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      Ex-Man Utd transfer target Frenkie de Jong’s agent slams ‘nonsense’ claims star faked illness to miss Barcelona clash

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      BARCELONA star Frenkie de Jong’s agent slammed “total fake news” suggesting his client faked an illness to miss Wednesday’s Champions League game.Barca lost 3-2 to Royal Antwerp at the Bosuilstadion in their final match in the group stage which didn’t cost them as they still finished top of the table.
      Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong’s agent slammed rumours suggesting he faked an illnessCredit: Rex
      Barcelona star De Jong has repeatedly been linked with a move to Man UtdCredit: Rex
      However, De Jong couldn’t travel with the rest of Xavi’s side due to an illness.
      A report from RAC1 claimed the Blaugrana’s sporting director Deco spoke with the midfielder on the phone and doubted the legitimacy of the player’s excuse.
      However, the Netherlands international’s representative Ali Dursun lambasted those “nonsense” rumours and insisted his client is a “model professional”.
      Dursun told  De Telegraaf: “Total fake news.
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      “It is the biggest nonsense that has been released around Frenkie in a long time.
      “The player is just sick. He has symptoms of fever and has been unable to travel and play.
      “This boy is a professional through and through. Just a model professional.
      “Just don’t touch Frenkie’s reputation, because he always delivers.
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      “There was no shouting over the phone as claimed, no question marks.
      “Things are being created now in a false way. The relationship with Deco is simply good and stable.”
      De Jong had been repeatedly linked with a move to Manchester United.
      United attempted to sign the 26-year-old in a £70million transfer last year in the summer, but Barcelona refused to let him go. More

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      With just two English clubs making Champions League knockouts, can the Premier League still claim to be the best?

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      THE greatest league in the world? You’re having a laugh.After just two English clubs reached Monday’s draw for the Champions League knockout stage, can the Premier League really claim to be the strongest on the planet?
      Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday nightCredit: Reuters
      Especially when all four Spanish sides topped their groups in Europe’s elite club competition, with Germany and Italy both boasting three teams through to the last 16.
      The failures of Manchester United and Newcastle to progress – and to crash out of Europe altogether after finishing bottom of their groups – has led to England’s lowest representation in the knock-out competition for 11 years.
      With Uefa revamping the Champions League next season – and offering two extra places to the nations with the best ‘coefficient’ rankings in a baffling new 36-team ‘Swiss model’ format – Premier League clubs were expecting to receive five entries to the top table next term.
      But with both Uniteds flopping, that is now extremely unlikely, as both the Bundesliga and Serie A are ahead of England’s top flight in those rankings.
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      Erik Ten Hag and Eddie Howe might have hoped that a fifth-place Premier League spot would be enough for Champions League qualification but in all likelihood, they have shot themselves in the foot for next season as well.
      Their best hope is that the remaining English teams in Europe thrive, while German and Italian clubs struggle.
      That means Manchester United will be quietly urging their bitter rivals Manchester City and Liverpool to live up to their billing as favourites to win the Champions League and Europa League respectively.
      The nature of Uefa’s coefficients mean that England’s remaining European teams – City and Arsenal in the Champions League, Liverpool, Brighton and West Ham in the Europa and Aston Villa in the Conference League – must perform significantly better than their Italian and German counterparts to turn it around from here.
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      Copenhagen progressed from United’s Champions League groupCredit: Getty
      But while the performance of English clubs in Europe isn’t matching our league’s indisputable financial dominance, are standards really dropping?
      It is unlikely, especially given that City and West Ham collected two of the three European pots this May.
      Newcastle were Champions League rookies, with a lengthy injury list and the toughest of all groups, alongside Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.
      Yet they still came within half an hour of qualifying before Milan’s comeback at St James’ Park scuppered their hopes on Wednesday.
      The Red Devils are a shambles – and it is almost unprecedented for an English club to make the top four one season, then nosedive so spectacularly the next.
      Danish champions FC Copenhagen qualified in front of them, despite operating on around five per cent of United’s playing budget.
      But the great counter-argument to the idea of a Premier League decline, is that the English top flight is so competitive, possessing so much strength in depth, that it saps the physical and mental energy of its top teams like no other.
      Howe referenced player ‘fatigue’ before the defeat by Milan and it is difficult to argue with that excuse, as there is no let-up in the Premier League.
      Newcastle were also dumped out of Europe this weekCredit: Getty
      Mid-table sides in England certainly have greater quality and resources than corresponding clubs in Spain, Germany, Italy or France.
      England boss Gareth Southgate – certainly no mindless tub-thumper for the Premier League – has consistently stated his belief that English players operating in Europe’s other major leagues are not being tested consistently to the same level as those on home soil.
      Clubs from Spain, Germany and Italy are more likely to rest players for a domestic league fixture in the build-up to a crunch Champions League fixture than any English clubs.
      They can also be afforded greater rest periods than Premier League sides, with a Friday night fixture often thrown in before a Champions League game the following midweek.
      English arrogance about the almighty status of our league has to be tempered by Man Utd and Newcastle performing so poorly.
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      But there’s little wonder that the old ‘Big Six’ were so keen to join a breakaway Super League.
      Because, in all likelihood, some English clubs are merely becoming victims of the Premier League’s wider success. More

