Former manager Ange Postecoglou has backed Tottenham to avoid relegation from the Premier League following a disastrous 3-0 home defeat against Nottingham Forest.

The heavy Sunday loss leaves the struggling north London side languishing just a single point above the drop zone as domestic football pauses for the international break.

Interim head coach Igor Tudor has failed to establish consistency since replacing Thomas Frank last month, sparking rumours that his tenure may already be drawing to a close.

An uncomfortable watch for former boss

Speaking to Australian radio station SEN 1116, Postecoglou admitted that witnessing the current plight of his old employers has been incredibly difficult.

“To watch them struggle has not been easy and it’s not the way I thought it would go. They’re in a hell of a fight, relegation is massive for any club but for Tottenham, it’s a pretty big deal.”

The Australian tactician believes the dressing room still retains enough talent to survive the drop, but stressed that they desperately need a circuit-breaker to shift their momentum.

He acknowledged the surreal nature of the weekend’s fixture, which pitted two teams he managed within the last calendar year against one another.

“I tuned in and I watched. It was an uncomfortable watch, I didn’t enjoy it that’s for sure.”

Daunting run-in threatens survival hopes

With only seven fixtures remaining to secure their top-flight status, the capital club faces an intimidating schedule upon their return to action.

Despite briefly lifting spirits with a resilient draw against Liverpool and a shock victory over Atletico Madrid, the team must now navigate a treacherous path to safety.

Their concluding matches feature encounters with several sides chasing European qualification alongside a crucial basement battle.

Former Liverpool striker and Wales manager John Toshack has been diagnosed with dementia at the age of 77, his son Cameron has confirmed.

Cameron Toshack revealed that the Welsh footballing icon is experiencing struggles with his short-term memory, although his recollection of historic matches remains astonishingly clear.

The 77-year-old’s son, currently working as an assistant manager for Thai club Buriram United, explained that his father still experiences good days and bad days.

“It’s a terrible disease. It’s the short-term memory where we’re seeing it – I speak to him most days and if we chat in the afternoon, he might not remember that we also spoke in the morning,” Cameron Toshack told the Daily Mail.

Tactical memories remain sharp

Despite the distressing nature of the illness, the esteemed tactician retains an encyclopaedic knowledge of his extensive career across Europe.

A recent conversation highlighted how the former Real Madrid boss vividly recalled specific tactical adjustments made to counter Marco van Basten during a clash with Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan.

“If I ask him about the Liverpool days, or Sociedad or Madrid, the detail is amazing. The game could have been yesterday, his memory was so clear,” Cameron added.

The legendary figure continues to offer astute advice to his son regarding his coaching duties in Thailand, proving his profound footballing intellect remains intact.

A glittering playing and managerial career

Emerging from Cardiff City, the formidable forward secured a high-profile transfer to Anfield in 1970, where he would go on to lift nine major trophies.

His highly successful playing spell on Merseyside yielded three First Division titles and a European Cup under the legendary guidance of Bill Shankly.

Transitioning into coaching, he famously guided Swansea City from the Fourth Division to the top flight in just four seasons as a player-manager.

A highly distinguished continental managerial career followed, featuring successful stints with Sporting Lisbon, Real Sociedad, and a La Liga triumph with Real Madrid in 1990.

Recent health challenges and tributes

In addition to his club exploits, the respected coach took charge of the Welsh national team on two occasions, playing a pivotal role in the early development of future stars like Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.

The revered sporting figure has battled severe health issues recently, having spent time in intensive care two years ago battling pneumonia following complications from Covid-19.

Last year, he received a standing ovation and was presented with the prestigious Diamond and Gold badge by Real Sociedad ahead of a fixture against his former employers from the Spanish capital.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente insists star midfielders Rodri and Martin Zubimendi can play together as the national team prepare for their upcoming friendlies against Serbia and Egypt.

The domestic rivalry between the two players recently took centre stage at Wembley.

Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory over Arsenal to lift the Carabao Cup, with Rodri heavily involved in the decisive action.

During the final, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner fired a low strike towards goal, only for his national team compatriot to make a crucial block.

Their tactical battle has now shifted from the club game to the international stage.

The debate over Spain’s midfield

Both players reported to the Spanish training camp in Madrid on Monday.

The European champions are preparing for crucial fixtures ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

With both men operating primarily as deep-lying playmakers, the pressing question is whether they can feature in the same starting line-up.

Head coach Luis de la Fuente is frequently questioned about accommodating two of the world’s premier holding midfielders.

“After all the setbacks he went through, Rodrigo is back at a high level,” De La Fuente told TVE.
“I’ve said before that he is the best in the world, but also on those same occasions that we are very fortunate.”
“After all, in that position, the number six role, we have the two best players in the world: Rodrigo and Martin.”
“So I will get ahead of a question you are probably going to ask: can they play together? Of course they can play together.”

