Ruben Amorim is expected to be confirmed as Manchester United’s new manager on Thursday after the club reached an agreement with Sporting Lisbon, reports said.
The Athletic said the 39-year-old would stay with the Portuguese league leaders for their next three games, including next week’s Champions League match against Manchester City.
He is expected to take charge at Old Trafford during the November international break, with his first game set to be United’s away trip to Ipswich on November 24.
Ineos’ director of sport Sir David Brailsford appeared to confirm Amorim would be appointed in footage that emerged on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
“Yeah, It’s done. It’s done,” he said to fans, after posing for pictures outside Old Trafford.
Brailsford was responding to questions from the fans, who replied: “The deal is done, he said it”.
Sky Sports said it was understood the Premier League club had paid Sporting an extra one million euros over and above his 10 million euro ($11 million) exit clause for an early release.
Sporting issued a statement to the Lisbon stock exchange on Tuesday confirming United were willing to meet the release clause.
United pulled the plug on Erik ten Hag’s two-year reign as manager on Monday after a 2-1 defeat by West Ham left them 14th in the Premier League.
Amorim quickly emerged as United’s number one option.
Shortlist revealed for Man Unt top job | 03:50
United caretaker boss Ruud van Nistelrooy oversaw a 5-2 victory against Leicester in the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday.
“I came here as an assistant to help the club,” said Van Nistelrooy. “I’m helping as long as I’m needed and in the future, in any capacity, I’m here to help the club build towards the future.” Despite spending heavily in the transfer market in the summer, Ten Hag paid the price for United’s poor start to the season.
Prior to the win against Leicester, they had won just one of their past eight games in all competitions.
Ruben Amorim said Tuesday that “nothing is decided yet” after Manchester United made the Sporting Lisbon coach their top target to replace sacked manager Erik ten Hag.
United pulled the plug on Ten Hag’s two-year reign on Monday after a 2-1 defeat by West Ham left one of the world’s wealthiest clubs 14th in the Premier League.
Amorim quickly emerged as the leading contender to replace the Dutchman and a statement issued by Sporting to the Lisbon stock exchange said United were willing to meet his 10 million euro (£8.3 million, $10.8 million) release clause.
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Man United boss AXED in brutal sacking | 01:55
The 39-year-old was guarded when asked after Sporting’s League Cup win against Nacional on Tuesday night if that was his last match with the Portuguese club.
“Nobody knows whether this was my farewell match. Nothing is decided yet,” the Portuguese coach said, reported by sports daily A Bola.
Despite spending heavily in the transfer market in the summer, United have won one of their last eight games in all competitions.
Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been named interim boss but United appear to be concentrating on Amorim, who is considered one of Europe’s leading young coaches.
He has won two Portuguese titles with Sporting since joining the club in March 2020.
Amorim had dismissed the speculation when quizzed on Monday ahead of the League Cup match.
“I’m not going to talk about my future,” he said. “I’m very proud to be the coach of Sporting Lisbon.”
Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler, a young manager already making his way in the Premier League, was asked Tuesday what advice he’d give Amorim should he leave Portugal for Old Trafford.
Sporting Lisbon’s Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim gestures on the sidelines during the UEFA Europa league quarterfinal second leg football match between Sporting CP and Juventus at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on April 20, 2023. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)Source: AFP
“Thirty-nine and he’s eight years older than me,” said Hurzeler. “He’s already achieved great things in Portugal. I’ve seen some games of him, he plays incredible football.” Amorim was linked with the manager’s role at Liverpool following the departure of Jurgen Klopp this year, but Dutch coach Arne Slot headed to Anfield instead.
The position of Ten Hag, 54, had been repeatedly called into question after United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, who made overtures to other managers, retained him following an internal review at the end of last season when the club finished eighth in the league but won the FA Cup with a shock victory over Manchester City.
But United, who last won the Premier League in 2013, have shown little improvement this season.
The former Ajax coach, who joined United in May 2022, had fiercely defended his record, arguing he deserved respect for winning two trophies in his two full seasons.
United ended a six-year wait for silverware by beating Newcastle in the 2023 League Cup final.
However, in his second season, injuries to key players, the lack of impact from expensive signings such as Brazilian Antony and Ten Hag’s failure to implement a clear playing style put him on the road to failure.
Shortlist revealed for Man Unt top job | 03:50
United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage and suffered a string of defeats at Old Trafford last season.
Ten Hag was backed in the transfer market, spending more than £600 million ($778 million) — nearly half of which went on former Ajax players.
Yet early hope this season evaporated as Liverpool and Tottenham both won with ease at Old Trafford in September.
