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      Jamie Carragher slams ‘CLOWN’ Rio Ferdinand and even takes dig at Steven Gerrard as he savages BT Sport punditry

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      CBS SPORTS pundit Jamie Carragher brutally savaged his BT Sport rivals last night.That’s by branding Rio Ferdinand a “clown” while also aiming a dig at ex-Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard.
      Jamie Carragher savaged BT Sport duo Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard last nightCredit: Twitter
      Carragher stunned CBS pals like Thierry Henry following Inter Milan’s 2-0 win over ACCredit: Twitter
      Carragher was adamant Inter Milan should not have had a penalty for a challenge on Lautaro MartinezCredit: Getty
      The trio were all on punditry duty for their respective outlets in yesterday’s Champions League semi-final between AC and Inter Milan.
      Two early goals from the Nerazzurri saw them secure a 2-0 advantage in the first leg.
      It could and should have been more as they ended up having 16 shots at goal in a dominant performance.
      But Inter felt they were wrongly denied a penalty in the first half when Lautaro Martinez went down following contact from Simon Kjaer.
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      The referee initially blew for a spot-kick and even proceeded to book the Dane.
      But VAR advised him to check a replay, and after consulting the pitch-side monitor he reversed his decision.
      Footage suggested there had been some contact on Martinez, albeit he had made the most of it.
      BT Sport duo Ferdinand and Gerrard were livid at the ref’s decision to overturn the penalty.
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      Simon Kjaer was initially penalised for the slight contact before VAR overturned the decisionCredit: Getty
      Carragher said ex-Liverpool teammate Gerrard used to go down easily for penaltiesCredit: Getty
      Carragher called Ferdinand a ‘clown’ for thinking Inter should have won a penaltyCredit: Getty
      But Carragher was adamant that, especially after watching the replay, it was the right call.
      And he left fellow CBS pundits Thierry Henry and Micah Richards stunned with his comments.
      Carragher said: “I think anyone out there who is watching the replay and seeing what VAR do and still believe that is a penalty, they must be a clown.”
      When shown a tweet revealing Gerrard’s thoughts, Carragher continued: “He was an attacking player, wasn’t he?
      “He was liable a little bit himself under a little bit of contact — always contact, never a dive. I understand where he is coming from.
      “It’s just when players in my position who are defenders, English defenders who are commentating on the game…
      “I understand attackers thinking it was a penalty if you (Henry) did, and Steve was an attacker. Maybe he felt there was a little bit of contact.
      Rio Ferdinand! I’m happy to call him a clownJamie Carragher
      “But as a defender we have to stick together, don’t we, and I just felt people were getting a little bit carried away.”
      Pal Richards then chirped: “Name names!”
      To which Carragher replied: “Rio Ferdinand! I’m happy to call him a clown.”
      But Ferdinand doubled down as he tweeted: “Still think it’s a penalty…”
      Ferdinand and Carragher famously clashed on Twitter in October after the latter was snubbed pitch-side by ex-Man Utd striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
      Responding to Ferdinand joking he was upset, Carragher said: “No I’m delighted it went viral. 
      “Rio I know how it works, he’s your mate and you/Evra and the rest are on the group Whatsap and he asks you to come out and defend him.
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      “Don’t be his fan boy you’re Rio Ferdinand FFS!”
      This saw Ferdinand reply: “What Whatsapp group? Leave off lad… I want this same energy with Roy Keane when you’re next in the studio ffs. Stop getting bullied.” More

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      Fans beg for BT Sport to be stripped of Champions League coverage for ‘making a mockery’ of monster Milan derby

