15/07/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | JULY 15, 2025

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Trump gatecrashes Blues party Confusion as US president joins Chelsea on stage after Club World Cup win U NITED STATES President Donald Trump joined Chelsea on stage as they celebrated their Club World Cup success yesterday. However, he remained in position as James lifted the trophy and the team began their celebrations amid fireworks and confetti. “They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage, and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay,” said James afterwards. the stand when we lifted the trophy. I was a bit confused, yes.” Trump earlier said he had enjoyed the occasion, telling broadcaster DAZN at halftime: “I am having a really great time. Tremendous sport.” Ű BY ANDY HAMPSON

far. It’s incredible.” When it was suggested he could make an executive order to rename the sport, Trump said with a smile: “I think we could do that, I think I could do that.” The US leader was also asked if he could see a day when the USA, which will co-host the men’s World Cup along with Canada and Mexico next year, could dominate in football, and he replied: “I can tell you we’re doing very well on the other stage, on the political stage, on the final stage. “We were doing very badly as a country. We had an incompetent administration and now we have a hot country. It’s really hot and I think the soccer is going to be very hot here too.” – The Independent

In a longer recorded interview broadcast after the game, the president, who revealed his favourite player of all time was Pele, added when asked about the competition: “It’s a big thing. “Gianni is a friend of mine, he’s done such a great job with the league and with soccer – or as they would call it ‘football,’ but I guess we call it soccer. But I’m sure that change could be made very easily. “But it’s great to watch – and this is a little bit of an upset that we’re watching today, isn’t it? So

Cole Palmer scored twice and set up another as the Blues stunned favourites Paris St Germain 3-0 in front of Trump in the final in New York. Trump, who was briefly booed by some of the 81,118 crowd at the MetLife Stadium, then presented Chelsea with the trophy alongside Gianni Infantino, president of world governing body Fifa, after the game. After handing the silverware to Chelsea captain Reece James, Trump was then invited to move out of the way by Infantino.

Asked what Trump had said to him, James added: “To be honest it was quite loud. I couldn’t hear too much. “He just congratulated me and the team for lifting the trophy and told us to enjoy the moment.” Match-winner Palmer had appeared bemused by the situation. He said afterwards: “I knew he was going to be here but I didn’t know he was going to be on

Enrique regrets post-match scuffle

Liverpool honour ‘champion’ Jota at Preston friendly

PARIS ST GERMAIN manager Luis Enrique tried to play down shoving Chelsea forward Joao Pedro in a near brawl between players and coaching staff following Chelsea’s dominating 3 0 win in the Club World Cup final yesterday. The incident erupted when PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was arguing with Joao Pedro, before Luis Enrique appeared to raise his hands to the Brazilian’s face. Pedro hit the deck and the PSG manager was quietly escorted away in remarkable scenes that saw players from both sides clash. “At the end of the match, there was a situation that I believe could have been avoided by everyone,” Enrique said at a press conference after the match. “My objective and my intention, as always, is to try to win over the players so that there are no more problems. Internally, there is a lot of tension, a lot of pressure.” The Spanish coach acknowledged the severity of the incident, adding: “And from there, there is a series of shoves from a lot of people, which I think we should all avoid and which should not happen again.” After the game,Pedro refused to comment on what had happened – but sent a message. “Man, I don’t want to say anything. I think they were upset – it’s normal, they lost. But they

DIOGO JOTA was hailed “a champion” yesterday by Liverpool manager Arne Slot as the Reds returned to the field for the first time since the Portuguese’s death, defeating Preston 3-1 in a pre-season friendly. Father of three Jota died alongside his brother Andre Silva on July 3, 11 days after marrying his long term partner Rute Cardoso, after their car came off the road and burst into flames in northern Spain. A rendition of Liverpool’s anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone was played before kickoff at Deepdale and Preston captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath in front of the away supporters. A minute’s silence was then observed and both teams wore black armbands. Jota was part of the Liverpool side that won the Premier League last season and in his final match won the Nations League with Portugal against Spain in June. “I think what I take comfort in is that in the last month of his life he was a champion in everything,”Slot said in an interview ahead of the match. “A champion for his family, which is the main and most important thing, because he got married. “A champion for his country because he won the Nations League with a country that he cared about so much, because he also wore the flag when we had celebrations. “And of course a champion for us by winning the Premier League.” Mohamed Salah was among the Liverpool starting line-up and captain for the day as Virgil van Dijk was left out of the playing squad but was still in attendance. Three of the players who travelled to Gondomar, just outside Porto, for Jota’s funeral last weekend, Conor Bradley, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, scored the goals in Liverpool’s first steps back towards normality. Multiple renditions of Jota’s song, proclaiming him to be better than Portugal legend Figo, were belted out by the Liverpool support before a ball was even kicked. In the crowd, flags emblazoned with “forever our No. 20” paid tribute to the man who died aged just 28. Liverpool announced on Friday that the club will retire Jota’s No. 20 in his memory. Jota’s song was then sung on a loop at fulltime as the Liverpool squad stood in front of their fans and applauded. “It’s just hit the city hard,” said Liverpool fan and security officer Thomas McAllister, 48. “Once a Liverpool player you become part of the family and we take you to our hearts. It’s like someone in the family has died.” Earlier this week, Slot and his wife joined several players in attending the tributes that have appeared to Jota and his brother outside Anfield. “We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go,” added Slot. – AFP

PSG’s coach Luis Enrique (2nd left) grabs the face of Chelsea’s Joao Pedro during the Fifa Club World Cup 2025 final at the MetLife Stadium yesterday. – AFPPIC

shown a red card in the 85th minute for violent conduct. “Football – that’s the way it is. Can’t explain everything,” said Luis Enrique. “I believe they actually started the game really, really well with a lot of pressure and we gave them a hard time. And then after that I believe they had opportunities to score but it didn’t happen.” – Reuters/Agencies

minutes in the first half and assisted striker Joao Pedro in another score before the break. Fans expected much more from the European Cup and French league champions that had once appeared unstoppable, cruising past Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinal stage of the expanded, 32-team tournament. They finished the match with 10 men after Joao Neves was

have to accept it. Losing is part of the game too. Now it’s our turn to celebrate”. When it came to the match, however, he was left without answers after a brutal thrashing by Chelsea in a clash of European football’s most powerful and richest clubs. It was a surprise lopsided affair as Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer poured in two goals in eight

Madueke to Arsenal could see Arteta hit with double blow MIKEL ARTETA will be pleased to welcome Noni Madueke to the Emirates even if he is not the most popular signing of his Arsenal tenure. The Chelsea winger is expected to complete his move across London over the coming days after a £52 million (RM298 million) fee was agreed between the two clubs. Trossard if they are unable to land Luis Diaz. Given that every indication suggests Liverpool will bend over backwards to keep hold of the Colombian, Arsenal’s resolve may soon be put to the test.

Madueke can cover on his own, Trossard can also play as a central striker and a midfielder. Losing the Belgian would therefore hit Arteta with the double blow of losing an option in two positions that his replacement – Madueke – cannot play in. Arsenal bosses may feel they have adequate numbers even if Trossard does move to the Allianz Arena. But they could be left exposed in a time of injury crisis or if Arteta needs to rotate tired players come the latter stages of the season. Trossard since completing a £27 million (RM155 million) move from Brighton in 2023 has only a year left to run on his contract. The club and the player have a decision to make. – Express Newspapers

Arteta needed a player capable of challenging Gabriel Martinelli for the left-wing starting berth and providing cover for Bukayo Saka on the right. And Madueke does offer a step up in quality from the back-up options Arsenal had last season. But if his arrival leads directly to Trossard’s departure, the make-up of Arteta’s squad will change dramatically. That’s because Trossard’s versatility has made him an option for multiple different positions. As well as the left and right flanks, which

But a one in, one out situation could leave Arteta short of cover in two important areas. Because while Madueke comes with the benefit of offering Arsenal an extra option on either flank, his arrival risks pushing Leandro Trossard down the pecking order and out of the exit door. According to Bild , Bayern Munich’s transfer plan involves switching their focus to signing