In truth, Ten Hag oversaw just a small period of United’s more general decline since legendary former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after the club were crowned champions of England for a record 20th time.
Five full-time managers have come and gone since then.
Speaking post-match on Sunday to preview United’s League Cup tie against Leicester on Wednesday, Ten Hag indicated he thought winning a trophy in his third season would make it a success.
“Definitely, it’s about trophies,” he replied in comments which were embargoed until Tuesday.
“If you win a trophy in pro football, that is most important because that is what the fans expect and what we expect, to win a trophy.”
Twenty years ago it was Jose Mourinho. Now it is Ruben Amorim who appears set to move from Portugal to the Premier League with a reputation as Europe’s next coaching superstar.
Amorim has emerged as the favourite to take over at Manchester United following Erik ten Hag’s sacking. His club Sporting Lisbon have confirmed the English club’s interest, and that they have entered negotiations.
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Sporting have confirmed that United will pay the €10 million release clause in Amorium’s contract to allow him to leave. It is expected that a United delegation will travel to Lisbon to close the deal after Sporting’s Portuguese cup quarter-final at home to Nacional on Tuesday evening.
Man United boss AXED in brutal sacking | 01:55
Amorim is 39, two years younger than Mourinho when he left Porto and took over a Chelsea side poised to dominate English football.
Other coaches have come from Portugal with huge reputations, but not all have succeeded. Andre Villas-Boas, for example, failed to live up to expectations after following Mourinho’s path from Porto to Chelsea in 2011.
But everything about Amorim — who was also linked to the manager’s job at Liverpool this year — suggests he could be something special, just as Mourinho famously claimed he himself was in 2004.
As long ago as 2017 when Amorim confirmed his intention to become a coach, he told Tribuna Expresso: “I don’t know if I am going to be good or bad, but that is what I am going to be.”
He had just quit playing aged 32 after injuries blighted a fine career. Amorim has made his name as a coach at Sporting, but he starred as a player for their Lisbon rivals Benfica, the club he has supported from birth.
“I can see myself coaching Benfica, or one of the world’s biggest clubs. Obviously only time will tell and you need so much luck,” he said.
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Amorim began playing at Belenenses from the Lisbon suburb Belem best known for its custard tarts.
He worked under Jorge Jesus there, reaching the Portuguese Cup final in 2007. In 2008 he joined Benfica, and a year later he was reunited with Jesus. Amorim mainly played at right-back as a team featuring David Luiz and Angel Di Maria romped to the title.
The following season, Benfica were overtaken by Villas-Boas’s Porto and Amorim struggled with a knee injury.
He needed a loan move at Braga to relaunch his career, and went back to Benfica, and Jesus, in 2013/14.
Playing regularly in midfield, Amorim starred as they won a domestic treble and lost the Europa League final on penalties to Sevilla.
His career never reached such highs again, and he ended his playing days in Qatar.
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– ‘Fanatical about winning’ –
Amorim has described Mourinho, who managed United from 2016 to 2018, as his reference, but he admits Jesus — now guiding Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia — marked him more than any other coach after he spent seven years under his stewardship.
“It is funny, because as a player I had lots of problems with Jesus, albeit other players did too, because Jesus is a coach who wears you out,” Amorim recalled.
“He is a real perfectionist. I worked with him for a long time and it is obvious that what I demand of players is quite similar to him.”
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Amorim, who appeared for Portugal at two World Cups, began coaching in 2018 when just 33, at Lisbon club Casa Pia, and his rise since has been vertiginous.
He won the third-tier title there, but didn’t yet have the necessary coaching qualifications and left in early 2019.
Amorim really began his steep ascent upon joining Braga, managing their B team before being handed the first-team reins in December 2019.
He did so well that Sporting swooped, paying his 10-million-euro release clause. Sporting had not won the Portuguese title since 2002 and their supporters had some concerns about his Benfica past.
Ten Hag blows up after VAR decision | 00:59
“I am a professional and I am fanatical about winning. I know how big this club is. I played against them. I am not hiding my past,” he said at his unveiling.
In his first full season Sporting won the title, losing just one game. Amorim, who favours an intense pressing game, then took Sporting to the Champions League last 16.
He won a second Portuguese title last season and players such as English forward Marcus Edwards and Swede Viktor Gyokeres have flourished under him.
Scottish side Hibernian have confirmed Socceroos winger Martin Boyle is in a “stable condition in hospital” after he suffered a sickening head knock during a Scottish Cup quarter final clash against Rangers.
There were frightening scenes at Easter Road when Boyle remained down on the turf after colliding with Rangers’ John Souttar — brother of Socceroos star Harry — when challenging for an aerial contest.
