GENEVA: Manchester United will start another season in the Europa League in a group with Real Sociedad, Sheriff and Omonoia after the draw was made Friday.
United, who won the Europa League in 2017 and were the beaten finalists two years ago, entered the second-tier competition by placing just sixth in the Premier League last season.
It was unclear Friday if Cristiano Ronaldo will still be at the club for the first round of games on Sept. 8 with more speculation linking him to a move from Old Trafford, this time with Napoli which are in the Champions League. On Thursday, Napoli were drawn in the same group as Liverpool.
The draw brings United face-to-face again with long-time Manchester City favorite David Silva, who returned to Spain to play for Sociedad, and involves two of the longest journeys to away games in the draw – to Moldova and Cyprus.
The Russian war on Ukraine has affected United’s trip to face Sheriff, who have been playing European home games in Chisinau instead of their home city Tiraspol. Tiraspol is in the Russian-supporting breakaway region of Transnistria which borders Ukraine.
UEFA decided in June to block Sheriff playing in Tiraspol citing “the large-scale military escalation resulting in the invasion of the Ukrainian territory by the Russian army.” Russian teams are also currently banned from all UEFA competitions.
Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine – who will play their home games in neighboring Poland – will face Rennes, Fenerbahçe and AEK Larnaca.
Arsenal’s fifth Europa League campaign in six seasons will be in a group with PSV Eindhoven — coached by former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy — Bodø/Glimt and Zürich.
Roma coach Jose Mourinho is back in the competition he won with United five years ago. The Europa Conference League title holders were drawn in a group with Ludogorets, Real Betis and HJK Helsinki.
The group-stage draw in the third-tier Europa Conference League was being made later Friday at the same venue in Istanbul, which also staged the Champions League draw Thursday.
Lazio were among the top-seeded teams and were grouped with Feyenoord, Midtjylland and Sturm Graz.
The Europa League starts early this season on Sept. 8 and ends more than one month sooner than usual on Nov. 3. That is because of the World Cup in Qatar, which starts Nov. 20.
The six rounds of group-stage games span just eight full weeks before a midwinter break until the knockout playoffs round starts Feb. 16.
Group winners advance direct to the round of 16 in March and runners-up go to the knockout playoffs with the eight teams switching across from the Champions League after finishing third in a group there.
The Europa League final is on May 31 at the 65,000-capacity Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.
Third-place teams in Europa League groups in November move to the knockout playoffs in the third-tier Europa Conference League.
Europa League teams share about €465 million ($466 million) in UEFA prize money.
Each team gets a basic fee of €3.63 million, plus €630,000 per win and €210,000 for each draw in the group stage. Payments increase for advancing through each knockout round.
A team starting in the Europa group stage and eventually winning the title can earn about €40 million euros in UEFA prize money. That’s about one-third of expected earnings in Champions League prize money.
Manchester United get Europa League group with Silva’s Sociedad
https://arab.news/wcud7
Manchester United get Europa League group with Silva’s Sociedad
- Man United entered the second-tier competition by placing just sixth in the Premier League last season
- Arsenal’s fifth Europa League campaign in six seasons will be in a group with PSV Eindhoven, Bodø/Glimt and Zürich
UFC lineup announced for February as part of Riyadh Season
- GEA chair Turki Alalshikh reveals fights will take place at anb Arena on Feb. 1
RIYADH: Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, announced the lineup of fights for the global event organized as part of Riyadh Season in collaboration with UFC, the world’s premier MMA organization.
The event, with tickets now available on the webook platform, will be held at the anb Arena in Riyadh on Feb. 1, 2025, and is expected to feature exciting matchups between some of the world’s top fighters.
In the bouts, Dagestani Said Nurmagomedov (18-3-0) will face Brazilian Vinicius “Lok Dog” Oliveira (21-3-0), while Tajikistani Muhammad Naimov (11-3-0) will take on Australian Kain Ofli (12-3-1).
In another bout, American Terrance McKinney (15-7-0) will meet Danish Damir Hadzovic (14-7-0), and Austrian Bogdan Grad (14-2-0) will clash with Brazilian Lucas Alexander (8-4-0).
