Wrexham cruise to 3-0 win with dominant display

Ruben Amorim introduces second Man Utd ban as new boss puts his foot down

by | Nov 24, 2024 | Blog

Ruben Amorim has wasted no time in laying down the law at Manchester United and has made it clear to his players that...

Simeone chokes up after making LaLiga history

by | Nov 24, 2024 | Blog

Simeone chokes up after making LaLiga history

Diego Simeone choked up when speaking of his love for Atletico Madrid after he was asked about his long-term future following his 700th game in charge of the club.

Diego Simeone choked up when speaking of his love for Atletico Madrid after he was asked about his long-term future following his 700th game in charge of the club. Diego Simeone choked up when speaking of his love for Atletico Madrid after he was asked about his long-term future following his 700th game in charge of the club.

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Atletico Madrid leave it late in comeback win vs. Alaves (1:58)Atlético Madrid secured their fifth win in a row as they came from behind to beat Deportivo Alavés 2-1 in LaLiga. (1:58)

Nov 23, 2024, 07:37 PM ET

Diego Simeone choked up when speaking of his love for Atlético Madrid after he was asked about his long-term future following a 2-1 comeback win over Alavés in his 700th game in charge of the club on Saturday.

The Argentine has prowled Atlético’s dugout since December 2011, easily the longest-serving coach currently in Spain‘s top tier. He is the first manager in history to reach 700 games in charge of a single LaLiga team.

Simeone has always stood out for his all-black attire and the combative passion he exudes on the sideline, where he barks orders to his players and, especially at home games, gestures for the fans to give it their all to support their side.

He is also known for sticking to his “game by game” approach to a season, never wanting to comment on a match other than the next on the calendar.

But the 54-year-old former midfielder showed a new sensitive side on Saturday when he was unable to continue during a post-game interview with journalists and former Atlético player Juanfran Torres.

The on-field interview with DAZN is supposed to be an extended chat, but Simeone cut it off when he was emotionally overcome after a journalist asked him how he felt about the regular sports chatter about what Atlético will do the day he is no longer around.

“I am living the moment. My players are working hard and interpreting what we need and want,” Simeone said before running into problems.

“I am calm. I am at peace. I am in the place where I want,” he said, before pausing while his voice broke. He then managed to add “I love, I love the place where I am” before he dropped his head and said “and that’s it, ciao,” while pushing the microphone into Juanfran’s hands and quickly walking away.

Simeone transformed Atlético from a chaotic club that perennially lost to rival Real Madrid into a winner and regular Champions League side. Under him, they have won two LaLiga, two Europa Leagues, one Copa del Rey, and reached two Champions League finals.

There has been no public talk by the club regarding a coaching change nor any rumours in the local sports press in his direction.

Simeone has a contract through June 2027.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Diego Simeone choked up when speaking of his love for Atletico Madrid after he was asked about his long-term future following his 700th game in charge of the club.

Amorim: Pep’s new deal ‘a problem for everybody’

by | Nov 24, 2024 | Blog

Amorim: Pep’s new deal ‘a problem for everybody’

Manchester United boss Rúben Amorim has admitted Pep Guardiola’s new contract at Manchester City is “a problem for everybody.”

Manchester United boss Rúben Amorim has admitted Pep Guardiola’s new contract at Manchester City is “a problem for everybody.” Manchester United boss Rúben Amorim has admitted Pep Guardiola’s new contract at Manchester City is “a problem for everybody.”

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Amorim believes he’s ‘the right guy’ for the Manchester United job (0:57)Ruben Amorim expresses belief in himself and his squad to turn Manchester United’s season around. (0:57)

Manchester United boss Rúben Amorim has admitted Pep Guardiola’s new contract at Manchester City is “a problem for everybody.”

Amorim has been tasked with bringing the Premier League title back to Old Trafford after succeeding Erik ten Hag as head coach.

The 39-year-old’s arrival has coincided with Guardiola’s decision to sign a new two-year contract, which will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2027.

Given his ambitions with United, Amorim said it is not ideal that Guardiola, who has won the league title in six of the last seven seasons, is sticking around.

“I think it’s a problem for everybody but we have so much to do we cannot focus on anybody,” Amorim said. “We just have to focus on improving our club and not focus on the other clubs. It’s amazing, if you can beat that team it’s a good sign but we are focused on Manchester United.”

