Bugaluu :: Sports

‘I never want to disrespect anyone’ – Glasner apologises and explains his comments following fan protests

Oliver Glasner says he understands the frustration of fans following protests in Crystal Palace’s win over Wolves – but stressed the importance of their support.

Palace fans held up banners reading ‘Opportunities missed’, ‘Board inept’ as well as ‘Fans disrespected’ and ‘Glasner finished’.

It follows comments from Glasner in which he told the fans they should “stay humble”, adding that “a few who are so critical in this situation are not humble anymore”.

“It’s the way fans can express their opinion, because otherwise, they can’t tell you,” Glasner said on the banners held up during the game.

“It’s completely fine. Everybody can tell what he thinks and I do the same. I say what I think is the right thing.

“There were a few boos and there was a banner. That’s completely fine. But I will always say what I think, what I believe. I think I never disrespected anyone.

“This is why I disagree, because everybody who knows me (knows I have) a huge respect for everyone, regardless of their position, regardless of their skin colour, regardless of their religion, regardless of everything.

“The fans can be disappointed, absolutely. We are disappointed. We are frustrated. And I think I’m the one most of all because I’m so ambitious.

“I want always more and more and more. And I said to the players, I think maybe I pushed too hard. And I take this criticism.

“It’s completely fine. What was important is that they supported the team. They helped to win the game.

“If they feel disrespected, they feel it. I didn’t mean to disrespect anyone. Then it was maybe the wrong words taken.

“But on the other side, I will always say what I think is right, and I’m telling this to my children maybe weekly – stay humble, never forget where you’re coming from.

“If somebody felt to be disrespected, then I want to say sorry because I never want to disrespect anyone.”

Glasner, however, was delighted with the win as January signing Evann Guessand struck late to win it 1-0.

“The first small step in the right direction was the Brighton away win, the second small step was now,” he said.

“(We are) getting the confidence back and this is why it was very important.”

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/never-want-disrespect-anyone-glasner-184000822.html 

Ukraine: Lassina Traoré scores a hat-trick

The Burkinabé striker helps Shakhtar Donetsk stay on top

Ukraine: Lassina Traoré scores a hat-trick

Shakhtar Donetsk pulled off a commanding 3-0 victory over Karpaty in the 17th round of the Ukrainian Premier League. All three goals of the match were delivered by a single man: Lassina Traoré.

The Burkinabé international came off the bench in the 65th minute and instantly turned into the hero of the day. A hat-trick in under 17 minutes. The center forward made an immediate impact—when he entered, the score was still goalless, but just two minutes later, he broke the deadlock in the 67th minute and doubled the advantage in the 71st. The former Rahimo player crushed the visitors’ hopes by completing his hat-trick in the 82nd minute.

This emphatic win allowed Shakhtar Donetsk to maintain their place at the top of the Ukrainian league table with 38 points, level with second-placed LNZ Cherkasy.

This hat-trick seems to mark a real comeback for Lassina Traoré, who is rediscovering his scoring touch after an injury sidelined him for nearly four months at the end of last season. His recent appearance at Morocco 2025 AFCON and his goal against Sudan have put him firmly back on the right track.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ukraine-lassina-traor-scores-hat-184000460.html 

Three Things We Learned From Cagliari vs Lazio: Two Players Must Be Benched

While Antonio Conte once argued that a draw is a half-defeat, Lazio fans might consider it too generous after witnessing their team’s insipid stalemate against Cagliari.

If the Serie A broadcasters were hoping for an action-packed contest in Sardania to light up their Saturday evening program, they obviously weren’t paying too much attention to the Aquile’s performances this season.

Once again, Maurizio Sarri’s men didn’t look like scoring, at least not before the Isolani were reduced to 10 men following Yerry Mina’s dismissal. The Biancocelesti launched a late onslaught, with Danilo Cataldi threatening on two occasions, but that was all she wrote.

So it’s time to discuss three talking points from the uninspiring action at Unipol Domus.

Nicolo Rovella Woes Emblematic of Lazio’s Campaign

While Lazio’s struggles can be attributed to dozens of reasons, Nicolo Rovella’s constant absence is one of the most overlooked. It was only last week that we emphasized just how important it is for the club to have the Regista back in action.

But just when the 24-year-old appeared to be regaining his full fitness following his groin nightmare, he’s now set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines with a fractured collarbone.

