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Champions League: Thibaut Courtois to start for Real Madrid in final, says Carlo Ancelotti

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti announced on Friday that Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will start in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on Saturday. This announcement ends weeks of speculation regarding the team’s goalkeeping position. Courtois, widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, has made a remarkable comeback after a lengthy injury absence due to a torn ACL suffered last August. Since his return, he has started in five matches, demonstrating his exceptional skills and form. The Belgian’s return presented Ancelotti with a difficult decision, as Andriy Lunin, who stepped in during Courtois’s absence, performed admirably. The Ukrainian goalkeeper was instrumental in Real Madrid’s LaLiga title campaign and played a crucial role in their dramatic penalty shootout victory against Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals. “Lunin has had the flu and will travel from Madrid tomorrow. He is fine, but tomorrow he will be on the bench. Courtois will play,” Ancelotti told a press conference at Wembley on Friday. Ancelotti admitted that his club is aware that they are considered heavy favourites against a Dortmund team that finished fifth in the Bundesliga this season. However, the Italian stated that he and his players were experienced enough not to fall into the trap of being overconfident. “A final is the most important match, but also the most dangerous. You have to enjoy being here, and we’re going to do that, but then there’s the worry that something could go wrong,” Ancelotti added. “You feel that winning the Champions League is very close and you’re afraid that it might slip away. The important thing is that we know that we have to do everything very well, have a bit of luck and never give up.” Modric agreed, stating that the Spanish team, which includes himself, Toni Kroos, Nacho, and Dani Carvajal, is focused and has shut out the clamour on Saturday as they attempt to equal Real Madrid great Paco Gento’s record six European Cup triumphs. “Everyone is saying that we’re the favourites, but it’s not like that, I see a 50-50,” Modric said. “Dortmund are a big club, they have had a great season in the Champions League and they will make it very difficult for us. We need concentration and to demonstrate on the field that we are capable of beating them.” Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: May 31, 2024

Champions League Final Most ‘Dangerous’ Game: Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti

Danijones7 months ago06 mins

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti warned his players the Champions League final is the most “dangerous” game in football on the eve of their clash with Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. The Italian, who has won the competition as a coach a record four times, said Los Blancos were afraid the trophy could escape them. Madrid, record 14-time winners, are firm favourites for the clash against the Bundesliga side. “A Champions League final is the most important game but also the most dangerous,” Ancelotti told a news conference Friday. “We have to enjoy being here, but knowing it can go wrong because we are close to the most important thing in football — winning a Champions League — but having the fear this can escape us. “Things have to go very well, you need to be lucky too, success is very close and so the worry begins tomorrow morning, tomorrow afternoon.” Real Madrid captain Nacho said he was feeling confident but nervous. “We’ve got more nerves than in any other moment of the season,” admitted Madrid captain Nacho. “We’re humans, it’s a calm week for (some people) but for the players it’s not. It’s special, and that makes it not calm.” Veteran midfielder Luka Modric said despite Madrid’s strength in contrast to Dortmund, he was approaching the match as if it were an even battle. “Everyone thinks we are big favourites, but we don’t think about it like that,” said the Croatian. “It’s 50-50, we’re playing a big team that has had a magnificent season in the Champions League.” Nacho and Modric, along with Toni Kroos and Dani Carvajal, would reach six career Champions League wins with a victory over Dortmund, levelling all-time leader and former Madrid great Paco Gento. “It was hard to imagine we’d get to this moment but we are here, very happy and enjoying this moment,” said Modric. “I hope tomorrow we can take this step further, as a team and have six European Cups would be something big.” ‘Something special’ Madrid came from behind to beat Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and have a remarkable ability to turn games around in Europe when it seems like they are defeated. “We prefer to take the lead if it’s possible,” said Modric. “But we’ve shown many times this year and before, that when things don’t go well we fight until the end. “We always find a way, we’re capable of turning the game around. We keep having this mentality, this commitment and fight, but like I said, we’d prefer to take the lead.” Ancelotti said Madrid’s ability to come back from the dead “has happened so many times it’s not chance”. “It’s something special… it could be the history, the quality, the tradition, the character,” he mused. The coach confirmed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois would start the final ahead of Andriy Lunin, resolving the main selection query ahead of the game. “Lunin had the flu and hasn’t travelled with the team, tomorrow he will travel and will be on the bench — Courtois will play tomorrow,” said Ancelotti. Belgian stopper Courtois returned from a long-term knee injury earlier in May and has kept four clean sheets in four appearances since. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Kylian Mbappe Move To Real Madrid Expected Early Next Week: Report

