Ange Postecoglou’s ill-fated reign as Nottingham Forest boss came to a dramatic close as owner Evangelos Marinakis wielded the axe for the second time this season.
Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City beat Everton 2-0 in a hard-fought encounter which prompted boss Pep Guardiola to issue a challenge to the Norwegian’s team-mates.
In Germany, England skipper Harry Kane continued his remarkable goalscoring exploits as Bayern Munich cemented their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Maresca sympathises with Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou was sacked as Nottingham Forest coach just 19 minutes after a 3-0 Premier League defeat by Chelsea
Ange Postecoglou was sacked as Nottingham Forest coach just 19 minutes after a 3-0 Premier League defeat by Chelsea(Mike Egerton/PA)
Enzo Maresca expressed sympathy with Nottingham Forest counterpart Ange Postecoglou following his dismissal just 19 minutes after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea.
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Postecoglou lost his job after just 39 days and eight games, none of which he won, as owner Evangelos Marinakis, who left his seat during the second half and pulled the trigger soon afterwards, dispensed with a manager for the second time this season.
Blues boss Maresca said: “I didn’t speak with Ange. I didn’t see him, but just said I feel very sorry for him.
“But we said many times, this is a business where if you don’t win games, the consequence for all of us is exactly the same. So, sorry for him.”
Help for Haaland
Erling Haaland scored both goals as Manchester City beat Everton 2-0
Erling Haaland scored both goals as Manchester City beat Everton 2-0(Martin Rickett/PA)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has warned his team they cannot rely on Erling Haaland to score all their goals.
The 25-year-old Norway international took his tally for the season to 23 in 13 appearances for club and country this season with a double in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton.
However, Guardiola said afterwards: “He could have scored four or five at the end. He’s our key man, what can I say?
“But at the same time, we cannot rely and do good things just with Erling, so our wingers, attacking midfielders and our other players have to make a step up. When the chances we create are so clear, you have to score goals. They have to score at that level.”
Kane reaches 400
Harry Kane, left, scored the 400th goal of his club career in Bayern Munich’s 2-1 Bundesliga win over Borussia Dortmund
Harry Kane, left, scored the 400th goal of his club career in Bayern Munich’s 2-1 Bundesliga win over Borussia Dortmund(Lennart Preis/AP)
Harry Kane scored the 400th goal of his club career as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Bundesliga’s Der Klassiker.
The England captain struck for the 22nd time in 14 appearances for club and country this season, although Michael Olise’s 78th-minute goal ultimately proved decisive after Julian Brandt reduced the deficit with six minutes remaining at the Allianz Arena.
Kane headed home from a Joshua Kimmich corner after 22 minutes to give his side the lead with his 12th goal in seven league outings this season.
The former Tottenham frontman, who scored twice in his country’s 5-0 World Cup qualifier victory in Latvia on Tuesday, already has two Bundesliga hat-tricks and two doubles to his name during the current campaign.
What’s on today?
Champions Liverpool will look to close a four-point gap on current Premier League leaders Arsenal when they entertain Manchester United at Anfield.
Earlier, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa will go head-to-head in north London with Thomas Frank’s men targeting a place in the top four.
North of the border, Scottish champions Celtic will attempt to move to within two points of leaders Hearts when they travel to Dundee.