Pep Guardiola revealed he chose to watch Stockport County instead of tuning in for the blockbuster Champions League clash between PSG and Bayern Munich. The Manchester City boss jokingly claimed the managers and players involved were not good enough to keep him entertained.
While Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich were locked in a historic clash, Pep Guardiola was watching from the stands at an English third-tier club. The Manchester City manager has now explained his reasons.
Kylian Mbappe has been told he lacks the technical brilliance of Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele as questions arise over his suitability as France’s primary leader. Despite his prolific goalscoring record for Les Bleus, former international Jerome Rothen believes the Real Madrid star should no longer be considered the technical focal point of Didier Deschamps' side.
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has identified three dream transfer targets for the club this summer, including Bayern Munich's Harry Kane. Neville also named a more "realistic" trio of potential signings for the Red Devils as they strive to compete for the biggest trophies next season.
The Champions League delivered one classic and one truly forgettable contest amidst a mixed week of semi final action. The good news? There's more football to be played.
Neymar has been told he no longer possesses the intensity required to compete at the highest level of world football following his latest display for Santos. Former Brazil international Walter Casagrande has suggested that Neymar "doesn't deserve" a World Cup spot while claiming the forward would be an anonymous figure in a game at the level of Paris Saint-Germain's 5-4 Champions League win over Bayern Munich.
Diego Simeone has questioned the tactical quality of Paris Saint-Germain’s nine-goal thriller against Bayern Munich, suggesting that high-scoring spectacles are often a nightmare for managers. The Atletico Madrid boss offered his blunt assessment after seeing his side battle to a tense 1-1 draw against Arsenal in their semi-final first leg.
Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been labelled the "best player in the world" by AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf following a masterclass in the Champions League. The Georgia international was at his devastating best on Tuesday night as the reigning champions edged out Bayern Munich in a nine-goal thriller at the Parc des Princes.
Vincent Kompany has issued a defiant battle cry following Bayern Munich’s breathless 5-4 semi-final first leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, insisting his players are willing to "die on the pitch" to reach the Champions League final. Despite trailing after a nine-goal thriller in the French capital, the Belgian coach remains adamant that the tie is far from over as the action heads back to Bavaria.
Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele has offered a blunt assessment of his side's second-half performance after they survived a late scare in a nine-goal Champions League thriller against Bayern Munich. Despite securing a 5-4 victory in the first leg of their semi-final clash, the Frenchman admitted that the hosts lost their way after establishing what looked like a commanding three-goal lead.
Harry Kane has etched his name further into the history books after breaking a long-standing Champions League record previously held by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard. Despite Bayern Munich falling to a narrow 5-4 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in a pulsating semi-final first leg, the England captain’s personal landmark provided a silver lining for the German giants.
Luis Enrique has hailed Paris Saint-Germain's breathless 5-4 victory over Bayern Munich as "the best match I've ever been involved in as a coach". The Parc des Princes hosted a historic Champions League semi-final first leg that saw nine goals shared between the European heavyweights, leaving the Spanish tactician both exhausted and exhilarated.
Harry Kane found himself on the receiving end of a verbal volley from Wayne Rooney after the Bayern Munich star offered a bizarre assessment of the defensive displays in a nine-goal Champions League epic. Despite seeing his side ship five goals in a chaotic semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, the England captain insisted the backlines were "outstanding", prompting a fierce response from Manchester United legend Rooney.
PSG have won a historic 5–4 thriller against FC Bayern. As a result, the Munich side will simply need to score even more goals in the second leg, and that should not be a problem.
Bayern Munich have issued a rallying cry ahead of the second leg: they are relying on the full backing of the 75,000 fans inside the Allianz Arena to create an electric atmosphere that can help them beat PSG and reach the next round.
Despite trailing, FC Bayern retain unwavering belief in their ability to advance. In the dressing room, the conviction is clear: they can beat PSG in the second leg. Rather than waiting for a miracle, the Munich side are focused on securing a home win to force extra time or, better yet, direct qualification.
PSG felt they were heading to Budapest after their 5-2 win, yet Bayern smell an opportunity. Despite the slim margin, the record champions are banking on their famed comeback mindset and are determined to overturn the tie in their fortress of a home ground.
Stuck between frustration and praise, Bayern’s coach watched the Champions League first leg against PSG from the stands due to a yellow-card suspension—an experience he called a “disaster”. Despite that, he underlined his side’s steely mentality and knack for comebacks.
Joshua Kimmich has called for a rule change following Bayern Munich’s 5-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. The flashpoint was the controversial penalty awarded to PSG just before half-time, which Ousmane Dembele converted to make it 3-2 to the home side. "More of an unfortunate decision," Kimmich told Amazon Prime after the match, adding, "It’s just not in the spirit of the game".
Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League semi-final first-leg showdown with Bayern Munich always had the look of a potential classic, but it ended up surpassing all expectations thanks in no small part to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele, both of whom scored twice in an absolutely thrilling 5-4 victory for Luis Enrique's men at Parc des Princes.
Mats Hummels and Benedikt Höwedes have pinpointed Marquinhos as a potential weak link in Paris Saint-Germain’s defence ahead of the club’s showdown with FC Bayern Munich.
Paris Saint-Germain
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