armory Star Victor Gyckeres has played down any injury or fitness concerns after playing in Sweden’s 2-2 draw with Greece on Thursday.

football scandal report comments More from his surprise appearance in the game today, considering he played in the Champions League final only a week ago.

from arsenal to sweden

Given the Gunners’ run to the Champions League final, the Arsenal forward was expected to miss Sweden’s friendly matches ahead of the World Cup. At least, he wasn’t expected to start.

Instead, he started the game and scored after playing 63 minutes before being replaced by Graham Potter.

This came with its own risks as he was involved in a nerve-wracking moment when he was cut from behind in a scenario that could have had serious consequences. Luckily, he is fine and insists that everything is fine fitness-wise too.

“It’s fun to come back and play with the guys again,” he said.

“It feels good in my body, and I feel in good physical shape. So I thought it was good to get some match minutes in my legs. There’s some time in the World Cup premiere. So, it might be needed.”

world cup plans

Luckily for Sweden, the striker was in good form as he scored one of their two goals in a 2–2 draw. However, surprisingly his famous celebration was nowhere to be seen.

He admits it was a conscious decision. He’s saving his trademark for the big World Cup games.

“I’m saving it for the World Cup,” he said.

“I haven’t done this whenever we’ve lost. It’s happened before that I didn’t do it then. And it was a friendly match too. But I can do it later in the hotel.”

arsenal fest

The 28-year-old goes into the tournament on the back of a successful first season with Arsenal following his move from Sporting Club de Portugal last summer.

Although the goals may not have flowed as freely as they did in Portugal, he still finished the campaign with 21 in all competitions. And, crucially, also a Premier League title. For him, celebration is something he wants to experience again.

He concluded, “We didn’t get many hours of sleep as we drove back to London. After the parade I was a little tired. But it was super fun to experience it.”

“I got a tremendous amount of energy from all the fans. It was a special experience that I would love to do again.”

liverpool Star Alexander Isak has insisted he will be ready for the World Cup after a difficult, injury-filled first season at Anfield.

football scandal report comments The 26-year-old striker is struggling to be fit for Sweden at the World Cup today.

Liverpool’s first season marred by injury

The striker has had a disappointing first season at Liverpool after signing in a €145m deal from Newcastle United last summer.

He was brought in to be a star forward, but instead he managed only 14 appearances in the Premier League, accounting for 21% of the total minutes played, due to injuries.

He broke his fibula in December after being unfit over the summer due to missing training with Newcastle. This left him out for a combined 106 days and 24 games for Liverpool and Sweden.

Adductor pain and muscle problems caused him to miss 19 days throughout May. He is now in the final stages of his recovery and admits that it has been difficult.

“It’s been a challenge with a lot of rehabilitation,” he said.

“It’s the most boring thing in football. It’s not fun to do too much of it. But there are some positive parts to it.”

“The March meeting that you got to watch on the TV sofa is a big highlight that has made it possible for me to be here and hopefully have a great summer with everyone.”

world cup focus

The focus now turns to being fit for the start of Sweden’s World Cup campaign. They will face Norway and Greece in friendly matches next month, before opening the tournament against Tunisia on June 15.^th.

Given that he has not played since a 23-minute appearance against Chelsea in early May, this could be a challenge. However, the Liverpool striker is in confident mood.

“Of course, I feel good,” he said when asked about the Tunisia game.

“As you know, I have some injury concerns. The most important thing is that I am in good shape for the first match of the World Cup. There is a little time left so I can work on that.”

He is also confident about the friendly matches that will take place before that. He finally said, “Absolutely. I think so. I think I will play in both the matches. It remains to be seen how much.”

armory Beating Atletico Madrid to secure their second Champions League final.

The first leg in Madrid last week ended in a 1-1 draw. On Tuesday, Bukayo Saka scored in the 44th minute to give Arsenal a 1-0 win at the Emirates and a place in the final.

Arsenal star Martin Odegaard came off the bench in place of Eberechi Eze in the 59th minute against the La Liga team.

The Norway international has struggled with persistent injuries, which have limited his playing time this season. He suffered seven injuries, due to which he missed 137 days and 25 matches for Arsenal. The setbacks also mean he has not been able to represent his country since September.

The midfielder last suffered the injury in Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Sporting in April. At that time, Norway manager Stel Solbakken confirmed He has suffered a “small shock”. Since then, Odegaard has made four appearances for the Premier League team.

