Recent rumours have suggested that Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will be stepping down from his position at the end of the current season, despite his contract running till 2026. The Italian has shut down rumours claiming he will never stay at the club till he is asked to leave and he may even stay for four more years alongside President Florentino Perez. “I will never decide my departure date from this club, in my life. That day will come, but I don't know when it might be, it's not me who decides. It could be tomorrow after the game, the next one, in a year, or five. I have an advantage and I have an objective. “We will have Florentino Pérez here for another four years and he, who knows me very well, knows that the objective is to be here for another four years and that we can say goodbye together, with all the love in the world,” said Ancelotti in a press conference. Also Read: "No one has to tell Rohit what to do": Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane Real Madrid will be facing RB Salzburg in their penultimate league stage game of the UEFA Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday (IST). It is a ‘vital game’ for the defending champions as they hope to qualify for the Round of 16 but currently sit well off the top eight spots. The pressure was truly on for holders Madrid when they faced a tricky-looking trip to Atalanta on Matchday 6 on the back of consecutive defeats to Milan and Liverpool. But as they have done so many times in this tournament, Los Blancos rose up to the challenge to secure an impressive 3-2 win and get their campaign back on track. Salzburg have endured a challenging campaign so far, with one win and five defeats leaving them in danger of elimination ahead of a difficult final two matches against Real and cross-city rivals Atleti. "It is an important match because the first phase of this Champions League is almost over. We have to get as many points as possible and see where we stand in the standings. Tomorrow's match is vital in this sense. We will try to play well, as we did in the last one,” he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 05:29 PM IST | Madrid | IANSRaphinha struck a dramatic winner in stoppage time as Barcelona came from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild match on Tuesday and ensure direct qualification to the Champions League last 16. Benfica were leading 4-2 with under 15 minutes remaining but Barcelona mounted a stunning late comeback to stay three points behind leaders Liverpool. Vangelis Pavlidis hit a first-half hat-trick for the hosts, in part thanks to two big errors by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. However a Robert Lewandowski double from the penalty spot, Eric Garcia's header and a brace for Raphinha helped Barcelona claim a stunning last-gasp triumph in Lisbon. "It was a crazy game... Benfica did well in the first half but we made a lot of mistakes," said Barcelona coach Flick. Barca showed grit to keep fighting after going in 3-1 down at half-time and swiftly conceding again after Raphinha pulled one back. "The mentality of the team, they always believe in themselves and this was unbelievable to see," said Flick. "In the second half we created more chances than them and we deserved it." Benfica opened the scoring in the second minute, when Pavlidis escaped Pau Cubarsi and fired home from Alvaro Carreras' low cross. Barcelona responded swiftly with Lewandowski scoring from the penalty spot after Alejandro Balde was brought down by Benfica defender Tomas Araujo. Also Read: ISL: Chennaiyin FC force goalless draw against Mohun Bagan Super Giant The hosts nosed back ahead through a stroke of luck, when Szczesny raced out of his goal to try and cut out a through-ball, but crashed into Balde. Greece international Pavlidis gleefully collected the loose ball and rolled his second into the empty net. Barcelona, who lured Szczesny out of retirement to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen in October, soon fell further behind. Pavlidis completed his half-hour hat-trick with a penalty after another Szczesny mistake, with the goalkeeper flying in to try and dispossess Kerem Akturkoglu but bringing him down. Barca battle back Lamine Yamal and Raphinha missed good chances before the break as Barcelona pushed forward. Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin saved from Jules Kounde, who should have scored, and Lewandowski could not turn home from Pedri's dangerous ball across the face of goal. Raphinha pulled one back for Barcelona in bizarre fashion as a clearance by Trubin struck his head on the edge of the area and flew back into the net. However, Benfica soon struck again, with Ronald Araujo nudging past Szczesny into his own net as he tried to cut out a cross. Barcelona kept pushing and Lewandowski converted another penalty after Nicolas Otamendi brought down Yamal. The Catalan giants, who last won the Champions League in 2015, pulled level when substitute Garcia headed home from Pedri's inviting cross. Szczesny saved former Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria's low shot before Raphinha's dramatic winner. With Benfica appealing for a penalty, Barcelona sprang a quick breakaway and the Brazilian winger slotted home to end a blockbuster battle. Players from both sides clashed after the final whistle as tempers flared following the thrilling denouement. "We knew how hard it would be here, in front of their fans, and they know how to play really well, they have top level players," Raphinha told Movistar. "We didn't let ourselves sink at 3-1 down, we were focussed on what we needed to do to try and change the game. "It was a spectacular game for everyone. They could have won, or us, but we managed to take it." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 04:35 PM IST | Lisbon | AFPChennaiyin FC forced a goalless draw in their Indian Super League clash against Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) here on Tuesday. MBSG are perched at the top with 37 points from 17 games whereas Chennaiyin FC are positioned 10th with 18 points from as many outings. The game started well for the hosts as the likes of Wilmar Jordan Gil, Connor Shields and Irfan Yadwad posed early threat for Mohun Bagan's defenders but eventually failed to break through. The game's first chance fell to Jordan as Kiyan Nassiri stole possession in the danger area before playing the Colombian in space. Tom Aldred was alert to the danger and threw his body on the line to block Jordan's attempt. The Colombian had the opportunity to provide his side with a lead in the 35th minute when he latched onto Shields' cross in the box before hammering the ball into the post. Also Read: AB de Villiers to come out of retirement? Here's what he said about his return The Mariners kept pushing forward in the final sequences of the first half and eventually got a great opening when Suhail Bhat controlled a long ball before outwitting Elsinho with a touch. He drove into the penalty area with purpose but his subsequent effort struck the side netting. The best chance of the second half fell to Suhail Bhat when Rai found him with a beautiful low cross. But before the young forward could take a shot, Elsinho did exceptionally well to clear the lines. Jose Molina brought on Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh replacing Deepak Tangri and Suhail as the Mariners pushed for the decisive goal. In the 77th minute, Jamie Maclaren walked into the field, and Petratos made way for his compatriot. Both Liston and Manvir ran down either flank but their final ball lacked the quality to trouble the Chennaiyin FC backline. Chennaiyin FC almost broke the deadlock in the 89th minute when Shields found Ryan Edwards in the penalty area but the English defender's header was off target. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 04:29 PM IST | Chennai | PTIPep Guardiola insists Manchester City will rise to the occasion in their crucial Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain after rebuilding their shattered morale with a 6-0 demolition of Ipswich. Guardiola’s side are languishing in 22nd place in the 36-team Champions League table with two games left. PSG are in even worse shape, one point behind City in 25th place. Also Read: ‘We were in control after third goal v Wolves’ Pep Guardiola With the top 24 clubs going through to the knockout stages — the first eight automatically reach the last 16 and the sides from ninth to 24th face a play-off — the stakes could not be higher when City travel to Paris on Wednesday. Fortunately for City, they were able to warm up for the blockbuster clash by recording their biggest Premier League win since thrashing Nottingham Forest by the same scoreline in 2022. Phil Foden scored twice, while Mateo Kovacic, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and James McAtee were also on target at Portman Road on Sunday. Such was their dominance, Guardiola was able to replace Foden, Haaland, Kovacic, Kevin De Bruyne and Manuel Akanji in the second half to keep them fresh for the PSG game. “After four or five nil I had my eye on Paris,” Guardiola said. “We have two finals left, by winning two we qualify, winning one there’s a big possibility. We have to get the points because we created problems ourselves, especially with Feyenoord, even the game we lost in Lisbon. “But in that moment we had a lot of problems. We could not compete the way we want for many reasons. Hopefully we can continue in Paris for the next game,” he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 07:48 AM IST | London | AFPChelsea overcame a howler from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to beat relegation-threatened Wolves 3-1 on Monday, ending a five-game winless run to climb back into the Premier League’s top four. Enzo Maresca’s team were just two points behind leaders Liverpool in mid-December, raising hopes of an unlikely title challenge before losing their way. Now they are back on track to qualify for next season’s Champions League after second-half goals from Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke spared Sanchez’s blushes. The Spanish goalkeeper had