وصف مارك أندريه تير شتيجن، حارس مرمى فريق برشلونة، ما حدث أمام باريس سان جيرمان في دوري أبطال أوروبا مساء أمس بـ”خيبة الأمل”.
وخسر برشلونة أمام باريس سان جيرمان بنتيجة 4-1 على ملعب “مونتجويك” في إياب ربع نهائي البطولة، ليودع المنافسات.
وقال تير شتيجن في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “أشعر بخيبة أمل كبيرة لأنه في النهاية كان الأمر ممكنًا اليوم، خيبة الأمل هي الكلمة الصحيحة”.
وأضاف: “توقعنا أن يكون باريس سان جيرمان على هذا النحو، كان يتبقى نصف ساعة والفارق هدفًا واحدًا، لا أريد أن أقول إنه كان خطأ، أردت أن أستحوذ على الكرة (الهدف الرابع)”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. إنريكي: آمل ألا يتكرر لي هذا الأمر مجددًا أمام برشلونة.. وأنتظر حديث السيد مبابي
وواصل: “كان علينا أن نخاطر بشكل أكبر عندما استقبلنا الهدف الثالث، في النهاية هم يمتلكون جودة كبيرة في الهجوم، وكل فرصة تمثل خطورة، من الصعب تفهم ما حدث حيث سجلوا أربعة أهداف في المباراة”.
وأوضح: “لقد أتيحت لنا فرصة التأهل إلى الدور قبل النهائي، لكن الحياة تستمر، علينا الآن أن نستعد لمباراة مدريد”.
وأردف: “الآن ليس الوقت المناسب للتفكير في مباراة الأحد، ضد ريال مدريد، علينا أن نرتاح وأن نعيد شحن بطارياتنا حتى نكون في صحة جيدة مرة أخرى ونركز ذهنيًا على ما يتعين علينا القيام به”.
وأكد: “نحتاج إلى الراحة والقتال من أجل تقليص النقاط مع ريال مدريد وجعل الأمور صعبة عليهم”.
Manchester United have 'primed' Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund to be their next arrival at Old Trafford once a deal for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana is closed, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
Is Rasmus Hojlund joining Manchester United?
Laurie Whitwell, who is a journalist for The Athletic, has given an update on the state of play surrounding Manchester United's latest bid for Hojlund being rejected, stating on Twitter: "MUFC proposed players in part-exchange during talks on Rasmus Hojlund. But Atalanta only want cash. United view £85m fee as excessive. Simultaneous pursuits for Hojlund + Andre Onana but fine balance on costs. Key negotiations on Onana taking place."
Last term, the Danish international shot to prominence at Serie A side Atalanta and has fired in ten goals and laid on four assists in 34 appearances for the club in all competitions since joining from Sturm Graz, as per Transfermarkt.
Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed on Twitter as well that Hojlund is the Red Devils' top target this window to strengthen their forward line, adding: "Told Rasmus Højlund remains on top of Manchester United list as new striker. Personal terms, never an issue as he’s very keen on the move."
Atalanta are keen on taking Mason Greenwood on loan from Manchester United, though it is unclear whether there has been any talks of him being involved in a swap deal despite football director John Murtough holding talks with the Italian side over the controversial figure moving to the Bergamo-based outfit, as per talkSPORT.
The Red Devils have made progress in their move for Inter Milan goalkeeper Onana, who is said to have agreed personal terms over a move to Old Trafford, according to Football Insider.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones has said that Hojlund is now being 'primed' as the next potential incoming at Manchester United.
Jones stated: "In terms of Hojlund himself, this is the next transfer that has been primed by Man United, as the Onana one looks to go ahead.
"I think they are buoyed by the fact that Hojlund really does seem set on signing for them now.
"So I think everybody's hopeful that this one can come together. It's not far enough along that you can guarantee that that's the case at this point, but of course, with pre-season now about to get underway, you've only really got a couple of weeks to get your squad in place, and United’s forward options for the new season aren't going to be that deep.
