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You'd think both sets of players were getting sick of each other but it appears the battle between England and Spain remains as strong as ever."It's a rivalry that's made us both stronger," admits Lucy Bronze as her country prepares to take on the world champions yet again.It's the seventh time in less than four years the two nations have gone head-to-head and fourth time since last June.Spain beat the Lionesses to win the World Cup in 2023, back-to-back champions England bettered them in both of the last two Euros.England sit top of Group A3 after four matches, having won all four and conceded just one goal.Avoiding defeat in Mallorca would see the Lionesses establish an unassailable lead and head into the final game against Ukraine at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on June 9 having qualified for next summer's tournament in Brazil more than one year early.Sarina Wiegman insists she knows the Spanish players and what they do so well but containing them is another matter.England held their final training session in the middle of a hot day in Mallorca to remind the players how hard this game will be.They know they won't have much of the ball, they know the pitch will be fast and, even though the game kicks off at 9pm in Spain, they know the conditions could be energy sapping.James fit as Wiegman's England target World Cup spotWhen England played in Spain this time last year they were clearly the second best team on the pitch.Claudia Pina came off the bench in Barcelona to score twice but England really struggled to build any momentum despite going 1-0 up.A similar performance could ruin their chances of qualifying for the World Cup automatically.Winning against the world No 1 ranked team will clearly be a challenge, especially without Leah Williamson.But England prevailed without their captain at Wembley back in April and are confident of doing so again.That belief is emboldened by the inclusion of Bronze and Lauren James who are both fit to start after injury worries.They won't say it out loud but if the Lionesses can qualify for Brazil 2027 and put their greatest rivals into the play-offs then they send a huge message to anyone else hoping to be world champions next summer.Speaking in a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Wiegman said: "We approach the game as we want to win the game. We will go out there tomorrow to win the game."We're in a good position. We just really want to qualify as quick as possible. We want to top the group."It's a hard group, it's a difficult game. It's the same for Spain, it's a difficult game for them, too. And it just helps [to qualify early] because you have time then to prepare."We know what the consequences are so, no matter what happens, we have another opportunity [in the play-offs if they finish second], but we go out there to play and win."Lauren James is fit to play in England's World Cup qualifier in Spain.Leah Williamson is out injured but Ella Toone is "ready to go" according to Wiegman.The England boss has no other injury worries ahead of the match.

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Chief football news reporterPublished6 minutes agoBrighton are expecting Tottenham to return with another bid for defender Jan Paul van Hecke after rejecting their initial £70m offer.Van Hecke, who is part of the Netherlands' World Cup squad, has a year left on his contract and new Spurs boss Roberto de Zerbi is keen to be reunited with the 25-year-old after working with him at Brighton.Brighton signed Van Hecke from Eredivisie outfit NAC Breda in 2020 for a relatively modest sum.After loan spells at Heerenveen and Blackburn Rovers, the centre-back has gone on to make 131 appearances for Brighton, including 36 starts in the Premier League last term.Chief executive Paul Barber was placed in charge of outgoing transfers by Brighton in the wake of the unexpected exit of sporting director Jason Ayto, which was confirmed on Wednesday.Brighton are known for their hard-line bargaining stance having received fees in excess of £50m for Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro in recent years, and also their forward planning.Given Van Hecke's contract situation, it is likely Barber and owner Tony Bloom have a contingency in mind if a deal is eventually agreed.Latest Brighton news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Brighton - what do you want to know?

