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      Axed Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel walks away with £13m pay-off after ‘marriage split changed relationship with players’

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      AXED Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel left with a £13million pay-off yesterday after losing his grip on players who gossiped about his private life.Tuchel, 49, was sacked after his side’s 1-0 defeat in their Champions League opener at Dinamo Zagreb.
      Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel nets a £13million ‘golden goodbye’, pictured with new lover: Natalie Max, 35Credit: BackGrid
      The axed boss, 49, leaves Chelsea lying sixth in the Premier League after his side’s 1-0 defeat in their opener at Dinamo Zagreb, pictured: with ex-wife SissyCredit: Getty
      Sourced reveal ‘perceptions of him changed’ after his marriage breakdownCredit: AP
      His crumbling relationship with the club’s supremo Todd Boehly was said to also be at the heart of the end of his careerCredit: Getty
      It emerged that the German — who had led Chelsea to three trophies in 20 months, including the Champions League title — would have been fired by The Blues’ new American owners regardless of Tuesday’s result.
      His crumbling relationship with the club’s superstars and supremo Todd Boehly was said to be at the heart of his demise.
      Football sources said “perceptions of him changed” after he split in May from Sissi, his wife of 13 years, and fell for Brazilian mum of two Natalie Max, 35.
      Tuchel’s love life was said to be often “on the lips” of his multi-millionaire players.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      He took Natalie to Sardinia in July, just days after his divorce was granted. They were snapped on a sunset yacht trip and stayed at a £20,000-a-night private villa.
      One source said: “He’d stopped getting through. It probably didn’t help that some players had been talking about his private life.
      “It played into how the perception of him transformed.
      “He was no longer the genius.
      Most read in The Sun
      “He was a difficult character, whose demands weren’t always clear.
      “A number of players bristled that he didn’t really trust them.
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      “It all just fed into this fractious start to the season.”
      Tuchel — on an estimated £7million a year — nets a £13million “golden goodbye” as he leaves big-spenders Chelsea lying sixth in the Premier League. More

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      Ajax 4 Rangers 0: Roof caves in on Champions League dream to leave Van Bronckhorst facing make-or-break time

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      TWELVE years to make it back to the Champions League.Sixteen torrid minutes for it all to unravel.
      Ajax were three up on Rangers by half-time
      The Light Blues dream return turned into a nightmare
      Rangers’ dream return to the Group Stages turned into a nightmare as Ajax wiped the floor with them.
      Four days after their pummelling at Parkhead, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s shell-shocked flops were simply annihilated in Amsterdam.
      Three goals inside the opening 33 minutes did all the damage with gutless Gers torn apart time and time again.
      Edson Álvarez headed the opener before Steven Berghuis – with the aid of a massive James Sands deflection – made it two. 
      Mohammed Kudus added a quickfire third to pile on the agony.
      Rangers had lost three goals in the space of 16 minutes and for the second successive game they found themselves three down at half-time.
      With ten minutes left Steven Bergwijn accepted a gift from Gers sub Ryan Jack to make it four and complete Ajax’s rout.
      Questions will now, understandably, be asked of the Rangers manager.
      Most read in Champions League
      This was the second time in four days his team folded like a cheap pack of cards.
      And there is no doubt van Bronckhorst’s resolve is about to be severely tested.
      After Aberdeen away comes Napoli and Dundee United at home.
      Following that, it’s trips to Tynecastle and Anfield with Liverpool at Ibrox rounding off their next six fixtures.
      It’s shaping up to be a make-or-break run for the Rangers boss.
      Two weeks ago, just 80 miles south of the magnificent Johan Cruijff Arena, Rangers ended their agonising wait for a return to the Champions League.
      On a night of nerve-shredding drama, Gers stunned PSV as the Ibrox side hit the Euro jackpot.
      How things have taken a Cruyff turn for the worse for van Bronckhorst since then.
      Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s resolve is about to be severely tested
      The Dutchman didn’t see a penny of the £40million banked in the Philip Stadion as Gers, much to the dismal of their fans, failed to strengthen their squad before the close of the transfer window.
      The anger that had been simmering since Thursday night exploded on Saturday as Rangers imploded at Celtic Park.
      For the second time in seven months, van Bronckhorst’s team were dismantled at the home of their bitter rivals.
      The courage shown in Eindhoven was nowhere to be seen. 
      It was hopelessly lacking last night too.
      In a repeat of the weekend, Gers found themselves three goals down at the break.
      It could, and possibly should, have been much worse.
      As sharp and as incisive as Ajax were, Gers had been a shambles. A gang.
      Jurren Timber served notice of what was to come when he was given a free header inside the six yard box.
      The opening goal – the first of three inside the opening 35 minutes – came from another corner.
      Edson Alvarez opened the scoring for Ajax
      Sands allowed Alvarez to run off him, the defender planting his header in the bottom corner.
      McLaughlin made a smart save at his near post to deny Devyne Rensch before the Ajax star missed an absolute sitter.
      Van Bronckhorst’s side just couldn’t get near the hosts – they couldn’t live with their speed of play.
      Most of it was coming down Ajax’s right hand side and it was from there Kenneth Taylor slipped in Rensch.
      But, with McLaughlin’s goal gaping, he somehow blasted wide.
      Sands then got in a last-ditch block on Kudus before Gers hit self-destruct.
      With 32 minutes gone, Kudus played Berghuis in.
      His shot was deflected past McLaughlin by Sands – surely it had to go down as an own goal?
      Two minutes later and Ajax had their third.
      Former Gers star Calvin Bassey found Kudus who broke free from the shackles of James Tavernier far too easily.
      Former Ibrox star Calvin Bassey played 90 minutes for the hosts
      Take nothing away from his stunning finish, but the Ajax forward should never have been allowed to carry the ball as far as he did.
      McLaughlin was then called upon to make two further saves as Ajax continued to pour forward.
      They had been utterly relentless.
      In an admission of just how badly it had gone for his team, van Bronckhorst made three changes at the break with Tavenier, Scott Wright and Malik Tillman failing to re-emerge.
      Gers also went to five at the back with Jack, Leon King and Rabbi Matondo all coming on.
      You could understand the call, he needed to plug the gaping holes in what was already an exercise in damage limitation.
      Ajax continued to dominate possession in the second half. Rangers seemingly content to let them have the ball.
      With 65 minutes gone the brilliant Kudus almost scored a wonder goal.