"If they can find a scenario whereby Mason Greenwood goes to Italy, with Hojlund coming to the Premier League, it would be ideal.”
Who else could join Manchester United?
Manchester United are active in the market as Erik Ten Hag seeks to build a squad capable of reaching new heights this campaign and new addition Mason Mount has already given a taster to his new support by featuring in a 2-0 friendly victory over Leeds United in Oslo earlier this week, as per The Guardian.
A Bola via METRO report that Porto striker Mehdi Taremi is admired by Ten Hag as Manchester United continue to track the Iran international.
Porto's Mehdi Taremi
In a surprising turn of events, Manchester United are mooted to have made tentative contact with former Chelsea forward Joao Felix over the possibility of him coming to the North West from Atletico Madrid, as cited by ABC via The Daily Express.
Come the next few weeks, we will find out more about where Manchester United's priorities on the transfer front lie as the start of the season begins to draw closer.
قرر نادي سبورتنج السكندري الانسحاب بشكل رسمي من منافسات السوبر الإفريقي لليد المقرر إقامته في الجزائر.
وعلم “بطولات” أن سبورتنج أبلغ الاتحاد المصري لكرة اليد باعتذاره عن عدم المشاركة في كأس السوبر الإفريقي لكرة اليد وذلك عقب رفض الاتحاد الإفريقي مشاركته في بطولة كأس الكؤوس الإفريقية.
طالع | نتائج قرعة كأس الكؤوس الإفريقية لكرة اليد.. صدام ناري للزمالك والأهلي مع منافسين جزائريين
وأكد الفريق السكندري الاعتذار عن عدم المشاركة في البطولة المؤهلة لكأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد “السوبر جلوب”.
وبعد اعتذار سبورتنج فإن الأهلي ضمن التأهل إلى نهائي كأس السوبر الإفريقي لينتظر الفائز من نصف النهائي الآخر بين الزمالك وجي آس كي بطل الكونغو.
ومن المقرر أن تقام بطولة كأس الكؤوس الإفريقية خلال الفترة من 18 إلى 27 أبريل، بمدينة وهران الجزائرية.
كما يلعب الأهلي في بطولة كأس السوبر الإفريقي لكرة اليد يومي 14 و15 أبريل المقبل بمشاركة الزمالك وجي اس كي من الكونغو.
Leeds United are interested in replacing Illan Meslier between the sticks with Rotherham United goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who dazzled in the Championship this year.
What's the latest on Viktor Johansson to Leeds?
The latest reports come from Leeds Live, which underscore the Whites' interest in the player and state that the club are expected to sign a new 'keeper following Joel Robles' departure and Meslier's possible exit.
This follows claims from Football League World that the 49ers are keeping tabs on the Swede, who was central to the Millers' successful campaign in the second tier this past year.
Leeds transfer news has been somewhat sparse since the club's relegation from the Premier League, amid the wait for confirmation of the ownership takeover before commencing the systematic reconstruction that is inevitable following the club's bitter fate.
How good is Viktor Johansson?
According to Opta, no goalkeeper in the second tier prevented more goals than Johansson's 8.5, highlighting an innate shot-preventing prowess that has attracted Leeds' attention.
Having played 43 of the 46 matches this season, the £3.5k-per-week 24-year-old earned an average match rating of 7.11 – as per Sofascore – saving 74% of his shots faced – including one penalty – and keeping 13 clean sheets.
Millers boss Matt Taylor is certainly an admirer of the Scandinavian sensation, waxing lyrical over the calibre of his displays this term when asked who the standout star has been as Rotherham ended a tumultuous 'yo-yo' period over the past several years and retained their Championship status with a 19th-place finish.
Rotherham United goalkeeperViktor Johansson.
He said: “His level of performance has been above the level of other players, if not the level of the league, in every single game this season. He has saved us so many points. He has been outstanding.”
Indeed, Johansson claimed the Players' Player of the Season award and could now complete a transfer to Elland Road, with Meslier's future at Leeds uncertain after a subpar season that left him ousted from the No 1 role in the crucial closing weeks.
