Football | Champions League : Juventus success founded on defence

There is something delightfully old-fashioned about the defence which has provided the foundation for Juventus to advance to the Champions League final in Cardiff. Although not essentially a defensive team, there are times when coach Massimiliano Allegri decides Juve have to batten down the hatches - and when that happens, nobody does it quite like the Serie A champions.
Juventus have conceded just three goals in 12 games on their way to Saturday's final against Real Madrid, at one point keeping six clean sheets in a row.
That record has been bettered only twice, by Arsenal and Ajax who conceded just two each on their way to reaching the 2006 and 1996 finals respectively, although the Dutch side played two games less.
Critics have complained that modern football places too much emphasis on the ability of defenders to play the ball out, rather than their tackling.
But that criticism cannot be levelled at Juventus central defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, whose game is based on strength, positioning, telepathic understanding and a ruthless streak.
Once described as a "swine" on the pitch by former team mate Albin Ekdal, Chiellini has reached the peak of his game at the age of 33.
An insight into his competitive nature was unwittingly offered by Fifa when they tested video technology during a match between Italy and France last year.
Referee Bjorn Kuipers, describing an incident reviewed by the technology, said that Chiellini came rushing over to demand a red card for an opponent - just four minutes into a friendly.
Juve's defence was at its finest in the quarterfinal against Barcelona when the kept clean sheets in both legs of a 3-0 aggregate win.

Football | Premier League : City set Guardiola treble target

Pep Guardiola has been challenged to win the treble by Manchester City's ambitious owners as the Premier League club aim to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.
Guardiola's first season with City was a damp squib as they ended without a trophy after failing to push for the title and crashing out of the Champions League in the last 16.
City also fell short in the FA and League Cups in a rare season of underachievement for Guardiola, who was a serial trophy winner during his spells in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
However, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak believes Guardiola's track record of 21 trophies in his previous seven years as a manager proves this season will be a brief blip before a more successful future.
"We will try to win the Premier League and the Champions League and that remains our objective," Khaldoon told City's website.

"That ambition of winning the Champions League and hopefully doing it, that dream excites me very day and knowing we can do it.
"The dream of doing the Treble, yes. I want to do the treble, or else let's go for the quadruple! Why not?
"We should have that aspiration. I have it, no doubt. (City owner) Sheikh Mansour drives me for it every day, but you look at the organisation you see it in Pep's eyes in everybody within our group.
"Pep wants to win it all and that's what I love most about him because that's how I feel, we want to win it all.
"We might not be able to achieve it, but I can assure you, we're going to try to do that."
Despite the disappointment of finishing third in the Premier League, Khaldoon insists the club's Abu Dhabi-based backers have put everything in place to deliver silverware.

Guardiola has already started overhauling his squad, releasing a host of players and signing Monaco playmaker Bernardo Silva, with Benfica goalkeeper Ederson on the verge of moving to Eastlands.
"We're on the right track. We have a great manager, we're all working behind him, supporting him," Khaldoon said.
"We are going to do our work this summer. The trajectory is right and I'm very optimistic.
"Next year is going to be a massive year for us. Expectations are high, ambitions are high.
"I have a lot of hope that we're going to come back next season very strong and I hope we can deliver to our fans an incredible season next year."

© AFP

Football | Super Eagles : Eagles set to overrun Togo

Super Eagles will hope to extend their dominance over West African opposite, Hawks of Togo in an international friendly in Paris, France.

