The Real Madrid boss is similar to his predecessor, according to the midfielder

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro compared Santiago Solari’s approach to that of former coach Zinedine Zidane.

Solari took over at the Santiago Bernabeu in October last year, but is under pressure amid Madrid’s struggles, the club having lost three of their past four games.

However, Casemiro feels the Argentinian can be compared to Zidane, who resigned at the end of last season after guiding Madrid to three Champions League titles and a LaLiga crown.

“It would be unfair to single out one coach,” he told Esporte Interativo.

“[Jose] Mourinho, [Carlo] Ancelotti, Zidane, Rafa Benitez… each one had their own important characteristics.

“With Zidane he had a lot of relationships with the players, a father-son relationship. Like a friend.

“Solari does the same, he is being fair to everyone.”

Looking for a return to form, Madrid host Ajax on Tuesday, holding a 2-1 aggregate lead in the Champions League last-16 tie.

Casemiro said it was natural for teams to endure tough periods, but the Brazil international wants success.

“It’s normal for a team to have low moments. We’re growing now,” he said.

“Now comes the most important thing [the Champions League]. We have tough opponents and we’re focused on winning all of the trophies, but it’s hard.”

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The Frenchman was sacked after the Foxes’ 4-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace – their fifth loss in six Premier League matches

Claude Puel has sent a dignified message to Leicester City after he was sacked as the club’s manager following the 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Goals from Michy Batshuayi, Wilfried Zaha (2) and Luka Milivojevic brought Puel’s 16-month tenure at the King Power Stadium to a dismal end.

Pressure had been mounting on the former Southampton boss, whose side have not won in the Premier League since a 1-0 victory over Everton on January 1, losing five of their seven league matches in 2019 in total, as well as exiting the FA Cup at the first hurdle to Newport County.

Impressive results against the Premier League’s top-six sides had helped Puel hold on, but Leicester’s hierarchy announced on Sunday that the Frenchman had been relieved of his duties.

In a statement issued by the League Manager’s Association, Puel sent a message of thanks to the club, which he managed through one of its most difficult spells when chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was one of five people killed in a helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium in October 2018.

“I would like to thank everyone that I worked with at Leicester,” Puel stated.

“It was a privilege to work with the players, the staff and the management. I would also like to thank the fans for their fantastic support.

“I really appreciate the willingness to learn and work ethic of all of the players and I have no doubt that they will all have bright futures. 

“It was my honour to work for the late and much loved Khun Vichai, who gave me the fantastic opportunity to manage his club and share some great moments with him. 

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“My mission at Leicester ends here but I will continue to follow the performances of the team and wish the club all the best for the future.”

Jonny Evans scored the final goal of Puel’s reign at Leicester, restoring parity against Palace before Zaha and Milivojevic took the game away from their hosts, and he insisted the players must take their share of the blame.

“We got called into a meeting [on Sunday], the manager spoke, he spoke well, to the players and informed us of the club’s decision,” Evans told Sky Sports. 

“He wished us all the best for the future. We feel responsible for a lot of things, when you lose games, you feel like you’re letting a lot of people down, not just the manager.

“As players, you never really know [if a manager is going to get sacked]. Everyone is trying to gauge what’s going on, but we don’t know what the club’s thinking behind the scenes.”

First-team coach Mike Stowell will take charge of Leicester’s next Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday.

“It’s always sad to see a manager leave the club,” Stowell told a news conference.

“[Puel] had the club at heart. Performances have been really good, but sometimes you don’t get the rub of the green.”

Back to playing catch up in the Premier League standings, Pep Guardiola will want the win to keep the pressure on leaders Liverpool

Manchester City play host to West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, with regaining top spot in the Premier League their immediate target.

Pep Guardiola’s men picked up silverware at the weekend as they defeated Chelsea on penalties in a match that will be best remembered for Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refusing to be replaced before the shootout.

They had gone into Sunday leading the league, but Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United saw them fall a point behind the Reds.

West Ham, meanwhile, had cemented their position in the heart of the standings two days earlier with a 3-1 win over Fulham and will seek to keep their momentum going, despite the monumental task that lies ahead.

