Previewing 'unbelievable' Man Utd v. Spurs final
Robbie Mustoe and Danny Higginbotham look ahead to the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, where Champions League qualification is on the line for both sides.
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NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
NBA at 'least a couple years away from launching' NBA Europe league, Adam Silver says
OKLAHOMA CITY — In March, the NBA and international basketball governing body FIBA announced a joint 'exploration of a new professional men's basketball league in Europe.' That's still moving forward, just don't expect it to happen quickly, Adam Silver told reporters at an NBA Cares event at a refurbished Boys & Girls Club in Oklahoma City on Friday, via Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. 'I will say it's measured in years, not months,' Silver said. 'So, we're at least a couple years away from launching. It would be an enormous undertaking. And while we want to move forward at a deliberate pace, we also want to make sure that we're consulting with all the appropriate stakeholders, meaning the existing league, its teams, European players, media companies, marketing partners. There's a lot of work to be done.' Silver told reporters that the NBA is in talks with the existing EuroLeague (the basketball equivalent of the soccer Champions League, featuring the top clubs on the continent) about a partnership at some level. However, what that might look like (or if it would even work) is up for debate. The NBA's initial target was a 16-team league, something Silver previously said would be 'integrated into the current European basketball landscape,' which means teams would continue competing in their respective national leagues. There would be permanent members in the NBA Europe league (existing clubs and possibly some new ones) as well as a chance for teams to be promoted into it each year. Speaking at the NBA Paris games in January, Silver said the goal was to 'professionalize the game to another level here, to create a larger commercial opportunity' — to make more money, both for European teams, but also to expand the NBA brand (and with that make the American owners more money). Silver discussed the European league in terms of NBA expansion when speaking with the media before Game 1 of the Finals. 'We have been discussing potentially creating a league in Europe. I view that as a form of expansion as well,' Silver said. 'Again, just as the same as in American cities, we think there's an opportunity to serve fans in Europe. No knock on European basketball, because most of those international MVPs I just talked about are coming from Europe. There's really high-level basketball being played there. But we think there is an opportunity to better serve fans there. I view that as a form of expansion as well, and that's something we're also thinking hard about.' There are numerous stakeholders, and a lot of mouths to feed; putting together this new league is a massive challenge. The NBA owners will discuss next steps when they meet in July, Silver said. Whatever those next steps are, this is a process that will take years, not months.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Why Gian Piero Gasperini is a transformational appointment for Roma
Gian Piero Gasperini's appointment at Roma is nothing short of a coup. Gasperini's record at Atalanta stands as one of the most remarkable managerial achievements in modern Italian football — a transformation that has elevated the club from relegation battlers to European contenders and, eventually, European champions. Advertisement When Gasperini took over Atalanta on 14 June 2016, the club's objectives were modest – survive in Serie A and avoid relegation to Serie B. His reign, however, ignited an extraordinary era. The beginning was rocky – five games in, Atalanta were second from bottom after a home defeat to Palermo, and Gasperini was on the brink of dismissal. Instead, the club held firm. What followed was a meteoric rise – victories over Italian giants Inter, Roma, and Napoli helped Atalanta finish the 2016–17 season in fourth place, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League and signaling the beginning of a footballing revolution in Bergamo. Under Gasperini, Atalanta not only qualified for Europe regularly but became a respected force across the continent. In just his second season, they topped their Europa League group unbeaten, and in 2018–19, Gasperini led the club to a third-place Serie A finish – their best ever at the time and qualification for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club's history. Advertisement Atalanta reached the Champions League quarter-finals in their debut campaign, defeating Valencia with an exhilarating 8–4 aggregate win, before narrowly losing to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite the devastating COVID-19 pandemic that severely impacted Bergamo, the club finished third in Serie A again in 2020, scoring a record-breaking 98 goals — the highest tally by an Italian team in over six decades. With three players (Iličić, Muriel, Zapata) scoring over 15 league goals, Gasperini's side became the first since 1951–52 Juventus to achieve such a feat. Even after the mid-season departure of talismanic captain Papu Gómez in the 2020–21 campaign, Gasperini maintained Atalanta's momentum, guiding them to a third consecutive third-place finish and a second Coppa Italia final in three years. Though silverware continued to elude them, the team's identity – high-intensity attacking football, tactical fluidity, and fearless pressing remained at the forefront of his Atalanta sides to follow. Advertisement After a brief setback in 2021–22, when Atalanta missed out on European qualification for the first time under his leadership, Gasperini recalibrated. The club returned to European competition the following season with a fifth-place Serie A finish and, in 2023–24, reached new historic heights. In the 2023–24 season, Gasperini led Atalanta to the semi-finals of both the Europa League and Coppa Italia. After a thrilling run that saw them eliminate Liverpool and Marseille, Atalanta reached their first-ever European final and Gasperini delivered. On 22 May 2024, they defeated Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen 3–0 in the Europa League final, claiming the first major trophy of his career and Atalanta's first European title. Advertisement This season, he continued upon that success by securing Champions League qualification yet again with a third-place finish – ahead of Juventus who finished below Atalanta in fourth-place – further cementing his status as one of Italy's elite tacticians. Therefore, if Roma manage to secure Gian Piero Gasperini as their next manager, they will be acquiring more than just a tactician; they will be gaining a visionary leader capable of instilling a long-term identity. His high-pressing, expansive attacking philosophy would offer a refreshing contrast to the more pragmatic approaches of recent Roma coaches. With the right backing, Gasperini could unlock the full potential of Roma's promising talents and guide the Giallorossi to sustained domestic and European relevance rather than the short bursts of momentum that they have experienced in recent times. Advertisement Furthermore, Gasperini's proven ability to elevate underdog squads and develop players — often transforming journeymen and youth into elite performers — aligns perfectly with Roma's ambitions of combining financial prudence with competitive excellence. In a league often that can- at times – be dominated by pragmatism, Gasperini's fearless and modern approach represents both a cultural and sporting shift. For Roma, appointing him would not just be a smart managerial hire – it would be a declaration of intent. Callum McFadden I GIFN
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Rasmus Hojlund plays down talk of Manchester United exit: ‘I have a contract until 2030'
Rasmus Hojlund has played down suggestions of a summer transfer away from Manchester United. Hojlund was speaking to local media following Denmark's friendly victory over Northern Ireland on Saturday and insisted he was only focused on his future at United. The 22-year-old struggled for form in 2024-25, scoring just 10 goals across 52 club appearances, including a 21-match goalless streak between mid-December and mid-March. Advertisement 'I have a contract until 2030, so I expect to play for Manchester United,' Hojlund said, per Bold. 'I'm looking forward to going on a summer vacation, and then I'm fully dedicated to the project that's underway.' Hojlund said he had not been thinking about any speculation linking him with a move away from United, adding: 'As I've told you before, I try to stay away from all that, because it's both for better and for worse these days.' United have already secured the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers and are working on a deal to sign Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo. Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, who was often deployed in a deeper role by head coach Ruben Amorim, are the only recognised strikers in United's senior squad, while teenager Chido Odi has also been given first-team minutes. United are likely to be in the market for a new No 9, with Amorim a major admirer of Viktor Gyokeres, his former Sporting CP striker, while Antoine Semenyo, the Bournemouth winger, has also been looked at. The Athletic reported this week that Inter are looking at a potential move for Hojlund, who may become subject to a transfer away if United do sign a striker. Hojlund joined United from Atalanta for €75million plus €10m in performance-related add-ons in the summer of 2023. The Dane has scored 26 goals in 95 games for the Old Trafford club. (Gualter Fatia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
