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      Ferdinand criticises Solskjaer over Cristiano Ronaldo touchline antics and says he’d have told Man Utd star to sit down

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      RIO FERDINAND claimed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should have told Cristiano Ronaldo to “sit down” on the touchline.Manchester United boss Solskjaer was shadowed by his star striker as he watched his side slump to a 2-1 loss to Young Boys in the Champions League.
      Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes joined their boss on the touchlineCredit: EPA
      Rio Ferdinand wasn’t impressed with what he saw from the United starCredit: BT Sport
      Ronaldo had put the Red Devils in front but was taken off after 72 minutes and a late Theoson Siebatcheu winner after a Jesse Lingard error saw United slump to their seventh defeat in 11 Champions League games under Solskjaer.
      The Portuguese then stalked the touchline but to no avail.
      Speaking after the game on BT Sport, Ferdinand said: “If I’m the manager, I’ve got to be honest, I’m telling him to sit down.”
      Fellow pundit Peter Crouch backed Ferdinand’s comments but recognised Ronaldo’s reputation brings certain privileges.
      He said: “If I’m sitting on the bench as well I’m telling him to sit down. But he is Cristiano, we’ll let him do it.”
      Tuesday night was not the first time Ronaldo has take on managerial duties.

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      The 36-year-old was famously vocal during Portugal’s Euro 2016 final victory after he left the field on a stretcher.
      Ferdinand played with Ronaldo during the Portuguese’s first stint at Old Trafford and they enjoyed Champions League glory together in 2008.
      The former defender seemed to soften his stance later in the broadcast, echoing Crouch’s view on Ronaldo’s status in the game.
      Solskjaer and Ronaldo talked tactics before the Portuguese was removed on 72 minutesCredit: Getty
      He added: “I get it, with Cristiano people go, ‘Oh it’s bravado, it’s for the fans’. He’s just a passionate guy. He wants to win, he’s desperate to win, and he can’t hold it in.
      “If that means he has to go up there and stand next to the manager, shouting instructions, so be it.
      “When it’s someone of his standing and stature in the game how can you argue with it?”
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
      Rio Ferdinand tells Man Utd how to utilise ‘aggressive’ Cristiano Ronaldo More

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      Pochettino identifies Chelsea as PSG’s ‘team to beat’ in the Champions League in snub to Man Utd and City

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      PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino has identified defending European champions Chelsea as the ‘team to beat’ in the Champions League. In doing so, the former Tottenham manager failed to mention last year’s finalists Manchester City, as well as Manchester United who now have Cristiano Ronaldo.
      Reigning champions Chelsea are the team to beat – claims PochCredit: Getty
      Pochettino believes Chelsea are one of the favourites to win the Champions League this yearCredit: GETTY IMAGES
      The Paris Saint-Germain chief also said, on paper, his side are one of the favourites.
      However, despite signing megastars such as Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos this summer, PSG need to ‘turn into a team’ before they get their hands on the Champions League trophy.
      Pochettino said: “It’s possible that Chelsea and ourselves are the two teams to beat on paper, looking at our squads, but Chelsea are the holders so they’re the team to beat especially after strengthening their squad.
      “We’re not a team yet. We are a club that has recruited many players this summer.
      “There are some big names but we have to turn into a team. We know that we’ll be judged at the end of the season on our results.
      “The pressure is there for all the clubs and we know that for a number of years, the Champions League is PSG’s main objective.”

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      PSG last came close to Champions League glory back in 2020, but they lost the final in Lisbon 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
      And the Parisians kick-start their group stage campaign on Wednesday night against Belgian side Club Brugge.
      Group stage rivals Manchester City also play tonight, facing RB Leipzig at the Etihad.
      Lionel Messi leaves PSG team-mates for dead as Pochettino sets up ‘most unfair mini game team of all time’ More

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      Pique hits out at booing Barcelona fans and says ‘I am hurt a lot’ by their actions in woeful 3-0 defeat to Bayern

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      GERARD PIQUE says he is ‘hurt a lot’ by the booing Barcelona fans during their 3-0 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp.A section of the 40,000-strong Barca crowd targeted Sergi Roberto, booing the midfielder for his poor performance.
      Pique and co failed to seal out LewandowskiCredit: GETTY IMAGES
      Sergi Roberto was targeted by some fansCredit: EPA
      Bayern – who beat Barcelona 8-2 when they last met – ran riot once again to embarrass the hosts in their own back yard.
      Thomas Muller opened the scoring in the first half before serial goal scorer Robert Lewandowski bagged a brace in the second to seal the win.
      Barcelona meanwhile failed to have a single shot on target.
      The home supporters took their frustration out on Roberto, one of 16 who graced the pitch on Tuesday.
      After the game, vice-captain Pique launched a passionate defence of his team-mate on Spanish TV and hit out at the boo-boys.
      He said: “The whistles towards Sergi Roberto are hurtful.

