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      Antonio Rudiger DELIBERATELY made mistakes at Chelsea to ‘wake the fans up’ and loves to ‘provoke’ rivals

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      MAKING mistakes as a defender can be the most consequential, but ex-Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has admitted to mucking up DELIBERATELY.The now-Real Madrid ace, 29, looks back on his time in West London fondly.
      Rudiger admitted to deliberately making mistakes to wake up the crowd against NewcastleCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Havertz scored a late winner and Rudiger was bookedCredit: Rex
      Rudiger won the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup before earning a free transfer to Real in the summer.
      His form under ex-boss Thomas Tuchel, in particular, made him a fan favourite with the Chelsea faithful.
      However, Rudiger has admitted he would DELIBERATELY have eccentric moments to wake up the “quiet” crowd.
      An example of the German international stirring a reaction from the terraces came in last season’s dramatic 1-0 Premier League victory over Newcastle.
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      Despite Kai Havertz scoring an 89th-minute winner, Rudiger says he was careless on purpose, which resulted in a booking.
      He told German outlet Sport1: “I’ll be honest: I deliberately made a few mistakes because it was just too quiet in the stadium for me during this game.
      “I wanted to wake people up with it.”
      Provoking fans with mistakes wasn’t the only deliberate actions Rudiger would take on the pitch.
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      He was also known for being a bit of a wind-up merchant with his opposition.
      Rudiger says he “spontaneously” picks his targets to wind up as the game goes on.
      He continued: ” like to analyse my opponents and think to myself: ‘Okay, let’s see how they react if I provoke them a bit’.
      “But it’s not like I pick someone before every game. That happens spontaneously.”
      The defender added: “At the end of the day, football is also entertainment. 
      “Fans come to the stadium to be entertained. You won’t see me dribble five, six, seven or eight players like Vinicius. 
      “I do this in a different way. I stand out because I’m a guy.”
      Tuchel is held in high regard by Rudiger, and the dismissal of the Champions League-winning manager shocked him.
      Rudiger reached out to Tuchel after the news broke and thanked his fellow compatriot for their time together at Stamford Bridge.
      He said on Tuchel’s sacking: “First they let him get new players, only to then let him go after a few games. 
      “I was surprised at the speed. The day of his release was a sad one for me. I wrote to him afterwards and thanked him again for everything. 
      Rudiger reached out to Tuchel after the German was sacked by ChelseaCredit: Getty
      “He was there for everyone, not just me. If you look at where we came from and where he took us, he did the impossible. 
      “But you know how it is in football. Sometimes you’re the hero, sometimes the bogeyman.”
      Since leaving Chelsea, Rudiger has made nine appearances for LaLiga and Champions League holders Real.
      And legendary boss Carlo Ancelotti has already left a big impression on Rudiger.
      Rudiger says “nobody comes close” to the Italian, who turned up at his door following his arrival in Madrid at a barbecue.
      He said on Ancelotti: “I had been in our new house in Madrid for just a few hours with my family.
      “We were having a barbecue and then the bell rang.
      “I opened the door and Ancelotti was there! Wow! He sat with us, had lunch with us and met my family, he’s a very friendly and open man.
      “He stayed with us for two hours, we talked about everything.
      “I’ll be honest, I had never experienced anything like that with other coaches.
      “After just these first few months I have to say that nobody comes close to Ancelotti when it comes to how he treats players.
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      “He’s a coaching legend who collected Champions League trophies when I was just a kid.
      “Working with him every day in the world’s biggest club is just wonderful.” More

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      Benfica hilariously paint over star’s No9 shirt to create new number during Champions League tie with Rangers

