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Tag: Glasgow City

  • Last minute scramble saves German giants; ‘horror show’ knocks out seven-time champs – CL Wrap

    Last minute scramble saves German giants; ‘horror show’ knocks out seven-time champs – CL Wrap

    Alphonso Davies scrambled the ball in with seconds left to give Bayern a 3-2 aggregate victory over Celtic and a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

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    Bayern started the playoff second leg leading 2-1 from the first game in Glasgow but the visitors cancelled out that lead after 63 minutes.

    Nicolas Kuhn, a former Bayern reserve team player, pounced on an error by Kim Min-jae to sweep the ball home.

    Bayern dominated and peppered the Celtic goal but could not beat Kasper Schmeichel, until, with regular time almost up, the goalie could only parry Leon Goretzka’s header to substitute Davies. The ball bounced in off the Canadian’s shin to give Bayern a 1-1 draw in the match.

    MUNICH, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 18: Alphonso Davies (C) celebrates with Josip Stanisic (L) and Leon Goretzka (R) of Munich his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    – Feyenoord advance as Hernandez lets down AC Milan –

    Feyenoord reached the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday after taking advantage of Theo Hernandez’s damaging sending off to draw 1-1 at AC Milan and go through 2-1 on aggregate.

    Julian Carranza thumped home the winning header in the 73rd minute at a frigid San Siro, sending around 5,000 away fans wild at the same ground where Feyenoord won the old European Cup in 1970.

    Argentine attacker Carranza, who told reporters he was too sick with fever to start the match, cancelled out Santiago Gimenez’s first-minute opener for the seven-time European champions Milan and sent the Dutch through to meet either Inter Milan or Arsenal in the next round.

    The only sour note for Feyenoord was right-back Givairo Read being sent off after the final whistle as tempers flared on the touchline between both sets of players.

    “The 25 minutes that I played, or 30, I was not feeling great and I think everyone could see it, because after every single sprint there was coughing,” said Carranza.

    “It’s the most important goal I’ve ever scored so I’m really happy for that.” Carranza struck for Feyenoord shortly after coming on as substitute as the away side pushed to reach the next round following Hernandez’s red card five minutes after half-time.

    Already on a booking for a needless foul on Anis Hadj-Moussa just before half-time, Hernandez was ruled by referee Szymon Marciniak to have dived in the penalty box when under pressure from Read.

    – Hernandez horror show –

    The France full-back, who went close to putting Milan ahead in the 23rd minute when he crashed a close-range effort off the post, was dismissed, leaving Milan on the back foot after having dominated up to that point.

    Hernandez’s sending off and Carranza’s tie-winning header ruined what looked to be Gimenez’s night when he nodded home the opener against his old team after just 36 seconds.

    Mexico forward Gimenez, who transferred to Milan from Feyenoord during the winter transfer window, pushed the ball home from practically on the line after Malick Thiaw did brilliantly to keep in Christian Pulisic’s cross.

    “Yes, today Theo was sent off but that could happen to anyone. That’s football,” said Gimenez to Sky.

    “We all have great respect for Theo and we ask that he is supported because he always gives everything for Milan and is one of the best full-backs in the world “Now we can’t look back, we have to look forward. We’re still in the (Italian) cup and have work to do in the league so all we can do is keep our heads down and work hard.”

    The 23-year-old Gimenez has already scored three times for Milan since signing from Feyenoord but his sixth goal in the Champions League this season was also his last.

    Milan coach Sergio Conceicao was quick to deflect blame away from Hernandez. “You can talk about whether Theo was touched or not but we need to be stronger emotionally and mentally,” said Conceicao.

    “This elimination is down to me, not Theo or anyone else. I’m the one who’s responsible. Theo has given a lot to Milan.” Milan are by no means assured of a spot in next year’s tournament as they sit seventh in Serie A, five points off the top four with a game in hand.

    And their season has been greatly compromised by the dismal way they lost the first leg in Rotterdam and Hernandez’s poor discipline which led to Tuesday’s painful elimination.

    – Benfica hold off Monaco –

    Benfica snatched a nailbiting 3-3 draw against Monaco on Tuesday to reach the Champions League last 16 with a 4-3 aggregate victory in the play-off round.

    Monaco twice led on the night and came close to forcing extra-time but Orkun Kokcu’s 84th minute equaliser helped Benfica scrape through in Lisbon, with Barcelona or Liverpool awaiting in the next round.

    Kerem Akturkoglu put the hosts ahead against the run of play, with Takumi Minamino levelling for Monaco after 32 minutes.

    Eliesse Ben Seghir fired the visitors ahead but Vangelis Pavlidis struck from the spot to keep the score tied on the night.

    French youngster George Ilenikhena netted in the 81st minute for Monaco but Kokcu prodded home to send Benfica through.

    “It was a tough night, we knew Monaco would put pressure on us from the start and we felt it, we didn’t play our best game,” Kokcu told SportTV.

    “Still, we’re happy to have progressed to the last 16, I’m happy to have contributed to the result.”

    Monaco hammered Nantes 7-1 on Saturday in the French top flight, sharpening their pencils ahead of their crucial exam at the Estadio da Luz.

    Both sides were without key players through injury and suspension, with Benfica missing Angel Di Maria among others, while Monaco started with just one recognised midfielder.

    Wingers Maghnes Akliouche and Ben Seghir played more centrally than usual and both shone in Lisbon, despite ending up on the losing side.

    Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin made a good save to deny Monaco’s Krepin Diatta early on, as the Ligue 1 side looked to get back on level terms in the tie and had the better of the first half.

    However it was the hosts who took the lead after superb work by Benfica striker Pavlidis.

    The Greek attacker, who netted a hat-trick against Barcelona in the group stage, turned provider on this occasion and, after darting into the area, crossed to the back post for Akturkoglu to turn home.

    Swiss international Breel Embolo almost levelled for Monaco but his header hit the post, although the visitors netted less than a minute later.

