Champions League – CaughtOffside

Man City’s Kevin de Bruyne the latest to slam governing bodies over fixture congestion

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 07:27:44 +0000

Man City ace, Kevin de Bruyne, isn’t known as someone who courts controversy, but he’s the latest in a growing number of voices to express displeasure at the fixture congestion imposed upon teams by the game’s governing bodies.

The most successful outfits across Europe appear to be being penalised for being just that, as more and more games, both domestically and internationally, are taking place.

This season’s Champions League format has changed so that each team will play eight rather than six games in the group stage. In another subtle change it will also be more of a league rather than group format before the Round of 16.

De Bruyne unhappy with FIFA’s thirst for money

Were City to do well domestically, there are FA Cup games and Carabao Cup games to factor in too.

Not to mention that, for the first time ever, the Club World Cup, normally played around Christmas time, will be moved to next summer and expanded to feature 32 teams from across the globe.

“The real problem will emerge after the Club World Cup,” de Bruyne was quoted as saying to Reuters.

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“We know there will be only three weeks between the Club World Cup final and the first Premier League match. So, we have three weeks to rest and prepare for another 80 matches.

“Maybe this year things will be okay, but next year could be problematic. The Professional Footballers’ Association in England and other player associations have tried to find solutions.

“The issue is that UEFA and FIFA keep adding extra matches, and we can raise concerns, but no solutions have been found. It seems that money speaks louder than the players’ voices.”

The Belgian’s ire follows a similar outburst from team-mate, Bernardo Silva, detailed by CaughtOffside columnist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, via X.

??? Bernardo Silva: “The schedule is completely crazy. We've just received the news that we only have one day off for the English League Cup game”.

"We’ll probably play every three days for months. It's been absolutely absurd”.

“In the Champions League, if you don't qualify… pic.twitter.com/y5huJ4pazX

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 6, 2024

As de Bruyne indicates, player welfare doesn’t seem as important to the governing bodies as earning money, but this could backfire spectacularly on them.

Players are not robots, and if FIFA and UEFA really want to put on a show in their tournaments, then they must take into account that the elite simply cannot play all year round.

One only needs to recall how tired some teams looked at Euro 2024 – England especially – to understand the seriousness of the issue.

The post Man City’s Kevin de Bruyne the latest to slam governing bodies over fixture congestion appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“I spend very little time with my family” – Man City star fumes at “completely crazy” football schedule

Darren Looney — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 14:54:22 +0000

Man City star Bernardo Silva has expressed his frustrations at the modern football schedule and is not happy with the new Champions League format.

The midfielder is currently away with the Portugal national team with Roberto Martinez’s team beating Croatia on Thursday night before playing Scotland on Sunday as part of their UEFA Nations League commitments during the current international break.

This comes just weeks after the Premier League getting underway and it is the first time European nations will compete against each other since Euro 2024 this summer.

It has been a crazy few months for footballers and Silva is one man not happy with the modern schedule and the amount of games players are being asked to play.

Speaking to Record, the Man City talent has labelled the modern schedule as “completely crazy” and has expressed his concern regarding the new Champions League format.

“The schedule is completely crazy. We’ve just received the news that we only have one day off for the English League Cup game,” the 30-year-old said via Fabrizio Romano. “We’ll probably play every three days for months. It’s been absolutely absurd.

“In the Champions League, if you don’t qualify for the round of 16 you still have to play two more games. It’s true that the squads are bigger, but I’m not going to say that it’s easy.

“It hasn’t been easy. I spend very little time with my family and friends. The amount of games we’re subjected to is absolutely absurd.”

Man City’s Bernardo Silva is not happy with the modern football schedule

Man City’s Bernardo Silva is right about the modern schedule

Silva is right about the amount of games modern footballers have to play as the organisations that run the sport continue to add more and more matches. There will be four extra games for some teams in Europe this season and FIFA have expanded the Club World Cup taking place during the summer of 2025.

A player that goes deep in several competions could be looking at playing over 60 games during the current campaign, which is affecting the quality of football being seen – Euro 2024 and the 2024 Copa America being prime examples.

Yes squads are bigger and more subs are being used, however, fans want to see the best players in the world on the pitch for every game. That is possible with fewer matches but it seems that more and more keep getting added as the governing bodies of the sport continue to try and extract as much money as possible out of fans’ pockets.

The post “I spend very little time with my family” – Man City star fumes at “completely crazy” football schedule appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive: Stan Collymore’s ingenious plan to ensure Premier League players remain in peak condition

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0000

If there was one thing at the Euros which was notable from the get go, it was how tired so many players looked, England in particular, and Stan Collymore has hit upon an ingenious idea to lighten the load for Premier League players.

It isn’t just an English top-flight problem, with the most successful sides across the continent playing far too many games now in any one season.

Aside from domestic cup competitions and the bread and butter of league football, there are Champions League/Europa League/Conference League games to get through on top of that for certain clubs.

Collymore wants Premier League players to have capped appearances

Not to mention either Nations League games or qualifiers for the World Cup or European Championship.

A former professional himself, Collymore believes he has hit on the solution.

“There is an absolutely ridiculous amount of football played in a season nowadays and players, despite being in peak physical condition, just can’t cope with it. This was proven by several lacklustre displays in the EUROs,” he said in an exclusive interview.

Erling Haaland has been brilliant for Man City this season, and Stan Collymore believes it was because he was allowed to rest over the summer.

“There is a reason Erling Haaland looks like a beast compared to other big-name strikers. He’s 100 per cent fit and fresh after having the summer off following Norway’s failure to qualify for the EUROs.

“If players are going to be expected to compete across multiple competitions, both domestically and internationally, then surely it’s time we thought about bringing in an appearance cap. I recommend a 50 appearance cap per player, per season, and then let the player decide how we wants to split his allowance.”

It would certainly need a sea change in attitude from the various authorities, but the idea isn’t perhaps as avant-garde as it seems.

Indeed, it would appear to be a perfectly sensible option that not only ensures a player’s longevity in the game – rather than burn out – but would help to provide a more appealing product for supporters, because will still be in peak fitness at all stages of the season.

The post Exclusive: Stan Collymore’s ingenious plan to ensure Premier League players remain in peak condition appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Transfer news: Why Eze stayed at Palace, Fabio Vieira needs time and more

Fabrizio Romano — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 18:00:00 +0000

This article was originally published on Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing, a subscription service. If you would like to receive Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive articles via email ahead of publication on caughtoffside.com, please sign-up for the service here: thedailybriefing.io

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Simple reason why Eze stayed at Crystal Palace

I want to clear up any confusion regarding Eberechi Eze, guys, as the England international didn’t leave Crystal Palace this summer.

There was a release clause in his contract with the Eagles, so the situation this summer was never about whether the club would have accepted or declined offers for Eze or not.

If any club had come in and paid the release clause, there was nothing Palace could’ve done about it and the decision to move would’ve rested with Eze himself.

No club did trigger the release clause and there were no concrete contacts so in the end, that was the reason he remained at Selhurst Park.

Man City for sure had him on their list in 2023, and it’s true that Tottenham appreciate him, but there was never any formal bid presented from either club or any other this summer.

As Steve Parish said, everything was quiet.

Time for Fabio Vieira to return to playing regular football

The situation with Fabio Vieira is also a simple one to understand.

Firstly, it’s time for him to return to playing regular football every week, which is the expectation with the loan to Porto, and something he hasn’t been able to achieve to this point with Arsenal.

The loan deal will also allow Arsenal to monitor his progress over the course of the 2024/25 season and then assess things again in 2025.

At that point there will need to be a conversation between Mikel Arteta, the player and his representatives.

By then, the attacking midfielder will be 25 years of age and a definitive decision about his career one way or the other will need to be made.