Manager worried about Arsenal player

The 27-year-old was not present at the open training session on Monday, raising concerns over his participation against Atletico Madrid.

Before tomorrow’s Champions League match, tv2 State Norway manager Stel Solbakken said that Martin Odegaard’s fitness situation is “not ideal”.

After the match, TV2 caught up with the Arsenal captain to hear his reaction following his team’s latest achievement and to talk about his fitness.

The former Real Madrid player, who is struggling with injuries, dreams of playing the World Cup with Norway. Before that, they have a crucial clash with Mikel Arteta’s side, who are in the race to win the title and the Champions League.

TV2 believes it may be difficult for Edgard to balance priorities at a time when Solbakken admitted that his situation is not ideal.

However, the player has a different take on it: “We have to take it a little bit day by day.”

His team-mate Declan Rice insists Arsenal and Odegaard are a different side.

“Martin deserves it. Since he came here in 2020/21, he has taken the club to this level. He is a phenomenal player. When we have him, we are a much better team.” Rice explained.

Arsenal’s remaining matches

The North London club has three more matches to play in the Premier League this season and then the Champions League final.

Martin Odegaard, if fit, is likely to feature in these fixtures and Norway can only hope that he does not suffer any injuries.

• vs west ham [away] on 10th may
• v burnley [home] on 18th may
• V Crystal Palace [away] on 24th may
• Champions League final on 30 May

Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni has traveled to Basel to join the Switzerland camp for the current international break.

Last season, Burnley sent him on loan to Benfica with an option to buy. He scored 10 goals and three assists in 45 appearances, but the Eagles did not make his stay permanent.

He Attracted interest from BundesligaAnd the Clarets had the chance to collect a good fee from this sale.

However, no move was made as the striker suffered a cruciate ligament injury in July and had surgery.

Since then, the Switzerland international has not played for Burnley or his country and has already spent more than eight months on the sidelines.

Amdouni’s statistics for the national team are as follows:

• Appearances: 27
• Start: 13
• Target: 11
• Help: 1

He has already missed seven consecutive matches for his country, but his condition has not stopped the player from joining the Switzerland camp now.

Why has Murat Yakin called up the Burnley man?

is according to blickWhich says Switzerland manager Muert Yakin has unofficially called up Zeki Amdouni for this international break.

The attacker will not represent his country but took advantage of the trip to Basel to train with the national team.

He has already completed two individual sessions and Yakin says it is not enough for him to participate in full training.

“It is still too early for him to participate in team training,” He said.

Briel Embolo has scored more goals in the current team [23]Then there’s Sunderland’s Granite Xhaka [16] and remo frauler [11]. This reflects the lack of a backup attacker and Amdouni, who has 11 goals, could fill that void.

Yakin called on Amdouni to include him in the team and examine him closely to get information about his fitness. This is mainly for the World Cup, and the manager is hopeful that he will earn a place in the team.

“We’re hopeful he can use the next two months to get back into the game part-time. He’s on the right track. We’re counting on him [for the World Cup]” Definitely explained.

What next for the Swiss and Burnley?

Zeki Amdouni had opportunities to leave the Premier League team last summer and the door could open again after this season.

He will first have to return to the field with Scott Parker’s team and not suffer any more setbacks. The World Cup, if he is successful, will provide him another platform to showcase his ability.

If he and/or Burnley are no longer willing to continue together, a transfer after the World Cup appears to be the best possible scenario. His contract expires in 2028, with the option of a further year, and transfer market He is worth €9 million.

Sunderland star Granit Xhaka has shrugged off fitness concerns over his Achilles after coming off after 45 minutes of Switzerland’s defeat to Germany.

Click on Report Comments Today at the age of 33. He has ignored any concerns about his long-term fitness.

injury concerns

The newspaper reports that Xhaka only managing 45 minutes for his country, this has become a regular occurrence recently. The latest incident was a 4-3 defeat against Germany this week.

Due to this, questions are being asked. Do Switzerland fans need to worry about Xhaka, especially after his recent return from an Achilles tendon injury. Earlier this year, he had to take leave for about a month due to this problem.

However, after the game, the Sunderland midfielder immediately clarified everything. “This was agreed before the game,” the Basel man said.

Murat is definitely worried

Xhaka’s attempt to ease any fears comes after the Switzerland manager Murat Yakin admitted that he will have to manage The Sunderland star during this international break.