Unfortunately for Boyle, he came off significantly worse for wear as medical staff from both Hibernian and Rangers raced onto the field to assess his condition.
The Socceroos man was soon taken from the field in a stretcher and was replaced by Elie Youan
Boyle was subsequently rushed to hospital but Hibernian have since provided a pleasing update on his condition.
“Hibernian FC can confirm that Martin Boyle is now in a stable condition in hospital,” the club said in a statement.
“The winger went straight to hospital after the first half collision against Rangers and is receiving the best possible care.
“The Club would like to thank the speed of both clubs’ medical departments in attending to Martin on the pitch.
“Everyone at Hibernian FC wishes Martin a speedy recovery.”
It was Rangers who ultimately emerged victorious in the contest, condemning a nine-man Hibernian side to a 2-0 defeat to progress into the Scottish Cup semi finals.
Rangers appeared to be struggling at the start of the second half following their 2-2 draw with Benfica in the Europa League in Lisbon on Thursday.
But Hibs’ Jordan Obita and Nathan Moriah-Welsh were then both sent off in the space of three minutes.
Obita was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 68th minute after a foul on Rabbi Matondo before Moriah-Welsh was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge on Lundstram.
Hibs continued to hold out before Portuguese striker Fabio Silva’s goal seven minutes from time made the game safe for the visitors.
Andre Onana and Harry Maguire were the unlikely heroes as Manchester United kickstarted their Champions League campaign by beating FC Copenhagen 1-0 on the night Bobby Charlton was remembered at Old Trafford.
Much-maligned centre-back Maguire headed in the only goal 18 minutes from time before Onana saved Jordan Larsson’s penalty with the last kick of the game.
The English giants had lost their opening two Champions League group games for the first time in the club’s history, but are back in contention for the last 16 thanks to a much-needed win.
One of United’s greatest ever players, Charlton died on Saturday at the age of 86.
A moving tribute was paid to the 1966 World Cup winner before kick-off as United boss Erik ten Hag laid a wreath in the centre-circle before a minute’s silence was observed.
Ten Hag urged his players to be inspired by Charlton’s legacy after a difficult start to the season.
But the Dutchman would have been disheartened by another insipid first-half performance.
The Danish champions were inches away from going in front after just five minutes.
Maguire was caught in possession by Mohamed Elyounoussi and the former Southampton forward’s cross was turned onto the post by Diogo Goncalves.
The emotional atmosphere around Old Trafford prior to kick-off quickly turned to groans of frustration at the home side laboured to create anything of note before the break.
Ten Hag responded by introducing Danish international Christian Eriksen against his countrymen.
However, it was not until two more big chances for Copenhagen to take a shock lead that United awoke from their slumber.
– Onana proves his worth –
Onana made high-profile errors in both United’s Champions League defeats to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
But the man who helped Inter Milan reach the final of last season’s competition showed why United splashed out £47 million on him in July.
Onana’a first crucial save of the game prevented Lukas Lerager’s shot finding the top corner.
Moments later Elias Achouri blasted a volley over when unmarked at the far post. Rasmus Hojlund is Eriksen’s heir as the great hope of the Danish international side, but he failed to shine against his former club.
Hojlund’s most telling contribution came in teeing up Eriksen for a powerful low drive that former Liverpool goalkeeper Kamil Grabara did brilliantly to turn behind.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Andre Onana redeemed himself after high profile errors earlier in the competition.Source: Getty Images
Marcus Rashford’s loss of form has contributed hugely to United’s struggles so far this season.
The England international, who scored 30 goals last season, has still netted only once this campaign and wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring with a heavy touch when one-on-one with Grabara.
Substitute Alejandro Garnacho then did exactly the same with just Grabara to beat.
Instead centre-back Maguire bailed out his forwards to at least ensure Charlton’s farewell was marked with a victory.
The England international had fallen way down the pecking order during Ten Hag’s first season in charge, but is making the most of a series of defensive injuries that have brought him back into the fold.
Maguire just stayed onside to meet Eriksen’s cross with a bullet header 18 minutes from time.
United should have added a second as Garnacho and Scott McTominay passed up big chances to double the lead.
And they were nearly made to pay when McTominay was penalised for a high foot on Elyounoussi deep into stoppage time.
Larsson, son of former United striker Henrik Larsson, stepped forward but his powerful effort was turned behind by Onana to spark wild scenes of celebration.
Victory takes United above Copenhagen into third in Group A and within one point of Galatasaray.
