Newcastle United has reportedly made a bold £82 million offer for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the talented winger from Napoli.
The 22-year-old Georgian player garnered attention from top clubs across Europe following his impressive performances last season, during which Napoli won the Serie A title.
According to the Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Newcastle has presented a substantial bid to test Napoli’s determination to keep Kvaratskhelia.
Manager Eddie Howe is eager to bolster his squad with players of European caliber in preparation for the club’s first Champions League campaign in 20 years.
Having recorded two goals and four assists in the prestigious European competition during the 2022-23 season, Kvaratskhelia certainly meets the desired criteria for Newcastle.
Napoli are keen to keep the former Dinamo Batumi talent at the club and are planning for next season with him in their ranks.
Should they reject the bid, the Toon are willing to increase to £85m in the hope the Italian champions decide to cash in.
Romelu Lukaku transfer saga has taken another turn with Juventus entering the picture by making a bid for the Chelsea striker.
While it appeared that Lukaku’s return to Inter was inevitable, with the player rejecting other offers and expressing his desire to rejoin the Champions League finalists, Juventus has now matched Inter’s bid.
They have offered €37.5 million (£32m/$41m) plus bonuses, which could reach €40m (£34m/$45m).
According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, Lukaku is now refusing to communicate with Inter directors.
Juventus has informed Chelsea that they need to sell Dusan Vlahovic before finalizing the deal for Lukaku.
They hope to complete the Vlahovic transfer before August 4, which means the Lukaku saga might extend for several more weeks.
While there has been significant speculation surrounding Vlahovic, there is little concrete news regarding an actual bid for him at this time.
Chelsea would like to wrap the Lukaku deal up as soon as possible and would prefer to continue dealing with Inter.
Juventus need to sell Vlahovic before they can buy Lukaku, whereas Inter will have the funds to sign him once Andre Onana completes his move to Manchester United.
Luis Enrique has been officially announced as the new head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, signing a two-year contract following thedeparture of Christophe Galtier.
The 53-year-old previously stepped down as the manager of the Spanish national team after their elimination in the World Cup last-16 match against Morocco in December.
This appointment marks his return to club management since leaving Barcelona in 2017.
During his tenure at Barcelona, which spanned three seasons, Luis Enrique achieved significant success, including winning the Champions League once, LaLiga twice, and the Copa del Rey three times.
Speaking upon his unveiling, he expressed his delight at joining Paris Saint-Germain and his anticipation for the new experience ahead.
“It’s so exciting to meet new people, to live in this city, to learn a new language and, above all, to manage PSG.
“I want to thank the club for the confidence they have shown in me. It took us very little time to talk about what we could do here with the project.”
He takes over during an uncertain period for PSG, despite the club finishing top of Ligue 1 for the ninth time in 11 seasons in May.
Lionel Messi has left the French champions for Inter Miami, while the futures of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are uncertain.
Mbappe has informed the club that he intends to leave when his contract finishes next summer but Luis Enrique is philosophical about the situation.
He said: “A lot of things can happen. I will keep it private as it’s professional secrecy.
“I cannot give confidences but we will try to make the best possible squad for PSG.”
“We have one of the best coaches in the world. Not just because of what he has done but because of the way he plays football. We want this club to play the best attacking style of football in the world.”
The Brazilians were deeply disappointed by their performance in the 2022 edition of the tournament, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Croatia, while their arch-rivals Argentina went on to win the trophy.
Tite, who had been in charge for six years, decided to step down after their elimination.
After months of negotiations with Ednaldo Rodrigues, the head of the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF), Ancelotti agreed to take over as the coach of Brazil.
Despite previously stating that his role at Real Madrid would be his last after nearly three decades in coaching,Ancelotti’s mindset changed when presented with the opportunity to take on one of the most prestigious and demanding positions in football.
The Brazilian hierarchy cited Ancelotti’s impressive track record of winning trophies, as well as his relaxed demeanor and ability to foster strong relationships with players, as the factors that attracted them to him as their new coach.
“We went after him not only due to his record, but also because he is a decent person,” Rodrigues told beIN Sports recently.
“Those who have worked with him say that he is open, cultured, and he appreciates Brazilian football.”
One moment his love of Brazilian football was put on hold was when he was assistant coach to Arrigo Sacchi as Italy lost to Brazil on penalties in the 1994 World Cup final.
With Brazil, Ancelotti will have some familiar faces from Real Madrid.
Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao have been key players in his latest spell with Real which has resulted in six trophies.
“He is the best coach in the world,” said Vinicius, who has developed under Ancelotti and formed a close bond with the coach who supported the 22-year-old Brazilian when he was the target of racist abuse last season.
Ancelotti will be the fourth non-Brazilian to coach Brazil. The last was Argentine Filpo Nunez who was in charge for one game in 1965.
Ancelotti has won the Champions League twice with both AC Milan and Real Madrid.
He has won domestic league titles with Real and Milan, in England with Chelsea, in Germany with Bayern Munich and in France with Paris Saint-Germain.
‘It is a dream’
Ramon Menezes has been in charge of the Brazil team since Tite stood down on a caretaker basis.
The Brazilian federation had announced earlier on Wednesday that Fluminense’s Fernando Diniz would take charge of the team for the coming year.
“Fernando Diniz will lead theBrazilian team for a year, and I’m sure he will do it with great competence, as always during his professional career,” said Rodrigues in a video statement.
The 49-year-old will be in charge of the first six South American qualifying games for the 2026 World Cup this year, including the clashes with world champions Argentina and Uruguay.
“It is a dream, an honour and a huge pride to serve the national team,” Diniz said.
Brazil will start their qualifying campaign in September at home against Bolivia and then away against Peru.
Jack Wilshere has reflected on the start of the decline of his football career, which was marred by injuries that hindered his progress as one of England’s most promising young talents.
Wilshere’s debut for Arsenal came at the age of 16 in September 2008 when he came on as an 84th-minute substitute for Robin van Persie in a match against Blackburn Rovers.
Under the guidance of Arsene Wenger, he was gradually integrated into the squad and showcased his abilities on a global stage by impressively controlling the midfield against renowned players Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez in a Champions League encounter.
According to SportBible, his career soon took a negative turn when he suffered a nasty right ankle injury at the end of the 2010/11 season.
It was the unannounced end of the road for him.
Wilshere reveals his worst injury
At 31, he retired after spending time at West Ham, Bournemouth, and Aarhus in Denmark. He has now opened up on the worst injury of his troubled career.
“My first injury was my worst, and I paid the price a lot for that,” he said on Ben Foster’s Fozcast. “It was my right ankle. It was the talus, which is a little bone that sits on top of your fibula and your ankle joint. And I fractured that.”
He revealed that the surgeon admitted he had only seen such an injury once in a snowboarder, and got in another surgeon to conduct the surgery, but the biggest shock was unknown until six years later.
“I was 19 when the injury happened. Six years later, I was 25 and went back to see the surgeon, and he was like, ‘Are you still playing?’. He showed me the notes from the surgery, and they said: ‘You might not play again. Might not be able to walk’,” he added.
Wilshere is currently building his coaching portfolio as the U-18 coach of the Arsenal academy. He led them to the FA Youth Cup final, which they lost to West Ham United.
Wenger’s tribute to Wilshere
Sports Brief reported that Arsene Wenger gave a glowing tribute to Wilshere when he announced his retirement from professional football last year.
The legendary boss described the former England international as a ‘fearless player’ – an attribute which helped kick start his career early.
Real Madrid midfielder, Toni Kroos, has suggested that former teammate Eden Hazard, who was earning £400,000-per-week at the LaLiga club collapsed his career at the Bernabeu.
Los Blancos signed Hazard for £88 million fromChelsea in 2019.
However, his four-year spell in Spain ended last week, after Madrid terminated his contract.
Hazard is now reportedly considering retirement at 32, having already called time on his international career after Belgium’s 2022 World Cup campaign.
Kroos, who has racked up three LaLiga titles and fourChampions League trophies during his nine-year spell at Real Madrid, appeared to reference the Belgian flop while firing a warning to Jude Bellingham after his stunning six-year move to the Bernabeu was confirmed on Wednesday.
“We had another player who came for a lot of money and basically let his career die,” Kroos said on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen.
“It was a lot of money, I think everyone would say that wasn’t a good transfer. But let’s be positive.”
Hazard scored only seven goals in 76 appearances for Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe has expressed his frustration once again as Paris Saint-Germain suffered another disappointing season in the Champions League.
PSG’s struggles in Europe’s premier competition have become a recurring theme, and this season was no different. A slow start in the group stage resulted in them finishing second behind Benfica, with Juventus and Maccabi Haifa also in the mix.
This meant that PSG faced a challenging round of 16 tie against the formidable Bayern Munich, who have won the tournament six times.
Unfortunately for the Parisian club, Bayern Munich dominated both legs of the tie, securing comfortable victories home and away to claim a 3-0 aggregate win.
As a result, PSG exited the competition at the last-16 stage for the fifth time in the last seven seasons.
Mbappe, who came closest in the 2020 final against familiar foes Bayern, has bemoaned yet more failure this term, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport: “For a player like me, the goal is to win everything.
And we knew that at PSG there were shortcomings that sooner or later we were going to end up paying for.
Mbappe added on the recent controversy surrounding his contract, which is due to expire next year, and reports claiming he is set to push for a move to Real Madrid this summer:
“I didn’t say I wanted to be sold to Real Madrid or want to leave, but only that I won’t activate the option on the extra year.
With PSG, there has never been any talk of a renewal.”
As the Frenchman alludes to, there have been rumours linking him with a move away from Paris and to Madrid – who certainly know how to win a Champions League.
Boasting a record 14 European crowns to their name, Real are in need of a long-term replacement for the recently departed Karim Benzema, who sealed a move to Saudi champions Al-Ittihad last week.
To do that, though, Los Blancos will need PSG to put Mbappe up for market, as the player is seemingly insistent he won’t force a move.
If that is the case, Madrid would be happy to part with up to €200 million (£171m/$216m) for the 24-year-old, despite him having just a year left on his contract.
Despite Mbappe’s stance that he doesn’t want to leave just yet, the transfer saga looks to set to dominate yet another summer window.
The final of the 2022/2023 European football season was marked by the UEFA Champions League final held in Istanbul.
This season proved to be physically demanding for all involved, as it featured a packed schedule, including a significant break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
In a tightly contested match at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, a decisive goal came from Rodri of Manchester City.
His superb curling shot from inside the penalty area secured victory against Inter Milan, allowing Manchester City to achieve a historic treble.
Considering the significance of both the World Cup and the Champions League, it is evident that these tournaments will play a vital role in determining the recipient of the highly coveted individual accolade in football, the Ballon d’Or.
It is set to be a two-horse race for the 2023 award. Sports Brief takes a look at how the vote would possibly go later this year in October.
6. Ilkay Gundogan
Should we call him Mr. Clutch instead? Gundogan’s late bloom to win the Premier League and the FA Cup for Manchester City in his first season as captain has seen his odds rise immensely.
He is definitely bettered by De Bruyne and Haaland in his own team, but his 13 goals and seven goals – especially towards the end of the season – cannot go unmentioned.