While Xhaka has been a regular for Sunderland since his injury earlier this year, making a total of six appearances and playing 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Newcastle before the break, there are concerns about overloading him.

Yakin was aware of the issue and admitted that he had been in contact with the veteran about the situation.

He said, “I’m in close contact with Granite. I’m not worried; he knows his body.” “We will discuss how long he will play.”

Now, it seems, that discussion led to him making only a 45-minute appearance against Germany before being taken off the field. However, according to Xhaka, there is nothing to worry about.

Sunderland’s concerns

Sunderland will certainly be concerned given how important Xhaka has been to their success this season.

The 33-year-old has established himself as a key player under Regis Le Bris, who immediately gave him the captain’s armband upon his arrival. This is a decision which has yielded great results.

They will hope Switzerland remain alert when they face Norway on Tuesday and Xhaka will be back fit for the end of the Premier League season.

Leon Bailly spent the first half of this season away from Aston Villa at AS Roma. Now the winger has once again become an important player for Unai Emery’s team.

The Jamaican was loaned to AS Roma, where his arrival was celebrated. However, he suffered a muscle injury in his very first training session.

Things continued to go downhill. He suffered three more muscle injuries, allowing him to play only 181 minutes in Serie A.

sports witness Question marks were raised about the winger’s attitude, as Roma became frustrated with the player. They weren’t really sure about his never-ending muscle problems, as he failed to play more than 30 minutes even in the Europa League.

Now, Roma has been surprised by how things have turned out for him at Aston Villa, where he has played more than 300 minutes in the Premier League.

The reversal is being seen as a miracle

today’s corriere dello sport Leon Bailey’s condition is ‘nothing short of a miracle’. They suggest something is not right about the Jamaica international, which raises doubts about his attitude in Rome.

Corriere struggles to explain the nature of his season, especially since Bailly’s fitness at Aston Villa appears to be fine.

There’s also a hint of humor in there, with the newspaper reporting that the 28-year-old’s first injury at Roma came after he had just kicked a ball and had not even sprinted.

Furthermore, he seems to have ‘eliminated’ the Bailey at the end of his time in Rome. That’s when he specifically requested to feature in a big game against Juventus. This proved to be the last straw.

Our take: Bailey was never a Gasperini player

In defense of Leon Bailly, Roma’s injuries have held him back. But Gian Piero Gasperini’s system is not for everyone.

Many players have come and gone who have struggled with the physical demands. This requires each player to constantly press their man, cover distance and operate high up the pitch.

It is very difficult to do that for a player who has worked in a more practical setup at Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s system relies on transitional moments, which is often the nature of the Premier League at the moment.

With this in mind, the attacker’s position comes as no surprise. He started against Chelsea and Leeds United and should be more involved soon.

🇧🇪 Amadou Onana | “I’m not a doctor, but…”

🔜 Aston Villa star suggests team-mate to come back soon
⭐️ Knows how important it is for Tielemans #avfc https://t.co/sxxLYlDc04

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 19 March 2026

Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori has joked that he is closer to Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso at the moment than his mother.

tuttosport The Arsenal defender’s cover comments today amid Gattuso’s efforts to unify the Italy squad ahead of the international break.

The Azzurri need to make it two consecutive wins this break to book a place at this summer’s World Cup.

Gattuso’s side face Northern Ireland in a play-off semi-final on Thursday before a possible final against Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Gattuso’s efforts for unity

Gattuso is working hard to unite the team ahead of the crucial week. Which also includes organizing a dinner among the players recently.

their efforts have already been Praised by Newcastle star Sandro Tonali. Now Arsenal defender Calafiori has also shared his feelings.

“I really appreciated the coach’s behavior with us and with me,” He said.

“I’ve been closer to him in recent months than I have been to my mother. I’m shy and he was good at being there for me, at times when it was useful because I was playing less and less.

“That dinner with Gattuso was nice, just being there and talking. In the last few months we haven’t had much time to train, but the important thing is to be together.

“I think he paid the bill (laughs). It was an evening with friends, where we talked about football and other things. Buffon and Bonucci shared some anecdotes and experiences.”

Fitness and form at Arsenal

Riccardo Calafiori had doubts about his fitness and form in Italy, but wanted to dismiss them. Furthermore, the 23-year-old player revealed that with Arsenal’s matches fast approaching, the Gunners’ focus is on recovery.

