All posts tagged: football ndtv sports

Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘Never Felt So Loved’ As Liverpool Star Says farewell

Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘Never Felt So Loved’ As Liverpool Star Says farewell

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Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said he had “never felt so loved” after fans cheered the departing star as he lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfield on Sunday. Alexander-Arnold said an emotional farewell after coming on for the second half of the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in Liverpool’s last game of the season. Unlike his last home appearance, when he was booed after announcing he was leaving at the end of his contract, the Liverpool-born star was warmly welcomed by fans. When the Premier League trophy was presented after the game, Liverpool fans saluted the academy graduate, who is ending a 20-year association with the club ahead of an widely-expected move to Real Madrid. Alexander-Arnold waved to the crowd and kissed the badge on his shirt, with supporters in the famous Kop stand roaring their approval when he hoisted aloft the trophy in front of them. “I didn’t know what to expect stepping out at Anfield after what had happened a few weeks ago,” he told Sky Sports. “I wanted to play …

Ange Postecoglou Vows To Deliver More Success If Tottenham Hotspur Stick With Him

Ange Postecoglou Vows To Deliver More Success If Tottenham Hotspur Stick With Him

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Ange Postecoglou urged Tottenham to end the “weird” speculation over his future as he promised to deliver more success for the Europa League winners. Postecoglou’s side suffered a 4-1 home defeat against Brighton in their last game of the Premier League season on Sunday. But the match was a sideshow to the debate about Postecoglou’s fate after the Australian ended Tottenham’s 17-year wait for a major trophy. Tottenham’s 1-0 win against Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday fulfilled Postecoglou’s bold boast that he always lifts a trophy in his second season. However, the former Celtic boss has spent much of a turbulent campaign battling to quash speculation that he faces the sack. Tottenham, in 17th place, suffered their worst top-flight finish since 1976-77. And although Postecoglou has won over the Tottenham fans who chanted his name throughout the Brighton game, the verdict from chairman Daniel Levy is yet to be delivered. “I will be honest, I have been finding it really weird talking about my future when we …

Liverpool Lift Premier League Trophy After Crystal Palace Draw

Liverpool Lift Premier League Trophy After Crystal Palace Draw

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Virgil van Dijk lifted the Premier League trophy after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday as the Reds held a title party with their own fans for the first time in 35 years. Arne Slot’s side wrapped up their record-equalling 20th English crown with a demolition of Tottenham in April, but the long-awaited trophy presentation was saved for the final game of the season. Liverpool’s last title in 2020 was won during the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning the trophy was held aloft by then-captain Jordan Henderson in front of an empty stadium. The Reds made the most of their first title celebration in a packed Anfield since 1990 as the 61,000-capacity crowd partied along with the great and good of Liverpool’s illustrious past. “It’s always special to win something, but at certain clubs maybe a little bit more,” Slot said. “I don’t think you expect anything like this. If you look at the Premier League in the last few seasons it was always a race to the end.  “To be part of …

‘Good Days’ Coming For Manchester United, Says Apologetic Ruben Amorim

‘Good Days’ Coming For Manchester United, Says Apologetic Ruben Amorim

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File photo of Ruben Amorim© AFP Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said the good times will return for the Red Devils as he apologised to supporters for a “disaster” of a season on Sunday. United ended the Premier League season in 15th place — their worst finish since the English giants were relegated in 1974. Defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday ensured United will have no European football next season for only the second time in 35 years. Amorim took charge in November but accepted responsibility for his inability to turn things around in an address to supporters following a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in United’s final match of the campaign. “I want apologise for this season. I know you are really disappointed with me and with the team,” said the Portuguese coach. “But now we have to make a choice. We stay stuck in the past because this season is in the past, it is over. Or we stick together and move forward. “Six months ago after …

Levi Colwill Sends Chelsea Into Champions League As Nottingham Forest Miss Out

Levi Colwill Sends Chelsea Into Champions League As Nottingham Forest Miss Out

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Chelsea booked their place in the Champions League as Levi Colwill sealed a 1-0 win that shattered Nottingham Forest’s bid for a top five finish on Sunday. Colwill struck early in the second half at the City Ground to ensure Enzo Maresca’s side returned to Europe’s elite club competition after a two-year absence. The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League, four points above seventh-placed Forest, who were consigned to the UEFA Conference League after failing in their attempt to play in the Champions League for the first time since 1980-81. Chelsea won five of their last six league games to earn their Champions League berth despite criticism of Maresca’s conversative tactics from frustrated fans.  With their Champions League fate successfully resolved, Chelsea can focus on winning their first trophy since the Club World Cup in 2022 when they face Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday. Leading Chelsea to Champions League qualification and silverware would be a fitting riposte to Maresca’s doubters after a turbulent debut season in charge …

