16/05/2025

FRIDAY | MAY 16, 2025

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SPORTS

Brazil’s historic players celebrate Ancelotti’s arrival CARLO ANCELOTTI is one of the best coaches in the world and can change the poor performance of the Brazilian national team with experience and discipline, several former players of the five-time world champion said yesterday, but they cautioned his arrival will not mask certain “structural” deficiencies. to help him,” said Dunga, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994 and former coach of the national team. Brazil is in fourth place in Conmebol as it seeks to qualify for the 2026 World Cup having won only six of 14 matches. Six teams will qualify for next year’s World Cup.

SHORTS Milan’s Conceicao looks ahead after tough loss AC MILAN manager Sergio Conceicao reflected on his side’s disappointing Coppa Italia final defeat, acknowledging the struggles of the season and the missed opportunities, yet emphasising the need to look forward with dignity. Milan lost 1-0 to Bologna in Rome on Wednesday in the final, thanks to a second-half goal from Dan Ndoye. The defeat may have sealed a bittersweet – mostly bitter – season for Conceicao and Milan, whose lone silver lining was lifting the Supercoppa Italiana back in January. Milan now sit eighth on 60 points in Serie A, four adrift of Juventus in fourth, the last Champions League berth, with just two rounds to go. “It was a hard-fought match, very competitive, where every duel could be decisive. I think that reflects our season,” Conceicao told Sport Mediaset . “I am disappointed in losing a final and the opportunity to win silverware, in a difficult season with a very difficult environment. “At the end of the day, I have to congratulate Bologna, as they played their game well and we were lacking something.” When asked later in the press conference about his future at the club, the Portuguese 50-year-old dodged the question. “The cup is lost, there’s nothing else to do but look forward, with dignity. And then we’ll talk about it,“ he said. “Right now there are thoughts about the game, the choices made and other things. I haven’t been in football for two days, now my head is just trying to understand what didn’t work and what more could have been done.” ‘Yamal, Mastantuono need space to develop’ BARCELONA’S Lamine Yamal and River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono are dazzling fans at just 17, but must be allowed to develop without excessive pressure to reach their potential, former France striker David Trezeguet said yesterday. “Yamal is a pure, unique talent, a player who has proven to be different from the rest. He grew up in Barcelona’s academy, where the ‘Lionel Messi’ identity is very present, so these kids copy that format,” Trezeguet, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, told reporters. Mastantuono, River Plate’s attacking midfielder who is making waves in Argentina, is “demonstrating all his qualities at a very young age,” Trezeguet added. Trezeguet, a former River Plate player, where Mastantuono made his debut in January last year, emphasised that both players “are great to watch” because of the way they play and the way they “express their talent”. “They’ll have time to perfect everything else. They’re young. But I think it’s important for football in general to have this type of player who serves as an example for the younger players.”

the World Cup without any problems. “He doesn’t have much time, but I hope he and his coaching staff and the players can help each other as much as possible. “You have to have the spirit and discipline to change everything that’s happening today; we have to believe it’s possible”. The former players also addressed the words of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who a few days ago criticised the current Brazil international players, saying that they aren’t at the same level than others from the past and are “very far” from the great teams. When asked by Reuters, Mauro Silva said: “I think what’s happening is that everyone in Brazil misses winning titles, right? By 2026, it will be 24 years since we’ve won a World Cup. Everyone is sad and hoping Brazil wins something.” – Reuters

“He has a broader vision of the different football schools around the world, and I think that’s a great asset,” said Mauro Silva, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994. “It’s a delicate moment for Brazilian football. We have some structural issues, but all in all, I hope Ancelotti succeeds.” Former soccer player Formiga, who holds the record for having played in seven Women World Cups and seven Olympic Games with Brazil, hoped that Ancelotti would have a quick “connection” with the team so they could reach

“I’m very happy, and I can’t believe there’s anyone who isn’t happy when the arrival of the best coach in the world is announced,” Felipe Melo, a three-time Copa Libertadores winner and World Cup player with Brazil in 2010, told reporters. Since Tite left the job in late 2022, Ramon Menezes, Fernando Diniz, and Dorival Jr. have been in charge of the team. “If we changed four coaches in less than three years, something isn’t working… In my opinion, Ancelotti was brought in to get results, so we have