“I’m fine, we’ll see how I perform on the pitch today, but I’m fine,” he said.

“In the Premier League, the most important training is the matches, especially for a team like ours that always plays twice a week. We train very little. I don’t know the statistics, but the impression is that there are few dead moments on the field.”

pressure in courage

The Arsenal defender also stressed that he and his Italy teammates will have to turn any fear into courage given the expectations of the fans.

“It all depends on how you look at this match,” He added.

“It’s a responsibility; when you wear this jersey, there are millions of people cheering for you. But I see it as an opportunity, a chance to go to the World Cup, which is something we’ve dreamed of since we were kids. I can’t wait to play.”

However, the reality for Italy is that the pressure continues. They have now qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2014. This is undoubtedly a significant decline for a country which is a four-time champion.

Sweden and North Macedonia also suffered defeats in the play-offs due to their failure to qualify for the previous two editions. For this, there needs to be third time lucky, otherwise Gattuso and his team will be under the same pressure and scrutiny as before.

💫 Max Downman | You can tell a player is going to be a star when people start talking about missed transfers…

💬 Ronald De Boer: “An agent sent me a video. You have to see it. He’s a great player and really means something to Ajax”https://t.co/AOzMnsO0K3 #afc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 19 March 2026

Switzerland manager Murat Yakin says he will have to manage Sunderland star Granit Xhaka’s minutes during the March international break.

The midfielder suffered an ankle injury in January which kept him out of action for more than a month and during this time he missed five matches for the Premier League team.

Since regaining full fitness in February, he has made six appearances for Sunderland, including an FA Cup defeat to Port Vale.

Xhaka played the full 90 minutes [after the setback] The Black Cats followed up their league defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion and a 2-1 derby win over Newcastle United at the weekend.

The 33-year-old arrived at the Stadium of Light from Bayer Leverkusen in July 2025. At the end of last year, he said Sunderland boss Kirill Louis-Dreyfus reassured To join her club.

His decision to move to the Premier League team was successful as Regis Le Bris immediately gave him the armband and used it regularly. Below are his Premier League statistics

• Appearances: 27
• Start: 25
• Minutes: 2,273
• Minutes per game: 84

This reflects his importance to both Le Bris and the Premier League teams, while he also has a similar role in the national team. Yakin is happy that his captain has regained full fitness but wants to avoid any potential overload for Xhaka.

Manager happy with Xhaka’s return

blick Cover Murat Yakin comments on the fitness of Sunderland star Granit Xhaka. He stresses the need to respect the former Arsenal player’s body for upcoming fixtures.

“I’m in close contact with Granite. I’m not worried; he knows his body,” He said.

The coach wants to utilize him while he also wants to play for his country as much as possible.

Despite this, Yakin explained: “We will discuss how long he will play.”

The Sunderland player will see less game time in the next two matches compared to the World Cup qualifiers.

Yakin’s team for the March international break

Switzerland has to play two friendly matches against Germany [on Friday] and Norway on 31 March.

Murat Yakin’s full team for these two matches:

Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel, Yvonne Mvogo, Marvin Keller

Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Aurelie Amanda, Ere Comart, Nico Alvedi, Luca Jacquez, Miro Muhim, Ricardo Rodriguez, Silvan Vidmar.

Midfielders: Michel Abischer, Remo Freuler, Arden Jashari, Johan Mzambi, Fabian Ryder, Vincent Siero, Djibril Sove, Granit Xhaka and Denis Zakaria

Forwards: Briel Embolo, Noah Okafor, Joel Monteiro, Dan Ndoye, Alvin Sanchez, Ruben Vargas

🇳🇱Brian Brobbie | “There were problems.”

✅ Ronald Koeman gives credit for Sunderland move
motiv too fit, an example for dutch football
➡️Working out is great for everyonehttps://t.co/D9G6SSNZRf #safc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 24 March 2026

Norway manager Stel Solbakken has revealed that Manchester City’s Erling Haaland will not be part of his team against the Netherlands.

The national team has qualified for the World Cup and has two friendly matches against Oranje and Switzerland in the current international break.

Norway face the Netherlands at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Friday and the Manchester City star will not be considered.

Solbakken wants to rest the striker and have him back in the team against Switzerland on March 30. The decision has been taken to manage his workload, following an extensive season with Pep Guardiola’s team.

