https://www.scmp.com/rss/322921/feed The Uefa Europa League is the second-tier annual continental competition for European football clubs. Introduced in 2009, the competition was previously called the Uefa Cup, which had run since 1971. The title has been won by 27 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. Sevilla are the most successful club in the competition’s history having won it five times. Manchester United were champions in the 2016-17 season after beating Ajax in the final at the Friends Arena in... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Bloomberg Bloomberg There are no tributes to the conquering heroes at Bodo airport, no banners proclaiming their success hang in the streets outside. But visitors venturing this far north should not let Scandinavian understatement detract from Bodo Glimt’s achievements and the impact on their hometown. The football team from the Norwegian Arctic fishing port have beaten giants Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City already in the Champions League this season. On Wednesday evening, they will host Sporting... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346225/uefa-champions-league-little-bodo-glimt-take-next-step-giant-killing-journey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346225/uefa-champions-league-little-bodo-glimt-take-next-step-giant-killing-journey?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:00:09 +0000 dpa dpa Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min admitted he could now be called a “legend” after he achieved his dream of lifting silverware at the club following Europa League success on Wednesday night. Brennan Johnson’s messy 42nd-minute finish proved enough to help Spurs down Premier League rivals Manchester United 1-0 in the final in Bilbao, Spain. It earned Tottenham a first trophy in 17 years and ended Son’s own wait for cup glory after painful defeats in the finals of the Champions League and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3311319/europa-league-final-son-heung-min-happy-be-tottenham-legend-last-after-bilbao-glory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3311319/europa-league-final-son-heung-min-happy-be-tottenham-legend-last-after-bilbao-glory?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 May 2025 04:07:32 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Manchester United and Tottenham face off in the Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday night (3am Thursday, Hong Kong time) with both clubs eyeing a golden ticket into the Champions League after historically poor seasons. The two teams have lost a combined 39 times in the Premier League, with 20-time champions United an embarrassing 16th in the table and Spurs 17th, a single spot above the relegation zone. Yet one of them will be celebrating at the final whistle at the San Mames stadium –... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3311232/manchester-united-tottenham-hotspur-set-all-or-nothing-europa-league-final-showdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3311232/manchester-united-tottenham-hotspur-set-all-or-nothing-europa-league-final-showdown?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 10:00:27 +0000 Potentially exciting news for football fans in Hong Kong was mooted on Thursday as speculation Liverpool could visit the city for pre-season in 2025 grew. A spokesperson for Liverpool’s Greater China public relations arm told the Post they would not comment until “official decisions are made”. So while we mentally prepare to possibly see Europe’s form team at the Kai Tak Sports Park, let’s see what else happened while you were sleeping. Battle of Britain Tottenham snatched a draw in their Uefa... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3290581/tottenham-snatch-late-draw-against-rangers-wins-manchester-united-chelsea-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3290581/tottenham-snatch-late-draw-against-rangers-wins-manchester-united-chelsea-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Dec 2024 23:29:00 +0000 Thanksgiving in the US, your average Thursday everywhere else, but it’s a day of football the world over. In North America that means the Chicago Bears being their typically clumsy selves, and in London, it’s a new opportunity for Tottenham to display their comic ability to throw away a win. Either way, another week of European competition has come and gone, and does anyone really care? Honestly, like being fed too much turkey, the overstuffed feeling is starting to creep in, while the leftovers... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3288585/chelsea-stay-perfect-united-win-spurs-do-spurs-things-swiatek-handed-doping-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3288585/chelsea-stay-perfect-united-win-spurs-do-spurs-things-swiatek-handed-doping-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Nov 2024 23:31:50 +0000 Honestly, if there had been much else happening overnight I might have been tempted to ditch European football altogether, but Thursdays in November are tricky when it comes to sport. The world’s best golfers are in Abu Dhabi, and the women’s best tennis players in Saudi Arabia, which largely means that action, or the important stuff at least, has happened before people go to bed in Hong Kong. So, it’s back to the Europa League and the Conference League, which at least allows the game’s lesser... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3285667/amad-diallo-double-united-chelsea-score-8-zheng-course-sabalenka-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3285667/amad-diallo-double-united-chelsea-score-8-zheng-course-sabalenka-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Nov 2024 23:32:09 +0000 You know how people have been saying there’s too much football on? Well, never has that been more evident than today. On an evening when little else was going on, other than discovering Donald Trump isn’t only one who is afraid of Taylor Swift, there was plenty of football to keep you occupied. So, here’s what happened while you were sleeping. Same old story Like the Uefa Champions League, its less popular cousin, the Europa League, has also undergone radical format changes this season. But it... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3279978/man-uniteds-euro-draw-arsenals-youth-shines-what-happened-overnight-world-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3279978/man-uniteds-euro-draw-arsenals-youth-shines-what-happened-overnight-world-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Sep 2024 23:30:15 +0000 It took 34 penalties for Ajax to beat Panathinaikos 13-12 in a marathon shoot-out on Thursday, setting a Uefa competition record after their Europa League third qualifying round tie ended 1-1 over two legs and extra time. Ajax, who won 1-0 at Panathinaikos last week, conceded in the 89th minute in Amsterdam, leading to the shoot-out that broke the previous record of 32 attempts at the European U-21 Championship semi-final in 2007, when the Netherlands beat England 13-12. The world record for the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3274723/europa-league-ajax-panathinaikos-set-uefa-record-34-penalty-kicks-settle-contest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3274723/europa-league-ajax-panathinaikos-set-uefa-record-34-penalty-kicks-settle-contest?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Aug 2024 05:56:57 +0000 Bayer Leverkusen’s quest for a perfect season ended at the hands of Atalanta in the Europa League final after the Italians won 3-0 in Dublin thanks to Ademola Lookman’s hat-trick. Xabi Alonso’s side had been seeking an unprecedented undefeated treble and came into this match having clinched the Bundesliga title without suffering a loss. But with just two matches remaining between them and immortality, they succumbed to another of the fairy-tale stories of this season’s European... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3263723/bayer-leverkusens-historic-unbeaten-run-treble-hopes-ended-thumping-europa-league-final-against?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3263723/bayer-leverkusens-historic-unbeaten-run-treble-hopes-ended-thumping-europa-league-final-against?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 May 2024 04:00:19 +0000 Fifa moved on Wednesday towards ending decades of football tradition by reviewing the rules that currently block domestic league games being played in other countries. Fans are likely to object to their teams’ home matches potentially being moved thousands of kilometres away. The United States and Saudi Arabia are expected to be willing hosts to lure competitive games from top European countries, and Fifa recently agreed to withdraw from an ongoing court case in New York filed by promoter... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3262802/fifa-moves-towards-ending-decades-football-tradition-and-letting-league-games-be-staged-other?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3262802/fifa-moves-towards-ending-decades-football-tradition-and-letting-league-games-be-staged-other?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 May 2024 13:00:19 +0000 Tottenham Hotspur supporters would have had little sympathy for arch-rivals Arsenal after their Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Arsenal – but they may not be laughing so hard come the end of the season. Arsenal’s 3-2 aggregate defeat, combined with holders Manchester City’s penalty shoot-out loss to Real Madrid, did more than just rule out the possibility of an English club appearing in the Wembley showpiece on June 1. Those defeats also gave Germany’s Bundesliga the edge... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3259505/advantage-bundesliga-premier-league-clubs-sweat-extra-champions-league-place-following-bad-night?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3259505/advantage-bundesliga-premier-league-clubs-sweat-extra-champions-league-place-following-bad-night?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:00:32 +0000 Manchester United bounced back from a historic thrashing by Liverpool to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday, while a 2-2 draw away to Sporting Lisbon gave Arsenal work to do to reach the quarterfinals. United equalled their heaviest ever defeat and worst since 1931 in losing 7-0 at Anfield on Sunday. Erik Ten Hag responded by naming the same starting line-up and was rewarded with a return to form. “You see how a team reacts after a setback,” said... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3213021/bruno-fernandes-was-brilliant-man-utd-captain-hailed-europa-league-win-starts-reset-after-rout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3213021/bruno-fernandes-was-brilliant-man-utd-captain-hailed-europa-league-win-starts-reset-after-rout?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Mar 2023 02:55:34 +0000 French police have opened an investigation into World Cup winner Paul Pogba’s claims he is being threatened and targeted for extortion by gangsters, a source close to the case told Agence France-Presse on Sunday. Pogba’s allegations came after his brother Mathias published a bizarre video online – in four languages (French, Italian, English and Spanish) – promising “great revelations” about the Juventus star. A statement signed by his lawyers, his mother Yeo Moriba and current agent Rafaela... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3190494/french-police-open-investigation-footballer-paul-pogbas-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3190494/french-police-open-investigation-footballer-paul-pogbas-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Aug 2022 22:02:43 +0000 South Korean star striker Son Heung-min scored the first goal of the Antonio Conte era at Tottenham Hotspur, just as he did under the club’s last two full-time managers, Son put Spurs 1-0 up after 14 minutes of their game against Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in the Uefa Europa Conference League on the way to the Italian coach marking a “crazy” opening game with a debut win. The 29-year-old’s strike made it a hat-trick of scoring the first goal under a new a manager as he had done the same under... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3154945/excited-son-heung-min-scores-first-goal-tottenhams-antonio-conte-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3154945/excited-son-heung-min-scores-first-goal-tottenhams-antonio-conte-era?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Nov 2021 03:09:07 +0000 Hong Kong football fans can look forward to three more seasons of Uefa Champions League action after the first broadcast rights for matches were confirmed by Now TV. PCCW Media and beIN Sports have agreed a deal to show select matches on Now TV until the end of the 2023-24 tournament. The deal will see live coverage of Uefa Champions League, Uefa Europa League, the new Uefa Europa Conference League and the Uefa Youth League starting in September. “We are pleased to extend our collaboration with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3136641/now-tv-show-uefa-champions-league-hong-kong-until-2024-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3136641/now-tv-show-uefa-champions-league-hong-kong-until-2024-final?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jun 2021 09:05:47 +0000 The vice-president of Uefa Europa League champions Villarreal dedicated the club’s dramatic win over Manchester United last month to China’s Zhang Enhua in an emotional video. Holding up a Villarreal shirt with Zhang Enhua and the No 8 on the back, Jose Manuel Llaneza speaks to the club’s Villareal CF TV channel in an emotional message. Former China captain Zhang died in April, aged 48. The defender made his name playing for Dalian Shide in China before becoming a cult hero at English side... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3136175/ex-villarreal-coach-zhang-enhua-cheered-win-over-man-united-europa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3136175/ex-villarreal-coach-zhang-enhua-cheered-win-over-man-united-europa?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jun 2021 06:02:02 +0000 The pickup vans worked their way through Gdansk’s beautiful city centre on Thursday night, stopping to collect branded Manchester United, Villarreal and Uefa signage for the 2021 Europa League final. There were giant pictures of each finalist to pack away while the United and Villarreal flags which flew from the front of every bus, tram and lamp post were replaced with the flags of Poland and Gdansk. As the city where the first shots of the Second World War were fired and where the Solidarity... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3135292/manchester-uniteds-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-wants-uefa-europa-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3135292/manchester-uniteds-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-wants-uefa-europa-league?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 May 2021 07:00:14 +0000 Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford said he has been subjected to “at least 70 racial slurs” on social media following Wednesday’s defeat by Villarreal in the Uefa Europa League final. United were beaten by Villarreal 11-10 in a shoot-out after a 1-1 draw following extra time in Gdansk. “At least 70 racial slurs on my social accounts counted so far,” Rashford tweeted. “For those working to make me feel any worse than I already do, good luck trying.” United tweeted after the game that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3135002/marcus-rashford-subjected-vile-racial-abuse-after-manchester-uniteds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3135002/marcus-rashford-subjected-vile-racial-abuse-after-manchester-uniteds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 May 2021 03:48:09 +0000 Manchester United’s gut-wrenching defeat on penalties by Villarreal in the Europa League final re-emphasised the magnitude of the rebuilding task for coach and club hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford. Exactly 22 years to the day since the Norwegian struck his famous winner for United in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, he was made to swallow a bitter pill after watching his side lose a match they largely controlled while, crucially, lacking bite. David de Gea bowed his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3134999/solskjaers-manchester-united-rebuild-mission-laid-bare-europa-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3134999/solskjaers-manchester-united-rebuild-mission-laid-bare-europa-league?