Philippa Kaur

More stories

  • 238 Shares139 Views

    in Soccer

    ‘Like walking into a luxury spa’ – Nuno Espirito Santo plays handpan in his office, reveals Nottingham Forest star

    NOTTINGHAM FOREST manager Nuno Espirito Santo has adopted a very unusual hobby during his time in charge at City Ground.Nuno, 51, joined Forest in December 2023 and has taken the club by storm by leading them to their first European qualification in 30 years after a turbulent debut season that saw him barely escaping relegation.Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has adopted an unusual hobbyNuno plays the handpan in his office to unwind and meet Forest’s demandsAccording to The Athletic, however, it’s not just the performances on the pitch that have left everyone at Nottingham fascinated with the Portuguese tactician.But it’s also the fact that the ex-Wolves boss has proven to be a very multi-layered person.The former Tottenham boss is well-known as a composed, disciplined and soft-spoken person when he speaks in front of the cameras.But behind the scenes he shows various different attributes as former team-mates remember him as a daredevil, who loves deep-sea diving, as well as a dressing room joker.Read More on FootballForest captain Ryan Yates also revealed Nuno has become famous for his love of music.One of the first things the ex-Porto star did when he signed with Forest was locating a music shop in Nottingham that could find him a percussion instrument known as a handpan.The handpan produces soothing sounds when tapping or drumming against its steel edges as it perches on the knee and looks like a huge metallic shell. And it has become quite common for people to hear these melodic sounds from the manager’s office.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSYates told The Athletic: “Is that [handpan] what it’s called?“I went for a chat with him and I just sat there while he was playing it for five, 10 minutes. Taiwo Awoniyi health update with Nottingham Forest star recovering in hospital after emergency abdominal surgery”It was incredible — like walking into a luxury spa or a five-star hotel. I thought I was going to fall asleep!”Yates insists this is just one of many things that show what a “very special man” Nuno is.The midfielder also praised the former goalkeeper’s stunning job at Forest as he led them to the FA Cup semi-finals as well this season.Yates added: “He’s a very special man. He’s very different to anyone I’ve come across before. But, more than anything, he’s obviously incredible at his job. “It’s incredible for the club to orchestrate Forest to their first European success in 30 years. It speaks for itself. Incredible.”Nuno is now gearing up for Sunday’s crunch home clash with Chelsea in the final fixture of the 2024-25 Premier League season needing a victory and other results to go his way in order to secure Champions League qualification.Read More on The SunNottingham saw their Champions League hopes suffering a devastating blow two weeks ago when they drew 2-2 with Leicester at City Ground.The game made headlines after Taiwo Awoniyi’s horror injury which led to owner Evangelos Marinakis having an intense talk with Nuno in front of the cameras at full-time as the Greek supremo was very unhappy with the way that incident was handled by the medical team. More

  • 225 Shares179 Views

    in Soccer

    Alejandro Garnacho ‘set for showdown talks with Man Utd’ and unhappy star ‘has no relationship with Ruben Amorim’

    ALEJANDRO GARNACHO is set to meet with Manchester United representatives this week to discuss a potential exit.The 20-year-old was left furious after being limited to just 20 minutes of match time in the 1-0 Europa League final defeat to Spurs on Wednesday.Alejandro Garnacho is set for showdown talks with Man UtdCredit: GettyHe said: “I’ve played every round until I reached the final, but I only played 20 minutes today.”I’ll enjoy the summer and then we’ll see.”His brother then added fuel to the fire by suggesting the winger had been “thrown under the bus” by Ruben Amorim in Bilbao.Garnacho has become increasingly frustrated with the United head coach in recent months.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAnd ESPN report that he no longer has a good relationship with him.The winger and his representatives are expected to meet with United officials in the coming days to discuss a move away.Man Utd chiefs are understood to be willing to negotiate a sale if a suitable offer arrives. Garnacho has been unhappy with his squad role in the second half of the season.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordHe is also dissatisfied with how Amorim managed the situation around his selection for the Europa League final.Man Utd reportedly want around £60million for the Argentina international.’What did he expect?’ – Sir Alex Ferguson looks ‘absolutely disgusted’ in new footage from Man Utd Europa League lossChelsea have been heavily linked with a move for him since January.Napoli are also understood to be interested.ESPN has also claimed that Garnacho’s representatives expect more interest from Premier League rivals and Saudi Pro League clubs. More

