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      Neymar FAILS to roast Man City’s Mahrez with rainbow flick after wearing MICKEY MOUSE earrings in Champions League clash

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      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN star Neymar tried to produce a rainbow flick against Manchester City on Tuesday evening.The Brazilian, 29, attempted to loop the ball over Riyad Mahrez but failed and gave possession away in the Champions League clash.

      Neymar tried to produce a rainbow flick in the Champions LeagueCredit: BT Sport
      But miscalculated his effort and gave the ball awayCredit: BT Sport
      The PSG ace wore Micky Mouse earrings in the warm-up ahead of the clash with Man City
      Neymar’s audacious bit of skill came in the 15th minute at the Parc des Princes, shortly after Idrissa Gueye gave PSG a 1-0 lead.
      The forward, who wore MICKY MOUSE earrings before the game, failed to execute the flick and was left red-faced as City regained possession.
      And fans on social media were not impressed with Neymar, with one tweeting: “That was useless.”
      While another wrote: “It’s only nice when it generates goals.”
      And one supporter tweeted: “This sums up Neymar. Aesthetics over efficiency.”
      Neymar’s rainbow flick comes just six days after his Brazil team-mate Luis Paqueta was BOOKED for trying the same in a Ligue 1 game.

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      The flashy move is banned in French football and the PSG ace expressed his anger at the authorities for Paqueta’s punishment.
      Neymar wrote on Instagram: “This episode is very, very sad, receiving a yellow card for a dribble.
      “The technical gesture is a solution, no matter where it takes place and no matter what minute it is performed”
      It’s thought players are allowed to produce rainbow flicks in Champions League games and Neymar may have just done it in protest.
      The ex-Barca star also received a yellow card in Ligue 1 for performing the move during a 5-0 victory against Montpellier in February 2020.
      Neymar added: “The same thing happened to me last season. This year, it’s happened to Paqueta. Honestly, I don’t understand the reasons.
      “The famous ‘Joga Bonito’ [beautiful game] is over. Enjoy while it lasts.”
      Neymar booked for doing rainbow flick before furiously confronting ref in tunnel after PSG’s 5-0 win over Montpellier More

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      Villarreal boss Unai Emery tells Man Utd to stick with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and it ‘wouldn’t be wise’ to axe manager

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      UNAI EMERY has urged Manchester United to show patience with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.The former Arsenal chief takes on the Red Devils on Wednesday in the Champions League just months after his side defeated them to lift the Europa League after an dramatic penalty shoot-out.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has received a vote of confidence from his opposite number tomorrow nightCredit: Getty
      Unai Emery has insisted Man Utd need to keep the faith with the NorwegianCredit: AFP
      Solskjaer is under pressure after United have tasted defeat in three of their last four games.
      The Norwegian’s former team-mates Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Teddy Sheringham have all warned the ex-striker his team must improve otherwise he faces the sack.
      But ahead of the clash tomorrow, Emery insists there is no reason for United to panic.
      He said: “I’ve lived that when I was in Arsenal. Solskjaer is a former Manchester United player and a head coach who has a lot of support and respect.
      “He was in the Champions League last year and reached the Europa League final.
      “This year he has many challenges ahead and it is true that he has had some negative results, but it wouldn’t be wise for the club to change the vision they have for the head coach.”

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      Despite the LaLiga’s side shocking the odds in the Europa League final, Emery still insisted that the Premier League giants are the favourites for the Wednesday showdown.
      He added: “If we see the squad one by one and take into account what Manchester United represents in history, they are the clear favourites.
      “That team from the final also has Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo, so if they were very good then they have improved even more.
      “I’m not afraid of Manchester United – we respect them and respect is important. If you lose respect the other team may take advantage of that.
      “Individually have very good players – attackers like Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial and Ronaldo. These are three attackers who could play in any team.
      “They lost against Young Boys. It was the favourite versus the less favourite, but there was a surprise.
      “Tomorrow’s Manchester United will be the best Manchester United, they have to prove their power.”

      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
      Ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery BUYS Real Union, the Spanish third-tier club for which his dad and grandad both starred More

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      Chelsea boss Tuchel dropped a tactical clanger in the defeat against Man City – does he stick or twist at Juventus?