In the United States (US), the game can be streamed via NBC Sports Gold.

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will not be shown on television or streamed.

Manchester City lost Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho to injuries at the weekend, with both set to miss out for several weeks.

Claudio Bravo, John Stones and Gabriel Jesus are all still laid up, although Benjamin Mendy is training again and could play some role.

Man City starting XI:  Ederson, Danilo, Kompany, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Silva, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Sane, Aguero

West Ham have been troubled by long-term injury problems all season and that trend continues, although there is light at the end of the tunnel for Fabian Balbuena, who is training again.

Winston Reid, Carlos Sanchez, Jack Wilshere and Andriy Yarmolenko are all sidelined.

West Ham starting XI: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Johnson, Obiang, Rice, Nasri, Antonio, Anderson, Arnautovic

Manchester City are 1/6 favourites with Bet365 . A draw can be backed at 8/1, while a West Ham victory is available at 18/1.

Click here to see all of bet 365’s offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

Manchester City might have picked up the first silverware of the domestic season, but they have their eyes firmly set on greater goals than the Carabao Cup, which they claimed with a penalty shootout victory over Chelsea.

Indeed, they are currently chasing four titles, with Kevin De Bruyne of the belief that if Pep Guardiola’s men can complete a clean sweep they will become “the best team ever”.

“We want to win as much as possible but not to think about the quadruple. If we win three and then play the Champions League final then maybe we can talk about it. Before that, no way!” the Belgian told Sky Sports .

De Bruyne did admit that he feels the challenge is “almost impossible” and certainly there is little scope for error with City now playing catch up in the league as they trail Liverpool by a point.

Guardiola, meanwhile, wants full commitment from his players .

“I don’t want to see excuses from my players about tiredness or the amount of games, that is nothing when you have to fight until the end to the retain the title,” he explained.

“The power and energy to achieve that is higher than any excuses you can find.

“The last few months of the season, the mentality makes the difference.

“I want to smell in the locker room, at the beginning of the game and during the game, if we really want to win this title.”

Manuel Pellegrini, who guided City to their second Premier League title, returns to the Etihad for the first time since leaving in 2016 aiming to put a spanner in their works at the helm of West Ham. 

“He did an incredible job,” Guardiola said . “The league he won was outstanding, the number of goals, the way they played. He had a good team and they did well.”

Pellegrini, meanwhile, does not forecast his former club being significantly weakened following their marathon against Chelsea on Sunday.

“I don’t think they will be weaker than normal on Wednesday,” he said.

“Playing 120 minutes of course is a lot, a long game, but they have a strong squad, they can make the changes that they want and continue to have the best squad in the Premier League.”

With the Hammers looking up the table after a three-match undefeated run, there will be no room for sentiment on the part of the Argentine.

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Highlanders winger Waisake Naholo will miss the Super Rugby clash with the Western Force in Perth on Saturday after copping a one-game ban for a shoulder charge against the Bulls.

All Blacks flyer Naholo was sent off for the incident midway through the second half of Saturday’s 17-10 win in Pretoria.

His shoulder collected the head of Burger Odendaal after the Bulls inside centre passed the ball.

A SANZAAR foul play review committee accepted a guilty plea from Naholo and said the incident was at the lower end of the scale.

A two-week ban was reduced because of Naholo’s good judicial record and early plea.

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Coach Swys de Bruin believes a strong defensive effort from the Lions in their Super Rugby quarter-final will give them a solid foundation when they take on NSW Waratahs in next weekend’s semi-final.

The Lions beat the Jaguares 40-23 at Ellis Park on Saturday to keep themselves on course to reach the final for a third successive year but not before producing some stout defending to hold the Argentine side at bay.

“I thought at stages our defence was great, at the right times,” De Bruin said after Saturday’s success in Johannesburg.

De Bruin anticipates a similar attacking onslaught from the Waratahs, who came from behind to win 30-23 in their quarter-final at home to the Otago Highlanders on Saturday.

The Australians will travel to Johannesburg for Saturday’s semi-final.

“Their strengths and the way they attack are a bit different. They play from edge to edge a lot and vary their kicks. They have a lot of international players and we anticipate a team that will be up there.

