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      De Bruyne playing through ‘private’ personal issues, says Henry after Man City star told Guardiola to ‘shut up’ in row

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      MANCHESTER CITY superstar Kevin De Bruyne is spearheading a stunning Treble pursuit despite struggling with a “private” issue this season.That is according to Thierry Henry, who had a small chat and an emotional embrace with De Bruyne after City thrashed Real Madrid and sealed their place in the Champions League Final.

      Thierry Henry revealed Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne is dealing with “private” issuesCredit: Getty
      This comes after De Bruyne and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola had a row
      But De Bruyne and Guardiola ultimately patched things upCredit: Reuters
      The playmaker has been integral for the Citizens in the Premier League, FA Cup and Europe’s top competition and led a stunning triumph against Real in the semi-finals.
      The Belgium international scored the equaliser in the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu and created Bernardo Silva’s opener, which led to a 4-0 triumph at the Etihad on Wednesday.
      The 31-year-old was hauled off on 84 minutes as he was replaced by Phil Foden and had a talk with Henry at full-time.
      De Bruyne and the Arsenal legend have a close relationship as they used to work together when the latter was Belgium’s assistant manager.
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      The France great wouldn’t share any details of their conversation but revealed he now has even more respect for the Belgian star as he is not letting his personal issues get in the way of his team’s goals.
      Henry told CBS: “It was [a touching moment]. I can’t say it because I have to keep that private.
      “But from what he said to me, I [have] even more respect how he played tonight and how he came and battled with his team.
      “I can’t share what he said because I can’t share it. That’s how it is.
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      “But once again I will go back to, for me he is the most important player.”
      That wasn’t De Bruyne’s only emotionally charged moment in the match as he was also heard telling City manager Pep Guardiola to “shut up”.
      The ex-Chelsea star and Guardiola started rowing in the second half after the former had been robbed of possession.
      The Spanish tactician was enraged when De Bruyne failed to spot a potential pass to Jack Grealish on the left and was dispossessed by Eder Militao at a dangerous position.
      But the heated argument came to an end when Guardiola walked back to the bench while staring down at the floor.
      The two men don’t appear to have any ill-feelings as they embraced once De Bruyne was hauled off just before full-time. More

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      Scott Carson on track to equal stunning Maldini and Costacurta Champions League record

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      SCOTT CARSON is one game away from equalling a truly REMARKABLE Champions League record.Manchester City’s third-choice keeper watched on from the bench on Wednesday evening as Pep Guardiola’s side demolished Real Madrid 4-0 at the Etihad to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory and book their place in the final.
      Scott Carson is one game away from Champions League glory with Manchester CityCredit: Getty
      Iconic defender Paolo Maldini won five European Cups between 1989 and 2007Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Carson, 37, who has played just two games in four seasons for the Premier League champions, will now head to Istanbul as part of the Sky Blues’ squad to face Inter Milan on June 10.
      And a victory in Turkey would see him claim a second Champions League triumph.
      The first came a stunning 18 YEARS AGO in the very same city.
      Carson was the sub keeper when Liverpool came from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul in 2005 in what was one of the competition’s most memorable games.
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      Costacurta won the same five Champions Leagues with Maldini at AC MilanCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He also started for Rafa Benitez’s men in the first leg of their quarter-final against Juventus – which ended in a 2-1 win.
      And a Man City triumph next month would see the English keeper achieve a feat only matched by AC Milan legends Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta.
      According to Richard Jolly, Carson’s 18-year gap between Champions League wins would see him match the record for the longest period between first and last European Cups as players.
      Maldini, who started the 2005 final that Carson was involved in, and Costacurta, achieved European glory five times – the first coming in 1989 and the last in 2007.
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      Carson would equal that timespan with wins in 2005 and 2023.
      However, his game time at the Etihad pales in comparison to the iconic Maldini at Milan.
      In fact, the legendary Italian defender made exactly 900 more appearances for the Rossoneri (902) than Carson has for Man City (2).
      Carson has won two Premier League titles during his time in Manchester.
      The ex-West Brom, Wigan, and Derby shot-stopper is out of contract at the end of the season.
      Carson spent three and a half years at Liverpool between 2005 and 2008Credit: Getty More

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      Fans convinced Erling Haaland is ‘trying to be Cristiano Ronaldo’ as they spot unusual habit before Real Madrid clash

