Andoni Iraola's words confirm Liverpool have a new Roberto Firmino.
The Brazilian is one of the most underappreciated club icons in recent memory. Firmino never really sought the acclaim of the Anfield crowd.
He was more like a cog in a machine. He kept Jurgen Klopp's side running and he helped provide the stamina and fuel for Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to play at their very best.
Firmino was unselfish. Yet he was capable of doing magnificent things. He worked tirelessly and embraced Klopp's philosophy of gegenpressing to the max.
Without him, who knows whether the Reds would have been able to achieve everything they did. That's how essential the Brazilian was to the operations at Anfield.

#andoni #roberto #salah

CBS Sports ******* yst Garrett Podell put together his bold predictions for Week 1 of the 2026 season, one of which centers around the Jacksonville Jaguars' run defense -- and not in a positive way.
Podell made four bold Week 1 predictions, one of which is that Cleveland Browns' running back Quinshon Judkins rushes for over 75 yards against the Jaguars' defense.
"Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins ran for 827 yards as a rookie in 2025 despite the corpse of Joe Flacco, third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel and fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders all starting at quarterback last season," wrote Podell. "He's used to facing loaded boxes and opponents going all out to take away his production."
Of course, what makes this prediction bold is that the Jaguars boasted the top run defense unit in football last season.
A second offseason in Anthony Campanile's scheme, along with no significant losses this offseason, a few new rookie additions, and second-year players BJ Green and Danny Striggow making potential jumps, are all reasons to believe that this unit can once again be quite good.

#podell #quinshon

New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara (knee) practiced fully on Friday, Sept. 11, and is listed as questionable for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions.
SOURCE: NewOrleansSaints.com
Why It Matters: With Kamara listed as questionable and practicing fully, he could factor into the backfield. He could be used as a flex play in leagues or an RB2 or RB3 in deeper ones. He will be a volatile play, though, with the team signing Travis Etienne Jr. this offseason, it leaves a lot up in the air with their backfield.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alvin Kamara questionable for Week 1

#kamara #Alvin

WBC Welterweight champion, Ryan Garcia, and British bruiser, Conor Benn, will finally settle their issues this Saturday night (Sept. 12, 2026) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada streaming live on Paramount+. Before then, however, they have to weigh in to make sure they make the 147-pound limit. In the co-main event of the evening, Jai Opetaia will defend his Zuffa Boxing and The Ring Cruiserweight ****** les against WBC 200-pound champion, Noel Mikaelian.
See the official live stream in the embedded video player above live at 12:00 p.m. ET.
147 lbs.: Ryan Garcia () vs. Conor Benn (146)
200 lbs.: Jai Opetaia () vs. Noel Mikaelian (200)
135 lbs.: Mark Magsayo () vs. Andres Cortes ()
Heavyweight: Damazion Vanhouter () vs. Raphael Akpejiori ()
130 lbs.: Oswaldo Molina () vs. Pablo Rubio ()
168 lbs.: Abel Gonzalez () vs. Raul Salomon ()
154 lbs.: Vlad Panin () vs. Dakota Linger ()
147 lbs.: Jose Ramirez () vs. Alex Rocha ()
147 lbs.: Sean Garcia () vs. Abraham Morales ()
To checkout the latest Zuffa boxing-related news and notes click here.

#noel #mikaelian

Knicks news: Dirk Nowitzki delivers 'skeptical' take on Jalen Brunson leading New York to first **** le in 53 years appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Before the 2026 Finals MVP Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to their first **** le in 53 years, he spent his rookie season playing alongside Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. Brunson is hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend, topping off an offseason victory lap that Nowitzki says is well deserved after New York's historic run.
Nowitzki reflected on Brunson's growth over the years, which he admits he didn't foresee blossoming into a Finals MVP-caliber run, he said, per The Stein Line's Marc Stein.
"I loved it for him. I love to watch his evolution. I gotta say, I was [skeptical] when he went to New York as the franchise player there in that market," Nowitzki said. "He's a quiet guy–shy guy. To go to that media market, I was a little worried. But man, has he been unbelievable on and off the floor. Really carried his franchise. So well-deserved to win the championship; bring the championship back there after 50-something years. Finals MVP. It's been an incredible run. I gotta say didn't see that development coming from him.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#jalen

