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      When my kids ask how much I did to help when war was in Ukraine, I want to say I did my best, says Oleksandr Zinchenko

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      ARSENAL footballer Oleksandr Zinchenko is struggling to keep his emotions in check as he wrestles with the enormity of the horrors being inflicted on his homeland.The 26-year-old captain of Ukraine’s national side has not long returned from a visit to a school almost entirely destroyed by Russian missiles.
      Oleksandr Zinchenko said: ‘This game is not just to raise funds, it is also to show the world we stick together, we are united’Credit: Getty
      Alex and Andriy Shevchenko at the destroyed school during a recent trip to Ukraine
      Alex and Andriy with their team shirts and President Zelensky during their visit to their countryCredit: Instagram @u24.gov.ua
      Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will manage Alex’s teamCredit: Getty
      Pupils told him how President Vladimir Putin’s troops had raped and pillaged after marching into their homes.
      Oleksandr, known as Alex, was in tears during the warm up before his first match following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
      Today he is expressing very different feelings.
      Leaning forward, he told The Sun: “I’m angry even now, not just since the invasion. I am angry every single day.”
      Read More on Oleksandr Zinchenko
      The question this footballing hero keeps asking himself is: How can he best help his country?
      Alex had considered signing up to serve with Ukraine’s armed forces, but was persuaded that he could support his brave nation in other ways.
      The eastern European country’s most famous current player is both raising awareness about the true cost of the war and funds to repair some of the shelled schools.
      He will be the captain of one of the celebrity sides in the Game4Ukraine charity match taking place at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium in West London on August 5.
      Most read in Football
      Alex’s team, who are lining up against one captained by Ukraine’s goalscoring legend Andriy Shevchenko, 46, will be managed by former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
      ‘I was in shock’
      More than 800 schools have been badly damaged by Russian missiles, with 220 beyond repair.
      Through the Game4Ukraine match Alex aims to raise enough money to rebuild the Mykhailo- Kotsiubynsky Lyceum in Chernihiv Oblast that he visited with Andriy just over a week ago.
      This thoughtful young father explains: “I have a daughter who is nearly two and I hope to have another baby soon and I just want to do something good.
      “Because when they grow up they will ask me, ‘Daddy, when this war was in our country, what did you do? How much did you help?’ I want to look in my kids’ eyes and say, ‘Well, me and your mum we were trying to do our best’.”
      Alex’s daughter is called Eva, and his wife Vlada Sedan, 27, a football journalist, is pregnant with their second child.
      The player is certainly doing his bit to make them proud.
      This game is not just to raise funds, it is also to show the world we stick together, we are united, we feel your support, we know we are not alone.Oleksandr Zinchenko
      He is an ambassador for United24, Ukraine’s official fundraising platform, helped organise humanitarian aid supplies and set up the charity Football for Ukraine to fund sporting projects for young people affected by the conflict.
      The defender also had the day job of playing for Arsenal as they reached second place in the Premier League this season, the London side’s highest position since 2016.
      Footballing commitments, which included captaining Ukraine in World Cup qualifying games last year, meant he had been unable to return to his homeland since Russia failed to take the capital Kyiv last April.
      But the defender this month saw the price of Putin’s aggression for himself.
      He said: “It is a completely different story when you see all these destroyed buildings by your eyes, rather than by your phone.
      “I can’t say it wasn’t scary.”
      Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky Lyceum is in an area in the north that was occupied by Russian troops for 33 days.
      The building is a mangled mess, its windows blown out and ceilings draping down to the floorboards.
      Alex continues: “We have seen the damage to this school. I spoke with the kids who study in this school and some of them saw Russian army in their houses, because they were so close to Chernihiv.
      “Some of them were stealing, some of them were doing the other stuff, which I don’t really want to speak about. Honestly, I was in shock because kids, they cannot lie.”
      He recognises the long-term impact on the mental health of Ukraine’s youth, some of whom are already displaying signs of PTSD.
      Team Zinchenko play Team Shevchenko on August 5 at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground in West London
      Alex adds: “I understand this is a big, big mental injury for them, living in war time.
      “Imagine you are five, six, seven years old and someone comes to your house with the guns, this is already mental torture.”
      But he also sees the positive power of the beautiful game.
      Alex and Andriy, who played for AC Milan and Chelsea, had a kickabout with the kids during their visit.
      He recalls: “They love football and when we were playing football together, me and Shevchenko, they were smiling, they were laughing.”
      The Game4Ukraine is a way of harnessing the world’s obsession with the sport to give those children hope for a better future.
      Alex says: “We have no option, we have to move forward.”
      The two 11-a-side teams taking part in Game4Ukraine, which will be broadcast live on Sky, will feature ex-players and showbiz talent.
      The line-up is yet to be named, but Alex will have to captain from the sidelines due to an injury.
      Born in Radomyshl, 60 miles west of Kyiv, his talent on the field took him to Shakhtar Donetsk, where he became captain of the youth team.
      He was forced to leave in 2014 after marauding troops backed by Putin waged war in and around Donetsk.
      The football team, once one of the best in Europe, were not able to give him game time due to the upheaval and his parents took him to what they thought would be the safety of Russia.
      In 2016 he was snapped up by Manchester City, where he won four Premier League titles.
      Alex was part of manager Pep Guardiola’s side when Putin expanded his attack to the whole of Ukraine in February 2022.
      Alex and Andriy visited Mykhailo-Kotsyubinsky Lyceum in Chernihiv OblastCredit: Instagram @u24.gov.ua
      The devastated Northern Saltivka residential area of KharkivCredit: Doug Seeburg
      He moved to Arsenal last summer for £32million.
      Alex has been lifted by the backing of the British people.
      He said: “After one week of the invasion, kids in Manchester came to me and they said, ‘Alex, we are all with you, with your people’. They were ten years old, they really understood.”
      But Alex cannot understand why Putin started this bloody war, in which more than 60,000 Russian and Ukrainian forces are estimated to have been killed.
      Throughout the interview he puts his hands together and stretches, as if his whole being is straining to comprehend this outrage against humanity.
      He is supposed to be talking about football, but the only thing on his mind are the atrocities being carried out by what he describes as “Russian terrorists”.
      There are many questions, including: “For what? They came to our land, to occupy?
      Alex also asks why Putin’s forces drop missiles on civilian targets or why they destroyed a dam last week, leading to the flooding of 29 towns and villages.
      But he has great faith in the inspirational President Volodymyr Zelensky, who the footballer met during his recent trip.
      Alex declares: “We are independent, we have our president, we have our people.”
      He is grateful for the military aid being offered by PM Rishi Sunak, saying: “I would like to say to the Prime Minister massive thanks for the help we have received.”
      That solidarity is vital to the ongoing effort of the Ukrainian people to assert their right to freedom.
      Game4Ukraine will help to spread the message of unity.
      Read more on The Sun
      Alex concludes: “It is a great idea to organise this game not just to raise the funds, it is also to show the world we stick together, we are united, and we are all in the same situation. We feel your support, we know we are not alone and it is so important for us and for all Ukranians.”

