MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti knows he will have a tough decision to make in goal for the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Will he pick Andriy Lunin, who has played in goal nearly the entire season, or Thibaut Courtois, the veteran who has won the Champions League before but has just returned from injury?
“It’s really difficult,” Ancelotti said Monday. “Of course it’s really difficult, because both of them deserve to play this final. Lunin because he did a fantastic season, and Courtois because he is back from his injury and everyone knows the quality of Courtois. It’s a difficult decision but I think I’m going to take into the game this decision, no doubt.”
Lunin was nursing a fever and was the only Madrid player who didn’t train on Monday as Madrid began its final week of preparations. But Ancelotti said the 25-year-old Ukrainian was expected to be available for Saturday’s final in London.
The illness surely doesn’t help Lunin’s chances, though, and many had already expected Ancelotti to go with the more experienced Courtois despite his lack of minutes this season.
Courtois ruptured a left-knee ligament in August, just two days before the start of the season. The 32-year-old Belgian then also ruptured the meniscus in his right knee in March, when he was close to making a comeback.
He was sidelined until the beginning of this month, when he started in a 3-0 win over Cadiz, a victory that secured Madrid’s 36th Spanish league title.
Lunin was back in goal as Madrid beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals. He had saved two penalties in the decisive shootout win over Manchester City in the quarterfinals.
Lunin had earned the starting position over Kepa Arrizabalaga, the former Chelsea player who is Madrid’s other reserve goalkeeper. Ancelotti said Lunin was the best goalkeeper in the world right now.
Courtois has proven experience in finals, though, having won the 2022 Champions League with Madrid, the FA Cup with Chelsea, the Europa League with Atletico Madrid, and two Copa del Rey titles (one for Madrid, one for Atletico), among several other titles.
“Both deserve to play for various reasons,” Ancelotti said.
Ancelotti joked that he will wait as long as possible to announce the starting goalkeeper because otherwise the debate would be over, and “I like the debate.”
Ancelotti has ‘really difficult’ decision to make in goal for Madrid ahead of Champions League final
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Ancelotti has ‘really difficult’ decision to make in goal for Madrid ahead of Champions League final
- Lunin was nursing a fever and was the only Madrid player who didn’t train on Monday as Madrid began its final week of preparations
Man United captain Bruno Fernandes rejects $135m Al-Hilal transfer deal, UK media reports
- BBC Sport says the Portuguese midfielder spent several days ‘seriously’ considering the deal but turned it down for ‘family and personal’ reasons
- No official word, before or after the stories appeared on Tuesday, from Al-Hilal about any approach to the player
BEIRUT: Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to sign for Saudi Pro League powerhouses Al-Hilal, for “family and personal” reasons.
Though there had been no official word from Al-Hilal about any approach to the player, several British media outlets reported on Tuesday that the 30-year-old rejected a massive deal said to be worth £80 million-£100 million ($108 million-$135 million).
BBC Sport said the Portuguese midfielder spent the past few days “seriously” considering an offer that would have more than doubled what he earns at Old Trafford, where he is already one of the top earners. Having discussed the deal with his family, however, Fernandes told the Saudi club he would not be joining them.
Portugal were preparing on Tuesday for their Nation League semifinal against Germany on Wednesday, and with Fernandes expected to participate in the prematch press conference in Munich, it was thought the question of Al-Hilal’s interest in him might be raised.
Man United were said to be thrilled and relieved by his decision to stay with the club. Head coach Ruben Amorim had said last week that he believed his captain would remain at Old Trafford for the forseeable future.
According to the British media reports, there was no direct communication between the two clubs, so United were never presented with any official offer from Al-Hilal that they could turn down. However, the stories suggested the Saudi side were willing to offer Fernandes up to £100 million to sign in time for the FIFA Club World Cup, while will take place in the US between June 14 and July 13.
The Mirror newspaper quoted former United star Rio Ferdinand as saying he was delighted that Fernandes decided to remain in England.
“I’ve got to be honest (it’s) the biggest news for me today,” Ferdinand reportedly said on his podcast.
Sky Sports said that Al-Hilal offered Fernandes £100 million to join and were willing to almost treble his £250,000-a-week wages, and his decision to turn them down was thought to be both a football and personal one.
