Month: September 2019

Jurgen Klopp or Mauricio Pochettino will finally win silverware for their club on Saturday – here’s how to follow what promises to be a thrilling game

Liverpool face Tottenham on Saturday in the Champions League final at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano, with the fixture the biggest club match in the European footballing calendar.

The 64th European Cup final – and the 27th since the competition was rebranded in the 1992-93 season – promises to be a particularly special affair.

Played between two Premier League clubs with give it a special atmosphere, though it also offers the opportunity for managers Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino to score their first silverware at the Reds and Spurs respectively.

Both bosses have been lauded for the work they have done with their clubs, but they have nothing tangible to show for it as yet. For one of them, that will change in the Spanish capital.

If those sub-plots are not enough to stir intrigue, the very fact that the teams are known as two of the most dashing and dynamic on the continent should be sufficient to draw the attention.

With an expected television audience of over 300 million worldwide drawn from more than 200 different countries, it will be one of the biggest events of the year.

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US TV channel	Online stream
TNT USA / Univision / Univision Deportes	fuboTV / Watch TNT / B/R Live / Univision NOW / Univision Deportes En Vivo

For fans seeking the coverage in English broadcast on TV, TNT USA are carrying the match. For a Spanish-language broadcast of the game, Univision and Univision Deportes will both have the game.

In terms of live streams, there are a number of options to select from, with the game live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

English-language coverage can, furthermore, be found with Watch TNT or B/R Live.

For a Spanish stream of the match, Univision NOW or Univision Deportes En Vivo are available options.

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The game has a 3pm ET kick-off for supporters wishing to tune into the game.

The World Cup winner has made 86 appearances for the side as a player, but announced his retirement earlier this month

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi has been appointed manager of Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd.

The 39-year-old has been a player for Al Sadd since 2015, having made 86 appearances for them, after leaving Camp Nou, but announced his retirement earlier this month.

Xavi penned a two-year deal and will become the boss of his former La Liga rival, Gabi, who left Atletico Madrid last year.

Former playmaker Xavi had revealed shortly before his last game as a player that he expected to start his managerial career in Qatar.

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“The idea is to start as a coach in Qatar, that there is not so much pressure, to prove myself and to gain experience, and the goal is to return to Europe and mainly to Barca,” he told Marca.

Xavi made his debut for Barcelona in 1998 and enjoyed a prolific 17 years in Catalonia before moving to Qatar.

“I’ve had very long career,” he added. “I am calm and I have the goal of being a coach. I imagine that having a goal when you finish such a wonderful stage also makes everything seem easier.

“I see it [my retirement from playing] as my farewell to football, but I’ve done it all, I have the feeling that football has given me everything and I’m thankful.

“My dream is to be a coach, transmit my experiences a bit. I have many concepts of football in my head and I would like to transmit them.”

The midfielder has played under a number of highly-rated coaches in his long career, but singled out two as the best of the bunch. 

“The two that have marked me the most have been Luis Aragones in the national team and [Pep] Guardiola, in Barca,” he continued.

The Catalans played a revolutionary possession-based game under Guardiola – who has gone on to successfully implement his style at Bayern Munich and Manchester City – and Xavi acknowledged he wants to use that approach in his own coaching career.

“It’s what I want to convey, I’ve grown up like that, I’ve really enjoyed this style, we’ve won with this style, Barca and the national team and, therefore, I think it’s the best style to play football,”

Asked about speculation linking him as a replacement for Ernesto Valverde this summer, Xavi added: “I now start a race from scratch. I cannot take a Ferrari or a transatlantic, I have to start with a small boat, with a small car, go try, get experience and yes, it is true that the goal is to return to Barcelona.”

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss believes that every football supporter would love to see the duo go head-to-head in a European final

Jose Mourinho still believes that a Champions League final between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is a possibility.

Barcelona and Juventus were among the favourites for the trophy in 2018-19 but were knocked out by Liverpool and Ajax, respectively.