Watch: Lazio Can’t Break 10-Man Cagliari Despite Late Onslaught – The Highlights

Unfortunately for Rovella, his physical struggles perfectly depict Lazio’s miserable campaign, one that never took off the ground, and while it did offer occasional glimmers of hope, they were often dashed in a heartbeat.

Sarri wasn’t exaggerating when describing the season as ‘cursed’.

Nuno Tavares Worthy of a Chance Over Luca Pellegrini

Luca Pellegrini is a hardworking full-back who is absolutely dedicated to the cause of his beloved Lazio. Unfortunately, this is where the positives end. While the Italian isn’t a terrible player by any means, he appears to have his technical limitations, especially in the attacking phase.

On the contrary, Nuno Tavares is a much more efficient left-back going forward, as evidenced by the plethora of assists he produced during the early months of his previous campaign. Needless to say, the Portuguese has committed some costly howlers at the back, making Sarri reluctant to choose him as a starter.

Player Ratings: Cagliari 0-0 Lazio – Sarri’s Subs Add Late Flair

However, if the manager is truly determined to build for the future, the main objective should be developing the club’s more promising players.

At this stage, Tavares is much more likely to emerge as a top-notch full-back than Pellegrini, as he only needs to improve his defensive awareness and refine some of his attacking skills, since he already possesses the pace and crosses to terrify any opponent.

Daniel Maldini Must Be Dropped

While Pellegrini should make way for Tavares, Daniel Maldini must be relieved of his striking duties in favor of whoever is capable of maximizing Lazio’s chances of finding the back of the net. While the stubborn Sarri insists on fielding the Atalanta loanee as a centre-forward, the team’s goal-scoring threat has rapidly plummeted.

In the manager’s defence, he isn’t exactly spoiled for choice, but it is about time Petar Ratkov gets a fair chance. However, Maldini shouldn’t be cast away, but on the contrary, the versatile attacker can be devastating as a super-sub, perhaps emulating Tijjani Noslin, who often provides a timely boost when coming off the bench.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/three-things-learned-cagliari-vs-184000659.html 

Real Madrid star expected to miss 7 weeks with injury blow

La Liga giants Real Madrid are set to be without the services of Dani Ceballos for an extended period moving forward.

This comes after the midfielder suffered an injury setback on Saturday.

Real Madrid were of course back in action yesterday evening, making the trip to Pamplona for a La Liga meeting with Osasuna.

Ceballos, for his part, was introduced off the bench at El Sadar, during the 2nd-half.

En route to an eventual 2-1 defeat for Los Blancos, however, the former Arsenal man endured an outing to forget.

First, Ceballos was responsible for surrendering possession in the buildup to Osasuna netting the game’s winner.

And as since revealed by a round of post-match medical tests, the 29-year-old picked up a muscular injury late on, too.

So, just how long is Ceballos likely to be unavailable for selection?

As per a report from Fabrizio Romano, citing journalist Miguel Ángel Díaz of COPE:

‘Dani Ceballos is expected to be out for seven weeks with muscle injury suffered this weekend.’

Conor Laird – GSFN

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/real-madrid-star-expected-miss-184000130.html 

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 13: Will Klein #61 of the Los Angeles Dodgers holds a football during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers on Sunday head to Peoria to play the San Diego Padres. Here are the active players making the trip slightly north from Camelback Ranch.

Lineup

Miguel Rojas SS
Kyle Tucker RF
Will Smith C
Ryan Ward 1B
Nick Senzel 3B
James Tibbs III LF
Zach Ehrhard DH
Ryan Fitzgerald 2B
Michael Siani CF

Kyle Tucker bats second in right field, playing his first game in a Dodgers uniform. Ryan Ward and Zach Ehrhard are the only two Dodgers in the starting lineup for each of the first two games, if you were keeping track of the team’s games played leaderboard.

Non-roster invitee Jackson Ferris starts on the mound. Last spring training he appeared in three games, including an impressive start at Dodger Stadium against the Angels.

Other pitchers

Will Klein and Ronan Kopp are the two Dodgers pitchers on the 40-man roster scheduled to throw in Sunday’s game. Non-roster invitees Patrick Copen, Chris Campos, Garrett McDaniels, Jerming Rosario, and Carlos Duran are also on the schedule.

