Author: Kate Man

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes says he could have left the club last summer.The 30-year-old was United’s hero on Thursday night, scoring a hat-trick as they beat Real Sociedad to move into a Europa League quarter-final with Lyon.He was also singled out for praise by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in an interview with BBC Sport on Monday.But Fernandes said there had been an offer to sign him in the summer and he’d held talks with the club about his future.”I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave,” he said. “We talked about the possibility of me…

On the race simulation runs late in the session, Norris set the pace, seemingly 0.2secs or so quicker than Leclerc and Verstappen. Hamilton was also lagging behind his team-mate on heavy fuel, by about 0.2secs on average.Williams driver Carlos Sainz, who impressed by setting second fastest time in the first session, was mixing it close to the top teams on race fuel, averaging between the pace of Leclerc and Hamilton.Mercedes did their race runs on the hard tyres, while the other top teams used the mediums, so their averages cannot be compared. But Antonelli, who was only 16th on single-lap…

Former US Open champion Lucas Glover is one of three players who hold a share of the lead after the opening round of The Players Championship in Florida.American Glover, 45, made a birdie on each of his last four holes at TPC Sawgrass to card a six-under-par 66 and claim an early lead, before compatriot JJ Spaun and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas joined him at the top of the leaderboard.World number two Rory McIlroy also took advantage of sun-drenched conditions to shoot an impressive five-under-par 67 – with seven birdies, including an excellent three on the 18th – and two bogeys.His…

Veteran jockey Frankie Dettori says he feels “embarrassed” after he filed for bankruptcy having been unable to reach agreement with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs over a long-running case of tax avoidance.The 54-year-old Italian, a mainstay of the British and European flat-racing scene for 37 years, has ridden more than 3,300 winners during his career.Dettori’s financial situation became public knowledge in December last year when his plea for anonymity lodged in November was rejected by a High Court judge.The case was brought against Dettori after he had employed professional specialist tax advisers to oversee his and his family’s financial affairs.Dettori,…

Andrew Porter and Tadhg Beirne, who were criticised by France head coach Fabien Galthie for their part in Antoine Dupont’s season-ending injury, are retained in the Irish pack. Galthie reported both players to the match’s citing commissioner, but no action has been taken against them, and Porter later dismissed the coach’s claim of foul play.But lock McCarthy drops to the bench after being yellow-carded for cynically pulling back Thomas Ramos, resulting in the penalty from which France scored their opening try.Easterby reverts to a five-three split of forwards and backs on the bench after opting for a six-two against France.…

World champion Verstappen is under contract to Red Bull until the end of 2028 but there are clauses in his contract that could see him leave under certain circumstances.Briton Russell, who has been with Mercedes since before he was in F1 and won two races last year, said he was confident the team would stick with him.”We have had such a long-term relationship and so much trust between one another and we are focused on getting Mercedes back on top and trying to win races and championships,” Russell said.”Performance speaks, so from my side there is no pressure. I have…

The level of Bencic’s game – and the results which she has achieved – so soon into her comeback has been very impressive.Unranked when she returned to the second-tier WTA Challenger Tour in October, the 2020 Olympic gold medallist will move back inside the world’s top 50 next week.Bencic is hitting her low, flat groundstrokes confidently and the strength of her backhand – both crosscourt and down the line – particularly caused problems for Gauff.Gauff, who turns 21 on Thursday, was regularly pinned into the backhand corner and Bencic’s aggression stifled one of the 2023 US Open champion’s most effect…

Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty both claimed emotional wins at the Cheltenham Festival two years after winning here for jockey Michael O’Sullivan, who died in a fall last month.First, Marine Nationale, ridden by Sean Flanagan for owner-trainer Barry Connell, won a dramatic Queen Mother Champion Chase by 18 lengths from favourite Jonbon, whose progress was halted by a jumping mistake.Then the Cian Collins-trained Jazzy Matty, under Danny Gilligan, landed the Grand Annual Chase.Marine Nationale had won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle two years ago in the same yellow and blue colours for O’Sullivan, who died aged 24 following his injuries at…

Goalkeepers: Danny Ward (Leicester City), Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield United).Defenders: Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Chris Mepham (Sunderland, on loan from Bournemouth), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City).Midfielders: Joe Allen (Swansea City), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Jordan James (Stade Rennais), Ollie Cooper (Swansea City), Kai Andrews (Motherwell, on loan from Coventry City), Sorba Thomas (Nantes, on loan from Huddersfield Town), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Tom Lawrence (Rangers).Forwards: Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel James (Leeds United), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich…

This was a tough night in all respects for Liverpool, who will certainly question the luck of the Champions League draw after topping the new format’s table with ease only to draw a PSG side who can now be considered potential winners, such is their quality.If Liverpool rode their luck to somehow escape with a 1-0 win in the first leg in Paris, they did not enjoy the best of fortune here as both Alexander-Arnold, injured and now a doubt to face Newcastle United at Wembley, and Jarrel Quansah hit the woodwork.Donnarumma also saved well from Ibrahima Konate and Luis…