Simeone chokes up after making LaLiga history

by | Nov 24, 2024 | Blog

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

Valencia’s first game since devastating floods was an emotional release for club, players and city

by | Nov 24, 2024 | Blog

Valencia’s first game since devastating floods was an emotional release for club, players and city

After last month’s flooding claimed at least 221 lives, Valencia’s return to action at Mestalla provided a place for unity, support and respect.

After last month’s flooding claimed at least 221 lives, Valencia’s return to action at Mestalla provided a place for unity, support and respect. After last month’s flooding claimed at least 221 lives, Valencia’s return to action at Mestalla provided a place for unity, support and respect.

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Valencia cruise past Real Betis with quick-fire second half goals (1:58)Relegation-battling Valencia defeat Real Betis 4-2 in a shock LaLiga win. (1:58)

VALENCIA, Spain — César Tárrega does not score many goals, but he knew exactly how he was going to celebrate when he gave Valencia the lead against Real Betis. The central defender peeled away and grabbed a shirt which had printed on it: “We will come through this together.”

That has been the message across Spanish football since deadly floods hit Valencia and the surrounding areas at the end of October, leading to 221 fatalities. That was the message at Mestalla on Saturday when, after three postponed games, Valencia finally made a hugely emotional return to LaLiga action.

This was the club’s first fixture since a year’s worth of rain fell on the region in just eight hours on Oct. 29, leading to flash floods across many towns and villages. It was Valencia’s first home game since Oct. 21. It would prove their first win since Sept. 21, too, but it was an occasion that meant more than three points as football became a vehicle to remember the victims of the flooding.

Tárrega was one of many inside the stadium brought to tears by the homage laid on by the club before the game. The 22-year-old’s family home in Aldaya, to the east of Valencia, was one of those flooded. The lives of his friends and family have since been turned upside down. It will take months, if not longer, to repair the damage inflicted on Aldaya and many other towns like it. It felt fitting that he should score the first goal.

Betis did briefly level, Aitor Ruibal‘s free kick turned by Valencia striker Hugo Duro into his own net. Ruibal started to celebrate but quickly apologised to the home fans, instead making his way over to the bench to grab the flag of the Valencian community. He held it aloft with teammate Marc Bartra; then he apologised again.

Duro, meanwhile, made amends with two quick-fire goals in the second half as Valencia went on to win 4-2, climbing off the foot of the table courtesy of just their second win of the campaign. It completed a roller coaster of an afternoon for the forward, who was another who had been overcome with emotion in the moving moments before the game, like Tárrega and many fans among the 43,000 crowd.

“I knew I would cry,” Duro told reporters postmatch. “The last few weeks have been tough for Valencia, and there is still a lot of work to be done. It’s hard to see the city as it is, but the homage was incredible, and I think the performance lived up to the occasion.

“I’m someone who cries easily. Experiencing this all in person is tough because it’s like there has been a war here. Since I got wind of what the homage would be, I knew I was going to cry. In the team talk I was already holding tears back. We wanted to pay homage with a win, but the points were secondary today.”

With the city’s metro still out of action and many people’s cars washed away, Valencia laid on buses to Mestalla for supporters in the affected areas. They also pledged to donate all the matchday revenue to help support and regenerate the towns and villages hit hardest. Owner Peter Lim said he would personally match the figure raised, too.

Before the match, a giant Senyera — the flag of the region — covered the playing surface as the two sets of players emerged from the tunnel to the song “Voces de Valencia,” carrying a giant black memorial symbol onto the pitch.

The region’s anthem was then played as an enormous tifo was unveiled displaying the names of the towns and villages affected. It was at this point, and in the minute’s silence that followed, that some of Valencia’s players, dressed in black instead of their usual white as a mark of respect, became visibly affected by the occasion.

It has been a gruelling month for them and a testing time for Spanish football. On Nov. 2, Valencia were supposed to host Real Madrid. Instead, Mestalla was being used as a makeshift warehouse for aid. That was one of six games eventually cancelled that weekend across the top two divisions in the country, including matches involving Villarreal and Levante.