Passing the baton in midfield

Despite the manager’s public assurances, the 64-year-old tactician has rarely deployed the duo simultaneously.

Their only joint appearance came during the dying moments of the Euro 2024 semi-final against France.

Historically, the Manchester City maestro has been an untouchable presence at the base of the national midfield.

However, when a severe knee ligament injury sidelined him in September 2024, the former Real Sociedad anchor seamlessly filled the void.

The successful transition prompted a supportive text message from the injured star to his Arsenal counterpart.

“I’m leaving you the keys of the team,” the message read.

Since De la Fuente took charge in March 2023, the national side has played just 268 minutes without at least one of them on the pitch.

Fans could see the next evolution of this tactical dynamic when Spain face Serbia in Villarreal on Friday.

The Saudi Pro League are targeting Liverpool executives Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes as part of an expected summer overhaul at Anfield.

Despite a deeply disappointing campaign that has seen inconsistent form on the pitch, head coach Arne Slot retains the full backing of the club’s hierarchy.

Questions surrounding lopsided recruitment have instead intensified pressure on the football leadership team rather than the Dutch manager.

Multi-club strategy abandoned

Edwards returned to Merseyside in 2024 as the chief executive of football for Fenway Sports Group to spearhead a new global network.

Those ambitious plans were recently scrapped after the ownership group decided against purchasing heavily overvalued teams across Europe.

This strategic pivot has alerted Middle Eastern officials, who are willing to offer the esteemed recruitment guru a prominent overseeing role within their competition.

Hughes and Salah linked with exits

Sporting director Hughes is also being actively courted, with Al Hilal identifying the 44-year-old as an ideal candidate to lead their own boardroom operations.

The potential departure of both directors could significantly impact the ongoing transfer saga surrounding Mohamed Salah.

Saudi teams have pursued the Egyptian forward for three years, though Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami are now preparing a lucrative rival proposal.

Slot secure amid Anfield slump

A dismal run of two defeats and a draw in their last three Premier League matches has entirely derailed the current season for the Reds.

A noticeable drop-off in the 32-year-old winger’s individual performance levels has been cited as a major contributing factor to these recent domestic struggles.

Nevertheless, decision-makers at the club point to numerous mitigating circumstances and remain completely committed to their current head coach.

Rasmus Hojlund has confirmed he will leave Manchester United permanently for Napoli after claiming manager Ruben Amorim did not want him at Old Trafford.

The Danish international is expected to finalise a £38m transfer to the Serie A club following a successful loan spell.

United originally paid Atalanta £72m for the striker in 2023 under former boss Erik ten Hag.

Struggles and a historic low

The 22-year-old endured a difficult spell in English football, suffering a 21-game goal drought between December and March during his final season.

His lack of form coincided with a disastrous campaign for the Red Devils, who recorded their worst-ever Premier League finish of 15th place.

Following the arrival of Benjamin Sesko in Manchester, the forward was subsequently sent out on loan to Naples.

Finding form in Italy

Since returning to the Italian top flight, the former Atalanta prospect has rediscovered his goalscoring touch with 10 goals in 26 league appearances.

Speaking to Danish outlet TV2, he expressed relief at finding a supportive environment.

“I got what I wanted with my transfer,” the striker explained.

“I got a team that believes in me a lot. A club that believes in me a lot. A sporting director, a president and a coach who wants me.”

He added: “I was put in a bit of a box at the end in Manchester. I knew there wouldn’t be much football for me if it continued like this.”

Dealing with media scrutiny

The Copenhagen-born forward also addressed the intense criticism he faced in his homeland during his time in the Premier League.

“I was happy to play football in Manchester,” he said.

“I know that, especially in Denmark, a media image was formed that it was all just terrible, and that I played like a bag of nuts, but that’s not how I look at it.”

The attacker acknowledged the difficulty of ignoring online commentary in the modern game.

“It’s hard not to be on your phone. And if you are on your phone, you’re bound to see what’s being written about you in some way,” he noted.

Remaining grounded

Despite his recent resurgence in Italy, he insists he remains focused on personal improvement rather than media praise.

“Now it’s portrayed as if I’m back and just doing really well, but inside myself my thoughts are in a completely different place,” he concluded.

“I’m self-critical. I still want to be even better, more involved in the games and score more goals.”

Swansea City midfielder Ethan Galbraith believes Northern Ireland can upset Italy in Thursday’s World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo to move one step closer to the tournament in North America.

Michael O’Neill’s side are just two victories away from securing a place at this year’s global showpiece.

Should the visitors prevail against the Azzurri, they will face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina in a decisive final.

The 24-year-old was an unused substitute in 2021 when a resolute defensive display secured a goalless home draw against the same opposition.

That famous result ultimately contributed to the four-time world champions missing out on qualification for the Qatar tournament.