I can guarantee that no plans are in place at the moment and no final decision has been made for Fabio Vieira.

This is why the move is a straight loan.

Nothing concrete to report on Angel Gomes’ situation

Many clubs are following and scouting Angel Gomes, but in this moment there’s nothing concrete or specific to report.

Any ‘interest’ mentioned now would be guesswork and as you know guys, I don’t work in this way.

It’s just normal monitoring of a very good player, who has just made the England squad after impressing at Lille.

England coach, Lee Carsley, has clearly seen something that he likes, and with fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland coming up in the next few days, it does offer Gomes the perfect opportunity to be able to show how much he’s improved of late.

At 24, the former Manchester United player looks to be on the verge of a special moment in his career.

No Messi or Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or nominee list

The full list of this year’s Ballon d’Or nominees have now been released, and it’s the first time since 2003 that both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not in the final 30 names.

It’s almost the end of a spectacular era for the game but both players will be remembered forever. As much for the joy they’ve brought to so many fans as well as the multiple awards that each have won.

I won’t comment on my favourite candidate for this year’s award, but in general I think it was a fair list.

It’s almost an impossible job to narrow down the names and I’d have probably added Rodrygo, Xavi Simons and Frimpong. Rodrygo has even gone on social media already to show his feelings about his omission.

There are some big names in the final 30:

Jude Bellingham, Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, Federico Valverde, Emiliano Martinez, Erling Haaland, Nico Williams, Granit Xhaka, Artem Dovbyk, Toni Kroos, Vinicius Jr., Dani Olmo, Florian Wirtz, Martin Ødegaard, Mats Hummels, Rodri, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Vitinha, Cole Palmer, Dani Carvajal, Lamine Yamal, Bukayo Saka, Hakan Calhanoglu, William Saliba, Kylian Mbappe, Lautaro Martinez, Ademola Lookman, Toni Rudiger and Alejandro Grimaldo.

The post Transfer news: Why Eze stayed at Palace, Fabio Vieira needs time and more appeared first on CaughtOffside.

UEFA unintentionally leak Arsenal’s new number 10

Andrew Walker — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 08:08:32 +0000

Emile Smith Rowe wore the Arsenal number 10 shirt but his recent transfer to Fulham has left the jersey vacant.

The former Arsenal midfielder made the switch to Fulham after the two London clubs agreed a deal worth a reported £34 million. The 24-year-old’s old number 10 shirt is now up for grabs, and fans have been wondering which player will be handed the iconic jersey.

Raheem Sterling’s Deadline Day loan move from Chelsea saw the Englishman in contention to take Smith Rowe’s old shirt but it has since been confirmed the winger will wear the number 30.

UEFA leak Arsenal’s new number 10

However, one eagle-eyed fan has spotted a potential clue dropped by UEFA’s official website.

Man City vs Inter Milan tickets: Easiest way to buy Champions League tickets for league phase glamour clash

Ahad Shaukat — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 10:04:16 +0000

Manchester City and Inter Milan will begin their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League campaigns by clashing at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday September 18.

The draw for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League was made on August 29 and it served up some very juicy fixtures, including the one between Man City and Inter Milan.

City famously beat Inter 1-0 in the 2023 UCL final to completed a historic treble.

Therefore, Inter will be out for revenge when they travel to the Etihad Stadium.

Tickets for Man City vs Inter Milan are now on sale via livefootballtickets.com, so what are you waiting for?

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How to buy Man City tickets for Champions League games

Manchester City are one of the favourites to win the competition these days so the demand for the tickets is always high.

The tickets for all the Man City matches can be purchased on the club’s official ticketing page.

However, due to the high demand, the tickets can sell out quickly or be restricted to members. Man City membership costs £25 per season which can help you get tickets easily but that is not always a guarantee.

But you can also buy tickets incredibly easily via livefootballtickets.com – a trusted source with a five-star rating on Trustpilot.

Tickets bought from livefootballtickets come with a 150% money back guarantee too.