Ilkay Gundogan
He joins only a few captains to have captained their sides to winning a treble.
5. Vinicius Junior
It is a good thing the Ballon d’Or award does not account for only the kind of trophies won, but also individual performances as well.
The Real Madrid goal machine finished the season with the Copa Del Rey, the Club World Club, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Barcelona fans were heard chanting ‘Vinicius Die’ during the recent El Clasico fixture at Camp Nou. Image: Alex Caparros Source: Getty Images Read more: https://sportsbrief.com/football/barcelona/36867-barcelona-supporters-verbally-abuse-real-madrid-superstar-chants-vinicius-die/
He is the only player in Europe’s top 5 leagues to have scored at least 20 goals (24) and provided at least 20 assists (25) in all competitions, bar Lionel Messi.
4. Kylian Mbappe
If Messi will dominate this debate because of the World Cup, then his soon-to-be former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe deserves a shout as well – and with good reason.
The Frenchman was unlucky not to win the December 18 final at the Qatar World Cup despite a historic performance that saw him grab a hat-trick. He missed out on the trophy but won the Golden Boot.
Kylian Mbappe
He has also scored 53 goals and provided 14 assists this season in all competitions, on top of winning the Ligue 1.
3. Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian heartbreakingly limped off in the UCL final – the second such time he has been forced off injured in the last game of a tournament.
Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne are dreaming of Champions League success with City (Martin Rickett/PA)
The 31-year-old remains the most elite playmaker in Europe, having provided 32 assists in all competitions.
2. Lionel Messi
Captaining his country and starring at the World Cup at 35 years, finally winning the trophy that eluded him in his illustrious career, saw Messi complete a romantic football moment.
After the Qatar triumph, it looked like he was a stroll for his record eighth Ballon d’Or title, only for Haaland’s heroics in that Manchester City super team to turn a solid argument into a debate.
Messi back in training with PSG after Saudi trip suspension and fine
Apart from the World Cup, the Argentine has also scored 38 times and provided 25 assists in all competitions.
1. Erling Haaland
Between the Champions League and the World Cup, the latter understandably carries more weight. However, the Man City striker has closed the gap on the serial winner, Messi in recent months after the Qatar event.
The 22-year-old might have been silent in the UCL final, but his 53 goals across all competitions helped the Citizens complete the historic treble, with the crowning moment coming in Turkey on June 10.
Erling Haaland has starred in his first season at Manchester City
The last time a player from the Premier League won the Ballon d’Or was Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, after success in the UCL with Manchester United – an occurence Haaland has now replicated with Manchester City.
Could the Norwegian land his first Ballon d’Or at just 22 years of age – it seems so.
Other 2023 Ballon d’Or candidates
Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s respective roles in Napoli’s title-winning season will surely hand them a place in the final top 10 places.
Lautaro Martinez did not play a big role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph but delivered in Inter Milan’s run to the Istanbul final and winning a domestic double.
His international teammate, Julian Alvarez, having won the treble with Man City plus the 2022 World Cup, will also feature among the top-ranked players.
Robert Lewandowski suffered an unfamiliar early exit from the Champions League this term but still won another Golden Boot award, this time in a different league.
Reigning holder, Karim Benzema failed to inspire another European success for Real Madrid, but his 31 goals before joining Al-Ittihad will put him in good standing.
The list of the nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or awards will be announced on September 6, with the winners being announced at a gala in Paris on October 30.
Biggest Ballon d’Or robberies in history
It was also reported on the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in the ‘weird’ month of December brought about unprecedented debate ahead of the 2023 Ballon d’Or race.
Manchester City’s final Champions League victory on Saturday earned Pep Guardiola his 12th major trophy with the team.
It marks another remarkable achievement for the ex-Barcelona coach, who has staked his claim as one of the greatest managers of the modern era.
We take a look at some of his best achievements in Manchester.
Cup kings
After a trophyless first season,Guardiolagot his hands on his first silverware at City with a 3-0 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final in 2018.
They went on to win the league title in style with a record 100 points the same year before edging out Liverpool by 98 points to 97 in a thrilling title race 12 months later.
They again won the Carabao Cup by beating Chelsea on penalties and thrashed Watford 6-0 in the FA Cup final to become the first side to win the domestic Treble.
Guardiola’s side failed to mount a successful title defence as Liverpool took the honours in the pandemic-interrupted season in 2020 but they did not go empty-handed, beating Aston Villa 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final.
City paced themselves superbly in another coronavirus-affected season the year after to win the Premier League with three games to spare ahead of rivals Manchester United.
They also beat Tottenham to claim a fourth successive Carabao Cup but narrowly missed out on the Champions League as they lost toChelseain the final.
Pep’s time
Pep Guardiola is a Manchester City legend
City began April 2022 in the hunt for three trophies.
Their Champions League and FA Cup hopes both ended at the semi-final stage but they pipped the Merseysiders to the title by a point on a dramatic final day by coming from behind to beat Aston Villa.
Fuelled by the record-breaking goalscoring exploits of the remarkable Erling Haaland, City hit form once again in 2023 to reel in long-time leaders Arsenal and claim a fifth title in six years.
Ilkay Gundogan’s brace downed Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup final before City emulated their rivals’ 1998-99 treble by beating Inter Milan to win the Champions League thanks to Rodri’s second-half strike.
The decisive goal came in the 68th minute at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, with Rodri etching his name on the scoresheet. This triumph not only marked City’s first European crown but also completed their treble, adding to their previous successes.
Guardiola expressed his hope that City’s remarkable accomplishments, including their five Premier League titles in the past six years, will now receive the recognition they deserve. With the shadow of Champions League under-achievement finally lifted, the manager believes City’s successes can be fully appreciated and acknowledged.
The City manager said: “Especially this season, the entire world has said if we don’t win the Champions League we will not be complete, it will not be enough.
“Winning these five Premier Leagues and arriving in three semi-finals, and two finals, is exceptional, but everyone says, ‘no, you have to win’.
“But winning the Champions League every season is difficult unless you are Real Madrid. The other ones sometimes arrive and do it.
“Not just for me, for the club, for our CEO and players – we had everything but not the Champions League, as if the Premier League is nothing.
“So I like this competition for the fact we won it, to be part of history. The players know they will be remembered for the rest of their lives.
“But now give credit for the five Premier Leagues we won in six years.
“It is important because people now forget about it and focus on creating a museum to put all our trophies in, because what we have done in the last years is unbelievable, not just the Champions League, but many titles.”
City had to dig deep to claim the trophy against a determined Inter side.
The Italians sat deep to soak up pressure but, with City also lacking their usual sparkle and losing Kevin De Bruyne to injury in the first half, they grew in confidence.
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 11, 2023
Inter were just beginning to assert themselves when Rodri broke the deadlock, driving from the edge of the area after a Bernardo Silva pass was deflected into his path.
They then lived on the edge with Federico Dimarco hitting the bar and having another good chance before Romelu Lukaku was denied by Ederson in the dying moments.
City will now celebrate their treble with an open-top bus parade in Manchester on Monday.
Guardiola has said he hopes City’s Champions League win will prove the first of many but his tongue was firmly in cheek as he responded to a question over whether the club could build a dynasty like Real Madrid.
“We are just 13 Champions Leagues away from them – just 13!” he said. “So be careful Real Madrid because we are on our way. If you sleep a little bit we will catch you.”
During a press conference held at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Friday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne openly confessed that winning the Champions League is not only a long-standing dream but also an overwhelming obsession for the club.
Having established their dominance in domestic competitions in recent years, City now finds themselves on the brink of achieving an unprecedented treble as they prepare to face Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul on Saturday.
However, their relentless pursuit of Europe’s most prestigious trophy has so far eluded them, adding to the club’s burning desire to secure it.
Speaking about the upcoming final, both Guardiola and De Bruyne emphasized the significance of the Champions League and its immense importance to Manchester City.
They acknowledged the club’s relentless pursuit and unwavering determination to lift the coveted trophy for the first time.
De Bruyne was asked first if he felt victory was a “dream” or an “obsession”.
The Belgium international said: “Maybe both. It depends who you ask. Every professional player wants to win the Champions League and be on top.
“If you can win the Champions League, you’ve reached one of the biggest things you can.”
Guardiola was in agreement when asked the same question.
The Catalan, who guided Barcelona to victory in the competition twice, has taken City into the knockout stages seven times but their runner-up finish in 2021 is the closest they have come to success.
“Absolutely it’s a dream,” he said. “To achieve things you have to have correct portion of obsession and desire, it’s a positive word, and willingness to try to do it, but of course it’s a dream.”
Inter Milan will face a challenging task as they aim to defy the odds and secure victory in the Champions League final against Manchester City on Saturday.
Since their last triumph in the 2009-10 season, Inter Milan has struggled to progress beyond the quarter-finals of the tournament. However, this season, they have already proven their critics wrong by reaching the final.
As they prepare to take on Manchester City in Istanbul, Inter Milan is determined to continue their impressive journey and crush City’s dreams of securing a historic Treble.
With three previous victories in the competition, Inter Milan is eager to add a fourth European triumph to their illustrious history.
Group stage
The Nerazzurri were drawn in a difficult Group C alongside European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Barcelona, as well as Czech champions Viktoria Plzen.
After a defeat and a win against Bayern and Plzen respectively, Inter put themselves in command in the race for second place by overcoming Barca 1-0 at the San Siro through Hakan Calhanoglu’s effort.
A thrilling 3-3 draw at the Camp Nou a week later meant progression as runners-up could be sealed if they beat Plzen in the following match — and they did so in emphatic style with a 4-0 success.
That result dumped the Blaugrana out at the group stage for the second season running and meant Inter’s knockout place was already secured prior to another 2-0 loss at Bayern.
Round of 16
First leg: Porto 0-0 Inter Milan. Second leg: Inter 1-0 Porto. (Inter win 1-0 on agg)
In their first-leg encounter, both Inter and Group B winners Porto squandered numerous opportunities before Romelu Lukaku, who came off the bench, found the back of the net in the 85th minute to secure the victory.
After Lukaku’s initial header struck the post, the Chelsea loanee reacted quickly to score on the rebound. This goal proved to be the decisive moment in the tie, as the second leg in Portugal ended in a goalless draw.
Lukaku’s impact off the bench and his persistence in seizing the opportunity played a crucial role in Inter’s triumph over Porto.
Quarter-finals
First leg: Benfica 0-2 Inter Milan. Second leg: Inter 3-3 Benfica. (Inter win 5-3 on agg)
Romelu Lukaku scored from the spot as Inter Milan won 2-0 at Benfica
Some had earmarked Primera Liga outfit Benfica as outside contenders to reach the latter stages but Inter saw them off in convincing style.
A 2-0 victory at the Estadio da Luz courtesy of a Nicolo Barella header and Lukaku’s penalty handed them a major advantage to take back to the San Siro.
Progession was all but sealed after they raced into a 5-1 aggregate lead before two late goals from the Eagles made it a more respectable 3-3 on the night and 5-3 overall.
Semi-finals
First leg: AC Milan 0-2 Inter Milan. Second leg: Inter 1-0 AC Milan. (Inter win 3-0 on agg)
The ruthless efficiency Inter have exhibited throughout the competition was on show once again in their semi-final against bitter rivals AC Milan.
