Cifuentes wants 'fearless' football from Leicester
Cifuentes says it is "very clear" that getting to the Premier League "as soon as possible" is the job he has been brought in to do at the King Power Stadium.But as a manager whose work at youth level and insistence on promoting young talent brought him to the attention of Leicester's hierarchy, the Spaniard has spoken of an eagerness to find a balance of short-term and long-term success."I'm aware of the expectations and I think that's the way it should be," he said."I'm also very aware that it's not going to be easy, so we need to build a foundation and an identity that can sustain that over time."I know how tough sometimes it can be after relegation, but I want to bring them this love of the game that they enjoy."Cifuentes came in as Ruud van Nistelrooy's replacement, with the Dutchman in charge as Leicester finished third from bottom and 13 points from safety in the Premier League last season.The drop consigned the 2021 FA Cup winners to a second season in the Championship in three years.Leicester's previous success of 2024, when they went up as second-tier title winners, is not something that Cifuentes will be "taking for granted" in what he calls "a beast" of a league."This team did really well under Enzo and a lot of players that are still here, and obviously that sets a reference point," he said."But the reality is that in football every season and every game is different, so we have to approach the season in a very humble way. We cannot expect that it will be a walk in the park and that it will be easy to reach 97 or 100 points."What points tally Leicester manage under Cifuentes also depends of what comes from the charges the club faces over allegedly breaching the English Football League's financial rules when they won the Championship just over a year ago.That charge, as well as the club's need to try and balance the books in an effort to avoid profit and sustainability rule breaches, is expected to impact how Cifuentes shapes his squad in the coming weeks.He would not comment on what business might need to be done during the summer transfer window, but he said he wants to work with a smaller squad and that it would be "trimmed" before the campaign begins."What is clear is that I will not speculate much about things that are not 100% clear," Cifuentes said."What is sure is that me, the club, with Jon [director or football Jon Rudkin] and the ownership, we have good conversations about possible scenarios and I'm fully aware of the situation."
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The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lionesses set for bus parade celebration after dramatic Euros win
The Lionesses are set for an open-top bus parade in central London as part of the celebrations following their historic Euros win, but there are no plans for a bank holiday. England fans erupted with joy across the country as the team defended their Euros title in a penalty shootout win over Spain in the final in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday. Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot-kick following two huge saves from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton – sending supporters in fan zones into raptures. The King said the team had the royal family's 'warmest appreciation and admiration' following their victory, adding: 'The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can.' The team will attend a homecoming celebration event on Tuesday, with a ceremony due to take place outside Buckingham Palace. There will be an open-top bus parade along the Mall before the ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial, the FA said. Fans can attend for free and it will be broadcast live on BBC, ITV, and Sky. However, it is understood Downing Street has no plans for a bank holiday to mark the Lionesses' triumph. Supporters stood on tables, waved flags, threw drinks in the air and excitedly hugged each other as England claimed victory, while the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer watched on from the stands in Basel. Alessia Russo gave the Lionesses hope of retaining their Euros title with her second-half equaliser after Mariona Caldentey netted the opener for Spain in the 25th minute. In a statement posted on X after the game, Charles said: 'This brings you, your manager and all your support team my most heartfelt congratulations on winning the Euros 2025. 'For more years than I care to remember, England fans have sung that famous chant 'football's coming home'. 'As you return home with the trophy you won at Wembley three years ago, it is a source of great pride that, through sporting skill and awesome teamwork, the Lionesses have made those words ring true. 'For this, you have my whole family's warmest appreciation and admiration.' The King added: 'More than that, though, you have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms. 'Well done, Lionesses.' A picture of the Prince of Wales with his arm around his daughter Princess Charlotte was posted to X following the presentation of the trophy to the Lionesses, with the caption 'champions of Europe'. The pair congratulated the team in a short statement, saying: 'What a game! Lionesses, you are the champions of Europe and we couldn't be prouder of the whole team. Enjoy this moment England.' The statement was the first message Charlotte has personally signed on the Prince and Princess of Wales's X account. Tower Bridge was lit up in red and white following the Lionesses' victory, the City Bridge Foundation said. Sir Keir was the first to congratulate England on their win – posting on X: 'Champions! Congratulations Lionesses – what a team. What a game. What drama. 'You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers.' William was spotted in the stands applauding and celebrating with those around him – including Princess Charlotte. As the presentation ceremony took place, the Prince of Wales was among those to congratulate star striker Michelle Agyemang on being named young player of the tournament. William exchanged words with Agyemang, appearing to say 'well played, fantastic, well done'. Agyemang, 19, who had one England cap before the tournament, scored crucial equalisers in the Lionesses' quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. There was non-stop applause in her home town of South Ockendon as fans saw the Arsenal forward step through a guard of honour to pick up her award. Supporters at her old club Brandon Groves AFC danced a conga line to the sounds of Vindaloo after England's victory. The club's vice-chairwoman, Paula Howes, said Agyemang will help give youngsters the 'motivation and drive' to progress from grassroots football to the top of the game. She said: 'I think she (Agyemang) has got that determination and that drive on the pitch, and the girls can connect with that. 