Tchouaméni downplays boos by Real Madrid fans and turns attention to Atletico
Associated Press
MADRID (AP) — Aurelien Tchouameni can definitely hear the boos from the Real Madrid crowd.
He is not really listening to them, though.
The France midfielder has being doing his best to turn the cheers into applause after a tough stretch and has been playing well going into Madrid's decisive Champions League match against city rival Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Tchouaméni could be key for coach Carlo Ancelotti as Madrid tries to hold on to a 2-1 victory from the first leg at home in the round of 16.
'The whole team is ready, we will give everything to win the match,' the 25-year-old Tchouaméni said. 'Atleti will play a very attacking game, but we know what we have to do. We will give everything to win the match.'
Tchouaméni has been having to improvise as a defender because of a series of injuries to Madrid's regular starters, and he was targeted by fans after a few costly mistakes and poor performances in important matches, including a 5-2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in January.
'Of course I hear the boos during the matches,' he said Tuesday. 'But it's not a problem, every match has its own story.'
He said he is fine playing in a different position than his natural one but admitted that it requires some changes to his game.
'Playing as a midfielder or as a defender is very different," he said. "In defense, you don't have the ball for as long and you have to adapt.'
With central defenders Raul Asencio and Antonio Rudiger set to start, Tchouaméni is expected to play as a midfielder again on Wednesday, when Atletico is likely to come out attacking at home. He will anchor the first line of defense that will try to keep Atletico from getting near Thibaut Courtois' goal.
Madrid is the defending Champions League winner and a record 15-time European champion. It has beaten Atletico twice in the final — in 2014 and 2016 — and eliminated the city rival the other two times they faced in the knockout stages of the Champions League — in the 2015 quarterfinals and 2017 semifinals.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Negative experience' - Juric breaks silence on 107-day Saints reign
IVAN Juric admitted his ill-fated reign as Saints boss was "a negative experience" but insisted it was "very positive" for his growth as a manager. New Atalanta boss Juric departed Saints in April following official confirmation of their relegation to the Championship, having lost 12 of his 14 Premier League games. Advertisement The Croatian's only league victory came at fellow relegated side Ipswich Town, and his south coast departure came six months after he was sacked by Roma. Juric has now replaced Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta, after his mentor joined Roma, and has opened up on his difficult season in Italy and England. Speaking in his first press conference, Juric said: "(It was) a negative year on a sporting level. Human and knowledge level, it was fantastic. "I think I feel much stronger than a year ago, because (at) Roma I saw great clubs, great players. I learned a lot. In Southampton, I appreciated a fabulous Premier League. Advertisement "People who are in the club, who know how to work. I saw really beautiful things. In the Premier League, I also remember the level of the players, (it's) very high. "I think two negative experiences on the one hand, and on the other, (it was) very positive for me and my growth." Juric lasted just 107 days in charge of Southampton and departed 24 hours after their 3-1 defeat to Spurs, which confirmed the club's relegation to the Championship. He has been replaced by Belgian-born English coach Will Still, who has signed a three-year deal and is targeting an instant return to the Premier League. Advertisement Juric has penned a two-year contract at Champions League-qualified Atalanta and is set to coach in UEFA's top club competition for the first time in his career. The Split-born manager did take charge of four Europa League fixtures during his two-month spell in charge of Roma, winning just once and losing twice. Fellow former Saints boss Russell Martin, whom Juric replaced, will also be competing in the 2025/26 Champions League after taking over at Rangers. The Ibrox club will enter the Champions League in the second round of qualifying, while Atalanta have qualified directly by finishing third in Serie A.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chelsea halt negotiations with Milan for Mike Maignan after failing to agree fee
Chelsea have cooled their interest in Mike Maignan after failing to agree a fee with Milan for the goalkeeper before the Club World Cup. The Stamford Bridge club, who are also pursuing a deal for the Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, commenced talks with Milan after being presented with an opportunity to sign Maignan. The France international has a year left on his deal and has indicated that he wants to join Chelsea. Advertisement Related: Football transfer rumours: Gittens to Chelsea before first deadline closes? Chelsea's hope has been to push transfers for Maignan and Gittens through before Tuesday's 7pm BST registration deadline for the group stages of the Club World Cup, which begins on Sunday. However, the Uefa Conference League winners were not willing to overpay for Maignan given that the 29-year-old will be available on a free transfer next summer. They were willing to pay around €15m (£12.7m) for the former Lille goalkeeper, with Milan demanding €25m. The clubs have been unable to reach an agreement and negotiations have ended for now. There remains a chance that Chelsea will revisit the situation with Maignan later this summer. The transfer window reopens on Monday, enabling teams in the Club World Cup to register new players for the tournament's knockout phase. Maignan can discuss a pre-contract with foreign clubs from next January. Chelsea, who travel to the USA on Friday and play LAFC in their opening game in Atlanta on Monday, have refused to be pressured into meeting Milan's demands. They remain happy with their quartet of goalkeepers, Robert Sánchez, Filip Jorgensen, Djordje Petrovic and Mike Penders. Sánchez excelled at the end of last season, recovering from a dip in form to help Enzo Maresca's side qualify for the Champions League. There is huge excitement about Penders following the highly rated 19-year-old's arrival from Genk. Marcus Bettinelli, Chelsea's current No 3, is joining Manchester City. The Blues who have already boosted their attack by signing Liam Delap for £30m, are also looking for a right-footed left winger. They have had a bid rejected for Gittens but are relaxed about the situation. The 20-year-old has agreed a seven-year contract with Chelsea but Dortmund, who are also in the Club World Cup, want up to £50m for the England Under-21 international.
Fox Sports
34 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Ngidi beats Paterson to South Africa's third seamer spot in WTC Final
Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Lungi Ngidi's experience gave him the edge over Dane Paterson as South Africa's third seamer for the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's. Ngidi hasn't played a test since August but 19 tests and 55 wickets, including Joe Root's at Lord's in 2022, put him in the pacers lineup with Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen when the team was named on Tuesday, a day before the final. Paterson, more deceptive than fast, earned five-fors in his last two tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in December and played at Lord's three times in the last two months for Middlesex in the English County Championship second division but that wasn't enough. 'Probably one of the tougher decisions that has been made. We see what Dane Paterson did for us to the end of last season,' captain Temba Bavuma said. 'But it was more from a tactical point of view. Probably a little bit more pace from Lungi, guess he's a bit taller as well (1.93 meters to 1.75). Lungi also has a better record, not taking away anything from Patto. But I think he (Ngidi) will complement that bowling attack a little more. We have a guy like (Wiaan) Mulder, who can give us something similar like Patto.' Mulder was chosen to bat at No. 3 ahead of Tony de Zorzi, who has more runs but hasn't bowled in a test. Mulder's medium pace has taken 30 wickets in 18 matches. 'It's about giving him a lot more confidence, keep backing him and just allowing him to do what he does best,' Bavuma said of Mulder. 'He has an opportunity in a pressure situation, but I think he can take comfort from the fact that the guys are backing him. We just want him to play his game.' ___ South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi ___ AP cricket: in this topic