A dominant opening period in the first leg saw Simone Inzaghi’s men race into a 2-0 lead through Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
A fifth clean sheet in six knockout games eliminated any hopes of a dramatic second-leg turnaround for the Rossoneri in a controlled display.
And when Lautaro Martinez fired home his third Champions League goal of the campaign in the 76th minute, jubilant Inter supporters began to book their flights to Turkey’s capital.
Manchester City on Tuesday conducted an open training session in preparation for the upcoming Champions League final.
Kyle Walker was however absent from the proceedings. The England full-back had been substituted in the later stages of City’s FA Cup final win against Manchester United at Wembley over the weekend.
While all other players were present, Walker’s absence raised questions about his fitness for the final showdown against Inter Milan in Istanbul.
Manager Pep Guardiola is scheduled to provide an update on the squad’s fitness during a press conference later in the day.
Ahead of that, he said “We will do our best. A final is how you behave [in] that specific 95 minutes, [it’s] not about history. We have to be better than the opponent.”
After a late stumble fromArsenal, Manchester City won their third consecutive Engli-sh Premier League championship, while Paris Saint-Germain won their eleventh championship.
The top five divisions of Europe’s leagues concluded this past weekend.
League champions were announced as early as May, with Napoli and Barcelona both lead-ing strong campaigns in Italy and Spain.
For Bayern Munich to continue to rule the Bundesliga, a lucky break was required.
After spending a lengthy time out of the top competition in Europe, teams like Arsenal and Newcastle will return for the 2023–2024 season.
Also, there would be a few unexpected gifts from RC Lens (France), Real Sociedad (Spain), and Union Berlin (Germany).
As it stands, the final placing in the four pots is not confirmed, with a few issues still yet to be decided. As Bleacher Reports
Feyenoord, who won the Eredivisie, could drop to Pot 3 should Inter Milan win the Champions League.
Sevilla will also start the draw from Pot 1, having won the Europa League on May 31 for a record-extending seventh time.
As Evening Standard reports, a number of other select teams will fight for a place in the draw through a rigorous playoff round to be announced later.
Rangers, Marseille, PSV Eindhoven and newly-crowned Belgian champions Royal Antwerp will begin their Champions League journey from the play-off stage.
states, the placing is often determined by the club’s coefficients.
Pot 1: Manchester City, Napoli, Bayern Munich, PSG, Sevilla, Benfica, Feyenoord, Barcelona
Pot 2: Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Porto, Leipzig, Atletico Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk
Pot 3: RB Salzburg, AC Milan, Lazio, Crvena Zvedza, Newcastle United, Celtic, Real Sociedad
Pot 4: Union Berlin, Lens
The teams in bold signify those whose positions on the pots can still change. The group stage draw will be conducted on August 31, 2023.
Champions League referee investigated
Sports Brief also reported that UEFA had begun to investigate referee Szymon Marciniak after he was spotted talking to a far-right politician.
Marciniak, who is due to officiate the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan on June 10, faced being stood down pending the results of the investigation.
The investigation has, however, since been completed, and Marciniak has been cleared to officiate theChampions League blockbuster.
UEFA, the governing body for football in Europe, has initiated an investigation into referee Szymon Marciniak following his interaction with a far-right politician ahead of the Champions League final.
Marciniak, who is scheduled to officiate the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan on June 10, may potentially be removed from his position pending the outcome of the investigation.
Marciniak, a Polish referee, has previously overseen significant matches, including the World Cup final between Argentina and France, as well as Manchester City’s Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
The Athletic reports that Marciniak was seen talking to Slawomir Mentzen – the leader of the Confederation Party who is known for his anti-Semitic and homophobic positions – at a networking event.
“We stand against Jews, gays, taxation, and the European Union,” Mentzen controversially said during an event in 2019.
He also released the White IPA beer that is said to mock the Black Lives Matter movement.
In a statement, UEFA said it was aware of the allegations and further promised to provide a way forward after looking at all the facts.
“UEFA and the whole football community abhor the ‘values’ that are promoted by the group in question and takes these allegations very seriously. A further announcement will be made tomorrow, after reviewing all the evidence,” the football body stated, as quoted by the Guardian.
The event is said to have taken place on May 29, with Marciniak’s Facebook fan page sharing photos of him from the event.
Mourinho’s feud with Anthony Taylor
In what is proving to be a difficult week for UEFA referees, Sports Brief also reported on Jose Mourinho hurling obscenities at referee, Anthony Taylor after AS Roma lost the Europa League final to Sevilla on May 31.
The Portuguese tactician was far from happy with some of the decisions made by the English referee, who has had a number of run-ins with the Special one in the past during his time as manager in the Premier League.
After seeing his AS Roma team lose the Europa League final to Sevilla on May 31, Jose Mourinho was seen cursing at referee Anthony Taylor.
Some of the judgements made by the English referee did not make Mourinho happy. After a one-all tie in regulation and extra time, the closely contested battle had to be decided in penalty shootouts.
Roma missed two penalty kicks, allowing Sevilla to win the Europa League for the seventh time. That was Mourinho’s first-ever European championship game. The Portuguese manager hurriedly grabbed his trophy and walked off the pitch.
A video has now surfaced online where Mourinho is heard shouting expletives. Italian Football TV reports that the insults were directed at Anthony Taylor and his team.
The incident happened in what appears to be the parking lot, with Mourinho shouting towards someone not captured in the video. He interchanges between English and Italian languages.
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) June 1, 2023
“You are a (expletive) disgrace.”
Premier League referee Taylor made a couple of controversial decisions during the game. He first awarded a penalty to Sevilla after Luis Ocampos had been brought down. However, after a VAR review, he rescinded the decision.
Anthony Taylor’s decisions
Premier League referee Taylor made a couple of controversial decisions during the game. He first awarded a penalty to Sevilla after Luis Ocampos had been brought down. However, after a VAR review, he rescinded the decision.
Minutes later, Roma thought they deserved a penalty of their own when Ivan Rakitic handled the ball, but Taylor stood his ground and waved the complaints away.
A total of 14 yellow cards were given in the tempered game, with Mourinho criticising Taylor in his post-match comments.
“Next year we won’t be playing theChampions League and that’s a good thing because we’re not made for it,’ he said.
Mourinho throws away his silver medal
At the same time, Sports Brief has reported that Mourinho threw his runners-up medal into the crowd seconds after receiving it on May 31.
It was the first time that Mourinho had lost a European final and the Portuguese manager was, as expected, not impressed about it.
Young fan who caught Mourinho’s medals
Bizarre scenes rocked the medal awarding ceremony when Mourinho broke ranks with his team and went for his medal alone.
Mourinho throws away medal
As soon as the medal was hung around his neck, ‘the Special One’ removed it and made a beeline for down the tunnel.
Felix was surprised to be released by Chelsea immediately after the season ended, leaving him uncertain about his future.
Atletico Madrid, his parent club, considers him surplus to requirements and is actively seeking to offload him.
While Paris Saint-Germain has also been linked with Felix, his preference is to stay in the Premier League and play Champions League football, making Newcastle an attractive prospect.
Felix could join Newcastle this summer Credit: Getty
Atletico are ready to strike another loan deal with a modest fee plus the players wages of around £200K a week covered.
That would be a sticking point as Toon boss Eddie Howe admits his club does struggle on pay.
A split on the salary may have to be agreed.
Felix, 23, is on holiday in Ibiza at the moment while his agent and Atletico resolve his future.
He was under the impression that Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly would turn his six months loan into a full-time transfer this summer.
Instead he has become the first casualty of the new regime under incoming Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Blues paid the players’ wages in full after signing him on loan in January for a fee of £9.7 million.
Felix was initially a big hit at the club but by the end of the season barely got a look in for games.
Erik ten Hag has cautioned the prospective owners of Manchester United about the potential pitfalls of repeating the mistakes made by Chelsea during their ownership transition last summer.
At present, Manchester United is engaged in discussions regarding a possible takeover with their current owners, the Glazer family, who are considering options to either sell the entire club or share control.
Erik Ten hag
The Americans have been under immense pressure from the fans to cede ownership of the club.
Anti-Glazer protests have been a common sight in recent seasons, with many feeling United has stalled in terms of development, as reported by ESPN.
But with new owners comes the risk of clubs losing sight of the bigger picture – if what has happened at Chelsea this season is anything to go by.
Chelsea’s lacklustre season
Chelsea’s long-time owner, Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the club after Russia invaded Ukraine early last year.Todd Boehly’s Clearlake consortium won the bid to buy the club.
The American arrived with much promise, picking up from where the oligarch had left off and immediately pumping money into new signings.
However, the club overspent on some players, leaving them exposed in some areas, with the lack of strategy becoming clear as the season progressed.
The Blues are set to record their worst-ever finish in 29 years. Ten Hag is aware and concerned about such a scenario repeating itself in the Northwest.
“You have to do the right things. You can have money but have to spend it in a smart way, and you need to have a strategy behind it – otherwise, the money doesn’t work.
We are now in a good direction – but we can also learn from this season,” the Dutch manager said, as quoted by the Sun.
Ten Hag was speaking ahead of his side’s game against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
The Red Devils would go on to secure a point against Frank Lampard’s beleaguered Blues and secure their spot in Champions League football next season.
Antony goes off injured
In that game,United raced to a 2-0 lead before the break, but winger, Antony was stretched off with a serious-looking injury.
Sports Brief reported the Brazilian came into contact with defender, Trevoh Chalobah and was left screaming in utter agony.
Following Manchester United‘s victory over Chelsea, effectively ending Liverpool’s chances of securing a Champions League spot, fans of the English Premier League have flocked to social media to respond to a post by Mohamed Salah.
In the match, Manchester United triumphed over Chelsea with a resounding 4-1 scoreline, propelling themselves into third place and securing the final UEFA Champions League spot for England.
This outcome occurred after Newcastle United had already confirmed their own spot with a draw against Leicester City earlier.
With just one game remaining, Liverpool finds themselves trailing fourth-placed Newcastle United by four points, making their chances of a Champions League finish increasingly slim.
Fans have taken to social media platforms to share their reactions and thoughts in response to a post made by Mohamed Salah.
Mohamed Salah has reacted to Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Credit: @championsleague
Source: Twitter
The Egyptian forward took to social media to establish his disappointment after failing to make it into Europe’s elite club competition.
“I’m totally devastated. There’s absolutely no excuse for this. We had everything we needed to make it to next year’s Champions League and we failed. We are Liverpool and qualifying to the competition is the bare minimum.
I am sorry but it’s too soon for an uplifting or optimistic post. We let you and ourselves down,” Salah wrote on Twitter.
His post drew several reactions from fans of rival clubs, with some trolling the Reds for missing the UEFA Champions League.
How fans reacted:
@c_shueb wrote:
Keep crying, Thursday nights on Kazakhstan for you. HOLD THAT
@Gabriel_gunne2 added:
Take heart salah, spurs are nowhere.
@utdaaron tweeted:
Found out he was playing Thursday night football in Lithuania on Thursday nights
@ayshardzn posted:
@Bruno_UNITED1 wrote:
Garnacho is playing Champion league football next season, but Salah can’t! so painful
@MadnessFC_4 tweeted:
@MrStevenHowson added:
7up n all that, aye.
Salah reacts to UCL failure
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah released a worrying statement after his side failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
The Reds will have to play in the second-tier Europa League in the 2023-24 season, after Manchester United’s win over Chelsea on Thursday confirmed their place in the final Champions League spot.
This is certainly unfamiliar territory for Salah, as it is the first time Liverpool have failed to qualify for the Champions League since 2017.
Juventus, the Italian football giants, have received a 10-point deduction, which has improved Arsenal’s prospects of qualifying for theChampions League.
This penalty has caused Juventus to fall out of the top four positions in the Serie A standings.
Mikel Arteta has received a Champions League boost as Arsenal prepare to return to the competition Credit:Getty
And it means that failing to beat AC Milan on Sunday will end their hope of Champions League qualification for next season – and ensure the Gunners will be in the second seeding pot for the group stage draw in August.
In January, Juve were found guilty of a transfer scam over three seasons, which was orchestrated by then-sporting director Fabio Paratici, who joined Spurs in 2021.
Juventus were judged to have inflated transfer fees in dealings with other Italian clubs to create millions of pounds in “capital gains” for tax purposes.
Juventus are set to miss out on the Champions League after their points deduction Credit: Getty
That allowed the club to spend more in the market than would have been allowed under Financial Fair Play regulations.
The Turin outfit was initially handed a 15-point deduction, when senior club figures including ex-President Andrea Agnelli and Paratici were handed lengthy bans.
Although the points punishment was suspended last month, pending yesterday’s hearing, Paratici resigned from his role at Tottenham after his ban was confirmed.
Prosecutor Giuseppe Chine, on behalf of the Italian FA, demanded an 11-point penalty at the start of a three-hour virtual hearing on Monday.
Juventus argued that the punishment should not be so severe because the breaches took place under Agnelli’s leadership of the club and that there had subsequently been a major overhaul of the board.
But the tribunal imposed the major punishment in a verdict which the club suggested it might still appeal.
Juventus said: “This judgment arouses great bitterness in the club and in its millions of supporters.”
UEFA have already opened proceedings which could result in a European ban for the Italian club.
But if Juve are not in next season’s Champions League, Arsenal will be assured of a place in the second group of seeds and avoid a potential nightmare draw in the group phase.
City successfully defended their Premier League crown on Saturday, May 20, as Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest.
According to The Sun, Guardiola has now won a total of five top-flight titles since assuming the managerial role at Manchester City seven years ago.
Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City
The Spaniard still has more trophies to change before the end of the season, with the FA Cup and the Champions League trophies on the horizon.
However, Guardiola would need to help see off rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final and Serie A giants Inter Milan for a chance to win a historic treble with City.
Should this happen, City will become the first Premier League team to win the treble since 1999, when Man United did it under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Pep hints at quitting Man City
Despite Guardiola’s significant success with Man City, it has emerged that the Spaniard could still dump the club.
The former Barcelona boss gave a rather cryptic answer when asked about his future at the Etihad Stadium before Arsenal’s defeat handed his side the Premier League title.
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Guardiola was asked if he would quit City if there is nothing left to fight for in terms of trophies.
“First, we have to win it. [Then] you can ask me after and I will tell you how I feel and how I think,” he said.
“Of course, if we achieve then I will tell you,” he added.
It was projected that the 2023 Ballon d’Or was going to be a contentious event somewhere in March of this year, when Bayern Munich had eliminated Paris Saint-Germain from the UEFA Champions League.
There is no clear winner, unlike in 2022, and Lionel Messi’s World Cup victory makes everything more complicated.
If someone could win the Ballon d’Or after being eliminated from the Champions League so early, that was the debate that arose at the time.
Lionel Messi with a replica of the World Cup trophy on March 23, 2023. Photo by Luis Robayo.
Admittedly, the World Cup takes precedence over European’s elite competition.
Luka Modric rode on his highs with Croatia in 2018 to break the Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly, although the midfield veteran had won the Champions League as well that year.
Karim Benzema, Marcus Rashford, and Erling Haaland were backed as potential stars who could wrestle the title from Messi’s grasp.
Benz was in for his ability to inspire Real Madrid to a 15th Champions League title – a dream that has now ended with a sting after a 4-0 shellacking in Manchester on May 17.
Rashford, at that time, couldn’t stop scoring, but his case was made hard by the fact that he wasn’t competing in the Champions League or for the Premier League title.
And at the time, Haaland was down the pecking order, because it looked highly unlikely that Manchester City would close in on Arsenal and go within one win of defending the league again.
But how the tables have since turned! The City striker has undeniably narrowed the gap on Messi or even surpassed him, depending on how you see it.
1. Lionel Messi
Messi’s early elimination from the Champions League notwithstanding, the Argentine delivered for his country in Qatar. He played a role in almost every game, bar their opening match against Saudi Arabia.
Apart from the World Cup, the 35-year-old has the Ligue 1 trophy in waiting, as well as the French Cup. If you combine his assists and goals, he almost matches Haaland’s astronomical numbers.
2. Erling Haaland
Picture this, the Norwegian wins the Premier League (as early as this weekend), and then inspires his side against Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3, before rounding it off by winning the Champions League vs Inter Milan on June 10.
Erling Haaland is set to receive his award at the FWA Footballer of the Year 75th anniversary dinner in London on May 25
Even if he misses two of the three trophies, his 50-plus goal tally in a league considered the toughest in the world will surely do him a lot of favours.
Other possible Ballon d’Or winners
The other candidates won’t really offer much competition. Benzema and Vinicius Junior will only have the Copa Del Rey to show, with Robert Lewandowski currently outscoring them in Spain.
Rashford has hit a rough patch of form, and the only trophies he can realistically finish with are a domestic cup double.
Qatar 2022’s top scorer, Kylian Mbappe’s chances are dwarfed by Messi’s presence in the PSG team.
Also, preserve a thought for Julian Alvarez – he is in a position to win a unique quadruple, but won’t make the cut for the Ballon d’Or- not when he plays with the frontrunners in the same team and club.
Whichever way you look at it, it is a two-horse race, with the rest having to settle for places in the top 10.
The question the journalists who decide where the award goes will be answering in October is: which holds more water: theChampions League or the World Cup?
But first, Haaland must finish the job in Istanbul to put them in such a spot.
Manchester City are celebrating their return to the Champions League final after delivering one of the most remarkable performances in the club’s history by crushing reigning champions Real Madrid.
Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, who is pursuing a historic treble, City dominated the 14-time European champions with an emphatic 4-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. This resounding win secured their spot in the highly anticipated Istanbul final, with an aggregate scoreline of 5-1.
The victory was thoroughly deserved, as City’s relentless pace and power proved too much for Madrid to handle. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’s heroics prevented an even more significant goal margin for the English side.
Bernardo Silva paved the way for City’s triumph with two first-half goals, followed by an own goal from Eder Militao and a late fourth from Julian Alvarez.
Now, City sets their sights on lifting the coveted trophy and seeking redemption for their defeat in the 2021 final. With the possibility of achieving a glorious treble, their upcoming final clash against Inter Milan holds immense significance for the club.
The first of those trophies could come on Sunday if they beat Chelsea to clinch the Premier League with the FA Cup final against Manchester United on June 3.
City manager Guardiola said: “In the Premier League we are close, we know we need one more game.
“We play against our neighbours and against an Italian team in the finals. The season is really, really good. Now we have to lift it. We are close and of course we are going to try.”
Last week’s semi-final first leg against Madrid in the Bernabeu Stadium had been an even contest.
City dominated possession for large spells but Real were more incisive on the counter-attack.
This time City refused to allow their opponents to sit back and feel comfortable soaking up pressure. They were far more dynamic and the Spanish giants could not handle their speed and movement.
The resounding win made for sweet revenge for City’s heartbreaking loss to Real and the same stage last season.
Guardiola said: “It was really tough losing the way we lost. In that moment we had to swallow poison but football and sport always gives you another chance.
“When the draw was Madrid, I said, ‘yeah I want it’.
“Everything was there – the energy we had from a year of being criticised as players for not having character when we lost.”
Carlo Ancelotti, coach of the dethroned champions, could not begrudge City their victory.
“I think that Manchester City deserved to win because they played better than us,” the Italian said.
Even if he (Pep Guardiola) does not succeed in winning the Champions League, Pep Guardiola believes his legacy at Man City will be “amazing.”
But, City’s Kyle Walker believes the team owes it to their Abu Dhabi owners to eventually rule Europe.
City, who are poised to win their fifth Premier League championship in as many years, have not yet won the trophy they really desire in Pep’s seven years at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola
With their semi-final with Real Madrid poised at 1-1 ahead of the second leg, Guardiola said: “My legacy is exceptional already.
“I’ve been here many times already. The legacy is that we have had one hell of a time.
“For many years they will remember a generation of players who for five or six years scored lots of goals and conceded very few — won lots of things and won very well.
“People should remember that. It would be a good book.
“Whether or not they will remember us or not I don’t know but we have had a good time.”
However, Walker believes that after 12 consecutive years in the competition, it is high time they finally lifted the trophy.
Kyle Walker wants to win the Champions League for City’s owners
The defender said: “You have to just look over the road at United and what they have accomplished over a number of years.
“When you get compared to that team, they won countless titles.
“We’ve done five in six years, hopefully, if we can cross the line on this one.
“But the club is missing the Champions League and the owners and the amount of money they have pumped into this club and the investment they have done, we owe that to them.
“We got to the Champions League final against Chelsea and did not perform as well as we can.
“So we owe that to ourselves to get some revenge because we know it was below par in 2021.”
Victory over champs Real would leave Pep’s Treble chasers hot favourites to lift Europe’s big prize.
Guardiola added: “We’re not stupid, we know how important this game is.
“It is maybe one of the most important games since we came together here. We cannot deny that. For the competition, for the rival, for many things.”
Guardiola’s players battled back to earn a draw in the Bernabeu last week thanks to Kevin De Bruyne’s stunner.
Kevin Debruyne
But Pep said: “My feeling is we have to play better than we did in Madrid.
“But all the players have to do is what we’ve done for many years.
“I’ve lost seven semi- finals out of ten. I’ve lost more than I’ve won, so there are many things you can’t control but my only wish is to be ourselves.”
The ex-Barca boss has been accused of causing City’s downfall in Europe by tinkering too much.
And he teased: “I have an idea that we could do something a bit differently but it’s nothing special.
“I’m not overthinking it, don’t worry guys, nothing different to what we’ve done, just more fluid and play a bit better.”
Last term, the Etihad clash saw City winning 4-3 in the first leg — before slipping up in Spain.
Guardiola added: “We’d like to have the game we had here last season, I’d sign for it right now but I don’t think it will happen.”
And in his 2016 book, titled ‘My Story’, he opened up about a memorable exchange with former teammate Leiva, which occurred during a post-season trip to Dubai.
Gerrard wrote: “Lucas asked if he could come in for a moment.
“‘I’ve got a little something for you,’ he said.
“‘Of course,’ I said. I was always happy to see Lucas.
“He presented me with a silver salver. It was from him to me and he had written the words inscribed on the plate.
“‘I’ve been thinking about getting this done for a while,’ Lucas said. I felt a lump in my throat as I read his message.”
It read: “We often hear the expression there will never be another. In your case, my friend, it is most definitely the case.
“A captain, leader and a legend in every sense of the word.
“Every moment I have spent on the pitch with you has been a privilege. The very best to you and your family with all your future endeavours – Lucas Leiva.“
Gerrard recalled: “I just about held it together while Lucas quietly watched me read his words.
“I thanked him and he smiled happily. We hugged it out.
“But once he left, I was gone. There was no stopping my tears.”
The midfielder joined Liverpool in 1998 and made 710 appearances for the club during his 17-year spell.
He also won three League Cups, two FA Cups and a Champions League title with the Reds.
Steven Gerrard’s tenure at Liverpool is nothing short of legendary. The English midfielder spent his entire professional career at the club, cementing his status as one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players.
Gerrard made his debut for Liverpool in 1998 and quickly established himself as a key figure in the team.
Known for his exceptional leadership, technical skills, and powerful long-range shooting, he became the heartbeat of the Liverpool side.
Gerrard’s versatility allowed him to excel in various positions, primarily as a central midfielder but also as a second striker or right midfielder when needed.
Throughout his time at Liverpool, Gerrard was instrumental in the club’s success.
He played a vital role in Liverpool’shistoric UEFA Champions League triumph in 2005, inspiring the team with his remarkable performance in the final against AC Milan.
Gerrard’s iconic goal and overall contribution helped Liverpool stage a memorable comeback from a three-goal deficit to win the trophy.
Gerrard’s dedication and loyalty to Liverpool were evident throughout his career. He had opportunities to move to other top clubs, including Chelsea, but chose to stay and lead his boyhood team.
His commitment to Liverpool endeared him to the fans, who saw him as a symbol of the club’s values and passion.
After 17 remarkable years at Anfield, Gerrard bid farewell to Liverpool in 2015, moving to the MLS to join the LA Galaxy.
However, his legacy at Liverpool lives on, with his name forever etched in the club’s history.
Following his retirement as a player, Gerrard returned to Liverpool as a coach, initially overseeing the club’s youth academy before becoming the manager of Scottish club Rangers.
He remains an iconic figure in Liverpool’s rich footballing heritage and continues to be revered by fans worldwide.
This summer, according to the PA news agency,Tottenham will complete the permanent signing of Dejan Kulusevski.
The Swedish forward joined Spurs on an initial 18-month loan from Juventus in January of last year, and he had a successful 2021–22 campaign.
This season, Kulusevski has struggled with his form, and last week, reports out of Italy claimed that there were concerns about his long-term future at Spurs.
When Kulusevski came from Juventus, a clause was added that required Spurs to make the transfer permanent for 35 million euros at the end of current season should Tottenham make the Champions League this year.
Tottenham’s difficult season means a top-four finish is no longer attainable, but the option to sign Kulusevski for 35million euros (£30m) remains and it is understood the club are still set to secure the services of the attacker on a long-term deal.
Spurs acting head coach Ryan Mason admitted he was not involved in any talks over what the future holds for Kulusevski but backed the 23-year-old to bounce back from a tough campaign.
A hamstring injury sidelined the former Atalanta player for a large chunk of the first half of the season but he has only scored twice in 34 appearances where he has been in and out of the starting line-up.
“I love Deki as a player. I think he’s got so much room to grow and be a top, top player, even though he already is a top, top player.
“At the same time when you play for a club like this, I feel it’s important that you feel you have to earn the shirt in every moment.
“Naturally when you play for a club like this there’s competition. At the moment, last week, you could see he was on the bench but he came on and helped the team get the result. That’s important.”
Kulusevski has scored seven goals and provided 15 assists in 54 appearances for Spurs overall.
Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, acknowledges that while his team has experienced miraculous turnarounds in the past, they cannot control their fate regarding Champions League qualification this time.
A month ago, Liverpool was in eighth place, trailing fourth-placed Manchester United by 10 points.
However, their recent streak of six consecutive wins has propelled them to fifth place, just one point behind their rivals, who still have a match to play.
They also came from a seemingly impossible position in the Premier League in 2021 when they they made a late run into the top four, registering eight wins and two draws in their final 10 matches – which included goalkeeper Alisson Becker scoring a 90th-minute winner at West Brom – having been completely out of the running in March.
Klopp said: “It is not that we mention it but everyone who was involved in these moments will never forget it in our entire lives.
“That means it is part of us and, you are right, we were around when miracles happened, that is true, but it was then still in our hands.
“We had to score against West Brom and we had to win against Barcelona. Now we have to win but that does not mean anything changes because the other teams could win all their games.
“I knew weeks ago it was completely out of sight, I couldn’t see it at all, but that did not mean we would not try to get closer. That’s the only thing we did, we got closer.”
Klopp recalls Liverpool being in the position of the team being chased in his second full season in 2017-18, and he knows it is not easy for the clubs in possession of the qualification places.
However, he does not believe their recent run, coupled with recent defeats for third-placedNewcastle and United, has been able to exert that much pressure on their top-four rivals.
He added: “I am pretty sure we were in a situation like that years ago. I think Chelsea was winning all the time behind us so we had to win all the games.
“It’s not comfortable but in the end we made it anyway. Newcastle and United would be happy if we would not be there any more, but still it is more likely they will do it.
“I respect that. If they finish the season above us, they deserve it and that’s how I see it.”
Forward Roberto Firmino is set to return to training next week ahead of what could be his final Anfield appearance.
The Brazil international is leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season but has missed the last five matches with a muscle problem.
With Liverpool having only one more home game, against Aston Villa next Saturday, there was a chance the 31-year-old would not get to say his goodbyes on the pitch.
But Klopp raised hopes Firmino could be in his squad for an emotional send-off.
He said: “I saw Bobby in training yesterday and it looks like pretty much he is nearly there, but I don’t think he will be in for the weekend.
“If I go out of here and he will be in the session, I would be surprised.
“I assume that we start with him team training-wise after theLeicester game.”
When asked to choose between Argentine superstarLionel Messi and Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, Bojan Krkic has given his preference towards Messi.
Bojan had the opportunity to play alongside both football icons during his four-season stint at Barcelona after graduating from the club’s La Masia academy.
As per PSG Talk, the 32-year-old has picked Messi as the better player of the two Barcelona legends due to his prolonged success and continued dominance in the sport, having won the Ballon d’Or award seven times.
“It’s difficult to say this; I don’t think so. Probably it’s Messi because Messi is playing fantastic football for over 20 years which is something unbelievable.”
He added: “But Ronaldinho played probably two or three years at the top level, but for those two or three years, he was unstoppable.”
Messi won all there is to win at club level with Barcelona, claiming 35 trophies including four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga victories, and seven Copa del Rey crowns.
Meanwhile, Ronaldinho won two La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, and one Champions League with the Catalans.
Ronaldinho was something different
Meanwhile, Krkic also admitted he was starstruck playing alongside Ronaldinho and described the Brazilian legend as ‘something different’, Talk Sport reports.
Thenow-retired Barcelona man described his ex-teammate as the most special person he played with during an interview with Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent.
Before leaving La Liga giants in 2011, Krkic made 162 appearances for the Catalan club, scoring 41 goals.
Guardiola makes plea to Messi
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Messi faces a decisive month, ahead of his rumoured departure from Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires in the summer.
He joined the Parisians in 2021 after 21 successful years in Barcelona, as a result of the Spanish club being unable to register him due to their financial limitations.
Pep Guardiola’s message to Messi suggested he believes the veteran should choose Camp Nou, despite Al-Hilal offering him £552 million per season to join them.
Fabio Capello, the former coach of Real Madrid,has praised Victor Osimhen and Erling Haaland, stating that their styles of play are similar.
Both strikers have been making headlines in Europe this season for their impressive goal-scoring abilities.
Haaland is currently leading the Premier League goal-scoring charts with 35 goals, while Osimhen is the top scorer in Italy with 23 goals.
Osimhen has already won the Serie A title with Napoli, with four games to end the season as Haaland and his teammates at Man City are targeting winning the Premier League title this term.
According to reports on Brila and Punch, Capello says Haaland and Osimhen have been wonderful this season for their clubs.
Capello hails Osimhen, Haaland
“I don’t think Haaland is under pressure, because he has anger inside.
“He lives for goals. Osimhen has the same thing, they live for this. They fight, they want to win, they help their teammates, and they transmit this determination that makes you win games.
Haaland’s father clashes with fans
Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how unpleasant scenes were witnessed at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on May 9 after Erling Haaland’s father, Alfie clashed with Real Madrid fans.
The senior Haaland was in the Spanish capital to watch his son and his Manchester City teammates play Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Jose Mourinho, the manager of AS Roma, has addressed recent reports linking him to a potential move to Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain in the upcoming summer transfer window.
While PSG is on the verge of securing their 11th French league title under current coach Christophe Galtier, his position is reportedly in doubt following the team’s underwhelming exit from the Champions League in the round-of-16 stage, extending their wait for a coveted European trophy.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports reports that Mourinho has been touted as the potential replacement for Galtier.
The veteran Portuguese tactician has been contacted by PSG’s top hierarchy owing to his superior man-management skill and ability to handle players with big egos.
Reacting to the reports, Jose, who is in the final year of his contract with Roma, appeared to laugh at the reports linking him to PSG.
“If they called, they didn’t find me, I’ve never spoken to them,” Mourinho told Sky Italia via GOAL.
Meanwhile, the 60-year-old is preparing his Roma side for their Europa League semi-final assignment against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, May 11.
Roma’s top-four hopes suffered a massive blow after their 2-0 loss to Inter Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, a game played with a depleted squad due to injuries.
The team were 1-0 down at half-time. The Special One gave an inspiring team talk to the young players at half-time, which spurred them to victory.
PSG contact Mourinho
Sports Brief previously reported that Jose Mourinho is a proven winner and it is no surprise the veteran Portuguese manager is now on the radar of Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG are desperate to win the UEFA Champions League and the club’s latest setback in the last-16 first-leg tie against Bayern Munich has got the French club looking for options.
PSG’s sporting director Luís Campos has contacted his fellow countryman and AS Roma head coach Mourinho as they look to replace Christophe Galtier.
During a night when football fans around the world were eagerly anticipating Erling Haaland‘s performance, it was Vinicius Junior who exceeded expectations and stole the show.
The young Brazilian forward has been consistently demonstrating his potential to those who have been watching and listening, establishing himself as one of the sport’s rising stars.
Despite playing alongside established stars like Karim Benzema at his club and Neymar in the Selecao setup, Vinicius’ performances have often gone unnoticed or underrated.
Taking the ball from a powerful Eduardo Camavinga run on May 9, the Brazilian was widely expected to find one of his two striking partners, only for him to size up Ederson in the Manchester City goal and send a thunderbolt of a strike that wheezed past his international teammate.
Bar his constant injury concerns, Neymar was arguably the best player after the big two. From his skillset to vision to aura and flair, he was the complete package.
As stats show, to compare Vinicius to Neymar and even allude he is better than his senior compatriot will be a little bit of a stretch. But again, he is only 22 years.
