Ajax Parts Company with Coach Steijn After Woeful Start to the Season 

Ajax's head coach Maurice Steijn instructs his players during the Europa League Group B soccer match between AEK Athens and Ajax at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP)
Ajax's head coach Maurice Steijn instructs his players during the Europa League Group B soccer match between AEK Athens and Ajax at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP)
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Ajax Parts Company with Coach Steijn After Woeful Start to the Season 

Ajax's head coach Maurice Steijn instructs his players during the Europa League Group B soccer match between AEK Athens and Ajax at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP)
Ajax's head coach Maurice Steijn instructs his players during the Europa League Group B soccer match between AEK Athens and Ajax at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP)

Ajax parted company with coach Maurice Steijn on Monday with the biggest team in the Netherlands languishing in next-to-last place in the Dutch league after just one win from its opening seven games.

Steijn only joined from Sparta Rotterdam in the offseason, signing a three-year deal.

The mutual decision for Steijn to leave was taken after a 4-3 loss at Utrecht that left Ajax, a four-time European champion, one point off last place.

“We have worked intensely and professionally together over the last few months,” Ajax chief executive Jan van Halst said. “But the sporting successes and the development of the team were lacking. That is why we decided to sit down together again today.

“This time, Maurice also expressed his concerns on whether he was the right man in the right place. Together we decided that it would be best to part ways.”

Ajax’s last win in any competition came on Aug. 24.

Hedwiges Maduro, a former Ajax player, will take temporary charge of the team starting with the trip to Brighton in the Europa League on Thursday.



Arteta Shrugs off Criticism Over Arsenal’s Set-Piece Tactics

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
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Arteta Shrugs off Criticism Over Arsenal’s Set-Piece Tactics

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remained defiant on Tuesday over criticism of his team's set-piece tactics, dismissing accusations of time-wasting while expressing frustration that his side doesn't score even more from corners.

The Premier League leaders have netted 16 goals from corners this season to tie the league record with nine games remaining, but the feat has also sparked debate about the tactical evolution of set-pieces.

It has also drawn criticism from Wednesday's opponents Brighton & Hove Albion, whose ‌coach Fabian Huerzeler ‌took aim at Arsenal's corner routine, claiming ‌the ⁠London side sometimes "spend ⁠over one minute" to take a corner.

But Arteta had little sympathy for such complaints, telling reporters: "I'm upset that we don't score more (from corners) - and we concede as well. We want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game."

The Spanish coach shrugged off criticism as "part of the job" given ⁠football's tactical transformation, arguing that teams increasingly neutralize ‌open-play opportunities.

"Before, when you used to ‌do a game plan and you would invert a full back or ‌bring an extra player into midfield or a false nine, ‌four vs three inside, two vs one inside, everyone behind the ball," Arteta said.

"Teams are adapting, teams know after every sequence of play - whether it is a throw-in, a restart of play, an open-pitch situation - they ‌know exactly what they have to do and everything is almost man-to-man.

"So it is not going ⁠to be ⁠a different game unless we change the rules, because the evolution of the game is that."

However, Huerzeler called for clearer regulations around time management, arguing supporters deserve value for money.

"Every supporter who pays a lot of money to go to the stadiums and watch our games should see the same net game time because they pay a lot of money," the German coach said.

"We have a net game time of 50 minutes (with the ball in play) instead of sometimes 65 minutes, so the game is changing so much."

Arsenal hold a five-point lead at the Premier League summit, having played a game more than second-placed Manchester City.


Man United ‘Hungry for More’, Says Carrick

Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
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Man United ‘Hungry for More’, Says Carrick

Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)

Michael Carrick said Tuesday that Manchester United are "hungry for more" after their spectacular recovery under his leadership as they target a return to Champions League football.

United climbed to third in the Premier League with Sunday's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, a sixth victory in seven games since Carrick was appointed, in mid-January, as manager until the end of the season.

The Red Devils, who have the best form of any side in the league since Carrick's arrival, travel to face Newcastle on Wednesday.

They are six points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, with the top five almost certain to qualify for the Champions League thanks to the strong showing of English sides in Europe this season.

But Carrick said it was important to stay "in the moment" as United seek to maintain their momentum.

"We certainly won't get carried away," he said. "I think you've got to feed off the confidence and understand that runs of wins are hard to come by.

"But we're hungry for more, for sure, and we need to try and make it as long as it can last and stay consistent."

The former United midfielder said it was important not to look too far ahead as the three-time European champions seek to return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023/24 season.

"I think we're in a good position and we've kind of earned it," he said. "The boys have earned it and we've got to try and make the most of it from now on.

He added: "Talent-wise, ability-wise, I think the boys have shown what they can do.

"And then there's that balance of good habits, good behaviors, and actually looking after each other in the certain times you've got to really dig in and show that good spirit and team spirit, so I can't speak highly enough of the players."


Brazil’s Rodrygo Ruled Out of World Cup with Torn ACL, Real Madrid Say

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
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Brazil’s Rodrygo Ruled Out of World Cup with Torn ACL, Real Madrid Say

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)

Real Madrid forward Rodrygo will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup after tearing ligaments in his right knee during the 1-0 LaLiga defeat by Getafe, the club said ‌on Tuesday.

The ‌25-year-old Brazil international ‌had ⁠been returning from ⁠over a month out with a muscle injury when he came off the bench in the 54th minute of Monday's ⁠game.

In the 66th ‌minute, while ‌being challenged on the left ‌wing, Rodrygo's leg got ‌caught as he tried to accelerate. He immediately showed signs of pain, briefly falling to ‌the turf before continuing and completing the match.

"Following ⁠tests ⁠carried out today on our player Rodrygo by Real Madrid's medical services, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn outer meniscus in his right leg," Real Madrid said in a statement.