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      Fans love Richards and Carragher’s reaction to Leao as they joke ‘they’re forgetting they too are famous footballers’

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      FOOTBALL fans can’t get enough of Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher’s reaction to greeting AC Milan ace Rafael Leao.The pair, alongside Thierry Henry and Kate Abdo, make up CBS’ team for Champions League coverage.
      Rafael Leao high-fived Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards ahead of the Champions League semi-finalCredit: CBS
      Carragher and Richards were left laughing after greeting LeaoCredit: CBS
      They were pitch side at San Siro for last night’s Champions League semi-final second leg between Inter Milan and AC Milan.
      And during the warm up, Leao took the time to quickly come over and say hello.
      The 23-year-old winger, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, initially gave the ice cool Henry a high five.
      He then moved on to the more excited Carragher and Richards, slapping hands with the pair as he ran past.
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      As Leao high-fived each of the trio, Richards excitedly exclaimed: “Leao, one… two… three!”
      Richards and Carragher then laughed with each other as Leao ran off.
      After watching the moment back, Richards joked: “We’re doing good baby! CBS all the way!”
      CBS posted footage of the wholesome moment to TikTok, and fans couldn’t get enough of Richards and Carragher’s giddy reaction to seeing Leao.
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      One joked: “Micah and Jamie are forgetting that they too are famous footballers.”
      Another quipped: “Their laugh when Leao gave them all high fives is taking me out.”
      A third wrote: “Micah is too hyped.”
      And part of another comment said: “Looks like they are at the playground!! Having a great time!!!”
      Star man Leao returned to the AC Milan side after missing the first leg, but was unable to inspire his side to victory.
      A single Lautaro Martinez strike saw Inter win 1-0 on the night and progress to the Champions League final 3-0 on aggregate. More

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      Pep Guardiola slams claims Man City must win Champions League and rants ‘my legacy is exceptional already’

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      PEP GUARDIOLA claims his Manchester City legacy will be “exceptional” — even if he fails to win the Champions League.But City defender Kyle Walker feels the squad owe it to their Abu Dhabi owners to finally become kings of Europe.
      Pep Guardiola says a book could be written about Manchester City’s team of the last six yearsCredit: Getty
      Kyle Walker wants to win the Champions League for City’s ownersCredit: EPA
      City, on the brink of a fifth Premier League title in six seasons, are yet to lift the trophy they really want in Pep’s seven years at the Etihad.
      With their semi-final with Real Madrid poised at 1-1 ahead of the second leg, Guardiola said: “My legacy is exceptional already.
      “I’ve been here many times already. The legacy is that we have had one hell of a time.
      “For many years they will remember a generation of players who for five or six years scored lots of goals and conceded very few — won lots of things and won very well.
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      “People should remember that. It would be a good book.
      “Whether or not they will remember us or not I don’t know but we have had a good time.”
      However, Walker believes that after 12 consecutive years in the competition, it is high time they finally lifted the trophy.
      The defender said: “You have to just look over the road at United and what they have accomplished over a number of years.
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      “When you get compared to that team, they won countless titles.
      “We’ve done five in six years, hopefully, if we can cross the line on this one.
      “But the club is missing the Champions League and the owners and the amount of money they have pumped into this club and the investment they have done, we owe that to them.
      “We got to the Champions League final against Chelsea and did not perform as well as we can.
      “So we owe that to ourselves to get some revenge because we know it was below par in 2021.”
      Victory over champs Real would leave Pep’s Treble chasers hot favourites to lift Europe’s big prize.
      Guardiola added: “We’re not stupid, we know how important this game is.
      “It is maybe one of the most important games since we came together here. We cannot deny that. For the competition, for the rival, for many things.”
      Guardiola’s players battled back to earn a draw in the Bernabeu last week thanks to Kevin De Bruyne’s stunner.
      But Pep said: “My feeling is we have to play better than we did in Madrid.
      “But all the players have to do is what we’ve done for many years.
      “I’ve lost seven semi- finals out of ten. I’ve lost more than I’ve won, so there are many things you can’t control but my only wish is to be ourselves.”
      The ex-Barca boss has been accused of causing City’s downfall in Europe by tinkering too much.
      And he teased: “I have an idea that we could do something a bit differently but it’s nothing special.
      “I’m not overthinking it, don’t worry guys, nothing different to what we’ve done, just more fluid and play a bit better.”
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      Last term, the Etihad clash saw City winning 4-3 in the first leg — before slipping up in Spain.
      Guardiola added: “We’d like to have the game we had here last season, I’d sign for it right now but I don’t think it will happen.” More