Many felt that was not enough. Those were the clubs directly implicated, but there were players and staff at almost every team with some link to the area either directly or indirectly. Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno’s hometown of Massanassa was one of those flooded. He took charge of his team on the Saturday, and on the Sunday returned home, shovel in hand, to help with the cleanup.

Barça’s Ferran Torres, the Valencia-born forward currently out injured, announced that he did not have the strength to attend his team’s derby against Espanyol. Girona‘s Miguel Gutiérrez dedicated his goal to a friend whose mother was missing. The list goes on. Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone said it made no sense for football to continue.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas argued the game continued to place the spotlight on the catastrophe. Television broadcasts displayed a phone number on the screen whereby, in collaboration with the Red Cross, viewers could pledge money to help the victims. Clubs across Spain chipped in. Real Madrid donated €1 million. Castellón raised €410,000. Real Betis gave €100,000.

At a lower level, the devastation has been much greater. Clubs like seventh-tier CF Paiporta have seen their grounds completely destroyed by the flooding.

Meanwhile, Valencia’s Copa del Rey tie against Parla Escuela was also delayed, and the Nov. 9 trip to Espanyol was then postponed. The other clubs in the region did begin to return to action, though. Villarreal did so wearing black. Levante, also based within the city of Valencia, did so with a special shirt coated in a mud effect to represent the catastrophic images seen as the muddy waters subsided to reveal wrecked cars piled up and impossibly high water marks on buildings.

On Saturday, it was Valencia’s turn. Arrigo Sacchi famously said football is the most important of the least important things, but it is also so often linked to the most important things in one way or another. That was certainly the case at Mestalla, as football provided a platform for unity, support and respect.

“I believe that these difficult moments we have been through have made us see that together we can change things and try to help people recover their lives,” Valencia coach Rubén Baraja said in his postmatch news conference. “We have to work hard so that people can have a normal life again.

“Today may well have been the most emotional moment I’ve experienced in football, certainly one of them. The emotions, the atmosphere, the respect the Mestalla showed, it gave you goose bumps. The victory is dedicated to all of the victims and all of those affected. We want them to know that their club will help them and support in them in the reconstruction of the [towns and villages].”

And it may well have been only a small detail in the grand scheme of things, but there could not have been a more suitable opening scorer than Tárrega.

“César’s one of those who’s been really close to this tragedy,” Diego López, scorer of the fourth goal, told reporters.

“He’s from one of the places which has been hit the hardest. He deserved that goal. He has suffered a lot and there’s no better reward for him than scoring a goal and being able to dedicate it to everyone from Valencia and his hometown. I am delighted for him.”

www.espn.com – SOCCER

After last month’s flooding claimed at least 221 lives, Valencia’s return to action at Mestalla provided a place for unity, support and respect.

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...

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.”

Wrexham cruise to 3-0 win with dominant display

by | Nov 24, 2024 | Blog

Wrexham cruise to 3-0 win with dominant display

Wrexham earned a comfortable 3-0 home win over Exeter City on Saturday, moving the Welsh side up to second place in League One.

Wrexham earned a comfortable 3-0 home win over Exeter City on Saturday, moving the Welsh side up to second place in League One. Wrexham earned a comfortable 3-0 home win over Exeter City on Saturday, moving the Welsh side up to second place in League One.

ByESPN

Wrexham earned a comfortable 3-0 home win over Exeter City on Saturday, moving the Welsh side up to second place in League One.

Max Cleworth opened the scoring after just seven minutes before Ollie Palmer doubled the hosts’ advantage on 25 minutes.

Oliver Rathbone netted the third with a header from a James McClean.

It moves Wrexham into second place with 31 points after 16 games, four points behind league leaders Wycombe who have a game in-hand.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Wrexham earned a comfortable 3-0 home win over Exeter City on Saturday, moving the Welsh side up to second place in League One.

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?

Simeone chokes up after making LaLiga history​​

Valencia’s first game since devastating floods was an emotional release for club, players and city​​

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

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

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

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

Simeone chokes up after making LaLiga history

Valencia’s first game since devastating floods was an emotional release for club, players and city

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

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

Wrexham cruise to 3-0 win with dominant display

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