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There’s a notable absence from this summer’s FIFA men’s World Cup that you might have missed.England's official LGBTQ supporters' group, Three Lions Pride (3LP) announced in January that they would not have a visible presence at the tournament.3LP, which has around 350 members and regularly attends matches, said in a statement that the "dangerous rollback of human rights" in the United States has caused significant concern for fans who were planning to attend the tournament.The group said that they no longer believed the tournament would be a safe and inclusive environment."We very loudly raised our concerns about both Russia and Qatar as hosts, and it would be irresponsible of us to not raise our voices as loudly about the 2026 host," 3LP said."As ever, our primary concern is about the safety of our members and queer fans worldwide under the principle that fans should be able to follow their team wherever they play without fear of abuse, violence, or arrest just for their existence."Why are LBGTQ fan groups not attending games in the United States?What changes made by President Donald Trump's administration have affected LGBTQ inclusion in the United States?What has FIFA said about safety for LGBTQ fans, and will there be any improvements from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?Three Lions Pride said that they will continue to support LGBTQ England fans heading to the tournament but emphasised their concern, in particular for transgender fans who they say would be at a high risk of violence and discrimination.United States President Donald Trump's administration put executive orders into place in 2025 targeting transgender people, including federal restrictions on language, pronouns, healthcare, access to facilities such as bathrooms, military service, sports bans and identification requirements.Since 3LP's decision, other supporter groups have followed suit, and organisations such as Human Rights Watch have called on FIFA to do more to keep LGBTQ fans safe in the United States.Minky Worden, director of global initiatives for Human Rights Watch, explained in an interview with Sky Sports News that the political climate in the US and FIFA's organisation has made the event inaccessible to LGBTQ fans."It's important for fans to know, if they are coming to the World Cup, they are going to have to protect themselves and not rely on FIFA to uphold their basic rights," Worden said."This is the largest World Cup ever, the most lucrative for FIFA, and they certainly have the money to put in the protections if they want to."There are a lot of dangers, including that journalists, fans, players, and officials will have to travel across borders."We've already identified that the [US] border is where you can have trouble [entering the country], maybe based on your social media posts advancing LGBTQ rights."I think it's dangerous that this is the first World Cup to include human rights criteria and a human rights framework, and yet those protections aren't visible, and they aren't named for LGBTQ people."When the United States, Canada and Mexico were announced as hosts for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, it was initially seen as a refreshing break for the LGBTQ community.However, as the tournament draws closer, more concerns continue to be raised about the safety of LGBTQ fans wishing to travel to the United States.German group Queer Football Fanclub (QFF), which represents a network of LGBTQ fan groups primarily in Germany, supported 3LP's decision not to attend the tournament and said they would do the same.Sven Kistner, QFF spokesperson, told Sky Sports News: "We will not have an official QFF presence at the World Cup in the US."The Trump administration is putting more and more pressure on minorities and LGBTQI+ people […] and that makes it difficult to say 'yes, we are willing to go there and willing to attend the games.'"Kistner emphasised that it was policies and statements made by Trump's administration that caused QFF to pull out of attending, not the culture in the United States."I think that the American people are generally quite open to our concerns and to living as you want to live, however the Trump administration is doing quite the opposite at the moment."It's not about the American people, because all the people from the US I am talking to are really great people, nice people."I just hope that the situation changes for the people in the US, and especially for all the minorities in the US, not only LGBTQ, but other minorities as well."In the years that have followed since the 2026 host announcement, the US has seen a large number of rollbacks on inclusive laws and access to safe spaces for transgender people under Trump's administration.As of May 29, 2026, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was tracking 530 anti-LGBTQ bills in the US.In the host states for World Cup games, the ACLU is tracking 110 anti-LGBTQ bills in state government, with 39 in Missouri alone.Following an executive order from Trump in 2025, the US State Department finalised rules in March 2026 requiring visa applicants to list their sex assigned at birth on the application, meaning transgender fans wishing to travel to the US risk facing barrier to entry through denied applications.This means any person who has changed their gender marker on their passport as a part of their transition, risks being denied a visa if the sex they were assigned with at birth differs from the gender listed on their passport.If discrepancies are found between a person's passport and their application, it could be deemed fraudulent, possibly leading