HeadtoHeadFootball -

EDITOR PICKS

Soccer

Tuchel doesn't fear sack despite 'slapstick' Bayern performance

Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.

Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel described his side’s performance as “slapstick” in the 1-0 defeat to Lazio on Wednesday that leaves them with a tough task to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

Ciro Immobile’s penalty proved the difference in the first leg of the last 16 tie in Rome.

“In the first half, we had to take the lead. We had three clear chances. We have to do these things,” Tuchel told DAZN.

The second half was “characterised by uncertainty again”, he said. “It was a bit slapstick.”

Bayern were hamstrung by the dismissal of Dayot Upamecano, who was shown a red card for crashing into Gustav Isaksen in the penalty area.

Immobile stepped up to score the resulting spot-kick.

“We made a lot of individual mistakes and we conceded a penalty and red card from out of absolutely nothing,” Tuchel said in the post-match press conference.

“With the performance we did everything to lose this game, which was completely in our hands.”

The defeat in Rome follows the 3-0 reverse against Bayer Leverkusen which leaves Bayern five points off the pace in the Bundesliga title race.

But asked if he feared for his job, Tuchel said simply: “No”

Soccer

Bayern condemn online racial abuse of Upamecano after Lazio loss

Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.

Bayern Munich blasted racist insults directed at France defender Dayot Upamecano on social media after the German outfit’s 1-0 Champions League defeat at Lazio.

Upamecano gave away the 69th-minute penalty from which Ciro Immobile netted the only goal of the last 16, first-leg clash in Rome with a clumsy foul on Gustav Isaksen which cost him a red card.

“FC Bayern strongly condemn the racist comments being directed towards Dayot Upamecano on social media,” said the German champions on X, formerly Twitter.

“Anyone who comments hateful words such as these is no fan of our club.”

Bayern will have a chance to overturn their slender deficit when they host Lazio for the second leg on March 5 in Munich.

Soccer

Report: Mbappe tells PSG he's leaving at end of season

Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.

The Kylian Mbappe era at Paris Saint-Germain is set to end in the coming months.

The French superstar communicated to PSG officials that he plans to leave this summer after his contract expires, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

An official announcement is expected in the next few months after details pertaining to his departure are finalized, Ornstein adds.

The reported decision follows months of speculation about his future and persistent reports indicating that he preferred to leave the French capital after almost seven years with PSG.

Real Madrid have been heavily linked with Mbappe for a number of years and are regarded as the heavy favorites to sign him if he leaves.

But, according to a report earlier this week from The Athletic’s Mario Cortegana, his next team is yet to be decided after members of his entourage were discouraged by Madrid’s offer for the 25-year-old.

Real Madrid’s current proposal is lower than what they offered when the two sides were in talks over a deal in 2022, according to Cortegana. Mbappe was reportedly offered a salary of €26 million per year at that time, along with an enormous €130-million signing bonus.

Though not as hefty, Madrid’s new offer would still make the Frenchman the highest-paid player in the squad.

Saudi club Al-Hilal approached PSG last summer with an offer worth €300 million, but Mbappe ultimately decided to stay and play out the remainder of his contract.

Mbappe, who finished third in voting for the 2023 Ballon d’Or award, boasts 31 goals in 30 games this season.

Soccer

What's next for PSG? Looking at Mbappe-less future for Qatari-owned club

Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.

PARIS (AP) — The future looks much brighter for Kylian Mbappe than it does for Paris Saint-Germain.

With Mbappe leaving PSG at the end of the season, following former star teammates Neymar and Lionel Messi out of the door, the Qatari-owned club’s project to dominate European soccer has taken another severe blow.

For while Mbappe will have Europe’s biggest clubs chasing him — Real Madrid seems in pole position — PSG faces uncertainty.

The cash-rich club’s next steps will be heavily scrutinized.

Who will replace the 25-year-old Mbappe? How will PSG cope without Mbappe given that his goals have helped paper over so many cracks? How does coach Luis Enrique prepare for the rest of this season and the next?

An exasperated Enrique tried his best not to answer at his pre-match news conference on Friday, on the eve of his team’s French league game at Nantes. He flatly delivered one-line responses such as “I won’t comment until the parties concerned have commented” and “No player is bigger than the club.”

When a reporter tried one last time in Spanish, he told her: “I don’t have any information to give you on this subject.”

Mbappe’s exit is also not good news for the French league as it negotiates the next set of TV rights with broadcasters up until 2029.

Mbappe’s departure will close the chapter on a local boy who ended up at his hometown club and helped repair its battered image.

Mbappe was 12 years old, playing for his local club AS Bondy in the Paris suburbs, when Qatari owners QSI bought PSG in June 2011. The club was reeling from years of soccer violence, resulting in the death of two PSG fans in the streets around Parc des Princes stadium, and results on the field were poor with no league title won since 1994.

After QSI’s arrival, the stadium’s hostile atmosphere gave way to cushioned seats and major celebrities like Jay-Z, Michael Jordan and Beyonce. Nine more league titles followed, giving PSG a national record of 11.

Mbappe joined in 2017 along with Neymar for a combined 402 million euros ($433 million). They helped PSG become the biggest club in France.

But QSI really craved a Champions League trophy and a raft of big-name players — including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Angel Di Maria — plus a carousel of coaching changes have not delivered it. The club’s motto “Dream Bigger” was splashed on the team bus but PSG reached only one final, losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in the pandemic-shortened 2020 edition.

So if they couldn’t win the competition with all these stars over the years, what can PSG do without any now? Will Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, lose patience and pull the plug on the whole project? Will the disgruntled fans, already frustrated at leaving Parc des Princes in the future, have enough of the current leadership and turn on club president Nasser al-Khelaifi?

For the time being, matters remain under control and PSG has a Plan “B” in place.

Perhaps anticipating Mbappe’s departure, PSG already started shifting focus somewhat by bringing in more French players like Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola, while fast-tracking academy talents like 17-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery. Mbappe’s younger brother, 17-year-old Ethan, has also broken into the squad.

This represents a considerable shift from chasing star names, and gives local youth players more opportunities than before, but performances may get worse.

Mbappe’s goals — 41 last season, 31 already this campaign, a club-record 243 overall — have masked glaring deficiencies in midfield and defense. So many times, he has bailed his teammates out. A look at the statistics of the other forwards does not suggest the same will happen.

Kolo Muani’s season-best tally is 15 league goals, Dembele’s is 12 and the 21-year-old Barcola is unproven. Striker Goncalo Ramos managed 19 goals for Benfica in Portugal last season but he is a backup forward.

Once again, PSG will likely have to import a leading striker to stay competitive.

Here’s a look at some of PSG’s possible targets:

Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

The Nigeria striker is the same age as Mbappe and appears the best option. Osimhen is excellent with his back to goal, strong in the air, quick and a good finisher. His 26 league goals helped Napoli win the Serie A title last season. He has a contract until 2026 and knows the French league, playing one season for Lille before joining Napoli in 2020.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

The livewire Egypt forward is under contract until 2025 and would be 32 if he joins next season. He likely does not have many prime years left but his scoring and passing remain sharp. He has passed the 200-goal mark for Liverpool, but Jurgen Klopp’s departure at the end of the season could coincide with his own. However, if Salah goes it could be to the Saudi Arabian league rather than PSG.

Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

The 26-year-old England forward might want to leave Old Trafford after being overlooked by coach Erik ten Haag. Rashford’s form has dipped with only five goals in 29 games compared to a career-best 30 in 59 last season. A move to PSG could prove good for both Rashford and United.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Page 113 of 877« First...102030112113114115120130140...Last »

Soccer