    Embolo did well to hold off veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi, allowing former Liverpool attacker Minamino room for a shot and he drilled home at the near post.

    Monaco should have taken the lead just before half-time but Embolo fired a glorious chance high over the crossbar after the impressive Akliouche surged through the middle and teed him up.

    – ‘A lot of fight’ –

    The Moroccan winger produced a deadly accurate first-time finish inside the near post after Akliouche cut the ball back to him from the right.

    Bruno Lage’s side struggled to find a foothold in the match but Thilo Kehrer handed the hosts a lifeline when he went to clear the ball but arrived late and kicked Fredrik Aursnes in the box.

    Pavlidis, who netted the only goal of the first leg, powered home from the spot for his seventh of the tournament.

    Ilenikhena put Monaco back ahead on the night mere seconds after coming on from the bench, with Trubin unable to keep his low rifled effort out despite getting a hand to it.

    Adi Hutter’s side could not hold on for more than three minutes, with Alvaro Carreras firing in a dangerous cross which Benfica midfielder Kokcu flicked home.

    Benfica were awarded another penalty in stoppage time when Diatta seemed to bring down Samuel Dahl, but the referee changed his mind after a VAR review.

    “What made the difference today was 100 percent the team’s spirit, with a lot of fight,” said Dahl.

    “The game had its ups and downs, they attacked, we attacked… in the end, we scored three goals.

    “We also conceded three, but we advanced, which was the main objective.”

    – Club Brugge knock Atalanta out –

    Club Brugge of Belgium claimed a shock 3-1 win over Atalanta in Italy on Tuesday to win their Champions League play-off tie 5-2 on aggregate and progress to the last 16.

    Leading 2-1 from last week’s first leg, Club Brugge scored three times in the first half with Chemsdine Talbi netting twice and Ferran Jutgla once.

    Ademola Lookman pulled one back for Atalanta but the Belgians go through to play either Lille or Aston Villa next.

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  • ‘Wasn’t acceptable’: Ange’s warning shot to struggling Spurs star after ‘statement’

    ‘Wasn’t acceptable’: Ange’s warning shot to struggling Spurs star after ‘statement’

    Ange Postecoglou urged Timo Werner to improve his “application” after slamming the Tottenham forward’s dismal display in the 1-1 draw against Rangers.

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    Spurs manager Postecoglou was frustrated with Werner’s limp performance in the Europa League at Ibrox on Friday (all times AEDT).

    Dejan Kulusevski’s 75th-minute equaliser allowed Tottenham to escape Glasgow without another damaging defeat in the midst of their wretched run.

    But Postecoglou said Werner, who was hauled off at half-time, had delivered an effort that “wasn’t acceptable”.

    LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 28: Ange Postecoglou embraces Timo Werner of Tottenham Hotspur as he is substituted off during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 28, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

    Ahead of Monday’s trip to Southampton in the Premier League, Postecoglou stood by his view on the former Chelsea player.

    “It wasn’t criticism. It was assessment. With Timo it wasn’t about whether he played well or not. It was a difficult game last night,” Postecoglou told reporters on Saturday.

    “I’m asking 18-year-olds to do some massive jobs and you want senior players, and he’s a senior player, he’s an international and he’s won the Champions League, there’s a level of application and performance you need to rise to help the team. He didn’t reach that.

    “I think me taking him off at half-time was a statement enough. It needs to be better. The same way I won’t be hiding behind poor team performances.”

    Are expectations too high for Ange? | 01:15

    Werner has struggled at Tottenham in the same way he did across London with Chelsea.

    The 28-year-old has scored just once in 19 games in all competitions this season.

    Despite that woeful run, Werner is likely to be needed this weekend with nine players unavailable.

    And with Tottenham languishing in 11th place, Postecoglou challenged the German and his team-mates to show their character at St Mary’s.

    “We’re in a fight here. I need people who are up for the challenge. I’m not going to go around worrying about people’s bruised egos,” he said.

    “We’re down to the bare bones in players. If there’s somebody in the dressing room who’s fit, able to contribute but who feels he needs something extra in this moment, he’s probably not the right type.

    “We just need people to have that level of commitment and application to find our way through. As much as I am talking about Timo, I am talking about the whole group and all of us right now.

    “This is not about one person, it’s what we’re in and the situation we’re in right now. We’ve got a limited amount of players, we’re really stretched but we’ve got big games that can set up our season.”

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  • ’Not acceptable’: Ange’s whack for Spurs star as struggles continue; Man Utd’s stunning comeback

    ’Not acceptable’: Ange’s whack for Spurs star as struggles continue; Man Utd’s stunning comeback

    Dejan Kulusevski equaliser and a stunning stop from Fraser Forster saved Tottenham’s blushes as Ange Postecoglou’s side drew 1-1 with Rangers in their Europa League clash in Glasgow.

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    The result takes Spurs to 11 points from six games, and they sit ninth, only on goal difference out of the top eight, who automatically progress to the knockout rounds, with two league phases matches to come in the new year.

    A draw means Tottenham remain winless in their last three Europa League contests, and they have only won once in their last eight matches in all competitions, but for much of the night, things looked like they would play out much worse.

    “It’s fair to say we’re in a bit of a struggle,” Postecoglou said post-match.

    The Australian manager has been under intense scrutiny this week after back-to-back Premier League losses, and the former Celtic boss’ heart must have been in his mouth when Rangers were through on goal in the 86th minute.

    Cyriel Dessers barged his way past several defenders to get a shot away, but Forster stayed big and pulled off a brilliant piece of goal keeping, not for the first time in the match, to tip the ball wide and deny the home side.

    Only a minute later, the Ibrox descended into raptures as Dessers found the back of the net this time, but the celebrations were short-lived as the linesperson’s flag was up, and replays showed he was well offside.

    Those chances for Rangers were brewing all night, whereas Kulusevski’s equaliser seemingly came from nowhere.

