Dembélé named best player in UEFA Champions League
Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain has been awarded the title of Best Player in the UEFA Champions League, just one day after his team's impressive win over Inter Milan in Munich. This recognition serves as a significant boost to the French international's ambitions for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, which will be presented on September 22.
Stellar Season Performance
Dembélé finished the current season with 33 goals and 15 assists across various competitions, playing a crucial role in securing his team's first-ever Champions League title, a long-awaited achievement, in addition to winning the French league and domestic cup.
Tactical transformation
Spanish coach Luis Enrique found the magical formula for Dembélé, transforming him from a right winger into a "false nine," a position between a traditional striker and a playmaker. The Frenchman has been at the forefront of building attacks and delivering key final touches.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Inzaghi leaves Inter after Champions League final thrashing
Simone Inzaghi has left his position as manager of Inter Milan, the Serie A club said on Tuesday, after a humiliating 5-0 loss in the Champions League final against Paris St Germain capped a trophyless season. Inter suffered a dismal end to their campaign with Saturday's thrashing in Munich coming after they finished second in Serie A, one point behind champions Napoli, and were knocked out in the Coppa Italia semifinals 4–1 on aggregate by city rivals AC Milan. Inter face a race against time to appoint a new manager before the Club World Cup, with their campaign getting underway against Mexican side Monterrey on June 17. "The time has come for me to say goodbye to this club after a four-year journey, during which I gave everything," Inzaghi said in a separate statement. Inzaghi won six trophies at Inter: one Serie A title, two Coppa Italia triumphs and three Italian Super Cups. "I want to dedicate one last word to the millions of Nerazzurri (Inter) fans who cheered me on, cried and suffered in difficult moments and laughed and celebrated in the six triumphs we experienced together," he added. "I will never forget you." Italian media reported that Inzaghi will join Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal and will lead them in the Club World Cup in the United States. Inter confirmed that the decision for Inzaghi to leave the club was taken by mutual agreement earlier in the day. "I would like to thank Simone Inzaghi for the work done, for the passion shown and also for the sincerity in today's discussion, which led to the common decision to separate our paths," club president Giuseppe Marotta said in a statement. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Como's Cesc Fabregas and Olympique de Marseille's Roberto De Zerbi are potential candidates to replace Inzaghi at Inter. Several managers have left their clubs since the Serie A season wrapped up. Marco Baroni left Lazio after leading the club to a disappointing seventh-placed finish, paving the way for Maurizio Sarri's return a year after resigning. Atalanta are also searching for a new coach after Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed his departure on Saturday. Massimiliano Allegri returned as AC Milani coach for a second stint on Friday after the club sacked Sergio Conceicao after a season that saw them fail to qualify for any European competition.
Al Etihad
9 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Accidental 'double touch' penalties to be retaken if successful
London (PA Media/dpa) Accidental 'double touch' penalty kicks will be able to be retaken from July 1 if the kick was successful, the game's lawmakers have said. European football's governing body UEFA asked for the laws concerning these rare instances to be reviewed after Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez had a spot-kick disallowed in a shoot-out against Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 in March. The Argentinian slipped and his standing leg made slight contact with the ball. Real went on to win the shoot-out. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which sets the sport's laws, has now issued a clarification to Law 14. The law does not directly cover what to do in the event of an accidental double touch, and the IFAB said referees had "understandably" been penalising all such touches up to this point. However, the IFAB said Law 14's primary purpose was to deal with deliberate double touches and a clarification has now been issued to all national associations and confederations. The IFAB acknowledges it would be unfair not to penalise a double touch at all and allow such kicks to stand as a goal, because goalkeepers can be disadvantaged by the altered trajectory of the ball. However, it has now clarified that where an accidental 'double touch' kick is scored, it should be retaken. Where such kicks are unsuccessful, they should either result in an indirect free-kick if they occur during a match, or recorded as missed if they occur in a shoot-out.
Khaleej Times
10 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
French minister eyes tougher sentences after violence mars PSG celebrations
French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday said he wanted tougher punishments for anyone convicted of violence against police, after clashes and car-torching this weekend marred celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League triumph. Police detained hundreds of people during festivities following PSG's victory in the European football showcase in Germany on Saturday and their triumphant return home the following day. PSG thrashed Inter Milan by a record 5-0 in the final to win the biggest prize in European club football for the first time. The victory sparked delirious celebrations in France, that were marred by some violence. Police arrested 563 people on Saturday night, the interior ministry said, after more than 200 cars were torched and police clashed with youths. In the southwest town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy died after being stabbed in the chest. A 23-year-old man riding a scooter in central Paris also died after a vehicle hit him. Authorities detained 79 others on Sunday night, including for allegedly firing fireworks at security forces, trying to vandalise shops and blocking traffic. Some of these appeared in court on Monday, with three men in their early twenties receiving suspended sentences of two to eight months, along with a 500-euro ($570) fine, the Paris prosecutor's office said. Others were set to appear before a magistrate on Tuesday. Darmanin, who has expressed interest in standing in the 2027 presidential election, argued the first court sentences were not tough enough. "Some of the sentences for violence, including against law enforcement officers and for destruction of property, are not proportional to the level of violence our country is experiencing," the former interior minister said on X. "The law needs to radically change," he added. Darmanin called for an end to obligatory adjustments for jail terms of fewer than six months, which for example allow detainees to serve time at home with an electronic bracelet. He called for an end to suspended sentences in such cases and a law to set up a "systematic minimum sentence" for those found guilty. He suggested "a minimum of three months in jail for any assault against a representative of the state or a very steep fine for any destruction". Aurelien Martini, deputy secretary-general of the magistrates union, responded that minimum sentences — previously tried from 2007 to 2014 — did not work. If the goal is "to put more people in prison, it's physically not possible," he said, alluding to overcrowding. France's prison population hit a record high on May 1, with more than 83,600 inmates held in facilities that have a capacity of around 62,500, justice ministry data has shown. Socialist leader Olivier Faure added that the judiciary should first and foremost be "fair" and examine each individual case, not respond "to collective emotion". The right-wing head of the Paris region Valerie Pecresse supported Darmanin's idea, saying it was the "only hope for this violence, this ransacking to never happen again". Receiving the triumphant team at the Elysee palace on Sunday, President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he called "unacceptable" violence during the festivities. Many of the stars of PSG, one of the youngest in the competition, are drawn from the huge football talent pool in the Paris suburbs. A total of 11.5 million people tuned in across France to watch the match.