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      FOOTBALL fans have been left in hysterics after noticing a similarity between Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo’s pre-match habits.The Norwegian striker, 22, posed for a picture alongside his team-mates ahead of their Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid.
      Fans spotted Haaland standing on his tiptoes
      Fans have previously pointed out that Ronaldo has done it throughout his career
      And when the image was released, some eagle-eyed fans were quick to point out that Haaland was following in Ronaldo’s footsteps in more ways than one.
      Cristiano Ronaldo has been repeatedly caught standing on his tiptoes in group photos.
      Haaland was also pictured trying to grab a couple of extra inches standing next to Ederson.
      This habit of standing on their toes is rather unusual given that both players are over six foot.
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      A fan pointing it out on Instagram made the comment: “You’re already the tallest in the team”.
      One fan replied: “Bros trying to be like his idol Cristiano”.
      Another added: “He is copying Ronaldo in every single thing”.
      A third noted: “This is clearly CR7’s influence”.
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      Others took to Twitter to make the comparisons.
      Ronaldo has repeatedly been accused of standing on his toes to try to give himself maximum height advantage.
      The ex-Real Madrid superstar has been called out for doing it throughout his career.
      Some fans have not been completely critical of it, with one arguing “in football, this is a sign of readiness for the task ahead”.
      It is not a secret that Haaland has great admiration for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, he is even his favorite player.
      So perhaps it is a case of unconscious mirroring.
      In any case, Haaland will be trying to emulate Ronaldo’s performances in European finals, as City have reached the final of Champions League, where they will play Inter Milan on June 10. More

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      I shot to fame streaking in Champions League final – now I’m living my dream doing home makeovers

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      FOOTBALL fans will be familiar with Kinsey Wolanski after she streaked at the Champions League final in 2019.But many will be shocked to know that she is now working on home makeovers.
      Kinsey Wolanski is now working on home makeoversCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CsTwEJKMBwf/
      She is best known for streaking at the Champions League final in 2019Credit: Getty
      She ran on the pitch of the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano during the clash between Liverpool and TottenhamCredit: Getty
      She was promoting her old partner’s X-rated porn websiteCredit: Instagram
      She rose to fame after her fleeting appearance during Liverpool’s European final against Tottenham.
      Kinsey, 26, darted across the Wanda Metropolitano pitch in a skimpy black swimsuit.
      Her stunt was to promote her then-boyfriend’s X-rated porn website, with her actions landing her in jail for five hours.
      Kinsey received huge online attention following the stunt and now boasts over three million followers on Instagram.
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      She has since moved on from the raunchy stunts and porn websites and is now working by doing home makeovers.
      And it appears she is quite talented in her new career with pictures of her work online showing the amazing transformations she has overseen.
      After completing a recent job, Kinsey wrote on Instagram: “Closed escrow on another project, and I just really love what I do.
      “We are always working with a tight budget but I love what we are able to transform these houses into with what we have to work with ❤️ dreaming of developing huge projects with unlimited design budgets hahaha.”
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      And her followers were more than impressed with the work she has carried out.
      One fan commented: “I love this content!!! Please share more!”
      A second wrote: “KINS THIS IS INSANE! 👏👏👏👏👏.”
      A third said: “For having a budget you and your team did AMAZING 🔥🔥.”
      While a fourth added: “Killin it.”
      After the stunt, she received a lot of attention onlineCredit: Instagram @kinsey
      Kinsey now has over 3.6million Instagram followersCredit: Instagram @kinsey
      And often wows fans with her raunchy picsCredit: Instagram @kinsey More

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      Watch Gareth Bale nail his first ever hole-in-one then celebrate wildly but video goes down like lead balloon with fans

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      GARETH BALE celebrated wildly after sinking his first ever hole-in-one at Torrey Pines.The 33-year-old is making the most of retirement, and enjoyed a round at 2021 US Open golf course in California.
      Gareth Bale nailed his first ever hole-in-one at Torrey PinesCredit: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsXOv0dN7CT/?igshid=ZWQyN2ExYTkwZQ
      The 33-year-old celebrated wildly after sinking the shotCredit: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsXOv0dN7CT/?igshid=ZWQyN2ExYTkwZQ
      Bale has made no secret of his love of golfCredit: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsXOv0dN7CT/?igshid=ZWQyN2ExYTkwZQ
      While Bale’s love of golf is well documented, the former Tottenham and Real Madrid man has never hit a hole-in-one… until now.
      He shared a video of the moment to his Instagram account.
      After a perfectly executed swing, Bale watched on as his ball trickled into the hole.
      Reacting to the ace, he spun around and ran off with his arms in the air, shouting in celebration alongside his jubilant pals.
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      Bale captioned his video: “First ever hole-in-one @torreypinesgolf South course, hole no3 great commentary by @ollieschindler.”
      But some Real Madrid fans weren’t too happy with the post, which came just hours after his former side were thumped 4-0 by Manchester City in the Champions League.
      One commented on Bale’s vid: “Bro we lost 4-0.”
      A second said: “Make a Madrid post rn before I lose my s***.”
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      And part of another said: “I know he is retired I respect that but still.”
      Meanwhile, other Madrid fans were left begging Bale to return to the club following the humbling defeat at the Etihad.
      One commented on his post: “Come back to Madrid.”
      And a second added: “Missing you in Madrid.”
      Bale won the Champions League an incredible FIVE times during his spell at the Bernabeu.
      He left the club this time last year, joining MLS side Los Angeles FC on a short term deal, before retiring from football after the World Cup.
      Bale won the Champions League five times with Real MadridCredit: AP More