      Dribbling past no fewer than FIVE Rangers players he suddenly found himself inside the box with only McLaughlin to beat.
      John Lundstram, to his credit, got back to his feet just in time to help the Rangers keeper scramble the ball clear.
      Rangers hadn’t been seen as an attacking force – Ajax keeper Remko Pasveer had been a virtual spectator.
      With 20 minutes left he was picking the ball out of his net.
      However, Borna Barisic’s fine finish wouldn’t stand as VAR flagged creator Ryan Kent for offside. 
      If that didn’t sum up Rangers’ miserable night the next passage of play most certainly did.
      Jack failed to find Connor Goldson with a pass back towards his own goal allowing Bergwijn to pounce.
      The Ajax man rounded McLaughlin to roll home his side’s fourth.
      The final whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for the Rangers players.

      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      Young Celtic fan, 9, left burned by flare during Green Brigade tifo display at Real Madrid clash

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      A NINE-YEAR-OLD Celtic fan was burned after he was hit by a flare chucked during Tuesday’s Champions League match.The lad was left screaming in agony after he was hit by the pyro thrown by a brainless thug before the Parkhead’s side’s match against Real Madrid on Tuesday.
      The child was burned by a flare during last night’s Green Brigade displayCredit: Kenny Ramsay
      Celtic fans with flares inside the stadium before the matchCredit: Reuters
      The group’s display from a clash with Rangers in February (pictured) caused controversyCredit: Kenneth Ramsay
      A previous display from the group got the section shut down earlier this yearCredit: Kenny Ramsay – Commissioned by The Sun Glasgow
      He was rushed to the stadium’s on-site medical room for emergency treatment and was believed to have been taken to hospital.
      The accident happened after the controversial Green Brigade ultras group held a pyrotechnic display – despite pleas by the club not to.
      Celtic have twice shut down the area populated by the group over fans’ behaviour and will now face calls to do so again.
      An onlooker said: “This wasn’t an accident waiting to happen – it’s been predicted for years.
      “Fans are repeatedly told not to set these things off but they aren’t listening and now a youngster, one of their own, has possibly been maimed for life.”
      “Fans are told not to set these things off but they aren’t listening – and now a youngster has been maimed because of them.”
      It’s not known whether the boy, who has not been named, was sitting within the corner section housing the Green Brigade or was housed nearby.
      The massive co-ordinated display that was spread over the top and bottom tiers and the strobe flares were all set off at the same time – as both teams entered the stadium.
      Most read in The Sun
      Shortly afterwards, the child was taken to medics and was later taken to hospital.
      A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8pm on Tuesday, police were advised that a young child had been injured after being struck by a pyrotechnic flare within Celtic Park.
      “The child was attended to by medical staff at Celtic Park and then due to attend a local hospital for further treatment.
      “Enquiries into the incident are continuing.”
      A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “We will raise this matter within the Stadium Advisory Group for Celtic Park and determine an appropriate course of action.”
      On Monday, the Celtic Supporters Liaison Officer begged fans not to bring flares into the ground amid fears of further fines from governing body UEFA.
      The message read: ‘Wee reminder the use of pyrotechnics including smoke bombs is prohibited within the Stadium.
      ‘The use of these devices in UEFA games is likely to result in the Club receiving a sanction and fans are asked to please refrain from using these whilst inside Celtic Park, thank you.’
      Celtic shut down the Green Brigade standing section in February after a similar flare display before a 3-0 win over Rangers.
