Sports

Jose Mourinho: Will Real Madrid return prove his biggest challenge yet?

Published

14 minutes ago

August 12, 2026

That may be the biggest question Mourinho has to answer, with the Real dressing room containing Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham among a collection of elite players.

Mourinho’s methods have traditionally relied on establishing strong relationships with key personalities and demanding total commitment.

“I think Bellingham will absolutely love Jose,” said Huth. “He will thrive under him.”

But he has concerns about Mbappe and Vinicius as he added: “When things don’t go their way, things come out in the Press. I don’t like that kind of thing.

“Bellingham is that kind of guy that gives everything each game. Jose loves that.”

Managing such stars will prove a defining challenge for Mourinho, said Calderon too.

“The dressing room is full of stars, he has a fantastic squad,” he added. “But it can be a problem if you don’t manage it properly.”

In his first managerial role at Porto, Mourinho was desperate to prove himself at the highest level and show his worth.

He took over midway through the 2001-02 season, famously saying he would make them champions the following year.

He delivered, building a team with relatively unknown players but hungry for success. He won the Portuguese title and Uefa Cup in 2003, then retained the league title and won the Champions League in the following season.

Journalist Monteiro admitted that version of Mourinho was impossible to recreate.

“What Mourinho did at Porto was a once-in-a-lifetime job,” he said. “The big difference is that back then he needed to prove something.

“Now I think he only needs to prove something to himself – and sometimes that’s not good for him.”

At 63, Mourinho has nothing left to prove in terms of reputation, but Real Madrid may demand and need something different.

It’s not simply the charisma and tactical intelligence that made him a global managerial icon, but the ability to adapt.

Huth said Mourinho still possessed “unbelievable knowledge” of the game, but now needed to convince the current players at Real Madrid to believe in him completely as those at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan once did in their quest for more honours.

Sports

The Hundred 2026 results: Welsh Fire eliminated after defeat by London Spirit

Published

7 minutes ago

August 12, 2026

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The Hundred men’s competition, Sophia Gardens

London Spirit 131-8 (100 balls): Bairstow 34 (19); Jansen 2-16

Welsh Fire 125-7 (100 balls): Cox 44 (28); Willey 3-20

London Spirit won by six runs

Scorecard. Table

Welsh Fire were eliminated from The Hundred as they suffered a six-run defeat by London Spirit in their final group phase match in Cardiff.

Fire finished their campaign four points behind Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds, who are second and third respectively, with four wins from eight matches.

MI London, who are fourth, can still qualify for the Eliminator at the expense of Sunrisers if they defeat Birmingham Phoenix by a significant margin today.

Heading into their final fixture, the Welsh side’s hopes of progressing were effectively over because of their net run-rate of -1.001, and they were handed a target of 132 by Spirit to chase down.

Fire looked on course for a routine win as Joe Root and Jordan Cox produced a 47-run stand to take them to 90-2.

Root departed for a run-a-ball 31 but Cox accelerated to reach 44 from 28 balls, leaving his side needing 15 runs to win from eight balls with six wickets in hand.

But Fire then lost Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Rachin Ravindra in quick succession, with Marco Jansen needing a six from the final ball to level the score.

Jansen slapped David Willey over midwicket hoping to clear the rope but was caught by Jamie Overton at deep as they finished narrowly short.

Sent out to bat first, Spirit never fully gained momentum as the Fire bowlers produced a disciplined display to restrict the visitors to 131-8 in Cardiff.

Jonny Bairstow’s 34 from 19 balls provided the early impetus for Spirit while James Coles and Jamie Overton also added 29 and 21 respectively.

But none were able to convert their starts into a substantial innings as Chris Woakes and Jansen picked up two wickets apiece.

Spirit ended their campaign seventh in the table with three wins.

Sports

Fire eliminated after shock late collapse to Spirit

Published

21 minutes ago

August 12, 2026

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London Spirit complete a six-run win over Welsh Fire to end the home side’s hopes of progressing to the Eliminator round of the Men’s Hundred.

Sports

German soccer club warns vloggers over recording in stadiums, asks for ‘mutual respect’

Published

28 minutes ago

August 12, 2026

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The newly-promoted 2.Bundesliga club re-emphasised in a statement targeting influencers and content creators of the in-stadium filming ban. Pau Barrena/Getty Images

German soccer club Dynamo Dresden has issued a reminder to ‘vlogging’ spectators that recording at its Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion for public distribution is prohibited.

The newly-promoted 2.Bundesliga club re-emphasised in a statement targeting influencers and content creators on Wednesday that the practice of filming a matchday experience with the intention of sharing on social networks or video platforms was not allowed.

The possession of recording equipment with the intent of in-stadium filming would only be tolerated with the “express prior permission” of the club.

Dynamo Dresden, who were crowned champions of the former East Germany on eight occasions, said the move was “to protect the media and rights of our TV partners” alongside those of the club. “If content is monetized, the respective creators primarily benefit, while our club receives nothing,” the statement read.

The club added anyone in the K-block of the stadium — which houses the club’s ultras, the hardcore fans known for choreographing massive stadium visual displays and rhythmic chanting — should continue to use any equipment capable of recording, such as smartphones, “sensitively and responsibly”.

A tifo display of Dynamo Dresden's ultras

Dynamo Dresden’s ultras occupy the K-block area of the stadium (Matthias Kern/Getty Images)

The club, whose first home game of the campaign is against Darmstadt on Sunday, added: “We want to contribute to ensuring that all visitors feel comfortable in the stadium and can experience the game together.

“Many fans wish to enjoy their stadium experience without constant cameras or recordings in their immediate vicinity. Consideration and mutual respect are therefore essential prerequisites for a positive atmosphere in the stands.”

Dynamo Dresden are not the first club to reiterate that the practice of recording in stadiums with the intention of public distribution is prohibited.

Hansa Rostock, who compete in the 3. Liga, said in December that vlogging had “increased significantly” and would not be tolerated by security staff. The club said recording intended to “go beyond private memories” onto monetized platforms were not accepted.

Hansa signed off the statement by saying “leave your cameras in your backpack”.

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Aug 12, 2026