
Free-kick hero Antony breaks down in tears after Real Betis survive scare to reach Conference League final vs Chelsea
ANTONY broke down in tears after Real Betis reached the Europa Conference League final.
The La Liga side drew 2-2 with
4
Antony was overcome with emotion after Real Betis reached the Europa Conference League final
Credit: GETTY
4
The 25-year-old broke down in tears during the celebrations
Credit: GETTY
4
Antony scored a stunning free kick in the first half against Fiorentina
Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
And the Brazilian was overcome with emotion after the final whistle.
Tears streamed down the winger's face after Betis were confirmed as finalists along with Premier League outfit
Reaching the final is the icing on the cake of what has been a remarkable career revival for
Antony
since he left
Manchester
United on loan in January.
READ MORE SPORTS NEWS
The former Ajax man has scored eight goals and racked up five assists in 21 appearances since his move.
And his
The 25-year-old is loving life at Betis, saying: " I always say that the best decision I've ever made was coming to Betis.
"I'm happy, and when I'm happy, things go well.
Most read in Sport
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
4
'For me, of course, it's important to score goals and provide assists, but being happy is even more important.
'I found myself here, I'm very happy here, and things are going very well."
Moment Antony told red card has been OVERTURNED and he can play Real Madrid as Man Utd flop celebrates with team-mates
Antony's future under new Red Devils gaffer
"The
future
? It's very early," the former Ajax man admitted. "I don't know what's going to happen.
"But I'm very happy here. I've found myself enjoying football.
"It's crazy right now, although I know how talented I am.
"So I prioritised going where I knew I'd be happy, even though I had better offers.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Tottenham squad set to be boosted by return of league winner who hasn't played for club in nearly TWO YEARS
MANOR SOLOMON is set to be given a second chance at Tottenham. The Israeli winger, 25, has become a forgotten man in N17 after spending the season on loan at 3 Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is set to welcome back Manor Solomon Credit: Getty 3 Solomon spent last season with Leeds on loan and experienced immense success Credit: Reuters 3 Solomon hasn't played for Tottenham since September 2023 Credit: Getty But he proved to be a huge hit at Elland Road, netting ten goals in 41 appearances as he helped the Whites to promotion back to the Premier League. Leeds are keen to sign him permanently, while there are believed to be other suitors in the Premier League interested in But SunSport understands the North Londoners are minded to bring him back into the first-team fold over pre-season with the ambition of keeping him next season. That is despite all the uncertainty around the managerial position at Read More on Football Former That is after he left Shakhtar Donetsk following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine the year before. His first campaign was blighted by a hamstring injury, limiting him to just six Spurs appearances. Solomon's last game for Tottenham was back in September 30, 2023. Most read in Football Now everyone at Spurs are currently waiting with baited breath over whether Daniel Levy will It is understood the latter is more likely, despite the Aussie delivering Spurs their first trophy in 17 years with last month's Europa League triumph. Ange Postecoglou drops huge hint over Tottenham future with incredible mic-drop moment at Europa League parade Thomas Frank and Marco Silva, of West London rivals Brentford and Fulham respectively, are among the candidates to succeed Postecoglou if he is sacked.


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Cole Palmer admits Champions League winners' medal means nothing to him and he ‘doesn't feel like he won it'
COLE PALMER is already a Champions League winner. But to the ambitious young star, the medal he picked up as a non-playing substitute in Advertisement 8 Cole Palmer won the Champions League win Man City in 2023 Credit: Alamy During what turned out to be his final season at City, he made his only start in the competition in a dead rubber group game against For the rest of the campaign, including the final in Istanbul, he sat on the bench as a no doubt frustrated observer. Palmer, now 23, said: 'I always say, I don't feel like a Champions League winner, if I'm being honest. 'It doesn't really mean anything to me. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 'People say it, but I weren't involved. 'Obviously I played in the group stage and stuff like that, but it's not the same, is it? 'I've not threw the medal away! I've still got it, but it's not like I feel like I've won it.' Palmer thoroughly earned the winner's medal he received for Chelsea's Conference League triumph last month. Advertisement Most read in Football 8 Palmer helped Chelsea win the Conference League this season Credit: Getty 8 The midfielder's second-half masterclass earned him the Player of the Match award Credit: Getty CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS He gave a second-half masterclass as the Blues came from a goal down to beat Advertisement But it's a competition that Palmer and 'To do what-' - Cole Palmer left confused as he's asked to name his Premier League Mount Rushmore For the club's status and bank balance, the victory over Palmer said: 'Everyone at Chelsea wanted to be in the Champions League. 'No disrespect to the Conference League or whatever, but Champions League is the biggest competition. Advertisement 'We finished well. We had some tough games 'We had that little spell in the season where we weren't too great. "Everyone was saying they're not gonna get Champions League and that. 