Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news from across the footballing world, including Borussia Dortmund's cheeky swipe at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dani Alves's latest praise for Pep Guardiola and a rumoured new Juventus contract for Blaise Matuidi. Scroll down for more!
Dortmund CEO aims Aubameyang dig
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Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has taken a swipe at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over his £56m move to Arsenal in January 2018. The Gabon international had a number of disciplinary incidents in the final months of his Dortmund career as he attempted to force a move out of the Bundesliga side.
Speaking to Suddeutsche Zeitung this week, Watzke said: "Aubameyang, who plays great at Arsenal, will probably be warm-hearted when he looks at his bank account, but on Wednesdays will be saddened when he has to watch the Champions League on television."
Houllier "surprised" by Liverpool reaction
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Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has admitted that he is "surprised" that he continues to receive a warm reaction from the club's fans. The Frenchman won six trophies with the Reds between 1998 and 2004, including the UEFA Cup as part of 2001's treble, and also guided the side to qualification for the inaugural season of the Champions League.
"You know, when I go back to Liverpool I am surprised when the people are so nice to me," he told The Telegraph. "It is nice to go to Anfield and hear people speak so fondly of the European nights we started to bring back."
Inverness Caledonian Thistle facing administration
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Scottish Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle are facing the threat of administration if they cannot raise additional funds through their shareholders. Chairman Graham Rae and director Alan McPhee both resigned last week to add more financial uncertainty for the the 25-year-old side, who are losing around £800,000 as a result of playing in the second tier.
Chief executive Scott Gardiner told the Daily Mail: "We need working capital. Our revenues are through the floor in the championship. We are in the second tier and we can't afford it. We have been speaking to some of the big shareholders appealing to them to help us find working capital because we don't have the revenue to continue as we are. We need them to step up now.
"We have done all we can to steady the ship. We have no debt now, no soft loans any more, no bank debt and we own the stadium. But unless we have an investment of cash we will find ourselves in a precarious position."
Leao 'turned down Everton move'
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Rafael Leao turned down a move from Lille to Everton in favour of AC Milan over the summer, according to Calcio Mercato. The Toffees are said to have bid more than €30m (£26.7m) for the Portuguese forward but the player had already decided on a move to Serie A, albeit for a lower fee of €25m (£22.2m).
Juventus planning new Matuidi deal?
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Juventus are reportedly planning to sit down with Blaise Matuidi's representatives to discuss a new deal in the coming weeks. The 32-year-old was linked with a move away from Turin over the summer, with his current contract due to expire at the end of this season, but he has become a key player under new boss Maurizio Sarri in the last few weeks.
Dani Alves hails "genius" Pep
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Dani Alves has heaped praise upon his former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, describing the current Manchester City boss as "a genius". The pair arrived at Camp Nou at the same time in 2008 and went on to win 14 trophies together, including three La Liga titles and the Champions League twice.
"I think Pep is a genius," Alves - currently with Sao Paulo - told CNN. "A genius that football gave us as a gift, as a coach, as a person. How he got the best out of every player - those that played a lot, those that didn't play as much - creating a synergy with a lot of respect between those inside the team. That puts him in a very special position in my life and a very particular position. I think he's a nonconformist genius, a methodical genius, a perfectionist genius and I think that makes him unique.
"Wherever he goes, he can win more or he can win less, but I think a player that works with him will never be the same. Every day is a learning [curve], it's a class like you were going to college. It's a discipline because you learn something more."
Belgium coach backs Courtois to come good again
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Belgium goalkeeping coach Erwin Lemmens has backed Thibaut Courtois to bounce back from his difficult start to the season for Real Madrid. The former Chelsea stopper was taken off halfway through Los Blancos' home draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League this week amid allegations that he had suffered an anxiety attack during the break.
"They have to treat him differently," Lemmens told Radio Marca. "He's a special boy and it's unusual that he's always at the highest level with us, but there he suffers with De Gea syndrome. Why shouldn't he start on Saturday? He was sick [against Brugge] and was changed for the second half. He's a great goalkeeper and he'll try to make Real Madrid happy again."
Rob Edwards leaves Wolves for FA role
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Rob Edwards has stepped down as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers' Under-23s side in order to take up a new role at the FA, the club has confirmed. The 36-year-old has been with the Midlands side in a number of different roles since his 2004 debut as a player, including a temporary spell as manager in 2016. As Under-23s boss, Edwards led the side to promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1 last season and most recently oversaw an EFL Trophy win over League Two side Morecambe.
Edwards said of his departure: "I've had so many roles at Wolves during different stages of my career, that I feel like it's my club now. I love this club, but this is the right time and the right opportunity to take. I wish the club all the best going forward in what I know will be a very successful future."
Neil Wilkes
