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      My dad’s a legendary Champions League winner – I’m making my own way and will beat his Premier League goal tally

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      JUSTIN KLUIVERT is eyeing up his dad’s Prem goal tally — and a bit of dosh.Patrick Kluivert, 47, was one of the great forwards of his generation, scoring a Champions League winner for Ajax in 1995.
      Justin Kluivert is eyeing his dad Patrick’s Premier League goal tallyCredit: Instagram @patrickkluivert9
      The Bournemouth forward has scored three league goals this seasonCredit: AFP
      He also forged a fearsome partnership with Rivaldo at Barcelona while also netting 40 times in 79 appearances for Holland.
      But he found it tough at Newcastle, scoring only six goals back in 2004-05.
      Bournemouth winger Kluivert Jr has bagged three already this term in the league, and fancies his chances of overtaking his dad this season — starting with today’s trip to Toon to face pa’s old club. And he is ready to strike a wager as motivation.
      The Cherries star, 24, said: “I need to go over him, I need to! Why not?
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      “I don’t have an ongoing bet with my father but I will make one.
      “The second part of the season just started. I think last season at Valencia where I was, I scored two before Christmas.
      “And after I scored in total something like eight.
      “I want to do here the same, for sure! I think that it’s possible already this season, I will give my 100 per cent.
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      “I just need to enjoy the game — and then my qualities will take care of the rest. I played in six countries and scored goals everywhere . . . ”
      Having had to live up to such high expectations and carry such a heavy name on your back from an early age would have put most children off.
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      But not Justin. He has embraced the pressure and  said: “Having Patrick  Kluivert as a father made me and motivated me.
      “It was no pressure but built the person I am today. It just motivated me to fill up these big boots.”
      Justin admits he is currently getting more stick than carrot from his dad.
      The former Ajax, Roma, RB Leipzig, Nice and Valencia ace  says that  the Dutch legend is his most devoted supporter  but at  the same time his fiercest critic.
      When things go well on the pitch, his father hardly takes any notice but one mistake and he is straight on his back.
      It is this tough love  that ensures he does not get too big for his boots and keeps evolving.
      Kluivert Jr said: “Dad is my biggest fan and my biggest critic. But he’d tell me first what I did wrong, you know?
      Justin is ready to strike a wager with his dad for motivationCredit: Instagram @patrickkluivert9
      “Because what I did good, I know I did good.
      “But what I did wrong, he’ll tell me.
      “Then, course, as a dad he also tells me what I did right but especially what I did wrong!
      “And I listen to what he has to say.”
      Bournemouth chief Andoni Iraola has certainly made people listen after a horror start.
      He failed to win any of his first nine league games in charge.
      But with the Cherries now sitting pretty in 13th position, Kluivert has hailed the Spaniard’s “crazy” turnaround.
      Patrick Kluivert spent a season in England with NewcastleCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He said: “He means a lot for us players.
      “When he came we lost a lot at the beginning but we just stayed focused, we knew what he wanted from the team.
      “And we didn’t change game plans but kept believing in ourselves and eventually it turned out quite good!
      “I have the feeling we’re still improving and we can do much greater things with him as a coach.
      “I am looking forward to that.”
      Iraola is ready to meet fire-with-fire against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle today.
      He is poised to throw his new Turkish striker Enes Unal into battle alongside Dominic Solanke.
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      Iraola said: “We need goals because Newcastle are an offensive power and it’s going to be a very open game.
      “We will press them and they will press us and there will be spaces.” More

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      Arsenal are the only team that can stop Man City winning the Champions League, they’d beat Bayern or PSG, says Carragher