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      THOMAS TUCHEL’S tactics will come under the spotlight like never before when Chelsea look to bounce back from Saturday’s deflating defeat at home to Manchester City.The debate has not been about whether he made a mistake with his team selection – that is accepted truth in any pub courtroom after his team failed to produce a single shot on target.

      But the question now is will the coach who claims communication is king persevere and try to press home the message or be brave enough to write off the pairing of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner up front?
      Much will depend on whether Mason Mount is fit enough to play at Juventus in Chelsea’s toughest game of their Champions League group stage.
      His absence on Saturday was a big blow in a key game but Tuchel tried to be too clever and used it to change his entire approach to the game instead of a simple swap of Mount for Kai Havertz.
      The result was the supposed 3-5-2 that became 5-3-2 as Chelsea’s defence fought a desperate rearguard action under waves of City attacks, cutting off the supply lines to Lukaku and Werner.
      Playing in Turin will not be nearly as tough as facing the Premier League champions but it will still be a big moment in Tuchel’s reign.
      Managers earn their money when things go wrong. So far at Chelsea not much has.

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      The £97.5million signing of Lukaku was the immediate trigger that gave Chelsea the focal point in front of goal so desperately needed and his four goals since returning to the club prove that.
      But Lukaku has thrived on having two wide men on either side of him so far this season – a combination of Mount, Havertz or Hakim Ziyech.
      Wing-backs Reece James and Marcos Alonso also offer support in those areas that allows Lukaku to operate in and around the box where he is so devastating.
      If Mount does not pass the fitness test for Turin then Havertz must start.

      That was the gamble Tuchel took and lost at the weekend. Havertz operates well on the flanks or either in the number ten role, picking up balls from the deeper-lying midfielders to probe and penetrate.
      Havertz is going from strength to strength since his initial struggles when joining Chelsea last season.
      Havertz or Mount must be in every starting line up when possible if Tuchel wants to live up to his philosophy of attacking football and sticking to his belief that Chelsea is a club about winning at all costs.
      Last weekend the Chelsea fans got neither.

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      Thomas Tuchel reacts to Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City More

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      Pep Guardiola claims PSG strike-force is now unstoppable with Lionel Messi ahead of Man City clash in Champions League

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      PEP GUARDIOLA admits Paris Saint-Germain’s strike force is unstoppable now they have added Lionel Messi.Manchester City managed to tame Neymar and Kylian Mbappe over two legs in last season’s Champions League semi-final.
      Pep Guardiola syas PSG have a more formidable attack with Lionel Messi in their ranksCredit: Getty
      Guardiola enjoyed trophy-winning success with Messi during his spell as Barcelona managerCredit: AFP
      But the French giants went out and signed Barca legend Messi on a free transfer during the summer to give Mauricio Pochettino an embarrassment of riches.
      Guardiola knows his defence will have their work cut out in the plum group stage tie at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night.
      He said: “What should we do? I don’t know. This amount of quality I don’t know how to stop them, they’re so good.
      “When you’ve got this amount of talent altogether it makes it so difficult to control.  
      “Defend well when we have the ball and not let them run but it’s so difficult.
      “I don’t know if they’re the best in the world – but they’re exceptional, all of them so good individually, they can combine and connect with each other.

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      “But we are looking forward to playing the game.”
      Guardiola and Messi enjoyed a successful four-year working relationship at Barcelona – where they won the Champions League twice together.
      He was sorry to see the Argentine leave the Nou Camp in the summer but believes he made a good choice in PSG.
      Pep said: “A long time ago, a few years ago, you could not imagine this but it’s happened, football, life you never know what might happen.
      “What’s important is I’m pretty sure he will be happy there in Paris.
      Hopefully on Tuesday he (Messi) can play, for the benefit of the gamePep Guardiola
      “I think this kind of player speaks for himself, I don’t have to add anything.
      “We’re fortunate to have see him doing this for 15/16 years – or however many years as a pro.
      “Messi speaks for himself, I don’t have to describe him. What he’s done is more than exceptional.”
      The veteran forward has been nursing a knee injury which has forced him out of recent matches – but was back in training over the weekend.
      While it might make City’s job easier if he does not fully recover, Pep insists he would prefer to see him play.
      He said: “Hopefully on Tuesday he can play, for the benefit of the game.”
      Guardiola confirmed Ilkay Gundogan will miss the trip to France and Sunday’s game at Liverpool with the injury he suffered against Southampton nine days ago.
      Man City boss Pep Guardiola reveals how it feels to be facing a Lionel Messi who plays for PSG and NOT Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League More