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      “I would like to remind people that he is a midfielder, not a winger. He has made a sacrifice to adapt to that position on the pitch.
      “People are free to express themselves but I do not like the whistles, they do not help.
      “I know the person, he is a spectacular human being and he wants more than anything for this club to be successful.
      “I am hurt a lot by this.”
      The club legend – who took a pay cut so the club could register summer signings Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia – also admitted that Lionel Messi-less Barca are not favourites to win the competition.
      He added: “Right now we will not be among the favourites for the Champions League, but nothing happens because we are not.

      “Sometimes we have been among the favourites but we have not succeeded. Last year who said would be the favourite?
      “Football changes a lot, they are moods. They are. They have been together for many years, with experience and we are what we are…four or five 18-year-olds have come out.
      “This is our reality. I don’t want to excuse myself. We are Barça. We will see at the end of the season if, we will end up competing.”
      Lionel Messi tipped to return to Barcelona and retire after winning Champions League with PSG by Riquelme More

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      Rio Ferdinand slams Man Utd loss at Young Boys and Jesse Lingard’s ‘big mistake’ as legend says ‘it’s Basaksehir again’

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      RIO FERDINAND has slammed former club Manchester United’s loss at Young Boys.Cristiano Ronaldo gave the Red Devils the lead after just 13 minutes in Switzerland on what looked set to be an easy opening night outing in the Champions League.
      Rio Ferdinand blasted Man Utd after they slipped to defeat at Young BoysCredit: BT Sport
      Jesse Lingard’s late mistake cost the Red Devils in SwitzerlandCredit: Rex
      But United fell apart following Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s red card for an ankle-high first half challenge.
      Young Boys levelled before sub Jesse Lingard’s nightmare backpass allowed the hosts to grab a 95th-minute winner.
      Ronaldo, who was surprisingly subbed off along with Bruno Fernandes with 18 minutes remaining and the scores tied at 1-1, has since broken his silence following the loss and urged his teammates to ‘recover’ from the setback.
      But Ferdinand, 42, went in two-footed as he assessed the game for BT Sport and compared it to last season’s embarrassing defeat in the same competition away to Basaksehir.
      He said: “This is Basaksehir all over again. It’s a big mistake from Jesse.
      “Wherever you go in Europe you’ve got to be on your game.

      “It was a bad tackle from Wan-Bissaka and the game turned on its head totally.”
      Meanwhile his fellow pundit and United legend Paul Scholes criticised boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for not making changes earlier.
      He added: “It’s not a complete disaster. Jesse will be disappointed.
      “It all stems from the sending off. United were quite comfortable up to that point. 
      “They really couldn’t get out of their half in the second half. 
      “I think they needed to bring a bit of pace on earlier, with Martial or Greenwood.”
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford

      Solskjaer explains why Cristiano Ronaldo was replaced by Jesse Lingard after 71-minutes More

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      Cole predicts Chelsea ‘killer’ Lukaku will be Champions League top scorer this season despite ‘scruffy’ display vs Zenit

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      JOE COLE believes Chelsea’s ‘killer’ finisher Romelu Lukaku will finish top scorer in the Champions League this season. The Belgian scored Chelsea’s only goal of the game in their group stage opener against Zenit Saint Petersburg.
      Lukaku scored the only goal of the game in Chelsea’s Champions League group stage opener against Zenit Saint PetersburgCredit: GETTY IMAGES
      The defending European champions secured three points with a scruffy win at Stamford Bridge.
      And Lukaku scored his fourth goal in four games across all competitions for the Blues this season.
      Former England and Chelsea midfielder Cole has backed Lukaku to finish top scorer in the competition this term – despite him not being at his best on Tuesday.
      Speaking on Lukaku’s return to Chelsea, Cole said: “It’s a match made in heaven for both sides.
      “He’s really put the full package together.
      “I’m going to throw this out there, I think he’ll be top scorer in the Champions League this season. 