    Spurs were patiently playing the ball around at the back for more than a minute before attacking down the right and Kulusevski took matters into his own hands to score in the 75th minute.

    The Swede cut back, found fellow substitute Dominic Solanke in the box, continued his run, received the ball back from Solanke and slotted it home with a left foot, first-time shot from near the edge of the penalty area.

    Things were looking dire for Tottenham before Kulusevski’s brilliant run as they went unpunished for their sloppiness in the first half, but it took less than two minutes after the break for Rangers to finally capitalise on yet another Spurs error.

    They coughed up the ball in midfield, and right back James Tavernier broke down the right-hand side, whipped a beautiful, curling ball in the box to pick out front man Hamza Igamane in the box, and the Moroccan slammed the half-volley into the bottom corner.

    The third-placed side in the Scottish Premiership looked more threatening for most of the evening, and the home supporters relished watching their team take it up to an English side.

    It was the first time Spurs has travelled north to face Rangers in a competitive fixture since the 1960s, and the last time the blue half of Glasgow hosted a Premier League outfit, they were humiliated 7-1 by Liverpool.

    That was in a Champions League contest in 2022 when Mohamed Salah came off the bench to score a stunning six minute hat trick, and it was arguably the most disastrous night of decades of heartbreak against English opposition in European competition, having not beaten a team from south of the border since getting the better of Leeds United in 1992.

    For most of the freezing cold evening, it appeared as if that streak might be broken but Rangers ultimately did not make the most of the 15 shots they took, six of which were on target.

    Both sides looked like they would be made to pay for their sloppiness with the ball throughout the first half as they each had threatening opportunities on the counter attack, but lacked the poise to finish.

    It was a back-and-forth, end-to-end contest with Tottenham having more of the ball but their makeshift defence looked incredibly vulnerable at times.

    Teenager Archie Gray, who typically plays right back, started alongside Ragu Dragusin as a central defender due to Spurs’ injury woes but it was goal keeper Forster who repelled Rangers’ attacks best with two excellent first half saves.

    The former Celtic shot stopper was booed and jeered extensively by the home fans, but kept his cool to tip a bullet from Nedim Bajrami over the bar in the 10th minute before ensuring they headed to the sheds deadlocked with an excellent save with his feet from a Vaclav Cerny shot in the final minute of the half.

    Rangers came out hard and finished the opening stanza the better of the two sides, while Tottenham controlled the middle period of the opening half.

    The home side lost centre back John Souttar, who is the brother of Socceroo Harry, in the 34th minute to a groin injury and it appeared as if a change at the back might open things up for Spurs.

    They had their chances but only one of their six first half shots was on target, and that was a tame shot from Son Heung-min, who started up front with Timo Werner, James Maddison and Brennan Johnson sitting behind him, in a change of formation from Postecoglou.

    The much-maligned Werner was benched at half time for goal scorer Dejan Kulusevski, while Johnson last an hour before making for Dominic Solanke, and Postecoglou took the unusual step of publicly expressing his frustrations with Werner post-match.

    “He wasn’t playing anywhere near the levels he can. It’s not acceptable to me. I told him that. He’s a senior international, a German international,” he said.

    “In the moment we’re in now, I need everyone to be at least going out there and giving the best they can. What he produced wasn’t acceptable. I expect more from the senior players like him.”

    Spurs seem to be in a funk in attack, and with a trip to Southampton, a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United and a visit from Premier League leaders Liverpool before Christmas, they will need to break it fast to get back to winning ways.

    Chelsea down Astana in Conference League | 00:42

    SUPER SUBSTITUTE INSPIRES MAN UTD COMEBACK

    Second-half substitute Rasmus Hojlund scored twice as Manchester United fought back to earn a 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday.

    The hosts took the lead shortly after half-time, but Hojlund levelled on 62 minutes, six minutes after replacing Marcus Rashford, when the Danish striker tapped in Amad Diallo’s deflected shot.

    Two minutes from time, he beat Plzen goalkeeper Martin Jedlicka again with a clinical finish, turning around his marker after United captain Bruno Fernandes had found him inside the box with a clever free-kick.

    Matej Vydra, a former Watford, West Brom, Reading, Derby and Burnley forward, opened the scoring for the hosts with a close-range finish three minutes after half-time.

    Pavel Sulc found Vydra facing an empty net after he had intercepted United goalkeeper Andre Onana’s pass inside the box.

    Hojlund double guides United to victory | 00:58

    The goal was a wake-up call for United manager Ruben Amorim, who made three replacements in its wake, including Hojlund.

    “It was not a great game,” said Amorim, before praising the substitutes. “They changed the game. They are there to do that so I’m pleased with that.”

    He added he was happy with the outcome: “It was important not to give up so that is a great message.”

    The former Sporting Lisbon boss replaced the sacked Eric ten Hag in November, but the chilly evening in Plzen showed United still have some way to go.

    Both teams came into the match with nine points from five Europa League games, and they took time to find their pace.

    Fernandes had the first shot on target half an hour into the game, but Jedlicka parried his low right-footed effort from the edge of the box.Onana watched Cheick Souare’s shot curl just past the top corner of his goal two minutes before the break.

    United substitutes Mason Mount and Antony were denied by Jedlicka in the second half, with Mount failing to beat the ‘keeper twice from close range.

    But Hojlund turned the match on its head to put United in a strong position for direct qualification to the last 16.

    “We didn’t have so much time to work on this type of game. We were controlling the game but didn’t have the pace (in the first half),” said Amorim.

    “We want to improve and we want to improve really fast,” he added. United next face Rangers at Old Trafford on January 23.

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  • ‘Alien to me’: Trait that endeared Ange to Premier League now brings knives out — UK View

    ‘Alien to me’: Trait that endeared Ange to Premier League now brings knives out — UK View

    The knives are coming out, the vultures are circling and judgment day is coming for Ange Postecoglou, according to some in the British press, after Tottenham’s latest Premier League loss, a 4-3 home defeat to second-place Chelsea.