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      JAMIE CARRAGHER has sensationally claimed that Arsenal could win the Champions League this season.The Gunners kick off their knockout campaign against Porto next Wednesday.
      Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal are the only team that could stop Man City winning the Champions League againCredit: Getty
      Arsenal are one of the few teams to beat City this seasonCredit: Alamy
      A win will see them take control of the tie ahead of the home leg in London, which is scheduled to take place on March 12.
      Arsenal have not reached the Champions League quarter-final stage since 2010 but Carragher is convinced they can go all the way this season.
      The Liverpool legend believes Arsenal are the only team that could compete with current holders Manchester City.
      Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Carragher said: “I don’t think there is anyone close to them in the Champions League.
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      “I actually think the team that could maybe have a chance against them is Arsenal.
      “When you look at it, because Arsenal haven’t actually won anything big yet, this team, we’re still thinking how good are they? Can they get across the line in a big one?
      “But then you go and watch the Champions League and I’m watching Bayern Munich, a massive team. Arsenal are a better team.
      “Arsenal would beat Bayern Munich. I think Arsenal would beat Paris Saint-Germain.
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      “So I actually look at the Champions League and I’m thinking, who could actually stop City? Probably Arsenal.
      “Even if they met each other we know City would be massive favourites. But I actually think Arsenal.
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      “Inter Milan are obviously top of Serie A and they were in the final last season, but no I don’t think…”
      He went on to add: “I think if Arsenal play Real Madrid which, to be fair, are a massive team, psychologically in the Champions League that could stop Arsenal because they haven’t been there.
      “We’ve spoken about Liverpool in the past doing well in the Champions League because they just feel like they belong there.
      “But Arsenal, I think they’ve got a chance.”
      Man City took control of their last-16 clash with Copenhagen this week.
      Pep Guardiola’s side cruised to a 3-1 win over the Danish side on Tuesday thanks to goals from Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden. More

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      Kylian Mbappe set to FORFEIT more than Jude Bellingham’s eye-watering wages to seal Real Madrid transfer

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      KYLIAN MBAPPE will accept a huge pay cut to join Real Madrid, according to reports.The Frenchman is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of the season.
      Kylian Mbappe is set to leave PSG at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Mbappe has set his wage demands highCredit: Getty
      Several clubs have already expressed an interest in signing him on a free transfer, including Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool.
      However, Mbappe is reportedly “leaning towards” joining Real Madrid.
      Los Blancos have been pushing to sign the 25-year-old since his Monaco days.
      Mbappe came close to making the move in 2022, but shocked the football world by announcing a two-year extension with PSG instead.
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      He caused a stir among the PSG camp last summer after refusing to sign a new contract.
      The Parisians subsequently accepted a huge £259million offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for him, but Mbappe rejected the move.
      He was axed from the squad for a brief period and sent to train with PSG’s “undesirables” – a group of players not wanted by the club.
      However, he made a return at the start of the Ligue 1 campaign and has since scored 31 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions.
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      Mbappe has scored 20 goals in 19 Ligue 1 games this season
      Real Madrid have already proposed a deal to Mbappe ahead of the summer, but his representatives have reportedly been left unimpressed.
      The Frenchman is set to receive a total of £62m plus bonuses from PSG for the 2023-24 campaign, but Real Madrid are unable to match that.
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      According to Spanish outlet AS, the La Liga giants are hoping to pay Mbappe less than his £42.8m – around £827,000-a-week – starting point.
      However, he is still set to become the club’s highest-paid player, surpassing Jude Bellingham by a significant margin.
      The England international currently rakes in around £220,000-a-week – £11.4m-a-year – at the Santiago Bernabeu, much less that what Mbappe is demanding.
      In fact, the difference between the two players’ weekly wages would be around £358,000, roughly £138,000 MORE than Bellingham’s standard weekly earnings.
      Mbappe reportedly also wants several bonuses added into his contract.
      The World Cup winner joined PSG in a £154m transfer from Monaco in 2018 and has since scored 243 goals and provided 105 assists in 290 appearances.
      Jude Bellingham joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund last summer and has since scored 20 goals in 29 appearancesCredit: Getty More

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      Thomas Tuchel’s brutal seven-word assessment of Bayern Munich flops revealed with ex-Chelsea boss tipped for sack

