Related items

• De Ligt: Nagelsmann sacking 'hard to swallow'

  Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt was surprised by the club's decision to part company with head coach Julian Nagelsmann and says it has been "hard to swallow".

  German heavyweights Bayern officially called time on Nagelsmann's 20-month reign on Friday and swiftly appointed Thomas Tuchel as his successor.

  Nagelsmann won the Bundesliga in his only full season in Bavaria, but Bayern find themselves a point behind Borussia Dortmund with 25 games of this campaign played.

  Bayern face leaders Dortmund in a huge clash on Saturday, while they also have DFB-Pokal and Champions League quarter-final ties to play in April.

  And with the club still in the hunt for a treble, De Ligt – who has been away on international duty with the Netherlands – did not see Nagelsmann's sacking coming.

  "I was surprised," he told Dutch TV broadcaster NOS. "We're second in the league and in the quarter-finals of the cups. We're still playing for everything.

  "Those in charge decide who the coach is, but it was a difficult decision that is hard to swallow. But I also believe that Tuchel is a coach who suits us."

  According to a report in the German media, certain Bayern players turned against Nagelsmann and effectively forced him out of the Allianz Arena.

  But De Ligt, who has played 31 times since arriving at Bayern from Juventus at the start of the season, refuted those suggestions.

  "Oh, the German media. That says it all," he said. "I had a good relationship with him and his team.

  "I sent him a message and thanked him for everything he taught me.

  "He really wanted me here at the club and was very important to me. 

  "Thanks in part to him, I have taken important steps in my development over the past few months."

• Fulham duo Mitrovic and Silva apologise after FA Cup red cards against Manchester United

  Aleksandar Mitrovic and Marco Silva have issued apologies over their dismissals during Fulham's FA Cup loss to Manchester United earlier this month.

  The pair were both shown red cards by referee Chris Kavanagh during a seismic passage of play in the Cottagers' 3-1 quarter-final exit at Old Trafford.

  Having been called over to the pitchside monitor to check for a handball offence by Willian, who was subsequently sent off, the match official also dismissed Silva for dissent before showing red to Mitrovic after the forward pushed him, reducing them to nine men.

  Bruno Fernandes then scored the resulting penalty as Fulham swiftly collapsed from holding a 1-0 lead going into the closing stages.

  On Wednesday, both player and manager revealed they had spoken to Kavanagh to apologise, and stressed they will accept the punishments handed down against them.

  "I have been away with my national team and have had some time to reflect on the Manchester United match," Mitrovic told the club's website.

  "As everyone knows, it was a very emotional one, in which the team gave absolutely everything on the pitch to try to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup.

  "On a personal level, I regret my actions that led to me being sent off. I allowed my frustration to get the better of me, and how I reacted was wrong.

  "I have accepted the three-match ban for my red card, I have spoken to Chris Kavanagh to apologise, and I have volunteered to accept a club fine.

  "I now want to do what I can to put this incident behind me and get back to helping my teammates on the pitch as soon as possible."

  Silva echoed his player's sentiments, adding: "Emotions were high at Old Trafford and, as I said in my press conference after the game, I should have controlled my own emotions better.

  "It was a very difficult moment, in a match that we had dominated, but I could have handled the situation better. 

  "I regret what happened, and I have spoken to Chris Kavanagh to apologise.

  "He knows that I respect him and the job he has to do. I am sorry that I was not on the pitch to try to lead the team to Wembley, but I am thankful for all the support I have received from Fulham fans over the last few days."

  The FA will review issuing a longer ban than the traditional three games for Mitrovic's actions, while Silva is likely to face a touchline suspension too.

  Fulham return to action with a trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

• Napoli 'lucky' not to have Serie A title rival, claims Totti

  Francesco Totti has lauded Napoli and "great coach" Luciano Spalletti but suggests the runaway Serie A leaders have been "also lucky" this season.

  Napoli are on course for their first Scudetto since 1990, when Diego Maradona was still at the club.

  The Partenopei are a mammoth 19 points clear with only 11 games remaining, making a title triumph almost an inevitability.

  Yet Roma great Totti, while praising their work under ex-Giallorossi boss Spalletti, believes they have benefited from the absence of a genuine competitor.

  Legend Totti won only one title with Roma, although they finished as runners-up on a further nine occasions across his remarkable career, missing out to Juventus, Milan and Inter.

  "I honestly didn't expect it like this," Totti told Sky Sport of Napoli. "I knew it was a good team with a great coach – it was a well-made combination.

  "They expressed themselves to the fullest in everything and were also lucky because they didn't have an opponent behind them who can keep up with their pace.

  "When we were there, there was always Juve, Inter, Milan who always clung there.

  "If you won 20 games, they won 19. Napoli doesn't have a second team like that."

  Lazio are Napoli's nearest rivals, but Juve would be second if not for a 15-point deduction. Even then, the Bianconeri would be 15 points off the pace.