It was also reported that the player’s agent, Miguel Pinho, had visited Riyadh for talks with senior Al-Hilal executives but this could not be independently confirmed.
Talksport.com said Fernandes rejected an “eye-watering” £700,000-a-week move after discussing it with his family and coach.
Former United right-back Gary Neville told Sky Sports the transfer would not have been a bad deal, financially, for the Old Trafford club but added: “He’s so important. The fact that he wants to stay, the fact that he wants to go through this and come out the other side — because it would have been easy for him at the end of this season to say, ‘Look, I’m done here’ — will endear him towards Manchester United fans even more.”
Al-Hilal often shares important news through the club’s account on social media platform X but there had been no mention of any potential offer to Fernandes.
Green Falcons finalize preparations for Bahrain World Cup qualifier
- The squad is scheduled to hold its final training session on Wednesday at Bahrain National Stadium
DHAHRAN: The Saudi Arabian national football team concluded a key training session on Tuesday evening as preparations intensify for their upcoming AFC World Cup qualifier against Bahrain.
Their crucial qualifier will kick off this Thursday as part of the ninth round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Under the guidance of head coach Herve Renard, the Green Falcons trained at Ettifaq Club Stadium in Dammam, with the session featuring warm-ups, passing drills, tactical exercises, and a full-pitch training match between two squads.
The team left for Bahrain after the session.
On the injury front, players Muhannad Al-Saad and Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti continued their respective rehabilitation programs under the supervision of the national team’s medical staff.
The squad is scheduled to hold its final training session on Wednesday at Bahrain National Stadium, with the first 15 minutes open to media coverage.
Swiatek puts away Svitolina to make last four
- Swiatek will next play world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a mouth-watering semifinal
PARIS: Four-time champion Iga Swiatek of Poland swept aside Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-1 7-5 on a windy day at the French Open on Tuesday to earn a semifinal spot and stay in the hunt for a record-breaking victory in Paris
The 24-year-old, who accepted a one-month doping ban late last year, is looking to become the first woman in the professional era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris.
Although she failed to win a title going into the French Open this season, she looks to have rediscovered her remarkable claycourt form in Paris.
She will next play world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a mouth-watering semifinal after the Belarusian beat China’s Zheng Qinwen in straight sets.
“I should have had better intensity in the beginning of the second set,” Swiatek said in a post-match interview. “When I saw my intensity go low I got it high again. I am happy I did it at the end of the set.
“Against Aryna it is always a challenge. She has a game for every surface. I have to do the work, be brave with my shots and go for it. She is having a great season.”
“I will not lie. It will be a tough match but am happy for the challenge,” she said.
The Pole is now on a 26-match winning streak at the French Open, following her title three-peat between 2022-24 to add to her 2020 crown.
Swiatek, playing in an initially sparsely filled Philipp Chatrier stadium, broke the Ukrainian, in her fifth quarterfinal appearance in Paris, early and kept her on the back foot with her heavy top-spin forehand and rapid changes in pace and direction.
Svitolina desperately tried to hang on but she could not match her opponent’s power in rallies, sending a forehand into the net to hand her another break as Swiatek bagged the set on her serve in the next game.
With her husband, French tennis player Gael Monfils, watching from the stands, Svitolina ignited hope among the crowd when she moved 5-4 up in the second set.
Three unforced forehand errors in the next game, however, proved too many and Swiatek raced through the next three games to seal victory, firing three aces in the final game including one on match point.
Virat Kohli fulfils IPL dream as Bengaluru beat Punjab for first title
AHMEDABAD: Batting legend Virat Kohli top-scored for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they beat Punjab Kings by six runs on Tuesday to win their first Indian Premier League T20 title.
Kohli’s 43 from 35 balls at the top of the order set up Bengaluru for an imposing total of 190-9 which was one big blow too many for a Punjab side that battled until the end, finishing on 184-7.
More than 91,000 fans packed into the 132,000-capacity stadium in Ahmedabad, a sea of Bengaluru’s red and Kohli’s jersey number 18 dominating the stands as chants of “Kohli, Kohli” rang out.
They celebrated noisily when Kohli and RCB clinched victory for the first time in the 18 years of the IPL, their three previous finals having all ended in defeat.