BUY TICKETS FOR MAN CITY VS INTER MILAN

New Champions League format

Expansion to 36 Teams: Instead of the usual 32 teams, 36 clubs will participate in the group phase.

Single League Phase: All teams will compete in a single league format rather than being divided into groups. This means each team will play eight matches against different opponents.

Fixture Distribution: Each team will face two opponents from each of the four seeding pots. This ensures a variety of matchups and high-profile games from the start of the competition.

Home and Away Matches: Teams will play four home matches and four away matches.

Qualification for Knockout Rounds –

The top eight teams in the league phase will advance directly to the knockout stages.

Teams Ranked 9th to 24th will enter a two-legged knockout phase play-off to secure their place in the next round.

The new format is designed to increase the number of high profile matches and more inclusion of newer teams in the competition.

BUY TICKETS FOR MAN CITY VS INTER MILAN

Manchester City won the Champions League title in the 2022/23 season, in what was a historic season for the club.

Pep Guardiola’s team managed to win a treble and by doing that, they became only the second English team after rivals Manchester United to win the Champions League, Premier League and the FA Cup in the same season.

The victory came at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, where City defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in the final.

The only goal of the match was scored by Rodri, whose precise finish in the 68th minute secured the win and ended a long pursuit of the prestigious trophy.

This unprecedented achievement highlighted the team’s dominance in English football and their growing influence on the European stage.

Man City had reached the Champions League final once before, when they lost against Chelsea back in 2021.

The Sky Blues have reached the Champions League semifinal on three occasions. Back in 2015/16 season, they were beaten by eventual winners Real Madrid in the semis.

In the 2020/21 season, they managed to beat Paris Saint-Germain to reach the final, where they played Chelsea.

In the 2022/23 season, they beat Real Madrid easily in the semifinal, 5-1 on aggregate, to book their place in the final.

How many times have Man City won the Champions League?

Man City won their only Champions League title back in the 2022/23 season when they beat Inter Milan to lift the trophy.

Big European nights at the Etihad Stadium

Man City’s Etihad Stadium is the place to be on European nights. The atmosphere created by the fans, who always feel that their team are going to win, is a sight to behold.

The stadium has a capacity of 53,400, filled completely with the fans to witness some of the best players in the world.

They have experienced some of the best European matches at this stadium.

From the classic 4-3 win against Bayern Munich in 2013, inspired by Sergio Aguero to the 5-3 win against Monaco of Kylian Mbappe and Radamel Falcao, City have always managed to put on a show for their fans when they play at home.

However, the best Champions League match that the Man City faithful have experienced at home is the semifinal of the 2022/23 season against Real Madrid.

Man City won the match 4-0, completely outclassing their opponents with their attacking skill and their tactical superiority. Not many teams have been able to do that to Real Madrid.

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Man City beat Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinal of the Champions League in the 2022/23 season.

Three Man City players to watch in the Champions League this season

Erling Haaland

Just like the water is wet and the sky is blue, Erling Haaland scores goals. He was born to score goals and in Man City, he has found the perfect team to showcase his talent to the best of his ability.

Whether it is the Champions League or the Premier League, Haaland knows where the back of the net is. Pep Guardiola’s team heavily rely on him to score the goals for them and he answers their call most of the times.

His record on the European stage is phenomenal, not only for the Sky Blues but also for his former clubs.

Kevin De Bruyne

The Belgian midfielder makes Man City tick. He creates opportunities for his teammates with his passes, crosses and the runs he makes.

His ability to score from anywhere is something that has helped the Premier League club win crucial matches in the competition.

Now De Bruyne has the experience of winning the competition, he will once again be crucial for them if they want to win the prestigious trophy.

Rodri

There are two Man City sides, one with Rodri and one without Rodri, that is how important he is. He is their midfield commander who not only supports them in attack and but also while defending.

Rodri is one of the best readers of the game and his ability to control the tempo of the match with his passing is massively underrated.

After scoring the winner in the final back in 2023, he will be hoping to go all the way again with the Sky Blues this season.

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Arsenal vs PSG tickets on sale: How to buy Champions League tickets to watch Gunners face Paris Saint-Germain

Ahad Shaukat — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 10:39:21 +0000

Tickets for Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain – as well as the Gunners’ games against Dinamo Zagreb and AS Monaco – are now available to buy via livefootballtickets.com.

Mikel Arteta’s men – including deadline day signing Raheem Sterling – discovered their league phase opponents on August 29 at UEFA’s glitzy draw ceremony.

The new-look league phase will begin on September 17.

BUY ARSENAL VS PSG TICKETS NOW

How to buy Arsenal tickets for Champions League games

Arsenal are one of the most watched and followed Premier League teams in the world so the demand for the tickets is always high.

No matter what competition they’re playing in, the Gunners are religiously followed by the supporters and their tickets are difficult to get.

Fans will be able to purchase the tickets on the club’s official ticketing page.

Tickets for the Arsenal home matches are difficult to buy and they can sell out quickly and considering this is Arsenal’s second Champions League season after a long break and the team has become stronger, fans will be excited to follow the Gunners.

The Arsenal membership starts at £34 per season for adults and it gives fans the access to tickets, discounts on online and retail store and ticket exchange facility.

However, due to the high demand, tickets can be sold quickly through the official channels.

livefootballtickets.com offers fans the opportunity to buy tickets in a much easier and convenient. way.

Furthermore, livefootballtickets.com is rated with five stars on Trustpilot and all purchases come with a 150% moneyback guarantee.

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New Champions League format

The Champions League format will be different this season than the one used before.

The UEFA Executive Committee has announced that the old group stage system will not be used this season.

Usually, the 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four teams in the Champions League but this season, 36 teams will take part in the competition in the group phase.

All the clubs will take part in a single league competition format.

In the new format, each team will play eight matches, all will be against different teams, with half of those matches at home and half of them away.

To determine the opponents of every team, all the teams will be divided into four seeding pots.

Each team will have the opportunity to play two teams from all those pots, which will give the fans an opportunity to experience high profile matches from an early stage.

The top eight sides in the league will qualify automatically to the next round while the teams ranked from 9th to 24th place will play in a two-legged knock-out phase play-off.

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Have Arsenal ever won the Champions League?

Arsenal faced Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final but unfortunately lost 2-1.

Arsenal have never won the UEFA Champions League or the European Cup (before the competition changed its name in 1992).

However, the Gunners have some European pedigree.

Arsenal have won two European honours: the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970 and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994.

The Gunners have not enjoyed success in the European competitions like other clubs but they have been a competitive force in European football for a very long time.

They reached the 2006 Champions League final under the leadership of manager Arsene Wenger but they lost against a Ronaldinho inspired Barcelona. The La Liga side won the final 2-1, thanks to goals from Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti. Sol Campbell scored the only goal for Arsenal in a match which saw goalkeeper Jen Lehmann receive a red card.

Arsenal reached the semifinal of the Champions League in 2009 but were beaten by Manchester United, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson.

After some time out of Europe’s elite competition, the Gunners are now back in it for the second season in a row and they are looking to go all the way.

European nights at Emirates Stadium

Arsenal won 7-0 against Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium back in 2007, a win which was inspired by former captain Cesc Farebgas, who scored two goals in the match. It is still one of the biggest wins in the competition and only Liverpool and Real Madrid have achieved a bigger winning margin in the competition.

Another famous Arsenal win at the Emirates came against FC Porto, when the Gunners beat them 5-0, thanks to a hat-trick from Nicklas Bendtner and a beautiful goal from Samir Nasri who went past the entire Porto defense to score the goal.