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 May 2021 03:22:41 +0000 If only Manchester United’s central defence could stand as firm as the forbidding wall erected by the club to keep protesting fans out of Old Trafford. Harry Maguire, usually an every minute of every game mainstay, has been absent for United’s two midweek home matches separated by only a day this week. Though United’s captain tried to urge his teammates on from the stands this week, United lost three times in a Thursday to Thursday run which encompassed four games at the start of a May that has... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3133503/manchester-uniteds-porous-defence-misses-skipper-maguire-bailly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3133503/manchester-uniteds-porous-defence-misses-skipper-maguire-bailly?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 May 2021 09:23:30 +0000 Manchester United’s Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday was called off after fans broke into Old Trafford and invaded the pitch during a protest against the Glazer family. Manchester United were among 12 clubs that last month signed up for the breakaway European Super League, which collapsed within 48 hours due to huge, unrelenting pressure. Those plans brought anger against the Glazer family that own the club to a new level, with fans congregating at Old Trafford to demand change... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3131994/manchester-united-liverpool-match-postponed-after-protests-against?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3131994/manchester-united-liverpool-match-postponed-after-protests-against?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 May 2021 19:17:38 +0000 Paul Pogba may win headlines for a moment of brilliance to send Manchester United through to the Uefa Europa League last eight after a 1-0 win in Milan, but United’s defence should not be forgotten in a stadium that has seen some of the world’s best defenders on show. Since conceding three times to Everton on February 6, United have conceded only three goals in 11 matches and kept eight clean sheets. Among those were away matches which United won against Manchester City, Real Sociedad and Milan.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3126155/manchester-uniteds-defence-providing-solid-foundations-unbeaten-run?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3126155/manchester-uniteds-defence-providing-solid-foundations-unbeaten-run?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Mar 2021 08:00:05 +0000 Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has called on Uefa to take action after midfielder Glen Kamara complained of being racially abused by a Slavia Prague player in Thursday’s 2-0 Europa League defeat in Glasgow. Kamara was furious after Slavia centre back Ondrej Kudela leaned into his ear and said something while covering his mouth, sparking a melee in the final stages of their last-16 tie. The Scottish champions, who were reduced to nine men after Kemar Roofe and Leon Balogun were sent off, crashed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3126107/steven-gerrard-calls-uefa-act-after-player-racially-abused?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3126107/steven-gerrard-calls-uefa-act-after-player-racially-abused?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Mar 2021 04:45:08 +0000 Arsenal have made great strides in the past year but must learn to cut out the mistakes if they are to reach the next level, manager Mikel Arteta said after Thursday’s 3-1 Uefa Europa League victory at Olympiakos. Arsenal went ahead in the first leg of their last-16 tie through Martin Odegaard’s first goal for the club but an error from Hector Bellerin saw Youssef El Arabi make it 1-1. Gabriel and Mohamed Elneny scored in the closing stages to seal the win for the Premier League club. Arteta,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3125122/europa-league-mikel-arteta-says-arsenal-must-be-more-ruthless-reach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3125122/europa-league-mikel-arteta-says-arsenal-must-be-more-ruthless-reach?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Mar 2021 03:21:50 +0000 Be it a bank of fog or a wall, Manchester United have hit something which has slowed their progress. Top of the table in January, United are now 14 points behind City having won only two of their last nine league games. The pair meet on Sunday. Fortunately for United, all rivals aside from City slowed too. Somehow, United have stayed second in the league and they’re still in the FA Cup and Europa League. This difficult season can be salvaged, it can even finish with a smile and a trophy, but the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3124237/manchester-uniteds-solid-season-danger-stalling-if-they-cant-find-top-gear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3124237/manchester-uniteds-solid-season-danger-stalling-if-they-cant-find-top-gear?