List of All Articles with Tag 'sport'

It didn’t quite happen in the way expected, but Manchester City of course made it inevitable. The English champions have finally become the European champions to complete a treble and also bring a long-term Abu Dhabi project to its culmination. At least at this stage of it. After a 1-0 win over Internazionale that will offer a release as much as relief, it’s hard not to think they could go on and win it again and again, confirming Pep Guardiola as the greatest coach of all time. The Catalan already has a strong claim to that, after at last winning his third Champions League, a full 12 years after his second, to also become the first coach to win two trebles. It makes it al the greater that it is at two different clubs. There was no overthinking this time, even if a defiant and proud Internazionale did make City worry for long periods of the game. That also ensured City had to fight, in a way they haven’t been used to over three months when they have looked the closest team to football perfection the game has ever seen. This wasn’t that. The manner of victory was instead fitting in its own way as a passing midfielder in Rodri scored the goal that City will now replay and rejoice in as much as Sergio Aguero’s in 2012. The Spanish midfielder is a player in Guardiola’s own image, perhaps his perfect ideal, and he gave his manager the picture he has long craved. There was Guardiola lifting this grand trophy again, actually his fourth as a player and manager. It was quite a game for owner Sheikh Mansour to watch as his second in person, the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates taking his place alongside the club hierarchy. From that, it can also be noted that Abu Dhabi has its European Cup. A state-owned club has won this grandiose continental competition for the first time, and that should provoke wider debate about where the game is. It cannot be overlooked in all the discussion of how supreme this team is. That is why they are supreme. It is ultimately why Guardiola is here. It is also why the game has changed so much, to the point the only real surprise from this match - and that against European Cup royalty like Internazionale - was that City didn’t put in the grand exhibition befitting the scale of their achievement. This was not 2011 or 1960. It is the future, though. A star in his early 20s like Erling Haaland was strangely subdued in this match, so he will eventually want his goal in a Champions League final. There is more to come, although the only bittersweet note for City was that Kevin De Bruyne did not get to gild this moment of glory with his brilliance. This purest of footballers again suffered the unfairness of having to come off injured in a Champions League final, and it did play into why City were so inhibited for so long. That is where these players deserve credit, for the way they dug in. This threatened to become a very different sort of occasion, and one where all the old criticisms about nerves and the weight of history could have played on them. City instead made it something else. They found something else, and just had more. Many would say they were just always going to have more, given the huge gap between the clubs. The nature of the goal was as telling as it was fitting. It was the first period where they applied real pressure. The ball came back to Rodri and he applied the perfect finish. It was a strike befitting the quality of football Guardiola sides so often play, all the more so since this wasn’t one of those displays. Simone Inzaghi’s side deserve huge praise for that. The manager’s gameplan made this mismatched final much more of a game of this than anyone expected, and Inter are actually left feeling they could have done so much more themselves. This may well be seen as one that got away, but it was actually three great chances that got away. One so cruelly bounced off substitute Romelu Lukaku. It wasn't going to go their way. It wasn’t to be his moment. Inter may not get as close for a long time. City have finally got over the line, and may well stay here a long time. They have become the 23rd club to win this competition but the first state club. They are also European champions who have been charged with multiple alleged breaches of their domestic competition;s regulations. That will weigh over them and bring an uncertainty until it is finally concluded, whenever that may be. The outcome of this almost always felt a certainty, though, even if Inter did well to bring some doubt. There is no doubt about this team’s greatness, or the project’s completeness. It is a landmark, in so many ways even beyond a treble. Read More The rise, fall and rise again of Inter Milan’s Andre Onana Soccer Aid 2023: England and World XI line-ups Man City owner attends first match in 13 years at Champions League final The key games that brought Manchester City a treble The key performers in Manchester City’s trophy treble Player ratings as Ederson and Rodri earn Champions League glory