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      NYCOLE RAYSLA hilariously had to have a new squad number hand-painted on the back of her shirt during a recent Champions League tie.The forward found herself wearing the DIY kit during Benfica’s Round Two first leg Champions League 3-2 win over Glasgow Rangers.
      Benfica officials painted ’28’ on the back of Nycole Raysla’s number nine jersey to resolve a shirt number issue
      Benfica clinched a gritty 3-2 away win against Malky Thomson’s Rangers acesCredit: Rex
      The Brazil-born striker normally wears the No9 shirt for the Lisbon-based club when she plays in the top tier of women’s football in Portugal.
      But in the Champions League the forward, who has netted 35 goals in 55 top-flight appearances, is registered with No28.
      At the start of the second half of her side’s clash with Rangers, Raysla was subbed on to replace team-mate Daniela Silva.
      And seemingly unable to find a No28 jersey, Benfica officials resorted to daubing ‘28’ in white paint over the No9.
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      Rangers are currently top of the table in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.
      The club have notched up 15 points after winning five of their first five games in Scotland’s top tier.
      And they recently made history by reaching Round Two of the Champions League qualifying stages for the first time ever.
      In the clash with Benfica, Kayla McCoy put Rangers 1-0 up in the 25th minute despite their opponents’ dominance by heading home a curled cross into the box from Brogan Hay.
      Their Portuguese opponents levelled 13 minutes later with Ana Vitoria firing the ball past Rangers shot-stopper Victoria Esson at the near post.
      The second spell saw the visitors take the lead with Vitoria bagging her second with a left-footed strike following Andreia Norton’s pass.
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      The hosts responded with McCoy firing the ball in the bottom corner in the 58th minute.
      But in the late stages, they went behind after Esson’s catch from a corner went awry with the ball crossing the line in the 78th minute.
      The result leaves Malky Thomson’s side needing a win at Benfica Campus next Wednesday to book their place in the Champions League group stages. More

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      Juventus in TURMOIL as Allegri fights for job, Ultras turn on Bonucci and even players are laying into crisis-club

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      JUVENTUS are suffering their biggest crisis in more than a decade with manager Max Allegri and captain Leandro Bonucci at the brunt of the chaos.The Italian giants sit eighth in the Serie A table after just two wins from their opening seven matches.
      Allegri is set for crisis talks with Juventus chiefs during the international breakCredit: Getty
      Bonucci has been hammered by his own Juve ultrasCredit: Rex
      They have also lost both Champions League games they’ve played so far this season against Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica.
      According to Calcio Mercato, Allegri is set for crunch talks with Juve’s board on Friday as pressure intensifies over his position at the club.
      He managed to secure them fourth place and Champions League football last season.
      But their inability to kick on from that could leave him in a perilous situation despite his five Serie A titles in a row between 2015 and 2019.
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      Allegri was given a police escort back to his car after their defeat to Monza at the weekend.
      But he isn’t the only Juve star feeling the heat.
      Skipper Bonucci has been ripped apart by his OWN SUPPORTERS.
      The Juventus Ultras released a statement earlier this week in which they slammed the Italian centre-back.
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      It read: “Leonardo Bonucci HAS NEVER BEEN A LEADER AND NEVER WILL BE: neither at Inter, nor at Treviso, neither at Pisa, nor at Bari, nor at Milan, nor at Juventus and like him the others who support him.
      “In this particular moment of general confusion where both among the players and in Juventus and in the corners, we are witnessing a moment of total anarchy where anyone who wants to, in turn, stands as connoisseur, leader, leader and manager without who has the charisma and not even the recognition of the people or those who have known the environment for years.
      “If there are hierarchical scales, there will be a reason: a good soldier is not necessarily a good leader.”
      It went on to add: “Bringing professional players as sacrificial victims to watch the curve while they whistle and insult them, creating legitimacy for the contestation one month before the start of the season is SIMPLY ABSURD.
      “The result can only be absurd. the formation of a weak group full of negativity and victimization. Exactly the opposite of what is needed in sport, especially at these levels and in a team sport.
      “Their profession and their knowledge. You are doing more harm to your teammates and to the team than any coach, trainer and/or manager who is incapable.”
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      Juventus have also been criticised by two players who found a way out of the club in the summer.
      Midfielder Denis Zakaria, who joined Chelsea on loan, has accused Allegri of failing to establish a relationship with him.
      The Swiss star said: “I’ll find myself better in England. Allegri? We didn’t talk much.”
      And Matthijs de Ligt, who sealed a move to Bayern Munich in July, claims Juve were not ambitious enough in Europe.
      The Netherlands international said: “Bayern want to win the Champions League, an ambition that I felt less in Turin.”
      Juve have not won the Champions League since 1996, losing in the final in 1997, 1998, 2003, 2015 and 2017.
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      At domestic level, they won nine Serie A titles in a row between 2012 and 2020.
      But in 2021 they finished 13 points adrift of Inter Milan, while last season they were 16 behind AC Milan. More

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      Arsenal 2 Ajax 2: Leuchter’s strike sees the Gunners held to a draw in Champions League qualifier clash

