Madrid, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi wants Ernesto Valverde to continue as Barcelona coach but admits the team have not recovered from their Champions League loss to Liverpool as they face Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday. After winning La Liga by 11 points, Barca can complete …
Read More »All change? What next for European club football
Paris, France | AFP | Plans by UEFA to reform European club competitions would see 128 clubs playing a total of 647 matches starting in the 2024 season (with 407 per season 2021-2024) spread over three continental competitions, according to a document seen by AFP on Friday. The 128 teams would …
Read More »Chaos and comebacks: Champions League proves the ultimate in sporting drama
Amsterdam, Netherlands | AFP | After all that, why exactly would you want to change it? Just as moves are being stepped up that threaten to change the Champions League into more of a closed shop than ever, along comes the drama of this week at Anfield and in Amsterdam of …
Read More »UEFA considering Champions League with promotion/relegation
Nyon, Switzerland | AFP | UEFA has drafted a controversial plan to introduce promotion and relegation to the Champions League at a meeting at its Swiss headquarters in Nyon, sources told AFP on Wednesday. There would be four groups of eight teams from 2024 if the proposal is put into action …
Read More »Son back as Tottenham target comeback in Ajax semi-final
Amsterdam, Netherlands | AFP | Mauricio Pochettino describes being in the last four of the Champions League as “a bonus”, but Tottenham Hotspur are still hopeful of going all the way to the final as Son Heung-min returns for Wednesday’s second leg against Ajax. Spurs come to Amsterdam needing a special …
Read More »Origi, Wijnaldum complete historic Liverpool Champions League comeback
Liverpool, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool produced one of the most stunning comebacks in Champions League history as Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice to beat Barcelona 4-0 and progress to the final for the second consecutive year 4-3 on aggregate on Tuesday. The Reds not only had a …
Read More »Liverpool seek new ‘heroes’ without concussed Salah against Barcelona
Liverpool, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool must turn to unlikely heroes to overturn a 3-0 Champions League semi-final, first leg deficit against Barcelona on Tuesday according to defender Trent Alexander-Arnold after top scorer Mohamed Salah was ruled out with concussion. Roberto Firmino will also be absent against the Spanish …
Read More »Suarez thanks Liverpool for helping him to the top
Liverpool, United Kingdom | AFP | Barcelona striker Luis Suarez returns to Anfield on Tuesday hoping to dump Liverpool out of the Champions League semi-finals, but remains eternally grateful to the Reds for helping him win a move to the Catalan giants. Suarez shone on the field during a turbulent three-and-a-half …
Read More »Fallen Man Utd face huge rebuild after Champions League failure
Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United legend was built on scoring the goal that won the Champions League, but, 20 years on, the Norwegian now concedes the United side he has inherited as manager are not even fit to grace that competition. The scale of the …
Read More »Five things we learned in European football this weekend
Paris, France | AFP | Ajax warmed up for their Champions League semi-final return against Tottenham Hotspur by lifting their first silverware of the campaign, while some surprise names remain in the running to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition next season. Here, AFP Sport takes a look at five main …
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