logo
Ex West Ham United Veteran Reveals Message To Dumfries Before Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona Champions League Win

Ex West Ham United Veteran Reveals Message To Dumfries Before Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona Champions League Win

Yahoo26-05-2025

Ex West Ham United Veteran Reveals Message To Dumfries Before Inter Milan 4-3 Barcelona Champions League Win
Inter Milan striker Marko Arnautovic says he gave a special message to Denzel Dumfries ahead of the Nerazzurri's 4-3 Champions League win over Barcelona.
The Austrian spoke on Inter's YouTube channel. He looked back on that dramatic semifinal second leg clash.
Advertisement
Inter Milan will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final next weekend.
The Nerazzurri are in that final because of a dramatic win over Barcelona in the semifinals.
Having drawn 3-3 with the Blaugranas in the first leg, it was hard to imagine that the second leg would be even more dramatic.
But that proved to be the case. It went all the way to extra time, with a Francesco Acerbi equalizer in stoppage time giving Inter the hope they needed.
Marko Arnautovic Reveals Message To Denzel Dumfries Ahead Of Inter 4-3 Barcelona
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Marko Arnautovic of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the Coppa Italia, Quarter Final match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 25, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by)
Inter Milan had taken the lead in the first half through captain Lautaro Martinez.
Advertisement
Then, Martinez won a penalty right at the end of the second half. Hakan Calhanoglu scored it.
In the second half, Barcelona scored three goals, seeming to eliminate Inter with a dramatic comeback.
However, Francesco Acerbi scored in stoppage time to set up extra time. And Davide Frattesi scored the winner for the Nerazzurri.
Inter striker Marko Arnautovic declared that 'I'm very proud of this team, and of everyone who works for the team.'
'I couldn't imagine two better years than the last two,' he continued.
'I want to feel the same feelings I did against Barcelona,' said Arnautovic. 'On the bench, we suffer even more.'
Advertisement
'You can't participate. You're just sitting there shouting from the sidelines.'
'Before the match, I always talked to Denzel, Hakan, and sometimes myself: I always say 'The moment has come, this is it and we have to be here.''
'Let's leave the league aside for a moment, there are other moments to focus on. As I told Denzel before the match against Barcelona.'
'Then he had a fantastic match,' Arnautovic said. 'Unbelievable.'
'But I'm really proud of these guys. Every day I come here happy.'
'Sometimes tired,' the former West Ham United and Bologna striker admitted. 'But always proud to be here, and be a part of the final.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sundowns must adapt to less possession, warns coach Cardoso
Sundowns must adapt to less possession, warns coach Cardoso

Yahoo

time20 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Sundowns must adapt to less possession, warns coach Cardoso

South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns, a team used to dominating possession, may have their time with the ball considerably reduced at the Club World Cup, says coach Miguel Cardoso. The Pretoria outfit are outsiders in Group F with Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund expected to advance to the knockout phase in the United States at the expense of Sundowns and South Korean side Ulsan. Advertisement "We are used to controlling matches in the South African league," the 53-year-old Portuguese said of a club that recently won the national championship an eighth consecutive time. "Our possession can be 70 percent, sometimes even more," he told the South African media before departing for North America with a 26-strong squad. "Now we must prepare mentally to adapt to situations where our opponents will have the majority of possession. I doubt we will be able to control games like we regularly do in South Africa." Cardoso picked out Dortmund as a team to present a different type of challenge from the opposition Sundowns are used to at home and in Africa. Advertisement "Dortmund play a very high tempo, aggressive style, which is typical of German football," said the coach, who has worked in Portugal, Ukraine, France, Spain and Greece. Cardoso moved to Africa in 2024, winning the Tunisian title with Esperance and taking them to the CAF Champions League final, which they lost to Al Ahly of Egypt. Sundowns, Ahly, Esperance and Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca, who have won 20 continental Champions League titles between them, are the African representatives at the revamped 32-team Club World Cup from June 14. Sacked by Esperance last year following indifferent domestic form, the Portuguese was hired by Sundowns after they axed local coach Manqoba Mngqithi having lost to minnows Magesi in a knockout competition final. Advertisement - 'Our Lionel Messi' - Cardoso took Sundowns to the league title, but a surprise FA Cup semi-final loss to Kaizer Chiefs dashed hopes of a South African double. An even bigger disappointment came in the Champions League, where Sundowns eliminated Esperance and Ahly only to lose the final to Pyramids, an Egyptian club competing for only the second time. "The belief that African clubs lack organisation, especially when defending, is untrue," insists Cardoso. But it was a series of defensive blunders against Pyramids in Pretoria and Cairo that cost Sundowns a chance to win the Champions League a second time after their 2016 triumph. Advertisement Slack marking allowed Pyramids to snatch an added-time equaliser in South Africa, and a weak clearance and more poor marking led to the goals that gave the Egyptians a 2-1 second-leg victory. Cardoso has chosen a squad including 20 South Africans, two Brazilians, a Chilean, a Ugandan, a Zimbabwean and a Namibian. Reserve goalkeeper Denis Onyango from Uganda is the oldest at 40 and South African winger Kutlwano Letlhaku the youngest at 19. First choice shot stopper Ronwen Williams saved four penalties in a 2024 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final shootout against Cape Verde. Khuliso Mudau is a polished full-back, Teboho Mokoena an aggressive midfielder with a powerful shot and Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro won the South African league's Golden Boot last season with 16 goals. Advertisement But a lot of South African attention at the Club World Cup will centre on a midfielder who did not feature in the Champions League title decider, 35-year-old Themba Zwane. Former Sundowns star Joel Masilela was furious at the exclusion of Zwane. "He is our Lionel Messi and should have started or come off the bench," Masilela said. "Cardoso cost us a Champions League title." dl/iwd/pb