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      ROMEE LEUCHTER dealt a blow to Arsenal’s hopes of a Champions League qualifier second-round opening win as Ajax pinched a 2-2 draw.Just as it looked as if Kim Little had fired the hosts to a home victory, the forward struck with a late goal.
      Kim Little gave Arsenal a second-half lead with a spot-kick during their clash with AjaxCredit: Getty
      Romee Leuchter netted late on to give the Dutch giants a draw on the road before their return leg duel with the GunnersCredit: Getty
      The result means Arsenal will need a win in the second leg with the club facing their opponents away next Wednesday.
      The Gunners began brightly but found themselves under pressure as their rivals started to find their rhythm.
      Victoria Pelova tested Manuela Zinsberger with a well-struck fourth-minute shot
      Ajax took the lead after a swift counter-attack with the hosts conceding possession and Leuchter drilling home from Chasity Grant’s cross.
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      Stina Blackstenius made it honours even in the 23rd-minute drilling in Arsenal’s leveller after Rafaelle’s header smashed the crossbar.
      And Zinsberger pulled off a quality save on the stroke of half-time following another effort from Leuchter.
      The second half saw the hosts step things up a notch with Rafaelle rattling the crossbar in the 53rd minute.
      And Blackstenius forced a save from Ajax goalkeeper Lize Kop shortly after.
      The Gunners later won a penalty with Soraya Verhoeve going into the book for a hefty push on Beth Mead.
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      Skipper Little stepped up to send Kop the wrong way putting Arsenal 2-1 to the good in the 57th minute.
      But the hosts endured heartbreak late on with Leuchter levelling for the visitors with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
      And substitute Katie McCabe saw a late effort ruled offside before the Gunners’ tough tackling opponents saw out the draw. 
      Stina Blackstenius was on target with an Arsenal equaliser after Ajax took the leadCredit: Getty More

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      Lionel Messi breaks another Cristiano Ronaldo record as he surpasses non-penalty goals tally in 150 fewer matches

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      LIONEL MESSI has broken another Cristiano Ronaldo record as he surpasses the Portuguese stars’ amount of non-penalty goals. The Paris Saint-Germain attacker scored the only goal of the game as the French Champions overcame Lyon yesterday.
      Lionel Messi is enjoying a great season at PSG so far this yearCredit: Getty
      Cristiano Ronaldo is trying to work his way into Erik ten Hag’s first team plans after a summer of transfer unrestCredit: Rex
      The strike was enough to make it six wins on the trot for PSG and five goals in all competitions for Messi this season.
      The goal was also significant as it helped the Argentine nip ahead of his great rival Ronaldo in another scoring chart.
      Messi now leads Ronaldo by a single strike in the list for non-penalty goals.
      The 35-year-old genius now has 672 compared with Ronaldo’s 671.
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      Incredibly, Messi has reached that total despite playing 150 games fewer than his competitor.
      It’s the second big win of the week for the ex-Barcelona star who jumped ahead of the Manchester United’s attacker in another category this week.
      By scoring against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League this week, Messi made it an incredible 39 different opponents who he had put to the sword in Europe’s top competition.
      That is one more than Ronaldo’s goals against 38 different European opponents.
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      Frustratingly for the former Real Madrid ace, he will not be able to get back bragging rights in that list as he and Man United are spending this season in the Europa League.
      Since the pair arrived on the scene in the mid-noughties, they have tended to dominate most attacking stats in Europe and broken a number of records between them.
      The double-record grab is the just the latest thing to go right for Messi this season.
      He has found form alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to help transform PSG’s team of big names into a terrifying attacking line-up.
      It didn’t quite click for the football legend last season as he endured an indifferent campaign by his standards in his first year in France.
      But he is a man renewed this season and is showing he still has tricks left to show, as proven by his stunning goal earlier this season against Clermont. More

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      Jose Mourinho equals legendary Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson’s record with most wins in Europe in Champions League era

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      JOSE MOURINHO has equalled Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of 106 European wins in the Champions League era.Dating back to 1992, Fergie won 106 matches in the Champions League and Europa League, with just one of those victories coming in the latter.
      Carlo Ancelotti has the most wins in Europe in the Champions League era
      Jose Mourinho has equalled Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of 106 European wins since 1992Credit: Getty
      105 of Ferguson’s victories came in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      Mourinho has now equalled the United legend after his Roma side beat HJK Helsinki 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday.
      But the Portuguese is still 25 wins away from matching Ferguson’s total number of victories in the Champions League – though he has managed 43 fewer games than the Scot.
      However, Mourinho does boast four Champions League and Europa League winners’ medals since 1992, compared to Ferguson’s two Champions League titles.
      The former Chelsea boss also has more wins in Europe’s top two competitions than both Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola since 1992.
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      The Manchester City boss has 95 Champions League wins but has never managed a Europa league game.
      While Wenger falls one short of Ferguson and Mourinho with 105 victories.

