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(L-R) Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona, coach Ernesto Valverde of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona at at the BVB stadium on September 17, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany.Former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has been talking about what it’s like to manage Lionel Messi and how easy it is to coach the Argentina international.Valverde was fired in January after two-and-a-half years at the club where he won two league titles and the Copa del Rey but oversaw some painful Champions League exits.The 56-year-old has now been speaking about the Barcelona captain and what it’s like to work with him at the Camp Nou.“Messi can’t be compared with anyone,” said Valverde, via Goal.“It’s very difficult to tell him if you’ve seen this or anoth...

FIFA President Gianni Infantino listens during a public debate with members of the Association of International Sports Press (AIPS).FIFA will release 150 million U.S. dollars  (139 million euros) to its member football associations to help handle financial troubles caused by the coronavirus, the global governing body said on Friday. FIFA said that "all operational funding" for 2019 and 2020 would be distributed amongst the 211 member associations in the next few days "as the first step of a relief plan to assist the football community impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic."Each national governing body will receive 500,000 U.S. dollars, that FIFA says would normally be delivered "upon fulfillment of specific criteria," but will release those funds and any "remaining entitlement for 20...

Gareth Bale of Real Madrid.Gareth Bale is donating over €1 million to hospitals in Wales and Spain to help fight COVID-19.The Real Madrid forward has given £500,000 to a charity connected to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where he was born, to help patients and staff.similar figure to those gifted by Lionel Messi -- who contributed to hospitals in Barcelona and Argentina -- Cristiano Ronaldo and Pep Guardiola in recent weeks."The University Hospital of Wales holds a special place in my heart," Bale said in a video published on social media."It's where I was born and it has provided great support to my friends, my family and the wider community, so me and my family would like to show our support. Keep up the good work, you're doing an amazing job."The donation is via the Cardi...

Eden Hazard of Real Madrid.Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he rates former Chelsea star Eden Hazard as the best player he played with during his time at Chelsea FC.Fabregas spent a successful spell with the west London club after having signed for the Blues from FC Barcelona back in the summer of 2014.The former Arsenal captain won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and League Cup during his spell with the Blues before leaving to join AS Monaco in January 2019.Spanish midfielder Fabregas lined up alongside Hazard during his spell at Stamford Bridge, and the ex-Arsenal star has now revealed that he rates him as the best Chelsea player he played with.Fabregas also revealed that Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Radamel Falcao are the three top players he’s featured with at his other clubs.A...

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said on Monday that leagues across Europe were ready to return to action behind closed doors in a bid to limit the damage caused by coronavirus.Football leagues have been suspended since mid-March due to the pandemic which has claimed more than 100,000 lives throughout the continent. But the head of European football believes that playing would be an important step towards a return to normal life and avoid heavy financial losses for leagues.“I believe there are options that can allow us to restart cup championships and to complete them,” Ceferin said in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera. “We may have to resume without spectators, but the most important thing, I think, is playing games.“It is early to say ...