Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner will leave the club after the Conference League final. (Glyn KIRK)Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner wants to secure a "perfect ending" to his successful two-year reign with victory over Rayo Vallecano in the Europa Conference League final in Leipzig, Germany on Wednesday.The Austrian will be in the Palace dugout for the last time having overseen an era of unprecedented success at Selhurst Park since arriving in 2024. He took the club to a first trophy in their 120-year history by winning the FA Cup in his first full campaign. After beating Liverpool in the Community Shield to start this season, Glasner can sign off by helping the south London club to a maiden European title. Victory will also take Palace to next season's Europa League, a year after their right to take part in the competition by winning the FA Cup was stripped by UEFA due to multi-club ownership rules. - 'Perfect ending' -The 51-year-old announced in January he would leave when his contract expired at the end of the campaign in what seemed to be a protest against the club's transfer policy. The departure followed a similar pattern in Glasner's career which played out at Bundesliga clubs Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt. Sudden success followed by fallout with club bosses and a swift exit. Despite a run of 12 games without a win until February, Palace resisted the urge to sack Glasner. Even as supporter sentiment turned on the Austrian -- which was not helped by him urging fans to "stay humble. Never forget where you're coming from" -- Palace chairman Steve Parish kept the faith. Glasner has rewarded Parish and Palace by taking the club to a first European final. Having guided Frankfurt to a Europa League crown in 2022 and a German Cup final a year later, Glasner seems particularly adept in knockout football. Speaking with UEFA on Monday, Glasner said victory over Rayo would give his time at Palace a storybook ending. "I would always feel I had failed if the team had dropped off (after his announcement), because I told them 'you don't need to play for a manager'..."It would be a perfect ending. When you watch a movie, when you read a book, you always hope that there is a happy ending. "To end this more than two-year journey with another trophy, with the first European trophy in Crystal Palace's history, that would be incredible."- Rayo 'deserve' their spot - Rayo finished the La Liga season a point behind Getafe, who pipped them to Europa Conference qualification. But Rayo can go one better than their Madrid neighbours by beating Palace, to reach the Europa League for just a second time.Also playing a European final for the first time, Rayo moved past the better resourced Strasbourg -- part of the multi-club BlueCo group alongside Chelsea -- to book their ticket to Leipzig.While underdogs Rayo beat Strasbourg in both legs, Palace fell 2-1 to the Ligue 1 side in the group stages. "All four teams who play the semi-finals deserve to play the final because they have done so well in the competition, and Vallecano are the same," Glasner said."(Rayo are) very quick, playing in transition, with quick wingers, always able to score goals. "They don't concede many," he added.dwi/iwd

Arsenal aim to follow their Premier League triumph with Champions League glory (Adrian Dennis)From Jens Lehmann's rush of blood to 'Nayim from the halfway line', Arsenal will have to banish three decades of European final misery if they are to win the Champions League for the first time.Fresh from clinching their first English title since 2004, Mikel Arteta's side are preparing to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday.Bringing home the club's first Champions League crown just 12 days after their long-awaited Premier League triumph would make it the greatest season in Arsenal's illustrious history.But the Gunners head to the Puskas Arena haunted by the ghosts of past European failures.Since Tony Adams lifted the Cup Winners Cup after Alan Smith sealed a 1-0 win over Parma in 1994, the north Londoners have endured four painful defeats in continental finals.In 1995, they returned to the Cup Winners Cup final, losing 2-1 to Real Zaragoza in agonising fashion when Nayim caught out Arsenal keeper David Seaman with an astonishing lob from 40 yards in the last minute of extra-time.Rubbing salt into Arsenal wounds, Nayim previously played for their arch rivals Tottenham, whose fans have celebrated the moment by chanting 'Nayim from the halfway line' ever since.Five years later, Arsene Wenger took Arsenal to the UEFA Cup final, with victory expected against Galatasaray in Copenhagen.But the Turkish underdogs frustrated Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and company in a 0-0 draw before winning 4-1 on penalties.In 2006, Arsenal reached the Champions League final for the first time.However, Wenger's men left Paris in despair after their keeper Lehmann was sent off for racing out of his penalty area to foul Samuel Eto'o early in the first half.Despite playing with 10 men, Arsenal took the lead through Sol Campbell, but late goals from Eto'o and Juliano Belletti broke their hearts.Unai Emery has won the Europa League five times as manager of Aston Villa, Villarreal and Sevilla, but his lone defeat in the final of that tournament came with Arsenal, who were thrashed 4-1 by Chelsea in Baku in 2019.Arsenal also lost the 1980 Cup Winners Cup final against Valencia, with their only other European silverware coming in the long-forgotten Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970.- 'It would be unreal'Exorcising those demons would be the crowning glory for Arteta, who has ended Arsenal's six-year trophy drought by leading them to the club's 14th Premier League title.Following Sunday's 2-1 win at Crystal Palace in their last game of the domestic season, Arteta joined Arsenal's players and backroom staff to celebrate at a Mediterranean restaurant in London's Mayfair on Sunday night.The party lasted long into the night at several other celebrity hot spots, with Declan Rice seen singing the 'Ice Ice baby' tune that has become Arsenal fans' anthem for their influential midfielder.Just hours after lifting the trophy at sun-drenched Selhurst Park, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard summed up the ecstatic mood ahead of the trip to Budapest."Everyone is so happy. We're living a dream, winning the Premier League and being in a Champions League final," he said."Now we have a big final. If we could do it, it would be unreal."Arteta interrupted the revelry to keep his players focused, praising the unity in the squad and urging them to follow their title triumph by conquering Europe."We need that energy to flow. Going against that will be a big mistake," the Spaniard said. "We've already talked about what we have to do in Budapest, how we're going to use all the incredible energy that we're all carrying towards that final. "We can't wait to write the new chapter in the history of our club and win the Champions League."Holders PSG present a formidable challenge after beating Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals last season.But, after more than 30 years of European angst, Arteta knows immortality is within their grasp."If we win one more, we are the champions of Europe - as simple as that," he said.smg/bsp

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gabby Williams scored 15 points, Kaila Charles added 12 points and seven rebounds, and the Golden State Valkyries ran away from the Connecticut Sun for a 97-70 win on Monday night.Williams made 4 of her first 6 shots and wound up 6 for 10 with three 3-pointers as the Valkyries (4-2) jumped out to a 17-11 lead and kept building it against the cold-shooting Sun. Veronica Burton added 11 points and six assists.Aneesah Morrow came off the bench to contribute 11 points and 10 rebounds for Connecticut (1-7), which is four games into a season-long five-game road trip. Second-year guard Hailey Van Lith, in her first season with the team, went 2 for 7 from the floor and Saniya Rivers missed all eight of her shots. Sun center Olivia Nelson-Ododa returned from a four-game absence with a right ankle injury and had a minutes restriction of 12.Kayla Thornton grabbed eight rebounds for Golden State, which led by 17 at halftime. The Valkyries welcomed back Cecilia Zandalasini after she was sidelined for four games dealing with a concussion, and the forward had six points in nearly 14 minutes.Golden State rookie Juste Jocyte, the team's first-ever draft pick selected fifth overall last year, entered the game with 4:48 left for her debut and immediately scored on a pull-up jumper and then hit a 3. It was her first game being active after she returned from playing overseas.Sun center Brittney Griner didn't play as she has been nursing a rib injury. She needs one point to become the 18th player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 career points.Up nextConnecticut concludes its road trip Wednesday at Portland, while the Valkyries continue a four-game homestand by hosting Indiana on Thursday. ___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

SACRAMENTO, CA - MAY 25: Randy Arozarena #56 high-fives Luke Raley #20 of the Seattle Mariners during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Monday, May 25, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images Mariners 9, Athletics 2Trampoline Parks: Luis Castillo, .14 WPA; Randy Arozarena, .13 WPATrampoline Parks Masquerading As Baseball Fields: J.P. Crawford, -.04 WPAGame Thread Comment of the Day:

Mar 13, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Owen Miller against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Normally there is no Minor League Wrap on Monday, but Indianapolis wanted to play a game on Memorial Day. So here we are. Everyone else, including Mesa, is off.Iowa CubsThe Iowa Cubs raced past Indianapolis (Pirates), 9-7.It wasn’t a great start for Doug Nikhazy, who gave up one run in the first inning and five more in the second. His final line was six runs on five hits over two innings. Nikhazy walked three, hit one and struck out three.Tyler Beede pitched the next three innings, gave up just one run on two hits, and got the win. Beede walked one and struck out two.Yacksel Ríos pitched the next two innings and allowed no runs on one hit. Ríos walked one and struck out two.Luke Little pitched the eighth and ninth innings, retired all six batters he faced and got the save. Little struck out two.Left fielder Owen Miller had a huge game, coming just a triple shy of the cycle. Miller was 4 for 5 with a double and a solo home run in the eighth inning. It was his third on the year. Miller had two total runs batted in.Third baseman James Triantos was 3 for 5 with a double, a walk and a stolen base. He scored twice. DH BJ Murray went 3 for 5 and scored once.Center fielder Brett Bateman was 3 for 5 with a steal. Bateman scored twice and drve in two.Miller’s homer.Owen Miller's fourth hit of the game is a homer! pic.twitter.com/sP3eL3xiKo— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) May 26, 2026

Military officials said that the strikes targeted missile sites near a major Iranian port that threatened U.S. ships.

Alan Brazil said he was recovering thanks to the help of a "brilliant" medical team [PA Media]TalkSPORT radio host Alan Brazil, who is recovering from a life-saving operation, says he will return to the airwaves in "weeks".In an update on Instagram, the 66-year-old former Ipswich Town and Scotland forward declared: "As you can see, I'm beginning to improve rapidly, which is great news. I was nearly gone, I don't mind telling you."Brazil, who has not revealed details of the surgery, has been absent from his breakfast show since March."It's a miracle what's happened," said Brazil. "[The] NHS, brilliant. I can't thank the people at Cambridge enough, they've saved my life basically.'Lucky boy'In Monday's message, recorded while he sat outside in a garden in Suffolk, he said: "I'm on the mend, I'm missing radio. I will be back. "Thank you for all the messages [of support], I really appreciate it and I'm a lucky boy."He finished his message: "It won't be long now, a few weeks... Brazil is back."He has hosted TalkSPORT's breakfast show for more than 25 years.Brazil won the UEFA Cup with Ipswich Town in 1981 [Getty Images]Brazil made more than 150 league appearances for Ipswich and went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, before finishing his playing career at non-league Wivenhoe Town near Colchester in Essex.The Glaswegian racked up 13 Scotland caps and also turned out for Coventry and Queens Park Rangers during his career.Do you have a story suggestion? Contact us below.Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk. More on this story Alan Brazil says recent operation saved his life Related internet links talkSPORT

Norwich City captain Kenny McLean said the players needed to use their "privileged" position to help others [Chris Goreham/BBC]Norwich City players have funded a year's worth of disability football sessions after giving up a day's wages for charity.The donation, understood to be about £80,000, was made to Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (CSF) in February.Club captain Kenny McLean, who organised the whip-round, visited the charity on Wednesday and also got involved in a kickabout."We are very privileged to be in a position where we can make a small difference and we definitely need to use our platform more," he said.The 34-year-old said he heard CSF's funding had been "in a bit of jeopardy" and helping was a "no-brainer" for the players.Some of the services that were protected by the money included wheelchair, Down's syndrome and cerebral palsy teams, as well as mental health programmes.'Amazing work'McLean hoped it would be just the start of Canaries footballers supporting the CSF's work more proactively."The guys up here work so hard, they do amazing work, give people opportunity and allow people to fulfil their potential," he added."There's so much more that we can do and that's a responsibility for me, for the players, for the club to help them."It has been a busy season for McLean on the pitch.As well as helping turn his club's fortunes around in the Championship when a relegation fight beckoned, he scored from the halfway line as Scotland qualified for the World Cup finals in dramatic style in November.Stevie Bramble said McLean was "inspirational" in his efforts to support the CSF [Chris Goreham/BBC]Stevie Bramble, CSF's director of educational programmes, said there was no role model "more positive than Kenny"."Kenny's off to the World Cup in three weeks' time. He could be doing loads of other things, but he's chosen to give up his time [to CSF]," Bramble said.He presented McLean with Norwich's PFA Community Player of the Year award during the visit, and thanked him for his support.Bramble added: "All of our provision for disabled [sport] is now secured for another year because of the generosity of the players and Kenny was inspirational in terms of getting them to buy-in."Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Norwich City players donate day's pay to charityFan whose life was saved gets Wembley honourHull beat Norwich to snatch final play-off spot Related internet links Norwich City Community Sports Foundation

