European Leagues
Man City vs Real Madrid: To win UCL twice in a row, our motivation – Silva
Published
7 months agoon
By
Ambrose IjehBernardo Silva says an unprecedented double treble is an “inspiration and motivation” as Man City prepare to host Real Madrid on Wednesday with a place in the Champions League semi-finals at stake.
Last season, Pep Guardiola’s men became just the second club in English history to win the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup — 24 years after neighbours Manchester United achieved the feat.
Man City drew the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with 14-time European champions Real Madrid 3-3 at the Bernabeu last week.
As the finishing line of the 2023/24 season approaches, they are two points clear at the top of the Premier League with six games to go and face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend.
Silva told reporters on Tuesday he was not surprised by City’s relentless success but said there was still a long way to go.
“Obviously it is an inspiration and motivation because we know how well this team has done since I’ve been here — this is my seventh season,” he said. “We want to create that legacy.”
The Portugal attacking midfielder added: “We want to win another Premier League to do six in seven years and to do four Premier Leagues in a row.
“We want the Champions League twice in a row… and if we can do that and two trebles in a row that no one did, that would be a legacy so that’s definitely motivation, knowing that it’s very, very difficult.
“Because in one week we could be out of all the competitions but we’re fighting for it and we’re going to do everything to be a step closer to that goal.”
Man City are playing Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the third successive season.
After defeat in 2021/22, Guardiola’s side demolished Real Madrid last season with a stunning 4-0 second-leg victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola cautioned Man City were “far away from hypothetical dreams” as he prepared to face Carlo Ancelotti’s team.
“There are six games (in the league),” he said. “We have a lot of difficult games home and away with opponents, we have, they have.
“It’s just one game at a time. That means Real Madrid tomorrow, what you have to do to beat them, and step by step,” explained the Man City manager, who made his name as a player and coach with Real’s arch Spanish rivals Barcelona.
“I started to think of the treble when we beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final last season… but the success for me this season is that we are still there.
“So after winning the treble, still being in that position with four, five, six weeks (to go) is hats off, incredible.”
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
‘We Know Who Deserved This’ – Vinicius Receives Widespread Support After Ballon d’Or Robbery
Published
4 days agoon
October 29, 2024By
Ambrose IjehThe 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony was expected to bring a moment of redemption for Real Madrid, especially after their tough loss to Barcelona in the recent El Clasico.
Many Madrid fans and the club itself saw the event as an opportunity for some positive recognition, with high hopes for Vinicius Jr. to claim the award for the best player in the world.
However, hours before the ceremony, it was revealed that Vinicius would not be receiving the prestigious honour.
In response, Real Madrid decided that no representative would attend the gala on his behalf, a decision that has intensified the disappointment among the club’s supporters.
Support for Vinicius
Real Madrid fans have expressed their frustration over the Ballon d’Or voting results, feeling Vinicius’ performances were deserving of greater recognition.
Notably, former Madrid star Toni Kroos stepped forward to show his support, posting two photos of himself with Vinicius on social media, accompanied by a message celebrating Vinicius as “The Best.”
Following Kroos’ lead, several of Vinicius’ teammates expressed their support on social media. Arda Guler posted a photo of himself embracing Vinicius, while teammates like Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo also shared images and messages of encouragement.
“And so our world goes on, we keep going. I love you,” said the Brazil forward about his teammate.
Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde joined the wave of support, with Valverde emphasising that no award could adequately represent Vinicius’ talent and contributions on the pitch.
“You don’t need that (the Ballon d’Or). You’re already the best,” said Camavinga.
“No one will take away what you have achieved. We all know that. They are not prepared for what you are going to give them,” wrote Tchouameni
Vinicius’ national teammates from Brazil showed solidarity as well, with players like Richarlison, Bruno Guimaraes, Douglas Luiz, Emerson Royal, Gabriel Magalhaes, Lucas Paqueta, and Serge Aurier sending him words of encouragement.