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      Lionel Messi ‘WILL be in PSG squad’ for Man City clash after injury scare, says manager Mauricio Pochettino

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      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN boss Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Lionel Messi WILL be in the club’s squad to face Manchester City.The 34-year-old has missed the last two clashes against Metz and Montpellier after suffering a bone contusion on his right knee.
      Lionel Messi could feature for Paris Saint-Germain against Manchester City on Tuesday nightCredit: AFP
      Argentine forward Messi has missed the club’s last two fixtures due to injuryCredit: Getty
      But former Tottenham gaffer Pochettino has insisted he is recovering well ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash – though being named in the starting XI may come too soon for him.
      Speaking in Monday’s pre-match press conference, he said: “We will wait until tomorrow to confirm who will participate.
      “Can I confirm Messi will be there on Tuesday?
      “I never confirm the team the day before. It’s something we will see tomorrow.
      “Leo is a bit like Marco Verratti. He’s progressing very well. I think he will be in the squad.
      “But I still have not decided the starting XI.”
      Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is still waiting to score his first Les Parisiens goalCredit: Getty

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      Messi is yet to score or provide an assist from his three outings for Les Parisiens following his summer arrival.
      And ex-Liverpool striker Michael Owen believes that PSG are a WEAKER side with him in the line-up.
      Pochettino has admitted the the French outfit, who have won all eight of their Ligue 1 fixtures so far, are still adjusting to having Messi as part of their squad.
      He remarked: “It is a fact, not an opinion, that we are a work in progress.
      “There needs to be some common sense. That is not up for debate.”
      Before adding: “He did 20 years in Barcelona, it’s normal he felt at home there and here, everything is new for him.
      “He did not arrive a long time ago.”
      Man City boss Pep Guardiola reveals how it feels to be facing a Lionel Messi who plays for PSG and NOT Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League More

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      Man Utd slip to TENTH in Uefa club rankings as Chelsea shoot up seven places to fourth behind Man City and Liverpool

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have slipped three places to tenth in the latest Uefa coefficients.Europe’s governing body of the game bases their results on clubs who competed in the five previous seasons of the Champions League, Europa League and the new Europa Conference League.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have slipped down three places in the latest Uefa coefficient rankingsCredit: Getty
      The new Uefa coefficients for the 2021/22 campaignCredit: The Sun
      The rankings determine the seeding of each club in relevant Uefa competition draws.
      United were dumped out of the Champions League last season and found themselves in the Europa League.
      They did make it all the way to the final, but they were defeated by Villarreal after an epic shoot-out.
      Now those setbacks have hit them hard in Uefa’s latest coefficients after they slid from seventh to ten in the rankings.
      The Red Devils are not the only club to suffer a huge slide downwards from the 2020 listings.
      Bayern Munich, who lifted the Champions League last year, retain top spot but Real Madrid have dropped from second to sixth.

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      Manchester City, who were beaten in last season’s Champions League final, have climbed to second with Liverpool taking third – which is a huge leap from ninth 12 months prior.
      After Chelsea were crowned European champions by beating City, they have moved to fourth in the latest table and are followed by Barcelona in fifth.
      Paris Saint-Germain have moved a place up to seventh while Atletico Madrid have dropped three places to nith with Juventus sandwiched between them.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts to Manchester United’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa More

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      Chelsea boost with Juventus stars Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata OUT of crunch Champions League clash