Aston Villa begin their 2026-27 Champions League campaign at Club Brugge on Tuesday, returning to continental football for the first time since winning the Europa League in Istanbul four months ago.
The Belgian champions, who have reached the knockout stage in each of their last three European campaigns, provide an early test for a Villa squad still adjusting to a heavy summer rebuild.
Tuesday's meeting is the fourth between these clubs in two years. Brugge won the earlier league-phase fixture 1-0 in Belgium during 2024-25, but Villa gained revenge in the round of 16, winning 6-1 on aggregate courtesy of a 3-1 victory in Bruges followed by a 3-0 win at Villa Park.
Both clubs sold key players for significant fees over the summer, with Villa losing Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Martínez; Brugge have adapted more quickly, sitting second in the Belgian Pro League after four wins from five matches, while Villa have collected only a single point from their opening three Premier League games and remain without a league goal this season.
Date: Tuesday, 8 September 2026

#four #three #summer

Florida scored 66 points in Jon Sumrall's first game as head coach on Saturday night and gave up 396 yards and 25 first downs in the same game. Florida Atlantic ran 90 plays inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, converted half of its third downs and four of seven on fourth down, and still lost by 45.
Jul 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
"Our defense was atrocious at times, quite honestly," Sumrall said afterward. "So we had a hard time keeping pace with them. It was that way, in my opinion. Like, I watch that play, I'm a little bit frustrated about how we played defensively at times. I don't think we're as good as we think we are. I think we got some guys who feel like, you know, we've arrived in some spots and that will be addressed. We have got a lot of room to grow on defense. If it doesn't happen real fast we're going to get embarrassed and exposed handily in some spots, because that wasn't a great performance by us."
Aaron Philo completed 16 of 21 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns with an interception in his first start since transferring from Georgia Tech, and added a rushing score. Jadan Baugh carried 14 times for 160 yards and three touchdowns and was out of the game early in the third quarter with Florida up 45-14. The Gators scored on their first six possessions, went six of six in the red zone and piled up 624 yards. The 66 points were their most in a season opener since 1994.
The team that heard the "arrived" line went 4-8 last season, watched Billy Napier get fired in Oct and has three preseason All-SEC selections on the roster. Sumrall came from Tulane on a defensive resume, having played linebacker at Kentucky and coached the position there and at Ole Miss, so the side of the ball he singled out is the side he is measured on.

#gators

Carson Kvapil is on the pole for the Fleetio 200 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race on Sept. 5 at Darlington.
Kvapil bested teammate Justin Allgaier with a lap of 30.424 seconds to claim the pole.
Among Chase drivers, all 12 qualified inside the top seven rows.
Here's the full starting lineup for Saturday's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race:
NASCAR CUP CHASE PICKS: NASCAR Chase picks, surprises: Will Denny Hamlin finally win the Cup Series ****** le?

#race

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is optimistic that Argentina could return to the World Rally Championship calendar in the near future.
The South American nation has a rich history in the WRC, featuring regularly on the calendar from 1980 to 2019 with only 1995 and 2010 being its only absentees from the series.
COVID-19 ultimately dropped it off the calendar and when the WRC returned to the continent in 2023 with a round in Chile, the championship has remained in South America ever since.
Last year it even added a second South American round with Paraguay signing an initial three year deal and the event is located near to the Argentina border in Encarnacion.
Paraguay held its second edition last weekend and has proved to be a popular addition as it won the 'best rally of the year award' for 2025 and Motorsport.com understands that both events are involved in discussions to renew their contracts.

