KIEV: Jurgen Klopp is in no doubt that Zinedine Zidane has shown himself to be as good a coach as he was during a wonderful playing career, as the two men prepare to lead their Liverpool and Real Madrid sides into Saturday’s Champions League final.
“If a lot of people think Zinedine Zidane doesn’t have much knowledge of tactical things — because a lot of people think that about me — that would be really funny,” Klopp told media at Kiev’s Olympic Stadium on the eve of the game.
Zidane finds himself in a position to win a third Champions League title despite only becoming Real coach in January 2016.
If he does that, the 45-year-old would equal Bob Paisley and Carlo Ancelotti as the only coaches to have won the European Cup three times.
Despite that, Zidane’s detractors see him more as a supervisor of a supremely talented squad rather than a tactical genius.
Klopp, who arrived at Anfield in October 2015, added: “Zidane for me is one of the best five players of all time in football.
“Since two and a half years now, I am longer at Liverpool than he is at Real Madrid and he can win for the third time the Champions League.
“You have to expect he is brilliant, like he was as a player. His players and him seem to work like a clock from Switzerland.”
While Zidane was a Champions League and World Cup winner as a player, Klopp’s own playing career in his native Germany was modest.
The two have taken different paths in the game, having come from very different backgrounds.
“Zinedine Zidane was his whole life a fighter growing up in Marseille in the area where he has grown up, and to have his kind of career, you need to be a fighter,” said the German.
“Only when he was a player, he didn’t look like that.
“I saw his face when someone asked him in a press conference about hunger, and he got angry — the same would happen to me and I am from a small village in the Black Forest.”
Klopp and his captain Jordan Henderson faced a huge gathering of media in the Ukrainian capital on Friday along with Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk.
All of them appeared relaxed ahead of the game, as they hope to secure Liverpool’s sixth European Cup, and a first since the unforgettable defeat of AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005.
To do so Liverpool must end Real’s reign as European champions as the Spanish giants go for a 13th European crown in Kiev.
“We’ve done fantastically well to get to this point,” Henderson said.
“We want to go one step further and be remembered for the right reasons and that is winning the Champions League.”
Liverpool’s return among the European elite is largely attributed to Klopp’s impact as manager.
However, the German has lost his last five finals, including the Europa League final in 2016 when Liverpool lost 3-1 to Sevilla.
And Henderson believes the English giants can use the pain of that defeat for a different outcome against Madrid.
“It hurt that night, but you can use that as motivation going forward and we’ve done that since that night.
“But it’s also important for us to win trophies and hopefully we can start that tomorrow.
“The club have won the competition a few times so it is the DNA of the club to win trophies. We want to win the trophy for fans and the club and we’re certainly going in the right direction.”
‘Fighter’ Zidane as good a coach as he was a player, says Klopp
‘Fighter’ Zidane as good a coach as he was a player, says Klopp
- Jurgen Klopp: “If a lot of people think Zinedine Zidane doesn’t have much knowledge of tactical things — because a lot of people think that about me — that would be really funny.”
- Zidane’s detractors see him more as a supervisor of a supremely talented squad rather than a tactical genius.
Al-Taawoun looking for positive result in first leg of ACL 2 semi against Sharjah in Buraidah
- In the Round of 16, Al-Taawoun eliminated Qatar’s Al-Wakrah after two 2–2 draws in the home-and-away legs, advancing with a 4–3 penalty shootout win
- In the quarterfinals, Al-Taawoun overcame Iran’s Tractor Sazi Tabriz following a 0–0 draw in Iran and a 2–2 draw in Buraidah, winning the shootout 4–2
RIYADH: Saudi’s Al-Taawoun host the UAE’s Sharjah in Buraidah, this evening at 9pm, in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two semifinal.
The home team is aiming for a positive result before the return leg in Sharjah next Tuesday.
Led by coach Mohammed Al-Abdali, the team is counting on the strong run it has enjoyed in the tournament, having topped Group B, which included Bahrain’s Khalidiya, Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, and Tajikistan’s Abtyn Asir.
