SOCCER

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Football manager, Xabi Alonso, reportedly accused his players of behaving like they were in a 'nursery' in one training session at Real Madrid, sparking his downfall.

The manager is said to have 'exploded' at his stars in early November, with the relationship already at 'breaking point' two months before he was sacked.

Alonso was relieved of his duties on Monday, just seven months after joining amid rumours of a dressing room rift.

Spanish newspaper MARCA claim that Alonso had already 'begun to leave' Madrid in November at the time of his rant.

BBC Sport reports that Frank is under considerable scrutiny as the club evaluates his seven-month tenure. Although Spurs have publicly backed him, Saturday's home defeat to West Ham increased pressure on the Danish coach.

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The images circulated quickly. Kylian Mbappe gesturing for his teammates to leave the pitch, Xabi Alonso asking him to stay, Mbappe insisting, and Alonso ultimately turning away. There was no guard of honour for Barcelona after their Spanish Super Cup victory on Sunday. For many, it appeared a lack of sporting courtesy, something unexpected from a manager of Alonso's stature. It also suggested a deeper truth: the team, rather than the coach, was in control.

The match had been tight and decided by a deflection, and it seemed to capture Alonso's growing frustration. This was not a resignation, and it was not planned. Alonso did not anticipate leaving Real Madrid just seven months after his appointment. The club's official statement described the departure as a "mutual agreement," but for many observers, it was inevitable.

After months of disagreements over tactics and approach, the board met Monday afternoon to discuss Alonso's future. The explanations offered were vague. Comments were made that he had been unable to implement the style of football that had brought him success at Bayer Leverkusen, that the team's fitness was lacking, and that players

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Michael Carrick has the chance to make a fine first impression on his short-term stint as Manchester United manager by derailing local rivals Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge on Saturday.

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Former Manchester City defender João Cancelo is set to return to Barcelona on loan from Al-Hilal until the end of the season. The 31-year-old Portuguese full-back passed a medical on Monday and is expected to be officially announced by the club on Tuesday.

Cancelo previously spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Barcelona after a six-month stint with Bayern Munich in Germany. During his first period at Barcelona, he made 42 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing five assists, earning praise for his attacking contributions from the right-back position and his ability to influence games in both attack and defense. His performances helped the Catalan side maintain a competitive edge in La Liga and European competitions.

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Barcelona edged past Real Madrid in a five-goal thriller to win back-to-back Spanish Super Cup finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

It marked a 16th triumph in the tournament for Hansi Flick's side, with Barcelona also beating Los Blancos in last year's final.

Brazilian forward Raphinha's floated shot in the 73rd minute proved to be the winner after a frantic ending to the first half.