Describing himself as an "explosive" shot-stopper, Johansson could emulate his compatriot Pontus Jansson at Elland Road, with the 32-year-old centre-half making 120 appearances for the outfit across three seasons in the Championship before departing for Brentford in 2019.
Described as a "top defender" with "defensive robustness" by Bees boss Thomas Frank, Jansson seems to match his glove-wearing countryman with toughness and grit, who could inject such attributes back into the Leeds backline after several shoddy years defensively.
England Lions 279 for 9 (Westley 84, Foakes 70, Alsop 40, Rashid Khan 4-48) v Afghanistan ScorecardTom Westley played a controlled innings to revive England Lions after an early stutter•Getty Images
Tom Westley and Ben Foakes relished an absorbing contest with Afghanistan’s spinners on a hard-fought first day of England Lions’ first-class match in Abu Dhabi.Westley made the most of his first Lions appearance of the winter with a patient 84, sharing a fifth-wicket partnership of 125 with Foakes before the Surrey wicketkeeper was dismissed for 70.But the Afghans hit back after tea to reduce the Lions to 279 for 9 at the close with Rashid Khan, an impressive young legspinner who has been playing in the Bangladesh Premier League, earning figures of 4 for 48.”I knew that after three weeks out here I might only have this one innings, or maybe two, so it was an important innings for me,” said Westley, who was the only member of the Lions squad not to appear in the three-match one-day series against UAE.”There was a bit of pressure on and plenty of noise when Foakesy came in, so it was enjoyable to put on a decent partnership. I thought the openers had played well early on as well to give us a start. It’s just a shame one of us top three couldn’t have gone on to something a bit bigger so we could be 320 for 5 rather than 280 for 9.”Credit to Afghanistan though. I remember playing against them for Essex second XI a few years ago, but now they are respected as a good side, with players who play in competitions like the BPL. They showed that with the way they played today, especially the legspinner.”The start of play was delayed by 15 minutes because of thick morning fog in Abu Dhabi. But Toby Roland-Jones, who followed Keaton Jennings and Nick Gubbins as the Lions’ third captain in four matches on this trip, chose to bat despite the unusual desert moisture, and openers Gubbins and Tom Alsop justified that decision with a stand of 67 in 15 overs.Alsop, the 21-year-old Hampshire left-hander who was selected ahead of Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond, made a flying start by taking 12 including two boundaries off the first over of the match, and continued in that positive manner to reach 40 from 46 balls.However he went back to the first ball after the first drinks break of the day and was pinned lbw by Rashid. The legspinner then switched ends to strike twice in the space of three balls, bowling Gubbins for 26 and then Joe Clarke for a duck to leave the Lions on 85 for three.It was 97 for four when Liam Livingstone, having recovered from the illness which confined him to bed on Tuesday, fell caught behind to seamer Yamin Ahmadzai.But after a few nervy early moments Westley and Foakes gradually got on top of the Afghan bowlers and quietened the excited chatter in the field.Foakes was lbw trying to sweep the veteran offspinner Mohammad Nabi after facing 137 balls and hitting nine fours, and Westley grafted on for 13 more overs before he also fell to Nabi, caught at short leg.Rashid then trapped Sam Curran lbw for 17 and Afghanistan’s seamers chipped in with the second new ball, taking the wickets of Roland-Jones and Ollie Rayner – who had passed a morning fitness test on a knee injury.
Arsenal could be set to pounce on the misfortune of a former Premier League rival, capitalising on one of the three relegated clubs.
What's the latest on Wilfried Gnonto to Arsenal?
That's according to Italian publication Calciomercato, who claim that the Gunners are one of the numerous suitors seeking to pry Wilfried Gnonto from Championship-bound Leeds United.
Amongst the suitors are Manchester City, who will also battle with plenty of Italian clubs who want to bring the electric wide man back to his homeland, although the north London outfit are noted as following him particularly closely.
