Latest news with #JulienPretot
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Paris St Germain remind fans of their power ahead of Bayern clash
By Julien Pretot Soccer-Paris St Germain remind fans of their power ahead of Bayern clash MIAMI, - When Paris Saint-Germain are in full flight they remind fans why they are one of the most dangerous teams in world football, as they showed in their blistering 4-0 win against Inter Miami at the Club World Cup on Sunday. The demolition of the MLS side was a statement of how devastating European champions PSG can be when their collective talent snaps into perfect sync. The way they dismantled Lionel Messi's Miami outfit in a suffocating first-half blitz will have not gone unnoticed by their quarter-final opponents Bayern Munich. Under a closed roof in Atlanta in a game played with a controlled temperature of 19 degrees Celsius, Luis Enrique's side pressed with relentless energy, moved the ball with purpose, and choked the life out of their opponents. "We started the match really well and imposed our rhythm," said Bradley Barcola after the game. "We had a bit of fatigue in the group phase but we rested. When we're in form like this, nobody can stop us." Joao Neves, who starred with two goals in a man-of-the-match performance, reflected the team's relentless mindset. "We will continue to play our game no matter the opponent," the Portugal midfielder said. Luis Enrique, who has turned PSG into a cohesive, ruthless unit, stressed that their ability to stay focused was key. "We started the match in the best possible way, with concentration and the right mentality to play our football from the first minutes," the Spaniard said "We deserved our lead at halftime and after that it was a completely different match because the result dictated everything." His words reflected satisfaction with the performance and an awareness that maintaining such intensity is the key to finally delivering on PSG's long-held ambitions. As the Paris side prepare for a far tougher test against Bayern in the quarter-finals on Saturday, the emphatic display served as a timely reminder of their immense potential. "PSG are a top team, European champions," Bayern striker Harry Kane said. "We played them once this year and we came out on top but it was a difficult game and we know the qualities they have and we'll have to be ready." However, Kane, who scored twice in his side's 4-2 win against Flamemgo in the last 16, was also oozing confidence. "... we feel that when we're on top of our game, we can defeat anyone and we're going into this game with no different feeling." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Stop the 'game of massacre', French players' union tells FIFA boss
By Julien Pretot HT Image MIAMI, June 30 (Reuters) - France's professional footballers' union wants FIFA to halt what it describes as a "game of massacre" affecting players' health, accusing President Gianni Infantino of ignoring the toll an overloaded calendar, with an expanded Club World Cup, is taking. The UNFP has issued a scathing statement, warning that the tournament exemplifies how the relentless match schedule is pushing players to the brink, both physically and mentally. 'The incongruity of the situation escapes no one — except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers,' the UNFP said. 'From his ivory tower, which he tours around the world, the FIFA president shows no concern for the fate the international calendar reserves for top players." World soccer's governing body FIFA did not immediately comment on the statement when contacted by Reuters. The UNFP said the Club World Cup, now featuring 32 teams and running for a month until July 13, comes at the end of an exhausting season and claims that it disregards collective bargaining agreements that guarantee players at least three weeks of complete rest between seasons. Instead, key players are forced straight into high-stakes fixtures, compounding the risk of injuries and mental burnout, the UNFP argues. 'His (Infantino's) Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this game of massacre,' the UNFP added. FIFA has argued that it is responsible for fewer than one percent of club games, and the Club World Cup is a maximum of seven games (for two teams) every four years. GROWING CONCERN The sharply worded statement follows growing concern among players worldwide over fixture congestion. Earlier this month, several stars voiced fears over the rising risk of injuries from the relentless schedule, with some warning they were approaching breaking point. The UNFP said it stood alongside global players' union FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe in denouncing the workload, arguing that the congested calendar undermines player welfare and domestic competitions. 'In September, Manchester City midfielder Rodri suffered a serious knee injury shortly after warning that players were on the verge of striking over excessive workloads,' the union added, highlighting the tangible risks of burnout. Paris St Germain are competing at the Club World Cup just weeks after winning the Champions League on May 31. Some French clubs have already resumed pre-season training ahead of the new Ligue 1 campaign starting in mid-August, while others will return next week. PSG, who reached the Club World Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 win over Inter Miami on Sunday, face a schedule that leaves no space for the rest period guaranteed in collective agreements. 'We do not see how or why PSG players should be denied the three full weeks of rest they are entitled to,' the UNFP said, warning that the additional workload could affect the performance of French internationals when national team fixtures resume in early September. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Flamengo chasing life-changing dream as Bayern clash looms
