Arsenal open Champions League run without three key players
Arsenal begin its Champions League campaign in Bilbao without Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Ben White. They adjust their lineup, but manager Mikel Arteta stays focused on securing a win. The match takes place at San Mames, a stadium known for its strong home crowd.
Captain Odegaard failed to recover from a shoulder problem in time. Meanwhile, Saka and White also missed the match with injuries, leaving Arteta with a thinner squad.
Still, Arteta's goal is to push Arsenal closer to winning Europe’s top club prize, a title the club has never claimed. Last season, Arsenal reached the semi-finals, showing they can compete with any team when they stay sharp and united.
Arsenal knows the Champions League is tough, with small margins deciding games. Even so, the team travels with hunger and belief, ready to start strong despite the setbacks. Arteta strengthened his squad this summer to avoid running short of players when the season gets tough.
Barcelona crushed Valencia 6-0 in their first home game of the season. Fermín López, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski all scored twice as Barça climbed to second in La Liga with 10 points, two behind leaders Real Madrid. Valencia dropped to 15th.
López opened the scoring in the first half, but it was after the break when Barcelona’s attack took control. Raphinha scored a brace soon after coming on, López added his second, and Lewandowski wrapped up the rout with two close-range strikes.
In Italy, Luka Modrić scored his first goal for AC Milan to seal a 1-0 win over Bologna, though the night was marred by an injury to goalkeeper Mike Maignan and a red card for coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Paris Saint-Germain kept their perfect Ligue 1 start with a 2-0 win over Lens after two goals from Bradley Barcola. The victory gave PSG four wins from four, but it came at a cost as three players left injured ahead of their UEFA Champions League opener.
Lack of Black managers sparks concern in English football
English football may lose a new wave of Black and Asian coaches if the sport does not change hiring rules, says anti-racism group Kick It Out. The exit of Nuno Espírito Santo from Nottingham Forest means no Black coach now leads a Premier League team. The last time this happened was in 2022, before Vincent Kompany joined Burnley.
Kick It Out’s chief, Samuel Okafor, said many ex-players quit trying to coach due to blocked paths. He urged clubs to be fair and open with hiring. He warned that without strong steps, more talent will be lost. A 2022 report showed 43% of Premier League players were Black, but only 4.4% of coaching jobs went to Black former players. Leadership roles were even fewer at 1.6%.
The FA and Premier League have made rules and schemes to boost diversity, but results remain slow. Kick It Out’s new Football United plan aims to push clubs to reflect local groups and give fairer chances in leadership roles.
Mbappé reflects on passion, pressure, and his PSG dispute
Kylian Mbappé says his love for football keeps him going despite the tough side of the sport. He believes that without passion, football would have turned him away long ago. However, Mbappé says he wouldn't tell his children to become football players due to the challenges involved.
He also explains how fame changes a person. People expect him to stay the same as when he was younger, but he now carries new duties. Mbappé admits he's very hard on himself and accepts criticism since he never wants to fail.
The 26-year-old striker left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last year after a long-running conflict. He is pursuing €55 million in unpaid wages and a bonus, while PSG maintains he forfeited the sum when he joined Real Madrid. Mbappé insists he only wants what he earned.
Despite the struggles, Mbappé stays focused on life beyond football and values the support of his friends and family.
Ange Postecoglou tapped as Nottingham Forest’s new coach
After only three Premier League matches, Nottingham Forest parted ways with coach Nuno Espírito Santo. That was a long time coming, as Nuno clashed with club owner Evangelos Marinakis and Edu Gaspar, the club’s head of global football.
With that change, Forest brought in a new coach with Ange Postecoglou. He is back in the Premier League after he parted ways with Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2025.
Ange brings a fresh brand of football to Forest
The new Forest coach takes over ahead of the club’s clash against Arsenal on September 13. He brings a new brand of football compared to Nuno, as he is a more attack-minded coach. This has led to concerns about Forest’s durability, as Ange’s style demands a stable squad. Players like Nikola Milenković, who are used to a conservative and defensive system, must track back and run, which could lead to injuries.
Nottingham Forest cut ties with head coach Nuno Espírito Santo
Nottingham Forest have sacked head coach Nuno Espírito Santo just three games into the new Premier League season. The move comes after his public clash with Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis.
Nuno, who joined Forest in December 2023, helped the club to a strong run last season. He guided the Reds to seventh place and secured a Europa League place for them. It was their best top-flight result in years and marked a huge step for the club.
