Los Angeles FC will do battle with the Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup final in what will be a rematch of their 2023 MLS Cup encounter. 

In that fixture, the Crew emerged victorious over LAFC, with both sides meeting at the Lower.com Field once again to decide who takes this year's crown. 

LAFC cruised into the showpiece match with a commanding 4-0 triumph over the Colorado Rapids at the BMO Stadium. 

Steve Cherundolo's side dominated proceedings in the first half and were rewarded before the interval with two quickfire goals from Mateusz Bogusz and Kei Kamara. 

Bogusz rounded off a fine team move with a curled effort from outside the area, with Kamara finishing beyond Zack Steffen after being picked out by Ryan Hollingshead.

The victory was all but confirmed in some style as Denis Bouanga ran the length of the pitch, ending with a left-footed strike low into the bottom corner. 

Lewis O'Brien added further gloss to an impressive display in the 75th minute, coming off the bench to mark his second appearance for the club with his first goal. 

Earlier in the day, the Crew confirmed their place in Sunday's final following a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia Union. 

The hosts took the lead in the 12th minute when Diego Rossi found himself in the right place at the right time to head home as he followed up Cucho Hernandez's shot from distance.

Daniel Gazdag levelled for the Union just after the half-hour mark, taking advantage of the Crew trying to play out of the back before finishing beyond Patrick Schulte. 

But Rossi, who is the Leagues Cup's leading scorer, restored his side's advantage before the break after being picked out by an exquisite chip from Christian Ramirez. 

Wilfried Nancy's side confirmed the victory eight minutes after the interval as Hernandez got his goal, seeing his initial headed effort saved, only to follow up the rebound.

Nottingham Forest have signed Aston Villa full-back Alex Moreno on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal.

Moreno joined Villa from Real Betis in January 2023 and has made a total of 40 Premier League appearances for Unai Emery's men, including 21 last season.

He started 11 times last term but spent most of his time as a backup to Lucas Digne, who made 27 starts as Emery's team finished fourth to secure Champions League qualification.

He becomes Forest's eighth signing of the current transfer window, after Elliot Anderson, Nikola Milenkovic, Ramon Sosa, Jota Silva, Marko Stamenic, Carlos Miguel and Eric da Silva Moreiro.

Forest's chief football officer Ross Wilson said: "Alex is a player we have had a long-standing interest in so we are naturally all very happy to see him arrive at Nottingham Forest. 

"He has amassed significant experience in LaLiga and the Premier League, and he brings all of that quality and experience to our group now."

Emiliano Martinez wants to win a trophy with Aston Villa after penning a new long-term contract with the club.

The Argentina goalkeeper has signed a new deal to remain at Villa Park until 2029, having impressed since joining the club from Arsenal in September 2020.

The World Cup winner is delighted with the constant progression of the club, culminating in Champions League qualification last season, but he still hopes to achieve more success in the coming years.

He told the club's website: "Since I joined the club, my dream was to be in the Champions League. We have achieved that. Like I said, the club is improving every year."

Martinez, who has won two Copa America titles with his national side along with the World Cup, now wants to translate his international success to the club stage, as Villa have been without a major honour since 1996.

He added: “I achieved everything in international football with Argentina and now I still think we can win a trophy here.

“That is something missing in this club. And I will have a go here in the next four years to achieve that.”

A late Filip Ugrinic penalty gave Young Boys a crucial 3-2 first-leg lead over Galatasaray in their Champions League play-off tie after an enthralling contest in Bern.

Ugrinic scored from the spot after Abdulkerim Bardakci was sent off for a handball in the penalty area following a VAR review.

A Michy Batshuayi brace had looked to have boosted Galatasaray's hopes of reaching the Champions League's new league phase, dragging the visitors level after Joel Monteiro scored either side of half-time.

However, Ugrinic's 86th-minute spot-kick gave the Swiss side the advantage as they bid to reach the Champions League proper for a second straight campaign.

Galatasaray remain in the tie ahead of next Tuesday's second leg, though, and will look to hit back in front of a boisterous home crowd in Istanbul.

Data Debrief: Batshuayi shines despite Gala defeat

Despite the disappointment of a first-leg loss, Batshuayi showed his quality after coming off the bench, scoring twice despite having just three touches inside the opposition box.

Monteiro matched him by scoring a brace for Young Boys, also creating three big chances, two more than any other player on the pitch.