dropped the ball moments before half-time, allowing Matt Doherty to cancel out Tosin Adarabioyo’s opener. Also Read: MCA prez hails ‘centurion’ Dandekar Maresca said Chelsea had dominated the first 40 minutes before problems that have haunted them in recent weeks returned. “We lost a little bit of confidence, we conceded a goal and we started to struggle a little bit and then the second half I think we started quite well and then after the second and third goals the game was in control,” he told Sky Sports. He added: “In the past five games we didn’t win but I said many times that the performance was there. We created many chances, we didn’t score and tonight finally we scored three goals.” Chelsea’s top-scorer Cole Palmer, a doubt before the game, was fit to start as Maresca made five changes from last week’s draw against Bournemouth including bringing in centre-back Trevoh Chalobah, recalled from his loan spell at Crystal Palace. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 07:45 AM IST | London | AFPMidfielder Lalrinliana Hnamte, who takes on his former club Mohun Bagan SG once again on Tuesday, is making waves at Chennaiyin FC this season, a release from ISL stated. Not every footballer's journey follows a straight path and for midfielder Lalrinliana Hnamte, it's been a winding road. Once a benchwarmer at Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Hnamte has evolved into one of Chennaiyin FC's most reliable players this season, embodying the spirit of a player who still has a lot to prove. As he prepares to take on his former club in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Tuesday, here's a look at the rise of one of the finest young midfielders in the league. When Hnamte made his ISL debut for East Bengal FC in the 2021-22 season, few could have predicted the trajectory his career would take. The Mizoram-born player quietly went about his business, showing flashes of potential in his debut season. But it wasn't until his move to rivals Mohun Bagan SG that his journey truly began to take shape, albeit with challenges. At Mohun Bagan SG, Hnamte was part of a star-studded squad, making it difficult to carve out a regular starting role. Over two seasons, he won an ISL Cup and the Shield, but played just 443 minutes combined, mostly featuring off the bench. Despite limited game time, when given the opportunity, Hnamte showcased why he deserved to be at one of the biggest clubs in Indian football, hinting at a player on the verge of a breakthrough. Fast forward to the 2024-25 season, and Hnamte's move to Chennaiyin FC under the watchful eye of head coach Owen Coyle has proved to be a masterstroke. Coyle, known for developing young talent, has brought out the best in him. It's often said that some players need the right system and manager to truly flourish, and Hnamte is living proof of that. Since donning the Chennaiyin FC jersey, Hnamte has emerged as a key player in Coyle's setup. In just 16 appearances, he has clocked an impressive 1204 minutes on the field, more than doubling his game time from his two seasons at Mohun Bagan SG. But it's his defensive prowess that has caught everyone's attention. Hnamte leads the league in successful tackles this season with 37 and has 19 interceptions to his name -- the second-highest among his teammates, making him a defensive powerhouse. His contributions have not been limited to his defensive abilities, as the 21-year-old has also chipped in with a goal and an assist this campaign. His impressive performances for Chennaiyin FC earlier in the season earned him his first call-up to the national team in October last year, where he made his debut against Vietnam. At just 21, Hnamte's maturity on the field has been remarkable. He plays with the composure of a veteran, yet he's still in the early stages of what promises to be an exciting career ahead. For Chennaiyin FC, currently navigating the choppy waters of the lower half of the table, Hnamte has been one of the bright spots in their mixed campaign. Despite their position in the standings, Chennaiyin FC have shown they can compete with the best teams. As Coyle's men set their sights on the playoffs, Hnamte will undoubtedly be central to their playoff ambitions. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 03:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentChennaiyin FC, partnering with Norwich City FC, will host the CFC-NCFC Inter-School Football Championship 2025, focused on advancing grassroots football in Tamil Nadu. To be held at MCC School (Chetpet), the competition starts Friday (January 24), featuring 64 total teams competing in the Under-12 and Under-14 categories; also providing the players a platform to showcase their skills to club academy scouts. With the additional support of the Reliance Foundation, the tournament is part of a wider partnership initiated in April 2024 between Chennaiyin FC and Norwich City FC, focused on talent cultivation, promoting a vibrant football culture in the area, and enhancing the grassroots development of the sport. Furthermore, committed to fostering young talent, the