Tag: Champions League

Flick slams FIFA Best XI after Raphinha snub

Hansi Flick
December 2025

Hansi Flick blasted FIFA’s Best XI as a “joke” after Barcelona star Raphinha was omitted despite a treble-winning season. The Brazilian produced 18 goals and 10 assists in La Liga, plus 22 goal contributions in the Champions League, yet missed out on selection. Flick argued Raphinha’s influence, consistency and big-game output made his exclusion indefensible, especially after driving Barca’s semi-final run in Europe and Brazil’s strong year. He praised the winger’s relentless work rate and leadership, insisting awards voters had badly undervalued his contribution.

Barcelona Move To Lock Down Flick With New Deal

Hansi Flick
December 2025

Barcelona’s hierarchy are preparing fresh contract talks with Flick just months after his last renewal, reacting to the team’s domestic treble and powerful start to the new season. Laporta and Deco see him as the long-term face of the project and want to remove any doubt over his future. With Barça leading La Liga and pushing deep into Europe, the board is reportedly ready to propose a multi-year extension designed to fend off interest from major clubs and national teams before World Cup 2026. The timing underlines their confidence that Flick’s high-intensity, physically dominant approach is now central to the club’s identity.

Milan monitor fit-again Gabriel Jesus after emotional Arsenal comeback

Gabriel Jesus
December 2025

Gabriel Jesus finally returned from nearly eleven months out with an ACL rupture, making sharp cameos against Club Brugge and in the Premier League, immediately drawing reported transfer interest from AC Milan as he tries to re establish rhythm and confidence for Arsenal. Jesus admitted early doubts and fear about coming back different, but said he now feels more than ready after months of rehab, while Mikel Arteta praised his unique ability to connect teammates and confirmed Arsenal are delighted to regain his energy and quality.

Slot sets December 12 talks with Salah but ducks reintegration questions

Arne Slot
December 2025

In a tense pre-Brighton press conference, Arne Slot repeatedly refused to elaborate on Mohamed Salah’s future, confirming only that he will sit down with the unsettled forward on December 12 after the Egyptian accused Liverpool of “throwing him under the bus”. Slot laughed off repeated attempts to pin him down on what Salah must do to be reintegrated, insisting his focus is Brighton and leaving selection hints vague, as the club’s decision to omit Salah from the Inter trip continues to fuel division and exit talk.

Flick shuts door on ter Stegen as Joan Garcia confirmed Barcelona No.1

Hansi Flick
December 2025

Flick publicly confirms Joan Garcia as undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, ruling out rotation and saying he has no plan to change, leaving returning veteran Marc-Andre ter Stegen stuck as third option after injury and a deteriorated relationship over summer recruitment. Ter Stegen, stripped of the captaincy after reportedly resisting Garcia’s signing from Espanyol, now faces a bleak pathway to minutes, forcing the 33-year-old to consider a January move if he wants regular football and to revive fading prospects of starting Germany’s 2026 World Cup campaign.

Mourinho jokes McTominay “owed” him his shirt after Benfica win

Jose Mourinho
December 2025

Mourinho walked into his press conference carrying McTominay’s Napoli shirt, joking that after giving him his Manchester United debut and even benching Paul Pogba for him, the least the midfielder could do was hand over his jersey as a souvenir. He described a warm post match exchange with McTominay and used the Scot’s journey from overlooked academy player to Serie A star as an example for Benfica youngsters. Mourinho highlighted how trust, work rate and professionalism can outweigh transfer fees when a coach decides who to back.

Courtois backs Alonso amid Real Madrid slump

Thibaut Courtois
December 2025

Courtois publicly defended Alonso after back to back home defeats, insisting the squad remains united behind the coach. He said the display against City showed players are still fighting to change a run that includes only two wins in eight matches. The goalkeeper framed criticism and tension at the Bernabeu as a natural reaction to poor results, but rejected talk of a fractured dressing room. He stressed that the group accepts responsibility for recent setbacks and will work collectively to reverse the current negative momentum.

VAR reprieve and Haaland penalty fire Man City to statement win at the Bernabeu

Erling Haaland
December 2025

Manchester City overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat Real Madrid 2-1 away, with Nico O’Reilly’s close-range finish and an Erling Haaland penalty cancelling out Rodrygo’s opener and pushing City up to fourth in the Champions League league-phase standings. Madrid briefly thought they had an early penalty before VAR ruled Matheus Nunes’ foul outside the box, and after Rodrygo’s breakaway strike, City exploited Madrid’s defensive lapses, with Haaland punishing Antonio Rüdiger’s foul while the hosts were later denied by misses from Jude Bellingham and Endrick.

Under pressure Alonso rolls dice on half fit Mbappe for Man City clash

Xabi Alonso
December 2025

Xabi Alonso has named Kylian Mbappe in Real Madrid’s squad to face Manchester City despite recent leg concerns, gambling on his talisman’s availability as he fights for his job after a poor run that includes only two wins in seven matches across all competitions. Mbappe skipped open training and was reported to have left leg discomfort, yet his 25 goals and heavy share of Madrid’s scoring have made him almost undroppable. With injuries, suspensions and growing pressure after the Celta defeat, Alonso framed the City match as a shared last chance to spark a season that is drifting.

De Ketelaere silences Garnacho as Atalanta stun Chelsea in Champions League comeback

Charles De Ketelaere
December 2025

Chelsea let a 1-0 lead slip in Bergamo as Atalanta struck twice after half-time, with Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere overturning Joao Pedro’s opener and handing Enzo Maresca a damaging Champions League defeat on his return to Italy. De Ketelaere answered Alejandro Garnacho’s pre-match comments in ruthless fashion, heading in the winner after Scamacca’s leveller as Atalanta exploited Chelsea’s lethargic second-half press, grew into the spaces out wide and turned a hostile Bergamo crowd into a decisive advantage.

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