Where do the Cleveland Cavaliers go from here?It is a question that will keep Cavs executive Koby Altman awake at nights, if it hasn’t already, for some time. Dan Gilbert, the team’s owner, will be seeking the answer, if he hasn’t already, for some time. The players may be asking that question of themselves.And there may not be an answer that ends in a championship.“I’m disappointed for the group,” Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said after his team was swept in embarrassing fashion on its home floor in a 130-93 Game 4 loss. “From a coaching standpoint, normally you’d say, ‘Man, I wish roster-wise we had this,’ but I can’t say that. Ownership and front office gifted us with a wonderful roster, a talented roster, so I feel bad for the group, because you want to fulfill your expectations. So, that’s disappointing.”The Cavs are stuck, you see. They have reached their ceiling, which, as it turns out, isn’t that much further than the limitation we figured them for — the second-round ceiling they met each of the previous two seasons. The same sub-title upper limit that James Harden has hit throughout his 17-year career. Great but not the greatest.Yes, together Harden and the Cavaliers reached the conference finals, each for the first time since 2018, but no, they could not win a single game against the New York Knicks. Why anyone thought the marriage between Harden and the Cavs would end in anything but disappointment is beyond me. It cost them Darius Garland, an oft-injured 26-year-old two-time All-Star, but an age-26 two-time All-Star nonetheless. (Altman threw in a second-round pick, along with Garland, for Harden in February.)Garland was to be part of the Cavaliers’ future if they were to have one. Now, theirs is as uncertain as any team’s in the league. Sure, they still have Evan Mobley, but he has a ceiling, too, and it won’t be, as we once thought, a Kevin Garnett-like future for him.Mobley is no 1A. Nor is Donovan Mitchell. Or Harden. Certainly not Jarrett Allen. No compounding effect makes them greater than the sum of their parts. These Cavs capped out with Garland as a 64-win outfit and with Harden as a conference finalist, but there is no other reason to believe they can achieve anything greater as a unit.Not after they were overwhelmed by the Knicks. So, what to do now? They cannot possibly justify paying Mitchell, Harden, Mobley and Allen the $170 million it would cost to keep them together next season, not for a team ill-equipped to win it all.Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs appear to have hit their ceiling. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Harden holds a $42.3 million option to play for the Cavaliers next season. He joined them in search of an extension, and on one hand they would be crazy to give him one. On the other hand, can they really afford to have traded Garland for nothing? If Harden picks up his player option, and they try to run this back one more time, what does that portend for the future of Mitchell, who has one more guaranteed year left on his deal? More of the same? Could we envision a future in which he declines his $53.8 million option and enters unrestricted 2027 free agency? And if we could easily envision that future, why wouldn’t the Cavs trade Mitchell now?Anything is on the table for the Cavs this summer, including flipping Mobley for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Or adding LeBron James to the existing core. Neither may result in a title, but either sure would be fun, and that may be all Cleveland needs.Seriously: Pair Mitchell with Antetokounmpo, and see if they can carry each other where both want to go. Maybe Harden and James come along for the ride. Maybe it ends as it did for Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, but at least they will have tried. At least the Cavs would have done something other than stare at that same ceiling.That, of course, would require the Milwaukee Bucks to sign off on a Mobley-for-Giannis swap, which would require them to believe in Mobley as a central building block for the future. That may not be their best option available for Antetokounmpo.It may be the only option available to Cleveland, should the Bucks decline a Mobley-centric offer. The Cavs, then, if Harden leaves, if Mitchell leaves, could be looking at a future with Mobley as their central figure. So, why not get what they can for Harden, Mitchell and Allen now, and build around the only young All-Star Cleveland has left?Problem is, they already traded their other young All-Star. They are pot-committed to winning with this roster, which was a heck of a thing to put on Harden. But they’ve done it, and there’s no turning back. They might as well go all in, offering Mobley for Antetokounmpo and doing whatever they can to sign LeBron for a veteran exception.Because what other move could possibly take these Cavaliers from where they are now, winless in the conference finals, to where they want to be, not only beating a team like these Knicks to win the East, but being able to compete with the West?Another question to keep Altman up at night.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sarah Ashlee Barker scored all seven of her points in a fourth quarter run to lift the Portland Fire to an 81-74 win over the New York Liberty on Monday night.Trailing 65-60, midway through the fourth quarter, Portland (4-3) scored 12 straight points with Barker leading the way to go up 72-65. She hit a layup and then a 3-pointer that made it 67-65 — Portland’s first lead since early in the third quarter.New York, which was missing star guard Sabrina Ionescu, could only get within 74-71 on two free throws by Breanna Stewart with just over 29 seconds left. Carla Leite answered with a 3-pointer with 13.7 seconds left to put the Fire up six. She finished with 18 points to lead the team. New York never could get within striking distance the rest of the way.The loss was the third straight for New York (3-4), which was led by Stewart’s 25 points.VALKYRIES 97, SUN 70SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gabby Williams scored 15 points, Kaila Charles added 12 points and seven rebounds, and Golden State ran away from Connecticut for a win.Williams made 4 of her first 6 shots and wound up 6 for 10 with three 3-pointers as the Valkyries (4-2) jumped out to a 17-11 lead and kept building it against the cold-shooting Sun. Veronica Burton added 11 points and six assists.Aneesah Morrow came off the bench to contribute 11 points and 10 rebounds for Connecticut (1-7), which is four games into a season-long five-game road trip. Second-year guard Hailey Van Lith, in her first season with the team, went 2 for 7 from the floor and Saniya Rivers missed all eight of her shots.Sun center Olivia Nelson-Ododa returned from a four-game absence with a right ankle injury and had a minutes restriction of 12.Kayla Thornton grabbed eight rebounds for Golden State, which led by 17 at halftime. The Valkyries welcomed back Cecilia Zandalasini after she was sidelined for four games dealing with a concussion, and the forward had six points in nearly 14 minutes.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum draws Mexico during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2025. She said Monday that the Iran national soccer team will be staying in Mexico during the upcoming World Cup. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPIMay 26 (UPI) -- President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed Monday that her government will allow the Iranian national soccer team to stay in Mexico while competing in the World Cup.The quadrennial soccer event is being held June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico and the United States. All three of Iran's scheduled group stage matches are in the United States, the first two in Los Angeles and the third in Seattle.Following months of uncertainty about the team's ability to travel to the United States for the games amid the U.S.-Iran war, Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said in a video statement over the weekend that they would be based in Tijuana, Mexico, and would fly to their games in the United States.Speaking to reporters during a Monday press conference, Sheinbaum said FIFA had asked Mexico if the Iranian athletes could stay within its borders as Washington did not want them staying in the United States overnight."So they asked us, 'Can they stay overnight in Mexico?' And we said, 'Yes. No problem. We have no problem,'" she said."We have no reason to deny the possibility that they stay in Mexico. So, yes, we gave that option."She confirmed that the Iranian players will stay in Tijuana and will be allowed to travel to the United States for their games.The plan is being reviewed by Sen. Gabriela Cuevas, Mexico's representative of the event, and Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodriguez Zamora, in coordination with FIFA, she said. The International Federation of Association Football, better known as FIFA, an acronym of its French-language name, on Monday, finalized team base camp training sites, confirming Iran will be based at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana, a Mexican border city just south of California.In the Saturday video statement, Taj, Iran's soccer federation president, said the move from Tucson, Ariz., where the team was originally scheduled to be based, to Tijuana was preferred. The flight from the new base camp to Los Angeles for their games was only 55 minutes, better than if they were in Tucson."This is a very good advantage," he said.Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, both in Los Angeles, and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone each hit a two-run homer in a six-run third inning that sent the Seattle Mariners to a 9-2 victory over the Athletics on Monday night.Randy Arozarena had an RBI double in the third and a two-run homer in the ninth. J.P. Crawford also went deep for the Mariners, who moved within 1 1/2 games of the first-place A's in the AL West.Seattle starter Luis Castillo pitched four scoreless innings before Bryce Miller (1-0) worked the final five.Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz walked in the third to extend his on-base streak to 48 games, equaling the single-season club record Mark McGwire set in 1995. McGwire stretched the mark to 62 when he reached base safely in the first 14 games the following season. Kurtz, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, tied Albert Pujols (2001) for the fifth-longest streak by a major league player 23 or younger.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

NEW DELHI: The emotions, tears, smiles, satisfaction and the feeling of finally holding the IPL trophy - the scenes of Virat Kohli and the entire Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp after winning the IPL 2025 title are still fresh in the minds of fans. And now, with another dominant campaign, RCB are back in the playoffs and dreaming of back-to-back titles.With nine wins in 14 matches, 18 points and an impressive net run rate of +0.78, RCB became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.One of the biggest architects behind RCB’s success this season has once again been their talisman Virat Kohli. The former India captain has been in tremendous form throughout the season and the defending champions will hope he carries the same momentum into the playoffs as well.RCB are set to face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.The winner of Qualifier 1 will march directly into the IPL 2026 final, while the losing side will get another opportunity in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.But there is one statistic that may worry RCB fans.Despite being one of the greatest batters in IPL history, Kohli does not boast a dominating record in the playoff stages of the tournament.Yes, you read that right.In his illustrious IPL career spanning 281 matches, Kohli has played 16 games, in playoffs, for RCB and scored 357 runs at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 121.42. He has registered two half-centuries in playoff matches and also has a duck to his name.Kohli has been the face of RCB since the inception of the IPL in 2008. Signed by the Bengaluru franchise as a youngster, he has remained loyal to the team throughout his IPL journey.After failing to qualify for the playoffsts in the inaugural season in 2008, RCB reached the playoffs for the first time in 2009. They defeated Chennai Super Kings in the semifinal to enter the final, but eventually lost the title clash to Deccan Chargers.Now, as RCB gear up for another massive playoffst clash against Gujarat Titans, all eyes will once again be on Kohli. Here’s a look at Kohli’s overall IPL numbers and his record in the playoff stage.Virat Kohli in IPLTournamentTeamMatInnsNORunsHSAveSR100s50sOVERALLRCB281273439218113*40.07134.39967IPL 2026RCB14143557105*50.63163.8214IPL 2025RCB1515365773*54.75144.7108IPL 2024RCB15153741113*61.75154.6915IPL 2023RCB14142639101*53.25139.8226IPL 2022RCB161613417322.73115.9802IPL 2021RCB1515140572*28.92119.4603IPL 2020RCB1515446690*42.36121.3503IPL 2019RCB1414046410033.14141.4612IPL 2018RCB1414353092*48.18139.1004IPL 2017RCB101003086430.80122.2204IPL 2016RCB1616497311381.08152.0347IPL 2015RCB1616550582*45.90130.8203IPL 2014RCB141413597327.61122.1002IPL 2013RCB161626349945.28138.7306IPL 2012RCB1615236473*28.00111.6502IPL 2011RCB161645577146.41121.0804IPL 2010RCB161323075827.90144.8101IPL 2009RCB161322465022.36112.3201IPL 2008RCB131211653815.00105.0900Virat Kohli in IPL playoffsPlayerTeamplayoffst MatchesRunsAverageStrike Rate50s100s0Virat KohliRCB1635725.50121.42201Virat Kohli in IPL playoffs - all matchesScoreBF4s6sSRPosDismissalInnsOppositionGroundDate24*1712141.175Not out2CSKJohannesburg23 May 2009781087.506Stumped2ChargersJohannesburg24 May 20099710128.576Caught2MIDY Patil21 Apr 201070*4453159.093Not out1CSKWankhede24 May 20118120066.663Bowled1MIChennai27 May 2011353211109.373LBW2CSKChennai28 May 201112180066.662Caught1RRPune20 May 201512911133.332Caught1CSKRanchi22 May 201502000.002Bowled2Guj LionsBengaluru24 May 2016543552154.282Bowled2SRHBengaluru29 May 2016670085.711Caught1SRHAbu Dhabi6 Nov 2020252420104.161Caught1LSGEden Gardens25 May 2022780187.501Caught1RRAhmedabad27 May 2022332431137.501Caught1RRAhmedabad22 May 2024121220100.002Caught2Punjab KingsNew Chandigarh29 May 2025433530122.852Caught1Punjab KingsAhmedabad3 Jun 2025

The Cleveland Cavaliers' season is over. A sweep in the Eastern Conference finals at the hands of the New York Knicks — capped off by a 37-point loss on their home floor, no less — is almost sure to bring a new level of scrutiny to a core that, while talented, has faltered time and time again in the playoffs.One of the biggest questions facing the Cavs this summer will be James Harden and his impending $42.3 milion player option. But Harden, Cleveland's prized midseason acquisition, has already publicly said he's on board with coming back.“Yes, 100%, definitely to both,” Harden told reporters after Game 4 when asked if he wants and expects to be in Cleveland next season. “Definitely want to be here. It’s tough ending it not how we wanted to, but I think we found something.”A slow start to this season led to a blockbuster trade for James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers at the deadline in February in exchange for point guard Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick. Harden, an 11-time All-Star, averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 26 regular season games with the Cavaliers but struggled down the stretch in the playoffs, something that has reared its head before in Harden's career.In the four games against the Knicks this series, Harden failed to reach 20 points once. His statline in the decisive Game 4 was as flat as the energy the Cavs as a whole played with: 12 points on 2-of-8 shooting, four rebounds, two assists and five turnovers. James Harden was asked if the Knicks were better than the Cavaliers"It was 4-0, but I don't think we had a chance as far as our best shot. They dominated us 4-0. but I don't know if I can necessarily answer that question. Because genuinely I do feel like we're the better team" pic.twitter.com/8CAMItRK2H— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) May 26, 2026The blame didn't solely lie on Harden; the Cavaliers in general were outplayed and outclassed across the board in such a way that's sure to invite questions about this team's roster going forward.But Harden made it a point to answer one of those questions early. So did Donovan Mitchell.“I love it here,” Mitchell said after the game. “I don’t know how else to say it. I said it before I signed the other extension: I love it here. I have no doubt this group can get there. But reports are going to be reports and people are going to be people. I’ll say the same thing: we have unfinished business."Mitchell's situation is a bit different as he's under contract through next season and has a player option for 2027-28. He is, however, eligible for an extension this offseason and if he doesn't look to re-sign, there's speculation that the Cavs could be open to trading him.Cleveland has become a home for Mitchell since arriving from the Utah Jazz in the summer of 2022. He's been the face of their post-LeBron era since and after getting the Cavs to their furthest point since 2018, the seven-time All-Star is determined to see it through.“It was great energy to see in the city when we got to the conference finals. Just to feel that, it was amazing," Mitchell said. "That’s why getting swept like this sucks because even driving in, people were going crazy. I love that. I love that about this place. The city deserves a ring and we just got to keep going.”This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Harden says he wants to stay with Cleveland Cavaliers