The 25-year-old, who is leading the Premier League team’s attack, has played 3,418 minutes in 43 matches, scoring 30 goals and providing seven assists. He played the full 90 minutes of his team’s 2–0 EFL Cup Final win over Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday.

Haaland missed Manchester City’s win over Leeds United last month. This is the only league match he has not played this season and below are some of his league statistics.

Special treatment for Manchester City players

tv2 Met Solbakken in Norway, who explained the importance of managing a frontman’s workload.

“We have taken into account the total stress Erling has been under over a long period of time and have concluded that the best solution for all parties is for him to now take a much-needed break.” He said.

“Our conclusion is that it is best for Erling to be involved in one of the matches of this gathering, and then we think it would be good if he can show himself in front of the Ulleval crowd against Switzerland.”

Norway return to Oslo on Saturday and that’s when Erling Haaland will join the team. The national team boss admits to giving his star special treatment.

“It’s special behaviour. Certainly because of what Erling has done on and off the field. There’s a lot of pressure on him, and for me it’s by far the most important thing he does at the World Cup in June.” Solbakkan explained.

Beneficial for Guardiola’s team

Solbakken’s decision with Erling Haaland could help the Citizens in their efforts to win two more domestic competitions this season.

Manchester City are second and nine points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. In the FA Cup, Guardiola’s side will face Liverpool in the quarter-finals at the Etihad on 4 April.

The Norway international could take advantage of this week’s rest to recharge himself ahead of Manchester City’s upcoming fixtures at the end of the season.

Last month, Sports Witness broadcast news That Norwegian from Spain is an alternative to Barcelona.

His contract runs until 2034 and that puts the English club in a comfortable position to retain him. transfer market He is worth €200 million.

🇮🇹Wesley | The pieces of Manchester City are falling into place

➡️ There will be suspicion that Roma are selling the building
🔵 The Brazilian can adapt to Pep’s system
📈 Salary inducement is a good angle #mcfc https://t.co/XhWt1Z2Gig

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 5 March 2026

Aston Villa won 2-0 over West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday. The result at Villa Park saw the Villans end their five-match winless streak, which has included four defeats.

Unai Emery left Victor Lindelof out of the squad in Aston Villa’s latest win and it has caused concern in Sweden.

The national team boss, Graham Potter, has a centre-back in his squad for Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.

He ended his eight-year spell at Manchester United and left as a free agent last summer.

The Sweden international waited until September to join Aston Villa on a free transfer and played 1,272 minutes in 21 matches. Below are his per game statistics from the Premier League for the Villa Park club.

Aston Villa’s lack of clarity worries Sweden

Last Thursday, the 31-year-old played the full 90 minutes in Aston Villa’s 2-0 Europa League win over Lille. soccer channel Take a look at his miss against West Ham and cover the latest.

On 16 September 2025, Unai Emery left the defender out of the squad in the EFL Cup defeat to Brentford. Since then, the manager has included Victor Lindelof in the squad in every match until yesterday.

Neither the Spaniard nor the Birmingham club have given any explanation for his absence from the team. Therefore, the outlet says his latest omission is ‘unusual’.

Another Swedish source, evening paperIt is said that Emery’s decision to leave Lindelof out of the team is a matter of concern for Sweden. The main reason for this is the lack of communication from Aston Villa over the player’s absence.

As of now, it is unclear whether Emery’s decision was from a tactical perspective or due to fitness/injury concerns.

Either way, the national team is concerned about Lindelof’s fitness ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifiers on March 26. The Lindelof situation should be clarified in the next few hours.

Aston Villa player has a few points to prove

The previous October, John Dahl Tomasson became the first manager to be sacked by Sweden and was replaced by Potter. His poor run under the Dane prompted him to take the step.

After the defeat to Kosovo in October, national team fans were critical of the players. Victor Lindelof thumbs up sarcastically To the supporters who scolded him and his comrades, and a month later, issued a half apology Them.

So, Aston Villa man [if he’s fit] And Sweden’s other players have a point to prove against Ukraine this weekend.

Lindelof’s contract is until 2027, with the option of a further year, and transfer market He is worth €6 million.

🇮🇹Marcus Thuram Newcastle United and Aston Villa initiate contact ➡️ Entourage now in transfer mixhttps://t.co/BBPaGSTspg #nufc #avfc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 20 March 2026

Arsenal’s season has been largely defined by control, structure and attacking cohesionMartin Odegaard is again playing a central role in that identity – at least when available.