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      Man City boss Pep Guardiola leaves Real Madrid fans fuming with deleted ‘four’ photo in nod to Gerard Pique

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has left Real Madrid fans fuming after last night’s Champions League drubbing.The Manchester City boss masterminded an incredible 4-0 win over Real at the Etihad on Wednesday.
      Pep Guardiola deleted a picture celebrating Man City’s ‘four’ goals over Real MadridCredit: https://www.instagram.com/manel.estiarte/?hl=en
      The pic enraged Real fans as it appeared to be a nod to Barcelona icon Gerard PiqueCredit: Getty
      And Guardiola toasted the win by posting – and promptly deleting – a “four” photo in a nod to Barcelona icon Gerard Pique.
      The result saw City set up a Champions League final showdown against Inter Milan next month in their hunt for the Treble.
      And Real’s season is now over after they also surrendered their LaLiga title to Barcelona.
      Ex-Nou Camp boss Guardiola celebrated in style after the game.
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      The Spaniard was joined his brother Pere, City chief Khaldoon Al Mubarak and ex-Argentina president Mauricio Macri for a post-match drink.
      Others in the picture included Martin Edelman, Abdulla Khouri, Alberto Galassi, Joan Patsy and Manel Estiarte.
      The group then posed for a photo where they all flashed the number four using their fingers.
      However, the picture received an instant backlash from Real Madrid fans.
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      And it was swiftly deleted from Guardiola’s social media accounts.
      The celebration appeared to be inspired by a similar one from Pique, who held up five fingers when Barcelona thrashed Real 5-0 in 2010.
      It has since become synonymous with Pique, who has since repeated it throughout his career.
      And Real Madrid fans did not hold back with their responses to Guardiola’s snap.
      One said: “I hope they lose the final so they keep those four fingers where they can.”
      Another declared: “If they put a 1 before, they will be able to understand the greatness of Madrid. Winning 14 will not be seen by your eyes.”
      One noted: “They are leaving a lot to be desired as always. Pep’s style is like that.”
      Another simply added: “Vamos Inter.” More

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      Pep Guardiola and Man City just three games away from historic Treble if they beat Chelsea, Man Utd and Inter Milan