The Gunners beat Barcelona 2-1 in 2011, in what is their most famous win at the Emirates Stadium. Barcelona, managed by Pep Guardiola, were beaten in a competitive encounter with Andrey Arshavin scoring the winner after Robin Van Persie had given them the lead. It was the match that truly introduced the world to the talented young Jack Wilshere.

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Arsenal beat Barcelona 2-1 in a famous encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

Three Arsenal to watch in the Champions League this season

Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka needs no introduction. The England international is the biggest creative force in the Arsenal team and the youngster scores crucial goals whenever the teams needs him.

Last season, he showed his class in the Champions League in what was his debut season in the competition. The right-winger scored against Bayern Munich last season to put Arsenal on level terms at the Emirates Stadium.

Whenever Arsenal need some inspiration, they look at their best player and most of the times, he comes up with something special. His ability to score as well as create goals is what makes the Arsenal attack tick.

Declan Rice

The former West Ham United midfielder was one of Arsenal’s best players last season. In his debut season at the club, he played consistently and it looked like he had been playing for them for years.

Rice has the ability to drive the ball forward and help the attackers in building attacks from the middle of the park. His ability to cover ground whether the team is attacking or defending is a vital part of the game, something that the Gunners rely upon.

To advance to the latter stages of the competition, the Gunners would need him to be at his best this season.

William Saliba

The Frenchman is the leader of the Arsenal defense and with his pace and reading of the game, he brings composure at the back for them.

The Arsenal defense was known to be weak but the arrival of Saliba at the club has changed that. He has managed to keep some of the best strikers in the game quiet with his ability to match them in pace, smell danger and arrive at the scene to clean the mess and his physicality.

BUY ARSENAL VS PSG TICKETS HERE

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Transfer news: Newcastle will try for Guehi, Ivan Toney an option for Chelsea and more

Fabrizio Romano — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 18:00:00 +0000

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Newcastle still in for Guehi… but Palace making it very difficult

At the moment, it’s still very difficult for Newcastle to land Marc Guehi.

The deal is not 100% off yet and Newcastle will try until the end, but Palace are insisting on their valuation being met so it remains complicated.

Palace have always been making it difficult for Newcastle this summer and they’re not changing their position now either.

No interest in Gyokeres and Ivan Toney’s future still up in the air

There has been zero movement for Viktor Gyökeres this summer. Nothing at all.

For Ivan Toney, he remains a strong option for Al Ahli if Osimhen goes to Chelsea… or he can be an option for Chelsea if Osimhen goes to Al Ahli.

As of Thursday night, nothing is clear and we have to be patient and see what happens.

There could be surprises.

Could be a busy final day for Chelsea

I’m told that someone from Brentford called Chelsea for Ben Chilwell. Well, let’s see if they will make a bid on deadline day or not.

For Trevoh Chalobah, we heard about Stuttgart. Fake news. I’m told that Stuttgart are not working on a deal for Chalobah but there are other clubs interested, also from England, so there could be movement.

Just to give you an example, there are many clubs looking at defenders for the final day, like Crystal Palace, so there could be opportunities for Chalobah.

And then there is Raheem Sterling.

We’ll have to see what happens with Jadon Sancho first because Sancho is another big topic, but as of Thursday night the deal for him to go to Juventus is in total standby. Man United rejected the improved bid from Juventus yesterday.

What about Chelsea? Chelsea are obviously very busy with the Victor Osimhen deal, but they are keeping contacts active in the Sancho story.

Chelsea are working on it, then let’s see what they will get in the next 24 hours.

A lot of noise around Lindelof but everything is calm

There’s a lot of noise in the media at the moment about Victor Lindelof, but it’s always been quiet.

Nothing is happening with Turkish or Italian clubs, and United are not desperate to sell the player as Ten Hag still appreciates him and he’s very calm.

No movements so far.

No Liverpool contact for Alan Varela

I’m receiving many questions from Liverpool fans on Alan Varela.

We always have these kind of stories ahead of headline day so I was checking with my sources on this story, because Varela is a fantastic midfielder. I could spend two hours talking about him.