In this week’s Injury Report, the Blue Jays lose Dylan Cease for at least the next two weeks with a hamstring strain. Cole Ragans will shut things down after suffering a setback in his last rehab outing. And Logan Webb appears on track to return by this weekend. All that and more as we look into all the latest relevant injury news around baseball.⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.Dylan Cease (hamstring)Cease’s start against the Pirates was cut short on Sunday as he departed in the fifth inning with left hamstring discomfort. The team placed him on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a left hamstring strain, sidelining him for at least the next two weeks. There’s no clear timeline yet, but the hope is that Cease will be ready to return when first eligible in early June.Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Believe in Carson Benge, Griffin Jax, and moreEric Samulski and James Schiano discuss their favorite fantasy baseball waiver wire adds for the weekend. Eric Samulski, James Schiano,Cole Ragans (elbow)Ragans made a rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on Saturday, giving up one run over 4 1/3 innings while reaching 68 pitches. While he pitched well, manager Matt Quatraro told reporters he “didn’t bounce back well” following the outing. Ragans is apparently feeling the same elbow discomfort that landed him on the injured list. He’ll be shut down from throwing for a few days before he’s reevaluated. It’s not the most promising development, but we hope to learn more about Ragans’ status by the end of the week.Hunter Brown (shoulder)We got more encouraging news regarding Brown, who responded well enough in his last batting practice session to begin a rehab assignment. He made a start with Double-A Corpus Cristi on Sunday, striking out five over two scoreless innings. Brown reached 35 pitches and reportedly hit 98 mph on the fastball. The 27-year-old right-hander needs a couple more rehab outings to build up his pitch count, the next of which will come with Triple-A Sugar Land. Barring any setbacks, he appears on track to return in early to mid June.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (hamstring)Gurriel was removed from Friday’s game against the Rockies with left hamstring tightness and was initially considered day-to-day. The team opted to give him a full ten days to recover, putting him on the 10-day injured list. Manager Torey Lovullo stated the hope is to get him back after the minimum stay. The 32-year-old outfielder is slashing .228/.284/.304 with one homer, seven runs scored, 11 RBI, and one steal across 102 plate appearances. Tommy Troy was recalled to take his place on the roster. Troy is one of the team’s top prospects. He’ll have a week and a half to make an impression after posting an .846 OPS with three homers and six steals over 44 games at Triple-A Reno.Max Muncy (wrist)Muncy was removed from Friday’s game against the Brewers after he was hit by a pitch on the right wrist. X-rays came back negative for any fractures, but he’s sat out the three games since. The 35-year-old slugger avoided serious injury, but the team is giving him the extra time off as a precaution. Expect him back in the lineup by Wednesday’s game against the Rockies.Wyatt Langford (forearm)Langford was cleared to resume hitting on Monday and took batting practice before the team’s game against the Astros. The hope is that he’ll take live at-bats on Friday and begin a minor league rehab assignment over the weekend. Langford indicated on Monday that he is feeling better now than he did the last time he ramped up baseball activities. An optimistic timeline probably puts him back in the Rangers’ lineup at the start of June.Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow)Schwellenbach has finally been cleared to begin a throwing progression, starting with tossing from flat ground for a couple of weeks before moving on to bullpen sessions. It’s the early stages of the ramp-up process following surgery in mid-February to remove bone spurs from his pitching elbow. The 25-year-old right-hander is expected to be an option for the Braves’ rotation in the second half of the season.Garrett Crochet (shoulder)Crochet is scheduled to face hitters in a live batting practice session on Tuesday after checking out fine following a couple of bullpen sessions. As long as there aren’t any setbacks, the next step would likely be a minor league rehab start before rejoining the Red Sox rotation. Crochet has been out since April 29 with left shoulder inflammation.Logan Webb (knee)Webb, out since May 6 with right knee bursitis, made a rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. He tossed 62 pitches over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Manager Tony Vitello said the 29-year-old right-hander could return to the Giants’ rotation sometime this weekend against the Rockies in Colorado. His activation from the injured list likely boots Trevor McDonald from the rotation.Shane Bieber (elbow)Bieber has been sidelined all season with elbow inflammation that delayed his ramp up process in spring training. He’s been brought along slowly, finally making his first rehab start in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League on Monday. Bieber struck out three over two scoreless innings. The 30-year-old right-hander will need at least a few more weeks of rehab outings to build up before he’s ready to join the Blue Jays' rotation in the next month.Francisco Alvarez (knee)Alvarez underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee just two weeks ago, with a 6-8 week timeline to return. He’s apparently well ahead of schedule as manager Carlos Mendoza reported on Monday that the 24-year-old backstop has already resumed hitting. It seems there’s a chance Alvarez could at least meet the short end of his timeline and return before the end of June.Francisco Lindor (calf)The Alvarez update wasn’t the only good news for the Mets. Mendoza told reporters on Monday that Lindor has begun a running program and resumed baseball activities. He’s been sidelined for over a month with a left calf strain. While Monday’s update was the most positive news yet, he’ll likely also need a rehab assignment once he’s ready for game action after his lengthy absence.

NEW DELHI: The group stage is done and dusted. Now, it’s time for the real business - the playoffs. The stage is set for a blockbuster clash as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at the HPCA Stadium on Tuesday.Both teams finished the league stage with 18 points from 14 matches, but RCB claimed the top spot owing to a superior net run rate.With only a few hours left for the big clash, here’s a look at the key players to watch out for in the high-voltage RCB vs GT encounter:VIRAT KOHLIMatches: 14Runs: 557Average: 50.63Strike Rate: 163.82Since the inception of the IPL, Virat Kohli has been the face of RCB. He has been the cornerstone of the Bengaluru franchise, which finally ended its 18-year wait for a maiden IPL title last year. Kohli’s emotions were evident when RCB lifted the coveted trophy - the tears of joy, the smile, the satisfaction, and the celebration said it all.Now, with RCB enjoying another dominant campaign in IPL 2026, Kohli will be eager to defend the title. The veteran batter has been in stellar form, scoring 557 runs in 14 matches at an average of 50.63 and a strike rate of 163.82. He also has one century and four fifties to his name this season. Qualifier 1 could witness another special knock from the RCB stalwart.SHUBMAN GILLMatches: 13Runs: 616Average: 47.38Strike Rate: 161.67Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans, champions in IPL 2022, entered the playoffs as the second-best team on the points table with 18 points. One of the biggest reasons behind their success has been the captain’s sensational form.Shedding the tag of not being a T20 batter, Gill has silenced his critics in style. He is currently the second-highest run-getter in the tournament with 616 runs in 13 matches at an average of 47.38 and a strike rate of 161.67. The stylish opener already has six half-centuries under his belt. If Kohli will be the key man for RCB, Gill will be expected to fire on all cylinders for GT in Qualifier 1.KRUNAL PANDYAMatches: 14Runs: 182Average: 45.50Strike Rate: 145.60Wickets: 11Whenever the team has been in trouble, Krunal Pandya’s ‘main hoon na’ approach has worked brilliantly for RCB. Whether it is rescuing the side with crucial runs or controlling the flow of runs with his clever bowling, Krunal has delivered in every department this season.Against Mumbai Indians, Krunal battled severe cramps, repeatedly went down on the field, but still guided RCB to a thrilling two-wicket win with a match-saving 73 off 46 balls. Apart from his batting heroics, the all-rounder has also impressed with his disciplined bowling, especially with his short-ball variations. So far, he has scored 182 runs and claimed 11 wickets in the tournament.BHUVNESHWAR KUMARMatches: 14Wickets: 24Economy: 8.07Best: 4/23The swing king Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been lethal in the Powerplay this season. Give him the ball early, and he delivers wickets.Currently holding the Purple Cap, Bhuvneshwar has led the RCB bowling attack from the front. In 14 matches, he has claimed 24 wickets, with best figures of 4/23. The veteran pacer will once again be expected to rattle GT’s batting lineup and provide early breakthroughs in Qualifier 1.RASHID KHANMatches: 14Wickets: 19Economy: 8.71Best: 4/33With years of experience behind him, Rashid Khan knows exactly how to outfox batters. Even on days when wickets don’t come easily, he has the ability to choke the flow of runs and build pressure.The Afghanistan spinner will once again be Shubman Gill’s go-to bowler in the knockout clash. Rashid has played 14 matches this season and picked up 19 wickets at an economy rate of 8.71, with best figures of 4/33.JASON HOLDERMatches: 8Runs: 58Wickets: 13Jason Holder may have played only eight matches for Gujarat Titans, but he has made a strong impact with his performances in IPL 2026.While Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada have handled the Powerplay duties brilliantly, the middle overs have often belonged to Holder. He was adjudged Player of the Match for his spell of 4/24 against Punjab Kings, where he dismantled PBKS’ middle order, including the prized wickets of Shreyas Iyer and Marcus Stoinis.Apart from his bowling and big-hitting ability, Holder has also been exceptional in the field. In eight matches, he has scored 58 runs and taken 13 wickets. His role will be crucial for GT in the all-important Qualifier 1 against RCB.

Walt Frazier anoints Jalen Brunson as the next Knicks superstar to carry the torch originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.After 27 years, the New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals. Back then, it was a surprising run because the Knicks were the eighth seed, reaching the biggest stage in the NBA. This time around, it is not surprising because the Knicks have won 11 games in a row en route to the Finals.The Knicks have a talented roster, but Jalen Brunson is the head of the snake. Everyone acknowledges him as the star player, including the Knicks' past superstars like Patrick Ewing and Walt "Clyde" Frazier.Jalen Brunson gets anointed as the Knicks' main manBrunson and the Knicks pulled off a dominant sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers. It has been one of the most impressive runs in recent postseason history because the Knicks have won 11 consecutive games in the Playoffs.After falling to a 2-1 deficit against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, the Knicks have not looked back since. Brunson has been the catalyst for their success because he is their locker room leader, and he is also doing it on the court with his consistent excellence.MORE: The Knicks taking a $113 million chance on Jalen Brunson has changed the franchise foreverIt is a new era of Knicks basketball, and they have one star to credit for it, and that is Brunson. He rightfully earned the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, which was awarded to him by Ewing and Frazier.This was a special moment for Brunson because it showed the past superstars also believed in him. That is a great moment to remember as the Knicks progress to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999."It's been a long time. Carrying on the tradition, passing it down to Jalen. He's the guy now who has to carry it. You've got to capitalize when you get there, so we're gonna stay on him," Clyde said after the Knicks' sweep over the Cavs.Now, the Knicks are in the Finals with a shot at winning a trophy that they have not won in 53 years. They already have an NBA Cup under their belts this season; this could be the cherry on top of one of the greatest seasons in franchise history.More NBA news:The Knicks are now four wins away from winning their first championship in 53 yearsThe price for the tickets in the New York Knicks' postseason runThe box score for the final game in the 2026 Eastern Conference FinalsKenny Atkinson gives the Knicks credit for dominating against the CavsJosh Hart celebrates how the Knicks made sacrifices for the NBA Finals run

Chelsea issue strong rebuttal to Barcelona amid Deco talks with agentBarcelona have stepped up efforts to sign a new striker, now that it has been confirmed that Robert Lewandowski is leaving the club in the summer. The plan is for a big-money replacement to be brought in, and among the leading candidates being considered is Joao Pedro.Barcelona first registered their interest in Pedro almost two months ago, and since then, it has progressed quickly. He is one of the two leading targets – the other being Julian Alvarez – that the Catalans are working on, and sporting director Deco is in the process of making arrangements for a summer push.According to Jijantes (via MD), Deco has travelled to London alongside Bojan Krkic and Joao Amaral to hold talks with Pedro’s representatives. The Catalans have communicated their strong interest in the forward, for whom a deal can be sought now, considering he was left out of Brazil’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.Barcelona believe that Pedro can be signed for a fee in the region of €70m. They are aware that the 24-year-old is desperate to move to the Spotify Camp Nou this summer, especially considering that Chelsea failed to secure European qualification of any kind after finishing the 2025-26 Premier League season in 10th.Chelsea have no plans to consider Pedro exitHowever, Chelsea’s stance is very different to how Barcelona actually see it. The Londoners see Pedro as one of their most important players, and as such, no sale will be considered this summer – not even for a world-record fee, as Ben Jacobs has reported.Barcelona have set a maximum price of €100m to bring in a new striker, but given that this may not even be enough to sign Pedro this summer, they may be forced to look elsewhere. However, Chelsea’s stance could still change, especially if their player makes a strong push to leave for Catalonia.

SACRAMENTO, CA - MAY 25: Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners reacts during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Monday, May 25, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images The piggyback situation remains an uncomfortable – and I would argue, untenable – situation for Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller, but both of them pitched through that tonight and did their jobs, pitching all nine innings without touching the bullpen, giving up two runs (both Miller’s) with a combined 10 strikeouts to just two walks (both Castillo’s). Meanwhile, the offense jumped on A’s starter Aaron Civale, lighting him up for six runs in one inning alone en route to a 9-2 series-opening win.The box score for today’s game says “Wind, 18 mph” and where it would normally say a direction instead just says “varies.” Seems rude to ask Luis Castillo to both step into a new role and be all four of the Anemoi, but this is just another thing The Rock must absorb with dignity and grace. The wind early in this game was enough to shake the center field camera significantly and provide a uniquely unpleasant viewing experience that had me reaching for Dramamine (or at least hum the Modest Mouse song). Initially it seemed like it might be affecting Castillo, who walked his leadoff hitter on some fairly significant misses, but was able to lock things down after that, as he did for the rest of his outing.Meanwhile, the Mariners were able to finally stack up some runs using their (almost) fully-operational lefty lineup. Lefties are hitting almost .300 off Aaron Civale this year, and after getting some traffic on early, the Mariners were able to finally break through in the third during the lefty-heavy portion of their programming. Colt Emerson, continuing to show maturity at the plate, led off with a five-pitch walk and then moved to third on a Julio Rodríguez single. Civale leaned heavily on his cutter, as he did last year, but the Mariners hitters seemed ready for it – Civale had struck out Julio on the cutter in the first inning, and tried to go to it again on the single, but Julio was able to adjust. Josh Naylor knocked Emerson home on a would-be double play that was luckily mishandled by the A’s infield to give the Mariners their first run of the game, and Randy Arozarena pounced on a first-pitch curveball for a double – also mishandled by Carlos Cortes in the outfield, allowing Naylor to score. How fun when it’s not the Mariners making defensive miscues and instead punishing other teams for theirs. Civale then tried to get a first-pitch cutter past Luke Raley, who intercepted the pitch at the bottom of the zone and squeaked it over the right field fence to double up the Mariners lead – “squeaking” not being a way we’re used to referring to Raley homers, but we’ll take it. Cole Young followed that up by doubling on a splitter, poking it down the right field line, and then Dom Canzone saw a first-pitch fastball to his liking for a decisive homer to right-center, opening up a 6-0 advantage.Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.It’s a good thing the Mariners built Castillo that cushion because the bottom of the third started with some patented Sutter Home Park Silliness as nine-hole hitter Darell Hernaiz got a leadoff “double” on a ball that first got grabbed by the wind and then bounced in the outfield like an eight year old at a trampoline park birthday party. Castillo, to his credit, cleaned things up and didn’t let that runner score. Carlos Cortes, who is Annoying, hit a ball hard but not home run distance, enough to move Hernaiz to third. Castillo then pitched carefully to Nick Kurtz, walking him, but was able to attack the other head of the monster in Shea Langeliers, getting him to expand off the plate for a swinging strike three on a fastball. He then got Brent Rooker on three pitches, none of which were on the plate, as Rooker continues on a rough start to the season.In the fourth, J.P. Crawford accidentally made himself the story of the inning, hitting a solo shot to make it 7-0 but throwing the ball away on what should have been an easy groundout to open the bottom of the inning. Once again, Castillo was forced into cleanup duty, striking out rookie centerfielder Henry Bolte looking, getting my personal enemy Jeff McNeil to pop out, and then striking out Zack Gelof looking on a pitch that was probably outside a hair but since the A’s were already down to one challenge, went unchallenged. The Mariners’ early onslaught of runs forced the A’s into their own piggyback situation, bringing out Jack Perkins as their own second starter, but the real storyline here wasn’t on the field but in the Mariners dugout, as Dan Wilson was seen deep in conversation with Luis Castillo, who looked visibly displeased to be told he would be departing the game in order for Bryce Miller to come in. Considering Luis defeated the A’s hitters, the haunted tuna can of Sutter Health Park, the wind, and his own infield defense, it seems only fair he’d be given a win for that outing. But with the lineup turning over, Wilson opted to go to Miller.Miller, presenting a completely different set of looks to the A’s hitters, was able to work the back five of the game, allowing Dan Wilson to keep his bullpen in bubble wrap for another day. A brief moment here to also appreciate catcher Jhonny Pereda, who had to prepare for two different starters in this game with two vastly different arsenals.- during Miller’s first hitter Pereda had to burn a mound visit after Miller shook him three times in succession – but guided his two starters through the game. Miller came out throwing hard although slightly less hard than his last outing, touching 98.2 in his first inning of work before settling in at 96.5. The standout for Miller today was his splitter, which looked sharper than his last outing; three of his four strikeouts were on the pitch. Miller was also mostly successful throwing his slider, although he did hang one to Langeliers for a homer for the A’s first run of the day in the eighth.But Randy Arozarena got that run back plus one, finally getting to Perkins in the ninth with two outs, scoring Naylor, on base with a Naylor Special (a base hit to left off a pitch up and away).Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.The A’s would claw one more back off Miller off a couple of objectively stupid hits as the A’s were in swing mode down big in the ninth. Tyler Soderstrom led off with a double on a curve that he didn’t hit so much as vaudeville hook into left, then advanced to third on an infield hit. A run did score when Jeff McNeil grounded into a double play – niftily handled by Naylor, who managed to both tag speedy rookie Henry Bolte and touch first before McNeil creaked his way down there, setting up a game-ending strikeout of Zach Gelof. Since Miller didn’t get the glamor of being the opener this time, we’ll give him the honor of closing out the recap – just don’t look too carefully at the win dance, which is a little messy; appropriate, given the situation.Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.

Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Robert Sanchez (C) grabs the ball under pressure from Sunderland's French striker #18 Wilson Isidor (L) during the English Premier League football match between Sunderland and Chelsea at The Stadium of Light in Sunderland in north east England on May 24, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images 1. ROBERT SÁNCHEZ (5.6)Chelsea’s three highest rated players just barely sneak into the “average” category, with Bob leading the way by a few hundredths. And he certainly did give it his all during the game, making five saves and getting beaten only by a great first-time shot form Trey Hume and a ridiculous own goal from Malo Gusto.Sánchez thus finishes the season with 16 podium appearances, tied for third most on the team with Enzo Fernández and behind only João Pedro (20) and Moisés Caicedo (18). It’s his fourth Man of the Match, and I think it’s fair to say that it’s been his best season as a Chelsea player. That’s faint praise in the grand scheme of things, but overall, Bob’s done alright … or at least he hasn’t been our biggest problem. He’s certainly had his usual moments, but he’s proven a solid goalkeeper when it comes to actual goalkeeping … or at least better than all our other alternatives.Opta’s goalkeeping statistics have him comfortably in the range of average to almost better-than-average in most metrics, and his 2.7 goals prevented make him 8th best in the league in that regard (Lammens, Donnarumma, and Verbruggen well out in front of all others in that stat).2. COLE PALMER (5.6)Unlike for Bob, it’s fair to say that this has not been Cole Palmer’s best season at Chelsea. In fact, it was comfortably his worst. We can point to injuries or fatigue or the coaching carousel … but whatever the reason, let’s just hope that this is not the real Cole Palmer.At least he did break his goalscoring drought.3. LEVI COLWILL (5.6)Four games back for Levi, four Player Ratings podium appearances. On another day, it’s he who gets the yellow (instead of Wesley Fofana) since they were both fouling the Sunderland player, and maybe we end up with a different result.Colwill gets to go into next season without the stink of this season, and I’m expecting great things from him.vs. SUNDERLAND (PL, H, W 2-1)EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): —GOOD (6.5-7.4): —AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Sánchez (5.6), Palmer (5.6), Colwill (5.6)SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): James (5.1, sub), Chalobah (5.0, sub), Hato (4.9), Acheampong (4.8, sub), João Pedro (4.6), Caicedo (4.6), Enzo (4.5)BAD (3.5-4.4): Cucurella (3.6), Neto (3.5)TERRIBLE (2.5-3.4): Delap (2.8, sub), Gusto (2.6), Fofana (2.1)OVERALL

CLEVELAND (AP) — The New York Knicks made a commitment to Jalen Brunson four years ago, signing him as a free agent and building their team around him.Brunson proved they made the right decision by leading them to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.The All-Star point guard averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists during New York's sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, earning the Larry Bird Trophy as the series MVP. He had 15 points and five assists Monday, when the Knicks crushed Cleveland 130-93 in Game 4.“It's an honor to be here in this city and this organization,” Brunson said, sitting side-by-side with former Villanova University teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. "I wouldn't trade it for the world.“We're still writing our story, but I like the journey that we're on right now.”Skepticism abounded around the league when New York extended a four-year, $104 million contract to the then-Dallas Mavericks guard in 2022. Brunson silenced many critics when he averaged 24.0 points in his first season, then added three straight All-Star selections.After helping the Knicks reach the East finals in 2025, when they lost to the upstart Indiana Pacers, Brunson was the best player in the series from start to finish against the Cavaliers. In Game 1, his 38-point masterpiece fueled New York's comeback from a 22-point hole in the fourth quarter.“He just puts in the work. He’s a testament of that,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said. “He believes in that, and he showcases that every single day to all of us and it drives us to be better.”Brunson’s work ethic instantly impressed New York coach Mike Brown when he was hired last summer, then forced him to change his sleep habits during the season as the 29-year-old went all out in morning shootarounds. It prompted Brown to compare his determination to basketball legends Stephen Curry and Tim Duncan.“Their quiet strength, all the time, is what they all have in common,” Brown said. “Jalen's work ethic is off the chart and he makes me adjust because he goes so hard every day. When your leader is that way, it's easy to be a coach.”The Knicks subsequently brought in Bridges and Hart via trades, and acquired Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves as the final piece of the puzzle. That core four is now just four wins away from delivering the franchise its first NBA title since 1973.“There is no player, no other guard I'd want to be in this position with than J.B.,” Bridges said.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Chelsea player “wants to play for Barcelona” & has “meeting scheduled with Xabi Alonso”Chelsea star Joao Pedro reportedly wants to play for Barcelona and with have a meeting with his new Chelsea manager.Xabi Alonso does not officially start work as Chelsea boss until the start of July, but it’s become pretty clear that he has very much already started his job as the new Chelsea manager, albeit unofficially for now. I mean, he has his work cut out and a lot to do after a terrible season concludes for the Blues on Sunday.EXCLUSIVE! Chelsea’s summer transfer plans under Xabi Alonso REVEALED!!If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.Chelsea lost 2-1 against Sunderland to see out a miserable season, finishing up in 10th spot in the league and missing out on any kind of European football for next season.Alonso has a task and a half on his hands to get Chelsea firing again and back challenging at the very top, but he is going to need his best players to stay at the club and help with this. But if Pedro wants to leave so bad, then do you really want to try and stop him? Personally, I don’t want any player here who does not want to be here…Pedro wants BarcaJoao Pedro battles with Tyrone Mings. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)Spanish journalist Jose Alvarez posted on X last night:“Joao Pedro wants to play for Barcelona and has a meeting scheduled with Xabi Alonso. Chelsea for now is not listening to offers.”The end bit remains the saving grace for Chelsea fans right now though, that the club do not want to sell.In other news today…Chelsea have now accepted that they want to sell Enzo Fernandez this summer, and are gradually lining things up to make that happen. This is one story that also will not go away.Chelsea have Xabi Alonso coming in as their new manager and that’s got fans very excited about their prospects for next season. Jason Cundy has even called him a cheat code!DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORECheck out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Two Manchester City players are named as Tottenham transfer targets as they face uncertain futuresAs a new era without Pep Guardiola awaits Manchester City, there will be players who depart the club this summer. One of those is expected to be Savinho. The Brazilian winger hasn’t been able to establish himself as a consistent performer for City during his two seasons at the club. James Trafford is another player who seems destined to leave City this summer. Trafford is far too good to be a backup keeper, and he has ambitions to be England’s number-one goalkeeper and a number-one keeper in his own right. A new report has named the pair as potential summer transfer targets for Tottenham. In truth, a move to Roberto De Zerbi’s side makes sense for both players.Tottenham reportedly have an interest in signing Savinho and James Trafford this summer.A report from Simon Jones for the Daily Mail has emerged which looks into Tottenham’s summer transfer plans. As per Jones’ report, Savinho and James Trafford are emerging as players that Tottenham may look to sign this summer. It is reported that Savinho was a transfer target for Tottenham last summer. However, Pep Guardiola wanted to keep the Brazilian international. This summer is a different story. Jones adds that Tottenham could be poised to launch a £60 million offer City’s way to sign Savinho.Secondly, Simon Jones reports that Tottenham are in the market for a new number-one goalkeeper. James Trafford is reportedly a target, as is Leeds United keeper Karl Darlow.It would be a surprise if both James Trafford and Savinho didn’t leave Manchester City this summer, and a move to Tottenham seems plausible.James Trafford and Savinho look to be two players who could leave Manchester City this summer. Their circumstances, however, are entirely different. Savinho seems to be surplus to requirements at City. As talented as Savinho is, too often his performances aren’t up to the level that City demands. A summer move may be exactly what he needs to start fresh somewhere new. James Trafford has a major obstacle in his path to being City’s number-one goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma. City wouldn’t want to lose Trafford given his quality and the fact that he is City born and bred. However, that decision may be out of their hands.Tottenham will be looking to rebuild this summer after a disappointing 2025-26 season. Manager Roberto De Zerbi’s style of play may suit both Savinho and James Trafford. Savinho’s energy out wide could be a weapon for Spurs. James Trafford’s ability in possession will help Tottenham’s buildup from the back, and his quality as a shot-stopper would be an asset for any team.James Trafford and Savinho are reportedly summer transfer targets for Tottenham. They do both seem to be prime candidates for Manchester City to sell this summer, as mentioned above, for different reasons. Tottenham seems to be a club with a plan to back Roberto De Zerbi this summer, so a move to Spurs for players seems possible if Spurs can meet City’s asking price.

The road to get here wasn’t always easy, but the Knicks are headed to their first NBA Finals since 1999 after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night, and they are peaking at just the right time.After going down 2-1 to the Hawks in the first round, New York has rattled off 11 straight wins and has a +272 point-differential over that span. It’s been one of the most dominant stretches not just in Knicks history, but NBA history, and it all starts with head coach Mike Brown who saw his team start playing a this version of basketball towards the end of the regular season.“Down the stretch, like 6 or 7 games to go, after Landry [Shamet] got back, I started to see us play some good basketball and do more things that were selfless or more sacrificing from the group,” Brown said. “Throughout the course of the season you have your ups and you have your downs, and you have your good and your bad and your adversity that you have to fight through. Sometimes we got through it quickly, sometimes it took us a minute to figure it out.”The trials and tribulations that the Knicks have faced not just this season but in postseason’s past where they got close to their final destination but couldn’t get over the hump has prepared them for this moment. Even Brown, in his first season in New York, saw that the team had what it takes to get the job done.“From afar, I just felt that this team was ready,” he said. “And I’m just thrilled to death that Mr. Dolan gave me an opportunity and Leon Rose gave me an opportunity to be a head coach again, especially here in New York.”Brown had been a head coach for the Sacramento Kings for two full seasons and helped turn the franchise around before getting fired in the middle of last season. He’s also no stranger to reaching the finals as he was an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors for six seasons at the height of their dynasty. Therefore, he knows what it takes to finish the job and has been doing what he can to set his players up for success.“Our group is playing good basketball and they’re doing it in different ways,” Brown said. “They’re doing it differently, depending on who our opponent is and when you show that type of versatility on both ends of the floor, it adds to your belief. “I’ve said it before, you use the regular season to get ready for the postseason and our guys did a hell of a job with that.”“This team is hungry and that’s the most important thing,” added Karl-Anthony Towns. “Even with an amazing, historical win we had tonight, the celebrations were minimal. We really want to get back to work. [We] asked coach can we get back to work quick.”While the Knicks will and certainly deserve to celebrate their incredible accomplishment of reaching their first NBA finals in more than two decades, they know their ultimate goal is still out there.However, it’s now within their grasps and closer than it’s ever been for them.“It feels good. We’re excited, we’re happy we won, but we’re also not satisfied,” said OG Anunoby. “We’re gonna celebrate tonight, but then once tomorrow comes, start resting and preparing for the next round.”If New York is able to defeat either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, it’ll be the franchise’s first championship since 1973. But the way they’re playing right now – the best they’ve played all season – the Knicks should be considered the favorites.“We’ve gotten to this point because we worked together, we’ve been a team, we’ve been unified,” Towns said. “The collective group has shown up in spots when we need to.”

Closeout games the hardest games to win. Your opponent is desperate trying to keep their season alive. For the 2026 Knicks, though, they’ve been no sweat.New York has taken care of business the entire playoffs, but they’ve been especially dominant when given a chance to send their opponent packing. First it was the Hawks, then the 76ers. On Tuesday night the Cavaliers became the latest team to fall victim, as the Knicks completed the Eastern Conference Finals sweep with a Game 4 victory. New York is now headed to their first NBA Finals since 1999. And they did so in dominant fashion again, opening an early lead they never looked back from, demolishing the home squad by a 37 points. With that, they became the first team in NBA history to win three closeout games by 30+ points in a single postseason.Their margin of victory of a whopping 39.3 points is also an NBA record. “We don’t want to leave any doubt,” Miles McBride said. “We just want to come out and handle out business.”“We’ve been playing hard and mixing in a little luck,” Jalen Brunson added. “But most importantly, we’ve been coming in focused and are just locked in on the moment.”The next moment for them will be the opener of the NBA Finals.