Danijones7 months ago02 mins

Kylian Mbappe’s highly anticipated move to Real Madrid will be made official next week.© AFP Kylian Mbappe’s highly anticipated move to Spanish champions Real Madrid will be made official early next week, AFP learned on Friday from a source close to the negotiations. The captain of the French national team, who will be available on June 30 when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires, has decided to sign for Real after seven seasons in Paris. Contacted by AFP, his entourage did not immediately respond. If the move is announced as expected on Monday or Tuesday, Mbappe is unlikely, according to several media outlets, to be presented in the Spanish capital before the end of Euro 2024, which runs from June 14 to July 14. For the moment, he is expected to remain with the France team which has been in camp in Clairefontaine since Wednesday ahead of two Euro warm-up matches. They face Luxembourg in Metz on Wednesday and Canada in Bordeaux four days later. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

PSG Refused To Pay Kylian Mbappe Salary And Bonus Worth 80 million Euros: Report

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Paris Saint-Germain have not paid Kylian Mbappe his wages for April as well as a mega-bucks bonus amid a financial dispute between the club and the player as he prepares to leave the French champions, sources close to the talks told AFP on Wednesday. PSG’s decision to withhold Mbappe’s salary is related to an agreement between the two parties made last year, at the start of the season, when the player accepted to waive part of a bonus due to him, the source said. However, the source stated the talks between the club and the France captain were “relaxed” and that there was hope of reaching “a positive conclusion”. “Everything is being sorted out,” the source said without confirming the amount of money due to Mbappe. However, another source contacted by AFP said PSG had also decided not to pay Mbappe a bonus owed, meaning the amount of money in question totalled some 80 million euros ($86.8m), confirming figures reported by sports daily L’Equipe. The same source said the club had decided not to make the payments without warning Mbappe and without an agreement being reached between the parties. Neither Mbappe’s entourage nor PSG immediately responded when contacted by AFP for comment. Mbappe’s contract expires on June 30 and he has already confirmed he will leave PSG after seven years, with Real Madrid expected to be his next destination. The two camps admitted at the beginning of this year Mbappe had agreed to waive part of a huge bonus that was due to him in order to be reinstated to the PSG squad after he was frozen out of the team at the beginning of the season. The total amount of these bonuses is between 60 and 70 million euros, according to a source close to the club. Waiving that sum was seen as a way of Mbappe helping PSG recoup some money given that they will not receive a transfer fee for the 25-year-old when he departs. However, another source said Mbappe did in fact receive that bonus in February. Mbappe signed his last contract with PSG in 2022, a two-year deal worth some 72 million euros before tax. On top of that there was a stratospheric signing-on fee of 150 million euros, to be paid in three instalments, and a loyalty bonus of 70 million euros for the first year and 80 million euros for the second year. In addition, he would have received a further 90 million euros had he agreed to take up the option of staying for a third year, according to the daily Le Parisien. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Real Madrid Claim 36th Spanish Title After Girona Stun Barcelona

