Sports

We ve been here before. Saturday s Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid will be the third instalment of the two clubs tussling for European football s biggest prize.

That will make this the most common European Cup/Champions League final contest in the competitions  collective history.

There was Madrid s 3-1 win in Kyiv four years ago, and in 1981 Liverpool emerged 1-0 victors. And it is that Reds success many will be reminiscing about this week.

The 1981 edition was the last European Cup/Champions League final that Madrid lost – their seven such appearances since then have all been won.

To put that stat into context, no other team has won UEFA s elite competition more than seven times, yet Madrid have done so just since 1998.

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Peter Schmeichel says the Manchester United DNA must be brought back into the equation when the Red Devils appoint a long-term successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Club legend Solskjaer parted ways with United on Sunday in the wake of a humbling 4-1 defeat at Watford, a result that marked their heaviest defeat by a promoted side since September 1989.

The pressure had been growing rapidly on Solskjaer, particularly since a 5-0 humiliation at home to Liverpool last month – a match in that represented their largest margin of defeat against the Reds and the first time they had trailed by four goals at half-time in the Premier League – while they were also outclassed in the derby by Manchester City prior to the international break.

United have already confirmed an i…

The Government has been asked to reveal what steps it has taken to investigate whether Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour assisted wealthy Russians it has sanctioned in moving their assets to the United Arab Emirates.

Lawyers acting on behalf of a Ukrainian activist – who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals from Russia – have written to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to ask whether investigations have been carried out to determine whether Mansour, the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister, should be identified as a ‘designated person’ subject to financial sanctions under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

As of last week, the UK Government said more than 1,800 individuals had been sanctioned under the regulations, with more than 1,600 of …

Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery revealed he is aiming to find more new recruits like Myziane Maolida who have the “hunger” to get their career back on track as he runs the rule over former Tottenham midfielder Luke Amos.

The Easter Road manager was thrilled to land Maolida on loan from Hertha Berlin until the end of the season, with the 24-year-old attacker having been the subject of an £8million transfer from Lyon to Nice in 2018 and then another multi-million switch to the German capital in 2021.

The French-born Comoros international has lost his way in recent seasons but Montgomery feels the Hibees can benefit from the “massively talented” loanee’s desire to get back on track.

“Myziane’s had some big-money moves but we had honest conversations…

In what was a major Champions League classic on Tuesday night, Manchester United find their knockout stage dreams hanging by a thread as they suffered a collapse in Istanbul.

While Erik ten Hag’s side might have got off to a dream start in Turkey as Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes produced a pair of stunning first half strikes, the Premier League giants showed more glaring defensive issues.

With Andre Onana unable to keep out Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick on the half-hour mark, the former Inter Milan shot-stopper quickly found himself at the heart of another European nightmare.

Although Scott McTominay might have reclaimed United a two-goal lead just 10 minutes after returning from the interval, Onana produced another Champions League blunder as the Camero…

Bayern Munich have parted company with chief executive Oliver Kahn and board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic hours after clinching an 11th successive Bundesliga title.

Former Germany goalkeeper Kahn, who made more than 350 appearances for Bayern, and one-time team-mate Salihamidzic were relieved of their duties on Saturday evening with the dust still settling on a dramatic finale to the season as they edged past Borussia Dortmund to retain their crown.

Vice-chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen will take over from Kahn, while Salihamidzic’s replacement is yet to be appointed.

FC Bayern supervisory board decision: Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidžić dismissed – Jan-Christian Dreesen new CEO.

— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN)

A statement on the …

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti was not unduly worried after his side were made to survive a late rally in their 3-2 victory over Alaves in LaLiga on Tuesday.

Goals from Lucas Vazquez, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo had Madrid cruising at the Santiago Bernabeu, only for Alaves to threaten a comeback with two goals in as many minutes late on.

Los Blancos held on for victory in what was Ancelotti s 300th game in charge, making him just the second coach to reach that milestone with the club after Miguel Munoz (605 matches).

Madrid have already dropped points twice this season to trail Barcelona in LaLiga, but Ancelotti preferred to focus on the positives after Tuesday s game.

This is football and when you think the game is over, you get distracted and…

Wayne Rooney slammed Manchester United s players after Erik ten Hag made reference to the Red Devils questionable attitudes following Sunday s defeat to Arsenal.

Ten Hag s side were hammered 4-0 on Monday away to Crystal Palace and followed that up with a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, leaving them eighth in the league table and three points adrift of the top six.

The United manager was quizzed on the difference between the two performances, suggesting the differing showings had been down to players attitude .

Rooney, speaking on Sky Sports, echoed Ten Hag s sentiments as he questioned the application of United s underwhelming performers.

I ve said this a few weeks ago, the players need to look at themselves, the United and England great said.

When you…

Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler has insisted his team-mates are not afraid of Italy ahead of their Euro 2024 last-16 meeting in Berlin.

Murat Yakin s side, who finished second in Group A behind hosts Germany, face the Azzurri on Saturday with the hopes of ending their 11-game winless run against their opponents.

Freuler, who was on loan at Bologna from Nottingham Forest last season and was previously with Atalanta, says this will be no ordinary game for him.

Of course, it s not a match like any other for me. In Italy I built my career, also finding an ideal country to spend my life with my family, he said.

On Saturday, however, there won t be all this love. It s a round of 16 and there will be no room for feelings.

Freuler knows the next …

Carlo Ancelotti has Dida s backing as the potential new Brazil head coach, and the former Selecao goalkeeper expects Neymar to have a key role again under the next boss.

Real Madrid coach Ancelotti is the subject of increasing speculation around the vacant Brazil post, with Tite having departed following a disappointing 2022 World Cup.

Under-20s coach Ramon Menezes has taken interim charge, but Ancelotti would appear to be a popular long-term appointment.

Dida, who won two Champions Leagues under Ancelotti at Milan, certainly believes the Italian would be the right man for the job – if he leaves Madrid.

Ancelotti is a great manager. Everybody knows, Dida told Stats Perform. I think CBF and the Brazil national team is considering a coach with great pote…