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    Thirteen months ago, the Australian manager was serenaded by Spurs’ fans after being dismantled 4-1 at home by the same side, because they loved the commitment to ‘Angeball’ despite having two players sent off for most of the second half.

    Now, the attacking nature of Postecoglou’s tactics are not being so well-received.

    Tottenham were 2-0 up inside 11 minutes, but conceded the next four goals of the game as things unravelled.

    Centre back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, who returned from a toe injury and a hamstring problem respectively, as well as winger Brennan Johnson, were forced off with injuries.

    Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr gave away penalties with unnecessary challenges, and Cole Palmer slotted both of them home, the second with a cheeky Panenka-style dink to lob it over the diving Fraser Forster and rub salt into the wound.

    It was a comedy of errors, and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes they are the sort of mistakes that could cost Postecoglou his job.

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    Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher rejected the former Socceroos boss’ post-match comments praising his side, and said that if Postecoglou does not adapt, he will be shown the door.

    “Ange said how well they played. I can’t imagine any Liverpool manager I played for and we conceded four in a game would say in the interview we played well,” Carragher said.

    “If you play this way you’ll get the result like at Manchester City but you’d also get results like this one where you’re 2-0 up. I’ve never got my head around managers saying we play a ‘certain way and we will never change’ – I think it started with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.

    “This idea that wherever they play, they will play their way. But that was the best team I’ve ever seen. Pep Guardiola then had to change his Man City team who were winning the leagues every season, putting centre-backs at full-back.

    “This idea that you can’t change is alien to me. The game-state dictates how you play, not all the time but if you go away to a tough away ground you shouldn’t play the same way as you do against a team at the bottom. There’s this idea of playing a pure game and the Tottenham fans signing ‘we’ve got our Tottenham back’ but you won’t win anything, you won’t challenge.

    “I wake up every morning hoping the sun is shining, so I can put some shorts and a T-shirt on but if it’s raining, you put your coat on. You can’t have this idea about playing one way, it won’t work. If it doesn’t change, he won’t be here next season.”

    Tottenham have won just once in their last seven games in all competitions, and that victory was a 4-0 romp of the reigning champions at the Etihad two weeks ago.

    Adding to the bizarre nature of their recent run is that despite sitting 11th on the Premier League table, Spurs have the fourth best goal difference behind the top three of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, and only Chelsea have scored more goals than them this season.

    Defensive frailties continually haunting them has meant that some are now turning their attention to what is going on in the minds of the club hierarchy.

    Chairman Daniel Levy declared three months into Postecolgou’s tenure that “we’ve got our Tottenham back” after dour years under the likes of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho, but that positivity now feels like a lifetime ago.

    “In the directors’ box chairman Daniel Levy looked down and his face said it all. It was even more taught than Van de Ven’s hamstring,” the Telegraph’s chief football correspondent, Jason Burt, wrote.

    “It is the manner of the defeats, and the ease with which they concede goals, that is killing them at present and surely putting Postecoglou’s job increasingly at risk.

    “There is, unfortunately, a soft underbelly and a flakiness that opponents are seizing on. Spurs lost a two-goal lead for the 11th time in the Premier League, four times more than any other side.”

    The problems at the back are also being compounded by issues in attack, particularly around their star goal-scorer Son Heung-min.

    Postecoglou returned the Korean to the starting front three, which also featured Dominic Solanke up front and Johnson on the opposing flank, after bringing him off the bench in the 1-0 loss at Bournemouth mid-week.

    Son has battled hamstring issues in recent months and has been out of sorts since coming back to the pitch.

    His rut was exemplified by an uncharacteristic miss during the second half, that proved to be costly and symbolic of his manager’s struggles.

    “At 2-2, Son Heung-min wasted a huge chance to lead, when the captain raced through on goal and steadied himself before whipping a shot wildly off target,” The Independent’s Lawrence Ostlere wrote.

    “One of the most deadly finishers in the Premier League looked bereft of confidence, like his team, and his tap-in at the death was not enough to make amends as Spurs went down 4-3. Postecoglou rued a “big moment” that slipped by.

    “Yet that sense of self-sabotage might also be levelled at the manager. Spurs played with typical abandon which produced moments of joyous football in the first half, but when the momentum of the game swung, Postecoglou failed to react. His midfield was inexplicably open, with the overrun Bissouma understandably drawn to Palmer, leaving the advancing Enzo Fernandez in wide-open space time and time again.

    “’Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again,’ sang the Chelsea fans, and there was a devastating simplicity to that refrain. It was losing to Chelsea, the team who have enjoyed more success than any other visiting this stadium; it was letting another lead slip away in a clichéd collapse; it was how they seemed to melt in the middle.”

    ESPN’s James Olley took a similar approach in saying that “this game is in danger of resembling a metaphor for Postecoglou’s time at Spurs”.

    “Start well, generate dizzying excitement, lose players to injury, look increasingly one-dimensional and end up defeated,” Olley wrote.

    Postecoglou was abused by fans in ugly scenes after the Bournemouth loss, he had a frosty exchange with a supporter following their 2-1 home defeat to newly promoted Ipswich Town last month, but despite the fans growing more restless, there was no boil over of emotions at the full-time whistle.

    Many Tottenham fans on social media are pointing the finger at Levy and other off-field figures, while calling for Postecoglou to be afforded more time.

    Others want him gone, as is always the way with these things.

    But Postecoglou made a key move pre-game, in a pointed response to the events of the south coast days earlier.

    “Postecoglou had applauded the South Stand at length before kick-off, which felt significant after what had happened between him and the travelling Spurs fans at Bournemouth last Thursday. He needs them behind him,” The Guardian’s David Hytner wrote.