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      How race for 5th Champions League spot looks with Premier League at risk of missing out after Man Utd and Newcastle woes

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      THE Champions League is set for a major revamp that will see two major European nations be handed an extra spot in the competition from next season.As it stands, the Premier League would miss out on gaining a fifth place.
      Manchester United finished bottom of their Champions League groupCredit: Alamy
      Newcastle crashed out of Europe by losing to AC MilanCredit: Getty
      The Champions League has long featured 32 teams split into eight groups of four, with the top two advancing out of each.
      From next year it will be moving to the Swiss Model.
      This will instead see 36 teams admitted into one big league table with the top eight qualifying automatically for the round of 16 and positions 9-24 contesting a play-off.
      To determine fixtures teams will be split into four pots of nine.
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      Each club will be drawn to face two teams from each pot, including their own.
      No teams will drop into the Europa League following the conclusion of the group stage.
      With the number of teams admitted into the Champions League growing from 32 to 36, four extra spots will be up for grabs.
      Two of these spots will go to the leagues whose clubs perform best in European competitions, including the Europa League and Europa Conference League, this season.
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      While the further two will go to the team that comes third in the Uefa nation ranked fifth in coefficient, and the other going to the champions’ qualifying path.
      The best performing leagues will be determined by the average coefficient of clubs participating in Europe.
      Every win by a club from a nation is worth two points, a draw one and a defeat none.
      Bonus points are then accrued by progressing through various stages of each competition.
      Playing in the Champions League group stage is worth four points, with five dished out for qualifying for the round of 16 and one each for the quarter-finals, semis and final.
      Winning a Europa League group, as Liverpool already have done, is worth four points, while two are given to runners up.
      Bonus points are then handed out for reaching the round of 16, quarters, semis and final.
      Winning your group in the Europa Conference League, as Aston Villa could, is worth two points, while qualifying as runner-up is worth one.
      Bonus points are given for reaching the semis or final.
      All points earned by clubs from each country are added up before being divided by the number of teams from that nation in Europe, eight in the Premier League’s case.
      Manchester United and Newcastle’s failure to progress, even into the Europa League, has seen the Premier League’s coefficient drop to third as it stands.
      The English top flight would have been awarded the extra Champions League spot in four of the last five seasons, the exception being 2019-20.
      Currently its coefficient number, 12.13, is behind those of Germany, 13.36, and Italy, 13.14.
      With Man Utd and Newcastle both out already, the Prem will be heavily reliant on its other clubs to have deep runs in order to accumulate enough points to climb into the top two.
      Holders Manchester City have won their Champions League group, while Arsenal have too.
      Liverpool, Brighton and West Ham have all progressed in the Europa League, and Aston Villa have qualified for the Europa Conference League knockout rounds.
      Read more on The Sun
      As it stands, the Bundesliga and Serie A would be handed the extra Champions League places.
      Should a team from one of the two nations with the highest coefficient win the Europa League without finishing in the top five of their own division, that country could have six teams in the Champions League.
      The Bundesliga are leading the coefficient raceCredit: Getty
      Serie A would grab the second bonus spot as it standsCredit: Rex More

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      Xavi ‘fighting for Barcelona job and under maximum pressure’ after back-to-back defeats against Girona and Antwerp