Many clubs have had an interest in Varela this summer but the answer from Porto has always been the same; he is only leaving for the release clause of €65m.

What I can tell you is that Porto guarantee that they have had no contact from Liverpool, no bid from them.

Their position is clear. If some clubs are interested in Varela, they have to pay €65m, but Porto absolutely want him to stay.

Porto are not open to negotiating, and also want to change his contract in the next month. So, that’s the situation.

Now is not the time to speculate on Pep Guardiola’s future

I understand Fabio Capello has hinted that Pep Guardiola could leave Man City next summer.

I’ve zero information on this now guys, it’s not a topic for August. Pep will decide later, not in August or early September.

I respect Fabio Capello of course but again, zero concrete information on Guardiola now, it’s all speculation.

Barça can’t afford Adrien Rabiot and he remains available

Let me say this about the rumours placing Adrien Rabiot at Barca guys…

Barca had problems with La Liga when trying to sign Bajcetic on loan, and Rabiot’s salary is probably x4 compared to Bajcetic…

It’s difficult to imagine this deal happening for that reason.

It’s all quiet at Barca at the moment because of La Liga and Financial Fair Play, and as for Rabiot, he is still waiting for an opportunity.

He remains available.

My favourite deal of the summer window is…

My favourite deal of the summer transfer window so far has been probably Joao Neves to PSG.

I consider him a top talent and probably underrated.

He was very good value when he signed for PSG and I think it’s been a great piece of business.

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Arsenal 2024/25 Champions League fixtures: Mikel Arteta’s side learn their fate

Mehdi Gokal — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 18:05:26 +0000

Arsenal have discovered their opponents for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign following the draw earlier today.

Mikel Arteta’s side, eager to claim the club’s first-ever Champions League trophy, will face a diverse range of opponents under the newly revamped format of the competition.

They will face the likes of PSG, Monaco, GNK Dinamo and Shakhtar Donetsk at home. The away fixtures will see them travel to Inter Milan, Atalanta, Sporting CP, and GIrona.

Arsenal 2024/25 Champions League fixtures

PSG (H)
Inter Milan (A)
Shakhtar Donetsk (H)
Atalanta (A)
GNK Dinamo (H)
Sporting CP (A)
AS Monaco (H)
Girona (A)

Revamped Champions League format

This season, the Champions League has undergone a significant revamp, moving away from the traditional 32-team format split into eight groups of four. Instead, a single 36-team table, referred to as the ‘League phase,’ has been introduced.

Key changes to the format

Single league table: The 36 teams are now placed in a single table. Each club will play eight different opponents, four at home and four away, rather than facing three opponents twice in a group stage.

Seeding and draw process: Teams were sorted into four seeding pots, with each club drawn to play two opponents from each pot, one at home and one away.

Qualification for knockout rounds:

The top eight teams from the league phase will automatically advance to the last 16.
Teams ranked 9th to 24th will compete in a two-legged playoff round for the remaining spots in the last 16.
Teams finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from European competition entirely, with no transfer to the Europa League.

Knockout rounds: From the last-16 stage onward, the competition will proceed with the traditional knockout rounds.

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Aston Villa tickets for Champions League games: How to buy tickets to watch Villa vs Celtic, Juventus & Bayern

Andy Morris — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 17:39:42 +0000

Aston Villa fans watched the Champions League draw excitedly and they were NOT disappointed.

Villa will host Bayern Munich, Juventus and Celtic at home.

Bologna will also come to Villa Park, while Unai Emery’s men will travel to RB Leipzig, Club Bruges, Young Boys and Monaco.

After the draw, interest in Champions League tickets among Aston Villa fans went through the roof.

If you are interested in getting hold of tickets to watch Aston Villa in the Champions League then read on.

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How to buy Aston Villa tickets for Champions League games

Tickets for all Aston Villa matches can be purchased via the club’s official ticketing page on their website, although they can often sell out quickly, while those only looking to buy through general sale will have little chance of landing Champions League tickets.