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      Arsenal set for massive boost with star man to open fresh contract talks after stellar season

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      WILLIAM SALIBA is set for fresh contract talks with Arsenal.The defender was a sensation in his Gunners breakout campaign before a back injury ended his season in mid-March.
      William Saliba is set for fresh contract talks with Arsenal.Credit: Getty
      Saliba, 22, started the first 27 Premier League games with his absence a major reason why Arsenal have fallen behind Manchester City in the title race.
      But his current Emirates deal expires in the summer of 2024 — with the centre-back spending most of his first three years at the club out on loan.
      The Gunners are therefore desperate to get him tied down long-term.
      Meanwhile, Arsenal are praying for a Manchester City meltdown — in Europe as well as in the Premier League.
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      Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have already guaranteed second place in the table and a return to Champions League action after a seven-season absence.
      But if City beat Real Madrid tonight, it will increase the chances of Arsenal landing a nightmare draw — which could include the likes of BOTH Real and Bayern Munich — by being dropped into the third seeding pot.
      Arsenal’s faint title hopes will be extinguished this weekend if they fail to beat Nottingham Forest or City get three points against Chelsea.
      But this evening they have a major interest in Pep Guardiola’s side losing to Madrid and seeing their Euro dream shattered.
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      Next season’s eight top seeds for August’s group-stage draw in Monaco will be the champions of England, Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Portugal, plus the Champions League and Europa League winners.
      Then will come the next eight highest-ranked sides on Uefa’s club coefficient calculation.
      Which, as things stand, would be Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, Inter Milan, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Leipzig and Porto, with Arsenal one place out of the frame.
      Arsenal have fallen behind in the title raceCredit: Reuters More

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      Fans reckon Pep Guardiola is ‘at it again’ as Jack Grealish is spotted in bizarre new position in Man City training

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      FANS joked Pep Guardiola is “at it again” after seeing a snap of Jack Grealish playing IN GOAL during Manchester City training.The Prem champions take on Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday night.
      Jack Grealish had a go between the sticks in Man City trainingCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Grealish grinned as he tried to give Ederson a run for his moneyCredit: Getty
      Boss Guardiola is aiming to win his first Champions League since 2011 and his maiden European title since leaving Barcelona.
      The 52-year-old has suffered a number of heartbreaking exits in the last 12 years, with fans often accusing him of “over-thinking” his selections.
      Examples include his infamous man-for-man three at the back deployed while managing Bayern Munich against Barca.
      While he also elected not to select a holding midfielder in the 2021 final against Chelsea.
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      During City training this week, red-hot wide man Grealish was spotted between the sticks – with fans joking that Guardiola was about to make his wackiest selection yet.
      One jokingly asked: “What’s Pep cooking?”
      While a second quipped: “Ederson & Rodri double pivot. I like it.”
      And a third tweeted: “He definitely uses twitter.”
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      Another added: “We’re in trouble with this man.”
      Ahead of Wednesday’s second leg, Guardiola pointed to his experience in the competition.
      He said: “I have been here many times.
      “My legacy is exceptional already. I have told the players to enjoy the moment – we are incredibly lucky to be here.
      “It’s in our hands, it depends on us, we don’t have to do something exceptional – just win one game to reach the final.
      “I have an incredible feeling about them. Whatever happens – thank you so much to them for bringing me and the City fans here again.”
      Pep Guardiola spoke ahead of Man City’s Champions League semi-final second legCredit: AFP More

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      Watch hilarious moment Thierry Henry walks off CBS Sports set with Richards & Carragher howling after Kate Abdo blunder

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      THIERRY HENRY hilariously walked off the set of CBS Sports after presenter Kate Abdo made a huge gaffe.The CBS team, which also consists of Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards, often poke fun at one another during their Champions League coverage.

