston Martin has the most ground to make up. Everything else is still being sorted out.

The Australian Grand Prix is ​​on March 8. Answers are coming.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen