Champions League

JAMES McATEE’S mum and dad missed the magic moment he has waited more than a decade for — as they were 840 miles away at Northampton’s Sixfields Stadium instead!The England Under-21 international scored his first senior goal for Manchester City in the 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday night.James McAtee netted Man City’s fourth goal against BratislavaCredit: ReutersBut the 21-year-old’s parents were not at the game to watchCredit: APLocal lad McAtee, 21, has been turning out for the club since the Under-11s and admits he has dreamt about this day since his  journey at the City Football Academy beganYet his parents did not travel to Slovakia – instead choosing to watch their other son John, 25, score for Bolton in a League One clash against the Cobblers.Attacking midfielder McAtee said: “It’s a long way to come for my family.”My brother played and scored on Tuesday night as well — and they went to go and watch him.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”It’s something I’ve dreamt of for my whole life. I cant explain it but I’m over the moon. It’s one of the better days of my life.McAtee is known as the Salford Silva as his style of playing in the pocket is similar to that of Etihad legend David.Compliments do not come much bigger than that in this part of Manchester — and Pep Guardiola has thought highly of him for some time. When he spent two loan spells at Sheffield United from July 2022 to this summer, there must have been doubts he would ever make the grade for his boyhood club.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut the City boss has full faith in him — maybe more than the player himself.Guardiola said: “I always had the feeling that I believe he can play here more than he does. Hopefully minutes can help him and show he is part of that.Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Phil Foden situation after fans’ conspiracy theory over England star’s absence “Of course, he will not be a regular player this season but in a lot of games he will help us and when he plays like he did here, I can always count on him perfectly.”Everyone adores him, you have seen the reaction of the players, everyone loves him.”City turned down offers of more than £30million in the summer as Guardiola wanted him to be part of his first-team squad and he featured in their pre-season tour of the US.McAtee said he would be fine to have a season where he never played as he was convinced being around one of the greatest bosses ever would help him develop.So far he is getting chances, like in the season-opening Charity Shield and the League Cup tie against Watford last month.        And he said: “I definitely think I’m sharper. Last year I was playing a bit wider, now I’m more central. “I’m getting to grips with that. I feel better now than I did two months ago. When I’m going out there now it’s not as chaotic.”For example, against Watford I hadn’t played for a while and it was a bit chaotic at the start. But today I felt a lot calmer and more composed.”Basically the manager is telling me to go and have fun. A bit more tactical but go and be myself and feel good about myself.McAtee’s brother John was on target for Bolton at NorthamptonCredit: Rex”With the way they set up I think I needed a bit of freedom to come and get the ball. It was so tight in there, lots of teams have done it already this year.”He gives me freedom when coming on to try to affect the game as much as I can.”City have had to rethink their midfield plans for the season following the serious knee injury suffered by Rodri – and that could lead to more opportunities for McAtee.The Spaniard is out for the rest of the season following ACL surgery with Ilkay Gundogan, 33, another option Guardiola can turn to in the middle of the pitch.READ MORE SUN STORIESMcAtee added: “Rodri’s a different position to me. It was bad news when we heard and it got the lads down a little bit.”Gundo can maybe drop a bit deeper and I’m just being patient, waiting for my chance and grabbing it when I do get it.” More

UNAI EMERY didn’t hold back with his tactics during Aston Villa’s 1-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.The Villa boss substituted Leon Bailey off the pitch just 33 minutes after bringing the winger on.Unai Emery made a ruthless decision during Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Bayern Munich on WednesdayCredit: GettyThe manager hooked Leon Bailey 33 minutes after bringing him on the pitchCredit: TNT SPORTSBailey had been substituted on in the first half after an injury to Jacob RamseyCredit: AlamyBailey wasn’t happy with the decision but still made a respectful exit from the pitchCredit: TNT SPORTSBailey had been introduced in the first half after Jacob Ramsey was forced off with injury in the 27th minute.But after failing to make an impact on the game, Emery had seen enough after just 15 minutes of the second half.In the 60th minute the former Arsenal boss decided he as going to change things up, hooking Bailey and replacing him with Ian Maatsen.Bailey had made just six accurate passes during his time on the pitch and had given the ball away twice.