Champions League

BERNARDO SILVA had a “meltdown” as he was taking his penalty last night, a body language expert has claimed.The Portuguese star played 120 minutes as Manchester City took on Real Madrid at the Etihad.Bernardo Silva’s spot kick was saved by Andriy LuninCredit: RexLunin made an easy save after opting not to diveCredit: RexSilva was left devastated by his missCredit: GettyCity went on to lose the shoot-outCredit: APFollowing their 1-1 draw, the two sides went to penalties to decide the quarter-final tie.When Silva stepped up it was 1-0 to City, with Julian Alvarez having scored and Luka Modric’s effort having been saved by Ederson.The attacking midfielder couldn’t extend his side’s advantage, however, instead tamely striking his effort down the middle.With Andriy Lunin opting not to dive, he was presented with an easy save.READ MORE MAN CITY NEWSSilva had been made to wait to take his spot kick, after Modric had kicked the ball into the crowd following his miss.He then appeared nervous as he stepped up, poking his tongue out.Speaking to OLBG, body language expert Darren Stanton pointed to Silva’s nervous wait.He said: “The crowd might have been giving Bernardo Silva time to compose himself by holding onto the ball, but it might have come across as a sign of disapproval from the fans. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER”This would have caused a more stressful wait for the player before taking his penalty.”Stanton then gave his verdict on Silva sticking his tongue out, continuing: “It reminds me of someone having a kickabout in a park, it lacked any focus, or passion, get up and go.Jude Bellingham cheekily calls out Micah Richards for breaking promise after ‘little wager’ before Man City loss”The tongue is the most significant gesture, it’s got several connotations depending on the context. Kids will do it for fun, sticking their tongues out.”But one of the main reasons people do it is when people try to concentrate and focus. He was sticking his tongue out in a pacifying gesture.”He was incredibly stressed under incredible pressure. But in slow motion, everything was wrong about the whole thing.”Stanton concluded by claiming that Silva looked to be in “meltdown”.He added: “The goalkeeper didn’t even have to move, it’s like kids in the park playing a normal game, using jumpers as goalposts. You can’t believe it was a professional footballer who took that shot. “We don’t know what he was thinking, but from a body language point of view, he’s having a bit of a meltdown. It’s a crisis of confidence.”The facial expression with his eyes just seemed to go into space, and the tongue is the main thing.For some reason, in that moment, he’s had a complete meltdownBody Language Expert”He was trying to concentrate but at the same time, the way his tongue stuck out, he was trying to reassure himself. That’s what children do.”For some reason, in that moment, he’s had a complete meltdown regarding his confidence in his abilities and craft.”City went on to lose the shoot-out 4-3, with Lunin also denying Mateo Kovacic – after the Croatian’s former Chelsea team-mate Antonio Rudiger told him which way to dive.Following his heroics, the Real Madrid goalkeeper, standing in for Thibaut Courtois, said: “I needed to take a risk with one of the kicks, we picked one (to stay in the middle) and thank goodness it worked out in our favour.”It’s an away Champions League game and we went through a lot of suffering… but I’m very grateful to the team for everything they’ve fought for.”I can’t imagine myself running like my team-mates did today.”He also told Marca: “We prepared it with the goalkeeping coach and there were three players with whom we had doubts about whether to stay in the middle or not.”READ MORE SUN STORIESReal Madrid will now face Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, after the German side defeated Arsenal 3-2 on aggregate.City, meanwhile, will turn their attention back towards domestic action – with an FA Cup semi-final against Brighton to come on Saturday. More

KYLIAN MBAPPE sparked a 60-man brawl after Paris Saint-Germain knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League, according to reports. The French giants ran out 6-4 aggregate winners thanks to a 4-1 win over Barcelona in the second leg on Tuesday, with Mbappe scoring twice.Kylian Mbappe reportedly triggered a 60-person brawl in the tunnel after PSG beat BarcelonaCredit: GettySome ‘vindictive’ comments were made by Mbappe that angered Barcelona playersCredit: ReutersAnd reports in Spain have now revealed things got heated after the final whistle.According to Mundo Deportivo, PSG players left the pitch at Barcelona’s temporary home of the Olympic Stadium in an excited manner and made no attempts to hide it, to the annoyance of some Barcelona stars.But when Mbappe, 25, entered the tunnel the tension boiled over. The Frenchman is said to have entered the tunnel to head to the dressing room shouting and celebrating in a “vindictive way” with some team-mates. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMbappe, who is fluent in Spanish, is then alleged to have said: “This is football and it is on the field where we have to talk.”His comments enraged more than one Barca star as they believed him to be addressing them.This then led to a confrontation with insults and shouting as a shoving match ensued, with players and staff involved as security personnel tried to defuse the situation.The report says there were more than 60 people in the crowd.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERFortunately, the report adds that no physical damage or injury was inflicted on anyone.It’s also been claimed Mbappe made a provocative gesture towards Barca fans as he left the pitch, shouting “let’s go” in French.Micah Richards told to ‘consider other career paths’ after dreadful Champions League prediction re-emergesMbappe has confirmed he will be leaving PSG when his contract expires in the summer, with Barcelona’s rivals Real Madrid believed to be his next destination on a free transfer.PSG will face Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals of the Champions League.Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will compete in the other semi-final after defeating Manchester City and Arsenal respectively. More