“The Waratahs were third on list of the number of tries scored in this year’s Super Rugby so they know how to find your try line. But with the defensive effort that I saw against the Jaguares, I’m happy,” added the Lions coach.

The Lions have already beaten the Waratahs this season, winning 29-0 in Sydney in April.

The Lions will host the Waratahs in the Super Rugby semi-final on Saturday July 28, kicking off at 3:05pm local, 11:05pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS.

Jean Shrimpton at Derby Day in 1965

Fashion is to horseracing what tonic is to gin. One doesn’t just make the other better: they’re entirely symbiotic. Ever since the Victoria Racing Club introduced Fashions on the Field in 1962, to encourage a more enthusiastic female contingent in the crowd, style has become as important as the stakes at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

There are rules and conventions at the Carnival that make dressing to a theme more interesting, but some of the best fashion moments in racing history were created by women who didn’t play by the rules.

In 1965, three years after Fashions on the Field kicked off, model Jean Shrimpton arrived in Melbourne sans hat, gloves and stockings (accessories that were considered essential to the dress code), and caused a stir. The then-22-year-old beauty was also clad in a white shift dress that was 12 centimetres above her knees – apparently enough to kick the winning horse off the front pages of the newspapers the following day. Shrimpton’s legs (she claimed that photographers knelt at her feet to shoot upwards and make the skirt appear even shorter) replaced the ‘race that stopped a nation’ with ‘the legs that stopped a nation’. Her dress, by London-based maker Colin Rolfe, not only rocked the local establishment, but also made a strong case for shorter hemlines the world over. For her next appearance at the Carnival, Shrimpton paired a hat (by Melbourne milliner Adele Chapeaux) with a two-piece suit. Her unwillingness to conform to convention might have been shocking back in 1965, but by the following year, mini-dresses were seen all over Flemington.

A racegoer at the Melbourne Cup in 1969

Jean Shrimpton and Terrance Stamp at Melbourne Cup in 1965

Gai Waterhouse (at centre) with Melbourne Cup fashionistas in 1969

In the 1970s, maxi-dresses, florals, boots and pants-suits dominated on and off the track. In place of Fashions on the Field, which took a temporary hiatus, a local newspaper ran a contest for the most stylish couple. Finally, fashion-forward men in flared pants and pointy collars got the attention they deserved.

The 80s were a colourful era for the Melbourne Cup, and the reinstatement of Fashions on the Field recaptured the public’s attention to sartorial choices. In fact, a significant boost in prize money catapulted fashion to the forefront. In 1985, Princess Diana arrived at the Melbourne Cup not in shoulder pads and taffeta, like most of her contemporaries, but in a black and white Bruce Oldfield suit and matching monochrome Frederick Fox hat, black gloves and pearl-drop earrings. It was a bold antithesis to the brashness of the decade, which made it even more of a style statement. But it was her sheer stockings with a delicate back seam and bow above the ankles that was the most memorable – and most emulated – element.

The focus on fashion from the neck up took an artistic turn in the 90s and into the 00s. Hats were big, bold and colourful and dresses smaller. Spaghetti-strap slip dresses were the perfect backdrop for oversized and outlandish headwear, designed to become conversation starters. Men joined in, with the introduction of a male category in Fashions on the Field in 2001.

The current decade has proven everything old is new again, as traditions are revived and a more conservative era romanticised. When Nicole Kidman arrived at Derby Day in 2012 wearing an organic silk and lace L’Wren Scott dress and a hat made out of
recycled plastic bottles by British milliner Stephen Jones, she could very well have been dressed in character for a remake of Audrey Hepburn’s iconic My Fair Lady. In 2013, Naomi Campbell chose a black-and-white hound’s-tooth Dior gown and Philip Treacy hat to keep it classic for the Melbourne Cup, offering a lesson in the value of keeping things simple, no matter the code of the day.

So, what will dominate Flemington in the next decade? Investment pieces you can repurpose time and again are odds-on favourites, according to milliner Viktoria Novak. “Crowns and headbands continue to be
popular. Something that is re-wearable is important, as there’s such a strong move towards sustainability in fashion. Modern racegoers would much rather invest in a quality headpiece and understand the
history of where and how it is made,” she says.