Cavalier Head Coach Rudolph Speid says the 2-0 win over Mount Pleasant FA to kick off their 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup campaign provides a solid platform to build on in their charge to achieve long-term goals this season.

Christopher Ainsworth (ninth) and Shaquille Stein (25^th) got the job done for Cavalier in a keenly contest encounter at Sabina Park on Tuesday.

“The win is very important, because when teams are in your zone and they’re from the same country or same city, it’s really a derby. It doesn’t matter how strong each team is, it’s a derby, and derby games are the most difficult games you’ll come up against, so getting the first win is always important,” Speid said in a post-game interview.

Cavalier, the reigning Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions and runners-up in the 2023 edition of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, were more purposeful at the start, and they were duly rewarded when Ainsworth converted from the 12-yard spot after Stein was felled inside the red zone by Jamoi Topey.

Mount Pleasant created a few half chances in their press for the equaliser, but they found Cavalier’s defenders and goalkeeper Jeadine White in defiant mode.

Stein later doubled Cavalier’s lead when he expertly headed home from Jalmaro Calvin’s weighted cross.

Try as they did, Mount Pleasant’s attackers couldn’t find a way past White, who ended the contest with six crucial saves, including a last-minute reflex stop diving low at his near post to deny Rayonne Mbougain in time added.

Cavalier also had their fair share of chances to add to their tally, the best of which fell to Kaile Auvray in the 49th minute, but Mount Pleasant’s custodian Tafari Chambers came up big to stop the close-range effort.

Speid lauded his team for a solid defensive effort, which ensured they sit atop Group A on three points heading into the second round of games on August 29.

Then, Cavalier will host Trinidad and Tobago outfit Police FC in Kingston, while Mount Pleasant FA will look to rebound against CFU Club Shield winners, Arnett Gardens FC, on August 27 at Sabina Park.

“We did not know what Mount Pleasant was going to do. We decided we were going to be tough on defence. The defence, including the goalkeeper, stood out. It is not easy to keep a clean sheet against those players from Mount Pleasant, as they can turn a game on its head,” Speid reasoned.

“So our concentration was spot on from minute one. Although we defended stoutly, we were positive all the time. We attacked when the occasion aroused, and we didn’t hesitate. We could have even scored two more,” he noted.

His counterpart Harold Thomas, who took over from Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore in June, believes his side lacked the hunger and conviction of their opponents.

“One of the things we have to do is look at the players who are hungry for it. You hear Cavalier’s approach to the game, they have a group of youngsters that don’t have the kind of reputation that our players have, but they’re hungry. They want to make a name for themselves,” Thomas stated.

“We need to find players who want to make a name for themselves or even those who have a name to improve their credibility. We know the quality of the players. There are some things we have to change, but the quality is there. The motivation will be a great factor because what we saw today (Tuesday) wasn’t a team as hungry as they should have been,” he added.

Racing United FC, the newly promoted team to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), is gearing up for their inaugural season in Jamaica's top-flight football competition. With the 2024 JPL season set to kick off on September 15, the team is working tirelessly to ensure they are ready to compete at the highest level, despite facing significant financial challenges.

Managed by Nigel Walker and coached by Anthony Patrick, Racing United has been in training since early July, focusing on getting their squad in peak condition ahead of the season opener. "The season is starting early this year on September 15, and we are pushing for full readiness. I can say right now we are at about 80 per cent readiness," Walker told Sportsmax.TV as he reflected on the team's commitment to being fully prepared.

Racing United secured their spot in the JPL by defeating Westmoreland-based  Reno FC 2-1 on aggregate in the promotion playoffs, marking a significant achievement for the club. However, the transition from amateur to professional football has brought with it the need for greater financial resources. Walker highlighted that while the team is prepared on the field, securing the necessary funding for a more demanding and extended season remains a pressing concern.

"Our biggest challenge so far has been financial, as we are no longer an amateur team. Now in the premier league, it requires financial resources, and with this season being longer with three rounds, we need more support," Walker explained. The club is currently in discussions with potential sponsors, and Walker is optimistic about finalizing these talks soon.

To strengthen their squad, Racing United has been active in the transfer market, bringing in 10 new players with Premier League experience. Although the names of these players have not been officially released, as final details are still being worked out, Walker emphasized the importance of these signings. He credited Coach Patrick for his role in selecting players who will bring valuable experience and skill to the team.

Recognizing how critically important it has become for local footballers to excel beyond just technical skills on the field of play, Malta, in partnership with Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), hosted the “Malta Holistic Workshop” on Saturday, August 17, at The Summit in Kingston.

With a focus on enhancing physical fitness, proper nutrition, and fostering mental resilience, the brand’s initiative under the Malta Sparks campaign addressed key areas like balancing academics with athletics, conflict resolution, self-marketing, branding, and media management offering a well-rounded strategy for athletic growth.

“This workshop has provided me with valuable strategies to better support my son on his athletic journey, especially in managing stress and time—challenges he often encounters. I know a lot of other young athletes struggle with many of the focus areas today and so, I am truly inspired as a parent by this initiative,” said Sherridean Orridge, the mother of Romane Foster who plays for Jamaica Premier League club Portmore United.

“I know there was a nutrition session hosted about a month ago so I commend Malta and PFJL, for their exceptional work with our footballers, and I sincerely hope to see more initiatives like this in the future.”

The educational sessions engaged participants from four Premier League Clubs: Mount Pleasant Academy, Waterhouse FC, Portmore United, and Harbour View FC. The workshop featured session leaders, including veteran coach and Malta Brand Ambassador Neville Bell, Sports Teacher and Lifestyle Coach Krisneve Palmer, Sports Marketing Consultant Tanya Lee Perkins, Communications Expert Stacy-Ann Smith, and Sports Psychologist Dr. Olivia Rose.

“It was commendable to see both guardians and footballers participating in the workshop. This experience has provided athletes with a broader perspective on how to represent themselves, an aspect that is often overshadowed by the focus on athletic performance,” Owen Hill, CEO of Professional Football Jamaica Limited remarked.

“By investing in their holistic development, we are preparing our local football stars to excel not only on the national stage but also to present themselves as the best version of who they can be.”

Contributed: 
Chief Executive Officer of Professional Football Jamaica Limited, Owen Hill, delivered a pep talk to Mount Pleasant Football Club footballers during the lunch break of the Malta Holistic Workshop, held at The Summit.

Kick-starting the event, Bell emphasized in his speech that discipline is the greatest asset a footballer can possess. The veteran coach highlighted that “discipline not only paves the way to success but also that—to be a great footballer, one must have the right attitude and a strong sense of self-worth”.

Adding to the discussion, Dr. Rose advised parents to create a safe environment and maintain open communication with coaches, noting that athletes thrive when they see the rewards of their hard work, which boosts their confidence.

Media Communication Consultant Stacy-Ann Smith helped the players improve on their communication skills through mock media-interview exercises and public speaking activities. This was complemented by Sports Marketing Consultant Tanya Lee Perkins, who offered tips on self-marketing and encouraged active social media engagement to build a solid personal brand.

The workshop concluded with Lifestyle Coach Palmer, who provided guidance on balancing academics and football and highlighted that education offers diverse career opportunities beyond sports.

"With this holistic workshop, we aimed to provide both guardians and athletes with an experience that offers practical ways to best care for their social and mental well-being, targeting multiple layers of growth and development. We must commend the guardians and coaches for being a part of this experience and for their continuous support,” said Malta Junior Brand Manager Cavell Robinson.

“As part of the Malta Sparks campaign, we plan to conceptualize more initiatives like this in the future. With this it is our hope that these young talents will blossom and develop in ways that will make us all proud."

Ange Postecoglou is aiming to improve Tottenham's clinical edge as they chase their first win of the Premier League season against Everton on Saturday.

Spurs dominated the first half against Leicester City in their opener on Monday, but only left the King Power Stadium with a point after Jamie Vardy's equaliser in the 1-1 draw.

Postecoglou's side had 15 shots in that game, with seven of those on target, but only created 1.18 expected goals.

With Spurs aiming to challenge for a Champions League place this season, the Australian is keen to finetune their play in the final third sooner rather than later.

"Just really disappointed we lacked a little cutting edge in the front third, made some poor decisions, lacked some composure and didn't get the reward our football deserved," Postecoglou said.

"Everyone performed well, but ultimately that defeats the purpose of what we're trying to achieve and that's winning games of football and bridging the gap to the top teams.

"And the performance of the players in general was very, very good, but we need to turn those good performances into outcomes."

Meanwhile, Everton prop up the early standings in the league after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Brighton last weekend.

Ashley Young's red card compounded their misery as they struggled to test the Seagulls in the final third, but James Tarkowski is confident they can stamp out the mistakes to kick-start their season this weekend.

