Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed the extent of his mental struggles after making his first start for Monaco following an 18-month ban and persistent injury problems.
The French World Cup winner started for the Ligue 1 side against Metz at the weekend.
It marked a significant milestone for the midfielder, who has endured a turbulent period since leaving Old Trafford.
Injuries severely restricted his second spell at Juventus to just 12 appearances before a routine drugs test failure in September 2023.
Initially handed a four-year suspension from football, the Court of Arbitration for Sport eventually reduced the punishment to 18 months.
Overcoming mental hurdles
Attempting to rebuild his career in the French top flight, the veteran has been restricted to just six appearances for Monaco.
Persistent fitness issues have continued to disrupt his progress at the Stade Louis II.
Speaking to Ligue 1 Plus, the former international admitted he came close to walking away from the sport completely.
“Honestly, there were times when I was like, ‘That’s it, it’s getting on my nerves.’”
“I do everything, I come, I’m here, and it doesn’t stop, it just keeps going.”
“I was thinking, ‘What more do I have to do to avoid all this?’ And actually, it’s about time and patience. You have to have the patience to keep going and not give up.”
A determination to repay supporters
The ex-Juventus star credited his close support network for guiding him through his lowest moments.
He highlighted the positive reception from fans as a crucial motivating factor in his long road to recovery.
“I was lucky to have people around me, whether it was my family or close friends, who would say to me, ‘What are you talking about?’”
“When I see the messages, whether on social media or when I arrive at the stadiums, they applaud.”
With just over a year remaining on his current contract, Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro has acknowledged that discussions regarding his long-term future are necessary.
Scuro emphasised that while the marquee signing brings substantial commercial value to the club, consistent on-pitch performance remains the ultimate priority.
However, the combative midfielder insists he is not content with merely making up the numbers.
“I can’t stop here. I want to give that love and joy back to the people.”
Bournemouth have moved into sixth place in the Premier League following a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace, putting them in contention for a highly unusual Champions League qualification spot.
The in-form South Coast club overtook Brentford to secure the coveted position in the top-flight standings.
Even more remarkably, teams could find themselves needing to deliberately lose on the final day to manipulate their European destiny.
Securing sixth guarantees at least a Europa League berth for several sides who have never experienced continental football.
How Aston Villa control the European fate
A specific set of circumstances is required for the sixth-placed finisher to reach Europe’s elite club competition.
Aston Villa must finish exactly fifth in the table and simultaneously win the Europa League.
The West Midlands outfit currently trail Nottingham Forest 1-0 after their semi-final first leg.
However, they retain the home advantage for Thursday’s crucial return fixture at Villa Park.
Uefa rules and the European Performance Spot
This bizarre scenario is entirely dependent on Villa avoiding a top-four finish because of complex governing body regulations.
The Premier League recently secured an extra Champions League place through the newly established European Performance Spot (EPS).
Uefa allocates European spots based on domestic league positions and tournament victories before calculating the EPS.
If the Villans win the Europa League and finish fifth, their EPS allocation passes down to the team immediately below them.
Conversely, a top-four finish for Villa would render their European trophy irrelevant to the qualification hopes of the rest of the English division.
The race for an unprecedented qualification
The Cherries currently sit on 52 points, maintaining a slender one-point advantage over chasing Brentford.
Neither Bournemouth nor the Bees have ever participated in Uefa competitions throughout their entire club histories.
Brighton trail closely behind, having enjoyed their maiden continental voyage during the 2023-24 campaign.
Chelsea lurk four points further back, though the London club possess a vital game in hand against Nottingham Forest.
Conference League compensation for the chasers
Fulham sit level on points with Chelsea, while Everton and Sunderland remain mathematically alive on 47 points.
Whoever ultimately misses out on the top six will receive the consolation prize of Europa Conference League football.
This seventh-place reward remains completely unaffected by the complex permutations surrounding the extra Champions League allocation.
Celtic are waiting to discover the extent of an injury to Daizen Maeda after the forward limped off during their 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory over Hibernian.
The Japan international opened the scoring at Easter Road before suffering an innocuous knock in stoppage time.
He was seen limping without a boot following the final whistle, raising concerns ahead of Sunday’s crucial Old Firm derby.
Manager Martin O’Neill says he desperately hopes the attacker will be available for the pivotal clash against Rangers.
Crucial timing for in-form attacker
Maeda has recently rediscovered his best form during a definitive stage of the season.
