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      Man Utd thought ‘oh f***’ when Fergie told them to attack Barcelona in 2009 CL final, reveals Rooney in Carragher book

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S players thought ‘oh f***’ when Sir Alex Ferguson told them to attack Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League final, revealed Wayne Rooney.
      The Red Devils came unstuck twice in three years against Pep Guardiola’s men in European football’s showpiece match.

      ⚠️ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      Wayne Rooney revealed how the Manchester United players reacted when Sir Alex Ferguson told them to go on the attack in the 2009 Champions League finalCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      And for the 2009 final, won in Rome thanks to goals from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi, Rooney and his team-mates were instructed to take the game to Barca, one of the greatest sides of all time.
      A year prior to the 2009 final, United dumped Barcelona – then managed by Frank Rijkaard – out of the semi-finals thanks to a defensive masterclass devised by previous assistant Carlos Queiroz, who had since been replaced by Rene Meulensteen.
      Speaking in Jamie Carragher’s new book The Greatest Games and serialised by The Telegraph, Rooney said: “In my opinion that was the only way you could beat them.

      “I think it made a difference that the assistant, Carlos Queiroz, was still there then. Carlos was brilliant with Fergie.
      “Whenever the manager was following his instincts and thinking ‘we’re going to attack’, Carlos would make him rethink. He was the one who gave us the tactics in 2008 and was the cautious one we needed.
      “Ferguson hated playing defensive. Really hated it.
      “When we got to the final in 2009, he said to us he knew we could beat them playing that way, but then he said, ‘We are Manchester United and we are not going into the Champions League final to sit back all game. We are going to attack them and do it the right way.’

      “We were all sitting there in the team meeting thinking, ‘Oh f***.’

      Lionel Messi was at his brilliant best as Barcelona won 2-0 in RomaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Rooney reckons Ferguson got his tactics wrong both in 2009 and then two years later at WembleyCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      “Sir Alex went through their side, saying, ‘Let’s go at them.’ Then you saw the names like Messi, Eto’o and Henry!
      “I was like, ‘F***ing ’ell, how much pace do you want in one team?’”
      Two years later, history repeated itself as Pedro, Messi and David Villa put United to the sword at Wembley in a stunning performance.
      And Rooney, now with Derby, reckons Sir Alex got his ‘suicidal’ tactics wrong again.
      He added: “I did not think we had any chance of beating them.
      “Even when we made it 1-1 before half-time, there was no other game I played for Manchester United where I was on the pitch thinking, ‘There is no way we can win the game.’
      “We were playing the team which, in my opinion, is the best there has been.”

      Rooney made the revelations in Jamie Carragher’s new book The Greatest Games

      Ex Ireland star David Meyler shares throwback clip of him upending Wayne Rooney with a full-blooded slide tackle More

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      Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman defends Lionel Messi after video of star walking back vs Dynamo Kiev goes viral

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      RONALD KOEMAN has insisted he is “not interested” in complaints over Lionel Messi walking back to defend against Dynamo Kyiv.
      Barcelona were leading the Ukrainians 2-1 when the Argentine was spotted taking his defensive duties far-from seriously in injury time on Wednesday night.

      Ronald Koeman has defended Lionel Messi over his apparent lack of effort in midweekCredit: Reuters

      Many fans were not happy with Messi not chasing the player back

      Fans picked up on Messi walking back as an opposition player ran past him and into the Blaugrana’s half.
      But Koeman insisted he is happy with the attitude and application of his star striker.
      The Barcelona boss told reporters: “I see [Messi] well, strong. And he always enjoys this sport. He is a winner, and he shows it.
      “Like anyone else, he has more complicated moments and the ball won’t go in. It seems that, to this day, he is a very involved player.

      “You can get an image of a player when he walks. I haven’t seen it and I’m not interested.
      “My thoughts on his attitude are very good. I don’t agree with the idea of creating controversy.
      “If with a 2-1 lead and in the 93rd minute you get an image of him walking – you cannot be more attentive to the images than to the work.
      “I don’t agree with doing harm.”