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      “Lukaku didn’t even have one of his better games, he was a little bit scruffy but he’s a finisher now, a killer. 
      “Once that ball was delivered there was only going to be one winner, he’s a great finisher.”
      The prize was heavily heavily dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
      But in recent years, Robert Lewandowski, Neymar and Erling Haaland have been able to beat the two legendary forwards to the top spot.
      And it looks like Lewandowski and Ronaldo will pose the biggest threat to Lukaku’s bid to finish top scorer.

      Both Lewandowski and Ronaldo opened their Champions League accounts for the season, scoring in yesterday’s batch of fixtures.
      Bayern Munich rolled a Messi-less Barcelona over at the Nou Camp 3-0 with Lewandowski scoring a brace.
      And Manchester United fell to a shock 2-1 defeat in Bern – despite Ronaldo getting on the scoresheet – losing to Young Boys 2-1 in the last minute of added time.

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      Thomas Tuchel reacts to Chelsea’s victory against Zenit St Petersburg More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo breaks silence after Man Utd’s shock Young Boys loss as he says ‘it’s time to recover well and focus’

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO has urged Manchester United to ‘recover well’ after their shock defeat to Young Boys.The 36-year-old Portuguese star gave the Red Devils the lead after just 13 minutes in Switzerland on what looked set to be an easy opening night in the Champions League.
      Cristiano Ronaldo and Man Utd were downed late on by Young BoysCredit: EPA
      The star has broken his silence after the shock Champions League defeatCredit: AFP
      But they fell apart following Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s red card for an ankle-high first half challenge.
      Young Boys levelled before Jesse Lingard’s nightmare backpass allowed the hosts to grab a 95th-minute winner.
      Ronaldo, who was surprisingly subbed off along with Bruno Fernandes with 18 minutes remaining and the scores tied at 1-1, has now broken his silence following the loss.
      In a message to his fans and team-mates on Facebook, he wrote: “Wasn’t the result we wanted, but now it’s time to recover well and focus on the next game.”
      Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blamed the referee and the astroturf pitch for his side’s implosion.
      Solskjaer said: “The game had gone 70-odd minutes, they’ve both been running a lot Saturday and in this game, the AstroTurf takes its toll, we wanted Nemanja Matic’s experience and Jesse’s legs.

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      “Cristiano’s exceptional but we have to look after him and it felt like the right moment to take him off.”
      United were 1-0 up when French ref Francois Letexier waved away Ronaldo’s appeal after he was bundled over in the box.
      Solskjaer also questioned Wan-Bissaka’s 35th-minute sending off for a challenge on Christopher Martins.
      The Norwegian felt his right-back’s poor challenge stemmed from the ball skipping up on Bern’s astroturf pitch.

      Soskjaer added: “Cristiano should have had a penalty and it should have been a red card.
      “He shoves him with his arm and he’s one on one with the keeper but he probably didn’t do it as he’d have had to send him off and that’s sometimes what you get with young refs.
      “It’s hard to argue against the referee [for the red card] but then he didn’t go through his ankle, he hit him on the top of his foot. But it was never reckless or malicious.
      “Maybe it was inexperience to go through without the ball but the boy wasn’t going to be injured. And it makes it difficult after that with ten men.
      “That’s a little bit the astroturf, Aaron gets a touch that’s too far and he gets the ball but he follows through.”
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford

      Cristiano Ronaldo KOs steward with shot during Man Utd warm-up at Young Boys More

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      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defends subbing Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘AstroTurf takes its toll’ and ‘it was right moment’

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      JESSE LINGARD’S schoolboy error sent Manchester United to a dramatic defeat in their Champions League opener.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made some questionable substitutions and tactical changes as United fell apart following Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s red card for an ankle-high challenge.
      Jesse Lingard gifted Young Boys their winner in the 95th minuteCredit: AP
      Young Boys levelled before Lingard’s underhit backpass allowed the hosts to grab a 95th-minute winner.
      But the manager blamed the referee, the astroturf pitch and United’s indiscipline as his side imploded in Switzerland after Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock.
      Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes were both surprisingly subbed after 72 minutes with the scores level.
      Solskjaer said: “The game had gone 70-odd minutes, they’ve both been running a lot Saturday and in this game, the AstroTurf takes its toll, we wanted Nemanja Matic’s experience and Jesse’s legs.
      “Cristiano’s exceptional but we have to look after him and it felt like the right moment to take him off.”
      United were 1-0 up when French ref Francois Letexier waved away Ronaldo’s appeal after he was bundled over in the box.