Fashions on the Field at the Melbourne Cup in 1971

Spectators at the Melbourne Cup

Gai Waterhouse with Kate Bosworth at Derby Day in 2006

Ita Buttrose and Bernard King at the Melbourne Cup in 1982

Nicole Kidman wearing L’Wren Scott at Derby Day in 2012

Diana, Princess of Wales at the Melbourne Cup in 1985Click Here: habitat tord boontje

While there is a certain dress standard that comes with a royal title, and the added pressure of being photographed each and every time they step out at a public engagement, that doesn’t always make them exempt from making relatable wardrobe choices.

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The new generation of British royals, namely Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, are spearheading slightly left-of-field wardrobe habits, often side-stepping long-held dressing traditions—such as rules about royals having to keep their coats on in public, and hats and headpieces in public being a must before 6pm—in favour of a slightly more modern approach to dressing which leaves a little more room for movement.

Middleton, for example, has mastered the art of the outfit repeat, something you wouldn’t expect one of the more prominent world figures, with a slightly larger wardrobe budget than most, to make a habit of.

Sure, this particular wardrobe choice may come as a bi-product of keeping royal wardrobe spending low, but it sure has brought us a little closer to once-distant figures when it comes to fashion.

Joining Middleton in her outfit repeating ways is Markle, who admittedly has had to tighten her wardrobe restrictions since becoming the Duchess of Sussex, but has made her own mark when it comes to royal dressing, relatable habits included.

Ever a fan of a Manolo Blahnik suede stiletto heel, and already having a strong penchant for Aquazzura’s pointed pumps for a royal occasion, the duchess is a big fan of the outfit recycle. She’s even gotten good wear out of her Castañer Carina heeled espadrilles over the last year—never in the presence of the Queen of course—and now, Markle has brought her repetitive ways to her main wardrobe.

Scroll on to see our round up of every single time Meghan Markle has recycled an outfit.

Stepping out on September 23 with husband Prince Harry for a visit to the District 6 Museum and Homecoming Centre during their 2019 royal tour of South Africa, Markle’s blue Veronica Beard button-down midi dress struck us immediately with an air of familiarity. And after a little digging through our duchess dressing archive, we soon realised that this was the exact dress Markle wore just last year on her royal tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.

Attending Tupou College on October 26, 2018 in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, the then-newly pregnant duchess first selected the belted blue item to participate in the Unveiling of The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.

During the very same royal tour of South Africa mentioned earlier, Markle’s striped Martin Grant maxi dress also looked to be extremely familiar at first glance. Again borrowing from her royal tour wardrobe from the previous year, the duchess had recycled the dress for a reception for young people, community and civil society leaders at the Residence of the British High Commissioner in Cape Town, South Africa on September 24.

The duchess first wore the Martin Grant piece while visiting a local Australian surfing community group, known as OneWave, who raise awareness for mental health and wellbeing, at Bondi Beach in Sydney on October 19, 2018.

The Mexican sides both look well in control of their quarterfinal ties following dominant first-leg road wins over MLS outfits

Santos Laguna took a commanding 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls in the first leg of thier Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal clash on Tuesday.  

Playing at home, the MLS side couldn’t match the Liga MX club, with poor finishing from New York proving costly as Santos showed a clinical edge in front of goal either side of halftime to take control of the tie.  

The visitors opened the scoring just before the break with a clever bit of play near the top of the New York box.  

Brian Lozano slipped a ball into the feet of Julio Furch, who in turn picked out Diego Valdes.  

With another option streaking down his right, Valdes used the space to fire off a shot that left New York goalkeeper Luis Robles stranded and handed the Mexican club a 1-0 lead.  

The second for Santos came just two minutes after the re-start.  

Furch was the man to finish the move, but it was Javier Correa ‘s clever touch in the box that split the Red Bulls’ defense and made it little more than a tap-in for the striker.  

Bradley Wright-Phillips had multiple chances throughout the night, including one in the final minute of regular time, but Santos Laguna goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco was outstanding throughout to preserve the clean sheet for his side. 

