Oliver Glasner’s inevitable exit compounds one of Crystal Palace’s worst ever weeks | Ed Aarons

Oliver Glasner’s inevitable exit compounds one of Crystal Palace’s worst ever weeks | Ed Aarons

Manager’s decision is no surprise having fought to keep Marc Guéhi in the summer and doubts over futures of a host of Palace’s FA Cup-winning stars It was the day Crystal Palace supporters had dreaded but feared was inevitable. Oliver Glasner, having confirmed that the captain Marc Guéhi’s move to Manchester City is poised to go ahead, had another bombshell prepared for his press conference to preview Saturday’s trip to Sunderland. Nearly eight months to the day since the Austrian led the club to their first major trophy by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final , his announcement that he will leave Selhurst Park at the end of the season came as no surprise. It rounds off one of the worst weeks in the club’s history after the humiliating defeat by non-league Macclesfield that will be for ever an unwanted postscript to their victory. Continue reading...

‘I was still breastfeeding in the first tournaments I played’: Belinda Bencic on getting back to her best

‘I was still breastfeeding in the first tournaments I played’: Belinda Bencic on getting back to her best

The Tokyo Olympic champion has climbed more than 1,200 places back to the world top 10 following the birth of her daughter, Bella “I definitely think I’m a better player now than I was before my pregnancy,” Belinda Bencic says as she reflects on climbing more than 1,200 places up the world rankings since returning to competitive tennis as a new mother. In October 2024 Bencic had plummeted to a lowly spot as world No 1,213 when she stepped back on to court feeling secure that baby Bella was being looked after by her husband, Martin Hromkovic – who is also her strength and conditioning coach. On 11 January, 14 months since her comeback began, Bencic played Iga Swiatek in the final of the United Cup in Sydney . The world No 2, and current Wimbledon champion, won the first set but Bencic played supreme tennis as she swept Swiatek aside 6-0, 6-3 in the next two sets to seal her ninth consecutive victory of the week for Switzerland. Her imperious performance also meant that Bencic was back in the world top 10 again. Continue reading...