BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick called on his team to show more concentration in La Liga on Saturday after a dismal run of domestic form.
While the Catalan giants are flying high in the Champions League, second in the group with direct qualification to the last 16 already secured, domestically they have dropped behind their title rivals.
Barcelona have won just one of their last eight league games and trail league leaders and reigning champions Real Madrid by seven points.
The Blaugrana, third, are also five points behind Atletico Madrid going into this weekend’s round of fixtures.
“I think you can have a feeling that in La Liga we’re missing 5-10 percent, it’s like that and this is what we have to change,” Flick told a news conference ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Valencia.
Last weekend Barcelona could only muster a 1-1 draw against Getafe, 16th.
“I think in Getafe it was our fault we didn’t end this match with three points — it has nothing to do with Getafe,” continued Flick.
“It’s like we’re not playing well, we’re not focussed and this is what we have to do.
“We have to be focussed from the beginning to the end of the match and this is what I want from the team.”
Valencia, 19th, are playing well under new coach Carlos Corberan and are hoping to fight their way up the table.
“They stabilized their defense and they really know how to play football,” said Flick.
“Their defense is doing really well and we have to create chances and score goals — it’s not so easy.”
Atletico Madrid host Villarreal while Real Madrid visit Valladolid, both on Saturday.
Flick demands Barca focus more after Liga slump
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Flick demands Barca focus more after Liga slump
- “I think you can have a feeling that in La Liga we’re missing 5-10 percent,” Flick told a news conference
- “It’s like we’re not playing well, we’re not focussed and this is what we have to do”
Watson’s late strike lifts Sunderland into Premier League
Eliezer Mayenda equalized in the closing stages before Watson delivered the priceless last-gasp winner
LONDON: Sunderland clinched promotion to the Premier League after eight years away as Tommy Watson’s stoppage-time strike sealed a 2-1 win against Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final on Saturday.
Regis Le Bris’ side trailed to Tyrese Campbell’s first-half goal at Wembley, but Eliezer Mayenda equalized in the closing stages before Watson delivered the priceless last-gasp winner.
It was an astonishing twist to the single richest match in world football as Sunderland recovered from a sluggish start to hit the jackpot with a promotion worth an estimated £200 million ($270 million) in increased revenue.
Watson’s moment ensured Sunderland fans can look forward to renewing hostilities with bitter rivals Newcastle next season.
Sunderland’s return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017 comes after a dark period that included a four-season spell in the third tier.
The Black Cats suffered five successive defeats coming into the play-offs, but they dug deep to reach the top-flight in the most remarkable style.
With a penalty shoot-out just seconds away, Dan Ballard’s last-gasp extra-time header sealed a 3-2 aggregate success in the semifinal second leg against Coventry.
They looked down and out with only 14 minutes left at Wembley before the stunning denouement.
Promotion completed an impressive rise for Le Bris, a 49-year-old Frenchman who arrived at the Stadium of Light last year after suffering relegation from Ligue 1 with Lorient
United are still without a win at Wembley in 100 years and have now endured four Championship final defeats among 10 failed attempts to win promotion via the play-offs.
United had finished in third place in the table, 14 points clear of fourth-placed Sunderland in the regular season, but that gap proved irrelevant.
Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson made a brilliant save in the second minute, diving to his left to claw Kieffer Moore’s header off the line.
Patterson’s stop conjured memories of Jim Montgomery’s incredible save to help Sunderland shock Leeds in the 1973 FA Cup final.
Injured trying to stop Moore’s header, Sunderland captain Luke O’Nien was forced off with a dislocated shoulder that left him writhing in pain.
United deservedly took the lead in the 25th minute.
Ben Hamer showed why he was voted Championship Player of the Year with a perfectly weighted pass to Campbell, who guided a composed finish over Patterson from 12 yards.
It was a poignant moment for the 25-year-old approaching the first anniversary of the death of his father — former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell.
Harrison Burrows thought he had doubled United’s lead nine minutes later, but his strike was disallowed for offside against Vini Souza after a VAR check.