"It's not a reality check. We know the level of this league and how difficult it is," Tarkowski said. "You'll get punished if you make mistakes.

"The foundation which we build on – and we will continue to do – a lot of it was on show. Minor details will cost you in this league and we’ll see that."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham – James Maddison

Against no side does James Maddison have more Premier League assists than he does against Everton (four), with each of his four against the Toffees coming in his last three appearances.

He is also off the mark for the season, having assisted Pedro Porro's opener in their 1-1 draw with Leicester last time out.

Everton – Jack Harrison

Despite Everton suffering a heavy defeat to Brighton in their Premier League opener, Jack Harrison was a bright spark for the Toffees.

He had the most shots (three), the most touches in the box (six) and completed the most successful dribbles (three) of anyone in the Everton side.

MATCH PREDICTION: TOTTENHAM WIN

Tottenham have won their first Premier League home match in five of the last six seasons, with the only exception being a 1-0 defeat to Everton in 2020-21.

However, Spurs have scored more Premier League goals against Everton both overall (102) and at home (63) than they have versus any other opponent.

After drawing their Premier League opener with Leicester, Spurs are looking to avoid not winning either of their first two games in a single campaign since 2015-16 (drew one, lost one).

Meanwhile, Everton have not won a Premier League game in the month of August in any of the last three seasons (drawn three, lost six), losing each of their last four such games without scoring. Their last such victory was in 2021 at Brighton (2-0).

Sean Dyche's side do not have the best record against teams from the capital, winning just three of their last 20 such top-flight matches (drawn six, lost 11), though those three wins all came consecutively between September and November last season.

After winning four consecutive Premier League away games between October and December last season, Everton are now winless in their last 11 on the road (drawn four, lost seven). Nine of those have come in 2024, leaving the Toffees as the only ever-present side over the two campaigns without an away win this calendar year.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Tottenham – 55.3%

Draw – 23%

Everton – 21.6%

Sven-Goran Eriksson has delivered an emotional farewell message following his terminal cancer diagnosis, telling fans: "Take care of your life, and live it."

Former England manager Eriksson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year, saying in January he had "at best, a year left to live".

Eriksson, who won league titles in charge of Benfica and Lazio as well as leading Roma and Sampdoria to Coppa Italia triumphs, has since been the subject of an Amazon Prime documentary.

In a preview of the documentary, Eriksson delivered a poignant message to fans, saying: "I had a good life.

"I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well. You have to learn to accept it for what it is. 

"Hopefully, at the end, people will say, 'yeah, he was a good man', but not everyone will say that.

"I hope you will remember me as a positive guy, trying to do everything he could do. 

"Don't be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds. It's been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life, and live it."

Eriksson became the first foreign manager to lead England when he took charge in 2001, overseeing runs to the quarter-finals at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, also reaching the same stage of Euro 2004.

In March, Eriksson coached a Liverpool legends team to a 4-2 victory over a side made up of former Ajax players in a charity match at Anfield, having revealed it was his lifelong dream to manage the Reds.

Having received a standing ovation from a capacity crowd, Eriksson described the occasion as "absolutely beautiful", adding: "That will be a huge memory in my life."

He was also invited to attend Lazio's final game of the 2023-24 season at the Stadio Olimpico, receiving a rapturous ovation from supporters of the team he led between 1997 and 2001.

Julen Lopetegui is eyeing improvements from West Ham as they target their first win of the season against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Spaniard's first game in charge ended in disappointment, as the Hammers conceded a late goal in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend.

Though West Ham have brought in a whole host of new signings, few featured at the London Stadium, but Lopetegui could choose to ring in the changes in an attempt to get their first points on the board under his charge.

"The Premier League is the most demanding competition around the world, so the little details are key," he said.

"It's true that we lost against one of the best teams in the Premier League in the last season.

"We have to keep the good things that we showed, and we did, and we have to improve the bad things to be more competitive."

Meanwhile, Palace also lost their opening game, going down 2-1 to Brentford after they had an early Eberechi Eze goal chalked out when the referee blew his whistle before the ball crossed the line.

Oliver Glasner has seen the Eagles go from strength to strength under his leadership, with only Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea earning more points than them since he took over in February.

The German was left frustrated by the manner of their defeat to the Bees and admitted there is still work for Palace to do to get back to the level they showed last season.

"We feel disappointed of losing the season opener," he told the BBC.

"It feels like we shouldn't lose the game. There were many situations where we did okay but know we can do better.