Emmet Sheehan #80 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 25, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers keep finding new ways to win baseball games, and on Memorial Day at Dodger Stadium, it was resilience, both physical and emotional, that carried them to another comeback victory.Behind a gritty outing from Emmet Sheehan and a momentum-shifting return from Kiké Hernández, the Dodgers erased a late deficit and stormed past the Rockies 5-3 Monday night, improving to 34-20 on the season and 10-2 over their last 12 games. With the Padres losing ground again, the Dodgers now hold a 2½-game lead atop the NL West.For six innings, Sheehan gave the Dodgers exactly what they needed: toughness, efficiency and composure under pressure.The right-hander looked sharp early, carving through Colorado’s lineup the first time through the order before running into trouble in the fourth inning. Tyler Freeman opened the inning with a ground-rule double before Troy Johnston followed with an infield single. Willi Castro tied the game with an RBI single to right, and Ezequiel Tovar added a sacrifice fly to give Colorado a 2-1 lead.Then came the moment that could have ended Sheehan’s night entirely.A 103.8 mph comebacker screamed directly into Sheehan’s throwing arm, striking him near the right tricep and shoulder area. Trainers visited him twice in the inning as Dodger Stadium held its breath.But Sheehan refused to leave.“Yeah, it hurt,” Sheehan said afterward. “But no, it wasn’t anything too bad.”What followed may have been the most encouraging stretch of his young season.Despite dealing with fluctuating velocity and visible discomfort, Sheehan retired eight of the final nine batters he faced and completed six strong innings. His final line: six innings, five hits, two earned runs, one walk and eight strikeouts on 92 pitches.“That’s your job as a starter, to get through as many innings as possible, take a load off the bullpen and put up zeros,” Sheehan said.The outing lowered the temperature on a night when the Dodgers desperately needed length from their rotation.And they needed a spark offensively, too.That arrived in the third inning with the return of Hernández.Kiké back like he never left! pic.twitter.com/x696VcRCEj— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 26, 2026Activated earlier in the day, Hernández immediately injected life into the stadium in his first at-bat of the season. After Hyeseong Kim singled to lead off the inning, Hernández ripped a double down the third-base line, bringing Kim all the way around from first for the Dodgers’ first run of the night.The roar inside Dodger Stadium sounded bigger than a routine RBI double in May. Hernández’s energy has long resonated inside the clubhouse and among fans, and his immediate impact was undeniable.That lone run stood until the seventh inning, when Colorado briefly threatened to seize full control.Kyle Hurt entered in relief of Sheehan and immediately surrendered a leadoff homer to Tovar, ending the Dodgers bullpen’s franchise-record streak of 38 consecutive scoreless innings and extending the Rockies’ lead to 3-1.Then the Dodgers’ offense woke up all at once.Will Smith and Kim opened the bottom of the seventh with walks before Miguel Rojas was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. That brought Shohei Ohtani to the plate, exactly the scenario opposing managers fear most.Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates a double during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 25, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.Ric Tapia - The Sporting TribuneShohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates a double during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 25, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.Ohtani chopped a ground ball to second base that initially appeared to become an inning-changing double play. Instead, Dave Roberts challenged the out call at first, and replay overturned it. Smith scored on the play, Kim advanced to third, and Ohtani reached safely to cut the deficit to 3-2.Moments later, Mookie Betts lifted a sacrifice fly to left to tie the game.Freddie Freeman followed with the decisive blow, ripping a go-ahead RBI double that scored Ohtani and gave the Dodgers a 4-3 lead. Andy Pages then added insurance with an RBI single to center, plating Freeman and capping a four-run inning.Pages’ RBI was his MLB-leading 46th of the season, tying him with Washington’s C.J. Abrams for the league lead.“I just don’t think our focus was where it needed to be early,” Roberts said. “But what we’ve done all year, seventh, eighth and ninth innings, we start kind of bearing down a little bit more.”Even during another Dodgers victory, Betts’ offensive struggles remained part of the conversation. Since returning from the injured list, Betts has looked out of sync at the plate and is now hitting just .165 on the season.Roberts acknowledged the frustration surrounding Betts’ mechanics.“I think a little bit overthinking, trying too hard, anxious,” Roberts said. “He’s not confident in his swing, his mechanics.”Still, the Dodgers continue winning while waiting for one of baseball’s best hitters to fully rediscover himself, which may be the most ominous sign for the rest of the National League.The bullpen finished things off cleanly after the seventh-inning rally. Will Klein and Alex Vesia bridged the late innings before Blake Treinen recorded the final out for his first save of the season.Now the Dodgers turn to Tuesday night, when Eric Lauer is expected to make his Dodgers debut against the Rockies.

Few stages in martial arts carry the prestige of Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium, and The Inner Circle on May 29 looks set to fill every corner of it with firepower.The storylines run deep. At the top of the bill, a pair of brothers shaped by Lebanon’s proud combat sports culture return to the ring on the same night, driven by a shared hunger to make their family name resonate on the world stage.View this post on InstagramElsewhere, a beloved Thai warrior steps into the ring carrying dreams that have slipped through his grasp more than once. A US$100,000 contract and a permanent place on ONE’s global main roster have never felt closer.Beyond the headline acts, the world’s largest martial arts organization has always had a gift for spotlighting the sport’s next generation. Several promising young fighters look to seize their breakthrough moment on Friday night. Here are three reasons The Inner Circle, streaming live in Asia primetime exclusively on live.onefc.com, demands your attention.#1 The Ondash Brothers Are Back To Make StatementsView this post on InstagramRamadan “The Scorpion” Ondash was practically born into “the art of eight limbs,” raised within the walls of a gym where martial arts was the family language. The 19-year-old phenom quickly transitioned to the global stage, taking the promotion by storm with four straight victories. His highlight-reel finish of Chartpayak Saksatoon secured him a six-figure contract and signaled the arrival of a dangerous new force. That rapid ascent hit a speedbump at ONE Fight Night 38, where a hard-fought three-round war against Aliff Sor Dechapan ended in a unanimous decision defeat. Having returned to the lab to address his tactical shortcomings, the Lebanese prodigy hits the reset button at a higher weight class for his flyweight debut. View this post on InstagramThis bout is his chance to prove the setback was a lesson, not a ceiling. The road back runs directly through seasoned knockout artist Suriyanlek Por Yenying, a man who has never made nights easy for anyone he has faced. Joining him is his older brother Abdallah Ondash, who has blazed his own trail of destruction. The 24-year-old gunslinger enters the ring in peak form, riding three consecutive knockout victories.His buzzer-beater finish of Kompet Sitsarawatsuer at ONE Friday Fights 132 earned him a life-changing contract and a spot on the global roster. The Tiger Muay Thai product’s first bout as a contracted athlete comes against the momentum-riding Denkriangkrai Mavinn Muaythai, who has won five straight. With both brothers pushing for the top, a double victory would establish the Ondash siblings as one of the most exciting acts in modern martial arts. #2 Thai Stars Aim For Life-Changing ContractsView this post on InstagramThe path to a six-figure ONE Championship contract is rarely a straight line, and Suriyanlek knows this better than anyone. With over 100 professional bouts on his ledger, he has stared down the finish line multiple times, only to see it pulled away by agonizing setbacks. His never-say-die mentality remains his defining trait. Across 11 wins in the promotion, he has proven that his evolution never stops. A come-from-behind TKO of Thant Zin at ONE 170 captured that spirit perfectly, and recent victories over Mohamed Taoufyq and Gregor Thom confirm the upward trajectory continues. For Suriyanlek, the door he has been pounding on for years is finally ajar. Ramadan Ondash represents his greatest opportunity yet, and beating a prodigy of his caliber would be the definitive validation of his career. View this post on InstagramSimilarly, Denkriangkrai is navigating his own high-stakes journey. After early setbacks threatened to derail his momentum on the weekly series, he has learned from every stumble to reel off five consecutive victories. The 27-year-old possesses a knack for dragging opponents into deep waters, and he intends to test Abdallah Ondash’s conditioning to the breaking point. For both Thai veterans, one standout performance could turn years of sacrifice into the contract of their dreams. #3 Young Stars Look To Leave Their MarkView this post on InstagramYouth meets unbridled ambition as a fresh crop of promising stars steps onto the grandest stage in combat sports.Japanese striker Yuto Hirayama arrives on the global stage for the first time, facing Li-Chih “Yeh Sifu” Yeh in atomweight kickboxing action. He has witnessed his compatriots dominate the promotion’s striking ranks in recent years, and he looks to carve out his own legacy as the next great athlete from the “Land of the Rising Sun.” Tangtang Sor Dechapan looks to make noise in the atomweight Muay Thai division after seeing her four-fight winning streak snapped. The 22-year-old returns with a point to prove against Turkey’s Zeynep Cetintas, who arrives out of Team Mehdi Zatout with nothing to lose. View this post on InstagramMeanwhile, 20-year-old Kyrgyzstani warrior Adilet “Shumkar” Kalenderov and South Korea’s Jang Seon Gyu enter the fray with identical 4-1 records and mirror-image ambitions in the flyweight MMA ranks. Every great ONE Championship career starts somewhere. For these fighters, Friday night could be that first step. Source

James Harden believes the Cavaliers are still a better team despite getting swept originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers have now been eliminated from the NBA Playoffs after a sweep at the hands of the New York Knicks. It was a tough result because the Cavaliers are talented enough to keep up with the Knicks.Unfortunately for the Cavs and their fans, they did not get a single win in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks. Despite the harrowing defeat, it seems Harden still has the utmost faith in his team.James Harden still believes in the Cavs despite suffering a sweepThe Cavs did get swept, but it seems the players are looking at the bigger picture. Harden has complete faith in his team, which is a good trait to have, especially if he plans on staying for the long-term future.Head coach Kenny Atkinson echoed similar sentiments, as he believes the Cavaliers took a step in the right direction. It might be an embarrassing ending with the sweep, but the Cavs did have a lot of struggles in the regular season.MORE: Kenny Atkinson believes the Cavs still took a step in the right direction despite the ECF sweepThe Cavs were a team that faced one of the worst injury crises in the league. That led them to make trades for players like Harden, Keon Ellis, and Dennis Schroder. Of course, the results will outweigh everything, but Harden does have some reasons to believe in his team."It was 4-0, but I don't think we had a chance as far as our best shot. From the standpoint of our circumstances. Obviously, they dominated us 4-0... Genuinely, I do feel like we are the better team. Series-wise, we didn't show it," Harden said after getting swept by the Cavaliers.It was an unfortunate ending for the Cavaliers, but it seems they will be running it back. The front office will likely make some moves to improve on the roster, but the core will likely remain the same unless a blockbuster trade happens.More NBA news:Kenny Atkinson praises the Knicks after they swept the CavaliersJames Harden still gets a unique milestone in the 2026 NBA PlayoffsA new shift in LeBron James' potential reunion with the CavaliersThe box score for the last game of the 2026 Eastern Conference FinalsKenny Atkinson's job security questioned by Stephen A. Smith

[Getty Images](All matches played at The Grange, Edinburgh)May28 Scotland v NetherlandsPlay starts at 13:00 BSTScorecard30 Scotland v Bangladesh (14:00 BST)31 Netherlands v Bangladesh (13:00 BST)June2 Scotland v Bangladesh (13:00 BST)3 Scotland v Netherlands (13:00 BST)4 Netherlands v Bangladesh (13:00 BST)NB Fixtures and start times are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be madeGet cricket news sent straight to your phone

Liverpool legend could make shock move as big-money offer madeArne Slot looks likely to stay on as Liverpool's manager this summer. There has been a lot of speculation about his future due to the Reds' poor performances but, with the news that has emerged about one of his former staff members joining the club, his future seems to be sealed.This means that the Reds can try to make some early moves in the transfer market so that they can improve their ranks.However, since the Anfield outfit are a sell-to-buy club, they need to move players on before they bring anyone in.And, even though the transfer window isn't open yet, some of Slot's men are going to be on the move with one Liverpool legend even being offered a surprise big-money move.Fenerbahce have made an offer to Andy Robertsonand Mohamed Salah are the two players guaranteed to be exiting L4 this summer.The duo have played a major part in one of Liverpool's most impressive eras with each of them winning everything possible.However, since neither of them have had the game time that they wanted this term, both have chosen to exit Anfield for nothing this summer.Speculation about both of their futures has been rife with a fresh report from Sabah now suggesting that Robertson could be on his way to Turkey."Despite the upcoming elections, Fenerbahçe management is continuing its transfer efforts and has entered the race for Andrew Robertson," they wrote."A formal offer has been made to the Scottish left-back, a Liverpool legend who is preparing to leave the club due to his contract expiring."Fenerbahçe officials reportedly offered the 32-year-old a €3 million annual salary and a 2+1 year contract to persuade him."Robertson is said to be receptive to this offer from Fenerbahçe. However, the presidential election on June 6-7 is hindering the transfer."The player, wanting to make a decision quickly, reportedly doesn't want to wait for the Fenerbahçe process and will consider other offers."Andy Robertson deserves a big pay dayRobertson has probably achieved everything he'd always wanted during his time with Liverpool.And, if he was a tad older, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him hang up his boots and call it quits.But, since he's only 32 years old, he's still got at least another couple of years left in the tank.The Scotsman will undoubtedly have many clubs vying for his transfer but, if he wants a new experience and to try football outside of the United Kingdom, Turkey could be perfect for him.Fenerbahce regularly play in European football and, even though their domestic league might not be as competitive as England, the battle for the title is always interesting.He'd also get a decent payday and would be able to end his time in the Premier League on a high, rather than fighting against relegation with teams such as Tottenham and Hull City.