United substitute Andre Brooks barged through on goal after the interval, but Patterson stuck out his foot to make a superb save.
It proved a costly miss, as Mayenda hauled Sunderland level with only their second shot on target in the 76th minute.
Patrick Roberts’ pin-point pass reached Mayenda just inside the area and he punished United’s sloppy marking with a fierce finish into the roof of the net.
O’Nien, his shoulder in a sling, sprinted off the bench to embrace Mayenda, waving his one healthy arm in jubilation.
That celebration was only the precursor to the ecstatic scenes sparked by Watson five minutes into stoppage-time.
Seizing on Moore’s loose pass, Watson drove toward the edge of the United area and curled a low shot into the bottom corner past Michael Cooper’s fatally slow dive.
Watson is due to join Brighton in the close-season and his thrilling winner was the perfect farewell gift, ensuring Sunderland will join the 19-year-old among English football’s elite.
French taxi drivers threaten airports, French Open tennis in standoff
- French taxi drivers have over the last week blocked roads at points across the country
- “From Monday,” in the absence of progress, Paris international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, “will be blocked by taxis, and we will also take care of Roland Garros,” said Cordier
PARIS: French taxi drivers will next week step up protest actions, including paralysing access to Paris airports and the French Open tennis championship, in an increasingly acrimonious standoff with the government, their main federation said on Saturday.
French taxi drivers have over the last week blocked roads at points across the country in a row with the government about payments for transporting patients which for many cab drivers form a major part of their businesses.
Meanwhile grievances against ride-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt have been aired again, with taxi drivers seeing them as a poorly-regulated threat to their livelihood.
Sector representatives are due to attend a crunch meeting at the ministry of transport from 1500 GMT Saturday which, in a sign of the seriousness of the situation, will also be attended by Prime Minister Francois Bayrou.
Their chief demand is the wholesale withdrawal of new rules coming into force in October on the transportation of patients to harmonize prices nationwide, which the taxi drivers say will severely erode their income.
“We are calling for the immediate withdrawal of this agreement and for a return to the negotiating table,” Emmanuelle Cordier, president of the National Taxi Federation (FNDT), told France Info radio.
“From Monday,” in the absence of progress, Paris international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, “will be blocked by taxis, and we will also take care of Roland Garros,” said Cordier, referring to the two-week French Open tennis which starts on Sunday.
In such actions, taxi drivers usually park their vehicles to block car access, requiring people to walk long distances.
But the government has no plans to drop the new rules which it said are needed, after health transport expenditure reached 6.74 billion euros in 2024, including 3.07 billion for licensed taxis.
“We will have to continue to show our discontent peacefully, but with increasingly tough blockades,” said Noel, a 60-year-old driver from Lyon, who has spent 21 years as a taxi driver.
FIFA president cites ‘discussions’ for Ronaldo to play in Club World Cup
- Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr did not qualify for the tournament
- Infantino suggested that the Portugal star could switch to one of the 32 teams playing in the competition
GENEVA: FIFA president Gianni Infantino says Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup because of a unique transfer window.
Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr did not qualify for the tournament, but Infantino suggested that the Portugal star could switch to one of the 32 teams playing in the competition in the United States starting next month.
“Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup,” Infantino told online streamer IShowSpeed, whose YouTube channel has more than 39 million subscribers. “There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club are watching and are interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, who knows. Still a few weeks time, will be fun.”
FIFA confirmed Wednesday that last-minute transfer signings are open to all teams going to tournament, which fueled more speculation that one of them will try to sign the 40-year-old Ronaldo on a short-term deal, potentially a loan.
Such a move would be unprecedented in modern soccer though could appeal to FIFA by boosting the profile and ticket sales of an inaugural tournament being played in 11 US cities.
A transfer for Ronaldo also would reunite him and Lionel Messi in the same competition for the first time since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Last October, FIFA invited Messi’s Inter Miami to enter the tournament in the slot that was expected to be reserved for the host nation’s champion. Inter Miami were eliminated in the MLS Cup playoffs.
Speculative reports have linked Ronaldo to the one Saudi club that qualified, Al Hilal, the Brazilian club Palmeiras and Wydad of Morocco, even though that club are currently banned by FIFA from registering new signings.