      The narrow win over Dynamo maintained Barcelona’s 100 per cent start in the Champions League group stage.
      However, the Catalans are enduring their worst start to a LaLiga campaign in 18 years, ahead of Saturday’s clash with Real Betis.
      Messi notched a penalty in midweek but has not scored in the league since September – and was booked for kicking the ball at the referee in the recent draw with Alaves.

      Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu defends role in Lionel Messi transfer saga More

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      Man Utd ‘set to return for Ousmane Dembele with January transfer bid as Barcelona look to offload winger’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are looking to return in January with a bid to sign Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona, reports suggest.
      United failed with every attempt to bring a winger to the club in the summer window, including their doomed saga with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho.

      Man Utd are reportedly looking to return in January with a bid to sign Ousmane Dembele from BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      They instead signed striker Edison Cavani on a free, but Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still keen to enhance his attacking options.
      According to Mundo Deportivo, United will look to sign 23-year-old Dembele in the winter sales.
      But they are said to be looking for a six-month loan with no option to buy.
      That proved to be a stumbling block last time around as Barca instead wanted to sell the Frenchman permanently.

      The Spanish giants – now managed by Ronald Koeman – missed out on signing Lyon’s Memphis Depay as a result of not selling enough stars.
      Dembele, who has attracted attention from Liverpool before, remained in LaLiga and has featured seven times, starting three games this season.
      The £124million signing has just two years left on his contract, with his transfer value decreasing after every window.
      ⚠️ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      But with United appearing unwilling to commit to anything other than a temporary loan deal, they could fail in a pursuit for Dembele.
      Solskjaer is under increasing pressure at Old Trafford, after they slumped to consecutive defeats, first to Arsenal in the league and then at Istanbul Basaksehir.
      The club are already reported to have approached former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino as a possible replacement – although SunSport understands no contact has yet been made.
      They travel to fourth placed Everton this weekend placed 15th in the table.

      Jamie Ohara says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must take responsibility for Man Utd defeat against Istanbul Basaksehir More

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      Moment Dynamo Kiev manager ‘asks Lionel Messi for his shirt’ after losing to Barcelona in Champions League

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      DYNAMO KIEV boss Mircea Lucescu appeared to ask for Lionel Messi’s shirt after he scored in Barcelona’s 2-1 win against the Ukrainian outfit in the Champions League.
      The 33-year-old opened the scoring for the Blaugrana at the Nou Camp as Ronald Koeman’s side made it three wins from as many games in Group G.

      Dynamo Kiev boss Mircea Lucescu asked Lionel Messi for his shirt after the club’s Champions League defeat

      Messi scored from the penalty spot during Barcelona’s 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp

      And shortly after referee Michael Oliver blew the full-time whistle, Lucescu was quick to greet the Argentine star, where he is claimed to have asked for his jersey.
      Social media was sent into meltdown over the incident, as they were left stunned that a manager asked for a player’s top.
      Optus Sport reporter Michelle Escobar tweeted: “My favourite moment from this morning’s #UCL action has got to be Dynamo Kiev’s manager asking Messi for his jersey.”
      Another said: “First time I’ve ever seen a manager ask a player for his jersey.”

      A third added: “S*** I’d do the same that’s history right there.”
      It has been reported that due to shirt swap restrictions as a result of coronavirus, the six-time Ballon d’Or didn’t give him his match-worn shirt.
      However it was stated that the forward agreed to give him a fresh top from the dressing room.
      Messi also found himself in hot water with fans on Twitter after a clip showed him failing to track back a player.

      The four-time Champions League winner could be seen walking around the pitch as a player darted past him in search for a late equaliser.
      One fan wrote: “This is the difference between Ronaldo and Messi, mentality.”
      Another commented: “They’re 2-1 up with seconds left, shouldn’t he be busting a gut to get back?”

      Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu defends role in Lionel Messi transfer saga More

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      Steven Gerrard backs Mo Salah to ‘embarrass’ his Champions League goal record at Anfield

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      STEVEN GERRARD thinks Mo Salah will ’embarrass’ his Champions League goal record after equalling it on Tuesday.
      Salah scored Liverpool’s third in their 5-0 thrashing of Atalanta which put the Egyptian on 21 goals for the Reds in Europe’s premier club competition.