to entry refusal, detention and permanent bans from the United States."This is a clear violation of LGBTQ rights, and there are no options to get around this," Worden explained."Even if they somehow manage to get a visa to the United States at the border, they would have to say that they are their deadname in order to come in."This is an example of a new rule that is exclusive to the Trump administration."Deadname refers to the birth name (or former name) of a transgender or non-binary person who has chosen a new, affirmed name. The term can be used as a noun (the name itself) or a verb (the act of calling someone by that name).In Mexico, which will host 13 games across three cities, discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited under the federal constitution, however, violence against LGBTQ+ individuals remains a significant issue in some regions.In recent friendlies ahead of the tournament, a homophobic chant used by fans in Mexico resurfaced, drawing concern about its use at the 2026 World Cup.Canada, host of 13 games across two cities, has the most inclusive LGBTQ rights and cultural acceptance of the three countries, with federal legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.While this is a three-nation host tournament, the bulk of the games are in the USA, and Human Rights Watch released a reporters' guide ahead of the tournament, outlining what they referred to as a "climate of fear" in the United States.The report outlined that the LGBTQ community continues to be the target of abusive policies in the country.The report includes the current political administration's executive actions prohibiting government use of the term gender, restricting and withdrawing support for gender-affirming care for youth, and rollbacks on protections for transgender students.In addition, 19 states currently restrict classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity and less than half of US states prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.World Cup host states Florida and Texas are two of the most restrictive. In 2022, Florida signed into law the widely dubbed "Don't Say Gay" and "Don't Say They" bill.While this bill affects education on sexual identity, it also includes restrictions on using pronouns consistent with gender identity.The United States often has different legislation state by state, meaning some states like California, which will host eight matches in Los Angeles, remains one of the most inclusive for LGBTQ people.California has a number of laws that protect transgender, gender diverse, and intersex individuals in various settings, including at school, in employment, and in access to health care.New York and New Jersey, which will host several matches including the World Cup final, are also among the most protective states for LGBTQ rights with robust anti-discrimination laws.Following criticism from Russia and Qatar, and a rise of abuse from fans around the world, FIFA introduced a zero-tolerance anti-discrimination framework in 2024.This includes a procedure to halt matches during homophobic chants, monitor fan behaviour and social media, and work with partners to promote inclusivity. Critics however have questioned the inconsistent enforcement of the framework.The 2025 Club World Cup, also hosted in the United States, was widely seen as a trial run for the 2026 tournament.Prior to the Club World Cup, FIFA had announced a number of anti-discrimination and anti-racism activations for the event.In June 2025, The Athletic reported that FIFA would be shelving these activations, removing signs planned for stadiums and video and social media campaigns. FIFA eventually reintroduced some anti-racism messaging, following criticism."FIFA's position is clear, everyone is welcome and football must remain a space where all people feel safe, respected and included," a FIFA spokesperson explained to Sky Sports News when asked about what measures would be put in place to ensure the safety of LGBTQ fans at the World Cup."This commitment is underpinned by the FIFA Statutes, which expressly prohibit discrimination of any kind, and by FIFA's Human Rights Policy."FIFA's expectations for its tournaments are grounded in a core principle of inclusion for all and remains committed to working with all stakeholders to create an environment where every supporter can enjoy the tournament with confidence and dignity."This includes raising concerns and incidents through FIFA's independent grievance and reporting portal.However, Worden says that FIFA are not following the statutes they have laid out."FIFA adopted the UN guiding principles on business and human rights 10 years ago."It means FIFA has to commit to using leverage within your system to advance human rights and prevent discrimination."It's not consistent to pander to the Trump administration and at the same time tell LGBT fans, workers, players, officials and others that they're safe. It's an inconsistent policy, FIFA is not prepared to uphold its own rules."Kistner agreed, saying: "FIFA has it written that the host country must be open [to LGBTQ people], but they don't stick to it."That makes it really difficult for a football supporter to believe what they are saying, they are not credible anymore."There are ways in which the community is being celebrated in a more visible way than in Russia and Qatar.Pride House announced they would be running a location in all 16 host cities across the US, Canada and Mexico, a stark contrast to Qatar where no official Pride House was established, and Russia where the establishment was shut down before the tournament.The goal of the Pride House is to provide safe and welcoming