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      Inside 102-year-old stadium unfit for Europe despite club’s incredible charge into Champions League spot

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      STRADE BRESTOIS are writing history this season under manager Eric Roy as the club has never finished above eighth in the league.But the Ligue 1 underdogs are currently in second position and on course to qualify for the Champions League – but their stadium will be unfit to hold any games if they do so.Strade Brestois’s 102-year-old stadium is unfit to hold Champions League gamesCredit: GettyBrest are currently second in Ligue 1 and are in line to compete in Europe next yearCredit: GettyStadium Francis-Le Ble would need to undergo extensive work to hold European games next seasonCredit: GettyWhile Brest are in the midst of a historic term the club are aware their ground Francis-Le Ble would need to undergo work before being able to host matches in the Champions League. The 102-year-old stadium which is located in the Western tip of France holds 15,931 spectators.This is less than Brentford’s Community Stadium which holds 17,00 spectators but is still bigger than Bournemouth’s and Luton’s grounds.But according to Le Telegramme, UEFA regulations have four categories of stadiums, and only category 4 can host Champions League games.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLCurrently, Francis-Le Ble is a category 2 which means it would only be allowed to host games in the 1st and 2nd qualifying rounds for the Champions League or games in the Europa Conference League. Category 2 highlights the stadium lacks media facilities and does not have the correct floodlights to host European clashes.Meaning for the Brest they will need to find a temporary host for when they play in the Champions League.Brest are one of the biggest surprises this season after rising from mid-table to now possibly competing with the European elites.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBefore their match against Strasbourg on Saturday, Brest sat in second place in Ligue 1. Following a record-breaking performance, Roy’s side has shown they are strong contenders for an automatic Champions League qualification spot.Everything you need to know about Kylian MbappeBrest ended up thrashing Strasbourg 3-0 to hold their second spot in the table and on 43 points in Ligue 1 after 23 matches played with only Paris Saint-Germain ahead of them.Brest have equalled their record unbeaten run in Ligue 1 – a record which has stood since 1990. Last season the club were battling it out in the bottom half of the table and luckily managed to avoid relegation after finishing 14th. More

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      Arsenal line up three-man striker shortlist with Evan Ferguson and Champions League star as transfer priorities revealed

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      MIKEL ARTETA has already drawn up a shortlist of strikers he wants to sign this summer, it’s been claimed.The Arsenal boss is seemingly already thinking about boosting his attacking options so his troops can mount a sustained challenge on all fronts next season.Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly eyeing summer reinforcementsCredit: GettyRB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is reportedly on the Spaniard’s three-man shortlistCredit: GETTYSporting Lisbon and Sweden star Viktor Gyokeres is also reportedly on the listCredit: REXBrighton and Republic of Ireland hitman Evan Ferguson is also said to be a targetCredit: PAAnd according to reports, the Spaniard has three hitmen on his summer wishlist.That’s according to The Athletic, who claim Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Evan Ferguson are players Arteta is keen on.Slovenia international Sesko has shone in his debut season with RB Leipzig, scoring 11 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions – two of which have come in the Champions League.Swedish striker Gyokeres, meanwhile, has found the back of the net a whopping 31 times in 34 appearances for Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRepublic of Ireland international Ferguson enjoyed a stellar campaign for Brighton last season, scoring 16 goals and racking up five assists in all competitions for Roberto de Zerbi’s side.But he’s only found the back of the net six times this campaign.Pedro Neto is also said to still be a potential summer signing, although Wolves’ asking price for the winger could put the Gunners off pursuing him.The Athletic also claim the addition of a new central midfielder could made, with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi being considered.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSGabriel Jesus has been blighted by injury during his time at the EmiratesCredit: GETTYArteta’s consideration of signing a new striker could be in part due to Gabriel Jesus’ inconsistency in front of goal and spate of injuries since his 2022 move to the Emirates.The Brazilian was on the bench for the Gunners’ rout of Newcastle last weekend but is fit enough to play in the North Londoners’ trip to Sheffield United on Monday night.Thomas Partey to return to Arsenal squad for Sheffield Utd clash after playing just 15 minutes since AugustArteta said of the Brazilian: “He’s fit enough [to play]. “How long he will last that’s very different.“We didn’t want to take any risks. We need him fit and now we want to make sure we load him in the right way.” More

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      ‘What criteria did they use?’ – Fans baffled to discover Premier League flops already qualified for Fifa Club World Cup