organisers aim to make this tournament an annual event, reinforcing their shared vision for the long-term growth of football in Tamil Nadu. “In the future, we aim to expand this initiative beyond Chennai to other districts such as Coimbatore, Trichy, and Salem. Gradually, we envision making this a Tamil Nadu-wide championship, uniting young footballers from across the state,” said CFC’s Head of Marketing, Neel Jayaram at a press conference on Monday. “Our vision over the next decade is to see more Tamil Nadu players representing Chennaiyin FC. To do this, we have to develop a strong foundation that will pave the way for a significant presence of Tamil players at the club.” Also Read: IND vs ENG T20Is: Important factors to watch out for in the series! “CFC scouts will be present throughout the tournament to identify promising talents and integrate them into our youth development programs. The goal is to nurture players who can follow in the footsteps of success stories like Mohanraj and Samik (Mitra),” he added. Mohanraj K, a Chennaiyin FC first-team goalkeeper, who has been with the club since the age 13, spoke about the opportunity such tournaments present: “These tournaments provide invaluable exposure for young players, especially those in the Under-12 and Under-14 age groups. It’s a fantastic opportunity for kids to gain playtime while showcasing their talents in front of youth team scouts, enabling players to transition from local tournaments to youth teams. This is the foundation, from there, they can continue to develop and eventually progress to senior levels of the sport.” Grassroots football is the bedrock of nurturing young talent, offering a vital platform for discovery and development. Highlighting this, Rajat Guha, Chennaiyin FC's First Team Goalkeeping Coach, emphasised the importance of early engagement and structured opportunities for budding players. “Grassroots football always helps us identify talent at a very early age–it is like the foundation of a building. So if you want to find a good footballer, you have to catch them young. This tournament will provide these kids with such opportunities and proper, competitive playing time,” said Guha. Beyond competing for the title, the teams that emerge victorious will enjoy the unique chance to attend a Chennaiyin FC match, gaining insight into the professional football scene. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 January,2025 01:44 PM IST | Chennai | mid-day online correspondentBarcelona’s last visit to face Benfica ended in a heavy thumping on the way to Champions League group stage elimination in 2021, but with young starlet Lamine Yamal, hopes are high this time. Also Read: How javelin superstar Neeraj pulled off secret wedding Barca, second in the group standings behind leaders Liverpool, can seal progression to the last 16 on Tuesday at the Estadio da Luz, avoiding the new play-off phase. Yamal has scored nine goals and 13 assists in 25 games across all competitions. “In great matches, you see big talent and he’s showed it many times. He’s on a really good [path],” said Barca coach Hansi Flick about Yamal. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 January,2025 07:55 AM IST | Barcelona | AgenciesThe two premier teams from Manchester had contrasting results in the English Premiership over the weekend, leaving one manager elated and the other utterly dejected. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola claimed his team are back to their best after Phil Foden starred in a 6-0 rout of Ipswich on Sunday night. On the other hand, Ruben Amorim astonishingly admitted that his Manchester United flops are the worst team in the club’s history after they suffered a 1-3 home defeat against Brighton. Man City manager Pep Guardiola Foden two good Man City’s Foden netted either side of Mateo Kovacic’s eye-catching goal as Guardiola’s men blew Ipswich away with three first-half goals at Portman Road. Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and James McAtee scored after the interval to give fourth-placed City their biggest league win this season. Guardiola’s side have won three of their last four league games as they try to make up for a dismal start to the season. Also Read: Ben Shelton stuns French veteran Monfils to reach quarter-finals “We’re pleased, we’re back in many things that have defined this team in the last decade. Very pleased for the players. Pleased to climb a bit because qualification for the Champions League next season will be tough. The players recognised what we are. It’s the best thing,” said Guardiola. Man United manager Ruben Amorim Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, Man United crumbled to a sixth loss in 11 Premier League games since Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag. “We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United,” Amorim said after his side’s wretched display leaves them languishing in 13th place. United’s poor home show United have suffered six home league defeats this season, their most from their opening 12 matches of a season since 1893-94. They have also lost 10 of their 22 league games this season, the earliest into a top-flight campaign that they have hit double figures for defeats since 1989-90. “Imagine what this is for a Manchester United fan. Imagine what this is for me. We’ve got a new coach, who is losing more than the last coach. Everybody is underperforming,” said Amorim. On Sunday night, Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh scored the opener after which Bruno Fernandes equalised with a penalty, but second-half goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter left Man United in turmoil. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 January,2025 07:47 AM IST | Manchester | AgenciesFC Goa (FCG) defeated East Bengal FC (EBFC) by 1-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 on Sunday. The Gaurs (FCG) moved to the second spot in the points table with their eighth victory of the season, having 30 points to their name from 16 matches now. Brison Fernandes' sixth goal of this ISL campaign proved enough for the home team to clinch the triumph, in a game where they took three shots on target, as opposed to the six of East Bengal FC, according to ISL. Lal Chungnunga ensured that East Bengal FC were on the assertive upfront, setting up a sharp delivery for Vishnu Puthiya outside the box, which the latter shot firmly, but off target to the right in the third minute. Immediately afterwards, FC Goa embarked on the attack, pushing numbers ahead to overwhelm the visitors in their box, resulting in Odei Onaindia attempting a left-footed shot, which was blocked in time though. As FC Goa kept creating a spate of opportunities, Hijazi Maher conceded a corner to thwart an offensive move by the Gaurs. However, the set-piece yielded the needed outcome for the Gaurs, as Borja Herrera picked the ball on the right flank and curled in a cross for Brison Fernandes, who headed the ball into the middle of the net from the centre of the box in the 13th minute. Seven minutes later, Richard Celis tested his luck from considerable distance upon receiving a ball from Dimitrios Diamantakos. Also Read: Mohammed Siraj likely to play for Hyderabad in Ranji Trophy game against Vidarbha His right-footed effort on the left was too high to the target though. East Bengal FC weren't far off in trying out opportunities from outside of the box either. Jeakson Singh made one such move in the 37th minute, and though the delivery had enough power behind it, the ball missed the top right corner by a whisker. The Gaurs brought in Ayush Dev Chhetri in the second half for Sahil Tavora, but it was East Bengal FC who dictated terms in the start of the final essay of the game. Richard was served a tempting pass by Vishnu on the left side of the six-yard box but his shot, which was heading towards target, was blocked to save FC Goa the blushes in the 52nd minute. Three minutes post that, David Lalhlansanga came on for Cleiton Silva as East Bengal FC chased greater intensity in their final third. However, it was Richard who kept troubling the home side the most, as he became the target man for both Nandhakumar Sekar and Vishnu. In a quick passage of play in the 67th minute, the two Indian stars provided him deliveries inside the 18-yard box, and despite making a right-footed shot and then an headed effort, his well-directed attempts were saved by Hrithik Tiwari. Lal Chungnunga made a rather hurried effort to find the back of the net as he aimed for the target from over 35 yards out upon obtaining a pass from Maher in the 88th minute. The shot was impressively landing right in the centre of the net, but Tiwari held his ground to ensure that the Gaurs walked away with all three points from this match. Brison completed 13 out of his 18 attempted passes, making one interception, producing three goal-scoring opportunities, putting in four tackles, and netting once too. FC Goa will play their next game against Chennaiyin FC on January 25. East Bengal FC are set to face Kerala Blasters FC on January 24. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 January,2025 10:23 AM IST | Margao (Goa) | IANSManchester United crashed to a dismal 1-3 defeat against Brighton as Ruben Amorim’s problems mounted. United crumbled to a sixth defeat in 11 league games since Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag. Also Read: Nowhere near our standards, fumes Arteta after draw United are languishing in 13th place. Yankuba Minteh set the tone for United’s moribund performance with an early opener for Brighton. Bruno Fernandes equalised with a penalty before half-time, but second half goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter left United in turmoil. Meanwhile, Everton took advantage of injury-ravaged Tottenham’s troubles with a 3-2 victory to pull clear of the Premier League relegation zone. The goal-shy Toffees tore through a bedraggled Spurs backline to net three times before the break through Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye and an Archie Gray own goal. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 January,2025 08:00 AM IST | Manchester | AFPADVERTISEMENT