    “His team would make the dream start, two up after 11 minutes, and yet it never looked like lasting. There would be boos at the full-time whistle but no fan mutiny.”

    There is also no player revolt.

    Romero spoke with glowing praise of Postecoglou post-match, and expressed his belief that those on the pitch should be shouldering the responsibility for Tottenham’s recent run of poor results.

    “He’s a great coach. We saw it in the first season. In this second one we’ve suffered a lot of injuries,” Romero said.

    “Players should be the first one to be criticised, then if we lose 10 games, the staff can be changed.

    “We are very happy with this staff, me and my colleagues. We love how they work and the football they try to play.”

    Regardless of what the players or sections of the fan base believe, if more poor results come, more people will be baying for blood.

    Tottenham have four more matches before Christmas, and they could decide Postecoglou’s future.

    The Australian has always won a trophy in his second season charge, and it feels somewhat forgotten that he still has two live chances to keep that impressive streak alive, and deliver Spurs their first piece of silverware since 2008.

    On Friday morning Australian time, Postecoglou will travel north to Glasgow, to return to a scene of former glories.

    Tottenham will face Rangers, the biggest rivals of Postecoglou’s former club Celtic, at Ibrox Stadium in a key Europa League contest.

    Both sides sit on ten points after five matches, in eighth and ninth respectively, with the top eight after eight matches receiving a bye through to the Round of 16 in the new format.

    A week later, Spurs take on Manchester United in a Carabao Cup quarter-final at home.

    Either side of that clash is a trip to Southampton and a date with league leaders Liverpool.

    It is crunch time for Postecoglou.

    As the past fortnight since Tottenham’s demolition of Manchester City has shown, two weeks is a long time in football, and Postecoglou could be in the doghouse or the penthouse by Christmas Day.

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  • ‘Truly blessed’: England icon lifts lid on ‘mindblowing’ Ange revelation in stunning speech

    ‘Truly blessed’: England icon lifts lid on ‘mindblowing’ Ange revelation in stunning speech

    Former England goal keeper Joe Hart heaped praise on current Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou in a BBC 5 Live discussion, hailing the Australian’s tactical nous which “blew my mind” during their time together at Celtic.

    Hart made his name for himself in the Premier League with 266 appearances for Manchester City and earlier this year he retired from professional football after a three-year stint at Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

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    The four-time winner of the Premier League golden glove award headed to Glasgow at the same time as Postecoglou in 2021, and despite his wealth of experience, Hart found their time together to be a real eye-opener and an immense learning experience.

    He had little experience playing in a formation with three at the back during his 75 international caps for England or his time in the Premier League and Serie A, so adapting to the aggressive tactics of ‘Angeball’ changed his perspectives on the game.

    “My last three managers in England, David Moyes, Sean Dyche, [and] Jose Mourinho. All top, top managers in their own right and have done incredible things,” Hart said.

    “But they are very much [about] hard work, dedication, learning what you need to do and going out and performing.

    “Then I went and had three years [at Celtic] – two of them with Ange Postecoglou and one of them with Brendan Rodgers. Ange Postecoglou blew my mind because he really opened me up.

    Spurs sink four goals in impressive win | 02:26

    “I always thought playing out from the back, does that mean I have to do [Johan] Cruyff turns, pick passes? No, it doesn’t; it means I need to stand on the ball and make sure my centre halves are on either side of me; my six is showing.

    “I’m not playing out for the sake of it. I’m playing out to score. If that full press comes and all I see is opposition players next to mine, I’m given that clarity in my mind that there’s a little dink into the striker’s chest.

    “All these things come together, and it’s a totally different game and a totally different thought process.

    “I feel truly blessed because I would honestly feel out of my depth sat here three years ago trying to have this conversation [about playing out from the back].”

    Chelsea spoil Man United homecoming | 00:50

    Australian football fans have been well versed in Postecoglou’s attacking mentality since his days coaching South Melbourne in the defunct National Soccer League, his record-breaking ‘Roarcelona’ team in the A-League and, of course, the Socceroos.

    Postecoglou’s eye-catching style and use of three defenders at the back on several occasions as often been controversial, but has famously reaped trophies around the world.

    Celtic fans quickly fell in love with the Australian as he guided them to a treble winning season in 2022/23, and Tottenham supporters are now infatuated with him as they have scored the most goals in the Premier League so far this season.

    Spurs’ hunt to end their trophy drought remains well and truly alive this season as they have made a perfect start to their Europa League campaign with three wins from three games, while they are due to face Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

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  • ‘Fear no one’: Underdogs eye massive upset against hosts Germany in huge Euros opener

    ‘Fear no one’: Underdogs eye massive upset against hosts Germany in huge Euros opener

    Scotland coach Steve Clarke said his team should “fear no one” ahead of Friday’s opening match against Euro 2024 hosts Germany in Munich (5am Sat AEST).

    Clarke hopes to become the first man to lead Scotland into the knockout phase of a major tournament, but his side face a tough assignment against the three-time European champions.

    “We have a lot of respect for the host nation and we know they’re a good team,” said Clarke.

    “It’s a difficult game. One of the mantras I’ve had is respect everyone and fear no one.”

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    Scotland are taking part in the Euros for the fourth time. In 11 previous finals appearances, including eight World Cups, they have never made it beyond the group stage.

    Clarke’s side impressed in qualifying from a group featuring Spain and Norway, but went seven matches without a win before last week’s victory over Gibraltar.

    Clarke told reporters his team had their sights set on reaching the knockouts rather than putting all his focus on the tournament opener, calling it a “sideshow”.

    “We know it’s a big game, but it’s the opening game of a four-team section. We know what we need to do to qualify.”

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    An Orangutan at Dormund zoo has tipped Germany over Scotland.Source: AFP

    Scotland captain Andy Robertson said the pressure was all on Germany, who have failed to get past the last 16 at any major tournament dating back to 2016.

    “We’re excited. We know the games are close and we know how fast the tournament can go by you.