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFans were shocked but ultimately understanding on social media.One wrote: “Unai Emery brought in Leon Bailey as a forced substitute in first half, and subbed him off in second half before 60 mins. A coach that requires standards”.While another added: “That’s how you know your manager is reading the game.”A third commented: “Unai Emery couldn’t stand his performance then got rid of him and rightly so”.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnd a fourth chimed in: “Leon Bailey was poor, not surprised he got subbed off. Even though he came on as a sub.”Bailey didn’t kick up a fuss when heading off, as players have been known to do in the past, despite being visibly miffed by the decision. Fans ask ‘do they hate him-‘ as Micah Richards gets savaged live on CBS Sports with segment dedicated to his mistakesInstead the Jamaican International accepted his fate and shook the hand of the manager as he made his way to the bench.Emery’s tactics appeared to be working with another tactical change just 10 minutes later making the difference between the two sides.The 52-year-old brought on Jhon Duran for Ollie Watkins in the 70th minute.Just nine minutes after the bold change and the 20-year-old Colombian pulled off a wonderful chip to beat Manuel Neuer and secure a mammoth win for Villa over European giants Bayern Munich.Unbelievably, Villa are now effectively joint-top of the Champions League group phase having won both of their opening two games in the competition.Emery made the bold decision to sub Ollie Watkins late in the gameCredit: ReutersIt paid off when substitute Jhon Duran lobbed Manuel Neuer just nine minutes laterCredit: RexDuran’s goal fired Villa to a 1-0 win over Bayern MunichCredit: Reuters More

THERE was 1980s nostalgia in the air at Villa Park – so trust the bloke called Duran to bring the house down.Aston Villa 1 Bayern Munich 0 is the most famous scoreline in the history of this great football club – ever since the night Peter Withe won them the European Cup in Rotterdam 42 years ago.Jhon Duran came off the bench to hit a wonderful winner against Bayern MunichCredit: PAThe striker hit a scorcher from distance to send Villa Park into rapturesCredit: ReutersDuran was named Player of the Match despite only being on the pitch for 20 minutesCredit: GettyDuran has now scored five goals off the bench this seasonCredit: GettyThat was when Birmingham’s own Duran Duran were a permanent fixture at the top of the charts.Jhon Duran, Aston Villa’s extraordinary supersub, always leaps off the bench, hungry like the wolf.And he netted a spectacular late winner – his sixth goal of the season, and his fifth as a sub – to recreate the result of Villa’s finest ever victory.With two wins and two clean sheets in this monumental Champions League group, Villa are proving themselves well worthy of a place back on European football’s grandest stage.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAs Villa Park rattled and hummed with noise – with the words from the TV commentary of Withe’s winner plastered across the Doug Ellis Stand – here was a night worth waiting more than four decades to enjoy.Bayern may have dominated for long periods but Villa defended manfully, had a first-half Pau Torres effort ruled out and ought to have seen Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano sent off before the break.Whatever your opinion of the new group-stage format – and if you think it’s any good, then you’re wrong – this was one fixture, one occasion, which dripped with meaning.Villa’s first home fixture in Europe’s elite competition in 41 years, and against the club they defeated to capture the trophy.Most read in Champions LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe air was acrid with pyrotechnics and a huge banner was unfurled in front of the Holte End but in truth they didn’t need any gimmicks – Villa Park provides one of the last great authentic atmospheres in English football.The old place rattled and hummed but the Germans had a strut on, bossing possession, making obvious they were the club who belonged in this tournament, and who’d won their opening match 9-2.What does John McGinn’s celebration mean?Prince William was loving every moment of the matchCredit: PAHe couldn’t take his eyes off the thrilling actionCredit: PAYou only had to look at Bayern’s bench to recognise their immense strength – Jamal Musiala, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane, Leon Goretzka, Joao Palhinha – never mind the 11 blokes Vincent Kompany had actually selected to start. And the visiting fans were certainly in high spirits, with one caught on camera appearing to prepare to snort a substance off his hand.Harry Kane had been passed fit after an ankle injury and his early header forced Emi Martinez to save with his boot, yet the England skipper was offside.Villa were relying on counter-attacks and Dayot Upamecano was having kittens trying to deal with the pace of Ollie Watkins.First the Bayern defender bundled Watkins over only for Romanian ref Radu Petrescu to wave play on.The next time Villa broke, Watkins turned Upamecano again, was dragged down and Petrescu showed the yellow card he ought to have brandished the first time around.  