“We all know who really deserved to win this Ballon d’Or. We are all with you brother, we will do everything so that you can win that it. I love you. BEST IN THE WORLD. Nothing against Rodri but my congratulations,” wrote Douglas Luiz
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Rodri Becomes First Man City Player To Win Ballon d’Or; Vinicius Reacts
Published
4 days agoon
October 29, 2024By
Ambrose IjehManchester City midfielder Rodri has been awarded the Ballon d’Or after a stellar season that saw him pick up silverware with both club and country.
Rodri was handed the award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, organised by the French magazine France Football in collaboration with UEFA.
“A very special day, for me, my family and my country,” Rodri said.
“I understand that because I have no social media, people don’t know me much. I am just a normal guy. I enjoy the sport, I enjoy my profession. And I try to be a good person. I am a very calm person.”
The 28-year-old won his fourth straight Premier League with City in May as Pep Guardiola’s side held off Arsenal’s challenge, winning their last nine games to clinch the title. He is the first player from England’s top tier to be crowned since Cristiano Ronaldo won in 2008 during his first stint with Manchester United.
Rodri’s stiffest competition for the Ballon d’Or came from Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who refused to travel to Paris for the ceremony after discovering that he would not take home the trophy. Jude Bellingham finished third in the voting.
Vinícius, 24, had been a leading contender to win the 2024 men’s prize after leading Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double last season, but sources told ESPN earlier on Monday that neither he nor his fellow Madrid nominees — eight in total across the various awards — would attend the event.
Madrid had been honoured earlier in the ceremony as the men’s team of the year, and Carlo Ancelotti received the coach of the year award, though no representatives of the last Champions League winners were present to accept it.
“I’ll do it 10x if needed. They are not ready,” Vini Jr. posted in Portuguese on X.
Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga made it clear what he thought of the vote, calling it “football politics.”
“FOOTBALL POLITICS X. My brother, you are the best player in the world and no award can say otherwise. Love you my bro,” the France international wrote on X along with a photo of him and Vinicius celebrating together.
The awards are based on voting by a panel of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries.
Rodri was part of the Spain team that won Euro 2024, starting every game except the third group stage match against Albania, and claimed the player of the tournament prize.
He went a world-record 74 games unbeaten for club and country from March 2023 to May 2024, avoiding defeat (other than via penalties) until City’s loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
Rodri becomes the second men’s player born in Spain to win the sport’s most prestigious individual prize, and the first since former Barcelona star Luis Suárez claimed it in 1960.
Real Madrid’s legendary striker Alfredo di Stefano won the award twice, in 1957 and 1959, though he was born in Argentina. The past four Ballons d’Or Féminin have been won by Spanish women (Alexia Putellas in 2021 and 2022 and Aitana Bonmatí in 2023 and 2024).
“Today is not a victory for me, it is for Spanish football, for so many players who have not won it and have deserved it, like [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi [Hernandez], Iker [Casillas], Sergio Busquets, so many others. It is for Spanish football and for the figure of the midfielder,” Rodri said on stage at the ceremony.
“Today many friends have written to me and have told me that football has won, for giving visibility to so many midfielders who have a job in the shadows and today it is coming to light.”
Rodri is likely to miss the rest of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sept. 22. He collected the prize on crutches on Monday.
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Premier League
END OF BAD ERA! Manchester United Sack Erik ten Hag At Last
Published
5 days agoon
October 28, 2024By
Ambrose IjehManchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag following the club’s poor start to the season.
Ten Hag’s final game was Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by West Ham that left the club 14th in the Premier League with just three wins from their opening nine matches.
United are also 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League table, having drawn their three opening fixtures.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined the club as Ten Hag’s assistant last summer, has been named as interim manager.
The Dutchman was informed of the decision by the club’s board on Monday morning, fewer than 24 hours after the club’s defeat by West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The club triggered a one-year extension in Ten Hag’s contract following May’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City but just three months later he has been dismissed after overseeing United’s second worst start to a Premier League campaign.
More to follow.