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      BT SPORT suffered a major Twitter backlash for their coverage of Inter Milan’s clash with AC Milan.The two Italian sides came face-to-face in the first-leg of the Champions League semi-final at the San Siro.
      Fans blasted BT Sport for their major own goal in the coverage of the Milan derbyCredit: Getty
      Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s early strikes stunned AC Milan and sealed Inter a 2-0 advantage ahead of next week’s return match.
      BT Sport have been highly praised for their broadcasts of the Italian top-flight this term with James Richardson and James Horncastle leading the show.
      But the channel opted against using their Italian football experts this evening to go with their usual Premier League crew as pundits tonight.
      And the inclusion of Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard plus the choice of Steve McManaman, who screamed out “bloody hell” after an explosion in the crowd, on commentary frustrated viewers.
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      Journalist Colin Millar started the debate by tweeting: “BT Sport cover every Serie A match with specialist commentators, pundits, presenters.
      “Ignoring all that to end up with this standard of coverage for one of the biggest games of the season is desperately selling viewers short.
      “Their coverage of the Champions League is generally atrocious. Absolutely miles off the standard it should be and comfortably the biggest underperformer of football TV coverage in the UK.”
      And it seemed many echoed his sentiments, with another tweeting: “BT Sport have fantastic Serie A commentators as well James Horncastle and James Richardson who specialise in Italian football.
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      “So why pay for 7 clueless numpties to have a Jolly for Inter V AC Milan Champions League semi final.”
      Another wrote: “More shoddy UEFA Champions League coverage from BT Sport tonight. A wasted opportunity… James Richardson & Co. are 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.”
      A fellow viewer said: “Champions League coverage on BT Sport is absolutely shocking.”
      Another said: “BT Sport are so weird, their Serie A and National League coverage is great, but Premier League and Champions League is f***ing horrendous!”
      “Someone needs to take Champions League coverage off BT Sport, they’re making a mockery out of this competition,” blasted another.
      While a fellow fan said: “Absolutely nothing unites football fans quite like their dislike for BT Sport Champions League coverage.” More

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      Man City set to rake in outrageous £300MILLION in prize money if they complete historic Treble

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      MANCHESTER CITY will bank almost £300MILLION in prize money if they clinch the Treble.Pep Guardiola’s men are just seven games away from completing the dream Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup haul.
      Kevin De Bruyne celebrates a superb leveller in a 1-1 first-leg draw at Real that leaves Man City well placed to reach the Champions League finalCredit: Rex
      A fifth Premier League crown in six years is likely to be worth around £164m, similar to the figure they landed last season.
      SunSport revealed last month that a first Champions League trophy would earn the Etihad outfit £117.2m.
      Guardiola’s side are favourites to reach the final next month following Tuesday’s 1-1 semi-final first-leg draw at Real Madrid.
      And if City beat neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley on June 3, that would see them trouser £3.9m — taking the total to a staggering £285.1m.
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      City have four league matches left, starting at Everton on Sunday and need nine more points to officially win the title.
      Then Guardiola and his Treble-chasers will switch their attention back to Europe’s biggest prize for the return leg against Real on Wednesday.
      Kevin De Bruyne’s stunning second-half equaliser in the Bernabeu has given City a golden chance of making the Istanbul final.
      The glitzy showpiece in Turkey is on June 10 — so the blue half of Manchester could already have two trophies in the cabinet and be looking to make it three.
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      Lifting an elusive first European Cup would guarantee them entry into the new-look Fifa Club World Cup in 2025 — which is worth an estimated £50m.
      City’s group stage winnings this season, including the coefficient and initial prize money, saw them bank £69.6m.
      As Premier League champions, Guardiola’s men also took a 40 per cent share of the initial £28.8m market pool fund.
      Their victories in the last 16 and quarter-final have been worth a further £20.37m to the Abu Dhabi-owned club.
      And reaching the final would see City taking £9.6m of the remaining half of the market pool — as they would have played 13 of the total 39 matches involving English teams.
      Winning the European Cup in Istanbul next month would mean a further £17.63m, taking their potential total earnings to £117.2m.
      City defender Manuel Akanji said: “We’ve been working all season long to be in a position like this.
      “We just take it the way it is — be in the moment, think about the next action and be ready for it.” More

