BARCELONA: Xavi Hernández on Saturday denied a slew of reports in Spanish media outlets that Barcelona’s leadership is considering firing the coach for having said that the club’s poor finances will impede it from competing with Real Madrid.
“The club has transmitted to me that I should stay calm and continue working with the same motivation and commitment. Nothing has changed,” Xavi said at a pregame news conference.
Almost all the questions he faced were about the speculation in Spain’s sports press that club president Joan Laporta was upset with Xavi for having said earlier this week that “the situation is very difficult, above all on the economic level, for us to compete with our top rivals, whether it be Real Madrid or teams in Europe.”
The media reports said Laporta is pondering a replacement for Xavi this summer.
Xavi insisted Saturday that he had heard no such thing from the club.
“I don’t know and I don’t care where that information is coming from. I have the support of the president and Deco, our sports director,” the former Barcelona midfielder said.
Neither Laporta nor the club have made any public statements about the rumors. The club said it had no comment on them when asked by The Associated Press.
Even if it Barcelona keeps Xavi on, it is still an awkward situation for a coach who just three weeks prior had reversed a previous decision made in January to leave the club this summer. In April, Xavi said that he had changed his mind after his players showed him that they believed in the team’s potential and had improved their performances.
Laporta inherited a club mired in debts of more than 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion), and soccer’s most expensive payroll, when he returned to run the club for a second time in 2021.
A few months later he brought back fan favorite Xavi, who had been coaching in Qatar, to lead a team rebuild following the exit of superstar Lionel Messi.
But with no cash on hand and mounting debts, Laporta had to sell off future television revenues and other club assets, which Laporta dubbed financial “levers,” to sign Robert Lewandowski and other players two seasons ago.
With those reinforcements, Xavi guided Barcelona to the Spanish league title last campaign. But Barcelona has struggled this season and will finish it without any titles.
Xavi’s words earlier this week seemed aimed at curbing the expectations of fans used to the club making significant signings in the summer.
The club’s wages still exceed the salary cap established by the Spanish league and it is more likely to sell players this off-season than bring in new talent.
Barcelona plays Rayo Vallecano on Sunday seeking a win to lock up a second-placed finish in the domestic league and secure a spot in the Spanish Super Cup.
Xavi denies reports that Barcelona’s leadership is considering firing him
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Xavi denies reports that Barcelona’s leadership is considering firing him
Baniyas leads table as Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship kicks off
- Day one of the the competition’s first round also saw MOD UAE in second and Al-Ain in third
ABU DHABI: Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club took the lead on the opening day of the first round of the second Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.
MOD UAE followed in second place, with Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club securing third.
The day featured competitions in the adult, masters and youth (under 18) categories, drawing hundreds of athletes from clubs and academies across the country.
Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship is a significant milestone in the federation’s efforts to promote the sport locally, across the continent, and internationally. It reflects our commitment to achieving excellence in all we do. This championship highlights the continued support of our wise leadership for jiu-jitsu, a sport that instils discipline, courage and self-confidence in our younger generations. This first round marks the beginning of a promising journey, filled with aspirations to reach new heights of achievement.”
He added: “The championship aligns with the federation’s strategy to develop jiu-jitsu and strengthen its role in fostering a healthy, cohesive society. Our goal is to establish a sustainable sporting legacy for future generations by organizing events that meet international standards.”
The tournament’s ranking system ensures equality among all players, awarding points for outstanding performances while also considering factors such as strategy, techniques and skills.
Jefferson Cordero, coach at MOD Academy, said: “Our team, consisting of around 145 athletes, is proud to participate in this prestigious tournament, which features a high level of competition. It provides our team with an excellent opportunity to test the players’ capabilities. We are delighted with our team’s performance and success in securing outstanding results, adding more medals to the club’s tally, and earning points that bring us closer to winning the tournament prize.”
Tareq Al-Zaabi, an MOD Academy athlete who won the gold medal in the masters category (brown/black belt) under 62 kg, said: “It is an honor to win the gold medal in this tournament, which carries a name so dear to us. I am determined to maintain this level of performance and achieve even more in future competitions. Over the past period, I have been focused on training hard to secure this victory and contribute to our academy’s success in earning the highest points as we strive for the title. I wish my teammates all the best.”
Noman and Sajid give Pakistan lead in spin-dominated first Test
- Noman grabbed 5-39 for his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests, Sajid finished with 4-65
- Pakistan earlier lost their last six wickets for 43 runs after resuming the day at 143-4
MULTAN: Spin pair Noman Ali and Sajid Khan shared nine wickets between them to give Pakistan a 93-run lead on the second day of the opening Test against West Indies in Multan on Saturday.
