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PSG's Ligue 1 Visit to Lens Postponed to Aid Champions League Preparations

FILED - 26 November 2024, Bavaria, Munich: Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi in action during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between PSG and Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
FILED - 26 November 2024, Bavaria, Munich: Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi in action during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between PSG and Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
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PSG's Ligue 1 Visit to Lens Postponed to Aid Champions League Preparations

FILED - 26 November 2024, Bavaria, Munich: Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi in action during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between PSG and Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
FILED - 26 November 2024, Bavaria, Munich: Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi in action during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between PSG and Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa

Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain's visit to second-placed Lens, set for April 11, has been postponed to May 13 to allow them more time to prepare for their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) said on Thursday.

Strasbourg's visit to Brest, scheduled for April 12, has also been moved to May 13 to help them prepare for ⁠their Europa Conference League ⁠last-eight clashes with Mainz, Reuters quoted the LFP as saying in a statement.

"These decisions are in line with the board of directors’ clear strategic aim of enabling France to retain its fifth place in ⁠the UEFA coefficient rankings, which secures four places in the UEFA Champions League," the LFP said.

PSG, the reigning European champions, host Liverpool three days before the Lens fixture and travel to Anfield for the second leg on April 14.

PSG and Lens are separated by one point in Ligue 1, with ⁠PSG ⁠having a game in hand. Lens had earlier pushed back against PSG's request.

"It seems to us, in fact, that a worrying sentiment is taking hold: that of a French league gradually being relegated to the status of an adjustment variable at the whim of certain parties' European imperatives," Lens said in a statement on Monday.

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Michael Carrick Keen to Balance Short-term Success with Building for the Future

Man Utd manager Michael Carrick looks on during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United in London, Britain, 18 April 2026. EPA/ANDY RAIN
Man Utd manager Michael Carrick looks on during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United in London, Britain, 18 April 2026. EPA/ANDY RAIN
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Michael Carrick Keen to Balance Short-term Success with Building for the Future

Man Utd manager Michael Carrick looks on during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United in London, Britain, 18 April 2026. EPA/ANDY RAIN
Man Utd manager Michael Carrick looks on during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United in London, Britain, 18 April 2026. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick said the rapid turnover of managers in the Premier League will not affect how he approaches the job and he remains focused on the bigger picture at the club rather than his own future.

Liam Rosenior's departure from Chelsea on Wednesday marked the 10th managerial casualty in England's top flight this season.

Carrick, who took over ⁠at United in ⁠January following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, said there was a balance to be struck between short-term success and building for the future.

"There are two sides to it," the 44-year-old told ⁠reporters on Thursday, according to Reuters.

"There are instant results and the next game being important, but there's definitely a responsibility, our thinking of what the future looks like and the bigger picture.

"There are all sorts of what-ifs in this world. Half full, half empty? I like to live my life in a positive way. I don't think ⁠of ⁠what could go wrong, that doesn't come into it. It's what can be achieved. What success looks like."

United have impressed under Carrick, winning eight and drawing two of their 12 matches to sit third in the league. Six points from their remaining five games would secure Champions League qualification after a two-year absence.

United next face Brentford on Monday.

Sports

Madrid Open Sets Up Practice Court, Nadal Trains with Courtois and Bellingham

FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
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Madrid Open Sets Up Practice Court, Nadal Trains with Courtois and Bellingham

FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Rafael Nadal was back on a tennis court — one inside Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium — on Thursday.

The Madrid Open set up the temporary court on the Bernabeu field and players will be allowed to practice on it until April 30.

The retired Nadal, an avid Madrid fan, is the most successful player at the Madrid Open, having won the tournament five times.

He partnered with Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a friendly session against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, The Associated Press reported.

Bellingham was at the Madrid Open on Wednesday watching young Spanish sensation Rafael Jódar win in his debut at the tournament. The Madrid Open is being played at the Caja Magica tennis complex in the Spanish capital.

“It was very special to enjoy this unique court at the Bernabeu,” Nadal wrote on Instagram.

Iga Swiatek, ranked No. 4 on the women's tour, also was at the Bernabeu event.

Sports

US Says Does Not Object to Iran Playing in World Cup but People with IRGC Ties Won't be Allowed

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 April 2026. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 April 2026. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL
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US Says Does Not Object to Iran Playing in World Cup but People with IRGC Ties Won't be Allowed

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 April 2026. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 April 2026. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday Washington had no objections to Iranian players participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup but he added the players will not be allowed to bring with them people with ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"Nothing from the US has told them they can't come," Rubio told reporters, according to Reuters. President Donald Trump also said his administration "would not want to affect the athletes" in comments he made at the White House.

The 2026 soccer World ⁠Cup is set ⁠to begin on June 11 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Paolo Zampolli, a Trump envoy who has no official connection with the World Cup, had earlier suggested that Italy should replace Iran at the tournament.

"The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. ⁠It would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in but not the athletes themselves," Rubio said.

"They can't bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers," Rubio added. Washington has designated the IRGC as a "foreign terrorist organization."

Currently there is no suggestion Iran ⁠will withdraw ⁠or be banned from the tournament that Italy missed out on. After the start of the Iran war, Iran requested that FIFA move the team's three group matches from the US to Mexico, which was rejected.