Conte: Antonio Conte has been awarded the Panchina d’Oro for his exploits with Juventus last season. The annual award for best coach is given to the one who impresses most the season before. In 2013-14, Conte led Juve to the league title with a record haul of 102 points. Fiorentina’s Vincenzo Montella came second, while Rudi Garcia of Roma rounded off the top three. Previous winners of the award include Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi.
Johnson: Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has no idea where he will be next season but it appears increasingly likely he will move overseas as his representatives have already held exploratory talks with foreign clubs. The 30-year-old is out of contract in the summer and negotiations over a new deal stalled at the beginning of the season and have never got going again. Asked about his contract situation Johnson said: “No talks. At this point I have no idea (where I will be next season). I haven’t thought about it.”
Apology: Cologne forward Anthony Ujah has apologised for grabbing the club mascot – a goat – by the horns during celebrations in their 4-2 Bundesliga victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday. After scoring to secure a 4-1 lead in the 81st minute, the Nigerian ran to the side of the pitch where the goat is positioned during home games, grabbed the animal named Hennes VIII by the horns and attempted to drag it onto the pitch. “Perfect Sunday. Sorry Hennes. I was a bit too rough on him,” Ujah wrote on Twitter.
Asian Cup: United Arab Emirates were, as expected, named hosts of the 2019 Asian Cup yesterday after beating outsiders Iran to stage the expanded 24-team tournament. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the safe bet decision after a meeting of their executive committee in Bahrain. Iran’s hopes were always hindered by the unwillingness to allow women to attend matches at home, a decision FIFA president Sepp Blatter labelled “intolerable”.
Brunt: West Brom midfielder Chris Brunt has been charged by the FA with verbally abusing match officials following the FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday. “It is alleged that in the tunnel area after the end of the fixture the player used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards a match official,” read a statement on the FA’s website yesterday.
In Italy: Serie B – Entella vs Cittadella 2-1. Lega Pro Group B – L’Aquila vs Reggiana 0-1.
Primera Liga: Cordoba vs Getafe 1-2.