      SUPPORT GAME 4 UKRAINE
      THE celebrity fundraiser for Ukraine will be unlike any other football match.
      Stars from sport, music, TV and film will take to the field to play for Team Zinchenko and Team Shevchenko on August 5 at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground in West London.
      There will also be an extended half-time break, not just so the celebrity players can have a longer breather but because there will be a special show put on by “leading music icons”.
      The match will kick off at 6pm. To buy tickets visit game4ukraine.com.
      Adult ticket prices start at £28, with juniors and seniors from £15.
      The charity game has also been endorsed by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
      If you can’t attend the game but would still like to make a donation, you can do this at donorbox.org/game4ukraine. More

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      How Marcus Rashford’s romance with childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi came to sad end just a year after iconic proposal

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      IT was a fairytale romance that spanned from the school yard to Wembley stadium, but now Marcus Rashford and Lucia Loi have sadly split.The Man United striker, 25, has known his childhood sweetheart since they were 15 and famously popped the question a year ago in LA amongst a stunning floral backdrop.
      Marcus and Lucia during the 2018 World CupCredit: Getty
      Marcus was spotted returning to a hotel with influencer Courtney Caldwell
      As recently as Valentine’s Day this year, he went all out with candles and flowers at the couple’s Manchester home and in April hired a Boeing 737 to whisk Lucia to New York.
      But it appears the holiday could have been a last hurrah for the almost 10-year relationship after it emerged the couple parted shortly after.
      A source insisted: “It’s nothing complicated. The relationship ran its course and they remain very close friends.”
      Over the weekend, newly-single Rashford was seen enjoying the attention of gangs of giggling girls on holiday in Miami before partying with a party fitness influencer who runs a ‘Big Booty University’ to help people get a ‘bum like Kim Kardashian’.
      Read more Marcus Rashford
      Courtney Caldwell was seen returning to the player’s luxury hotel at 5am after attending an exclusive nightclub.  She sells workout and meal plans online and enjoys lucrative deals with brands like Gymshark.
      Psychologists say it looks like Marcus, who was awarded an MBE for his work to provide free school meals during lockdown, is enjoying his new-found freedom, possibly for the first time in his life, after being in a relationship with Lucia since the age of 15.
      Psychologist Emma Kenny said: “It’s quite a sad split as Marcus and Lucia looked like a sure thing.
      “If they had negotiated this relationship, it would have been quite beautiful. You are more likely to have a successful relationship and marriage if you get together early on because you’ve grown together.
      Most read in Football
      “When you come out of a long-term relationship, there’s definitely a pressure to feel like you’re not going to get stuck in that past situation and, if you’ve been together for a long time, in your head you try to make up for those lost years.
      “He’s been with Lucia so long he’s not had the chance to really experience everything that comes with being a famous person.
      Rashford and Lucia packed on a PDA at the 2018 World CupCredit: Getty
      Lucia has supported her man in his meteoric rise to star footballerCredit: Getty
      “He’s watched his contemporaries and peers go through various experiences while he’s been stuck behind glass being a loyal partner and that glass is now shattered.
      “Women will be throwing themselves at Marcus and, if he wants to, he could be like a boy in a candy shop.  But this split won’t be without its wounds.”
      Lucia, who has a degree in advertising and brand management, has been beside Rashford throughout his meteoric rise to footballing stardom and travelled with him to various tournaments with him, including the World Cup.
      The pair got engaged in May last year after Rashford proposed on a holiday to California and the couple posted Instagram pics kissing next to a white floral heart, standing on a bed of flowers.
      Marcus and Lucia got engaged last year and experts say they might get back togetherCredit: Instagram
      The adorable couple enjoyed travelling all over the world togetherCredit: Instagram
      They have been together since they were 15Credit: Social Media
      He popped the question at a lavish villa after they shared a romantic meal at celebrity seafood restaurant Catch LA and later celebrated with a close group of pals including United teammate Jesse Lingard.
      The proposal came just four months after they got back together following an eight month break-up.
      The high school loves first parted in May 2021 and blamed the pressure of the pandemic lockdown for their split.
      A source said at the time: “It is as a result of the pressures and strains of the Covid pandemic and lockdowns and the confinement that has brought with it over the last 12 months.
      “There is a strong mutual love and respect for one another, having met at school, and there is a continued dialogue with the hope of reconciliation in the future.”
      When they reunited in January last year sources said the break had been good for the couple and gave them “breathing space.”  Their engagement soon followed.
      Emma Kenny believes the couple might yet get back together saying: “It’s happened before and their bond is obviously very strong.”
      Psychologist Dr Arthur Cassidy agrees saying: “If you get together at a young age, you grow and develop your identities together in a love fusion. There’s also social bonding and family ties.
      “There’s a chance Marcus and Lucia could get back together because there’s not only longevity but they have also traded emotional bonds.
      “When people get engaged, fear can sometimes set in and it could cause a split.. Questions such as ‘Am I worthy? What kind of wife or husband will I make?’ emerge.  It’s a fear of the unknown, the realisation that ‘things are getting serious now’.
      Read more on The Sun
      “A temporary break  can cause people to re-evaluate their relationship before is moves into serious mode again, which is what probably happened the first time Marcus and Lucia broke up. 
      “It might be that they reevaluate a second time and get back together.”
      Influencer Coutney promises to help people get a ‘big bum like Kim Kardashian’Credit: Courtney Caldwell
      The Miami beauty has a knockout figureCredit: Courtney Caldwell More

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      We achieved a dream with West Ham’s Europa Conference League win – here’s where the club goes next

