‘I'm not here to talk about the past' – PSG boss Luis Enrique dodges Kylian Mbappe talk ahead of Real Madrid showdown
The Spanish coach did acknowledge that facing his former player adds spice to the encounter, saying that "playing against the most successful team in the world" is "definitely extra motivation".
PSG will again have to contend with brutal conditions in New Jersey, with an afternoon kick-off in scorching heat after temperatures in Tuesday's semi-final between Chelsea and Fluminense soared past 35 degrees Celsius with over 54pc humidity, prompting a National Weather Service warning.
"We're getting used to it. Playing in these conditions, because that's been the norm during the World Cup. It'll be business as usual," Luis Enrique said. "It's not good for the spectacle because it's difficult to play in that position. It's the same for both teams."
Despite the challenging circumstances, the former Barcelona boss is relishing the high-stakes encounter.
"Playing against Real Madrid will be a special match, no doubt about it. At the same time, we like playing these kinds of games because it means you've done your job well and you're in a position to play in a semi-final," he said.
The winner will face Chelsea in Sunday's final, after the Premier League side secured their place with a 2-0 victory over Fluminense on Tuesday, courtesy of newcomer Joao Pedro's brace.
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The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Katie Taylor defeats Amanda Serrano for third time and ends their rivalry in New York
The 42 Reports from Madison Square Garden THE RIVALRY HAS been put to bed. 3-0. That's all she wrote. Katie Taylor rubber-stamped her superiority over career nemesis Amanda Serrano with a tense but deserved split-decision victory at Madison Square Garden, defending her undisputed light-welterweight title in the process. For the first time in their storied rivalry, Serrano accepted her defeat graciously for there was simply nothing left to complain about. Two judges' scored the bout 97-93 — or seven rounds to three — in the Irishwoman's favour, with a third seeing it even at five rounds apiece. But her and Serrano's most tactical battle was won cleanly by Taylor, sending the Irish contingent at MSG ballistic in scenes reminiscent of the night that began one of boxing's great modern sagas at the same venue three years ago. Asked in the ring afterwards if she intended to box again in future, the jubilant Taylor was for the very first time non-committal. This one might just do it. The final itch scratched. With her most worthy rival banished, it'll be difficult to recreate another night like Friday in New York, and it'll be difficult to get out of bed for any less. It could be days before Taylor's supporters see their own beds. The tricoloured celebrations will spread from Pennsylvania Plaza through wider Manhattan in the coming hours. Serrano's star has risen enough since 2022 that her supporters outnumbered the Irish in a subversion of the original classic. It will feel like a cruel twist of fate that her contribution to a great modern-day boxing saga has yielded only three defeats, but her eight-year entanglement with Taylor has changed her life and enhanced her reputation as an iconic fighter in her own right. Despite suggestions to the contrary all week, challenger Serrano walked first to the ring as is convention, one of her routine Spanish-language bangers immediately drowned out by her 12-or-13,000 supporters in attendance. Champion Taylor then emerged from the tunnel to Junkie XL's remix of Elvis Presley's 'A Little Less Conversation', an obvious allusion to Serrano's 'whingeing' following her narrow defeats in their previous two fights. From the ring, though, Taylor's name was called first, with Serrano receiving the last ear-splitting roar on the precipice of the first bell. MSG was as loud a Serrano house as it had been a Taylor house in 2022, but the Irish were still absolutely tearing into 'Olé Olé', adding to the cacophony which became feverish after the respective national anthems. The first round, however, was equally a first for Taylor and Serrano's trilogy: it passed almost entirely without incident. With 11 seconds remaining, Taylor tapped Serrano's chin with a speculative right-hand counter over the top, but neither boxer deserved to bank an opener in which they barely threw a punch, instead seeking to establish range and feel each other out. Serrano pulled out a tidy straight left early in the second, to which Taylor soon afterwards responded with a similar counter. The Irishwoman, who had been deducted a point by the referee and accused by Team Serrano of using her head intentionally during the second bout last November, had clearly decided to approach Friday's affair with a greater degree of caution, utilising her superior footwork to box from a safer distance. That said, the fight might as well have been 0-0 through the first two tentative rounds. Advertisement The bout then exploded to life halfway through round three, showing a hint of the magic from Taylor-Serrano 1 and 2. The Bray woman timed a picturesque