In the upcoming July issue of FourFourTwo, Argentine legend and current Dorados manager Diego Maradona provides us with a fascinating thought: “If Manchester United need a coach, I’m the man to do it,” he says. “I know they sell lots of shirts around the world, but they need to win trophies, too. I can do that for them.”
Just two days after celebrating Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in riotous fashion with roughly 750,000 Liverpudlian’s lining the city’s streets, international compatriots Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum have shown up for international duty ahead of the Netherlands’ UEFA Nations League semifinal match against England on June 6.
After a minor injury that spiraled into 10 operations, an infection that ate away at his tendon and threatened foot amputation, a skin graft that resulted in part of his left arm tattoo moving to his right foot and ultimately, a spell of 636 days without football, Santi Cazorla made a remarkable comeback with Villarreal last season, appearing in 46 matches, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists.
Liverpool FC returned home on Sunday to present its sixth European Cup on an open-top bus parade through the city’s streets. It’s the club’s first major title since the 2006 FA Cup (no, we don’t count the 2012 League Cup), and a massive crowd turned out to greet the players and staff as they made their way around the city before finishing near Strand Street, where the River Mersey empties into Liverpool Bay.
Apart from the match itself, last night’s most anticipated action in Madrid was I̶m̶a̶g̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶D̶r̶a̶g̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶w̶a̶i̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶d̶r̶u̶m̶s̶ taking place inside the beIN Sports studio at the Wanda Metropolitano, where longtime Premier League rivals José Mourinho and Arsène Wenger sat side-by-side for pregame, halftime and post-game analysis of the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final.
Unless you have the eyes of a Liverpool supporter, the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final wasn’t the prettiest spectacle. But that suited Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson just fine.
As “You’ll Never Walk Alone” rung through the gorgeous Wanda Metropolitano rafters on Saturday night, Jurgen Klopp finally had his Champions League trophy. And Liverpool is finally back on top of the world.
Liverpool defeated Premier League rival Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Champions League final on Saturday in Madrid, giving the Reds their sixth European championship. (Just as we here at The18 predicted.)
Tottenham Hotspurs’ first trip to a Champions League final was not exactly one for the ages.
Liverpool was awarded a penalty in the first 30 seconds and Mohamed Salah converted to give the Reds a lead it would not relinquish. Divock Origi clinched the win with a goal in the 87th minute, because all the big Belgian did was score big goals this season as Liverpool won 2-0.
Well, that didn’t take long. Awarded a penalty in the opening 25 seconds, a Mo Salah PK gave Liverpool an early 1-0 lead over Tottenham in the second minute of the Champions League final on Saturday in Madrid.
After a disaster-filled Champions League final against Real Madrid a year ago, the Reds had a dream start when Moussa Sissoko’s raised arm caught a cross from Sadio Mané. Center ref Damir Skomina of Slovenia immediately pointed to the spot and the call was confirmed by the VAR.