"In decisive situations, we were not on our top level."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Crystal Palace – Eberechi Eze

Eberechi Eze had more shots on matchday one than any other Premier League player (seven). It is the third time he has had 7+ shots in a Premier League game without scoring, the most of any Crystal Palace player on record (since 2004-05).

West Ham – Tomas Soucek

Despite losing to Aston Villa, West Ham had the second-highest expected goals total of any Premier League side on the opening weekend (2.5 behind Liverpool's 2.7).

Tomas Soucek was responsible for 1.1 of those with his five shots, though he failed to hit the target with any of them.

MATCH PREDICTION: CRYSTAL PALACE WIN

Palace have won their last two Premier League home games against West Ham, having won just one of their previous eight against them at Selhurst Park (drew two, lost five).

In fact, Palace's recent home form is impressive after they won their final four Premier League games of 2023-24 at Selhurst Park by an aggregate score of 16-2. The Eagles have not won five consecutive such games since October 2001 (a run of six), while they have never done so in the top-flight.

However, Palace have won just five of their last 25 Premier League games in August (drawn seven, lost 13). Indeed, in all months they have played at least 10 games in the competition, they have fewer wins (11) and their lowest win rate (21%) in August.

Meanwhile, West Ham lost 2-1 against Aston Villa in their opening Premier League match this season – no side has lost both of their opening two games in a single campaign more often than the Hammers (eight, level with Southampton).

The Hammers lost their last three Premier League games against fellow London sides in 2023-24, with the last two seeing them lose 5-2 at Crystal Palace and 5-0 at Chelsea. No team in English Football League history has ever conceded 5+ goals in three consecutive London derby matches before.

The last four Premier League meetings between Palace and West Ham at Selhurst Park have produced a total of 24 goals, an average of six per game (13 for Palace, 11 for West Ham). Both teams have scored at least twice in each of these four matches.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Crystal Palace – 43.6%

Draw – 25.4%

West Ham – 31%

Raheem Sterling has been stripped of the number seven shirt by Chelsea as his exile from Enzo Maresca's first-team squad continues.

Sterling was left out of Chelsea's matchday squad for Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, with his representatives issuing a statement demanding "clarity" on his future ahead of kick-off.

On Wednesday, Maresca confirmed Sterling was – alongside 14 other players – training away from Chelsea's first-team squad, saying it would be "better" if the winger leaves.

It was then announced by the club that new signing Pedro Neto – who wore the number 19 shirt on his debut versus City – had been given Sterling's old number, with fellow new arrival Joao Felix taking the number 14 shirt after joining from Atletico Madrid.

Trevoh Chalobah previously wore number 14, and the defender is also expected to leave Stamford Bridge before the end of the transfer window.

Sterling joined Chelsea following a hugely successful seven-year stint at Manchester City in 2022, and has made 59 Premier League appearances for the Blues, scoring 14 goals and adding seven assists.

The 29-year-old ranked third among all Chelsea players for dribbles completed (45) in the competition last term, and seventh for chances created, with 30.

Juventus, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa have all been linked with a move for Sterling, though his reported £250,000 weekly wage could prove an obstacle to a transfer. 

Sterling has also been left out of Chelsea's squad for Thursday's Europa Conference League play-off clash with Servette, as the Blues look to establish a healthy lead to take to Switzerland for the second leg next week.

David Neres has completed a permanent move from Benfica to Napoli, the Serie A club confirmed on Wednesday. 

Neres, who scored 17 times across a two-year spell with the Portuguese side, has signed for a reported £23.8m fee with add-ons potentially increasing that to £25.5m.

The Brazilian registered 15 goal involvements (five goals and 10 assists) for Benfica last year as they finished second in the Primeira Liga and won the Portuguese Super Cup. 

He created 31 chances in the league last season, while also completing 34 dribbles, a total only bettered by Joao Neves (41), Rafa (51) and Angel Di Maria (55). 

Neres has been brought in to provide creativity and goals from the wide positions alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with Napoli netting 55 times in Serie A last season, 34 less than champions Inter. 

The 27-year-old becomes Gli Azzurri's third signing of the transfer window following the arrivals of Alessandro Buongiorno and Rafa Marin, with it expected they will complete a deal for Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku in the coming days.

After failing to defend their Serie A crown last season, Napoli welcome Bologna to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this Sunday in their opening league game. 

Manchester United have confirmed that midfielder Facundo Pellistri has completed a permanent move to Panathinaikos. 