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Mar 2021 08:12:13 +0000 Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min will sign a new contract with the English Premier League side in the summer, according to reports coming days after manager Jose Mourinho said the club were waiting for the “right moment”. “Sources close to the situation are adamant that, like Harry Kane, the conversations around this new deal are very advanced but the belief is that Spurs will hold off on an announcement until the end of the season,” Eurosport reported. Mourinho told the press after his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3121281/son-heung-min-sign-new-tottenham-hotspur-deal-summer-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3121281/son-heung-min-sign-new-tottenham-hotspur-deal-summer-report?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Feb 2021 06:25:05 +0000 There is no false modesty about Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool striker knows just how good he is. The Egyptian’s pre-Christmas interview with Spanish sports newspaper DiarIo AS caused headlines because Salah refused to rule out a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid. The 28-year-old’s answer was non-committal. No sane footballer would dismiss outright the prospect of playing for one of La Liga’s big two. What was even more instructive was Salah’s answer when asked whether he regarded himself as one of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3116174/barca-or-real-mohamed-salah-actually-liverpool-still-perfect-fit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3116174/barca-or-real-mohamed-salah-actually-liverpool-still-perfect-fit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Jan 2021 04:00:16 +0000 Manchester United’s team coaches edged out of Goodison Park away from the temporary dressing rooms, past signs saying ‘red zone’, splashing through puddles in the road works by the statue of Everton legend Dixie Dean. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Nemanja Matic and Harry Maguire had fulfilled their post-match media duties, smiling and confident after another away victory. Six weeks ago on the same spot, the Norwegian was fuming because of the 12:30 kick-off at Goodison in the league following a midweek... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3115389/premier-league-contenders-manchester-united-have-wind-sails-thanks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3115389/premier-league-contenders-manchester-united-have-wind-sails-thanks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Dec 2020 00:58:18 +0000 Managing Liverpool is one of the most prized positions in football. Gerard Houllier loved the job. The Frenchman, who died on Monday at the age of 73, saw the role as the fulfilment of a dream. He embraced the club’s traditions. The tributes were effusive. Yet the importance of the man who led Liverpool to a cup treble in a strange but ultimately glorious season 20 years ago has been sometimes overlooked by supporters in the ensuing two decades. Perhaps it was because the silverware – the League... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3114490/liverpool-was-more-just-job-tribute-late-manager-gerard-houllier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3114490/liverpool-was-more-just-job-tribute-late-manager-gerard-houllier?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Dec 2020 08:00:19 +0000 For the first time in 270 days, fans were back inside a Premier League ground as Arsenal welcomed 2,000 supporters into the Emirates for Thursday’s routine 4-1 Europa League win over Rapid Vienna. The sparse crowd in a 60,000-capacity stadium were well distanced between two stands and in high spirits despite the Gunners’ poor form of late in the English top-flight. “I’m delighted to have fans back, they make a huge difference,” said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta. “We had 2,000 but they were loud... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3112499/arsenal-celebrate-fans-return-and-victory-lucky-2000-taste-top-level?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3112499/arsenal-celebrate-fans-return-and-victory-lucky-2000-taste-top-level?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Dec 2020 01:29:40 +0000 There are four right-sided attacking players wondering if they’ll be signed by Manchester United by the time the English transfer window closes on Monday. Two, 20-year-old Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund and 23-year-old Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona, would be signed as first team players. They would be costly. Sancho has long been United’s number one target and Dortmund have maintained throughout that they won’t sell the Englishman for less than €120 million (HK$1 billion). United, who have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3103929/manchester-united-weighing-ousmane-dembele-gamble-jadon-sancho-price?