Transfers can be made from June 1-10 and again June 27-July 3 according to exceptional rules FIFA approved in October.
“The objective is to encourage clubs and players whose contracts are expiring to find an appropriate solution to facilitate the players’ participation,” FIFA said in Wednesday’s statement.
Leclerc fastest in Monaco practice as Hamilton crashes
- Leclerc clocked a best lap of one minute and 10.953 seconds
- Ferrari and Leclerc are hoping for a repeat of their emotional 2024 triumph
MONACO: Charles Leclerc completed a hat-trick of perfect practice runs on Saturday when he topped the times for Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton crashed into the barriers.
Leclerc, who last year became the first Monegasque winner of his home event in the Formula One era, clocked a best lap of one minute and 10.953 seconds — the only driver to dip below one minute and 11 seconds — to beat Max Verstappen by 0.280 seconds.
Ferrari and Leclerc are hoping for a repeat of their emotional 2024 triumph, but their mood was spoiled when the Monegasque’s teammate Hamilton crashed on entry to Casino Square to end the session with a red flag.
He was unhurt, but it was an uncharacteristic setback for the Briton who had looked fast and strong.
Hamilton was running in the turbulent air behind Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes and Esteban Ocon of Haas when he lost downforce and hit the barriers.
Lando Norris was third fastest for McLaren ahead of team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri, Hamilton and Williams’ Alex Albon.
Liam Lawson of Racing Bull was an impressive seventh ahead of Carlos Sainz in the second Williams, Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull and Antonelli.
After a slow start the session burst into life by the halfway mark with Hamilton, Norris and Leclerc trading fastest laps before Verstappen took control.
To the delight of the local audience, Leclerc regained top spot in 1:11.179 on his softs and then went even quicker to move two-tenths clear before the session stopped for a red flag when Hamilton smacked the barriers at Massenet, damaging his right front and rear wheels.
He was unhurt and climbed clear.
“Sorry guys, I’ve hit the wall,” said Hamilton, left hoping his car could be repaired in time for qualifying later Saturday.
Liverpool’s Salah named Premier League player of the season, Gravenberch best youngster
- Having also earned the award in 2017-18, Salah became only the fifth player to win it twice
- The 32-year-old Egyptian is on course to win another Golden Boot
LONDON: Mohamed Salah was named the Premier League player of the season on Saturday after a stellar individual campaign as Liverpool cruised to their second Premier League title while his team mate Ryan Gravenberch was named the young player of the season.
Salah scored 28 goals and provided 18 assists to guide the Anfield club to the title, with Arne Slot’s side winning it with four games to spare.
Having also earned the award in 2017-18, Salah became only the fifth player to win it twice after Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic and Kevin De Bruyne.
The 32-year-old Egyptian is on course to win another Golden Boot for most goals in a season and is five strikes ahead of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak going into the final day of the season on Sunday.
No player before has had 46 goal involvements in a 38-game season and Salah could even break the record of 47 held by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole, who achieved the feat in a 42-game campaign, when Liverpool host Crystal Palace at Anfield.
With six more assists than any other player, Salah can become the first footballer to win the Golden Boot, Golden Playmaker and player of the season awards.
Salah also won the Football Writers’ Association men’s player of the year for the third time earlier this month.
Gravenberch became one of the first names on the team sheet under Slot, who deployed the Dutchman as a deep-lying midfielder, and the 23-year-old has become a crucial part of Liverpool’s spine, making 36 appearances this season.
His versatility to shield Liverpool’s back line has come to the fore this season while his ability to quickly initiate attacks, cutting out passing lanes and winning back possession, has made him indispensable.
No midfielder has made more interceptions this season than Gravenberch (59).
Gravenberch was also nominated for the Player of the Season award along with Virgil Van Dijk — the three Liverpool players who have clocked the most minutes in the team in the Premier League this season.
He is also the second Liverpool player to win the youngsters’ award after Trent Alexander-Arnold won it in 2019-20, the season it was introduced.