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      AC Milan 0 Inter 2: Dzeko & Mkhitaryan stun rivals in derby with early double to put one foot in Champions League final

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      MANCHESTER CITY could find a familiar face standing in the way of their Champions League dream.Two Premier League castaways dominated the Milan derby in this semi-final first-leg as ex-City man Edin Dzeko and former Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan stunned AC Milan and left Inter on the brink of a first final since 2010.
      Edin Dzeko hooked a left-footed shot into the back of the netCredit: Reuters
      Henrikh Mkhitaryan made it 2-0 after 11 minutesCredit: Getty
      This famous old stadium was literally shaking with deafening noise from both sides of the Milanese support over an hour before this city’s biggest game in two decades.
      Milan’s ultras unveiled a shimmering tifo of Satan and a sign warning: ‘Hell is empty, all the devils are here.’
      The devil may have been here but Rafael Leao wasn’t, not in the XI or on the bench. The first of Milan’s many problems.
      Milan’s ferocious support had been building up to this since meeting in the city’s Piazza del Duomo yesterday morning, only to have their dreams shattered inside ten minutes by Dzeko.
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      With Leao not fit and another Premier League outcast in Romelu Lukaku left on the bench for Inter, these two were spearheaded by European veterans in Dzeko, 37, and 36-year-old Olivier Giroud.
      And it was Dzeko using every ounce of his experience to carve a superb opener on eight minutes, drifting towards the back post to meet Hakan Calhanoglu’s corner and hooking his leg around marker Davide Calabria to divert it in.
      Giroud barely had a kick, isolated and ineffective up top.
      Milan were shocked and the back four were still reeling when 34-year-old Mkhitaryan strolled through and smashed home a second three minutes later as they watched on standing stock still.
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      Dzeko celebrates his early openerCredit: Getty
      Mkhitaryan wheels away after scoring Inter’s secondCredit: Getty
      In a theatre of thunderous support for two teams desperately fearing the horror of losing to one another, this was expected to be a cagey affair.
      But Inter are in a fine vein of form, having won five on the bounce and climbed above Milan in Serie A at the weekend, and were having none of it.
      Milan were terrified and chaotic, Inter rampant and ruthless.
      Across six previous Champions League semi-finals at San Siro, Milan had conceded just one goal. Now they’d shipped two in 11 minutes.
      It could have been three five minutes later when Calhanoglu crashed an effort against the inside of the post from 25-yards before Mkhitaryan’s follow-up was stopped by Mike Maignan.
      Fikayo Tomori and Simon Kjaer were spared more embarrassment when, after Lautaro Martinez wriggled between them and hit the deck, the Spanish referee overturned his decision to award a penalty following a VAR review.
      But Milan did not take the chance handed to them, and waves of Inter chances continued largely unchallenged.
      Dimarco, Martinez and Denzel Dumfries all had chances to make it three before the break.
      Leao, watching from the stands alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, buried his head in his hands.
      Ibrahimovic was doing much the same late in the second half.
      Substitute Junior Messias sent one shot wide but it was still all blue and black after immediately after the restart.
      Milan’s tremendous support refused to give up, filling San Siro with red smoke and letting off two ear-splitting fire-crackers to try and spark their side into life.
      It almost worked too, with Sandro Tonali clipping the post with a low shot as they looked more threatening.
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      If Stefano Pioli’s side had offered half the ferocity of those in the Curva Sud this would have been a very different tie – but their slight second half improvement was never enough.
      Having never beaten Milan in a European tie before this, it was Inter’s night and a shot at immortality is theirs to claim in next week’s return leg.
      Lautaro Martinez thought he’d won a first-half penaltyCredit: Getty
      Rafael Leao had to watch on from the standsCredit: Getty More

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      AC Milan 0 Inter 2 LIVE RESULT: Dzeko and Mkhitarayan’s quick-fire double seals first leg win for Inzaghi’s men

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      INTER brushed their bitter Italian rivals AC Milan aside in the first leg of what has been a tasty Champions League semi-final tie – and the damage was done inside 12 minutes. Edin Dzeko’s ferocious and instinctive strike gave Simone Inzaghi’s side the perfect start.
      And ex-Manchester United and Arsenal star Henrik Mkhitaryan made it two shortly after which was enough to see Inter get the victory.