Manchester City are celebrating a trophy treble after their Champions League final win over Inter Milan. Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the key games in their successful campaign. October 2, Man City 6 Man Utd 3 City did not really find consistency until the spring but there were some awesome demonstrations of their firepower – and particularly that of Erling Haaland – in the opening months. Their thrashing of arch-rivals United was especially sweet. Haaland helped himself to a hat-trick, his third in successive home games and one of six in a record-breaking campaign, while Phil Foden also hit three. January 19, Man City 4 Tottenham 2 Pep Guardiola let his anger at his side be known after they rallied from 2-0 down at half-time with goals from Julian Alvarez, Haaland and Riyad Mahrez (two). After defeats in the previous two games, the City boss felt the first half was another indicator his players – who he labelled ‘happy flowers’ – were not fully focused. City were beaten at Spurs a few weeks later, but it perhaps signalled a change in attitude. February 15, Arsenal 1 Man City 3 Fixture disruption in the autumn meant the two leading title contenders were kept apart until February, when City landed the first blow. Kevin De Bruyne’s opener was cancelled out by a Bukayo Saka penalty but City upped the tempo in the second half with goals from Jack Grealish and Haaland. The win took City top, albeit only on goal difference and having played a game more, but it was psychologically important. April 1, Man City 4 Liverpool 1 City started to show they really meant business when they put Liverpool, their chief title rivals in recent years, to the sword. Mohamed Salah put the Reds ahead but City’s response, without injured top scorer Haaland, was impressive as Alvarez, De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Grealish scored in a convincing win. April 26, Man City 4 Arsenal 1 City outclassed the Gunners to take firm command of the title race. Arsenal’s advantage had been eroded by three successive draws, meaning the momentum was with City, and they emphasised that with a dominant display. De Bruyne scored two, both from Haaland passes, and the Norwegian inevitably got on the scoresheet himself. John Stones scored their other goal in an unexpectedly one-sided clash. Arsenal remained two points clear but, with two games in hand, City held the upper hand and did not relinquish it en route to a third successive title and fifth in six seasons. May 17, Man City 4 Real Madrid 0 A thrilling first leg of the Champions League semi-final finished 1-1, De Bruyne’s thunderbolt cancelling out Vinicius Junior’s opener, but Bernardo Silva’s first-half double ensured the return match was a one-sided affair. Manuel Akanji’s goal and Alvarez’s stoppage-time clincher meant a scoreline every bit as eye-catching as the 7-0 win over RB Leipzig in which Haaland scored five. June 3, Man City 2 Man Utd 1 Gundogan’s volley after only 12 seconds was the fastest FA Cup final goal on record and though United hit back with a Bruno Fernandes penalty after Grealish was harshly penalised for handball, the Germany midfielder struck again early in the second half to seal the spoils – and set up the chance to emulate one of United’s proudest achievements. June 10, Man City 1 Inter Milan 0 A hard-fought first half saw City lose key playmaker De Bruyne to injury, an unwelcome echo of 2021’s defeat to Chelsea on the same Champions League final stage. They finally broke down their stubborn opponents with Rodri’s firm, composed finish midway through the second half and survived scares from headers by Federico DiMarco and Romelu Lukaku as they held on. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live The key performers in Manchester City’s trophy treble I’ll never doubt my strength again – French Open champion Iga Swiatek Cameron Green defiant as Shubman Gill puts catch under the magnifying glass

Josh Wynder, an 18-year-old American defender, will transfer from Louisville of the second-tier United Soccer League to Portuguese champion Benfica this summer

The WNBA says Brittney Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were confronted by a “provocateur” at a Dallas airport on Saturday

Nick Ahmed hit a two-run homer in the second inning, Lourdes Gurriel followed with a three-run blast in the fifth and the Arizona Diamondbacks sent the Detroit Tigers to their eighth straight loss, 5-0

A year after squandering three match points in the final, fourth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Austin Krajicek of the United States won the men’s doubles title at the French Open on Saturday by beating unseeded Belgians Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 6-4, 6-1

Novak Djokovic will be trying to set the record for the most Grand Slam singles trophies won by a man when he goes for what would be No. 23 against Casper Ruud in the French Open final on Sunday

Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Belgium international Youri Tielemans when his contract with relegated Leicester City expires. Villa have confirmed the 26-year-old midfielder will join them on July 1 after four years at the King Power Stadium. A statement on the club’s official website said: “Aston Villa is delighted to announce that the club has reached an agreement to sign Youri Tielemans. “The Belgian international will officially become a Villan on July 1 after his contract with Leicester City has expired.” Tielemans joined Leicester from Monaco in a £40million deal in July 2019 after a successful loan spell during the second half of the previous season, having begun his career with Anderlecht. In all, he made 195 appearances for the Foxes and scored 28 goals, including the spectacular winner as they beat Chelsea 1-0 in the 2021 FA Cup final. He also represented his country at the finals of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and Euro 2020.