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      WEST Ham United are European winners. And just saying those words feels incredible.Wednesday night’s victory in the Europa Conference League final over ACF Fiorentina will live long in the memory of Hammers fans at home and abroad.
      West Ham ran out 2-1 winners in the Europa Conference League Final against Italian club ACF Fiorentina on Wednesday nightCredit: Story Picture Agency
      As West Ham vice chair, Karren Brady was in the stands to watch the historic scenesCredit: supplied
      The celebrations that followed will for ever be etched in the history of this great club.
      Wednesday began with nervous excitement and anticipation when the directors and I arrived at Stansted airport at lunchtime.
      It was fantastic to be able to share the moment with friends and colleagues, some of whom I have worked with for many years.
      In some cases, decades.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      I have worked alongside David Sullivan for more than 30 years and he arrived looking extremely dapper in his claret and blue shirt and jacket, which he had been saving for a special occasion.
      None could have been more momentous than this.
      He was joined by his partner Ampika, armed with his favourite sweets to settle the nerves.
      My husband Paul and our son Paolo were helping to calm my nerves, until Paolo joked that my jacket was in Fiorentina colours.
      Most read in Football
      It was lilac, not purple, but I took it off just in case!
      For so many years we have travelled more in hope than expectation, but something told us this was our time.
      Work has been under way, step by step, day by day, for years to get us to a day like Wednesday, so when it came, we all wanted to savour it.
      Noise was deafening, I had goosebumps
      The Claret and Blue Army are the best in the world and we wanted to come home with the trophy for them, for manager David Moyes, for our hardworking, passionate and dedicated players and staff.
      They all deserved it so much.
      Players, staff and their friends and family were up until dawn partying in the streets of PragueCredit: AFP
      West Ham is a family, and that family has not been without its hard times.
      But those hard times mean the good times are even more special when they come.
      When we landed, I was inundated with messages of support from across the world of football.
      There was not a colleague of mine in the Premier League who did not message me to wish us luck.
      It was so heartwarming to receive this support and reminded me what a truly unifying game football is.
      As I saw the fans in Moore 6 and Rice 41 shirts, it suddenly felt very real.
      And as we approached Eden Arena, we stopped the car and jumped out for a photo, bursting with pride to see our crest up there under the words “European final”.
      This was it, West Ham United were about to play in a European final.
      The noise when our players emerged for their pre-match warm-up was deafening.
      The atmosphere was building and I had goosebumps, you could just feel the energy.
      When our supporters raised their flags and made the stands claret and blue, I was once again filled with pride.
      The first half was cagey, as you would expect from a final.
      The 15-minute break did nothing to ease anyone’s nerves, and the 45 minutes that followed were a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone.
      Every single final has its hero and it would be Jarrod Bowen who would write his name into Hammers history for ever more by sliding home the winning goal.
      Said Benrahma’s ice-cool penalty had given us a 1-0 lead just after the hour mark, with the crescendo of noise in the stadium reverberating back to East London.
      Fiorentina, the in-form team in Italy over the past couple of months, responded five minutes later with a well-taken goal by Giacomo Bonaventura, and as the clock ticked towards the 90-minute mark we started to gear up for extra time.
      When the ball broke to Lucas Paqueta in the middle of the park, you just knew our Brazilian magnifico would find the right pass.
      He played a sublime ball to Jarrod, and when he broke through I just knew this was our chance and we had to take it.
      He did just that, sliding the ball home to put us 2-1 up.
      It was a completely surreal moment.
      There was absolute elation on the pitch and in the stands.
      We couldn’t quite take it in.
      I turned to my colleague, who held my hand, with tears in her eyes and she said: “This is it, I really think we’re going to do it now.”
      But with a long VAR check and five minutes on the clock, I didn’t dare believe it until that final whistle.
      I squeezed her hand and said: “Let’s wait, we’re not there yet.”
      Five minutes of added time somehow became eight minutes, but as the clock ticked down it was becoming more and more real and the tears were already beginning to fall.
      After what seemed like a lifetime, the referee blew for full time.
      We had done it. West Ham United . . .  European winners.
      We were just jumping up and down and hugging, united in jubilation and what it meant to us all.
      One of my colleagues turned to me and said: “Remember when you got the stadium and we stood in it empty and dreamed of filling it, keeping our best academy players, attracting international stars, hosting European nights and of a night like this?”
      We both knew this was a special milestone moment in beginning to realise those dreams.
      I loved every moment, we all did, but in all the elation there was also a moment of reflection for us all.
      We lost our close friend and much-loved joint chairman David Gold at the start of the year, and then his beloved daughter Jacqueline, a remarkable woman, two months later.
      Each and every one of us were thinking of them both at that moment.
      I genuinely believe they were looking down on us on Wednesday night.
      On the pitch, the immediate post-match celebrations were incredible to witness.
      All the emotion of the season came pouring out of players and staff alike, as well as the fans in the stands.
      Declan Rice sliding on his knees towards the corner flag; Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal draped in the Czech flag; Lucas Paqueta dancing the night away with his family; Mark Noble, Mr West Ham, in floods of tears; David Moyes jumping with delight, showing the world a side of him that we have all known and loved for some time.
      The scenes will stay with me for ever.
      It was one big party, and it was only just getting started.
      Watching the team lift the trophy is one of those moments you take an image of in your mind to store for ever.
      The celebrations continued long into the night.
      Players, staff and their friends and family were partying until dawn, with DJ Tony Perry on the decks, and more renditions of Cotton Eye Joe, Sweet Caroline and West Ham Are Massive than you would think possible.
      Moment to cherish for all our fans
      We, on the other hand, had to make straight for the plane to oversee plans for the long-awaited and so-very-deserved victory parade.
      We had to make sure that the fans who had not made it to Prague would get to see the trophy with their own eyes.
      I had said to Shirley, our flight attendant, to have the Champagne on ice, just in case, and that first sip tasted so wonderfully sweet.
      It was the first drink I’d had all day.
      Even David Sullivan, who hasn’t touched a drop in all the 35 years I’ve known him, as he hates the taste, had a sip, heavily egged on by the rest of us.
      He was beaming from ear to ear, we all were — because we’d achieved a dream.
      We turned down the lights and sang I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles until we landed back in Stansted at 3am.
      A generation of Hammers had never seen their club win something.
      Now, they have, and this group of players will be their heroes, carved into the history of this football club, West Ham United.
      The team received a proper East End welcome.
      The claret and blue flags, bunting and banners were already adorning the streets of East London, Essex and beyond from the start of the week.
      Wednesday night’s party rolled into Thursday night’s parade, when our heroes returned to London, boarding an open-top bus for a two-hour trip they will never, ever forget.
      Winning the Europa Conference League means so, so much to everyone connected with West Ham United.
      This is a moment to cherish for all of our fans.
      It is also a moment to build on. It’s the start of our next adventure in Europe and lays the foundation for another season of growth.
      Read more on The Sun
      We are already back to work but may just allow ourselves to bask in the glory for a little while longer.
      But then, we go again. More

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      in Soccer

      Man City stand 90 mins from unforgettable Treble – here’s why their achievement will always be tainted for rival fans

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      MANCHESTER City stand 90 minutes from greatness, a football Treble that will never be forgotten.Yet for rival fans, no matter what Pep Guardiola’s side do against Inter Milan in Istanbul’s Champions League Final tonight, their achievement will ALWAYS be tainted.
      Manchester City are only one win away from winning a historic trebleCredit: Getty
      Rival fans will always see City’s domination as tainted after years of bankrolling by Sheikh Mansour and the limitless riches of Abu Dhabi’s oil wellsCredit: Getty
      City are brilliant.
      No question.
      A team you love to watch.
      Glorious in possession.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      Furious in regaining the ball.
      Deadly as a ­stiletto.
      The ultimate modern side.
      But they are also a club whose willingness to push financial regulations to the absolute limit — and allegedly far beyond them — means many will always want an asterisk next to the list of trophies by their name.
      Most read in Football
      Bankrolled by Sheikh Mansour and the limitless riches of Abu Dhabi’s oil wells, able to attract the greatest manager and best players, City’s ambition is clear.
      Not just in this country either, with the club the pinnacle of a 12-team structure that spans the globe from China and Japan, through India, to the US, Uruguay, Brazil and ­Australia.
      It is City, though, a club that was once a byword for catastrophe and one that lived for two decades in the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievements on the other side of the city, that takes the attention.
      Both on the field, where they are the Prem’s dominant force and red-hot favourites to finally land the “Cup with the Big Ears” tonight.
      And, controversially, off it as well.
      In February, following a four-year probe, the Premier League announced City were accused of 115 breaches of league rules.
      A staggering number of allegations, slipped out in a simple press release on the League’s website — but which still saw City bemoaning it had been “leaked”.
      Relentless art form
      Charges included claims that the ­Etihad outfit hid the true source of the club’s funding.
      Also that City had only partially declared the salaries of players and former manager Roberto Mancini, broke Uefa AND Prem financial rules and deliberately and repeatedly obstructed the League’s investigation.
      Just as when Uefa charged and initially banned them for similar alleged offences, City did what they always do on the pitch, attack.
      First of all was the claim the allegations had been “leaked”.
      Exactly the same complaint they made about Uefa’s process.
      The charges, insisted City, would be met with a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” that would “put this matter to rest once and for all”.
      That approach worked when the sport’s Court of Arbitration threw out the Uefa sanctions in 2020, ruling by a 2-1 majority that many of the ­charges were time-barred and others “not proven” — although it judged that City had failed to co-operate with the initial inquiry.
      Manager Guardiola last month demanded the Prem commission sit to hear the case imminently.
      The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss, whose obsession with winning the Champions League in a team WITHOUT Lionel Messi is unquestioned, said: “We would like this done as soon as possible.
      “We would love it tomorrow, this afternoon. Let’s go. Don’t wait two years. Why don’t we do it quicker?
      “In 24 hours, sit down with the lawyers present. Then, if the club has done something wrong, everybody will know.
      “But if, as we believed as a club for many years, we have done things in the right way, then the people will stop talking about it.”
      Yet for all that bluster, Pep Guardiola must have known about the club’s demand that the Arsenal-supporting barrister likely to lead the panel should stand down.
      And of their complaints about the validity of the charges, arguing about recent changes in the Prem rulebook that mandate clubs and officials to answer questions and provide all information when requested to by League officers.
      City’s hierarchy have not only hired the best manager and team.
      They are willing to pay for the best lawyers, too.
      Lord Pannick KC, recently spotted next to Boris Johnson during his uncomfortable grilling by MPs who could suspend him from the ­Commons, charges a minimum £5,000 per day.
      He will be willing to do whatever it takes, within the law, to ensure a ­victory for his client.
      The charges saw City’s Prem rivals unite in furious indignation, demanding consequences well before the case ever comes to determination, which could still be another three or four years away.
      With unprecedented fines and even the prospect of a points deduction, stripped titles and relegation hanging over them, the City players might have been excused for losing their focus.
      Instead, they have turned winning into a relentless art form.
      Since the charges were laid, City have played 27 games in three ­competitions.
      They have won 21 and lost just one — a Prem match at Brentford after the title had already been sealed, scoring 72 and conceding just 15 in the process.
      But City under Guardiola are more than just an uncompromising victory machine.
      Far more.
      Man City lifted the FA Cup, the second trophy of three, last weekCredit: Getty
      The powers in Abu Dhabi have pumped vast sums of money into the club, from training grounds to on-pitch talentCredit: Alamy
      They are truly football’s version of shock and awe, a mesmerising, bewildering, mind-spinning fusion of power and glory.
      Guardiola has taken John Stones, England’s best central defender, and turned him into a ball-playing ­midfield superstar.
      Yorkshire grit but Catalan majesty.
      Look, too, at the development of Jack Grealish, who has gone from being a foppish outsider, struggling for game time and to justify his £100million transfer fee from Aston Villa, into an integral part of City’s starting side.
      The smile of delight when he sees the ball is shared by every Sky Blue fan.
      Belgian Kevin de Bruyne, ­Germany’s Ilkay Gundogan and ­Portuguese schemer Bernardo Silva offer menace and magic.
      Gundogan broke an all-time FA Cup Final record when he scored after just 12 seconds in last weekend’s Wembley win over Manchester United, the second leg of that longed-for Treble.
      And for sheer explosive, frightening attacking intensity, allied to a goal sense that few in the history of the game possess, striker Erling ­Haaland has proved he is a true force of nature.
      Although, plenty are less sure about those silk pyjamas he wore for City’s title celebrations.
      Much of that is down to the man who embodies managerial majesty.
      Guardiola’s Barcelona side were the hallmark of the beautiful game a decade ago, the Nou Camp necromancers weaving spell after spell.
      They won the Champions League — beating Manchester United both times — in 2009 and 2011.
      And they were defeated only by a combination of Jose Mourinho, Inter Milan and the Icelandic volcano that meant they had to take the coach to Italy rather than fly, in 2010.
      England’s greatest
      Yet, perhaps, irrespective of the huge sums laid out since the Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008, this team is his greatest — the ultimate example of a tactician ­putting the pieces together to create something truly extraordinary.
      Pep is more than demanding, even if his focus is occasionally so complete that he does not even see people when he walks past them in the City corridors.
      He insists that it is about ­“making people happy” rather than his “legacy”.
      But if the two things mutually co-exist, then that is an acceptable compromise.
      The club’s success has cemented Manchester’s status as one of the most famous footballing cities in the world — and has helped transform the post-industrial wasteland of East Manchester.
      The owners have built around 6,000 affordable homes in the area in a £1billion redevelopment deal.
      And the Manchester Evening News reported in 2021 how almost 30 new hotels were expected to be built by the end of this year to accommodate the growth in tourism.
      Earlier this year, the club also submitted a £300million planning application that includes expanding the Etihad stadium capacity above 60,000, and adding a hotel, sky bar and stadium roof walk experience.
      There will also be space for some businesses to work at the stadium, which is still owned by the council, with City paying rent of at least £4million a year.
      If all that matters is the football, then there is no doubt who you should be backing in Istanbul.
      England’s greatest, City are now the gold standard.
      Technically outstanding.
      Innovative.
      Compelling viewing.
      The creme of the Prem creme.
      And four of England manager Gareth Southgate’s preferred players are critical elements in Guardiola’s masterplan, even if Phil Foden has played a lesser role this season.
      Others, though, will never be won over by what happens on the pitch.
      Read more on The Sun
      Tonight, they will be “black and blue”, the colours of Inter.
      If they feel similarly bruised by a Guardiola triumph, nobody at City will care.
      City ran out comfortable winners of the Premier League last season, after a dazzling run of fixtures forced Arsenal off their comfy leadCredit: Getty
      Man City displaced local rivals Man United 2-1 at Wembley to lift this year’s FA Cup
      Tonight Man City will fight it out v Inter Milan for the elusive Champions League Trophy’It will be long night but we’ll be champs’