      RESULT: AC Milan 0-2 Inter
      Live stream: BT.com
      TV channel: BT Sport 1
      AC Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez; Tonali, Krunic, Saelemaekers, Bennacer, Diaz, Giroud
      Inter XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
      Will San Siro be demolished?

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      Follow ALL the action from the San Siro with our live blog below…
      Buona notte from the San Siro
      It’s the end of the evening in Milan but is it the end of the road for the Rossoneri in the Champions League?
      Stefano Pioli’s AC side have it all to do after being beaten comprehensively by their city rivals Inter in the first leg of their semi-final this evening, and have just six days to recover before the return.
      While Milan were feeble, Inter were excellent, and now surely have one foot in next month’s final showdown with either Manchester City or Real Madrid.
      We’ll find out for sure next Tuesday when the San Siro hosts the second leg – this time as a sea of blue and black – and we’ll be back here to do it all again.
      Until then, thanks for joining us and goodbye.
      Extra! Read all about it!
      Before we sign off for the evening, let’s take you right back to the start and remind you of how it all started with Jack Rosser’s match report of Inter’s 2-0 win over rivals Milan in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
      Milan were terrified and chaotic, Inter rampant and ruthless. Across six previous Champions League semi-finals at San Siro, Milan had conceded just one goal. Now they’d shipped two in 11 minutes.Jack RosserThe Sun

      Tomori reveals AC anxiety
      Fikayo Tomori was brought out to face the cameras at the final whistle of tonight’s 2-0 defeat to Inter Milan, and admitted that he and his AC Milan teammates were caught off guard in the opening exchanges.
      He told BT Sport: “We’re disappointed with the way we started the game.
      “In the first half, it took us a while to get back in the game. I think there was some anxiety in the team. With a team like Inter, you can’t give them a millimetre.
      “But it’s only the first game and we can’t let our heads drop. If we play with the right intensity, we can put them in bother.”
      As Opta pointed out before kick-off, Tomori was the first Englishman to appear in a Champions League semi-final for a non-English club since Steve McManaman.
      Unfortunately for the young defender, his performance tonight was on a par with that of the BT Sport co-commentator.
      2003 – Fikayo Tomori is the first Englishman to appear in a Champions League semi-final for a non-English club since Steve McManaman in May 2003 for Real Madrid. Expatriate. pic.twitter.com/ZialCKD0aN— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 10, 2023

      Inter keeping it clean
      After losing the first Derby della Madonnina of the season back in September, Inter have now beaten their city rivals three times in a row.
      Wins in Serie A, the Supercoppa and the Champions League have been racked up in succession, all without the conceding of a single goal.
      It’s not the best news for the Rossoneri given that they need to score at least twice in the return next Tuesday.

      Match stats from the San Siro
      AC Milan registered just two shots on target during tonight’s Champions League semi final first leg, the first of which didn’t come until the 81st minute.

      Huge challenge awaits Rossoneri
      So AC Milan will travel the short distance to the away dressing room of the San Siro Stadium next Tuesday with the toughest of jobs to do.
      Trailing 2-0 from tonight’s home leg, the Rossoneri know they will have to win by at least two goals to even force extra-time.
      And recent history won’t give them much cause for hope.
      It’s been seven years since Milan last beat their city rivals by more than one goal, a 3-0 Serie A success in January 2016.

      Full time – Milan 0-2 Inter
      Advantage Inter!
      The Nerazzurri take a 2-0 lead into the second leg – their home leg – of the Champions League semi-final after a thoroughly dominant performance at the San Siro.
      Simone Inzaghi’s side struck early through Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the opening 11 minutes, and then held their city rivals at arm’s length throughout the second half.
      In fact, Stefano Pioli’s Milan can count themselves fortunate that the deficit isn’t greater after coming out on top of three VAR checks for Inter penalties.