Villa thought they had taken the lead through Pau Torres but it was ruled out for offsideCredit: ReutersVilla then suffered a blow as Jacob Ramsey was forced off injuredCredit: PAThe popularity of the match officials went down another notch when Villa were denied an opener by VAR.A Lucas Digne up and under caused chaos and Pau Torres stabbed in. The Holte End went berserk and even the Prince of Wales was caught on camera punching  the air.Yet even the heir to the throne has no authority over UEFA’s robot linesmen, who spotted that Jacob Ramsey was marginally offside in the build-up.Ramsey had to limp off soon after, replaced by Leon Bailey, who had been surprisingly dropped in favour of youngster Jaden Philogene in a bold call from Emery.  When Watkins broke again, the flailing Upamecano cleared only as far as Amadou Onana, who shot straight at Manuel Neuer.Both sides then struggled to find a way to goalCredit: PAOllie Watkins was denied on several occasionsCredit: PABayern had been rocking but began to reassert their authority.Serge Gnabry dashed down the right and drilled into the side-netting when he ought to have centred for Kane, who swore at him heartily in English, not German.Soon, Michael Olise’s curler from outside the box was tipped over by Martinez.And the half ended with more eccentric refereeing from Petrescu, who refused to book Kane for wrestling over Morgan Rogers to halt a breakaway in what was one of the most obvious yellow-card offences it is possible to imagine.At half-time, Kompany sent on Musiala for Kingsley Coman and Bayern continued to hog the ball – Ezri Konsa survived a penalty shout for handball and Olise had a couple of shots blocked.Duran was called on with about 20 minutes left to change Villa’s fortunesCredit: PAHis amazing hit sealed a historic winCredit: ReutersEmery responded to Bayern’s dominance with a double change – ruthlessly subbing sub Bailey in the process.His replacement, Ian Maatsen, then rifled a shot over after some neat work from Youri Tielemans.But Musiala was finding his dancing feet, bobbing and weaving his way through half the Villa team to win a corner.Next, Emery withdrew Watkins and sent on Duran and nine minutes later his moment arrived.Martinez rolled out the ball to Torres who sent a through-ball up the right allowing Duran to lash home a first-time shot past the stranded Neuer.Emi Martinez produced several great late savesCredit: GettyThe goalie hailed Duran and Villa’s fans after the winCredit: AlamyBayern continued to press but somebody must have saved a prayer for Villa.Speaking after the game, captain Martinez revealed boss Emery was the mastermind behind Duran’s delight chip over Neuer.He said: “We knew Neuer plays high. We watched a lot of movies with the manager this morning. He had that in his mind.”On Duran’s impact, Martinez added: “He came back with a different mentality this season. He’s willing to work hard, he’s pushing Ollie all the way, they can play together.”He’s a super sub, the first time he touched the ball, he lobbed Neuer, one of the best goals in history.”Supporters were jubilant with the amazing winCredit: GettyDuran will go down in history with the Villa faithfulCredit: GettyMartinez also opened up over denying Kane on several occasions as he hailed Villa’s defence.The World Cup winner said: “You know with Harry Kane, you know that he’s always going to hit on target at some point in the game so I’ve working a lot with moving and making saves.”We are committed [more] defensively Champions League, we need to transmit that into the Premier League now, we are conceding some sloppy goals in the Premier League, we need to find that balance, we know we can keep clean sheets so we move on from here.”On the result and Villa fans’ celebrations, he added: “It’s a statement, there’s still a lot to play. We want to qualify in the first eight, in the top eight, it’s one step at a time.”We’ve got Bologna at home now in our second game, we are probably more relaxed but we want to win every game.”It’s unreal to be fair. This is the loudest Villa Park that I’ve heard since I joined the club, that’s for sure, it was hurting my ears at some point. It’s a club that is moving forward. “It’s the main reason why I stay in this football club. I love playing here, I love the fans, this is a win for them.”Manager Emery was also full of praise for Duran, saying: “We’re working with him, but most important is his attitude and commitment now with us. He changed a lot in his mind, he’s being focused each minute he’s playing.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHe continued: “Try to enjoy the way. We want to keep it for long time, playing consistent in Europe. “It’s very important defensively to be strong. Emi Martinez did amazing job, Carlos & Konsa were fantastic and others. Both players they needed to improve playing together.” More

ARNE SLOT made history as Mo Salah hit a brilliant clincher.Jurgen Klopp’s successor became the first Liverpool manager to win eight of his first nine games in charge.Mo Salah went to 49 Champions League goals with a screamerCredit: AFPAlexis Mac Allister celebrates his early breakthrough for LiverpoolCredit: GettyBut while things were flying for the Dutchman at the start – and his side finished up on a high thanks to that 75th-minute Salah special – he also had to squirm through plenty of scary moments.For after a brilliant, pulsating start the Reds hit the reverse gear that for a long time threatened red faces..Slot had freted in the build–up, warning his players that “mediocrity was not acceptable.”And so when they were running rings around Bologna in the first 25 minutes, his warning that the Serie A club were more dangerous than their 13th position in Serie A looked seemed little more than scare-mongering.READ MORE TOP STORIESAlexis MacAllister’s 11th minute strike said it all about Liverpool’s early dominance and the fluidity of their attacks.True enough, Thijs Dallinga had found the home net just before but was miles off-side as he struck his shot.The Argentinian’s first ever Champions League goal was the real deal.It came as a result of a flowing team move, completed by Salah’s delicious chip and only needed touching into the net from half a yard.Most read in Champions LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSSalah’s thumping finish gave Bologna keeper Lukasz Skorupski no chanceCredit: ReutersDarwin Nunez, in for benched Diogo Jota due to a slight foot injury, should have doubled the advantage but as Slot will surely know by now, he’s not the brightest footballer.Had he arced his run onto Mac Allister’s through – ball his shot would have stood. But, unsurprisingly he ran straight off-side.Ex-Liverpool star John Arne Riise shows what he is made of on the training pitch Things were just too easy for Slot’s men and the sloppiness he is concerned about began to show in the 19th minute.Salah’s side-foot into the box was perfection but the Hungarian, not for the first time this season, lost focus or just thought he merely had to go through the motions.Either way he slid his shot wide before Nunez, this time trying for the spectacular as he so often does, fired straight at goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.At this 23rd minute stage, Bologna’s new manager Vincenzo Italiano was going crazy on the touchline.Liverpool were playing training ground football and looking like world-beaters. Italiano’s team were all over the place.And then, like they have done repeatedly despite the start that has taken them to the top of the Prem, they switched off.Suddenly Slot’s worries that might have appeared like picking hairs didn’t seem so unreasonable at all.Dan Ndoye raided down the left and his 28th-minute shot was deflected off the bar.The attacker was deemed offside but there was a real lack of cohesion in the rearguard marshalled by skipper Virgil van Dijk.Mac Allister was left with a simple chance to open the scoringCredit: RexThijs Dallinga saw this early goal for Bologna ruled outCredit: GettyDarwin Nunez threatened for Liverpool and also had a goal erasedCredit: RexAlisson spotted it, too, carping at those in front of him to close down better.Soon after Ndoye was back, Ricardo Orsolini’s downward header causing panic in front of The Kop.Ndoye fired in a low left–footer. Alisson and his team mates rode their luck as the shot flew off the outside of the goalkeeper right hand post.Bologna’s players were representing a club that hadn’t been in a top – flight European campaign for 60 years.And you just knew he was finding this repeat unacceptable.From the start they looked to have frozen under the weight of that history having managed only an opening 0-0 with Shakhtar Donetsk, who had scored only seven goals in six league games.But they were now causing panic and the look on Slot’s face as he headed down the tunnel said it all – his side, as they had done in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Wolves, were back in mediocrity mode.The Italian side kept on keeping on after the break, Alisson furious again that he had to deal with a 20 yarder from Orsolini.Then Kacper Urabanski lost his head and fired wildly over from a great position.By the 61st minute Slot knew he needed a change, and Nunez, unsurprisingly, was replaced by Jota – as much for the Portuguese attacker’s work rate in closing down as for his far superior striking abilities.His entrance stabilised the side, cohesion returned and finally the job got done.Unsurprisingly Salah was the one tie the game up as he became the first Liverpool player to score in five successive Champions League home games.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Bologna defenders not only backed off, they gave him space to move onto his left foot.And as Anfield’s Egyptian king moved into the box there was only ever going to be one outcome, his shot curving majestically into the top right corner of Skorupski’s net.Arne Slot now has two Champions League wins out of twoCredit: Getty More