  • 200 Shares119 Views

    in Soccer

    Man Utd ‘set Alejandro Garnacho asking price’ after Chelsea target’s controversial comments following Europa League snub

    MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly set their asking price for Alejandro Garnacho.The winger has been linked with a departure for Old Trafford since the January window.Alejandro Garnacho could leave Man Utd this summerCredit: Shutterstock EditorialAnd speculation about his future has only intensified following his comments after the Europa League final.Garnacho was disappointed to have started on the bench, and felt he deserved more than ten minutes to try and salvage the match for United.Now his future is unclear amid reports the Red Devils could be willing to sell him and Kobbie Mainoo – both players would guarantee pure profit as they came from the academy.Chelsea have reportedly been considering a bid for Garnacho, having first been linked in January.READ MORE ON MAN UTDUnited would demand around £60million to let the Argentine leave, report The Telegraph.Garnacho was very critical of United’s season as he dropped a hint he could leave.He said: “It’s difficult for all of us. This season has been s***.“We lost the final, we didn’t beat anyone in the league. It’s very difficult.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSGarnacho cryptically added: “I’ve played every round until I reached the final, but I only played 20 minutes today.“I’ll enjoy the summer and then we’ll see.”Son Heung-min hit in head by TROPHY as Tottenham celebrate Europa League victory over Man Utd More

  • 225 Shares99 Views

    in Soccer

    Major football tournament to be shown on Disney+ with 75 games aired as streaming platform agrees five-year deal

    STREAMING giant Disney+ has won the broadcast rights for a huge European football competition.The subscription service will broadcast the Women’s Champions League from the 2025-26 campaign, having agreed a five-year deal.Disney+ has won the rights to the Women’s Champions LeagueCredit: GettyBarcelona are the current holdersCredit: AFPDAZN has kept the rights for the last four seasons, making coverage free-to-air on its app and YouTube channel.A few select fixtures have also been available to watch on TNT Sports in the United Kingdom.But the new deal, which is set to see every match broadcast live, marks the start of a new era.Disney+ EMEA general manager Karl Holmes said: “The UEFA Women’s Champions League is the very best in football performance, dedication and passion.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Bringing this incredible tournament to our customers speaks to our commitment of delivering a huge range of bold and dynamic entertainment.”As women’s football continues to grow with audiences worldwide, we’re proud to offer the thrill and excitement of every single match to Disney+ customers across Europe, at no extra cost.”Uefa marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein added: “The UEFA Women’s Champions League has seen exceptional growth in recent years, with record-breaking attendance, rising standards, and increasing global interest.”These new broadcast deals not only reflect this but are important milestones in the continued development of women’s football in Europe, underscoring its growing importance and appeal to fans worldwide.”Most read in Champions LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSDisney+ will show all 75 matches from the competition across Europe, starting from October.Coverage will be produced by ESPN – Disney’s multi-platform sports brand.Arsenal reveal new home kit for 2025/26 season with major change to badge and eye-watering priceFrom next season the format of the Women’s Champions League is set to change.The group stage will be replaced with a league table format – much like the men’s competition.As things stand, 18 teams will enter the league with each side playing six games.At the end of the league phase, the top four teams will automatically qualify for the quarter-finals.The clubs ranked fifth to 12th will compete in a two-legged knockout phase play-off, with the winner of each fixture progressing to the last-eight.And those placed 13th to 18th will be eliminated from the competition.Read More on The SunThe final of the 2024-25 Women’s Champions League will take place on Saturday.Arsenal face current holders Barcelona for the trophy at Estadio José Alvalade in Lisbon. More

  • 225 Shares179 Views

    in Soccer

    Man Utd star AVOIDS jail after he crashed Audi in 99mph horror smash with ‘balloon in his mouth’