      Milan 0-2 Inter
      90+2. And on the subject of shots, here’s one from Pobega on the half-volley.
      Unfortunately for the Milan sub, it’s straight at Onana.
      I make that only the home side’s second attempt on target tonight.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      90. Four minutes of additional time are signalled by the fourth official.
      Four minutes for Milan to give themselves a shot at glory in the return next week.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      89. Bastoni sets off on another mazy run upfield, and probably takes an overelaborate stepover too many when Lukaku was in space to his right.
      These Inter players have certainly enjoyed their night’s work.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      87. Inter are now playing this out now.
      It’s not quite Arsenal or Newcastle levels of game management, but the Nerazzurri are taking the sting out of the game.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      85. The AC Milan supporters are still making a racket, but you can tell that it’s more in hope than expectation.
      And now some empty seats are beginning to appear.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      83. A chance for substitute Gagliardini to seal the deal, but the midfielder takes a touch too many as he drifts into the penalty area and is denied by Thiaw.
      It was brilliant set-up play by Barella, who now wears the captain’s armband after Martinez’s exit.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      81. Junior Messias moves off the right again, and tries to drag his side back into the contest.
      That’s accounting without Matteo Darmian though, who executes a perfect block on the shot to take it comfortably into Onana’s hands.

      Milan 0-2 Inter
      80. Ten minutes remain in the first leg of this all-Italian, all-Milan Champions League semi-final.
      Inter still lead courtesy of those two early goals from Dzeko and Mkhitaryan.
      Milan 0-2 Inter – Inter substitutions
      78. The video officials are called into action again to check for a potential penalty following a handball from Thiaw.
      Quite rightly on this occasion, they reject review, noting the ball bounced off the player’s body first.
      Meanwhile, two more changes for Inter. On come Roberto Gagliardini and Joaquin Correa, replacing Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      76. The corner is sent into the box but before any meaningful contact can be made, Bastoni hits the decks and rolls around dramatically.
      It’s unclear on first viewing what happened, but replays show Krunic launching a right hook into the ribs of the Inter defender.
      VAR take a look – a long look – and decide against either an Inter penalty or a red card for the Milan man.
      The Rossoneri may have just got lucky there.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      74. Here come Inter again.
      Dumfries on the overlap has an effort at goal, and wins a corner.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      72. Calhanoglu does well to take some pace out of the game by winning a free-kick off Tonali inside the centre-circle.
      Those two have been going at it from the off.
      Milan 0-2 Inter – Inter substitutions
      70. Here’s Romelu Lukaku!
      The former West Brom and Everton star/Chelsea and Man Utd flop is on for Edin Dzeko for the final 20 minutes.
      Also on is defender Stefan de Vrij with Federico Dimarco departing.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      68. Acerbi goes for the ambitious with a 30-yard thumper straight down the throat of Maignan.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      67. AC Milan have certainly stepped things up, but they need a goal.
      The home fans are certainly doing their bit with the noise once again ramped up to a ridiculous level.
      Milan 0-2 Inter – Tomari yellow card
      65. Fikayo Tomari becomes the latest player to go into Jesus Gil Manzano’s book after a collision with Dzeko on halfway.
      It looked a harsh decision against the English defender.
      Milan 0-2 Inter
      63. Tonali smashes a shot against the post!
      It’s the closest Milan have come to scoring, and the midfielder can’t believe his strike hasn’t gone in.
      The Italian appeared to have done everything right as he took aim from the edge of the penalty area, but his effort clipped off a defender and struck the outside of the goalframe.