Active from minor league camp are Payton Marin (wearing number 06), Roque Gutierrez (87), Cody Morse (90), Christian Suarez (91), and old friend Nick Robertson (97).

Other position players

The outfield prospect trio of Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, and Kendall George are active again on Sunday, as are fellow non-roster invitees Keston Hiura, Noah Miller, and catchers Seby Zavala, Griffin Lockwood-Powell, and Nelson Quiroz.

From the minor league side, infielders Austin Gauthier, Jose Izarra, and Kyle Nevin are active, as is outfielder Kole Myers.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dodgers-padres-spring-training-travel-174646795.html 

Professional Athletes react on social media after Team USA’s 2-1 overtime victory over Canada.. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Team USA’s 2-1 overtime victory over Canada helped the country win its first Olympic gold in men’s hockey since the famed 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” 

Team USA center Jack Hughes scored the team’s overtime goal, exchanging his knocked-out tooth for a gold medal. Team USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck saved 41 of the 42 shots he faced. 

Team USA gold medalists Lindsey Vonn, Apolo Ohno and Mikaela Shiffrin expressed their support for Team USA’s hockey team on social media.

Super Bowl Champions Tom Brady, Jason Kelce and Kurt Warner and NFL players George Kittle and J.J. McCarthy were watching hockey in the NFL offseason.

Phoenix Suns Devin Booker got up early to tune in to the hockey game, while Indiana Pacers Tyreese Haliburton shouted out Hellebuyck’s performance.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/article/lindsey-vonn-tom-brady-and-more-react-to-team-usas-win-over-canada-what-a-game-174641682.html 

The Scream of the Mandrake | Kazimierz Koper/Getty Images

All things considered, Fiorentina fans have had a lot more things to cry about than to smile about this season. With 13 games left, La Viola occupy the relegation zone and find themselves on track to descend to Serie B for the first time since 2004, with the Tuscany side currently sitting six points above Pisa and Hellas Verona and three away from safety. However, for the first time all season, they have strung together back-to-back victories, having won 2-1 at Como before demolishing Jagiellonia Białystok 3-0 in Poland. In doing so, they killed two birds with one stone, all but securing their spot in the UEFA Conference League Round of 16 and allowing them to put all of their energy into their upcoming match against Pisa.

If Fiorentina are to eke out the victory in their upcoming relegation six-pointer, they’ll need Rolando Mandragora to be at his brilliant best. As opposed to the vast majority of his teammates, Mandragora has not suffered a sharp downturn in his individual form this season; instead, he’s led by example and established himself as a vital cog in midfield. Despite not operating in an attacking role, the 28-year-old ranks second in Fiorentina’s squad for goals (6) and goal contributions (7) in Serie A behind ex-Juventus teammate Moise Kean, whilst he also ranks second for total shots per game (2.0), and third for scoring frequency (goal every 299 minutes) and key passes per game (1.0).

Mandragora looks set to play an essential role as Fiorentina seek to stave off the drop and confirm their spot in Serie A, but he’s also primed to help La Viola pursue yet another deep run in the UEFA Conference League. Since joining in 2022, Mandragora has steered Fiorentina to the final in 2023 and 2024 and the semifinals in 2025, and there’s reason to believe that he could very well help them put an end to a 25-year drought. Indeed, whilst Thursday’s victory in Poland may very well have been a much-needed improved performance for quite a few Fiorentina players, for Mandragora, it was merely another day at the office.

Jagiellonia were able to rattle Fiorentina’s cage and dominate the early proceedings, and it seemed it was only a matter of time before they broke the deadlock. But whilst Fiorentina bent, they never broke thanks in large part to Mandragora, who set the tone early on for his work out of possession. Whether it was stretching out a foot to prevent a pass from reaching its desired target, or anticipating a shot and stepping up with a vital clearance, Mandragora was able to impose himself in a number of ways. And although he conceded two fouls in the first quarter-hour and got booked before the interval, he nevertheless led by example on and off the ball, constantly scanning the pitch and shifting from contributing to the press, shifting horizontally to close down open space, and dropping into defensive roles and offering an extra hand at the back. We can see an example of this in the 20th minute, when after diligently tracking his man, he moves up before gently backing away and awaiting his move. Just as he goes to complete a step-over, Mandragora steps in and whacks the ball out of danger.