With a price tag expected to reach as high as €40m (£35m), the Whites will likely still be frustrated to see their brightest prospect exit Elland Road. However, their loss could be Mikel Arteta's gain, with another skilful young winger for him to mould in Bukayo Saka's image.
How good is Wilfried Gnonto?
Given it is just his first full year in England, the 19-year-old has acclimated to the power and pace of the Premier League with relative ease. This is likely aided by his own physical assets, which have seen the 5 foot 5 powerhouse feature 24 times in the league and a further four times in domestic cup competitions.
Whilst eight goal contributions across those 28 appearances might not be the most eye-catching, he is a teenager who offers much more than just statistics.
His ability to beat a man is thrilling to watch, with his lightning-quick feet making viewers feel like he is always capable of the spectacular – talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor lauded such quality back in March, noting:
"He’s a top player. He might not be on Raphinha’s level just yet, as he’s only 19 – but he’s got that directness, that scary pace.
“He could do better with his final ball or with his finishing – but that will only get better and better in the future. I can see him being at that Raphinha level in the next couple of seasons."
Meanwhile, Football Insider pundit Tam McManus supplemented this by branding him a "pocket rocket" too, and when compared to other wingers across Europe he ranks in the top 16% for progressive carries per 90 to emphasise this superiority with possession.
Given the Gunners have been in for the 26-year-old Brazilian in the past, who notched 11 goals last season in the league, this could mark a fine investment into an asset who could easily surpass the Barcelona man.
bukayo-saka-arsenal
Watching Saka occupy the right flank with a similar dynamism, adding many more goals and assists to his name, placing them in the same squad under the tutelage of Arteta could help elevate them both to new levels.
The England international recorded 14 goals and 11 assists in the league this season, but just two years earlier, when he was a teenager himself, he only managed nine goal contributions. The pathway for Gnonto's progression is therefore clear.
Arsenal's transformative manager could work his magic on an exciting winger once again, and in doing so form one of the division's most petrifying wide combinations.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Moises Caicedo has been promised he can leave this summer with Arsenal still keen on a transfer.
What are the latest Arsenal transfer rumours?
With the Premier League season now all wrapped up, the 2022/23 campaign is completely finished for the Gunners and minds can now focus on preparations for the future.
Key midfielder Granit Xhaka is expected to be one of the first departures at the Emirates this summer and so a new midfielder or two will likely come in, with Declan Rice a key target.
As well as the West Ham captain, it's known that Arsenal had their eye on Brighton star Caicedo in the winter but failed with a £70m bid.
Since then, the midfielder has signed a new four-year contract reportedly worth £60k-p/w which could mean he's off the market.
However, while speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Roberto de Zerbi will let Caicedo go even though there is no release clause in his deal.
He explained (2:42): "For Caicedo, there is no release clause but Roberto De Zerbi promised him that when in January Arsenal approached Brighton with £60m and then a £70m second bid (add-ons included), he told the player: 'Stay here with us until the end of the season, and we will sell you in the summer'.
"This was the plan, this was promised to the player and so very respectful from Roberto De Zerbi."
Is there a release clause in Caicedo's contract?
It seems De Zerbi will be a man of his word as he all but accepted Caicedo and teammate Alexis Mac Allister will go this summer.
After Birghton's last game, he told BBC Sport: "I think that can be the last game of Alexis and Moises, I'm really sorry. They are two great people and two great players."
"The policy of Brighton is like this," added De Zerbi. "I think it's right they can leave, can change teams and play in a level higher.
"We are ready. We have to find others big players to play without Alexis and Moises."
Alexis Mac Allister Brighton Argentina
However, the situation is more complicated with Caicedo, as Mac Allister has some detail in his contract which will allow him to go – though the details are unclear as to how exactly works as it's not a standard release clause.
But as Caicedo doesn't have that, it will be completely up to Brighton if they keep him this summer but after De Zerbi's promise, it sounds as though the door is open for Arsenal to make their move.