      After police and Glasgow City Council officials raised serious safety concerns, the club responded by closing the rail seating section for the Scottish Cup tie against Raith Rovers.
      In a letter to fans affected, they said: “As a result of safety issues arising at our last home match, including widespread use of pyrotechnics, it has been deemed necessary to review the matchday operations in the front part of the rail seating section.
      “Consequently, this section will be closed versus Raith Rovers while the club reviews these issues.”
      In 2019, the section was closed after fans set off flares before a Europa League match against Cluj.
      They were also fined £13,500 after travelling fans set off fireworks during a win over Lazio in Italy and an £11,000 fine for throwing objects and using flares in a play-off win over AIK Stockholm the same year.
      At the time, former chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “Unfortunately, there is a small minority who are a challenge in terms of safety in the stadium and protecting the reputation of our magnificent club.
      “The concerning thing for us is that they don’t seem to believe they are doing anything wrong.”
      Celtic were approached for comment by The Scottish Sun.
      We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5300 More

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      Inter Milan 0 Bayern Munich 2: Leroy Sane scores one goal and forces an own goal by luckless D’Ambrosio

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      BAYERN Munich’s Leroy Sane scored one goal and forced an own goal by Inter Milan as they beat the Italian side 2-0 away in their Champions League Group C opener on Wednesday.Germany international Sane superbly controlled a pinpoint Joshua Kimmich cross before rounding Inter keeper Andre Onana, who was making his debut for the club, to give Bayern the lead in the 25th minute.
      Leroy Sane of Bayern Munich celebratesCredit: Getty
      Sane also deserves a lot of credit for their second goal after dismantling the Inter defence with a lightning-quick double one-two with Kingsley Coman in the 66th before his shot was turned into the net by Inter captain Danilo D’Ambrosio.
      Bayern, who bounced back following two consecutive draws in the Bundesliga, host Barcelona next week, while Inter, who have now lost their last two matches following their derby loss to AC Milan on Saturday, take on Viktoria Plzen in the other group match.
      HERE’S how ALL the action unfolded…

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      Barcelona 5 Viktoria Plzen 1: Robert Lewandowski bangs in a hat-trick as Spaniards cruise to victory

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      Robert Lewandowski struck a hat-trick in his first Champions League game for Barcelona to power the Catalans to an emphatic 5-1 home win over Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday.Midfielder Franck Kessie put Barca in front in the 13th minute and Lewandowski extended their lead with a right-footed finish into the bottom corner in the 37th.
      Robert Lewandowski celebrates his hat-trickCredit: Getty
      The Poland striker produced a diving header from an Ousmane Dembele cross to score again in first-half stoppage time and restore Barca’s two-goal cushion after Jan Sykora’s header had pulled the Czech champions back into contention.
      Lewandowski completed his treble midway through the second period, meeting a layoff from Ferran Torres and curling the ball inside the far post with one touch.
      Torres completed a hugely satisfying evening for Xavi Hernandez’s side by scoring the fifth goal to put Barca top of Group C. They head to Lewandowski’s former club Bayern Munich next on Sept. 13, when Plzen host Inter Milan.
      SEE how ALL the action unfolded below…

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      Club Brugge vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE: Latest updates from Champions League Group B – stream, TV channel

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      BAYER LEVERKUSEN get their Champions League campaign up and running at Club Brugge.Atletico Madrid and Porto complete Group B, with those two teams also action tonight.