Real Madrid Appoint Xabi Alonso As New Head Coach

Real Madrid Appoint Xabi Alonso As New Head Coach

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Spain: Xabi Alonso has been appointed the new coach of Real Madrid with the Spaniard to take over from June 1 and lead the team at the Club World Cup. “Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025 until June 30, 2028,” said Real Madrid in a statement. Alonso succeeds Carlo Ancelotti, who has taken over as Brazil national coach. With veteran Italian coach Ancelotti taking the reins of the Brazilian national team, Madrid secured a deal with former midfielder Alonso, whom they have been linked with for months. Alonso, 43, leaves German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the Bundesliga season after finishing second. “Alonso is one of the biggest legends at Real Madrid and in world football,” continued Los Blancos’ statement. “He wore our shirt in 236 games between 2009 and 2014. During that time he won six trophies.” Alonso will be officially presented on Monday at 1030 GMT. The Spaniard coached Leverkusen to a league and German Cup double in the …

VfB Stuttgart Win Thrilling DFB-Pokal Final, Lift 1st German Cup In 28 Years

VfB Stuttgart Win Thrilling DFB-Pokal Final, Lift 1st German Cup In 28 Years

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Stuttgart withstood a late fightback from underdogs Arminia Bielefeld to claim the German Cup in Berlin on Saturday, holding on for a 4-2 victory despite conceding twice in the final 10 minutes. Goals from Nick Woltemade, Enzo Millot and Deniz Undav had Stuttgart three up inside 28 minutes and cruising against Bielefeld, just the fourth third division side to make the final in the competition’s 82-year history. Millot added a second with 66 minutes and Stuttgart looked to have the job done, but a Julian Kania strike and a Josha Vagnoman own goal with the clock ticking down made Stuttgart sweat. They however held on to claim their fourth German Cup and their first since 1997, when the then Joachim Loew-coached side again triumphed against third-flight opponents Energie Cottbus. “I’m completely exhausted. The emotions are running high. I can’t even put it into words,” Stuttgart defender Maximilian Mittelstaedt, who was born and raised in Berlin, told TV network ZDF.  “I think this is the most wonderful feeling you can have. I’m overwhelmed.” Undav …

Nottingham Forest Chase Champions League Dream As Liverpool Party

Nottingham Forest Chase Champions League Dream As Liverpool Party

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Nottingham Forest’s historic Champions League dream is still alive as they brace for a dramatic showdown against Chelsea, while Liverpool will finally get their hands on the Premier League trophy. As the English top-flight season comes to an end on Sunday, Forest and Chelsea are among five clubs chasing the three remaining top five spots, along with Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s Villa travel to face troubled Manchester United, whose misery was compounded by their Europa League final defeat against Tottenham in midweek. AFP Sport picks out the main talking points ahead of this weekend’s action. Forest dare to dream Nottingham Forest have enjoyed a remarkable renaissance but they will still end the season with regrets if they fail to reach the Champions League. The two-time European champions last played in the continent’s top club competition in 1980/81. They have been resident in the top five for most of the season but have lost momentum in recent weeks and must now beat rivals Chelsea and hope Villa or Newcastle drop …

Napoli Back On Top In Italy After Sealing Fourth Serie A Crown

Napoli Back On Top In Italy After Sealing Fourth Serie A Crown

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Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku netted in a 2-0 win over Cagliari at a packed and wild Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as Napoli secured their second league crown in three years on the final day of the season. Napoli finished the season a point ahead of closest rivals Inter Milan who won 2-0 at Como, the outgoing champions’ opponents having to play half the match with 10 men after goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off just before half-time of his last ever match. Friday’s triumph crowned a season which started with few thinking Napoli could challenge Inter after finishing 10th as reigning champions last term. “It’s happened again and it’s fantastic… we’ve had a really great season and it’s all thanks to the boys who wanted to put themselves out there, especially those who won the league two years ago,” said coach Antonio Conte. Conte has taken Napoli by the scruff of the neck but did nothing to squash rumours that he will leave in the summer after one season in Naples due …

Stuttgart Seek New Era As Arminia Bielefeld Eye History In German Cup

Stuttgart Seek New Era As Arminia Bielefeld Eye History In German Cup

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While victory in Saturday’s German Cup final would confirm Stuttgart’s return to the Bundesliga elite, for opponents Arminia Bielefeld it would represent a sensational breakthrough. Stuttgart, five-time league champions and three-time German Cup winners, have rebounded from years in the wilderness under coach Sebastian Hoeness. Bielefeld, meanwhile, are chasing the first major trophy in their 120-year history just days after sealing promotion from the German third tier. Only once has a team from outside the top flight won the German Cup: second-division Hannover in 1992. Stuttgart ‘elevated’ Even though their youth academy continued to churn out talent, Stuttgart had fallen away after winning their last Bundesliga title in 2006-07. Stuttgart sat dead last in the Bundesliga and were staring at a third relegation in a decade, when they appointed Hoeness in April 2023. Hoeness, the son of former West Germany international Dieter and the nephew of Bayern Munich powerbroker Uli, kept Stuttgart in the top flight via a relegation playoff. A season later, he guided the club to second place — 40 points …