And as Lewis Hamilton keeps reminding us, keep dreaming of the impossible.
Comparing Vinicius to Mbappe and Haaland
He might not be ready to lace Neymar’s boots yet, but it is time the 22-year-old was involved in this Kylian Mbappe vs Haaland debate that is shaping up nicely.
Well, for starters, he showed Haaland levels on his own home turf, forget the hearty smile and hug he shared with the Norwegian at the end of the game. The onus will be on Haaland to respond next week.
Vinicius Jr and Erling Haaland after the game. No controversy in Europe, only in Spain, but apparently it’s only Vinicius’ fault.
Mbappe might be a tad higher than both of them; given that he scores, he assists and dazzles neutrals with filthy skills.
For Haaland, we all know what he does. He has an affinity for hitting the back of the net the same way yours truly loves milk and toasted bread. 50 plus goals in your debut season in England is borderline nuts.
Vinicius’ stronghold, like Mbappe, is his pace and mazy feet. This is a player who has come of age after Benzema accused him of playing against them. He has since improved on his finishing and passing accuracy.
His only downside compared to the current top two is that he doesn’t score as often as them, but his current goal and assist ratio in the Champions League is insane. He has contributed to a goal in his last 11 starts.
We can sing Haaland and Mbappe’s praises all day long, but Vinicius is here and at only 22 years, he is nowhere near his prime. He can only get better. He is forcing us to take note.
Vinicius equals Ronaldo’s record
Sports Brief reported that Vinicius etched his name in the annals of the Champions League following his splendid goal againstManchester City at the Bernabeu.
The Brazilian, who recently won his third Player of the Month award for Madrid, unleashed a bullet of a goal to break the deadlock in the semi-final tie between two of Europe’s finest teams this season.
Vini’s goal against Man City in their first-leg semi-final clash means he levels Ronaldo’s record of either scoring or assisting in 11 consecutive games.
Haaland was forced to subsist on scraps of food during the first leg because the Real Madrid defender kept him at bay.
According to UEFA, Haaland, who now tops the Champions League goal scorers list with 12 goals, was unable to increase his total.
Rudiger ensured he had a very quiet evening at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium as Man City shared the spoils with the current UCL holders.
The German’s bizarre yet effective approach ensured the Citizens’ top marksman, who was averaging a Champions League goal every 58 minutes in his career, did not increase his tally, per ESPN.
@leafricangooner marvelled at Rudiger’s unconventional style of dealing with Haaland:
“This Rudiger guy is something else. Have to give it to him, though. He got the job done.”
Another user, @HalaHaneef, added:
@Tango4Bango applauded Rudiger for marshalling Haaland:
“Reason Haaland was the biggest player on that pitch yesterday. Gotta be double extra effort to make the “GOAL TERMINATOR” uncomfortable. Nice job, Rudiger.
@MadridClout simply said:
“Rüdiger totally pocketed Haaland last night.”
@favourea_ wrote:
“Man loves this types of game eh! It’s like he was born for these sorts of challenges.”
Rudiger warns Man City
Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Real Madrid defender, Rudiger being unfazed by the task of progressing to the final of the UEFA Champions League.
The German put in a masterclass performance to help his team play out to a 1-1 draw against Premier League giants,Man City on Tuesday night.
Rudiger rarely put a foot wrong throughout the first leg, including reducing Norwegian goal-scoring machine, Haaland to a much quieter game.
Liverpool has only three games left in the current season.
If they win all three and get some support from teams such asManchester United, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur, they could qualify for the Champions League.
The team is expected to undergo significant changes before the next season, with both departures and arrivals expected as part of a significant rebuilding plan for Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
According to Mirror UK, Jorg Schmadtke is set to be appointed as the new sporting director to replace Julian Ward, just a year after replacing the hugely successful Michael Edwards.
Schmadtke will be saddled with the responsibility of overhauling the team. Sports Brief looks at five players whose departures are confirmed, all of whom are leaving due to expired contracts.
1. James Milner
Theveteran midfielder will leave Anfieldafter eight successful years. At 37 years, he is nearing the end of his career but is willing to play for Brighton next season, having agreed to a one-year contract, according to talkSPORT.
2. Roberto Firmino
The Brazilian forward, an important part of a deadly front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, will leave the club in the summer. He is yet to announce his next destination, with Barcelona and AS Roma rumoured to be interested.
3. Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain
The former Arsenal midfielder has been a part-time player at Merseyside but will leave this summer as his contract will not be renewed, according to The Athletic. He could remain in the Premier League, having received interest.
4. Naby Keita
The Guinean midfielder’s injury-ladened time at Anfield is set to end in the summer. According to Metro UK, he cost the Reds £52.75m, but things never worked out between the two parties.
5. Arthur Melo
According to Guardian, Liverpool signed Arthur on loan from Juventus for £3.75m to solve midfield problems, with an option to make it permanent, but he has made a cameo of just 13 minutes and will return to Italy.
Five midfield options for Liverpool
Sports Brief previously considered five midfielders Liverpool can sign to revamp their midfield after cooling their transfer interest in Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham due to the transfer cost.
Klopp reportedly needs three midfielders, and the club is linked to Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea’s Mason Mount and an out-of-favour Bayern Munich midfielder.
The competition between the world’s most lethal forwards for supremacy is heating up as the Champions League enters its final stages, as well as the contest to be named top scorer.
We go over the favourites to see who is still in the running.
Erling Haaland (12 goals, one assist)
Erling Haaland scored two more goals against Southampton
Records continue to tumble for the Norwegian sensation — no player has ever scored more goals in a single Champions League season for an English club than Haaland’s 12 this term, level with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s efforts for Manchester United in 2002-03.
Mohamed Salah (eight goals, two assists)
Mohamed Salah has endured a difficult Premier League season
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was on fire in Europe this season and scored his eighth goal in just seven matches to hand his side a 2-0 lead over Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 showdown.
Unfortunately for the Egyptian, the Reds went on to lose 5-2 at Anfield and were knocked out after a 1-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Vinicius Junior (seven goals, six assists)
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 2: (L-R) Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Valencia at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 2, 2023 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night and will hope to add to his tally in the return fixture in Manchester.
Vinicius relishes the European stage, having been involved in 22 goals in his last 22 Champions League appearances (11 goals, 11 assists).
Kylian Mbappe (seven goals, three assists)
Kylian Mbappe could not inspire a Paris Saint-Germain comeback in Munich
The Frenchman failed to inspire his side past Bayern Munich in the last 16 and finished on a respectable seven goals from eight outings.
Joao Mario (six goals, two assists)
Joao Mario
Joao Mario struck in both legs as Benfica breezed past Club Brugge in the last 16 — equalling the great Eusebio’s club record of scoring in five consecutive European games.
But he was an anonymous presence as the Eagles crashed out at the hands of Inter Milan in the last eight, 5-3 on aggregate.
Ahead of Tuesday’s first-leg tie in the Champions League semi-final, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes has expressed admiration for Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
The two teams met in last year’s semifinal, which Real Madrid won 6-5 on aggregate, including a thrilling 3-1 comeback at the Bernabeu.
Since then, City has acquired Haaland, who has scored an impressive 51 goals across all competitions since joining Pep Guardiola’s side from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
The Norwegian goal machine has also forged an effective link with his teammates outside the box.
According to UEFA, Haaland is the top scorer in this year’s Champions League, scoring 12 goals in just eight appearances this season.
And Speaking with RTVE, via Madrid Universal, Rodrygo said:
“Haaland scores a lot of goals, no one knows how to stop him. I hope he doesn’t score against us.
“Manchester City is always scary. They’re a great team, they play very well, but we are confident that we can win.”
Rodrygo’s 2022/23 season
In Real Madrid’s previous five games, Rodrygo has three goals and an assist to his credit. Under Carlo Ancelotti, the Brazilian has had a strong season and has established himself as a regular starter.
The Brazilian has made 30 league appearances for Real Madrid this season, contributing eight assists and six goals.
He also creates 10 major chances and averages 1.4 critical passes per game, per Madrid Universal.
City are on course to secure a historic treble under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, with the club in the race to lift the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
The Citizens have been in incredible form and are currently topping the charts with 82 points, four points ahead of second-placed Arsenal.
Kolo Toure, a former Manchester City defender, believes it’s just a matter of time before the club wins the Champions League under their current manager, Pep Guardiola.
City are currently aiming for a treble and are set to face Real Madrid, who have won the European competition a record 14 times, in the first leg of a highly anticipated semi-final match on Tuesday at Santiago Bernabeu.
Despite Guardiola having lost six out of nine Champions League semi-finals, no other manager has lost more at this stage.
But Toure is convinced a City success in Europe’s elite club competition will come sooner rather than later and believes this could be the year for Guardiola to win his third Champions League crown, and first with City.
“It is a matter of time, we all know that and you can see that,” Toure, who played for City between 2009 and 2013, told Stats Perform.
“City has been dominant in the Premier League, of course.
“And in Champions League, they haven’t got as far, but they’ve been so unlucky a few times. In football, you need that luck element, it’s maybe that one or two per cent.
“At the moment it doesn’t go to Man City, but you can feel it’s coming. For Pep, he knows it is coming anyway.
“He is breeding the team he wants. Of course, when you’re not winning it and for a manager of his stature, everybody is just trying to put the pressure on, but there’s no pressure because within the Champions League you play against unbelievable teams.
“Keep calm, keep the process, keep improving the team if it doesn’t work. Sometimes they are teams who will press very well. You have to be able to value the game, you cannot be predictable.
If they know you’re going to pass short, they will go at you, and you can lose the ball and that can be damaging.
“And there are moments you have to feel as a player that, ‘we have to go over because this guy is pressing so well’. City have that and for me, it can help them to reach the Champions League [final].
“You just need to find that key element with which will help them to win that Champions League, which for me is coming.”
This season Carlo Ancelotti’s side have already seen off Liverpool and Chelsea in the knockout stages, but Toure is confident City can progress after beating RB Leipzig 8-1 on aggregate and then ruthlessly dismissing Bayern Munich 4-1 over two legs.
Toure said: “For me, when I look at both teams, I see City going on further because I believe that they have the right team. Now, when I say the right team, I mean they are really well-balanced.
“Defensively, they look really strong. In the middle they are strong, but at the same time, they are in form. They look really, really good this year.
“With [Manuel] Akanji signing, they look very good [in defence]. Going forward they have Erling Haaland which brings another dimension in the game because City always been a team that always want to play short ball all the time, but now Kevin De Bruyne can go over the top as well.
“One thing Pep has been doing really well this season, it’s been managing the [minutes] really well, managing the energy.
“Every time they’re winning 2-0 or 3-0, he just takes the key players out, to rest them to make sure they don’t get fatigued to make sure they don’t get injured.
“That management this season will help the players to be fresher because when you go to the end on the Champions League, it is right at the end of the season, and sometimes players are tired [physically] and they are mentally tired because they’ve been playing so many games. That will make you fatigued, that’s where you lose the lucidity that you need.
“A few years ago, you always saw them and at the end of the season not feeling that fresh because we’ve been over overworked really. But this season, I look at the Manchester City team and they look really fresh.”