    “We can create a bit of history. No real pressure on us, no real expectation from the outside world.

    “We’ve waited a long time for this game. Feels like years. We know how much of a challenge it will be.”

    Robertson said there was “no bigger stage” than Friday’s curtain-raiser, where “all eyes will be on us against Germany”.

    Robertson toasted the Tartan Army, Scotland’s travelling fans, with pre-tournament predictions saying up to 200,000 could make the trip.

    “It feels as if most of the country are here which is crazy,” said Robertson. “The Tartan Army have been amazing since day one.

    “There’s a lot of them over here and we hope to make them proud. We know they can’t get into the stadium — we wish they could.

    “We want to give them plenty to shout about.”

    Scotland fans have flooded Germany.Source: Getty Images

    The Liverpool defender expected Germany to dominate possession and said the hosts had “the best midfielder in the world in Toni Kroos”.

    Robertson said he had fond memories of playing in Munich, with his Liverpool side having won 3-1 here on the way to lifting the Champions League title in 2019.

    “Last time I was at this stadium was a massive win for us. A lot of people wrote us off, to win was incredible.

    “I have a lot of good memories here.”

    Socceroos end Qualifying stage in style | 02:21

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  • Mbappe invisible as Barca super-subs beat PSG in five-goal thriller; WC winner’s epic show: CL Wrap

    Mbappe invisible as Barca super-subs beat PSG in five-goal thriller; WC winner’s epic show: CL Wrap

    Andreas Christensen came off the bench to head in the winning goal as Barcelona won 3-2 away to Paris Saint-Germain in a remarkable first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday.

    Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann ran riot in a sublime performance to guide his Atletico Madrid side to a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.

    Raphinha had earlier scored twice for the Catalans at the Parc des Princes, slotting in the opener late in the first half and then volleying in an equaliser to make it 2-2 just after the hour mark.

    In between, PSG had turned the game around as they awoke from a poor first-half display by starting in electrifying fashion after the restart with two goals in six minutes, neither coming from Kylian Mbappe – who was almost invisible with no shots on target in the match.

    Ousmane Dembele struck against his old club, and Vitinha briefly put the French giants in front when he scored just over two minutes later, only for Barcelona to recover in stunning fashion to take control of the tie.

    Raphinha’s second goal, a brilliant volley in the 62nd minute, was set up by a beautiful through ball from Pedri, just moments after the latter came off the bench.

    Christensen’s winner, which came with his first touch after he had been introduced as a substitute on his 28th birthday, ended PSG’s 27-game unbeaten run and gives Barca a lead to defend at home in the return next Tuesday.

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    “I am very proud. It is a great victory against one of the best teams in the world, but we are only halfway there,” said Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez.

    “PSG still have every chance on Tuesday, but we have a one-goal advantage and we will be playing at home.”

    That second leg will be played at Montjuic, the Catalan club’s temporary home, rather than the Camp Nou, the scene of Barcelona’s incredible 6-1 win over PSG in 2017 and of a lethal Mbappe hat-trick in a 2021 meeting of the teams.

    Andreas Christensen celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal. Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFPSource: AFP

    “We could have won this game,” insisted PSG coach Luis Enrique.

    “I am not saying the result is unfair but it came down to little details and we will work to ensure that in the return the little details go our way.”

    The story of this game ended up partly being about Luis Enrique’s selection decisions – he was missing the banned Achraf Hakimi but also omitted teenage prodigy Warren Zaire-Emery and gave Marco Asensio a surprise start.

    The importance of the occasion for PSG, back in the quarter-finals having been eliminated in the last 16 in five of the previous seven seasons, was clear with Ronaldinho – a former star for both clubs – doing a lap of honour ahead of the game and home fans putting on a Star Wars display as the teams came out.

    But Paris struggled to live up to it, with Mbappe for once unable to deliver in a big game.

    Appearing in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in four years and since the departure of Lionel Messi, Barcelona grew into this game and almost went ahead on 20 minutes.

    Home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma came to try to punch away a corner but Robert Lewandowski got there first, only for his header to be cleared off the line by Nuno Mendes.

    Barcelona’s Danish defender Andreas Christensen. Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFPSource: AFP

    That was the first wobble from Donnarumma, who did not cover himself in glory as Barcelona went ahead in the 37th minute.

    The Italian came out to meet a low ball in from the right by Lamine Yamal but only succeeded in helping it into the path of Raphinha, who gratefully fired into an unguarded net for his first ever goal in the competition.

    PSG sent on Bradley Barcola at the break for Asensio, with the substitute going to the right wing and Dembele moving across to an inside-left role close to Mbappe.

    The tactical change paid off at once, as PSG drew level three minutes after the restart when Ronald Araujo failed to properly clear Mbappe’s cutback from the byline, the ball dropping to Dembele who rifled a shot high into the net while slipping.

    It was just his second PSG goal since moving to the French capital from Barcelona last August.

    The home side went ahead in the 51st minute, Barcola and Lee Kang-in combining on the right before Fabian Ruiz supplied Vitinha, who controlled and prodded in.

    Xavi responded with a double change just past the hour mark, as Pedri and Joao Felix entered and Yamal and Sergi Roberto came off, with Raphinha now on the right.

    Pedri’s first contribution saw him float a ball forward for Raphinha, who arrived in the middle to meet it first-time on the volley, his shot beating Donnarumma to make it 2-2.

    It was breathless stuff, and Dembele almost scored again, sending a shot off the far post just before Barcelona won it.

    Donnarumma stayed rooted to his line as Ilkay Gundogan delivered a corner and Christensen headed in.

    Atletico hold on to keep narrow advantage on ‘nervous’ Dortmund

    Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid earned a 2-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg victory over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, surviving a late onslaught from the visitors.

    Rodrigo De Paul and Samuel Lino’s first half goals gave Diego Simeone’s side a commanding lead but Sebastien Haller pulled one back to give the German side a foothold in the tie ahead of next week’s return in Dortmund.