environments for queer fans and allies during the World Cup, featuring watch parties, community events and providing resources.The local organising committee in Seattle, announced that the game on Friday 26 June would be celebrated as the "Pride Match.""With hundreds of thousands of visitors and millions of viewers tuning into Seattle during Pride Weekend, we are presented with a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact," the committee said in a post on the Seattle World Cup 2026 website.The decision to dub the group stage match as the "Seattle Pride Match", which falls on Seattle's annual pride weekend, was made prior to the World Cup draw in December.The match will now feature Egypt and Iran, two countries with some of strictest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world.Seattle's Pride Match Advisory Committee said the match will go ahead as planned, despite complaints from both countries."The Pride Match is a host city-led expression of Seattle and Washington State's commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone belongs: players, fans, residents and visitors alike," the committee said in a statement.One thing is clear, as with the last two tournaments in Russia and Qatar, LGBTQ rights are an ever-present story line for the 2026 World Cup.From North America, we head to another joint host in Spain, Portugal and Morocco for the 2030 edition before 2034 in Saudi Arabia.In Saudi, same-sex sexual activity and non-conformant gender expression is strictly prohibited under Sharia law."The entire [bid] process did not embrace LGBT rights as one of the areas of protection," Worden explained."That's deeply problematic, because Saudi Arabia has national policies and laws that prevent LGBT people from existing. They certainly exist in Saudi Arabia."FIFA glossing over this and pretending it's not a problem is a problem."It seems likely that FIFA will continue to host the World Cup in countries with laws and policies that Human Rights Watch says harms LGBTQ people and other minorities.It is unrealistic to expect change in hosts that have already been announced, and if you look deep enough, there are challenges that need to be addressed in nearly every country.However, stronger statements ahead of these tournaments would go a long way in pushing forward the inclusive game that FIFA says it wants."This is a tournament that had so much promise," 3LP said in their statement."That hope, that optimism, is well and truly shattered. As a group, we are no longer surprised by hollow platitudes from FIFA nor are we shocked at having a major tournament that disregards the safety, security or wellbeing of fans."

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Lauren James is fit to play in England's World Cup qualifier as the Lionesses reignite their rivalry with Spain in a bid to reach the tournament in 2027.England sit top of Group A3 after four matches, having won all four and conceded just one goal.Next up is their penultimate qualifier against Sonia Bermudez's Spain, who are second and three points behind the Lionesses.Avoiding defeat in Mallorca would see the Lionesses establish an unassailable lead and head into the final game against Ukraine at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on June 9 having qualified for next summer's tournament in Brazil more than one year early.Speaking in a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Wiegman said: "We approach the game as we want to win the game. We will go out there tomorrow to win the game."We're in a good position. We just really want to qualify as quick as possible. We want to top the group."It's a hard group, it's a difficult game. It's the same for Spain, it's a difficult game for them, too. And it just helps [to qualify early] because you have time then to prepare.""We know what the consequences are so, no matter what happens, we have another opportunity [in the play-offs if they finish second], but we go out there to play and win."England beat Spain 1-0 at Wembley in April and have won three of the four meetings since the 2023 World Cup final defeat in Sydney."We know each other really well, so we know what type of players Spain have," Wiegman added."But they have more than 11 players that are really good and they have different options in different positions. We just try to prepare for everything that will come in front of us tomorrow."Challenging games always bring the best out of us. We have challenges in every single game. We want to be at our best all the time."We want to improve on the last game we played against Spain. We want to improve every single time we have played a game and take out those things we think we can improve on. That's no different to other games we play."Wiegman confirmed all the players in here squad are "fit and ready to play" and spoke briefly about Leah Williamson, Ella Toone and James."Of course it's disappointing that she [Williamson] is injured, first of all for her, but also for us."At the same time, we moved on quickly because we have to play with the team we have and I think we have a very good team. We've done this before, a squad without Leah, so I'm comfortable with that."She [Toone] has trained very hard to come back. We have a lot of good midfielders and she brings something different. It's really good to have that option in our team. She's ready to go and we'll see what tomorrow brings."She [James] has been good. Had a little bit of recovery after that moment at the weekend [in the World Sevens], but could go back in training very quickly. That's positive."The 10th edition of the Women's World Cup takes place in Brazil between June 24 and July 25 2027.