The French fighter Fares Ziam (16-4-0) faces the American Mike Davis (11-2-0) in a lightweight bout.
In a standout bout, Egyptian Hamdy Abdelwahab (5-0-0) will face American Jamal Pogues (11-4-0), while Bahraini Shamil Gaziev (13-1-0) will go up against American Thomas Petersen (9-2-0) in a tough fight.
The excitement continues as Americans Jordan Leavitt (11-3-0) and Abdul Kareem Al-Silwadi (15-4-0) face off, and Russian Sergei Pavlovich (18-3-0) takes on Surinamese Jairzinho “Bigi Boy” Rozenstruik (15-5-0).
Dagestani Ikram Aliskerov (15-2-0) will also meet Brazilian Andre Muniz (24-6-0) in a decisive battle.
Previously, Alalshikh announced the main event, featuring former middleweight world champion Israel Adesanya (24-4-0), known as “The Last Stylebender,” against rising star Nassourdine Imavov (15-4-0), ranked fourth globally.
Israel Adesanya, the Nigerian-born New Zealander, is one of the biggest names in UFC history, returning to the ring after his loss to current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis earlier this year. He aims to regain his form with a decisive victory over Imavov.
Meanwhile, Imavov, the French fighter of Dagestani origin, seeks to maintain his momentum following a significant win over Brendan Allen. Known for his well-rounded skills and powerful knockouts, Imavov hopes to topple a legend like Adesanya in a spectacular night.
The co-main event will feature another thrilling middleweight clash between undefeated Shara Magomedov (15-0-0), a Dagestani fighter ranked 14th globally, and Michael “Venom” Page (22-3-0), the English fighter known for his kickboxing prowess. Magomedov seeks to strengthen his ranking, while Page aims to return to his winning ways.
After 2 years in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo says he is hungry for titles
- Portuguese legend reflects on life, football in the Kingdom and vision for the Saudi Pro League
RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo is celebrating two years in Saudi Arabia with his club Al-Nassr, and on Friday reflected on his journey so far in an interview published by the Saudi Pro League.
The Portuguese superstar said he was happy with his life in the Kingdom.
“I’m happy and my family is happy. We started a new life in this beautiful country,” he said. “Life is good, football is good. In terms of individual and collective, we are still there; we are still improving.”
Ronaldo’s impact on the pitch since arriving at Al-Nassr has been undeniable. During the 2023-24 season, his first, he shattered the SPL record for the most goals in a single season, scoring 35 goals in 31 matches and earning the Golden Boot.
However, Al-Nassr fell short of the league title, finishing second to Riyadh rivals Al-Hilal, who went unbeaten.
This season, Al-Ittihad, captained by Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, lead the way. Despite the stiff competition, Ronaldo remains optimistic about Al-Nassr’s prospects.
“It’s hard to compete with teams like Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, but we are still there, still pushing and fighting,” he said.
“Football is like that; you have good moments and bad moments, but the most important thing is to be professional, to push hard, respect the club, respect your contract, and believe that things will change. For Al-Nassr, we’ll keep pushing to win more titles.”
He also has his eyes on the AFC Champions League. “The Champions League is something I want to win for the club, but the most important thing is to keep pushing and be professional.”
Ronaldo’s influence extends far beyond football. With more than 1 billion followers across social media platforms, he remains a global icon. His No.7 Al-Nassr jersey is seen worldwide, and his presence has inspired many international players to join the league.
The subsequent arrival of other star players in the following transfer windows, combined with the launch of the SPL Transformation Strategy in 2023, has positioned the league as a focal point of global football, with Brazilian superstar Neymar hailing Ronaldo as a “trailblazer” for the league’s meteoric rise.
“To be the first star to come here is an honor, but what I’m looking forward to is the next five-10 years of the league improving — not only the first teams but also the academies,” Ronaldo said.
He added: “Not just for the future of the Saudi players and the league, but for the country to compete with other leagues. This is my dream, and I will try to help the country and league reach that level.”