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      PEP GUARDIOLA celebrated reaching the Champions League final the roared – now let’s get the Treble.City blew away Real Madrid 4-0 at The Etihad to win their semi-final tie 5-1 on aggregate to book a date with Inter Milan in Instanbul.
      Pep Guardiola celebrates City’s first goal against Real Madrid
      Bernardo Silva scored twice in the semi final victory over Real MadridCredit: Getty
      And they now stand only three wins from matching neighbours Manchester United’s achievement of 1999 by lifting the Premier League, FA Cup and European Cup.
      And Guardiola said: “We are there now and the players can think about it, visualise it.
      “We are three games away. One in each competition. We can do it.
      “We need to win one more game in the Premier League then we have our neighbours in the Cup and a Champions League final against an Italian side.
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      “The pleasure of being there and playing against Inter Milan is incalculable and we are going to enjoy the occasion.”
      Hopefully more than three years ago when they lost in the final in Porto 1-0 to Chelsea.
      Victory over Chelsea at The Etihad on Sunday will confirm a hat-trick of Premier League titles and their fifth in six seasons under Guardiola.
      They then face neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3.
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      City are closing in on the Treble
      And then Inter in Istanbul for the Champions League final the following weekend.
      Guardiola said: “We need to close out the Premier League as soon as possible and then prepare for Manchester United and Inter Milan.
      “We are one game away from three titles in a row and we have now reached two Champions League finals and one semi-final in three seasons.
      “The level of the team is incredible.
      “It is so difficult in the modern era to do what this team has done.”
      Victory saw Guardiola become the quickest manager to 100 victories in the competition’s history.
      He said that victory over Madrid was revenge for last season when they lost to the Spanish giants in heart breaking circumstances at this same stage.
      He said: “I had the feeling these last few days that there was a mixture of calm and intention to play this type of game.
      “In the first ten to 15 minutes I felt all the pain from last season was here.
      “We had to swallow the poison, swallow everything last season. So when the draw was made and it was Madrid, I wanted it.
      Man City dominated the second leg against Real Madrid
      Bernardo Silva was outstanding against the defending champion
      “Sport gives you the chance for revenge and we were lucky enough to take advantage of it.
      “I felt, I could smell the team was ready to compete at the level they did.”
      Asked where the performance stood in his managerial career he said:
      “It is the highest considering the opponents.”
      Bernardo Silva scored twice in what of the most memorable nights in the club’s history.
      And Silva said: “It’s a beautiful night for us. It’s a wonderful feeling to be in the final again, hopefully this time we can win it. 
      “The fans were amazing once again, they helped us go after Madrid because we know how tough they are.
      “Even in the second half when we were winning 2-0, they pushed us and they could have scored but we were very resilient, we were very passionate and organised at the same time and I’m so happy with this performance.”
      After drawing 1-1 in the Bernabeu, City took this tie away from the current Champions League holders with an incredible first half display which saw Silva score twice.
      A Eder Militao own goal extended the lead on 76 minutes with substitute Julian Alvarez rounding things off in injury time.
      Bernardo said: “My performance in the game in Madrid wasn’t the one that I wanted, so I wanted to compensate for that because I didn’t feel very good at all after the first game.
      “Today I had to do better for my team-mates, for the fans and that’s what I tried to do and I’m very happy to do that.”
      It was not the way Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti wanted to celebrate becoming the manager of the most Champions League games with this his 191st moving him one ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson.
      Ancelotti said: “We played against an opponent who deserved to win they played with more intensity, more quality up front and they took their chances.
      “They were better than us, we were better last year. When you get to the semi-final of the Champions League you can come up against a team that are really good, they are on form and then you lose the game.”
      John Stones was in top form against Real
      The defeat, on top of losing La Liga to fierce rivals Barcelona with games to spare, has left a question mark over his future at The Bernabeu.
      But Ancelotti said: “The president has been quite clear two weeks ago, there are no doubts about my staying on.”
      There was a spat at the end of the game between former United Champions League winner Patrice Evra and Guardiola’s assistant Manel Estiarte.
      Evra had turned up for punditry duties in a red suit, and the pair had words at the final whistle with City staff on hand to make sure it did not escalate.
      Next up is Chelsea, then Brighton and then Brentford, giving them three bites of the cherry to seal the Premier League.
      Then the second leg is the FA Cup, against their bitter old rivals.
      Man City play Man Utd in the FA Cup final on Saturday June 3 at Wembley.
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      Should they win the Double, the next step will the the Champions League a week later.
      Man City play Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday June 10 in Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium, 8pm kick off More

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      Man Utd legend Evra involved in heated altercation with Man City staff after full-time as Pep assistant has to intervene

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      PATRICE EVRA clashed with Manchester City staff following their Champions League semi-final over Real Madrid.The former Manchester United star was at the Etihad in a professional capacity working as a pundit.
      Patrice Evra was involved in an altercation with Man City staff as their players celebrated reaching the Champions League final 😡 pic.twitter.com/jLqsCKBTNw— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) May 17, 2023

      Patrice Evra was involved in an altercation with Manchester City staffCredit: Getty
      But he was involved in an altercation with City coaches at the end of the game and had to be calmed down by Pep Guardiola’s assistant Manel Estiarte.
      The incident occurred as City players carried out a lap of honour after defeating reigning champions Real 4-0, winning 5-1 on aggregate.
      Evra, 42, was incredibly animated as he remonstrated with Estiarte just metres from his former team-mate Rio Ferdinand and his BT Sport colleagues.
      But he explained it was started by the City man, telling CBS Sport: “He was looking at me, he was like ‘this is for you! This is for you!
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      “So I came close and asked him why he was so agitated and he said ‘no because last year you said on TV that they [City] s*** themselves, that’s why they lose’, and this year they didn’t s*** themselves.
      “That’s the truth Micah [Richards]! You know I’m an honest man I’m straight and after he apologised.”
      The City boss held the Frenchman by his arms and appeared to be successful in calming him down.
      The pair then shook hands before going their separate ways.
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      City star Jack Grealish caused a stir when speaking to CBS Sports and accidentally let out an F-bomb.
      Grealish, 27, said: “I’m a bit speechless at the moment, I don’t really know what to say. I’m f****g… sorry.” More