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English Football League clubs have voted to reduce the length of 'fee restriction' transfer windows for clubs failing to meet financial obligations.Those who do not keep up with payments for more than 30 days have previously been banned for three transfer windows from any incoming transfers or loans which involve a fee.Sheffield Wednesday were one of the clubs hit by a three-window restriction when they twice failed to pay player wages on time, in March and May 2025, for a total exceeding the 30-day ruling.Under the new regulations, clubs could still be subject to a fee restriction but only for one transfer window, with the EFL keen to assess any future breaches of their rules on a case-by-case basis."Moving forwards, this will be replaced by a more structured business plan approach, based on individual circumstances, which aims to make it clearer what information clubs need to report to the League and when," the EFL said in a statement."Under the revised regulation, clubs may still be subject to a fee restriction, but only for one window. Clubs will also maintain the right to appeal, while the League also maintains the right to charge clubs in serious cases of persistent defaulting."The new ruling was voted on during the EFL's Annual General Meeting on Thursday.Rick Parry has been re-elected as the league's chairman for a further three-year period, which will extend his time in the role to a decade.

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Manchester City reporterPublished13 minutes ago11 CommentsPep Guardiola threatened to quit Manchester City "100 times" during his decade-long reign as manager but chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said this time he knew the Spaniard "actually meant it".Guardiola, 55, stepped down at the end of this season after leading the club to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.He had one more year remaining on his contract but said in his last news conference that the club needed a "new manager" and "new energy".Speaking in his annual interview with in-house media, Khaldoon said he realised the exit was to become a reality, adding: "I knew it and that's why I didn't fight it."Throughout these years, I've always fought it and always brought him back because I knew that was always the answer."But in this particular one, I think he knew - and I knew that he knew - and that is why it was the right thing for him and it was the natural thing."Man City consider legal action after Haaland claimBut the playful way in which he delivered that line and his quick exit from the room raised a few eyebrows, adding to the mounting speculation.Guardiola was asked after the draw at Bournemouth on 19 May whether he would still be in charge next season and he replied by saying he had to talk to Khaldoon. His decision was confirmed three days later."He's more than just the manager of the club," said Khaldoon. "To me, he's a friend. Over these years we have become close friends and I don't know if he will admit it, but I consider myself his psychiatrist."Inevitably we have had a lot of ups and some downs and in the downs, he must have quit 100 times over these 10 years."There is the story as you all know, The Boy that Cries Wolf. In the case of Pep, when he says I quit, it doesn't mean he's quitting. You don't take it that seriously - you have to manage him."Guardiola joined the club in 2016 and signed contract extensions in May 2018, November 2020, November 2022 and November 2024.Khaldoon said: "He never thought he would stay more than four years, then more than five years. So in his mind, even year four and five it was always 'OK, how much more time? How much more time?' And it always had to be done in the correct way."There was always going to be one moment where it was going to be real."Guardiola's former assistant Enzo Maresca has been identified as the leading contender to take over, with Manchester City understood to be in advanced talks with the ex-Chelesea manager.Asked about the search, Khaldoon said: "Just be patient with us. Very soon we will announce it and you will be comfortable that we have selected and brought in the best manager possible."