Ederson deal inches closer after face-to-face talks Manchester United are inching ever closer to completing a deal for Atalanta’s Ederson.While fans might have expected a more high-profile arrival to replace the departing Casemiro, the reality is that the Serie A midfielder represents more of a market opportunity.In all likelihood, the Brazilian will be a direct replacement for Manuel Ugarte, who INEOS are keen to offload once the transfer window opens.Ederson has suitors both in Italy and abroad, but he has eyes only for the Red Devils. While done deal talks are premature, United seem genuinely interested this summer.Face-to-face talks for EdersonAccording to the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano, the 20-time English league champions have held face-to-face talks with the Bergamo-based outfit over a fee.In addition, personal terms with the 26-year-old have also been agreed. The only thing stopping the deal from materialising is United’s green light.“We know that Ederson is waiting for Manchester United,” the Italian explained on his YouTube channel.“There is an agreement already in place between Ederson and Manchester United in terms of personal terms, personal details.Green light left to come“Ederson will be more than happy to join Manchester United. Ederson is giving priority to Manchester United.“United had face-to-face conversations with Atalanta, with a mission in Italy in the recent days to line up the deal, to prepare the deal, and then it’s obviously going to be on Manchester United to decide whether they want to proceed, give the green light or not.”A deal for West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes is considered independent of a deal for the Brazil international.The Old Trafford side also have Sporting CP skipper Morten Hjulmand on their radar, while their primary targets include Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Carlos Baleba.Feature image Marco Luzzani via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Donovan Mitchell demands that more people respect James Harden's greatness originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers have been eliminated from the 2026 Playoffs in a sweep. It was a tough ending to a solid postseason run, which included James Harden, who just joined the team midway through the 2025-26 season.In the first two rounds of the 2026 postseason, the Cavs had a tough time getting past the Toronto Raptors and the Detroit Pistons, but they always had a reliable backcourt with Mitchell and Harden. Now, Harden is getting criticized for his postseason struggles again, and Mitchell is not having it.Donovan Mitchell wants people to put respect on James Harden's nameThe sweep at the hands of the New York Knicks will always be a bitter result. Mitchell wants people to know that he and the rest of the team are holding themselves accountable because it was a tough defeat.With the loss comes criticism, and Harden is often a big target for the critics. Mitchell dislikes what is being said about Harden, so he came to his backcourt partner's defense in the post-Game 4 presser.MORE: James Harden still believes in the Cavaliers being a better team than the Knicks after the sweepMitchell played relatively well in the Eastern Conference Finals as the main man for Cleveland. Unfortunately, that will be forgotten because it was a sweep. Despite that, Harden is getting the brunt of the criticism, something Mitchell does not want to see and hear."I think y'all ignore his greatness in a major way. This man changed the game of basketball in ways we’ve never seen before. We live in such a ring-dominant culture that we write guys off. It’s truly unfair," Mitchell said in his press conference after getting swept in Game 4.Now, the Cavaliers are headed into the offseason with a tough loss. They will now look to make improvements within the team, while the players will work hard to get back at the Knicks and reach the NBA Finals. This is a process for the players, the same thing that the Knicks experienced over the past few years. Mitchell believes the team can do the same as long as they stick together and work hard.More NBA news:Clyde Frazier sees Jalen Brunson as the main man in New York for years to comeKenny Atkinson highlights how the Knicks dominated the Cavs in the ECFJosh Hart celebrates the New York Knicks' sacrifices over the 2025-26 seasonHow the Knicks' gamble on Jalen Brunson led to the NBA FinalsKenny Atkinson still believes in the Knicks for taking a positive step despite the sweep

Mourinho identifies four problem positions Real Madrid must fix this summerAfter weeks of speculation surrounding the future of the Real Madrid bench, it now appears increasingly likely that Jose Mourinho is preparing for a sensational return to Real Madrid.Now, according to reports from AS, the Portuguese tactician has already started laying the foundations for his next project at the Santiago Bernabeu. Even though the agreement is yet to be officially signed due to the ongoing presidential elections involving Florentino Perez, Mourinho has made it very clear where he believes improvements are needed.The manager is said to have spent time analysing Real Madrid’s recent performances in La Liga, studying both the strengths and weaknesses of the current squad before presenting his initial ideas to the club hierarchy.What are Mourinho’s demands?The early priority for Mourinho appears to be rebuilding the spine of the team. Mourinho has identified Real Madrid’s weaknesses. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Reports indicate that the Portuguese coach wants one or even two new centre-backs added to the squad, while a dependable right-back is also viewed as an urgent requirement.A new left-back could arrive later depending on departures and finances, but Mourinho’s biggest concerns revolve around balance in midfield and defensive stability.The report claims that the veteran manager wants a defensive midfielder capable of competing with and covering for Aurelien Tchouameni. In addition, he is also pushing for a more creative presence in midfield, someone capable of controlling matches and improving the team’s attacking rhythm.Interestingly, Mourinho has not submitted specific names yet, but his focus has been on identifying the exact profiles he believes are missing from the current setup.Mourinho’s announcement has been delayed. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Within Real Madrid, there is already an acceptance that changes are necessary after an inconsistent campaign. However, the club understands that new arrivals will likely depend on departures first, especially with squad balance and wages becoming increasingly important.Mourinho seems ready for Real MadridWhat stands out most from Mourinho’s early planning is how clearly he has identified the team’s weaknesses. Real Madrid still possess enormous quality across the squad, but it was evident from the 2025/26 season that the side lacks defensive control and midfield structure.Mourinho has always built his best teams around defensive organisation and physical intensity, meaning his requests suggest he wants to restore those qualities immediately if he returns to Madrid.

Barcelona sporting director in London to make another attempt to sign Premier League starJulian Alvarez has been the hottest topic in Spanish footballing media right now, following bombshell reports of his desire to leave Atletico Madrid this summer.It is widely believed Alvarez is not happy at Atletico Madrid, much less so with Diego Simeone, who will continue at the helm of Atleti next season.However, Barcelona are not completely relying on the Alvarez saga and remain keen on pursuing other targets such as Joao Pedro.Barcelona officials in LondonBarcelona are keen on Joao Pedro. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)According to Gerard Romero, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco is currently in London alongside Bojan and scout Joao Amaral. The purpose of their visit is to make another attempt to sign Pedro, who has emerged as the club’s clear attacking target as they look to find a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.Pedro is seen as an alternative to Alvarez, even though his pursuit will not hamper Barcelona’s attempts to sign the Argentine international.An uphill task to convince ChelseaChelsea do not want to sell Joao Pedro. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Deco and co will have their task cut out in London, though, as Chelsea are not too keen on offloading Joao Pedro this summer.The Premier League giants had signed the Brazilian last year and have no desire to let him go this early, even if they receive a ‘world record’ bid for the player, who has racked up 29 goal involvements in his maiden season at Stamford Bridge.Chelsea believe Joao Pedro is a critical component of their attacking unit and will continue to remain so, regardless of Barcelona’s attempts. Deco, therefore, will require to do a lot of convincing if he wants Chelsea to even entertain Barcelona’s offer for the Brazilian.

MLS manager confirms talks with Barcelona forward – “He is someone we want to sign”With the 2025-26 season concluded for Barcelona, club officials have turned their attention towards the upcoming summer transfer window. Their priority is to secure the services of a Robert Lewandowski replacement, with the Polish striker confirmed to be leaving as a free agent.Lewandowski had an offer on the table from the La Liga champions, but it was for a reduced squad role and much less money that he was already on. Ultimately, he chose against staying, and his attention is now on figuring out where he wants to play next season.He’s been linked with clubs in Italy and Saudi Arabia, but at this stage, the club pushing hardest to sign him is Chicago Fire. The MLS outfit have reportedly been pessimistic about getting an agreement done, but work is still being done to convince the veteran number nine, as confirmed by manager Gregg Berhalter, as per Przegląd Sportowy Onet (via Sport).“First of all, I don’t believe there aren’t other offers. I find it hard to believe it, and I’m sure a player of his calibre should have offers. As for our communication, we have had a lot – both with him and with his entourage.“I can speak frankly because he is no longer a Barcelona player, or he will not be next week. He is someone we want to sign. We believe that both the Polish community and the entire Chicago community support this transfer. We believe that he would be a fantastic signing for the club, the city and the league. A player of such a high level can only strengthen our team and its potential. We already have a very strong and offensive team, and their addition can only strengthen us even more.”Where will Lewandowski end up?Lewandowski has time on his side to make a decision, given that Poland failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup. Chicago Fire will be one club that he’s considering, but he has others to think about too, so there’s unlikely to be too much of a rush made with his choice.

Let’s not beat about the bush. Joan Garcia is right up there with Barcelona’s players of the season.Moving from arch-rivals Espanyol isn’t for the faint of heart, and the cacophony of boos and abuse that he received on his return to the RCDE Stadium showed the depth of feeling towards him amongst the Periquitos.At only 25 years of age, he is already the consummate Barca custodian.Commanding in his box, brave and decisive when he needs to be – even if it means taking out his own players in the process – astonishingly good with his feet, and brilliant in one-on-one situations.Think about it… How often during the 2025/26 campaign did you say to yourself when the opposition was bearing down on his goal, ‘I’m not worried, Joan will save it,‘ or something to that effect?𝐉𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚 🔒 pic.twitter.com/6hyGtMAKbU— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) January 25, 2026If the supporters think that, and I believe that most genuinely do, then think how confident his back four are in him. That’s a priceless commodity to have as a goalkeeper.Marc-Andre ter Stegen lost that edge for whatever reason, and whilst he will almost certainly have been bruised by his treatment at the club, he can’t have any complaints as to the reasoning.Given just how well Joan Garcia has done throughout his debut campaign with the Blaugranes, it’s astonishing that he isn’t the Spanish No.1, too.An incredible 147 saves made with a 72.9% success rate is truly elite level, not to mention the 72 times that he acted as a sweeper keeper with a perfect 100% success rate, or the winning back of possession on 110 separate occasions.Then there are the punches, clearances and headed clearances to factor in, as well as the astonishing 88.04% pass completion thanks to 1,126 of 1,279 total passes finding their target.For passes made in his own half, Garcia’s numbers go up to an almost perfect 95.9%, whilst only a handful of players have made more than his 1,533 possessional passes during the 25/26 campaign.At this point in time there’s arguably little weakness to his game, and to come in and hit the ground running in the way that he has shows great confidence in his own ability. The Zamora Trophy was well deserved.Having the mental strength to walk into a club as big as Barcelona and essentially puff out his chest and not be cowed by the responsibility of wearing the shirt, or the demands of his position more generally, takes bravery and guts.What a bargain!

£35m Liverpool midfielder wants out: Spurs ready with their bidBig changes are coming to Liverpool’s midfield this summer. Arne Slot has been relying on the same cast of midfield characters for a couple of seasons now - and is getting diminishing returns from some of them.Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have been a long way short of their Premier League title-winning form. And for that reason it’s no surprise that Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are eyeing up midfield targets.Lamine Camara, Eduardo Camavinga and Adam Wharton are some of the names reportedly in the frame for an Anfield arrival.But in order to accommodate new faces there will have to be departures from the middle sector. Wataru Endo could go - with only one year left on his contract - but the most immediate doubts surround Curtis Jones.Curtis Jones wants to leave LiverpoolThe 25-year-old was oddly muted in his celebrations following a goal in the final Premier League game of the season against Brentford at Anfield.According to the Athletic he also declined the opportunity to clarify his future in the mixed zone after the game.Having been linked with Inter in the winter transfer window - and with a reported price tag of £35m - it would be no surprise to see the homegrown playmaker depart.He is out of contract in 2027 and talks over a new deal have been a non-starter. And now according to a report in the Boy Hotspur it looks like Tottenham are set to reignite their interest in the off-season.Tottenham to come back in for £35m Curtis JonesRoberto De Zerbi’s side now have Premier League football to once again look forward to next season having saved themselves on the last day of the season.And the Italian head coach is set to follow through on his club’s January interest in the England international - who has made up his mind to leave.“Jones’s desire to secure guaranteed minutes in central midfield is understood to be the driving force behind his push to leave,” the report reads.“Disagreements with new head coach Arne Slot have further accelerated the situation.”No more Scousers in our teamJones has failed to win Slot over as a starter during their two seasons together - with the Dutchman preferring other options in the middle.He has got in the team at right-back in recent weeks but it’s clear he would be surplus to requirements if the right bid came in.