    A FORMER Man Utd star has avoided jail after he was caught with a balloon in his mouth before he crashed his Audi in a 99mph horror smash.Brandon Williams was driving erratically on the A34 near Handforth in Cheshire on August 20, 2023.Brandon Williams has pleaded guilty to driving dangerouslyCredit: Andrew Price / View Finder PicturesThe former Man Utd player crashed his Audi at 99mphCredit: GettyThe 24-year-old was playing for Utd at the time but was loaned to Ipswich for the 2023-24 season.Williams today avoided jail after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without third party insurance following the high-speed crash.He was instead handed a 14 month sentence, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for three years.Sentencing, Judge Eric Lamb said: “There was no reason for driving in the way you did.”Chester Crown Court heard the defender was with a female passenger at the time of the crash and was “showing off”..She was seen filming him at one point as Williams reached speeds of 99mph with a balloon in his mouth, it was said.He lost control of the Audi A3 before it collided with a blue Ford Fiesta and then smashed into the central reservation.Three of the occupants of the Fiesta, which was written off, were injured with one saying she “felt she was going to be killed”.Most read in FootballThe female driver and a male passenger suffered whiplash, while another passenger was left with seatbelt injuries and bruising.Williams, who no longer has a team, was breathalysed at the scene but the test was negative.A witness said Williams’ Audi had been “closing in” behind her before the smash and claimed both the star and his passenger had “yellow balloons in their mouths”.But Max Saffman, prosecuting, told the court that the crown did not contend Williams was “impaired” by nitrous oxide or any other substance.The footballer was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries before he was arrested.Williams told police he was driving the Audi but initially denied he was driving erratically.He also attempted to blame another driver for the crash – telling officers he only hit the central reservation as he was forced to swerve.Williams was asked about witnesses who saw him with a balloon at his mouth but he replied: “No comment”.The court heard had been given “too much too soon” and was experiencing “significant mental health issues” at the time.Williams, who is without a club, is now said to be “in better shape mentally and physically” and is hoping to secure a contract this summer. The footballer joined United’s academy as a youngster and went on to make 51 appearances for the first team.Williams has spent two stints on loan away from Old Trafford — firstly with Norwich City during the 2021/22 season where he made 26 appearances and then Ipswich.In June last year, Utd announced that Williams would leave the club at the end of his contract.Andrew Madden, a senior crown prosecutor with CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “Brandon Williams’ driving on that day clearly fell far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver.“Expert analysis showed that he was driving at 99 mph four seconds before he hit the Ford Fiesta.“Witnesses said Williams kept speeding up and then breaking sharply.“It was clear he wasn’t in control of the vehicle.“The driving was erratic and the speed was grossly excessive. “Eventually, Williams lost control completely and crashed.“It is a fortunate no one was seriously injured or killed.Read More on The Sun“To drive at 99mph in those circumstances was extremely dangerous and placed the lives of other road users at serious risk of harm.“The Crown Prosecution Service wishes to thank the witnesses for supporting this prosecution.”Williams pictured arriving at court todayCredit: Andrew Price / View Finder Pictures More

  • 238 Shares159 Views

    in Soccer

    Florian Wirtz ‘house-hunting in Liverpool with Bayern chiefs fearing worst as Reds set to offer more than German giants’

    BAYER LEVERKUSEN star Florian Wirtz is reportedly house-hunting in Liverpool amid an ongoing bidding war for his signature.Wirtz, 22, has attracted interest from a host of elite clubs, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester City and of course the Reds after two stunning campaigns at Leverkusen.Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz is reportedly house-hunting in LiverpoolLiverpool’s bid for Wirtz is causing ‘a bit of fear’ within Bayern Munich’s campThe playmaker was one of the key reasons behind the German giants’ undefeated Double-winning run last season before amassing a total of 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances this term.Bayern have been posing as favourites to land the Germany international during the summer transfer window.According to transfer insider Christian Falk, however, Liverpool appear to be stealing a march on the newly-crowned German champions.Falk claims the Merseysiders are the likeliest to come the closest to Wirtz’s astronomical €150million (£126m) release clause, which means they could eclipse the Premier League’s transfer record of £115m.Read More on FootballThe journalist also reports that Liverpool’s intense interest is having an effect on the German and that has led him to look at accommodation in the city.That has caused “a bit of fear” within the Bayern camp which is forcing them to take swift action.The Bavarians are not keen on meeting Wirtz’s expensive asking price or matching Liverpool’s bid.But Vincent Kompany’s side are planning a big meeting with the player and his family, including his father Hans-Joachim who is also his agent.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe two parties will meet at club executive Uli Hoeness’ house in Tegernsee.Bayern will try and fork out a deal with Wirtz’s family that will prove more attractive than Liverpool’s offer in terms of personal terms.Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong reveals why he snubbed Liverpool and chose Man City last time Reds tried to sign himThe Bundesliga giants are planning to use Hoeness’ influence as the Leverkusen star’s dad is the same age as the legendary forward and he thus grew up admiring him.Bayern and Liverpool received a massive transfer boost recently when Man City pulled out of the transfer race.Real’s interest, on the other hand, isn’t worrying the German table-toppers as much as the Prem champions’ bid. More