      Kick-off: 8pm
      TV/live stream: BT Sport 8

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      Atletico Madrid vs Porto LIVE: Stream, TV channel for big Champions League clash – latest updates

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      ATLETICO MADRID get their Champions League campaign underway with a tough Group B fixture against Portuguese champions Porto.And Diego Simeone will be hoping for a repeat of his sides comfortable 3-1 win during the 2021/22 campaign.

      Kick-off: 8pm GMT
      Live stream: BT Sport
      TV channel: BT Sport 7

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      Napoli 4 Liverpool 1 LIVE REACTION: Reds THRASHED in Champions League after kamikaze show of defending in Naples

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      LIVERPOOL were thrashed 4-1 by Napoli in their opening Champions League clash after a comedy of errors at the back for the Reds. The Italians were 3-0 up at half-time and made it four right after the break before Luis Diaz scored a consolation on a drab evening in Naples.

      RESULT: Napoli 4-1 Liverpool
      Napoli XI: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Minjae, Oliveira, Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski, Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
      Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Milner, Elliortt, Diaz, Salah, Firmino

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      That’s all folks.
      Liverpool leave Italy with their tail between their legs.
      A historic night for The Reds for all the wrong reasons.
      Zielinski’s brace, as well as a stunning performance from Anguissa and Kvaratskhelia left Liverpool with no answers.
      They’re back in action against Wolves on Saturday before group leaders Ajax journey to Anfield next Tuesday.
      Meanwhile, Napoli will face Spezia hoping to strengthen their Serie A title credentials.
      Thanks for tuning into SunSports coverage.
      Liverpool aren’t running like they used to.
      Liverpool played in every single game possible last season, but has this taken its toll on the team?
      It turns out that for the seventh straight game, Liverpool have been outworked by their opponents.
      They have been trumped in both distance covered and high-speed sprints in each of the last seven games.
      More from Klopp
      “Yeah we played bad first half unfortunately but usually we don’t concede three goals, with Alisson Becker in goal it has to be really bad for that to happen.
      “But we were bad enough. When we lost 2-0 here before it was an awful game as well.
      “Now we have to reinvent ourselves. There’s a lot of things lacking.
      “We play Wolves in three days and they probably cannot stop laughing and they’re thinking it’s the perfect moment (to play Liverpool). I would be thinking it’s the perfect moment.
      “But now we have to try and find a set-up to be much better in pretty much everything.
      “Yeah lot’s of soul searching (to do) because we weren’t working as a team.
      “And it’s not a case of pointing at each other or personnel but in football if you have problems the solution is always football.
      “But it’s my responsibility (to win games) and I need time to think about it.” (BT Sport)
      Klopp on Napoli humiliation
      Klopp: “Really tough, tough to take. It’s not really difficult to explain when you watch the game.
      “First and foremost Napoli played a really good game and we didn’t. That is the first explanation for the defeat.
      “They had two penalties, both a little bit unlucky but only one goes in. The other two we serve on a plate pretty much.
      “Then yeah 3-0 down having chances never really in the game, not compact neither defensively or offensively.
      “Until Thiago entered the pitch I can’t remember one counter-pressing situation.
      “Everything was obvious but why it happened I cannnot answer it now.
      “It’s a tough cookie to take but obviously, but I’ll have to take.” (BT Sport)
      Robertson gives brutal Liverpool verdict.
      Robertson: “We were too open. You can’t come to a place like this and not be compact.
      “When somebody misses a challenge you need somebody to follow it up and back his mate up, but too many times we got turned and had that space opened up…
      “We’ve been beat 4-1, we deserved it. We need to waken up quickly, we can’t perform like that.” (BT Sport)
      Some more stats

      Expected Goals Napoli (4.59) 4-1 (1.17) Liverpool
      Liverpool have suffered the heaviest defeat by an English Premier League side in their opening game of a UEFA Champions League campaign since Arsenal lost 3-0 to Internazionale in 2003-04 – tonight was the Reds’ joint-heaviest defeat overall in the competition.
      Only two teams have scored 4+ Champions League goals against Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool: Roma and Napoli.