The 36-year-old Kohli, one of India’s all-time greats in all formats of the game, collapsed on the ground after the win and then got up to be hugged by his teammates as the crowd celebrated their hero.
Punjab faltered in their chase after left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya took 2-17 from his four overs.
Shashank Singh hit a valiant 61 not out and finished with three sixes and a four off Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood who defended 29 runs in the final over.
Hazlewood, who took 3-21 against Punjab in last week’s qualifier win after recovering from a shoulder injury, struck first to send back left-handed Priyansh Arya for 24 with Phil Salt taking a stunning catch at the ropes.
Impact substitute Prabhsimran Singh was the next to go off Pandya but the Bengaluru crowd went wild when Romario Shepherd had skipper Shreyas Iyer caught behind for one.
Pandya stuck again to cut short Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis’ stay on 39 and Bengaluru seized momentum and Shashank’s late blitz was not enough.
Bengaluru had the perfect start as ‘King Kohli’ dug in. Far from his fluent best, he only struck three fours during his innings but in the end it turned out to be key.
He lost opening partner Salt for 16 when New Zealand quick Kyle Jamieson struck in his first over to have the England batter caught in the deep off Iyer.
Kohli anchored the innings, sharing important partnerships with Mayank Agarwal, who made 24, and then skipper Rajat Patidar, who hit 26.
But Punjab kept chipping away with wickets as leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal got Agarwal and Jamieson trapped the captain lbw.
Kohli’s vigil ended when he mistimed a rising delivery from Afghanistan pace bowler Azmatullah Omarzai for a caught and bowled, the disappointment etched across his face mirrored by his fans.
Jamieson took his third wicket to cut short Liam Livingstone’s rampant 25 off 15 balls.
Wickets kept tumbling as wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma fell for a 10-ball 24 and Romario Shepherd for 17 off nine balls.
Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh took three wickets including Shepherd in the 20th over and gave away just three runs.
Bengaluru had defeated Punjab in the first playoff to book their fourth final.
The 18th edition of the world’s richest cricket league ended nine days late due to a pause because of the military conflict between India and Pakistan.
Coach Inzaghi to leave Inter Milan: club
- “The club and Simone Inzaghi are parting ways. This is the decision taken by mutual agreement,” Inter said
- According to renowned Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Inzaghi’s next job could be with Saudi club Al-Hilal
ROME: Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi is leaving after four years by “mutual agreement,” the club announced on Tuesday, as Italian media reported he was moving to Saudi Arabia.
“The club and Simone Inzaghi are parting ways. This is the decision taken by mutual agreement,” Inter said in a statement.
Both Inter and Inzaghi said the decision had been made at a meeting involving the coach and club President Giuseppe Marotta on Tuesday afternoon.
The parting came just days after Saturday’s 5-0 thumping by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
According to renowned Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Inzaghi’s next job could be with Saudi club Al-Hilal, as he suggested a deal was in place for the next three years.
Meanwhile AFP report added that talks had already been swirling about his exit, and last month Inzaghi played down rumors about a two-year deal with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal worth 50 million euros.
Italian media said Tuesday this reported had been confirmed.
According to Romano, Inzaghi could earn up to €26 million ($29.5 million) per season in the Saudi Pro League as new Al-Hilal head coach, adding in a post on X that any contract would be “initially valid until June 2027.”
Inzaghi took over Inter in 2021 and had a contract until 2026.
The 49-year-old guided the club to one Serie A title — Inter’s 20th — and two Italian Cups. He led
the team to two Champions League finals in the past three seasons but lost both.
On track to repeat the treble heroics of 2010 just a few weeks ago, Inter ended the season trophyless after falling away in each competition.
In its statement, the club said Inzaghi’s management was “characterised by great passion, accompanied by professionalism and dedication.”
His trophies had “brought the club back to the top of Italian and European football,” it said.
Marotta thanked him “for the work done, for the passion shown and also for the sincerity in today’s discussion, which led to the common decision to separate our paths.”
“Only when we have fought together to achieve success day by day, can we have a frank dialogue like the one that happened today,” he said.
In a separate statement, Inzaghi thanked the players, managers and staff, but most of all the fans, adding: “I will never forget you.”
* With AFP