Danijones8 months ago07 mins

Real Madrid earned what coach Carlo Ancelotti said was a “deserved” La Liga title on Saturday after beating Cadiz 3-0 and Girona sealed it with a stunning 4-2 victory over Barcelona. Ancelotti’s side did their homework by beating Cadiz and after last season’s champions stumbled against Girona, Los Blancos were crowned champions for a record-extending 36th time. Girona’s dramatic victory saw the Catalan minnows qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history, in only their fourth season in Spain’s top flight. Ancelotti rotated heavily ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg clash with Bayern Munich next week, but his players still got the job done. Brahim Diaz netted in the 51st minute to put Madrid ahead and then set up Jude Bellingham, with Joselu tapping home a third. “We’ve had a spectacular Liga campaign,” Ancelotti told reporters. “We’ve made few errors and the advantage is deserved.” Madrid’s comfortable win over Cadiz sent them 14 points clear of last season’s champions Barcelona, in third, with only 12 left to play for. Girona, second after their second 4-2 win over Barcelona this season, trail Madrid by 13 points. “We leave our skins out there on the pitch to live moments like today’s,” Madrid striker Joselu told Real Madrid TV. “There are young players who are very hungry for titles, veterans who are delighted to be here… and these are special moments.” With the Bayern second leg in mind, Ancelotti only selected captain Nacho Fernandez from the starting line-up that earned a 2-2 draw in Bavaria this week. Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois started for the first time after a nine-month lay off after a knee injury and kept a clean sheet. Madrid midfielder Luka Modric became the oldest player to appear for the club in La Liga, at 38 years and 238 days, breaking late Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas’ record from 1965 by five days. The visitors, 18th and still battling to stay up, shaded the first half but Madrid’s goals came in the second. Courtois made a superb save to deny Chris Ramos early in the second half and Madrid took the lead immediately afterwards. Diaz received from the evergreen Modric on the edge of the area, turned slickly and curled an effort into the top corner. Bellingham, on as a substitute for Turkish teenager Arda Guler, added the second soon after entering the fray at the end of a fine team move. It was the England international’s 18th league goal of the season, keeping him in contention to finish as the top scorer. Madrid put the cherry on their cake after a superb run by Nacho. Poised to depart at the end of the season, the Spaniard was hailed by the Bernabeu after setting up Joselu for a simple finish in stoppage time. ‘Impossible to compete’ Los Blancos were able to celebrate after Girona came from behind twice to defeat Barcelona in a wild clash, moving second. Barca took the lead through Andreas Christensen’s fine volley after three minutes but La Liga’s top scorer Artem Dovbyk levelled with his 20th goal of the campaign just a minute later. Robert Lewandowski sent Barcelona ahead with a penalty after Lamine Yamal was felled, but substitute Portu made a huge impact in the second half for Girona. Michel Sanchez’s side netted two goals in two minutes to turn the game on its head. Portu netted the equaliser moments after coming on and then set up Miguel Gutierrez to put Girona ahead. Portu sensationally volleyed home the fourth to ignite Girona’s tiny Montilivi stadium and get the party started. “The players have entered Girona’s history books, what we’ve done this year is incredible,” said Sanchez. Girona played Champions League music over the stadium sound system to give their fans a taste of things to come. “I want to play against Liverpool, I want a historic giant here, there are many, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Inter.” For Barcelona, third, the summer will be for self-reflection rather than dreams. “It’s a shame, we sink with any negative situation,” said Barcelona coach Xavi after Barcelona lost their crown. “Like this it’s impossible to compete.” Elsewhere Rodrigo Riquelme’s early goal earned fourth-place Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at Mallorca to extend the gap on Athletic to six points. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Real Madrid clinch record extending 36th LaLiga title after Girona thrash Barcelona