    Atletico star Antoine Griezmann created a career-best six chances in the game – his 94th in the Champions League – and claimed the assist for Atletico’s second goal. His intelligence and vision on the ball was on full display, with the veteran Frenchman somehow seeming to get better with age despite being 33.

    Edin Terzig said his side, fifth in the Bundesliga, were “very nervous” in the first half but they improved and hit the woodwork twice in the final stages of a match which saw security measures reinforced after the Islamic State (IS) group made threats against stadiums used for last-eight ties.

    Atletico Madrid had flown out of the traps, keen to grasp a golden opportunity to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2017.

    “We took a little first step, we wanted to win at home,” De Paul told Movistar.

    “Here we are strong, the fans give us a boost, these nights are incredible – you never know if they will be repeated, the truth is I am very happy.

    “When you win, I always think it’s positive because if not, you never enjoy anything.”

    Despite not forcing an equaliser, Dortmund captain Emre Can said his team were content with the result.

    “On such a night, one can also go under … there were phases where they completely overpowered us in the duels,” Can told DAZN.

    “So, we’ll take the 2-1 and everything is open for next week.”

    Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt. Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFPSource: AFP

    Dortmund could not cope with the Rojiblancos’ high press in the opening stages and De Paul fired the hosts ahead in the fifth minute after Ian Maatsen gave the ball away.

    Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel passed the ball to the on-loan Chelsea defender, who panicked under pressure and played a slack pass which De Paul gleefully intercepted before tucking home.

    Atletico have not lost any of their home Champions League knockout games during Simeone’s 12 years at the helm and continued to flood forward confidently at the baying Metropolitano.

    Kobel clawed away a brilliant backheel flick by former Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel, a key part of Atletico’s backline after his move in 2022.

    The only negative note from a fine Atletico first half was a booking Lino earned, ruling him out for the second leg.

    A few minutes later the Brazilian doubled his team’s lead after another Dortmund defensive mix-up.

    Mats Hummels, on his 500th appearance for Dortmund, badly directed a header into Alvaro Morata’s path and he and Antoine Griezmann combined to feed Lino, who slid a low effort past Kobel.

    Terzic brought on Julian Brandt for Felix Nmecha at halftime in search of more attacking spark.

    Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann. Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFPSource: AFP

    Missing sick top goalscorer Donyell Malen the Bundesliga side struggled to find a way past Oblak, who saved from Niclas Fuellkrug early in a far tighter second half.

    On-loan Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho began to get move involved for Dortmund, who pulled one back in the 81st minute, although not before Kobel made a stunning save to deny Lino his second.

    Nahuel Molina miskicked a clearance and the ball fell to towering striker Haller who drove it beyond Oblak.

    Despite the visitors finding a foothold, Atletico held on by the skin of their teeth and Dortmund fell to their first away defeat in four months.

    English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens’s long-range drive deflected off Cesar Azpilicueta’s head and hit the crossbar, while Brandt nodded off the woodwork in a frantic finale.

    Simeone was able to celebrate his 50th Champions League victory as a coach, becoming the ninth man to achieve the feat.

    Simeone and Atletico have yet to conquer the Champions League, but this win is a shaky step towards the semi-finals.

    Dortmund showed it will not be a walk in the park, however, with their second half display.

    “We were very nervous and conceded two easy goals, (then) we managed to correct the situation,” said Terzic.

    “I told them to calm down – we didn’t draw but now we have a result that leaves the door open.”

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  • ‘It’s what I do’: Ange’s perfect response to brave reporter’s trophy jibe

    ‘It’s what I do’: Ange’s perfect response to brave reporter’s trophy jibe

    Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou delivered the perfect response after a reporter asked if he could picture himself lifting trophies, stating: “I’ve got real pictures, quite a few.”

    Seven permanent managers have been and gone at Tottenham since Juande Ramos helped guide the team to its last trophy, the 2008 League Cup.

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    Tottenham have made the final of the League Cup a further three times since as well as the 2019 Champions League final, but have fallen short every time.

    The club’s infamous trophy drought has become an easy way for rival fans to poke fun at Tottenham supporters and Postecoglou is hoping to be the man to end the lengthy wait.

    Postecoglou will get his next — and almost certainly the only — chance to lead Tottenham to a trophy when they host Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday morning (AEDT).

    One brave reporter decided to ask the Tottenham boss if he ever spent time picturing what lifting a trophy would be like but, in typical Postecoglou fashion, he didn’t miss with his answer.

    “I’ve got real pictures, quite a few,” Postecoglou said.

    “I just look at the ones I have got. I’ve earned them, it’s not lucky.”

    Postecoglou added: “I love winning, it is what I have done all my career.

    Postecoglou had the perfect response to a journalist’s question. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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    “I don’t say that dismissively, and I don’t have them on the ceiling, mate, as you suggested.

    “But that’s what drives me. Every year I start the year hoping there is a picture by the end of the year of me with a team lifting a trophy.

    “That is what I have tried to do my whole career and I have got plenty of evidence of that, so that’s what my intent is here.

    “I don’t have to visualise it, it’s what I do.”

    Postecoglou has proven himself to be somewhat of a serial winner ever since he took over at the Brisbane Roar in 2009.

    But it was his sheer domination at Celtic which caught the eye of Tottenham having won five out of the six trophies on offer during his time in Glasgow, including the famous treble in the 2022/23 season.

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  • Aussie’s resignation opens door for Kewell’s shock managerial return as Ange effect looms large

    Aussie’s resignation opens door for Kewell’s shock managerial return as Ange effect looms large

    Celtic assistant coach Harry Kewell could be in line for a return to management after J1 League side Yokohama F. Marinos confirmed the departure of Kevin Muscat.

    Muscat will leave Yokohama after two-and-a-half years in the role, with his last game as manager to take place in the AFC Champions League against Shandong Taishan next Wednesday.