      Mo Salah equalled Steven Gerrard’s Champions League goal record on TuesdayCredit: Rex Features

      And Gerrard has backed the Egyptian to go on and ’embarrass’ itCredit: PA:Press Association

      And with plenty more opportunities ahead of Salah, now-Rangers boss Gerrard says it’s only a matter of time before his record is demolished.
      Speaking ahead of his team’s 3-3 Europa League draw at Benfica tonight, the Reds legend said: “Records are there to be broken, of course they are.
      “I was very proud to see Mo Salah equal my scoring record for Liverpool in Europe, it was only a matter of time.
      “I honestly think he’ll go on and embarrass my record — and I hope that he does.”

      Rangers forward Alfredo Morelos equalled Ally McCoist’s 21-goal European haul for the Glasgow side last week and then broke it on Thurday – scoring his team’s third in a 3-3 draw with Benfica.
      And Gerrard added: “Mo Salah and Alfredo Morelos go about their business always being hungry for goals.
      “My job for Liverpool was slightly different.
      “There is nothing better than seeing someone going for a record and then smashing it to pieces.”

      Salah, 28, has scored 103 goals for Liverpool since he joined.
      But in a huge blow to the Reds it emerged he could miss a huge chunk of next season as Egypt want him for the Olympics and the Africa Cup of Nations.
      And Jurgen Klopp jumped to his defence after he was accused of diving during the Reds’ narrow 2-1 win against West Ham last weekend.

      Premier League set to scrap controversial PPV games and broadcast every match for no extra cost until 2021 More

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      PSG stars rescued by firefighters after being trapped in lift for 50 minutes before RB Leipzig loss in Champions League

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      FIREFIGHTERS were called to rescue several Paris Saint-Germain stars stuck in a lift before their Champions League loss to RB Leipzig.
      The Ligue 1 champions were staying in the German city’s Steigenberger Grand Hotel while preparing for the match.

      Layvin Kurzawa posted footage from inside the lift as team-mates joked outside

      Firefighters came to the stars’ rescue almost an hour later

      After training on Tuesday night, a host of PSG players got into the lift at 9pm.
      However, it broke down between two floors and the stars were stuck.
      Layvin Kurzawa uploaded footage from inside the lift, revealing that they spent 50 minutes waiting to be rescued.
      Also present were Moise Kean, Angel Di Maria, Presnel Kimpembe, Leandro Paredes, Marquinhos, Bandiougou Fadiga, Abdou Diallo, Idrissa Gueye, Colin Dagba and Kays Ruiz-Atil.

      An Instagram story showed the troop’s PSG colleagues call up through the shaft to check if they were ok.
      When one asked who was inside, another outside the lift joked: “Neymar and Mbappe.”
      Neither striker had travelled to Germany due to injury complaints, with the remark drawing much laughter from those on stable ground.
      It is not known whether any player experienced any specific difficulty while trapped in the lift.

      Leipzig’s Steigenberger GrandHotel was the scene of the incident

      Les Parisiens fell to a 2-1 defeat in GermanyCredit: EPA

      Another of Kurzawa’s clips showed three firefighters leaning into the lift with the rescue underway.
      Six of the trapped players started Wednesday’s shock defeat to Leipzig.
      An early goal from Di Maria was not enough as Leipzig scored either side of the break.
      PSG’s night went from bad to worse when Gueye and Kimpembe were sent off late on – with Les Parisiens left third in Group H after two defeats from three games.

      Neymar asks to be subbed after just 25 minutes of PSG’s clash with Basaksehir after apparent groin injury More

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      Man Utd coach Phelan noticed his side horribly out of shape before Demba Ba goal, but it was too late, reveals Scholes

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      MANCHESTER UNITED coach Mike Phelan noticed how horribly out of shape his side were before the Demba Ba goal – but it was too late, according to Paul Scholes.
      The Red Devils’ 2-1 defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir has come under the microscope for the laughable nature of the Turkish side’s first goal.

      Demba Ba took advantage of some suspect United defending to give Basaksehir the leadCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Mike Phelan appeared to notice something was up before United concededCredit: Reuters

      ⚠️ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford
      Former Chelsea striker Ba found himself all alone just short of the halfway line as United recklessly overcommitted to a corner after 12 minutes.
      When the hosts won the ball back, one simple clearance up the pitch found Ba, who ran half the length of the field and slammed it past Dean Henderson.
      Scholes told BT Sport that he believed long-serving coach Phelan recognised the danger just before it played out, but didn’t manage to stop it in time.