  • 238 Shares159 Views

    in Soccer

    ‘Here’s a gift for Alonso’ – Arne Slot hints Trent Alexander-Arnold WON’T get Liverpool send-off in brutal parting shot

    LIVERPOOL boss Arne Slot has sent a parting warning to Real Madrid about Trent Alexander-Arnold.Slot, 46, has also hinted that the right-back WON’T get a huge send-off in his last-ever game at Anfield on the final day of the season.Arne Slot has opened up about some of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s weaknessesCredit: APThe academy graduate will depart his beloved Reds after 20 years at the club at the end of the campaign.The 26-year-old is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer in a move that has left most Liverpool fans fuming.Up until now Slot has remained neutral on the matter, repeatedly saying: “Everyone is free to have their own opinion.”But the Dutchman appears to have made a U-turn on his promise to play Alexander-Arnold in his final days at the club.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSSlot has come out and said that Alexander-Arnold has struggled in training and needs to up his game defensively. He said: “He’s going to leave anyway so why not, it might be the first gift I can give Xabi Alonso.”I wasn’t completely happy with every single minute he was on the training ground.”In my opinion there were certain moments he could do more, to put it mildly. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”I told him he’s a much better defender than people think, but you don’t show it all the time.”The England international was an unused sub during Liverpool’s latest 3-2 defeat to Brighton at the Amex, where he looked emotional after receiving a mixed reception from the away end. Liverpool boss Arne Slot parties with Wayne Lineker in Ibiza just hours after Premier League clash with Arsenal_2Slot hasn’t decided if the defender will play against Crystal Palace, before Liverpool lift the title on Sunday.It comes after Alexander-Arnold was loudly booed by Liverpool fans after coming on against Arsenal on May 11.Liverpool have generally been supportive, with Mohamed Salah telling Gary Neville that “the fans were being harsh with him” and “he didn’t deserve it”.And Dominik Szoboszlai questioned the home fans on the pitch after Alexander-Arnold received a hostile reception against Arsenal.Alexander-Arnold is known as one of the best passers in world football and is set to be confirmed as a Madrid player in due course.Madrid have cheekily asked Liverpool to release him for free so he can play in the group stages of the Club World Cup.His contract expires on June 30, with Madrid heading out Stateside for the Club World Cup, which gets underway on June 14.Read More on The SunThere, he will join up with international team-mate and best pal Jude Bellingham, but it still remains to be seen if he’ll get a proper goodbye.Meanwhile, former Anfield ace Alonso, who recently left Bayer Leverkusen, hasn’t been officially named as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor either.Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool exit interviewTRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD spoke to Liverpool’s in-house club media to explain his decision to leave Anfield.Here are the key parts…I think first and foremost, I want to say it’s not an easy decision and there’s a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into it. I’ve been here 20 years now, loved every single minute of it, achieved all my dreams, achieved everything I’ve ever wanted to here. Giving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I’ve got to a point now where I feel like I need a change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person. And I think now is the right time for me to do that.Obviously there’s been a lot of noise around what the decision was going to be and how that was going to look. I know a lot of people will say I should have said sooner, a lot of people will say maybe I waited for the right time. But I felt personally the focus should always be on the pitch.I’ve got full confidence in the manager and the staff and the club going forward. It’s not about me thinking we’re not going to fight for titles or fight for trophies season in, season out… it was never about not having confidence in that, it just boiled down to what I felt I needed, and that is a change.Growing up, seeing players leave that I’ve loved watching and have helped the team win trophies, you feel a connection to the players that you watch, especially when they bring success to the club as well. So, I completely understand the feelings that go with that and I’ve felt it myself so I completely understand that the news will disappoint a lot of people, will anger people, it will make them upset. Obviously that went into the decision as well – it’s something you don’t want to do, you don’t want to ever have these moments where you feel like you’re letting a lot of people down, you’re disappointing a lot of people. But I’ve had to make a decision for me, it’s as simple as that. It’s a difficult one, it’s one that has played on my mind for a long time but being able now to get it off my chest will feel like a weight is lifted. And I think it’s important for the fans to know where I stand and know what the truth is.I fell in love with the club from a very, very young age and that’s something that has grown and grown day in, day out. This club has given me the opportunities to achieve everything beyond my wildest dreams. I can never repay enough of what’s been given to me and I don’t take it for granted at all. I’ve given everything every single day for 20 years now. I’ve sacrificed everything. I know the news will take a bit of time to set in and people won’t be happy and they’ll be disappointed. At the end of the day, you can be angry and hurt at me but I just hope that the lads, the rest of the team, the staff, everyone else is able to feel how good a season this has been and able to feel the love and support from the fans as they have done all season.There’s no doubt about it, I’ll be back – I’d love one day to be able to bring my kids to Anfield and show them that that’s where I’ve played and show them the videos and highlights of what we were able to achieve together. So just a huge thank you for that, thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. Thank you for the support, thank you for the love that I’ve always felt, thank you for always having my back. I will always love the club, I will always love the people of the club, I will always love the fans and the supporters. Even though I’m leaving as player, as a fan I’ll always be a Liverpool fan. More