By Julien Pretot HT Image MIAMI, - Flamengo coach Filipe Luis said his side are preparing for more than just a football match when they face Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup last 16 on Sunday — they are chasing a dream that could redefine their careers and reshape the club's international standing. 'For the Europeans, winning this tournament may not change their lives,' Luis told reporters on Saturday ahead of the clash at the Hard Rock Stadium. 'But for us, it would.' The Brazilian side head into the match as underdogs against the six-time European champions. But Luis believes Flamengo's identity, along with the fierce competitive spirit forged in Brazil's high-pressure football culture, gives them a real chance. 'Brazilian players are extremely competitive,' he said. 'They grow up dealing with intense external pressure — from fans, from the media. That shapes a mental toughness that makes a difference in games like this.' The former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea defender, now in his first major tournament as head coach, praised Bayern's tactical discipline and intense pressing. But he insisted Flamengo would not abandon their style of play in the face of the challenge. 'Flamengo has a way of playing, a DNA, and we don't give that up,' he said. 'This is how Flamengo plays — with the ball, with courage. We're proud of that.' Luís warned that Flamengo can't rely solely on speed to break Bayern's lines. 'Their defenders are used to controlling space,' he said. 'We need to combine intensity with possession. You don't beat Bayern by just running in behind.' For Flamengo, who won the Intercontinental Cup in 1981 against Liverpool, the chance to compete on this stage is a test on neutral ground against a European powerhouse. "This debate about whether Flamengo could play the Premier League or Champions League comes up a lot. But Flamengo will never play those — we're playing the Club World Cup. It's a different context entirely," he explained. "We don't play at their stadium, they don't play at ours. Weather, pitch — it's all different. I avoid comparisons that lead nowhere. Many of our players have Champions League experience. Five were in Brazil's last squad. We also have internationals from Uruguay, Ecuador, and more." "With all due respect, I'm confident we can be a match for Bayern." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Star
25-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Mbappe back in training with Real Madrid at Club World Cup
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida (Reuters) -Kylian Mbappe resumed training with his Real Madrid teammates on Wednesday after recovering from acute gastroenteritis, just ahead of his team's decisive Group H game at the Club World Cup against RB Salzburg. The France forward was briefly admitted to a Miami-area hospital last week and missed Real's first two games, a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal and a 3-1 victory against Pachuca. Real top Group H with four points, ahead of RB Salzburg on goal difference with Al-Hilal, who can still qualify for the knockout phase, on two. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-South American fans ignite Club World Cup, Palmeiras v Botafogo to set it ablaze
By Julien Pretot HT Image MIAMI, - As the expanded 32-team Club World Cup approaches the knockout rounds, one clear highlight has been the electric atmosphere generated by South American supporters, whose passion, volume and spectacle have left their global counterparts in the shade. Some arenas, particularly Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, have been transformed not just by Lionel Messi-mania, but by the sonic boom of Boca Juniors and Palmeiras fans. Boca's blue and gold, as well Palmeiras' cream and green, have filled the stands in roaring, boisterous displays. Boca fans turned the Hard Rock Stadium into a replica of their La Bombonera home stadium, their chants and celebrations so powerful they made the stands shake, even drawing admiration from Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany. They stormed Miami Beach for a giant 'Banderazo', grilling, dancing and chanting for hours ahead of their team's opening game against Benfica. While some matches in Cincinnati and Orlando struggled to draw more than a few thousand spectators, Boca and Palmeiras played in front of 60,000-plus fans, creating scenes more akin to Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires than suburban America. Palmeiras fans brought the flair and noise to their final Group A game against Inter Miami on Monday, where a late 2–2 comeback was roared on by their diehards who made the hosts feel like they were on foreign soil. But beneath the celebrations lurks a rivalry that is becoming one of South America's fiercest: Palmeiras v Botafogo. Though the two clubs hail from different Brazilian cities — Palmeiras from Sao Paulo, Botafogo from Rio — fate has thrown them together repeatedly over the past three years. It began when Palmeiras staged a dramatic surge to snatch the Brazilian league title from Botafogo two years ago, a collapse that stung deeply in Rio. The following season Botafogo got revenge, knocking Palmeiras out in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores before going all the way to win the title. Sunday's last-16 showdown in Philadelphia promises to be the fiercest yet and will add another chapter to what is rapidly becoming the defining duel of modern Brazilian football. 'REAL WORLD' For European clubs used to pristine stadiums and moments of silence, the raw fervour from South America has been a wake-up call. "I love when I see Botafogo, all the Brazilian teams, Argentinian teams, how they celebrate, how they are together, I love them," said Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola. "I like how all the games are tight, except one or two, and people are surprised, European teams lose. Welcome to the real world. Welcome to the real world my friends," he added. Bayern's Kompany echoed the sentiment. "I've had a long career ... that crowd was hostile in the best possible way ... Many fans would pay to watch that,' he said after his team beat Boca Juniors 2-1 last week. With the U.S., Canada and Mexico hosting the World Cup in 2026, South American fans are likely to become the beating heart of the tournament with their spontaneous, relentless energy. Their presence at the Club World Cup has turned the event from a corporate experiment into something electric and alive, and left their European counterparts with something to think about. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