Fiorentina’s first chance came in the 24th minute as Mandragora dialed in a tempting free kick towards Robin Gosens, who headed north. Their next opportunity came 14 minutes later as Mandragora, after intensely marking his man and lecturing his teammates about where to position themselves, decided to put on the afterburners and force a giveaway at the halfway line. Whilst Jagiellonia immediately recovered possession, they promptly coughed it up again as Fiorentina congested numbers around the box and rotated the ball around before eventually finding Mandragora, who allowed the ball to roll onto his left before carving out a beautiful cross to Giovanni Fabian, who then fired a tepid volley into Sławomir Abramowicz’s grasp.

The momentum finally swung in Fiorentina’s favor in the 53rd minute as Luca Ranieri headed home from a corner kick. Buoyed by their raucous home support, Jagiellonia responded with wave after wave of pressure, but Fiorentina held firm thanks to their captain without an armband, who helped to direct his teammates to where they should pass and move to, and who constantly had his head on a swivel to spot which spaces needed plugging. And in the 65th minute, he stepped up and executed a deadly free kick into the top left corner.

You could pick Manuel Neuer, Lev Yashin, or any other goalkeeper in the history of the sport, you could tell them exactly where the shot was going – they still would have no means of stopping it. But while Mandragora stole the show with his first-class delivery, it was his dirty work off the ball that really proved essential for the result. Like here, when after noticing his teammate has pushed forward, he pulls towards the byline and holds his ground before calmly intercepting the pass with his chest and quickly dishing it off to another purple shirt. He took a sore one to his back for his troubles, but he’d do it another 1,000 times if it meant preventing a potential scoring opportunity.

But while he stood out thanks to his ability to put out fires and prevent them before they started, he also marvelled thanks to his wand of a left foot. Similar to other players like Emmanuel Gyasi, he has a manner of knowing what to do with the ball before it even arrives at his laces. He barely had any time to grasp the ball before carving through the hosts’ defense like a knife through butter and teeing up an unmarked Fabiano Parisi, who ventured forward to create a scoring chance that ultimately failed to materialize.

Mandragora continued to offer clarity in possession and hold his nerve, be that spraying the ball around with ease or clearing shots out of his own box with power and precision, and even after Roberto Piccoli added a third from the penalty spot, he never let his guard down. Instead, he dug his heels in and defended the result as if his life depended on it, helping Fiorentina secure their first clean sheet since October 23. All things considered, Mandragora registered three key passes and completed each of his three cross attempts, registered two shots, and made 10 defensive contributions en route to a Man of the Match performance. He also made three tackles, four clearances, four recoveries, and won seven of his nine duels, and out of his 49 touches, only 3 were unsuccessful.

Rolando Mandragora has already proven himself as an indispensable figure in both domestic and international competition for Fiorentina, but now, can he help Fiorentina pick up their first home win since January 4?

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rolando-mandragora-midfield-masterclass-poland-174544151.html 

MILAN FUTURO RUN RIOT IN CALDIERO AND WIN 3-0

Milan Futuro came onto the pitch with the right intensity and beat Caldiero Terme 3-0. The Rossoneri had sealed the win in the first half as Magrassi opened the scoring within ten minutes with a through ball from Ossola, Chaka Traoré made it two to the good from the penalty spot, and Sala made it three with a precise diagonal shot. Three different names on the scoresheet is a mark of the aggressive approach and technical superiority of the Rossoneri right from the start of the game. 

In the second half, the Rossoneri managed the game well, without suffering and by staying focused in both their attack and defence. Ultimately, they were able to take home the three points and build on their win against Breno. Massimo Oddo’s boys showed clear improvement in terms of high pressing and managed their lead well, a mark of progress compared to the first half of the season. Milan Futuro are now on 41 points, separating themselves from the crowded mid-table and reinforcing their position in the play-off zone. Their next match will prove to be a crucial test as they take on league leaders, Folgore Caratese, at the Chinetti. This will be a match that will require determination and consistency. 

