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• 'Privilege' of coaching Messi key to Inter Miami decision, says Mascherano

  Javier Mascherano said the "privilege" of coaching former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi was a key factor in his decision to join Inter Miami as their new head coach.

  Mascherano was appointed as the club's new boss days after Gerardo Martino resigned from his position following the Herons' early exit from the MLS playoffs.

  Martino cited "personal reasons" after leaving the team, which he led to Leagues Cup glory shortly after his arrival last year, while also helping Miami set a new single-season MLS points record of 74 as they clinched the 2024 Supporters' Shield. 

  Mascherano played alongside Messi at Barcelona for eight years, winning 19 major honours including two Champions League titles, with the former midfielder citing a reunion with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner as key to his decision.

  “The privilege of coaching Messi," Mascherano said when asked why he had joined the club. 

  "Obviously, players of the calibre of my former team-mates like Luis (Suarez), (Sergio) Busquets, Jordi (Alba), and others I’ve had the chance to know, especially the Argentines. 

  "And some young academy players like Noah Allen and David Ruiz, who have potential. Having worked with young players for a long time, I enjoy continuing to have this opportunity." 

  The 40-year-old, however, embarks on his first senior management role having only taken charge of Argentina's youth teams, most recently at the Paris Olympics when he led them to the quarter-finals of the competition before losing to beaten finalists France. 

  Many supporters have put Mascherano's arrival down to the influence of Messi, but the new boss is ready to silence the sceptics as he takes the reins with little managerial experience under his belt. 

  "People in the world can have their opinion, and it is valid, clearly, but I am convinced that I am capable of coaching the team," said Mascherano. 

  "I am very excited to be able to do it. I can do it. I have no doubt. Sometimes, in football, [talk of] 'experience' doesn't make much sense. 

  "Beyond the fact that I have been coaching for three years, coaching the youth teams of the Argentine national team, [where] I have always been under pressure.

  "I am also supported by a playing career of almost 20 years and everything I’ve experienced."

• Rooney left 'embarrassed' by heavy Plymouth defeats

  Wayne Rooney has been left "embarrassed" by Plymouth Argyle's recent performances on the back of conceding 10 goals in the space of two games.

  Plymouth are winless in four Championship matches, with that run having seen them drop to just one place above the relegation zone.

  Their goal difference has taken a huge hit in the past week, however, following a 6-1 loss to Norwich City and a 4-0 defeat to Bristol City.

  Rooney, who was appointed as head coach in May, is reportedly under pressure, and Manchester United's record goalscorer knows matters must improve swiftly.

  "I've been criticised since I was a 16-year-old boy, my whole career," Rooney said, as reported by BBC Sport.

  "What you always want is weapons to fight back with – at the minute we've got none.

  "So we have to take it on the chin and hope that we get through this, because the last two games arguably have been the toughest and hardest week of my managerial career.

  "So I need to find a way to get through it, but also get that message through to the players to make sure I lift them.

  "It's at a point now where the players need to understand that they need to give more and they need to show more character, more fight, more desire.

  "It was very difficult walking over [to the fans] and not feel embarrassed."

   

  Plymouth have the lowest expected goals (xG) in the Championship this season, having accumulated only 12.7. However, they have netted 18 times.

  It is a bad mix for Rooney, though, as Argyle have the highest xG against, with their 35.8 xGA five clear of next-worst Stoke City (30.8), while Plymouth have also conceded the most goals (38) and shots (324, 40 more than any other side).

  "Ultimately it's my responsibility – I take full responsibility for the results, I pick the team, I pick the tactics," Rooney added.

  "But I think the players are at a stage now where they need to hear, not just in the dressing room, but they need to hear it from outside as well, that they have to show more.

  "We've got a duty to this football club to show a pride, a respect, a passion, a fight for this club and the last two games I feel it hasn't been there."

• Rohl lauds magic Bannan impact as Wednesday down Derby

  Danny Rohl pinpointed Barry Bannan as a characterisation of a battling Sheffield Wednesday performance after his fine finish in Sunday's 2-1 win over Derby County.

  Ebou Adams needed just nine minutes to open the scoring for Paul Warne's hosts at Pride Park, only for Wednesday to turn things around after the interval.

  Bannan started the revival with a sumptuous left-footed effort, chipping over the stranded Jacob Widell Zetterstrom and into the top-left corner.

  Jamal Lowe then snatched victory in the dying seconds, powering Wednesday to back-to-back victories for the first time this Championship season.

  Rohl highlighted the role of Bannan in particular, lauding his desire to drag the Owls through hard-fought encounters.

  "Barry is the same age as me and I can't run around like him," said Rohl. "He is the character of the team in a way.

  "He shows brilliant willingness and desire to try and make things happen. After we went behind, step by step, we came back into it. We got a little bit more control.

  "But while I'm happy with the result, I'm not happy with the performance. We need to do better overall, especially in a division as tough as this.

  "It is a credit to my players that they came through. But I know we also need to improve and do better in certain aspects."

  Jerry Yates had earlier spurned a brilliant opportunity to put Derby 2-0 up, with that miss coming back to haunt Warne's side, who are 15th and three places behind Wednesday.

  "We created enough to win the game handsomely," Warne said. "I know people are frustrated with me but I've even had members of their staff, not apologise to me, but say that we didn't deserve that.

  "We needed that second goal and we couldn't get it. Yes, we lost a little bit of control but overall I thought we did excellently. The lads are devastated in that dressing room.

  "They are lower than a snake's belly in there so, because I think overall they've done really well, it's up to us to stay positive and bring that positivity to them.

  "Honestly, I don't think I've ever felt this sorry from a defeat before because overall I thought the lads did great."

  Like Rohl, Warne also praised the skill of Bannan's glorious leveller from 25 yards out.

  "We just needed that second goal and unfortunately it remained elusive," Warne added.

  "I thought it would take a wonder goal to get them back in it and Barry is probably the only player on the pitch who could have scored one like he did."