Fallout with owner Marinakis
Despite the success, tension grew between Nuno and Marinakis. Back in August, the ex-coach shared how he feared for his job at the club. He once spoke out about the club’s squad and transfer plans at the time, which strained his ties with the owner. ‘Last season we were very close…this season it is not so well,’ Nuno remarked.
On their official website, Forest thanked Nuno for his part in last season’s success. In the same post, they’ve confirmed that Nuno has ‘been relieved of his duties as Head Coach.’
England under Tuchel: Four wins but still unconvincing
Thomas Tuchel’s first five games as England manager have brought mixed reactions. While England won four matches, the style of play has left many unimpressed. Critics say the football looks too much like Gareth Southgate’s era as safe, slow, and lacking excitement.
England opened Tuchel’s run with a 2-0 win over Albania, then followed it with a 1-0 victory over Andorra, where Noni Madueke stood out. A stronger 5-0 result over Ireland came earlier under interim coach Lee Carsley, making Tuchel’s scorelines look modest in comparison. Against Latvia, ranked 137th, England managed only a 3-0 win, with two late goals and a free kick from Reece James securing the victory.
The low point came in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal at the City Ground, marking the first time an African side beat England. Tuchel’s side closed this stretch with another win over Andorra, 2-0, though one goal was an own goal.
Fans now question whether Tuchel can lift performances before the World Cup. Results have come, but the lack of spark has raised concern about England’s readiness for tougher tests.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill expressed that there is a ‘real sense of disappointment’ after his side lost 3-1 to Germany in Cologne. Serge Gnabry gave the hosts an early lead, but Northern Ireland fought back to level through Isaac Price's volley from a corner. It looked like a draw, but Nadiem Amiri and Liverpool's Florian Wirtz scored two quick goals in three minutes to give Germany their first win in Group A.
O'Neill said the team showed pride but lacked the depth to cope with two tough games in a short time. ‘We are very proud of the display, but there is a real sense of disappointment in the dressing room, which is understandable’, he added. Northern Ireland is second in Group A of the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers with one win and one loss. O'Neill added that the team must focus on home games in October against Slovakia and Germany.
Ex-Premier League stars say money firm cost them homes
A group of ex-Premier League players say they lost tens of millions after trusting Kingsbridge Asset Management. They claim the firm advised them to invest in failed film and property projects, which left many bankrupt, homeless, and stuck with heavy tax debts. Danny Murphy, now a TV pundit, says he lost about £5 million. The group of retired footballers, known as V11, also includes Michael Thomas, Rod Wallace, and Brian Deane. Reports suggest as many as 200 players may have been affected by the same failed advice.
Rod Wallace, a former Leeds striker, went bankrupt in early 2024 after losing most of his savings. He said his family faced eviction with no money left in the bank. Sean Davis, who once played for Fulham, now works as a painter while paying off a tax bill of £330,000. He admits that depression and dark thoughts have followed him since.
Kingsbridge promoted these schemes as safe and tax-friendly, but many homes proved worthless or sold at false prices. Papers show the firm’s leaders had hidden ties to some projects. The two directors deny any blame, saying the losses came from tax changes and the 2008 crash.
Brian Deane says players were sold false hope and left with nothing. Police closed a probe in 2020 with no charges. The V11 group now calls for law reform so victims do not face tax on failed schemes.
Napoli’s salary spending jumps to €160m this season
Napoli’s wage bill has hit a record €160 million for the new season, up from €110 million last year. La Gazzetta dello Sport cites fresh signings, contract renewals, and the club’s push to lock its spot among Europe’s elite as the main drivers of the rise.
Big-name signings have driven much of the rise. Kevin De Bruyne joins on €5.5m a year, while Rasmus Højlund will cost €5m. Romelu Lukaku, signed last summer, is one of the top earners at €6m, with Scott McTominay on €3m. New deals for Alex Meret, Frank Anguissa, and soon Matteo Politano have added more weight to the bill.
The €160m bill covers wages for both players and coaches, with Antonio Conte and his staff adding a large share. Club chief Aurelio De Laurentiis has backed Conte hard, set on giving the squad the tools to fight at the top level.
This 35% leap in spending shows De Laurentiis’ bold plan. Under him, Napoli rose from shaky finances to Scudetto champs. Now, building on last year’s crown, he aims to shape a squad built for lasting runs in Europe.
Still, the expense shows bold intent but brings clear risk. Holding a wage bill this high may depend on steady Champions League spots and deep runs in Europe.