The Portuguese coach feels that, despite the pair’s advanced years, they are still performing at the highest level and could meet in the showpiece event of Europe’s premier club competition before their careers end.

“First of all, I think it’s a frustration for all those who like football to never have had a [Champions League] final between the two [Messi and Ronaldo],” Mourinho told Eleven Sports.

“It was almost real many times, but it never happened. I always thought that it would be a big injustice to them, in the sense that everything would be centred on them and that one would come out holding on to the big ears cup and the other would come out with his head down.

“I always thought it would be a great injustice to have a duel between the titans of the two best players in the world in the last decade, for one of them to bow to the weight of defeat. That’s why it’s probably a good thing it never happened.

“Can it still happen? It could still happen. They’re both in clubs that want to win. They don’t hide that they want to win themselves. Of course it can happen. I’m perfectly watching Cristiano, with his 34, I think, playing at the highest level as long as he wants.”

Mourinho commented on Ronaldo’s continued success at the top level and put it down to his mentality and desire to win.

“I think it’s fundamentally in his head, in his nature, in his DNA. Ambition, motivation, personal pride are things you can’t buy. They are things that are objectively born with people and I think it will be like this until it’s over. There are players who are really special and who from a mental point of view are flawless.”

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss also feels that Mohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are all candidates to take over the mantle of ‘best in the world’ when Messi and Ronaldo eventually retire.

“[Salah, Mbappe and Neymar] are three strong names. Unequivocally three important names who are there waiting to see what happens to the monsters. The other day I was asked a question similar to yours and I said that it has to be a winner.

“A golden boot, the best player in the world, has to be a winner. This thing with a lot of quality, a lot of talent, no titles, it doesn’t work. Right now, if Juventus had won the Champions League, we were saying that Ronaldo will win the [Golden] ball.

“If Barcelona had won the Champions League, they would have won the Spanish championship, now they’re going to the Copa America, the golden ball for Messi. Because they’ve been removed from the European football championship, we’re already talking about who could win, because they can’t. That’s why I always say, always sustaining victories and important victories.”

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Ramon Calderon would bring a French midfielder to the Spanish capital over a Brazilian forward and expects a Welsh winger to return to England

Neymar is not right for Real Madrid, says Ramon Calderon, but Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba could be if there is a deal to be done at the right price.

Those at the Santiago Bernabeu are being linked with several star names ahead of the summer transfer window.

Club president Florentino Perez is expected to go back to his famed ‘Galacticos’ recruitment policy amid links to world-class talent in France, England and Germany.

A number of the moves reportedly being lined up have been mooted for some time, with the likes of Neymar and Pogba long-standing targets for the Blancos.

Calderon believes efforts will be made to make marquee additions, but feels a raid on Old Trafford would be preferable to one on the books at Paris Saint-Germain.

The former Real president told Sky Sports: “Neymar is a top player but I don’t see him – his behaviour in the last games he has played – as being the best reference for coming to Real Madrid.

“Pogba? Maybe. He is one of the players that [Zinedine] Zidane has said he really likes.

“It would be a problem of money. Our president has decided to invest a ridiculous amount of money in the new stadium because we already have a fantastic stadium.”

While expecting incoming movement at the Bernabeu, Calderon also sees high-profile departures being made.

Zidane needs to freshen up a squad that underperformed badly in the 2018-19 campaign.

Gareth Bale is among those expected to head for the exits, with the Wales international having fallen out of favour with those on the bench and in the stands.

Calderon added on a proven performer who has been linked with a return to the Premier League at either Manchester United or Tottenham: “It’s a pity what is happening with Gareth Bale. I like him.

“He came here with the great handicap that we paid for him more money than we did for Cristiano [Ronaldo].

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“It’s not fair but fans think that he will be scoring more goals than Cristiano, playing better, helping the team much more than Cristiano. That’s impossible.

“They have perceived some lack of commitment. He doesn’t speak Spanish so he couldn’t communicate.

“Maybe that’s the best destination for him, a loan to a British club, and try to recover the confidence and try to again be the player that he has been for the last 10 years.”