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Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has given an update on the club's search for a new manager following Pep Guardiola's exit.It promises to be a summer of change at City after Guardiola stepped down from his head coach role after 10 years.City are working on bringing in Enzo Maresca as Guardiola's replacement and are in talks with the Italian's former club Chelsea over compensation.Speaking about the appointment of a new manager, Al Mubarak said: "I think what I can say at the moment is we've gone through a very thoughtful and structured process and the team is convinced - and I am convinced, rest assured - that we will bring in the right manager for this club."Just be patient with us. Very soon we'll announce it and you will be very comfortable that we have selected and brought in the best manager possible for this club."Al Mubarak also gave an update on City's transfer window which will also see the club navigate a period of great change.John Stones and Bernardo Silva are among the senior players who are set to leave the club on a free transfer - and City have seen a first bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson rejected. Talks remain ongoing and City are considering their next offer.Anderson is currently with the England national team at their World Cup camp and City's chairman says the summer tournament will not add complications to the club's summer window."No, I don't think it makes it more or less complicated," Al Mubarak said. "I think it's part of the game, it's part of the business. We know how to deal with it, Hugo (Viana, director of football) knows how to deal with it."We know what we want, we know what we need and we know how to go about it."Don't forget that in January we made two very important signings, very important signings. Big credit to Hugo in being able to identify the needs and then move on two top talents, Marc Guéhi and Antoine Semenyo - really top, top. So we're very happy with them joining in January."These two would have been two typical summer moves, given the size of the transfer fees and the importance of the players."And as we've always shown, and I think this is important always to know this club, we are organised, we are thoughtful and sometimes when we need to be decisive and pre-emptive, we will do that and that's exactly what we did in these two cases."I think in the summer, we know exactly what we want to do, we know exactly who we are targeting and I promise you, as always, we'll go about our business and be as efficient, as swift as possible."Al Mubarak admitted that Guardiola nearly quit as City head coach "100 times over these 10 years", times when the chairman had to "convince him to come back" to the project.He also said Guardiola never envisaged being at City for more than four or five years."Over these years we have become close friends," said Al Mubarak . "And I will say, and I don't know if he will admit it, but I consider myself his psychiatrist."Okay, so I had to help him over the years. Not in the good times - the good times is easy - it's always the challenging part. And inevitably over these last 10 years we've had a lot of ups and some downs."And in the downs, he must have quit 100 times over these 10 years, just so you know, just for the record. There's the story as you all know, the boy that cries wolf."In the case of Pep, when he says I quit, it doesn't mean he's quitting. You don't take it that seriously - you have to manage him."He never thought he would stay more than four years, then more than five years. So, in his mind, even year four and five it was always 'okay, how much more time?'"And, you know, it always had to be done in the correct way. And I would say I always had a very clear understanding with Pep, because of that analogy of the boy that cried wolf."Whenever he quits or whenever he thinks it's time, I will always convince him to come back, until the time where I know it's actually the real time - where it's actually the real moment Pep decides actually it's time."There's the moments that are not real and he actually needs someone to bring him back. And there was always going to be one moment where it was going to be real."And we reached that. And I knew it and that's why I didn't fight it. Throughout these years, I've always fought it and always brought him back because I knew that was always the answer."But in this particular one, I think he knew - and I knew that he knew - and that's why it was the right thing for him and it was the natural thing. And I will tell you I did not fight this at all because I knew this was the time he actually meant it."Guardiola will go down as one of the game's great managers but City's chairman says the club's project has not "peaked" after their head coach's exit."We are far from peaked," he said. "Eighteen years... I look at where the club was in 2008, and then I look at every part of these last 18 years."Roberto Mancini brought that first Premier League title to this club, we will never forget those moments, it was a great period then, a first FA Cup win in many, many years."And then Manuel [Pellegrini] came in, same thing, another Premier League title and more success. And then Pep came in, and it was getting that mindset, that DNA of a winning club."And now, this club is the way we all know it right now. We are used to, because it's in our DNA - winning. This is a club that is designed, built to win."What Pep has given us has taken us to the next level, and I think we're so thankful for what he's helped build here."