Aston Villa has reached a deal to sign Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans on a free transfer, the Premier League club said Saturday

The Denver Nuggets have shown a lot of poise in their first NBA Finals

Scotland striker Kevin Nisbet has left Hibernian for Millwall after the two clubs agreed “a significant seven-figure fee”, the cinch Scottish Premiership outfit have announced. The deal for the 26-year-old, whose exact price tag remains undisclosed, includes both add-ons and a sell-on arrangement. A statement on Hibs’ official website read: “We can confirm that Kevin Nisbet has joined English Championship side Millwall for a significant seven-figure fee. “The full terms of the 26-year-old’s departure will remain undisclosed, however, it does include sizeable add-ons and a sell-on fee.” Millwall had a bid, understood to be in the region of £2million, accepted for Nisbet in January, but the player ultimately opted to stay in Scotland. Hibs’ chief executive Ben Kensell said: “After deciding to stay in January, Kevin informed us that he wanted to leave the football club this summer, which we understood. “Following those discussions, we had to ensure we got the best possible deal for him. We’re happy with the fee we received, and we wish him all the best for the future with Millwall.” Nisbet, who joined Hibs from Dunfermline in July 2020, scored 12 goals in 19 league appearances last season after recovering from a knee injury which sidelined him for 10 months. Manager Lee Johnson said: “We’re disappointed to lose Nizzy after he did so well for us on his return but understand that he wanted to go on a new adventure down south. “Although he will be missed, this presents a new opportunity for someone else to step into that role. We thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best in England.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Manchester City do not have a long and distinguished European history, but Pep Guardiola and his team are hoping to write the first major chapter of that on Saturday evening in Turkey. The Etihad club head to the Ataturk Stadium to play Inter Milan in the Uefa Champions League final, their second-ever appearance in such a game and aiming for their first-ever victory, having lost two years ago to Chelsea. Come the end of the evening, supporters will be hoping to begin a massive celebration, not just of lifting this trophy but of completing a treble - with the Premier League and FA Cup already in their locker this term. But before any thoughts of celebrating, the match has to be won and Inter overcome - and before that can happen, it’s likely that City fans will send an altogether different tone and atmosphere into the night, when the Champions League anthem sounds out ahead of kick-off. City fans have habitually booed the anthem over the past couple of seasons, with whistles and jeers attempting to drown out the notable music pre-match when playing on home soil. That’s likely to be the case again at the Ataturk, as supporters continue their anti-Uefa stance. While a lot of the ill-feeling toward the continent’s governing body stems from Uefa finding Man City in breach of FFP rules in 2014 - they were fined £49 million at the time - there were grievances already beforehand. One such protest arose after City were fined more for being very slightly late back out onto the pitch for the second half of a match than opponents Porto were for racially abusing Mario Balotelli in another fixture. But in general, the poor treatment of fans - including not being allowed to travel to an away game because home fans had been banned - has been widely seen as a spark, whereas the probes and accusations towards City over financial foul play are the fire which seems to irk the supporters so much. There was, at one point, the possibility of City being banned from European competition, but this was ultimately avoided. Back in 2015, City were even cited by a Uefa match delegate for booing the anthem, but they were not punished for it after a committee instead opted to overturn rules and allow clubs free right to protest peacefully, in contrast to fining clubs beforehand if they protested the competition or organisation. Later, in 2019, Pep Guardiola had hoped fans were warming to the competition rather more, but the boos have been very much present during this season’s run to the final and are likely to be heard once more ahead of kick-off in Istanbul. Read More Man City vs Inter Milan LIVE: Latest Champions League final updates Manchester City fans sing on streets of Istanbul ahead of Champions League final Man City owner to attend first match in 13 years at Champions League final