Pellistri, who made 25 appearances for United following his move from Penarol in 2020, has signed a four-year deal with the Greek side for a reported £5.1m transfer fee. 

The Red Devils have inserted a significant sell-on clause – thought to be 45% - and have a buy back option that lasts for three years. 

Pellistri spent the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan with LaLiga side Granada, notching four goal involvements, two of which came in a 3-3 draw against Barcelona back in February (one goal and one assist). 

The 22-year-old also featured for Uruguay at this year's Copa America, turning out in all of La Celeste's fixtures as they finished in third place at the tournament. 

Upon his return to domestic duty, Pellistri came off the bench and played 31 minutes in United's penalty shootout defeat against Manchester City in the Community Shield, which proved to be his final outing for the club. 

He becomes the tenth player to leave the club in the transfer window, with Erik ten Hag still looking to strengthen his squad for the upcoming campaign. 

United have been linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte in order to bolster their midfield options, having reportedly withdrew their interest for Adrien Rabiot after leaving Juventus in June. 

Enzo Maresca has confirmed both Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are not training with the Chelsea first-team amid reports linking them with a move away. 

Sterling and Chilwell, who have 187 Blues appearances between them, were not in the Chelsea squad for their opening day defeat to Manchester City on Sunday. 

The pair are among a group of 15 players that are training away from the first team as the club seeks to resolve their futures before the transfer window shuts. 

Maresca's side face Swiss side Servette on Thursday in a Europa Conference League play-off tie, and revealed the situation to reporters on Wednesday. 

"In this moment, they are training apart," Maresca told reporters ahead of Thursday's Europa Conference League play-off tie against Swiss side Servette.

"We have a big squad, for me it's impossible to give everyone minutes. So if they're looking for minutes, probably it is better to leave."

Prior to their 2-0 defeat to the Premier League champions, Maresca had informed Sterling he would not be part of his squad to face his former employers. 

Ahead of kick-off at Stamford Bridge, the 29-year-old's representatives released a statement asking for clarity on his future at the club. 

Despite Sterling's 45 completed dribbles only bettered by Cole Palmer (52) and Nicolas Jackson (54) in the Premier League, Maresca said he was not the kind of winger that he wanted for the upcoming season. 

"I'm not saying he's not a good player, but I prefer different kinds of wingers," the Italian said. 

"I spoke with Raheem before Manchester City, I said that he is going to struggle to get minutes with us.

"With (Chilwell), I said he is a lovely guy but with his position, he's going to struggle with us. It's not brutal, it's honest."

"It's not a comfortable situation. I think it is good to know that if you want to stay, you will struggle to get minutes. 

"But in a few days or weeks it can be a better situation because you move and you join a club where you will get more minutes."

Manuel Neuer has confirmed his retirement from international football with Germany following a 15-year career with Die Mannschaft. 

Neuer, who made 124 appearances for his country, follows Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Ilkay Gundogan in hanging up their boots on the international stage. 

The Bayern Munich captain played 39 times across eight major tournaments, with his final outing for his country coming in a 2-1 defeat to eventual winners Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. 

Neuer was also part of Joachim Low's World Cup winning squad in 2014, keeping four clean sheets and scooping the tournament's Golden Glove award. 

Across his 124 appearances, Neuer managed 51 shutouts and conceded 118 times, playing 11,100 minutes for his nation and winning 81 of those matches. 

Neuer finishes his international career as Germany's fifth-highest appearance maker, with only Lukas Podolski (130), Muller (131), Miroslav Klose (137) and Lothar Matthaus (150) managing more caps for their country. 

"Looking back today, I am filled with pride and gratitude! Not least because we met on 13th July 2014, we were able to fulfil our big dream and together became world champions in Brazil," Neuer wrote.

"For a total of 7 years and 61 games, I was allowed - up to my injury - to lead the German national team as captain on the field. An honour that I appreciate every time.

"This year's home European Championship was another highlight, even if it unfortunately wasn't enough for the title. Because, in every second, I felt a very special euphoria and cohesion all over the country. Let's keep that in mind!

"Many thanks to all the staff, supervisors, coaches and also fellow players who have supported me since my debut in the national team on 02. Joined June 2009!

"And I especially want to thank you, dear fans, for supporting me all these years! I loved wearing the national team jersey."

His retirement clears the way for long-time back-up Marc Andre ter Stegen of Barcelona, who is expected to take over from the Bayern captain as Germany's number one.