HARRY KANE is ready to go to ‘war’ with Jude Bellingham as English football’s two great exiles prepare to face off in a Champions League semi-final.Kane’s Bayern Munich and Bellingham’s Real Madrid ended Premier League interest in Europe’s elite competition with quarter-final victories over Arsenal and Manchester City on Wednesday night.Harry Kane has revealed he is ready to go to ‘war’ with Jude Bellingham to win the Champions LeagueCredit: GettyBellingham’s Real Madrid will face Kane’s Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the Champions LeagueCredit: APAnd Kane, who left Tottenham for Bayern last summer, says he and Bellingham snubbed moves to English clubs to give themselves a better chance of competing at the sharp end of the Champions League.Kane said: “Jude has had a fantastic season, he’s a top player, so I’m really happy for him.“But it will be another war against his team but these are the experiences that we both went abroad to try to achieve.”To play in these big nights in the Champions League, to play in these big semi-finals.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“It will be one to enjoy and I’m sure there will be a lot of English fans watching both of us. We have to focus on ourselves. I’ll say hello but once we’re on the pitch, it’s business.”Kane and Bellingham are both targeting a Champions League Final at Wembley on June 1, ahead of England’s Euros campaign in Germany.And Kane said: “Wembley is the dream for both of us, for sure. With Wembley being our national stadium, it’s extra motivation for us”But there are two games ahead of us before that, which are going to be really tough so we have to focus on that.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBellingham and Kane will have to put their England friendship aside for the Champions League semi-finalCredit: GettyKane and his Bayern team-mates, including fellow Englishman Eric Dier, watched Real’s penalty shoot-out victory over City from their Allianz Arena dressing-room after they had defeated Arsenal 1-0 to complete a 3-2 aggregate success.The England captain said: “We watched in the locker room, having a bit of food – Real Madrid are a big club with an amazing history in the Champions League so it’s going to be a really difficult game for us.Jude Bellingham cheekily calls out Micah Richards for breaking promise after ‘little wager’ before Man City lossThis one will have stung Kane the most… what’s the German for schadenfreude?, says Dave KiddBy Dave Kidd

OF all the trophies Harry Kane has missed out on, the Bundesliga will have stung the most.
This was supposed to have been a dead cert. This was nailed-on.
Bayern Munich had won 11 successive Bundesliga titles, so when the England captain signed for the great Bavarian powerhouse last summer, we all said: “Well, at least he’ll finally win something.”
Yet on Sunday evening, there were Bayer Leverkusen — known in Germany as ‘Neverkusen’ because they hadn’t previously won the league thanks to several late implosions — cavorting around, 16 points clear, unbeaten in all competitions and confirmed as champions with five games to spare.
And so the greatest trophy curse in footballing history continues.
And this one really is freakish because Leverkusen’s story is almost as extraordinary as Leicester City’s miracle title in 2015-16 — the season when Kane won his first Premier League Golden Boot and Tottenham ended up ‘third in a two-horse race’ behind Arsenal.
Kane is always the runner-up, always the nearly man, always the fall guy, too often a figure of fun for those taking pleasure in the misfortune of others.
Does anyone know the German word for schadenfreude…?
Click here to read Dave Kidd’s column in full.
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“But that’s what the semi-finals of the Champions League are all about, playing the biggest teams.”Kane says Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel – a Champions League winner with Chelsea in 2021 – is determined to sign off with the European Cup before he leaves Bavaria this summer after his side surrendered their Bundesliga crown to Bayer Leverkusen.He added: “We are going to stick behind Thomas as long as he is here, until the end of the season.“He has given all his energy to make us successful in this competition and we feel we can come together and finish his reign here on a high.“We need that togetherness, we’ve lacked it a bit in the Bundesliga this year, we’ve had it in the Champions League, so we are going to need more of it in the semi-final.“It feels amazing to be there. Credit to Arsenal, they put up a tough test but in the second leg we knew we had an extra five per cent, which was the crowd behind us.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We knew we could find a way to get through and that’s what we did. “The first half, I thought the game was 50-50, a bit cagey, but in the second half we came out with a real intensity, we had a few chances that hit the post and we got the goal, we stuck together and we saw it through.”Kane and Bayern ended Arsenal’s European dream with a 3-2 aggregate winCredit: GettyManchester City were knocked out by Real Madrid on penaltiesCredit: PA More