Amorim, who will take charge of his first game against Ipswich on Sunday, is looking to become the first United manager to win the title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Still only two weeks into the job, he said he is “not yet had the opportunity” to meet Ferguson. Despite the Scot’s unbelievable success at the club, Amorim said he is not in Manchester “to copy” the legendary manager.

“It’s not to copy someone, so I have to be me,” he said. “We have to be very demanding. This is a club that has to win things, we have to show that to our players. But it’s a different time. I cannot be the same guy that Alex Ferguson was. It’s a different time and I need to have a different approach but I can also be demanding with that different approach.”

Amorim has been parachuted into the United job following a miserable start to the season under Ten Hag.

The former Sporting CP coach, who hinted that he would have preferred to stay in Portugal until the end of the season before moving on, admitted that trying to implement his methods halfway through the campaign will be tough.

“It’s so much harder to come to the team in the middle of the season because you have to get to know the players during the games,” Amorim said.

“You are talking about no national team periods to work with the players, it’s just games. It depends. If you are winning it’s a lot of fun, having a lot of games, trying to make changes tactically and winning games.

“But if you are losing you don’t have time in training to work out everything you want to work on. To improve a team, training is the most important aspect.

“Players can recover very fast but if you don’t do any exercise with that it’s really hard to do that in video or recovery training sessions. It’s really hard but we’ll try to find ways to cope with that.”

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Manchester United boss Rúben Amorim has admitted Pep Guardiola’s new contract at Manchester City is “a problem for everybody.”

NWSL Championship: Will Washington or Orlando win? Rodman or Marta to decide it?

by | Nov 24, 2024 | Blog

NWSL Championship: Will Washington or Orlando win? Rodman or Marta to decide it?

Saturday’s NWSL Championship pits Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit vs. Marta and the Orlando Pride. Who will win?

Saturday’s NWSL Championship pits Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit vs. Marta and the Orlando Pride. Who will win? Saturday’s NWSL Championship pits Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit vs. Marta and the Orlando Pride. Who will win?

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How Michele Kang is ‘changing the landscape’ of the women’s game (2:37)Sebastian Salazar reacts to Michele Kang’s $30 million donation to U.S. Soccer. (2:37)

Nov 22, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

The NWSL season has led up to this: On Saturday, the Washington Spirit will face the Orlando Pride in the NWSL Championship to crown the winner after a thrilling playoffs.

In Orlando, we have a team making its first final after years of being a bottom-dweller in the NWSL amid on-field struggles. After the Pride set a record for the best regular season in NWSL history this year, Brazilian legend Marta could finally earn a championship after years toiling away in Orlando.

In the Spirit, we have a team that has been reaching new heights since businesswoman Michele Kang won a boardroom power struggle to take over the club. While the Spirit already had the likes of Trinity Rodman, Kang’s added investment with the goal of creating a women’s soccer powerhouse has only made the Spirit that much more formidable.

So, which of these two sides will lift the NWSL Championship trophy Saturday and make history? ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf and Megan Swanick look at this final from all angles and predict the winner.

Are you surprised that either of these teams landed in the final?

Kassouf: No, we’ve ended up with two deserving teams. The top four teams were so clearly a cut above the rest of the NWSL this year, and the semifinals rightfully included all of those squads. The margins were as thin as expected, and any combination of Orlando, Washington, NJ/NY Gotham FC or the Kansas City Current would have been a worthy final.

Credit to Orlando for following up the Shield victory with a trip to the final, which we haven’t seen in this league since 2019. The Spirit also endured a slew of late-season injuries and got production out of their rookies in the playoffs. They’ve gotten that all season, to be fair. I guess there’s an ironic surprise, in that we finally got “chalk” playoffs in a league that almost never does anything predictably.

Swanick: Not this year. There’s always an element of “anything can happen” in NWSL, and multiple playoff contenders could have pulled off an upset. But this season saw a few teams really pull ahead of the pack.

The Orlando Pride is, of course, the main culprit there, as they set a 24-game unbeaten record on their way to the Shield. The fact that they’re in the final only feels logical given the season they’ve had. Washington Spirit, who finished the regular season in second place, have also been consistently strong throughout the year, despite coaching changes and myriad injuries.

Which team winning would be a more exciting story?