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      FANS have been left baffled after Chelsea were announced as qualifiers for the expanded 2025 Fifa Club World Cup.The tournament is set to undergo a big shake-up next year with 32 teams involved. Chelsea have qualified for the expanded 2025 Fifa Club World CupCredit: GettyAnd surprisingly, Chelsea will be one of them, joining the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG. One fan reacted to the news, saying: “Why are Chelsea there.”Another said: “Chelsea finished 10th but still going to the Club World Cup.”One added: “What is the criteria for qualification?”READ MORE IN football Another agreed: “How did Chelsea qualify? What qualification criteria did FIFA use?”Despite mass fan confusion, Fifa confirmed that Champions League winners from 2021-2024 qualify for the tournament. And Chelsea lifted the European cup under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel only three years ago. Winners of “each confederation’s premier club competition” also qualify, explaining Bayern Munich and PSG’s presence. Most read in Football2025 Fifa Club World Cup teams so far

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      Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)Al Ahly SC (Egypt)
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      Al Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia)Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
      𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄
      Chelsea (England)Real Madrid (Spain)Manchester City (England)Bayern Munich (Germany)PSG (France)Inter Milan (Italy)Porto (Portugal)Benfica (Portugal)
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      CF Monterrey (Mexico)Seattle Sounders FC (United States)Club Leon (Mexico)
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      Auckland City FC (New Zealand)
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      SE Palmeiras (Brazil)CR Flamengo (Brazil)Fluminense FC (Brazil)

      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMore info will be announced throughout 2024 — including the trophy, host cities, and the draw.But for now, the first 19 sides have been announced, with a further 13 to be added.Astrid Wett boycotting Chelsea matches after she is ‘spat at’ despite ‘being one of club’s biggest fans’ The new 32-team tournament format will take place every four years with an extended international break merging the current September and October slots to facilitate the changes.City – last season’s Champions League winners – are the current holders. More

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      Jose Mourinho reveals why he went to Cristiano Ronaldo’s house when he cried for only time in his career

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      JOSE MOURINHO visited Cristiano Ronaldo’s house after the striker was left distraught following his missed penalty in the 2012 Champions League semi-final.Mourinho claimed he even cried for the only time in his coaching career.Jose Mourinho admitted he cried after Madrid’s loss to Bayern in the semi-final of Champions League in 2012Credit: AFPCristiano Ronaldo was left devastated following Madrid’s exitCredit: AFPThe tears came after Real Madrid lost on penalties to Bayern in the second leg of the 2012 Champions League semi-final.The Bernabeu clash, for those who may not remember, is widely regarded as one of the greatest in the history of European club football’s elite competition.After Bayern won 2-1 in the tie’s opener in Munich, the German champions made the trip to Madrid two weeks later, with their eyes firmly set on the Champions League final.It was hosts Real Madrid, though, who ultimately emerged on the right side of a 2-1 full-time result.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSWith the score 3-3 on aggregate, the game was sent to extra-time, and then a tense penalty shootout.Bayern, ultimately, held their nerve, and won the shootout 3-2 to march on to an eventual defeat to Chelsea at the Allianz Arena.Kaka, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, and Philipp Lahm all missed their spot kicks.As did the world’s then best player Ronaldo – whose penalty was kept out by Manuel Neuer.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSRonaldo was left devastated with his role in Madrid’s Champions League exit.So much so that his agent Jorge Mendes pleaded with Mourinho to visit him at his home address.Speaking in an interview released by Prime Video, he said: “I cried, of course not on the pitch or in the dressing room. But driving home, yes. “And when I’m going home already down, I get a call from Jorge Mendes: ‘Do me a favour: go to Cristiano’s house, because he’s dead’. Jose Mourinho opens up on Cristiano Ronaldo, Man Utd, Chelsea and job offers in interview with Rio Ferdinand “I told him: ‘I’m also dead!’ But I did it, so… Prepare yourself, no tears and let’s go to Cristiano’s house. He was exactly the way I was. We were destroyed.”Ultimately, Mourinho couldn’t secure the Champions League title as the manager of Madrid.But Ronaldo did go on to win four more European titles. More

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      European fixtures key to huge points for Dream Team managers across next two Gameweeks

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      ANY Dream Team manager worth their salt knows to squeeze the schedule for all it’s worth.The logic is simple and undeniable: more fixtures equals more point-scoring opportunities.
      This ploy isn’t totally fool-proof but it generally pays dividends over the course of a season.

