Barca's Koeman Has No Issue with Players' Commitment

Pressure is mounting on Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman after Thursday's goalless draw with Cadiz. (AFP)
Pressure is mounting on Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman after Thursday's goalless draw with Cadiz. (AFP)
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Barca's Koeman Has No Issue with Players' Commitment

Pressure is mounting on Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman after Thursday's goalless draw with Cadiz. (AFP)
Pressure is mounting on Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman after Thursday's goalless draw with Cadiz. (AFP)

Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman had no complaints about the attitude and commitment of his team after Thursday's 0-0 draw with Cadiz and instead lamented the raft of injuries that robbed him of several first-choice players.

The goalless draw left Barca seventh in La Liga on nine points from five games, already seven points behind leaders Real Madrid, and heaped more pressure on Koeman, who was dismissed in the dying seconds of the game for dissent..

Barcelona President Joan Laporta had backed Koeman as manager before the match but also said he had to start producing better football and that the board would not shirk tough decisions if they needed to be made.

While disappointed that Barca had failed to pick up all three points for a second successive match, Koeman said it was more important to look at how the team had played overall.

"It's not always down to a result. We have to analyze what the team did, the attitude of the team, the commitment of the team and I can't complain about any of that from this game," the Dutchman told reporters.

"I'm not happy, of course, because we had four or five clear chances and we didn't score any goals," he said, adding that the sending off of Frenkie de Jong made it even more difficult.

"What I take away is the attitude, not my own personal situation. Because if we win it looks like we carry on, and if not we look for another coach - and that's a question for you."

Koeman said the absence of a number of first team players had contributed to their lackluster display. Barca, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home against lowly Granada on Monday, were missing Jordi Alba, Sergio Aguero and Pedri among others.

"I have said several times you always have to try and win every game," Koeman added.

"But you have to be realistic, look at the squad we have and the players missing ... we've got seven starters out."



No Doubting Man City Boss Guardiola’s Passion Says Toure

 Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 10, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 10, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
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No Doubting Man City Boss Guardiola’s Passion Says Toure

 Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 10, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 10, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Pep Guardiola is as passionate and enthused as he's ever been as he looks to regain the Premier League title, according to his Manchester City deputy Kolo Toure.

City boss Guardiola is in his 10th season in charge at the Etihad Stadium and eager to get back on the trophy trail after failing to add to his vast collection of silverware last season.

But City are now just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, with Toure -- who joined Guardiola's backroom staff in pre-season -- impressed by the manager's desire for yet more success despite everything he has already achieved in football.

"The manager's energy every day is incredible," Tour told reporters on Friday.

"I'm so surprised, with all the years that he's done in the league. The passion he brings to every meeting, the training sessions -- he's enjoying himself every day and we are enjoying it as well."

The former City defender added: "You can see in the games when we play. It doesn't matter what happens, we have a big spirit in the team, we have a lot of energy, we are fighting for every single ball."

Toure was standing in for Guardiola at a press conference to preview City's league match away to Crystal Palace, with the manager unable to attend due to a personal matter. City, however, expect Guardiola to be in charge as usual at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

"Pep is fine," said Toure. "It's just a small matter that didn't bring him here."

Former Ivory Coast international Toure won the Premier League with Arsenal before featuring in City's title-winning side of 2012.

The 44-year-old later played for Liverpool and Celtic before moving into coaching. A brief spell as Wigan boss followed. Toure then returned to football with City's academy before being promoted by Guardiola.

"For me, to work with Pep Guardiola was a dream," said Toure. "To work with the first team was a blessing for me.

"Every day for me is fantastic. He loves his players, he loves his staff, his passion for the game is high, he's intense. We love him. I'm very lucky."


Vonn Dominates Opening Downhill as Oldest World Cup Winner

United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025.  (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
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Vonn Dominates Opening Downhill as Oldest World Cup Winner

United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025.  (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

American great Lindsey Vonn dominated the opening women's downhill of the season on Friday to become the oldest winner of an Alpine skiing World Cup race in a sensational boost for her 2026 Olympic comeback bid.

The 2010 Olympic downhill champion took the 83rd World Cup win of her career - and first since a downhill in Are, Sweden, in March 2018 - by 0.98 of a second in the Swiss resort of St Moritz.

The 41-year-old was fastest by an astonishing 1.16 seconds ahead of Mirjam Puchner of Austria. Even wilder was that Vonn trailed by 0.61 after the first two time checks.

Vonn then was faster than anyone through the next speed checks, touching 119 kph (74 mph), and posted the fastest time splits for the bottom half of the sunbathed Corviglia course.

She skied through the finish area and bumped against the inflated safety barrier, lay down in the snow and raised her arms on seeing her time.

Vonn got up, punched the air with her right fist and shrieked with joy before putting her hands to her left cheek in a sleeping gesture.

She was the No. 16 starter with all the pre-race favorites having completed their runs.

Vonn now races with a titanium knee on her comeback, which started last season after five years of retirement.

The Olympic champion is targeting another gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Games in February.


Liverpool Boss Slot to Hold Talks with Unhappy Salah

(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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Liverpool Boss Slot to Hold Talks with Unhappy Salah

(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said he would speak to Mohamed Salah on Friday morning before deciding on the forward's availability for this weekend's match against Brighton.

Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" and said he had no relationship with the Dutch manager after he was left on the bench for last week's 3-3 draw at Leeds -- the third match in a row that he did not start.

The 33-year-old did not travel for Tuesday's Champions League match at Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, posting a picture on social media of himself alone in a gym at the club's training ground.

"I will have a conversation with Mo this morning, the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow," Slot told his pre-match press conference, according to AFP.

"I think the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. You can keep on trying but there is not much more to say about it.

"After the Sunderland game (a 1-1 draw earlier this month in which Salah was a substitute) there were a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me."

Slot batted away further questions from reporters about the forward but said: "I have no reasons not wanting him to stay, and that is a little bit of an answer to your question."

Salah is due to join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after the Brighton game at Anfield.

The forward, third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his spell on Merseyside.

But he has scored just four goals in 13 Premier League appearances this season.

Liverpool, who swept to a 20th English league title last season, are 10th in the table after a poor run of results.