Chelsea will look to pursue Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana this summer as they eye a new preferred option between the sticks, says journalist Dean Jones.
What's the latest transfer news involving Andre Onana?
As per LondonWorld, Chelsea, alongside Tottenham Hotspur, are set to compete for the signature of Inter Milan goalkeeper Onana this summer in a potential deal that could be worth in the region of £40 million.
The report claims that the Blues will move to replace both Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy, while Onana is seen as an ideal target due to his modest 'financial demands'.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb via Sport Witness, 27-year-old Onana's performances for Inter Milan ‘have not gone unnoticed’ and Chelsea ‘continue to monitor’ him ahead of the off-season.
Despite being seen as a 'pillar' at the Nerrazurri, it is said that an offer of €60 million (£52 million) may be enough to entice the Cameroon international to Stamford Bridge.
Capology understand that Onana earns roughly €74,038 (£64,310) per week on the books at the San Siro on a contract that runs until June 2027.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones believes that Chelsea will have a good chance of acquiring Onana this summer.
Jones said: "There's definitely potential for this one. We've known that he has been on Chelsea's radar for a while and obviously they have recruitment and scouting that goes on beyond whoever the manager is at that time. So it doesn't matter too much on the goalkeeping front what Pochettino makes of it. He'll obviously have a say, but the decision will always be made as a group over a decision like this and Onana is somebody that they’re certainly exploring.”
Would Andre Onana be a good signing for Chelsea?
Onana has been in good form for Inter Milan this season and has managed to keep 17 clean sheets in 36 appearances across all competitions before his side's Champions League semi-final first-leg clash against AC Milan, as per Transfermarkt.
WhoScored also notes that the Cameroon international ranks among the top ten most consistent performers for Inter Milan this campaign, registering an average match rating of 6.91/10 for his exploits on the pitch.
The 27-year-old has also recorded a save percentage of 76.1% in Serie A this season, demonstrating his presence as a reliable asset between the sticks, as per FBRef.
All things considered, Onana would be a safe pair of hands to assume the number one jersey at Chelsea in 2023/24 as the Blues look to freshen things up at Stamford Bridge.
Fifties to Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews were the sparks in a Sri Lanka score of 248 for 9, but gloom ultimately defined the day, after rain washed out play four overs into the reply. The back end of Sri Lanka’s innings had been played in drizzle, which persisted through the lunch break and for some time afterwards. Although the weather relented to allow the teams to resume play, it returned at about 4pm and play was called off by 5.30pm. England had lost Alex Hales, for a golden duck, and were 16 for 1.As at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, Sri Lanka batted first on a pitch that provided bowlers with only modest assistance. And in Bristol, just like in the first two games, partnerships were severed by canny quicks whenever the visitors threatened to assume control of the match. In the ten overs following the 35th, Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 40 runs, and squandered the base their half-centurions had provided.England’s bowlers were disciplined, rather than dominant, but they were supported athletically in the field. More than one Sri Lanka batsman was provoked to frustration. Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes claimed three scalps apiece, the former more effective with the new ball, the latter quite good with the old.The early wicket of Danushka Gunathilaka weighted down Sri Lanka’s start, as England bowled four overs for eight runs inside the Powerplay. This was to the particular frustration of Kusal Perera, whose more ambitious strokes failed to pierce a lively England infield. Mendis kept the score moving at one end, as he creamed the ball square on the off side and maintained a strike rate of almost a run a ball, but overall progress was nevertheless laboured. In the ninth over, when Perera aimed an expansive hoick over the leg side off Plunkett, only to send the ball high and into the wicketkeeper’s gloves, Sri Lanka were scoring at less than four an over. The score at the Powerplay’s end was 34 for 2.So began the rebuild, while England’s bowlers pulled back their lengths slightly on what was