The forward had only scored once in 2026 prior to last month, but has now contributed six goal involvements in his past three appearances.
O’Neill has preferred the rapid attacker as a central striker in recent weeks to help mitigate broader offensive struggles.
Former Hoops winger Aiden McGeady stressed that losing the forward would be a significant blow to the defending champions.
“He’s been the most important player over the last three games,” McGeady said.
“I hope he’s fit for the final games because the impact he can make for this team when he is firing is invaluable.”
Attacking concerns persist
Despite securing three points against a Hibs side reduced to 10 men for over 70 minutes, Celtic once again looked short of quality in the final third.
The Glasgow club have scored just 64 goals in 35 league games this season, representing a sharp decline from the 103 goals they had registered at the same stage last year.
This drop in attacking output leaves them with a worse goal difference than both Rangers and Hearts, which could prove decisive in a tight title race.
Former Scotland international James McFadden highlighted the team’s lack of penetration during the narrow victory.
“They’re lacking in front of goal because of their quality in the final third,” McFadden observed post-match.
“You can’t say they didn’t play well in the first half, but it’s a lot of the same patterns with no penetration.”
Celtic currently sit neck-and-neck with Rangers at the top of the table, making this weekend’s derby a potential title-decider.
Bournemouth extended their remarkable unbeaten Premier League run to 15 matches with a resounding 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Vitality Stadium.
The convincing win elevates Andoni Iraola’s high-flying squad into sixth place in the table as they push for continental qualification.
A disastrous own goal from former Cherries midfielder Jefferson Lerma initiated the downfall for the visitors early in the contest.
Junior Kroupi then doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute to put the hosts in complete control.
Palace suffer domestic hangover
Eagles manager Oliver Glasner opted to make five changes to his starting lineup ahead of this challenging fixture.
The South London club arrived on the south coast sandwiched between their crucial two-legged Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Their heavily rotated side produced a disjointed display that highlighted the physical toll of competing across multiple demanding competitions.
Rayan seals comfortable victory
Brazilian winger Rayan capped off a dominant afternoon by adding a third goal just 13 minutes from time.
The away side rarely threatened throughout the one-sided encounter, struggling to match the relentless intensity of the home outfit.
Substitute Ismaila Sarr did attempt to salvage a late consolation, but the Senegalese forward saw his powerful volley crash against the left post.
The Cherries’ sensational domestic form continues to establish them as one of the most formidable opponents in the English top flight this season.
Sam Kerr has become Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Women’s Super League after heading her 64th league goal for the club against Leicester City.
The prolific Australian international found the back of the net to give the reigning champions an early lead on their travels.
In doing so, the talismanic forward overtakes her long-time teammate Fran Kirby in the historical scoring charts.
A historic milestone for the forward
Kirby previously held the prestigious benchmark, having been a foundational pillar of the West London side’s modern domestic dominance.
However, the formidable Matildas captain has now cemented her own remarkable legacy at the pinnacle of the club’s records.
Since arriving in England midway through the 2019-20 campaign, the lightning-fast striker has consistently terrorised opposition defences.
Continuing domestic dominance
Her latest landmark moment perfectly encapsulates the clinical aerial threat she brings to the attacking line.
Securing an advantage against the Foxes further highlights the relentless attacking rhythm of the defending league title holders.
As the current domestic campaign progresses, this newly established individual record will only strengthen her reputation as one of the sport’s greatest ever imports.
Formula 1 will abandon its current hybrid power units and revert to V8 engines by the 2031 season, according to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The sport introduced a new engine era this year, featuring power units split evenly between electric and combustion power while operating on fully sustainable fuel.
However, this significant overhaul of the technical regulations has faced mounting criticism from several leading drivers.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen recently compared the latest hybrid machines to Formula E, branding them as unenjoyable to drive.
Meanwhile, seven-time title winner Lewis Hamilton has openly expressed his frustration regarding the sheer complexity of the modern systems.
Cost and weight concerns drive change
The existing power units remain enormously expensive for both manufacturers and customer teams to produce and maintain.
They are also exceptionally heavy, primarily due to the substantial battery packs required to support the electrical components.
The concept of returning to older engine configurations was initially floated last year but faced rejection from manufacturers who had already invested heavily in hybrid technology.
Despite this initial resistance, the sport’s governing body insists that a shift toward lighter, less complex machinery is inevitable.
Ben Sulayem targets earlier implementation
Under current governance structures, the sport’s rule-makers can mandate technical changes by the start of the next decade regardless of team opposition.