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      XAVI is reportedly fighting for his job at Barcelona following back-to-back defeats.Barcelona have just suffered losses to Girona in LaLiga and Royal Antwerp in the Champions League.
      Xavi’s job at Barcelona is reportedly under threatCredit: Getty
      Barcelona have lost back-to-back gamesCredit: EPA
      The defeat in Europe did not prove costly as the Catalonians still topped Group H.
      However, the loss to LaLiga leaders Girona has left Barcelona seven points off the pace and slumped down in fourth.
      Spanish outlet AS, has claimed that the loss to Antwerp has “stained the club’s image in Europe”.
      The report has suggested that Xavi, 43, has been left in a “weak position” and that he “knows” he has lost the confidence of all six members of the club’s sports commission.
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      The commission is made up of president Joan Laporta, Deco, Rafael Yuste, Joan Soler, Enric Masip and Bojan.
      Deco has recently had a disagreement with Xavi as he denied being consulted about a late call-up to the team.
      He told Movistar Plus: “The call-ups are a matter for the coach. We did not come to a consensus on anything.
      “There was a change of plans regarding travel and we have decided that everyone should travel.
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      “It is an issue that was discussed for management reasons.”
      After the defeat to Antwerp, Xavi admitted that he was “worried”.
      He said: “The feeling is not good. We’ve had misfortune, from a 2-2 draw. We could have gotten more. We’re on a rough patch.
      “I’m worried, it’s normal. The team is not comfortable. We’re on a bad run, we’ve had two negative results.
      “We have to be critical of ourselves. We have to improve. The opposing team generates chances, but it’s hard for us to do so.
      “We have to improve and know that we are not on a good run.”
      Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is Ladbrokes’ favourite to replace Xavi should he be sacked.

      Roberto De Zerbi – 5/1
      Rafael Marquez – 6/1
      Julen Lopetegui – 6/1
      Ruben Amorim – 7/1
      Michel – 7/1
      Unai Emery – 8/1
      Pep Guardiola – 12/1 More

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      Rio Ferdinand makes bold prediction about Newcastle and Eddie Howe after AC Milan loss but claims ‘They can’t say it’

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      RIO FERDINAND claims that Newcastle will be glad to have been dumped out of Europe entirely.Eddie Howe’s depleted squad finished bottom of their Champions League group after losing 2-1 to AC Milan at St James’ Park.
      Rio Ferdinand discussed Newcastle’s European exitCredit: Rex
      Eddie Howe’s side finished bottom of their Champions League groupCredit: Getty
      The Toon’s European adventure has come to an end, but Ferdinand believes that it could be a blessing in disguise.
      Appearing on TNT Sports, the former Manchester United star said: “Eddie Howe and the players can’t say this but I’m guaranteeing you now but they’ll be delighted to not go into the Europa League.
      “Because the amount of injuries they’ve got, Kieran Trippier just limped past us here, talking about the amount of injuries they’ve got, and a few of them are quite long-term.
      “It makes it very difficult to be battling on many fronts in different competitions when your squad is so threadbare.
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      “They have to get these players back fit, and more and more games would make that more and more unlikely to get players back fit.”
      Jermaine Jenas then pointed out that the Europa League would have provided an opportunity to qualify for the Champions League via a different route, given the intense competition for places in the Prem.
      The former Toon midfielder then added that more European football “would have been good” for his old side, but did concede: “I get Rio’s point.
      “They’re down to their bare bones. Kieran Trippier’s just walked very slowly by us having been taken off. He’s another one that they’re going to have to look at moving forwards.
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      “It’s a tough time for them but he’s going to have to rally them, get them together for the rest of the season.”
      Newcastle are currently without Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Elliot Anderson, Sven Botman, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes, Javier Manquillo and Matt Targett due to injuries.
      They were boosted by the return of Dan Burn from a back injury last night, but Sandro Tonali remains suspended.
      After last night’s game, Howe admitted he was “devastated” with his side’s early exit.
      The Toon boss said: “We’ve gone into Champions League games with very few options in terms of team selections and in-game changes. That’s hurt us in a number of games.
      “That’s not an excuse, it’s just reality. Even today, I had to make two changes I didn’t want to make. We’re devastated with the result.”
      Jermaine Jenas had a different point of view to FerdinandCredit: PA
      Kieran Trippier limped past Ferdinand and CoCredit: Getty More

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      Champions League last-16 draw simulated with Arsenal landing worst case scenario but it’s good news for Man City