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3103929/manchester-united-weighing-ousmane-dembele-gamble-jadon-sancho-price?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2020 07:00:10 +0000 Manchester is known for a lot of things, including its galleries and museums, banging nightclubs and glorious sporting history. Soon England’s (disputed) second city will be also known for the Pestana CR7 hotel, where “CR7” stands for megastar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, and his playing position. He is planning to open the US$35 million luxury hotel overlooking Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens, in collaboration with Portuguese leisure and tourism company Pestana. Inside Cristiano Ronaldo’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3099098/manchester-united-legend-cristiano-ronaldo-honours-former?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3099098/manchester-united-legend-cristiano-ronaldo-honours-former?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:00:15 +0000 Chinese-owned Inter Milan will have to wait for their first trophy of the Suning regime after losing 3-2 in the Uefa Europa League final to Sevilla in Cologne. The Italians had taken the lead thanks to striker Romelu Lukaku after the Belgian converted a penalty that he had won in the 5th minute. His goal took him to 34 for the season, matching the mark of Brazilian striker Ronaldo in his own debut season at the club. Sevilla equalised after Luuk De Jong powered home a diving header from a Jesus... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3098429/inter-milan-boss-antonio-conte-fears-chinese-owners-will-sack-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3098429/inter-milan-boss-antonio-conte-fears-chinese-owners-will-sack-him?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2020 05:13:21 +0000 Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is expected to appear before a prosecutor in a Greek court on Saturday after being arrested following a late-night incident on the party island of Mykonos. Maguire, one of the most high-profile players in England, was pictured being escorted into a police station in the Aegean island of Syros, which neighbours Mykonos, by plain-clothed officers on Friday. The England international has been “fully cooperating” with Greek authorities, United said in a short... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3098421/manchester-united-captain-harry-maguire-arrested-greece?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3098421/manchester-united-captain-harry-maguire-arrested-greece?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2020 03:40:18 +0000 Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that he plans to strengthen his squad ahead of next season following a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals in Cologne on Sunday. Having already fallen twice at the semi-finals stage in cup competitions this season, United were looking to go one better by reaching Friday’s Europa League final. And they looked to be on course to do just that after Bruno Fernandes converted their 22nd penalty of the season in the ninth minute in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3097620/solskjaer-says-man-united-must-strengthen-squad-after-sevilla-europa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3097620/solskjaer-says-man-united-must-strengthen-squad-after-sevilla-europa?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Aug 2020 04:35:16 +0000 Spurs’ South Korean star Son Heung-min has told the club’s official website of his “roller coaster” season, which saw him complete his national service back home amid the coronavirus-disrupted campaign and could end with him winning English Premier League Goal of the Season. “It was like a roller coaster … good, not so good, stopped, injury, being in the army, add everything together and it was a long season,” the 28-year-old said. “The results … it was important to get into the Europa League,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3096648/son-heung-mins-roller-coaster-year-spurs-could-end-english-premier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3096648/son-heung-mins-roller-coaster-year-spurs-could-end-english-premier?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2020 09:37:47 +0000 Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte said the club failed to back him and his players in the face of criticism and complained that some members of the club had jumped on the bandwagon. “I don’t think the work of the players has been recognised and I don’t think my work has been recognised,” said Conte after his side won 2-0 at Atalanta on Saturday to finish the season in second place in Serie A, one point behind champions Juventus. “We all received very little protection from the club, absolutely... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3095680/inter-milan-boss-antonio-conte-hits-out-chinese-ownership-club?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3095680/inter-milan-boss-antonio-conte-hits-out-chinese-ownership-club?