Swanick: I find it nearly impossible not to hop aboard the Orlando Pride train. They have it all: aura, chemistry, cohesion, dedication to one another and to the team. After years of disappointment, they’ve been the best team in the league all season. They won their first trophy in program history with the NWSL Shield. And with 38-year-old Brazilian legend Marta now in her first NWSL final, it would be sweet poetry to see them lift the trophy Saturday night.

Kassouf: I echo all of what Megan said. I already wrote about Orlando’s rise from laughingstock to arguably the best NWSL season ever. I can’t emphasize enough how this is the best story in sports right now.

To offer a counterpoint, though, let’s talk about the more explicit investment made by the Spirit: They went out and lured Barcelona coach Jonatan Giráldez from what is considered the best job in the world, brought him in midseason, and they’ve made great acquisitions on the international market and via the college game. Spirit owner Michele Kang continues to slap money on the table in the women’s game. She’s walking the walk. A win for Washington would point to a version of: “Build it and they will come” — but more like: “Spend the money if you want to do something great.”

Which on-field battle are you most interested in?

Kassouf: The midfield is where this game will be decided. Yes, the world-class forwards in this game will get plenty of attention, but this game could be one in the middle of the park. Orlando had the stingiest defense in the NWSL, and Washington is the best counterattacking team in the league.

Can the Spirit’s midfielders — whether that’s Leicy Santos from a higher position or Hal Hershfelt from a deeper area — regain the ball high up the field and find quick outlet passes? Or will the Pride’s unsung heroes of Haley McCutcheon and Angelina continue to dominate the middle of the park and allow Orlando to keep long runs of possession? Those battles are the catalysts to anything that Barbra Banda, Marta, or Trinity Rodman will do.

Swanick: Casey Krueger vs. Marta is the battle I’ll be watching. There’s a few enticing on-field battles set for Saturday. That includes some marquee names and remarkable rookie talent. But two prolific NWSL veterans may go toe-to-toe, as 34-year-old U.S. defender Krueger occupies Washington’s left-flank, while 38-year-old Brazilian legend Marta looks for her first NWSL Championship trophy in attack.

Marta’s nine goals are second-most to Banda for the Orlando Pride. As teams collapse on Banda, Marta has proved she’s still world class, as we saw with her goal in last week’s semifinal. Krueger, who was named to NWSL’s Best XI alongside Marta, will be a key to keeping them at bay.

Which one player who could decide the game are you keeping an eye on?

Swanick: Trinity Rodman. It’s been three years since the then-19-year-old helped the Spirit to their first NWSL Championship trophy. Rodman, who was NWSL Rookie of the Year that season, assisted Kelley O’Hara‘s game-winning goal in that 2-1 win over Chicago Red Stars. Still just 22, Rodman has only grown since then.

She has worked her way into a starting role with the USWNT, experienced the pressure of a disappointing World Cup, then scored three goals for Team USA on their way to a gold medal. Rodman’s eight goals and six assists make her joint top scorer for the Spirit this year, and the NWSL Championship could see her find another level.

Kassouf: Barbra Banda. She’s one of the best players in the world and, on most days, she is unstoppable.

She had a cold run of scoring this fall as defenders marked her out of games, but Orlando successfully found goals from the rest of its deep roster of players. Banda has come alive again in the playoffs, though, scoring a brace in the quarterfinal and a magnificent goal in the semifinal that was overshadowed only by Marta’s iconic game winner. Banda (like Marta, granted) changes games single-handedly. She could do that again Saturday.

OK, prediction time: Pick the winner and the final score

Kassouf: The margins between the top four have been so thin, and I expect that to continue in this match. Their October meeting, which the Pride won to clinch the Shield, is a poor barometer for this one given the injuries Washington had at the time.

I’ve got this game going to extra time (it’s prime time sports!) with Banda and Washington’s Ashley Hatch trading goals in regulation, and Summer Yates striking the winner for Orlando in extra time. The win goes to Orlando 2-1 in AET.

Swanick: I think it’ll be a close game, with goals scored by both teams in a fiercely contested battle. With the game hosted in neutral territory, both squads are playing away from home for the first time in the playoffs. It’ll be interesting to see how that impacts the game, as both teams have benefited from home-field advantage. Either team can win this.