Before his recent injury setbacks, the Norwegian was once again one of the Premier League’s most productive midfielders. In the first half of the campaign, he provided goals and assists at a steady rate, while remaining Arsenal’s main creative focal point.

Data from FBref and WhoScored shows he was averaging more than 2 key passes per game, as well as having strong numbers for progressive passes and final third involvement.

He also remained heavily involved in Arsenal’s vital structure. Odegaard was ranked among the team’s leaders for pressing in advanced areas, often creating situations without the ball. His mix of creativity and work rate has made him difficult to replace, even in a squad with increasing depth.

However, that influence has faded in recent months.

Questions are being raised regarding fitness

Norwegian outlet VG There are now growing concerns over Martin Edgard’s physical condition, with the midfielder struggling with a knee problem that has limited his participation throughout 2026, the report adds. He missed 8 games between October and November 2025. Another problem with his knee.

He has only featured in around a third of Arsenal’s minutes this calendar year. As a result, he has been reduced to watching matches from the bench recently, including the latest Premier League match.

The situation has now become so serious that his international prospects may be affected. Norway manager Stel Solbakken is ready to name his squad for the upcoming friendlies, but even if Odegaard is included, he is not expected to play a major role.

VG quotes pundit Vegard Olstad, who believes the tone around the injury may need to change: “We’ve probably been a bit naive and said it’s good that key players get rest. Now it’s time to start worrying.”

Managing risk before summer

There is still some caution from other voices in Norway. tv 2 Commentator Simen Stamsø Møller emphasizes that it is too early for alarm, but believes the timeline is important.

“If the situation remains the same in May then it is a matter of concern,” He said.

For now, the hope is that Norway will avoid taking risks. Maintaining good relations with Arsenal is also part of that thinking, especially as the club enters a crucial stage of the season.

Odegaard himself has acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. Writing in Arsenal’s match-day programme, he admitted: “It’s been tough for me because of my recent knee injury, but I’m working as hard as I can to get back into top form.”

Mikel Arteta has not ruled him out of upcoming fixtures, including the League Cup final at Wembley. Nevertheless, the manager made it clear that availability would depend on how the player responds in training.

what happens next

For Arsenal, it is less about immediate panic and more about timing.

When fit, Martin Odegaard remains one of the team’s most important players. However, his form has started to be disrupted by repeated absences at a crucial stage of the season.

With the Premier League underway and key fixtures ahead, Arsenal will need to carefully balance recovery and reintegration. Plus, Norway are keeping a close eye, knowing their captain could be heading into the summer with limited match acuity.

If the current pattern continues into May, what is now a manageable issue could become a much bigger concern for both club and country.

🇧🇷Mohammed Kone (Palmeiras) | Arsenal continue interest in €100m-clause defender they failed to sign in 2023https://t.co/i2ddwF26W9 #afc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 18 March 2026

Tottenham Hotspur are enduring one of the most turbulent stretches of their season – and about their entire history, to be fair. The team is weakening due to the worrying domestic and continental situation.

In that context, the possible return of Rodrigo Bentancur becomes even more important. The Uruguay international has been sidelined From 8th JanuaryWhen he suffered a thigh injury that required surgery.

This means he has still not appeared under the leadership of Igor Tudor, who took charge a month ago. But he has already worked with the Croatian at Juventus in the 2020/21 season. Tudor was Andrea Pirlo’s assistant manager at the time.

Since then, Tottenham have had to go through a difficult period without one of their most experienced midfielders. However, now there are encouraging signs about his recovery.

Bentencur recovery ahead of schedule

Bentancur’s personal fitness coach, Daniel Fernandez, has provided a detailed update on the midfielder’s condition.

According to Fernandez, the recovery process has progressed faster than initially expected. he explained to Uruguayan radio 100% game That the surgical wound has healed well. The rehabilitation of Bentancur is currently about 15 days ahead of the original forecast.

The Tottenham player has already returned to field-based work, which is an important step in the process. That phase allows the player to resume football-specific activities. This comes after weeks focused mainly on rehabilitation and strength training.

Fernandez also revealed that Bentancur is currently following an intense routine designed to accelerate his recovery while maintaining control over the workload.

The midfielder has been completing three training sessions per day, focusing on muscle strengthening and progressive conditioning. The program is being coordinated between Tottenham’s medical staff and the physiotherapist involved following the surgery. In addition, external experts are working on specific aspects of the recovery.