#Argentina

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Mike Vrabel had his eye on Corey Kiner ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
But the running back out of LSU ultimately went undrafted and ended up signing with the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad. His stint lasted until the middle of August that same year, when he was waived with an injury designation. The Minnesota Vikings signed him to the practice squad in September 2025, and then in December, he was signed to the Arizona Cardinals' active roster. That's where he remained until the end of this summer, when the New England Patriots traded for Kiner shortly before the roster cut deadline.
It was a call he didn't expect, but one he was happy to receive.
"I was a little shocked. I was happy, though," he told Patriots Wire in an one-on-one conversation on Tuesday. "Just very happy that I was getting the opportunity to come be on a 53-man roster."
Roster cutdown day is one of the hardest in the NFL, but some teams, especially those at the bottom of the waiver wire, will look to trade with another team to acquire a player they had their eye on, in an effort to ensure they get them. That's what the Patriots did with Kiner.

#wire #signed

CBS NFL ******* yst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has pleaded no contest to a charge of operating while intoxicated and has issued a statement apologizing for the actions that led to his July arrest.
Romo was arrested July 23 following a traffic stop as he was driving south on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. CBS has since placed him on leave from his role as its lead NFL ******* yst.
According to Milwaukee County court records, Romo lost his driving privileges for six months and was ordered to complete an alcohol ******* sment program. He also owes $834. An interlock device must be installed on any vehicle owned or operated by Romo or registered to his name, and that order will remain in effect for at least one year after he is issued a license.
"The past month has been difficult, but it has also been personally significant," Romo said in a statement on Instagram. "It has required me to confront and own my mistakes fully — to the Lord, to myself, to my family and now to the public."
Romo said the multiple back surgeries that led to his retirement as a player "left me with constant, debilitating pain." He noted that the pain "led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol."

#romo #issued #driving

Max Brosmer and Dillon Bell made the Vikings' 53-man roster on Sunday, only to be released on Monday.
That's the word from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and The Athletic's Alec Lewis, whose reports came shortly after the Vikings reportedly signed two of the top-rated preseason interior offensive linemen off waivers.
Brosmer and Bell now head to waivers. If they're not claimed, Minnesota could sign them to the practice squad.
Brosmer started two games and played in seven more as an undrafted rookie last season. He made the team after impressing head coach Kevin O'Connell with his quick decision-making and understanding of a complicated offensive scheme.
When he played, it didn't go well. That said, his first career start was in Seattle, where the eventual Super Bowl champs smoked the Vikings 34-0. Brosmer completed 66 percent of his passes while throwing four interceptions and zero touchdowns.

#bell #head

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi captain watch: How did the 15-year-old fare as East Zone's stand-in skipper in Duleep Trophy semi-final? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took over as East Zone's stand-in captain on Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy semi-final.
The 15-year-old India star replaced Ishan Kishan, who left the field with a thumb injury.
The Central Zone were bowled out for 266 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has spent the past 18 months collecting records **** ody his age had any business holding, and Bengaluru has produced another. The 15-year-old has taken charge of East Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone, his first captaincy role in senior first-class cricket.

#sooryavanshi #zone #semi

An offensive penalty followed by a sack moved Tennessee State football back to the 20-yard line on fourth down, but still well within reach of kicker Preston Hurless, who had a 47-yarder against Jackson State earlier in the John Merritt Classic at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium on Aug. 29.
Hurless never got the chance to attempt what would have been a 37-yard field goal. Holder Truette Tumey had trouble handling a bad snap by Jaydon Vester, and Hurless was unable to even attempt to kick the ball.
Jackson State (1-0) held on for a 26-24 win in front of a near-capacity crowd of 32,467 in the season opener for both teams.
Second-year TSU coach Reggie Barlow said all three facets in the field goal kicking game failed on the bungled play.
"I think the snap was a little bit low and the holder had a little issue with timing to actually get it down," Barlow said. "And when he got it down, you know, for those kickers once they've got that rhythm before the ball gets placed, it kind of threw off production there."