'It is also knowing that she is a local girl as well, I think that helps give them the motivation and drive, to know that you can start at grassroots football and progress up to the higher level, if you work at it.' The National Autistic Society congratulated their ambassador Lucy Bronze on the Lionesses victory, adding: 'We hope she has inspired the next generation of autistic girls to follow their dreams.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also gave her reaction to the win, saying: 'What an absolutely extraordinary achievement by our Lionesses – once again they have made history and united the country with pride and joy.' England's path to the final was marked by late drama. They sealed their spot with a last-gasp extra-time win over Italy, following a penalty shootout victory against Sweden in the quarter-finals after nearly crashing out in extra time.
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Hannah Hampton's comeback story defies belief and leads England to Euro 2025 glory
It was, as Sarina Wiegman said, a 'fairytale'. But Hannah Hampton had believed from the start, having proved everyone wrong just to reach Euro 2025. Even when Hampton overcame the doubts and the advice of doctors who said she would not become a goalkeeper, she did not believe the England fans would welcome her after replacing a legend between the posts in Mary Earps. Hampton finished the Euros as England's hero in the penalty shootout win over Spain, perhaps as the tournament's best player, and with Wiegman jumping into arms after saving the spot-kicks from Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey. 'Every player has her own story and her journey has been incredible too,' Wiegman said. 'It's a little bit like a fairytale when you then stop those penalties in the final.' "We're the team that never gives up,' said Hampton, but she had saved them. England led for just four minutes and 52 seconds of the knockout stages but finished Euro 2025 as the champions. They relied on their spirit and determination but also their new No 1: the player of the match in the quarter-finals and final. The defiant stopper of four penalties across two shootouts, aided by the help of a 'cheat-sheet' on her water bottle. There are many sliding doors moments of England's Euros win, a tournament Wiegman described as the 'most chaotic and ridiculous' she had experienced. Some came in the final, as Spain led 1-0 and pushed for more. Other came three months ago, such as when Michelle Agyemang was called into Wiegman's squad for the first time because of an injury to Alessia Russo, beginning a timeline where the 19-year-old would twice rescue them. But many of those fateful moments where England stood on the brink of crashing out, only to remain alive, involve Hampton. There was the diving stop to deny Fridolina Rolfo when England were 2-0 down to Sweden in the quarter-finals. The point-blank save from Emma Severini when England were 1-0 down to Italy with just minutes to go in their semi-final. In a tournament where England clawed their way through, Hampton ensured England's heartrate never went completely flat. It is fitting, as Hampton's own story is a comeback in itself. She was born with an eye condition called strabismus and as a child underwent several corrective procedures. Doctors told her that she couldn't play football and then said to her parents that she wouldn't be able to become a professional. To this day, Hampton does not have full depth perception, but has still made it to the highest level of the game. Hampton was part of England's squad at the last Euros but was dropped by Wiegman after the tournament amid reports of her behaviour and attitude at camp. At 21, Hampton was left out by her club Aston Villa, too, while the negative headlines and stories circulating made her want to quit completely. She didn't, and instead put her head down, proving herself to first Emma Hayes and then Sonia Bompastor to claim her place at Chelsea. But Hampton also arrived at the Euros with more pressure on her shoulders than anyone in the England squad, at her first major tournament a starter while stepping into the gloves left by a legend. Earps' retirement, just weeks before the Euros, added to the scrutiny Hampton faced as she inherited the No 1 jersey. For all that the 24-year-old paid a glowing tribute to Earps and her legacy, it is to Hampton's immense credit that her predecessor's name has barely been mentioned this month. Hampton, simply, has raised the level. She would have been England's No 1 anyway, even if Earps had not retired. She not only made crucial saves throughout the tournament, showing immense athleticism and reach, but also commanded her box and showed bravery to come for crosses. Even with a bloodied nose against Sweden in the quarter-finals, Hampton pushed through the bodies to punch clear. Against Spain, too, Hampton's aggressive decision-making under pressure ensured the world champions did not create any more chances from crosses after Caldentey's first-half header. Her quality on the ball was never in doubt. Hampton's upbringing in Spain and her early years playing as a striker meant she developed excellent technique and at the Euros she has displayed her passing range. Against Spain, England were comfortable going back towards their goalkeeper, who was able to then play out or go long with accuracy. In a Euros that was defined by exceptional goalkeeper, Hampton stood out as the finest at the tournament. She has a claim, too, to have been England's best player, and was certainly their most consistent from the opening defeat to France to their final victory over Spain. If Bonmati, for all of the Ballon d'Or holder's obvious quality and her own inspirational moments, felt like a default pick for player of the tournament, Hampton may have a more persuasive claim. 'There are a lot of things I had to deal with before the tournament, my teammates helped me through,' Hampton said. And there she stood, as a back-to-back Euros winner, but now firmly in the spotlight and shining in it.