      Milan 0-2 Inter – Inter substitution
      61. Excellent defending from Dimarco snuffs out Tonali outside the penalty area, and that’s the cue for an Inter change.
      On comes Marcelo Brozovic, replacing Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
      Load more entries… More

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      I’m a 100-year-old Inter superfan… I’d give up my pension to see them beat AC Milan

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      A 100-YEAR-OLD Inter Milan fan says he would give up his pension to see them beat rivals AC tonight – despite only recently watching his beloved team live for the first time.Both sides are also battling it out in Serie A this season with just two points separate Inter in fourth and Stefano Pioli’s side in fifth.
      The 100-year-old Enrico Vanzini says he would give up his pension for an Inter winCredit: Reuters
      The former prisoner of war only watched Inter live for the first time last yearCredit: Reuters
      But they take their domestic rivalry onto the continent later in what promises to be a tasty Champions League semi-final first leg at the San Siro.
      Inter supporter Enrico Vanzini only went to the club’s iconic stadium to watch them play for the first time last year at the age of 99.
      But the Holocaust survivor is preparing to watch this evening’s huge showdown with Milan from the nursing home he lives at in the northern city of Padua.
      Speaking to Reuters, Vanzini said: “My passion began when I was seven… I was never able to go, and I had no money.
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      “I prayed to God to give me the joy of Inter winning, and hopefully he will agree.
      “I would do anything (for a win), including (giving up) my small pension.”
      Vanzini was a soldier in the Italian army during World War Two and was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war after Italy surrendered to the Allies in 1943.
      He managed to survive for the final few months of war in the Dachau Nazi concentration camp and would later work as a bus and truck driver after finally returning home.
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      Vanzini received his signed Inter shirt from the club to mark his 100th birthday and has now learned how to use an iPad to follow his favourite team.
      He said: “In the past, I used to visit friends who had a television … and if I was driving the bus I used to tell people: ‘Don’t shout please, I have to listen to something’.”
      Vanzini is also a huge admirer of manager Simone Inzaghi and had one last message for his heroes: “In the first half, we must not get too tired, everyone must be in their place.”
      Vanzini will be watching tonight’s clash from his care home in PaduaCredit: Reuters More

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      Kieran Trippier reveals Mauricio Pochettino chucked him in Tottenham’s ‘FAT CLUB’ after summer trip to Cancun

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      KIERAN TRIPPIER has revealed Mauricio Pochettino chucked him in Tottenham’s ‘fat club’ during pre-season in 2015 after his summer holiday to Cancun.The England international is now on the verge of helping Newcastle secure Champions League football for next season.
      Trippier spent four years at Tottenham having joined from Burnley in 2015Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Pochettino wasn’t impressed with Trippier’s condition after a summer trip to CancunCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The Magpies sit third with four games left to play and hold a three point lead over fifth placed Liverpool who have played a game more.
      But while Trippier is now a player comfortable on the Champions League stage, when the 32-year-old joined Spurs in the summer of 2015 following a three year spell with Burnley he fell short of his new manager’s expectations.
      Speaking on the High Performance Podcast the right back revealed how Pochettino was unhappy with his condition.
      He said: “I went on holiday in Cancun, thought I came back in good nick, and next minute I’m in the fat club. I was in the altitude chamber.
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      “There were a couple of us. I thought my weight was good but no I was straight in the chamber after every session. And that’s when I knew, this is different.”
      The right back revealed that after seeing the likes of Harry Kane, Hugo Lloris and Jan Vertonghen training he knew why he was placed in ‘fat club.’
      He said: “It was a shock. When I came into training, (the senior players) had already finished in the gym. Certainly Harry. What they were eating (was different to me).”
      Trippier explained that the fitness demands at Spurs were different to any of his other clubs.
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      He said: “I was well high [in body fat], I think they pinch you tougher at Tottenham, unless it was my all-inclusive holiday in Mexico and the mojitos!
      “It turns out I wasn’t in the best shape when I came to Tottenham and the manager let me know that. He told me that and within six months of getting there I was in great condition.”
      After four years in North London, which included reaching a Champions League final, he left to play under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid.
      During his spell in Madrid Trippier won the only trophy of his senior career to date as he helped Atletico Madrid lift the 2020/2021 LaLiga title.
      In a move which left fans stunned he joined relegation threatened Newcastle in January last year.
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      Fans accused him of joining for the money following Newcastle’s Saudi backed takeover.
      However, Trippier revealed he actually took a pay cut to join the St James Park outfit.
      He said: ” Coming to Newcastle was the perfect decision for me and there were loads of comments when I first signed here – ‘he came here for money or whatever’ but what people don’t actually realise is, I came here on less money than what I was on in Madrid.”
      The Burnley fan explained there were reasons why he had to return to England.
      He said: “I could have signed a new three-year contract at Madrid but I didn’t. There were reasons why I had to come back, family, and that’s the truth. 
      “I had to come back to England for my family, for my children, I was going through a difficult moment with other stuff in my personal life as well.
      “I couldn’t just go ‘I’m going to sign for Man City’. You’ve got to go to a club that wants you, and there weren’t many in the Premier League and I wanted to come back up north. 
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      “I had good chats with the manager (Eddie Howe) and I thought, you know what, why not.?
      “I knew they were 19th in the league and I knew I could have been playing in the Championship. But I have no regrets. I had no relegation clause. I took less money. I knew it was a gamble. But again, I have no regrets.”
      Trippier won the La Liga title during his spell at Atletico MadridCredit: AFP
      Trippier left Atletico Madrid to join Newcastle in January 2022Credit: Getty More