      However, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has won the Champions League five times, boasts 119 wins.
      Mourinho is set to add to his tally this season with Roma set to play at least four more games in the Europa League group stage.
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      The Italian giants have good pedigree in European competition under Mourinho too, winning the inaugural Europa Conference League earlier this year.
      I Giallorossi have also enjoyed a good start to the Serie A season and are just one point shy of league leaders Napoli after winning four of their first six matches. More

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      Champions League final could be played in USA in shock move with Uefa looking at proposal ‘favourably’

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      THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE final may be played in the US in the near future amid a shocking revamp.That is according to AS, who report that UEFA and various other governing bodies are looking at this proposal “favourably”.
      The Champions League Final could be set to move to the United StatesCredit: Getty
      UEFA are open to the possibility of the Champions League Final being moved across the pondCredit: Shutterstock
      American promoters are determined to bring ‘Old Big Ears’ across the pond and the powers that be seem keen on expanding the market.
      The biggest match in European club competition has never left the continent and it would be a major challenge to make that happen.
      However, the financial advantages are massive as such a move would multiply the sale of sponsorship and TV rights.
      UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin floated the prospect of the Champions League final being taken out of Europe shortly after his election in 2016.
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      Ceferin said six years ago: “I think it might be an idea in the future but we have to speak about it.
      “To go from Portugal to Azerbaijan, for example, is almost the same as if you go to New York. For the fans it’s no problem.”

      This comes after suggestions last year that the final could be moved to New York by 2024.
      The US are making major strides in the evolution of footballs with 22 out of 28 MLS clubs already having soccer-specific stadiums, instead of reusing grounds from other sports.
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      The American association also successfully organised the Champions Cup, which saw the MLS champions going up against the Mexican titleholders.
      The game took place at Yankee Stadium in New York with 15,000 fans in attendance.
      And the 2026 World Cup is going to take place in the US, in collaboration with Mexico and Canada. More

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      ‘That’s why my career’s gone’ – Joe Hart hilariously pokes fun of himself after hitting TV presenter with stray kick

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      JOE HART poked fun at his own career as he apologised to a TV presenter after hitting her with a ball. The goalkeeper’s stray kick went viral as he badly misplaced his pass in Celtic’s pre-game Champions League warm-up.
      Joe Hart was quick to apologise after meeting the reporter who he had accidentally hit with a ball hours earlierCredit: BT Sport
      Ingrid Halstensen was presenting live on TV when Hart, in the background, misplaces his passCredit: BT Sport
      Halstensen pulls a face as the bouncing ball hits her in the backCredit: BT Sport
      TV presenter Ingrid Halstensen, working for Norwegian outlet TV 2, felt the ball bounce in to her back while she was live.
      She did her best to stifle her reaction but it was clear she felt the connection.

      Hart was at pains to apologise to Halstensen – and even made fun of himself in the process.
      He said in his post-match interview with the journalist: “I was begging to say sorry [at the time] but you didn’t turn round.”
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      The reporter insisted she was fine with it and all that happened was that she made a “funny face on telly”.
      Hart added: “Sorry. Literally my goalie coach was probably five yards [away from you] … Yeah that’s why my career’s gone where it’s gone.”
      He laughed and then apologised one final time to the presenter.
      Hart had once been England and Manchester City’s first choice goalkeeper and won two Premier League titles while at the Etihad.
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      But he did not win favour with Pep Guardiola after the Spaniard arrived in 2016 and was sent out on loan before leaving permanently for Burnley and then Tottenham.
      But after failing to make a single Premier League appearance for Spurs, he arrived at Celtic in a cut price deal last summer.
      Celtic drew 1-1 at Shakhtar Donetsk following Hart’s pre-game mishap and the keeper found himself on the receiving end of criticism after he conceded.
      Arsenal target Mykhaylo Mudryk drew the Ukrainian side level as he put the ball past Hart in the 15th minute. More