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      THOMAS TUCHEL gave a harsh statement to his players after Bayern Munich’s miserable Champions League defeat against Lazio.To add to the pressure on the boss Bayern Munich have now slipped five points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen and it looks likely their 11-year reign at the top of the table will dribble to an end.
      Thomas Tuchel gave a brutal seven-word statement to his playersCredit: Rex
      Bayern Munich lost 1-0 against Lazio in the first leg of the round of 16 in the Champions LeagueCredit: Alamy
      After the recent 1-0 defeat at Lazio in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, Tuchel had some explaining to do about Bayern’s recent performances.
      And on Wednesday the Bayern boss caused some upset in the dressing with his explosive statement to his players.
      He blasted, “You’re not as good as I thought”, according to Sky presenter Riccardo Basile.
      But the fire really began for the German after his side failed to secure three points against Leverkusen who thrashed Tuchel’s side 3-0 last weekend.
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      The former Chelsea boss only joined the German giants 11 months ago and his contract is not due to expire until 2025.
      But according to The Times his future is hanging by a thread.
      Things cannot get worse for Bayern in the Bundesliga and they must make a comeback against Lazio in the second leg of their tie, otherwise a mid-season boot might be on the way.
      Hansi Flick, the only coach ever to be sacked from the German national team, is rumoured as a potential caretaker manager.
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      But it is Xabi Alonso they want and they are allegedly hoping the Spaniard will jump ship from their main Bundesliga rivals.
      Alonso played for Bayern between 2014 and 2017, and the German giants are likely hoping this might swing the odds in their favour.
      Harry Kane reacts to Bayern Munich’s shock Champions League defeat
      However, Alonso, 42, now going 31 games unbeaten has made him a popular candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona, Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid and now Manchester City are even in the equation.
      So it’s hardly surprising that the out-of-form Bayern Munich have joined the race to get their hands on Europe’s hottest ticket. More

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      Bayern Munich ‘increasingly likely to SACK Thomas Tuchel as they join Liverpool in race to land Xabi Alonso’

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      THOMAS TUCHEL looks increasingly likely to get the boot as Bayern Munich join Liverpool in the race to land Xabi Alonso.Bayern Munich have now slipped five points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen and it looks likely their 11 year reign at the top of the table will dribble to an end.
      Xabi Alonso has been rumoured to jump ship to Bayer Leverkusen’s biggest rivalsCredit: Rex
      Thomas Tuchel’s future at Bayern Munich hangs in the balanceCredit: Rex
      Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Lazio in the first leg of the Champions League – coming only four days after Leverkusen thrashed them 3-0 in the Bundesliga – spelled doom for Tuchel.
      The former Chelsea boss only joined the German giants 11 months ago and his contract is not due to expire until 2025.
      But according to The Times his future is hanging by a thread.
      If things get any worse for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, or if they fail to make a comeback against Lazio in the second leg of their tie, then a mid season sacking might be afoot.
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      Hansi Flick, the only coach ever to be sacked from the German national team, is rumoured as a potential caretaker manager.
      But it is Alonso they really want and they are allegedly hoping the Spaniard will jump ship from their main Bundesliga rivals.
      The Spaniard, 42, has already been touted to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona, Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid and now Manchester City are even in the equation.
      So it’s hardly surprising that the out of form Bayern Munich have joined the race to get their hands on Europe’s hottest ticket.
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      Alonso played for Bayern between 2014 and 2017, and the German giants are likely hoping this might swing the odds in their favour.
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      Speaking after the Lazio fiasco in Rome, the Bayern Munich sporting director, Christoph Freund, said: “Of course Tuchel is struggling with the situation, which is very difficult for all of us.
      “We are all in the same boat.
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      “It is not easy, but we will get out of this together.
      “That is our goal.”
      Things are not going so well elsewhere in the Bayern Munich ranks.
      Harry Kane’s recent fall from glory has led fans to believe the striker has a ‘trophy curse’, as England’s record goalscorer just can’t seem to get his hands on any silverware.
      In an exciting twist, Tuchel has now been linked with Barca, who previously shortlisted him after Ronald Koeman’s exit in 2021. More

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      Harry Kane awarded Bild’s lowest rating after he ‘totally signed off’ during ‘catastrophe’ performance for Bayern Munich

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      GERMAN newspaper Bild went in two-footed on Harry Kane and his Bayern Munich team-mates after their defeat at Lazio.The Bundesliga giants slipped to a 1-0 first-leg Champions League last-16 loss last night with Dayot Upamecano getting sent-off in the second half.
      Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich were beaten at Lazio in the Champions LeagueCredit: Rex

      Bayern had 17 attempts at goal, with Kane having four of them, but neither he nor Thomas Tuchel’s team could get one on target.
      The England captain struggled to assert himself in the match.
      And his performance was slammed by the German media as he received the lowest-mark possible.
      Describing his display, Bild wrote: “Missed a mega chance after seven minutes, but after that he couldn’t connect with Bayern’s attacking attempts at all.
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      “Totally signed off in the second half.”
      The only other colleague to get such a low rating was Upamecano.
      Meanwhile, Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sane and boss Thomas Tuchel all got a rating of 5, which is the second-lowest.
      It was goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and playmaker Jamal Musiala who shared the highest ratings, but even that was only a 3.
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      Kane told TNT Sports post-match yesterday: “Really tough week. In the first half, we started well and had clear chances, one for myself. In these games, they’re big moments.
      “The second half was disappointing. We came out with less energy and less confidence. We got punished. Once you go down to 10 men it’s always difficult.
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      “We have to find it among ourselves. We’re still in the race for the Bundesliga and still in this tie. We have to keep fighting.
      “We’re in a difficult spell. We have to fight. We have to turn it around. We have big games and big things to fight for. We’re not out of it, we will never give up. We just need to turn it around. One game or spark can turn it around.’”  More