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      WITH the Champions League group stage now concluded, the English teams remaining in the competition will be eagerly anticipating who they will face in the last 16.Arsenal and Manchester City both topped their group, while Manchester United and Newcastle fell out of Europe entirely by finishing bottom of their respective groups.
      Arsenal have drawn a horror Champions League tieCredit: Getty
      Meanwhile, Man City have been handed a relatively easy tieCredit: AFP
      The makeup of Monday’s Champions League draw
      Topping the group means the two Premier League title challengers will face one of the sides who finished second in their group.
      However, these opponents range from Copenhagen and PSV to Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli, with seeded teams facing off against unseeded sides.
      Ahead of next Monday’s draw, SunSport have simulated who the Gunners and City will face when the first leg of the knockout draw comes around in February.
      And after running the teams through a simulator, we can reveal who they have come up against.
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      As the luck would have it, Arsenal – who are in the last-16 for the first time since the 2016/17 season – have drawn a horror tie against French giants PSG.
      Meanwhile, reigning champions Man City have been handed a far easier tie against PSV, who finished second in Arsenal’s group.
      There are some tasty ties elsewhere though, with Bayern Munich facing off against Napoli.
      Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid have been drawn against Lazio, while fellow Spanish side Real Sociedad are up against RB Leipzig.
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      Another Spanish team who finished top of their group, Atletico Madrid, will face a tricky tie against Porto.
      Two sides who helped dump Newcastle and Man Utd out of the Champions League will be facing off when Borussia Dortmund take on Copenhagen.
      The fourth Spanish side to top their group, Barcelona, will take on Inter Milan.
      The seeded teams will play away from home on the 13/14/20/21 February, while they will then host the second legs from 5/6/12/13 March.
      The draw for the last 16 will commence at 11am GMT on Monday December 18 in Nyon Switzerland.
      The simulated Champions League draw More

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      Fans wish CBS Sports was shown in UK as they ‘cry real tears’ at segment savaging Micah Richards

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      FANS shared their love for CBS Sports once again after a hilarious clip ridiculing Micah Richards went viral.CBS Sports has built a reputation for mocking members of the panel, which includes Richards, Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry and host Kate Abdo.
      Micah Richards was mocked for his theatrical dive for Aston VillaCredit: CBS Sports
      Richards had no way to respond to the trolling but saw the funny sideCredit: CBS Sports
      His colleagues Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher found the clip hilariousCredit: CBS SPORTS
      On Wednesday it was Richards’ turn for a bit of teasing as CBS rolled back the years to find an extremely embarrassing moment.
      Carragher began the segment by criticising Manchester City goalscorer Micah Hamilton for diving.
      But Richards felt that was unwarranted as the defender had made contact with the youngster, and suggested his shirt was pulled.
      Carragher ignored Richards and continued the joke, unbeknownst to his colleague.
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      He said to Richards: “Hear me out. When you think of his name, he obviously looks up to you. Where do you think he got it from?”
      CBS Sports then showed a clip of Richards in action for Aston Villa against Stoke in 2015, where the defender dived theatrically in an attempt to win a penalty.
      Richards tried to make the most out of the slightest bit of contact with Glenn Whelan by jumping high in the air, and the audacity of his dive left his CBS colleagues in stitches.
      Henry responded saying: “What are you doing?!”
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      CBS then paused on a still of Richards high in the air with Carragher crying out: “What is that! I have never seen anything like that, look where his boots are!”
      Fans found the segment hilarious with one responding by saying he was “crying real tears”.
      Another added: “There is no sports studio show better than this. Literally crying. Whatever it costs, you need to keep these four together.”
      And a third wrote: “I absolutely love this show.”
      CBS Sports have won a lot of plaudits for their Champions League coverage with many won over by the camaraderie between the presenter and pundits.
      Just a day before Carragher was the victim as Abdo trolled him after he appeared to be out of breath during an analysis segment.
      The presenter quipped: “I’ve got an inhaler in my bag, would it help you?” More

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      Pep Guardiola has brilliant response after learning Man City wonderkid Micah Hamilton was ballboy for him six years ago

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      PEP GUARDIOLA was shocked to learn Micah Hamilton was a ballboy for him six years ago.The youngster scored on his Manchester City debut against Red Star Belgrade with an impressive strike.
      Pep Guardiola was shocked to learn Micah Hamilton was a ballboy for him in 2017Credit: TNT Sports
      The youngster scored on his Manchester City debut against Red Star BelgradeCredit: Getty

      He jinked past two defenders before smashing the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
      Guardiola, 52, revealed he has been training with the first-team squad quite regularly, but he had no idea the forward once helped his team out in a different capacity.
      The City boss was shown a photo from 2017 where he dished out advice and instructions to a young Hamilton when he was a ballboy at the Etihad.
      Guardiola was shocked to see the snap as he had forgotten about the interaction with the 20-year-old.
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      He said: “I didn’t know! Six years ago? Wow!
      “What a goal, eh! And what a game. I’m so happy for him.
      “He’s training quite often with us, we saw his skills up front one versus one and he made a fantastic goal and penalty and when he could not be 1vs1 he gave extra passes. Defensively he was aggressive.”
      Hamilton became the fifth-youngest Englishman to score on their Champions League debut at 20 years and 30 days.
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      He is also the youngest to score on their debut since Marcus Rashford in September 2017 aged 19 years and 316 days.
      Fellow youngster Oscar Bobb was also on target, doubling City’s lead after the interval with his first senior goal. More