Eagles’ manager, Gernot Rohr is using Thursday’s game just like last Friday’s session against Corsica Island in Ajaccio as preparation for next weekend’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in Uyo.
The match against the Hawks will be played at the Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret, Paris starting from 7pm (6pm Nigeria time).
Forward Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored from the spot to level scores at 1-1 against Corsica on Friday, is one of 20 players in the Eagles’ Hyatt Regency Hotel camp in Paris and who have been training in the French capital ahead of Thursday’s game.
Goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Alampasu, defenders Elderson Echiejile, William Ekong, Chidozie Awaziem, Tyronne Ebuehi and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Mikel Agu, Oghenekaro Etebo, Alhassan Ibrahim and Uche Agbo, and strikers Ahmed Musa, Stephen Odey, Victor Osimhen, Henry Onyekuru, Alex Iwobi, Olanrewaju Kayode and Sikiru Olatubosun are the others.
Thursday’s match will be the 17th clash between both West African countries at senior level, with Nigeria having won nine of the previous 16 clashes. Togo won in three while four matches were drawn.
The first match between both countries at senior level took place on 6th October 1956. Albert Onyeanwuna of blessed memory scored the game’s only goal with Nigeria’s roster also including the likes of Dan Anyiam, Sam Ibiam, Asuquo Ekpe and Cyril Asoluka. Paul ‘Wonder Boy’ Hamilton also of blessed memory scored the one goal in each of two friendlies in Lagos in 1966.
Nigeria’s biggest win over Togo remains the 3-0 score line in a 1992 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Lagos in August 1990 but Nigerians will never forget the 5-2 hiding by the Hawks in a Wafu Cup match in Abidjan in December 1983.

Football | AFCON Qualifier : Rohr explains Moses omission

Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr has explained the reasons Victor Moses was omitted from the list of players to represent Nigeria in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in June.

Rohr named seven forwards in the list made public on Wednesday and Moses was the most noticeable absentee in the squad.
The German trainer has now taken to explain why the Chelsea winger was left out of the squad to face the Bafana Bafana in Uyo.
“Coach (Rohr) has just picked those he believes will get the job done for him given the number of days they have spent together,” spokesman of the Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye explained to supersport.com from Paris, France.
“He has called up new players only in the areas where he thinks the team needs reinforcement.
“Apart from that, Moses will be having surgery on his injured toe this summer and that effectively rules him out of the game versus Bafana Bafana.”
Moses was a title winner with Chelsea in the English Premier League last season and has been capped 27 times by Nigeria at senior level.

© supersport.com

Football | AFCON Qualifier : No Moses for Bafana thriller

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has invited 23 players for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South African on June 10 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Zamalek midfielder Moruf Yousuf is the surprise inclusion in the team with Ogenyi Onazi, and Victor Osimhen also included.
There is no place for Odion Ighalo and Brown Ideye who are both based in China as captain Mikel Obi is out injured.
Victor Moses is missing from the team but Olanrewaju Kayode, Moses Simon and John Ogu have been considered despite missing the Paris camp.
Three goalkeepers, Daniel Akpeyi, Dele Alampasu and Ikechukwu Ezenwa headline the goalkeepers.
The Super Eagles will take on the Hawks of Togo in an international friendly in Paris on June 1 before making the trip down to Nigeria for the final leg of preparation for the clash against the Bafana Bafana
The team will on Thursday June 1, play the Hawks of Togo in an international friendly in Paris before making the trip down to Nigeria for the final leg of preparation for the game against South Africa.

FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Alampasu (Cesarense FC, Portugal)
Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); William Ekong (KAA Gent, Belgium); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Maroof Youssef (Zamalek FC, Egypt)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal); Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa Utd FC).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Henry Onyekuru (KAS Eupen, Belgium); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany); Olanrewaju Kayode (FK Austria Wien, Austria)

© supersport.com

Football | AFCON Qualifier : Onyekuru, Osimhen listed for S/Africa game

Arsenal-bound winger Henry Onyekuru and VfL Wolfsburg youngster Victor Osimhen have been included in Nigeria's roster for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match billed to hold on June 10. The duo have been named in the Nigeria 23-man team in which experienced trio of Odion Ighalo, Brown Ideye and Mikel John Obi have been left out.
KAS Eupen's Onyekuru has been in fine form for his Belgian club and featured in Nigeria's 1-1 draw with Corsica in a practice game last week.
Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr has decided to show faith in 18-year-old Osimhen who has featured more as a fringe player at his German Bundesliga club this season after recovering from injury.
However it is Onyekuru whose goals caught the attention of the Nigerian selectors and now KAS Eupen have agreed a fee for him to move to North London pending when personal terms are sorted out.
Onyekuru scored 25 goals and provided nine assists for Eupen.
Two players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) are also named in the Super Eagles team to face South Africa's Bafana Bafana at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
FC Ifeanyiubah goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, a regular call-up in the national team setup and Akwa United's Alhassan, who has scored 10 league goals this season are the inclusion from the domestic championship.
A surprise call was handed to Egypt-based Maroof Youssef who plays for Zamalek SC.
The list of invited players for the Bafana Bafana game comes before Nigeria's international friendly with Togo in Paris on Thursday.

