Atletico's Simeone Puts Real Derby Out of His Mind to Focus on Getafe Clash

Soccer Football - Champions League - Atletico Madrid v Slovan Bratislava - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - December 11, 2024 Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone before the match REUTERS/Juan Medina/ File Photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - Atletico Madrid v Slovan Bratislava - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - December 11, 2024 Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone before the match REUTERS/Juan Medina/ File Photo
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Atletico's Simeone Puts Real Derby Out of His Mind to Focus on Getafe Clash

Soccer Football - Champions League - Atletico Madrid v Slovan Bratislava - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - December 11, 2024 Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone before the match REUTERS/Juan Medina/ File Photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - Atletico Madrid v Slovan Bratislava - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - December 11, 2024 Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone before the match REUTERS/Juan Medina/ File Photo

A pivotal trip to LaLiga leaders Real Madrid awaits this weekend for Atletico Madrid, who are just a point behind in the standings, but coach Diego Simeone is putting all his focus on Tuesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final against Getafe.

Getafe are 14th in LaLiga, three points above the relegation zone. However, the Jose Bordalas-led team are yet to lose a game this calendar year, and their six-match unbeaten streak includes a 1-1 draw with Barcelona.

"We live from match to match, from day to day. There is no other thought than tomorrow's game," Simeone told reporters on Monday, Reuters reported.

"The profile of the coach and the team is very clear. The last few games they have played, with Real Sociedad, Barcelona and Sevilla, speak of a great intensity of play.

"They know what they are playing for, and when a team knows what they are playing for, they are always dangerous."

Getafe have not beaten Atletico since 2011, but Simeone's side had to dig deep to clinch a 1-0 win in their last meeting in December.

A win over Getafe will mean more matches for Atletico in an already busy calendar as they try to secure their first LaLiga title since 2020-21 and play in the Champions League knockout stage, but the coach said he was not concerned.

"Obviously we all have the objective of going through and reaching the final of the Copa del Rey," he said.

"I can't imagine anything other than trying to take the game to where we can hurt Getafe to stay in the competition."



Iraq's Australian Coach Arnold Renews Contract for 6 Months

Iraq's Australian coach Graham Arnold. Reuters
Iraq's Australian coach Graham Arnold. Reuters
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Iraq's Australian Coach Arnold Renews Contract for 6 Months

Iraq's Australian coach Graham Arnold. Reuters
Iraq's Australian coach Graham Arnold. Reuters

Iraq's Australian coach Graham Arnold has renewed his contract with the team until 2027, the country's FA said on Monday.

After weeks of speculation, the IFA made the announcement at a press conference attended by the 63-year-old, confirming he would remain in ⁠charge through the ⁠Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia in September, as well as the Asian Cup early next year.

"I have renewed my contract for ⁠six months and this decision is in my best interest and in the best interest of the Iraq national team, although the association offered me a four-year extension," Arnold was quoted as saying by the Iraqi News Agency.

Arnold guided ⁠Iraq ⁠to this year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, ending a 40-year absence from the tournament. However, Iraq exited at the group stage after losing all of their Group I matches against Norway, France and Senegal.


PSG Coach Warns Players Need to Compete Out of their Comfort Zone

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 23, 2026 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique with Vitinha REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 23, 2026 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique with Vitinha REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
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PSG Coach Warns Players Need to Compete Out of their Comfort Zone

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 23, 2026 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique with Vitinha REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 23, 2026 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique with Vitinha REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Paris Saint-Germain players can ill afford to cruise through the season as coach Luis Enrique warned he expected them to play out of their comfort zone.

The PSG coach took off both Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at halftime of their opening game of the new Ligue 1 season, bringing on Mika Godts and Ferran Torres, who scored twice to salvage a point at Stade Rennais on Sunday.

"Football is like that. Paris Saint-Germain have won nothing, nothing," he said of the new season where they defend not only their Ligue 1 title but chase a third successive Champions League victory.

