
Napoli banking on Kevin de Bruyne to avoid repeat of last season's title collapse
"We have worked hard to tailor ourselves. It is inevitable that this year will be very challenging."But there is a very recent past that we must never forget. We must learn lessons even from negative things. What happened two years ago must be a lesson, especially to the environment. We are on the field and we work, there will never be any flights of fancy. We will be very humble."Napoli have strengthened their title-winning squad with the addition of Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, Dutch winger Noa Lang and Italian centre back Luca Marianucci, among others.De Bruyne, regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, lifted 19 trophies at Manchester City since his 2015 move from German side VfL Wolfsburg — a haul that includes six Premier League titles and one Champions League crown.Conte hopes the 34-year-old can help Napoli take that extra step."He comes to us to take on a new challenge, it is a different situation for him too: he has already reached very high levels in his career and has a lot more to give to football," Conte added.Napoli begin their pre-season with a friendly match against Arezzo on Tuesday.- EndsTrending Reel
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First Post
24 minutes ago
- First Post
Lando Norris wins Hungarian Grand Prix, trims McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri's lead in drivers' standings
The dominant McLaren pair finished 22 seconds clear of third-placed George Russell of Mercedes with pole sitter Charles Leclerc of Ferrari fourth, grumbling at the Italian team's poor planning after he slipped out of the leading position. read more Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri celebrate on the podium after securing a McLaren one-two at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Reuters Lando Norris trimmed McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri's lead in the drivers' world championship to just nine points on Sunday when he switched tactics to lead him home by just 0.698 seconds in a thrilling finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The 25-year-old Briton, who moved from a two-stop strategy to one stop, held off series leader Piastri, on fresher tyres, over the closing laps of a strategic contest to claim McLaren's 200th victory and their record 13th win in Hungary. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was Norris's first win at the Hungaroring in the event's 40th race, avenging his 'team orders' defeat in 2024 when Piastri claimed his maiden success, his fifth victory of the season and the ninth of his career. The dominant McLaren pair finished 22 seconds clear of third-placed George Russell of Mercedes with pole sitter Charles Leclerc of Ferrari fourth, grumbling at the Italian team's poor planning after he slipped out of the leading position. 'I wasn't planning to do a one-stop,' said Norris. 'But it was the only option to get back into things and it was tough. Oscar was pushing all the way.' Piastri said he had done all he could to triumph. 'It was great racing,' he said. 'Lando did a great job.' His drive brought McLaren their fourth consecutive 1-2 finish. Two-time champion Fernando Alonso came home fifth for Aston Martin ahead of Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto, Lance Stroll in the second Aston Martin, rookie Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls and frustrated four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull. Mercedes' rookie Kimi Antonelli was 10th ahead of Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton 12th in the second Ferrari, 24 hours after declaring himself undeserving of their race seat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Heavy overnight rain had 're-set' the track on a breezy afternoon in front of a big crowd at the Hungaroring. Classic scrap The track temperature was only 31 degrees, encouraging thoughts of a one-stop race as tyre-wear decreased and Leclerc controlled the pace ahead of Piastri, Russell and Norris. Piastri pitted on lap 18, seeking an undercut. He returned in fifth as Leclerc responded to stay ahead. Norris inherited the lead and had a 10-second advantage, as the Monegasque regained second, with Piastri third. He then chose to stay out until pitting, in just 1.9 seconds, for hards on lap 31, rejoining fourth and facing a long run home. At the front, Leclerc responded to an apparent 'bluff' call from McLaren and pitted, falling to fourth and gifting Piastri the lead ahead of a rapid Norris as the race dissolved into a strategy and tyre-management contest between the two McLarens. Norris revelled in his delayed one-stop tactic as Piastri made a second pit on lap 45, the Briton leading with a frustrated Ferrari second, Leclerc blaming his team for bungling his plan before being passed by Piastri around Turn One on lap 51. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This left Norris, on ageing tyres, leading his team-mate in a classic scrap to the flag, negotiating traffic and separated by half a second over the final laps. On lap 68, the Australian went close to passing in Turn One and on lap 69, he locked up. 'Remember how we go racing,' Piastri's engineer Tom Stallard reminded him. For Leclerc, soon left a distant third by the two McLarens, it was another pole wasted – the 15th time he failed to convert pole into a win in 16 attempts – and it grew worse when Russell, after two attempts, passed him on lap 63.


Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
James Maddison injury: Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank gives update on midfielder's knee scare vs Newcastle
James Maddison, Tottenham Hotspur's midfielder, suffered a concerning knee injury during a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United in their final Asia preseason tour match. Spurs head coach Thomas Frank provided a crucial update on the situation. The match, held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in South Korea, marked a farewell for Tottenham's forward Son Heung-Min. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, but the focus quickly shifted to James Maddison, who was stretchered off the pitch after a knee injury. The injury occurred in the second half of the match against Newcastle United. While attempting to intercept a pass in midfield, Maddison collided with a Newcastle player, causing him to twist awkwardly and fall to the ground clutching his knee. The impact appeared to place significant stress on his knee, leading to immediate discomfort. Medical staff quickly attended to him, and after a brief assessment, he was forced to leave the field. Head coach Thomas Frank gave insights on the severity of James Maddison's injury. "Sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal," said Thomas Frank. "That's what we got today. It looks like with Madders a bad injury and then on the other side unbelievable scenes for Son from his team-mates and the respect from the Newcastle players," he expressed. "We're pretty sure it was the same knee he injured before," Frank added. James Maddison's latest injury is particularly concerning as it involves the same knee that sidelined him toward the end of the previous season. Last year, the midfielder missed crucial matches due to a knee issue, which disrupted his rhythm and impacted Tottenham's midfield strategy. His recovery was closely monitored, and while he returned to action in the preseason, this recurrence raises questions about the long-term health of his knee. The injury to James Maddison could not have come at a worse time for Tottenham, who are preparing for the upcoming Premier League season. With Son Heung-Min's potential departure adding further uncertainty, the team faces a critical period of adjustment.


News18
2 hours ago
- News18
AC Milan Legend Franco Baresi Undergoes Surgery; Enroute Road To Recovery
Last Updated: AC Milan legend Franco Baresi is recovering well after surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule. The 65-year-old will begin oncological recovery therapy. AC Milan legend Franco Baresi is recovering well after undergoing surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule, the club confirmed in an official statement on Sunday. The former defender and honorary vice president will now begin oncological recovery therapy, which includes immunotherapy. 'It Will Take Me a Little Time to Get Back to Full Strength" The 65-year-old Baresi issued a message to reassure fans following the operation, expressing optimism despite the health setback. 'Dear fans, I just want to let you know that it will take me a little time to get back to full strength," he said in a statement released by the club. The issue was discovered during a routine medical check, and doctors moved quickly to perform the surgery. His recovery will be closely monitored as he begins further treatment in the coming weeks. A True Icon of AC Milan and Italian Football Franco Baresi is one of the most revered figures in the history of AC Milan and Italian football. He spent his entire 20-year professional playing career at San Siro, making over 700 appearances for the Rossoneri and captaining the side for 15 seasons before retiring in 1997. Known for his elegant defending, tactical intelligence, and leadership, Baresi was the anchor of Milan's defense during a golden era for the club—winning six Serie A titles and three European Cups. On the international stage, he was part of Italy's victorious 1982 World Cup squad and later captained the national team to the final of the 1994 tournament in the United States, where the Azzurri fell to Brazil in a dramatic penalty shootout. Since retiring, Baresi has remained closely tied to the club, currently serving as honorary vice president. His legacy continues to influence generations of Milan fans and players, with his No. 6 jersey retired in his honor. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.