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      Smart options for Gameweeks 26 and 27?Credit: Dream Team
      Looking at the next fortnight or so, it appears the upcoming European games hold the key to plentiful points.
      In Gameweek 26, five teams will fulfil two fixtures with Manchester City, Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa all in continental action in midweek after a full round of Premier League games at the weekend.
      Pep Guardiola’s side host neighbours Manchester United on Sunday before welcoming FC Copenhagen to the Etihad on Wednesday night.
      Given Erling Haaland (£7.5m) plundered 40 points in Gameweek 25, the captaincy debate is likely to be a simple one for most gaffers.
      Elsewhere, Liverpool travel to Nottingham Forest and Sparta Prague in what has to be considered a favourable double header.
      Dream Team bosses eagerly await availability updates on Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and Darwin Nunez (£4.5m).
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      Salah will be a popular recruit if deemed availableCredit: Getty
      Brighton also have back-to-back away days in the form of Fulham in the league then Roma in the Europa League.
      Pascal Gross (£4.5m) is among Dream Team’s most in-form players at present having earned 49 points across his last five outings.
      West Ham are the third and final English team still active in the Europa League.
      The Hammers face Freiburg (again) after a trip to Everton at the weekend.
      Jarrod Bowen’s (£4.5m) hat-trick against Brentford on Monday suddenly looks very timely indeed.
      The England international provided healthy returns for much of last season thanks in no small part to his ultimately triumphant Europa Conference League commitments.
      This season it’s Aston Villa who are set to take part in the knockout stages of the continent’s tertiary competition.
      31 goal involvements and countingCredit: Getty
      Unai Emery’s side drew a big name in the round of 16 in the form of Ajax but it’s worth noting that the Dutch giants have been below par for much of 2023/24.
      Jordan Henderson and company are without a win in their last four league games and currently reside fifth in the Eredivisie table.
      Ollie Watkins (£4.5m), Douglas Luiz (£3.9m), John McGinn (£3.7m), Emi Martinez (£3.1m) and Leon Bailey (£3m) are therefore all tempting options.
      The former has scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions this season while the latter has quietly amassed 20 goal involvements.
      The Villains travel to Luton on Saturday for their Premier League match-up with the Hatters having just shipped six goals to City in the FA Cup.
      Back among the goalsCredit: Getty

      Looking forward to Gameweek 27, it’s Arsenal who will be in Champions League action in Man City’s place for their second leg against Porto.
      Whereas Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Aston Villa will all fulfil their respective second legs in consecutive Gameweeks.
      These four clubs are therefore the only teams with two fixtures each in Gameweeks 26 and 27.
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      This clearly hasn’t escaped Dream Team bosses as the four most-popular recruits ahead of Saturday’s deadline are currently: Watkins, Bowen, Virgil van Dijk (£3.9m) and Douglas Luiz.
      Targeting the midweek European fixtures is likely to be a profitable strategy.

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      Xabi Alonso ‘not interested in Bayern Munich, Liverpool or Real Madrid’ as World Cup winner predicts next move

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      XABI ALONSO is going to snub Liverpool, Bayern Munich AND Real Madrid – according to Germany legend Lothar Matthaus.Former Bayern star Matthaus would love Alonso to be the next boss of his old team, but reckons the Spaniard will spurn interest from a number of big clubs to stay for at least one more year at Bayer Leverkusen.
      Bayern Munich and Germany legend Lothar Matthaus believes Xabi Alonso is going nowhere this summerCredit: Getty
      Matthaus said: “His dream may be to one day coach Bayern, Liverpool or Real Madrid. But, in my opinion, he is not done at Leverkusen yet.
      “Xabi is not someone who gets carried away by big names, he has celebrated too many successes as a player for that. 
      “He, in addition, is not going to be guided by the economic aspect. What matters to him is what he has built and who he has built it with. 
      “He knows where he comes from and what he owes to others. That’s why I don’t think he’s going to sign for another club next season.”
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      Former Kop idol Alonso is believed to be Liverpool’s top choice to replace Jurgen Klopp when the German leaves Anfield at the end of the season.
      But another of the Spaniard’s former clubs, Bayern, are also in the market for a new head coach after confirming that Thomas Tuchel would be on his way this summer.
      And Real Madrid, another club that Alonso graced as one of the most stylish midfielders of his generation, have also been linked with him.
      Matthaus, who won seven Bundesliga titles with Bayern and the 1990 World Cup with West Germany, knows exactly where he would like Alonso to pitch up next.
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      Matthaus, 62, now a Sky Germany pundit, said: “As for the search for Tuchel’s successor, I would first like to say one thing: Xabi Alonso has to top Bayern’s list because of his resume, his authority and his successful work at Leverkusen. 
      “I can’t think of any coach in Europe or the world who fits Bayern Munich better than Xabi Alonso.
      Xabi Alonso and De Zerbi are two names who could replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in the summer
      “But Alonso is focused on Bayer Leverkusen and I think that is good. Xabi Alonso is not yet interested in Bayern Munich, nor in Liverpool or Real Madrid. 
      “He is only interested in winning three titles with Leverkusen in the next two and a half months.
      “The way he was a player, he is the same now as a coach.
      “He is true to his character. The stories that are unfolding now and in the coming weeks and months don’t matter to him. 
      “He has no pressure and can take things easy.” More