Bayern are already closing in on qualification after a 3-1 win over Galatasaray made it three wins from three games for the German giants.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Harry Maguire scored the winner at Old Trafford.Source: Getty Images
CLASSY JESUS STEERS ARSENAL TO WIN OVER SEVILLA
Gabriel Jesus scored a sublime goal and created another to earn Arsenal an important 2-1 Champions League win over Sevilla on Tuesday, making up for their shock defeat at Lens earlier in October.
The Brazilian striker crafted Gabriel Martinelli’s opener with a masterful turn and pass and then doubled the Gunners’ lead with a lethal finish, as Mikel Arteta’s side moved top of Group B.
Arsenal moved up to six points, one ahead of Lens, with the French side drawing 1-1 at home against PSV Eindhoven, who are level on two points with Sevilla.
Diego Alonso’s team put up a spirited showing in the Uruguayan’s second match in charge, following their impressive and intense performance in a draw against La Liga leaders Real Madrid on Saturday.
However, Arsenal had more cutting edge in attack and Jesus’ quality made the difference in an entertaining clash in Andalusia — he has scored in each of his team’s matches in the competition.
Gabriel Jesus was on fire for Arsenal.Source: Getty Images
Sevilla boasted before kick-off with banners hailing their record seven Europa League triumphs, but in the heart of their defence they also have a four-time Champions League winner in Sergio Ramos.
The 37-year-old martialled the defence well as the hosts kept Arteta’s side at bay for the majority of the first half, which was bookended by Martinelli chances.
Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland saved the first, darting off his line quickly to deflect Martinelli’s shot back off the striker and out for a goal kick.
The hosts took control in driving rain at the rowdy Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, with Lucas Ocampos flicking wide and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya looking uncertain under pressure, giving the ball away on multiple occasions.
Arteta defended the Spain international after he made two mistakes in Saturday’s Premier League draw at Chelsea, with some fans demanding to see Aaron Ramsdale restored in goal, but the coach stuck with his compatriot.
Sevilla carved out their best chance of the first period moments before Arsenal took the lead, with Youssef En-Nesyri dragging an effort narrowly wide after breaking into the area.
After another Sevilla attack was cut short in stoppage time, Gabriel Jesus turned brilliantly in midfield to confound two Sevilla players and open up the pitch, before springing Martinelli through on goal with a quick pass.
The Brazilian showed composure to round Nyland and slot home on his Champions League debut with Ramos unable to catch him in pursuit.
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– Jesus decisive –
Arsenal last qualified for the tournament in 2017 and Arteta’s young side’s inexperience told in their defeat by Lens after having taken the lead, however this time they quickly found a second goal.
The otherwise quiet Martin Odegaard lashed over the bar early in the second half before Jesus dribbled into the box from the left flank and brilliantly thrashed a shot into the far top corner across Nyland.
Sevilla pulled one back just before the hour mark when Nemanja Gudelj headed home from Ivan Rakitic’s corner past the motionless Raya.
The Arsenal goalkeeper produced a spectacular save to tip Mariano Diaz’s effort on to the crossbar, although it would have been ruled out for a foul had it found a way in.
Sevilla beat Manchester United and Juventus last season at home in their Europa League run and refused to give in without trying everything, with former Tottenham winger Erik Lamela booked for diving in the area.
They turned the screw in the final stages, but Arsenal clung on for victory.
THREE IN THREE FOR BELLINGHAM AS REAL MADRID WIN IN BRAGA
Jude Bellingham scored his third goal in as many Champions League appearances for Real Madrid as the Spanish side won 2-1 away to Braga in Portugal on Tuesday.
Rodrygo put Real ahead and England star Bellingham made it 2-0 just after the hour mark, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side then holding on after Alvaro Djalo pulled one back for Braga.
The result leaves Madrid in a strong position with the maximum nine points from three games in Group C, three ahead of Napoli who beat Union Berlin 1-0 away in Germany.
After a cagey start, Nacho released Vinicius down the left flank and the Brazilian stood Serdar Saatci up before squaring for a sliding Rodrygo to give Madrid the lead on 16 minutes.
Madrid briefly thought they had doubled their lead 10 minutes before half-time when Rodrygo slotted the ball into an empty net, but Vinicius had strayed offside as Eduardo Camavinga played him in near the halfway line.
Jude Bellingham can’t be stopped for Real Madrid.Source: Getty Images
Bellingham doubled Madrid’s lead on 61 minutes when he stroked the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after being teed up by Vinicius.
It was his 11th goal in all competitions for Real since joining the record 14-time European champions from Borussia Dortmund ahead of this season.
However, the home side halved the deficit just two minutes later when Djalo powered a near-post drive past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Braga then introduced the dangerous Bruma, who was only deemed fit enough to start on the bench. The change nearly paid off on 70 minutes when a Ricardo Horta drive was spooned just wide by Arrizabalaga.