The Manchester City manager hit back at reports stating that he would walk away from the club if he won a long-awaited Champions League title

Pep Guardiola rubbished talk of a reported sabbatical, insisting that he does not plan to walk away from Manchester City any time soon.

Reports emerged in the Daily Star on Wednesday stating that Guardiola could walk away from the Etihad Stadium at the conclusion of this coming season.

The reports stated that the former Barcelona manager would resign if he could lead Manchester City to a long-awaited Champions League title after claiming a domestic treble but falling short in the continental competition this season.

Management takes a “big toll” on the Spaniard, the report says, and Guardiola is said to already be eyeing his next break in football.

But Guardiola has a contract with Manchester City through to 2021, having signed a new deal in May 2018, and the Spanish coach says he intends to see out that contract with the club to its completion.

“I do not take a sabbatical. The news comes out, is repeated and is not checked,” Guardiola said in response to the reports.

“I have two years of contract and, if they do not kick me out, I will continue.”

Guardiola took charge of Manchester City in 2016, joining the club following a stint with Bayern Munich that saw him claim three Bundesliga titles as part of a seven-trophy haul in three seasons.

The manager has since won the Premier League title in the past two seasons, having finished his first season in charge in third place.

City’s 2017-18 campaign, Guardiola’s second in charge, was a record-breaker, as the club became the first Premier League side to eclipse 100 points in a single season.

This past season, Guardiola was able to lead the club to a historic treble, winning the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Premier League title, pipping Champions League winners Liverpool in one of the best title races in recent memory.

However, Champions League success has eluded Guardiola since his days at Barcelona, with the manager having not one a continental title since the 2010-11 competition.

This past season, City fell in the quarter-finals to Premier League rivals Tottenham, with a late goal that would have sent the team through ruled out due to VAR.

 

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The Blues secured a top-three finish and Europa League glory last season and their Brazilian defender is looking to build on those foundations

David Luiz believes Chelsea are capable of challenging for “every title around the world” in 2019-20.

The Blues ended their 2018-19 campaign on a high with a Europa League triumph over domestic rivals Arsenal.

A third-place finish in the Premier League was also secured, with Champions League football set to return to Stamford Bridge.

Luiz sees no reason why Chelsea cannot compete for continental glory, while chasing down more success at home, with confidence restored despite the uncertainty surrounding Maurizio Sarri’s future in west London.

The Brazilian defender told the club’s official magazine: “I think a few months ago, nobody would have believed that Chelsea could come back and finish in the top three. We did that and now we have also won in a European final against Arsenal.

“I think if we keep this mentality, take all the positive things we did this season and if we continue to improve and learn, we are going to be fighting for every title around the world.

“You think about winning every single competition because if it’s not like that, you cannot play for a big club.”

Luiz added on what Chelsea need to do in order to build on the foundations they have put down: “Now we have to understand what we have to do and what we can improve. I think we can see Liverpool and City have had the same philosophy for a few years.

“We have to realise that and to have the humility to say they’ve had more time than us to reach this level, and it’s also an example for us to try to improve ourselves.”

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Luiz will be back for more next season after committing to a new contract.

The 32-year-old had been approaching free agency, but is now tied to terms with Chelsea through to the summer of 2021.

“The new contract means a lot as well,” added the flamboyant South American.

“I’m glad to be here, so happy to be at this club. I love this club and I still have the ambition of a young player, so that’s why I have this opportunity to show I have the same hunger.”

Across two spells at Stamford Bridge, Luiz has already savoured two Europa League triumphs, two FA Cup wins, a Premier League title and Champions League success.

The England captain expects the past week’s disappointments with club and country to linger during his close-season break

Harry Kane has challenged his England team-mates to learn from another semi-final loss that compounded a week of personal heartache for the Tottenham striker.

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Kane made his first appearance in almost two months following his latest ankle setback when Spurs went down 2-0 to Liverpool in last Saturday’s Champions League final.