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Aug 2020 03:29:20 +0000 China’s star footballer Wu Lei has ended speculation about his immediate future by pledging to stay with Spanish side Espanyol. The Barcelona-based club were relegated from Spain’s top flight after finishing bottom of 20-team division but Wu has told Chinese media he will stay. “I did see many people discussing the next stop for me,” he told CGTN, the English-language arm of state broadcaster CCTV. “But actually I have made my plan clear a few times and through my weekly report,” Wu said of his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3094933/wolves-target-wu-lei-commits-spanish-second-tier-espanyol?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3094933/wolves-target-wu-lei-commits-spanish-second-tier-espanyol?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jul 2020 01:37:58 +0000 With a 0-0 draw against Celta Vigo, Espanyol’s La Liga season is over. The question now is whether Chinese superstar Wu Lei has played his final game for the club. With the Barcelona-based side already confirmed as La Liga’s bottom team and condemned to second tier football next season, there was little to play for in their final game and Wu came closest to scoring with a goal chalked off in first-half stoppage time. He was later substituted. His first full season in Spain since moving from CSL... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3093909/wu-lei-wolves-watford-or-besiktas-what-next-chinas-demand-star?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3093909/wu-lei-wolves-watford-or-besiktas-what-next-chinas-demand-star?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2020 07:58:51 +0000 Four months on from the last match in this season’s Champions League, the draw for the final eight will be held on Friday amid ongoing uncertainty about how safe it will be to play out the competition in Lisbon as planned, and with four last-16 ties still to be completed. It was on March 11 that Paris Saint-Germain beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 behind closed doors to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time in four years and their players celebrated wildly with jubilant supporters who had... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3092451/champions-league-draw-comes-uefa-hoping-virus-doesnt-ruin-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3092451/champions-league-draw-comes-uefa-hoping-virus-doesnt-ruin-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2020 05:02:58 +0000 Manchester United have confirmed that Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo will stay at the club until January 31 after agreeing an extension to his loan deal with Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua. The former Watford forward’s original deal expired on Sunday, a date which would have been the end of the season for the club even if they had reached the Uefa Europa League final. Instead because of the coronavirus-stalled season, the English Premier League is not set to restart until June 17, with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3087027/manchester-united-extend-odion-ighalo-loan-deal-csls-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3087027/manchester-united-extend-odion-ighalo-loan-deal-csls-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2020 11:28:31 +0000 The German Bundesliga is getting a lot of attention globally now it is the biggest football league to resume amid the global coronavirus pandemic. As the J.League tweeted from their official account “Bundesliga is giving the world some football. The game is back!” That is harsh on their near neighbours South Korea whose own K League kicked off last weekend to unprecedented global interest, but also a hint of the esteem in which German football is held in Japan. That could easily be the attitude... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3084826/bundesligas-son-heung-min-cha-bum-kun-and-yasuhiko-okudera-among-40?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3084826/bundesligas-son-heung-min-cha-bum-kun-and-yasuhiko-okudera-among-40?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2020 04:23:47 +0000 Manchester United have received the go ahead to trial a section of barrier seating, commonly referred to as rail seats, at Old Trafford when football resumes with supporters inside stadiums. United fans have long favoured the idea of having a choice whether they sit or stand at matches ever since Old Trafford’s last standing terrace was turned to seating in 1994. A similar section inside Celtic Park in Glasgow has been a success, boosting the atmosphere and allowing fans who want to stand to do... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3082212/manchester-united-try-out-safe-standing-old-trafford-when-football?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3082212/manchester-united-try-out-safe-standing-old-trafford-when-football?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2020 13:47:04 +0000 “Let’s try to be optimistic,” Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin told the annual congress on Tuesday, “not think about dark scenarios – there’s time for that later.” In Uefa’s case there are 100 days to its flagship tournament, the European Championships. This year’s tournament is the first where hosting will be shared among 12 countries, five of which have confirmed coronavirus cases. Uefa could not have picked a worse time to host its first month-long “party all over Europe”, as it describes a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3065041/coronavirus-puts-euro-2020-risk-uefa-needs-brace-itself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3065041/coronavirus-puts-euro-2020-risk-uefa-needs-brace-itself?