When asked about his favorite moment with Al-Nassr, Ronaldo singled out winning the 2023 King Salman Arab Club Cup.
“Probably when we won the first title,” he said. “The final against Al-Hilal was probably the most intense one that we lived. To have the privilege to win my first trophy here in my first year was amazing.”
However, Ronaldo remains as hungry as ever.
“I want more. I will continue to push and help my team Al-Nassr to win titles. I believe that this year will be a good year for Al-Nassr, inshallah.”
Teun Koopmeiners seeks silverware for Juventus in Saudi Arabia
- Juve play AC Milan in the second semifinal of this year’s EA Sports FC Italian Supercup at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh on Friday. The winners face Inter Milan on Monday
RIYADH: Teun Koopmeiners says he has fulfilled a footballing dream by joining a club of the stature of Juventus — one that is always competing for trophies — and hopes the team known as the Old Lady of Turin is smiling brightly in Riyadh come Monday night.
To achieve the first trophy of his Juventus career, however, the summer signing from Atalanta will first need to play his part in overcoming AC Milan in the second semifinal of this year’s EA Sports FC Italian Supercup. The clash of the Italian giants kicks off at 10 p.m. Saudi time at Al-Awwal Park on Friday night.
Should they overcome the Rossoneri, they would face their city rivals, Inter Milan, after the Nerazzuri defeated Atalanta 2-0 through a double from Koopmeiners’ international team-mate Denzel Dumfries on Thursday in the other semifinal.
Inter now have the opportunity to win three Supercups in succession in Riyadh.
Koopmeiners is eager to bag a double of his own in downing both Milan clubs in the space of four days.
He was a key part of the Atalanta team that claimed UEFA Europa League glory last season — earning the 26-year-old the first trophy of his career — before joining Juventus for a reported fee of more than €50 million ($51.5 million).
Juventus enter the Supercup, which is being staged in Saudi Arabia for the fifth time, as winners of last season’s Coppa Italia.
Koopmeiners said: “The dream was to go to a club that plays everything to win prizes, to win trophies. Juventus has proven over the whole history of Serie A that they can win the most trophies. I wanted to go there to have a good chance but in sport there are never any guarantees. I also knew I wouldn’t go there and automatically win trophies; I have to work (hard) every single day to achieve that, and also with the team. It’s nice that in one week we can win a trophy inside two games. That’s what we go for and that’s what the full focus is on and that’s what I want to do.
“We need to be at our very best because AC Milan are a very strong team, as a team but also as individuals. We have to be confident to make it a great match. We have to play at our highest level to reach the final. Then we have to play another great game (against Inter) because one is not enough.”
Koopmeiners has a number of international team-mates playing in the Saudi Pro League, including Gini Wijnaldum at Al-Ettifaq and Steven Bergwijn at Al-Ittihad. The midfielder reports an overwhelmingly positive experience from those he has spoken to about living and playing in Saudi Arabia.
Koopmeiners, who starred for AZ Alkmaar — where younger brother Peer plays — in the Netherlands for four years before moving to Serie A, said: “They tell me that it’s developing a lot (in Saudi), that the facilities are really nice, and every month let alone every year it’s getting more attention. There are also some more players now that I’ve played against in other competitions that are playing here who are really positive and say the people are really nice.
“I also played at the World Cup in Qatar, which is quite close to here, so I’ve seen the culture there a little bit and the people were really nice. I think the most important thing is that the sport is bringing cultures together and everyone is enjoying this and learning from each other. Everyone can do better developing on the field, the training methods, and helping children to do better. I think everyone in sport and especially football should have the chance to enjoy.”
Bangladesh revamps worker training for Saudi 2034 FIFA World Cup projects
- Govt to prepare training centers with focus on Saudi market demands
- Reskilling, upskilling services to be provided to migrants already residing in the Kingdom
DHAKA: Bangladeshi authorities are revamping training for prospective migrant workers and will offer upskilling programs to those residing in Saudi Arabia to tap into the labor market ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which the Kingdom will host in 2034.
Last month, the football governing body confirmed that Saudi Arabia had won the bid to host the world’s largest sporting event.