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

Real Madrid claimed a record-extending 36th LaLiga title on Saturday after Girona fought-back to beat Barcelona 4-2, a result that left Carlo Ancelotti’s side with an unassailable lead in the standings. Real Madrid, who have lost only once in the league this season, beat lowly Cadiz earlier on Saturday. They hold a 13-point advantage over second-placed Girona while Barcelona dropped to third with four matches remaining. Real now can turn their attention to a LaLiga-Champions League double as they get ready to host Bayern Munich in the semi-final return leg on Wednesday after snatching a 2-2 draw in Germany last week. It was an afternoon of celebration for Girona too as the win secured them a spot in Europe for the first time after they qualified for next season’s Champions League. A brace from substitute Portu helped surprise package Girona to humble their Catalan rivals for the second time this season. Girona had also beaten Barca away in December by the same score. On Saturday Andreas Christiansen gave Barca the lead in the third minute before Girona hit back a minute later with LaLiga top-scorer Artem Dovbyk heading in the equaliser. Robert Lewandowski put the visitors back in front from the penalty spot after Lamine Yamal was fouled inside the box just before the break and a wasteful Barca missed several chances to extend their lead early in the second half. However, in the 65th minute, in his first action after coming off the bench, Portu netted the equaliser and Miguel Gutierrez scored from a rebound two minutes later to give Girona the lead. A stunning volley from Portu in the 74th minute secured the win. “It’s incredible to look at your shirt and experience this. There is nothing more beautiful than living this,” an emotional Portu told DAZN with tears rolling down his face. “I had a thorn in my side with this club. A few years ago, I experienced the other side, which was relegation and I felt very responsible because I played a lot. Today I made amends with the fans and I can smile again.” If Barcelona end up finishing outside the top two, it will be a further blow to the club which is facing mounting financial problems related to their massive wage bill, a 1.2 billion euro debt and a 1.6 billion euro Camp Nou stadium renovation project. The champions and runners-up of the Copa del Rey and LaLiga contest the lucrative Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, with the winner bagging a potential 6.6 million euros. With four matches remaining, Barca now rely on Girona slipping up if they are to have any chance of contesting the Super Cup. Published By: Kingshuk Kusari Published On: May 5, 2024

Joshua Kimmich Heads Bayern Munich Past Arsenal Into Champions League Semi-Finals

Danijones8 months ago06 mins

A 63rd-minute Joshua Kimmich header gave Bayern Munich a 1-0 win over Arsenal and a place in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday. The 3-2 aggregate quarter-final victory means Bayern return to the last-four for the first time since winning the title in 2020. Bayern will face Real Madrid for a place in the final after the 14-time champions overcame holder Manchester City on penalties. The result continues a poor week for Arsenal, who conceded top spot in the Premier League table on Sunday with their first league loss of 2024. “We can enjoy this one. The first half was cagey and then we upped the tempo,” Bayern striker Harry Kane told TNT. “These games are tough and we had to find our way through them. “It’s going to be a tough semi final whoever we play.” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his side had “wanted it so badly”. “However, you can see with many other clubs that sometimes it takes six or seven years to get to that stage. We were very close, that is the reality.” Unlike last week’s four-goal spectacle in London, Wednesday’s match was a cagey affair, with few clear chances for either side in a testy opening half. Midway through the second-half and with extra-time on the horizon, Kimmich burst through the Arsenal box and headed in a perfect Raphael Guerreiro chip. Guerreiro, pushed from wing-back to the forwards due to Bayern’s injury woes, impressed as a creative presence when freed up from his usual defensive duties. Six-time Champions League winners Bayern join fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, who face Paris Saint-Germain, in the semi-finals. Hit by injuries to several first-team attackers including former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry — who scored along with Kane in the first leg — and Kingsley Coman, Tuchel pushed Guerreiro into an unfamiliar advanced role. The move worked early, with the Portuguese finding space down the left flank and linking well with Jamal Musiala in the centre. Arteta opted for the defensive stability of Takehiro Tomiyasu in place of Jakub Kiwior at left-back to neutralise Leroy Sane but the Japanese, who was making his first start since December, notably lacked rythym. Tomiyasu completely misjudged a Musiala pass early, allowing Sane to stroll through the Arsenal box and force a corner. Gabriel Martinelli was the visitors’ most dangerous player in the opening half. He scuffed a curling ball just wide of the post after seven minutes and then shot directly at Manuel Neuer with the goal beckoning on the half-hour mark. Bayern were the better team after the break and went close immediately, Leon Goretzka heading a clever Kimmich cross onto the woodwork. The pressure began to tell and Bayern broke through after 63 minutes when Kimmich, among the shortest players on the pitch, was allowed to slip through a crowded Arsenal box and head in a Guerreiro chip. The hosts almost doubled the tally moments after when Kane found an unmarked Sane in the box, but the Germany winger blasted his shot skywards. Arsenal pushed for an equaliser and went close in stoppage time when Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka lashed at a bouncing ball in the box but could not break through, ending the visitors’ hopes of a return to the Champions League semis for the first time since 2009. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article