Vinicius thought he had added a goal to his two assists on 82 minutes, but the assistant’s flag denied him with Madrid looking to kill off the game.
A VAR check for a penalty in the 89th minute was Braga’s last hope for an equaliser as Madrid ground out a hard-fought victory.
The Spanish side will be looking to book their place in the round of 16 when they host Braga in the return fixture on November 8.
Given the nod to start up front, Brazilian attacker Rodrygo will be hoping his goal will ensure his place in the starting XI for Saturday’s Clasico away to Barcelona.
UEFA Champions League results on Wednesday (AEDT)
Group A
Galatasaray (TUR) 1 (Icardi 30-pen) Bayern Munich (GER) 3 (Coman 8, Kane 73, Musiala 79)
Manchester United (ENG) 1 (Maguire 72) FC Copenhagen (DEN) 0
Manchester United are in danger of making an early exit from the Champions League after crashing to a 3-2 home defeat to Galatasaray with Arsenal also suffered a shock loss on Wednesday morning.
Rasmus Hojlund twice put United in front, but they slipped to a sixth defeat in nine games as Wilfried Zaha, Kerem Akturkoglu and Mauro Icardi struck for the Turkish giants.
It continues a worrying run of form under Erik ten Hag for United, who are bottom of the group and 10th in the Premier League having lost six of their past 10 games.
United have lost their opening two games of a Champions League group for the first time.
New goalkeeper Andre Onana had another night to forget in Europe. Rasmus Hojlund twice gave United the lead, but Galatasaray fought back to win away from home in the Champions League for the first time in 10 years thanks to goals from Wilfried Zaha, Kerem Akturkoglu and Mauro Icardi.
Onana accepted responsibility after his error allowed Bayern Munich to open the scoring in United’s 4-3 defeat in Germany to start Group A.
The Cameroonian was at fault once more for the move that saw Casemiro sent-off for conceding a penalty on 77 minutes.
Icardi missed the spot-kick, but quickly made amends to score the winner against 10 men.
United’s 1-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday meant Erik ten Hag’s men are also off to their worst ever start to a Premier League season with four defeats from seven games.
Progress to the last 16 of the Champions League now looks an uphill task. Bayern beat FC Copenhagen 2-1 away to move onto six points with Galatasaray four clear of United with four games to play.
Hojlund provided the one note of positivity on an otherwise costly night for United.
The young Danish striker’s start to life at Old Trafford was hampered by a back injury, but he is quickly showing why United splashed out £64 million for a 20-year-old.
Meanwhile Arsenal slumped to a first defeat of the season as Lens came from behind to win a pulsating Champions League clash 2-1 in France thanks to a fine second-half strike by Elye Wahi.
Gabriel Jesus gave the Premier League side an ideal start when he opened the scoring in the 14th minute to silence a raucous Stade Bollaert.
But Adrien Thomasson soon brought last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up back on level terms and the visitors saw Bukayo Saka limp off before half-time.
Wahi, the 20-year-old striker who became Lens’ club-record signing when he joined at the start of the campaign, then fired home in the 69th minute and his side held on for a famous victory.
The result lifts them above Arsenal to the top of Champions League Group B on four points, one above Mikel Arteta’s side.
The other game in the group on Tuesday saw PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla draw 2-2 in the Netherlands.
While Arsenal are back in the Champions League after six seasons away, Lens are appearing in Europe’s elite club competition again for the first time in over 20 years.
That made their first European home game of the campaign all the more special, especially as it came against a team Lens famously beat in the Champions League back in 1998.
Arsene Wenger’s Gunners had been the clear favourites against Lens quarter of a century ago and Arteta’s team were here, as they arrived in northern France still unbeaten this season.
They underlined their status as the leading contenders in the group with a 4-0 demolition of PSV in their opening game, while Lens had taken heart from their performance in coming back to draw 1-1 away to Sevilla.
LENS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 03: Neiss Nelson of Arsenal clashes with Salis Abdul Samed of Lens during the UEFA Champions League match between RC Lens and Arsenal FC at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on October 03, 2023 in Lens, France. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesLens’ players react after winning the UEFA Champions League Group B first leg football match between RC Lens and Arsenal FC at the Bollaert Stadium in Lens, northern France, on October 3, 2023. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP)Source: AFP
REAL MADRID 3 NAPOLI 2
Alex Meret’s unfortunate own goal handed Real Madrid a 3-2 win at Napoli on Wednesday which moved the Spanish giants top in Champions League Group C.