But I think Orlando Pride will make more history and walk away as the winners 2-1.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Saturday’s NWSL Championship pits Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit vs. Marta and the Orlando Pride. Who will win?

NWSL Championship: Will Washington or Orlando win? Rodman or Marta to decide it?

by | Nov 24, 2024 | Blog

NWSL Championship: Will Washington or Orlando win? Rodman or Marta to decide it?

Saturday’s NWSL Championship pits Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit vs. Marta and the Orlando Pride. Who will win?

Saturday’s NWSL Championship pits Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit vs. Marta and the Orlando Pride. Who will win? Saturday’s NWSL Championship pits Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit vs. Marta and the Orlando Pride. Who will win?

play

How Michele Kang is ‘changing the landscape’ of the women’s game (2:37)Sebastian Salazar reacts to Michele Kang’s $30 million donation to U.S. Soccer. (2:37)

Nov 22, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

The NWSL season has led up to this: On Saturday, the Washington Spirit will face the Orlando Pride in the NWSL Championship to crown the winner after a thrilling playoffs.

In Orlando, we have a team making its first final after years of being a bottom-dweller in the NWSL amid on-field struggles. After the Pride set a record for the best regular season in NWSL history this year, Brazilian legend Marta could finally earn a championship after years toiling away in Orlando.

In the Spirit, we have a team that has been reaching new heights since businesswoman Michele Kang won a boardroom power struggle to take over the club. While the Spirit already had the likes of Trinity Rodman, Kang’s added investment with the goal of creating a women’s soccer powerhouse has only made the Spirit that much more formidable.

So, which of these two sides will lift the NWSL Championship trophy Saturday and make history? ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf and Megan Swanick look at this final from all angles and predict the winner.

Are you surprised that either of these teams landed in the final?

Kassouf: No, we’ve ended up with two deserving teams. The top four teams were so clearly a cut above the rest of the NWSL this year, and the semifinals rightfully included all of those squads. The margins were as thin as expected, and any combination of Orlando, Washington, NJ/NY Gotham FC or the Kansas City Current would have been a worthy final.

Credit to Orlando for following up the Shield victory with a trip to the final, which we haven’t seen in this league since 2019. The Spirit also endured a slew of late-season injuries and got production out of their rookies in the playoffs. They’ve gotten that all season, to be fair. I guess there’s an ironic surprise, in that we finally got “chalk” playoffs in a league that almost never does anything predictably.

Swanick: Not this year. There’s always an element of “anything can happen” in NWSL, and multiple playoff contenders could have pulled off an upset. But this season saw a few teams really pull ahead of the pack.

The Orlando Pride is, of course, the main culprit there, as they set a 24-game unbeaten record on their way to the Shield. The fact that they’re in the final only feels logical given the season they’ve had. Washington Spirit, who finished the regular season in second place, have also been consistently strong throughout the year, despite coaching changes and myriad injuries.

Which team winning would be a more exciting story?

Swanick: I find it nearly impossible not to hop aboard the Orlando Pride train. They have it all: aura, chemistry, cohesion, dedication to one another and to the team. After years of disappointment, they’ve been the best team in the league all season. They won their first trophy in program history with the NWSL Shield. And with 38-year-old Brazilian legend Marta now in her first NWSL final, it would be sweet poetry to see them lift the trophy Saturday night.

Kassouf: I echo all of what Megan said. I already wrote about Orlando’s rise from laughingstock to arguably the best NWSL season ever. I can’t emphasize enough how this is the best story in sports right now.

To offer a counterpoint, though, let’s talk about the more explicit investment made by the Spirit: They went out and lured Barcelona coach Jonatan Giráldez from what is considered the best job in the world, brought him in midseason, and they’ve made great acquisitions on the international market and via the college game. Spirit owner Michele Kang continues to slap money on the table in the women’s game. She’s walking the walk. A win for Washington would point to a version of: “Build it and they will come” — but more like: “Spend the money if you want to do something great.”

Which on-field battle are you most interested in?

Kassouf: The midfield is where this game will be decided. Yes, the world-class forwards in this game will get plenty of attention, but this game could be one in the middle of the park. Orlando had the stingiest defense in the NWSL, and Washington is the best counterattacking team in the league.