three-punch counter and Serrano replied with something similar. The pair traded spiteful left hooks to punctuate a more engaging round, which was again difficult to score. As the Fields of Athenry reverberated around the arena in the fourth, Taylor began to enjoy her most effective round to that point. The champion boxed more off the front foot, launching a couple of two-punch raids and clipping Serrano with a neat right around the guard. Serrano landed little in return, and the Irish alone continued to make the noise into the next minute's break. Taylor again appeared to take the fifth, landing the cleaner work throughout and swallowing only a singular Serrano left hand for her troubles. The Puerto Rican was throwing more punches but missing routinely, with Taylor's defensive instincts nullifying the jab from which Serrano sets up so many of her meaningful attacks. Taylor caught the challenger with a rare, vicious flurry from a neutral corner early in the sixth entry, broadly controlling the round. At the bell, however, Serrano sparked life back into the Puerto Ricans with a clawing left hand that, combined with an entanglement of their legs, knocked Taylor fractionally off balance in the direction of her corner. Round 7, though, reverted to a non-event akin to the first three. The obvious danger in such quiet rounds is that they were conceivably keeping Serrano in the fight: the coin-flips would surely go the way of the promotional A-side who so many believe was unlucky not to win at least one of her first two bouts with Taylor. She and Taylor traded slick, single punches again after 35 seconds of the eighth, Serrano finding a home for her left before the champion almost instantaneously returned serve with a right. The Puerto Rican continued to push the action for the rest of the round, though, and almost certainly pocketed the 10-9. This was getting close. Taylor's trainer, Ross Enamait, tried to light a rocket under her ahead of the penultimate ninth, warning her to box more off the front foot and trust her hand speed against the more plodding Puerto Rican. It was an inspired shout: Taylor upped the ante and kicked for home, winning the last two rounds comprehensively. She outclassed Serrano down the stretch, just as she had three years prior. With the Puerto Ricans all but reserved to Serrano's fate, the Irish grew louder. Taylor, imbued by the sound of her name echoing around the arena, converted that confidence into a dominant final round — her finest of the bout. There were fewer Irish nerves this time as the judges handed in their tallies. Taylor had done a job on her. Game over, ball bursht. Taylor was elated as her hand was raised, while Serrano was again tearful in defeat — but they were more so tears of appreciation, though, for her involvement in three fights with a fistic soulmate that materially changed the face of her sport. The late, great Jerry Eisenberg, who was friends with both men, once said that Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought each other not to win the World heavyweight title but to win the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier title. This equivalent is true of Taylor and Serrano, who on Friday night emulated The Greatest and Smokin' Joe by having contested two thirds of their legendary trilogy on the same sacred soil. Taylor's light-welterweight belts were merely weights at the end of the fishing line. The trilogy's titular characters were the hook. Transatlantic trailblazers who elevated their craft and each other, their names will mean something for as long as boxing exists. One will rarely be invoked without mentioning the other. They have become rich beyond their wildest dreams growing up in Bray and Brooklyn and their sport still owes them a more profound debt than the millions they each pocketed across three memorable contests. But the debate is over. And so too, perhaps, is Taylor's story in the ring. Written by Gavan Casey and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
UK weather: Brits to bask in 30C temps TODAY as thousands gear up for Wimbledon final scorcher
SUNSEEKING Brits are set to bask in 30C temperatures today - as thousands gear up for the Wimbledon final. Temperatures are expected to peak at 33 or even 34C today as the UK enjoys yet another spell of sunny weather. Advertisement 9 Spectators arrive at the All England Lawn Tennis Club for Wimbledon Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 9 Many tennis fans used umbrellas for shade Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 9 Wimbledon fans at the All England Lawn Tennis Club kitted out wit hats Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 9 Many tennis fans came equipped with fans to cool off Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Spectators have been advised to slap on the sunscreen and stay hydrated as "classic summer conditions" are forecast for the tennis final at Wimbledon. The Met Office announced much of the region can look forward to a "fine and hot day". Some areas along the east coast can expect some breeze and cloud patches, although it is not expected to affect Wimbledon's All England Club. On Sunday, for the Men's final, where Spanish sensation Advertisement Read more This may come as a relief to many revellers, and players alike, with slightly more cloud cover later in the day. But it will still be a hot day for those down south, with some areas predicted to reach 29C in the afternoon. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber and yellow Heat Health Alerts covering the whole of England, until July 14. The alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Met Office, means older and vulnerable people in these areas are at greater risk and may need to use NHS services more. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive This is because in the heat people are more likely to suffer Hot weather can also worsen asthma symptoms for some people, including increased breathing difficulties, wheezing, and coughing. A yellow alert is the lowest - behind amber and red - on the UKHSA's system. It warns of a possible rise in deaths among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. Advertisement Younger age groups could also be affected. What counts as a heatwave? A heatwave in the UK is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days, with temperature values meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature thresholds. Across the north and west of the UK this is 25C. In Greater London and the Home Counties, this is 28C. There is also a higher risk for vulnerable individuals living alone or in care homes due to overheating indoors. It comes as the Met Office revealed it was a Wales has provisionally seen its warmest day of the year so far with temperatures of 32.4C. Advertisement The hottest figures were recorded in Astwood Bank, located near the Warwickshire - Worcestershire border, at 34.4C. It comes after parts of Kent and Sussex and Yorkshire were handed a From yesterday, Brits will not be permitted to use Businesses will still be allowed to use a hosepipe if it relates to commercial purposes. Advertisement Blue badge holders and people on Restrictions are set to stay in place until the region has seen some Customers who ignore the ban could face fines of up to £1,000. Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Steve Willington, said: 'The current heatwave is more widespread than previous heatwaves this summer. Advertisement "Temperatures are likely to locally approach 30C tomorrow (Saturday) over Northern Ireland and 31 or even 32C over parts of Scotland, away from eastern coasts. 'Very warm nights are likely, especially for some western parts of the UK. "In addition to the usual urban locations some of the the warmest temperatures are expected to the lee of, and over, high ground in the west, with parts of western Wales, southwest and northwest England and western Scotland locally seeing overnight lows holding up into the high teens or even low twenties. 'Sunday looks like being a little cooler than Saturday, but 30C is still likely across central and southern parts of England and eastern Wales, with locally 31C possible." Advertisement 9 Brits sunbathe in Hyde Park under a cloudless sky as temperatures soar Credit: Alamy 9 Tennis fans at the All England Lawn Tennis Club Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 9 Beachgoers at Beadnell Bay tried to cool off in the hot weather Credit: Alamy 9 A group of women smile at a heron close by to them in St James's Park Credit: Getty Advertisement 9 People walking with protective umbrellas in Hyde Park for shade Credit: Alamy
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Chelsea v PSG: This goes beyond money – this is a chance for Chelsea to score a priceless win
Chelsea have already made more than £80 million (€92.4 million) from their Club World Cup adventure but they can achieve something priceless against Paris Saint-Germain. This goes beyond gaudy gold badges and money in the bank. The season with no end is almost over, the final of the tournament that nobody asked for is here and, while Chelsea have no intention of getting carried away if they triumph in New Jersey on Sunday, it is also the case that there would be no better way to demonstrate that they are on to something with their youth-driven project than by beating Luis Enrique's awesome PSG. Easier said than done, of course. One school of thought is that Chelsea will have done well if they leave the MetLife Stadium with their dignity intact. Premier League opponents hold no fears for PSG, whose path to Champions League glory was paved by wins over Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City, while they were in terrifying form against Real Madrid on Wednesday. It finished 4-0, but it could have been 10; PSG really were that good and the reality is there will only be one outcome if they hit those heights again. A free hit for Chelsea, then? They have made plenty of cash from the tournament, boosting their profitability and sustainability position. They have answered questions about their mentality by coming through a series of challenges during the tournament. Clear evidence of progress means Chelsea face the European champions able to resist the temptation to judge