Historic victory

Bologna’s players celebrate after winning the Italian Cup. – AFPPIC

Bologna end 51-year wait for glory with Italian Cup triumph B OLOGNA ended a 51-year wait for a major trophy yesterday after winning the Italian Cup with a 1-0 victory over AC Milan, who slumped to yet another painful defeat in a Yesterday’s victory was also Italiano’s first major honour as a coach as he lost three finals with his previous club Fiorentina, including the 2023 Italian Cup final.

celebrate his first trophy as a manager after reaching both the Conference League final twice and the Coppa Italia final with his previous club Fiorentina. “Those were three very big disappointments. I didn’t honestly think I could get straight back out there and win it, but I did. I dedicate it to my players, who are extraordinary,” Italiano said. “We had a few initial difficulties, but then have been going from strength to strength, both as individuals and a unit. Now please let me go and celebrate, because this is incredible,” Italiano added. Bologna’s goalscorer, Dan Ndoye, praised his side for the way they defended. “Today is incredible, seeing all our fans in this stadium. It was a tough game, but we won for the city, for the fans, it’s incredible and we are so happy,” the Switzerland international said. “We scored at the right time, then defended like a real team, we held tough.” – AFP/Reuters The islanders, ninth, are hoping for European football for the first time since 2004 and put up a strong performance. Madrid’s 18-year-old striker Endrick, whom Ancelotti may call up for Brazil in the future, came close early on but Leo Roman tipped his effort away. Mallorca took an early lead when Valjent beat Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, making his 200th La Liga appearance. Mbappe found a breakthrough for Madrid after 68 minutes, with some superb footwork to escape three Mallorca players trying to shut him down, and he drilled past Roman. Despite Madrid pressure, they did not look like finding a winner but 20-year-old defender Jacobo lifted a dropping ball over Roman’s head as the Mallorca defence hesitated. – AFP

horror season. Dan Ndoye scored the goal in the 53rd minute which gave Bologna a historic victory, their first honour since last winning the cup in 1974. Bologna hadn’t even been in a major tournament final since last winning the Italian Cup – the second of their two domestic cup triumphs. But coach Vincenzo Italiano has a done a brilliant job since arriving to replace Thiago Motta at Bologna, who have won the Italian championship seven times but last did so in 1964. “It was a tough match but we won it for us, for the city and for the fans,” said Ndoye to broadcaster Mediaset . “We did everything right, we scored at the right moment and the worked like a true team.” REAL MADRID snatched a last-gasp 2-1 win over Real Mallorca yesterday in La Liga to delay Barcelona’s title celebrations. Los Blancos cut the gap on the Catalan giants to four points ahead of Barcelona’s visit to neighbours Espanyol overnight, where they can wrap up the title with a victory. Trailing for much of the game after Martin Valjent’s 11th-minute opener, two second-half goals for Madrid ensured their arch-rivals did not claim their 28th La Liga title just yet. Madrid needed to win to deny Barca and Kylian Mbappe’s equaliser and Jacobo Ramon’s 95th minute strike allowed them to do just that. Los Blancos ’ defeat by Barcelona on Sunday in the Clasico left the Catalans on the brink of the title but Carlo Ancelotti’s side showed fighting spirit in the final stages against Mallorca.

Italiano was held aloft by his jubilant players as Bologna fans danced and cried in the Stadio Olimpico stands after seeing what many thought they’d never see. He said his side earned the Coppa Italia trophy by learning from their recent defeat to AC Milan and delivering a performance worthy of the occasion. The win came after Italiano’s side suffered a 3-1 defeat at Milan in Serie A on Friday. “After some disappointments, I think we deserved this, especially as we played a great game tonight. It was an incredible performance, we knew once again what Milan would do in the second half, so we responded,” Italiano said. The German-born 47-year-old could finally “The team played very well, it fought a lot, played with a lot of intensity and it was a totally deserved victory,” said Ancelotti. “We are happy because we want to finish the season well and this game didn’t start well but afterwards we did very well in all senses.” Madrid coach Ancelotti is departing to take charge of the Brazilian national team at the end of a disappointing season in the Spanish capital, and has two games left in his post. The Italian’s Madrid side, riddled with injury problems, were without Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes among other star names as Mallorca visited the Santiago Bernabeu. “Having 12 players injured is very strange, we were able to overcome the absences with a good attitude, individually and as a group,” added Ancelotti.

Real delay Barca celebrations with win over Mallorca