Nevertheless, the coach stressed that gym work alone could not meet the demands of football.

Lifting weights or repeating physical exercises does not reproduce the intensity and unpredictability of match situations. For this reason, a gradual return to football activity is considered an important step in Bentancur’s rehabilitation.

Despite those limitations, the Tottenham midfielder has been able to tolerate greater physical loads than initially expected, which the team sees as a positive sign.

Club and country are monitoring the situation closely

According to Fernandez, the Uruguay national team also receives regular medical reports, scans and updates to monitor Bentancur’s progress. He will be an important part of their World Cup team.

Additionally, Tottenham are managing this process and are in constant contact with the player and his recovery team. Spurs’ interest is obvious given the current state of the team and lack of experienced first team options.

Based on the current timeline the expectation is that Bentancur should be technically ready by the end of March.

However, returning to competitive matches is a different matter. Fernandez believes the midfielder could be realistically available for first-team action by the end of April. Provided that recovery continues without interruption.

Mental motivation is also important

Fernandez also highlighted the psychological aspect of the recovery process. He explained that early in his career, most of the training focused heavily on the body. However, modern preparation is increasingly recognizing the role of the mind.

According to him, the brain acts as the “conductor of the orchestra” in their performance. It is therefore important to have clear goals during the long rehabilitation period.

For Bentancur, one of those goals is the possibility of playing in his third World Cup with Uruguay, a feat only a limited number of players are able to achieve. Continuing to compete at the highest level in the Premier League is another strong source of motivation.

Because of that, while both Tottenham and the player naturally want a quick return, the priority is to avoid any recurrence.

The aim is to ensure that Bentancur is back fully fit and able to help Spurs in the decisive stages of the season.

Galatasaray star Baris Alper Yilmaz will be fit for the second leg against Liverpool, despite picking up an injury in Tuesday evening’s 1-0 win.

This is according to Now Spor commentator Veli Yigit via Haber Sari Kirmizi. He told that he spoke to the 25-year-old player after the game.

Galatasaray beat Liverpool 1-0 yesterday in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 tie. Mario Lemina’s early goal separated the two sides.

Yilmaz started the game and played a key role in the victory. He was a constant threat to the team on the right wing before being substituted in the 93rd minute. His pace was a major issue for Liverpool’s defence, leading to yellow cards for Milos Kerkez and Virgil van Dijk.

impressive performance

He was also part of the controversy that saw Victor Osimhen’s goal ruled out, with VAR ruling that he was offside in the build-up.

It was a struggling performance throughout, evidenced by the knee injury he suffered during the game. Galatasaray showed off his battle wounds in a post with the hashtag #NeverGiveUp after the game.

He received treatment on the field for that injury but continued playing afterwards. Initially this caused some concern, but Veli Yigit says there is no need to worry.

Yilmaz! #never give up 💛❤️ pic.twitter.com/EkqU20qivJ

— Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) 11 March 2026

Player’s message regarding fitness

“I talked to Baris Alpar. He’s not hurt.” Veli Yigit said.

Yilmaz’s fitness for the second leg will certainly give Galatasaray a boost as they look to pick up a big win at Anfield.

Liverpool’s performance in the first meeting will undoubtedly give them hope. It has already been made clear that the Turkish side ‘buried’ Arne Slott’s team in that game.

In fact, the feeling is that a win at Anfield will only increase Liverpool’s complaints. It has also been suggested that The Reds may send a letter to UEFA If they also lose the second leg. We are sure Yilmaz would love to be a part of this event.

Denmark manager Brian Reimer is still hopeful that Manchester United’s Patrik Dorgu will be back for the March international break.

That’s according to the coach himself, speaking to Viaplay about the Manchester United defender. TipsBladet has released its comments.

Dorgu is currently struggling to recover from a serious hamstring injury suffered in late January. Initial reports expected him to be out until mid-April.

Scans on the injury suggested a 10-week layoff, but the recent update suggests a possible setback, or, at the very least, a more cautious approach to his rehabilitation from Manchester United.

Either way, the 21-year-old looks set to miss Denmark’s clash against North Macedonia on March 26.^th.

They will face Macedonia in the semi-finals of the World Cup qualification play-off. If they progress, they are scheduled to play in the play-off final on the 31st^{scheduled tribe} march. Due to this they will have to compete with Czechia or Republic of Ireland.