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    The former Melbourne Victory boss took over from Ange Postecoglou in 2021 and led Yokohama to the J1 League title in 2022 as well as the its first-ever Japanese Super Cup in February this year.

    Muscat penned an emotional statement confirming his exit, claiming it was “not easy to leave the Marinos family” and thanked the club for creating “wonderful memories” that he will “cherish for a long time.”

    Although his departure is imminent, there are no whispers regarding Muscat’s next move and the two roles he was heavily linked with at Millwall and Rangers have since been filled.

    But one report in Japan claims the vacancy in Yokohama won’t last very long.

    According to Japanese outlet Sponichi, Kewell is set to replace Muscat and negotiations are “progressing smoothly.”

    Muscat has resigned as Yokohama boss. (Photo by Minh Hoang/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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    Should Kewell get the role, it would be the third-straight Australian appointment at Yokohama and yet another glowing endorsement of the impact Postecoglou had at the club.

    Kewell has been out of a head coaching role since 2021, with his most recent gig lasting just seven games at National League side Barnet.

    Prior to that ill-fated spell, the Socceroos legend had managed English lower league teams such as Crawley Town, Notts County and Oldham Athletic.

    Kewell then took a step back from the managerial hot seat when he took up an assistant coaching role at Celtic in June last year as Postecoglou took him under his wing.

    Although Postecoglou left at the end of the 2022/23 season to move to Tottenham, Kewell remained in Glasgow and formed part of Brendan Rodgers’ backroom team at Celtic.

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  • Matildas’ big Olympic boosts as World Cup rivals crash out, won’t even be there

    Matildas’ big Olympic boosts as World Cup rivals crash out, won’t even be there

    Matildas fans are dreaming of a maiden Olympic medal after two of their toughest rivals fell short of qualifying for next year’s Paris Olympics.

    This week Germany and the Netherlands booked their places at Europe’s Women’s Nations League finals, where they will also fight for spots at the 2024 Olympics, but there was heartbreak for England who missed out despite beating Scotland 6-0 on Wednesday (AEDT).

    The Germans drew 0-0 in Wales but secured their passage thanks to Iceland’s 1-0 win over Denmark.

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    The Netherlands needed a 95th minute goal from Damaris Egurrola to see them to a 4-0 win over Belgium which meant they edged England on goal difference in Group A1 after the World Cup runners-up hammered the Scots in Glasgow.

    The Dutch and the Germans will join France and world champions Spain in the semi-finals which take place in February.

    The two finalists will qualify for the 2024 Olympics. If France, who are guaranteed a place as hosts of Paris 2024, reach the final, the team winning the third-place playoff will also progress.

    England, who were hopeful of gaining an Olympic place for a Great Britain team which would have included their Scottish opponents, and the Netherlands went into the final round of games level on points but with the Dutch holding a two-goal advantage.

    England stars Mary Earps and Lucy Bronze react after thrashing Scotland but missing out on the Olympics. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    England quickly laid on the pressure, with Alex Greenwood and Beth Mead bracketing two goals in two minutes from Lauren James to give them a 4-0 halftime lead.

    The Dutch, meanwhile, were only leading 1-0 through a 34th minute goal from Lineth Beerensteyn.

    The English compounded their position when Fran Kirby added a fifth four minutes into the second half.

    At that point, England had a two-goal advantage over the Dutch, but they then ran into some determined defence from the Scots who also went close, forcing a fine save from Mary Earps.

    Beerensteyn added a second to give the Dutch hope, but the evening changed dramatically in stoppage time.

    First, Egurrola found the back of the net to give the Dutch the advantage. That was followed by Lucy Bronze scoring a sixth for England but, even as they were celebrating, Egurrola snatched a second in Tilburg to send the Netherlands through.

    “(Coach) Sarina (Wiegman) made sure we knew what was happening, and we knew what we were supposed to do,” said England forward Mead.

    “We got the goals late on, we thought we had maybe gotten over the line but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.”

    Sweden also missed out on Olympic qualification after a 1-0 loss to Switzerland, meaning Sweden won’t be at the Olympics for the first time since women’s football was introduced.

    Two of the Matildas’ toughest rivals won’t get at the Paris Olympics. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images for Football Australia)Source: Getty Images

    The football world was struggling to comprehend the fact two of the biggest powerhouses in women’s football won’t get to play in the Olympics.

    Australian fans were rejoicing, given the results mean that should they qualify, Matildas won’t have to face two teams that beat them at the FIFA World Cup.

    England beat the Matildas 3-1 in the semi-finals, before Sweden defeated the Aussies 2-0 in the third place playoff.

    Sweden also beat the Matildas 4-2 in the group stage at the Tokyo Olympics.

    One fan wrote on X: “england AND Sweden aren’t playing the Olympics?!?”

    Despite losing two friendlies to Canada in the past week, the Matildas are on track to qualify for the Olympics after three comfortable wins over Iran, Chinese Tapei and the Philippines.

    They will need to beat Uzbekistan in a two-legged playoff in February to book their place in the 12-team competition at the Paris Olympics.

    The Matildas finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics in their best result ever.

    They also finished fourth on home soil at this year’s FIFA World Cup and will be desperate to go at least one better in Paris.

    2024 PARIS OLYMPICS – WOMEN’S FOOTBALL QUALIFIERS

    Country (path to qualification)

    France (host nation)

    USA (2022 CONCACAF Championship)

    Brazil (2022 Copa America)

    Colombia (2022 Copa America)

    Canada (CONCACAF playoff)

    One Oceania qualifier (eight-team group stage to begin in February)

    Two of Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain (UEFA Women’s Nations League A)

    Uzbekistan vs Australia winner (AFC qualifying third round, February)

    North Korea vs Japan winner (AFC qualifying third round, February)

    Two African qualifiers (eight-team third round knockouts to be played in February)

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