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      Watch Phil Foden invite Del Piero on to the pitch for warm-down as worried Italy icon asks ‘am I safe here?’

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      MANCHESTER CITY star Phil Foden cheekily asked Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero for a kickabout at the Bernabeu.The 22-year-old was an unused substitute last night as the Cityzens took on Los Blancos.
      Alessandro Del Piero was left asking ‘if he should be worried’ as Man City performed their warm-downCredit: Sky Sports Italy
      Man City star Phil Foden then invited the icon to join in on the pitchCredit: Sky Sports Italy
      Vinicius Jr broke the deadlock in the Champions League semi-final first-leg 1-1 draw.
      The Brazilian produced an incredible strike from outside of the area in the 36th minute to send Rio Ferdinand wild in the BT Studio.
      Tensions then threatened to boil over as Dani Carvajal was labelled an “absolute disgrace” for his play acting after he shoved Jack Grealish into the pitchside hoardings.
      But a stunning effort from Kevin De Bruyne earned City a 1-1 draw to take back to the Etihad next week for the second-leg.
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      However, that goal was hotly-disputed by Real Madrid’s players and their boss Carlo Ancellotti as the play went out for a throw-in in the build-up.
      Now footage has emerged of Del Piero, 48, working as a pundit for Sky Sport at the game, and as he stood pitchside preparing for his analysis, Foden and some of his team-mates were nearby performing their cool down.
      The ball kept whizzing behind the Italian as Foden controlled them, then at one point he turned to the ex-forward and indicated for him to come on the turf and join on.
      The Juve icon then started to laugh before asking staff members off-camera: “Am I safe here?”
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      Del Piero, now 48, holds legendary status in Italy as a member of the Azzuri’s 2006 World Cup-winning squad.
      He also won multiple titles with Juventus, including six Serie A championships and the Champions League in 1996.
      But, after all that hard work, Del Piero is now happily living a life of luxury in Los Angeles.
      ‘Pinturicchio’, as he was affectionately nicknamed by former Juve owner Gianni Agnelli, today rubs shoulders with A-list Hollywood stars.
      In 2018, he splashed £4.7m on a luxurious home in Bel Air and lives near Jack Nicholson, Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Lopez and Rod Stewart.
      He also opened a trendy Italian restaurant in West Hollywood called No.10, where he can often be found propping up the bar.
      And in 2019, United Premier Soccer League team LA10 FC proudly revealed that Del Piero has been their secret investor.
      If that’s not enough, he has three football academies in the States – two in LA, one in New York. More