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      CHELSEA were handed a boost ahead of facing Juventus with Paolo Dybala and Alvaro Morata both ruled out.The Blues head to Turin for Wednesday night’s Group H Champions League clash.
      Alvaro Morata consoled Paolo Dybala as he limped off injuredCredit: Reuters
      Morata damaged his hamstring in the win over Sampdoria and is also outCredit: Reuters
      But the Italians will be severely understrength in attack with two of their forwards injured.
      Dybala, 27, scored a long-range stunner in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Sampdoria.
      But he limped off in tears with a pulled left thigh and buried his head in his shirt – thinking he could be out of action for a prolonged period.
      Morata consoled his team-mate as he trudged off the pitch.
      But the former Chelsea striker will also have to watch the midweek tie from the stands after picking up a right hamstring problem.
      Both players were assessed on Monday morning at the Juventus training ground.

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      And they will definitely miss the next two matches – Chelsea on Wednesday and then Torino on Saturday – before the international break.
      A Juve statement said: “Diagnostic tests were carried out this morning at J Medical.
      “The results showed for Alvaro Morata a low-grade muscle injury of the hamstring in the right thigh.
      “For Paulo Dybala an elongation of the semitendinosus muscle in the left thigh.
      “Both will be available after the international break.”
      Manager Max Allegri added: “Morata and Dybala will not be there against Chelsea or Torino. We will see after the break.”
      Dybala and Morata are Juventus’ top scorers this season with three goals each in all competitions.
      And it means on-loan Everton striker Moise Kean, who has found the net once, looks on course to lead the line against Thomas Tuchel’s European champions.
      The strikers have both managed three goals for Juventus this seasonCredit: Reuters
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      Man Utd legend and current Ajax chief Edwin Van der Sar wants TEN group matches in 36-team Champions League revamp

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      AJAX chief Edwin van der Sar has proposed a new format for the Champions League with 36 teams and TEN group stage matches.The former Manchester United goalkeeper, 50, has been credited with coming up with the new format which Uefa will implement from 2024.
      Edwin van der Sar won the Champions League with Man Utd in 2008 after a heroic penalty shootout victory against ChelseaCredit: PA
      Uefa will do away with the eight groups of four in the current format, pitting every team against each other in a league of all 36 clubs, adding four more teams to the current 32.
      Everyone will play ten matches against different teams, which will be drawn based on their seeding, with five games will be played at home and five away.
      Where teams sit in the overall table after all ten matches are played will determine who progresses to the knockout round, with the top eight going through automatically and the next 16 competing in play-offs.
      Van der Sar was credited with proposing the model by Juventus chief Andrea Agnelli, with the Dutchman’s model offered up as an alternative to another a new system which Agnelli had previously backed.
      It was suggested that there should be four groups of eight, who would each play each other twice, meaning each team would play a total of 14 games in the group stages alone.
      Agnelli, 45, was president of the European Clubs Association until he was relieved of his duties following his involvement in the formation of the controversial European Super League last year.

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      Van der Sar’s ‘Swiss model’ has been preferred by Uefa, but the humble Ajax chief refuses to take sole credit for the idea.
      “I wasn’t the only man, you always speak to advisors and look at how we can do something new,” he said.
      “It was about playing more meaningful European matches and how can you do that without denuding the quality in the group stages.
      “A couple of guys came up with this system and I was happy to send it to Uefa and for this to be a way forward.
      “We also wanted something that would be good for clubs from mid-sized countries who may be big brands but are still coming from a small market.”
      In this new Champions League shake-up, clubs will not play each other both home and away, meaning fans get to watch their team play ten different European sides.
      It also means that every game will count right up until the last round of games, with places in the league table always at stake.
      The Dutchman has admitted that it wasn’t easy to get the idea approved, claiming: “initially there was some scepticism.”
      “But it used to be just knockouts until 30 or so years ago, and then group stages came in so this is an evolution of the system we have been playing in for a long time and trying to create more possibilities for games without creating dead games.
      “Sometimes if you win four games and have 12 points you are already done. Under the new system you really have to keep on going, to reach the top eight or the top 16.”
      The new format won’t be instated until 2024, so fans will have a while to wait before getting to experience it first hand and comparing how it stands up against the current system.
      Chelsea are the current holders of the Champions League after beating Man City 1-0 in the final last seasonCredit: Getty
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