Aston Villa club membership starts at £30 per season for adults and can increase your chances of landing tickets to big matches, although there is still no guarantee.

The next best place for Aston Villa tickets, including for Champions League matches, is livefootballtickets. It is one of the most trusted resale platforms around, with a Trustpilot score of five stars, and it offers a much easier route to buying tickets than via club channels – especially for those only attending games now and then.

Tickets for Aston Villa’s Champions League games are already available via livefootballtickets.com, so what are you waiting for?

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New Champions League format

This season, the Champions League has a new look. Instead of 32 teams split up into eight groups of four, there is now one 36-team table in what is known as a ‘league phase’.

Instead of playing three teams twice, clubs will now compete against eight different opponents with four home games and four away games.

Clubs will be ranked into four seeding pots, with each team drawn to face two opponents per pot with one match at home and the other away.

The top eight teams from this league phase will advance directly to the last 16, while those placed ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout round for the right to join them.

Anyone finishing 25th or below will exit European football entirely rather than dropping into the Europa League, with the rest of the Champions League knockout stages following the usual format.

Have Aston Villa ever won the Champions League?

Aston Villa have been crowned European champions once back in 1982, when the Champions League was still known as the European Cup.

Villa beat German giants Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rotterdam thanks to a 67th-minute goal from Peter Withe. They join Liverpool (6), Manchester United (3), Chelsea (2), Nottingham Forest (2) and Manchester City (1) as one of just six English sides to lift European club football’s biggest prize.

Aston Villa won the European Super Cup 3-1 on aggregate against Barcelona the following season, but their European Cup defence ended at the quarter-final stage, with Juventus beating them 5-2 on aggregate.

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Members of the 1982 Aston Villa European Champions squad parade the European Cup during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace at Villa Park on May 15, 2022 in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

European nights at Villa Park

Villa enjoyed some famous nights under the lights at Villa Park en route to winning the 1982 trophy, including victories against Anderlecht in the semi-finals and Dynamo Kyiv in the quarter-finals.

More recently, Unai Emery guided Villa to the semi-finals of the 2023/24 UEFA Conference League, winning all three of their group stage home matches against Zrinjski Mostar, AZ and Legia Warsaw by a single goal.

Jumping straight to the round-of-16, Villa then thrashed Dutch giants Ajax 4-0 on a memorable night at Villa Park, following up by beating Lille 2-1 en route to a penalty shootout victory after a 3-3 aggregate draw.

Villa would then lose 4-2 at home to Olympiacos in the semi-finals, also going down 2-0 away from home as their journey ended against the eventual tournament winners.

But those Ajax and Lille encounters have offered fans a taste of what to expect this season.

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Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Aston Villa and AFC Ajax at Villa Park on March 14, 2024 in Birmingham, England.

Three Aston Villa players to watch in the Champions League this season

Ollie Watkins

Only four players scored more than Ollie Watkins’ five Conference League goals last season, which was pretty indicative of his contribution overall in 2023/24. Of course, since then, Watkins has written himself into Three Lions folklore with his last-gasp winner from the bench in the Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands. Can he use the Champions League to establish himself as a true Aston Villa legend?

Emi Martinez

Dubbed by many as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, Emi Martinez has been key to Aston Villa’s rise in recent years. The former Arsenal man has also set about winning everything he can with the Argentina national team, performing penalty heroics to deliver the 2022 World Cup, either side of back-to-back Copa America titles. How he’d love to take Villa far in the Champions League.

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Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa celebrates following the team’s victory in the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Aston Villa FC at London Stadium on August 17, 2024 in London, England.

Ian Maatsen

Ian Maatsen is being eased into life at Villa Park but you get the impression he will play an important role for them on the continental stage. The Dutch full-back is one of the few players in Unai Emery’s squad with Champions League experience after helping Dortmund go all the way to last season’s final while on loan from Chelsea.

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