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM CALDIERO TERME v MILAN FUTURO

MATCH REPORTMilan Futuro got off to a flying start at the Mario Berti in Caldiero Terme as they controlled the pace from the opening minutes. The opener came just eight minutes in as Ossola threaded a perfect through ball for Magrassi, who beat the goalkeeper and slotted into an empty net. 0-1 to AC Milan almost immediately. After a few minutes, Chaka Traoré doubled the lead: Sardo won the ball high up the pitch and found the Ivorian forward, who went one-on-one with the keeper and won a penalty. He calmly converted it to make it 0-2. Milan Futuro were running riot. In the 30th minute, Traoré recovered the ball from high up the pitch and set up Sala, who finished with a precise diagonal shot into the corner to make it 0-3. Caldiero Terme tried to respond through Goglino and Zappa, but first Torriani and then Zukić kept the danger at bay. A well-managed first half ended 0-3. 

In the 54th minute, Eletu sent in a flying free kick, expected to cross, he instead unleashed a powerful right-footed shot towards the top corner, forcing Zouaghi into a save. Five minutes later, Sala sent a cross to Ossola, whose header posed no real threat. Caldiero’s best chance came in the 80th minute: Viviani made a late run to the far post and found the back of the net, but it was offside. AC Milan held onto their clean sheet and the win until the final whistle. A great 3-0 victory for Oddo’s boys. 

MATCH DETAILS

CALDIERO TERME 0-3 MILAN FUTURO

CALDIERO TERME (3-5-2): Zouaghi; Ruggeri, Petdji, Gentile (55′ Viviani); Zappa, Liberati (64′ Zerbato), Zazzi, Locati (55′ Parisi), Zanetti (64′ Furini); Goglino, Orfeini (77′ Mauri). Subs: Malusà; Baldani, Gecchele; Giannini. Coach: Soave.

MILAN FUTURO (4-3-3): Torriani; Cappelletti, Vladimirov, Zukić (88′ Pagliei), Karaca (88′ Tartaglia); Sala (75′ Geroli), Eletu (75′ Branca), Sardo; Ossola, Magrassi, Traoré (65′ Lontani). Subs: Longoni; Colombo; Domniței, Menon. Coach: Oddo.

Referee: Artini from Florence.Goals: 8′ Magrassi (M), 19′ pen. Traoré (M), 30′ Sala (M).
Booked: 57′ Sardo (M), 67′ Ossola (M), 68′ Viviani (C), 80′ Petdji (C), 94′ Furini (C).

TheAC Milan PUMA Kits for 2025/26 are available: buy them now!

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/milan-futuro-run-riot-caldiero-174500913.html 

Jack Hughes’ missing teeth steal the show during viral Olympics golden goal interview originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes was the hero for the United States in the gold medal victory against Canada on Sunday.

Hughes scored the game-winning goal in the game, giving the United States their first gold medal in men’s ice hockey since 1980, and its third gold medal ever in the event. However, Hughes’ goal was only part of the story.

Late in the game, Hughes drew a penalty on a high stick to the face, allowing the U.S. to get a four-minute power play. While the team didn’t score on the advantage, the play left a mark in Hughes’ mouth, leading to a noticeable visual in the postgame celebration.

Here’s how Jack Hughes’ teeth stole the show after the game. 

MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer’s guide | Day-by-day schedule

Jack Hughes teeth

Although Jack Hughes scored the golden goal on Sunday, his teeth are getting an equal amount of attention. The forward took a high stick to the face from Sam Bennett in the third period, chipping a tooth and drawing blood in the process.

Jack Hughes had his teeth chipped during the gold medal match 😳 pic.twitter.com/QIjc0tDStz

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 22, 2026

Then, after Hughes scored the final goal, cameras were all over him in the celebration, showing the damage done to his smile.

Jack Hughes sacrificed his teeth for a gold medal for Team USA 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/73osrt1hcW

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 22, 2026

Jack Hughes is an Olympic gold medalist. 🥇 #MilanoCortina2026#WinterOlympicspic.twitter.com/43VCWKdUat

— NHL (@NHL) February 22, 2026

Jack Hughes interview

Of course, Hughes was interviewed by NBC’s Kathryn Tappen after the game, giving the public a great view of his gap in teeth.

Jack Hughes, who scored the game winning goal for the United States:

“This is all about our country. I love the USA.”
pic.twitter.com/ymP617K4IT

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 22, 2026

Hughes will go down as an American hockey hero, and his missing teeth will now be remembered along with his overtime winner.

MORE: Watch Jack Hughes’ golden goal against Canada

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/jack-hughes-missing-teeth-steal-174312801.html