JUDE BELLINGHAM teased Micah Richards after knocking Manchester City out of the Champions League last night.The Real Madrid star, 20, played the full 120 minutes before netting his spot-kick in the shoot-out as his side beat City 4-3 on penalties.Jude Bellingham cheekily pointed out the wagerCredit: CBSMicah Richards was not wearing a Real Madrid shirt in the studioCredit: CBSAfter the game, the midfielder spoke to CBS Sports to reflect on the result.When it was put to him that pundit Richards, a former City player, might be upset with the result, Bellingham beamed.He then said of Richards: “He’s still meant to be wearing the Madrid shirt after the little wager we had so I’m disappointed not to see that.”Hopefully we’ll see it for the semi-final.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLPundits on CBS have previously worn shirts of rival teams after losing wagers.Jamie Carragher and Richards have both worn Arsenal shirts on the show.Although Manchester United fan Kate Abdo has refused to wear another team’s colours.While doing his media rounds, Bellingham also spoke to the TNT Sports crew.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERJamie Carragher previously wore an Arsenal shirt on CBSCredit: CBS SportsHe chatted with host Laura Woods and pundits Joleon Lescott and Rio Ferdinand – with the latter extremely impressed by his maturity.So enamoured was Ferdinand, he joked that Bellingham is the sort of person you’d want your daughter to bring home.How Jude Bellingham is key to England winning Euro 2024While speaking to TNT, the former Borussia Dortmund and Birmingham ace spoke of his pride at playing in front of his family on home soil.He said: “It is incredible. Moments like this are magic and it just comes down to mentality.”When you get those details right and you get those little moments, like the penalties, when the lads keep their cool, it is magic. This was beautiful.”My brother is here today and it is the first time he has been able to see me playing for Madrid. I feel really proud about that.”Bellingham then gave an insight into how veteran boss Carlo Ancelotti motivates his stars.He added: “One of our biggest strengths is that we’re so off the cuff.”As a man he just fills you with calmness and confidence.”Before the game, I caught him yawning and I said to him ‘boss are you tired?’READ MORE SUN STORIES”He went ‘yeah you need to go and excite me out there’.”That’s the sort of confidence and calmness he brings.”Bellingham impressed Rio FerdinandCredit: X @rioferdy5 More

MANCHESTER CITY fans were to blame for Bernardo Silva’s penalty miss against Real Madrid according to former England stars Rio Ferdinand and Joleon Lescott.Pep Guardiola’s side crashed out of the Champions League following a 4-3 defeat on penalties to Los Blancos on Wednesday.Bernardo Silva’s penalty was easily saved by Andriy LuninCredit: GettySilva was made to wait for 40 seconds before taking his penaltyCredit: X/footballontntBernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic both missed spot-kicks for City at the Etihad Stadium.Silva’s attempt was deemed particularly bad, with some fans even branding it the “worst penalty” they had ever seen.However, Ferdinand and Lescott believed the City fans behind the goal were to blame for his botched effort.Speaking on TNT Sports, ex-Man City star Lescott claimed the home supporters held onto the ball for too long after Luka Modric fired his shot into the stands.Read More on FootballHe said: “That would have just took him out of sync and out of his rhythm.”You can practice the routine, the technique, the walk up potentially, this is something you don’t prepare for, the ball being in the crowd.”Ferdinand chimed in: “40 seconds by the way Joleon,” before Lescott continued: “That is a long time. It may not seem that long but it’s a very long time when you are waiting there and you are thinking, now do I change position?”Now do I change where I go? And all of a sudden, it’s a soft penalty.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSManchester United legend Ferdinand went on to say: “It’s a shame though as well, because it is the home fans that are delaying that penalty kick which is a shame.”Fans on social media were also convinced the Man City supporters were to blame for Silva’s miss.Real Madrid stars hailed for classy gesture as they train at Man City ahead of huge Champions League clashOne person took to X to write: “City fans not giving the ball back to Bernardo Silva will go down in history – if football fans did own goals.”Another commented: “How must the Man City fan who kept hold of the ball before Bernardo Silva’s penalty be feeling now.”While a third wrote: “City fans screwed themselves over holding onto the ball as long as they did before Bernardo Silva’s pen!”The Champions League quarter-final clash went to penalties with the score at 4-4 on aggregate after extra time.Speaking after the match, Guardiola said: “It is what is – sometimes you win on penalties and sometimes not. We should have done it before – for how we played.”I absolutely don’t have any regrets – we did everything offensively and defensively.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Football is about scoring goals and they did it a little bit better than us from the penalty spot. They are in the semi-finals and we are not.”I have to say from my heart, thank you to my players.” More