Noman grabbed 5-39 for his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests, while Sajid finished with 4-65 to dismiss the West Indies for 137 after lunch in a first innings that lasted just 25.2 overs.
Pakistan earlier lost their last six wickets for 43 runs after resuming at 143-4 and were bowled out for 230 in their first innings.
The dry and grassless Multan pitch has already produced 20 wickets in five sessions even though two-and-a-half hours were lost on day one, and another 30 minutes on Saturday, because of poor visibility.
Noman and Sajid, who shared 39 of the 40 wickets in the last two Tests against England in Pakistan’s 2-1 series win last year, were once again unplayable.
Sajid opened the bowling and removed Mikyle Louis (one), Keacy Carty (0), Kraigg Brathwaite (11) and Kavem Hodge (four) in his first three overs.
Noman then further jolted the tourists with another four wickets to leave them on 66-8.
The tail-enders showed more resistance, with number 10 batsman Jomel Warrican unbeaten on 31, with Gudakesh Motie adding 19 and Jayden Seales the last wicket to fall for 22.
Seales hit three sixes before holing out off spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Warrican also took 3-69 in Pakistan’s innings.
Saud Shakeel top-scored for Pakistan with 84 off 157 deliveries, including six boundaries, while keeper Mohammad Rizwan added 71.
Shakeel added an invaluable 141 for the fifth wicket with Rizwan, lifting Pakistan from a precarious 46-4 on day one.
Kevin Sinclair sparked the Pakistan batting collapse by taking Shakeel’s wicket with the first ball after drinks.
He then trapped Rizwan leg-before off a missed reverse sweep, the original decision of not out overturned on review.
Rizwan’s 133-ball stay included nine boundaries.
Sajid hit a boundary and a six in a rapid-fire 18 before he was bowled by Warrican on the stroke of lunch to end Pakistan’s innings.
‘Lucky loser’ Lys makes history to reach Australian Open last 16
- Eva Lys called it “an insane story” and life-changing after the German made history on Saturday by reaching the last 16 and a date with Iga Swiatek
MELBOURNE: Eva Lys called it “an insane story” and life-changing after the German made history on Saturday by reaching the last 16 and a date with Iga Swiatek.
The 128th-ranked Lys fought back from a set down to become the first women’s singles “lucky loser” to reach the fourth round since the event moved to Melbourne Park in 1988.
The 23-year-old defeated Jaqueline Cristian of Romania 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and faces a daunting clash with the second seed and five-time Grand Slam champion on Monday.
A tennis tournament lucky loser is a player who does not get through qualifying for the main draw but is later awarded a berth following another player’s withdrawal, usually because of illness or injury.
“It definitely doesn’t feel real for me right now,” said Ukraine-born Lys, who had her flight booked and bags packed before getting a reprieve.
“I don’t know when the realization will kick in. It’s definitely just an amazing situation to be in, especially knowing that I was a lucky loser.”
It has been a whirlwind few days for Lys.
She lost in the final round of qualifying in Melbourne last week, her hopes of making the first major of the year seemingly over.
But she hung about in case another player would drop out and 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya did just that on Tuesday, giving Lys a lifeline.
She said she had just 10 minutes’ warning before defeating home player Kimberly Birrell in straight sets in the first round, then beat Varvara Gracheva of France.
“It’s definitely an insane story,” said Lys, who is enjoying easily her best run at a major and will need to reschedule her flight again — she had booked it for Sunday.
“How it happened, how fast it happened. It’s been just a couple of days that have totally changed my life,” she added.
Swiatek destroys Raducanu as Sinner steps up Melbourne defense
- Iga Swiatek romps to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph in a statement victory as she pursues a first Melbourne crown
- Swiatek is a five-time major winner but she has never gone beyond the semifinals at Melbourne Park
MELBOURNE: Iga Swiatek demolished Emma Raducanu on Saturday to sweep into the last 16 of the Australian Open, where Jannik Sinner will later step up his title defense and young tyro Learner Tien is also in action.
In a one-sided battle of former US Open champions, Swiatek romped to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph in a statement victory as she pursues a first Melbourne crown.
Emma Navarro, the eighth seed from the United States, joined the Pole in the second week of the first Grand Slam of the year with a gritty three-set win over Ons Jabeur. Sixth seed Elena Rybakina also advanced.