"If you think about what you've won, you're not ⁠going to win ⁠anything! There is no credit. You have to show every day, every match, every training session, that you're ready. Otherwise, it's easy to relax and start slipping.

"I wasn't brought up that way. We are always looking to win, and to keep winning, you have to step outside your comfort zone. Is that clear?"

PSG, who won the European ⁠Super Cup this month but lost the French version to Racing Lens, played a sluggish first half at Rennes and were 2-0 down at the break.

But new Spanish signing Ferran Torres, who netted the winner in last month's World Cup final, came on for Dembélé and scored twice to ensure a point for the Parisians.

"He wasn't bad, was he? He scored two goals, but I'm happy with everyone who came on in a very difficult match because we had a lot of trouble controlling Rennes in the first half," Reuters quoted Luis Enrique as saying.

"They ⁠were good ⁠on the counterattack and scored two wonderful goals. It was complicated, but it's important for me to see that so many players are ready.

"We sign players to go on a long journey with them. It's very positive for him and we're very happy," he said of Ferran Torres' debut.

"We're always looking to find the best players for every match. Places in the team will be more difficult to get than last year, and that's our ambition.

"I think we had a very good transfer window, and we're still open to different possibilities. Everyone knows how difficult it is for a team to keep winning. And clearly, we still need to improve."


African Players in Europe: Ajayi and Mendy Stun United

Hull City's Nigerian defender #06 Semi Ajayi applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Hull City and Manchester United at the MKM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, eastern England on August 22, 2026. (AFP)
Hull City's Nigerian defender #06 Semi Ajayi applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Hull City and Manchester United at the MKM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, eastern England on August 22, 2026. (AFP)
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African Players in Europe: Ajayi and Mendy Stun United

Hull City's Nigerian defender #06 Semi Ajayi applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Hull City and Manchester United at the MKM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, eastern England on August 22, 2026. (AFP)
Hull City's Nigerian defender #06 Semi Ajayi applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Hull City and Manchester United at the MKM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, eastern England on August 22, 2026. (AFP)

Nigerian Semi Ajayi and Senegalese Nobel Mendy temporarily vacated defensive roles to score as promoted Hull City stunned Manchester United 2-0 in the Premier League opening round at the weekend.

AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:

ENGLAND

SEMI AJAYI (Hull City)

He scored Hull's first Premier League goal in nine years when he was quickest to react from close range in the 17th minute after Oli McBurnie's shot following a poorly defended corner was parried by United goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

NOBEL MENDY (Hull)

Regan Slater's pin-point free-kick proved too much for the visitors to handle and Mendy's header flew past a helpless Lammens to spark yet more wild celebrations among the home fans at the MKM Stadium.

SPAIN

CHIDERA EJUKE (Sevilla)

The Nigerian came off the bench for the second half and took just five minutes to increase a 1-0 half-time lead for Sevilla at Athletic Bilbao. Ejuke raced through and lobbed the ball over 2026 World Cup-winning Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon. Sevilla finished 3-1 winners.

ITALY

HASSANE KAMARA (Udinese)

The France-born Ivory Coast international outsprinted the Como defense and used his left foot to chip the ball over goalkeeper Jean Butez and put Udinese ahead. Como equalized early in the second half of the Serie A clash to force a 1-1 draw.

FRANCE

AMINE GOUIRI (Marseille)

Algeria striker Gouiri struck twice in the second half as Marseille hammered visiting Strasbourg 4-0 in the opening round of Ligue 1. He netted from close range on 46 minutes, then converted a penalty midway through the second half.

DAME GUEYE, LOUIS MAFOUTA (Le Mans)

Both goals for promoted Le Mans came from African strikers in a 2-2 home draw against Brest. Senegalese Gueye levelled in first half added time and Central African Republic international Mafouta put the hosts ahead before Malian Kamory Doumbia restored parity.