Players hope their workaholic manager will let his hair down if he wins competition for fifth time in IstanbulTwo years ago, during Aston Villa’s first European adventure under Unai Emery, Vicente Iborra was asked about a manager he knows better than most. “He is a coach that takes into consideration every detail which might happen in the match,” said Iborra, then of Olympiakos. Iborra has winner’s medals from all four of Emery’s Europa League triumphs, three on the spin with Sevilla, the last with Villarreal five years ago, before which the injured midfielder delivered a stirring dressing-room speech. “You have the chance to make a lot of people happy,” he said, by way of opening gambit.On Wednesday, against Freiburg, Emery hopes to lift the trophy for a record-extending fifth time. Before Villa progressed past Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals, Vítor Pereira spoke on behalf of the masses when he described Emery as the king of the Europa League. Emery has reached the final on six occasions, losing one with Arsenal, and is seeking his first silverware with Villa. This week Iborra’s words feel more pertinent than ever: “I have learned many things from Mr Emery, but one thing I will never forget from him is that, in order to find yourself in a final, in order to experience this great moment in your lifetime, one truly has to want that, one has to long for it.” Continue reading...

Serhou Guirassy scores twice in 4-0 victory Juventus off mark with late winner Borussia Dortmund ended a three-match winless run with a decisive 4-0 triumph over 10-man Villarreal, powered by a double from Serhou Guirassy. The Guinean striker broke the deadlock in stoppage time before the break, heading home from a corner and he made it 2-0 early in the second half. Continue reading...

Rumours suggest that the Villarreal player has taken the definitive step in their relationship  Leer

In an embarrassing climbdown, the game in Miami is off with the league having alienated the players and even Villarreal, the club that was on its side If there is a moment that defined La Liga’s fourth failed attempt to play in Miami, an image to explain why everything went wrong, it may have been the moment it was all over. On Tuesday night, Spanish television broadcast reaction to the news from the Estadio de la Ceràmica, live and unfiltered. Cameras caught someone else who felt dismissed and disrespected, treated as if they didn’t count. This time it was someone who was supposed to be on the league’s side, but now appeared as a portrait of poor planning and poorer communication, a lack of consideration that pushed the project to collapse. Continue reading...

The WA government remains adamant that Perth will host a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como next year, despite the cancellation of a planned fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal in the United States.

Villarreal have described LaLiga's handling of the proposed Miami game against Barcelona as "poor."

Less than two weeks after LaLiga said Barcelona would play Villarreal in Miami, the first regular-season game abroad has been scrapped. What happened?

LaLiga, Spain's top-flight soccer league, on Tuesday announced it has scrapped plans to hold a regular season Barcelona-Villarreal game in Miami on Dec. 20.

Updates from the 8pm BST kick-off at the Emirates Newcastle v Benfica, Villarreal v Man City – live Get in touch! Share your thoughts with Scott 2 min: Arsenal start the evening as they presumably intend to go on, stroking the ball around patiently. Koke gets fed up and clips Zubimendi on the shin, and probably should go into the book, but it’s early and you know how referees roll. A couple of statements of intent there, perhaps. Arsenal get the ball rolling. Noise bounces around the Emirates. Continue reading...

⚽️ Updates from 8pm BST kick-offs across Europe ⚽️ Arsenal v Atlético Madrid MBM ⚽️ Live scoreboard | And share your thoughts with Yara Newcastle is a special place for José Mourinho. In 1999 Bobby Robson wanted the Portuguese to join him at Newcastle as an assistant manager with a view to eventually taking the top job but Mourinho declined. Today’s match will be Mourinho’s 13th competitive appearance on Tyneside as a manager but previous trips with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham produced only three wins. Continue reading...