Author: David Great

It was mission accomplished, said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti after his side fought back from two-goals behind to snatch a rip-roaring 4-4 draw on Tuesday for a 5-4 aggregate win that put them through against Real Sociedad to the Copa del Rey final. Ancelotti brushed off questions about a sub-par performance by Real Madrid and praised his players’ effort in what he considered a highly entertaining encounter. “We have achieved our goal today which was to reach the final and there is not much time to think about it,” Ancelotti told a press conference. “It was an entertaining game…

Paris St Germain recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat second-tier Dunkerque 4-2 on Tuesday and secure their place in the French Cup final as they chase a record-extending 16th title. Holders PSG will meet the winner of Wednesday’s clash between fellow Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims and fourth-tier Cannes in the final. “It was a bit of a strange start to the game, they got into our box twice and scored two goals,” PSG manager Luis Enrique said. “We told ourselves at halftime not to lose our heads, to restructure everything and carry on.” Dunkerque, making their first-ever…

Third-tier Arminia Bielefeld stunned holders Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 on Tuesday, coming from a goal down to reach the German Cup final for the first time in the club’s history. Arminia Bielefeld, who have eliminated four Bundesliga teams in consecutive rounds in the competition, became the fourth third-tier side to reach the German Cup final. “I am so proud of the team,” Arminia Bielefeld coach Michel Kniat said. “The whole region is feeling this. No one will be sleeping tonight. “We defended with a lot of passion and that was the key. We worked extremely hard. It was great to go…

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss the upcoming Merseyside derby against Everton due to injury. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match at Anfield, Slot addressed speculation regarding Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid but emphasized that the right-back is currently focused on his recovery. “His situation is unfortunately that he is injured, otherwise people would have probably spoken about him that he had one or two brilliant performances for the England team. But he’s injured and for him that means he is fully focused on his recovery and for us that means…

Everton Football Club has reported a financial loss of £53 million ($68.44 million) for the 2023-24 season, marking the seventh straight year of operating in deficit. However, the Premier League club confirmed that it remains compliant with the league’s Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR). The latest figures show an improvement from the previous year’s £89.1 million loss, though Everton’s cumulative losses over the past seven years now stand at £570 million. Last season, the club faced an eight-point deduction for breaching PSR regulations across the rolling three-year periods that included the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns. However, in January, the Premier…

United Kingdom Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has urged global collaboration to combat organised immigration crime, emphasizing that people-smuggling gangs should be treated similarly to terrorist organisations. Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit in London on Monday, Starmer highlighted the need for an international approach to dismantle criminal networks involved in smuggling migrants. The event brought together representatives from over 40 countries, along with technology companies such as Meta and TikTok, to discuss strategies for tackling the issue. Drawing from his tenure as the Director of Public Prosecutions, Starmer recalled how international cooperation helped prevent terrorist attacks and save…

The United States has imposed sanctions on Hong Kong’s police chief, justice secretary, and other officials over human rights concerns, following China’s intensified crackdown in the financial hub. The sanctions, which target Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee and other key figures, will freeze any assets they hold in the U.S. and prohibit financial transactions with them under American law. In a rare move emphasizing human rights, the administration of President Donald Trump enforced these measures despite generally aligning with authoritarian leaders. “The sanctions demonstrate the Trump administration’s commitment to hold to account those responsible for depriving people in Hong Kong…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is optimistic that his team’s 2-1 comeback victory over Bournemouth in the FA Cup will help them regain the “soul” they have lacked in recent months. City, who had suffered a 2-1 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth in November, secured their place in the FA Cup semi-finals for a record seventh consecutive season with second-half goals from Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush. That league loss at Bournemouth marked the start of a challenging period for the defending champions, ending their 32-game unbeaten run in the competition and leading to four straight league defeats. City struggled…

President Bola Tinubu has revealed that he nearly withdrew from the presidential race but was encouraged to continue by his former placeholder, Aminu Masari, and a few close allies. Speaking at a special Iftar at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday night, Tinubu recounted a moment of doubt during his campaign. His comments were captured in a statement signed by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga. The president described the obstacles he faced in his bid for office, sharing a particular encounter that nearly made him reconsider his ambition. “Those close to me know that the odds were against me. During…

Hamas has agreed to release five Israeli hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, according to Egyptian officials cited by the Qatari New Arab news outlet. “The ball is now in the Israeli government and Americans’ court,” the officials stated, highlighting the intensive involvement of the United States and Qatar in the ongoing negotiations. The proposed ceasefire would last approximately 50 days. In addition to the release of the five hostages, Hamas is also demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners. The agreement includes provisions for aid delivery, ensuring food, medical supplies, and other essential items…