Fit-again Fitzpatrick in GB Winter Paralympics team — and more

Menna Fitzpatrick, Britain's most decorated Winter Paralympian, will compete at Milan-Cortina only three months after suffering a significant knee injury.

Barcelona’s intense season under Hansi Flick briefly took a lighter turn as Ferran Torres and Pedri appeared together on El Hormiguero (h/t SPORT). 

The duo used their day off to share stories from inside the Barça dressing room, offering fans a rare and honest glimpse into team life.

For Pedri, the timing of the appearance carried extra meaning, as the midfielder had only just returned from a muscle injury. 

During the interview, the moment that truly grabbed attention involved Flick’s strict code of conduct. 

The German manager has built a culture based on discipline, and punctuality sits at the heart of it. 

“If you arrive late, the rest have to wait for you, and that’s disrespectful,” Pedri explained.

Rule under Flick

The midfielder and Ferran also revealed that there has been a change in how lateness is punished this season. 

Previously, players risked being dropped from the starting eleven, as happened to Jules Kounde. Now, the system is financial.

“We’ve changed the punctuality rule a little. If you’re late, you pay a fine,” Pedri added.

Ferran confirmed they can reach €40,000, underlining how seriously Flick treats the matter. Adding humour, he said, 

“I can’t imagine how much money 20 minutes would be. You might as well send him a photo of an ibuprofen,” he joked.

Pedri and Ferran have revealed the rule under Flick. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Last season offered a clear example of Flick’s firmness when Kounde was benched against Alaves after arriving late to a pre-match talk, with Hector Fort stepping in. 

Despite the strict rules, the pair insisted Flick also knows how to step back. They noted that he “doesn’t get involved” in the TikToks and dances happening in the dressing room.

Personal side

The interview also revealed their personalities. Pedri described Ferran as the “joker,” while the forward admitted, “I’m more of a go-getter than a defender.” 

Speaking about Barcelona’s ambitions, Ferran did not hide his belief: “We believe we’re going to win everything within our reach, as long as we’re alive,” he said.

When asked which Real Madrid player they would sign, both answered without hesitation: “Mbappe.”

Their friendship was evident when Pedri joked about becoming Ferran’s chauffeur. 

“The night before, he asks me what time I’ll pick him up in the morning. 

“He gets in with his coffee, the only thing missing is for him to tell me one day not to talk and just focus on driving,“ Pedri said with a laugh. 

Ferran responded warmly, “I take good care of Pedri and I’m very attentive to him, because we depend on him a lot and he has to be well. 

“He’s a player who gives us a lot because he controls the tempo of the game,” he noted.

Team USA hockey players marked their Olympic gold medal triumph with an extravagant celebration at Miami's E11EVEN nightclub. The victory party saw stars like Jack Hughes enjoying cigars and drinks alongside hundreds of adoring fans.

The celebration comes after the team's dramatic win against Canada in the Winter Olympics final. Players were seen mingling with supporters and continuing their victory tour, which has taken them from the ice rink to the nightclubs of Miami.

Manchester United pulled off a late win over Everton to consolidate their place in the top four in the Premier League.

Gritty win

The display was hardly one to get the hairs standing on end, but they passed a tough examination on a wet and windy Monday night at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Their 1-0 win was full of grit and determination and marked their fifth win in six matches under interim manager Michael Carrick.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Carrick gave his thoughts on the game.

He admitted it was not his side’s best game, but emphasised that the victory and three points were crucial. Carrick explained, “there are games where you have to show a different side to your team. We had four wins in a row with some really good performances, and I kind of expected there would be a period where we’d have to dig in a bit more and grind out results.”

He continued, “we did that to a point at West Ham, and we had to do it again today. The spirit, the sacrifice, the willingness to work for each other — especially the way we defended our box towards the end — everyone played their part. To come away with a clean sheet is fantastic, and it’s a great win for us.”

Tough place to come to

Carrick was asked to comment on whether the fact that United had not played in 13 days had made them a little rusty, but he focused more on how tough a place Everton is to visit.

He asserted, “it didn’t come easy for us tonight. It’s always tough coming here — I’ve been coming to Everton for a long time and it’s never an easy game. I can’t remember a match here where everything’s just clicked.”

Carrick admitted it was a slog and a struggle, but stated that sometimes these are the best wins for a coach.

Quality in attack

United spent big in the summer to bring in Brazilian Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, and all contributed to the goal.

Running through Sesko’s winner, Carrick added, “yeah, it was a great move. We know we’re capable of that. We’ve got players who can produce moments like that. If we defend well as a team and put the work in, we always feel we’ve got a chance.”

He added, “Matheus defended well and started the transition, Bryan picked out a great pass, and Ben finished it confidently and strongly. I loved the finish. I’m delighted for him — he’s made an impact again and keeps doing it.”

Sesko form

Despite scoring three crucial goals in his last four games, Sesko has been left on the bench by Carrick.

The English manager made sure to show support for the Slovenian and hinted that he would soon get his chance from the start.

He explained, “Ben’s in a really good place at the moment. We’ve had some good conversations. Patience is important for him — helping him grow and develop as a player here. He understands that.”

Carrick finished by explaining, “I’m sure he’s going to be a big player for us for a long time. We’ve got to manage that properly. We’ve got some very good forward players, and he’s made a big difference when he’s come on. Selection decisions are something we’ll consider as we move forward, but the balance in our forward play has been good.”

Benjamin Sesko 25/26 season stats

Source: transfermarkt.comFeatured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

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British tennis player Katie Boulter secured a straight-set victory over Beatriz Haddad despite experiencing serving difficulties during their match. The win comes as a boost for Boulter, while Haddad's defeat marks her sixth loss in seven matches, continuing her recent poor form.