  • 200 Shares139 Views

    in Soccer

    Captaincy options for Gameweek 37: Cole Palmer to roll back the months for Chelsea’s double header?

    DREAM TEAM managers have until 2:30pm on Sunday to select their captain for the final Gameweek of the 2024/25 season.Given that Chelsea are the only team set to play twice, Cole Palmer (£4.9m) has to be considered a strong candidate for the armband.An extra fixture at his disposalCredit: Dream TeamThe Blues will take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday to complete their Premier League campaign before facing Real Betis in the Conference League final on Wednesday night.With Champions League qualification hanging in the balance, Enzo Maresca will not have the luxury of naming a second-string XI against Forest, meaning Palmer is likely to start both fixtures.The England international started the season in superb form but his returns have dwindled in recent months.He’s scored 15 goals in all competitions this campaign but just one since the start of February.Palmer’s reduced effectiveness is certainly a concern but many Dream Team bosses will feel his additional fixture is the overriding factor.His overall record of 322 points at an average of 7.7 per game remains highly impressive.And the fact he is Chelsea’s first-choice penalty-taker is also a significant plus point.Salah has a good record against Crystal PalaceCredit: EPAElsewhere, Mohamed Salah (£6.6m) is due to face Crystal Palace at Anfield.Most read in FootballLike most Liverpool players, the Egyptian all but checked out the moment the league title was secured but on Sunday the Reds might meet an opponent even more hungover than themselves in the form of Oliver Glasner’s FA Cup winners.With both sides having achieved their goals, this meeting could be an open contest, which might play into Salah’s hands.The 32-year-old has registered 13 goal involvements in 13 league games against Palace as a Liverpool player.Gaffers with Bukayo Saka (£5.8m) in their ranks will be tempted to captain him ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Southampton.Saka will finish his campaign with a trip to SouthamptonCredit: EPASt Mary’s will play host to the biggest mismatch of the final weekend in terms of league positions: 20th versus 2nd.The Gunners’ No7 has scored 12 goals and provided 17 assists this season – an incredible record given he missed three months with a hamstring injury.Saka scored against Saints in the reverse fixture and will fancy his chances of exploiting the top flight’s worst defence again.Elsewhere, Jarrod Bowen (£5.6m) is well placed to finish the season in style against Ipswich having scored four goals in his last five outings.Read More on The SunA wildcard optionCredit: Shutterstock EditorialAnd if the Europa League final is any indicator, Ollie Watkins (£4.6m) and/or Morgan Rogers (£4.4m) could have their wicked way with Manchester United.One suspects Palmer will be the popular captain among the most engaged managers but there are viable alternatives for those who want to go against the grain.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More