Football | Premier Leauge : Pep Guardiola Will Sell Kelechi Iheanacho Only On ONE Condition

Manchester City Pep Guardiola has reportedly asked for a buy-back clause in a potential deal that will see Kelechi Iheanacho join West Ham United this summer.
The 20-year-old broke into limelight at the Etihad in 2015 under former boss Manuel Pellegrini, and was tipped to become one of the best youngsters in the Premier League but has not been able to repeat his initial success at City due to his reduced role under current manager Pep Guardiola.
The Nigerian striker further fell down the pecking order after the arrival of Brazilian sensation, Gabriel Jesus who has been a brilliant figure since he arrived last January window.
There have been intense speculation over Iheanacho’s future with the likes of Everton and West Ham being linked to his signature, although the Hammers have been tipped to sign him of the Toffees who are also in need of new striker to replace Romelu Lukaku.
Reports in the Daily Mail claim that City boss Pep Guardiola is keen to have a buy-back clause in a potential deal for Kelechi Iheanacho in order to avoid the mistakes made by other managers who allowed youngsters leave and bought them back for astronomical fees.
It is understood that Manchester City and West Ham are locked in transfer negotiations for a reported fee of around £20million.

Football | FIFA U20 World Cup: Uruguay into U20WC quarterfinals

Uruguay edged their way into the last eight of the Fifa U-20 Word Cup after a slender 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Suwon – courtesy of a Nicolas de la Cruz penalty on Wednesday.
Yet to concede a goal, expectations would have it that, should Uruguay go ahead, then Saudi Arabia would struggle to regain parity.
But the South Americans have struggled to score themselves, averaging just a goal a game.

Even so, they looked keen to give themselves the comfort of a goal buffer right from the off as chance after chance came in the opening minutes.
Joaquin Ardaiz and Nicolas Schiappacasse were both guilty of spurning their fair share.
That profligacy almost came back to bite them on the break.
Having shown fleeting signs of threatening, Ayman Alkhulaif fired a fierce effort inches wide to send the Uruguayans into half-time knowing they had dodged a bullet.
It took a stroke of luck to finally set the South American champions going.
A handball in the box saw captain De La Cruz get the chance to put them in front from the penalty spot and he made no mistake, thundering his effort home.
The Asian side had no response, crashing out at the same stage as their last appearance at Colombia 2011.

© FIFA.com

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Football | UCL : Montero recalls Zidane's last Juve-Real final

Montero recalls Zidane's last Juve-Real finalFor Uruguay's Paolo Montero, Juventus versus Real Madrid means more than just this Saturday's Champions League final: it recalls a similar night 19 years ago with his then Juve teammate Zinedine Zidane.

Now manager of Argentine side Rosario, Montero, 45, spoke to AFP about that match as the French maestro, 44, leads Real as coach into their first final against the Italian side since that night.
REVENGE
Saturday's match is a chance for Juventus to settle the score after Real's narrow 1-0 victory in Amsterdam in May 1998.
"We both went into the final as favorites... It was a very even match which was decided by a little thing, they scored against us after a deflection," Montero said.
Predrag Mijatovic tucked away the only goal of the match to win the title for Real Madrid in a frustrating night for Zidane and Montero.
"It is a sad memory since we didn't manage to win," Montero said. "But history has shown that Real are made for finals, because they have kept on winning."
JUVE THEN AND NOW
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has admitted 11-time Champions League winners Real are favorites.
But Montero insists that his Italian former team "have a chance of becoming the champions of Europe."
Juventus are keen to complete a treble after winning the league and cup in Italy for a record third time.
"Juve to me look very strong defensively, and very efficient in that even if they only get a few chances to score, they convert them," Montero said.
"On top of that I think they are lucky to have Gianluigi Buffon," he said of Juventus's 39-year-old goalkeeper.
"There's a reason he is considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time. For what he has done in the course of his career, he deserves to win."