With the bid proposing to hold games across 15 stadiums in five cities, many new migrant workers will be involved in building new sports and transport networks, as well as hotel infrastructure.
In Bangladesh, which has a major expat community in Saudi Arabia, the trend is viewed as an “opportunity” for the country’s migrant workers, according to A.Z.M. Nurul Huq, joint secretary at the employment wing of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
“It’s a huge task, and a lot of construction works will take place targeting this World Cup event. Here lies the opportunity for us as our migrants have been working with much goodwill in many sectors of the Kingdom for many years,” Huq told Arab News.
“Saudi Arabia has to build over a dozen new stadiums, renovate existing ones and develop numerous new accommodation facilities, along with necessary infrastructure and connectivity.”
Some 3 million Bangladeshi nationals live and work in Saudi Arabia. They are the largest expat group in the Kingdom and also the biggest Bangladeshi community outside Bangladesh.
Many are employed in the construction sector as masons, electricians, pipe fitters, plumbers and electricians.
“Bangladeshi migrants can be more actively employed in the construction work for the FIFA World Cup,” Huq said.
“Works are underway for providing reskilling and upskilling services to migrants who are already in the Kingdom. In this way, our workers will be able to secure their jobs and earn more.”
For the past few years, as Saudi Arabia is prioritizing efforts to improve the professional competence of employees under its Vision 2030 program, the expatriates’ ministry has been collaborating with the Kingdom’s skills verification authority, Takamol.
The agency, which manages migrant skill certification based on the needs of Saudi employers, provides Bangladesh’s 113 technical training centers with a list of the Kingdom’s latest workforce requirements.
“Our centers tailor their programs to equip workers with the necessary skills. Upon completing the training, the prospective migrants receive certification through Takamol, which is recognized by Saudi authorities,” said Shah Zulfiquer Haider, deputy secretary at the ministry’s training wing.
As demand is set to increase in line with 2034 World Cup projects, more Bangladeshi training centers will focus on the Saudi market in particular.
“We are planning to strengthen our collaboration with Takamol,” Haider said. “Currently, a dozen technical training centers are preparing skilled workers to meet Saudi Arabia’s demands. We will soon increase the number of training centers, which will produce more skilled migrants tailored to the needs of the Saudi labor market.”
Arsenal must ‘flip coin’ in Premier League title race, says Arteta
- Mikel Arteta says Arsenal must “flip that coin” as they hunt down Premier League leaders Liverpool in a quest to be crowned champions of England after two agonizing near-misses
LONDON: Mikel Arteta says Arsenal must “flip that coin” as they hunt down Premier League leaders Liverpool in a quest to be crowned champions of England after two agonizing near-misses.
The second-placed Gunners, runners-up to Manchester City over the past two seasons, are six points behind Arne Slot’s rampaging Liverpool, who have a game in hand, having played half their league fixtures.
Stumbles in October and early November left Arsenal playing catch-up and Arteta on Friday pleaded for consistency from his men, who travel to face mid-table Brighton on Saturday.
“We have to show the same level of consistency and a bit more, because the last year we have been the best team in the league, broken various records and still haven’t won a major trophy, so something is missing,” said the Spaniard.
“It’s going to be very thin, small details, you can pick up certain games and situations. But at the end, we’re so close and we just have to flip that coin to the other side to make it happen.
“That’s only going to happen if we do what we have to do and what we can control. The rest is out of our hands.”
Arsenal are bidding to win their first Premier League title since 2004 but are set to be without Bukayo Saka until March after the England winger suffered a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace last month.
“There’s not one player that’s going to play nine games in a row in that position, it’s impossible,” said Arteta.
He added: “We need more threat, we need more players fit and rotation in that unit. In relation to that, we will make decisions and as well, players’ performances, that’s simple.”
The Arsenal boss said he was unsure whether the club would strengthen in the January transfer window.
“The focus is on the players that we have,” he said. “When something is in the market that we can afford and believe is going to have a real impact on the team, we have to be open to that possibility.
“We have the ability to change the squad in the windows, but at the moment the focus is on what we have.”