      SINGER and City fan Noel Gallagher is rooting for Man City to take the Treble.
      The 56-year-old says: “We’ve taken it step by step, but this is it now, it’s just about this one game. In Italy, where getting beaten is sacrilege, Inter lost 12 times in the league, so they’re used to losing, which bodes well for City.
      “The Italian mindset is ‘don’t lose’ and they will be very proud of forgetting their usual style and playing for penalties from the first minute if that’s the way they think they can win.
      “If they do that, it is up to City to come up with the answers.
      “If we play like we did against Real Madrid then there is not a team in the world that can get near us. I think it will be a long night, but City will win in end.” More

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      in Soccer

      We live at famous entrance to iconic football stadium – you can see pitch from our garden but there’s even crazier perks

      by

      ITS iconic mock Tudor facade is one of the most recognisable stadium entrances in British football.And for residents near Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth F.C., living next to the historic ground has thrown up plenty of famous moments over the years.
      Wendy Waltho lives by Fratton Park Stadium, home of Portsmouth Football ClubCredit: Solent
      Local Diana Hill says she can watch the game from her daughter’s roomCredit: Solent
      Some homeowners say their home shakes when the team scores, or claim there’s no need to buy match tickets as they can hear – and even see – all the action from their garden.
      Our new summer series, Life’s a Pitch, celebrates the weird and wonderful stadiums across Britain… and the communities built around them.
      Kicking it off, die-hard Pompey fans who reside a stone’s throw from Fratton Park tell us of their joy at feeling the ‘electric’ atmosphere created by fans every week.
      They recall seeing the 1980s squad being put through their paces by manager Alan Ball in fitness runs to the old training ground – and even boast of being able to enjoy free music concerts from their back yard.
      READ MORE FEATURES
      Garden party
      Some claim Fratton Park is unique as it is the only professional English football ground not found on the mainland of Great Britain – due to its location on Portsea Island.
      Built in 1899, it has been Portsmouth’s home ever since and seen the highs and lows throughout the club’s 125-year history.
      During that time the club has won two first division titles and two FA Cups – most recently under Harry Redknapp in 2008 – but Pompey are currently enduring a more difficult period in League One.
      Kieran Hogan, a resident living by Fratton Park, says he loves it and can hear the cheers when a goal is scoredCredit: Solent
      Lifelong Pompey fan Kieran Hogan has lived for nine years on Frogmore Road, which leads up to the South Stand entrance.
      Most read in Football
      “We love living this close to the stadium,” the 40-year-old said.
      “I don’t have a season ticket but I like to go whenever I can, round some mates up, or sometimes go by myself.
      “If I don’t go, I can hear the stadium announcer say who scores the goal when I’m sat in my living room – no need to check BBC Sport.
      “You can hear the cheer sometimes seconds before the goal goes in on the telly.”
      I can hear the stadium announcer say who scores the goal when I’m sat in my living room – no need to check BBC SportKieran Hogan, lifelong Pompey fan
      Recounting his experience of the Covid-hit play-off semi final, Kieran says he was disturbed by controversial Portsmouth super-fan John Westwood trying to get as close to the action as he could.
      “I was sat in the garden watching it, as I’d taken the TV out,” the father-of-one said.
      “And I could hear this bell ringing and I looked down the gardens and John Westwood was there at the neighbours’.”
      Kieran’s next wish is to get his newborn eight-week-old son to a game “as soon as I can”.
      Training day
      Derek Stevens, 65, who has lived on a road that runs parallel to the south stand of the stadium for 39 years, said the ‘only issue’ is matchday parking – when parking is only permitted on one side of the street, meaning cars have to be moved.
      The civil servant recounts seeing England’s World Cup winner Alan Ball whipping the the Portsmouth squad into shape during his five-year tenure in the 1980s, which saw them earn promotion back to the First Division.
      Derek Stevens admits the parking can be an issue on match daysCredit: Solent
      “Alan Ball used to make them run to the training ground which was at Moneyfields then, about 1.5 miles,” he said.
      “He got them into shape – it was funny to see the players on our road being put through the paces, but he did well here.
      “They were out of shape when he got here but he made them fit.”
      Kenneth Clarke, who lives on the same road, loves being a part of the club he played for as a boy in the 1960s.
      The retired milkman, 78, said: “We’ve been here 35 years and love it.
      “I go to about half the games. The parking is fine, it’s for emergency vehicles to get through, don’t moan about the club. If you don’t like it – move.”
      Family affair
      For Wendy Waltho, attending the matches at Portsmouth is a family affair, with husband Paul, son Harvey and grandson Franklyn all season ticket holders.
      “It’s manic on a matchday,” the 56-year-old said. “Sometimes I do go if it’s an exciting game, but I can hear it from the garden where it’s free. Why would I go?
      “It’s great, my husband and son love going – they’d never stop.
      “The front wall of my garden is used as a meeting spot by fans every week. Every Saturday or Tuesday there are the usual suspects who lean up against the wall as they wait for their mates to come.”
      The front wall of my garden is used as a meeting spot by fans every week. Every Saturday or Tuesday there are the usual suspects who lean up against the wall as they wait for their mates to comeWendy Waltho, local resident
      Wendy, who has lived in her property just 50ft from the South Stand entrance for 19 years, added: “For a 3pm kick off, they leave at about midday.
      “It doesn’t take three hours to get there – I think the pub might be involved.
      “But, when it’s not matchday, it’s dead quiet.”
      The street’s quietness on days other than when Portsmouth play is the main reason David Young bought his home home 20 years ago.
      The 39-year-old said: “During matchday it can be a bit hectic, but on days off, kids play in the street.
      “You can’t get that anywhere else in Fratton, we love it here.”
      The restaurant manager admitted he ‘hated’ football, but used to enjoy going to games when tickets were reduced for residents in close proximity to the stadium – a perk which stopped about eight years ago.
      “In a derby game against Southampton, I had a brick thrown my front window during a riot – that made them separate the fans in the future,” he added.
      Pitch view
      Diana heard a Madness concert taking place at the stadium from her gardenCredit: Solent
      Diana Hill moved into the neighbouring road in 2015 and can even see a portion of the pitch from her son’s bedroom.
      The 41-year-old said: “The atmosphere is absolutely electric on game day.
      “You can feel the electricity amongst the fans and when Pompey score, the house literally shakes.
      “We love it, we can see a little section of goalpost, but they’re redeveloping it at the minute.”
      The mother-of-three admitted she and her family received the perfect welcome when Madness played a gig at the stadium in the summer of 2015.
      Read more on The Sun
      “We didn’t have to go, we just sat in the garden and got a free Madness concert,” she said.
      “The club have been great recently as well in providing equipment for street parties over the Jubilee and Coronation.” More