Football | Premier League : Wenger to extend Arsenal reign

Arsene Wenger has told Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke he will accept the Premier League club's offer of a new two-year contract, according to reports on Tuesday.

Wenger met Gunners majority shareholder Kroenke and chief executive Ivan Gazidis on Monday to discuss his future before his contract expires next month.
The 67-year-old has been heavily criticised this season, with Arsenal fans calling for his resignation after their team failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Suggestions that Arsenal may insist on hiring a director of football to work with Wenger had sparked claims the Frenchman was considering ending his 21-year reign.
But after leading Arsenal to an impressive 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Premier League champions Chelsea with Kroenke watching from the stands on Saturday, Wenger had hinted he was willing to stay.
And the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror reported Wenger has informed American tycoon Kroenke, who remains a firm supporter of his manager, that he wants to remain in charge of the north London club.
A formal announcement of Wenger's new contract is expected to come on Wednesday.
Wenger, who has won three Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups with the Gunners, will attend an Arsenal board meeting on Tuesday when the contract should be rubber-stamped.
Wenger will outline his plans for close-season signings and while there may still be some tinkering with his backroom staff it will not be without his approval.
Gazidis would still like to bring in a sporting director to coordinate issues ranging from scouting and medicine to youth development and analytics.
But Wenger has been told he will retain control of the key areas of team selection and transfers.
- Tough task -
With his reign set to reach 23 years if he sees out the new deal, Wenger has a chance to salvage what was in danger of becoming a tarnished reputation.
First on his to-do list will be making improved contract offers to Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
The unsettled Arsenal stars are holding out for weekly wages of around £300 000 ($385 000) per week with their present deals due to expire at the end of next season.
With no Champions League football to offer to potential new recruits, Wenger stills face a tough task to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

Football Transfer : Costa will only leave Blues for Atletico

Diego Costa claims he will only leave Chelsea to return to Atletico Madrid this summer, turning his back on long-term speculation of a blockbuster move to China.

Costa scored 22 goals this season in firing Chelsea to the Premier League title for the second time in three seasons at the club.
Yet, the Brazilian-born striker has struggled to settle in London and had a training ground bust-up with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte in January fuelling rumours he could be the latest star of European football to be snapped up by China's football boom.
However, after losing out to Arsenal in Saturday's FA Cup final, Costa said only a return to Atletico, where he won La Liga in 2013/14, would tempt him away from Stamford Bridge.
"If the club really want to sell me and there is an offer from a different club, I will stay," he said.
"If the offer is from Atletico, I will think about it that much is clear.
"I am going to choose my future, not them. I won't change city or country for another that isn't Spain.
"If the club want to sell me, there is only one team and I have made that very clear."
Costa nearly rejoined Atletico last year, but the Spanish side failed to meet Chelsea's valuation.
Atletico, who finished third in La Liga this season, are currently banned from registering new players in the upcoming transfer window due to irregularities in the singing of players under the age of foreign minors.
However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport is set to decide on their appeal to reduce the sentence from a two transfer window ban to one this week, which would free up Diego Simeone's men to strengthen.
Atletico could be in the market for a striker with top scorer Antoine Griezmann heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.
Griezmann has a €100 million buyout clause, but told French TV last week there was "six out of 10 chance" he could join Jose Mourinho's newly crowned Europa League winners.

© AFP

Football : Buffon knocking on Ballon d'Or door

As Juventus look to end a 21-year-wait for the Champions League title, there are those who believe goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon can end a 54-year wait and be officially crowned the top shot-stopper in Europe.

The rock of a team that recently embellished its growing pedigree with a record sixth consecutive title and record third successive league and Cup double, Buffon, many believe, is in firm contention for the Ballon d'Or.
Given the dominance in recent years of Cristiano Ronaldo, a key threat on Saturday when Juventus meet Real Madrid in Cardiff, and Barcelona nemesis Lionel Messi, such an accolade is not to be underestimated.
Especially when considering the only previous goalkeeper honoured was Russian legend Lev Yashin, in 1963.