#state #jackson #barlow #holder

Editor's Note: The Times Union is providing live coverage of today's 2026 Travers Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course.
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Ever since losing to Nitrogen earlier this year, Fully Subscribed has been dialed in.
On Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, the 4-year-old daughter of Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Tiz The Law put that intensified ability on full display while capturing the Grade 1 Personal Ensign by a resounding 9 ¾ lengths.
The win earned her a free trip to the Breeders' Cup, too.
"I'm so happy," winning trainer Chad Brown said after the race. "Heck of a crowd here today at Saratoga. She got to show her stuff and show what she can really do."

#saratoga #times #union

By any reputable measurement, Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches in the history of professional football.
As an **** istant coach, he helped the New York Giants win two Super Bowls thanks to his ferocious, unrelenting defenses. In 24 seasons as the head coach of the New England Patriots, he radically transformed what had been a woebegone franchise for much of its existence, teaming up with Tom Brady to win six Super Bowls.
In his brief time at the college level, though, he's been much closer to a laughingstock than a legend.
REQUIRED READING: Inside Bill Belichick's 'first of its kind' escape hatch in North Carolina contract
In his first season as the head coach at North Carolina — and after his general manager boasted that the Tar Heels were the 33rd NFL team — his squad went just 4-8. It suffered a series of humiliating defeats, losing 48-14 to TCU, 34-9 to Central Florida, 38-10 to Clemson and 42-19 to North Carolina State. Its offense managed just 19.3 points per game, ranking it 120th among 136 FBS teams.

#head #much #first

Last year when Centennial (Corona, CA) and Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) squared off, it ended up being an instant classic.
Santa Magarita picked up the six-point home win in overtime.
This year, the two sides face off again, this time in Corona, with both programs ranked in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings.
If you're not able to make it to Corona on Friday night, here's everything you need to know about both teams and how you'll be able to watch the showdown from home.
Watch Margarita vs. Centennial on live NFHS Network

#corona #santa #rancho

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has proposed limiting free-agent signings to several weeks in December and then from early February on each offseason along with a ban on trades during the gap in between. The plan aims to create more of an offseason transaction flurry similar to those in the NFL and NBA.
The plan offered to the players' ******* ociation Thursday is contingent on adoption of the salary cap system MLB proposed in May, which the union has vowed never to accept.
MLB also proposed lowering the maximum in-season options to the minor leagues from five to four and adopting a system of weekly rosters.
Teams would be allowed 14 pitchers, up from 13, when the 26-man roster limit is in effect from the season's start through Aug. 31.
The union did not immediately respond publicly to the new proposal.

#proposed #plan #york #Baseball

Body camera footage from 49ers owner Jed York's arrest shows two law enforcement officers discussing why a person of York's stature would get himself arrested in a prostitution sting at a trailer park in East Palestine, Ohio.
The two-minute, 44-second video shows York being pulled over and initially saying to the officer, "Can I ask what you're doing?" while the officer handcuffs him.
York, who was wearing a New York Yankees t-shirt, claimed he was just driving around in East Palestine.
It's unclear at what point the officers realized they had arrested the owner of the San Francisco 49ers, but as they looked through his wallet and found several $20 bills, they discussed how easy the arrest was and wondered why a man with York's resources would put himself in that situation.
"That one was easy," one officer said.

#owner #himself #arrested

The New York Giants have traded guard Josh Ezeudu to the Kansas City Chiefs, per a report form Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com.
The Giants are receiving a seventh-round pick in return for Ezeudu.
Ezeudu, 26, was originally drafted by the Giants out of North Carolina in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He primarily served as depth at left guard as a rookie, playing 289 snaps at the position. He was used as a swing tackle in 2023 and 2024, usually backing up Andrew Thomas at left tackle.
Ezeudu appeared to move up the Giants' depth chart after the team traded guard Daniel Faalele to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick after the first preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. Ezeudu played 30 snaps at right guard against the Miami Dolphins before finishing the game at right tackle.
It's interesting that the Giants have been dealing from their offensive line depth, and moving to recoup lost late-round draft capital. We'll see if the Giants are done making deals or if more are in the works.