      Thierry Henry began to walk off set in disbeliefCredit: Twitter / @CBSSportsGolazo
      And ahead of Inter’s second-leg tie with AC Milan Abdo made herself the target of mockery with an embarrassing slip-up.
      The Brit muddled up the broadcaster she was working for, much to the amusement of her colleagues.
      Abdo said: “Speaking of that, there are some other people who aren’t so blessed to be here tonight.
      “Your Fox Sports…Fox Sports? We’re on CBS!”
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      Henry was in disbelief and dropped his mic onto the desk they were working at before walking away.
      Meanwhile Richards and Carragher were in stitches with the latter falling to his knees as he slammed the table.
      He reacted saying: “We’re all going to get sacked! Are there any jobs going at Fox?
      “Can you get fired on air.”
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      A red-faced Abdo quickly apologised and tried to blame her blunder on the teleprompter.
      She said: “Oh man I’m about to get fired, I am so sorry.” More

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      Inter 1 AC Milan 0 (agg 3-0): Lautaro Martinez goal seals Nerazzurri’s Champions League final spot over fierce rivals

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      FAMILIAR foes could await Manchester City and Pep Guardiola in the Champions League final.Ex-City man Edin Dzeko and his Inter Milan team-mates are on their way to Istanbul after overcoming their fierce city rivals in the biggest tie Milan has seen for 20 years.
      Lautaro Martinez celebrates his winner on the nightCredit: Alamy
      Martinez, 25, fired Inter into the Champions League finalCredit: Reuters
      Martinez was the key man for InterCredit: Getty
      Martinez celebrates his goal with the fansCredit: AP
      Neither Carlo Ancelotti, a former Milan manager, or Guardiola, whose Barcelona side lost to Inter in the 2010 semi-final when the Serie A side went on to win the trophy for a third time, will underestimate them.
      Across these two legs Inter showed that they can be just as disruptive as they are dangerous.
      A true threat when they look to play direct attacking football, but not afraid to drag their opponents into a fight just in case they were thinking of playing any nice football.
      Simone Inzaghi’s side preciously guarded the advantage they had snatched here last week, before, with 15 minutes to go, Lautaro Martinez sealed their return to club football’s greatest stage.
      Milan’s route to Istanbul was always going to be more difficult given their torrid start to the first leg, when Edin Dzeko and Henrik Mkhitaryan had them on the deck after scoring inside 11 minutes.
      Stefano Pioli, the Milan manager, conceded that his side needed a miracle.
      Already in a horrible position, they were now facing the ‘away’ leg of this tie, with Inter fans dominating San Siro.
      A huge banner of a triumphant knight boasting the victims of this Champions League campaign (Barcelona and Bayern Munich among them) was unfurled to inspire Inter alongside the rallying cry: ‘Victory for us is life.’
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      Milan’s sliver of fans in the Curva Sud responded with: ‘To the assault’, but it never truly came.
      Hope that a miracle was possible arrived in the form of Rafael Leao’s name appearing on the teamsheet having missed the first leg with a thigh issue – though he was far from fit.
      But it always felt like this was one step too far for Milan, with or without Leao.
      If Milan were to have any hope, they needed a spectacular start.
      Theo Hernandez looked to provide that, flashing an effort narrowly over the bar from 40-yards out.
      Matteo Darmian was forced to head over his own bar before Brahim Diaz fluffed a low effort at Andre Onana – a waste of a chance which could have heaped all the pressure on Inter.
      Inter looked to get hold of things after a rough start, though Leao made that far more difficult than last week.
      The winger flashed through the Inter defence, only to see his shot roll agonisingly wide of the far post. Close, but another let off.
      For a clash between the two titans of the most fashionable city on Earth, this descended into one hell of a scrap.
      Those in red and black were running forward and hoping to force something – and it was not working, resulting in just one shot on target across 90 minutes.
      Inter were happy to hack away at any momentum their rivals could manage.
      Milan’s hope was fading as Inter’s confidence rose, before their elation erupted.
      Martinez had been kicked and barged throughout but this time found space through a scrappy one-two with Romelu Lukaku.
      The World Cup winner collected and fired a low effort in at the near post, sparking blue and black bedlam.
      It would be foolish to rule out a similar sight in Istanbul.
      Inter Milan celebrate with their supportersCredit: AFP
      AC Milan were well beaten by their fierce rivalsCredit: Getty