Many have come close, including Buffon, who in 2006 finished second to Italy teammate and Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro.
But to match the feats of Yashin, known as the 'Black Spider' for acrobatic goalkeeping feats that wowed the beautiful game in the 1960s, is going to take some doing.
AC Milan legend Gianni Rivera, who finished second to Yashin in the 1963 vote, has echoed many in the game who believe Buffon, still in search of an evasive Champions League title, will only get close if Juve are crowned European champions.
"It was a historical first, but it was right to give Yashin his award," Riverai recently said in an interview with Corriere della Sera. "I only found out later I'd come second."
He added: "Buffon deserves to win it for what he's still doing on the pitch. If he wins the Champions League with Juventus, it will be the crowning glory of what has been an extraordinary career."
Now 39 and heading towards retirement following the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Buffon remains one of the world's best.

In a season that has seen Juventus ditch a conservative 3-5-2 formation for a more inventive and attacking 4-2-3-1 in which defensive duties remain a priority, Buffon has been superb.
Especially in Europe, where he defied his years and produced three remarkable stops on his way to seeing Juventus put one leg into the final with a precious 2-0 win over Monaco at the Stade Louis II last month.
It is not for nothing that Buffon, who has seen Juventus through thick and thin – remaining with the club following their demotion to Serie B following the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal – is regarded, in parliamentary terms, as the 'Speaker of the House'.
At the head of the Juventus dressing room there are two, plush seats that resemble thrones.
Buffon sits on the right, with notoriously media-shy but hugely-respected Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic to his left. From there, Buffon commands the dressing room.
Although the big 'keeper is the first one to admit: "You have to make the saves. If I'm not making saves, then I can't start giving lessons."

Football : Five problems for Wenger, Arsenal

Arsene Wenger looks set, according to the British media, to be offered and agree to a new contract at an Arsenal board meeting on Tuesday, ending months of uncertainty which the Frenchman admitted affected performances.

Here we look at five problem areas which will need addressing in order to make next season a less bumpy ride for the 67-year-old and for the Gunners supporters...

Transfer policy

This has been a perennial gripe for fans and pundits alike, that Wenger doesn't like to get involved in bidding wars with the Gunners' major rivals and resorts to what appear to be last-minute panic buys and paying over the odds. Some board members reacting to these concerns wished to install a director of football who could work on potential transfer targets but this has been vehemently opposed by Wenger.
"I don't understand and I never did understand what it (director of football) means," he said. Some reports suggest the person hired could be titled a director of operations but with his duties restricted to scouting and analytics.

Building bridges with fans

A few olive branches required here. Wenger made clear on Saturday, both before and after the FA Cup final win over Chelsea, his hurt and anger at certain sections of the Arsenal support venting their spleen at him during the season and demanding he go. Normally placid and cerebral in his remarks to the press, he was especially frank in his pre-FA Cup final interview with the BBC.
"The lack of respect from some has been a disgrace and I will never accept that. I will never forget it....That kind of behaviour does not reflect what Arsenal is," he said.
Former players critical of Wenger as well as those fans who wanted him out would reply they have had to witness Groundhog Day almost every season since their last Premier League title ('The Invincibles' unbeaten campaign in 2003/04) of failing to keep star names, replacing them often with poor purchases and not really threatening to win the championship at the business end of a season.

Persuading Sanchez to sign new contract

Alexis Sanchez's performance in the FA Cup final illustrated how crucial he is to the Gunners. His contract expires in 2018 and persuading him to sign a new deal is pivotal to Wenger winning some brownie points with the disenchanted fans as he could then build a team around him and a serious title challenge as a result.
The 28-year-old Chilean, though, has made it clear to be a great player you need to win trophies on a regular basis -- two Copas America have sated his international appetite -- hence why Bayern Munich's apparent interest in him could turn his head.

Football | La Liga : Enrique could return as Barca boss

Luis Enrique will take charge of Barcelona for the final time as coach in Saturday's Copa del Rey final against Alaves, but refused to rule out a return to the club in the future on Friday.