Gareth Southgate opted not to start his captain against Netherlands in Guimaraes but he came on at half-time for Marcus Rashford, who was injured in a challenge with Denzel Dumfries after winning and converting a penalty that opened the scoring.

But Kane was left once again frustrated and feeding off scraps against a defence marshalled by Virgil van Dijk, with the Three Lions subsiding to a 3-1 extra-time loss – errors from John Stones and Ross Barkley leading to a Kyle Walker own-goal and a late Quincy Promes strike after Matthijs de Ligt powered in a headed equaliser, atoning for his earlier foul on Rashford.

“It hurts, it hurts a lot,” Kane said. “Of course, this week could have been so different and, as a professional athlete, that’s what you dream about.

“You dream about lifting trophies and winning games, so it’ll hurt over the summer. It’s something you can’t just clear out of your mind.

“But I think it’s important, not just for me but for all the lads who’ve had tough years to refresh as much as possible with the mind and body.

“Of course, it comes around fast. Before we know it, it will be the Premier League again and we’ll be talking again.

“But it hurts. There’s nothing else I can say. I want to win, the boys want to win and the Spurs boys want to win.

“It wasn’t our week. The only thing you can do is learn from it.”

Since their surprise run to the World Cup semi-finals last year, England have changed formation and become a more potent attacking force – besting Spain and Russia 2018 conquerors Croatia in their Nations League group before plundering five goals apiece against the Czech Republic and Montenegro to emphatically kick-off qualifying for Euro 2020 three months ago.

But Thursday’s loss at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques, where Southgate’s men will return for Sunday’s third-place match against Switzerland, felt in some ways like being transported back to the Moscow defeat to Croatia as a technically savvy midfield systematically sapped England and broke them down.

Even so, Kane is keen not to lose sight of the bigger picture.

“It would have been easier just to take your foot off the gas and be happy with what we achieved,” he said.

“But we got to a semi-final [in a competition] of the best 12 teams in Europe. We had a tough group with Spain and Croatia and we got through. That was progression.

“Of course it hurts a bit to lose in a semi-final like this, but we’re knocking on the door and that’s what we want to take inspiration from.”

After dealing with their unwanted weekend obligation, England will begin a year-long countdown to a Euro 2020 tournament that concludes with semi-finals and a final at Wembley.

Kane believes such a huge incentive will encourage his team-mates to harness their latest bitter setback.

“That’s the challenge now,” he added. “We won’t know until we get there, of course, but we’ve got to use these big games and these big disappointments to motivate us and help us learn.

“We are a young team but more of us now are playing big games for club and country. It’s a good sign of where the nation’s going.

“But, of course, in those big moments it’s down to us now to progress and find a way to win.”

The 22-year-old defender impressed during his season-long loan spell at the Serie A club in 2018-19 and will now sign him permanently

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Ola Aina is to leave Chelsea for Torino on a permanent deal after impressing during a season-long loan at the Serie A club last term, the Blues have confirmed.

The 22-year-old defender made 30 league appearances as Torino finished seventh, scoring his first goal for the club in a 1-0 win over Udinese in February.

An FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League winner during his time at the Chelsea academy, Aina made just three Premier League appearances for the London side, all of which came in his second season as a senior professional as Antonio Conte guided them to the Premier League title.

He was loaned out to Hull City during Conte’s second season at the club and was a regular starter for the Tigers, making 44 appearances. It was during that spell that he was called up to earn his first full cap for Nigeria.

Torino have opted to take up their option to sign Aina at the end of his loan spell, as president Urbano Cairo confirmed recently, and will pay a reported €10 million (£9m/$11m) to land the right-back, who is preparing to represent Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations this summer.

A statement on Chelsea’s official website confirmed Aina is set to leave the club he joined at the age of 11.

“Everyone at Chelsea Football Club would like to thank Ola for his services and we wish him the best of luck for the next stage in his career,” it read.