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      Luka Modric, 38, tipped for stunning Premier League return and would ‘easily’ start after leaving Real Madrid

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      LUKA MODRIC is tipped for a stunning Premier League return according to his former Tottenham team-mate Jamie O’Hara.The 38-year-old rolled back the years for Real Madrid on Sunday as he scored a late winner against Sevilla.
      Jamie O’Hara reckons Luka Modric will return to the Premier League this summerCredit: Alamy
      O’Hara played with Modric during his time at TottenhamCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      Modric has dropped down the pecking order at the Bernabeu this season following the arrival of Jude Bellingham in the summer.
      Bellingham stunning goalscoring form, with 16 goals in 21 games, has fired Real to the top of LaLiga.
      But, with the England star out injured, it was Modric’s turn to be the hero again.
      Modric came on from the bench in the 75th minute before his late strike earned all three points for Los Blancos.
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      And O’Hara reckons the Croatian midfielder, whose contract expires in June, has showed he could “easily” start in any Premier League side.
      He said: “I had the pleasure of playing with Luka Modric and let me tell you, he was absolutely unbelievable.
      “You couldn’t get the ball off him in training. He’s just gone from strength to strength.
      “He’s been unbelievable at Real Madrid and ended up having a brilliant career playing with some of the best players ever.
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      “He could probably still play in the Premier League – he could go to Manchester United and easily slot into midfield and even Manchester City, to be honest.”
      Fans say ‘there’s something seriously wrong with this guy’ as Rudiger squeezes second player’s nipple in two games
      Modric spent three years with O’Hara at Spurs after joining in 2008 for a fee worth £16.5million.
      O’Hara then left North London in 2011 to join Wolves while Modric remained at the Lilywhites until 2012 before he headed to the Spanish capital.
      And what a career Modric has had since.
      He joined Los Blancos for £30million and in his second term won the Champions League.
      Modric was then a key man when they won it again, three times in a row, between 2015-16 to 2017–18.

      In total, he has won 24 major trophies at Madrid, including five Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, and two Copa del Reys.
      Alongside he is the Croatia national team captain leading them to the World Cup final in 2018 and third place in 2022.
      O’Hara continued: “We all know he’s getting older and that Real Madrid are changing things to go with a more youthful approach, but Luka Modric could go anywhere he wants this summer.
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      “What a player and what a career he’s had – he’ll probably go down as one of the best midfielders ever.
      “If he was English or Brazilian you would put him in the category of every other top midfielder who’s ever played the game.” More

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      Erling Haaland posts picture with his grandma in touching tribute after she died days before Champions League clash

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      ERLING HAALAND posted a picture to remember his late grandmother on Instagram following her death earlier this month.His dad Alfie’s mother Tone Rasdal passed away in a nursing home in Norway at the age of 80 on February 10.
      Erling Haaland shared a tribute to his late grandmother Tone RasdalCredit: Instagram @erlinghaaland
      Haaland scored twice against Everton on the same day as Tone”s passingCredit: Getty
      On the same day of discovering the devasting news, Haaland scored twice in Manchester City’s 2-0 win against Everton.
      And two weeks on the grieving striker took to social media to share a photo of himself alongside Tone.
      Alongside the pic, he put two emojis – a heart and a dove – on his Instagram story.
      Her goalscoring machine of a grandson has smashed it in the Premier League over the last 18 months.
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      Despite being injured for part of the campaign, the Norway international has bagged 22 strikes from 29 games this season.
      The 23-year-old came back three days after his grandmother passed in a 3-1 Champions League win against Copenhagen.
      Haaland may have missed many chances against Chelsea in City’s 1-1 draw last weekend.
      But he returned in full force in Pep Guardiola’s side’s 1-0 victory over Brentford last Tuesday, grabbing a 71st-minute winner.
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      The Spaniard hit back at his superstar’s critics as he revealed the forward has been having a difficult time away from the pitch.
      Guardiola said: “Top strikers score a lot of goals. Don’t criticise, because he will shut your mouth.
      Erling Haaland SHOVES camera after worst-ever Man City game as Sky Blues drop points to Chelsea,
      “Sooner or later, he is there. He was out for two months. He’s had an incredibly tough week, losing his grandmother. 
      “It’s not easy for a human being and he’s not in his best shape. In these types of games like Brentford, you need Erling.” More