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      Solskjaer also questioned Wan-Bissaka’s 35th-minute sending off for a challenge on Christopher Martins.
      The Norwegian felt his right-back’s poor challenge stemmed from the ball skipping up on Bern’s astroturf pitch.
      Soskjaer added: “Cristiano should have had a penalty and it should have been a red card.
      “He shoves him with his arm and he’s one on one with the keeper but he probably didn’t do it as he’d have had to send him off and that’s sometimes what you get with young refs.
      “It’s hard to argue against the referee [for the red card] but then he didn’t go through his ankle, he hit him on the top of his foot.
      “But it was never reckless or malicious.
      “Maybe it was inexperience to go through without the ball but the boy wasn’t going to be injured. And it makes it difficult after that with ten men.
      Lack of concentration, make mistakes and you get punished, you get doneOle Gunnar Solskjaer
      “That’s a little bit the astroturf, Aaron gets a touch that’s too far and he gets the ball but he follows through.”
      Solskjaer has now lost SEVEN of his 11 Champions League matches in charge of United.
      Indiscipline cost them last season as they went out at the group stage.
      And they shot themselves in the foot again last night through Wan-Bissaka’s red card and Lingard’s underhit backpass, which allowed Jordan Siebatcheu to score the winner.
      Solskajer added: “Discipline is a huge part of the game.
      “Lack of concentration, make mistakes and you get punished, you get done.
      “We did that last year, we conceded two sloppy counter-attacks against Istanbul Basaksehir and lost this game in the last second.

      “Jesse wants to play it safe and misplaces the pass, concedes the goal, that happens in football.
      “Harry Hindsight is a very good player, if Jesse gets that chance again he turns, swivels and boots the ball the other way.
      “Aaron’s normally a very, very astute tackler, one of the best in the world, so we know we’ve given ourselves a more difficult task now, we did last year when everyone thought we were through after two games.”
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defended his decision to sub Ronaldo off after 72 minutesCredit: AFP
      The Swiss side celebrated their last-ditch winner wildly as they stunned the Red DevilsCredit: Getty
      Solskjaer reacts to Man Utd’s defeat against Young Boys More

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      Barcelona 0-3 Bayern Munich LIVE RESULT: Lewandowski nets double as Germans run riot in Champions League opener

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      BARCELONA have a long road ahead to rebuild their squad following the departure of Lionel Messi.Visitors Bayern Munich have dominated from start to finish, running out comfortable winners through a deflected strike from Thomas Muller and a Robert Lewandowski double.
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      TV channel: BT Sport 3.
      Live stream: BT Sport website or app.
      Free live stream: BT Sport on EE (EE customers only).
      Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Araujo, Garcia, Pique, Roberto, de Jong, Busquets, Pedri, Alba, de Jong, Depay
      Bayern Munich XI: Neuer, Pavard, Upamecano, Sule, Davies, Kimmich, Sane, Muller, Goretzka, Musiala, Lewandowski.

      THAT’S ALL FOR NOW!
      For the 18th year in a row Bayern have won their opening Champions League match.
      It’s now 19 games in a row without defeat on the road in Europe for Julian Nagelsmann’s men.
      Robert Lewandowski has also now scored in each of his last 18 Bayern appearances (28 goals).
      The last time he played for Bayern without finding the net was the FIFA Club World Cup final against Tigres on 11th February. Not bad going.
      As for Barca, they looked a shadow of the famous sides of old. It might be some time before they’re a footballing powerhouse once again.

      PIQUE REACTION
      Barcelona defender Gerard Pique refused to be downcast despite seeing Bayern Munich secure a comfortable win.
      He said: “It’s a bad result, obviously. But in the first half we competed. The second goal really hurt us, but I’m positive because the teenagers came on and we were competitive again.
      “Little by little we will get better, and we have the basis to do that.
      “There is a difference at the moment, obviously, but we have players injured who can bring a lot, especially up front.”
      .Credit: PA
      FT: BARCELONA 0-3 BAYERN
      A Thomas Muller strike and a brilliant brace from Robert Lewandowski earn Bayern a comprehensive win.
      It’s the first time in 22 years that Barca have lost their opening Champions League game.
      Bayern didn’t really need to get out of second gear.
      On this evidence, Barca might struggle to get out of the group.

      PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!
      BARCELONA 0-3 BAYERN
      90. There will be two minutes of added time. Coman flashes a delivery across the face of goal. Bayern aren’t sitting back.
      BARCELONA 0-3 BAYERN
      85. It’s that man Lewandowski again. Coman picks out Gnabry whose shot hits the post. Lewandowski is first to the rebound and feints to shoot before blasting home. Ruthless.
      GGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLL BAYERN!!!
      BARCELONA 0-2 BAYERN
      83. More subs. Yay. Muller is replaced by Sabitzer, while Sane makes way for Coman and Sule is withdrawn for Stanislic.
      BARCELONA 0-2 BAYERN
      82. Gavi goes into the book for catching Muller. The youngsters have made a difference to Barca.
      BARCELONA 0-2 BAYERN
      77. Better from Barca as they break in numbers. Coutinho goes for goal and sees his effort blocked. Perhaps the pass to Depay would have been the better option. Upamecano is booked for chopping down Depay. Bit needless, that.
      BARCELONA 0-2 BAYERN
      75. Depay loses possession again. It’s been a frustrating night for the Dutchman but the service to him has been non-existent.
      BARCELONA 0-2 BAYERN
      73. Alba’s race is run. He injured himself stretching for a cross. He trots off for Balde as the 17-year-old makes his first-team debut.
      BARCELONA 0-2 BAYERN
      69. Another change by Bayern. Musiala makes way for Gnabry. Not a bad sub to be able to bring on.
      BARCELONA 0-2 BAYERN
      68. We’ve seen this before. Coutinho cuts in from the left and goes for goal. However, his effort flies well wide of the far stick.
      BARCELONA 0-2 BAYERN
      66. It’s been a bit of a stroll for Bayern so far. More changes for Barca as former Bayern man Coutinho and Mingueza come on for Garcia and Luuk de Jong. For Bayern, Hernandez replaces Pavard.
      18 – At the age of 18 years and 104 days, Yusuf Demir becomes the second-youngest non-Spanish player to appear in a #UCL match for Barcelona. Only Lionel Messi was younger when he debuted in 2004 (17y 166d). Change. #FCBFCB pic.twitter.com/aqyckIpxMX— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) September 14, 2021

      BARCELONA 0-2 BAYERN
      59. Barca respond by making a double change. Busquets and Roberto make way for youngsters Gavira and Demir.
      BARCELONA 0-2 BAYERN
      56. The pressure pays off as Bayern double their lead. Musiala’s strike crashes back off a post but that man Lewandowski pokes home the rebound for his 74th Champions League goal.
      .Credit: Reuters
      GGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL BAYERN!!!

      BARCELONA 0-1 BAYERN
      52. Big save from Ter Stegen to keep out Sane after he plays a neat one-two with Lewandowski. Sane opens his body up and looks to curl it to the far post but Ter Stegen’s right boot denies the German.
      BARCELONA 0-1 BAYERN
      49. Alba’s cross is only cleared as far as Busquets. He wallops it towards goal but Muller sticks out a leg to turn it behind.
      BARCELONA 0-1 BAYERN
      46. Barca didn’t have a shot on target in the first half. Improvement is clearly needed. No changes by either side at the break.
      0 – Barcelona have failed to register a shot on target in a first half of a Champions League group stage home game for the first time since at least 2003/04. Difficult. pic.twitter.com/g2tnSgNOhe— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 14, 2021

      PEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!OFF WE GO AGAIN!
      PEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!
      HT: BARCELONA 0-1 BAYERN
      The German giants deservedly lead at the break thanks to Thomas Muller’s deflected effort the day after his 32nd birthday.
      Leroy Sane had gone close before then, forcing Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a good stop.
      Barca have huffed and puffed but created very little. They’ll need to find something extra to get back into this. I can’t see it being 8-2, mind.

      BARCELONA 0-1 BAYERN
      40. Depay skips past a couple of Bayern players but his run is halted by a firm challenge from Davies.
      BARCELONA 0-1 BAYERN
      35. Bayern drive forward again. Sane goes down in the box but play is waved on.
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