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
She's amazing – Chloe Kelly thanks Sarina Wiegman for ‘giving her hope'
Chloe Kelly thanked her detractors and said England boss Sarina Wiegman 'gave me hope when I didn't have any' after she fired home the winning penalty in their Euro 2025 final triumph over Spain in Switzerland. The Lionesses, defending the crown they won three summers ago in the Wembley final, made it a hat-trick of knockout-round comebacks on Sunday night after Alessia Russo cancelled out Arsenal team-mate Mariona Caldentey's opener to ultimately force a shootout. Substitute Kelly – who netted the extra-time winner in the Euro 2022 final – cooly converted after Hannah Hampton made two spectacular saves and Salma Paralluelo missed, writing more personal history and a satisfying ending to a fairy-tale 2025, one that began with the 27-year-old doubting if she would even make this squad. 'She's amazing,' said Kelly, asked about a coach who has now led teams to three consecutive European trophies. 'She is an incredible woman. What she's done for this country, we should all be so grateful. What she has done for me individually, she gave me hope when I probably didn't have any, and she gave me an opportunity to represent my country again.' At the beginning of this year, Kelly was still at Manchester City, lacking playing time, and so unhappy that she took to social media to express her wish to leave the club and a situation she shared at the time had 'a huge impact on not only my career but my mental wellbeing', even considering whether or not she wanted to stay in the game. Kelly was left out of Sarina Wiegman's first squad due to a lack of minutes after securing a deadline-day loan move to Arsenal but was called up as an injury replacement in February and has enjoyed revelatory tournament, cementing herself as the most superlative of English super-subs. 'There were a lot of tears at full time,' said Kelly, 'Especially when I saw my family, because they are the people that got me through those dark moments and I am so grateful to be out the back end. If that's a story to tell someone who might be experiencing the same, then tough times don't last. 'Right around the corner was the Champions League final, I won that, and now a Euros final. 'So thank you to everyone who wrote me off. I'm grateful.' Kelly was rewarded with a permanent deal at Arsenal after her impressive loan spell. She added: 'I knew that I had to get game time, and representing England is never a given,' said Kelly. 'But what (Sarina) has done for the women's game, not just in England, but in the Netherlands, the whole women's game, she's taken it to another level.' It was Kelly's cross that teed up Russo for the 57th-minute equaliser on Sunday, and it was her deliveries that allowed Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang to level late in their quarter-final with Sweden, ultimately setting up their first dramatic shootout. Kelly's composed spot-kick was an anomaly in that error-strewn afair, and – though she revealed after Sunday's trophy lift that she had missed three penalties in training – she stepped up and fired home with the same remarkable composure again in the final, once again bearing the weight of England's expectations. Asked if Kelly's coolness was even coachable, Wiegman said: 'I think it's a little bit of both. It says something about the team environment and it says a lot about her character. Everyone brings something different, and she brings this.' Wiegman added: 'Every player has their own story, and I think every story is incredible on its own, but for her most of the stories are out in the open. 'I'm so happy for her. She has been fighting to come back and be at her highest level. She just wanted to take that penalty and celebrate and dance, but to be able to score that penalty under that pressure is very impressive.'