The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful:A round-up of some of La Liga’s most intriguing storylines across the week, traversing through the good, the bad and something beautiful.The Good: The adopted father of GetafeHaving already paid tribute to Luis Castro’s Levantine miracle, our focus falls upon the unpopular Southern Madrid neighbourhood of Getafe. If Rayo have come up with the slightly ironic chant of ‘F***ing Rayo’ in order to reject the idea that they are simply a novelty addition to football’s elite, there is no such danger of Getafe drawing patronising affection. Often, parallels in British media are drawn with Tony Pulis’ Stoke City from late 2000s, a shorthand for a team that are not only physical and difficult to play against, but take some Schadenfreude in the discomfort of their visitors.Where any comparison fails with Bordalas’ astonishing feats is that Pulis’ Stoke spent more in the first transfer window they came up to the Premier League than Getafe have in Bordalas’ entire second spell. Over that period, Getafe have made a €38m profit, and of the players that have cost Los Azulones a transfer fee, only Davinchi (€600k), Diego Rico (€1.5m) and back-up goalkeeper Jiri Letacek (€2m) are still at the club. As Bordalas put it, it was a miracle for this side even to be staying up, to be comfortable with several games to go, was beyond contemplation just four months ago. To be in Europe is a glitch in the matrix.Tint Bordalas’ glasses, put him in an overcoat. Perhaps you can picture him dodging all those bullets, after all, Getafe conceded just 38 goals all season, bettered only by Real Madrid and Barcelona. The only side to score less than their 32 were bottom side Real Oviedo. Extracting 15 wins from that tally must be a statistical anomaly. More Bordalas would be for the bullets just to ping off the steely forces he sends out to tear down your game plan. On an individual occasion, there is admittedly little fun in watching Getafe strangle the life out of some games, removing the oxygen from an opponent, simply trying to raise the tempo, to find rhythm – to make something happen.Having watched this happen on numerous occasions though, there is a sickly fascination in it. Forgive the slinking, drawn out metaphor, but between the constricting of opponents, and the portrayal of Getafe as La Liga’s villains, just as Osasuna found on Saturday, it’s hard to avoid those serpentine coils. To tune into Getafe is to switch from your usual football match onto a National Geographic documentary. Centuries of predatory instinct honed, a combination of senses detect the movement. Wherever it is the opposition are finding that half-yard to cause Getafe problems, the entire body of blue reacts to clamp down on it.For all that their modus operandi may be cold-blooded, Getafe was bathed in warmth at the final whistle after they secured 7th and a Conference League spot, a fourth trip into Europe and a second at the hand of Bordalas. Fans flooded onto the pitch, players flooded the press room, all to sing as loud and heartily as they could muster: “Bordalas, I love you.” Los Azulones may have the twinkle-toed Luis Milla, the militant Djene Dakonam, or the Martin Satriano blunderbus up front, but nobody is under any illusions that it is captain Bordalas that tells the wind which way to blow and when to put the sails up. The day before EuroGeta returned, Bordalas was officially named an adopted son of the city. Really, he should be the adopted father – papa to those familiar with him.The Bad: An enormous emptynessThis should not have happened. “Girona deserve to be in La Liga” said Michel Sanchez after they drove too close to the edge and plummeted to Segunda. With one wheel spinning in the air, it looked like Thomas Lemar had was about to get Girona back on firm ground, when he cracked the underside of the bar with 10 minutes to go. As pointed out by Sid Lowe on TSFP, it felt like the stage was set for Cristhian Stuani to slay the dragon again as he has so many times before.The Girona captain, 39, has been struggling for fitness for weeks though, and rather than coming on after Lemar for the final assault, he had been sent on at half-time. After Artem Dovbyk left two summers ago, Sporting Director Quique Carcel took two swings and missed with both Bojan Miovski and Abel Ruiz. It should have been a warning sign that Stuani had to save Girona last year. Compare Stuani to his contemporaries: Oscar Trejo, Iago Aspas, Dani Parejo, Santi Cazorla. None were carrying the weight of expectation on their shoulders come the moment of truth, rather adding their craft and character to the squad.To be just with Carcel, Vladyslav Vanat was a hit with 10 goals in his 29 appearances. Yet when he went down injured in April, Girona failed to win any of their remaining eight games, picking up just four points. The Catalans scored twice just once in that run, and the result was a nine-point swing between safety and Girona, one they were on the wrong side of. Viktor Tsygankov took a turn at nine, as did Azzedine Ounahi, and teenage loanee Claudio Echeverri, but not Ruiz.Michel was left “feeling guilty and responsible” for “failing his people” afterwards. Two days later, he posted on Twitter/X that the sadness and the emptyness were enormous. Had La Liga gone on another two weeks, Girona might have saved themselves, had Vanat been fit two more weeks, had Lemar’s thunderbolt gone in off the bar… The reason this relegation will be so hard for Michel to wash off, for Girona to overcome, is because they were good enough to stay up. A summation of very small twists have sent Girona skidding out of La Liga, and there’s no proper explanation for it.The Beautiful: Dennis Bergkamp’s adopted sonTucked away in the depths of the games that did not matter much on Matchday 38, is an irresistible gleaming jewel. There is something special about watching footballers with freedom, with a desire not just to win but to remind us how supremely in control they are of the ball, how even the less heralded names possess a modicum of genius that those paying to watch them dream of.How many children have dreamed of pulling off that magical Dennis Bergkamp turn against Newcastle United? One of them was a 33-year-old from the deep interior of Catalonia, where the only tourists in town are lost. When the ball is played into Milla with Igor Zubeldia behind him and Benat Turrientes ready to smother his control away from goal, the Espanyol forward pulls off a marvellous turn.His only real misfortune is that there were still other defenders around to prevent him from getting a strike off and mailing away his goal of the season contender. As it is, he had the presence of mind to split two more defenders with his ball across for Roberto Fernandez to convert, and Milla will have to address the DVD to the assist of the season office instead.

Roy Keane: Former Man United captain slams Bruno Fernandes on social mediaManchester United captain’s war of words with former skipper Roy Keane continues to escalate.Keane’s history of criticismThe Irishman is notoriously difficult to impress and has criticised Bruno Fernandes numerous times.Keane has previously called for the club to strip the captaincy from Fernandes, as he has questioned his leadership skills. The criticism took another turn after Fernandes equalled the Premier League assist record against Nottingham Forest.Keane was raging after the match and claimed that all the talk of breaking the assist record was like “a circus act“.He claimed he was cringing over the focus on Fernandes and claimed that more attention should have been given to Bryan Mbeumo, the guy who scored the goal.Fernandes’ responseThe Portugal international went one better at the weekend versus Brighton and Hove Albion and assisted Patrick Dorgu to break the record with 21 assists in a single season.After the match, Fernandes defended himself and claimed that he could accept criticism but not lies, in a barbed response to Keane’s previous comments.The captain stated, “I even asked Ole his number to text him to have a word with him, to say ‘I don’t mind the criticism, I don’t like when people lie about the things that I say’ because this goes over the top of the things I think are acceptable.”In the latest twist to the saga, Roy Keane posted an image on social media allegedly insulting Fernandes.Keane posted an image on his Instagram stories of a donkey braying with two lions crouched in the background.In a cryptic message he wrote, “too much attention makes a donkey think it is a lion.”It can be inferred that Keane was calling Fernandes a donkey and ridiculing his previous statements on the matter.This is not the first time former players have gotten into a war of words with current players.Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes got into a very public argument with Lisandro Martinez as they ridiculed the player ahead of the Manchester derby. Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 SeasonFeatured image Steve Bardens via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Welcome to the second part of our look at how Gary Bennett arrived at Sunderland.Last week, Martin, Andrew and Chris left Benno hanging by the telephone, waiting for Sunderland to call – this week, we find out what happened!Tune in to discoverThe other clubs interested in securing Benno’s servicesHow Len Ashurst was banking on the tribunal coming up with the right priceThe impact of Gary Bennett being only the second black player in Sunderland’s historyHis dream debut against a certain future manager.All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show.Want to get in touch with us? You can drop us an email at HawayThePodcastSAFC@Gmail.com, or you can contact us via social media – we’re @RokerReport on almost every platform. For your daily SAFC fan-written content, head over to⁠RokerReport.SBNation.com𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 🎙️🐈‍⬛ GARY BENNETT SPECIAL PT 2 🐈‍⬛The story of how @Benno_4 ended up at Sunderland — the path towards becoming an SAFC hero!APPLE: https://t.co/6Q8NccseHtSPOTIFY: https://t.co/cgFsV0JZYhhttps://t.co/MrScfojZL0 | #SAFC ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/VYYpXseHl2— Roker Report (@RokerReport) May 26, 2026

CLEVELAND - In some ways, it’s fitting that Leon Rose and the Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals after knocking out Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers. Rose’s decision to pass on trading for Mitchell was one of the biggest pivot points of this Knicks era. Remember: New York had the draft picks and the personnel to obtain Mitchell from Utah. But Rose ultimately decided that he didn’t want to meet Danny Ainge’s asking price. At the time, it was a controversial decision. In hindsight, it’s one of several pivotal choices by Rose that helped the Knicks ascend to the NBA Finals. Instead of trading a package centered around RJ Barrett for Mitchell, Rose and his group moved Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second round pick to Toronto for OG Anunoby.Anunoby has been one of the best players in the postseason. He had 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in the Knicks’ closeout win over Cleveland on Monday. Instead of using multiple first-round picks to acquire Mitchell, Rose sent most of his draft capital to Brooklyn in a trade for Mikal Bridges. Rose took a ton of criticism for the trade, particularly when the Knicks had a chance to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo the following summer. So, of course, Bridges made play after play on the defensive end throughout the postseason. He also found ways to attack within the flow of the Knick offense. He and Anunoby have peaked at the best possible time. If they’d traded for Mitchell, there’s virtually no way they would have signed Donte DiVincenzo the next summer. And without DiVincenzo, the Knicks would’ve needed to use more draft capital to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota. This was another trade that was criticized and questioned, but Towns on Monday hit 8-of-11 shots and grabbed 14 rebounds. The Cavs cut the Knick lead to 16 at one point in the third quarter. Towns then went to work, blocking a shot on one end and then knocking down a three-pointer on the other end. Anunoby found Bridges for a wide-open three on the Knicks’ next possession. That sequence took the life out of any Cleveland comeback. Shortly after the trophy presentation, Rose spent a quiet moment with his family. Like the rest of the Knicks, Rose seemed to see Monday’s win as a major accomplishment -- but not one worth a raucous celebration. Maybe that celebration will come in a couple weeks, but the fact that the Knicks are where they are today -- preparing for a trip to the NBA Finals -- is a testament to Rose’s determination and decision-making. A few weeks ago, the Knicks executive did not receive a vote from his peers for the Executive of the Year award. It’s a regular-season award, and the Knicks had an uneven regular season. But if you took another vote today, the results would look much different. Rose would probably be at or near the top, which is where his Knicks sit after this remarkable playoff run.

Virat Kohli IPL playoff record and stats: Total runs scored in IPL playoffs and final listed originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:RCB take on GT in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 at Dharamshala on Tuesday. RCB and Virat Kohli will appear in the playoffs for the 11th time in history.RCB have played 17 matches in the IPL playoffs. Virat Kohli and RCB's IPL playoff historyRoyal Challengers Bengaluru reached the IPL knockout stage/playoffs for the first time in 2009, when they made it to the final of the competition but missed out on the title by a whisker as they lost to the now-defunct Deccan Chargers franchise.Since the second IPL edition, Kohli and RCB have crossed the league on 11 occassions, including the ongoing IPL 2026 season. In IPL 2025, Kohli and RCB finally broke their jinx and ended an 18-year-long wait to lift the coveted title for the first time in history.Overall, RCB have appeared in 17 IPL knockout/playoff games, out of which they have won seven and lost 10 and have a win percentage of 41.18.SpanMatWonLostTiedNRWin%2009-2025177100041.18%MORE: RCB record in IPL playoffs: Royal Challengers Bengaluru's full IPL playoff historyVirat Kohli IPL playoff record and stats: Total runs scored in IPL playoffs and finalVirat Kohli has appeared in all of the 17 IPL playoff matches RCB have played in since 2009. The star batter has scored 396 runs thus far and has maintained an average of 26.40 and has batted at an average strike rate of 121.10. Kohli has scored two half-centuries but has yet to score a century in the playoff stage.SpanMatRunsH.SAvg.S.R4s6s50s100s2009-20251739670*26.40121.10301120MORE: Will Phil Salt play in RCB vs GT Qualifier 1?Latest stages RCB has reached in IPL playoffsYearStage ReachedOpponent in Final StageResult2009FinalDeccan ChargersLost by 6 runs2010Semi-FinalMumbai IndiansLost by 35 runs2011FinalChennai Super KingsLost by 58 runs2015Qualifier 2Chennai Super KingsLost by 3 wickets2016FinalSunrisers HyderabadLost by 8 runs2020EliminatorSunrisers HyderabadLost by 6 wickets2021EliminatorKolkata Knight RidersLost by 4 wickets2022Qualifier 2Rajasthan RoyalsLost by 7 wickets2024EliminatorRajasthan RoyalsLost by 4 wickets2025Final (WON)Punjab KingsWon by 6 runs 🏆2026Qualifier 1 (upcoming)TBDTBDTo keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer’s sister, Shresta Iyer, has responded after facing heavy online trolling following Punjab Kings’ exit from IPL 2026. The backlash started after an old “banter” reel involving Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders went viral again when PBKS narrowly missed the playoffs by just one point.Shresta said the video, which showed her celebrating after rain had washed out Punjab's match against Kolkata and gave them one point earlier this season, was only meant as light-hearted fun and not an attack on anyone. In an Instagram video, she explained, “The video that I had created earlier, you guys exaggerated it to extremes, when the motive of the reel was just a fun banter.” — CricketopiaCom (@CricketopiaCom) She added, “I wasn’t trolling anyone, I had no bad intentions behind the banter. I wasn’t spreading hate against anyone. I respect every cricketer because my brother is a cricketer.”Here is the older video of the celebration: — CricketCentrl (@CricketCentrl) Shresta also revealed that the trolling became much more serious than just online comments. According to her, people started calling her workplace and troubling people connected to her personally and professionally.“I pity you guys,” she said. “You have been calling my workplace, abusing me, my colleagues, my students and my family. Harassing them and calling at random times.”She made it clear that criticism aimed at her is one thing, but dragging family members, coworkers, and students into it is unacceptable. “If you want to hate me, please continue doing that, but stop harassing people affiliated with me,” she said. She also defended her support for her brother, saying, “I will celebrate my brother, he wins or loses, I will always celebrate him.”The incident has again sparked debate around toxic fan culture in Indian cricket. Fans often turn aggressive online after major losses, and players’ families frequently become targets. Similar situations have happened before, including recent online abuse involving Virat Kohli and Australian batter Travis Head during a heated cricket exchange.

Cristante: “We stood together in times of need.”The day following the great feat in Verona was one of sharing and awareness at Roma. Through a post on their official Instagram profile, the Giallorossi club shared some moments from today’s team breakfast in Trigoria, where the group, coaching staff, and coach gathered to celebrate a goal they’d been working toward all season. After the 2-0 victory against Verona, the team secured third place in the standings and a return to the Champions League, a goal achieved thanks to a victory that validated the work done in recent months.Le Cronache di Spogliatoio Instagram page echoed Cristante’s words: “We came together and united in times of need and achieved a huge goal, and we must continue on this path to make it our standard.”

