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Luis Enrique Extends Contract as PSG Coach until 2030

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish head coach Luis Enrique looks on during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on September 4, 2026. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish head coach Luis Enrique looks on during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on September 4, 2026. (AFP)
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Luis Enrique Extends Contract as PSG Coach until 2030

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish head coach Luis Enrique looks on during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on September 4, 2026. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish head coach Luis Enrique looks on during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on September 4, 2026. (AFP)

Head coach Luis Enrique has agreed a three-year contract extension with two-time defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain, the Ligue 1 giants announced Friday.

The Spaniard's previous deal had been due to expire at the end of this season, but he has signed a new contract lasting until 2030.

The news was announced ahead of PSG's Ligue 1 match loss at Monaco at the Parc des Princes, with players Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz, Willian Pacho, Lucas Beraldo and Senny Mayulu all also penning contract extensions.

"They represent the present and the future of our club's project," PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said in a statement.

"Together, we're aiming to build for the long term, to remain true to our values, and to continue writing a story that our supporters can be proud of."

Luis Enrique, joined by those five Champions League winners, was given a raucous reception from the home fans when the announcement was made. PSG went on to lose the game 2-1, to leave them still without a win three matches into the new Ligue 1 season.

"It is not the best moment to talk about this but what I can say is that it is the first time in my career -- and I am an old coach -- in which I have stayed more than three years in the same club," said the 56-year-old after the match.

"I am more motivated now than I was in my first year here, which is bizarre for me. I am very happy and I hope to be up to the job."

The former Barcelona and Spain boss was appointed PSG coach ahead of the 2023/24 season, tasked with leading them to a long-awaited maiden European Cup.

He achieved that with a stunning 5-0 final victory over Inter Milan in the 2025 Champions League final, before Paris successfully defended their title by beating Arsenal on penalties in May.

PSG have also won three Ligue 1 titles and two French Cups since Luis Enrique replaced Christophe Galtier at the helm.

Spanish World Cup winner Ruiz has extended his deal until the end of next season, with an optional extra year.

Portugal midfielder Neves, Brazilian defender Beraldo, Ecuador center-half Pacho and youngster Mayulu have all signed deals until 2031.

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Isak Ready to Show World His Quality, Says Van Dijk

Football - Premier League - Ipswich Town v Liverpool - Portman Road, Ipswich, Britain - September 4, 2026 Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Ipswich Town v Liverpool - Portman Road, Ipswich, Britain - September 4, 2026 Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
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Isak Ready to Show World His Quality, Says Van Dijk

Football - Premier League - Ipswich Town v Liverpool - Portman Road, Ipswich, Britain - September 4, 2026 Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Ipswich Town v Liverpool - Portman Road, Ipswich, Britain - September 4, 2026 Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said Alexander Isak's quality has never been in doubt after the Swede's double delivered a first win for the Reds under Andoni Iraola at Ipswich.

Isak scored both goals of the 2-0 victory on Friday inside the opening 10 minutes to take his tally for the season to three in three games.

After a Premier League record £125 million ($169 million) move from Newcastle 12 months ago, Isak's first season as a Liverpool player was dogged by fitness and injury problems.

He has already matched his Premier League goal tally from last season and Van Dijk is confident Isak will return to the level that made him one of the world's most sought-after strikers.

"I don't think the quality is anything that we doubt," Van Dijk told Sky Sports.

"Last year he had an unfortunate bad injury and it was down to him, the hard work that he put in each and every day to get back as quickly as possible.

"I think he had a very good World Cup, he had a very good pre-season, and he's getting up to speed now.

"We've seen how good he is playing against him and now he's going to show the world with a Liverpool shirt as well."

Isak was sidelined for three months last season after breaking his fibula and is hoping a difficult first year as a Liverpool player is finally behind him.

"It was not easy, obviously. It was a long injury, a difficult season in general," he said.

"I was thinking to have a good World Cup firstly and then to start off this season well, which I feel like I've done now.

"That's kind of behind me, but obviously it wasn't easy."

Both of Isak's goals were set up by Cody Gakpo, who nearly departed Liverpool this week.

A move to Manchester City was reportedly in the pipeline had Liverpool been able to source a replacement in the final days of the window.

But Van Dijk is happy that his Dutch international teammate remained at the club.

"I said it before the transfer window was closed, he's important for us," added Van Dijk.

"He showed it today again with assists and over the last couple of years as well, so let's keep going."