Can the Spirit’s midfielders — whether that’s Leicy Santos from a higher position or Hal Hershfelt from a deeper area — regain the ball high up the field and find quick outlet passes? Or will the Pride’s unsung heroes of Haley McCutcheon and Angelina continue to dominate the middle of the park and allow Orlando to keep long runs of possession? Those battles are the catalysts to anything that Barbra Banda, Marta, or Trinity Rodman will do.

Swanick: Casey Krueger vs. Marta is the battle I’ll be watching. There’s a few enticing on-field battles set for Saturday. That includes some marquee names and remarkable rookie talent. But two prolific NWSL veterans may go toe-to-toe, as 34-year-old U.S. defender Krueger occupies Washington’s left-flank, while 38-year-old Brazilian legend Marta looks for her first NWSL Championship trophy in attack.

Marta’s nine goals are second-most to Banda for the Orlando Pride. As teams collapse on Banda, Marta has proved she’s still world class, as we saw with her goal in last week’s semifinal. Krueger, who was named to NWSL’s Best XI alongside Marta, will be a key to keeping them at bay.

Which one player who could decide the game are you keeping an eye on?

Swanick: Trinity Rodman. It’s been three years since the then-19-year-old helped the Spirit to their first NWSL Championship trophy. Rodman, who was NWSL Rookie of the Year that season, assisted Kelley O’Hara‘s game-winning goal in that 2-1 win over Chicago Red Stars. Still just 22, Rodman has only grown since then.

She has worked her way into a starting role with the USWNT, experienced the pressure of a disappointing World Cup, then scored three goals for Team USA on their way to a gold medal. Rodman’s eight goals and six assists make her joint top scorer for the Spirit this year, and the NWSL Championship could see her find another level.

Kassouf: Barbra Banda. She’s one of the best players in the world and, on most days, she is unstoppable.

She had a cold run of scoring this fall as defenders marked her out of games, but Orlando successfully found goals from the rest of its deep roster of players. Banda has come alive again in the playoffs, though, scoring a brace in the quarterfinal and a magnificent goal in the semifinal that was overshadowed only by Marta’s iconic game winner. Banda (like Marta, granted) changes games single-handedly. She could do that again Saturday.

OK, prediction time: Pick the winner and the final score

Kassouf: The margins between the top four have been so thin, and I expect that to continue in this match. Their October meeting, which the Pride won to clinch the Shield, is a poor barometer for this one given the injuries Washington had at the time.

I’ve got this game going to extra time (it’s prime time sports!) with Banda and Washington’s Ashley Hatch trading goals in regulation, and Summer Yates striking the winner for Orlando in extra time. The win goes to Orlando 2-1 in AET.

Swanick: I think it’ll be a close game, with goals scored by both teams in a fiercely contested battle. With the game hosted in neutral territory, both squads are playing away from home for the first time in the playoffs. It’ll be interesting to see how that impacts the game, as both teams have benefited from home-field advantage. Either team can win this.

But I think Orlando Pride will make more history and walk away as the winners 2-1.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Saturday’s NWSL Championship pits Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit vs. Marta and the Orlando Pride. Who will win?

Wrexham cruise to 3-0 win with dominant display​​

Ruben Amorim introduces second Man Utd ban as new boss puts his foot down​

Simeone chokes up after making LaLiga history​​

Amorim: Pep’s new deal ‘a problem for everybody’​​

NWSL Championship: Will Washington or Orlando win? Rodman or Marta to decide it?​​

Are you surprised that either of these teams landed in the final?

Which team winning would be a more exciting story?

Which on-field battle are you most interested in?

Which one player who could decide the game are you keeping an eye on?

OK, prediction time: Pick the winner and the final score

NWSL Championship: Will Washington or Orlando win? Rodman or Marta to decide it?​​

Are you surprised that either of these teams landed in the final?

Which team winning would be a more exciting story?

Which on-field battle are you most interested in?

Which one player who could decide the game are you keeping an eye on?

OK, prediction time: Pick the winner and the final score

Ruben Amorim introduces second Man Utd ban as new boss puts his foot down

Simeone chokes up after making LaLiga history

Amorim: Pep’s new deal ‘a problem for everybody’

NWSL Championship: Will Washington or Orlando win? Rodman or Marta to decide it?

NWSL Championship: Will Washington or Orlando win? Rodman or Marta to decide it?