McTominay has earned 62 of his 69 caps under Scotland head coach Steve Clarke (left) [SNS]Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay says he "would love that" if Steve Clarke agrees a new contract to extend his stay as head coach beyond this summer's World Cup.Clarke last week reiterated his desire to have his future decided before he takes his squad to the Americas.Asked about reports suggesting the 62-year-old is close to agreeing a new deal until Euro 2028, McTominay told BBC Scotland: "I would love that. "He is first and foremost a great man and, secondly, he's a great coach because he's helped us oh so much off the pitch as much as he has on it as he gives us that freedom and allows the group camaraderie to be where it is without allowing it to go too far."Obviously we have good professionals in the group, which is key, and our captain, Andy Robertson, and other senior players like John McGinn play a huge role in keeping the whole team together."McTominay overhead kick featured on new £20 banknoteShankland could be Rangers captain after 'coup' - HendryDisappointed Miller understands tough Clarke decisionDreaming of Iniesta momentAndres Iniesta's 2010 World Cup winner is Scott McTominay's first World Cup memory [Getty Images]McTominay stressed that he and his team-mates are determined to make amends for Euro 2024, when they finished bottom of their group in Germany, as they to progress to the knock-out stage for the first time."Looking back, it doesn't sit well with me," the 29-year-old Napoli midfielder said. "I still have that bit between my teeth where you want to try to change it this time round and I'm sure everyone in that group has the same feeling as well."Obviously, for us, it's hugely important we approach it one game at a time and that's the key in football - to not look too far ahead."It is the first time Scotland have reached the finals since 1998 and, for McTominay, it is about realising a dream he has had since the "wow" moment of watching Andres Iniesta score Spain's winning goal in the 2010 final."For me, it's those moments in football that you live for as a player," he said."Just scoring a goal or being part of a World Cup campaign and, if you manage to help your country get there, these memories are some of the best moments of your life and you have to cherish them."You have to remember that that young boy watching would have snapped your hand off to even have the opportunity to do this."McTominay has become a cult hero in Napoli since his transfer from Manchester United, helping them win the Italian title last season.However, he said: "The pinnacle of football is playing at a World Cup and the Champions League."That's where every young boy dreams of playing football and that's where I want to play football."For me, it is about not getting too carried away and doing all the things that allowed you to compete at this level, which is relentless work in the gym and training to the best of your abilities in every training session."'A bit old school' for social mediaMcTominay was speaking as his now famous overhead kick, which helped Scotland beat Denmark to qualify in November, was immortalised on a new Bank Of Scotland £20 note.He finds the honour "surreal" and appears unaffected by the "incredible" adoration for him in Naples."I am not on social media a lot and that's where it happens," McTominay said, pointing out that he leaves that to fellow Scotland and Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour. "I am 29 now - a bit old school."Indeed, McTominay admits he has only been in the centre of Naples once - and that was for a sponsorship event - but is loving his time in Serie A."It was difficult because the fans are so passionate and they're all fanatical Napoli supporters," he added."I would love to experience that a little bit more, but when we go to the stadium and see the love and support of the fans, it's so ingrained in them from such a young age, I think it's amazing."They are so family orientated as well. They look after you."

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MAY 25: Ben Griffin of the United States poses for a photo with the Leonard Trophy after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge 2025 at Colonial Country Club on May 25, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)Getty Images2025 was a breakthrough season for Ben Griffin, who not only earned a spot on the United States Ryder Cup team but also captured multiple victories on the PGA Tour. His win at the Charles Schwab Challenge stood out as arguably the best performance of his career, serving as the defining moment in his rise to the most successful season he has had. The question now becomes: whose turn is it this year to slip on the tartan jacket?Colonial Country Club once again plays host to the Charles Schwab Challenge, continuing its distinction as the longest-running host venue on the PGA Tour. The historic layout designed by Donald Ross sits in Fort Worth and has traditionally rewarded precision and course management over raw power, producing a diverse list of champions that includes Davis Riley, Sam Burns, Kevin Na, Justin Rose, and Jordan Spieth.While Colonial has long been viewed as a positional golf course where strategy outweighed distance, the modern game has shifted the approach for much of the field toward a more driver-heavy style. Even so, success still demands elite mid-iron play and accuracy off the tee, as players must shape shots around doglegs, create ideal angles into greens, and consistently generate quality scoring opportunities.This week is NOT an elevated event so it may not have the juice it’s had in the past, but the field is quite strong considering. Here are some guys who I think will content for the tartan jacket:Ludvig AbergPONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Ludvig Aberg of Sweden plays his shot from the ninth tee during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship 2026 at THE PLAYERS Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass on March 15, 2026 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Getty ImagesLudvig Åberg enters the week as the betting favorite, and for good reason. Fresh off a top-four finish at the PGA Championship, the Swede is looking to continue a remarkable stretch of consistency that has firmly established him among the game’s elite. Over his last seven starts on the PGA Tour, Åberg has recorded six top-10 finishes.Statistically, few players in the world are performing at his level. Over the last 36 rounds, Åberg ranks No. 1 in Strokes Gained: Total, Tee-to-Green, Approach, and Ball Striking — a combination that highlights just how dominant he has been from tee to green.So what has kept him from adding another victory to his résumé? If there is one area that has lagged behind the rest of his game, it has been the putter. Åberg ranks just outside the top 60 in Strokes Gained: Putting, and that inconsistency on the greens has been a major reason he has not returned to the winner’s circle since capturing the Genesis Invitational earlier in 2025. With a weaker field, I wouldn’t be surprised if that changes this week. Justin ThomasNEWTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 15: Justin Thomas of the United States reacts on the tenth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAfter what he showed at the PGA Championship, it feels fair to say that Justin Thomas may finally be returning to the version of himself golf fans became accustomed to seeing during his peak years. The ball striking looked like vintage JT throughout the week, but it was the putter that elevated him to a top-three finish.Thomas finished fourth in Strokes Gained: Putting for the championship and looked as comfortable over the ball on the greens as he has in quite some time. When the putter cooperates alongside his elite iron play, he once again becomes one of the most dangerous players in any field.This week’s setup should suit him perfectly as well. The tree-lined corridors and emphasis on shaping tee shots in both directions allow Justin Thomas’ creativity to fully come alive — a style of golf that has consistently brought out the best in his game. With his last victory coming just over a year ago at Harbour Town, Colonial CC presents a comparable test of precision, strategy, and shot-making. If Thomas can replicate that formula once again, he may find himself slipping on a tartan jacket of a different variety by Sunday evening.Tony FinauSAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Tony Finau of the United States plays his shot from the 13th tee during the first round of the Valero Texas Open 2026 at TPC San Antonio on April 02, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWhen it comes to course history over the last decade at Colonial Country Club, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, and yes, even Tony Finau stand out as players who have consistently thrived on this layout — further reinforcing the advantage elite iron players tend to hold at Colonial.That said, Finau’s recent form has been far from elite. Currently sitting outside the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking, his game has noticeably regressed over the past couple of seasons. Outside of Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green, Finau ranks 94th or worse in every major statistical category, a stark contrast from the all-around consistency that once made him one of the Tour’s most reliable players.Still, there are signs that things may finally be trending in the right direction. With veteran caddie John Ellis now on the bag, Finau posted a tie for sixth last week at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, one of his best performances in quite some time.With renewed confidence and some of the strongest course history in the field, this could be the week to get ahead of a potential Finau resurgence before the rest of the golf world catches on.J.J. SpaunSAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - APRIL 05: J.J. Spaun of the United States acknowledges the crowd after winning the final round of the Valero Texas Open 2026 at TPC San Antonio on April 05, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWinning in Texas is already something J. J. Spaun has accomplished this season. His victory at the Valero Texas Open in April marked his return to the winner’s circle for the first time since his dramatic finish at the 2025 U.S. Open.After a sluggish start to the season, Spaun has quietly begun to round into form. He has posted three top-25 finishes in his last four starts, including a top-five showing at the Truist Championship, signaling that his game is beginning to trend in the right direction.His iron play has been strong enough to contend virtually anywhere on the PGA Tour, but the putter has remained the glaring weakness. Spaun currently ranks 155th in Strokes Gained: Putting, a number that makes it difficult to consistently keep pace with the elite players in the world on a week to week basis.Still, with improved recent form and a top-six finish at this exact tournament back in 2025, Spaun appears to be building momentum toward another strong performance in Texas this week.SleeperTom HogeDORAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 30: Tom Hoge of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the Cadillac Championship 2026 at Trump National Doral Miami on April 30, 2026 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe former TCU Horned Frogs standout returns to Fort Worth coming off his best finish of the season, a tie for sixth at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Known primarily for his iron play, he ranked inside the top 15 in Strokes Gained: Approach last week and now heads back to familiar surroundings looking to build on that momentum.Still, there is a reason he enters the week as a dark horse rather than a favorite. The overall statistical profile remains difficult to trust consistently on the PGA Tour. He currently ranks 155th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, 142nd Around-the-Green, and 94th in Putting, with Approach being his strongest category at 61st.That combination is not typically a formula for contending week after week against these professional fields. But returning to a course and city where he feels comfortable, along with the support of local fans behind him could provide the spark needed to make some noise at Colonial.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Exclusive: Second Premier League team joins Man City in chase for Enzo FernandezChelsea are getting ready for a battle over the future of Enzo Fernandez – and a major Premier League rival is interested.If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.Our writer Simon Phillips has been speaking to his sources close to the Chelsea camp, and he’s got some really juicy stuff.He’s written a long piece about the future of Enzo Fernandez – who the Blues apparently now accept is going to be leaving. One possibility mentioned is truly chilling, adding a Premier League rival to the list that already includes PSG and Real Madrid.Arsenal interested in Chelsea starHere’s the bombshell from his Substack page:“SPTC Sources can reveal that Arsenal have also made an enquiry to sign Fernandez, but any move there at this time has been ruled out to us.”Annoyingly, we have to admit, he’s such an Arsenal player. We can just see him in that kit. He would fit nicely into that team and the goals they need to go to the next level.Luckily we just can’t see Chelsea selling him there – unless there are no other offers close to what they want.In other news…There could be a major turnaround under Xabi Alonso next season, or at least that’s what one Premier League CEO is saying after seeing how things have shaken out at Stamford Bridge.Chelsea didn’t take some first half chances against Sunderland on Sunday and this was blamed for their defeat by their captain after the game.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORECheck out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Bayern to offer Newcastle Nubel to get GordonNewcastle United forward Anthony Gordon is attracting interest from Bayern Munich, but they don’t have the money to prise him away from Saint James’ Park.According to Bild, they are preparing to offer Newcastle their goalkeeper, Alexander Nubel, to sweeten the deal.Nubel has been on loan at Stuttgart for multiple seasons, establishing himself as one of the better goalkeepers in Germany’s top flight.He had an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, helping them qualify for the Champions League by finishing fourth and recording 11.06 goals prevented (11 clean sheets).However, Bayern want to ship him off and with Newcastle looking for a new goalkeeper, they plan to try and kill two birds with one stone.Nick Pope is expected to leave the Tyneside outfit this summer, and Aaron Ramsdale will return to his parent club after an uninspiring season.The Geordies clearly need a new number one to take the reins from Pope, but it should not be Nubel.Newcastle should steer well clear of any proposal involving the 6ft4 ace.While the German goalkeeper enjoyed a statistically impressive campaign with Stuttgart, numbers do not tell the full story.Nubel remains an inconsistent shot-stopper whose concentration levels and decision-making continue to fluctuate too often for a club with Champions League ambitions like the Toons.There is a reason Bayern want to move him on despite actively searching for Manuel Neuer’s long-term successor.If Nubel were truly elite, they would already be building around him instead of using him as bait in negotiations.Also, Stuttgart’s reluctance to make his stay permanent says plenty. They have seen him up close for multiple seasons and still are not fully convinced.Newcastle cannot afford another temporary fix in goal. Manager Eddie Howe needs a reliable, commanding presence capable of elevating the defence now.Nubel does not inspire that level of confidence, and the Magpies should be aiming far higher.

Scott McTominay: Former Man United star honoured ahead of World CupFormer Manchester United star Scott McTominay has received another honour from his country.Post United careerThe 29-year-old broke through at Manchester United in the 2016-2017 season under Jose Mourinho.The Scot would go on to play 255 times for the Red Devils, scoring 29 goals. He was a first-team regular under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but saw his role slightly reduced under Erik ten Hag.McTominay was sold in 2024 to SSC Napoli and took Italy by storm, winning the Player of the Season award as his side were crowned Serie A champions in 2025.He has continued to impress, scoring 27 goals in 80 matches for the southern Italian side. The midfielder’s rise can be seen in the fact he was listed 18th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or race.Scotland formMcTominay has also been highly influential in his country’s success of late.He scored copious amounts of goals as Scotland qualified for Euro 2024 and was also huge for his nation in their road to the World Cup this summer.This can be seen in his stunning overhead kick which opened the scoring in Scotland’s 4-2 victory over Denmark at Hampden Park, which sealed their spot in their first World Cup since 1998.In preparation for the tournament next month, the moment has been captured for the Scottish people.The BBC report that, “a limited edition £20 note featuring an image inspired by Scott McTominay’s famous overhead kick has been unveiled by the Bank of Scotland.”The article continues that, “the design combines traditional banknote elements with imagery of McTominay’s goal for Scotland against Denmark.”Just over 100 notes have been printed, with about 50 being available through collector auctions and a prize draw in Edinburgh and Glasgow.Commenting on the honour, the Carrington product stated, “reaching the biggest stage of world football is something every player dreams of, and I know it means everything to our fans. Moments like that belong to everyone who follows the team, so seeing my goal featured on a Scottish banknote feels incredibly special.”Scott McTominay 25/26 season statsSource: transfermarkt.comFeatured image Timothy Rogers via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Liverpool transfer news: Record-breaking price blows market wide openLiverpool could have a problem on their hands as a gigantic price blows the transfer market wide open.It appears a transfer record will be broken this summer. The Telegraph reports that Nottingham Forest have set an enormous price for Elliot Anderson and it's one that should blow the entire midfielder market wide open.Unfortunately, it's a price tag that makes complete sense. They're chasing at least £115m for Anderson, one that would be a new record for an English footballer.They've got there by pointing to Chelsea's purchase of Moises Caicedo in 2023. That was the then-record-breaking figure paid by the Blues and Forest feel that three years on, Anderson should cost similar.Now, we don't think Liverpool are actually in for Anderson. But they are looking for a new midfielder this summer and it's a competitive market.Both Manchester clubs are shopping for new midfielders. It's expected that Real Madrid will be, too. A lot of money is there to be spent on the best options available and Forest have set a marker here for other selling teams.Which is a problem. Crystal Palace, for instance, will look at that £115m price tag and set Adam Wharton's price accordingly. Real Madrid could sell Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga this summer - again, they'll point to the Anderson price and want teams to pay up.It's puts Liverpool in a difficult spot then. Especially as teams put off - or priced out of - the Anderson race will then turn their attention quickly to potential targets for the Reds.Elliot Anderson: Situation SummaryNottingham Forest Campaign and StatsAs of 25 May 2026, Elliot Anderson has completed a stellar individual campaign with Nottingham Forest, helping them navigate a tight Premier League relegation battle and a deep Europa League run to the semi-finals. The 23-year-old midfielder made 38 appearances this season, contributing four goals and four assists. He finished the season strongly, providing two assists in a 3–2 defeat to Manchester United and starting in yesterday's final-day 1–1 draw against Bournemouth.Transfer Tug-of-WarAnderson's impressive performances have sparked a heavy transfer battle between the Manchester giants ahead of the summer window. Manchester United have placed him high on their shortlist to replace Casemiro, while newly appointed Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca is also keen. Forest manager Vítor Pereira recently admitted he cannot guarantee the midfielder will stay.Thomas Tuchel has selected Anderson in England's 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.