      Results elsewhere:
      Here’s a look at the other results from tonights games:
      Group A: Ajax 4-0 Rangers
      Group B: Atletico Madrid 2-1 FC Porto
      Club Brugge 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
      Group C: Barcelona 5-1 Viktor Plzen
      Inter 0-2 Bayern Munich
      Group D: Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3 Sporting Lisbon
      Tottenham 2-0 Marseille
      Next opponent
      Liverpool’s next opponent will be struggling Wolves at Anfield on Saturday.
      The Reds will then host group leaders Ajax next Tuesday.
      Both will be tough tests in their own right, but the fans will demand a positive reaction from the players to put the embarrassment of tonight behind them.
      How Group A is looking
      Following matchday one Group A looks like this:

      Ajax Pts. 3 GA. +4
      Napoli Pts. 3 GA +3
      Liverpool Pts. 0 GA -3
      Rangers Pts. 0 GA -4

      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      What a result for Napoli. What a disaster for Liverpool.
      It’s Liverpool’s heaviest European defeat since losing 3-0 to Barcelona in 2019 and matches a 3-0 defeat Real Madrid inflicted on them in 2014.
      The only player who can walk away from this performance with their head held high is Luiz Diaz, the rest of the team were too far off the pace of Napoli.
      Osimhen was brilliant before his substitution, while Kvaratskhelia left Alexander-Arnold worse for wear.
      Anguissa though was brilliant throughout, he dominated the midfield and bagged himself a goal for his troubles.
      FULL TIME: NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      90+3′ Anguissa truly has been everywhere tonight.
      A truly stunning display from him.
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      87′ Another break for Napoli.
      Anguissa intercepts the ball in midfield and Napoli have a three-on-two situation.
      But Zerbin fires a shot from outside the area straight at Alisson.
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      82′ Game seems to have fizzled a bit.
      Tempo has lessened but 10 new faces in a game can do that.
      Diaz has remained the main threat for Liverpool.
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      77′ The final change for Liverpool here.
      New-signing Arthur comes on for his debut.
      Far from the best circumstances but nevertheless he could add some dynamism to a lacklustre midfield.
      Elliot makes way for him.
      Also, Meret has remained down on the floor after a collision with Nunez.
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      74′ Zielinski gets a standing ovation from the Napoli faithful as he makes way for Mario Rui.
      Mathias Olivera also makes way for Eljif Elmas to complete the Napoli subs for the night.
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      68′ End-to-end stuff in Naples with shots at both ends.
      Nunez gets a shot off at goal in the penalty area but sees it blocked by a heroic piece of defending.
      Napoli then break on the right side and fire a shot at goal from a narrow-angle, but the save is comfortable for Alisson.
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      62′ Liverpool make some more changes.
      A triple change from Klopp as he sends on Jota, Thiago and Nunez.
      Firmino, Salah and Milner all make way.
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      61′ Good save from Meret to deny Diaz.
      Alexander-Arnold whips a ball to the edge of the area where Diaz thunders a header towards goal.
      However, Meret is equal to it and pushes it over the bar.
      Diaz is the one player who really looks on it tonight for The Reds, the rest really need to follow his lead.
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      57′ Kvaratskhelia launches a counter-attack for Napoli here, but Liverpool get back in numbers and are able to defend.
      However, it is his last action of the night as he is substituted for Alessio Zerbin.
      Hirving Lozano is also on for Matteo Politano.
      Nunez warming up for Liverpool so expect a second change for Klopp’s side soon.
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      53′ Kvaratskhelia knocks the ball around Alexander-Arnold again but the loose ball is cleared by Van Dijk.
      Alexander-Arnold has had not answer for him today.
      Kvaratskhelia has been very impressive tonight, definitely one to watch out for going forward.
      NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL
      49′ Liverpool finally come alive in the final third.
      Luiz Diaz gets to the penalty area and fires a curling effort into the bottom corner, his fourth of the season.
      Comeback on?
      GOAL
      Diaz pulls one back.
      NAPOLI 4-0 LIVERPOOL
      46′ Zielinski gets in behind and exposes the Liverpool defence again.
      He forces a save from Alisson but is first to the rebound and dinks the ball over the Brazilian.
      GOAL
      THEY’VE GOT ANOTHER ONE
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