After the match in Spain, City will travel to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday before the return leg against Madrid in Manchester on May 17.
Mario Gomez, a former European champion, believes that Real Madrid is “the best team of this generation” and that they have a good chance of winning the Champions League once more this year.
Madrid won their 14th European championship in spectacular way last season, defeating Manchester City, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain in a series of intense knockout matches.
Los Blancos defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the Champions League final in Paris after making it there despite dropping a match in the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semis.
Gomez, a former striker for Bayern Munich, described Madrid as the “true beast” of Europe’s top club championship as Carlo Ancelotti’s team got ready to play them in a rematch of last year’s semifinal match.
“With Real Madrid, over the last 10 years, how many times have we thought, ‘it is over for them’, and they just come back every time,” Gomez said in an interview with the Go Turkiye YouTube channel.
“They are the true beast of the Champions League, absolutely unbelievable.
“Since I was very little, I have been a Barcelona supporter, but I really enjoy this Real Madrid side.
“They believe until the last second, so, for me they are the best team of this generation.
“For that reason, I think that they will go really far. I don’t know if they will win it, because football is unpredictable, but they can reach the final.”
Turkey striker Cenk Tosun was speaking alongside Gomez, and having worked with Ancelotti during a stint in the Premier League with Everton, he believes the Italian could be set for more glory in Istanbul next month.
“It is always a special event to have theChampions League final here in Turkey,” Tosun said. “Of course, Real Madrid is the winner of last season and a clear favourite.
“They have the same manager as last year, Mr. Ancelotti. I worked with him at Everton and I really like him, he is a special person for me, so I would pick Real Madrid to win it.”
Gomez appeared as a substitute as Bayern beat Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final, as part of a memorable treble won by Jupp Heynckes’ team.
Reflecting on that win, Gomez said: “It was one of the most beautiful days in my life, because we were in the final one year before against Chelsea, and we lost [on penalties].
“To this day nobody knows how we lost that game. In 2012-13 we really had the power and energy to show people that it was our year, it was our time.
“The final wasn’t that good. Dortmund were as strong as us, if not better, but in the end, we got the trophy. When we got handed the trophy and lifted it in front of the fans, it was amazing.
“The four years I spent there were just incredible. There were so many special players in that team.
“I’ll start with the two wingers. They were the stars and I was just the finisher. On the left-hand side we had Franck Ribery.
“On the other wing, Arjen Robben. Totally different from Franck. He always wanted to finish.
“With Arjen I always had to predict the keeper’s movement, and if they saved his shot, I was there for the rebound. I scored many goals liked that!”
City, who were heartbreakingly defeated by the Spanish giants in the semifinals a year ago, have a chance to atone this time around.
On Tuesday, the Bernabeu will host the first leg of their most recent match, and Guardiola is not thinking about the previous 12 months. Instead, he is focused on the game at hand.
The City manager said: “It was tough but we made an exceptional first game in Manchester and played a really good game here.
Over the weekend,Mohamed Salah scored his 100th goal at Anfield and set a new record for Liverpool by scoring in nine consecutive home games during their 1-0 victory over Brentford in the Premier League.
This win, combined with Manchester United’s loss to West Ham, has given Liverpool a chance to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League next season.
During the match between West Ham and Manchester United, the goalkeeper David De Gea made a mistake which led to Said Benrahma, who is Algerian, scoring the only goal of the game.
Here, AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:
ENGLAND
MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)
The Egyptian, who has been voted African Footballer of the Year twice, slammed home at the second attempt fromVirgil van Dijk’s header to register his 30th goal of the season in all competitions.
RIYAD MAHREZ (Manchester City)
Mahrez was the creator for both City’s goals, scored by Ilkay Gundogan, as the defending champions moved a step closer to retaining their title with a 2-1 win over Leeds.
Twice the Algerian cut inside off the right wing before laying perfectly-weighted passes into the path of Gundogan to slot home from the edge of the box.
SAID BENRAHMA (West Ham)
Benrahma’s goal all but guaranteed West Ham’s top-flight status for another season as the Hammers beat Manchester United 1-0.
But the Algerian had De Gea to thank for his 10th goal of the season as the Spaniard somehow let a weak shot from distance through his grasp.
ITALY
VICTOR OSIMHEN (Napoli)
The Nigerian international capped the best season of his career by ramming home the penalty — his 23rd goal in Serie A this term — which gave Napoli a 1-0 win over Fiorentina in his team’s first home match since being crowned Italian champions for the first time in 33 years.
Osimhen had scored the goal which sealed the title at Udinese midweek and gave his partying fans more reason to cheer with a strike which makes him the highest scoring African player in the history of Serie A overtaking Liberian legend George Weah.
GERMANY
SEBASTIEN HALLER (Borussia Dortmund)
The Ivory Coast international scored Borussia Dortmund’s second goal in a 6-0 thrashing of Wolfsburg. Haller turned in a low cross from Karim Adeyemi on 28 minutes as Dortmund secured a vital win to keep their title hopes alive and remain within a point of leaders Bayern Munich.
Haller, who missed the first half of the season following a testicular cancer diagnosis, has scored five goals since his return to action in February.
ILHAS BEBOU (Hoffenheim)
The Togo striker scored a tap-in as his side beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 to take a huge step toward safety in theBundesliga relegation fight.
Bebou latched on to an Angelino cross to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time and take his tally to five this season as Hoffenheim came out fighting with a brilliant first-half performance.
FRANCE
SEKO FOFANA (Lens)
The Ivory Coast international midfielder opened the scoring to put Lens ahead in a crunch Ligue 1 game against Marseille before Belgium’s Lois Openda added a second goal for the side from northern France.
Dimitri Payet notched a late consolation for Marseille but the 2-1 win propelled Lens into second place behind Paris Saint-Germain, two points ahead of their beaten rivals from the south.
The first leg of the Champions League semifinal between Manchester City and Real Madrid will take place at the Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday May 9, 2023.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some talking points ahead of the game.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City (agg 6-5). That remarkable second-leg comeback as this competition delivers again 🍿#UCLpic.twitter.com/BCHjOQ8sEz
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 5, 2022
The tie is a rematch of last year’s semi-finals when City left the Bernabeu heartbroken after letting a place in the final slip through their grasp. City had been leading 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate heading into stoppage time when they suddenly capitulated and conceded twice. Real went on to win in extra time. Pep Guardiola’s men will certainly hope revenge is in the air and they will want to use the fact the home leg comes second this time to their advantage.
City certainly approach the match in form having hit their stride over the last three months. They are unbeaten in 20 matches – 17 of which they have won – and have a strong chance of winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. Arguably, the Spanish giants are the toughest obstacle left to clear as they look to win the treble.
Real’s form is more difficult to assess. With the LaLiga title seemingly out of reach, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have lost two of their last three league matches, suggesting the wily Italian has been prioritising other fixtures. Those would be Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Osasuna, which they won 2-1, and the two City encounters over the coming week. Their triumph at the weekend, secured after two goals from Rodrygo, should certainly have raised confidence levels.
Erling Haaland has been a sensation for City this season, scoring 51 goals in all competitions and with the high likelihood of more to come. After years of near misses in the Champions League, City are hoping the prolific Norwegian is the last piece of the jigsaw as they look to finally land the big prize. He has revelled in Europe, not least when he fired five past RB Leipzig in the last 16 and then struck in both quarter-final legs against Bayern Munich. All eyes will be on him to see if he can deliver at the Bernabeu.
Cynics would suggest there is little coincidence over the timing of recent reports from Spain that the much-coveted Jude Bellingham is set to join Real in the summer. The England midfielder is widely expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer and Manchester City were reportedly among the interested parties. Whether the development would actually unsettle an outfit as composed as Guardiola’s City is debatable, but it certainly adds to the pre-match hype.
It may have startled viewers of King Charles III‘s coronation to hear a song they were familiar with.
Throughout the historic ceremony, which was place in downtown London’s Westminster Abbey, there was a full choir and classical music.
However, the Champions League Anthem is a more well-known adaptation of the Coronation Anthem, Zadok the Priest.
Prior to King George II’s coronation in 1727, German composer George Frideric Handel created the song’s original melody.
It has been used at the coronation of every single British monarch since.
The song is traditionally sung just before the new sovereign is anointed, out of view, with holy oil.
And it was once again performed at King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation today.
Today, Charles and Camilla are the champions (Picture: PA)The moment King Charles III was crowned with St Edward’s Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby (Picture: PA)The Champions League Anthem was written in 1992 after Europe’s football competition was re-branded (Picture: Getty Images)
Zadok the Priest lyrics
Zadok the priest And Nathan the prophet Anointed Solomon king And all the people Rejoiced, rejoiced, rejoiced And all the people Rejoiced, rejoiced, rejoiced Rejoiced, rejoiced, rejoiced And all the people Rejoiced, rejoiced, rejoiced and said
God save the king Long live the king God save the king May the king live forever Amen, amen, alleluia, alleluia, amen, amen Amen, amen, alleluia, amen
Champions League Anthem
They are the best teams They are the best teams The main event The master The best The great teams The champions
A big meeting A great sporting event The main event The master The best The great teams The champions
They are the best They are the best These are the champions The master The best The champions
The Champions League Anthem was written in 1992 after Europe’s football competition between top-tier divisions was re-branded.
Coronation of King Charles III latest
Organiser Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) picked Zadok the Priest as the template piece which they felt would best fit the mood for the new Champions League.
Composer Tony Britten, who wrote the piece, told the BBC in 2020: ‘UEFA wanted this competition to be about the best of football, rather than the worst.
‘Some say the tune is nicked from Handel, but it’s not. It’s just the first writing string phrase, and the rest is me.’
But today, the real champions were Charles and Camilla who were crowned as His and Her Majesty – an event never seen before by the majority of the population.
Royal fans braved the weather to gather on The Mall and in nearby parks to cheer on the new sovereign and his queen.
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Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, believes that the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna on Saturday might be his last game in charge, despite the fact that he has previously had the same belief and been proven incorrect, he said on Friday.
The 63-year-old Italian, who throughout his illustrious career has collected numerous championships with teams like Los Blancos, AC Milan, Chelsea, and others, explained how he approaches championship games.
“Playing a final is always exciting, I always think before a final that, personally, it could be my last,” said Ancelotti, ahead of the clash at La Cartuja in Seville.
“I thought that in 2003, and it wasn’t the last, and I think that today, it could be the last today.
“You have to enjoy it, and I ask the players to enjoy it too because they are special games.”
Ancelotti lifted his first Coppa Italia as a coach in 2003 with AC Milan, going on to win four Champions League trophies in his glittering career among several other cups.
Madrid’s last Copa del Rey triumph was under Ancelotti in 2014, when they beat rivals Barcelona in the final.
Los Blancos thrashed the Catalans 4-0 at Camp Nou in the semi-final second leg to progress to the final.
Madrid host Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday but Ancelotti said his team would be completely focused on the Copa final.
“Tomorrow we will go out there without thinking about what’s happening the next day,” insisted Ancelotti.
“We will go out with all the energy in the world to win another title. The players are motivated.”
Ancelotti even said his team needed to celebrate victory if they achieve it, despite the impending clash with Pep Guardiola’s side.
“When you win, you have to celebrate it,” said the coach.