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      in Soccer

      Inside West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen & Dani Dyer’s fairytale romance as ‘proposal expected any day now’… with Danny’s blessing

      by

      FINDING a partner your parents approve of is hard enough – but it’s almost impossible when you’re the daughter of TV’s most famous hardman.Dani Dyer appears to have finally managed it, however, after settling down with West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen, who last night steered her dad Danny’s favourite team to their first trophy in over 40 years.
      Dani and Jarrod have enjoyed dates together at Ascot race course dressed to the ninesCredit: danidyer/Instagram
      Danny and Jarrod are firm friends and the actor is hoping the pair will get marriedCredit: Instagram
      Danny jokes he’s fallen even more in love with Jarrod, 26, than his daughter since the new parents met in 2021 and hilariously has even joined in with fans’ X-rated terrace chant: “Bowen’s on fire and he’s sh***ing Dani Dyer.”
      The EastEnders actor, 45, and footballer were pictured together with babes in arms two weeks ago after Dani, 26, gave birth to twins.
      And when Jarrod scored the winning goal to clinch the Europa Conference League title for West Ham this week, a delighted Danny shared a snap of his daughter’s man holding the trophy, captioned: “F****** perfect”.
      Now, insiders claim that Danny and his family are desperate for the winger to get down on one knee and make Dani – who also has a son, Santiago, with her ex Sammy Kimmence – a bride.
      Read More in Football
      Engagement ‘any day now’
      A source close to the couple said: “Everyone’s saying they’ll be engaged any day now. They’re a proper family – they’ve just moved into a new house together and both sides of the family love them as a couple.
      “It’s Dani’s dream to be married now she’s a mum of three – Jarrod has really stepped up as a dad to Santi and they’re so happy together.

      “All their friends are expecting an engagement announcement any day soon – she’d say yes in a flash. It’s something they’ve talked about a lot.”
      The couple met not long after Dani’s former long-term boyfriend Kimmence was jailed for swindling pensioners out of thousands of pounds – leaving her to cope as a single mum.
      Most read in Football
      Previously, the TV star shot to fame thanks to her Love Island romance with Jack Fincham, but the pair split just months after leaving the villa.
      When her romance with Jarrod was first revealed, Dani said: “Everything is so early days. Jarrod is a lovely guy, and we’re enjoying getting to know each other.
      “But Santi will always be my main priority, he will always come first.
      “I am concentrating on being a mum and, beyond that, whatever happens, happens.”
      Stepdad duties
      Jarrod is regularly seen carrying little Santiago and taking him to his gamesCredit: danidyerxx/Instagram
      Within months Jarrod had become a firm fixture in Dani’s life and appears to be loved by Santi, two, who calls him JayJay.
      The couple welcomed twin girls Summer and Star in May, and their relationship appears to be going from strength to strength.
      While Dani was pregnant, Jarrod helped Santiago do an ultrasound to see how his little sisters were developing.
      Shortly after their birth, Dani wrote on social media: “Our first week together and enjoying every moment of the newborn bubble.
      “It’s been amazing watching Santi be a big brother he has melted my heart in ways I couldn’t imagine and he just feels like such a big boy all of a sudden.
      “My heart feels so so full and so excited for our journey together as a family of 5.”
      The West Ham ace slotted quickly into family life as a stepdad and is often photographed by Dani bonding with his stepson – even taking the tot in full West Ham kit on the pitch after games.
      Danny smitten
      Actor Danny is a big fan of his daughter’s boyfriend and jokes he loves Jarrod moreCredit: Instagram
      It’s not just the toddler who is a fan. Dani’s dad is a lifelong Hammers fan and has joked about how smitten he is with his daughter’s other half.
      “I’m probably more in love with your boyfriend than you are,” the EastEnders actor joked on his podcast with Dani, Sorted with the Dyers.
      The family have been keen for things to become official between the pair since last November.
      A source said: “Dani definitely thinks he’s The One, and she’d love a ring on her finger.
      “They’re in a really happy place, and she knows there’s no need to rush things, but she would love or him to propose and friends think it could be on the cards.
      “A Christmas engagement would be lovely. She’s had a tough time in past relationships, but she’s finally got her fairy tale.”
      Sadly, no ring materialised over Christmas and now the family are hoping this summer could see the footballer get down on one knee.
      Even after being with Jarrod for a few months, Dani already had his seal of approval.
      She said: “My dad thinks Jarrod’s a lovely guy. He’s invested in all of the West Ham players – because he supports the team and follows some of them, he’s like: ‘They’re all my friends.’ I’m like: ‘Right, OK, Dad.’
      “But he’s always been such a big football fan. As soon as Santi was born, the West Ham babygros were coming in from Grandad.”
      Footie banter
      Dani is vocal in her support of Jarrod’s careerCredit: Instagram
      Former Islander Dani certainly appears to be taking her duties as a WAG seriously and is regularly snapped at Jarrod’s games – even when heavily pregnant.
      However, ahead of the Europa Conference League final, the star couldn’t rely on his family life to give him a break from the pressures of the day job.
      Ahead of the clash, he joked: “The missus’ old man is obviously on me every week.”
      Following the win over Fiorentina, Dani shared a story with a photo of Jarrod saying: “So proud”.
      Their romance has infamously inspired an X-rated song by Hammers fans, and Jarrod was left unimpressed last night when a fan stormed on to the pitch singing it during an interview with BT Sport.
      But at least Danny has at least been able to see the funny side.
      After the Hammers beat Lyon to reach the semi finals of the competition back in April, he joked on Instagram: “Jarrod Bowen is on fire…and he’s… cuddling me daughter or something. So proud. What a f***ing night.”
      New family home
      The couple moved into a new family home before Dani gave birth to their twinsCredit: Instagram
      Over the course of their relationship, Dani has not been shysharing her love for the footballer in a flood of gushing Instagram tributes.
      On their first anniversary, she wrote: “One year of loving you… Happy Anniversary baby… your the boyfriend I’ve always dreamed of having… grateful for someone as kind and special as you.”
      The couple have been away on several luxury holidays and even visited Disneyland with Santiago. They’ve also enjoyed dates at spa The Cave Hotel, Ascot races and the Bulgari Hotel Milano.
      In March, they moved into a gorgeous new home ahead of welcoming their twins and celebrated with booze-free prosecco.
      Read more on The Sun
      Dani decorated the pad in classic white and greys with large mirrors to make the most of natural light.
      Now, she’s just waiting for the ultimate accessory… that long-awaited sparkler! More

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      in Soccer

      Sportwashing won’t make the Saudis any money and it won’t make fans love them – and here’s why

      by

      NEXT season, when you’re at a ­football match, take a look at the directors’ box. What do you see? If you think you’re looking at fat cats, you’ll probably be right.
      This week the Saudi Arabian wealth fund that owns Newcastle got their bulging wallet out againCredit: Getty
      The Saudi-funded LIV golf tour was threatening to tear the sport apart… football could be nextCredit: Getty
      The Saudi’s have taken a stake in the Saudi Pro League team Cristiano Ronaldo plays for, Al-NassrCredit: AFP
       But if you think you’re looking at profit-mongers filching a fortune from your beloved club, you’re almost certainly wrong.
      Because hardly any club owners make a profit. Most of the money coming in, like a bad late-night curry on top of a load of beer, races straight through the guts of the game into the pockets of players and their agents.
       Perhaps that’s only right and proper — certainly as far as the players are ­concerned. Not sure about the agents.
      But the fat cats in the directors’ box won’t get any fatter through football.
      READ MORE FROM ADRIAN CHILES
       Well, some directors might be handsomely paid, but the owners are much more likely to get poorer than richer.
       As the old joke goes, the only way to make a small fortune out of football is to start with a large fortune.
      Madness, just madness
      The scales fell from my eyes when I asked Kieran Maguire, of the brilliant podcast The Price Of Football and author of the book of the same name, if it was possible for a Championship club to get promoted without spending any more money than they were making from ticket sales, merchandising, TV deals and so on.
       “Not only is it impossible to get ­promoted without someone throwing in lots of extra money from somewhere,” Kieran told me, “But without that cash ­injection, it’s almost impossible not to get relegated.”
      Most read in Football
      Madness, just madness.
      And we’d be mad to assume that ­promotion to the Premier League necessarily makes the gamble worthwhile.
       If you’re not very careful, your massive wealth will be matched by equally massive costs and you’ll soon be back where you started, or worse.
      So what, you might ask. What do I care if rich owners know they’ll get no richer?
       I wonder if the discipline involved in having to turn a modest profit might just keep a few more of them honest and fewer clubs from going to rack and ruin. The problem is this: if owners aren’t in it for the money, what are they in it for?
       Well, they might be in it for love. Take a bow the owners of Brighton, Brentford and Crystal Palace.
       But more often it’s about something else.
      Ego-tripping, asset-stripping . . . who knows flipping what many of these ­mysterious men from far-off places are up to.
      This week the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund that owns Newcastle got their bulging wallet out again and took stakes in four of the country’s biggest clubs, including the team Cristiano Ronaldo plays for, Al-Nassr.
       Now they are after more marquee ­European players, if reports are correct.
      To be fair to the Saudis, it’s pretty clear what they’re up to.
       I’d probably be up to the same if I was in charge of a bottomlessly wealthy regime that is widely disliked and ­disrespected.
       I too would try to buy some love.
       I’d buy something big and beautiful, whatever it costed. I’d buy football.
      I’d buy a big, underperforming club and make it great again. I’d buy into several of my own country’s football clubs to help bring the most ­money-grabbing legendary has-beens to play for them.
       I’d do whatever I could to buy the love of Fifa so I could stage the World Cup.
      I’d go for other sports, too. The Saudi-funded LIV golf tour was threatening to tear the sport apart.
       The old guard, the PGA Tour and so on, were fighting them tooth and dagger.
       Golfers who’d taken the Saudi shilling said silly things, claiming they hadn’t gone just for the money.
       Golfers who’d refused to take the Saudi shilling said horrible things about those who had, who then returned the insults with interest.
      But now, rejoice, because peace has ­broken out and the two sides have merged, having kissed and made up.
       How sweet.
      You can see this, if you like, as an ­outbreak of common sense.
      Hypocrisy and cynicism
       Or as an example of quite excruciating hypocrisy and cynicism by all those who swore blind they’d have nothing to do with the Saudis. Only to then jump into bed with them.
      For what it’s worth, I see it like a tree. Yes, a tree.
       It’s like the PGA et al have been fighting the Saudis for control of the tree’s branches, only for the Saudis to go and buy the whole tree.
       Football could be next.
      So, as humble fans, what do we do?
       Well, given there’s next to nothing we can do about it, I wouldn’t blame anyone for putting their head in the sand, crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.
      I despair.
      Saudis are buying up football to boost their image
       But one thought cheers me. In the end, these so-called sportwashers — be they Russians, Chinese, Qataris, ­Emiratis or Saudis — cannot truly win.
      No, we can’t apparently stop them from buying our game by taking control of our clubs and hosting World Cups.
      But the delicious irony is that ultimately they are wasting their money.
       Because no amount of it will be enough to buy our hearts and minds.
      Read more on The Sun
      We know who they are and what they are and what they’re all about.
       And if they think they can change that, the last laugh’s going to be on them. More