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Chair compares Guardiola with The Boy Who Cried Wolf‘He never thought he would stay more than four years’Khaldoon al-Mubarak has revealed Pep Guardiola “quit 100 times” as Manchester City manager, with the chair comparing the Catalan’s empty threats to The Boy Who Cried Wolf, one of Aesop’s Fables.Guardiola left City last month after 10 successful years during which he led the club to 17 major honours. He initially signed a three-year deal and while he agreed four extensions – in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024 – he was hesitant each time. Mubarak, who described himself as Guardiola’s “psychiatrist”, was instrumental in keeping his manager at City.“Over these years we have become close friends. I don’t know if he will admit it, but I consider myself his psychiatrist,” Mubarak said. “So I had to help him over the years. There’s the story as you all know, The Boy that [sic] Cried Wolf. In the case of Pep, when he says ‘I quit’, it doesn’t mean he’s quitting.“You don’t take it that seriously, you have to manage him. He never thought he would stay more than four years, then more than five years. So, in his mind, even year four and five it was always: ‘OK, how much more time? How much more time?’“I would say I always had a very clear understanding with Pep, because of that analogy of the Boy that Cried Wolf. Whenever he quits or whenever he thinks it’s time, I will always convince him to come back, until the time where I know it’s actually the real time, the real moment Pep decides actually it’s time.“There’s the moments that are not real and he actually needs someone to bring him back. And there was always going to be one moment where it was going to be real.”The Boy Who Cried Wolf is the story of a shepherd boy who falsely raises the alarm that a wolf is attacking sheep. When the wolf actually does so, no one believes him.Mubarak understood when Guardiola did genuinely wish to leave. “He knew – and I knew that he knew – and that’s why it was the right thing for him and it was the natural thing,” the chairman said. “I did not fight this at all because I knew this was the time he actually meant it.”With Enzo Maresca lined up as Guardiola’s replacement, Mubarak is confident City will continue to win titles.“We are far from peaked. I look at where the club was in 2008 [when Sheikh Mansour bought he club], and then I look at every part of the last 18 years. Roberto Mancini brought that first Premier League title [in 2012], we will never forget those moments. It was a great period then – a first FA Cup win [the year before]. And then Manuel [Pellegrini] came in, same thing, another Premier League title and more success. Then Pep, and it was getting that mindset, that DNA of a winning club.“This is a club that is designed, built to win. What Pep has given us has taken us to the next level, and we’re so thankful for what he’s helped build here.”Mubarak was speaking before Enrique Riquelme, the Real Madrid presidential candidate, held up a Madrid shirt with Erling Haaland’s name on the back during a TV appearance on Tuesday and claimed a clause in the striker’s contract would allow him to sign Haaland if elected.While City have threatened legal action, Mubarak spoke of Haaland’s value. “He was always a leader from the first day he stepped into this club [summer 2022]. He comes in with such character and charisma and of course, when you are a superstar, when you are a goalscoring machine like he is, inevitably you’re a leader and he’s got that personality.”

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Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe says he wants manager Daniel Farke to remain at Elland Road "much beyond this year".Farke has been in charge of the club since July 2023 and oversaw a 14th-place finish on Leeds' return to the Premier League in 2025/26.The 49-year-old is under contract until the summer of 2027.But in May, he said he has finished the job he set out to do at Leeds United after keeping them in the Premier League and that he is "not the right choice" to stay on if the ownership's plans do not match his ambition.Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Marathe said: "Daniel and I talk all the time and have extensive conversations about the squad, about the club, about the direction, about our dynamic."One thing I'm proud of is, what we set up three years ago when he first joined us in terms of how we wanted to set this up and how we wanted to go forward, we've lived that, exactly what we said we were going to do."At the same time, Daniel doesn't need to pitch me on what the three-year ambition is, and I don't need to pitch him on what that three-year plan and ambition is because we're both ambitious."The truth is, Leeds United is bigger than any of us. Leeds United is bigger than me, it's bigger than him."Neither one of us is jumping off that train; I hope Daniel is here this year and beyond and we just need to keep this going. My hope and expectation is that he's here much beyond this year."Asked whether he would like Farke to stay, Marathe said: "Yes."Pressed on whether contract extension talks had started, he added: "I will keep those confidential, but absolutely I want him here this year and beyond. I think everyone at the club does."