“There are (different) ways of celebrating it — we like to celebrate with the fans.”
The coach reiterated that his Madrid contract expires at the end of next season, when he was asked about his future amid links to the Brazilian national team.
Ancelotti confirmed that midfield maestro Luka Modric was fit to face Osasuna after injury but did not confirm if the Croatian would start, with Madrid aiming to lift the Spanish cup for the 20th time.
The coach did say Austrian defender David Alaba was also fit and would be starting after a calf problem.
Aston Villa and Manchester United will compete for a top-four berth on Sunday, according to Unai Emery, both in “different moments” than when they first faced off.
Emery celebrated his first game as Villa manager in November with a memorable 3-1 Premier League home win over Erik ten Hag’s side.
United exacted revenge four days later with a Carabao Cup victory at Old Trafford, the Red Devils going on to win the competition and lift their first trophy for six years.
The two sides meet again nearly six months on with Emery having transformed Villa from relegation candidates to Champions League outsiders, six points behind fourth-placed United who have two games in hand on their Midlands rivals.
Emery said: “For us, it’s a very good challenge, it will be a very different match on Sunday to when we played at home when I arrived here.
“Very different match to when we played in the Carabao Cup there and lost 4-2.
The plane that was supposed to take the players back to London caught fire, forcing the Arsenal women’s team to stay an extra night in Germany.
According to the Daily Mail, the Gunners’ plane was struck by a bird and caught fire on the runway as it was returning from the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg.
The players spent an additional night in Germany due to a “technical fault,” and they made it back to London the next day without incident, according to a statement released by Arsenal.
“Our aircraft developed a technical issue prior to take-off in Germany on Sunday evening,” read a club statement.
“As a result, we remained in Wolfsburg overnight on Sunday before flying back to England on Monday afternoon.
“We would like to thank the staff onboard the aircraft and on the ground at the airport for their assistance.”
The club have also confirmed that no-one was hurt in the incident which occurred after Arsenal had come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Wolfsburg.
Rafaelle and Stina Blackstenius were on target as the Gunners fought back to put themselves in a strong position ahead of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
The scenario at the top of the Spanish top flight could only change if Barcelona lost and Madrid kept winning.
Barcelona’s lead was cut to eight points by Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday, but the Catalans still had a home match against Atletico Madrid scheduled for the following day.
Were Barcelona to win that, their lead would be back to 11 points with eight rounds of games remaining. Even if Barcelona were to lose, their lead would still be such that they would remain firm title favourites.
Still, Madrid see no reason to give up hope, with goalkeeper Courtois telling broadcaster DAZN: “We are going to fight until the last game, until it is mathematically impossible.”
He said it was “a pity” Madrid had dropped points at times this season but signalled that Champions League commitments can impact on domestic results.
Last season saw Madrid pull off a Champions League and LaLiga double, and they are through to the semi-finals in Europe once again this term, with home and away games against Manchester City coming up in May, plus a Copa del Rey final against Osasuna.
That cup showdown comes on May 6, and Courtois said: “We want to win on the next three matchdays and when the time comes for the cup final, we’ll see how far away we are.
“We want to keep winning and have a good feeling ahead of the Champions League. It’s key that we’re all well. Hopefully we end the season well.”
Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti made five changes to his starting XI, four days on from his team’s 2-0 win at Chelsea that clinched a 4-0 aggregate quarter-final win against his former club in the Champions League.
Marco Asensio, one of those brought in, rifled the opening goal, and his corner set up Eder Militao to head the second.
“Making an XI is complicated, because we are lucky to have a plugged in dressing room,” Ancelotti said. “We must rotate, because this part of the season is very demanding.”
The veteran coach was concerned about the playing surface and said the Santiago Bernabeu pitch “has to improve”, while Ancelotti also paid tribute to the all-action Eduardo Camavinga, thriving at left-back after the 20-year-old was recently switched from midfield.
Camavinga had a team-high 113 touches and completed six of seven dribbles, with both aspects being the most he has achieved in a LaLiga game for Madrid.
“He has extraordinary quality. He has energy and is complete,” said Ancelotti. “As such, he can play any position successfully.”
To the dismay of most supporters who had high hopes for the former Chelsea manager, Bayern lost a 1-0 lead at halftime and collapsed to a 3-1 defeat against Tuchel’s old haunts.
The defeat by Mainz follows a sad Champions League departure for the Bavarians, who were eliminated by Manchester City after losing 4-1 on aggregate over two legs, according to Eurosport.
Tuchel’s latest setback means he has won just two of seven games in charge of FC Hollywood and could move to second place in the Bundesliga if Borussia Dortmund beat Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday evening,BBCreports.
Following the defeat to Mainz, football fans questioned the tactical nous of the 49-year-old, suggesting he is overrated.
How fans reacted to Bayern’s loss
@analysispanel tweeted:
“Massively overrated, he implodes spontaneously.”
@antwigodwin62 added:
“Yes, he is overrated. He does nothing special, He defends all the time.
Another user, @RulixFelix, claimed Tuchel is similar to Frank Lampard:
In the forthcoming transfer window, Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly ready to make a €150 million offer for star Napoli attacker Victor Osimhen.
The 24-year-old Osimhen is now in his third season with Napoli after moving there in a club-record €70 million deal from Lille, and this time around he has had one of the best goal-scoring campaigns in Europe.
The Nigerian international has been unstoppable with 21 goals in 24 Serie A appearances and five goals in six Champions League matches.
Now, the world’s best clubs have taken notice.
While there is also said to be strong interest in Osimhen coming from the deep pockets of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain are trying to wrap things up early with a serious bid.
Football Insider is reporting the French giants are ready to meet Napoli’s enormous €150m asking price, with the hope they can blow Chelsea out of the water as they consider a £100m (€112m) bid of their own.
Osimhen’s contract ties him to the club for two more seasons after this one, but with his value at an all-time high,and with Napoli being able to offer the chance at league titles and deep Champions League runs, the Serie A leaders can demand a substantial windfall.
ROUND-UP
– According to GiveMeSport, Manchester United view Valencia’s 22-year-old goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili – who is priced around £45m (€50m) – as a potential long-term replacement for David de Gea.
– United are also showing interest in 19-year-old Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva, although they face competition from Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, Real Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool, per Ekrem Konur.
– Football Insider is reporting Liverpool and Tottenham are the two teams 23-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back Evan Ndicka will choose between when his contract expires in a few months.
– According to the Daily Mail, 31-year-old Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino will join Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Simone Inzaghi, the head coach of Inter Milan, has acknowledged that he had previously only daydreamed about his team making it to the Champions League last four.
The Nerazzurri advanced as runners-up before the LaLiga heavyweights despite being placed in what was known as a “group of death” early in the competition when they were paired with Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Inter beat Benfica 5-3 on aggregate following a 3-3 draw at San Siro in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, meaning they will face city rivals AC Milan in the semis for the first time since the 2002-03 season, while it will also be the first time the two will meet five times in one season.
“There is great happiness,” Inzaghi said after the game. “We played a great game against a difficult team.
“We fully deserved this semi-final, which before was only a dream. I’m happy for the boys and for our progress. We started with a very difficult group with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. We work every day to experience these evenings.”
Their passage to the semis of the Champions League for the first time since they won the competition in 2009-10 should relieve some pressure on Inzaghi, who has come in for criticism for the team’s league form, having not won any of their last five games in Serie A, losing four.
“Critics aren’t a problem,” he insisted. “I know where they come from. Some speak well, some speak bad.”
Federico Dimarco had aproductive game down the Inter left against Benfica, providing six open-play crosses – twice as many as any other player – and claiming assists for Lautaro Martinez and Joaquin Correa after Nicolo Barella had earlier given the hosts the lead.
Roger Schmidt’s men equalised Barella’s goal through Frederik Aursnes, before late efforts from Antonio Silva and Petar Musa levelled things again.
“We’re very happy, it’s been many years since Inter made it to the semi-finals,” Dimarco told Amazon Prime. “There’s still one step left to get to the end.
“We played well, apart from some lack of attention for their goals. The assists? I worked all week for this, the important thing is that the team wins.
When asked about the prospect of facing Milan, he replied: “Let’s think about the other matches first. I’m calm, there’s still one step left for us to move forward.”
Pep Guardiola said he was “exhausted.”Manchester City demonstrated their street smarts in the Champions League by defeating Bayern Munich 4-1 on the road to the semifinals.
The Premier League champions drew 1-1 at Allianz Arena eight days after winning the first leg 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium to set up a matchup against Real Madrid, the current holders.
Erling Haaland missed a penalty in the first half, but after the interval, he gave City the lead with his 48th goal of the year.
Joshua Kimmich denied City an 11th successive victory late on after a second harsh penalty award of the game – Manuel Akanji punished for what was adjudged to be handball.
City are in the hunt for a Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble after advancing to a third successive European semi-final.
Guardiola, who took charge of the Premier League champions for a 400th time when he came up against his former club Bayern on Wednesday, feels their experience is standing them in good stead.
He told BT Sport: “We struggled in the first half. [Dayot] Upamecano broke all the lines down our left side and we struggled with [Kingsley] Coman.
“The finishing from Erling was really, really good. He is so young. The experience that we have in this competition, the players feel it a lot, they want to do it really well. The second half was much, much better since minute one.”
City face Championship side Sheffield United in an FA Cup semi-final on Saturday and Guardiola is concerned fatigue will be an issue.
He added: “We are exhausted. I don’t know how we recover to play against Sheffield United [in the FA Cup semi-final].
“Now is a tough moment for the game on Saturday, but we have to play then as [Manchester) United play in the Europa League [so play Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup on Sunday].”
Before Chelsea’sChampions League match against Real Madrid, Ashley Cole gave a humorous pre-game statement to the Chelsea defence on camera.
The Blues welcomed the La Liga powerhouses to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night for the second leg of their quarterfinal match, looking to recover a 2-0 lead from the earlier match at Santiago Bernabeu.
The 2021 Champions League champions, according to The Guardian, were unable to defeat Carlo Ancelotti’s team and eventually withdrew from the competition.
A brace from Brazilian star Rodrygo was enough to earn Real another 2-0 win away from home to book a spot in the semi-final of the European competition.
Ashley Cole’s speech to Chelsea defenders
Despite Chelsea’s defeat, Sportbible reports that it is a passionate moment between Cole and the Blues’ defenders that has gone viral.
The moment, which was captured moments before the match, showed the Chelsea legend handing out some very clear pre-match instructions to his defenders.
At one point, the former left-back can be seen concentrating his efforts on Marc Cucurella, who has struggled for form since joining the west Londoners from Brighton.
Cole’s animated speech had fans talking online, with one posting:
“Show me a single one of the current lot that have even close to this level of passion.
While another added:
“Interesting. Ashley Cole really is integral to Lampard’s coaching staff.”
Courtois appears to mock Chelsea
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Thibaut Courtois responded to Chelsea fans in kind, as he dazzled in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on April 18.
The goalkeeper had an impressive game despite being subjected to a hostile reception at his former home ground.
The lanky Belgian has never been forgiven for ditching the club to move to the Spanish capital and Blues fans made that clear with loud jeers every time Courtois was on the ball.
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