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      CBS Sports presenter branded ‘supermodel’ as she stuns on live TV for return of Champions League

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      CBS SPORTS presenter Poppy Miller wowed footie fans this week during her Champions League broadcasting duties.The former college soccer star joined the network in 2020 and has become an integral part of the American broadcaster’s coverage of European football.
      Brit Poppy Miller heads up CBS Sports’ European footie coverageCredit: INSTAGRAM@POPPYMILLER3
      The former college footie star joined CBS in 2020Credit: INSTAGRAM@POPPYMILLER3
      Poppy regularly stuns during Champions League broadcastsCredit: INSTAGRAM@POPPYMILLER3
      Miller was back on our screens on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the return of Europe’s elite club competition.
      And she blew viewers and her social media followers away with her latest get-up.
      Miller shared a series of photos – including one of her posing in from of the Champions League logo in a black dress – from her latest broadcast with her near 16,000 followers on Wednesday night.
      Her accompanying caption read: “Oh hi @championsleague. So happy you’re back.”
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      Miller’s followers were quick to comment, with one saying: “You’re too beautiful!”
      Another said: “Welcome back.”
      And another said: “Beauty.”
      One remarked: “Beautiful queen.”
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      Poppy Miller regularly updates her followers with the ongoings in her lifeCredit: Instagram / poppymiller3
      Another chimed in: “Supermodel.”
      Miller hails from Nottingham but found herself stateside in 2013 when she began studying at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort.
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      She graduated with a communications degree in 2017, which paved the way for her to join the media team at USLC’s Charleston Battery.
      In 2019, Miller joined Major League Soccer’s reporting team before upping sticks to ESPN to work as an SEC Network host and commentator. More

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      Mark Bosnich’s punditry colleague reveals ex-Man Utd ace hospitalised over heart scare as fan rally round former keeper

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      MARK BOSNICH’S punditry colleague revealed how the ex-Manchester United goalkeeper was hospitalised over a heart scare.Fans have rallied around the Australian football great who was rushed to hospital on Wednesday after complaining of chest pains to his co-workers.
      Mark Bosnich was hospitalised over a heart scare on WednesdayCredit: X formerly Twitter / @TheRealBozza
      Fans shared their support for Bosnich who was forced to pull out of Champions League punditry dutyCredit: Getty
      Bosnich used to be a goalkeeper at Man UtdCredit: Rex
      Bosnich, 52, was forced to pull out of Champions League punditry duty after posting a selfie of himself from his hospital bed.
      The star did look in good spirits as he had his thumb up saying he will return to duty Friday.
      Stan Sport’s Max Rushden and Craig Foster spoke about the scary situation before the Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Sociedad on Thursday morning.
      Rushden said: “For those of you who don’t know, he had chest pains, he’s had a stent put in.
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      “We miss you buddy. I hope you’re well and feeling OK.”
      The pair said Bosnich became distressed while exercising at work on Wednesday.
      Rushden continued: “He was making a lot of noise and he said ‘I’m going to get it checked out.’
      “He did, he’s OK, he’s back tomorrow but we are sending you our love Boz, it is very quiet without you.”
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      Foster said “Bozza” immediately seeking help was the right thing to do.
      The TV pundit added: “If you’re not sure about anything, health-wise, get checked.
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      “Men are useless at talking about it and doing anything about it.
      “The sooner you find anything is wrong, the better it is. That is our message and that is Mark’s message too.”
      Bosnich won the Premier League title with United in 2000 and is regarded as a football cult hero due to his success on and off the pitch.
      After hanging up his gloves in 2009, the former Socceroo is now a regular on Australian television as a pundit for football.
      Fans showed their support for the ex-Aston Villa keeper including former boxing champion George Kambosos Jr wishing him a “Speedy recovery.” More