In 2031, the FIA will have the power to do it, without any votes from the power unit manufacturers.
But we want to bring it one year earlier, which everyone externally now is asking for.
When you try to tell them, they say no, but what will come, will come, and the power will come back to the FIA.
Speaking ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, the Emirati official indicated that the eight-cylinder option is heavily favoured over a V10 layout due to modern automotive trends.
If I ask any of the manufacturers who are in F1 now if they produce any cars with a V10, an era that many of the cars had, but now, no.
These future V8s will not be straightforward naturally-aspirated designs, but will instead align with the ongoing commitment to fully sustainable fuels.
Real Madrid have identified Jose Mourinho as their primary managerial target for the summer, despite persistent links to former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
The Spanish giants are seeking a permanent head coach after parting ways with Xabi Alonso in January.
Alvaro Arbeloa has taken interim charge of the senior squad since stepping up from the Castilla reserve team.
Los Blancos are enduring a difficult campaign and trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by 14 points with only five matches remaining.
Perez pushes for Mourinho return
Club president Florentino Perez is reportedly driving the push to bring the current Benfica head coach back to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Mourinho is considered the clear frontrunner for the vacant position ahead of the upcoming summer window.
While Klopp holds longstanding admiration from the Madrid hierarchy, the German recently signed a four-year deal as Red Bull’s head of global football.
Klopp content with Red Bull role
The 56-year-old stepped down from his Anfield role at the end of the 2023-24 season due to exhaustion from the immense demands of club management.
“Perez wants Mourinho, and if he gets his way, there is a concrete chance, therefore, that this move happens.”
– Ben Jacobs, Senior Football Correspondent
It is understood that the former Borussia Dortmund manager remains hesitant about returning to a traditional dugout.
“Klopp has had longstanding admiration from the Real hierarchy, but has consistently said that he doesn’t even know if he’s going to take a club job again, and he’s quite happy at Red Bull.”
– Ben Jacobs, Senior Football Correspondent
Pochettino remains an alternative option
Mauricio Pochettino has also been discussed internally as a potential candidate by the Madrid board.
The Argentine tactician is currently managing the United States national team ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Despite having alternative options, Perez remains resolute in his desire to secure his preferred candidate to rebuild the squad.
All current indications suggest the Portuguese manager is the overwhelming favorite to take charge ahead of the new season.
Joel Embiid has urged Philadelphia 76ers fans not to sell their upcoming playoff tickets to New York Knicks supporters to prevent an away takeover at the Wells Fargo Center.
The 30-year-old center issued the passionate plea following a historic first-round comeback victory against the Boston Celtics.
Philadelphia recovered from a 3-1 series deficit to set up a tantalising postseason rematch with their Eastern Conference rivals.
During their last encounter in 2024, travelling supporters flooded the arena, prompting deep frustration from the home locker room.
‘This is bigger than you’
The former NBA MVP wants to avoid a repeat of that six-game defeat, where the visiting crowd was overwhelmingly vocal.
Embiid delivered his message immediately after the Sixers won Game 7 in Massachusetts to advance in the tournament.
“I just have a message for our fans,” Embiid said. “Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like Philadelphia was Madison Square Garden East.”
“We’re gonna need the support. Don’t sell your tickets, this is bigger than you and we need you guys.”
An unprecedented comeback
Two years ago, Sixers ownership unsuccessfully attempted to block visiting buyers from acquiring seats for the decisive Game 6.
The Cameroonian big man was openly critical at the time, questioning the city’s reputation as a passionate sporting stronghold.
Now, the seven-time All-Star has even offered to financially compensate supporters who might be tempted to cash in on high secondary market prices.
“Knicks fans travel, they buy tickets,” he added. “There’s gonna be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money.”
“Don’t do it, we need you guys to be extremely loud. If you need money, I’ve got you.”
Embiid’s dominant return
The formidable talisman missed the first three games against Boston while recovering from an appendectomy.
However, he returned to average 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists across the final four must-win fixtures.
His 34-point, 12-rebound performance on Saturday night sealed the NBA’s 14th-ever successful comeback from a 3-1 disadvantage.
The 76ers had previously held an NBA-record 0-18 history when trailing by that margin, while Boston had been a flawless 32-0 when holding a similar lead.
This remarkable triumph also secured Philadelphia’s first playoff series victory over Boston since 1982, ending a miserable streak of six consecutive postseason eliminations against the franchise.