'So to get it was good. Getting that at Forest was a relief' Advertisement 8 Chelsea celebrated a return to the Champions League after a win over Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season Credit: Alamy But Palmer's display against Betis will have been something of a relief to him, even if he would not put in quite those terms. It was a timely return of the Because after picking up where he had left off in his stunning debut season for the Blues, scoring and creating goals for fun, the second half of the 2024/5 campaign was a tough one. Advertisement As the run of games without a goal or even an assist grew longer and longer, it looked like Palmer was feeling the pressure. His spectacular transformation from City youth player to Chelsea' main man created expectation, and he was not living up to it. Even the famously cool young man was just a little concerned. Palmer said: "I know myself players will go through it. I'm not stupid. Advertisement 'But then you go into Chelsea and you do that from a jump, and then you go into a dip, you just think, 'What's going on?'. 'I don't mind. Obviously I did mind, but I didn't think it was the end of the world. 'I just think it was one of them things when things weren't happening for me. 'I went on a bit longer than I thought it would go on. But I spoke to people about it and they explained it was going to happen. Advertisement 'But they said that when I get out of it, I'll be an even better player than what I was before I went in it.' 8 Which would be great news for Chelsea and for Although Palmer is very much the Blues' key man, at international level he has a fight on his hands to be the creative hub of the team. Advertisement Which feels even stranger because he is one of only four England players to have scored a goal in a major final. For most of Euro 2024, Three Lions fans were crying out for Palmer to be given more of a chance to inject some life into Gareth Southgate's struggling team. And when he was brought on in the final against Palmer recalled: 'An occasion like that if you think about it, it might get the better of you. So I just try not to. Advertisement 'I was just getting ready to come on like all the other games I came on, try and make an impact. 'I thought, 'It's the final, the last game, we're losing, I've got nothing to lose'. Well, we did, the biggest game of our career, but you know what I mean. 'So yeah, that's what I was trying to do. 'At the time, I didn't really realise how big that goal was. It was only when the tournament finished and I went home and looked back.' Advertisement But it's about looking forward now, for Palmer, Chelsea and England. Real Madrid star and Champions League winner If both he and Palmer start Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Andorra, the Chelsea man could find himself out wide. But at least next season, he will be playing in the same European competition as Bellingham and the biggest stars of the game. Advertisement And trying to earn a medal for real. 8 Palmer scored England's only goal in the Euro 2024 final Credit: AFP DELAP BREAKOUT COLE Palmer is delighted that former Manchester City team-mate The pair, Advertisement Palmer said: 'I'm excited to play with him. I was messaging him asking If he was coming and that. 'I played with him at Under 18s, 21s. We went to the first team together. 'He's a great striker, one of the best in the Premier League. You can see from last season. 'So I think he'll help us a lot and hopefully score lots of goals.' Advertisement 8 Chelsea have confirmed the £30m signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town Credit: Getty 8 Delap and Palmer came through the ranks at Man City together Credit: Alamy


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm not a robot' – Cole Palmer's mum tells him to be ‘more smiley' but Chelsea star is ‘laid back' like his dad
COLE Palmer admits his mum wants him to cheer up and show more emotion. But the 5 Cole Palmer's mother has told him to 'smile more' Credit: Rex 5 Palmer reckons he is laid back like his dad Credit: X @beINSPORTS_EN ' 'My dad says: 'He's just like me, so just leave him alone.' 'When did I last get angry? I don't know, maybe when I played PlayStation or something. READ MORE ON CHELSEA 'I'm not just a robot like you think I am and don't show no emotion. 'When there's no cameras and I'm on the phone to my mates and I'm doing stuff I enjoy doing… 'Off the pitch I'm like this but then on the pitch…it's like a switch. 'I'm just being myself.' Most read in Football 5 Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford Bridge Palmer is so chilled that he can fall asleep at an F1 race. England boss 'To do what-' - Cole Palmer left confused as he's asked to name his Premier League Mount Rushmore 'I went to the one in Abu Dhabi not long ago. But I fell asleep at that one. I don't know what it was. 'This one, I was awake.' Palmer's 'Cold' celebration and style of play make him an idol to young fans, regardless of which team they support. The Chelsea playmaker said: 'When you see kids and that doing what they're doing and saying that, it's nice.' Palmer is typically calm about his growing celebrity. But the born and bred Mancunian Palmer, who left Palmer previously commented on southerners being grumpy and said: 'They're all still moody. They're all still like that. 'I think because it's so busy, they're all stressed and that. It must be a southern thing. 'I don't live central. Sometimes I go into central London, but I couldn't live there.' 5 Palmer joined his England teammates at the Spanish Grand Prix at the weekend Credit: Getty 5 The midfielder is preparing for England's World Cup qualifier against Andorra on Saturday Credit: Getty