turning out to be a slower-than-expected surface. Mendis batted as he has through the tour, eyes glinting and wrists whipping quickly as soon as a poor ball was glimpsed. He bludgeoned two Chris Jordan short balls for four and six at the end of the 18th over. The four just cleared a climbing mid-on. The six sailed comfortably over the deep midwicket rope. Next over, Mendis completed a second ODI fifty with the 78th run of the innings, but then his panache forged his downfall. Attempting to repeat his pulled six against a taller, faster Plunkett, Mendis managed only to put the ball in the palms of deep square leg.Chandimal, who had massaged the ball around the infield while Mendis was in, assumed a more positive outlook as he and Mathews manoeuvred Sri Lanka away from 88 for 3. Mathews ventured a low, straight six off Plunkett in the 26th over, but Adil Rashid’s legspin was the more frequent victim of the pair’s belligerence. Rashid’s seventh over went for seven, and his next for 10, before Morgan took him out of the attack. The seamers returned the pair to a more measured approach, though they did continue to score smartly enough, relative to the situation: their 80-run stand was the heftiest in Sri Lanka’s innings, and came off 87 balls.Having set themselves up at a reasonable 165 for 3 after 35 overs, the following ten overs were a period of significant decline. Chandimal, then Seekkuge Prasanna, were out in consecutive overs, both caught aiming swipes across the line. Mathews moved to his second half-century in three games in the company of Upul Tharanga, but top-edged a leg-side heave off Jordan to depart for 56 off 67 in the 44th over. Though the match situation was well-poised for Dasun Shanaka to showcase his hitting range, yet he attempted a non-existent single to short third man, and found himself run out cheaply again, by a sharp Joe Root. On this occasion, though, a case could be made that Shanaka’s bat was actually back inside the crease when the bail was out of its groove.Tharanga then made the best of having to bat with the tail. The four he struck through midwicket at the beginning of the 46th over would be the last of the innings. He cobbled together a 33-ball 40, while Woakes in particular bowled expertly to his field, at the death. He took out the top of Tharanga’s middle stump with his final ball, before Sri Lanka’s last-wicket pair swung optimistically through the final over.
The referee and his VAR team may have made a huge mistake in the most recent Borussia Dortmund game when not awarding Karim Adeyemi a penalty.
What’s the latest on VAR and Dortmund?
The Bundesliga leaders suffered a notable blow in their hopes of winning the title on Friday night as they drew away from home against VfL Bochum.
Indeed, the home side took the lead after just five minutes thanks to Anthony Losilla’s effort but BVB had themselves level only two minutes later via Adeyemi.
In the end, these two early strikes were the only goals of the game as they were enough to ultimately settle the affair as it ended 1-1.
However, Dortmund will feel as though they were denied a major opportunity to win the game when Bochum defender Danilo Soares lunged in to win the ball inside his own box.
As seen in this footage shared on Twitter, the left-back leaps off the ground and flies through the air to try and cut out Julian Brandt’s cutback. Instead of reaching the ball, however, he clatters into Adeyemi​​​​​​.
Did Adeyemi deserve a penalty for BVB?
This footage seems pretty conclusive. Indeed, Soares makes clear contact with the Dortmund striker, preventing him from reaching the cross as he’s knocked to the ground.
Somehow, though, referee Sascha Stegemann waved play on. To make things even more baffling, VAR opted against intervening and so the blatant foul went unpunished.
Journalist and former footballer Jan Aage Fjørtoft seemed as perplexed as everyone else by this maddening call which could have huge repercussions at the top of the Bundesliga table.
He took to Twitter to say: “Can you believe it!!!!??? No penalty for Dortmund here!!!! It may be the decider of the title….the referee says “play on”…unbelievable.”
Understandably, Dortmund manager Edin Terzic was also extremely upset by this shocking decision.
Indeed, after the game, he told DAZN (via Yahoo!Sport) it was an “extremely bitter” result with his team having a “rare chance to be so close to the championship”.
And on the penalty shout, Terzic said it was “a key scene” in the 90 minutes, explaining that he “begged” the referee to review the incident.
BVB could have extended their lead to four points at the top of the league table but now sit just two points above Bayern Munich having played a game more.