themselves on one big game. READ MORE Chelsea aim to be sustainable. That means maintaining a steady temperament no matter what happens against PSG. It is worth going back to the club finishing 12th in their first season under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. The criticism was fierce and sustained. The perception was of a chaotic institution. Yet Chelsea stuck with the strategy implemented in January 2023 and continued to buy more young players. They know that they have made mistakes along the way – there is no appetite for any more midseason managerial changes – but there is satisfaction with how they have not deviated from their chosen path. Replacing Mauricio Pochettino, whose approach did not suit the squad, with the more technical but more inexperienced Enzo Maresca last summer? 'It's much more about tactics,' Malo Gusto, the Chelsea right-back, says of the change from Pochettino to Maresca. 'That's why we are in the final – it's because of him.' Chelsea laugh at the narrative about needing older players. They won the Conference League last season and are back in the Champions League. They appear to have bought well this summer and are pleased with the recruitment team of Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Sam Jewell and Joe Shields. It was noted before the tournament that results will follow if you put the right strategies in place and build patiently. [ Joao Pedro double fires Chelsea into Club World Cup final Opens in new window ] Chelsea have invested in data and scouting. It cannot be a coincidence that they are the second-youngest team at the Club World Cup. The youngest? PSG. A source suggests that PSG and Chelsea have given other clubs a model to follow. 'Aggressive, fresh teams,' is the observation. Another is that Chelsea were signing young players long before PSG adopted the model. PSG are further along in their development, though. Having a dash of experience in key areas surely helps, while they also have the more established coach. Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique conducts a training session in Piscataway, New Jersey, on Friday. Photograph: Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images Chelsea met Luis Enrique after sacking Graham Potter in April 2023, only to go with Pochettino. Hindsight is a funny thing. It is not easy to know how a foreign coach will adapt to the Premier League. Enrique had just come off a disappointing World Cup with Spain. It is not rewriting history to say his stock was not as high as it is now; that he had dipped since winning the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015. In any case Chelsea are happy with Maresca's first year in charge. They are adapting to his positional-based style and play with a clear idea. 'Most people expect PSG to win but we don't think that,' Levi Colwill said on Friday. 'When you play for Chelsea you're not scared to play against anyone. I think they'll be looking at our forwards and know it's not going to be easy.' The centre-back acknowledged that dealing with the ferocity and immediacy of PSG's press will not be easy. Do Chelsea play out of the back regardless? 'You have to respect how they press but we're not going to change our whole way to play them,' Colwill said. 'We've got this far playing our football so why are we going to change that now?' Everyone has a plan until Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia run at them, though. The feeling is that Maresca has no intention of parking the bus; that betraying his identity for one game would be folly. Still, though, Chelsea have to box clever. Do Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo need an extra body in midfield to deal with João Neves, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz? Can Chelsea beat the press if Roméo Lavia is out? How to contain Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes's surges from full-back? Colwill noted the heat in New Jersey, saying it cannot become a basketball game. [ Doue dazzles as PSG humble Inter 5-0 to claim first Champions League title Opens in new window ] But Chelsea have their weapons. They have Cole Palmer and the counter-attacking threat of Pedro Neto and Liam Delap. João Pedro scored two stunners against Fluminense; Fernández and Caicedo are in sparkling form. Noni Madueke has left the camp to complete a £52 million move to Arsenal but others have contributed from the bench. Speaking at a Fifa technical briefing on Thursday, Roberto Martínez noted that the best way to play PSG is to go man-to-man, to hit the triggers required to exploit the high line. Bayern Munich caused them problems in the quarter-final. They still lost, though. The issue is that the press has to be perfect. PSG can rip through at will. Chelsea know they are facing the best team in the world. PSG were supreme against Internazionale in the Champions League final. Logic suggests this one should only go one way. Chelsea have other ideas. Imagine how they would feel going into next season as world champions. Chelsea have no plans to change course but beating PSG would give the project immense validation. – Guardian