Aina’s departure means Cesar Azpilicueta and David Zappacosta are the only right-backs in the Chelsea squad. As the club are banned from signing players in the next two transfer windows, 19-year-old Reece James is expected to compete for a starting spot after an impressive season on loan at Wigan.

Meanwhile, other young players returning from loan spells, such as Tammy Abraham, Kurt Zouma and Mason Mount, could also play a role in the Stamford Bridge side’s campaign.

Chelsea will at least see one fresh face arrive this summer in Christian Pulisic, who signed in January but finished the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

The Red Devils striker did little to dismiss rumours of a potential Old Trafford exit after Belgium’s latest Euro 2020 qualifier

Romelu Lukaku said he expects a “busy summer” as he cast doubts over his Manchester United future amid growing links to Inter.

Lukaku has emerged as a reported target for Antonio Conte’s side after previously revealing it would be a “dream” to play in Serie A at some point in his career.

New Inter head coach Conte is reportedly keen to sign Lukaku, having missed out on the Belgium striker during his time in charge of Chelsea after he opted to join Premier League rivals United for £75 million ($95m) in 2017.

Lukaku was asked about his future following Belgium’s 3-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win over Scotland on Tuesday and the 26-year-old did little to dismiss rumours of a potential Old Trafford exit.

“I have a contract with Man United,” said Lukaku, who scored twice against Scotland. “I’ll speak with my club and my agent Federico Pastorello to make the best decision.

“I am going to enjoy my holidays with my family now. I know what I’ll do but won’t say it.

“We’ll see. If I expect a busy summer? Yes.”

Lukaku – contracted to the Red Devils until 2022 with the option of a further year – scored 12 Premier League goals as United finish sixth in 2018-19, missing out on Champions League qualification.

He scored 15 goals across all competitions for United in total, who lost to Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The imposing centre-forward was unable to build on his promising debut campaign at Old Trafford, during which he managed to hit 26 goals under Jose Mourinho’s stewardship.

Lukaku enjoyed a brief resurgence after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment as interim United boss back in December, most notably scoring twice in a stunning Champions League win over Paris Saint Germain.

However, his form dipped dramatically between March and May, with many fans and experts calling his fitness levels and technical ability into question.

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The French attacker has been linked with a move to Barcelona since stating earlier this summer that he will be leaving Atletico

Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti says that he is unsure whether his international team-mate Antoine Griezmann will join him at Camp Nou next season.

Atletico Madrid attacker Griezmann was believed to be on the verge of completing a deal to the Spanish champions, before reports emerged last month suggesting that the move had been vetoed.

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The switch was also put into further doubt earlier this week when Atletico president, Enrique Cerezo, revealed he is yet to hear from Barca regarding any potential move for Griezmann.

“I don’t know where he’s going, he didn’t say,” said Cerezo. “I don’t have the slightest idea where he will go. I don’t think anyone knows. No one from Barca has contacted me,” he added.

With so much speculation surrounding the Atletico man, Umtiti was asked about his countryman’s future while on international duty.

“Will he be at Barcelona? That’s a very good question,” Umtiti told French outlet RTL following France’s shock 2-0 defeat to Turkey on Saturday.

Asked about rumours that the transfer was vetoed by senior Barca players, Umtiti said: “The truth is, I never heard anybody talk about him in our dressing room. Maybe I wasn’t there when it happened.”

It is not just Griezmann being linked with a move this summer, with speculation growing that Umtiti himself could be on the move after a disappointing campaign in 2018/19.

The former Lyon man struggled with a knee injury last season and was restricted to just 14 league appearances.

However, Umtiti was quick to distance himself from reports that he could be leaving Barca in the near future.

“I have a contract, I feel happy in Barcelona,” said the 25 year-old. “I had a complicated season but that’s not a reason to have desires elsewhere. I will be in Barcelona next season.”

Next up for Griezmann, Umtiti and their French team-mates, is the slightly less daunting task of beating Andorra on Tuesday.

The world champions’ poor performance against Turkey means they sit second in their Euro 2020 qualification group, level on points with Iceland and three points behind leaders Turkey.