In the Round of 16, Al-Taawoun eliminated Qatar’s Al-Wakrah after two 2–2 draws in the home-and-away legs, advancing with a 4–3 penalty shootout win. In the quarterfinals, they overcame Iran’s Tractor Sazi Tabriz following a 0–0 draw in Iran and a 2–2 draw in Buraidah, winning the shootout 4–2.
As for Sharjah, they topped Group C, which featured Jordan’s Al-Wehdat, Iran’s Sepahan Isfahan, and Tajikistan’s Istiklol Dushanbe. In the Round of 16, they won the first leg 1–0 against Jordan’s Al-Hussein Irbid, lost the second leg by the same score, and advanced with a 3–0 shootout win. In the quarterfinals, they drew both legs 1–1 with Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai and advanced 5–4 on penalties.
Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu is hoping to secure a favorable result ahead of the return leg in the UAE.
Sharjah currently sit second in the UAE Pro League with 41 points, eight behind leaders Shabab Al-Ahli. They have qualified for the UAE President’s Cup final — where they will face Shabab Al-Ahli — but were eliminated from the Abu Dhabi Bank Cup after a semifinal loss. Al-Taawoun currently lie seventh place in the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) with 37 points.
Manchester United to play May friendlies in Malaysia, Hong Kong
- Ruben Amorim’s side will face an ASEAN All-Star XI team in Kuala Lumpur on May 28
- Man U finish another disappointing Premier League campaign on May 25 at home to Aston Villa
HONG KONG: Manchester United will play friendly matches in Malaysia and Hong Kong three days after the end of the Premier League season, the club said Tuesday.
Ruben Amorim’s side will face an ASEAN All-Star XI team in Kuala Lumpur on May 28 and the Hong Kong representatives on May 30.
They will finish what has been another disappointing Premier League campaign on May 25 at home to Aston Villa.
United last visited Asia when they played Liverpool in Thailand in July 2022.
They will take part in the Premier League Summer Series in the United States ahead of the 2025-2026 season.
Chief executive Omar Berrada said: “Importantly, tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue which help make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch.”
Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool previously announced they will visit Hong Kong in July.
United, who currently languish 13th in the Premier League, last visited the Chinese city in 2013.
The Hong Kong team is managed by former United youth team player Ashley Westwood and is ranked 153rd in the world.
Al-Taawoun eye continental glory in AFC Champions League Two
- Wolves Park in Buraidah will host the first leg of the semifinal between the Saudi club and the UAE’s Sharjah on Tuesday
AUSTRALIA: Wolves Park may not have the grandeur of other stadiums in Saudi Arabia, but it lacks nothing when it comes to drama — especially in Al-Taawoun’s run to the AFC Champions League Two semi-finals.
The 6,000-capacity stadium on the northern edges of Buraidah will on Tuesday host arguably the biggest game in the team’s history, 2019 King’s Cup final aside.
This is just the fourth time they have featured in Asian competition. While the ACL Two may be second tier, behind the AFC Champions League Elite, the new continental format means it is far more prestigious than its former incarnation, the AFC Cup.
After topping their group with five wins from six, Al-Taawoun faced Qatar’s Al-Wakrah in the Round of 16. After 2-2 draws across both legs, penalties decided the outcome — with Al-Taawoun advancing 4-3 after a thrilling climax in front of a raucous home crowd.
The drama of that night was not only matched but surpassed when they faced Iranian side Tractor in the quarterfinal. After a scoreless game in Iran, Al-Taawoun were confident of victory in front of a capacity crowd at Wolves Park.
A see-sawing battle ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, with both sides scoring again in extra time. Once more, penalties would test the nerves of the Al-Taawoun faithful who packed the stands.
Reserve goalkeeper Abdulquddus Atiah, deputizing for the injured Mailson, pulled off a huge save to deny Sajjad Ashouri and help his club through to a continental semifinal.
It was a moment that reduced interim coach Mohammed Al-Abdali to tears, pictured sitting in the center circle long after the final whistle had blown, as he took in the enormity of the moment. The rest of the ground was filled with wild celebrations.