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2020 00:52:11 +0000 NBA star CJ McCollum has announced that he will no longer sign autographs as the coronavirus spreads around the United States. The Portland Trail Blazers guard, who took the team to the Western Conference Finals last year for the first time since 2000, shared the news on his Twitter account. “The Corona Virus [sic] has officially hit Oregon,” he wrote. “More specifically Lake Oswego … Make sure y’all washing y’all hands with soap for 20 or more seconds & covering ya mouths when you cough. “I am... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3053058/nbas-cj-mccollum-stops-signing-autographs-amid-coronavirus-spread?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3053058/nbas-cj-mccollum-stops-signing-autographs-amid-coronavirus-spread?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2020 05:42:55 +0000 Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has criticised the team for their “unprofessional” performance in Thursday’s Europa League defeat by Olympiakos Piraeus, who knocked them out of the competition. Olympiakos forward Youssef El Arabi scored in extra time and sealed a 2-1 win in the round of 32 second-leg clash in London, as the Greek side progressed on away goals after the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate. Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored in the 113th minute to cancel out Pape... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3052801/europa-league-martin-keown-slams-arsenals-unprofessional-display?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3052801/europa-league-martin-keown-slams-arsenals-unprofessional-display?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Feb 2020 03:34:40 +0000 The Japanese J-League has decided to postpone football matches in the country’s top three divisions, they announced at a press conference on Tuesday. In a press release earlier in the day, the league stated that the seven Levain Cup games scheduled for Wednesday would not go ahead because of the country’s battle with the coronavirus. “J-League will provide its maximum cooperation for the prevention of the spread (of the virus) and anti-infection measures,” a statement said. As well as delaying... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3052265/coronavirus-sees-japans-j-league-follow-k-league-postponing-season?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3052265/coronavirus-sees-japans-j-league-follow-k-league-postponing-season?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2020 08:59:48 +0000 South Korean superstar Son Heung-min showed his worth to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday with two goals in a 3-2 English Premier League win over Aston Villa. The next 10 weeks might prove his real value to Jose Mourinho’s side. Spurs announced on Monday that the forward will have surgery on a broken arm, an injury he picked up in the opening minute of Sunday’s game. He played through it and deep in second-half injury time he was racing away to score the winner, a sixth goal in the last five... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3051384/son-heung-mins-spurs-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3051384/son-heung-mins-spurs-record?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2020 09:00:17 +0000 Chinese international footballer Wu Lei scored for his Spanish club Espanyol in their La Liga game against Sevilla on Sunday night. The forward had returned to the starting 11 after 71 days and Wu marked his recall to the starting line-up with a goal. He was an unused substitute in the club’s last game against Mallorca and was not even included in the match-day squad for the previous game against Granada. Wu had not been in the starting line-up since December 7, with new signing Raul de Tomas... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3050923/wu-leis-espanyol-goal-against-sevilla-la-liga-crashes-streaming-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3050923/wu-leis-espanyol-goal-against-sevilla-la-liga-crashes-streaming-site?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Feb 2020 04:27:30 +0000 “Things seems to be as bad and as toxic at the club as they were in ’89-90,” a legendary Manchester United player told the Post on Monday. “And I can’t understand why Ed Woodward wants better PR. Fans don’t like the chairman or owners in football even when teams are winning, let alone losing. At United, Martin Edwards wasn’t popular with fans, nor Peter Kenyon or David Gill …” After decades of relatively plain sailing Manchester United continue to operate under a cloud. Fans are angry and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3050207/manchester-united-toxic-1989-90-season-and-need-premier-league-wins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3050207/manchester-united-toxic-1989-90-season-and-need-premier-league-wins?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Feb 2020 05:54:56 +0000