Italian international goalkeeper Meret could do nothing to stop Federico Valverde’s powerful, deflected shot crashing out off the bar and back into the goal off his outstretched arm 12 minutes from the end of an entertaining clash in Naples.
That unlucky rebound maintained Madrid’s perfect start to the group stage and moved them three points clear of both the Italian champions and Braga, 3-2 winners over bottom side Union Berlin earlier on Tuesday.
Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham scored the away side’s other goals on former Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti’s return to southern Italy, giving Madrid a half-time lead after Leo Ostigard headed the hosts into a 19th-minute lead.
Piotr Zielinski had given Napoli hope that they could build on a recent burst of good form when he smashed in a 54th-minute penalty harshly given for a Nacho handball while challenging Victor Osimhen.
Nigeria forward Osimhen was playing for Napoli after backing supporters following a row with the club over an insulting video on social media, telling his countrymen that they were not racist.
UEFA Champions League results on Wednesday (AEST):
Group A
In Manchester, England Manchester United (ENG) 2 (Hojlund 17, 67) Galatasaray (TUR) 3 (Zaha 23, Akturkoglu 71, Icardi 81)
In Copenhagen FC Copenhagen (DEN) 1 (Lerager 56) Bayern Munich (GER) 2 (Musiala 67, Tel 83)
Group B
In Lens, France Lens (FRA) 2 (Thomasson 25, Wahi 69) Arsenal (ENG) 1 (Jesus 14)
In Eindhoven, Netherlands PSV Eindhoven (NED) 2 (De Jong 86-pen, Teze 90+5) Sevilla (ESP) 2 (Gudelj 68, En-Nesyri 87)
Group C
In Naples, Italy Napoli (ITA) 2 (Ostigard 19, Zielinski 54-pen) Real Madrid (ESP) 3 (Vinicius 27, Bellingham 34, Meret 78-og)
In Berlin Union Berlin (GER) 2 (Becker 30, 37) Braga (POR) 3 (Niakate 41, Bruma 51, Castro 90+4)
Group D
In Milan, Italy Inter Milan (ITA) (Thuram 62) 1 Benfica (POR) 0
In Salzburg, Austria Salzburg (AUT) 0 Real Sociedad (ESP) 2 (Oyarzabal 7, Mendez 27)
Playing Wednesday (kick-offs 1900 GMT unless stated)
Group E
In Madrid (1645 GMT) Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Feyenoord (NED)
In Glasgow, Scotland Celtic (SCO) v Lazio (ITA)
Group F
In Dortmund, Germany Borussia Dortmund (GER) v AC Milan (ITA)
In Newcastle, England Newcastle United (ENG) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Group G
In Leipzig, Germany RB Leipzig (ITA) v Manchester City (ENG)
In Belgrade Red Star Belgrade (SRB) v Young Boys (SUI)
Group H
In Antwerp, Belgium (1645 GMT) Antwerp (BEL) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
As Chelsea prepared to take on Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in the first game of the Premier League season, fans would have taken note of what owner Todd Boehly had to say in the matchday programme.
“There is a simple mantra that guides us every day: we want to win together, and make you proud,” Boehly wrote.
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“As one of the world’s elite football clubs, Chelsea sits at the pinnacle of the game.”
Fast forward to now and it’s hard to agree with what the American had to say before the season.
Thomas Tuchel lasted just one month into the season before he was ruthlessly axed as Chelsea trigged Graham Potter’s $AUD27.9m release clause to snatch him from Brighton.
But the Birmingham native’s time in the Stamford Bridge dugout crashed and burned as he was sacked after almost seven months in the role.
Club legend Frank Lampard has since been brought in as interim manager to steer the ship until the end of the season.
It’s been a colossal disaster of a campaign for Chelsea who now sit on the brink of a Champions League exit and the very real prospect of no European football next season given their mid-table position.
Add in departures from the English domestic cup competitions at the first hurdle and it makes for grim reading.
What makes Chelsea’s fall from grace this season is the staggering expenditure on display this season.
Across the summer and winter windows, Chelsea have spent an estimated $1b, with $540m accounting for the eight players who joined in January.
However, such extravagant spending coupled with Chelsea’s troubling league position could mean the Blues must brace for a fire sale in the summer.
With a significant lack of prize money headed their way at the conclusion of the campaign, it means Chelsea will be in a precarious spot when it comes to Financial Fair Play (FFP).
Per FFP rules, clubs are permitted maximum losses of $196 million over a rolling three-year period.
Over the past four seasons, Chelsea recorded a staggering $636m in losses, but the reason they don’t fall foul on FFP guidelines is the fact they recorded a $67m profit during the Covid-interrupted 2019/20 season.