      He said: “It’s completely down to organisation, surely you always have someone back on the halfway line?
      “You see Mick Phelan on the side, pointing to Matic and saying, ‘You should be there.’
      “You’re always goal-side there. It’s like under-10s football. You need one behind, one in front.
      “I can understand if it’s the last minute maybe and you’re going for a goal but it’s after what, 15 minutes? It’s embarrassing.

      “What the back four were doing, I have no idea.

      Demba Ba was left alone near the halfway line to run through and score – to the disbelief of United fans

      United’s defending for the second goal wasn’t much better than the first
      “United have really struggled about them attacking-wise, we spoke a lot about the balance of the team before the game.
      “They’ve gone with one holding player today, I think the play going forward, the possession, has been okay.
      “But defensively, they’re absolutely all over the place. The defenders have to be better, don’t they?
      “I think the forward play could be better as well. They’ve kept possession at times really well without having that final real bit of quality.
      “Defensively, they’ve got to take responsibility, you’ve got to defend one-v-ones at times at Manchester United. They seem incapable of doing it.”
      The evening would become worse for United as they fell 2-0 down after Edin Visca took advantage of more generous defending to fire it into the net.
      Anthony Martial headed in a Luke Shaw cross minutes later to put the visitors back in the game, but despite much huffing and puffing in the second half United could not produce an equaliser.

      It heaps the pressure on boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a topsy-turvy season which has seen United beat teams like PSG and RB Leipzig in Europe but also languish 15th in the Premier League table.
      Pressure is steadily building on the United manager and rumours have been swirling around the club that Mauricio Pochettino is being lined up as a potential replacement.
      Sources have told the Manchester Evening News that the former Tottenham boss is being considered if results do not improve.

      Agbonlahor says Man Utd should sack ‘soft’ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and replace him with ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino More

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      Shakira reveals Pique’s celebration in Barcelona’s win over Dynamo Kiev was touching gesture to son Milan

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      GERARD PIQUE dedicated his winning goal in Barcelona’s win over Dynamo Kiev to his son Milan, Shakira revealed.
      The centre-back’s long-term partner took to social media to share the celebration.

      Gerard Pique celebrated his Champions League goal for Barcelona by dedicating it to his son Milan

      Pique celebrated his glancing header into the far corner by looking at the camera and saluting.
      And Shakira said it was a touching gesture to their seven-year-old.
      She wrote on Instagram: “Milan was so happy this morning to learn that his dad dedicated last night’s Champions League goal to him!”
      Shakira, 43, and Pique, born exactly a decade later, have been together since 2011.

      They met the previous year when the Barcelona defender appeared in the music video for her song ‘Waka Waka’, for the 2010 World Cup.
      Milan was born in January 2013, 24 months before his younger brother Sasha.
      Pique and his family may have been thinking about relocating this summer as the Spaniard was linked with a move away from Barcelona.
      He did offer to leave after hitting ‘rock bottom’ following the 8-2 thumping at the hands of Bayern Munich.

      Shakira and Pique have two boys – Milan, right, aged seven and Sasha, left, aged five

      But in the end he joined Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Frenkie De Jong and Clement Lenglet in signing a new contract at the club after agreeing a temporary pay cut amid the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
      Pique found the net midway through the second half in the Group G to put Barca 2-0 up at the Nou Camp.
      Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a fifth-minute penalty for his 118th Champions League goal.
      Viktor Tsyhankov pulled one back for the Ukrainian side with quarter of an hour to go but Ronald Koeman’s side held on for the three points.
      It ensures Barcelona maintained their 100 per cent record in Europe this season with three wins from three.

      View this post on Instagram

      Together.
      A post shared by Shakira (@shakira) on Aug 30, 2020 at 5:39am PDT

      View this post on Instagram

      Mud.
      A post shared by Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) on Oct 9, 2018 at 10:21am PDT

      Barcelona star Gerard Pique arrives at the Nou Camp on a bicycle More