Enrique can add a ninth title to a generally successful three-year spell in charge in the final competitive game at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon this weekend.
However, he revealed back in March that he would not seek to renew his contract as he needed a rest after being worn down by the unique pressures that come with being Barca boss.
"Who knows if one day I coud return to the club to coach Barca," said Enrique.
"It is my home, my club, it's where I've felt most comfortable as a player and a coach."
Enrique has though endured a tempestuous relationship with the media during his time in charge and joked his return could provoke "heart attacks" in the press pack.
"Maybe I'll come back here on July 10 and take you by surprise...that would cause a few heart attacks," he added.
"I am young, I'm easy to get on with, so why not in a few years."
Barca won't be at full strength for the showpiece occasion as Luis Suarez and Sergi Roberto are both suspended after being sent-off in a bad-tempered semifinal, second leg against Atletico Madrid.
However, Gerard Pique called on his teammates to give one of Barca's best ever coaches the send-off he deserves.
"He is one of the best coaches in the history of the club," said Pique.
"He deserves a great final. The best way to leave would be on a high with a trophy and tomorrow is a good opportunity."
Enrique led Barca to only the club's second ever treble of La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey in his first season in charge and backed that up with a league and Cup double last year.
However, despite reports of dressing room bust-ups in his final campaign, Pique insisted he is a loved figure within the squad.
"It is easy to say the titles we have won," he added when asked for his best memories of the past three seasons.
"But it is better to be left with his way of being because he has been capable of winning over the dressing room.
"They have been three magnificent years."

© AFP

Football | French League : PSG want French Cup season swansong

Paris Saint-Germain will seek to draw their bitter-sweet season to a winning close when they take on unheralded Angers in Saturday's French Cup final.
PSG missed out on the Ligue 1 title to rivals Monaco, who finished eight points clear at the top of the table to break the Parisians' hopes of a fifth consecutive trophy.
Despite that second place, guaranteeing Champions League football next season, and victory over an under-strength Monaco in the League Cup final, PSG coach Unai Emery has found himself in the spotlight of the ever-demanding Qatari owners.
Emery's first season since joining from Sevilla saw PSG notch up a memorable 4-0 home win over Barcelona in the Champions League before the Catalans stunningly overturned that deficit at home in the round of 16, meaning the Paris side missed out on the quarterfinals of Europe's lucrative club competition for the first time in five years.
"There were some changes last summer and after that we had some problems in the first half of the season," PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp acknowledged, notably with the departure of stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Luiz to the English Premier League.
"Our season wasn't as bad as all that, we finished with 87 points in the league despite the season Monaco had.
"But we must ask ourselves some questions for next season because there are always things to improve.
"The second part of the season was good and we were competitive."

PSG FOCUSED ON 11TH CUP TITLE 

Trapp added that the team were now focused on landing a record 11th – and third consecutive – French Cup title.
"We have to win the Cup final. If we'd won the league, there wouldn't have been less pressure," he said.
"There's the same pressure when you're in a club like PSG – like that you always want to win everything."
PSG's opponents in the 100th staging of the Cup final will be Angers, the western club that finished 12th in the league.

Football | FA Cup : ‘Arsenal must stop Hazard’

Arsenal must make a quick start in Saturday's FA Cup final and clamp down on Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard to reduce his impact on the game, midfielder Aaron Ramsey has said.
Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-0 in a thrilling Premier League encounter at home in September but Hazard drove Chelsea to a 3-1 win in February, scoring the second goal and being named Man of the Match at Stamford Bridge.
"I think the way we started the (home) game in the first half was very good. ... We were very quick, we counter-attacked well, closed them down, got about them." Ramsey told the club's website. (www.arsenal.com)
"It was a different game (away) and we perhaps let individuals have a bit too much space. Hazard went on a bit of a run and put the ball in the net.
"We can't let that happen again, we have to be right in his face and stop that at source."
Arsenal are looking to seal their third FA Cup trophy in four years and win the competition for a record 13th time.