“I thank the Al-Taawoun fans and promise them that we won’t stop at this stage, we will continue until the end,” 51-year-old Al-Abdali said afterwards.
Following that entree, admission to the 6,000-capacity stadium will be the hottest ticket in town on Tuesday.
Another full house is expected as the boutique venue hosts the first leg of the semi-final against UAE powerhouse Sharjah FC, with fans eyeing another slice of history.
If Al-Taawoun win the semifinal, a trip to either Singapore or Australia awaits. The ACL Two’s rotation policy means this year’s final will be hosted by the winner of the East Zone — either Singapore’s Lion City Sailors or Australia’s Sydney FC.
For a club the size of Al-Taawoun, the chance of a continental final rarely comes around. This might be their only opportunity for some time.
The new structure means the top three finishers in the Saudi Pro League qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite, while the King’s Cup winners qualify for the AFC Champions League Two.
This season, the league’s “Big Five” fill all those spots — the four PIF-owned clubs plus Al-Qadsiah — and with their financial power increasing, it’s hard to see a future in which any other club can break in.
And with clubs like NEOM SC — coached by Pericles Chamusca, who guided Al-Taawoun to fourth last season — set to join the SPL next year, with all the financial backing they bring, expect it to be even tougher for the smaller clubs, which operate on far smaller budgets, to qualify for Asian competition as they did last season.
That’s what makes Al-Taawoun’s clash with Sharjah over the next two weeks so momentous. Never say never in sport, but this could be their make-or-break chance. After the high of their fourth-placed finish last season, they have come back to the pack this year and currently sit in seventh, nine points behind sixth-placed Al-Shabab.
Given the rising quality of the SPL, seventh for a club its size is nothing to be ashamed of, but it does highlight how difficult it will be to match last season’s heroics and return to this position in the future.
However, after a 2-0 win over Al-Kholood last Friday, Al-Taawoun carry with them confidence and momentum.
With the finals of the ACL Elite in Saudi Arabia in just over two weeks, it would be easy for this match to fall under the radar as attention focuses on the country’s biggest clubs, stadiums and fan bases.
But not in Buraidah. Not among the Al-Taawoun faithful. They’ll be at Wolves Park on Tuesday hoping to add another successful chapter to the club’s rich history.
Newcastle step up Champions League chase with Leicester win
- Fifth place will almost certainly be enough to secure a place in the Champions League next season after strong performances by English clubs in continental competition
LEICESTER, United Kingdom: Newcastle coasted to a 3-0 win over sorry Leicester on Monday to step up their Champions League charge and condemn the Foxes to an eighth straight Premier League defeat without scoring.
Eddie Howe’s men, still on a high after winning the League Cup last month, are up to fifth in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea, but with a game in hand.
Fifth place will almost certainly be enough to secure a place in the Champions League next season after strong performances by English clubs in continental competition.
But Ruud van Nistelrooy’s hapless team are heading back down to the Championship after a solitary season in the Premier League.
The visitors were 2-0 up in the 11th minute after two goals from Jacob Murphy, the second a tap-in from close range after an audacious effort from Fabian Schar hit the crossbar, and Harvey Barnes added a third before half-time.
Leicester were brighter in the second half but could not end their goal drought in the league, which stretches back to January.
The opening moments of the contest gave false hope to the long-suffering home fans as Jamie Vardy tested Nick Pope in the visitors’ goal.
Newcastle were ahead in the just second minute after Tino Livramento squared for Murphy to tap home after an attack down the left.
Minutes later time stood still as Schar, spotting goalkeeper Mads Hermansen off his line, nearly scored from his own half.
His effort cannoned off the crossbar but landed at the feet of Murphy, who was the only player to react.
The game was effectively over before half-time when former Leicester player Barnes finished from close range after Hermansen saved from Joelinton, declining to celebrate.
Van Nistelrooy introduced Stephy Mavididi and Facundo Buonanotte for Victor Kristiansen and Patson Daka at the interval and the game was more even in the second period, but Leicester struggled to make an impact.
The home fans cheered the entrance of 15-year-old Jeremy Monga late in the game as he became the second-youngest Premier League player.