#tackle #traded #pick

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken opened up about how Shedeur Sanders reacted when he was told he would be DeShaun Watson's backup QB for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
The Browns used the entirety of training camp and two preseason games to evaluate Sanders and Watson fairly to decide on their QB1 for the 2026 season, with Watson winning out and getting the role.
Despite a strong fight by Sanders, the 24-year-old will avoid the instant scrutiny of stepping into that role and still appears to be highly motivated for the upcoming season.
Browns HC Todd Monken had high praise for Sanders after revealing the QB1 decision to the public, discussing Sanders' positive attitude and focus on the 'long game.'
"He has really come to understand the long game. What are we in this for? What am I in it for?… He understands that as well as a QB – where he was at, where he is now, and where he wants to get to. That is what is so awesome about Shedeur understanding that. We met this morning for a good long time, and all he had was a smile on his face because he understands what really is in front of him.

#long #shedeur #watson

LOS ANGELES -- It was not a pretty game at all. But what mattered for the Sparks is that they got the job done.
The Sparks led by 22 in the fourth quarter. The Sun scored the last 13 points of the game. Los Angeles did not score in the last six minutes and 12 seconds. But again, all of that doesn't matter as the Sparks came away with a win that snapped their six-game losing streak, 77-68.
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts talked about having better starts. According to Justin Russo of Russo Writes, it was the first time the Sparks led after the first quarter at home since June 7th. That is about two and a months ago.
"Defensively, we were dialed in," Roberts said. "Offensively, we were playing with pace. I thought that's how we want to start the games. I thought defensively, we were talking better. Our pickup points were better. We were focused on getting consecutive stops like everyone was in on what we needed to do and I thought that first group did a really really good job."
Rae Burrell once again led the team in scoring with 20 points.

#roberts #defensively

For most of Andrei Iosivas' NFL career, there has been something to prove: Prove that a wide receiver from Princeton could play in the NFL; prove that a sixth-round draft pick belonged on the field with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins; and prove that his rare combination of size and athleticism could translate into production against NFL defensive backs.
Three years into his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, Iosivas doesn't sound particularly interested in proving anything anymore. And that may be the best indication yet of how far he's come.
"I just feel like I am flowing and I am playing," Iosivas said in a recent interview. "I'm happy about the way I approach the days. I've been focusing on how I walk into the building, how I get out to practice, and whatever happens, happens."
That's quite a change from the player Cincinnati selected with the 206th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Iosivas arrived in Cincinnati as one of the more intriguing developmental prospects in that draft class. At 6-foot-3 and around 210 pounds, he had the physical traits, but he was making the jump from Ivy League football at Princeton to an offense featuring Joe Burrow, Chase and Higgins.
He has spent the past three seasons showing that he belongs. Iosivas played in 16 games as a rookie and caught 15 passes for 116 yards. Four of those 15 receptions went for touchdowns. His role grew substantially in 2024, when he caught 36 passes for 479 yards and six touchdowns. He followed that with 33 receptions for 435 yards and two scores in 2025.

#cincinnati #yards #Career

Eagles' Saquon Barkley Has 'Hate' for Practice With Patriots originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles have practiced together all week, an exciting time for two of the NFL's best teams.
The Patriots, who are coming off a Super Bowl loss, got to take on the 2024-25 Super Bowl champions.
There are many stars on both sides of the ball for both teams, including a reunion for A.J. Brown against his former team.
That was the story of the week, but Eagles star Saquon Barkley had a lot of other interesting things to say about why he didn't like joint practices with the Patriots and other teams around the NFL.

#hate

It's one of the biggest matches you can have, and tonight it's going to be live.
CM Punk defends his championship against Kevin Owens in a match people have been looking forward to since the champ returned to WWE. Tonight, we'll find out who the better man is.
That and much more is scheduled for tonight's big show.
Friday Night Smackdown airs every Friday.
Friday Night Smackdown will air at 8 p.m. EST.