The significant losses led to UEFA placing the club on a watchlist last September for teams that will be “monitored closely in the upcoming period.”
For those who come through Chelsea’s academy, they earn homegrown status which means the club can immediately record the transfer fee into the books as a profit.
N’Golo Kante is the main senior player coming off contract at the end of the season, while seven players will be free agents as of July 1 2024.
Two players who will shortly have one year left on their deal are Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who both came through the academy at Cobham.
Loftus-Cheek hasn’t quite nailed down a spot in Chelsea’s first team, often playing a bit-part role when required.
However, Mount has become an integral member of the Blues since bursting onto the scene in the 2019/20 season after a successful loan at Derby County.
Premier League heavyweights Liverpool have been linked with a move for Mount, who is valued by Chelsea at $130m, per The Athletic.
Selling Mount would provide a significant boost in Chelsea’s efforts to stay within the FFP rules.
Chelsea may also part with some of Mount’s fellow academy graduates and English internationals like Callum Hudson-Odoi or Conor Gallagher.
Aside from academy graduates, there’s also a handful of players coming off contract in 2024.
Christian Pulisic and Mateo Kovacic are in that group, and at 24 and 28 years of age respectively, could net the Blues a tidy transfer fee.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Thiago Silva are also off contract in July 2024, so Chelsea could look to cash in on them in the summer.
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With such a bloated squad, there’s also several fringe players who could net the Blues some needed coin.
One such name is Hakim Ziyech, who has never quite found his feet since arriving from Ajax.
The Moroccan winger came extremely close to a move to Paris Saint-German in the January window, but the deal collapsed at the last minute and has been forced to sit on the sidelines since.
Of course, all of this will hinge on what Chelsea’s new manager will want to do.
Lampard’s deal is only until the end of the season and won’t be given the gig for a second time.
Former Barcelona and Spain boss Luis Enrique is a strong contender for the role, as is Julian Nagelsmann who was recently sacked by German giants Bayern Munich.
They’ll no doubt want to see what the entire squad can do before giving the green light on who will go and who might stay.
But, given Chelsea’s worrying financial position, the new man in the Stamford Bridge dugout might not even get a say as they look to balance the books.
Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio struck for Real Madrid as they dominated 10-man Chelsea and opened up a 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg lead on Wednesday.
The record 14-time winners and reigning champions eased to a comfortable win against Frank Lampard’s side, who had Ben Chilwell sent off in the second half for pulling down Rodrygo Goes as he ran through on goal.
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Benzema netted from close range after 21 minutes after Kepa Arrizabalaga tipped a Vinicius Junior effort into his path.
Despite controlling the game, Madrid had to wait until the 74th minute for their second, with Asensio drilling home from the edge of the box after a short corner routine.
In a battle between the last two Champions League winners, Madrid demonstrated their strength with an impressive display, while Chelsea showed why they are struggling in 11th in the Premier League.
Carlo Ancelotti, who coached Lampard at Chelsea between 2009-2011, relied on veteran midfielders Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to pull the strings.
Lampard, in his second game at the helm since replacing Graham Potter last week, threw Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante straight into the starting line-up after injury worries.
Kante shone against Madrid in the 2021 semis as Chelsea beat them en route to winning the trophy for the second time, and he was one positive for Lampard, slipping Joao Felix through on goal at the start.
The Portuguese forward, on loan from Los Blancos’ rivals Atletico Madrid, drilled a low effort at Thibaut Courtois.
Benzema, who netted a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge last season and scored the goal which sent Madrid through against the Blues in the second leg, forced Kepa into a smart save at his near post.
Madrid fans had shown their support for Fede Valverde before the game, after he allegedly punched Villarreal’s Alex Baena on Saturday, and he nearly rewarded them with a piledriver which flew narrowly off-target.
The hosts soon found the opener, with Benzema netting his sixth goal against Chelsea and certainly his easiest.
Dani Carvajal lofted a tempting ball over the top and although Kepa got his fingertips to Vinicius’s effort, Benzema was left with a simple tap-in.
Milan edge Napoli in fiery first leg | 00:58
Chelsea almost produced an instant equaliser but Courtois made a stunning save to deny Raheem Sterling from close range.
At the other end Vinicius came close to netting a second after breezing past Wesley Fofana, but Silva stayed alert to hack his dinked effort away from danger.
Kepa denied Rodrygo and David Alaba as Madrid toyed with their opponents, penning them back in their box for large stretches.
Chelsea have struggled badly for goals this season and after their early chances, found it difficult to build in attack.
Modric curled a fine effort on to the roof of the net early in the second half, as Ancelotti’s side looked to put the tie out of reach.
