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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

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      Pirlo moans about his ‘selfish’ Juventus stars despite 4-1 win over Ferencvaros and orders players to pass more

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      ANDREA PIRLO moaned about his ‘selfish’ Juventus stars despite his side’s 4-1 win over Ferencvaros in the Champions League.
      The midfield great and Juve boss, 41, was not happy despite the result in Budapest and urged his Bianconeri players to pass the ball more.

      Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo was not satisfied despite his side’s winCredit: Reuters

      Pirlo blasted his Old Lady stars for being ‘selfish’ against Ferencvaros Credit: AP:Associated Press

      After the match, Pirlo told Sky Sports: “I am satisfied with the result, but we could have done much better in terms of the game.
      “We made many superficial mistakes … it was important to get a result, but obviously we need to improve.
      “I am someone who talks a lot with the players, then they go on the pitch and the choices are theirs.
      “But it is important that these choices are right: we need to be less selfish and close games earlier.”

      Juve got the win thanks to a brace from former Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata.
      Argentine Paulo Dybala also found the net before Lasha Dvali’s own goal made it four for the Serie A champs.
      Franck Boli’s 90th-minute effort ruined former Arsenal man Wojciech Szczesny’s clean sheet.
      But the victory left the Old Lady well placed to qualify in second spot in Group G behind Barcelona after two wins from three.

      Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club

      Cristiano Ronaldo left the goalscoring to his team-mates and Morata backed the Portuguese superstar’s character after the game.
      Ronaldo had been slammed as ‘ignorant’ and blasted for having ‘no respect for his team-mates’ by retired Juventus defender Pasquale Bruno.
      Speaking on Italian football show Tiki Taka, the 58-year-old fumed: “He is ignorant.
      “He has been in Italy for two years and has not yet learned to speak our language.
      “He uses Spanish to express himself. He has no respect for his team-mates or for the Italians.”

      He makes himself loved by everyone.”
      Alvaro Morataon Cristiano Ronaldo

      But Spaniard Morata hit back after the game: “I don’t have to say who Cristiano is and what he does.
      “He is always available, he makes himself loved by everyone, he is in the group.
      “He is our most important player and we hope he will always take us to the next level.”

      Cristiano Ronaldo and Pirlo seen together for first time as Juventus begin training ahead of new Serie A season More

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      Uefa beg Fifa to change ‘unfair’ handball laws with VAR controversy in Chelsea’s win over Rennes the final straw

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      UEFA have pleaded with Fifa to change the “unfair” handball laws – after another night of VAR controversy.
      Chelsea’s second penalty in their 3-0 Champions League win over Rennes left the French side shocked by both the VAR spot-kick award and the second yellow card for defender Dalbert Henrique.

      UEFA have intervened after widespread dismay over a handball incident between Chelsea and Rennes last night Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      BT pundit Rio Ferdinand slammed German referee Felix Swayer for an “absolute disgrace” of a decision, with Timo Werner slotting home his second penalty of the night.
      And now Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin has stepped into the ongoing rows over the handball Laws by urging Fifa boss Gianni Infantino to intervene.
      In a letter to Zurich, Ceferin said: “The attempt to strictly define the cases where handling the ball is an offense has resulted in many unfair decisions which have been met with growing frustration and discomfort by the football community.”
      Despite being the wealthiest and most powerful of Fifa’s Confederations, Uefa has NO place on the Law-making International FA Board, made up of the four Home Nations and four representatives of the world governing body.

      The latest Laws, agreed by Ifab in Belfast in March, came into effect on June 1.
      Infantino had championed the introduction of the “tee-shirt line” which means the shoulder is no longer considered part of the arm.
      But Ifab, backed by Fifa refs’ chief Pierluigi Collina, guides that handling offences when the body is made ‘unnaturally bigger’, must be punished.
      Although the Premier League was given dispensation to apply a less strict criteria after a controversial start to the season, Uefa is sticking more firmly to the official guidelines.

      Aleksander Ceferin wrote to FIFA over the handball rules Credit: Reuters
      In addition, the 2019 Law which sees any goal chalked off if the ball is handled by the scorer or player who passes directly to a scoring team-mate, has caused frustration.
      Ceferin added: ”The spirit of the game must be preserved at all times.
      “The arms are part of bodies dynamically engaged in athletic efforts and their movement is necessary to preserve the body balance, make the effort successful and avoid injuries.
      “Defenders are nowadays forced to assume ‘unnatural’ positions simply to avoid the risk of seeing their hand or arm accidentally hit by the ball and concede a penalty kick.
      “There are also plenty of situations where hands/arms exposed outside the profile of the body in moves which are understood to be natural, unintentional and unavoidable have been punished with penalty kicks. This is no good service to the game.”
      The Uefa President suggested in his letter that the widespread use of VAR had been more of a curse than a blessing in terms of decisions.
      Ceferin said VAR had ‘exacerbated’ problems, leading to ‘paranoid effects and controversial outcomes’.
      He added: ‘lf the original spirit of this amendment was to avoid that a goal is scored with a hand or arm, this goes far beyond the rationale.’

      Gianni Infantino may have some thinking to do as the handball rule continues to attract controversyCredit: Reuters
      “It leads to goals being disallowed following situations where the ball may have minimally hit the hand or arm of a player, without any intention, even when the deflection did not have any significant impact on scoring the goal.
      “There is no shame in admitting that sometimes decisions that are made for the good do not achieve their objectives and should be reviewed.

      “Doing so would certainly not undermine the credibility of IFAB.
      “I believe that going back to the previous wording, perhaps reviewed and integrated by a provision which does not allow goals to be scored with a hand/arm, is an option to be taken into account.”
      Ceferin’s letter comes ahead of the looming ‘business meeting’ of Ifab, which will determine any Law change proposals to be decided by the organisation’s AGM, due to be held in Cardiff next March. More