Jurgen Klopp has ruled out an immediate return to football after leaving Borussia Dortmund and confirmed he is to take an indefinite break.

Klopp bid an emotional farewell to Dortmund following a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Wolfsburg in Saturday s DFB-Pokal final.

Dortmund enjoyed great success under Klopp s stewardship  winning the Bundesliga twice and the DFB-Pokal in 2012, as well as reaching the 2013 UEFA Champions League final.

Klopp confirmed in April that he would end his seven-season stay at Signal Iduna Park, and has since been linked with several top European jobs.

However, the 47-year-old believes it would be wrong to jump straight into a new challenge.

Klopp is quoted in the German media as saying: After seven intense and emotional y…

After cruising through the Champions League group stages, Philipp Lahm believes Bayern Munich will be favourites against anyone in the knockout phase.

Pep Guardiola s men qualified as comfortable winners of Group F, winning five out of their six games to finish six points clear of Arsenal in second place.

Bayern, winners of the competition in 2013, could face the likes of Paris Saint-Germain or Juventus in the last 16, but captain Lahm has no concerns over any of their potential opposition.

We will be favourites against each opponent, he told TZ.

Then we want to advance to the next round.

Striker Robert Lewandowski added:  You can only theoretically be favourite, and anyway, what does that mean? You re in the next round?

…

Verdict: Manchester United to win yes

Best Odds:

Bookmaker: 

Both Manchester United and Sheffield United are vying for a 2020-21 UEFA Europa League berth ahead of the upcoming season and, with that in mind, this match will be pivotal for both clubs. The Red Devils have the edge since they re playing at home, though. Kick-off for this contest has been announced for 18:00 GMT.

Manchester United

Manchester United enter this game following a 1-1 draw at Tottenham last Friday thanks to a late goal from Bruno Fernandes. That stalemate extended United s undefeated streak in the Premier League to six contests (W3, D3). Their strong form of late can be attributed to the team s impressive defensive record at Old Trafford, as The Red Devils currently average jus…

Ivan Rakitic and Barcelona are a saga of their own. The Croatia international has been heavily linked with a move away from Camp Nou basically since the start of the 2019-20 season, with the midfielder falling out of the starting lineup. He was not used that much under Ernesto Valverde, nor did he get his regular place in the team under Quique Setien.

But considering that Rakitic s contract with Barcelona is set to end in June 2021, Barcelona now want to do everything they can to sell him. SPORT are reporting that and it is clear why they want to earn on a transfer fee this summer, rather than lose the player next summer when he becomes a free agent.

It also might be too much for Rakitic to wait another year to make a move from Barca, which would make it two poor season…

(GSM) Steve McClaren has confirmed his move to VfL Wolfsburg. The Twente boss told Dutch paper TC/Tubantia he has signed a contract at the Bundesliga side.

Former England boss McClaren joined Twente two years ago and led them to the Dutch title this season. He was being tipped to take the hot seat at Hamburger SV, Liverpool, West Ham United and Aston Villa but has rebuffed the chance to return home to take the reigns at Wolfsburg.

Die Wölfe won the Bundesliga title in 2009, but things did not go so well for them last season and they sacked Armin Veh shortly after the winter break.

Lorenz-Gunther Kostner was in caretaker control but he could only guide them to eighth and McClaren has now agreed a two-year deal to take control of the club.

Former Porto bo…

Controversial Brazilian striker Adriano failed to appear at a police interview Monday in connection with alleged links to a drug-dealing gang that has been accused of murdering police officers.

Adriano had been summoned for a 1700 GMT meeting to be quizzed by chief Luiz Alberto Cunha de Andrade.

But he did not show in person, instead sending his lawyer Adilson Fernandes to ask for the meeting to be delayed, a police spokesman told AFP, adding that no date had been set for the footballer to re-appear.

The news could be a blow to Serie A side AS Roma, for whom the Flamengo striker known as much for his goalscoring talents as the controversy he courts off the pitch will sign in June.

Adriano, who has played for Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Parma in Italy s S…

Scottish champions Glasgow Celtic are hot on the trail of Nantes striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, .

While Leigh Griffits has been in excellent form this season, the remaining forwards in the squad have been pretty disappointing of late, and it appears that manager Ronny Deila is in the market for a new centre forward.

According to the Daily Record, the Norwegian coach has set his sights on Nantes striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, who is widely expected to leave the Canaries after the disappointing start to his career in France.

The Bhoys had previously attempted to recruit the Iceland star back in 2013, when he impressed playing for Ajax against Celtic in the UEFA Champions League.

After he was surprisingly allowed to leave the Dutch giants, the 25-year-old cou…

OFC Nations Cup champions Tahiti await Samoa after the latter advanced to the second round of Oceania s World Cup qualifying on Friday.

Samoa defeated Tonga 3-0 thanks to a brace from John Hall to claim top spot in the four-team group that has been in action in Tonga this week.

Hall scored in the 22nd and 77th minutes to add to Andrew Mobberley s opener, as Samoa moved to six points just ahead of Cook Islands and American Samoa on goal difference.

American Samoa defeated Cook Islands 2-0 in the other match to assure Samoa of a spot in the 2016 OFC Nations Cup, which will double as the second round of the Oceania Football Confederation s (OFC) qualifying campaign for Russia 2018.

Samoa will play Tahiti, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea in Group A of next…

DC United star Wayne Rooney revealed Everton s owner Farhad Moshiri was behind his departure from the Premier League club.

Former England captain Rooney returned to boyhood club Everton in 2017-18 after leaving Manchester United as their all-time leading goalscorer, but the 32-year-old only spent a single season at Goodison Park.

Rooney swapped Everton for Washington and he has since scored four goals and set up six others for DC to help boost their play-off chances in MLS.

Reflecting on his Everton exit, Rooney told the Daily Mail: It wasn t easy to leave Man United. But I wasn t playing and that was difficult and Everton was the main reason why I left.

One more sleep. 

 |

— D.C. United (@dcunited)

I wanted to help them mo…

The Mail Online understands that West Ham United are in danger of Declan Rice following a dispute over pay.

The teenager, who was named the Hammers’ Young Player of the Year in both 2017 and 2018 has impressed this season, not least in the last two matches where he has helped his side take four points from six available.

His current contract, worth just £3,000-per-week runs until the end of next season and the East London club are willing to increase that figure £12,000-per-week.

However, the nineteen-year-old and his advisors consider that to be way off the mark, with a several Premier League clubs monitoring the situation.

In total, Rice has played just thirty-six times in all competitions, with his senior debut coming in the final game of the…