      You can follow how the action unfolded in our live below…

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      The Champions League group of death Arsenal could face next season… and it’s worrying news for fans

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      ARSENAL will return to the Champions League next season for the first time since the 2016-17 season.The Gunners have botched their title bid in recent weeks, but fans can still look forward to a return to Europe’s top table next term.
      Arsenal have botched their title bidCredit: PA
      Mikel Arteta’s side will be back in the Champions League next termCredit: AP
      It could be a tough reintroduction for Mikel Arteta and Co, however, with a potential group of death in the pipeline.
      Due to their lack of European success in recent years, Arsenal are likely to be in Pot 3 when the group stage draw is made in August.
      This could leave the Gunners facing an uphill battle to reach the knockout phase.
      Pot 1 will be littered with quality, populated by the winners of Europe’s top seven leagues, as well as the Europa League victors.
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      This could leave Arsenal facing a dreaded rematch with Bayern Munich… who humiliated them during their last Champions League campaign.
      The German giants famously beat Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate in 2017, obliterating Arsene Wenger’s men and drawing ridicule from rival fans.
      Alternatively, the Gunners could draw the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona or Napoli from Pot 1.
      They can’t draw Manchester City, however, as sides from the same country are kept separate.
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      From Pot 2, meanwhile, Arsenal could draw lurking perennial European champions Real Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side having been beaten to the LaLiga title by Barcelona.
      Meanwhile, in addition to the Gunners, Pot 3 is likely to be populated by teams like Shakhtar Donetsk, RB Salzburg and Lazio.
      Should they get through two rounds of qualifying, Marseille could be drawn from Pot 4 to play the Gunners.
      The French side are brimming with former Gooners – with Alexis Sanchez, Matteo Guendouzi and Sead Kolasinac.
      While Nuno Tavares has spent this season on loan at Marseille from the North Londoners.
      Arsenal could face a reunion with Alexis SanchezCredit: AP More

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      Erling Haaland CAN’T win the Ballon d’Or over Lionel Messi claims Man City team-mate

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      BERNARDO SILVA believes that Erling Haaland won’t claim the Ballon d’Or over Lionel Messi – unless Manchester City win the Champions League.The prestigious award is handed out at the end of the calendar year to the world’s finest footballer – and there are no shortage of candidates so far.
      Bernardo Silva has seen Haaland’s greatness first-hand – but still doesn’t back him for football’s biggest individual awardCredit: Getty
      Lionel Messi has had a busy month in Paris as tension between the 35-year-old and the club continues to boilCredit: Getty
      Many would back Haaland to follow up his Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year award with the Ballon d’Or after his stunning debut season in England.
      The Norwegian forward has broken the Premier League record for most goals in a single season and still has three games add more strikes to his tally.
      But over in France Messi has recaptured his best form at PSG – even as transfer speculation continues to distract from his exploits.
      Silva has a theory about what it would take for his 22-year-old teammate to stop Messi winning yet another individual honour.
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      He told France Football: “If Haaland wins Premier League and Champions League, you can put him in the Ballon d’Or discussion, and you can also talk about Vini Jr. if Madrid win the Champions League.
      “In general, it is between Messi and the winner of the Champions League, and so far, I will give it to Messi.”
      Man City are within three wins of capturing both the Premier League and the Champions League, and within four wins of doing the treble.
      Haaland has played a major role in their fight for glory with a staggering 52 goals across all competitions.
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      But seven-times Ballon d’Or winner Messi will be keen to nab another honour – even though he will be 36 by the time the historic award will be dished out.
      He has 15 goals and 15 assists in 29 Ligue 1 appearances this season.
      While European success is beyond his reach this season, only four more points is needed for Messi and his teammates to land another title. More