“I felt like the ball is listening to me,” Swiatek said after rattling off 11 straight games in a brutal display against Britain’s Raducanu on Rod Laver Arena.
The 23-year-old Swiatek is a five-time major winner but she has never gone beyond the semifinals at Melbourne Park.
She faces “lucky loser” Eva Lys next.
“I feel much more fresh than for the past two years,” said Swiatek.
“The last two years I felt much more fatigue and also a bit more stress.”
Swiatek will be a massive favorite when she faces Germany’s Lys.
The 128th-ranked Lys defeated Jaqueline Cristian of Romania in three sets to become the first women’s singles “lucky loser” to reach the fourth round since the event moved to Melbourne Park in 1988.
Navarro credited her billionaire father for teaching her “toughness” as she clawed through 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 against three-time Slam finalist Jabeur.
Navarro has become a three-set specialist with no WTA player playing through more since the beginning of 2024, with the American 23-9 over the distance since then.
Daughter of billionaire businessman Ben Navarro, founder of the Sherman Financial Group, she praised her dad, who was courtside, for her stamina.
She recalled how he would take her and her siblings on six-hour bike rides when they were kids.
“We made up a term — biking and crying,” Navarro, 23, said.
“I learned a lot of toughness growing up. A lot of thanks goes to him.”
Also on day seven, former Wimbledon champion Rybakina of Kazakhstan needed a medical timeout to treat a back spasm before winning 6-3, 6-4 against Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine.
World number four Jasmine Paolini, who reached two Slam finals last year, faces another Ukrainian in Elina Svitolina later.
American Danielle Collins, who has become the pantomime villain after thanking hecklers for “paying my bills,” is also in action.
The world number 11, runner-up in the 2022 Australian Open final to Ash Barty, gets another chance to wind up the Australians in the crowd when she faces fellow American Madison Keys.
Italian world number one and defending champion Sinner faces American Marcos Giron as he seeks a berth in the last 16 in an evening match on Rod Laver Arena.
Sinner could meet 13th seed Holger Rune in the fourth round if the Dane gets past Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.
There will be intense interest in 19-year-old qualifier Tien, who stunned three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev in a five-set epic.
The youngster wolfed down a pepperoni pizza in celebration following his 4hr 48min marathon against Medvedev that finished at nearly 3:00am on Friday.
He will need to recover fast for the challenge of 69th-ranked Corentin Moutet of France.
Tien’s victory over Medvedev saw him become the second youngest American man in the Open Era to reach the third round in Melbourne — behind only 14-time Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras in 1990.
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz faces timeless French veteran Gael Monfils and remaining home hope Alex de Minaur takes on Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.
Ikmah, Richard Mille face off for Richard Mille Desert Polo Final in AlUla
- Ikmah showed their real strength and dominance of Group 1 after two victories against Dadan 4-2 and AlUla team 5-4
- Richard Mille topped Group 2 after defeating Budget 3-0 and drawing 2-2 with Bentley
ALULA: Ikmah and Richard Mille have qualified to the final of the Richard Mille Desert Polo Championship 2025, and will face off in the final showdown that AlUla’s Al Fursan Village hosts on Saturday.
The fourth edition of the prestigious competition’s finale takes place at 4 p.m. Saudi time.
Ikmah showed their real strength and dominance of Group 1 after two victories against Dadan 4-2 and AlUla team 5-4.
Meanwhile, Richard Mille topped Group 2 after defeating Budget 3-0 and drawing 2-2 with Bentley.
The tournament’s Friday matches saw intense competition in the presence of distinguished figures, including Piero Dillier, president of the International Polo Federation, Amr Zidan, president of the Saudi Polo Federation, and Ziyad Al-Suhaibani, head of sports at the Royal Commission for AlUla.
Meanwhile, AlUla battles against Bentley for third place, and Dadan faces Budget to determine the fifth and sixth positions before the final.
Speaking about the event’s significance, Faisal bin Duwies, the Saudi Polo Federation’s CEO,” expressed pride in Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the global sports arena.
“We take pride in seeing the Kingdom lead the global sports scene through prestigious championships.”
He emphasized the tournament’s role in fostering talent, highlighting the participation of polo legends from around the world, which enriches the experience for all competing players.
As anticipation builds, the final promises to be a thrilling display of skill and strategy, further cementing Saudi Arabia’s position as a premier destination for world-class polo.
The championship is being organized in coordination with the Royal Commission for AlUla.