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Winning Start for Zamalek in CAF Champions League

Mohamed Shehata celebrates his goal during the match. (Zamalek club)
Mohamed Shehata celebrates his goal during the match. (Zamalek club)
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Winning Start for Zamalek in CAF Champions League

Mohamed Shehata celebrates his goal during the match. (Zamalek club)
Mohamed Shehata celebrates his goal during the match. (Zamalek club)

Egyptian club Zamalek beat Djibouti outfit AS Port 2-1 in Cairo on Friday at the start of a quest to win the CAF Champions League a sixth time.

It took the White Knights just five minutes to move ahead through a close-range shot from Mohamed Shehata and Angolan Chico Banza doubled the lead from a 37th-minute header.

Appearing in the marquee African club competition for the first time, Port halved the deficit through Mahdi Hussein Mahbi with eight minutes of regular time remaining.

There is no international standard stadium in Djibouti, a tiny Horn of Africa nation, so both legs of the first round qualifier will be staged in Cairo. The return match is on September 12.

Zamalek last won the Champions League in 2002, pipping Moroccan club Raja Casablanca 1-0 on aggregate in the two-leg final.

The closest they have come to lifting the trophy since was finishing runners-up to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016 and to domestic arch rivals Al Ahly four years later.

Meanwhile, Oussama Bentaleb netted just before half-time to give JS Saoura of Algeria a 1-0 home win over Horoya of Guinea.

Another first leg in north Africa also produced a 1-0 home victory. Abdullah Al Arfi struck the 66th-minute winner for debutants Asswehly of Libya over Zanzibari team KVZ.

Sports

Feeling Good in Return from Injury, Carlos Alcaraz Plans to Take More Long Breaks from Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after his match against Yibing Wu of China during their Men's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after his match against Yibing Wu of China during their Men's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Feeling Good in Return from Injury, Carlos Alcaraz Plans to Take More Long Breaks from Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after his match against Yibing Wu of China during their Men's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after his match against Yibing Wu of China during their Men's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

Feeling better than he expected after a four-month absence, Carlos Alcaraz is planning to take more breaks during the tennis season.

Alcaraz returned to play at the US Open after being sidelined since April by a right wrist injury. The defending champion advanced to the fourth round Friday with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Wu Yibing.

He said his body feels good and he's had no setbacks after his matches.

“It feels like I've been competing the whole time. So I surprise myself the way that I’m feeling and the way that I’m recovering after every match,” Alcaraz said. “So I’m just really happy about it that I’m able to perform at my best after every match.”

Alcaraz said the injury that forced him to withdraw during the Barcelona Open wasn't caused by playing too much, so taking time off next year wouldn't be for physical reasons. Rather, he believes it would provide him a mental benefit.

“I’m kind of a guy that doesn’t need to play a lot of tournaments,” Alcaraz said, explaining he preferred to be “mentally healthy.”

“I just feel like you can have those moments of time to have a break," he added, "to prepare well for tournaments, to prepare well mentally.”

He debuted a new look Friday, with a white shirt underneath his sleeveless shirt, and has a new celebration, mimicking shooting an arrow.

The celebration choice came from his brothers.

“They made me choose to do the arrow or dancing, so I didn’t have any doubts about choosing the arrow,” Alcaraz said. “So I will ask them what’s next if I win the next round.”

Alcaraz played 80 matches last year and was 22-3, including his seventh major championship at the Australian Open, when he was hurt this year. Like many players, he is worried about the length of the tennis season and the number of tournaments.

Unlike many of them, he doesn't have serious ranking or financial concerns if he chooses to skip some events.

“It is like it's tournament after tournament after tournament, and you don’t feel like you are well-prepared coming to some tournaments,” Alcaraz said. “So that’s why I just decided that probably in the future I’m going to take breaks because I want to feel well prepared coming to Grand Slams, Masters 1000s, whatever it is.”

Sitting out for longer periods would surely help the 23-year-old physically, and Alcaraz ultimately thinks it will make him happier.

“I just want to step on the court, have joy, have fun on the court, because sometimes playing such a long season or playing a lot of tournaments week after week, I feel like I’m not playing with joy, I don’t have fun on the court. I just want to miss the tennis sometimes, miss the tours, miss you guys,” he explained to reporters at his press conference.

“That’s why I just want to have long breaks, because it’s impossible to last the whole season playing every tournament.”