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      in Motorsport

      Why daredevil riders still flock to Isle of Man TT despite ‘world’s deadliest race’ claiming lives of 267 motorcyclists

      by

      WITH another rider perishing at the Isle of Man TT, the age-old question is being asked once again.Why do so many motorcyclists risk their lives every year in what has been dubbed the deadliest race in the world?
      The Isle of Man TT is known as the world’s deadliest raceCredit: Pacemaker
      Raul Torras Martinez, 40, became the latest victim this weekCredit: Facebook
      The answer from many of the competitors is that the danger is what makes the annual test of nerves so thrilling.
      This week Spanish motorcyclist Raul Torras Martinez, 40, became the 267th person to lose their life on the notorious 37.73-mile track since the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy began in 1907.
      Raul was clocking average speeds of 125 mph as he did the final lap this week, having taken part in 21 races over the past six years.
      Even though the TT is a time-trial, which means competitors are racing against the clock rather than overtaking each other on tight bends, it is incredibly perilous.
      READ MORE FEATURES
      TV presenter Guy Martin was lucky to escape a fireball crash in 2010Credit: Documentaires Auto/Moto
      He returned to racing despite fracturing his spine and bruising both lungsCredit: Alamy
      The main hazards are the trees, lamp posts, stone walls and steep banks on the edge of the 200 bends.
      The late motorcycle champ Barry Sheene called it “a suicide mission” and the track requires great skill to get around in one piece.
      Thousands apply, but only 60 solo competitors and 30 sidecar pairings get to take on the most dangerous race in motorsport.
      Dicing with death
      Peter Hickman, 36, who holds the lap record, says: “The danger is what makes it exciting.”
      Most read in Motorsport
      The two men tussling to have the record for the most Isle of Man TT wins know the risk of the sport.
      Former bricklayer John McGuinness, 51, who shares 23 wins with Michael Dunlop, said:  “During my first race in ’96, I lost my best mate in practice. A lad named Micky Lofthouse.
      “I wanted to go home, but I decided to do the race and see what it was like.”
      It’s an adrenaline rush like no other that kept tempting him back.
      John said: “You race through villages, woodland, over a mountain, big open areas, tight twisty bits, unbelievably fast bits. 
      “I’ve done extreme sports but I cannot find anything that comes even close.”
      Robert Dunlop in 2006 with sons Michael and WilliamCredit: Pacemaker Press
      Flowers are laid at the spot where Robert Dunlop was killed during a practice race in Northern Ireland in 2008Credit: PA:Press Association
      Dunlop, 34, who equalled John’s record this week, had even more reason to quit the sport.
      His dad Robert, legendary uncle Joey and brother William all died racing motorcycles – although none in the Isle of Man TT.
      I’ve done extreme sports but I cannot find anything that comes even closeJohn McGuinness
      Michael said: “Nobody in my mind would have went through what I’ve been through and come back to do this if they didn’t love motorbikes.
      “I personally love motorbikes, it’s been my life. I’ve had a fantastic lifestyle out of it.
      Four years prior to his death in 2018 aged 32, William told The Sun, “I don’t care if I die racing” because it will be over in “an instant”.
      Backlash over ban calls
      There have been calls for the Isle of Man TT to be banned.
      But that is unlikely because the island in the middle of the Irish Sea has its own independent-minded government.
      There are no speed limits for the population of 85,000 people and the event brings in close to an estimated £30 million a year.
      The spots for deadly accidents, not including the latest fatal smash this week
      Even the relatives of those riders who have died do not wish to see brakes put on the TT.
      Leanne Harper, whose partner Dan Kneen died instantly after colliding with a tree in 2018, said: “With the experiences he had and the euphoria he felt, that feeling of being on the edge, Dan lived way more than the average 30-year-old. 
      “They know the risks, but the passion and joy overcomes that. 
      “If he was to have the same experiences again, knowing the outcome, he would probably have still raced the TT.”
      Last year six riders did not make it off the island alive, which equalled the previous worst year for fatalities.
      Tragically, they included Roger Stockton, 56, and son Bradley Stockton, 21, from Crewe in Cheshire, who died when their motorcycle and sidecar hit a wall.
      Mark Purslow,  29, from Llanon in west Wales, died during qualifying.
      His sister Hana said: “He always said that if he was going to go, that was the way he was going to go.”
      Mark perished on the notorious Ballagarey corner – which is nicknamed Ballascarey.
      There is no place more dangerous than the TTGuy Martin
      TV presenter Guy Martin lost control of his bike there at 170mph in 2010, escaping the fireball that engulfed his vehicle.
      Despite fracturing his spine and bruising both lungs Guy went back the next year.
      He said in 2012: “The reason I ride a motorbike is because of the danger and there is no place more dangerous than the TT. I like pushing myself.
      “I don’t like routines, I like to be challenged and nothing beats the buzz of going round there.”
      Safety measures
      This year extra safety measures have been introduced in the hope that less families will be deprived of loved ones.
      It includes GPS monitoring and a digital red flag system, so officials can react quickly to any problems.
      There is also a huge emergency team on hand, for the inevitable crashes.
      Isle of Man TT medical chief Dr Gareth Davies said: “We have a system whereby there are trackside medics that will be at the rider’s side within a matter of seconds.
      “And then we have three different helicopters to support the racing, three response cars, and then about five or six different ambulances.”
      There’s no way they’re not thinking about what can go wrong or happenJohn McGuinness
      But there is always a huge risk when a rider travelling at 180 mph can hit a wall at any time.
      Even a veteran like McGuinness admits to feeling nervous before heading out to face the demon track.

      He said: “We cross each other’s paths and it’s like ‘how are you doing’ but I know they’ll all be s***ing themselves.
      “We just cover it up a bit more. There’s no way they’re not thinking about what can go wrong or happen.”
      Only 60 solo competitors and 30 sidecar pairings get to take on the most dangerous race in motorsportCredit: Alamy
      Riders have to navigate a treacherous mountain course More