Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic believes his team-mates mentality must improve to compensate for a lack of ability.

The San Siro outfit endured a disastrous 2012-13, slumping to ninth in Serie A, with manager Andrea Stramaccioni paying the price for the side s failings with his job.

Walter Mazzarri has since taken over, having guided Napoli to second place in the league last season.

Inter won five consecutive titles between 2005-10, also claiming a historic treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League in 2010 under Jose Mourinho.

And while matching those achievements looks a long way off currently, Handanovic insists his side can improve, if they apply themselves correctly.

There are differences from last year, the Slovenian told Gazzetta del…

German media outlet  that Bayern Munich are set to offer veteran midfielder Xabi Alonso a new contract at Allianz Arena.

In spite of his advanced age, the 35-year-old remains an important member of the squad and the club officials clearly believe he can perform at a high level for a couple more years at least.

Alonso’s current deal is due to expire in June 2017, and the Bavarians will now propose a one-year extension.

Considering that the Spaniard is earning €6.5 million per campaign at the moment, his salary will be reduced, but that is hardly surprising considering that the midfielder is nearing the end of his playing days.

Xabi Alonso had joined Bayern Munich in a cut-price deal from Real Madrid in August 2014, and he went on to make 64 Bundesli…

Crystal Palace boosted their Premier League survival hopes with a 1-0 win against Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park on Saturday to complete a double over their fellow strugglers.

Patrick van Aanholt s first goal for the club, 11 minutes before half-time, proved the difference in a nervy match that was typical of the relegation battle.

Both sides had endured miserable league runs heading into this clash, with Boro winless in eight, but it was Palace who secured a rare victory just their third since September.

Van Aanholt s effort ensured Sam Allardyce s side headed into the break in front, and it had appeared at that stage as though the home side would cruise to a crucial three points.

But Boro rallied, with Cristhian Stuani missing a huge chance to equalise,…

Bayern Munich relinquished control of the Bundesliga title race as they collapsed to a 3-1 defeat to RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena.

The reigning champions had their destiny in their own hands when Serge Gnabry fired them ahead on Saturday, but a terrific counter-attack saw Konrad Laimer level things up in the second half.

A pair of late penalties then stunned Bayern, Christopher Nkunku converting after being tripped by Benjamin Pavard and Dominik Szoboszlai doing likewise following Noussair Mazraoui s handball.

Bayern now need Borussia Dortmund to slip up in one of their remaining games – at Augsburg on Sunday and against Mainz next Saturday – to have any chance of claiming an 11th consecutive title.

Christo x Domi 1-3

— RB Leipzig Engl…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits Trent Alexander-Arnold has space for improvement defensively when questioned over the full-back not featuring for England.

The 23-year-old was called up by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate for the fixtures against Italy and Germany, but failed to get on the pitch in either as Chelsea man Reece James played both matches.

While Alexander-Arnold has shown plenty of attacking ability over his career, registering 45 assists for Liverpool in 167 Premier League appearances, his defensive capabilities have been questioned.

And Klopp feels Alexander-Arnold could become more solid going backwards, telling reporters ahead of Liverpool s match against Brighton and Hove Albion: I see him differently. People say he s not a good defender. …

Sunderland endured Wembley heartbreak last weekend and Hull City boss Steve Bruce is plotting to heap more cup misery on his former club.

Gus Poyet s side were beaten 3-1 by Manchester City in the League Cup final at the home of English football on Sunday after Fabio Borini had put them in front.

That was Sunderland s first trip to the new national stadium and they could make a swift return by seeing off Premier League rivals Hull in the FA Cup quarter-final tie at the KC Stadium on Sunday.

Hull have already done the league double over their visitors, with Sunderland having three men sent off over the two games.

And Bruce, a three-time FA Cup winner during his playing days at Manchester United, is determined to make it a hat-trick of victories against the club th…

Arsenal F.C. have confirmed Aaron Ramsey, Gedion Zelalem and Santi Cazorla have put pen to paper on new contracts with the club.

Ramsey, 23, has been sidelined since December with a thigh injury but was on absolutely cracking form earlier this season.

The Wales captain has tallied eight goals and six assists in 18 English Premier League appearances for the Gunners this term, while team-mate Santi Cazorla has added four goals and four assists in 23 league appearances.

Cazorla, who joined Arsenal from Malaga CF for a fee of €21 million in August 2011, has been an integral part of the Arsenal first-team since arriving from Spain.

The Spain international, and Arsenal Player of the Season in 2012/13, is delighted to have inked a new deal with the N…

German magazine Kicker understands that Bayern Munich star Philipp Lahm could retire from football at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old has another 17 months left to run on his contract at Allianz Arena, but it appears that the full-back plans to hang up his boots in the summer.

Namely, Lahm will be offered a managerial role at the club and he seems ready to accept it and finish his playing career earlier than expected.

The versatile footballer will go down as one of the most successful players in the history of Bayern Munich and Germany national team, having lifted 7 Bundesliga trophies and a Champions League title with the Bavarians, while winning the 2014 World Cup with die Mannschaft.

Lahm performed admirably at right-back, left-back and as a ho…

Tottenham completed a run of seven consecutive top-flight victories for the first time in 50 years by beating Bournemouth 4-0 at White Hart Lane.

Mauricio Pochettino s side put on a consummate attacking performance as they bettered their 2015-16 points total and equalled the record winning streak set by the likes of Jimmy Greaves, Terry Venables and Dave Mackay in the Spurs team of 1967.

The victory, which came courtesy of first-half goals from Mousa Dembele and Son Heung-min and second-half strikes by Harry Kane and Vincent Janssen, moved Spurs within four points of Premier League leaders Chelsea, who travel to Manchester United on Sunday.

Dembele had not scored since January 2016 but he hit the net with aplomb after 16 minutes, before Kane s flick set up Son t…

Club Brugge s Ferran Jutgla has put himself on the radar of some Europe s richest clubs after a terrific start to the Champions League, with Arsenal and Atletico Madrid said to be keen.

Jutgla, 23, appeared to be on an upward trajectory after leaving Espanyol last year to join Barcelona, but despite working his way up from the B team and scoring on his first-team starting debut against Elche in December, he was shipped off to Brugge after one season for a modest €5million.

It is looking like a shrewd investment from the Belgian side, with the Spanish forward contributing six goals and three assists in his first 10 league games, but it is in the Champions League where Jutgla has really made his mark.

TOP STORY – BRUGGE BREAKOUT STAR JUTGLA BURSTS ONTO THE WORL…