Embracing a surreal opportunity

The former Manchester United academy prospect admits that being so close to football’s biggest stage feels like a dream.

“I’ve thought about it a few times and they are going to be tough games, but to even be a part of those games is huge.”
“We can go out there, give it our all and hopefully it will be enough on the night.”
“It’s a bit of a pinch me moment. To be involved in this squad is unreal, but to be two games away from a World Cup is crazy.”

Absentees and mounting pressure

The Green and White Army travel to Bergamo without several key figures, as influential duo Conor Bradley and Dan Ballard are both sidelined.

However, the hosts face their own selection issues after Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali suffered a groin injury during a weekend defeat by Sunderland.

Despite those missing players, the home side remain heavy favourites but face immense national pressure to avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup.

The Welsh club midfielder insists his international team-mates are preparing to face the strongest possible version of their opponents.

Drawing confidence from past tests

Although they finished third in their qualification group, spirited performances during two defeats against Germany have provided valuable tactical lessons.

The dynamic playmaker feels those challenging fixtures have perfectly prepared the squad for Thursday’s daunting task.

“You have to prepare for their best team and we did that with Germany.”
“Germany are a top side and so is Italy with a number of superstars, so having those games against Germany in the group has put us in good stead for this game.”
“If we can go out and give it 100%, we can be a match for anyone.”

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has demanded improved refereeing standards after a controversial VAR decision during her side’s 3-1 Women’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat by Arsenal.

The Blues were trailing 2-0 late in the first half when Dutch defender Veerle Buurman appeared to head them back into the tie.

However, the goal was ruled out after she was dubiously penalised for a foul on Arsenal centre-back Lotte Wubben-Moy.

Replays indicated the contact was minimal, yet the on-field decision stood and the visitors eventually lost the all-English clash.

‘We deserve the best referees’

Following the final whistle, the frustrated French head coach insisted that the women’s game requires a higher level of officialdom.

“It is always more difficult to complain about the referees when you lose the game, but to be honest it is not good enough.”
“When you are playing a Champions League quarter-final, you need to respect the women’s game more.”

Bompastor argued that the video technology is currently failing to eliminate clear human errors.

The 44-year-old revealed that her attempts to seek an explanation from the fourth official regarding the disallowed goal were met with dismissive responses.

Men’s officials an option

The former Lyon boss even suggested she would welcome the introduction of top officials from the men’s game to immediately raise standards.

“We deserve the best referees. If it has to be coming from the men’s game, maybe.”
“We need to have VAR in the women’s game, we just need the right people to make the decisions.”

The result leaves the reigning Women’s Super League champions facing a significant uphill battle to keep their European dreams alive this season.

Despite the frustrating deficit, the manager remains defiant ahead of next week’s crucial return fixture.

“If I don’t have the belief, I just stay home.”

Republic of Ireland defender John Egan has challenged his team-mates to carry their dramatic qualifying momentum into Thursday’s crucial World Cup play-off semi-final against the Czech Republic in Prague.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side kept their North American tournament hopes alive with a sensational stoppage-time victory over Hungary in Budapest last November.

Troy Parrott provided the decisive late strike to secure second place in Group F following a difficult start to their qualification campaign.

Movie-like drama fuels Irish belief

The Boys in Green initially struggled in the group stages, suffering a damaging defeat to Armenia in September that left their progression in serious doubt.

However, the squad rallied spectacularly to rescue their campaign and set up this vital clash at the Fortuna Arena.

“When we went 2-1 down, we still had a feeling we could get the win and for Troy to do what he did felt like you were in a movie,” said Egan.
“We have to keep riding off the back of that wave and keep the confidence and positivity going.”
“These tournaments don’t come around often so when you get a week like this, you have to embrace it and give everything you can to get the result.”

Portugal heartbreak sparked crucial turning point

The 33-year-old centre-back believes a narrow away loss to Portugal served as the unexpected catalyst for their recent resurgence.

Ruben Neves broke Irish hearts with a stoppage-time winner in Lisbon, but the battling performance restored essential belief within the dressing room.

“It was a really solid performance against one of the best teams in the world, so even though it was a loss, the lads came away thinking they were a minute or two away from getting a point and that gives you confidence,” the experienced defender explained.

That resilient display laid the foundation for back-to-back home victories over Armenia and Portugal.

Those crucial results ultimately paved the way for the unforgettable Sunday afternoon in Budapest that secured their play-off berth.

Huge travelling support heads to Prague

If they can overcome the Czechs, the national team will host either Denmark or North Macedonia in a decisive final play-off next Tuesday.

Anticipation is sky-high among the fanbase ahead of the 19:45 GMT kick-off in the Czech capital.

More than 6,000 passionate supporters applied for a meagre away ticket allocation of just 1,024.

Despite being heavily outnumbered inside the 19,370-capacity stadium, thousands more are expected to travel in the hope of witnessing another famous chapter in Irish football history.