Newcastle, whose fortunes have been transformed since a Saudi-funded takeover in 2021, are eyeing another season in the Champions League after exiting at the group stage in the 2023/24 campaign — after two decades away.
Howe, who led Newcastle to their first major trophy in 56 years against Liverpool at Wembley last month, has the chance to add gloss to a historic season.
But it is a tight battle — only six points separate third-placed Nottingham Forest from Aston Villa in seventh spot.
Van Nistelroy arrived at the King Power Stadium in November after a spell as interim manager at Manchester United but results have nosedived after an encouraging start.
The shock 2016 Premier League champions are almost certain to be joined in the second tier by Ipswich, who also came up last season.
Basement club Southampton are the only club whose relegation has been confirmed.
Rippers, Marc Leishman sweep both trophies on demanding Blue Monster
- It’s the 14th time in LIV Golf history that a team has swept both trophies
MIAMI: The all-Australian Ripper GC team held a preseason training camp in January on the Blue Monster at Trump National Doral. The weather was cold, misty and windy. The 10th fairway was inaccessible. The conditions were brutal — but the payoff came Sunday at LIV Golf Miami.
The Rippers won the battle of survival under the harshest scoring circumstances in league history, with popular veteran Marc Leishman claiming his first LIV Golf individual title after shooting the week’s only bogey-free round. His Rippers won the team title with a cumulative 4-over total, the first time any team has won with an over-par score.
“It kicked our butts when we were here in January for the training camp, and it did the same again this week,” Leishman said. “I guess it kicked our butt less than everyone else.”
Leishman conquered the Blue Monster on Sunday by posting the only bogey-free round by any player this week, a 5-under 67 to finish at 6 under, one stroke better than Stinger GC’s Charl Schwartzel. Fireballs GC captain Sergio Garcia was another stroke back in solo third.
It’s the 14th time in LIV Golf history that a team has swept both trophies. And it’s the first win of any kind in four years for the 41-year-old Leishman, who had three runner-up finishes and five other top 10s since joining LIV Golf with his captain Cameron Smith in the middle of the inaugural 2022 season.
“It’s been a long time coming for Leish,” Smith said. “He’s knocked on so many doors, and at times has felt probably unlucky. Even for me as a mate, I’ve felt like he’s been unlucky.”
In the previous LIV Golf tournament in Singapore last month, Leishman tied for 51st, his worst result in LIV Golf.
But on a demanding course toughened by wind gusts and firm greens, Leishman produced a masterpiece of steady, patient play.
“It was pretty disgusting how I played there,” Leishman said of Singapore. “To come back on a golf course like this where there’s trouble around every single corner, I think playing so bad in Singapore helped me today just not letting my guard down at all.”
Leishman started Sunday three shots off the lead but quickly moved up the leaderboard with birdies in two of his first four holes.
He shared the lead with round 2 leader Bryson DeChambeau through eight holes, but the Crushers GC captain went bogey-double bogey around the turn to effectively end his chances.
Leishman’s final birdie of the day at the par-5 10th gave him a three-shot cushion and he nursed it with eight consecutive pars to end his round, never providing his challengers with an opening.
Even so, several players made a charge on the back nine.
Stingers GC’s Charl Schwartzel reeled off four straight birdies to climb into contention, while teammate Dean Burmester, the defending LIV Golf Miami champion, also made noise before a disastrous final two holes.
Garcia, seeking his second win of the season, was 3-under during a 11-hole stretch.
His birdie at the 17th after a brilliant approach shot moved him within a shot of Leishman’s lead.
Leishman, playing in the group ahead of Garcia, found the trees with his tee shot at the 18th and had to punch out.
His third shot left him 13 feet above the pin, but he knocked in the clutch par putt to keep the lead.
Garcia ultimately bogeyed the 18th, hitting his tee shot into the trees, then finding the water with his approach.
“I’ve played well in a lot of LIV events,” Leishman said. “I’ve had chances to win, haven’t won. You wonder if you’re going to win again … I doubted myself but that just made it all so much sweeter today.”