It was believed that both games would be too soon for the Manchester United player. But Reimer isn’t ruling them out just yet.

Positive perspective from Denmark

“Right now, he is reported injured by Manchester United, and that is until April,” Reimer said.

“I know Patrick has a dream of getting ready. I think right now, when he’s running around in that training room, his biggest motivation is he wants to fight everybody and then get ready for that match.

“I’ll just help him keep his dream alive as long as the opportunity exists.”

After being sidelined for two months with a hamstring injury, most would argue that Dorgu is unlikely to be ready. However, with World Cup qualification at stake, nothing can stop the 21-year-old from getting there.

To remain in top form for Denmark, Dorgu will likely have to play for Manchester United first, with a return suggested before the end of next month.

The player himself appears to be convinced that this is possible. He is working in this direction and Reimer believes that this young man is giving his all.

On Tuesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered their second consecutive loss with a close home loss to the Orlando Magic. The Lakers had a chance to win it late, but Luka Doncic missed his dribble and was forced to pass to LeBron James, whose turnaround heave from beyond the arc hit the backboard and the rim.

Much has been said about the Lakers’ perceived roster shortcomings in recent weeks, and now, ESPN NBA analyst Brian Windhorst has added more fuel to the discussion.

“When Luca [Doncic]lebron [James]and Austin Reeves play together, they’re not a good team… when it’s appropriate [Austin & Luka] The Lakers are an excellent team out there,” Windhorst said on First Take, according to X, formerly of NBA Courtside on Twitter.

In fact, James, Doncic and Reeves in many ways have skills that cancel each other out, none of them are good defenders and they all need the ball to perform at their best offensively.

Many have floated the idea that the Lakers will either let James walk or bring him back on a more team-friendly deal this offseason in order to build a more viable roster around Doncic, similar to the Dallas Mavericks team that made the Finals in 2024 before the team inexplicably traded him to Los Angeles.

Doncic and Reeves have created a lethal one-two punch in games played together without James, but when all three are in the lineup, none of them have been able to be their full producers on offense, and the team’s defense has faltered.

Yet, despite this, the Lakers are 11 games above the .500 mark at 34-23, and are not out of position to secure home court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The Lakers next play on the road against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday evening.

Arsenal striker Victor Gyckeres received public support from Sweden manager Graham Potter after his Derby heroics against tottenhamBut the national boss made it clear he will not be asking for any favors from Mikel Arteta.

Gyöckeres scored twice in Arsenal’s 4–1 win over Tottenham, further cementing his role in a team that has competed on four fronts this season. Talking to Swedish outlet sportbladetPotter praised the 27-year-old’s character and impact.

“It was great for him. I think it highlights his character and personality. From my point of view, there’s no doubt about Victor. He’s a top player, a top person.” The potter said.

The Arsenal forward has faced criticism this season. However, Potter insisted that he never doubted her.

“I think he has contributed to where Arsenal are as a team in all four competitions, but every player goes through periods sometimes where they get a bit of criticism. It’s part of the job.”

Why would no requests be made to Mikel Arteta?

With Sweden facing an important match against Ukraine in March, fitness is a concern. Dejan Kulusevski is expected to miss camp, while Alexander Isak and Lucas Bergvall are also dealing with injuries.

A natural question arose from that context: would Potter ask Arteta to manage Gyöckeres’ Arsenal minutes more carefully? The answer was blunt.

“If I’m honest I don’t think he’ll be particularly interested in what I have to say and I don’t blame him. I think he’s got a lot to think about.”

In other words, Potter understands Arsenal’s priorities. Even if the Spanish manager Was blamed by the Swedish press Having previously made up for Gyöckeres’ slow start, Arteta is now fighting on multiple fronts, and the striker is at the heart of those ambitions.

How it looks from Arsenal’s perspective

Potter’s comments dispel any suggestion of outside pressure regarding Gyöckeres’ workload. The Sweden manager acknowledges the club-over-country dynamics at this stage of the season.

Furthermore, the praise reinforces Gyökeres’ position. Despite criticism early in the campaign, both club and country continue to have confidence in him.

If Arsenal continue to perform well in domestic and European competitions, rotation will be inevitable. Nevertheless, Potter’s stance makes it clear that any decision on Gyöckeres’ minutes will be entirely up to Arteta.

For now, Arsenal benefit from an in-form striker and a national manager who knows his place in the pecking order.