© Reuters

Football | FA Cup : Chelsea wary of 'fantastic' Arsenal

Chelsea have to put on a "high level" performance to beat a strong Arsenal side in Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley, the Premier League champions' defender David Luiz has said.
In-form Chelsea are on course to win a domestic double and can select from a fully fit squad, while Arsenal are struggling with an ongoing injury crisis as four defenders are expected to miss the final.
"We have to concentrate to train hard every day to be in the best shape to play this final," Luiz told British media.
"I think when you play for a big club... we know we'll play against a fantastic team, fantastic players in good shape.
"They have fantastic players and an amazing coach, so we need to be in our high level to win this final."
Fellow defender Kurt Zouma added that Arsenal would be tough to beat as Chelsea aim to win the double for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
"We won the league and we are very happy with that but we have another difficult game to play and if we get the double, it will be good for us," Zouma said.
"We haven't won the game yet, we haven't played yet. We are focused. We know it is going to be difficult. We know it is just one game, one final and we know that finals are always tough.
"Especially when at Wembley. A big crowd, the stadium will be full and it is a London derby. So let's see what's going on there but we are ready to win."

© Reuters

Football | Europa League : We played for the people who died

We played for the people who died'Paul Pogba dedicated victory to the victims of this week's Manchester terror attack after propelling Manchester United towards a 2-0 victory over Ajax in Wednesday's Europa League final.

A night that began with a moment of silence, then applause, in memory of the 22 people who died at Manchester Arena on Monday ended with United completing their trophy collection through goals from Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Reminders of the attack were everywhere at Stockholm's Friends Arena, from United's black armbands to the chants of "Manchester!" from their fans, while Pogba, too, was grieving, following the recent death of his father.
"We played for the people who died," Pogba told BT Sport.
"These things are terrible all over the world, in London and in Paris. We went out focused to win and we won for Manchester and the country."
Victory enabled United manager Jose Mourinho, who said prior to the game that he and his players were struggling not to think about the tragedy, to bring his maiden Old Trafford season to a successful conclusion.
He had already guided United to glory in the League Cup and despite a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, success in the Europa League means his side will return to the Champions League next season.
"It is the end of a very difficult season. But a very very good season," Mourinho said.
"There are lots of poets in football, but poets don't win many titles. We knew where we were better than them and we exploited their weaknesses."
United became only the fifth club – after Juventus, Ajax, Bayern Munich and Chelsea – to have won the Champions League, the Europa League and the now defunct European Cup Winners' Cup.
Mourinho, a Uefa Cup winner with Porto in 2003 and two-time European champion, has now won all four of the major European finals he has contested.
Ajax were appearing in their first continental showpiece match since the 1996 Champions League decider and fielded a team with an average age of 22 years and 282 days – the youngest to have ever started a major European final.
Peter Bosz's effervescent team caused United some uncomfortable moments, but without ever threatening to pull off an upset.
DEFIANT CHANTS
"Obviously both sides were affected (by the attack in Manchester), but once you play the final, for that moment you forget it," said Bosz.
"I'm disappointed because you play finals to win them. We didn't. I haven't see the Ajax that I'm used to, which means good football, high pressing and being dominant.

Football | Super Eagles : Moses, Ogu to miss Corsica friendly

Nigeria will present a depleted squad as the Super Eagles step up preparation for the international friendly with Corsica.

12 players made the trip to the regional French county after the meet-up at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris on Tuesday with light training on Wednesday morning.
Ahmed Musa, Shehu Abdullahi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Portugal based Mikel Agu joined up with the squad on Wednesday evening to bring to 16, the number of players in camp.
However, a few core players will miss the friendly against Corsica as for various reasons, players are withdrawing from the squad.
Ogenyi Onazi is a doubt for the friendly with the Islanders, so also Hapoel Beer Sheva midfielder John Ogu and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi.
KAA Gent’s Moses Simon will miss the games against Corsica and Togo but will link up with the squad when they return to Nigeria as he concentrates on getting fit for the AFCON qualifier.
The Super Eagles will play Corsica on June 26 and then face the Hawks of Togo four days later as they prepare for the June 10 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

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