#kevin #owens

BATON ROUGE – When he took over LSU football back in December, Lane Kiffin knew that help was going to be needed along the offensive line.
Not just the pursuit, and eventual landing, of top-rated transfer portal offensive tackle in Jordan Seaton from Colorado, but bodies were going to be needed, depth was going to be a necessity.
According to Kiffin through the Tigers' first 14 practices of fall camp, that depth piece of the offensive line hasn't matriculated quite yet.
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART FOR LSU FOOTBALL LSU football depth chart ***** ysis: Where are Lane Kiffin, Tigers after 11 practices
"It's a concern, something that is high on our list," Kiffin told reporters Aug. 20.

#kiffin #depth #tigers #line

Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed Wales midfielder Jordan James on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.
The 26-times capped international returns to the Midlands almost two years on from leaving boyhood club Birmingham City for French Ligue 1 club Rennes in a reported £4m deal.
James spent last season back in England on loan in the East Midlands at Leicester City. But, despite his 11 goals from midfield, helping him to be voted player of the season, the Foxes were relegated to League One.
James featured 24 times for Rennes in 2024-25 across all competitions while in the Brittany capital.
"Jordan is a box-to-box midfielder, with a lot of quality, and knows the Championship well which is important for us," head coach Cesar Peixoto told Wolves' website.

#james #midfielder

The first Test between England and Pakistan starts on August 19 at Headingley, Leeds, with both teams looking to improve their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings.
The hosts enter the series after a 2-1 Test series defeat to New Zealand, while their last major ****** ignment, the Ashes in Australia, ended in a 4-1 loss.
Pakistan, meanwhile, beat the West Indies 2-1 in their most recent Test series and also defeated a County Select XI by seven wickets in their warm-up.
The series comes at an important stage of the World Test Championship (WTC), with both teams looking to strengthen their standings.
The Sporting News has all you need to know about England vs. Pakistan 1st Test, including date, time, and how and where to watch it.

#Pakistan #series #World #championship

The Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield are holding their breath on the shape of their team as Week 1 is less than a month away.
Head coach Todd Bowles delivered some potentially concerning news about WRs Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan and their availability for the Bucs' first real game at the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. Bowles categorized both as "day-to-day, week-to-week" and wouldn't say whether he thought they could be ready by the regular season.
Egbuka has a toe sprain he suffered in the team's joint practice with the New York Jets. Bowles said he's "not sure at this time" if the injury will keep him out for the opener.
The Bucs received some good news to one element of the offense on Monday. All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who injured his hamstring during his conditioning just prior to camp, has started practicing again.
But this is also not the way Mayfield wanted to start his season, wondering whether he'll have anything close to a full complement of receivers. Nor is it what Bowles, currently also dealing with Vita Vea's hold-in, wanted to hear entering a season in which he could be coaching for his job.

#whether

Real Madrid ended their pre-season schedule in fine style on Sunday with a resounding 3-0 victory over Schalke at the VELTINS-Arena. Kylian Mbappe, Dean Huijsen and summer signing Carlos Espi all scored for Los Blancos, who won four of their five fixtures in the lead-up to the 2026-27 campaign starting next weekend.
As per MD, head coach Jose Mourinho spoke to Real Madrid TV to discuss where he sees his side ahead of the season opener against Espanyol next week. He admitted that he is pleased with everyone's condition, including those who only just returned following an extended break after the 2026 World Cup.
"At the moment, it's difficult to speak individually, because we're growing as a team. Here we only have good, very good and very, very good players. From the combination of the work of these players we have to make a very good team. I think we are taking the right steps to do it.
"I'm very happy with the last ones who arrived, it's not easy to get into a high intensity, have a double session morning and afternoon, an incredible heat, and they arrived with a top mentality. The question of 45 minutes for Kylian, for Konate, 30 for Jude, Cucurella, Diomande, are things that we **** yse scientifically with data we have and with the player's own experience, the knowledge of his body. We arrive in a very acceptable condition for this moment of the season."
Mourinho is also pleased with how his players are becoming a cohesive unit, and he expects things to get better and better as they all get up to match speed.

#mourinho