Chelsea’s uphill struggle was made harder before the hour mark when Chilwell tugged back Rodrygo as he ran through on goal and was shown a straight red card.
A difficult evening for the Londoners was compounded when Asensio squeezed an effort through Fofana’s legs and into the bottom corner to double the hosts’ advantage.
Benzema might have netted another in stoppage time but headed off target after Kepa pushed a cross into his path.
Antonio Rudiger made a good block to thwart Mason Mount late on to ensure his former side could not take anything positive into the second leg.
Chelsea host Madrid next Tuesday, with the winners facing Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane reportedly punched his teammate Leroy Sane in the face after their team lost to Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The two teammates had to be separated in the Bayern Munich locker room after the skirmish, and Sane’s lip was bleeding, according to Sky Sports Germany.
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The argument had apparently spilled over from the game, in which the two players were seen arguing on the field toward the end of Bayern Munich’s disastrous 3-0 away loss to Manchester City.
The game was the first leg of the teams’ two-game series in the Champions League quarterfinals.
The second leg is set for next Wednesday, April 19.
The report said that the teammates were still separated when the team landed back in Munich, as Mane got a private ride from the airport while Sane took the team bus.
Bayern Munich won Germany’s domestic league, the Bundesliga, in the 2021-22 season.
The club has not publicly commented on the incident.
The game carried extra significance as it was the first time Pep Guardiola, who managed Bayern Munich from 2013-16, faced his former team since leaving to become coach of Manchester City.
A three-goal deficit headed into the second leg is a particularly large total for Bayern Munich to overcome.
Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged after the game that his team has an uphill climb.
“This does not feel like a 3-0 but it is a 3-0 and it is a huge, huge task now to turn this around. We are realistic but we will not give up,” Tuchel said.
“It will not be over until we are in the shower.”
Mane, a 31-year-old Senegalese forward, is in his first season with Bayern Munich after spending the last six years with Liverpool of the English Premier League.
Sane, 27, joined Bayern Munich in 2020 after the German winger played four years with Manchester City.
This story originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission
Pep Guardiola is relishing the chance to pit his wits against Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel as the Manchester City boss looks to avenge his team’s 2021 Champions League final defeat at the German’s hands.
City host Bayern in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday (5am AEST) as Guardiola continues his quest to lead the team to their first title in Europe’s elite club competition.
It will be an intriguing tactical battle between two of the world’s top managers, with Guardiola coming face-to-face with Tuchel two years after the German won their Champions League final showdown.
Tuchel was in charge of Chelsea when they beat City 1-0 in the final in Porto two years ago.
Guardiola was accused of over-thinking his team selection for the final against Chelsea, who also beat City in the FA Cup and the Premier League during Tuchel’s reign.
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With Tuchel having recently taken charge of Bayern after being sacked by Chelsea in September, Guardiola has a chance for revenge over the two-legged tie.
“I was sad but I congratulated him and Chelsea for the victory. It happened,” Guardiola told reporters on Monday.
“We try again. Defeats and victories stick at the same level. It is forgotten just the same. I don’t pay attention to what happened in the past. It’s part of the game.
“I reviewed the game a month ago and it was not as bad as I thought. It was a tight game, like they always have been against Chelsea in this period.”
On locking horns with Tuchel, Guardiola added: “I try to figure out the quality they have in all departments. It would have been difficult with Julian Nagelsmann and also will be difficult against Tuchel.
“I don’t pay that much attention, more attention on what I do with my team.”
Guardiola knows all about Bayern’s enduring quality after spending three seasons in charge of the Munich club from 2013 to 2016, a spell that included three Bundesliga titles.
But just as he been unable to produce a Champions League triumph with City, he also failed to win the competition at Bayern.
The 52-year-old’s two Champions League victories as a manager both came with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, and he is well aware how hard it will be to end that long barren run this season.
“We want to try. It’s an honour to be here against an elite club like Bayern and I’m happy to be here,” Guardiola said.
“It’s not taken for granted. You have to deserve it by playing good. When I was appointed and came seven years ago people ask me this every season. I understand.
“We’ve tried every single season but there are teams that you face that are also good and want to win.”
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City will come up against a familiar face in Bayern’s Portuguese international fullback Joao Cancelo, who surprisingly joined the Germans on loan in January and is eligible to play in the tie.
City defender Ruben Dias, a good friend of his fellow Portugal international, said: “I must confess it will be strange.
“Not very long ago we were fighting together but it is what it is, it is football, it is the life we lead. Decisions have been made.”
In the other match on Wednesday morning, Benfica host Inter Milan (also 5am AEST).
We’ll have all the action covered in a live blog right here.