Barcelona defender set for surgery after injury on international duty
Barcelona defender set for surgery after injury on international duty

Yahoo

time44 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Barcelona defender set for surgery after injury on international duty

Barcelona have been relatively injury-free over the course of the season, but saw two of their players go down on international duty at the under-21 Euros on the opening day of competition. One of them is set for surgery. Spain were up against the hosts Slovakia on Wednesday, and after going 2-0 up in the opening 20 minutes, were forced to find a late winner through Cesar Tarrega after Slovakia had mounted a second-half comeback. La Rojita will face Italy and Romania in their remaining group games. Gerard Martin set for surgery Barcelona have two players with Spain at the tournament, with Gerard Martin and Pablo Torre both starting. Both were performing well, but would not make it to the end of the match due to injury, with Martin coming off at half-time, and Torre taken off 13 minutes into the second half. Image via Sport. Advertisement Martin had suffered a hand injury, and Jijantes report that he has suffered a break. The 23-year-old has flown back to Barcelona to undergo surgery – it is not yet clear how long he will be out for. The fact that he has left the Spain camp for surgery suggests his tournament with the under-21 side could be over though. Meanwhile Torre came off with muscle discomfort, and so far there has been no update on his injury either. Doubts about future Martin enjoyed a decent debut campaign for Barcelona under Hansi Flick, and was set to be Alejandro Balde's alternative next year too. Yet following interest from the Premier League, with three teams looking at him, it has emerged that the Blaugrana would be willing to cash in on Martin. The asking price is reportedly €12m. As a result, Barcelona are now on the lookout for potential left-back opportunities on the transfer market, should an offer for Martin arrive. Bayer Leverkusen's Alejandro Grimaldo has voiced a desire to return to the Blaugrana.

Ginola makes Howey's most skilful top three
Ginola makes Howey's most skilful top three

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Ginola makes Howey's most skilful top three

Throughout Thursday, we have been revealing who Newcastle legend Steve Howey believes are the club's most skilful players ever. He awards third place to David Ginola, who Newcastle beat European giants Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus to sign in 1995. Advertisement Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, Howey recalled his first training session with his former team-mate. "We used to test players when they used to come into the training ground for the first time as the standard of our five-a-side was absolutely incredible, and not a lot of players could deal with it," he said. "And there were a couple of new signings that didn't recover. "The very first ball that [Ginola] got was whipped in at him and bounced horribly, but he killed it stone-dead, dropped his shoulder, went the other way and stuck it right in the top corner. "I didn't know that much about him, but wow. what a player and a great lad as well. Back then, you could absolutely whack a player, and David used to get hit, but he never went down unless he was wiped out. "Such a good player and so comfortable with both feet." Listen on BBC Sounds - and return to this page later to discover the top two

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store