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The other match of the night Liga MX power Tigres also take a dominant position against the Houston Dynamo with a 2-0 win in Houston.  

Tigres broke the deadlock 78 minutes in through Enner Valencia following a quick counterattack, the Ecuadorian tapping home on the doorstep from a Luis Quinones .  

Valencia then turned provider, setting up Julian Quinones two minutes later with a ball over the top to seal the win.  

Houston had no response for the late onslaught and will now face the daunting task of trip to face Tigres at El Volcan needing to overturn a two-goal deficit.  

The return legs for both matches will take place next Tuesday, with the MLS sides needing something of a miracle for either of them to earn a spot in the CCL semifinals.

The champions pulled level with Lucien Favre’s side on Saturday but the manager insists he is only thinking about his own side

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Niko Kovac insists he is not thinking about Borussia Dortmund despite seeing his Bayern Munich side pull level with them at the Bundesliga summit on Saturday.

Long-time leaders Dortmund had opened the door for Kovac’s men after suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to Augsburg on Friday and the reigning champions took full advantage as they thumped Borussia Monchengladbach 5-1.

Javi Martinez and Thomas Muller netted inside 11 minutes before Lars Stindl pulled one back for the hosts.

The visitors pulled away in the second period, however, as a Robert Lewandowski double and Serge Gnabry’s strike sealed an 11th win in their last 12 Bundesliga games in some style.

Kovac refused to be drawn on Dortmund after the game, instead choosing to focus on the momentum that his own side have built up.

“I do not want to talk about Dortmund,” he said.

“We talk about ourselves and I think our team is doing very well right now. We have won 11 times in the last 12 games and that is what I expect.

“I’m very happy with the game. We should have scored one or two more goals. It was possible.”

Monchengladbach won the reverse fixture at the Alliaz Arena in October 3-0 – a result goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is pleased to lay to rest.

“There was just a little bit different from the last Gladbach game,” he said. “Of course, you lose reluctantly and that was not quite deserved back then. 

“We could have achieved one or two more goals, but overall we are satisfied.

“We know that in this season a lot is possible, so we have to stay calm. We just must make sure we give everything we can to become champions.”

Youngsters Mason Greenwood and Tahith Chong played against PSG and want more big-time action, says their teenaged team-mate

Manchester United’s next generation are hungry for more after getting a thrilling taste of the big stage against Paris Saint-Germain, says 18-year-old midfielder Angel Gomes.

Interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer boldly blooded 17-year-old striker Mason Greenwood in the latter stages of the Red Devils’ amazing Champions League comeback in the French capital last week.

He also threw on winger Tahith Chong, 19, for only his second appearance for the club and had fellow youngster Gomes on the bench.

All three are pushing for further first-team opportunity and Gomes told MUTV: “It was a great experience, not just for me but all of the lads who came and got involved.

“I think there were eight players who have come through the academy that came on the trip and it just shows how much the club has an interest in the youth.

“It is big for the club and it showed, everywhere, how great this club is.”

Greenwood and Chong gave nerveless performances as United won 3-1 to progress to the quarter-finals on the away goals rule.

“The more that come, the more it shows Man United,” added Gomes. “I think it was great for Mason and Chongy to be involved.

“It is an experience they will never forget as well. I have grown up with these boys, right from Under-9s to now. To see us all with the first team, travelling and getting some experiences, is amazing.”

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Gomes was given his debut by former manager Jose Mourinho against Crystal Palace during the final game of the 2016-17 season.

The teenager was thrilled by the atmosphere in Paris – and ‘overwhelmed’ to be in the dressing room with club greats Sir Alex Fergsuon and Eric Cantona after the game.

“Obviously, I have only watched from the sides and been in the crowd myself, so to be able to go out and celebrate with the fans was an amazing experience and it’s something I will never forget,” he said.

“What was also massive for me was Sir Alex [Ferguson] and Eric [Cantona] coming in afterwards to shake hands and speak to us. They are massive, massive people and just to have them in the changing room. I think it got everybody a bit more excited and everyone was a bit overwhelmed really.“

Gomes will be part of the Under-19s squad that travels to face Midtjylland in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday.